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VOL. XLVI NO. 11 PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY JUNE 5 2020/13 SIVAN 5780 NEXT DEADLINE JUNE 12, 2020 16 PAGES

HOW TO REACH US - PHONE 860-442-8062 • FAX 860-540-1475 • EMAIL [email protected] • BY MAIL: 28 CHANNING STREET, NEW LONDON, CT 06320 JFEC Annual Meeting – June 18 The Community is cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting maintain security for those at- tending. In addition to the emailed in- of TheBy theJewish time Federation you read this of Eastern article anConnecticut email invitation on Thursday, will have June been 18, vitation to the Annual Meeting sent2020 to at the 7:00 community. PM via Zoom. If you do not receive the email and would like recipients will be given access to attend the Annual Meeting, please email [email protected] and we to the Federation’s 2020 Com- will make sure you receive the invitation. munity Report which is being Highlights of the meeting will include remarks by U.S. Representa- published online this year for the tive Joe Courtney, an address by TED Talk Rabbi Elan Babchuck of Clal, an introduction of the Federation staff, a Young Emissary report by Roi Federation leadership and Refaeli, and reports from Board President Romana Primus and Execu- stafffirst time.look forward to seeing you tive Director Carin Savel. During the Federation’s Annual Meeting the following community members will be nominated as Directors for a three-year term ending all on the evening of June 18 at 7:00 PM. Landesberg, Sarah Rogovin, and Barbara Sahagan. Carol Curland will June 30, 2023: Jo-el Fernandez, Evert Gawendo, Judi Glickstein, Elyse-

tobe resignnominated recently for aand one-year Tom Smith term has ending been June nominated 30, 2021. to Allcarry Board out theOf remainderficers’ terms of expire Maier JuneFein’s 30, term 2021; and however, must be treasurer,voted in. Maier Fein, had The invitation will provide a link to register for the Annual Meet- ing. Once you have registered a Zoom link that includes meeting I.D. From l-r Yair, Daniel, and Sasson Robinson with Rabbi Rachel Saf- and password will be provided. A telephone number will be provided man. Not pictured is the youngest member of the family Talya Rob- if you can only join by phone. Registration is necessary to make sure inson and the matriarch, Edie Safman. there is an identifiable quorum so Directors and Officers can be elected during the meeting. More importantly, it is necessary to A fond farewell to U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney Local teens Rabbi Rachel Safman awarded By Artie Dean Rabbi Rachel Safman is leaving New London’s Congregation Beth Rosenberg Helping those at risk with El as of June 30, 2020. The community has known for quite a while, scholarship fond farewell is upon us. Rabbi Safman proved to be a particularly able 2 critical programs leaderbut with during her finalthis bizarreweekend pandemic, slated for as Junea viral 13 curtain and 14, descended the time uponfor a The Rabbi Rosenberg Tikkun our country. Olam Scholarship Award Com- Operation Cool Down & Pledge 2 Protect Normally a departure of this magnitude would warrant a robust mittee has selected Trevor For- To those of you who have not yet donated, your support is vital. To send off. Instead we will wish Rabbi Safman well on her next adven- nara, Ellanora Lerner and Jar- donate to any or all of our projects – Operation Cool Down, Pledge 2 ture by Zoom. ed Linder as the 2020 honorees. Protect and/or Food Pantry, please visit our website https://www. Since its inception in 2016, the jfec.com/ or make your check payable to JFEC and remit to 28 Chan- Award Committee has only once • Mark your calendars: June 13, 10 AM -- ning St., New London, 06320. Be sure to let us know in the memo line selected multiple recipients of Rabbi Safman’s final Shabbat Service at Beth El where how you would like us to use your donation. she will be honored the Scholarship Award. This To anyone who needs help in this crisis, please reach out and let us year’s honorees are all so de- • Sunday, June 14, 4:00 pm. Farewell celebration with memories of our time together. serving, that the committee was A new addition to the Federation’s roster of projects is Pledge 2 unable to choose just one from • Both services held on Zoom (link not yet available) Protectknow at which860-442-8062. was launched We will two be weeks there. ago. This initiative will pro- these three amazing graduates • Deadline for submissions to the memory book is June vide protective masks for staff and residents in our local nursing who each epitomize the mean- 16, 2020 homes. It’s a part of the JFEC Community Relief and Recovery Fund ing of Tikkun Olam! • To perform at the Farewell Celebration call Beth El by which has been funding critical needs in our community. It is unclear at this time, June 8 at 860-442-0418 whether we will be able to hon- our efforts-- for every mask we buy, they will donate a second one. As you all know, houses of worship were closed by executive or- or in person Trevor, Ellanora and ThatMany means thanks every to dollarPacific youLink contribute Institutional to Supply,buy protective who is matchingmasks is der of the Governor two months ago. I compliment Rabbi Safman with Jared. However, The selection doubled in value. converting (no pun intended) Beth El’s gatherings to virtual services committee hopes its pride in - without missing a beat. The Rabbi credits the easy transition with a their accomplishments is dem- ern CT has distributed through its Operation Cool Down program decision she made during her second year in New London to set up onstrated in this written tribute. betweenEvery 25-30summer window for the airpast conditioners 17 years, the to Jewish low income Federation frail ofseniors East RABBI CONT. ON PG 5 LOCAL CONT. ON PG 9 HELPING CONT. ON PG 14 2 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 Jewish Together 130 Jewish groups pledge to fight racism Virtual community and informative By Josefin Dolsten, JTA The letter urges government Dozens of American Jewish groups have pledged to work to end and law enforcement to investi- resources, powered by The Jewish systemic racism in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing in Min- Federations of North America neapolis. institute sweeping reforms in law - enforcementgate the officers and involved the criminal and “to raged” by the killing of Floyd, a black man who died in police cus- justice system.” through it all, we can still stay together with our Jewish community todyIn last a statement week. His on death June and 2, 130those organizations of other African-Americans said they were at“out the – itThese might arejust difficultneed to be times. virtual. Staying So, the apart Jewish like Federations this isn’t easy.of North But hands of law enforcement have led to protests around the world. the black community and other America has put together this website of curated resources and expe- Americans“We pledge to seeto join through forces these with riences. too long been targeted by police and have suffered rampant racism changes to law enforcement, end and“We unfair stand and in uneven solidarity applications with the ofblack the communitylaw,” the statement that has reads. for far systemic racism, and work for a The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella body that sets more just American society,” it connect,Whether learn, it’s share,for yourself, or help. your If you’refamily orlooking as a professional, for something we that’s hope consensus on issues for American Jewish public policy, organized the says. notyou here,find what please you’re get in looking touch! forThe – linksfrom belowvirtual can Jewish be found events by ways typing to letter. Signers include the Anti-Defamation League, National Council Jewish groups across the de- in your browser – https://jewishtogether. nominational spectrum have Jewish Daily - A Jewish communal unity video series and Reconstructionist movements, and groups representing Jewish condemned Floyd’s death. Curated Resources - Resources for the self, the team, and the Jew- communitiesof Jewish Women, nationwide. national organizations of the Reform, Conservative ish world Virtual Meetups - See times and dates for a curated calendar of virtual gatherings Nonprofit Loans - Keep the holy work going even in changing times Everyone counts: We are counting on you! Here in Eastern Connecticut the JFEC works to support, sustain and revitalize Jewish life. But we can’t do it without you. Send in your donation today.

Candle Lighting for Eastern CT area Friday, June 5 • 8:00 pm Friday, June 12 • 8:04 pm Friday, June 19 • 8:07 pm Friday, June 26 • 8:07 pm

Protesters march in New York in response to the death of George Floyd. (John Lamparski/SOPA Images/ LightRocket via Getty Images) National Award Winner of the Council of Jewish of Jewish Federations as the Outstanding Small Cities Jewish newspaper. Published every other Friday for the dissemination of Jewish news and views by the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, 28 Channing Street, New London, CT 06320, 860- 442-8062. Managing Editor...... Mimi Perl Layout Editor...... Jen Gault Social Editor...... Freida Katz President ...... Romana Strochlitz Primus Executive Director...... Carin Savel Mailing Volunteers...... Mimi & Milt Seed, Marlene Siegel ...... Gerald & Marilyn Rubin Advertising: Call Mimi Perl 860-442-8062 or [email protected]. Advertising Deadline: Friday, June 12 for June 19 issue. Editorial Content: Preferred receipt of editorial material is via email to mimi@ jfec.com. Photo(s) submitted via email should be separate attachment(s) from article. Preferred photo format is a .jpg format; resolution should be a minimum of 200 dpi. Material sent via fax [860-540-1475] or first class mail [28 Channing St., New London, CT 06320] should be typed/double spaced or neatly printed. If you submit a hard copy of a photo and wish the photo returned, include a stamped, self- addressed envelope. Editorial Deadline: Friday, June 12 for June 19 issue. Printing: The Gazette Press, Northhampton, MA Postmaser: Send address changes to Jewish Leader, 28 Channing St., New London, CT 06320 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 3 Haddasah News Hadassah remembers the Catskills

