Adar/Adar II 5779 March 2019
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Adar/Adar II 5779 March 2019 Informing and Connecting Jews in El Paso-Las Cruces HAPPY “Hatikvah” March 31: Page 3 • Sun City Shabbat: Page 4-5 • Anne Frank’s step-sister in Las Cruces: Page 13 Permit No. 1256 No. Permit RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN El Paso, Texas Paso, El El Paso, Texas 79912 Texas Paso, El PAID 7110 N. Mesa N. 7110 U.S. Postage U.S. Jewish Federation of El Paso El of Federation Jewish Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit 2 | March 2019 The Jewish Voice FEDERATION Some thoughts…. When I arrived here, I found the our two Chabad Houses as well, it’s so as it states in the Book of Esther that outreach from our houses of worship so interesting to think what I had taken for we read on Purim, we overcame our welcoming. I find the quality and selection granted for so many years having only enemies and defeated them “Layehudim of programs so inviting and varied. lived in major cities. hayetah orah vesimkhah vesason vicar.” Our clergy are sincere and personable. The Jews had light, and happiness and Services are meaningful and uplifting. Celebrate Purim … Now More joy and love. We are truly blessed in Las Cruces and Than Ever May we use this and every El Paso to have them. Reading and listening to the news is opportunity to celebrate Jewish life, our enough to make one despair in so many holidays, fill our places of worship and Two checked bags ways. At the time of writing, after falling our schools, attend Jewish programs, I feel I finally became a fully-fledged for two successive years, the number of and to let those who seek to undermine, El Pasoan “Member of the Tribe.” On anti-Semitic acts in France surged by 74 deflate, and even destroy us know that my return from a short getaway over percent in 2018. On February 19, 80 we stand more determined than ever as the New Year to LA, I did something I graves in a Jewish cemetery in eastern proud Jews. Robert French promised myself I would never do… Yes, France were sprayed with swastikas. In the spirit of the Purim holiday, Be Happy… I brought back two packed freezer bags In the USA, in 2017, anti-Semitic we have hidden five hamantaschen I read with great interest recently that with ice packs and filled them with kosher incidents surged nearly 60 percent, throughout this issue of The Jewish Pew Charitable Trust researchers found lamb chops and other kosher delectable according to the 2017 Anti-Defamation Voice. Find them all and email me at that those active in religious congregations goodies unavailable here. League Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents. [email protected] the location and tend to be happier and are more likely When the battered and broken And the tragedy of Pittsburgh is just five page number of each of them. The first to vote in elections and join community box appeared on the conveyor belt (I months behind us. And that’s just the tip three people to do so will each receive a groups or volunteer organizations than had forgotten to ask them to mark it of the iceberg on what’s happening in gift card. those who are unaffiliated or inactive “FRAGILE”), I smiled. (I also recently Europe, Israel, and the rest of the world. Robert French in religious groups. (Those considered schlepped back a few boxes of a pareve Modern-day “Hamans” continue to Executive Director “active” religiously were those who pastry from London.) While I do use the rear their ugly heads in too many places Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso attended services at least once a month.) Kosher Co-op and the kosher closets of with evil machinations and intent. But Jewish Community Foundation of El Paso A publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso The Jewish Voice of El Paso, published ten times a year, is dedicated to informing, educating, and uniting the Jewish community by providing news items of local, national, Israeli and international concern. The Jewish Voice will consider for publication any materials submitted that support the mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso and have relevance and appeal to the El Paso Jewish community. Articles are subject to editing at the editor’s discretion and are subject to space limitations. Letters cannot be longer than 150 words and articles must be kept to a maximum of 300 words. Please email to [email protected] Opinions are those of individual writers and not necessarily those of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso. The Jewish Voice is not responsible for the kashrut of any product or eating establishment