NATIONAL Major funding boost for Birthright from Israeli gov’t ups ante for philanthropists ISRAEL After fire, what types of trees are best suited for Israel? CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE Big Brothers/Big Sisters 100th Anniversary Celebration DINING OUT Izzy’s—where corned beef is king It’s never too early to start a Jewish education. Rockwern Academy announces the opening of a new pre- school class for toddlers. This program is geared toward toddlers, ages 18 months and up, and will begin Jan. 31, 2011. Classes will be held in spacious, well-equipped rooms within Rockwern’s preschool wing on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:15–11:15 a.m. Experienced educators, Traci Dickey and Brett Stern will be co-teaching the class. Activities include circle time, stories, introduction to Hebrew language, music, move- ment, crafts and playtime that will encourage the develop- ment of social, emotional and cognitive skills. It’s a great way to get ready for Rockwern Academy’s Preschool 2 class next fall! For the 2011-2012 school year, Rockwern is offering a two-day-per-week toddler class. This class will begin in August and be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for chil- dren who will be 18 months by Sept. 30, 2011. Rockwern is enrolling now for all grades. Call the direc- tor of Admissions, Gail Sperling, for more information. Rockwern offers new toddler class The American Israelite Online—Makor—The Source/Cincinnati, Cincinnati Jewish News Online Set to launch on Jan. 28, The American Israelite Online will offer free, easy access to Cincinnati’s Jewish community news and national and international news stories on a daily basis. It will be easier than ever to spread the word about exciting personal announcements online and in print. Social announce- ments include births, bar and bat mitzvahs, engagements, wed- dings, anniversaries, birthdays, job promotions, honors and awards. Readers have always been able to submit their announcements to the paper for free, and now the news will be online and in our weekly print edition. Readers will have paper The American Israelite’s new website launches Jan. 28 At noon on Thursday, Feb. 3, Isaac M. Wise Temple offers a class during lunchtime titled, “Biblical Models of Leadership: Deborah.” While examining various biblical personalities, it becomes apparent that the characters embody different types of leader- ship. Four figures from the Bible – Moses, Joshua, Deborah, and Solomon – will be the focus of this year’s Lunch and Learn and Sunday Series. The biblical text and commentaries will be studied to analyze their leadership styles, methods, and efficacy. The classes will also explore what can be learned and taken from each biblical model so that partici- pants can each be more effective leaders in their own realms. This session will focus on lessons from Deborah. The sessions will be held at the offices of Keating Muething & Klekamp from noon to 1 p.m. Participants who are interested in the topics but cannot attend during a Thursday session are able to take any of the classes on Sunday mornings at Wise Temple. Wise hosts Lunch and Learn, Feb. 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 10 PAGE 11 PAGE 14 WEBSITE on page 19 WISE on page 19 By Sheila Wilensky Arizona Jewish Post PHOENIX (Arizona Jewish Post) — Following the shooting that critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and left six dead, the Tucson Jewish community has come together to pray for Giffords and the other victims and offer their support. Giffords, who is Jewish, was among 14 wounded in the shooting rampage in front of a Tucson supermarket last Saturday morning. Jared Lee Loughner was arrested for the shooting and has already appeared in a Phoenix courtroom. Among those killed were U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, 63; Christina-Taylor Green, 9; Giffords constituent services director Tucson Jewish community anguished over Giffords shooting By Ron Kampeas Jewish Telegraphic Agency WASHINGTON (JTA) — The post- shooting debate over political civility is cool- ing down, but passions are still raging over Sarah Palin’s claim that critics were guilty of perpetuating a “blood libel” against her. Palin’s initial use of the term, in a Jan. 12 video message, drew sharp rebukes from lib- eral, Jewish groups and even some conserva- tives. Since then, however, several Jewish notables, including Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and former New York Mayor Ed Koch have defended Palin’s use of the term. Palin weighed in again Monday during an interview on Fox News — her first since the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) that also left six dead and another 12 wounded. Palin defended her use of the term “blood libel” and said she Debate rages on over Palin’s ‘blood libel’ claim PALIN on page 20 TUSCON on page 20 THURSDAY , JANUARY 20, 2011 15 SHEVAT, 5771 CINCINNATI, OHIO LIGHT CANDLES AT 5:26 SHABBAT ENDS 6:25 VOL. 157 • NO. 26 SINGLE ISSUE PRICE: $2.00 Courtesy of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, holds his critically wounded wife’s hand at the University Medical Center in Tucson the day after she was shot in a shopping mall in that Arizona city, Jan. 9, 2011. Courtesy of JTA Sarah Palin’s video message after the Tucson shooting, released Jan. 12, 2011, included a reference to herself as a victim of a blood libel.
Transcript
NATIONALMajor funding boost forBirthright from Israeli gov’tups ante for philanthropists
ISRAELAfter fire, what types of treesare best suited for Israel?
It’s never too early to start a Jewish education.Rockwern Academy announces the opening of a new pre-school class for toddlers. This program is geared towardtoddlers, ages 18 months and up, and will begin Jan. 31,2011. Classes will be held in spacious, well-equippedrooms within Rockwern’s preschool wing on Mondays andWednesdays from 8:15–11:15 a.m.
Experienced educators, Traci Dickey and Brett Sternwill be co-teaching the class. Activities include circle time,stories, introduction to Hebrew language, music, move-ment, crafts and playtime that will encourage the develop-ment of social, emotional and cognitive skills. It’s a greatway to get ready for Rockwern Academy’s Preschool 2class next fall!
For the 2011-2012 school year, Rockwern is offering atwo-day-per-week toddler class. This class will begin inAugust and be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for chil-dren who will be 18 months by Sept. 30, 2011.
Rockwern is enrolling now for all grades. Call the direc-tor of Admissions, Gail Sperling, for more information.
Rockwern offersnew toddler class
The American Israelite Online—Makor—TheSource/Cincinnati, Cincinnati Jewish News Online
Set to launch on Jan. 28, The American Israelite Online willoffer free, easy access to Cincinnati’s Jewish community newsand national and international news stories on a daily basis.
It will be easier than ever to spread the word about excitingpersonal announcements online and in print. Social announce-ments include births, bar and bat mitzvahs, engagements, wed-dings, anniversaries, birthdays, job promotions, honors andawards. Readers have always been able to submit theirannouncements to the paper for free, and now the news will beonline and in our weekly print edition. Readers will have paper
The AmericanIsraelite’s newwebsite launchesJan. 28
At noon on Thursday, Feb. 3, Isaac M. Wise Temple offersa class during lunchtime titled, “Biblical Models ofLeadership: Deborah.”
While examining various biblical personalities, it becomesapparent that the characters embody different types of leader-ship. Four figures from the Bible – Moses, Joshua, Deborah,and Solomon – will be the focus of this year’s Lunch andLearn and Sunday Series. The biblical text and commentarieswill be studied to analyze their leadership styles, methods,and efficacy. The classes will also explore what can belearned and taken from each biblical model so that partici-pants can each be more effective leaders in their own realms.This session will focus on lessons from Deborah.
The sessions will be held at the offices of KeatingMuething & Klekamp from noon to 1 p.m.
Participants who are interested in the topics but cannotattend during a Thursday session are able to take any of theclasses on Sunday mornings at Wise Temple.
Wise hosts Lunchand Learn, Feb. 3
PAGE 6 PAGE 10 PAGE 11 PAGE 14
WEBSITE on page 19 WISE on page 19
By Sheila WilenskyArizona Jewish Post
PHOENIX (Arizona Jewish Post) —Following the shooting that criticallyinjured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and left sixdead, the Tucson Jewish community hascome together to pray for Giffords and theother victims and offer their support.
Giffords, who is Jewish, was among 14wounded in the shooting rampage in frontof a Tucson supermarket last Saturdaymorning. Jared Lee Loughner was arrestedfor the shooting and has already appearedin a Phoenix courtroom.
Among those killed were U.S. DistrictJudge John M. Roll, 63; Christina-TaylorGreen, 9; Giffords constituent services director
Tucson Jewish communityanguished over Giffords shooting
By Ron KampeasJewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The post-shooting debate over political civility is cool-ing down, but passions are still raging overSarah Palin’s claim that critics were guilty ofperpetuating a “blood libel” against her.
Palin’s initial use of the term, in a Jan. 12video message, drew sharp rebukes from lib-eral, Jewish groups and even some conserva-tives. Since then, however, several Jewishnotables, including Harvard Law professorAlan Dershowitz, Rabbi Shmuley Boteachand former New York Mayor Ed Koch havedefended Palin’s use of the term.
Palin weighed in again Monday during aninterview on Fox News — her first since theJan. 8 shooting in Tucson of U.S. Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) that also left sixdead and another 12 wounded. Palin defendedher use of the term “blood libel” and said she
Debate rages on overPalin’s ‘blood libel’ claim
PALIN on page 20TUSCON on page 20
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 201115 SHEVAT, 5771
CINCINNATI, OHIOLIGHT CANDLES AT 5:26
SHABBAT ENDS 6:25
VOL. 157 • NO. 26SINGLE ISSUE PRICE: $2.00
Courtesy of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband ofU.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, holds hiscritically wounded wife’s hand at theUniversity Medical Center in Tucson theday after she was shot in a shoppingmall in that Arizona city, Jan. 9, 2011.
Courtesy of JTA
Sarah Palin’s video message after theTucson shooting, released Jan. 12,2011, included a reference to herself asa victim of a blood libel.
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On Thursday, Jan. 13, the secondleaders’ forum for “Cincinnati2020,” was held at the MayersonJewish Community Center. About130 lay and professional represen-tatives from different Jewish com-munity agencies, congregations andorganizations were seated at 15tables for the forum, to hear speech-es and discuss the final four of theJewish Federation of Cincinnati-based initiative’s seven goals.
After a kosher dinner, ShepEnglander, the CEO of theFederation, and Bret Caller, theFederation’s president, welcomedthe leaders. “We need yourthoughts and ideas to carry thisforward,” noted Caller.
When Andy Berger, vice presi-dent of strategic planning for theFederation showed a flow chartexplaining the timeline ofCincinnati 2020, beginning withthe community study in 2008, it ledto Berger’s revelation of how therewill be a third Leader’s forumsometime in the spring of this year.
“We are going to have a third[forum] in the spring because theleaders really enjoyed working withpeople that they didn’t normallywork with,” said Sharon Stern, of theFederation. “It was a side benefit that
people found it rewarding enough todo it again. It’s a big plus from mypoint of view.” Berger also notedhow since the first forum in lateNovember of last year, the strategicplan is about 40 percent finished.
Gary Heiman noted the JewishFoundation’s partnership and howthe forum’s “methodology andprocess is state of the art,” whileArna Poupko Fisher told a story ofa Jewish shtetl preparing for thecoming of the Messiah to help bet-ter explain the Jewish context forthe forum.
The audience then started brain-storming on the four discussiongoals — Quality of Life,Community Resources, CivicLeadership and Jewish CommunityLeadership. As with the first one,the event facilitator, Sarah Singer-Nourie, coordinated the session andtold the forum “we have a legacy tolive into.” At each of the 15 tables,participants discussed their table’sspecific goal and stuck post-it noteswith their ideas/strategies ontoeasels next to their tables.
After reviewing participant sur-vey results from the last forum,changes to this forum included theBerger’s process flow chart as someof the leaders noted their interest inthe process and more linear work-ing on single goals. According toStern, the leaders were interested in
reading the ideas of other tables dis-cussing the same goals.
Coming soon will be the abilityfor the public to offer ideas to theforum as well.
In their closing words of theevening, Rabbi Yuval Kernerman,principal of the Cincinnati HebrewDay School, reminded the forumthat their children and grandchil-dren’s future was at stake. WhileRabbi Sigma Faye Coran ofRockdale Temple told of Nachshon,the first person to step into the RedSea before it started parting, and tobe champions of this process.
Andy Berger’s presentation alsorevealed that the final StrategicPlan, put together by Cincinnati2020’s Steering committee (chairedby Berger), the goal teams who cre-ated some of the strategies, and bythe forum participants will be pre-sented at the third forum. The planwill be made up of the tactics andgoals discussed at the forums andhave plans and processes for mak-ing them into reality. According toSharon Stern, it will not be a fixeddocument, and will be open to inputfrom public before the third forum.
After the strategy’s appearanceat the forum, the plan will then betaken to local Jewish institutionsand organizations to implementthe procedures that were formed atthe forums.
Jewish leaders gather for secondCincinnati 2020 leaders’ forum
The Mayerson JewishCommunity Center provides localteens with year-round social andfitness programs, as well as sum-mer camp employment opportuni-ties. This February, teenagers canpartake in an array of programsdesigned specifically for high-schoolers at the JCC. Thisincludes a teens-only Super Bowlparty, a summer camp job fair, andlifeguard training. The JCC willopen its new teen lounge inFebruary as well.
There will be a Super Bowlparty at the J for high school stu-dents (open to the public) onSunday, Feb. 6 from 5:30–10 p.m.Teens can watch the Super Bowlwith their friends on two giant pro-jection screens. Contests, prizes,kosher snacks and drinks will beavailable. Reservations are request-ed in advance, as space is limited.
Also this February, the JCC willopen its new teen lounge for JMembers in grades 9–12.
Amenities like an Xbox 360with the newly released Kinect™game-play motion sensors, a Blu-
ray DVD player, pool table, foos-ball table, coffee machine andsnacks will be available in the newlounge, reserved exclusively for JMember teens.
“I’m going to the Super Bowlparty at the JCC, because I get towatch an awesome sports gameand hang with my friends … Whowouldn’t like that?” said AlexBurte. “I also think the new teenlounge is a cool idea because it’sway better than hanging aroundthe house.”
Active teenagers (ages 13–15)can enroll in Teen Exceed, a spe-cial fitness program that qualifiesyounger teens to work out in theJCC fitness center on their own.Teen Exceed is offered onSundays, Feb. 13 and 27. Personaltraining, small group training andPilates Reformer training areavailable to teen members of the J(ages 16 and older) on a daily basiswith multi-session discounts.
Jewish high school students canjoin BBYO (B’nai B’rith YouthOrganization), the largest Jewishteen organization in the world, at
the JCC. With separate chaptersfor boys and girls, the BBYO pro-gram at the JCC offers students anopportunity to develop friendshipsand leadership skills that last alifetime. Teens can join BBYO anytime, and meetings are on Mondayevenings at the JCC.
Any teen interested in a sum-mer lifeguard position can enrollin several JCC aquatics programsprovided by the CincinnatiAmerican Red Cross (all open tothe public). These programsinclude a water safety instructortraining course starting Friday,Feb. 4; free swim stroke clinics onSaturday, Jan. 29 and Tuesday,March 1; and a lifeguard trainingclass starting Thursday, March 3.
Emily Deeds worked as a life-guard at Camp at the J last sum-mer, and plans to return this year.“Working at Camp at the J is per-fect for me because I’m off fromschool during the summer, and Ilove being able to help childrenlearn to swim.”