By Sheila Horvitz ciological phenomenon of the The Borscht Belt, Danny Kaye, Alan King, Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett - the Concord, Grossingers, Kutchers, Browns, the Nevele, the the urban Jewish community - bungalow colony and the casino nightlife - weekend husbands and Catskills:upwardly -mobile the cultural- striving life and of Dads - just some of the names familiar to generations of American - Jews who escaped from the ute trek from the city to the mountains and spending leisure time a 90 min Hadassah zooming fresh air of the Catskills in New York State. wascity, froma perfect the 1930’s solu- into the future Zooming into the new tioninto for the a time 1980’s. when It age of connection and in- Jews were still not A Message from President Karen Bloustine formation, the Eastern welcome at country CT chapter of Hadassah clubs and summer The Eastern CT Chapter of Hadassah misses seeing everyone in pools, before the person - and our signature programs - The Annual Donor and the Klatch to discuss the scope era of air-condi- hosted a Zoom Coffee and breadth of Hadassah tioning, and before we have not stopped at all in our commitment to learning, studying, Magazine and the headline most women joined Henny Simon Remembrance Weekend have been postponed. However, sharing, and fundraising and keeping alive the ideals of Zionism and article of each edition. At- the work-force advocacy for tendees read the magazine - so they could other on Zoom. that featured stories about spend summers in health and education. We are learning how to “see” each the Catskills and came pre- the Catskills with Catskills edition, was attended by many outside our chapter and was a pared to share their remi- the family while Our first Zoom Coffee Klatch on May 19 on Hadassah Magazine, the great interchange. And although Emanuel Aronson Rund could not be niscences and stories of the men worked with us for our Henny Simon program - our Remembrance committee their Catskills experiences. back in the city. had a Attendees included - special brainstorming sessions to plan how to keep up our program- members of other chapters around the state as well as President of tions changed - air conditioning ming andgreat outreach Zoom discussion during this with unprecedented him from Jerusalem. time. We are having Hadassah CT Alana Fodeman. When those condi I am keeping our chapter informed about Hadassah’s work through Memories included stories about an aunt who was a long-time joined the work force in greater chef at the numbersbecame - wide-spread; and Jews could women join by - Catskills and country clubs and golf clubs, their many informative video and audio programs. We are heartened Concord Hotel; a couple who spent their honeymoon in the search to develop treatments and a vaccine. people who spent summers at the smaller bungalow the allure of the Catskills waned. Hadassah Hospital’s work in treating Covid 19 patients and re saw the often off-color comedian Buddy Hackett at the One of our special outreach fundraising programs each year is for colonies where husbands and dads came up for the weekends and Although there is a renaissance hotel nightclub; Youth Aliyah - a program established originally by our founder Henri- returned to the city by of new businesses and resorts etta Szold when she courageously rescued children of the Holocaust rooms where portions were huge and waiters were like members of now, the age of the Borscht belt is Monday morning; and stories about the dining and brought them to Palestine and housed them in villages dedicated the family. The warmth and comfort of the environment were com- gone forever. Our memories live to their care and education. The children of the Youth Aliyah villages mon themes. on - with the help of the stories in now come from disadvantaged homes and families - and need a friend, All of the stories and insights were illustrating aspects of the so- Hadassah Magazine. a caretaker and a head start in life. It is truly miraculous how these young people are prepared to enter Israeli society and become great productive citizens. - HADASSAH Cheers the passage of torical issues, Hadassah projects and the hospitals in Ein Karem and MountWe welcomeScopus where ideas andso many suggestions exciting for projects programs are on launched current orall histhe The Holocaust Education Act time, or about a great book or movie to discuss. Contact me at ks- By Sheila Horvitz [email protected] with your ideas and comments. semitism is on the rise here at home and around the world. By provid- Hadassah fought for this leg- Hadassah wishes everyone safe and healthy homes and families! ing grants and educational tools to teachers and organizations in our islation for more than two years. And now the NEVER AGAIN EDU- • Today only 8 states have laws requiring Holocaust educa- CATION ACT has been signed into country - we can reverse these terrible statistics: law. it. Recent polling shows that Americans’ knowledge about This bill expands U.S. Holo- tion in school curricula while another 12 states recommend Senior Offerings caust Memorial Museum educa- The Jewish Federation will not be publishing the May-June 2020 • 31% of Americans Maven. The Maven is the go-to source for information about the Ko- tion programming and requires millionthe Holocaust or fewer is sorelyJews were lacking: murdered in the Holocaust. sher hot lunches and all the wonderful shows that the Federation ar- the museum to develop and na- • 41% of Americans (and 41% of millennials) believe that 2 ranges for seniors to sign up for. tionally disseminate accurate, Auschwitz was. Because of the social distancing necessary to stay safe from the CO- relevant, and accessible resourc- • 52% of Americans (andwrongly 66% believeof millennials) Hitler came can’t tosay power what - es to improve awareness and un- through force. able future. derstanding of the Holocaust. The simple truth is, you cannot stand up against hatred if you can’t VID-19 virus the lunches and trips have been cancelled for the foresee- identify it. This act will help educate millions of Americans to be pre- munity Services Coordinator, and a group of dedicated volunteers States has made its strongest pared to act. With this act, the United haveWe been have making not forgotten regular about phones our calls seniors to check and Carlyin to Luft,make our sure Com ev- ever commitment to Holocaust eryone is OK. education. Young Americans have If you have not received a call, but would like to hear from Carly, less awareness of how the Holo- Remember to send in your please give her a call at 860-600-3321. Carly has been working from caust happened, to whom and subscription today home and has set up this special number for seniors to reach her. why - and as we all know - anti- 4 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 Unity Message leads off Shavuot program By Yaakov (James) Mosher we are. They take it more liter- len Shapiro, Rav Julius’s wife. ning was relaxing and meditative. The main reason for Klal Yisrael’s worthiness to receive the Torah ally.” Ellen’s commentary was inter- The last portion of the evening is the spirit of achdus, Editor’s Note – and here esting with only portions of the saw everyone split up again to at- - ends Yaakov’s article about Rav drumming coming through loud tend either a class led by Rabbi erated an impressive amount or unity of that (“like feeling one man, in his with Tikkun one L’eil heart,” Shavuos says Julius’s portion of the evening. enough to hear well. Schein where she talked about discussionRashi, quoting on May the Midrash28. on Exodus 19). Rav Julius Rabinowitz gen Yaakov signed out of the service From there participants then a Talmudic model of engaging to light the yom tov candles and - of Our Torah”) in the liturgy, began the night of the 28th and ended the missed the remainder of the eve- set of classes. Rabbi Berg led a munity or a musical class led by nightShavuos, of the 30th.called Zman Matan Torah-seinu (“The Time of the Giving ning. Following Rav Julius, Rav split into two groups for the first Rabbiin conflict Ekstrand yet maintainingand Cantorial com So- Jeremy of Temple Bnai Israel isolation and trauma and Rabbi loist Sherry Barnes entitled Shir given to a Zoom audience of about 20 on Erev Shavuos, May 28, the took his turn on the zoom stage Safmandiscussion talked on Jonah:about Aresponses study of BethTitled Jacob “In Synagogue ‘Defense’ (Norwich)of the Haredi rabbi Response spoke from to the his Pandemic” home in New and and talked about what’s a house to contagion in sacred Jewish Thanks go to Ella Sackett for in Judaism -- surprising bits of texts. beingHama’a the lot: zoom Psalms master of Ascent. for the Attendance by Haredim, sometimes called ultra-Orthodox, at funer- wisdom from Bible, kabbalah, The group then came togeth- evening as she expertly guided York,als and the other state public hit hardest gatherings by Covid-19 were touched (23,905 upon deaths by Ravas of Julius May 31).and classic sages, and contemporary er again to learn some basic tai participants into separate class- teachers. chi moves from Rabbi Alter that es as needed and then brought law,” the rav said he had become less critical than three weeks prior. I was able to log on beginning could be done either standing or everyone back together for the discussion participants. Focusing on “Jewish belief” instead of “Jewish with sacred drumming with El- sitting. This portion of the eve- group portions of the evening. wereIn morea nation refreshing wounded than by a100,000-plus bowl of holiday virus ice deaths cream. including 3,769 in ConnecticutHere’s a small and sampling the recent – flare-up in racial violence, the words JTS names 1st woman leader in its 134-year history same“It’s Bible not likeand they’rewe’re criticizing oblivious.” them for their interpretation. I hope we “Theycan accept may becriticism un-American from other but notgroups.” un-Jewish. They’re reading the By David Crary, AP The Jewish Theological Seminary, the preeminent in- “Take them on their level. Respect them…They’re just as Jewish as stitution of higher learning Thanks to Henny Simon for Conservative Judaism in the United States, announced essay committee the appointment of Shuly Ru- Hadassah of Eastern Connecticut, Karen Bloustein, President and the Henny Simon Remembrance Committee, Sheila Horvitz, Chairper- womanbin Schwartz to hold on the June post 1 asin its son, hope you enjoyed reading the winning essays from the Henny eighth chancellor and the first Simon Remembrance Essay Contest. The written word is a powerful An expert on Jewish Ameri- piece of personalizing the lessons to be learned from the Holocaust. can134-year history, history. Schwartz has on through them. York-based seminary for three WeAs can with only any hope project, that by there engaging are many young people people to be the thanked. message Our will com live- decades,been affiliated most withrecently the in New a two-year stint as provost and out to schools all over this region. The consultant to the committee, previously as dean of its under- Tammymittee, CarolKaye, Curland,Program Karen Coordinator Rosenberg JFEC, and helped Barbara develop Wolfe, the reached mate- graduate dual-degree program rials and connected the committee to schools who are or have been with nearby Columbia Univer- sity and Barnard College. Goldsmith and Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg for reading all the essays and involved with the Encountering Survivors program. We thank Marc As provost, Schwartz was instrumental in guiding a tran- Shuly Rubin Schwartz in New York. (Ellen Dubin Photography via AP) to our outreach, Montville High School, St Bernard High School, The judging our winning entries. We also thank the schools that responded sition to remote learning as in- person classes were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. shared their thoughts and feelings on the lessons to be learned from - She told The Associated Press that a task force at the seminary is theWilliams Holocaust. School and Waterford High School, and the students who tion of the role of rabbis’ spouses working on plans for the fall and she expects there to be a mix of con- in“The the Rabbi’s development Wife,” anof American examina tinued virtual teaching and some on-campus activities at the roughly featuring Jewry, won the National Jewish We plan to reschedule the Henny Simon Remembrance program, Book Award. Emanuel Aronson Rund, Holocaust scholar, filmmaker, and Schwartz said four genera- 370-student institution. social activist, this fall. We hope you will join us. said. tions of her family have attend- AUTO | HOME | COMMERCIAL | MARINE “Thankfully, with a school of our size, we can be more nimble,” she Schwartz marveled at the ability of videoconferencing technology ed the seminary, including her to reach large academic audiences. grandfather, both her parents, L E V I N E her late husband and her son. how much an in-person community matters.” She will assume her new post “But there’s also Zoom fatigue,” she said. “It’s reminding all of us

