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April/May 2020 April/May Nissan-- 2 | April/May 2020 The Jewish Voice

program this year, what two things you would talk Up Close: Tibor Schaechner about? I would tell the story of my As we mark Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance, on April 20, we remember a time when family and what happened to dozens of survivors lived here. Their stories live in our memories and many are recorded in the online video us. archives of the El Paso Holocaust Museum, which was founded by a survivor, Henry Kellen. One of those I would emphasize educat- stories belongs to Tibor Schaechner. ing young people about the Holocaust. Every high school For 60 of his 92 years, Tibor Schaechner has lived in El Paso, where he raised three should teach this history, but daughters and worked at The Popular department store for 36 years. He’s been active in the many young people do not Jewish community, supporting the El Paso Holocaust Museum, Congregation B’nai Zion, know anything about it. Temple , and the Jewish Federation. Yet after all these years, he remembers his childhood in vivid detail. Born in Budapest in How can we best honor 1928, Tibor saw his world change from a tight Jewish community full of family and friends to a What do you value the the memory of the six time of terror and immeasurable loss. By 1945 he had lost his father, sister, grandparents, aunts, most in your friends? million who perished? uncles – everyone, except his mother and five of his cousins. Support. We can honor them by watching out for prejudice and Tibor Schaechner’s story is one of courage and close calls; it is a story he has shared with discrimination of any kind thousands of soldiers at Fort Bliss, students at area high schools, and others. What might we be today. We can also say . A sheltered life surprised to learn about your interests? Every at Temple, Like many Holocaust Survivors, Tibor organizes his story with indelible dates, starting with before Zeidman leads June 9, 1941, when he was 13 and his Polish-born grandparents were taken to Nazi-occupied I like to swim. I swam almost every day at the UTEP the Mourner’s Kaddish, he Poland and killed. “That’s when I started to feel what the Holocaust was,” he said. swimming pool for 30 years. adds that we also say it for those “These deportations went on for two and then everything became normal again,” he who did not have anyone say it recalled. “Budapest was very cosmopolitan, with culture and freedom. We were so assimilated Who’s your favorite for them. That includes those that we didn’t speak , only Hungarian. We figured it wasn’t going to happen here.” Jewish hero? who died in the Holocaust. With his father’s successful down and feather export business, his family enjoyed a Israeli Prime Minister The worst thing for me is the comfortable home with maids to help out. Tibor attended a Jewish school, living what he called Benjamin Netanyahu. I know one and a half million children “a sheltered life” among the 6,000 to 7,000 Jews in his neighborhood. that a lot of people don’t like who died. All those families “Hungary was a haven compared to Poland, Czechoslovakia, and other Eastern European him, but he has kept safe that never happened. But I know some good news. In the countries,” he said. “Friday nights we used to go to and have all these young people and secure all these many years. 1970s, three relatives that the who had escaped these atrocities with Christian papers, falsified papers. People would have Schwartz family brought over them in their houses for supper.” What is your favorite Passover memory? from Hungary to escape the The lucky ones Holocaust emigrated to Israel. Then on March 19, 1944, the Germans took over Hungary. His father was taken to a forced It is a story my mother told me. After my parents These three brothers had lived labor camp and they never heard from him again. “The whole world as we knew it collapsed,” got married, my mother, who in El Paso since 1939 and were Tibor said. was not Orthodox, went to Hasidic. When we visited Israel The next year brought a nightmare. Hungarian Nazis killed Jews at random in the streets their first Seder at my father’s in the 1990s, the brothers had and rounded them up to shoot them on the banks of the Danube River. had been parents’ house. All the other 250 people in their families. strong in Hungary for centuries. Tibor thinks that many Hungarians, such as those in the far- women were wearing wigs Now there are many more! right Arrow Cross Party, were as cruel or even more ruthless than the Germans. and my mother was not. My His mother saved Tibor and his sister Magda with forged Swedish passports purchased with grandfather threw her out Born: Budapest, Hungary, gold. They first found refuge in a house bearing a Swedish flag, thanks to the work of Swedish of the house! She was pretty 1928 diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. Later they lived in a house with a neutral Swiss flag. Tibor dodged angry and ended up going Parents: Alexander and Sara Schaechner certain death, at times taking risks by removing his yellow star and hiding in attics. to a psychiatrist about it. He Siblings: Magda Finally they were forced into the Budapest Ghetto with 70,000 other Jews, all that remained advised her to go to her kitchen Married: Agnes Klein in of 250,000 in Budapest. Yet they were the lucky ones: nearly all of the 500,000 Jews in the closet and get her best china and throw it against the wall! 1956. After her death, Tibor country’s provinces were sent to extermination camps. married Ann Schwartz Tibor credits his staying alive to his survival instincts and luck. He narrowly escaped What’s the best thing Goodman in 1999. deportation and was put to work doing manual labor at the Shell refinery. One morning, he about being part of El Children: Lillian Schaechner missed the refinery’s transport vehicle and had to take the city bus. After a few miles, the driver (Elaine Weisman); Audrey Paso’s Jewish community? suddenly told him to get off. Minutes later, the bus stopped: everyone wearing a Star of It is a very unique and close- Lavi (Eitan) and their children Yamit, Moti, was taken off to be killed. He later learned that those Jewish boys and men heading to the knit community. There can be Danny; Susie Schaechner. refinery never made it that day; they were all sent to Auschwitz. any celebration and a lot of Stepchildren: Bob Goodman In December 1945, the Russians invaded Hungary with tanks and house-to-house fighting. people show up. Everyone is (Joanna) and their children His sister and four relatives were killed by a Russian bomb, but Tibor and his mother were able welcome. Trude, Peter, Charlie, and to climb out of the rubble. Budapest was finally liberated by the Russian Army on January 17, Andrew; Ellen Goodman, If you were speaking 1945, two and a half months before Tibor turned 17. Susie Novick (David), and at the El Paso Holocaust Post-war life Krasne (Alan) Tibor moved to the United States in 1949. When he lived in New York City, he met another Museum’s Yom HaShoah Hungarian Holocaust survivor: Agnes Klein. They met at Jones Beach in Brooklyn. Agnes, her mother, aunt and twin brothers, Otto and Ference, had been deported by cattle car to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the boys were taken out of line for Dr. Mengele’s horrific twin experiments. Miraculously they both survived. After the war, Agnes was among 13 Hungarian relatives that the Schwartz family in El Paso was able to locate and bring to the United States; Nandor Schwartz was her uncle. Agnes and Tibor married in 1956 and moved to El Paso in 1960, the same year his mother and stepfather emigrated from Budapest. In the 1950s and 60’s, around 75 Holocaust survivors lived in El Paso. Tibor began working right away at the Schwartz family business, the Popular Dry Goods Store. Agnes earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work and had a rewarding career with the Texas Department of Human Services. After her death, Tibor married Ann Schwartz Goodman. For 20 years, they lived a busy life in retirement, until Ann passed away in November 2019. Today, Tibor lives at Monte Vista retirement community and sees his middle daughter Audrey and Ann’s daughters frequently. In spite of all that has happened, Tibor has kept his mind sharp and his wit ready. He’s a The family took a group portrait in 1944 to send to Tibor’s father after he unique man, he noted with a smile: “I’m probably the only husband who had two wives from was deported to Germany, but they never heard from him again the Schwartz family!” BETTER TOGETHER The Jewish Voice April/May 2020 | 3 Food for thought while a noted documentary maker shared clips from his film on Israeli food. That same weekend, I enjoyed Congregation B’nai Zion’s Moroccan dinner after services. Wonderful!

