REMEMBER TISHA The Award Winning » B’AV ON AUGUST 10.

BUFFALO, ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD | WWW.BUFFALOJEWISHFEDERATION.ORG AUGUST 2019 | TAMMUZ- AV 5779

OF JEWISH HUMANSBUFFALO(3-19)

LOOK: DON’T MISS: INSIDE: HELLO, TREE OF LIFE WELCOME MOLLY JEFF CLARK TORAH MANTLE CARR (27) (29) (31)

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 1 WHAT’S INSIDE...

REMEMBER TISHA Published by The Award Winning B’AV ON AUGUST 10. August 2019 » Buffalo Jewish Federation 2640 North Forest Road Getzville, NY 14068 Editor’s On The 716-204-2241 Cover - Note BUFFALO, ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD | WWW.BUFFALOJEWISHFEDERATION.ORG AUGUST 2019 | TAMMUZ AV 5779 www.buffalojewishfederation.org

CEO/Executive Director...... Rob Goldberg President...... Leslie Shuman Kramer Editor, Public Relations Director...... Ellen S. Goldstein

OF JEWISH HUMANSBUFFALO(3-19)

The Buffalo Jewish Federation Is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Press Association Produced by Ellen Goldstein, Editor Humans of Jewish Buffalo Clockwise: Sophia Veffer, Marlowe Bloomberg, Deborah Bokobza & Ula Wolfe, Mark Goldman New this month to The Jewish Journal is Humans of (photo by kc kratt), Eyal Cohen, (top) Ann Marie Carosella & Jeff

Lackner, (bottom) TinaREQUESTED Ball,SERVICE CHANGE Rocky Colavito & Mark Sommer,

Jewish Buffalo, our cover story and many of the features 4 No. Permit LOOK: DON’T MISS: INSIDE:

Williamsport, PA Williamsport, HELLO, TREE OF LIFE WELCOME MOLLY

PAID Getzville, NY 14068 NY Getzville,

US Postage US

Hayden Fogle, StephanRoad Forest LewyNorth 2640 ( PhotoJEFF CLARK by MarkTORAH Mulville/ MANTLE The CARR

from page 4 through 19. Federation CEO Rob Goldberg STD. Presorted Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer...... Barbara E. Macks Buffalo Jewish Federation Jewish Buffalo (27) (29) (31) explains the concept and why we are highlighting so Buffalo News), Seth Greene & family, Deborah Goldman & [email protected] many unique Buffalonians this month. You probably Grant Golden, Lois & Zach Rosenbloom. Design: Kim Miers. Creative Director...... J.P. Thimot [email protected] know some of them as friends, relatives, neighbors. Vice President/Production...... Jennifer Tudor They, and so many more like them, are the reason that 4 Deborah Goldman & Grant Golden [email protected] Buffalo and Jewish Buffalo are changing, energizing, re- by Mara Koven Gelman Lead Designer...... Kimberly Miers inventing our region. [email protected] 6 Mark Goldman by Marti Gorman I’m particularly drawn to the story about Deborah Senior Graphic Designers...... Josh Flanigan, Andrea Rowley, Sales Bokobza and Ula Wolfe found on pages 8 and 7 Featuring Sophia Veffer Nicholas Vitello Traffic Coordinator...... 9. Deborah and Ula are granddaughters of Holocaust Adam Van Schoonhoven 8-9 Deborah Bokobza & Ula Wolfe Sales Director...... Cynthia Oppenheimer, Survivors—a brother and sister who are long gone—but by Elizabeth Schram [email protected] didn’t tell their children or grandchildren of the other’s Eyal Cohen by Shai Lewis Senior Account Executives...... Louis J. Aguglia, Terri Downey, Keren Green, existence. Both in their 60’s, Deborah and Ula met each 10 Mary Beth Holly, Robin Kurss, other this summer in Buffalo for the first time, and 11 Marlowe Bloomberg by Ellen Goldstein Robin Lenhard, Betty Tata, Lori Teibel Proofreaders ...... Sharon C. Levite, Amy Goldstein were able to tell this magical tale. 12 FeaturingTina Ball Also, I loved the stories of Hayden Fogle (page 17) and Marlowe Bloomberg (page 11), who are two Jewish 13 Seth Greene: Natural Born Marketer Buffalonians under 20 and have found their passion, 14 Dr. Ann Marie Carosella & Dr. Jeffrey Members of acted on it and are changing the world, one for Blues Lackner by Rabbi Sara Rich lovers and the other for sick children, every day in a big 16 Stephan Lewy by Peter Simon way. So dig into this issue summer reading. You’ll find 17 Hayden Fogle by Jana Eisenberg Submissions: stories about books, food, baseball and knishes. And 18 Zack & Lois Rosenbloom Submit editorial stories, photos, and calendar items by the 1st of the you are bound to love the special humans making our by Nicole Bard & Logan Woodard preceding month of issue to [email protected]. Western New York better and better. To Advertise: August 10 is Tisha B’Av, a traditional mourning day 19 Mark Sommer by Ezra Rich To advertise, call Cynthia Oppenheimer at 716-783-9119 x2240. for Jews at which time we remember the destruction of 20 August Calendar Ad space & materials are due by the 10th of each month prior to publication. For a rate card and any additional information, please Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple, massacres 21 5 Things You Can Do to repair the world email Cynthia Oppenheimer [email protected] in medieval Jewish villages during the Crusades, as in August or Barbara Macks [email protected]. well as the Holocaust. In our own time, we are seeing Where in Jewish BFLO? To Subscribe: brokenness and hate. One recent answer to the hate To subscribe, visit www.buffalojewishfederation.org and click on seen at the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting last fall in 22 Food: A Corny Summer Treat “JJWNY subscription.” Free for Western New York area residents and Pittsburgh is a Torah Mantle for one of the Torah scrolls by Robin Kurss donors to the Campaign. Non-resident subscription is $36 for 12 in Pittsburgh. You can read about that mantle, which 22-23 Special Advertising Supplement: Dining issues, payable to The Jewish Journal. will be in Buffalo for Rosh Hashanah, on page 29. 24-25 Organizations & Synagogue Listings The Jewish Journal of WNY (JJWNY) reserves the right to cancel any advertisement at Wishing you a beautiful, any time. The Buffalo Jewish Federation and Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. are not bountiful summer filled liable for the content or errors appearing in the advertisements beyond the cost of 26-29 Synagogue Happenings the space occupied. The JJWNY does not assume responsibility for the kashrut of with family, friends and 30 Special Advertising Supplement: any product or service advertised in this paper. Editorials, columns, advertisements, fun. agency reports and other outside articles do not necessarily represent the views Farm to Table of the newspaper or the Buffalo Jewish Federation, but rather express the view of Ellen Goldstein - Editor the writer. 31-38 Agency Events All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it “illegal to advertise “based on race, color, religion, 39 In Loving Memory: Peggy Stone sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept 40-43 Jews in the News any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal 44 Not The Last Word: Vilona Trachtenberg opportunity basis.

2 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 COMMUNITY

Humans of Jewish Buffalo by Rob Goldberg

In 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton created the photoblog Humans of New York (HONY) containing portraits and interviews from the streets of New York City. Since then, HONY has over 17 million followers on Facebook and another 9 million on Instagram. Similar projects followed in Los Angeles and throughout the world. In 2012, an Israeli photographer started Humans of Tel Aviv with the tag line: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” All of these projects have one common element: they embrace diversity through photography and storytelling.

And that is the goal in part of our first edition of Humans of Jewish Buffalo. In the pages that follow, we share stories of Jewish Buffalonians from varying backgrounds to provide us with a taste of our community’s diversity. From a 13 year old who brings her love Stephan Lewy (Photo by Mark Mulville/The Buffalo News), Mark Sommer, Marlowe Bloomberg of theatre to children being treated at Oishei Children’s Hospital, an Israeli entrepreneur making his mark in Niagara Falls, a philanthropic We are grateful to the many writers who contributed to Humans of Jewish couple calling out the need for criminal justice reform, to a young Buffalo and we hope that this is just the beginning of an annual feature. blues musician who connects his passion to growing up at Temple If you are interested in writing a story of a unique member of Jewish Beth Zion, we know that you will enjoy reading these stories about Buffalo or have photographs that you would like to share, contact JJWNY your unique neighbors. Editor Ellen Goldstein at [email protected].

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 3 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO

our community who as individuals work Deborah Goldman and Grant Golden: to make Buffalo a better place. To us, building these bridges as a group is an opportunity to forge new relationships Time is Now for Leadership in Criminal in both our local Jewish community and throughout Western New York. MKG: What specifically excites Justice Reform you about affecting change in our community? By Mara Koven-Gelman D & G: We feel fortunate to be able Deborah Goldman and Grant to direct philanthropy to positively Golden are taking a bold leadership impact local issues. Two of our chief step. They recently have funded a priorities are the local Jewish community criminal justice reform grant powered and addressing income inequality. In by the Buffalo Jewish Community addressing criminal justice reform, we Relations Council (JCRC). clearly take a step toward lessening The grant underlines the need for local income inequality. For us, it’s always a criminal justice reform, by spotlighting joy to do the right thing, and being able the story of one victimized Buffalo to fund such a good project makes us resident. Valentino Dixon served 27 years very happy. in prison for a crime he did not commit. MKG: This is the first time Jewish Through the long process of exoneration, community donors are funding this ending in the fall of 2018, art helped type of program. What is your message sustain his spirit, his drive to be heard, to members of the Buffalo Jewish and ultimately freed from prison. JCRC Community concerned about social and is partnering with the Burchfield Penney civil justice issues? Art Center to exhibit Valentino’s work D & G: Jewish tradition teaches and testimony, with an opening Thursday us to pursue justice in all aspects of October 10th. The Goldman/Golden gift society. In Deuteronomy 16:20, the Torah will support creating the exhibit and Mr. commands us: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof” Dixon’s public lectures. The grant also (“Justice, justice you shall pursue”). And provides transportation for students to yet today, as it has for time immemorial, hear Valentino’s words of resilience. our criminal justice system punishes They believe that there are unfairly. Issues of mass incarceration overwhelming inequities in criminal and racial disparities in enforcement justice. The data of systemic issues in and sentencing continue to stain us as the CR field is staggering: a country. Almost invariably, arrests • US has 4% of the world’s population, put people of limited means in a dire but incarcerates roughly 25% of the situation. They have trouble making bail world’s prisoners. and are preyed upon by unscrupulous • More than 60% of prisoners are bail bondmen; they can’t get to work Deborah Goldman and Grant Golden people of color. and risk losing their jobs. They run the • 2.7 million children have a parent serious risk of becoming homeless. The behind bars. stability of their families is jeopardized. • 6.1 million Americans are barred “Such injustices hurt us all. Such injustices hurt us all. We believe from voting due to a felony record. strongly that where we can help, we Having a felony record makes it very We believe strongly that where should. difficult, if not impossible to sign a Deborah Goldman is the current board lease on an apartment or fill out a job we can help, we should.” chair of Planned Parenthood of Western application. and Central New York, member of the Studies show that mass incarceration legislators. By means of education, we Jewish community get involved? JCRC Executive Board and 2018 recipient (the prison population exploded in the can ensure that the Jewish community D & G: Criminal justice reform is an of The Ann Holland Cohn Community 1970’s) contributes to poverty, income can better advocate, and move all of issue that matters to local communities Leadership Award. Deborah is a inequality, and family instability. Western New York in an improved of color and to the Jewish Community government and non-profit consultant/ Compounded with the erosion of the direction. Relations Committee. Differential grant writer. Voting Rights Act, police violence Recently, Deborah and Grant spoke treatment of people of color is a Dr. Grant Golden is a diagnostic perpetuates structural inequality that with Mara Koven-Gelman, director of longstanding problem in our judicial radiologist and Congregation Beth harms communities of color. There is JCRC to explain their inspiration and system, and one that receives inadequate Abraham Board Member. He runs the much work to be done, requiring the motivation: attention from those who don’t have to Old Chestnut Film Society, writes plays involvement of the community at large. deal with it. This is an opportunity for us and songs for plays, and reviews theater Among the JCRC key priorities are MKG: Why do you both feel so as Jews to go to these communities, listen for Buffalo Rising. social justice (including criminal justice), strongly about criminal justice reform to them and join with them in advocating Mara Koven-Gleman is Director of the combatting hate and anti-Semitism, and and building bridges with diverse for something of real importance. Buffalo JCRC. building bridges with communities and communities? And why should the We all know and appreciate Jews in 4 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 Me and My Cousin Sholem Bonnie By Rob Goldberg

Ukrainian born Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich, better known by his pen name Sholem Aleichem, was a leading Yiddish author and playwright. The beloved musical is Buffalo! Fiddler on the Roof is based on his story “Tevye the Dairyman.”