INSURANCE GROUP, LLC was instrumental in establishing gender studies at the institution. who plans to join the seminary’s Schwartz was among the first women on the seminary’s faculty and The seminary did not start ordaining women as rabbis until the facultyJuly 1, after replacing a yearlong Arnold sabbati Eisen,- ANDREW J. LEVINE cal. Owner, Producer, 40+ Years Experience The Jewish Theological Semi- mid-1980s, but Schwartz noted that it admitted the first woman to its women’s volunteer organization Hadassah, who took classes in ad- nary encompasses an undergrad- vancedacademic Jewish programs studies in at 1902: a time Henrietta when the Szold, rabbinic founder school of was the for Jewish men 221 Boston Post Rd. 860-739-4444 Office uate college, a rabbinical school, only. a school for cantors, a graduate P.O. Box 339 860-739-6861 Fax Schwartz has taught as a professor of American Jewish history, East Lyme, CT 06333 [email protected] school of education and a gradu- focusing on modern Jewish life and Jewish gender studies. Her book ate school for Jewish studies. THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 5 ing at 660 Ocean Ave, New Lon- ly in the survival of our institutions and our tradition,” Rabbi Safman don, while a necessary response said. By to changing demographics, was a blow to the integrity of the con- are witnessing a new reality, with restrictions, isolation, and barriers gregation. She hopes our incom- to contact,We discussed so far howremoved the pandemic from normal has thatupended we are our pushed community. to rethink “We Artie ing spiritual leader, Rabbi Earl our social and economic existence.” Kideckel, will relight the spark of It seems to me that nothing truly fazes Rabbi Safman. I’ve watched excitement for our congregation. her navigate her many responsibilities, juggling the needs of her grow- Dean Rabbi Safman’s family has ing family with a full professional life and leading the congregation in grown quite nicely during her times of trouble. RABBI - continued from page 1 tenure in New London. She ar- - get into a hole you can’t climb out of. Apply creativity and imagination. live streaming of Beth El’s religious services and cultural programs. binical training at the Ziegler I’m“Find always a waythinking to grow,” of new she things.” said. “Don’t focus on the negative, or you’ll She worked with the Board of Directors on the installation of a new Seminaryrived in 2013,in Los fresh Angeles, from Rabwith I reached out to Rabbi Astor, our Rabbi Emeritus, who guided Beth audio-visual system which improved sound quality in the sanctu- her husband, Daniel Robinson, El for thirty-two years, for his comments. ary, and allowed members living in Florida, people who were ill, and and her toddler, Yair. Along with visitors from all over the world to view Beth El’s activities from their Edie, the Rabbi’s mother, the fam- - homes. The project was so successful that on the High Holidays the ily was a wonderful addition to passionate“Rabbi Safman rabbi anywhere. has been my Rabbi able Safman replacement has always since shownmy retirement me the our Beth El Community. Daniel, greatestin 2013. Irespect don’t think and oneincluded could mefind graciously a more sincere, whenever devoted, the andopportu com- been enjoying the services all through the year on the internet. who spent most of his teen and nity arose. I truly wish her the very best in her next adventure and RabbiI asked would Rabbi sometimes Safman greet about an herunfamiliar favorite face innovations only to find during they hadher adult life in Israel, added greatly hope that she derives the satisfaction in her work that she so richly tenure. She pointed with pride to the collaborative services planned to our community’s understand- deserves. I will always have deep respect and admiration for her and with synagogues in the area, including a series of well attended Friday ing of Israeli politics and culture, her family.” - as well as world affairs. My, how Kathleen McFadden, the president of Beth El’s Board of Directors the family grew, with son, Sas- nightMore services recently, and we’ve dinners shared with a Temple musical Emanu-El. extravaganza Almost in which 100 mem Rab- son, and newest addition, Talya, a on our members. Her compassion, intellect, and energy are unparal- bisbers Ekstrand attended. and What Safman a difference took turns a few leading years make.the service while Canto- little girl, who blessed the family leledsaid, “Inand her will seven be missed. years atOn Beth behalf El, Rabbiof the SafmanBoard of had Directors, a lasting we impact wish with her arrival last year. It al- Rabbi Safman all the best in her new role at Temple Beth El in Ithaca, run with Beth Jacob Synagogue in Norwich. I can still picture Rabbis ways made me smile to see them New York.” Safman,rial Soloist, Alter, Sherry Rabinowitz, Barnes, and led Schwartz us in song. beaming We’ve as enjoyed the entire programs Torah at services with ever patient Dan- scroll was unrolled and suspended for to see at a Shavuot celebration - The Rabbi’s new position will tor,I I had interviewed the privilege her forof first the positionmeeting atRabbi the JewishSafman, Theological when, as part Semi of- Rabbis from our surrounding communities—quite an accomplish- keepiel shepherding her on the the east flock. coast, al- narythe Rabbinical in New York Search City. Committee She impressed to find me a thenreplacement with her for intelligence, Rabbi As ment.last year. This year’s Shavuot service featured the participation of five though she might miss the mild her charm, and her enthusiasm. Despite spending her last months in It’s creative programming during Rabbi Safman’s time here that I winters of Southeastern Connect- New London addressing the congregation over a computer connec- will remember most of all. Rabbi Safman reminisced about the Slavic tion, she never lost her poise or her smile. I will miss her. Shabbat evening and Gospel Seder created in partnership with the the Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Church of God and Family, which met in the Beth El building. She Elicut. in Ithaca, Starting New July York. 1, she Rabbi will Saf be- Woody Allen’s ‘Rainy Day’ helped create an interpretive Rosh Hashanah Musaf service composed man attended Cornell University - in Ithaca some years ago for her ship with Hadassah and Temple Emanu-El. She credits the Board of bachelor’s degree. She returns to tops global box office Directorswith Cantor for Michaelallowing Zoosman, her to try and new Women’s things. Seders, run in partner replace Rabbi Scott Glass, who, By PJ Grisar, The Forward The Beth El community has faced many challenges during Rabbi - Safman’s tenure. From the Rabbi’s perspective, the sale of our build- dale, New York, to be near his daughter.after 44 years, Ironically, is moving Rabbi to River Saf- – relativelyWoody Allen’s speaking. 2019 film, “A Rainy Day in New York,” available for man met and befriended Rabbi streaming this week in the UK, is doing good numbers at the box office Glass while she was a student. a million in South Korea since opening in the country, which recently easedThe restrictions film topped for the cinemas, global box on Mayoffice 6. in To mid-May, put things earning in perspective, over half my classmates from twenty years ago“Although are gone,” many Rabbi (but Safman not all) said, of - its nearest competitor in its top-spot week was the horror flick “The nity members are still there. I feel Day”Wretched,” in New which York anytimemade $69,000 soon. in the United States that weekend. like“many I’m of coming the faculty home.” and commu EvenBefore as more this theaters spotty momentopen in America,for movie-going, we’re unlikely Allen’s to moviesee “Rainy was She’s not sure what they’ll ahead of its time in terms of stalled release dates. Amazon Studios do for High Holiday Services in shelved the romantic comedy following the director’s controversial Ithaca, but there will be virtual comments surrounding the #MeToo movement and renewed atten- tion to allegations of molestation from his daughter Dylan Farrow, al- will we have people in the syna- gogue?”services offered. “The question is contract lawsuit against Amazon — since settled — but the picture, Chuck and Romana Primus, Owners legations Allen vehemently denies. Allen filed a $68 million breach of the Rabbi will put her own cre- ativeWhatever twist on shethe proceedings. does, I’m sure which wrapped in 2018, still doesn’t have an American distributor. I took the opportunity of our The flick received a release in other countries, and grossed over- recent interview to ask Rabbi $1 million in France and Italy. Allen is still a star in Europe, where he Safman about our declining Day.”directed an opera for La Scala’s 2019 season and filmed his latest fea ture, but he has yet to break even on the $25 million budget for “Rainy number of young couples in the - area.membership. Although “Don’t their numbers dismiss theare perThe (Elle film Fanning) appears who to beinterviews something a middle-aged of a retread director of his earlier (Liev Schand- Come in! We’d like to meet you! smaller than in years past, we reiber)lately controversial who then becomes films, following infatuated a withjournalist her. for a college newspa have an obligation to provide to 475 Broad St., New London CT • 860-443-CITY provide for them. They in turn, are willing to invest tremendous- We’ll have to wait and see if the Brits cotton to the material or — like the film’s English star, Rebecca Hall — decide they’re done with the embattled filmmaker. 6 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 Minneapolis Jews care for a city in turmoil By Debra Nussbaum Cohen, JTA May 25, when a white Minneapo- - - apolis’s devastation from her home in a suburb immediately outside for more than eight minutes. gogue,sistance Congregation or unemployment Shir Tikvah, insurance he said. and are “living in the shadows,” theDr. city. Vivian The familyFischer physician spent five put hours on grayMay 30scrubs, walking her towardstethoscope, Minne a lis policeDemonstrations officer knelt began on his as neck an- said Snyder, 44. Many of the volunteers were members of his syna gry protests against the police at hardware stores in nearby suburbs. They were distributed to sev- extra masks, medical gloves, asthma inhalers, bandages, tweezers to but spiraled into something fu- eralThirty groups fire doing extinguishers neighborhood were defense, donated Snyder by people said. who bought them pickmask glass and outgloves, of cuts filled and a backpackwater, and with went whatever to see where she had she atcould home help. — eled by more indiscriminate an- Snyder’s day job is as director of organizing at Jewish Community She found countless people sweeping up the glass on the streets ger. Action, a Minneapolis-based organization working across faith lines from storefront windows broken in the chaos of Friday night’s rioting. The destruction has been so on racial and economic justice issues. But he was gathering food and widespread that the Minneapo- lis Jewish Community Relations synagogue. Council urged rabbis to remove fireAaron extinguishers Silver, a member as a volunteer of Conservative member congregation of Shir Tikvah, Beth a Jacob Reform in Torah across from their syna- gogues in case their buildings a beloved local bakery Saturday afternoon. Among the more than 200 were attacked. So far, none has buildingsSt. Paul, took burned his two and children,smashed agesin Minneapolis 9 and 12, to have board been up two the gasfront sta of- been, though right before the tions near his home, his favorite Bangladeshi-Indian restaurant, Gan- - who works as an artist and a website designer. stopfirst benchprotests across started, the streetanti-Semit from dhi Mahal, “and my post office was burned to the ground,” said Silver, Congregationic graffiti was discoveredShir Tikvah. on a bus zone.”Silver, 43, compared what is happening in his neighborhood to people’s wounds, Dave Snyder howSnyder Syrians said must he haveis motivated felt “watching to help their protect normal the mostlives becomevulnerable a war in wasWhile standing Fischer in the tendedparking lot to of Minneapolis’s El Colegio High his city because he is a Jew. “We are literally trying to protect our city Dr. Vivian Fischer offered medical care in Minneapolis during pro- School, directing people drop- - from being lit on fire,” he said. - tests following the death of George Floyd in police custody there, “It’s an extremely desperate and traumatizing situation,” Snyder May 30, 2020. (Courtesy Fischer) ers, and others who were picking ing each other out and looking for ways to help board up buildings themping off up food to distribute and fire extinguishto families andsaid. share “The foodonly inthing neighborhoods I’m holding wherefast to everyis that grocery many ofstore us arehas seekbeen in need. burned to the ground or boarded up. It feels good to be doing this as that had been shattered. Some 200 buildings in Minneapolis were de- part of Shir Tikvah and the Jewish community.” Othersstroyed were, in the as destructive volunteers, mayhem. boarding up the store and office windows and supplies would soon be distributedThirty cars in filledMinneapolis’s with food - Latino neighborhoods and at Tombstones with ing “Wean organized are all reeling. response I woke because up feeling it was despair. too unsafe.” It was A reallydoctor hard friend to Little Earth, an apartment com- calledget out her of bed,”suggesting said Fischer, that they 58. go “None into ofMinneapolis the big groups to see were how form they - swastikas to be replaced could help. By Ben Harris, JTA startedplex housing by an roughlyunknown 1,000 arsonist Na The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will begin needed,” Fischer said, and inspired by her childhood rabbi, Andre Un- Fridaytive Americans. night and the A fire complex had been was the process of replacing three gravestones bearing swastikas in cem- gar,“I’ve who alwaysmarched been with informed civil rights by leaders the Jewish in Selma ethic and to gospent where time I’m in without electricity for most of the eteries in Texas and Utah, less than a month after saying they would be day. The former EMT said that what she ended up doing was what any The VA told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last month that it would the Birmingham jail. Ungar died in May, at age 90. cars had pulled into the Spanish- preservepreserved the as “historicgravestones, resources.” which mark the burial sites of three Ger- cuts, most of them acquired while they were sweeping up the broken languageBy Saturday’s charter end high some school 100 man prisoners of war. That comment came in response to a call by a glass.Jewish She mom also could lay inhave the done: street cleaning with a distraught out and bandaging Somali Muslim up people’s man, parking lot to drop off trays of group called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to have them lasagna, baby food and non-per- replaced. ishable food, which was also dis- convincing him to move out from under the wheels of a fire truck. - tributed to families of El Colegio - rifying“There to see were my no city medics burned, or and doctors” to smell in it.”the area, she said, and the students, many of whom are not But in a statement June 1, the VA reversed course. closestThe cityopen has urgent experienced care clinic widespread was a 25-minute destruction drive and away. looting “It is in hor the eligible for federal pandemic as- While noting that it was not legallyTOMBSTONES permitted to CONT. unilaterally ON PG re 7 nights since George Floyd, who was African-American, was killed on Energy Saving Windows & Doors! 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Two undated photos of POW headstones inscribed with swastikas Since 1946 at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.) THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 7 Looting loss loans available to all L.A. residents By Gabe Friedman, JTA Until last week, Los Angeles’ Jewish Free Loan Association was - cause of the coronavirus crisis. busyNow, doling the groupout financial is making support loans toavailable locals whoto people were hitstruggling hard by anbe- of George Floyd. otherThe crisis: city’s the Jewish aftermath community of protests has been responding hit particularly to the police hard killingby the protests. The Jewish Journal and Haaretz reported that several Jewish- owned businesses, restaurants and synagogues were damaged, looted and vandalized with hateful spray paint. Much of that happened in L.A.’s Fairfax district, historically home to a large Jewish community and many Jewish businesses — includ- ing the famed Canter’s deli. But demonstrations have taken place else- where in the city and county as well. The Jewish Free Loan Association, an L.A.-based organization founded in 1904, announced Monday that it is offering interest-free Workers repair a store on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles damaged during protests over the killing of lineloans of of an up email to $18,000 sent to tosubscribers, all residents which of Losexplained Angeles that and the Ventura funds George Floyd, May 31, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) Counties. “Looting loss loans available immediately,” read the subject- ventory replacement and more.” could pay for “debris cleanup, graffiti removal, construction needs, in Israeli medical team travels to Sudan By Marcy Oster, JTA A small airplane carrying an Israeli medical team along with equip- ment and medicine for treating the coronavirus landed in Sudan in an attempt to save the life of a Sudanese diplomat who has been work- ing behind the scenes on the clandestine relations between the two countries. Najwa Gadaheldam, a senior adviser to Sudan’s leader, Abdel Fat- intended to transport her back to Israel for treatment landed in the tah al-Burhan, died May 28, about 24 hours after the plane that had Israel and Sudan do not have diplomatic relations. Gadaheldam hadArab been country, managing Israel’s the Channel countries’ 13 first secret reported ties, according later that to day. the report. The arrival was supposed to remain secret, but the plane and its

