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VOL. XLVII NO.5 PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY MARCH 5, 2021/21 ADAR 5781 NEXT DEADLINE MAR. 12, 2021 16 PAGES

HOW TO REACH US - PHONE 860-442-8062 • FAX 860-540-1475 • EMAIL [email protected] • BY MAIL: 28 CHANNING STREET, NEW LONDON, CT 06320 We’re gonna make this place our home ordered to recognize three back and forths before I un- derstood that he was telling me non-Orthodox conversions about a new app. New for me. Not for him. By the time 2013-14 rolled

and I loved it! I’ll never forget thearound, moment I was in a proearly on April WhatsApp when - sApp from May Abudraham with soI received much excitement,a phone call practically on What screaming in my ear, “I’m com- ing to New London!” she shouted. “I’m coming to New London!” It took me a second or two till I realized she was telling me she Welcoming our 2013-14 Young Emissaries to orientation at Camp would be our new Young Emis- Israeli High Court President Esther HayutCredit: Emil Salman Laurelwood on August 27. l-r: JFEC Ass’t Director Marcia Reinhard, sary in the coming year. Then she Emissary May Abudraham, JFEC Executive Director Jerry Fischer, continued, “But I’m not supposed By Josh Breiner, Judy Maltz, and Emissary Bar Halgoa. to tell you yet so don’t say any- Aaron Rabinowitz, Jonathan Lis, Haaretz By Marcia Reinhard, thing. I just couldn’t wait to tell Israel’s High Court ruled Monday, March 1, that the state must rec- JFEC Ass’t Director you!” ognize Reform and Conservative conversions to Judaism performed in It was in April 2011, when the Youth Orchestra came here May and I met two years ear- Israel for the purpose of obtaining Israeli citizenship. lier when she was here with the The verdict related to two petitions submitted in 2005 and 2006, was talking with the conductor, Gal Alterovich, about how hard it is to Afula Youth Orchestra and Ze’irey by 12 people who had undergone non-Orthodox conversions in Israel, for the second time that I first learned of the app called “WhatsApp.” I Afula Singers. She was hosted by but whose requests for citizenship had been rejected by the Interior Lynn Grand who adored her. Lynn Ministry. Eight of nine justices ruled in favor of the petitioners. butkeep it’s in so touch. expensive He said, to do“Just that, call so me that on didn’t WhatsApp.” make sense. At first, It took I thought about Under the Law of Return, any individual converted abroad is al- he was saying I should just call him on the phone and say, “Whats Up” HOME CONT. ON PG 10 lowed to immigrate to Israel and obtain citizenship automatically. The law does not differentiate between those converted by Orthodox rab- Passover Bags Available What’s good bis, on the one hand, and those converted by Conservative and Reform Contact the Jewish Federation at rabbis, on the other – that is, so long as the conversion was performed about today? in a “recognized Jewish community.” 860-442-8062 or [email protected] from The verdict handed down by the High Court is not relevant to such By Carin Savel, JFEC 9 AM-3 PM Monday-Friday through Wed., March 17 individuals. In fact, it affects only a very small number of people who Executive Director Last week we celebrated the fall into the following category: They have been converted by Reform to reserve your bag holiday of Purim. It is a joyous, or Conservative rabbis in Israel, but they are not citizens of Israel. and schedule your On average, the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel con- PORCH PICK-UP. there is great festivity associated vert about 300 people. The vast majority of these converts – about 90 withand often Purim, raucous there holiday.is also a While seri- percent – are eligible for citizenship under the Law of Return. Under If you have not been ous side to the holiday too. the Law of Return, it is enough for an individual to have one Jewish able to get out to shop There are four mitzvot of the grandparent to qualify for Israeli citizenship. So most of these con- for Passover or funds holiday that we are supposed verts already have citizenship. are tight, the JFEC has a to observe. They are reading Today’s verdict refers to the 10 percent among these converts who limited number of the megillah, eating and drink- are not citizens. These are temporary residents (the Reform and Con- Passover bags ready for ing a special meal, giving gifts to servative movements in Israel, as a matter of principle, do not convert pick up at the friends and neighbors (mishloach tourists), in most cases the spouses of Israelis. Not only are these par- Federation office. manot) and giving support to ticular converts not eligible for citizenship, but neither are they eli- those in need. immigrants. gible for any of the financial benefits and incentives granted to all new The bags consist of: those in need, I am overwhelmed • 1 box of Matzah withWhen a sense I think of aboutgratitude supporting for all A sixteen-year battle • 1 box Matzah Ball & Soup Mix that we have and all that we have The attempt to correct the distortion began in 2005 when the Israel • 1 jar Gefilte Fish been able to do. There is so much Religious Action Center – the advocacy arm of the Reform movement • 1 container of Macaroons generosity in our community and in the country – petitioned the High Court in the name of 11 tempo- • 1 bottle of Grape Juice I am eternally grateful to every- rary residents who had been converted by Reform and Conservative • 1 Passover Haggadah one who supports us, in every rabbis, but whose request for citizenship under the Law of Return had way, every day. been denied by the Interior Ministry. The case dragged on for many GOOD CONT. ON PG 4 ISRAEL CONT. ON PG 15 2 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 Once in a Full Moon By Carolinda Goodman, Illustrated by Mariia Luzina 38 pages, ages 3-7, Published by Little Cottage Press, Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle

Jewish Leader contributor Carol Goodman Kaufman has just pub- “I think that this book will help encourage children to look Carolinda Goodman, Once in a Full Moon tells the stories behind the up at the night sky and really see nameslished aof new the bookyear’s for full young moons. children. Richly coloredWriting illustrationsunder the pen by nameartist the moon. Children will enjoy the Mariia Luzina accompany the lively rhyming narrative. book because it teaches about - the different phases of the moon ing outside to nature for adventure,” Carol says, “and they are espe- in an easy to understand, month- “People confined to home during the pandemic have taken to look by-month way. The poetic verse The night sky offers myriad opportunities for them to learn and enjoy is soothing to read and perfect for together.cially interested In fact, inmany finding adults things have to told do with me thattheir they kids never and grandkids. knew the various full moons actually had different names.” I give the book 5 stars and Once in a Full Moon is available wherever books are sold. recommendbedtime. Wonderfully it as a perfect illustrated. gift for curious minds.” “I just bought “Once in a Full Moon” by Carolinda Goodman for my – Reviewed on Amazon by grandson. It is a wonderful children’s book identifying the monthly Lorrin Kantor

learned about the full moons, so did I! It is also beautifully illustrated. full moons and their names, in rhyme. We both loved it! He not only – Reviewed on Amazon by Barbara Kryger I will buy more copies to give as gifts. WONDERFUL!”

SERVICES TECHNOLOGY. • Daily Minyan • Shabbat Services TRADITION. • Candle Lighting for Eastern CT area Holidays Friday, Mar 5 • 5:26 pm TORAH. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Congregation Beth El is • Educational Presentations Friday, Mar 12 • 5:34 pm • JETI (Jewish, Education, Theology and Friday, Mar 19 • 6:41 pm welcoming new members. Information) talks by local speakers During this time of Covid Friday, Mar 26 • 6:49 pm • Lunch & Learn with the Rabbi our congregation is more SOCIAL EVENTS active than ever through the • Distanced Holiday Gatherings safety of Zoom and offers a • Musical Events wide variety of options for • Curbside Meal Offerings everyone. • Schmooze Before & After Zoom Events