New teen lounge andprograms at the JCC
JCC on page 19
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VOL. 157 • NO. 26THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
15 SHEVAT 5771SHABBAT BEGINS FRIDAY 5:26 PM
SHABBAT ENDS SATURDAY 6:25 PM
The Cairo Geniza housed man-uscripts and artifacts from one ofthe oldest Jewish communities.This treasure-trove of Bible,Siddur, and Talmud fragmentsgave insight into the sacred litera-ture of the Jewish people, and thetraditions of the Egyptian syna-gogue. Rabbi Mark Glickmanwanted to know more.
Glickman, currently a rabbi inthe Seattle area, took his son withhim, and became one of the few
rabbis to ever be given permissionto visit the Cairo geniza. A genizais a store-room that houses dam-aged or unusable sacred objectsand literature prior to their burialin a Jewish cemetery. The Cairogeniza was hidden, and remainedundiscovered for centuries. WhileGlickman is not the first toresearch and write about the CairoGeniza, he is the most recent.
Rabbi Glickman’s expieri-ences will bring him to the area on
a tour Jan. 24-26, 2011. Glickmanwill speak at Dayton’s TempleIsrael on Monday, Jan. 24, atValley Temple on Tuesday, Jan.25, and at Rockdale Temple onWednesday, Jan. 26. All eveningprograms are at 7:30 p.m.Glickman will be available afterthe program, which will featurevideo of his experiences.Glickman will also do a noontimeprogram at Hebrew UnionCollege-Jewish Institute of
Religion on Wednesday, Jan. 26.Rabbi Glickman was ordained
from the Cincinnati Campus ofHUC-JIR in 1990. Followingordination, Glickman served asthe Director of URJ Kutz Camp,assistant rabbi of Temple Israel inDayton, and Rabbi in congrega-tions in Tacoma and SeattleWashington. All programs areopen to the public and there is nocharge. For more information,contact the Valley Temple.
Rabbi Mark Glickman to speak
Miami University will be offer-ing five Posen Lectures in ModernJewish Culture in Spring 2011.The series is free and open to thepublic. All, from entire classes toindividuals in the Miami, Oxford,and Cincinnati communities, arewelcome to attend.
The first lecture and facultyseminar will feature AnnaShternshis on Thursday, Jan. 27.Her lecture is at 11:15 a.m. inCuller Hall 046 and is titled,“Transforming the Tradition:Jewish Anti-religious Propaganda
in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939.”The faculty seminar will begin at5:30 p.m. in the Great Room inMacMillan Hall.
Anna Shternshis is the Al andMalka Green Associate Professorin Yiddish Studies at theUniversity of Toronto, and she isthe author of “Soviet and Kosher:Jewish Popular Culture in theSoviet Union 1923-1939.”
The Posen Faculty Seminar,organized around the work ofinvited speakers in the lectureseries, is open to all Miami and
area faculty (and advanced stu-dents by invitation of participatingprofessors). Participants will eachreceive a copy of the visitingscholar’s most recent book and/oranother work of his or her scholar-ship to read prior to the seminar.Generally the introduction andone chapter of a book, or one totwo articles or article manuscripts-in-progress will be read.
Invited presenters will open thediscussion with remarks abouttheir research, and the conversa-tion will unfold over a catered din-
ner. (Meals will be vegetarian, andkosher meal options will alwaysbe available upon request.)
Faculty seminars will takeplace on the same days as lectures.Colleagues from any disciplineare welcome to attend any numberof these sessions, from one to allfive. It is not necessary to attendthe speaker’s lecture in order toparticipate in the faculty seminar.To participate in the faculty semi-nar, contact Juanita Schrodt atMiami University at least a weekbefore the event.
Miami University offers lectureson modern Jewish culture
At the recent Central District(Biennial) Convention of theWomen of Reform Judaism inCleveland, Debbie Loewenstein,current co-president of theRockdale Women of ReformJudaism, was one of 15 women inthe central district to be honoredwith a 2010 Deborah Award. Thisaward allows for recognition ofone woman from each of the (36)Sisterhoods in the district who hasdemonstrated extraordinary serviceand commitment to both Sisterhood
and Judaism.Loewenstein was nominated by
her Sisterhood and the nominationwas confirmed by a six-woman subcommittee of the central districtexecutive board.
Prior to becoming co-presidentof Rockdale Temple WRJ,Loewenstein served for eight yearsas its treasurer and con-currently astreasurer of the Sisterhood GiftShop. She is instrumental in theRockdale Temple commitment tothe local Ronald McDonald House.
Loewenstein’s husband Joe, leadsthe Rockdale Building and GroundsCommittee and they are the parentsof three children.
Women of Reform Judaism is thevoice, presence and the venue foraction of the women of ReformJudaism in the synagogue, theJewish community and the local,state, national and international com-munities at large. An affiliate of theUnion for Reform Judaism, WRJbrings together more than 65,000women from over 500 affiliated
Sisterhoods in the United States,Canada and a dozen other countries.There are eight WRJ Districts nation-ally. WRJ is the founder of NorthAmerican Federation of TempleYouth (NFTY) and a founder of theJewish Braille Institute. The work ofWRJ on behalf of the HebrewUnion College-Jewish Institute ofReligion has helped to support andadvance the education of hundredsof rabbinic students and internsthrough significant financial contri-butions of the WRJ YES Fund.
Rockdale Temple WRJ announcesDeborah Award recipient
Cedar Village RetirementCommunity staff believe that,“Sometimes you just have to dothings for fun!” And that is exactlywhat they did when they unitedstaff and residents on a joint projectto create their second annual musicvideo. As did the 2009 video, thenew music video has become a hiton the internet through YouTube.
Featuring choreography anddancing by residents, volunteersand staff members, the video is setto original music performed bysongwriter and producer MarkRossio, of Columbus. Filmed byJeff Hill Productions of Mason,
producing a music video promisesto become an annual event.
“We had so much fun makingthe first music video in 2009,”said Carol Silver Elliott, CEO andpresident of Cedar Village. “Andwe were amazed by the thousandsof hits, and the positive feedbackwe were receiving on YouTube!”she said. “We did this to bringtogether staff and our residents ina fun, creative way. Posting thevideo on YouTube allowed it to beshared with family, friends andmany others across the countryand around the world.”
The 2009 video featured various
departments within Cedar Village,each creating their own special partof the production. This year, theplanning team, headed by directorof Development Sally Korkin,decided to incorporate a theme.The theme, Korkin explained, is“hands.” She said, “Hands are sucha symbol of the care we provide atCedar Village and the relationshipswe build with our residents. It justseemed to express who we are in avery simple, yet powerful, way.”
Residents and staff all wore spe-cial blue rubber bracelets that say“Life Begins at Cedar Village” andmany are still wearing them daily.
Once the video was completed, therewas a “premiere” with the residents;it was featured at the employee holi-day party; it played continuously atCedar Village’s special MitzvahDay event on Dec. 24 and was, ofcourse, posted on YouTube. Within24 hours of posting, hundreds of“hits” were already recorded andthe feedback has been great.
“At Cedar Village, we dobelieve that age is just a numberand our slogan, ‘Life Begins atCedar Village,’ embodies our phi-losophy,” said Silver Elliott. “Thisvideo is one fun way to demon-strate that commitment.”
On Thursday, Jan. 27, CedarVillage’s Opening Minds throughArt, an art program for peoplewith dementia, will begin, andcurrently is in need of volunteersto assist the participants to expressthemselves in a creative fashion.
“The more volunteers wehave, the more residents can par-
ticipate,” notes Angie Tapogna,director of volunteers. The pro-gram is one of the few at CedarVillage that boasts a 1-to-1 ratio ofvolunteer to resident.
The program will take placeThursdays, 9:30—11:30 a.m.,from January through April 21.Tapogna is asking for people to
make a two-hour committmenteach week to the program. Theclass will culminate with agallery exhibition celebrating theartists’ accomplishments and willalso educate the public aboutpeople with dementia.
For more information, contactAngie Tapogna at Cedar Village.
Cedar Village’s ‘OpeningMinds’ through Art is inneed of volunteers
Due to inaccuracies circulatingin the community regarding MarxBagels, the Vaad Hoier ofCincinnati, under the guidance ofthe Bais Din, is issuing the follow-ing statement. The Orthodox Unionrepresentative, mentioned herein,has reviewed this statement.
Current policy of the VaadHoier is to light the pilot of thekettle, in which eggs and bagelsare boiled, on a weekly basis. The
bagel ovens were designed in con-sultation with Rav Sharfstein z”lto remain on at all times. As a mat-ter of policy, the Vaad Hoier cur-rently adjusts the fires in the ovensas well. These policies are in-linewith standards of reputablekashruth organizations.
At the behest of the VaadHoier, an OU representative,accompanied by Vaad representa-tives, visited Marx Bagels on Nov.
17, 2010. He made recommenda-tions regarding kosher proceduresat the establishment. The VaadHoier is in the process of imple-menting a lock system similar tothat used in OU establishments.This system will act as an extrameasure to ensure that both thekettle and the ovens remain underVaad control.
For any questions please con-tact the Vaad office.
Wise Temple’s next 92ndStreet Y program via live satelliteis Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 at 8 p.m.Michael Lewis discusses his best-selling book titled “The Big Short:Inside the Doomsday Machine,”with moderator Ira Glass.
The book details the build-upof the housing and credit bubbleduring the 2000s and what isbeing done to prevent a future col-lapse. It describes several of thekey players in the creation of thecredit default swap market thatsought to bet against the bubbleand thus ended up profiting fromthe financial crisis of 2007–2010.“The Big Short” was shortlistedfor the 2010 Financial Times andGoldman Sachs Business Book ofthe Year Award, and it spent 28weeks on the New York Timesnon-fiction bestseller list.
Considered a leading journal-ist, Lewis is the author of suchbest sellers as “Money Ball,” “TheBlind Side” and “Home Game.”Lewis has worked for the NewYork Times Magazine, as acolumnist for Bloomberg, and avisiting fellow at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley. He wrote theDad Again column for Slate. In aninterview at the 2010 National
Book Awards, well-known jour-nalist and novelist Tom Wolfecalled Lewis one of two “writersto watch.”
Ira Glass is host and executiveproducer of “This American Life”on NPR. Glass has worked inpublic radio for some 30 years. Hebegan as an intern at NationalPublic Radio. He was a reporterand host on several NPR pro-grams, including MorningEdition, All Things Considered,and Talk of the Nation.
The 92nd Street Y series origi-nates and is fed live from NewYork’s prestigious Jewish culturalcenter, the 92nd Street Y. Thebroadcast is fed into WiseTemple’s Wahl Chapel and SocialHall, both equipped with a largescreen and digital video technolo-gy capable of state-of-the-artsimulcasting. The Cincinnatiaudience at Wise Temple will beable to ask questions directly toMichael Lewis and Ira Glass.
The event is open to theGreater Cincinnati public. Thereis a small fee and tickets are avail-able at the door at 7:30 p.m. atWise Center. For further informa-tion and reservations contact WiseTemple.
92nd Street Y: Michael Lewisin conversation with Ira Glass
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By Ben HarrisJewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK (JTA) — Boostersof Birthright Israel are hoping thatthe Israeli government’s decision tomore than double its investment inthe popular free 10-day trips foryoung Diaspora Jews will yield dra-matic results.
But their hopes could be shortlived if Jewish philanthropists fail toramp up their own contributions tothe tune of some $222 million overthe next three years.
Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu announced last weekthat his government would provide$100 million in financing toBirthright Israel from 2011 to 2013.
The funding, which will rise overthe three-year period from $26 mil-lion this year to $40 million by 2013,is aimed at increasing the number ofBirthright participants to 51,000annually by 2013. Last year, 30,000Diaspora Jews went on the program.
“It’s a historic decision which isgoing to revolutionize the relation-ships of young Jews to the State ofIsrael,” said Gidi Mark, the CEO ofTaglit-Birthright Israel. “It’s goingto bring, for the first time ever, themajority of young Jews to Israel.”
That prediction will hold trueonly if Jewish philanthropists, whonow fund about half the Birthrightbudget, increase their investment.
While the program brings tensof thousands of 18- to 26-year-oldDiaspora Jews to Israel each year,spots are available now for onlyabout half who apply.
About a decade old, BirthrightIsrael was envisioned as a more orless equal partnership between theIsraeli government, the Jewish fed-eration system and private philan-thropists, with each providing abouta third of the budget.
But the federation share of fund-
ing has remained low. In 2010, fed-erations provided only about $6million of Birthright’s $76 millionbudget, according to Birthright offi-cials. That has increased pressure onthe Israeli government and donorsto make up the difference.
The Birthright Israel Foundation,the charitable organization that helpsfund the program, raised $49 millionfor Birthright in 2010. The budget for2011 is projected at $87 million. By2013, it will be $126 million,Birthright officials said.
Robert Aronson, the president ofthe foundation, said there is noquestion that the Israeli governmentwill reduce its giving if the founda-tion fails to raise the balance neededto bring significantly more DiasporaJews to Israel over the next threeyears. It’ll take another $222 mil-lion over three years, he estimates.
“We have our work cut out forus,” Aronson said.
A major U.S. fundraising pushunder way is targeting Birthrightalumni, as well as their parents andgrandparents, in an effort toexpand the foundation’s financialbase well beyond the core group of
major philanthropists that helpedlaunch the organization.
Birthright has been sustainedrecently in large part by a $100 mil-lion gift from gaming magnateSheldon Adelson, as well as continu-ing support from founding philan-thropists Michael Steinhardt andCharles Bronfman. But in the decadesince its founding the donor base hasexpanded to more than 13,000.
Aronson says it is most impor-tant to ask parents and grandpar-ents for contributions, as they careabout Birthright because they cansee its effect.
Hailed as one of the most suc-cessful Jewish identity projects inrecent memory, Birthright Israel hasbrought more than 250,000 youngJews to Israel since its inception in2000. Based on data showing thatan Israel trip was among the mosteffective contributors to Jewishidentity formation, Birthright aimedto counter trends showing decliningconnection to Israel and weakerJewish identification among youngDiaspora Jews.
Major funding boost forBirthright from Israeli gov’tups ante for philanthropists
Courtesy of Birthright
Birthright Israel participants gather around philanthropist LynnSchusterman, a Birthright donor, at a Birthright event in Jerusalem.
BIRTHRIGHT on page 19
On a cold day in January, agroup of seven residents fromCedar Village RetirementCommunity joined with staff toform an “assembly line,” creatinghomemade veggie and turkeywraps. With fresh-cut tomatoes,red onions, asparagus, peppersand turkey, the residents createddelectable masterpieces to donateto families staying at Cincinnati’sRonald McDonald House.
