The National Jewish Post&Opinion Volume 76, Number 17 • June 16, 2010 • 4 Tamuz 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com The Hand of Rachel This artwork is by Gigi Marks Felsher. She is a past president of the Jewish Fed- eration of Greater Indianapolis. She is married to Arthur Felsher, and between them they have three daughters and two grandchildren. Gigi is president of HealthSmart, LLC, and works with fami- lies wanting to make their home environ- ment healthier and safer.

Gigi’s artwork is a mosaic in the shape of a “hamsa,” a Middle Eastern symbol dat- ing back to prehistoric times designed to give protection from the evil eye, bad luck that results from the attention or jealousy of others. The hamsa consists of a hand, usually pointing fingers down with an eye in the middle. The eye is generally blue, a color which is also associated with protec- tion from the evil eye.

The entire symbol is often made of or covered with a material that is somewhat reflective to reflect back the evil. This particular piece is done primarily in iri- descent glass, to capture the idea of reflec- tion, and is called “The Hand of Rachel” in honor of her daughter, for whom it was made. It was made in a mosaic class taught by Suzy Friedman of Indianapolis, an artist well-known for her paintings and Judaica.

NAT 2 June 16, 2010 is the People of the Book. Outsiders have always seen the Jewish people as literate Editorial Shabbat Shalom and thoughtful. Others may not agree A Bit of Wit with Jewish culture, theology, or practice, BY RABBI JON ADLAND Thank you, dear readers for all of your but it was always known that we studied, Moishe, a Jewish actor, is so down financial support, the kind words about May 21, 2010, Naso debated, and added to the layers of and out he’s ready to take any acting gig my father and the encouragement to me. (Numbers 4:21–7:89), 8 Sivan 5770 insights that came before us. that he can find. Finally, he gets a lead, a I am extremely grateful for all of these. The sad commentary though is that in classified ad that says, Eventually I will be able to thank all of Tonight five women – Lea Coleman, our day most of the Jewish education “Actor needed to play an ape.” you with a letter or phone call, but for Erin Healey, Diane Healey, Shelly Sachs, going on is for the youth and ends in “I could do that,”says Moishe. now, please accept this as my thank you and Barbie Stenacker – will fulfill a 10th grade. Jewish adults are just too To his surprise, the employer turns out until that time. dream by leading a worship service and busy managing their lives to take time to be Central Park Zoo in New York. If one or more of you have been thinking reading from the Torah. This 5770 b’not once a week to study for its own sake Owing to recent budget cuts and the about contributing but didn’t get around mitzvah class has been studying together what it means to be Jewish, the richness great recession, the Zoo cannot afford to to it or perhaps your budget didn’t allow with me since last fall. They have of Jewish wisdom in the holy texts, or import an ape to replace the recently for it then but now you would like to laughed and cried on this journey some other aspect of Judaism. Though deceased one. So, until they can, they’ll make a donation to the newspaper, toward fulfilling their dream and tonight over the last 30 years more children have put an actor in an ape suit. every dollar we receive is important. Our their dream becomes real. It has been my gone to summer camp, celebrated a bar Out of desperation, Moishe takes the new address is 1111 East 54th St., Suite honor over my years as a rabbi to help or bat mitzvah and attended religious offer. At first, his conscience keeps 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220. many adults and a few teens deepen school, there are less and less Jewish nagging him, that he is being dishonest The following story is an example of their Jewish commitment through serious adults who rise above a pediatric by fooling the zoo-goers. Moishe also one of the pleasures that result from my engagement in Jewish study and texts. understanding of Judaism. There is no feels undignified in the ape suit, stared at following in my parent’s footsteps. A few The first part of Indianapolis Hebrew better time than today and no better by the crowds who watch his every months ago I received an email from a Congregation’s mission statement is today than Shabbat to change this adult move. But, after a few days on the job, he rabbi in Texas asking my permission to Torah (study). I have urged adults at every perception. It doesn’t have to be begins to enjoy all the attention and post a couple of columns that had been stop on my Jewish journey to deepen inundating, but it has to be something. starts to put on a show for all the published in our newspaper. She wrote, their knowledge and understanding of Subscribe to the URJ’s Ten Minutes of zoo-goers. Moishe hangs upside down “Our organization teaches teens about Judaism through adult Jewish study. I Torah or any number of websites that from the branches by his legs, swinging sexuality in the context of Jewish values.” truly believe that to be a leader of the offer Jewish learning. Get a Torah about on the vines, climbing up the cage She continued that the articles appeared Jewish people one must understand commentary and read the weekly walls and roaring with all his might in the book The Jewish 1960s. what Judaism is, what it says about living parasha and a bit of commentary. while beating on his chest. Soon, he’s I emailed her back and said she must life, commitment, justice, and God, and Subscribe to a Jewish newspaper or drawing a sizable crowd. be confusing us with another newspaper how to make that knowledge a vital and magazine. Go to Torah study. One day, when Moishe is swinging on because as long as I have been publishing, integral part of one’s life. Jewish study Our five women tonight decided that the vines to show off to a group of school there haven’t been any columns on that isn’t only for leadership, but for every they wanted to deepen their knowledge kids, his hand slips and he goes flying subject. I also said I wasn’t familiar with Jew. We have a rich and exciting history and commitment to Judaism. They’ve over the fence into the neighboring cage, The Jewish 1960s. of knowledge that takes us back to the studied, debated and prepared for this the lion’s den. She replied with a thank you. She also time of our Exodus from Egypt until b’not mitzvah evening. I salute them and Terrified, Moishe backs up as far from wrote that the credits of the two articles today. No one generation of Jews has hope that others will follow in the years the approaching lion as he can, covers in The Jewish 1960s: An American ever felt possessive of their understanding to come. his eyes and prays at the top of his lungs, Sourcebook (2004, Brandeis) were: “Fun that it is built on what came before and When you light your Shabbat candles “Shma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai in the Bedroom Is the Jewish View”from will be added to what is yet to come. this evening, light one for those who’ve Echad!” April 13, 1973, and “Rabbi Bans Hot Torah could be understood in a narrow left us answers about Judaism and The lion opens his powerful jaws and Pants, See-Through Blouses” from July sense as the Five Books of Moses, but in questions about life for us to ponder and roars the response, “Baruch Shem K’vod 20, 1971. Those articles appeared before a broader sense Torah is cumulative consider. Light the other candle as a Malchuto! L’olam Va’ed.” my time publishing the newspaper so knowledge from yesterday to today. torch leading us to the path to deeper From a nearby cage, a panda yells,“Shut that is why I did not remember them. One of the names Jews are known by understanding of Judaism through the up you schmucks, you’ll get us all fired!” Our old office was downtown and I study of Torah. Submitted by Jay Perler, Indianapolis. usually parked on the street as close to j i Rabbi Adland is senior rabbi of the front door as possible. Those parking about it. Both of those sisters were active Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. spaces have meters. Shortly after I in the civil rights movement in the 1960s received this second email from the volunteering in the south to help blacks The National Jewish rabbi, it was time to put more change in register to vote and so forth. my meter. Unfortunately I had run out of I carried the book back to my office, change. But then I remembered that opened it and went right to the table of sometimes when I am in sitting in the contents. After finding the page numbers Post &Opinion driver’s seat, I get change out for the for the articles mentioned by the rabbi, meter and I accidentally drop coins I turned right to them and got a nice www.jewishpostopinion.com between the seats and they end up on surprise. One of the articles in that the floor of the back seat. chapter was written by my mother, Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 Published biweekly by It was a cold day so after getting to my Helen Cohen, of blessed memory. She The Spokesman Co., Inc. office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 car, I opened the door to the back seat, penned a weekly column for this (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) [email protected] got in and quickly closed the door. I newspaper for 27 years from 1946–1973. Periodicals postage paid at Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN always have extra copies of the newspapers She did this while raising eight children! 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 All circulation correspondence on the seats and the floors because I On top of this unexpected “visit” from should be addressed to never know when someone will ask me her, the introduction to the chapter Publishers Advertising Director Accounting The National Jewish Post & Opinion, if I have a copy of a particular issue. I included a comment about “the popular Gabriel Cohen, z”l Barbara LeMaster Vivian Chan Subscription Department, Jennie Cohen 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220. started lifting up the newspapers on the columnist”Helen Cohen. Postmaster send address changes to: floor of the back seat and found not only I emailed the rabbi back and thanked Graphic Design Editors The National Jewish Post & Opinion, change but a book, The Jewish 1960s! her for her inquiry. I never would have Advertising Sales Charlie Bunes Jennie Cohen Subscription Department, Mary Herring Crystal Kurz Grechen Throop 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119 We receive a lot of books for review seen that article if she had not emailed Indianapolis, IN 46220 and this one had recently come out in to request permission. I explained to her Subscriptions $36.00 per year, back issues $2.25, single copies $2.00. paperback. I must have taken that one to what happened and told her she had All advertisements designed and prepared by The Jewish Post & Opinion are the sole property of the newspaper and show my two older sisters, Debbie Cohen made my day! may not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2005 Spokesman Co. Inc. All rights reserved. and Miriam Glickman and forgotten Jennie Cohen, June 16, 2010. June 16, 2010 NAT 3 I explained to her that Hashem put in “The stronger one is the one who us two opposing forces, our good side can absorb the violence and anger Chassidic Rabbi and our bad or evil side. Our good side Obituaries from the other and change it to love and tells us to see the good in others and understanding. It is not easy; it is a lot BY RABBI BENZION COHEN love them. Our evil side is referred to as Rabbi David Forman, 65 of work. But this is the real jihad,” he the evil influence. Our evil influence tells once told the Globaloneness Project in The last day of Pesach has a special us to look for the bad in others, and Rabbis for Human an interview. connection with Moshiach. Before therefore look down upon them and Rights founder Rabbi In the late 1990s, Sheikh Bukhari was sunset we gather together for a special hate them. David Forman died invited by UNESCO to an interreligious festive meal. The Baal Shem Tov called If Hashem wants us to do good, then in Dallas on May 3, conference in Uzbekistan, where he got this meal “The meal of Moshiach” why did He give us an evil influence? 