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VOLUME XI, NUMBER 23 NOVEMBER 29, 2018 In Israel, missile alert apps save lives -- and spread anxiety BY SAM SOKOL “It was stressing me out a lot more than JERUSALEM (JTA) – Four years ago, it should’ve.” on the eve of the Israeli military’s Gaza Aviva Adler said she had turned off operation known as Protective Edge, a notifications because “it was just too private developer created the Red Alert nerve-wracking.” app providing real-time notification when Inside the areas most likely to be tar- missiles or rockets were fired into Israel. geted, the apps have become essential. But Since then, Red Alert and smartphone even those living at a distance from Gaza apps like it have become tools for saving say they want to know when the missiles lives, social media sites in their own right are incoming, often as a way of showing – a portable source of anxiety for Israelis solidarity with their fellow Israelis. already living in a state of high alert. “I use it, so that each time there is a As Hamas and other terrorist groups siren anywhere, I pray for the people there again fired hundreds of rockets at cities to have strength and be safe,” said Chana and towns in Israel’s south recently, alert Shields Rosenfelder of Beit Shemesh, a apps were again pinging and buzzing central Israeli city located between Jeru- their way into the Israeli psyche. When a salem and Tel Aviv. reporter asked on Facebook if they made Barbara Freedman of Jerusalem echoed users anxious, Israelis were quick to agree. that feeling. “I put on an app so that I am “I had to turn it off,” Izzy Berkson said. aware of the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the south, and so my life is not ‘business as usual,’” she said. Smoke rose from a fallen rocket fired from Gaza in a field in southern Israel near That impulse is felt even thousands of the border on November 13. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) miles away. Shmuel Katz, an American immigrant living in Beit Shemesh, recalled Paul Frosh, a professor of communi- and military don’t always approve. how his son, who had moved back to the cations at Hebrew University, says the During the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2014, United States, had gotten in trouble at apps are in a tradition of more humble Daniel Tal-Or, who lives in Efrat, near work because his phone wouldn’t stop technologies, including church bells and Jerusalem, was having issues with Israel’s buzzing. The son had to explain to a sirens, that have been used not only to official air raid notification system. “My stunned supervisor that dozens of rockets signal specific events, but to “connect wife is hearing impaired, and we had were being launched at Israeli citizens, and people to each other across space and problems with the sirens not reaching Israeli apps alert users whenever a that he had installed Red Alert in order to time.” Like the Muslim call to prayer or everyone” in our town, he recalled. “In missile is headed into the country. (Photo “keep up and make sure that his family the Shabbat siren that sounds in Jerusalem, situations like this, it’s very important by Sam Sokol) here was safe.” he said they enable people to “feel part of that you have a backup.” the community at the same time.” With missiles from Gaza again raining However, unlike those previous down on Israel, Tal-Or created his own methods, users of the modern-day alert take on Red Alert. Sitting in front of his essings and j apps opt in and are “deliberately making computer, he cobbled together a bot that u bl oy th yo is themselves the subject of an emergency would warn members of his family’s ng se broadcast,” Frosh said. “That’s a very chat channel on the communications hi as is o powerful opt-in medium of social soli- app Discord when a rocket threatened W n darity and cohesion.” their location. Asked if he believes that the use of such See “Alert” on page 5 apps contributes to the spread of anxiety among the population, Frosh replied that it very well might do so. But what he finds even more interesting is why people would 2019 UJA choose to subject themselves to that. “It’s almost as if people are saying ‘I Pay it forward & give to should be anxious, I live in a community with these people, even if they are strang- the 2019 Jewish Federation ers,’ and it’s almost as if I have a moral of Northeastern Pennsylvania [imperative] to experience their anxiety,” Annual Campaign! he said. “They may not benefit from their anxiety, but my being part of this emer- gency system is a sign of solidarity and Goal: makes me feel closer to them.” For information or to $910,000 For other users, the apps fill a more make a donation call practical need, even if the government 570-961-2300 ext. 1 or send your gift to: Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Ave., Federation Scranton, PA 18510 $445,795 (Please MEMO your as of Nov. 21, 2018 pledge or gift 2019 on Facebook UJA Campaign) The Jewish Federation of Northeast- ern Pennsylvania now has a page on Facebook to let community members know about upcoming events and keep Happy Chanukah! connected.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Candle lighting November 30...... 4:16 pm Chanukah “Shoah” sequel Science news December 7...... 4:15 pm A local Chanukah celebration Claude Lanzmann’s posthumous Israelis develop a new cancer December 14...... 4:16 pm is announced; new kids’ books; “Shoah” sequel “Four Sisters” is treatment; Israel’s moon launch PLUS holiday memories; and more. being called relevant today. gets new investor; and more. Opinion...... 2 Stories on pages 3, 6, 7, 9, 14 Story on page 5 Stories on page 19 D’var Torah...... 8 2 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 A MATTER OF OPINION Stan Lee gave comic books permission to be more Jewish BY ARIE KAPLAN humor. When Spider-Man fights his foes, 1972, no other Spidey writer has deviated about Trask. “So, it has finally begun,” he (JTA) – When Stan Lee died on Novem- he usually makes jokes and quips to cut from this template. These types of jokes frowns. “The one thing I always feared – a ber 12 at 95, he left behind a vast legacy. the tension. In Amazing Spider-Man have always been a popular part of the witch hunt for mutants!” Between 1961 and 1969, his greatest #40, published in 1966, the web-head is character’s repertoire. And no matter how The newspaper features an artist’s sustained burst of creative activity, he fighting the Green Goblin, and our hero dark a Spider-Man story is, Peter Parker interpretation of a mutant in a chariot co-created a vast array of iconic characters, climbs up on the ceiling. His nemesis never loses his sense of humor. being ferried around by human slaves. including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, yells, “The Goblin has ways of bringing Lee’s stories were more than just yarns The caption above the drawing reads, the X-Men, the Avengers, the Incredible you down!” Spidey replies, “But it’s so about earnest (yet conflicted) do-good- “Dr. Trask warns that the superior abilities Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, nice and cozy up here!” ers. Thanks to visionary artists like Jack and supernatural powers of the hidden Daredevil, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange Superheroes often quipped in the middle Kirby and Steve Ditko, the 1960s Marvel mutants will enable them to enslave the and Falcon. of action sequences in those days. But when titles were stunningly delineated dramas human race, replacing our civilization Lee raised the bar for superhero sto- most superheroes made jokes, the jokes were bursting with emotional angst and stuffed with their own.” rytelling. He created characters who had so... generic. On the other hand, consider to the gills with pulse-pounding action By today’s standards, this dialogue is godlike powers, but who were painfully Spider-Man’s line: “But it’s so nice and sequences. But thanks to Lee, sometimes more than a bit cheesy. But for a comic human nonetheless. They were relatable cozy up here!” It sounds like something a they also had a layer of sharp social com- book designed for children in the 1960s, because of their flaws and foibles. They Borscht Belt comedian would say. mentary baked in. this was heady stuff; a superhero tale de- squabbled and gave in to petty jealousies, Did Lee purposefully intend to put Take, for example, the X-Men as ini- signed to warn kids about the dangers of a rarity at the time. Lee’s skill at writing Borscht Belt-style jokes in Spider-Man’s tially created by Lee and Kirby in 1963. prejudice. In the story, mutants are clearly clever dialogue and witty one-liners mouth? Not likely. However, there was an The titular supergroup was a band of mu- a substitute for any oppressed minority. ensured that his characters came off as interesting thing happening to American tants, people who were more than people, Even the newspaper caption might sound charming and lovable, if also plagued by comedy in the 1960s. Television shows their bodies having evolved to contain a eerily familiar with the line about mutants self-doubt. By setting many of his stories like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The superhuman ability. One mutant boasted “replacing our civilization with their own.” in New York City rather than a fictional Tonight Show” would frequently book co- animal-like strength and agility. Another It’s the sort of thing that bigots in 1963 venue like Metropolis, he kept his tall tales medians who cut their teeth at the Catskills had sprouted wings and could fly. Their would say about Jews, African-Americans grounded in the real world. Or if not the resorts, like Henny Youngman, Jackie mutant powers were triggered during their or other minority groups. It’s exactly the real world, something very much like it. Mason or Jack E. Leonard. All of America teenage years, just as their readers’ bodies thing white nationalists in Charlottesville, But Lee did more than that. He also was being exposed to their distinct brand “mutated” during adolescence. The entire VA, said last year, when they marched gave American comic books permission of Jewish humor. American humor was, premise of the X-Men was an unsubtle while chanting “Jews will not replace us!” to be more Jewish. in effect, becoming more Jewish. metaphor for puberty. X-Men #14 kicked off a three-part One of Lee’s innovations as a comic And Stan Lee, born Stanley Martin However, in issue 14 of X-Men (pub- story arc with the “mutants as minority” book writer was his ability to imbue each Lieber, the son of Romanian Jewish im- lished in 1965), Lee and Kirby discarded allegory. With their intolerance for anyone of his characters with a well-defined, unique migrants, grew up in New York City in that rather obvious metaphor in favor of different, Trask’s robots, dubbed the Sen- personality. Spider-Man, alias Peter Parker, the 1920s and 1930s. He must have been another, more socially relevant one – that tinels, are clearly a metaphor for real-life was neurotic. A superhero nebbish was a familiar with Borscht Belt humor. of the mutant as a persecuted minority. In hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan or novel idea back in 1962, when the character But why did he include those kinds this story, titled “Among Us Stalk... The the SS death squads of Nazi Germany. was first created. But this doesn’t make the of jokes in Spidey’s dialogue? Perhaps Sentinels,” an anthropologist named Bo- By rerouting the trajectory of the X-Men character Jewish per se, and Jews don’t he couldn’t help it. Maybe it’s the sort of livar Trask builds an army of giant killer series and making it about a group of perse- have a monopoly on neuroses. comedic voice he was most comfortable robots programmed to detect and hunt cuted outsiders, Lee and Kirby opened the However, Lee injected something very using. But there’s definitely a sense of down people with mutant DNA. door for other writers and artists down the unique into the character’s DNA: Jewish Yiddishkeit that comes through in the Toward the beginning of the story, the road to make the X-Men a more diverse, webslinger’s one-liners. And since Lee X-Men’s leader, Professor Charles Xavi- inclusive superhero group. stopped writing Spider-Man comics in er, worriedly scans a newspaper article See “Lee” on page 5

“ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the Israelis are blunt and rude, you got a Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. President: Douglas Fink problem with that? Executive Director: Mark Silverberg BY SAM SOKOL sign of intent, but of weakness. ing or beating around the bush – no false Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman Layout Editor: Diana Sochor (JTA) – A couple of months ago I was The Israelis’ reputation as a rude, abra- airs,” she said. Assistant Editor: Ilene Pinsker waiting to use an ATM near my house, sive or merely boundary-less people has What Israelis call directness and many Production Coordinator: Jenn DePersis flicking through Twitter as the line inched made its way around the world – surviv- outsiders consider rude is likely caused by Advertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen its way forward. Finally, after about 10 ing even its new incarnation as “start-up a variety of factors, including the country’s Bookkeeper: Kathy Brown minutes and several tweets, I reached the nation.” Famously, in 2015, the tech firm small size, a socialist past that emphasized machine and was getting ready to insert Intel presented its employees with a guide a radical egalitarianism, a sense of kinship OPINIONS The views expressed in my card when an Israeli man ran over from to working with Israelis that warned them (or perhaps entitlement) among Jews editorials and opinion pieces are those the corner, some 15 yards away, and tried to “expect to be cut off regularly” and that arriving from all over the world and the of each author and not necessarily to cut in front of me. “visitors are often taken back by the tone hard-charging ethos inculcated by Israel’s the views of the Jewish Federation of “What are you doing?” I demanded. or loudness of the discussion.” military culture in the wake of decades Northeastern Pennsylvania. “It’s my turn,” he replied in a tone that Many English-speaking immigrants of war. (In the army, it is common to call LETTERS The Reporter welcomes seemed to be both condescending and to Israel – or Anglos, as they are known officers by their first names once basic letters on subjects of interest to the shocked by my apparent impertinence. locally – have long complained about the training is over.) Jewish community. All letters must be When I pointed out that he had not been stark differences in cultural norms and Israelis often do not even realize they signed and include a phone number. expectations that complicate relations are perceived as rude by foreigners, said The editor may withhold the name on line, but had been hanging out and upon request. chatting with his friends, he grew heated, between the two groups. “Israelis are no- Reuven Ben-Shalom, a former Israeli Air ADS The Reporter does not necessar- insisting that he had stopped by before I toriously late; super casual in dress code Force officer who runs Cross-Cultural ily endorse any advertised products arrived and told the person in front of me and speaking,” said Daniel Rosenthal, Strategies Ltd., a consulting firm that teach- and services. In addition, the paper that he was claiming a spot. an immigrant from Tampa, FL. “They es foreigners how to deal with the culture is not responsible for the kashruth of At no point had he actually bothered tend to be too personal in their opening here. “Most times Americans see Israelis any advertiser’s product or establish- to stand in the line himself. That is, if you remarks, sharing things like how many as prying” in a way that in the U.S. “can ment. could call it a line. It was more of a clot, kids they have.” destroy relationships. But it’s just Israelis DEADLINE Regular deadline is two actually. Those present mostly gathered Dave Levy, another immigrant, said that being their typical selves,” he told JTA. “It’s weeks prior to the publication date. higgledy-piggledy, repeatedly asking “arguments can easily get loud and verbally just classic cultural differences” different each other who was ahead of whom. In violent, yet never physically violent. There countries develop different cultures. FEDERATION WEBSITE: Israel, the concept of an orderly queue, so is very much a culture of arguing.” “Israel is like an island in the Middle www.jewishnepa.org unremarkable to immigrants from Europe There is no personal space, complains East. We can feel very Americanized, but HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES: and North America, can still seem to be Melissa Amar, originally from Schwenks- we have developed here a unique culture Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA an entirely foreign idea. ville, PA. “In America, when having a of our own. Once a culture takes off after 18510 This tendency to engage in behavior conversation you’re not right on top of the several decades, you find that there are E-mail: [email protected] that would be considered rude elsewhere other person,” she said. “Here I find myself behaviors that would seem completely Fax: (570) 346-6147 extends to other aspects of Israeli life. It stepping back when talking to people.” strange” to outsiders, he said. Phone: (570) 961-2300 is not unheard of to be boarding a bus and Others, however, said this directness Shalom’s company website warns that watch ticketed passengers duck under the and sense of familiarity also has its up- Israelis are “straightforward and blunt, HOW TO REACH arms of a rider who had the temerity to slow sides. Ilana Gamliel, originally from Long tend to talk instead of listen, teach instead THE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: them down by paying the driver in cash. Island, said that here, “people are much of learn, and preach instead of recommend Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244 Or to be approached by random strangers more helpful and strangers will happily and contribute.” E-mail: [email protected] who begin asking why you immigrated, hold my baby.” Leah Rachelle Berman “We are all in this aggressive attack SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: how many children you have and how notices “how easy it is to strike up a con- mode,” he said. “People say things and Phone: (570) 961-2300 much you earn. versation with a native Israeli. we go on the defense. There is a theory On Israeli roads, a turn signal is not a “I like that they are direct, not hesitat- See “Israelis” on page 14 NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Congregation B’nai Harim celebration of Chanukah Chanukah comes early this year, starting on the eve- will be served with traditional foods and a group candle with the number of guests and a phone number to ning of Sunday, December 2, and lasting until the day lighting is planned. Those attending are asked to bring Congregation B’nai Harim, PO Box 757, Pocono of Monday, December 10. a menorah. Games for the children and entertainment Pines, PA 18350. The B’nai Harim Chanukah party and luncheon will is planned. For more information, visit the website www.bnai- be held on Sunday, December 9, at 12:30 pm, at the Registration is required. The cost is $27 per adult harimpoconos.org or call the message center at 570- Lake Naomi Clubhouse, Pocono Pines. A buffet lunch and $10 for children under 12. Send a check along 646-0100. Bais Yaakov of Scranton activities FIRST FUND-RAISING PIZZA AND SOUP SALE second Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple).” and how the students should be thankful for the many On November 7, Bais Yaakov baked and sold home- The featured speaker told different stories of self-sacri- opportunities for chesed and Torah learning they have made pizza and soup to the community. The sale was fice and what people can to promote and spread kindness in Scranton. chaired by Suzanne Severe and Leah Laury, assisted by to one another. BAIS YAAKOV LIFELINE TOY DRIVE Nancy Ben-Dov, Rozi Ben-Dov, Sandy Mittelman, Gilda ROSH CHODESH KISLEV IS IN THE AIR AT Bais Yaakov’s annual Chanukah Toy Drive for Chai Franzese, Vera Epshteyn and the Bais Yaakov students. BAIS YAAKOV Lifeline is underway. New toys and games can be dropped YAHRZEIT OF ROCHEL IMENU AT On Rosh Chodesh Kislev, students were divided into off at the school office located downstairs in Beth Shalom BAIS YAAKOV two teams to have a competition decorating bulletin Congregation, 1025 Vine St., Scranton. The 11th day of Cheshvan was the yahrzeit of Rochel boards with a Kislev-Chanukah theme. Girls were given “The games and toys will be distributed to hospitalized Imenu. The day was commemorated with a video featur- a limited time to be creative and display their themed children and their families to lighten up their Chanukah ing Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Zecharya Wallerstein, bulletin board. A soup and pizza lunch was included in while often undergoing grueling treatments,” said orga- Rabbi Dovid Ashear, Rebbetzin Tehila Yaeger and more. honor of Rosh Chodesh. nizers of the toy drive. According to event organizers, “Rochel, one of our On the second day of Rosh Chodesh, students heard matriarchs, known for her self-sacrifice and chesed from Rabbi Avrohom Goldstein, rabbi of the Toras (kindness), was engaged to be married to Yaakov. Her Chesed community in Scranton. He spoke about the father asked her to give up her husband to her older sister, importance of not conforming to the ways of the outside DEADLINES Leah. This she did, not knowing that she, too, would be world, which often conflict with the ways of the Torah. The following are deadlines for all articles and wed to Yaakov. In the merit of this tremendous act of He also explained the value of living in a smaller city photos for upcoming Reporter issues. chesed, Hashem took the Jewish people out of exile and where there aren’t as many distractions as there are in returned them to their land after the destruction of the bigger cities. He expressed his appreciation for Scranton DEADLINE ISSUE Thursday, November 29...... December 13 Thursday,Your ad December could 27...... January 10 JFS and SDDS join together to help Thursday,be here! January 10...... January 24 Thursday, January 24...... February 7 Lackawanna County residents To advertise, please contact Bonnie Rozen at Jewish Family Service staff met with members of dentists from the SDDS volunteer their time and donate 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or [email protected] the Scranton District Dental Society on November 13 resources to help qualified applicants in Lackawanna to speak about the Dental Program at JFS. Through JFS, County get the dental care they need.

Alan Glassman

L-r: Dr. Charles Scrimalli, SDDS president; Sheila Nudelman Abdo, JFS executive director; Dr. Chris Kotchick; Dr Brendan Langan; Dr. Samantha Adob, SDDS VP; –Providing Wealth Management for Generations– Dr. Megan Azar, SDDS secretary; Dr, Darleen Oleski; Dr. Thomas Langan Jr; Dr. T: 1.800.373.3383 F: 570.823.3416 Kurt Wadsworth; Cynthia Cox, SDDS marketing coordinator; Dr. Joseph Kelly; www.riggsadvisors.com Colette Jesikiewic, JFS administrative services coordinator; Dr. John Erhard; and Dr. Patrick Hayes. Absent from photo: Dr. Martin Bifano, Dr. Andrew Brown, Dr. William Burdyn, Dr .Justin Burns, Dr. Lawrence Gallagher, Dr. Joseph Gronsky, Dr. Stephanis Potter Hanyon, Dr. Brian Kerr, Dr. Frederick Lally, Dr. Sam Prisco Sr., Dr. Michael Ratchford, Dr. Stephen Solfanelli, Dr. Jan Stampien, Dr. Gary Wadsworth, Dr. Nancy Willis and Dr. Matthew Zale.

Scranton Hebrew Day School 540 Monroe Ave., Scranton Tehillim Club As a community service, a group of students at the Scranton Hebrew Day School’s “Tehillim Club” will recite Tehillim prayers (Psalms) on behalf of a loved one who is in need of health, comfort or salvation. Please submit when available, the Hebrew name of the one in need and their mother’s Hebrew name to the SHDS ofLice (570) 346-1576. Rabbi Dovid Rosenberg, Director of Development

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 4 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Tamar Schnurmann joins Scranton Hebrew Day School faculty Alex Gans, president of the Scran- her previous principal said, “Tamar has ton Hebrew Day School, announced always had a unique relationship with that Tamar Schnurmann has joined the her students. She relates to them in a Judaic studies faculty. She is teaching caring way and they in turn reciprocate Chumash (Bible), halachah (Jewish with love!” law) and shmiras haloshon (guarding Schnurmann moved to Scranton with one’s speech). Gans explained, “Mrs. her family from Jackson, NJ. Her husband, Schnurmann has much to contribute to Rabbi Raphael Schnurmann, grew up our Judaic program. Her background and in Montevideo, Uruguay, and attended expertise will make her a great addition Yeshiva Bais Moshe here in Scranton. to our outstanding faculty.” He is currently employed at Yeshiva Bais Schnurmann has been involved in Moshe as a student consultant. He also Jewish education for the past 10 years, gives a Talmud class in Spanish for the most recently at the Yeshiva Orchos growing Spanish speaking community at Chaim of Lakewood, NJ. She earned her Congregation Machzikeh Hadas several master’s of science degree in education days a week. and special education, and is continuing “The Scranton Hebrew Day School to pursue her professional development. welcomes Rabbi and Mrs. Schnurmann Schnurmann has been called adept in and their family to Scranton, and wishes relating to her students, so much so that them much success,” school representative. Tamar Schnurmann is shown with her students at the Scranton Hebrew Day School. The tragic tale of Superman’s Jewish creators, told in graphic novel form BY GABE FRIEDMAN both immigrated from Eastern Europe not “The Joe Shuster Story: The Artist Behind European Jewish immigrants – Jerry in (JTA) – When Joe Shuster and Jerry Sie- long before. They had bonded and began Superman,” written by Julian Voloj and Cleveland, Joe in Toronto – but their gel created the Superman character in the collaborating in high school in Cleveland illustrated by Thomas Campi. (Voloj, who identity was also the identity of Glenville, early 1930s, they were still living at their and, although they were ambitious, they is Jewish, is also the author of the graphic the neighborhood they grew up in. parents’ homes. Of course, the character could not have conceived of how influential novel “Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peace- In the 1920s and ‘30s, the Cleveland and his story – the arrival from another and popular the character would become. maker,” a Jewish and Puerto Rican gang neighborhood was like New York’s Bronx planet, his dual identities as mild-man- Sadly, they signed over the rights to the Man leader in the Bronx.) during that time. All their neighbors were nered reporter and flying, bulletproof of Steel early on, dooming themselves to JTA spoke with Voloj about the project Jewish, they were surrounded by dozens crime fighter – would go on to change careers full of frustration and misfortune. and Jewish comic book history just before of synagogues, kosher groceries, etc. If the comics industry in several ways and The story of these two Jewish comic the recent New York Comic Con. (Voloj’s you look at their high school yearbook, pave the way for the super-heroization of book legends – Shuster the quiet, reserved wife, Lisa Keys, is an editor with 70 Faces nearly every student seems to have a Jew- our popular culture. artist, and Siegel the earnest, competi- Media, JTA’s parent company.) ish name. Even if they were from more But Siegel and Shuster originally just tive writer – is considered dramatic and This interview has been edited and assimilated backgrounds, they grew up in wanted to make a little income to support heartbreaking in its own right, and it’s condensed for clarity. a very Jewish environment, so without a themselves and their families, who had now chronicled in a graphic novel titled JTA: So Jerry and Joe are both nerdy doubt, Superman has Jewish roots. outsiders, and that’s how they meet at school. JTA: Jewish identity in America before But was their shared Jewish immigrant and after World War II is a recurring theme background also a big part of their coming in the story, but it also feels like 99 percent together? As in, they weren’t just nerds, they of the characters in the book are Jewish also weren’t as assimilated as the other kids? (from the businessmen to other artists like Voloj: They definitely shared a very Stan Lee and so on). Could you give an similar identity, both born to Eastern See “Tale” on page 17