The Lunch Bunch One Monday in early March, I had the pleasure of sitting with a group of men who know how to make lunch fun. They call themselves the ROMEO group: Retired Old Men Eating Out, and they’ve been meeting for more than ten years. These guys are old I’ve been thinking about food in a “Let’s Connect” for the schedule – you’ll friends – some go back to whole new way lately. Would you have find lots of activities. For instance, from grade school together. They Cindy Graff Cohen with James Beard Award-winning ever imagined a time when you that site this weekend, I’m tuning into joke that they “tell stories that Israeli chef Michael Solomonov • went to a grocery store and saw Temple Mount Sinai’s Shabbat services everyone’s heard and no one empty shelves? Friday night and “taking” a Pilates class believes.” them Mondays at noon at the Apple- • wanted to eat out with friends, but Sunday morning. The group varies but often includes bee’s at Mesa and Mesa Hills, reach out could not? As a Federation employee, I am Ira Batt, Sam Ellowitz, Bobby Goldfarb, to Ira and he’ll keep you posted or email • studied your pantry to count out staying connected in a different way: I Shelly Gopin, Sam Kobren, Dede me at [email protected] and I’ll meals and days? have a list of members of our Jewish Oppenheimer, Steve Rosenberg, and connect you. I have to say – these guys • sat at a Seder table without your community to call this week just to Tibor Schaechner. The late Jay Heins, have a good time. I was completely en- usual family and friends? check on them. If you haven’t already, who passed away in March, had been a tertained and we all can use laughter you too will be getting “check-in” calls regular member for years. this spring! As I write this in the last week of from others in the Federation, including Ira says that they welcome new Instead of focusing on “closed” signs March, I’m like everyone I talk to on board members. members. “We sit around talking for on restaurants and “sold-out” tags on the phone in this dystopian crisis. We For Passover, I’m ordering a about an hour and a half at Applebee’s online grocery sites, I’m thinking of one are staying at home to self-isolate and complete Seder dinner for one from the and everyone pays his own lunch tab,” word: gratitude. Just glad to be here, “flatten the curve.” We’re having Federation with everything from gefilte he says. “We’re trying to get a few new folks, and thankful for an adequate food trouble remembering what day it is. We fish and matza ball soup to potato members over 70 who are just looking supply and all that is good in our lives. know a lot, but we know nothing about kugel and macaroons. I even created to get out of the house for a little while. Wishing everyone good health and good how long this frighteningly fatal virus and printed out my own Haggadah (I I know they will like the fellowship.” food this Pesach season, will last. picked the comedy version – I could use The group is on hiatus at press time, Cindy Graff Cohen I am used to living alone, but I miss a laugh) at haggadot.com. but if you’re interested in later joining Editor, The Jewish Voice everything outside the house – seeing Speaking of friends, attending services, playing Mah food, I’m getting Jongg, catching a concert or movie, a lot of mileage enjoying enchiladas at my favorite from remembering Mexican restaurant, boarding a plane three meals in one to see my parents and family members. incredible week I have a new appreciation for the in February. Two “normal” that I took for granted. After featured Israeli this, I am committed to getting out cuisine with the more and being more involved. Federation’s Jewish Film Festival: the Let’s Connect banquet-of-a-lifetime To help ease this temporary with celebrity chef isolation, the Federation just developed Michael Solomonov a cool new platform, “Let’s Connect,” at Dana and Adam which brings all kinds of livestreaming Frank’s home and opportunities to get together virtually. delicious treats at the L-R: Sam Ellowitz, Dede Oppenheimer, Bobby Goldfarb, Steve Rosenberg, Ira Batt, Sam Kobren Visit jewishelpaso.org and click on Alamo Drafthouse

