80 years after the camp liberations, LV community remembers the victims on Yom HaShoah, and a group visits the governor. p6-7 See our Celebrating Israel pages for photos and more photos of the community Yom Ha’Atzmaut party, and other good stuff. p21-25
TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p10-11
JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p12
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p13
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
The few hundred people seated in the JCC’s Kline Auditorium on March 31 realized the film they’d come to watch would be difficult to get through.
“We know each moment will be heart-wrenching,” said Amy Golding, who cochaired the event along with Lauren Rabin. “Yet you chose to show up.”
“The only way to see it is with the community,” said Robby Wax, president of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, which presented this new documentary at the time it was playing nationally in first-run theaters (though nowhere else in the Lehigh Valley). Fresh-popped popcorn and boxes of Mike and Ikes lent the feel of a movie theater.
“October 8” begins with the horror of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and quickly transitions to the aftermath. It traces the months of antisemitism directed at Jews all over the globe as much of the world quickly seemed to forget the fact that Hamas attacked and killed Israeli civilians of all ages and took hostages back to Gaza, many of whom still have not been returned.
The film, which features appearances by actresses Debra Messing and Noa Tishby and others, showed how global media bias fanned the flames of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. “Wars today are not only on battlefields, but on media outlets and social media,” said an Israel Defense Forces officer on camera.
One glaring early example of news media mistakes and misconduct came at the end of October 2023, when numer-
ous outlets reported that an Israeli missile had hit a Gaza hospital, killing and injuring civilians. The source of the information was the “Gaza Ministry of Health,” an instrument of Hamas, which the U.S. State Department has officially listed as a terrorist group since 1997.
The IDF responded promptly that the incident was under investigation. That didn’t slow the storm of social media condemning Israel for the attack and fueling antiIsrael anger. The evidence soon showed that the missile was not launched by the IDF, but was a malfunctioning or misfired Hamas weapon. But the damage had already been done.
Human rights organizations have sometimes fared no better than the media— comparatively worse if you expect better of them due to
their self-professed mission to seek justice. A former 13-yearveteran executive from Human Rights Watch reacted to one written release from the organization criticizing Israel post-Hamas attacks. “Not one mention was made of a Jewish victim or a hostage,” she said.
“People are thinking that if a human rights organization is saying it, it must be true, and that’s a dangerous assumption to make.”
The worst of the growing antisemitism in America re-
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
When Robby Wax took over as president of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley in 2022, he hardly expected the world to turn upside down— again.
The Jewish community was just beginning to rebound from the anxiety and isolation of Covid, finally gathering in person and pick-
ing up momentum. Then, on October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. The Jewish homeland was at war, Israeli hostages were taken to Gaza, Israeli women were raped and beaten, antisemitism soon spiked all over the world, and Jews in the Lehigh Valley and elsewhere were feeling especially vulnerable.
Robby was a great fit to be the leader at this time. The senior vice president and general counsel for St. Luke’s University Health Network is close friends with his Federation predecessor, Gary Fromer, who had just led the organization through the pandemic and could provide critical guidance. Robby is a well-spoken, well-written, well-respected former winner of the Federation’s George Feldman Achievement Award for Young Leadership who knew how to get things done and to stand up for a cause.
But how can you really be prepared for a moment like October 7 and what followed? Being intimately familiar with the community and its people
didn’t hurt. Wax, the son of Stan z”l and Vicki Wax, grew up here and witnessed his parents’ deep involvement in the Jewish agencies and organizations—a couple of highlights: Stan was a former Federation president and Vicki was corecipient, along with Robby, of the Daniel Pomerantz Award for Campaign Leadership. Robby spent much of his youth bouncing between the Jewish Day School (through fifth grade), Sunday school and Hebrew high school at Congregation Keneseth Israel, the JCC and its basketball courts, and Pinemere Camp in the Poconos.
Along the way, he was deeply influenced by Jeanette Eichenwald, the wise community educator famous for her grasp of Jewish history and her ability to make it understandable to any audience.
“Anybody who has had the privilege of being her student at any stage of life is truly blessed,” Robby said. “She taught me as a teenager and provided incredible lessons
that remain with me today. Her classes covered the history of the Holocaust and America’s role in that era, as well as lessons on how, as a young person, you are obligated to stand up to hate and bigotry towards all people, not just toward Jews.”
After high school, Robby left for Emory University in Atlanta. While in his senior year there, he met his wife, Laurie. They started dating after he moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple Law School.
After graduating from Temple, he joined the Dechert law firm in the city, where he worked for several years. He moved to Allentown in 2002 to raise his children closer to his parents. Robby received a job offer from St. Luke’s University Health Network in 2004. He wouldn’t have to travel any longer, and he could spend more time with his two sons, then 4-year-old Ben and newborn Danny. Pinemere also came call-
By Dr. Nicole Rosenthal and Dr. Jarrod Rosenthal Special to Hakol
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, it seems there’s little space for the mundane. For many families, nightly greetings after long days at work have been heavy with incident reporting. We have watched in horror as Jew hatred has infiltrated every area of our lives, including our medical institutions.
The post-10/7 reality was the catalyst for CEO Michelle Stravitz founding the American Jewish Medical Association in December 2023. There was “a volcanic eruption (of antisemitism) in the healthcare space,” she said, much like in academia and elsewhere. It seems the world was waiting to respond to the attack on Israel and the Jews, and the response was calculated. Jews are now faced with how to respond in our communities, schools, and workplaces.
On March 29, the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the AJMA hosted the third event since its inception, a panel discussion featuring Jeremy Winaker, executive director of the Greater Philly Hillel Network; Professor Claire Finklestein, director of the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law at Penn Carey Law; Lori Lowenthal Marcus, legal director of the Deborah Project; Andrew Goretsky, regional director of ADL Philadelphia; and Professor Karen Glanz of
Penn Medicine, a member of Penn’s task force on antisemitism.
Stravitz opened the discussion with remarks about the concerning explosion of antisemitism in medicine. Since Hamas’s attack, she said, the AJMA has been alerted to antisemitic incidents in every area of the healthcare field. Provider-to-provider attacks have seen respected physicians calling for the removal of Zionist colleagues from the profession. Therapists have created blacklists doxing and calling for the boycott of Jewish associates. The providerpatient bond has been broken: numerous therapists and physicians have fired Jewish patients for expressing anxiety over October 7, and patients have fired their Jewish physicians.
Stravitz points out that medical schools have also seen a fierce rise in antisemitism, with many Jewish students being ostracized and kept out of study groups and clubs. One resident at the conference spoke about an intern who approached him for support. She was cut out socially from her residency class and not allowed to study with the group. She felt alone.
