Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pittsfield, MA Berkshire Permit No. 19 JEWISHA publication of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, serving V the Berkshires and surrounding ICE NY, CT and VT Vol. 29, No. 2 Shevat/Adar/Nisan 5781 February 8 to March 14, 2021 jewishberkshires.org An Evening of Inspiration and Light Happy Purim 5781 Community-wide Havdalah and Concert, Featuring Neshama Carlebach On Saturday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m., join rabbis and community members from across the Berkshires for a virtual evening of inspiration and light featuring Neshama Carlebach. This free online event is spon- sored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and its affiliates: Berkshire Hills Hadassah, Berkshire Minyan, Congregation Ahavath Sholom, Congregation Beth Israel, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, Knesset Israel, and Temple Anshe Amunim. Funding is also provided by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Neshama Carlebach Register for this event at Federation’s website, jewishberkshires. Carlebach in the four years since she org. All are welcome. last performed at Federation’s annual WIKIMEDIA COMMONS COURTESY CREDIT: Complimentary Havdalah candle summer concert. kits are available for contactless The positives – she married Rabbi In the Babylonian Talmud (Megillah 7b), the sage Rava opines that “It is pick up at the Federation’s office at Menachem Creditor, a social justice one’s duty to make oneself fragrant [with wine] on Purim until one cannot 196 South Street in Pittsfield, while activist and head of Rabbis Against tell the difference between ‘arur Haman‘ (cursed be Haman) and ‘barukh supplies last. Call (413) 442-4360, ext. Gun Violence and, in 2019, released Mordekhai’ (blessed be Mordecai).” The celebrants in this 19th century 10 or email by federation@jewishberk- the well-received album Believe, which painting from Safed of a holiday celebration certainly raised a l’Chayim or shires.org for more information. featured 12 original songs performed by her band and a gospel choir led by two, and on this, our second Pandemic Purim, may the l’Chayims we raise Catching Up With Neshama Pastor Milton Vann. The challenges auger well for a year of restored health and happiness. For more on the Carlebach – having to suspend her always-busy custom of getting farshnoshket on Purim, please see page 24. Much has changed for Neshama touring schedule during the corona- virus pandemic. In mid-January, the BJV caught up Inside by phone with Neshama, who has been Honey on the Page riding out the pandemic at her home From Prophets to Process ........................3 in New York City. We talked about A Treasury of Yiddish Children's Literature Meet Meron Reuben ...................................8 how she’s kept busy and creative, and about how she and other artists are Honey on the Page is Miriam Udel’s Annual Report ...........................................12 coping without the opportunities to new translation of Yiddish prose and Thank You, Donors! .............................13-16 perform live. Our conversation was verse for children written between edited for length and clarity. 1900 and 1975, in the author’s words Yevgeny Kutik's ‘Docu-Recital’ ...............16 “an era in between a firmly implanted Culture and Arts ..................................19-24 NESHAMA CARLEBACH traditional religiosity and widespread continued on page 4 assimilation.” In her introduction, Udel – who is an associate professor of Yiddish Elevating Jewish Leaders of Color Language, Literature, and Culture at Emory University’s Tam Institute of Series Concludes with Advocate for Jewish Studies – makes her case that these stories shed important light on Ethiopian Jews Jewish culture, reflecting the ways authors and educators responded to On Sunday, March 7 at 11 a.m., the social changes in Europe and later Jewish Federation of the Berkshires the United States and other countries concludes its Elevating Jewish Leaders where Jews resided. She writes: “The of Color series by welcoming Mazal very essence of this literature was to Bisawer, the former media spokes- affirm what Jewishness meant in a person for the Association of Ethiopian newly secularizing world.” Jews (AEJ). She will talk about issues Udel combed hundreds of anthol- facing the Ethiopian community in ogies to find the fifty pieces in Honey Israel, as well as about diversity within on the Page – “a book for adults and the Jewish State. children in proximity to one another,” Honey on the Page with the Berkshires’ This Jewish Federation of the she writes. “What I mean by that Jewish community – see page 22. Berkshires program will be presented peculiar phrase is that as I have gone via Zoom. Please visit our calendar of about the work of selection and trans- Questions for Miriam Udel events at jewishberkshires.org for a