Musical Show at the JCC on Nov. 13 Hanukkah House Museum
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November 11-17, 2016 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLV, Number 46 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Hanukkah House Museum celebrating 20th anniversary This year, 2016, is the 20th anniversary and has served as an editor of Hanukkah House Museum Other Hanukkah House Museum exhib- of Hanukkah House Museum, which is held “Reform Judaism in America: will be open starting Tuesday, its will give students and visitors a sense in the Kilmer Mansion at Temple Concord, A Biographical Dictionary and November 29, at 5 pm, on of the historical aspect of how Chanukah is 9 Riverside Dr., Binghamton. To celebrate, Sourcebook.” He is president of Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sun- celebrated around the world. Bobbie King’s museum founder Rabbi Lance Sussman, the Association for Progressive days from noon-4 pm, and on dollhouses will also be returning this year. Ph.D., will speak on Wednesday, Novem- Judaism and is past national Thursdays from 4-8 pm. It will The Judaic Gift Shop featuring a selec- ber 30, at 7:30 pm, in the Temple Concord chairman of the Central Confer- be closed on Thanksgiving. The tion of Judaica will be open during museum social hall. He will discuss “The Eternal ence of American Rabbis Press. museum will close for the season hours, except on Saturdays. Miracle, Hanukkah and its Adaptations.” He is a trustee of the Katz Center on Thursday, December 29. Club leaders and teachers have been Refreshments and a question-and-answer for Advanced Judaic Studies at The theme for 2016 is Yad encouraged to schedule a field trip to the period will follow. A tour of the museum the University of Pennsylvania, Vashem Righteous Among the museum. Groups of all sizes will be wel- will be included. The event will be open the American Jewish Historical Nations, the non-Jews who come. Tours can be scheduled mornings, to the public. Society and is a member of the risked their lives to save Jews afternoons or evenings any day of the week Reservations for the event will be ap- Academic Advisory and Editori- Rabbi Lance from the Holocaust. Several by contacting Carol Herz at 222-7144. preciated by calling 723-7355. The fee al Board of the American Jewish Sussman are famous, such as Oskar For questions, contact Hanukkah.House. for Sussman’s presentation will be $5, Archives. He is a past president Schindler, Miep Gies and [email protected]. payable at the door. His talk will discuss of the Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council Raoul Wallenberg, but most are generally the Americanization of Chanukah, as well and the Delaware Valley Association of unknown. In a separate exhibit, the 20 as some history of Hanukkah House Mu- Reform Rabbis. years of Hanukkah House Museum will seum. The seasonal teaching museum will Previously, Sussman served as chairman be celebrated. Additionally, information And the open on Tuesday, November 29, at 5 pm. of the Jewish Studies Department at Bing- from the 2014 exhibit on the Kilmer The museum is free; non-perishable food hamton University. He has offered courses in Mansion and family will be on display. donations to CHOW will be appreciated. Jewish history at Hebrew Union College in The mansion was purchased shortly after winner is... Sussman, who came to Temple Concord New York City, Rutgers University, Temple Temple Concord was established in 1950. The winner of the 2016 presidential from Temple Beth El in Endicott, is now University and Princeton University. He The Kilmer Mansion was designed and th election is Donald Trump. For an analysis in his 15 year as senior rabbi at Reform currently offers undergraduate courses in built in 1898 by local architect Edward of the election, see next week’s issue of Congregation Kenesseth Israel in Elkins Jewish history at Princeton and Temple on Vosbury in the Italian renaissance and The Reporter. Park, PA. An author and lecturer, Sussman a rotating basis, as well as online graduate Queen Anne style. has published numerous books and articles, instruction for Gratz College. Musical show at the Federation board meeting JCC on Nov. 13 open to community The Binghamton Jewish Community music by Jimmy Roberts, will star Jan The Jewish Federation will hold a full board meeting on Wednesday, November Center will hold a musical show on Sun- and Shannon DeAngelo, Annie Graham 16, at 7:30 pm. The community is invited to attend. Those interested in attending day, November 13, at 3 pm, in the JCC and Josh Sedelmeyer. should make a reservation by calling the Federation at 724-2332 so that enough auditorium. The full-length musical “I Tickets to attend will cost $20 per person materials will be available. Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” at the door. For more information, contact with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, the JCC at 724-2417. Spotlight Rabbinical career fulfils dream for new TI rabbi By Rabbi Rachel Esserman Religion. I will finally achieve years at several universities, in help the congregation use the building “to its He’s worked in various aspects of the this goal and receive smicha – addition to serving at a pulpit fullest extent” and plans to accomplish this Jewish community since he graduated ordination – this spring.” that allowed him to engage with by “encourag[ing] young families who have from Drake University of Iowa in 1980, He sees his work – whether seniors and retirees. an association with Hillel Academy to be- but only now is he fulfilling his dream of within the Jewish community or Brown notes that helping come part of planning special programming becoming a rabbi. Geoffrey M. Brown, the not – as helpful in creating his others on their Jewish paths – designed and geared for them; attract[ing] interim rabbi of Temple Israel through May, rabbinate. “We are (the generic wherever they might be on that BU students for Shabbat morning services will graduate from the Academy of Jewish ‘we’) a composite of all our journey – is “the most important beyond their ba’al koreh [Torah reading] Religion next spring. experiences,” he said. “During part” of his rabbinate. He believes skills; serv[ing] the needs of community Brown has wanted to be a rabbi for my career, both within Jewish he can do this by assisting people members in assisted living and visiting the decades, but practical concerns came first. circles and in the secular world, Geoffrey M. Brown “in their explorations of their own sick in hospital settings; and provid[ing] In an e-mail interview, he noted that, in I have learned, managed, facili- is the new spiritual personal Judaism.” In addition, learning opportunities for all ages.” Brown the 1990s, “Elissa, my partner/friend/sig- tated and led others – primarily leader of Temple he wants “to provide positive will also help synagogue leadership create a nificant other and I were planning the next in non-profit settings – such that Israel. learning experiences with peo- five-year plan to work toward those goals. phase of our lives. It was my decision to I understand business operations ple of all ages such that they Brown has lived most of his adult life proceed with her career first: to seek her and financials, as well as development.” enjoy their exposure to Judaism, whether in smaller communities and realizes the Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy Brown has worked with almost every age it involves ritual, prayer, social action and advantages and disadvantages of the situa- with a specialization in gifted education. group. The most recent example is his work Israel,” and to help “congregants and other tion. Among the problems he sees are fewer Once she completed the degree with honors at the 92nd Street Y with preschool-sixth people with whom I encounter in pastoral kosher food options, and fewer people and at William and Mary [University], and once grade children at its summer camp, Yomi, and counseling settings.” resources. He did note that Binghamton our three children were officially no longer and with middle-school aged children at Brown sees the new Temple Israel has more prayer options than many smaller living at home, it was my turn to pursue my the Y’s Hebrew school. He continues to do building as a great opportunity: He hopes communities since there are three syna- goal: to become a rabbi. There are a few b’nai mitzvah tutoring, something that he to “attract new community members to gogues in the area, as well as opportunities years between the 1980s and 2012 when I began when he was 16 years old. Brown explore our new space and take advantage for other prayer experiences connected to began my studies at the Academy for Jewish also worked with college students for 10 of helping plan for the future.” He wants to See “Rabbinical” on page 7 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Judaic arts Blazing new trails Jewish “ghost towns” Special Sections TC will hold its Holiday Artisan A Chasidic grandmother from A look at Ribadavia, one of Spain’s Legal Notices ................................... 4 Marketplace; the JCC will host Brooklyn wins the race for judge Jewish “ghost towns” hoping to Book Review .................................... 4 the Bar Kocva Israeli Art Expo. of the Fifth Judicial District in NYC. gain a boost from Jewish tourism. Tax and Financial Planning ........... 6-7 ........................................Page 3 ........................................Page 8 ........................................Page 9 Classifieds ..................................... 12 Page 2 - The Reporter November 11-17, 2016 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE NOTES A moving experience, part IV ROZ ANTOUN, DIRECTOR I got what I wanted until I didn’t. Huh? “What’s Roz tract house. The time was right for me to move on from surely a tip-off that little things were lurking there.