The National Jewish Post&Opinion Volume 76, Number 8 • December 30, 2009 • 13 Tevet 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com

Study Tour in Berlin

First Row: The Hanukkah Menorah at the Brandenburg Gate. The Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of the City of Berlin. It marked the formal entrance to old Berlin. Today, of course, it is in the center of a metropolis of 3.5 million people; Berlin Victory Column; The Neues Museum has a magnificent collection of Egyptian art. It is known for the beautiful bust of Nefertiti; Second Row: Famous Weinachtsmarts – the delightful Christmas markets that are found throughout the streets of Berlin. Peter Eisenmann’s acclaimed “Memorial to the Dead Jews of Europe” is located in close proximity to the Brandenburg Gate and the German government offices. It evokes the feeling of a grave yard with its stones; Germany is reconstructing the magnificent facade of the Schloss, the Imperial Palace. The reconstruction of the Schloss will cost $400 million Euros. The Communist government of East Germany destroyed the Schloss. Third Row: Remnant of the Berlin Wall. The remnants of the Berlin Wall are now a favorite spot for tourists to take photos; The memorial to the Book Burning of Hitler. Notice the bookshelves under the ground are empty. See story on page Nat 8. Photos by Annamaria Fato.

NAT 2 December 30, 2009 forth.Then her compassionate heart kicks to work through him. Joseph’s brothers in and takes care of her. don’t recognize him as he is dressed in his Editorial She tells herself,“Sweetheart, you are in Shabbat Shalom Egyptian attire and Joseph needs to figure pain. Relax. Take a deep breath. Let’s pay out what he is going to do about the In our Aug. 26, 2009 issue, I wrote attention to what is happening. Then BY RABBI JON ADLAND family that thought about killing him but about a story Sylvia Boorstein had told we’ll figure out what to do.” Dec. 18, 2009, Shabbat Chanukah sold him into slavery instead. In the end, at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in The first instruction to relax helps (Genesis 41:1–44:17), 1 Tevet 5770 Joseph embraces his brothers putting Indianapolis when she was the weekend to startle the mind and interrupt the aside the past in favor of family. In next scholar-in-residence in April 2003. It was upsetting thoughts. Paying attention to Tonight is the last night of Chanukah. week’s portion, when Joseph reveals about Mindfulness meditation. Boorstein the breath accomplishes two things. I’ve eaten my fill of latkes and thoroughly himself to his family it is an emotional is a practicing Jew and also a Buddhist. When the mind is disturbed, the breath enjoyed lighting my chanukiyah and exchange. Joseph then brings his family In that issue, I published my version – becomes shallow and the body becomes watching the candles burn more brightly to Egypt and makes sure that they are how I remembered her story. Afterward, I tense. Lengthening the breath calms the each night until their glow eventually safe, fed and secure. emailed it to her and she responded that body and focuses the mind away from the goes out. Though most Jewish holidays Though our Jewish calendar contains any she liked my rendition. She said every detail “Woe is me”storyline of discontent. Even have additional prayers that we say number of holidays for family gatherings is not exact but close enough to make the a quick focus on the breath begins to clear during the services, Chanukah, like and celebration, there is no question that point. You can read that editorial at this the mind of confusion and provide hope most Jewish holidays, is celebrated in the Shabbat affords us the best opportunity address: www.jewishpostopinion.com/ and courage. home with special rituals, food, blessings, to reinforce the importance of family. JPO_NAT_8-26-09.pdf. Boorstein writes that the most important and family. I often hear from people Whether one observes Shabbat from Three years prior, in our Sept. 27, 2006 instruction is to “pay attention to the interested in becoming part of the sundown Friday through sundown issue, I had written about another teaching feeling of distress…Knowing the story Jewish community or non-Jews who Saturday or just makes having a Shabbat she had given that same April 2003 is helpful for choosing a response, but look at Judaism that the importance of dinner on Friday with blessings the key weekend about the mezuzah. Before I my first response – in addition to the home and family is not just a positive but component, Shabbat is a great time to published it, I called her to make sure that recognition of the pain – is to not be mad something to be admired. take a break from the hectic week, catch I understood clearly what she had said. at it, or at myself for falling into In celebrating Judaism at home, we work up on what is going on, maybe include a At that time she was working on a new it…‘Sweetheart’ reminds me that it isn’t to create an atmosphere that embraces bit about the week’s Torah portion, offer book. I mentioned how much I enjoyed my fault that my mind is embittered, that Judaism and encourages their interest and God’s blessing to the children or a her Mindfulness meditation story and I something has upset it, that I’m in pain.” participation. At the same time we shouldn’t spouse, or put money in a tzedakah box. requested that if that story was not in any And now the second teaching: This overlook the fact that Judaism is really a Shabbat is a time to reflect on family and of her previous books, would she please one is about not holding onto bitterness, religion for adults. It is complex considering friendships and the world around us. consider including it in the new one. She hatred, grudges, anger and such for adult themes repentance, vengeance, For those who have a break from their said she might, and when I recently read others because those emotions leave us liberation, military victory, and more. We regular routine at this time of year, her new book, Happiness Is an Inside Job, feeling unhappy. For those we love and work to make these themes accessible for remember to think about Shabbat. Light it was there. agree with, she says it is not too difficult our youth and children, but in the end, the Shabbat candles and think about how The title of the book really captures when they do something that bothers us. Judaism is for adults. Chanukah is probably these candles invite us to separate the its essence. It is filled with a myriad of The instruction to “bless this person”or the best example as kids learn about the daily week from the holiness of Shabbat. explanations, suggestions, examples and “think of something good” about him or miracle of the oil, while adults look at a Say Kiddush, and as you sip the wine, exercises that one can do to help one her is easy.“He brings me coffee in bed,” battle for religious freedom and the think about life. Taste some challah and maintain peace of mind or “to cultivate a “She is so sweet to my elderly father,”and meanings of autonomy and independence. give thanks for this good earth. noncontentious mind,” because if one is “He is endlessly loyal to worthy causes” Regardless of the depth and meaning Tonight you light the eight lights of filled with animosity, one is not happy. are three examples she gives. of the holiday or holy day, family and Chanukah. Light each candle for all those “This is a book about restoring the mind Likewise for those about whom we community stand out as key components. who have come before us helping to pave to its natural wisdom and kindness, to its have neutral feelings; it is not too We are in the midst of reading the story of the path to our celebration today. In some capacity for caring connection whenever challenging to have complimentary Joseph. During this week’s portion he of the dark places our people lived, these confusion overwhelms it into suffering.” feelings about them when they annoy finds himself looking down at 10 of his lights must have given them hope. We I would like to share with you, my us. This is an example Boorstein gives: brothers who have travelled from famine- light the candles today and remember dear readers, some of the wisdom from “Whenever the shopkeeper in my small plagued Canaan to purchase food from those who did so yesterday. When you the book, especially two of her teachings. town who is always helpful and polite the Egyptian storehouses. light your Shabbat lights, light them for The first is how she calms herself when startles me by offering, unsolicited, a As we all know, Joseph is in charge of the beauty, sanctity and holiness of this faced with a difficult situation, and the political opinion completely at odds with this operation and anyone needing food has (see Adland, page NAT 3) second is what she tells herself to stay mine, I am glad, even eager to thank in a calm and caring frame of mind him for helping me shop. If I do, I can The National Jewish when annoyed by those she loves or – remember his kindness and not replay much more challenging – when she the story that begins ‘It’s people with encounters a “difficult person.” Even views like his…’ If my mind can refrain though the teachings come from a from vilifying him – which isn’t hard to do Post &Opinion Buddhist perspective, there is nothing in because, after all, why upset myself? – I it that is contrary to Judaism. can continue to feel friendly. Whatever his www.jewishpostopinion.com When students ask her how it feels to politics, he is well mannered and I like be peaceful all the time, Boorstein is the doing business there.” Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion first to admit that after her 30 years of For enemies or “difficult people,” 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Published biweekly by office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 The Spokesman Co., Inc. practice, she isn’t always peaceful, but she it becomes much more challenging. (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) is wiser about the decisions she makes When Boorstein teaches this lesson, she [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at and she is generally kinder. She also feels encourages her students to begin with Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 successful because she now trusts that blessings for themselves, well-beloved All circulation correspondence should be addressed to when she gets into a difficult situation, friends, and familiar strangers before Publishers Advertising Director Accounting The National Jewish Post & Opinion, she will not suffer as long as she is able to taking on people who evoke aversion. 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Subscriptions $36.00 per year, back issues $2.25, single copies $2.00. she will catch herself and allow herself to There is always more to that person’s life All advertisements designed and prepared by The Jewish Post & Opinion are the sole property of the newspaper and may not be feel deeply that she is sad or frightened than what he or she did to offend you. Some reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2005 Spokesman Co. Inc. All rights reserved. or disappointed or angry or tired and so (see Editorial, page NAT 15) December 30, 2009 NAT 3 We met again the next day. We were portions we read are all about slavery. happy to see each other. Again he wouldn’t Long before the holistic movement made Chassidic Rabbi put on tefillin, and again his son did. Kabbalah the connection between the mind and the The third day he told me that tomorrow body, Kabbalah said that anger was the BY RABBI BENZION COHEN he was scheduled to have an angioplasty. of the Month root cause of illness, because it actually Some of the arteries that supplied his heart disconnects us from God’s energy and We just installed Internet in our house, with blood were clogged up, and they were BY MELINDA RIBNER from who we really are. If we want to heal and we have a different email address: going to try to open them up.This is serious ourselves from illness, we have to heal [email protected]. We have a special business. For the tenth time I suggested Tevet: Purification and transform the anger we feel inside. Internet program that blocks out non- he put on tefillin and pray, and for the Joy and love are such powerful healing kosher Web sites. tenth time he firmly and politely declined. and transformation forces in life. The main reason that we got Internet is I said to myself, “Today is Chanukah. of anger When you find yourself becoming to spread Torah in the world. For the last two Hashem, please make a miracle.” angry, make an effort to calm yourself and years, my sister Jennie has been printing Shmuel pointed to another patient at Tevet, the darkest month of the year not speak or act impulsively.Train yourself these emails as a column in the Jewish the end of the room.“You see that man? which began at sundown Dec. 17, brings to take long deep breaths, visualize the Post & Opinion. Now I’m going to try and He is an Arab, but he speaks Yiddish challenges that force us to tap into our release of tension through the breath. get my column, and words of Torah by better than either of us.” Shmuel called inner resources and become stronger. In Make a habit of speaking in a soft and Rabbi Tuvia Bolton (www.ohrtmimim.org/ the Arab over, and we got into a lively many places in the world, during the month gentle voice so when you are angry you Torah) in other newspapers and Web sites. conversation in Yiddish. Yiddish is a very of Tevet, the weather is cold, the sky is will not raise your voice too much. Give If you have any ideas about newspapers special language, and all three of us were gray, and we find ourselves spending more yourself time to look at the situation or Web sites that may be interested, let greatly enjoying the conversation. I asked time inside than outside in nature. These differently. Try to be detached, objective, me know. Also, I can now send out my the Arab to help me to convince Shmuel physical conditions reflect the spiritual as if it were happening to someone else. biweekly email to a thousand people at to put on tefillin, especially since he themes of the months. This is the month Imagine yourself on a mountain top once. So if you know anyone who might like has never done this Mitzvah, and he is not so much to go forward or start new looking down from that vantage point. to read it, send me their email address. scheduled to do a serious operation. projects but to be with oneself, to process Assume responsibility for your feelings, Baruch Hashem we had a beautiful The Arab tried, and again Shmuel deep feelings, purify and complete the making “I”statements such as “I feel this Chanukah, with many miracles. Chanukah refused. The Arab looks at me and says, projects at hand. I recall that my ___ when you do ___. Do not blame the was and is a time of miracles. Here is one “Me redt tsu de vand” (It’s like talking astrologer friend Nina informed me that other person for your feelings. It is from this year. to the wall). We all had a good laugh. Mercury and Mars are retrograde in Tevet, ultimately your choice whether to be hurt I met Shmuel at our local hospital. I In the next bed was another Arab. so that iseems to be in alignment with the or angry. Raise your vibration by doing smiled and wished him a happy Chanukah He, his wife and daughter also tried to kabbalistic forecast. something nurturing or enjoyable. See and a speedy recovery. He smiled back persuade Shmuel to put on tefillin. He the good in the other person. and thanked me. I suggested that he put wasn’t convinced. Finally I said to him, When you are angry you may want to on tefillin. He politely declined, saying “Tomorrow they are going to try to open The challenge this month seek the support of others to ventilate that he has never put on tefillin. I asked up the arteries to your heart. If they are your feelings or write a letter expressing why not, and he told me his story. successful, then you will thank Hashem is to cultivate patience, those feelings freely, but do not mail it. He was born in Poland 79 years ago. and put on tefillin.”He said,“Okay.” Read it over many times as Rabbi His grandparents were very religious. He I met Shmuel the next day, sitting by and remember that Kalanymus Kalman Shapiro of Piaseczno remembers his grandfather’s long white the window in his room. He was happy. recommended. Feeling our anger is beard. His parents were less religious. The operation had been successful, and nothing happens by different than expressing it. After speaking They sent him to a Jewish school, where his heart was feeling better. He put on your anger in a safe place, consider how he learned Torah and also secular studies. tefillin and read the Shma prayer. It was a accident and there you might express yourself differently to When he was 11, the Nazis murdered his beautiful experience for all of us. We had the actual person who has hurt you. parents and most of his family. He a double celebration. Now he was feeling is goodness within Speak to God about your hurt and anger. escaped to Russia and grew up there in an better both physically and spiritually. each challenge. Reb Nachman recommends that we spend orphanage. In 1957 he moved to Israel. A real Chanukah miracle, but with an an hour each day in conversation with On one hand, this is a tragic story. I can important difference! In the original God. Pour your heart out to God each only try to imagine what he went Chanukah miracles, 2,200 years ago, the Kabbalistically, the month is devoted to day, even if