Piaker Lecture to Be Held on September 8 Winning Awards For
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August 19-25, 2016 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLV, Number 34 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Piaker Lecture to be held on September 8 The 21st Annual Pauline and Philip many counter-terrorism missions. we awaited orders as we tried to sleep on M. Piaker Memorial Lecture will be “I was the luckiest man in my unit be- the concrete floor. At 2 am, a civilian bus held at the Chabad Center on Thursday, cause I was very close to Lt. Col. Nehemiah picked us up and took us to an army base September 8, at 7 pm. Sasson Reuven, Tamari, and he took me on every mission close to Petach Tikvah.” a veteran Israeli Defense Force com- our unit was assigned,” the Beersheba As they waited for further instructions, mando, will present “Failure was Not an native recalled. a friend relayed a rumor that they were Option” in commemoration of the 40th On July 1, his unit was in the Golan going to Entebbe to rescue the hostages, anniversary of “Operation Thunderbolt,” Heights on the Syrian border. At around but he dismissed that as impossible. Finally, Israel’s mission to free Israeli and Jewish 10 pm, he was sought out by Tamari’s that Friday afternoon, the 28 paratroopers hostages held in the Entebbe airport in secretary. gathered under the shade of eucalyptus trees July 1976. Reuven, who participated in “She said, ‘He wants you to be ready for and Tamari sent 13 of them home, despite that mission, will relate his first-hand a battle.’ I got ready, and about an hour or their eagerness to participate in whatever Philip and Pauline Piaker account of the operation. two later someone picked me up in a jeep would come next. During that summer in 1976, Reuven and we went to a certain bunker in the Golan The remaining 15 paratroopers soon for live audiences. was nearing the end of his three-year Heights. I was the first to arrive. I had no learned that the rumor was true. At around Reuven lives in Calabasas, CA. He service in the elite “Red Beret” unit of the idea what was happening, but I was very 2 pm, several crews were briefed by Col. owns AMD Development, a construction Paratroop Brigade. He had participated in excited. Several more soldiers arrived and Matan Vilnai, who would lead them. “There company. were maps of Africa behind him, and he “A number of times, Mr. Phil Piaker was smiling. He said, ‘Guys, it looks like related to me in conversation how elated we are going to bring the hostages back he was upon hearing of the success of Op- Children of Abraham to from Entebbe.’” eration Thunderbolt in July ‘76. He and “Sayeret Matkal” stormed the old ter- his wife Pauline were such lovers of Israel minal to rescue the hostages, and the other and all things Jewish; I believe this is a team’s advance role was to clear and secure moving and fitting tribute to their mem- hold vigil on Sept. 11 the airport and its runways ahead of the ories,” said Rabbi Aaron Slonim. “Mr. The Children of Abraham group will pray for peace and solidarity. arrival of additional units. Reuven is in high demand as a speaker, hold a Remembrance and Peace Vigil at The candlelight vigil will be held at 6 “I was still very skeptical that it would especially during this anniversary year, the Islamic Organization of the Southern pm at 161 Grand Ave., Johnson City, and really happen,” said Reuven. “But we left and we are so excited that we were able Tier on Sunday, September 11, in memory conclude at sunset. Participants will then the following morning, July 3.” to book him so that our community can of all victims of terrorist acts from New have the opportunity to join the Muslims Reuven was among the first to jump relive one of Israel’s proudest moments.” York to San Bernardino, Paris, Brussels, in their evening prayers at the IOST. Light out of the first Hercules C-130 aircraft Reservations for the lecture can be Orlando, Istanbul, Africa and the Middle refreshments will be provided. that landed in Entebbe seven minutes made by visiting http://JewishBU.com/ East. Faith leaders from the three Abra- For more information, contact Ehtisham ahead of three additional transport Piaker or by calling the Chabad office hamic religions – Judaism, Christianity Siddiqui at 759-2699 or Rabbi Barbara planes. What happened next, the heart at 797-0015. Refreshments and desserts and Islam – will speak at the event and Goldman-Wartell at 723-7355. of his adventure, is a story he reserves will be served. Spotlight Winning awards for doing what he loves By Reporter staff enjoy playing it the most.” is a huge part of my motivation leading into Jake Loew, son of Ani and Jeffrey Loew, Loew knows that there is more to this next season.” of Binghamton, is having a good year. The the sport than statistics. He noted that That pride shows in an e-mail The Shenandoah University student, who will while playing baseball, “I have learned Reporter received from Loew’s mother, be a senior this fall, was not only named countless life lessons. Most importantly, Ani. She noted that his love of baseball is a 2016 College Baseball All-American it has taught me to be a good person and longstanding. “The theme of both Jake’s by Jewish Sports Review, but was also teammate. You can be the best player on bar mitzvah and high school graduation selected to the College Sports Information the team, but if you are a bad teammate, party was baseball,” she said. “For his Director’s first team Academic All-District it is all for nothing.” bar mitzvah project, he collected baseball V for baseball, the Virginia Sports Infor- He also learned “the importance of hard equipment to donate to Roberto’s Kids, a mation Directors Academic All-State team work and resilience. It has taught me that charity that provided kids in Caribbean and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference everything is not always going to go your nations with free baseball gear. To celebrate All-Academic Team. The first baseman way, and that’s OK. What matters is how Jake’s 12th birthday, I took him to Jacob’s and designated hitter batted .373 with 15 you respond to that. Being a part of a team Field, the home field for the Cleveland doubles, seven triples, six home runs and and having people depend on you requires Indians. We watched all three games of 55 runs batted in more than 166 at-bats in you to be focused and mentally tough. If a homestand versus Texas. The highlight his junior year. my teammates see me working hard and for Jake was when a player tossed him a Loew isn’t playing baseball for staying focused then they are likely to ball from the bullpen.” awards, though, but for the love of the follow. Being a ball player has given me a Loew is involved in baseball even when game. He noted in an e-mail interview lot of responsibility that I enjoy because it he’s off the field. “He had a great summer that being named an all-star “is a great holds me accountable.” working for Cal Ripkin Jr. Camps,” Ani feeling and I am very proud of it. I never His focus is now on the upcoming noted. “He learned so much, got to travel imagined I would get awards for just season. “My goal as of now is to have a Jake Loew across the country and made a lot of con- playing a game and doing what I love successful senior season and help lead tacts with professional baseball players to do.” Loew knew the sport was a great SU to the college world series,” he said. phone after and hearing the excitement in and baseball equipment companies. He fit “when I would have a bad practice or “After that I would like to attend tryouts his voice talking about my team winning loves the game as well as the tools of game and still want nothing more than for an Independent League and see where or a big hit that I got.” baseball. He likes to buy and sell baseball to go back on the field and keep playing. I stand in terms of playing at the next However, he is careful to note that while gloves online. He has become quite the “My favorite thing about baseball is the level. I also have hopes of owning my they are glad of his success, they don’t baseball businessman!” excited and nervous feeling I get before own business one day.” make him feel obligated to achieve for their Ani said, “If I had to choose one word every at bat,” he added. “The adrenaline Loew is pleased about the connection sake. “They do not put pressure on me to to characterize Jake, it would be ‘com- and focus kicks in and nothing else mat- baseball has created with his parents. “My succeed,” he said. “They are just happy that mitment.’ When Jake commits himself ters at that point other than getting a hit favorite part of this past season was seeing I am out there getting the chance to play, to someone, or something, he gives 110 to help my team win. I chose baseball how happy my success made my parents,” so being able to play well and make them percent.