Happy Purim
March 2019
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Adar I - Adar II 5779
732.534.5959
The Women’s Division of the JFOC presents
W
hat are you doing on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 6:30 pm? If you want to have a great kosher meal, be part of our Jewish community, and BE ENTERTAINED by a great Broadway singer, then you will WANT TO be at the Jewish Federation of Ocean County’s The Place to Be at the Ramada Inn in Toms River. Presented by the Women’s Division of JFOC, this exciting evening is designed to bring our community closer AS WE ENJOY the wonderful baritone singer William Paul Michals. Of course, with any good Jewish gathering, we will have lots of good food. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm, and the entertainment WILL begin at 7:30 pm. William Paul Michals is an American stage actor and baritone singer. He has appeared as Emile de Becque in Rogers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center. He made his Broadway debut as “The Beast” in Disney’s
We are Going Green! Individual invitations for The Place to Be will not be mailed again this year. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and later returned to play Gaston in the same production. By sharing in this gala evening, you are helping support the work of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County and the Jewish Family and Children’s Service to provide services for the seniors and Holocaust Survivors in our community. For more information, please see our ad on pages 16-18.
Please purchase your tickets by visiting www.jewishoceancounty.org or calling the Federation office at 732-363-0530. See pages 16-18.
A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY – NEW CHALLENGES
If you save one life…it is as though you have saved the world… (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5; Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a)
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he Claims Conference has again increased our funding to support our community’s aging and frail Holocaust Survivors. The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany has increased our grant for 2019 to almost $2.1 million. This year we will be able to provide approximately 76,000 hours of homecare. This is an increase from 2018 of almost 22,000 hours. And yet, we are still not able to meet the total approved need for each survivor … plus there are 5 survivors on a waitlist … receiving no homecare assistance. Most fortunately, our survivors are living longer. The survivors are between 83 and 101 years old. Approximately 40% are frail, facing significant health issues, and/or have
lost their partner/caregiver and could not continue to live alone without JFCS and your support. As they become frailer, the demand for our JFCS services, home care, transportation and community support increases, dramatically. Imagine... if you could help make the life of one of our aging frail Holocaust Survivors a little easier, safer, and more connected to our community. Like most grants, there is a match requirement from the local community. We, in Ocean County have an exciting opportunity and challenge. Like 2018. The grant requires our community to provide a match of approximately 3% ($70,181) of the total grant of $2.1 million.
long-standing commitment to care for the frail and at-risk Holocaust Survivors residing in our community. So … again in 2019 every dollar you donate for the Holocaust Survivors fund will be matched with another $33. Every $1 you donate will provide one hour of in-home healthcare and a kosher meal. What a mitzvah! With your support and this wonderful grant, JFCS in Ocean County will keep Holocaust Survivors healthy and fed, provide homemaker and person care services in their homes and provide case
This is consistent with our community’s
What’s Nu? Community Calendar - page 15 PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Newburgh, NY Permit No 1119
The Place to Be - Pages 16 - 18
Imagine... if you could help make the life of one of our aging frail Holocaust Survivors a little easier, safer, and more connected to our community. management and counselling to their families and caregivers. We provide kosher Continued on page 3
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Looking Ahead 60 Days of Joy the Hillel International Center in Washington, DC (with multiple roles in fundraising and helping start/manage their Birthright Israel program).
By Shelley Newman, President Jewish Federation of Ocean County www.jewishoceancounty.org
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s we approach spring, change is in the air with the promise of future growth and renewal. Even in the Jewish calendar, this year and this month is a bit different. An extra month has been added for a leap year. Sometimes you need to do things a bit differently in order to keep things on track and working well for the future.
He is an alum of Princeton and has an MBA from the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. His passion is exploring how to rethink and enhance Jewish life. Keith will be working with us several days a week helping us explore and plan for ways we can enhance services to our Jewish community and be more effective and sustainable in the future. We are happy that Keith has agreed to work with us on all our areas of need. Please welcome him. He can be reached at: Keith@OCJF.org.
Keith Krivitzky, new Consultant and Managing Director, Jewish Federation of Ocean County
Additionally, I am happy to report that there has been tremendous growth in our Jewish Family and Children’s Service program, particularly in the number of Holocaust Survivors served through our grant from the Claims Conference. This is great news, and we are proud that this program is an integral part of our Federation. To best ensure We are also fortunate that, after a well- the long-term effectiveness of this program deserved break, Drew will be continuing and all our JFCS services, we have begun to play a role with our Federation as a conversations with other Jewish Family Service partners, seeking ways we can work consultant. together. A collaboration can bring other reAt the same time, there are two other sources to support the Jewish community in changes that will begin a process to Ocean County, enable us to provide more strengthen the Federation and services support to our community and make our donations go even farther. for our Jewish community in the future. First, I would like to welcome Keith Krivitzky as a Consultant and Managing Director of our Federation. Keith was previously the CEO of The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey for four years. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, NJ (which merged to become part of the Heart of NJ), VP of Philanthropy at the Federation in Seattle, and Renaissance Man at
By Rabbi Shmuel Naparstek Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Lakewood, NJ www.ChabadofJackson.com
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he Talmud tells us: “Mishenichnas Adar marbim b'simcha” (When the month of Adar enters, we increase in happiness.) The month of Adar includes one of the happiest days of the year: The Holiday of Purim. Purim celebrates our nation’s miraculous salvation from the wicked Haman. As the saying goes: They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat! As an extension to the holiday of Purim, we rejoice throughout the entire month of Adar.
The same is true for the Jewish Federation of Ocean County. We are taking this opportunity to look ahead to see how we can be most successful and impactful in the future, and that means welcoming and planning for change. First, I want to wish another Mazal Tov and a Yasher Koach (congratulations and may your strength increase) to Drew Staffenberg, who retired after several successful years as Executive Director of our Jewish Federation. He and his team have done an amazing job managing the organization and delivering services, especially through our strong and growing Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) program. Drew leaves an important legacy for our Holocaust Survivors as well as for every member of our Jewish community. Thank you, Drew!
also in the intensity. The word “Mishenichnas” is literally translated as “From when it enters,” meaning to say: “From the onset of Adar, we increase in joy every single day.” The more days we have in Adar, the more joyful we get.
Keith said, “Change can be a good thing, and I am excited for the year ahead. There is one constant that is essential if we are to be successful. We need the help of our entire community.” Your support, your donations, and your participation help make this all possible. So, as we begin a new year, I want to say thank you to our dedicated staff team and to you for your past support and in advance for your contribution this coming year.
Owing to the discrepancies between the solar year and the lunar year, we receive a gift every few years: a 13th month to the Hebrew calendar year. This year, 5779, is a leap year. Instead of only 30 days of Adar (if you include 30 Shevat which is also part of Rosh Chodesh/New Month of Adar), we now have Adar 1 and Adar 2, equaling 60 days of Adar. The 30 days of joy we experience on a typical year, is now doubled. This increase in joy is not only quantitative, but also qualitative. The increase is not only in the amount of time we are rejoicing, but
How do we increase in joy? What is the secret to happiness? What can I do to make myself happy? It is well documented that wealth and power do not guarantee happiness. There are many wealthy people and people in positions of power, that are not happy. Happiness is a mindset. It’s the appreciation of the here and now. When we take the time to focus on the blessings of the moment instead of the day-to-day grind, we are filled with gratitude and joy. Increasing in joy means to spend more and more time focusing on our blessings. Every day of Adar, we should focus more and more on Hashem’s kindness. Just as the holiday of Purim is a celebration of Hashem’s salvation, so should every day be a celebration of Hashem’s continued kindness. The more we are aware of it, the happier we will be. The Jewish Journal is pleased to host a monthly Rabbi Column, rotating among our community’s pulpit rabbis. The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Jewish Journal, the Jewish Federation of Ocean County or the author’s Congregation.
Jewish Journal Editorial Committee of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County Anise Singer Chairperson Paula Hait
Beth Josephs Shelly Newman Rabbi Robert Rubin
Phone: 732-363-0530 Email: jfoceditor@ocjf.org
Would you like to join our committee? Contact us.
Jewish Federation of Ocean County, a non-profit corporation, publishes The Jewish Journal 12 times a year. Views expressed by columnists, in readers’ letters and in reprinted opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Jewish Journal, the Jewish Federation of Ocean County or any agency of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County. Submissions of copy and .jpeg photos may be sent to Editor (jfoceditor@ocjf.org) or mailed to the known office of publication. All copy or photos submitted to The Jewish Journal shall become the property of The Jewish Journal and the Jewish Federation of Ocean County. All submissions of text or photography may be changed and printed at the discretion of the editor without notice to the submitter. The Jewish Journal reserves full discretion to decide what will be published. No material will be accepted which is considered against the best interest of the Jewish community. Acceptance of advertising neither endorses advertisers nor guarantees kashrut.
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Palestinians pay condolence visit to family of slain teen Ori Ansbacher Activist says he told family, residents of the Tekoa settlement, that Israelis and Palestinians ‘must find a way to live together’ By Times of Israel Staff, February 12, 2019
pected Jewish terrorist. “We went there to pay condolences together with Israeli friends, and we came to console here today,” he said. He was among a group of roughly a dozen Palestinian peace activists who wished to console the Ansbacher family, he said. Asked why Israelis don’t often hear about Palestinians who care about Israeli dead, he blamed the media.