it is just for a few minutes. through, and I certainly can’t blame him. nations of the world were our opponents. the healing and transformation of anger. Visualize yourself standing before God. On the other hand, he is a special person. We had to overcome them in order to When it is cold outside, people get heated You can express your feelings to God as a This is one benefit of my work in the fulfill Hashem’s commandments. Now up inside. People become angry more easily child would to his or her parent. Always, hospital. I get to meet and know many many of the nations of the world, including in Tevet. You might notice that occurring ask to better understand what you can special people. The Torah teaches us that the Arabs in today’s miracle, are helping with friends or even with yourself. Remind learn from the challenges in your life and everything that happens is for the good, us to serve Hashem. This is the beginning yourself that it is the month of Tevet. how to respond to them in a positive and even though we may not always under- of the fulfillment of the prophecy of The challenge this month is to cultivate loving way. stand. What good comes from hardships Moshiach. The Torah promises that in the patience, and remember that nothing According to Kabbalah, this month is and suffering? For one thing, it often end of days, all of the nations will work happens by accident and there is goodness under the domain of Esau. When we are makes us into better people. Metals are together with us to serve Hashem. within each challenge. During this angry we give energy to the side of refined in furnaces, and souls are refined It is up to each of us to help make this month, make a conscious effort to let go negativity. We weaken our connection to by hardships. I feel privileged to be able to happen. We have to learn Torah and do of the need to be right. Attempt to see the Holy One and to all that is good. It is talk to survivors of the Holocaust. The Mitzvahs to bring Moshiach now! everything and everyone in the best light. not that we need to become doormats or ones that I have met are warm, kind and Rabbi Cohen lives in K’far Chabad, You will know how you are progressing passive, but that we control our anger sensitive. I feel even more privileged if I Israel. He can be reached by email at spiritually by observing your anger level. so we can make choices that are life succeed in helping them in any way, [email protected]. Becoming angered easily is a sign you affirming. This month is actually a time of especially to bring them back to our need to purify yourself. great light, for the greatest light is hidden Father in Heaven. We must make a decision to work on in darkness. Shmuel told me that he hardly remembers j i anger because being stuck in anger has so Melinda Ribner, L.C.S.W. is a spiritual his father and mother. So I tried my many negative consequences. It renders psychotherapist and healer in private practice best to help him form a relationship with ADLAND us victims who are powerless and unable (www.kabbalahoftheheart.com). She is a Hashem, the Father of all mankind. (continued from page NAT 2) to go forward in our lives. When we are teacher of Jewish meditation and Kabbalah for I asked Shmuel why he is in the hospital. angry we are not free. We are slaves to our over 25 years. Author of Kabbalah Month by He told me about his heart trouble. That day. May it always bring our people emotions. We are out of control. We lose Month, New Age Judaism, and Everyday day he didn’t put on tefillin, but his son together and give them peace. our center when we blame other people Kabbalah, she is also the founder and director did. I could see that this made him happy. Rabbi Adland is senior rabbi of or events for our own unhappiness. That of Beit Miriam (www.Beitmiriam.org). She can Deep down all of us want to do Mitzvahs. Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. is why during this month the Torah be reached at [email protected]. NAT 4 December 30, 2009 and foremothers as they brought the Russian and otherwise, in the traditions, Wiener’s world from darkness into light. the history and the culture of Jewish Theodore Herzl went even further in Shipley life. What is unique is that the outreach fewer words when he said: “If you will program is not dedicated to religion Wisdom it, it is not a dream.” The fulfillment of Speaks or necessarily oriented toward Israel. It centuries of crying each and every year at is, rather, concentrated on the Jewish BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Passover: “Next year in Jerusalem”was not BY JIM SHIPLEY peoplehood. only a clarion call for deliverance but a This “peoplehood”is a strange thing. It Why? willingness to continue the task assigned The Russians are is what we are. It is the “Pintele Yid”in all to us at Sinai: The fulfillment of the human of us. From Sudan or Siberia, from China There is a classic Yiddish folk saying effort at completion and connection, not coming – Don’t or Chernobyl, a Jew is a Jew. We are Ultra that goes: “You have chosen us from only to God, but to each other. Orthodox, Hasidim, Modern Orthodox, among all the nations. Why, O Lord? Today we are witnessing a return to the bother they’re here Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist What did you have against us?” days of Seenus Hinum. Some call these A generation ago, the Jewish world, or “JewBhus.”Jews all. I think about this phrase containing detractors “self-hating Jews.”Others have specifically in the U.S. was rallying to the Dealing with this variety can really be both sadness and humor rolled up into more descriptive terms. We are observing cause of Russian Jewry. Hundreds of confusing to someone who is told they one expression that has haunted the our own people demonizing a State and thousands of Jews were trapped behind are Jewish, who perhaps remember some Jewish people throughout the ages. There its people as they consider the path of the Iron Curtain, unable to live safely as Jewish rituals in their home going back is no doubt that we, as a people, have survival in a hostile environment. These Jews and unable to emigrate. sometimes generations, but who have endured numerous efforts to eradicate all same people disregard the daily threat to A congressman from Ohio with whom had no contact or education about Jews memory of us from the human psyche. life and limb that is reported as though it I had the pleasure of working got an and Judaism. We have suffered, not only at the hands were some innocuous experience. And amendment tacked on to a bill that made Even more confusing if someone is of others, but also by self-inflicting pain even when we admit that mistakes are it easier for Russian Jews to emigrate. The told, “You are a Jew.” How do you deal and anguish. The Talmud tells us that the made, it is not enough. We must die, for Jackson/Vanik amendment to a U.S. with that, having no family or other Second Temple was destroyed because of that is the fate of this inglorious people. foreign trade bill forced Russia to open background to hang on to? That is Seenus Hinum – self-hatred and inner Mordecai M. Kaplan said it best: “Our the gates to emigration. Prior to that, where NADAV and another leading conflicts. If we study the history of the emancipation will not be complete until there was such a heavy tax on Jews organization called Genesis come in. Second Temple period, we understand we are free of the fear of being Jews.” desiring to leave that heavily anti-Semitic Stan Polovets, a Moscow-based oil fully what the rabbis of the Talmud were society that it pretty well precluded any executive who is president of Genesis, is telling us. It was a tragedy witnessing large emigration. quoted in the Forward newspaper as neighbor against neighbor, zealots against We are observing our Times change. A generation later, saying: “We felt if we focused on funding liberals, and apologists against nationalists. thousands of Russian Jews are successfully religious organizations, we would be writing It was the ultimate destruction of a own people demonizing integrated into life in the United States as off 95% of our largest population.” people and a tradition brought on by well as Israel. But most of these Russians Now remember, he is speaking from self-indulgence and passions that a State and its people are different from other Jews who sought Russia. But, how many of our disaffected transcended reason and logic. asylum in the U.S. or Israel.They were not youth (or adults for that matter) would When the Temple walls tumbled they as they consider the raised as Jews.The Jewish religion as well as understand why they are Jewish and why brought down with them the hopes and most other faiths, operated underground they feel the way they do if they were aspirations of a people who witnessed path of survival in a or not at all during the Soviet times. better educated in their peoplehood? thousands of years of development Deciding to live as Jews in the U.S. or Which brings us to the justice minister and contributions that still permeate hostile environment. Israel, they faced a dilemma. Could they of the Jewish State of Israel, Yaacov human society. be Jews and not be religious Jews, even Ne’eman. Ne’eman wants Israel to I fast forward to today, and by today I The question remains, why? Why is it though it was discrimination against their “return Jewish law to its former glory.”On mean the 20th and 21st centuries. We necessary for us to turn the other cheek religion that kept them trapped in Russia. the face of it, it sounds okay. But think a were there when, after 2,000 years, a when, if we do, we will lose our face? If not a religious Jew, what were they? minute. Orthodoxy is Orthodoxy. And that people’s longing for return was realized. Why is our hand extended in friendship Well, those in the U.S. looked around and is what Ne’eman is preaching. Women are This was accomplished after the most to all who hate us only to have it ignored? quickly found that there were plenty of already harassed at the Wall. Conversions unimaginable sacrifices. History is replete Why does the world gather, on more than American Jews who were far from any are being questioned. Questioned at a with stories and depictions of a dark time once occasion, to condemn this tiny land form of formal religious practice. time when it is the duty of this and future in humanities development.There can never filled with so few people? Why, oh why, are The question for them remained: How generations to repopulate the Jewish be enough said or written to fully describe there many of our own people who join in do I identify as a Jew if not through some people after the Holocaust. the anguish and torment suffered by so the chorus of defeatism and destruction? form of strict adherence to Jewish law, Ne’eman would have an Orthodox many and inflicted by so few. There are too many “whys.” There are such as keeping kosher, going to shul, state in the democratic state of Israel. A David Ben-Gurion once wrote: not enough answers. It seems that the observing all the holidays and fast days. pluralistic society that welcomes all our “Building a State means for us a return to “whys” have it. It seems that the ageless The answer of course is in our history. people. Our people. This peoplehood the soil. We found hundreds of Arab v question uttered by many Holocaust We were a peoplehood long before Moses who call themselves Jews. A secular illages. We didn’t take them away. We survivors – “At Auschwitz, where was came down from Sinai. When people society showing all the diversity that has established hundreds of new Jewish God?” – is still echoed today. And the ask me what the difference is, I use the allowed us to survive somehow, some villages on new soil. We didn’t merely buy answer that is given: “Where was man?” example that I know many ex-Catholics, way, through everything. the land, we re-created the land. In the Perhaps that answer is too simple. Life but I don’t know any ex-Italians. I feel we should welcome NADAV and swamps of Hedera hundreds of Jews died is more complicated than that. Perhaps, A number of these Russians have Genesis and all like them, and offer of malaria, and they refused to leave that though, that answer is sufficient for us to achieved considerable wealth living in a Mr. Ne’eman a ticket to Williamsburg, place until it was made healthy. With our believe that what we must do and what free capitalistic society. True, some gained Brooklyn, where he can find the kind of toil, our sweat, and with our love and must be done requires us to speak loudly their riches in Russia under Putin and insular, prejudiced life he seeks. devotion, we are remaking the soil to when we see and hear our fellow Jews so some, yes, under murky circumstances. Jim Shipley has had careers in broadcasting, enable us to settle there, not at the misguided and so emancipated that they Nevertheless, they are bringing an distribution, advertising, and telecommuni- expense of anybody else.” believe they are not Jews at all but rather interesting view of Jewish life and identity cations. He began his working life in radio In that short paragraph, he summed up the “self-hating Jews”which, in my opinion is to the world of Jewish philanthropy. The in Philadelphia. He has written his JPO dreams and aspirations of a people ignored the same as being anti-Semitic. NADAV Fund, start by former Russian oil column for 20 years and is director of and denigrated but who gave the world the The Yiddish folk saying may be more prophetic executive Leonid Nevzlin and run by his Trading Wise, an international trade and understanding of hope and survival. That than humorous. And perhaps we should daughter, Irina, is one of the most prominent. marketing company in Orlando, Fla. short paragraph embodied the realization that add: What do our own have against us? These Jews are not philanthropists only centuries of humiliation and dehumanization Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the by donating millions of dollars to these did not alter our determination to complete Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation near Phoenix, foundations, but are actively involved the work given to us by our forefathers Ariz. Send comments to [email protected]. both here and in Russia educating Jews, December 30, 2009 NAT 5 lips. Any problems were blamed on self- The problem is that they print and from the interested political fanatics. Absent was any broadcast with a sense of certainty that Notes desire to at least discuss the seriousness Jewish should make us all uncomfortable. CNN with which some people felt that the provides us with a constant assortment of Antipodes claims of Islam were undermining the America experts, weighing in on areas of their very social values they hold dear. Indeed, interest and expertise, who most often BY RODNEY GOUTTMAN according to the presenters of these BY HOWARD W.KARSH seem to be CNN consultants. For the most sessions, Moslems had already or were part they are boring, because they are Interfaith speaks in the process of integrating into their CNN and the more often spokesman than analysts. And host societies, as had foreign immigrant each show has its own stable of regulars. It wasn’t going to be a political circus as cultures before them. There was no New York Times Although Larry King’s show is really occurred in Copenhagen, where cutting discussion on how to deal with those Although many times I find myself in just media “vaudeville,”there is a pretense backroom deals on policy with regards to whose alienation motivated them to disagreement with both CNN and the of getting to the bottom of whatever climate change followed a well-worn and harm others. New York Times, I depend on both of them human garbage he is offering. Recently it accepted pattern. Rather, it was an inter- A number of Moslem commentators, for the news, because I believe that they was the public meltdown of Tiger Woods. faith gathering called the Parliament such as Europe’s professor Tariq deliver the most. I read them both, with What struck me most about the panel of of World Religions, attended by 4,000 Ramadam, criticized the human rights an understanding of where “they come “damage control” experts that he had people from 80 countries, at which record of Islamic states, and the way they from,”and it is a good habit for any reader. assembled was their cynicism about the political issues were deemed to be absent. treated their minorities and often, their Neither has been consistently a friend of rest of us who were watching. Its purpose was to find a path along which own faith’s brothers and sisters. However, Israel, and neither believes that it is They also included the reaction of the world’s faiths could comfortably talk of Iran’s role in fostering terrorism or responsible for holding up any particular Europeans, who are always amazed at our face up to the many moral problems threatening to nuke Israel, the Shia-Sunni view of ethics and morality. The New York sexual immaturity.The “Europeans”that they confronting the world today, be they divide, and the acute persecution of Times used to hold itself responsible for refer to simply believe, as do the garbage- poverty, economic development, or the Christians within the Islamic hemisphere, printing only the news “fit for print,” but control specialists, that we should just realize great ecological crisis. was absent. while that has always been a subjective that everyone and everything is corrupt. The Parliament’s banner read “Making call, today it is politically, religiously and