National Award Winner of the Council of Jewish of Jewish Federations as the Outstand- ing Small Cities Jewish newspaper. Published every other Friday for the dissemination of Jewish news and views by the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, 28 Channing Street, New London, CT 06320, 860-442-8062. Managing Editor...... Mimi Perl JOIN US – WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU! Layout Editor...... Jen Gault 860.442.0418 • [email protected] • bethel-nl.org Social Editor...... Freida Katz President ...... Romana Strochlitz Primus Executive Director...... Carin Savel Mailing Volunteers...... Mimi & Milt Seed, Marlene Siegel ...... Gerald & Marilyn Rubin Energy Saving Windows & Doors! Advertising: Call Mimi Perl 860-442-8062 or [email protected]. ORDER FACTORY DIRECT! Advertising Deadline: Friday, March 12 for Macrh 19, 2021 issue. Vinyl Replacement & New Construction Windows Editorial Content: Preferred receipt of editorial material is via email to [email protected]. Photo(s) submitted via email should be separate Storm Windows & Commercial Aluminum attachment(s) from article. Preferred photo format is a .jpg format; resolution Professional Installation Available should be a minimum of 200 dpi. ~ Duralite warm edge spacer stays warmer and keeps you cozy. Material sent via fax [860-540-1475] or first class mail [28 Channing St., 860.848.9258 ~ When you’re cozy you save energy and money! New London, CT 06320] should be typed/double spaced or neatly printed. ~ Saving energy is also good for the environment. If you submit a hard copy of a photo and wish the photo returned, include a CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE ~ Stay comfortable and keep moisture out. stamped, self- addressed envelope. www.alltimemfg.com ~ Duralite glass space is the best in the Editorial Deadline: Friday, March 12 for March 19 issue. industry! Printing: The Republican, Springfield, MA Postmaster: Send address changes to Jewish Leader, 28 Channing St., New London, CT 06320 Since 1946 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 3 Stop & Shop Bloomin’ 4 Good program Senior Connections Supports the Jewish Federation during March Carly’s Schedule – Please call Carly at 860-333-8218, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM for all questions regarding spread a smile,” said Carin Savel, Senior Services. Stop & Shop Bloomin’ 4 Good Program for the month of March. It is It is still cold and there is nothing better to do than to stay home an Theeasy Jewish way for Federation shoppers ofto Easterngive back. CT Every (JFEC) $9.99 is a beneficiary Bloomin’ 4 ofGood the Bouquet with the hungerExecutive too. Director Purchase of a the Bloomin’ Jewish Federation. “Now they can fight red circle sticker 4 Good Bouquet at 155 Boston and be warm and cozy. We have some new and fun games to try out sold supports a with you; games like Drawful, Quiplash, Fibbage, Scattergories and hunger organiza- more. What are those you ask? Join us on Tuesday afternoons from tion local to the hunger.Post Road Every at the bouquet Waterford sold Stopwill 1:00pmSimply to go2:30pm to the and JFEC.com find out web with site, our scrollSenior down Connection, to the Communi“Test Your- Stop & Shop in feed& Shop 10 plus in Marchpeople toin need.” help fight tyWit” Calendar edition andon Zoom! register for the Zoom calls. Or you can type this into which it was pur- The Jewish Federation is a your search bar: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ chased. The JFEC tZYtf-GoqzgpG9FQ2OfjgeNtbPDGEayOf13T. You may register one was selected as CT. Founded in 1970, the JFEC time which enables you to join any and all calls. Upon registration you the March ben- supportsnon-profit basedhumanitarian, in New London, social will receive a link to your email for the actual Zoom call. You just click services, and education efforts the link to join the call each Tuesday at 1:00pm. Each call will begin store leadership in Eastern CT, in Israel, and in - ateficiary the byStop local & 70 countries around the world. ing time.) I hope to see you all there on Tuesday’s through March 30. Shop located at In our Eastern CT service area, Belowat 1:00pm is the and list end of datesaround and 2:00/2:30pm. games we are (We scheduled will be flexible to play. on Please end 155 Boston Post we provide direct services to se- note: All games are free. All you need to do is sign up and come niors, adults, and youth through on the call. CT. a variety of programs and activi- Tuesday, March 9: Road,The WaterfordJFEC will Scribbl.io - skribbl.io is receive a $1 do- a free multiplayer draw- nation for every Theties. JFECA lay isBoard a member of Directors agency and of ing and guessing game. $9.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet purchased at this Stop & Shop loca- Officers governs the Federation. One game consists of tion in March. “Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten a room or CT. Learn more about the Fed- a few rounds in which erationthe United by visiting Way of JFEC.com. Southeastern For every person gets to more information about the Stop choose a word they will & Shop Bloomin’ 4 Good Pro- BBYO Krispy Kreme order draw while others have gram, please visit stopandshop. to guess what it is to bloomin4good.com. deadline is March 10 gain points! The person with the most points at the end of game will then be “crowned” as the winner! By Jack Haynes Jewish Second Tuesday, March 16: Fibbage Hello All! As you know, Yachad BBYO is proudly holding our fourth – You are given a prompt, a ques- annual Krispy Kreme fundraiser! This fundraiser will let our group Gentleman tion to which you have four pos- continue to bring Jewish teens together (when we can return in-per- son) and helps us with any other expenses in the interim. pays tribute The order deadline is Wednesday, March 10 with pick-up on Justsible make answers, sure ie: it baby?is somewhat rabbit? Wednesday, March 17 from 3-5pm, at Temple Emanu-El. to Ruth Bader Ham sandwich? It is up to you! [email protected] to place everyone’s submissions are pre- orders! Make your check payable to JFEC and mail to 28 Channing St., Ginsburg sentedplausible anonymously, to rack up points. it is Whenup to We encourage you to reach out to By Lior Zaltzman, Kveller you to see if you can spot which Thank you, in advance, for all your support! In a video, made in collabora- absurd answer is the New London 06320. The memo line should read “BBYO Donuts”. truth. tion with The Conscious Kid — Tuesday, March 23: Hangman - The com- Anti-Racist Children’s Books Ed- an education nonprofit whose puter presents blanks ucation Fund donated more than for a word, phrase or 120,000 books to 3,000 elemen- sentence and everyone tary schools across the country gets a chance to guess since November — Emhoff reads letters, or the answer - itself, within a certain number of guesses. LevyI Dissent, and beautifully a picture-book illustrated biog byraphy Elizabeth of RBG Baddeley. written by Debbie Tuesday, March 30: In the book, Levy explores Kahoot - There will be a Ginsburg’s life, from her child- category like Trivia, Fun hood in Brooklyn, to her law Facts, or Holidays (as a few career, to her rise to the highest examples.) You will then be court on the land. In the book, given a question with four possible answers to choose Levy recounts Ginsburg’s his- from. It will be up to you to tory of “dissenting” and speak- guess the correct answers ing out against injustice, starting before time runs out. from the time she was a child and was faced with antisemitism, like when she saw a sign outside a ho- Remember to send in your subscription RUTH CONT. ON PG 4 4 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 Nosh & Schmooze By Marcia Reinhard, JFEC Ass’t Director On Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, Bar Halgoa (YE 2013-14 and featured in this week’s edition) and Tal Gilboa (YE 2016-17) joined together to bring our community another Cafe Israel - Shabbat Nosh & Schmooze - before Bar heads off to Germany for four months to learn, train, edu- cate his seamen and bring to Israel the new German Sa’ar 6 Corvette Ship. Tal and Bar shared many stories about Israel: Israel’s success with outside Israel’s borders that has affected their sea waters and sea life, Bar’sthe COVID-19 upcoming vaccine, trip and the all upcoming that is entailed, election, the thedifferent recent weather oil spill they just had around the country in the past week showing snow in the Golan In the Gilboa Region spring makes an appearance. - Tal Gilboa, 2016-17 Emissary one on the call enjoyed reconnecting with Bar and Tal and hearing all thatHeights, is going green on in in the Israel Gilboa these Mountains days. and Desert in the Negev. Every - many for the Israeli Navy and Tal the best of luck in her new job in Intelligence. It was a great visit. We wish Bar well as he begins his work in Ger

Mira Awad March 14 at 2pm Bar Halgoa, 2013-14 Emissary Snow in the Golan Heights -- From the Israel Desk -- By Marcia Reinhard, JFEC Ass’t Director

the renowned Israeli- Palestinian artist, who will share with us some of herWe thoughtsare happy and to welcomeviews, will you include to a zoom some meeting of her works, with Miraand will Awad, be open for questions. is a singer, songwriter, Actress, TV Content Creator, Stage Performance Coach, Artist and Artivista. Multidisciplinary creator, born in 1975 in Rameh Village in the Gal- ilee (Israel) to a Palestinian Christian father and a Bulgarian Christian Mother, currently living in Tel Aviv. Through her art, Mira is a relentless activist, dedicated to promot- ing equality and human solidarity. The event will be taking place on March 14 at 2 pm The registration link is https://jewishfederationofgreaternewha. regfox.com/mira-awad (EDT). The event is in cooperation with the Adelson Shlichut Institute at JAFI, with a thanks to Maya Morag and Ronit Kott Cohen who invited our partnership and, by extension our community to participate. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

RUTH CONT. FROM PG 3 GOOD CONT. FROM PG 1 A few examples come to mind immediately when I think about how Every Thursday, I attend a lunchtime meeting (5am EST) in As Levy told Kveller back in 2017, “I realized, the story of [Gins- efforts are just a few big examples of how we work together success- tel that read “No Dogs or Allowed.” Jerusalem, of leaders across the fully.we put generosity into action. and our COVID-19 relief and recovery globe, and the topic is always the disagreeable, and important change happens one disagreement at a The seeds were planted long ago, but the pandemic has illuminated - burg’s] life offers this inspiring lesson: Disagreeing does not make you why it is so important for us to work together for the greater good of our community. aboutsame: today “What’s and Goodevery Aboutday. To Youtime. can What watch fine his ideas reading for a below:children’s book!” It is in the examples of the little things though that really highlight day?” We are. We are what’s good AtWe the couldn’t end of agree the video, more, Emhoff and we’re thanks so glad those Emhoff who chosewatched this for book. let- the spirit of cooperation. The Food Pantry feeding the hungry. The our work in Eastern Connecticut, ting him share this story with them and urges them to keep on reading. phone calls asking for help and support. The trust to admit that we ourWhether collective we system are focusing in Israel on It’s so thrilling to have this video of Emhoff to share with our kids, can’t do it alone. The idea generation of what we can achieve together. and around the globe, or the do- as well as kids across the nation, who may be learning about Gins- Showing up and being a community, together. mestic issues we face, I am proud and grateful to be a part of a car- our weakest link and we share in our successes and failures. This is the ing and generous community, at markWe of are a changeliving with in nature the understanding and spirit. It thatinspires we are me only to keep as strong pushing as legendburg’s lifein order story to for honor the firstdiversity time. and We justice love that for all. this history-making Purim, and all year long. Jewish figure is using his voice to share the story of another Jewish forward, together. THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 5 How could these men, so intent on fomenting destruction, ever imagine By screamed from the back seat as they were in the right? And why had they singled out Jacob and Ben to he aimed“Why youat Jacob’s little head. turds,” “You’re Zeek die? Why would White Supremacists try to pin a bombing on two Jewish dead.” kids from Brooklyn? Artie Images of his family rose in his mind. He pictured his father, al- the shot that would end Jacob’s ways afraid for his safety, his mother telling him to be prepared for life,But, Ben as swiveled Zeek was in abouthis seat to andfire the worst. He’d been careful, the cautious one. Yet here he was in a van Dean lunged for Zeek’s gun. loaded with explosives, because of one bad decision. The gun’s explosion singed In Solomon Schechter School Jacob used to believe the stories the Ben’s hair, and made his ears teachers told of miracles: Moses leading the Jews through the Red Sea, Moishe Rappinsky Part 8 ring. But, when Zeek’s gun dis- The Conclusion charged, the bullet missed both If only Ben weren’t lying unconscious on the boys, the errant slug grazing the floorAbraham of the speaking van He’d to know God what from to a do.burning bush, Noah and the flood. From last issue: driver’s cheek before lodging in WhereThe wasscream Jacob’s of sirens miracle? grew louder, punctuated now by the roar of a “You’ve got to help him!” Ben was screaming now, wailing to the the ceiling. - heavens with his hands extended in supplication, as if he too were “Sorry boss,” Zeek snarled losing control. Even the leader was distracted with the cacophony of and slammed the butt of his gun driver’svehicle without seat, his a eyes muffler wild, and Moishe a frantic in the beeping. passenger In the seat rear pounding view mir the down on the top of Ben’s head. He ror Jacob saw the Rappinsky’s jeep, headlights flashing, Paulo in the steadily closed the distance from behind. aimed again. They were almost at the mansion’s front steps now. “Get ready to chaos—Jacob flailing, Ben screaming to the Almighty, as Paulo’s jeep “Pow, pow, pow!” Naomi’s ditch,”dash with the hisleader fists. was saying to Zeek. Jacob squeezed his eyes shut and alongside. Naomi opened her window and raised her gun. shots bounced off the driver waited for impact. “JacobWhen thescreamed van paused and thrust at a police his torso barricade, backward Paulo’s in a jeep simulated pulled side’s bulletproof window leav- convulsion, the back of his head smashing into Zeek’s forehead as he ing tiny cracks, but failing to pen- spikes activated remotely by the security team in the basement of Gra- leaned over from the back seat. A shot rang out. Blood spattered the etrate. cie ButMansion. then The in a van flash bucked the van’s forward, front turned tires on exploded, its side, skeweredand skidded in front windshield. “Crazy witch,” the gang leader to a stop, smoke pouring from the engine. Sarah covered her face with her hands. Naomi nearly dropped her was screaming from the driver’s A window opened. The driver wriggled out, he glanced back at the gun straining to see. - jeep, just now braking to a halt. The mansion doors opened. Plain- “Oh my God, my God, Paulo screamed. “Ben! Ben!” ger and slammed the accelerator clothes police ran out. The leader limped to the back of the van and “Jacob, my boy. Jacob!” yelled Moishe as he jumped from the jeep. seat as he raised his middle fin pointed his gun at the cargo doors, intent on setting the charge off with grabbed traction, the van lurch- a shot—likely leveling the block with the explosion. The Gracie Man- And now the conclusion: ingto the forward, floor. The smashing tires spun, through then sion police lowered their guns. the police barricade. Moishe the bloody pulp where his left hand should be, his own blood splat- scampered back into the jeep “For God’s sake noooooh!” a woman was screaming. tered“Damn, across damn, the windshield. damn, damn!” Zeek was yelling, staring in horror at amidst the receding roar of the Then“Easy anow,” gunshot someone rang out.was The saying, leader “Don’t staggered, do something cursing stupid.” as he fell. “Finish them now,” the leader was saying as Paulo’s van pulled van’s engine. As he followed the In seconds, the Rappinsky family, surrounded the van. First Paulo glare of the tail lights the stench removed Ben, stunned but conscious now. Then Moishe pulled out Ja- Moishe ran towards the van, waving his arms wildly. “Stop, stop!” he cob. beganalongside. yelling The as diminutive he pounded Naomi on the raised door herof the pistol van. to fire. A wild eyed Will I ever see Jacob again? Jacob lay slumped over in the front seat of the van, dazed by the of burnt rubber filled his senses. embrace. reverse head butt he’d delivered to Zeek’s forehead. have to catch them!” as the van “You“Dad savedis it really me.” you?” Jacob said and buried his head in his father’s acceleratedNaomi yelled towards at Gracie Paulo. Man “We- “Hardly.” sion. And now Naomi was hugging them both. Police were everywhere, After a year's *** the area while they waited for the bomb squad. sabbatical due to the pulling“Your a mother’sblood soaked quite Zeek a shot,” from Moishe the wreckage, said, his firemeneyes glistening. hosing down Pandemic, Jacob opened his eyes and sat up. Ben was slumped uncon- DR. ARTHUR DEAN scious beside him. The driver Jacob nodded. “Mom, can I ask you something?” “What son? Anything” announces the gritted his teeth and steered to- wards Gracie Mansion while the “Can we go home now?” reopening of his Mayor of New York was celebrat- The End Periodontal Office ing his birthday with friends in- side. Zeek tried to stem the blood at spurting from his wound while 489 Route 184, Ste 201 the driver sped towards the front door with enough explosives in ZOHAR FOR SALE Groton, CT the back of the van to level most with a focus on all aspects of of the building. Sirens wailed. FOR SALE: Brand New complete 23-volume set Police cars diverted, joining the of THE ZOHAR is available for $300. This bilingual Gum Disease, Dental Implants, and TMJ Disorders chase. (Hebrew-English) version is supplemented with As the van picked up speed For appointments call extensive commentary. Not only is it 12% less 860-449-1643 his knuckles white on the steer- expensive than buying it online, but ingthe driver’swheel. The face evening’s filled with events rage, $150 of the proceeds will go to JFEC - to help meet the Federation Food Pantry's expanded demand. in a cascade of unintended conse- If interested, please contact quences.flashed in Jacob’s mind—images

