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VOLUME XI, NUMBER 7 APRIL 5, 2018 In , 10,000 march to memorialize killed Holocaust survivor BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ were Jews, and some wore Israeli flags who in the past have felt ignored by their PARIS (JTA) – At least 10,000 people at the march for Mireille Knoll, who was government. Authorities believe Knoll participated in a memorial march in Paris found in her apartment on March 23. The was murdered by her Muslim neighbor for an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor march began at the Paris Nation square and in an antisemitic hate crime. who was burned and found dead with 11 culminated at the apartment. The march, One participant, Holocaust survivor stab wounds. which was covered heavily by French Nicole Friedman, told JTA that she came Many of the marchers on March 28 media, was encouraging for French Jews, to the march “because I’m Jewish and because I lived through the war.” Flanked by her daughter, Friedman marched slowly with the aid of a cane. Another marcher, Alain Ndigal, wore an Israeli flag. Ndigal is of African descent and not Jewish. “I came because this bar- barity concerns us all,” the 48-year-old Nicole Friedman at the memorial march mechanic said. in Paris for Mireille Knoll, like her a Meanwhile, the appearance of Marine Holocaust survivor, on March 28. (Photo Le Pen, head of ’s far-right National by Cnaan Liphshiz) Front party, caused a small scuffle to break out. Dozens of her supporters shouted antisemitism. Jean-Luc Melenchon, head “Marine is with us” while others shouted of Insubmissible France, also attended the “N for Nazi,” referencing the first letter march, ignoring Kalifat’s call. of her party’s name in French. Earlier on March 28, French President The head of the CRIF umbrella of Emmanuel Macron attended Knoll’s fu- French Jewish communities, Francis neral in the Paris suburb of Bagneux. He Kalifat, had said that neither leaders wore a kippah and was seen talking with from the National Front nor the Insub- Knoll’s friends and relatives. Front, right (l-r): Alain Ndigal and Ruth Grammens wrapped themselves in Israeli flags at missible France far-left movement were Knoll’s attacker “murdered an innocent the memorial march in Paris for Mireille Knoll on March 28. (Photo by Cnaan Liphshiz) welcome due to their history of perceived and vulnerable woman because she was Jewish, and in doing so profaned our sacred values and our history,” he said at the funeral. Lecture on “Modern Myths of Muslim Macron had also commented about the March 23 slaying on Twitter, calling Antisemitism” at Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute it “appalling.” “I am deeply affected by the appalling crime committed against On Thursday, May 3, at 7:30 Zilkha professor of Jewish Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages,” Mrs. Knoll. I reaffirm my resolute deter- pm, the Weinberg Judaic Stud- civilization in the Near East, “Poverty and Charity in the Jewish Com- mination to fight against antisemitism,” ies Institute of the University of emeritus, and professor of munity of Medieval Egypt” and, most he wrote. Scranton will present a lecture Near Eastern studies, emeri- recently, “Maimonides and the Merchants: Prosecutors on March 26 indicted by Professor Mark Cohen, tus, at Princeton University. A Jewish Law and Society in the Medieval two defendants, including one of her who will speak about “Modern historian of the Jews in Arab Islamic World.” Until his retirement from neighbors, in connection with what is Myths of Muslim Antisemi- lands in the Middle Ages, his Princeton in 2013, he was director of being tried as a murder with aggravated tism.” The lecture will be held publications include “Jewish the Princeton Geniza Project, an online circumstances of a hate crime. They are in the Brennan Auditorium. Self-Government in Medieval database of transcriptions of documents also charged with robbery. Cohen is the Khedouri A. Prof. Mark Cohen Egypt,” “Under Crescent and from the Cairo Geniza. See “March” on page 7 SPOTLIGHT Israeli doctors perform lifesaving spinal surgeries in Ethiopia BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN one physical therapist from the Hadassah not have a spine surgeon, according to (JTA) – Israeli doctors performed Medical Center in traveled on Dr. Josh Schroeder, a spine surgeon at surgeries to fix severe spinal deformities the mission in March to the city of Mekelle, Hadassah who led the mission with Dr. as part of a weeklong medical mission to in the African country’s north. Allon Moses, the chairman of Hadassah’s Ethiopia. Eight doctors, two nurses and The Israeli medical team performed Department of Clinical Microbiology and five surgeries at the Ayder Comprehen- Infectious Disease. sive Specialized Hospital, which serves The patients, all aged 18 and under, some eight million patients but does had spine deformities so severe that Federation they were causing potentially lethal At right: Unidentified medical personnel complications, including pressure on on Facebook from Hadassah Medical Center in internal organs and lung infections, and the Ayder Comprehensive Schroeder told JTA on March 26. The The Jewish Federation of Northeast- surgeries were complex, with some ern Pennsylvania now has a page on Specialized Hospital in Mekelle, Ethiopia, conferred during a Hadassah taking eight hours. Facebook to let community members See “Doctors” on page 6 know about upcoming events and keep team’s mission in Ethiopia to perform connected. spinal surgeries on young patients in March. (Photo courtesy of Hadassah) Candle lighting April 5...... 7:14 pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE April 6...... 7:15 pm Boomers and teens April 13...... 7:23 pm “Mapping the Bones” Passover April 20...... 7:30 pm North American baby boomers Jane Yolen, author of “The Devil’s Thoughts on the holiday; Passover are teaching Israeli teens English Arithmetic.” has written a new secrets in the Met; matzah is PLUS through weekly video chats. young adult Holocaust novel. popular in the . Opinion...... 2 Story on page 4 Story on page 6 Stores on pages 8-10 D’var Torah...... 8 2 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 A MATTER OF OPINION On Israel and the theory of everything BY GARY GAMBILL Some say Israel’s conflict with the Middle East. The paucity of anti-Israel “theory of everything” – or what Mar- (JNS) – U.S. President Palestinians has fueled the rise of radical banners during the 2011 popular revolts tin Kramer calls “linkage” – getting and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Islamist movements in the Arab world, in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria demon- Israel to sign a final status agreement are as different as night and day, but they which feed off of and exploit society’s strated pretty convincingly that the Arab acceptable to the Palestinians is the agree on two things: that Twitter is the most deeply felt grievances. Others say it masses don’t get that worked up about lynchpin of any serious effort to bring best thing ever, and that the Middle East’s has fueled sectarianism or enabled Iranian “injustices” suffered by the Palestinians stability and peace to the region as a tiny is integrally tied to the meddling in the Arab world. (at least, not when they feel free to voice whole. Indeed, the widely used short- lion’s share of its problems. Some maintain that Israel has poisoned other grievances). hand “Middle East peace” (a vague In March, Zarif tweeted that Israel’s the political development of its Middle Outside of Israel’s immediate conflict oxymoron in any other context) refers “illegal occupation” of Palestinian land Eastern neighbors by providing regimes zones in Gaza, the and Leb- only to this particular conflict. “lies at the heart of most of the calamities with “a ready and That’s a fine pub- in our region,” a common refrain among convenient means ...the rest of us mustn’t labor under the delusion that brokering licity pitch if the the region’s autocratic governing elites. of diverting public an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement will do much to improve Trump administra- Former Jordanian ambassador to the Unit- frustration” away tion is determined to ed Nations Hasan Abu Nimah elaborated from the lack of security in the rest of the Middle East, and we certainly shouldn’t have a go at getting on this notion in a recent op-ed: “The democracy, free- let it distract us from addressing the pathologies that have Israelis and Palestin- Palestinian injustice is the root cause... and dom and govern- effectively destroyed Syria, Libya, Yemen and much of Iraq in ians to make nice. But the very origin of instability, conflict, radi- ment accountability. a span of less than seven years. the rest of us mustn’t calisation, terror, extremist trends, cultural A slightly different labor under the delu- diseases, sectarianism, backwardness, variant holds that sion that brokering an economic problems, underdevelopment, staunch American support for Israel anon, even Islamists don’t focus much Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement will do poverty and much more.” “prevents the United States from gaining attention on the Jewish state. Al-Qaida much to improve security in the rest of the Trump, like many others in the West, credibility as an advocate of democracy in and ISIS have virtually ignored the Middle East, and we certainly shouldn’t let expresses the sentiment more obliquely, the Middle East,” leaving pro-democracy Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As for sec- it distract us from addressing the patholo- pointing to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict forces in the lurch. tarianism and Iranian meddling in the gies that have effectively destroyed Syria, as the cause of regional problems. The While there are grains of truth to some Arab world, conflict between Sunnis and Libya, Yemen and much of Iraq in a span president has frequently boasted that of these arguments, there aren’t nearly Shi’ites – and between Arabs and Persians of less than seven years. the “peace between the Palestinians and enough to account for decades of un- – was going on for more than 1,300 years Gary C. Gambill is a Philadelphia- Israel” he intends to forge will “lead to wavering Western conviction that Israel before Israel came into existence. based policy analyst. Follow him at Twitter ultimate peace in the Middle East.” Jason is responsible for the sorry state of the For those who subscribe to the and Facebook. D. Greenblatt, the president’s chief nego- tiator, maintains that a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians will “improve... security across the region.” Demographic time bomb? Mistaken or Such statements do not explicitly point the finger at Israel, of course, but they beg the question of why the security of misleading … the Middle East hinges on the affairs of a BY YORAM ETTINGER the inclusion of overseas residents in colleges and universities), the surge of tiny nation inhabiting a tiny sliver of its (JNS) – The “demographic time the census; the double-count of people wedding age above 20, a decline of teen territory. How does that work, exactly? bomb” concept accords mythical stan- moving from rural areas to urban centers; pregnancy and a dramatic expansion of dards to Arab fertility and European the inflation of numbers by clan leaders the use of contraceptives. For example, standards to Jewish fertility, ignoring the for political and economic reasons; and Iran and Saudi Arabia feature two births Westernization of Arab fertility and the the under-reporting of deaths. A June per woman; Egypt, 3.6; Jordan, 3.2; and surging secular Jewish fertility, while sig- 10, 1993, document of Israel’s Central the Palestinian Authority, three births nificantly underestimating the potential Bureau of Statistics noted that according per woman. “ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the of Jewish immigration () to Israel, to Palestinian reporting, Palestinian life In 2018, in Israel, there are sev- Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson expectancy, supposedly, exceeded life en million Jews, along with 130,000 Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. which has been steady and continuous since 1882. expectancy in the U.S.A. Druze, 130,000 Christian Arabs and 1.6 President: David Malinov In March 1898, million Muslims, Executive Director: Mark Silverberg the leading Jew- Israel’s demographic surge, quantitatively and qualitatively, in addition to 1.85 Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman ish demographer million Arabs in Layout Editor: Diana Sochor historian, Shimon is bolstering the size of its future classes of military recruits Judea and Samaria. Assistant Editor: Ilene Pinsker Dubnov, published and the labor force, which enhances reality-based optimism, The 65.5 percent Production Coordinator: Jenn DePersis a demographic militarily and economically. It also feeds a demographically Jewish majority, in Advertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen the combined area Bookkeeper: Kathy Brown projection aiming confident national security policy since there is no lethal to dissuade Theo- of Judea, Samaria dor Herzl from the demographic threat, which could lead to a retreat from and pre-1967 Isra- OPINIONS The views expressed in vision of the re- geography (the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria) in el, benefits from a editorials and opinion pieces are those construction of the order to save demography. tailwind of fertility of each author and not necessarily – mostly because the views of the Jewish Federation of Jewish state in the of the secular sec- Northeastern Pennsylvania. land of Israel: “In LETTERS The Reporter welcomes 1998, there will be only half a million In 2018, Israel is the sole Western tor – and a potential wave of aliyah of letters on subjects of interest to the Jews in the Land of Israel… Political democracy and modern economy that hundreds of thousands of Jews (requiring Jewish community. All letters must be Zionism is wishful-thinking.” Herzl benefits from a tailwind of fertility and the reinstatement of a pro-active aliyah signed and include a phone number. was not deterred, although there was net migration, providing for sustained policy by the Israeli government) from The editor may withhold the name a meager 9 percent Jewish minority in economic growth with minimal foreign France, , additional European upon request. the combined area of Judea, Samaria labor. Thus, in 2016, in defiance of the countries, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, ADS The Reporter does not necessar- and pre-1967 Israel. “demographic time bomb” concept, and Argentina and Britain. ily endorse any advertised products In October 1944, Professor Roberto for the first time ever, the Jewish fertility Israel’s demographic surge, quanti- and services. In addition, the paper Bachi, the founder of Israel’s Central rate (3.16 births per woman) exceeded the tatively and qualitatively, is bolstering is not responsible for the kashruth of Bureau of Statistics, published a de- Arab fertility rate (3.11). Notwithstand- the size of its future classes of military any advertiser’s product or establish- mographic projection intending to con- ing the mild decline of the ultra-Orthodox recruits and the labor force, which ment. vince Israel’s founding father, David fertility rate, there was a surge in the enhances reality-based optimism, mil- DEADLINE Regular deadline is two Ben-Gurion, that a population of then number of Jewish births from 80,400 itarily and economically. It also feeds weeks prior to the publication date. 600,000 Jews was not a critical mass in 1995 to 140,000 in 2017, while the a demographically confident national number of Arab births rose mildly from security policy since there is no lethal FEDERATION WEBSITE: for the re-establishment of the Jewish www.jewishnepa.org state: “In 2001, there will be, under the 36,000 to 43,500. The share of Jewish demographic threat, which could lead to best case scenario, 2.3 [million] Jews, births out of total births was 69 percent a retreat from geography (the mountain HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES: a 34% minority… .” Ben-Gurion pro- in 1995, rising to 76.5 percent in 2017, ridges of Judea and Samaria) in order to Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA ceeded to re-establish the Jewish state reflecting the rise of Jewish optimism, save demography. 18510 despite the mere 55 percent Jewish patriotism, attachment to roots, collective The concept that Israel is, ostensibly, E-mail: [email protected] majority in the area partitioned for it, responsibility and the significant decline facing a demographic time bomb is either Fax: (570) 346-6147 and the 39 percent Jewish minority in in the number of abortions. dramatically mistaken or outrageously Phone: (570) 961-2300 the combined area of Judea, Samaria In 2018, the fertility rates in the Mus- misleading. and pre-1967 Israel. lim world (except for the Sub-Sahara Yoram Ettinger is a member of the HOW TO REACH region) are substantially Westernized due American-Israel Demographic Research THE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: In 1946, Ben-Gurion published “Israel Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244 Trivus document, No Arab Majority in the to urbanization (e.g., from a 70 percent Group and a consultant to members of E-mail: [email protected] Land of Israel,” which exposed substan- rural society, the Palestinian Authority Israel’s Cabinet and . He also tial deficiencies in the population census- evolved into a 75 percent urban society), briefs U.S. legislators and their staff on SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: es conducted by the British Mandate in integration of women into the labor and Israel’s contribution to U.S. interests. Phone: (570) 961-2300 1922 and 1931, similar to the deficiencies education systems (completing high This article was originally posted at of the contemporary Palestinian census: school and increasingly enrolling in www.TheEttingerReport.com. APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Temple Israel of the Poconos Hebrew School chocolate seder celebrated On March 18, the Temple Israel of the Poconos He- brew School students held their annual chocolate seder at the temple in Stroudsburg. According to organizers, “The chocolate seder explains the Passover seder in a fun, ‘yummy’ way using such items as chocolate milk, Kit Kats, chocolate eggs, pudding with crushed Oreos and chocolate matzah.” Max Cahn was the winner of the afikomen search.

