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Community mourns loss of Naomi Warren Page 22
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The Texas Gulf Coast’s Jewish Newspaper Since 1908 October 6, 2016 - 4 TISHRI 5777
Volume CIX - Number 27
Houston, Texas
jhvonline.com
Saying goodbye to Peres, world leaders talk peace and love
See Peres on Page 4
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The JCC’s annual Book Fair dishes out food for thought during opening night
By ANDREW TOBIN | JTA
JERUSALEM – Israeli and world leaders gathered atop Mount Herzl on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, to say goodbye to Shimon Peres, Israel’s last founding father. In addition to fond personal recollections, many of those who took the stage alongside Peres’ Israeli-flag-draped coffin, offered their visions of the peace that eluded the former president and prime minister. Peres died early Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the age of 93, after being hospitalized for a major stroke.
LIOR MIZRAHI/GETTY IMAGES
Shimon Peres speaking during an interview at the president’s residence in Jerusalem, April 10, 2013.
You don’t have to be Jewish to have heard about gefilte fish. The JEWISH BOOK & ARTS FAIR, stuffed fish delicacy is one of the Opening Night subjects of two new books and is Saturday, Oct. 29, making its way to the top of the 8 p.m., at ERJCC food chain during the opening of the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Fair, Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m., at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. The books give Jewish food of Yiddish (East European) descent a makeover with new recipes. There are not many places in Houston that serve gefilte fish, but it’s on the menu and made fresh daily at Kenny &
Students value peer-to-peer learning at HHD Fair
See Book Fair on Page 4
Suicide-prevention program attacks stigma, encourages conversations By MICHAEL C. DUKE | JHV
reading stories; stuffing bread sachets for Tashlich; dissolving one’s sins in water; playing a song-and-dance game, focused on apologizing for wrongdoings; learning about the different levels of tzedakah; and making honey jars for apple dipping. One of the most popular activities involved taking students, one-by-one, into
The first program in a new communitywide initiative empowered participants to use observational skills and direct communication to help save lives threatened by suicide. “Talk Saves Lives,” held at Emanu El synagogue on Sept. 27, brought together the full spectrum of Greater Houston’s Jewish community – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Chabad, secular and the unaffiliated – to begin efforts to stem the tide of suicide among young adults. Over the past year-and-a-half, nine Jewish Houstonians, all under the age of 36, have died by suicide, prompting concerns of an epidemic. Three such deaths occurred during this past summer, alone. “I want people to recognize that they, as individuals, really can do something to help prevent suicide,” said M. Brenda Fitch, education chair of the South Texas chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, who led the “Talk Saves Lives” program and is, herself, a survivor. The 45-minute AFSP presentation introduced statistics and research related to suicide in the U.S., which is at a 30-year high, as well as suicide prevention and lifesaving strategies. “If we’re going to try to help someone, the worst thing to do is to not talk about, or dance around the subject of, suicide,” Fitch told the JHV. “You could be the first person they are willing to talk to about their pain and thoughts of suicide. You have to listen in an empathetic and caring way.
See Students on Page 4
See Program on Page 7
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Sara Rozen helped Caddy Smith find her name in the Book of Life at Beth Yeshurun Day School’s High Holy Days Fair on Sept. 30.
By MICHAEL C. DUKE | JHV
Local day school students celebrated the Jewish New Year by teaching each other, peer-to-peer, Jewish values and holiday rituals associated with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Fourth- and fifth-graders at Beth Yeshurun Day School hosted the school’s first-ever “High Holy Days Fair” on Friday,
Sept. 30, for younger students in BYDS’ elementary and early childhood programs. Fifth-graders toured the pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students, while fourth-graders helped guide second- and third-graders. BYDS’ older students helped create and run a series of activity stations that included decorating make-and-take holiday goodie bags and greeting cards; candle-making;
Tribute concert to Justin Schnurr-Cohen set for Oct. 16 By AARON HOWARD | JHV
Justin Schnurr-Cohen
“Justin’s Last Jam,” a musical tribute to Justin Howard Schnurr-Cohen and the huge influence he had on many individuals, will take place at The Last Concert Café, 1403 Nance St., Oct. 16, beginning at 3 p.m. The musical lineup includes Danny Hutchens, Gravel Tooth, Heartbyrne, Panic Stricken, Brady Brown, Daniel Eaton and Jimmy Marks. Schnurr-Cohen, 35, born in Houston on March 17, 1981, died suddenly on July 13. When one reads “died suddenly” in a
newspaper obituary, that’s often a euphemism for death by suicide. Euphemisms are used to cover what might be embarrassing or horrible truths. One truth about suicide: Those left behind are left to carry the weight of sadness, loss, unreality and an overwhelming, unanswered sense of “why.” Why did this person, who did so much for others feel that death was the only way to make his pain stop? Another truth: Suicide often tends to dim the sum of a person’s life. The act also gives some people permission to hurl accusations and recriminations.
To understand Schnurr-Cohen’s life is to understand his passion for music. “Justin was someone who tried to encourage others to pursue their dreams,” said Daniel Hutchens, singer and guitarist with the band Bloodkin. Hutchens met the artist in 2005. “Justin was instrumental in setting up a series of house parties in Houston. We struck up a friendship and maintained it over the years. He encouraged musicians to get their musical projects off the ground. He helped finance my
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PAGE 2 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Tribute
From Page 1
record. But really, he was integral to making the project happen. Making a record is a huge emotional investment. His backing and follow-through removed all the roadblocks. It was smooth sailing and a total pleasure through the entire recording experience. Justin didn’t have his own agenda, and that’s unusual in the music business. “When I was going through some hard issues in my life,” Hutchens told the JHV, “he’d phone to check up on me, to make sure I was doing alright. He was always checking in on other people. That was his personality.” Adam Stern, musician with the Sam Holt Band, met Justin in 2003 in Boulder, Colo. “He got me on stage,” said Stern, “and once I got on stage, I never looked back. He was a mentor to me, though I was older than him. With most people, their idea of sharing music is to send you a mix-tape. Justin’s idea of sharing music was to put on a live concert with his favorite band. “He was involved in promoting the Euphoria Festival in Texas with major electronic dance artists,” Stern told the JHV. “He was on top of his game with that. Given the amount of effort and money he was putting in, he wasn’t reaping the benefits of the music industry. Musicians can be very narcissistic and self-centered. “At heart, Justin was a kind person. He just wanted to share the music he liked with others and that’s not necessarily the recipe
for success in the industry,” said Stern. “The last text Justin sent me was after I told him I was doing better after going through a bad period. He texted: ‘Sometimes, you need to do a drastic reset in order to figure things out, improve your life going
and suicidal. He did ask for help. He began seeing a professional and taking medication. Late last year it started to get really bad for him. He was getting into a dark hole. He was so unhappy it seemed there was no life left inside him. The shine in his beautiful blue
“I saw my son’s life getting darker and darker, and I felt his pain as much as you can feel someone else’s pain. And now, I have to live with a hole in my heart, a hole I’ll always have.” - Liora Cohen forward.’ I pressed re-set and stopped everything in order to reverse the negative things I was involved in. I wish Justin had been able to do that,” said Stern. The tragedy is, while Justin changed the personal and professional trajectories of other people’s lives, he was unable to alter his own downward spiral. “When we sat shiva, many musicians came to visit, many of whom we did not know,” said Liora Cohen, Justin’s mother. “They shared, in person, and we received letters from people telling us how Justin totally changed their lives. For instance, one singer wrote us how Justin saved him when he was thinking of suicide and how he owes Justin that he is alive today,” Cohen told the JHV. “Justin knew how it felt to be depressed
EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC HOUSTON
G’mar Hatimah Tovah
May you be inscribed for a good year
eyes seemed to fade,” said Cohen. Two nights before Justin died by suicide, his mother recalled she had a premonition. “I had a gut feeling that if things didn’t get better for Justin, something bad would happen. I told my husband, ‘We are on borrowed time. Did you not see the sadness in his eyes?’ “Justin was suffering so much,” she continued. “If you have a family member or friend who has cancer eating their body, and you realize none of the treatments are working, you don’t want to see that person suffer. You’re going to miss that person, but you have to be at peace that they are at peace. I feel like he’s not suffering anymore and I have to respect that. “I saw my son’s life getting darker and darker, and I felt his pain as much as you can
Coming Soon at the J Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Fair October 29–November 13 HIGHLIGHTS
Opening Night: Schmaltz It Up! Yiddish Food Then and Now Saturday, October 29 | 8:00 PM Michael Wex with Liz Alpern & Jeffrey Yoskowitz Moderated by Ziggy Gruber Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can’t Stop Eating It The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods
Take Your Pick: Reading as a Community Tuesday, November 1 | 7:30 PM Josh Aronson | Orchestra of Exiles: The Story of Bronislaw Huberman, The Israel Philharmonic, and The One Thousand Jews He Saved from Nazi Horrors Nora Gold | The Dead Man
Zion80 Saturday, November 5 | 8:30 PM Led by Jon Madof, Zion80 explores Jewish music from Shlomo Carlebach to John Zorn and everything in between through the lens of the Afrobeat funk.
Uncle Philips Coat Saturday, October 22 | 8:00 PM Sunday, October 23 | 3:00 PM Author Matty Selman performs this soaring, one-man piece exploring family and the immigrant experience.
Daddy Daughter Dance Saturday, October 22 | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM Daughters of all ages are invited as the Merfish Teen Center is transformed into THE place to be for fathers and daughters wanting to enjoy a special evening. EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC HOUSTON A United Way Agency 5601 S. Braeswood | Houston, TX 77096
Oliver Lapin Family Day Sunday, November 6 | 9:30 AM–12:00 PM Featuring a new stage adaptation of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins authors Barry Deutsch, Karen Rostoker-Gruber and Pamela Meyer.
Closing Night Sunday, November 13 | 7:30 PM Guy Bavli – Master of the Mind® Join award-winning mentalist Guy Bavli on his journey into the mysteries of the human mind, for an evening of telekinesis, humor, ESP and interactive audience participation.
Learn more at erjcchouston.org or call 713.729.3200.
feel someone else’s pain. And now, I have to live with a hole in my heart, a hole I’ll always have.” Emili Adame was Schnurr-Cohen’s close friend over the past seven years. In November, he shared with her that life was “too heavy.” “In November, Justin said he was thinking about ending things, but we talked through that,” Adame told the JHV. “I started to take notice of his downslide over the past year. The music industry is brutal, and he wasn’t surrounding himself with people who really loved him. When I saw him in March, he appeared to be just a shell of a person. He was heavily agitated and had started to isolate himself much more. His isolation was becoming very unhealthy.” After Justin’s death, his family retrieved his cell phone. It appears their loved one reached out to a friend that day. But, there’s no indication his cry for help was answered by text, phone or visit. Schnurr-Cohen’s death comes during a local epidemic of young adult suicides. During the past year-and-a-half, as many as nine Jewish Houstonians, all younger than the age of 36, have died by suicide. Adame believes by sharing the story of her friend’s life and his death, other lives might be saved. “Justin did reach out to someone, but that person didn’t respond positively,” said Adame. “If somebody is reaching out to you, take it seriously. “Choose your friends wisely. At the end of the day, you can count on the fingers of one hand those friends who will be there for you. “One thing Justin’s parents have taught me: If you allow other people to control you through their actions, you’re allowing them power over you. Life is very precious and very short,” said Adame. “I realize how much Justin was hurting. You never want anyone you care about to be in that much pain. I feel better knowing he’s not suffering anymore, but I feel there’s always an alternative way out. Now, everyone else is suffering,” she said. “Justin helped more people in his 35 years than most people do in their lives. But, he couldn’t help himself.” The musicians playing at “Justin’s Last Jam” have volunteered their time to raise money in their friend’s memory. Concert proceeds will go to help build a multipurpose room in Schnurr-Cohen’s name at the new CHAI Learning Center of West Houston. The room will help enrich the lives of participants through music programming and music therapy Rabbi Dovid Goldstein is director of the CHAI Learning Center. He also serves as a chaplain at the Menninger Clinic in Houston. Rabbi Goldstein said those who don’t have the challenges of depression might feel that telling someone who is suffering not to commit suicide is ineffective. “One questions whether the person will buy it, because you are not suffering like they are suffering,” said Rabbi Goldstein. “But, we have the obligation to try. You don’t ignore a burning fire. “Maybe, one feels they have nothing to live for. Get a professional involved. Also, someone who has struggled with a similar problem can bring a lot to the table. As a community, we can develop better supports for the family who is left after death. “At the Menninger Clinic, we know a wellness plan includes a spiritual component. A person is more than a body and a brain. He’s also a soul. Wellness needs to include that essence, as well.” See also: Suicide-prevention program attacks stigma, encourages conversations, Page 1.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Arts ............................................. 18 Calendar ..................................... 19 Community .................................. 10 Editorial ....................................... 8 Federation.................................... 16 Food ........................................... 20 Health.......................................... 21 In other words ................................ 9 MarketPlace ................................ 23 Obituaries .................................... 22 Schools ........................................ 13 Seniors......................................... 14 Simchas ....................................... 12 Sports.......................................... 24 Synagogues .................................. 19 Teens ........................................... 13 Up Close ....................................... 2
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Page 3 Jewish herald -Voice octoer 6, 2016
Manzanar: An American concentration camp from WW II By AARON HOWARD | JHV
Two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Signed on Feb. 19, 1942, the Executive Order declared a 60-mile-wide swath of Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona as a military area and gave military commanders power to remove any potentially dangerous individuals from these newly designated military areas. The order further gave authorization to transport excluded people to “assembly centers” governed by the military. Under the command of Gen. John L. DeWitt, approximately 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry, including some 70,000 U.S. citizens, were ordered to report to the Wartime Civil Control Administration. In a mass evacuation, these Japanese people were evicted from their homes and allowed to bring only the possessions they could carry. They were first transported by truck or train to one of 16 temporary WCCA detention camps. After brief stays, they were removed to one of 10 “relocation centers” in the most desolate areas in seven states. Constructed in 10 days, Manzanar, in California’s Owen Valley, about 100 miles north of Death Valley, became the first “relocation center” to open in March 1942. At its maximum capacity, Manzanar housed 10,046 people within its 1 square mile. The facility, ringed by barbed wire and guard towers that faced inward, was manned by U.S. military police armed with Thompson submachine guns, shotguns and 30-caliber rifles. I visited Manzanar on Sept. 15. Now, a National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service, Manzanar is officially called a confinement camp or War Relocation Center. Others call it a concentration camp. Eric L. Muller is the Dan K. Moore Distinguished Professor of Law in Jurisprudence and Ethics at the University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill. He’s the author of three books on the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. As a legal scholar, Muller has studied the incarceration of Japanese-Americans for 20 years. “It’s the marrow of my academic life,” he said. As a Jew, Muller described how his grandfather was arrested during Kristallnacht and transported to Buchenwald. “My grandfather’s brother, Leopold, did not get out of Germany. He was murdered in Sobibor in 1942,” said Muller. “I also participate in an ethics program that takes students to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp. For personal and professional reasons, I am deeply familiar with the story of the persecution of Jews and my family. So, the term ‘concentration camp’ is one I don’t take lightly.” And yet, Muller describes the 10 places where Japanese-Americans were incarcerated under Executive Order 9066 as
JHV: AARON HOWARD
The guard tower reconstructed at Manzanar
Judge William Denman’s opinion to the court in Acheson v Murakami laid out an indictment of the U.S. government’s “entire course of dealing with Japanese-Americans from just after Pearl Harbor until war’s end.” Judge Denman compared the military’s mass suspicion of all Japanese-Americans to the racial ideology of Hitler. Did Judge Denman get it right? “Yes, there’s no question in my mind,” said Muller. “We believed the Japanese to be a racial enemy, and we believed that their race made it impossible for anyone to know who was and who wasn’t a danger. That’s what got the Japanese-Americans put behind barbed wire. “We think of it as a benign program. True, it was not designed to inflict suffering on the inmates, nor was it unconcerned with the health of the people behind bars. It wasn’t designed to kill people or inflict physical pain. By comparison, in the very best scenario, the Nazis were indifferent to whether Jews were sick or healthy, whether they lived or died. That was never the case at Manzanar. “But, what if we had lost the Battle of Midway and got entrenched in a longer, bloodier battle for the physical security of the U.S.? If history had gone in that way, public pressure for toughening up on the Japanese in the camps would have mounted. Who knows where that would have led?” In a post 9/11 world, Muller believes the mass incarceration of an entire population (Muslims or Arab-Americans, for example) would be unlikely. “First, there are vastly more people of Arab ancestry and/or the Muslim faith than there were Japanese in 1942. Second, they are more geographically and socioeconomically dispersed and many are entirely assimilated. The sheer logistics of doing a roundup of that kind would be impossible, and would involve rounding up people of power and prestige. “But, that doesn’t mean something comparable couldn’t happen. There could be more targeted roundups. I could absolutely picture more targeted removals of segments of the Arab or Muslim community.”
