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VOLUME X, NUMBER 5 MARCH 9, 2017 Four Jewish takeaways from Trump’s big speech to Congress From the very first paragraph: “To- country that stands united in condemning to reporters who asked him to respond to night, as we mark the conclusion of our hate and evil in all its forms.” the spike in antisemitic incidents – that ANALYSIS celebration of Black History Month, But what actually reminds us that we are raised hackles. BY RON KAMPEAS we are reminded of our Nation’s path united are the responses to such acts, like 2. What’s not in the passage WASHINGTON (JTA) – President toward civil rights and the work that still the thousands of dollars raised by Muslim A mosque near Tampa, FL, was set Donald Trump’s speech to a joint meeting remains. Recent threats targeting Jewish activists to rebuild a vandalized Jewish ablaze recently. Another in Texas was of Congress is getting rave reviews for Community Centers and vandalism of cemetery, a labor union’s pledge to pitch burned down in January and one in Florida, the subdued, “presidential” style of his Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s in to fix damaged gravesites, a strongly where the killer in the Orlando massacre delivery, and positive feedback from the shooting in Kansas City, remind us that worded statement from the White House. had occasionally worshipped, suffered a Jewish community for opening remarks while we may be a Nation divided on It was the lack of the last item that had similar fate in September. denouncing antisemitic acts as examples policies, we are a country that stands riled Jewish groups in the weeks after the Why not include a reference to bias of “hate and evil.” But there ensues the united in condemning hate and evil in first spate of JCC bomb threats and the first crimes against Muslims? It would be espe- inevitable Trumpian conundrum: What all its forms.” cemetery attack. In both instances, com- cially apropos given Trump’s overarching did he actually mean? That second sentence – the one that’s bined with Trump’s failure to comment theme of unity because Muslims have Here are four takeaways from the been getting the plaudits – gets thorny for six days on what appears to be the indeed raised funds to refurbish vandalized speech and what it says about bias and once it’s held up to the light. According bias killing in late February of an Indian Jewish cemeteries and Jews are contribut- the Jews: to the logic of the sentence, it is the “re- worker in Kansas, it was Trump’s failure ing to the rebuilding of the Tampa mosque. 1. What did he condemn exactly? cent acts” that “remind us that... we are a to respond at first – indeed, his hostility See “Speech” on page 10 Scranton Hebrew Day School’s 69th Anniversary Dinner to pay memorial tribute to Malca Shapiro The Scranton Hebrew Day School will cently passed away. Shapiro and her late Malca and Howard’s four sons – El- journal to be distributed at the dinner, or celebrate its 69th anniversary with a gala husband, Howard, were “powerhouse liot, Sandy, David and Norman – are all to make reservations, call the school office reception and dinner on Sunday, May 7, at workers for all things associated with alumni of the school and are “carrying at 570-346-1576. the Scranton Jewish Community Center, the day school,” organizers noted. “From on their parents tradition of service in 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. the PTA to picnics, school banquets to the communities in which they reside,” During the event, memorial tribute bazaars and all activities in between, said organizers. 2017 UJA will be paid to Malca Shapiro, who re- Malca was always involved.” To place an ad in the commemorative paign Upd Cam ate Pay it forward & give to SPOTLIGHT the 2017 Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Female Israeli lone soldiers may finally Annual Campaign!

get their home away from home $828,902 as of March 2, 2017 For information or to BY LORI LOWENTHAL MARCUS comprise 2,000 soldiers. Previously, wom- make a donation call 570-961-2300 ext. 1 or Goal: JNS.org en could pursue combat roles through units send your gift to: Part of the widely admired strength of such as the IDF’s nearly two-decade-old Jewish Federation $896,000 of Northeastern the Israel Defense Forces comes from the coed Caracal battalion. Pennsylvania military’s many “lone soldiers,” who leave “When people think of the IDF, they 601 Jefferson Ave., picture a guy with a gun in a combat unit, Scranton, PA 18510 their homes and families abroad in order (Please MEMO your to help protect the Jewish homeland. Now, but they have no idea what happens behind pledge or gift 2017 some women in this group may receive a the scenes,” said former lone soldier Dana UJA Campaign) boost to their ability to serve. Grob, a native of New York’s Long Island Significant media attention has focused Dana Grob (left), a former Israeli lone region who made aliyah at age 22. on Israeli lone soldiers in recent years, soldier from New York, and Natalie Adjei. What isn’t apparent to most observers, particularly after two American-born (Photo by Dana Grob) she explained, is the Israeli military’s soldiers (Max Steinberg of California and vast combat support system – comprised Sean Carmeli of Texas) were killed in the functioning army without its female sol- largely of female soldiers. “I was a search- 2014 Gaza war. There are currently three diers,” said Josh Flaster, national director and-rescue instructor. I taught guys in “homes” that provide lone soldiers with of The Lone Soldier Center – In Memory combat units. The girls get overlooked, communal living quarters, camaraderie of Michael Levin, a nonprofit that assists although our role is critically important,” and support. lone soldiers before, during and after their Grob said. Federation Yet there is one large segment of this army service. “Every soldier is taught to Lone soldier Nechama (whose last group that doesn’t receive the same atten- shoot or is taught other essential aspects name cannot be published because she is tion – nor some of the same resources – as of combat or military preparedness and still serving), who will be 22 next month, on Facebook the rest of their peers. Until now, female fitness by female instructors.” is part of a missiles unit in the Israeli Air The Jewish Federation of Northeast- lone soldiers have not enjoyed the same Female soldiers’ existing key support Force. Originally from London, she made ern Pennsylvania now has a page on type of group residential facilities as their role in the IDF was amplified during the aliyah in 2014. “I’m an Israeli with a Brit- Facebook to let community members male counterparts. But that is likely about past 18 months upon the creation of two ish past, not a British person,” Nechama know about upcoming events and keep to change. new combat divisions that almost com- responds when asked if she plans to return connected. “The IDF would not exist today as a pletely consist of women. The divisions See “Home” on page 6 Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE March 10...... 5:46 pm Purim Bashert at camp Arrest in bomb threats March 17...... 6:54 pm March 24...... 7:01 pm Nine things you may not know Four siblings found their spouses A St. Louis man has been arrested about Purim; and a look at at the same Jewish summer camp for threatening eight Jewish PLUS people’s fascination with villains. in Canada. institutions to frame ex-girlfriend. Opinion...... 2 Stories on page 4 Story on page 12 Story on page 15 D’var Torah...... 10 2 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 A MATTER OF OPINION The real obstacle to peace: Jew hatred and terrorism Antisemitism continues to be rampant across Palestinian society

