HAKOL - February 2015

com.UNITY with Mark Goldstein 2

LVJF Tributes 8

Jewish Senior Life Connection 14

Jewish Family Service 15

Jewish Community Center 18-19

Jewish Day School 20

Community Calendar 30-31

No. 373

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community FEBRUARY 2015 | SHVAT/ADAR 5775

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLehigh Valley, PA

Permit No. 64

702 North 22nd StreetAllentown, PA 18104

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

GEAR UP FOR CAMP Its already time for summer plans. See pages 16-17.

BLUE LADY Black History Month, Billie Holiday remembered. See page 27.

COMPLEXITY & CONNECTION State Rep. Mackenzie visits Middle East. See page 4.

By JFLV Staff

Lehigh Valley Jewish organi-zations are set to collectively sponsor a concert featuring world-renowned Jewish musi-cian Sam Glaser. The concert is the culmination of ONE HAND, ONE HEART: Supporting Struggling Jewish Families, a community-wide tzedakah proj-ect. Lehigh Valley synagogues, Jewish agencies, the Jewish Day School, the Muhlenberg Col-lege Hillel and other organiza-tions are all working together to ensure the success of this project.

The concert is set for Saturday, March 14, at 8:15 p.m. at the Jew-ish Community Center. All con-cert ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit local needy families in the Jewish community.

Glaser's original music is truly inspirational, said Diane Stein, who with Elaine Langer is chairing the event. He is equally comfortable singing soulful songs or playing contemporary Jewish rock music.

Glaser performs in an aver-age of 50 cities each year, and his energetic style and passionate delivery never fail to ignite the spirit of audiences of all ages, Stein said. Named one of the top 10 Jewish artists in the United States by Moment magazine, Glaser performs either playing his keyboard in intimate solo concerts, being accompanied by his band or headlining with full orchestra.

While Glaser typically performs in synagogues and Jewish community centers, he has appeared at such venues as Los Angeles's Greek Theater, Universal Amphitheater, Staples Center and Dodger Stadium as well as on Broadway and at the

White House. He has traveled all over the world in concert, from Sydney to London, and from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv. His albums have won such awards as the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, Parents Choice, and recognition from the Na-tional Association of Parenting Publications.

The entire community is invited to enjoy this inspiring celebration of community while

participating in the mitzvah of tzedakah.

Tickets are $18 per person or $10 for students under Bar/Bat mitzvah age, with a $100 maximum per fam-ily. Sponsorships are available for $180 and for $360 and above. Tick-ets are available online at jewishle-highvalley.org/samglaser and at all of our participating organizations and synagogues. Please see the ad on page 26 for further details.

Music, tzedakah to make hearts joyful

By Jennifer LaderEditor, HAKOL

On Jan. 9, extremist Muslim gunmen took hostages in a Paris kosher food market, killing four. Days earlier, Islamic mili-tants stormed the Paris of-fices of Charlie Hebdo, a controversial publication, killing 12. These tragedies followed on years of sporadic violence, includ-ing the fatal shootings at a French Jewish school three years ago that grew to a fever pitch during Israel's conflict with Gaza in the summer of 2014 and have remained ubiq-uitous ever since. Though seemingly far away, these events and the Lehigh Valley response to them highlight challenges and connections that span the globe.

This publication regularly covers the French Jewish community, the third largest in the world, because of the Lehigh Valley's con-nections there through some of its own residents, but particularly because it has become a hotspot for anti-Semitism.

Like numerous other groups, the Lehigh Valley Jewish commu-nity has, through the Federation and its Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, provided funds to assist the Jewish community in France. The Jewish Agency for Israel, a beneficiary agency that is one of the major vehicles through which the Federation assists world Jewry, has taken on the task of helping French Jewish communities with their requests as they implement special security measures at schools, Jewish community centers, synagogues and other institutions. The Jewish Agency has also seen a dramatic increase in aliyah from France (see story page 3), a trend that is expected to continue.

The case for our Annual Campaign, which supports the needs

of worldwide Jewry, is written on the front pages of the New York Times, said Mark L. Goldstein, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. Combat-ing anti-Semitism. Fight-ing against boycotts and sanctions against Israel. Helping Israel absorb im-migrants, especially those seeking refuge. Improv-ing safety and security for Jews and Jewish institu-tions. These are why we have an Annual Cam-paign for Jewish Needs.

Following the events of early January, the Federa-tion sent a letter of heart-felt sympathy and support to the Jewish community of France, which reads in part, "Our community is

standing side by side with the people of France during this very difficult time. We share your grief and send our unwavering support to the en-tire Jewish community. At the same time, we are ready and determined to continue working with our local, national and international partners to ensure that every single Jew around the world is safe."

Although the tragedies in France may appear sporadic, albeit more frequent than in the past, placing them in a larger context provides clues to deeper and more alarming underpinnings. Also in early January, and much less reported in the media, a group of terrorist Islamic insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram (meaning "Western education is forbidden") massacred the 2,000 inhabitants of a remote Nigerian vil-lage. ISIS is of growing concern to many countries around the world. Some young men and women are being recruited by such groups to

Events in France highlight world issues, links'STANDING SIDE BY SIDE'

Demonstrators gathering at the Place de la Nation square in Paris following a mass unity rally protesting the recent terrorist attacks in the French capital, Jan. 11, 2015.

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FranceContinues on page 5

On March 17, 2015, the Israeli electorate will go to the polls to vote for its next Knesset. Assuming no party has a governing majority of the Knesset a fair assumption since it has never happened in Israels history the Israeli president will empower a party to form a coalition government; subsequently the new Knesset will elect a new prime minister. For most of us, this is the election we know about. All the news sources covered the break-up of the current coalition in December and Prime Minister Netanyahus subsequent call for new elections. The political jockeying in Israel in advance of their March elections is newsworthy in the United States.

But while this is the Israeli election we all know about, it is not an election in which we, Jews of the Diaspora, can vote. There is another election. And we can vote. And while it may not have the weight of the Israeli general election, it does have stakes.

From now through April 30, 2015, you can go online (www.myvoteourisrael.com), pay a $10 registration fee, and cast a vote for a delegation that will represent Jews of America at an international convention in Jerusalem next fall. The convention, in turn, will choose leadership and set budgets for several major Israeli and international bodies that spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on Jewish education, social services, urban renewal

in Israel and some contentious issues as well such as rural settlements.

Never heard of it? Most have not. The convention is the World Zionist Congress. It meets every four to five years to oversee the World Zionist Organization, an organization that dates back to Theodore Herzl and 1897. The WZO was the world movement to create a Jewish state and enable institutions to implement that vision. It created the Jewish Agency for Israel in 1929 with Chaim Weitzman, the WZOs president, as the Jewish Agencys first president. With differing views as to how Zionism should be portrayed and what a Jewish state should look and act like, the World Zionist Congress became the forum in which rival parties and competing visions would debate.

And while its complex and archaic governance structure is difficult to comprehend, the WZO is an important influencer at much larger organizations that it founded years ago, the aforementioned Jewish Agency for Israel, the massive social service and educational body largely funded by Jewish Federations, and the Jewish National Fund, which owns and manages more than a seventh of Israels real estate.

For many, many, years the World Zionist Congress elections were not anywhere on the radar. As J.J. Goldberg of the Forward comments, Most years the election is a

sleepy affair pitting gray-haired functionaries and [idealistic] teenagers against each other to divide up control of an Israeli institution that nobody cares about except its employees [But] this year promises to be different. With Israeli-Palestinian peace in deep freeze, settlements in high gear and chances for a two-state solution fading, the ideological debate among different schools of Zionism religious vs. secular, hawks vs. doves is at its fiercest in years. And the WZO is ground zero.

The WZOs import has been underestimated by world Jewry. Its funding decisions have a lot to do with Jewish education worldwide. WZO is critical in the training and deployment of Israeli shlichim (emissaries) around the world. WZO influences funding and other policies affecting Conservative and Reform movements in Israel. These alone should be reasons for Diaspora Jews to be concerned enough to vote in these elections.