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and al-Burhan met in Februaryunusual destination in Uganda appearedin a meeting on flight-trackingthat the prime websites. minister said was to discuss normalizing relations. Al-Burhan denied plans to establish of- ficial ties with Israel. TOMBSTONES CONT. FROM P6 move or alter the headstones under the National Historic Preservation steps including consultation with stakeholders about how to replace theseAct, the headstones department with said historically it would nonetheless accurate markers “begin takingthat do required not in- clude the Nazi swastika and German text.” see Nazi inscriptions near those who gave their lives for this nation,” “It is understandably upsetting to our Veterans and their families to-

VA TheSecretary headstones Robert in Wilkie question said. are “That’s located why at VA the will Fort initiate Sam Houstonthe pro Nationalcess required Cemetery to replace in San these Antonio, POW headstones.”Texas, and the Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah. The VA said it will propose that the headstones be preserved in its National Cemetery Administration His- tory Collection.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations subcom- mittee,Rep. welcomed Debbie Wasserman the move. Schultz (D-Florida), the chair of the House

“The families of soldiers who fought against intolerance and hatred- cisionmust never to leave be forcedthe gravestones to confront in glorificationplace was callous of those and very irresponsible, ideologies butwhen today’s visiting decision their loved is an ones,” honorable she said move in ain statement. the right direction.” “VA’s initial de 8 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020

This Black Jewish writer should be on every parent’s radar

In the book, he reminds us each person has a story, By Lior Zaltzman, Kveller and that we are all the same skeleton underneath. Yes, the Do you know about Julius Lester? Lester converted to Judaism in 1982. His Hebrew name- statement can feel a bit trite today, but with the haunt- it’s time you do — and it’s time your children do, too. was Yaakov Daniel ben Avraham v’Sarah. Between 1991 Well, if you don’t, ing beautiful illustrations of Karen and 2001, he was a religious lay leader at Beth El Syna in the middle of a pandemic — because of Barbour, and told with a plain and theAs this violence country done is aflame against again Black — bodiesthis time in friendly voice like Lester’s, it has America, both by the police and by racist poetry. individuals, we need to elevate Black voices As parents, it’s essential to more than ever. teach our kids that the Jewish com- A professor at the University of Massa- munity is diverse — especially chusetts – Amherst for more than 30 years, if that’s not what they see. And Julius Lester was an important Black Jew. He there’s a difference between dis- mantling and examining personal - racism — which this book aims to was part of the Black Power movement; a help do, by encouraging our kids religiouscelebrated lay author leader of for over more 40 than books a decade. for chil to view people of color as humans dren,Lester teens, was and born adults; the he son was of also a ministera Jewish - ing systemic racism and oppres- with their own stories — and fight up in Kansas City and Nashville during Jim Crow.from St.He Louis, later Missouriwent moved in 1939, to New and grewYork not address. sion, which this specific book does where he performed as a folk singer and be- It’s also important to say that came involved in the Student Nonviolent Co- someone’s race and culture is a ordinating Committee, as the head of its pho- valuable and beautiful part of their tography department. As part of the SNCC, heritage — there are great books he went to the South to document the civil for that, too. gogue in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where the former folk rights movement. It is important that Julius Lester was black. It is impor- singer was admired for his great voice. Lester began writing children’s books in the late tant that he was Jewish, too. And it is important that he - lived as a human who was both these things in the real- To Be A Slave, a non- fronted with black anti-Semitism and the pain of a black ity that is modern-day America. But Lester, who died in whenLester confronted spoke about with bothJewish “the racism.” pain of To a many,Jew when he was con a the1960s; story his of first slavery. book He was went 1968’s on to create dozens more - booksfiction —book any that of them used award-winning the actual words adaptations of slaves toof tellAf- is hard to put on a pedestal. He defended Rachel Dolezal mitic poem be read on his radio show, and later, when he 2018, was also a unique and contrarian voice — one that rican American Folklore, and tales about African Ameri- and hated Hanukkah. He wrote award-winning books that wrotepolarizing about figure his Jewish — in conversionhis early years, in Lovesong: he let an Becomanti-Se- can history and slavery, including the story of an African captivated a whole generation, but we shouldn’t pigeon- ing a Jew, in which he criticized James Baldwin, not for hole him — he would loathe that. American cowboy who was born a slave, and Sam and being anti-Semitic, but for unknowingly making an anti- So, read this book to your kids. But don’t think read- the Tiger Semitic statement. One of his later children’s books is called Let’s Talk of his writing,, a non-racist Lester was retelling also passionate of “Little Black about Sambo.” his re- the power of protest and resistance, and about the ills of While the struggle for civil rights informed so much About Race. Published in 2008, it’s a must-read for par- systemicing one (fabulous!)racism, and book expose is enough:them to the Teach works them of aboutother ents and children alike. It’s told in a personal and lovely was a German Jewish immigrant, he felt emotionally Black Jews, like Ezra’s BIG Shabbat Questions, a new ligion. When he discovered that his great-grandfather- children’s book by Kveller writer Aviva Brown. born, what he loves to do, and that he is Jewish and that Lester was a powerful voice, but let’s make sure he is - way, with Lester telling us his own story: where he was drawn to Judaism. In 1981, he had a vision: “In the vi sion, I was a Jew,” he told NPR in 1995. “There was a yar tells many, many great stories, listening to only one voice with incredible joy.” he is Black. (“There’s something else that’s a part of my mulke on my head, and I was dancing, and I was filled —not be the it inonly books Jew or of inColor real inlife our — iskids’ simply lives. not While enough. Lester story,” he writes. “It’s part of yours, too. That’s what race For under $60,we are. I’m Black. teen What race aregets you?”) prosthetic arm By ISRAEL21c Staff

She’s always hoped to play the violin but there was no Founderder $60, and while President a hand Gideon prosthesis Grinstein. costs prostheticYael, 16, device from Petahdesigned Tikvah, for that was purpose. born with one arm. between $5,000 and $50,000,” said TOM Recently, at a Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) makeathon would be interested in creating affordable at Shenkar College of Engineering, Arts, and Design “It is unlikely that any major company in Ramat Gan, Israeli students created the device that to be able to cook, paint or play the violin. makes her dream a reality. Butsolutions our approach for specific allows desires small of teams, amputees like TOM is a global humanitarian project dedicated to Shenkar students, to create such products creating and distributing highly affordable inventions in advance of entering their future profes- for problems for which corporate or government solu- sion,” said Grinstein. tions aren’t likely to happen. TOM crowdsourced the talents of The Shenkar students built upon a low-cost modular volunteers engaged in open innovation. open-source prosthesis device previously created by a Products can be co-designed by multiple group of TOM volunteers from Tel Aviv and then devel- teams in different places, and the solu- oped by a community of TOM volunteers in Singapore. tions are made available to anyone in need. replacement and functional prosthesis that costs un- Yael can play the violin thanks to a 3D-printed prosthetic arm de- “In this case, students were able to manufacture a ARM CONT. ON PG 9 signed through Tikkun Olam Makers. THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 9