2010. to know Eliyahu McLean, an Orthodox This year at this meal I told a story that One of the reasons is that He is testing He founded the Jew living in Jerusalem who had studied happened to me many years ago. I was us. He gave us a mind. Will we use our organization in 1988 Islam. Bukhari and McLean became having a hard time with one of my intellect for good or for evil? Are we and served as its friends and decided during their trip teenagers. One day I got a brainstorm. smart enough to distinguish between chairman from then to launch Jerusalem Peacemakers, a “Ah!” I told myself. “This will solve the good and evil? Our evil influence is very to 1992, and again in 2002–03. The nonprofit partnership of interfaith problem. I’ll buy him a one way ticket to clever, and tries hard to fool us. He uses organization, which calls itself “the religious leaders and grassroots activists, anywhere in the world. He’ll live his life, many disguises. He even sometimes rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel, from Muslim, Druse, Christian and and I’ll live mine, and peace will reign on pretends to be very righteous. He says, giving voice to the Jewish tradition of Jewish communities. all of Israel.” full of righteous indignation: “Look at human rights,” has a membership of “Sheikh Bukhari was a unique, gentle, After enjoying this idea for a few the terrible crimes that such and such rabbis and rabbinic students from all but determined voice in Jerusalem, and minutes, I suddenly caught myself. What have done. They deserve to be hated streams of Judaism. It is primarily the Muslim world, for non-violence, love had happened to me? I love everyone, and punished!” concerned with the plight of Palestinians and harmony. He opened many hearts everyone but my own son!? You can’t So how can we overcome our evil living in the West Bank and Gaza. all over the world to the power of love as be a Lubavitcher if you don’t love every influence? By ourselves it is almost Forman, who made aliyah in 1972, a way to heal the Israeli-Palestinian con- Jew, including your own teenagers. impossible. We need help and advice served as the director of the Israel office flict, and wounded family of Abraham,” Either I love my kid, or I turn in my from wise rabbis. A rabbi has studied the of the Union of American Hebrew remarked his friend Eliyahu McLean. Lubavitch badge. workings of the evil influence, and has Congregations, where he led the effort I made the smart choice, and decided been fighting with his own for many for religious pluralism in Israel. Prior to love my son. But how? He had been a years. I advised this woman to try her to that he was the chairman of Interns teenager for three years already, and was best to love her daughter unconditionally, for Peace from 1984 to 1986, and the really getting on my nerves. Again I absolutely. And if any bad thoughts founding chairman of both the made a wise choice. I went and spoke came up about her, to remember that Jerusalem Council for Soviet Jewry in to some wise rabbis about learning to this is the evil influence talking. When 1973 and the Cincinnati Council for love teenagers. the evil influence tries to tell us Soviet Jewry in 1970. They explained to me that deep inside something bad about someone, we have Forman keynoted the Nobel Institute us is a very precious and holy soul. I have to tell him very firmly to get lost. I gave conference on The Role of Religion in to love my son because of his essence, her some Chassidic texts to read about Middle East Peacemaking. In 1994, he his soul. My love for him has to be the deeper meaning of love. was a member of the Israeli delegation L– R: Sheikh Aziz Bukhari with Ibrahim absolute, unconditional. If he gets on Baruch Hashem, this story had a to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Ahmad Abu El-Hawa, and Eliyahu McLean. my nerves, that is my problem, not happy ending. I received an email from laureates Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres his. Instead of getting upset with his this woman telling me that her daughter and Yitzhak Rabin. Bukhari later also got involved in the behavior, I should work hard to try to and granddaughter had come to visit, He wrote four books and was a Interfaith Coordinating Council in Israel, understand why he (and many other and it was a lovely surprise. regular contributor to many newspapers the Interfaith Encounter Association, teenagers) behaves like this. I am now working on bringing peace and magazines in Israel and in the and the Sulha Peace Project, and in 2007 I took their words to heart. In addition to another family, and ask you, all of my Anglo-Jewish press. launched the Jerusalem Hug every June I studied some of the Chassidic texts that readers, for your help in this project. The Forman was ordained in 1972 and 21, where Israelis, Palestinians and explain the deeper meaning of love. person involved isn’t prepared right now received a doctorate in 1997 from foreigners of all faiths form a human After two weeks and a lot of effort, I to ask a rabbi for advice, so the only Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute chain of prayer around the Old City. began to feel some real love for my son. thing that I think will help is prayer. of Religion. Between 1977 and 1991 he He also traveled extensively in Europe, And lo and behold, his behavior started Please pray for the next few weeks for was a deputy commanding officer in the to give a Muslim face to a message of to improve! Teenagers may seem to be Tuvya Yaakov hacohen, son of Chaya. Israeli army, receiving a citation for unity and tolerance and to show the very tough, but they still need lots of love Ask Hashem to give him and all of us meritorious service in 1990. deep friendship possible between from their parents. (Even adults need understanding to distinguish between Forman was husband to Judy, and Muslims and Jews. love from their parents.) good and evil. Ask Hashem to open his father to Tamar, Liat, Shira and Orly. He During Operation Cast Lead, Bukhari After the meal, one of the guests heart, and all of our hearts, to love our was laid to rest in Israel. initiated a delegation of Arab youth and approached me. She said that my story family, and all mankind. Ask Hashem to religious leaders to show solidarity with had really touched her. She was having a open his eyes, and all of our eyes, to see the students and teachers in Sderot and similar problem, and maybe I could give the good in others. And ask Hashem to Sheikh Abdul to share the pain of his own family’s her some advice and try to help her. bring Moshiach. We have been fighting Aziz Bukhari, 61 experience in Gaza. We sat down, and she told me her story. our evil influence nonstop for 5,770 Sheikh Bukhari is survived by a wife and She is 70 years old. The only close years, and now it is time for Hashem to In a small and ancient family plot six children, whose families are scattered relatives that she has in this world are take away all evil, forever. attached to his ancestral home in across Jerusalem, Gaza and the U.S. her daughter and two grandchildren. For We want Moshiach now! Jerusalem’s Old City, regional Sufi leader the last ten years she hasn’t felt any love Rabbi Cohen lives in K’far Chabad, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari was laid to for her daughter, and she hasn’t seen her Israel. He can be reached by email at rest on Tues., June 1, 2010 at age 61, after On this date in or her grandchildren in seven years. [email protected]. a long struggle with heart disease. He Jewish history When she heard my story a glimmer was head of the mystical Naqshabandi of hope passed through her. Maybe Holy Land Sufi Order. On June 16, 1527 she could also make peace with her A longtime proponent of nonviolence Jews expelled from daughter and love her again. and interfaith unity, Bukhari found his I asked her what had caused the rift ten inspiration in Islamic law and tradition, Florence, Italy. years ago. She told me that her parents had as well as in the writings of Mohandas ~ From The Jewish Book of Days published by passed away, and she and her daughter Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc., New York. had fought over the inheritance. Nelson Mandela. NAT 4 June 16, 2010 opportunity for growth and healing. We Travel packages and activities are grow the most when confronting our available at www.komen.org/israel for Kabbalah greatest challenges. Tammuz is a month News those who wish to travel to Israel that of judgment; we need to accept that week as part of a special delegation. of the Month nothing is accidental or coincidental. Those who can’t travel to Israel can Through we have free will, everything is First Susan G. Komen register as a VIP – Virtual Israel BY MELINDA RIBNER also divine providence.”