Palestinian and Israeli activists visit the Ansbacher family in Tekoa, February 12, 2019 (Tag Meir)
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group of Palestinian and Israeli coexistence activists visited the home of an Israeli teen brutally murdered by a Palestinian man last Thursday. “We believe that the violent path brings nothing but violence,” said Ziyad Sabatin, of the southern West Bank town of Husan, outside the home of the Ansbacher family in the settlement of Tekoa.
“The interest of journalists is to find where there’s violence,” Sabatin said. “Whenever there’s blood, you see them running there straightaway and making a fuss. Where there’s peace you don’t see that. That’s a problem with journalists. We do a lot for peace, gatherings with people, a ton of activities for peace, coexistence, a shared life.” The group also included Israeli activists from Tag Meir, an anti-racism activism group. Raji Sabatin, a peace activist from Husan who is Ziad’s cousin, said he told the Ansbacher family he denounces violence.
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said that the suspected killer, Arafat Irfaiya, 29, left his home in Hebron on Thursday armed with a knife and made his way toward Jerusalem, where he spotted Ori Ansbacher, 19, in a forested part of the city. He then raped and murdered her. The Shin Bet defined the killing as an act of terrorism. “There’s no religion in the world that supports this kind of act,” Sabatin said Tuesday in a radio interview with the Israeli station 103FM during his visit to the Ansbacher home. The murder shocked Israelis and led right-wing politicians to call for the enactment of a death penalty for terrorists. Shortly after the murder, at Sunday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to implement a law passed last July that gave the government the power to deduct funds from tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority equal to the amount of money the PA spends on stipends and grants for incarcerated Palestinian terrorists, terror suspects and the families of Palestinians killed while attacking Israelis. Asked by the radio interviewer what prompted him to carry out the condolence visit, Sabatin noted that Israeli friends had accompanied him on a condolence visit in Ramallah to the family of Aisha Rabi, a Palestinian mother of eight killed in a rock-throwing attack in the West Bank in October by a sus-
remand for an additional 10 days. Channel 12 news reported that investigators from the Shin Bet security service and Israel Police hope to indict him for terrorist murder and rape. Details regarding the rape charge had previously remained under wraps due to a court-imposed gag order. On Sunday, the Shin Bet announced that the murder was a nationalistically motivated terror attack. The intelligence agency, which has been running the investigation with assistance from police, had held off on announcing a terror motive. The agency said Irfaiya had reenacted the murder in front of interrogators and “implicated himself definitively in the incident.” In the predawn hours of Sunday morning, the IDF entered Irfaiya’s home in Hebron in order to prepare the structure for demolition, a policy enforced only in terror cases. A spokesman for the Shin Bet said Irfaiya had spent time in prison for security-related offenses and that he had crossed into Israel without a permit before carrying out the murder. Hebrew media reported that the suspect is affiliated with Hamas, though neither the terror group nor others have claimed responsibility for the attack. Additional details regarding the probe remain under gag order.
Ori Ansbacher (Courtesy)
“I said that just as I reject the killing of Palestinians, I reject the killing of Israelis,” he told The Times of Israel. “I also said we must find a way to live together in coexistence.” Raji noted that the Palestinian activists who took part in visit were from Husan, Wadi Fukin, Ramallah and Bethlehem. Meretz MK Mossi Raz, who joined in the condolence visit with the Palestinian activists, told the Kan public broadcaster, “There are no words to describe the condemnation, rage, anger and sorrow. I’ll do everything I can so that this will be the last” death in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He added that he was “happy that Palestinians were part of this visit.” On Monday, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended the suspected killer Irfaiya’s
On Sunday evening, Channel 13 news reported that Irfaiya was arrested in 2017 at the entrance to the Temple Mount holy site in Jerusalem armed with a large kitchen knife, and had indicated that if released, he would “come back here with a knife.” He told his interrogators that he ultimately aspired to become a “martyr” or be incarcerated in an Israeli prison, the report said.
Arafat Irfayia, charged with the murder of 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher, at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s court on February 11, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY Continued from page 1
meals, transportation and connect them to the community through Café Europa. We realize, that unless you are impacted directly, you may not fully appreciate the critical work of JFCS. All of these services allow the Survivors to live at home for as long as possible, with dignity. For Many survivors their families live far away, and without JFCS there helping them, they would be alone and at great risk. This is another exciting opportunity presented to our community. Every dollar our community raises for this special fund in 2019 will provide increased services to our aging Holocaust Survivors. Every dollar will be matched with $33. 100% of these funds will be directed to serving the vulnerable and frail aging Holocaust Survivors throughout Ocean County. This Challenge grant provides an exciting opportunity for our community. Together, we need to act. For every dollar that we are short of our goal we will lose $33 and will not be able to provide an hour of home care and a kosher meal. Everything our Jewish Federation and Jewish Family and Children’s Service does on behalf of our community depends on the involvement and help of every member of our caring Jewish Community.
Please consider becoming a GEM (Give Every Month) donor. A donation of Chai ($18) a month would be matched with $7,128 for the year. That means you would be providing approximately 218 hours of in-home health care and 218 kosher meals. What better way to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah than by providing a life of dignity to our aging Holocaust Survivors? We all need to ACT as if everything depends on each of us.
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The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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The Jewish Journal - March 2019 Adar I - Adar II 5779
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Beth Am Shalom, Congregation B'nai Israel, Lakewood, Religious School Toms River, Celebrates Sisterhood Shabbat
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Temple Beth Or, Brick, Tu BiShevat Seder
by Megina Mittleberg
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n January 19, the warmth of celebration, singing, friendship and worship was shared by everyone who was lucky enough to attend CBI's joyful Sisterhood Shabbat service. The women of the congregation led the entire service, including Torah and Haftarah portions, the prayers and English readings. Since it was Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song, Cantor Ruth Katz Green led the congregation in the singing of special songs about Shirat Ha-Yam, the Song of the Sea. Tu BiShevat, the New Year of the Trees, was also observed, with a reading and a song. At the end of the service, past Sisterhood presidents were honored, and a delicious Kiddush luncheon sponsored by Sisterhood was enjoyed by everyone.
"Rise Against Hunger" Meal Packing Event The Fourth-grade class of Beth Am Shalom in Lakewood recently celebrated a traditional Shabbat service during class. Mrs. Zirin and the children all participated in candle lighting with the blessings in Hebrew, Kiddush, and the Blessings of the Sons and Daughters. The traditions of blessing over challah and of hand washing ritual were explained. All enjoyed the challah, grape or apple juice and a yummy dessert. The Birkat Hamazon (Blessings after the Meal) ended the celebration. The children enjoyed learning the Friday night Shabbat traditions.
Judaism and Humor: Have I Got a Match for You... Rabbi Moshe Gourarie of the Chabad Jewish Center of Toms River will present on “Judaism and Humor: Have I Got a Match for You...” on Sunday, March 10 at 11:00 AM at Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road in Brick. Luncheon will follow. The community is invited to attend. This event is part of the Adult Education Series chaired by Naomi Monter. There is no charge, but reservations are required by March 4. Call the TBO Office at 732-458-4700 or email templebethorbrick@gmail.com.
Support Our Holocaust Survivors and Seniors
The community is invited to volunteer to help pack over 13,000 meals which are to be sent to people in need around the world. This event is being held on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at 2:00-4:00 PM at St. Dominic’s Parish Roman Catholic Church, 250 Old Squan Road, Brick (corner of Route 88 and Van Zile Road). Temple Beth Or in Brick is participating along with many local congregations. This community effort is sponsored by the Brick Clergy Association, an interfaith group of local clergy, and is administered by Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit world hunger relief organization. Every year, Rise Against Hunger ships more than 40 million meals to more than 30 countries all over the world. The meals are sent to schools, orphanages and community development programs. For example, one partner agency in Nicaragua was able to serve over 15,000 children daily. There is no admission charge for this event. Optionally, one can make a voluntary donation at the door by sponsoring any number of meals at 34 cents each and/or bring nonperishable food items for a local Brick food pantry. This event is open to the entire community, including residents outside of Brick, and is appropriate for people of all ages. The Brick faith communities that are cosponsoring and participating in this event are: Brick Presbyterian Church, Visitation Roman Catholic Church, First Baptist Church of Laurelton, Living Faith Bible Church, St. Dominic’s Parish Roman Catholic Church, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church, St. Thomas Lutheran Church and Temple Beth Or along with Harold and Marilyn Lay. For information about this event, contact Rabbi Robert Rubin of Temple Beth Or at 732-458-4700. For general information about Rise Against Hunger visit their website at www.riseagainsthunger.org.
Please consider contributing to: • Friends of JFCS • The Holocaust Survivors’ Special Fund • The Seniors Lunch Program Special Fund
Temple Beth Or in Brick held a Tu BiShevat Seder on January 20. The Seder included a series of readings, blessings and songs compiled in a special Tu BiShevat Haggadah, the eating or tasting of at least fifteen different fruits and the drinking of four cups of wine/grape juice. It celebrates our connections to nature, to the Land of Israel and to God. Leading the Seder was Rabbi Robert Rubin (standing, on right), Adult Education Chairperson Naomi Monter (standing, on left) and Cantor Barbara Haimowitz on keyboard (not pictured).