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Joe Shuster’s Jewish heritage is referenced throughout the book. (Photo by Super Genius) Jewish Federation of NEPA

Facebook ® is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 5 Claude Lanzmann’s posthumous “Shoah” sequel “Four Sisters” is sadly relevant BY CURT SCHLEIER given each “sister” her own film – her or France would have stepped in to help (JTA) – Before Steven Spielberg, there own opportunity to tell her “horrifying after the German invasion. “Poland had was Claude Lanzmann. and powerful story.” They vary in length pacts with both countries,” she notes. Prior to the birth of what is now the from 52 to 89 minutes. The two powers did declare war on USC Shoah Foundation – Spielberg’s Another difference: “Four Sisters” Germany, but there were no large-scale Holocaust testimony archive, which was involves female perspectives, which were military actions for months. All the city’s funded originally by the Oscar-winning largely missing from the original “Sho- Jews were transferred to the infamous director’s share of his “Schindler’s List” ah.” But like “Shoah,” the “Four Sisters” Lodz Ghetto. However, the Nazi-ap- profits in 1994 – Lanzmann’s landmark films are difficult to watch. In “Baluty,” pointed head of the Jewish community, 1985 documentary “Shoah” provided an Paula Biren, originally of Lodz, Poland, Chaim Rumkowski, made a deal with the earlier opportunity for survivors to share Paula Biren shown in “Baluty.” Claude tells Lanzmann that she hoped England See”Lanzmann” on page 15 their World War II testimonies, as well as to Lanzmann’s original “Shoah” film document the mass extermination of Jews. largely involved male testimonies. Over the course of its nine-plus hours, (Photo by Cohen Media Group) Lee Continued from page 2 “Shoah” conveyed the horrors to a world And that’s exactly what happened. Af- group of soldiers known as the Howling that didn’t believe – or didn’t want to. Six related by blood, just by their wartime ter floundering during the late 1960s, the Commandos. But Cohen is a mere sup- million dead is unimaginable, but the words experiences. The series of four separate X-Men title was rebooted in the mid-1970s porting character in someone else’s story. of one person at a time are more difficult films opened recently in New York and under the stewardship of writers like Len It would take another decade for Jewish to ignore. Like politics, genocide is local. Los Angeles, and was to be followed by Wein and Chris Claremont, who teamed characters to become more prominent in In the more than three decades since a national release. All four films will be with artists like Dave Cockrum. For the comics, and even then it would be under “Shoah,” Lanzmann – who passed away in available in theaters, and moviegoers can first time, people of color, such as Storm someone else’s direction. But it took Stan July at 92 – released a series of ancillary see two of them per ticket. (who hailed from Kenya), were a part of Lee to carve the path that his successors films with footage not used in the original, Lanzmann’s approach here is different the group. So were Jewish characters, like would follow. such as “A Visitor From the Living” and in format from the original. In “Shoah,” he Chicago teenager Kitty Pryde. The back- Author and public speaker Arie Kaplan “Sobibor, October 14, 1943, 4 p.m.” used many voices to tell the larger story, story of the X-Men’s archfoe Magneto interviewed Stan Lee for his award- The latest installments, “The Four splicing in interviews with survivors and was even tweaked, revealing that he was winning nonfiction book “From Krakow Sisters,” is about four women who aren’t perpetrators. With this project, he has a Jewish Holocaust survivor. to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books.” He Whereas Stan Lee’s X-Men was a Rod has written scores of comic book stories Serling-style allegory for antisemitism, and graphic novels featuring everyone Alert Continued from page 1 the later incarnation of the group featured from Superman to Speed Racer. Follow Tal-Or explained that he used data [it] wants. They do not want precision actual Jews as superheroes. This was Kaplan on Twitter @ariekaplan. from the IDF Homefront Command’s reports because Hamas uses it to align and unthinkable when Lee was the primary The views and opinions expressed in website in programming his bot. “It’s improve their rockets against us.” scripter on the title. In the 1960s, he did this article are those of the author and do tolerated but not officially endorsed,” This, however, has not stopped pro- co-create a Jewish character: Izzy Cohen, not necessarily reflect the views of JTA he said. “I suspect most of the apps are grammers from developing these apps one of Sgt. Nick Fury’s multicultural or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. using this.” or users from installing them. Yedidya According to Jameel, the pseudony- Kennard, who developed one of the first mous author of the Muqata blog, who also such apps on Android during Operation About the cover included rocket alert capabilities in his Protective Edge, said even those who are This year’s holiday cover was designed by Jenn DePersis, production coordinator app, “not only is the Homefront Command not under fire want to “keep in touch and of The Reporter Group, which publishes the Jewish Observer. not helpful, but the apps go against what feel connected.”

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Sidney R. DeSantis - Supervisor 318 East Drinker Street, Dunmore, PA 570-343-6013 www.NEPAFuneralhome.com Serving the entire Jewish community of Northeastern, PA ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 6 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Menorahs, memories, magic: Hanukkah conjures up some startling senior moments BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM At right: Margery B. blessings with the old Yemenite melody,” (JNS) – The menorah’s candles illumi- Sterns (right), 96, a a says Hasser who still lives on the same nating the dark outside never truly burn longtime resident of San block she was born on. “It’s a happy time.” out. The latkes sizzling in the pan still give Francisco, lit the menorah Fifth Candle: Potatoes did double off their heavenly perfume, and the dreidel with her daughter, Sandra. Hanukkah duty for the family of Marty of youth spins on and on, preserving forev- She recalls her Russian (“Mayer”) Weiss, one of nine children er the wonder of long-ago Hanukkahs. So immigrant parents lighting growing up in the small Czechoslovakian even the sound of the Hanukkah blessings the menorah as one of her town of Polana. “We had no menorah, and and “I Had a Little Dreidel,” or if you top memories of Hanukkah. there were no candles back then.” So his are Sephardic, quite possibly “Chanarot (Photo courtesy of the mother cut a potato in half, dug out nine Hallalu” (“This Candle”),” even the sight Sterns family) holes, and filled each one with oil and a of a menorah ablaze or a child’s chubby wick she made by twisting cotton balls. “It fingers prying open the gold foil hiding the years – now 67, she makes her home as Marina and living with her husband, worked,” says Weiss, now 89 and living chocolate gelt can awaken the memories in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel – “there Levi, and their small daughter in Moscow in suburban Washington, DC. The kids from their slumber, suddenly as clear as are so many warm memories,” she says – Jewish observance was risky business, got out of cheder (Jewish school) earlier those starry December nights more than six decades after the last latke was eaten including lighting the Hanukkah candles. than the usual 8 pm, rushing home with a half-century ago. Here are nine seniors’ and the last dreidel put back in the drawer. “I remember when we began keeping great excitement. “We were allowed to eat memories to savor, one for each candle: “Hanukkah was always a special time.” the holidays in 1979,” recalls Kitrossky, many latkes and doughnuts with homemade First Candle: For Sarah Devorah Second Candle: Besides the traditional a refusenik granted permission to leave preserves, spin dreidels my brother carved Henning, the holiday’s sights, smells and spinning of the dreidel, the Goldstein fam- the former Soviet Union eight years lat- out of wood and play cards way past our flavors are set against the backdrop of her ily of Brooklyn, NY, developed its own er with their three children, destination bedtime,” says Weiss, who regularly speaks grandparents’ apartment in Washington, Hanukkah version of the game “Hide-and- Israel. But before they were released, with school groups for the U.S. Holocaust DC, populated by endless aunts, uncles Go-Seek.” Jacob (“Jack”) Goldstein, 85, they would attend an underground Jew- Memorial Museum. All this halted abruptly and cousins. There are dancing candles of East Northport, NY, relates that “we’d ish school in Moscow, where Hanukkah in 1944 when the family was taken to the in the menorah, a mountainous platter of find Judaic items throughout the house: meant performances, celebrations and ghetto, eventually landing the teenaged latkes topped with cinnamon applesauce, a tallis, mezuzah, a Star of David on a chain menorah-lighting. “We weren’t allowed Weiss in Auschwitz. “For me, there were no brisket, chocolate coins and little gifts for and, of course, the menorah.” Because to have Jewish schools at the time, so if holidays in the camp,” he says. “We were all of the children. Also locked in her mem- money was tight for his dad, a tailor, the you were found attending one, you were too tired and too hungry to even think about ory are the smells and sounds of “the men holiday was an opportunity to stock up on called in for interrogation, or you’d find that.” Only Weiss and his sister survived folk smoking cigars and playing pinochle, new shoes, pants and maybe a winter coat your house has been searched.” One friend Auschwitz, and they, along with a brother and the ladies cooking and chatting.” And, when their old ones got too snug. “But that who was printing Jewish holiday books for who’d lived through forced labor in Russia, since the highlight of the evening was the didn’t matter to us. We each got to light a children in his home received a warning were the family’s sole survivors. As for lively dreidel game, the kids went straight candle, starting with the oldest on down,” from the government: “If you continue Hanukkah, his own four grandkids “really to the special drawer in the buffet, where he recalls. “Our father sang the blessings doing this, there will be trouble.” Another know how to celebrate,” he says. “I’m their grandparents stashed their dreidel while our mother made the latkes, and school organizer was imprisoned. “But the only one of my family who lived long collection, and took over the coffee table they were absolutely delicious.” we still went. In Russia, Hanukkah was enough to have nachas from grandchildren, in the living room for a game that lasted Third Candle: Back in the 1980s – powerful for people needing Judaism, but so I’m not going to miss this opportunity hours. While Henning has traveled far over when Miriam Kitrossky was still known not yet able to keep Shabbat or kashrut,” to celebrate with them.” says Kitrossky, who at 60 now lives with Sixth Candle: Growing up in Ethiopia, her husband in the Jerusalem suburb of Bracha Emees recalls a special kind of Ma’ale Adumim, and is the mother of sufganiyot as the treat for Hanukkah. But seven and a grandmother many times unlike in other locales, the traditional over. “Here in Israel, our grandchildren holiday doughnuts contained no filling, celebrate Hanukkah in school, but in a she insists through her daughter, who way, it was more special in Moscow. In translates. Instead, the miracle of this Moscow, you had to really want it, and it Hanukkah was in the dough – so yeasty was something great.” that it exploded in the bowl to heights that Fourth Candle: For Esther Hasser, amazed the children. Then she’d watch Hanukkah will always be remembered fascinated as, while the candles burned in as a mountain of dirt alight with dozens the menorah, her mother boiled the suf- of candles. Each of the children in the ganiyot in a huge pot. Now that Emees, 60, neighborhood would bring a candle, and and her six children are in Israel, arriving her parents would stick them in the ground among the influx of Ethiopian Jews during like a giant menorah. “We’d each get to the 1980s and early ‘90s, Hanukkah is a light one, and we’d sing songs and dance more lively, communal holiday, enjoyed around them,” says Hasser who was born in keenly by her seven grandchildren. “It is Temple Israel of the Poconos 1949, the first of 12 siblings to be a native good to be here because there are Jews Israeli, when the country was a mere year here,” she says with a smile. “In Ethiopia, old. Her parents and three older siblings there were almost none.” were part of the tidal wave of immigration Seventh Candle: Shlomo Berlinger can Annual from Yemen and other Arab lands in the still recall every detail of the Hanukkah 1950s, and were given a plot of land in ceremony in Sweden. It was the only Pardes Hanna and told to build a home childhood home he remembers since his on it. The home her father built, stone by family escaped Germany in 1931 when Chanukah Celebration he was just 3 years old. “Hanukkah was stone, consisting of a kitchen and a second room, housed the family of 14 for years. a magical time [that] my two sisters and I Sunday, December 9 at 5pm “This was a small village then with more looked forward to for weeks,” he recalls. clementine orchards [pardes] than houses,” On the first night, his rabbi father would she recalls. Now each Hanukkah, Hasser collect the family and ceremoniously light gathers her six children, 15 grandchildren the candles and intone the blessings. “Then and her little great-granddaughter for a my father would open the door to the next boisterous celebration. “My son sings the See Moments” on page 13