They offered the opinion that professional a Difference, Hearing Each Other, morally a charged area of judgment. golfers are unusually involved in adultery, Healing the Earth,” but it would only be …Washington sent a kind of professional hazard, given the through their middle principle that the j i fact that they are always traveling, and other two goals could be achieved. What two emissaries…to apparently can’t find anything else to do this convocation was not supposed to be female perspectives in the various faith with their free time. was the political plaything of any one discover how American traditions. Even paganism was slotted in. I have never professed to understand country, however influential. Nonetheless, it has to be said that the Europeans’ views of anything. I do know This ideal, however, was not to be foreign policy could proceedings of the Parliament, even with that they have lots of opinions, seem not attained, for Washington sent two the many associated off-site activities, to care who knows, and never seem to hold emissaries – the State Department’s Peter best curry favor with failed to dent the collective consciousness up their end of any international cause. I Kovath and White House religion expert, of Melburnians whose taxpayer dollars am especially uninterested in what the Mara Vanderslice – to reconnoiter in the Islamic world. had heavily bankrolled it. The media French have to say. They have repeatedly private with a select band of participants. coverage was also desultory. In the 24-hour surrendered, rather than fought, and Their purpose was to discover how news cycle that dominates the fourth regretfully, but always, cooperated with American foreign policy could best curry The only conflict on the books was estate these days, it couldn’t compete the invaders. I am proud of the fact that favor with the Islamic world. Details of between Israelis and Palestinians. And in with the salacious interest in the Tiger the United States of America has taken the participants, topics discussed, and this, Israel’s culpability was the message Woods story, which broke publicly while the “high road,”but I believe as well that why the organizers allowed the principle of leftwing Jewish attendees from the he was starring in a major golf tournament the United Nations and NATO should of openness to be undermined, have yet United States such as Rabbi Dr. Michael in Melbourne. be held responsible to live up to both the to be revealed. Lerner, the editor of the magazine Tikkun. It certainly gained scant traction within letter and spirit of their charters. What we do know is that doors were Matters, however, reached a point of high Melbourne’s Jewish community, one of One would think that Iran is no danger locked and guarded, and the electronic notice farce when a Shia cleric from Iran claimed two major centers of Australian Jewry.The to Europe, that all of those nuclear bombs board normally used to advertise the subject not only was his country a veritable handful of local Jews who attended were in Pakistan are being watched over by of discussion within, was left blank. utopia for all religions, but also that the already devotees of interfaith activity. fate, and that in any situation of need, like Public news of this clandestine operation reasons for its Jewish community feeling Further, a number of the celebrity making sure that all of the abandoned was revealed only after the Parliament’s persecuted could be sheeted home to the participants such as Rabbis Michael nuclear materials scattered around Russia conclusion. No condemnation was expressed. very existence of the state of Israel. Melchior and David Rosen, both from was not finding its way into the hands of One person present was the Egyptian- The blueprint for Christian-Jewish Israel, and Rabbi David Saperstein terrorists, was accounted for, was really born New York–based cleric, Imam Feisal relations presented by The International described by Newsweek Magazine as “the the moral responsibility of the USA. Abdul Rauf, already a confidant of Council of Christians and Jews’ called “A quintessential religious lobbyist on There should be a reality check. The President Obama. Given the information Time for Recommitment” was well Capitol Hill’ had already strutted their “experts” on Larry King’s nightly show blackout, one can only conjecture how received, though the rocky nature of stuff to the community in the week are really only expert in the area of people the inevitable exchange over the Israeli- Jewish-Vatican affairs of late were a leading to the opening of the Parliament. who feel that “freedom”means to be free Palestinian impasse might have run. worry, even to Catholic speakers. Again, At the final plenum of the Parliament, from everything. Celebrities, Larry King Had these political apparatchniks matters challenging Christian-Jewish the Dalai Lama generalized that only the himself, feel above conviction. attended the open sessions where Islam relations, such as the constant hostility of inner principle of compassion could solve We have the power of turning them off. was the prime subject, they might have the Word Council of Churches and its the moral problems facing the world. The larger issue, in my mind, is the idea gleaned much of what they had heard in contributing assemblies toward Jews, However, compassion can’t replace the that we are all like Tiger Woods, David private. On the other hand, they might Judaism, and Israel, and supersessionist truth that on too many occasions, the Letterman, the actors, singers, politicians have chosen to side-step the paradox of thought contributing to the push to root of some of these moral problems is a who become national news because they strategic constraint exercised in these boycott the Jewish State and its people, religious impediment. got caught. It simply is not true. open and supposedly frank discussions, were not canvassed. Dr. Gouttman is a former senior academic But it is okay for Tiger Woods. Gator Aid where matters likely to divide were There was naturally much room in the at the University of South Australia, and Nike have announced that Tiger is diplomatically and deftly avoided. program of over 700 sessions for each current senior political analyst with the safe. Kobe got punished by national A prime subtheme was the nexus faith and spiritual group to explain the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission sponsors, but Tiger is okay. Now that’s between Islamic and Western values, many and varied aspects of its (Australia’s ADL), and associate of the material for another show. especially as it is being played out in metaphysics. Indigenous spirituality was School of Historical Studies at Monash Howard W. Karsh lives and writes Europe, the United States, and of course, given a decent run, particularly that of University. He can be reached at rmgout@ in Milwaukee, Wisc. His e-mail is Australia. Compatibility was on everyone’s the Australian Aboriginal, as were melbpc.org.au. [email protected]. NAT 6 December 30, 2009 When Moses repeats the Decalogue in spiritual leader of the Khal Adath Jewish Deuteronomy, we are commanded to An Observant Jeshurun Orthodox Jewish community in safeguard the Sabbath and sanctify it. It is Washington Heights for nearly four taught that both commandments, to decades, had addressed an Agudath Israel Educator remember and safeguard, were uttered in Eye “Halacha Conference for Accountants” the same moment by God. on Jan. 24, 1989. In the excerpts of BY AMY HIRSHBERG LEDERMAN In the relentless pace of contemporary BY RABBI AVI SHAFRAN that speech broadcast at the recent life, where we barely take time to stop convention, he minced no words about Make 2010 a and smell the coffee let alone enjoy an The sound the wrongness of “cutting corners”when entire day, we can learn much from the it came to honesty in business. year of simple metaphor of Shabbat and these two of silence “Those who resort to… dishonesty,”he pleasures words – to remember and safeguard. It is A number of Jews, including Orthodox said, “while they may have the outward a challenge to be sure, to consciously stop Jews, have been implicated in financial appearance of G-d-fearing Jews, deep I can’t remember a year of my life that and remember that we need to preserve crimes over recent months. down they are irreligious”– and he loudly I was happier bidding farewell to than the simple things in life that give us Some of the scandals have proven emphasized the “ir” of “irreligious.” G-d 2009. Economic stresses, family health pleasure rather than to be compelled by somewhat less scandalous than when provides us what He knows we need, Rabbi issues, and the constant barrage of global the things that drive or obsess us, but they first appeared on front pages and Schwab explained. To steal is to deny that crises really wore me down. But when the from which we get little enjoyment. were seared into readers’ minds. Sholom fact, and any gains thereby ill-gotten are ball drops on New Year’s Eve, so will some So much has changed in the past year Mordechai Rubashkin, for instance, an inheritance bequeathed by evil. of the load I was carrying this year. Call and much of it hasn’t been for the better. currently stands convicted of misleading He noted, further, that the dictionary me Polly Anna, but the new year always But the one thing that has remained a bank to secure a loan. Although that has an entry for the word “Jew”as a verb, gives me a renewed sense of optimism constant is that it is still up to each one of conviction, amazingly, could result in an as in “to Jew”someone (i.e., to cheat him). about the future and a feeling that if we us to determine how we will live out our effective life sentence, charges that How terrible a desecration of G-d’s name, all put our minds to it, we can set things days. Following in the footsteps of my Mr. Rubashkin knowingly hired illegal Rabbi Schwab bemoaned, that His people right again. quasi-namesake, David Letterman, I offer aliens were dropped; and more lurid are viewed as defrauders. Even if the I begin each year by asking myself what Amy Lederman’s Top Ten Ideas on how to accusations – that he mistreated employees, definition carries the smell of anti- I can do to recharge my “inner”batteries make 2010 a year of simple pleasures: abused animals, and ran a methamphetamine Semitism, he explained, it is a desecration and renew my sense of appreciation for 10. Spend more time outdoors, walk factory – are no longer heard. of G-d’s name all the same. life. Things I can afford, regardless of when you can, and take time to notice In some other cases, accusations have “I live for the day,” he mused, with a income, like enjoying a beautiful day, the seasons. been made, but evidence has not yet been pining, sad smile, “when there will be a taking a walk with a friend or snuggling 9. Play more games, listen to more heard; and both Judaism and American new definition for ‘to Jew’: to be a stickler up with a good book. Simple efforts that music and read more books than you did law insist on a presumption of innocence. for honesty… ” remind me of how much I truly have, in 2009. But there have certainly been cases in Rabbi Pam served as the dean of Yeshiva even though the world we live in has 8. Surround yourself with the people the Jewish community where guilt has Torah Vodaath (where he taught for become more difficult to navigate. you love. Take pictures of your family and been well established. Bernie Madoff may more than 60 years) and was a member of friends and display them in your home never have been Jewishly observant, but the Council of Torah Sages. His excerpted and office. the Orthodox community has certainly speech was recorded on Nov. 22, 2000 It is a concept that…has 7. Fix up a corner in your home where had its share of fraud convictions, if on and screened the next day at that year’s you can sit and relax, then take the time smaller scales, as well. Agudath Israel convention. He was taught us…we need to to do it! Jewish crimes, imagined, alleged or seriously ailing and it may have been the 6. Create community – join a book or proven, have been prominently featured last public address of his life. The anguish set aside time in order hiking club, learn a hobby that you can do in the media. But they were prominent in the rabbi’s face and words, though, with others, or create a group to share too at Agudath Israel of America’s recent were clearly the product not of illness but to renew and rejuvenate Shabbat with. 87th national convention. The opening of the pain he felt at having to even 5. Make soup for a sick friend or visit plenary session, on Nov. 26, was dedicated address the issue. ourselves and in doing someone who is lonely, even if you don’t to the Jewish mandate of honesty in Speaking in Yiddish, he characterized have the time. business and personal dealings. Two of a good Jew as someone who is so, we will find delight 4. Set aside time to practice meditation, the Orthodox world’s most respected ehrlich – honest and trustworthy – “in his yoga or prayer. Find a spiritual path that rabbinic figures – Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the profession, in business, with one’s in the world around us. provides inspiration for your life. Novominsker Rebbe and Agudath Israel’s workers, with one’s partners…” and, like 3. Rather than dining out, invite friends rabbinic head; and Rabbi Mattisyahu Rabbi Schwab, he stated clearly that Jewish wisdom has invaluable advice over for a potluck dinner. Besides saving Salomon, the dean of students, or the same honesty with which a Jew when it comes to answering this question. money, it creates a wonderful opportunity Mashgiach, of the famed Lakewood must interact with another Jew must The answer is not a “Secret” as the best- to talk and relax. Yeshiva – addressed the many hundreds characterize a Jew’s dealings with non-Jews. selling book by that name would suggest. 2. Share something good that happened who packed the large hall of the East When one arrives in the next world, It is a concept that, from the beginning of to you during the week and ask a friend Brunswick Hilton (with thousands more Rabbi Pam reminded his listeners, Jewish time, has taught us that as human or family member to share what was good listening to a live broadcast of the quoting the Talmud, “the very first beings, we need to set aside time in order in theirs. proceedings or, later, on tapes and CDs). question he is asked is ‘Did you conduct to renew and rejuvenate ourselves and in 1. And the Number One Idea for The speeches were pointed, pained and your business in [good] faith?’” doing so, we will find delight in the world Enjoying Simple Pleasures in 2010: powerful, and their message came The word used there, he noted, quite around us. Create a Sabbath for yourself – remember through clearly: Honesty is no less a literally means “faith,” because – here he Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is more to preserve and protect time each week Jewish imperative than any. In fact, in echoed Rabbi Schwab – acting dishonestly than the seventh day of the week. It is a to rest, reflect, renew and delight in the many ways it is a greater one. in order to “supplement”our income denies metaphor for a way of appreciating life; simple things that give you pleasure! There were, as it happened, two other G-d’s ability to provide us our sustenance. an invitation to let go of the things that Amy Hirshberg Lederman (www.amy speakers that evening, although they were When the screens went black, before dominate us during the week, such as hirshberglederman.com) is an award- not there, unfortunately, in person: Rabbi applause ensued, the silence persisted for work, errands, chores and shopping. By winning, nationally syndicated columnist, Shimon Schwab and Rabbi Avrohom what seemed, at least to one person in letting go of the need to accomplish and author, Jewish educator, public speaker and Pam, may their memories be a blessing. the audience, a very long time. “do,” we create a space in time for us to attorney. Her new book One God, Many Video excerpts of addresses presented © 2009 AM ECHAD RESOURCES just “be”and to enjoy. Paths: Finding Meaning and Inspiration by those two revered figures years ago on Rabbi Shafran is director of public affairs The commandment to honor the Sabbath in Jewish Teachings won the 2009 Arizona the subject of business ethics were for Agudath Israel of America. is the fourth of the Ten Commandments Book Publishing Association’s Best Book projected onto large screens before the and is given twice in the Torah. The first Award on religion. crowd. As the men on the screen spoke, time is in Exodus, when we are told to there was utter silence. remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Rabbi Schwab, who served as the December 30, 2009 NAT 7 us the exact place where the graves are is on the not known but it was in this area. What The Art of Seen was going on? Maccabi Hatzair, Young Maccabees, a Observation Israel Scene pioneering Zionist youth movement, was having an event. Originally founded BY RABBI ALLEN H.PODET BY SYBIL KAPLAN in Germany in 1926 and subsequently View of cave 4, where many of the Dead expanded to other countries, this Dead Sea Scrolls Sea Scrolls were found. Chanukah week movement, along with Maccabi Youth, formed the young stratum of the World exhibit – Royal Notable elements are carefully pointed On the first night of Chanukah, my Maccabi organization (an international Ontario Museum out to the uninitiated. For example, one’s closest friend, Marilyn, and the