Local teens awarded Rosenberg scholarship - continued from page 1 Their names will be added in our place of honor on truly believes in “Tikkun Olam” and has made it a signifi- Jared Linder is the son of Deborah Linder and the plaque in the Temple Atrium. We wish them the cant part of his life. Sam Linder of Waterford and New London. Jared very best as they begin their college careers in the fall. attended Solomon Schechter Academy and Temple Ellanora Lerner is the daughter of Emily and Ar- Emanu-El Religious School and is an active participant Trevor Fornara is the son of Susan and Chris thur Lerner of New London. Ellanora became a mem- at both Temple Emanu-El and Beth-El Synagogue. Fornara of Stonington. Trevor has grown up at ber of Temple Emanu-El in sixth grade. In her own He is an honor student at Waterford High School. In Temple Emanu-El. He joined the Religious School in words, she has be- his essay, Jared talks about being the grandchild of first grade and as he says, “have never ceased to be come an active mem- Holocaust survivors, and the promise he made to his involved since”. In ber and youth leader, grandfathers “to be a mensch”. Jared credits his lead- his application es- because she believes ership ability and his confidence to be an activist for say, Trevor speaks that “community is a world causes to his role models in the Jewish Com- about “being con- necessary part of Jew- munity. He is a strong advocate for Social Justice and sumed by a need ish identity” for young is outspoken on gun violence, climate change, mental to give back to the people. In her essay, health reform and migration. Like his fellow recipients, community that Ellanora describes Jared has an impressive list of contributions has contributed so the countless ways to the Jewish Com- much to my Jewish she has contrib- munity: Faculty As- identity”. The list of uted to the Temple sistant at the Ema- ways that Trevor Emanu-El commu- nu-El’s Religious has contributed is nity: Vice President School, Vice Presi- a very long one: of Programming dent of Jewish Her- tutor and Faculty for Yachad BBYO, Faculty Assistant for the Religious itage for Yachad Assistant at the School, student at the Jewish Community High School, BBYO, President of Religious School, a member of the Confirmation Class. As Vice President Yachad BBYO, Vice Secretary and Presi- of Yachad BBYO, Ellanora has been instrumental in de- President of Jew- dent of Yachad BBYO, member of the Temple’s Com- signing the group’s “mission statement” , creating a ish Heritage for munication Committee, Youth Representative on the scholarship to pay for BBYO membership for all teen the Connecticut Temple Board, and Assistant Advisor of the Junior synagogue members, and expanding the group’s col- Valley Region of Youth Group. In his “spare time”, Trevor attended Jew- laborations with other synagogues, community groups BBYO, student at ish Community High School, celebrated his confirma- and churches. Ellanora is a talented writer and uses Jewish Commu- tion, wrote numerous articles for the “Jewish Leader” these skills to express her thoughts about her identity nity High School and has assisted in many community service projects as a woman and a Jew. She is a member of and writes and a member of for Temple Emanu-El and Yachad BBYO. Trevor is also for both, “Jewish Women’s Archive’s Rising Voices Fel- the Confirmation class. Jared has also extremely active in service to the town of Stoning- lowship” and “Risen Zine”. As a student at Fishers Island been instrumental in assisting with Temple Fundrais- ton and his high school: 150 hours of volunteer work School, “very small, not very diverse”, Ellanora brought ers and driving senior citizens to services at Beth-El. for Stonington’s Community Center Summer Camps, the Jewish Federation’s Encountering Survivors and En- Jared takes great pride in having led services at both After-School Programs, food drives and beach clean- countering Differences program to her classmates. El- synagogues, blown the shofar, read from the Torah ups. Throughout his middle school and high school lanora works tirelessly to improve the world and help and given D’var Torah. years, Trevor has been a leader for the “Special Olym- others. Last summer she volunteered at Safe Futures pics Unified Activities, working with special needs in- and this summer she had planned to work with Con- dividuals in sports and other school activities. Trevor necticut Legal Services, to assist low-income Connecti- cut residents.

ARM CONT. FROM PG9 The PJ Prosthesis, as brush or violin bow) can be connected in order to per- the students dubbed the form the needed function of the user.

- arm, was first designed wantedMost to recently, play the thedrums. Shenkar students refined the PJ forby TOM:injured TelAviv IDF veteran com ProsthesisParts that for were Yael printed and for to 27-year-oldfashion the PJ Itamar, Prosthesis. who Noammunity Guez, members who in want 2018- Photo courtesy of Tikkun Olam Makers ed to cook and paint. - Months later, TOM Singa- ers who will serve as test-cases for partnerships with pore built on that device veteransThe design administrations will be replicated and groups for helping 15 additional those with us physical disabilities in Israel, the United States and the a young man who lost United Kingdom. bothto allow of hisTan limbs Whee due Boon, to tremendous potential impact of our program, by illus- use the toilet without as- trating“Products how teams like theall over PJ Prosthesisthe world can demonstrate collaborate the in sistance.flesh-eating bacteria, to developing additional solutions based on the original The PJ prosthesis an- PJ-Prosthesis,” said TOM CEO Edun Sela. chors to the limb, while serving as a modular platform where various Launched in 2014 by the Reut Group, TOM has 67 improvinglocal communities the lives inof 22millions countries of people. and five continents, Parts that were printed to fashion the PJ Prosthesis. Photo courtesy of Tikkun heads” (such as a paint- who are developing 450 solutions with the potential of Olam Makers attachments or “function 10 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 New PBS film examines anti-Semitism as a social virus By Laura Paull, J. The Jewish News of Northern California - Goldberg, who lost extended family members in the Holocaust, takes Any person who follows the news knows that anti-Semitism is on face of a bottomless black hole. note of how anti-Semitism in the U.S. has been getting worse over the the rise around the world. As it has spread, so has our insight that this the film has but skimmed the sur is a hatred with many faces, a many-headed monster fed by myths about Jews that will not die. Mutations,” Rabbi Elisar Admon seenpast dozenin this years.country By in the my time two 11decades Jews were as a journalist,” gunned down he said in October — this Its more violent manifestations — defacements of Jewish cem- showsIn “Viral: the holeAntisemitism where a in bullet Four 2018 in a synagogue in Pittsburgh — “the most anti-Semitic act I’d eteries, street attacks, armed assaults on Jewish institutions — are often referred film project was already underway.a couple In his of view,centimeters anti-Jewish below sentiment the sur- face”in the atnon-Jewish any given world time, is though always social“only forces may push it down. anti-Semitism”to as “outbreaks,” is asoften if anti-Semitism used to describe were thea disease. manifold Indeed, expressions the phrase of that “virulentideology. Semitism was the Holocaust itself,” he And as with a contagious disease, human- “The biggest mute button on anti-- ity must marshal all its informational re- sources to have any hope of defeating it. said, adding that it led to “better behav - precursorior” toward [to Jews those in most prejudices of the Western surfac- tism in Four Mutations,” a probing new ing]world is forsocieties more thanbecoming 50 years. more “And polar the- documentaryThat is the thatconcept made of its “Viral: television Antisemi pre- ized.” Another factor, he said, is that miere May 26 on PBS. fewer Holocaust survivors are around

Semitism spreads on the internet — it goes unchecked anti-Semitism branches off viral,“Our in that thought sense,” was director-producer that much of anti- An- intoto give utter firsthand horror. testimony about how - as a metaphor for anti-Semitism has been berg interviews a brother of the shooter useddrew forGoldberg a long time.”told J. recently. “But illness In the France portion of “Viral,” Gold kosher grocery in Paris. Asked to de- in February, opens with a black-and-white scribein the 2015 the motivationsassault on the of Hyper his jihadist Cacher animationThe film, of whichwhat looks was into theatersbe virus cellbriefly ac- brother, Abdel Ghani Merah describes tivity under a microscope. the North African immigrant milieu of their parents, who brought to France the Jew,” the voiceover by actress Julianna - “It started long ago … with a lie about In “Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations,” Rabbi Elisar Admon shows the hole where a bul- tions, Israel and global Jewry were al- let pierced his prayer book during the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. “It lieda post-colonial against the Arabbelief world. that Western na Margulies explains. “The lie said the Jew went right through the word for God,” he said. (PBS) andwas stillevil does.… conspiring Many don’t … the know enemy they’re of God. in- parents’ eyes,” he says, while distancing The lie evolved and spread like a virus … pierced his prayer book during himself from that view (in fact, he“Hatred has committed of Jews was his legitimate life to counter in my- endured for so long and spread so far because of its power to adapt the Tree of Life synagogue shoot- andfected. deceive. Others Of don’t its thousands care. Some of definemutations, themselves this is the by storyit. The of virus four.” has away it was somehow a Jew’s fault. They owned the world.” through the word for God,” he ing anti-Semitism). “If they failed at something or were rejected, right said.ing in (PBS) Pittsburgh. “It went right French Jews killed in the attack on Hyper Cacher, a kosher supermar- theThe assault film onthen the launches Tree of into Life the synagogue, first of four then segments, heads to looking North atCaro the- Goldberg, 52, has pursued the ket Ain final Paris. word is given to the widow of Philippe Braham, one of four American strain. In Pittsburgh, Goldberg examines the significance of subject of prejudice throughout his career, from his Emmy-win- won’t let my sons wear the kippah. I won’t say their names out loud.” lina, where he engages with Russell Walker, an open racist and anti- - “We don’t walk in the streets easily like we used to,” she says. “I SemiteOther who segments got 37% examine of his district’s state-sponsored vote when anti-Semitism he ran for the in Hunstate- bered” in 2002 (a look at the Jews. There are no real reasons.” House of Representatives in 2018. worldning “A of YiddishEastern WorldEuropean Remem Jews Valerie Braham then adds: “For me it’s just pointless hatred of the of anti-Semitism in England within the leftist Labour Party under past before the Holocaust) to a well- to speak, against anti-Semitism? gary under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban; the rise- received documentary about ThatFor those is the who perennial see it, willhope this — thefilm panacea provide wesome are kind all waiting of vaccine, for. so rican immigrants in France. In the latter case, those beliefs have con- the Armenian genocide. He also joinedleader Jeremywith growing Corbyn; disaffection and beliefs withabout global Jews amongcapitalism some among North theAf wrote, produced and directed French Left, resulting in an atmosphere harshly inhospitable to French - Jews. Goldberg travels to each of these locales to interview victims, wit- covered“Anti-Semitism the history in the of 21stanti-Sem Cen- nesses, anti-Semites and experts — with his low-key, seemingly neu- itismtury: in The Europe. Resurgence,” It aired on which PBS tral style eliciting inside knowledge, alarm and, sometimes, acute pain. A number of commentators are called upon to add information and - perspective. This list includes former President Bill Clinton, former ral,”in 2017. Goldberg visits Paul Marmot, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Holocaust historian Deborah Lip- an InEnglish the British cousin segment whom heof had“Vi ON THE BAY never met. Marnot recounts how, of Tablet. after a lifetime as a leftist British stadt, and journalists Fareed Zakaria, George Will and Yair Rosenberg- Jew, he tore up his Labour Party FOR ALL YOUR chant for anti-Semites to blame Jews for just about everything based membership card when Corbyn “Anti-Semitism is a conspiracy theory,” Lipstadt says of the pen REAL ESTATE NEEDS Based on his own experiences as a former white supremacist, Arno Critiques of Israeli policy are ac- Direct: Cell: Michaelon “the notion agrees. that there are forces more powerful than you.” ceptablewas chosen to mostas its Britishleader Jews,in 2015. he 860-443-4400 860-625-5255 says, but Corbyn enabled criti- Email: [email protected] cism that crossed over into anti- Website: www.CallTheHouseman.com the“If Jews,” I’m lookinghe says toin therecruit, documentary. I’m going to look for white kids who have Jewish sentiment. something going wrong in their life … and find a way to blame that on Meanwhile, on our shores, Blog: CTHouseMan.com