advertised herein. Robert French Executive Director: Cindy Graff Cohen Sue Bendalin Editor: Campaign Director: Said Buhaya Janet Kent Wechter Advertising Representative: President: Beatriz Garcia 915-842-9554 Layout and Design: Due Date for the April issue of the Voice: March 11 Office: PDX Printing 7110 North Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912 Printing: Due Date for the May issue of the Voice: April 15 IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU You make everything we do possible The Jewish Voice March 2019 | 3 FEDERATION Hatikvah: Hope Reborn El Paso’s Jewish community and all The Unbelievable Story of a Jewish is sponsored by the Canadian Israeli who have a deep love of Israel, great Prayer.” Project. music, and a fascinating story have Based on a nearly 150-year-old In El Paso, the program is sponsored a treat in store when one of Israel’s poem by a Jewish Ukrainian poet by Stanlee and Jerry Rubin along with most popular entertainers brings to named Naftali Herz Imber, the song Dana and Adam Frank and their life on stage Israel’s national anthem, tells of the Jews’ hope of returning to families. It will be a mesmerizing multi- “Hatikvah” (“Hope” in English). Israel and reclaiming it as a free nation. media show with Jewish and Israeli folk, On Sunday, March 31, starting The emotional words bring tears to pop, and rock tunes along with music at 5:00 p.m., you can learn the other the eyes of Jews the world over. For by classical composers. Film clips and side of the Israeli anthem when award- instance, when Hatikvah was sung at archival footage help Baltsan tell the winning Tel Aviv pianist Astrith Baltsan Café Europa’s Sun City Shabbat dinner, story behind the national anthem. presents “Hatikvah: Hope Reborn - more than one guest shed a tear or two. Praised as “an incomparable Baltsan’s “Hatikvah: Hope phenomenon on the musical scene in “Hatikvah” Reborn” program has been widely Israel” when she received the Tel Aviv An English translation praised. Israeli President Shimon Peres Municipality Rosenblum Prize for the calls Baltsan a “national treasure.” New Stage Arts, Baltsan has developed an As long as in the heart, within, officers in the Israel Army are required engaging lecture-concert format that A Jewish soul still yearns, to watch the program. has also been popular with her classical Astrith Baltsan And onward, toward the In the diaspora, Baltsan maintains music programs on Mozart, Beethoven, ends of the east, a busy tour schedule. She has presented Stravinsky, Brahms, and other the university level for many years. an eye still gazes toward Zion. “Hatikvah: Hope Reborn” more composers. She earned her Masters Don’t miss this special and moving than 350 times, both with symphony in music from Tel Aviv University’s concert in UTEP’s Fox Fine Arts Hall. Our hope is not yet lost, orchestras and as one-woman shows. Rubin Academy of Music and her Ticket prices have been reduced to $5 The hope two thousand years old, The El Paso stop is part of her seventh doctorate from the Manhattan School per person, regardless of age. For the To be a free nation in our land, North America tour. She comes here of Music. She has won numerous piano vast majority of us, this is a once-in-a- The land of Zion and Jerusalem. from Toronto, where her performance competitions and has taught music at lifetime opportunity. Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim! This is not your worked quickly to fill a whole tray of jelly crazy!” he said. However, due to a typical Jewish holiday, right? It’s a time filled cookies, folding the three corners number of insurance concerns, they of jokes that make you groan: “What together. When my tray came out, I would be paying cash for the delivery so was Queen Esther’s royal gown made of ? was moritfied to see a couple dozen flat they were looking for options. Dana is 43, Polyester.” It’s a time for fun and joy that triangles leaking red jelly all over the pan. and the Israeli medical insurance they brings out the kids in all of us with all the “You didn’t pinch the corners!” they were able to use does not cover births for funny Purim spiels, theme parties, and said in a chorus, and indeed I hadn’t. The mothers over 40. costumes. Let go of your good manners next batch took more time but at least Their research led them to El Paso and sanctuary etiquette and shout along those cookies would be presentable at the and specifically to the new Providence with the rest of us when Haman’s name dinner. The good news is that we got to Hospital on the far Eastside. Not only Cindy Graff Cohen (loud noise!) is mentioned. Have a drink – eat my mistakes.