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VOLUME X, NUMBER 12 JUNE 15, 2017 Federation announces co-chairmen for the 2018 UJA Campaign Doug Fink, the newly-elected president to Israel, and had some of her children Medicine. He has been in private practice of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern join her for the experience. as an allergist in Scranton since 1995 and Pennsylvania, has announced that Dr. For the past seven years, Leah has simultaneously is involved as an adjunct Joel and Leah (née Lipschitz) Laury have helped to organize the Jewish Commu- clinical associate professor with the De- agreed to chair the Federation’s forthcom- nity Center’s annual Chanukah Event. partment of Internal Medicine Allergy/ ing 2018 UJA Campaign. The Campaign She has also been involved with the Immunology at the Lake Erie College of is scheduled to begin in September and Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos Osteopathic Medicine and the teaching continue through May 2018. in Stroudsburg, helping to organize its faculty at Temple University’s Internal “Leah is an established leader of our Passover retreats several years ago. Medicine Residency Program. He is also community and her community involve- During the summers, she and her family a volunteer faculty member in the Clinical ment dates back decades,” Fink said. After go to Chapman Lake, where she serves on Science Division of the Geisinger Com- attending a year of study in Israel (post the board of Stein’s Grove Synagogue. monwealth Medical College. His other high school), she attended Stern College Dr. Joel and Leah Laury, 2018 UJA She has also put in more than a decade of professional activities have included using for Women (Yeshiva University) and grad- Campaign co-chairmen work as the Al Cohen Day Camp director his expertise as an investigator for clinical uated with a B.S. degree in psychobiology. in that area. Along with her husband, research trials; grand rounds at three city After her marriage to Joel, she attended has also been called “very devoted” to Joel, both have enjoyed the company of hospitals; numerous talks to community Columbia University, where she received Bais Yaakov of Scranton, for which she their seven children, two daughters-in- groups and physicians on asthma, rhinitis a master’s degree in occupational therapy. continues to run fund-raisers and dinners, law and son-in-law, as well as their four and sinusitis; as well as appearances on She then worked in the New York area as well as directing high school plays and grandchildren, who are all said to be “at Channel 16 (an ABC affiliate), Channel for several years. She and Joel moved to community events. the center of their lives.” 22 (a CBS affiliate), Channel 28 (an NBC Scranton 22 years ago, and she worked Leah has served on the board and the Joel, a physician, received his medical affiliate) and Channel 44 (public radio) on part-time as a therapist at several health Executive Committee of the Jewish Fed- degree from the Albert Einstein College of these and other medical subjects. facilities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. eration of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Medicine in the Bronx and his B.A. (mag- “We’re honored that Joel and Leah have Married for 28 years, Leah and Joel have the board of Webster Towers. She currently na cum laude) from Yeshiva University in agreed to co-chair our 2018 annual UJA raised seven children. serves on the board of the Jewish Home New York. His activities within the Jewish Campaign, which is the lifeblood of our Leah is said to have been “very in- of Eastern Pennsylvania and as board community have included participation on Jewish community” Fink noted. volved” in the Jewish community of secretary at Jewish Family Service of the board of the Jewish Home of Eastern “When one reads the history of Leah Scranton “virtually from the moment of Northeastern Pennsylvania, where she Pennsylvania, the Scranton Hebrew Day and Joel’s involvement in both the gen- her arrival,” especially in the areas of chaired JFS’s second annual “Community School, the Board of Trustees of the Jewish eral and Jewish communities, it becomes children’s programming and communi- Matters” event. Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania clear immediately that they bring to this ty fund-raisers. That involvement has She has also shown her commitment and the JCC Board of Directors. position the wisdom and experience that included participation on the Scranton to Israel through her involvement in as- Professionally, in the mid-1990s, he this Federation will require as we plan for Hebrew Day School board, as well as sorted programs, fund-raisers and parades received Board certification from both the the future of Northeastern Pennsylvania serving as president of both the PTA and in support of the Jewish state. She has American Board of Allergy and Immunol- Jewry,” said Mark Silverberg, Federation’s Women’s League for many years. She participated in two Federation missions ogy and the American Board of Internal executive director. Israel courts Muslim allies as it returns to Africa “in a big way” BY ADAM ABRAMS countries that is the basis of the automatic ment’s multifaceted “return” to Africa is JNS.org majority against Israel in the U.N. and to establish diplomatic relations with Mus- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu international bodies,” Netanyahu told lim-African states. The first fruits of this visited western Africa recently as part of reporters on June 3, before departing for effort came last summer, when Netanyahu a broad government initiative to expand Liberia to address 15 African nations at travelled to east Africa for the 40th anniver- Israel’s influence on that continent, fol- the Economic Community of West African sary of the 1976 hostage rescue operation lowing Netanyahu’s historic trip to eastern States (or ECOWAS) conference. in Entebbe, Uganda, which resulted in Africa last year. The objectives of Israel’s “This is the first time they have invited his brother Yoni’s death. During the visit, pivot toward Africa include improving the leader of a non-African country to Netanyahu visited Uganda, Kenya, Ethi- the outcomes for the Jewish state on U.N. address them. I very much appreciate it. opia and Rwanda. The Israeli leader met votes, expanding economic cooperation, Israel is returning to Africa in a big way,” with the presidents of Somalia and Kenya, curbing Iranian influence in Africa and said Netanyahu. two countries that had severed diplomatic establishing diplomatic relations with Upon arriving in the Liberian capital of Liberian President Ellen Johnson- relations with Iran in January 2016. Muslim-African states. Netanyahu’s Monrovia, Netanyahu – accompanied by Sirleaf (left) greeted Israeli Prime See “Africa” on page 3 Africa trip in 2016 was the first visit to a large diplomatic delegation, including Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon the continent by a sitting Israeli prime Ethiopian-Israeli Member of Knesset Netanyahu’s arrival in Liberia on June minister in 29 years. Avraham Neguise (Likud) – was greeted 4. (Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO) According to the Prime Minister’s by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sir- Federation Office, Israel aims to enhance collabora- leaf. Netanyahu then met with Marcel Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. tion with African states in areas including Alain de Souza, president of ECOWAS, to “This has been a dream to come here to “agriculture, desertification and climate discuss how to advance Israel’s economic this organization in west Africa. And there on Facebook change, water, trade, education, health, cooperation with the African bloc. is so much… that we can do for the bet- The Jewish Federation of Northeast- homeland security, cyber and commu- Netanyahu addressed the 15 member terment of our peoples,” Netanyahu said. ern Pennsylvania now has a page on nications, energy, culture and science,” states of ECOWAS, including Benin, Due to Netanyahu’s presence, Moroc- Facebook to let community members as well as in the fight against terrorism. Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivo- co’s King Mohammed VI cancelled plans know about upcoming events and keep “The purpose of this trip is to dissolve ire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea to attend the conference. connected. this majority, this giant bloc of 54 African Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, A major goal of the Israeli govern- Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE June 16...... 8:20 pm Mizrahi matchmaking Kosher soul food Israel news in brief June 23...... 8:22 pm June 30...... 8:22 pm A new online dating site uses real An African-American Jewish More Ethiopian Jews make aliyah; matchmakers to connect far-flung cook uses food to fuse his two Abbas may shelve construction PLUS Mizrahi Jews to each other. identities. freeze demand; and more. Opinion...... 2 Story on page 5 Story on page 7 Stories on page 11 D’var Torah...... 8 2 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017 A MATTER OF OPINION Alberto Nisman and Sarah Halimi: the shared fate of two very different Jews BY BEN COHEN progress in identifying and tracking down two years after it happened – that Nisman murdered by an antisemitic Parisian gang JNS.org the Iranian and Hezbollah terrorists re- was murdered. in 2006, Sarah Halimi’s inhumanly painful This is a story about the shared fate of sponsible for blowing up the AMIA Jewish In Sarah Halimi’s case, by contrast, death has been followed by an undignified, two quite different Jews. center in Buenos Aires in July 1994, in nobody doubts her death was caused by sleazy spin exercise about “psychiatric They were separated from each other which 85 people were killed and hundreds murder. But as with Nisman in Argentina, evaluations” and “gang warfare.” by continents and oceans. His native more were injured. But he kept coming the potential political consequences of Nearly two months later, though, the tongue was Spanish and hers was French. up against roadblocks. her death have been a source of worry atmosphere is changing, as it has with He lived in downtown Buenos Aires in a The biggest block of all was the Ar- to both the French authorities and the Nisman. More Jewish leaders are calling swanky bachelor’s apartment. She lived gentine government of former President French media. for Sarah Halimi’s murder to be investi- in a rundown suburb of Paris in a modest Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who Indeed, if you haven’t heard of Sarah gated as an antisemitic crime. flat. He cut a dashing figure, often being thought Nisman knew too much about Halimi before now, that may explain why. But as of right now, as far as official- photographed in public and giving fre- the secret pact her foreign minister, Only a few journalists writing in English, dom is concerned, Alberto Nisman killed quent interviews to the media about his Hector Timerman, negotiated with like Marc Weitzman in Tablet, have shed himself, and Sarah Halimi’s murder was work. She was a kindly, shy widow, loved the Iranian regime in 2013. The pact light on this act of sheer evil, which meant not connected to her being Jewish – two and quietly revered in her community for absolved Tehran of its responsibility it took a few weeks to even get noticed. profoundly unsettling misrepresentations her work as a kindergarten teacher. She for the worst single antisemitic atrocity In brief, this is what happened: Halimi of why these two very different Jews was older than him. But he died before since World War II. was an elderly widow, a devoutly Ortho- are dead. she did, at a younger age. Nisman had been due to present a for- dox Jewish woman living in Belleville, These misrepresentations don’t just For all these differences, they had three mal complaint about Kirchner’s govern- a rundown Parisian neighborhood where mask the facts of these two cases, but the important things in common. They were ment’s dealings with the Iranians before the Jewish population has declined as very spirit behind these crimes. Nisman proud Jews. They died because they were the Argentine Congress on January 19, the Muslim population has increased. At was a Jew investigating a terrorist atroc- Jews. And in both of their cases, that latter 2015. He was found dead on January 18. 