SJL New Orleans, July 2014 by Southern Jewish Life

New Jacobs Camp director coming home

Honoring NCJW community programs

Japanese screens from NOLA in Israel Museum

Southern Jewish Life New Orleans Edition

July 2014

Volume 24 Issue 7

Southern Jewish Life P.O. Box 130052 Birmingham, AL 35213-0052 Rabbi Michoel Kerendian prepares to welcome students to the new Torah Academy building next month

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During a recent discussion on WWL in New Orleans, the show host posed a question. Will there be a day when we and the Muslim world interact the same peaceful way that we now do with the Japanese and the Germans? He pointed out that to those who were not around in the mid-20th century, it is almost impossible to imagine the hatred that Americans had for the Japanese. Could a similar attitude change happen regarding the Muslim world? The short answer, of course, is that we hope so. The longer answer is a bit more complicated. Yes, there was a hatred of Japan and Germany in this country over 70 years ago. We were at war with them. Japan launched a surprise attack on us and Germany was trying to spread a genocidal ideology across the world through conquest. If there was a hatred, it was to those warped ideals. In truth, Americans had no interest in hating anyone — the hatred was toward their actions. It did manifest itself in hatred toward those of that background, which is regrettable but understandable on the battlefield. We were not at war for the conquest and acquisition of Germany or Japan. We were at war to liberate people and enable them to have a peaceful co-existence, and then return to our homes. What has changed in the last 70 years? The Japanese and the Germans changed. Through their catastrophic defeats they realized the bankruptcy of their blind loyalty to the Emperor and to the Nazi party. They made the choice to rejoin the family of nations. And we welcomed them back. If radical Islam decided to destroy their suicide belts and car bombs today and truly live in peace and harmony, it would not take long for us to wonder why there was such enmity “back then.” Unfortunately, the onus is on the Muslim world, we can’t change their attitudes for them. Once that happens, we will be quick to embrace them as friends, much as we do with Germany and Japan. There are bloody conquests in the Bible, but the Jewish people long ago began to regard war as a necessary evil only in selfdefense, and not something to glorify. Christianity also underwent a reformation and no longer spreads its message of love through the end of a sword, or justifies the physical torture of unbelievers by figuring it saves them an eternity of torment and hellfire. Aside from some bastions of moderation, Islam unfortunately has not undergone such a transformation, and voices of moderation are routinely suppressed or silenced in much of the Muslim world, and parents teach their children that killing infidels is their highest aspiration. Yes, the popular bumper sticker says “coexist.” But until those you want to coexist with decide they are no longer interested in subjugating or killing you, coexistence is but a pipe dream. We are ready, are they? Golda Meir summed it up by saying that there would be peace when the Arabs loved their children more than they hated us. May it be speedily in our day.

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July 2014

NCJW honors community service programs

Southern Jewish Life

Publisher/Editor: Lawrence M. Brook, editor@sjlmag.com Associate Publisher/Advertising: Lee J. Green, lee@sjlmag.com

The New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women held An Evening in the English Countryside on June 8. The summer fundraiser at the English Turn Country Club benefits the Section’s programs and services. As part of the evening, the Section honored four of its longest-established community service programs. Carol Good represented Alzheimer’s Care and Enrichment, which provides activities for patients and caregivers at the Jewish Community Center. Babs Isaacson of NCJW and Susan Tramontana of Fox 8 were recognized for NCJW’s award-winning consumer advocacy broadcast, the Fox 8 Defenders. Allison Freeman received the award for HIPPY — Home Instruction for Preschool Youngsters, a home-based program for disadvantaged parents which offers education enrichment for preschool children. The Irma Isaacson Memorial Scholarship Fund was also recognized for awarding college scholarships to New Orleans students. The Fleur de Lis Singers, a quartet consisting of Jeanine Thibodaux, Sheryl York, Susan Domanque and Beverly Traub, performed. There was also a dinner buffet and silent auction. Photos from top: Lis Kahn, Miriam Waltzer, Barbara Kaplinsky, Dana Wallen, Sharon Pollin and Eileen Wallen; The Fleur de Lis Singers; Lee and Joe Blotner, Natalie and Charles Cohen and Sonya and Gary Batten; Loel Samuel and June Leopold; Louis and Dana Shepard and Kathy and Hal Shepard. On the cover, top middle, Babs Isaacson and Susan Tramontana of the Fox 8 Defenders Program. Photos courtesy Michael Maples.

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Front Porch Lemann-Stern Endowment campaign launched: With the triple-chai birthday for the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ Lemann-Stern Leadership Development Program this year, the Federation is launching a Leadership Development Endowment Campaign. A goal of $1.5 million has been set to endow the program that has contributed alumni to every Jewish agency and organization in the community. The funds will be used to expand the class’ current eightday mission to Israel by an extra day, cover the cost of an overnight retreat during the class at no cost to participants, create subsidies for attending national Young Leadership events, and fund programs and the cost of a leadership development facilitator. There is no minimum gift requirement. Kathy Shepard and Jonny Lake are chairing the campaign. Pledges are due by Dec. 31, but those contributing $5,000 or more may spread it out over two years. There are naming sponsor levels starting at $50,000, and those pledging $5,000 or more will be recognized at a reception prior to the 2015 alumni event. All donors will be listed in the 2014-15 annual report. The campaign kicked off at the annual alumni event on May 14, at the home of Morris and Cathy Bart. Noam Shalit, whose son Gilad had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for five years, was the guest speaker. Community Role Models: Dana Shepard of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and Jeffrey Goldring are being honored by the Young Leadership Council at their Role Models Gala on Aug. 9. Goldring is a director for the Sazerac Company, which owns and manufactures nearly 200 brands of spirits, and Crescent Crown Distributing, the nation’s second-largest beer wholesaler. He is the fourth generation to lead the business that was started by his greatgrandfather, Newman Goldring, in Pensacola. Shepard is secretary of the Federation board and co-chaired the 2013 Annual Campaign. She is also a recent advisor to the LemannStern Young Leadership Program. The gala will be at the Hyatt Regency at 7 p.m., following a 6 p.m. patron party. After the dinner and awards there will be dancing, entertainment and a silent auction. Presbyterian vote fallout: The vote by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to divest itself from holdings in companies they say profit from Israel’s administration of the territories has caused a great deal of concern in the Jewish community — and among the rank and file of PCUSA. Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn of Temple Sinai in New Orleans said he received an immediate call from Rev. Don Frampton of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, “who was terribly embarrassed and disheartened by this decision of his denomination.” They agreed to hold a program at Sinai for both congregations on July 8 at which Cohn and Frampton would discuss what happened, “share our hearts and thoughts… and where we should go from here in our interfaith dialogue.” NOLA

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July 2014

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First Rosenblum Leadership group at Touro: Touro Infirmary celebrated the conclusion of its inaugural Paul Rosenblum Leadership Series class. Hosted by Touro Tomorrow, the interactive six-week series provided participants with the opportunity to learn about Touro Infirmary and the Louisiana Children’s Medical Center. Participants interacted with Touro Infirmary Administrators and LCMC leaders as well as staff, doctors, and supporters about current healthcare issues and future hospital and system growth. The goal of this series is to ensure the hospital’s success for the long term “by engaging the brilliant, talented minds of today in the conversations and analysis of our community’s current healthcare state of affairs.” The inaugural class included 20 participants from various professional backgrounds and industries. The series covered a variety of healthcare topics, including the future of Louisiana Healthcare presented by former State Representative and current City Councilmember Jared Brossett, to an orientation of Touro’s premiere programs such as the Cancer Center and Patient Support Services. Each class included a think tank segment in which participants brainstormed solutions to actual case statements. The series wrapped up with a cocktail hour that included special guests from LCMC and Touro Infirmary Leadership as well as the LCMC Board, Touro Infirmary Governing Board, and Touro Infirmary Foundation Board. The series was co-founded by Touro Tomorrow co-chairs Adrian Cohn and Clay Smith. “Touro has had a significant impact on healthcare in New Orleans for over 160 years and it is due primarily to leaders like Mr. 6

