AUGUST 13, 2020 – 23 AV 5780 JEWISHVOL 44, NO 28 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG Except for Chabad, High Holiday Services will be held online Courtesy Epstein Hillel Celebrating Sukkot at Epstein Hillel this school year, during a pandemic, may look very different. Shirat Hayam congregants will tune in online this year on the High Holidays to listen to Rabbi Michael Ragozin (right), and Cantor Alty Weinreb (left). Jewish day schools work together By Rich Tenorio the High Holidays online,” JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT said Rabbi Michael Ragozin of to reopen their campuses this fall Congregation Shirat Hayam in When congregations across Swampscott. By Penny Schwartz and handwashing and other Schools across Massachusetts the North Shore closed in March, Of the seven spiritual lead- JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT hygiene practices that will now are facing these decisions at a they didn’t know how long ers interviewed by the Jewish be mandated. The newly pur- time when the state’s Covid- their doors would remain shut. Journal for this article, five said Open air tents. Beach-style chased open-air tents will allow 19 infection rate – which had Now, with the High Holidays they are holding High Holiday chairs equipped with armrests more time in outdoor learning. dropped dramatically since approaching and the coronavi- services online. Chabad of and a place to hold a clipboard Reopening the school build- the spring – has ticked upward rus pandemic continuing, local the North Shore is currently and water bottle. And stylish face ing in these perilous times is a again. religious leaders are making planning outdoor services in masks with the Epstein Hillel daunting responsibility, Epstein Eleven Jewish day schools plans for a most unprecedented Swampscott while providing School logo. That’s just part of Hillel Head of School Amy Gold from across the religious spec- start to 5781: Most services will alternatives for individuals who the Covid-era back-to-school told the Journal. But Gold and trum are part of a collaborative be held online. do not wish to attend in per- plan as the Marblehead Jewish her colleagues are not in it that formed last March. At that Because of the recent son. The Alevy Family Chabad of day school prepares to reopen alone. time, before Governor Charlie increase in Covid-19 cases in Peabody Jewish Center is plan- its building in September for Since March, Jewish day Baker closed all schools due to Massachusetts, plans call for ning both an indoor service and full time, in-school learning in schools across Greater Boston the pandemic, the day school Rosh Hashanah (Sept 18-20) outdoor options. Two temples the midst of a pandemic. have been working together to leaders decided collectively to and Yom Kippur (Sept. 27-28) – Tiferet Shalom in Peabody and Other new safety measures, address concerns, get expert close their schools and shift services to be held virtually, a B’nai Abraham in Beverly – did guided by advice from health advice, and share best practices to remote learning. Together, stark difference from sanctuary not respond to inquiries from care experts, include upgrad- as a way to sustain community the schools educate more than gatherings that usually attract the Jewish Journal. ing HVAC air filters; introduc- and bolster each school’s suc- 2,000 students. thousands on the High Holidays. In Marblehead, Rabbi David ing new arrival and dismissal cess as the vicious virus con- “For a lot of people, it will patterns to minimize contact; tinues to threaten residents. continued on page 11 be a new experience to have continued on page 11 JEWS ARE LIKELY TO STICK TO THEIR DEMOCRATIC ROOTS By David M. Shribman though Obama recorded 78 per- the Jewish faith woven so deeply JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT cent of the Jewish vote in 2008). into my family.’’ Only one in seven Jews identi- The president and his team As the Republicans prepare fies with the GOP, according to a believe he may have made some for their quadrennial political Gallup poll taken last year. Hillary inroads by his actions and his conclave, they face several chal- Rodham Clinton took 71 percent words. But many Jews recoiled lenges. Their incumbent presi- of the Jewish vote in 2016 against at the notion of a Jerusalem dent lags in the polls. Their pros- Donald J. Trump. embassy, oppose the settlement pects of retaining control of the That does not mean that the movement, view Netanyahu with Senate are Republicans who are conducting skepticism at best, and, more- dimming. a Trump convention this month over, believe Trump is too toler- Opinion Their like- are not making an effort to win ant of intolerance. lihood of Jewish votes. Indeed, most experts believe attracting votes from minorities Trump has made