A publication of the Jewish Todah Rabah to Our Volunteers Federation of Greater El Paso Café Europa Guest Speaker Debra Kanof, Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council The Jewish Voice of El Paso, published ten times a year, is dedicated to informing, educating, and uniting the Jewish community by providing news items of local, national, Israeli and international concern. March Federation Community Assistance Volunteers The Jewish Voice will consider for publication any materials submitted that support the mission Michelle Bernstein, Aydyn Bush Lindsay Jaffee, Susan of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso and have relevance and appeal to the El Paso Jewish community. Articles are subject to editing at the editor’s discretion and are subject to space Jaffee, Mary Kirschenbaum, Rochelle Saks, limitations. Letters cannot be longer than 150 words and articles must be kept to a maximum of Jane Snow, Weislow and Weislow 300 words. Please email to [email protected] Opinions are those of individual writers and not necessarily those of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso. The Jewish Voice is not responsible for the of any product or eating establishment advertised herein.

Executive Director: Robert French Want to submit an ad? Cindy Graff Cohen Campaign Director: Sue Bendalin Editor: Beatriz Garcia President: Janet Kent Wechter Layout and Design: Robert Piñon Office: 915-842-9554 Advertising Rep: Call (915) 842.9554 7110 North Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912 Printing: PDX Printing

915-842-9554 | www.jewishelpaso.org 4 | April/May 2020 The Jewish Voice Hitting it out of the ballpark Ethan Martinez, a member baseball player who became the and courage challenged of El Paso and alum of first African American to break widespread segregation Chabad’s Camp Gan Israel, won first Major League Baseball’s color and discrimination in the place at El Paso’s 23rd Annual History barrier. He and a fellow Hornedo 1940s. Day competition. Ethan is the son of Middle School student, Andrew The History Day Erin and Raymond Martinez, brother Freeman, partnered in developing program encourages more to his twin, Benjamin, and older sister, the presentation which followed this than half a million students Devin, and grandson of Mark Riden year’s national theme “Breaking to conduct historical and Honey Phelps. Boundaries in History.” Their exhibit, research on a topic of their Ethan created an exhibit about titled “Swinging for Equality,” looked choice. Students enter Jackie Robinson, the legendary at how Robinson’s character, talent, these projects at the local and affiliate levels, with top students advancing to the National Contest. Ethan CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL and Andrew will advance to the Texas History Day AND COLLEGE SENIORS! contest in Austin. Email your graduation information to

[email protected] by May 11, 2020 Bea Weisz Memorial Scholarship Fund Send your name, school, post-graduate plans, family • Accepting applications for Fall 2020 semester (parents, siblings, local grandparents), and a photograph The Beatrice L. Weisz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in July of 2001. It was the wish of Ms. Weisz that proceeds from the fund would be given to one or more needy and worthy Jewish college students in the Greater El Paso area to enable them to pursue their studies. Applications are available online at www.jewishelpaso. org and must be received on or before Friday May 15th, 2020, for distribution by August 1, 2020.

TEXAS NEURODIAGNOSTIC, HEADACHE & SLEEP DISORDERS CENTER, P.A. BORIS KAIM, M.D. F.A.A.N., FAASM Board Certified in Neurology, Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine

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2311 N. Mesa, Bldg. F • El Paso, Texas 79902 Phone: (915) 544-6400

