Federation to Hold “Conversation with Michael Oren” on Nov. 30
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November 6-19, 2020 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLIX, Number 36 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Federation to hold “Conversation with Michael Oren” on Nov. 30 By Reporter staff said Shelley Hubal, executive “delightful.” Liel Leibovitz, an Oren served as Israel’s ambassador to The Jewish Federation of Greater Bing- director of the Federation. “I Israeli-American journalist and the United States for almost five years hamton will hold a virtual “Conversation look forward to learning how author, wrote that “Oren delivers before becoming a member of Knesset and with Michael Oren” about his new book of he came to write the many sto- a heartfelt and heartbreaking deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s short stories, “The Night Archer and Other ries that appear in his book. I account of who we are as a spe- Office. Oren is a graduate of Princeton Stories,” on Monday, November 30, at would also like to thank Rabbi cies – flawed, fearful, and lonely and Columbia universities. He has been noon. Dora Polachek, associate professor of Barbara Goldman-Wartell for but always open-hearted, always a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale and romance languages and literatures at Bing- alerting us to this opportunity.” trusting that transcendence is Georgetown universities. In addition to hamton University, will moderate. There is Best-selling author Daniel possible, if not imminent.” (For holding four honorary doctorates, he was no cost for the event, but pre-registration Silva called “The Night Archer The Reporter’s review of the awarded the Statesman of the Year Medal is required and can be made at the Feder- and Other Stories” “an extraor- book, see page 4.) by the Washington Institute for Near East ation website, www.jfgb.org. Additional dinary collection of stories that Michael Oren In addition to his collection of Policy and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sponsors of the event are the College of sparkle with wit, intelligence, short stories, Oren is the author Legacy Prize for International Service. Jewish Studies, the Temple Israel/Temple tenderness and penetrating honesty.” Ac- of several nonfiction works, including “Six Oren was named by NPR as “one of Concord Adult Education Group and Beth cording to TheJewishPress.com, “[Oren’s] Days of War,” “Power, Faith, and Fantasy” the best college commencement speakers David Synagogue. characters are terrifying, tragic, passionate and “Ally: My Journal Across the Ameri- ever.” Politico called him “one of the 50 “It’s an honor to have someone as ac- and yes, funny as hell.” A.J. Jacobs, New York can-Israel Divide,” all of which made The most influential thinkers in America.”The complished as Michael Oren speak to us,” Times bestselling author, called the book New York Times bestsellers list. He has also Forward placed him on its list of “the five received the Los Angeles Times History most influential Jews in America,” while Book of the Year Award, a National Hu- The Jerusalem Post said he was “one of Campaign 2021 in full manities prize and the Jewish Book Award. the 10 most influential Jews worldwide.” swing Giving Tuesday matching By Reporter staff The Jewish Federation of Greater Bing- grant of $500 for Reporter hamton announced that its 2021 Campaign is off to a good start, but much work still By Reporter staff climate. So many Jewish newspapers are needs to be done. “The Campaign for 2021 The Reporter announced that it has re- either going under or turning into online is in full swing,” said Shelley Hubal, ex- ceived a $500 matching grant for Giving productions only. Although The Reporter ecutive director of the Federation. “Many yet, and want to join other community Tuesday, December 1. The grant is courtesy has gone biweekly, I am pleased we are thanks to all the community members that members in supporting our Jewish com- of the David and Virginia Eisenberg Fund. still able to produce hard-copy newspa- have already pledged. Your generosity will munity, please go to www.jfgb.org or mail Donations came be made from now through pers for our readers. I know that I prefer sustain our community for the year to come.” in the coupon on page 7 today. Your pledge Tuesday, December 1. Donations may be to read offline. Plus, a hard copy is great The pandemic has complicated fund-rais- will help us to know how much funding made several ways: for those of us who like to read the paper ing this year. Rather than gathering at the we can allocate.” Give online through The Reporter Group on Shabbat, but don’t get on the computer Jewish Community Center for Super Sun- Hubal noted that the pandemic has been website, www.thereportergroup.org. that day.” day, volunteers made Campaign calls from difficult for