I just learned that me and Back in 1964 when Zero Sholem are kin, sort of. My Mostel played Tevye, the Elegant custom built, 1st floor master suite, over 4,200 sq. Ft., Situated in kids bought me a DNA kit for investors and some in the roxbury park, williamsville east and transit Father’s Day and as instructed, media worried that the play middle school district. This magnificent I spit into a tube and mailed it might be considered “too home was designed by buffalo’s best # 1 to AncestryDNA. Five weeks Jewish” at the time to attract architect, george pearlman. Some of the later I got a text indicating mainstream audiences. I special features included are: 26x11 spa, exercise room on 1st floor, 4-car garage, that my results were ready to spoke with Amherst born pella windows in most rooms, 4-zone view. To no one’s surprise, I’m actress Cheryl Stern who heat and air, central air-2013, circular 100% European Jewish! appeared in the production driveway newly redone in 2019, master Which brings me to my connection with starring Hershel Bernardi and she told me with hardwoods, california closets, huge Sholem Aleichem. While I was waiting for that Jerome Robbins, the show’s director, laundry, great for entertaining, central 179 Roxbury Park • $499,900 vacuum, security & more. my results, I began to build my family tree insisted that no Yiddish be used – including online. I learned that my great grandfather, ad libs – all in their desire to make Fiddler Wolf Goldberg, was born in Belarus and universal. my grandmother Sarah, who died before In my quest to find my roots, I was Fantastic curb appeal shouts 32 Hunters I was born and who my sister Susan is transported to Anatevka as depicted in Lane! The front door opens into a spacious living & dining room combination with named after, was from Berditchev. An the new Yiddish adaptation. The language original hardwood floors. Bright sunlight area about 75 miles southwest of Kiev in stripped away all the campiness of the streams into the kitchen. Family room with the Ukraine, Berditchev is in the same original Fiddler; the story this time felt fireplace. Four wonderfully sized bedrooms. region as Sokolivka, where so many Jewish wrenching, tragic and personal. Tevye the Outstanding master bedroom 18’x17’ with Buffalonians have their roots. Diaryman and his neighbors were members hardwood floors. Lovely spacious backyard. In Russian and Jewish literature, of my family. Loads of closet space and terrific potential. Berditchev epitomizes the typical Jewish There is a concept often connected to Hardwoods under carpeting. town. It had dozens of synagogues and Beit mass tragedy called “emotional proximity,” 171 Harbridge Manor • $699,900 Midrashrim (Houses of Learning) and served the way one feels connected to an experience. as the model for the town depicted in the For instance, when the shooting at the Tree writings of my kin, Sholem. And, in early of Life Synagogue happened last October, 1919, nearly 20 years after my grandmother we all felt connected emotionally. I was in was born, the Jews in Berditchev became Israel so that shooting was geographically BONNIE CLEMENT victims of a pogrom perpetrated by the distant, but it felt close because the victims Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker Ukrainian army. were fellow Jews, because Pittsburgh So when I saw the Yiddish version of could be Buffalo, because it took place at Cell: 716.553.8384 Sholem’s Fiddler on the Roof (A Fidler Afn a synagogue. All these elements made the [email protected] | BonnieClement.com Dak) this summer (first with my friend experience “emotionally proximate.” Leslie Kramer when we were in NYC for a That’s how I felt at Stage 42 twice this HUNT ERA Williamsville Village Branch: Federation meeting, and a second time with summer. Anatevka was somewhere close. 5570 Main Street, 1st Floor, Williamsville, NY 14221 my wife, Shira, last month), I was overcome Familiar. A place where my people suffered. with emotion. The new production is in The language of my grandmother lifted me stark contrast to the Broadway version from back to my roots. the 60’s and 70’s; while the music and Me and Sholem. Tied at the hip through characters are the same; the set is plain, the our DNA. I love that my “cousin” Sholem Ask Dr. Amy Beth Yiddish raw, and the way the story is told is changed his name from Solomon Rabinovich anything but kitchy like the original. to Sholem Aleichem, the Hebrew and Everyone else does! To American Jews, Fiddler is comfort Yiddish phrase that literally means “peace • Evening & Weekend Appointments food. Jackie Hoffman, the actress, singer upon you.” After seeing A Fidler Afn Dak I • Therapy, Workshops, DWI Evaluations and comedian, who plays Yente the feel even more connected to my ancestors Court-Ordered Assessments Matchmaker in the new Yiddish production, from Berdichev, from the Kiev region of said it beautifully: “I had an obligatory love the Ukraine, where if I was walking in the Experience - Professionalism - Sensitivity for Fiddler. I thought it was always a little village with my great grandparents, I’d so Dr. Amy Beth Taublieb cornball. But it was like when black people naturally say to Motyl the Tailor or Laizer New York State Licensed Psychologist saw Lt. Ohoura on Star Trek, they said, ‘Oh Wolf the Butcher, or my grandmother’s 1006 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Tonawanda look, there’s a black person on the bridge of friend Tzeitel, “Sholem Aleichem.” the Enterprise.’ For me, it was like: ‘Wow, Rob Goldberg is CEO/ Executive Director 716-834-1505 www.dramybeth.com there’s a Jewish musical!’” of the Buffalo Jewish Federation . August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 5 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Mark Goldman: One Man | Two Families By Marti Gorman

Tillie Schwartz Goldman. Born in Buffalo Lions of Judah… New York City in 1906, this fierce, feisty woman called Central Park her own, rode in a Willys Jeep from the Story Continues her home on Riverside Drive to her father’s factory in the Garment Peggy Kahn Sullivan District as a child, married Charlie Goldman at the Waldorf Astoria in 1925, and even became enmeshed in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Tillie’s son, award-winning author, restaurateur, and historian Mark Goldman, paints a vivid portrait of a colorful facet of the Jewish immigrant experience in New York City in the mid- 1900s in Tillie: A New York City Girl, 1906-2001, released this past May, at the Jewish Community Center. He wrote this loving memoir in his mother’s voice. An insatiable curiosity is a trait found primarily in novelists and historians. Mark Goldman is a bit of both. Goldman stops people in the street to ask them questions, not as a game. Goldman actually listens to the answers and adds them to his enormous store of lore. He prowls bookstores, lingers in libraries, goes to galleries and museums, spends hours plowing through clues about other Left: 2 of Mark Goldman’s books. Above: Mark Goldman (photo by kc kratt) lives and other times. This is not work, however. It’s his passion. In fact, it was a random item that during those tumultuous and formative J. Albright and Tillie: A New York City turned up in an unrelated trek through a years. Albright: The Life and Times of John Girl, 1906-2001, are both vividly told unique file of folders rich with carefully J. Albright was released during the very and lushly illustrated tales by one man labeled newspaper articles, photographs well-attended Albright Weekend in May about two families. Both books were and artifacts lovingly labeled by hand 2017, and this exceptionally beautiful published by Buffalo Heritage Press and carefully filed under thousands of book just won a prestigious bronze IPPY (BuffaloHeritage.com) and can be subjects found in the Grosvenor Room two instances of Albright’s signature. Award (Independent Publisher Book purchased wherever books are sold. of the Buffalo & Erie County Public The man whose personal architect Award) for best biography in May 2019. Library that triggered Goldman’s three- was the renowned E.B. Green and whose It was in between these two events that year quest to solve the John J. Albright landscaping buddy was none other than Tillie’s granddaughter, Lydia Goldman Hear the rest of the story mystery: an auction notice for the Frederick Law Olmsted; the man who Langer, asked her father a simple yet at Mark Goldman’s talk One Albright Estate at 730 West Ferry Street, built the Albright Art Gallery and the compelling question. “You’ve just spent Man | Two Families at Talking published in 1936. Nichols School, who brought steel to three years researching someone else’s John J. Albright—one of the wealthiest Buffalo (yes, Bethlehem), underwrote family, Dad. What about our family?” Leaves on Wednesday, August of Buffalo’s powerful industrialists and the Pan-American Exposition, and “Hmmm,” he thought. “You’re right!” 7 at 7:00pm. There will be notable philanthropist—was broke? That harnessed power at Niagara Falls. So Goldman then turned his historian’s light refreshments, lots of remarkable anomaly sent Goldman to This influential businessman had not trained eye on his own family. He found historically-relevant laughs, three states in as many years, to the left behind an entire library full of a taped, oral history recorded by his a terrific Q&A, and plenty of Harvard Library and a remote cabin documents? mother in the 1970s and discovered books on hand to be signed. in the Adirondacks, to Jekyll Island, Goldman searched for more than three his grandmother’s rich collection Georgia, and to Scranton, Pennsylvania, years and is satisfied that no Albright of photographs. With this auspicious Free and open to the public. to countless libraries and archives, and archive exists. He managed nonetheless foundation, he researched New York City to the doors of nearly a dozen Albright to write a compelling biography of a man as his mother would have experienced descendants. whose name is so well known in Buffalo it. As was the case with Albright, in Tillie Marti Gorman is co-founder of Although he discovered hundreds of and beyond, but about whom so little Goldman paints a portrait, not just of Buffalo Heritage Press, Western New photographs—some taken in Europe was known. his mother and his own family, but of York’s premier publishing house and in the late 1800s by Albright’s oldest Albright is not merely the story of one a fascinating facet of a colorful era in a proud publisher of Mark Goldman and son with one of the very first Kodak elusive man during Buffalo’s heyday. It remarkable city. many other excellent authors. cameras—and lots of clues, he found just is a striking snapshot of Buffalo itself Albright: The Life and Times of John 6 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Sophia Veffer: Making her Mark through Education

five-year high school in only three years. Since that time, Sophia has dedicated She went to college in Amsterdam, herself to the mission of Buffalo State married in Holland, and came to the College, speaking each year at the Anne United States in 1954. Frank Project’s annual social justice Veffer became a special education festival and sharing her wisdom with teacher, receiving her bachelor’s degree thousands of students, faculty, staff, and in sociology from the University of community members. She is especially Buffalo and her master’s degree in committed to refugee and immigrant special education from Buffalo State populations, who share her story. College. She also raised three sons, all Veffer serves as a founding board of whom are now successful attorneys. member of the Anne Frank Project. Last Veffer began publicly sharing her year, the Holocaust Resource Center story several years later. She has taught of Buffalo created the annual Sophia thousands of students and young Veffer Upstander Award. This summer, adults the important lessons of the Buffalo State will unveil the Buffalo Holocaust and other mass atrocities. State College Social Justice Fellowship: In January 2006, Veffer received the Sophia’s Legacy, a teacher-training National Conference for Community and initiative designed to ensure that Justice (NFJC) Brotherhood Sisterhood Veffer’s story will be shared throughout Award for outstanding leadership in area schools for decades to come. (L-R) Buffalo State College President Katherine Conway-Turner, Sophia Veffer, and Interim Provost promoting goodwill and understanding This story was written by the Buffalo James Mayrose in the community. That same year she State College PR Department and was was contacted by Drew Kahn, SUNY previously on the College’s website. Buffalo State College and the State other countries. Veffer’s father Distinguished Service Professor, who University of New York bestowed a SUNY wanted to move the family requested her assistance with his theater honorary doctorate upon Sophia Veffer during as far away from Europe as production of The Diary of Anne Frank. the college’s 2019 Commencement ceremonies possible, but her mother was in May. Ms. Veffer, a Buffalo State Class of reluctant to leave. In late 1939, 1971 graduate, Holocaust survivor and retired her father sold his business special education teacher, received a SUNY and bought passages to honorary doctor of humane letters degree at England. One week before they the afternoon baccalaureate ceremony. were to depart, her mother HOMES OF Sophia Veffer was born in Amsterdam, Holland, refused to go. Six months in 1929. Her father was a stamp dealer, and the later, the Germans invaded the DISTINCTION family lived in a middle-class neighborhood, where Netherlands. Veffer attended school with Anne Frank. The Nazis deported more than 100,000 Dutch Jews to SPECIALIST concentration camps between 1942 and 1944. Veffer’s Nationally recognized in the category of Sophia has dedicated family went into hiding and Top 5% in Residential Real Estate Sales were forced to split up. Veffer herself to the mission left her parents, changing her identity, leaving school, DEODATA (DEE) of Buffalo State and divesting herself of all personal possessions. M. CAMMILLERI College, speaking Near the end of the war, Veffer was arrested and each year at the transported to the notorious Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Bergen-Belsen concentration Cell: (716) 573-4751 Anne Frank Project’s camp. Nearly 50,000 people Email: [email protected] perished in the camp, annual social justice including Anne Frank. The British liberated Bergen- festival and sharing Belsen in April 1945, and after several weeks of recuperation, her wisdom... Veffer was transported to a small city in Holland, where she stayed until she could be Life changed dramatically in 1938, when the reunited with her parents in Kristallnacht pogrom spurred a huge influx of Amsterdam. She eventually 914 Maple Road, Williamsville, NY 14221 German Jewish émigrés to the Netherlands and returned to school, finishing a August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 7 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Deborah Sales Bokobza & Ula Wolfe: Third-Generation- Holocaust-Survivors Discover they are Cousins

By Elizabeth Schram

On Monday, July 8, cousins, Deborah Bokobza from Buffalo and Ula Wolfe from Melbourne, Australia met in person for the very first time. Deborah never knew that her grandfather, Hersch Torahschreiber (later known as Herman Sales), had a sister. His sister’s name was Matylda Torahschreiber Penner, who had a granddaughter, Ula Wolfe. In a “Descendants of Holocaust Survivors” Facebook group, Deborah came across a post from Danielle Hurst-Ehnisz, a non-Jewish genealogist living in Canada, who was offering her services for free. Deborah contacted her and Danielle was able to uncover photographs, documentation, information and names of relatives that Deborah had never known about. When Ula was contacted in Australia by Danielle to see if she wanted to speak to her relative, Deborah, in Buffalo, she couldn’t believe it.

Deborah and Ula at Ahavas Achim Cemetary

“So the family is continuing, and all of my children are

Matylda Penner named for

At this point in time, Ula was very somebody who connected to her mother’s side of the family, but not her father’s side since was lost.” those closest to her had passed away. Ula never knew her grandmother, Matylda to Buffalo in 1947 because he had two Sales Penner, because she was murdered uncles here who were furriers. Herman in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Ula lived in the same house as Deborah, Deborah Sales Bokobza’s father, Joseph Sales, as a young boy in Poland before WWII (bottom left). was born in Poland in 1956 and moved to who was born in Buffalo in 1952, until Numerous other relatives of Deborah and Ula are shown in this photo and were murdered during the Holocaust. Australia in 1959 with her sister, parents, she was seventeen years old, so they aunt and uncle. Ula recalled that, “No were very close. Deborah reflected that, you’re a kid? You don’t think to ask, one?’ He never spoke about it and they one really spoke about what happened “Now, as an adult, as a grandmother ‘Grandpa, did you have any other never talked about World War II to us though.” Deborah’s grandfather had of eight, I wish I would’ve asked brothers or sisters? What happened to kids. When they had company, they survived the Holocaust and immigrated questions, but who thinks of it when this one and what happened to that spoke in Polish usually, but we didn’t 8 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 CELEBRATE WHERE THE UNEXPECTED understand, so I didn’t know.” of our family would have been together REBIRTH OF BUFFALO BEGAN I asked Ula and Deborah what it was and close. My grandparents had a very like for them to meet in person for the poor simple life there [in Krakow] and Embassy Suites Buffalo would be privileged to host your family gathering or event. first time. Deborah responded, “I kind they wouldn’t believe the lives that their of see something in her that reminds granddaughters have today, and that me of family, like my father had blue we have children and grandchildren. • 182 all suite hotel eyes, my brother had blue eyes and I So the family is continuing, and all of saw her blue eyes and [I thought] boom, my children are named for somebody • Accomodating parties up to 200 guests who was lost. Everybody took a name this is my mishpucha here!” Deborah and • Custom menus to fit your needs Ula shared a powerful moment together from someone that was murdered in the when they visited the grave of Herman Holocaust.” • Plan your party or event Sales in the Ahavas Achim Cemetery At the end of their interview, I asked on Pine Ridge Road. Sales, Deborah’s what they thought their relationship • Bat/Bar Mitzvah • Wedding grandfather and Ula’s great uncle, died would be like moving forward. Ula in 1971 in Buffalo. While embracing each responded, “Absolutely, without any • Engagement • Birthday other, Deborah exclaimed, “Grandpa, question, Deborah and I will stay in • Retirement • Memorial what do you think about this?” Later, contact and I would hope that she and during their interview, Deborah pointed her husband will come stay with us in • Anniversary • Graduation out, “Next year is 75 years from the end Australia. At this stage in life, family of the war and it’s a long time passing. My is just so important.” Deborah added, grandfather was born in 1890 and your “Amen. We would love to do that. Now grandmother was born in that range–so that Ula was able to be in the cemetery we’re talking about 120 years ago that with this side of the family, I can be in these siblings were born and now we’re the cemetery in Australia with that side here together–the grandchildren. Often, of the family. It’s a wonderful thing.” For more information call I think about what life would be like had Elizabeth Schram is Director of the 716.319.1103 our enemies not risen up against us, how Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo. those 6 million Jews would have had | | | another 6 million children, and how all

Sunday Funday is in full-swing at the My Grown Up & Me Storytime! Meet other grown ups and kiddos while we sing songs, play in different spaces, and read PJ Library Books together. This storytime is designed for infants and toddlers.

