Intermarriage

Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME XI, NUMBER 13 JUNE 28, 2018 Federation announces co-chairs for 2019 UJA Campaign Doug Fink, president of the Jewish education symposia, projects and courses the board of the Pennsylvania Association Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and has earned various certificates in of Justice, a former board member of the has announced that David and Rhonda her field. In Scranton, she has served as Lackawanna Bar Association, and past Fallk have agreed to co-chair the Federa- a social worker and coordinator of the president of the Committee for Justice for tion’s forthcoming 2019 UJA Campaign. Kosher Meals on Wheels program for All. In addition, he is a frequent author The Campaign is scheduled to begin in Jewish Family Services, and for more and contributor of articles and editorials September and continue through May than 20 years, she has acted as co-fa- on current events and national and inter- 2019. “Both have demonstrated leader- cilitator of the Alzheimer’s Association national law, with particular emphasis on ship in our community for many years support group at Elan Gardens helping the Middle East and antisemitism. He has and our Board of Trustees is thrilled that families cope with loved ones who suffer lectured before numerous professional and they have agreed to accept this important from dementia. Prior to that, she worked civic organizations on those various topics. position. They are fine people who have at Cushing Hospital in Framingham, David and Rhonda Fallk Rhonda and David are the parents of been active as volunteers on numerous MA,as a counselor and as activities advi- two children – Rebecca Sarah, a magna important Federation Committees, and sor for the elderly, as well as a counselor Wayne and Monroe counties during times cum laude graduate of George Washing- they will no doubt bring that experience and mental health rehabilitation worker of war in Israel (through conducting emer- ton University who will begin George to our 2019 UJA Campaign as well. We for the state of Rhode Island. She is gency fund-raising campaigns); briefed Washington University School of Law in are honored that they have enthusiastically an active member of Temple Israel of state and federal elected representatives the fall, and Murray Stuart, a Dean’s List agreed to accept this position which, as Scranton and its Sisterhood, as well as on events unfolding in the Middle East, student at Cornell University’s School we all know, funds our many institutions, the Progressive Women of Northeastern as well as on major healthcare legislative of Human Ecology majoring in policy agencies and Hebrew schools in Northeast Pennsylvania organization. issues that would impact on elderly and analysis and management. PA, as well as providing critical funding David holds a B.S. in economics from disadvantaged populations throughout the “Our community is fortunate to have to our people in Israel and throughout the the Wharton School of the University of country; and initiated Federation fund- leaders like the Fallks assume such an world,” he said. Pennsylvania and a juris doctorate degree raising efforts to assist in recovery efforts important position. But it is entirely con- By way of educational and civic back- from Temple University School of Law. He from the massive damage caused by many sistent with their commitment to Jewish ground, Rhonda is a native of Rhode Island is a long-standing member of the Federa- hurricanes – the latest of which included life here in Northeast PA, in Israel and who has lived in the Scranton area for the tion’s Board of Trustees, a past President Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. He is around the world. I know I speak for our past 24 years. She holds a B.A. in psychol- of Temple Israel of Scranton and a past also on the board of the Jewish Home of entire community when I wish them well ogy from Roger Williams University and President of Amos Lodge of B’nai B’rith. Eastern Pennsylvania, and is as a former as co-chairs of 2019 UJA Campaign. With an M.A. in counseling from Framingham For many years, he has served as a board member and chairman of the Civil their history of communal involvement State University with a concentration in member of the Federation’s Board of Rights Committee of the Anti-Defamation and the support of our many dedicated gerontology. She also earned a Ph.D. in Trustees and Executive Committee, as League (San Diego Chapter). volunteers throughout Northeast PA, I psychology from William Lyon Univer- well as chairman of the Federation’s Professionally, he is a member of the have no doubt that their co-chairing our sity, in San Diego, with an emphasis in Community Relations Committee. During State Bars of Pennsylvania and California, annual Campaign will result in another counseling and has engaged in, and con- his continuing tenure, he has directed and and is admitted to practice before both of year of success,” said Mark Silverberg, tinues to engage in, multiple continuing