BETTER TOGETHER The Jewish Voice April/May 2020 | 5 Compassion in the time of the coronavirus As I communities. community, both affiliated and write this It was empowering to learn what unaffiliated. We are in this together. Pandemic in March, other communities are doing and how Passover is the time when we each new we, as a collaborative network, can come together and celebrate our What if you thought of it day brings take care of the vulnerable, engage freedom and this year is no different, as the Jews consider the Sabbath- unsettling the young and not so young and stay except without the crowded Seder ​The most sacred of times? information connected. I am proud to be a part tables that we so enjoy with extended ​Cease from travel. and of the collective that is mobilizing family and friends. Even if we need ​Cease from buying and selling. uncertainty. innovation, creativity and problem to celebrate virtually to safeguard ​Give up, just for now, While solving in our schools, some of those we love, we will still on trying to make the world different our desert and other communal institutions. read our worn Haggadahs with one than it is. community another and send our love over the Sing.​ brings hope Federation outreach airwaves. Janet Kent Wechter Pray.​ with the As many of you may know, your I keep thinking of how we need ​Touch only those to whom you commit blossoms Jewish Federation is working remotely to reach out with our hearts this year your life. of spring and the time to enjoy our with staff and our board to inform, instead of our hugs. My thoughts Center​ down. mountains and beautiful landscapes, engage and serve the needs in our echo the words of Jewish poet these unprecedented times have forced community and learn how we can Lynn Ungar in her recent poem ​And when our body has become still, us to adapt to the rapidly-changing better help one another. Please read “Pandemic,” which I would like to ​Reach out with your heart. realities of the corona virus. our e-blasts – newly retitled “Let’s share with you here. I hope it will ​Know that we are connected I know it is critical for our Connect” – and stay connected. touch you, too. ​In ways that are terrifying and beautiful. mental and physical health to keep Each week we are convening a We are grateful to all those who (You could hardly deny it now.) to a routine, regardless how the Zoom conference call meeting with are essential to our wellbeing, from ​Know that our lives routine has changed. For myself, representative leaders from all of healthcare professionals to those ​Are in one another’s hands. that is meditating, walking the dogs, our local partner agencies in order who patrol the streets, stock grocery (Surely that has come clear.) eating healthy (for the most part) to communicate and share best stores, cook take-out meals, drive ​Do not reach out your hands. and interjecting humor into my day practices and how we may lead and garbage trucks. We are grateful to all ​Reach out your heart. however it comes. conduct business in this surreal time. those who put themselves at risk for ​Reach out all the tendrils of During this time, I am especially We are reaching out to community us. compassion that move, invisibly, grateful to be involved in an members to see how you are doing; May you and your loved ones be ​Where we cannot touch. organization that truly cares about please do not hesitate to call for help healthy and safe. To those who are ​Promise this world your love— people. Recently, I participated in you need groceries or medicine or ill and suffering, I wish you a Refuah ​For better or for worse, a Zoom conference call with 216 whether it’s just someone to talk to Shleymah, a full and speedy recovery. ​In sickness and in health, Jewish Federation lay leaders and if you are alone and isolated. And I also wish you all a very happy ​So long as we all shall live. professionals from across the country remember to complete the Jewish Passover holiday! and in Israel. This was the first of community demographic study that Janet Kent Wechter many which will take place to help can be found on our website so we President - Lynn Ungar, 2020 each other navigate this crisis in our may truly know our entire Jewish Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso

915-842-9554 | www.jewishelpaso.org 6 | April/May 2020 The Jewish Voice Zooming in to stay connected moved our classes online. At the same time each school day our teachers and students have a Zoom meeting. They are all able to see one another and to interact, too. The daily lessons include songs, fingerplays, stories read aloud, art and science projects and more. But the real fun for the children during the first week of class was showing their teachers and friends all about their life at home: their rooms, their pets, their siblings, and their favorite It’s not just our children who need stuffed animals too. support at this time; it’s our parents, Name Tracing Activity Some families can’t meet at too. We have turned to our early childhood expert, Susan Glaser, who This is similar to a teaching activity a teacher a set time during the day, so our modeled on Zoom with instructions for parents to teachers are recording classes will be setting up one of her beloved do at home. Designed for The Chipmunks Class enabling these families to watch parenting workshops online. There are (two-year-olds), it reinforces learning letters with a Hunkering down at home, hiding at a time that’s convenient for always so many questions when raising tactile twist. from COVID-19, has given all of us them, so no one has to miss out. We are young children but now Materials: more “family time” but it’s also been all the more so. Our hope is A common object such as a spoon, twig, or other very disruptive small item – child’s choice; a marker and paper; and isolating that children and optional: water-based paint, such as tempera or for our young their parents will finger paint. students. feel less stressed Shortly after the about the Instructions: 1. Invite your child to look for a small item around shelter-in-place dramatic change in routine we are the house or backyard that they can hold. order began, 2. On a piece of paper draw the first letter of their we heard from all experiencing name and on another sheet write out their our parents just and will find first name. how much the comfort as they 3. Sound out the first letter and the letters of the children were see familiar child’s name and show them how to trace them with your finger. missing their faces each day. We want to be 4. Invite them to use their found item to trace classmates, their their name. teachers – their sure they know 5. Optional: After tracing with the found object, “J” family. To that although you could have them trace the letters provide some sense we have to be with dot painting, using a Q-tip and paint, or of routine and apart right now, we are all in this finger painting to trace the first letter and their first name. social connection also going to be recording our weekly together. Meg Birk and to continue learning and exploring Shabbat celebration so families can Please share pictures of your child doing the together, The J Center for Early enjoy that in the same way – whenever Director activity with us! Learning has, like most other schools, is best for them. J Center for Early Learning

BETTER TOGETHER The Jewish Voice April/May 2020 | 7 Let’s Connect… We may not be sitting side by side in services, classes, or meetings, but the good news is that we CAN get together virtually!