(pg. 251) Race for the Cure in Participant.VIPs receive their own Israel “The astrological sign for Tammuz is Race website page to personalize with Tammuz began on Cancer. The Hebrew word for Cancer is October in Israel photos and stories to raise awareness sartan, which means ‘Satan,’a name that and funds and to honor a breast cancer Saturday evening, reveals the difficulty of the tests of this DALLAS – The world’s largest series survivor. VIPs also can form virtual Race month. The ruling body of Cancer is the of 5k runs/fitness walks celebrating teams, complete with T-shirts and special June 12 moon. The moon is always changing, breast cancer survivors and supporters Race bibs marking this historic event. making Tammuz an emotional time comes to Israel for the first time. This “The Race for the Cure is a powerful We rely on weather forecasts when with many ups and downs. One has to historic first Israel Race for the Cure way for schools, churches, synagogues planning our days’ activities, stock learn to ride the emotional rollercoaster will be held around the walls of Old and local organizations to participate by forecasts or charts to guide or monitor of Tammuz.” Jerusalem on Oct. 28 with Jerusalem walking, running and forming Race investing. Might it also be helpful to have “The Torah portions reflect what is Mayor Nir Barkat as host and in teams to support breast cancer survivors, a kabbalistic forecast for the month that happening during the month. Korach partnership with Hadassah and the their families and friends in Israel, and serves as a guide to our spiritual growth? reveals the struggle within the Jewish Women’s Zionist Organization of around the world, in a fun and meaningful “Thousands of years ago the Jewish people. Two hundred and fifty men, America, to celebrate Breast Cancer way,”said Stephanie Siegel, a breast cancer mystical tradition known as Kabbalah the leaders of the Jewish people Awareness Month, held every October. survivor who is co-chair of the Israel revealed a very profound and powerful were followers of Korach, claimed that The Race for the Cure started 28 years delegation trip and board member of the system for healing and transformation. Moses had concentrated too much ago in Dallas,Texas.Today, more than 1.6 Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Though the knowledge remains obscure, power in the hands of his family and million people participate in Races Alliance, the c4 sister organization to it has influenced many current forms of tribe, the Levites who served in the across North America, Europe, Latin Susan G. Komen for the Cure. healing. According to Kabbalah, the mishkon, the holy Tabernacle hosting the America, Africa and the Middle East. Jewish calendar as a whole is a road map Divine Presence. Though they were “Jerusalem is a site of great historic About Susan G. Komen for the Cure for personal transformation. jealous of Moses and Aaron, they did significance to people of all faiths. It will Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying “To the uninitiated, this material may not express this directly. They couched be very meaningful to see people of all sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do seem mystical or superstitious, but that their argument in idealistic terms, religions and nationalities racing as one everything in her power to end breast does not make it less true. Many things claiming that the entire assembly, all of toward a common goal of ending suffering cancer forever. In 1982, that promise exist beyond our powers of conception them are holy.”(pg. 260) from breast cancer while also celebrating became the Susan G. Komen for the or reasoning. Just as there are various those who are living with and conquering Cure and launched the global breast season and fluctuations in our weather, this disease whether they join us in cancer movement. For more information there are also fluctuations in the spiritual [With its] many ups and person or in spirit from anywhere in about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, energies available. Those who are the world,” said Ambassador Nancy G. breast health or breast cancer, visit attuned to these energies are aware of downs, one has to learn Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO such changes and know how to use this Komen for the Cure. KOMEN. knowledge for their personal growth to ride the emotional and success. Rather than promoting j i j i fatalism, this knowledge actually increases rollercoaster of Tammuz. improving is “seeing”. What we see resistance to life as it is and get down on our capacity to make meaningful and reflects our thinking. This month we our knees (metaphorically, usually) to effective choices for our highest good.” If we look at what was happening on need to breathe, meditate and be open call out for divine assistance and faith. (Kabbalah Month by Month, introduction) the external level, it sounds that the to see life more clearly and calmly. We Try it sometime. Get down on your Welcome the month of Tammuz on accusations might be true. Yet, we learn need to question our assumptions. We knees and open yourself to God. It is one Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13: this month, that what is presented is not can easily become upset about thing to stand before God, and another “From a secular perspective, many always what really is, and we must look something that is not true. Take a thing to be on your knees before God. I think of the summer as a carefree time, a beyond the external to perceive what is moment to review your recent responses know that Jews do not usually do that. time to travel, relax, have fun, but hidden and real. to events in your life. If you are upset We Jews used to kneel before Christians according to Kabbalah, Tammuz is a As we enter this month, the world about something or someone, might you adopted this practice and then we heavy and challenging month. The heat arena has many challenges and be making assumptions that are not stopped doing it so as to distinguish one experiences is not just physical but catastrophic events. The BP oil spill is true? As my teacher Reb Shlomo ourselves from them. If you have never also emotional and spiritual. That is why polluting the oceans, economies in (Carlebach) would often say, “What do gotten on your knees before God, either we need to be mindful of the emotional Europe are collapsing, Iran and Hamas we really know?” literally or metaphorically, you may not intensity of this month and why it is are threatening to destroy Israel, the U.S. We can all acknowledge that a yet have opened yourself to receive important to be particularly sensitive to stock market is plummeting, the recent response of fear, worry or anger to any divine love and compassion. ourselves and others this month.Tammuz flotilla incident and so many nations in challenge will not be helpful. Even Thankfully, God is very much alive. As is still ultimately a good and wonderful the world condemning Israel before though it may sometimes be an we say in our Ahsrei prayer,“God is close month but only if we know how to use they knew the facts. You know what is automatic response to become to the brokenhearted and those who are its intense energy constructively. When happening in our world as well as I do. frightened and upset by major crushed in spirit, God saves.” It is we we do this, we grow through challenges This is some of the heat of Tammuz. It is challenges and changes that occur in who need to call out and open ourselves in ways that may not be possible at any easy to be worried and concerned about our lives, these emotions do not help us to receive. other period of the year.”(pgs. 247–8) what is happening in our world. to cope or grow through the challenge. Blessings for a transformational “The divine permutation for the Additionally, I imagine that there are What helps us to grow? Faith and Tammuz. month is reversed. Tammuz can be a also challenges in our personal lives, gratitude is what helps us to transform. Melinda Ribner, L.C.S.W. is a spiritual time of reversals. We expect one thing to in our relationships and even within If we believe in God, if we talk to God, if psychotherapist and healer in private happen, but something totally different ourselves as well. Often what is we connect to God, we can find peace practice (www.kabbalahoftheheart.com). happens. As much as we may like to happening on the macro level is amidst chaos and strife, and we can She is a teacher of Jewish meditation and think we are in control of our lives, we reflected in the micro level. grow through challenges and become Kabbalah for over 25 years. Author of need to realize our limitations, let go and How do we grow through our happier and better people. Learning Kabbalah Month by Month, New Age invite God into our lives. This is one of challenges and tests? How do we Torah, reading psalms, personal and Judaism, and Everyday Kabbalah, she is also the deep teachings of this month. see God amidst all the turmoil? This is standard prayer, and meditation are each the founder and director of Beit Miriam “As hard as it may be, we must realize the question of the month. According essential. And sometimes we have to (www.Beitmiriam.org). She can be reached that whatever happens to us can be an to this month, the area to focus on simply let go of our struggle and our at [email protected]. June 16, 2010 NAT 5 study Judaism. I had no clue at the time of the paradisiacal next world were a where it would lead me, but my heart great selling point. Who knows? Jewish told me it was what I needed to do to Spoonful Christianity, in its formative years, live a more meaningful life. dropped most of those tough rules Educator I was sure that my parents, especially of Humor to encourage recruits. And maybe my father, would have a really hard time somebody – Paul-like in his zeal – said BY AMY HIRSHBERG LEDERMAN understanding this decision. I could hear BY TED ROBERTS we’ve cut those heavy requirements in their questions in my head even before this world, but maybe we need to add Honor Your Parents they asked them. Heaven, afterlife some bright lights for the next. Look at “Why would I give up a lucrative those daffodils. How exemplary. Every – and believe in legal career to study Judaism without I saw my first daffodil in April. First year they die – join the earthy Heartland any guarantee that it would amount to the green shoots exploring a newly from whence they came. But lo – here is them as well! anything? How could I walk away from bright world.Tentative at first, then a few spring and they live again. I don’t mean years of study and all the perks of being more. And evidently they decided it beat to be hypercritical; it was not only an America is big on holidays, especially a lawyer for something so amorphous? being buried in the dirt so they celebrated illustration in the Christian/Moslem those that relate to family members. Why couldn’t I just get a facelift or buy a with a golden blossom. Out of nothing brochure, but a sincere belief. One that There’s a holiday for mothers, a special day new car, like any other self-respecting burst a green fountain, then a miniature many Jews could also believe since it is for dads and a national grandparents’ woman having a mid-life crisis? What sunburst. not denied, but not underlined by Torah. day that usually includes a pancake would they tell their friends?” It reminded me of the midrash that “Dust thou art to dust returneth was not breakfast at preschool. But what inspires Truth be known, I struggled with says our G-d is one of rejuvenation. spoken of the soul.”So says Longfellow, these holidays is more than a positive- some of those questions myself but Nothing dies – only disappears from our but he’s not known as a Yeshiva student. earnings statement from Hallmark knew, deep down, that I had to make mortal view. I’m willing to bet a pastrami And Genesis, whose author made both Cards. The reason we honor our parents the change. I avoided telling them sandwich from the Carnegie Deli that the life and Longfellow, says the opposite – and grandparents is no great mystery: about my plans until one night I had a most frequent and difficult question asked thou shall revert to thy original dust due It is because they have given us life. terrible thought. of rabbis is: “Rabbi, do we believe in an to your disobedience. Remember Adam The Jewish tradition teaches that there Do I have to wait for my parents to die afterlife?” Not “is there an afterlife?” and Eve? Still, the optimist reflects on are three partners in the creation of a before I can live my life honestly? That’s a tough one, beyond human ken, that flower that blooms and dies, but human being: God, the father and the Writing it down now, I hate the but is such a belief part of our creed? lives to bloom again. And pays little heed mother. As parents, we are part of a holy question. Worse, I hate that I actually That’s the question to put to our rabbi. to me or Longfellow. Ask your rabbi. relationship with God as our co-parent. thought it. But worst of all, I hate what it Who knows? The daffodil escapes This idea can offer great comfort