Much like we are seeing in our universities, there are patterns in the healthcare space with the same speakers and panels showing up at conferences and medical schools to push their anti-Israel, antisemitic agenda. Jewish students and residents are rendered helpless in most of these
As a token of gratitude to those who have made gifts to the Life and Legacy program, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley mailed thank-you cards in time for Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees, with packets of parsley seeds tucked into the envelopes.
Federation asked the recipients to send in photos of their parsley. Lynne Shampain, Life and Legacy chair, is pictured above with her freshly grown parsley.
situations. One medical student told of a visiting physician/ speaker known for his anti-Zionist views who turned his talk to “genocide” in Gaza and spewed false information unopposed to a roomful of students. The student was too scared to respond.
One resident presented the panel with his own predicament.
A dual citizen, he had been forced to remove his American/Israeli flag pin, which HR considered a political statement. Meanwhile, colleagues were sporting Cuban American, British American, and other pins representing their own interests and struggles. Finklestein advised him that the law is being applied indiscriminately in this case and that’s a Title VII violation: workplace discrimination.
Physicians, residents, nurses, and scrub techs told stories of vile antisemitism.
One nurse and her non-Jewish colleague reported being outraged by a scrub tech who posted a photo of herself in the operating room with a
keffiyeh scrub cap, holding up a bloody glove that read “Free Palestine.” It went viral on social media. Staff have reported it, yet no action has been taken.
The AJMA, Stravitz pointed out, was created to advocate nationally. She has worked tirelessly to correspond with other nationally recognized physician groups, like the American Medical Association and the Association of American Physicians, to make them aware that many constituents feel they lack representation by their organizations. The AAP wrote a letter to the U.S. secretary of state, for instance, demanding action over the detention of Gaza doctor Hussam Abu
Safiya, reportedly identified as a Hamas operative. AAP had issued a statement on the suffering of Gaza children, but not one about the Israeli child hostages or other Israelis who have suffered unthinkable trauma.
Stravitz urged the physicians in the room to remain active in their professional organizations and use their collective voices for change. She also encouraged all Jewish physicians to join the AJMA.
Dr. Nicole Rosenthal, a pediatrician, and Dr. Jarrod Rosenthal, a urologist, are members of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Maimonides Society of healthcare professionals.
The seeds represent the seeds the recipients are sowing through their generous Life and Legacy commitments that will help ensure that the values, cultures, and heritage of Jewish life remain strong and vibrant in our community for years to come.
To find out how you can do your part through the Life and Legacy program to ensure that the Jewish community continues to thrive into the future, contact Aaron Gorodzinsky at 610-821-5500 or aaron@jflv.org.
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
A group from the Lehigh Valley Jewish community traveled to Harrisburg on Yom HaShoah for the annual Civic Commemoration of the Holocaust at the state capitol. Leah Leisawitz, a seventhgrader who spent three years at the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley during Covid and a granddaughter of Allentown residents Jay and Evelyn Lipschutz, presented the Holocaust story of her great-grandparents to Governor Josh Shapiro, state lawmakers, and the others gathered.
Jay and Evelyn were both there, as were Leah’s parents, Michele and Ben Leisawitz, and her great-grandmother Esther Bratt. “My wife and I,”
said Jay, “are so proud of Michele and particularly Leah, who is proud of Judaism and doing her bat mitzvah project speaking out about the Holocaust, since her greatgrandmother is a Holocaust survivor. This proved to be a wonderful day for the entire family.”
Leah researched and put together the presentation as her bat mitzvah project and was invited to bring it to the annual commemoration in Harrisburg. Crediting JDS for instilling confidence in her, she has made the Holocaust presentation at multiple schools and other locations.
Her visits include a companion who boosts her confidence too. “My great-grandmother is always there, answering questions that everyone has, and everyone gets to meet her
afterwards,” Leah said. “I feel like that has a special impact on them.”
Esther was a young girl in Poland when World War II began. She and her parents endured the horrors of the Vilna ghetto and later the HaKapeh labor camp. They beat staggering odds to survive—there’s less than a 1% chance of a whole family making it out alive. During the Kinderaktion, the Nazi campaign to murder Jewish children, her father, helped by a Christian named Nicolai, hid her in a cellar until liberation in 1944.
Leah also told the audience at the capitol about her great-grandfather Sid Bratt, Evelyn’s husband, who died in September 2024. He was 10 years old in Nazi Germany when he witnessed Kristallnacht, the 1938 governmentsanctioned pogrom targeting Jewish communities. He was taken to London without any siblings in the Kindertransport rescue operation and spent the war in Jewish orphanages. He was reunited with his father in 1945 but never saw his mother or siblings again.
The capitol commemoration, so important to the Jewish community and the State of Pennsylvania, made Michele feel honored and proud. “It was such a meaningful ceremony,” she said,
“especially with everything happening in the world right now.”
Leah could relate. “I just want to tell the story so I can
influence the next generation about the Holocaust,” she said, “and try to make sure it never happens again to anyone.”
By Lisa Yoskowitz ECE Director
By Eric Lightman Executive Director
The phrase, “It takes a village” could not be truer than when applied to the field of Early Childhood Education. During my 5.5 years here at the JCC, I have worked alongside many in my community to create and continue to build a successful program. So, I am excited to introduce Jen Moyer, our new Assistant Director in Early Childhood Education. With a passion for fostering young minds and a wealth of experience in early childhood development, Jen brings a
Eve Peterson was not only the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley’s long-time controller, she was also an avid pickleball player. If she was not in her office balancing the JCC’s books, you could probably find her in the gymnasium hitting “dinks” and making sure she stayed out of the “kitchen.” Sadly last year, the JCC lost both a valuable employee and an enthusiastic program participant when Eve lost her battle with cancer.
Two of Eve’s biggest passions were promoting the game of pickleball and raising money for the JCC. Together with Eve’s daughter and husband, the JCC found the perfect way to honor Eve by combining
these two endeavors, as the first Eve Peterson Memorial Pickleball Event was held on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The event was made possible by the title sponsor, Belfor Property Restoration.
fresh perspective to our team. She holds a degree in English Language and Literature and is currently working towards a Masters in Early Childhood Education (with a focus in administration, management and leadership). Jen has worked in various early childhood settings, demonstrating a deep commitment to creating nurturing, inclusive environments that support both children and educators. As Assistant Director, Jen will work closely with staff and families to ensure the continued success and growth of our programs, with a focus on enhancing
The event featured both a beginner’s clinic and open play for players of all levels. A mini-session was also held for children, many of whom will be competing in the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Mini and Jr. Maccabi Games this spring. In total, over 40 people came together to play pickleball and learn about Eve’s many contributions to the JCC. Through this event, and through so many other things that go on every day at the JCC, Eve’s spirit and dedication continue to live on.
curriculum, professional development, and family
offering a curriculum designed to engage children through
learners can grow, explore, and develop essential skills.