“It’s such a pleasure to gatherwith my friends and prepare foodfor others,” said Helen Werner,resident of Cedar Village. “But the
real enjoyment is when we take allthe food to Children’s Hospitaland serve lunch to the families atRonald McDonald House.”
For the past three years, CedarVillage has brought a group ofresidents to the Ronald McDonaldHouse to serve a donated lunch tothe families whose children arebeing cared for at Children’sHospital.
“When you have a sick child,as a parent, you concentrate allyour energy and resources on yourchild and you often neglect to takecare of yourself,” said JenniferGoodin, executive director ofRonald McDonald House.“Having Cedar Village come intoday means this may be the onemeal the parents won’t skip. Itwill give them sustenance and theenergy they so desperately need,and they won’t have to grab theirmeals from a vending machine.”
“Each month we do a serviceproject with residents and staff,”said Carol Silver Elliott, CEO andpresident of Cedar Village. “It’s ourway of giving back and helpingothers. Bringing food to familieswith sick children is a way toexpress our care for them and forour entire community. It’s so grati-fying for all of us to take part in thissimple contribution for which thesefamilies are so appreciative.”
Cedar Villageresidents donate,serve lunch atRonald McDonaldHouse
Carol Silver Elliott, CEO and president of Cedar Village, carries infood to serve to families at Ronald McDonald House.
Bringing food to
families with sick
children is a way to
express our care
for them and for our
entire community.
Carol Silver Elliott
By Nicole SimonAssistant Editor
On Sunday Jan. 16, the firstPreschoolpalooza event tookplace at Rockwern Academy. Theevent, which had 60 pre-schoolage kids (18 months — 5 years)and their parents, was made freeand open to the public with fund-ing by the school.
“The event was a success,” saidJulie Torem, the event’s plannerand Rockwern board member. “Wegot great feedback from the fami-lies who attended, and also from the
staff who worked there as well.”Preschoolpalooza, for the most
part, was set up in Rockwern’scafeteria. Each child was given apassport to take to each activity.After completing all the offeredevents, the kids were given a prize.Each of the stations, which includ-ed a bounce house, face painting,decorating a pillowcase, snacks,and story time in Rockwern’slibrary, was chaperoned by either aRockwern pre-school teacher or anolder student.
During Preschoolpalooza, boththe prospective and returning fami-
lies of the school could meet teach-ers and current families, and theyhad an opportunity to check outwhat the school has to offer.
Arielle Podberesky, a Rockwernsecond grader, had volunteered to bethe story time reader in the library.According to her mother, she lovesreading to the younger kids.
When the face painting startedto travel to the arms and legs ofsome participants, and “I think I’llcry,” was said at the deflation ofthe bounce house at the end of theevent, the young attendees showedenjoyment of the event.
Rockwern hosts Preschoolpalooza
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 NATIONAL 7
By Edmon J. RodmanJewish Telegraphic Agency
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — TheJewish green day of Tu b’Shvat isnot just the New Year for treesanymore.
Jews are being asked increas-ingly to dedicate Tu b’Shvat torepairing the world. The Tu b’Shvatseder at the Jewish Funds forJustice is called “Tikkun [repair]and Transformation.” Kolel, theAdult Center for Liberal JewishLearning, suggests four tikkunim,or repairs, to interact with tradition-al Tu b’Shvat seder themes: social,cosmic/existential, national andecological. On the ReclaimingJudaism website, Rabbi GoldieMilgram writes, “Tu Bi-Shevat ismeant to help repair this world.”
But before you go out and makeyour repairs to the world, don’t youthink you should fix up yourhome? Like what about that brokenclothes dryer or dishwasher?
You might be surprised, butthis has a basis in Jewish tradition.The injunction of “ba’al taschit”— do not destroy — is the Jewishversion of waste not, want not. Toavoid waste, we need to learn howto repair rather than throw thingsaway.
It’s time to think globally andact locally — very locally, like inyour kitchen or utility room.
Yes, there’s a drought in Israeland there was that terrible fire in theCarmel Mountains of northernIsrael, but that doesn’t absolve youof doing something about the water
drip dripping down your drainbecause you don’t know how to fixit. At Tu b’Shvat, consider this:With the money saved from a fewsimple home repairs, you can fixyour house and your world.
The holiday is often observedwith a Tu B’Shvat seder, a Feast ofFruits. Nuts in the shell, likealmonds, play a part in the ritual,and to those bent on repair, theybring to mind another kind of nut —those metal hexagonal ones that arereally holding the world together.
Repairs have never been moreexpensive, but repair parts andinstructions on how to install themhave never been more accessible.With household expenses such asinsurance and utilities on the rise,why throw away that perfectly goodbut too-expensive-to-repair appli-ance when you can fix it yourself?
What you can toss is that oldstereotype of Jews, men orwomen, not being handy, or evenowning tools.
To get started, the Talmud says,“On three things the world stands:on justice, on truth and on peace.”Generations of Jewish engineers,plumbers and electricians wouldadd a fourth: a toolbox.
With a household tool set asbasic as flat head and Phillips headscrewdrivers, adjustable wrench, pli-ers and hammer, you can saveenough money over a year to greenup your yard for the next Tu b’Shvat.
My toolbox was a weddinggift. It was wrapped with a bow,just like the other presents, butover the years its contents have far
outlived the usefulness of thecrock-pots, slicers/dicers andsundry plug-in space-taker-uppersthat we received for our home.
Over time, my toolbox hasopened my eyes to conservation. Ilike to think that with my repairsof a washing machine, dryer andoven, even computer, my personallandfill is smaller.
Each repair has been areminder that what is broken canoften be fixed. With each repair,each turn of the wrench, the kab-balistic concept of the Tu b’Shvatseder known as asiyah — gainingawareness of the physical world— becomes more accessible.
For those who are tool chal-lenged, do as Pirkei Avot, the Ethics
of the Fathers, suggests: “Find foryourself a teacher.”
I consult with my father-in-law, Stanley Berko, a professionalwho has repaired appliances formuch of his adult life: TVs, ovens,microwaves.
In a kind of repairman’s orallaw, he has passed down to me,patient phone call after call, anorder to repair worth sharing:“Always check first to see if it’splugged in,” he invariably tells me.“Then check the circuit breaker,” headds for good measure.
This might sound like a big“duh” until Stanley regales me withtales of the house calls he has madein which the plug is simply out orthe breaker popped.
Our dishwasher tanked recently.Not enough water was going in,resulting in cloudy drinking glassesand a serving of grayish dried pati-na on everything else.
With California in a drought, allthat extra hand rinsing certainlywasn’t helping.
By Googling the dishwasher’smake and model number along withthe prompt “Doesn’t clean, not fill-ing with water,” I found a help sitewhere several respondents for a sim-ilar request had suggested clearingthe filter in the washer’s inlet valve.
But where was the valve? At anInternet parts site I found aschematic that showed the valveand filter were up front and easilyaccessible. I also found instructionson how to remove and clean it out.
After unplugging the applianceand turning off the water, I didexactly that, with the aid of anadjustable crescent wrench andscrewdriver. The result: cloudlesscups and clean cutlery.
A basic repair call would havebeen $100. Additionally therewould have been the cost of areplacement part and the labor toinstall it. By doing the repairmyself, I saved a lot of green.
Yes, there was fire in Israel, andwith a simple repair or two you cansave enough to replant a couple oftrees — with enough leftover for afine spread of nuts (the edible kind)for your Tu b’Shvat seder.
Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA colum-nist who writes on Jewish life fromLos Angeles.
Repairing the world, and your home, on Tu b’Shvat
Courtesy of Edmon J. Rodman
Tooling around: A basic set of tools helps you green up your life ina variety of ways.
By Ron KampeasJewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON (JTA) —Faced with a new Congress intent onslashing the U.S. federal budget,Jewish groups are trimming theiragendas to hew to its contours.
On issues from Israel aid to theenvironment to elderly care, Jewishorganizations are planning to pro-mote priorities that would findfavorable reception in the newRepublican-led U.S. House ofRepresentatives. The groups are try-ing to build alliances based onshared interests and recasting pitch-es for existing programs asRepublican-friendly.
“Some parts of our agenda won’thave much traction in this new cli-mate,” acknowledged Josh Protas,the Washington director for theJewish Council for Public Affairs.“We are looking for items that havebipartisan priorities.”
To be sure, Democrats still con-trol the White House and the Senate,and many conservative initiativeswill die in the Senate or by the stroke
of a presidential veto. But the House,with its considerable oversight pow-ers and its ability to stymie legisla-tion, remains extremely important.
Protas says the JCPA, an umbrel-la body for Jewish public policygroups, already has had meetingswith staff members of the newHouse speaker, Rep. John Boehner(R-Ohio).
On domestic issues, many of themajor Jewish organizations aredevoted to policies that directly con-tradict Republican approaches.According to Protas, Boehner’sstaffers told JCPArepresentatives thatthe best strategy for working aroundthat is to cherry-pick the smallerissues within the broader agendas thatcould appeal to Republicans.
“We definitely got the sensethat smaller, more focused legisla-tion is what we’ll be seeing, sowe’re trying to look at more dis-crete cases,” he said.
For example, on elderly care, asignature issue of the JewishFederations of North America. TheJFNA will seek to frame NaturallyOccurring Retirement Communities,
or NORCs, one of the jewels of thefederation system, as a cost savings,according to William Daroff, directorof the Jewish Federations’Washington office.
NORCs have been pitched pre-viously as appealing earmarks for
lawmakers to insert into bills. ButRepublicans say they will elimi-nate earmarks, or discretionaryspending by lawmakers; the JewishFederations’ emphasis on cost-effectiveness is an attempt to hit apopular Republican note.
“Programs like NORC,”Daroffsaid, “shift governmental policyaway from expensive institution-alized care to less expensive” pro-grams.
Daroff invoked Republican talk-ing points in explaining how theJewish Federations would continueto seek funding for security forJewish community institutions.Security funding, to the tune of tensof millions of dollars in recent years,has given local law enforcement thepower to decide exactly how themoney is spent, not federal officials.
“It’s not a nameless, facelessbureaucrat in downtownWashington making a decision butsomeone in a community allocat-ing funds to what a communityfeels its needs are,” he said.
Another strategy is to establishrelationships with RepublicanCongress members based on mutu-al concerns, and then trying tomake the lawmakers aware of whatdrives Jewish community concerns,said Mark Pelavin, the associatedirector of the Reform movement’sReligious Action Center.
Jewish groups adjusting agendas for new GOP-led Congress
Courtesy of Speaker John Boehner
Jewish groups have met with the staff of Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), shown assuming the gavel on his first day as speaker Jan.5, 2011, to discuss how best to work with the new Republican-ledHouse of Representatives.
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By Sue FishkoffJewish Telegraphic Agency
SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) —Journalist and author Lisa AlcalayKlug flew across the country thismonth to present at Limmud NY,the annual New York version of theworldwide Jewish learning extrava-ganza.
The Jan. 14-17 conference inupstate New York will be Klug’sseventh Limmud gathering in 12months. Like the hundreds of otherLimmud presenters whose pathsshe crosses, she doesn’t get paid forher time.
“I’ve met amazing people,developed new friendships andreinforced past relationships,” saidKlug, who splits her time inCalifornia, New York and Israel.“My world has grown exponential-ly because of it.”
Limmud, which started out 30years ago in Britain as a conferencefor professional Jewish educatorsand has burgeoned into the world’slargest network of gatherings pro-moting informal Jewish education,has become a creative and profes-sional hub for presenters, some ofwhom have become regulars on theLimmud circuit.
More than 35,000 people tookpart in one of 55 Limmuds heldlast year from Siberia to SouthAfrica, according to Limmud. Asmore branches opened in morecountries – there are eight now inthe United States alone – it hasbecome a collaborative opportuni-ty for musicians and visual artists,who meet at Limmud and beginworking together.
Some performance acts formed
for a Limmud event continuedafterward, including LosDesterrados, a British band thatsings in Ladino, and the klezmer-house dance mash-up projectGhettoplotz. Limmud gives writersan opportunity to promote theirbooks and educators a chance to tryout new topics. It also puts Jewishorganizations in front of new audi-ences and potential donors.
Much has been written about
Limmud’s impact on those whoattend — the celebratory atmos-phere, the array of learning oppor-tunities, the radical egalitarianismof its all-volunteer structure thatencourages participants to presentand presenters to participate.
That was all intentional fromthe beginning, says RaymondSimonson, the project’s Britain-based executive director. But whathe and other organizers didn’t
foresee was how Limmud wouldbecome a networking tool for pre-senters.
Unlike most festivals and con-ferences, which tend to inviteexperts, anyone can apply to be aLimmud presenter — a big drawfor inexperienced presenters andestablished professionals wantingto try out new material.
Limmud becoming new favored networkingtool for Jewish authors, artists, groups
Rutgers University returnsNazi-looted painting
(JTA) — A painting looted bythe Nazis in Holland was returnedto the heirs of its Jewish owner byRutgers University.
The 1509 work “Portrait of aYoung Man” by German painterHans Baldung Grien, was returnedJan. 14 to Simon Goodman of LosAngeles, the grandson of a Dutchbanker whose extensive collectionwas seized by the Nazis in Hollandin May 1940. The university hadspent a year tracking the origins ofthe portrait.
The art collection ofGoodman’s grandparents waswell-known in prewar Europeanart circles, according to reports.
“Portrait of a Young Man” waspart of a group of seven works thatthe Goodmans traded to a Germanart dealer representing AdolfHitler in return for safe passageout of Nazi-occupied Europe.Instead, Nazi officers looted the artand sent the owners to deathcamps, where they perished,according to The Associated Press.
The painting was donated bythen-owner Rudolf Heinemannto Rutgers in 1959.
Chicago man pleads guiltyin $54 million scam
(JTA) — A Chicago man whopresented himself as a rabbi andallegedly ran a scam that stole $54million has pleaded guilty to con-spiracy and mail fraud charges.
Marvin Berkowitz, 64, whofled to Israel in 2003 to avoidarrest in a separate case, appearedJan. 14 before a federal judge inChicago. He is accused of stealingthe identities of about 3,000 deadpeople and federal prisoners to filefor tax refunds in 28 U.S. states,according to the Chicago Tribune.
Berkowitz allegedly ran thescam from Israel. He was arrest-ed there in August 2009.
About 10 people participatedin the scam, including severalBerkowitz family members. Hisson David Berkowitz has pleadedguilty in the case.
Marvin Berkowitz allegedlyused more than 50 people to helpwith the scam by accepting thebogus tax refunds and then giv-ing him the money. Berkowitzoften posed as a rabbi, an attor-ney or an accountant, the courtdocuments said, according to theChicago Sun-Times.
Berkowitz faces a maximumsentence of 25 years in prisonand a $500,000 fine, as well asmandatory restitution, accordingto the Sun-Times. His sentencingwill take place in June.