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Rosenblum, after whom this series is named. The emerging leaders of Touro Tomorrow have been through a thought-provoking program that shows how anyone from any background can make Touro a better place simply by giving time and expertise,” said Cohn. Rosenblum is a past chairman of both Touro Infirmary’s Governing and Foundation boards. Rosenblum has served in leadership roles at Touro for over 31 years. His leadership has also been vital to the New Orleans community at large, particularly at his alma mater Tulane University, The Anti-Defamation League, Southern Institute for Education and Research and The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. He has received Touro Infirmary’s highest honor, the Judah Touro Society award, and he and his wife, Edie Levy Rosenblum, have been recognized by the Jewish Endowment Foundation with the Tzedakah Award for their unselfish and meaningful service to the community. “Adrian and I felt strongly that this leadership series would be a great way to connect and engage another generation to Touro Infirmary,” Smith said. “The hospital has been influential personally to Adrian and me as well as other members of the class… Having completed the series, I definitely feel an even deeper connection to the hospital and know that I speak for other members of the series as well,” said Smith. The inaugural class of 2014 included: Dria Abramson, Rebecca Atkinson, Arianna Baseman, Sarah Bates, Samuel Berman, Jon Brouk, Adrian Cohn, Whitney Evans, Eric Greenberg, M.D., Zach Kupperman, Stew Krane, Jamelle Lacey, Katy Mallios, Renita Montegut, Harlan Schwartz, Clay Smith, Keith Stenhouse, Erica Washington, Samantha Wolf, and Andrew Yaspan. NOLA

Front Porch JFS to honor Nathan: Max Nathan, Jr., will be the honoree at this year’s Rhythm and Soul gala for Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans. The Sept. 14 event will be held at 5 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room. Nathan was a founding partner of the New Orleans-based law firm of Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, LLC, and is recognized as one of the country’s leading lawyers in estate planning and successions. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Tulane University School of Law for almost 50 years and, last year, was one of 12 inaugural members inducted into the school’s prestigious Hall of Fame. President of JFS in 1973 and 1974, Nathan also served as president of the Louisiana Law Institute from 1998 to 2001 and as its chairman from 2002 to 2004. The Institute is the official advisory law-revision commission, law-reform agency and legal-research agency for the State of Louisiana. Nathan is also the former president of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council, Chairman of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Committee of the State of Louisiana and was a founding and former board member of the New Orleans Mental Health Association. JFS President Roselle Ungar said it is fitting that the agency will honor him on the 40th anniversary of his presidency. “In addition to the significant accomplishments that Max achieved for JFS while he was a board member and officer, Max and his family have

Chai Society: The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans held its first event for the Chai Society on May 28. Federation President Morton Katz welcomed about 30 members to his home for a dinner and tasting of Israeli wines. The society is the Federation’s leadership giving level for young donors, age 21 to 45, who make a gift of at least $180 to the Annual Campaign. NOLA

consistently supported JFS’s family-focused programs and services for decades.” Nathan remarked that “my affiliation with Jewish Family Service has been one of the most rewarding relationships of my life. The wonderful things JFS does for the welfare of children, adults, families — and ultimately the entire community — are truly remarkable. It is a real source of pride to me to think of all Jewish Family Service has done, and that my family and I have played a part in helping the agency accomplish its goals. This honor is both humbling and deeply meaningful.” He has served as president of the Jewish Endowment Foundation, the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial Project and the New Orleans Anti-Defamation League, and as a board member for the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and Temple Sinai. He has been recognized for his contributions to the Jewish community and has been the recipient of the Tzedakah Award from JEF and the Torch of Liberty Award from the ADL. Temple Sinai film series: Temple Sinai in New Orleans is bringing back its movie series in July. For three Wednesdays, films will be screened at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and snacks are provided. On July 9, the series begins with “Putzel” from 2012. Putzel is a 30-something Jewish man working in his uncle’s lox store in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, an area that is his entire universe. His dream is to inherit the store his grandfather started when his uncle retires to Florida. But the uncle becomes involved with an unstable woman, putting his goal in jeopardy. “The Angel Levine,” a 1970 film starring Zero Mostel and Harry Belafonte, will follow on July 16. Morris Mishkin is a elderly religious Jew in New York. His wife Fanny is very ill. He’s a tailor, but he can’t work because his back has given out. He doesn’t even have enough money for Fanny’s medicine. Finally, a black fellow appears from nowhere in the Mishkin kitchen. He says he’s an angel from God, sent to help Mishkin. The black angel is even Jewish, named Alex Levine. Can Morris believe in the angel, and can the angel deliver? The series concludes on July 23 with “The Book Thief,” directed by Brian Percival of “Downton Abbey.” Based on the best-selling book, it is the story of an illiterate girl who is adopted by a German couple and transforms the lives of those around her during World War II. Her adoptive father, played by Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, encourages her to learn how to read, and the power of words helps her and a Jewish man hiding in the family’s home escape from the events around them.

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Front Porch Chabad of Louisiana will be hosting the Southeast regional conference of Chabad rabbis, known as Shluchim, on July 20 and 21. During the conference there will be an opportunity for the community to meet the rabbis, but details were not finalized at press time. The Uptown Jewish Community Center will have its Bart Family Israel Coffeehouse Film Series this month. The films are free and open to the community. On July 21 at 7 p.m., “Promises” will be screened. The 2001 film won the Best Documentary Oscar for its portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of seven children in Jerusalem and the West Bank. On July 28 at 7 p.m., “My Herzl” explores the private life and legacy of Theodore Herzl, who is regarded as the father of modern Zionism. Anshe Sfard in New Orleans will be bringing in a new chazzan for the High Holidays this year, Cantor Mark Halpern. Trained under Cantor Irving Dean, Halpern has served as cantor in the Keys Jewish Center of Tavernier, Fla., and Temple Torah of Boynton Beach.

We don’t just list organizations and call it an annual guide… Southern Jewish Life’s Chai Cotton is more than a listing of organizations, institutions and congregations… It is a portal to the history of the Deep South Jewish communities of Louisiana, Alabama, the Florida panhandle and Mississippi, and a guide to the present.

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The next Morris Bart Sr. Lecture Series event at the Uptown Jewish Community Center on July 14 will feature Jacqueline Bishop and “Memory and Materials: Exploring Landscape Issues Through Painting and Installation.” She will discuss her work inspired by 30 years of travel with scientists and alone, focusing on the Brazilian Amazon, India and Louisiana. On Aug. 11, Bruce Spizer will present an audio-visual program, “The Beatles Are Coming! The Birth of Beatlemania in America.” He will discuss why Capitol Records turned down the Beatles four times and how Beatlemania in America was jumpstarted by Walter Cronkite, a 15-year-old girl from Maryland and a DJ from Washington. Programs are at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is available, free for members and $10 for non-members, with reservations by the previous Monday. There will be a weekend retreat for young Jewish adults, age 21 to 40, at Camp Barney Medintz in Georgia the weekend of Aug. 15. Coordinated by the Atlanta Jewish Community Center, the retreat will include swimming, games, sports and entertainment. Rabbi Brian Glusman will conduct casual Shabbat services in the outdoor chapel. Cost is $199 including cabin accommodations. For information, contact Roey Shoshan, (678) 812-4055.

NOLA

Front Porch Melanie Young, a native of Chattanooga’s Jewish community, won the 2014 International Book Award for Cancer Health for her book, “Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless and Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer.” The award was announced on May 21 by the American Book Fest. A graduate of Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane, last fall she

spoke at Touro Synagogue and FestiGals in New Orleans. Her book is aimed at women who are navigating the strange new world of breast cancer after being diagnosed. She was diagnosed in 2009. “While my book is filled with survivor tips and expert insights and touches of humor for women facing early stage breast cancer, the takeaways I learned and apply to my life now to eat smarter, reduce stress and live healthier apply to all women,” she noted. Now living in New York, Young advises food and wine companies on building their brands. For more than a decade she developed and ran some of nation’s most influential food and beverage industry programs including The James Beard Foundation Awards and New York Restaurant Week. Her second book, “Fearless Fabulous You! Lessons on Living Life on Your Terms” will be released in November.

The River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville was recognized as Louisiana Museum of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Museums. The conference was held on April 28 in Nachitoches. The award recognizes a museum that has demonstrated a commitment On May 17, students and parents from the Springhill Avenue Temple to its community through outstanding, professionally conceived, and religious school in Mobile embarked on their annual visit to New executed programming. The museum includes the Central Agricultural Orleans’ Jewish community, including a stop at Touro Synagogue Schoolhouse, one of just a couple of remaining Rosenwald School (above). buildings in the state.

