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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 (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 , 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 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. in that conversation attract instead of flagship seminary and training institution. that Chabon ratified as valuable today are As a proud member of the left camp, repel them? How mainstream Jewish Surpassing the widely held view that those related to critical thinking, such as I’ve never said that marriage between leaders think and talk about intermarriage the intermarried, their children and their “learning, inquiry and skepticism.” two Jews is a bad thing, and if that is is what’s important, not what Michael non-Jewish family members ought to be Not content to pummel a traditional what Chabon meant, he’s wrong. But Chabon did or didn’t say or mean. welcomed warmly by the Jewish commu- norm, Chabon targeted the heart of Juda- in his commencement speech in May at The deeper issue is that the right nity, Chabon took the next step – or shall ism itself. He condemned the overarching Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute wants to hold on to distinctions between we say, the next giant leap. He inveighed concept of “Havdalah” (the Judaic value of of Religion, the novelist didn’t “inveigh the inmarried and the intermarried. But against inmarriage itself as a desirable as- distinguishing between entities), which he against inmarriage itself.” there is a critically important difference piration, as a sacred Jewish norm and as an depicted as a “giant interlocking system of This is what he actually said: “Any between holding up distinctive Jewish effective instrument of Jewish continuity. distinctions and divisions.” He specifically religion that relies on compulsory en- traditions and saying that only those His words bear repeating, much as it targeted Shabbat candle-lighting, monthly dogamy [inmarriage] to survive has, in with distinctive Jewish identity can pains us to write them: “An endogamous immersions in the ritual bath, circumci- my view, ceased to make the case for its participate in those traditions. While marriage is a ghetto of two... It draws a sion, bar mitzvah and the Four Questions continued validity in the everyday lives recognizing that Jewish traditions circle around the married couple, inscribes recited during the Passover seder. of human beings.” have continuously adapted throughout them – and any eventual children who come Even the Passover removal of leavened What Chabon rejects is compulsion Jewish history, I also recognize the along – within a figurative wall of tradition, bread troubled this would-be slayer of Ju- when it comes to marriage partners. He positive salience of distinctive Jewish custom, shared history, and a common daism’s age-old distinction-making ethos. doesn’t tell Jews they shouldn’t marry traditions. But in the context of inter- inheritance of chromosomes and culture.” Chabon extolled the virtues of out- Jews. That would be just as compulsory, marriage, distinguishing between Jews Chabon urged the HUC-JIR graduates marriage, declaring himself a devotee and just as misguided, as telling Jews and their partners from different faith and their parents to abandon advocacy of “mongrels, syncretism, integrated they shouldn’t intermarry. backgrounds is counterproductive. for Jewish-Jewish marriage, rejecting neighborhoods, open borders, pastiche and It’s also not fair to say that Cha- In order to engage interfaith families, the view that Jewish homes with a sin- collage,” and, above all, “miscegenation bon wants to “dismantle Judaism.” Jews and Jewish leaders and organiza- gle group identity are critical to raising as the source of all greatness.” Remember, this was a speech to HUC tions need to adopt radically inclusive Jewishly committed and Judaically com- It is important to recognize that Chabon’s graduates. He explains that division attitudes – treating interfaith couples as call to abandon inmarriage is a symbol of his and boundaries ultimately can lead equal to inmarried couples, and partners larger, more grandiose objective. Promoting to the feeling that “we are not those from different faith traditions as equal intermarriage was the opening shot in a drive people over there.” His real concern is to Jews – and to embrace the radically to dismantle Judaism and put an end to the that religious traditions have justified inclusive policies that follow from those ostensibly inherent and inevitable injustices or prettified the dirty work of denying attitudes, supporting full and equal par- “ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the he insists religion perpetuates. other humans their humanity. ticipation in Jewish life and community. Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson Not only is Judaism responsible for In his charge to the graduates, Chabon That is the central thesis of the book I Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. religious prejudice around the world, it is urges them to move outward, opening have written for publication in the spring President: Douglas Fink also responsible for its own demise: If Ju- hearts and minds to those on the other of 2019. Radical inclusion is the opposite Executive Director: Mark Silverberg daism disappears from the earth, Chabon side; to knock down walls, find room in of the compulsory endogamy Chabon asserted, “the fault for that extinction will the Jewish community for all who want rejects, and opens up to the “other” Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman Layout Editor: Diana Sochor lie squarely with Judaism itself.” to share in our traditions; to expand the distinctive Jewish traditions that offer Assistant Editor: Ilene Pinsker Chabon seemed content, even dis- protective circle of Jewish teachings ongoing validity for their lives. Production Coordinator: Jenn DePersis turbingly relaxed, imagining the end of around the “other” and, yes, to seize the We need to broaden our thinking Advertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen Judaism. “If Judaism should ever pass opportunity to enrich the Jewish cultural about heirs to Jewish tradition and Bookkeeper: Kathy Brown from the world,” he said, “it won’t be genome by the changes that result from include not only those who are born the first time in history... that a great and increased diversity – i.e., intermarriage. Jewish or Jews by choice, but those OPINIONS The views expressed in ancient religion lost its hold on the moral It doesn’t sound like dismantling Juda- who are in relationships with Jews. We editorials and opinion pieces are those imaginations of is adherents.” ism to say, as Chabon does, that it has need to adapt our concept of Jewish of each author and not necessarily What are we to say? reinvented itself over history by being “people” to a broader Jewish “com- the views of the Jewish Federation of It is tempting to dismiss Chabon’s think- mutable and flexible, and that could and munity” that includes everyone who Northeastern Pennsylvania. ing as hyperbolic, idiosyncratic or unwor- must happen again. is Jewishly engaged – Jews, their part- LETTERS The Reporter welcomes thy of reply, perhaps performance art of a Fishman and her co-authors write that ners from different faith backgrounds letters on subjects of interest to the personal psychodrama in a public setting. those in the left camp don’t believe the and their children – to welcome and Jewish community. All letters must be But Chabon’s undeniable and sometimes right is sincerely committed to tolerance include all of those people as heirs to signed and include a phone number. dazzling talent as a novelist and the high and welcoming. Their own words, per- The editor may withhold the name our valuable heritage. status he enjoys among elite reading audi- haps unintentionally, undermine such upon request. The left is not indifferent to inter- ADS The Reporter does not necessar- ences make it critical to respond. a commitment. They talk about inter- marriage and, unlike Chabon, does not ily endorse any advertised products Even more important, his perspectives marriage as “a threat to the health of celebrate intermarriage because it’s and services. In addition, the paper have unfortunately been foreshadowed American Jewish life.” That analogizes intermarriage. Instead, it celebrates any is not responsible for the kashruth of and echoed in other corners of the Jewish intermarriage as an illness, sickness, vi- marriage involving a Jewish partner and any advertiser’s product or establish- community. Chabon’s ideas have cache, rus, cancer. Saying that intermarriage is “a seeks to maximize the Jewish engage- ment. especially in culturally and political pro- step toward Jewish self-destruction” is a ment of those marriages. DEADLINE Regular deadline is two gressive bubbles, such as elite universities self-fulfilling prophecy. With all respect, I urge those who are holding on to weeks prior to the publication date. where Jews live in safe enclaves, experi- they don’t seem to understand the nega- distinctions between the inmarried and encing highly privileged lives. tive, off-putting impact that these kinds the intermarried to consider what it would FEDERATION WEBSITE: In fact, Chabon’s willfully ignorant deni- of statements have on interfaith couples mean to maximize the Jewish engage- www.jewishnepa.org al of intermarriage as a threat to the health who might otherwise be interested in ment of interfaith families – the Jewish of American Jewish life is common in engaging in Jewish life. HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES: partner, the partner from a different faith Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA many Jewish circles outside of certain sub- If the authors really want more in- background and, most important, their 18510 groups, among them Orthodoxy, religious terfaith families to engage in Jewish children. What steps can be taken toward E-mail: [email protected] Conservative Jews, political conservatives life and community – a goal on which that end? What do we lose by turning our Fax: (570) 346-6147 and Jewish immigrant communities. (Only the right and the left could agree – why backs on those families? What do we gain Phone: (570) 961-2300 one-fifth of recently marrying Jews raised not emphasize the value and meaning by embracing them? in Reform families married other Jews.) that Jewish life provides, and treat as Which side of that question are you on? HOW TO REACH Citing the fact that intermarried couples a great positive that many interfaith Edmund Case, the retired founder of THE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: are proud to identify as Jews, the majority of families in fact are experiencing that InterfaithFamily, writes on intermarriage Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244 American liberal Jews ignore the mountain of for themselves? issues at www.edmundcase.com. E-mail: [email protected] evidence that only a small minority of those As they write, millions of Jews The views and opinions expressed in SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: adult children raised by intermarried parents “cherish the cultural richness that the this article are those of the author and do Phone: (570) 961-2300 remain firmly connected to Judaism, Jewish celebration of the Jewish calendar year not necessarily reflect the views of JTA See “Intermarriage” on page 9 brings to their lives and the lives of their or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. JUNE 28, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Congregation B’nai Harim and Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum celebrated a decade of service together The weekend of June 2-3 was a time for celebration in Greek and classics. Later, she earned her master’s The Pocono Pines Interfaith Community, Monroe County as Congregation B’nai Harim of Pocono Pines honored degree at CUNY Graduate Center. During the 1990s, she United and a variety of other community organizations. Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum for her 10 years of service to trained as an outreach fellow by the Union of Reform “Our rabbi brings warmth, compassion, humor and joy the congregation and the Monroe County community. Judaism; after four years of study, Kershenbaum was to our congregation,” said organizers of the celebratory Kershenbaum grew up in Brooklyn, NY. There she ordained at the Academy of Jewish Religion, where weekend. “She has a sense of history, a profound love met and married her husband, Aaron, and raised their she now teaches. of language and a creative approach to education and two children, Rachel and Joshua. She studied and then Kershenbaum has been serving Congregation B’nai ritual. She wholeheartedly welcomes blended families; taught classical languages and literature at Brooklyn Harim since 2008. She is actively involved with the and the congregants find her approachable and dedicated College, and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. Clergy Council of Monroe Council of Monroe County, to our Monroe County community.” U.S. leaves U.N. Human Rights Council over Israel bias BY RON KAMPEAS Israel on the council and of addressing human rights Representatives spoke out against the departure while WASHINGTON (JTA) – The Trump administration abuses elsewhere. noting the council’s bias. has withdrawn the United States from the U.N. Human Some pro-Israel groups have pressed for a U.S. depar- “The United Nations Human Rights Council ignores Rights Council because of its bias against Israel. ture from the council because of its excesses. Others have some of the most egregious human rights abuses in the Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Na- criticized the council, but quietly supported a continued world, and its membership includes notorious human tions, and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, jointly U.S. presence to maintain U.S. influence as a counter to rights violators,” said Rep. Ted Deutch, the senior Dem- announced the pullout on June 19. the anti-Israel agenda. ocrat on the House Middle East subcommittee. “The “The Human Rights Council is an exercise in shame- The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the departure. council also wrongly and obsessively focuses on our ally less hypocrisy,” Pompeo told the media at the State “We applaud Ambassador Haley’s move and urge other Israel. Unfortunately, none of that will change if we are Department. democracies should follow the U.S. lead and leave the not at the table to lead the reform efforts.” Haley said the decision came after her “good faith” UNHRC as well,” it said in a statement. Rep. Nita Lowey, the top Democratic appropriator effort to reform the body was obstructed by others. The B’nai B’rith International, which like the Wiesenthal in the House, said the departure was another example body “was not worthy of its name,” she said. Center is a U.N.