The Jewish Journal Non-Profit Org. Monthly Magazine U.S. Postage PAID Youngstown, OH MM Permit #607 JJ Youngstown Area Jewish Federation October 2018 INSIDE: NYC actress with local connection shares experience performing in “Fiddler”. ON THE COVER: see page 18 The 2018 Inaugural Event featured actor Joshua Malina. Olympic swimmer Anthony Ervin will share see page 11 his life story as part of speaker series. see page 17 Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Volume 15, Number 10 • October 2018 • Tishrei/Cheshvan 5779 Commentary Youngstown Native Will Share Musings with Mary Lou my head and ran out of the room. I don’t Attending services really began more think I ever repeated that particular per- for me when my mother died. She used Congregation Members Become formance. to say that no one would say the memo- Experiences Interviewing Then, as I got older, came Hebrew rial prayer for her when she died and it Candle Lighting Times Like Family thodox do similar prayers, but probably School, and I was not a fan. My parents was important to her. I promised her that Shabbat Holocaust Survivors By Mary Lou Finesilver more in depth. After belonging to the insisted that I go, and my sister, also. She I would say the prayers and I did that for same congregation for so many years the actually did something girls didn’t do in the year following her death. By then it September 28 6:51 p.m. Louis Schmidt, an interviewer for with his grandfather during a blackout I realize the holidays members become a part of the family, and those years (no, it wasn’t the dark ages, became something of a habit and I would October 5 6:40 p.m. Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the will be behind us when you do feel it is a family getting together. not quite) she went to Hebrew school un- attend the weekday and weekend min- October 12 6:29 p.m. Shoah Visual History Foundation, will neighborhood civil defense air raid you read this Journal. You know, I just reread what I wrote til she graduated from high school. Now, yans on a regular basis. Then when Al share his experiences at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at warden.while his father fulfilled his duty as the However, it always gives and I’ll tell you the truth, it is boring. as for me, on the other hand, I protested died, it was a no brainer to go evenings October 19 6:18 p.m. Congregation Rodef Shalom. “Because of the importance of the me food for thought Maybe has meaning, but still boring. So and stamped my foot because I didn’t and Saturday morning. Saturday morn- October 26 6:08 p.m. “During my talk, I discuss my own steel mills to the war effort, Youngstown when we go through how can I ever pep it up? I don’t know, re- want to learn Hebrew. My poor parents ing is still not on my radar for some rea- personal story of how I became involved, was considered a prime target for enemy Rosh Hashanah and ally. I can talk about the time when I was couldn’t quite hold out, so I got my wish. November 2 5:59 p.m. and the intensive training it took, to planes,” he said. Yom Kippur. I enjoy the much younger and we would have pro- Now I wish I had studied some of it any- to sleep in a little. Not fair to other con- holidays with all the pomp and circum- grams in the social hall in the basement way. I learned the little I know through gregantsson. Mostly or becausethe Rabbi, I am I know. selfish and I like be chosen for this unique position at Schmidt was a reporter for LOOK stance that goes with them. I don’t know in the Temple in Johnstown, Pa. located osmosis. But Temple is a large part of my life the Shoah Foundation,” Schmidt said. Magazine in the 1960’s and a senior why, but part of it is the knowledge that across from the railroad station and next I was never much on attending services now. My sister always used to say enjoy it, “The 55,000 testimonies that have been producer for the all over the world, on this particular day, to the kosher butcher (How about that unless I had to. When we were younger, and you know what, I do enjoy it. We are documented to date bring the lessons NFL for 33 years. there are millions of other Jews praying for a location?). The kids would perform my husband agreed with me. We had a a small group and it is like being with my Holiday Candle Lighting Times of the Holocaust and the message of He is the winner at the same time with, basically, the same for the Rabbi and congregants. great Rabbi at Anshe Emeth, but he was other family. I know I have