May 8-14, 2020 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLIX, Number 19 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK TC to hold adult ed. virtual program on “Jewish Bioethics During a Pandemic” on May 17 Temple Concord will hold a virtual adult of the event. “When we run out of these which of these criteria we think are Rabbi Gary Gerson served as senior rabbi education program called “Jewish Bioethics vital supplies and equipment, what ethi- ethical, and review some of our Jewish of Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion During a Pandemic with Dr. Carol and Rabbi cal criteria do we use to decide who gets sources which address ethically difficult in the Chicago suburbs from 1979-2009. Gary Gerson” on Sunday, May 17, at 10:30 treated and who does not? Who decides? decisions. What do our texts tell us about Now rabbi emeritus, he teaches courses in am, on Zoom. To register for the program Do we assign higher value to some lives, such decisions? There will be time for Jewish text, Kabbalah, Jewish thought and send an e-mail to Templeconcordbingham- do we use an algorithm based on medical discussion.” comparative religion. Gerson holds master’s [email protected]; a link will be sent prior criteria alone, or a simple lottery? We will Dr. Carol Gerson is a retired pediatric degrees in religion and psychology, along the program. review some of the algorithms offered otolaryngologist and an active mohelet with with rabbinic ordination, a doctorate in “We are reading daily about the short- for guidance to medical staff faced with a doctorate in bioethics. She is a faculty ministry with an emphasis in psychology age of personal protective equipment, ven- crisis decisions.” member of the medical schools of North- and religion, and certification as a family tilators and hospital beds,” said organizers Organizers added, “We will debate western and Tulane universities. therapist. TC and URJ Congregations to hold virtual “Fireside Chat” with Sarah Hurwitz on May 14 Temple Concord, as part of the CCAR ministration, she was chief speech writer College and Harvard Law school. asked attendees to make contributions to Rabbis of Smaller URJ Congregations, for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential There is no charge for the program and Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, or will hold a virtual “Fireside Chat” with campaign. Hurwitz is a graduate of Harvard Hurwitz, who is not receiving a fee, has their local food bank. Sarah Hurwitz, former speech writer for the Obama administration and author of “Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Film Fest Committee calls first virtual Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)” on Thursday, May 14, at 8 pm. The event will be hosted by Rabbi showing “a success” Leah R. Berkowitz of Congregation Kol Ami, in Elkins Park, PA. People are asked By Reporter staff film discussion on April 27, which was Hubal continued, “Now that we’ve to register in advance at https://us02web. The Jewish International Film Fest of led by social psychologist Steve Gilbert, shown one film, the Committee will zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_21xdJLD- Greater Binghamton held its first ever professor emeritus at SUNY Oneonta. consider whether a second film should kRUaXKNxbEqpFaA. The event will virtual event. The film screened was “This was not how we originally planned be shown. I want to thank the commu- also be streaming on Facebook at www. “Crescendo,” which told the story of to hold the Film Fest,” said Susan Hubal, nity for making this a success and for facebook.com/events/872676536583238/. world-famous conductor Eduard Sporck, chairwoman of the Film Fest Committee. showing that we are all in this together From 2009-17, Hurwitz served as a White who accepted a job to create an Israe- “However, the number of virtual events have – holding out a hand to help each other House speech writer, first as a senior speech li-Palestinian youth orchestra. Almost 50 been increasing during this crisis and people in so many ways.” writer for President Barack Obama and then households signed up to view the film, are hungering for connection. We thought For information about the Film Fest as head speech writer for First Lady Michelle which was available free for a 48-period. this would be a good way to do something or the showing of other films, see future Obama. Prior to serving in the Obama ad- Twenty-six people attended the Zoom for our community.” issues of The Reporter. Spotlight Jewish resources to occupy your family during social distancing – part 7 By Reporter staff YIVO’s 2020 Summer Program will challenging times, both individually and home” fashion. The museum offers in- A variety of Jewish groups are offering take place online this year. The six-week collectively, is an essential path to personal formation at www.nmajh.org/wp-content/ online resources – educational and recre- summer intensive offers