How had the simple decision to [email protected]. go to a protest in midtown with his Pickup at the Federation can be arranged. “Striving for Excellence in A Relaxed, cousin spiraled so out of control. Supportive Environment” Why had he been caught up in the Thank you. hatred, the anger, the violence? 6 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 Another of the countries is Realtor Corner UAE’s first ambassador Bahrain, which in the late 2000s name a Jewish ambassador, Hou- to Israel takes his post was the first Arab country to The Future? By Ron Kampeas, JTA congratulated Al Khaja on Twit- Tweeting in English, and Hebrew, the United Arab Emirates’ ter.da Nonoo, to Washington. Nonoo By Geoff Hausmann As a young boy, I owned one of those Mohamed Al Khaja posted photos with 8-sided cube balls that you could ask ques- captionsfirst ambassador in the three to Israel languages celebrated on his his social first day on the job. media feeds on Monday, March 1, 2021. “I look forward to representing my be- tions of. I could ask, do I like chocolate? Most definitely would be the would be what I get. loved country and working to strengthen response. Will I be a rich man when I am older? Unable to answer If I were asked those same questions today, I would end up with cooperation and relations between our two countries,” Al Khaja said in a typical entry, listening to The National Association of Realtors Economist discussing which was accompanied by a photo of him the same results. How does this refer to real estate? Well, I have been current real estate market in New London County and what the future presenting his credentials to Reuven Rivlin, is going to bring. This is the best thing one can do for a crystal ball. the Israeli president. They say to understand the future, one must know the past and the He also posted photos of meetings with current situation. New London County consists of 17 different towns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu In August 2019, there were 1,565 properties available for sale. Today, - February 25, 2021, there are only 259 properties available for sale. I cials. watch the daily hot sheet that shows that yesterday had 25 new list- and with senior Israeli foreign affairs offi ings and 29 went under contract. I have had people who have pur- four Sunni Arab countries that reached nor- Mohamed Al Khaja, right, presents his credentials as the chased two or more years ago sell their home to take advantage of this malizationAl Khaja agreements is the first ambassador last year with from Israel the UAE ambassador to Israel to President Reuven Rivlin, market. Side note, there are tax consequences if you sell with under two years of ownership. March 1, 2021. (Twitter) The current market is insane with lack of inventory. I have been brokered by former President Donald Trump. listing properties only to get multiple offers and they are all selling for more than asking price. I do ask my clients to allow me to list the property at a fair market value and let the bidding war begin. I do have clients that try to overprice the market only to watch the buyers pur- chase different properties. Advice that I was given as a young man is that it never pays to be greedy. The 4th Annual Henny Simon Remembrance To help you understand how crazy the current market is, I wanted to tell you about the life of a buyer. Forget about trying to get a bargain, it is how much over the asking price do you need to offer. One of my Seeking Refuge: & Beyond Journeys from Peril to Freedom property, you will be part of a parade of people going into the property. clients offered $50,000 over asking only to be denied. When showing a listed, only to receive four offers and all over asking price. Special Guest: Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law One of my new listings had 11 showings in the first seven hours it was Professor Emeritus, whose family sought refuge of 2022 is expected to continue to be a very strong seller’s market. in Shanghai during the Holocaust EventuallySo, what foreclosures can we expect will overenter the the next market two again years? but 2021 are expected and part to be overpriced and not to affect the market at all due to the lack of inventory. Investors are willing to pay more for properties. After 2022, - pected to decrease at all. In 2008, the market had a big straightening outthe marketand many will homeowners eventually flatten experienced out, but a propertybig drop invalues home are values. not ex In the end, they are starting to invest again into New London County real estate.

Please remember you can search for homes at www.CallThe- HouseMan.com. Do you have a question about real estate? Advice/responses will be made by: Geoff Hausmann, RE/MAX on Shanghai the Bay, 860-443-4400, [email protected] Featuring Helen Elperina, noted teacher whose AUTO | HOME | COMMERCIAL | MARINE family sought refuge from Nazism and the Soviet Union Henny Simon L E V I N E Zoom presentation