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711 Wallace Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 • 570-421-8781 www.jewishnepa.org/donate NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 7 What’s new for kids to read at Hanukkah? BY PENNY SCHWARTZ one spectacular double-page spread, (JTA) – Ella, Henny, Sarah, Char- kids get a cutaway view of the family lotte and Gertie. The names of the five apartment: In the bedroom, Gertie is fictional sisters bring a smile to gener- hiding under the bed after a tantrum ations of Jewish Americans who grew while Mama and her sisters are in the up reading “All-of-a-Kind Family,” the adjacent kitchen joyfully preparing classic mid-century chapter book series potato latkes. The back pages include by Sydney Taylor that followed the notes from Jenkins and Zelinsky that day-to-day doings and adventures of fill in details about Taylor and the a Jewish-American immigrant family creation of this new book. on New York’s Lower East Side. “Dreidel Day” by Amalia The trailblazing series marked Hoffman (Kar-Ben; ages 1-4) the first time that a children’s book “All-of-a-Kind Family Young kids will spin, bounce and about a Jewish-American family Hanukkah” (Photo courtesy “Light the Menorah! A tumble their way through Hanukkah found an audience in both Jewish and of Schwartz and Wade Books) Hanukkah Handbook” “Hannah’s Hanukkah along with a lively kitty in this delightful non-Jewish American homes. Now the (Photo courtesy of Kar-Ben) Hiccups” (Photo courtesy board book that glows like the colors of beloved family comes to life in “All- of Apples and Honey Press) a box of holiday candles. Little ones can of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah,” the first count out loud with each double-page fully illustrated picture book based on spread that features one word and one the series, by Emily Jenkins and Paul number and discover the corresponding O. Zelinsky. The dynamic writer-illus- number of colorful dreidels. trator team will charm young readers “My Family Celebrates with this delightful story that reflects Hanukkah” by Lisa Bullard; the warmth and spirited character of illustrated by Constanza Basaluzzo the original and creates a new chapter (Lerner Publications; ages 4-8) This easy-to-follow illustrated for this generation. “My Family Celebrates “How It’s Made: It’s among eight new outstanding story is perfect for families and Hanukkah” (Photo Hanukkah Menorah” and engaging children’s books for Ha- classrooms. Kids learn about the Ha- nukkah, the eight-day Festival of Light courtesy of Lerner (Photo courtesy of Apples “Dreidel Day” (Photo nukkah tale and the miracle of how a that begins this year on Sunday evening, Publications) and Honey Press) courtesy of Kar-Ben) small amount of oil lasted eight days. December 2. Families celebrate, light candles, play “All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah” For this illustrated book, set on the eve conversation, the Brooklynite, whose dreidel, and receive chocolate and coins by Emily Jenkins and Paul O. of Hanukkah in 1912, Jenkins focused recognition for excellence includes the as gifts. The book’s end pages explain Zelinsky (Schwartz and Wade on Gertie, the spunky 4-year-old, as the Caldecott Award for “Rapunzel,” said he the holiday and pose reading-based Books; ages 3 to 8) family gets ready to celebrate the holiday. immersed himself in the “All-of-a-Kind” questions helpful for educators. Emily Jenkins, an award-winning Adults familiar with the chapter books will world, down to the details of what the “Light the Menorah! A Hanukkah author, grew up reading the “All-of-a- spot various references to the original – storybook family’s New York apartment Handbook” by Jacqueline Jules; Kind” classics – over and over, she told such as the ginger snaps hidden in the bed, looked like. illustrated by Kristina Swarner (Kar- JTA. “As an only child, I adored books Ella’s favorite hymn and a special library Zelinsky stepped away from his well- Ben; ages 4-10) about big families and their escapades,” book, Jenkins revealed. known finer, more detailed style and em- In this contemporary guide to Ha- she wrote in an email. Jenkins read the Zelinsky said illustrating the Taylor braced bolder, less polished illustrations nukkah, families discover unique ways books to her children, who were just as classic was a chance to reconnect with the that he said matched Gertie’s passion to celebrate Hanukkah that give deeper smitten. books his daughters adored. In a phone and reflect the soul of the stories. In See “Kids” on page 15

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 8 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 D’VAR TORAH Joseph’s plan BY RABBI PEG KERSHENBAUM, CONGREGA- Joseph’s garment and then uses it to deceive. Potiphar was TION B’NAI HARIM, POCONO PINES left with no choice but to throw Joseph in another pit – this Vayeshev, Genesis 37:1-40:23 time the dungeon that held Pharaoh’s prisoners. What was Let me start with a story. If you’ve heard it before, well, Joseph’s plan? As far as we know, he didn’t have one. But, you’ll hear it again! Maybe soon we’ll all realize its value. like the donkey, he still took this in stride on his way to the top. One day, a farmer’s donkey fell into an abandoned well. The dungeon master in turn took a shine to Joseph and The animal brayed piteously for hours as the farmer tried put him in charge of the other prisoners. Among them to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal he interpreted dreams, asking only to be remembered to was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; Pharaoh when the chief butler’s dream came true. But, so it just wasn’t worth it to try to retrieve the donkey. the Torah goes out of its way to tell us, the butler forgot He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him for a good long while. However, God didn’t forget him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel Joseph. Although Joseph is the only one of the major dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the characters in Genesis with whom God does not speak donkey at first heed-and-hawed horribly. Then, a few directly, the divine presence is strongly felt in the many shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely. repetitions of God’s name during the incidents in Joseph’s The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded life in Egypt and in Joseph’s attitude. He may not have a by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, plan, but he has a clear awareness of the presence of God the donkey shook off and took a step up on the new layer of in his times of adversity. Every step up that he takes, he dirt. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on acknowledges this supportive presence. He doesn’t need top of the animal, he’d shake it off and take a step up. Pretty his own plan. God seems to be taking care of all that. soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and There are times in our lives when the world seems trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbors. to dump dirt on us and our itineraries. Someone takes a Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. backhoe to our backups and a rake to our contingency The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury plans. Depending on what these were, we can laugh it you, but to shake it off and take a step up. off or rush for the nearest chocolate bar. After all, isn’t A few weeks ago, we left poor Joseph in the bottom “stressed” “desserts” spelled backwards? of a well. He wasn’t as lucky as the donkey. His brothers How do you handle your disappointments? Does didn’t shovel dirt on him; they sold him into slavery. The stress and frustration lock you down or fire you up? No donkey of our story developed a plan as the dirt hit him. one likes to wake up to a phone call that changes a lazy What was Joseph’s plan? As far as we know, he didn’t day into one demanding immediate action, complicated have one. But, like the donkey, he seemed able to deal logistics and hospitals. No one likes to be so busy running with adversity after adversity and still take a step up. around that promises get broken and appointments go Remember, he was at first the most trusted servant of unkept. Oy! The mess that is left by a sudden illness or Potiphar, put in charge of his entire household except for an accident or a power outage or outrageous weather! Mrs. Potiphar. This didn’t suit Mrs. P at all! She longed But, if the call comes or the power goes out or the to seduce the good-looking slave and tried all her wiles creek rises or the twister carries us off to Oz, I pray that without success. Joseph was shocked at her suggestions we feel God’s presence as strongly as Joseph did. and told her he’d consider such a betrayal of his master Sometimes we plan and things go so smoothly! How as a sin against God. This, by the way, is the first time we marvelous, really! We may not even notice how amazing it President: Dr. Meredith Stempel get a glimpse of the positive side of Joseph’s character. is for everything to line up just as we wanted, because we’re Bear this in mind for a bit; we’ll return to it. busy enjoying the results we planned for and banked on. But Just as the brothers did before her, Mrs. Potiphar rips off let the world or chance or the weather throw a monkey wrench into the works and watch what happens! Can we shake it off and step out of the hole into which we were thrust? In our continuing efforts Many of us have traveled, some quite widely. I marvel at to update our the planning that goes into your trips. Not only do you deal with finding flights and hotels, you book tours half-way or Jewish Film Lending Library, more around the world. You pack all the things you’ll need for President: Dan Marcus The Jewish Federation comfort and for health. You study people, places and things to do and off you go, cool as cucumbers. And back you come will be selling the following with stories and pictures and wonderful mementos! I hope DVDs for $6 each or 3/$15! that you take the opportunity at each step of your planned journeys to thank God for speeding you on your way. And, Body and Soul: The State of the if something goes awry, I hope you feel the confidence that Jewish Nation comes from a sense that there is divine support for you even if there doesn’t seem to be the same support for your plans! Denial Sometimes that support doesn’t seem to be divine so Dough much as human. Friends and strangers, even government agencies seem just to pop up at the right time. I think that Follow Me: even these less-than-divine helpers are part of something The Yoni Netanyahu Story bigger than just the same randomness that wrecked our plans in the first place. Something inspires people to go Hava Nagila (the Movie) that extra mile to help someone in distress. Why should they? Why should your stress or need cause them to set Nicky’s Family aside their plans and their comfort? Remember We belong to something bigger than ourselves. Our plans are set forth on a super highway of plans rushing The Impossible Spy this way and that. If we could see all those plans zipping along at high speed, we’d probably never make any again! The Zookeeper’s Wife There are no merge lanes, no yield signs, nothing! We For information, please contact Dassy jump in and go. Until we don’t. at 570-961-2300 x2 or What was Joseph’s plan? As far as we know, he didn’t [email protected] have one. But, like the donkey, he seemed able to deal with adversity after adversity and still take a step up. Part of why that worked was, I believe, because he acknowledged the Divine presence working for him President: Merle Turitz through times of adversity and times of success. The Contact number: 570-421-8781 next time you’re feeling dumped on, try to shake off the dirt and take a step up. But also, try to feel the presence of God around you as you climb.