Reprinted with permission of the Simon main obstacle to peaceful coexistence. ‹‹ The Palestinian Authority continues to spreading antisemitic hate. A new U.N. Wiesenthal Center THE LEADERSHIP OF THE promote terrorists as role models, naming Watch report has highlighted teachers As President Benjamin Netanyahu met PALESTINIANS sports venues, schools and streets in honor and principals posting online and say- with President Donald Trump on February ‹‹ Hamas, whose founding antisemitic of Palestinian terrorists who murdered ing, “God bless Hitler”; celebrating 15, there will be much discussion about charter calls for the destruction of the Jews. Teachers’ lessons and imams’ Hamas rocket fire on Tel Aviv to hit “the keeping alive the “Two-State Solution.” Jewish people. That founding principle sermons online and on television all re- Jews”; and even glorifying terrorists Israeli communities, also known as continues to inculcate each new generation inforce the lie that their Jewish neighbors who murdered four rabbis praying in “settlements,” on the West Bank are often with genocidal hate of Jews, through the are interlopers who stole Tel Aviv, Haifa a Jerusalem synagogue. depicted as the main obstacle to peace. mosques and schools, online and by the and Jerusalem. Israel cannot and should not be expect- In reality, it is the unending hatred of the continuous threats to launch 100,000 mis- ‹‹ Many educators at UNRWA, the ed to “negotiate” its future with partners Jewish people, and the ongoing terrorist sile and cross-border terror attacks using United Nations institution teaching who preach Jew-hatred to its children and targeting of innocent Israelis, that is the sophisticated tunnel networks. young Palestinians, are themselves call for the destruction of the Jewish state. On antisemitism, difficult questions and contested answers BY BEN COHEN is no law against suggesting that Zionists small-scale but ugly incidents, among outlets, from The New York Times to the JNS.org deliberately provoke wars and revolutions, them cemetery desecrations, more than BBC, are reporting this current wave of In his magnum opus “A Lethal Ob- even though this is a classic antisemitic 100 hoax bomb threats phoned into antisemitism with far less cynicism than session,” the late Robert Wistrich, one of fabrication that has been widely propagat- Jewish Community Centers, several they did with other, similar episodes in Israel’s finest scholars of the murderous ed by Nazis, Communists and Islamists.” physical assaults, and swastikas and recent years – like the Holocaust denial pathways of Jew-hatred, elegantly sum- From this short paragraph, we can other antisemitic invective sprayed on conferences repeatedly hosted by the marized the character of antisemitism at deduce some general observations. An- university campuses and other buildings. Islamist regime in Iran, or the pervasive the turn of this century. tisemitism adjusts itself to the sensibilities The AMCHA Initiative, an organization antsemitism in the British Labour Party. “The old-new antisemitism can itself be of the surrounding society. It develops that promotes the civil rights of Jewish Whereas those examples are complicated as inventive as it is repetitive,” Wistrich themes that invariably portray Jews as a students, maintains an online “swastika by the presence of Israel in the frame, as wrote. “It often appears to imply that Jews collectivity in the worst possible moral tracker” which monitors the appearance well as the involvement of Muslims in are never victims but always victimizers, light. It is fixated with the distinct character of Neo-Nazi graffiti and flyers on univer- promoting antisemitic discourse, when which may sound original to some, but is of Jewish power – “this small people,” in sity campuses. What stands out are the it comes to President Donald Trump’s clearly false. It generally avoids positions the words of the Greek composer Mikos frequency of these incidents – at least America, it’s all beautifully simple and that smack of deliberate political or eco- Theodorakis, a Communist, in 2004, or every day – and the sometimes vicious- snow white in color. nomic exclusion of Jews qua Jews from “the root of evil.” And it is politically and ly personal nature of the Jew-baiting, The sad truth is that the understanding the national community or that echo the theologically promiscuous, penetrating as experienced by the University of of antisemitism has become hopelessly discourse of a discredited biological rac- the salons of the nationalist right and the Minnesota student who walked into politicized, meaning that our judgments ism. On the other hand, depicting Zionism progressive left, creeping into Presby- his dorm to see the words “Nazi’s are compromised by non-related, but more and the Jewish lobby as a world power is terian churches, leading the thundering (sic) Rule,” a swastika and a drawing expedient, imperatives. In addition, all too not considered racist or defamatory. There discourse of political Islam. of a concentration camp scrawled on often the response to antisemitism fixates We can boil all that down even more the whiteboard. Racial epithets like upon individual actions and statements, simply, into two maxims. First, antisemi- “filthy Jews” and “n*****s” alongside obscuring the more fundamental issues. tism isn’t the exclusive property of any one slogans like “Heil Trump” – more on Kenneth Marcus of the Louis D. Brandeis political faction or religious formation. that in a moment – all abound in these Center for Human Rights Under Law Second, because antisemitism is some- reports of antisemitism and racism at explained this well in a recent interview: “ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the thing of a shape-shifter that frequently their most delinquent. “It often does more harm than good to Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson denies that it is what it is, we have trouble To be sure, all this looks and sounds simply ask the question, ‘Who is and Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. identifying it even when we’ve encoun- very much like the antisemitism we isn’t an antisemite.’ If you’re just asking President: David Malinov tered it a thousand times before. know from movies and the history books, whether individuals are antisemites or Executive Director: Mark Silverberg With that in mind, on then to the where the perpetrators are white racist not, you may never get an answer, you’ll Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman widely discussed “surge” of antisemi- fanatics with limited education and vi- get people defensive and it’ll lead to a Layout Editor: Diana Sochor tism in the U.S. identified over the last olent temperaments. And that perhaps coarsening of the discourse.” Assistant Editor: Michael Nassberg few weeks and months, manifested in explains why so many left-leaning media See “Questions” on page 8 Production Coordinator: Jenn DePersis Advertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen Bookkeeper: Kathy Brown Jewish civil rights group and Jewish OPINIONS The views expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are those of each author and not necessarily discrimination victim the views of the Jewish Federation of BY JOSHUA SHARF court battle. This January, the Fourth Cir- ney Nathan Lewin, assisted by the Becket Northeastern Pennsylvania. cuit Court of Appeals denied her appeal. Fund, the American Jewish Committee and LETTERS The Reporter welcomes JNS.org letters on subjects of interest to the What if you got fired for observing Abeles has filed a request for rehearing by the National Jewish Commission on Law Jewish community. All letters must be Passover? the entire Fourth Circuit sitting en banc. and Public Affairs – groups that actually st signed and include a phone number. “Not possible in 21 -century America,” During all this time, the national ADL, believe in religious liberty as a universal The editor may withhold the name you confidently reply. the regional ADL, the national Jewish principle, rather than one of convenience. upon request. What if you sued, and the Anti-Defa- Federation umbrella and the regional JCRC The Becket Fund represents clients of ADS The Reporter does not necessar- mation League as well as the local Jewish have all been silent, their websites revealing every religious background and faith. Its ily endorse any advertised products Community Relations Council kept a stud- not a single statement on Abeles’s behalf. website features cases on behalf of Jews, and services. In addition, the paper ied silence during your entire legal fight? It’s unlikely, but possible, that the regional Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and Na- is not responsible for the kashruth of “Again, not possible,” you insist. JCRC was simply unaware of the case. The tive Americans. The AJC and COLPA, any advertiser’s product or establish- Guess again, because that’s exactly local Washington Jewish Week newspaper while sectarian, are not exclusively so. ment. what happened to Susan Abeles. ran at least two stories about it. Along with many other organizations, they DEADLINE Regular deadline is two Abeles is an Orthodox Jew and, up Attempts to contact the national ADL filed amicus briefs in support of a Muslim weeks prior to the publication date. until spring 2015, was an employee of and the Washington regional JCRC about prisoner in Arkansas who wanted to wear the Metropolitan Washington Airports this issue have been unsuccessful. a short beard for religious purposes. FEDERATION WEBSITE: Both organizations can move quickly For them, this is a mission of princi- www.jewishnepa.org Authority. Every year for the past 26 years, she had taken vacation time for the first when they want to, even on major issues. ple. For groups nominally dedicated to HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES: two and last two days of Passover, always The ADL is vocally proud of its self-pro- advocating for Jewish issues, not so much. Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA e-mailing her supervisors at the beginning claimed ecumenical approach when it In Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), 18510 of the year to let them know the dates of comes to public affairs. Its current CEO, Hillel is quoted as saying, “If I am not E-mail: [email protected] the Jewish holidays. Jonathan Greenblatt, famously used a for myself, who will be for me? And if I Fax: (570) 346-6147 In 2013, her new supervisors acknowl- conference on antisemitism to proclaim am only for myself, what am I?” Liberal Phone: (570) 961-2300 edged her e-mail notifying them of the that he would register as a Muslim under Jewish groups, eager to take on any cause holiday dates, and then acknowledged her the Trump administration’s non-existent but their own, are partial to the second HOW TO REACH follow-up e-mail just before the holiday. Muslim registry. The regional JCRC’s half of this saying. But it’s the groups THE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: webpage on refugees lists no fewer than that actually believe in religious liberty Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244 When Abeles returned to work after the E-mail: [email protected] holiday, she was slapped with a five-day seven bullet points for action that readers who are observing the quote in its entirety. suspension for going AWOL because they can take. But at least in this instance, they Joshua Sharf is a fellow with the Haym SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: claimed she didn’t follow leave procedures. don’t seem to be very good at actually Salomon Center news and public policy Phone: (570) 961-2300 She was later forced into early retirement. advocating for Jewish observance. group. Follow the group on Twitter @ She sued in 2015 and lost her initial That task has fallen to civil rights attor- salomoncenter. MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Fourth Annual Night of Comedy to be held April 1 at Temple Hesed Temple Hesed’s Fourth Annual Comedy Night will will be at 8 pm. Beer, wine and soda will be available for and Spike TV. He has opened for such comedians as be held on Saturday, April 1, at Temple Hesed, 1 Knox purchase, and attendees must be 21 and older to attend. Joan Rivers, Robin Williams and Dana Carver, and has Rd., Scranton. Headlining the event is Brad Trackman, who is said toured with Weird Al Yankovic. Three comedians will perform, bringing their dis- to have “spent a lifetime fantasizing about what to do The featured performer, Michael Capozzola, a 25-year tinctive stand-up comedy to the venue. Those who have when he grows up.” Called “the quintessential New York veteran of the comedy world, is Jewish, despite the Italian attended in the past “have always given rave reviews for comedian,” Trackman explores the humorous side of last name. Capozzola has performed in venues around the selection of comedians,” according to organizers of everyday life experiences and observations. He can be the world, including Vancouver, London, Edinburgh the program. seen regularly at Gotham Comedy Club, Comic Strip and Jerusalem. He has also been invited to perform at Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door or $50 for Live, Broadway Comedy and Stand Up NY. Trackman numerous international comedy festivals, such as Costa a patron ticket. Patron tickets include one free drink and has appeared on Comedy Central, CBS’s “Comics Un- Jewish Book and Arts Festival in New York, the Chutzpah offer preferred seating. Tickets can be obtained by calling leashed,” AXS TV’s “Gotham Comedy Live,” CBS’s Festival in Canada and the 20th Anniversary of “Kung 570-344-7201 or visiting https://templecomedynight. “Star Search with Arsenio Hall,” “New Joke City with Pao Kosher Comedy” in San Francisco. eventbrite.com. Doors will open at 7 pm and showtime Robert Klein,” NBC’s “Later,” NBC’s “Friday Night” Scranton’s Evie Rafalko McNulty will serve as the event’s “master of ceremonies.” She has emceed for events such as the Society of Irish Women, of which she is a founding member; the American Cancer Society; Jerusalem art school fosters design and the Sanofi Pasteur Lackawanna County Community Fundraiser. She has also been a panelist on the “View talent among students with disabilities with a Scranton Twist,” held several years running at the Scranton Cultural Center. |BY ANDREW TOBIN JERUSALEM (JTA) – The shrapnel that exploded into Asaf Ventura took a lot away from him: His body and brain were shredded, his right hand was DEADLINES mangled. He was unable to fire his gun, swing his tennis racquet or maintain focus. But over time, The following are deadlines for all articles and Ventura realized the injuries he endured during a photos for upcoming Reporter issues. mission with his army unit in the West Bank gave Asaf Ventura posedwith his floating gym at an Israeli DEADLINE ISSUE him a new perspective, which as it turned out made army rehabilitation center in Haifa in June 2015. Thursday, March 9...... March 23 him a great industrial designer. (Photo courtesy of Ventura) “I remember in the hospital thinking, ‘I’m only 22 Thursday, March 23...... April 6 and I’ve lost my body and my looks. I can’t do any later – attributing it to the effect of the metal fragments Wednesday, April 5, early...... April 20 of the things I used to do,’” he told JTA. “Eventually that tore through his brain – when he became a student Thursday, April 20...... May 4 I realized that because I don’t think like a normal at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. person [anymore], I can actually do some new things He credits his experience at the school with helping him with design technology.” come “back to real life.” Ventura, now 35, discovered his talent for design years See “Design” on page 11 YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! For information on advertising, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org Save the Date!