The growing debate at the WZO is because one of its departments, the Settlement Division, is one of the Israeli governments main subcontractors for settlement activity, with its entire budget coming from the government, unlike the philanthropy-funded WZO itself. The World Zionist Congress, therefore, becomes the only formal forum for these issues to be discussed with Israeli and world Jewish leaders having equal position

in the debate. Israeli law designates the WZO, together with the Jewish Agency, as the formal liaison between the Jewish Diaspora and the Israeli government. It is the vehicle through which Jews around the world are officially invited to make their views known to Israel and participate with Israelis in making policy.

When you go to www.myvoteourisrael.com you will see 11 slates competing in this years American election. Included are Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and three options of Orthodox Judaism. There are political left wing slates (such as the Hatikvah coalition) and right wing slates (notably the Zionist Organization of America). There is a green slate, and a Russian immigrant slate aligned with the Yisrael Beiteinu party in

Israel. You can read their platforms

and analyze their slates. In the end, I cant tell you if

this is going to be a momentous World Zionist Congress or not. But given the importance of the funding and policy decisions that the Congress can make, for $10 I am not going to take the chance. I voted. And so should you.

2 FEBRUARY 2015 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEYHAKOL is published 11 times per year for the Jewish communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and vicinity by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONSSubmissions to HAKOL must be of interest to the entire Jewish community. HAKOL re-serves all editorial rights including, but not limited to, the decision to print any submit-ted materials, the editing of submissions to conform to style and length requirements, and the placement of any printed mate-rial. Articles should be submitted by e-mail or presented as typed copy; Community Calendar listings must be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or online at www.jewishlehighvalley.org. Please include your name and a daytime telephone number where you can be contacted in the event questions arise. We cannot guarantee pub-lication or placement of submissions.

Mail, fax, or e-mail to: JFLV ATTN: HAKOL 702 N. 22nd St. Allentown, PA 18104

Phone: (610) 821-5500 Fax: (610) 821-8946 E-mail: [email protected]

HAKOL STAFFJennifer Lader Editor

Stephanie SmartSchanJFLV Director of Marketing

aLLiSon meyerS Graphic Designer

diane mcKeeAdvertising RepresentativeteL: [email protected]

JFLV EXECUTIVE STAFFmarK L. GoLdSteinExecutive Director

Judy diamondSteinAssistant Executive Director

tempLe coLdrenDirector of Finance & Administration

Jim mueth Director of Planned Giving & Endowments

aaron GorodzinSKyDirector of Outreach & Community Relations

marK h. ScobLionKoJFLV President

EDITORIAL BOARDmonica frieSS, Acting Chairbarbara reiSnerJudith rodwinSara ViGneri

Member American Jewish Press Association

All advertising is subject to review and approval by The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley (JFLV). JFLV reserves the right to decline, withdraw and/or edit any ad. The appearance of any advertising in HAKOL does not represent an endorsement or kashrut certification. Paid political adver-tisements that appear in HAKOL do not represent an endorsement of any candidate by the JFLV.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY MISSION STATEMENTIn order to unite, sustain, and enhance the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, and support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is dedicated to the following core values:

Supporting Jews in need wherever they may be. Supporting Israel as a Jewish homeland. Supporting and encouraging Jewish education in the Lehigh Valley as

a means of strengthening Jewish life for individuals and families. Supporting programs and services of organizations whose values and

mission meet local Jewish needs.

To accomplish this mission the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is committed to the following operating guidelines: Raising and distributing funds to support the core values. Developing Jewish leaders. Building endowments to support implementation of core values. Committing to ongoing Jewish community strategic planning. Fostering cooperation among organizations and community building. Evaluating all decisions with respect to fiscal responsibility. Identifying unmet needs and investing in community initiatives to help

get them started. Coordinating and convening a community response as an issue or

need arises. Setting priorities for allocation and distribution of funds. Acting as a central address for communication about events,

programs and services of the Jewish community as a whole.

Approved by the JFLV Board of Directors on November 15, 2000

JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEYWe gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expressions of friendship by requesting that trees be planted in the Yoav--Lehigh Valley Partnership Park.

IN MEMORYGEORGE HIRSCH(Father of Larry Hirsch and Merle Boyle) Eileen and Roberto Fischmann

IN HONORCLAUDIA FISCHMANN AND RYAN MATTISONIn honor of their engagement Mike and Cooky NotisMARK GOLDSTEIN AND SHARI SPARKIn honor of the marriage of their

daughter, Carlyn, to Jason Barry and Carol HalperELAD STROHMAYER AND OREN BEN-YOSEFIn honor of their marriage JFLVSTASI TRIKALIOTIS AND JESSICA GORENBirth of daughter, Kaia Harper Trikaliotis SHALOM BABY

TO ORDER TREES, call the JFLV at 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

com.UNITYAn Israeli election in which you can (and should) vote

FROM THE DESK OF MARK L. GOLDSTEINExecutive Director | Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

[email protected]

Dear Readers,

Over the past three years, you and I and others behind the scenes have all participated in making HAKOL what it is today to all of us. Perhaps you are a loyal reader, an advertiser, a contributor of articles as so many of you have been! or active in the organizations and community events featured on HAKOLs pages. Perhaps you are a friend. In any of these capacities, you have inspired me and I thank you.

Now, after much thoughtfulness, I have come to realize that HAKOL can and should go on without me. I have resigned my position, and this issue of HAKOL is my final one as editor. Stephanie Smartschan, JFLV director of marketing, will be the interim editor until the Federation hires a new editor, and she can be reached at [email protected].

Be assured you will still at times see stories from me in HAKOL because I will continue in my profession as a freelance writer and editor. This has been

a very special three years and I look forward to seeing you out and about in the Valley.

Shalom,Jennifer Lader

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2015 3

THANKS FOR BEING A

SUPERHEROSuper Sunday was a super success!

Visit the Jewish Federations Facebook page for photos, and be sure to

check your March issue of HAKOL for complete coverage.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS AND TO THE JCC

FOR HOSTING SUPER SUNDAY

Balloons by Paulette

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Immigration to Israel from North America rose 7 percent in 2014 over the previous year to 3,762 olim from the United States and Canada, according to Nefesh BNefesh.

The immigrants came on 17 flights from North America arranged by Nefesh BNefesh in partnership with Israels Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA.

The flights included 296 families with 813 children under the age of 18 and 1,703 singles. The immigrants came mostly from the New York metropolitan area, Florida, California, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsyl-vania in the United States, and from Quebec and Ontario in Canada.

Aliyah from Britain rose 6 percent to 525 olim in 2014 mostly from London and Manchester.

In 2014, the number of lone soldiers, young people who make aliyah without their immediate family, rose by 10 percent to 350. Some 3,000 lone soldiers are now serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Erez Halfon, vice chairman of Nefesh BNefesh, noted in a statement that olim con-tinued to come during the summer, the peak time for aliyah, despite Israels 50-day opera-tion in Gaza and the hundreds of rockets that rained down on southern and central Israel.

These olim, including hundreds of sol-diers, left behind careers, families and com-munities, and their sacrifice and courage was widely acknowledged by the Israeli public, Halfon said.

North American immigration to Israel rose 7 percent in 2014 Jewish News Service

Days after Islamist terror attacks killed a combined 16 people at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and the Hy-per Cacher kosher supermarket, both in Paris, hundreds of French Jews attended a Jewish Agency for Israel aliyah (im-migration to Israel) information fair on Sunday, Jan. 11, in the same city. The fair was scheduled before the attacks took place.

The Jewish Agency embraces the French Jewish community at this dif-ficult time and is extending its full sup-port by helping provide for the physical security of Jewish communities across France, increasing our assistance to any individual who wishes to immigrate to Israel and working to ease immigrants

integration into the Israeli workforce and Israeli society, said Natan Sharan-sky, chairman of the Jewish Agency, which is a Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley beneficiary agency.

According to the Jewish Agencys statistics, France was the leading coun-try for aliyah to Israel in 2014 with 7,000 new arrivals, up from 3,400 in 2013.