INSURANCE GROUP, LLC Sunday, April 11th at 2:00 PM ANDREW J. LEVINE Watch your Hadassah email for zoom link Owner, Producer, 40+ Years Experience or contact president Karen Bloustine at [email protected] 221 Boston Post Rd. 860-739-4444 Office P.O. Box 339 860-739-6861 Fax The Rose and Sigmund Strochlitz Holocaust Resource Center of The Jewish Federation of Eastern CT East Lyme, CT 06333 [email protected] is a sponsor and supporter THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 7 Hadassah News Our Stories: Seeking Refuge: President’s Message Seeking Refuge The Story of the Compiled by Sheila Horvitz by Karen Bloustine In connection with Hadassah’s 4th Annual Hen- Shanghai Jews ny Simon Remembrance event on April 11 at 2 pm By Sheila Horvitz Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood - SEEKING REFUGE: Shanghai & Beyond - Journeys from Peril to Freedom, we are sharing our own when Jews were persecuted in Europe, and most and Hadassah will hold of theDuring world the had darkest closed periodits doors in to human immigration, history, joint Book Club us their stories as this series continues into future : editionsfamilies’ ofstories The Leader. of refuge. We hope others will send That was the refuge sought and won by Henny Si- From Carol Curland - On the Oppenheimer, mon’sShanghai father, opened Ludwig its doorsRosenbaum. to Jews In fleeing 1940, afterNazism. re- The Last Curland, Horwitz Families lease from 2 years in a Nazi prison, he was able to Kings of Shanghai Kurt Oppenheimer: 1897 to 1976 “He who secure passage to Shanghai where he lived for ten years before reuniting with Henny in Colchester. Wed, April 7 at 7 PM After the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the city was occupied by the army of Imperial and the A marvelous coincidence came to port began to allow entry without visa or passport. light when I called Cecile Feldman. Ce- Kristallnacht, November 9, 1938, was a turning cile organizes the Temple Emanu-El point when Jews realized their very lives were in Sisterhood Book Club, and we were peril. Many Jews, including Henny and her mother, planning to schedule a joint book club went from consulate to consulate, desperately try- event. At the same time, our chapter is preparing our 4th Annual Henny Simon Remembrance program with the title: outing tovisas, obtain combined visas to withescape. the With welcoming the help open of some city Seeking Refuge: Shanghai and Beyond. ofconsulate Shanghai, officials over 20,000 who disobeyed Jews were orders saved andfrom gave the Shanghai to escape the Holocaust in 1940 and our special guest, Pro- Holocaust. fessor Laurence Tribe was born in ShanghaiHenny in Simon’s1941. So father when fledCecile to Two brave men, now recognized as “The Righ- told me she had chosen a book about the Shanghai Jews, it was a won- teous Among the Nations” at Yad Vashem, saved derful coincidence and a chance to have a great lead-in to our April - 11 program. The book is The Last Kings of Shanghai: the Rival Jewish Coming to America; a view of the Statue of Liberty pan’s Lithuanian consulate, recognized the growing thousands of Jews. Chiune Sugihara, an officer in Ja Dynasties that Helped Create Modern , by Jonathan Kaufman. from an incoming ship carrying soon to be “new” Kaufman is a journalist who spent time in Shanghai years ago and Americans. recently. His book sweeps through the 19th and 20th centuries, tell- ing the story of two families of the Jewish diaspora from who heals one person is one who has sustained the en- settle in Shanghai. The Sassoons and the Kadoorie families amass as- tire world” (Midrash ) tounding wealth through trade. Eva and Kurt Oppenheimer, a Jewish couple, lived Kaufman allows us to glimpse in Kajnigsberg, Germany with their two children, the tumultuous transitions over Hanni, born April 14, 1926, and Susie, born October centuries of dynastic empires in 1, 1929. Kurt Oppenheimer was a practicing phy- sician and Eva was a phlebotomist practicing in a People’s Republic. laboratory. Kurt had fought and defended Germany ChinaKaufman that finally paints lead a todifferent today’s view of east meets west. In edu- cation, a good teacher often goes Germanyin World wasWar notI. He safe was for well Jews respected and they anddecided highly to from the familiar to the unfamiliar. tryregarded. and leave When the Hitler country came with to theirpower, 2 girls,they realizedaged 13 Many of us know little about the and 10. They escaped Germany in January 1939. Be- history of China. He describes the cause the US and so many other nations were closed behavior of these tycoons and lets to immigration, they were able to seek refuge in Ha- Seward Rd. in the in 1943 the reader make moral judgments vana, Cuba. They lived in Havana for close to a year. danger Jews faced and began issuing exit visas. Ev- the Chinese, the Kadoories and to Norwich because they were sponsored by a rela- ery day and night, he and his wife signed hundreds Sassoonsabout their exhibit conduct. little Dealing generosity with tiveIn December from Norwich, 1939, Johnthey Myers.arrived in the US and came of papers. Ho Feng Shan, a diplomat in China’s Vien- or even curiosity. Their chance at Upon their arrival, the community lit up with joy and honor for them. They remained in Norwich where Kurt began practicing medicine and was on na consulate defiedSHANGHAI a superior’s ordersCONT. andON issuedPG 13 refugeesredemption from comes the Holocaust during World but Shanghai embraces them in large numbers.War II when The theSassoons U.S. turns and awaythe Kadoories participate in welcoming Hospital. The two girls attended 18,000 Jews. Horace Kadoorie, perhaps the most empathetic member Norwichthe staff Free at the Academy, William married, Backus Hadassah Eastern CT of these clans, sets up a school for the children. and settled with their families in We’d love to hear from you. I found the book easy to read and got involved with the characters. Norwich. These two girls from Please feel free to call or write. It would be great if you can join us for what should be a lively discus- Kajnigsberg, Germany are the late sion and great preparation for the issues we will be raising at our April Hanni Oppenheimer Curland and ● President: Karen Bloustine [email protected] 11 Zoom event: . If you are interested in getting the Susie Oppenheimer Horwitz. 860-326-6377 Shanghai & Beyond ● Membership: Moira Ross [email protected] book from the library, go online early because it is relatively new, and Karla Bendor: My maternal ● Donations: Treas. Vicki Seroussi 2 Mitchell Ct you may need to set up an interlibrary loan. grandmother lived in a tiny shetel, Norwich, CT 06360 Join us on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 pm. Contact Karen Bloustine Kalnel, in Lithuania with extended ● Cards/Certificates: Kim Fischburg [email protected] 860-608-9223 ([email protected]) for any questions and the Zoom link. family. The family has been traced Follow us on Facebook STORIES CONT. ON PG 13 8 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 Facing challenges and working hard By Bar Halgoa, 2013-14 Young Emissary took part. The summer of 2014 wasn’t a happy one. It Where are they now? took about a month before I settled back in at home after returning from the year. I joined the Israeli Navy

course of the Naval Academy. It started with very in- I honestly think that the year I spent in the U.S. tensein October basic 2014training and at went a remote straight naval to thebase Naval in the Officers south- and the challenges and experiences I had, really made

situations during my job in the navy – after all, being trainingern city ofoverall Eilat. wasWe startedtwo years with and 90 cadetsfour months and quite after a awayme who from I am home today for aand long helped time isme something overcome these difficult two few didn’t continue the course after the first stage. The things have in common! from Haifa University. There were 28 of us who made it throughwhich we the received grueling our training first degree and graduated in Political the Science Naval the Israeli Navy is currently running – bringing four Academy together in March 2017. brandDuring new mymissile service ships I appliedfrom Germany for a historic to Israel. project I got Right after graduation, May and I chose to come back to Eastern CT and visit. It was an incredible experience scheduled to arrive in Haifa port in June of this year. seeing you all again and catching up – face to face! accepted to be the Weapons Officer of the second ship, Following graduation, I was assigned to a ship to systems, how to operate it, and then safely sail it, with - ourI’m flyingcrew fromto Germany Germany soon through to study the Atlanticthe new Ocean ship, itsto uated the Naval Academy. It’s usually a job you do for a Israel. I am thrilled to take part in such a meaningful serve as a Bridge Officer – a job for those who just grad- May 2014 at Six Flags. l-r: With host family Armi, Jona- ment in which you will serve for two years. than, Amanda, and Nathaniel Rowe, Hunter Rock, and mission. year, no more, and after that you get your final assign time for the Israeli Navy and IDF and such a historical Bar Halgoa in the rear. The pandemic really affected the navy ships and the a very long time on the ships - sometimes out at sea forseamen long assails, you without can imagine. being ableWe wereto contact quarantined family and for friends. Thankfully, all of this is a little better now since bringDear back community! some old It’smemories. been way For too those long ofsince you we’ve who Israel is basically leading the world in vaccinations. don’tseen eachremember other, or so choose writing not this to articlebelieve will- it’s definitely been al- most seven years since May Abudraham and I left the of 2022. I do not know what my future plans are yet - if community. So much has happened since then and I’m I shouldI am scheduled stay in the to military finish my or servicenot – that’s in the something beginning I very excited to tell you all about my life since I came need to decide soon. You’re welcome to contact me and back to Israel after the incredible year I had in our com- share your thoughts. (My contact info is below.) munity. I hope you are all doing well, staying healthy and safe during these weird and crazy times. Hopefully, program I was thrilled! I honestly remember how ex- soon, this will all be over, and I can come back and visit, citedWhen I felt I since got the it was answer something that I wasI’d always accepted dreamed into the of and you can come to Israel! doing. I didn’t really know what it meant back then, that From l-r: With host family Tess, Matt, John and Becca FACING CONT. ON PG 10 I was going to be in Eastern CT. Little did I know I was Teeter with Bar Halgoa. Not pictured is Molly Teeter. going to meet my second family overseas.

you guys on one page, and I think I’m supposed to write A year after graduation I was aboutI could what never I’ve been fit experiences doing since ofI came a whole back year to Israel. with I just want you to know that I still think and remember each and every one of you with whom I worked, lived, Navyassigned missile to my ships. main Iand came final back job laughed, and shared experiences. All the programs we toas athe Weapons Naval Academy Officer on for the another Israeli

later became Café Israel), holidays, Israel Independence did together (and started – like Café Dilemma which donesix months with all of my final training. training I served and Of course, my incredible host families, The Teeters tests and after that – I was finally andDay andThe soRowes, much whomore… made a huge impact on my life on three different missile ships and did something not everyone would have done – oftwo the years Israeli as navy. a Weapons My job Officeron the you brought me into your home and family and made ships included being responsible me feel like I belonged. It means a lot to me – I’ll always for and operation of the guns, mis- cherish the moments we had together. siles, and deck work. I had about - 12 soldiers and one to two young day – It taught me a lot about myself, how to work hard - andThis deal year with definitely challenges plays along a thebig way.part Itof wouldn’t who I am have to joyed the job very much and got to been the same without each and every one of you. takeofficers part under in some my amazingcommand. experi I en- ences, such as a joint sail with the of August 2014. Operation Protective Edge was still go- Center kneeling -- Emissaries Bar Halgoa and May Abudraham on the last ing I onfinished in the the Gaza year Strip, and incame which back some to Israel of my at thefriends end Mediterranean Sea. US Navy’s 6th fleet, based in the day of religious school at Congregation Ahavath Achim in Colchester on May 18, 2014. THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 9 Memories of you and everything since By May Abudraham, 2013-14 Young Emissary