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Chosen Weekend in Austin: Jewish young adults from throughout the region will converge on Austin the weekend of July 25 for The Chosen Weekend. Co-founder and co-chair Samantha Tugentman said “We founded The Chosen We e k e n d as a way for Jewish young professionals from all across the South and Southwest to meet, share ideas, and network. It is a completely unaffiliated event where you don’t have to be a specific “type” of Jew — just a place to have fun, socialize, and meet people.” Aimed at ages 22 to 40, the weekend begins with an all-you-can-eat fajita buffet, challah and margaritas to bring in Shabbat. An after-party continues at a Donn’s Depot Piano Bar and Saloon. A Saturday afternoon pool party will be followed by a “Party of 8 Dinner” where participants are matched with seven others who have similar interests. The Chosen Night Party begins at 9:30 p.m. at the Majestic Music Hall, with open bar, dancing and networking. A brunch concludes the weekend, starting at 11:30 a.m. on July 27 at the Cedar Door, home of the original Mexican martini. Travel and ticket information are available on the website, chosenweekend.splashthat. com. Planning representatives were organizing delegations from Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, and New Orleans representatives were being recruited. Tugentman said they were proud of the inaugural weekend’s success last year. “I hope that The Chosen Weekend will become a great summer tradition for years to come that will allow our generation to mix and mingle while enjoying a few days in our wonderful city of Austin!”

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New way to conexx: At the annual Eagle Star Awards Gala in Atlanta on June 11, the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce announced that it will now be called conexx: America Israel Business Connector. “We hope that our new branding adequately reflects our unique ability to connect U.S. companies with Israeli innovation and create the environment that supports communities of opportunity in both Israel and the Southeast” said Shai Robkin, president and CEO. “With our new branding, we look to more effectively communicate with the largest possible business audience that conexx is a smart, trusted, serious, compelling, multi-dimensional and results oriented organization.” Chairman Joel Neuman said the goal is to “establish a clearer message about who we are and what we do; expand awareness and engagement; build deeper relationships and attract strategic, sustaining partners and create a brand that reflects the goal of being the “go-to” address for Americans and Israelis looking to do business with each other.” Established in 1992, conexx builds business relationships between Israeli companies and Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Homecoming for new Jacobs Camp director Dothan native grew up and got married there Anna Blumenfeld Herman is heading to the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica at the beginning of July to start her transition to becoming the new camp director. There won’t be any need for someone to show her around. The Dothan native is coming “home” to take the reins of the camp in Mississippi that she first attended as a rising sixth grader. Coming from such a small community, “I had never seen so many Jewish kids in one place.” She instantly fell in love with the camp, the programs and activities. Over the years, “the camp gave me so much. It gave me my best friend and ultimately it gave me my husband.” Herman knew Jacobs “would always be my home, my kids would go there, my friends’ kids would go there… I never imagined I’d be the director.” But when she looked back on her career path, it seemed to lead her to this point. The announcement of her hiring was made by the Jacobs Camp committee on May 19. Since the camp’s initial summer in 1970 under the leadership of Rabbi Sol Kaplan, there have been only two directors — Macy Hart, from Winona, Miss., and Jonathan Cohen, from Tupelo. Herman continues the trend of Jacobs directors coming from small Southern communities, and Cohen also grew up as a Jacobs camper. Herman was a camper, counselor and unit head, then became assistant director in 2000 after graduating from the University of Alabama. After three years she became a congregational youth director, then was assistant director of the Union for Reform Judaism’s meetings and conventions department. In 2010 she became assistant director of business operations for URJ Camps and Israel programs, which oversees the 14 Reform movement summer camps. Though she worked in New York, she remained committed to Jacobs Camp, serving as camp development committee chair. Also, she noted “it was never any great sacrifice visiting Jacobs” from the New York office. It was during one of those visits three years ago that she met Nadav Herman, an Israeli who had started working at Jacobs the summer after she left. That particular summer he was the adventure director. “When we got engaged we knew there was no other place than camp to get married,” she explained. Last Oct. 23, their wedding was held at the outdoor chapel by Lake Gary. She noted that her husband’s family in Israel had heard about

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ONE STOP KOSHER FOOD SHOPPING the camp for 11 years, “so for them to be able to come see it was amazing.” At the time, Cohen noted a parallel to another Jacobs Camp assistant director who got married at the same spot. In 1983, Amy Dover of Shreveport married Howard Neistein there, and in honor of the wedding Hart had an asphalt walkway put in beforehand from the road to the chapel. Thirty years later, Cohen had the walkway redone for the Herman wedding. “Anna is uniquely qualified for this position,” said URJ Director of Camp and Israel Programs Paul Reichenbach. “Having grown up as a camper at Jacobs and later returning to work there and for the Reform Movement, Anna understands the needs of campers, parents and congregations better than anyone.” Among the URJ camps, Jacobs is uniquely positioned in that most of the campers come from small communities, and to fill the bunks it has to draw roughly one-fourth of the available students in its geographic footprint. Herman said that Jacobs “has even more power to transform the Jewish experience because of the unique community.” She plans to “build on our reputation as the place for Jewish youth in the South,” and expand the new Camper Incentive Program for Jewish Military Families on Active Duty. Participation from alumni is also growing. “As much as I love camp, our alumni feel the same way,” and many former campers who live outside the region are sending their children to Jacobs. She plans to expand that, as “we have an incredible alumni network.” While she certainly knows the unique Southern atmosphere of Jacobs, her current position has given her the larger national picture as well. Working with management

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of all 14 camps she has developed a network of contacts and best practices. She also noted the “incredible lay leadership” at Jacobs. Herman “will spend this summer learning from J.C. and our Senior Assistant Director Gary Brandt, who are both outstanding resources, examples, and role models for Jacobs’ future,” said Jacobs Camp Committee Chair Danny Mansberg of Memphis. “This will ensure a smooth transition for Anna, who is sure to bring her own energy and ideas to the camp community. We look forward to welcoming her home with open arms.” She spent June transitioning from her current position, starting at Jacobs on July 1. She is thrilled to spend a month and a half with Cohen, “my mentor and friend,” and with Brandt during this summer’s camp sessions. Cohen is retiring from the camp after 14 seasons. He and his wife, Rabbi Valerie Cohen, are moving to Worcester, Mass., where she will become rabbi of Temple Emanuel Sinai. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, URJ president, said “We are deeply grateful for J.C.’s vision and leadership and wish the Cohen family well on their journey. In the months ahead, we look forward to honoring and celebrating J.C. and his accomplishments as the director of Jacobs Camp.” On August 9 there will be farewell event at the camp. Herman hopes many members of the camp family attend to give thanks to Cohen. Upon her return to the South, Herman will reconnect with friends from the past and meet the newer camp families, and this fall plans a “real Southern road tour… so I can meet as many of our people as possible.” “I have a lot of listening to do,” she said, “and I want to get down there and get started.”

HADASSAH’S 97th NATIONAL CONVENTION

JULY 21-23, 2014 The Venetian | Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino the passion. the possibilities. the spark. Come see and hear: Ari Shavit, author of the highly acclaimed My Promised Land Bret Stephens, Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal editor Daniel Silva, #1 New York Times best-selling author Jamie Gangel, former NBC national correspondent Randi Zuckerberg, digital media marketing whiz Israel Defense Forces Special First Responders Unit, winners of the Henrietta Szold Award. Accepting on their behalf, distinguished members of the Unit, Hadassah Profs. Avi Rivkind and Dan Engelhard.

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July 2014

Southern Jewish Life

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The Israel Museum in Jerusalem just opened a major exhibit of Japanese screen art, and it’s a story from New Orleans. “Unfolding Worlds: Japanese Screens from the Gitter-Yelen Collection” opened on June 7 and will be displayed through the end of November. The 18 screens reflect the range of topics covered by Japanese artists, as well as the cultural attitudes and ideals from the 18th to 20th centuries. The screens come from the collection of Kurt Gitter, a New Orleans ophthalmologist and retinal surgeon, and his wife Alice Yelen Gitter. In 1997 they founded the Gitter-Yelen Foundation for the study and preservation of Japanese art and American self-taught art. Over 100 scholars from around the world have visited the Gitter-Yelen Study Center to conduct first-hand research on paintings, sculpture, and ceramics in the collection. Selections from the collection are displayed in quarterly rotating exhibitions at the New Orleans Museum of Art, and over the last 30 years works have been donated and displayed at museums world-wide. Gitter was born in Vienna in 1937. His first birthday was the Anschluss, when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. Nine months later, he and his parents left Vienna and made their way to the United States. Many close relatives did not leave and were lost in the Holocaust. Gitter’s interest in art developed at an early age. While in medical school in New York, “I didn’t have any money but I went to all the galleries” to exercise that passion. After graduating from medical school, he was drafted by the Air Force. Yelen explained that the military needed doctors, and Gitter was sent to Kyushu, Japan. If you lived off-base, she said, it was just a two year commitment. While in Japan, Gitter “fell in love with Japan, the country, the food, the environment.” He grew up on concrete streets, and now he was “in a rice village in the country.” Fifty years ago, when he started collecting the Japanese paintings, “things were not terribly expensive.” Now, he added, “they are very expensive — and I’m still collecting.” He started by focusing on Japanese Edo period painters from the 16th to 19th centuries, an area that was not widely collected. As the collection grew and he developed his successful medical practice in New Orleans, he started lending and then donating works to the New Orleans Museum of Art, helping develop its Asian art collection. Yelen, who is currently the senior curator of collections research at NOMA, said Gitter “got Japanese art on the map” at the New Orleans museum. By the mid-1980s, Gitter was a trustee of NOMA and on the board

