Jewish Federation of Central New York of Central New York
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Jewish Observer» A month of remembering A publication of the Jewish Federation of Central New York of Central New York PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY & ADDITIONAL OFFICES SYRACUSE, ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD | WWW.JEWISHFEDERATIONCNY.ORG APRIL 2020 | NISAN-IYAR 5780 Ma Nishtana? LOOK: INSIDE: DON’T MISS: INHERITANCE PHOTO CONTEST WHAT I LOVE (6) WINNER ABOUT PASSOVER (8) (12) Jewish Observer April 2020 of Central New York Published by Jewish Federation of Central New York Editor’s Note Letter to the Editor 5655 Thompson Road DeWitt, NY 13214 Passover is my favorite holi- As a result of the turmoil caused by the corona virus pandem- day. There are services in shul, ic, there may be people in our community who will need to take phone: 315-445-2040 x116 but the highlight for me is our advantage of a very important Federation program. The Hebrew fax: 315- 445-1599 seder, which means “order.” It is Interest-free Loan Program of Central New York offers financial jewishfederationcny.org not just the order of the meal. stability and opportunity for Central New Yorkers by providing It is the order of a ritual dat- access to safe and affordable credit in the form of interest-free ing back thousands of years. It loans. HILP loans can make an immediate, concrete difference is also the order of what we do in the lives of borrowers, enabling them to meet emergency for the holiday – and the meal. expenses, invest in their education, start a business, and more. President/CEO ......................................................................................................Michael Balanoff Bette Siegel, Editor In our house – as in most Jew- Money is lent interest free to any Jewish person from Cen- Board Chair...............................................................................................................Ellen Weinstein Editor ..................................................................................................................................Bette Siegel ish households – the holiday al- tral New York who is in need of temporary financial assistance. lows us to make this meal for our family and friends. Zero interest personal loans, up to $4,000, can be used for many We first create the menu for the celebratory meal after the purposes including medical and dental bills, debt consolidation, ceremony. We prepare from scratch gefilte fish and the soups – small business loans, lifecycle events, family emergencies, car chicken – and vegetarian. The family joke is that I can only make and home repair, camp fees, school tuition and fees, adoption heavy matzah balls, which we don’t like. We prefer the lighter and fertility services. Monthly payments begin one month after The Jewish Federation of Central New York is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America. ones, so someone else makes them. I am unable to make them the loan funds are disbursed to the borrower and continue until light – and yes, I’ve even tried the boxed mix! the loan is paid in full. Repayment terms and monthly payments Produced by After that, we prepare the seder plate: hard-boiled eggs, Sep- are determined by the Loan Committee in consultation with the hardic and Ashkenazi charoset, boiled potatoes, greens, grated borrower. For more information about the program, contact the home-grown horseradish (to make us cry perhaps for loved Jewish Federation at 315-445-2040 x118 or info@jewishfedera- ones who have died) and the old shank bone that we have tioncny.org . boiled until there is no smell because we use it every year. Then, – Steve Volinsky Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer .......................................................................................Barbara E. Macks [email protected] we prepare the seder meal – usually fish or turkey breast. Some Creative Director .......................................................................................................................................J.P. Thimot of our foods differ from those of our parents – no schmaltz in [email protected] sight and no heavy foods. We have special no-flour pastries and Vice President/Production & Sales .......................................................................................Jennifer Tudor cakes that we make every year with no hametz – no flour at all What’s Inside... [email protected] or leavening – and lots of eggs. Our seder also doesn’t last as Lead Designer ..................................................................................................................................Kimberly Miers long as the sedarim of our parents and grandparents years ago. 3 From the Federation [email protected] Senior Graphic Designers ..........................................................................Josh Flanigan, Andrea Rowley The day of the first seder, we take out the three-tiered Israeli 4-5 Congregational News Graphic Designers ..................................................................................Kristen Thomas, Nicholas Vitello seder plate – a wedding gift from Donald’s great-uncle – and all 6 The Jewish Experience Production Manager .................................................................................................Adam Van Schoonhoven the Pesachdik stuff in the cabinet behind it. We find the afiko - Sales Director ....................................................................................................................Cynthia Oppenheimer men bag I’ve had since I was a child. The family kiddush cup is 7 JCC News [email protected] polished – the old one – not the ones we’ve received as gifts 8 School News Sales Executives ....................................................................................................................................Keren Green during our adult lives - and Elijah’s cup is also polished. Miri- [email protected] am’s ceramic cup comes out and the haggadot are located and 9 Profiles in Commitment counted. Will there be enough of one kind for the guests – you 10-11 Jews in the News Submissions: know, family members and those special people who come an- 12 Reflections Submit editorial stories, photos, and calendar items by the 1st of nually and are our not-by-blood family? 13 B’Tay Avon the preceding month of issue to: [email protected]. Passover is when we try to have our nearest and dearest to To Advertise: celebrate with us. If our children are there, they sing songs they 14 Community News To advertise, call Cynthia Oppenheimer at 716-783-9119 x2240. learned at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School. As we get older, 16-17 Yom HaShoah Ad space & materials are due by the 16th of each month prior to and the children move away, the adults sing those songs – and publication. For a rate card and any additional information, please they’re just as much fun as they were when our children were 18 Israel News email Cynthia Oppenheimer [email protected] or younger. 19 Ezkera/Remembering Barbara Macks [email protected]. May your Pesach be one of love, laughs and a good meal! To Subscribe: Chag Pesach sameach! To subscribe, email [email protected]. Free for Central New York area residents and donors to the Federation’s annual Your editor, campaign. Non-resident subscription is $36 for 12 issues, payable Bette Siegel Thank You to the Jewish Observer. THE JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK (USPS 000939) (ISSN 1079-9842) [email protected] Publications Periodical postage paid at Syracuse, NY and other offices. Published or 315-445-2040 ext. 116 to Our Advertisers 12 times per year by the Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc., a non-profit corporation, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214. Subscriptions $36/year; student $10/year. POSTMASTER: Send address change to JEWISH OBSERVER OF As we celebrate the success of our new Jewish CENTRAL NEW YORK, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214. Observer, we want to thank the people who help The Jewish Observer of Central New York reserves the right to cancel any advertisement make it possible – our advertisers. The JO is free for at any time. The Jewish Federation of Central New York and Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. are not liable for the content or errors appearing in the advertisements beyond community members, in significant part, because the cost of the space occupied. The Jewish Observer does not assume responsibility To stay up to the minute on what is happening for the kashrut of any product or service advertised in this paper. Editorials, columns, of the companies and people who advertise in advertisements, agency reports and other outside articles do not necessarily all around the Central New York represent the views of the newspaper or the Jewish Federation of Central New York, it. We urge our readers to support the companies but rather express the view of the writer. Jewish community, subscribe to our weekly email, and individuals who support us. Every advertiser is All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Community Happenings. important. We appreciate your loyalty and ongoing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or an intention to make any such Send your email address to support, and look forward to working together with preference, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept you, through the JO, to make our Jewish community any advertising for real estate