cold, I will never forget how we went on in a couple of different units (one of which was recently cleared for publication that is called Eight-One (8-1) in “I don’t get seasick” - I got seasick. the Intelligence Force. Some of my responsibilities in- a fishing trip, and after saying proudly, and brought anti-nausea medicine so holding job interviews for new soldiers - looking for a weThank could God keep Jenn laughing figured itat might it all through happen cluded supporting soldiers who had financial problems, being responsible for our reserve soldiers and more. catch anything, but honestly, I didn’t re- possible match (not everyone fits a specific position), allythe try fishing - we were trip. too By busy the way,laughing I didn’t and on. I met my boyfriend Michael, as we served together in having fun. theDuring same unit, these and five we years moved I had in many together other to things a house going in So, what have I been up to since the city of Givatayim, right next to Tel Aviv! - I visited the community twice; in 2017 accompanied terday. Moreover, I very often still think by my amazing partner Bar Halgoa, and, the second time, about2014? the It feelsyear likeI spent 2014 in wasEastern just Con yes- in 2018, when I had the role of chaperone for Emissaries necticut with all of you and have many conversations about it with my friends. I also got to meet with some of you when you visited Yet, a lot has happened over these past Israelin Training – and at we the had JCC amazing summer experiences camp in Worchester, together - MA. like seven years. the unforgettable wine tasting in Zikhron Ya’akov and l-r: Emissary May Abudraham with host family siblings Marnie and I’d like to take you on a journey in a kayaking on the Jordan River. Or the time Jillian Kallan, Hunter Rock at the Big E in the fall of 2013. virtual time machine back to the sum- - mer of 2014 - the end of my transfor- ranean – right off Tel Aviv beach, and none of us could mative year in the community. My parents came to the US keepRebecca ourselves Reinhard on and the I boardwent sap for surfingmore than in the three Mediter sec- Looking back to my year in the community I can say and together we traveled through Los Angeles, San Fran- onds. It was hilarious! I cannot wait until it is safe to with full sincerity that it has shaped a lot of who I am cisco, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Las travel again so you guys can come back and visit us in Vegas, and New York. Afterwards, we returned together to Israel! Bar and I were on our way to work at SSA (Solomon the community so that my parents could meet my Ameri- In the last six months I was released from the army, Schechtertoday. I will Academy), never forget we accidentallythe first day wentwhen on my I- partner 395 in- can parents and siblings and have a little taste of what my admittedly with a heavy heart, because I really loved the stead of I-95. You see, in Israel, letters have - nothing to do with road markings - so we ized it was not the career I wanted forIDF, life.and Thankfully,being part ofI gotit, yet into I real the called our coordinator, Marcia, and when program that I wanted in Tel-Aviv shemistakenly told us thought we were they in were Norwich the same. instead We University, studying Speech Ther- of New London, I just couldn’t stop laugh- apy, which is a 3.5-year program. So, I’m going to be a student for a 2013, and we still laugh about it together while. toing. this Yup, day. that was our very first day back in As I said in the beginning, my Leaving my home back in Afula for such year with all of you has stayed with me through these past seven years challenging, but also very maturing. I got to and I know it will stay with me for bea long the timeolder for sister the I’vefirst never time wasbeen definitely before, I the rest of my life. Nothing would got to be on both the learning and teaching make me happier than to hear sides, and I got to experience how things May and Bar playing in the leaves with the kids at Solomon Schechter Academy, Sept from any of you who might like to that felt very obvious to the American na- 2013. be in touch. You can reach me via tive eye, were very new and unfamiliar to time was like in the community. email at [email protected] or via Facebook at me - like how going into a Jewish school actually means Shortly after we got back to Israel, I enlisted into the May Abudraham. you have to go to a private school and pay a lot of money. army. I had four months of training to be a Researcher in Next year in Jerusalem, or in Afula or somewhere in In Israel, the schools are free, teaching Torah and Jewish the Intelligence Force. It did not take me too long to real- Israel. I hope. Up to you, but I can’t wait! studies along with Math, Science, History and Language. The difference being that Israel is a Jewish state. I never a transfer into a position in really thought about how different that would be in the Humanize that theResources job wasn’t that a goodwas, fit for me. So, I requested U.S. or how it would play out in the school system. I was thankfully, approved. After surprised that for Jewish children to get that kind of the transfer I fell in love with in-depth Jewish education, you have to pay for private my job and with the army in school and that you have to pay for religious education general. That switch lifted my if you don’t go to a private day school. I also came to spirits and led me right into the shocking realization that things that looked obvi- - ous to me – like having chocolate milk in a bag – were - completely unfamiliar and strange to the American eye. ing.the I Officers had to go Course. through The many Of These experiences, and so many more, stay with me to testsficers’ and Course exams, was including challeng this day. Israel History exams, Physical I was hosted by the most wonderful family – The exams, Navigation exams and Rocks of East Lyme – Jennifer, Chris, Hunter, and Marnie and not a day goes by that I don’t miss them. They were my amazing host family and, as long as I live, they will (untilWeapon October Operation 2020) exams. I served be family to me. I will forever be grateful for all the best For the following five years May (l) meets JFEC Mission during the Summer of 2015. memories, like winter break in Florida – away from the as a Human Resource Officer 10 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5,

HOME CONT. FROM PG 1 FACING CONT. FROM PG 8 and I often spoke about what a special young I’ll be more than happy to catch up on Facebook. Just search: Bar lady she was. In March of 2013, the AYO and Halgoa. You can also reach me via email at [email protected]. Singers returned for a third time and May and I’ll try to be as available as I can while I’m in Germany in the coming a few of her friends stayed with my family months. Stay in touch! Miss you all! and got to know each other. I was as excited asand she me. was We to really learn enjoyed she was our going time to together be one of our emissaries. She was warm, personable, - ting her! andThen full oflater energy. that Wemonth, were whenlucky itto becamebe get

Young Emissaries, I began communicating withofficial May’s and partner, I had bothBar Halgoa, names also of our through new get a commission from the company since I WhatsApp. (To this day, my son says I should promote it so much.) Bar and I began having February 2014 - Bar Halgoa building a snowman with Amanda and Nathaniel Rowe. phonevery lengthy call. Bar conversations had some catching over WhatsApp, up to do Gilboa, YE 2016-17, as May was sincefirst May through and I texting,already knew then each an occasionalother. And catch up he did! - Fast forward to August 2013, when May and Bar arrived at Camp busyThere with were final examstwo other and projac- I met them there and the rest, as they say, is history. After the four days tivitiesects. We that had May a nice and turnout. Bar created Laurelwood. As usual, Jerry Fischer, then JFEC Executive Director, and which were transformative for bookkeeperat the camp weat that were time finally Jeannine headed Martino, to the community. say hi to Jerry, We andstopped then atit short-term effect but a big impact wasthe Federation onto their officehost families. so they couldMay was meet moving office managerin with The Mimi Rocks Perl and andour that community. was their The Living first Bridge had a Bar with The Teeters. Project. They created a Flash Mob They both seemed to make this place, our little corner of the world, video with students from Solo- their home quickly. Once we got all the administrative work taken care mon Schechter Academy, Jewish Community High School, the Bnai Bar (l) and May (r) with Rabbi Ken Alter preparing to meet with kids Schechter. They were excited! You’ll get a good chuckle from May’s ar- Hamoshavim Youth Group from from Ahavath Achim religious on the last day of school in May 2014. of, (driving lessons, bank accounts) it was time for their first day at Bar’s Kibbutz, Hasoleilim, and Time marched on and May and Bar wove themselves seamlessly the Ze’irey Afula Conservatory intoticle theas to fabric what ofhappened our community. that first They day. went to every event and like singing group. Treat yourself and most emissaries before them, seemed to work around the clock. Their go to YouTube, type in “May & enthusiasm and energetic personalities were contagious. They were a Bar’s Living Bridge Project” and dynamic duo, going everywhere, meeting everyone. have fun! (Make sure you scroll Things didn’t always go so smoothly, however. Bar was a morning down a bit.) person and May was a night owl. There were a few moments of con- The last event they created - which had a long-term effect and tioned in previous articles, one of the biggest challenges for these very a huge impact was the “Torch talentedtention but, and over motivated time, they teens, figured is learning it out andhow made to work it work. with Asa partner I men Lighting” at Yom Ha’Atzmaut. You they’d only met a few months prior and who, usually, is very different may recall from the last edition’s from themselves. That is done on purpose. It is what makes the teams articles, that Hadar and Paz were work so well, in most cases. Their strengths and weaknesses comple- - ment each other. Try explaining that to two 18-year-olds. May and Bar ate the entire Yom Ha’Atzmaut became close friends and still are today. the first Young Emissaries to cre In their year with us, among their many accomplishments was They did an amazing job, and coming up with a new and very engaging program that would replace wecelebration had a stupendous from start toturnout! finish. Hebrew Café. Hebrew Café took place in numerous locations through May and Bar took that event and the years. Because we were in the 13th year of the program, it was hard added the Torch Lighting which to draw a large group or to build excitement about it, no matter where we continued to do all the way we were. Right before we went on winter break, May and Bar asked through 2019 and would have if we could please come up with something new - change it up. I told continued in 2020, if not for the Bar Halgoa on a hike in the Golan Heights in February 2021. them we could, if they could come up with something that would really pandemic. draw a crowd. May, Bar, and I had lots of - laughs together. But more im- Custom Tub & Shower portantly, they brought laughter Enclosures Within in a day or two, they presented their idea for “Café Dilem Ruby Glass and ruach to our community, all CO., INC • Design & Installation ma/Dinner & Discussion,” which we now call “Café Israel.” The plan a couple of kashrut issues. The following year, when Ron and Noa ar- while bringing a little piece of Is- • All-Glass Enclosures rivedwas a (whogood youone andwill wehear had from great in successthe next in edition) that first the year one except thing wefor rael to everything they did. SERVING SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT FOR OVER 60 YEARS changed was the emissaries would NOT be doing the cooking. Each pair of emissaries brings Expert Mirror Design & The would provide the food and the emissaries would something special. Often, many FULLSERVICE GLASS SPECIALISTS Installation lead the discussion. This formula worked quite well. things that are new. No two em- • Visit Our Showroom You may remember back in November of 2020, May and Bar led a issaries are alike. And yet, they Café Israel discussion, giving us an adult virtual emissary program. It all have one thing in common. 151 Jefferson Avenue • New London, CT 06320 was very informative, engaging and a great way to reconnect. As re- They all bring a little magic to Phone (860) 442-0373 • Fax (860) 442-1356 cently as this past Saturday, Bar led another Café Israel joined by Tal our community each year. THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 11 Israelis rally to clean tar spill and avert future crises

By Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c effort with the cooperation and tection to scan the coast with a special sensor to identify oil still in - approval of the Ministry of En- the water. vironmental Protection,” says Rosenblum, however, says the success rate of capturing oil at sea Why did 1,200 tons of sticky tar begin washing up on Israel’s Medi not yet clear. Rosenblum. is only 10 to 15 percent. Had there not been a storm on February 17, terranean beaches on the stormy day of February 17? The answer is Experts say that no matter what caused Is- he adds, the best tactic may have been to rael’s worst environmental disaster, it should direct the spill to sandy beaches so that have been contained as much as possible be- the tar wouldn’t have hit rocky terrain fore contaminating 160 kilometers (nearly and other hard-to-clean areas. 100 miles) of Israel’s 190-kilometer seashore. They agree that Israel must formulate better Mobilizing for the future ways of preventing, detecting, and clearing oil Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the spills. Negev has launched an initiative aimed But amidst the criticism runs a strong at accelerating research to better handle thread of admiration for Israeli citizens. oil spills. People from environmental groups, corpo- The new Beach Pollution Research rations and youth movements rushed to join Taskforce was formed by chemistry Prof. soldiers and a government-funded corps of Raz Jelinek, the university’s vice presi- formerly unemployed Israelis in removing tar and rescuing injured wildlife on beaches from Rosh Hanikra to Ashkelon. dent of R&D. - “The volunteerism in Israel has been sity“We researchers wanted towho develop can offer a very solutions quick amazing. Over 11,000 people came within a forprogram this disaster,” of financial Jelinek support tells ISRAEL21c. for univer week,” says Maya Jacobs, CEO of Zalul, an en- The focus is on technologies for fast vironmental organization devoted to protect- Photo of volunteers cleaning tar from Ga ’ash Beach by Dafna Ben Nun Photography uptake of tar from water and beach, ing Israel’s seas and streams. monitoring systems for offshore natural- Iris Hann, CEO of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel He explains that the ministry gas wells, and early-warning systems for future oil spills. (SPNI), echoed that sentiment. “The key is fast action and there are a lot of capabilities at BGU that “Seeing the thousands of volunteers was so amazing. I was at the behind its back because it does Kiryat Yam beach on Saturday and at Achziv on Monday, and it was is “fighting with one hand tied individual researchers with similar methodologies so the whole is big- so heartwarming to see people coming with gloves and nylon bags to authority to fully take control of gercan thanbe exploited the sum for of itsaddressing parts,” Jelinek this disaster. says. We may be able to match gather tar from the sand. It gave me so much hope because even if the thisnot havetier 2Bthe national funding, oil staffing spill cri or- “In many cases, in academia there are excellent solutions out there, government doesn’t do enough, the public is very committed.” sis, one level below the Gulf of but people don’t know they exist. And when a disaster happens you Yorai Lahav Hertzanu, the youngest member of the Knesset, spent Mexico spill.” realize there’s a lot of interesting things going on that just need to see the last two weekends cleaning tar from Shavei Zion beach near Naha- the light of day and that’s what we want to do.” riya and Apollonia Beach near Herzliya, along with other volunteers Oil-eating bacteria Indeed, says Ariel University’s Levine, “There is potential for in- organized by the Yesh Atid political party. Levine applauds Israel’s deci- novation in detecting situations that lead to these kinds of disasters.” sion not to use chemical disper- - tractors took them away,” Hertzanu tells ISRAEL21c, adding that the sants, which were used in the rael can and should do is a robust regulation effort around this to regu- “We got gloves and masks and put piles of tar into nylon bags, and government needs better environmental policies to avert future disas- Gulf of Mexico disaster before it larly“The monitor answer air toquality everything and soil is onmore the detection,” beaches.” she says. “What Is ters. was known how harmful they’d Rosenblum says EcoOcean is collecting data from universities and “I cannot describe the amounts of tar,” he says. “I saw two sea tur- be. research centers to send to the Environmental Protection Ministry. tles covered in tar and we gave them to someone from INPA [the Israel “The best answer to the prob- Nature and Parks Authority].” lem is not to do anything chemi- agencies and business community to think what we could do better. cally,” she says. “And we hope to convene a conference of nonprofits, government Are cleanup volunteers safe? “There are cool bacteria Chemical Sciences Prof. Mindy Levine of Ariel University says she whose job is to eat oil. They get IncreasedWe must utilize awareness the brainpower of this country.” applauds the grassroots mobilization but is concerned for volunteers’ recruited by the ecosystem and This week, Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel an- exposure to the toxic black tar. they work pretty quickly in a way nounced the allocation of ₪45 million ($13.7 million) to assist cleanup “It releases small molecules of toxins in the air every minute and that does not disturb the ecosys- and wildlife rescue efforts; to transport and treat the waste tar; to they’re breathing that in — less so with masks but still a fair amount,” tem.” survey and document the scope of the damage; to evaluate innovative says Levine, who was part of the Gulf of Mexico Research Alliance that materials to repair the coastal and maritime environment including Levine and other experts say their biodiversity; and to improve treatment and response in similar Israel also could have mitigated future events. studied the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. or degraded by the atmosphere or sunk deep into the sand where we the disaster by skimming as An early-warning system is crucial in avoiding future events, ex- “Within a few weeks, most of the tar will be physically removed won’t see it anymore,” she tells ISRAEL21c. much oil as possible from the wa- perts agree. “But when the visible cleanup efforts are done, tar sunk into the ter before it reached the shore in soil will keep slowly releasing toxins. So people will need to be careful the form of sticky tar. for a long time about going to the beach,” she warns. She shows children in her sci- “The bottom line is to use common sense. If you can smell the tar, ence camps how to do this on a you’re still breathing it in.” small scale. For now, volunteers are needed because local authorities bear re- “I give them a cotton ball that sponsibility for environmental cleanups on their shores. They depend they put in a nylon stocking and that’s shockingly good at absorb- 136 Sachem Street The EcoOcean NGO led the logistic feat of handing the 11,000 vol- ing oil from water. You can do this Norwich CT 06360 on nonprofit organizations (NGOs) and INPA to help them. Memorial unteers mentioned above and provided 250 trained volunteers to 22 on a larger scale using skimmers 860-889-2374 coastal municipalities. EcoOcean is working with each one to coor- or booms.” EcoOcean has made its re- Fax 860-886-2396 Rosenblum tells ISRAEL21c. search vessel available to the dinate volunteer training and deployment, EcoOcean Director Arik Ministry of Environmental Pro-

“All the NGOs are helping and sending people. We’re leading this 12 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 First woman to have an PLO says Hamas is on board observatory named after her with a 2-state outcome By Arielle Kaplan, By Ron Kampeas, JTA Kveller The Palestinian Liberation - Organization says it has secured Hamas’ agreement to a two-state visitedWhen Caltech’s astrono outcome and the terrorist group’s Palomarmer Vera RubinObserva first- commitment to peaceful action. tory, a telescope The commitments were laid facility, there was out in a letter the PLO sent last no restroom for her month to Hady Amr, the top to use. See, in the mid-1960s, women dealing with Israel and the Pales- weren’t even al- tinians.Biden State The letter Department was based official on lowed inside the ob- servatory, and thus out of a meeting in September the need for another betweenan official Hamas statement and the that PLO came and bathroom was obso- was aimed at outlining for the Jibril Rajoub, a senior PLO official, is seen in 2017. Rajoub has con- lete — that was, un- Biden administration common firmed the existence of an official statement that came out of a til the Jewish scien- Palestinian agreement on the meeting in September between Hamas and the PLO. (Alexander terms for a deal with Israel. Hassenstein-FIFA via Getty Images) Image by The Washington Post/Contributor via woman to observe at Israeli and Palestinian media Getty Images thetist facility.became the first have reported on the letter to has recognized Israel and is still committed to a two-state outcome. It Rubin fashioned Amr and the September state- explicitly says Hamas has signed onto these terms and notably does a skirt out of paper and stuck it on the door to the men’s bathroom. ment. not include components that Israel has said in the past would obvi- “There you go, now you have a ladies’ room,” the mother of four said. Last week, the French version ate a peace deal, including a commitment to allow the descendants of Best known for discovering evidence of dark matter, this pioneer- of The Arab News, a Saudi news- Palestinian refugees to settle in Israel. ing scientist died in 2016 at age 88. And yet, she’s still breaking barri- The letter to Amr could create unwanted pressure on the Biden ad- ers, posthumously: The National Science Foundation announced this statement’s existence on the re- ministration, barely a month into its existence, to advance the Israeli- paper, confirmed the September- woman will honor the Jewish scientist. little appetite for reviving Israeli-Palestinian talks. A number of Biden weekBeginning that the infirst 2022, American the Vera national C. Rubin observatory Observatory, to beformerly named known after a itscord components with a senior — PLO Hamas’ official, com Ji- Palestinian peace file. President Joe Biden and his officials have shown bril Rajoub, and confirmed one of as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, will focus its efforts towards mitment to peaceful resistance attempted to make Israeli-Palestinian peace, only to see the effort col- lapse.officials, including Amr, were in place when the Obama administration matter. The facility is located in Chile. Husam Badran, a member of the Insiders say Biden is unlikely to dive back in unless there is buy- — with a senior Hamas figure, studyingRubin thewas solara trailblazer system, for the female Milky scientists, Way, and Rubin’sand her legacy,legacy darkcon- group’s political bureau. in from both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has - The statement commits to a retreated from the two-state outcome and is facing challenges from rent rate, it would take 131 years to close the gap, according to a 2018 Palestinian state based on the his right as Israel heads to elections later this month. Republicans and study.tinues Hopefully,to close the Rubin’s gender observatory gap in the paves field ofthe astronomy. way for women At the to cur en- 1967 lines and a “popular resis- tance (peaceful),” and to the pre- that includes Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. The PLO, via Mazel tov, Vera! eminence of the PLO, a body that some Democrats in Congress also would likely oppose any process ter the field and continue in her footsteps. and Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. theIt’s Palestinian also not Authority,clear to what controls degree Palestinian Hamas is affairsable to in uphold the West its Bankcom- mitment to peaceful action. Its leadership has been opaque and its leaders at times appear to have been at cross purposes. More radical factions have not always heeded the dictates of relative moderates. The September meeting between the PLO and Hamas was to dis- cuss the terms for elections. Palestinian Authority President Mah-