made light of tolerance for future generations.” of three Emmy liturgy that I am reading. I think that is We did skits, I think, and I do remem- very much an intellectual speaker, not so a few things, but we all are part of a uni- Schmidt was born and raised in awards and four mind boggling. easy to understand and very long wind- verse that for some, religion is important. Shemini Atzeret Youngstown. He graduated from Rayen Ace awards. There are a lot of repetitive prayers in memorized “Somewhere Over the Rain- ed. During the High Holidays, Al and I And, you know what, we all say prayers of September 30 6:48 p.m. High School and his Bar Mitzvah was at our prayer book, but the Conservative bow”ber when and myI was mother about made five methat sing I had for very often managed to get to Shul just as some kind for what we believe, even if it continued on page belief is that there is a certain pattern to the Rabbi. I can remember singing and they closed the doors for his sermon. No isn’t in a formal setting. I wish all of you a October 1 7:45 p.m. Congregation Rodeph Shalom. 22 reading of the prayers. I believe the Or- when I was done, I pulled my skirt over one walked in or out during the sermon. good, healthy and peaceful year. He will also discuss his experiences growing up in Youngstown during the Louis Schmidt will speak at Congregation Rodef Shalom Oct. 19. schedule, including youth and adult writ- Center also has a new director, Ben Katz. war years. He recalls siting in the dark Liptalk: Changes at Federation ing. A self-defense class for women was Jewish Family Services is providing nearly 1,000 kosher meals a month to and its Agencies people attended. The School of Dance has people in our community who are, for doubledoffered for its theenrollment. first time, The and JCC’s about health 70 many reasons, in need of nutritiously lobby renovations to improve security in A Message from Andy Lipkin & wellness department has a new prepared foods. For that program, they What’s In This Month’s Jewish Journal? About the Jewish Journal the building. They also continually look Federation Executive Vice-President director – Laura Weymer – and is expand- partner with the Trumbull County Board for new programs to make residents’ ing and developing new partnerships. of Developmental Disabilities for help Publisher: Andrew L. Lipkin Now that we’ve lives more enjoyable. The bi-monthly New programs, such as Taekwondo and with the packing and delivery. entered the Jew- Veteran’s meetings are going well and Commentary ........................................ 2 General Manager: Bonnie Deutsch Burdman ish New Year more residents are attending. A car show 5779, it seems to collaboration with Mercy Health is offer- Synagogues and Sisterhoods ........4–5 Editor: Elise Skolnick ingP90X in-depth fitness healthclasses, screenings are being and added. more. A be a good time to Sept. 26. The JCC just had two consecutive record- Advertising Director: Phyllis Friedman wasChanges held for to the the first campus time aton the Gypsy Home Lane on Human Services ...............................6–7 breaking months for membership, Camp the Federation began with the installation of a state-of- Layout & Design: Jamie Durisko JCC had a 25 percent increase in atten- Federation ......................................9–11 andreflect its onagencies what the-art infant/toddler playground. The dance this summer, and the swim team have been doing walking and running trail was also re- JCC ................................................ 12–17 Office: Kathy Schell had 92 members. The Early Learning and where we’re paved. Work on pickleball courts and a Condolences ......................................21 heading. There is a lot going on – new pavilion will begin in the spring. Inside The Jewish Journal Monthly Magazine is a publication of the Youngstown staff, changes to the campus, and new the Jewish Community Center, the gym- News You Can Use ....8, 18–20, 22–24 Area Jewish Federation and has received major grants from the programming. I’m excited to share it with nasium will get a face-lift with a fresh Schermer Trust, The Maurice and Florence Lipscher Charitable Trust you. coat of paint, brand new backboards, and ZOA. Levy Gardens has a brand new look. crash pads, more ceiling fans, lights and The dining room has been renovated. Old To contact the JJMM: - expanded. A renovation of the women’s October 15 is the deadline for articles Phone 330.746.3250 ing and the walls were painted.