THE NEW JEWISH VOICE April 2015
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Cocktails and Comedy will raise Non-profit Organization 5 funds to support the JCC’s Tzahal U.S. POSTAGE PAID Shalom program. Permit # 184 Watertown, NY 11 UJF’s Super Sunday provided Friendship Circle members with work experience. 14 Betsy’s Buddies seeks volunteers. JFS announces its annual College 17 Ahead! program. april 2015/nisan-Iyar 5775 a publication of United jewish federation of Volume 17, Number 3 Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien JCC Tzahal Shalom Yom Hashoah Commemoration Making Connections to Israel Remembering the Holocaust 70 Years During this year’s JCC Tzahal Sha- unity of the Jewish people. Americans lom program, the community is invited and Israelis are given opportunities after Liberation to spend time with active-duty officers to learn about each other and their By Peter Lilienthal Shoah (the Holocaust). from the Israel Defense Forces at a societies, person-to-person, while build- On Wednesday, April 15, the Using the format of a seder led by week of community events scheduled ing lasting relationships and a sense of United Jewish Federation of Greater Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, the pro- for April 19-26. extended family. Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien gram will reflect on the story of the Now in its 37th year in Stamford, Representing all branches of armed will hold its annual Yom Hashoah liberation beginning with the honoring Tzahal Shalom, organized by the services, the officers are young men (Holocaust Remembrance Day) com- of survivors. Grandchildren, symboliz- Stamford Jewish Community Center and women who embody commitment, memoration at Temple Beth El, from ing the four sons in the haggadah, will in cooperation with the Friends of the dedication, courage and leadership, 7-9 pm. Marking the 70th anniversary tell the stories of their survivor-grand- Israeli Defense Forces, brings active- and who daily risk their lives in the of the liberation of all the concentra- parents. Those stories will also come duty Israeli officers to Stamford each defense of the Jewish state. tion camps and the remaining Jews in directly from the men and women who year for a cross-cultural encounter Scheduled events include meetings Europe, the event will commemorate lived through the Shoah, the genera- with the community. The primary goal with Jewish War Veterans, a meeting for the liberation and remember the six tion of survivors. of the program is to strengthen the See “Tzahal” on page 5 million Jews who perished in the See “Commemoration” on page 18 Study: More than Half of Jewish Values and the Use of U.S. Jewish College Students Force Encountered Antisemitism Israel/Diaspora Dialogue in Stamford By JTA staff conducted in the spring of 2014, prior On Sunday, March 29, Shmuel Rosner to Stamford to (JTA) – More than half of today’s to the outbreak of hostilities last sum- United Jewish Federation will conduct a seminar on Israeli American Jewish college students mer in Gaza. host a discussion on the future policy. Rosner will be leading have witnessed or experienced an The online survey of 1,157 students, of Israeli policy on military a discussion on “Jewish Values antisemitic incident, according to a conducted by Trinity College professor engagement. As part of an and the Use of Force in Armed new study. Barry Kosmin and associate professor effort to reach Jews across the Conflict.” Some 54 percent of the participants Ariela Keysar, found that the percent- Diaspora, the Jewish People The impetus for these dia- in the survey released [in February] by ages of students reporting encounters Policy Institute (or JPPI), a logues was the conflict with the Louis D. Brandeis Center and Trin- with antisemitism were relatively con- Jerusalem-based think-tank Gaza in the summer of 2014. ity College said they had experienced sistent across gender, religious outlook supported by Federation During the conflict, and in or witnessed antisemitism within the and geographical region. partner, the Jewish Agency for its aftermath, the outpouring past academic year. The survey was See “College” on page 14 Israel, will send representative Shmuel Rosner See “Values” on page 19 Bits & Pieces 6 Candle 6 Family 15 What’s on 21 Senior 23 Yom Hashoah 24 Lighting Central for Adults Happenings Stamford Teens Attend 2015 AIPAC Policy Conference The AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference may have been huge, but among the 16,000 participants were the teen members of the Stamford delegation. Included in the photo are Rabbi Daniel Cohen (Congregation Agudath Sholom), Or Berger (JCC Israeli shaliach), Daniella Lieberman (UJF teen program coordinator), the 15 teen participants of the UJF/JCC Speak Up For Israel program and the 11 Agudath Sholom Teen Fellows. Speak Up For Israel participants: Aviva Attar, Alex Bergman, Jed Bergman, Elisheva Cohen, Simone Finkelstein, Richie Greenbaum, Ian Handler, Stephanie Hausman, Matt Jelen, Hannah Katz, Eliana Koehler, Jenna Plotzky, Rebecca Roitman, Daniel Silverstein and Jonah Smart. Agudath Sholom Teen Fellows: Tamar Cohen, Daniel Jubas, Eitan Karsch, Gabriella Lieberman, Jonah Listokin, Daniel Meiteles, Tany Neuhaus, Remy Neuhaus, Andrew Pitkoff, Sarah Smart and Jennifer Steinmetz. 