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THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 13 Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, almost all of the Shanghai Jews left. They SHANGHAI CONT. FROM PG 7 emigrated to Israel, Australia, , and the US. Victor Sassoon re- thousands of visas between 1938 - turned to Shanghai after the war but was driven out four years later and 1940. In a documentary, ing for two weeks on the Trans-Siberian Railroad to the port city of in 1949 when the communists entered the city and seized his hotel, “Harbor from the Holocaust”, his Vladivostokweek journey. and Others then byfled boat across to Japan the vastand fromterritory there of made Russia, their travel way his factories, and his luxury apartment buildings. He never returned daughter said, “My father said he to Shanghai. to China. The Tribe family emigrated to San Francisco and Henny’s fa- just couldn’t stand by.” ther arrived in Colchester in 1950. By then, only 100 Jews remained in Shanghai had welcomed Jews already settled in Shanghai. An International Committee for European Shanghai. before in history. Ludwig Rosen- immigrantsWhen the that third was wave established arrived, they by Victorwere met Sassoon by other and Jews Paul who Kornor, had The Ohel Moshe served as a religious center for the Rus- together with other organizations, in- sian Jewish community since 1907. It now houses the Shanghai Jewish - Refugees Museum. First built in 2007 and expanded in 2018, it com- - wavecluding with the Americanhousing, food,Jewish and Joint medical Distri bution Committee, JDC, helped the third Jewishmemorates Refugees. the Jewish The refugeesmuseum who displays lived indocuments, the city during photographs, WWII af of a luxury skyscraper he owned into a ter fleeing Europe. The museum features a Wall of Names of 18,000 refugeecare. Sassoon reception transformed center thewhere first flooreach of the Ghetto. It celebrates prominent Jews from Shanghai, including refugee was given blankets, bedsheets, a Michaelfilms, and Blumenthal, personal items treasury documenting secretary inthe the lives Carter of Jewish administration; residents tin dish, a cup, and a spoon. He installed - a kitchen in the basement to provide 1,800 meals a day. He established a vo- artistYosef andTokoa, illustrator, Israel’s ambassadorwho arrived into Shanghaithe United from Nations; Berlin Zerach at the ageWah of cational center to train 200 men as me- 1rhaftig, in 1938; a signer and Harvard of Israel’s Constitutional Declaration Law of Independence;Professor, Laurence Peter Tribe, Max, chanics and carpenters. Even with this born in Shanghai in 1941, the special guest for Hadassah’s April 11 assistance, the refugees lived in shabby Henny Simon Remembrance program: Seeking Refuge: Shanghai & Be- apartments, sometimes as many as 10 yond. Professor Tribe sent a video message upon the reopening of the per room, near starvation, with disas- museum. “I owe my life to Shanghai’s refuge. . . I was born in Shanghai Street scene with a Jewish wedding party in a rickshaw in trous sanitation and scant employment. to Russian Jewish refugees, many of whose closest relatives had perished Shanghai. Yet they still established a functioning in the pogroms of Russia or had been silenced in the ultimate sense at the baum was part of the third wave hands of the Nazis... the rest of my life was possible because that harbor synagogue and Hebrew school, and a Jewish school. Other schools was made available.” Holocaust. wereJewish established, community. newspapers Cultural life published,flourished intheaters Shanghai. produced There wasplays, a For more information about the Hadassah Zoom program on of Jews in Shanghai, fleeing the and sports teams participated in training and competitions. April 11 at 2 pm: Seeking Refuge: Shanghai & Beyond and how to 1800s. They were Sephardic Jews, - access it, contact President Karen Bloustine: bloustinek@gmail. includingThe first wealthy wave arrived merchants in the hai. About 20,000 had arrived seeking refuge as the Nazis gained com. from Iraq, , and Egypt. The strength.As World After War Japanese II began, forces approximately attacked 30,000Pearl Harbor, Jews lived the in wealthy Shang Kadoorie, Sassoon, and Har- were interned in camps as they were British subjects. doon families played huge roles But Victor Sassoon was warned that he might be arrested, so he left STORIES CONT. FROM PG 7 in Shanghai Jewish life and cre- Shanghai on a ship to Bombay in the fall of 1941, just weeks before - ated international business em- the attack on Pearl Harbor. Those considered Anti-Nazis were also in- mother was about 10, in 1897, she and her immediate family left, pires. Victor Sassoon built one terned in concentration camps. The Nazis regarded their Japanese al- hiddenback to inthe a 1700s.wagon Thecovered original with name hay. They was Judeiken.stopped in When London my duringgrand of the grandest hotels that still lies as “Honorary Aryans’’ and were determined that the Final Solution stands today as the be applied to the Jews in Shanghai. In 1942, an SS colonel, Josef Meis- to the U.S., her family, like many Lithuanian Jews, went to South Af- in Shanghai’s art deco district. rica.Queen On Victoria’s her honeymoon, Diamond she Jubilee came tofestivities. the U.S. with Unable her to husband get admission and his He entertained Noel Coward and refugees, march them to the waterfront, load them into ships slated for family. They entered at Atlanta, where my mother was born. The fam- Charlie Chaplin and attended demolitioninger, “The andButcher sink ofthem Warsaw’’, in the ocean.proposed The that Japanese SS units refused round the up plan, the ily is now scattered all over the world. One cousin was Robert Briscoe, country house weekends outside and ordered all those who arrived after 1937 to move their residences The second wave started ar- andbut inbusinesses 1943, they within declared it by a May“Designated 18. About Area 18,000 for Stateless Jews were Refugees” forced Jakethe first Tapper. Jewish All Lord of those Mayor who of remainedDublin. Another in Kalnel was were the actormurdered Lawrence dur- London with Winston Churchill. riving around 1900 and were to relocate to a 1/4 square mile area of Shanghai’s Hongkou district ingHarvey, the Holocaust. who went to England after WWII. Another is the newscaster - where many lived in group homes called “Helme’’ or “Little Vienna”. My paternal grandfather left Lithuania in 1892 to escape serving groms in tsarist Russia and then This area was not walled or surrounded with barbed wire but was in the tsar’s army. He boarded a ship in Scotland which was carrying theAshkenazi 1917 Revolution, Jews fleeing the ensuing the po patrolled and a curfew enforced. Food was rationed and a pass was civil war and rise of the commu- needed to enter or leave the “Shanghai Ghetto.” worked as a peddler and settled in York, Pa. The next year he was able nist state. They built a communi- US air raids on Shanghai began in 1944. Scores of refugees and toBuffalo send forBill his and wife his andWild two West small company. children. He My entered dad, the at youngestEllis Island. of theHe ty in the northern part of the city, hundreds eight children, told me that the family name was originally Freedman, in Harbin, where Professor Lau- of Chinese but that he changed it to Leibowitz because he pretended to be the rence Tribe’s mother was born were killed older son of a family coming to the U.S. and where his parents met. As a in the Dan Bendor: - teenager, his father George Tribe July 1945 land, in 1912. His parents had considered making aliyah for some time, bombings. Dan’s father, Ben-Ami was born in Przemysl, now Po A thousand refugees a month The ghetto 1915 the Russian army decided to hang everyone in the family because fled Belarus to refuge in China. arrived in 1939 and 1940, includ- - someoneso they gave was him overheard and his making three older a disparaging brothers remarkHebrew about first names. the army. In ing the entire faculty and staff of cially lib- The general’s nurse, who thought three-year-old Ben Ami was ador- the , over 400 people, eratedwas offion able, convinced him to let them go. Their living situation had become September then to Lithuania where they 3, 1945. Palestine, one step ahead of authorities who wanted to detain them. En obtainedwho fled visas from from Mir toChiune Vilna Sugi and- so difficult that their mother carried a pistol. Around 1920 they left for hara. The Mir Yeshiva was the establish- only yeshiva in Europe to sur- mentWith theof bear.route, The theyclerk spent made some a resh time instead in Vienna. of a bet, Wanting and the a new, family Hebrew name lastbe- vive the Holocaust. Some of these the State name when they arrived in Palestine, they chose Ben-Dov, son of the third-wave refugees arrived by of Israel in If you have a story to tell about your family’s history seeking ref- Newspaper article proclaiming the establishment of the Italian and Japanese cruise ships 1948 and uge,came please Ben-Dor, send son to ofSheila the generation.Horvitz at [email protected] or 860-884- “Shanghai Ghetto.” departing from Genoa, a three- the fall of 8945. 14 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 and Europe, Scandinavia, North Pequot Avenue to take in Harold J. Arkava Africa, and Israel in 1964. He the beautiful view and New London - Harold Julius Arkava, the son of Mollie lived life with gusto, declaring end up at Ocean Beach, and Sam Arkava, was born in New London June 7, 1926. A that “the only thing wrong with a favorite haunt to hang ‘44 Bulkeley Boys School graduate, he enlisted in the Navy life is that it is too short”. out with his buddies. June 3, 1944, serving till July 5, 1946. His mother had to sign From 1957-59 Harold and The New London his enlistment papers since he was not yet 18. He received - Rotary honored Harold the American Theater and Victory Medals. ership in Norwich, with an ag- twice: in 2001 with the Upon discharge he went to University of Connecticut gressiveCarl Sherman and creative ran a DeSoto advertising deal Unsung Hero Award and on the G.I. bill and graduated in 1950. An English profes- campaign. He came to be known in 2007 with a Paul Har- sor thought him a brilliant student and encouraged him to as “Crazy Harold”. After that ven- ris Award, the highest attend law school, but he told the professor he wanted to ture Harold brokered used cars honor a Rotary Club can

Obituaries go into business. He set out for New York City and lived in and often acted as a purchasing bestow. Brooklyn and Harlem for six years, enjoying Jazz in Harlem agent for individuals seeking a Harold was close to and the Village while working as a salesman. He prided him- many people and consid- self in being a salesman and a peddler, did well and enjoyed ered many to be family hisspecific parent’s automobile. home on Bulkeley and friends. Among them Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Slam Stewart, and Frank Sinatra, especially PlaceWhen he dove Harold into settled New London back in are Roseann Marks, her hisNew rendition York. He ofparticularly “That’s life”. loved And hearing he loved and seeing seeing Nina Count Simone Basie, atDizzy the - Vanguard. tics, serving on the town com- and granddaughter Bella; Harold loved to ski, to eat, and to travel. He was a gourmet cook mitteelife, and for Democraticmany years, townand on poli the Tonydaughter LaLima Sara who Wilhelm, helped who was known for his shrimp scampi and stuffed mushrooms. This Planning and Zoning Commission Harold with the Bulkeley Boys Reunions and cared for him in his later even though his mother, as he admitted, made “the hardest matza balls for 16 years, nine as chairman. years; Attorney Martin and Rona Rutchik who shared life in both New in the world”. He was also a master turkey carver, relied upon every Those appearing before the Plan- York City, Norwich, and New London; Morgan McGinley, retired edito- year by his entire family. “There was no turkey left on the carcass”. He ning and Zoning noted Harold’s also mixed a mean Martini for his friends. assertiveness in making clear his friend, the late Myron Hendel. He went to Europe for three months in 1957, the in 1959, questions and concerns about rialHarold page editor is survived of the by Day; his andcousins, his remarkably Nancy Ogulnick close Trostler,and dedicated Susan proposed projects. Ogulnick Schaeffer, Herm Ogulnick, Rob Ogulnick, nieces, Marsha In 1980 he began to collect - Norman Kaplan redeemable bottles and cans nephew Josh Goldberg of Carmel, N.Y. He was predeceased by his sis- Colchester -- Norman to raise money for the Bulkeley Weinstein of Tel Aviv, Israel, and Lisa Weinstein Goldberg and grand Kaplan, 72, passed away Scholarship Fund, an endeavor of Guilford. peacefully on Monday, March he considered the most impor- ter FriendsFrances andArkava family Weinstein wish to and thank his the brother-in-law doctors, nurses, Beryl and Weinstein staff of 1, 2021. Norm was born in tant accomplishment of his life. Beechwood Convalescent Home, and Jerry Fischer for the loving care Hartford, CT, the son of the The fund grew to well over one they provided him during the last years of his life. late Irwin and Mildred (Levy) million dollars and grants schol- Harold passed Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Burial was private. A memo- Kaplan. He grew up in Col- arships annually to lineal descen- rial celebration of Harold’s life will be held at Ocean Beach this Spring chester, CT and proudly made dants of Bulkeley School gradu- or Summer as soon as pandemic restrictions are lifted. his home and raised his fam- ates. - ily there. He is survived by his cation Foundation’s Harold Arkava Bulkeley Boys Scholarship Fund, wife Patricia; sons Matt and miles each day collecting these PO DonationsBox 343, New in Harold’s London, name CT 06320, may bewhich made will to awardthe New an Londonannual grant Edu wife Carla, Adam and wife redeemables.He walked Through well over these five to a NLHS graduate pursuing post-High School studies. Courtney, and Tim. Norm was walks he got to know and banter Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington Street, New London assisted a loving “Papa” to his grand- with many of the citizens of New with arrangements. daughters Caelynn, Evynne, London. He loved cruising down