It is easy to donate a little each month, to make a big impact! • Go online to www.jewishoceancounty.org. • Send a check, use your credit card, transfer stock. • Call the office and talk with our staff. • Bring in your Tzedakah box. We will count it for you. • Consider making a monthly gift to support these important programs.
Jewish Federation of Ocean County
1235A Route 70, Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-363-0530
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Learn Why to Stand with Israel and How to Defend It
Bimbo Bakeries USA Confirms Kosher Re-certification
Christians United for Israel (CUFI) extends an invitation to members of the Jewish community to join them on Thursday, April 11 at 12:00 Noon to learn why Biblically and Historically Christians should stand with Israel and how to defend Israel. The event is open to the entire community and people of all faiths are welcome to attend.
Editor’s Note: This is a follow-up story to our article in the January 2019 issue on page 23. It is always a good idea to look for a kosher symbol each time you are buying.
Shawn Hyland, CUFI's New Jersey State Director & State Coordinator and a nationally sought-after speaker, will share biblical and historical reasons to stand with Israel and the Jewish people, give an update on the current situation in the Middle East and discuss how to stand with Israel. America’s support for Israel depends upon the informed and dedicated activism of everyone, including CUFI’s five million mem-
bers. It is important for people of all backgrounds to deepen their knowledge of Israel’s history and be up-to-date on the current events that are transpiring in the region. Faith, knowledge and dedication are what enable us to defend Israel in our communities, in our congregations, on campus, online, and in Washington, D.C. The event is being held at The Church of Grace and Peace, 1563 Old Freehold Road, Toms River and is being hosted by Pastor Jim Wehrer.
Jewish News Syndicate; January 23, 2019 www.jns.org
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fter removing kosher certification from many of its items in 2017, Bimbo Bakeries USA will once again be selling kosher products. “After hearing from our loyal kosher consumers and after productive meetings with our Kosher Certifiers, Bimbo Bakeries USA is pleased to announce that we will once again be offering kosher products under the Arnold, Sara Lee and Ball Park brands,” the company announced this week.
Register by April 4 by visiting the CUFI website at www.cufi.org and look for Upcoming Events. The cost is $9 and includes educational materials. Kosher food can be provided upon request with your paid reservation.
Jewish Federation of Ocean County is now on Facebook Like us at: www.facebook.com/jewishocean
“As three of our largest brands, many of which are distributed nationally, Bimbo Bakeries USA is confident that kosher consumers will be able to find the products they are looking for to enjoy themselves and with their families,” they added. “We’d like to thank both the Orthodox Union and KOF-K for their guidance as we reviewed our options.” Bimbo Bakeries USA is a subsidiary of Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo, which one of the world’s largest baked-goods businesses with America’s largest privately labeled bread-baking firm.
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The Community-wide Purim Carnival, originally scheduled for Sunday, March 17, is not happening this year. Please contact one of our local congregations to learn about the various Purim services and festivities being offered. See page 28 for contact information. Purim this year is on Wednesday night-Thursday, March 20-21. Chag Purim Sameach – Happy Purim!
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Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) Election Process – 2019 By Rabbi Robert Rubin
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srael is a democracy. It has often been called a robust democracy with many opinions expressed on many issues. The election process in Israel is based on a parliamentary system as described here. Many countries around the world use a parliamentary system. The United States does not have a parliamentary system. America has a representative system in which people are elected from within specified districts (house districts for the House of Representatives and states for the Senate). It is important for us to understand the Israeli democracy and how it functions, particularly at a time of elections. The current projection is for Israeli Election Day to be April 9, 2019. Here are the basic steps of an Israeli national election, followed by an illustrative hypothetical example. As you can see from these steps, when the Israeli Election Day is over, the actual process of forming a government is only just beginning. 1) There are 120 seats in the Knesset. There are no districts. The national election is for all 120 seats.
2) Before the election, each Party submits a list of individuals in a numbered sequence (first slot, second slot, etc.) and runs that list in the national election. The higher up someone is on their Party election list, the safer their slot is considered to becoming a Knesset Member (see #5). 3) Each individual voter gets one vote to select one Party, with its list, from the various Parties that run in the national election. 4) Each Party receives a percentage of the Knesset seats based on the percentage of the votes received in the national election. Fractions of seats are worked out through various calculations and sometimes through agreements between Parties to share their excess votes. There is a qualifying threshold of 3.25% of the national vote that a Party needs to exceed in order to get any seats in the Knesset at all. This qualifying threshold means that the smallest a Knesset Party can be is four seats. 5) An individual listed on their Party election list gets “elected” to serve in the Knesset (“gets one of the 120 Knesset seats”) based on how many seats their Party wins in the national election. For example, if a Party wins 20 seats, then the first 20 individuals listed on the Party election list get a Knesset
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seat; if a Party wins only 10 seats, then only the first 10 individuals listed on the Party election list get a Knesset seat; and so on until all 120 seats are assigned according to the vote totals of the various Parties. See the illustrative example below. After an election, if a Knesset Member should pass away or resign for any reason, the next person on that Knesset Member’s Party’s list who did not make it into the Knesset in the election itself moves up and becomes a Knesset Member. 6) A ruling majority in the Knesset needs to be formed. Since 1948, it has not yet ever happened that one Party won a majority on their own of 61 or more Knesset seats. Without a one-Party majority, a coalition of Parties needs to be formed in order to form a majority of 61 or more Knesset seats. 7) Following the calculation and distribution of the Knesset seats, the President of Israel
(which is mostly an honorary figurehead-type position but with this one important political task) chooses the leader of one of the Parties with the task of forming a majority coalition with four weeks to do so. 8) Discussions and negotiations take place between various Parties. If the Party leader chosen by the President is successful in forming a majority coalition, then the proposed governing coalition is presented for acceptance. If that Party leader is not successful, the President can grant an extension of another two weeks or can choose another Party leader to attempt to form a majority coalition with four weeks to do so. If the second Party leader chosen by the President is successful in forming a majority coalition, then the proposed governing coalition is presented for acceptance. If no attempt is successful, new elections can be called, and the entire election cycle would begin again (though this has not yet ever happened).
Israel’s Parliament (Knesset) Election – A Hypothetical Example Votes cast = 4,000,000 3.25% qualifying threshold to get into Knesset altogether = 130,000 votes Ten Parties run in the election. In Israel, there are often 25-30 Parties that run in an Israeli election, but only ten Parties are listed here as an example of the overall process.
Results of Votes Received Party A = 940,000 Party B = 770,000 Party C = 680,000 Party D = 540,000 Party E = 440,000
Party F = 320,000 Party G = 150,000 Party H = 90,000 Party I = 55,000 Party J = 15,000
Results for Knesset Seats – Calculation Phase
Three Parties (H, I and J) did not make it over the qualifying threshold at all. Their combined vote total was 160,000. The remaining seven Parties now receive Knesset seats based on their percentages of the remaining votes (3,840,000). For the seven Parties that did pass the 3.25% qualifying threshold, a Knesset seat is earned for every 32,000 votes (1/120th of the total) that they received.
Results for Knesset Seats – Actual Totals
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Party A = 940,000 = 24.48% = 29 seats Party B = 770,000 = 20.05% = 24 seats Party C = 680,000 = 17.71% = 21 seats Party D = 540,000 = 14.06% = 17 seats
Pharmacy: 732-270-0900
Forming the Governing Coalition
Party E = 440,000 = 11.46% = 14 seats Party F = 320,000 = 8.33% = 10 seats Party G = 150,000 = 3.91% = 5 seats
Who forms the majority coalition? The President could choose any Party leader, though most often the President chooses the leader of the Party with the most votes/seats. See #7 and #8 above.
Because We Care 0319
The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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10 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
Super Bowl 2019: Patriots' Julian Edelman makes history as First Jewish Super Bowl MVP – ‘A gridiron Maccabee’ By now, most everyone knows that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the first player in NFL history to win six Super Bowls. Same goes for New England head coach Bill Belichick, who also picked up two rings as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman (11) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. Edelman was named the Most Valuable Player. (AP Photo | Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey)
By Mike Rosenstein NJ Advance Media for NJ.com February 4, 2019
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istory was made in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., when the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 13-3.
Yes, it was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. And yes, it was perhaps the most boring Super Bowl ever. But don’t tell that to Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who pulled in 10 receptions for 141 yards to become the first Jewish player to win Super Bowl MVP in league history. Here are some details, per the Jerusalem Post: Edelman, 32, is one of only a few Jewish players in the league, embracing that side of his identity over time. He has a Jewish father but was not raised in the religion, and through the Patriots front office often would defer on questions about his religion. ... Since then, he has shown his Jewish pride on a number of occasions. In a 2014 game, for instance, he wore a pin featuring the Is-
raeli flag. He has tweeted about Jewish holidays. He even went on a Birthright-style trip to Israel, and has written a children’s book that references modern-day Zionism founder Theodor Herzl. After the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in the fall that killed 11, he wore special cleats with Hebrew on them to honor the victims. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer tweeted congratulations to Edelman on Sunday night. Edelman’s performance in the Super Bowl capped an up-and-down season. He missed the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing substances policy. But he rebounded to finish the regular season as the Patriots' leading receiver with 850 yards over the final 12 games. Edelman will cap off the season with a trip to Walt Disney World on Monday, one day before the Patriots' Super Bowl parade in Boston. Below is the press release from NFL Com-
Purim Extravaganza at Congregation B’nai Israel
Wednesday, March 20th 6:00PM Family Megillah Reading & Costume Parade All Ages are encouraged to wear costumes!