-recognized nongovernmental organi- of President Donald Trump’s isolationism. “By leaving The decision split those who, like Haley and Pompeo, zation, did not praise the departure in its statement, but UNHRC, we will not improve its behavior, rather the said the council’s negative focus on Israel rendered it said it should serve as a “wake-up call.” “The United U.S. will lose its ability to influence the foreign body’s irrelevant and others, including human rights groups States’ decision to withdraw from the United Nations agenda and retreat from its role as a world leader on and Jewish lawmakers, who said the U.S. presence was Human Rights Council presents the international orga- human rights,” Lowey said in a statement. an important voice calling out abuses around the world. nization with an important opportunity for dramatic and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the urgently needed reform, as the steady politicization of Middle East subcommittee, praised the decision. “For departure “courageous. ...The U.S. decision to leave this the body has rendered it largely irrelevant at best and a far too long, the council has been a platform used by the prejudiced body is an unequivocal statement that enough destructive actor at worst,” B’nai B’rith said. “Perhaps world’s worst human rights violators to shield themselves is enough,” he said in a statement. the U.S. withdrawal from the UNHRC will serve as a from criticism of their abysmal records while attempting Two human rights advocacy groups with close ties to wake-up call for all U.N. agencies to begin a process of to isolate and delegitimize the democratic Jewish state mainstream Jewish groups, Human Rights First and the systemic reform, in order to return the organization to its of Israel,” said Ros-Lehtinen, who has long counseled Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human original mission and principles of equity and fairness.” withdrawal from and defunding of the UNHRC. Rights, joined a letter sent to Pompeo criticizing the Human Rights Watch said the departure was sacri- Trump administration for leaving the council. “Forfeiting ficing an important U.S. voice against abuse in order to the U.S. seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council only defend Israel. “The Trump administration’s withdrawal serves to empower actors on the council, like Russia from the Human Rights Council is a sad reflection of its DEADLINES and China, that do not share American values on the one-dimensional human rights policy in which the US The following are deadlines for all articles and pre-eminence of universal human rights,” said the letter defends Israeli abuses from criticism above all else,” initiated by Freedom House. it said in a statement. “By walking away, the U.S. is photos for upcoming Reporter issues. In addition to the body’s disproportionate focus on turning its back not just on the UN, but on victims of DEADLINE ISSUE Israel, successive U.S. administrations have objected human rights abuses around the world, including in Syria, Thursday, July 12...... July 26 to the presence of human rights abusers on the council. Yemen, North Korea and Myanmar. Now other govern- Thursday, July 26...... August 9 Haley, warning earlier in June of the likelihood of a ments will have to redouble their efforts to ensure that Thursday, August 9...... August 23 U.S. withdrawal, said the presence of noted abusers was the council addresses the world’s most serious human a sticking point. “Being a member of this council is a rights problems.” Thursday, August 23...... September 6 privilege, and no country who is a human rights violator At least two Jewish Democrats in the U.S. House of should be allowed a seat at the table,” she said. Current members of the council noted for their oppres- For information sive policies include Saudi Arabia, China and Venezuela. The George W. Bush administration refused to join on advertising, the council when it was established in 2006 as a suc- please contact cessor to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations at the Bonnie Rozen at time, pushed for the replacement body in part to address 1-800-779-7896, similar concerns about the commission, but the council ext. 244 or soon replicated the pattern of emphasizing criticism of Israel and allowing abusers to join. The U.N. General bonnie@ Assembly selects countries to serve three-year terms on thereportergroup.org the Human Rights Council. The Obama administration joined the council, arguing that its presence was a more effective means of defending

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 4 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018 In “The Catcher Was a Spy,” Paul Rudd is a Jewish baseball player turned Nazi hunter BY CURT SCHLEIER skills. He read several newspapers each The story sounds like great fodder for (JTA) – It’s rare enough for a Jewish day, spoke more than 10 languages (seven a movie and that’s what it has become: baseball player to make it to the major fluently) and graduated from Princeton at a “The Catcher Was a Spy,” based on a 1994 leagues. A New York Jew named Moe Berg time when Jews normally weren’t admitted. biography of the same name by Nicholas took it even a step further – he added war During World War II, after his baseball Dawidoff, opened recently in theaters. spy to his extraordinary resume. career, Berg worked for the U.S. govern- Paul Rudd (who happens to be Jewish) Berg pulled off the feat more than 60 ment and eventually rose to a position stars as Berg alongside Mark Strong and years ago. As a catcher in the majors for 15 in the Office of Strategic Services, or Sienna Miller. seasons during the 1920s and ‘30s, he was OSS – a precursor to the CIA. He went The film begins in 1939, his last season known more for his intelligence and intro- on missions in then-Yugoslavia, where as a player, with the Boston Red Sox, be- verted personality – famed manager Casey Paul Rudd plays Moe Berg in “The he tracked resistance groups, and Italy, fore picking up several years later when Stengel once called him the “strangest man Catcher Was a Spy.” (Photo courtesy where he interviewed physicists about Berg has a boring desk job at the OSS. His ever to play baseball” – than his athletic of IFC Films) the German nuclear program. See “Catcher” on page 8

Orchestra Continued from page 1 history with and connection to classical in Brussels. conflict, the food is OK to be together, music – from Toscanini leading the first Solomonov, too, experienced an- and it’s even celebrated together, which performance of what was to become the Is- ti-Israel challenges in which Americans is a hopeful message.” rael Philharmonic to Leonard Bernstein’s argued with him that does He exclaimed: “If the food is good, I 40-year relationship with the country; not exist and, rather, the country cul- don’t care where it comes from!” fulfilling our purpose of people-to-people turally appropriates other nations’ food Still, Solomonov noted that his choice exchange; letting music speak across traditions. In April, Solomonov experi- to join the trip was not a response to an- cultural divides and language barriers to enced criticism for hosting a dinner with ti-Israel criticism, but rather, a new form of promote mutual understanding; strength- Reem Kassis, author of “The Palestinian diplomacy. “The Israel that I appreciate is ening the bonds between Philadelphia’s Table,” in which Palestinian dishes were