By Tracy Sussman Membership and Marketng Director
Mah Jongg has long been a catalyst for connection, inspiring gatherings that highlight the game’s deeply social nature. It bridges generations, bringing together players of all ages around the table.
The Mah Jongg Madness tournaments at the JCC have become a beloved tradition within our growing Mah Jongg community. These events draw participants from all walks of life, each one eager to swap stories, share strategies, and most importantly, enjoy the warmth of community. Some
even call it “therapy with tiles.” Congratulations to all of our Spring Mah Jongg Madness winners, especially our top winner, Sandra Greenfield! Mah Jongg is more than just a game—it’s a beautiful blend of strategy, memory, and pattern recognition, all wrapped up in laughter, conversation, and camaraderie. Want to get in on the fun? Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate player, or just looking for a friendly game, we offer classes, social play, and tournament opportunities. We hope you’ll consider joining our Mah Jongg community at the JCC! To learn more, contact Tracy Sussman at tsussman@lvjcc.org.
President John F. Kennedy designated May as Older Americans Month, an occasion to honor and acknowledge the contributions of older adults. The 2025 theme, Flip the Script on Aging, focuses on challenging stereotypes of aging, as well as exploring opportunities for staying engaged, highlighting opportunities for purpose and connection.
JFS strives to address this on a daily basis with various programs. The transition from working to retirement is a significant life change that requires preparation and adjustment. Many retirees seek new ways to be involved.
The JFS program, Schmooze and Schmear, is one example of a program that helps ease the transition to retirement. In 2018, Sam Bub and Leon Zoller had an idea for a small men’s group where they could socialize as well as learn together. The first group consisted of eight men who met at Wegman’s, and has now grown into a gathering of 25 gentlemen who meet in the social hall of Temple Beth El. They begin their morning with a bagel and schmear and transition into the presentation portion of the program. Facilitated by members, a wide variety of topics have included The History
of Psychedelics, The History of Magic with a magic show, photographic essays, and travelogues from presenters’ work and leisure travel around the world. This diverse group of men pull from their various backgrounds as businessmen, attorneys, educators, photographers, dentists, and physicians to create appealing program topics.
Schmooze and Schmear participants are flipping the script on aging. The gentlemen are engaged in community, continue to learn and grow, see friends and develop new connections. One
speaker commented, “Everyone has a story worth telling.” The participant-driven model gives anyone who would like to make a presentation a platform to share their knowledge.
If you or someone you care about would like more information on Schmooze and Schmear or any of the older adult services or programs, please contact Carol Wilson, clinical coordinator of older adult services. Carol can be reached at 610.351.9956 or olderadults@jfslv.org.
JFS is grateful for everyone who participated in Cheers for Volunteers 2025 –honorees, sponsors, volunteers, board and committee members, JFS staff and the community.
Without all these hardworking and dedicated people, we would not be able to serve individuals and families in the Lehigh Valley. Thank you for your continued support!
JFS volunteers, Roberta and Alan Penn are the only couple to have both been past presidents of JFS. Roberta was not quite 30 in 1976 when she became the second president while JFS was still under the Jewish Federation umbrella. Alan served as president in 1986 and 1987. Alan and Roberta share a commitment to the JFS Life and Legacy program.
This dynamic duo has a special place in their hearts for JFS, as they dedicate their time making mazel meal deliveries with lots of enthusiasm. While Roberta and Alan occasionally volunteer as individuals, they enjoy volunteering as a couple.
Roberta and Alan say, “It just feels good to be doing something for JFS. It’s given more to us than we’re giving.”
Jennifer Oxfeld, JFS volunteer coordinator, says, “I love when the Penns are in town. They are so excited to come and help wherever they are needed.”
Looking back at their involvement with JFS from 1976 to now, Alan and Roberta Penn are the gift that just keeps on giving.
We thank those individuals who have graciously supported Jewish Family Service with tributes:
IN HONOR
CHEERS HONOREES
Joan and Richard Bass
CLARA BERGSTEIN
(Cheers honoree)
Joanna Goldberg
JANIE COHEN
(Cheers honoree)
Joshua Greenberg
Allison and Shay Shimon
Stephanie and Stephen Szilagyi
JUANA DEL SOLAR
Linda and Harold Kreithen
HARVEY HAKIM (Birthday)
Audrey and Richard Nolte
RABBI ALLEN JUDA
Tamar Juda
VICKIE SEMMEL (Birthday)
Audrey Schlaepfer
MARSHA TIMMERMAN (Cheers honoree)
Altman Wender Family
John and Ione Gaita
Janice and Edwin Kay
Paula Tahler
IN LOVING MEMORY
MARILYN BERGSTEIN
(Mother of Steven Bergstein and Randi Freedman)
Florence Hausman
AUDREY CHERNEY
(Mother of Jon and James Cherney)
Audrey and Richard Nolte
ROBYN FLEISCHMAN
(Relative of Jeff Fleischman)
Ralph and Alice Polumbo
HERB GILLES
(Husband of Ann Goldberg, brother of Barry Gilles)
Florence Hausman
ROLAND JOSEPH
(Husband of Dorothy Joseph, father of Michael, Paul, David, and Mark Joseph and Debra McCall)
Patricia and Jerry Kemmerer
DEANNE KAPLAN (Wife of Arnold Kaplan)
Audrey and Richard Nolte
MARC KARPO (Brother)
Binae Karpo
LYDIA SALKIN (Yahrzeit-sister)
Shari Salkin
MARJORIE WEISS (Wife of Ross Weiss)
Phyllis and Henry Perkin
Chloe Deitelzweig and Mark Takken have been named Melvin M. Goldberg Research-in-Israel Fellows for 2025. It’s an unusual announcement, since the annual award usually goes to only one undergrad.
“Although we give this $5,000 grant annually to one student,” Ken Goldberg wrote to the award winners, “we are making an exception this year to award the grant to both of you, as you both are exceptionally qualified!” Goldberg, a professor at the University of California— Berkeley and son of Melvin M. Goldberg z”l, manages the fellowship program he helped found in memory of his father. The funds are administered by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.