NationalBriefs
Courtesy of Limmud NY
Rabbi David Ingber, right, hits the stage at the January 2010 Limmud NY with musicians, from left,Bill Jonas, Michelle Citrin and Saul Kaiserman.
LIMMUD on page 22
By JTA StaffJewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK (JTA) — Adebate among bloggers followingDebbie Friedman’s death is rais-ing questions about the obligationof gay and lesbian celebrities to beout front in discussing their sexualorientation.
The discussion began with aJan. 10 post to Jewschool by DavidLevy lamenting what he describedas the pioneering musician’s deci-sion not to be public about her les-bianism. Just one day after themusician’s death, Levy noted thatin virtually all of the public discus-sion and media coverage of thedays leading up to her death, andin the posthumous writing aboutFriedman, there had been no men-tion of her life partner.
“I don’t bear any ill will
towards Debbie for staying in thecloset,” wrote Levy, the editor ofJewishBoston.com and a boardmember of Keshet, a Boston-basednonprofit working for the full inclu-sion of gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgendered Jews in Jewish life.“But her life in the closet was dou-ble-barreled tragedy: How sad thatDebbie could not live her life withwholeness, and how sad that somany queer kids were deprivedsuch an important role model. Howironic that the tyranny of the closetoverpowered the woman whosesongs let us let go for a moment ofwhat the world might think of us,just long enough to shout ‘Nutterbutter peanut butter’ or sway withour arms around our friends and notworry if we looked gay.
“My friends who knew Debbietell me that she had a life partner. Idon’t know her partner’s name
because all the press aroundDebbie’s illness and passing onlyasked for prayers and comfort onbehalf of Debbie’s sister, familyand friends. I hope this did not addto the unbearable pain and loss herpartner must be experiencing now,but how could it not?”
The post stood in stark contrastto the countless tributes toFriedman, who transformed Jewishworship in hundreds of NorthAmerican synagogues, if not thou-sands, with her sing-along style offolk-inspired music that broughtprayer home to liberal Jews whohad never felt its power.
It also drew a scorchingresponse from Debra NussbaumCohen on the Forward’s Sisterhoodblog.
“I’ve been asked to respond tothis, or else never would have dis-cussed it publicly, because Debbie
would not have wanted her person-al life bandied about,” NussbaumCohen wrote.
In the days before Friedman’sdeath, as the musician was hospital-ized in Southern California withpneumonia, Nussbaum Cohenauthored a post urging people topray for Friedman. And in an“appreciation” followingFriedman’s passing, NussbaumCohen became the first to report thatFriedman had suffered for morethan two decades from dyskinesia, aneurological movement disorder.
But Nussbaum Cohen drew theline at the discussion on Jewschool,suggesting that it violatedFriedman’s privacy and insisting itwas off base in the assertion thatFriedman had hidden her sexualorientation.
Debating Debbie Friedman’s personal life
FRIEDMAN on page 22
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 INTERNATIONAL/ISRAEL 9
By Leslie SusserJewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM (JTA) —Knesset legislation calling for aninvestigation of Israeli humanrights groups has sparked a fierceargument over who is doing moreto hurt Israel’s reputation: Humanrights organizations critical of theIsraeli government and army, or thepoliticians who want to investigatethem for allegedly going too far.
By a vote of 47-16, the Knessetlast week gave preliminary passageto proposed legislation calling forthe establishment of a parliamen-tary panel to investigate the fundingand activities of a long list of left-leaning human rights groups.
One of the co-sponsors, FainaKirshenbaum of Foreign MinisterAvigdor Lieberman’s YisraelBeiteinu Party, charges that thegroups are working under the guiseof human rights advocacy to dis-credit the Israel Defense Forces’presence in the West Bank, crimi-nalize its soldiers and encouragedraft-dodging — with the overallaim of weakening the IDF anddelegitimizing Israel.
“These groups provided materi-al to the Goldstone commission andare behind indictments lodgedagainst Israeli officers and officialsaround the world,” Kirshenbaumdeclared during a Knesset debate,referring to the U.N.-endorsedGoldstone report on the Gaza war,which among its findings includedallegations of war crimes violationsby Israel.
The heavy vote in favor of thelegislation reflected widespreadconcern in Israel at the activitiesof human rights groups, some ofwhich receive foreign governmentfunds and whose goals seempotentially inimical to the nationalinterest.
Much of the subsequent criti-cism was directed at the choice ofmechanism to deal with the issue: aparliamentary committee in whichpoliticians would be interrogatingtheir political opponents.
After days of criticism for the“undemocratic” nature of the pro-posed investigatory committee,Lieberman invited cameras into thenormally closed party caucus meet-ing Monday to show he had nointention of backing down.
In his remarks, he suggestedthat Israel’s delegitimizers rely onthe subversive work of Israel’sHaaretz daily newspaper; Yesh
Din, a group that monitors the ruleof law in the West Bank; and YeshGvul, an organization that defendsIsraeli soldiers who refuse toserve in the West Bank. He calledthe organizations “collaborators interror.”
“There wasn’t a single meetingabroad where I spoke about delegit-imization of Israel and people did-n’t say look at what Haaretz wroteor what Yesh Din, Yesh Gvul orYesh Batich published,” he said,the last name a derogatory play onwords meaning “There is Zero.”
Critics — from both the leftand right wings — have accusedLieberman of McCarthyism. Theyargue that establishing a parlia-mentary mechanism to houndpolitical opponents is patentlyundemocratic and brings to mindthe witch-hunting days of anti-communist fervor in the UnitedStates in the early 1950s.
Israeli law already requires fulltransparency on funding, most ofthe named NGOs are fully transpar-ent, and there is a registrar of NGOswhere funding information alreadyis in the public domain, critics ofthe new legislation maintain.
NGO Monitor, an organizationoften harshly critical of left-leaningIsraeli human rights groups, wentso far as to publish an Op-Ed inJTA criticizing the proposed law asunhelpful and polarizing.
As for activities such as point-ing out transgressions by IDF sol-diers, opponents of the proposedlaw contend that such criticismshows the strength of Israelidemocracy rather than castingaspersions on the IDF as a whole orbringing the country into disrepute.On the contrary, setting up aMcCarthyist parliamentary com-mittee would do far more damageto Israel’s good name, they argue.
The proposed law, wrote NGOMonitor President GeraldSteinberg, provides “more ammu-nition for Israel’s most ardent crit-ics to proclaim the ‘death of Israelidemocracy,’ further contributing toIsrael’s isolation.”
Several of the singled-outgroups monitor IDF activities inthe West Bank. The groups say thisis precisely what the role of civilsociety groups should be: ensuringthat the occupation is as humane aspossible. If their funding or activi-ties contravene the law in any way,they should be dealt with by thepolice, not a politically weightedKnesset committee, they insist.
Proposed law toprobe Israeli rightsgroups prompts fiercecriticism in Israel
By Dan GoldbergJewish Telegraphic Agency
SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) —At least a dozen Jewish families innortheastern Australia have beenevacuated from their homes as amajor flood ripped throughQueensland last week, killing atleast 12 people.
More than 40 people were stillmissing, and one Jewish manremains unaccounted for near therural town of Toowoomba, whichwas flattened last Monday bywhat police described as an“inland instant tsunami.”
The bulk of Queensland’s6,000 Jews live in the state’s capi-tal, Brisbane, which was bracingfor its river to peak early Thursdaymorning as analysts revised uptheir predictions of the damagebill to $13 million, or 1 percent ofthe gross domestic product.
Three-quarters of the state, anarea larger than California andTexas, has been declared a disasterzone, with Premier Anna Blighdescribing it as the “worst naturaldisaster in our history.” PrimeMinister Julia Gillard deployed thearmy to assist in the rescue efforts.
Jason Steinberg, the presidentof the Queensland Jewish Boardof Deputies, said that “A numberof Jewish families have beenimpacted, a lot are reporting diffi-culties. We are still trying to getdetails. There have been Jewishpeople evacuated from severaltowns. We are trying to assesstheir needs.
“Homes are being evacuatedas a precautionary measure. It’s anamazing sight,” said Steinberg, ofBrisbane, Australia’s third-largestcity. “Where you once had a clearroad, it’s a lake. The major arteri-al roads around Brisbane are nowcut off.”
He added that “The main shulis OK. The second shul is fine andthe temple is fine.”
Rabbi Levi Jaffe of theBrisbane Hebrew Congregationtransferred four Torah scrolls to hishouse, which is on higher ground.
“It’s just a precaution,” saidthe Chabad rabbi. “In the 1974floods, the water didn’t reach theshul. We’re hopeful it won’t.”
Jaffe said services have beencanceled this week but he wouldbe holding prayers for the 200-member families at his house.
“We are bracing. They’re say-ing the worst is yet to come,” hesaid. “I’ve never seen anything likethis. I stocked up to an extent, butat the supermarket the shelves arecompletely empty of basic staples.People are quite concerned; there’sa bit of a siege mentality.”
The rabbi said he and his sons
helped evacuate a Jewish couplefrom their high-rise inner-cityapartment Wednesday afternoonamid fears that the electricity wouldbe cut, leaving the wheelchair-using woman unable to escape.
“The chances of water reach-ing them was very high and theirfamily in Melbourne was reallyworried, so we helped them evac-uate,” Jaffe said.
Ari Heber of the response unitat Queensland Jewish CommunityServices said the agency has iden-tified a dozen homes in Brisbane
that it believes will go under.“We are not aware of anyone
officially missing, we just don’tknow where people are at themoment and communications aredifficult,” he said.
“Everyone is frightened. It’squite scary, the volume of water isquite high and the speed is phe-nomenal. Tomorrow [Thursday] isgoing to be the worst, everyonehas time to plan. It’s a very surre-al situation just waiting for thewater to arrive.”
Executive Council of AustralianJewry president Dr. Danny Lammcalled on Jewish Australians to givegenerously to assist victims of thefloods.
“Our thoughts and prayers arewith them [the casualties] and theirfamilies”, he said, appealing to theJewish community “to dig deep.”
In Sydney, a food kitchen runby Chabad began preparing sup-plies to be transferred to Jewishfamilies in Queensland.
Rabbi Moshe Loebenstein ofthe Melbourne-based Chabad ofRural and Regional Australia saidhe was organizing Melbourne andSydney families to host affectedJewish families and was sending updry goods, clothing and towels.
Australian Jews evacuatingin face of huge floods
Courtesy of Rabbi Levi Jaffe
Rabbi Levi Jaffe of the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation helping awheelchair-using Jewish woman evacuate from Australiass third-largest city, Jan. 12, 2011.
Courtesy of Rabbi Levi Jaffe
Rabbi Levi Jaffe taking a Torahscroll from the Brisbane HebrewCongregation to move to hishome in the wake of flooding inAustralia, Jan. 12, 2011.
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COMISRAEL10
JERUSALEM — The UnitedSynagogue of ConservativeJudaism’s Israel Commission andNefesh B’Nefesh, which works inclose cooperation with the JewishAgency, are pleased to announcethe continuation of their jointMa’alot program for a third year.Following the runaway success ofthe program over the past two yearsin deepening the connectionbetween Conservative communitiesand Israel and enhancing Aliyahawareness, the program, calledMa’alot – Taking Steps TowardRaising Israel Awareness, will runfor a third year in 2011-2012.
This exciting initiative, whichhas strengthened the partnershipbetween Nefesh B’Nefesh andUnited Synagogue, worked with 10innovative pilot synagogue pro-grams from three regions in its firstyear. Following the success of theseprograms, the project received aboost in 2010-2011 when 76 appli-cations were submitted from syna-gogues across North America; 26 ofthem were chosen.
The program empowersConservative movement leaders toincrease the profile of Israel withintheir congregations, as well as tomake congregants more aware ofthe possibility of making Aliyah. Asin previous years, communities areinvited to submit proposals for agrant to help develop programs thatincorporate Israel and Zionist edu-cation and present aliyah as a realis-tic option for Conservative Jews.
For 2011-2012, submissionsmay take the form of either newprograms or added elements toexisting programs that ran in previ-ous years. To apply, go to NefeshB’Nefesh’s website. The deadlinefor applications is Feb. 25, 2011.
“We have a great partnershipwith Nefesh B’Nefesh,” said RabbiSteven Wernick, UnitedSynagogue’s CEO. “NefeshB’Nefesh is a dynamic, incrediblywell-run organization, and our part-nership has seen some really won-derful, innovative activities andprogramming. We look forward tocontinuing increase awareness ofIsrael and commitment to it withinour kehillot.”
“The enormous success of thisprogram proves how integral Israeland Aliyah awareness are amongmembers of the Conservative move-ment” said Tony Gelbart, co-founderand chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh.“We are honored to continue part-nering with United Synagogue onthis exciting program, and helpingraise the profile of Israel and Aliyahamong Conservative Jews.”
USCJ, NefeshB’Nefeshlaunch thirdyear of Ma’alotgrants program
By Dina KraftJewish Telegraphic Agency
TELAVIV (JTA) — From leafyeucalyptus trees lapping the shoresof the Sea of Galilee to date palmsin the desert to pine and oak trees inthe North — many of which weredestroyed in the Carmel’s forest firelast month — Israel will celebratetrees on Tu b’Shvat.
The holiday, which for centurieswas a rather obscure festival men-tioned in the Mishnah as the newyear for trees, was revived by theearly Zionists as part of their back-to-the-land ethos. It’s now a high-light of the Israeli national calendar,with tens of thousands of Israelis,most of them schoolchildren, pour-ing out across the country to plantsaplings in celebration of theJewish Arbor Day.
But this year, in wake of theCarmel Forest fire that killed 44and consumed some 5 million treesand 12,000 acres of land, a growingunderstanding has taken root thatmass replanting of trees is not theway to go. At least not right now.
“Planting is still important, butin many cases we have to make akind of change in our conscious-ness,” said Yisrael Tauber, directorof forest management for the JewishNational Fund-Keren KayemethLeIsrael. “It’s not just planting, butalso natural regeneration of forests,and the managing of that naturalregeneration that is key.”
The strategy after the fire hascast a spotlight on Israel’s longtimerush to make the Holy Land green,which for decades was embraced asGospel (or, more accurately, Torahfrom Sinai) by both Diaspora andIsraeli Jews. The question now isnot how fast trees can be plantedbut whether and which trees shouldgo in the ground, and how Israelshould plan its ecological future.
In the state’s early years therewas a rush to plant pines, consid-ered among the only trees thatcould survive and grow quickly onthe bare, rocky ground that coversmuch of Israel, Tauber said.
“But now we are in a second,new phase,” he noted. “We are nowbuilding sustainable forestry afterthese pioneering pines did a won-derful job for the first generation.”
With a dry climate similar tothat of California or Spain, Israel isa natural home for relatively shorttrees that need little water. Some,like acacias, can go for monthswithout even a drop.
