Around the World in 333 Days
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The Jewish Star Independent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island VOL. 8, NO. 12 MARCH 20, 2009 | 24 ADAR 5769 NO MORE NINTH GRADE BIRCAT HACHAMA MOSHE’S LEGACY Shulamith H.S. cancels incoming class Blessing the sun every 28 years The Kosher Bookworm Page 3 Page 7 Page 8 FROM THE Non-profits fear OTHER SIDE Anti-Israel speaker OF THE BENCH Obama plan to lower challenged at library charitable deductions The ‘Recipe for disaster,’ a fundraiser predicts fifth son BY YAFFI SPODEK President Obama’s budget proposal to limit charitable tax deduc- tions for the country’s highest earners will have an adverse impact on Jewish not-for-profits and charity organizations, according to experts in the field. BY DAVID SEIDEMANN “I think it will be an absolute disaster,” predicted Robert Katz, executive vice president of the American Friends of Migdal Ohr, a char- he faithful come in four types, in ity dedicated to helping underprivileged children in Israel. my experience. “The reality of the Jewish philanthropic world is that 10 or 20 per- There are those who carry on cent of the people give 80 percent of the money,” Katz told The Jewish T their daily routine without seeking Star. “When you have that equation and impose these kinds of tax any guidance from their clergy, a danger- Photo by Michael Orbach restrictions, it’s a recipe for disaster, especially in these more difficult ous course both for themselves and those Mindy Gershon of the group United for Justice and Peace offering a left wing view of Israel to a times. As charitable as people may be and as goodhearted as I know they interact with. Others ask their rabbi mixed group of elderly progressives and Israel supporters at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. they are, there is definitely a tax benefit component to their giving.” everything –– not necessarily dangerous, The budget would cap tax itemized deductions at 28 percent, though all those questions can be danger- A first person account down from the current rate of 35 percent, for those earning at least ously unnecessary. A third subgroup of $250,000 a year. People in that bracket would be saving 28 cents the faithful asks fringe left-wing coalition whose mission instead of 35 cents on every dollar. In addition, the tax rate for the appropriate ques- BY MICHAEL ORBACH statement includes “Ending apartheid and highest income bracket — $208,850 and over — would be raised to tions to appropri- apartheid policies in Israel.” She was invited 39.6 percent, up from 36 percent. ately qualified Only during the question-and-answer by the Five Towns Forum, which bills itself as Obama has said the change in itemized deductions would raise rabbis. This is by session that followed an otherwise unimpres- the oldest progressive organization on Long $318 billion over 10 years, which would help pay for a 10-year, $630 far the best path sive anti-Israel lecture at the Hewlett-Wood- Island. billion reserve fund designed to help make health care more affordable and is probably mere Public Library did things get interesting As speakers go, Gershon was poor fare. and available, according to a report last month in The Chronicle of representative of — so much so that the president of the She stumbled through a presentation of rote Philanthropy. the norm. library’s board of trustees, Ben Eilbott, who anti-Israel propaganda that was peppered But many fundraisers in the Jewish community do not believe But there is a had held his head in his hands for most of with terms like “colonizers” and “apartheid,” that the proposal will be beneficial. “What it means is that we will get fourth group of the lecture, threatened to shut down the and marred by technical glitches. Offering less contributions from donors, and the government, which is already ”Too many of those seeking auditorium. little in the way of coherent arguments or under tremendous constraints for funding, will not be able to handle guidance, advice The speaker was Mindy Gershon, a our students member of United for Peace and Justice, a the additional requests,” said Norman Gildin, chief development offi- and direction who See ANTI-ISRAEL, Page 10 cer for OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services. “Additional needs suffer from rely upon rabbis will arise and the government won’t be able to make it up.” A.D.D.: autopilot (or priests or min- “I’m sure the president thinks there are positives, but right now I isters and so can’t agree with him,” said Katz. davening forth) whom Obama has said he hopes the economy will be in a recovery by might be well disorder; versed in the See DEDUCTIONS, Page 5 sorely missing texts, but are ill equipped to deal Around the world from the with context. This column is curriculum is not meant to dis- Seeking second shot an emotional parage religious in 333 days leaders, the connection.