Yiddish language renewal.” Visit https://hashivenu.fireside. uploads/2020/04/Kid-Curator-Exhibi- ational – for those who are not allowed out classes from beginner to advanced levels fm/ for more information and to sign up tion-Clothing-lesson-042920.pdf about of the house. Below is a sampling of those. and a wide variety of cultural enrichment for e-mails from the site. how to help students understand “what The Reporter will publish additional listings activities. Conducted via Zoom from The Middle East Forum calls itself “an clothes can tell us about history.” Children as they become available. June 29-August 7, YIVO’s 2020 Summer activist think tank, deals with the Middle are asked to take pictures or videos of their Tablet Magazine is now offering the Program will run in full, with a number of East, Islamism, U.S. foreign policy and “exhibition” and share them using the podcast “Hebrew School.” According to innovations and additions to meet the needs related topics, urging bold measures to hashtags #NMAJHOR or #HistoryAtHome! Tablet, “hosted by Unorthodox’s Stephanie of the virtual classroom. The application protect Americans and their allies.” It The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, Butnick and Liel Leibovitz, Hebrew School deadline has been moved to Monday, May holds webinars on these topics. Information https://jmof.fiu.edu/, is offering a variety is a new weekly game show, featuring real 29. To learn more or to apply, visit https:// about upcoming webinars and tapes of past of online programming, including virtual kids answering questions about all things summerprogram.yivo.org. webinars can be found at www.meforum. tours led by museum curators and the Jewish! There are songs, quizzes and so Chabad offers a variety of videos and org/webinars. new program “Thursdays at Three with much more. The show is designed for kids classes online at www.chabad.org/mul- The Forward offers virtual conversa- Jacqueline Goldstein,” which will feature 7-12, but fun for all ages. It doesn’t matter timedia/video_cdo/aid/2530155/jewish/ tions about a variety of subjects, including conversations with artists. Visit the website if you’re a yeshiva student or someone with Courses.htm. Topics include Talmud, arts, politics and health. To listen or view for more information. no formal Jewish education; all are welcome prayer, prayer book, Tanya, Jewish history the programs, visit https://forward.com/ Jewish Insider is now offering Zoom pro- at Hebrew School.” For more information and more. tag/events/. grams with politicians, actors and more. For or to hear the episodes, visit https://www. Hashivenu is a podcast about Jewish The National Museum of American more information or to sign up for the site’s tabletmag.com/podcasts/hebrew-school/ teachings and practice around resilience. Jewish History is looking for children daily update, visit https://jewishinsider.com/. episode-1-class-is-in-session. It believes that “cultivating resilience in to be clothing curators of their “stay at See “Resources” on page 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE “Porch minyans” Antisemitism Crowdfunding PPEs Special Sections With synagogues shuttered, The rise of coronavirus correlates A Jewish initiative crowdfunds Legal Notices ................................... 4 “porch minyans” are growing in to a rise in antisemitism in NY and gear for health-care workers to Book Review .................................... 4 Brooklyn and other communities. NJ Jewish communities. protect them against coronavirus. Congregational Notes ...................... 6 ........................................Page 3 ........................................Page 5 ........................................Page 7 Classifieds ....................................... 8 Page 2 - The Reporter May 8-14, 2020 Opinion My guardian angels Day 31: Like By Eli Beer Christians and Druze – had, each in Reprinted from Israel Hayom their own way, prayed for me. I heard clockwork (JNS) – I caught coronavirus in about the prayers of members of the By Carin M. Smilk the United States, of all places. Far Jewish community in Miami and (JNS) – As the skies move into that dusk-like hue on from Israel and my family. A few days across the United States, of a group Fridays, it almost feels like time slows down. after Purim, I was feeling unwell. of American Christians I’d spoken to, I start to relax after another crazy-busy week. I realize My temperature rose, so I entered of an Indian group and many others. that for some, these corona times have been dull, lonely self-quarantine. Two days later, I There were also angels close or frustrating being all cooped up, but not for me. Not for was hospitalized at University of around me. Dr. Joel Sandberg and us. In an odd way, it has become more hectic as we bump Miami Hospital with a serious case his wife, Adele, who made sure I into each other on the steps, turn the volume up or down of pneumonia, barely able to breathe.