brother to his sister, Arlene ‘Shtisel’ Season 3 - Netflix and Quinn and a devoted In addition to his parents he is predeceased by his twin brother Marty Kaplan. Dressler. release date announced He spent most of his career at the Travelers Insurance Company By Gabe Friedman, JTA ily to the warm embrace of global audiences in time for Passover.” in Hartford, CT. Norm had a larger-than-life personality, was kind to Season 3 of the hit haredi Or- - everyone he met and made friends everywhere he went. He was an thodox drama series “Shtisel” will avid card player, coupon clipper, storyteller, concert and movie goer, - TheProduction narrative picks on the up season four years began after after the Israel’s conclusion first COVID-19of the events lock of rael’s Yes Studios announced thedown previous last year, season. and the show just finished its initial run on Israeli TV. few he didn’t love. Tuesday.debut on Netflix on March 25, Is and an aspiring film critic. He never met a movie he didn’t like….just a he spent his summers sharing stories with family and friends. Norm show, which follows members pouredHe was his hearta constant and soul fixture into on mentoring Lake Hayward’s young people Third as Beach, a youth where soc- of anThe Orthodox first two family seasons in ofIsrael, the cer coach. Coach Norm was the driving force behind the creation of became popular with audiences Colchester Youth Soccer in the mid 80’s. Over his 35+ years of coach- around the globe, Jewish and - non-Jewish, after being distrib- enced thousands of children, families, and the volunteers he worked with.ing and serving in various organizational capacities he positively influ - - uted by Netflix. The third season through calling hours were held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 4-7 will“This be the season first branded was made as a posNet- PMHe at the was Aurora-McCarthy beloved by his extended Funeral Home, family 167 and Old many Hartford friends. Rd, Walk Col- sibleflix Original. thanks to the love and sup- chester, CT. Burial was private. port we received from fans and viewers throughout the world,” to Colchester Soccer Club, PO Box 108, Colchester CT, 06415. For on- lineIn condolences, lieu of flowers please the family visit askswww.auroramccarthyfuneralhome. that memorial donations be made Dovale Glickman, left, and Michael Aloni in a scene from Season 3 com. producerbe able to Diklabring Barkaithe ‘Shtisel’ said fam in a- of “Shtisel.” (Courtesy of Yes Studios) news release. “We are thrilled to THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021 15 My life in the Occupied Territories: 1997-2019 TEDDY WEINBERGER © 2021, Teddy Weinberger the town had around 10,000 resi- children to the local public, religious primary theWhen Green weLine. made Back aliyah when inwe 1997, made Sarah our choice, and I thechose world to liveseemed in Givat dif- dents;schools. since When then, we the immigrated, population school. The majority of parents of children in ferentZe’ev, a than picturesque it does today. town northwestThe year 1997 of Jerusalem was a time about (just five a milesfew years over has almost doubled, due to sever- this school never went to university, and a after the Oslo accords) when peace seemed around the corner. I knew al new housing projects, includ- that there was supposed to be something objectionable about living in ing a sizeable neighborhood for jobs: truck, bus and taxi drivers; shopkeep- the territories, and all things being equal had Sarah, during her pilot the ultra-orthodox. ers,significant mechanics, number security of them personnel, had blue-collar etc. trip in the spring of 1997, found us two equally good options, one in Even though almost everyone There was much diversity in skin coloration the territories and one not, we probably would not have opted for Gi- is Jewish who lives in Givat Ze’ev, of the children at the school (thanks to a vat Ze’ev—but Givat Ze’ev turned out to be our only good option. there was more heterogeneity large Sephardi population, mainly of Moroc- I wasn’t trying to be coy when I wrote above that “I knew that there to my life there than I had in the can and Yemenite descent), just as there was was supposed to be something objectionable about the territories.” U.S. In America, like all American much diversity in the different levels of religious observance in the And here I’m going to admit to something that never ceases to aston- Jews, I fully subscribed to the ide- children’s homes. ish me: In the summer of 1997, when I moved into the occupied ter- als of American democracy. But Because life in the territories is usually life in a small town, it is ritories, I had no idea what this meant! Yes, though I had an excellent also like many American Jews, typically life that is quieter and closer to nature. Other than the morn- Jewish day-school education, at the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn, my commitment to these ideals though I had studied at Columbia University with outstanding Jew- was hardly tested: In the States had several different kinds of fruit trees, and if one is an adventurous ish scholars such as Arthur Hertzberg and Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, we lived in white, predominantly kid,ing rush-hour,as my kids there were, is therevery littleis a wadiautomotive to explore, traffic. archeological In my backyard, ruins I though I was myself by then an assistant professor of Jewish Studies, I Jewish neighborhoods and sent to scamper around, and a natural spring that my sons helped dig out did not realize just what was the big deal about the Israeli territories our children to private Jewish from its source on a nearby mountain side. - schools (and truth be told, even Unfortunately, there are absolutely no programs to bring Givat gin to dawn upon me what the fuss is about, and I’ll spell it out clearly the public schools in our neigh- Ze’ev’s residents into social contact with Palestinians in neighboring here:in the All West Israeli Bank. citizens Only after who I live was over living the in Green Givat Ze’evLine fall did under it slowly Israeli be borhoods were not overly het- villages. Even left-wing NGO’s don’t sponsor such programs out of fear civil law; Palestinians in neighboring villages in the occupied territo- erogeneous). I could believe in of accepting the status quo. Thus, while we were geographically closer ries fall under Israeli military law. In other words, you have two popu- the theory of diversity without to Palestinians than to Israelis living within the Green Line, there was lations living side by side, but one is living under the freedoms and exposing either myself or my not a single “get to know your neighbor” program during our years rights of the Middle East’s only democracy, and the other population is children to people who were very living in Givat Ze’ev. living under a completely different system, one with many less rights different from us. Ironically, it In the summer of 2019, when we realized that none of our chil- and manyo more restrictions. was in moving to Givat Ze’ev that dren was interested in making their lives in Givat Ze’ev, we moved to my wife and I were challenged boy, was its small-town feel. From my home, it was less than a 10-min- to stand by the democratic prin- Ze’ev for 22 years, we knew well the democratic challenges presented What characterized life in Givat Ze’ev for a person like me, a city ciples of public schooling and bybe closethe Occupied to our first Territories, grandchild but in likeHerzliya. even Afterthe best having of Israel’s lived in politi Givat- - the whole notion of Jeffersonian cians, we were no closer to understanding how the situation should ter,ute public walk to library, the following: and my children’s my supermarket, kindergartens my doctor’s and elementary office, the democracy. Sarah and I sent our pharmacy, post office, mayor’s office, swimming pool and fitness cen be resolved. We would no longer be living directly in the face of this ISRAEL CONT. FROM PG 1 challenging “situation,” though, which is fine by me. years, during which time, several unsuccessful attempts were made Chief Rabbinate over conversions Conservative Judaism as a “forgery” which brings “thousands of gen- by the state and the non-Orthodox movements to reach an agreement in Israel, IRAC went back to the tiles” into the Jewish people. outside the court. court and asked that its case be In 2016, the High Court ruled, in a separate case – and despite re-evaluated in light of the prec- The leader of the ultra-Orthodox party Shas Arye Deri pledged strong opposition by the Chief Rabbinate – that temporary residents edent that had been set. If private to repealThe landmark the ruling ruling so alsothat divided“only conversion senior political according figures. to halakha converted by private Orthodox rabbinical courts are eligible for citi- Orthodox conversions can be rec- [Jewish law] will be recognized in the State of Israel.” zenship under the Law of Return. ognized for the purpose of the The far-right Religious Zionist Party described the verdict as Following this ruling, which effectively broke the monopoly of the Law of Return, IRAC’s lawyers “dangerous,” while Naftali Bennett’s Yamina focused their criticism on Chief Rabbinate over conversions in Israel, IRAC went back to the asked the court, then why not pri- the justice system: “Once again, the High Court interferes in govern- court and asked that its case be re-evaluated in light of the precedent vate conversions performed by ment decisions and forgets its role. The recognition of conversions in that had been set. If private Orthodox conversions can be recognized the State of Israel will be determined by the democratically elected for the purpose of the Law of Return, IRAC’s lawyers asked the court, representatives of the people, and not by jurists.” then why not private conversions performed by the non-Orthodox Leadersthe non-Orthodox divided movements? Yair Lapid, leader of the center-left Yesh Atid party, welcomed “This is a historic day,” said the ruling and called for “mutual respect” between different denomi- The answer they got from the court today put an end to their 16- Rekefet Ginsburg, the head of the nations of Judaism. “A sane government end the situation whereby Is- yearmovements? battle. Conservative-Masorti Movement rael is the only democracy in the world in which there is no religious Supreme Court President Esther Hayut noted in her ruling that in Israel. “There is more than freedom for Jews,” he said. over the past 15 years the state repeatedly requested to delay a ruling one way to be a Jew in the State The chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, MK Avigdor Lieberman, in order to resolve the matter through legislation. of Israel. Again and again, we “It has become clear that there is no chance of an agreed settlement against religious coercion.” and that there is no course of legislation in sight. Therefore we have in the courts instead of having a alsoMeretz’s supported leader the High Tamar Court Zandberg ruling, and said vowed it is to “time “continue for Israel to fight to dialogue,”are forced she to fightadded. for our rights break free from the shackles of the rabbinate, which is controlled by this ruling does not prevent the Knesset from legislating additional “I call on our elected repre- a parochial religious stream, and to welcome with open arms those provisionsno choice but regarding to issue conversion a ruling,” Hayut under said. the LawHowever, of Return she clarifiedin the future. that sentatives to restore the State of who have become Jewish through the Reform and Conservative con- “This is a civil matter and not a religious matter,” Hayut said. “The Israel’s relationship with Reform version.” petitioners came to Israel and went through a conversion process in and Conservative Judaism, in Is- Labor leader Merav Michaeli also praised the decision, reiterat- the framework of a recognized Jewish community and have asked to rael and abroad,” she also stated. ing that her party “will continue its struggles for a pluralistic and egali- join the Jewish nation,” Hayut wrote in her ruling. Meanwhile, Sephardi Chief tarian society that recognizes all streams of Judaism.” In 2016, the High Court ruled, in a separate case – and despite Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef strongly strong opposition by the Chief Rabbinate – that temporary residents criticized the ruling and called on converted by private Orthodox rabbinical courts are eligible for citi- lawmakers to repeal it through zenship under the Law of Return. legislation. He described the con- Remember to send in your subscription Following this ruling, which effectively broke the monopoly of the version process in Reform and 16 THE JEWISH LEADER, MARCH 5, 2021

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