August 11th 10:00 AM Elmwood-Bidwell Farmer’s Market, Buffalo, NY

To Register: FREE! Email Nicole: [email protected]

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 9 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Eyal Cohen: Making Niagara Falls New By Shai Lewis “There is so In Niagara Falls, NY, a city battling an approximate 30% poverty rate much potential, with rising cost of rents, affordable housing has become the critical need but if you want for populations working to overcome the challenges of mental health, to see change, addiction, and homelessness. Working with the local government you have to and social services agencies addressing these challenges, 43-year old Eyal change.” Cohen of AEC Development and ACF Construction is an Israeli immigrant from Pardes Hannah who has been in order to remain independent and in the United States since 2000. He has the community, the populations that found a calling, and the opportunity Cohen is working with require services to combine his business expertise and to address mental illness and other empathy into developing modern, clean, disabilities. With the future goal of and vibrant living spaces for the city’s combining the counseling or addiction most vulnerable residents. Despite supports his tenants need, his company having developed many properties in the is working to partner with social service Falls, Cohen is not a remote landlord. agencies to help provide programs that He lives in the same neighborhood as also serve their missions and help people his residents, and makes his rounds return to work. ohen believes this is the every day to check on their progress central point of any recovery, “to bring and provide a helping hand wherever some value not only to themselves, but possible. Asking why Cohen has chosen also to their community.” The value of this lifestyle, he responded, “my mother community, Cohen says, he gets from his always worked with people with mental wife Osnat, who grew up in Kibbutz Sde disabilities. I would volunteer to help Boker. Mrs. Cohen, along with their four her on weekends, and I loved it. Many of boys, joined her husband eight months the people I work with also have some Eyak Cohen after he arrived in Niagara Falls. With her disabilities. Those are the most special doesn’t make sense. You need to be other community stakeholders, Cohen arrival, also came community. Passover of all.” creative, be different.” can clearly articulate the opportunity 2018 was held at one of Cohen’s recently Seeing the apartments and buildings Driving thousands of miles each year to beautify Niagara Falls, and help the renovated properties, and at their table that Cohen is providing, with granite to source high-end materials at budget city grow into the vibrant economy that sat the Cohen’s friends, family, and counter kitchens or common spaces prices so his tenants can have a sense Cohen believes it could be. “There is employees, side by side with tenants. with antique furniture, and at rents of pride in their homes, Cohen has so much potential, but if you want to This, the future community that Niagara affordable to individuals on public found his differentiator. He has become see change, you have to change. You Falls could be, is what Eyal Cohen sees. assistance, Cohen has grown beyond the an activist developer. In constant can’t wait for other people to change, Shai Lewis is a business consultant term ‘Social Entrepreneur’. “Why would communication with the Niagara County you have to do it yourself.” But housing living in Buffalo. I sell Coke if Coca-Cola sells Coke? It Department of Social Services, and many the vulnerable is not enough. In

10 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Marlowe Bloomberg: Just a Spoonful of Sugar… By Ellen Goldstein

Marlowe Bloomberg will be celebrating her Bat Mitzvah on October 19th at Congregation Shir Shalom. A rising 8th grader at Heim Middle School, Marlowe has been involved in theatre since she was 8, and has participated in lessons and various performances at the Academy of Theatre Arts (ATA). Her most recent role was “Jane” in Mary Poppins Jr.

Lauren and Marlowe at Oishei

around for a while, and I have been families–to donate toys to sick kids at doing it for 5 years,” she said. “I enjoy it the hospital. She put a bin at the school so much, and I really wanted to share it from May through June, and collected with the kids at the hospital.” more than 150 toys, then brought them Marlowe’s parents, Rich and Lauren to the hospital and donated them to Bloomberg, are very supportive. “We are patients. hoping to make this an annual event and “Then we also put together a few call it ‘Marlowe’s Mitzvah’,” said Lauren songs, brought 40 middle schoolers Bloomberg. “It is important for her to do grades 5-8 to the hospital on June 27 and Marlowe with all the toys she collected something that she actually, physically they performed in the New Era Pavilion. Marlowe wanted to bring her love of If you ask Marlowe how she came to does—not just writing a check, but We all had acted in Mary Poppins, so we theatre to children who are sick and in be singing Mary Poppins songs to sick taking some kind of action, creating an sang songs from that,” she said. Staff, the hospital, and as a result her Mitzvah children, she loves explaining the story. activity.” hospital visitors and a few patients came Project, called “Marlowe’s Mitzvah” was “When I was 8, I enjoyed singing, dancing The genesis of this mitzvah project to hear the students sing. born. On June 27th, Marlowe, along and acting. I started with Academy of was a toy drive. Then Marlowe asked “It made me feel really happy, because with other members of the Academy Theater Arts in Williamsville. It has been all kids at Theatre Arts–about 500 I knew I was bringing smiles and joy, Performance group–the auditioned and that was the goal of the whole group at ATA–brought their songs project. I will talk about it in my Bat to Oishei Children’s Hospital. They Mitzvah speech, and will also post it on performed scenes and dances from the the Congregation Shir Shalom Facebook shows they have done this year, and also Page,” she added. presented new toys to the patients. Rich, Lauren, Marlowe and her Marlowe was excited about this brother, Reid, have been in Buffalo for project because it is the first time a 11 years. Lauren grew up in Toronto. group of young people has performed at She is a Jewish educator and has taught the new Children’s Hospital. “I wanted to at various schools, including PALS- incorporate my love of theatre into the Kadimah. Rich hails from Montreal, and act of kindness, so my family came up works as a general surgeon with Surgical with the idea to bring theater to kids in Associates of WNY. Reid is a passionate Oishei Children’s Hospital, so we could hockey player and will enter 5th grade put smiles on their faces,” Marlowe said. this fall. They love calling Buffalo home, And though she turned 13 on July 7, her and are happily settled in Williamsville. Bat Mitzvah portion is Bereishit, the first Ellen Goldstein is editor of The chapter of the Book of Genesis, which is Jewish Journal. about creating the world, which she is doing in a very musical manner. Members of the ATA Theatre group at Oishei Hospital (Marlowe is in white.) August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 11 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Bringing Sydney to my Clarence farm By Tina Ball

Challah is the path to world peace. How do I know this? Because I met Laya Slavin. Our Big Kitchen (OBK) in Sydney, Australia is a remarkable place. Founded by Rabbi Doctor Dovid Slavin and his wife Laya, OBK is a community run, industrial kitchen where meals are prepared for distribution to needy people of every denomination all across Sydney. It is Kosher and Halal certified, a place for individuals, families, corporate and civic groups to come together and cook for a good cause. Last year OBK distributed over 80,000 meals to disadvantaged Australians. It started with one family in need. Concerned about the burden different families in their Yeshiva community had taken on providing meals for a gravely ill colleague, the Slavins borrowed a Kosher kitchen and pulled together a group of volunteers. During these shop-ins, cook–ins and pack-ins they noticed the incredible electricity that grew among the volunteers. Without hesitation, the Slavins (my guess is that Challah bakers in Sydney with Laya Laya Slavin rarely hesitates) created Our Big Kitchen, a beautiful, modern teaching and cooking facility in Bondi, a historically Jewish community just a flip-flop’s throw always give the first challah away. She explained who had never heard of it - that came as from the fabulous and more famous Bondi Beach. The builders, excavators, painters, not to expect two challahs to ever look exactly quite a shock to a New York Jew. electricians, all donated their time and resources for the project, but these were not the same because no two of her weeks ever look In my mind, and I guess in the world only Jewish workers. Members from the Greek and Italian communities jumped in as exactly the same. As she moved through her of “Gastrodiplomacy,” challah is…Italy. well. As Laya Slavin puts it, “It became everyone’s project. Hashem’s hand at OBK was flash demonstration of braiding techniques–too Ubiquitous, as available at your local evident from day one – He has held our hand all along the way.” fast for any of us to really grasp–the freedom, Deli counter as it is at your Bubbe’s. Paul In December, 2018 I volunteered at OBK as part of a family Bar Mitzvah celebration connection and simple artistry that I witnessed Rockower, a pioneer of Gastrodiplomacy, far outweighed my utter confusion about the clearly knows the mantra that runs through technique. Or the recipe. every Jew’s heart: “the easiest way to win When I returned to the States, I ordered The hearts and minds is through the stomach.” Rising Life, a slim book by Rochie Pinson that Our food is often the easiest part of Laya recommended when I pumped her for ourselves to share. her challah recipe - which I never got. Using Tikkun Olam, the foundation for all Rochie Pinson as a guide, I began to obsessively diplomacy, is one of my favorite Jewish experiment, creating my own challah recipes concepts. That I alone have the power week after week and sharing them with my to repair a broken world is an almost family back in Sydney via WhatsApp. My cousin overwhelming concept, particularly (by marriage) Karen Stein caught the bug that now, when the world seems so big, so day too. Now she makes gorgeous challahs, complicated and so broken. With roughly which have bonded us in a sort of competitive 14 million Jews around the world, I’m mutual awe and adoration ever since. fairly certain there are at least 13+ million I recently moved back to Buffalo after challah recipes. And every one is, of course, living in New York City for 42 years. I built the best. More than once in history, people a career as a stage director, working almost have been in awe of the miracles a little Tina Ball exclusively with playwrights from around the bread can produce. Why not give it another world developing more than 100 new plays. I try? After a lifetime of thinking challah in Sydney. Three generations of family and extended family worked together for hours loved the job because of my deeply connected, baking was way out of my wheelhouse, chopping, cooking and packaging for delivery according to the strict guidelines and generous community; the constant literary and I learned that the recipe for the perfect instructions of OBK’s master chef. But when Laya Slavin appeared and gathered us all intellectual challenges; and the utter lack of challah, the one I thought I couldn’t master, together for the grand finale, the moment I had been waiting for, she made no reference common place, quotidian limitations. the one Laya Slavin didn’t want to share, is to a recipe at all. Instead, we were each handed a little hill of prepared challah dough Making challah is exactly the opposite. It the one she didn’t need to. The recipe for and asked a question: why do we braid challah? requires the same amount of my time every the perfect challah is its purpose. Now if you Google this you will find all kinds of reasons, but the one Laya Slavin gave week. I know that on Thursday or Friday it Repairing the world. Thank you, Laya changed my life. will take me 40 minutes to prepare the dough. Slavin, for making Our Big Kitchen big I had never thought about challah as an imperfect thing before. Quite the contrary. It 3-4 hours of rising time. Another 40 minutes enough for everyone, and for never giving seemed like something too hard to master. It was too complicated, too time-consuming. to braid and allow for a last rise, 25 minutes me your recipe. Although intriguing, baking challah seemed like something you learn, not something to bake. I’ve begun to experiment using fresh Tina Ball is a Buffalo native and now you do. herbs from my garden - rosemary and chives. makes her home in Clarence on her But as Laya began to demonstrate how to roll out our dough and separate it into I’ve made parmesan challahs, round challahs, family’s former cattle farm. You can reach braids, she also began to explain what she thinks about when she makes challah. challah holes and challah rolls. And I always her at [email protected] She explained that each strand represents a person to her, someone she had spent give the first one (or two) away, to Jews as well time with or thought about during that week. She explained that it is her tradition to as non-Jews. I have introduced challah to people 12 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Seth Greene: Natural Born Marketer

If you ask 42 year-old Buffalo Suiting Up the Men of Buff alo Since 1918 native Seth Greene why he does what he does as CEO of Market Domination LLC, he lights up and says, “Because Celebrating of the ripple effect. Our marketing 101 years grows our client’s businesses so they Suiting up the can do what they do best. If the Men of Buffalo! stress of generating new customers is removed, our clients can do a better 716-833-8401 • Riversidemens.com job of serving their clients, customers, or patients. Heck, they are probably a better boss, spouse, and parent. We change one business, we change the world.” Sounds like a Jewish point of view. And the Williamsville East High School Celebrating 71 Years! and Syracuse University grad, son of Al Happy Birthday August! Greene and Janeen Morris , and life-long All Peridot Jewelry 50% o Congregation Shir Shalom ( previously Free Layaway Temple Beth Am) member might just agree. He’s an advocate of Tikkun Olam “Honored to Continue through better marketing. Both Legacies!” Greene started Market Domination James & Natalie Neumann LLC back in 2007 due to his frustration with the marketing in the financial 6470 TRANSIT RD., DEPEW, NY 14043 services industry. 716-833-8401 RIVERSIDEMENS.COM SANDEJEWELERS.COM “I began as a Series 7 licensed financial advisor. The first day after licensing and training, my branch manager gave me the phone book and told me to make 300 Integra cold calls a day, interrupting strangers, Seth, Max, Rebecca, Lillie and Ella Greene asking for money. I figured there had to Realty, LLC be a better way.” “If your marketing looks like everyone else’s, or it Greene found one. He’s written seven Irina Epstein books on the topic of direct response says the same thing that your competition does, marketing, and his latest Market Domination for Podcasting is on the how are you going to stand out?” shelves of Barnes & Noble now. Jewish Journal readers can get a copy for free by calling his office at 888-899-9214 and coveted and prestigious marketer of the In case you wondering, Greene still mentioning this article. year award, and though Greene did not makes time to take care of his original He’s also the co-host of the popular win, he is proud of the 2013, 2014, and financial services clients. Why keep that SharkPrenuer podcast (Rated #6 in the 2015 nominations. on his already overflowing plate? “They Top 10 podcasts to listen to in 2019) with What’s the biggest marketing mistake are like family. I will always make time Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington. Greene he sees most business owners make for them no matter what.” speaks almost every month about the trying to grow their business? “Being How does he get so much done in topics of direct response marketing and boring. If your marketing looks like a day? “My wife Rebecca is a stay-at- social media. everyone else’s, or it says the same home mom to our three kids, Max, Ella, One of his proudest accomplishments thing that your competition does, how and Lillie. I don’t know how she does is being the only person in history are you going to stand out? How will it. Her energy and stamina inspire me BOUTIQUE/PERSONALIZED who has been nominated three years you capture anyone’s attention? If your every day. I couldn’t run two businesses REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE in a row for the prestigious Marketer marketing is boring, you will get boring without her, and I’m just trying to keep COMPETITIVE FEES of the Year award from legendary results. You have to make your product up with all she does.” You also might marketer Dan Kennedy, the highest paid or service sexy to your prospects. That’s remember reading about his daughter, LOCAL WOMEN OWNED marketing consultant on the planet, a where we come in.” 5th Grade child actress Ella Rae Greene, RUSSIAN/HEBREW/ENGLISH 13 time best-selling author, and the What types of clients does Market in the February 2019 issue of the founder of NO BS Inner Circle, the largest Domination LLC serve? Professional Jewish Journal who had just gotten her marketing organization of its kind in practices (financial advisors, children’s book published. (716) 548-9107 the world. Thousands of members of accountants, lawyers, doctors, dentists), Check out www.MarketDomina- his organization from around the world and retail companies looking to sell tionLLC.com to learn more about Seth [email protected] each year are eligible to compete for the online direct to consumers. Greene and to join his marketing family. August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 13 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO

Drs. Ann Marie Carosella and Jeffrey Lackner: her interests are varied, they are tied together by a common thread - her deep belief in creating a just, educated society Leadership with love in Jewish Buffalo where each person has the opportunity to thrive. Regarding her time on the By Rabbi Sara Rich Amherst School Board, she emphasized that her service was not just to ensure Our sages teach in Pirkei Avot, “It is not upon the quality of Ben and Rachel’s education. you to complete the task, nor are you free to desist “After all,” she remarked, “If my kids get a from it.” Drs. Ann Marie Carosella and Jeffrey good education and others can’t succeed Lackner are empathetic to the struggles that they because they didn’t get a good education, see people grappling with, and have dedicated then what good is that?” In a similar their professional lives and personal commitments vein, as she speaks to foster parents and to reducing suffering, increasing fairness, and schools to provide data for a report to promoting awareness of stories currently untold. the court, she does so with the hope Dr. Carosella, born in Buffalo and raised in Newfane, that in the end of this difficult process, and Dr. Lackner, who hails from Denver, Colorado, the children will be given a chance to be met one another as psychology graduate students successful. Dr. Carosella reflects, “It’s not at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, a zero sum game. If these kids in foster Virginia. They bonded as study buddies, and their care are not taken care of, we all pay a relationship blossomed. They married in 1990 and price. We all need to work together to have two children, Rachel and Ben. ensure that everyone does okay.” Dr. Carosella was initially recruited for A Call for Justice and Education the HRC board because of her connection In the last 25 years since returning to Buffalo, to the school system that can be used Dr. Carosella has continued her professional work to facilitate Holocaust education for preparing data from studies for scientific analysis, often School Board, her current role as a court appointed special advocate for teachers and students, which is one of the for Dr. Lackner’s lab. Her volunteer commitments are children in foster care, and her six-year tenure on the board of the Holocaust organization’s major areas of focus. As numerous, including a nine-year stint on the Amherst Resource Center (HRC), of which she is now the board President. Although President of the HRC, she hopes to work

14 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 with the new Executive Director, Elizabeth between campus and the greater WNY Schram, and the other volunteer leaders region. As Dr. Lackner puts it, “Hillel to expand the footprint of the HRC in energizes and enriches the Jewish milieu schools and in the community, and to of the local community.” A Shopping Experience Like No Other keep telling the story of the Holocaust to Another of Dr. Lackner’s goals as preserve the memories of its victims and President is to lead the board in sharing survivors, and remember the lessons that the stories of students who are impacted remain relevant today. Watching members by Hillel to show that it is much more of the HRC’s Speaker’s Bureau give their than a social organization, but rather talks is always a moving experience for is one that touches students in their her that reminds her of the importance of academic, professional, and spiritual lives this work. “These people are the strongest as well. For example, he was inspired of the strong, and I think it’s because they by the students who went on Hillel’s have this message to share,” she reflects. Alternative Spring Break service trip to “I am humbled by what I’ve seen. People Miami, admitting that as a college student who have gone through such adversity he would never have given up a spring and continue to give - it’s just astonishing break vacation to volunteer for a week. to me.” The students on this trip were exposed to complex societal challenges and had the Highlighting the Full Student chance to meet people whose lives are Barbara L. Oliver Experience very different from their own. Graduate Gemologist - GIA Dr. Jeffrey M. Lackner combines his As an experienced grant writer from his inquisitive mind and his concern for the research work, one way that Dr. Lackner well-being of others to serve as Chief contributes to Hillel is to help write grant 5820 Main Street, Suite 311 | Caldwell Building | Williamsville, NY 14221 of the Division of Behavioral Medicine applications that will allow Hillel to expand P- 716.204.1297 | F- 716.204.2260 within the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs the menu of meaningful opportunities for [email protected] School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. students. He has also been a key partner in The Division of Behavioral Medicine is enhancing collaboration between Hillel of “A Trusted Jeweler is Worth Her Weight in Gold.” one of a few of its kind in the country, Buffalo and Hillel International through and is pursuing cutting-edge work in his participation at meetings with Hillel behavioral, non-drug treatments for pain. senior executives at its Schusterman They have three areas of focus: clinical International Center global headquarters treatment, research, and education. Dr. in Washington, D.C. and general assembly Lackner came to UB by way of Rutgers in Denver. University, where he earned his PsyD in Clinical Psychology, and a Fellowship in Jewish Buffalo as Dinner Behavioral Medicine at the University Conversation of Rochester School of Medicine. He In their roles as President of two local employs a cognitive behavioral approach Jewish agencies, Dr. Carosella and Dr. that offers sufferers of chronic pain Lackner agree that their dinnertime new strategies for responding to their conversation often focuses on the symptoms. When patients use these happenings of their organizations. They strategies, they manage their pain better share traits of curiosity, practicality, and and even improve their condition. His compassion that make them reliable research continues to reveal new findings sounding boards for one another. about the relationship between the mind In addition to their involvement with and the body. HRC and Hillel, they are members of In addition to his academic leadership, Congregation Shir Shalom, and they Dr. Lackner serves as the President of the participated in last year’s Buffalo Israel Hillel of Buffalo. Dr. Lackner is helping Experience. to lead an expansion of Hillel as an Dr. Carosella and Dr. Lackner have agency, which in the past two years has both expressed how welcome they feel grown from one full time staff member today in the Jewish community, and as to three, moved into a larger, centrally- leaders, they are committed to fostering located space on UB’s North Campus, and a community that embraces all people, is increasing the variety of programs and regardless of background or level of Jewish leadership opportunities that it offers in observance. Dr. Lackner comments, “We order to engage a greater cross-section can transcend religious divisions to see of students at the University at Buffalo, how we can engage people and draw upon Buffalo State College, and the other local their identities and experiences.” campuses. In the future, he sees Hillel Rabbi Sara Rich is Executive Director as serving a critical role in the growth of of the Hillel of Buffalo. the local Jewish community, and hopes to extend and deepen the connections August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 15 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Stephan Lewy: Erie County Senior Citizen of the Year By Peter Simon

