Why India? JCC of Stamford Announces New CEO How the Six
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Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 184 Watertown, NY july-august 2017/tammuz-Av-Elul 5777 a publication of United jewish federation of Volume 19, Number 5 Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien Why India? JCC of Stamford Memories of Mumbai Announces New CEO By Rachel Dayan and we were going to learn about The Jewish Community Healthy Living program, an There are times when those who and offer chizuk (strength) to India’s Center of Stamford has ap- experiential multi-pronged think they are giving are really re- Jewish community. pointed Marshall Kurland as approach aimed at instilling ceiving and those who think they are Our first introduction to Mum- its new chief executive officer, healthy lifestyles in children receiving are really giving. This sums bai’s Jewish community was meeting effective Monday, July 24. and teens. up how I felt coming home from several Young Jewish Pioneers over Kurland comes to Stam- “We are very excited about the first Jewish Federations of North dinner and Bollywood dancing. They ford from the Sid Jacobson the promise that Marshall’s America mission to India. discussed growing up Jewish in India, JCC, where he served as an hiring brings to our JCC,” On February 21, 107 members of and how they work to maintain Jew- associate executive director. said JCC of Stamford Board the JFNA National Young Leadership ish life in India despite being a tiny His areas of expertise include President Risa Raich. “He Cabinet headed to Mumbai, India. minority. Each time I think back to camp management, early has the critical competencies Before the mission, many people that evening, I am inspired by these childhood education, youth Marshall Kurland needed to ensure the future asked me, “Why India?” “Are there young leaders’ commitment to their and teen programs, aquatics relevancy and success of our really Jews in India?” I would explain faith and Jewish traditions. and fitness. Recent projects involved JCC. And, fueled by his passion for our that JFNA wouldn’t take a mission We visited the Evelyn Peters JCC, the creation of the Parenting Cen- Jewish mission, he shares our vision for to India if there weren’t Jews there, See “India” on page 2 ter for new parents, and the Positive See “CEO” on page 5 How the Six-Day War Changed American Jews By Ben Sales spiritual leader of a synagogue in the afar as Egypt and Syria threatened the dollars. They held rallies. They lobbied NEW YORK (JTA) – On the morning Riverdale section of the Bronx. “I said, young Jewish state. President Lyndon Johnson. of June 5, 1967, as Arab armies and ‘They’re not going to wipe out Israel, Jonathan Sarna, then 12, remembers Within days, however, the fear Israel clashed following weeks of ten- and if they do, there’s going to be a sign watching on TV as Israelis dug mass turned to relief. The relief turned to sion, Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg sat up: The shul is closed.’ Faith could not graves to prepare for potential slaughter. pride when Israel won the war in six anxious amid his congregants at daily go on with an unmitigated catastrophe A teenage Yossi Klein Halevi remembers days, tripling its territory and taking prayers – fearful that the Jewish people of that size happening again.” the broadcasts of mass rallies in Cairo control of Judaism’s holiest sites. would face extinction for the second The fear felt by Greenberg pervaded calling for Israel’s death. But many Amer- The Six-Day War, as it quickly became time in 25 years. the air in American Jewish communi- ican Jews, haunted by their failure to act known, intensified American Jews’ “One of the people said, ‘They’re ties that week. Two decades after the during the Holocaust, didn’t just passively love for Israel and imbued them with going to wipe out Israel. What’s going world learned the full extent of the watch events unfold – they decided to a new confidence to advocate for their to be?’” recalled Greenberg, then the Holocaust, Americans looked on from mobilize. They raised tens of millions of See “American” on page 16 Candle Bits & Pieces Professional Adult Voices & Community Lighting 2 6 Support 12 Volunteers 16 Views 18 Contacts 19 A Growing Community of Young Jewish Families A full wall mural, featuring a tree with all of the participants’ hand prints, was created in the new Hevre Room at Temple Beth El by the parents and children participating in the program. The painting project took place on March 26 at a pizza program. The room is used for ShaBaBimBam, the under 5 program for Hevre@TBE. TBE’s Rabbi Joshua Hammerman (standing on far left) leads several of the Hevre programs. See article on page 5. (Photo by Karen Mickley-Gomez) 2 THE NEW JEWISH VOICE ■ JULY-AUGUST 2017 Federation Message JCRC Communal Security Meetings Lead to Action By Lauren Steinberg