to suggested about our relationship: that I winter by hiding in the ground. But it is single parents who need not feel alone gave my parents so little credit and had …[a] midrash…says not dead. in their journey to raise a child. It also such little faith and trust in them, that I Mark Twain, a man who was implies that the way we treat our parents didn’t think they could handle my decision. our G-d is one of uncomfortable in church, mosque, or is a reflection of our relationship with God. The idea that I would have to wait until synagogue, has a humorous take on Simply put: When we love and honor my parents were gone before I could live rejuvenation. Nothing the subject. In “Letters from the Earth” our parents, we love and honor God. my life authentically plagued me. But it the devil, in a reconnoitering visit to Judaism is clear about the duties also catapulted me into a whole new dies – only disappears earth, writes home: children owe their parents. The fifth level of being. I realized that if I didn’t “You won’t believe these people,” he Commandment requires that we honor believe in my parents, I couldn’t expect from our mortal view. tells his Hellish minions. “They can’t our father and mother and Leviticus 19:3 them to believe in me. If I didn’t put my sing worth a darn and nobody plays the commands us to revere our mother and trust in their ability to respect my growth The Pharisees answered the question harp – but their heaven – their eternal father. The positive commandment to and need to change, I couldn’t trust my positively. But nowhere in the Humash paradise is full of bellowing harpists. honor requires us to provide food, own judgment when it came to making is there a clear declaration of such belief. That’s all they do.” Then he makes a shelter, clothing and the type of support the change. And if I didn’t respect Notice when his “stiff-necked”partners devilish point: “The thing they enjoy and care that our parents gave us when and honor them enough to tell them, in the covenant misbehave, their most in this world – the earthly joy we were young, especially as they age. I would never respect and honor myself celestial partner never talks of hellish they’re obsessed with, the gratification The commandment to revere our as an individual. punishment – or denial of heaven – that has cost them fortunes, empires, parents is one of restraint, and it forbids It’s true that they had certain concerns but talks of punishing succeeding reputations (not to mention marriages) us to disrespect, disgrace or degrade our about my choice at the time, but it’s also generations – as though that’s the only is never visualized in their dreams of the parents, especially in public. true that my father began sending me way of inflicting pain on them after their world to come.” Jewish wisdom offers an amazing articles from the New York Times about earthly departure. And the same with You know what he means. I must insight about the parent-child relationship. women who changed their careers mid- rewards for beneficial behavior: Your add that in my skimpy knowledge of While we are commanded to love God, life and lawyers who were leaving the descendants shall be blessed – not you, comparative religion, Islam corrected our neighbors and even the stranger profession in search of more meaningful after you have checked out. It is a fact this oversight with herds of virgins among us, nowhere in the Torah are we work. My relationship with my parents that resurrection of the dead is one of roaming the fleecy cloud meadows. commanded to love our parents. How became stronger and more real. My Maimonides 13 principles of faith. But Like I say, ask your rabbi – not of could that be? gift came from within: I no longer doubt the rational philosopher had his existence or nonexistence of the world Some teach that it is because loving a that their love for me is so fragile or detractors. Let’s just say it is not as to be. You don’t pay him enough for parent is assumed to be so natural that it conditional that it can’t sustain the truth strong a pillar of faith as in that kind of knowledge. But instead, ask need not be stated. But for some children, of who I am or what I may become. Mohammedism and Christianity. whether it’s a formal pillar of our creed – especially those who have suffered from Loving our parents is not commanded Of all the uncertainties that plague that’s the question. abuse, that is not the case. Because the in the Torah and neither is believing mankind – numero uno is, Do I get a Ted Roberts, a Rockower Award winner, Torah was given to us to “live by”and the in them. But when we believe in the second, third, or fourth chance to go is a syndicated Jewish columnist who looks commandments are meant for us to fulfill, capacity of our parents to understand around again on the Merry-Go-Round? at Jewish life with rare wit and insight. it is possible that we are not commanded our truths, we honor them as well. And oddly enough, every religion has a When he’s not writing, Ted worships at to love our parents because it might be Amy Hirshberg Lederman (www.amy solid no-nonsense, positive answer – Etz Chayim Synagogue in Huntsville, impossible for everyone to do. hirshberglederman.com) is an award- except one – Judaism. Christianity and Ala., where for 25 years he has served I am incredibly lucky. Both of my parents winning, nationally syndicated columnist, Mohammedism say “absolutely.” as bar mitzvah teacher. His inspiration is are still living, and I love them very much. author, Jewish educator, public speaker and Hinduism says sure, but maybe as a cow his patient wife, Shirley. Check out his But 16 years ago, when I was in the process attorney. Her new book One God, Many or perhaps a chicken. A cynical reply: Web site: www.wonderwordworks.com or of figuring out my life, I unconsciously Paths: Finding Meaning and Inspiration Maybe because the world’s two major blogsite: www.scribblerontheroof.typepad did something to dishonor them. in Jewish Teachings won the 2009 beliefs, Christianity and Mohammedism, .com. His collected works The Scribbler on At the age of 40, I realized that I wanted Arizona Book Publishing Association’s originated from Judaism and prized The Roof can be bought at Amazon.com or to give up the practice of law – to seriously Best Book Award on religion. Jewish converts. And alluring statements lulu.com/content/127641. NAT 6 June 16, 2010 Which is why kids play best in their different enough to require some serious private places, in vacant lots and alleys, in re-strategizing. Fun Coach hidden spaces between. I am suggesting So, now we have four versions of Second- something else, though. I am suggesting checkers: American, International, and, that you play where everybody can see on each, Give-away. Then there’s Pool hand blogs you playing. Throw a Frisbee. Jump a Checkers with its “flying kings.” Again, BY BERNIE DEKOVEN rope. Bat a ball. Skip stones. But do it in just like “regular”checkers. Played on an BY ED WEILAND public. Because as people see you at play, 8x8 board, etc. Except kings can move, Fun sustains us in witness the actual fun you are having, not just one space in any diagonal, but Today I have they are reminded that despite the anywhere along the diagonal, as long as difficult times profundity and pervasiveness of the there are no other checkers in their become a man! tragedy, there is still life to be lived, to be paths. This variation again transforms Dear Mr. Fun Coach, celebrated. If you feel like kicking a ball the game, again doubling the number of Oye! Oye! Oye! Joy, oh joy. Here’s my question: How do we keep around (who could blame you), and you different games we can call checkers. I’ve just turned 13. such an immense tragedy as the gulf oil discover you don’t have a ball to kick, or, And these eight games become 16 if you Do you know what that means? spill from taking too great of a toll on our for that matter, something to kick it at, consider playing on the 10x10 board. I’m a bar-mitzvah boy. I’m also a man! lives? All that damage to life and a way of make your own. Kick a can. Kick it at And then there’s the 12x12 board of I’ve got a date with God; I’ll do the life. All that outrage. another can. Make a whole miniature golf Canadian Checkers. Which makes for 32 Haftorah and a whole lot more. ~ V.A. Zmir course out of cans – big cans, little cans, different games. Pyramid Checkers, Family and friends will say, coffee cans, tuna fish cans, garbage cans. which can be played on any board with “How do you do? So, nu, what’s new?” Dear V.A.: Yes, we have every right to any of the above variations, begins with be deeply distressed. Yes, we need to the checkers set up like a, well, one I’ll reply.“Today I am a man, raise our voices, to be heard, to insist on If we take a moment, might say “pyramid.”Then there’s Turkish according to God’s plan. compensation and protection and the Checkers. Pieces are placed on the I’ll do all I can. I’ll work diligently righting of this great wrong. But we also even now, it is clear second and third, sixth and seventh to fulfill my destiny.” have every right to come together to rows, using every square in those rows “What will you be? A doctor? Lawyer? celebrate the inalienable joys of daily life. that those very joys, (black and red). And each of those can Ph.D.? A Chief of industry?” Even now. And if we take a moment, be played with the Give-Away variation, “Frankly, Sir, I don’t know. even now, it is clear that those very joys, even the simplest of or the flying kings. And that’s just checkers. But I might be a rabbi. That appeals to me.” even the simplest of them, are all that Even if you wind up playing solitaire truly sustain us, that bring us meaning, them, are all that truly with an old deck of cards – play it outside, “Let me tell you this, my son, that are the most imperiled. so that other people can actually see you your great adventure has just begun. Fun isn’t all we need. But it is sustain us, that bring playing. There are hundreds of solitaire something we always need. games you can play. And some of them What you finally become There’s a lot to be angry about, to be us meaning, that are you can play with others. may not to be some big success, worried about. There’s a lot of pain, The thing is, as bad as it all is, your not to earn ten million, more or less. misery, commiseration. But there are the most imperiled. having fun makes it worse. And you’re Do you know what God wants of you?” also the children, our children, for having fun makes it easier for everyone whom, basically, fun is life. Like the kids There’s a game called “Wicketball”that to deal with. “Tell me, sir, what does He want me to be?” in Haiti who made kites out of the Bob Zoller sells. He made these industrial So go. Play. In public. By yourself. With wreckage. Like the kids in Mozambique strength, giant wickets that you stick in your family, friends, neighbors. Play “A kind and loving family man, making a soccer ball out of rags, the ground (pound in, as a matter of fact, anything. Even though there’s no reason husband, father salvaged pieces of tape and a condom. with a sledge hammer). And a bunch of to. Play anyway. better than any child is entitled to, Granted, for adults, the world is a flags you can use to number each. You Bernie DeKoven is a Fun Coach. He to protect and earn the respect different place. For us, especially when make your course. And then hunt works with individuals and groups, of friend and foe our livelihood and or very lives are around for as many soccer balls as you institutions, organizations, by phone, and all you meet and all you know, threatened, choosing to have fun is can find (or make your own). And then email, chat, Skype and in person to help do not cheat or steal another’s wife, something like a political act. What you play it like croquet, if you want, or them recover the fun of life. Online at be good and true for all your life, will our neighbors think? What will the like golf, if you want that more, using http://deepfun.com. earn an honest living, fisherman whose fishing grounds are in your foot as a mallet or golf club.You can be generous in your giving, ruin because of an impenetrable play it on anything you can stick a Call/Write for Free Books but give not what your family needs. network of corporate greed and wicket into. On the grass, sand, on hills, Good deeds must start at home irresponsibility make of our game? How in the woods. And the fun, it gets so real We are 100% Judaism; not and be from the heart.’