ea Ia Pad Sunday, June 4, 2017 This year’s theme: Celebrate Israel All Together! ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 4 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 Nine things you didn’t Purim poser: What is our know about Purim fascination with villains? BY JULIE WIENER would not break the laws of kashrut (di- BY EDMON J. RODMAN (My Jewish Learning via JTA) – With etary laws). For this reason, there is a tra- LOS ANGELES (JTA) – Who is the costumes, spiels and lots of drinking, dition of eating beans and peas on Purim. Haman in your life? The person, who Purim is one of Judaism’s most raucous (After all, you’ll need something healthy like the bad guy in the Megillah Esther holidays. You might know about beautiful after all the booze and hamantashen.) that we read on Purim, schemes to bring Esther thwarting evil Haman’s plans, the 2. You’re supposed to find a go-between you down. custom of getting drunk and what ha- to deliver your mishloach manot, the When we get to the place in the megillah mantashen are. But we’re guessing there gift baskets traditionally exchanged with where Haman is forced to lead Mordechai are a few things about Purim, which this friends and family on Purim. The verse though the streets of Shushan, saying, year starts at sundown on March 11, that in the Book of Esther about mishloach “This is what is done for the man whom Two faces of Haman: Why do we like might surprise you. manot stipulates that we should send gifts the king desires to honor,” might we insert trying them on? (Masks and photo by 1. Esther was a vegetarian (or at least a to one another, not just give gifts to one ourselves – like a video game – into an Edmon J. Rodman) flexitarian). According tomidrash , while another. As a result, it’s better to send updated version of the story? Imagining Queen Esther lived in the court of King your packets of goodies to a friend via a that a seriously negative person in our life amphetamine dealing anti-hero Walter Ahasuerus, she followed a vegetarian diet messenger than to just give them outright. is pushing our car down the street while White, was watched by more than 10 consisting largely of legumes so that she Anyone can act as a go-between, so feel we sit behind the wheel and wave? million viewers. free to recruit the postal service or even Not that your neighbor is Lord Voldemort In sports, when our team’s archrival that nice guy in the elevator to help you or Dr. Moriarty, but what about that boss who comes to town, we get tickets to watch our deliver your gifts. is omitting your name from the organization heroes trounce the villains. But as we boo 3. The Book of Esther is the only bib- chart? The relative who always leaves you when their stars come to the plate, make lical book that does not include God’s off the guest list? That student spray-painting a late hit or a flagrant foul, we hate them name. The Book of Esther also makes no swastikas on your son’s fraternity house? Or while at the same time understanding that references to the Temple, to prayer or to just the forever interrupting “Rachel” from without those bums, the fun would fade. Jewish practices such as kashrut. cardholder services? In some of our favorite computer games, 4. Hamantashen might have been If we could only rid ourselves of them, like “Grand Theft Auto,” we can even act designed to symbolize Haman’s hat – or then “Oh, today would merry, merry be.” out the ways of the villain. Watching my his ears or pockets. Or something a little Or would it? adult sons play one day, I was surprised to more womanly. Some say these cookies In the Purim story, we have sweet see how readily they took on the role of the represent Haman’s ears (the Hebrew Esther, wise Mordechai and foolish Aha- evil protagonist. Trying it myself, driving name for them, “oznei Haman,” means suerus – a pretty light cast of characters my stolen car down the streets of Santa just this), and refer to a custom of cutting until the heavy, Haman, adds the contrast Monica, I soon became a regular Haman off a criminal’s ears before his execution. of evil and stirs the action. on Wheels, threatening the extinction of an Another theory is that the three corners Beginning with childhood, we intui- entire population of pedestrians. Was that represent the three patriarchs whose power tively understand how boring fairy tales me grinning as I “accidentally” backed up weakened Haman and gave strength to would be without the witch, and in Oz, over a man on the sidewalk? Esther to save the Jews. Dorothy would have no one to resist In Jewish texts, beginning with the snake Yet another theory: Because the surrendering to. in the Garden of Eden, we are tempted by German word tasche means “pouch” or On Purim, Haman is the name we are the promises of the villain. At Passover, Queen Esther’s diet consisted largely “pocket,” the cookies could signify Ha- supposed to blot out, yet clearly his name as we take a drop of wine for each plague, of legumes so that she would not break man’s pockets and the money he offered remains written in our minds. Could it be the heart-hardened Pharaoh fills our seder kashrut laws. (Photo by Wikimedia the king for permission to kill the Jews. that in our own life stories, we need some- tables, though afterward we ease the tension Commons) See “Nine” on page 12 one to mix it up with in order to progress? by singing about “frogs in his bed.” Does that explain our fascination, even In synagogue, the words of the sorcerer Effective please attraction, to villains? Bil’am, who the rabbis called “harasha,” immediately, send Pirkei Avot, “Ethics of the Fathers,” “the wicked,” even begins our prayers with note! tells us that the “crown of a good name the words “mah tovu,” “How goodly.” all articles and ads to is superior to all.” So why do we seem so At Chanukah, without the severe de- our new E-mail address, at ease with those who wear a black hat – crees of King Antiochus, we would not and I don’t mean the haredim. only be minus a dilemma in December, jfnepareporter@ We hate what Gordon Gecko of “Wall but a holiday, too. jewishnepa.org. Street” stands for, but why do we know The biblical anti-hero calls to us as well. what he had to say about greed? Is it that In discussions about the Torah portion Kor- we like to see the bad guy get his come- ach, which is named for the man who rebels uppance, or do we just like seeing him against the authority of Moses, I sometimes coming up? Either way, the series finale find it easy to take his side. Wasn’t he just of “Breaking Bad,” featuring the high a misunderstood nonconformist? ewish Federa school chemistry teacher turned meth- See “Villains” on page 5 the J tion on ’s e Effectiveu immediately,ma yo il re lis pleaseA send all articles & adst? to Weour send updatednew announcements E-mail address,and special Jewish Federation of NEPA event details weekly to those who wish to receive them. [email protected]. Send Dassy Ganz an email if you would like to join the list. [email protected]

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Th online at Thank you, Advertising Executive Bonnie Rozen, www.jewishnepa.org/donate MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 5 Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania joins security webinar Secure Community Network, the national homeland ation Executive Director Mark Silverberg, as well as enforcement in the details of the Jewish communities’ security initiative of the Jewish Federations of North executives of some of the agencies under the Feder- schedules, such as when schools or synagogues might America and the Conference of Presidents of Major ation umbrella. have larger attendance, and explained how to protect American Jewish Organizations, hosted a webinar for Mark Genatempo, of SCN, discussed various meth- against cyberattacks as well. small Federations on February 22 on the subject of the ods of security that can be implemented without a huge Ganz is working with Genatempo to come to the current growing trend of bomb scares and vandalism in investment of funds, including mass texting of alerts Federation to meet with the various leaders of agencies the Jewish community. and a poster campaign saying, “If you see something, and affiliates, and to tour facilities to create a unified Participating was Dassy Ganz, assistant to Feder- say something.” He spoke about including local law security program for the region. THE PENNSYLVANIA JEWISH COALITION Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition condemns the current acts of hate occurring in Pennsylvania BY JOE FISCH nor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro for their these institutions and finding those responsible.” In February, vandals desecrated commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice. The Joe Fisch is the coordinator of the Pennsylvania Jewish hundreds of tombstones in a Jew- PJC also thanked legislators and elected leaders from both Coalition, Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. ish cemetery in Philadelphia and political parties for their condemnation of these hate crimes. the Jewish Community Centers “These hateful and antisemitic actions are not accept- of Harrisburg and York received able in our society. Pennsylvanians should be appalled at bomb threats, as did a Jewish day these cowardly acts of hate. To hide one’s antisemitism Villains Continued from page 4 school in Philadelphia. In response, in the darkness of night or through anonymous calls is And though I first heard the story of the golem as a child, the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition nothing more than shameless bigotry and intolerance,” I am still confused: Was Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague’s condemned these savage acts and Joe Fisch continued Handel. “Our society needs to stand up against monster of mud hero or villain? Or a little of both? issued a statement. these spineless culprits of hate and fight back against The truth is that in villians we see a little of ourselves. “The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition condemns the bigotry, antisemitism and intolerance in our communities, An idea in Jewish thought is that we are all born with both recent acts of hate and antisemitism occurring in Penn- our state and our society.” an evil inclination, “yetzer hara,” and a good one, “yetzer sylvania and throughout our nation. This past Saturday Wolf also released a statement in reaction to a series hatov.” Does this internal duality connect us to Haman? evening, hundreds of headstones were vandalized at the of threats and direct acts against Jewish institutions in Perhaps for the part of our psyches that conjures up ways Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia and this morning, a Pennsylvania that follow a national trend of increased to wipe out opposition before we consider how wrong it is. bomb threat was called in to Jewish Community Centers antisemitism. He said, “Any antisemitic act or act of In terms of reconciling the villain inside, thankfully in Harrisburg and York, PA. intimidation aimed at Jewish institutions and people in most of us don’t have Darth Vader as a dad. But we do “Pennsylvania’s Jewish community is outraged at the Pennsylvania is truly reprehensible, and we must find imagine, and even know, what we look like in black. And cowardly and spineless actions of people who secretly those responsible and hold them accountable. This is not on Purim, if you put a light saber in our hands, even if it desecrate Jewish cemeteries and anonymously call in bomb who we are as Americans or Pennsylvanians. We will is a toy, we know that somehow the force wouldn’t be threats against the Jewish communities,” said Matthew not take these threats and acts lightly, and I have asked any fun without the bad. Handel, chairman of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. the Pennsylvania State Police and Office of Homeland Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition has thanked Gover- Security to offer their full resources toward protecting life from Los Angeles. Contact him at [email protected].

