Holocaust Educator) Offers That Opportunity
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The Jewish National Edition Post &Opinion Presenting a broad spectrum of Jewish News and Opinions since 1935. Volume 85, Number 2 • April 1, 2019 • 25 Adar II 5779 www.jewishpostopinion.com • https://go.usa.gov/xn7ay Cover Art by Karin Foreman (see About the Cover on p. 2) 2 The Jewish Post & Opinion – NAT April 1, 2019 place – his new hotel. About the Cover Seen on the “The ‘Walled Off Hotel,’a nine-bedroom Passover boutique establishment, is fashioned to By Karin Foreman Israel Scene host tourists and to give the community in the city – famous as the purported BY SYBIL KAPLAN birthplace of Jesus – an economic boost. PHOTOS BY BARRY A. KAPLAN “The artist from the English city of Bristol is touting the hotel as offering Going to Bethlehem the ‘worst view in the world,’ with the Submitted 2-11-19 windows opening to reveal the grey concrete of the 8-meter high wall. Since December 1995, Bethlehem has “Palestinian and Israeli rights groups been under the complete administration have criticized the barrier for imposing and the military control of the Palestinian restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. “Passover/Pesach” is a mixed media National Authority. As such Israelis The Israeli government claims it con- piece using paint with add-ins like fiber cannot go freely into any Palestinian structed the barrier to prevent Palestinian and molding pastes, coarse pumice gel Authority controlled area, however, suicide bombings, and points to figures and a mixture of other gels, various gesso, journalists with an American passport and that show a significant decrease in such and blue and gold Interference paint that permission from the Israel Defense Forces attacks since its construction began. has the unique ability to “flip”colors when can. Friends of ours, the Baptist minister “Inside the hotel are exhibitions for viewed from different angles. It changes and his wife, invited us to go with them Palestinian artists, Banksy works and between a bright opalescent color to its and do a story. colonial decoration with a depiction of complement. The road out of Jerusalem goes past the signing of the Balfour Declaration, the This piece features many elements from the Mar Elias monastery, a 6th century British letter signed in 1917 that signaled the Passover story found in Exodus. The monastery guarding the Jerusalem- the creation of the state of Israel. It pyramids represent the enslavement of the Bethlehem road; opposite is Tantur includes artwork typical of Banksy, Israelites, the funnel-like cloud signifies Ecumenical Institute where scholars, provocative and political.” death sweeping through the land of Egypt priests, ministers, members of religious According to The Guardian, “Banksy from Exodus 12:29 “2And it came to pass, communities and lay persons may take a planned to start accepting guests at the that at midnight the Lord smote all the sabbatical and participate in continuing hotel at the end of March 2017, taking firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the education programs designed for research, bookings online. He reportedly wants firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne study and touring the Holy Land. guests from both sides of the conflict to stay unto the firstborn of the captive that was Nearby is the modern Tantur Hills Hotel. at the hotel and experience Bethlehem.” in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of In the five miles you have driven in 10 We drove around Manger Square where cattle.” The moon stands for midnight. minutes, you are at the Bethlehem check- the church of the Nativity was built over The swirls and waves symbolize the point. It was already dark, but it was very the cave where Christians believe Jesus turbulent time between the awful plagues interesting to drive throughout the city, was born. We drove though the suburb of and the parting of the Red Sea to freedom seeing all of the open shops. Beit Sahour and saw the shepherds’fields, from slavery. The three matzot are where Christians believe the shepherds traditional elements used at today’s Seders received word of the birth and where linking the past to the present. They are Ruth gleaned under Boaz. We stopped for symbolic of the three castes of Jews – pizza at a new, modern delicatessen and Priests, Levites and Israelites. Some link then toured the largest grocery store in the three matzot to the three measures of Bethlehem just for fun. fine flour that Sarah used to bake some “bread”for the visitors, which supposedly Background happened during Passover. They can After Jordan became part of the Six-Day also represent Abraham, Isaac and War in 1967, Bethlehem was liberated Jacob. Regardless, matzah reminds us of by Israel, along with the rest of liberation from bondage and redemption. Judea/Samaria and Israel took control of Karin Foreman creates artwork, graphic the city. In 1995, Israel turned it over to the designs, and award-winning