9:30 Mon. pm NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 9 The Hanukkah connection: Sharing the light with far-away family BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM Whatever form it takes, college students receiving sounds of parents telling them to ‘Be careful! Watch the (JNS) – For generations, lighting the Hanukkah can- Hanukkah love from home is never more appreciated than flame! Don’t let the wax drip!’” says Miller. “But being dles together has been the stuff lifelong memories are in these days of anti-Israel – and often, outright antise- away from home also means that they’ve started to pave made of. But today’s far-flung families are increasingly mitic – influences on many North American campuses. their own path; it’s a chance to share traditions from challenged to share the sight of the candles aglow, the “Even celebrating a happy Jewish holiday like Ha- home and begin new traditions all their own.” sound of the blessings and traditional songs sung by old nukkah can get tricky on campuses today,” says Tammi And when they pose for a group candle-lighting photo and young alike, the feel of a perfect dreidel spin, and Rossman-Benjamin of AMCHA Initiative, a watchdog to post on Facebook or Instagram, “there’s a glimpse of the smell and taste of latkes fresh from the pan. organization monitoring North American campuses. peoplehood – of feeling connected to the Jewish com- Long-distance offspring may be away at college, on a “And yet, the Hanukkah story – about the few against munity and loving the chance to share that pride with gap-year program, studying in a seminary or yeshivah, the many – has so much to say about the threats that the digital world.” a lone soldier serving in the Israel Defense Forces, or Jewish students face today. We know what happened Whereas young adults are celebrating beloved tradi- working and living in another town, with or without kids thousands of years ago on this small piece of land, which tions from childhood, young children are busy forming of their own. Leaving today’s parents (and grandparents, the anti-Israel forces are telling us we have no historical their memories, and grandparents want to be part of that too) called upon to apply ingenuity, creativity, flexibility right to. It reminds students that, even more basic than happy process. Even when she can’t be with them on and some basic technical know-how to successfully span the latkes and sufganiyot, is that this awesome story and the holiday, Ann Wanetik, who lives in the Detroit area, the miles with Hanukkah spirit. this ancient land truly belong to them.” takes advantage of her visits to her eight grandchildren, In fact, says “The Red Tent” author Anita Diamant, Lone soldiers are reliving that story daily as they pro- all of whom happen to live in one small country in the who’s also generated a library of guidebooks on modern tect the land and its citizens. But it’s not always easy on Middle East. “Whenever I’m in Israel in the fall, I take Jewish life, including “How to Raise a Jewish Child: their parents multiple zones away. “Hanukkah is when I each one out separately and let them choose what they A Practical Handbook for Family Life,” “my family miss them the absolute most and, when we light, I usually want for Hanukkah,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to enjoys Hanukkah kitsch so much we keep it going over cry,” says Hadassah Sabo Milner, a mom of three IDF have some time alone with each one, focus on what that the miles.” lone soldiers (one of whom just completed his service) child enjoys most and buy them something special they When her daughter was a college student, Diamant who lives with her youngest son and husband in New pick out themselves.” would send a box of “Hanukkah stuff as counterweight York. “On Hanukkah, we were always singing ‘Maoz For Boston-area grandmother Ruth Nemzoff, technol- to the Christmas decorations.” The “stuff” – menorah, Tzur’ (‘Rock of Ages’) really badly together. And even ogy shrinks the miles between her and her long-distance gelt, candles (flame-free ones for those in dorms) can though I’m not the kind of mom who needs to talk to grandkids. “You’ve got to get with the program,” she include modest (think: socks) gifts for each of the eight my kids every day – they need to live their lives without says. So Nemzoff, author of “Don’t Roll Your Eyes: nights, she says, including notice that a donation was having to check in all the time – when we light here, it’s Making In-Laws Into Family,” and known as “Mama made in their name to a nonprofit organization that’s the middle of the night in Israel, and I can’t just pick up Ruth” to her 11 grands ages 8 months to 18 years, has meaningful to them. the phone and call.” developed a full program of Hanukkah connections Indeed, many find that Hanukkah invites us to shelve But at least college students and IDF soldiers have with those on the West Coast and in Washington, DC. our refined sensibilities for eight days. There’s no such built-in communities to celebrate Hanukkah with. For “No matter what, when you live at a distance you thing as bad taste when it comes to Hanukkah – the young adults working and living far from their families, have to be resourceful in creating Hanukkah with tackier, the better, according to some. it can be a lonely existence. That’s why Rabbi Rachael your grandchildren, but with interfaith ones, it’s even And here is where technology can be a parent’s best Klein Miller makes it a point to host events designed more important,” says Nemzoff, who serves as a board friend. Diamant recommends sending long-distance just for young adults at Temple Emanu-El, a Reform member at InterfaithFamily. kids a “light-hearted, light-themed” text or e-mail on congregation in Atlanta. “I’m not big on materialism, and the goal is not to each night complete with a holiday story and a link to “It might be tough to be away from home because they compete with the gifts under the tree, but I do want to a Hanukkah song, “plus a video of you lighting your haven’t quite mastered the latke recipe, they’re putting share this special tradition with them,” she adds. chanukiah at home.” together a makeshift menorah, or they simply miss the See “Family” on page 13

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 10 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 11 2019 UJA CAMPAIGN Together, we can do extraordinary things! Dear Friends, At the Jewish Federaon of Northeastern Pennsylvania, we believe that no child should go to bed hungry, that every senior has the right to live with dignity, and that all Jews should be able to live - anywhere in the world - without fear of persecuon. That’s why our UJA work focuses on helping people in need here in Northeast Pennsylvania and around the world, rescuing those in danger and keeping Jewish life strong. Together, we feed the body and nourish the soul. 2018-2019 Local/Regional/Israel & Overseas Allocaons Israel Overseas Allocaon ...... $271,354 With economic woes connuing all over, food banks everywhere are struggling to (J.A.F.I. and the A.J.D.C. – for Israel & world Jewish needs)* keep up with the growing demand. In Israel, more than 200,000 families don’t have Jewish Federaon of Northeastern Pennsylvania ...... $242,431 (salaries, benefits, administrave expenses) enough to eat. In Russia and other Eastern European countries, home to the world’s Contribuon to Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (P. A.C.E.) account...... $38,556 poorest Jews, thousands of families and elderly people are forced to choose UJA Campaign expenses...... $6,800 between paying rent and buying food. Uncollecble pledges ...... $20,400 Scranton Jewish Community Center...... $155,000 So we’ve made fighng hunger a priority abroad…and here at home as well. Jewish Family Service ...... $80,000 Scranton Hebrew Day School ...... $64,000 Together, we will help seniors age gracefully and safely. Scranton Ritualarium Associaon (Mikveh) ...... $3,750 Temple Hesed/Temple Israel Religious Schools...... $6,000 Seniors are among the most vulnerable during an economic crisis, so we support Yeshiva Beth Moshe ...... $18,000 Bais Yaakov Scranton ...... $15,000 4-color local programs that help older adults maximize their benefits, receive vital services Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms Religious School ...... $2,000 and parcipate in social and educaonal programs. Chabad of the Abingtons/Jewish Discovery Center...... $12,000 Bnos Yisroel of Scranton...... $8,356 In Israel, where 100,000 Holocaust survivors live below the poverty line, our UJA Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos...... $23,000 dollars fund more than 200 supporve communies for the elderly, offering an array Jewish Heritage Connecon ...... $9,000 TOTAL...... $975,647 of essenal services. *Jewish Agency for Israel (J.A.F.I.) and the American Jewish Joint Distribuon Commiee (A.J.D.C.) And in Russia and Eastern Europe, Federaon’s UJA-funded Hesed Centers (through the American Jewish Joint Distribuon Commiee – the JDC) provide life-saving medical care, home care and winter relief to 168,000 impoverished older Jews. Yet, tragically, the need is so great that over 60,000 others have been turned away due to a lack of funds. We’re determined to change that. Together, we respond in mes of crisis. When natural disasters and humanitarian crises strike, IsraAid and the JDC are o en the first on the ground with aid, comfort and support. Israel can respond so quickly because it works closely with local and overseas partners to raise funds and coordinate relief. This year alone, they sent response teams to the south Indian state of Kerala on August 21, 2018 following the deaths of at least 220 people due to floods. IsraAID and the JDC are also providing massive services in the a ermath of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael, and IsraAID in parcular currently operates humanitarian programs in 17 countries and has responded to crises in 47 locaons around the world. Over the past few years, our UJA donaons to Israel and overseas needs have also assisted vicms of tornadoes and hurricanes around the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania world and the massive earthquakes in Mexico, Hai, Japan, Nepal and Ecuador. And we’ll always be there to help in emergencies anywhere in the world whenever Israel, the Jewish people, or any naon on earth is 2019 UJA Campaign threatened by natural disasters. WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD BETTER BY WORKING TOGETHER The mission of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania is to rescue the imperiled, care for the Together, we will build Jewish identy and invest in our future. vulnerable, support Israel and world Jewry, and revitalize and perpetuate Jewish life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In our own communies here in NEPA, our UJA Campaign funds are allocated for our Jewish educaonal, recreaonal, religious and social Name: ______service agencies as well as our Hebrew schools, Chabad, and the Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos - all represenng centers for Address: ______Jewish life and learning in Northeast Pennsylvania. City: ______State:______ZIP:______Plus, more than 425,000 young adults from 54 countries around the world have been to Israel on life-changing Birthright Israel trips – Home phone: ______Work phone: ______Cell phone: ______including many from our own communies here in Northeast PA. And over 20,000 have studied or volunteered in Israel as well. E-mail address: ______And since 2001, more than 250 members of our own Jewish communies in Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counes have parcipated in Federaon-sponsored Israel Missions and returned with a beer understanding of who we are and why our ancient J I’m enclosing a gift of $ ______J I’ll pledge $ ______* homeland is so much a part of our everyday lives….and we expect our forthcoming November 2019 Israel Mission to be no different. * J One-time * J Quarterly installments (1/4 of total) * J Monthly installments (1/12 of total) Payment options 2019 UJA Campaign So can we count on you this year? Please be part of our Federaon’s 2019 Annual UJA J Please bill me at the above address. Jewish Federation of J Enclosed is my check payable to “UJA/Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania” Northeastern Pennsylvania Campaign? J PayPal or credit card (www.jewishnepa.org – “Donate” – “Donate Online”) 601 Jeerson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 Telephone: 570-961-2300 (ext. 3) J Stock sales (www.jewishnepa.org – “Donate” – “Donating with stock”) Sincerely, J On-line banking (payment designated through my bank to “UJA/Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania”) David & Rhonda Fallk My company (______) has a matching gift program. I’ll obtain the form and forward it to the Federation 2019 UJA Campaign Co-Chairs Authorized signatureDate P.S. We believe that helping people in need and nurturing the Jewish community is both our privilege and our historic responsibility. Please join us today and take DAVID AND RHONDA FALLK, CO-CHAIRS OF OUR 2019 UJA CAMPAIGN a stand for what you believe and together, we can connue to do extraordinary things! 12 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 What will be your Jewish Legacy?