For centuries the area was cov-ered in a patchwork of squat, denselow-lying forest, especially in thenative woodland areas of theCarmel, Galilee and the Judeanhills. But by the time the earlyZionist settlers arrived, much of
the forestland had been depleted,used over the years as firewood,building material, grazing land forgoats and sheep, and even traintracks in the Ottoman era.
“When people came to theland it looked like desert,” saidYagil Osem, a forestry expert atIsrael’s Agriculture Ministry.“Part of the Zionist ethos was torehabilitate the view.”
After several failed attemptswith other species, the Aleppo pine(also known as the Jerusalem pine)was chosen in the 1930s as theideal tree for planting. Selected forits heartiness in arid soil and abili-ty to grow quickly and soar highinto the sky, the tree created thekind of forests with room for hik-ing and recreation that the Jewsliving in prestate Palestine knew offrom Europe.
Today that first generation ofpines is aging, demanding morewater and more prone to problemslike pests, disease and fire, accord-ing to Osem. Forests that arealmost exclusively pine planted ofthe same age and variety are espe-cially vulnerable, he said.
The planting paradigm began
to shift by the 1980s with a grow-ing awareness of the importanceof forest diversification. Othernative varieties began to be intro-duced, including carob, pistachio,oak and other varieties of pine.The common oak is seen through-out the country’s forests as well asin the Golan Heights.
Now the goal is to have as many“mixed” forests as possible with afocus on sustainable management,JNF officials say.
Among the non-native pinespecies introduced in recent yearsto Israel are the Brutia, a varietythat grows in Turkey and Cyprusand is known for being more pestresistant, and the Stone pine (alsoknown as the nut pine), which pro-duces pine nuts. The Stone pine isthought originally to have beenbrought to the Holy Land by theRomans, who cooked with pinenuts.
In a land where even trees havebecome politicized as part of theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict, the pinetree has become emblematic of arenewed Jewish presence here,while the olive tree has become asymbol of the Palestinians’ ties to
the land. Of course, in biblicaltimes the Jews were also known fortending olive trees.
The olive tree’s deep historicalroots date back some 10,000 yearsas this agricultural commodity tookon important regional economicimportance.
Other prominent trees in Israelinclude the carob, which growsthroughout the country. Originallyfrom Africa, it is a relatively latelocal species, and like other suc-cessful trees here it needs littlewater to thrive.
A cousin to the carob is thealmond tree, whose white blossomsare harbingers of Tu b’Shvat’sarrival. It grows both at higher ele-vations and in the transition zonebetween the coastal Mediterraneanplain and the desert. In its wild formits almonds are inedible, so it’s thedomesticated variety that providesthe almonds commonly eaten on Tub’Shvat.
Fig trees also are native andgrow naturally near Israel’s riversand streams.
Cypress trees, which can livefor hundreds of years, also are partof the Israeli landscape, mostcommonly seen in the North.Experts think the species may benative but that it disappeared overthe centuries by locals attracted tothe wood produced by its attrac-tive, straight shape. The cypressesof today were brought from otherparts of the Mediterranean andplanted here. They are used oftenin landscaping and, because oftheir candle-like appearance, areplanted frequently in the country’scemeteries.
Date palms, located in theArava Desert and the Jordan Valley,grow naturally along desertstreams, but it’s not clear whethersuch trees are native or the result ofthe casual tossing of their seeds bysnacking Bedouin nomads.
Citrus trees, specifically theJaffa orange, are cultivated ingroves along the coastal plain, andin the 1950s and ‘60s they repre-sented something of an unofficialnational symbol. But with theshrinking of Israel’s agricultureindustry, many of the groves havebeen replaced by homes and officebuildings.
Israeli citrus — oranges,lemons, tangerines and pomellos —are still exported in relatively largequantities, especially to Europe,buteven as far afield as Japan. It isthought that the first orange vari-eties were brought to the region byArab traders who brought themfrom China and India. The introduc-tion of more commercially success-ful avocado, mango and bananaplantations have edged out many ofthe remaining citrus groves in Israel.
After fire, what types of treesare best suited for Israel?
Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Agriculture
The Tabor Oak, like the one above, is common throughout thecountry's forests as well as in the Golan Heights.
Courtesy of Israel Ministry of Agriculture
The Aleppo pine, also known as the Jerusalem pine, was chosenin the 1930s as the ideal tree for planting because of its ability togrow quickly and soar high.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 SOCIAL LIFE 11
Big Brothers/Big Sisters100th Anniversary
CelebrationPHOTOS CONTINUED ON PG.13
Dick Westheimer, grandson of Irvin Westheimer,founder of Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association in 1910
Mike Kernish, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association President
Penny and Julius Kassar are thrilled to announce the arrivalof their new granddaughter.
The baby girl was born January 17, 2011 to Courtney andRichard Kassar, and she has an older sister, Claire.
A N N O U N C E M E N TS
Frieda BergerFraida bat Raizel
Daniel EliyahuDaniel ben Tikvah
Edith KaffemanYehudit bat B’racha
Roma KaltmanRuchama bat Perl
Pepa KaufmanPerel Tova bat Sima Sora
Murray KirschnerChaim Meir ben Basha
Ravid SulamRavid Chaya bat Ayelet
Edward ZivRaphael Eliezer Aharon
ben Esther Enya
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8485 RIDGE ROAD, CINCINNATI, OHIO 45236
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 CINCINNATI JEWISH LIFE 13
Mike Whiteman and his Little Brother Josh Bruce Baker, Past President of Jewish Family Service Mike Schwartz,President of Jewish Family Service, Hank Schneider
Dick Westheimer, grandson of Irvin Westheimer,founder of Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association in 1910
Kevin Keefe and his Little Brother Noah
Mike Schwartz, President of Jewish Family Service, Bruce Baker Past Presidentof Jewish Family Service, Zell Schulman, Hank Schneider
Steve Coppel and his "little Brother" David Krumme
Big Brothers/Big Sisters 100th Anniversary Celebration
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COMDINING OUT14
By Marilyn GaleDining Editor
There is a saying that older isbetter. In antiques, wines, and somecheeses, I suppose that is correct.Restaurants that have endured over100 years are few and far between.At over 100 years old, Izzy’s is aCincinnati icon, where corned beefis king and the sandwich is an artform. Leave it to our Queen City tobe an adopted birthplace of thecorned beef sandwich.
“Hurry Back… Got the rent topay. – Izzy Kadetz.” This line isfeatured in the margins of the takeout menu. The restaurant is knownfor its characters as well as charm.Those of us who have lived inCincinnati for thirty years or morecan recall Izzy, with his boomingvoice and very large grin, makinghuge deli sandwiches. The smalldowntown eatery overflowed withcustomers, many standing againstthe walls waiting for those lus-cious potato pancakes or matzoball soup. The Kadetz familybrought corned beef to Cincinnatiin 1901. Initially Russian immi-grants, they first arrived in NewYork and then moved to theCincinnati area at the turn of thetwentieth century.
I met with John Geisen, presi-dent and CEO of Izzy Kadetz, Inc.A congenial man, originally fromNorthern Kentucky and in theconstruction business, he proudlytold me he has been with the com-pany for 29 years. He met the fam-ily while doing home remodelingfor them.
I asked Geisen what he thoughtwas the secret to Izzy’s long-termsuccess. Geisen replied, “A com-mitment to food, quality, service,adaptability to change with thetimes, expanded menus, andupgrades in location and stores.”Izzy’s has nine locations in theGreater Cincinnati area, includingtwo in Northern Kentucky. TheMadisonville location has a drive-through to facilitate a smoother,more customer friendly carry out,eliminating outside waiting linesin unpredictable weather. Izzy’sbrand pickles and breads are nowavailable at Kroger’s.
“Izzy’s has an obligation topersevere,” said Geisen. “Today’smarket challenges are rapid andthe restaurant business is a contin-ual balance between cost and prof-it. We work with small margins.”Attention to detail is crucial, andIzzy’s has managed to thrive withits simple legacy of hands on hardwork and pride in its product. Nodoubt, Geisen’s forthright enthusi-asm was an integral factor in theKadetz family’s decision to puthim in the leadership position.
The menu is a sandwich lover’s
dream. Famous corned beef, arobust beauty, is served on a choiceof bread. Most hard-core eaterswould opt for rye, but I bet pumper-nickel is a close second. Servedwith a mammoth potato pancakeand pickles, it is a bargain at $6.90for whole and $5.90 for half sand-wiches. Izzy’s famous Reuben is lipsmacking, loaded with corned beefand sauerkraut. Jeff Ruby, wellknown Cincinnati restaurateur, hascreated his own one of a kind dou-ble decker sandwich consisting ofrye bread, cole slaw, roast beef, ryebread, roasted turkey, choppedliver, thousand Island dressingtopped with rye bread. Open wideand enjoy. Other deli choices arepastrami, beef tongue, salami; thepossibilities are endless for mouth-watering sandwiches.
Vegetarians do not despair.Izzy’s is in touch with the times.There are “veggie Reubens” – aspicy delight mix which is a spe-cial blend of minced olives, sweetpeppers, garlic, herbs and spiceswith diced fresh tomatoes piledhigh then smothered in sauerkrautand melted imported Swiss cheeseon a rye roll. Or try old-fashionedegg salad, add cheese, and eat it onan onion roll, bagel or rye bread.
Beer is available at some Izzy’slocations. Beverages alwaysinclude Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda.If you still have room in your bellyfor dessert, there are three kinds ofcheesecake on the menu: plain,chocolate chip and cherry.
Izzy’s also provides cateringoptions. The boxed lunch for $8.00per person is served with choice ofsandwich, chips, pickles, cookieand condiments. Be a hit at anyparty or late-night poker game, andorder the sandwich tray at $7.00per person. For only $2.00 extraper person, potato pancake, pastasalad, cole slaw and macaroni andpotato salads are added.
Izzy’s is more than a Cincinnatiicon. It is an enduring eatery that iscomplete with charm and charac-ter. Geisen talked about the con-cept of Reubenista specialist. Thetask of Izzy’s management team isto develop and nurture their sand-wich makers into creating a culi-nary art form. Geisen said, “If itlooks good, it will likely tastegood.” In my opinion, Izzy’s hasreached that goal.
Izzy’s800 Elm Street513-721-4241
612 Main Street513-241-6246
5098B Glencrossing Way513-347-9699
1198 Smiley Avenue513-825-3888
300 Madison, Covington859-292-0065
Izzy’s—where corned beef is king
(Clockwise) John Geisen is your host; Remodeled, friendly atmosphere is a treat for downtownshoppers, Cincinnati visitors and business lunches; Mounds of corned beef and saurkraut on freshrye bread with the famous potato pancake is mouth watering.
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COMOPINION16
DebbieFriedman: AnAppreciation
Worship inside many Americansynagogues used to be, in a word,boring.
Until a generation ago, the con-gregation had little to no participa-tion in the service, trapped betweena professional choir that smotheredworshippers with unsingable musi-cal selections and a rabbi who readnearly all the prayers.
Calling it a passive experiencewould be generous.
The music could be particularlypainful — liturgical imports thatmimicked the classical stylings ofEuropean baroque, or pompouscantors whose operatic-like ariaswere rooted in the somber tonesand bitter history of EasternEurope.
And then along came DebbieFriedman.
Friedman, who died Sunday(Jan. 9) at the tender age of 59,grew up listening to legendary folksingers including Peter Yarrow,Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. Aftershe picked up her guitar, AmericanJewish life would — thankfully —never be the same.
Surprisingly, Friedman couldnot read music, but neither couldIrving Berlin, another acknowl-edged Jewish master of Americanpopular music. She taught herselfto play the guitar, and the texts andprayers she set to music perma-nently shattered the staid inert lifeof American Jewish worship.
Not surprisingly, at first somerabbis and cantors dismissed hermusic as shallow. But Friedmantriumphed because her “superfi-cial” music had an unlikely ally:the thousands of young Jewishcampers in the 1970s and 1980swho sang her songs around count-less bonfires.
My daughter (now a rabbi her-self) was one of those youngcampers who felt the emotionaland religious power of Friedman’smany compositions; they are thesame ones my granddaughter nowsings at her summer camp.
When the young campersreturned to their synagogues, theydemanded Friedman’s music beincluded in the “adult” services.
When those same campersassumed leadership positions inthe American Jewish community,they brought Friedman’s musicwith them. The ballads andmelodies once rejected as hollowbecame a key component of serv-ices, conventions and other publicassemblies.
Some have comparedFriedman to Edith Piaf, the Frenchchanteuse whose artistry, likeFriedman’s, also brought audi-ences to tears. While Piaf sangabout romantic love, regret andloss, Friedman sang about the joyof spirituality and the love for herpeople and all humanity.
Scholars and music critics willno doubt analyze Friedman’smusic for its theology or musicalquality. But in many ways, none ofthat matters. The verdict hasalready been reached. Friedmanwas an authentic original who, likethe Psalmist King David, is alreadya revered “sweet singer in Israel.”
The reason for her success andacceptance is obvious. A person,even someone born with tin ears,can easily and fervently sing hermelodies. Friedman transformedbiblical and liturgical texts from theoriginal Hebrew into understand-able (and singable) English. Whileout-of-sight professional choirs areon the wane in most synagogues,the visible “people of God” aresinging new songs — Friedman’ssongs — unto their Creator.
Standing with her guitar ineither Carnegie Hall in a solo con-cert or at an outdoor camp syna-gogue, Friedman projected a joyand a love of God and Judaism. Heraudiences joined in, often in tears.
Even though Friedman nolonger walks and sings among us,her music lives on.
When we seek God’s physicalor emotional healing, we listen toher haunting “Mishebayrach,” hermost popular composition. Whenviolence, war and destruction over-whelm us, we listen to her rendi-tion of “Oseh Shalom,” an ancientprayer for peace. And when wecommence a journey or near theend of our earthly lives,Friedman’s “Traveler’s Prayer”goes with us.
Friedman’s earthly sojourn wasmuch too short, but I want tobelieve she is still singing, albeit toa different congregation.
Rabbi Rudin is the AmericanJewish Committee's senior interre-ligious adviser, and publishedauthor.
Point of ViewBy Rabbi James A. Rudin LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Do you have something to say? E-mail your letter to [email protected]
Dear Editor,
The Jewish CommunityRelations Council of the JewishFederation of Cincinnati (JCRC)is deeply saddened and disturbedby the tragic January 8, 2011shooting in Arizona that causedthe deaths of six innocent peopleand wounded 14 others, includ-ing Representative GabrielleGiffords. We join in our nation’smourning for 9-year-oldChristina Green, DorothyMorris, Federal Judge John Roll,Phyllis Schneck, DorwanStoddard, and congressionalstaffer Gabriel Zimmerman.
The JCRC and JewishFederation of Cincinnati extendour continued thoughts andprayers for the complete healingof Representative Giffords andthe other individuals who werewounded. We grieve with thosewho have lost family membersand friends.