4:25 am on April 4, while campaigning ity against a Jewish center; everyone, fact has yet to be recognized, let alone act- The first investigators appointed by for the presidential election was in full including the Iranians, threatened “the Jew ed upon, by the investigating authorities. Kirchner’s government to examine Nis- force, a Malian immigrant, 27-year-old Nisman” with death, and thus it came to This story is no hypothetical – though man’s death clumsily pushed its conclu- Kada Traore, broke into Halimi’s apart- pass. Halimi, meanwhile, was a Jew unfor- its underlying themes would make for sions toward suicide – specifically, with a ment and proceeded to beat her with tunate enough to be murdered by a Muslim an interesting thought experiment in any gun provided to Nisman by an employee abominable sadism. in a country where public discussion of number of disciplines. I refer to the real of his named Diego Lagomarsino. But too The police were alerted to Halimi’s Muslim antisemitism is overwhelmed cases of Alberto Nisman in Argentina and much about that scenario didn’t compute. screams, arriving to find Traore bellow- even when a Jewish supermarket is the Sarah Halimi in France. For simplicity’s For example, the position of Nisman’s ing “Allahu akbar” (God is greater) and target of a terrorist attack. sake, I’ll discuss each of them in turn. body when it was found didn’t match that “Shaitan” (Satan) behind her front door. As I said at the beginning, Nisman and Alberto Nisman, it will be remembered, of a suicide. The bullet entered through the Assuming he was a terrorist, they radioed Halimi died in very different circumstanc- was the Argentine special prosecutor side of his skull, not the temple. The mess for backup – which arrived moments after es. But they died, fundamentally, because investigating the 1994 AMIA bombing left at the crime scene by the local police Traore threw Halimi’s badly fractured they were Jews who attracted the ire of who was found shot through the head in made it impossible to ascertain whether body out of her third floor window. Islamists – the Shi’a Islamic Republic of his apartment in 2015. For the previous Nisman had been alone in his apartment Nobody – not the police, not the gov- Iran in the AMIA bombing and thus in the decade, Nisman had been making steady at the time of his death. And so on. ernment, not the centrist French politicians Nisman case, and a single Sunni Muslim Nisman looked like the 86th victim like newly elected President Emmanuel delinquent in Halimi’s. Both cases demon- of the AMIA bombing. And then, in Macron, not the media – wanted to talk strate once again that violent antisemitism November 2015, Kirchner found herself about Sarah Halimi, before or after the is integral to Islamist ideology, to the point dislodged from power by the centrist election. They certainly didn’t want to where its victims are dehumanized in the Mauricio Macri. The wheels of justice identify the murder as a frenzied hate very moment of death. We owe them – both “ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the began slowly turning again. Now, in re- crime committed by an Islamist, preferring of these very different Jews – our voices, Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. cent days, the Argentine media has begun to depict Traore as the victim of a severe now that they are gone. disclosing details of a forthcoming report mental illness. They worried that doing Ben Cohen writes a weekly column President: Doug Fink from a federal security agency, the Gen- otherwise would give an electoral boost for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Executive Director: Mark Silverberg darmeria, which concludes Nisman wasn’t to the far-right presidential candidate, Eastern politics. His writings have been Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman alone in his apartment when he died. In Marine Le Pen. published in Commentary, the New York Layout Editor: Diana Sochor other words, the Argentine state may, just And so, like her namesake Ilan Halimi, Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and Assistant Editor: Michael Nassberg may, be about to recognize – more than the young man kidnapped, tortured and many other publications. Production Coordinator: Jenn DePersis Advertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen Bookkeeper: Kathy Brown Ban on partisan pulpits is key to OPINIONS The views expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are those of each author and not necessarily protecting religious freedom the views of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. BY JACK MOLINE get away with something without penalty, ers might get exercised about – poverty, LETTERS The Reporter welcomes (JTA) – That small little law known as we do not encourage it for the sake of a inequality, war, bigotry, personal immo- letters on subjects of interest to the the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits better world. ralit – they seem to be sinking millions Jewish community. All letters must be electioneering by houses of worship and I can think of many corners of our so- of dollars and almost as many words signed and include a phone number. other charities and which President Trump ciety that would benefit from this sort of into claiming that their First Amendment The editor may withhold the name has vowed to repeal, is exceptionally restraint. The Johnson Amendment, which rights have been trampled by the Johnson upon request. has been targeted by the religious right Amendment, and they are demanding ADS The Reporter does not necessar- important to preserve. Even if it is not for elimination, is near the top of the list. its repeal. ily endorse any advertised products widely enforced, the permission it grants and services. In addition, the paper to the Internal Revenue Service to pursue The amendment is a part of the tax President Trump has promised to do just is not responsible for the kashruth of violators is critical to the protection of code governing tax-exempt charities. In that. Fortunately, as with other promises any advertiser’s product or establish- religious communities and the integrity exchange for the opportunity to, offer made by the president, he does not have ment. of government. tax deductions to donors, the non-profits the unilateral authority to change the law. DEADLINE Regular deadline is two A 16th-century rabbi told me so. – including, but not limited to houses of His recent executive order encouraged the weeks prior to the publication date. There exists a teaching in the scholarly worship – agree that neither the organi- IRS to look the other way when people discussions of Jewish law that translates zation nor anyone representing it will violate the Johnson Amendment, but this FEDERATION WEBSITE: roughly as, “It may be the rule, but we do endorse or oppose a candidate for office. accomplishes little in practical terms. www.jewishnepa.org not teach about it publicly.” It is invoked Issue advocacy is fully permitted, but However, Congress could wipe out the sparingly, almost always when a person electioneering is not. It seems an eminently law altogether. HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES: reasonable standard, especially since no That would be exactly the wrong move Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA is technically allowed to do something 18510 that would nonetheless prove harmful to one, including clergy, is restricted from for American democracy and religious E-mail: [email protected] others. Think of the straw that used to be endorsing in a personal capacity. freedom. The Johnson Amendment may Fax: (570) 346-6147 left on the roadside for people to use when It is no secret that this law is rarely be rarely enforced, but it is a critical Phone: (570) 961-2300 cleaning up after their animals. The straw enforced. The process of investigating and guidepost. And just because people could was technically ownerless and could be prosecuting violations is costly and com- get away with violating it, that doesn’t HOW TO REACH taken by any passerby for private use, but plicated. No one has ever gone to jail for mean they do so. THE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: the Talmud directs us to not encourage it and only one house of worship is known I believe that people of integrity Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244 such behavior. to have ever lost its tax-exempt status for follow the law even without the threat E-mail: [email protected] Why? Rabbi Bezalel Ashkenazi, best a violation. Given the many thousands of of punishment. We typically stop at red houses of worship in America, that does lights, correct a bank teller who gives us SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: known as the author of the Talmud com- not exactly seem excessive. too much money, vote only once in an Phone: (570) 961-2300 mentary “Shitah Mekubezet,” offers this relatable explanation: Even when you can But of all the things right-wing preach- See “Ban” on page 8 JUNE 15, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 3 COMMUNITY NEWS JFSNEPA honors Sondra and Morey Myers at community event The second annual Jewish Family Service featured a silent auction for prizes provided by Community Matters Recognition Event was local businesses. attended by more than 130 people on May 24 Geisinger Commonwealth School of Med- and raised more than $36,000 for JFS. icine hosted the program, which was catered The event honored Morey and Sondra Myers by Prestige Caterers. Music was provided by for their dedication to the community, both lo- Daniel Jaggers and Ian Hipps, courtesy of the cally and globally, as well as their contributions Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. to JFS. James Walter Brown, former chief of Established in 1915, JFS is a human service staff to U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. and organization, which aims to reflect the Jewish Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey, was tradition of caring and compassion for all peo- the guest speaker for the event. David Myers, ple in need. Through professional counseling, Sondra and Morey’s son and a professor of advocacy and educational programming, it Jewish history at UCLA, closed the program seeks to “enhance and strengthen” the quality with a speech thanking his parents for “their of individual, family and community life. This inspiration, love and dedication.” agency mission is said to drive all services and Sponsored by more 70 corporate sponsors and L-r: Morey Myers, Sondra Myers, Lynne Brown and James Walter activities of JFS. individuals from the community, the event also Brown.