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ALAN SMERTZ AND SUSIE BLUM CONNORS, CO-CHAIRS OF OUR 2017 UJA CAMPAIGN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 6 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 BOOK REVIEW Multiple narrators offer views on family life BY RABBI RACHEL ESSERMAN relationships change throughout the course of more Party” by Brenda Janowitz (St. Martin’s Griffen) Relationships between family members can be than 20 years. was a comedy. The dinner party in question is really fraught with difficulty. A careless comment or the refusal I quickly realized what occurred that winter night, a seder, although unlike any seder Sylvia and Alan to take into account a person’s feelings can create rifts but it didn’t spoil the fun. In fact, knowing more than Gold, of Greenwich, have ever held before. That’s that are almost impossible to heal. This is due to the fact many of the characters added an additional dimension because their youngest child, Becca is dating Henry that parents and children can grow up in very different to the tale. Loigman does an excellent job portraying Rothchild – yes, those Rothchilds, the ones who are social circumstances, while siblings sometimes have their feelings and creating sympathy for those trapped members of the international banking family. Sylvia radically dissimilar experiences, even though they were in unhappy circumstances. “The Two-Family House” is is so thrilled with the connection that she also invites raised in the same house. When novelists offer multiple a wonderful, moving work. Henry’s parents to the seder. While she’s eager for that narratives – allowing readers to see how each person “THE DINNER PARTY” relationship to continue, Sylvia is not happy with her perceives an event from his/her own point of view – it After having read several serious, dramatic nov- daughter Sarah’s choices. It’s bad enough she works can increase the richness and depth of a work. The three els, it was a pleasure to discover that “The Dinner See “Family” on page 8 novels in this review offer looks at family life in the 1930s, ‘50s and contemporary times through the eyes of at least two characters. “THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE” Home Continued from page 1 Anyone looking for an emotion-filled family to England after finishing her military service. drama will love “The Two-Family House” by Lynda When Israeli-born soldiers are off-duty, they can return Cohen Loigman (St. Martin’s Press). My notes call to their families for home-cooked meals, and to have the ending a “tear-jerker,” but I mean that in a very their laundry and shopping done for them. If they get positive way: the characters were so real, I felt their sick or injured, they can visit their regular doctors with pains and joys, and the novel’s ending brought tears little hassle and they have families to look after them. to my eyes. But lone soldiers have no experience with the Israeli Although the story opens on a snowy night during medical system and nobody to help them navigate it. There which two sisters-in-law have given birth, it then are no home-cooked meals or supportive parent-like moves back in time, before the women are pregnant. figures waiting to greet them when they go off-duty. Helen and Rose are married to brothers, Abe and Mort They do all their own shopping, cooking and cleaning respectively, and their families live on separate floors in the short time they are not on their base. Israeli-born of a two-family house. Helen and Abe have four sons, soldiers, meanwhile, can focus on what they need most while Mort and Rose’s family consists of three daugh- – sleeping or socializing. ters. While Abe is happy at home and work, the same Grob broke her foot last year during a training exercise. Soldiers of the IDF’s Bardales Battalion prepared for is not true of Mort. Not only is he distressed because The kibbutz where she lived while off-duty is not set up urban warfare training on a foggy morning in southern he doesn’t have a son, he resents having had to give up to take care of sick soldiers or soldiers with disabilities, Israel on July 13. Fifty-percent of the soldiers in the college to join the family business after his father died. and it’s extremely difficult to carry a bag filled with Bardales Battalion, an infantry combat unit, are women. Helen and Rose, however, are the best of friends, groceries or laundry while on crutches. After some tough (Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90) at least until that snowy winter night. The break in months under those circumstances, Grob couldn’t wait their friendship affects both families, particularly the to get back on her military base. ities. Women – who comprise 40 percent of the IDF and two children born then: Abe’s first daughter, Natalie, To address these problems and to augment its own about one-third of the military’s lone soldiers, according and Mort’s first son, Teddy. Each of the six narrators staff’s efforts to mitigate them, beginning in 2015, the to center head Flaster – have had no such home to date. – the four parents and two of the children – have very Lone Soldier Center created an independent home for But the Lone Soldier Center is now actively engaged in different views of their families and show how the male lone soldiers, and has since added two more facil- the process of acquiring a private home to accommodate up to 10 female soldiers. The organization has a current fund-raising goal of $60,000 for the project. The home will be fully furnished and stocked with everything necessary to sustain the troops when they are off base. Just as with the male soldiers’ homes, the facility for women will have a “house mother” who will prepare kosher meals and provide the kind of adult supervision and support that so many lone soldiers sorely miss. “I really could have used the kind of support system a bayit l’chayalot (home for female soldiers) will provide,” Grob said. “People are wonderful about donating fleeces to keep us warm, or pizzas for those doing late-night guard duty, but having an actual home in a central location, with laundry facilities and an adviser who can help with prac- Each year at this time the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania calls upon members of our tical or just emotional support, is even more important.” community to assist in defraying the expense of issuing our regional Jewish newspaper, The Reporter. Nechama added, “It’s so hard for a lone soldier to find a place that is affordable and in a central location – to The newspaper is delivered twice of month (except for December and July which are single issue have the camaraderie of other soldiers in the same home months) to each and every identifiable Jewish home in Northeastern Pennsylvania. would make our lives so much easier.” “We would not have the IDF, we would not even As the primary Jewish newspaper of our region, we have tried to produce a quality publication for you have our state,” said Flaster, “were it not for the females that offers our readership something on everythingfrom opinions and columns on controversial issues serving in our military.” that affect our people and our times, to publicity for the events of our affiliated agencies and organizations to life cycle events, teen columns, personality profiles, letters to the editor, the Jewish community calendar and other columns that cover everything from food to entertainment. The Federation assumes the financial responsibility for funding the enterprise at a cost of $26,400 per year and asks only that we undertake a small letter writing mail campaign to our recipients in the hope of raising $10,000 from our readership to alleviate a share of that responsibility. We would be grateful if you would care enough to take the time to make a donation for our efforts in bringing The Reporter to your door. As always, your comments, opinions and suggestions are always welcome. With best wishes, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, PA 18510 MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 7 Registration is open for The 29th Annual Teen Symposium on the Holocaust Co-sponsored by Hilton Scranton & Conference Center and the Jewish Federation of NEPA Grades 8 – 12 welcome with appropriate preparation Choice of Tuesday, May 9th OR Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Time: 8:30AM registration; 8:50AM sharp program begins; 1:30PM – 1:45PM dismissal

Where: The Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 100 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503

What: The Teen Symposium on the Holocaust is a full day program that deals with the causes and effects of the Holocaust. It also provides an opportunity for participants to meet with survivors of the Holocaust and American GIs, who liberated the Nazi concentration camps. Sessions with survivors are the core of the day. Meetings with these witnesses bring insights and understanding that only such “living history” can bring to those who hear firsthand testimony. Each day’s program will be held at the Hilton Hotel on Adams Avenue, with breakout sessions in different conference rooms. The day will begin with two brief introductory sessions followed by the film,Children Remember the Holocaust. Breakout sessions follow, where small group meetings with survivors are held. After lunch, attendees will return to the Casey Ballroom for the production of Lida Stein and the Righteous Gentile and a guided audience discussion. The afternoon session is a 50 minute play that follows “ordinary” people from “ordinary” families caught up in the extraordinary po- litical and social upheaval during the Nazi era. It focuses on the relationship between Lida Stein, a Jewish teenage girl, and her best friend Dora Krause, a German teenage girl. The play probes issues from the perspective of teenagers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who are swept up in life-altering decisions about friendship, politics, and family loyalty in difficult times. The audience discussion that follows addresses two key aspects of the Holocaust era: the gradual intimidation and eventual segregation of the Jewish community from the larger society, and the characters, motivations and consequences of the decisions of friendly and non-friendly German adults and youth. It will also focus on peer pressure and its impact on decision making, family loyalty, personal responsibility, moral strength, and commitment. The only mandatory fee involved is lunch prepared by Hilton’s food service. The cost is $7.00 for students and $10.00 for teachers. (Please note that teachers will be eating with their students). Registration begins on a first-come, first-served basis upon the receipt of this notice to our office. It will end when all available spaces are filled. Participation requires adherence to the time schedule, which includes check in before 8:50AM. Registration deadline is April 5, 2017 with payment in full. Payees will incur a $25.00 fee if paid on the day of the Symposium. Please be aware, and make your students aware, of the fact that the survivor they meet will have gone through one or more of many experiences in the Holocaust, but may not be a survivor of a concentration camp. School groups are divided so that participants from each school meet several people and can share what they learn upon returning to school. The program is coordinated through the Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) of the Jewish Federation of NEPA. For more information contact Mary Ann Mistysyn at (570)961-2300 EXT#4 or send email to [email protected]

Registration form may be faxed to 570-346-6147 or mailed to HERC, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton PA 18510. DEADLINE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5th Please Fill Out Completely CHOOSE ONE & CIRCLE: Tuesday, May 9th OR Wednesday, May 10th [Please note: you MUST circle your choice and if you wish to bring groups on both days, please fill outseparate forms]

School Name______

Lead Name______

Email______

Lead Name’s Cell or contact number ______(in case of emergencies only)

School phone______ext. #______Fax. #______

Grade Level______

# Students:______@ $7.00 each = $______# Teachers: ______@ $10.00 each = $______

CHECK TOTAL: $______[Checks should be made payable to: JEWISH FEDERATION OF NEPA – PUT IN MEMO: HERC–The Registration should be paid in full by April 5, 2017. A late fee of $25.00 will be added to your invoice, if paid on the day of the Symposium.

Names of all attending teachers: Subject area taught: ______• ______• ______• ______• ______