ONE Place. ONE Stop. ONE Resource. Our Online Community Resource Now Live

Just visit www.jewishelpaso.org and click on “Let’s Connect” to join live online get-togethers, classes, and programs for teens, parents, seniors, and more. You’ll see a new calendar of happenings throughout our Greater El Paso Jewish community that you can take part in from home. What does it mean to connect? Our local congregations and Jewish organizations are hosting livestreamed coverage of Shabbat services, study, book discussions, PJ Library story times, and more. See what’s happening in real time online in our El Paso and Las Cruces We’re there for you… help with errands. Sign up online • We remain committed to providing Jewish community... @ Temple Mount Out of an abundance of caution at jewishelpaso.org or call our new, safe, secure, and meaningful ways for Sinai, Chabad El Paso, Temple Beth and care for our Jewish community toll-free number at 1-877-257-6506 you to connect with us, each other, El, Chabad Las Cruces, Congregation and the community at large, we to let us know when you can be on and our community. Our board and B’nai Zion, PJ Library, Jewish have made the difficult decision to call to volunteer if needed. community leaders will continue to Federation and more. postpone April Federation events Our network, phone systems meet by video and teleconference. Some events are Zoom conference until further notice. Should you and entire office can be accessed • We keep adding more community calls, where we can see one another need assistance with getting food or and used remotely 24/7 so that we gatherings and programs on the and share our thoughts. Some are on medicines, please do not hesitate to intend to be completely accessible online Let’s Connect! platform. Try it! Facebook. Some are purely for fun, reach out to us at 877-257-6506. to you throughout these challenging • We’ll look for every opportunity like yoga and Pilates classes, crafts times. to reschedule, and we are exploring conversations, and exercise sessions. If you have time, you can Please know that you are not creative virtual solutions where Questions? Call our new toll-free volunteer to help others in our alone. Your community is with you! appropriate. It’s a time for adjusting number: 877-257-6506. Jewish community who may need plans, so stay tuned.

Watch your email for link to Federation’s UTEP Sociology Department research project!

Let’s Connect Concert With Larry Lesser Sunday, April 19 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy Original Jewish songs! Visit jewishelpaso.org/letsconnect Want to request a song from “SPARKS,” Larry’s 2020 album? Visit larrylesser.com/sparks to stream or download album. Email your request to [email protected]

915-842-9554 | www.jewishelpaso.org 8 | April/May 2020 The Jewish Voice A path toward freedom and peace F o r we have lived through the worst and humanity to its attentive children, and still path toward freedom and peace. The thousands come through to the other side of tells the same story; but mankind would not Exodus from Egypt suggests that even of years we things. We know what it is to be slaves, listen to it. When oppression and violence in the depths of despair there is a have been and so we recognize how lucky we ruled supreme, the Israelite barred his door, reason to have hope. reliving the are to be free. Free to make our own and shut his windows, and related in secret to Nearly thirty years later in the same Exodus from destinies. Free to worship and to his children the grand story of liberty, justice newspaper Isaac Mayer Wise would Egypt. It see God’s presence in our lives. Free and equality, his message to mankind, and call Passover the day of resurrection: is as much from despotism or anarchy, from the felt, that the time must come when the nations It is the resurrection of a nation and its a story of whims of those who would do evil. would listen to his long told story, cast off independence, the resurrection of national lib- creation for And yet, though it should be, it is their idols of silver and their idols of gold, erty and personal freedom, the resurrection of Rabbi Ben Zeidman the Jews as not the case. While it shouldn’t be, we their priests and their despots, (“God alone right, truth and freedom, rising like a pillar the Book of remain optimistic. It is the Passover be exalted that day!”) and learn to appreciate of fire from the dismal sea of Egyptian dark- Genesis is a story of creation for the experience which is the cause for the message of justice, liberty and piety. ness. So the nations, so the individuals must world. Our history as slaves who lived the Jews’ optimism throughout the Among the millions of human beings there awake and resurrect out of the night of igno- through the miraculous displays of generations. Not only the story itself, are but few who comprehend and appreciate rance, superstition, fanaticism, physical and God’s power has been told and retold but the process of retelling the story, this message; the rest are yet enslaved. mental slavery, to light, truth and freedom, to by each generation. reliving it. The inspiration to live our There is a meaningful way of establish the kingdom of God on earth, to pre- Beyond that, every parent has told lives as if the trauma of slavery were contextualizing the greatest challenges pare the souls for happiness on earth and the the story to their children in keeping personal inspires a sense of awe in God of our time. It can be found in enjoyment of true bliss in life eternal. This is with the commandment: “Every and a sense of potential in humanity. , and most transparently in the resurrection, this is redemption, this is the old person is obligated to see themselves The founder of American Reform celebration of Passover. Our shared and venerable Pesach. as if they went forth from Egypt” Judaism wrote in his article in The experience in ancient days reminds us May this Passover be for you and ( 116b). We share the story Israelite published on April 10, 1857: to stand firm in our commitment to those you love a holiday of peace, joy, by reliving the fear and the wonder of …Israel faithful to its vocation, has right and truth. righteousness and redemption! transitioning from slavery to freedom. told, every Pesach-night, the story of liberty The Passover story encourages us Rabbi Ben Zeidman The Passover story suggests that and independence, the glory of justice and to remember that there is always a Temple Mount Sinai