Africa Continued from page 1 DEADLINES Following the trip, Netanyahu restored diplomatic was walking together with the president of Mali at relations with Guinea, a Muslim-majority country and his side. Therefore, these relations are not something The following are deadlines for all articles and the first African nation to sever ties with Israel follow- new, but something that has now become more overt,” photos for upcoming Reporter issues. ing the 1967 Six-Day War. Days later, Dore Gold, then Terdiman added. DEADLINE ISSUE the director of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, met with the During the African summit, Netanyahu also signed Thursday, June 15...... June 29 president of Chad, another Muslim-African nation that a deal to invest $1 billion in renewable energy projects has no diplomatic ties with Israel. in all 15 ECOWAS member states during the course of Thursday, July 13...... July 27 Netanyahu’s courting of Muslim-African states con- four years. In October, Netanyahu will visit Togo for an Thursday, July 27...... August 10 tinued recently when he met with Senegalese President Africa-Israel conference, resuming his diplomatic push Thursday, August 10...... August 24 Macky Sall on the sidelines of the ECOWAS conference. on the continent. After the meeting, Israel and Senegal immediately restored full diplomatic ties and agreed to pursue joint economic and agricultural initiatives. Israel and Senegal had severed ties after Senegal cosponsored last December’s United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which denounced Israel’s ve e D settlement policy, and labeled eastern Jerusalem and its a ae! Jewish holy sites as “occupied Palestinian territory.” At the time, Israel recalled its ambassador to Senegal The Bais Yaakov of Scranton and suspended its aid programs with the African nation. Dinner Netanyahu met with several other African heads of state at the ECOWAS gathering, including Ghanaian Pres- Wednesday, July 12 ident Nana Akufo-Addo and Mali President Ibrahim Bou- bacar Keita. Netanyahu and Akufo-Addo agreed to foster “warm relations.” Mali, a Muslim-majority country, has Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) met no diplomatic relations with Israel. with Senegalese President Macky Sall on the sidelines Dr. Moshe Terdiman, founder and director of the of the Economic Community of West African States Research of Islam and Muslims in Africa (or RIMA) conference on June 4. Israel and Senegal agreed to think tank, explained the interplay between Israel’s restore full diplomatic ties. (Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO) outreach to Ghana, Mali and Niger. “Israel has had prior relations with Mali and Niger, but these were conducted behind the scenes and were often problematic. After Netanyahu’s meeting this week with Akufo-Addo, the diplomatic relationship is starting to come out in the open,” Terdiman told JNS.org. “Following the terror attacks in France in 2015, when world leaders walked down the streets of Paris to express solidarity with the victims, Netanyahu

Binghamton Area Two parcels to be auctioned by New York State. Cathedral style church with some original finishes. School building with space suitable for classroom or office use. Open house dates and times: 6/26 at 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. 6/27 at 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For information, call the New York State Office of General Services at 518-474-2195 or access www.nysstore.com. Minimum bid: $10,000 ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 4 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017 Deciphering the past

Research elucidates ancient Jerusalem reservoirs Lodz Ghetto BY JNS STAFF photographs exhibit (JNS.org) – The massive ancient reser- The Museum of Fine Arts, voirs that remain viewable today in Jeru- Boston will hold the exhibit “Memory salem’s Old City had served Jews making Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs pilgrimages to the Second Temple some of Henryk Ross” through July 30. It offers 2,000 years ago, according to a soon-to- a glimpse of life inside the Lodz Ghetto be-published research paper. during its existence from 1940-44, through Jerusalem contains a large number of the lens of Polish Jewish photojournalist these ancient pools. A massive cistern Henryk Ross (1910-91). It features more named the Pool of Israel – more than 360 than 200 of Ross’ photographs. The feet long, 111 feet wide and 78 feet deep – images are accompanied by artifacts, is situated next to the Temple Mount. The including Ross’ own identity card, and Pool of Hezekiah lies among the houses ghetto notices. An album of contact prints, of the Christian Quarter. Jerusalem resi- hand-crafted by Ross and shown in its en- dents are also familiar with the Sultan’s tirety as the centerpiece of the exhibition, Pool, which was converted into an open- serves as a summation of his memories, air venue for public performances; two capturing his personal narrative. pools located on the Church of St. Anne’s For more information, visit www.mfa. property; a deep pool seen on Western org or call 617-267-9300. Wall tours; and the Shiloah Pool, which was discovered under the City of David. A pool in Jerusalem that was used by pilgrims to the Second Temple some 2,000 years Stettheimer painting exhibit “While residents of Jerusalem had pri- ago, according to soon-to-be-published research. (Photo by Dr. David Gurevich) The Jewish Museum in New York City vate wells under their homes and the ruling will hold the exhibit “Florine Stettheimer: authorities had aqueducts, another solution Second Temple period, told Israel Hayom. out there has never been another city on the Painting Poetry” through September 24. was needed for the masses of pilgrims. The “These large complexes are the elephant in Mediterranean coast with such a large amount The artist Florine Stettheimer (1871-1944) visitors used water for drinking, cooking the room that researchers have ignored. Even of these pools of water,” said Gurevich. has been called an icon of Jazz Age New and other day-to-day tasks. Two of the though some of the pools were excavated and The University of Haifa and Harvard York. Born to a wealthy Jewish family pools were also used for ritual cleansing,” researchers suggested the use of individual University launched the study, which is in Rochester, she studied at the Art Stu- Dr. David Gurevich, an archaeologist at the pools, they ignored the larger picture. The due to be published soon in Palestine dents League in New York City and then Hebrew University of Jerusalem who spe- question was never asked, ‘What are these Exploration Quarterly, a European-printed in Europe, where she encountered two cializes in the holy city’s history during the facilities doing specifically here?’ It turns archaeology journal. influences: the Symbolist painters and poets and, on the eve of the Great War, the Ballets Russes. Returning to Manhattan, Ancient menorah tablet shows “clear Jewish she hosted an elite salon together with her sisters Carrie and Ettie and their mother, presence” in Caesarea Rosetta, attracting many of the leading lights of the artistic vanguard. Her circle BY JNS STAFF of a structure used to hold a Torah included Alfred Stieglitz, Carl Van Vechten, (JNS.org) – Israeli archaeologists scroll. The slab was uncovered near Georgia O’Keeffe, Elie Nadelman, Gaston announced on April 26 the discovery of the temple devoted to Augustus Caesar, Lachaise and many others. Among her a 1,500-year-old mother-of-pearl tablet constructed by King Herod in the first intimate friends was Marcel Duchamp. etched with a menorah in the ancient century B.C. The discovery was made Through more than 50 paintings and town of Caesarea. in early April, a few days before Pass- drawings, a selection of costume and According to Israel Antiques Au- over, and was publicized as part of a theater designs, photographs and ephem- thority archaeologist Peter Gendelman, press conference on April 26 regarding era, as well as her poems, the Jewish the tablet, dating back to the late Ro- a new $30 million renovation project Museum offers a reconsideration of the man-Byzantine period of the fourth or in Caesarea. American artist, revealing Stettheimer’s fifth centuries A.D., “points to clear The artifact is the first archaeolog- satiric vision and role in American modern Jewish presence at Caesarea during ical discovery of its kind made from art. The exhibition highlights the artist’s this period.” mother-of-pearl, a smooth and shiny personal style of painting, Stettheimer’s Archaeologists speculate that the substance forming the inner layer of position amidst New York’s artistic elite pearl menorah tablet was likely part the shell of some mollusks. and avant-gardes, and her continued in- fluence on artistic practice today. A 1,500-year-old mother-of-pearl tablet, For more information, visit http:// etched with a menorah, that was recently jewishmuseum.org/exhibitions or contact discovered in Caesarea. (Photo by Clara the museum at [email protected] or 212- To get Federation updates via email, Amit/Israel Antiquities Authority) 423-3200. rregister on our website Jewish Federation of NEPA www.jewishnepa.org

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Send Dassy Ganz an email if you would like to join the list. [email protected] JUNE 15, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 5 This dating site connects Jews of Middle Eastern descent BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN provide scant information other Jews],” she said. “I just believe that this Ultimately Shamash – who has not NEW YORK (JTA) – These than photos. On Eldelala, users availability should be there.” returned to her native Iraq since leaving days, there’s a dating site or app answer a questionnaire about Members do not have to be 100 percent as a refugee – sees Eldelala as a way to for just about any group you can themselves regarding topics Mizrahi to join the site – in fact, Eldelala connect Mizrahi Jews who are no longer imagine, from men with beards such as religious observance, is open to Jews of other backgrounds who living in their home countries. She ex- (and their admirers) to a farm- willingness to relocate and what are interested in Mizrahi culture. The site plained: “If we don’t have the land under ers-only site. There’s even an they are looking for in a partner. will remain free until December, when it our feet and we’re floating – it’s a culture app that matches people based Matches are made the old-fash- will cost $20 per month. But Shamash said that is floating and dispersed – why not upon shared dislikes – as in “I ioned way – by Shamash and two that no one will be excluded from joining use [technology] as the ground under our saw you, too, hate paying extra other matchmakers, who read the the site due to financial constraints. feet, and find each other?” for guacamole.” profiles and introduce members But one day it dawned upon whom they think are compatible. Cynthia Shamash, a New York- Cynthia Shamash Sharon Arazi, a 28-year- NEWS IN BRIEF FROM EUROPE based dentist, that it was still (Photo courtesy of old retail manager from Great hard for Mizrahi Jews, or Jews Shamash) Neck, NY, has Iraqi, Syrian From JNS.org from the Middle East and North and Lebanese ancestry. She U.K.’s Conservative party, favored by British Jews, suffers Africa, to meet each other. signed up for Eldelala in May because Shamash, who published a book in