Gary Greenberg, President;Jessica Baron, Vice President;
Steve Shifman, Vice President;Arna Poupko Fisher, Immediate
Past President; and Gal AdamSpinrad, Associate Director
Dear Editor,
The Obama administrationrecently proposed a new regula-tion that would reimburse doc-
tors for discussing end of lifeadvance care planning with theirMedicare patients. The proposalwas opposed by Agudath Israeland others as an attempt to pushelderly patients into agreeing tosign advance care medical direc-tives that would allow caregiversto “pull the plug” on incapacitat-ed patients. In response to theprotests, the administrationannounced yesterday that it waswithdrawing the regulation.
Agudath Israel of Americaformally submitted comments onthe proposed regulation earlierthis week to the United StatesDepartment of Health andHuman Services.
Abba Cohen, vice presidentfor federal government affairsand Washington director andcounsel, and Mordechai Biser,general counsel, wrote that whileAgudah supports the concept ofencouraging everyone to makeadvance care planning decisions,the organization had serious con-cerns about how the proposedregulation, as worded, will beimplemented. “Our great con-cern,” they wrote, “is that elderlyindividuals may find themselvessubject to pressure from theirphysician to execute an advancecare directive that may not con-firm to those individuals’ truewishes, and in fact may contra-dict their deeply-held religiousor moral views on end-of-lifehealth care.”
Agudath Israel also expressedconcern about the range ofoptions that may be presented topatients under the proposed regu-lation. “Since the regulation doesnot provide any clear direction asto what options should be dis-cussed, the option to receivemedical treatment and life sup-port could be ignored while theoption to terminate medical treat-ment and life support could bestressed as the only viable alter-native in certain circumstances.”
“The bottom line,” stated theattorneys, “is that many healthcare decisions, particularly thosethat involve withdrawing or notproviding various forms of careand treatment, are fundamentallyethical decisions and not medicaldecisions. Individuals should befree to make their own choicesabout these deeply personalissues rather than being pres-sured by doctors into makingchoices that conform to the doc-tor’s personal preferences.”
In response to the protests ofAgudath Israel and many othergroups, the administrationannounced [recently] that it wasdropping the regulation. RabbiChaim Dovid Zwiebel, executivevice president of Agudath Israel,stated that “a potential threat tothe elderly in our community hasthus been averted.”
Agudath Israel of AmericaNew York, N.Y.
1. Whom did the Children of Israelapproach to seek G-d?a) Mosheb) Aaronc) Priests
2. Chapter 20:5 lists how many negativecommandments concerning idolatry?a) Oneb) Two c) Three
3. In which commandment is Hashemdescribed as “jealous”
a) Honor of parentsb) Prohibition of theftc) Prohibition of idolatry
4. Which commandment does Hashempromise kindness?a) Prohibition of idolatryb) Remembering Shabbatc) Honoring parents
5. How are the Ten Commandments divided?a) One group of tenb) Two groups of fivec) Ten separate
ANSWERS1. A. 18:15-16. Moshe taught not only laws but also prayed for the sickand even helped find a lost item. Ramban.2. B. The prohibition of bowing is even the intent is to mock the idol.The prohibition of worship is even if the way of worship is ridiculous. SeferHachinuch
3. C. 20:5. Hashem is not forgiving of idol worship. Rashi4. A. 20:6. Hashem will pay back good deeds up to 2000 generations,500 times more than a sin. Rashi.5. B. This question is not answered openly in the Parsha. Ramban verse13 says the first five are between Man and Hashem and the second fiveare between Man and Man.
THIS WEEK’S PORTION: YITRO (SHMOT 18:1—20:23)
Written by Rabbi Dov Aaron Wise
TEST YOUR TORAH KNOWLEDGE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011
Efrat, Israel - “You must be therepresentative of the nation toGod; and you shall bring theirissues to God” (Exodus 18:19).
The most seminal event inJewish history, the miracle whichinformed, inspired and inflamedour people with passionate com-mitment to ethical monotheism,was the Revelation at Sinai. Howstrange that the Biblical portionwhich details this phenomenon isnamed Yitro – after Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, a Midianite priest.What did Jethro / Yitro do todeserve such a signal honor?
The Bible records Jethro’scontribution even before it givesus the content of the Revelation.According to Rashi, who cites theSifrei, our text changes thechronological order by providingJethro’s advice for a judicial struc-ture even before the Israelites hadreceived the legal code by whichMoses would judge them.Apparently, the Torah believesthat Jethro’s advice was crucial forthe implementation of the DivineLaw into daily life.
What did Jethro teach Mosesand Israel? Jethro sees his son-in-law standing every day frommorning to evening, judging thevarious disputes of the Hebrewswho come “to seek out God,”deciding “between a person andhis neighbor,” informing each of“the statutes of God and His laws”(Exodus 18:13-16). The Midianitesheikh, speaking from a lifetimeof experience, recognizes animpossible situation: “What youare doing is not good; you willwear yourself out as well as thisnation that is with you” (ibid, 17-19) Jethro warns his son-in-lawthat he will never manage to dealwith the enormous case loadalone, and the people will growimpatient waiting in line!
Jethro then suggests thatMoses find “men of valor, God-fearing people of truth whodespise ill-gotten gain” and willestablish district courts. Thesepeople, who are financially andconstitutionally able to resist thepressures of the wealthy and pow-erful, will arbitrate the daily dis-putes which can plague a nationcommitted to compassionate
righteousness and moral justice.But Jethro does much more
than design a more manageablejudicial “pecking order”; he actu-ally defines Moses’s position asleader, setting the stage for theHebraic version of Plato’sphilosopher king. Moses under-stood the paramount importanceof the Law for the development ofthe people. He also understoodthat since God had chosen him asthe Lawgiver, each Israelite expe-rienced personal contact with himas if it were contact with God.Moses was willing to stand frommorning to night adjudicatingindividual cases because he real-ized that each client was actually“seeking God” (ibid 15).
Jethro understands that such asituation cannot last. He therefore,explains to his son-in-law that hedoes not have the luxury of lead-ing like a Rebbe, who deals witheach individual and their prob-lems; instead, he must lead like aRav – an exalted teacher whobrings the Divine Word to thenation as a whole, and serves as itsinterlocutor and defense attorneybefore God.
Moses must speak with thevoice of the Divine, and his mouthmust express the words and will ofthe Divine; “clarify the decreesand the laws for [the nation] andshow them the path they must takeand the things they must do” (ibid19, 20). He must be MosheRabbenu, a halachic teacher,
guide and king who operateswholesale rather than retail; a Ravand Torah teacher for all genera-tions, rather than a Rebbe for theindividuals of one generation.Such a vocation would makeMoses a man of God (Ish Ha-Elohim) rather than a man of thepeople. It might lead to more crit-icism, and even to impudent andungrateful rebellions, but it wouldallow him more time with Godand enable his intellect to fusewith the Intellect of the Divine(Maimonides, Guide for thePerplexed).
There was one detail in whichMoses differed from Jethro. TheMidianite priest suggested that allthe great (big) matters be broughtto Moses, and all small matters bejudged by lesser courts (ibid 22);Moses re-interpreted his words tostate that the difficult issues bebrought to him whereas the simplercases be judged by the magistrates.
Moses taught that the highestcourt was needed for the difficultquestions of Law, but not neces-sarily for simpler cases whichhappened to involve a great dealof money. As Moses initiallyexplained to God, he was a man ofweighty, theological and religio-legal speech rather than someonegiven to small talk.
Shabbat Shalom Shlomo Riskin Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone Chief Rabbi — Efrat Israel
SHABBAT SHALOM: PARSHAT YITRO • EXODUS 18:1-20:23
Sedra of the WeekBy Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
JEWISH LIFE 17
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Jethro then suggests that Moses
find “men of valor, God-fearing
people of truth who despise ill-gotten
gain” and will establish district
courts. These people, who are
financially and constitutionally able
to resist the pressures of the wealthy
and powerful, will arbitrate the daily
disputes which can plague a nation
committed to compassionate
righteousness and moral justice.
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COM
By Nate BloomContributing Columnist
PORTMAN PINNACLESSometimes the stars align and
an actress seems to be at a public-ity apex. Such is the case withNATALIE PORTMAN, 29.Everyone has heard she is preg-nant and engaged. As I write this,it looks like she’ll win the GoldenGlobe for “The Black Swan”—and it’s a pretty sure bet she willget a best actress Oscar nomina-tion for “Swan.” Her new indiefilm, “The Other Woman,” inwhich she plays a Jewish lawyerin a romantic/dramatic triangle, isnow available for on-demandviewing on most cable/satellitesystems. And—opening in the-aters on Friday, Jan. 21, is “NoStrings Attached,” Portman’s firstromantic comedy.
Portman plays Emma, a doctorwho works incredibly long hoursat a hospital. She chances to runinto an old friend, Adam (AshtonKutcher). One night, Adam getssome devastating news—his“jerky” father (Kevin Kline) isdating an ex-girlfriend of Adam’s.Adam gets drunk, crashes atEmma’s, and one thing leads toanother—Adam and Emma getromantically involved. In order toprotect their friendship—theymake a pact—they can see eachother—but with no stringsattached—those strings beingthings like jealousy or love. But,as you can guess, keeping thispact is tough.
“Strings” is directed and co-written by IVAN REITMAN.Reitman was born (1946) inCzechoslovakia to Jewish parents.His mother was an Auschwitz sur-vivor and his father was a fighter inthe Czech anti-Nazi underground.They fled from CommunistCzechoslovakia in 1949. Theyevaded Czech border guards andslipped into Austria, a Cold Warneutral. The family immigrated toCanada and settled in Toronto in1950. As Reitman tells the story—the Austrian border guards hadorders not to anger the Russians byletting most Czechs cross intoAustria. However, in a rareAustrian gesture of regret for theircountry’s role in the Holocaust—the guards were told to let intoAustria the very few Jews whotried to cross. Reitman’s parentstold the Austrian guards they wereJewish. The guards said prove it.So, they did the first thing theycould think of—they pulled downIvan’s pants (he was a toddler) andshowed them that Ivan was cir-cumcised! Virtually no non-JewishCzechs are circumcised; so theguards believed them and let themin. I guess you could call it a mira-cle bris.
Reitman had a string of hits inthe ‘80s including “Ghostbusters,”“Stripes” and “Kindergarten Cop.”However, he hasn’t had a hit,sadly, since the 1993 comedy,“Dave,” which starred KevinKline. Maybe “Strings” will endhis dry spell. Meanwhile, his son,of whom he is vocally proud, isJASON REITMAN, 33. Jasonhas had three hits with his firstthree films (“Thank You forSmoking,” “Juno,” and “Up in theAir.”). By the way, I am virtuallycertain that Olivia Thirlby, 24,who plays Portman’s sister in“Strings,” is the daughter of aJewish mother/non-Jewish father.Her breakthrough role came in“Juno,” playing Juno’s funny bestfriend.
BLOOMING IN THEKING’S SPEECH
The British film, “The King’sSpeech,” is now a certified criticaland box-office hit and is playingin theaters across the country. Asyou probably heard, it is about thestammering problem of KingGeorge VI (the father of QueenElizabeth II) and how he partiallyovercame that problem with thehelp of an unorthodox therapist.As I previously wrote, the originalscreenplay is by DAVID SEI-DLER, 73, an American Jew whowas born in England. He and hisEnglish Jewish parents left forAmerica in 1940 to escape theNazi bombing blitz.
It isn’t a big role—but look forveteran English Jewish actressCLAIRE BLOOM, who is aboutto turn 80, as Queen Mary, themother of George VI. The real-life Queen Mary personified thelook and manner stereotypicallyassociated with the British aris-tocracy. Bloom has long beenable to pull-off such aristocraticgentile roles, despite the fact thatall four of her grandparents werepoor Jewish immigrants fromEastern Europe. She once saidthat she was tickled when earlycritical notices described her as a“perfect English rose.”
ENJOYDuring a week of bad news
(DEBBIE FRIEDMAN’sdeath/the Arizona shooting)—onething really brightened my day.After being off youtube for a longtime—a tape of JENNIFERGREY singing “Duvid Crockett:the King of Delancey Street,” hasre-appeared. This mostly Yiddishparody song was penned byGrey’s grandfather, comedianMICKEY KATZ (who was thefather of musical actor JOELGREY, Jennifer’s dad). JenniferGrey is a revelation on this tape—so charming, funny and musical—check it out—you’ll smile.
Jewz in the Newz FROM THE PAGES
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Bingannounce the engagement of theirdaughter, Sylvia, to Mr. Samuel J.Wolf, of Piqua, O.
Mrs. Selma Auer and daughtersFlorence and Rita, have returned fromCleveland, where they visited daugh-ter and sister, Mrs. L. A. Weisenberg.
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Lederer enter-tained at dinner Sunday, the presidentsof the Louisville and Cincinnati
Sections of the Jewish Juniors, Messrs.Alfred Strauss and Louis P. Mann.
Morris Adler, President of theFairmount Woolen Mills, and uncle ofJoseph Adler, United StatesCommissioner, died late Friday night,January 13, at his residence in Flat 6,Granada Building, Avondale, at the ageof 61 years. He had been sick for sever-al years. Mr. Adler was born inGermany and came to Cincinnati at five
years of age. After being educated in thepublic schools here he went to work inthe Fairmount Woolen Mills, which hadbeen started by his father in 1867. He issuvived by his widow, who was for-merly Miss Carrie Baer, of Hillsboro,Ohio. The funeral, which was largelyattended, took place Sunday afternoon.Dr. Grossmann delivered the funeralsermon at the Chapel of the UnitedJewish Cemetery. — January 19, 1911
100 Years Ago
Mrs. Arthur Lelyveld is a directorof the Cincinnati Actors’ Guild, whichwill present a number of plays beforethe Guild, and later, for the public.Among those taking part in the forth-coming productions are Miss ElsieWestheimer, Mrs. Sidney Rosenberg,and Mr. Maurice W. Jacobs.
Sailing on the SS Statendam for aWest Indies cruise Friday, Feb. 7th, willbe Mrs. Alva W. Goldsmith, Jr., MissEmma Frank and Mrs. Milford G. Fox.
McKenna, Mayer and Mielziner,new firm of Broadway producers, soonwill present its first play, “Correspondent
Unknown.” The McKenna is Mr.Kenneth McKenna. The Mielziner is Mr.Jo Mielziner. They are brothers, sons ofthe late Mr. Leo Mielziner, Cincinnatianand artist, and nephews of Mr. Ben LeoMielziner, 945 Burton Avenue.
Louis Hauser, 3258 BurnetAvenue, passed away Saturday, Jan.18th. Services were held from WeilFuneral Home on Sunday, Jan. 19th.Surviving Mr. Hauser are two broth-ers, Ike and David Hauser, and twosisters, Mrs. Lester Hirshberg andMrs. Pauline Hirshberg.
Samuel Greenwood, 63, of 878
Clinton Springs Avenue, widelyknown in Cincinnati business andfraternal circles, passed away atJewish Hospital Saturday Jan. 18th.