Days earlier, after the Charlie Hebdo attack but before the kosher supermar-ket attack, Sharansky cautioned against strategically promoting terrorism in France as a reason for aliyah.

Were not building our aliyah strategy on tragic events, Sharansky told the Times of Israel. Were building it on the fact that there is this place in the world called Europe, where Jews are feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

After terror attacks, hundreds attend Jewish Agency aliyah fair in Paris

New French immigrants to Israel seen during a welcome ceremony at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem, July 17, 2014.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The Muslim store employee who saved seven French Jews during the terrorist attack on a kosher supermarket was made a French citizen.

Lassana Bathily, a 24-year-old immigrant from Mali, was granted citizenship at a Paris ceremony on Jan. 20 after his application, initially filed last summer, was expedited in response to a public campaign on his behalf.

At the ceremony, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve stood next to Bathily.

People tell me I am a hero. I am not a hero. I am trying to stay myself, Bathily said, NBC News reported.

Bathily, who has lived in France for nine years, received a standing ovation at the

end of his speech, when he said I am very happy. Long live liberty! Long live friend-ship! Long live solidarity! Long live France!

According to NBC News, Bathily stood with his head bowed and his hands clasped as Cazeneuve praised his actions as the highest gesture of Islam and peace and wel-comed him as the newest citizen at the heart of this country.

Bathily, who was in the basement when a gunman entered the Hyper Cacher supermar-ket on Jan. 9, hid the seven people, including a 2-year-old child, in the freezer.

Michel Emsalem, Hyper Cachers owner, attended the citizenship ceremony and called Bathily a hero.

He represents a big message for many people, especially for us, Emsalem said, ac-cording to NBC News.

Muslim hero in Paris kosher market attack becomes French citizen

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Handmade AfghansBY EVA LEVITT

For prices or to place an order, call Eva 610-398-1376. All payments are made payable to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

All proceeds benefit projects in Israel:Food Banks in Israel

Neve Michael Youth VillageIf youre expecting, know someone who is, or have a new baby, PLEASE LET US KNOW!

Contact Abby Trachtman, 610-821-5500 | [email protected]

WELCOMING NEW BABIES

to the Lehigh Valley

SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEYS WOMENS DIVISION

THURSDAY, MARCH 2612 to 1:30 p.m., JCC of Allentown With Lindsey Jancay, who will speak about the life and influence of Laszlo Matulay, the first artistic director of Rodale, Inc. Despite Matulays prolific art production, his work is relatively unknown. Jancay will provide a brief overview of materials in Matulays collection, which includes photographs, sketches from his time in the army, teaching notes, letters and his paintings. The collection is currently housed at Congregation Keneseth Israel and there will be an exhibition of his work at the Gallery at the JCC in August.

Program is $12, including lunch.. Men & women welcome. RSVP to 610-821-5500 or [email protected].

Sponsored by the Womens Division of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

Interview by Jennifer LaderEditor of HAKOL

This past December, State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who represents the 134th District including portions of Lehigh and Berks counties, travelled to the Middle East as a delegate with the U.S. Department of States American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL). He recently spoke about the visit with representatives from the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valleys board and Community Relations Council. Here, he shares with us his experiences and observations.

What was the nature of the travel?It was a fact-finding trip educational and from various points of view. I traveled to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan to learn more about the foreign policy and political dynamics of the Middle East.

Why was it important for you to make this trip?Israel and the Middle East are hotspots as far as policy and its important to have an understanding of the issues, particularly in the Lehigh Valley where we have a large Jewish community, and to understand the working dynamics.

What were your major stops?We spent four days with the Palestinians and met with the PLO in Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem. Then we went to Tel Aviv and travelled up and down Israel to Sderot ... and the border by Lebanon. We got their take on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and, while this issue is very important, it was just one of many. The Israelis also talked about Iran, Syria and Islamic extremism.

What were the issues that the Palestinians presented?This [the peace process] was their top priority, the only issue of importance that they talked to us about. It affects all their ways of living and impacts their water, electricity, mobility within the Palestinian territories and the West Bank, their security. It was interesting to see the different ways [the two groups] prioritize.

What was a takeaway from this trip?Of course were supporters of Israel because they are a strong ally and we share our values and views on the issues. Its a strong relationship because of shared values and shared interests. And, not too different from other issues we face in government, if there is going to be a real agreement in this process, both sides must

have to compromise.

What did you find out that you didnt know before?It was interesting to hear the Palestinian side of the story. Its a perspective that isnt often shared. [In a situation like this,] you do want to hear all of the sides and this was one I wasnt familiar with.

What made the greatest impression?The ACYPL is an exchange program and, in addition to sending people to the Middle East, they send young people involved with government in other countries to the U.S. We got to meet some of the Israeli delegates from past years and they took us into their homes for a Shabbat dinner where we got to interact with a family.

Was this your first Shabbat dinner?I think I went to one in middle school, at a

friends house.

What did you notice this time?The warmth of the people; the humanity of people all over the world. Thats always comforting. It was interesting to see someone Id been interacting with for a few days in a professional setting, now with the whole family. Its something Ill remember forever.

What do you expect to do with what youve learned?Ill continue to talk about the experience with other groups as well, about the issues I perceived. As with many issues in government, its complicated and complex, and then you get there and take the intricate pieces and work with them if there is going to be peace. It was such a pleasure to meet with so many people who all did share a common interest in peace.

Rep. Mackenzie travels to Middle East

THE VIEW FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

By Monica FriessSpecial to HAKOL

Growing up, Patty Carliss life revolved around her synagogue, so it was only natural that she would seek this connection when she moved to the Lehigh Valley in 1974. She soon found a home at Congregation Keneseth Israel which she calls her extended family, and has recently begun a term as the synagogues president.

Beginning her career as a high school educator, Carlis was aware that theater could be a great teaching tool. She eventually earned a masters in education from the University of Pennsylvania and a masters in arts with a focus on educational theater from NYU. Carlis created and ran Stage Door Workshop a theater program for kids for 30 years. She taught educational theater at Cedar Crest College for 12 years and then at Muhlenberg College for another eight years. She was president of the board of PA Stage, a resident professional theater. At Muhlenberg, she was the coordinator of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding for 10 years.

Carlis clearly brings a tremendous skill set to her role as president, and also a deep dedication to the task. She puts emphasis on collaboration within the community, and is grateful to Rabbi Seth Phillips for leading the way. Working with Rabbi Seth is a joy, she said in a recent interview. He leads by example and has reconnected KI with both the Jewish community and the greater Lehigh Valley.

For Rabbi Phillips, the joy is mutual. As my cherished partner at KI, he said of Carlis, she embodies and promotes our focus on community, compassion and creativity. Under her leadership, a growing number of congregants enjoy sharing their time and treasure with KI. Comparing her with Queen Esther, Phillips said she is the president for a time such as this (Est. 4:14) and For the Jews, it was a time of light and joy (Est. 8:16).

Carlis is thankful to have the support of her husband, Ian, and a dedicated team on board who will help her realize her goals. She is grateful to her predecessor, Eric Fels, for leading the team that stabilized the synagogue

during a transition period. She will focus on listening to the evolving needs of younger families and attracting them to the KI family, and on capitalizing on multi-generational interactions. She has reinstated the Adult Education Committee and has seen an increase in volunteer participation in groups such as this, as well as in the Social Action Committee and the Sisterhood. She credits the rabbi with inspiring this surge in involvement and with driving rejuvenation of various activities.

A mother of three boys in their 30s and a grandmother of four, Carlis is happy to be able to benefit a community that has given so much to her. Its always been about giving back to the Jewish community, she said. KI gave so much to me; Im so happy to be able to give back to them.

KI leader shares light and joy

MEET THE PRESIDENTS


By Ben SalesJewish Telegraphic Agency

Polls show that either the right-wing Likud or a newly formed center-left alliance called the Zionist Camp is poised to win Israels March elections.

If only it were that simple.If current surveys bear out, Likud

and the Zionist Camp will indeed compete for the most votes. But the one that wins the most seats in Knesset wont necessarily lead the next government.