inspirational Palestinian National Authority in accor- nature photography. She has won The dance with the Oslo peace accord. On Exposure Award and is featured in The Dec. 21, 1995, Israeli troops withdrew from Nature Collection. Her photography was Bethlehem, and three days later the city honored at a private reception at the Louvre came under the complete administration Museum in 2015. Her work was also and military control of the Palestinian featured at 4Times Square in New York, National Authority. Those with an the Amsterdam International Art Fair at the American passport can enter Bethlehem Beurs van Berlage, the Architectural Digest One sight we wanted to see is described with no problems. Design Show in New York, The Monaco in an article by Jack Moore, in Newsweek,in Yacht Show, Spectrum Miami during Art March 2017 – Banksy Opens ‘Walled Off’ The God of Isaac Basel Miami, Artexpo New York and just Hotel on Separation Barrier in Bethlehem. Submitted 2-17-19 recently the LA Contemporary Artshow. “The infamous but anonymous graffiti See more of her work on her website at artist Banksy is looking for wise men and Why have I written this article? If you www.karinforeman.com. She can be reached women to trek to the West Bank city of happened to be in Jerusalem (as we are) by email at karin_foreman@ yahoo.com. Bethlehem but to a very different resting (see Kaplan/Israel, page 17) April 1, 2019 The Jewish Post & Opinion – NAT 3 Editorial Inside this Issue About the Cover ......................................2 When I was thinking of what to write Sybil Kaplan: for this Passover edition, I thought of the (Seen on the Israel Scene)........................2 story below because the holiday takes Jennie Cohen: (Editorial).........................3 place in the spring. It is a time of rebirth Rabbi Benzion Cohen: (Chassidic Rabbi) and renewal, and many Seder tables are Special Times – 2..................................4 adorned with flower bouquets. Rabbi Amy Lederman: (Jewish Educator) David Zeller, z”l, taught that Pesach is Searching for Family an opportunity. He said, “it’s not just a on Mount of Olives..............................4 Rabbi Sills (R) at “Joys of Jewishing” in 1992. historical celebration, not just a great time Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein, D.D.: to have family and friends get together for rested for the next day. All the while she is Acts of Kindness ..................................5 a good meal. Pesach is a breakthrough in looking for signs, keeping an open mind Magidah Khulda bat Sarah: time from the realm of eternity. It is the for some message she can bring back and (Gather the People) Gravity ...................6 breakthrough in the world of hiddenness to share with her tribe. Jill Weiss Simins: (Posting the Past) that which can be revealed. What happened This continues for a couple more days, Walking with Dr. King ........................8 3,000 years ago can be repeated, not just but nothing comes to her. She decides that Rabbi Jon Adland: (Shabbat Shalom) commemorated on Pesach night. Pesach – she must go back soon even if there is Pekudei, Exodus 38:21–40:38................9 and this is true of all of the holidays – nothing to share. The next day she is Miriam Zimmerman: (Holocaust Educator) offers that opportunity. Pesach is a time to awakened early by a magnificent sunrise. Vital Addition to sit at your Seder table, go through the The sky is filled with the most vibrant Holocaust Filmography ....................10 Haggadah and experience a breakthrough.” colors she has ever seen. As the sun rises Jim Shipley: (Shipley Speaks) I had heard this story in 1992 at “Joys in the sky and dries up the dew on the We Are Different................................12 of Jewishing”, a week-long summer camp grass, she notices next to her a field of Rabbi Irwin Wiener: (Wiener’s Wisdom) of learning and recreation, ending with beautiful white flowers. Complicity in Silence........................12 a spirited Sabbath celebration. It was She decides to pick a few to take back Melinda Ribner: (Kabbalah of the Month) sponsored by the Aquarian Minyan, a with her. She reaches down to pick one Meditation for Passover Jewish Renewal group in Berkeley, but that has a lot of petals, but she notices one and Its Preparation............................13 was held at a campground about three of them is torn so decides not to take that Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel: (Media Watch) hours northeast of there. flower. She looks at a second one with all I Feel Bad...............................................14 The story was told by a co-founder of of its petals intact, but it has a weak stem, Rabbi Israel Zoberman: (Book Review) the camp, Rabbi Hanan Sills, (see photo, so she leaves it in the ground. The third Shalom Lakanaim: Shalosh Machshavut top) a charismatic teacher who at the time one she sees has a strong stem and nice Searing Pessimism & was the Hillel rabbi at the University of petals, but a leaf is missing.