Activities for Young Children 5:30 - 6:00 PM & 6:50 - 8:00 PM
Bounce House Slide Balloon Maker
Activities for Ages 8-12
6:50 PM - 8:00 PM
Rock Wall LED Corn Hole & More Fun Activities
Fun for Teens
6:50 PM - 8:00 PM
Karaoke Rock Wall Mocktails
Vashti’s Corner for Adults
6:50 PM - 9:00 PM
Live Music & Spirits
Hamantaschen · Ice Cream Bar · Refreshements & More
FREE for the whole community! 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08753 732-349-1244 · www.cbitr.org
www.ocjj.net
munications announcing Edelman as Super Bowl LIII MVP: New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player. Edelman had 10 receptions for 141 yards and added an eight-yard rush. He is the seventh wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP and the first since Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII. Edelman has at least five receptions in 13 consecutive postseason games, the longest streak in playoff history. His 115 career postseason receptions rank second in NFL history. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who had 151 career catches in the playoffs, ranks first all-time. The award is chosen by a panel of sixteen, comprised of members of the Pro Football Writers Association of America, selected members of the electronic broadcast media and by fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.
The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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Four Mitzvot of Purim By Sarah Rochel Hewitt, Jewish Treats by NJOP
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his year, Purim will be celebrated on Wednesday night-Thursday, March 20-21. Four mitzvot are associated with the holiday. Keriat Hamegillah – Megillah (Scroll) Reading of the Book of Esther – The Megillah is read twice on Purim, once at night and once during the day. In order to properly fulfill the mitzvah of Megillah, it is necessary to hear every word during the reading. For this reason it is imperative that people not speak during the Megillah reading.
Mishloach Manot/Shalach Manos – Sending Gifts – On Purim day, every Jew should give at least one Mishloach Manot gift containing at least two different types of readyto-eat food items. Matanot La'evyonim – Gifts to the Poor – Giving to the poor is a mitzvah all year round. However, the mitzvah to do so on Purim is in addition to the general mitzvah of tzedakah (charity). To properly fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot La'evyonim one must give to two poor individuals. Although one
S U N
may fulfill this mitzvah by giving a minimal amount of money to each person, the sages noted that the highest form of fulfilling this mitzvah is by giving enough money for a meal, or the equivalent in food. This mitzvah may be fulfilled by donating beforehand to an organization that will distribute the money or food on Purim day. Seudah – Festive Meal – One should partake in a festive meal on Purim day. The minimum to fulfill this mitzvah requires that one ritually wash one's hands (netillat yadayim), eat bread and then recite the Birkat Hamazon, the Grace after Meals. The Purim seudah is often associated with drinking. The Talmud says: "A person should drink on Purim up to the point where they cannot tell the difference between 'Blessed is Mordechai' and 'Cursed is Haman.'" (Megillah 7a and also in the Shulchan Aruch/ Code of Jewish Law). Generally, this is interpreted as drinking more than one usually does or enough to make one sleepy. While drinking on Purim is often seen as a mitzvah, risking one's life is never permitted. Whether host or guest, it is important to be responsible. Do not drink and drive.
M A R 10th
6:00pm
Beware of underage drinking. While Purim is a religious holiday, and underage alcohol consumption is allowed for religious occasions, adults are still responsible for minors. Please do not give young people any alcohol beyond the bare minimum of wine, if at all. (For other “Jewish Treats: Juicy Bits of Judaism, Daily” and many other Jewish resources visit www.jewishtreats.org and www.njop.org.)
Cantor Daniel Green Ramah Youth Scholarship Concert
Kol Halayla VOICE OF THE KNIGHT
Rutgers University’s Jewish A Cappella Singing Group
$18.00 in Advance $25.00 at the Door Students FREE! Be a Patron for $72.00 or a Sponsor for $144.00
For Reservations or More Information, Please Contact:
1488 Old Freehold Road Toms River, NJ 08753 732-349-1244 info@cbitr.org
12 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
What Would the World be Without Israel? Israeli society, culture, and values make valuable contributions in scholarship, science, technology, and business.
Newfound molecules may treat obesity, fatty liver disease – Hebrew University scientists use novel algorithm to identify 27 molecules with significant potential for pharmaceutical success: In a newly published study in Scientific Reports, a team from Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute for Drug Research reports its discovery of 27 new molecules that activate a protein called PPAR-delta, which has the potential to increase physical endurance and trim waistlines by getting muscle cells to burn more fat. These molecules therefore hold promise for the treatment of fatty liver disease and obesity, among other ailments. A new, award-winning algorithm developed in the lab of Prof. Amiram Goldblum sifted through a database of 1.56 million
New shark migration to Israel opens rare research window: Dozens of sharks have begun congregating off the coast of Hadera each winter. Israeli scientists are trying to find out why, and how to protect them. The rare confluence of marine biologists, marine engineers and an aggregation of sharks in shallow water, all in one place, enables the lab to monitor these sea predators without resorting to the usual method of fishing them out. Not much is known about Mediterranean dusky sharks, and sandbar sharks are an endangered species. Any information we can get is hel-
New social app is there for you when life gets challenging: The Wisdo app aims to connect people who share similar, often difficult experiences so that no one feels alone, choosing an experience to connect over with others on the Wisdo app. The app lets users select the experience they’d like to connect over. There are more than 100 options, including “coping with depression,” “heartbreak,” “being body positive” and “increasing happiness.” They then get to choose from a number of steps within that experience to find the exact stage that they’re at in order to join a group discussion on the topic or to begin a one-on-one chat with a “hel-
molecules and picked out 27 with strong therapeutic potential, as determined by biologists at the Novartis Genomic Institute in San Diego. It has been determined that 21 of the 27 molecules have the potential to reach pharmaceutical success, especially as a possible cure for fatty liver disease (also known as non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis), the leading cause of liver cancer in the Western world. Further evaluations are underway.
pful in preserving them. This amazing opportunity to educate people, using sharks as an umbrella species to protect other species that maybe aren’t so charismatic, and to connect people with the Mediterranean Sea, is the importance of conservation.
per,” a community member who’s been through a similar particular experience. Moderators who ensure that no harmful content is uploaded and that anything requiring involvement by authorities is dealt with offline closely supervise the community. Certain search words and keywords flag up to notify moderators.
www.ocjj.net
Human vs. monkey brains: Why do we have more mental disorders? Humans’ superior cognitive and adaptive abilities and their tendency to anxiety, depression and other mental diseases may be two sides of the same coin. Comparing human brains to monkey brains reveals that our more evolutionarily advanced brains may be more efficient but are also less robust, according to new research from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. The neural code in the “more evolved” pre-frontal cortex showed more efficiency than the amygdala, both in humans and monkeys. In addition, the neural code of both areas in the human
brain was more efficient than its monkey counterpart. However, the higher the efficiency of a particular neural code, the more it was prone to errors. Their findings may help to explain why disorders as ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD and autism are common in humans.
It is like a bandage but a very highly advanced bandage: It is for very serious wounds — second-degree burns, surgical wounds, large opened and partial deep wounds. Nanomedic developed the SpinCare device, a portable wound care system that creates an on-the-spot nano-fibrous layer for tissue repair and healing without any contact from the caregiver. The protective layer is applied from about 20 cm away from the wound, without touching the wound. It feels like a delicate wind on the wound. You apply it once and it remains on the wound for the healing process. It can take two to
three weeks, but the layer is there to protect the wound and to allow underneath healing of a new skin. The device is used in European and Israeli hospitals and is set for commercial market release later this year.
Yeast model provides hope of cure for metabolic disorders: This unicellular organism mimics pathology and symptoms of congenital diseases, Tel Aviv University researchers say. Most metabolic disorders affect infants, and there is no cure or effective treatment. A new study carried out by Israeli and Japanese researchers suggests that yeast, the world’s most basic eukaryotic unicellular organism, may hold the key to finding more therapies that are successful. The same yeast that serves as a basis for the bread we eat and the beer we drink now also serves as an instrumental model of metabolic disorders. The research, based on previous studies conducted by Gazit and his colleagues, revealed that when a gene responsible for producing a certain enzyme is impaired, toxic metabo-
lites accumulate in the body and cause serious damage. Genetically manipulating the yeast cells to produce a toxic accumulation of the metabolite adenine, devising the first in vivo yeast model of a congenital metabolic disease as a result. The innovative platform will allow scientists to screen thousands of drug-like small molecules to identify molecules that could lead to novel therapies, which can then be developed by pharmaceutical companies.