she prefers to date someone who shares election setback 2015 about her Jewish family’s 1972 her Mizrahi background, she said, noting The U.K.’s Conservative party, which has “strongly” supported Israel and is escape from Iraq, was traveling around common food, music and mentalities. “We backed by the overwhelming majority of British Jews, suffered a setback in parlia- the United States, giving talks about her understand each other, so that would be mentary elections on June 8, as Prime Minister Theresa Mary failed to strengthen her background. Iraqi Jews who had come important to me,” Arazi said. governing position. With nearly all the results in, the Conservative party won 318 to hear her speak would frequently come She said she is drawn to how the site seats in the U.K. Parliament, eight short of the necessary 326 to form a governing up and introduce themselves. “We are uses real-life matchmakers, as opposed coalition and 12 fewer than the party garnered in the 2015 British election. At the so dispersed,” she told JTA. “They felt to algorithms. “I really like the idea of same time, the left-wing Labour party gained 29 seats for a total of 261. Labour a connection.” matchmaking,” she said. “I find it very has been dogged by antisemitism within its ranks in recent years, while party leader These conversations got Shamash, 53, difficult to meet people out and about.” Jeremy Corbyn has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric, including his description of the thinking about how the next generation of Arazi has already received two suggest- Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups as “friends.” While Corbyn said May “should Jews of Iraqi descent would stay connect- ed matches from Shamash. She declined go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country,” ed to their heritage. “I thought the way to meet the first match after realizing that the prime minister dismissed calls to step down and plans to form a governing was to perhaps make he was much more coalition with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, which won 10 seats things approachable observant than she and would put May’s coalition at 328 seats, just two above what is needed to form for their children,” was, but she is hop- a government. Pre-election polling by London’s Jewish Chronicle said 77 percent she said. “I sensed ing to meet a second of British Jews supported the Conservative party, compared to only 13 percent for that they would have possible suitor soon. Labour. “If the governing party, which is a strong supporter of Israel, loses so much liked the children to (Out of the handful ground, then of course it has to be something of a loss for Israel and the Jewish meet Mizrahi Jews, of matches Eldelala community,” Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews but geographical is- has initiated since umbrella group, told the Times of Israel. sues are a problem, April, one is still in More than half of Muslim migrants in Bavaria hold [and] it wasn’t going touch, according to to happen.” Shamash.) antisemitic views, study says She thought that Eldelala connects Jews of Middle Arazi tried oth- More than half of Muslim migrants in the German state of Bavaria hold antise- connections made Eastern descent who are looking for er dating platforms mitic beliefs, according to new study released by the Hanns Seidel Foundation online could be the love. (Photo by Lior Zaltzman) without success, she think tank. The German study was conducted throughout 2016 in the Bavarian answer. To that end, said. At the moment, cities of Nuremberg and Poing und Pliening. Findings were based on interviews Shamash launched Eldelala – which means she’s using only Eldelala and Sephardic conducted with nearly 800 migrants from countries including Syria, Eritrea, Iraq and “the matchmaker” in Arabic – in April. So Connection, a site run by Torah Ohr He- Afghanistan. “More than half of Muslim asylum seekers showed clear tendencies far, the site has only about 50 members brew Academy in Great Neck. of an antisemitic attitude pattern,” the study’s researchers wrote. When asked if from around the world, including from the Around half of Eldelala’s still-small Jews “have too much influence in the world,” 52 percent of Syrian respondents said U.S., Canada, England, the Netherlands user base indicates that they would be yes, while 53 percent of Iraqis also agreed with the statement. Almost 60 percent of and Sweden – who range in age from 21 willing to relocate for love. “That’s pretty Afghans said Jews have too much influence, while 20 percent of German respon- to 72. Shamash is hoping to introduce the telling of how important it is to them” to dents affirmed the antisemitic statement. Only 5.4 percent of migrants surveyed site in Israel as well. find a partner with a shared background, from Eritrea, a Christian-majority country, were found to hold antisemitic views. Initially, she intended the website to be Shamash said. The study’s authors also found that “emotional prejudices against Israeli families” only for Jews of Iraqi descent, but shortly Still, Shamash’s goal is not to discour- were widespread in respondents’ belief systems. after its launch, she decided to expand it to age marriage between Jews of Middle all Mizrahi Jews. Current members trace Eastern descent and those from other their family histories to countries including backgrounds, she said, pointing out that Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Morocco. she has been married to her husband, an The Jewish Federation of NEPA wishes The site works a little bit differently Ashkenazi Jew, for 25 years. “I didn’t than dating apps such as Tinder, in which make it in any way so there should be no a hearty Mazal Tov & congratulations users swipe “yes” or “no” on profiles that mixing [between Mizrahi and non-Mizrahi to our community Graduates! Effective please High School College immediately, send note! Benny Davidson Emily Davis all articles and ads to Rozzie Ben-Dov David Garber our new E-mail address, Casey Friedman Max Hollander jfnepareporter@ Sasha Geyfman Eli Laury jewishnepa.org. Jonathan Goldenziel Rachel Laury Nechama Harkavy Sara Linson Miriam Luchins Abigail Mancus Sam Meyers Eliana Saks Yitzchak Raven Medical School Effective immediately, Ben Vale Ben Hyers please send all articles & ads to If your name isn’t on here, please contact our new E-mail address, Dassy Ganz at 570-961-2300 x2 or [email protected]. email [email protected]

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6 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017 First person “I have a feeling the war is going to start tomorrow”: A first-hand account of June 1967 in Israel BY ABRAHAM RABINOVICH the first time Eshkol came out clearly for war. Washing- Five days before the Six-Day War broke out in June ton’s objection to an Israeli first-strike, while officially 1967, the American reporter Abraham Rabinovich still in place, had softened, he said, in the wake of the arrived in Jerusalem. When the war ended, he decided Jordanian-Egyptian pact. Washington had not flashed a to remain and write an account of Israel’s lightning green light, “but the light was no longer red.” victory. Over the next two years, he interviewed close Dayan warned that if the Egyptians struck first (“to to 300 soldiers and civilians. do to us what we want to do to them”), one of their first In this excerpt from the 50th anniversary edition of targets would be the nuclear reactor at Dimona, which “The Battle for Jerusalem: An Unintended Conquest,” the Egyptians believed was about to come on line. “Our Rabinovich recounts the days leading up to the war’s only chance of winning the war is to initiate it and shape start and the decisions of the Israeli politicians and it,” he said. The Cabinet voted 12-2 for military action. generals on the ground. Gen. Hod summoned his base commanders after the (JTA) – The date for war was fixed on Friday, June Cabinet decision and informed them that the long-mooted 2, 1967, the day after Prime Minister Levi Eshkol relin- attack would be launched in the morning. In the first quished the defense portfolio to Israel’s military icon, Ariel Sharon, third from left, met with his officers a wave, 160 planes would attack. Only 12 planes would Moshe Dayan. For two weeks, Eshkol had blocked his week before the start of the Six-Day War on May 29, remain behind to guard Israel’s airspace. generals’ demand for a strike against Egypt, but the 1967, at their headquarters somewhere in southern Gen. Uzi Narkiss, commanding the Jordanian front, signing of a defense pact between Jordan and Egypt had Israel. (Photo by Micha Han/GPO via Getty Images) met Sunday night with his brigade commanders for a finally convinced him that war was inevitable. final briefing. He had been informed of the Cabinet’s At a meeting with Eshkol and Chief of Staff Yitzhak details of the pre-emptive strike to his colleagues on the decision, but gave no hint of it to his officers. On a wall Rabin, Dayan said that if the Cabinet on Sunday approved general staff. Even now, at a meeting Saturday night, June map, an intelligence officer reviewed the Jordanian -de a pre-emptive strike, the air force would carry it out the 3, he revealed only one element: zero hour. The planes ployment. Five infantry brigades on the West Bank had following morning. He rejected as irrelevant the army’s would strike at 7:45 am. Intelligence knew that the Egyp- been reinforced by an additional brigade, held in reserve plans for attacking the Gaza Strip and the coastal guns tian air force mounted patrols from first light until 7 am in 10 miles east of Jerusalem. Troops had been shifted in overlooking the Tiran Straits, which Egypt had closed anticipation of a possible Israeli attack out of the rising sun. substantial numbers from rear encampments to the front to Israel-bound shipping. At 7:45, the Egyptian pilots would be back at their bases line and Jordan’s two armored brigades were poised to The army’s primary task, he said, was the destruc- having breakfast. Senior commanders lived off base and cross the Jordan River to the West Bank. A large Iraqi tion of Egypt’s tank divisions, the core of its army. The arrived about 8 am. They would still be in their cars when force was expected to take up positions threatening brazenness of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser the planes struck. At zero hour, Israel’s armored divisions Israel’s narrow waist within a few days. in sending his army into Sinai, banishing a U.N. buffer would shed camouflage netting and cross into Sinai. At Narkiss’ request, his brigade commanders rose in turn force, and closing the straits meant that he no longer Dayan, in his first press conference as defense minister to outline their operational plans. The commander of the feared Israel. Therefore, Dayan argued, his challenge that Saturday night, declared that the time for a sponta- Jerusalem Brigade, Col. Eliezer Amitai, was restrained. The must be met head-on. The army would bring the Egyptian neous response to the closing of the straits had passed. Jordanian army was considered the best in the Arab world. tank formations to battle and leave the Straits of Tiran A diplomatic solution, he said, would now be sought. At In the War of Independence, the Israeli army had failed to and Gaza Strip for later. Rabin said that nothing would an English-language newspaper in Jordanian Jerusalem, dislodge it from any fortified position. The British officers be done to