To understand why, take a look at the accompanying graph of Israeli polls created by J Street. The Zionist Camp and Likud are clearly switching places in a horse race on top. Each is poised to get 20-25 seats. But really, the election will be decided by the parties below the Likud-Zionist Camp double helix.

Because Israel has a coalition system, the elections magic number is not 25 but 61 a majority of the Knessets 120 seats. No party in Israels history has ever gotten that many seats, so parties band together in governing coalitions based on common interests to form a majority.

Take a look, for example, at the black line running below the Likud-Zionist Camp race, but clearly above everyone else. Thats Jewish Home, the hawkish, pro-settler party that would join only Likud, and not the Zionist Camp. That means that when Likud tallies a potential coalition, it can add on the 15 or so seats Jewish Home is poised to win.

And that means that to beat the Likud-Jewish Home alliance, the Zionist Camp will have to dive into that jumble of parties on the bottom for coalition partners. To get to 61, so will Likud. The way those small parties choose to swing will determine Israels next prime minister.

Thats why Israels election is so confusing. The real race takes place at the bottom of the graph as much as at the top. Will Israels haredi Orthodox parties swing left in a political deal? Or will the centrist parties lean to the right, which is what happened in the last government?

Those are the questions Israeli election observers are asking. Theyre interested in the chaos at the bottom, no matter which party gets the most votes.

Why Israels elections are confusing, in one graph

leave the U.S. and elsewhere to join these extremists, the men as fighters and the women as brides, as reported recently by National Public Radio.

These activities map to something to which U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch referred during his visit to the Lehigh Valley in November. Extremists who link their activities to some form of re-ligious mandate are increasingly evident. At times there is as well an agenda that demonizes Jews.

Particularly in the past year, this publication has covered political gains by right wing, out-spokenly anti-Semitic groups in European countries such as Hun-gary, Bulgaria and Greece. There has been coverage, too, of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanc-tions movement that has been of growing concern to Jewish groups across the U.S., especially because of the BDS's dissemina-

tion of propaganda on American college campuses where currently reside the leaders of tomorrow.

"Fighting anti-Semitism around the world is integral to what the Federation does," said Mark L. Goldstein, JFLV executive director, "and this is a time to re-double our efforts to unite the Jewish community, support Jewish life in the Lehigh Valley and, as has been brought home to us with the events of the past month, around the world."

FranceContinues from page 1

On January 11, world leaders marched in the streets of Paris to condemn the attacks. To the right of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are Mali President Ibrahim Bouba-car Keita, French Prime Minister Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Union President Donald Tusk.

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THE JEWISH FEDERATION continues to be the safety

net of our people because of the strength of the Annual

Campaign.

Please make your contribution or consider

increasing your previous 2015 Campaign commitment.

610-821-5500www.jewishlehighvalley.org

One out of every seven people will develop bleeding from their nose some time in their life. The nose contains tiny surface blood vessels which can easily break, leading to a nosebleed or, if you want to sound really smart, you may prefer to use the medical term epistaxis.This can be a problem all year round but can be a particular issue during the colder months. Dry air is an enemy of the nasal membranes and can result in cracking, giving rise to bleeding.

Epistaxis can be caused by vigorous nose blowing, trauma and infections. Anything that can irritate the nose, such as allergies or cigarette smoke, can also lead to a nosebleed. Medical conditions or medications that make individuals less likely to clot can be a factor, and high blood pressure can increase the risk. Rarely, this problem can lead to

the discovery of a concerning growth in the nose. In children, nose picking (adults never do this, of course) can be a frequent cause.

Most of the time, the bleeding will stop by pinching the lower part of the nose for at least five to 10 minutes. Keep the head up higher than the heart and lean forward slightly to minimize blood from draining into the back of the throat. A nosebleed from the back of the nose, known as a posterior nosebleed, will often be more intense and may not stop so easily.

If hemorrhaging is severe or continues beyond 30 minutes, it may be necessary to seek the attention of a health care provider. A professional may need to cauterize the nose, a technique by which the area of bleeding is burned with a chemical or with an electric current. Further intervention

such as packing the nose with gauze or placement of an inflatable balloon for several days may be needed to put pressure on an area in the nasal cavity.

Prevention can be a challenge, especially in those with high blood pressure or on medications that thin the blood. Humidification in the winter months is key to reducing the likelihood of bleeding. This can include humidifiers in the home and, in particular, in the bedroom. Saline nasal sprays and gels can also be invaluable during the drier months.

If bleeding occurs, stay calm. This may be easier said than done, but agitation can often raise blood pressure and make things worse. Persistent and severe bleeding can result in a visit to the emergency room but, fortunately, most mild nosebleeds do stop after a few minutes.


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015The Pub by Wegmans 3900 Tilghman St., Allentown Enjoy beer, bread and all the chametz you can eat while networking with other Jewish professionals. $18 in advance, $20 at the doorIncludes appetizers and first drink Visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org/professionals to learn more.

By Amy SamsJCC Adult Programs Coordinator

Adults at the J and PrimeTime at the J are partnering together to offer two exciting day bus trips in March.

The first bus trip will occur on Wednesday, March 4, as we hit the road to the City of Brotherly Love. We will visit Lights, Camera, BLOOM! and experience the magic of movies and horticulture as the 186th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show celebrates the silver screen. The trip includes motor coach round trip transportation, flower show ticket (10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and kosher wine and snacks on the return ride home. Lunch is on your own in or around the convention center.

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the worlds oldest and largest indoor flower show and features large-scale gardens, elaborate landscapes and over-the-top floral creations. Visitors to the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show are treated to fabulous design, live entertainment, culinary demonstrations, gardening how-to workshops and lectures by experts.

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a handicap accessible building. Elevators are available to guests who require them.

The bus will pick up at two stops: Temple Covenant of Peace in Easton at 7:45 a.m. and the JCC of Allentown at 8:30 a.m. Approximate return to TCP is 6:30 p.m. and the JCC at 7:15 p.m.

Price is $75 per person (ages 18-64), $68 JCC members (ages 18-64) or PrimeTime price of $53 per person for ages 65+. PrimeTime price is partially subsidized by a Groups on the GO grant.

To register, contact the JCC at 610-435-3571, stop by the Welcome Desk or visit www.allentownjcc.org. Limited spaces available. Deadline to register is Feb. 18.

The second bus trip will lead us to the Big Apple on Wednesday, March 25. You are cordially invited to travel to the famous 30 Rockefeller Center in NYC, and be part of the studio audience during filming of The Meredith Vieira Show. The daily New York City-based show is produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution with Vieira also serving as an executive producer. Vieira is a 14-time Emmy Award winner and previously co-anchored the Today show among many other accomplishments in the television industry.

This is sure to be a fun-filled experience with fascinating guests, celebrities, entertainment and surprises. The studio audience will be featured a lot on the show so be sure to look your best and dress in bright solid colors.

The trip includes bagels and coffee at the JCC (beginning at 8 a.m.) , motor-coach roundtrip transportation, VIP ticket to the 2 p.m. taping and refreshments on the return trip. We will board the bus at the JCC by 8:15 a.m. and arrive in NYC at approximately 11:15 a.m. Lunch is on your own, at or around Rockefeller Plaza. The taping of the 2 p.m. show should run approximately two hours. The bus will leave NYC around 5 p.m. and should arrive back at the JCC approximately 7:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for a fun viewing get-together at the J, approximately two weeks after the taping.

The price for the trip is $68 per person, $62 for JCC members.

There are limited Group VIP tickets for the show taping available. However, there are additional seats on the bus available for those who want to join in on the fun for a day of free time in NYC. Bagels and coffee, motor-coach roundtrip transportation and refreshments on the return trip are included.

The price for this bus only option is $58 per person, $52 for JCC members.

Register by visiting or calling the JCC Welcome Desk at 610-435-3571 or on the web at www.allentownjcc.org. Limited spaces available. Deadline to register is March 11.