Deitelzweig and Takken will each receive $5,000 to put toward their travel and
stay in Israel for the summer, doing supervised technical research at one of Israel’s universities or research cen ters. Each has begun working with advisors at their fulltime schools to connect with supervisors at Israeli institu tions.
Deitelzweig is studying neuroscience at the Univer sity of Pennsylvania, with mi nors in Hebrew and Judaica and in chemistry. She plans to do her summer research at Wolfson Medical Center, exploring the relationship between patient motivational states and medical outcomes, such as how factors like depression or substance use may influence treatment ad herence and recovery.
“Receiving this grant is being gifted the opportu nity to combine my love of Israel with my love of medi cine,” she said. “I’m eager to become a better researcher,
By Ellen Sosis Special to Hakol
I recently had the privilege of traveling to Greece as part of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley’s Partnership2Gether initiative. For those who may not be familiar, Partnership2Gether is a remarkable collaboration that brings together community members from the Lehigh Valley and Yoav, Israel. Together, we develop programs and initiatives designed to foster meaningful, peopleto-people connections. The committee gathers in person annually or biannually, alternating between Israel and the United States, to collaborate and plan programs for the future.
This year, we had the unique opportunity to meet in Greece, exploring the possibility of involving the Greek Jewish community in some of our activities. As a
he said. “I have been reading their papers for months with much enthusiasm, and I am excited to get to work with them directly!”
newcomer to Partnership 2Gether, I found this experi ence incredibly educational and profoundly moving. While it’s difficult to put into words the full impact of this journey, I would like to share some highlights that underscore the significance of our relationship with Yoav and the potential for new connections in Greece.
We spent our first day in Athens, exploring the city’s Jewish heritage. We visited a local Sephardic and Romaniote synagogue. Before World War II, the Jewish population in Greece numbered around 80,000. Following the war, only 12,000 Jews remained; today, there are about 5,000. Despite these sobering statistics, Athens is home to a vibrant Jewish community. There’s a Jewish day school, a summer camp, and a bustling JCC that serves as a hub for activities. Due to Greece’s proximity to Israel, a
significant number of Israelis have immigrated to the area, contributing actively to the community.
One particularly memorable experience was our visit to the Athens JCC. We were warmly welcomed and treated to a hands-on cooking demonstration, sharing traditional recipes and stories. The hospitality and warmth of the Greek community were evident as we cooked, laughed, and connected with one another.
Another unforgettable highlight of the trip was spending Shabbat in Thessaloniki. The prayers were familiar, despite slight differences in the melodies, and it was incredibly moving to celebrate Shabbat alongside both the Israelis and the Greeks. After services, the local rabbi delivered an inspiring impromptu sermon on the importance of unity among all Jewish people at a meaningful kiddush. We then enjoyed a traditional Shabbat dinner with the Chabad community, further strengthening our bonds with the Greeks and Israelis.
Visiting Thessaloniki was
a powerful and emotional experience. The history of the Jews there reaches back 2,000 years. Prior to World War II, the city saw its Jewish population reduced from around 50,000 to just 2,000. The destruction of Greek Jewry was heartbreaking to confront. At the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki, we were guided by a passionate scholar with a doctorate in Jewish studies, who, though not Jewish herself, was deeply committed to preserving and sharing the history of her city’s Jewish community.
Of course, the main purpose of our trip was to solidify Partnership2Gether program plans for the coming years. Through this collaboration, we not only shaped future initiatives but also deepened our connections with our Israeli counterparts.
As a new committee member, I was touched by the warmth and openness of the Israeli delegation. Many of them have children serving on the frontlines in Gaza, yet their dedication to our shared mission was constant. Their resilience and unwavering commitment were truly
inspiring.
Beyond the meetings, the Israeli delegation showed us the joy and vitality with which they embrace life. When we found ourselves in a restaurant with live music, they were the first to get up and dance, regardless of whether there was actually a dance floor! They taught us the importance of cherishing each moment, a lesson I will carry with me.
I will always treasure the bonds I formed with my fellow Lehigh Valley committee members and those from Yoav. I’m hopeful that our experiences in Greece mark the beginning of lasting connections with the Greek Jewish community. This journey was an unforgettable experience, and I am deeply grateful and appreciative to have been part of it.
By Hanna Bachar Yoav Partnership2Gether Chair
After my daughter Shai returned from summer camp in the Lehigh Valley in the summer of 2013, I joined the Israeli steering committee of the Yoav-Lehigh Valley Partnership2Gether. My decision to become involved in this partnership felt natural after hearing Shai’s stories about her time in the Valley, especially the warmth and hospitality she experienced. At the time, I was working for the Jewish National Fund, where I had a professional understanding of the Jewish Diaspora. However, it was through Shai’s experiences that I learned about the Lehigh Valley Jewish community—its people, institutions, events, and collaborative projects.
For five years, I was an active member of the steering committee, participating in meetings, organizing activities, and contributing to various initiatives. In the summer of 2018, after Cynthia Wroclawski completed her term as chair, I was honored with the opportunity to step into that role. This unexpected honor coincided with my retirement after 30 years of working, which allowed me to dedicate more time to volunteering. Over time, I understood that I was continuing the work I had long been passionate about: community-building, fostering connections with Israel, and strengthening the relationship between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora.
I began my term as chair alongside the wonderful Amit Zehavi, who took over as the partnership’s director. Our new beginnings together created an opportunity to refresh and innovate. Amit and I worked to reorganize the committee’s structure, bringing in members from all Yoav communities to ensure that every community had a voice at the table. These committee members became ambassadors for the partnership in their communities, helping to raise awareness about its mission and activities.
Each member of the steering committee was also responsible for a specific issue of focus—education, youth, women, arts, and more—ensuring that everyone could contribute in a personally meaningful way. As the partnership’s activities expanded, we welcomed additional volunteers from Yoav, not necessarily committee members, who helped with projects and tasks.
A particularly meaningful milestone occurred in the summer of 2019, when we hosted a group of women from Lehigh Valley to participate in a Momentum journey. Four women from Yoav
joined that group. Three years later, after a Covid-19 hiatus, another group of women from Lehigh Valley would visit, staying with Yoav families and forming deep, lasting connections.
In November 2019, we gathered about 50 alumni of the Lehigh Valley summer camps for an emotional reunion. They shared memories from camps dating back to 2003, and many of these alumni, now with families of their own, continue to maintain strong ties with their host families.
The Covid pandemic then halted our in-person programming. For two years, no youths from Yoav attended summer camps, and our joint steering committee meetings were paused. We embraced remote activities, including Zoom lectures, Holocaust remembrance sessions, joint film screenings, and committee meetings where we brainstormed what we could do during this challenging period.