A Holocaust survivor who has shared his experiences with more than 1,000 local students since moving here just two years ago has been named Erie County’s 2019 Senior of the Year. Stephan Lewy, a 94-year-old native of Germany, escaped the Nazis and managed to come to the United States, where he served in an Army unit that liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp, identified and interrogated Nazi leaders and staked out enemy positions. Stephan Lewy. Photo by Mark Mulville/ The Buffalo News After moving to Clarence two years ago to be near his Lewy’s ability to bond with students is evident daughter, Ellen Dubie, Lewy in the frequent notes they send him, said Dubie. made numerous visits to local Like his work in the military, Lewy makes his classrooms on behalf of the school presentations precise and on-point. “He Holocaust Resource Center. had a mission,” said Dubie, an administrator at His life story as a Holocaust the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical survivor is nothing short of Sciences. “He had a job to do. He did it and didn’t extraordinary,” said Erie brag about it.” County Executive Mark C. The upsurge of anti-Semitic acts here and in Poloncarz, who recently Europe makes it crucial that students continue named Lewy the county’s to hear directly from survivors or –as they age out– 2019 Senior of the Year. ‘Upon from the children of Holocaust survivors, Lewy the conclusion of his Army said. service, Lewy was awarded the “First, my generation is getting older, and there Bronze Star Medal and five are fewer and fewer survivors to tell their stories,” stars for meritorious service,” he said. “Secondly, our stories show what can Poloncaz said. “I thank him for happen when people fail to act.” his service to our community.” Lewy tells students how he was beaten daily Lewy–the subject of a book with belt buckles by classmates in Berlin because by author Lillian Belinfante he was Jewish. After being sent to France in an Herzberg–has a simple effort to escape Nazi atrocities, Lewy did not see but profound message for his parents for three years. But it was while helping students: “The first thing is, liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp that you do not hate. Respect other he felt the full magnitude of Nazi cruelty. people and their thoughts, “I saw mountains of human remains, living and don’t make any blind skeletons, walking or sitting in a daze, and Sheryl Kardaman Silverberg assumptions.” children without parents, not knowing where to go SRES, ABR That general message leads and whom to trust,” he has written. “This picture to deeper discussions. “I can has followed me and will continue to follow me all Your Neighbor, Your Realtor speak to kids and listen to my life.” kids,” said Lewy, who retired Despite the raw hatred he experienced and 1991 as treasurer of a hotel witnessed, Lewy went on to become a public chain. “And they can speak advocate of understanding and respect, a successful with me.” businessman and a great parent. Lewy began his school visits “He’s my hero,” said Ellen Dubie. “He’s selfless in the Boston area, where he and strong and a wonderful father.” 6000 Sheridan Drive | Williamsville, NY | 716.634.4200 cell: 716.480.2196 lived previously. Viewing the Peter Simon is a retired Buffalo News reporter [email protected] film Schindler’s List in 1994 and was president of Temple Beth Am, the prompted that involvement. predecessor to Congregation Shir Shalom. 16 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Hayden Fogle: A young blues musician who lives his passion while giving back By Jana Eisenberg Western New York. One thing that Fogle looks forward to is the opportunity to The unlikeliness of Hayden Fogle, meet and be on the same bill with more a Jewish kid from Western New York, of his musical heroes—like Mavis Staples, becoming an accomplished blues who is one of Borderland’s headliners. musician by the age of 12 is the stuff He continues to value the Jewish of head-scratching incredulity—his traditions he learned, and makes a point first appearance on a professional of living some of their tenets. stage was at that tender age, at the UB “I remember participating in Center for the Arts, when legendary community outreach; things like food blues artist Buddy Guy was clued in drives, donating to shelters, helping to to the prodigy’s presence and talent. build something. I saw when I was very Guy invited Fogle up on stage to sit in young that Jewish people, especially in with him in front of a sold-out crowd. Western New York, where we have a small Now 19, Fogle is writing his own music but strong community…work together. and has a growing list of guest spots with It’s very positive, and I feel lucky to be bona fide bluesmen (in addition to Guy, a part of it,” he said. “That made me there’s James Cotton, the Kinsey Report, realize one thing that was special and Lee Ritenour). He also was the grand good about Judaism: tzedakah. Taking prize winner in the 2018 Lee Ritenour/ care of the sick, poor and homeless, Hayden Fogle Yamaha Music International Guitar giving back—doing ‘mitzvahs’ just for Contest, going up against (and beating) more pain and joy, that gives me more the good of it, that’s a part of Judaism entrants from 50 countries in the blues soul and emotion to put into it.” that’s been really cool.” category. He credits his early exposure and He also realized that the blues Growing up as a member of Temple mentorship from seasoned musicians to community has its own version of Beth Zion, Fogle recalled enjoying show him the way. “By sharing the stage tzedakah, and it’s one way he continues temple and Hebrew school, being part and having intimate conversations with to live his Jewish ideals. “The blues of the Jewish community and studying Buddy [Guy], James [Cotton], members resonates with everybody—it talks about for his bar mitzvah. He was inspired by of the Kinsey Report, I got put in the suffering to overcome suffering. There Cantor Penny Myers, “a great singer.” right direction. They told me what it are some problems we need to talk about Seeing a young Lucas Honig, now a was like to be a black musician back in to get over, so in the blues, we sing about member of the well-regarded Americana the day, how hard it was. I’m inspired by it,” he said, sounding wise, not beyond or band PA Line, accompany Myers on those torchbearers.” for his years. Just wise. guitar was part of the reason he began Speaking and successfully playing The blues community is well known playing an instrument. music with those elders also gave him for its philanthropic work, and Fogle “Cantor Penny’s services were a big the confidence to pursue his newfound has been an enthusiastic participant. part of the music thing for me,” said passion. “Talking to these masters…it’s “Thinking about it, I’ve helped raise over Fogle. “And seeing Lucas up there with like if you are a young cook, and you get $1,000,000 through all the benefits and his 12-string guitar; he helped inspire (above) Hayden with Buddy Guy; (below) with to hang out with Julia Child for a few charity events I’ve played,” he said. “As James Cotton. me to play.” days,” he offered. “Those experiences part of the Buffalo Blues LLC, we raised How did a boy who grew up in Orchard opened my eyes to what’s out there, and $25,000 for homeless veterans, and I’ve Park and calls Buffalo his hometown “I don’t think of the blues as being ‘in what’s possible. After I sat in with Buddy played benefits for runaway children, become so immersed in the blues? me’ more than anyone else; the blues are Guy, he said, ‘This is the kind of kid I disabled adults. We raised a lot for Kevin It began when his family moved to ordinary,” he said. “‘The blues’ can refer want to see carrying on the blues.’ That Guest House, for children with cancer Mississippi for a few years for his dad’s to any struggle. It’s the tensions that we was a moment that helped me figure out and their families.” job; he was around 8. Hearing the area’s deal with, working through any suffering what I wanted to do for the rest of my “Cantor Penny used music the way indigenous music hit the right notes or pain. People think that you need to life, and I sunk my teeth in.” that I am kind of doing it,” he said. with him. go through major loss and pain to play In addition to winning the prestigious “John Lennon, Bob Marley, ‘We are “I felt things very deeply as a kid—I the blues, but it’s inside all of us….at all competition, Fogle recorded his first the World,’ that’s what we’re trying to didn’t feel like I would ever fit in,” he ages. Even a baby crying for his binky album, live at the Tralf Music Hall in do as musicians: spread love, peace, explained. “I connected differently than has the blues. Albert King, one of my Buffalo, which he plans to release by community…bring together people of all my peers—and this music is very deep, favorite musicians, says everyone’s got September of this year. Since graduating races and religions. In music, it doesn’t more deep than mainstream stuff.” the blues, it doesn’t take a lifetime.” high school, he’s traveled to and played matter who you are, what car you drive, When asked how someone so Fogle acknowledges that lived in Switzerland, Japan and L.A. or where you are from.” young can express the blues with such experience adds to his playing. “As I get This summer, he’ll play at the Jana Eisenberg is a frequent resonance, Fogle waxes both pragmatic older, my interpretations of music are Tremblant International Blues Festival, contributor to The Jewish Journal and philosophical, echoing words of getting more mature,” he noted. “The one of Canada’s largest festivals, and and other publication regionally and those who came before. blues is raw emotion, so as I experience also at the Borderland Festival here in nationally. August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 17 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO Lois and Zach Rosenblum: What’s so “nu” about knishes? By Nicole Bard made from scraps from the Jewish & Logan Woodard deli, this pastry-like food was a cheap, high-energy food (dough and In Buffalo food circles, knishes potato). From its humble origins in are news. So says Zach and our progenitors’ kitchens, it is now a Lois Rosenbloom, owners of staple of Jewish cuisine. The flavor The Bloom & Rose. At 12 Gates brings a homey, nostalgic feeling to Brewery, we sat with Zach and many who eat it. Lois at a picnic table, sipping Zach’s goal was creating a Jewish sours, cider and beer, and they deli, but that was not yet in the cards. told us their story about starting So The Bloom & Rose team set up a knish business. shop last year at the Williamsville Zach, who hails from Toledo, Farmer’s Market testing different Ohio, where his family goes back knishes each week, like traditional several generations and where potato, and spinach and feta. This his great-grandfather was a rabbi, year, The Bloom & Rose are selling moved to Western New York nearly knishes at the Elmwood-Bidwell 7 years ago with Lois, back to her Farmer’s Market. You may question a hometown of Williamsville. The knish for breakfast, but don’t knock couple met at The Ohio State it ‘til you try it—trust us. University. We had the pleasure of working Lois has a background in with The Bloom & Rose team to pilot Economics and a Master’s Degree a hands-on cooking demonstration in Business Management. She for Nickel City Jews. The knish chefs- completed her degree in Tel Aviv Zach, JB and Andy have a different through a program with New York title when hosting private events— University. Post-school, Lois found a The Bearded Bubbes. At this event, job back home in Buffalo. Originally not only did they help teach the coming back to Buffalo for a job in folks in attendance basic knife skills, real estate, Lois recently pivoted to they also put together a packet of the Tech and Data Science industry. recipes like potato latkes, beet-cured In April, she completed a four- salmon, toum, pickled onions and month course in New York City, sufganiyot so attendees could take receiving a degree in Data Science. them home and cook for family and In Ohio, Zach had found work friends. at a restaurant, where he made Nickel City Jews look forward to pizzas and shared with us that he continue working with Zach and thought, “This is actually kind of Lois, The Bloom & Rose team and fun. Maybe I should look towards Food entrepreneurs Lois and Zach Bloomberg the Bearded Bubbes. We are so this route, but Lois had just found excited to see where The Bloom & a job in Buffalo.” By the time they Rose goes next! did move to Buffalo, Zach was Feeling hungry after reading this? just scratching the surface of the “I was looking for something I could be You can sink your teeth into a knish culinary industry. He did say that or two throughout the summer at the their timing in moving to Buffalo fully passionate about, looking for ways Elmwood-Bidwell Market (under the could not have been better for him. red tent) Saturday mornings from “Food was starting to become really to keep learning.” 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; at Farmers and popular—different cuisines, special Artisans on Main Street in Snyder, ingredients, excellent quality,” he totem pole, moving all the way up to interim run as long as six months- one in Spain or you can make a personal order by said. director, and is currently the sous-chef. where students can take Spanish classes e-mail to info@thebloomandrose. Because Zach was not a trained Asked if Zach is mostly self-taught, he every day. She said that stages have become com. The Bloom & Rose. Vaguely chef, trying to find a place where replied that he learned by picking up skills a mini-industry in the culinary business. traditional, weirdly delicious! he could learn was important. “You from working under chefs, participating in Fast-forward to today, and Zach has found Nicole Bard is Buffalo Jewish don’t realize how capable you can stages—internships, and buying Culinary his place in the culinary industry. He, Lois Federation’s Director of Young Adult be when you learn on your own— Institute of America textbooks and studying and friends started a new venture together, and Young Family Engagement. without culinary school and with them. “I was looking for something I could and created The Bloom & Rose last year, Logan Woodard is Coordinator of a little bit of experience. Zach has be fully passionate about, looking for ways serving up knishes and Jewish deli-inspired Jewish Student Life and Ezra Fellow been a chef at the Park Country Club to keep learning,” he said. Zach participated fare—vaguely traditional, weirdly delicious. at Hillel of Buffalo. for the past six years, thrilled to in different stages, or culinary internships, So why knishes? Lois and Zach each have begun his culinary experience which can range from a single day class to shared a little piece of knish history with under Chef James Roberts, with a three months or more. us, painting a larger food picture. The knish humble start at the bottom of the Lois explained that there are stages that was relatively cheap to produce. Typically 18 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 HUMANS OF JEWISH BUFFALO More than Mark Sommer: A Journalist’s Quest to Capture “just” bagels. a Cleveland Baseball Legend Try a delicious wrap or sandwich today. By Ezra N. Rich organized an epic homecoming for the former ballplayer on July A familiar Buffalo News byline for 5th which attracted hundreds the past 20 years, journalist Mark of fans to the KeyBank State Sommer has covered many topics, Theater in Playhouse Square, from his current beat as an enterprise one of the city’s leading reporter highlighting development, performance art centers. preservation, the waterfront and The event featured Colavito culture to his earlier role as the and his former Indians teammates paper’s arts editor. Recently, Sommer Vern Fuller, Sam McDowell and published his first book, Rocky Luis Tiant as well as the club’s Colavito: Cleveland’s Iconic Slugger and Senior Vice President of Public coordinated a memorable visit by the Affairs, Bob DiBiasio. Reflecting former Cleveland Indians baseball star on the success of the five-and-a- to Cleveland. half-hour event, Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona wrote, “Sommer could For the Love of the Game not have aligned a better bunch.” An avid baseball fan since his youth, Sommer doesn’t have any direct ties to Writing for the Win Cleveland. The book, which is available “You don’t have to be from that place to at www.rockycolavitobiography. love a player or a team,” reflected Sommer. Rocky Colavito and Mark Sommer com, features 50 photos, including The sentiment is reminiscent of the recent notable ones from his younger passing of Ezra “Pancho Billa” Castro, a years, as well as a thorough Mexican American from Dallas, Texas, Save the Date – Author/ Book appendix with discussion of who became a Buffalo Bills superfan. Signing event at the JCC with Mark his appropriateness for Sommer, who like Colavito was raised Sommer, Sunday, October 6 at 2pm. enshrinement into the Hall of a Yankees fan, grew up in the Village Fame. Colavito was inducted of Ossining in Westchester County, N.Y., into the Cleveland Indians Hall Buffalo’s Best For more information call Cultural Arts N.Y. bagels since 1976 before his family moved to Southern Director Katie Wzontek 204-2084. of Fame in 2006. California. As a kid, Sommer would listen While Sommer is a versatile WWW.BAGELJAYS.COM to as many as four game broadcasts at a writer, working on a book time and still enjoys rooting for underdogs. A Source of Pride compared to a piece for a paper MARSHALL’S PLAZA Sommer recalls using some of his Rocco Domenico “Rocky” Colavito, Jr. with his or magazine was a changeup. “I 2130 Delaware Ave, Buffalo • 716.874.1800 Bar Mitzvah money to buy Don’t Knock slugging power, handsome looks and dedication had to figure out how to write a 4498 MAIN ST. the Rock: The Rocky Colavito Story by to signing young fan’s autographs, became a star book, how long it would take and Snyder, NY 14226 • 716.839.2222 Gordon Cobbledick, which was published with the Cleveland Indians in the 1950s only to be how many words it would be,” DASH’S PLAZA in 1966 to coincide with the slugger’s shockingly traded away just prior to Opening Day notes Sommer. 100 A Plaza Dr, Williamsville • 716.639.1000 return to the Indians. Reflecting on the 1960. “The day April 7th, 1960 is still raw for many The project marked the book, Sommer was surprised to learn Indians fans,” reflects Sommer. “The trade led to 34 convergence of Sommer’s love Join our new VIP mobile club! that no biography had been written in years of unremarkable play by the Indians, and they for baseball and his childhood Text BAGELVIP to 51660 the ensuing five decades. “In January still haven’t won a World Series since then,” he adds. admiration of Colavito. “I got to of 2017, I looked up Rocky and books According to Sommer, Colavito—a six-time All- relive, explore and write about a written on him. How can there be none Star—was a source of pride for the Italian community passion of my youth. There was on someone so popular in Cleveland?” in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio mirroring what a story to be told, one I would Sommer wondered. Seeking to fill the Joe DiMaggio meant to Italian Yankees fans. Many enjoy, as well as commercial void, Sommer sought a publisher. Jewish baseball fans can relate when reflecting demand. It opened up some Once commissioned by McFarland & on the Detroit Tigers’ Hank Greenberg and the other worlds,” reflects Sommer. Company Inc., Sommer worked diligently Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax in For Sommer and Indians fans, on researching the subject. In addition to their eras. it’s been a home run. interviewing Colavito—who is now 85 Sommer grew up admiring the slugger, whose Ezra N. Rich is marketing and lives in Berks County, Pennsylvania— career took him from the Indians to the Detroit communications manager at numerous times, he spoke with his former Tigers and Kansas City A’s, a return to the Indians, Uniland Development Company. teammates and combed through archives and brief stints with the Chicago White Sox and Los Both he and his wife, Hillel of of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and other Angeles Dodges before retiring as a Yankee in 1968. Buffalo’s Rabbi Sara Rich, were since defunct newspapers, The Sporting raised as fans of the New York News and Sports Illustrated as well as The Return of a Tribe Legend Yankees. periodicals from the National Baseball Realizing that Cleveland would be hosting the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Sommer August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 19 CALENDAR AUGUST 2019

August 5 August 16 Summer Celebration JCC Golf Ball Drop Shir Shalom, TBZ and Jewish A Camp Centerland Fundraiser Federation Call 688-4033 for more information Transit Valley Country Club Call 836-6565 or 633-8877 August 17 My Grown Up & Me for info or to register 10:00 a.m. Elmwood/Bidwell Farmer’s Market August 6 [email protected]. Salaam Shalom Interfaith Conversations August 21 6:00-8:00 p.m. JDC Lunch & Learn Jewish Federation Apts. 12:15 p.m. 275 Essjay Rd. 831 Maple Rd., # 110 Info? Dr. Yonina Foster Topic: Living with Clarity 301-452-7847 August 25 August 7 TBZ Engagement Bagel Brunch 10:00-11:00 a.m. JDC Lunch & Learn Bagel Jay’s 12:15 p.m. Hopkins & Klein Rds. 831 Maple Rd., # 110 Questions? [email protected] Topic: If I am not for myself, who is for me? Rick Recht Concert For PJ Library families & friends August 10 4:00 p.m. Erev Tisha B’Av Camp Centerland Amphitheater Divorced? Widowed? Need help? Free! August 11 Call Mindy at 204-2241 for info Tisha B’Av commemorated CALL ME. August 27 Adrienne Rothstein Grace CFP,® CDFA™ Tisha B’Av @ Chautauqua TBZ Night at the Bisons Game 6:05 Game time Certified Divorce Financial Analyst 4:30-5:30 p.m. with Questions? [email protected] Author, Going From We to Me Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein (716) 817-6425 August 28 [email protected] August 14 JDC Lunch & Learn TransitioningFinances.com JDC Lunch & Learn 12:15 p.m. Empowering Women Financially 12:15 p.m. 831 Maple Rd., # 110 831 Maple Rd., # 110 Topic: A time to speak and a time Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co. Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Davis Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities Topic: A 3-Point Plan for Life to be silent 20 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 TIKKUN OLAM COMMUNITY

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We take pride 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO in helping in August to Repair the World develop Save the Rhinos at the Buffalo Zoo on August 2. Gather your team and get ready to 1» help strike out extinction at Save the Rhinos 2019! Join the Buffalo Zoo on Friday, happy, August 2, at Transit Lanes in Williamsville from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. for bowling, buffet dinner, and basket raffle. Register early as lanes will fill up quickly. All proceeds from healthy kids! the event support rhino conservation organizations across the globe. Shoe rental is included in your ticket price. www.buffalozoo.org

Friday, August 2 is the Buffalo Brewfest to support Buffalo Hearing & Speech. 5:00 2» pm to 10:00 pm at Buffalo Riverworks, 395 Ganson Street. All proceeds will benefit 716-691-3400 716-691-4311 the programs and services of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. Craft beer lovers tonawandapediatrics.com transitmeadowpediatrics.com have the chance to enjoy more than 100 craft beers from local, regional, national and international breweries. Advance General Admission tickets are $35 ($45 day-of) and include admission to the event, 20 tasting coupons (each tasting is three ounces) and a souvenir Brewfest glass. Advance VIP tickets are $75 ($85 day-of) include admission to the event, 20 tasting coupons (each tasting is three ounces) a souvenir Brewfest 716-775-3400 716-837-0995 glass, access to the VIP level, reserved seating, priority beer service, and Buffalo- islandpediatrics.com mainpediatrics.com themed food. Designated drivers are admitted free of charge with complimentary soft drinks and water available. Must be 21 or older to attend. All Brewfest proceeds benefit Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. www.buffalobrewfest.org.

Participate in the Kidney Walk & 5K to benefit the WNY Kidney Foundation on August » 11. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wilkeson Pointe at Outer Harbor, 225 Fuhrmann Blvd. in 3 Buffalo. This event includes a 5K beginning at 9:00 a.m. and a 1 mile walk beginning at 10:30 a.m. www.kfwny.org

Experience the Elmwood Festival of the Arts August 24 & 25. Shop, look at art, listen 4» to music, dance, eat, have fun on Elmwood Avenue from Lafayette Ave. to West Ferry St. Stop by Cultural Row to visit your Federation friends. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.

Support Rick Recht in concert August 25. 4:00 p.m. Camp Centerland amphitheater. Free Concert for PJ Library families and Friends. The fabulous Rick Recht is back in 5» Buffalo with his “Free to be the Jews in me” concert for kids and their friends and parents. Don’t miss this fun afternoon event. Contact Mindy at 204-2241 for more information. WHERE IN JBFLO ? Where is this found in WNY?

The first 5 people to correctly identify the location will win $10 gift certificate to the JCC’s Buffalo Kosher Gourmet at the Myers Family Tel Aviv Café.

E-mail your answers to [email protected] Last month Linda Boxer, Rolene Pozarny, Rusty Zackheim, Linda Steinhorn, Sharon Kostiner, Robin Adel, Myra Werbow, and Cheryl Tobias correctly identified the wooden rafters of the new Temple Beth Tzedek building on North Forest Road.

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 21 COMMUNITY ESSEN ‘N FRESSEN A Corny Summer Treat By Robin Kurss Dining Guide

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22 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 Dining Guide

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August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 23 Rent assisted apartments for seniors & mobility-impaired adults SYNAGOGUES ORGANIZATIONS Jewish Jewish Community Organizations Federation in Western New York Buffalo Jewish Federation Holocaust Resource Center Apartments 2640 North Forest Road 336 Harris Hill Road, Suite 302 Getzville, NY 14068 Williamsville, NY 14221 716-204-2241 716-634-9535 www.buffalojewishfederation.org www.hrcbuffalo.org Rob Goldberg - CEO & Executive Director Ann Marie Carosella - President Watch your favorite shows with your Leslie Shuman Kramer - President Elizabeth Schram - Director new friends on our big screen TV! Buffalo Vaad of Kashrus Jewish Community Center 49 Barberry Lane of Greater Buffalo, Inc. Williamsville, NY 14221 Benderson Family Building Great room • Media room • Wifi • Fitness center 716-634-3990 2640 North Forest Road Rabbi Eliezer Marcus- Regional Director Getzville, NY 14068 Data center • Beauty salon • Laundry facilities Michael Paskowitz - President 716-688-4033 Full time social worker • Activities • Transportation www.bvkkosher.comvaad Richard Zakalik - Executive Director 24 hour emergency maintenance • Two elevators • Library [email protected], [email protected] Alon Kupferman - President Computer room • Pool table • Emergency medical call Center for Jewish Holland Family Building system • Chapel • Card room • Large screen tv Engagement & Learning 787 Delaware Avenue 2640 North Forest Road Buffalo, NY 14209 Open to all religious denominations Getzville, NY 14068 716-886-3145 www.buffalojewishfederation.org www.jccbuffalo.org Jewish Federation Apartments Miriam Abramovich - Director of Engagement Ellen Weiss - President Jewish Discovery Center 275 Essjay Road 757 Hopkins Road Chabad House of Buffalo Williamsville, NY 14221 Williamsville, NY 14221 2450 North Forest Road 831 Maple Road Getzville, NY 14068 Williamsville, NY 14221 (office) For application information please call 716-631-8471 716-688-1642 716-639-7600 Rabbi Moshe Gurary 716-632-0467 www.JewishFederationApartments.org www.chabadbuffalo.com Rabbi Heschel Greenberg Rabbi Laizer Labkovski *Jewish Federation Apartments does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the Chai Early Childhood Center www.jewishdiscovery.org admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted program and activities. 757 Hopkins Road Williamsville, NY 14221 Jewish Family Service Of Buffalo 716 580-4600 And Erie County www.chainursery.com 70 Barker Street Chani Labkovski - Director Buffalo, NY 14209 716-883-1914 Department of Jewish Thought www.jfsbuffalo.org 712 Clemens Hall - University at Buffalo Molly Short Carr - CEO Buffalo, NY 14260 Blaine Schwartz - Chair 716-645-3695 Email: [email protected] Jewish Federation Apartments www.jewishstudies.buffalo.edu 275 Essjay Road Dr. Sergey Dolgopolski - Chair Williamsville, NY 14221 716-631-8471 Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies www.jewishfederationapartments.org 2640 North Forest Road Kathleen Haggerty - Property Manager Getzville, NY 14068 Shawn Frier - President 716-204-1133 www.jewishphilanthropies.org Jewish Federation Cemetery Irv Levy - COO Corporation, Inc. Lynn Catalano - Director of Development 2640 North Forest Road Don Kohnstamm - President Getzville, NY 14068 716-204-2246 Hadassah www.jfedbflo.com 2640 North Forest Road Deborah Pivarsi - Director Getzville, NY 14068 Charlotte Gendler - President 716-688-5260 [email protected] Kadimah Elaine Kellick, Annette Magid, www.kadimah.org and Rhonda Wise- Co-Presidents Reneé Lehner - Administrator

Hebrew Benevolent Loan Association Kosher Meals on Wheels 2640 North Forest Road in FJP offices 757 Hopkins Road Getzville, NY 14068 Williamsville, NY 14221 716-204-0542 716-639-7600 Judith Katzenelson Brownstein- President www.koshermow.com Rabbi Laizer Labkovski - Director Hillel of Buffalo Jeffery Pasler – President Campus Center of Jewish Life 520 Lee Entrance/UB Commons Ohr Temimim School Suite #101B 411 John James Audubon Parkway W. Amherst, NY 14228 W. Amherst, NY 14228 716-616-0083 716-568-0226 Rabbi Sara Rich - Director www.ohrtemimimschool.com Dr. Jeffrey Lackner - President Rabbi Shmuel Shanowitz - Principal www.hillelofbuffalo.org Jonathan Gellman - President

24 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 ORGANIZATIONS SYNAGOGUES KENNY CARPETS AND FLOORS One Stop Jewish Buffalo Knesset Center (Orthodox) A free website updated weekly about all that’s 500 Starin Avenue happening in Jewish Buffalo Buffalo, NY 14214 Nathan Sull - Publisher 716-832-5063 Aaron Sull - Editor Rabbi Shmaryahu Charitonow www.OneStopJewishBuffalo.com www.chabad.org

Weinberg Campus Saranac Synagogue (Orthodox) 2700 North Forest Road President - Shmuel Rashkin Getzville, NY 14068 Vice President - Reuven Alt 716-639-3311 Gabbai David Kunkel www.weinbergcampus.org 85 Saranac Avenue Robert Mayer- President & CEO Buffalo New York 14216 Kenneth Rogers- Chairman of the Board 716-876-1284 of Directors www.SaranacSynagogue.org

Yad B’Yad Temple Beth Tzedek (Conservative) 716-204-5380 1641 North Forest Road www.buffalojewishfederation.org/inclusion Williamsville, NY 14221 Robin Raphael - Chair Rabbi Moshe Silberschein Cantor Mark Spindler Western New York Andy Gewurz - President Synagogues and Temples Kim Jones - Administrator 716-838-3232 Chabad House of Buffalo (unaffiliated) www.btzbuffalo.org 2450 North. Forest Rd, FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE Getzville, NY 14068 Temple Beth Zion (Reform) 716-688-1642 Sanctuary: 805 Delaware Avenue Rabbi Moshe Gurary - Director Buffalo, NY 14209 PAY NO INTEREST FOR ONE FULL YEAR* www.chabadbuffalo.com Religious School and Offices: 700 Sweet Home Road Congregation Beth Abraham (Conservative) Amherst, NY 14226 TOP 5 REASONS YOU MUST 1073 Elmwood Avenue Rabbi Jonathan Freirich Buffalo, NY 14222 Cantor Penny Myers COME TO KENNY CARPETS: Marty Kerker - President Jeff Clark - Executive Director www.congregationbethabraham.net Julie Dressler Weinberg - President 1. WNYs largest volume ooring chain, our selection is overwhelming, 716-836-6565 Congregation Shir Shalom www.tbz.org our volume saves you lots of money. (Reform/Reconstructionist) 4660 Sheridan Drive Temple Beth El (Reform) 2. Serving WNY since 1960, no one has our experience in installing Williamsville, NY 14221 720 Ashland Avenue carpet and oors. 716-633-8877 Niagara Falls, NY 14301 Rabbi Alexander Lazarus-Klein Rabbi Ellen Franke 3. Our sta averages 19 years of experience - no one will serve you better. Cantor Arlene Frank Cantorial Soloist Barry Rose Joanne Marquisee - Executive Director William Bell - President 4. We stock more carpet, wood, laminate, and vinyl than any store. Buy Bruce Corris - President 716-282-2717 today, Install Tomorrow. www.shirshalombuffalo.org www.niagarafallstemple.com 5. Our prices are signi cantly lower than any Outlet, Home Center or Congregation Havurah (Reform) Temple Emanu-El (Reform) 6320 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221 124 Bank Street Store. Ask about our low price guarantee!! Bernard Schenkler, President Batavia, NY 14020 Enid Edelman, Membership Chair 585-343-7027 *to quali ed buyers 716-689-8059 Stan Schumann - President www.congregationhavurah.org [email protected] The Family Shul (Unaffiliated) 757 Hopkins Road Kehillat Ohr Tzion Williamsville, NY 14221 (Modern Orthodox) Rabbi Heschel Greenberg 879 Hopkins Rd Rabbi Laizer Labkovski Williamsville, NY 14221 716-639-7600 Rabbi Ori Bergman Jeff Schapiro - President Young Israel of Greater Buffalo (Orthodox) REMEMBER ... http://ohrtzion.org/kot 105 Maple Road Williamsville, NY 14221 DO THE KENNY! Rabbi Eliezar Marcus Richard G. Berger- President 7600 Transit Rd. 716-634-0212 (Opposite Eastern Hills Mall) www.yibuffalo.org 631-0028 3240 Transit Rd. (at Seneca Creek) 656-0426 Attention Snowbirds! 2995 Sheridan Dr. Due to postal regulations, the Jewish Journal of Western New York will (at Niagara Falls Blvd. next to no longer be forwarded to “temporary change” addresses. Northtown Plaza) If you plan to be away from your permanent address and will have your 836-8100 first class mail forwarded to your temporary address and would like to continue to receive the Jewish Journal over the winter or the summer, please HOURS: M F 9 8, SAT 10 5, SUN 12 5 call Joan Kwiatkowski at 716-204-2242 to give us your “temporary” address. Thank you! www.kennycarpets.com

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 25 SYNAGOGUES

Congregation Shir Shalom Temple Beth Tzedek Appoints Erev Shabbat Services New Interim Rabbi By Ezra Rich August 9 at 6pm Temple Beth Tzedek is pleased to announce the hiring of Rabbi Moshe M. Silberschein as interim rabbi for the coming year. Rabbi Silberschein was selected by TBT’s rabbinic search committee, A Summer co-chaired by Lisa Wallenfels and Harvey Sanders, and subsequently accepted by the Board of Trustees and the approval of the congregation. He will be arriving in Buffalo in early August and is Shabbat with looking forward to meeting members of the congregation, Jewish Buffalo and the broader community. Cantor Frank and Paul Staley 4660 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville

Under the tent (weather permitting) August 16 at 6pm

“I’m really looking forward to joining the Beth Rabbi Silberschein enjoys teaching people Tzedek synagogue community as its interim rabbi of many backgrounds, including Christian starting in August,” said Rabbi Silberschein. “It’s students seeking perspective on Judaism and exciting for me to preach and teach Torah in a Jewish life in Israel. He will be spending his Noah Budin, Cleveland’s popular Jewish songwriter new environment, meeting new faces, making current academic sabbatical leading Temple and performer, returns to Congregation Shir Shalom new friends, and experiencing a new city among Beth Tzedek, an opportunity to engage with the ‘Frozen Chosen’ of Western New York,” he adds. our community as we prepare for our first joined by the Sing Shalom Pop-Up Singers. Temple Beth Tzedek is excited for its new High Holy Days in our new North Forest Under the tent (weather permitting) rabbinic leadership as well. “We look forward Road location. to welcoming and working with Rabbi Beyond academia in Israel, Rabbi August 30 at 6pm Silberschein,” said Temple Beth Tzedek President Silberschein has served in rabbinic roles Andrew Gewurz. “Our committee reviewed many with American congregations. During his candidates and we’re fortunate to be bringing last sabbatical, he was the interim rabbi at Rabbi SIlberschein to Buffalo,” noted Rabbi Search Congregation Agudath Achim of Savannah, Committee Co-Chair Lisa Wallenfels. Georgia. Previously, he held High Holiday “Rabbi Silberschein’s broad experience roles with Beth David Synagogue of working with students and congregants of diverse Greensboro and Beth Meyer Synagogue of backgrounds makes him a strong fit for our shul Raleigh, North Carolina, respectively. Earlier and our new sacred space,” added Rabbi Search in his rabbinate, he was rabbi of the Jewish Committee Co-Chair Harvey Sanders. community in Tokyo, Japan as well as rabbi of A native of Detroit, Rabbi Moshe Silberschein Congregation Adath Jeshurun of Minneapolis, made Aliyah to Israel in 1982 and has subsequently Minnesota. been a well-regarded teacher of undergraduate, Rabbi Silberschein received his rabbinical graduate, rabbinic, cantorial and seminary students ordination from The Jewish Theological Jamaica Farewell in Jerusalem for decades. The former dean of Seminary and his B.A. in Linguistic and the Schechter Rabbinical School of the Masorti Hellenistic Studies from Columbia University A Reggae Shabbat featuring Tizmeret Ensemble Movement in Israel, he is currently a faculty in New York City. He is married to Susan, a and End of Summer BBQ member at the Reform Movement’s Hebrew Union nurse at Hadassah Hospital, and they have College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Jerusalem two adult sons, Aviad and Alon. He succeeds 4660 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville campus and the Jerusalem University College Rabbi Samuel Barth, who is the new interim Call the temple office to RSVP 633-8877. on Mount Zion, a global academic consortium of rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Protestant Christian colleges and universities. Heights, Minnesota. 26 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 SYNAGOGUES

Jeff Clark Named Executive Elul Study Series Director at TBZ at Temple Beth Zion Jeff Clark has been tapped to serve as During TBZ’s Elul Study Series, the topic will focus on the next Executive Director of Temple “G-d Wrestling.” G-d in Judaism, G-d in Prayer and G-d Beth Zion. Jeff is joining the TBZ staff after in our Interfaith Community. The series will take place a wonderful career at RR Donnelley (RRD), during 6 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Services at Temple Beth where he managed a team of financial Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, on Fridays, September 6, 13 problem solvers. During his tenure with and 20. Go to www.tbz.org for details. RRD, Jeff completed a number of courses in project management at Niagara University, and studied credit laws and processes through the Credit Research Foundation. Prior to RRD he earned a B.S. in Political Science at RIT, and is currently working towards an MBA from CHAUTAUQUA SHABBAT the University of Wyoming. Aside from brief stints living in Boston August 9 at 6pm and LA, Amherst/Williamsville has always been his home. Jeff, his wife Deborah and their son Ari live in Amherst. Jeff is eager to dedicate his efforts toward learning and expanding the means by which the Temple Beth Zion congregation achieves their core values and fulfills their role in Tikkun Olam.

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Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein and Susan Schwartz will lead Shabbat services at the Chautauqua Institution.

For time and location, contact [email protected].

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At June 28th’s Erev Shabbat Service, Congregation Shir Shalom honored and thanked Buffalo, NY 14202 the Braille Group for their service to the visually impaired in our community and around the world. The group is led by Jill Pariso, third from the right.

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August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 27 SYNAGOGUES Zahava Fried Appointed Salaam Shalom PALS-Kadimah Director Salam Shalom Conversations between Muslims and Jews will take place Tuesday, August 6, 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. Salam Shalom Conversation is promoting dialogue for Zahava Fried joined the TBZ family peace and balance between our faith communities. as the Director of the PALS-Kadimah preschool program July 1. She began her education at Yeshiva University, where she studied Judaic Studies, and also has a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Studies from SUNY Empire State College. She and her family moved to Buffalo in 2016, where she accepted the position of Head Preschool teacher at Kadimah Academy. When PALS and Kadimah collaborated in 2017, Zahava assumed the role of Lead Teacher of the 3-year-olds and Judaic Studies Coordinator. Zahava volunteers for the Buffalo Jewish Services for UB’s Hillel. Zahava and her Federation as Co-President for Nickel City husband, Yaakov, live in Amherst with their Jews. Zahava is also a classically trained one-year-old daughter Lilah and their vocalist, violinist, and violist, and she uses small zoo of pets. her musical talents as a teaching tool in If you are interested in learning more the PALS-Kadimah classroom to imbue the about the PALS-Kadimah Preschool Attendees at the Ramadan gathering. joy of music. She is also a Cantorial Intern Program, please do not hesitate to reach out through the Cantor’s Assembly, and this with any questions to Zahava at PALS@tbz. Dr. Yonina Foster rejoined the Buffalo September will be leading High Holiday org or 716-836-6565x139. community in mid-2017 and offers creative August 6, 2019 services, has led or co-led religious 6:00-8:00 p.m. services, song, and education since her return here. The program will include Jewish Federation PALS-Kadimah Registration Torah references, Jewish ethics, and songs in a participatory program. Apartments Conversations first began with Dr. 265 Essay Rd. Broder Center for Jewish Education Yonina Andrea Foster and Farina Mirza, 700 Sweet Home Road, Amherst and Faizon Haq, founder, of WNY Muslims, Williamsville, NY 14221 PALS-Kadimah is a warm, welcoming Jewish community pre-school with an after Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein directed enriched Judaic, Hebrew and values-based curriculum. Through creative play Foster to speak with Ms. Mirza. While Dr. Light snacks and experiential learning, our children thrive and discover the world around will be Kosher. them. A few spots are open. For more information and/or a tour, contact Zahava Fried: Contact: Dr. Yonina Foster [email protected] or (716) 836-6565, Ext. 139. (301) 452-7847

Bagel Brunch Sunday, August 25 10-11 a.m. Bagel Jay’s

100 Plaza Drive, Williamsville Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein speaking

Come join friends at Bagel Jays and enjoy eating and socializing Foster’s Muslim friends in Germantown, with your WNY Jewish community. This no-host brunch is Maryland, helped begin her journey of organized by Jody Goldstein. understanding between the faiths, she was further spurred to action after the New Zealand massacre where Muslims at Dr. Yonina Foster and Ms. Farina Mirza at Questions? Email Jody at: [email protected] prayer were murdered. the first Salaam Shalom gathering during Ramadan, held at Kabab and Curry Restaurant 28 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 SYNAGOGUES Special Traveling Torah Mantle to visit Temple Beth Zion in September for Rosh Hashanah 5780

In memory of the innocent victims within the Tree of Life synagogue

Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh , PA 10/27/18 Zichronam livrachah

A week after the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh last October, friends and colleagues of Rabbi/Hazzan Jeffery Myers, sole spiritual leader of Tree of Life Synagogue, gathered in solidarity to commission a special Torah mantle that will serve as a centerpiece and talking point to promote interfaith dialogue, chesed (kindness ) and love. This coming Rosh Hashanah at Temple Beth Zion, this special cover will adorn one of the seven Torah scrolls in the TBZ sanctuary and will be used as a teaching tool for our community leading up to Rosh Hashanah. Then it will be personally delivered back to Tree of Life synagogue by TBZ’s Cantor Penny Myers (no relation to Rabbi Myers) so that it can be present during Tree of Life’s Yom Kippur and yizkor services . Following the High Holy Days, it will travel throughout the country, weaving dialogue and connections just as each loving thread was woven in this mantle.

Volunteer Opportunity

Temple Beth Zion coordinates volunteers to serve at Friends of Night People on the second Tuesday of each month. We won’t need to cook the meal, only serve it. Volunteers are needed from 4 to 7:15 PM. (Minimum age is 14 - minors must be accompanied by parents.) Due to limited availability of parking, carpooling is necessary. Call Leslie at 839- 0079 or email Ann Marie at [email protected] for more details and/or to put your name on the list of volunteers. You can volunteer once or on multiple Tuesdays. We welcome new and returning volunteers.

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 29 FARM TO TABLE

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30 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 AGENCIES Dr. Molly Carr begins CSL in Israel as new CEO of JFS

The Board of Directors of Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County has appointed Dr. Molly Carr, Ph.D. as the agency’s new President and CEO effective July 1. Dr. Carr has more than ten years of experience in the non-profit human services sector in the Greater Buffalo area including six years as Executive Director at Journey’s End Refugee Services, a Buffalo-based resettlement agency, and she recently worked nationally and internationally for acclaimed refugee resettlement organizations. Dr. Carr succeeds Marlene A. need, especially the frail and elderly,” said Schillinger, who retired after 25 years Blaine S. Schwartz, JFS Board Chairman. as President and CEO of Jewish Family JFS, established in 1862 as a human Service. “Dr. Carr’s experience, skills and services agency, partners with individuals, commitment to community needs will be couples and families of all beliefs and invaluable as JFS works with our partners backgrounds to help them succeed in Buffalo Area campers from Camp Seneca Lake (CSL) on their way to in the Jewish community, local, New York transition and overcome life’s challenges Israel. These rising high school juniors spent the month of July in Israel State and federal governments, United through its mental wellness services, on the Camp Seneca Lake program. Way of Buffalo & Erie County and other resettlement and other social service agencies to increase services to those in programs, and career services.

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 31 AGENCIES 50 UB students spend a inspirational Shabbat in Jerusalem this summer! By Rabbi Moshe Gurary

More than 50 UB students traveled on Birthright Israel this summer through Chabad at UB, in partnership with Mayanot Israel. One of the highlights of their trip was an amazing Shabbat in Jerusalem, praying at the Kotel Friday night, and enjoying a Shabbat dinner in the Old City. “This night blew all expectations I had about Shabbat,” said Ava Gerstein, a sophmore at UB. “At the Wall, women of all ages were dancing and singing. I really enjoyed this because I felt Jewish pride and it was really fun. I touched the Wall for the first time that night, and it was very powerful. I felt my connection to God and that he was listening to my prayers. In addition, Shabbat dinner was an amazing experience. My group and I sung Israeli songs and danced together while waiting for dinner to be served. I would go back to the whole entire night in a heartbeat.” This trip will enable these students to return to UB in the fall fully energized and inspired to continue strengthening their Jewish identity and their ties to Israel. Rabbi Moshe Gurary is director of Chabad at UB.

32 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 JEWISH DISCOVERY CENTER/LEARNING CENTER LUNCH & LEARN – AUGUST 2019 Food for body and soul.

Join Rabbi Greenberg for a lively and stimulating Torah discussion while enjoying a delicious lunch (no charge!) The discussions are based on the teachings of our sages in the Talmudic text of “Ethics of Our Fathers.”

Wednesday, August 7 at 12:15 PM At the JDC’s NEW Learning Center 831 Maple Rd. #110 (rear building) Topic of Discussion: If I Am Not for Myself Who Is for Me? Wednesday, August 14 at 12:15 PM At the JDC’s NEW Learning Center 831 Maple Rd. #110 (rear building) Topic of Discussion: A 3-Point Plan for Life Wednesday, August 21 at 12:15 PM At the JDC’s NEW Learning Center 831 Maple Rd. #110 (rear building) Topic of Discussion: Living with Clarity Wednesday, August 28 at 12:15 PM At the JDC’s NEW Learning Center 831 Maple Rd. #110 (rear building) Topic of Discussion: A Time to Speak and A Time to Be Silent Active Shooter Training Sunday, August 4 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Maxine & Robert Seller Theatre, Jewish Community Center Afraid of head lice Get 2 Head Lice Screenings Open to the entire Jewish Community attending school? for the Price of 1 Led by Captain James A. McNamara of the Amherst Police Department De- One coupon per family. Coupon expires on September 1, 2019 tective Bureau, this program is for any- Pre & Post Camp Screenings one who has concerns about safety and wants to become more informed Call Today For: about what to do in the event of an ac- • Conclusive Screenings tive shooter. Williamsville Treatment Center • Effective Treatments RSVP to 2809 Wehrle Drive, Suite 10 [email protected] BOGO with • Peace of Mind Williamsville, NY 14221 or 204-2242 Friend • AirAlle FDA Medical Lice Device Williamsville: 716-626-5423 Pittsford: 585-310-7131 CO-SPONSORED BY Naughty Nits So Long • Lice Free School & Camp Syracuse: 315-401-0051 Experience BUFFALO JEWISH FEDERATION and the JCC Lice Clinics of America Head Lice! www.naughtynits.com

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 33 34 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 AGENCIES FLY CHAI BALL DROP The Jewish Repertory Theatre’s TO RAISE FUNDS FOR Exciting 2019/20 Season CENTERLAND Date: August 16, 2019 The Jewish Repertory Theatre has announced it’s new season, which will take place beginning in October at the JCC’s Maxine & Robert (Weather may change date, if date Seller Theatre. “We look forward to bringing audiences three remarkable plays that have never been produced in the Buffalo area,” says changes all participants will be notified Saul Elkin, JRT Founding Artistic Director. “Our season includes OH MY GOD! by Israeli playwright Anat Gov, WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW, by email of new drop date) by Alice Eve Cohen and MODERN ORTHODOX by Daniel Goldfarb. Cost: $18 per golf ball Purchase locations: Online, Holland Family Building Front Desk, or Benderson Family Building Front Desk.

Camping advocates believe that summer camp is one of the most sacred experiences your child can have, because at camp, children experience free expression of who they are, and explore ways to develop and grow. As Camp Centerland grows, the aim is to enable more and more campers to attend, regardless of cost. The 2nd annual Fly Chai Ball Drop is a fundraiser that looks to develop the camp property by adding more camp features and raise money for scholarship funds. In 2019, $20,000 of camping scholarship was given out. OH MY GOD! by Anat Gov WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW, MODERN ORTHODOX, The golf ball drop will be on August 16, October 24 –November 17, 2019 by Alice Eve Cohen by Daniel Goldfarb 2019. Mercy Flight service has volunteered God walks into a therapists’ office….. February 6 – March 1, 2020 April 23 – May 17, 2020 to drop these 1,000 golf balls. The prize of When a conflicted and depressed God Alice, an infertile Jewish woman in When Ben, an Upper West Side $1,800 will be awarded to the golf ball that seeks out an earthly therapist to aid her forties, discovers a hard lump in financial consultant, meets Hershel, lands in the hole. If more than one ball him with his wrenching doubts, it is not her abdomen. After months of visiting an Orthodox jewel merchant, to buy lands in the hole, the prize money will be always clear who is providing therapy to expensive specialists, all of whom have an engagement ring, their differing split between all of the winners. If no ball whom. Ella, a single mother living with different medical theories, a CT scan views of their shared religion at first lands in the hole, then the ball closes to her autistic son, is a therapist with issues finally reveals that she is pregnant. divides them. Three months later, with the hole will win. If there is more than one of her own, but has only one session Based upon true events and the book respective love interests and love stories ball at the same distance the prize money to convince God not to give up on his hailed by Oprah as “darkly hilarious…an on paths they could not have predicted, will be split between the winners. creation. How do you help a “being” with unexpected bundle of joy,” this heartfelt Ben and Hershel meet again as changed 2018 Fly Chai Golf Ball Drop will be no parents to blame? journey through a high-risk pregnancy men, no longer divided by their faith. supervised by a committee of Jewish Directed by Saul Elkin. Starring Todd and the American healthcare system is They have learned something from each Community Center of Greater Buffalo Staff Benzin and Lisa Ludwig. told with the intimacy of a diary and the other, and each couple is ready as Jews and Volunteers. This group will not be suspense of a thriller. In this one woman dealing with modern life, to embark on permitted to purchase any golf balls for the performance full of hope and renewal, new marriages. event. Direct family members of this group Josie DiVincenzo will play nearly forty Directed by Steve Vaughan. Starring are not permitted to purchase golf balls for different characters. Kristin Bentley, Arin Lee Dandes, Nick this event. Lead judge for this event will be Directed by Saul Elkin. Starring Josie Stevens and Adam Yellen. Michael Garcia; Camp Centerland Director. DiVincenzo Two additional judges will be appointed by 8.10.2018. (JCC) No more than 1,000 golf balls will be sold (odds will vary on the total number of ball that are sold) All golf ball sales are final. The last day of golf ball sales will be The Jewish Repertory Theatre of Western New York is a program of the JCC of Greater on 8.15.2019. Winners do not need to be present to win. Buffalo. All productions take place in The Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre, JCC Benderson The scheduled date of 08.16.2019 will Family Building at 2640 North Forest Road, Amherst, NY. For more information on JRT, only be changed if the helicopter cannot productions, dates and tickets, visit www.jewishrepertorytheatre.com. fly due to weather or needs to respond to an emergency the day of the event. Tickets are available at 716-650-7626, through Showclix at 1-888-718-4253 (Monday- If the drop cannot/ does not happen on Friday, 9am-9pm EST) or at either JCC reception desk. the scheduled date an alternative date after 08.16.2019 will be provided to all participants. August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 35 AGENCIES It’s happening in AUGUST at the

You could win $1,800 on August 16th! $18 per golf ball

Purchase at either Member Services Desk or online

Open to everyone

Aug 11 & 25, Sept 8 11:00am 3:00pm

Just $20 per person Oct 24–Nov 17, 2019 Feb 6–Mar 1, 2020 April 23-May 17, 2020 Tickets available at: Box office: 716-650-7626 Showclix: 1-888-718-4253

Located adjacent to the Benderson Family Building at or at either JCC Member Services desk. Camp Centerland on the Irving M. Shuman Campgrounds For more information visit www.jewishrepertorytheatre.com

36 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 AGENCIES

ADULT CLASSES The Center for Jewish Engagement and Learning will be offering a variety of opportunities beginning in September 2019 to engage adults of all ages in meaningful and relevant Jewish learning experiences. There are classes and groups for those who are new to Judaism or exploring it for the first time, as well as for those who are looking for ways to connect with others in the Jewish community. Learning together strengthens the community. By providing opportunities for Mussar: A Jewish Toolbox adults to explore their sense of purpose and express that in meaningful ways, both the for Life is a Mussar cohort specifically learner and the community benefit. designed for young professional adults. Seven sessions – Thursdays, 7:00pm – 8:30pm Hebrew and Many of the groups and courses we offer Intro to Judaism incorporate Mussar practice and learning. JCEL office, 2nd floor JCC Benderson Building 12 week semesters – beginning Mussar is a Jewish path of contemplative October 24th September 11, 2019 and January 29, practices and exercises that have evolved November 7th 2020 over the past thousand years. Through November 21st Wednesdays, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Mussar, each individual works on their December 5th JCC Benderson Building own personal self-directed curriculum in December 19th Mussar for Moms an effort to practice the way they want January 9th is a Mussar cohort specifically Intro to Judaism to be in the world. Mussar provides tools January 23rd (closing session) designed for working mothers of Instructors: Board of Rabbis and for living a more balanced, thoughtful life, young children. Cantors while enriching personal relationships. Living a Jewish Year Seven sessions, Sundays, 7:30pm Fee: $72 A year-long program, meeting monthly, that beginning in March 2020 In collaboration with the Buffalo Board Middah of the Season will guide participants through a substantive of Rabbis and Cantors, this exceptional For anyone who has taken an Jewish learning experience emphasizing how a Wise Aging, a program course is designed for: introduction to Mussar course or celebration of Jewish time can help individuals from the Institute of Jewish • Couples considering intermarriage participated in a Mussar group, locally integrate Judaism into the natural rhythms of Spirituality, is a self-guided • Individuals interested in conversion or or elsewhere. Each season, we will their lives. discussion group that focuses learning more about Judaism explore 2 – 3 middot, through text Two cohorts of Living a Jewish Year will be on using and celebrating •Jews wishing to learn more about their study, stories and experiences, as well offered in 2019-2020, beginning October 6th: our collected wisdom and religion and history as provide practices you can take home Cohort 1: Designed for young families with experiences through a Jewish with you. children ages 3 - 7, this program will offer age context. Wise Aging, Living Hebrew Reading for Beginners Sunday afternoons, 1 – 4:00 p.m. appropriate activities for children, adults and with Joy, Resilience and Spirit, and Intermediate (Register for all or individual sessions) the family unit. a book authored by Rabbi Instructor: Michal Lewis Fall – Sunday, September 15th Cohort 2: Designed for anyone who has Rachel Cowen, z”l and Dr. Linda Winter – Sunday, January 19th participated in an Intro to Judaism course over Thal, offers nine chapters on Intermediate Hebrew: 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. Spring – Sunday, March 29th the past 5 years, and is interested in deepening wide ranging topics such as Fee: $175/12 week semester Summer – Sunday, June 14th their Jewish learning and living experiences. Exploring and Embracing Life (plus one-time $60 for account for Stories, Cultivating Nourishing on-line curriculum) Mussar for Teens Relationships, Forgiveness This course is for students who already Challenges and Choices: A Jewish Teen’s and Reconciliation, and Living know the Hebrew alphabet and car read Guide to a Balanced Life with Loss. several Hebrew words and phrases. Eight sessions – Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm We are in the process of JCC Benderson Building forming a new Wise Aging Alef-Bet: Beginning Hebrew: October 23rd group. Susan Schwartz will 7:45 – 9:00 p.m. October 30th facilitate the first few sessions Fee: $175/12 week semester November 6th for the new group, and will later (books purchased separately) November 13th provide meeting guides and This basic introductory Hebrew reading November 20th discussion questions. course is for beginners interested in December 4th Please contact Susan at learning the Hebrew alphabet, grammar December 11th susan@buffalojewishfederation. and vocabulary. December 18th org for more information. August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 37 38 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 IN LOVING MEMORY

people around a table or into a field in Remembering Peggy Stone good company. This love for bringing people together is probably also the Peggy Stone passed away in the late work as a journalist and volunteered reason she insisted on hosting Pesach spring in Buffalo. This is the eulogy her often at temples in order to aid the less and Thanksgiving for the family every grandson Timothy Higgins gave at her fortunate. Whenever her grandchildren year and made sure that everyone went funeral at Temple Beth Zion. came to visit, they always found a warm home full of brisket and good cheer with Peggy Stone passed away suddenly embrace and a kind word waiting for enough leftovers to last the week. on June 14. She was well into her 90’s them. Even though she wasn’t always Peggy’s life was long, active, and full and had lived a full and amazing life sure what the new generation was so of love. To fit the whole thing here of adventure and love for humanity. excited or passionate about, she was or contain it only to the written word Her legacy is carried on by her loving always glad that whatever it was made would be impossible. She spent her life husband, Dr. Herman Stone, of nearly them happy. helping everyone around her to become 70 years, her six children, several Peggy and Herman traveled the world the best possible version of themselves, grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and saw many of its most beautiful but also doing so much more. The and most of the Jewish community of cities. Even with all of their experiences memory and legacy of this remarkable Western New York. across the different continents, the two woman should live on as a blessing in Peggy was born and raised in Ohio. of them retired to Buffalo, NY. This city the hearts of everyone who knew her She met her husband, Herman, while was their home and they had helped through not only our memories, but our attending university there and earned make it a home to countless people both actions going forward. a degree in journalism. Married in their by remaining active in their children’s If you ever lose sight of who you are early twenties, the Stones eventually Peggy Stone and grandchildren’s lives and by staying or of what to do next, just try to be the moved to Buffalo and had six children active in the Jewish community with person that Peggy Stone knew you could Elaine, Barbara, Pamela, Richard, Robert, her loving nature and welcoming home. their practice of Tikkun Olam (repairing be. May her memory be a blessing. and Sue. True to form, Peggy raised each After the kids grew up and the family the world). of them to embrace their passions and scattered across the northeast and Throughout her life, Peggy was an Each month we will feature a eulogy of a member of our own community who has talents. While these were her only six midwest, Peggy still stayed active in active game-player and a good sport. recently died. Please contact Ellen Goldstein children, even friends of these children the lives of not only her children but She loved bridge, tennis, swimming, and at [email protected] if you would come to call her “Mom” due to also her community. She continued her almost anything else that could bring would llike to share your words.

TEMPLE BETH EL OF NF In Remembrance TO HONOR CIVIL WAR SOLDIER The following individuals in our community passed away during A marker was recently placed the period from June 18-July 23*. May their memories forever on the grave of Civil War Soldier be a blessing, and may their loved ones be comforted among Daniel Cohn in the Old Temple Beth El Cemetery in Niagara Falls the mourners of Zion. with the help of Town of Niagara Historian Peter Ames and Niagara Russell Baker Monument Works. The plot of land for the cemetery was purchased by Barbara Brenner members of the Jewish community Richard J. Carrel of Niagara Falls in 1864, and Cohn’s body was transported back to WNY George Cohen for burial after his death in 1865 while on active duty. It is believed Robert Freedman that Cohn’s was the first interment at the cemetery. Joan Cohen Friedman Members of Temple Beth El, representatives of the community, Evelyn Gerstman members of his family, and veterans Janet F. Gross groups will join to honor Cohn in a short ceremony on Friday, August Lilian Palanker 9th at 1 p.m. The ceremony will include a color guard from Niagara Leah Schneider Falls Air Base. The cemetery is adjacent to Oakwood Cemetery Sam Zemsky (763 Portage Rd., Niagara Falls) and can be reached through the *If we inadvertently missed printing the listing of your loved one, please write to main gate of Oakwood. Everyone [email protected]. and we will include the name next month. is welcome to attend. August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 39 JEWS IN THE NEWS JCC Book & Arts Fair: Sandra Block, Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, Judge Ruchie Freier, Izzy Bleckman, Kathy Rogers

40 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 JEWS IN THE NEWS JFS Annual Meeting & Tribute to Marlene Schillinger

JCC Annual Meeting

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 41 JEWS IN THE NEWS Ride for Roswell & Pathways Park

42 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 JEWS IN THE NEWS Holocaust Resource Center Annual Meeting

Ed Asner at the JRT

August 2019 | www.buffalojewishfederation.org 43 (NOT) THE LAST WORD Reflections of a trip to Israel, a year later By Vilona Trachtenberg

It is almost the end of one particular Shabbos. In a remote area of Tzfat, Israel, a sound cave sits nestled. As one enters the cave, the darkness takes over the air immediately, and one has to enter the cave feeling the stones along the wall to find one’s way, for what becomes a fifteen-minute adventure to the previously unknown destination, which will be found inside.

Inside the cave, there is a group of cheerful, spirited people jumping up and down, singing songs and releasing all of their emotions. The darkness in the cave, aside from a slit of light coming from the very top, prevents one from knowing who’s in there. One just joins the singing and joy that is exuded all around. When the singing is finished, one starts to leave the cave and realizes that the journey out is much faster than the journey in, and only takes a few seconds to get out. When that person leaves the cave, the setting is indescribably beautiful. A sunset me forever. It means that no matter what fills the sky with pinks, oranges, and purples, of this trip. It was a winter trip, and I realized any Jew has gone through, no matter the perfectly blended, as if a paintbrush took I would be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a circumstance, no matter the background, to the sky with water colors. There is a group of strangers I would just be meeting, and we are all one, we all get to participate, we fence right in front with people sitting and I could not be more excited to travel and explore all have our connection with G-d, we all chatting, enjoying the last moments of with a new group of people. That excitement have an important place in this world and Shabbos, and their silhouettes add to the was validated, and that trip was two of the best an important message to carry out. perfection in the sky. This is how that one weeks of my life. These are my fond, magical memories Shabbos ended. My group consisted of 13 participants, along from over a year ago that are still as strong I asked a Rebbetzin what all of that with two organizers, and the Chabad shluchim We stopped to take photos at the as ever, and these are only a few of them. meant – why it was so hard to get into (emissaries) from University of North Carolina beach, and then walked to the grottoes There are so many other memories from the cave and so easy to leave, and she and Duke University, along with their family. there. We watched another sunset near Israel- the Homeland --that I haven’t explained that when certain paths of life This group proved to be some of the greatest those caves. It was certainly one of shared too much about, and am ecstatic are unknown, the journey may be difficult, people I’ve met. There was so much freilich those “I’m so happy to be alive” days. to be reliving right now, filled with but when there’s light at the end of the (happiness), self-discovery, and laughs the One of the most touching moments goosebumps as I look back on the photos tunnel, the journey becomes easier. And whole way through. of the trip was when we went to a and write about it now. now it becomes evident to me that Tzfat is Our first Shabbos in Israel as a group was in hospital in Jerusalem to visit a civilian Israel is a majestic place, one that has the city of Kabbalah. the old city of Jerusalem which called for a walk who was hurt because of an act of so much to explore and fosters so many This is just one of the amazing memories to the Kotel (Western Wall). It wasn’t just a walk terrorism. He was badly injured and stories. The air is filled with spirituality and moments I experienced on my trip to to the Wall, as G-d had painted the skies for couldn’t talk; he could barely move his and bliss. The whole time, one of the rabbis Israel a little over a year ago. Sometimes, us, and we marveled as we took our journey to head when my group was there. But, on the journey with us encouraged us to we take trips and they inspire us for a few the holiest place in present-day Judaism. As we it was evident that he had a sense of “listen to the music that your soul sings.” moments, a few weeks even, and then they approached the Wall and said a few prayers and approval and contentment when we With that, during this special month leave our minds. A new set of challenges danced around in a circle chanting the lyrics to started singing songs to him. of Israel’s 71st birthday, I encourage you overtakes our lives and we forget what various Jewish songs with our fellow Jews from We then started singing the song to have your own self-discovery in your brought us the most joy. Not this time all over the world, we realized that was what life “One Day” by Matisyahu, with the Homeland. Travel to Israel. See what for me. These memories are ever-present is about. Being Jewishly prideful and joyful, and lyrics: your ancestors fought so hard to protect. and I wanted to reflect on the trip that having a sense of togetherness in everything “All my life I’ve been waiting for See what your ancestors died protecting. will always stay in the forefront of my we do. I’ve been praying for See where your ancestors fled to after mind. Even a year later, the lessons from We celebrated the start to 2018 in the best For the people to say the Holocaust. See where your biblical that trip are reflected in the way I make way possible, too. We traveled to Rosh HaNikra, That we don’t want to fight no more history lies. Travel to Israel. You won’t decisions and live daily life. a city right on the border where Israel and Syria They’ll be no more war just remember it for a few weeks and then In December of 2017 I took a two- meet the Mediterranean, and we rented bikes. And our children will play” forget it; you’ll remember it the year after, week trip to Israel through the Chabad As it was winter, the air was brisk at the time (for It was in that moment that his wife and all the years to come. It’ll be the best organization. I had told Rabbi Moshe and Israel, anyways), and the path we were riding on took his kippah that was sitting on an experience of your life. Rebbetzin Rivka Gurary of Chabad Buffalo was winding. We rode those bikes with full force end table and placed it gently on his Vilona Trachtenberg is a Master Data that I had been dreaming of going to Israel with the wind blowing in our faces and the sun head. Coordinator at New Era Cap and received again and they pointed me in the direction shining, smelling the sea salt in the atmosphere. That powerful moment will stay with a 30 Under 30 Award in 2017 44 www.buffalojewishfederation.org | August 2019 The Only International Academy of Low Vision Specialist in Western and Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Ontario

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