Be sure to check out the broad range of programs and events available for adults of all ages offered through Adults at the J and PrimeTime at the J. You can find details through the JCC website, www.allentownjcc.org. Contact Amy Sams, Adults at the J coordinator, at [email protected] and Melissa Hakim, PrimeTime coordinator, at [email protected] to learn more.

What can I do to stop or prevent nosebleeds?

BY PAUL S. LEMBERG, M.D.

Q:A:

WHATS UP, DOC?

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WITH THE LEHIGH VALLEY JEWISH PROFESSIONALS

Carb-load before Passover

J To Go: The JCC is on the road in March


By Scott Berman, M.D.Special to HAKOL

This year marks the 25th an-niversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the first year of the Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. During February, we also celebrate the seventh annual Jewish Disability Awareness Month. This year, the theme is: From Awareness to Inclu-sion, highlighting how far weve come.

Advocating for persons with disabilities has its roots in Torah. In Leviticus 19:14, we are commanded, You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind. More recently, polio survivor Chava Willig Levy wrote in her memoir A Life Not With Standing, I want my words to shatter stereotypes, affirming that people with disabilities: Are neither patients to be cured, children to be taken care of, nor brave souls to be admired; they should be in charge of the assistance they require, that is, free to be indepen-dently dependent.

I am a person with a disability acquired in adult-hood. I have the privilege of serving as the co-president of Congregation Am Haskalah, and the board president of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) This is an Allentown-based non-profit organization that provides information, services and support to people with all types of disabilities. I recently pointed out to the LVCIL Board that, had I been born with a disability in the late 50s, I would never have gone to medical school and prob-ably not even to college.

The opportunities I have to be part of the Lehigh Valley Jewish and secular communi-ties would not have existed even 25 years ago. Being part of two inclusive organizations has strengthened my cour-age to live a full life despite disability; this June, I danced the hora in an electric wheel-chair at my daughter Rachels

wedding. Now is a time of great

progress for those with dis-abilities, both in the Jewish and larger, secular commu-nities. It is also a great time for the Jewish community to act. If you or a loved one has a disability, reach out to the Jewish Family Service or LVCIL to find out about re-sources. If your congregation needs to be more accessible or more inclusive, there is help both locally and through the parent organizations of each branch of Judaism.

Make full inclusion your goal; develop programs that bring persons with disabilities to your Jewish organization. Full inclusion takes real effort; it is about creating spaces and programs that allow persons with disabilities to be fully part of the life of our Jewish organizations.

Scott Berman, M.D., can be reached at [email protected] for more information about disability and Jewish disability inclusion resources.

With anniversaries, Jewish Disability Awareness to fore

Thousands of U.S. senior citizens are hun-gry or food insecure every day and are eligible for government support to ensure healthy meals. But alarming numbers of seniors are either unaware of, or ignore, governmental support to alleviate their hunger. To assure that qualified seniors get their benefits, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley are joining forces to raise awareness that the food benefits are available and to give assis-tance to those in need.

There are a number of reasons seniors are not taking advantage of this assis-tance. Too often, its a reluctance to ac-cept government assistance, said Abby J. Leibman, president and CEO of MAZON, and while understandable, its impor-tant to remember that theyve supported

these programs and benefits as taxpayers for many years and they are there to help them now. Others are simply unaware the benefits are there for them. The goal of this outreach is to dramatically reduce the alarming statistics.

According to Leibman, one in six seniors lives in poverty and 65 percent of seniors who are eligible for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) funds do not use them.

This issue has reached a critical point as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day and 56 percent of U.S. retirees have out-standing debt. One in three seniors is food insecure and/or disabled. Thirty percent must choose between food and medicine.

The belief that the community has an obligation to sustain its most vulnerable is deeply embedded in Jewish tradition,

Leibman said. It is unacceptable that a rising number of our nations seniors struggle to put meals on the table when we have programs like SNAP that could help them buy nutritious food.

Joining MAZON is Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley, one of 13 JFS agencies in seven states that are taking part in MAZONs Senior Hunger Initia-tive. Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in senior population. We are seeing an increase of up to 50 percent in the number of seniors who are coming to our food pantry, said Debbie Zoller, execu-tive director of Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley. Based on that num-ber, we expect there is a very large senior population here in the Lehigh Valley that is suffering in silence. We want to help them access their benefits so they get the

nutrition they need. We are hoping that not only seniors, but those who care for them hear this message and help get their family member or friend to our offices to sign up.

JFS works to ensure that no one in the community suffers from hunger, isolation or lack of care and support. Overall, the JFS Food Pantry program grew by 16 per-cent, providing over 16,000 meals in 2014.

MAZON is the only national Jewish or-ganization focused exclusively on issues of hunger and is considered one of the leading anti-hunger organizations in the U.S. The educational outreach program is supported and sponsored by MAZON, with funding from the Walmart Foundation.

For more information on SNAP benefits for eligible seniors, call JFS-LV at 610-821-8722.

JFS, MAZON team up to address hunger


IN MEMORYSISTER(of Gerald Melamut) Jeanette and Eduardo EichenwaldBERNARD BERNSTEIN(Father of Dale Cucuel)(Father of Abbe Avart) Joan LichtensteinIRVING BISHOP Randi and Donald SenderowitzDAVID FRIEND(Brother of Karl Friend) Mary and Allan GoodmanLIBBIE GUSSOW(Mother of Susan Vengrove) Ross and Wendy BornNAOMI HALPERIN(Daughter of Marion Halperin) Elaine Lerner Randi and Donald SenderowitzMORTIMER HERTZ(Husband of Gladys Hertz) Selma and Sam LauterGEORGE HIRSCH(Father of Larry Hirsch) Selma RothRUTH LEDERMAN(Mother of Eileen Lederman) Randi and Donald SenderowitzLOIS MILLER(Wife of Stanley Miller) Marlene and Arnan FinkelsteinARNOLD RAPOPORT(Father of Jed Rapoport) Marlene and Arnan FinkelsteinNORMAN SEIDEL(Father of Janet Panto)(Father of Judy Waldman) Stan and Vicki Wax(Colleague of Danny Cohen) Sam and Sylvia Bub

Barry and Carol Halper(Colleague of Phil Hof) Barry and Carol HalperANITA SINGER(Sister of Mark Klein) Marlene and Arnan FinkelsteinSTANLEY SNYDER(Husband of Elaine Snyder) Ross and Wendy Born Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Sandra and Harold Goldfarb Selma Roth Fred and Barbara SussmanHERB TELLES(Brother of Joel Telles) Elaine LernerHARRIS WEINSTEIN(Father of David Weinstein) Cathy Sacher

IN HONORHENRIETTE ENGELSONHappy 100th Birthday Taffi NeyBRENDA FINBERGSpeedy Recovery Barry and Carol HalperBOBBY HAMMEL50th Anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Sandra and Harold GoldfarbSpeedy Recovery Barry and Carol Halper Stan and Vicki WaxELAINE AND LEON PAPIRBat Mitzvah of granddaughter, Cameron Doug and Marge Blake Stan and Vicki WaxPENNY AND ADAM ROTHHappy Hanukkah

Audrey and Jerome CylinderNATE SCHIFFHappy 80th Birthday Elaine LernerMARK AND DEENA SCOBLIONKOHappy 50th Wedding Anniversary Barry and Carol HalperBat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Sabrina Marlene and Arnan Finkelstein Mark Goldstein and Shari SparkSY TRAUBSt. Lukes Shining Star Award Marlene and Arnan FinkelsteinSTAN AND VICKI WAXHappy 50th Wedding Anniversary Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald Barry and Carol Halper

HELEN & SOL KRAWITZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUNDIN MEMORYMORTIMER HERTZ(Husband of Gladys Hertz) Joani Lesavoy and Sid GreenbergRHODA ROTHMAN(Grandmother of Joy Rothman) Evelyn and Jay LipschutzSTANLEY SNYDER(Husband of Elaine Snyder) Joani Lesavoy and Sid Greenberg

HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTERIN HONORABE ROSSIn honor of his retirement Laura and Bob Black

We gratefully acknowledge those individuals who have offered expres-sions of friendship through recent gifts to the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation. The minimum contribu-tion for an Endowment Card is $10. Call 610-821-5500 or visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org to place your card requests. Thank you for your continued support.

