WESTCHESTER May 2018 -- Iyar-Sivan 5778, Volume 24, Issue 5 JewishWESTCHESTER COUNTY’S ONLY MONTHLY JEWISHLife NEWSPAPER Large Turn-out for Countywide Israel@70 Celebration BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN Over 3,200 people from the Westchester Jewish com- munity and surrounding areas celebrated “Israel@70,” hosted at Schechter Westchester, Hartsdale on Sunday, April 15. Activities included the presentation by JNF of Yity- ish Tity Aynaw, “Miss Israel 2013;” cooking demonstration by celebrity Israeli Chef Gil Hovav; and performances by Westchester Day School Choir; Westchester Torah Academy Choir; Beatboxer/Body Percus- Members of Westchester Day School Choir. sionist Michael Feigenbaum; Shahar Azani said that he noted that his grandparents Israeli dancing; an Israeli Air found out from the Israel Con- and extended family were Ye- Force Drone Pilot Course by sulate General in San Fran- menite Jews brought to Israel. AJC Panel, left to right: Martha Lopez, Office of Westchester County Executive George Latimer; Julius Pranevicius, Con- SWAN Kids and FIDF Musical cisco that there was an exhibit Following Azani, Sivan sulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in NY; Mohamed A. Alsiadi, Coordinator of Arabic Language and Cultural Ensemble. at the Alaska Jewish Museum, Ya’ari, Founder and CEO, “In- Studies Program, Department of Modern Languages and Literature, Iona College; NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins; The Program also fea- Anchorage, “On the Wings of novation: Africa,” described AJC Westchester/Fairfield Regional Director Scott Richman. tured educational speakers Eagles: Alaska’s Contribution how Israeli solar technology treatment for PTSD Israeli sol- from ADL, StandWithUs and to Operation Magic Carpet,” powers drills to find water plus diers (rocketsintoroses.com; Innovation: Africa. commemorating the evacu- utilize drip irrigation in fam- yaroniron.com). “We had a massive uptick ation of Yemenite Jews from ine-starved Uganda. The fun filled event was in anti-Semitism here in New Aden to Tel Aviv in 1949-1950, A notable crafts dis- sponsored by AIPAC; Ameri- York,” ADL Regional Director on Alaska Airlines DC-4 and play was Yaron Bob’s “S’derot can Joint Distribution Com- Evan Bernstein observed. C-46 aircraft, with seats gutted Roses,” sculpted from Kassam mittee (JDC); Anti-Defamation “There was a 100% increase to hold more people. rocket fragments and Mezu- League (ADL); AJC Westches- in anti-Semitic incidents in Azani visited the museum zahs made from Iron Dome ter/Fairfield; Friends of Israel grades K though 12, a 130% in- and later met Elgen Long, 91 missile remnants, proceeds Defense Forces (FIDF); Beth El crease on college campuses. the last surviving pilot. Azani funding bomb shelters and Day Camp and Nursery School, There was a 90% in- New Rochelle; Israel Bonds; crease in anti-Semitic Jewish National Fund (JNF); incidents in New York Lisa and Michael Leffell Family between 2016 and Foundation; StandWithUs; Tel Left to right: Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, Consul General of Israel in New York 2017. Aviv Foundation; UJA Federa- Dani Dayan, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and Congressman Eliot Engel “What can we tion NY and Westchester Jew- do? Support Israel. ish Council (WJC). Talk about its right to Congressman Eliot En- exist. Critique Israel gel attended the Westchester but in a civilized dis- Celebrates Israel @70 event course. We have to sponsored by the Westchester stand up and involve Jewish Council on April 15. En- our elected officials,” gel spoke at the event about the Bernstein stressed. unbreakable bond between “We can give you the United States and Israel. a script that tells what Pictured with the Congress- Left to right: Miss Israel 2013 Yityish Titi Aynaw; Maura Koenig, Israel you can say to them man are Congresswoman Nita Program Admissions Director, Jewish National Fund (JNF); Mona Abramson, (ebernstein@adl. Lowey; Consul General of Isra- Westchester Jewish Council Board of Directors; (WJC); Stephanie Risa Balkin, org).” el in New York Dani Dayan; and Director, Westchester County and Southern Connecticut, JNF; WJC Executive StandWithUs Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. Executive Director Left to right: Schlichim Oshra Rosenberg; Ofek Harel; Amit Danan. Director Elliot Forchheimer; Past WJC President Ron Burton. Visit www.westchesterjewishlife.com 2 • May 2018 • Iyar-Sivan 5778 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com Survivor Agnes Vertes Speaks at Annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commemoration BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN Over 350 Westchester residents came to the Garden of Remembrance in White Plains, to hear Holocaust Sur- vivor and President, Child Ho- locaust Survivors of CT., Ag- nes Vertes speak at the Annual Westchester Countywide Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commem- oration, “Keeping the Memory Alive: Generation to Genera- tion” on Thursday, April 12. The Commemoration was pre- sented jointly by the Holocaust MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY BRUNCH $19.99 View in-store menu or visit BensDeli.net for additional as President George 1940’s…” menu details. 