coordinated efforts in Lackawanna, Pike, their state and federal courts. He is also on Federation’s executive director. SPOTLIGHT Making beautiful food and music as part of Philadelphia Orchestra’s trip to Israel BY ELIANA RUDEE to the essence of Israel and its people.” (JNS) – A delegation of 60 donors Similarly, said Gold, “The Jewish from the Philadelphia Jewish Federation Federation of Greater Philadelphia is the traveled to Israel this month with the Phil- driver of that success and has enabled the adelphia Orchestra, playing three concerts orchestra to visit Israel for the first time there from June 1-7. Israeli-American in almost 30 years.” chef Michael Solomonov, best known Ryan Fleur, interim president of the for his award-winning cookbooks and his Philadelphia Orchestra, told JNS that the acclaimed restaurants in Philadelphia – the goals in performing in Israel was about high-end Zahav is known nationwide – “returning to a country that has a deep also accompanied the tour. See “Orchestra” on page 4 “These are but two great examples of how Philadelphia has become a center of extraordinary Jewish communal life in America,” David Gold, a member of Federation the Jewish Federation of Greater Phil- adelphia’s Board of Trustees, told JNS. Gold maintained that what distinguish- on Facebook es the Philadelphia Federation from other The Jewish Federation of Northeast- Jewish Federations in North America ern Pennsylvania now has a page on is its success in simultaneously build- The group of 60 donors from the Philadelphia Jewish Federation at Nigun Culinary. Facebook to let community members ing and funding its Jewish community, (Photo by Jamie Gordon) know about upcoming events and keep co-branding itself with the likes of the connected. local symphony and growing cultural This creativity, said Melissa Greenberg, included Solomonov, Federation philan- ties with non-Jews, beating BDS at home chief development officer of the Jewish thropists and musicians who had never and on its missions to Israel, and finding Federation of Greater Philadelphia, is before been to Israel. “Both music and food Candle lighting creative ways to support Israel. coming up with this multifaceted trip that reflect humanity; [they] tie people back June 29 ........................................ 8:22 pm July 6 .............................................8:21 pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE July 13 ...........................................8:18 pm July 20 ...........................................8:13 pm U.S. leaves U.N. HRC From catcher to spy News in brief... July 27 .......................................... 8:07 pm The U.S. has withdrawn from In “The Catcher Was a Spy,” Paul Palestinian baby did not die in PLUS the U.N. Human Rights Council Rudd plays Jewish baseball player Gaza clashes; Turkey to get F-35s; Opinion .......................................................2 because of its bias against Israel. turned Nazi hunter Moe Berg. and more. Federation Honor Roll ........................6-7 Story on page 3 Story on page 4 Stories on pages 11-12 D’var Torah ...............................................8 2 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018 A MATTER OF OPINION Point/counterpoint Michael Chabon’s intermarriage views are “Radical inclusion” of interfaith families is increasingly mainstream – and morally abhorrent the best response to Michael Chabon BY SYLVIA BARACK FISHMAN, petent children. Later he underscored the BY EDMUND C. CASE families.” So, too, do many intermarried STEVEN M. COHEN AND JACK seriousness of his rejection of inmarriage (JTA) – In an essay for JTA on Michael Jews and their families, just as they can WERTHEIMER by, in effect, doing teshuvah“ ” for having Chabon’s intermarriage views, Sylvia be and are “captivated by the intellec- Imagine there’s no countries / It isn’t inmarried with his beloved Jewish wife Barack Fishman, Steven M. Cohen and tual wealth, moral wisdom and cultural hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for / And and for having taught his four children Jack Wertheimer describe a “left camp” complexity of Judaic text study,” “the no religion, too – John Lennon that marrying Jews is the preferred option. that argues for greater acceptance, wel- warmth of Jewish community” and the (JTA) – On May 14, Michael Chabon Apparently to accelerate Judaism’s coming and inclusion of the intermarried opportunity “ to “demand social justice gave the most remarkable commencement withering away in at least one household, and their family members, and a “Jew- in the name of Judaism” and to engage speech in the recent history of Hebrew Chabon proudly related his recent dra- ish right” that argues for holding on to with Israel. Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, conian “retreat from religious practice.” distinctions between the inmarried and Wouldn’t including interfaith families the Reform movement’s highly respected Indeed, the only aspects of Jewish culture the intermarried.

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