2 THE NEW JEWISH VOICE ■ APRIL 2015 april 2015 ■ THE NEW JEWISH VOICE 3 TheDry Strength Cleaning, Laundry, Flat work of Community COMMUNITY NEWS Sunday, FebruaryPick up1, /began Deliver y Canaan and Darien. I watched young adults of the Across America] – all under one roof – is now only like any otherAll Work one ofDone my SunOn -Premises Friendship Circle work tirelessly as the backbone of taking place in Stamford. You are the trend-setter. This days.Frank Up Policastro/Owner at 6 am. Fed the dog (203) 323-0507 the “sorry we missed you” process. I was approached is what we seek... In many places distance prohibits An Evening with JFS and67 Crescent let him Street out. Then out [email protected] m by a mom who told me that she and her girls had this. What Stamford is doing is truly monumental, theStamford, house CT by 06905 around 8.www.crescentcleaners.co The m been volunteering for hours and although the mom ground-breaking and newsworthy.” Celebrating 40 Years of Community Service supermarket would normally was ready to leave, they were not. “Just one more The power of being together as a community can- By Iris Morrison Fraade has held leadership positions at The Con- have been my destination, but call,” they said. And then there was the student who not be overstated. I am reminded of a quote from On Sunday, May 3, at An Evening with JFS, Jewish servative Synagogue (chair of the Finance Committee, this day was different. This Sun- made her mom return to the JCC so that she could Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little, together Family Service will toast 40 years of service to the com- treasurer, VP and president), Bi-Cultural Day School day, I was headed to the Jewish end the day with a successful call. And she did! we can do so much.” Happy munity, while continuing the tradition of honoring See “JFS” on page 6 Community Center where UJF’s By the time you read this message, another great I hope that a community spirit of togetherness individuals whose efforts enrich the community. The Super Sunday 2015 Better To- Ellen Weber, community event will have occurred, Shabbat Across will continue throughout the year and, particularly, Chanukah! 36th Annual Mitzvah Award recipients are Rita Appel gether Annual Campaign was UJF president Stamford. I want to thank all the dedicated volunteers at our next important event, remembrance of the and Jon Fraade, and Meryl and David Gordon. Robin about to takeDry Cleaning, place. Although Laundry, I Flat work and professionals from Jewish community organiza- Shoah. While this year marks the 70th anniversary of Deadlines for Fischel will receive the Young Leadership Award. The couldn’t foresee Pickthe outcome up / Deliver of they day, I was filled tions, synagogues and schools for their excellent the liberation of concentration camps, tragically Jews gala event and the Seventh Annual Auction will take with anticipationAll Work and Done excitement. On Premises planning and execution. I would like to especially in Europe are once again being targeted. I wish for place at Temple Beth El in Stamford at 5:30 pm, co- articles As I turned into the JCC driveway and was faced thank Linda Spilka for her leadership. us to band together not simply in commemoration, chaired by Meryl Japha and Janet Welkovich. The deadlines for the next three issues of The withFrank few Policastro/Owner remaining parking spots, I (203)was elated.323-0507 A Shabbat Across America occurs throughout the but to demonstrate that Jews around the world are 67 Crescent Street [email protected] An exhibit created with the Jewish Historical New Jewish Voice are: parking lot filled with a multitude of cars, meant that country, but our Shabbat, conceived in collaboration strong and committed to “Never Again.” Please join Stamford, CT 06905 www.crescentcleaners.com Society will chronicle JFS’ 40 years of service to the Tuesday, March 25 ........................................ May there was minimally that number of people already with UJF and the Board of Rabbis, is unique and us at Temple Beth El on April 15 for a stirring and community. Through pictures and articles, it will pay Monday, April 27 ......................................... June inside! Volunteers and professionals had arrived early noteworthy. Rabbi Elly Krimsky, program director meaningful program. homage to the volunteers and staff who have been Friday, May 22 ................................................July to get ready for the 9 am start time. The JCC had been of the National Jewish Outreach Program, Shabbat All the best, such an integral part of the story of JFS. Send New Jewish Voice article submissions to transformed into 2015 Super Sunday headquarters and Across America’s sponsor, stated, “The ideal [Shabbat Ellen K.