JCC Names Honorees for the Jewish Community Annual Yearbook TBE

July 7-13, 2017 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLVI, Number 27 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK JCC names honorees for the Jewish Community Annual Yearbook For the past 86 years, the Jewish Hubal, Sophie Livsky, Sam Loew, Sarah said Sheryl Brumer, JCC executive director. everyone to help us honor them by taking Community Center Yearbook has been Osburn, Hailey Osterhaut, Scottie Rozen, Proceeds from the yearbook will be out an ad in their honor.” published annually to coincide with Rosh Brian Salomons, Eric Salomons, Sarah used to help fund the more than $110,000 Ads cost from $75-$500 and a listing Hashanah, the Jewish new year. It chron- Schepis and Pearlanna Zapotocky. in daycare, camp, youth recreation and on the honor page costs $36. For more icles the events and programs of all local The group started as infants in the JCC’s membership fees for families in need information, contact the JCC at 724-2417. Jewish organizations for the past year Early Childhood Center and have continued of assistance. The office staff will take information and and has become a reference guide for the to be “an integral part of the community,” “These students have had an invaluable payment over the phone, or those interested Jewish community. according to a JCC representative. They impact on our community and we wish them can visit the JCC between 9 am-8 pm, Mon- The theme for this year’s JCC Yearbook are said to be helping create the Jewish well as they embark upon the next phase day-Thursday. The deadline for submissions will be “l’ dor v’dor, from generation to “neshome,” or soul of the community, by of their lives,” Brumer added. “We invite is Monday, July 10. generation,” and it will honor the 2017 volunteering at the JCC, participating in high school graduates who began their programs and helping in their synagogues education in the JCC’s preschool: Skylar and throughout the community-at-large. Abraham, Ruth Cooper, Ethan Eisenberg, “They have all grown into incredible Cassie Grossman, Talia Horowitz, Josh young adults and we couldn’t be prouder,” The high school graduating class of 2017 members who began their education in the Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood Center will be honored in this year’s Jewish Community Yearbook. Top row (l-r): Ethan Eisenberg, Scott Rozen, Sam Loew, Josh Hubal and Brian Salomons. Middle row: Eric Salomons and Sophie Livsky. Bottom row: This year’s Jewish Community Yearbook will honor the Sarah Schepis, Sarah Osburn, Ruth Cooper, Pearlanna Zapotacky, Skylar Abraham and 2017 high school graduates who began their education Talia Horowitz Cassie Grossman. Not pictured: Talia Horowitz and Hailey Osterhaut. in the JCC’s Early Childhood Center. TBE Ithaca summer Jewish film festival continuing on July 12 and August 9 The Arts Committee of Temple Beth- children ages 10 and older, and teenagers from the Palestine-bound ship Exodus El’s annual Jewish film festival will feature have been encouraged to attend. The theme in 1947. a series of three films this summer. The for the summer is the strength of women, “The Women’s Balcony” (2016 Israel, screenings will be held in the social hall young and old. Hebrew with subtitles) – An accident during of Temple Beth El, 402 N. Tioga St., at “Ahead of Time: The Extraordinary a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gender the corner of Court St., Ithaca. The first Journey of Ruth Gruber” (2009, USA, rift in a devout Orthodox community in screening was held on June 14. The line-up documentary) – Born in Brooklyn in Jerusalem. A drama and comedy, the film includes “Ahead of Time: The Extraordi- 1911 to Russian Jewish immigrants, Ruth presents women speaking truth to patriar- nary Journey of Ruth Gruber” on Wednes- Gruber became the youngest Ph.D. in the chal power. Special Israeli refreshments day, July 12, and “The Women’s Balcony” world. Known for “a love of adventure, will be served at the screening. on Wednesday, August 9. Doors for both fearlessness and powerful intellect,” Ruth Gruber The film festival receives support from screenings will open at 6:30 pm for free Gruber defied tradition in a career that Menemsha Films and the National Center refreshments and socializing. The films spanned more than seven decades. She Arctic, escorted Holocaust refugees on a for Jewish Film. For more information, will begin at 7 pm. Tickets will cost $8 at worked as a foreign correspondent and secret wartime mission and is said to have call 257-9924 or e-mail Marjorie@twcny. the door. All films will be appropriate for photojournalist reporting from the Soviet “changed the world” with her dispatches rr.com. Cast announced for Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival’s “Parade” The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Fes- Based