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THE BENEFITS OF ACHARITABLE BEQUEST

A charitable bequest is an easy way for you to help us in our work and benefit.Here are some of the benefits of bequest giving:

It costs you nothing today to make a bequest A bequest is free of federal estate tax Your bequest can be changed down the road You can still benefit your heirs with specific gifts A bequest may produce estate tax savings You can leave a legacy through a bequest

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Following the final passage on Dec. 3 of legislation declaring Israel to be a major strategic partner of the United States, American Jewish organizations celebrated the bill as further-ing the ironclad commitment between the two countries. The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, in partnership with Jewish Federations across North America, hailed the impor-tance of the bill, which would designate a unique strategic status for Israel and create a framework for increased coop-eration in defense, energy and other sectors.

Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of The Jewish Federa-tions of North America, said, Over the years, Israel and the United States have proven themselves to be the closest of al-lies. This legislation elevates cooperation in areas like energy and defense. It makes clear to the world that the two countries are strategic allies at the highest level. We thank those who worked to make this bill a reality, in particular Sens. Bar-bara Boxer (D-California) and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), who authored the legislation [in the Senate]. It is truly heartening to know that Israel and the Jewish community at large will always be able to count on the United States for support.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) and Ted Deutch (D-Florida) authored the bill in the House of Representatives and introduced it there. President Barack Obama signed the legislation on Dec. 19.

The Jewish Federations, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, protect and enhance the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning).

Jewish Federations hail bill elevating Israel as 'strategic partner'


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Rabbi Jonathan Gerard's ongoing Wednesday study group at Congregation Brith Sholom has for the coming semester elected to subscribe to the Great Courses series entitled "The Beginnings of Judaism," taught by Hebrew University's Isaiah Gafni.

As with previous courses taught in this format, Rabbi Gerard will present one or two half hour lectures each week from a world scholar and expert teacher, punctuated by class discussion. Twenty four half-hour lectures will be covered in the 12 weeks of class.

The study group will investigate: How Judaism developed from its biblical roots to the highly developed system of today, what has changed and what has remained constant. The answers to these questions are relevant to all faiths, as well as to anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of ancient history a past that is inexorably linked to the present.

The roots of Judaism reach back to the Hebrew Bible also known as the Old Testament by Christians. For thousands of years, Jews have looked to these scriptures for their origins, and have located in them the tenets of their faith. The Bible provides Jews reasons for sadness and joy, wisdom and, most of all, a profound belief in what God expects of them and has promised to them.

Though Jews of every generation have recognized and cherished the Bible as the ultimate source of all Jewish existence, much of what is recognized today as Judaism does not appear in the Bible. For example, worshipping in places other than the single, original Temple in

Jerusalem is expressly forbidden by the Bible. Nevertheless, Jews today worship in synagogues wherever there may be a Jewish community. Similarly, the Rabbinic model, for centuries the most visible example of religious and communal leadership among Jews, is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.

In Beginnings of Judaism, Professor Isaiah M. Gafni of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem leads a spirited and provocative exploration of how the Jewish faith struggled to continually redefine itself during the first thousand years after the completion of the last books of the Hebrew Bible, tenaciously clinging to existence through circumstances that might well have torn it asunder.

This course explores the evolution of an ancient faith into a system of beliefs, practices and laws recognizable today as Judaism. We discover a tradition of vigorous and joyous debate where reinterpretation coexists with profound acceptance of the original instructions from God regarding the practice of faith.

Insights into this historical evolution especially with respect to the roles of Jerusalem and the Diaspora in Jewish history can also deepen one's perception of the historical, psychological and religious forces at play in the Middle East today.

The study group meets Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. starting on Feb. 4 and running until the Wednesday prior to Shavuot. Tuition is $18. For more information or to register, contact the Brith Sholom office at 610-866-8009.

Study group to explore Judaism's beginnings

Auschwitz Foundation close to endowment goalJewish Telegraphic Agency

Just prior to the 70th anniversary this January of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation said it has nearly reached its approximately $156 million campaign goal.

The total of $140 million includes $9 million in newly announced donations from six leading philanthropists, the foundation announced.

The campaign was created in 2009 by the independent foundation to fund a perpetual endowment to preserve the authentic remains, buildings, ruins, artifacts, documents and artworks at the Auschwitz Memorial, which includes the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Nazi camps.

Jacek Kastelaniec, director general of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, calls Auschwitz a symbol of the Holocaust.

It is also a one-of-a kind educational facility where young people may learn about the terrible outcomes of anti-Semitism, racism and hatred, he said. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundations sole purpose is to make sure that the authenticity of this unique memorial will survive so next

generations will be able to understand what the words never again mean.

More than 1.5 million people from around the world visited the memorial in 2014. The number of visitors has continued to rise over the last decade.

To date, 34 countries have donated $136 million, with the largest contribution from Germany, followed by the United States and Poland.

The private donors include Melinda Goldrich and Andrea Goldrich Cayton and the Goldrich Family Foundation; Elly Kleinman; Frank Lowy, a Holocaust survivor; Lily Safra and the Edmond J. Safra Foundation; Steven Spielbergs Righteous Persons Foundation; and Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, whose prior funding modernized the memorials conservation laboratories.

Several hundred survivors were expected to attend the 70th anniversary commemoration on Jan. 27 along with donors and many heads of state. Auschwitz Memorial leaders said it is likely the last time that such a large number of survivors will be in attendance due to their advanced ages.

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Growing up, I had a friend for whom Tu bShevat offered a wonderful opportunity. On Tu b'Shevat, each class at our Hebrew Academy of Nassau County was treated to a platter filled with various Israeli-themed fruits: dried apples, dates, figs and the like. All of these fruity treats were quickly and thoroughly enjoyed by the class, leaving no leftovers except for the bukser (dried carob). Biting into that unbreakably tough outer skin for the barely recognizable trace of sweetness was just not worth it for any of us. Bukser seemed to share the same fate as black licorice; a token part of the food platter that was always left behind for the enjoyment of the atypical palate. Well, that atypical palate was my friends, and enjoy it he did.

Many of us may have wondered over the years as to the significance of the bukser

and its particular connection to Tu bShevat, especially being that it is not included as one of the seven special species of the land of Israel.

The custom of conducting an elaborate Tu bShevat seder, a practice which has gained momentum in recent years, is first discussed by the 17th century kabbalastic work Chemdas Yamim. In it, the author describes the proper conduct and intentions that should be maintained when eating the following significant fruits on Tu bShevat: wheat, olives, dates, grapes, figs, pomegranates, esrogs, walnuts, carobs, quinces, peanuts, hazelnuts, pears, crabapples, pistachios, cherries, jujube, hackberry, lupine and nishpolas. (And you thought that preparing for the Pesach seder was difficult!) However, the background to this work Chemdas Yamim gives us insight into why the Tu bShevat seder has not become a universally recognized practice. Chemdas Yamim was written anonymously in the 17th century and, according to many classic rabbinic authorities, including the pre-eminent Rabbi Yaakov Emden of 18th century Germany, this work was written by none other than Natan HaAzati, or Nathan the prophet, the provocative collaborator of Shabtai Zvi whose self-proclamation as the Messiah wreaked havoc on 17th century world Jewry.

Nathans unconventional kabbalistic tendencies were considered the catalyst for his championing the cause of Shabtai Zvi and successfully convincing others to do the same. If

Nathans corrupted kabbalastic perspectives are in fact the source for the Tu bShevat seder, then abandoning such a custom would certainly have merit; and as such, the Tu bShevat seder has not gained universal acceptance throughout Jewish circles.

Although most of the fruits listed by the Chemdas Yamim are not used in contemporary Tu bShevat packages, the carob, or bukser, still is. One of the explanations given for its historic endurance is the fact that it emanates from the land of Israel and does not spoil; thus, European communities wishing to obtain a fruit from the land of Israel for their Tu bShevat enjoyment would find the bukser most readily available.