lation, I’ve envisioned a child reading, When did you first discover your link to this program. with sympathetic and curious adults interest in Yiddish literature, and Mazal Bisawer nearby.” when did you know that you wanted About Our Speaker numerous national and international In an inspired turn of phrase that to pursue a career in academia Mazal Bisawer is a key advocate media panels and programs. captures the humane spirit animating studying it? for social change, equal opportunities As an activist, she seeks to chal- the work collected in Honey on the In 2001, I thought I might like and improved state policies to advance lenge the status quo in Israel and raise Page, Udel writes: “Again and again, to start graduate courses to better the quality of life for Ethiopian Jews in awareness about the unique life expe- these stories illustrate the disruption understand the relationship between Israel. Mazal is also a graduate of the rience of Ethiopian Israelis – as black posed by radical kindness.” secularization and literature, especially program for political speakers at IDEA- and Jewish. She directly tackles the Professor Udel is the daughter of Ed fiction. I wanted to understand how, Center For Liberal Democracy in Israel. hard issues around racism within the Udel and step-daughter of Lisa Udel, in a largely secularized Western world, Mazal completed her studies at Israeli context. who reside in Dalton and who have the novel became a site for thinking Tel Aviv University with a specialty in Mazal was born and raised in Kiryat long been leaders in our community about moral reasoning and hashing psychology and classical studies. She Gat, the oldest of four children. Her and for the Jewish Federation of the out ethical dilemmas. I had a meeting parents made Aliyah to Israel from Berkshires. The BJV thanks Professor was a prominent leader of the student MIRIAM UDEL, Ethiopia in the early 1980s. Udel for allowing us to share work from protests at TAU in 2015, and since continued on page 22 then has been a frequent guest on JEWISH LEADERS OF COLOR, continued on page 4 Page 2 Berkshire Jewish Voice • jewishberkshires.org February 8 to March 14, 2021 In My View Thank You for Supporting Federation’s Work During a Time of Uncertainty Your donations to our Annual Campaign supported our community during a year of crisis By Amy Lindner-Lesser / President, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires The year 2020 has both flown and crept by at the same time. If you are like me, you prob- Success has allowed us to expand our social service ably could not say goodbye to 2020 fast enough. hours, strengthen our volunteer and care supports, Yet as I take a moment to reflect on this past year, I have a deep sense of gratitude and awe and expand our engagement work as more people for the inspiring work of our community and our join the Berkshire Jewish community Federation. I am so proud of Federation volunteers and having gone through the past ten months, we know that it is essential to better staff for all they have done during the pandemic. prepare for the future. Our programming and outreach remain dynamic I want to thank the Federation’s board of directors for their ongoing leader- and diverse. Our social services and support ship during this time. Also, special thanks to Elisa Schindler-Frankel and Larry programs have never been more necessary to Frankel, who headed up our major gifts campaign, and to our Development ensure the health and care of the most vulnerable Committee members: Natalie Matus, Jane Karlin, Sandi Rubin, and Elisa in our community, both physically and mentally. Schindler-Frankel, who have done a wonderful job guiding our campaign efforts. Our PJ Library program continues to help over- I also want to thank Dara Kaufman and the entire Federation staff. They have whelmed families find moments of fun and connection. risen to the challenges brought on by the pandemic and work day-in and day-out, I know we are all anxiously waiting for our turns to be vaccinated over the continuing to create the programs and opportunities that you, our friends and next few months. Meanwhile, our work continues. Please know that we at the donors, are proud to invest in. Federation never take you for granted. We understand the struggles you are In the next few weeks, our Allocations Committee will be meeting to review facing. Many have lost jobs; others have lost loved ones. Each of us is suffering additional needs in our religious schools, summer camp scholarships, and ways from various forms of loneliness. Yet, when we see each other virtually, the smiles to support vulnerable Jews in need in Israel and around the world. They will are broad, and when we speak on the phone or bump into each other at the wrestle with difficult decisions on how we can best do our part in Tikkun Olam, supermarket (masked and 6 feet apart, of course), the conversation is authentic.