synagogue Jewish sports organization), but it did not attention is directed to the second line of president, Brian, and his wife, Susan, came confine itself to sports, engaging also in in Toronto the scroll containing Psalm 121,“I will lift to share dinner with us. I had made 90 education for aliya and rural settlement my eyes to the mountains, whence shall latkes, three quarts of apple sauce and 55 in Palestine. In 1936, it held its first The term “magnificent”is thrown about my help come? My help is from the onchikot (mini doughnut holes dusted with convention in Tel Aviv. Members of much too frequently. The rector of a LORD, who makes heaven and earth,” confectioners’sugar but with no fillings). Maccabi Hatzair formed settlement groups, European college or university, in highly where the Hebrew word translated as On the first day of Chanukah, we hosted settled in Palestine, joined settlements formal address (usually delivered in Latin), LORD is really the tetragrammaton. In three members of the Young Judaea year and established new ones of their own. is addressed as “Magnificenz,” a title I the scroll, the Hebrew is given in the course, just arrived in Jerusalem from the Now 65 years old, here were 1,500 inherited when I became the founding square or Aramaic alphabet, albeit in an Arad portion – and we ate latkes, apple youth from all over the country, ages rector of the Abraham Geiger College at antiquated form thereof, except for the sauce and more. 10–18, listening to the mayor of Modiin Potsdam. Valerie Jill found it useful to tetragrammaton itself, which is invariably On the third day of Chanukah, our pastor and being entertained by a teenage employ it in phrases such as, “O given in the ancient Semitic or properly friend, Al, and his wife, Billie, and we singing group of their own. Magnificenz, take out the garbage!” or Phoenician alphabet. All this is pointed planned a day out of Jerusalem. Suddenly I chanced to meet Rotem Varon, human “Hey, Magnificenz, clean the kitty litter!” out in large and legible carving on the Al said, “Let’s go to Modiin, home of resources manager of the adults, who But magnificent is the mot juste for the wall behind the scroll. In short, the shrine the Maccabees.” Modiin is a big city of told me the youth had come for a day of Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit now at Toronto’s in Jerusalem is for scholars; the ROM apartment buildings and high-rises, and educational programs and soon would Royal Ontario Museum. An entire wing of exhibit is for ordinary well-read people. that wasn’t what we wanted, but then we board 30 buses, according to their age the famous ROM is given over to panoramas, Utterly fascinating, to me at least, is saw the sign “Maccabbean Graves.”That groups, to tour the areas. dioramas, videos, virtual tours, explanations, the set of virtual tours. I have never was what we wanted. The event here in the forest ended with and of course a selection of the scrolls them- before really understood the remarkable Off the road we drove into a forest, and an Israeli Olympic player picking up a selves.The scrolls displayed are fragments, immensity and complexity of the Second suddenly there were youth in uniforms torch and carrying it across stage and out generally large enough to read with diffi- Temple complex, its grace and elegance of everywhere. We parked and a guard told of the area as a symbolic run. culty, except for the Psalms scroll, which is line as renovated and expanded under On the fourth day of Chanukah, I led a about 3 x 7 inches and very clear and leg- Herod the Great. “shuk walk” of Machaneh Yehudah, the ible. Behind every scroll is a picture of it We enter a vast plaza and ascend a j i Jewish market, as part of the Chanukah carved into, and taking up, an entire wall. broad fight of stairs, leading to a marble- chant associated with whatever is on week walks sponsored by the Association The large, famous scrolls, of course, are like corridor, which opens to the left onto display. In at least one case, the traditional of Americans and Canadians in Israel. in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem, another broader and longer flight of music turns out to be 18th- and 19th- On the evening of the fifth day of hydraulically designed to sink under- stairs. We wander through corridors, century folk tunes. Well, it can’t be heard Chanukah, we attended a fantastic ground at a moment’s notice of danger, some exposed and some closed in, and very well anyway since it is really only concert at our synagogue given by Israel and they are, understandably, not about mount up finally to the main plaza. We background music. songster, Shuly Natan, singing the songs to be lent out for foreign exhibit. All the look around us and see the Western Wall, From time to time, coins and artifacts of of Naomi Shemer. In case the names scrolls, everywhere, are under low, low advance to the closed-in gallery, the the same period of the scrolls, arguably don’t register, in 1967 Naomi Shemer wrote light, constant temperature and pressure parapets, and finally we stand before the perhaps 150 or so BCE (before the a new song about Jerusalem for a song and humidity, in an anoxic atmosphere. south wall of the great cube of the Temple common era), are displayed invariably contest; she happened to hear a young girl The presentation is eximious and proper, with a perpetual column of smoke clearly and well protected of course but soldier singing on the radio and wanted thoughtful. One gets from the ROM rising from behind the walls. The Western near enough to the viewer to allow for her to sing the song. As they say, the rest exhibit a far more luculent understanding of Wall looms to our left. It is a remarkable close study. They are well illuminated and is history. The song was “Yerushalayim the history of the scrolls and the period, of tour, extremely physical, very well thought accompanied by line drawings of the Shel Zahav, Jerusalem of Gold”; the the communities that created them and out and executed, and it gives us a sense coins emphasizing and explaining the singer was Shuly Natan. Naomi Shemer, the geopolitics of the era and later, than of actually being there. Nothing like it is inscriptions and pictures. Among other by the way, wrote some of Israel’s most one gets from the Shrine of the Book available at this point in Jerusalem. artifacts, there is a small shovel made of well-known songs such as “Machar,”“Od itself. The Shrine is a protective and In the tour, we saw a large stone block unglazed clay, perhaps 5 inches square lo ahavti dai,”and “Al Kol Eleh.” custodial magnificence; the ROM effort is inscribed in Greek that sat at one point of and with a 4-inch handle, which dates On the sixth day of Chanukah, despite both a palmary display and a thorough- the Temple court. That actual stone from from Temple times, and is of the kind the dreary afternoon, cold and dampness, going educational triumph. the Temple itself, about 3 feet cubed, is on used by the priests for shoveling incense I led another “shuk walk” of Machaneh The ROM display was clearly done by display nearby, carefully clarifying that it for the sacrifices. Yehudah for the AACI. people who had in mind the reasonably is in Greek so as to warn gentile visitors This particular sample, we are In between each time we went to town, educated adult visitor who is not expert in that the area beyond this stone is closed informed, was never used for that, but we marveled that all the lamp poles were Hebrew and whose knowledge of Jewish to non-Jews. Other relics from the Temple was purely decorative as opposed to decorated with – chanukiyot – as were history is about average for a literate are displayed here, but none more banausic. The incense shovel, it seems, buildings. Every shop, every store, even the Westerner in this century. One is reminded striking than this one. was a ritual symbol of the priesthood; the super market, had a chanukiya to light. of the contrast between the U.S. Memorial In the presentation of some scrolls, or sort of thing one might expect to find And the number and variety of Holocaust Museum in Washington and rather scroll fragments, we are informed used as a symbol on a tombstone, as the chanukiyot to buy was amazing. Yad Vashem. that the music we hear is the traditional hand of blessing with divided fingers is One cannot forget that every kiosk, cafe used today. and other food place was bursting with The form of urn used for storing the varieties of sufganiot, jelly doughnuts. scrolls is also prominently presented. As All of Jerusalem was filled with Israelis to who actually wrote the scrolls, a video and some tourists celebrating the holiday. presents three scholarly opinions by Israeli As the holiday ended, winter came in full and American women who each explain force with enormously high winds, low clearly why her theory is right (and the temperature and rain. (see Podet, page NAT 15) Sybil Kaplan lives in Jerusalem. NAT 8 December 30, 2009 left of the no man’s land between the two country. Germans still feel tremendous As a rabbi, I was interested in separate cities. The Marriot Hotel, where guilt and/or responsibility for both World Germany’s relationship with Israel and its Rabbi’s our group stayed, is in walking distance War I and World War II and view military Jewish population. Germany regards itself from the little slabs that are the remnant might as an evil. Today, Germany’s armed as the best friend of Israel in Europe. Report of the Berlin Wall. Once a symbol of the forces are under the absolute control of Several of the government speakers oppressive Communist regime to the the Bundesrat, the German Parliament. noted the special relationship between BY RABBI ARNOLD L.BIENSTOCK east, the tiny pieces of the Berlin Wall Germany is a reluctant participant in the the two countries. Germany is Israel’s now have become a beloved tourist site Afghanistan conflict – with about 2,500 largest trading partner in Europe. Israeli Berlin: City of for photographs. soldiers. There is significant opposition to tourists visit Berlin regularly. When I was Ironically, the Berlin Wall area is now the German presence in Afghanistan. walking one day in the tourist area by the shadow and light dominated by modern shopping malls. Displays of German patriotism are rare in hotel, I heard a family speaking Hebrew. I was a participant in the study tour The wall has been replaced by the mall. A the country. Germans think it is very They were lost – on of all streets – Ben of contemporary Germany in Berlin huge billboard advertising for H&M strange that we sing, The Star Spangled Gurion Street in downtown Berlin. I sponsored by the American Council on loomed over the remnant of the Wall. It Banner before sports games and wave spoke to them in Hebrew, but I couldn’t Germany from Dec. 9 through Dec. 15, celebrated the triumph of capitalism over American flags whenever we can. give them good directions. 2009. (Also see photos on this issue’s cover) Communism. The other reminder of the Germany, because of its past, is most The American Council on Germany, old days of East Berlin is the huge Soviet committed to the success of the European which is based in New York City, embassy in the city. The building is many Union. It is willing to work with countries promotes ties of mutual understanding times larger than the American Embassy. that have non-functioning economies between Germany and the United States. However, now the Russians really do not because it believes in the concept of a The council brings groups of Americans need the space they once had. Memorabilia united Europe. Germany’s economic to Berlin to understand the issues that from the Soviet days is for sale at all the prowess is based upon its exports – it confront Germany today. Our group, flea markets – you can buy all the hammer needs to have markets for these goods, so which was composed of journalists, and sickle pins that you might ever want. the well-being of other economies is in professors, and business people, attended Again, I thought, this represents the the country’s own interest. numerous seminars with government triumph of capitalism and the West. Flea Berlin was once one of the major cultural officials. We witnessed the vitality of markets are an absolute delight in Berlin. centers of Europe. It is transforming German democracy after its recent One can purchase anything from those itself into a beacon of light of culture elections. Germans love to argue about kitschy Communist pins to full length fur and civilization. It is a multicultural city politics as much as Americans do – a coats. One of the delights in Berlin is the of Asians, Turks, Eastern Europeans, treasured gift that we have given to them. variety of hats for sale. The Berliners have Americans, and Russian Jews. There is a Initially upon my arrival in Berlin, I was the common sense to dress appropriately special oasis of culture in the city– upset by the grey skies of the city. I am for the winter. Museum Island – with several museums. one of those people who peer out the Our group toured one of the museums, plane window to view the skyline of an the Neues Museum, with an Egyptologist. unfamiliar place from the air. As our plane With the exception of To be a tour guide in a Berlin museum, began to descend into Berlin, I looked you must be knowledgeable of the subject The Jewish Museum of Berlin was built and looked for some sign of human one day, Berlin was matter in depth. Our guide actually was a by noted architect Daniel Liebskind. The habitation. However, Berlin was engulfed doctoral candidate and translated the walls and floors of the Holocaust section in thick, heavy clouds until we landed enshrouded in clouds Egyptian hieroglyphics with ease. I asked (above) are formed at strange angles to at Tegel Airport. him how many languages he knew. convey the feeling of disorientation. With the exception of one day, Berlin throughout our visit. “Eleven,” he replied. One of the most Yes, the shadows of the Holocaust are was enshrouded in clouds throughout our famous objects of the Neues Museum is present throughout Berlin – as they visit. I thought this was a metaphor for I thought this was a the bust of Nefertiti, said to be the most should be, forever. In the heart of the city what Berlin would be like – a city clouded beautiful woman of all time. The tourist is the magnificent art sculpture by Peter by its dark and difficult past. However, I metaphor for what gazes at Nefertiti – the wife of King Eisenmann – the Memorial to the Dead emerged from my visit realizing that Akhenaton, the creator of monotheism in Jews of Europe. It looks like a cemetery in although there is much that clouds Berlin would be like – Egypt – the sculpture is awe-inspiring. the heart of the major street of Berlin – Berlin’s stormy history, there is much light – Berlin is re-constructing the Schloss, with obelisks of various sizes that evoke especially within the past 20 years. After a a city clouded by its the Imperial Palace of the 18th century, grave stones. The memorial is a somber, few days in Berlin, I felt that the light of dark and difficult past. which was once a symbol of the city. dark gray. Thousands of individuals the new Germany could pierce through It was destroyed by the Communist wander through the labyrinth of the the clouds that surrounded the city. government of East Germany. The stones each and every day. When we Despite the winter clouds that surround Several of our seminars focused on the Schloss, an incredible financial undertaking, drove by the Memorial to the Jews of Berlin, one can find the presence of light. issue of global climate change in light of the will be recreated as a museum of world Europe, someone in our group remarked I was shocked to land at Berlin’s small Copenhagen Conference. Germany is the culture and understanding. that ironically Hitler’s bunker was located Tegel Airport. The Berlin airport could not one of the most energy efficient countries right near the site. The cab driver stated hold a candle to our magnificent new in the West. The government is set on it decisively. He remarked,“That is where airport in Indianapolis. Then, one of the meeting the Copenhagen goals of 2020. Hitler went to Hell.” members of our group explained the Germany has created goals to fully develop One of our side trips in Berlin was to a condition of the airport. It was a shadow alternative energy sources by 2050. Berlin distant suburb of the city. The American of the past. Tegel Airport reflects the has taken buildings from the 1940s and Academy, which sponsors American realities of the 1960s, when West Berlin 1950s and made them energy efficient. scholars in Germany, is located there. I was an isolated enclave surrounded by It also has built new government was shocked when I read the name of the Communist East Germany. However, next buildings that take energy efficiency into area – Wansee – the infamous place year, a huge new airport will open on the consideration. Public transportation is where Hitler and his advisors decided to eastern side of the city.The new airport will efficient, clean, and popular. I have never destroy the entire Jewish community of reflects the bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis been on a bus in Indianapolis in 13 years, Europe. It sent shivers down my spine – a that the unified Berlin has become. but I rode the bus and subway in Berlin. frightening shadow of the past. However, As a first-time visitor to Berlin, I felt Berliners also use the most important Shalechet, the Hebrew word for “fall,” now Wansee is known for its Americans that the division between the former human energy – they walk! Basically, conveys the destruction of life in the who gather to discuss issues of American eastern and western sides of the city was everyone we met was thin and trim – Holocaust. The artist has created 10,000 and German concern. hardly noticeable. In fact, it had to be unlike back home in Indiana. faces that flow in a river of humanity. All The magnificent Oranienburgerstrasse pointed out to our group what areas used The pacifist tradition runs deeply in photos taken by Bienstock’s friend on the Synagogue, with its elaborate Byzantine to be part of East Berlin. There is very little Germany as a result of the history of the trip, Annamaria Fato of Pittsburgh, Pa. architecture, is now a Jewish cultural December 30, 2009 NAT 9 center. There is a kosher food store and kosher restaurant nearby. Two groups Mountain of Peace, of institutions have security in Berlin – government buildings and Jewish Missoula 2009 communal institutions. Each night, a huge BY MATTHEW J.SILVER menorah was lit at the Brandenburg Gate, which is the symbol of the city of Berlin. Some brotherhood meetings start with There were advertisements for Hanukkah a prayer, talk of what happened at their on bus shelters throughout the city. I last meeting maybe, who is ushering was moved when one of the government when, who didn’t when he was supposed officials wished me a “Happy Hanukkah.” to, discussion of the children sponsored The Jewish Museum of Berlin is one of at JCC day camp, how much Irving paid the beloved museums of the city. It is the for an aliyah, how much Irving should equivalent of our Holocaust Museum in have paid. Then they start talking about Washington, D.C. Ninety-eight percent of someone’s brother-in-law’s money, two its visitors are not Jewish. It was packed meshpucah get mad and everybody goes borrowed a Torah from the Helena many fronts. The Sunday school has with people when we visited it on home. In Missoula, Montana, the men of congregation for son Bert’s bar mitzvah; improved from meeting once a month to Sunday. As we entered, we were given Congregation Har Shalom gather in the after that congregation became inactive, twice a month, and we just had a very clever admission tickets with either a fish middle of the Clark Fork River that roars the Torah lived in the Chessin’s home for successful yard sale. So in addition to or a pig on them to highlight a special through downtown to fly fish. That’s their 10 years until the mid 1970s. raising money, we are building a closer, exhibit. I got the pig (Verboten – the venue. Some call it the Tallis, Tefillin and In Missoula Valley History (1991), a caring community,” she added. Winston, German equivalent of traife). A friend in Tackle Club. compilation of old photos of people, who moved to Missoula from Baltimore my group quickly exchanged my ticket for “Our gatherings are in the river in wading parades, community groups, festivities, in 1999, credits Rabbi David Fine of the fish. The rabbi should be kosher. boots, instead of in some committee and notable biographies, beginning with Seattle with being extremely helpful in The Jewish Museum of Berlin was room at the shul,” said congregation Native Americans and all written by making the transition. designed by the architectural genius, president Bert Chessin.“These brotherhood locals, Meyer wrote about the Jewish A funeral home previously occupied Daniel Liebskind, who was born in Lodz, ties are to fishing lines,”he laughed. Born community. He said the first recorded the building, so the chapel is now the Poland. One part of the museum is a and raised here, he recently returned. His Jew living there was Jacob Leiser, “who sanctuary, and other rooms were readily Holocaust Memorial. Our guide was favorite bar mitzvah gift was a fly rod. emigrated from Germany to the East converted into offices and classrooms. obtaining his doctoral degree in Jewish The Garden City straddles the Lewis & Coast, sailed around the horn to “During the week we rent the classrooms studies. The walls and floors of the Clark Trail, the home of nearly 60,000 California, then walked from there to to a Montessori School, and the three-car museum are at bizarre angles – one feels people plus some 12,000 students at the Missoula” in 1870, which by then was garage is leased to a local casino, so we off balance as he or she walks through University of Montana. Originally founded already an established trading post. show some income,”said Winston. them. There is a huge black tunnel in as a logging area and trading post to service The university did attract some Jews, On my first visit in 2003, I interviewed the museum. Visitors enter it to feel the Indians, ranchers, miners and farmers, including a number of distinguished Susan Hay Cramer, Dr. Scott Green, and darkness of the Holocaust. A labyrinth scenically it is absolutely stunning. This professors, including the controversial Jim Gray. Susan Hay Cramer is the former of stone obelisks conveys the feeling of town is nestled in a valley surrounded by the author, critic, and intellectual wild-man, executive director of Mazon (The Jewish imbalance and awkwardness.Throughout jumbo Bitterroot Mountain Range, grassy Leslie Fiedler, who lived there 20 years until Response to Hunger) and now the CEO the museum are hollowed out spaces – and treed peaks, still home to many bear, the 1960s. According to Har Shalom’s of United Way of Missoula. Dentist Dr. Daniel Liebskind calls them voids – to deer, and elk. The taller rugged peaks brochure, he led community Passover Scott Green, who moved from New York express the nightmare of the Holocaust. maintain ice caps, even in summer. services, and his wife, Margaret, nurtured over 25 years ago to take advantage of the Many Holocaust survivors have come to In the Rattlesnake Canyon neighborhood, the Sunday School. Until the 1950s there ski slopes, started a building fund in the the museum and felt that its architecture you notice nearly as many deer as you do was no more than a handful each of Jewish 1980s that grew slowly but steadily, and has caught their horror. squirrels on north side of Indianapolis. In architects, doctors and lawyers in town. he served many years as president of the The museum shares the entire history the fall, brown bears may be found in a Members of the community led services congregation. Jim Gray (who wrote for of Jews in Germany in a meticulous, tree, three houses down, foraging for as needed, but “until the early 1980s,”wrote the Jewish Post & Opinion in the 1970s) is exacting and clever fashion. There are hibernating food. The flavor of the town, Chessin, “the existence of an organized a specialty chef, experienced in all the interactive games throughout the museum. the mix of the new blood young and the community was very transitory.”However, denominations, and serves as the cantor The museum documents the stories of lifestyle of the rural old, is reminiscent of he goes on,“one cementing influence was at Har Shalom. Gray and Cramer have famous German Jews of the 19th and Bloomington, Ind. – except here, hippies the phenomenon of the schnorrer....it is lived there less than 10 years. 20th centuries. I read with fascination and hunters get along fine. part of Jewish tradition to honor [their] At the time, services were held in the about the incredible contributions of In 1954 several university professors requests, but their frequency had become public library and in homes, and contract German Jews to the arts and sciences. gathered to provide Jewish community so burdensome that ad hoc meetings Rabbi Gershon Winkler, ordained Orthodox, Ironically, while I was reading about the education for their children, first meeting were called to deal equitably with them.” practiced a different kind of theology to interaction between Jews and Germany in each others’ homes, and later in Though two Jews from years ago are praise the Almighty, combining other before the Holocaust, I thought that libraries, churches, and rented space. One buried in a local cemetery, it is far from urban spiritualities with Judaism, a path that did German Jewry was very similar to of them was Meyer [Mike] Chessin, areas.The closest city with more than 2,000 not appeal to everyone, but most apt to American Jewry. Perhaps no other Jewish originally from New York, who holds a Jews is Spokane, Wash., a four hour drive. draw younger adherents. community immersed itself into its plant physiology doctorate from Berkeley But now the congregation has its own Not one to mince words, Gray said he country of residence more than German and is now a retired, distinguished building for the first time.“Two years ago had driven the 200 miles to Butte – not an Jews. Only American Jews identify with professor of botany from the U of M. Spry our offer was accepted by the building’s easy drive – for High Holiday services the the United States in a similar fashion. and still active at 88, he became known as owners, and with loans from two temple previous year because he could not tolerate In honor of Hanukkah, there was a “Lefty Mike” for his political views. He members, the owner, and the bank, we Rabbi Winkler’s service. Green’s two sons Hanukkah Market with items for sale. and his wife, Flo, in Missoula since 1949, have a mortgage from the bank and loans were both b’nai mitzvah under Rabbi The museum was imitating the famous in place,” said Toba Winston, who was Winkler, so he was okay with him. Weinachtsmarts – the delightful Christmas president at the time of the acquisition, Cramer refused to attend services under markets that are found throughout the and helped secure the original loans and Winkler, but has celebrated Friday streets of Berlin.The Hanukkah Market was obtain initial guarantors. “But they are evening Shabbat dinner in her home for filled with gifts to buy and food to eat. interest-only loans, and we are working years. People scramble to get on her I began to speak with one of the sales- to raise money to reduce the loans to an Passover Seder guest list. people in the Hanukkah market. I asked affordable monthly amount.” “Scott pretty much held the congregation her if she was Jewish. She said she had an She also shepherded through the together in the 1970s and 1980s. He and interesting story if I wanted to listen. I affiliation with the URJ, and the subsequent Gray are now both active supporters,” said I did. She told me that her husband The sanctuary at Congregation Har Shalom. Photos hiring of a student rabbi from URJ-LA. said Cramer, now herself a board member. (see Bienstock, page NAT 15) by Bert Chessin, president of the congregation. “We are continuing to have success on (see Silver, page NAT 15) NAT 10 December 30, 2009 wrong with it, and set it right again. At vocabulary). Most of us little boys hated home, he and his wife built a large rock eggplant anyhow. We playground athletes Funsmith garden on two empty lots next to their Spoonful were lucky to get, say 4. The girls won all house, and in it he built misty fountains the medals. that made rainbows – even at night. The of Humor And the girls, understanding the value of 100 or so welders who worked at the rarity and blessed with a more mature view BY BERNIE DEKOVEN same plant respected Joe, even though BY TED ROBERTS of the social world, delighted in excelling. they couldn’t quite make him out. They There was another advantage (besides Fun at work asked his help whenever there was any Memoirs of civilizing us pagans). Since the synagogue problem. Many claimed that without Joe or temple couldn’t afford one class for “Funsmith,” writes Chaim Macher, the factory might as well close. Hebrew school each age group, we were frequently mixed “why aren’t my people having more fun “Throughout the years I have met many Naturally, there was no Hebrew Day up with older kids who knew the ways of at their jobs already? They’re getting paid. CEOs of major companies, powerful School in my youth. No sooner had you the world beyond hatzylim. Much more They get benefits. They have plants, even. politicians, and several dozen Nobel Prize finished your compulsory public school (an biological knowledge was disseminated They walk around with sour pusses that winners – eminent people who in many unjust law, said my advanced libertarian around the classroom than eggplant make even me not want to do business ways led excellent lives, but none that friends) when you jumped into the streetcar propagation. After all, a few of the seniors with them. What’s the matter with them was better than Joe’s.” and clickety-clacked to Hebrew school. wanted to sit next to the girls. Silly, nowadays anymore?” The experience of Deep Fun, as the Full of peril, like our older brothers being I thought. So I write back to Mr. Macher, praising story of Joe so clearly illustrates, can be airlifted from the Battle of the Bulge to the Our teachers avoided this topic. I’ll him, not only for having the vast found in work as readily as it can be invasion of Iwo Jima. My analogy is an never forget the day moreh (teacher) told intelligence to write me, but also because found in play. My particular focus on accurate one. Hebrew school was a great the blandest version ever told of David he actually seems to think it’s important games and toys and the stuff of play has impediment to our athletic ability. and Bathsheva. She was not bathing, just that “his people”should also be having occupied so much of my life mainly No napping, a brief recess, and by the catching a few rays. And David – well, he fun, even though they are at work, even because it is easier for people to access time it was over, darkness had shrouded was taking a census of Jerusalem roof though “they have plants.” Deep Fun in play than it is at work. the synagogue and it was impossible tops. No physical relation was implied, I believe in fun. I’ve spent most of my Especially at the work place. to play football in the pitch black play- but then he couldn’t deny that the Lord life following that belief. I think of it as my Joe was exceptional. On the other ground. Home we went (streetcar and car punished his census taking by taking the “playful path.” hand, so are we. So, Mr. Macher, what I pool) to painfully linger on the joys of our child. Probably adopted, said our teacher. want to tell you is this: When work is Christian friends who had been on the (Our teacher, a master of evasion, had a good, it is fun. When work is right, it is playground since 3:15. (And by the way, similar problem with Joseph and The experience of fun. When your people are given the that explains why we win all those Nobel Potiphar’s wife. She was tired and wanted opportunity to work the way they work prizes but only have a handful of Jews to nap and she hated to nap alone.) Deep Fun, as the story best, what they will also be having is fun. decorating the professional athletic halls But now, benefited by hindsight, DeKoven of Indianapolis, Ind. calls of fame.) I understand his challenges – and his of Joe so clearly himself a “funsmith” because it’s the easiest spiritual mission. I disrecall his name, but way he can define the last 40-plus years of no matter – G-d knows. illustrates, can be found his career. In brief, he helps people make [Bathsheva] was To make matters worse, my permanent things more fun: work, school, games (of seat (eight chairs removed from Marianne in work as readily as course), marriage, parenthood, exercise, not bathing, just Greenberg, naturally) was next to a healing, toys, recovery, retirement, life, etc. window overlooking the playground – ah, it can be found in play. He does this by helping people look at things catching a few rays. the skills and muscles that I was under- from a fun perspective, which usually turns exercising due to that two hours of frozen Some kinds of fun are maybe not so out to be something people under stress And David – well, he concentration, except when I ducked and enlightening or trustworthy. But there is would never thinµk of. And he happens to wiggled away from that ruler. Oh well, at least one kind, which I call Deep Fun, know a lot about this particular perspective. was taking a census of there are skills other than athletic and of which seems to be pretty much what my Which is what he hopes you will conclude far more value in my adult life. And life is for. And what my work is all about. from reading more about him on http://deep Jerusalem roof tops. Marianne Greenberg ain’t what she used The first person I found who more or fun.com/ about.html. to be. less shared my understanding of Deep The classes were small, which meant Ted Roberts, a Rockower Award winner, Fun was a fellow named Mihaly that our teacher – who could spot an is a syndicated Jewish columnist who looks Csikszentmihalyi. In his book, Finding Call/Write for Free Books aleph instead of a beth at a hundred yards at Jewish life with rare wit and insight. Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with We are 100% Judaism; not – never lost visual control over passed When he’s not writing, Ted worships at Etz Everyday Life, he describes one person in disguised of any other science notes, whispers, or rude gestures. As Chayim Synagogue in Huntsville, Ala., particular who was very much on the I’ve told you in other Hebrew School where for 25 years he has served as bar Playful Path. vignettes, he was armed with a ruler – mitzvah teacher. His inspiration is his “Years ago my students and I studied Jack Botwin and it wasn’t for measuring. patient wife, Shirley. Shirley, both wife and a factory where railroad cars were Books by Morris Lichtenstein And as this wasn’t bad enough, there muse, and three hawk-eyed children review assembled. The main workplace was a was always a girl or two in class. Great, every word he writes – especially his stories huge, dirty hangar where one could FREE BOOK by you’d think. Even we 12–year-olds knew of family life, one of his frequent themes. hardly hear a word because of the Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein that they possessed biologic and cultural His collected works The Scribbler on The constant noise. Most of the welders differences that would brighten our social Roof can be bought at Amazon.com or who worked there hated their jobs, and Applied Judaism lives in a year or two. Besides, they were lulu.com/content/127641. Check out his were constantly watching the clock in good to sit next to because it cut down on Web site: www.wonderwordworks.com. anticipation of quitting time. As soon Jewish Science the teacher’s back swing with his cutlass of as they were out of the factory, they a ruler. Didn’t want to clip a feminine ear. hurried to the neighborhood saloons, 11 AM Sunday • 109 E. 39 NYC But those girls, they set a high bar for On this date in or took a drive across the state line for All Welcome/Friendly/Free the lesson. Naturally, they weren’t more lively action. absorbed by football, baseball, soccer, Jewish history “Except for one of them. The exception basketball, lacrosse, track, or anything On December 30, 1935 was Joe, a barely literate man in his early 12301 San Fernando Rd. #406 that demanded the freedom of the great 60s, who had trained himself to under- Sylmar, CA 91342 outdoors as we were locked in our penal Sandy Koufax, stand and to fix every piece of equipment cells. I mean it. Betty Ann Green got 10 baseball player, was born. in the factory, from cranes to computer (818) 367-4532 (24 Hr.) out of 10 of her vocabulary assignment ~ From The Jewish Book of Days published by monitors. He loved to take on machinery www.appliedjudaism.org (including hatzylim = eggplant; the most Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc., New York. that didn’t work, figure out what was impractical word in the entire Hebrew December 30, 2009 NAT 11 late Friday evening services. In my first position as an organist in a Conservative Kaufman’s As I congregation (you heard right), the officers wore tuxedos when they were on Conclusions Heard It the pulpit. These days, most rabbis prefer to host a pot-luck supper, sing a few ditties BY ARI J.KAUFMAN REVIEWED BY MORTON GOLD (with sacred texts) and then adjourn to the chapel or sanctuary where more ditties Astronaut David Wolf Pet peeves II will be sung. There are few if any choirs, mixed or otherwise, and no organ either. lands at the JCC I may as well confess it. My readers, if The cantor, who now has little or anything Tuesday night, Dec. 15 was yet another any, have long suspected it anyway. I am to sing of a formal (i.e., music that is production of the popular, Emmy-award an anachronism. As a people, in this composed or improvised), will often winning Mickey’s Corner at the Arthur country at any rate, we are always of the accompany him/herself on a guitar. While M. Glick Jewish Community Center of cutting edge. If it is new, it must be better, this development is a change, I am not of Indianapolis, Ind. This time, Mickey and we want to have it. Speaking for the opinion that it is progress. Maurer’s unique guest was astronaut myself, I am not so sure. One of my The prevailing thought is that the more David Wolf. children gave me an iPod for my last homey, familiar, informal the services are, Michael (Mickey) S. Maurer is a birthday. I graciously accepted it. It was a particularly with regard to the music, the successful attorney, entrepreneur, civic lovely gesture and, as I later learned, an more likely that folks will return the leader and philanthropist from Astronaut David Wolf (L) with Michael expensive one at that. following week. I don’t think so. Why Indianapolis. He has been involved in the Maurer. Photo credit: Jennie Cohen. The only problem I have with it is that should they? They can hear Springsteen, industries of film production, radio I couldn’t figure out what I was going to the Rolling Stones, and more on a CD broadcasting, cable television throughout he “lives on the edge safely”and that, in do with it. I do not “download” tunes, and the kids can listen to Brittany et al on Indiana and Michigan, newspaper terms of safety, you “want to get the job especially the ones that are popular with an iPod.They surely are not Hassids; most publishing, and banking. done without becoming famous”referring disc jockeys. For what purpose? I do not can barely read Hebrew, why then should Dr. Wolf, a Hoosier, is a graduate of to any accidents or near mishaps in space. want or need to listen to music while I they listen to Hassidic-like tunes in the this JCC’s Early Childhood Education Much discussion was scientific and walk. If I am in my car, there is the FM temple, or rock, country or other kinds program, North Central High School, education oriented. For instance, Wolf radio or if on a longer commute, there are of musical stuff with Hebrew words in Purdue University’s school of electrical talked about the “recovery”of an astronaut CDs I can play. I may yet figure out some temple services? engineering and Indiana University’s after time in space, explaining how one need that it may fill. A friend of mine related that during his medical school. The 53-year-old has “readapts to the gravity”of earth in terms I recently complimented a cantor (in print) student days he visited a Catholic church ventured into space on three separate of weight, how one moves, stands, and for wearing “traditional” cantorial regalia as a courtesy to his roommate. He had missions, the first being 12 years ago. He’s even drives a vehicle. It can take a month on his CD cover. Why? For the simple to pay to gain admittance. When he amassed seven spacewalks, including a or even a year to recover after extended reason that in this age of informality, few remarked that he didn’t have to pay to get 128-day extended stay on the Russian time in space, losing bone minerals, if any cantors wear those ecclesiastical hats into a temple service, he was told that in spacecraft Mir – for a total of 158 days in muscle mass and weight. or even robes, that’s why. My thinking is the cathedral, they put on a better show! space. He subsequently trained as a flight One audience question naturally had to do that they should, and that goes for the (Well, at least they used to!) Who wants to surgeon with the United States Air Force, with how a person becomes an astronaut. rabbi as well. I feel uncomfortable with listen to lay folk talk, talk, and talk some then joined the staff of Johnson Space Interestingly, Wolf explained it’s mostly clergy wanting to be addressed by their more, at least initially about the weekly Center in 1983, where he was tasked with about luck and being fortunate. Many first names. I believe that a physician torah portion? Obviously, while many do, investigating the physiological effects of who are plucked by NASA to enter space ought to wear a white lab coat and a dress I am not one of them. microgravity, among much else. were engineers or in the medical field, as shirt and tie. I also believe that it is Music on the other hand is a process both those professions lend themselves well deplorable that many teachers, especially that occurs in time. My reaction after to the experiments (foundations of the male teachers wear jeans and sport or listening to the first movement of [Wolf] implored GPS, cancer research, tissue regeneration) polo shirts to school. They appear as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (which took that go on once in space. disheveled as their students. In really 17 plus minutes to perform) was (like youngsters to focus on He therefore implored youngsters to good private schools, the kids wear life?) that it was over much too soon. I focus on “what they’ll become first...no uniforms, as they should. would observe that experiencing music “what they’ll become one does it (becomes an astronaut) right The things I miss that used to be the and religion simultaneously tend to make out of college.” Wolf said growing up he norm during most of the previous one both hungry and thirsty! first...no one does it admired Neil Armstrong, who in addition century in this country are the structured Listening to people talk excessively tends to being the first person to set foot on the to make me sleepy. I can pay attention to (becomes an astronaut) moon, was also a Purdue graduate and a speaker for 10 or perhaps 15 minutes. Korean War veteran. j i After that there is no guarantee. Listening right out of college.” Right now, all five crews for the next 18 to music is something different for me. months of missions have been chosen “Humans will live in other colonies and With the exception perhaps of Bruckner’s Local affiliate Fox TV 59’s Bob Donaldson and are preparing already. No further on Mars,” Wolf emphatically proclaimed music, length is generally not a problem. introduced David Wolf as a “hometown missions are scheduled beyond those. toward the end of the interview, then On the other hand, if a speaker (unlike a hero,” then Mickey Maurer followed, “You never know if you’ll be tapped for added, “I think it’s arrogant to believe composer) can’t say what he’s got to say introducing this guest as someone who another mission,” Wolf, who has mostly we’re the only life form...though none of in 10 minutes, another hour will not help. is “the embodiment of our childhood spent time in space with Russians and us will ever live long enough to find out.” (Please see the Gettysburg address.) dreams.” And indeed, among the 200 or astronauts from the 16 other nations that If you missed this Mickey’s Corner,you On the TV show Sixty Minutes, most so folks who came out on a chilly fifth constructed international space station, can catch it Sun., Jan. 17 at 3 p.m., or Sat., segments take 10 to 15 minutes. On the night of Hanukkah, many of them were in explained.“It’s been an amazing era,” he Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. on the central Indiana other hand Andy Rooney makes his point fact children. reminisced. “It’s also had a dark side,” PBS TV station WFYI Channel 20. The in less than the average time of the three Wolf,who admitted his first time in a space referring to the 1986 Challenger and 2003 video will be available online soon at minutes allotted to him. You don’t shuttle was scary, and that these journeys Columbia disasters. www.jccindy.org/page.aspx?id=195038. suppose that his colleagues think of him are actually scarier each time, told the crowd Wolf does expect further exploration to Kaufman is a military historian with the as an anachronism too? The opinions he actually finds “it’s often scarier to visit Mars and to contact other life forms, Indiana War Memorials Commission in here expressed are, alas, my own. watch.” During the interview, Wolf often though perhaps neither of those in our Indianapolis. Also an Associate Fellow at Dr. Gold is a composer, conductor, educator acted as a teacher, explaining a shuttle lifetimes. “It costs $5 billion each time the Sagamore Institute, Kaufman is the and a music/drama critic. He may be goes from zero to 18,000 miles per hour we go up – but we spend more on author of the new book, Marble City. The reached at: 6 Webster Street, Springvale, (five miles per second, that is) in roughly pizza each year!” he factually noted to book can be found through Amazon or Maine 04083, or by email at: drmortongold nine minutes. Astronaut Wolf likes to kid audience laughter. Iuniverse.com. @yahoo.com. NAT 12 December 30, 2009 important premise in the Jewish communal anniversary together in joy and in reasonable consciousness and in Holocaust education – health. They find it amusing – or, rather, Media namely, that people must speak out about writers Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron The Roads evil even when they might be mocked or Harberts find it amusing and maybe even Watch repressed, lest evil triumph. cute for them – to keep talking about sex from Babel MacFarlane replies, “This is not the and referring to a “threesome.” BY RABBI ELLIOT B.GERTEL place to bring out your Hebrew baggage.” There are Yiddish words bandied about BY SETH BEN-MORDECAI Is this intended as mockery of those who here, including a ribald word for fornication The Family Guy accuse Jews of having “baggage” when which is gleefully intoned. Yet the The meaning of Zion it comes to the Holocaust, or is it a cue husband is not without some piety or at “Special” for Alex to bring up her own personal least generosity of spirit. Walking into the Historically, a place is named for a “baggage.” She retorts, “My mother and hospital chapel hoping, maybe even feature or event associated with it and When Family Guy was first broadcast in grandmother barely escaped the Nazis praying, for his wife’s speedy recovery, he rarely for euphony. A cow-crossing at a 1999, Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales during World War II.” Is it better not to sees a nurse worried about her policeman river is called “the ox-ford,” and a town described it as “utterly excremental.” He mention the word “Holocaust,”lest one be boyfriend and offers her something to arising there “the town at the ox-ford”or warned that it would lower standards of accused of mocking it, and to attribute eat,“a nosh.”He does have the courtesy to “the ox-ford town” or “the Ox Ford.” As entertainment and that such an effect is Nazi hatred of the Jews to “the war”? And ask, “Would He mind?” Whether or not the town grows more important, its name not conducive to genuine, reflective, are we to assume that Alex must learn to that is appropriate for the chapel is left to supplants its own original meaning: “the wholesome humor. move on from “the war”? the viewer, who does get the impression Ox Ford” becomes “Oxford,” pronounced He was right. The baseness of this MacFarlane’s response is truly obscene: that “noshing”is a Jewish way of praying “oxfud,”and the cow crossing is forgotten. production was revealed, clearly and “If none of that had ever happened, how and that Yiddish has expressive, raunchy So too with “Zion.” unabashedly, when the two leads behind many female Jewish comedians would words, too. Zion first appears in II Samuel 5:7–9, the cartoons, Seth MacFarlane and Alex you be competing with in Hollywood? In the current cultural climate, ribaldry where we read “David captured the Borstein, stepped out on the stage to Right now, it’s just you and Sarah is regarded as refinement. Recently, the citadel of Zion,” moved into it, and perform their song and dance and take on Silverman.” Borstein’s response is even Forward has boasted about books and renamed it the City of David. Its ruins lie vaudeville. A Fox TV special, Family Guy more obscene: She sheepishly joins in conferences reviving “smutty” Yiddish halfway up the southern spine of the Presents Seth and Alex’s Almost Live singing “Edelweiss”with MacFarlane! language virtually unknown in Jewish Temple Mount. Later, Solomon built the Comedy Show, followed the Family Guy Is this humor? Genuine humor relates society because of the “old-guard haute Temple and “assembled the elders of episode about the Holocaust survivor certain truths about human foibles and Yiddish group.” While this might play Israel … unto … Jerusalem, to bring up grandmother (reviewed in this column on offers perspective and insight. It satirizes well now, how will it look ten years the ark of the covenant of the LORD out Oct. 21). The opening sketch, the tone- base instincts and behavior in order to from now in reruns? And if it looks good, of the city of David, which is Zion” setting gag, the draw-in bit, referred prod more noble behavior. It exposes or even better, then, where will society (I Kings, 8:1). Thus, at that time, Zion relentlessly to the Holocaust. And it was hypocrisies. have been? denoted the city below the Temple, not a new low, perhaps the all-time low, The MacFarlane-Borstein sketch Rabbi Gertel has been spiritual leader of the Temple or the hill. in “humor” on “Jewish” subjects. I must actually mocked the higher instincts and Conservative Congregation Rodfei Zedek But what was the original meaning of confess that I was not prepared for it. equated them with baser instincts. After since 1988. A native of Springfield, Mass., Zion? Its underlying Semitic root is all, in The Sound of Music, the “Edelweiss” he attended Columbia University and Jewish tsadi-yod-nun, which in Hebrew means lyrics are sung by a family who have Theological Seminary. He is the author of two “to stand out.”And Jerusalem does stand What hypocrisy are resisted Nazi evil and weep for a country books, What Jews Know About Salvation out for Jews. In Arabic, the root means that has debased itself. Borstein’s sketch and Over the Top Judaism: Precedents and “enclose with walls,” is consistent with Borstein and MacFarlane persona comes across as petty for declaring Trends in the Depiction of Jewish Beliefs the layout of a citadel. all Austrians bad, and the over-all effect of and Observances in Film and Television. In New Babylonian, tsiyÇnu means satirizing, unless they this “humor”is to put her “bigotry”on the He has been media critic for The National “incense.” Interestingly, tsiyÇnu exactly same level as, say, the bigotry that led to Jewish Post & Opinion since 1979. matches the