Please note: We do not automatically assume a school is attending this year because they attended in past years – This form must be returned by the deadline of April 5th with your choice of date clearly marked. Thank you for your cooperation! 8 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 Questions Continued from page 2 In the same interview, Marcus continued, “we need antisemitism, then Sarsour’s past denunciations to ask what forms of speech, what kinds of activity of Zionism, and her support for a solution to the are antisemitic, so that we can identify it.” This is Palestinian issue based on the elimination of Jewish absolutely correct, and those who charge that Trump sovereignty, at least warrant a critical examination of Jewish choirs’ concert is an antisemite should examine whether there is a the politics behind her cemetery gesture. It is easy, The concert “Ilu Finu: Bursting with consistent pattern of evidence to support that claim. after all, to be empathetic and kind to dead Jews and Song” featuring the choirs of Hebrew Union Citing his Jewish grandchildren and his Jewish ad- their memories, whether in Poland or Missouri – and College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie visers as evidence to the contrary – as the president far harder to deal with the ones who are still alive, Friedman School of Sacred Music and the Jewish has done, and as he has instructed his subordinates to and who regard Sarsour’s “one state of Palestine” Theological Seminary’s H.L. Miller Cantorial School will do – may be irritating, and may suggest that the past fantasies as sinister code for a solution that would be held on Thursday, March 30, at 7:30 pm, at the Hebrew seven decades of trying to educate the public about need to be imposed, in all likelihood through violent Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, One West Fourth the nature of antisemitism and the centrality of the conquest, on the Jews of Israel. St., New York City. It will featured the music of Salamone Holocaust has largely been in vain. But it manifestly Can the enemies of Israel be, at the same time, the Rossi, Franz Schubert, Charles-Valentin Alkan, Mark Lavry, does not demonstrate that the current White House friends of Jewish communities outside the Jewish state? Naomi Shemer, Achinoam Nini, Michael Boino and Steve is in the grip of an antisemitic fever. Conversely, do friends of Israel get a pass when they Cohen, among others. The concert will be directed by Joyce In these times, it is dangerous to suggest thought play down or outright deny the presence of antisemites Rosenzweig and Cantor Natasha J. Hirschhorn. experiments, but I will throw caution to the wind. among their political allies? Why should Sarsour be To register for the concert, visit http://huc.edu/reg- I wonder if those who agree with Steven Goldstein acceptable to the Jewish community, but not Richard istration-ilu-finu-bursting-song. For more information, of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, when Spencer, the pudgy racist at the helm of the so-called contact Jocelyn Nixon at [email protected]. he said that Trump’s February 21 condemnation of National Policy Institute? Are we that easily taken in? I antisemitism was a “band-aid on the cancer of an- fear the answer is yes. Play about the Holocaust tisemitism that has infected his own administration,” Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org and The The Workshop Theater will present “Through the would have similar qualms about Linda Sarsour, Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org Darkness” by Alan Breindel until April 1in Manhattan. the Palestinian-American activist in the Boycott, on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His The play recounts the journeys and true stories of four Divestment and Sanctions campaign who is rapidly writings have been published in Commentary, the New men and women who left everything behind, including achieving iconic status in the protest movement that York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and many their loved ones, so that they might stay one step ahead has coalesced around Trump’s election. other publications. He is the author of “Some of My of the Holocaust. They are composite characters that Sarsour and her Muslim activist colleagues raised Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century playwright Breindel built from interviews with Holo- more than $100,000 for the repair of the desecrated Antisemitism” (Edition Critic, 2014). caust survivors. The characters include a German Jew Chesed Shel Emet cemetery in St. Louis, earning plaudits who emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1930s, was drafted from nearly every mainstream media outlet and winning and became a POW during the Battle of the Bulge; a the endorsement of “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling. Polish woman who could pass as Christian and spent In publicity terms, it was an unbelievably smart move; Family Continued from page 6 the war on the run; a woman sent from the Lodz Ghetto by the time news of Sarsour’s initiative broke, her critics for a fashion magazine, rather than having become to Auschwitz; and the son of a Polish peddler who fled were immediately placed in the uncomfortable position of a doctor like her father, sister and brother. To make to Russia and survived by working for the Soviets in questioning her motives at just the time that she reached matters worse, Sarah is living with Joe, who not only Siberia and, later, by joining the Polish Army. out to the Jewish community. isn’t Jewish, but never went to college and works at For more information about the play or to purchase tick- But if Kenneth Marcus is right that patterns his father’s garage and auto body shop. ets, visit www.workshoptheater.org or call 866-811-4111. of speech and action determine what constitutes To be fair, in addition to inviting Joe to the seder, Sylvia asked his mother, Valentina, to attend. That’s because she felt bad after seeing Valentina have a meltdown in the grocery store due to the loss of her husband, Dominic. Sylvia is afraid that the very emotional Valentina will embarrass her in front of the Rothchilds, not knowing that Henry’s parents want to make a good impression on Becca’s family for their own reasons. Several emotional revelations and two surprise visitors add to the chaos as the three families navigate a minefield of old and new grievances. “The Dinner Party” is full of surprises, which, while not making life easy for the characters, are great fun for readers. Janowitz does a terrific job juggling the different points of view. Her characters come close to being stereotypes, but they are just imperfect enough to feel like real people. The author’s light touch made this comedy a pleasure to read. “MODERN GIRLS” Although “Modern Girls” by Jennifer S. Brown (New American Library) only offers the thoughts of two characters, it successfully shows the different ways two generations of the same family can view the world. Dottie Krasinsky considers herself a modern girl because she works as a bookkeeper and spends unsupervised time with her boyfriend, Abe. When she looks at her mother, Rose, she sees someone too old-fashioned for 1935. This includes Rose’s lack of interest in fashionable clothing. However, Rose’s focus is on politics and social activism. Having traveled to the United States on her own after being injured in the protests against the czar of Russia, Rose now longs to be done with raising children so she can return to political work. The summer of 1935 changes the lives of both women: mother and daughter find themselves pregnant. Unfor- tunately for Dottie, the child is not her boyfriend’s, but the result of a one-time transgression after they had a fight. She longs for life to continue as planned – mar- riage to Abe and working as a bookkeeper in his grocery store – but she’s unsure how to make that happen. Rose also despairs: she’s tired of her life being ruled by her children, and the pregnancy exacerbates the constant pain in her never-completely-healed leg. Both women face difficult and painful choices – ones that will affect the rest of their lives. “Modern Girls” was one of the few novels I’ve read that made me want to look at the ending first – to know what decisions Dottie and Rose made before learning how they chose them. I found myself caring about what happened to both and hoping that their stories would have happy endings. Yet, the beauty of Brown’s novel is its clear-eyed look at what a happy ending really means, especially when faced with choices that are not clear and easy. While the book’s action takes place through- out the course of one month, the truths it encompasses cover a lifetime. MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 9 CAMPAIN Alan Smertz and Susie Blum Connors General Campaign Co-Chairs

Total to date: 2,902

f ou hae not et made THE our gift to the ederation Campaign please contact ar Silerberg TIME at et Help us reach our goal of our support IS enables us to fund the man important eish needs right here in ortheastern NOW ennslania in srael and throughout the eish orld our participation is also helping to ensure a strong eish future

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Please mail to: Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania, 601 Jeff erson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 or call 570-961-2300 (ext. 1) 10 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 D’VAR TORAH Behind the scenes BY RABBI DANIEL J. SWARTZ, TEMPLE HESED, God when they fast and don sackcloth and ashes. But in SCRANTON Esther, strangely and noticeably, God isn’t mentioned. Tetzaveh (Shabbat Zachor), Exodus 27:20-30:10 What is the meaning behind these very obvious omis- This week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, almost always sions? In the Book of Esther, the answer, like much of the comes right before Purim. At first, it would seem to have book, isn’t so subtle. As Dr. Lisa D. Grant of the Hebrew little or no connection with this most raucous of Jewish Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion writes, “In a holidays besides a superficial focus in both about what typical Purim twist, the biblical text also reinforces the people wear. In Tetzaveh, the garments of the high priest “presence of God’s absence by pointing out the conse- are described in loving detail. In the Book of Esther, quences of the absence of God’s presence,” emphasis clothing is portrayed as costume for a role, whether that in the original. In other words, the debauchery depicted of Esther donning queenly garments to influence the in the king’s court, as well as the violence promoted by king, or Mordechai dressed in the king’s clothes as he Haman, are symbolic of what happens when we shut out is led around town by Haman. But it is precisely in what God and seek the material instead of the holy. is below the surface, what is behind the scenes, what is But there is no such debauchery in Tetzaveh. Even on unsaid, that the true connection can be found. the quite literally superficial level of clothing, the finery Tetzaveh is the only portion of the Torah, from Moses’ depicted in our Torah portion is dedicated solely for holy birth at the beginning of the Book of Exodus until his purposes, quite a contrast to the scenes in the palace and death at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, where the harem in Shushan. So why “hide” Moses’ name? Moses isn’t mentioned by name. Similarly, Esther is one I think it is because it is natural for people to confuse of only two books of the Bible – or indeed the only one, the trappings of power – such as the garments of the high depending on if you accept certain emendations – where priest – with the purpose of power. By hiding Moses’ the name of God isn’t mentioned. In both cases, certain name, yet making his behind-the-scenes presence felt odd phrasings seem to indicate that the absence of the throughout the entire portion, we are reminded that what name in question is deliberate. makes Moses so important is not his title or garment For example, the very first sentence of the Torah or anything external. It is how he acts, who he serves portion, Exodus 27:20, literally reads, “And you, your- and what his soul is like that are the key. Moses isn’t self, shall command the children of Israel.” This odd significant because he is leading the people; rather, he double-pronoun formula is repeated two more times in is leading the people because he knows what is truly the next four sentences (28:1 and 28:3). It would have significant. We would be wise, in the present political been simpler just to say “you,” or even “you, Moses.” climate, to keep this in mind. The thrice-repeated doubling seems to be trying to catch And with Moses behind-the-scenes in this portion, our attention, as if the text were saying, “look here” – paired with God behind-the-scenes in the Book of Esther, notice how Moses’ name is not mentioned. we are doubly reminded that what is most apparent is not Similarly, in the Book of Esther, every place where what’s most important. True, Tetzaveh goes into great you would expect God’s name to be mentioned, it isn’t. depth about what the high priest wears. But the empha- In Chapter 4, first Mordechai, then all the Jews, don sis of the Torah as a whole is on how we, a kingdom of sackcloth and ashes, fast and cry out – but it doesn’t say priests, are called not to look holy but to be holy. Then, to whom they cry out. In the Book of Jonah, even the no matter how behind the scenes it might be, we will be people of Nineveh, who aren’t Jews, know to cry out to able to feel God’s presence in our lives.

