February 2021 Jonathan Pollard, Cold War Spy Who Spent 30 Years in U.S
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Jewish Community News www.jfedps.org The Publication of the Jewish Federation of the Desert Shevat/Adar 5781 - February 2021 Jonathan Pollard, Cold War Spy Who Spent 30 Years in U.S. Prison, Arrives in Israel The Times of Israel Jonathan Pollard, the former U.S. plans to permanently emigrate to strained U.S.-Israeli relations. Navy analyst who spent three decades there. Although Israeli activists had in prison after pleading guilty to “Finally in the country. Jonathan repeatedly lobbied for a reduction spying for the Israelis, has arrived in Pollard landed tonight in Israel,” read in his sentence, U.S. officials, citing Israel a month after the U.S. Justice a headline in Israel Hayom. the damage they said Pollard did Department declined to extend his Pollard, who is Jewish, was granted to American intelligence gathering, parole. Israeli citizenship in 1995 while still strongly objected. Pollard and his wife, Esther, landed incarcerated in the U.S. His lawyer, At the time of his release from Eliot Lauer, told The Times of federal prison in Butner, N.C., in early December 30 at Ben aGurion Jonathan Pollard welcomed by Prime Airport, aboard a private jet owned Minister Benjamian Netanyahu at Israel that Pollard arriving in Israel 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin by Sheldon Adelson, a major backer Ben Gurion Airport «speaks for itself. A dream realized Netanyahu said: “As someone who of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin after 35 very difficult years.” raised Jonathan’s case for years with Netanyahu. Pollard was arrested in 1985 and successive American presidents, I had The couple stepped off the plane, charged with espionage for Israel. long hoped this day would come.” got on their knees, and kissed the He later pleaded guilty, but was still Last month, five years after his tarmac. Netanyahu met the Pollards sentenced to life in prison. At the time, release, the Justice Department at the airport, greeting them with he claimed that he only stole secrets allowed Pollard’s parole to expire, the Jewish blessing Shehechiyanu, for a U.S. ally because “the American freeing him to travel to Israel. The praising God for the milestone, and Jonathan and Esther Pollard intelligence establishment collectively Justice Department’s move to end another blessing praising God for undergoing chemotherapy for cancer endangered Israel’s security by Pollard’s parole is widely seen as a freeing the imprisoned. — is seeking medical treatment in withholding crucial information.” The parting gift from President Trump to Esther — who is reportedly Israel, but the couple reportedly discovery of Pollard’s spying severely Netanyahu. Israel Begins 2021 with Hundreds of Jews Returning from Lost Tribes in India and Ethiopia By Yakin Benzion, United with Israel 2021 kicked off with Aliyah by Jews Ethiopian province of Gondor, where from some of the lost tribes of Israel a large part of the Jewish community as a group of 300 new immigrants was located. She arrived in Israel in from Ethiopia landed at Ben Gurion 1984 as part of Operation Moses Airport on New Year’s Eve, as well that brought thousands successfully as a small group of Jews from India a to Israel but was cut short when Arab few days later. countries found out about it. Shata is They are part of a 7,000-member India’s Bnei Menashe arrive in Israel the first black woman to be elected community in northern India while Immigration and Absorption Minister to the Knesset and be appointed a some 4,000 Bnei Menashe already Pnina Tamano Shata, who was on cabinet minister. Considered by some live in Israel.“It makes me happy to hand to greet the new immigrants. to be members of the lost biblical open the year 2021 in this way,” said Shata herself was born in the continued on page 5 OF THE DESERT JEWISH FEDERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Roberta Nyman, Board Chair Phil Glass, Treasurer & Allocations Chair Stephanie Ross, Secretary Celia Norian, Past Co-Chair Bruce Landgarten, Chief Executive Officer Jackie Cohen Ron Langus Lori Fritz Bernard Reiter Arnie Gillman Gary Schahet Bobbi Holland Table of Contents Vol. 47 • No. 7 Community Calendar 16, 17 Federation 2, 3, 7, 24 Honor Rol 18-22 Legacy 3 Major Gifts 2 Woman's Philanthropy 12 Have a Nosh 22 School Listing 12 Simchas & Classifieds 23 Temples Listing 16 Tributes 15 2 • JCN • February 2021 • Shevat/Adar 5781 • www.jfedps.com Approaching 2021 with Optimism and Hope Every dollar, every donor counts! people and redefine Jewish engagement to even greater things. This includes a We all recognize that this was not a for a post-pandemic world. We are successful annual campaign year (again, Bruce rosy year. Far too many people have responding by creating a new normal thank you for those who have already Landgarten