pro-progress, pro-inclusion and pro-cele- Jewish community and Israel; and in- highlighted at Zahav in celebration of bration of many cultures – and that culture cluding the sister-city relationship with Kassis’ new cookbook. makes Israeli cuisine what it is.” Tel Aviv, and many joint social-service “While I am proud to work in an in- Fleur said music fosters a comparable and investment commitments.” dustry where there is a focus on change, Chef Michael Solomonov prepared a sentiment. “Cultural diplomacy occurs According to Fleur, the musicians when you start putting limitations on dish in front of two women. (Photo by when we are making music through the found the country to be “welcoming” and food, that’s ridiculous. To say there is three full orchestra performances in Israel, Jamie Gordon) “beautiful,” with the people extraordinari- no Israeli cuisine is an argument to say master classes, chamber performances ly appreciative” – a different perspective that Israel doesn’t have the right to exist,” immigrants to Israel, such as Ethiopians and other residency activities,” he said. than the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and he told JNS. and Georgians, are influencing the way “The orchestra connected with citizens of Sanctions) movement seeks to portray. Solomonov explained that Israeli people cook. diverse backgrounds. At Oasis of Peace, Gold reported that the orchestra saw cuisine is defined by the embodiment of “To simply say Israel is 70 years old we engaged with Jewish and Palestinian BDS on the streets of Philadelphia, where what it means to be local out of necessity is half of the story,” emphasized the chef. Arab citizens. Other events and concerts two people desecrated an Israeli flag on and, like Israel itself, is a gathering of the “We have the ancient holidays and laws had diverse audiences from North Africa, Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the city’s exiles in which the Diaspora is continually of kashrut that have influenced our cook- the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. center and in Europe in the lead-up to introducing new foods to the Israel palate. ing. We have microclimates all over the And the U.S. State Department subsidized the Israel leg of their trip, where they “It’s something that’s happening in real country that influences the cuisine. Years concert tickets for students from Lod, experienced a disruption of their concert time,” he said, adding that currently, new ago, Jews were pushed out of countries Jerusalem, Beersheva and Kfar Saba.” like Yemen, Morocco, Bulgaria, Spain Like music, Solomonov maintained and Turkey, and each Jewish community that food is a “great tool” to bring people Effective please has its own cuisine that has transformed together and facilitate cultural diplomacy immediately, send note! over the years and come together to create – a value that occurs naturally in Israel. all articles and ads to Israeli cuisine.” “Food is the final frontier of diplomacy, In this way, such food remains espe- where you can discuss culture and cel- our new E-mail address, cially unique, he said, because of this ebrate other cultures. When we gather jfnepareporter@ connectivity of cultures. “A course of around the table, we get everybody to salatim [small salads and dishes that are open up to discussing someone else’s jewishnepa.org. popular as sharable appetizers] includes narrative. You learn so much; it’s like a so many countries of the world on one type of anthropology. “And,” he added, little table. In a moment where there’s “it’s delicious.”

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With best wishes, Mark Silverberg, Executive Director Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania 601 Jefferson Avenue Scranton, PA 18510 6 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018 JUNE 28, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 7 8 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018 D’VAR TORAH Learning from a stubborn mule BY RABBI PEG KERSNENBAUM, CONGREGATION much of a seer, was he? How was God to get through to B’NAI HARIM, POCONO PINES such a headstrong prophet? Balak, Numbers 22:2-25:9 God used a donkey and a fiery angel. The angel, “Wise is the one who learns from any person,” claims planted in full view of the donkey, scared the beast so Ben Zoma in Pirke Avot 4:1. Is a donkey a person? How that she turned away. Bilaam blamed the donkey for about a talking donkey? How about a talking donkey in delaying his progress toward the king and beat her each the Torah? We meet such a miraculous creature in this time. Finally, lying down in the road, she spoke up in week’s parasha, Balak. Balak, you may recall, was king protest, and God revealed the presence of the fierce, fiery, of Moab in the time when the Israelites were moving sword-wielding angel. Bilaam, to his credit, offered to toward the Promised Land. They had requested passage go home and refuse the king’s entreaties, but he is sent from Edom and had been chased off. They had been on, chastened. attacked by the king of Arad and by Amorites, and had We know that he was dragged from mountain top roundly defeated them. Now they approached Moab to mountain top by the increasingly exasperated king, and Balak was frightened. Rather than allow passage to offering rich sacrifices at the different spots. We know the migrating hordes – passage that they had repeatedly that he was inspired to speak not curses but blessings offered to pay for – he decided to have them cursed by for the people who lay spread out on the plains below. a well-known prophet, Bilaam. Unbeknownst to the Israelites, that unruly, cantankerous, Bilaam had a reputation for prophecy and for being well-beloved throng was being appraised in words that able to curse effectively. Strangely enough, he seems we use today in our liturgy, “Ma tovu, ohalecha Yaakov/ to have had connections with the God of the Israelites! mishkenotecha, Yisrael” – How lovely are your tents, The Lord refused to grant him permission to curse O Jacob/Your dwellings, O Israel! the people because they had already been blessed and To Balak, we had been a threat, a vast crowd of peo- were under divine protection. Bilaam, at first, turned ple whom the king – like the pharaoh in Egypt – feared away the offer of King Balak’s emissaries, reporting he couldn’t defeat. Now, from the lips of the seer who that God had forbidden him from complying. Balak learned to see truly from the lips of his donkey, Balak just sent more impressive emissaries to tempt the seer learns that it is not the people whom he should fear, but to do his bidding. their divine Protector. Prompted by his cleared vision, It’s always difficult to get a clear idea of tone in the Bilaam predicts the doom of the people who have and Torah (as in e-mails). Bilaam’s words were unimpeach- will have taken arms against them: Moab, Edom, Seir, able. He told the messengers that he had to consult God. Amalek and the Kenites. Turning his back in earnest on After seeming to grant permission to Bilaam to go with the promised rewards of the desperate king, Bilaam goes the men as long as he didn’t curse the people, God’s back to his land and Balak turns back to his. reaction was to become incensed when he did go! If the Truth and divine insight emanate from the strangest seer could not intuit God’s opinion on this matter after places to convey wisdom. Wise is the one who learns being told twice not to try cursing the people, he wasn’t from all, even from talking donkeys.