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13 Jews died in Pittsburgh and other fatal anti-Semitic attacks
2018 was Deadliest Year for Anti-Semitic Violence since 1994 – Israeli Report From Pittsburgh massacre to killings of French Holocaust survivor and US student, last year saw highest rates of lethal violence against Jews since AMIA bombing, report says By Times of Israel Staff, January 27, 2019
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he Diaspora Affairs Ministry on Sunday released a report on global anti-Semitism, showing a worldwide increase in attacks against Jews and Jewish targets last year, and the highest number of fatalities in anti-Semitic attacks around the world in 25 years. “The year 2018 saw record highs of anti-Semitism in the streets, online and in the political arena, around the world,” said Naftali Bennett, who serves as Diaspora affairs minister as well as education minister. “It is a year that saw the highest number of Jews murdered in anti-Semitic attacks since the 1990s.” In 2018, 13 Jews died in three fatal anti-Semitic attacks, the highest number since the 1994 terror attack on the Argentinian Jewish community AMIA building in Buenos Aires left 85 dead. In the worst attack this year, 11 Jewish worshipers were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue on October 27. The other incidents were the January 2018 killing of California student Blaze Bernstein, who was Jewish and gay, by a white supremacist, and the March murder of French Holocaust survivor Mireille Knoll. “The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs will continue to work to build bridges with Jews around the world, and to eradicate anti-Semitism through legal, diplomatic and public diplomacy channels,” Bennett said in a statement. “Especially this week, when the world marks International Holocaust Memorial Day, I call on governments around
A makeshift memorial stands outside the Tree of Life synagogue in the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Pittsburgh, on October 29, 2018 in which eleven Jews were killed while at Shabbat services. (AP/Matt Rourke)
the world to act: rid your societies of anti-Semitism and take a harsh stance against the hatred of Jews.”
On the positive side, the report touted the adoption by six more countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. The IHRA wording is looked at as an international standard for judging anti-Semitic expressions and acts. It has been ratified by Israel, Britain, Austria, Scotland, Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, the Republic of Macedonia, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Moldova. The increase last year in physical attacks against Jews worldwide came after a previous dip, but experts noted at the time that the lower incidence of violence was accompanied by a dramatic increase in harassment, especially in schools and on social media.
The increased levels of anti-Semitism were evident both on the streets and online, the report said. Some 70 percent of the attacks were anti-Israel in nature, peaking around two key developments: The US embassy move to Jerusalem in May and the Hamas-led “March of Return” riots that begain at the end of March at the border fence with Gaza, according to the report. The physical violence in 2018 was led by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, the ministry said. In Europe, reported anti-Semitic incidents rose by 69 percent in France and hit an all-time recorded high in the UK, where repeated incidents involving the opposition Labour Party have caused deep concerns in the Jewish community about its future in the country.
A London bus stop defaced with an unauthorized poster reading, ‘Israel is a racist endeavor,’ which a pro-Palestinian group put up in protest at the UK Labour Party’s adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, on September 6, 2018. (Twitter
A similar report on antisemitism last year by Tel Aviv University’s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry showed that European Jews feel increasingly threatened by anti-Semitism and, in some places, are even relocating within or beyond the borders of their countries to escape it.
Mireille Knoll, 85, a Holocaust survivor who was found murdered in her Paris apartment (Courtesy)
Last December a major European report found nearly 90 percent of European Jews feel that anti-Semitism has increased in their home countries over the past five years, and almost 30% say they have been harassed at least once in the past year.
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14 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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'In my heart I hold Jerusalem and Africa'
GW Hillel Student Infuses Jewish Ethics into His Rap Music By Elizabeth Mintz Hillel News, www.hillel.org January 10, 2019
“It felt really good to do that with the community,” he said. “It’s just been super encouraging as far as having a place to talk about certain music.”
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ome of Noah Shufutinsky’s earliest memories involve listening to Reggae every Sunday afternoon playing on a local radio station in San Diego, where he spent most of his childhood. Growing up, he remembers, his parents would play West Coast hip hop and rap around the house. Shufutinsky, a 19-year-old rapper, is majoring in Judaic studies at George Washington University. When not making new music, the sophomore works at Adas Israel Congregation, a Conservative synagogue in Cleveland Park. Performing under the name “Young Gravy,” Shufutinsky said his stage name comes from a nickname he had as a child. The “million-dollar question” for many of his listeners is where the name comes from. “At some point, people might know, but there’s a meaning behind it that I’m not going to reveal yet,” Shufutinsky said.
“Diaspora” is a pro-Israel rap, partly sung in Hebrew and English, that explores the Jewish people's connection to Israel and confronts the issue of anti-Semitism. He recorded a music video for the song during a trip to Israel in December, he said.
Photo by Donna Armstrong
Shufutinsky said George Washington University Hillel has been instrumental throughout his college experience because he often approaches staff and student leaders to discuss their experiences and ask their opinions on ideas for songs. He said he performed at a GW Hillel sponsored holiday party in early December, where he debuted a song, “Diaspora,” which he released January 4.
Temple Beth Or
200 Van Zile Road, Brick – 732-458-4700 community invited
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Before recording the song and its music video, Shufutinsky frequently rapped parts of the song for students and staff members at GW Hillel to garner feedback about the lyrics, which include powerful lines such as, "In my heart I hold Jerusalem and Africa" and, "I got blue and white in my veins, running through my heart." He said he also sent drafts of the song to staff members before performing the song for the first time. “It’s a song of perseverance,” Shufutinsky said. “It’s a song about how despite being Jewish, despite having all these hardships against us, we’re able to persevere and we should still be proud of who we are and where we come from.” Shufutinsky said he credits rappers such as Schoolboy Q and E-40 as artists who have influenced his own music. One of his favorite artists is Tupac because of his ability to tell stories that listeners can relate to, as well as Tupac’s ability to put himself into other people’s shoes. Shufutinsky released a six-song EP titled “ Ethnic” in October, which grapples with the intersections in his life, such as what it
means to be Black and Jewish in the United States. He said the EP came out of attacks against Black and Jewish communities that he sees on a regular basis and the rise of white supremacy. “I drew on that to tell my own story and provide a unique take for a lot of the songs on there with production, the types of beats I used and the way I approach different songs,” he said. The EP, which tells a story as the album progresses, features songs such as “Never Again” and “Stereotypes,” Shufutinsky said. “Never Again” explores a phrase he said he hears often when people discuss issues such as anti-Semitism and police brutality, but do not follow through with action that will prevent the issues from occurring again. Shufutinsky said “Stereotypes” is one of his most personal songs and his favorite one on the EP. It takes a satirical approach to address stereotypes of being Black and Jewish. In the song, Shufutinsky created a character who controls the weather, controls the banking system and robs people, he said. The end of the song is like a “breath of fresh air,” ending with, “It’s crazy cause all my stereotypes conflict, if I was all my stereotypes, I wouldn’t even exist.” When all of the stereotypes are put together, they sound so ridiculous that it makes it impossible for the character to exist, Shufutinsky said. “It was shocking to a lot of people, actually hearing all of this stuff at once and people who know me personally, hearing me say ‘Oh, I would be doing this if I was a stereotype,’” he said. “They can’t even fathom Noah as a criminal, it sounds ridiculous to them. I think it humanizes the person the stereotypes are put on.”
Purim Service, Reading of the Megillah – 6:30 PM Come at 6:00 PM for the Mincha Service on Ta’anit Esther before Purim
Magic Show with The Amazing V – at 7:30 PM (all ages invited) Refreshments with the show – Hamantaschen and more!