‘ will the insurance companies interpret you can actually touch it. disguised of any other science our insistence on playing, regardless? Or just take out a checker board and “God expects a lot from me. On the other hand, what would it hurt invite someone to play with you. If you Jack Botwin But I will try. I will try.” if they played, too? want, you can make your own checker Books by Morris Lichtenstein “Indeed, you will. But now let’s go, When there’s nothing else to do, board, and your own checkers (milk have a bite of this and that, nothing that you personally can do, bottle tops – turned over for the black FREE BOOK by hope we don’t get too fat. nothing immediate, nothing to keep the checkers, turned over again for the red). Hmmm. That lox looks good, oil away, the best thing you can do, for You can even make up your own checker Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein chopped liver, fish and cheese, bagels, too. yourself, for your community, is play, too. game. How about the one where, All so good!” Sing. Dance. Make kites and balls. Not instead of moving your checkers, you Applied Judaism “What should I do?”I say. all the time. But from time to time. flick them or hit them with a stick? There Jewish Science “Eat up my bar-mitzvah boy, Enjoy. Enjoy!” Because when you are playing, you are actually is such a game, by the way. It’s After nearly 50 years as a newspaper taking back your life.You are alive again. called Chapay. 11 AM Sunday • 109 E. 39 NYC reporter and editor, Weiland retired from Laughing. Engaging your mind and There’s Give-away Checkers, which, in All Welcome/Friendly/Free daily journalism and became the editor of a body, acting from the core of your French, is called something like “who Florida magazine. Now he has returned indomitable spirit. Not just surviving. wins loses.” Which, it turns out, is a full-time to his first love, poetry, and has Not merely enduring. But celebrating variation that you can use in any of the 12301 San Fernando Rd. #406 developed a unique new style of verse, which the gifts that are yours to claim. many other classic variations. For Sylmar, CA 91342 he calls Rhyme on Rhyme on Rhyme. He It’s not easy. O, it’s easy to play, all example, there’s International Checkers, has written nearly 1,000 verses on a wide right. It’s just not easy to let yourself which is played just like American (818) 367-4532 (24 Hr.) range of topics. Comments are welcomed, play. Especially not that easy to let checkers, except on a 10x10-square www.appliedjudaism.org especially from fellow bloggers. To read yourself be seen playing. checkerboard, which, it turns out, is just more, go to: wegads.blogspot.com. June 16, 2010 NAT 7 live in the shtetl and remember the walks with a cane, while sporting grey Jewish experience of the Holocaust, hair and an elderly-looking beard. Borns Jewish before the war, and after.” Canandian Noam passes by a building, with a sign Both professors speak Yiddish and that reads, “Ministry of Prisoners and Studies at IU Russian but not Ukrainian. At the start of Teen Missing.” Many believe that this part of the interviews, the team simply walks the video hints at Hamas’ plans to BY SARAH PELLEGRINO around town and into synagogues and BY SAMMY HUDES abduct more Israeli soldiers in the future. soup kitchens searching for those who The final part of the video shows the Preserving stories of still speak Yiddish. Unacceptable video aged Noam Shalit sitting at a bus station One of the poorest areas of Europe, the at the Erez border, as Israel and Hamas Jewish life during towns are often stricken with poverty, must translate into prepare for a prisoner swap. A van pulls sporting houses with thatched roofs, a up, opens automatically, and Gilad Shalit WW II in Ukraine wood floor and no indoor plumbing. support for Shalita is let out…in a coffin. As Noam screams Veidlinger said that every family is for his dear son, he appears to transform The library clears out, students pack hospitable and nearly every survivor What a surprise! Hamas has found a back into his younger self sitting on a up their books, and many go home to willing to talk about his or her experience. new way to promote hate, ignore chances bench and waking up from a bad dream. enjoy summer. What many students A graduate student that traveled with at creating peace, and exemplify just Suddenly all that is left on the screen don’t realize is their professors delve into the team last summer, Margot Valles, how tasteless of an organization it truly are the words “there is still hope”written research during the summer. One such jumped at the chance to be a part of is. Over a month ago, Hamas released an in Hebrew. project is the Archives of Historical AHEYM in 2008. She is a doctoral animated video, which warns of horrific Using this abomination of a video, and Ethnographic Yiddish Memories student in the Department of Comparative actions they are willing to take if Israel Hamas threatens to murder Gilad (AHEYM). A project in its eighth year, Literature at IU. Her current role in the does not trade thousands of terrorists in Shalit if the far-more humane Israeli two professors and a team of graduate project is translating the interviews that exchange for one innocent soldier, Gilad government takes too long to make a students travel to Ukraine on a quest to Veidlinger and Kerler collected from Shalit. Shalit was taken as a prisoner by trade for him. This ignores the offer find and preserve Eastern European Jewish Yiddish to English. Hamas on June 25, 2006. His last sign of made by Israel in December (with the testimonies of life before, during, and “Ukraine is a surprisingly beautiful life came on Sept. 14, 2009 when Hamas use of a German mediator), to exchange after World War II and the Holocaust. country. One day I was pointing out to released an actual video of him showing over a thousand terrorists for Gilad. The project is led by Professors Jeffrey Professor Veidlinger how each forest we his physical capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Veidlinger, director of the Borns Jewish passed was more gorgeous than the In the animation, rightly referred to the video as “yet Studies Program (BJSP) at Indiana next.” Valles wrote in an e-mail. “He which can be found another despicable action aimed to help University, and Dov-Ber Kerler, the reminded me, however, that almost on YouTube, a cartoon the Hamas leadership avoid making Dr. Alice Field Cohn Chair in Yiddish every one contains a mass grave. …It version of Gilad’s a decision regarding our offer for a Studies. It began in 2002 when the is something that really sums up the father, Noam is seen prisoner swap deal, which it has not professors were collaborating with experience; it is beautiful with horrifying walking around responded to for many months.”He also Dovid Katz, a linguist researching undertones.” holding a photo of noted that the animation reflected “the Yiddish dialects. They decided to extend Veidlinger also recalls a memorable his son. First, Noam true character of Hamas.” the research to cover Yiddish-speaking interview of a man from Bershad, walks past billboards Do not worry though. Founding Jews in Eastern Europe, interviewing Ukraine, who dug a hole into the ground containing the photos Gilad Shalit. member of Hamas, Mahmoud al-Zahar and taping the tales of 350 survivors with his family and hid there for months. of past and present noted that the childish cartoon “does not of the war. He went out at night to find food, political leaders; Ehud Olmert, Tzipi express the official position of the The interviews cover mostly individuals circling his tracks so others wouldn’t find Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu. On each Hamas movement…We have not and from the Ukraine but also in Romania, the hiding place. Unfortunately, one day billboard, there is a quotation of said will not kill captive Israeli soldiers. Our Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova. he returned to the dugout to find that his political leader, which promises the morals and our religion prevent us from Veidlinger, Kerler, and a graduate family had been killed. return of Gilad Shalit to Israel. doing that.”Yet the video contradicts Mr. student will be returning to Ukraine this After the war, many people had to Meanwhile, a voice-over of Gilad Zahar, as it clearly threatens that Shalit summer with another graduate student rebuild their lives. For the most part, the himself is heard in the background, will suffer the same fate as Ron Arad; accompanying them for the first time. elderly survivors are alone because their as he requests from Prime Minister likely killed at the hands of Hamas. “The goal of AHEYM is to on one children have grown up and left. Netanyahu to be returned to Israel. I, for one second, refuse to believe the hand interview people and hear how the “They are alone in some respect,”said Much of the voice-over is identical to word of Zahar. If Israel does not act fast, Yiddish language is spoken,” said Veidlinger. “Now they must rely upon what Shalit said in the video released Hamas will not be afraid to take the life Veidlinger.