Let’s Talk About Moshiach A simple beliefs and yet Moshiach remains a disease - a reality we all so desperately reaching the finish line. Jew in an frightening mystery to so many. Do we seek especially now in the midst of the The Shem Tov would celebrate Eastern really want this enigmatic messianic worldwide COVID-19 crisis. the conclusion of Pesach with a festive European phenomenon to change our lives against How will this be possible? “For the dinner in tribute to Moshiach. Rather came our will? earth will be filled with knowledge of the than only learning, praying and yearning home from What type of world do we wish to live L-rd, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah for His arrival, Moshiach should also be services with in? What type of future do we want for 11:9). The main role of Moshiach is to a culinary experience – similar to how Rabbi Levi Greenberg exciting news. our children and grandchildren? serve as the ultimate teacher for all of the Seder brings the message of freedom “Moshiach is Humanity yearns for a world free of humanity. Nations will not be coerced to all our senses. coming soon to take us all to Israel! Can war, famine, disease and hatred. On the to lay down their arms, nor will we be Every year, at the conclusion of you imagine? No more problems from final day of Pesach (Acharon Shel Pesach) forced to treat each other with respect. Pesach we host Seudat Moshiach the anti-semitic landowner or we read a section from Isaiah about Moshiach will reveal the truth of reality to (Moshiach Meal) at Chabad. This year from the Cossacks!” the era of Moshiach. After describing all and peace will be the automatic result. we cannot congregate in person, so I “How can we move to Israel the persona of the future redeemer, the If anyone resists these changes, you will encourage you to do this at home on now?” his wife cried. “We just finished prophet envisions the utopic era he will know that Moshiach has not yet arrived. Thursday, April 16 towards the evening. renovating the barn!” deliver as a time when “the wolf will The message of Moshaich is so Eat some matzah and toast l’chaim on The farmer’s excitement dissipated dwell with the lamb;” a time when all relevant to Pesach because the exodus four glasses of wine in anticipation for a and there was an awkward silence. “Not peoples will dwell together in peace. from Egypt was the beginning of the better world to come. to worry,” said the woman with a smile. Jewish explains that when long road to ultimate redemption. Best wishes for a Kosher and joyous “G-d saved us from the Cossacks, He will humanity will be cleansed of all character At the Seder we commemorate the Pesach! surely save us from Moshiach as well.” impurities, nature will also be cleansed accomplishments of the past and at Rabbi Levi Greenberg It is one of the fundamental Jewish of all impurities. No more illness and the conclusion of Pesach we focus on Chabad Lubavitch True Freedom! Freedom Slavery is not just a physical directed by stormy waters. and every generation one must see is the most condition. Rather, and what’s worse, Freedom, on the other hand, is himself as if he himself left Egypt.” valued it is a mental condition. As the saying the mindset of the “rich,” allowing Chassidic philosophy explains that aspect of the goes: You can take a slave out of a person the ability and capacity we must exit and leave behind our human race. slavery, but it’s a lot harder to take of vision beyond the present personal Egypt – the constraints we Slavery, the slavery out of the slave. circumstances – being able to reach put on ourselves – to achieve true antithesis Just as began relating G-d’s out to the stars and beyond. One freedom. Rabbi Bery Schmukler of freedom, message to the Jewish people regarding may be physically imprisoned but all As we prepare for Passover, let’s on the other the exodus, he said, “Aaleh eschem the while be personally free. On the unshackle ourselves from our status hand, is the most abhorrent idea of a me’onee mitzrayim – I shall uplift you other hand, there can be one who is quo, each of us from our pettiness. free-thinking society. from the affliction of Egypt” (Exodus physically free, but mentally enslaved Let’s broaden our horizons to explore But what’s wrong with slavery? Is it 3:17). The word onee in Hebrew, in – not being able to see or consider fields which, yesterday, we thought just because you are forced to do things addition to the translation of suffering beyond himself and his present needs. were beyond us. Lastly, let’s begin against your will? Is it because you are or torture, also connotes poverty. Right at the outset of G-d’s with doing at least one more good subject to torture, or is it because you What’s wrong with bondage is message of freedom, he conveyed to deed. Let us continue growing in are robbed of your inalienable rights? the poverty. It robs a person of their the Jewish People that not only will our commitment to a complete and And what’s so great about freedom? capacity to see, think, or consider they be relieved of their back-breaking full Jewish way of life, free of the Is it because you are free to do as you beyond their immediate needs. slave labor, suffering and torture, but constraints of habit and that which wish? Or is it because you are able to As is the nature of the poor and he immediately announced that he is caused by social pressure. Let us determine your own destiny? destitute, so desperately wanting will grant them “a land flowing with experience true freedom. All of these and more are true. Yet, of their immediate needs, they are milk and honey” – a state of mind Best wishes for a happy Kosher Passover, there is another aspect of the meaning controlled by and become subject to completely unimaginable to them at Rabbi Bery Schmukler of slavery and freedom which is often circumstances imposed upon them, as the time. Chabad of Las Cruces overlooked. a shaking and tossing ship helplessly In the Haggadah we read, “In each

BETTER TOGETHER The Jewish Voice April/May 2020 | 9 A Passover Learn from the kids