weren’t murdered there.” concentration camps. When Muller speaks to “When I started out, I the Jewish community about was extremely reluctant to American concentration use the term,” said Muller. camps, he sometimes gets “I knew from academic pushback. There’s a sense study that term was used that comparisons diminish by many Americans, even the Jewish experience; by President Franklin D. that the Japanese camps, Roosevelt, to describe however deplorable, were camps of that kind, including not genocidal. Manzanar. So, there’s a “It depends on the historical authenticity to generation I’m speaking using the term ‘concento,” said Muller. “Those tration camp’ for Manzanar. from that era, particularly “I also knew in the Eric L. Muller survivors and refugees, popular mind, as awareness of the Holocaust grew, the term shifted in tend to push back, sometimes indignantly, popular understanding in America. The sometimes less so. People express indigterm came to be equated in most people’s nation that I would dare suggest commonminds with the Nazi camps, in particular, ality between the Jewish and Japanese the death camps. So early on, if I used the experiences. For example, I gave a talk at term, I only used it in the context of being my own synagogue in Durham. An elderly unmistakably clear that I wasn’t comparing gentleman who had been in the Gurs internment camp in France came up to me Manzinar to Auschwitz.” Over the years, said Muller, because and said, ‘You call this suffering? This was of his research exposing the illegality of the Taj Mahal compared to what we had.’ “Others are eager to connect the the U.S. government’s program of racial exclusion and incarceration, segments experiences and recognize commonof the Japanese-American community ality in the programs. To me it’s about commonality.” embraced him as a trustworthy person. In an academic article published in the Muller said some Japanese-Americans argue the terms “evacuation” and Harvard Law Journal, Muller wrote how “relocation” distort the fact that 120,000 people were expelled from their homes and locked up without evidence, charge or trial. Never Flooded! “I felt that the use of the term ‘concentration camp’ is partly designed to call up some of the feelings we have when we think of Auschwitz,” said Muller. “The terminology is meant to shock people out of their complacency in thinking these American camps were pleasant places and that the internment program was justified, which many Americans thought and still think. WOODSHIRE AREA | 4057 BREAKWOOD DRIVE “It came to bother me that advocates for the term were in some sense, maybe 4 BEDROOMS | 2.5 BATHS unintentionally, leveraging the murder of Offered at $575,000 MLS 66180659 MLS 93270853 my great-uncle to make a point about their experience. But, I also have come to see Never Flooded! how pervasive the instinct is to condemn what other nations do and to look away from our own injustices. Call today to schedule an appointment. “The truth is people do need to be shocked a bit into understanding Manzanar was a miserable place, even if people
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PAGE 4 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Jeffrey Yoskowitz and Liz Alpern
Book Fair
From Page 1
Ziggy’s two locations. “Gefilte fish gets a bad rap, but when you make it fresh, it’s very tasty,” said Ziggy Gruber, owner of Kenny & Ziggy’s. “In my store, I try to be as authentic and traditional as can be. Sometimes, people can get a little cute, but if it’s good, and it gets people excited to try Jewish food, then I’m all for it.” And, Gruber is schmaltzing it up as much as he can, as he will moderate opening night of this literary and culinary feast that brings authors Michael Wex (“Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can’t Stop Eating It”) and Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz (“The Gefilte Manifesto”) together on stage for a dialogue about Yiddish food – then and now. “These books are working to engage a new generation of Jewish youngsters who are not use to eating traditional Jewish food. This foodie generation is bringing back great food. I know, because they are doing what I love to do – preserve Jewish heritage through food,” said Gruber.
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
In his book, “Rhapsody in Schmaltz,” Wex traces the history and impact of the cuisine – foods like bagels, kugel, cholent and kosher dills – that Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe brought to North America. In their book, “The Gefilte Manifesto,” Alpern and Yoskowitz are on a mission to revitalize Ashkenazi cuisine with recipes that draw inspiration from Jewish bakeries, neighborhood delis, old-fashioned pickle shops and their own childhood kitchens. For opening night, doors will open at 7:30, with noshes (light bites) and pre-show music provided by Houston Symphony’s Alexander “Sasha” Potiomkin (clarinet) and Yadim Angerov (accordian). Book signing in the bookstore follows the program. The event is free and open to the public. The Fair, underwritten by The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation, runs Saturday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 13. Visit erjcchouston.org for events, schedule, tickets and season pass information or call 713-551-7255.
Lillie Kleban, Sara Rozen, Levi Finkelman and Byer Swartz read stories and passed out apples to younger students.
Students
a darkened room where they were asked to keep a secret. Inside, the older students explained that Beth Yeshurun’s Rabbi Jack Segal had discovered the Book of Life while removing a Torah from the Ark. If the students’ names were contained in the book, they were told, it will light up when they open it – which it did. “The younger kids really liked the Book of Life because it made them feel special to know a secret and to be written in the Book of Life for the New Year,” said BYDS fifthgrader, Elah Tuchshnieder, who helped run the station. Eliana Gottlieb is a BYDS kindergartener who said she learned a lot about the High Holy Days from the different activities. “Rosh Hashanah is a brand-new year,” Eliana told the JHV. “We learned that you need to be good to your parents.” Cathryn Mellon, a Judaics and history teacher at BYDS, oversaw the fair’s creation and operation. “We wanted to do something fun for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that would teach our kids about the High Holy Days and would give them something to
Peres
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From Page 1
From Page 1
President Barack Obama, the last of the 10 speakers on the day, called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ presence in the front row “a gesture and a reminder of the unfinished business of peace.” “[Peres] believed the Zionist idea would be best protected when Palestinians, too, had a state of their own,” Obama said. “The region is going through a chaotic time. Threats are ever-present. And yet, he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working. … Now, the work of peacemaking is in the hands of Israel’s next generation and its friends.” Before the funeral ceremony began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas shook hands beneath jumbo screens flashing photos of Peres over the years. The two leaders have not formally met since 2010, during the last failed round of U.S.-brokered peace talks. “It’s been a long time since we last met,” Abbas reportedly told Netanyahu. “I very much appreciate that you came to the funeral,” Netanyahu replied. But, Abbas was not among the leaders Netanyahu greeted in his emotional eulogy of Peres, whom he described engaging in “nearly night-long discussions” about which came first – peace or security. Netanyahu thought security; Peres peace, he said. “We were both right,” Netanyahu concluded. “Peace will not be achieved other than by permanently preserving our power. But, power is not an end in itself. It is not the real power. It’s a means to an end. The goal is to ensure our national existence and coexistence.” Peres long was a hawkish defender of Israeli security. He played a major role in establishing the country’s defense industry, nuclear deterrence and settlement enterprise. But, he was among the first of Israel’s leaders to see the threat posed by continued control of the West Bank, and became a leading advocate of
bring home so they could celebrate the High Holy Days with their families, as well,” she said. Equally important was the peer-to-peer learning experience that the fair provided, Mellon noted. “It was important for the kids to have a hand in creating the fair and thinking of ideas for the fair so they would take ownership of everything they were doing and learn about everything they were doing, so they could teach it to the younger ones,” she explained. “The older students went straight to work, researching ideas and figuring out the different stations, “Mellon added. “It really encouraged them to help themselves to learn and to inspire creativity.” BYDS fifth-grader Peri Toubin took charge of a group of pre-K kids during the fair. “I liked playing with the younger kids and making them say something nice about each other,” Peri said. “One of the games we played was to teach them to say sorry to each other so they can become friends again. “Learning to say sorry, and learning to accept someone’s apology, are good lessons for the High Holy Days,” she said. territorial compromise for peace with the Palestinians. Only after his election as president in 2009, did Peres [receive] the kind of regard in Israel that he enjoyed internationally. Among the estimated 4,000 mourners who gathered under a sprawling white tent at Israel’s national cemetery were dozens of foreign dignitaries, including France’s President Francois Hollande, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Britain’s Prince Charles and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Israeli politicians attended from across the political spectrum. Yair Lapid, head of the center-left Yesh Atid party, arrived with left-wing Labor party Knesset member Shelly Yachimovich. Likud lawmaker Yehuda Glick, an advocate for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, came with a body guard. A Palestinian gunman nearly killed him in 2014. Jewish billionaires and Israel backers Chaim Saban and Sheldon and Miriam Adelson of Nevada also were on hand. Former President Bill Clinton, who brokered the Olso Accords that Peres helped spearhead in an effort to make peace with the Palestinians, referenced John Lennon’s peace anthem in his eulogy. “Shimon could imagine all the people living in the world in peace,” Clinton said. “In his honor, I ask that we remember his luminous smile and imagine.” Clinton was part of a 33-memberstrong American delegation, which included Secretary of State John Kerry, but not his predecessor, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who some reports had said would attend. Security at the funeral and around Jerusalem was tight, with some 8,000 police officials guarding and closing streets. Amos Oz, an esteemed Israeli writer and friend of Peres, argued a Palestinian state was the only option, saying there was “no choice but to divide this home into two apartments and turn it into a two-family house. See Peres on Page 23
PAGE 5 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
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PAGE 6 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
JHV journalist to be honored on Shabbat Shuvah Brith Shalom. Shabbat Shuvah is the Shabbat that bridges Aaron Howard is an Rosh Hashanah and Yom award-winning journalist, Kippur. Howard will deliver well-known for his arts a d’var Torah that morning, criticism, political analysis, examining the role that investigative reporting synagogues play in the lives and promotion of civil of Jews, today. discourse through the “I’ve always felt that Brith pages of Houston’s Jewish Shalom is my home,” said Herald-Voice. Howard. “Most of us don’t Congregation Brith live in dense Jewish commuShalom will honor Howard nities anymore – those just on Shabbat Shuvah, don’t exist like they used to. Saturday morning, Oct. 8, Aaron Howard “The congregations we for his dedication to keeping Greater Houston’s Jewish community belong to, and the organizations we affiliate informed and connected, and for his with, are stand-ins for what used to be a enduring contributions to adult education at really dense, textured Jewish community,” By MICHAEL C. DUKE | JHV
he said. Howard, a native New Yorker, and his wife, Marilyn Svoboda, joined Brith Shalom following their move to Houston from Miami in 1983. The couple’s daughters, Gabrielle “Gabby” and Yardena, were young at the time and were the reason why the family chose Brith Shalom. “It was important for us to raise our daughters in a synagogue that is egalitarian, where women can be on the bimah, where woman can study with men, and women can sit and pray with men,” Howard said. Brith Shalom also enabled Howard to channel his passions into creative activity, he noted. Howard organized an annual Jewish film festival at Brith Shalom, which now is in its 14th year. According to the festival’s creator,
O
UR STATE REPRESENTATIVE has always been a strong supporter of Houston’s Jewish community and the State of Israel. Sarah traveled to Israel in 2011 with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston to learn more about our strongest ally in the region. Recognizing the only democracy in the Middle East, Sarah understands Israel’s significance as the reestablished homeland of the Jewish people. • Sarah will be filing anti-BDS legislation in the next legislative session to prohibit Texas public institutions from investing any tax dollars in any business that seeks to boycott, divest, or sanction the State of Israel. • Sarah believes America should spare no expense or effort to help ensure Israel remains a free, democratic, and independent homeland of the Jewish people. Sarah understands the critical role Israel plays in helping protect America’s national security interests. • Sarah stands in strong opposition to the disastrous nuclear weapons treaty between Iran and the current administration in Washington, DC.
Top Reform rabbi chides Trump for joke about non-Christians
• Sarah has no illusion about “pro-Palestinian” college groups claiming to stand for “social justice” when they often exist to foment hatred against Israel and the Jewish people.
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WASHINGTON (JTA) – Donald Trump’s joke at a rally, in which he singled out people who were not Christian conservatives, was “unacceptable,” said a top Reform rabbi. “Raise your hand if you’re not a Christian conservative,” Trump said at a Sept. 28 rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after assessing that the crowd was overwhelmingly Christian conservative. Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center, said that Trump’s remarks were unacceptable, and linked the joke to Trump’s broadsides against Muslims. “Singling out people in a crowd at a political rally, based on their faith or lack of faith, even as a joke, is unacceptable,” Pesner said.
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the event is aimed at building community. “The discussions that take place after the films are as important as watching the films, themselves,” Howard said. Beyond the film festival, Howard continues to serve as chair of Brith Shalom’s Adult Education Committee and is a regular at weekly Shabbat services. In the greater Jewish community, he is active with the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC’s Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Fair and teaches for the J’s Melton & More adult education program. In addition, Howard is an outspoken advocate for special needs inclusion and is active with the Friendship Circle and Jewish Family Service’s Celebration Company, where his daughter, Gabrielle, is a client. Howard chose journalism as his primary vocation, due to a lifelong love for writing and reading. His reportage makes an impact. An article he authored for the JHV two years ago, for example, told the story of Monique Ritter, who was hidden by a French family during the Holocaust. The article gained attention in France, then Israel, and Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial and museum, honored as a Righteous Gentile the last surviving member of the family that hid Ritter from the Nazis. Besides a journalism degree, Howard holds an MBA, along with a registered nurse license and an associate degree in respiratory therapy. The latter two certifications were obtained to assist Gabrielle, who has physical and mental limitations. Howard put his medical training to wider use by working as an RN and a home-care specialist for 16 years, focusing on pediatrics. Howard said observing the High Holy Days at Brith Shalom enables him to renew friendships. “Brith Shalom is home to a community of learners,” he said. “People are open to ideas and aren’t afraid to discuss sensitive topics.” He added, “We pray together, eat together, talk politics together – and we’re friends at the end.”
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PAGE 7 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOER 6, 2016
Suicide prevention resources
From Page 1
“If you’re able to recognize the warning signs, intervention is possible and you can get them the help they need,” she said.
Jewish Family Service 713-667-9336
Mental health
Mental health treatment prevents suicide, Fitch told her audience during the program. “We absolutely need a culture where everyone knows how to be smart about mental health,” she said. Gail and Norman Stalarow co-chaired the “Talk Saves Lives” program, in partnership with Jewish Family Service, which is coordinating the local initiative to eradicate suicide deaths in the Greater Houston Jewish community. The initiative’s first program enjoyed co-sponsorship and support from more than 40 communal organizations and institutions. “We want people to begin to think about mental health the way we think of cancer or heart disease,” said Norman Stalarow at the program’s start. “People need to rally around those with mental illness the way we rally around those with cancer or heart disease. “We need to talk about it, help one another and recognize the need for help,” he said.
Houston Crisis Hotline 713-970-7000 Crisis Intervention 832-416-1177 Teen Talk 832-416-1199 (voice call) 281-201-4430 (text message) Youth Crisis Hotline 800-448-4663 PHOTOS BY JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Volunteer Rebecca Weiner, center, encourages community members at the “Talk Saves Lives” program to sign up for additional suicide-prevention training.
conversations in private and to ask direct, but non-accusatory, questions, such as: Are you thinking about suicide? She advised to avoid minimizing that person’s feelings and, similarly, to avoid trying to fix that person’s problems. “They need to know that they can find their own way [to fix one’s problems] and they’re going to be supported, whether it flips or flops, you’re going to be there for them,” Fitch said. She added, “If you think that person you’re talking to might make an attempt soon, based on what you hear from the conversation … it’s your duty to make sure that person is not left alone. Stay with them … and put them in the hands of someone who can provide ongoing, professional help.”