“The second is an oral history their neighbors…the same neighbors that this past September, however he does of the crimeless Gilad Shalit. Hamas goal – to understand how people still (see Pellegrino, page NAT 19) add some new material: “I regret that the knows very well that Israel will trade Israeli government and Israel Defense countless guilty prisoners for dead Forces are not concerned about my soldiers, just as they did in the 2008 cause…I have great faith that my prisoner swap with Hezbollah, in government will pay more attention to exchange for Ehud Goldwasser, z”l and me.” Shalit was obviously forced to say Eldad Regev, z”l. As Jews, it is our moral something so manipulative like that, yet and Halakhic responsibility to free our Hamas failed to realize that the Israelis brothers and sisters from captivity. would be able to figure it out. Nice Just as Prime Minister Netanyahu and try though! the Israeli government need to push The disgusting animation continues, relentlessly to return Gilad home to his as Noam walks toward a garbage can family, we must all show our support, as and picks up a newspaper out of it. The well. The cause to restore Gilad to his front page contains an advertisement home in Mitzpe Hila needs to be shown offering a $50 million reward for solidarity throughout the world, and not information about Gilad Shalit. This just in Israel. Spread the word of Hamas’ tactic mocks the $10 million reward that recent video. Send letters, emails and Israel once offered for information about petitions to the government. Make other the long-time missing Ron Arad, who is Jews and non-Jews aware of Gilad’s pictured in a similar advertisement situation. Do everything possible. It is directly beside the one for Gilad Shalit. time for Gilad Shalit to come back. After throwing the newspaper back in Sammy Hudes, 16, is the son of Nelson Veidlinger and Kerler conduct an interview in Bershad, Ukraine. Photo credit: the garbage, the cartoon figure of Noam and Myrna Hudes, and lives in Thornhill, Courtesy of Indiana University. Shalit has aged drastically. He now Ontario, Canada. NAT 8 June 16, 2010 bag. So, despite all the headline- suggestion that Jews in Israel go “home” Although she isn’t quite done, the hooplah, life was not engendered; it was to Poland and Germany. Presumably camera pans to her companion, a young An Observant manipulated. realizing just how honest she had man with a vacant expression and a Or in the words of Caltech geneticist inadvertently allowed herself to be, she baseball cap on sideways, who offers the Eye David Baltimore: “[Venter] has not decided to add “and America, and interviewer his own sage assessment. created life, only mimicked it.” everywhere else,” but what seemed to “The only reason Israel is doing this,” BY RABBI AVI SHAFRAN There is a miracle here but, to put it please her was clearly the prospect of he explains – though it’s not clear if he is starkly, it is being misidentified. The Jews returning to places associated with referring to the Gaza blockade or to Dirt marvel isn’t the scientists’ feat – which, their attempted genocide. existing – “is because they got kicked out Professor Fussenegger notes further, But the idea that Jews are somehow from, uh, the German… uh, whatever With all the hyped-up headlines, the represents “a technical advance, not a newcomers to the Middle East, that happened to them. So they’re trying to old joke practically insisted on being conceptual one” – but rather life itself, the shtetl, not the Judean desert (despite take out their anger to someone else.” dusted off. the wonder of a living cell. its name), is our natural habitat, is “What about the Bible?” asks the The one about the group of scientists The celebrated Jewish thinker Rabbi perniciously widespread even among interviewer. who inform G-d that His services are no E. E. Dessler (1892–1953) wrote that some politicians and pundits who “The Bible?” the young man repeats, longer needed, that their knowledge of there really is no inherent difference defend Israel uncompromisingly. While uncomprehending. the universe now allows them to run it between nature and what we call the those who harbor a bit of Helenism “You know,” explains the interviewer. just fine themselves, thank You. miraculous. We simply use the word (a new noun, inspired by Ms. Thomas) “Solomon? Uh, the Jewish presence in “Can you create life like I did?” asks “nature”for the miracles to which we are cast Jews in Jerusalem as criminal Israel in Biblical days?” the Creator. accustomed, and “miracles”for those we interlopers, there are also many The response: “I don’t know about “No problem,” they reply as they haven’t previously experienced. All there untouched by the virus of Jew- that.” confidently gather some dirt and fiddle is, in the end, is G-d’s will. resentment who tend to view the I’m sure he doesn’t. And, unfortunately, with the settings on their shiny When a sheep was first successfully Jewish presence in the Holy Land as it would seem that he’s hardly alone. biologocyclotron. cloned 14 years ago, we were all rightly a new development. They regard it as World leaders and editorialists who “Excuse Me,” interrupts the heavenly amazed too. But the more perceptive a sort of consolation prize for having speak and write as if the Jewish presence voice.“Get your own dirt.” among us realized that the source of the endured the Holocaust. in the Holy Land is some modern The breathless reports about J. Craig amazement was the coaxing of genetic Mere days before Ms. Thomas’ development, that the justification for Venter’s modestly named J. Craig Venter material to do precisely what it does self-revelation was publicly revealed, a Jews to live in Jerusalem emerged ex Institute’s recent biochemical feat all the time “naturally”: code for traits, similar sentiment to hers was captured nihilo from European crematoria, are, if weren’t just tabloid titillation either. The replicate and direct protein synthesis. on camera on the West Coast. Among better-intentioned, equally uninformed. respectable Christian Science Monitor Dolly’s production, to be sure, was a the many mass protests against Israel And the information they are missing is heralded the “creation” of the “first major accomplishment; myriad obstacles for having dared, in the recent flotilla truly central to the Israel-Palestinian synthetic life form.” The venerated had to be overcome, and a single set incident, to actually enforce its embargo conflict – and should be central to any journal Science referred to the crafting of of chromosomes, rather than the usual of a bad neighbor (which phrase discussion of the same. What they don’t a “synthetic cell.” At least Scientific pair from two parents, had to be presumably includes one who wishes to realize, or choose to gloss over, is that American remained sufficiently sober to convinced to do the job. But it was still, drive you into the sea) and against Israeli “Israel,” in the phrase “Land of Israel,” add a question mark after the phrase in the end, essentially a miracle soldiers who had the chutzpah to shoot refers not to a modern-day country but “Life From Scratch.” that takes place millions of times in at people who were trying to kill them to an ancient people. To be sure, the technological feat was hundreds of thousands of species each was a demonstration that took place on That Jews over the past century impressive, even astounding. Scientists and every day without capturing most Memorial Day near the Israeli Consulate haven’t come to the Holy Land. at the Institute constructed an entire people’s attention. in Los Angeles. A mob chanted angry, They have come back to it. genome (the chromosomes that code for And 40-odd years ago, heart menacing slogans in the cause of peace. © 2010 AM ECHAD RESOURCES the inheritable traits of an organism) transplants, too, were flabbergasting. A widely viewed newscast video of the Rabbi Shafran is director of public affairs of one bacterium from commercially But, at least to thoughtful men and demonstration made the rounds in sub- for Agudath Israel of America. manufactured units of DNA and women, they were never remotely as sequent days. It focused largely on a transplanted it into a cell of a different amazing as hearts. Jewish teenager who intrepidly walked bacterium that had been emptied of So we cheat ourselves if we let the alongside the unholy warriors, holding SUBSCRIBE TO its own genetic material. And the media focus our attention on what aloft an Israeli flag and calmly, eloquently Frankengerm began to function as if humans have accomplished here, and pointedly answering questions from it were a full-fledged member of the impressive though it is. The miracle is a reportorial voice off-camera. The Jewish first microbe’s family. Divine, even if its ubiquity usually keeps Whether one thinks the one-boy flag Some, including some who invoked it under our radars. battalion foolhardy or fantastic probably Post & Opinion religion, have objected to such biological Well, actually, there is something depends on whether one is or isn’t his Send to: tinkering. Whether there is any wondrous about what the scientists did parent. But it was hard not to smile at Jewish Post & Opinion authentically Jewish objection to genetic here too. Because what might be the the finger the teen metaphorically poked 1111 E. 54th St., Suite 119 transfer research, or if Jewish law greatest miracle of Creation is that, in the collective eye of the nearby mob. Indianapolis, IN 46220 prohibits Jews from engaging in it, are above and beyond all other life on earth, What I found most telling about the questions for halachic experts, not we humans have been granted the clip, though, were its final seconds, when Or Online at: me. But, as Biotechnology and astonishing ability to think and discover, two decidedly un-angelic Angelenos, www.jewishpostopinion.com Bioengineering Professor Martin to analyze and creatively utilize the rest part of the anti-Israel protest, appeared Fussenegger of Switzerland notes, of nature. What a wondrous gift. on camera to answer questions. I 3 years – $91 (SAVE $17) “chimeric organisms have long Like the dirt. First came a young woman, hatred I 2 years – $63 (SAVE $9) been created through breeding and, pouring from her eyes like oil from an more recently, through the transfer Right of Return out of control gusher. Asked if she I 1 year – #36 of native genomes into denucleated It’s always edifying when bigots who supported a “Palestinian state alongside (Outside USA, payment must be in target cells.” In other words, mules and have managed to elude full exposure for Israel,”she rebukes the questioner angrily, U.S. funds and you must add US$10.) tangelos and genetically modified foods years suddenly slip and appear in full wagging her finger and contorting her are nothing terribly new. ingloriousness. face into a mask of anger.“No! No! No!” Name The scale of the recent laboratory Helen Thomas didn’t even need the she protests furiously. “The Jews” – success, to be sure, was impressive. An alcohol that loosened Mel Gibson’s speaking the word like it is a disfiguring Address entire genome took up residence and tongue and bared his sorry soul a few disease – “can live in a Palestinian state!” City State Zip functioned in a host cell. But the host, all years back. All it took for her was an she exclaims. “There should not be an said and done (and hyped), was an unguarded moment and an enterprising Israeli state.” Then, imagining her E-mail us at: already-living cell, denuded though it blogger. But little doubt was left about perfect world, she declares emphatically: [email protected] was of its genetic material, not a plastic her own soul’s state by her sneering “An Israeli state does not even exist!” June 16, 2010 NAT 9 less religious. So that now, you have a population of over six million Jews, Freedom and gratitude Shipley overwhelmingly not Orthodox in any Wiener’s sense of the word.Yet, a small, powerful If you had read the front page story of Speaks minority holds sway over the law of Wisdom the SF Chronicle on Thursday, Dec 14, the land and indeed the entire future 2005, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had BY JIM SHIPLEY of Israel. BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. These Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox become entangled in a spider web of On changing hold power because of the political A friend to those crab traps and lines. She was weighted system of the State. You, my Uncle down by hundreds of pounds of traps the system Moishe and me can form a political party who need a friend that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. in Israel and with a few friends can make She also had