Educating our youth is the status? Invocation foundation of Jewish life. It is Youth on only appropriate that Pesach – the the other celebration of the birth of the Jewish hand nation – should revolve around this naturally idea. seek truth, Rabbi Larry Karol The highlight of Pesach, the seder, and when Eternal God, revolves around the children. The they find it Our Creator and Companion, entire Haggadah is a response to - or when Lift our voices to sing a song of freedom the questions asked by the children. they think So that we will support the rights of others Rabbi Yisrael Greenberg And the Haggadah is quite specific they found To speak their minds and to pursue their life’s desires about the message we are to give it - they will leave all behind and follow In a way that will lead to mutual respect and increasing equality. our children, providing tailor-made their inner compass. There’s nothing responses for four different types of binding them to any one particular Strengthen our spirits to sing a song of understanding children. course, so they are ready at the drop So that we can approach one another with curiosity and compassion In fact, despite the importance of of a hat to change course. Turning seemingly contrary concerns into a shared mission education, and though we certainly On Pesach, the Jews exhibited That will sustain a community and a world. make a point on Chanukah to a youthful disposition. They were gather the children for the menorah willing to leave behind their previous Grant us the sensitivity to sing a song of comfort lighting, and just wouldn’t be lifestyle, homeland and habits, to That will touch the depths of fear and pain the same without the masquerading chase the truth in a barren desert. Within our fellow human beings children, only Passover requires In our personal lives we, too, seek And bring us all healing and hope. the participation of the youth, and liberation. We wish to experience true actually makes them the featured freedom, to escape the many bonds Challenge us to overcome our differences center of attention. of habit and nature which limit us. To sing in a chorus of coordinated harmonies While the importance of The lesson we learn from Passover is Where the divergent paths on which we tread transmitting the message of Pesach that to experience liberation we must Will intersect and resonate one with another to our children is self-understood, reconnect with our inner child. As As if each personal song was but one part in a vast musical score of existence. why is Pesach’s message deemed more long as we refuse to make the big leap, important for the children than the to completely disengage from our Enable us to hear the cries for assistance of people in need in our day messages carried by other festivals? past, we will never be truly free. As if they were echoes of the songs of our ancestors in Egypt Torah, joy, unity, repentance - some This is especially true with regard Calling to the Eternal One to end cruelty and bondage of the major themes of the other to our pursuit of . Leading To fashion for them a path to deliverance. holidays - are they any less vital for the a truly spiritual life demands the future of our nation? courage to make a complete reversal Activate now our songs of praise and thanksgiving Perhaps one of the reasons for - to follow G-d “into the desert,” Our declarations of remembrance and resolve this extra attention is because while leaving behind a lifestyle that we may To remind us how we are part of one family we are intended to teach our children have been comfortable (but not happy) When we sit at our Shabbat and Seder tables a certain message on every holiday, with, and jumping into G-d’s embrace and in our synagogues and Temples on Pesach we are supposed to take through complete dedication to His for worship and study and connection. a message from our children. And Torah and Mitzvot. perhaps this is because we are trying It’s great to be an adult with Demonstrate to us how our melodies and harmonies to reenact the Exodus, a time which maturity, wisdom and experience. Add to the symphony of all life symbolized our nation’s youth. But it’s only worth it if these qualities Enabling us to reach out in love to each other Adults may have a monopoly on assist us - instead of impeding us - in And guiding us to allow Your holy song to penetrate into our minds and hearts. maturity, experience and wisdom, but our quest for freedom. in the realm of truth they have much to May we all be blessed with a Kosher Eternal God, learn from the young. Because adults and happy Pesach and merit very soon Our Creator and Companion, lead such complex lives, their decisions to experience ultimate freedom with Lift our voices to sing a song of freedom. are inevitably colored by many the imminent arrival of Moshiach. factors: how will this affect my career, Rabbi Yisrael Greenberg Rabbi Larry Karol my family, my vacation plans or social Chabad Lubavitch Temple Beth-El

Remembering and honoring

As Jews, memory is an essential perhaps most familiar to us is Passover people at the hands of Hitler and his the day on part of our faith. Twice daily as we where we gathered around our seder followers. Tuesday, recite the Sh’ma, we say “Then you tables, surrounded by family and/or In deep contrast to Passover, on April 21. will remember and observe all My friends to recall the exodus and discuss Yom HaShoah, we remember and This year mitzvot…” and in the same thought the meaning of freedom. Every one of mourn those who had their freedom the entire El we recall the exodus from Egypt these observances is linked to memory taken away. We recall the six million Paso Jewish Rabbi Scott Rosenberg and its importance to us on both a and the deep connection that binds of our brothers and sisters who were community personal and communal level. one generation of Jews to the next. enslaved and murdered for no reason will be gathering, though most likely Every Shabbat (whose observance Tragically, in our generation other than their faith. virtually, for our annual Yom HaShoah we are commanded to remember) another event has joined the list of As we recall those who perished, commemoration Sunday, April 19 at when we recite the Kiddush, the same essential memories for our people. we also honor those who survived. We 2:00 p.m. when the El Paso Holocaust theme presents itself: remembering Remembering the millions of Jews hear remarkable stories of survival Museum and Study Center will the exodus and our journey to free and other innocent victims of the and wonder if we ourselves would orchestrate our program focusing on peoplehood. Nazis has become an essential have the strength to endure what so Courage, Community and Change. I Ever since the Temple was memory for our people. Just five many were forced to endure during hope our entire community will join destroyed in the year 70 CE, we days after Passover, just as our lives this dark period of our recent past. us for this program of reflection and as a people have remembered its have returned to normal after a week The observance of Yom HaShoah remembrance. destruction along with its spiritual of matza and memory, we recall this year begins on Monday night, Rabbi Scott Rosenberg significance to our ancestors. And the attempted destruction of our April 20, and continues through Congregation B’nai Zion