ALSO . . . Purim Day Megillah Reading – Thursday, March 21, 4:00-5:00 PM Read The Jewish Journal online, visit: www.ocjj.net
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What’s Nu? Community Calendar
These events are open to all, but it is a good idea to RSVP. Some may require reservations. For additional synagogue contact information, see page 28. PURIM – Wednesday evening-Thursday, March 20-21. Contact a local congregation for Purim services and festivities. Sunday, February 24 • Make Your Own Grogger and Pancake Breakfast; 10:00 AM; sponsored by the Men’s Club; $10/person, includes breakfast and grogger kit; Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell; 732719-3500 • The History of Jews in New Jersey; with Rabbi Dr. Robert Fierstien; 11:00 AM; lunch served; no charge; RSVP required; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; 732-458-4700 Wednesday, February 27 • The Book of Psalms; with Rabbi Dr. Robert Fierstien; 10:00-11:30 AM; also on March 6 and 27; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; no charge; 732458-4700 Friday, March 1 • Shabbat Across America Dinner and Service (in coordination with NJOP); Dinner at 6:00 PM; Learning Service at 7:30 PM (note new time); paid reservations for dinner required; $20/adult, $10/ child ages 13-18, free/child under 13, for salmon add $2/person, $40/family maximum; optional donations accepted with your reservation for MAZON: The Jewish Response to Hunger; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; 732-458-4700 • First Fridays Family Service; 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7:00 PM Shabbat Dinner; $10/adult, $5/child, free/ children under 3; RSVP required for the dinner; Congregation B’nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; 732349-1244 • Shabbat Across America Dinner and Service (in coordination with NJOP); Musical Shabbat Service at 6:00 PM,
Shabbat Dinner at 6:45 PM; RSVP required for the dinner by February 25; $20/ adult, $7/child ages 6-17, free/children under 6; Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell; 732-719-3500 Monday, March 4 • Hebrew Reading, Beyond the Basics – for those who know the Hebrew letters and vowels and want to practice and improve their reading; with Rabbi Robert Rubin; 7:00-8:30 PM; also on March 11 and 18; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; no charge; 732-458-4700 Tuesday, March 5 • Enriching Your Jewish Soul; with Rabbi William Gershon; 1:30-2:30 PM; also on March 12; Congregation B’nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; no charge; RSVP requested; 732-349-1244 Thursday, March 7 • Women’s Rosh Chodesh Program; with Cantor Ruth Katz Green; 12:00 Noon; light lunch served; no charge; RSVP required; Congregation B’nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; 732349-1244 Sunday, March 10 • Judaism and Humor: Have I Got a Match for You…; with Rabbi Moshe Gourarie; 11:00 AM; lunch served; no charge; RSVP required by March 4; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; 732-458-4700 Wednesday, March 13 • Wisdom of the Ages … Wisdom of the Sages – Lessons from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Ancestors); with Rabbi Robert Rubin; 10:00-11:30 AM; also on March 20; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; no charge; 732-458-4700
Thursday, March 14 • Torah Power; with Hazzan Steven Walvick; 1:30-2:30 PM; also on March 28; Congregation B’nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; no charge; RSVP requested; 732-349-1244 Saturday, March 16 • Special Family Shabbat Service and Kid-friendly Kiddush; 11:00 AM; Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell; 732-719-3500 Sunday, March 17 • Hamantaschen Baking; 10:00 AM; Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island, 2411 Long Beach Boulevard, Spray Beach; 609-492-4090 Wednesday, March 20 • Pizza, Pasta and Purim with Inventive Megillah Reading; Dinner first at 6:00 PM; $10/person, $20/family for dinner; come in costume and get a prize; RSVP required; Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island, 2411 Long Beach Boulevard, Spray Beach; 609-492-4090 • Purim Service and Megillah Reading and Make Your Ow Sundae; 6:15 PM; no charge; Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell; 732-7193500 • Purim Service, Megillah Reading and Live Magician; Service at 6:30 PM, Magic Show for all ages with The Amazing V at 7:30 PM; no charge; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; no charge; 732458-4700
Sunday, March 24 • Purim Shpiel and Carnival; 11:30 AM; Beth Am Shalom, 1235 State Highway 70, Lakewood; 732-363-2800 • Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event; 2:00 PM; cosponsored by Temple Beth Or and other congregations represented in the Brick Clergy Association; being held at St. Dominic’s Parish Roman Catholic Church, 250 Old Squan Road, Brick; open to the entire community, including those outside of Brick; optional to bring non-perishable food to be given to a local food pantry; no charge; TBO: 732-458-4700 Wednesday, March 27 • Women’s Paint Party; 7:00 PM; sponsored by the Sisterhood; $25 for non-Sisterhood members; RSVP required by March 20; Congregation B’nai Israel, 1488 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; 732-3491244 For inclusion in this Jewish Journal Community Calendar and in the What’s Nu? eNewsletter, email the basic information to both the Jewish Federation Editorial Committee at jfoceditor@ocjf.org and to Beth Josephs at beth@ocjf.org. To receive the bi-weekly What’s Nu? eNewsletter as an email, send your request with your email address to Beth Josephs at beth@ocjf.org.
Thursday, March 21 • Purim Service and Megillah Reading; 8:30 AM: Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell; 732-7193500 • Purim Megillah Reading; 4:00 PM; Temple Beth Or, 200 Van Zile Road, Brick; no charge; 732-458-4700
Jewish Federation of Ocean County is now on Facebook Like us at: www.facebook.com/jewishocean
We are looking for drivers with a CDL, Class A or Class B license preferably with a dairy industry background.
Drivers will deliver products to vary locations such as schools, hospitals, stores etc. Job opening is for New Jersey. The area we service are NJ, NY, and CT. All routes begin and end from the same HUB location, in NJ. Endorsements, No Major violations on license, no major accidents, injuries, or fatalities. Must be able to work Saturdays, operate a hand truck, able to lift 30-60lb cases filled with product. At least 21yrs old. Good attendance and work ethic required. Please visit our website: http://www.creamoland.com/employment.phpto apply.
16 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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The Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County presents
Broadway Actor and Singer
William Michals Thursday, May 16, 2019 Ramada Inn, Toms River 6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm
Entertainment
General Admission - $60/person Patron Sponsor - $360
Includes 2 tickets Your name or business listed in the March, April & May Jewish Journal mailed to over 3,000 homes Your name or business listed on The Place to Be page of the Federation website, Facebook, and event promotional emails to 3,000 recipients Your name or business listed on the evening's posters Price after April 8, 2019: $65/person. All tickets will be held at the door the evening of the event. Dietary laws observed.
All proceeds from this event will support essential services to Ocean County senior citizens and Holocaust survivors. With your support, we will be able to expand our services to this aging and vulnerable population.
The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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We're Going Green! Individual invitations will not be mailed this year. Please purchase your tickets using this order form, by visiting jewishoceancounty.org, or by calling the Federation office at 732-363-0530.
Purchase Your Tickets Today – Seating Is Limited – Open Seating At This Year's Event General Admission – $60/person • Patron Sponsor – $360 Please fill out the following information:
# of General Admission Tickets
Name
Credit Card Number
Address
CVV
Signature
Phone
# of Patron Sponsorship
Expiration Date
My check in the amount of $
is enclosed.
(please make checks payable to: Jewish Federation of Ocean County)
Send form to: Jewish Federation of Ocean County · 1235A Route 70 · Lakewood, NJ 08701
18 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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Many thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of
Jay and Carole Brichke Dennis and Ellyn Lyons
Newman Associates Dennis and Shelly Newman
Dr. Brian and Ruth Kerr
Lynn Berkowitz Francine Gimpel County Line Construction – The Kitay Family Annabel and Manny Lindenbaum Drs. Jeffrey and Beatrice Lipper Rabbi Robert and Susan Rubin Fred and Arlene Schragger Shore Community Bank Toms River Fitness & Aquatic Center
The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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Up to a Third of Israeli Nuptials Held Outside State Religious Bodies – report New Family advocacy group finds as many as 29,000 couples may have registered civil marriages abroad or held ceremonies not recognized by authorities in the Jewish state By Times of Israel Staff; February 5, 2019
and over 3,000 involved minors married in illegal ceremonies.
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p to a third of Israeli couples who got married last year may have done so outside the purview of official state religious bodies, according to a report published Tuesday to coincide with national Family Day. The figures from the New Family organization, which advocates equal family rights for all, showed that between at least 8,000 to 20,000 couples were joined in matrimony outside of state institutions, and the number may be as high as 29,000. Israel does not have civil marriage, meaning couples must either wed through the state’s religious authorities or get married abroad. For Jews wishing to get married in Israel, they must go through the Chief Rabbinate, which is administered under stringent ultra-Orthodox rules. According to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics, around 50,000 Israeli couples are married every year through the state’s religious authorities — Jewish, Muslim and Christian.
Illustrative: A Jewish couple getting married. (Justin Oberman/Creative Commons)
In 2016, the latest year the CBS published data, 52,000 such marriages were held of which about 38,000 were Jewish marriages conducted through the Chief Rabbinate. However, New Family surmised that in 2018 as many as 29,000 additional weddings or other commitment ceremonies may have been conducted outside the state’s religious authorities: Around 8,000 couples were married in a civil ceremony abroad; 7,000 held a religious ceremony not recognized by the Rabbinate; 5,000 others held non-religious ceremonies in Israel; 5,000 obtained a domestic union certificate; around 400 couple married in sects not recognized by the state
The organization noted that the state does not carry data on weddings conducted outside recognized institutions, and that its report was based on cross-referenced information from various state sources. Though it was regarded as an assessment, New Family founder Irit Rosenblum said the organization had worked for a year on the report and “we did our best to be as accurate as possible.” The data was obtained by analyzing figures published by the CBS, the national social security agency, the Foreign Ministry, courts, the Interior Ministry and the Immigration Authority. Rosenblum told The Times of Israel that there is likely overlap between some of the groups but said that even so, the figures indicated that many thousands of Israelis couples are using alternative methods for union. The report claimed that around 400,000 Israelis, or around 4 percent of the population, are unable to be married through traditional institutions due to religious restrictions, ci-
Illustrative image of gold rings, February 13, 2013. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
tizenship issues and sexual identity. Among them are 100,000, whose spouse is of a different religion, and 80,000 who are the same sex as their partner. “Hundreds of thousands of spouses who do not conform to the definition of the family according to the state suffer from discrimination and the violation of their basic rights: from the lack of recognition of personal marriage ceremonies adapted to the couple’s worldview, to registering the parents in the children’s ID card, and ending with preventing fertility assistance,” Rosenblum said in a statement accompanying the report.