Stamford, Carmel Acade- In the wake of Jewish Com- my, Temple Beth El, Young munity Center bomb threats Israel and Congregation and upticks in antisemitism Agudath Sholom. Attendees nationwide, ensuring ap- learned about the current propriate security for Jewish threat landscape and dis- communal institutions is a cussed basic improvements necessity. To address that they could make to their need, the Jewish Community facilities. Securing facilities Relations Council, an arm is like health insurance, of United Jewish Federation Lauren Steinberg, Horowitz explained: you of Greater Stamford, New director of Jewish make the investment hop- Canaan and Darien, hosted Community ing not to need it, but are Doron Horowitz, national Relations Council prepared in the event that security advisor for Secure you do. Horowitz further Community Network for a series of explained that the threat to Jewish events in Stamford and New Canaan institutions is not only the extreme, on May 11. worst case scenario of a terrorist or Horowitz began his visit by meet- antisemitic attack; while these are ing with representatives from local possible, institutions must also be institutions, including Temple Sinai, prepared for the more probable Doron Horowitz addressed community leaders at Temple Sinai library on the topic of the JCC, Chabad/Gan Yeladim of threats such as sexual predators, “Securing our Jewish Institutions.” disgruntled employees and violence resulting from mental health issues. security, Horowitz explained, is an act dations and threat assessments. CANDLE Horowitz also stressed the impor- of empowerment – and one for which Funded by the Jewish Federations of tance of working with law enforcement, everyone is responsible. North America and the Conference of an emphasis that was carried through The JCRC has already begun follow- Presidents of Major Jewish Organiza- LIGHTING TIMES in a meeting with police later in the ing up with local Jewish institutions and tions, SCN works in partnership with June 30 ............8:12 pm day. New Canaan Police Chief Leon the police to take the essential next law enforcement and local organiza- July 7 ............... 8:11 pm M. Krolikowski, Stamford Assistant steps to ensuring more secure Jewish tions to make sure Jewish communities Police Chief Jim Matheny and Stam- institutions, and will remain in touch are safe and prepared. July 14 .............8:08 pm ford Police Captain Sue Bretthauer with Horowitz and SCN to ensure that Lauren Steinberg is the director of the July 21 .............8:03 pm met with Horowitz and Federation we have the most up-to-date recommen- Jewish Community Relations Council. July 28 .............7:56 pm staff to ensure open communication August 4 ..........7:49 pm and cooperation. All three indicated their eagerness to work with the Jewish India Continued from page 1 August 11 ........7:40 pm community, including by providing the epicenter of Jewish life for Jews Peters JCC in Mumbai, joined our August 18 ........7:30 pm advice on how to secure institutions, living in and around Mumbai, and group for Shabbat and arranged for August 25 ........7:20 pm conducting trainings, and assisting with heard about the services it offers: a several Jewish Youth Pioneers to join September 1 ....7:08 pm emergency drills. Judaic library, camps for all ages, festi- us. We were welcomed for Friday night In the evening, Horowitz addressed val celebrations, Judaism and Hebrew services at the Judah Hyam Synagogue September 8 ....6:57 pm the public on these same issues at the classes, bar/bat mitzvah classes and in Delhi. New Canaan Library. Taking charge of young leadership engagement. On Saturday morning, Nissim, Rabbi NYLC’s theme this year has been Leon Morris (the NYLC scholar-in-res- “turning your passion into action.” idence for the mission) and the Jewish The American Jewish Joint Distribu- Youth Pioneers led the Shabbat prayers tion Committee supported programs and Torah service with traditional in India are examples of this mantra. Bene Israel melodies, intertwined with The Gabriel Project Mumbai, stories of growing up Jewish in India, founded by Jacob Sztokman, serves and sharing Shabbat and holiday meals nutritious meals to vulnerable school with non-Jewish neighbors and friends. children, engages women in the After Shabbat ended, we learned about slums to work and recently opened Malida Ceremonies, which celebrate the Shravan Health Center in the happy occasions and are unique to Kalwa slum. the Bene Israel. We participated in a Naya, which is run through GPM, Malida Ceremony with our new Bene empowers women living in the Kalwa Israel friends, celebrating our new slum through paper recycling. friendship and personal smachot (happy Sundara was started by Erin Zaikis occasions). The Shabbat we shared in and employs women living in the slums India was a once-in-a-lifetime experi- to recycle used soap from hotels, which ence I won’t soon forget.