Mr. Greenwood was president ofthe Midwest Tobacco Co., 335 W.Fifth Street, and a member of theB’nai B’rith, Eagles and Elks.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.Jennie Greenwood, two sons, Earl andEugene, and a daughter, Mrs. RuthLevitch. Services were held from WeilFuneral Home, Rabbi David Philipsonofficiating. Interment was in UnitedJewish Cemetery. —January 23, 1936
75 Years Ago
Wise Temple will install the fol-lowing officers at its annual congrega-tional dinner-meeting this Saturday,Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m., at Wise Center:
Melville J. Dunkelman, president;Justin Friedman, vice president;Morris J. Leher, secretary; James M.Levy, treasurer.
Isaac N. Jarson, 3830 WashingtonAvenue, passed away Sunday Jan. 15,at the age of 62.
He was co-founder of CincinnatiPepsi-Cola Bottling Works. He had
been in the soft drink business since1914. In 1925 he and Walter L. Grossfounded the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.,here. They expanded to Portsmouth,Ripley, and Hamilton, O., andLexinton, Ky. They disposed of theCincinnati plant in 1955 but retainedthe other four.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.Esther Max Jarson; a daughter, Mrs.Stanley Kaplan; two brothers, Reubenof Indianapolis, and Sam, ofCincinnati; four sisters, Mrs. Reuben
Kravitz of Ft. Thomas, Ky., Mrs. SamWiener, Mrs. Gustav Linder and Mrs.Charles Statman, all of Cincinnati; abrother-in-law, Harry Max, and threegrandchildren.
Robert I. Westheimer, active in civicand humanitarian affairs, was electedboard chairman of the CommunityHealth and Welfare Council today.
He succeeds Rep. Robert Taft, Jr.,who resigned because of the electionas Republican floor leader in the OhioHouse. — January 19, 1961
50 Years Ago
Robert M. Blatt was re-electedpresident of the Jewish Federation atthe 89th annual meeting Jan. 19th atRockdale Temple. The meting also fea-tured a tribute to Harold “Pat”Goldberg for his 34 years of communi-ty service, including 13 years as execu-tive vice president of the Federation.
Also re-elected were Stanley M.Chesley, vice- president; William M.Freedman, vice- president; Robert V.Goldstein, vice- president; ErnstFrankel, treasurer; Mitchell Gaswirth,assistant treasurer; Carolyn Saeks, sec-retary; Dolph Berman, assistant secre-
tary. Philip M. Meyers Jr., campaignchairman, was elected vice- president.
Re-elected as 1986 trustees frombeneficiary agencies: Fred Abel,Gloria Haffer, Dr. Bernard Hertzman,Dr. Myer Horowitz, Barry Kohn,Joshua Minkove, Dr. Lee Rosenberg,Jack Rubenstein, Harry Sudman, andDr. Bruce Younger.
Re-elected for a two-year term astrustees from the community-at-large:Dr. O. Daniel Fox, Harold Freeman,Franklyn Harkavy, Bill Katz, MortonRabkin, Richard Weiland.
Walter Rubel of Hollywood, Fla.,
formerly of Cincinnati, passed awayJan. 18.
Mr. Rubel had been president ofthe former Rubel Baking Co., foundedby his grandfather, Elias Rubel, in thelate 1880s. Elias Rubel had five sons,all of whom worked in the bakery.Walter Rubel was the last member ofthe family participating in the compa-ny’s operation. It was sold in the 1970s.
He is survived by a daughter,Barbara Rubel Pike, and two grand-sons, Jason and Anthony Pike.
He was the husband of the lateDorothea Rubel. — January 23, 1986
25 Years Ago
Michael Fisher, chairman ofPremier Manufacturing SupportServices, Inc., will soon become pres-ident of the Greater CincinnatiChamber of Commerce. He replacesJohn P. Williams, who will retireMarch 2 after 16 years as president.
“Michael Fisher brings so muchto the Chamber,” said Thomas G.Cody, executive vice president ofFederated Department Stores and2001 Chamber chair. “He has been onthe front line of business. He took
over a three-year-old business andgrew it into an international company.People who know him and who haveworked with him use words like ‘peo-ple-centered,’ ‘customer-focused’ and‘performance driven’ to describe him.His background and his philosophiesmake him an ideal person to head anorganization that is in the business ofserving member businesses andworking collaboratively with othersin the community.”
Samuel Clayton, 87, passed away
December 30, 2000. Mr. Clayton wasborn in Cincinnati and was the son ofthe late Morris and Mamie (Mason)Clayton. He is survived by his wife,Lucille Clayton, and his children,Susan Clayton and Karen and AndrewStillpass. Other survivors include agrandchild, Zoe Stillpass, and a broth-er and his spouse, Bernard and MurielClayton. Mr. Clayton is also survivedby a sister-in-law, Helen Clayton, whowas the wife of his later brother,Albert Clayton. —January 18, 2001
10 Years Ago
JEWZ IN THE NEWZ18
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 CLASSIFIEDS 19
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
COMMUNITY ORGANIZACOMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONSTIONSBig Brothers/Big Sisters Assoc.(513) 761-3200 • bigbrobigsis.orgBeth Tevilah Mikveh Society(513) 821-6679Camp Ashreinu(513) 702-1513Camp at the J(513) 722-7226 • mayersonjcc.orgCamp Livingston(513) 793-5554 • camplivingston.comCedar Village(513) 754-3100 • cedarvillage.orgChevra Kadisha(513) 396-6426Halom House(513) 791-2912 • halomhouse.comHillel Jewish Student Center(513) 221-6728 • hillelcincinnati.orgJewish Community Center(513) 761-7500 • mayersonjcc.orgJewish Community Relations Council(513) 985-1501Jewish Family Service(513) 469-1188 • jfscinti.orgJewish Federation of Cincinnati(513) 985-1500 • shalomcincy.orgJewish Foundation(513) 792-2715Jewish Information Network(513) 985-1514Jewish Vocational Service(513) 985-0515 • jvscinti.orgKesher(513) 766-3348Plum Street Temple HistoricPreservation Fund(513) 793-2556The Center for Holocaust& Humanity Education(513) 487-3055 • holocaustandhumanity.orgVaad Hoier(513) 731-4671Workum Fund(513) 899-1836 • workum.org
copies of their announcements toshare and save for scrapbooks andan online story they can link to onFacebook and e-mail.
At The American IsraeliteOnline, people will also be able toupload photos and videos of theirevents and announcements forfree.
From the website, it will beeasy to learn more about eventsand news. The American IsraeliteOnline will feature clickable linksto connect you directly with syna-gogues, organizations and adver-tisers.
Readers can connect to us onFacebook. While you learn aboutwhat’s new with your friends andfamily, you will also be able toknow what’s going on in the entireCincinnati Jewish community.“Like” us today and you’ll knowwhen the website goes live, andyou’ll be more connected to local,national and international news.
The American Israelite Onlinewill be the place to go to keep up-to-date on Cincinnati’s Jewishnews from organizations, syna-gogues, and community and socialevents. Please call us or e-mail usif you would like to participate inthis opportunity.
WEBSITE from page 1
To make the downtown classeseven more convenient, Wise willprovide students with the opportu-nity to purchase lunch providedthat they place their order by theTuesday before each Thursday
class. Lunch can be paid for at theclass. After registering for the pro-gram, participants will receivemore information about the lunchoffered, or people may also bringtheir own lunch.
Register online or call AnnePowers at the temple office.
WISE from page 1
On Sunday, Feb. 27, theMayerson JCC will host itsSummer Job Fair from 1–3 p.m.,for positions including camp coun-selors, camp specialists, certifiedlifeguards, and swim instructors.At the Summer Job Fair, teensentering grades 11 or 12 can applyfor junior counselor positions, andapplicants ages 16 and older canapply for the certified lifeguard orcertified swim instructor positions.High school graduates and olderare eligible for positions as a sen-ior counselor, camp office admin-
istrator or camp specialist in theareas of art and crafts, nature, songleading and sports. Resumes arehelpful but not required, as atten-dees can fill out job applications atthe fair or download them from theJCC website. All Camp at the Jpositions require a seven-weekcommitment (June 20–July 29)with additional earning opportuni-ties at the JCC one-week specialtycamps, Aug. 1–19.
For more information aboutteen programs, events, and facili-ties at the JCC, contact DannyMeisterman, youth and teen coor-dinator.
JCC from page 3
In 2009, a Birthright-fundedstudy by Brandeis University foundthat participants in the program were57 percent more likely to marryother Jews and 30 percent more like-ly to view raising Jewish children as“very important.”
As Birthright’s numbers grow,the level of Jewish engagement ofparticipants tends to decline, whichcould dilute that largely rosy picture.But Len Saxe, the Brandeis profes-sor who directed the 2009 study,said further research shows that theimpact of Birthright doesn’t changeeven if the participants come from
less Jewishly engaged backgrounds.“It really doesn’t matter exactly
what the mix is,” Saxe told JTA.“You still have the Birthright effect.”
Expanding the range of thateffect now depends in large measureon how much money Aronson andhis staff can wring from the pocketsof American Jews, a task sure to becomplicated by a still uncertain eco-nomic climate.
“It’s going to take a lot of hardwork, a lot of effort,” Aronson said.“When I see the results of BirthrightIsrael, and the product in effect thatwe create for our young people, I amvery optimistic that the AmericanJewish community will respond.”
BIRTHRIGHT from page 6
THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COMARTS & ENTERTAINMENT20
One of the longest-running one-man comedy shows in history, SteveSolomon’s “My Mother’s Italian,My Father’s Jewish, and I’m inTherapy,” is coming to the Aronoff
Center for the Arts Feb. 11–13.The play tells the story of
Steve’s wild and wacky, but won-derful, family: Mom, Dad,Grandma Angelina, Grandpa
Harry, Bubbie, aunts, Uncle Vito,cousins, Macho Carmine andeveryone in between whose solepurpose in life is to drive Solomoninto therapy. And, they succeeded.
His hysterical adventures and thecharacters he brings to life onstage are not to be believed.
The show runs Friday, Feb. 11,at 8 p.m., Feb. 12, at 2 and 8 p.m.,
and Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. in the JarsonKaplan Theater at the Aronoff.Tickets are on sale now and can bepurchased through the Aronoffticket office.
‘My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish,and I’m in Therapy’ comes to the Aronoff
Gabriel Zimmerman, 30; PhyllisSchenk, 79; Dorothy Morris, 76; andDorwan Stoddard, 76. Zimmerman,a native Tucsonan, was widelyreported as being Jewish, althoughhe was not.
“It’s shocking something likethis would happen in our town,”Rodney Glassman, a former U.S.Democratic Senate candidate, said.“Gabby and I shared a really strongenjoyment of being out with con-stituents. This hits really close tohome.”
At candlelight vigils outside ofGiffords’ congressional office, at thehospital in which she is recovering,and at local synagogues and otherhouses of worship, the communityexpressed agony over Saturday’sviolence.
Congregation Chaverim, whereGiffords is a member, held a healingservice Sunday morning with morethan 150 people attending. Some sixTucson Police Department cars wereon the scene, with officers providingsecurity. Chaverim’s RabbiStephanie Aaron officiated at thecongresswoman’s marriage to Capt.Mark Kelly in 2007.
“Envision Gabby in her fullnesswith her radiant smile,” Aaron told
those at the service on Sunday. Cantorial soloist Lori Sumberg
led the congregation in a song ofhealing, saying, “When we have nomore words we let music take us toa different place.”
Congregants also stood andrecited the names of shooting vic-tims or family members in a prayerfor healing.
As part of the service, MelanieNelson of the Pima CountyInterfaith Council spoke, notingGiffords’ support of the organiza-tion. “We must heal the divisivenessin this country,” she said. “Gabby’salways been a fighter and it’s up tous to continue fighting for a differentlevel of conversation.”
“As Gabby always has, may welisten,” Aaron said at the end of theone-hour service. “May we see eachone as a shining human being whohas a purpose in the universe. Maythese prayers reach our Tucson, ourcountry, our world. It’s time to seewhat we hold together and find ourcommon ground.”
On Saturday evening, TempleEmanu-El held a prayer service ledby Rabbis Jason Holtz and RichardSafran and cantorial soloist MarjorieHochberg. More than 100 peopleattended.
“We are taught in Jewish tradi-
tion that each human being is creat-ed b’tzelem Elohim, in the image ofGod,” said a statement by SeniorRabbi Samuel M. Cohon, which wasread to the congregation because therabbi was out of town. “Today thoseimages were shattered,” Cohonwrote. “It is up to us to pick up thepieces, and to make of those brokenlives some holiness in our damagedcommunity.”
On Sunday morning, afterCongregation Chaverim’s healingservice, the Jewish Federation ofSouthern Arizona’s Women’sPhilanthropy “13 ExtraordinaryWomen Tell Their Secrets” eventtook place at the University Marriot.
Introducing the event, Jeff Katz,chairman of the JFSA, said, “Wecome together to grieve, to connectand to share the values that bind ustogether. Noting that the long-sched-uled event was planned as a light-hearted morning, he said, “While itmay seem hollow to laugh and cele-brate,” celebrating the strength ofour community would help moveparticipants forward and heal.
He added that during her firstcampaign for the U.S. House ofRepresentatives in 2004, Giffordssaid, “If you want something done,your best bet is to ask a Jewishwoman to do it,” and so it was
appropriate to celebrate the 13women “doers” honored at thebrunch.
Rabbi Thomas Louchheim ofCongregation Or Chadash gave anopening prayer, also referring toSaturday’s shooting. Aaron offered ahealing prayer at the close of theevent.
The federation issued a state-ment Monday “joining the greaterTucson area in mourning the loss oflife and praying for the speedyrecovery of those wounded in thesenseless acts of violence.” Thestatement noted that Jewish Family& Children’s Services of SouthernArizona could provide counselingfor individuals and families strug-gling with the aftermath ofSaturday’s rampage.
“Just as Gabby and her congres-sional staff worked tirelessly toimprove the quality of life, this trag-ic event reawakens our spirit to workharder and embrace our mission toimprove the quality of life here, inIsrael, and around the world,” saidStuart Mellan, JFSA president andCEO. “Specifically through ourJewish Community RelationsCouncil and other program arms ofthe Federation, we intend to re-dou-ble our efforts to encourage civil dis-course in our community leaders
and all those active in communitylife.”
On a personal note, Mellan toldthe Arizona Jewish Post that hiswife, “Nancy, worked for Gabby,adored her and her staff, includingGabe Zimmerman, who was a trulywonderful young man. Nancy toldme at that time of the belligerentbehavior that emerged during theTea Party protests outside Gabby’soffice, and how that spilled intointimidating behaviors toward thestaff regardless of how diligentlythey attempted to make constituentsfeel heard. This makes me evenmore certain that those who thinkthat there is no connection betweenthe vitriol and this act should recon-sider.”