Additionally, bukser has strong kabbalistic associations. The Talmud relates that when Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai hid from Roman oppression in a cave with his son, a carob

tree miraculously grew which gave them sustenance during their 12-year concealment. It is traditionally understood that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai authored the Zohar while hidden in this cave. If so, the carob is the very fruit that gave sustenance to the writing of the Zohar; in other words, the whole of Jewish mysticism is found in the seeds of the carob.

Perhaps the carobs close ties to the world of the Zohar can also be seen in the tendencies of its modern consumption. The Zohar is not something that is to be enjoyed by the masses; its improper usage in the 17th century wreaked havoc on Jewish life, upending communal belief systems and derailing sacrosanct rituals. Kabbalah and Zohar are to be reserved for the select few whose vast knowledge and firm standing in Jewish life and tradition give them license to mine the ever-deep gems of

Jewish mysticism. The sweetness of and appreciation for the carob fruit is similarly reserved for the individual with the unique palate and unique perspective, as the attempts of many unseasoned tasters (myself included) to extract its sweetness have ended in futility.

Thankfully, Tu b'Shevat is not only about bukser, it is about all of the fruits of the land of Israel which, according to the Talmud, are all imbued with great meaning. The pomegranate is filled with seeds representative of mitzvot; the olives oil grants light and clarity just as does the study of the Torah; the sweetness of the date reflects the sweetness of the land of Israel. Lets take the opportunity of Tu bShevat to take a sumptuous bite into the bread and butter of Judaism mitzvah performance, Torah study and devotion to the land of Israel and lets leave the bukser for someone else to enjoy.

W R I T I N G S F R O M T H E

C L E R G Y

RABBI DAVID WILENSKYCongregation Sons of Israel

What is the truth about eating bukser on Tu bShevat?

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Editors Note: Not to be confused with the people of Rome (see facing page), the Roma people suffered at the hands of the Nazis as well.

Misunderstood and still persecuted, the Roma people (also known as Romani or Gypsies) remain what some experts consider a relatively underreported ethnicity during this years International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

Drawing support from many non-Nazi Germans who harbored social prejudice towards Roma, the Nazis judged Roma to be racially inferior. The fate of the Roma in some ways paralleled that of the Jews. Under the Nazi regime, German authorities subjected Roma to arbitrary internment, forced labor and mass murder. German authorities murdered tens of thousands of Roma in the German-occupied territories of the Soviet Union and Serbia, and killed thousands more in the concentration camps at Aushwitz-Birkenau, Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor and Treblinka.

The Roma are a small minority, and due to long-term persecution in the various societies Roma have lived, they have, as a group, tended to be reluctant to advertise their ethnic background, Peter Black, a senior historian at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), told JNS.org. The Roma have, for the past two or three centuries, been the victims of negative and violence-inciting stereotypes about them and their

behavior.Black explained that the Roma

were reputed as travelers to be indifferent to indigenous social mores and legal structures, and to be inclined to engage in small-scale criminal behavior. Those tendencies, Black said, are what Americans will typically bring up today when asked about what negative stereotype they have heard about Roma or Gypsies.

The Roma were thought to have come from Egypt -- hence the name Gypsies -- but in fact, they trace their roots back to northwestern India, Pakistan and Iran.

They migrated via the Middle East into southern Europe or via Russia into Eastern Europe, Black said. They came primarily as skilled craftsmen and musicians. Initially, Europeans welcomed them, but eventually they tended to be suspicious of Roma mores and also envious in terms of competition of the skilled crafts. By the late 16th and 17th centuries, Roma were already being excluded from the guilds which determined who could produce and sell hand-made goods.

Black estimates that between 196,000 and 220,000 Roma were killed by the Nazis -- about 20 percent of the entire European Roma population at the time.

[The Nazi persecution of Roma has been] relatively underreported and there has not been the same level of study, country by country, that there has been about the destruction of the Jews in Europe, Black said. Part of this is due to widely differing policies toward Roma. There were vast differences between the treatment of Roma in German-occupied and German-controlled Europe than the Jews. The Jews [in those areas of Europe] were killed at levels of between 75 and 80 percent [compared to 20 percent for the European Roma].

Born in Czechoslovakia, Petra Gelbart is a granddaughter of Roma Holocaust survivors. An ethnomusicologist, musician and singer, she uses both her research and her voice to educate and advocate for Holocaust remembrance of Roma victims.

I try to take what people think they know about so-called gypsies, and replace it with something thats much more based in reality, Gelbart said on a USHMM podcast called Voices on Anti-Semitism.

Gelbart said the main stereotype about Roma is that we are nomadic, even though for most of history, for most of the past several hundred years, the majority of Roma have been settled. There are also stereotypes about us not wanting

to work, and being criminals, she said.

When you have a group, the majority of which lives in poverty, youre going to have issues with unemployment, low education, and youre going to have issues with petty crime, said Gelbart. But in Europe its very hard for [Roma] to get a regular job because the employment discrimination is just massive. The thing that people should really be worried about is not are we a criminal or work-shy people, but rather what is the access to jobs that we have or dont have.

Are Roma still persecuted today? In 2011, the USHMM released a statement calling attention to the issue, saying it was alarmed by the precarious situation of the Roma in todays Europe and urging European governments to uphold the rights and freedoms of Roma in accordance with international and regional obligations.

Recent anti-Roma acts and sentiment span [across Europe], USHMM said. Violent attacks against Roma have occurred in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Serbia and the Russian Federation and government authorities have organized deportations in France and Italy. In many places, Roma are singled out for isolation and denied their civil rights, and a number of national and local government officials have recently made anti-Roma statements.

According to Black, while the Jews were perceived in Nazi ideology as being a priority enemy, the Roma were seen as tools of the Jews.

In the occupied Soviet Union and occupied Serbia, Roma and Jews were shot side by side, he said. The policy against them was more or less absolutely the same in terms of practical day-to-day actions. The Jews were a more important priority enemy, although the fact remains that nearly 80 percent of Roma who lived in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic prior to 1939 were dead in 1945.

Black said it is important to place the treatment of the Roma into a broader context, but perhaps more important to remember the individual stories of the Roma who survived the Holocaust, which have not been as widely reported as Jewish Holocaust stories.

Unlike Jewish survivors of the Holocaust who were writing about their experiences almost as soon as World War II was over, Roma have been reluctant because of ongoing discrimination and persecution up until the present day, he said.

The Nazi deportation of Roma from Asperg, Germany, in May 1940.

At International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Roma remain underreported victims

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By Noah DiamondsteinSpecial to HAKOL

Editors Note: Many European communities observe Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which occurred 70 years ago. This story is the second in a four-part series by Noah, who recently studied in Europe and who seeks to see the world become a place where all can live together in peace.

A week after I returned to Prague from Vienna, I packed my bags again and left for Rome, Italy. Though I knew of anti-Semitism bubbling under the surface in Italy, I had limited accounts of the actual experience of Roman Jewry.

On my first day in Rome I was given an

excellent tour of the former Jewish ghetto and Jewish Museum/Great Synagogue of Rome. My guide told me of Roman Jewrys over 2,000-year-old history beginning in the times of Judah Maccabee. As we sat in the awe-inspiring sanctuary of the Great Synagogue, she told me of the long, tumultuous history of the relationship between the Vatican and the Jews of Rome all the way up to the present day.

The dehumanization of Roman Jews had begun centuries ago, with the Vaticans imprisonment of the Jews in the Ghetto. Between 2,000 and 10,000 Jews (depending on the time) were forced to live in an area no larger than three square blocks, in tenement buildings with low ceilings, completely shut

out from the outside world for over 300 years.Our discussion of the almost complete

destruction of the community by National Socialism in the 1940s prompted me to ask about the current state of anti-Semitism in Rome and Italy. My guides response startled me to say the least. She told me that until a few months prior to my visit she would have said that there is none, or at least no more than any other place. This all changed after the kidnappings of the three Israeli teens and the ensuing operations in Gaza. The Jewish community held a rally for solidarity outside of the Jewish school located at the heart of the Roman Jewish quarter, and that same night Rome saw what my guide referred to as their own little Kristallnacht. Stores and homes had their windows smashed in; doors and windows were painted with swastikas. There were even flyers posted around several neighborhoods in Rome denoting which businesses were known to be Jewish-owned, urging readers to boycott these businesses because their owners were proponents of the Israeli-Palestinian genocide.