‘Break stigma’
Rebecca Weiner volunteered to help staff the program and encouraged community members to sign up for additional suicide-prevention training. Like many of the young adults at the program, Weiner said she’s lost friends to the current suicide epidemic. “It broke my heart and opened my eyes,” Weiner told the JHV, referring to the suicide death this summer of one of her friends. “We have the responsibility to open dialogue about this issue, to break stigma, to save lives and to honor memories.” Stigma about mental illness was a concern addressed by Emanu El’s Rabbi Samantha Kahn, who has taken a lead in the suicide-prevention initiative. The rabbi, herself a young adult, is calling for a “normalization” of discourse about mental illness and its treatments. “We’ve seen too many tragic losses in our community, and the truth is, I think it’s the implied stigma and the shame associated with mental illness that contribute greatly to a loss,” Rabbi Kahn told the JHV. “If people felt more comfortable to come forward and talk about it and get the help they need, that’s what can make the difference between someone having depression and someone taking their own life.” Speaking to community members at the program, Rabbi Kahn said complete healing can only exist when there is both healing of the mind and healing of the spirit. “It’s our community’s responsibility to help everyone understand and communicate that it is not shameful to have poor mental health,” she said. “It is not shameful to see a therapist or a psychiatrist. And, it is not shameful to take medication for mental illness. “Such acts require bravery – they should be applauded,” Rabbi Kahn said. “Seeking help should be something we congratulate one another on, not hide from one another.” Lisa Stone is a local Jewish educator who participated in the “Talk Saves Lives” program. She said the program was a good start to the conversation and believes the next step should be action. “Every Jewish school should provide suicide-prevention education for its students at the proper, age-appropriate level,” Stone said after the program. “Also, every synagogue congregation could offer suicide-prevention training for adults. “As we learned tonight, the more people recognize the symptoms, it’s going to save lives,” Stone said. The suicide-prevention initiative has formed various subcommittees to create targeted programs for different segments of the community, including students, teachers and young adults. Anna Blum is another local Jewish educator who agreed that suicideprevention education must be made widely available. What impressed the 24-year-old most about the “Talk Saves Lives” program was its diverse turnout of nearly 200 people. “The fact that so many members of the community, from so many different
Nearly 200 people, representing the entire religious spectrum of Greater Houston’s Jewish community, participated in the first program of a new, community-wide initiative, aimed at curtailing an epidemic of suicide among local Jewish young adults.
aspects of the community, were here, I think that’s what it’s going to take to make a difference,” Blum said. Weiner added that her take-way from the program was a sense of “togetherness.” “Togetherness is everything in the face of such loss,” she said. “To comfort families and survivors, and to bring friends together to celebrate legacies, that is a holy mission and tonight was the beginning of that.”
‘Public health issue’
Fitch began her presentation by describing suicide as a “major public health issue.” She offered data to illustrate the scope of the problem. According to the latest numbers collected by AFSP, someone dies by suicide in the U.S. every 40 seconds. In 2013, there were a recorded 41,149 suicide deaths. This year, the figure has risen to more than 55,000. Houston’s Jewish community is part of a larger national trend, in which suicide has become the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s only been in recent years that serious research has been conducted to better understand the causes and risk factors associated with suicide, Fitch explained. According to studies, nine out of 10 people who die by suicide have a mental health condition that contributed to their death. One aspect commonly shared by people who attempt suicide is that they have become ambivalent about death, AFSP reports. Such ambivalence can be a sign of suicide ideation. “Think about it from a suicidal person’s perspective: To that individual, they’ve reached a crisis point,” Fitch said. “They are desperate to get rid of their pain. For some, that could be physical pain; for others, it may be emotional pain.” According to research, certain factors increase the risk of suicide. These range from health, to family history, to environmental factors, including access to lethal means and traumatic life events, such as relationship problems or job loss. “Most significant of all of these are mental health issues, because they can go undetected or undiagnosed,” Fitch said. “Access to lethal means is probably the most high-risk factor, such as having guns at home and individuals having access to them,” she added.
‘Trust your gut’
Making mental health a priority is key to suicide prevention, Fitch stated. Health insurance companies are
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-TALK
Eradication
“Talk Saves Lives” presenter Brenda Fitch joined Linda Burger to encourage Houston’s Jewish community to eliminate stigma, associated with mental illness, and to reach out to those who are at risk of attempting death by suicide.
required by law to offer mental health as part of one’s insurance coverage. Access to mental health care, combined with learned problem-solving skills and cultural or religious beliefs, can serve as a protective measure for individuals at risk of suicide, noted Fitch. Limited access to means plays an equally important role in preventing suicide deaths. “As individuals, we can watch for the warning signs and reach out to that person,” Fitch said. “You don’t have to be a psychiatrist or therapist to be able to help someone. Just be yourself.” Fitch said to show care and concern by talking and listening to that person and observe behaviors that appear different from the usual behaviors, as well as atypical mood swings and impulsivity. “Trust your gut,” Fitch said. “Talk does save lives. A simple conversation about a very serious topic could make the difference with your loved one being here today and gone tomorrow.” Fitch stressed the need to hold such
Social services professionals at the program admitted that a person can do all the right things, in terms of intervention, but ultimately still not be able to save someone from death by suicide. “But, we have a much better chance to help save a life if we begin the conversations,” said Linda Burger, CEO of JFS Houston, who is spearheading the community-wide initiative. Burger said the initiative’s goals are to eliminate stigma and eradicate suicide in the community. “We cannot rest until no one – not one person – in our community dies by suicide,” she said at the conclusion of the program. “Many tell me that it’s a very unrealistic expectation and that a better one would be … to eliminate 20 percent of the suicides each year. But, frankly, I can’t settle for that. “I can’t look anybody in the eyes in this room and say, well, your child was not part of the 20 percent this year,” Burger said. “We have to look in everybody’s eyes and say … Everybody was created in G-d’s image. “And, we are here to help you remember what part of G-d’s image is inside of you, so that you can find that will to stay with us, to bring that color back into your life and find a way on the journey where your life didn’t end with a period, but it just had a semicolon and this was part of your story, but not all of it,” she said.
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EDITORIAL
PAGE 8 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Editorial Steps toward eradicating suicide
A line through ‘Israel’ In Touch From Jerusalem
An unquiet hush rolled through the audience as the presenter from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention began to identify the various risk factors and warning signs that a person might attempt to take his or her own life. This list, presented at the “Talk Saves Lives” program at Emanu El synagogue on Sept. 27, included health factors, family history and environmental circumstances. The health factors included depression, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, head and brain injuries and chronic health conditions. Historical factors ranged from family history of mental illness, previous suicide attempts and child abuse. Chief among the environmental factors was access to lethal means, such as firearms and drugs. Other environmental factors involved traumatic life events, such as breakups and job loss, exposure to contagions and prolonged stress. As the list grew, people in the audience became increasingly uneasy. The reason being that every single person in the room realized that they know someone close to them who has experienced one or more of these risk factors in their lives. Moreover, many in the room acknowledged that they, too, have exhibited some of these warning signs at some point, themselves. Mental health treatment has proven to prevent death by suicide, according to AFSP and federal data. Religion and community support also can play key roles in saving lives. According to Jewish tradition, every Jew possesses a pure soul – a spark of G-dliness contained within the body. Losing touch with that essence can lead to overwhelming pain, isolation and the inability to cope. Meanwhile, finding a way back to one’s G-dly spark can lift the spirit, renew sense of purpose and widen one’s field of view in the midst of challenges. As Greater Houston’s Jewish community enters the New Year 5777, we face an epidemic of suicide in our young adult population. Pulling together, our community can stop the spread of this epidemic, which already has claimed the lives of nine Jewish Houstonians, all under the age of 36, over the past year-and-a-half. Every individual has a role to play in this effort by overcoming the stigma associated with mental illness; by observing potential warning signs among family members, friends and colleagues; by assisting those who are struggling to gain access to health care and treatment; by engaging in open and frank discussions about suicide, mental illness and substance abuse; and by reminding every Jew in our community that s/he is connected to G-d, to Jewish tradition and to each other. The last, and arguably most difficult, but important step someone can take toward stemming the tide of suicide is to ensure that you, yourself, will ask for help when life becomes too much to bear.
Israel pays $20M to Mavi Marmara victims’ families JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel paid $20 million in compensation to the families of the Mavi Marmara victims. The money was transferred into the Justice Ministry of Turkey’s account, the Daily Sabah, a Turkish news service, reported. The compensation was part of the reconciliation agreement signed over the summer between Israel and Turkey restoring diplomatic ties after a six-year freeze. Relations between Israel and Turkey broke down in the aftermath of the Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010, when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish citizens
in clashes on a boat attempting to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Under the agreement, Turkey dropped legal claims against the Israeli military and individual officers and soldiers who were part of the Mavi Marmara raid. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously apologized for the deaths, which had been another Turkish condition for the resumption of diplomatic ties. The countries will decide in the next 10 days who will serve as ambassadors, an unnamed high-ranking Turkish official told Reuters.
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FELICE and MICHAEL FRIEDSON It’s uncanny how predictably bubbles burst in the real world. No one knew what form it would take, but that rare moment during which the Israeli people and, indeed, the rest of the world were being given a glimpse of what “could be … if only …,” when someone in the White House doused it all with proverbial cold water. In a moment that silenced those who argue the Jewish state is isolated within the world community; a moment at which scores of leaders of the international community were assembled in the state called Israel, from royal scions to the heads of their nations’ governments; a moment in which the assembled elite came to lay to rest one of their own, the people of Israel had to be reminded that the adulation of Shimon Peres was a personal thing. That the attendees who flew in for the funeral of Israel’s senior statesman did so to honor him and that little of the affection they showed for Peres inured to the state of Israel. How so? After U.S. President Barack Obama humbled the nation by flying to the funeral and delivered his eloquent eulogy, the red-faced White House staff hurried to correct a faux pas: the inadvertent suggestion that Peres was buried in Israel; that those buried in Mount Herzl Cemetery were at peace in their homeland. The issue began when the text of President Obama’s speech was distributed to media and others who normally receive such things on the morning of the funeral. Apparently, someone noticed that in the normal identification of venue on the document, it read: Jerusalem, Israel. The White House staff felt it necessary to re-issue the text, this time with a line through “Israel.” Reactions were mixed, but plentiful and passionate. Many Israelis insist that they understand – albeit while disagreeing – with the principle behind it. But, no one understands why the U.S. and others refuse to acknowledge Israeli sovereignty even over west Jerusalem, which is not considered to be the topic of negotiations. The story is being told and repeated throughout the land, with many telling us, “That moment of normalcy sure tasted good.” *** As we go to press, Israelis are marking one year since the spate of violence typified by young, knifewielding attackers began. In the course the year, 34 Israelis died and scores were wounded, while more than 200
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Palestinian lives were lost, most of whom were killed by police, security guards and armed citizens while in the act of assaulting an Israeli. During recent months, the pattern seemed to be subsiding as fewer attacks were carried out. But, all that changed during the past month or so when the threat re-emerged. Also during that time, what began as near certainty that the attacks were of the “lone wolf” variety – inspired, not ordered – has not changed in the minds of many security experts we’ve interviewed. The more recent belief is certainty that most of the attacks result from incitement that is rife in the Palestinian Authority, and some of the security wonks we’ve spoken to opine a direct link to terror cells. Unrest is not limited to the Israelvs.-the-Palestinians’ type. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is alerting the country’s diplomats stationed in the United States to expect significant negative fallout from American Jews angry at the series of events that saw negotiations produce a solution to women demanding a way to pray at the Western Wall by allocating space at the Southern Wall, followed by the government reneging on the deal because “religious” parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, threatened to leave the government if the new arrangement was put into place. A second issue arose with passage of a law that would keep Conservative and Reform conversion candidates out of ritual baths (mikvahs). The two issues combined have ignited some serious blowback among American Jews Israel would rather see supporting the Jewish state than campaigning against it. The newspaper Haaretz got hold of a confidential memo sent to U.S.-based diplomats warning of an organized campaign by Liberal Jews against Israel for its lack of pluralism that was to occupy the pulpits of congregations across the U.S. during the High Holy Days. The warning reportedly came from Akiva Tor, the director of the Department for Jewish Communities and one of the most capable and knowledgeable diplomats in the area of religious issues. *** Mideast Daily News: It’s in your inbox five days each week with a look at what’s happening in Israel, the Palestinian territories and the Middle East – “informative but not abusive” was how one loyal reader put it. Send your email address to editor@ themedialine.org, and let us know you read “In Touch from Jerusalem.” Wishing our readers a wonderful and healthy New Year. Next week, we again will be “In Touch from Jerusalem.” ©2016. The Media Line Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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IN OTHER WORDS Does the IDF have a “schnorrer culture”? TEDDY WEINBERGER Notes from the homelaNd My sister Marissa was immediately suspicious when I told her that Elie’s combat unit was soliciting family and friends to fund high-quality accessories: pocketknives, headlamps, windbreakers, etc. Marissa contacted an acquaintance of hers who works for the Friends of the IDF. The acquaintance, indeed, said that something seemed awry, since the IDF and its Friends provide for all the needs of the soldiers. So goes the official party line. Now that one of our family finally has combat status (Elie, our youngest child, is our first combat soldier), we are privy to the facts on the ground. It’s not exactly a secret story, though, as Haaretz recently has written several articles about the phenomenon, with headlines like “IDF’s Schnorrer Culture Targets Donors in Israel and Abroad” and the subtitle: “Why do individual units come begging to company executives and overseas Jewish communities?” For the record, according to Israeli law, every contribution to the IDF must pass through the army’s Human Resources Division and cannot go directly to individual units. This law is routinely breached, however, and Haaretz interviewed a retired IDF commander who concluded that “the problem is far more deeply rooted than is commonly realized.” What is the extent of this problem? Clearly, the IDF wants to maximize its fundraising, and you do this by using a range of fundraising tools. One of these tools is targeted giving. While many people in the U.S. will give to the general cause of the IDF, others want to know exactly where their money is going. Having said this, it should be noted quite clearly: In no scenario does it happen that some guy in a unit who has more charitable relatives
goes around with a multi-tool Leatherman pocketknife, while his comrades make do with exactos. Whatever money is raised by individual soldiers from their friends and family gets divided equally among their specific unit. There are two serious concerns here. One is the issue of putting pressure on soldiers and their families to raise funds. This is extremely problematic since not all parents have equal ability (or equal connections) to fund a unit’s wish list. The second potential problem is due to the rivalry between military units, which can extend to the area of fundraising. It can become an intra-battalion contest, disconnected from real need, about who can get the most and coolest stuff. Even if we address these concerns, perhaps we would still want to hold the IDF to the letter of the fundraising law. Perhaps, it is a zero-sum game, where whatever funds that are specifically targeted to individual units would have gone into the general IDF pool of funding. I don’t think so. Many people are willing to dig a little deeper down into their pockets, precisely if they know that their funds will be going, not for the bare necessities of the IDF, but for things that will pamper the troops. This can begin with buying soldiers food before a solo navigation trek (as Sarah did recently for Elie’s unit); it can extend to people donating (as my brother Everett did) to their nephew’s unit for top-of-the-line canteens; it can rise to tens of thousands of dollars to refurbish the hi-tech equipment at an officer’s training base; and it can top out at millions of dollars to upgrade an entire base. For each of these expenses, one could ask the donor: Why are you giving your money to this cause? if it’s important enough, shouldn’t the state by paying for it? But, in each case, I would venture to say that the donor’s response would be similar: You might be right, but I feel privileged to help the IDF; whether you call it “schnorring” or fundraising, I will contribute to the best of my abilities. Copyright 2016, Teddy Weinberger
The best part of my job dena marks in
ADL Action
The best part of my job at the Anti-Defamation League is getting to meet inspiring people. That not only describes my staff colleagues, who constantly amaze and encourage me, it also describes our dedicated board members and lay leaders, community leaders, and the clergy I meet and get to work with every day. Right now I’m doing one of my favorite things: putting together tribute videos for our honorees at “Houston in Concert Against Hate.” All of them are unsung heroes. If you come to the concert (please do!) you will hear more about that. But briefly, here, I’d like to tell you about them. Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is receiving our Community Champion Award. That describes him to a “T.” He supports this community in so many ways through the Rockets and his Clutch City Foundation, but you wouldn’t know it, because he’s so quiet about it. ADL’s No Place for Hate program has benefitted greatly from his support, and that extends to thousands of area school students who have been empowered to promote respect and fight bullying and bias in their schools. Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen Cohen, receiving an ADL Civil Rights Hero Award, is a little more out front than Alexander, but even though you think you know about what she does for the community, you have no idea of the depth and breadth of her reach. A survivor of breast cancer, she created an organization to help women dealing with breast cancer when she lived in Canada. Here in Houston, she led the American Jewish Committee and Houston Area Women’s Center before serving in the Texas Legislature and on Houston City Council. Her daughter,
PAGE 9 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Marcie Zlotnik, said helping other people is “in her DNA.” ADL also will present a Civil Rights Hero Award to community activist Cecil Fong at the concert. I have known him for years as the president of the Diversity Summit, which brings professional development and help to business leaders, as it relates to creating and sustaining a more diverse, more successful workforce. What I didn’t know is that he is an immigrant from Taiwan, who came here while in high school and almost immediately started helping advance the cause of Asians and other minorities in this country. He did so at Rice University when he studied there, he did so at Shell when he worked there for many years, and he continues to do so at the Chinese Community Center and through HISD’s Rainbow Education Challenge. He has retired from Shell, but he hasn’t retired from his diversity activism. As the executive director of the Chinese Community Center, Chi-mei Lin, said, when presented with a task others would “run away from,” Fong runs toward it, takes up the reins, recruits others to help and makes it happen. Last, but not least, ADL will present Rev. Mike Cole with the Julie and Ben Rogers Ecumenism Award. As presbyter of the Presbytery of the New Covenant, he calls himself a “pastor to the pastors” in Southeast Texas’ Presbyterian Church. But, he’s much more than that. Always reaching out to others, he is an interfaith leader par excellence, who helped fight the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement in the Presbyterian Church and who regularly dialogues with Christian leaders, Muslim leaders and clergy of other religions. How many people do you know who would have a cardinal, rabbi and imam jump at the chance to sing his praises? Mike Cole is someone for whom that has happened. Please come to Houston In Concert Against Hate on Oct. 20. You’ll hear great music from the Houston Symphony. You’ll be inspired by our heroes and their moving, uplifting stories. And, you’ll have a great time supporting a great cause, the ADL. Contact Mari Welch in ADL’s office at mwelch@adl.org for more information or go to adl.org/houstoninconcert. I hope to see you there!