At left: A chocolate “seder plate.” Above: Max Cahn held his prize for winning the afikomen search. At right: A table was filled with chocolate goodies that were enjoyed by the children. JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE NOTES Which symptoms of stress are stressing you? BY NICOLE FRIEDMAN, L.S.W. struggles facing stress. However, when stress occurs Have you ever experienced there are a great deal of healthy activities to try in order headaches, muscle tension, fatigue to reduce the stress effectively. or an upset stomach? You could be Exercise is one of the main ways to reduce stress. experiencing symptoms of stress. Physical activity such as swimming, taking walks, aer- At any point in our lives, we have obic classes or yoga for 30 minutes a day could decrease DEADLINES gone through some type of stress. your stress level. Appropriate diet and proper relaxation The following are deadlines for all articles and Stress could be caused by school, can also assist you in lowering your stress level. Poor photos for upcoming Reporter issues. our families or our jobs. Stress can diet and not taking time to relax and do activities that DEADLINE ISSUE you enjoy can increase stress However, eating healthy, affect our behaviors as well as affect Tuesday, April 3, early...... April 19 us both physically and emotionally. Nicole Friedman, getting plenty of sleep and engaging in activities such With these effects of stress, there L.S.W. as reading, listening to music or a hobby can really be Thursday, April 19...... May 3 are many techniques that you could try to reduce stress beneficial. Building relationships and increasing social Thursday, May 3...... May 17 and help you lead a happy and healthy life. supports will also play a huge role in managing stress Thursday, May 17...... May 31 According to the Mayo Clinic (2015), those who effectively. Surrounding ourselves by those who we en- are going through intense stress have reported physical joy spending time with and who support us will display symptoms such as stomach pain or nausea, sleep problems positive effects in our lives. and chest pain. When under a great deal of stress, our Even though there are numerous ways to decrease our Save The Date muscles could tense up and cause severe pain making stress levels, sometimes these tools are not enough. When it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. Those who are stress begins to become overpowering and we are having Sunday, May 6 going through several stressful situations not only will difficulty functioning and managing our lives, additional SCRANTON HEBREW DAY SCHOOL display issues physically, but could become anxious, support and further assistance such as counseling might depressed and irritable. Those undergoing stress might be needed. If you are having difficulty managing stress 70th Anniversary Dinner result in eating too much or eating too little. They might and require further support, please contact JFS at 570- also resort to using drugs and alcohol to cope with the 344-1186 to set up an appointment. at the Hilton Conference Center in Scranton Reception - 4:30pm • Mincha - 5:00pm • Dinner - 5:30pm Guests of Honor – Yonah and Miriam Holland Parents of the Year – Dr. Joel and Leah Laury Alumnus of the Year – Dr. Daniel Fink YOUR Jr. Cong./Auditorium Re-Dedication – In memory of Rabbi Yitzchok Werbin z’l AD Legacy Chairman – Dr. David Horowitz COULD BE HERE! For information on advertising, contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 4 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 North American baby boomers teach Israeli kids English BY BEN SALES schools are in West Bank settlements and (JTA) – There’s no reason Hodaya Gordon stresses that the program does not Koskas and Barrett Brickell would know take political positions and aims to serve each other. Koskas, 14, is a high school At left: An Israeli Israeli kids regardless of where they are. student from a small city in central Israel high school student Retired doctors are also told not to provide who takes ballet classes and hopes to be videoconferenced with medical advice. “They didn’t choose to be born into a dancer. Brickell, 71, is a retired school- a North American this conflict,” Gordon said of the students. teacher from Ottawa, Canada. baby boomer for a “They didn’t choose to go to the army in But they’ve been video chatting ev- weekly English lesson. ery week since September. The unlikely two years. We should just be empathetic (Photo courtesy of pairing begins by having Koskas read a to their reality.” Israel Connect) one-page English description of a place But Gordon emphasizes that the point of in Israel – perhaps the Western Wall or a the program is to rigorously teach English, mall. Then they shift into talking about not just to create informal video pen pals. their lives. Most of the students’ chats happen while Koskas talks about an upcoming ballet “I want to find out about their personal wake up early and tend to have free time. they’re at school, under a teacher’s super- competition that, if she wins, could lead lives,” said Brickell, who taught fifth and The schools are mostly on Israel’s vision. Gordon said that out of 300 alumni to a trip to New York City. Barrett talks sixth grade for nearly 20 years, and now periphery – smaller and often poorer of the program, all but four scored ore than about life in Canada – the snow outside tutors three kids as part of Israel Connect. towns that are distant from Jerusalem and 90 percent on the English comprehension his window, the particulars of the local “I end up liking them a lot. The time I Tel Aviv. The students themselves come section of the standardized test. malls. Koskas says she now understands get to spend with young people is very from a range of religious, ethnic and so- “They’re more confident in reading, that in Canada, people hit the malls with meaningful to me, and I have a feeling cioeconomic backgrounds. Gordon said in their interactions talking with the a bigger bag than in Israel, so they can that they enjoy it.” she has a waiting list of 100 schools that volunteers,” said Ofira Mor, a teacher at buy more stuff. The program began in 2011 as a side want to join and is hoping to expand her Koskas’ high school. “They have a wider “I feel a connection to another world,” project of Sarah Gordon, a Canadian volunteer base. vocabulary.” Koskas told JTA of the conversations. “I with Israeli parents who taught Hebrew “Most of our volunteers are connect- But volunteers say that aside from the talk about what’s done there and what’s in Ottawa. A former classmate of Gordon ing with students in towns they’ve never tutoring, they enjoy having direct exposure polite there. We talked about how they who taught English in Israel told her about heard of before,” said Gordon, who now to life in Israel through young people’s shop and how we shop.” some of her Arab-Israeli students who co-directs the organization full-time with eyes. Beverly Grostern, a volunteer from The Israeli teen and the Canadian retiree were struggling to pick up what would be her husband. “We take the ones that have Ottawa, took her first trip to Israel in de- are participants in Israel Connect, a pro- their third language. So Gordon matched the strongest need. Some of the schools cades after a year of tutoring an Israeli girl. gram where older North American adults them with Canadian seniors she knew who we work in don’t have English teachers. “It’s reintroduced me to Israeli life, tutor Israeli kids in English once a week could tutor them from afar. We have schools where we are the English to their food, to their attitude,” she said. via video chat. For seniors like Brickell, Since then, Israel Connect has mush- program – we do not recommend that.” “They’re like your typical teenager any- the program is a relatively easy way to roomed. It spread to Toronto and a few English is usually a key part of the where. I ask them something, what’s your connect with Israel and help kids. For areas in the United States, from New Jersey school curriculum in Israel and is viewed favorite activity, what do you like to do, kids like Koskas, the sessions expand their to Baltimore to Florida. It now has 400 as a gateway to cultural exposure, academ- and nine out of 10 it’s like, ‘I like to go vocabulary, improve their pronunciation volunteer tutors, mostly baby boomers ic excellence and professional success. shopping, I like to visit my grandmother, and introduce them to North American and older, and 500 Israeli high school Students in Israeli high schools receive I like my computer.’” culture (she now knows how to pronounce students from 35 schools. Gordon said four to five hours of English education “read” in the past tense, for example). baby boomers are a good fit because they per week, and an entire section of Israel’s version of the SAT is devoted to English proficiency. But Gordon said most of the students’ practical knowledge of English comes from pop culture. “They watch a lot of TV and listen to a lot of music,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for them to show up the first week and [as] they’re talking with a retired dentist or brain surgeon, they’ll say, ‘Hey, what’s up, dude.’ And the teacher will say, ‘We start with ‘Hi, how are you?’” The core of Israel Connect’s curriculum is the one-page handouts on Israeli locales, which come with pictures. Volunteers will help the students read through the IsraelConnect, which pairs Israeli paragraphs and then will discuss them students with senior citizen English before pivoting to casual conversation. tutors in North America, works mostly The only restriction Gordon gives is to with schools on Israel’s periphery. avoid politics. Some of the participating (Photo courtesy of Israel Connect)