The shock of Giffords’being tar-geted brought forth remembrancesof her first campaign in 2004.Heather Alberts said she hadn’tknown Giffords but agreed to hold aMeet and Greet on her patio thatspring.
“After hearing her magnificentpassion, engaging with her warmth,and recognizing her intellect, I justfell in love with her,” Alberts said.
Arizona Jewish Post ExecutiveEditor Phyllis Braun contributed tothis report.
TUSCON from page 1
understands its meaning.“Blood libel obviously means
being falsely accused of havingblood on your hands and in thiscase that’s exactly what was goingon,” Palin told Sean Hannity in theinterview.
Palin, a Fox guest contributor,also used the interview to con-demn the shooting and other actsof political violence, and to offerprayers for the victims.
The most recent Palin-relatedcontroversy echoes previousscrums revolving around thepotential GOP presidential candi-date, with critics arguing that shelacks the judgment, demeanor andsmarts of a commander in chief,and her defenders seeing suchslams as validation that she is justthe right person to put the liberalelites in their place.
Palin shows no signs of cedingthe spotlight, but it was liberalpoliticians and commentators whowere quick to put her in the centerof the story following the shoot-ing. Critics held Palin up as aprime example of violent political
rhetoric that could have con-tributed to the gunman’s rampage,pointing to a map on her websitethat used images of gun crosshairsto indicate districts targeted in lastyear’s midterm elections.
Giffords, who was shot andcritically injured in the shootingattack, was the incumbent in oneof the marked districts.
During her Jan. 12 video mes-sage, Palin defended herself,insisting that “especially withinhours of a tragedy unfolding, jour-nalists and pundits should notmanufacture a blood libel thatserves only to incite the veryhatred and violence they purportto condemn.”
Palin seemed to be conflatinggeneric calls to tone down therhetoric — including one fromClarence Dupnik, the PimaCounty sheriff who was leadingthe investigation — with a numberof attacks directly accusing her ofresponsibility. In fact, the debateabout rhetoric subsequent to theshooting did not hew to partylines, and liberal pundits wereamong those vigorously defendingPalin’s right to use strong rhetoric,
while conservatives were amongthose who suggested she neededto dial it down.
Palin’s reference to the ancientfiction that Jews killed children todrink their blood as part of a ritual— one that has inspired pogroms,massacres and attacks on Jewsthroughout the centuries and eventoday is referenced as fact in partsof the Arab world and the formerSoviet Union — set off alarm bells.
Jewish reaction ranged fromoutraged to uncomfortable todefensive.
“Instead of dialing down therhetoric at this difficult moment,Sarah Palin chose to accuse otherstrying to sort out the meaning ofthis tragedy of somehow engagingin a ‘blood libel’ against her andothers,” National JewishDemocratic Council PresidentDavid Harris said in a statementcondemning her remark. “PerhapsSarah Palin honestly does notknow what a blood libel is, or doesnot know of their horrific history;that is perhaps the most charitableexplanation we can arrive at inexplaining her rhetoric today.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center
and the Anti-Defamation Leaguerefused to endorse the notion thather actions may have contributedto the shooting, but they criticizedPalin’s use of the term “bloodlibel,” saying it was offensive toJewish sensibilities.
Jews for Sarah, a pro-Palingroup, defended Palin, a potentialRepublican presidential candidatefor 2012.
“Gov. Palin got it right, and weJews, of all people, should know ablood libel when we see one,”Jews for Sarah said. “Falselyaccusing someone of sheddingblood is a blood libel — whetherit’s the medieval Church accusingJews of baking blood in Passovermatzahs, or contemporary Muslimextremists accusing Israel ofslaughtering Arabs to harvest theirorgans, or political partisans blam-ing conservative political figuresand talk show hosts for the Tucsonmassacre.”
Within days, Dershowitz,Boteach and Koch also defendedPalin, supplying her allies withgrounds to argue that Jewishopinion was divided on her use ofthe term.
Whether Palin was justified inusing the term, even some conser-vatives objected to her releasingthe video on the same day of thenationally televised service inTucson to mourn the victims, prayfor the wounded and cheer thebystanders who tackled the gun-man and aided the injured.
Palin’s video did call for“common ground,” setting a tonethat would have jived perfectlywith the unity message PresidentObama delivered at the event — ifnot for the blood libel remark.
Obama’s speech earned wide-spread praise.
“What we cannot do is use thistragedy as one more occasion toturn on each other,” Obama said.“That we cannot do. As we discussthese issues, let each of us do sowith a good dose of humility.Rather than pointing fingers orassigning blame, let’s use thisoccasion to expand our moralimaginations, to listen to eachother more carefully, to sharpenour instincts for empathy andremind ourselves of all the waysthat our hopes and dreams arebound together.”
PALIN from page 1
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 AUTOS 21
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THE AMERICAN ISRAELITE ONLINE - MAKOR - THE SOURCE/CINCINNATI @ WWW.AMERICANISRAELITE.COMOBITUARIES22
HALBERSTEIN, Martin, age 85,died on December 27, 2010; 20Tevet 5771.
SHIFRES, Leonard D., age 84,died on January 10, 2011; 5 Shevat5771.
PIKOVSKY, Benjamin M., age85, died on January 12, 2011; 8Shevat 5771.
MILOV, Blima, age 61, died onJanuary 14, 2011; 9 Shevat 5771.
VAK, Svetlana, age 80, died onJanuary 14, 2011; 9 Shevat 5771.
SIMONS, Irvin, age 92, died onJanuary 17, 2011; 12 Shevat 5771
HALBERSTEIN, Martin
Martin Halberstein, age 85 ofCincinnati, died Monday,December 27, 2010 at theClermont Mercy Hospital inBatavia, Ohio. He was an engineerand a United States WWII Armyveteran. Mr. Halberstein was draft-ed into the Army at the age of 18and was in combat in Europe andparticipated in the Battle of theBulge where he was taken intocaptivity and became a POW forover a year. The devoted son of thelate Harry and Bertha (Paker)Halberstein, he was preceded indeath by one sister, RuthAbramowitz.
Mr. Halberstein is survived byone sister, Annette Robinson. Hewas a very loved and special uncleto his six nieces and nephews:Steve Robinson, Ron Robinson,Marlene Tang, of Woodland Hills,Calif., Shelley Katz of Potomac,Md., Paul Abramowitz ofCoralville, Iowa, and FredAbramowitz of Boston, Mass.; 13great-nieces and nephews and onegreat-great-niece.
Graveside services will be heldat 2 p.m. on Friday, January 21,
2011 at the Arlington NationalCemetary in Washington, D.C.
BARTEL, Dr. Philip Frederick
Dr. Philip Frederick Bartel,born June 7, 1940 in MiddletownOhio, died December 28, 2010 inSanta Fe, N.M. Dr. Bartel was theson of Sam Bartel and DorisCiener Bartel.
He made his parents so proudby becoming a podiatrist, and hehoned his craft for over fourdecades, both in Cincinnati andSanta Fe. Dr. Bartel had a sense ofhumor that was corny and hokeyyet always welcomed; he’d spendhours listening to comedians likeGeorge Carlin, Jackie Mason andBill Cosby. He loved playing gui-tar, tennis, golf and coming toCincinnati to watch pro tennis withhis two children. Appropriately, hespent three of his final days withhis sons, watching two of hisfavorites—Rafael Nadal andRoger Federer—play a tennismatch on television; reading jokesfrom a George Carlin book; andsmiling with his sister.
He is survived by sons Adamand Sean, his sister Aimee, and hiswife, Julie Weinstein. Dr. Barteldid not want a funeral; however,all donations should be made tothe American Heart Associationor, because of his belief that freespeech should not be stifled, theThomas Jefferson Center for theProtection of Free Expression inCharlottesville, Va. His asheshave been sent to Cincinnati,
where his sons will spread them.
SHIFRES, Leonard D.
Leonard D. Shifres, former co-owner of Richards Electric SupplyCo. who later owned the Roll-a-Reel Co., died Monday, January10. He was 84. A World War IIArmy veteran, Mr. Shifres grew upin Avondale and graduated fromWalnut Hills High School beforeentering the military. He and hislate wife, Dolores, lived most oftheir married lives in Bond Hilland Amberley Village. When hesold his interest in RichardsElectric, Mr. Shifres developedRoll-a-Reel, an industrial wire andcable dispensing device.
Mr. Shifres’ love of the trumpetlasted a lifetime, from highschool, through the military anduntil his final years. He playedwith a number of civic and march-ing bands in Ohio and Floridaincluding the Ohio Military Band,the Shriners and WindjammersUnlimited, which plays circusmusic, in his opinion the most dif-ficult of all band music.
A member of Adath Israel, hewas diligent in his duties in hisyears as head of the synagogue’scemetery board. For nearly fourdecades, he and his wife spentwinters in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla.,where they made many friends andenjoyed boating and fishing. Butthey always returned to Cincinnati,which they considered home. Hespent summers tending to his yard,especially his beloved apple trees,at his Galbraith Road home.
One of Mr. Shifres’ favoritelunchtime spots was the Chili Timechili parlor in Roselawn. Rarelydid he leave without drippingsomething on his shirt or slacks.He took great pride in the accom-plishments of his daughters andtheir families. A self-taught handy-man, he kept a tidy workshop andtried to teach more than one son-in-law, grandchild and nephew how itworked. Silver tape and WD-40seemed to figure into every repair.
Married more than 50 years,Mr. and Mrs. Shifres raised threedaughters: Susan Smith of Atlanta,Ga., Audrey Glick of Columbus,Ohio, and Benita Gettel of Tucson,Az. Mr. Shifres also leaves a sis-ter-in-law, Donna Levi; sons-in-law Jay Smith and Harvey Glick;grandchildren, Lauren and BenBrody, Brian, Blair and TylerSmith, Ivy Glick, Rebecca Glickand Anne Hoskins, and AndrewGlick; and one great-grandchild,Will Brody. His entire family isdeeply grateful for the friendshipand care shown Mr. Shifres by hisfriend, Marj Isaacs.
Services were held at WeilFuneral Home on Thursday,January 13. Contributions in mem-ory of Mr. Shifres can be made toAdath Israel Congregation, theAlzheimer’s Association,Windjammers Unlimited or thecharity of your choice.
DEATH NOTICES
OBITUARIES
Dr. Philip Frederick Bartel
“The privacy and dignity withwhich [Friedman] lived her life –all aspects of her life – should berespected, not tossed aside to satis-fy someone else’s prurient curiosi-ty or politics,” Nussbaum Cohenwrote. “Debbie was not in the clos-et. Neither did she ride floats at agay pride parade. She was, quitesimply, a private person. She didnot shout from the rooftops. Sheresponded to alienation and injus-tice through the music she wrotethat changed the way we pray.”
Nussbaum Cohen added that“Debbie lived her life with authen-ticity and dignity, all the moreremarkable because of the chal-lenges she endured.”
Another reporter-blogger,Marc Tracey of Tablet, waded into
the debate.“Well, first, she was in some
sort of closet (albeit a slightly larg-er one than those populated bynon-celebrities or public figures);if not, there would not have beenanything wrong or unusual withLevy announcing she was a les-bian,” Tracey wrote. “Cohen’s con-fusion on this point betrays hermore fundamental refusal to seethe implications of Friedman’sclosetedness – and the potential tocelebrate her as ‘a lesbian Jew.’ ”
Tracey insisted that “it is nodisrespect to Friedman’s memoryto admit that for those who care forGLBT rights, particularly in theJewish community, where suchpeople’s full personhood is noteverywhere taken for granted – itwould have been better hadFriedman been publicly out.”
FRIEDMAN from page 8
“We tell them, you don’t getmoney, but there’s an opportunityfor people to have access to yourmerchandise,” said KarenRadkowsky, founding president ofLimmud NY, which in 2005became the first Limmud in theUnited States. “It’s an opportunityfor them to be exposed to otherthoughts and ideas. When they’renot giving their own presentations,they go to others.
“It’s very different from theGA, where you might fly in, speak,and then leave,” she said, referringto the annual General Assembly ofthe Jewish Federations of NorthAmerica.
The Limmud structure facili-tates this cross-pollination, says UriBerkowitz, co-chair of LimmudInternational, which oversees allbranches outside the UK. Lastmonth, some 2,500 people went toCoventry, England, for the 30thanniversary Limmud Conference.
“Each Limmud is its own com-munity, with a fresh audience, butthey’re still part of the same fam-ily,” Berkowitz told JTA. “That’swhy presenters can go from one toanother. Now that there areenough of them, they’ll oftenknow at least one or two other pre-senters, and can continue the con-versations and collaborations.”
That’s what happened to Klug.In February 2009 she went toLimmud LA on her own dime totalk about her new book, “CoolJew,” and was spotted by friendlyspies from Limmud UK. Theyinvited her to present at Warwickin December 2009, which led toinvitations to Limmuds in Atlanta,Berlin, Amsterdam and Budapest.Next month she’ll be back atLimmud LA, then on to Winnipegin March for that Canadian city’sfirst Limmud.
Limmud usually covers traveland accommodations for invitedpresenters but does not pay themfor their presentation.
Klug’s experience is not atypi-
cal, according to Radkowsky. Corevolunteers from the British, NewYork and Los Angeles Limmudsattend each other’s gatherings topoach presenters.
Arthur Kurzweil, a well-knowngenealogist, educator, magicianand former book publisher, haspresented at four Limmuds in NewYork and is headed to his firstLimmud LA next month. LikeKlug, he is an invited presenter. Anexperienced public speaker,Kurzweil gets more invitationsthan he can accept. Limmud is oneto which he says yes.
“These are my people,”Kurzweil said. “It’s what I do.Limmud is one more great opportu-nity to teach and share my interests.”
Joel Chasnoff, a stand-up come-dian and author of “The 188thCrybaby Brigade,” the story of hisexperience in the Israeli military,has presented four times at LimmudUK. Last year he led Limmud ses-sions in New York, Philadelphiaand Atlanta, and this February he’sheaded to Los Angeles.
“The first time I went, I had noidea what it was,” he said. “I love it.It’s like summer camp. In terms ofthe audience, I find them smart andinterested in Jewish thought. They’rein tune with what I talk about.”
A number of Jewish organiza-tions have latched onto Limmudas a way to present their messagebefore a self-selected, motivatedJewish audience.
Marc Rosenberg directs OneAliyah, the singles and young pro-fessionals department of NefeshB’Nefesh, which sponsors NorthAmerican immigration to Israel.He’s presented at Limmud UK thepast three years, and this year willbe his second at the New York one.
“Since Limmud draws such astrong crowd from across theJewish spectrum and Israel is a cen-tral topic, it seems a natural fit forour organization,” he told JTA. “Byattending Limmud we are able toincrease our exposure, tap intotrends inside the community andanswer anyone’s aliyah questions.
LIMMUD from page 8
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