Speech Continued from page 1 (Speaking of the Orlando massacre, why not a refer- studies developments overseas, but Jewish groups worry ence to the LGBTQ community? Trump at the time held that its elimination would suggest that the administration up the massacre as emblematic of the protections that is not taking the issue seriously. The American Jewish gay Americans needed and he would bring as president.) Committee on February 27 asked its activists to write the A reference to the mosques may have allayed con- president and urge him to preserve the office. cerns that his travel ban is aimed at Muslims, although it Cardin told JTA, walking out of the commission targets seven (or, as of this week, six) Muslim-majority meeting, that if anything the office of the antisemitism countries, as well as refugees. monitor needed bolstering. “Strengthen it, elevate it, Further along in the speech, Trump mentions Mus- give it more resources,” he said. lims in a positive way, as allies against radical Islamic 4. The other stuff: terrorism. But he was talking about moderate Muslims ‹‹ Trump mentioned Iran and Israel: “I have also im- in the Middle East – an alliance that is far afield from the posed new sanctions on entities and individuals who highways and byways traversed by American Muslims. support Iran’s ballistic missile program, and reaffirmed 3. What’s the plan? our unbreakable alliance with the state of Israel.” He did Jewish community statements praising the president for not mention the Iran nuclear deal he once reviled, nor his remarks condemning antisemitism were almost uniform did he speak of the Israeli-Palestinian peace deal he has in asking for a specific government and law enforcement said he would like to achieve. response to antisemitic and other hate incidents. ‹‹ He did go into some detail on his plans to expand school “I was very pleased, that was an important message,” choice: “I am calling upon members of both parties to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), said on the morning of March pass an education bill that funds school choice for disad- 1 at a meeting of the Helsinki Commission, the body vantaged youth, including millions of African-American Co-Presidents: Esther Adelman & Steven Seitchik that monitors human rights overseas and in the United and Latino children. These families should be free to States. “But we need to do more.” choose the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or “Powerful for @POTUS to note antisemitism at top home school that is right for them.” That’s a proposal he of speech,” tweeted Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the campaigned on, and it has raised concerns among Jewish Union for Reform Judaism. “Key now is to investigate precincts that favor church-state separations, but also and end terror campaign.”d has garnered praise among Orthodox groups and other CallsYo urfor aad plan coul came as Bloomberg News reported that supporters of Jewish day school education. the Trumpbe he Statere! Department was considering doing away On March 1, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congre- with the post of antisemitism monitor. Granted, the position gations of America welcomed Trump’s call for federal policy to support school choice. “We believe there are To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen several ways in which parental empowerment should be at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or pursued to achieve educational opportunity, in the tax code [email protected] and elsewhere, and we look forward to working with the administration on this priority issue for our community and American society at large,” the O.U.’s Washington director, Nathan Diament, said in a statement. MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 11

Design Continued from page 3 “Bezalel Academy demands 100 percent from you, and physical disabilities with services like mentors and and I have 72 percent disability,” he said, referring to options for test taking. a state scale for physical disability that goes from 0 to For his final project, Ventura built a floating gym 100 percent. “But they gave me a chance to succeed. for people rehabilitating from injuries. Over the six I learned from amazing teachers and got to work with month-plus process, he was helped by some of the really talented classmates.” people who were part of his own rehabilitation. Madat- Bezalel, a 111-year-old mainstay of the Israeli art ech – the national science museum, where he interned world, is known for producing top-notch talent in a variety for two years before Bezalel – let him use its tools and of fields. The school also prides itself on promoting an space. And wounded soldiers at Beit Halochem Haifa, inclusive creative process for people with disabilities. the army center where he did more than four years of About a decade ago, Bezalel started a class in industrial intensive rehabilitation, helped him test his designs in design for people with special needs. Over the years, the training pool. students have created dozens of products: costumes that “In the pool, people can do all kinds of things they encourage children to move during physical therapy; wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” Ventura said. “They air-cushioned prosthetic legs with superhero designs; are lighter, of course. But also, they don’t have to feel fashionable clothes that people with limited range of ashamed of their bodies. Underwater, nobody can see movement can easily get on and off. your scars.” Due to this kind of work, Bezalel in December won the In the summer before he graduated, Bezalel displayed $50,000 Ruderman Prize in Inclusion, which recognizes the gym, which Ventura dubbed the Venduza (a port- organizations that foster the full inclusion of people with manteau of his last name and “meduza,” Hebrew for disabilities. The Ruderman Family Foundation has been jellyfish), along with hundreds of other students’ art and Asaf Ventura posedwith his floating gym at an Israeli awarding the prize for the past five years; this year the design projects. Bezalel’s annual exhibition draws some army rehabilitation center in Haifa in June 2015. $250,000 was split among five organizations around the 25,000 people. Ventura appeared on Israeli TV and had (Photo courtesy of Ventura) world involved in art, technology and media. visits with several government ministers. “We loved the fact that Bezalel is a very well known He went on to found a company called Left Hand and the lag is reflected in social attitudes. According to art and design school, and not a disability organization, Design, aiming to bring the Venduza to market. Ventura a JDC study, more than half of Israelis are not willing yet they still choose to include people with disabilities in now lives with his father in Haifa and has taken out loans to be neighbors with or rent an apartment to someone what they do,” said Shira Ruderman, the Israel director to produce an upgraded prototype of the gym. He is look- with a mental disability. of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “We think they are ing for investors. In the meantime, Ventura also works But Israel’s embrace of high tech has been driving an example of how Israel can use innovation to change part-time at Madatech, where he designs exhibitions. progress lately, and institutes of higher education have the Israeli mindset on disability.” Avital Sandler-Leoff, the director of JDC-Israel Unlim- the potential to take the lead, Sandler-Leoff said. Her With the prize money, Bezalel will launch two un- ited – a partnership between the American Jewish Joint group planned to launch a program for autistic students at dergraduate courses next fall in “inclusive design.” The Distribution Committee, the Ruderman Family Foun- three universities in February, as well as a curriculum on school has begun awarding scholarships – worth more dation and the Israeli government – said not all people disability studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem than $1,000 each – to students whose final projects are with disabilities are able to find the support Ventura did. in March. “There are more and more places like Bezalel, in inclusive design. The country is 30 years behind the United States when it where a new generation of young people are saying, ‘We “We are committed to increasing awareness of people comes to services for people with disabilities, she said, want to be part of society. Let us contribute,’” she said. with disabilities and the difficulties they face,” said Liv Sperber, the vice president for international affairs at Be- zalel, who applied for the Ruderman Prize. “This allows us to get more students involved in creating beautiful and inclusive designs.” Luca Dalcera, 28, learned recently that he is eligible for a scholarship for his project. In his fourth and final year of school, he is designing an inflatable pillow to help lift a person with mobility issues out of a seat. The idea came from helping manage the care of his wife’s grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease and is relegated to a chair. “To pick him up takes two people because he’s a big guy, so that means a family member has to be around 24/7 in addition to an aid worker,” Dalcera said. “The situation is very difficult for the whole family. So I wanted to create something that doesn’t solve the problem, but at least eases it.” Like other fourth-year students, he is in the conceptualizing stage of his project. Starting next semester, Dalcera plans to begin developing and testing designs. Money is tight, he said, and the grant will help him “create a better project” than he could afford otherwise. Dalcera is already working on a patent for the design. There were no grants when Ventura graduated from Bezalel in 2015, but he said there were other forms of support. The school challenged him like any other student, he said, but also accommodated his cognitive d be here! Your ad coul

For information on advertising, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or [email protected]

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 12 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017 In this family, all four siblings found spouses at the same summer camp BY GABE FRIEDMAN (JTA) – Ami Yunger is used to people sounding At left: Shlomie and Dalia surprised when they hear that he and his three siblings Yunger at Camp Moshava all met their spouses at the same summer camp. But he as teenagers. (Photo doesn’t think it’s that weird. “Funny enough, I am so courtesy of Dalia Yunger) used to it that sometimes I think that it is strange when I hear about couples who did not meet their spouse at camp,” Yunger said. At right: Shlomie and The 24-year-old now studies economics at Bar-Ilan Dalia Yunger at their University in Israel, but he grew up in Montreal. He wedding. (Photo courtesy followed the path of his modern Orthodox siblings at age of Dalia Yunger) 10 when he began spending summers at Camp Moshava in Ennismore, Ontario – a small outpost of the Bnei he went to camp. “Half the camp disappeared and they But a group of four siblings meeting their spouses at Akiva religious Zionist youth movement. There he met all went to my kid’s wedding,” said Joy Yunger, Ami’s the same camp? Yunger’s brother Gadi, 33, and sister a girl named Samara when he was 14 and she was 13. mother. “It was like being at camp – the kids came and it Naomi, 30, even married siblings from the same Toronto They didn’t start dating until moving to Israel after high was such a camp atmosphere, they sat around in a circle.” family. “I don’t know whether it was in the water or it school, just before Ami served in the Israeli army, and Finding love at Jewish camp is not exactly a new or was in the juice they gave them,” Joy said. they married five years ago. In doing so, Ami became rare phenomenon. Many Jewish camps, especially those All of the Yunger siblings started officially dating the last of the four Yunger siblings to marry someone that fall under a specific denomination’s umbrella, host their basherts after their time in camp – although some they met at Moshava. campers with similar religious and socioeconomic back- were not too adept at hiding their developing feelings No surprise, then, that he invited dozens of Moshava grounds. The Conservative movement’s Ramah camp See “Camp” on page 13 campers to his wedding, and not just those with whom network has its own dating app for alumni.

