Jewish Journal Is a Nonprofit Newspaper Supported by Generous Readers, Committed Advertisers and Charitable Organizations
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
FEBRUARY 27, 2020 – 2 ADAR 5780 JEWISHVOL 44, NO 15 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG STEVE ROSS, 1931-2020 Ross survived death camps and helped found the New England Holocaust Memorial Photo: JCRC/John Rich Photography Steve Ross (right) with his son Mike. Liana Brodsky gets ready to celebrate with Tobin Bridge Chabad. By Steven A. Rosenberg The Whole Megillah: The joys of celebrating JOURNAL STAFF Stephan “Steve” Ross, who survived Auschwitz and nine other Purim on the North Shore Nazi labor and death camps and who went on to found the New England Holocaust Memorial in 1995, died earlier this week. He was By Michael Wittner Abraham in Beverly, before an debate was simultaneously silly 88. JOURNAL STAFF audience of superheroes, Elvis and serious. In truth, Purim Ross was one of the most visible Holocaust survivors in New impersonators, and Ahasuerus and its pastries are no better England. He spoke to countless children and organizations about Which is better: haman- courtiers who all had been or worse than any other Jewish his experience, and over the years worked as a psychologist and also taschen or latkes? It may sound enjoying Cape Ann Brewing holiday and its signature foods. served as a counselor at Boston’s Youth Activities Commission. like a simple question, but each Company’s special “Queen But Purim, which celebrates the In addition, he was the subject of a 2017 award-winning docu- Purim, academic luminaries the Esther’s Decree” beer, congre- Jews of ancient Persia avoiding mentary “Etched in Glass: The Legacy of Steve Ross.” Ross also pub- world over debate it with schol- gants Tim Averill and Alan Pierce a plot by the wicked Haman to lished a memoir, “From Broken Glass: My Story of Finding Hope in arly rigor as if they were defend- argued the merits of sweet vs. annihilate them, is a unique, Hitler’s Death Camps to Inspire a New Generation.” ing their dissertation or argu- savory, circles vs. triangles, and some might argue, under- “Today Boston lost a giant, and the world quite honestly lost a ing a case before the Supreme human politicking vs. divine appreciated holiday. giant. Here’s a man who could have given up several times in his life Court. Recently, physicist Jeff miracles. Averill is a debate In the 1800s, it was one of and he didn’t,” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh wrote on Twitter Monday Harvey managed to find a way coach and Pierce is an attorney, American Jewry’s premiere fêtes, after learning of Ross’s death. to connect hamantaschen to so it was a fascinating game of and every community held an Rick Mann, chair of the Yom HaShoah Program and the New string theory. intellectual ping-pong. elaborate Purim ball. But latkes England Holocaust Memorial, believes that without Ross’s com- Last year at Temple B’nai Just like Purim itself, the continued on page 19 continued on page 11 ON NORTH SHORE, CJP PRESIDENT URGES A MORE WELCOMING JEWISH COMMUNITY By Michael Wittner ing community in part because crowd reconvened to share their JOURNAL STAFF we heard it over and over and thoughts. The first round, enti- over again last year in so many tled “Envisioning a Welcoming DANVERS – Creating an different ways – this concept Community,” asked: “What atmosphere that attracts all that not enough people feel wel- qualities or adjectives would Jews – especially younger gen- come here,” Baker said during you use to describe a welcoming erations – was the challenge Conversations for Action, a leg community?” As a warmup, par- issued by Combined Jewish of his second annual Greater ticipants were asked to reflect Philanthropies President Marc Boston listening tour. “What on three quotes that focused Baker on a recent visit to the can we actually do to close that on the issues of geography; an North Shore. gap? What can we actually do to overemphasis on families at Baker asked over 40 local Jews address some of the things that the expense of single people; gathered Feb. 12 at Danversport just came up and be a more wel- and the culture of mainstream to imagine a more welcoming coming community?” Jewish institutions as barriers to community, where those on the The meeting was divided inclusion. fringe find a place where they into two rounds posing differ- Sue Callum of Peabody talked belong. ent questions. Each table dis- about how her children don’t feel “We decided to focus this cussed the question among as connected to their Judaism Photo: Michael Wittner/Journal Staff CJP President Marc Baker visited Danversport on Feb. 12 to brain- broadly on the topic of welcom- themselves before the entire continued on page 11 storm ways to foster a welcoming Jewish community. MORTGAGE. Our Bi-Weekly Mortgages can save you thousands in interest. Chelsea | Boston | Burlington | Framingham | Lawrence | Lynn | Melrose | Newton | Peabody | Salem | Tewksbury MetroCU.org | 877.MY.METRO The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – FEBRUARY 27, 2020 COMMUNITY NEWS NOW OPEN! Independent Living | Assisted Living | Avita Memory Care Now welcoming new residents Living well means the freedom to have quality care and a lifestyle without worry. We take care of the details so you can spend quality time with family, learn something new or simply enjoy life. Make Winter Easier Ask our team about arranging moving services Call to speak with Dina or Patty: 978.664.2600 Visit: 141 Elm Street in Andover, MA Online: StoneHillAndover.com 15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE SERVING SENIORS IN NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY NEWS THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – FEBRUARY 27, 2020 3 College students live and work in the homeland through Onward Israel By Michael Wittner ests. “Working for a technology children. JOURNAL STAFF company was awesome, seeing “I loved it, because I wouldn’t what it’s like to work with engi- normally get to interact with Working a 9-5 job every day neers was really interesting,” Ethiopian Jews, because they might not sound like a recipe he said. “I was doing market- tend to cluster in their own for the best summer of your life, ing, but I feel like it pushed me neighborhoods and there’s not but Israel has a way of making more towards the technical side many in Jerusalem,” she said. everything special. Since 2012, – I was really interested in how “We couldn’t really have sophis- a program called Onward Israel they were building things.” ticated conversations, because has given college students a Faynberg interned with the they didn’t speak English and generously subsidized opportu- youth outreach center of the I speak broken Hebrew … but nity to intern and gain an inti- Ethiopian National Project, a they were optimistic and hope- mate understanding of every- nonprofit helping immigrant ful.” day life in the homeland. Jews – many suffering from Both Maselek and Faynberg “You grow in a different way poverty and discrimination found Israeli work culture to than if you’re with a group all – integrate into Israeli society. be more relaxed than it is in the time, and I think Onward Faynberg helped coordinate the States. “I think it’s more gave me a lot more chances to fundraising, after-school activi- continued on page 20 be truly independent, because ties, and English lessons for you’re in your own internship, you’re doing your own thing, and yeah, you have your group, Leah Khayter, Pauleen Faynberg, Leah Simonson, and Jacob Maselek but your whole days are led lived and worked in Israel on the Onward Israel program. by you,” said Jacob Maselek, a Marblehead native who about 30 percent of the cost. gram representative for an ini- interned at a Jerusalem startup Most of the rest is sponsored by tial screening. An internship in 2015 when he was a student Masa Israel Journey, the Jewish coordinator then helps appli- at Clark University in Worcester. Agency of Israel, the Israeli cants find a suitable English- Helping young people government, and private dona- speaking internship, and sets achieve personal and profes- tions, so participants only pay up an interview with potential ASK THE AUDIOLOGIST sional independence and con- about $400, depending on their supervisors. Over the years, fidence is one of the program’s Dear Dr. McCormack: particular program. Most par- participants have interned at a main objectives, according to Does insurance cover hearing aids? ticipants have previously been diverse range of companies and Onward’s President Ilan Wagner. on Birthright, so Onward orga- organizations, from Greenpeace Unfortunately, although hearing aids are medically necessary, “The initial emphasis was nizes three group trips to places to Sodastream to Yad Vashem to most insurance does not cover them. We will check your insurance résumé building, which we not covered on the standard the municipality of Tel Aviv. and, if you are lucky enough to have coverage, we do accept and understood to be something Israeli sightseeing tour. Maselek, who knew he want- direct bill most insurance. We will work with you to come up with a that young people were look- When they’re not working, ed to work in technology mar- plan that you can manage. We offer 12 months no interest financ- ing to find ways to accomplish,” participants relish the oppor- keting, interned for Curiyo, a ing and low monthly payment lease options. Our affiliate, the North he said. “They said the number tunity to travel throughout the Jerusalem company that builds Shore Hearing Foundation, provides hearing aids for those of low one way to do that was through country. “I saw some of the web applications for publish- internships, but there could income who would otherwise go without.