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United States gives to bigotry sister got into a foster home, In the Invocation, Rabbi no sanction and persecution later destroyed and Agnes took Daniel Gropper, Westchester no assistance.’” the name “Agnes Kovacs.” Board of Rabbis stated, “Let “It is important that the Four-year-old Agnes us resolve that ‘never again’ gates are opened symbolically,” and her sister wandered the CATERING continues to be a rallying cry, Westchester County Execu- streets. “It was a horrible, hor- not only to end gun violence in tive George Latimer stressed. rible cold evening, one of the FOR EVERYONE our schools but to assure that, “They were not opened in the coldest in Budapest. Bodies were all over the city, frozen in Party Platter Plus for 10 the ground. 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Dragoon and said to his companion, Order online at 718 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, New York 10583 ‘Could anyone but an Aryan BensDeli.net. child be as cute as this one?’ continued on page 3 www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • May 2018 • Iyar-Sivan 5778 • 3 Survivor Agnes Vertes Speaks at Annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commemoration continued from page 2 Photo top left -- Left to right: Agnes Vertes, President, Holocaust Child Survivors of Connectcut and Keynote Speaker; Kol Hazzanim Cantor Fredda Mendelson. Photo bottom left: Rear view of the Anne Frank Memorial in the Garden of Remembrance Photo top right: Left to right: Declan O’Keefe; HHREC Chairperson Emerita and former Mamaroneck Town Supervi- sor Valerie O’ Keefe; Shephard O’ Keefe (grandchildren). Photo bottom right: Left to right: Assemblyman David Buchwald; Holocaust Survivor Agnes Vertes; Westchester County Executive George Latimer; Westchester Jewish Council Executive Director Elliot Forchheimer. This is how my little sister at the age of two saved 100 Jewish children. “Why did I survive? I am nobody. Until I realized that I would be the voice of the other 9 who were murdered.” “As always, {the commemoration} was beautiful, moving, simple and direct,” White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach observed. “I think that the procession of the Torahs is one of the more moving portions for me because it is a physical reminder of all that was lost...” See a full slideshow at www.westchesterjewishlife.com 4 • May 2018 • Iyar-Sivan 5778 www.westchesterjewishlife.com Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) Announces Bipartisan Legislation on Holocaust Education with Many Partners Congresswoman Carolyn This bipar- organization, Hadassah stands Judaism. competitive criteria for grants, B. Maloney (NY-12) joined Ha- tisan legis- with Congresswoman Maloney The bill establishes a fed- select the content for the web- dassah, the Women’s Zionist lation gives and will do our part to make eral fund at the Department site, and lead fundraising ef- Organization or America, Inc. our teachers sure this bill is passed.” of Education, the “Holocaust forts for the program. (HWZOA) and Jewish advoca- what they The original cosponsors Education Assistance Program The bill encourages State cy groups at a Holocaust edu- need to teach of the bill are: Dan Donovan Fund,” which will be paid for education agencies to work cation center in Manhattan the Holo- (NY-11), Peter Roskam (IL-06), by private donations. The fund with schools and take advan- on April 10, to recognize the caust accu- Eliot Engel (NY-16), Kay Grang- will finance grants to public tage of the program and priori- Week of Remembrance and rately and er (TX-12), Nita Lowey (NY-17), and private middle and high tizes grants to schools with no announce the introduction of effectively. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), schools to help teachers de- current Holocaust education the “Never Again Education We know Ted Deutch (FL-22), and Marc velop and improve Holocaust programs. Act.” The national legislation that hate is Veasey (TX-33). education programs. It gives Teachers face many bar- will give teachers across the learned.