My guide lamented, We were shocked. It was never more clear to me that anti-Zionism had become a cover for real, volatile anti-Semitism.

I tried my best to enjoy the rest of my weekend in Rome, but as I walked through the halls of the Vatican, I could not help but think of the history within the former ghetto walls, and worry for the future of Jewish life in a city where some gentile citizens have the propensity for such hostility.

Noah Diamondstein is a religious studies major at the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Jewish studies. He just completed his fall semester abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, attending the CET Academic Program with a focus on Judaic studies and will graduate in April. Noah will begin his studies at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion pursuing a career in the rabbinate. The next in Noahs series of reports on European Jewry will appear in the March edition of HAKOL.

In Rome, events unleash anti-SemitismGreat Synagogue of Rome


By Mike SmithCamp JCC Program Coordinator

Camp JCC has been my summer home for close to 20 years now. I started as a camper at age 7 in 1997 and quickly made a name for myself as the camper always in trouble for doing something ridiculous. They called me Smith back then, quite the opposite of the ubiquitous Mr. Mike I have come to be known as today. My journey from crazy camper, to CIT, counselor, unit head, and now camp program coordinator has been filled with laughter, fun and that fuzzy feeling you get when you know you belong somewhere.

My fondest memories of Camp JCC are by far the best memories of my childhood. They beat out my family trips to Disney, and I sit and ask myself, why does Camp JCC rival the magic that a hug from a favorite Disney character can give? Why is the most magical place on earth for me a campsite 15 minutes from my house? The reason is that Camp JCC, for me and many others like me, has always been a place to overcome my fears and go outside

my comfort zone with an amazing group of people who have my back. As a child, I was able to prove to myself that I was capable and competent and that I could overcome any fears or anxieties that life threw my way. I made friends that understood me and accepted me for the crazy camper I was.

My new role for camp this summer has been several years in the making. After being a counselor for seven summers, I became a unit head. I was in charge of overseeing close to 80 children and staff and making sure everyone had the same great experience and good feelings about camp that I did when I was a camper. I think I succeeded at that, but feel that I can do more. Having almost 20 years of experience at Camp JCC has given me the unique opportunity to see what makes a quality camp experience. This summer looks to be unforgettable and will be filled with traditions old and new, a sense of community and quality programming. Im proud of the summer that the camp team and I have planned, and I look forward to seeing our future camp leaders step off the bus on June 22 for their first day of camp!

HOME AWAY FROM HOMESummers with Camp JCC


By Sara Bressler-RutzChabad of the Lehigh Valley

Camp Gan Israel has made some exciting improvements, and we are looking forward to this coming summer more than ever. In addition to our usual camp days, where our campers socialize with other Jewish children in a safe and warm environment, we are also adding special clubs where campers will be able to train in the things that interest them most. Each session, campers will have the option to choose from two specialty clubs: basketball and theatre.

We are expanding our trips as well. Instead of only taking small trips around the Lehigh Valley, we are now going even further every

session on full day trips, from aquariums to water parks.

What really makes our camp so special is our campers, Jewish pride and our staff. We recruit experienced Jewish counselors who are committed and devoted to ensuring your child will have the best summer experience. Our staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid. The counselors energy, excitement and care is what makes the camp so special and gives the campers a feeling of belonging and a friendship that lasts a lifetime!

For more information about Camp Gan Israel or to sign up, contact Chabad of the Lehigh Valley at 484-351-6511, or visit us online at www.ganisraelpa.com.

Camp Gan Israel new and improved!Summer camp experience By Julie TaffetJFLV Marketing Intern

Despite the lingering extra-cold temperatures, Lehigh Valley families are looking ahead to summer camp. Here, several people reflect on their own camp experiences, even as some prepare their childrens summer plans.

MICKEY FREEMANMickey Freeman is a camp expert. Starting from his early childhood, Freeman attended Camp JCC. When he outgrew his camping days, he became an aide, a junior counselor, a counselor and eventually the assistant director.

Freemans experience of working with campers and leadership staff at camp went beyond the regular camp day. I used to really like the overnights, they were always an adventure.

The memory that stuck with Freeman while thinking back on his camp experience was the presence of music. Both as a camper and a leader, I did song leading. Music was a way to bring the whole camp community together.

Freemans mother was a Jewish nursery school director and his father

worked at Temple Beth El. Through his Jewish camp experience, specifically Oneg Shabbat, the Jewish values Freeman learned at home were reinforced.

CAROL WILSONFrom the summer after third grade to the summer after eighth grade, Carol Wilson attended Camp White Pine in Haliburton, Ontario. I can remember sitting by the lake on big rocks. We would talk about life and the universe.

Wilsons camp experience shaped the Jewish values that she still follows and practices today. Camp reinforced Tzedaka , Shabbat, community, and the value of really good friends.

Today, Wilson sends her children Ben, 15, and Rebecca, 11, to URJ Camp Harlam. It is remarkable watching them become independent, make new friends and test the waters in a safe place. Ben and Rebecca will tell you that their favorite part about camp is Shabbat, when the whole camp comes together dressed in white, sing songs and experience a sense of community. As a mother and

Summer campContinues on page 28


THE JCC OF ALLENTOWN702 N. 22ND STREET, ALLENTOWN PA610.435.3571 WWW.ALLENTOWNJCC.ORG


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By Micki Auerbach WechslerSpecial to HAKOL

Something extraordinary happened to me on a recent January morning. It was my day to volunteer for an organization in the Lehigh Valley called The Perfect Fit for Working Women. Due to a series of unexpected and fortuitous coincidences, I have been making the 16-mile ride from my home in Bethlehem to their location in the heart of Allentown for over a year. On that particular day, Heidi Lennick, director of The Perfect Fit, and I were engaged in a conversation which led to her asking about an item she found months before.

As a Jewish woman, I was taught that many things are bashert but lets admit

it there are times when circumstance and outcome are the result of things like timing, economics and socialization. Or are they? Three years ago, following a photography exhibit at the Jewish Community Center of Allentown, I was asked if I would donate a piece to The Perfect Fit for their annual fundraiser. Until then, I had never heard of that organization but was impressed by their intentions and actions.

The Perfect Fit for Working Women is dedicated to empowering women of low income who are entering the workforce. Each client is provided with appropriate clothing and job assistance to instill confidence and raise self-esteem. Considering

my love of working with people and fashion, and helping and empowering women, this all sounded good to me and I readily agreed to help.

When my mom passed away in 2013, I inherently knew that I would be cleaning out her closet as a final task. As sad as that was, I found tremendous comfort in deciding that all of her clothes, shoes she could have opened her own store and accessories would be going to a place where they would be used in a positive and productive manner. I have no idea how I was able to drive my overly-packed Hyundai Elantra from the Jersey shore where my mom had been up to the Lehigh Valley. I was greeted by Heidi and together we filled bins with bags and boxes. I could not imagine how all these items would be distributed and was pleasantly surprised to see space for both showroom and storage. There were displays, dressing rooms and racks of clothing that rivaled any boutique. Moms things had a home!

Following my own retirement, I decided to become more involved in community service. My parents were loyal volunteers at the Veterans Administration (VA)

hospitals in New Jersey and Florida for many years. Their commitment was admirable and documented by recognition. Ironically, the day after donating my mothers items, I received a call from Heidi stating that they found something personal amongst the clothing. I went back to discover that it was indeed, a lanyard with a collection of pins that had been awarded from the VA for volunteerism.

As a volunteer for The Perfect Fit, our time is filled with schlepping, organizing, tagging, hanging and folding clothing and other items. We share laughter, pride, hope and sometimes tears and treasures. When Heidi showed me on that recent January day what she had found, I didnt recognize the outside cover but opened it anyway. There was s

HAKOL - February 2015

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