Catcher Continued from page 4 boss, Gen. William Donovan (played by Jeff Daniels), eventually assigns him a mission in the field and, with Sam Goudsmit (Paul Giamatti), Berg helps rescue the Italian physicist Eduardo Amaldi from the Nazis. A more crucial assignment is to kill the German physicist Werner Heisenberg, a task with which Berg is not completely comfortable. There is no certainty that Germany has the resources to build a bomb (the Brits don’t believe they do) or even that Heisenberg, despite being a loyal German, will help them build a weapon of mass destruction. But Donovan decides not to take a chance and orders the hit. Berg was an enigma to most who knew him and the film, directed by the Australian filmmaker Ben Lewin, paints a nuanced portrait of the complicated character. L-r: Sienna Miller stars alongside Paul Rudd in the Though he had a longtime girlfriend, Estella (Sienna film about Moe Berg. (Photo courtesy of IFC Films) Miller), some questioned his sexual orientation. The general asks him point blank at one point if he’s “queer,” had never heard of Berg before the film opportunity arose but Berg doesn’t answer. (Later in life, Berg became and, though now Los Angeles-based, has never been to a unemployed and subsisted with the help of relatives.) baseball game other than his sons’ Little League contests. As a whole, though, the movie falls in a bland area But he told JTA his Jewishness informs his “sense between truth and fiction. While Berg’s missions are of connection with the subject matter.” In 1985, Lewin fascinating on paper, the content isn’t particularly cine- directed the award-winning “The Dunera Boys” a mini- matic, the way a good James Bond film is. So while the series about 2,000 English Jews who were somehow end product stays honest to the facts, it sacrifices some suspected of being Nazi spies and deported to Australia. enjoyment for the viewer. In one scene late in “The Catcher Was a Spy,” Berg The film does address Berg’s Jewish identity, however, attends a Kol Nidre service at a Zurich synagogue during and conveys how uncomfortable he was in his Jewish his mission to kill Heisenberg. While the film is based skin. At one point he tells a new acquaintance: “I’m a on true events, the Yom Kippur moment almost certainly Jew. Not a practicing Jew. But I was different than the never occurred. It was a conceit added by Lewin (even other boys. I never even told them my real name. I wanted though Robert Rodat wrote the script). to blend in ... I don’t fit in even now.” Lewin doesn’t know whether Berg actually attended (Rudd’s personal story mirrors Berg’s a bit on this services, but he finds it a plausible possibility. “[Berg] front – he explained last year on the genealogy show was a very modern and secular Jew, but at the same time “Finding Your Roots” that he grew up in places with few he couldn’t escape his Jewishness,” the filmmaker said. Jews and was called “Jew boy” despite his attempts to “Before going out to kill someone, I don’t know that he blend in to his communities.) didn’t go inside a synagogue. I know myself as a secular Lewin, 71, the son of Polish Holocaust survivors, Jew that I find comfort in that kind of environment. I go migrated with his family at a young age to Australia, to Kol Nidre services every year even though I’m not a where he grew up in an observant Jewish household. He believer because I have that one day to reflect on my life.”

9:30 Mon. pm JUNE 28, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 9 Intermarriage Continued from page 2 friends, community or culture. Only 8 percent distinctions are necessary to life and health, of the grandchildren of the intermarried are judgment and morality – to say nothing about being raised in the Jewish religion. Few science, families, communities and nations. intermarried households are anywhere near Finally, religious “syncretism,” which as educated, connected or committed as their Chabon embraced, erodes ethnoreligious single-ancestry contemporaries. Among the viability. Sociologists and historians pro- seven million or so American adults who vide powerful evidence of rich minority have been raised by a Jewish parent, over cultures that fade not because of their moral two million deny they are Jewish. “fault,” as Chabon asserts, but because they Chabon’s views are worrisome because could not maintain their distinctiveness and among liberal American Jews they are not so cohesion. Minority cultures may not need outlandish. We live in an age that not only is to be hermetically sealed off, but to survive opposed to behavioral norms imposed from they all depend on living expression in above, but to social boundaries to our left the form of ethnic languages, music, arts, and right. Jews, a tiny minority in a sea of foods, texts, history, religion and folkways. more than 300 million Americans, are being Marriages between two Jews, whether engulfed increasingly by the majority society born Jews or Jews by choice, along with – one blessed by a deep culture of welcoming Jewish societies that support them, are and tolerance, at least until recently. demonstrably the most effective factors Theologically and ideologically, our in Jewish vitality because they do indeed Featuring the largest kosher selection of fresh meat, poultry, concept of peoplehood requires both respect create a “figurative wall of tradition, for the outside culture, but also transmitting custom, shared history and a common dairy, frozen & grocery in the Central New York area. our own. Distinguishing between Jews and inheritance” – and, contrary to Chabon, non-Jews has made Jewish societies more that is a good thing. To deny this reality tolerant, since according to Judaism only Jews is to deny sociologically verifiable facts. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– are called upon to comply with Judaic law. Chabon may no longer care, but we still do. Once, some argued that intermarriage Chabon naively envisions a utopian 12 oz. 8.8 oz. was inevitable in an open society and world where through wholesale intermar- Manischewitz Osem Toasted trying to prevent it was as futile as trying riage of all races, nationalities and creeds, Noodles to resist gravity or change the weather. all of humanity will be homogenized into Chabon and people who share his values a single “mongrelized” blandness. In prac- 2 $ 99 now go a step further: They like the new tice, since Jews are a minuscule minority

/ –––––––– weather. They view intermarriage as a worldwide, this prescription would yield 3 1 positive development in human history, the disappearance of Diaspora Jews and ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– not a step toward Jewish self-destruction. Judaism. Christian denominations would 1-2.5 oz.•Select Varieties Chabon’s assault on the positive salience be untouched. Buddhism, Hinduism and 8.8 oz.•Chocolate Where Available of Jewish difference is dangerous, morally Islam would be unperturbed. The world Osem Osem or abhorrent and factually incorrect on at least with all its divisiveness would hardly no- four verifiable counts. First, Judaism as a tice – but it would be a world without Jews. Wafer Cookies Snacks religious culture offers so much more of Jews with any historical sense have seen 4 5 $ value than critical thinking skills alone. To this movie before. At least since the Enlight- /$ / take just one example, albeit an outstanding enment, some Jewish cultural elites have 5 –––––––– 4 one: Ancient Judaism, unique among world proposed that the solution to the world’s cultures, introduced the very inclusive weekly ills is Jewish assimilation. If only the Jews –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––8.45 oz. day of rest, the Sabbath, and mandated it for all would let go of their distinctive religious 14.1 oz. Canister Assorted Varieties socio-economic classes, without exception. culture, the world would be redeemed. Osem Beetology The Sabbath was a bold blow against what Over the past four decades and more, Mini Mandel Beet Juice Chabon calls “the economics of exclusion.” the Jewish community has been marked by Recognizing its virtue, Christianity and Islam impassioned discourse over intermarriage. adopted the Sabbath concept from Judaism. Though far from uniform, a “left” camp has 49 99