20 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
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Alfred Nakache, Auschwitz Survivor and Olympian, To Be Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame by Meg Keller-Marvin, February 11, 2019 www.swimmingworldmagazine.com
A
lfred Nakache, born November 18, 1915 in Constantine, French Algeria, was a French Olympic swimmer and water polo player. He is one of only two Jewish Olympians to compete in the Olympic Games after surviving a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Alfred Nakache will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019 during the Honoree Induction ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 18, 2019. The Nakache family arrived in French Algeria from Iraq in the late 19th century to settle in the beautiful valley overlooking the Rhummel River. Alfred was the second of 11 children, and at about the age of 10, he learned to overcome his fear of water and began to swim. In fact, Alfred (nicknamed Artem) became a world-class swimmer! Initially a freestyle specialist, this athlete with “shoulders lined with hard and protruding muscles” had a “gymnast’s arms and legs rather than a swimmer’s.” In 1931, Nakache won the Christmas Cup of Constantine Challenge. He was a member of the Nautical Youth Club of Constantine until 1934, and after a few local competitions, he finally realized that he needed to follow the lane lines on the bottom of the pool, and it was then that he began to improve dramatically. In 1933, he began taking part in the French Championships and moved to Paris at the end of the summer. At the French Championships in 1934, he placed second in the 100 meter freestyle to his idol, French swimmer Jean Taris, who won the silver medal in the 400 free at the 1932 Olympic Games—a tenth of a second behind American Buster Crabbe (4:48.5 to 4:48.4).
children in their death camp convoy, only 47 survived. Toward the end of the War, Alfred was moved to Buchenwald, and in 1945 was freed by the Allies. Nakache was one of the 47 survivors of this camp, weighing only 42 kg (92 pounds) at the time. Four months later, he returned to Toulouse to live with Alex Jany and his family, where he started training under Coach Alban Minville. Less than a year after the liberation of Buchenwald, he was part of the French team in 1946 that set a world record in the 3×100 relay (3 strokes). That same year, he also became the French national champion in the 200 breast and 4×200 freestyle relay.
Photos Courtesy: Alfred Nakache’s Family
the second annual Maccabiah Games, where he won the silver medal in the 100 freestyle crawl. After some hesitation, the Popular Front government decided to send a delegation to Nazi Germany for the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Nakache finished fourth in the 4×200 freestyle relay with teammates Christian Talli, René Cavalero and Jean Taris, missing the bronze medal by six seconds. They may not have made the podium, but they had the pleasure of beating the Germans (who finished fifth) in their home country, 9:18.2 to 9:19.0. Japan won the event that year with a world record of 8:51.5. Upon his return home, due to the conflict with Germany, he was forced to interrupt his studies at the Normal School of Physical Education and flee Paris with his wife, Paule, and daughter, Annie. They become refugees in Toulouse during the German occupation. As a Jew from Algeria, Albert Nakache lost his French nationality. Between 1936 and 1944, Nakache won the French 100 freestyle six times, the 200 free four times, the 200 breaststroke four times and an assortment of other French swimming titles, many of them setting national records.
However, Nakache knew he could not compete in the upcoming European Championships since he was not yet eligible as a Frenchman – “having not been born on French soil.” He was not yet licensed into a French club, but he finally became a licensed member of The Racing Club de France from 1934-36. During this time, he also was a pupil at the prestigious Lycée Janson-de-Sailly in Paris.
By 1941, Nakache was at the height of his career. Swimming for the prestigious TOEC Dauphins swim club in Toulouse, he broke records in France as well as all over Europe. On July 6 of that year—in the seawater pool of the Catalans in Marseilles—Nakache broke the world record in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:36.8, bettering American Jack Kasley’s record of 2:37.2, set in 1936. Nakache’s record lasted for five years and was finally broken by Joe Verdeur of the USA (2:35.6, 1946).
By 1935, Nakache became the French champion in the 100 free, although he preferred swimming the breaststroke. That same year, Alfred was one of 1,000 Jewish athletes who traveled to Tel Aviv to attend
During this time, Nakache began approaching the Jewish resistance networks, such as the Armée Juive (Jewish Army), mainly by helping with the physical preparation of the recruits.
Anti-Semitic persecution intensified all over Europe, and on August 26, 1942, nearly 1,000 Jews were rounded up in Toulouse. The media was split in their support for Nakache. While some welcomed his swimming and the records broken by Nakache, others called for his exclusion from national competitions because of his “Jewishness.” The French Swimming Federation finally gave in to the pressure from the Germans, and banned Alfred Nakache from swimming in the 1943 national championships. At the time of his records, the Nazis occupied France, and he fought against their claim that “the Jew Nakache…polluted the waters of French pools!” Following the defeat of the German champion and 1936 Olympic swimmer, Joachim Balke, en route to his world breaststroke record in 1941… and soon after setting another European swimming record, a French journalist wrote: “The Jew Nakache should not be allowed to hold any European titles because he is Jewish.” All sorts of subterfuges were employed to keep Nakache from competing in German-occupied France, but other French swimmers withdrew from national competitions in support of their fellow athlete. Despite their support, when the deportation of the Jews began, Nakache was betrayed by a friend, and he – along with his wife and daughter – were arrested (November 1943) and deported to Auschwitz in January 1944. His wife and 2-year old daughter were murdered by the Nazis upon their arrival in Germany. Of the 1,368 men, women and
Nakache later became part of the winning French national 4×200 freestyle relay and first post-war Summer Olympics team in London in 1948. As far as is known, he was one of only two Jewish athletes who competed in the Olympics after surviving the Holocaust. Not only that, but he was also a two-sport Olympic athlete, competing in both swimming and water polo at the London Games. Nakache swam the 200 breast, placing 12th in prelims (2:50.4) to reach the semifinals, where he finished 16th (2:59.1). After swimming concluded, he was a member of the French water polo team that finished in sixth place overall. Nakache retired from swimming in the 1950s and devoted himself to his gym and teaching. He also remarried a young girl, Mary, from Sete. Nakache helped train ISHOF Honoree and French swimmer, Jean Boiteux. In 1983, in a sad irony of fate, Nakache drowned, suffering a heart attack during his daily swim in the port of Cerberus. Nakache was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He was the subject of a French documentary in 2001, entitled Alfred Nakache, the Swimmer of Auschwitz. Many pools in France bear his name, such as the City of Toulouse main swimming pool, named in 1944, when he was in the concentration camp in Auschwitz and believed to be dead.
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Guest Speaker:
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President and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Lessons from the Past: From the Shoah to the Modern Refugee Crisis
Candle Lighting
Six Candles Will Be Lit by Six Holocaust Survivors in Memory of Those Who Perished in the Holocaust
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Support Our HolocaustSurvivors and Seniors Please consider contributing to: • Friends of JFCS • The Holocaust Survivors’ Special Fund • The Seniors Lunch Program Special Fund It is easy to donate a little each month, to make a big impact! • Go online to www.jewishoceancounty. org. • Send a check, use your credit card, transfer stock. • Call the office and talk with our staff. • Bring in your Tzedakah box. We will count it for you. • Consider making a monthly gift to support these important programs.
TRIBUTES (January 17 – February 13, 2019)
In Memory of: Sol Bernstein by Larry and Beth Josephs Fred Birnbaum by Ann Glick Fred Birnbaum by Max and Barbara Schloff Ellen Carol Brain by Sandra and Michael Mantel Dr. Robert Krantz by Harriet Selinger Leo Ross by Frada and Irwin Roseff Uziel Sason by Annabel and Manny Lindenbaum
In Honor of Drew Staffenberg’s retirement by: Barbara Cohen Paula Hait Jarrod and Rachael Kaufman Jorge Rod
Thank you to new G.E.M. (Give Every Month) Members: Phyllis Silverman Anise Singer
Jewish Federation of Ocean County 1235A Route 70, Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-363-0530
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JEWISH FAMILY AND
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CAN’T SLEEP? DO NOTHING! By Yehudah Neuman, MSW Intern Jewish Family & Children’s Service
ness and worsening depression (Harvard Health Blog).
ne sheep, two sheep… 99 sheep, wait – was that 98? Sound familiar? More than thirty percent of adults struggle with insomnia. Beside for being so frustrating, it is also no good for your health. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and other health complications. It has also been linked to poor brain function, decision making and depression (National Institute of Health).
Using the above concepts, Dr. Hayes suggests three ways to improve your psychological flexibility: 1. If you can’t sleep, just rest. By making resting your goal, you are respectfully declining your mind’s invitation to problem solve, thereby allowing your body to naturally fall asleep. 2. Is worry keeping you awake? Try this. Imagine that your worrisome thoughts are written on leaves and floating down a river. They come into your mind, they go out. Notice them come and go without changing them. That’s not your job now. 3. Accept your thoughts and feelings towards insomnia as human and imperfect as we all are (www.stevenchayes.com).
O
So, if counting sheep doesn’t work, what should you do? The first thing you can try is to limit external stimuli. If you just did something that tells your body to wake up, chances are you won’t fall asleep right away. This includes avoiding caffeine four to five hours before bedtime. Technology is another issue. The light from cellphones and computers signals to the brain that it is daytime. This diminishes your body’s melatonin production, an important ingredient in making you feel sleepy (National Sleep Foundation).
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For many people, however, the main issue is internal stimuli – namely the brain. Even if you set up the ideal sleep environment, if your mind is on overdrive, you are going to stay up. Okay, so where is the off button? Unfortunately, there is none. Even when we sleep, our minds continue to run. So, what can we do? Dr. Steven Hayes, PhD suggests to perhaps do nothing. You see, any mental activity you engage in, including telling yourself not to think, is a mental exercise. Like any exercise, it will wake you up. Instead, he suggests practicing psychological flexibility. Practically speaking, this means that you allow thoughts to come and go as they please. The one rule is to refrain from problem solving. For example, tell yourself that this might be an issue on my mind, but I am absolved from solving it right now. So, let your mind wander. It’s okay if your mind goes places. Just remember that you are deciding to not act upon your thoughts now. This concept is derived from Dr. Hayes’ popular Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is built upon Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Interestingly, the American College of Physicians urges doctors to prescribe therapeutic interventions over medicinal ones. The ACP reports that this is safer than sleep medications which can have side effects such as excessive sleepi-
Some of these ideas may seem strange or counterintuitive, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try to do nothing.