But after 90 minutes of examination, one is left with the sense that THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 11 In the race for a coronavirus vaccine, first doesn’t mean best By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c regulatory agencies are willing to - fast-track approval processes. - tries, the virus changes slowly enough that probably “we can develop lationsAbout have 120 already research ad groups- from various countries are racing to de a vaccine againstVaccines it that for lasts” the in contrastmasses to the yearly flu vaccine. vancedvelop vaccines to human for coronavirussafety SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). Several formu However, the first Covid-19 In the end, how fast a vaccine will get to market largely trials. Although the front- safety. runners in this race are depends on how regulators handle issues of efficacy and American, British, Chi- nese, Japanese and Ger- “Proving vaccines work means preventing infection,” man, Israel also has a thousandssays Ellis. “Usually of people you and wait hopefully for the next show outbreak that you and havedo a few contenders. fewerfield study cases of in the the vaccine vaccine versusgroup thana placebo. in the Youcontrol immunize group. Israeli vaccine prog- But we don’t know when the next corona season will be, so ress could be aided by some people say it doesn’t make sense to wait.” - An alternative method is a challenge study, where the ment pledge to support vaccine or placebo is administered to large groups of researcha $60 million on diagnosing, govern healthy young people followed by administration of live treating and preventing virus to see if infection is prevented. - Ellis says clinicians and regulators would need to de- nologies may also speed cide on an ethical way to perform a coronavirus challenge theCovid-19. race, such Israeli as Flask tech- data.io’s AI platform Oncestudy, asa hasvaccine been done is proven in the past effective, for influenza. the story clinical trials. Researchers working on a Covid-19 vaccine at MigVax. Photo courtesy of OurCrowd isn’t over. enablingHowever, more vaccine efficient de- velopment, like drug de- prepare millions of doses,” says Panet. velopment, is a long and complicated process. And it doesn’t always Big pharma “It’ssuch one as J&Jthing are to already have credible preparing vaccine for mass and productionanother to succeed, explains industry expert Ron Ellis, editor in chief of Human of a corona vaccine. Smaller labs and companies will probably license Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics and a consultant for Israeli vaccine vaccinated,”vaccines “might Panet not predicts. be the They best, their vaccines to big pharma companies with the necessary scaleup development company MigVax. wouldand might likely work be given in 50% to people of those at and production capability. - Panet adds that the Israeli government is considering building a nounced that an AIDS vaccine was right around the corner, yet 35 people and those with underly- large vaccine production facility that could be ready within half a year years“In later 1984, we’re the not US remotely Secretary close of Healthto an AIDS and vaccine,” Human ServicesEllis tells anIS- ingrisk: diseases. healthcare workers, older to manufacture vaccines developed domestically.

An Israeli resident since 2008, Ellis was the project leader for six - successfulRAEL21c. vaccines — including Gardasil for human papilloma virus, lation“Usually, it is not if aapproved. vaccine doesn’tFor co- VARIVAX for varicella (chickenpox) and RotaTeq for rotavirus — that ronareach there 95% will efficacy be a lower in the thresh popu- old. And then better vaccines Jerusalem tech startup will come to market perhaps two That’scumulatively the nature generate of this about business. $5 billion in sales annually. years later.” scene has grown 102% He admits he’s also “presided over many failures” in his long career. - reason vaccine development By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c cine,”‘We Ellis don’t acknowledged. know if it’s possible’ usuallyHe tellstakes ISRAEL21c so long is that vac one- In late May, Start-Up Nation Central released the newest data on Je- “We don’t know yet that it’s possible to make a coronavirus vac cines are for healthy adults and rusalem’s technology ecosystem landscape — and the picture is rosy. - children — as opposed to drugs Start-Up Nation Central’s Finder innovation tracking platform venting“It requires infection.” perfection. There are at least eight types of vaccines beingThe developed. road from We’ll discovery only know to market when forthe the first rotavirus one succeeds vaccine in prewas outweigh risks. for illnesses where benefits may shows 405 active companies in the capital city, up 102 percent since - 2012. about 15 years; for the varicella vaccine, 25 years. “The level of safety has to be TheIn 2019 city’s alone, tech companies $233.5 million have had was 22 invested exits and in total Jerusalem-based investments the“You book, can it takesslice yearsmany offyears.” of clinical development — if you don’t wor risks.”100 percent, not 99,” he says. companies and startups, a 21% increase from the year prior. - ry aboutIn the fully clinical proving phase safety alone, and assuring efficacy,” that remarks a vaccine Ellis. “Ifdoesn’t you do cause it by “WithSome a vaccines vaccine youare risky take be no- cause they have an added adju- worth $1.6 billion. In 2019, Jerusalem-based Lightricks became Isra safety trials on more than 30,000 participants. (In fact, in the United vant – a compound that stimu- el’s latest “unicorn” with a $1 billion valuation. States,adverse AstraZeneca effects in more and thanthe federal1 in 10,000 Biomedical people Advancedordinarily Researchrequires lates the immune system but can knownLife investmentssciences (130 in thecompanies) city were and in companies artificial intelligence developing products(80) are and Development Authority plan to test an investigational vaccine on stimulate it too much and cause orthe technologies two most prominent using AI and sectors machine in Jerusalem. learning. In 2019, over 60% of 30,000 volunteers this summer.) damage. - and success in Jerusalem. First, is the city’s diverse population – secu- ous side effect and were taken off the market because that’s too high,” yet if we need the adjuvant or lar “Thereand religious, are several Jews factors and non-Jews, that help prospermen and a culturewomen, of Israeli-born innovation “There have been vaccines that caused a 1 in 10,000 risk of a seri not.“With If not, corona, I expect we don’tthe develknow- and new immigrants,” commented the report’s authors, which include opment process will be much the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Ministry for Jerusalem and setEllis lower. says, It’sciting a very the 1976hard moralswine dilemmaflu vaccine between as one example.what’s good for the faster,” says Panet, whose lab is the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research. public“For now a worldwide and what’s pandemic, safe in the the long acceptable run.” risk tolerance may be studying why some coronavirus The second factor is academic institutions including the Hebrew patients suffer a severe immune University, Bezalel Academy for Arts and Design, Hadassah College, First vaccine may protect 50% reaction in their lungs, and which Azrieli College of Engineering and Jerusalem College of Technology. Hebrew University virologist Prof. Amos Panet believes at least one drugs could block it. - He also observes that al- demic players committed to supporting and strengthening Jerusalem’s That’s because so many labs are working toward a solution with The third factor is “the coalition of government, NGOs and aca immenseCovid-19 vaccinegovernmental could be and on thefoundation market within investment, 12 to 18 and months. because have evolved in different coun- TECH CONT. ON PG 13 though sub-strains of Covid-19 tech sector … such as innovation hubs, entrepreneurship programs 12 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 Black Jews respond to the George Floyd protests By Josefin Dolsten, JTA I also want to see the Jewish community embrace radical possibil- As Enzi Tanner participated in an online Havdalah ceremony mark- into lighting candles that evening ity. A month ago, folks were pointing out the major change a pandemic ing the end of Shabbat Saturday night, his city — Minneapolis — was witha flashpoint a sense onof weightThursday. and I trepiwent- had made possible. Radical shifts in work. Expectations. Air quality. dation, because I did not know George Floyd, a black man, in police custody there last week. what would be true come motzei against the backdrop of this transformational pandemic — and one beingTanner, torn aapart social during worker a fifth who night supports of unrest LGBT following families experiencingthe death of Shabbat two days later. I was on thatBut racismis taking has black been lives an Americandisproportionately epidemic — for that 400 we years, see the and grief it is homelessness, said the ceremony — hosted by Jewish Community Ac- edge the entire chag. Listening and rage and impact reach epic proportions. And there are solutions tion, a local social justice group, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, - of varying radicalness that black folks have been proposing for years a national organization and Edot Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity ish son leyn Megillat Ruth and - Collaborative — conveyed a powerful message for black Jews like him. playingto my Shavuot 16-year-old Spot-It black with Jew my to right the systemic wrongs of a nationpolice. that Hammers black people and built:nails won’trepa reaches in and says how do we rations; universal basic income; massbe enough de-incarceration; to build what defunding must support“As thetheir Jewish cause and community how do come next for us all to thrive — we support the black commu- we need bulldozers and forklifts. nity, it’s really important that Embrace the radical possibility people reach in to black Jews and help make it true. and other Jews of color and real- At the risk of belying the dan- ize that we’re here,” Tanner said. ger and concern and fear and worry that are real and present, I am also hopeful. The United like“And Tanner we need to our understand community.” their States is breaking, painfully, feelingsWe reached at this out wrenching to black Jewsmo- visibly but not irreparably. The ment and what their message is cracks have always been there for the broader Jewish commu- for us to study. Perhaps now we nity. Here’s what they told us. can create the place that holds Answers have been lightly us all. edited for length and clarity. Yitz Jordan is the founder April Baskin is a diversity of TribeHerald, a publication consultant and racial justice for Jews of color, and a hip hop director of the Jewish Social artist also known as Y-Love. Justice Roundtable. Personally in terms of my en- That’s what I’m feeling. I had an ergy right now, I’m just exhaust- Top left, clockwise, April Baskin, Anthony Russell, Yitz Jordan and Tema Smith. (Baskin: Jill Peltzman; Rus- anxietyWhat attack am I feeling?on Friday. Anxiety. I live ed. Just seeing all the suffering sell: Courtesy of Russell; Jordan: Courtesy of Jordan; Smith: Courtesy of Smith) particularly in light of the people so I’m not really geographically going out into the streets without a plan or adequate protections in 5-year-old daughter brought me in the Jewish community, but I know inthat the somebody ‘hood, I live on Fridayin Bushwick, for in- place (friends, march marshalls, legal aid contact info, etc.), the poi- moments of joy, but not enough gnancy of people whose politics otherwise have them mostly shelter- to ease my spirit. I knew it would response to that was going to be, were cops going to respond and was ing in place during the worst pandemic we’ve seen in over a hundred come, but how I had not imag- riotingstance wasgoing shot to happennot too infar my from neighborhood? me and I was terrified as to what the years, that they are compelled to take action — at their and our own ined. - I am deeply appreciative of the - Jewish social justice leader, I have a visceral, fundamental concern for fact that when Shavuos ended, I ing Andlike inthis?” the It’sJewish that community, role of explaining this is overthe kind and ofover fight again that to I’m people hav people’speril. But well-being it seems their in this thought moment is, “How— that can people we not are stand very up?”triggered As a was overwhelmed by texts from whoing: “This quite didn’t often don’thappen want after to thelisten. Holocaust, why are black people act and that this is all in the context of pre-existing heightened anxiety white folks — Jewish and not — I feel like there’s the same split that’s going through America in and stress because of the pandemic. And for black folks, whether it’s offering support, and checking in. conscious or not, the sense of terror we feel for when is the shoe going The last several days have been percent of Orthodox Jews that support Trump, you see it more from to drop for someone we know, someone in our town, for us? exhausting, but the truth is that ideological lines, is going through the Jewish community … whatever I am experiencing more white Jews sending me private messages. - consists of people like JFREJ [Jews for Racial and Economic Justice] andthese Jewish people. Voice When for we Peace say theand Jewish these communityother organizations, in general but that in also the advance our collective knowledge and education enough so it can be- havethe last been five yearsexhausting. have been Every ex Orthodox world, the pro-Trump wing is where I’m hearing these types A lot of them are saying “What can we do?” and in time I hope we can blackhausting, person and is the tired. last 400 years of conversations. And I’m seeing this, ranging from lack of knowledge to callousness regarding people of color. There are some people who mostlycome more leaning of “I’ve towards been this proactively one, does learning that sound from like people it’s in of alignment color and and white people is yes, please genuinely don’t know, and to whom a lot of these issues are very new. withhere isyour what vision?” I am doing,” or “These are the things I’m considering. I’m keepWhat calling, I need keep from texting white Jewsand Especially Hasidish people, for instance, this just isn’t part of the Shab- That said, it’s a step forward and it’s good, but it’s asking more of us asking how I am, and all the other bos-table conversation — police brutality, inequality, systemic racism. black people you know. And also But you have some people who just show callousness. additional leadership and activism in this moment, but then also being call and text your fellow white askedas Jews to of support color to and not manage only figure white out Jews’ how work to maintain during oura time jobs in and which do Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell is a musician who blends tra- many of us are traumatized and heartbroken. But this is progress, and they did today to dismantle white ditional Yiddish and African-American music. I would rather people reach out, however they best know how, than supremacy.Jews and people: Give them Ask themthree whatplac- - apathy and not doing anything or paralysis from fear. es to donate, three black people try, whether you choose to recognize it or not. The state-sanctioned Ginna Green works in the Jewish community and the progres- violenceLet’s getvisited real uponhere, BlackAmerican communities Jews: You happens are living in inghettos an Old you Coun can sive movement, and she sits on the boards of the Jews of Color to take or books to read. The easily pronounce, in towns you visit without the aid of a tour guide, Initiative, the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, and Political Re- workto learn of from;beating three back new the classes white and cities you reside in without a granted law of return. search Associates. supremacy is a burden that can’t So, who are you in this narrative, this country from which there is The current moment, for me, is one of numbness. I rejoined the rest of the world in grief and rage a little bit late, as I was scrambling all of us. And every black person ruler, hands slick with the blood of children and refugees, the caval- toward Shavuos as things in Minneapolis and all over were reaching isbe tired. left to black folks. We all need no real option of flight, this century which is your own, your heartless RESPOND CONT. ON PG 13 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 13 Social distancing ignored during rally in Amsterdam By Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA A Dutch chief rabbi joined the chorus of criticism aimed at Amster- dam’s mayor, who allowed thousands to gather at a protest over the police killing of George Floyd without enforcing social distancing pro- tocols.