A ProgramProgram of the

For more information about leaving your legacy, legacy gifts or bequests contact: Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania TEL: 570.961.2300 (ext. 1) E-Mail: [email protected] With the true spirit of kehilla and our commitment to tikkun olam, the Jewish Federation’s CREATE A JEWISH LEGACY Initiative is a community-wide partnership established between the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania and its many UJA-funded educational, social service, cultural and recreational agencies and institutions including the State of Israel and the needs of world Jewry – all with a shared vision of ensuring a strong and sustainable Jewish future. TODAY. TOMORROW. TOGETHER These include funding programs and projects in Israel and serving the needs of imperiled Jewish communities around the world – all of which are funded by the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). Our UJA gifts also provide critical fund- ing for local and regional Jewish needs and services provided by our educational, religious, recreational and cultural agencies and institu- tions including the Scranton Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Scranton Hebrew Day School, the Scranton Mikvah, Temple Hesed Religious School, Yeshiva Beth Moshe, Bais Yaakov of Scranton, the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms Religious School, Chabad of the Abingtons/Jewish Discovery Center, Bnos Yisroel of Scranton, the Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos, Temple Israel of the Poconos Hebrew School, the Jewish Heritage Connection and, of course, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania ……….. and this does not include capital grants, grants for creative and innovative programs designed to attract- ed unaffiliated Jewish families in our area and emergency grants awarded annually to many of the above institutions (in addition to Temple Israel of Scranton and Congregation Beth Israel in Honesdale) which are funded from the income of our Unrestricted Endowment Funds. NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 13 NEWS IN BRIEF FROM THE U.S. From JTA Cornell students report three swastika incidents in nine days Israeli environmental group offers U.S. Forest Service help to Three swastikas have been reported in the student residential area of Cornell University recover from California fires in nine days. The most recent incident was a large swastika stamped out in the snow next The Israeli environmental organization Keren Kayemet L’Israel-Jewish National to a dormitory on the night of Nov. 19, the independent student newspaper The Cornell Fund offered its assistance in helping California recover from its recent devastating Sun reported. The university told the student newspaper that it was investigating. forest fires. “We have been following the situation with the horrific wildfires in -Cal ifornia, including the unprecedented destruction of communities and the devastation to surrounding forests,” Daniel Atar, world chairman of KKL-JNF, said in a letter Moments Continued from page 6 sent on Nov. 20 to Vicki Christiansen, chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s room where there were three small tables, My parents said it was just a price we had Forest Service. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those each holding a gift for one of us – toys and to pay to be Jews,” she recalls. Now 64 and who have perished. We want to express our solidarity, encouragement and support other things that would make us happy – a longtime resident of Kibbutz Hama’apil and offer our assistance if there’s anything we can do to help.” The two organizations with one standout: an elaborate carved with her husband (five of the 15 siblings have worked together for some 30 years, including offering assistance and knowl- chess set with a clock set in it.” They were live in Israel), Hanukkah is something that edge-sharing in the field of forestation whenever necessary, according to JNF. Most also given “treats we had at no other time,” her three children and grandchildren have recently, the U.S. Forest Service aided KKL-JNF in cases of forest fires in Northern says Berlinger, who now lives with his wife, as a birthright. “They grew up with no Israel during 2006 and 2010. “We pray for your success in extinguishing these fires Rut, in a senior home in Jerusalem not far doubt that this tradition belongs to them,” quickly and without further casualties,” Atar concluded. At least 79 people have been from their daughter and four grandchildren. says Golan. “It’s a wonderful thing.” killed and nearly 1,000 remain missing in the wake of a fire in Northern California “It was a very great moment.” Ninth Candle: Margery B. Sterns can and two in Southern California near Los Angeles. Thousands of homes and build- Eighth Candle: Growing up in a small recall perfectly the look on her mother’s ings also have been destroyed, including an entire town, and the homes of several town in Michigan, Leah Golan knew next face when she blessed the Hanukkah can- Hollywood stars, as well as destroying or damaging Jewish camps, a day school and to nothing about Hanukkah, or for that dles. “She covered her face and became other Jewish institutions. Heavy rain was expected the week of Nov. 23 in Northern matter, Judaism, until she was 14. Soon very quiet in that same old-fashioned way California, which could tamp down fears of more fires there, but could also bring after the Six-Day War, their father called as when she lit the Shabbos candles,” says flash flooding and mudslides. her, and her 14 brothers and sisters, togeth- Sterns, who, at 96, is a longtime resident er to announce that the family would be of San Francisco. But as the fifth of six Catholics no longer, but Jews. “They gave children of Russian immigrants to Grand the five oldest kids the choice of whether Forks, SD, the family was one of only six Family Continued from page 9 or not to become Jewish, but the rest of us families in the town’s tiny synagogue. The Internet makes much of this pos- bubbe Belle Libber with a sigh. Be it to the were automatically included in the family Sterns says she also clearly recalls her sible, she maintains. She uses it to send grandkids in Milwaukee, Atlanta or Israel conversion,” recalls Golan. And suddenly, father praying his own prayers over the her younger grandkids “Shalom Sesame” (one daughter and family live nearby), Lib- since there were few Jews in their town, candles. “Sometimes, he was so moved by DVDs and the older ones Hanukkah songs, ber and her husband Jonathan have racked they were now outsiders. “Gone was the his davening, he would cry,” she recalls. “I including Maccabeats Hanukkah tunes. up the frequent-flyer miles. “There’s nothing tree; my parents put up a wreath in the believed that my father knew everything She’ll send small gifts and, in this Skype- like being right there with them,” she says. shape of a Magen David, my dad picked up about Hanukkah and everything about life. able world, arrange to light the candles, When that isn’t possible, love itself a menorah at the closest Judaica shop, and Ours was a beautiful Jewish home, just a open gifts and even make latkes “together” can travel at the speed of light – namely, pretty soon, our relatives stopped visiting. beautiful way to grow up.” (doable with her West Coast family three the light of the Hanukkah menorah, says hours away on Pacific Standard Time). Rabbi Yisroel Gordon, principal of Ma- “Sometimes, I also e-mail them a picture of chon Los Angeles, a high school for girls. the gift they’ll get the next time we visit.” “One reason Hanukkah makes a lot of With interfaith families, it’s important people really homesick is the power of the to be both sensitive and honest, says menorah light itself, the only remnant we Nemzoff. “You need to talk to the parents still have of the priests’ service in the holy first so they won’t feel you are converting temple,” he says. “Hanukkah reminds us the kids or competing, but [it’s important of the importance of family since it was to] share your family’s traditions, your one courageous Jewish family, Matisyahu early memories of Hanukkah and your and his five sons, who created this miracle heritage since it also belongs to them.” and saved the Jewish people. Sometimes, even with the best of dis- “If I were a mystic,” he adds, “I’d say tance-spanners, it’s hard to beat the appeal that, gazing at the lights, you can feel that of a sloppy sufganiyot-flavored kiss. “We wherever they are, your child is gazing at usually just get on a plane,” says Baltimore the same lights along with you.”

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 14 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018 In Holland, one of the world’s most expensive Hanukkah menorahs hides in plain sight BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ unexpected bidding war that made international news. AMSTERDAM (JTA) – Nothing about the appear- It was initially expected to fetch no more than $15,000. ance of object MB02280 at this city’s Jewish Historical Another reason for the more vigorous bidding: The Museum suggests it is the capital’s priciest Hanukkah menorah came from the collection of the Maduros, a menorah, worth more than the average local price of a well-known Portuguese Jewish family that produced duplex home. Shaped like the body of a violin, it is only one of Holland’s most celebrated war heroes. The Nazis 16 inches tall. Its base cradles eight detachable oil cups murdered George Maduro at the Dachau concentration intended to function as candles on Hanukkah, when camp after they caught him smuggling downed British Jews light candles to commemorate a 167 B.C.E. revolt pilots back home. In 1952, his parents built in his mem- against the Greeks. They are set against the menorah’s ory one of Holland’s must-see tourist attractions: the smooth, reflective surface, whose edges boast elaborate Madurodam, a miniature city. rococo reliefs. “I imagine the connection to the Maduro family drove But for all its charms, the Nieuwenhuys menorah – its up the price,” said Nathan Bouscher, the director of the creator was the non-Jewish silversmith Harmanus Nieu- Corinphila Auctions house south of Amsterdam, which wenhuys – doesn’t stand out from the other menorahs has handled items connected with famous Dutch Jews. on display next to it at the museum. Far from the oldest Besides the menorah on display at the Jewish Historical one there, the menorah certainly doesn’t look like it’s Museum, the Netherlands has another very expensive one worth its estimated price of $450,000. in the Rintel Menorah: A 4-footer that the Jewish Historical The Nieuwenhuys menorah can hide in plain sight Museum bought last year for a whopping $563,000. Far because its worth owes “more to its story than to its more ostentatious than the modest-looking Nieuwenhuys physical characteristics,” said Irene Faber, the museum’s menorah, the Rintel, from 1753, is made of pure silver collections curator. Made in 1751 for an unidentified and weighs several kilograms. It is currently on loan to Despite its humble appearance, the Amsterdam Jewish Jewish patron, the Nieuwenhuys menorah’s story en- the Kroller-Muller Museum 50 miles east of Amsterdam. Historical Museum’s Nieuwenhuys menorah costs more capsulates the checkered history of Dutch Jewry. And it The Jewish Historical Museum has no intention of than many of the city’s houses. (Photo courtesy of the is tied to the country’s royal family, as well as a Jewish selling the Nieuwenhuys, Faber said, although it could the Amsterdam Jewish Historical Museum) war hero who gave his life for his country and his name attract even more spectacular bids owing to its prove- to one of its most cherished tourist attractions. nance: It was bought by the late queen of the Nether- Wilhelmina’s gifting of a menorah to her mother “isn’t The price tag of the Nieuwenhuys menorah, which does lands, Wilhelmina, as a gift for her mother and given to strange for her,” Faber said. “I imagine she found it fun, not have an official name, is roughly known because a very the museum by her grandson, King Willem-Alexander. something to talk about with her mother, to see together similar menorah made by the same silversmith fetched an “We don’t know who commissioned the work, but from how it works.” After all, “Jews have always been under unprecedented $441,000 at a 2016 auction. A collector the reputation of the artist and the amount of labor it took, the protection of the Royal House.” who remained anonymous clinched it at the end of an it was probably a wealthy Jewish family, perhaps of Sep- Except, that is, during the years 1940-45, when Queen hardic descent,” Faber told JTA at the museum recently. Wilhelmina and the Royal House fled to the United At the center of the object is a round network of Kingdom. Wilhelmina mentioned the suffering of her arabesque-like decorations “that probably contains the Jewish subjects only three times in her radio speeches owner’s initials in a monogram,” Faber said, “but we to the Dutch people during five years of exile. haven’t been able to decipher it. It’s a riddle.” Whereas before the war “Jews always sought the The monogram was one of several techniques that Royal House,” during and after “it appeared Wilhelmina Nieuwenhuys and other Christian silversmiths in the didn’t think too much about the Jews,” Faber said. This Netherlands had developed for their rich Jewish clients. was “a stain” on relations between Dutch Jews and the Before the 19th century, no Jews were allowed to smith Royal House, which underwent a “rupture.” silver in the Netherlands because they were excluded But this was gradually healed in the postwar years. from the Dutch silversmiths guilds, which were abol- The fact that King Willem-Alexander, Wilhelmina’s ished in the 1800s. “This exclusion was beneficial [to the great-grandson, in 2012 gave the Nieuwenhuys menorah guild] because it kept out competition, but it meant that on an open-ended loan to the Jewish museum on its 90th Christian smiths needed to become experts at making anniversary “symbolizes the healing of the rupture,” The Rintel Menorah, which was sold for $563,000, is Jewish religious artifacts like this menorah,” Faber said. Faber said. Holland’s priciest object of its kind. (Photo courtesy Works like the menorah on display at the museum illus- of the Amsterdam Jewish Historical Museum) trate how some Jewish customers clearly were art lovers with sophisticated tastes. Whereas the Maduro menorah was symmetrical with Baroque highlights, the Nieuwenhuys is asymmetrical with rococo characteristics that were “pretty avant-garde for its time,” Faber said. The smooth surfaces are “another bold choice, showing finesse,” she added. Happy Whoever owned the menorah no longer possessed it by 1907, when Queen Wilhelmina bought it for an unknown price at an auction to give it as a gift to her mother, Princess Emma. This purchase may appear inconsequential to a contemporary observer, but its significance becomes evident when examined against the backdrop of institutionalized antisemitism among other European royal houses and governments. In countless wartime broadcasts, Queen Wilhelmina The German Emperor Wilhelm II, a contemporary of the Netherlands mentioned Jews only three times. Hal & Naomi (Photo courtesy of the National Archive of the Finkelstein of Wilhelmina, was considered a passionate antisemite Chanukah who once said in 1925 that “Jews and mosquitoes are a Netherlands) nuisance that humankind must get rid of some way or another,” adding “I believe the best way is gas.” Belgium’s King Leopold III was more politically May your correct, stating magnanimously in 1942 that he has “no Israelis Continued from page 2 Chanukah personal animosity” toward Jews, but declaring them that because of life in the Middle East, our very nature is nonetheless “a danger” to his country. He raised no always fighting for existence and holding a sword in one be filled with objections when the Germans and their collaborators hand, and that finds its way into all avenues of our lives.” the miracles began deporting Belgian Jews to their deaths. Part of the issue may be that Israel is a hastily mixed of the holiday But in the Netherlands, where thousands of Jews polyglot culture with Jewish immigrants from Europe, found haven after fleeing the Spanish and Portuguese the Americas, North Africa, Arab lands, Ethiopia, India Bonnie Rozen, Inquisition of the 16th century, royals not only refrained and the former Soviet Union. Each group holds to its own Advertising Representative from such statements, but were genuinely “interested expectations and standards, said Tami Lancut Leibovitz, in other faiths, including the Jewish one,” Faber said. a local etiquette instructor. “People here are under stress 24 hours a day – this is the first thing. The feeling is that Israelis are rude not because they are bad or want to do it on purpose, but we in Israel we don’t know what manners and etiquette Wishing the are,” she told JTA, adding that there is a definite lack of education in this field in the school system. Training, she community a says, starts early and there is not enough of it. Contrary to popular belief, Leibovitz said, the way Happy Chanukah! that Israelis behave actually bothers many of them. “No one can feel good when someone comes into his private Rabbi space,” she said. “We are human beings. We can’t stand it, but many don’t know how to put a finger [on the Rachel Esserman problem] and say what it is.” NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 15 Lanzmann Continued from page 5 Germans – to forestall deportation to the camps, Jews he owned – by workers he had employed the war. Her husband worked with Rudolf would engage in hard slave labor. It was a Faustian for years. Ruth eventually was deported Kasztner, who had negotiated a deal with bargain: Some 45,000 Jews died of starvation or other to Theresienstadt, where she witnessed Adolf Eichmann that rescued nearly 1,700 causes in the ghetto. drunken SS soldiers invade the women’s Jews for a fee of $1,000 each. When the Nazis said they were going to send every block and rape whomever they wanted. “The Merry Flea” tells the story of Ada child younger than 9 to a special camp, Paula describes When it was discovered she was pregnant, Lichtman, one of only three women selected how one mother pulled her daughter back. An SS officer Josef Mengele – the Nazi physician who to work at Sobibor from among an estimated grabbed the mother by the neck, turned her around and performed horrific experiments on prison- 250,000 Jews gassed there. Their job was shot her in front of her daughter. But because of the ers and became known as the “Angel of to clean and refurbish the dolls stolen from deal, Paula attended a special high school and later was Death” – took over her care. After she de- Jewish children before they were sent to recruited to become a police officer. Upon realizing that livered her child, Mengele had her breasts Germany. Dolls became constant reminders she had unwittingly become complicit in sending black strapped so she could not nurse the baby. of what she went through. market merchants she had arrested to their deaths, Biren He wanted to learn how long a newborn Hanna Marton in “Noah’ In an essay from 1981, Lanzmann wrote, quit. But her guilt lingered. could survive without food. A Jewish camp Ark,” one of the four “Like the indestructible phoenix, antisem- Over the years, the guilt has transformed to anger. “I doctor gave her medication that allowed films that make up Claude itism is arising virtually everywhere from felt then I had no choice,” she says. The world “should her to kill her own child so she wouldn’t Lanzmann’s “Four its own ashes.” He probably could have feel guilty for what was done to me.” have to watch it suffer. Sisters.” (Photo by Cohen written the same essay today. Ruth Elias, given the spotlight in “The Hippocratic In “Noah’s Ark,” Hanna Marton, like Media Group) In an ironic twist, “Four Sisters” was Oath,” was 19 when the Nazis invaded the small town Paula, is guilt-ridden because she realizes released in Europe on July 4 and Lanzmann where her family lived for generations. Soon after- that her survival was purchased at the expense of the died the next day. It was as if he recognized his job was ward, her father was barred from the sausage factory 450,000 Hungarian Jews murdered in the late stages of done, or that he had done all he could. The job continues.

