December 2019 | 3 Kislev 5780 – 3 Tevet 5780 | Volume 74, Number 9 Illumination on a Serious Issue by Carol Towbin Greenberg Streets Are Quiet
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December 2019 | 3 Kislev 5780 – 3 Tevet 5780 | Volume 74, Number 9 Illumination on a Serious Issue By Carol Towbin Greenberg streets are quiet. Where is the out- as those involved in early childhood In this season of light, Rabbi rage? Veterans are 250% more likely and youth programs,” is this enough? Michael Cohen, chaplain at Fort to commit suicide than their civilian Rabbi Cohen stated that “In Stewart, illuminated a serious prob- counterparts. This isn’t a problem; 2017, on average, 17 veterans a day lem within the ranks of the mili- it is a tragedy of epic committed suicide. tary: soldier and veteran suicide. In proportions.” There is something, Candle Lighting Times his Dvar Torah at a recent Shabbat While nationally, we as a nation, is service honoring Veterans held at both the Federation missing... At any Hunter Army Air Base, Rabbi Cohen and the JCC move- given moment in the Friday, December 6 5:02pm honored those assembled with the ments have created past 20 years, there Friday, December 13 5:03pm fact that “Jews have fought in ev- and support many so- are roughly 10,000 Friday, December 20 5:06pm ery American engagement and many cial services includ- Jews serving in our Friday, December 27 5:09pm have laid down their lives to protect ing the Connections military. How many Friday, January 3 5:14pm our freedom. Many of you put on the podcast, produced thousands of Jew- uniform and fought for our country,” through the JCCA’s ish veterans are out but then issued a challenge that “we Jewish Welfare there, right now, can and must do more” based on the Board council of 16 silently suffering, In this Issue following distressing facts: Rabbis (split evenly wishing they could P2 Savannah Jewish Film Festival “In the military and among our between the denomi- catch a break?... P4 Your Campaign Dollars at Work veterans, the fire that ravages this nations), and Project Who checks-in on P9 JEA CenterPiece community is suicide. In the last 10 Welcome Home “to our warriors when P12 Book Review by Lila Allan years, over 60,000 veterans have tak- support returning veterans through we, as American Jews, don’t know P13 The Engagement Ambassador Impact en their own lives. At home and safe a variety of programs, membership how the military works?”…Military from bombs and bullets, more vet- incentives for veterans and their life is hectic, isolated, and can be in- erans have died than those killed in families, reaching out to local vet- credibly lonely.” Also Featured the Vietnam War, when thousands eran service organizations to create Some of the solutions, for what The Engagement Ambassador Impact; p2 took to the streets to protest send- partnerships, and targeted outreach Letters to the Editor; p10 ing troops to Vietnam. Today, the to veteran and military families, such continued on page 7 Hadassah to Honor Janis Javetz Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist quickly held every officer position (HMO), beginning in 1975 as a divi- Organization of America, will present culminating in being elected President sion co-chair for Hadassah Presents its highest honor, The Myrtle Wreath in 1980. At that time she was one of and continuing through serving as PAID Award, to Janis Javetz in the youngest presidents to Chair of last year’s highly successful U.S. POSTAGE recognition of her con- have served Hadassah Savan- event honoring Carol and Joel Green- Non-Profit ORG PERMIT NO. 2840 JACKSONVILLE, FL tributions to Hadassah nah. Janis credits many of the berg. She says she has chaired Hadas- and Jewish life. Hadassah women who served before sah Presents more times than she Savannah will bestow her — including Ida Wilen- can remember, including each event the prestigious award at sky, Miriam Levy and others during the years 2011-2018. Hadassah a celebratory luncheon — for mentoring her as she Savannah and Hadassah Medical Or- on Thursday, January 16, successfully led Hadassah ganization are indebted to her for her 2020, 12 o’clock noon, at Janis Javitz Savannah for two years. She service. 