local Jewish organizations for a Through Giving Tuesday e-mails that Shelley Hubal, executive director of the their homes. Many people have made their variety of reasons, including causing the loss will be sent by the Jewish Federation of Federation, was also pleased that The Re- pledges through the Federation website and of income due to cancelled programming, Greater Binghamton. Anyone who does not porter received the grant. “I think the paper by e-mail. “Running the annual Campaign the need to purchase new technology, the receive Federation e-mails, but would like is a valuable addition to our community,” she remotely has seen its challenges, but luckily increase of community members seeking to be on the list, should e-mail director@ said. “It not only lets me know what local there is technology that has enabled our financial aid and the decrease in advertis- jfgb.org with “Federation e-mail list” in organizations are doing, but helps keep us volunteers to make calls from the safety of ing income. “Even with these problems, the subject line. connected. Thank you to the Eisenberg Fund their home and keep the Campaign orga- I believe in our community,” she said. “I Mail donations to The Reporter, 500 for their gift. This is the first time we have nized and moving forward,” Hubal added. know we are a caring community and will Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850 with run a Giving Tuesday mini-campaign and “We are about halfway to our goal of make it through this pandemic. Our Cam- “matching grant” in the check’s subject line. I know the generosity of our community $280,000,” Hubal said. “And every dona- paign slogan, ‘Socially Distant, Spiritually “We are thrilled to receive this match- will make it succeed.” tion is appreciated. The need is great if we Connected,’ shows the true spirit of this ing grant,” said Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Other community members have also are going to keep our local organizations community. Help us make our Campaign executive editor of The Reporter Group. expressed their support for the paper. Their strong. If you have not made your pledge a success and keep our community strong.” “Every penny counts in this economic comments can be found in the ad on page 5. BD/TC/TI to take part in Global Day of Jewish Learning on Nov. 8 Beth David Synagogue, Temple Concord “We are joining Jewish communities The Global Day of Jewish Learning Organizers noted, “We were deeply and Temple Israel will join together for this worldwide in this day of Jewish learning,” began in 2010 as a celebration of Rabbi saddened by the passing of Rabbi Adin year’s Global Day of Jewish Learning on said organizers of the event. “We will use Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz’s work of Steinsaltz z”l earlier this year. A titan of Sunday, November 8, at 10 am. The theme of Jewish text to explore the Jewish value of translating the Talmud. The late Stein- Torah learning and hero of the Jewish the Global Day of Jewish Learning 2020 is human dignity, the ethics of human dignity saltz left a challenge to Jews everywhere: People, Rabbi Steinsaltz was instrumen- “Human Dignity – K’Vod Habriot.” Rabbis and apply it to marginalized Jews.” “To take a step ahead in Jewish learning tal in founding the Global Day of Jewish Geoffrey Brown, Barbara Goldman-Wartell Organizers noted the importance of the and commitment.” Learning 11 years ago. May his memory and Zev Silber will lead the virtual program. learning. “The best way to build a solid “Temples Concord and Israel are honored be an enduring blessing and continue All are welcome to attend. To participate, and creative Jewish continuity is through a to take this step forward again this year,” to inspire our communities worldwide contact the synagogues at templeconcord- community of learning and practice,” they organizers continued. “We are glad to have to come together in dedication to en- [email protected] or 723-7355; said. “The global Jewish learning day is a Beth David join us in what is now an annual gagement with our sacred texts. This [email protected] or 723-7461; or concrete expression of this conception and celebration, which brings Jews across the year’s Global Day of Jewish Learning [email protected]. A Zoom link will of a sincere feeling of klal Yisrael, of a great spectrum of beliefs and backgrounds to- is dedicated to his enduring impact on be sent in an e-mail. global Jewish family.” gether through our shared love of learning.” our people.” INSIDE THIS ISSUE Sisterhood news Centenarian in town U.S. passport changes Special Sections TC holding fund-raiser; TI program The family of Elizabeth Rappaport The U.S. has altered its stance and Book Review .................................... 4 with Flora Rosefksy; BD cancels reflects on her life and celebrated will now list Israel as the birthplace Health and Wellness ....................