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July 2014

Southern Jewish Life

of other arts institutions across the country. He met Yelen, who at the time was assistant to the director at NOMA. She had studied Japanese art and history at Columbia University. They soon married and the collection continued to grow — and took an additional direction. In 1988 the museum had a show of works by New Orleans native Sister Gertrude Morgan. They were profoundly affected by the self-taught artist, and when the largest collection of her works — 50 pieces — became available, they bought it. From that start, they embarked on road trips to find other self-taught artists throughout the South, as most of them were still relatively unknown. They acquired works by Thornton Dial, Mose Tolliver, Charlie Lucas, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Clementine Hunter and Mary T. Smith. Yelen wrote “Passionate Visions of the American South,” chronicling many of those artists. For them, a major attraction to collecting self-taught art is also the relationship and friendship they develop with the artists. Douglas Hyland, who was director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, approached them about doing an exhibit from their self-taught art collection. Gail Trechsel organized the 1996 exhibit, “Pictured in My Mind: Contemporary American Self-Taught Art.” Yelen noted that while the Gitter-Yelen Foundation promotes scholarship in the field, the individual museums organize the exhibitions and produce catalogs. The Japanese art has been displayed in Australia — and in Japan. Having an exhibition in Japan was “quite an honor, because they have plenty of Japanese art in Japan and they don’t need to bring it in” from another country, she said. On April 3, Gitter was given the Distinguished Service Award from the United States-Japan Foundation in Washington. The award was established in 2005 to honor American and Japanese individuals for their lifetime commitment to promoting friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and Japan. Gitter is the first recipient who was not a “major political or business figure.” Several past recipients were ambassadors, including Walter Mondale, or chairmen of major international corporations. The foundation recognized Gitter for “his extraordinary contributions to American appreciation of Japanese culture by facilitating exhibitions, publications, and scholarly research through his Japanese art collection.” Gitter has been a member of the board of directors of the New Orleans Museum of Art for the past three decades, and he has also served on the boards of Johns Hopkins University, the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institution, and the visiting committee of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Gitter and Yelen have always had an interest in Israel. Gitter has a sister in Jerusalem, and through the years they have given paintings to the Israel Museum. After organizers at the museum saw a publication from a previous exhibition of the Japanese screens, “they came to us and asked to do an exhibition.” They want to help develop the field of Japanese art in the Middle East. Yelen said “they do have some budding scholars there now,” and through this exhibit the museum will bring some major Japanese art scholars to meet with the young Israeli scholars. A major international symposium on Japanese art will be held in conjunction with the exhibit, on Oct. 20 and 21. The curator, Miriam Malachi, is writing a catalog for the exhibition. “The screens make sense to an Israeli audience,” Yelen said. The screens have a large-scale format that is “distinctive to Japanese art” and it resonates with Israeli audiences “that are familiar with largescale contemporary painting.” The opening reception was held on June 6. The exhibit will be displayed through Nov. 27 at the Ayala Zacks Abramov Pavilion for Israel Art.

Auburn-area ministry rethinks billboard with Hitler quote The founder of Life-Savers Ministries said his intention was “entirely honorable” in putting up a billboard by Village Mall in Auburn that had a quote from Adolf Hitler. The billboard, which had a multi-racial photo of five smiling children on one side, had Hitler’s quote “He Alone, Who Owns The Youth, Gains The Future,” and it was attributed to Hitler in red letters. Below Hitler’s quote is a verse from Proverbs, “Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go, Even When He Is Old He Will Not Depart From It.” There was no other identifier on the billboard. The billboard went up on May 30; it was covered by billboard company Lamar Advertising on June 3 at the ministry’s request after controversy erupted over the weekend. James Anderegg told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that the ministry “never intended to cause confusion… Herbert Hoover would have been a far better one to quote when he said ‘Children are our most valuable resource’.” Anderegg told Southern Jewish Life that he is “a quote fanatic” and “had an enormous amount of quotes to pull from.” The ministry’s website has such quotes — though not the Hitler one — on each page. He said that “through prayer and counsel it was decided that the Hitler quote would be used” on the billboard. He explained that “In all of the quotes I have collected there were many who were not ‘good’ in the eyes of many and of various religions and whom I certainly do not agree with; although there is truth as is the case with this quote.” His intent was “was to bring attention to the plight of our children and youth and it indeed did get attention. I could have used quotes from Mother Teresa and would have caused the same amount of curiosity I am sure.” The ministry was founded in October 1996 in Opelika’s Hardaway housing projects. Today the ministry runs six buses to a facility where hundreds of youth are brought from “20 different rough and tough locations throughout Opelika and Auburn.” Anderegg said “this is where I came from as a child.” His passion is “reaching children and youth for Christ, sharing of His great love for them and encouraging them of the greatness that our Lord has placed in each of them.” Phyllis Weinstein, who chairs the Alabama Holocaust Commission and the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center, wondered how it could be possible for a ministry to use a quote from Hitler. The incident “alerts us to the fact that there is much ignorance about World War II, the Holocaust and Adolf Hitler,” she said. “We have to be more diligent in our Holocaust education training.” Anderegg noted one of his “most favorite quotes” is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Bonhoeffer was an anti-Nazi Lutheran pastor who was executed in a Nazi concentration camp.

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NOLA area now has local mohel For those in New Orleans who like to “stay local,” there is now a local option for a major Jewish life cycle celebration. For the first time in decades, the community has a trained mohel. Rabbi Mendel Ceitlin recently returned from Israel where he achieved certification in ritual circumcision. Previously, those who wanted a religious circumcision for their sons had to bring in a mohel from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis or south Florida. Having someone local is a huge benefit, Ceitlin said. It can be complicated to bring someone in from out of town. “You’re paying for a ticket and you don’t have three months in advance” to plan for it because the ceremony is on the eighth day after birth, he noted. If the birth occurs leading up to an event like Jazzfest, “you’re paying $800 for a ticket, if you can find one.” Mohels generally prefer not to stay overnight, which is necessary if the bris falls on Shabbat or a holiday. A few years ago, a family had a very difficult time finding someone to do a Saturday bris when that Sunday and Monday were also the holy days of Shavuot. That necessitated a four-day commitment at a time when mohels prefer to be with family. Though most mohels are accessible by phone, there is also the peace of mind for parents that if something happens, the mohel is close by, he said. To achieve his dream and to fill the local void, Ceitlin and the Chabad Center in Metairie held a fundraising campaign to send him to Israel for formal training. For Ceitlin, being a mohel is a family tradition. His father is a practicing mohel in Toronto; his grandfather and great-grandfather were all mohels. On his mother’s side, another great-grandfather was a mohel in Stalinist Russia who became immortalized in song. Yom Tov Ehrlich composed a song that is performed by Avraham Fried, “Bris in Moscow,” about Rabbi Betzalel the Mohel. Late one night, Betzalel was arrested at his home by the KGB and the instruments used for a bris confiscated. He was blindfolded and led to a basement where, once his blindfold was removed, he saw a room full of Jews and a mezuzah on the door. The KGB agent was of Jewish origin, and his father had insisted that the grandson have a bris. A KGB agent could not be seen arranging that, so he staged the arrest for appearance sake, then when the bris was concluded Betzalel was released. From an early age, Ceitlin had an appreciation for the mitzvah of brit milah. He would accompany his father and at the age of 8 or 9 would hold the briefcase. “Then I got a little older and he was giving me the gauze and the wine.” His father would explain the procedure, what to do about certain complications. In all, he saw several hundred procedures while he was growing up. 16

July 2014

Southern Jewish Life

Since arriving in New Orleans three years ago, he would often tend to babies after a bris. Ceitlin could have undergone formal training from his father, but a mohel in Toronto generally does one or two per week. In Israel, a mohel performs perhaps half a dozen each day. Despite observing a thousand ceremonies, “you can’t compare a hands-on bris to watching,” he said. He studied with Rabbi Ya’akov Shechter, one of Israel’s premier mohels. In the one-on-one program he practiced “hundreds of times” on a dummy, cutting correctly and putting the bandages on properly. “There’s about eight steps in a bris,” he said. As he accompanied Shechter, he would be given a couple of steps at a time. Finally, at a bris in Ra’anana, Shechter told him he would be doing the ceremony and asked the parents for permission. “I didn’t think I would be so overwhelmed,” he said. “It was, wow, I just did my first bris.” A couple of hours later, he called his father, who asked him “are you back to yourself?” “It took me time,” he noted. Before coming back from Israel, he performed 40 to 50 ceremonies. They spent every day going from bris to bris. He said it was amazing to see the different communities in Israel, going from very religious communities to secular gatherings. “Pretty much everyone is doing a bris,” he said, and it’s the same ceremony whether in Tel Aviv or the ultra-religious B’nei Brak. “A bris is not just another mitzvah,” he said. “Putting on tefillin, either I do or I don’t. If I don’t, I haven’t done this mitzvah today. But a bris is my identity, who I am.” In addition to the New Orleans area, Ceitlin plans to make his services available in the rest of Louisiana, southern Mississippi and Alabama. “A mohel is always available,” he said. Two in the morning, call and don’t worry, he said. But his father advised him “they never call, there’s never issues. But if G-d forbid there is an issue, the mohel is there.” Rabbi Ceitlin can be reached at (347) 3516476 or mohelnola@gmail.com.