Millions of Jews cherish the cultural argued for greater acceptance, welcoming 3 –––––––– 2 richness that the celebration of the Jewish and inclusion of the intermarried and their calendar year brings to their lives and the lives family members. The Jewish “right” has –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– of their children – as Chabon and his family argued for holding on to distinctions – did until recently. Millions are captivated by liturgical and otherwise – between the 48 oz. Empire Kosher the intellectual wealth, moral wisdom and inmarried and the intermarried. Meal Mart Fresh Chicken cultural complexity of Judaic text study. For Each camp sees the other as suspect, Beef Patties Leg Quarters others, the warmth of Jewish community life albeit in very different ways. Those on is the compelling factor. Still others demand the left don’t believe the right is sincerely 99 99 social justice in the name of Judaism, putting committed to tolerance and welcoming. To lb. the directives of the Hebrew prophets into those on the right, the left’s promotion of 17 –––––––– 2 practice in local and international settings. “welcoming” has seemed like a stalking ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Not least, for many American Jews the horse for total indifference to intermarriage, 16 oz. 16 oz.•Sweet Italian or opportunity to engage with Israel, the only if not the celebration of intermarriage. Empire Kosher Empire Kosher country in the world where the language, We urge the proponents of welcoming Ground Turkey Spice Apple culture and religious ethos are Jewish, is and inclusion – many of whom we count a source of joy and renewal. as dear friends and colleagues – to think or Chicken Chicken Sausage Second, Chabon treated religious extrem- anew about where they stand in regard to ism as a Jewish monopoly. But worldwide – Chabon’s challenge. Where would you 2 $ 2 $

/ –––––––– / including the United States – large swathes of draw boundaries? Where do you stand on 8 10 society have reacted to transnational change maintaining some distinctions between by retreating into sectarian and exclusivist Jews and others? Is Jewish group sur- –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ethnoreligious and political enclaves. Yet vival a force for good or for ill, not only 8 oz. Acme Smoked 12 oz. Chabon declared that he would be fine with for individual Jews but for humanity? Salmon $12.99 or Wine Sauce or Sour Cream his children marrying into other religions Should we teach the next generation that Acme Smoked Lascco that are as likely to produce exponents of all Jews – both those born Jewish and Herring Snacks intolerance and extremism as the Jews who converts – are in a kinship relationship Salmon 4 oz. provoke Chabon’s fear and disgust. with one another as heirs of a unique, rich Third, distinctiveness is not the enemy and valuable cultural heritage? 99 99 of creativity. Chabon’s rhetorical rejection As Pete Seeger once asked, “Which 6 –––––––– 4 of making distinctions is revealed as a lie in side are you on? Which side are you on?” his own justly acclaimed novels. Chabon’s Sylvia Barack Fishman is the Joseph and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– gorgeous, edgy, evocative language is the Esther Foster Professor of Contemporary Westside Mall, Edwardsville • 287-7244 product of the author making artistic “dis- Jewish Life in the Near Eastern and Judaic tinction and divisions,” moving sentences Studies Department at Brandeis University. 1228 O’Neill Highway, Dunmore • 346-4538 from one paragraph to another. As Chabon Steven M. Cohen is research professor well knows, only when artists define their of Jewish social policy at HUC-JIR and own “boundaries and bright lines” can they director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive. create credible settings, provide each charac- Jack Wertheimer is the Joseph and Martha ter with distinctive dialogue, and give each Mendelson Professor of American Jewish character life and dimension on the page. History at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Indeed, much of Chabon’s commence- The views and opinions expressed in ment address was curiously binary and this article are those of the authors and judgmental – and bogus. We can all, like do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA Prices effective Sunday, July 1 thru Saturday, August 11, 2018. Chabon, love “pastiche and collage,” but or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. 10 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018

June 2018

Feature Films *A Tale of Love and Darkness - Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman directs and stars in the emotional and thought-provoking story about Fania, a young wife and mother in war-torn Jerusalem, during the early years of the State of Israel. Stifled in her relationship and weary from the tedium of her new life, Fania creates fantastical stories for Amos, her 10-year-old son, amazing him with tales of adventure and beauty— stories that would influence the boy to become a writer himself. Based on the international best-selling memoir by Amos Oz. Denial - Based on the acclaimed book Denial: Holocaust History on Trial, Denial recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the defendant, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team, led by Richard Rampton, to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred. *Fanny’s Journey- In 1943, 13-year old Fanny and her younger sisters were sent from their home in France to an Italian foster home for Jewish children. When Nazis came to Italy, their caretakers organized the departure of the children to Switzerland. Based on a true story. Hidden in Silence- During the Nazi occupation of Poland,Catholic teenage Stefania Podgorska chooses the role of a savior and sneaks 13 Jewish into her attic. *Loving Leah: A Hallmark Hall of Fame Classic - A handsome Washington, D.C. doctor and a young New York woman fall in love at an unusual time...after they get married. Leah Lever is married to an Orthodox rabbi, Benjamin Lever, whose brother, Jake, is a successful cardiologist and a non-practicing Jew. Jake is stunned when Benjamin dies suddenly, but not as stunned as when he is told that, under an ancient Jewish Law, he is expected to marry the childless Leah to carry on Benjamin’s name. The only alternative is to go through a ceremony where Jake must deny his brother’s existence. For Jake, that’s unthinkable, so impulsively he suggests to Leah that they get married and maintain a secretly platonic relationship. Eager to pursue her own dreams, Leah gladly accepts. Their oversimplified plan to live separate lives under the same roof proves challenging when Leah’s suspicious mother shows up unexpectedly. The harder they try to disguise their “pretend” marriage, the more their appreciation for each other’s worlds grows - and out of understanding, a real love develops. Loving Leah is a heart-warming story. Munich - Inspired by real events, Munich reveal the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assign to track down and assassinate the 121 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes. ( The Jewish Film Library also owns the movie “Twenty One Hours in Munich” about the massacre at the Olympics). Music Box - In this intense, courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot agrees to defend her Hungarian immigrant father Mike Laszlo against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. *Norman - Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, and strives to be everyone’s friend. His incessant networking leads him nowhere until he ends up befriending a young but charismatic politician, Micha Eshel at a low point in his life. Three years later, the politician becomes the Prime Minister of Israel. Norman uses Eshel’s name to leverage his biggest deal ever: a series of quid pro quo transactions linking the Prime Minister to Norman’s nephew ,a rabbi, a mogul, his assistant and a treasury official from the Ivory Coast. Norman’s plans soon go awry, creating the potential for an international catastrophe he must struggle to prevent. Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer is a comedic and compassionate drama of a man whose downfall is rooted in a human frailty all too easy to forgive—a need to matter. Remember - Remember is the suspense-filled story of Zev, an Auschwitz survivor who discovers that the Nazi guard who murdered his family some seventy years ago is living in America under an assumed name. The Devil’s Arithmetic - Sixteen year old Hanna Stern was a typical American teenager who ignores her family’s heritage until a mystical Passover seder takes her back in time to German-occupied Poland on an emotional journey of life, death and survival. The Impossible Spy - The story of the life and death of Israel’s most celebrated spy, Elie Cohen. *The Last Butterfly -This World War II drama stars Tom Courtenay as the famous French Mime Antoine Moreau. Ordered by the Nazis to provide ‘the greatest show of his life’ for use as propoganda showing the kinder side of the Nazis as the war draws to a close, Moreau decides to risk everything to tell the world the real truth behind this monumental lie, and although as a mime he is pledged to keep his lips sealed, his voice must be heard. *The Women’s Balcony - Discover Israel’s #1 film of the year! An accident during a Bar Mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout community in Jerusalem. *The Wedding Plan - A poignant and funny romantic comedy about love, marriage and faith in life’s infinite possibilities. *The Zookeeper’s Wife - In 1939 Poland, Antonina Zabinska (two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband successfully run the Warsaw Zoo and raise their family in an idyllic existence. Their world is overturned, however, when the country is invaded by the Nazis and they are forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed zoologist (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, the Zabinskis risk everything by covertly working with the Resistance and using the zoo’s hidden tunnels and cages to save families from Nazi brutality. Non-Feature Films Above and Beyond - In 1948, just three years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, a group of Jewish-American pilots answered a call for help. As members of Machal- “volunteers from abroad”- this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war; they also embarked on personal journeys of discovery and renewed Jewish pride. *Body and Soul: The State of the Jewish Nation - A powerful documentary sets the record straight eloquently and comprehensively. It not only shows the undeniable historical connection between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel, but also succeeds in debunking propaganda, myths and misinformation that have become accepted as truth by many people. Follow Me - The story of the fantastic rescue at Entebbe and the loss of Yonatan Netanyahu (brother of the Prime Minister). The Jewish Film Library also owns an Israeli film about the rescue at Entebbe entitled “Operation Thunderbolt” Hava Nagila (the Movie) - Hava Nagila is a documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard. *I’m Still Here - Real Diaries of young people who lived during the Holocaust. Jews and Baseball (narrated by Dustin Hoffman) Israel: The Royal Tour - A delightful tour headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and travel correspondent Peter Greenberg. Nicky’s Family - The amazing story of Sir Nicholas Winton who created, on his own, a Kinder-transport in Czechoslavakia saving 669 children from the Nazi inferno. No Place on Earth - The harrowing story of Esther Stermer and her family and friends who escaped extermination by the Nazis by hiding in an underground cave is unearthed by accident when cave explorer, Chris Nicola stumbles upon remnants left behind by the cave dwellers. *Rosenwald - Rosenwald tells the incredible story of Julius Rosenwald, the son of an immigrant peddler who never finished high school, who rose to become the President of Sears. Influenced by the writings of the educator Booker T. Washington, this Jewish philanthropist joined forces with African American communities during the Jim Crow South to build 5,300 schools, providing 660,000 black children with access to education in the segregated American South. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg *The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers and Soldiers and Peacemakers - A two disc-set based on the international best-seller by Ambassador Yehuda Avner (New films denoted with an asterisk *)

JUNE 28, 2018 ■ THE REPORTER 11 NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org U.S. envoy slams Palestinian leadership for “hypocrisy” Palestinian baby did not die from Gaza border clashes, family Middle East peace envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump Jason Greenblatt slammed paid by Hamas to lie the Palestinians for “hypocrisy” on June 21, following accusations by a Palestinian Authority official that American efforts to ease a humanitarian crisis in Gaza intended A cousin of the 8-month-old baby, Laila al-Ghandour, whose Palestinian parents claim to create a divide between Gaza and P.A.-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria. On died of tear-gas inhalation during the Gaza border clashes in May, said that the family June 18, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, aide to P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas, issued a statement had been paid to lie about the circumstances of the infant’s death by Hamas. Mahmoud warning Arab nations not to cooperate with the United States, whose intent, he said, was Omar, 20, who was indicted in Beersheva District Court for a number of security-related to create a divide in Palestinian society. “The Palestinian leadership warns the countries offenses tied his involvement in the Gaza “March of Return” border protests, admitted of the region against cooperating with a move whose goal is to perpetuate the separation that his cousin had actually died of a hereditary blood disease that her brother had also between Gaza and the West Bank and lead to concessions on Jerusalem and the holy apparently died from a year earlier, according to Hadashot news. Omar later learned sites,” the statement said, according to reports. Greenblatt admonished the P.A, official that his aunt and uncle had falsely told the media that Laila had died as a result of tear- in a tweet. “Hamas & the PA, who have been fighting one another for over a decade, are gas inhalation. He testified that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar paid the family NIS 8,000 each cynically claiming that the US is trying to divide Gaza and the West Bank, instead ($2,200) to blame the for the baby’s death. According to the of acknowledging that we are trying to help the Palestinians in Gaza,” he wrote on June Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry at the time, the infant died from gas inhalation in the 21. “What hypocrisy.” The fund-raising effort for Hamas-controlled Gaza is an item on eastern Gaza Strip. Yet at the time, it was also reported that a medical doctor, speaking the agenda of Greenblatt and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, who are on on the condition of anonymity, said the baby had a pre-existing medical condition and tour in the Middle East to