AJC Southwest Diplomatic Marathon engages consuls on global concerns
Mike Singh, former national security advisor for Middle East Affairs in the George W. Bush White House, discusses the potential foreign policy agendas of a Clinton or Trump presidency.
Advocating to combat anti-Semitism in Europe, holding Iran accountable, Islamist extremism and ending U.N. bias against Israel, members of AJC Houston and AJC Dallas met with European, Asian, Latin American and Middle East consuls general during the Southwest Diplomatic Marathon in Houston Sept. 28-29. The marathon began with former White House national security advisor on the Middle East, Mike Singh, outlining the potential foreign policy agendas of the next president of the U.S. Speaking before members of the Consular Corps and the Jewish community at the Junior League of Houston, Singh said there will be differences in foreign policy between the two leading candidates. Singh, who also was an assistant to former secretaries of state Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell, does not have a favorite candidate in the race. He added that a Clinton presidency would see the U.S. more engaged globally than a Trump presidency. He said he believes the U.S. will retreat globally under Trump. A Clinton presidency will be more hawkish. He said polls show the majority
The European Union panel: Refugees, radical Islamic terror and anti-Semitism, was the focus of an extended discussion with four consuls general. Participants: Allan Van Fleet, moderator; Hon. Sujiro Seam, consul general of French Republic; Hon. Ioannis Stamatekos, consul of the Hellenic Republic; Hon. Elena Sgrabi, consul general of Italian Republic; and Hon. Bernd Reindl, deputy consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Mexican Consul General Oscar Rodriguez, (center) whose father was Mexico’s ambassador to Israel in the early 1990s, discusses Mexico’s economic role and its relationship with Israel.
Indian Consul General Anupam Ray, met with AJC leaders Mike Karchmer, Oren Jacobi, Rob Zurawin and David Wadler to discuss the India-U.S. relationship and the ever-growing India-Israel relationship. Ray participated in the briefing, despite India’s attack to preempt a possible terror attack from Kashmir that morning.
of Americans want the U.S. to lead on a global level. At the same time, he said
the majority of Americans do not want to enter more military conflicts.
The Thursday component of the marathon, featured a panel discussion, with EU diplomats, on anti-Semitism, refugees, Islamist terrorism and the Middle East. Private, individual briefings were held with consuls and consuls general from Canada, China, Brazil, India and Mexico. The marathon concluded with a luncheon exchange and discussion with the consuls general of Israel and Turkey. Israel Consul General Eitan Levon and Turkish Consul General Ferhat Alkan discussed the renewed relationship between Israel and Turkey, and said ambassadors will be appointed in the near future. Both discussed the region’s neighborhood and the situation with Iran, Syria and refugees. AJC Houston engages with local consuls general, who comprise the third-largest consular corps in America, on a regular basis. AJC also hosts four events specifically for the Consular Corps each year. They include: the diplomatic marathon, the U.N. Holocaust Victim Observance, the Consular Corps Chanukah party and the Consular Corps Seder. Those interested in participating, call AJC, 713-439-1202.
COMMUNITY
PAGE 10 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Israel Bonds Women’s Division fall luncheon set for Oct. 16
women’s wellness among The Israel Bonds Houston Ultra-Orthodox women, Women’s Division will hold Arab-Israeli women and its annual fall luncheon on those with disabilities, in Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the addition to the general Israeli home of Sandra Finkelman. population. Guest speaker will be Ruth “We are excited about Ebenstein, an Americanhaving Ruth speak in Israeli writer and activist for Houston. Her story should women’s health. resonate with all women,” Ebenstein has written said Elise Newman, Israel and spoken about an Bonds Houston Women’s unexpected close friendship Division chair. with a Palestinian that Ebenstein has written emerged out of breast a children’s book, titled “All cancer. She has published Ruth Ebenstein of This Country is Called on both sides of the Atlantic and won two first-place Simon Rockower Jerusalem.” A native of Southfield, Mich., awards, sponsored by the American Jewish Ebenstein lives with her husband, three Press Association. Ebenstein is an advocate sons, and two stepdaughters in Jerusalem. For more information, contact Steve promoting women’s health, lobbying the Knesset and working with Hadassah Landis, 713-360-3530 or steve.landis@israel Medical Center in Jerusalem to promote bonds.com.
IISRAEL
CONNECTION February 26 – March 7, 2017
NCJW continues Healing Arts tradition of a hot lunch
Among those at the lunch program were Ruth Jacobs, Beverly Sufian, Ferne Winograd, Marcia Pappert, Jane Dinney and Barbara Hordern.
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Houston Section, once again, provided a much-appreciated hot lunch to members of the Art League Houston’s Healing Arts Program Friday, Sept. 16, as part of the Donny Workman Memorial Lunch Program. Fried chicken, potato latkes with applesauce, green beans with almonds, two salads and cupcakes were served to this special class of art students who have HIV and/or chronic illnesses. Ferne Winograd and Beverly Sufian started this program two decades ago, in honor of Winograd’s friend, Donny
Workman, who died of AIDS. Workman often brought food for the class. He noted that whenever he brought in lunch, more people showed up for class. With Greater Houston Section’s help, the tradition continues. Once a weekly event, the program’s needs have changed, and GHS now provides food once a month. Members are invited to join the group for lunch several times a year. This month, joining Sufian and Winograd were Jane Dinney, Ruth Jacobs, Marcia Pappert, Barbara Hordern and Myrna Zwickel.
Connect to Israel. Connect with our Community. Connect through the Federation. When you join with your fellow Houston neighbors and friends on this vacation, you’ll be delighted by the sights and sounds of our homeland. Let yourself be surprised by your emotional connection to the land and people you meet. Be awed by the great impact our community makes. Let’s dine and dance and laugh and celebrate on Israel Connection 2017.
This is your time to give yourself the gift of Israel.
Photo: Mark Katz
“Let us show you the Israel we know, which we’re sure you will fall in love with. You’ll meet Israelis and leaders and see Israel as only possible when you travel with the Federation.” Joy & Joe Kaplan Israel Connection Chairs
Trip is subsidized by the Velva G. & H. Fred Levine Israel Community Mission Fund at the Houston Jewish Community Foundation and other generous donors. Learn more at our information session on Thurs., Oct. 13 @ 7:30 p.m. Visit HoustonJewish.org/IsraelTrip or call Shelly Shwartz at 713.729.7000 x 313.
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Administrator of Health Services Carol Johnson, director of Life Enrichment and Volunteer Services Sue Cororve, CEO Malcolm Slatko, COO Barry Goldstein, Ann Abramczyk, Judy Yambra, Ziggy Gruber and Edie Orlin.
Page 11 Jewish herald -Voice october 6, 2016
Volunteers Alex Schesinger, Margaret Schlesinger, Ilse Goldberg, Sharon Covan, Zoly Zamir and Larry Leva.
‘Deli Man’ steps from behind counter for Seven Acres volunteer membership luncheon Seven Acres Volunteer Auxiliary members came out in force Wednesday, Sept. 21, to enjoy the annual membership luncheon that kicks off the year. The program featured Ziggy Gruber, of Kenny & Ziggy’s Delicatessen, as speaker. In a nod to Gruber’s lifelong profession, the luncheon menu included deli sandwiches and salads. Tables were decorated in Kenny & Ziggy’s colors of yellow, black and red, with jars of kosher pickles and sauerkraut on the tabletops. “It is my pleasure to welcome you here today,” said Ann Abramczyk, Volunteer Auxiliary president. “Each of you has chosen to spend time here at Seven Acres as volunteers to enhance the quality of life for residents and, honestly, I could not think of a better place to volunteer my time.” She introduced CEO Malcolm Slatko as “the best friend a Seven Acres
volunteer could possibly have.” “What a great crowd,” Slatko said. “We want to thank you on behalf of the residents and the staff. Each and every volunteer equal the work that 15 staff members could do. You volunteers actually do what staff cannot possibly do for the residents, because you are in charge of love and support, and you always have a kind word for our residents. We could not do it without you.” Edie Orlin, Membership vice president and Volunteer Auxiliary past president, introduced Gruber, the third generation in his family to own a deli. He is a graduate of the Cordon Bleu school in London, England, and trained at the only three-star Michelin restaurants in London. His Houston deli, Kenny & Ziggy’s, opened in 1999 on North Post Oak Road, and diners have made it one of the most popular delis and restaurants
in the city. After 17 years, a second Kenny & Ziggy’s opened in West University with the same menu items. In 2015, the documentary film, “Deli Man” opened, featuring an interview with Gruber. It focused on the tradition of delicatessens in Jewish culture. “It is an honor and a privilege to be here,” Gruber said. “All of you volunteers enhance people’s lives and that is a true mitzvah. I came from the Lower East Side of New York, the third generation of what you could call a family dynasty.” He told the story of his family, who owned many restaurants and delis, and how he loved all of the characters who were their customers. He was close to his grandfather and worked in the restaurants from a young age, learning about the food and the Jewish and Yiddish culture. Working among the
Best Wishes Celebrating for a at Chanukah 67 HappyIsrael and Joyful
older generation he felt it was his calling to help to perpetuate this culture. “I truly do not want us to forget the world of our ancestors. It’s important to know where we came from in order to know where we are going. “I never thought of coming here, but I have discovered that it is one of the finest Jewish communities I have ever visited. People in this community take care of each other, and I hope that I have contributed to Houston in some way.” As he concluded his talk, he said, “I’ll see you from behind the counter.” Judy Yambra, board of trustee’s president, closed the meeting thanking Gruber. “You are a gift to our community. I personally want to thank you for being with us today.” The Seven Acres Volunteer Auxiliary welcomes new members. Call 713-7785719 to become a volunteer.
Happy New Year Best Wishes Best Wishes Celebrating Celebrating for aa Am Yisrael Chai! for Israel at Chanukah 67 Happy and Joyful Israel at 67 Happy and Joyful Chanukah May G-d Bless and Keep Israel Judge Jaclanel McFarland And The 133rd Civil District CourtJewish People Strong and Free May the State of Israel May God Bless IsraelNew andYear! In The continueCommunity to be The Jewish a strong for and KeepHomeland Israel Strong the Independent. Jewish People Judge Jaclanel Jaclanel McFarland McFarland and 133rd Civil District Court 133rd Civil District Court
May the the State of Israel May State of Israel May God Bless Israel and May God Bless Israel and continue to be continue to be The Jewish Community
Paid political advertising, Judge Jaclanel McFarland Campaign, Keith McFarland, Treasurer.
PAGE 12 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
SIMCHAS
Engagements
Wedding KATZ – SCHNEIDER
SILVER- GREENBERG
Lu Ann and Morton Katz are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Stella Katz, to Zachary Alexander Schneider. Zachary is the son of Beth and Michael Schneider of London, UK. Rachel is the granddaughter of the late Rose and Abe Katz of Houston and the late Lucille and Dominic Stella of Madison, Wis. Zachary is the grandson of Rosalyne Bernstein and the late Sumner Bernstein of Portland, Maine, and the late Isabelle and Abraham Schneider of Philadelphia, Pa. Rachel earned her undergraduate degree in finance from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. Rachel is currently a lead marketing data analyst at IBM. Zachary earned his undergraduate degree in art history and classical civilizations from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Juris Doctorate at The University of Houston Law Center and graduated Order of Coif and magna cum laude. Zachary is an a ssociate at Hirsch and Westheimer PC. Rachel and Zachary will be married in January of 2017 in Houston. UZICK – HOFFER Marcy and Randy Uzick, along with Gayle and Scott Hoffer, joyfully announce the engagement of their children, Robyn Diane Uzick to Zachary Gordon Hoffer. Robyn is the granddaughter of Alice and Ralph Berkman and the late Jean Berkman, and Rae and Max Uzick and the late Jean Uzick. Zac is the grandson of Relda Finger Hoffer, Maryann and Jodie Hoffer, and the late Marcia and Leon Goldberg. Robyn earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Indiana University, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta. She is a senior proposals specialist for Schneider Electric. Zac graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where he obtained a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Plan II honors and economics. He was a member of Zeta Beta Tau and Silver Spurs. Zac is currently a vice president at The Retail Connection. An early 2017 wedding is planned.
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Miss Laura Greenberg and Dr. Gregory Silver were married on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Canada. The ceremony was officiated by Cantor Aviva Rajsky, and a dinner-dance reception followed. On the eve of the wedding, friends and family enjoyed a “Meet and Greet” dinner at La Böehmer Restaurant in downtown Toronto. The bride is the daughter of Lindy and Dr. Howard Greenberg of Winnipeg, Canada. She is the granddaughter of Dr. Leonard Greenberg and the late Rowena Greenberg and the late Rose and Arnold Sector. The groom is the son of Gail and Lawrence Silver of Houston. He is the grandson of the late Lillian and Max Neuman and the late Edith and Jerome Silver. Bridesmaids were Rebecca Greenberg, sister of the bride; Jill Silver, sister of the groom; and close friends of the bride, Christina Ciminelli, Devon Goldberg, Amanda Shufieldt and Lanie Weinstein. Groomsmen were Stephen Silver, brother of the groom; and close friends of the groom, Mark Goldberg, Richard Goldberg, Jason Taibel, Jordon Torry and Alberto Varon. Flower girl was Ryan Goldberg, daughter of Devon and Richard Goldberg. Laura is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, British Colombia, with a degree in marketing, and is pursuing a career in advertising in Dallas. Greg is a graduate of The University of Texas Business Honors Program, University of Texas Medical Branch and did his residency in anesthesiology at Rush Hospital in Chicago. He is a partner in Anesthesia Consultants of Dallas, LLP. After a honeymoon at St. Barts, Laura and Greg are living in Dallas.
SCHOOLS/TEENS
PAGE 13 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
For Soweto: Education for the less fortunate
TORAH DAY SCHOOL
Deborah brown Teen CommuniTy
Lyndi Chess, Esther Chess and Phyllis Porter with granddaughter and great-granddaughter Laya Chess.
Grandpa Brian Gavin with Pinney Gavin and Chassie Lazaras.
Bubbes, Zaydees, Sabas, Saftas, Nanas and more all came together to share Grandparents’ Day at Torah Day School on a recent Friday. The students were excited to share this special day with their grandparents; the room was filled with joy and excitement. As the classes entered the room, the grandparents met their little ones and sat with them. After the craft project, the children shared refreshments with their special guests. When the snack time was over, the children and their grandparents enjoyed a Shabbat singalong, which takes place
every Friday morning in the early childhood center. The group pretended to set the table for Shabbat and cook some chicken soup. Everyone who attended agreed that it was great fun to build community within the school through grandparents, parents, teachers and students. L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, coming together builds a strong Jewish identity for children. One of the signs decorating the tables read: Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. Torah Day School’s job is to make those dots meaningful.
Rosh Hashanah musical at Beren Academy
Last year, after 12th-grader Netanya Abramson took the SAT, she didn’t know what to do with her used prep books. She felt that it was a waste to get rid of them just because she was done with the test, since they still had lots of important information. And, she wondered if there was anything else she could do with them. Over the summer, Netanya, who was born in South Africa, took a trip there to see her grandparents and other family members. In addition to visiting Johannesburg, she also toured a township, or suburb, called Soweto. She describes Soweto as the poorer side of the city she thought she knew: “Sadly overlooked by the government, their ‘houses’ are tin shacks, sewage water runs down the sides of the streets, and the children have to walk miles to a school with little educational resources.” Despite this, she said, the people there have the most positive attitudes. The children in the township were excited to meet her, and were fascinated by her cellphone, especially when she showed them Snapchat. One little girl even held Netanya’s hand and walked with her for the rest of the day. That trip, and the poor conditions that she saw, inspired Netanya to begin collecting old SAT prep books to send to the children in Soweto. Although these books may be ‘used’ or ‘out-of-date’ to us in America, to the kids in the township they contain hundreds of pages of new information, which can help them learn
Netanya Abramson, hand-in-hand with Soweto child.