Kids Continued from page 7 meaning to the ritual of lighting the menorah, as well as drinking pickle juice backwards; a Mexican red string bakes 2,000 doughnuts for each day of Hanukkah. Gifts, easy to understand explanations of the holiday. Jules, an cure and cardamom cookies. Kids will relate to Hannah, songs and blessings in Hebrew, English and transliterated award-winning author, offers a short verse for each of the who doesn’t want to be in the school program with the from Hebrew are also included along with instructions eight nights that can be read after lighting the menorah. hiccups and finds a creative solution. for making candles, olive oil and latkes. They reflect the holiday’s themes of religious freedom, Silva’s heartwarming story – and the play on words “The Story of Hanukkah” by David A. Adler, courage and miracles. that begin with the letter ‘h” – is perfectly paired with illustrated by Jill Weber (Holiday House; Board Swarner’s illustrations and border designs add warmth McMahon’s cartoon-like illustrations in this lively, laugh- book, ages 2-4) and glow. Songs, rules for playing dreidel and instructions out-loud yarn that shines with the light of a family’s In this vibrantly illustrated board book, the award-win- for simple crafts such as a homemade coupon gift book Hanukkah celebration. ning David Adler retells the story of Hanukkah in simple, make this book a welcome resource. “How It’s Made: Hanukkah Menorah” by straightforward prose for young readers, paired with “Hannah’s Hanukkah Hiccups” by Shanna Allison Ofanansky; Photographs by Eliyahu richly colored bold illustrations by Weber, the team that Silva; illustrated by Bob McMahon (Apples and Alpern (Apples and Honey Press; ages 7-12) wrote the original (2011) version for older kids. The end Honey Press; ages 4-8) Family members of all ages will gather round this depicts a modern family celebrating Hanukkah. Uh, oh. Or make that Uh-hic-oh! Hannah Hope Hart- engaging book, which shines a light on all things meno- “Light the Menorah: A Playful Action Rhyme” man, a spunky young girl who lives in a brownstone on rah. The 32 pages of Ofanansky’s text, brought to life by by Tova Gitty Broide; illustrated by Patti Argoff Hester Street, is practicing for her religious school’s Alpern’s vibrant photographs, explain the holiday and (Hachai Publishing; ages 1-4) Hanukkah program when she suddenly gets a case of explore the many types of menorahs – from antiques to This lively rhyming book features two young broth- the hiccups – and they just won’t go away! Her brother creative whimsical versions. Kids go behind the scenes ers and a sister from a haredi Orthodox family joyfully Henry tries to cure her by making funny faces. The with menorah-making artists. celebrating Hanukkah, with latkes hopping in the frying building’s diverse neighbors offer their own customs: A fun fact reveals that one Israeli bakery fries and pan and the sister spinning like a dreidel.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 16 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018

For information about Legacy Giving, please contact Mark Silverberg at the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania at [email protected] or call 570-961-2300 (ext. 1). NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 17 Tale Continued from page 4 idea of how Jewish the comic book industry was sign the first Superman contract, but as we show throughout those early decades and why that might in the book, there was no precedent. Comics were have been? not big business and most work was work-for-hire, Voloj: It’s a history with many parallels to the transferring rights to publishers. beginning of the American film industry. Jews were And then Superman changed everything. No discriminated against on the job market. If you were one expected this success – neither the creators a writer or illustrator, not many jobs were available nor the publishers – and for sure no one expected if you could be identified as Jewish. Some Jews the success to last. changed their name and hid their identity in order Like Superman becoming the blueprint for the to seek employment. Jewish artists such as Jakob genre, Siegel and Shuster’s contract became the Kurtzberg or Stanley Lieber became Jack Kirby blueprint for other contracts. and Stan Lee [respectively], even if they often Many pioneers experienced similar fates. claimed that their name change had nothing to do Batman co-creator Bill Finger [who was Jew- with them trying to hide their Jewish background. ish], subject of a future graphic novel project I’m When, thanks to Superman, comics became currently working on with the Israeli artist Erez a lucrative industry, job recruitment in this new Zadok, is another tragic story that only recently market happened by word-of-mouth. Friends and had a posthumous happy ending thanks to the family were hired. That’s why, for instance, many efforts of comic historian Marc Tyler Nobleman. comic book pioneers came from even the same And unfortunately, these stories are not neces- high school, such as DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx, sarily stories of the past. Earlier this year, I read where pioneers such as Will Eisner, Stan Lee or about Bill Messner-Loebs, who once worked for Bill Finger, to name but a few, had been students. DC Comics and was even credited in the “Wonder Given that also the publishers were Jewish – I Woman” movie, but now was homeless in Detroit. think Siegel and Shuster didn’t imagine that they The graphic novel tells the story of Joe Shuster and his writing JTA: People have called Superman, who is would, as fellow Jews, screw them over. Here, by partner Jerry Siegel: how they grew up, collaborated and navigated sent away from his home planet just before it is destroyed, as the ultimate immigrant character. Was the way, is an interesting parallel to the garment the complex comic book industry. (Photo by Super Genius) industry, where factory owners exploited workers this definitely part of Siegel’s thought process in even though both came from the same shtetl backgrounds. made for a multimillion-dollar Superman movie. creating him? And can Superman more specifically be JTA: Was it an easy decision to tell the story from It also became apparent how Jewish he was. For in- compared to a Jewish refugee fleeing a burning Europe? Joe’s perspective? Was it solely because he’s just a more stance, he wrote about the tzedakah he gave during the Voloj: Superman’s Jewish identity is a recurrent theme. I likable character than Jerry was? good years and how ashamed he felt that now he needed once read that his origin story is an allegory to the Kinder- Voloj: When starting my research, the plan was to help from the Jewish community to pay his own bills. transport, but this is, of course, a post-Holocaust analysis. write about both of them from a third-person perspective, Jerry had always been the dominant figure of the creative Both their parents escaped poverty and pogroms in but then Joe became the protagonist by chance. In 2014, duo, with Joe being the silent partner following his lead. Eastern Europe, so this could have influenced the story, I learned that Columbia University had just received a Making him the narrator puts, for the first time, the which some see as a kind of modernized Moses tale. donation of letters and documents that were either writ- spotlight on him, a late recognition of his role in creating I’m neutral when it comes to these interpretations. ten or once belonged to Joe Shuster. I contacted Karen the first superhero. Superman’s origin story, which we see developing Green, who oversees Columbia’s comic collection, and JTA: Were there other Jewish comic book artists and throughout the graphic novel, had many roots for sure, even before the documents were cataloged, I got access writers who dealt with similar losses of rights to their as did the plot. The double identity came from Zorro. to these letters, legal papers, bills, etc. creations? Batman co-creator Bill Finger seems to be What made Superman a success was that Siegel and It was fascinating to read about Joe’s problems in his own one? Or were Shuster and Siegel really the worst case? Shuster understood the zeitgeist, took elements from words. Most of the documents were from the late 1960s, during Voloj: I’m not sure if it is really the worst case, but I contemporary pop culture and created something totally a time when [he was under] the threat of eviction, had doctor would rather call it the original sin. new, something that even today, 80 years after its debut, bills piling up, etc. – while at the same time preparations were Many stated that Siegel and Shuster were naive to remains a global success. Jewish Federaon of Greater Pisburgh FUND FOR VICTIMS OF TERROR Our hearts are broken. We join in mourning the vicms of the tragedy in Pisburgh's Jewish community. We also pray for healing for those who were injured and for all those whose pain is beyond measure. We all face tough mes in the days, weeks and months ahead, but we know that the Pisburgh Jewish community will come together to comfort people in need of healing and to stay strong. Those who perished included: Joyce Fienberg (75), Richard Goried (65), Rose Malinger (97), Jerry Rabinowitz (66), Cecil Rosenthal (59), David Rosenthal (54), Bernice Simon (84), Sylvan Simon (86), David Stein (71), Melvin Wax (88) and Irving Younger (69). Those who were wounded included Officer Daniel Mead, Officer Michael Smigda, Officer Anthony Burke, Officer Timothy Matson, Officer John Persin, Officer Tyler Pashel and Congregant Paul Leger. Funds collected for the Fund for Vicms of Terror (which, as of November 18th exceeded $4M from world-wide donaons) are earmarked for the psychological services, support for families, general services, reconstrucon, addional security throughout the community, medical bills, as well as counseling and other services that may prove necessary for vicms and first responders during their recovery. Pisburgh’s religious and day schools will also require addional resources to help their youth process this tragic episode. This Fund will help both the Jewish community members and the first responders affected. hps://jewishpgh.org/our-vicms-of-terror-fund/ If you prefer, you may mail a check payable to the Jewish Federaon of Greater Pisburgh – Fund for Vicms of Terror to: Jewish Federaon of Greater Pisburgh, 234 McKee Place Pisburgh, PA 15213 May the memories of those who died forever be a blessing and may those who lost loved ones find peace in knowing that their pain, suffering and hardship are shared by Americans of all faiths. Thank you for support of the vicms of terror.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 18 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018