Nine Continued from page 4 At left: Ami and Samara Finally, in recent years, Yunger at Camp Moshava. some feminists have (Photo courtesy of Ami suggested the cookies, Yunger) which after all are not dissimilar in appearance At right: Ami and Samara to female reproductive Yunger at their wedding. parts, were meant to be (Photo courtesy of Ami fertility symbols. Yunger) 5. In 1945, a group of American soldiers held belated Purim services inside Nazi What does hamantashen propagandist Joseph symbolize? Answers abound. Goebbels’ confiscated (Photo by Wikimedia castle. According to Commons) JTA coverage at the P A C E time, the Jewish chaplain “carefully arranged the candles Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment over a swastika-bedecked bookcase in Goebbels’ main dining room,” and Jewish soldiers explained to their Christian comrades in attendance “about Haman and why it was so fitting that Purim services should be held Your gift to the Annual Campaign in a castle belonging to Goebbels.” 6. The Book of Esther, which many scholars theorize DOES A WORLD OF GOOD. is fictional, may be an adaptation of a Babylonian story. Endowing your gift allows you to be there for the Some scholars argue that the Book of Esther adapted stories about these pagan gods – Marduk becoming Jewish community of NEPA forever. Mordechai and Ishtar transformed to Esther – to reflect the realities of its own Jewish authors in exile. A Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) is a permanent fund that endows 7. The Jewish calendar has a regular leap year with your Jewish community Annual Campaign gift as a lasting legacy. A PACE fund will two months of Adar (but only one Purim, which falls continue to make an annual gift in perpetuity on your behalf. during the second Adar). To ensure that the holidays remain in their mandated seasons, the Jewish calendar To determine the amount you need to endow your entire campaign gift, multiply your current was ingeniously adjusted to accommodate the 11-day annual gift by 20. difference between the lunar and solar years. In the fourth century C.E., Hillel scheduled an extra month at the end You can fund your PACE by adding the JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN of the biblical year, as necessary. The biblical year begins PENNSYLVANIA to your will, or by making the Federation a beneficiary of your IRA. All in spring with Nissan (Exodus 12: 1-2) and ends with contributions to establish a PACE are tax deductible. Adar. Hillel, in conjunction with the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court), chose to repeat Adar (Adar I and Adar Let your name be remembered as a blessing. II) every third, sixth, eighth, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th year Endowments can be created through a variety of vehicles, some of which do not necessitate over a 19-year period. 8. Purim is celebrated one day later inside walled funding during your lifetime yet still provide your estate with considerable tax benefits. cities than it is everywhere else. The Book of Esther They also enable you to perpetuate your commitment to the Annual Campaign in a way that differentiates between Jews who lived and fought their best achieves your own personal financial and estate planning goals. enemies for two days within the walled capital city of Shushan and those who lived in unwalled towns, where only one day was needed to subdue the enemy. The rabbis Examples Of Ways To Fund Your Pace Gift Are: determined we should make that same distinction when * outright contribution of cash, appreciated securities or other long-term memorializing the event. Accordingly, if a person lives in a city that has been walled since the days of Joshua * capital gain property such as real estate (circa 1250 B.C.E.), as Shushan was, Purim is celebrated * charitable remainder trust on the 15th of Adar, a day referred to as Shushan Purim. * gift of life insurance 9. Just after the 1991 Gulf War, Israel’s most popu- * charitable lead trust lar Purim costume was of the Israeli army spokesman * gift of IRA or pension plan assets whose face appeared on TV every time a Scud missile * grant from your foundation alert sounded – and people snacked on “Saddamtashen” * reserved life estate in your residence instead of hamantashen. * bequest Spokesman Nachman Shai’s “reassuring tones earned him the sobriquet ‘National Valium’” while Israel was Using appreciated property, such as securities or real estate, affords you the opportunity to being pelted with Iraqi missiles, according to a JTA re- eliminate the income tax on the long-term capital gain, will in some instances generate a full income port at the time. That year, while many costume-makers tax charitable deduction and will remove those assets from your estate for estate tax purposes. avoided the temptation to make Saddam Hussein cos- tumes (it would be like a Hitler costume, one vendor told JTA), bakeries hawked “Saddamtashen,” which “look For more information contact Mark Silverberg at and taste exactly like hamantashen.” [email protected] or call 570-961-2300, ext. 1. Julie Wiener is managing editor of My Jewish Learning. MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 13 NEWS IN BRIEF Camp Continued from page 12 before then. Shlomie, 35, and his wife Dalia, 36, were Zvi also live in Toronto, where she is a kindergarten From JNS.org “only friends” and fellow camp employees throughout teacher and Zvi works in finance. While Ami goes to Israeli lawsuits prompt Facebook to their camp days (Shlomie as a counselor and Dalia school in Ramat Gan, Israel, Samara works as a special enable reporting incitement on sports staff), but most of the camp sniffed out their education teacher in Beit Shemesh. (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – The Brook- budding romance. They all know of other couples who met at their camp, lyn District Court on March 1 began hearing arguments One time, when Dalia was assigned to the rock and they say it was easy to find love at Camp Moshava for two federal lawsuits brought against Facebook by climbing wall, Shlomie offered to climb as an example because most, if not all, of the campers developed a deep an Israeli advocacy group. The Shurat HaDin – Israel to a group of young campers. As Dalia helped belay bond to Israel. Gadi said at times he felt like he was on Law Center filed the combined billion-dollar legal him down, some of the boys entangled their ropes – so a kibbutz because of the communal themes, how much action in October 2015 on behalf of American victims when Shlomie made it down he was tied up next to campers learned about Israel over the summers and the of Hamas terrorist attacks and 20,000 Israeli plaintiffs, Dalia. “Even the 10- and 11-year-old boys knew there number of Israeli workers on campus. over claims that Facebook facilitates incitement against was something,” Dalia said. “For Atara and I, one of our pre-requisites was that Israelis. The organization is also asking the court in For one summer, Naomi slept in a bunk that her the other would want to live in Israel one day,” Gadi New York to issue an injunction against Facebook future sister-in-law Dalia helped oversee. It was said. “When you have like-minded people [at camp] that to remove the inciting pages, monitor the methods during that time that Joy Yunger first became ac- believe in something like Israel, I think it just works.” of incitement and block them, and hold the social quainted with Dalia – through a letter Naomi wrote Dalia added that the camp’s retro aesthetic and feel networking giant responsible for allowing terrorists home calling her an amazing counselor. Naomi’s – embodied in things such as rustic bunks and the old, on its network. According to the plaintiffs, Facebook only complaint was that Dalia made her and her decaying couches in the small room where counselors knowingly provides sources of support for terrorist fellow bunkmates do push-ups if they misbehaved. hang out – brought the camp staff closer. Camp admin- organizations, such as Hamas, which violates Amer- “Since then, my daughter-in-law has run the New istrators even paired up counselors who they thought ican anti-terrorism laws. Shortly before the hearing York Marathon four times,” Joy said. might have crushes on each other to do nightly bunk began on March 1, Facebook provided its users with Today, Shlomie and Dalia Yunger live in Toronto, check-ins together. “If there’s any chemistry between the option of reporting inciting content and organi- where he is an accountant and she works in regulatory people there, it’s going to come out,” she said. zations involved in “terror or organized crime.” The finance. Gadi and Atara live in Modi’in, Israel, from (This article was made possible with funding by the two lawsuits were submitted by attorney Robert J. where he runs a clothing company based in Toronto Foundation for Jewish Camp. The story was produced Tolchin and Shurat HaDin’s founder, attorney Nitsana (he makes frequent business trips) and she works as a independently and at the sole discretion of JTA’s Darshan-Leitner. “Facebook believes it is allowed to graphic designer at a company in Tel Aviv. Naomi and editorial team.) make billions of dollars in profits every year without any obligation to demonstrate responsibility, supervise and remove content calling for the murder of Jews At left: Naomi and Zvi worldwide,” Darshan-Leitner said. “The defendants Glustein (Photo courtesy of invested huge sums in developing technologies which Naomi Glustein) would enable them to know every detail about their users, yet they refuse to use the very same technolo- gies to stop the incitement to violence against Jews. At right: Gadi and Atara Facebook has become a weapon of Hamas in its efforts Yunger at their wedding. to encourage terror and therefore this must be stopped (Photo courtesy of Gadi by using legal means,” she said. Yunger) Israeli convert to Islam arrested for trying to join Islamic State (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – Israel’s Naz- areth District Court on March 1 indicted 39-year-old Valentin Vladimir Mazalevsky on charges of making contact with a foreign agent, attempting illegal travel to an enemy state and obstructing justice. The indict- ment noted that he supports the Islamic State terror group. Mazalevsky, a convert to Islam who lives in Shibli-Umm al-Ghanam in northern Israel, was al- legedly in contact with Islamic State operatives and had in his possession content supplied by the terror- ist group. According to the indictment, Mazalevsky wanted to travel to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula or to Syria to join Islamic State. “Mazalevsky immigrated to Israel from Belarus in 1996 and converted to Is- lam in 2000 during his military service, after having met his wife, a resident of Shibli,” Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said. The couple has five children. In January, Mazalevsky wrote a message about his plans to join the terrorist organization to a group of Islamic State supporters of Russian origin on the Telegram messaging app. He later had correspondence with an Islamic State operative who instructed him to go to Turkey and remain in touch from there, so that he could be transported to Syria. Mazalevsky bought a plane ticket to Turkey in accordance with the instructions. Eventually, Mazalevsky was arrested at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport as he prepared to depart for Turkey. During his interrogation, Mazalevsky admitted that he had been planning to go to Turkey to join Islamic State operatives in Syria. He added that this plan was his way of undertaking the obligation of every Muslim to live under Islamic State rule and to strengthen their religious beliefs.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 14 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017