“ majority of whom New exhibit documents artist’s pursuit of a minyan at predator clergy are eminently qualified to dis- BY YAFFI SPODEK Bid to restart clock on civil penalties pense advice in a BY MICHAEL ORBACH where the statute of limitations multitude of areas. If you’re looking for an interesting has already expired. However, I do intend to highlight that a detour to make while visiting Manhattan, It was Pearl Engelman’s Pearl distributed nuts and true religious leader knows when to reach an hour or two of your time would be first trip to Albany. dried fruit left over from out to other professionals to augment and well spent exploring the Yeshiva Universi- The Satmar woman, hair cov- mishloach manot. As the bus supplement the information he is process- ty Museum. ered with a blonde sheitel, reached the RFK Triborough ing in order to properly help a congregant Located in an unassuming building dressed in accordance with the Bridge she passed around pho- maneuver through the vicissitudes of life. on W. 16th St., within the Center for Jew- strictest laws of Jewish modesty, tos of her son, Joel, who sat a This is not heresy. The Talmud recog- ish History, the YU Museum now has sev- was aboard a chartered bus number of rows behind her nizes that certain rabbis are more profi- eral new exhibits on display, providing a filled with survivors of sexual watching a video iPod. cient than others in certain areas of law. fascinating glimpse into different areas of abuse and Brooklyn community The first photo showed Joel in Jewish law acknowledges whose ruling Jewish life. For those who make the effort activists. front of a cake on his 18th birth- takes precedence in a health-related dis- to stop in (the Union Square subway stop They were on their way to day. He wore a long black coat pute between a rabbi and a doctor. The is just a few blocks away) and have no Albany to lobby for passage of and black velvet hat, surround- Talmud itself lists the qualities a rabbi objection to showing themselves around the Child Victim’s Act, a bill ed by brothers-in-law and sisters must possess before one is permitted to the virtually deserted galleries, there is sponsored by Assemblywoman also in Chassidic garb. seek advice from him. much to see there. Marge Markey (D-Queens) that The second image was a grainy I’m not referring to the clear and “Final Mourner’s Kaddish: 333 Days would extend the criminal black and white snapshot. It was obvious distinction between the “movers in Paintings” by Max Miller documents statute of limitations for child taken on Joel’s 19th birthday, and shakers” versus the “fakers and tak- the artist’s physical and spiritual 11- sexual abuse from the victim’s Pearl explained. His once curly ers.” We all know or should know of the month journey as he recites the Kaddish 18th birthday to the 23rd, and peyos (side locks) were gone, his prayer for his deceased father, Murray A. the statute of limitations for civil hair was long; he resembled a See FIFTH SON, Page 4 Miller, in different synagogues across the Courtesy YU Museum damages from a victim’s 23rd heavy metal musician. country. Artist Max Miller’s watercolor portrait of birthday to the 28th. More “He has the face of an angel,” David Seidemann is a partner with the “Because the saying of Kaddish every Congregation Kehilat Jeshurun in Manhattan importantly, the legislation Pearl said, running her finger law firm of Seidemann & Mermelstein. See WORLD, Page 9 is part of a new exhibit at the YU Museum. would open a yearlong window over the edges of the photo- He can be reached at (718) 692-1013 and to file civil lawsuits in cases graph “We didn’t know any- at [email protected]. See PREDATOR, Page 5 That’s Life............................................................................2 Calendar...............................................................................6 Candlelighting: 6:49 p.m. ■ Shabbat ends: 7:51 p.m. Inside Opinion .................................................................................4 Classified .............................................................................8 Shabbat Torah reading: Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei 11530 PRST STD PERMIT NO 301 GARDEN CITY NY US POSTAGE PAID PAID US POSTAGE CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED CHANGE SERVICE 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 City, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden 271389 2 The Jewish Star March 20, 2009 for my signature. chose a bottle of Sudafed. I was still having trouble “Please sign the screen “Can I make crystal meth getting over this conversation so below,” she said, “and affirm with that one?” I asked, being I told a friend of mine, who hap- that you will not use this prod- the smart-alec that I am, but she pens to be a doctor and not a uct to make crystal meth.” Com- didn’t blink.