Keeping the Promise Are you caring for an older adult? Learn to manage the stress
Get practical information. Find new community resources. Call Jewish Family & Children’s Service 732.363.8010 for additional information Rita Sason, LCSW
The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
CHILDREN'S SERVICE
...making a difference
Listening Skills for the Workplace and the Home By Chava Lowy, Guest Writer Jewish Family & Children’s Service
H
ave you ever been in the midst of conversation with someone only to realize that your recipient is engrossed in his or her own thoughts? Do you wonder if your words have been heard and whether you should continue speaking? This uncomfortable scenario is unfortunately very common. It takes place because many people are self-focused and don’t have the necessary skills for effective communication. Researchers at the University of Colorado found that when people are in conflict with one another they are often busy formulating their response to what’s being said. They assume that they’ve heard their opponent’s rationale more than enough times, so instead of paying attention to what’s being said they focus on trying to win the argument. In today’s fast-paced world of non-verbal communication where it is becoming increasingly rare to speak with a live person in telecommunications, the value of active listening is immeasurable. We spend our entire day engaged in the process of receiving and giving information. Whether at home, at the workplace, or an educational setting, learning how to listen effectively can change an ordinary conversation into a discussion where the recipient feels heard and validated. Active listening is a technique where the listener makes a conscious effort to hear not only the words of the individual who is speaking, but more importantly, the underlying message that the speaker is trying to convey. Here are some tips that you can use to become an active listener: 1. Paying Attention: Give your undivided attention to the speaker and do not allow yourself to get bored or distracted by anything. Losing your focus contributes to a lack of listening and understanding which is antithical to what you are trying to achieve. The art of staying focused can be challenging, however, when you have a different agenda that you want discussed, if there is a more interesting conversation going on nearby, or if you think the topic is trivial or completely irrelevant.
2. Show that you are Engaged: Acknowledge what the other person is saying by saying “Uh huh” or nodding your head during the conversation. Make sure your posture is open and maintain eye contact. You can use facial expressions and smile to encourage the speaker. These gestures do not indicate that you agree with the matter being discussed. You are merely providing a non-judgmental forum for the speaker to express opinions. Asking a clarifying question occasionally shows interest and lets the other person know that you understand what he or she has said. 3. Provide Feedback: Our own biases often change what we hear from what is being said. It’s important to reflect back and summarize the main points. Reflection is basically restating or paraphrasing what the speaker has just said, such as “It sounds like you’re saying” or “What I’m hearing is.” Asking questions like “What do you mean when you say?” or “is this what you mean?” ensures that you get the account from the speaker’s perspective. 4. Suspend Judgment: Allow the speaker to finish speaking before asking questions. Give the other person time to explore his or her thoughts and feelings. Pauses and short periods of silence should be respected. Remain neutral and don’t interrupt with other points of view since it frustrates the speaker and limits complete understanding of the subject. 5. Appropriate Responses: Your goal is to gain understanding and perspective. Be truthful, candid, and open and never attack the speaker or put him or her down. Remember to treat others the way you think they would want to be treated and assert your opinions carefully and respectfully. Becoming an active listener requires determination and a commitment of patience and concentration on your part. By implementing the above strategies, you will change more than your day to day communications; you will improve your productivity in the workplace and develop better relationships.
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Speakers Bureau Jewish Grandparenting Long Distance Grandparenting Two Faiths/One Family The Changing Face of the Jewish Family Marriage after Retirement “Love Conquers All” and Other Myths about Marriage Arguing and Making Up Domestic Violence/Emotional Abuse Stress and the Caregiver Are the Golden Years Golden? When Adult Children Return Your Special Needs Child Second Time Around Being Jewish in a Non-Jewish World What’s the Matter with Kids Today Handling Bias, Past and Present The Bills of Rights-Alive and Well The Jewish Family & Children’s Service speakers include: clinical social workers, retired educators, attorneys and business advisors. Speakers are available to come to your meeting. For more information contact Rita at 732-363-8010 or jfcs@ocjf.org
28 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
SYNAGOGUES
CHABAD
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CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF JACKSON 645 Cross Street Lakewood, NJ 08701 Rabbi Shmuel Naparstek 732-523-5112 Email: info@chabadofjackson.com www.ChabadofJackson.com
CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL 590 Madison Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 Rabbi Shmuel Tendler 732-364-2230 Chazan Zelig Freilich
CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF TOMS RIVER 2001 Church Road Toms River, NJ 08753 Rabbi Moshe Gourarie 732-349-4199 Email: rabbi@chabadtomsriver.com www.chabadtomsriver.com
CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATION AHAVAT OLAM 106 Windeler Road Howell, NJ 07731 Rabbi Cantor David Amar Rabbi Emeritus Michael Klein 732-719-3500 email: office@cao-nj.org www.cao-nj.org CONGREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL 1488 Old Freehold Road Toms River, NJ 08753 Rabbi William Gershon Hazzan Steven Walvick 732-349-1244 Email: info@cbitr.org www.cbitr.org TEMPLE BETH OR 200 Van Zile Road Brick, NJ 08724 Rabbi Robert B. Rubin Rabbi Emeritus Dr. Robert E. Fierstien 732-458-4700 Email: templebethorbrick@gmail.com www.templebethorbrick.org CONGREGATION DOV “V” SCHMUEL 1143 West County Road Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-367-1999
CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL 401 Park Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701 Rabbi Baruch Ber Yoffe 732-367-3116
REFORM
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BETH AM SHALOM 1235 State Highway 70 Lakewood, NJ 08701 Rabbi Stephen D. Gold Cantor Arlyne Unger 732-363-2800 Email: office@bethamshalom.org www.bethamshalom.org CONGREGATION SHA'AREY HA-YAM 333 N. Main Street (Route 9) Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Rabbi Joshua Goldstein Helen Cocuzza, President 609-978-8653 Email: rabjogo@aol.com www.reformjewishcommunity.org
Please consider contributing to: • Friends of JFCS • The Holocaust Survivors’ Special Fund • The Seniors Lunch Program Special Fund It is easy to donate a little each month, to make a big impact! • Go online to www. jewishoceancounty.org.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the light of Shabbat.
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ROSALIE'S REEL REVIEW One Night with the King
2006 Available: Amazon, Ocean County Library (cameos by Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif )
By Rosalie Donadio (Congregation Sha’arey Ha-Yam) In honor of the holiday of Purim … The film is set in Susa, Persia (modern-day Iran). King Xerxes (the “villain” of the Spartans in the film 300 … it is all how you view history) holds a great feast for all the people to attend. Hadassah, an orphan who has been raised by her uncle Mordechai, a royal scribe. Xerxes holds a feast before he sets off to war, commanding Queen Vashti’s attendance; she refuses and because of this, King Xerxes is advised to banish her and select a worthier queen. Young, beautiful, virginal women are gathered for Xerxes to select for his Queen. Obeying the request of her foster-father, Hadassah is renamed Esther (after the Babylonian goddess Ishtar). She is brought to the palace and adorned with cosmetics, perfumes and wardrobe. Hegai, the king’s royal eunuch, takes notice of her quick wit, inte-
lligence, and integrity and she becomes his favorite. Esther may only go to the King if summoned by name but during her preparations, the Eunuch Hegai discovers Esther can read and is enchanted by her reading and bravery. Late into the night, he brings her to King Xerxes to read to him where she selects the scroll of the love story of Jacob and Rachel. Xerxes, amused and intrigued, dismisses her to attend to matters of the State, saying she would read to him again. In Esther's turn for her “one night with the king,” she only wears what Hegai advises, winning the king's favor by revealing her heart to him and is chosen, becoming his queen. Simultaneously, Haman the Agagite (the evil villain of this Megillah whom we salaciously booed as children) is promoted as the highest-ranking official. He commands
all the king’s servants at the royal gate to kneel before him; however, Mordecai refuses, declaring he will only kneel before God and the king. He announces himself before Haman to be a son of Abraham, a Jew. Haman, filled with vengeance and hatred, seeks to destroy Mordecai as well as all Jews. In discovering the plot, Esther breaks protocol by going before the king unsummoned, risking her life to plead for her people. Xerxes spares her life out of his love for her whereupon she invites the king and Haman to a banquet, reveals her nationality and Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. Overwhelmed by her revelation, the King leaves the banquet but quickly returns to view Haman’s vicious assault. In his fury, Xerxes commands Haman be hanged on the gallows he had erected to vengefully hang Mordecai. After Haman is taken away, Esther asks, "What made you come back?”
The King responds with, "I saw the stars," the reflection of the many Stars of David illuminated by her mother’s necklace which she had given the King as her most precious possession. King Xerxes kisses Esther, with the camera pulling away from the small temple. The ending shows Mordecai being made a Prince of Persia and issuing a royal decree in his own name, with flashbacks of Esther being made Queen and the crowd of Jews cheering in the streets. The last scenes show the small temple and Mordecai saying, "Thus dictated, I order this decree sent out under the great seal of Mordecai, Prince of Persia, a Jew."
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The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
www.ocjj.net 31
32 The Jewish Journal - March 2019 / Adar I - Adar II 5779
www.ocjj.net