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Israeli-style truck stops in Mobile in reality show competition Mobile had an Israeli-style Middle Feast in June, then everyone will be able to watch it on television in a few months. Three food trucks arrived in the city in late May as part of Food Network’s reality competition “The Great Food Truck Race.” Eight trucks began the show’s fifth season in Los Angeles, and at each stop they have to determine the best location to set up. The truck with the lowest sales is eliminated. The winner receives $50,000 and a new food truck. Naturally, Tomy Marudi hopes his truck, The Middle Feast, is the last one standing. Marudi’s truck specializes in Israeli-American fusion cuisine. Joining him in the truck were his sister, Hila Marudi, and his best friend, Arkadi Kluger. On May 28, they traveled 15 hours from Saint Louis, their previous stop. There, they had set up outside a brewery and Ballpark Village, competing with the Lone Star Chuckwagon, Let There Be Bacon and the Beach Cruiser. Evidently the Beach Cruiser was eliminated, for they were nowhere to be found in Mobile. Marudi noted that it was a slow trip to Mobile, because the trucks really aren’t built to travel long distances, and they had to keep under 60 miles an hour. In Mobile, the trucks were scheduled to compete from about noon to 8 or 9 p.m. both days. They scouted out locations on May 30, then plastered their Facebook and Twitter accounts with the information. But, he said, “this game is crazy and it can change all the time.” That it did. Late in the afternoon on May 31, host Tyler Florence came by the truck to tell the competitors that Mobile is a big Sunday brunch town, they would be opening their trucks earlier the next day and coming up with brunch items to add to their menus. The Middle Feast announced its location will be on Dauphin Street downtown, between Joachim and Jackson Streets. That was a popular choice as all three trucks were within a block of each other. Born in Los Angeles, Marudi has been interested in cooking from a “very young” age. When he wanted to quit school, his uncle told him that if he did, he would have to go to work. He started as a dishwasher in his uncle’s Tel Aviv restaurant and “slowly worked up.” His culinary experience is “life experience, and I love it.” At age 21 he returned to Los Angeles and started working at Aroma Bakery and Café. He displayed a talent for reinventing dishes, and

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eventually opened his own kosher establishment, Paprika Grill, which was recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as having the best Israeli breakfast in the city. Currently, he works at Toast Café, a kosher dairy restaurant in Sherman Oaks. Two years ago, his wife sent in an application for the show, and a couple of months ago “they called and said they were very interested, and asked us to send a bunch of information and video.” Marudi said the competitors are food truck rookies. With his background “I knew how to cook, but this is my first experience with food trucks.” At first “I just wanted to be on the show,” but he has discovered “how cool it is” to run a food truck, “and how profitable it is.” He noted that it is very hard “but very satisfying.” Now, “I’m bringing my flavors to the streets.” He serves authentic Israeli street food with regional twists, like spicy Moroccan fish tacos. The truck also serves chicken shwarma and “Israeli Nachos” with Israeli salsa and feta cheese. After starting in Santa Monica, the trucks traveled to Tucson, Austin, Oklahoma City and St. Louis. The teams are free to do their own publicity, and the eliminated trucks do not continue on as decoys. The only rule, Marudi said, is that he cannot say the name of the show, nor what network it is on — but everyone else can. Tyler Florence hosts the show. When Middle Feast left St. Louis, they did not know which of the other trucks had been eliminated, nor did they know their next destination until after finishing in the current city. The St. Louis Jewish Light reported that several synagogues there offered their parking lot for the team, but sustained foot traffic for the whole weekend is the key to success — and the truck isn’t kosher. It’s just as well, because the kosher chef ’s truck was next to the bacon truck in Mobile all weekend. On the way to town, Marudi checked with the Mobile Area Jewish Federation to get suggestions about where would be best to set up in the “other” L.A. — Lower Alabama. This was his first time in the Deep South, he said. Rita Whitlock and a group from the local Jewish community helped steer crowds toward the Middle Feast. Despite a late afternoon downpour on May 31, there was a huge line. At one point, the truck ran out of food and had to make a supply run. Marudi explained that the trucks are given a certain amount of money to start the day with, and that is part of the game. With only three trucks remaining in the competition, Marudi said “the game is on.” After Mobile, they headed to Tampa for the next round, but were told at the last minute that they would be competing in Naples, Fla., then finish in Key West on June 9. In past seasons, the show’s seven-episode run has premiered in mid-August on Food Network. Until then, Marudi can’t say who won. Rita Whitlock helps steer customers to the Middle Feast

Revisiting a controversial 1963 visit to Birmingham Editor’s Note: In May 2013, as part of our “Not Just Black and White” series on the 50th anniversary of civil rights events in Birmingham, we ran a piece about a surprise visit in May 1963 by 19 Conservative rabbis, eager to make a stand against segregation. We recently received this response from one of those rabbis, who was regarded as one of the leaders of the group. Rabbi Richard Rubenstein is the Robert Lawton Distinguished Professor of Religion Emeritus at Florida State University, and president emeritus of the University of Bridgeport. By Rabbi Richard Rubenstein Recently, I read with great interest the article “Bearing witness: A controversial 1963 trip to Birmingham by 19 rabbis.” I was one of the 19 rabbis. In the article, I was described as “the apparent leader” and “stubborn to the extent of being offensive. He talked down to us and challenged us and indicated that they came to make a change, with or without us.” A half a century later, I am embarrassed to read this description precisely because it is an accurate description of my initial reaction to Birmingham’s Jewish leadership at the time. My personal journey to Birmingham began in Berlin the week of Sunday, August 13, 1961, the week of the border closing between East and West Germany. I came to Berlin from Holland on Tuesday, August 15, 1961, as the guest of the Bundespresseamt, the Press and Information Office of the West German Federal Republic, and remained in Berlin for several days. In the very tense, near-wartime atmosphere of divided Berlin, I made several visits to East Berlin where I found the East German Volkspolizei genuinely frightening. While in Berlin, I interviewed a number of German political and religious leaders and was present when Willy Brandt, then mayor of West Berlin, addressed a crowd that may have numbered as many as 250,000. The people at that gathering were fearful that it could all end in a nuclear apocalypse. In May 1963, I mistakenly saw the troubled city of Birmingham as not unlike troubled Berlin. I also saw the Alabama State Highway Patrol and Commissioner of Public Safety Eugene “Bull” Connor as American counterparts of the East German Volkspolizei. When I preached, as our group’s representative, at Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, I likened Birmingham to East Berlin. That sermon may have been oratorically effective but it was politically inaccurate and, I believe, hurtful. Birmingham was not East Berlin, although I believe it could have become somewhat like it had the civil rights movement been defeated. I had mixed motives for coming to Birmingham. I was genuinely convinced that segregation had to end and that Dr. Martin Luther King Photos courtesy Rabbi Richard Rubenstein deserved my support, but I Rev. Martin Luther King talks with the was also a writer who wanted rabbis in a motel room in 1963 a story. I had learned a great