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Send Dassy Ganz an email if you would like to join the list. [email protected] Pledge or Donate online at www.jewishnepa.org/donate APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 5 NEWS IN BRIEF Scranton Reporter 5 x 15 7/8 From JNS.org Wyoming Valley 5 x 15 7/8 European powers urge stronger Iran sanctions to strengthen nuclear deal The United Kingdom, France and Germany are urging fellow European Union partners to back new sanctions on Iran in order to preserve the nuclear deal that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from in May. According to reports, E.U. officials have been circulating proposals for sanctions targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. A total of 15 Iranian individuals and companies are targeted on a list circulated to E.U. governments. Additionally, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have proposed E.U. sanctions over Iran’s ballistic-missile program and for its role in the Syrian civil war. These sanctions would not be ones lifted under the nuclear deal. “The idea is to have a final decision on Iran sanctions by or at the April Foreign Affairs Council,” a European diplomat told Reuters. Trump, who has repeatedly called the Iran nuclear deal a “disaster,” has given European allies until May 12 to “fix the terrible flaws” in the deal or he will refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief on the Islamic Republic, thereby effecting ending U.S. participation in it. Israeli-run model Passover seder at U.N. draws 60 envoys A model pre-Passover seder conducted by Israeli Ambassador the United Nations Featuring the largest kosher selection of fresh meat, poultry, Danny Danon was attended by more than 60 ambassadors and senior diplomats from dairy, frozen, grocery & baked goods! all over the world on March 27 in honor of the upcoming Passover holiday. “While we are preparing to celebrate the Festival of Freedom and the struggle of the ancient Jews against bondage and slavery, the Iranian regime continues to threaten Israel and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– to spread terror throughout the Middle East,” Danon told the attendees. The seder was b Including a large selection of Kosher Dairy & Frozen items. organized by Israel’s Mission to the United Nations, in cooperation with the European Grocery b Coalition for Israel, and included ambassadors from four continents. Founding Director ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––15 oz.•All Varieties 4.2 oz.•Select Varieties of the European Coalition Tomas Sandell stressed the importance of the experience, Where Available Where Available noting that it would “help explain, among many other things, the long and unbroken Tabatchnick Kedem connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.” Frozen Soups Tea Biscuits P.A. to pay $355 million in 2018 to terrorists, their families The Palestinian Authority has authorized payments of $355 million to convicted terrorists 2 $ 5 $ and the families of terrorists as part of their 2018, according to a report (https://www.palwatch. /

–––––––– / org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=25354). According to Palestinian Media Watch, the P.A. 4 3 budget for the Commission of Prisoner Affairs, which pays the salaries of terrorist prisoners –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––12 oz. and released prisoners, is set at $166 million, of which $158 million will go to terrorists. 6.3 oz. Select Varieties Additionally, the budget for the Families of the Martyrs and Wounded Institution is set at Knorr Manischewitz $200 million, of which $197 million will go to the families of terrorists. As such, the total Falafel Mix Egg Noodles payment by the P.A. for 2018 is set at $355 million, which is 7.47 percent of its operation budget of $4.76 billion in 2018 and some 44 percent of the funding the P.A. hopes to receive 2 $ 2 $ in foreign aid this year. “It is very significant that for the first time since 2014, the P.A. has / / stopped attempting to hide that it is the P.A. that pays salaries to all the terrorist prisoners. 5 –––––––– 3 This year, the P.A. openly lists the budget for these salaries to the Commission of Prisoners ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– as a direct P.A. budget expense [listed as “transfer payments”],” the PMW report said. The 16 oz. 9.17 oz. release of these budget figures comes as the United States passed the Taylor Force Act the week of March 23, which cuts off nearly all U.S. aid to the P.A. if it continues to pay the Gefen Gefen salaries of terrorist prisoners and families. “Mahmoud Abbas has once again revealed his Almond Butter Mini Mandel true intentions as he directly funds hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorists with blood on their hands,” said Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon. “Once again, 99 99 the Palestinians have responded to American initiatives aimed at reconciliation with support –––––––– 4 for terror and violence. We call on the international community, and the United Nations, to 10 join the U.S. in their pledge to put an end to the funding of Palestinian terror.” –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Meat b Including a selection of Glatt Kosher Fresh and Frozen Beef, Chicken & Turkey. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––32 oz. Empire Kosher Boneless & Skinless Empire Kosher Chicken Breasts Leg Quarters 98 49 lb. –––––––– 11 –––––––– 2 ––––––––––––––––7 oz. –––––––––––––––––33 oz. Empire Kosher Sliced Meal Mart Turkey, Turkey Salami Meat Balls in or Turkey Pastrami Marinara Sauce 79 99 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––3 –––––––– 9 Fish bb Including a selection of Salmon Fillets & Steaks. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––8 oz. Acme Smoked Salmon $12.99 or 9 oz. Acme Smoked Gold’s Salmon 4 oz. Cocktail Sauce 99 2/$ –––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––6 –––––––– 5 Westside Mall, Edwardsville • 287-7244 1228 O’Neill Highway, Dunmore • 346-4538