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Israeli universities and institutes— epidemiological investigations.” Migal Galilee Research Sheba Medical Center at Tel and their affiliated academics, Technion‒Israel Institute of Institute (Kiryat Shmona, Israel) Hashomer (Ramat Gan) researchers, doctors, scientists and Technology and Rambam Health A newly developed Israeli vaccine Rated among the 10 best hospitals students—are leading the fight Care Campus (Haifa) for coronavirus will likely be ready for in the world in 2020 by Newsweek, against the coronavirus. Ben-Gurion Researchers at Israel’s Technion– testing in less than 10 weeks, said Migal experts at Israel’s Sheba Medical University of the Negev, the Technion‒ Israel Institute of Technology and Galilee Research Institute’s CEO Center are currently on the frontlines of Israel Institute of Technology, Rambam Health Care Campus have David Zigdon. the coronavirus pandemic with doctors Rambam Health Care Campus, Migal successfully tested a new method Funded by the Israel’s Ministry who have innovated telemedicine in Galilee Research Institute and the called “pooling,” which they claim will of Science and Technology and in treating the virus, while protecting Sheba Medical Center are each at dramatically increase the country’s cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of medical staff and setting the standard the forefront of medical technologies ability to test for COVID-19 efficiently. Agriculture, the research institute has of care for telemedicine during this and innovation, task forces, methods Applying the test when the been working for four years towards a time. and vaccines in the making that are frequency of infection in the population vaccine that can be adapted for various “Sheba Medical Center has working to protect the spread emerged as a global leader of the COVID-19 virus that when it comes to telemedicine has become a global pandemic in the fight against this over the last few months. pandemic,” Dr. Galia Barkai, head of telemedicine at Sheba Ben-Gurion University Medical Center, told JNS. of the Negev (Beersheva) Barkai laid out the three Ben-Gurion University main ways Sheba is using of the Negev’s president telemedicine to treat and save Professor Daniel Chamovitz patients, while protecting vital recently announced a health-care workers. First, task force to “harness the the facility is “transitioning university’s vast brain power, standard services, such as research skills and ingenuity to outpatient care, to virtual help cope with the coronavirus visits.” pandemic,” maintaining that Secondly, Sheba is using it is “our moral obligation to telemedicine to support contribute to coping with this isolated coronavirus patients pandemic.” in a special facility. “We have In a meeting attended A view of a laboratory at the Migal Galilee Research Institute. A newly developed Israeli vaccine for coronavirus will likely created a new standard that by 50 scientists from diverse be ready for testing in less than 10 weeks, said Migal’s CEO David Zigdon. has now become a national departments within the standard in Israel,” she said. university, ideas were presented and is low, Idan Yelin, a researcher in the viruses, which is now being focused to “We do this via telemedicine kits the task force broke into several Technion Faculty of Biology, told JNS, create a vaccine against COVID-19, containing innovative technology groups working on the most promising will “allow for identifying infection the human strain of coronavirus. patients can use at home, which report projects and collaborations, including cases very early on, before an outbreak According to the institute, this to doctors in real time.” self-sterilizing facemasks, medical is apparent.” possibility was identified as a byproduct The third, she continued, is for emergency drones, a coronavirus test “The great thing about this method of Migal’s development of a vaccine critically ill patients. “We designed our that could take just five minutes using is that it can be used immediately,” he against IBV (Infectious Bronchitis new dedicated COVID-19 Critical chip technology, and a telemedicine said, as “it uses the same equipment Virus), a disease affecting poultry. Care ICU so that nurses and physicians and remote triage system. and kits that are being used routinely, Now, Migal has made required genetic can treat the patient continuously at a Professor Nadav Davidovitch, while conserving scarce reagents.” adjustments to adapt the vaccine to safe distance, using various methods director of the School of Public Health “Many people throughout the world COVID-19, and is working to achieve such as AI (artificial intelligence) to at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, found our method interesting and have the safety approvals that will enable in- predict patient deterioration, robotics shared his optimism with JNS that contacted us,” added Yelin. vivo testing. and even a minicar that allow them to “this is not Armageddon, and these “As far as we know, this method is According to Zigon, the institute’s get close to the patients.” situations can lead to innovation.” not currently being used anywhere goal is to produce the vaccine during “It was only possible to implement “Since we have national health [else],” he further maintained, noting the next seven to nine weeks, and to these new services so quickly at Sheba insurance, we have excellent electronic that “the idea itself is not new; it is just achieve safety approval in another few because we have been working on records and integration between clinic that a proof of concept was lacking.” weeks. advanced telemedicine capabilities for and community,” he added. “We showed that it works for this “This will be an oral vaccine, years,” said Barkai. “This allowed us to “Israel has been preparing for virus with the commonly used test making it particularly accessible to scale quickly at the moment of crisis.” this kind of event for at least two and believe that implementing it can the general public,” he said in a press decades with the establishment of be extremely useful in the months release. “We are currently in intensive Eliana Rudee an epidemiological response and to come for pandemic surveillance,” discussions with potential partners that Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) intervention team,” said Davidovitch. he continued, “both for identifying can help accelerate the in-human trials “We have a very strong system for lab the scope of infection in the wide phase and expedite the completion final Excerpted from The Daily Syndicate, JNS, testing, a strong surveillance system community and for routine monitoring product development and regulatory March 26, 2020 for influenza outbreaks and a strong of populations at risk.” activities.” public health system well-trained to do

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