45 Bistro. especially remembers the In addition to serving the local Janis, a native of Savannah, has guidance and dedication she received chapter, Janis served on the board of been an active member of Savannah’s from June Arkin, both for the chapter Hadassah’s Southeastern Region as Jewish community ever since return- and for Hadassah Presents, the local treasurer and vice president (working ing here in the early 1970s as a young group’s annual fundraiser. Janis says alongside her close friend Jean Weitz, newlywed. She and her husband Lee she remembers all of these women then regional president). Janis also A Publication of Savannah Jewish Federation Federation Jewish Savannah of A Publication Street 5111 Abercorn Georgia 31405 Savannah, www.savj.org ServiceAddress Requested were eager to make friends and Janis “not just as mentors, but as friends.” held a number of regional committee joined the boards of several different Janis likes to say “fundraising is chairmanships, including co-chairing Jewish organizations. She soon found not my bag” yet over the years she has the Southeastern Region Conference herself immersed in Hadassah. raised tens of thousands of dollars As a young member of Hadassah, Janis for Hadassah Medical Organization continued on page 12 Savannah Page 2 | December 2019 jewish news www.savj.org Savannah Jewish Federation Presents The Joan and Murray Gefen Memorial 2020 Savannah Jewish Film Festival January 22-January 26 Single Movie Tickets JEA Members: $10 Community: $12 Meal & Movie Tickets Lunch: JEA Members: $15 Wednesday, January 22 Thursday, January 23 Thursday, January 23 Community Member: $17 6:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Dinner & Opening Reception: Opening Reception Lunch Dinner JEA Member: $22 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Community Member: $26 The Keeper Egg Cream, The Last Resort Refuge & Other Shorts Full Festival Pass Admits one person to all films & Opening Reception JEA Members: $60.00 Community: $72.00 Become a Friend of the Festival Producer: $650 Friday, January 24 Saturday, January 25 Sunday, January 26 Director: $500 12:30 p.m. 7:00 p .m. 6:00 p .m. Lunch Dessert Reception Dinner Actor: $250 1:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Wendy's Shabbat Fiddler Crescendo & Other Shorts Savannah Jewish Federation www.savj.org Savannah www.savj.org jewish news December 2019 | Page 3 President’s Message Executive Director’s Message Jewish Moments Thankful Savan- I am thankful (thanks to the sup- Powered By the nah’s Jews— port of the Slotin family) to be able we are an to provide a the wonderful PJ Library opinionated and PJ Our Way books, tapes and Edwin Byck Federation President bunch. Put programs to over 120 area children; Savannah Jewish On lend Comedy Night, a community- Adam Solender two of us in a I am thankful for the Yesod Lead- Federation Wednesday wide Purim Carnival and Chanukah Executive Director room together ership program where 36 community evening Novem- celebrations just to name a few. JEA/SJF and you’ll members have stepped forward to ber 6, 2019 the Federation kicked In addition, the Federation get three work and learn and to change our off its annual fundraising campaign. through its Annual Community opinions, maybe four. There is one community! This year’s campaign theme asks Campaign allocates money locally to thing about which we can all agree; I am thankful to have such great each of you to remember a Jewish organizations such as the JEA, Sha- our Jewish community needs to be lay leadership: the officers of the JEA activity, person, place or moment lom School, BBYO, Jewish War Vet- united, as one people, regardless of and Federation work tirelessly on all that is or could be memorable and erans, the Savannah Jewish Archives our political beliefs, religious affili- of our behalf; meaningful to your life. In making as well as many others. The Cam- ation, Jewish activities, or level of I am thankful for the Federation’s your pledge to this year’s campaign, paign provides essential support for Jewish activism. newest initiative, YACHAD, a pro- imagine if this “Jewish Moment” had nonprofit organizations outside the We have so many important rea- gram for 6-8 grades that combines not or could not in the future be pos- United States as well. In fact, one sons to work together: raising the Jewish learning with social action in sible due to lack of monetary funds. of the recipients of a grant recom- next generation of Jews, caring for a social atmosphere (the perfect way For me, my Jewish Moment mended by a Federation member last our people in need, and working for to engage teens before BBYO!!); begins with Camp Chaverim at the year was the Krakow Poland Jewish Israel’s continued I am thankful JEA. When I was a child I was a Community Center. The Center had survival. Who will that thus far our camper. When I was a tween I was been visited by 14 Federation mem- care for us if we "Maybe it is my naivety, solicitors are hav- a junior counselor and Stacy Lasky bers last year in conjunction with a don’t care for each my positive outlook, or my ing very positive was my boss and Senior Counselor. “NextGen” March of the Living mis- other? responses for this When I was a teenager, I was a sion to Poland and Israel which was In his book, “A hope for the Savannah Jew- year’s campaign.