Hebrew Tsiyon, since really believe that Jews the Holocaust. In mocking the “speak out Babylonian “Ç” always corresponds to against evil” mandate, this sketch feeds Hebrew “o.” In Old Babylonian siyÇnu, who say that they on the moral laziness or outright bigotry with a simple “s,” means a “temple.” that leads to a tired-of-hearing-about- SUBSCRIBE TO Though siyÇnu and tsiyÇnu evoke the mourn the Holocaust are Holocaust-baggage mentality. Temple and its incense, the name Zion What hypocrisy are Borstein and The Jewish predates the Temple. actually glad that there MacFarlane satirizing, unless they really But other evidence confirms the linkage is less “competition” believe that Jews who say that they Post & Opinion between Zion and incense: In Hebrew, the mourn the Holocaust are actually glad Send to: Temple Mount is called Har ha-Moriah. in Jewish humor. that there is less “competition”in Jewish Hebrew mor and Babylonian murru denote humor. The persona that Borstein Jewish Post & Opinion the fragrant resin, known as myrrh, assumes in this sketch literally croons 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502 produced by the commiphora gileadensis After a vulgar vignette from the cartoon such good riddance. The musical bit ends Indianapolis, IN 46225 tree. Myrrh is the key ingredient of folk, series creator MacFarlane, who does on the note that more dead Jews mean Or Online at: incense. Native to the hills of Gilead several of the voices on the series, greater opportunity for more living Jews. www.jewishpostopinion.com which lie across the Jordan River, myrrh declared his intention to “inject heart” The MacFarlane-Borstein “special”puts trees also grew in parts of Judea. The after the off-color “self-pleasuring Family Guy’s “Jewish-themed” episodes name Moriah can be understood to mean I 3 years – $91 (SAVE $17) humor” of the opening vignette. So he into context, suggesting that the vulgar “incense place.” Thus, “Zion” and began to croon the song “Edelweiss,”from “humor” may actually cushion a core of I 2 years – $63 (SAVE $9) “Moriah,”which evoke the earliest days of The Sound of Music. Suddenly, Ms. barbarity that is truly “excremental.” I 1 year – #36 our people, carry echoes of an era even Borstein, the voice of Mrs. Family Guy, more ancient time, when the hill on interrupted in the name of “my being Stiller and Meara on Mercy (Outside USA, payment must be in U.S. which the Citadel of Zion stood was Jewish,” complaining that “the Austrian Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara appeared funds and you must add US$10.) covered with myrrh trees. people were not very kind to my people on the new NBC nurses drama, Mercy, Name An attorney and Semitic linguist with during World War II.”The “sketch”played as an elderly couple, Joe and Estelle degrees from Brandeis, Stanford and Univ. of the Holocaust against back stage power Thalberg. Though the years have been Address Calif., Seth Watkins (pen name, Ben-Mordecai) plays, for Alex continues: “and we said we kind to them, the woman portrayed City State Zip merges linguistic analysis with legal sleuthing were not going to do this.” She adds, by Meara suffers a stroke after a hip to uncover lost meanings of ancient texts. His “Everybody talks about how the Jews replacement, much to the worry of her E-mail us at: Exodus Haggadah uniquely includes the full never fight back. Well…I’m fighting back adoring husband. They hope, in a day’s [email protected] story of the Exodus in an accessible format. tonight.”Here is wholesale mockery of an time, to celebrate their 65th wedding Email: [email protected]. December 30, 2009 NAT 13 only become cheap labor. The Boston An effort to get Dr. Walter E. Dandy of Brahmins were against immigration and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, America’s best Book Reviews one of them organized the Immigration neurosurgeonat the time, failed but it didn’t Restriction League which had many matter because the tumor proved inoperable REVIEWED BY MORTON I. TEICHER prominent members including Harvard’s and Gershwin died on July 11, 1937. president, A. Lawrence Lowell, who later Interestingly, about a year later, author Story of Ellis Island advocated a quota system to limit the Thomas Wolfe was taken from Seattle, number of Jewish students. The League where he had become ill, to Baltimore for American Passage. By Vincent J. urged that Ellis Island officials administer Dr. Dandy to operate. Although this time, Cannato. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. a literacy test to those seeking admission Dr. Dandy did perform the surgery, it was 487 Pages. $27.99. to the United States. too late and Wolfe died on September 15, Immigration commissioners and their 1938 just before reaching his 38th birthday deputies were appointed as a consequence about the same age as Gershwin. of political patronage. Their disputes with In addition to his many show and each other over immigration policies movie tunes as well as his concert music, spilled over into their relationships with Gershwin is known for the folk opera, Treasury Department administrators. Porgy and Bess, considered by many to be How to handle the immigrants at Ellis his greatest contribution to American music. Island became a bone of contention with Rimler tells the story of its composition at accusations of dictatorial behavior and great length. He also mentions the failed sexual misconduct. Questions about who efforts to write a Yiddish operetta and an decided who was admitted became a opera based on The Dybbuk, S. Ansky’s source of scandal as complaints mounted supernatural story. Rimler explores about the mistreatment of immigrants. As Gershwin’s troubled relationships with president, Theodore Roosevelt became his family, especially his mother and Ira’s involved in immigration policy, shifting triumphs and failures as well as the tragedy wife, his sister-in-law. his view to a pro-immigrant position. The and the achievements of his brief life. This energetically written book adds to “melting pot” versus “cultural pluralism” Born to Russian Jewish immigrants, our knowledge of a superb composer argument became part of the discussion. Gershwin was the second of four children. who, unfortunately, died too early. Immigration quotas in the early 1920s Raised on the Lower East Side, Gershwin severely curtailed immigration, reducing became enamored with music at the age the need for Ellis Island until it became of ten when he heard a fellow-student Art of Samuel Bak a place for detaining aliens during the play Dvorak’s Humoresque. He began to Cold War. At that time, references were use the family piano, originally bought for Icon of Loss: The Haunting Child of made to Ellis Island as a “concentration his older brother, Ira. Despite their limited Samuel Bak. By Danna Nolan Fewell and In 1881, pogroms in Russia led to the camp.”Finally, in 1954, to solve the public means, his parents recognized that Gary A. Phillips. Boston: Pucker Art departure of many Jews. From then until relations problem, Ellis Island was closed, George had talent and arranged for him Publications. Distributed by Syracuse the beginning of World War I in 1914,a total having seen 12 million people in its halls to get music lessons. By the age of 15, he University Press. 100 pages. $50. Color of two million Jews arrived in the United during its 72-year life span. It could dropped out of school to work in the Illustrations. States, mostly through Ellis Island. The history contribute nothing to contemporary music business and six years later, he of that famous port of entry is carefully immigration issues with new entry gates wrote Swanee which earned him thousands and thoroughly recounted in this book. at the Mexican border and the John F. of dollars. In 1924, after composing for The initial immigration station, beginning Kennedy airport. Today, Ellis Island is a several Broadway shows, Gershwin in 1855, was Castle Garden, a former concert museum, commemorating its significant wrote and was the pianist for the original hall at the foot of Manhattan. The battle contribution to our nation. presentation of Rhapsody in Blue which for and against immigration was fiercely Author Cannato is a history professor brought him considerable fame. Wealthy joined at Castle Garden and persisted for in Boston who wrote a previous book and successful, he bought a five-story many years long after Castle Garden was about John Lindsay as mayor of New town house near Riverside Drive and closed in 1890, having received eight million York. Although the minute details he moved his parents and siblings into it. immigrants during its 35 years of service. presents here are sometimes superfluous, Living the happy life of a celebrity, In 1892, the new immigration station on by and large, he has done an excellent job Gershwin met James and Katherine Ellis Island opened for its first newcomers. in presenting the Ellis Island story. Warburg in 1925 and soon began an affair The heated debate between immigration with Katherine that lasted on and off for restrictionists and immigration defenders the rest of his life. James (Jimmy) was a continued. The Supreme Court greatly Biography contains member of the well-known Jewish banking influenced the argument by holding that unused source material family and Katherine (Kay), who was not Congress and the executive branch had Jewish, was a composer who came from a complete authority over immigration, giving George Gershwin. By Walter Rimler. musical family.The couple had been married courts little say over who could or could not Urbana and Chicago: University of for seven years and had three daughters enter the country, thus elevating the impor- Illinois Press, 2009. 240 Pages. 33 but followed the ethos of the Roaring tance of the authorities at Ellis Island. Photographs. $29.95. Twenties with limited marital restraints. One of the most noteworthy pictures to The first immigration commissioner at Ellis During his short life from September 1898 Gershwin, similarly not bound by his emerge from the Holocaust was taken in Island was Colonel John Weber, who had to July 1937, George Gershwin composed affair with Kay, had numerous romances April–May 1943. It depicts a terrifying fought in the Civil War and later became enough popular and classical music to none of which led to marriage. Although scene in which a group of Jews – mostly a congressman. The secretary of treasury, warrant being called one of America’s he was not observant, practically all of women and children – having been who had jurisdiction over immigration, greatest musicians. Adding to the number Gershwin’s friends were Jewish, making forced out of their hiding places, await asked Weber to investigate immigration of existing biographies, Walter Rimler, Kay an outsider. Even after she divorced their deportation to a death camp. They and he traveled to Europe, coming back author of two previous books on music as Jimmy Warburg, Gershwin and she did stand in the street with their hands up as with a sympathetic report on the plight of well as articles and short stories, justifies not marry. They separated in 1936 when Nazi soldiers, with guns, carry out the Russian Jews, joining those who favored another account of Gershwin’s life by his George moved to Hollywood to write operation. Slightly apart from the group, a immigration and opposing those hostile having discovered previously unused source songs for the movies with his brother, young boy in an overcoat, wearing short to immigration. Some insisted that the material.Weaving together these new letters Ira. There, Gershwin complained about pants and knee socks, stands in partial newcomers would become productive and interview records with his diligent fatigue and headaches that were initially isolation with his hands in the air. The citizens while others claimed that research, Rimler has produced a lively misdiagnosed as emotional in origin until expression on his face shows his anxiety they were Europe’s refuse who would narrative that captures Gershwin’s musical it was recognized that he had a brain tumor. (see Teicher, page NAT 15) NAT 14 December 30, 2009 game. The 21-year-old, who actually Kosher Jews in Sports toyed with the idea of entering the NBA draft in 2008, is among basketball’s youngest players. Kuisine Pigskin Yes – Pork No Casspi was born just south of Tel Aviv Olshansky is the in the city of Holon, and grew up in BY SYBIL KAPLAN Yavne, part of Israel’s Center District. He Cowboys’ Sampson dabbled briefly in tennis and soccer, but Dips or Spreads the man who now stands 6 foot 9, BY MARVIN MIGDOL focused on basketball by age eight. His for New Year’s Eve Special to the Jewish Post & Opinion mother, Eilana, played on the Israel national team, and therefore spurred When the girls were small, our home DALLAS – As the Dallas Cowboys his interest. Casspi’s pro career actually became the place for friends to gather on went into their Dec. 6 game against the began in 2005 at the age 17, when New Year’s Eve. Most of the time it was New York Giants, Igor Olshansky remains he signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In dips or spreads and pita chips or crackers one reason why the team sits atop the February 2009, just a few months before around 9 p.m., a nice light supper around NFL’s East Division and destined for the he came to America, Casspi finished 10:30, watch New Year’s Eve in New York playoffs. Olshansky made 23 tackles in fourth place in voting for the “Europe on TV at 11 our time, and dessert and the first 11 games. He is a defensive end Young Men’s Player of the Year Award”for champagne just after midnight. If you like player especially awesome against the the 2008–2009 season. that pattern, you are welcome to use it run and was recently lauded in the Dallas Asked weeks after drafting Omri Omri Casspi scores on a dunk during a and here are some new dips and spreads Morning News sports section. Casspi what he saw in the Israeli that game against the Protland Trailblazers. to start off your evening. His Jewish pride includes having twin made him a first-round draft pick, Kings’ Photo from his Web site: Casspi18.com. Jewish Stars of David tattooed across his general manager Geoff Petrie, said, Deviled Egg Spread (10 servings) shoulders. Be careful if someone utters an “We thought that he was the best player “I go back home, my brother is there I just got this from the Food and Wine anti-Semitic slur.They would have a 6’6”, available for the needs we had to fill. We and we can speak in our own language. website by Katie Lee, and thought it 315-pound Sampson to contend with. have seen him play now for a couple of I can talk about my ups and downs and was a great idea to copy with several And don’t call it a pig-skin – he doesn’t years...We saw him at the European he listens,” Omri said in December. “He modifications! eat pork. championships, and the workouts he did supports me in everything I do.” Olshansky was born in the Ukraine in here in Sacramento. He is still young and Omri also expects to see friendly faces 12 hard boiled eggs 1982. He’s the first Soviet-born player in has a lot of room for growth. When he in different American cities. When he travels 1 cup mayonnaise the NFL. At San Francisco’s Chabad-run was available for the 23rd pick, we were to areas with large Jewish populations, 1 Tbsp. Dijonaise Hebrew Academy, he met the then really happy.” he hopes plenty of fans will be waiving paprika 9-year-old girl he was to marry one day, Casspi himself was really happy as well. Israeli flags. and they now have three boys. “It is “When Sacramento called out my In his first game on Oct. 28, 2009, Cover eggs with water in a saucepan. important for me to lead a Jewish life and name, it was the best moment of my life,” Casspi was an immediate success, scoring Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cool 25 build a Jewish home,”he said. he told the Canadian Jewish Tribune in 15 points in only 19 minutes, making 7 of minutes. Drain and cool under cold water. His first sport was basketball. His coach November. “A historic day for me and 9 shots. Afterward, he told the Jerusalem Shell eggs and halve. Coarsely chop half egg told him,“Look, Igor, when you get to the Israel all wrapped in one.” Post,“I’m not concerned with peripheral whites. Place in a bowl. Place remaining baseline, drive for the basket. It’ll be like Omri, who was in Israel during the issues. I’m very focused, working very white and yolks in food processor with Moses parting the Red Sea – the water draft having also just completed his hard, keeping my feet very much on the mayonnaise and Dijonaise and process a will open up and there won’t be a soul required service in the Israeli army, ground. I know what I need to do, I know few seconds. Add to chopped egg whites. in the way.” He was a leading football immediately signed a three-year contract. how I need to work. I’m always preparing Place in serving bowl and sprinkle with defensive force for the University of A USA Today article this summer for the next game. Life in the NBA is very paprika. Serve with pita chips, crackers or Oregon Ducks. reported that Americans are apparently fast and we still have 81 games to play.” toasted bread points. In the 2004 try-outs for the draft, he trying to make Casspi comfortable. Asked later by an interviewer from amazingly bench-pressed 227 pounds 41 Though Sacramento has a small Jewish Army Radio whether the grandeur of the Shmil’s Pumpkin Appetizer times and then 43 times on a second try. He community, its members have been a big occasion had dawned upon