The Jewish Journal Non-Profit Org. Monthly Magazine U.S. Postage PAID Youngstown, OH MM Permit #607 JJ Youngstown Area Jewish Federation February 2020 ON THE COVER: The Paul & Yetta Gluck School of Visual Arts Held Its First Class in January see page 11 for upcoming class options INSIDE: Mitzvah Day 2020 Will Include a Soup Cook-off see page 14 Where the Top Presidential Candidates Stand on Jewish Issues see page 18 YOUNGSTOWN AREA Volume 17, Number 2 • February 2020 • Shevat/Adar 5780 JEWISH FEDERATION Commentary Musings with Mary Lou: Women’s Heart Month By Mary Lou Finesilver Day comes in a close third. Interesting. problem. How can you correct something get them, and also a beautiful card from a Heart month celebration began in 1963 if you don’t know it is a problem? Of Did you know lovedeven flowers,one. One if year, you Iare reversed lucky itenough and sent to in order to bring more attention to heart course, we have all heard that diet and that February is diseases, etc. You know, heart disease can exercise are so necessary to keep the Women’s Heart to this day whether he was pleased or start as early as 18, so no one is immune. body going. It doesn’t necessarily make Month? It is embarrassed.my husband flowers I hope at he work. was I’mpleased. not sure He I think, in my uneducated mind, that it you immune, but it helps with recovery. recommended never really said, and I can no longer ask is women’s heart month because for so I know that exercise is very important to that men and him. I still exchange cards with my kids keep us going in the right direction. That’s women wear red and a few friends. heart problems in women. We generally why we have so many exercise centers I remember when I was young - I was don’tmany haveyears theit was same difficult warning to diagnosesigns as and amazing, expensive equipment. For of February once you know - it was a big deal to take men, for one thing, and for another, instance, those bikes that talk back to whichon the thisfirst year,Friday is valentines to school in a decorated shoe women have a higher pain tolerance than you and sing with you, or the mirrors that box. Then we had to go through the ones men so we don’t read the warning signs help you with your program of exercise. show solidarity. received to check to see how many were that so often occur with heart attacks. Wouldn’t work for me; I only look in Feb.I 7,have so findtwo something questions: red Whyto wear is toit received and who had the most. When I I know my sister had problems, but she the mirror long enough to put on my “women’s heart month” and why was a little older, we looked for that one always knew when it was a heart attack. eyebrows or my lipstick. Yuck! February? Well, of course, I don’t have special card from that one special person I think a couple of times she had to have I do try and watch what I eat, though all the answers (haha!); but stop and and cherished it for months, until the stints placed in order to keep her heart sometimes it is gone before I knew it was think that in February we celebrate next new crush came by. It could be a very going properly. there. Not good! Anyway, don’t do as I do. St. Valentine’s Day. I know originally it happy time or sad time, depending what Yyou can also have problems with Follow the experts; they know what they started as, and actually still is, a religious you were looking for. Remember? Those arteries or veins that could amount are talking about. Here’s to better heart holiday, but for many of us it just means were the days. Valentine card sales are to large heart problems, and there is health to all, and don’t forget to wear red love, hearts, hugs, and kisses. Sometimes second only to Christmas cards. Mother’s no warning. To me, that is the biggest on Feb. 7. At 17, I’m the Youngest Woman to Complete the Seven-Plus Year Study of the Talmud By Hila Schlakman that, studying Talmud daily seemed very with my grandfather too. opinions. My family and friends were EFRAT, West normal to me. I wasn’t even aware that In my experience, the hardest part of always there for me, displaying patience, Bank (JTA) — the fact that I am a girl was a factor to learning the Daf is starting the practice. understanding, and encouragement. I didn’t start consider. Deciding to learn every day for seven The experience has taught me many learning the The Daf Yomi has been a part of my and a half years is an intimidating goal. things. I now have an understanding Talmud to take a home for as long as I can remember. My Luckily, my dad was very determined, of