English, as well as various important educational skills. The goal of the “For Soweto: Operation Education” project is to collect all old SAT books, ACT, AP, or other test-prep books, and unused textbooks. Netanya feels that if these books are “of no use to us here, why not send them to somewhere where they are of use?” She has a box in the lobby of Beren Academy for collection. If you have a book to donate, but Beren Academy is out of your way, just email her at ngabramson@gmail.com and, hopefully, she’ll come pick them up from you. Netanya is also grateful for monetary donations, because it’s not cheap to send these books overseas. She has a GoFundMe page at gofund.me/2qpgrnvy. Netanya’s project is a great example of what a teen can do when there’s a need somewhere in the world. By collecting old SAT and test-prep books, she is helping children in South Africa get an education they deserve. If you know of any other teens doing great things like this, or opportunities for teens in the Jewish community, please let me know at dbrowntx01@gmail.com.
BBYO holds New Member Pickup
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Shayna Garner and her fifth-grade classmates at Robert M. Beren Academy performed a musical Rosh Hashanah play for the school on Sept. 30.
Diversity and discrimination DIANE MANNING Creative Parenting Diversity is, today, prevalent in all aspects of society. For the purpose of this column, my focus is on race, but diversity can occur in gender, religion, nationality and any number of other topics. Along with diversity is discrimination, which, unfortunately, still occurs in most places. It is becoming less important, but that is because time and education have made this possible. The question remains whether a day will come when this is no longer a problem. Diversity is the state of being distinct, separate and individual. It is necessary for everyone to understand the differences in people. We need this understanding in order to relate to others. As I stated, diversity comes in many forms, so we are likely to encounter it every day. Discrimination is the treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age and sex. I can remember riding on a bus when members of the black community had to sit in the back of the bus. Schools were totally segregated on the basis of color. I attended an all-white school and taught in an all-white school. These practices went on for many years. There were incidents of rebellion by both blacks and whites, especially as more were educated on the
history of discrimination in our country. There are many kinds of discrimination in our country. Even today, there is discrimination on the basis of religion, gender, age and disability. Some of this discrimination is not as blatant. For example, I was surprised to learn that Jewish students were not readily accepted to graduate school in certain states as were those of Christian background. Historically, this issue begins with civil rights in 1866. In 1876, the Jim Crow Law, following the end of the Civil War, granted “equal rights to all minorities in lieu of their mandated state of separateness from the general population.” The Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished segregation in the form of Jim Crow laws that had been in effect prior to the turn of the 20th century. In 1920, women exercised their right to vote for the first time, through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment led to the increased participation of women in society. Throughout the years, there have been laws against discrimination based on sex, race, religion, age, national origin and disability. What does our future hold? Much depends on our continuing education on this topic. Hopefully, parents will continue to give their children the legacy of their knowledge and experience. Will there be an end to discrimination? Will this be the cause of problems (such as intermarriage)? These are questions as yet unanswered, but we are on the right track. If so, we may see an end to violence and war. Everyone can look forward to this prediction.
On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 18, more than 200 current BBYO members and advisors gathered at the ERJCC Merfish Teen Center to welcome 150 ninth-graders at BBYO Lonestar Region’s annual New Member Pickup. Lonestar’s newest freshman class is its most geographically diverse ever – with teens participating from more than 20 different schools. At New Member Pickup, BBYO’s newest members are broken up into five BBG (girls) chapters and four AZA (boys) chapters. They are welcomed by the oldest member of each chapter. The chapters spent the afternoon getting to know their new members in fun-themed activities. Isadore Shapiro AZA #1329, for example, went to Godwin Park and the members played sports with an Olympic theme. Tikvah BBG #2473 had a California-themed program and Henry Barnston BBG #318 made candy sushi at their Japanese-style event. The chapter
activities were a great success and allowed the ninth-graders to get a warm welcome in BBYO by their new chapters. Senior Lexi Reichstein from BBG #63 said, “I loved seeing the freshman so excited to become a part of BBYO! I remember when I was picked up, and it is so fun to be a part of GHC pickup for the last time.” Over the next few weeks the new members will get the opportunity to understand how BBYO works and be able to attend various chapter programs before Lonestar’s New Member Convention, MIT/AIT. The MIT/AIT Convention will be held Oct. 28-30 at Camp Olympia, with an anticipated 250 teens in attendance from Houston, Austin and San Antonio. It is not too late to join a BBYO chapter. To find out more information or to get involved with BBYO, contact associate regional director Sarah Yonas at syonas@bbyo.org.
Help with student’s mitzvah Children in Soweto, South Africa are in dire need of educational tools. Contact Netanya Abramson at ngabramson@gmail.com to contribute books or go to gofund.me/2qpgrnvy for monetary contributions.
SENIOR LIVING
PAGE 14 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
How to declutter your life
now do as much as I can, as well as I can, within the constraints of time. I do not ALICE expect friends to call daily, and they know ADAMS we’ll get together whenever we can. If they don’t hear from me, it’s not because I’m not Reflections thinking about them. Like most people, I’m time-deprived. Just doing the best I can to squeeze everyone I love and every® When I was 30, I stopped attending thing I care about into the time I have. No longer do I ignore that small voice bridal showers and Tupperware parties. Nope. Not trying to get out of buying in my head. As I’ve learned, it’s the echo of a present. I always sent one. It was my my gut reaction to a person, place or thing. Now, I “trust my gut,” no matter what – and presence rsight on EveryI withheld. Client I made this executive decision for to my surprise, it’s working! Which brings me to the final act of several reasons, the first being, I had a uirement partner and two kids who required more decluttering – making decisions. My time time than I could find. I also had enough is not infinite – and it’s all I can muster at n Accreditation Tupperware to keepnationwide leftovers fresh for this and certification is recognized as a symbol of point in my life. Decluttering frees me from “shuddas” and “good intentions.” two generations. ion’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards. No longer do I fret about my choices. I But, the primary reasons I extracted myself (Our Staff ) from these two life events were the don’t overthink. There’s no drama. Again, games: humiliating games, trite games, I trust myself to weigh my options. Then, dumb games women play when nobody’s I jump in, and if there are alligators, I’ll petencies watching. Games like, guess the groom’s swim fast as fast as I can. So, that’s it. Simple, straightforward underwear1size, activities for the wedding uire Minimum Year Experience night and name the food you’d most like and taking care of business: the business sistantssmeared over your body while making of me, loving life, loving others, doing what I love and living an adventure every love. nurses I remember the look on Miss day. There’s no judging, no membership Smedlock’s face. She was the older single dues and only one rule: Know everyone is woman, the next-door neighbor who had doing the best they can do. So, welcome to my decluttered life. watched the honoree grow up. “Smearing It’s a no-guilt zone that’s warm and whattowhere?” her 50 horrified s required complete state expression background welcoming to everyone weary of feeling to scream. riteria seemed My life became a “no-guilt” zone guilty. You can jump in with both feet sometime later. I had watched generations or test the water with your big toe. No of women in my family, wringing their pressure here. No hindsight. No regrets hands and regretting, available to our clients “Shoulda done this,” because you believe we’re all doing at or “Oh, I meant to take food to that family.” your own speed. Take your time. Any ric Care“Time got away from me, but I intended to way you go about it, the water’s fine and there’s room for everyone! send a card.” How do you decutter? Let me know at me, precious time would Surveys) Us (PressStarting Ganeywith Customer Satisfaction not be used for these or similar laments. I seniors@jhvonline.com.
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Widowed, divorced, single: Here are some suggestions for your first date The story of every new love, enduring friendship, every next chapter of your life begins with a first date. This first official time of being “with” a new person often contorts your mind and emotions in ways that are intimidating and nerve-racking, leaving you (and your date) feeling scared and vulnerable. Still, to enjoy new relationships, whether a new love or not, you first must overcome the discomfort that comes with “square one.” Take some time to think about your date before it happens, realize the other person is in a similar situation, and make sure you understand he/she is not the enemy. It takes two to make a good date, so consider some of these do’s and don’ts to give the date its best chance for success. 1. Put your best foot forward. Your best foot is not the one with all the bunions, callouses and ingrown toenails. It is, metaphorically speaking, the nicely pedicured one with trimmed and painted nails ready to star in a bath soap commercial. “Be yourself“ is great advice, but on the first date, you want to reveal the most endearing aspects of yourself. Save the banter for a later date about your last five doctor’s visits, your departed spouse or legal issues. (Much later.) Certainly, it is reasonable to briefly address mobility and dietary issues that might become important during the date, but there is no need to drag any drama or shocking personal information into the first date. 2. Don’t talk too much about the past. Your date may be interested, in general terms, to know if you’ve had a wonderful or pained existence. Just keep the details to a minimum. There’s no point in baring your soul to someone you will only see one time, and, if you go on and on too much, that may guarantee no repeat performance. You can talk about your daughter‘s challenges in her relationship, but nobody – especially your date – wants to hear about the daily misdeeds of your “goodfor-nothing” son-in-law. Touch the surface, but leave the depth and emotion for later. Remember, the point of a first date is to get to know each other so each of you can determine if there is a reason to have a second date, not to pile all your baggage on the table. 3. Do have an open mind. Don’t set your expectations too high, and don’t
make a snap decision that this person is – or is not – for you. You know you are a little more set in your ways these days, if you’re being honest with yourself. New partners aren’t like comfortable shoes you can just slip into and hit the ground running. They’re more like your selection of golf clubs or that new Coach handbag. Sure, you miss the zipper compartment where you kept all your special things in the old purse, but the new bag or golf club might have some good features you will adjust to and find to your liking for very different reasons. Give this new person a chance and, if the date wasn’t horrible, be open to the possibility of a second date. 4. Don’t blame your date for the mistakes of others. As a rule, most first dates don’t like new partners who wear their emotional scars on their sleeves or who have an overt distrust for all because of the sins of a few. It’s pretty obvious where the questions are coming from, if you start asking things like, “You’re not a drinker, are you?” “Do you beat the hell out of all your women, or just some of them?” or “You’re not going to die on me next month, are you?” Your insecurities and pain are important, but these questions are not appropriate for someone you hardly know. He/she might just think you’re a psycho and run for the hills. You are an equal partner in the dating relationship, so take some responsibility for the success of the date and the course of the relationship. If you don’t want to see this person again, just wish them good luck and be on your way. If you think one more date might be called for, say you had a nice time and hope you can get together again. The best advice is to treat the date like a chat with a new friend, and not like there is any urgency to force the other person into the role of the perfect prince or princess. For better or worse, this new friend will be nothing like your last relationship, and you will be nothing like the other person’s former spouse. This is a clean slate and a fresh start, so don’t begin it with old fears, foolish expectations or harsh judgments right out of the gate. It may take a few tries to find a good fit, and it may take a few dates to break in the relationship until it feels comfortable.
Social Security has a full basket of useful offerings By ANDREW HARDWICK Social Security public affairs specialist
Who doesn’t love sharing a picnic with friends and family? Whether you plan one for everyone on your block or a quiet afternoon for two, you’ll need to bring a basket filled with delectable goodies. When you’re sharing dishes with loved ones, whether you’re at home or away, you’ll be sure to make everyone happy with a variety of treats. In the service of securing today and tomorrow, Social Security has a full picnic basket of services. Our table is ready to serve millions of Americans online, by phone and in person in our network of field offices. It’s easy to pick the method that’s best for you from the comfort of your home or on the go. The quality service you expect from
us is easy, secure and convenient to access when you go online. Signing up for a My Social Security account will give you a secure and efficient way to interact with us and accomplish various tasks, including estimating your future benefits or managing your current benefits. You can sign up for your own account at socialsecurity. gov/myaccount and join the more than 25 million Americans who already conduct business with us online using My Social Security. Another way you can contact us is toll-free at 800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800325-0778). Of course, you can also use the field office locator at socia l se cu r it y.gov /a gency /cont a ct to find your local field office, where you can speak with a Social Security employee face to face.
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PAGE 15 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Tips for seniors online dating Senior dating has become increasingly popular, primarily because of the success of senior dating websites exclusive to senior singles. Comprehensive user profiles and sharing of pictures is one way senior dating sites have become so successful. However, there are a few do’s and don’ts of senior dating that you’d have to bear in mind. • Don’t conceal your expectations. Getting over a failed relationship or overcoming the loss of a partner can be difficult to deal with. However, it is important that you share your expectations with your partner to maintain transparency. If you have children, speak about them with your potential partner. Try analyzing if he/she would be comfortable with them. • Join a senior dating site. The Internet is one of the most critical resources of our times, so we need to learn to make the most of it. Joining a senior dating site not only gives you the opportunity to connect with a larger membership base, but also the chance to connect with like-minded people from across the globe. Keep in mind people who have something in common tend to connect faster than those who don’t. Having experienced something similar in life, your senior partner would be a source of great support. • Don’t dwell in the past. Sob stories are a huge turn off, and it’s time people in their 50s realize this. Dwelling on the past doesn’t attract empathy from the other person, but would actually give an impression that you’re in no position to commence a new relationship. Senior singles that are looking for a partner are advised to start afresh and take no cues from the past. A reference to your previous relationship, on the online dating profile or in a face-to-face conversation, would jeopardize your chances of landing a partner. • Do focus on your online dating approach. A majority of senior citizens fail to tap the potential of senior dating sites. This is either due to their wrong approach or failure to understand the purpose of all the features these sites bring to the table. Leading sites boast of seamless client support and an extensive FAQ section that would give you all the info on how to make the most of the website. On the other hand, you also may contact counselors and dating experts seeking their assistance.
How to know you’ve found your soul mate?
Finding your soul mate is only as easy or hard as finding your own soul! But, how do you know when you’ve found your soul mate? 1. Soul mates will be on a path that is complementary with one another. Their dreams, vision, spiritual beliefs and goals will be compatible. When they are dating, they will ask the other person questions to learn about their mind, heart and soul. 2. Soul mates will take the time to get
to know one another, actually like each other – not just love and want one another. Many times people who are infatuated, or in love with love, do not even LIKE the person they’ve attached their “in love” feelings to. Mature people don’t live in a romantic fantasy. 3. Soul mates are comfortable with the other person’s values and beliefs, and they like the way the other person looks, feels, smells, sounds and tastes. They aren’t disgusted or embarrassed by each other’s actions or how their mate relates to others. 4. Soul mates are equals. They don’t consider themselves better or worse than the one they love. They have equal admiration, respect and care for one another, and they respect each other’s gifts, personality and lifestyle. 5. Soul mates are in tune with their own soul and won’t lose their identity, nor do they try to be like the other person or try to change their partner. Soul mates will be able to see the beautiful essence within one another, along with their imperfections. Soul mates feel safe to open up and reveal their true self; what they think, believe and feel, and they let the other do the same. They each feel heard, understood and accepted. They both listen to each other with an open heart, and have a desire to understand and learn from each other. They both have a feeling of “being at home” with one another. Soul mates do not fear change, growth or aging. They welcome change as an opportunity to achieve greater intimacy, and to grow together in life – not apart. They will still love each other, even if they lost their possessions or their looks! 6. Soul mates spend a lot of time together because they both really enjoy it, not because they don’t like being alone. Whether they are together or apart, they experience peace and joy in their soul. True love is based upon maturity, and a balance of dependence and independence. They are able to depend upon the other when appropriate and they also can stand on their own. 7. Soul mates are obvious to other people. Friends and family think you are a good match! They also will like each other’s friends; they fit in with the other mate’s friends. 8. Soul mates feel supported in pursuing what brings them joy, and their mate can feel joy for their joy. The two of them laugh and play together, and enjoy each other’s sense of humor. In the midst of difficulties, they help each other to lighten up with humor and playfulness. Soul mates enjoy being kind to one another, rather than having their own way or being right. 9. Your soul mate makes you feel secure and protected. He or she will always make you feel safe and cherished. Your soul mate will make you feel like you have a guardian angel by your side.