Southern Jewish Life

July 2014

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deal about contemporary Germany by being on the spot in a crisis area. I thought 19 rabbis coming to Birmingham would make a good story. As noted above, my initial response to Rabbi Grafman and the leaders of Birmingham’s Jewish community bordered on arrogance. In addition to rabbinic ordination, at the time, I was a recently-minted Harvard Ph.D. with a Master of Theology degree from the Harvard Divinity School. I mistakenly thought I knew more than the local leadership. In reality, the local Jewish leadership understood the situation far better than we. Moreover, we were entering a potentially dangerous situation with no strategic plan. I was deeply shocked recently to learn from the Southern Jewish Life article cited above that the A. G. Gaston Motel, the black motel where we lodged, was destroyed by a bomb on May 11, two days after our departure. I was 39 at the time. I am now 90. I shudder to think of what might have happened to me and my young children had we been in the motel when the bomb exploded. Truth to tell, we were acting on impulse and out of ignorance. Had we contacted Rabbi Grafman and the local leadership, I have no doubt that they would have told us not to come. That was a message we didn’t want to hear from the men and women who had to live with and manage a complex and inflammatory situation on a daily basis. In the Southern Jewish Life article, I am also described as apologizing when I gave a lecture in Birmingham in 1973. That is correct, but I knew almost immediately that, although many regarded us as heroes when we returned home, the real heroes were the local Jewish leadership and I said as much less than three weeks later in an article, “The Rabbis Visit Birmingham” (The Reconstructionist, May 31, 1963). I wrote: “Without revealing confidential information, I can honestly write that the leadership of the Jewish community proceeded to act with great dignity and in a way that no Jew could be ashamed of.” I was also in Montgomery with 600 northern university students in May 1965. The Alabama Highway Patrol beat up some of the students. All three national TV networks were there and LIFE published four pages of photos of the incident. When the 135 students from Pittsburgh returned home, I accused SNCC, the Student Non-Violence Coordinating Committee, of deliberately provoking the incident. Years later a black professor admitted as much. He said to me, “So what, if Suzy Creamcheese from Radcliffe gets killed in the struggle.” My public stand did not please liberals, either at the local universities or in the Jewish

Southern Jewish Life

Above, the rabbis en route to Birmingham in 1963. Below, a 1965 demonstration in Montgomery.

community. I would like to conclude on a romantic note. As a result of going to Birmingham, I met my bride of 46 years, Dr. Betty Rogers Rubenstein, a Smith College graduate and an art historian, who passed away in 2013. I was at the University of Chicago for a conference the weekend of Nov. 10, 1963. Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf invited me to come to suburban Winnetka for a benefit for the Congress of Racial Equality. When I arrived, I was asked to speak about my visit to Birmingham and Dr. Martin Luther King a few months earlier. Betty was the hostess and the benefit was at her home. Both she and I had recently been divorced. My talk disappointed some of the audience because I spoke of the complexities of the situation, but not Betty. She later told me that, as I spoke, she said to herself, “That’s the man for me!” She had been to Albany, Ga., in August 1962 with a group of black and white clergy from the greater Chicago area. Dr. King had met with them and she saw the same complexities as did I. She also wrote about her experience in The Reconstructionist, “Notes from the American Revolution — 1962.” After my talk, Rabbi Wolf invited us to dinner. Betty and I talked for hours. I was smitten. Three years later we were married. Had I not gone to Birmingham, there was almost no chance that Betty and I, living respectively in Winnetka and Pittsburgh, would ever have met.

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New research may explain shorter fertility window Clearly, couples struggling with infertility have benefited dramatically from the many great advances in fertility care. The proportion of couples with a variety of causes that will ultimately bear a healthy child has increased steadily. Yet, reproductive longevity for women remains poorly understood and a frustratingly common cause of infertility. Like most fields of science, progress comes from many directions. Barry Ripps and a team of researchers may have discovered a new link to help couples avoid such anguish. Ripps is a reproductive endocrinologist, the subspecialty of OB-GYN that addresses infertility. In an additional role, he is a professor with Florida State University College of Medicine as well as director of the OB-GYN Residency Research Program. Working with a physician training in OB-GYN and other specialists, a study revealed a previously unrecognized relationship between the common disorder endometriosis and early decline in a woman’s fertility. The findings were published as an abstract at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual conference in Boston last October. Fertility does not remain steady for women throughout their lives. Instead, women are most fertile as teenagers and progressively less so until menopause around age 50. This phenomenon occurs as the quality and number of remaining eggs gradually declines. This concept is called “Ovarian Reserve” and can be measured indirectly by hormone levels and ultrasound. Accordingly, what is obvious to most people is that younger women conceive faster than older women. All things being equal, age increases the time required to conceive. This latest research was newsworthy because women who were having trouble conceiving were found to have prematurely low ovarian reserve if they also suffered from endometriosis. While endometriosis itself was known to lengthen the time required to conceive, the mechanism was not well understood. The conclusions from Ripps’ presentation were clear — for women who are suspected or known to have endometriosis, their biological clocks may be running faster, thus leaving less time than usual for conception. From the perspective of the fertility specialist, these patients may need to move more quickly than others to the most effective treatment options. Future research might find the link and offer a way to prevent the decline. Ripps is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, and director of New Leaders In Fertility and Endocrinology, a practice located along the Florida and Alabama Coasts. He is also a member of the area Jewish communities. Learn more at: www.FertilityLeaders.com

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Tips to take care of your skin in the Summer Heat By Dr. Zoey Glick Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology Summer is upon us again and rising temperatures can make “Total” skin care more difficult. Here are a few suggestions from the Total Skin and Beauty team to keep your skin healthy during the summer heat. The first and most important thing is to protect your skin from sun damage. The best sunscreens are broad spectrum and provide UVA and UVB coverage. It is important to get in the habit of putting on sunscreen every morning. A few examples of cosmetically elegant face sunscreen are ELTA MD UV Facial, ELTA MD UV Clear, ELTA MD UV Daily, Obagi Sun Shield, Revision Intellishade and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid. A few examples of body sunscreens are ELTA MD UV Sport,

Southern Jewish Life

July 2014

Women’s Health ELTA MD UV Shield, ELTA MD UV Aero and La Roche-Posay Cooling Water Lotion. Throughout the day it can be difficult to reapply face sunscreen without running your makeup. One helpful solution is La Bella Donna Translucent Sun Protection powder, available for both women and men, so that you can keep your makeup flawless and your skin protected all day long. ELTA MD also has a UV Lip Balm that will shield your lips from sun damage and keep them moisturized. Another part of summer heat is dealing with sweat. OC8 Professional Mattifying gel can help decrease redness and oil on the face for up to eight hours. For underarm sweating, Hydrosal gel can help decrease sweat and odor for multiple days. Neurotoxins (i.e. Botox) can also help with excessive sweating on the armpits, palms, soles and scalp. Finally, La Roche-Posay Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water Spray can help keep you refreshed and cool while you are out and about. These are just a few tips to care for your skin during the summer heat. Feel free to contact the Total Skin and Beauty main office (205) 9330987 or the Total Skin and Beauty Cosmetic Center at (205) 380-6123 with any additional questions.

New options for skin anti-aging, hair growth, fat removal By Lee J. Green

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New procedures and products have enabled Birmingham’s Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic and Aesthetic Medical Spa to help women reverse the signs of aging — thicken hair on the scalp, promote healthier, smoother skin, and soon, remove unwanted fat without surgery. Daniel Rousso said one of the new treatments is Ulthera. This technique employs a similar technology to the ultrasound used during pregnancy. The difference is that this ultrasound is focused into a fine point under the skin, causing a coagulation effect building collagen under the skin. “It does a great job at tightening the skin. There is no surgery involved with this and just one treatment in one visit is all that is needed. The full effects can take three to six months to appear, but can last for years,” said Rousso. Another new procedure available at Rousso is Dermapen. A motorized device employs small needles that move in a rapid fashion up and down similar to a sewing machine, with those needles gently and barely going into the skin. It requires a few treatments. “It stimulates collagen production. It is ideal for wrinkles and the early signs of sun damage,” said Rousso. “It is minimally invasive and there is no bruising. Like with Ulthera, women can put make-up on immediately after the procedure(s) are finished.” For those who want to build more skin volume in the face, Voluma is a newer product to the market. It builds up the cheeks better than most fillers and can last up to two years. Though more men than women come to see Rousso for the new, effective Neograft hair treatment — hair grafts are harvested and placed where someone wants more hair to grow — he still sees his share of female patients getting the procedure done. “Many women experience at least some level of female pattern hair loss when they get older. Sometimes it starts after pregnancy, sometimes it might be hereditary,” he said. “It is more prevalent than people might realize, but there is an easy solution.” On the horizon, Rousso said that a new medicine will be available that eliminates fat pads under the chin and “heavy neck.” It takes two or three treatments. “Up until now, the only way to remove that unwanted fat in hard-to-lose places would be through surgery,” he said. “It will be between six to 12 months until this is out, but it will be something totally new that will offer an effective, non-surgical option.”