Prices effective Sunday, April 8 thru Saturday, April 28, 2018. 6 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 Thirty years later, the author of “The Devil’s Arithmetic” has a new young adult Holocaust novel BY PENNY SCHWARTZ writer, had a spark of an idea more than 1.8 million cop- “Mapping the Bones” is BOSTON (JTA) – More for a Holocaust story that would ies, is used widely in middle Yolen’s third Holocaust novel; than 30 years ago, Jane Yolen lead with a girl bored and in- schools across the country and the second was “Briar Rose” had already made her mark different at her grandparents’ has been in continuous print (1992). in the world of children’s Passover seder. When Hannah since publication. “I look at all three and literature. Among the nearly opens the door to symbolically Now, three decades later, I realize it’s not just the 100 books she had written welcome the prophet Elijah, Yolen, 79, has written “Map- Holocaust that binds them were fantasies and folk tales, she finds herself transported ping the Bones” (Philomel), together. It’s remembering,” picture books and the popular back in time to a Polish shtetl a Holocaust novel for a new she said. “Whenever we think “Captain Toad” chapter book where the Jewish villagers are generation of teens. The year of the Holocaust, we think of series. Her gift for spinning on the verge of being shipped is 1942, in the Lodz ghetto remembering. We think of original fairy tales earned her Jane Yolen (Photo to a German Nazi concentration in Poland, where 14-year-old never forgetting. Soon all we the reputation as the American by Jason Stemple) camp. Only Hannah knows twins Chaim and Gittel Abro- will have are the stories. Soon Hans Christian Anderson. the horrifying tragedy that the mowitz make a daring escape “Mapping the Bones” we will have no one left who But when her editor, Deborah Brodie, future will bring. with their family. Separated is the third Holocaust- was there.” suggested she write a Jewish children’s Yolen relented and wrote a first chapter. from their parents in the forest, themed book by “The Devil’s Arithmetic” book, Yolen dismissed the idea. Sure, she She assumed it would end at that. Instead, the twins hide with Polish par- Jane Yolen. (Photo was a trailblazer, according was Jewish, she recalled telling Brodie, Brodie sent back a contract. “I thought, tisans, and are later captured by Penguin Random to Norman H. Finkelstein, an who was Jewish, too. But, growing up, ‘OK, I’m going to try this,’” she said in by German soldiers and forced House) author of nonfiction for older Yolen’s family wasn’t particularly obser- a phone conversation with JTA from her into a slave labor camp. kids and two-time winner of vant. And although she had minored in home in western Massachusetts. Through brutal treatment, suffering the National Jewish Book Award. Three religious studies at Smith College, Yolen The result was “The Devil’s Arithmetic,” and loss, the sister and brother bond with decades ago, at a time closer to the war, told Brodie she would have to do as much a Holocaust novel that, when it appeared in other camp prisoners, sustain each other the idea of writing about the Holocaust research as someone who wasn’t Jewish. 1988, was nothing like anything that had and find light through the young boy’s was still difficult, said Finkelstein, a Brodie persisted. “She was a classic come before. The book garnered critical poetry that serves as a testament to loss retired public school librarian in the nudzh,” Yolen recalled fondly all these acclaim, earned multiple book awards and and memory. See “Novel” on page 13 years later of the late editor, considered a was made into an Emmy-winning Show- giant in the world of children’s publishing. time film starring Kirsten Dunst. But Yolen, best known as a fantasy The popular fantasy novel has sold Doctors Continued from page 1 “The problem with pediatric cases is if ordinated and participated in the mission. Effective please you don’t treat them in time, they prog- “We’re working in a really privileged so- immediately, send ress,” he said, “and these cases were so ciety, both in Israel and the United States, note! bad that if we wouldn’t have operated on and things that we have at our fingertips all articles and ads to these children, at least half of them would don’t exist over there,” he said. “These our new E-mail address, be dead by next year.” people, you can really change their lives In addition to performing the five with a reasonably short intervention.” jfnepareporter@ surgeries, the Israelis also provided med- The Hadassah and Ayder hospitals have jewishnepa.org. ical training to Ayder staff. The medical a partnership dating back five years, with device company Medtronic donated the Israeli medical students doing rotations in equipment necessary for the surgeries. Mekelle, and Ayder physicans receiving Schroeder said he was happy to have co- training and supplies from Hadassah.

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Celebrate Israel Parade Join thousands walking down New York City’s Fifth Avenue followed by dinner and shopping in Teaneck, New Jersey Sunday, June 3, 2018 Please contact Dassy at 570-961-2300 x2 or [email protected] for further information or to make your reservation APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 7 March Continued from page 1 National Geographic’s first Jewish editor-in-chief Sammy Ghozlan, founder of the National Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism, or BNVCA, told JTA opens up about racism in the magazine’s past on March 27 that “authorities on the national level acted swiftly and correctly” in dealing with the investigation. BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN In a recent phone interview with JTA, Gold- He said it was “a lesson learned” from the handling of the (JTA) – The editor-in-chief of National berg, 58, said she was not surprised by Mason’s slaying last year of another Jewish woman, Sarah Halimi. Geographic Magazine made waves when she conclusions, pointing out that racism in the In April, BNVCA and CRIF were among several admitted that the magazine’s past coverage magazine had been written about previously, French Jewish organizations that protested the omission was tinged with racism. “For decades, our including in a book by Robert Poole. Some of of hate crime charges from the draft indictment of a Mus- coverage was racist. To rise above our past, Mason’s most “egregious” findings did shock lim man who confessed to killing Halimi, a 66-year-old we must acknowledge it,” Susan Goldberg her, like a 1916 article on Aboriginal Australians physician, in her apartment. wrote in a letter for the magazine’s April issue, that called them “savages” who “rank lowest The defendant, Kobili Traore, was heard calling which marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin in intelligence of all human beings.” Halimi, his neighbor, “a demon.” Halimi’s daughter Luther King Jr.’s assassination. “It’s very difficult to read something like said he had called the daughter a “dirty Jew” two years The letter forced readers and staff to grapple that,” she said. before he pummeled her mother in her apartment for with the legacy of the magazine, which has Susan Goldberg is Goldberg said the issue of race is especially more than 30 minutes and then threw Sarah Halimi to been reporting on the world’s far-flung peoples National Geographic important in light of recent events, such as the her death from her three-story home. CRIF called the and places since 1888 and has reflected – and Magazine’s first white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally in Char- omission of hate crime charges a “cover-up.” They were been a reflection of – all the cultural changes, female and Jewish lottesville, VA, last year. “After Charlottesville, and prejudices, since then. But Goldberg also if it wasn’t already clear, it became even more finally included in a revised indictment following weeks editor-in-chief. of vocal lobbying by Jewish groups. made waves in 2014 when she became the first clear that we have a very fraught situation going (Photo courtesy of The controversy was among several similar cases in woman – and, incidentally, the first Jew – to on in the United States with regard to any kind recent years, including a case in February in which a serve as editor-in-chief of a magazine that has National Geographic) of discussion around race,” she said. judge scrapped hate crime charges from the indictment often stumbled in reporting on women and Jews. The April issue launches a series of articles of Arab youths who allegedly assaulted a Jewish teenager “It was a place with a lot of white men,” she told JTA, on race, which will continue through the end of the year, and took his kippah. A similar exchange occurred after referring to the magazine’s beginnings as the journal but Goldberg felt it important that the magazine first look French prosecutors last year dropped hate crime charges of the National Geographic Society, an elite club of inward. “I just really didn’t see a way to do an entire in the case of four men suspected of rape and robbery at academics, philanthropists and adventurers interested issue on race, and then spend the year covering race if a suburban Paris home they acknowledged was targeted in travel and exploration. we didn’t look into our history as well,” she said. “I just because it belonged to Jews. Following protests, the Even an otherwise sympathetic article on the Jews in didn’t think we would be credible.” aggravated element also was added to their indictment. the July 1919 issue suggested that their persecution by Goldberg, who identifies as a Reform Jew, grew up in Christians “increased their intense activity, their cunning Ann Arbor, MI, the granddaughter of immigrants from in business, in order that they might live at all against Eastern who came to the country in the beginning such opposition, and it produced in them the traits that of the 20th century and settled in predominantly Jewish are now made the basis for denouncing them.” neighborhoods in Detroit. “These neighborhoods were In her letter, Goldberg details how she enlisted John really so ghettoized that my mother, who was born in the Edwin Mason, a scholar of African history and the history United States, in Detroit in 1927, went to kindergarten of photography at the University of Virginia, to critically when she was 5 years old [and] she didn’t speak English, examine the magazine’s past. He found that the publica- she only spoke Yiddish,” Goldberg said. tion largely ignored the lives of African Americans in the Growing up, her family celebrated Jewish holidays, United States until the 1970s, while also covering people but was “probably more culturally Jewish than religiously of color outside the country in a way that perpetuated Jewish,” she said. She was involved in the Habonim stereotypes. Natives were pictured “as exotics, famously Labour Zionist youth movement, and at the age of 17 Jews participated in a memorial march in Paris for and frequently unclothed, happy hunters, noble savages, she lived for six months on a kibbutz in southern Israel. Mireille Knoll on March 28. (Photo by Cnaan Liphshiz) every type of cliche,” Goldberg wrote. See “Past” on page 12 Celebrate Israel’s 70th Birthday with The Jewish Federation and The Scranton JCC

Sunday April 15, 2018 JCC, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton Free concert starring Israeli singer Yoel Sharabi Children’s programming Outdoor Bar-B-Que