distancing rules are not being enforced fairly — since the country’s Writing in a column on Jonet.nl, Binyomin Jacobs argued that social and Dutch houses of worship are still closed. HolocaustFurthermore, commemoration Binyomin Jacobsevents citedwere thenot Jewishheld as faith’s normal principle on May of 4 preserving life, saying that Mayor Femke Halsema ignored that in al- lowing the rally to happen during a time when catching the coronavi- rus is still a risk. Thousands of protesters defying social distancing measures at a protest over the death of George Floyd on Dam Square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 1, 2020. (Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) never“Jewish have lawbeen is allowed.” clear: When lives are threatened, no risk is taken,” JacobsHalsema, wrote whoon Jonet.nl. belongs “The to the demonstration far-left Green on Left Dam party, Square is facing should a RESPONDCONT. FROM PG 11 fewer protesters to show up. Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Ar- no-confidenceThe Netherlands vote at has city one hall of over Europe’s the rally. highest She deathsaid she rates expected from CO far- existence for centuries has been deemed disorderly? bery. But we’re grieving for so ries,Solidarity maintaining with “order”Black people on your doesn’t behalf require over a radical people act whose of histori mere- many more lives, Black lives, that have been taken from this earth VID-19 and more deaths per million residents than the United States. CONT. FROM PG 11 it. Now. far too early because of brutal, TECH cal Temaimagination. Smith isYou a writerare here. and We the are director here. You of know professional what to develdo. Do- systemic racism. And that pain opment at 18Doors, an organization for interfaith families. isn’t going away tomorrow, or next week, or next month. It’s and not the last, and that it’s taken a murder so egregious to really get going to last for generations to peopleI’m deeplyout into upset the streetsabout George in this Floydway, and and get also a thatlot of he people is not tothe wake first come. And, if we want a better up to what happens unfortunately too frequently. world, we have to change the sys- I also have deep gratitude for the moment that we’re in, for so many tem. people who hadn’t previously spoken out are speaking out. I’m grateful for so many white As far as the Jewish community, the number of people who either Jewish allies who have reached have spoken out publicly or who have reached out privately as people out, comforted me, supported me who just care and want to make sure that me and other Jews of color not just over the last week, but are feeling OK right now — and I think most of my friends who are for years now. And right now, we Jews of color are experiencing similar things from their friends — is need more from our white Jew- huge. Frankly, I’ve gotten messages from people who I’ve never corre- ish siblings, and more from our Jewish institutions — we need OK?’ and a recognition that is in many ways at a new level. support, allyship, resources, and The entrance to Jerusalem Technology Park in the Malcha neighbor- sponded with beyond public tweets, just reaching out saying ‘Are you strategies to confront racism in hood. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90 our community, and in our world. makesThis me isn’t hopeful the first for time that that grassroots something community like this levelhas happened. being there This to and accelerators.” supportis the first each time other, I’ve andreceived that ismessages huge. And from the sofact many that peoplethere is and a grow that- God — it’s time to build the Jew- - ing chorus of voices in the Jewish community speaking up, that’s huge, ishWe arecommunity all created and in theworld image that of cation, the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research released statistics and that people are showing up at protests, I can’t say enough of how makes our Torah true in this age. On the eve of the holiday marking 53 years since the city’s reunifi meaningful it is to see that. The report highlights that Jerusalem is both the largest Jewish city Evan Traylor is an educator, activist, and soon-to-be rabbinical Shira Hanau contributed re- for 2019. student at the Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Reli- porting. gion. in Israel with approximately 569,900 Jewish residents, and the largest Arab city in Israel with 349,600 Arab residents. Jerusalem is the second-biggest financial center in Israel, with Right now, Black Jews are grieving. We’re grieving for George Floyd, Every gift 349,000 employees (9% of all employees in Israel), compared to 425,000 in Tel Aviv (11%). Jerusalem has the highest business survival makes rate in Israel: 57% of high-tech companies founded in 2013 survived a difference. five years, as opposed to 48% in Tel Aviv. Custom Tub & Shower Since 1919 Southeastern Connecticut’s Oldest and Most Respected Jewelers Get involved. Ruby Glass Enclosures Diamonds ❖ Watches ❖ Crystal CO., INC • Design & Installation Fine Contemporary & Antique Jewelry • All-Glass Enclosures ❖ Donate. SERVING SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT Custom Jewelry Design Expert Jewelry & Watch Repair FOR OVER 60 YEARS Estate Jewelry Bought & Sold Volunteer. Expert Mirror Design & FULLSERVICE GLASS SPECIALISTS Installation 44726 It’s what being • Visit Our Showroom 262 Boston Post Road • Utopia Centre Waterford, CT • (860) 442-4391 Jewish feels like. 151 Jefferson Avenue • New London, CT 06320 Monday - Thursday 10:00-6:00 ❖ Friday 10:00-7:00 ❖ Saturday 10:00-4:00 Phone (860) 442-0373 • Fax (860) 442-1356 14 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 HELPING Robert R. Schwartz Ruth K. Alpert CONT. FROM PG 1 Waterford -- Robert R. West Hartford -- - Schwartz, a local businessman and disabled residents of New who for decades co-owned and She was the beloved wife,Ruth for K. Alpert,65 years, 95, of of Harold West Hartford,P. Alpert, diedwho predepeace- London County. operated a small chain of auto fully at the Bride Brook Home in Niantic on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Summer heat adversely affects parts stores, Rose Auto Sup- sick people, very young children ceased her in 2014. and seniors who cannot bear the New London community, died School.Born She in Springfield,had a BS in business she was theaccounting daughter from of SamuelBryant College and Sophie and temperatures. These individuals Thursdayply, and wasafternoon a fixture May in28. the workedKaprove. as Ruth a bookkeeper grew up in with Hartford Underwriters and graduated Service from Agency Weaver for many High have health needs that require an He died at Lawrence and years. air conditioner to enable them to Memorial Hospital, where he Ruth was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, endure the summer. These are of- Obituaries was born, surrounded by his and great-grandmother. ten people who cannot get out of wife Myrna and their two chil- their homes and cannot afford an - air conditioner. All clients’ health Mr. Schwartz, known as Bob, owned and operated Rose She is survived by four children: Susan Comey, Hollis Alpert (Steven- Auto Supply with his brother-in-law Alandren. Rhodes. He was The 78. business was vidGomberg), Steinman), Brian Benjamin Alpert (Robbin), Gomberg Shelley (Brieanna), Sherman Rachel (Alan); Gomberg seven (Lane cher as having chronic at-risk health ished grandchildren: Charles Comey (Martina) and Robin Comey (Da problemsconditions orare disabilitiesmedically verified need- - - getherfounded for in 30 the years 1950s and by grew Mr. Rhodes’ the business parents, into who a successful sold auto local parts chain out lasMiller), and Emma Daniel Comey. Sherman Ruth (Bailey also Simon),is survived Ethan by Sherman,her beloved Jay brother, Alpert; comfort and safety. of a truck to racers at the Waterford Speedbowl. The two worked to- and four great-grandchildren: Maddie and Michael Steinman, and Nik ing “Cool Down” for maintaining ful venture, a Sign-O-Rama franchise, with his friend Peter Bachner. was predeceased by her son-in-law, Charles Comey, III. lives of seniors and children who withLocating 7 locations. that business After selling on Bank Rose Street Auto, in Bob New started London another was successa signal FredThe Kaprove funeral and was his private, wife, Mae; and theand family many observeddear life-long a private friends. period She are“We most shouldat risk for never health-relat risk the- of Bob’s commitment to and love for the city where he was born and ed complications in New London raised. to a charity of one’s choice. County’s summer heat,” said Car- - of mourning.The family In expresses lieu of flowers, heartfelt donations appreciation in her memory to the staff may beof madeBride ly Luft, Community Services Co- Brook for their compassionate care. May her memory be a source of ordinator. Operation Cool Down provideBob was his employeesa quiet man with described health byinsurance. those who He knew worked him privately “as eternal and strength and a blessing. Funeral arrangements were provided by He- has helped individuals and fami- withoutly young” fuss with with a “strong the addiction moral compass.” counselors He of felt an an employee obligation who to helpsuf- fered from alcoholism to get him back on track, using the incident as Groton, Jewett City, Norwich, and an example of the ethics of mercy, kindness, and second chances he brew Funeral Association, West Hartford. Pawcatucklies in New over London, the years, Waterford, from would pass on to his children. Elfriede Bernstein Bob served on the Board and chaired the youth group of Beth El West Hartford – Elfriede a 4-year old with severe asthma Synagogue, which was co-founded by his grandparents. For nearly two Bernstein, died on Monday, heart failure and COPD. The air decades he was the vice president and then president of the Board of conditionersto a 79-year oldwe withprovide congestive (5000 BTU) are big enough to cool a avid golfer and for a time president of the New London Country Club. ElfriedeMay 25, 2020was at the ageyoungest of 106- Beth El Cemetery. He served a term on the Waterford RTM. He was an daughter½. Born Decemberof Victor and 25, Louise 1913, typically a bedroom. room the size of 150 square feet, and lettered in football, wrestling, and track. He graduated from The Mann of Frankfurt, Germany. Schwartz was a graduate of New London High School, class of 1960, - still closed to the general pub- and dogs and was an accomplished gardener and amateur landscape lic Sinceexcept the for Federationfood pantry office porch is architectUniversity whose of Connecticut, terraced gardens,class of 1965. marked He lovedby stone nature, walls, travel, paths, sports, and At theShe age was of trained 24, she as immigrat a seam- pick-ups, distribution of air con- staircases, were widely admired. stressed to U.S. in Germany in late 1937. and brought ditioners this year will be done But more than anything, Bob loved his family and his friends, in- her talent to the U.S. where she - worked for Bergdoff’s in New als with a voucher to bring to a by providing qualified individu Therése Schwartz, he married his high school sweetheart Myrna York City making custom wed- designated store to pick up an cluding many lifelong friends. Born December 2, 1941 to Arthur and ding dresses and gowns. Elf- The depth of their love and granite-strong marriage was evident to riede moved to New London in distribution of ACs over the next anyoneRhodes whoin December knew them 1963, even having casually known and her was since a role nursery model school. for so coupleair conditioner. of weeks We as hopetemperatures to begin many. Together they raised two children, each of whom is married. He son Sol Bernstein who predeceased her. begin to climb and humidity in- had two grandchildren. 