enormous that former vice president Joe who, each election, comprise a efforts to court Jews, moving the Biden will attract the usual three- growing share of the population, American embassy to Jerusalem quarters of the Jewish vote in the is diminishing. And their chances (after a clutch of presidents general election. of capturing a large chunk of the balked at doing so) and embrac- “The Jews whom Trump is Jewish vote seem minimal. ing Benjamin Netanyahu (even appealing to are the ones he There are few constants in amid the Israeli prime minister’s appealed to in 2016,’’ said L. American political life more continuing political, legal, and Sandy Maisel, the Colby College robust than the Jewish affinity ethical crises). He abandoned the political scientist who was co- for the Democratic Party. Indeed, U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement. He editor of “Jews in American in all the elections of the 21st has supported Israeli settlements Politics,” a book published in century, the share of the Jewish in the West Bank. At a White 2001. “He didn’t win the Jewish vote that went to Democratic House Hanukkah party last year vote last time and there won’t Photo: Yad Vashem nominees varied little, from 79 the president, speaking of Ivanka be any improvement this time. Former Vice President Joe Biden at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Most percent (Al Gore in 2000) to 69 Trump and his grandchildren, experts believe that Biden will attract the usual three-quarters of the percent (Barack Obama in 2012, said, “I’m truly grateful to have continued on page 16 Jewish vote in the general election. The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – AUGUST 13, 2020 Lappin Foundation builds Jewish Youth Leadership with online seminar By Rachel Ellis HaLevi, co-founder and director was really nice because I have of Soul Centered. not been able to see him lately, The Lappin Foundation During the third session, but I gained a greater appre- launched its new Robert Israel Weissman led students through ciation for the difficulties Jewish Lappin Jewish Youth Leadership a leadership journey, incorpo- veterans faced in terms of anti- Seminar for high school and col- rating stories from the Talmud Semitism.” lege students on July 13. More to teach emerging leaders about Several students are further than 70 students from 11 states the meaning of leadership and developing the leadership skills are enrolled in the virtual, six- differing leadership styles. they learned on the Lappin session seminar focusing on Weissman brings a new perspec- Foundation’s free Youth to Israel developing inspirational Jewish tive to the students by defining Adventure (Y2I). Alyssa Ardai leaders. leadership as a learned behav- of Malden, who now attends The seminar was inspired by ior instead of a personality trait. Merrimack College, said her par- the foundation’s founder, Robert He explained that leadership is ticipation in the seminar branch- (Bob) Israel Lappin, who passed about developing certain behav- es off from her experience in Y2I. away in April of 2020. “Bob iors and ways of thinking. “The Jewish Leadership Seminar Lappin inspired generations of “If they can learn to be allows me to further my Jewish young Jewish people to serve humble, learn to listen, learn Ariel Greenberg Sofia Vatnik education, and to connect with as leaders in the Jewish com- about themselves, and master other like-minded teens. I am munity,” said Deborah Coltin, self-awareness, I believe each of Weissman commended the and complete two indepen- glad to learn different ways I the foundation’s executive direc- them can become tremendous students on their commitment dent assignments: interviewing can be a leader, and use it with tor. “Beginning with the creation leaders,” explained Weissman. and engagement in the seminar. a Jewish leader and interview- my friends, education, and my of the Youth to Israel Adventure Ariel Greenberg, a high school “I’ve learned that young people ing a Jewish veteran. For many career,” said Ardai. 50 years ago, and the founda- junior from Hamilton, took the really do give a darn, and that students, these interviews have Sofia Vatnik, a high school tion’s current Jewish leadership advice to heart. “What I learned adults need to make space for been incredibly inspirational junior from Marblehead, and Israel advocacy seminars for from the seminar so far is that the younger people,” he said. and impactful. Ben Kahn, a high summed up the goal of the sem- teens, Bob Lappin’s legacy lives leaders aren’t always the most “If we give them the tools, they school junior from Marblehead, inar in a simple sentence, “It’s on.” popular or famous people,” she will take it from there. I’ve also shared that his interview with important for kids my age to The seminar, which meets said.