Feature Films (as of September 2016) NEW Dough - An old Jewish baker (Jonathan Pryce) takes on a young Muslim apprentice to save his failing kosher bakery. When TO THE his apprentice’s marijuana stash accidentally falls in the mixing dough, the challah starts flying off the shelves! DOUGH is a warmhearted and humorous story about overcoming prejudice and finding redemption in unexpected places. (Shown at the LIBRARY! 2017 UJA campaign opening event) Everything is Illuminated - “Everything is Illuminated” tells the story of a young man’s quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion. What starts out as a journey to piece together one family’s story under absurd circumstances turns into a meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations -- the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, and the meaning of friendship. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Europa Europa - Based on the autobiography of Solomon Perel, this movie recounts the severe actions a young boy must take in order to survive the Holocaust. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Hidden in Silence - Przemysl, Poland, WWII. Germany emerges victorious over the Russians and the city comes under Nazi control. The Jews are sent to the ghettos. While some stand silent, Catholic teenager, Stefania Podgorska, choose the role of a savior and sneaks 13 Jews into her attic. Inspired by real events, Munich reveals the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes - and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who led it. Music Box - In this intense courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot (Jessica Lange) agres to defend her Hungarian immigrant father against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. Remember - With the aid of a fellow Auschwitz survivor and a hand-written letter, an elderly man with demntia goes in search of the person responsible for the death of his family. (shown at the 2017 UJA campaign opening event) Munich - Inspired by real events, Munich reveals the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes - and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who led it. Son of Saul - October 1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Saul (Géza Röhrig) is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, the group of Jewish prisoners forced to assist the Nazis. While working, Saul discovers the body of a boy he takes for his son. As the Sonderkommando plans a rebellion, Saul decides to carry out an impossible task: save the child’s body, find a rabbi to recite the mourner’s Kaddish and offer the boy a proper burial. (shown at the 2017 UJA campaign opening event) The Book Thief - THE BOOK THIEF tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany. The Jolson Story - THE JOLSON STORY is classic Hollywood biography at its best; a fast-paced, tune-filled extravaganza following the meteoric rise of legendary performer Al Jolson. THE JOLSON STORY was nominated for six 1946 Academy Awards , winning two, (Best Musical Scoring and Best Sound Recording). The Other Son - As he is preparing to join the Israeli army for his national service, Joseph discovers he is not his parents’ biological son and that he was inadvertently switched at birth with Yacine, the son of a Palestinian family from the West Bank. This revelation turns the lives of these two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, their values and beliefs. Woman in Gold - Based on the true story of Maria Altman, played by Helen Mirren, who sought to regain a world famous painting of her aunt plundered by the Nazis during World War II. She did so not just to regain what was rightfully hers but also to obtain some measure of justice for the death, destruction and massive art theft perpetrated by the Nazis. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Non-Feature Films 2016 Above and Beyond - In 1948, just three years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, a ragtag group of skilled American pilots - both Jewish and non-Jewish, answered a call for help. In secret and at great personal risk, they smuggled planes out of the U.S., trained behind the Iron Curtain and flew for Israel in its War of Independence. This band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, they also embarked on personal journeys of discovery and pride. (Shown at the 2016 UJA campaign opening event) Everything is a Present: The Wonder and Grace of Alice Sommer Hertz - This is the uplifting true story of the gifted pianist Alice Sommer Hertz who survived the Theresienstat concentration camp by playing classical piano concerts for Nazi dignitaries. Alice Sommer Hertz lived to the age of 106. Her story is an inspiration. Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story - Yoni Netanyahu was a complex, passionate individual thrust into defending his country in a time of war and violence. The older brother of Benjamin Natanyahu, the current Israel Prime Minister, Yoni led the miraculous raid on Entebbe in 1976. Although almost all of the Entebbe hostages were saved, Yoni was the lone military fatality. Featuring three Israeli Prime Ministers and recently released audio from the Entebbe raid itself. Hava Nagila (The Movie) - A documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard. Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy and more, the film follows the ubiquitous party song on its fascinating journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine to the cul-de-sacs of America. If These Knishes Could Talk tells the story of the New York accent: what it is, how it’s evolved, and the love/hate relationship New Yorkers have with it. It features writer Pete Hamill, director Penny Marshall, attorney Alan Dershowitz and screenwriter James McBride, along with a cast of characters from Canarsie to Tottenville. In between, it explores why New Yorkers eat chawclate and drink cawfee, and how the accent became the vibrant soundtrack of a charming, unforgiving and enduring city. Israel: The Royal Tour - Travel editor Peter Greenberg (CBS News) takes us on magnificent tour of the Jewish homeland, Israel. The tour guide is none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The viewer gets a chance to visit the land of Israel from his own home! Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (narrated by Dustin Hoffman)- This documentary portrays the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews. More than a film about sports, this is a story of immigration, assimilation, bigotry, heroism, the passing on of traditions, the shattering of stereotypes and, most of all, the greatest American pastime. Nicky’s Family - An enthralling documentary that artfully tells the story of how Sir Nicholas Winton, now 104, a British stockbroker, gave up a 1938 skiing holiday to answer a friend’s request for help in Prague and didn’t stop helping until the war’s beginning stopped him. He had saved the lives of 669 children in his own personal Kindertransport. The Case for Israel - Democracy’s Outpost - This documentary presents a vigorous case for Israel- for its basic right to exist, to protect its citizens from terrorism, and to defend its borders from hostile enemies. The Israel Course - A 7-part Israel education series that sheds light on the Holy Land through the ages. Featuring biblical scholars and Middle East experts, including Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Ambassador Dore Gold, Princeton professor Bernard Lewis and many others. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg - As baseball’s first Jewish star, Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg’s career contains all the makings of a true American success story. Unmasked: Judaophobia - the Threat to Civilization – This documentary exposes the current political assault against the State of Israel fundamentally as a war against the Jewish people and their right to self-determination. MARCH 9, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 15 St. Louis man arrested for bomb threats against eight Jewish institutions BY JTA STAFF saying Thompson is being considered a woman identified as “Victim-1,” saying in the ADL’s midtown Manhattan office.” NEW YORK (JTA) – A St. Louis man “copycat” and investigators continue to he engaged “in a course of conduct that Authorities say the e-mails and phone has been charged for making at least eight look for others believed to be behind the placed [his victim] in reasonable fear of calls were made by Thompson “as part bomb threats against Jewish community wave of threats targeting JCCs. Thompson the death of and serious bodily injury of a sustained campaign to harass and centers and the Anti-Defamation League. made some of the threats in his victim’s to that person.” In addition to the bomb intimidate” Victim-1. Juan Thompson, 31, made some of the name and some in his own in an attempt to threats, the complaint says the coworkers In total, more than 100 Jewish institu- threats in the name of a former roman- portray himself as being framed. In a series of Thompson’s former partner received tions, mostly JCCs, have received bomb tic partner he had been cyberstalking, of Twitter posts the week of March 3, he anonymous e-mails claiming she had a threats since the beginning of the year. The according to a statement on March 3 claimed his victim was in fact making the sexually transmitted disease. last two weeks saw vandalism at Jewish by the U.S. Attorney of Southern New threats and framing him. He also tweeted Thompson attended Vassar College cemeteries in Philadelphia, St. Louis and York. Thompson has been charged with sympathetic messages expressing support and is a former journalist who was fired Rochester, NY, as well as two more waves cyberstalking, which carries a maximum for the Jewish victims of the threats. from the online news site The Intercept in of bomb threats called into JCCs, schools sentence of five years in prison. However, the FBI complaint against 2016 for fabricating sources and quotes in and institutions across the country, repre- “Today, we have charged Juan Thomp- Thompson says he was behind at least his articles. A statement on March 3 from senting the fourth and fifth waves of such son with allegedly stalking a former eight of the threats made in January and The Intercept said of Thompson’s arrest, harassment this year. No explosive device romantic interest by, among other things, February, mostly via e-mail. The com- “These actions are heinous and should be was found after any of the calls. making bomb threats in her name to Jewish plaint says Thompson threatened insti- fully investigated and prosecuted.” “The NYPD and the FBI have done an Community Centers and to the Anti-Def- tutions including the ADL, JCCs in San On his Twitter account, Thompson made outstanding job in this regard,” Paul Gold- amation League,” U.S. Attorney Preet Diego and New York City, schools in New repeated complaints about a woman he had enberg, director of the Secure Community Bharara said in a statement. “Threats of York and Michigan, and a Jewish history previously dated, at one point claiming she Network, which coordinates security for violence targeting people and places based museum in New York City. In the threats to “sent a bomb threat in my name & wants me Jewish institutions, told JTA on March 3. on religion or race – whatever the motiva- the schools, made on February 1, Thomp- to be raped in jail.” In another, dated Feb- “We at SCN and the Jewish Federations of tion – are unacceptable, un-American and son referred to a “Jewish newtown,” a ruary 27, he tweeted “The @SecretService North America commend them and hold criminal. We are committed to pursuing reference to the 2012 mass shooting at an visited me looked at my tweets, questioned them in the highest regard.” and prosecuting those who foment fear elementary school in Connecticut. my politics b/c some awful white woman The JCC Association of North America and hate through such criminal threats.” The complaint is currently focused I date reported me. I won’t be silenced.” said it was “gratified” by the arrest. “We NBC News cited “additional sources” on Thompson’s alleged harassment of a Thompson is African-American. trust that the perpetrators behind all of the According to the complaint, however, threats will be swiftly identified and brought Thompson made at least eight JCC and to justice,” said the organization’s president NEWS IN BRIEF Jewish institution threats “as part of his and CEO, Doron Krakow, in a statement. From JTA campaign of harassment” against “Vic- The threats prompted clamor for Congress introduces legislation to help Holocaust survivors tim-1.” For instance, according to the President Donald Trump to condemn the complaint, on February 21, Thompson antisemitism behind the targeting of Jew- reclaim assets is alleged to have sent an e-mail to the ish institutions. After initially demurring Legislation to assist survivors in obtaining restitution of assets stolen in the Ho- ADL’s midtown Manhattan office blam- to comment directly when asked about locaust was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The ing the woman for the bomb threats and the spate of recent antisemitic incidents, Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today Act, or JUST, which was introduced claiming she would be “making more Trump eventually called the threats to the the week of March 2, requires the State Department to report on the progress of bomb threats tomorrow.” The next day, community centers “horrible” and “pain- certain European countries on the return or restitution of wrongfully confiscated according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ful,” and Vice President Mike Pence paid or transferred Holocaust-era assets. In the Senate, the bill was introduced by Sens. “the ADL received a phone call claiming a visit to the Jewish cemetery vandalized Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL). In the House, Reps. Joe Crowley that explosive material had been placed near St. Louis. (D-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), introduced the measure. The JUST Act builds on the international Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues of 2009, which affirmed that the protection of property rights is an essential component of a democratic society based on the rule of law, and recognizes the importance of restituting or compensating Holocaust-related confiscations. “Tragically, we are los- ing survivors every day, and it is my sincere hope that this legislation, by shining a spotlight and solidifying this issue as an American foreign policy priority, will spur action in countries that are falling short of their obligations, ultimately resulting in a measure of justice for these individuals who have waited far too long,” Baldwin said in a statement. Crowley, who chairs the Democratic Caucus, said in a statement: “While we’re decades removed from the Holocaust, the pain is kept fresh for many in part because of the substantial amount of Jewish-owned property that still hasn’t been returned to their rightful owners after having been seized. This is unacceptable. Families who saw their property or possessions taken should be compensated for that loss.” Numerous Jewish groups are backing the measure. Israel’s AG opts not to defend outpost legalization law Israel’s attorney general told the Supreme Court that he would not defend the so-called Regulation Law, which legalizes some West Bank houses built on pri- vately owned Palestinian land. Avichai Mandelblit told the court in a letter sent on March 1 that he will not represent the government in the appeal against the newly passed law made by the Silwad Municipality and several other local Palestinian authorities. The state instead will be represented by a private attorney. It is reported to be the first time that a state attorney general has made such a refusal. Mandelblit reportedly has said he believes the law violates both international and Israel law. He reportedly will not testify against the law, however. The law, which the Knesset passed in a raucous late-night session on Feb. 6, allows the state to seize private Palestinian land on which settlements or outposts were built, as long as the settlers were not aware of the status of the land. In cases where the landowners are known, they are entitled to compensation.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 16 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 9, 2017

Save the Date for a Mission to Harrisburg on Tuesday April 25! Get a chance to meet with State Officials, tour the beautiful State Capital building and more! Charter Bus/Box Lunch • Cost: $15/pp Please contact Dassy for further details and to make your reservation at 570-961-2300 x2 or [email protected]