1940 when she married native He died of complications from MALT lymphoma and is survived by Congregation Beth El. She was a part of Beth El’s minyanaire group - creases. We are grateful for past his wife Myrna, his daughter Lori Schwartz, her wife Colleen and their for Whilemany livingyears. inShe New excelled London, at embroideryElfriede became and wasan active in charge member of the of vice clubs, banks, hospitals, and financial support from area ser sons, Sam and Eian, and his son, Stephen Trask and his husband Mi- tapestries and Torah covers at the synagogue. private individuals. chael Trask, and his brother David Schwartz of Manchester. She was a life member of Hadassah and made her sons and their Thank you for giving so gener- https://gardearts. wives life members. ously. Every donor counts, every org/support/ and The Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, 28 Elfriede was an active volunteer in the L+M Hospital’s Auxiliary dollar counts, and your generos- ChanningDonations St., Newmay Londonbe sent 06320.to: Garde Arts Center, and worked in the gift shop for over 35 years. ity will ensure the Federation re- Elfriede loved people and had no prejudices toward anyone and mains open and doing the most loved to help everyone. good in these challenging times. She is survived by her two sons, Michael (Nicole) Bernstein and Please consider giving to these critical programs. grandchildren. Todah Rabah to you all -- we Victor (Lieba) Bernstein as well as two grandsons and five great are very grateful. 136 Sachem Street laid to rest in Beth El Cemetery in Groton. The Thomas L. Neilan & Norwich CT 06360 SonsThe Funeral funeral Home took assisted place on with May the 26 arrangements. at 1 pm via zoom. Elfriede was Memorial Donations in Elfriede’s memory can be made to Congregation COPY CATS 860-889-2374 Beth Fax 860-886-2396 Printing Services El, PO Box 1310, New London, 06320 or New England Jewish www.copycatsnl.com Academy, 300 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, 06117. 860-442-8424 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020 15 Shuls Closed and Opened TEDDY WEINBERGER © 2020, Teddy Weinberger After almost two months of closure, synagogues have re-opened in has a beautiful voice and every- one is singing nicely together, but sung cantillation is typically going to be lost this does not happen often. in private prayer, what is gained is that it is Israel. Just to recap: All Israeli shuls were ordered closed on March The more relaxed timing much easier to concentrate on the text when May25. At 20 the synagogues time, outdoor were public allowed prayer to re-open, was allowed, albeit butwith on restrictions March 31 concerning the major morning one reads it oneself as opposed to listening (suchit was asbanned. social distancingOn April 19, between outdoor congregants). minyans were As restored,we all hope and that on services (on Saturdays and on to it being sung. this period was truly unique, now is a good time to think about what Passover) was especially wel- was learned from the closing of the synagogues. come. Because services in Israel versus public prayer in synagogue is not the start relatively early in the morn- prayerWhat experience is lost in but private the communal prayer at experi home- in leaving home to attend services. The effort itself of going to a public ing, you are forced into one of ence. There is nothing like seeing each other prayerI should space say and at thenthe start returning that for home me therefeels likeis something an accomplishment, significant - on a regular basis to promote community. This was brought home feels like doing a mitzvah. This is especially true for prayer services ther eat breakfast as soon as you sharply when about eight years ago our synagogue in Givat Ze’ev split waketwo unsatisfactoryup when you are options: probably ei (for geographical rather than ideological reasons). Though we all con- of leaving home facilitates the time-switch from profane to holy. For not all that hungry, or wait until tinued to live in the same houses, suddenly we became less close with me,that then,usher one in sacred of the time most (whether important on thingsSabbath lost or inholiday the closing eve): the of theact the people whom we stopped seeing on a weekly basis. shuls was the very fact that they offer me a space to pray outside the from services and are starving. ordinary, outside the home. Having said this, it is clear that based on Atabout home, 10:30 you whencan wake you up, get begin back this criterion, outdoor prayer services are an excellent substitute for thatIn women closing, would another not word be included. about the On outdoor the other prayer hand, services: how wonder On the- the synagogue. then say Kiddush and have fullyone hand, destabilizing I find it troubling to pray in that a non-normal in most places place, it was ranging taken from for granted patios, In terms of the quality of one’s prayer experience, the closing of the breakfast.with the first Afterwards, part of the you prayers, can go to backyards, to sidewalks, to the entrance area of a shul. I was fortu- synagogues showed us how surprisingly easy it is to best public prayer back for the scriptural readings with private prayer. At home, one has the ability to concentrate more and say the remaining prayers. on the words of the prayers, one has the ability to sing the songs with And concerning the reading of birdsnate enough all around to pray me, mostand with mornings the sun of thecoming “outdoor” up over period the buildings in the lush it the melodies one prefers, and one has the ability to pray with one’s scripture in synagogue, whether wascourtyard not at ofall a hard nearby to feelSephardic like praying. shul. With trees, flowers, and chirping family--all without being disturbed by any nearby idle talk. Certainly, from the Pentateuch or from the there are peak moments in synagogue, especially if the prayer leader prophets, while it is true that the Thousands of American Jews apply to move to Israel in pandemic By Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, The Forward - her husband to join the throng applying for aliyah last month. More American Jews applied to immigrate to Israel or inquired cal therapist living in Elizabeth, - about it in May than in any single month over the last two decades, N.J.,Avromy, had always a 29-year planned old to physimake aliyah, but had moved up his “Now that telemedicine is blowing up like crazy, it’s more reas Jewish immigration to Israel. lovesuring my for community. me job-wise,” But she the said. fact “Onethat we’reof the not main getting things back holding to nor me- according to Nefesh B’Nefesh, a nonprofit organization that promotes from his job in geriatric care in malcyback” before,for a long she time, added, it’s was kind “the of sillycommunity to stay forhere a communityin Silver Spring. that I and quarantine requirements because of the coronavi- flight date after being furloughed can’t physically be part of anyway.” Despite aliyah being stalled by the office closures, canceled flights Sitting on their suitcases rus pandemic, 814 families and individuals submitted- For some of the 2,000 American Jews who had planned before tionformal said applications — nearly double for Israeli the combined citizenship total and of 1,178 May the coronavirus hit to make the move this summer, the pandemic more opened files beginning the process, the organiza has both validated their decision — and made implementing it much more complicated. among2019. Nefesh some B’NefeshAmerican officials Jews about and many their aspiring future olimin a Typically, more than half of Americans who make aliyah each countryinterviewed torn saidapart the by spike a pandemic, reflected economic growing decline, anxiety political turmoil and social unrest. have been canceled. United is still operating its daily New York-Tel - Avivyear route, do so but in thethe Israeli summer, government but Nefesh is b’Nefesh’srequiring anyone charter who flights ar- - rives to stay in quarantine for two weeks — hardly the ideal way ing “Wheneverhome-hospital there liaison are tumultouswho lives in times, Great anti-SemiNeck, N.Y., to start one’s life in a new country. Those still in the process of tism is on the rise,” said Raphael, a 34-year old nurs applying for permission to emigrate have had their paperwork want to be with my own people and my own country.” Hewith spoke his wife,on condition Chana, andhis fourlast name children. not be “As useda Jew, be - I shut down or worked with skeletal crews. cause his employer does not yet know that he plans to emigrate. rethink - the biggest thing that stalled because offices in Israel and the United States had either - makesMarch. people “It started stay back making is prob me- ably money,” said Avromy, who weeks,And under anyone a new whose Israeli paperwork law aimed was at preventing not complete sex offenders before May from 1 my “Ithusband’s was always job isone also of kindaour dreams, on the butline, then and welife weregot in like, the ifway,” not now,Cha plans to move June 8, on a small seekingnow has refuge to wait there. for an FBI background check, which can take up to 16 when?”na added. “And then Covid happened, and I lost all my part-time jobs, - B’Nefesh, and who asked that year after high school studying in the mystics’ city of Safed. Now 32 grate have actually been up since the pandemic began in March, ac- hisgroup-flight name not organized be used for by privacyNefesh andSefira pregnant, Lightstone Lightstone has dreamed was ready of to living move in this Israel May since to Efrat, she aspent settle a- cordingWhile to May Nefesh saw B’Nefesh,the biggest which jump, serves inquiries as a and liaison applications between toAmeri emi- - can Jews, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government. In ally clear how easily things can go daughter. Then the pandemic hit, and her plans — her dreams — were addition to the increase in applications, the group has seen a stagger- southconcerns. here. “This You crisiscan lose made your it jobre putment on not hold. far from Jerusalem, with her husband and their 7-year-old ing rise in initial phone queries about aliyah — more than twice the today or tomorrow.” Lightstone, an illustrator who moved to Seattle six years ago so her 5,000 in the same month a year before. husband could study coding in preparation for a career in Israeli hi- Brenda Zalter-Minden, a 62-year old retired social worker living in assistant in Silver Spring, M.D. tech, had hoped to be settled in Israel before her July due date. Now, whoFor spoke S. a 27-year on the oldcondition physician of she is hoping to leave in September. her daughter and three grandchildren already live in the seaside city anonymity because of employ- Toronto, applied to make the move as soon as Israel closed its borders; ment concerns, said the pandem- my child and grandchildren,” said Zalter-Minden, who hopes to take ic’s pushing both work and reli- “It was very challenging for me, because I am so emotionally ready of Ashdod. “I don’t want anyone to tell me ever again that I can’t get to gious life online had led her and to leave Seattle,” she said. “We moved here originally to make aliyah. I’ve been in this pause mode for years, and finally we could go, and the first available flight in July. then it was like, ‘No, you can’t move now.’” 16 THE JEWISH LEADER, JUNE 5, 2020

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