Jewish Activism and Ambivalence
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Weekly Since 1924 $40 PER YEAR WITHIN MONROE COUNTY, $42 OUTSIDE COUNTY/SEASONAL 70¢ PER ISSUE n VOL. XCVIII, NO. 24 n ROCHESTER, N.Y. n KISLEV 10, 5781 n NOVEMBER 26, 2020 NYC Fines Satmar $15,000 Where Biden’s Secretary of State For Mass Wedding Choice Tony Blinken Stands on Jewish Issues, From Immigration to Israel BY GABE FRIEDMAN cy. Multiple reports say that (JTA) — Tony Blinken, Presi- Blinken will seek to rejoin dent-elect Joe Biden’s choice for many of the international secretary of state, is the stepson agreements that Trump left of a Holocaust survivor whose as president, notably the Paris stories shaped his worldview Climate Accords and the Iran and subsequently his policy nuclear deal (an agreement decisions, including in the Mid- with major diplomatic conse- dle East. quences for Israel). Biden named Blinken to the Under Blinken, the State De- post on Monday, a day after partment will usher in a much news leaked about his plans different foreign policy era, in- to bring on the Jewish former cluding on Israel. Like Biden, A Satmar wedding takes place in Williamsburg, breaking coronavirus restric- high-ranking official in the Blinken has close ties to the tions. (Courtesy) Obama administration. country forged from his de- Blinken, 58, has been one of cades of strong support of the BY JEREMY SHARON less wedding it staged two Biden’s closest policy advisers Jewish state. New York City Mayor Bill weeks ago in Brooklyn in viola- for over a decade and espous- Tony Blinken, when he was deputy Here’s what you need to de Blasio has announced that tion of city and state COVID-19 es the opposite of Trump’s secretary of state, is seen at a news know about the new top diplo- the Satmar Kiryas Joel Has- regulations. “America First” agenda, which conference at the State Department, mat, who hasn’t been much of sidic community will be fined The wedding, staged on No- prioritized nationalist goals Aug. 10, 2016. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via a household name until now. $15,000 for the massive, mask- (Satmar — Page 6) over international diploma- Getty Images) (Blinken — Page 13) Opinion... Janet Yellen to Be Nominated as Many Jews of Color and Diverse Jews Are Politically Conservative First Female Treasury Secretary — and Many Voted for Trump BY RON KAMPEAS She assumed the job in early WASHINGTON (JTA) — Joe 2014. Read our guide to Yellen’s BY MIJAL BITTON go living at the collision point Biden is set to nominate Janet career and Jewish background (JTA) — After Joe Biden between my life as a scholar Yellen as secretary of the here. won the presidency, my liberal working in liberal settings and treasury, according to multi- Yellen, who attended a Re- friends — mostly Ashkenazi as a traditional Jew with deep ple reports on Monday. She form synagogue in Berkeley, Jews with deep roots in Amer- ties to conservative immigrant would be the first woman in California, featured in an ad ica — were aghast that over 70 Jewish communities. This af- the role and the third Jewish Trump ran during his 2016 pres- million Americans voted for forded me a dual vantage point treasury secretary in a row, idential campaign that featured Trump. to a political division that is not after President Trump’s choice Yellen and Jewish investor and My Syrian, Persian, Bukha- understood or acknowledged Steven Mnuchin and President philanthropist George Soros. rian and Hispanic friends and by the liberal Jewish establish- Obama’s second term pick Jack Jewish groups denounced the family members — Jews with ment: that entire populations of Lew. video for juxtaposing them immigrant identities — were diverse Jews (or Jews of color, Yellen, 74, has already made Janet Yellen speaks during her last with the “levers of power in shocked, too. But most mourn- depending on one’s definition) history as the first woman news conference as Federal Reserve Washington” and “global spe- ed the president’s defeat. lean Republican, and many chair of the Federal Reserve, chair, in Washington, D.C., Dec. 13, cial interests.” Throughout this election, I within them voted for Trump. appointed by Obama in 2013. 2017. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Yellen — Page 6) kept feeling a sense of verti- (Voted for Trump — Page 8) Moderna Chief Medical Convicted Spy Jonathan Pollard Goes Officer Wins Award Free, Capping 35 Years of American- (JNS) — Ben-Gurion Univer- Jewish Activism and Ambivalence sity of the Negev is honoring individuals who have made BY STEWART AIN significant contributions in Jonathan Pollard, the convict- the spirit of Israel’s first prime ed spy embraced by some Jews minister David Ben-Gurion, in- as a patriot for their people and cluding Moderna chief medical rejected by others as a stain on officer Dr. Tal Zaks. it, is a free man. An M.D., Ph.D. graduate The U.S. Parole Commission of BGU, Zaks is spearhead- notified him that it had termi- ing the vaccine research ef- nated his parole and lifted the fort for Moderna, which just restrictions that were keeping announced that its mRNA- him to within certain sections 1273 coronavirus vaccine is of Manhattan. He no longer 94.5 percent effective. Dr. Tal Zaks, chief medical officer of must wear a wrist monitor or (Moderna — Page 10) Moderna. (Ben-Gurion University) (Pollard — Page 4) (Getty Images) Dor l’Dor • 2x3 • 111318 • GB Fax/Email: - Expositor-Ledger Newspapers Rochester Golf Week • The Jewish Ledger 2535 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road, Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 427-2468 • FAX (585) 427-8521 IMPORTANT… We want YOUR AD to be perfect… Your ad will run as it appears here unless we hear from you immediately. Please review this ad carefully. ◗ Check spelling and punctuation ◗ Check addresses and phone numbers, as well as e-mail addresses and web sites. ◗ Check dates and times of all events listed. If there are any corrections, please call us immediately at 427-2468. Page 2 • THE JEWISH LEDGER • Thursday, November 26, 2020 SPECTACULAR CHANUKAH SALE Community … 20-25% OFF A Message From Federation Dor L’Dor Fine Judaic Gifts and Books President Nusbaum at Discounted Prices MENORAHS • DREIDELS It is hard to believe that cause saying these things aloud love, and hope, and family. I DECORATIONS • TOYS • BOOKS Thanksgiving is in a few short allows me to move past them am grateful to live in a nurtur- CHILDREN’S GAMES & PUZZLES days. It is even more difficult to — and toward greater appre- ing, engaged community. And SAFE, SOCIALLY DISTANCED SHOPPING believe that we have been liv- ciation. In order to practice I have never been more con- Alice Palokoff, Owner ing with the reality of the pan- gratitude, I am digging deep vinced of the collective power 83 Warrington Dr. demic for nearly nine months! and focusing on the work in of community to make a differ- Call for an Appointment Thanksgiving is a time to our community that makes me ence in people’s lives. (585) 461-1521 or (585) 414-8726 email: [email protected] celebrate our blessings, and one proud and thankful. And, in So as we head into a holiday of the traditions at our family that calculus, there is quite a season like no other, I hope that table — and many of yours I lot to be thankful for. we can all find the space to re- am sure — is to share what we I am grateful that our com- main grateful for our blessings. I are grateful for. In this most munity has stepped up to help will dwell on what sustains me, unusual and difficult year, I am local families in need, with and give thanks for the warmth, finding it challenging to fully food, vital services, and em- diversity, and generosity that is experience gratitude. Concerns ployment and mental health the Rochester Jewish community. about health and safety and counseling. I am grateful for I would love to hear what you are loss, and disappointment that all of those who continue to put grateful for. And from my home we cannot be with our extend- their lives on the line to help to yours, I wish you a happy ed family to share hugs and others. I am grateful that sci- Thanksgiving and a Hanukkah meals together, have tempered entists from around the globe filled with light and love. this season for me. have been working hard since Sincerely, I share this with you not to March to find a vaccine that Julie Nusbaum, remind you of how our lives might be available by the end President, Jewish Federation are limited this year, but be- of this year. I am grateful for of Greater Rochester Hillel Community Day School Held Their Grandparents and Special Friends’ Days This year, the annual event partnership and connection honored to welcome guests was held virtually and was between students and spe- both locally and across the able to maintain the same cial guests. Hillel School was globe. b “The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time.” Chanukah Guide � Festive Holiday Recipes Don’t miss out on this � Creating Your Own Menorah special expanded issue! To reserve your space, � Cookbook Reviews call 427-2468 � Books & Activities for Kids � Chanukah Happenings Weekly Since 1924 THE JEWISH LEDGER • Thursday, November 26, 2020 • Page 3 The News in Brief … ing him to do for years. In the wide-ranging Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future, Francis also says the COVID-19 pandemic should spur governments to consider permanently establishing a uni- versal basic income.