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 8 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 D’VAR TORAH Passover thoughts BY RABBI STEVEN P. NATHAN, JEWISH as Reform and Reconstructionist congregations in the FELLOWSHIP OF HEMLOCK FARMS , will be reading different Torah portions than Pesach, Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 Conservative and Orthodox Jews in the Diaspora. Yet, Judaism is a religion based on a system of 613 mitzvot, we will still be celebrating Shabbat each week, even or commandments. Some of these mitzvot are no lon- though our observances may differ, and eventually we ger practiced because they relate to the ancient service will get back in sync and on the same schedule. of sacrifice and worship in the Beit Ha’mikdash/Holy This symbolizes how we as Jews, whether in the Di- Temple in Jerusalem. The remainder are still valid. Of aspora or Israel, need to look at our tradition. For there course, each Jewish person observes differentmitzvot , or will always be times when we are out sync. There will not, depending upon their custom or tradition. However, always be times when we disagree. There are even times even if one does not observe some or all of the mitzvot, when the disagreements become heated. But if we always or if we observe mitzvot in a different way, they are still keep the good of the Jewish people and our world in the there to connect us to our tradition. They are our heritage. forefront, when all is said and done, we can still come Even if we disagree with them. They are part of what together as a community even with our disagreements. keeps Jews in New York or Pennsylvania in sync with The festival of Passover is known as z’man heiru- Jews in Brazil or Poland. And, of course, Israel. Usually. teinu, the time of our freedom. The festival represents Occasionally there are times when the mitzvot aren’t our ancestors being freed from slavery to Pharaoh. But in sync. There are times when differing traditions serve we must always remember that they were freed not in to separate rather than connect. Questions such as: What order to simply be able to do as each one pleases, for is kosher? Who is counted in a minyan? Who can be a that would simply lead to anarchy. Rather, our ances- rabbi? Who is considered a Jew? What foods are per- tors were freed in order to serve the Divine. Whether missible to eat on Passover? These are all questions that one looks at the story as historical fact or religious get debated on a regular basis in our age. Yet, debate and mythology, that is the meaning of the festival. And the argument need not separate us when they are practiced best way to serve the Divine is by remembering that it l’shem shamayim...for the sake of heaven (read: for is God and the people Israel which are at the center, and the sake of the greater good for our people and/or our not the individual Jew. The best way to remember that world). After all, the Talmud and other rabbinic writings is by coming together, even when we disagree, in order are basically a collection of disagreements between the to celebrate God and celebrate Judaism. Let this day of ancient rabbis. And even though the majority opinion non-synchronous Jewish practice and belief remind us rules, the minority opinion is still recorded and respected. of this important message. This will enable us to repair This respectful debate and dialogue often seems to get our broken community and our broken world. This will lost in the Jewish world today. And so the mitzvot and enable us to say that live today and every day as z’man traditions that are meant to connect us and keep us in heiruteinu, the time of our freedom. sync often do just the opposite. Shabbat shalom and/or chag sameach, happy Passover. I realize this may seem a strange way to begin a Torah commentary for the eighth day of Passover. However, this year April 7, 2018/22 Nisan 5778 is a day which is an example of how tradition can differ and yet not divide. And so I want to focus on this fact, rather than on the Torah reading itself. According to the Torah, Passover is a seven day feast and we are to participate in a seder on the first night. However, as with all holidays, in the Diaspora outside of Jacob and his 12 sons exhibit the land of Israel an extra day (and extra seder) is added to The Frick Collection, New York City, will the festival (I don’t have the space to explain why, but for hold the exhibit “Zurbarán’s Jacob and His an explanation go to https://www.myjewishlearning.com/ Twelve Sons: Paintings from Auckland Castle” article/do-i-need-to-have-two-passover-seders/), making until April 22. The series of 13 paintings depicts it eight days long. In addition, in the Diaspora, most over life-size figures from the Old Testament by Spanish Reform and Reconstructionist Jews follow the biblical, Golden Age master Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664). On or Israeli, calendar. Therefore, for some American Jews loan from Auckland Castle, the works have never before April 7/22 Nisan is both Shabbat and Passover while for traveled to the United States. For more information, visit others it is simply Shabbat. In other words, the Jewish www.frick.org/exhibitions/zurbaran or call 212-288-0700. world is not in sync on this day. This is a reminder of Online exhibit on “The Art of Jewish the different traditions that exist within our complicated tradition, but it is also a reminder that differences don’t Song” need to separate us. Milken Archives of Jewish Music announced a new It may be true that on April 6 some will chant the Torah virtual exhibit “The Art of Jewish Song: Yiddish and reading for the eighth day of Passover, while others will Hebrew.” The first installment – “Jewishness, Longing, read the next Shabbat Torah reading, which is parsahat and Lullabies” – is now available by visiting www.milke- Shemini. However, even if we are celebrating different narchive.org/articles/virtual-exhibits and clicking on the things or reading different verses, we are still gathering exhibit. The exhibit is an attempt to look more broadly together to celebrate. This periodic “glitch” in the calendar at interdependence of music and words by exploring the also means that for a few weeks Jews in Israel, as well milieu in which the songs and the poems were composed. For information on advertising, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or bonnie@ thereportergroup.org APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 9 A tour guide uncovers Passover secrets in the Met Museum’s Egyptian wing BY DEBRA NUSSBAUM COHEN “When you’re able to not just learn a text, but see NEW YORK (JTA) – I have roamed the Metropolitan the stuff it’s talking about, the learning goes to a whole Museum of Art’s Egyptian wing many times, marveling other level,” said Rabbi Ethan Tucker in an interview. at sarcophagi, statues of Horus and Ra, and portraits of Tucker is the president and rosh yeshiva of Hadar, the young men on ancient panels who gaze back at visitors, egalitarian Torah learning center based in Manhattan. Last looking shockingly familiar and contemporary. But on year, Hadar brought its 45 summer fellows to the Met for a Sunday just before Passover, I viewed the artifacts a tour with Selavan. They were studying Avodah Zara, as I’d never before seen them: through the lens of the a Talmud tractate on idol worship, and saw examples of Exodus story, which we retell each year through reading what the Talmud discusses. the haggadah. “It was great to go around with someone with knowl- Nachliel Selavan, a Jewish educator and self-taught edge of Jewish sources and material sources on display museum guide whose specialty is looking at Jewish texts at the Met,” Tucker said. “I found it to be very enriching. and history through ancient artifacts, guided a group of One of the struggles of being in a culture so focused on about 20 through the Egypt section, pausing at statues, text is you can forget texts are talking about things in the carvings and the Book of the Dead scroll. Before setting Nachliel Selavan giving a tour at the Metropolitan real world. For institutions centered on the beit midrash [study hall], to get out into a museum raises the quality off, he distributed source sheets with canonical Jewish Museum of Art in New York. (Photo by Debra Nussbaum and intensity of the experience. texts in Hebrew and English. For more than two hours, Cohen) Selavan connected items and ideas mentioned in the Selavan is one of a handful of individuals and compa- texts with the artifacts on view. When you see material culture like this, it makes it real.” nies that offer private Jewish tours at major art museums. Selavan had us look at a passage from Deuteronomy Selavan brought us to several examples of reliefs David Thomas, associate coordinator of groups and vis- in which Moses details what will befall the Israelites if carved with the names of the Egyptian ruler, or paro/ itor services at the Met, said the museum does not share they don’t live up to their end of the covenant with God. pharaoh, noting how important names were to them. the number of tours led by outside guides like Selavan. We looked through cases at the Met displaying little In Hebrew, he noted, the Book of Exodus is known as “I’m not aware of any other tour guides who offer replicas of Egyptian life discovered in the tombs of em- Shemot, or names, which begins with the names of the Jewish-themed tours, but there may be some,” Thomas balmed rulers, intended to accompany the deceased on sons of the patriarch Jacob, who went with their own said. “Many synagogues, universities and other Jewish their journeys to the afterlife. In the Bible, the Israelites families down to Egypt with their father. organizations also bring groups.” are told they will be flattened by insufferable ailments “It was very interesting to see actual artifacts, repre- Selavan grew up the son of a rabbi/tour guide/archae- and curses, and that the Lord will “will bring you back sentations of words we see in the Torah,” said Lori Leifer, ologist in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, in boats to Egypt,” so undesirable they can’t even sell 37, a Yiddish singer and computer database programmer and was educated at yeshivas. He discusses references themselves back into slavery. Selavan pointed inside who describes herself as Conservadox. She heard about from Mishnah comfortably with a Satmar Chasid on his one of the ancient dioramas to show what those boats the tour through Chulent, a WhatsApp group for Jews who tour, but dresses more like a Brooklyn hipster. Asked would have looked like. have left Orthodox communities. Everyone else on the how he identifies religiously, Selavan replied, “I’m on “The Jewish people and Tanach do not exist in a vac- tour appeared to be Orthodox, including several haredim. the Orthodox spectrum, but not sure where I fit.” uum,” Selavan, using a term meaning the Hebrew Bible, The Exodus tour is one of five Jewish tours Selavan Like the Met’s galleries, Selavan’s journey took a wind- said after the tour. “Understanding the context for the text offers at the Met through his company, Torah Interme- ing route. After yeshiva, Selavan, now 34, began teaching is key to our identity. Artifacts help us realize that ‘oh dia. Another focuses on artifacts from the time of the the Brazilian martial art capoeira around Israel. At 25, he wow, these were real people.’ What was daily life like for Maccabee revolt and oriented toward Hanukkah. More earned an undergraduate degree at a Jerusalem teachers’ regular Philistines or regular Israelites? What were they Passover-themed tours are planned for the festival’s college and, in 2013, came to the United States to teach. seeing as they traded and mingled with another culture? intermediate days. See “Museum” on page 13 Yo u are cordially invited to the ANNUAL MEETING of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Please join us as we elect Officers and Trustees, celebrate the achievements of the past year and honor several individuals for their leadership contributions to our community and to Israel ursday, June 7, 7pm Linder Room, Scranton Jewish Community Center, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton A Dessert Reception and short video will follow the meeting. Dietary laws observed. RSVP to 961-2300 (ext. 4).

Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania 2018 ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM Welcome & introductions ...... Douglas Fink, President Dvar Torah ...... Rabbi Yehuda Salkow, Jewish Resource Center Federation Perspectives...... Douglas Fink, President Presentation of Campaign Awards...... Douglas Fink, President 2018 UJA Campaign Report...... Dr. Joel & Leah Laury, UJA Campaign Co-Chairs Committee recognition ...... Douglas Fink, President Nominating Committee Report ...... Seth Gross, Chairman Installation of Officers and Trustees ...... Rabbi Yehuda Salkow, Jewish Resource Center Closing Remarks Douglas Fink, Incoming Federation President Dessert Reception A full-color, detailed Annual Report of all Federation activities will be included in the publication and distributed at the Annual Meeting.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 10 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 How matzah became a household item for non-Jews in the Netherlands BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ Such carryovers were perhaps possible ENSCHEDE, Netherlands (JTA) – For in the Netherlands partly because many most matzah bakeries, Passover is their Protestant Christians here emphasize the lifeline and only claim to financial via- Hebrew Bible over the New Testament. But bility. After the weeklong holiday, during Pieter Heijs showing Heijs said “it’s because Dutch Jews were which Jews are commanded to consume one of the products of so integrated into the fabric of society.” matzah to commemorate their ancestors’ his Hollandia Matzes The matzah became a year-round hurried flight out of Egypt, demand for the factory in Enschede, household food in recent decades as super- famously tasteless cracker drops sharply. Netherlands, on March markets replaced smaller grocery stores, Except, that is, in the Netherlands. 19. (Photo by Cnaan according to Jonah Freud. He published A centuries-old and proud Jewish com- Liphshiz) a book in 2012 about the Dutch Jewish munity here has made matzah a household cuisine based on her research for the Jew- product that is sold in supermarkets and ish Historical Museum of Amsterdam. “I consumed year-round by millions of non- think it may be connected to how matzah Jews who swear by it as their breakfast is perceived as healthy,” Freud said. bread of choice. That’s one reason why kosher-for-Passover matzah, which “costs the harvesting until the dough is kneaded Heijs concurs. “Many of our clients Pieter Heijs, a co-owner of Hollandia more to make than what we get for it,” and the sheets are baked. want matzah because it’s such a pure Matzes in this eastern city, is probably the Heijs said. Still, Heijs remains committed to mak- product,” he said. “No additives, no con- only matzah maker in the world who braces The factory, which produces about 40 ing matzah that is kosher for Passover. servatives, highly nutritious. What more for losses, not earnings, during Passover. million matzah crackers annually, also “It’s a matter of tradition, and it means a can you ask of a health food?” Almost all the profits of his matzah makes small amounts of shmurah matzah great deal to me,” said Heijs, who is not In an overture to the health-food crowd, bakery – the only one in Holland – comes – a specialty variant that is even costlier Jewish. “Even if it comes at the expense one of the first moves by Heijs and his from sales to non-Jews of a product that because of its stringent adherence to the of our profit margins, we will continue business partner, Udo Karsemeijer, who lacks the “kosher for Passover” certifi- kosher rules. To prevent even the hint of to produce Passover kosher matzah for also is not Jewish, after they bought cation. However, for four weeks ahead leavening, the wheat and flour never come as long as we can.” Hollandia in 2004 was to add an organic of Passover, Hollandia also produces into contact with moisture from the time of The losses, however, are dwarfed by the matzah product to the lineup. It includes boom in Hollandia’s sales during Easter, matzahs in two sizes, a whole wheat va- which often coincides with Passover. On riety and one with spice herbs. Hollandia the Christian holiday, millions of Dutch now exports products to Scandinavia, buy and eat matzah as part of a nationwide Germany and even France, where several tradition that testifies to centuries of Jewish matzah bakeries compete for a market influence on the general population. with 500,000 Jews. A liberal nation that was home to one Heijs and Karsemeijer bought the of Europe’s most illustrious Jewish com- Hollandia factory from a Jewish family munities before its near annihilation by named Woudstra. The founding family the Nazis and their collaborators during built the factory in Enschede because it had the Holocaust, the Netherlands has other a large Jewish community, and because of examples of interfaith borrowings (take the arrival to the eastern Netherlands of the oliebol, a deep-fried winter snack thousands of Jews who fled the Nazis in in Holland that many trace back to the nearby Germany. When the Nazis invaded Hanukkah doughnut called sufganiyah). See “Matzah” on page 12

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.

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With best wishes, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, PA 18510 APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 11 Alex Bregman is baseball’s next Jewish star BY HILLEL KUTTLER Jewish and otherwise, following a strong with people, and I’m really, really proud of WEST PALM BEACH, FL (JTA) – Sitting on a couch 2017 season and the first World Series title him for that,” she said in a phone interview. near his locker at the Houston Astros’ spring training for the Astros – to which he contributed She recalled her son defending elemen- facility here in mid-March, Alex Bregman is reflecting mightily. He knocked in a run in each of tary school classmates being bullied. And about an encounter his father had at the World Series the first five games, added a second home he was also on the other end: A boy made last fall. It was in Los Angeles, between innings of the run, threw out a runner at home plate to fun of Alex’s pending bar mitzvah as he opening game. Sam Bregman was headed for a Dodger preserve a scoreless tie in Game 4 and had was leaving school to meet with the cantor, Stadium concession stand to grab a nosh wearing his the run-scoring single that ended an epic and a Chinese-American teammate on Astros jersey with the No. 2 and his surname stitched on Game 5 in the 10th inning, 13-12. Alex’s basketball squad stood up for him. the back – a facsimile of his son’s uniform. The young During the 2017 season, the former The experiences, she said, “taught him Bregman, a third baseman, had just slugged a home run No. 2 overall draft pick out of Louisiana what it was like to be marginalized.” off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. State averaged .284, pounded 39 doubles Alex Bregman’s manager expects Years ago, the family attended an A fan grabbed Sam’s arm. “Are you Alex’s dad?” and 19 home runs, and stole 17 bases. the young slugger to get even appearance by several players of the “I am,” the elder Bregman replied. Two days after the Game 7 road victo- better. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/ minor league Albuquerque Isotopes. “Is he Jewish?” ry, Alex celebrated at the championship Getty Images) One player was aloof. “Sam and I said “Yeah.” parade in Houston. Thousands of fans lined streets in a to Alex, ‘Don’t ever be like that,’” she recalled. The man was a Dodger fan, but still he flashed what city still recovering from Hurricane Harvey flooding a But Jackie also knows her son is driven to excel on the Sam described as “a look of great contentment” at the couple of months earlier. field. “He would not mince words. ‘I don’t just want to ballplayer’s heritage. “To see their pure joy,” Alex said, “gave me the chills.” play baseball; I want to be the best,’” Jackie remembered “I got such a kick out of it,” Sam said in a phone The experience capped a memorable year for Alex her son saying. “He was determined.” interview near his home in Albuquerque, NM. “It made that began with his playing for the U.S. team that won the In junior high in Albuquerque, Alex attended a me feel so proud.” World Baseball Classic title in March. Israel’s squad, which University of New Mexico baseball camp. The Lobos’ Alex’s take on the encounter: “It’s definitely cool to finished sixth overall in the WBC, had sought his services. baseball coach, Ray Birmingham, preached dedication to have fans around the world give their support. It keeps In retrospect, he said, “I probably should’ve played greatness. “Alex took that so literally that he’d hit in the you motivated to know that everyone has your back.” for Israel because I got [just] four at-bats” playing as a batting cages until he got calluses,” recalled Sam, who Alex can expect to have more fans on his bandwagon, backup for the American team. Regardless of who comes had grown up on the field at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, calling in 2021, Bregman said, he’s unlikely to participate. where his late father, Stan, worked as a lawyer for the “There are a lot of things I want to accomplish in this Washington Senators. It was Stan, “Grandpa Zayde,” who game. Winning is right there at the top,” Alex said. “We gave his grandson a card set of Jewish baseball players. have a great team to repeat as champs.” Someone else who witnessed that commitment was Astros manager A.J. Hinch said he expects Alex to Darvin Ham, who coached the New Mexico Thunderbirds, “build off the momentum he generated in the postseason an NBA Development League team the Bregmans owned. and throughout the whole season last year.” In postgame conversations and at the Bregman “While he’s established himself as a major league player home, Alex “was like a sponge” of information about – he’s not even close to what he’s going to be,” Hinch said. the makings of athletic achievement, said Ham, now an He called Alex “a true baseball rat,” someone who “loves assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks. “He was a very the game, loves practice, loves being around his teammates.” good listener. He took mental notes,” said Ham, who But his mother, Jackie, will tell you that her son is considers Alex “a little brother.” more than about baseball. His foundation, AB for AUDS, Alex explained his early competitive drive. “Coach provides computer tablets to children with autism and Birmingham said you have to decide,” he recalled. “I woke Alex Bregman swung against the Los Angeles Dodgers Down syndrome. Brady Columbus, a son of Alex’s former up at 5 am to go to the cage to school to the cage: defense in Game 2 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on hitting coach and Alex’s godson, is autistic. and hitting. I did that every day for years, [beginning at] October 25. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Jackie spoke of her son’s kindness. “Alex is so patient See “Star” on page 13