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Page 16 Jewish herald -Voice october 6, 2016
Federation
Jewish Baby University participants: (top) Michael Rosenhouse, Michael and Allison Burger, Michael Saghian, Kenny Freed, Matt Ricklin, Steven Becker, Noa Iolin-Deutsch, Johnny Deutsch and YAD director Lisa Stanton; (bottom) Amanda Rosenhouse, Amy Gordon, Julie Blumberg, Rachel Saghian, Elyse Freed, Shelly Riklin, Tiffany Siegel, Ariel Becker, Emily Spinner and Lisa Miller. (Also in attendance were Stuart Blumberg, Brian Gordon, Lisa and Evan Lee, Mason Miller, Stephanie and Steven Mitzner, Jake Siegel and Joey Spinner.)
Jewish Baby U expands curriculum with expectant grandparent class For the first time, Jewish Baby University, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Jerome Robinson Family Young Adult Division, and funded by a grant from the Houston Jewish Community Foundation, introduces a special grandparent class to its series. This session is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 6-9 p.m. at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd. The cost includes dinner and CPR training. The session focuses on the important role grandparents play in supporting their children as new parents. All new or expecting grandparents are invited to attend. Bringing a new life into the world
is a miracle and a daunting experience, with no blueprint for guidance. The Federation’s Jewish Baby U supports expectant parents and is ready to help in this new, exciting phase of life. JBU is launching its third session. The grandparent class is a new addition. Grandparents can be a major component in their grandchild’s life, providing love, understanding, encouragement, pride and friendship. This session will provide infant and child CPR instruction and a discussion with a pediatrician regarding differences in today’s baby care. It will include a rabbi talk on topics, such as respecting boundaries. “Besides the amount of information we learn and the access to pediatricians
and other specialists, the real bonus of Jewish Baby University is to meet other Jewish expecting parents and create a social group before the baby arrives,” said Elyse Freed. “I think the grandparent’s session will be a big benefit and a great refresher course, because it’s been a while since my parents have practiced infant CPR, and it’s important they learn about some of the new doctor recommendations that have changed since they had babies.” “This class is an important addition to the curriculum,” said Tiffany Siegel. “The entire process of preparing for a grandchild with other expecting grandparents reinforces mutual interests and develops new friendships. Whether you are a first-time grandparent or a
many-time grandparent, this session will be beneficial. Your children will thank you, and the baby will benefit from your refreshed knowledge.” JBU has enjoyed two successful sessions with a third session beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and ending on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Dinner is included at each session. Jewish Baby University takes place at different synagogues throughout Houston from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for seven weeks. Details regarding cost and registration are available at houstonjewish.org/jbu. For more information, contact Lisa Stanton, director of the Jerome Robinson Family YAD, 713-551-7600, ext. 319, or lstanton@houstonjwish.org.
Sheila Jackson Lee CONGRESSWOMAN TEXAS’ 18TH DISTRICT L’ Shanah Tovah and May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a year of prosperity, peace, health and joy. “Throughout the time I’ve served with Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, I’ve found her to be an engaged and strong supporter of Israel in Congress. I’ve seen her commitment up close – not only to combating efforts by detractors to vilify Israel but also to working proactively to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship, which she believes stems from shared values and ideals.” – Congressman Steny Hoyer, Democratic Whip, United States House of Representatives Paid for by Sheila Jackson Lee for Congress Campaign
Federation
Page 17 Jewish herald -Voice octoer 6, 2016
PJ Library engineers fun Rosh Hashanah with parking lot train ride
Israel Connection information session set for Oct. 13 at the J
The free Jewish book program, PJ Library, kicked off its year Sunday, Sept. 25, with “All Aboard for the Jewish New Year,” hosted by Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism. Children heard the shofar, sang songs and listened to a story about “Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Train.” Afterwards, participants dipped apples in honey, ate round mini challahs, decorated an apple-shaped picture frame and a honey jar, and took family selfies. The high point of the afternoon was a ride around the parking lot on Engineer Ari’s train. PJ Library, a gift to young families, is a partnership between the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and local donors. The library distributes age-appropriate Jewish children’s books and CDs to nearly 1,800 children ages 6 months through 8 Karina and Cary Gates and their children Adrian and Elena take a selfie at PJ Library’s “All Aboard for the Jewish New Year.” years in Houston, at no cost to participating families. PJ Library hosts a monthly program and distributes a monthly e-newsletter, which includes resources for parents and a calendar of events for young children and their families. The primary purpose of PJ Library is to encourage parents to share Jewish stories, traditions and values with their children, promote family conversations and inspire families to engage in social, educational and communal experiences. To enroll, visit PJLibrary.org. For information, contact Barbara Loeser, Federation Community Engagement director, 713-729-7000 or bloeser@houstonjewish.org.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston will host its second informational session about the Israel Connection 2017 Trip on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m., at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC. The trip leaves Houston Sunday, Feb. 26, and returns Tuesday, March 7. Attendees will hear how a trip to Israel becomes a personal journey where one explores, learns, enjoys and appreciates this land and its special people. Every other year since 1999, the Federation has taken a group of Houstonians to visit Israel and the people and places that benefit from the Houston community’s donations to the Federation’s Annual Campaign. Accommodations are first class, and travelers have access to events, programs and high-ranking officials that are available only through the Federation. There is special programming for first-time and seasoned visitors. The Israel Connection 2017 co-chairs are Joy and Joe Kaplan. “You’ll connect with other Houstonians in Israel as you explore the country and strengthen Federation travelers toured Safed during Israel your personal connection to the Connection 2015. retail value has been reduced through land and people of Israel,” said Joy. “Let us show you the Israel we know donations from the Velva G. & H. Fred you will fall in love with. You’ll meet Levine Israel Community Mission Fund Israelis and their leaders and see Israel as and other individual donors. Download or register for Israel is only possible when you travel with the Connection 2017 brochures and applicaFederation,” said Joe. The cost includes round-trip airfare tions online at houstonjewish.org/israeltrip. RSVP for the meeting to Shelly from Houston to Israel, deluxe accommodations in five-star hotels in Jerusalem, Shwartz, Federation Development Tel Aviv and in northern Israel, with associate, 713-729-7000, ext. 313 or most meals and gratuities included. The sshwartz@houstonjewish.org.
Program mentors teachers for lifelong learning in congregational schools The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has launched a new version of its teacher mentor program, called Morim L’Chaim, Teachers for Life. The program identifies master educators in the Houston Jewish community who serve as mentors and coaches to teachers in congregational religious schools. The program is funded by the Jewish Federation’s Fund for the Jewish Future. Religious schools that welcomed mentors include Chabad Hebrew School of West Houston; congregations Beth El, Beth Israel, Beth Yeshurun, Brith Shalom, Emanu El; Jewish Community North, Or Ami, Shaar Hashalom, Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, Temple Beth Tikvah, Temple Sinai and Temple Beth Torah. The Morim L’Chaim mentors include former principals, teachers and university professors. Mentors Diane Brezner, Laurie Dreyfuss, Helen Feintuch, Esther Friedman, Barbara Garber, Elisheva Levitt, Debi Mishael, Nancy Pryzant Picus, Randee Smolensky and Eileen Westerman have been involved with secular and Jewish education for many years and have much expertise to share. “These outstanding educators in the Morim L’Chaim program will provide ongoing support and training to the congregational religious school teachers,” said Lisa Klein, Federation’s managing director of Jewish education. “The teachers’ growth and improvement directly correlates to improved student/ teacher interactions, more engaging educational activities and a better overall learning environment for our children.” Most of the schools will have one dedicated mentor for its teachers. The mentors will visit each school eight times, to support new teachers and experienced
teachers who have a desire to learn and attempt new things. The mentors’ observations focus on creating engaging educational activities, as well as helping teachers develop a community that collaborates and supports each others’ learning. Mentors will direct teachers to content-based enrichment in areas such as using technology as a creative teaching tool, Jewish identity-building activities, Israel education and family education programs. Mentors and teachers have regular meetings to discuss observations and to implement new strategies to improve as educators. School principals will be briefed on consultations, so they can help and encourage teachers. “Coaching and mentoring are proven ways to provide effective professional development by creating a community of learners who participate in ongoing learning,” Klein said. “Teachers who are part of a school culture that encourages and supports teacher learning are more likely to grow and improve in their teaching practice. Student success is directly related to an impactful teacher, and it is our goal to provide our congregational school teachers with the training and support they need to provide engaging Jewish educational experiences for our children.” Morim L’Chaim provides tools, feedback and strategies to help teachers succeed in creating an inviting, interactive religious school learning environment. The program helps children explore and discover the joys of Judaism, which will help lead them to become lifelong learners. For information, contact Lisa Klein, lklein@houstonjewish.org, or 713-7297000, ext. 330.
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Judge Robert Schaffer has been the presiding judge of the 152nd District Court since 2009.
✩
2014 Trial Judge of the Year, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.
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He has been rated as outstanding and more qualified than his opponent by a margin of 14 to 1 by members of the Houston Bar Association.
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He has been selected by the other District Court Judges to serve as the Local Administrative Judge for all of the Districts Courts since 2013.
The Judicial Evaluation and Qualification Questionnaires are not endorsements by the Houston Bar Association. Political advertisement paid for by Judge Robert Schaffer Campaign in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Fairness Act.
ARTS
PAGE 18 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Coming to JCC Book & Arts Fair
The secret behind Chabad’s success The word “secret” is defined as something that is something that is hidden or concealed, a formula or plan known only to the initiated or the few. Thus, the title of Rabbi David Eliezre’s book, “The Secret of Chabad” (Toby Press) is a misnomer. People with casual Chabad experience know the “secret” to the movement’s success is due to the entrepreneurial skills and energy of the Chabad shluchim, the worldwide network of emissaries charged with fulfilling the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s mission. The number of shluchim
aaron howard Looks
at
Books
is estimated at 4,325 in 86 countries, operating 3,500 Chabad Houses. Rabbi Eliezre is a veteran Chabad shaliach. I knew him when I was a graduate student at the University
of Miami in 1981-’83. He’s currently director of the North County Chabad Center in Orange County, Calif. Rabbi Eliezre will discuss his book, “The Secret of Chabad,” on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC as part of the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Fair. Rabbi Eliezre’s book is a respectful, noncritical, well-written account of post-World War II Chabad. Unlike other Hasidic groups who aspired to preserve Judaism “by turning inward, holding on to a committed core, re-creating old-world enclaves and keeping assimilation at bay,” the Rebbe (Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, seventh in a line of Lubavitcher Rebbes) articulated a different vision. The mission, as Rabbi Eliezre describes it, became “to reach every Jew, regardless of level of observance, background and affiliation, and to transform Jewish life in every community in the world.” This new model needed a core of young men and women, strong and committed in the Chabad tradition, but willing to go out into locations that often lacked the basics of a Hasidic life. These shluchim were charged with going boldly out, identifying the needs of their new communities, then building the needed Jewish institutions and programs from the ground up, including raising the necessary funds. Toward what end? The ultimate goal was (and still is) to achieve a world perfected so that Moshiach will return, bringing redemption and the beginning of the Messianic Era. Needless to say, in the beginning (the 1950s and ’60s), Chabad met pushback from established Jewish organizations in the community and on campus. In
the chapter, “The Menorah Wars,” Rabbi Eliezre casts the issue of public menorah lightings as an example of “Chabad standing up publicly to the liberal establishment” and of “Liberal Jewish organizations … stifling the empowerment of more traditional Jewish groups in order to protect their turf as the dominant voice in the Jewish community.” A more critical writer might have explained why many non-Orthodox Jews see public menorah lighting as an issue that encroaches on the separation of church and state. Rabbi Eliezre argues that “Chabad programs are not getting a fair shake,” due to the reluctance of many Federations to fund Chabad. Yet, in the book’s next chapter, Rabbi Eliezre reveals that Chabad has become “a fundraising powerhouse” with a budget somewhere between $1.5 billion-$2 billion for operations and capital projects. The Chabad bottom line is “Success for each shaliach is based on his own efforts: It is sink or swim.” In my experience with Houston-area Chabad leaders, I concur with Rabbi Eliezre when he writes, “When faced with an obstacle, you (the shaliach) don’t stop or go around, you go over the top … taking financial risks as necessary.” Certainly, all successful fundraisers know it’s about building personal connections. And, it’s also true that unlike many Jewish organizations, Chabad doesn’t demand an up-front financial commitment (or payment for High Holy Days tickets). But, what of those shluchim who are less-skilled at making “the ask?” Does the Chabad fundraising model work 100 percent of the time? The Rebbe passed away in June 1994. Since then, Chabad has continued to grow and innovate. It’s hard to argue with the successful organizational culture the Rebbe inspired and which Chabad leadership created. But, if you’re seeking a critical or interpretive analysis of the Chabad organization, you won’t find it here.
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The hidden face and the silent song
UPCOMING EVENTS CONTINUING PROGRAM
A new one-year course in the teaching of Jewish Mysticism is offered by TORCH, 9427 Glenfield Ct. To register or for information, go to torchweb. org. Scholarships are available.
THURSDAYS THROUGH DEC. 15
“On the Margins of Judaism,” taught by Wendy Lerman, Melton Adult Education class, 10:45-11:45 a.m., at the Merfish Teen Center. For details, go to erjcchouston.org/jewish-learningflorence-melton.
CONTINUING THROUGH NOV. 13
“Helene Berr, A Stolen Life” exhibit, at Holocaust Museum Houston Morgan Family Center, 5401 Caroline St. For more information, call 713-942-8000 or visit hmh.org.
TTHROUGH SATURDAY, DEC. 31
Holocaust Museum Houston’s first contemporary juried exhibit, “GENOCIDE: Man’s Inhumanity to Humankind.” Holocaust Museum Houston’s “Taking Flight: The Butterfly Project – commemorating the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust.
SATURDAYS, OCT. 8, 15, 22 AND 29
Holocaust Museum Houston presents The Bonhoeffer Tours, 10-11:30 a.m., focusing on the life and ministry of the German Lutheran theologian Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his actions against the Nazi Party. To register, call 713-527-1602 or email tours@hmh.org. Author appearance and book signing with Jan Jarboe Russell at Holocaust Museum Houston, 6:30-8 p.m. The author discusses her book, “The Train to Crystal City,” describing trains that delivered thousands of civilians from the U.S. and Latin America to Crystal City, Texas, from 1942 to 1948. RSVP at hmh.org/ registerevent.aspx.
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
My Generation, a social club sponsored by Congregation Emanu El, hosts a potluck dinner, 6:30 p.m. The group, composed of singles and couples, is for people who are age 65 and older. Everyone is welcome to attend. For the address, RSVP to Brenda Lind, breect@yahoo.com, and let her know you would like to bring an appetizer, entrée, salad or dessert.
TUESDAY, OCT. 11
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sundown.
THURSDAY, OCT. 13
Merfish Teen Center Venue Open House, 5-7 p.m. – an opportunity to see the newly renovated facility. Community welcome. RSVP to merfishrentals@erjcchouston.org
PAGE 19 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Parshat Vayelech – Deuteronomy 31:1-30
required. Merfish Teen Center, 9000 S. Rice Ave. For information, visit erjcchouston.org\ merfishrentals or contact Melissa Gordon at 713-595-8194.
RABBI DR. TZVI HERSH WEINREB
Jewish Federation information meeting for 2017 Israel Connection trip, 7:30 p.m., in the JCC Joe Frank Theatre, 5601 S. Braeswood Blvd. Details: 713-729-7000.
SUNDAY, OCT. 16
“Justin’s Last Jam” concert, 3 p.m., at Last Concert Café, 1403 Nance St., benefiting Chabad of West Houston building fund. Tickets at lastconcert.ticketfly.com.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
The Israel Bonds Houston Women’s Division holds its annual fall luncheon at Sandra Finkelman’s home. Guest speaker: Ruth Ebenstein, an American-Israeli writer and activist for women’s health. For information, contact Steve Landis, 713-360-3530 or steve. landis@israel.bonds.com.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
Anne Frank Hadassah meeting, 10 a.m., at Sharon Brier’s home. Deborah Rolnik Raichman, Brazilian and Judaica artist, will give her interpretation and impressions of “Painting the Proverbs” through Art. Bring a dairy or veggie dish to share. RSVP to Paulette, 713-827-7227 or plevine300@aol.com.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, OCT. 22-23
“Uncle Philip’s Coat,” a one-man play about the immigrant experience, in the Kaplan Theatre, at the JCC. Saturday curtain is at 8 p.m., and Sunday is at 3 p.m. For tickets and information, visit erjcchouston.org, or call 713-551-7255.