him during (6–8 servings) has run the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds. help. When Casspi arrived in early August the game, Casspi admitted that the Shmil is the owner and chef of our Getting married in a traditional Jewish long before the season began, the Jewish significance of his achievement had neighborhood restaurant, housed in a ceremony in 2005, imagine his friends community welcomed him with open occurred to him: building that once belonged to the train struggling to lift Olshansky overhead in a arms, advising him on where to live, “When I was in the dressing room, I sat yards and can be seen from the balcony. chair to meet Liya, his similarly raised wife! helping him rent a house, and providing and thought about where I had started...I This was recently created by him and Did you know that Marv Migdol is a guided tours of California’s capital city. saw in my mind everything that I had re-created by me. speech writer as well as a PR and marketing “They called me, and they took me out gone through...and I said to myself: ‘Wow, consultant? to see the city and they arranged a house I’m sitting right now in the dressing room 2 cups fresh peeled, raw pumpkin for me to rent,” Casspi told the nation’s of an NBA team; around me are NBA 1 Tbsp. olive oil largest newspaper. “When we got to players of the highest caliber in the world; 2 tsp. tahini First Israeli to play Sacramento, we didn’t know anything; I’m going to compete for the first time 2 tsp. lemon juice in NBA game but thanks to people in the Jewish in an NBA game, which will be on the 1 crushed garlic clove community, everything is good now. highest level I’ve ever played; and I’m 1/8 tsp. lemon peel BY ARI J. KAUFMAN We have been treated very well by them making history for our country, being the and all Kings fans.” first Israeli player.” Preheat oven to 325°F. Place pumpkin in In June 2009, with the 23rd selection in He’ll live in Sacramento with his older As of Dec 27, 2009, Casspi is averaging an a pan with olive oil. Bake in oven until soft. the NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings brother, Eitan (25), also a former hoopster impressive 12 points and four rebounds per Peel pumpkin and mash in a bowl. Add made Omri Casspi the first Israeli to be that played on Israeli club teams and who game in just 25 minutes of action. He scored tahini, lemon juice, garlic and lemon peel. selected in the first round of the draft. now runs the Web site Casspi18.com. over 20 points in three December games. (He isn’t the first player an NBA club “It has always been Omri’s dream to be Kaufman is a military historian with Tuna Fish Balls (12–16 balls) has drafted from Israel; Doron Sheffer, in the NBA, so in a way we are both living the Indiana War Memorials Commission in One of the contributors to my cook- who attended college at Connecticut, was that dream right now,” Eitan said. He’s Indianapolis. book for our synagogue gave me this picked in the second round of the 1996 come along to help Omri on this recipe and we love it. She got it from a draft. He elected to play professionally American odyssey to make the transition Visit our Website at: friend in England who made it during in Israel). Upon his debut with the Kings run smoother, sharing a car with him, World War II. in November 2009, Casspi became the taking control of his brother’s off-court www.jewishpostopinion.com (see Kaplan/Recipe, page NAT 15) first Israeli to actually play in an NBA responsibilities. December 30, 2009 NAT 15 EDITORIAL BIENSTOCK Judaism?’ I hear so many people say number of books on the Bible and they (continued from page NAT 2) (continued from page NAT 9) that it’s important to them to have a collaborated in 2008 to produce congregation, but they don’t support it,” Representing the Irreparable: The Shoah, examples she gives: “He raised two sons was born in Germany but always felt she said. They are at a critical juncture: the Bible, and the Art of Samuel Bak. alone,”“She would have been a wonderful there was something different about his A part-time secretary currently networks While their comments on the pictures singer had her family been able to afford identity. It was only recently that his the congregants, and there are programs are helpful, they often appear a few pages training for her,” “This political leader father revealed to him that he, the father, through the week, including Sunday School. before or after the actual illustrations so whose policies I dislike probably believes was born as a German Jew. The son But, she adds, “a full time rabbi would that readers have to scurry back and forth he is right, just as I believe I am.”These decided to convert to Judaism as a contribute to long-term sustainability.” to match the commentary with the people are human beings with at least middle-aged man. His wife, the sales- Cramer was married Oct. 18. She was pictures. As the entire book is less than a one thing we all have in common: We are woman, decided to convert as well. They given in marriage by Green, and Gray hundred pages long, it could readily have all doing the best we can. were recently remarried in a Jewish performed the ceremony – colorful char- been extended by a few pages in order to Wishing people well, means that wedding ceremony. Her husband read acters, they are, as the Jews of the match the text with the pictures. Boorstein is no longer afraid of them. She the haftorah last Shabbat in synagogue. Mountain of Peace grow into a new chal- The book includes an interview with has stopped holding them at emotional We left Berlin on a dark, cloudy day in lenge. (www.har-shalom.org) Samuel Bak that appeared in a 2004 book arm’s length.This relieves her of the sense the midst of a snowstorm that paralyzed Matthew Silver is a freelance writer, by Richard Raskin, titled A Child at of needing to be on the defensive and traffic. Today, contemporary Berlin can researcher, and musician living in Gunpoint: A Case Study on the Life of a that makes her feel better. She says this worry about traffic snarls instead of the Indianapolis, Ind. Photo. Also included are a brief list of exercise does not make her suddenly start evil of Nazism and Communism. Twenty- important dates in Bak’s life, a tabulation liking this person, but it makes her realize first century Berlin is a symbol of triumph j i of selected exhibitions, a record of the that forgiveness and goodwill are her over the horrors of the 20th century – the TEICHER public collections in which Bak’s work most reliable refuge. genocide of the Jews of Europe and the (continued from page NAT 13) appears, and a short bibliography. One important point she makes in totalitarianism of the Soviet Union. I often The authors have rendered a useful the book is that these exercises are an gazed upon the Hanukkah menorah, and fear. No one knows for sure whether service in presenting these pictures which ongoing process that one has to continue which stood by the Brandenburg Gate, or not he was among the one and a half- build on a well-known photograph to working on throughout his or her life, but the symbol of the city. It was next to a million Jewish children massacred in the elaborate imaginatively on the fearfulness one will notice progress along the way. Christmas tree, on a plaza by the Holocaust especially since, in 1982, there of the Holocaust. The best part of this book is not included American Embassy. Berliners are eternally was a claim that he had survived and Dr. Morton I. Teicher is the Founding here because of space limitations. It is grateful to the United States for their role was living in New Jersey. Regardless Dean, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, filled with wonderful stories that help in creating a democratic Germany. In fact, of whether this assertion is true or false, Yeshiva University and Dean Emeritus, explain the lessons. What a great way to some 250,000 Germans showed up to the picture has become an emblem of School of Social Work, University of North learn complex teachings! hear Barack Obama speak.The Reichstag, the Holocaust. Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jennie Cohen 12-30-09. once associated with the diabolical plans Artist Samuel Bak, himself a child of Hitler, now has a shimmering new survivor of the Holocaust, decided to j i j i dome on it. Checkpoint Charlie, once the paint images of the Warsaw boy in KAPLAN/RECIPE PODET symbol of a divided city, is now a quaint different settings and different forms to (continued from page NAT 14) (continued from page NAT 7) tourist spot. Today, the Berliner may be a commemorate his image in “impossible Vietnamese man from Hanoi, a memorials.” Bak was born in Poland in 11 oz. can tuna others are wrong). Such a presentation Romanian student from Bucharest, or a 1933 so that he could be the same age as 2 beaten eggs could have been confusing to novices, but Russian Jew from Moscow. The ethnic the boy in the photograph and in his 2 small grated onions it has been done in a manner that makes and cultural diversity of today’s Berlin paintings. After surviving both Soviet salt and pepper to taste clear the points of disagreement and, in laughs at Hitler’s vision of “a master race”. and Nazi occupation, Bak wound up in a 6–8 Tbsp. matzah meal my opinion, leaves the general impression Yes, there are many shadows in Berlin displaced persons camp in Germany and oil that the authors were probably the from the past, just as they are many then studied painting in Munich. In 1948, Essene sect described by Flavius clouds in the Berlin winter. However, Bak emigrated to Israel where he became In a bowl, combine drained tuna, eggs, Josephus.This is in any case the prevailing there is much light. I hope that the light I a student at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Art onion, salt and pepper. Add matzah meal opinion of the scholarly community. witnessed in Berlin will shine upon this School. After serving in the Israeli army to bind and add more if needed. Form One finishes the exhibit, of course, in city and grant it a future of peace and for three years, Bak moved to Paris for into small, bite-size balls. Heat oil in a the gift shop, as museums always plan to understanding. further study. He then spent more than 30 pot. Deep fry balls. Serve warm or cold. have one end such a tour either in the gift Rabbi Bienstock serves Congregation years living in Europe, Israel, and New shop or the restaurant. But one searches Shaarey Tefilla in Carmel, Ind., a suburb of York until 1993 when he settled in Vegetarian Chopped Liver the shop in vain for a CD of the exhibit, or Indianapolis. Weston, Mass. where he now lives. A classic that we never tire of! a copy of the virtual tours of the Temple or Although Bak began painting the of Jerusalem. That is because this exhibit j i Warsaw boy in the mid-1990s, most of 1–2 tsp. margarine came to Toronto directly from Israel and SILVER the images presented in this book were 1 medium chopped onion will be returned directly to Israel from (continued from page NAT 9) completed in 2006–2008. Reproduced 1 tsp. chicken soup powder Toronto. Amazingly enough considering in glowing color, the pictures show the 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts the planning and work that has gone into “The building is definitely a turning boy in many symbolic representations: 1 large can peas it, this is not going to be a travelling point for this congregation, and it has leading a procession; coming through 3 hard boiled eggs exhibit but a one-time-only presentation. helped establish our presence as a viable architectural ruins; at a Masada-like One must hope that the controversial member of the faith community. fortress; as a conscripted laborer; like Heat margarine in a frying pan. Sauté Israel Antiquities Authority, which But fund raising is a struggle, the Isaac about to be sacrificed; escaping in a onion with chicken soup powder until authorized the loan of materials and economy is difficult, and we’re a small hot-air balloon; under severed or rootless soft. Place onion and margarine in a food which helped plan the exhibit, will congregation. At the same time, you can’t trees; and holding up the broken tablets processor. Add walnuts, peas and hard appreciate how popular and influential help but feel pride every time you see the from Mount Sinai. Bak makes full use boiled eggs. Process until just blended. this exhibit already has been and how lit sign on the front of the building, even of his stellar creative abilities to capture Spoon into serving bowl. many people have lined up to see it. One though most of the people who see it are fully the horror of the Holocaust through Sybil Kaplan is a journalist, book reviewer, hopes they will reconsider their decision not Jewish,”she added, smiling. his imaginative depictions of the food columnist and feature writer who moved and turn this into a travelling exhibit, When Cramer speaks to her Rotary Warsaw boy. from Overland Park, Kan., to Jerusalem in along the lines of the travelling King Club, she always injects a bit of Jewish The explanatory text that accompanies September 2008. She has just completed Tut exhibit, for the great museums of wisdom: “I feel a responsibility to my faith the vividly colored illustrations was compiling her ninth kosher cookbook We’re America and the West. to lead a moral life, especially since I am written by two Bible scholars, Danna Cooking at Kehilat Moreshet Avraham. The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is at the in the public eye, without being preachy Nolan Fewell of Drew University in New Copies are available at KMA, P.O. Box 2072, ROM through early January 2010. or judgmental. But the Jewish community Jersey and Gary A. Phillips of Wabash Jerusalem 91290. Each cookbook is an $18 Comments? [email protected]. has to ask itself, ‘How important is my College in Indiana. Each has published a donation plus $4 for postage and handling. NAT 16 December 30, 2009 that each pomegranate fruit contains 613 seeds. No, I’ve never bothered counting Musings them, though others claim that fame. But one thing I did notice: Humongous from Shiloh pomegranates, like those sold at the very end of the season, have a large proportion BY BATYA MEDAD of inedible white. Take a look at the fruit I Jerusalem – photographed just below. never dull Jerusalem has always been a city more enjoyable for pedestrians than drivers, Station. Then I listened. The man was an but recently, even those of us who take archaeologist digging for “buried treasure.” pride in walking it find ourselves stymied He was explaining to the interested Picture the sky by unexpected walls and barriers. Olmert’s passersby about what had been discovered. For sure the sky over Shiloh is the most light-rail is a bit heavy on the feet. gorgeous in the world, especially during the winter.

Now, look at this fruit, photographed in the same size bowl. It’s a smaller fruit, but it has a larger proportion of seeds, and the seeds are what we eat and get juice from.

As the saying goes: Only in Jerusalem!

Some of the architecture is rather First Israeli haircut surprising, and sometimes incongruous, More from the saga of my father’s new compared to its neighbors. At least this Jaffa life in Israel, after making aliyah at 89. Batya Medad is a veteran American olah, Street building isn’t in a windy location. My father has been in Israel about two immigrant in Israel. She and her husband At first I didn’t follow what was months already. Originally I figured that made aliyah in 1970 and have been in happening here, as I crossed from my mother would be here by now, but Shiloh since 1981. She’s a wife, mother, Binyanei Ha’uma to the Central Bus she feels she must be in New York to sell grandmother, EFL Teacher, writer and the house. In the photographer. Besides her articles and meantime, we keep This makes it pretty obvious to me that photographs we’ve been featuring in this my father busy here there may be the same number of seeds publication for a number of years, Batya is in Shiloh, occasion- in each pomegranate fruit, 613. very involved in the international cyber ally visiting my community as a Jewish blogger. She has two married daughter in active blogs, http://shilohmusings.blogspot Ofra and her family, .com and http://me-ander.blogspot.com, my father’s great- besides having established the Kosher grandchildren. This Cooking Carnival; details on me-ander. You week was only can contact her at [email protected]. his second trip to Jerusalem. Even by car it’s a big trip for him, so we prefer local entertainment. Yes, he’s very pleased with his haircut.

Reversal, going back, the essence More in the saga of taking care of my very elderly father. My father has surprised us on Shabbat by joining in the Friday night singing of “Shalom Aleichem.” Actually, he also surprised himself: “I must have known this when I was a kid,”he said. He didn’t grow up in a very religious home from what I understand. They were strongly Jewish, but not religiously observant. Here in Shiloh, in my religious Are there really home, he’s being exposed to a life style, 613 seeds in a which isn’t all that familiar. But for the pomegranate? man who was proud and happy to be The basis of called “The Jew”on the enormous United Jewish Life is Taryag States Navy ships during World War II – Mitzvot, the 613 the only Jew who admitted being of that Mitzvot, G-d given very minority religion – he’s amazingly commandments. comfortable here. His essence is Jewish, Screening Info. and DVDs at www.holylandhardball.com There’s a tradition no doubt.