provoke the Jordanians in order not to draw skeptical journalists joked that they should run Dayan’s who commanded the Arab Legion, as it was known then, forces away from the Egyptian front. Jerusalem’s Old soothing remarks under the headline “Israel about to attack.” were dismissed by Hussein a decade later and replaced City was on no one’s agenda. Sunday morning, at the crucial Cabinet meeting, by Jordanian officers, but the army’s reputation remained. Air Force Commander Motti Hod had never revealed several ministers asked that a decision be put off, but for See “Account” on page 11 P A C E Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment Your gift to the Annual Campaign DOES A WORLD OF GOOD. Endowing your gift allows you to be there for the Jewish community of NEPA forever. A Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) is a permanent fund that endows your Jewish community Annual Campaign gift as a lasting legacy. A PACE fund will continue to make an annual gift in perpetuity on your behalf. To determine the amount you need to endow your entire campaign gift, multiply your current annual gift by 20. You can fund your PACE by adding the JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA to your will, or by making the Federation a beneficiary of your IRA. All contributions to establish a PACE are tax deductible. Let your name be remembered as a blessing. Endowments can be created through a variety of vehicles, some of which do not necessitate funding during your lifetime yet still provide your estate with considerable tax benefits. They also enable you to perpetuate your commitment to the Annual Campaign in a way that best achieves your own personal financial and estate planning goals. Examples Of Ways To Fund Your Pace Gift Are: * outright contribution of cash, appreciated securities or other long-term capital gain property such as real estate * charitable remainder trust * gift of life insurance Using appreciated property, such as securities or real estate, * charitable lead trust affords you the opportunity to eliminate the income tax on the * gift of IRA or pension plan assets long-term capital gain, will in some instances generate a full * grant from your foundation income tax charitable deduction and will remove those assets * reserved life estate in your residence from your estate for estate tax purposes. * bequest

For more information contact Mark Silverberg at [email protected] or call 570-961-2300, ext. 1. JUNE 15, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 7 How this African-American Jew uses cooking to fuse his two identities BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN because of its culinary traditions. “[T] and if one of them is broken, there is no NEW YORK (JTA) – When Michael he food was better – and [you can eat] circle, it’s incomplete,” he said. Twitty dressed in the outfit that slaves wore rice on Pesach,” he said, referring to the After “The Cooking Gene” is pub- in the American South – wool stockings, Sephardi custom of eating rice and other lished this summer, Twitty hopes to do a waistcoat and kerchief tied around his neck legumes from which Ashkenazic Jews similar project about his Jewish identity, – to cook meat in an open-hearth oven on abstain during Passover. which he said will “probably” amount to a historic Virginia plantation, more than Asked to describe himself, Twitty in- a second book. one memory of slavery flashed through his vents a new word: “Afro-ashke-phardi.” “I’m even more convinced now that mind. One memory, of his African-Ameri- “I feel African-American brings in in addition to going to Medinat Yisrael, can ancestors in the South, seems obvious. the Southern, brings in the mixture of people need to go to Europe,” he said, The other, of Jews enslaved thousands of heritage that is African-American and referring to the state of Israel in Hebrew. years ago in Egypt, perhaps less so. African Diaspora,” he said. “I feel like the “[O]ne of the things that got me [is] all Cooking on the Virginia plantation as Ashkenazi, I really do appeal to Chasidic those gravestones that were turned upside part of his research into black and Southern culture, dabbled with it before in my life. down, all those shtetls that used to exist. foodways, the African-American Jew by And Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage will You’ve got to see it with your own eyes choice thought of the Passover injunction always be a part of me because it’s where because you’ve got to know and under- that each Jew remember the Exodus from Michael Twitty spoke at the annual Food I converted, in a Sephardic and Mizrahi stand and feel it in your gut: This is where Egypt as if he or she had been there. And Book Fair in New York City on May 13. synagogue.” the debt was paid so I could exist.” passing by a colonial-style house near the (Photo by Clay Williams) Twitty’s background is reflected in his historic plantation brought to mind both unique takes on traditional Jewish food. A slavery and Nazi concentration camps. Jewish journey in the book, and it turns Shabbat dinner at his house might include In 2012, Twitty embarked on a “South- out that – no surprise here! – food plays such dishes as “kosher soul-rolls” – spring ern Discomfort Tour” to trace the history a big role. “How I became Jewish began rolls stuffed with collared greens and of his black ancestors through food. On through food,” Twitty told JTA during an pastrami – and Senegalese chicken soup the journey, which he documents in his interview in the lobby of a trendy New York featuring matzah balls and peanut butter. The Jewish outdoors forthcoming book, “The Cooking Gene: hotel. His Christian mother, whom Twitty The food writer keeps a kosher kitchen, The website of JOFEE – Jew- A Journey Through African-American describes in his book as “the best challah but that doesn’t stop him from cooking soul ish Outdoor, Food, Farming and Culinary History in the Old South,” he braider I have ever known,” introduced him food dishes featuring pork or catfish on Environmental Education – can also saw parallels to Jewish history. to the Shabbat staple early on. At the age the outside. He relies on tasters to ensure be found at http://jofee.org/. The site is The book, which is set for publication in of 7, Twitty, who grew up in the suburbs the food is delicious, so he doesn’t have produced by a partnership between Hazon, August, explores the history of soul food of Washington, DC, declared himself to to eat the non-kosher ingredients. the Pearlstone Center, Urban Adamah and its relationship to the larger category be Jewish. “[T]here are some things that That workaround is symbolic of and Wilderness Torah. The organization of Southern cuisine. It also documents science cannot explain, it’s a calling, it’s a Twitty’s larger approach to his different seeks to help create experiences that Twitty’s personal journey as he learns connection, it’s above us,” Twitty said of identities. Instead of pitting them against connect people to Judaism, community about his ancestors’ fates, works on his- his childhood interest in Judaism. each other or prioritizing one over another, and the natural world. Its programs are toric plantations and takes DNA tests to Food continued to inform his Jewish Twitty embraces the nuances that come open to participants of many different learn more about his heritage. journey, which culminated in his conver- along with belonging to different commu- ages, Jewish backgrounds and religious The 40-year-old former Hebrew school sion at 25. He chose a Sephardi Mizrahi nities. “It’s not a hierarchy, it’s a circle, approaches. The website offers educa- teacher, food writer and creator of the food synagogue because he found it the most and in that circle are all these different tion information and information about blog Afroculinaria also writes about his welcoming as a person of color – and elements that work together like a chain, upcoming programs. You Lif – You Legac... Wha ’ i You Hear

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Pleas joi th Jewis Federatio o Northeaster Pennsylvani€ i ‚ecurinƒ th futur o th Jewis communit. Please contact Mark Silverberg at 961-2300 or [email protected] for more information. ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 8 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017 D’VAR TORAH Seeking a connection with God BY RABBI EVAN SHORE, SHAAREI TORAH performance of the mitzvah of tzitzit we will develop ORTHODOX CONGREGATION OF SYRACUSE and strengthen our devakut with God. Shelach Lecha, Numbers 13:1-15:41 Rashi tells us, “The heart and the eyes are the spies The ultimate goal for a human being is to achieve a of the body. They are the agents for its sins; the eye sees level of devakut (connection) with God. It is very clear and the heart desires, and the body commits the sin.” that, since God created the human being with a free will Our eyes can place the human being in a very diffi- to do as he or she sees fit, some parameters must be set cult position. The eyes seek out the desires of the heart in order to keep the human being on track to achieve this whether they are for good or for evil. It is this quality goal. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles that we that “Daat Soferim” says poses the greatest threat to us. face in our attempt to reach this level. It is the thought The eyes have the ability to arouse thoughts as well as process with each and every one of us that is the center the desires of the human being. of our attention. The Jew wears tzitzit as a daily reminder to fulfill The mind and the desires of the heart develop a plan God’s mitzvot. It is for this reason our rabbis tell us, for the body to implement. We learn in parasha Shelach “The mitzvah of tzitzit is equal to all the mitzvot in the Lecha, “It shall be to you a fringe that you may look upon Torah.” Furthermore, it is no coincidence that the Talmud it and remember all the commandments of Hashem and in Menachot 43b teaches us, “One who is diligent in do them and you shall not go astray after your own eyes this commandment (tzitzit) will merit seeing the divine and after your hearts.”