hundreds of yards of line Most political systems fail after a a national list. In an election, we might Going through many books and rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her while. It could be within five years, even earn a seat in the Knesset. writings over the years, I am sometimes torso, and a line tugging in her mouth. a decade or even two centuries. But, The ultra-Orthodox, because they vote drawn to articles relating to the life of a A fisherman spotted her just east of the eventually, because of their own as a bloc, based on what the rabbis tell rabbi in a congregational setting. It is Farralone Islands (outside the Golden missteps, stupidity or fate, down them to do, elect members of the quite different than being a rabbi in an Gate) and radioed an environmental they come. Knesset. Currently, out of 120 seats, they educational environment or involved in group for help. Within a few hours, the The Holy Roman Empire lasted for hold just eleven. But, under the Israeli social service efforts such as I have been rescue team arrived and determined that over a thousand years. But then it never system, that is enough to bring down the most of my career. she was so bad off, the only way to save was Holy, completely Roman or an government if they so choose. It takes a certain kind of ability to her was to dive in and untangle her – a Empire. The Third Reich lasted less Their ruling religious party, Shas, cares commit to the daily tasks of caring and very dangerous proposition. One slap of than twelve. not one twit or toddle about relations sharing that is the hallmark of everyday the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked British politics just got a rude awakening with the U.S. The conditions of the commitments to a myriad of people with for hours with curved knives and with the appearance of a third party that Arab minority or most other things that differing views about religion and how eventually freed her. shook up a tradition that held for over affect daily life in the greater community these traditions, customs and laws are to When she was free, the divers say she 200 years. Here in the U.S., we do not affect them not. They want money. be observed, or not. To say that there are swam in what seemed like joyous circles. have a Bull Moose Party or a Ross Perot, They want money so that their minions times when issues arise that boggle the She then came back to each and every but we do have the Tea Party. Whatever do not have to work, to serve in the army imagination would not do justice to the diver, one at a time and nudged them, that is. or make any contribution to the growth actual involvement whether individually pushed them gently around – she Israel is an interesting case. The of the State. or collectively. thanked them. Some said it was the situation has been simmering for years. Their sole mission is to procreate, There really are no exceptions. In fact, most incredibly beautiful experience of Overshadowed by international security study Torah and remain in their it is even more difficult in a retirement their lives. The guy who cut the rope out concerns built around the false premise closed-off communities, dressing and community, given that many come from of her mouth says her eye was following of a Palestinian People, Israel is finally acting like they live in the ghettos of all walks of life and locations. Living in him the whole time, and he will never facing up to an internal problem that the Middle Ages. Under the present such a community brings together people ever be the same. could threaten to tear the Jewish State situation, majority rule means nothing. with differing understandings of faith The person who started sending this apart from within. The needs and the desires of the greater and observance. It is the blending of all news item around attached the follow- The Third Jewish Commonwealth population are thwarted. And that dear these factions that make it an interesting ing little homily to it as well. It seems was born based on the idea that since friends, is what brings empires and exercise to find common ground. appropriate, in view of the story above, no nation on Earth seemed to want nations down. Recently I read an article written by and how meaningful it was to those the Jews as a part of their society, and Israel needs a cleansing of the political Rabbi Josh Yuter, a traditional colleague involved, to leave it attached. since they did indeed have a historic system. Matter of fact, so do we. And who attempted to delineate the different May you, and all those you love, be so homeland, then that homeland should pretty much for the same reasons. When aspects of rabbinic performance. He blessed and fortunate – to be surround- be reborn. the incumbents fear for their jobs more writes that the greatest challenge a rabbi ed by people who will help you get The enduring philosophy at the time than they do for the welfare of the faces is distinguishing a balance between untangled from the things that are bind- identified a Jew based on the perception nation, we are in trouble. Israel is in need his professional life and his personal life. ing you. And, may you always know the of others. Were we a people? A religion? of change – so are we. Perhaps that is the most difficult thing joy of giving and receiving gratitude. A “race”? Who were the Jews? We had a In the case of Israel, it is too easy to get to do. We certainly are no different than language, but very few of us spoke it in on the ballot. All elections are national. the average person in that we look j i every day conversation. We had a land, Yes, it is a tiny country, but the needs and forward to the comfort and joy of home need of spiritual guidance: “We are off but foreign governments held it from the desires of the Negev are far different life and the ability to separate the duty now. Take two aspirins and call us Romans to the Caliphate to the Turks than those of Haifa or Tel Aviv. Most of professional from the personal. Most of in the morning.” Or have our phone and finally the Brits. the money being spent on the religious you, I am sure, have attempted to do this answered with a message that says, “If The Jews who came to Palestine in the parties to keep their yeshivas stocked in varying ways, but inevitably the two this is an emergency hang-up and dial 1800s were basically socialists from with young, nonproductive men and to seem to clash. We are hard pressed to 911.”Sound familiar? Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, get them to go along with the general consider our work and the release from What I am trying to impart is that barely co-mingling with the Jews from agenda would be better spent improving that tension as we settle in to the life of sometimes people perceive things that the Middle East who had been there for education for the Arab minority. a husband or father or mentor. don’t really exist. Sometimes we rabbis millennia. The Holocaust brought the Israel is a sensible nation. The U.S. Our instinct is to be friends with are used for convenience by people in first significant immigration to the land. is not. We want everything, but we everybody, because we want peace and order to promote themselves. Sometimes It was a forced immigration, but it do not want to pay for it. As Israel harmony to be the order of the day. we need to look deeper than the surface provided the lifeblood that became the turns more secular and capitalist, the Some people become closer friends and to really understand the rabbi’s role State of Israel. old guard of the ultra-religious and some a little distant. That is only natural. and how important it is for him to be So, Israel in 1948. The socialist elite the socialists must give way. It in no We cannot be close friends with everybody. available to everyone regardless of his or were secular. Many of the Holocaust way affects the core ideal of a Jewish Even in our home environment we are her station or likes and dislikes. survivors came from small shtetls in nation. But a democratic one, not closer to some of our children or grand- Rabbis normally do not toot their own Europe that were mostly religious a theocracy. children, not because we love one more horns and, in many cases, are reluctant communities. Likewise most of the Jim Shipley has had careers in broadcasting, than the other, but rather because we to even speak for themselves in order to 700,000 Sephardic Jews who came to distribution, advertising, and telecommu- gravitate to some more than others. It is not appear self-serving. That is probably the land in the 1950s. nications. He began his working life in the same with friends and neighbors. a flaw in the system, but it is there Times change. Much of the progeny of radio in Philadelphia. He has written his Rabbis also find themselves without nevertheless. In fact it reminds me of a the religious became more secular. Many JPO column for 20 years and is director of personal lives because of their dedication. famous writing in Midrash Rabbah: of the immigrants, specifically from the Trading Wise, an international trade and We cannot say to someone who calls in “They say to fruit trees: ‘Why do you U.S. (not counting Brooklyn) were also marketing company in Orlando, Fla. the middle of the night hurting and in (see Wiener, page NAT 19) NAT 10 June 16, 2010 While at a new immigrants’ fair, he I popped my head in to his table, and on the met Adam Mallerman, the owner of the The Israel Football League is an he graciously responded, sure. Seen internet radio station. amateur league of American-style When he came out of the dining room, “At Ulpan, every morning I would sit football with eight teams through- I said, you know, we’ve met before. Israel Scene with a bunch of guys at the bus stop and out Israel, Anglos and Israelis, 18 to When you were 12, you were on the Ed talk sports. One day my wife suggested I 40s. Some have played football in Sullivan television show and then BY SYBIL KAPLAN should see how to do something with it. high school or college. They have a Mr. Sullivan sent you and a group of I found Adam’s card and listened to his 10-game season from September to other Israel performers on a nationwide Immigrants co-host show and realized there was no sports, March, and play in the Kraft tour. You came to Kansas City, Mo., and so I called him and we talked about the Stadium, near the Jerusalem Hadassah and Young Judaea sponsored radio sports show idea of doing a sports talk show focused Central Bus Station. Bob Kraft, the evening. Mr. Perlman said he on North American sports,”said Andy. owner of the New England Patriots, remembered. from Jerusalem It was the week before the World is very involved and sponsored the I continued: Your mom spoke only Series, and Andy went to see Adam, put stadium where most of the games Yiddish and we found the mother of one Living in Israel brings together on the head phones in the studio to take place. This year’s champi- of our Young Judaeans, Hanaan Steinzig, people who might never have met, and listen, and they had a big discussion onship game was aired on a local spoke Yiddish and she sat next to your friendships often begin in some place as together. Adam liked the idea and TV sports channel, and next year mom and made her feel welcome at a conventional as an Ulpan (Hebrew thought Andy should have a co-host. Andy and Ari are hoping to do play special after-concert reception we all language class). Andy Gershman is 40 