Though the pandemic years were a low point for the partnership’s activities, we persevered. We kept in touch, supported one another, and longed to reconnect with friends across the ocean who had become family. Personally, I felt fortunate to have visited the United States twice during this period, meeting with friends from the Lehigh Valley in person, even if it meant wearing masks.
As soon as the world began to recover, two significant visits happened. In May 2022, 12 members of the Israeli steering committee visited the Lehigh Valley to participate in Israel’s Memorial and Independence Day events. It was an incredibly meaningful visit, as we had the opportunity to showcase the beauty of Israel and Yoav to our friends. This visit is one I will always treasure.
A year later, in May 2023, a delegation from Lehigh Valley visited Yoav. This was the largest and most diverse group to visit us, and we discussed the future of the partnership and potential new projects. It was also a chance to showcase fundraising projects in Yoav, which were later supported by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. We also made a special visit to Jerusalem, learning about the unique aspects of Yoav together. Perhaps most significantly, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the partnership, a major milestone that reflected the deep and lasting bonds between our communities.
Over the years, I had the privilege of hosting many guests from the Lehigh Valley at my home in Kibbutz Beit Guvrin: Jewish Federation and JCC staff, steering
committee members, community members, and even teenagers who came to Israel on Birthright trips. Some of them have become part of my family. The Zager family first visited us in 2014, when they celebrated Matthew’s bar mitzvah in Israel, and since then, they’ve returned time and again. Similarly, Alicia and Bruce Zahn, as well as Aaron Gorodzinsky, who stayed with us during his visits, and later came back with his mother, Tessy.
I also have had the honor of visiting the Lehigh Valley multiple times—both as part of the partnership and on private trips. Every visit was an opportunity to connect, embrace, and deepen the bonds of friendship and family.
Over the past year and a half, and since October 7, we have all been enduring difficult days, during which the Jewish people in Israel
and the Diaspora have been in the midst of a war, alongside waves of hatred and antisemitism. The fact that we are connected through our special bond is deeply meaningful to me and to the entire Yoav community.
As I near the end of my nearly seven-year term as chair of the Israeli steering committee, I reflect on this incredible journey with gratitude and emotion. It has been a personal and professional highlight for me as
a volunteer. Although I am stepping down as chair, I will remain involved as a committee member and support Orit Gutman, the new chair, in any way I can. I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to be part of this partnership, and I consider myself fortunate to have gained Miriam Zager as a colleague, friend, and sister. I’m happy that Lehigh Valley is now my home away from home.
By Avraham Sacks United Hatzalah
The Jewish Federation’s Maimonides Society donated a motorcycle-ambulance to the all-volunteer United Hatzalah of Israel in memory of Dr. Mickey Ufberg in 2022. EMT Yonatan Aouat operates the ambucycle on the crowded streets of Netanya, slipping through traffic and usually arriving first on the scene.
Late one afternoon, a 13-year-old boy attempted to cross Ben Tzvi Avenue near an area under construction, with unclear markings and
no designated crosswalk. A driver coming down the street didn’t see him in time and hit him. The impact sent the boy flying, leaving him lying seriously injured on the pavement.
An emergency call went out and Aouat jumped onto the Ufberg ambucycle and weaved swiftly through traffic to reach the scene within moments. Arriving alongside other medics, he found the teenager lying on the ground, bleeding heavily from a head wound. He was disoriented and agitated—worrying signs of a serious head injury and
possible internal bleeding.
Aouat and his fellow medics wasted no time. They quickly got the bleeding under control, immobilized the victim’s neck with a cervical collar, and treated his other lacerations and suspected fractures. Throughout the rescue, they reassured the boy and kept him stable.
When the ambulance arrived, the medics worked with the crew to secure him carefully onto a backboard and load him into the ambulance for urgent transport to the hospital.
Residents of the Phoebe Ministries locations Phoebe Allentown, Phoebe Richland, and Chestnut Ridge at Rodale came together in April to learn about and celebrate Passover.
Howard Nathanson, a volunteer with Jewish Family Service, visited Phoebe Allentown to share the Passover story with interested residents of all faiths. He covered everything from the exodus out of Egypt to the rich symbolism found throughout the traditional seder, explaining why adults drink four cups of wine, why everyone reclines in their seats, and why children hunt for the afikomen, a piece of matzoh hidden in the house.
Following his presentation, Nathanson invited Chaplain Shelley Drozd, a
recent graduate of the clinical pastoral education program at Phoebe, to sing Passover songs, including “Dayenu” (“It Would Have Been Enough”). Later Drozd went to Chestnut Ridge to tell the story of Passover with the help of resident Beth Posner.
Nathanson has visited Phoebe Allentown every year since 2022, but this was the first time he held a traditional seder in Moyer Hall. Jewish residents from independent living, personal care, and health care center took part. Chestnut Ridge opened in February 2024 and this was its first Passover event, and more than 50 residents took part. Phoebe Richland held its second annual Passover seder for Jewish residents this year.
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
A siren wailed in the JCC Kline Auditorium on the evening of April 30. “In Israel, Yom Hazikaron begins with the sound of the siren all over the country,” said Lee Kestecher Solomon, director of community engagement for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.
Solomon organized this commemoration for Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, honoring the 30,649 Israelis who have fallen in enemy attacks or in defense of Israel. She explained that when hearing the siren, Israelis immediately stop what they’re doing and stand in silence. Those gathered in the JCC did just that.
“The past year and a half have been full of uncertainty, social distancing, and great pain for us all,” she said. “Tonight, we come together to embrace, to connect, and to grow stronger as a community.”
Mark Notis stepped to the podium to tell the story of his cousin’s son. Israel Defense Forces Master Sergeant Ari Zenilman was killed in battle with Hamas at Khan Younis in December 2023. Zenilman had made aliyah with his family when he was a kid. After the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, he went off to war. He was 32 years old and married and had three young children.
“These are the kinds of things that happen to other people,” Notis said—until they suddenly hit closer to home. “It becomes so personal when it happens to you. Now, for me, a funeral for a young soldier takes on a whole new meaning.”
Notis said he’s thought a lot about Zenilman’s wife and kids. “Now she’s a widow,” he said, “and three young kids will grow up without a father.” He noted that hundreds of families experience similar tragedies.
Eric Zager and Zach Tamarkin got up to talk about Ilay Nachman, an Israeli they knew personally from when they were campers at Pinemere and he was visiting for the summer as a counselor. Nachman was an off-duty Shin Bet agent attending the Nova Music Festival with his close friends Matan Ekstein and Addir Mesika and other friends on October 7 when Hamas attacked.