(Numbers 15:39) presence of God.” With all said and done, what greater The book “Daat Soferim” tells us that in this sen- motivation can there be in harnessing our heart, eyes and tence there is both a command and a promise. On one thought process, especially when doing so will lead us to hand, Hashem is telling us to constantly look upon the the road to receive and experience the divine presence of tzitzit (fringes) as a reminder not to turn aside from the God? Now would be the best time to purchase and begin Torah and its mitzvot. The promise is that through the wearing and fulfilling the mitzvah oftzitzit . BOOK REVIEW Two women and a masterpiece BY RABBI RACHEL ESSERMAN of Judaism open the possibility that Jesus wasn’t the What connection could possibly exist between Susan- Messiah – was that why Christian anxiety lapsed into na Kessler and Sara Itzig Levy? Susanna is a successful violence at the Jews? Was it because Christians histor- career woman in contemporary New York City, while ically blamed Jews for the Crucifixion, even though Sara lives in 18th century Berlin during a time when they believed the Crucifixion had to take place in order women of her class did not work outside the home. Sara for Jesus to fulfill His mission on earth?” He also finds loves music and regularly practices the harpsichord, himself looking at his own family history – one he’s while the arts barely play a role in Susanna’s life. Yet, never truly explored – to learn what family members in “And After the Fire” by Lauren Belfer (Harper), a had done during World War II. mysterious and disturbing musical score connects and The Jewish characters – from Sara in the 18th century upsets both their lives. to Susanna in the 21st century – also ponder their respon- Susanna finds the mysterious musical score after the sibility regarding the score. To help her decide what death of her Uncle Henry, who served in the American to do, Susanna tries to learn more about her family’s army during World War II. Her family was greatly affect- experiences during the Holocaust, although, at first, her ed by the Holocaust, but exactly what those losses were mother doesn’t wish to speak of it. She tells Susanna that remains unspoken. Susanna’s life once seemed perfect – a the loss of the European branch of the family destroyed loving husband and a great job – that is, until a violent Susanna’s grandmother and his time in the service ruined incident changed her future. Already feeling shaken, Uncle Henry’s life. She notes that the war never seems Susanna is not sure what to do with a secret so powerful to end: “[The war] isn’t over. Don’t you understand why that Henry hid it from the rest of the family. Fortunately, so many of the survivors don’t want to talk about it? Oh, she finds herself unexpectedly attending a concert by a yes, the fighting stopped and everybody declared peace, music professor who may be able to help her. Learning but the war, what it did to people, goes on and on and the origin of the score, though, forces both of them to still hasn’t stopped and probably won’t stop. Look at you, examine their responsibility toward truth and history. seventy years later and you’re still asking questions.” Sara recognizes that she lives a charmed life. She feels However, Susanna manages to find some, but not all, fortunate to have a wonderful music teacher, Wilhelm answers to her questions. Sebastian Bach – the son of Johann Sebastian Bach – “And After the Fire” is an absorbing, well-done nov- who encourages her passion for music. Wilhelm believes el. Working in two time periods gives the work greater she has great talent and composes a concerto for her as a depth and allows readers to discover answers that remain wedding gift. Sara is fortunate to be marrying someone secret to many of the characters. Book clubs that enjoy she loves, and hopes for a household filled with children serious novels should find this a great fit, as will those and music. Yet, Wilhelm’s wedding present contains who enjoy literary works. not only the music he composed, but another more disturbing score. As the decades pass, it becomes clear that the charmed time in which Sara lived – when it felt Ban Continued from page 2 as if Jews were accepted as equals – is only temporary. election and settle our disagreements with words. We The question underlying the plot of “And After the do so because the rules of civil society are important, Fire” is what someone should do if she discovers a work enacted to promote the general welfare, as the Consti- of art that is both a masterpiece and a horrific work of tution suggests. And for those people with less integrity, prejudice. It doesn’t reveal too much of the plot to say even a small threat of sanction makes them think twice that the score is antisemitic, leaving the characters to about the consequences of getting caught. decide how it should be treated. Should it be hidden I can think of times when the bully pulpit of the presi- from view, destroyed or revealed to the world? Should dency could rightfully be used to call for passive resistance one allow this wondrous music to be performed if its against an immoral law. Plunging houses of worship into words might aid antisemitic causes? partisan politics does not strike me as one of those times. Learning about the score forces several members If you are clergy or congregant, you should oppose the of the Lutheran church to examine their religion more assault on the Johnson Amendment. Thankfully, polling carefully. For example, a minister who loves music finds shows that you already overwhelmingly do. himself questioning his faith: “Did the persistent survival Rabbi Jack Moline is president of Interfaith Alliance. JUNE 15, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 9 NEWS IN BRIEF FROM THE U.S. From JTA Gianforte’s financial ties to Russian companies sanctioned by the United States. Gianforte’s Woman who made death threats to parent of Sandy Hook wealth is estimated at $65 million to $315 million, according to The Guardian. He lost in his bid for governor last year. He ran for Congress against Democratic folk musician Rob massacre victim sentenced to prison Quist. Jacob’s glasses were broken in the attack. A crowdfunding campaign to replace them A Florida woman who pleaded guilty to threatening the father of a victim of the raised more than $7,500, which Jacobs had requested be donated to the Committee to Pro- 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was sentenced to five months in prison. tect Journalists. His glasses were donated to the Newseum, a museum in Washington, DC, During her sentencing in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on June 7, Lucy Richards, 57, dedicated to journalism, at the request of the museum. Jacobs, who grew up in the Baltimore apologized for previously calling the shooting, which killed 20 children and six school area, is a graduate of Grinnell College and has a law degree from Duke University. Before staff members, a hoax. “I don’t know where my head and my heart were that day when joining The Guardian in 2015, he worked at the Daily Beast. I made the calls but they were not in the right place,” Richards said. She had made a Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council pushes bill aimed at curbing series of death threats against Lenny Pozner, the father of Jewish student Noah Pozner who was slain in the shooting. “You gonna die, death is coming to you real soon,” Rich- hate crimes ards told Pozner over the phone, according to the federal indictment. She was arrested The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council has urged Congress to pass legislation aimed in December 2016 and pleaded guilty in January. In addition to her prison sentence, at strengthening efforts to combat hate crimes. The Protecting Affiliated Institutions Act, Richards will serve five months of house arrest and three years of supervised release. which has bipartisan sponsors, was introduced in both the Senate and the House on June 6. Noah Pozner, 6, was the youngest victim of the December 2012 massacre, in which 26 The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, which works to curb hate crimes within religious people were killed by Adam Lanza, 20, who forced his way into the school building communities and to promote “the contributions of religious minorities in the United States,” and opened fire. Lanza killed himself at the school and killed his mother in their home has lobbied on behalf of the legislation. The legislation would enhance the Church Arson prior to the attack. A Florida Atlantic University professor, James Tracy, was fired in Prevention Act of 1996, which made attacks against houses of worship a federal crime. The 2013 after writing on his personal blog that Sandy Hook was a hoax and sending the new bill expands this resolution to include other religiously affiliated institutions, such as Pozners a letter demanding proof that Noah once lived and that they were his parents. schools and community centers. It would also broaden the purview to include threats, and Montana congressman donates $50,000 to protect journalists would make damaging protected property a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. “Burning down a mosque or vandalizing a Jewish cemetery is intolerable. Now is the time to take after assaulting reporter action against hate crimes in our country,” Council Co-Chair Stanley Bergman said. Republican congressman-elect Greg Gianforte of Montana has apologized for body St. Louis man accused of eight JCC bomb threats to plead slamming a Jewish reporter for The Guardian, a London-based newspaper, on the eve of a special election. Gianforte late on June 7 also announced a $50,000 donation to the guilty Committee to Protect Journalists. “My physical response to your legitimate question was A St. Louis man accused of making eight bomb threats against Jewish institutions will unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful,” Gianforte wrote in a letter to reporter Ben Jacobs, plead guilty to cyberstalking charges. Juan Thompson, 32, originally denied the charges as part of an agreement that settles any potential civil claims, according to The Guardian. in New York City federal court in April. Prosecutors said in a letter filed on June 6 with “As both a candidate for office and a public official, I should be held to a high standard in the court that Thompson will enter a guilty plea when he appears in court on June 12, Re- my interactions with the press and the public. My treatment of you did not meet that stan- uters reported. The cyberstalking charges are for eight threats against Jewish Community dard.” The letter also said: “Notwithstanding anyone’s statements to the contrary, you did Centers and the Anti-Defamation League, which federal prosecutors say were “copycat” not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you. I am sorry for crimes during a wave of nearly 150 bomb threats to Jewish institutions during the first three what I did and the unwanted notoriety this has created for you. I take full responsibility.” months of this year. Nearly three weeks later after Thompson’s arrest, an Israeli-American Gianforte still faces criminal charges of misdemeanor assault over the altercation. He faces teen was arrested in Israel for allegedly making the bulk of the threats. Thompson, who a maximum $500 fine or six months in jail if convicted. He had been scheduled to appear previously worked as a journalist for The Intercept news website, had denied the charges, in Gallatin County justice court by June 7, but was granted an extension until June 20, the saying said that he had no antisemitic beliefs and that he was being framed as a black man. Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported on June 7. The incident involving Gianforte, a tech Prosecutors allege that the JCC bomb threats were part of a larger plot to take revenge on millionaire who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, and Jacobs, occurred on March an ex-girlfriend. He was arrested on March 3 for the threats, which carry a penalty of up to 24, hours before the opening of the polls for a special election to fill the seat held by Ryan five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Bail had been denied at the time of his arrest. Zinke, who was named secretary of the interior by Trump. Jacobs, who had been covering The Federal Bureau of Investigation complaint says Thompson threatened institutions that the candidate for several weeks, asked Gianforte a question about the Republican health included the Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Community Centers in San Diego and New care plan before being attacked, according to The Guardian. In April, Jacobs reported on York City, schools in New York and Michigan, and a Jewish history museum in New York City.

ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 10 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017

Feature Films (as of September 2016) NEW Dough - An old Jewish baker (Jonathan Pryce) takes on a young Muslim apprentice to save his failing kosher bakery. When TO THE his apprentice’s marijuana stash accidentally falls in the mixing dough, the challah starts flying off the shelves! DOUGH is a warmhearted and humorous story about overcoming prejudice and finding redemption in unexpected places. (Shown at the LIBRARY! 2017 UJA campaign opening event) Everything is Illuminated - “Everything is Illuminated” tells the story of a young man’s quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion. What starts out as a journey to piece together one family’s story under absurd circumstances turns into a meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations -- the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, and the meaning of friendship. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Europa Europa - Based on the autobiography of Solomon Perel, this movie recounts the severe actions a young boy must take in order to survive the Holocaust. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Hidden in Silence - Przemysl, Poland, WWII. Germany emerges victorious over the Russians and the city comes under Nazi control. The Jews are sent to the ghettos. While some stand silent, Catholic teenager, Stefania Podgorska, choose the role of a savior and sneaks 13 Jews into her attic. Inspired by real events, Munich reveals the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes - and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who led it. Music Box - In this intense courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot (Jessica Lange) agres to defend her Hungarian immigrant father against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. Remember - With the aid of a fellow Auschwitz survivor and a hand-written letter, an elderly man with demntia goes in search of the person responsible for the death of his family. (shown at the 2017 UJA campaign opening event) Munich - Inspired by real events, Munich reveals the intense story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes - and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who led it. Son of Saul - October 1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Saul (Géza Röhrig) is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, the group of Jewish prisoners forced to assist the Nazis. While working, Saul discovers the body of a boy he takes for his son. As the Sonderkommando plans a rebellion, Saul decides to carry out an impossible task: save the child’s body, find a rabbi to recite the mourner’s Kaddish and offer the boy a proper burial. (shown at the 2017 UJA campaign opening event) The Book Thief - THE BOOK THIEF tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany. The Jolson Story - THE JOLSON STORY is classic Hollywood biography at its best; a fast-paced, tune-filled extravaganza following the meteoric rise of legendary performer Al Jolson. THE JOLSON STORY was nominated for six 1946 Academy Awards , winning two, (Best Musical Scoring and Best Sound Recording). The Other Son - As he is preparing to join the Israeli army for his national service, Joseph discovers he is not his parents’ biological son and that he was inadvertently switched at birth with Yacine, the son of a Palestinian family from the West Bank. This revelation turns the lives of these two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, their values and beliefs. Woman in Gold - Based on the true story of Maria Altman, played by Helen Mirren, who sought to regain a world famous painting of her aunt plundered by the Nazis during World War II. She did so not just to regain what was rightfully hers but also to obtain some measure of justice for the death, destruction and massive art theft perpetrated by the Nazis. (Donated by Dr. and Mrs. David Malinov) Non-Feature Films 2016 Above and Beyond - In 1948, just three years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, a ragtag group of skilled American pilots - both Jewish and non-Jewish, answered a call for help. In secret and at great personal risk, they smuggled planes out of the U.S., trained behind the Iron Curtain and flew for Israel in its War of Independence. This band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, they also embarked on personal journeys of discovery and pride. (Shown at the 2016 UJA campaign opening event) Everything is a Present: The Wonder and Grace of Alice Sommer Hertz - This is the uplifting true story of the gifted pianist Alice Sommer Hertz who survived the Theresienstat concentration camp by playing classical piano concerts for Nazi dignitaries. Alice Sommer Hertz lived to the age of 106. Her story is an inspiration. Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story - Yoni Netanyahu was a complex, passionate individual thrust into defending his country in a time of war and violence. The older brother of Benjamin Natanyahu, the current Israel Prime Minister, Yoni led the miraculous raid on Entebbe in 1976. Although almost all of the Entebbe hostages were saved, Yoni was the lone military fatality. Featuring three Israeli Prime Ministers and recently released audio from the Entebbe raid itself. Hava Nagila (The Movie) - A documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard. Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy and more, the film follows the ubiquitous party song on its fascinating journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine to the cul-de-sacs of America. If These Knishes Could Talk tells the story of the New York accent: what it is, how it’s evolved, and the love/hate relationship New Yorkers have with it. It features writer Pete Hamill, director Penny Marshall, attorney Alan Dershowitz and screenwriter James McBride, along with a cast of characters from Canarsie to Tottenville. In between, it explores why New Yorkers eat chawclate and drink cawfee, and how the accent became the vibrant soundtrack of a charming, unforgiving and enduring city. Israel: The Royal Tour - Travel editor Peter Greenberg (CBS News) takes us on magnificent tour of the Jewish homeland, Israel. The tour guide is none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The viewer gets a chance to visit the land of Israel from his own home! Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (narrated by Dustin Hoffman)- This documentary portrays the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews. More than a film about sports, this is a story of immigration, assimilation, bigotry, heroism, the passing on of traditions, the shattering of stereotypes and, most of all, the greatest American pastime. Nicky’s Family - An enthralling documentary that artfully tells the story of how Sir Nicholas Winton, now 104, a British stockbroker, gave up a 1938 skiing holiday to answer a friend’s request for help in Prague and didn’t stop helping until the war’s beginning stopped him. He had saved the lives of 669 children in his own personal Kindertransport. The Case for Israel - Democracy’s Outpost - This documentary presents a vigorous case for Israel- for its basic right to exist, to protect its citizens from terrorism, and to defend its borders from hostile enemies. The Israel Course - A 7-part Israel education series that sheds light on the Holy Land through the ages. Featuring biblical scholars and Middle East experts, including Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Ambassador Dore Gold, Princeton professor Bernard Lewis and many others. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg - As baseball’s first Jewish star, Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg’s career contains all the makings of a true American success story. Unmasked: Judaophobia - the Threat to Civilization – This documentary exposes the current political assault against the State of Israel fundamentally as a war against the Jewish people and their right to self-determination. JUNE 15, 2017 ■ THE REPORTER 11 NEWS IN BRIEF FROM ISRAEL From JNS.org “Israel Victory Project” launches in and desalination technology, allowing the Jewish state to May sets monthly record for tourists significantly reduce its use of water from the Sea of Galilee. Jewish state following U.S. debut Nevertheless, the lack of water flow into the Sea of Galilee arriving in Israel A new initiative supporting Israeli victory and Pal- has led to “deep concern” over the lake’s vitality, as the (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – May set a estinian defeat, dubbed the “Israel Victory Project,” drop in water levels causes the salinity of the lake to rise, monthly record for the number of tourists arriving in was launched on June 7 during a conference at Hebrew threatening marine life. The Water Authority said the low Israel. Since the start of 2017, tourism has infused $2.18 University of Jerusalem. The conference featured experts level “will lead to further withdrawal of water from the billion into the Israeli economy, according to figures from Israel’s political, military and media establishments, shores of the Sea of Galilee and to various environmental published on June 8 by Israel’s Tourism Ministry. The including Member of Knesset Amir Ohana, Maj. Gen. and ecological phenomena.” The low water level also month of May saw 347,000 tourists enter Israel, an in- (res.) Dan Biton, Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser poses a risk for the Dead Sea, which receives water from crease of 16.7 percent from May 2016. Tourism Minister and Ma’ariv journalist Dr. Revital Amiran. The project, the lake through the Jordan River, under the terms of an Yariv Levin attributed the tourism boom to the Israeli an initiative of the U.S.-based Middle East Forum think Israeli-Jordanian agreement. The Dead Sea’s water levels government’s marketing efforts. “It’s not a coincidence; tank, proposes a “fresh approach” to resolving the Israe- have also been dropping by a meter each year. it’s a clear policy,” he said. “The positive trend that has li-Palestinian conflict. MEF said the conflict will only be Knesset, Congress jointly mark 50th continued for over six months is making a tremendous resolved once the Palestinians are defeated, abandon the contribution to Israeli employment and the economy, and objective of destroying Israel and recognize the Jewish anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification I’m convinced that if we work correctly, we’ll see this state. “The current approach to achieving a resolution The Israeli Knesset and U.S. Congress jointly marked trend continue into the coming months.” In the first five to the Israel-Palestinian conflict has consistently failed the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification during months of this year, 1.43 million tourists entered Israel, because it allows Palestinian rejectionism to be met by the Six-Day War in an event broadcast simultaneously to an increase of approximately 25 percent from the same a call for further concessions from Israel,” said MEF both legislatures on June 7. “After thousands of years in period last year, and 23 percent higher than the first five President Daniel Pipes. Matan Peleg, CEO of the Zionist exile, the Jewish people are finally back home. Home in months of 2015. The numbers for May 2017 are slightly NGO Im Tirtzu, said at the Jerusalem conference that the land of their ancestors. Home in the land that so many higher than those for May 2014, which held Israel’s pre- “strengthening the belief of the Israeli public in Zionism have died to defend. And home in their city of Jerusalem, vious monthly record for incoming tourism. The local and victory is a fundamental element of success.” In May, the eternal capital never to be divided again,” Speaker of tourism industry proceeded to crash in the summer of MEF and Republican members of Congress launched the the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) said. Knesset Speaker Yuli 2014, during Israel’s 50-day war with Hamas in Gaza. initiative’s American iteration, the “Israel Victory Caucus,” Edelstein called on President Donald Trump to move the A total of 303,000 tourists flew into Israel in May 2017, to push for a revision of U.S. negotiating strategy in the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which and another 44,000 arrived by land from Egypt or Jordan. Middle East. Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said the time has would implement congressional legislation passed in Report: Abbas to temporarily shelve come for “a new U.S. approach to the Israeli-Palestinian 1995. Since then, every sitting U.S. president has signed conflict… they (the Palestinians) must give up the goal of successive six-month waivers delaying the embassy demand of Israeli construction freeze destroying Israel and recognize Israel as the Jewish state.” relocation. “Looking around the world, and especially Amid the Trump administration’s Mideast peace Sea of Galilee hits all-time-low recorded at this region, one thing becomes crystal clear: Only push, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Israeli sovereignty will ensure that the city’s holy sites will temporarily shelve his longtime demand that Israel water level remain open, free and safe for members of every religion. freeze construction in Judea and Samaria as a precondition Israel’s Sea of Galilee, also known as the Kinneret, hit I therefore call upon the administration to follow the lead for reviving negotiations with Israel, Bloomberg News an all-time-low recorded water level in May, prompting set by the House and Senate and recognize Jerusalem reported on June 7. Abbas has also purportedly expressed concerns about Israel’s largest freshwater lake. According as the official and unquestioned capital of the state of willingness to tone down his campaigns to prosecute to Israel’s Water Authority, the Sea of Galilee lost 15 centi- Israel,” Edelstein said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Israel for alleged war crimes and to pursue anti-Israel meters (5.9 inches) of its water level in May, decreasing the Netanyahu spoke about his experiences growing up in a initiatives at the United Nations, said Mohammad Mus- level to 9 million cubic meters (318 million cubic feet), an divided Jerusalem from 1948-67. “Why do I say Jerusalem tafa, Abbas’s senior economic adviser and former deputy all-time low since recording began in 1920. The situation in will never be divided again? Because I remember what it prime minister. “We have not made the settlements an the Sea of Galilee has deteriorated in recent years, as Israel’s was like when it was divided,” Netanyahu said. “It was up-front issue this time,” Mustafa said. “We think it’s north faces an ongoing drought. Hydrologists estimate that a wounded, divided city that had no future. ...We came better for all of us right now to focus on giving this the water level will drop by a meter (3.3 feet) before the back. We united the city. …We ensured that Jerusalem new administration a chance to deliver.” An additional rainy season begins in November. The Sea of Galilee has was a free city for all,” he added. prominent aide to Abbas, Mohammad Shtayyeh, said played a role in both Jewish and Christian history, with Ethiopian Jews arrive in Israel in first President Donald Trump earned the Palestinians’ trust much of Jesus’ early ministry centered around the shores with his June 1 postponement of relocating the U.S. of the lake, according to the Christian Gospels. For modern wave since aliyah program’s renewal embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “There is a new Israel, the Sea of Galilee has played a key role in providing Seventy-two new Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia dynamic. The embassy issue is behind us,” Shtayyeh water for personal and agricultural use throughout most of arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport the night of June said, adding, “With this administration, the White House the country’s history, following the completion of the Israeli 6 as part of a collaborative effort between the Jewish is engaged and that’s a huge difference. …That doesn’t National Water Carrier in 1964. Yet in recent years, Israel Agency for Israel and the International Christian Em- mean I’m optimistic. Don’t misunderstand.” has substantially invested in water conservation, reclamation bassy Jerusalem. More than 200 families and supporters greeted the new immigrants at the airport. Three more immigrant flights from Ethiopia are expected to arrive Account Continued from page 6 in Israel later in June. The June 6 flight marked the first Israel’s Jerusalem Brigade had more than twice as troops were wakened at six, and the orchards were soon group of Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia to arrive in many men as the Jordanians opposite them in the city, bustling. The men were making coffee when a succession Israel since the Israeli government renewed the Ethiopian but it was a hometown unit of reservists, many of them of roars erupted from the airbase. As the sound intensified, aliyah program in October 2016. ICEJ, a Christian Zionist over 30. Contingency planning called for an elite regular planes began to rise above the tree line – dozens of them global ministry, sponsored the latest Ethiopian immigra- army unit to break through stout Jordanian defenses to following each other into the sky like children playing tion wave to Israel and has worked to raise funds for the relieve the 120-man garrison on Mount Scopus, a mile tag. Low-slung with bombs and rockets, the aircraft wove first year of the reintroduced Ethiopianaliyah program, behind Jordanian lines, if it was threatened. But it was themselves into formations of four and headed south- which will bring 1,400 new immigrants to the Jewish doubtful whether elite units could be spared for the task west at treetop level. At the airfield, a mechanic wept state. Some 9,000 Jews still reside in Ethiopia and are in a multi-front war. as the planes swept past him, wave after wave, glinting awaiting Israeli government approval to make aliyah. At an Israeli position on Mount Zion, adjacent to the in the sky like a sword unsheathed. In the orchards the Old City, a platoon commander challenged one of his men paratroopers watched in silence, awed by what they to chess Sunday evening. There was little conversation were seeing and by what they knew must come. They as they concentrated on the board. Suddenly the officer then drifted off to write postcards home. “We’re seeing looked up and said, “I have a feeling the war is going the start of the war,” wrote one. “We hope it’s finished to start tomorrow.” soon. We’ll do what we can to finish it soon.” At Tel Nof air base, pilots were wakened at 3:45 am on In the afternoon, Col. Gur was informed that the Monday, June 5. Filing into the briefing room, their eyes fast-moving tank divisions in Sinai would overrun the focused on the terse announcement on the blackboard: “Zero paratroopers’ planned target. The brigade was being sent Hour 0745.” When all were seated, the squadron leader instead to Jerusalem to break through to Mount Scopus. said, “Good morning. We go to war with Egypt today.” No one in authority mentioned the Old City. Some, In nearby orange groves, Col. Motta Gur’s reserve however, were beginning to think about it. paratroop brigade had spent the night in anticipation of Abraham Rabinovich is a journalist born and raised boarding troop carriers for a jump into Sinai. An officer in New York City. He is the author of six books, including rose before dawn and looked expectantly toward the “The Yom Kippur War,” “The Boats of Cherbourg” and air base, but could see no sign of unusual activity. The “Jerusalem on Earth.” He lives in Jerusalem.

you saw their ad here in ... our hair done To our readers vertisers know that you go to get y AD ou to let our ad I SAW YOUR I want to remind y ou say THE REPORTER! It is so important to remember when or buy something at their store or use w.their services that y TER! They want to kno IN THE REPOR e Thank you, Advertising Executiv Bonnie Rozen, ÊCheck out the Federation’s new, updated website at www.jewishnepa.org or find it on Facebook 12 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 15, 2017 NEWS IN BRIEF From JTA gious institution” of higher learning in Israel and placed among the top 15 percent French-German TV channel under fire for canceling of universities in the world, according to new rankings. Hebrew University ranked number 145 of the 959 universities in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, antisemitism documentary representing a slight increase from last year when it was ranked number 148. The The French-German channel Arte is facing criticism for deciding not to broadcast listing, released on June 8, featured six institutions in Israel, with Tel Aviv University a documentary called “Chosen and Excluded – Jew Hatred in Europe.” Arte’s head of ranked at number 205 and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology ranking at programming Alain le Diberder wrote a letter to the Central Council of Jews in Germany number 224. American universities topped the list, with the Massachusetts Institute of on June 8 defending the network’s decision, according to Deutsche Welle. Diberder Technology placing first, Stanford University placing second and Harvard University said that the documentary was supposed to focus on rising antisemitism in countries placing third. The rankings, conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds, include institutions such as Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Greece. Arte, which is of higher learning from 84 different countries. Universities are evaluated according to jointly owned by France and Germany’s public broadcasting agencies, claims that the six performance indicators – academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student film instead “concentrates primarily on the Middle East.” The film’s director Joachim ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio. Schroeder told The Jerusalem Post on June 6 that Arte failed to recognize that “modern Senate bill would elevate role of antisemitism envoy antisemitism is anti-Zionism. ...You can’t make a film on antisemitism [on European A Republican and a Democrat in the U.S. Senate introduced legislation that would television] without saying every three minutes that the Palestinians are the victims enhance the role of the State Department’s antisemitism envoy. Sens. Kirsten Gilli- of Israelis,” Schroeder said. Schroeder told the Post that he “delivered” by covering brand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) on June 5 introduced the “Special Envoy to antisemitism in Germany and France in the film. The Post quoted multiple experts on Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2017,” a companion bill to one introduced antisemitism, such as Gotz Aly and Ahmed Mansour, who expressed concern over Arte’s earlier this year in the House by U.S. Representatives Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and decision. Central Council of German Jews President Josef Schuster asked the channel to Eliot Engel (D-NY). The Senate bill would elevate the existing position to ambassa- reconsider airing the documentary and wondered why formalistic considerations derailed dor-level and ban “double-hatting,” or giving the position to someone who already the showing. The French newspaper Le Monde ran a headline on the controversy with has another assignment. The Trump administration has yet to name someone to the the headline “ARTE, a hint of the censor.” “This ...was a necessary procedural decision position. Earlier this year, administration officials denied reports that they planned to taken to ensure editorial responsibility and quality,” Diberder said in his statement. do away with the position. “At a time of growing antisemitism across the globe and Foundations of synagogue destroyed in 1938 uncovered here at home, it is vital that we prioritize the fight against this scourge,” Gillibrand in western Poland said in a statement. “This bill would empower the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, and it would ensure that we have someone Archaeologists in Western Poland found the foundations of the New Synagogue, which in that role who can raise the profile of this issue within the Department and in all of was destroyed in 1938. The ruins found in the Polish city of Wroclaw belonged to the sec- our diplomatic efforts.” “We have seen an alarming rise in antisemitism with Jewish ond largest synagogue in pre-war Germany. The archaeological digs are being conducted communities targeted around the world and even here at home,” Rubio said. “The with the financial support of German President Frank-Walter Steimeier. The synagogue United States must remain committed to combating anti-Semitism in all its forms, was built in 1865 and had four towers and over a seventy-yard-high dome. The synagogue wherever it appears. This bill enhances the position of the Special Envoy and builds served the liberal Jewish community. It was destroyed during Kristallnacht, or Night of upon American leadership on this important issue.” the Broken Glass, in November 1938. At present, on the site where the synagogue sat, stands a monument. Archaeological works were initiated by the Bente Kahan Foundation Jewish pitcher Brad Goldberg makes his White Sox debut and the Jewish community in Wroclaw. The $28,000 used for the excavations was part of Relief pitcher Brad Goldberg, who is Jewish, made his Major League Baseball debut the Ignatz Bubis Prize, awarded to German President Frank Walter Steimeier. The prize with the Chicago White Sox. Goldberg, 27, was called up from the minors, the Triple-A is awarded to those whose public activities are characterized by the values embodied by Charlotte Knights, over the June 4 weekend, after pitcher Michael Ynoa was placed German Jewish leader Ignatz Bubis (1927-99). Steinmeier received the award in January on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip flexor strain. Goldberg pitched part of the 2017. Archaeologists uncovered the foundations and fragments of the floor at the former eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, allowing four runs on a walk and entrance to the synagogue. The Bente Kahan Foundation wants the place to be appropri- three hits. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 10th round of the 2013 MLB draft, ately commemorated before next year’s 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht. after ending his college baseball career at Ohio State University in Columbus. Goldberg Hebrew U ranked best Israeli school, among top 15 left this year’s spring training with the White Sox to pitch for Team Israel in the second round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March. The Israeli team was eliminated percent in world from the tournament after the second round, with a loss to Japan in Tokyo. Goldberg The Hebrew University of Jerusalem maintained its position as the “most presti- was born in Cleveland and grew up in the Jewish suburb of Beachwood.

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