SUNDAY, OCT. 30
Emanu El Brotherhood’s fourth-annual Collectors Car Show, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the synagogue, 1500 Sunset Blvd. Rain date, Sunday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m. Free to public. For more information, contact Jason Plotkin, 713535-6414 or jasonp@emanuelhouston.org.
••• SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY, NOV. 12
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Houston Section gala, “Hear Us Roar!” at 7 p.m., Plants ‘N Petals Design Studio, 1 N. Sampson St. For more information, visit ncjwhouston.org or email info@ncjwhouston. org.
Weekly Torah PorTion This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Vayelech, provides a text that repeatedly has been used by those who search to understand the A-mighty’s often puzzling ways. The text reads: “Then, My anger will flare up against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them. … And, many evils and troubles shall befall them. And, they shall say on that day, ‘Surely, it is because our G-d is not in our midst that these evils have befallen us.’ Yet, I will keep My face hidden on that day, because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods. And now, write down this song and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths. ... When the many evils and troubles befall them – then this song shall respond as a witness, since it will never be lost from the mouth of their offspring” (Deuteronomy 31:17-21). Here we encounter that fearsome image: the Hidden Face of the Divine, hester panim. In this passage, the meaning of “the Hiding of the Face” is clear. It refers to Divine judgment and punishment. G-d “hides His face” from those who turn their faces away from Him. “Umipnei chata’einu galinu mei’artzenu, because of our sins, we have been exiled from our Land.” How is humanity to relate to a G-d who hides Himself? In response, Isaiah asserted: “I will wait for the L-rd, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, and I will trust in Him” (Isaiah 8:17). What options are there for those of lesser faith? In response to this question, I offer a remarkable reinterpretation of our text by Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlap, who lived and taught in Jerusalem before passing away in 1951. Here is his perspective on the verse in
this week’s Torah portion with which we began this essay. That text began with the A-mighty’s threat to hide His face, but then surprisingly and suddenly, He instructed Moses to write down a song to be taught to the people of Israel. Troubled by this abrupt shift, Rabbi Charlap offered this novel interpretation: “If the terrible troubles and evils which you experience do not lead you to conclude that G-d’s love has brought them upon you, in the manner in which a father disciplines the son he loves, and you imagine that G-d has distanced himself from you, and that it is ‘Because He is no longer in your midst’ that these troubles have occurred to you, know that such thoughts are equivalent to turning to other gods, to idolatry. Therefore, G-d will hide His face from you. Instead, ‘write down this song,’ and thereby recognize that both blessings and curses are but one long and lofty song of love. Know that even ‘many evils and troubles’ are G-d’s awesome rebukes for your misbehavior, but ultimately stem from the source of song, and are but a sublime expression of the great mercy concealed in an absolute Divine love. This song of love never ceases, not even for a moment, and will ‘never be lost from the mouth of your offspring.’ ” Whether G-d seems to forsake us in our private lives, or when we struggle to understand those times in our national history when the A-mighty seemed to abandon His people, we must listen carefully for the silent song that lies behind G-d’s hidden face. That silent song is nothing less than the song of Torah, the song that enables us to endure moments of G-d’s concealment, and to one day enjoy the priestly blessing which assures us that “the L-rd will make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” To read more articles and essays by Rabbi Weinreb, go to ou.org/torah/parshaseries/rabbi-weinreb-on-parsha.
66
SYNAGOGUES
Candle lighting for Shabbat, Friday, Oct. 7, 6:41 p.m. Torah portion: Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1-30) – Moses’ farewell song and blessing; Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10, Micah 7:18-20 and Joel 2:15-27 – this is Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Return; Sabbath ends: Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:35 p.m. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will begin on Tuesday evening, Oct. 11. [C = Conservative; O = Orthodox; R = Reform; Rt = Reconstructionist; I = Independent]
BAIS CHABAD OF THE WOODLANDS [O]
CONGREGATION BETH EL [R]
25823 Budde Rd., Spring 77380-2009 281-865-7242; JewishWoodlands.com
3900 Raoul Wallenberg Ln., Missouri City 77459 281-499-5066; betheltx.org
CONGREGATION JEWISH COMMUNITY NORTH [R]
BELLAIRE JEWISH CENTER [O]
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL [R]
5400 Fellowship Ln., Spring 77379-8861; 281-376-0016; CJCN.org
12 Bellaire Triangle Arc, Bellaire 77401 832-971-3781; BJCHouston.org
5600 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston 77096-2924 713-771-6221; Beth-Israel.org
CHABAD ATTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY [O]
CONGREGATION BETH JACOB [C]
CONGREGATION K’NESSETH ISRAEL [--]
201 Live Oak St., College Station 77840-1923 979-220-5020; JewishAggies.com
P.O. Box 750, Galveston 77553-0750; 2401 Avenue K, Galveston 77550-4403 409-762-4545; galvestonshul.org
PO Box 702, Baytown 77522-0702; 100 W Sterling St., Baytown 77520-4043; 281-424-5827; JoanTL@aol.com
CHABAD HOUSE AT RICE [O]
CONGREGATION BETH RAMBAM [O]
CONGREGATION OR AMI [C]
1955 University Blvd., Houston 77030-1303 713-522-2004; ChabadAtRice.org
11333 Braesridge Dr., Houston 77071-2327 713-723-3030; BethRambam.org
3443 Wilcrest St., Houston 77042-4830 713-334-4300; OrAmiHouston.org
CHABAD OF SUGAR LAND [O]
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM [R]
CONGREGATION SHAAR HASHALOM [C]
4501 Cartwright Rd., Ste. 770, Missouri City 77459 832-758-0685; ChabadSugarLand.com
101 N Coulter Dr., Bryan 77803-4831 979-822-2738; CBS-BCS.org
CHABAD OF THE BAY AREA [O] CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE & LEARNING
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM OF THE WOODLANDS [R]
2047 W. Main St., Ste. B7, League City,Texas 77573
CHABAD OF UPTOWN [O] 4311 Bettis Dr., Houston 77027-4403; 713-419-3960; ChabadUptown.org
CHABAD BAY AREA CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE & LEARNING 2047 W. Main St, Ste. B7 League City, TX 77573
CHABAD LUBAVITCH CENTER [O] 10900 Fondren Rd., Ste. B104, Houston 77096-5525 713-777-2000; chabadtexas.org
CHAI LEARNING CENTER [O] 14133 Memorial Dr., Ste. 1, Houston 77079-6800 281-589-7188; WestChabad.org
5125 Shadow Bend Pl., Spring 77381-4111 281-362-1100; CBSW.org
CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN [C] 4525 Beechnut St., Houston 77096-1896 713-666-1881; BethYeshurun.org
CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL [R] 3008 Avenue O, Galveston 77550-6898; P.O. Box 8060, Galveston 77553-8060; 409-765-5796;CBIGalveston.org
CONGREGATION BRITH SHALOM [C] 4610 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire 77401-4299 713-667-9201; BrithShalom.org
CONGREGATION EMANU EL [R] 1500 Sunset Blvd., Houston 77005-1899 713-529-5771; EmanuElHouston.org
16020 El Camino Real, Houston 77062-4414 281-488-5861; ShaarHashalom.org
CONGREGATION SHMA KOLEINU [R]
P.O. Box 1808, Bellaire Texas 77402-1808, 713-960-1800. Services 1st & 3rd Fridays: Interfaith Ministries, 3303 Main St.; 2nd & 4th Fridays: Merfish Teen Center, 9000 S. Rice Ave.; 5th Fridays: Check at shmakoleinu.com. CONGREGATION TEMPLE EMANUEL [R]1120 Broadway St., Beaumont 77701-2199 409832-6131; EmanuelBeaumont.org
CONGREGATION TORAH VACHESED [O] 5925 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston 77096-3808 832-335-3639; TorahVachesed.com
HILLEL AT TEXAS A&M
800 George Bush Dr., College Station 77840-2951 979-703-1856; TAMUHillel.org
HOUSTON CONGREGATION FOR REFORM JUDAISM [R]
SEVEN ACRES JEWISH SENIOR CARE SERVICES [--]
801 Bering Dr., Houston 77057-2105; 713-782-4162 HCRJ.org
6200 N Braeswood Blvd. Ofc., Houston 77074-7599 713-778-5700; SueC@SevenAcres.org; SevenAcres.org
HOUSTON HILLEL [--] 1700 Bissonnet St., Houston 77005-1710 713-526-4918; KWeiss@HoustonHillel.org; HoustonHillel.org
JEWISH COMMUNITY OF BRAZOSPORT (JACOB) [R] P.O. Box 443, Clute 77531-0443; 88 Flaglake Dr., Clute 77531-5130 JewishCommunityBrazosport@gmail.com
KESHET HOUSTON [GL] P.O. Box 920552, Houston, Texas 77292; 832-429-5392; keshethouston.org
KOL HALEV [RT] P.O. Box 35634, Houston 77235-5634; 832-378-7545; KolHalevHouston.org; kolhalevhouston@gmail.com
THE L’CHAIM CENTER [I] P.O. Box 3321, Bellaire 77402-3321; 5151 Buffalo Speedway, Houston 77005-4270; 713-705-7662 L-ChaimCenter.org
MEYERLAND MINYAN [O] 9606 Chimney Rock Rd., Houston 77096-4102 9002 Chimney Rock Rd., Ste. G, PMB 186 Houston 77096-2509; 713-398-1566 MeyerlandMinyan.org
SHALOM CYPRESS [C]
Northwest Houston/Cypress area; ShalomCypress.org
TEMPLE BETH TIKVAH [R] 12411 Park Shadows Trl., Houston 77058-1215 281-286-1717; TempleBethTikvah.org
TEMPLE BETH TORAH [I] 320 Shallow Dr., Humble 77338-5273; 281-446-5611 TBTHumble.org
TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL [R] 604 N Main St., Victoria 77901-6511 361-576-5667; BnaiIsraelVictoria.com
TEMPLE ISRAEL [R] 211 Baumgarten St., Schulenburg 78956-2203 PO Box 602, Schulenburg 78956; TempleIsraelwebs.com
TEMPLE SINAI [R] 13875 Brimhurst Dr., Houston 77077-1883 281-496-5950; Temple-Sinai.org
‘THE SHUL’ OF BELLAIRE [--] 4909 Bissonnet St., Ste. 180, Bellaire 77401-4055 713-839-8887; JewishBellaire.com
UNITED ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUES [O] 9001 Greenwillow St., Houston 77096-3514 713-723-3850; UOSH.org
YOUNG ISRAEL OF HOUSTON [O] 7823 Ludington Dr., Houston 77071-2501
P.O. Box 710447, Houston 77271-0447 713-729-0719; YIHouston.org
Wishing you a New Year filled with peace, love, health & happiness!
FOOD & DINING OUT
PAGE 20 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
B’tayavon
B’Tayavon
TED POWERS Food Editor TED POWERS FOOD EDITOR
AIH Dinner Series at Courses Restaurant
I attended the final Summer Quarter Dinner Series at Courses Restaurant at the Art Institute of Houston, where students get hands-on experience for all aspects of a typical restaurant. Diners enjoy meals prepared by aspiring chefs, under the direction of chef instructors. This experience plays an important role in the development of future culinary leaders. I found this to be a rare and enjoyable dining experience. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and meals for special events for up to 45 people. The quarterly dinner series is in addition to its regular meal plans. The five-course quarterly dinner is moderately priced; space is limited. The Art Institute does not provide alcohol service, and alcoholic beverages may not be brought on campus. Here is a menu sampling: Amuse Bouche was gently scrambled eggs with cream and Swiss cheese served in a delicate puff-pastry shell. Then, a choice of tomato soup loaded with a medley of vegetables and Roquefort cheese or diners could select Haricots Verts Salad with shaved fennel and tomatoes with creamy whole grain mustard vinaigrette. Intermezzo was a delicious Port and Wine Granita. For my main course, I loved Duck a la Orange with Anna potatoes and haricot verts. For dessert, I enjoyed Tarte Tatin with caramelized apples in a pate brisee crust. Or, there was Crepes Suzette with seasonal berries and whipped cream Chantilly. Courses Restaurant is at 4140 Southwest Freeway, call 713-353-3644. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome for lunch; reservations are required for dinner. Days and times may change each quarter, so call to confirm. For more information, contact Chef Stephen Griffin, sgriffin@aii.edu, and subscribe to its weekly email list.
What we eat on Jewish holidays
On most holidays we usually have challah (except Passover) and wine, although this is not mandated. For some holidays, there are symbolic foods that make us think of the reason
for the holiday. Chanukah is a good example – we eat latkes fried in oil to remind us of the miracle of the lights (the jar of oil that should have lasted one night and lasted eight nights). For Rosh Hashanah, we like to think of a sweet year, so we eat sweet things. We also eat a round challah and carrots, which symbolize the circle of life, and the continuing cycle of years and seasons. It also resembles a crown representing the sovereignty of G-d. Keep in mind, most of the foods served depend more on your background, Ashkenazim verses Sephardim, Eastern Europe verses Spain and Mediterranean countries, and New York verses Chicago or Los Angeles or Texas. • Rosh Hashanah – challah, fruits of the season, apples, dates, honey, honey cake, tayglach (pieces of dough cooked in honey), seeds, carrots and other vegetables, tzimmes, gefilte fish, horseradish, chicken soup, lots of fruit. • Night before Yom Kippur – challah, gefilte fish, horseradish, chicken soup, meat, poultry, kugel, sweet desserts. Note: lighter recipes with very little salt are preferred, so as not to make you thirsty or uncomfortable during the day of fasting. • Breaking Yom Kippur fast – challah, juice; salads, such as tuna, salmon and whitefish; pickled herring, bagels, lox, cheese, blintzes, honey cake and sweets. • Sukkot – challah, citrus fruits, seasonal fruits, dates, figs, grapes and vegetables, one-pot meals, casseroles, cookies, cakes. • Chanukah – challah, fried foods, latkes, jelly donuts, sufganyot (Israeli doughnuts); cheesecake, kugel, blintzes, menorah or dreidel-shaped cookies. • Purim – challah, Hamantaschen, poppy seeds, baked goods, cookies, eggs, dried fruit. • Tu B’Shevat – challah, fruits and nuts of Israel, soup, vegetable dishes, honey cake, cookies. • Passover – all Passover-labeled foods and wines, matzah, unleavened cakes and breads, chicken soup, gefilte fish, eggs, borscht, meat, poultry. Ashkenazim do not eat rice, corn, beans, peas and buckwheat. Sephardim never banned these foods, because their cuisine was dependent on these kitniyot (legumes). Customs vary even with Sephardim. Some eat rice, but no beans. Some avoid chickpeas, because the name in Hebrew, hummus, sounds too much like chametz. • Shavuot – challah, first fruits of the season, dairy dishes, cheese blintzes, pirogen, sour cream, cheesecake, honey cake, milk, honey. • Sabbath – challah, gefilte fish, horseradish, salad, soup, poultry, meat, kasha, cakes, cookies and sweets.
Dining Out
with TED POWERS
Tapester’s Grill (and Stickee’s in the Morning) In the heart of Southwest Houston, on Beechnut Street, across from Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Tapester’s Grill combines a great burger place (more than a dozen kinds) with a large menu of salads, sandwiches, soup, a bunch of chicken dishes and, catch this, rib-eye steak. It also offers kosher Hebrew National hot dogs. So, if you’re looking for a good family place in the neighborhood, serving a large variety of mostly made-from-scratch comfort foods at low to moderate prices, Tapester’s is the place to go. Owner John Taper told me the second name – Stickee’s in the Morning – refers to the best cinnamon buns around, and to their breakfast, served until 11 a.m. Tapester’s is a family affair with wife Tricia and three daughters and son assisting whenever possible. Tapester’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch). The dining room is neat and modern with lots of room between tables. There is outdoor patio seating in the back that can hold about 100 guests for a private party. Wine and beer are available. Dinner began with a delicious and healthy Melon Chopped Kale Salad loaded with chunks of sweet melon, tomatoes, dried cranberries, Parmesan cheese and topped with balsamic vinaigrette. Add charbroiled salmon, and it becomes a wonderful main dish. This was followed by a cup of first-class chicken noodle soup, filled with white meat chicken. For my main dish I ordered
Recipes 1 (3 to 5 pounds) duckling 2 tsp. Szechwan pepper, coarsely ground, or 1 tsp. whole pepper, coarsely ground 1 tsp. salt
chicken-fried rib-eye steak. It was tender and juicy and served with mashed potatoes and squash casserole. You can substitute a twice-baked potato or egg noodles. On an earlier visit, I wanted a burger and I picked The Barn Burger. This was a half-pounder, topped with a 6-ounce chicken breast over a fried egg and served with Tapester’s fries. For a little extra, you can get sweet potato fries or fries with guacamole, chili or jalapeños. The burger buns are homemade, and gluten-free buns are available. I really enjoy their food, and there are a bunch of dishes I can’t wait to order. On the burger side, I want to sample the Turkey Burger, Lamb Burger and the Akaushi Burger (I love the large variety of burgers). For chicken, I’m going for the Hawaiian Chicken Platter, with marinated breasts, a slice of pineapple, rice pilaf and grilled zucchini. When I’m ready for steak, I’ve got my eye on the rib-eye served with a house salad and sautéed mushrooms. Dessert is a knockout. You must finish your meal with a Stickee’s Bun. This is cinnamon madness with a cream cheese glaze. Another great choice is bread pudding with a similar topping. Breakfast lovers will enjoy breakfast tacos, Stickee chicken and waffles, or a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Another sign of Tapester’s high quality: All coffee is from Katz Coffee. If you don’t have time for a sit down meal, Tapester’s has a double drivethrough window. It is at 4520 Beechnut St., at Newcastle Drive, 832-582-5333; visit tapestersgrill.com.