The group heard rocket fire and hid in a roadside shelter. Then Hamas approached. Ekstein ran out to create a diversion. He was shot and killed.
Nachman and Mesika were unarmed but decided the only hope was for them to fight. “They charged the terrorists with their bare hands, saving their friend and their girlfriends,” said Tamarkin. They themselves were both killed. The survivors were soon rescued.
Alexis Gabay-Ratner sang at the Yom Hazikaron commemoration. She asked Hakol to publish the following short essay she wrote for the occasion.
Remembrance for the Jewish people is like clockwork. Remembrance is a somber task we face each and every waking moment of our day. It is a task we take upon ourselves to permeate this remembrance through the microcosmic estates of our minds, to our com munities where we share, we love, and we grieve, and to the mac rocosm of the world, where we spread the tales of those who we lost, their tragedies and legacies alike, to ensure their memories re main unscathed by time.
Remembrance is an intrinsic component of the Jewish life, one that tears our hearts to pieces, that over the course of millennia is so heavy with all the people who found a place inside it. We not only remember but also grieve. Our hearts cry. They will the tears to be shed. Our hearts suffer for those who suffered beyond compare. We cry alongside those whose tears may never stop falling. As we cry, we take comfort in remembrance too, and by remembering, we are comforted. Through this, our suffering has become a source of unity, just as we have united through our rage, our joy, our excitement, our longing, our belief, our desire.
We are one great candle, ablaze for every soul taken too
Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation, read from the lyrics of the song “I Have No Other Country,” written in 1982 by Israeli lyricist Ehud Manor as a late response to his younger brother’s death in the 1967 SixDay War. The song’s narrator loves Israel despite its flaws and whatever happens and will forever remain deeply loyal to it. “I have no other country,” the lyrics say, “even if my land is burning.”
Stories of other fallen soldiers and civilians, prayers, poems, songs, and much wisdom came from other presenters throughout the evening. They included Rabbi Moshe Re’em of Temple Beth El, Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom, Shay and Zoey Shimon, Naomi Schachter, Alicia Zahn, Miriam Zager, and Rabbi Steve Nathan of the Lehigh University chaplain’s office. Chana Alterman danced to the song “A New Day Will Rise” by October 7 survivor Yuval Raphael, who will sing to represent Israel on May 11 at the annual Eurovision competition (see the article on page 22).
In closing, Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg of Congregation Keneseth Israel led the “Prayer for the State of Israel” and Rabbi Adrienne Rubin of Congregation Bnai Shalom “A Prayer for Our Country.” The full audience sang the Israeli national anthem to finish.
Why the blood of the Maccabees flower?
Ariel Solomon told the audience how Dam HaMakabim (blood of the Maccabees), known in English-speaking countries as red everlasting, became the symbol of Yom Hazikaron.
Writer and filmmaker Haim Gouri first made the connection between the flower and Israeli war casualties in a poem he wrote in memory of 35 members of the elite Israeli strike force Palmach who were killed in January 1948.
The bold name of the flower traces back two millennia. “According to legend,” Solomon said, “after fighting fiercely to protect
the land of Israel, wherever a Maccabee warrior’s drop of blood was shed, a small flower immediately sprang up, red and bright as blood.” In the spring, usually around Yom Hazikaron, the flower blooms all around Israel.
“Therefore,” Solomon continued, “every Yom Hazikaron, we wear the blue sticker with Dam HaMakabim on our shirts as a sign of remembrance and respect for those who sacrificed their lives while defending the State of Israel and in memory of those who died in terrorist attacks.”
In memory of the fallen
In silence, the hills remember.
A red bloom stirs where footsteps faded. No trumpet called, no glory shouted— just the earth, cradling names unspoken. They rose when others faltered. They stood so we could walk in light. Now in fields, where poppies might have grown, the Dam HaMakabim burns bright.
A flower not just of blood— But of hope, of promise, of everlasting memory. We wear it not for sorrow alone, But for the echo of their courage in the heartbeat of our nation.
By Nurit Galon Partnership2Gether
When I made aliyah in 1961, I came with my Hashomer Hatzair youth group, and we joined the Nachal Brigade, the Israel Defense Forces unit attached to our kibbutzim. We did basic training in army camps and then trained further in border settlements. What I remember vividly was my first Yom Ha’Atzmaut. My army group was chosen to march in the parade in Tel Aviv, and we spent almost every day practicing. To tell the truth, we didn’t really see the significance of all this drilling until the actual day of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, when we marched through the
were crowded with people crying and waving Israeli flags.
We understood that many of them were Holocaust survivors and that living in a free Israel, with its own army and air force, alleviated their fears and brought enormous satisfaction.
Today Yom Ha’Atzmaut is a constant reminder of all we have worked for, all we have gained, and all we shall continue to fight for. It’s not just one day but the accumulation of all the past Yom Ha’Atzmauts that have brought us here. We have the right to celebrate, to continue the fight, every inch of the way!
There are over 50 hostages still to be rescued from
Hamas, hostages who still do not know whether they will return or how. Israelis continue to fight and demonstrate for their release.
This is Israel today, with Yom Ha’Atzmaut a focal point for unity, as it has always been. No, the people say, of course we are not giving up!
So, again this year, we will celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut and everything it stands for. And just what does it stand for? Independence, the right to decide that this is our country and, as we fought for it in the past against overwhelming odds, so we continue to fight for its future. Also, democracy, against fascism, for families to walk leisurely in the park, for children to play safely.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut is also picnic time, when, according to years of tradition, we venture outside to eat with whole extended families. Ah, the appetizing smells from every direction! It’s also hiking time. Israelis truly love their country and enjoy nothing more than exploring the land in which they are rooted. Now, this is a tradition worth having!
“For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today,” Elliot Cosgrove, Harvest, 2024, 240 pages.
By Sean Boyle Jewish Day School
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove’s latest book, “For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today,” looks at the impact the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel made on the American Jewish community.
The book is divided into three parts: “What Was,” “What Is,” and “What Might Be.” Cosgrove takes the reader from the story of Esther, to the modern-day American Jews’ views of Israel, to whether there is any prospect for a future two-state solution.
Cosgrove compares American Jews and their re-
lationship with Judaism and Israel to Esther, who asserted her hidden Jewish identity to defeat Haman and his plan to exterminate all Jews in the Persian empire. October 7 gave American Jews new responsibilities of their own: to advocate for Israel, to help support Israel, and to fight the growing antisemitism. He explores how, for decades, many American Jews experienced American Zionism as a substitute for religious Judaism because they found it easier to come together in support of Israel than in religious practices and traditions. Aligning American Jewish identity with the debate about how much enriched uranium Iran could have was easier than debating whether to allow children to go out on Friday night.