November 2018

Feature Films *A Tale of Love and Darkness - Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman directs and stars in the emotional and thought-provoking story about Fania, a young wife and mother in war-torn Jerusalem, during the early years of the State of Israel. Stifled in her relationship and weary from the tedium of her new life, Fania creates fantastical stories for Amos, her 10-year-old son, amazing him with tales of adventure and beauty— stories that would influence the boy to become a writer himself. Based on the international best-selling memoir by Amos Oz. Denial - Based on the acclaimed book Denial: Holocaust History on Trial, Denial recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the defendant, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team, led by Richard Rampton, to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred. *Fanny’s Journey- In 1943, 13-year old Fanny and her younger sisters were sent from their home in France to an Italian foster home for Jewish children. When Nazis came to Italy, their caretakers organized the departure of the children to Switzerland. Based on a true story. Hidden in Silence- During the Nazi occupation of Poland,Catholic teenage Stefania Podgorska chooses the role of a savior and sneaks 13 Jewish into her attic. *Loving Leah: A Hallmark Hall of Fame Classic - A handsome Washington, D.C. doctor and a young New York woman fall in love at an unusual time...after they get married. Leah Lever is married to an Orthodox rabbi, Benjamin Lever, whose brother, Jake, is a successful cardiologist and a non-practicing Jew. Jake is stunned when Benjamin dies suddenly, but not as stunned as when he is told that, under an ancient Jewish Law, he is expected to marry the childless Leah to carry on Benjamin’s name. The only alternative is to go through a ceremony where Jake must deny his brother’s existence. For Jake, that’s unthinkable, so impulsively he suggests to Leah that they get married and maintain a secretly platonic relationship. Eager to pursue her own dreams, Leah gladly accepts. Their oversimplified plan to live separate lives under the same roof proves challenging when Leah’s suspicious mother shows up unexpectedly. The harder they try to disguise their “pretend” marriage, the more their appreciation for each other’s worlds grows - and out of understanding, a real love develops. Loving Leah is a heart-warming story. Munich - Inspired by real events, Munich reveal the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assign to track down and assassinate the 121 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes. ( The Jewish Film Library also owns the movie “Twenty One Hours in Munich” about the massacre at the Olympics). Music Box - In this intense, courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot agrees to defend her Hungarian immigrant father Mike Laszlo against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. *Norman - Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, and strives to be everyone’s friend. His incessant networking leads him nowhere until he ends up befriending a young but charismatic politician, Micha Eshel at a low point in his life. Three years later, the politician becomes the Prime Minister of Israel. Norman uses Eshel’s name to leverage his biggest deal ever: a series of quid pro quo transactions linking the Prime Minister to Norman’s nephew ,a rabbi, a mogul, his assistant and a treasury official from the Ivory Coast. Norman’s plans soon go awry, creating the potential for an international catastrophe he must struggle to prevent. Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer is a comedic and compassionate drama of a man whose downfall is rooted in a human frailty all too easy to forgive—a need to matter. Remember - Remember is the suspense-filled story of Zev, an Auschwitz survivor who discovers that the Nazi guard who murdered his family some seventy years ago is living in America under an assumed name. The Devil’s Arithmetic - Sixteen year old Hanna Stern was a typical American teenager who ignores her family’s heritage until a mystical Passover seder takes her back in time to German-occupied Poland on an emotional journey of life, death and survival. The Impossible Spy - The story of the life and death of Israel’s most celebrated spy, Elie Cohen. *The Last Butterfly - This World War II drama stars Tom Courtenay as the famous French Mime Antoine Moreau. Ordered by the Nazis to provide ‘the greatest show of his life’ for use as propoganda showing the kinder side of the Nazis as the war draws to a close, Moreau decides to risk everything to tell the world the real truth behind this monumental lie, and although as a mime he is pledged to keep his lips sealed, his voice must be heard. *The Women’s Balcony - Discover Israel’s #1 film of the year! An accident during a Bar Mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout community in Jerusalem. *The Wedding Plan - A poignant and funny romantic comedy about love, marriage and faith in life’s infinite possibilities. *The Zookeeper’s Wife - In 1939 Poland, Antonina Zabinska (two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband successfully run the Warsaw Zoo and raise their family in an idyllic existence. Their world is overturned, however, when the country is invaded by the Nazis and they are forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed zoologist (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, the Zabinskis risk everything by covertly working with the Resistance and using the zoo’s hidden tunnels and cages to save families from Nazi brutality. Non-Feature Films Above and Beyond - In 1948, just three years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, a group of Jewish-American pilots answered a call for help. As members of Machal- “volunteers from abroad”- this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war; they also embarked on personal journeys of discovery and renewed Jewish pride. *Body and Soul: The State of the Jewish Nation - A powerful documentary sets the record straight eloquently and comprehensively. It not only shows the undeniable historical connection between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel, but also succeeds in debunking propaganda, myths and misinformation that have become accepted as truth by many people. Follow Me - The story of the fantastic rescue at Entebbe and the loss of Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of the Prime Minister). The Jewish Film Library also owns an Israeli film about the rescue at Entebbe entitled “Operation Thunderbolt” Hava Nagila (the Movie) - Hava Nagila is a documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard. *I’m Still Here - Real Diaries of young people who lived during the Holocaust. Jews and Baseball (narrated by Dustin Hoffman) Israel: The Royal Tour - A delightful tour headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and travel correspondent Peter Greenberg. Nicky’s Family - The amazing story of Sir Nicholas Winton who created, on his own, a Kinder-transport in Czechoslavakia saving 669 children from the Nazi inferno. No Place on Earth - The harrowing story of Esther Stermer and her family and friends who escaped extermination by the Nazis by hiding in an underground cave is unearthed by accident when cave explorer, Chris Nicola stumbles upon remnants left behind by the cave dwellers. *Rosenwald - Rosenwald tells the incredible story of Julius Rosenwald, the son of an immigrant peddler who never finished high school, who rose to become the President of Sears. Influenced by the writings of the educator Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African American communities during the Jim Crow South to build 5,300 schools, providing 660,000 black children with access to education in the segregated American South. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg *The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers and Soldiers and Peacemakers - A two disc-set based on the international best-seller by Ambassador Yehuda Avner (New films denoted with an asterisk *)

NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 19 SCIENCE NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org complete our ambitious mission.” “We are in the final stretch before the launch and Tel Aviv U., Northwestern launch joint nanoscience program preparations are at full power,” said SpaceIL CEO Ido Anteby. “The teams of SpaceIL A new collaborative venture between Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and and IAI [Israel Aerospace Industries] are making great progress in a series of tests and Tel Aviv University brings together researchers and students in the field of nanotech- trials being carried out at IAI’s space facility.” He added, “At the same time, we are nology through joint research and development projects, student-exchange programs stepping up activities to promote scientific and technological education in the State of and research grants. Under the new partnership, two researchers from each university Israel, ahead of launch. We thank Mr. Sylvan Adams for his contribution.” will receive post-doctoral fellowships supporting two years of research at the partner Israelis discover promising new treatment for aggressive brain institution. The fellowships, which cover approximately 75 percent of the total cost of the research, were paid for with funding provided by philanthropist and business- tumors man Roman Abramovich, who just this year made aliyah. The respective hosting (Israel21c via JNS) – A new treatment for aggressive brain tumors (glioblastoma) laboratories will provide for remaining expenses. The new joint Northwestern-TAU shows great promise, according to a report by Israeli scientists that was published venture also includes a student-exchange program, which will allow three graduate recently in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. Glioblastoma is a serious and incur- students from each institution to study at the partner university, as well as attend able brain cancer. Patients receiving this diagnosis typically have 11 to 20 months an annual nanotechnology workshop and international conference on cutting-edge to live. One of the main difficulties in treating this cancer is that its cells quickly breakthroughs in the field. The nanotech collaboration is also slated to offer up to build up a resistance to chemotherapy. A team headed by Professor Rotem Karni and two research grants a year to support pilot projects that bear commercial potential. Ph.D. student Maxim Mogilevsky at Hebrew University’s Institute for Medical Re- TAU’s Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Northwestern’s International search-Israel Canada designed a molecule that inhibits glioblastoma tumor growth by Institute for Nanotechnology will select the winning projects, which will receive regulating the proteins it produces. Karni explained that the MKNK2 gene produces funding to cover the costs involved with completing proof of concept. In 2020, TAU two different protein products through a process called “RNA alternative splicing.” and Northwestern exchange students will all have the opportunity to study at TAU’s These proteins have two opposing functions: MNK2a inhibits cancer growth, whereas new Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology building. The center, made possible MNK2b supports cancer growth. Karni’s new molecule shifts the splicing of MKNK2 through a $30 million gift by Abramovich to Tel Aviv University, is expected to be so that production of the tumor-stimulating protein decreases, while production of the leading facility of its kind in the Middle East. French architect Michel Remon the tumor-suppressing protein increases. As a result, cancerous tumors decrease or is responsible for the design of the new building, which will span more than 75,300 die. “Not only can this breakthrough molecule kill tumor cells on its own, it has the square feet (7,000 square meters) and house core research labs, quantum effects labs, power to help former chemotherapy-resistant cells become chemotherapy-sensitive medical nanosystems labs and smart biotechnology labs, as well as a visitor’s center once again,” said Karni. In the study, lab mice were injected with human glioblas- that will be open to the general public. toma tumor cells and developed tumors. In those mice that were treated with the Canadian billionaire joins initiative to land first Israeli new molecule, tumors shrank or died off completely, as opposed to the control mice treated with an inactive molecule. “Our research presents a novel approach for glio- spacecraft on the moon blastoma treatment. In the future, we’ll be able to tailor treatments for patients based Israeli-Canadian Jewish billionaire and businessman Sylvan Adams has joined on the amount of cancer-inhibiting proteins that their tumors produce,” said Karni. the drive to land first Israeli spacecraft on the moon as he contributed $5 million to A patent for this technology has been registered and granted in the United States and SpaceIL, the company announced on Nov. 19. “This contribution to strengthening the Europe through Yissum, Hebrew University’s technology-transfer company. Also Israeli space program, and encouraging education for excellence and innovation among participating in the “Modulation of MKNK2 alternative splicing by splice-switching the younger generation in Israel, is the best gift I could have asked for,” Adams said oligonucleotides as a novel approach for glioblastoma treatment” research were Adi while celebrating his 60th birthday on Nov. 19. “I believe that sending the first Israeli Mogilevsky of IMRIC; Odelia Shimshon and Eylon Yavin of the Hebrew University spacecraft to the moon will inspire Israeli school children to take up STEM studies and Pharmacy School’s Institute for Drug Research; Saran Kumar and Eli Keshet of think about space exploration, and especially to believe that everything is possible,” he the university’s Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research; and added. SpaceIL president Morris Kahn, who donated $27 million toward the project, Florian Heyd of the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s Laboratory of RNA expressed his appreciation towards Adams. “I want to thank Sylvan Adams for his Biochemistry at Freie Universität Berlin. Funding came from the German-Israel generous contribution to our effort,” he said. “He joins an amazing group of donors Foundation, Israel Innovation Authority, Israel Science Foundation, Israel Cancer with a common vision: to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon. We are in the Research Fund, Israel Cancer Association, Henry and Merilyn Taub Foundation and final stretch, and I believe that his joining will help us raise the remaining money to the Carol Epstein Foundation.

Each year at this time the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania calls upon members of our community to assist in defraying the expense of issuing our regional Jewish newspaper, The Reporter. The newspaper is delivered twice of month (except for December and July which are single issue months) to each and every identifiable Jewish home in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As the primary Jewish newspaper of our region, we have tried to produce a quality publication for you that offers our readership something on everything from opinions and columns on controversial issues 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 & suggestions are always welcome.

With best wishes, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, PA 18510 ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 20 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 29, 2018