Is Your Infant a Safe Sleeper? By Jill Serpas In Louisiana, approximately 80 babies die each year from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is the broad medical term for sudden, unexplained deaths of infants before their first birthdays. SIDS occurs when otherwise healthy babies die in their sleep for no apparent reason. These deaths are often related to an unsafe sleep environment, and all new mothers as well as their families need to understand the importance of placing infants in a safe sleeping environment to reduce the risk of SIDS. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Bureau of Family Health has launched a Safe Sleep Champion Initiative to encourage hospitals to play an active role in educating families about safe infant sleep. Touro Infirmary recently completed the requirements, making the hospital a “Safe Sleep Champion.” As a Safe Sleep Champion, Touro is prioritizing educating all new mothers and families on recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2011 regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, along with other sleep related infant deaths. What is a Safe Sleep Environment? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends several actions related to creating a safe sleep environment for infants. AAP’s Recommendations include: • Placing the baby on his or her back to sleep for every sleep • Using a firm sleep surface • Sharing the room, but not the bed • Keeping soft objects and loose objects out of the crib

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Sleeping Position: The supine sleep position (sleeping on back or face-up) is recommended for infants to reduce the risk of SIDS. Side sleeping is not safe and is not advised. Once an infant can roll from the supine to prone (face down) and from the prone to supine position, the infant can be allowed to remain in the sleep position that he or she assumes. Supervised, awake tummy time on a daily basis can promote motor development and minimize the risk of positional plagiocephaly, or the development of a flat spot on the back of the head.

“…go forth and multiply”

Bedding: Avoid placing loose and potentially hazardous items such as pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins or other soft surfaces under the infant or loose in the sleep environment. Wedges and positioning devices, as well as bumper pads and similar products, are not recommended. Jill Serpas, RNC-OB, BS, is a Clinical Nurse Educator in Touro’s Family Birthing Center. She earned her RN certification in Inpatient Obstetrics in 1993 and has practiced nursing for more than 25 years.

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Hadassah promotes heart awareness On June 22, New Orleans Hadassah had a panel discussion as part of the national Every Beat Counts initiative. Hadassah’s Heart Health program seeks to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and a woman is 10 times more likely to die of a heart attack than breast cancer. Also, 24 percent of men who have heart attacks die within a year, but 42 percent of women do. Often, women do not experience the chest pressure associated with a heart attack. Instead, symptoms include shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.

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July 2014

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Osteoarthritis affects millions of people every year. It is a progressive, degenerative disease that leads to loss of function and lowers quality of life. It affects men and women nearly equally; however men are more likely to seek treatment than women. Additionally, women also tend to delay surgical intervention longer than men. Joint surgeons continue to look at novel approaches to knee surgery to expedite recovery, minimize complications and improve long term patient satisfaction. Outpatient partial knee replacement surgery continues to gain popularity. The concept of replacing just the inner compartment while leaving the other two compartments untouched dates back to the 1970s. However, it took nearly three decades for the science and technology to catch up in making this concept a reality. Today inner (medial) compartment replacement is a highly successful procedure done for thousands of patients across the globe, provided it is done for the properly selected patient. “This procedure is ideal for the active patient with pain mostly involving the medial (inner) part of the knee joint. It allows the patient to return rapidly to activities of daily living often without the need for extensive physical therapy,” said Herrick J. Siegel, a total joint specialist at the

University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. One of the most advanced partial knee replacement implants is the Oxford unicompartmental knee microplasty. Following strict adherence to the clinical indications, this mobile-bearing Oxford microplasty device has shown 90 percent survivorship at 20 years and good-to-excellent clinical results after 10 years. The addition of small incision surgery to the Oxford technique along with rapid recovery protocols has resulted in quicker functional recovery with less morbidity and mortality, thus making the procedure truly minimally invasive compared with total knee replacement. The advantages of partial knee microplasty compared to total knee replacement includes: preservation of bone stock, more-normal joint motion, better sensory feedback with preservation of all of the knee ligaments, smaller incisions, less pain and less scarring. “Most of our patients are able to go home the same day as the surgical procedure, or the next day,” said Siegel. Patients can return to driving almost immediately and return to work in 2 to 3 weeks. “This more rapid recovery option is appealing to women who are unable to have a prolonged recovery and live a very active lifestyle.” For more information regarding the procedure, patients may call UAB Orthopedics at (205) 930 8339 for a consultation.

FDA approves new incontinence products By Lee J. Green Margie Kahn, the Section Head of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Tulane Medical Center, notes several recent advances in treating incontinence. Kahn said one of the most recent FDA approvals was for Interstim, a Medtronic pacemaker-like device that was previously only approved for urinary incontinence and retention. Now approved for fecal incontinence (accidental bowel leakage), the device is implanted over the sacrum to stimulate the nerves controlling bowel function. Solesta, an anal bulking agent, was also approved last year for the same indication. Botox gained FDA approval for treatment of overactive bladder. “It relaxes the muscles of the bladder thereby increasing its capacity. Previously, Botox was approved only for treatment of overactive bladder associated with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis,” said Kahn. She said for those experiencing more minor incontinence issues or who want to be proactive, Kegel exercises and pelvic floor physical therapy are recommended. Since obesity is related to urinary incontinence, she also recommends that patients maintain a healthy weight. Kahn said some patients have come in asking about the television commercials promoting at24

July 2014

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torneys who are attempting litigation for those whose “malfunctioning” pelvic and vaginal meshes that have led to other medical conditions. “We can educate patients on what is best for them and clear up any misconceptions that might be out there,” she said. “I was trained and operated during the pre-mesh era. For the most part, the incontinence operations, although very successful, were more invasive with longer recovery times. I still perform them for specific indications. Synthetic meshes used to treat pelvic organ prolapse have a higher incidence of serious complications as compared with those used for urinary incontinence.” “We have an experienced and sensitive team that understands most women are embarrassed to bring up these problems, and because of that, many might have ignored the problems unnecessarily,” said Kahn, who is also Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urology at Tulane’s School of Medicine. “We offer a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Most importantly, we listen and respect patients’ wishes.” Kahn has spoken to the New Orleans Hadassah chapter and this fall will present to Sisters Chaverot, an initiative that unites Jewish and African-American women through medical, social and community learning.

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Blue light more common but not special for eyes, sleep By Lee J. Green When some think about blue light, thoughts turn to a certain retailer and their specials. But as it pertains to the eyes, too much blue light can lead to difficulty in sleeping or possibly something worse — an earlier-in-life onset of macular degeneration. Thankfully there are some lens solutions for filtering out the excess blue light that is emitted from computers, mobile phones, florescent and LED lighting. That’s according to Irwin Fingerman of Birmingham’s Dr. Optical. “This has come as a result of the ‘Greening of America’ and with the rise in the number of computers along with mobile phones people use regularly today,” said Dr. Fingerman. “Much of the lighting has gone to florescent and LED, which lasts longer and saves energy. But the downside is that those bulbs emit light in the blue spectrum, part of which can actually be toxic to the eye.” Computers, laptops and mobile phones, also emit light in the blue spectrum. Too much blue light getting into the eyes knocks down melatonin levels and alters one’s Circadian rhythms, making it more difficult to fall asleep or go back to sleep, he said. “Some blue light is good, since it helps us to wake up in the morning when we need to get going,” said Fingerman. “Ironically, many people who can’t sleep will go on their computer, and letting in even more blue light only makes the problem worse.” Studies have shown that women, on average, have a harder time getting to sleep as well as staying asleep. Fingerman said there are no conclusive studies yet on the eye health damage excessive blue light has already done. But there are warnings out there and getting the education out there is important, he said. “It’s a chronic exposure issue, so it could be years until someone might notice a health problem resulting from it. Kids and young adults today are on computers and cell phones more than any other generation. Over time, the excessive blue light getting into the eye could cause an earlier onset of macular degeneration,” said Fingerman. Thankfully, there are some solutions. Companies such as Hoya make a selective blue light wavelength-blocking eye glass lens coating. A blue-light filtering contact lens that can let just the needed amount of blue light in has just been introduced to the market. For computers, phones and lights, “the technology isn’t there for designers to put filters on devices. So these lenses are the best solution, and even those who don’t need corrective lenses can use them,” he said.