on the true story and courtroom theater canon.” Frank, the meek manager his greatest advocate. Her efforts were tival will produce “Parade,” Jason Robert drama surrounding the trial of Leo Frank, of the National Pencil Factory in Marietta, said to have become “the foundation of Brown’s Tony Award-winning musical the musical “Parade” depicts “a storied GA, was falsely accused and charged with renewed admiration and love” between the drama, this summer. The show will run moment” in American history. It is said a major crime. His trial became a national two. “Parade” has been called a story about from July 5-26 at the Merry-Go-Round to be “a gripping drama and a poignant news item and was sensationalized in the “compassion, devotion and forgiveness.” Playhouse in Emerson Park, 6914 E. Lake love story,” with its scores called “one of press. Frank’s wife, Lucille, was dedicated With a score by Brown, the musical won Rd., Auburn. the most acclaimed scores in the musical to her husband’s exoneration and became See “Musical” on page 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Study finds... Jewish tennis star News in brief... Special Sections A study using focus groups and A look at Diego Schwartzman, A deal delays Israel’s conversion Legal Notices ................................... 4 surveys finds support for Israel a rising Jewish tennis star from bill; a firebomb at Rachel’s Tomb; Book Review .................................... 4 falling in certain demographics. Argentina ranked 37 in the world. Holocaust memorials attacked. Family Living and Pets .................. 6-9 ........................................Page 3 ........................................Page 4 ................................ Pages 11-12 Classifieds ..................................... 12 Page 2 - The Reporter July 7-13, 2017 Opinion Judaism requires us to pursue the goals of the Paris climate accords By David Kraemer who dispute the science and therefore that the conclusions Finally, our obligation as Jews extends not just to our (JTA) – The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw are the source of alarm. Because global warming might own species, but to the world as a whole and to all of from the Paris climate agreement has demanded that we lead to human deaths, it falls into the category of “safek God’s creatures within it. Psalms declares that “the earth all ask ourselves where we stand on questions of climate nefashot,” or occasions when human life might be at risk. and its fullness are the Lord’s” (24:1). We are, as Leviticus change, global warming and our collective responsibility And Jewish law is unambiguous when life might be at announces, mere “resident-aliens” (25:23) on the land. for the planet we call home. risk: You are obligated to “err” in the direction of caution. But doesn’t Psalms (115:16) also teach that “the heavens That the earth has been warming in recent years is So on Yom Kippur, if a pregnant woman says she is fine belong to the Lord while He gave the earth to the children indisputable. At issue are the causes of this warming and without eating, but a doctor says her life is at risk, you are of men”? Yes, says the Talmud, but only after we take its consequences. obligated to feed her. By the same token, if the doctor says responsibility for the earth by recognizing its creator and The vast majority of scientists agree that human activities she is fine, but she says she is failing, you are similarly following the creator’s commandments to care for it (see are a significant contributor to global warming, and that the obligated to feed her. What this means is that even if the Berakhot 35b). The earth is not ours to exploit – let alone consequences will be significant and even catastrophic. If “alarmists” only might be right, we are obligated to take to destroy – at will. It is ours only if we are good stewards. average global temperatures rise just a little further, not only the steps they advise. If human life might be at risk, we As Genesis 2:15 says, we are placed in this “garden” of will vast populations be “inconvenienced,” but environments must act so as to avert the risk. ours “to work it and to guard it.” will shift, food supplies will be disrupted, severe weather One might respond that the Yom Kippur case pertains It would be unfair to say that Judaism requires us to events will be more common, animal species will be eradicat- to someone who is already alive, while the concern for stay in the Paris climate agreement; biblical and rabbinic ed and more – all at a rate unprecedented in human history. global warming extends to those who will live (and die) prescriptions are not simplistically translatable into the In other words, this is not merely a matter of principle. in the future. But Judaism is also clear in insisting that our details of 21st-century policy.

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