Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME X, NUMBER 16 AUGUST 24, 2017 Your UJA dollars at work, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Israel and throughout the Jewish World The Jewish Federation of Northeast- Teen Holocaust Symposium at the Hilton They also cover the costs of: ern Pennsylvania is the parliament of Conference Center in Scranton for more Arranging ALIYAH to Israel for thou- the Jewish communities of Northeastern than 1,400 students from schools in sands of Jews now under serious threat Pennsylvania and includes Lackawanna, Northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate in many European countries. They cover Pike, Monroe and Wayne counties. Met- New York the expenses of immigration to Israel and aphorically speaking, the Federation is Grants, from the income of the Federa- facilitate absorption into Israeli society the “garden” and its funded agencies in tion’s Unrestricted Endowment Funds, to through UJA-funded Hebrew-immersion Northeastern Pennsylvania, Israel and many agencies to assist them in offsetting programs at specially-designed absorption around the world are the “flowers” within specific capital repairs to their institutions centers set up throughout Israel, where our garden, and each and every one of and to provide them with critical funds, they are assisted with financial aid, them fulfills an important role in defining through the Grants Committee, necessary counseling, mortgage assistance and job our community. In short, we are “family.” to develop “creative and innovative” placement – all funded exclusively by As such, the Federation raises funds Dr. Joel and Leah Laury, programs UJA dollars; through its annual UJA Campaign and 2018 UJA Campaign co-chairs Through its Community Relations Sending Israeli emissaries to Diaspora allocates these funds locally, regionally Committee, the Federation supports Is- communities to strengthen Jewish identity and internationally for Israel and overseas The conduct of our annual UJA Campaign rael with editorials in local and regional and promote Israel Experience programs Jewish needs through the Jewish Agency Humanitarian relief efforts in response newspapers, and the mainstream media in those communities; for Israel and the American Jewish Joint to national and international disasters and communicates on Israel’s behalf with Providing summer and winter Jew- Distribution Committee in 59 countries Annual missions to Israel elected representative at all levels of state ish-experience camps, Sunday Schools, throughout the world. Israel emergency campaigns during and federal government. The CRC also youth and student activities for Rus- LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY... times of war or other crises provides High Holy Day information to sian-speaking Jews in the former Soviet Last year, the Federation allocated Participation in the annual Celebrate the school superintendents and principals Union, and $656,113 (or 72 percent) of the funds Israel Parade in New York City of the public schools of Northeastern UJA dollars are also used to assist raised during its annual 2017 UJA Cam- The annual Federation Mission to Har- Pennsylvania. These mailings and meet- the victims of terrorism suffering from paign to its many Jewish educational, risburg for discussions with state-elected ings include a schedule of the important post-traumatic stress syndrome, protect social, cultural, recreational and family representatives on matters that affect the Jewish Holy Days with explanations and Israeli schools and school children, and service agencies in Northeastern Penn- Jewish communities of the region, orga- requests to avoid school programming assist in the construction of bomb shelters sylvania, including: nized by the Pennsylvania Jewish Coali- conflicts where possible and to recognize to protect Israelis from missile attacks. Scranton Jewish Community Center tion, the Jewish lobby group in Harrisburg student absences as excusable, and Please join us in reaching our 2018 Jewish Family Service of Northeastern The development of the Northeastern Security-related issues – The Federa- UJA Campaign goal of $910,000 to en- Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Jewish Film Lending Li- tion provides security materials and advice sure that we fulfill our responsibilities to Scranton Hebrew Day School brary, advertised in each and every issue to its agencies on the process for obtaining one another – here, in Israel and around Yeshiva Beth Moshe of The Reporter and available at no charge Department of Homeland Security grants the world. Bnos Yisroel of Scranton to members of the community for high-risk, non-profit Jewish summer Support our annual UJA Campaign Bais Yaakov of Scranton The establishment, with the Jewish camps, institutions and synagogues in by directing your 2018 UJA Campaign Scranton Ritualarium (Mikva) Home of Eastern Pennsylvania and Jewish Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially in pledge or check in any amount to: 2018 Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos Family Service, of the Jewish Resource the wake of increasing acts of antisemitism UJA Campaign, Jewish Federation of (Stroudsburg) Center of the Poconos (Stroudsburg) that across the nation this year. Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson Jewish Discovery Center/Chabad of provides programs for the Jewish commu- ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS NEEDS Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510. the Abingtons nities of the Pocono region Last year, the Federation allocated to Is- You can also donate online through the Temple Hesed Religious School funding for JCC Purim carnivals, Cha- rael and Jewish overseas needs $252,657, Federation’s website, www.jewishnepa. (Scranton) nukah events, Yom Ha’Atzmaut/Israel or 28 percent, of the funds that were raised org, or with the 2018 UJA Campaign pledge Jewish Heritage Connection Independence Day programs, and Israel during its annual 2017 UJA Campaign that card featured in each issue of The Reporter. Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms volunteer programs like Sar El, Birthright ended last May. However you choose to give, please Religious School (Lords Valley) Israel and Holy Day-related programs This represents one of the highest know that whatever gift you make to Temple Israel of the Poconos Hebrew Continuous research on Jewish de- percentages of Israel/overseas dollars our Campaign will be directed toward School (Stroudsburg) mographics in Pike, Wayne, Monroe and contributed by any Federation this size in improving the quality of Jewish life in ...and to many important programs, Lackawanna counties the American Federation system. Northeastern Pennsylvania, Israel and projects and services that include, and The Reporter newspaper Funds were transferred to JAFI and throughout the world. have included... The sponsorship of H.E.R.C.’s annual to the JDC for allocation to Israel and 59 Thank you for caring enough to give. countries around the world, from Singa- We wish you and your family good pore to Santiago, from Athens to Budapest, health and our best wishes for the New and to the far reaches of what is now the Year. Israel faces growing threat former Soviet Union – wherever Jewish Dr. Joel and Leah Laury communities are struggling to survive. 2018 UJA Campaign co-chairs With dollars raised in Northeastern from enemy drones Pennsylvania, the JDC funds relief and BY YAAKOV LAPPIN stages, and posing different levels of threat. rescue services through Hesed Centers JNS.org Israel is a world pioneer in the use of providing free medicines and health care; Federation A quadcopter from the Gaza Strip military drones, being the first to utilize community centers for social and recre- landed in southern Israel in August and them to coordinate strikes on the battle- ational programs; and provides financial the IDF released a short message, saying a field in the 1980s. Today, Israel’s drone assistance to isolated Jewish communities on Facebook unit had arrived to take it away for checks. technology is a global leader, but Israel’s struggling to maintain a semblance of Jew- The Jewish Federation of Northeast- The seemingly mundane incident is, in enemies have begun getting in on the act, ish life for themselves and their families. ern Pennsylvania now has a page on fact, indicative of a growing trend: the and the number of remotely controlled In addition, through JAFI, a portion of Facebook to let community members use of drones by Israel’s enemies. aircraft in their possession is growing. these funds provide for Israel experience know about upcoming events and keep Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic State and Tal Inbar, head of the Space and UAV programs like Masa Israel Journey, the connected. other radical non-state actors have their Research Center at the Fisher Institute Teen Israel Experience and the Birthright own drone programs, each at different See “Drones” on page 4 Israel programs. Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE August 25 .................................... 7:28 pm Teen tikkun olam Engaging young Jews Judaism in Poland September 1 ................................7:17 pm September 8 ............................... 7:05 pm A Jewish teen founds a soap Secular young Jews seeking social Non-Jewish Polish villagers hold project targeting disease and and learning opportunities inNYC a Jewish wedding; Warsaw plays PLUS poverty in the Third World. find them at Meor Manhattan. host to a Yiddish seminar. Opinion .......................................................2