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Gates seeks new administrator With Executive Director Louis Geiger stepping down, Gates of Prayer in Metairie is actively seeking a Temple Administrator. The administrator manages day-to-day congregational operations, working closely with the rabbi, other staff members, and officers and board members. Responsibilities also include coordinating all congregation activities, taking an active role in the ritual life of the congregation and assuring the economic, physical and human resources necessary for congregational life. The ideal candidate has a college degree, a strong computer and finance background and familiarity with the Jewish community. Experience in non-profit management is also beneficial. All inquiries may be directed to search@gatesofprayer.org. NOLA

Southern Jewish Life

July 2014

Torah Academy ready for new home

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It has been a long nine years, but next month Torah Academy will return to its historic location on West Esplanade in Metairie. Ever since the flood following the levee breach after Hurricane Katrina rendered the school’s building unusable, the school has met in a variety of venues, most recently the Chabad Center in Metairie. On August 20, the academy’s new building will be ready to welcome students, said Rabbi Michoel Kerendian, who became the school’s executive director in October. “This has been a long time coming,” Kerendian said. “Since Katrina we’ve been trying to put this building together.” In 1970, Lakeshore Hebrew Day School was formed and started meeting at Beth Israel. Soon, the school got its own building at the current location. In 1993, Torah Academy was formed as a way “to strengthen the original vision for Jewish education in New Orleans.” Three years later, a community school, now called Jewish Community Day School, was also formed and continues to meet at the community campus in Metairie. Before the storm, Torah Academy had an enrollment of 65 to 75 students. But the storm scattered families across the country, and many of them did not wish to uproot their children a second time and did not return. With the school’s building damaged beyond repair, plans were formed to rebuild. After the school re-opened in temporary quarters, enrollment has been between 20 and 35. Kerendian said the school was in “survival mode… without a building.” Kerendian said enrollment was 19 when he arrived last fall and has grown to 24, and he expects between 25 and 30 this year. In the next two or three years, he says, enrollment of 45 to 60 is possible. “We’ve had a lot of interest from families,” and the growth in the local Jewish community, especially families with young children, should bode well. He noted that some were skeptical about the school opening on time, given the difficulties of getting building projects done in New Orleans. “We’re on schedule and when people see the building functional with classes set up, a lot of people who were interested will be more interested.” The school goes from two years in preschool to eighth grade, and

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This file photo from a month after the storm indicates some of the destruction at Torah Academy in 2005. NOLA

while students are welcome in all grades, Kerendian plans to work from the bottom up, building the classes from a young age. The building can “very comfortably” hold 95 students. It consists of 16,000 square feet of space, with eight classrooms and a multipurpose room that can serve as a gym, assembly space and function room. Space is allocated for two commercial kitchens adjoining the multi-purpose room. Also just off the multi-purpose room is a second floor storage area for vital records and equipment — just in case. “If anything happens, we don’t have to start from scratch again.” A large patio will be a space for family and community events, and there will be a green area behind the multi-purpose room that serves as a field. A playground is also planned behind the building, and an Internet fundraising campaign is planned on Charidy, a site that does Chabad campaigns across the country. The majority of construction funding was in place in 2012. “It took a while to get the permitting in place and work things out with FEMA,” which is funding a substantial part of the building. There is a $4 million capital campaign underway to complete the $5 million building. From the $4 million, $1 million is going toward an endowment fund and $600,000 is allocated to operating expenses. Another $700,000 goes toward completion of construction. One major dedication has already been determined. The multipurpose room will be named by a family that used to live in New Orleans. Construction began in August 2013. Around that time, the board approved funding for an executive director position. Kerendian came to New Orleans from Chicago, but he is originally from Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a return to the South for me,” he noted. “I’m used to a small, close-knit Jewish community. Here you go to Kosher Cajun and everyone knows who you are.” Torah Academy’s Judaic and secular curriculums are integrated to form a unified system. The school’s goal, Kerendian said, is “to have our graduates successfully integrate into the school of their choice, whether a public school, private school, university, yeshivah.” The idea is to “give them all the tools necessary to succeed on a path of their choosing.”

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July 2014

Day School first-grade students get their Siddurim First graders at Jewish Community Day School participated in a song-filled and joyful ceremony on May 28 as each student received their own siddur. The students began learning Hebrew letters, vowels, and prayers since enrolling in the school, some as early as Pre-K. This year, they strengthened their Hebrew language skills in reading, writing and oral expression, beginning each day by learning how to chant the prayers that comprise the morning blessings. With their families in attendance, first graders explained their understanding of individual prayers and what the prayers Above, Sam Shaya with Judaic mean to them. Guests were Studies teacher Aleeza Adelman. treated to a “Journey Through Below, Adelman and Avery Hart. Tefillah” (prayer) museum filled with artwork illustrating children’s connections to prayer and to G-d. Exemplifying the JCDS commitment to pluralism and inclusivity, each family selected from amongst three siddur choices. During the ceremony, parents presented their children with a personalized siddur. Rabbi Bob Loewy of Congregation Gates of Prayer, himself a JCDS founding parent and board member, blessed the children during the ceremony. The program ended with a song, photos and a celebratory reception.

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NOLA

Continued from page 30

Jacob: What does that mean? Rachel: Everything you say is written in a scroll with no vowels or punctuation and you’re on my case about an acronym? Jacob: OMG, you’re right. Rachel: This is no time for prayer. Jacob: So… what do I have to do to win your heart? Rachel: Work for my father for seven years. Jacob: Excuse me? Was that a typo? Rachel: Which part? Jacob: Any of it being a typo will help. Rachel: No typos. Jacob: Seven years, huh? Rachel: I’m worth it. Trust me. Jacob: Your humility makes you so hot. Rachel: No, living in the desert does. Jacob: LOL.

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After seven years of labor, Laban secretly replaced Rachel the bride with her sister, Leah. Let’s see what happened, since he did notice. Rachel: Why are we talking on this thing again? Aren’t we long past dating? Jacob: I don’t know. Let me ask my wife. Rachel: Oh. Yeah. Sorry about that. But when my father sets his mind about something, he sets his mind about something. Jacob: I wasn’t trying to marry your father. Though at this rate, he might be next for all I know. Rachel: I’m sorry. She’s older, she had to go first. But, look, you can marry me next. Jacob: I just have to work another seven years for it? Rachel: Well, yeah… Jacob: And I’ll be married to both you and your sister. Rachel: Yup… You know… There are a few other websites where that kind of thing is pretty popular… Jacob: You’re going to get into a lot of trouble for saying that.

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July 2014

The Beholder’s Eye by Doug Brook

Staying up to date We’ve secretly replaced the Biblical setting of these ancestral assignations with 21st-century online dating. Let’s see if they notice.

The Elms Mansion

Eliezer: Hey. Rebecca: Hey. Eliezer: New on JDate? Rebecca: Yes. You? Eliezer: Yes. Well, no. I mean, I’m not on JDate for me. Rebecca: Excuse me? Eliezer: Well, I work for this guy named Abraham… Rebecca: Look, I don’t think… Eliezer: Let me explain. He’s got this son, Isaac. He’s a good guy. But he’s stuck at home, and Abraham, his father, wants him to have a wife from his birthplace — which is where you’re from. Rebecca: A wife? Jesus, buy a girl dinner first, at least. Eliezer: Who’s Jesus? Rebecca: Some Jewish carpenter. But he’s a little too young for me. Eliezer: Anyway, before I left, Abraham made me swear that I would not bring a wife for his son Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites, so I put my hand under his thigh and vowed… Rebecca: You put what where? Eliezer: Never mind. You’re right. I If some of our can’t do this. I told him that a woman foremothers and might not want to return with me. I asked him if I could bring Isaac with me, and threefathers met he made me swear that wouldn’t happen, online… too. Sorry to have wasted your time. Rebecca: Wait, wait. It’s okay… Is he a good match? Eliezer: As your years go by with him, you’ll find him only more blinded by love for you. Rebecca: Easy, killer. Tell you what, let’s meet at the local watering hole. The one in Aram Naharaim? Eliezer: Sure! I’ll meet you there! I’ll be the one with 10 camels. Rebecca: Thank you, I don’t smoke. By the way, is he young? Eliezer: Who, Isaac? Sure. He’s… His life so far has been as short as a stroll your descendants might take through the desert. Speaking of Isaac and Rebecca’s descendants…

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Jacob: Hey. Rachel: That’s how you say hello to a lady? Jacob: Sorry. I’m glad I found you on here. Rachel: Me, too. Jacob: It was nice meeting you at the local watering hole. It’s turning into a family tradition. Rachel: Your family hangs out at bars? Jacob: No. I mean my father met his wife at a local watering hole. Well, actually, my grandfather’s servant met her there, and he brought her home to him. Rachel: Servant? Your family can afford servants... Interesting… It was nice meeting you, too! You come around here often? Jacob: I only needed to once to meet you. Rachel: LOL.

Continued on previous page 30

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o Send me the email and print versions

Address City

Name State Zip

Address

City

Mail to SJL, PO Box 130052, Birmingham AL 35213, or charge it at paypal.com, sending to payments@dsjv.com.

NOLA

State Zip

Mail to SJL, PO Box 130052, Birmingham AL 35213, or email subscribe@dsjv.com.

Southern Jewish Life

July 2014