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ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 12 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018 Matzah Continued from page 10 in 1940, the Woudstras went into hiding matzah-baking activities in solidarity with course I developed friendships and bonds and the Nazis closed down Hollandia. Israel and the Jews. “If I have to think about with many Jewish people,” said Heijs, Before the invasion, the Netherlands had eating nothing, but matzah for two weeks, who on Passover eve this year will attend several matzah bakeries, according to the it makes being Christian look easy.” his first seder dinner with his wife at the Dutch Bakers’ Museum. Among the best Although he is not Jewish, Heijs regards invitation of a Dutch Jewish community known and oldest was the De Haan bakery matzah as much more than a commodity. in northern Holland. “But matzah is part in the fishing village of Marken, north of “After 14 years of making matzahs, of of the Dutch story regardless.” Amsterdam. It operated only ahead of Passover and, after the baking of the last matzah each year, De Haan employees Continued from page 7 would march to music through the village Past dressed in white sheets and ceremoniously A shopper browsed for matzah at the Though she describes the experience at said the letter did not go far enough in extinguish the ovens. Amsterdam Noord branch of the Jumbo Kibbutz Grofit as “a fantastic thing to do as addressing the issue. One of the production line machines supermarket chain on March 17. (Photo a very young woman,” she said it made her “I can’t explain why other editors hav- inside Hollandia, a state-of-the-art factory by Cnaan Liphshiz) realize that she did not want to immigrate to en’t done this directly. I’m not criticizing with 18 employees who work year-round the Jewish state. “The lives of the women them in any way. What I will say is we’re inside a three-story building, dates back to supply immediately after the war,” Heijs said. on the kibbutz were to my way of thinking in a moment of reckoning as a society, 1924. Inside the room where it now oper- Whatever the reason, he added, the reality kind of constrained. You didn’t have a world as a country, where people are willing to ates, the local Jewish community briefly was that Hollandia was “one of the first bak- of choice. This was a small kibbutz in the look back at actions of themselves or their ran a Jewish school for the children who eries that were restored” after the war, thus middle of the desert, right on the border of organizations and lay out maybe a lot of were expelled from the general education entrenching its status as a household brand. a bunch of other countries, and it just made really great history but [also] some things system under the Nazis. Heijs, 55, remembers enjoying Hol- me realize that it wasn’t going to be the that weren’t so good,” she said. The factory reopened after World War II, landia matzah as a boy ahead of and also lifestyle for me,” she recalled. The magazine also plans to focus on during which the Germans killed 75 percent directly after Easter. “I understand that Instead, she set her sights on pursuing a Muslims, Latinos, Asian Americans and of the prewar Dutch Jewish population of matzah is not considered a delicacy ex- journalism career in the U.S. She enrolled Native Americans. Though the magazine 100,000. The community never replenished actly among Jews, who substitute matzah at Michigan State University, but dropped examines racism and other forms of big- its numbers. By then, however, matzahs for bread for [eight days] each year,” he out to accept a job as a full time reporter otry there are no plans at the moment to had developed a non-Jewish following. said. “But for us, who had it in addition at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She later look into antisemitism, she said. “That’s The eye-catching and instantly recog- to everything else, it was a treat that went returned to Michigan State to pursue a not to say in the future that we wouldn’t, nizable packaging of Hollandia matzah very well with chocolate and butter.” bachelor’s degree in journalism. but we don’t have anything that we’ve boxes – an orange-colored octagonal Karina Ahles-Frijters, who lives in Hil- Throughout her career, she has been planned right now,” she said. cardboard box with a camera-aperture versum, near Amsterdam, wrote in 2016 the first woman in many of her positions, Goldberg, who lives in Washington, opening – was a marketing coup cooked on her parenting blog Trotsemoeders that including as managing editor of the San DC, with her husband Geoffrey Etnire, up by the Woudstras, Heijs said. her three children like to experiment with Jose Mercury News, editor-in-chief of the a real estate lawyer, said that since start- The matzah became even better known matzah toppings (her eldest prefers whole Cleveland Plain Dealer and executive ing her position, her “biggest push” has to the Dutch immediately after the war wheat matzah with butter and sugar-coated editor of Bloomberg News’ Washington been to increase gender, ethnic and racial because the Hollandia factory received anise seeds, she wrote). One day a year, bureau. She joined National Geographic diversity on the staff. Currently, about a subsidies under the Marshall Plan for the Hollandia factory is open to anyone as executive editor in January 2014, and quarter of the staff are people of color. financial aid to rebuild war-torn Europe, interested in making their own matzahs. succeeded Chris Johns as editor-in-chief “I just don’t think that you are going to according to Heijs. He said the funding But not everyone is a fan of the matzah. a few months later. end up with authentic stories if you’ve was meant also as a gesture acknowledging “Frankly I couldn’t tell you why so many Goldberg’s letter drew both praise, from only got an all-white staff, and a majority Jewish suffering during the Holocaust. Dutchmen like matzah – I don’t think it’s those who lauded her for looking critically male staff, and that is what it was,” she “But it was also a practical decision: tasty at all,” said Roger van Oordt, the at the magazine’s coverage of race, and said. “We’ve been working very hard to Matzah requires no eggs, no salt, no sugar director of the Netherlands-based Chris- criticism, from others who wondered why change it. We’re not there yet, but we’ve – all commodities that were in very short tians for Israel group, which organizes it took the magazine so long to do so and been making a lot of progress.” P A C E Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment Your gift to the Annual Campaign DOES A WORLD OF GOOD. Endowing your gift allows you to be there for the Jewish community of NEPA forever. A Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) is a permanent fund that endows your Jewish community Annual Campaign gift as a lasting legacy. A PACE fund will continue to make an annual gift in perpetuity on your behalf. To determine the amount you need to endow your entire campaign gift, multiply your current annual gift by 20. You can fund your PACE by adding the JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA to your will, or by making the Federation a beneficiary of your IRA. All contributions to establish a PACE are tax deductible. Let your name be remembered as a blessing. Endowments can be created through a variety of vehicles, some of which do not necessitate funding during your lifetime yet still provide your estate with considerable tax benefits. They also enable you to perpetuate your commitment to the Annual Campaign in a way that best achieves your own personal financial and estate planning goals. 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For more information contact Mark Silverberg at [email protected] or call 570-961-2300, ext. 1. APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 13 Novel Continued from page 6 Star Continued from page 11 Boston suburb of Brookline. “[T]his is a book of fiction. All the probably age 12 or 13. I never went to the at LSU [where Bregman was a first-team “It was a different Holocaust book. It was characters are made up,” she wrote. school dance.” All American at shortstop]. I saw him not strictly factual, it was not a memoir,” “Happy-ever-after is a fairy tale notion, On this day, Alex departed for a hit a homer, and I fell in love with him Finkelstein told JTA in a recent conversa- not history. I know of no woman who practice field and chatted in Spanish as a player.” tion. “Jane did a superb job in taking the escaped from Chelmno alive.” with fellow infielders Jose Altuve and The trio jogged toward a batting cage, story of the Holocaust down to a level that “The Devil’s Arithmetic” struck a Carlos Correa, natives of Venezuela Bregman stopped to sign autographs after ordinary American kids could understand chord for Deborah , who read the and Puerto Rico, respectively, at second he finished hitting. The Astros came home and digest, and present it in a sympathetic book more than 15 years ago, when she base during a running drill. Bregman is on April 2 for their opener at Minute Maid manner. The characters were realistic, not was about 10 years old, she recalled in fluent in the language. Park, where he’d sign plenty more. His paper cutouts.” Educators immediately a recent phone conversation. As a child Jerick Paquinto, a 19-year-old from parents planned to be there. seized on the book to teach about the trag- growing up outside of Boston, she knew Houston wearing a Bregman jersey, was Sam joked about guarding the champi- edies of the Holocaust, he recalled. that half her family had perished in the among hundreds of fans watching. “I like onship ring his son will receive. There’s an inherent tension in present- Holocaust. Reading Yolen’s historical that he’s not the biggest guy and he has a “I know that the Jewish community ing the Holocaust in young adult fiction, fantasy stirred an emotional connection lot of heart,” Paquinto said of the 6-foot around the country is so proud of him,” according to Daniel Magilow, a Holocaust to the incomprehensible loss, she recalled. Alex, words similarly applicable to the Jackie said. Referring to the card collection scholar and professor of German studies “It was my gateway” to read more books 5-foot-6 Altuve, last year’s American of Jewish players, she added, “I hope that at the University of Tennessee, Knox- in a quest for a deeper understanding of League MVP. “I liked him since he was one day he’s in that collection.” ville. On one hand, writers need to create the Holocaust, said Berlin, now a mid- young characters with whom readers can dle-school math and science teacher at the identify, said Magilow, a former fellow at Rashi School, a Reform Jewish kindergar- the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum ten-eighth grade day school in suburban Museum Continued from page 9 who writes on the subject of Holocaust Boston. Yolen’s fantasy and other works of In his second year teaching Bible at the suburban Newton and is now planning to representation. Books for younger readers fiction are especially important to today’s Netivot Montessori Yeshiva in East Bruns- do the same with area day school groups. tend to be redemptive, and if not upbeat, teens, who may feel disconnected from wick, NJ, he took fourth-graders to see the Selavan lives in Crown Heights, the they, at least, suggest that adversity can the Holocaust, she has observed. Met’s exhibit “From Assyria to Iberia.” Brooklyn headquarters of the Chabad- be endured and overcome. “Mapping the Bones” is Yolen’s 366th Another visitor, overhearing him, asked Lubavitch movement, and is finishing The problem? This does not square with book. As Yolen sets out on a whirlwind if he read Aramaic and led him to the Tel up a long-distance master’s degree pro- the historical reality with how children series of book talks and conferences, the Dan stele, a 2,800-year-old inscribed stone gram in Jewish education at the Hebrew were treated during the Holocaust. “We author said she had not planned to write on loan from the Israel Museum. Reading University of Jerusalem and enrolling are reminded that the very young and the a third Holocaust novel. The idea for the what turned out to be paleo-Hebrew, Sela- in a Jewish history master’s program at very old were immediately slated for the Hansel and Gretel-like narrative emerged van was struck by the power of seeing the Yeshiva University. gas chambers,” Magilow said. in a conversation with an editor, who, like earliest known reference to “Beit David,” On the Passover tour, as the group Magilow cautioned that Holocaust fic- Brodie three decades earlier, urged Yolen the seat of the Davidic dynasty, which is approached the Temple of Dendur, the tion should not be presented uncritically, to take on the project. his hometown. “Then people started asking massive sandstone shrine set in a grand but should be taught “in the context of the In four years of being immersed in me questions,” Selavan said. sunlit interior plaza, Selavan pointed out a uncomfortable truths.” It’s important to Holocaust research and writing, there At the start of the 2016-17 school year, replica crocodile in the surrounding moat. educate kids about tragedies that occur in were also lighter and happier books, Yolen he started networking with other Orthodox He noted that the Hebrew term “taneen,” the world, but it’s a complex balancing act. said. Among them was “Jewish Fairy Tale yeshivas to lead tours and quickly expand- found in Ezekiel and Exodus, is generally “It’s devastating material,” he said, Feasts: A Literary Cookbook,” written ed into leading adults. Last summer, he translated as “serpent,” but more likely “and there’s no way around it.” with her daughter, Heidi E.Y. Stemple. took about 20 groups through the Met, meant crocodile, as they infested the Nile. Yolen acknowledged the balancing act “But the things that feed the soul are he said, and now leads synagogue and “My dream is to do things like this with in an author’s note for “Briar Rose, which [books] like ‘Mapping the Bones,’” Yolen Hillel groups as well. He gave a Jewish museums around the world,” he later told is set at the Chelmno extermination camp reflected. “As hard as it was, I know I was tour of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to JTA. “In Spain, , France and so in Poland. meant to write this book.” members of an Orthodox synagogue in on. And to live in Jerusalem.” s on our bus t Join u rip to

Wednesday, May 16 The New York City trip includes lunch (at your choice of one of the fine restaurants near the museum), a guided tour of the museum, and a visit to the outdoor memorial at Ground Zero. Cost for bus and tour - $40.00 ease otat ass a at th uestos a reseratos ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 14 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018

February 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. - 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 *)

APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 15 NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org toral students Michael Khalemsky and Michal Gaziel Yablowitz of the univerity’s Jews expand presence in , naming buildings after School of Business Administration, developed the “EpiMada” app to connect hundreds of high-risk allergy sufferers. In the event of an allergy emergency, the biblical matriarchs sufferer activates the app, which dispatches the nearest registered user to dispense A group of 15 Jewish families in Hebron took up residence in two buildings situated his own personal dose of the vital medicine. Based largely on the same system as near the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Ma’arat HaMachpela) on the night Gett Taxi or Uber, the app could save the sufferer valuable minutes that it would of March 26, which they have named Beit Rachel (the House of Rachel) and Beit have taken emergency medical personnel to arrive. The team’s research indicated Leah (the House of Leah). The names were bestowed in honor of the biblical sisters that allergy patients “are highly motivated to give their personal EpiPen to patient Rachel and Leah, who together with their husband, Jacob, were the forebears of the peers in immediate need, something generally uncommon among total strangers,” 12 tribes of Israel. The entry of the families prior to Passover occurred just days after said Yablowitz in an interview with JPost. “The fact that Epimada is a downloadable families left a three-story building called Beit HaMachpela. The families claimed that and carefully monitored mobile community opens the door to exciting research into they purchased the building from the Palestinian Abu Rajab family in 2012; however, the behavior and benefits of emergency response communities.” that family took them to Israel’s Supreme Court, which said the Jewish community First officially sanctioned settlement in 25 years, Amichai could not take possession until the Civil Administration agrees to register it in the community’s name. Shlomo Levinger, Hebron resident and a spokesman for the Harhivi becomes home to Amona evacuees organization that activated the move, said Beit Rachel and Beit Leah were purchased The first new Jewish community built with official sanction in more than 25 years five years ago, and that his organization received authorization from defense and gov- will be inhabited on March 26, filled with the residents of Amona, who were expelled ernment officials to inhabit the buildings. “In the face of all the challenges and those from their homes 14 months ago by order of the Supreme Court. Temporary caravilla who are trying to derail our continued expansion in the city of our forefathers, we dwellings were set down in the new community of Amichai for the 42 families of declare that on this day, all of Israel is taking a historic step in redeeming the land,” Amona, who engaged in a protracted and highly publicized legal battle to remain Harhivi said in a press release. Levinger noted that his father, settlement leader and in their homes, which they lost in February 2017. They have since resided together spiritual figure Rabbi Moshe Levinger, led his own effort to restore Jewish life to in a dormitory in the nearby community of Ofra. In 2014, in a case brought years Hebron in the aftermath of the 1976 Six-Day War, exactly 50 years ago. The Peace earlier by the Yesh Din pro-Palestinian legal aid organization, the Supreme Court Now anti-settlement organization called the entry into the new residences “unparalleled found that a portion of the community of Amona was built on land belonging to chutzpah” and demanded that security forces not wait for the Supreme Court to hand Palestinians, and that the entire community should be destroyed. Despite efforts on down a ruling before kicking the Jews out. International Spokesman for the Jewish the part of the ruling coalition, the Israeli government was not able to prevent the Community of Hebron Yishai Fleisher noted the strategic and political significance of demolition of the community, but managed to pass a “Regulation Law” allowing the move. “With the addition of Beit Rachel and Beit Leah, there will be continuity the government to expropriate land upon which Jewish communities were built in from the Machpela to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. It will enable more Jewish good faith or with government support, even if Palestinians later came to claim families to live in this ancient Jewish city,” he said. “Furthermore, the government’s ownership of the lands. That legislation was frozen by the Supreme Court in August. approval of this purchase sends a signal to all those who would ethnically cleanse us However, the coalition was able to go forward with a deal it clinched with Amona’s from this city, that the Jewish people – and Israel – are here to stay.” residents, promising them a new community in exchange for peaceably relinquishing New Israeli app geared to help allergy sufferers in their homes. Amichai is situated north of Palestinian Authority-controlled Ramal- lah, between the Jewish communities of Shilo and Eli. “We are looking forward medical emergencies to entering our new homes, which we were able to establish with the blood of our Israeli researchers have developed a life-saving smartphone application for highly hearts, with determination and faith, love for the land and for Zionism,” said Avichai allergic people that will help come to the rescue in an emergency. The app is meant Boaron, head of Amona’s secretariat. The construction of permanent homes will to serve the millions of allergy sufferers at high risk of going into anaphylactic begin in the coming months and is slated to reach 102 houses. However, roughly shock if they don’t get epinephrine shots (EpiPen), a pen-like personal-injection a third of those homes will have to pass legal hurdles, as new petitions have been system that delivers the life-saving medication. There are 20,000 allergy sufferers filed by Palestinians who claim the land demarcated for the homes belongs to them. in Israel who have been prescribed portable epinephrine pens. Aware that many The Supreme Court earlier in March froze compensation funds earmarked for the allergy patients, including children, find themselves in a medical emergency far Amona expellees, saying they should not be compensated for their losses because from their medication, Bar-Ilan University Professor David G. Schwartz, and doc- they built their homes illegally.

Create a Jewish legacy and preserve our traditions. Quick Reference Guide To Charitable Bequests

Everyone should have a Will.

Wills help protect your estate and provide for your loved ones. They are also an easy way to ensure the continued strength of our Jewish community through the use of a charitable bequest to the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Including a charitable bequest in your Will is a way to express your values. You choose how your gift should be used after your lifetime; providing support for what is important to you. Your bequest can be for a particular purpose or field of interest or unrestricted to where the “need is greatest.” You can also designate the amount, percentage of your estate or the asset you wish to use. Defining your legacy is your decision. Please let us know if you are considering a charitable bequest or have included one in your Will. The Jewish Federation Endowment staff is available to answer your questions about charitable bequests and suggested wording. You should always contact your attorney to discus any charitable gift and what is best for your situation. The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Endowment Fund provides stability and continuity to Jewish life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its donor-centered options give individuals and families the flexibility to achieve their charitable goals and create lasting community legacies.

Benefits • Simple to create • Does not require giving away assets during life • You choose the programs to support • Can be changed if circumstances change • Your legacy making a difference for future generations Let your tzedakah work for you and your community For more information contact: Mark Silverberg, 570-961-2300 (x1); [email protected]. ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook

16 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 5, 2018

D D ­e Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania presents “My Brother’s Keeper - e 911 of the Jewish People” How the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJDC) is changing the Jewish world Scranton Jewish Community Center Thursday, May 17 at 7pm Given the importance of the work done by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJDC) to assist imperiled and threatened Jewish communities around the world, a special program will be presented on ursday, May 18th at 7:00 PM in the Koppelman Auditorium of the Scranton JCC and will be open to our entire Jewish community - at no charge.

Our guest for the evening will be Shaun Goldstone, Global Development Ocer for the JDC who has participated in JDC’s worldwide international disaster relief eorts in Haiti and Ethiopia and is currently responsible for raising the prole of JDC’s Eastern European and Asian humanitarian and Jewish renewal eorts as well as fostering collaborations between the JDC and its partner organizations.

The program is open to the entire Jewish community and a dessert reception will follow. An RSVP to Mary Ann Mistysyn at either 961-2300 (x4) or [email protected] would be appreciated in order to facilitate food arrangements. We hope you can join us for this wonderful program. Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania D D

APRIL 5, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 18 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES D’VAR TORAH CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESS BRIEFS B’NAI MITZVAH MAZEL TOV OBITUARIES JEWISH HERITAGE CONNECTION New to the YOUR GRIEF MATTERS community? RABBI MEL GLAZER, TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS Are you new to the community? The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania would love to learn more about you and your family! We’d like “COOL FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL” to arrange an interview that would be featured in an upcoming issue of The Reporter. For more information, call PHILANTHROPIC INS & OUTS Mark Silverberg at 961-2300, ext. 1. “Welcome to Northeastern PA.” SCIENCE SNIPPETS New to the community? Are you new to the community? The Jewish Feder- ation of Northeastern Pennsylvania would love to learn more about you and your family! We’d like to arrange an interview that would be featured in an upcoming issue of The Reporter. For more information, call Mark Silverberg at 961-2300, ext. 1. “Welcome to Northeastern PA.”

The Jewish Federation of NEPA extends its condolences to the family of

Jewish Community Center of Scranton 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 Phone: (570) 346-6595 Fax: (570) 346-6147

BOARD OFFICERS: President: Eli Arenberg 1st Vice President: Ed Monsky 2nd Vice President: Doug Fink Treasurer: Michael Roth Secretary/Executive Director: Edward M. Basan Assistant Secretary: Filmore Rosenstein

PROFESSIONAL STAFF: Executive Director: Ed Basan Jewish Community Center of Scranton Membership Registrar: Gary Beckhorn 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510 Business Manager: Alice Berger Phone: (570) 346-6595 Bookkeeper: Carol Gallitz Fax: (570) 346-6147 Senior Luncheon Manager: Leah Gans Aquatics Director: Julia Goretsky BOARD OFFICERS: PROFESSIONAL STAFF: Program Director: Vince Kalinoski President: Eli Arenberg Executive Director: Ed Basan Recreation Specialist: Scott Moskovitz 1st Vice President: Ed Monsky Membership Registrar: Gary Beckhorn Early Childhood Director: Rika Schaffer 2nd Vice President: Doug Fink Business Manager: Alice Berger Senior Adult Director: Ilona Thurston Treasurer: Michael Roth Bookkeeper: Carol Gallitz Development Director: Marie McTiernan Secretary/Executive Director: Edward M. Basan Senior Luncheon Manager: Leah Gans Assistant Secretary: Filmore Rosenstein Aquatics Director: Julia Goretsky AGENCY MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of the Jewish Program Director: Vince Kalinoski Recreation Specialist: Scott Moskovitz Community Center is to develop and conduct a comprehensive Early Childhood Director: Rika Schaffer program of activities, including education and recreation aimed Senior Adult Director: Ilona Thurston at assisting individuals to meet their personal, social, recreational, Development Director: Marie McTiernan educational, physical health and cultural needs/interests in order AGENCY MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of the Jewish Community Center is to develop and conduct to achieve an affirmative identification with Jewish life and a deep a comprehensive program of activities, including education and recreation aimed at assisting individuals to appreciation of their reponsibilities as citizens of the community, meet their personal, social, recreational, educational, physical health and cultural needs/interests in order the state and the nation. to achieve an affirmative identification with Jewish life and a deep appreciation of their reponsibilities as citizens of the community, the state and the nation. ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook