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Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME IX, NUMBER 22 NOVEMBER 17, 2016 Super Sunday – Campaign 2017 Volunteers met on November 6 at Nivert Metal, in Throop, for the annual UJA Phone-a-thon. The program was organized by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania as part of the fund-raising season chaired by Alan Smertz and Susie Blum Connors, as well as Jim Connors, Community Division chair. The phone solicitations added to the total raised to help local Jewish agencies, as well as Jewish needs worldwide. A breakfast and briefing was followed by each volunteer taking a group of pledge cards in the hope of finding members of L-r: Mark Silverberg, executive director, Jewish Federation of Northeastern the Federation community at home, and Pennsylvania; Susie Blum Connors, Women’s Division chair; Alan Smertz, Men’s ready “to answer the call.” Division chair; and Louis Nivert, host for the event. Monday evening, November 7, had another four volunteers manning phones at the Federation offices to follow up on L-r: Lil Walsh and Dolores Gruber unanswered calls from the day before. checked the completed pledge cards. Federation extended many thanks to Louis Nivert for opening his business who handled the administrative needs to Federation volunteers on a Sunday of the day. morning, as well as making phone calls; Federation thanked volunteers Esther and to Dolores Gruber and Lil Walsh, Adelman, Susie Blum Connors, Bernice Ecker, Esther Elefant, Vera Epshteyn, Gilda Franceze, Janet Holland, Harold Kornfeld, Larry Millikan, Rabbi Dovid At left: Telephone volunteers were given Rosenberg, Alan Smertz and Millie a briefing by Mark Silverberg before Weinberg. making calls. 2017 UJA paign Upd Cam ate Pay it forward & give to SPOTLIGHT the 2017 Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Annual Campaign! The Equalizer – education on top Goal: BY RHEA GLASSMAN PLOSKER now runs in 192 schools nationwide, from $896,000 Yossi (last name withheld) made aliyah the Golan in the north to Mitzpe Ramon in (immigrated to Israel) from Ethiopia with the south, with 3,000 students participat- For information or to his divorced parents as a 1-month old. He ing. The program seeks to help children make a donation call $338,019 lives in Haifa with his mother and is the in Israel’s periphery, from low-income 570-961-2300 ext. 1 or as of Nov. 14, 2016 send your gift to: youngest of seven children. His mother and disadvantaged families, to bridge Jewish Federation has minimal Hebrew language skills and the gap with their peers who may benefit of Northeastern Pennsylvania can barely support her family. Four of his from greater opportunities. Expenses are 601 Jefferson Ave., siblings were sent to boarding schools covered by Israeli sponsors, including Scranton, PA 18510 companies, colleges, universities and (Please MEMO your due to the meager situation at home. At pledge or gift 2017 8-years-old, Yossi was a shy boy who did government ministries; as well as U.K. UJA Campaign) his schoolwork because he was told to, bodies, such as the British Embassy and but without any comprehension of how or the United Jewish Israel Appeal. More why it might benefit him. He had a love Yossi than 400 volunteers are said to “provide for soccer. He rarely lifted his head to look the backbone” of The Equalizer, serving at people, due to his shyness. values, which they love a bit less. The in roles from tutors to coaching assistants. Liran Gerassi, founder and executive program provides role models, educa- “They work with a sense of mission and director of the Israel Sport and Educa- tional assistance, social and emotional belief in their work and in their ability tion Initiative, known as The Equalizer, empowerment, enhancing self-esteem and to influence the next generation of the explained that during his first year of He- a sense of belonging.” Not surprisingly, community in which they live, as well as brew University studies, he volunteered to most of the children are more passionate the entire state of Israel,” said Gerassi. Federation teach Hebrew to elderly immigrants from about the sport than about the academic Each participant pays a symbolic fee of Ethiopia. In his second year, he decided component of the program. “The main $50 per year. to start a project for their children, like way to overcome this challenge is to set Each participating school selects 15 on Facebook Yossi. Gerassi told the Jewish Federa- a condition for the participant,” Gerassi students, aged 9-16, deemed most in need The Jewish Federation of Northeast- tion of Northeastern Pennsylvania, “We said. “The Equalizer is a whole package; of support both in school and after school. ern Pennsylvania now has a page on wanted to prevent children from roaming either you participate fully, or you don’t Each week throughout the year, they re- Facebook to let community members the streets or looking for trouble, when participate at all.” ceive two sessions of tutoring by college know about upcoming events and keep school lets out at 1:30 pm and the parents The Equalizer launched in seven ele- students and two sessions of coaching connected. are still at work. So we combined soccer, mentary schools in Jerusalem and later with an authorized soccer trainer. Once See “Education” on page 4 which most kids love, and studies and expanded due to demand. The program Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE November 18 .............................. 4:22 pm UNESCO talk November 25 ...............................4:18 pm Blazing new trails Jewish “ghost towns” December 2..................................4:15 pm Rabbi Avrohom Stolik will discuss A Chasidic grandmother from A look at Ribadavia, one of Spain’s the UNESCO Temple Mount Brooklyn wins the race for judge of Jewish “ghost towns” hoping to PLUS controversy. the Fifth Judicial District in NYC. gain a boost from Jewish tourism. Opinion .......................................................2 Story on page 3 Story on page 4 Story on page 7 D’var Torah ...............................................8 2 THE REPORTER ■ NOVEMBER 17, 2016 A MATTER OF OPINION Worthwhile assistance BY DAVID FALLK their rocket program by at www.israelisonit.com. Unlike our friends and NATO allies In response to two Letters testing missiles bearing the Thus, aid to Israel is not only right, in Western Europe and in former War- to the Editor published by inscription “Israel must be but a wise investment. saw Pact countries, democratic Israel Chuck Orloski, of Taylor, in wiped out.” Iranian missiles SECOND RESPONSE requests neither our troops to help pro- the Scranton Times-Tribune now reach beyond Israel to Although [Mr. Orloski] resurrected tect it nor direct economic aid. Rather, concerning his opposition parts of Europe, and Iran President Eisenhower’s 56-year-old it merely seeks assistance in allowing it to the proposed U.S.-Is- will no doubt attempt to admonition regarding the military to defend its citizens, and in accepting raeli Arms Agreement of build such weapons to reach industrial complex, even Chuck such help, has agreed that such money September 26, a version of America’s shores. Orloski (“Swords to Plowshares,” never leaves American shores, but re- the following responses to Despite living under October 20) must admit much in the circulates through American industry Orloski’s letters was pub- threats from all direc- world has changed throughout the and workers. lished by David Fallk in the tions, Israeli scientists and ensuing decades, particularly in the Mr. Orloski may wish the U.S. to Times-Tribune. David Fallk American companies with Middle East. retreat to a more isolationist position FIRST RESPONSE facilities in Israel contin- Since 1961, Arab nations have twice in the world, or for a smaller military Chuck Orloski’s critique of the ue to produce leading technology instigated wars in which the object or foreign aid budget. A broader view proposed U.S.-Israeli arms agreement research and invent products such was the destruction of Israel, and would understand that there are other (September 26), inspired by your Sep- as microprocessors, chips and flash new groups have emerged to main- ways to provide for domestic needs tember 19 editorial, fails to account for drives that benefit all mankind. Apple tain a global, Islamic-armed struggle without reducing Israeli assistance to a several facts. Foremost is the require- is reported to be developing much of including the PLO, and the terrorist zero-sum game. ment that within five years all Israeli the iPhone 8 there. groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Arab While running to replace President military aid must be spent entirely in Medically, new tests and treatments nations have waged an oil embargo Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy asserted, the U.S. for purchases from American for breast cancer, gastrointestinal dis- and been the source of worldwide, “Israel was not created in order to dis- companies, thereby creating American orders, Parkinson’s disease, MS and religious-based extremist propaganda appear... it is the child of hope and the jobs for American workers. Lockheed melanoma – as well as helping para- and warlike actions. home of the brave.” As JFK knew, help- Martin (a local employer) will be a plegics walk and the blind see – are Contrary to the chaos of its neighbors ing allies and democracy has intrinsic, prime beneficiary for its sale of the F-35 among the latest advances from Israeli and the problems emanating from their long-term value beyond current dollar fighter, but Israeli defense contractors science and scientists. Agricultural dangerous policies and ideologies, Israel expenditures. will lose out. output in California and worldwide is has become an exporter of world-im- David Fallk is chairman of the Also, Israel agreed to refrain from being increased by Israeli irrigation proving products in agriculture, medi- Community Relations Committee, asking Congress for more money, and systems and desalination research.

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