Honey and Spice Duckling) (Meat)
1 tsp. ground ginger ½ tsp. five-spice powder ¼ cup honey 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
Preheat oven to 375°F. Rinse and pat duck dry. In bowl, combine pepper, salt, ginger and five-spice powder. Sprinkle body cavity of duck with some of the salt mixture and rub remaining mixture into the skin. Skewer neck skin to back; tie legs to tail and twist wing tips under back. Prick skin all over with a fork. Place duck, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast at 375°F for 1¾ to 2¼ hours or until drumsticks move easily in their sockets and the duck is no longer pink. Spoon off fat occasionally. Meanwhile, mix honey and soy sauce together. Baste duck with honey mixture once or twice during the last 10 minutes of roasting. Yield: four servings. Eileen Goltz on OUkosher.org
Classic Honey Cake (Pareve)
3 cups flour 1½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp. instant coffee ½ cup boiling water ¼ cup oil
4738 Beechnut
•
713-666-4644
www.fadiscuisine.com
To Heck with Patience! If you are experiencing late delivery of your Jewish Herald-Voice, call our office at 713-630-0391 on Thursday, or by Friday morning. Or, email subscribe@jhvonline.com.
1 cup honey Zest (peel) 1 orange 2 Tbsp. any whiskey 4 Eggs 1 cup sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 325°F. In bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda and set it aside. Mix instant coffee with the water; blend in oil, honey, orange zest and whiskey. In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy, gradually adding sugar and beat until light. Add to honey mixture. Combine flour mixture alternately with honey mixture, starting with flour and ending with flour. Stir in the walnuts. Pour batter into oiled and waxed paper-lined 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan. Bake for about 50 minutes. Test for doneness with toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean and dry, cake is done. If moist, keep baking until the toothpick comes out clean. Turn cake upside down onto wire rack. Cool. Peel off waxed paper and wrap in aluminum foil to keep fresh. Yield: eight to 10 servings. Eileen Goltz on OUkosher.org
HealtH Delirium in older surgical patients PAM GEYER Med Notes The information in this column is not intended to provide medical advice on personal health matters, which should be obtained directly from a physician.
Part I of 2 Note: According to the Merck Manual, the difference between delirium and dementia is stated as: Delirium (sometimes called acute confused state) and dementia are the most common causes of cognitive impairment, although affective disorders (eg, depression) can also disrupt cognition. Delirium and dementia are separate disorders but are sometimes difficult to distinguish. In both, cognition is disordered; however, the following helps distinguish them:
Delirium affects mainly attention. Dementia affects mainly memory. Other specific characteristics also help distinguish the two disorders. Delirium is typically caused by acute illness or drug toxicity (sometimes life threatening) and often is reversible. Dementia typically is caused by anatomic changes in the brain, has slower onset and generally is irreversible. Delirium often develops in patients with dementia. Mistaking delirium for dementia in an elderly patient – a common clinical error – must be avoided, particularly when delirium is superimposed on chronic dementia. No laboratory test can definitively establish the cause of cognitive impairment; needed, instead, is a thorough history and physical examination, as well as knowledge of baseline. It turns out that anesthesia with surgery may cause delirium, or sudden severe confusion, in 15 percent to 53 percent of older surgical patients. The research, led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, now may help clinicians assess an average patient’s risk of developing
Page 21 Jewish herald -Voice october 6, 2016
post-operative delirium, enabling preventative measures to safeguard their health. The research, published in the Journal Biological Psychiatry provides insights into the potential mechanisms involved in the development of delirium and, thus, potentially will lead to new therapeutic strategies. Delirium in older surgical patients has been linked with longer hospital stays, greater postoperative complications and higher rates of discharge to nursing homes. In the U.S., health care costs attributable to delirium are upwards of $164 billion annually. So far, there are no established biological markers to guide the diagnosis or management of the condition. A team of doctors at BIDMC screened plasma from adults without dementia, aged 70 and older, undergoing major non-cardiac surgery using data from the Successful Aging after Elective Surgery Study. Of the 566 patients enrolled, 24 percent experienced delirium. Plasma was collected at four time points: 1)
preoperation, 2) post-anesthesia care, 3) two days postoperative and 4) a one-month follow-up appointment. “Our finding was that in patients who go on to develop delirium, C-reactive protein, levels in blood are slightly increased before surgery, and further increase after surgery, relative to patients who do not develop delirium, He noted that increased plasma CRP levels are linked to various clinical conditions, which means that CRP is not a highly specific marker for delirium,” according to Towia Libermann, Ph.D., senior investigator. The researchers are planning to expand their search to include metabolites, lipids and lessabundant proteins in the blood. Uncovering markers may provide clues regarding the mechanisms that underlie the development of delirium. Pam Geyer is a health care specialist and medical writer. She may be reached at pgeyer@medcetera.com.
See also, “Senior Living” Page 14
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OBITUARIES
PAGE 22 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
NAOMI KAPLAN WARREN Naomi Kaplan Warren, child, sibling, spouse, mother, entrepreneur, civic leader and philanthropist, is of blessed memory. Naomi passed away peacefully, surrounded by generations of her family on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, erev Rosh Hashanah. A dear friend has said, “It is believed that those with a pure heart and soul pass away on Rosh Hashanah, and no one’s heart was purer or her soul more beautiful than Naomi’s.” She has left this world a better place for her 96 years upon Earth. The light that Naomi shared so wisely and well has been passed on, and she will be remembered in a myriad of ways. Naomi was born in Wolkowysk, Poland (today, Belarus), on Sept. 1, 1920, to Samuel Kaplan and Chasia Salman Kaplan. Naomi’s family nurtured her in a warm, loving environment that valued education, culture and the richness of Jewish life. Many years after her childhood, Naomi often shared stories of the rich aromas that permeated from her mother’s kitchen around the Jewish holidays. Throughout her life, she enjoyed these memories and loved sharing the food of her childhood. Naomi’s early life with her siblings, Mark and Elizabeth, was joyous, blessed with lively discussions, family gatherings and trips to the countryside for holidays. She was taught early in life the importance of education, and she thrived in school and in sporting endeavors. Years later, she would tell now retired Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, as he towered over her, that she, too, played basketball. Naomi’s innocent youth was brought to an abrupt halt by the rise to power of the Nazi Party. While she was finalizing her plans to attend university in England, Poland was invaded by Germany on her birthday, in September of 1939. Shortly after this life-altering event, further disruption came upon the Kaplan family when Soviet troops marched into Poland from the east, taking Wolkowysk under their control. Her father Samuel was taken prisoner by the Russians and sent to Siberia because, as president of the local bank, he was considered to be a capitalist. With this negative came a positive: the law enforcing a quota of how many Jews could
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attend Polish universities was altered. This meant that Naomi could enroll in a university in nearby Bialystock. Indeed, this was a life-changing possibility, for, in Bialystock, Naomi was to meet a handsome young physician, Alexander Rosenbaum. They met on the train and married in 1940. Again, Naomi’s good fortune was cut short by world events. In the summer of 1941, German forces overtook eastern Poland and began to separate, intern and murder Jews in the Polish population. By January 1943, as the Nazis pursued their ideology of racism and worked towards the “final solution,” Naomi, Alexander, her mother and brother were gathered and placed in rail cars to be transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Naomi has said of that horrendous, terrifying trip, “It seemed to last a lifetime.” Upon arrival, Naomi was separated from her loved ones as the men and women were sent to different parts of the killing center and labor camp. Naomi was selected for labor; her mother was selected for death and sent to the gas chambers. One of the most harrowing aspects of Naomi’s testimony is her description of her mother being put on a truck, looking at Naomi for the last time with her beautiful grey eyes. Alexander would perish in Auschwitz several months after arrival. Naomi resolved to survive. Remarkably, she did, despite deadly conditions, illness and starvation. In her testimony, Naomi spoke about her conviction to remain alive. She knew it was essential to go out to work, despite how miserable, weak and ill she might feel. Her valiant effort and her determination allowed her to survive Auschwitz-Birkenau. As 1945 began and Soviet troops neared Auschwitz, Naomi and her fellow female prisoners were transported to the infamous women’s camp, Ravensbrück. This camp was terrifying; regularly, surgery was done without anesthesia, and heinous experiments were conducted on prisoners. Naomi’s determination continued. She was fortunate to volunteer to move to a new location, and she next was interned at Bergen-Belsen, from where she was liberated in April of 1945 by the British. In 1946, Naomi was again fortunate, having used her ingenuity and determination to contact family to let them know she had survived. With the help of her uncle, William Salman, and her sister and brother-in-law, Drs. Elizabeth and Sylvan Brandon, who had settled in the United States before the war, Naomi made her way to America. Hearing her speak about seeing the Statue of Liberty in the New York harbor was always moving. She loved her newfound freedom and reveled in her opportunity to become an American citizen. Naomi’s father, Samuel Kaplan, had survived the war in Siberia and, in 1946, he, too, came to the United States. Naomi first lived in New York, where she met Martin Warren, a fellow Holocaust survivor. They would marry, after meeting while Martin had been invited to a dinner with a blind date. That didn’t work out for his date, because Martin and Naomi left the dinner together, and the rest is their history. Working from their garage and the trunk of their car, Martin and Naomi established a company importing sardines. From these humble, hardworking early days would grow a thriving business. Later, they began importing Danish ham with great success. In 1960, tragedy struck again. Upon Martin’s untimely death, Naomi took on the challenge of running a business in a male-dominated field, while raising their three children. She did so as a strong business woman, and earned the deep respect and admiration of her employees and customers, whom she considered to be her extended family. Under her leadership, International Trading Company grew to be a major manufacturing force, and was the recipient of numerous awards from its suppliers and customers. Naomi was recognized widely as a leader in Houston. Certainly, she was a leader at Holocaust Museum Houston, always supporting the Museum’s mission with her resources, intellect, integrity and compassion. Naomi exemplified empathy and action. She served on the board of Holocaust Museum Houston; as a lifetime trustee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston; and as an honorary vice chair of the Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League. She has been honored with many awards, including those from Holocaust Museum Houston, the Anti-Defamation League and the Kingdom of Denmark. Naomi’s love for her community and for education lives on. On Naomi’s 80th birthday, her children, Helen Spector, Geri Roper and Benjamin Warren created The Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers at Holocaust Museum Houston to honor their mother. In 2003, the first Warren Fellowship occurred. And, the rest has been an amazing history: told in the hundreds of alumni and the thousands of students who have been and will be reached over time. In the 14 years the program has ensued, Naomi and her family have changed the world, quite literally. Warren Fellows live and work around the world, and their commitment to tell Naomi’s story and the stories of other survivors has been extraordinary. As they learn and teach about the lessons of the Holocaust and genocide, these beginning teachers become fine educators, knowledgeable, committed and caring – in large part due to Naomi’s indomitable spirit. She gave of herself, again and again, engaging educators in caring, learning and action. In her honor and memory, we offer a reflection on Naomi from an award-winning Warren Fellow and teacher, Erin Balfour: “We celebrate her life, not only as a singularly magnificent human being, but also as one who shaped the lives of so many around her. She is the stone dropped in the pond that sent ripples throughout the world. Ripples of peace, love and hope.” Naomi Warren built a loving family and broadly instilled her values in all those she touched, demonstrating what a family can do to help others. Seeing Naomi surrounded by the generations of her family was always joyful. Naomi is survived by her children: Helen (Andrew) Spector, Geri (Jim) Roper, Benjamin (Joy) Warren; her grandchildren: Elyse (Lewis) Kalmans, Matt (Shelley) Spector, Jessica Schaeppi, Julia (Craig) Sampsel, Whitney (Hunter) Poarch, Jed Roper, James Roper, Will Roper; and her great-grandchildren: Aerin Kalmans, Kendall Kalmans, Talia Kalmans, Lindsey Spector, Laine Spector, Asa Schaeppi and Mason Sampsel. Through her family, she lives on. For the past several years, Naomi was lovingly cared for by Ruby Rhodes-Thomas, Cesiah Horcasitas and Cassandra Thomas. The family deeply thanks them for their remarkable tenderness, compassion and commitment to enriching her life. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests that a donation to the Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers at Holocaust Museum Houston be considered, or that a donation is made to a charity of your choice. – Houston Jewish Funerals
In loving memory of
Shirley & Melvin littMan LaShana Tova Mark, Jeline, Phillip, Daniel & Kyle Littman
OBITUARIES/MARKETPLACE Peres
From Page 4
“In their heart of hearts, all sides know this simple truth,” he said. “But, where are the leaders with the courage to come forward to make it come to pass? Where are the heirs to Shimon Peres?” With Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year starting Sunday evening, Oct. 2, David D’Or, a famous Israeli singer beloved by Peres, performed a rendition of the High Holy Day prayer, “Avinu Malkeinu. Peres’ three children then took the stage, one after the other. Peres’ younger son, Chemi Peres, first spoke briefly about his father in English, saying, “He saw in all of you leaders, friends and partners in his quest for peace. We will treasure his memory and honor his legacy.” Switching to Hebrew, he addressed his late father: “You kept your promise to your beloved grandfather, when you bid
Houston Federation mourns Peres The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston deeply mourns the passing of Shimon Peres, of blessed memory, universally recognized as one of Israel’s greatest leaders and one of North American Jewry’s closest Israeli friends. A member of Israel’s founding generation, an eloquent spokesperson for his country and a strong advocate for Jewish peoplehood, Peres was both a pragmatist and unwaveringly optimistic that Israel would reach peace with its neighbors. He dedicated his life to that pursuit, having held nearly every cabinet position during his storied career, serving twice as prime minister and once as president. Peres was a frequent, honored guest at many of Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assemblies, came to Houston to speak to our community and met with travelers on one of our Connection Israel/mission trips to Israel. May the memory of Shimon Peres be a blessing, and may his children, Dr. Tsvia Walden, Yoni Peres and Nechemia Peres; eight grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. him farewell on your first stop on the way to the Land of Israel. You never forgot what
it means to a Jew. And, I promise you that neither will I.”
PAGE 23 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
Notably missing from the funeral were Arab heads of state, though Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry came from Egypt and Bahrain, Jordan and Oman were to send representatives. Arab Israeli leaders also skipped the event. By way of explanation, Aymen Odeh, the head of the Joint List of Arab political parties in Israel, said on Army Radio, “I can tell you that it is complicated.” Odeh has told Israeli media that Arab Israelis view his legacy as mixed, noting his role in the 1970s in expanding settlement, and his role in the 1990s pressing for a peace agreement. After the funeral, which included military honors, Peres was buried between Yitzhak Rabin and Yitzhak Shamir, two former prime ministers with deeply conflicting views on peace and security, but both fierce rivals of Peres.
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PAGE 24 JEWISH HERALD -VOICE OCTOBER 6, 2016
SPORTS
Star performances
Beren senior Chaim Gerlitz tries to escape a tackle during the Stars’ win over Oaks on Sept. 27. ALL PHOTOS
Beren volleyball players celebrate a point during a win over Briarwood on Sept. 27.
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High School sports stars Each week, the JHV highlights local Jewish high school athletes. Visit jhvonline.com to see all past athletes, nominate an athlete or to purchase an 8x10 glossy color print of any athlete.
Humbly serving you for 8 years on the bench ENDORSED BY • THE HOUSTON ✯ CHRONICLE • MEXICAN-AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION • HOUSTON GLBT POLITICAL CAUCUS • HARRIS COUNTY AFL-CIO • HOUSTON LAwYERS ASSOCIATION
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