discuss areas of interest to Trump. According to reports, the did not believe her death was caused by tear gas. The infant’s death drew international fundraising drive would put money into developing an industrial area abutting Gaza condemnation against Israel amid the outcry over the border deaths. in the northern Sinai desert, which would house a power station and factories to make Israeli company wins first prize of $100,000 in counter- products for Gaza residents. The decline in humanitarian welfare has been attributed terrorism competition to Hamas’ deprioritizing of essential services, in favor of using funds for military and An Israeli medical technology company won first prize in an international competition terror objects, and to Abbas, who has imposed severe budget cuts to the region in an for startups developing anti-terrorism technology. CardioScale, a Ganei Tikva-based compa- effort to wrestle control away from Hamas. On June 19, the American team met with ny’s patented CVRI (Cardio Vascular Reserve index) device, was awarded the top prize of Jordan’s King Abdullah, followed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on $100,000 at the 2018 Combating Terrorism Technology Startup Challenge, organized by the Wednesday. They will also meet with Israeli officials, but not with Palestinian ones, U.S. Department of Defense Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office and the Israeli due to Ramallah’s refusal to meet with any American officials since Trump officially Ministry of Defense Rearch and Development Directorate, along with the MIT Enterprise recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel in December. In another tweet Forum of Israel. CardioScale, a portable arm cuff, detects a patient’s cardiovascular hemody- on June 21, Greenblatt insinuated that international donors are wary of pouring fund- namic deterioration, enabling caregivers to predict cardiovascular deterioration in a patient. ing into Gaza while it remains in the control of Hamas. “Hamas continues to fail the The device is particularly indicated for use in group casualty events, when triage must be Palestinians of Gaza – arson kites & balloons & many mortar & rocket attacks directed performed to save the maximum number of lives. Second prize and $10,000 were awarded against Israelis. How can the international community help when murderous Hamas to Israeli company Colugo, an unmanned aerial vehicle meant to “release humanity from leaders continue to squander the resources of Gaza? The people deserve better,” he wrote. asphalt roads and traffic jams, and as a result, create a cleaner and greener environment.” National security adviser holds secret meetings in Moscow The competition was held on the first day of the annual Cyber Week conference at Tel Aviv (Israel Hayom via JNS) – Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat recently University on June 17. A second portion of the competition, Urban Navigation Technolo- visited Moscow and met with Russia’s Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and other gies, will take place later this year. In an interview with NoCamels, a representative of the Russian officials, Channel 10 News reported on June 19. The talks reportedly focused on Combating Terrorism Technical Support office explained that the purpose of the competition Russia’s request for new understandings regarding southern Syria after Israel asked Russia was for security officials to be introduced to cutting-edge counter-terror technologies. This to prevent Iran from gaining a foothold there. Ben-Shabbat has met with Patrushev a number year, more than 200 contestants from around the world vied for top prize, up from just 40 of times since he was appointed head of the NSC in August 2017, when Russia was already in 2014, the first year of the competition. Judges included U.S. senator and former U.S. “deeply involved” in the Syrian war. The two held meetings in February of this year as well vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, former Israeli ambassador to the United as in October 2017. On June 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone con- States Michael Oren, and Israeli Knesset member and executive director of the Institute for versation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Syria. The i24News National Security Studies Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amos Yadlin. website reported that the two leaders promised to continue their security coordination in Syria.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 12 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 28, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF From JNS.org without alternatives. Such attempts are regrettable and goes against the soul of strate- Despite Senate opposition, Turkey still to receive F-35s gic partnership,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yýldýrým said, Hurriyet Daily News Despite the U.S. Senate voting overwhelmingly to block the sale of the advance reported. From its inception in the 1990s, the F-35 was touted as a next-generation F-35 fighter jet, Turkey is still set to receive the jet on June 21 at a ceremony in Tex- fighter plane for the 21st century that would replace the workhorse F-16, F-15 and as. “Lockheed Martin will hold a rollout ceremony for Turkey this Thursday in Fort other older fighter aircraft. A NATO member, Turkey is one of the original partners Worth, and the two jets will follow-on to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona at a later for the F-35 program, which also includes United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Aus- date,” said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, reported CNN. “Turkish tralia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, as well as Israel and Singapore later signing on. F-35 pilots and maintainers have arrived at Luke Air Force Base and will begin flight British court tries terrorist who planned to kill Theresa May academics soon,” he added. A bipartisan amendment to the $717 billion National A Muslim terrorist tied to the Islamic State plotted to storm Downing Street and Defense Authorization Act, which was passed on June 18 by the Senate in an 85-10 kill British Prime Minister Theresa May, according to arguments heard in a London vote, prohibits the transfer of the F-35s to Turkey amid a deterioration in U.S.-Turkish court on June 19. According to prosecution statements in England’s Old Bailey cen- relations. The Senate version of the bill expressed concern over Turkey’s planned tral criminal court, 20-year-old Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, who was arrested in purchase of the S-400 anti-aircraft system as well as the detention of U.S. Pastor November, told an undercover security service agent over the Telegram messaging Andrew Brunson. Additionally, many lawmakers had also been concerned about app, “I want to do a suicide bomb on parliament. I want to attempt to kill Theresa Turkey’s growing hostility toward Israel. In May, the House of Representatives also May,” continuing that his “objective” was “nothing less than the death of the leaders included an amendment blocking the sale to Turkey when they passed the NDAA. of parliament.” He told the undercover officer that he planned to sprint to the door Both the House and Senate versions still need to be reconciled, voted on again and of the Prime Minister’s Office and decapitate May. The prosecution told the court then signed by President Donald Trump. Following the Senate vote, Turkey blasted that Rahman carried out reconnaissance around the entrance to Downing Street and the move to block the sale, calling it an “unfortunate development. ...Turkey is not provided a backpack to the undercover officer to load with explosives. P A C E Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment

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