what our religion is based on — the stand or voice an so once we decided we were starting, concepts and ideas that go beyond mere opinion. When I that was it. There were no exceptions: if technical points of Jewish law. I enjoyed started learning father and my older brother, Ari, first you missed a Daf, you had to make it up reading the stories about Jews who lived a page of Talmud finished Shas (the 2,711-page Babylonian another day. It can be hard at times, but during Talmudic times, the way our per day (Daf ITalmud) was 3 yearsin 2012. old. IThey always had saw started them that’s part of the beauty of it — the Torah ancestors thought, and how they shaped Yomi) at age 10, I didn’t realize that learning andTalmud bonding together together. in 2005 It seemed when is always a part of our lives, no matter our religion and practice. These things anyone would even notice. To me, it was very natural, meaningful, and important what else we are doing. have changed the way I think about just something I did, a part of my day that to me, but not out of the ordinary. It wasn’t always easy. Not every Daf is Judaism and life in general. was dedicated to learning Torah with my As a new cycle was approaching, my interesting (although my dad might say Often, I found that what I learned brother and father. younger brother Yosi said he wanted to otherwise), and with everything going in the Daf was directly connected to At ages 9 and 10 respectively, my begin learning with my dad as well. I was my life at the time. I think that anyone brother and I had no idea what the ten at the time and looking for a project time for learning. Thankfully, I had tons can relate to the Gemara (Talmud) and commitment really meant. I knew that that I could take on for my Bat Mitzvah, ofon support.in our lives, My itfather can be always hard totook find time the that it affects each person differently, our being so young was pretty unusual. so I decided to join. A few years later, my out of his day to learn with us, make sure younger sister, Bracha, joined as well. that we understood the page, point out all the Daf Yomi cycle at 17 years old, it was And ever since my grandparents moved of the interesting details, and encourage consideredWhen my oldera big brotherdeal. But had other finished than to Israel, I’ve had the privilege of learning us to develop our own thoughts and Talmud continued on page 23 2 The Jewish Journal Monthly Magazine February 2020 Candle Lighting Times Film Screening and Discussion Commemorates February 7 .......................... 5:28 p.m. Bloody Sunday February 14 .........................5:37 p.m. February 21 ........................ 5:45 p.m. February 28 ....................... 5:54 p.m. About the Journal 505 Gypsy Lane Youngstown, OH 44504-1314 Phone: 330.746.3250 Fax: 330.746.7926 Email: [email protected] Publisher Andrew L. Lipkin General Manager Bonnie Deutsch Burdman Editor Elise Skolnick Advertising Director Phyllis Friedman Copy Editor Jamie Durisko Layout & Design Taylor Lody Office Kathy Schell The Jewish Journal Monthly Magazine is a publication of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation and has received major grants from The Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning follow. Joanne Bland, co-founder and Interdenominational Ministerial the Schermer Trust, The Committee, Sojourn to the Past, and former director of the National Civil Alliance; League of Women Voters; Maurice and Florence Lipscher the Mahoning Valley Historical Society Rights Museum in Selma, Ala., will be Links, Inc. Youngstown Chapter; Charitable Trust, and ZOA. the main presenter. At age 11, Bland Mahoning Valley Association of February 15 is the deadline for at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Tyler History participated in the events of Bloody Churches; Nonviolence Week will present “Selma: 55 Years Later” articles and ads for the March Committee; Unitarian Universalist issue. Submissions may be “After Selma,” a documentary film The event is free. Church; Youngstown Alumni Chapter edited for length and/or clarity. aboutCenter, the 325 Civil W. Federal Rights St. marches from SundayThis inprogram 1965. is presented in of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and The JJMM does not assume the Selma to Montgomery, Bloody Sunday, partnership with Baptist Pastors Youngstown Warren Black Caucus. responsibility for the Kashruth voting rights history, and voter Council of Youngstown; Community For more information, of any product or service repression, will be shown.