Cosgrove dedicates a complete chapter to the generational divide over Zionism and default loyalty to Israel. He does this from the starting point of Israel as a main part of his Jewish identity, noting the caveat that the chief rabbinate of Israel would not recognize a letter from him, a Conservative congregational rabbi, about someone’s Jewishness. Acknowledging that his daughter’s generation is largely anti-Zionist, with many of them disagreeing with what they consider to be expansionist policies of the Israeli government, he asks them not to give Israel and the Jewish people’s true enemies support or allow those groups to define anti-Zionism and decide what should happen to Israel. Being a Zionist does not mean agreeing with all Israeli government poli-
By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol
Just for fun, celebrate the holiday by making these chocolate gems as a family activity. They are delicious and easy to make.
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread
9 ounces shortbread cookies broken into small, irregular pieces
Topping: toasted coconut, or blue and white sprinkles, or finely chopped pistachios or macadamia nuts
In a medium-size saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a low boil, then immediately remove from the heat and mix in the chocolatehazelnut spread and cookie crumbs. Place the saucepan in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Remove and form 2 dozen even-size balls and roll them in your choice of topping. Place in mini cupcake liners chill until served.
cies, he explains. Diaspora Jews can criticize the government because they are coming from a place of love for Israel, just the like thousands of patriotic protesters in the streets of Israel seeking to change government policies.
Although Cosgrove asks many more questions than he answers, he does provide a vision for the future of American Zionism: the Diaspora working hand in hand to strengthen ties with Israel, American Zionists being “adroit defenders of the real, not imagined, Jewish state,” and religious pluralism in Israel as the homeland for all Jews and all forms of Jewish expression.
Highly recommended for ages 16-120. Especially for anyone interested in modern American Zionism and its relationships to Israel.
“Do Not Cry When I Die: A Holocaust Memoir of a Mother and Daughter’s Survival in Jewish Ghettos, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen,” by Renee Salt with Kate Thompson, Alcove Press, 2025, 272 pages.
By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol
Hope. Not the first word that comes to mind referencing a book that celebrates mothers. But this is no ordinary story. This is a tale of a young girl who, through the sheer love of her mother, survives the
Holocaust. Five-year-old Rywka Ruchla Berkowitz clung to the hand of her mother, Sala, as they navigated the path the Nazis had planned for them—a path that led to the death and destruction of most of their family.
Berkowitz, whose name became Renee Salt, is now 95, and this book was timed to for release 80 years after her liberation from the BergenBelsen concentration camp. As a witness to history, she had memories to share but needed someone with the expertise to relay her thoughts.
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That’s where Kate Thompson stepped in.
A journalist and bestselling author, Thompson elucubrates the mother-daughter relationship in a poignant retelling of the pair’s journey through trauma. And the particular uniqueness of this retelling is in the writing style. By alternating paragraphs between the thoughts of a young girl and the reality of history through the lens of a historian, a very moving memoir of mother and daughter was created. The titular words were spoken by mother to daughter after they were liberated and Sala knew that her death was imminent.
The photographs in the book were carefully chosen and inserted to reflect conditions of their lives, prewar and postwar. One powerful
image shows Salt, who lives in London, and Prince William at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London in February 2024 as they discovered that they both lost their beloved mothers at the age of 15.
Each person who experienced the Holocaust has a special memory to share. By allowing us into her life, pre- and post-Holocaust, Salt, with her talented and illuminating journalist friend, reminds us that Mother’s Day is indeed a day of celebration, and hope.
Sandi Teplitz reviews books regularly for Hakol and provides a recipe for each issue.
During May, you can help our Community Food Pantry families by donating deodorant. It can be dropped off at JFS during business hours, in the bins at the JCC and Temple Beth El, or ordered through the JFS Amazon Wish List Thank you so much for the support you provide our food pantry families!
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.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Sing for Your Supper, Take 2
5-8 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel
This Havdalah service, sing-along, and putluck dinner with Donna Fisher, Alan Salinger, and Jan Herzog is back by popular demand. All are welcome--bring family and friends. Register at kilv.org and submit your potluck offering.
SUNDAY, MAY 4
Maimonides: “A Conversation on Vaccines”
10 a.m., JCC Kline Auditorium
This Maimonides Society of healthcare professionals Brunch and Learn will feature Dr. Michael Greenberg, who works in vaccine development for Sanofi Pasteur in France. A bagel breakfast will be served. Attendance is free. Registration required at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/maimonides-brunch-and-learn-vaccines.
TUESDAYS, MAY 6, 20, 27
Martin Buber Seminar
10-11:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel
David Fryer, a Jewish ethicist and author of two academic books, will explore the work of Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, author of the seminal “I and Thou.” There will be short readings for each class. All are welcome. For questions, email kilv.org/ contact-us.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Jewish Heritage Night at the IronPigs
6:45 p.m., Coca-Cola Park, Allentown
Save the date for the annual Jewish community gathering at the ballpark, with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs playing the Worcester Red Sox. Contact 610.821.5500.
FRIDAY, MAY 9
PJ Library Monthly Tot Shabbat
4-5:30 p.m., Congregation Brith Sholom Kids and their families will learn about Shabbat and celebrate with songs and PJ Library stories. A light dinner will be provided. Participants will receive everything they need to celebrate Shabbat at home. Registration required at jewishlehighvalley. regfox.com/pj-library-monthly-tot-shabbat.
SATURDAY, MAY 10
Torah in Motion: Exploring the Weekly Parashah through Dance
10:30 p.m.-noon, Congregation Keneseth Israel
Join Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg to explore the Torah through body movement. Participants of all physical abilities are welcome. Registration required at kilv.org by May 8.
THURSDAY, MAY 15
JDS Mental Health Matters
8:30 a.m., Jewish Day School
Join JDS for this series of intimate monthly talks on mental health topics such as mindfulness, digital wellness, and parenting support. Free and open to the entire community. Registration required at jdslv. org/mhm.
THURSDAY, MAY 15
Dollar-a-Day Spring Event
6:45 p.m., JCC
Guest speaker Yaniv Cohen, the Spice Detective, will discuss the origins and health benefits of spices, and provide tips
on using spices. Enjoy a tasting session and also create a unique spice blend to take home. Event is open to women who pledge a minimum of $365 to the 2025 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. RSVP at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/dollar-aday-spring-event-2025 by May 1.
FRIDAY, MAY 16
Lag Ba’omer BBQ
4:30 p.m., Chabad of the Lehigh Valley
Celebrate the holiday with BBQ, music, crafts, and a petting zoo. Cost is $15 per person up to $60 per family. RSVP at chabadlehighvalley.com/lagbaomer2025.
FRIDAY, MAY 16
Lag B’omer at the Zoo
4:30-7 p.m., Lehigh Valley Zoo
Temple Beth El is hosting this holiday celebration in partnership with the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and PJ Library. The event schedule is: 4:305:30, arrive and get your own balloon animal and visit the zoo animals; 5-5:30, PJ Library program; 5:30-6, BYO picnic dinner; 6-7, Kabbalat Shabbat services. Kids and adults of all ages are invited and admission is free. Registration required at bethelallentown.org/event/lagbomer.html.
SUNDAY, MAY 18
TBE Anniversary Celebration Honoring Lori Wiener
4 p.m., Temple Beth El
The community is invited to the TBE’s 96th anniversary celebration honoring Lori Wiener. Cocktail attire. Register or sponsor at bethelallentown.org/form/tbe-96thanniversary-celebration-2025.html.
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
Standing at Sinai: Shavuot at KI
5-9 p.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel
For information, contact the synagogue through kilv.org/form/contact-us.html or call 610-435-9074.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
NextGen Family Shabbat Dinner
5:45 p.m., Muhlenberg College Hillel
Join NextGen (ages 30-45) for a family meal and family-friendly games to wrap up its second year. A gift to the Jewish Federation’s 2025 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs is required to attend. Cover charge is $18 for individuals, $36 for couples, and $54 for families of three or more. Dietary laws will be observed. Registration required at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/ nextgen-shabbat-dinner.
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
Jews and the Lehigh Valley Textile Industry
10 a.m.-noon, Congregation Keneseth Israel
Be part of the KI lifelong learning program for spring 2025 and learn about the Jewish involvement in the mid-20th-century Lehigh Valley’s thriving textile industry. Register by June 5 at kilv.org/event/jewsand-the-lehigh-valley-textile-industry.html.
ONGOING EVENTS
FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
Bnai Shalom Cash Bingo
1 p.m., Congregation Bnai Shalom
Join Bnai Shalom for its monthly bingo
game fundraiser, the first Sunday of every month (except October, when there’s no game). For more information call 610-2585343.
MONDAYS
Yiddish Club
2-3:30 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley via Zoom
Experience the joys of Yiddish via Zoom as part of Adults at the J. Enjoy fun, fellowship, stories and more. Participants Zoom in from 5 states. No cost. Call 610-4353571, ext. 501.
MONDAYS
The Importance of Tefilah/Prayer
8 p.m., Congregation Sons of Israel via Zoom
Join Rabbi Michael Belgrade of Congregation Sons of Israel for an online class about the importance of tefilah/prayer. The class draws from all Jewish sources: Tanach (Bible), Talmud (Gemara), law (halacha), hashgafa (philosophy), ethics (pirkei avot), and introspection (mussar). This class is free and open to the entire community. For Zoom information, email office@sonsofisrael.net or call 610-4336089.
WEDNESDAYS
Yoga with Miriam Sandler: Chair-Supported Yoga
1-2 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.
WEDNESDAYS
Torah Studies: A Weekly Journey into the Soul of Torah
7 p.m., Chabad of the Lehigh Valley and via Zoom
Torah Studies by the Jewish Learning Institute presents Season Two 5785, a 12-part series offered in person and via Zoom. Cost is $54 for the course, including textbook. For more information, call 610351-6511 or email rabbi@chabadlehighvalley.com.
WEDNESDAYS, DEC 4, JAN 8, FEB 12, MAR 12, APR 9, MAY 7
JDS Little Learners Class
9:30 a.m., Jewish Day School
Jewish Day School is offering a free Little Learners class for caregivers with children ages 3 and under. Storytime, movement, and music with a Jewish twist. Register at jdslv.org/little-learners.
THURSDAYS
Basic Yiddish Class
4-5:30 p.m., JCC via Zoom
Learn to read, write, speak and comprehend Yiddish. Contact 610-435-3571, ext. 501.
FRIDAYS
Kol HaEmek
9-10 a.m., WMUH 91.7
FRIDAY, MAY 2 7:41 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 9 7:48 PM FRIDAY, MAY 16 7:55 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 23 8:02 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 30 8:07 PM
“The Voice of the Valley” radio show. For information go to muhlenberg.edu/wmuh.
SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
KI Shabbat Friends
5 or 5:30 p.m., Congregation Keneseth
Israel
If you attend Shabbat services alone and feel awkward, bring your own food, drink, and topics for discussion. Call 610-4359074 for more information or to register.
SATURDAYS
KI Torah Study
9:30-11 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel
Join Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg for a study session making sense of the week’s Torah portion. Enter the building through the 23rd Street door. For more information, use the form at kilv.org/form/contactrabbicall.
SATURDAYS
Wisdom of the Talmud Class
After Shabbat Lunch and Schmooze, Congregation Brith Sholom
Join Rabbi Michael Singer in a discussion about Jewish law, ethics, customs and history as found in the pages of the Talmud. Any necessary books are available in the synagogue office. No previous Talmud study required. For information email tammy@brithsholom.net or call 610-8668009.
SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Shabbat Out of the Box 10 a.m., Keneseth Israel
Celebrating the sixth year of creative and interesting activities to inspire your Shabbat experience. Monthly programs and locations vary. Outdoor activities are weather permitting. Registration is required at kilv.org/shabbat-out-of-the-box. html.
LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Shabbat Yoga
10:30-11:30 a.m., Congregation Keneseth Israel
Bring a mat, blocks, or anything else that will bring you comfort in the practice. All are welcome. For questions, call Ann at 610-462-2549 or Jett at 610-762-1450. Register at kilv.org/event/shabbat-yoga1. html.
DAILY
Jewish Broadcasting Service
JBS is a Jewish television channel featuring daily news from Israel. jbstv.org.
DAILY
Congregation Sons of Israel Minyanim Shacharit on Mondays and Thursdays 6:30 a.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:45 a.m.; Sundays 8:30 a.m. Congregation Sons of Israel welcomes all to the daily Shacharis and Mincha/Maariv services. If you have any questions, call the synagogue office at 610-433-6089.
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY Daily Online Meditation 12:30 p.m., Institute for Jewish Spirituality
One of their master teachers will lead a live daily guided meditation. Sign up at jewishspirituality.org/get-started.
SUNDAY, JUNE 1 8:09 PM
MONDAY, JUNE 2 9:17 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 6 8:12 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 13 8:16 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 20 8:18 PM