passed from or contracted the virus. and creating a new extraordinary. made your commitment to our 2021 Jewish Federation We have been isolated; we’ve made Thank you to our Jewish Federation Campaign) and new initiatives to enrich Chief Executive significant changes to our daily routines. Board, Women’s Leadership and all of our Jewish community. Officer Our priorities continue to be at our volunteers, especially our Board Understanding that challenges remain, the forefront of our efforts, and we Chair, Roberta Nyman, and professionals let us all approach 2021 with optimism In 2020 and 2021 Federation asked will continue to address immediate for the work they have done throughout and hope. Stay healthy, get vaccinated for your support and we are inspired needs and build a systemic response the year. I am fortunate to work with when available to you. by your response - our profound thanks to poverty and economic insecurity, great people. I also have great admiration to you all. Our Annual Campaign raises speaking up against anti-Semitism and for the lay leadership and professionals more than $2.2 million dollars every ensuring our community’s safety, while in other Jewish organizations for their year to provide the basic infrastructure bringing the community together. partnership and perseverance. It has that supports our local and global Jewish In what will be an eventful year, we not been easy at times with so many community. By the time you read this, are committed to supporting everyone unknowns. we will be halfway there. It is important in our community as we recover from Through it all, everyone has kept their that each individual has a voice and a trying time. But just as we work to eye on the ball – the well-being of our be counted as a donor in the annual regain our balance from the shifts entire Jewish community. I am proud of campaign. Your support is the difference of the past, we will also be working what we’ve all achieved, and I know we between lives well lived and lives on the proactively to build for a better future. will accomplish even more in the year margin. Thank you for your individual The circumstances have combined to ahead -- with your support. and collective generosity over the years. form a unique opportunity to reach With the new year, we look forward Responding to Need requests coming their way. Committee responds to local needs. Allan and I have stayed close Requests for emergency funds come Roberta from local Jews and are handled Nyman to home as we await the vaccine. Although we look to the future and discreetly. Payments go directly for a return to normalcy, we also reflect auto repairs, electric bills, medical Jewish Federation on past participation with Jewish bills, rent assistance, etc. What a Board Chair causes. During our trips to Israel, great feeling that Federation is there Allan and I have seen the impact for them. Upon reflection, Allan and I realize Thank you to Federation donors that our community’s contributions that through Federation we have who are responding to our 2021 have accomplished. It is especially developed many lifelong friendships Campaign. During these difficult comforting to know that our which have enriched our lives. Thank times the needs of the Jewish allocations have been wisely chosen. you for allowing us to serve our community locally and around Kudos to the due diligence of our Jewish community here and around the world have been significantly Allocations Committee. I hope you the world. impacted, and with your support took the time last month to look over we are able to respond. our Annual Report, published in Due to COVID our Board the Jewish Community News, which listed the agencies, organizations and meetings and events have relied on “To make a difference is not a matter of casual Zoom. Kudos to our staff who have projects that our Federation supports. occurrence of the tides. People choose to make a continued to function effectively, Yes, the need persists. I am difference” efficiently responding to the many especially proud of how our Tzedakah Maya Angelou JCN • February 2021 • Shevat/Adar 5781 • www.jfedps.com • 3 JEWISH 2021 Tamarisk /Federation COMMUNITY NEWS Golf Day A Publication of the Jewish Federation of the Desert VOL. 47, No. 7 EDITORIAL Bruce Landgarten, Chief Executive Officer Miriam H. Bent, Editor Bailey Communications, Layout & Design JCN STATEMENT The Jewish Community News seeks to provide news and feature material of special interest to its readership, and to create a heightened sense of Jewish identity through the dissemination of information about people, events and issues at home and abroad. The JCN seeks to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions in the Jewish community. The JCN is published monthly, ten months a year by the Jewish Federation of the Desert, 69-710 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, 760-324-4737, fax 760-324-3154.