Andy started talking over the idea by play from the stadium, aired on attended. He said, he remembered. years old, married with two kids and with Ari Louis, born and raised in RustyMikeRadio.com. We then posed for photographs, and from Richmond,Va. Ari Louis is 27 years Phoenix, who had come to live in Israel he rode his scooter into the concert hall old, single and from Phoenix, Ariz. They in April 2008, where his mother and Cowboys; Tamar Katz, Israeli figure and up a ramp onto the stage, walked met in Ulpan and discovered a mutual brother were already living. To Andy’s skater; Roman Zaretzky, Israeli Olympic with crutches to the raised platform, love of sports talk. surprise, Ari had had a television show ice skater, sixth in the world; and Dana moved to a chair, adjusted his Since November 2009, they have co- at the age of 16, a live, call-in sports Jacobson, anchor for ESPN. microphone and proceeded to direct hosted a talk show on North American show in Tucson. He had received a BA in Interviews are live on air by phone. the rehearsal. Sports with a Jewish/Israeli flavor on religious studies from Arizona State “We usually get them through sending RustyMikeRadio.com, the only English- University in 2003 and had taken classes interview requests,”said Andy. speaking radio station in Israel reached in broadcasting. Now the program is aired from 8 to via the internet. The radio station is “We had discussed sports before,”said 10 p.m., Israel Daylight Time, on based in the offices of the Association of Andy; “it was like, let’s do this!”And so Wednesday night, and the co-hosts Americans and Canadians in Israel. the show was born in November. know their listeners are worldwide Andy was born and raised in They received a very positive response because they have heard from people Richmond,Va.; finished a B.S. in business from the Israel Football League, which all over the States, Korea, Germany, administration at Salem State College in became their core audience since the co- Russia and other places. Salem, Mass., and post baccalaureate in hosts have supported their league and To hear the show, which is seven hours human resource management at Virginia their players have supported the show. later than Eastern Daylight Time, type Commonwealth University. He lived in “The Israel Football League has in www.RustyMikeRadio.com, click on New England for about 10 years, working helped us get in with Israelis,”said Andy. listen live. as a retail store manager in athletic “It’s given us an Israeli audience we In addition to the show, Andy is sales footwear then at a department store then didn’t expect.” manager of RustyMikeRadio.com; Ari is back in Richmond, as a job transitions The second week they were on a master of ceremonies at the Off the coach in a female correctional facility. the radio, Yuri Foreman, the first Wall Comedy Club in Jerusalem. Sybil and Barry Kaplan with Itzhak Perlman. He and his wife, Aviva, a Jewish Jewish/Israeli to hold the WBA Super- “What we do is we’ve managed to educator, moved to Israel in August 2009 Welterweight world title in boxing, bring true American sports talk to Perlman Music Program in Jerusalem with their two sons, now ages 10 and 7; agreed to come on the show. From that Israel,”said Andy.“Our guests are willing The program is the fulfillment of a Aviva is getting a master’s degree in point on, the hosts have had a wide to come on our show and talk sports dream of Perlman’s wife, Toby, who was Jewish education in conjunction with the variety of guests including Jon Scheyer, when Israel is not so popular. A lot a violin student and who is founder and Hebrew College in Boston from the captain of the Duke University of them feel this is their way to give director of the Perlman Music Program in Pardes Institute, a postgraduate program basketball team; Alan Shlomo Veingrad, something to Israel.” Jerusalem. This has been a collaborative of Jewish learning. Super Bowl champion with the Dallas “We have listeners who can call in and effort for the past 16 years with the ask a question or chat on line and they Jerusalem Music Center of Mishkenot can also email us questions,”adds Ari. Sha’ananim. All participants in the “We know that there are people who program are 18 to 23 years of age; 20 are think of making aliyah, who have certain alumni of the Perlman Music Program little things that block their way,” says based in New York City and Shelter Ari. “One of these things is sports talk. Island, N.Y., and 22 are hand-selected It was part of our daily lives, so we’re string players from the Jerusalem taking away another excuse from people Academy of Music and Dance and not making aliyah!” the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University. Meeting Itzhak Perlman The 28-acre campus of the Perlman Pastor Al, our friend who is pastor of Music Program is located on Shelter Island, Jerusalem’s Baptist Church, has several N.Y., and offers year-round programs Christian music students as congregants including a six-week summer residency and they told him Itzhak Perlman, music school for youngsters 11 to 18 and maestro violinist, was in Jerusalem to 2.5-week workshops. The program also conduct concerts, and his rehearsals offers a winter 2-week residency in were open to the public at 20 NIS ($5.15) Sarasota, Fla. The Israel spring residency each, and would we like to attend. program is currently taking place May 19 It didn’t take us long to say yes, and to June 6 including concerts. we arrived at the YMCA around 6:30 for One of the unique aspects of the Ari Louis (front), Andy Gershman (back), in studio of RustyMikeRadio.com in the the 7 p.m. program. Al cited Mr. Perlman performances is that students rotate offices of the Jerusalem Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel. Photo by in the dining room and said, let’s ask seats with each movement so that they Barry Kaplan. him to pose for photographs. (see Kaplan/Israel, page NAT 19) June 16, 2010 NAT 11 A Jew Grows in Brooklyn Memoirs! Memoirs! More and more of Jewish us are turning to this genre, feeling the need to relive the past, the value of Theater catharsis. Moreover, we feel the need to share each other’s memories – to REVIEWED BY IRENE BACKALENICK indulge in both reading and writing – which is why this particular literary form A perfect fit – is crowding the book market. Mike Burstyn and the Folksbiene

Think Moliere. Think Dickens. Think Scrooge. Think Robin Hood. Think farce. Think Jewish humor. Think Broadway musicals. We are speaking of the current Mike Burstyn (center) and the ensemble in a scene from “The Adventures of show of The National Yiddish Theatre Hershele Ostropolyer.” Photo by: Michael Priest Photography. Folksbiene – appropriately called The Adventures of Hershele Ostropolyer. The thing of rags and tatters, one might say. the film will premiere June 22 at 9 p.m. show is now making its debut at the The clever Hershele tricks the miser in a on HBO Signature. Folksbiene’s new downtown Manhattan thousand ways – and ultimately all is Sher/Levi stands before the audience, home at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. well, as the miser reforms and the boy and a quiet man, peering through his This little gem of a musical is made to girl are joined in an elaborate wedding. eyeglasses. Speaking in a soft cultured order for its star Mike Burstyn. A perfect Along the way, the tale is peppered voice, he recounts each detail of the fit, as they once said in Fiddler on the with haunting old Yiddish tunes, sprightly horrors. His voice is rarely raised. It need Roof. Burstyn (playing a roving penniless dances, and an array of characters that not be. The facts speak for themselves. character who lives by his wits) sings, one might find in a shtetl. Under Reissa’s Step by step, the Germans dehumanize dances, and performs his way into our direction, there is never a false note. their prisoners – as they strip them of hearts. He is backed by a fine cast, Roger Hanna’s simple set of abstract their clothes, personal effects, body hair, particularly notable being I.W. Firestone designs and levels works beautifully, as and all dignity. They are worked brutally, as the town miser. In fact, every one and do Gail Cooper-Hecht’s costumes and starved, frozen, and treated to random everything in the show is a perfect fit – its Kiork Bookman’s lighting. cruelty and sudden deaths. Now one more memoir joins the pack. cast, staging, direction, music, and story. In all, a worthy effort by the But in the quiet, everyday details Levi This time it is an endearing little tale Top-notch talents have come together Folksbiene. Now in its 95th year, the makes it his story. We learn that long provided by musician/stand-up comic to make this happen. Eleanor Reissa venerable company still upholds its working days in ill-fitting wooden shoes Jake Ehrenreich. In some ways A Jew (performer, director, and former artistic standards and keeps Yiddish alive for us all. add to their agonies. We learn that Levi Grows in Brooklyn (published by Health director of the Folksbiene) has adapted, bonds with another Jewish Italian Communications, Inc.) is the typical directed and choreographed the Primo now on film, premieres on chemist – and both gain strength American tale – and certainly the typical piece (based on a play by Moyshe HBO television through mutual support. We learn that Jewish American tale. The child of Gershenson), while the company’s It all began with Primo Levi’s a civilian worker from Levi’s home town immigrants (who were also Holocaust artistic director Zalmen Mlotek serves as devastatingly brilliant account of his life (a non-Jewish bricklayer) secretly brings survivors), Ehrenreich recalls his early musical director/vocal arranger. The in Auschwitz. The young Italian Jewish him a daily bowl of soup. These two years in Brooklyn and in the Catskills, his musical score itself (a compendium chemist was arrested in 1943, somehow men, indeed, may have been responsible family crises, and his own coming-of-age. of Yiddish theater and folk songs) is surviving eleven months of hell until the for Levi’s survival – or so he believed. In the early years, most of all, little Jake compiled by musicologist Chana Mlotek. Russian troops chased out the Germans We hardly need go over the details of wanted to fit in. While his playmates The story is indeed familiar to those and liberated the camp. Most inmates life and death in Auschwitz, which by now bore such American names as Steven, who have followed classical theater had already died, either in camp or on are all too well known. But Levi makes it Gary, Joey, he was Yankel (named for his down through the years. A boy and girl the subsequent death march. But Levi, uniquely his own. And in the hands of a paternal grandfather). When children, long to marry, but they need a certain left behind because he was ill and in the brilliant performer, the story comes to playing out in the streets, were called ring. It was given to the would-be bride infirmary, miraculously lived. Out of 650 life – first on stage, and now on film. (see Backalenick, page NAT 19) by her bubbe long ago, but is now held by Italian Jews in his arriving group, Levi a rich, greedy miser. They have no was one of 22 who survived. money to retrieve the ring. But Hershele On returning to Italy after the War Ostropolyer appears on the scene – a (a journey that took months), Levi began to write a remarkable memoir, which ultimately became This Is a Man. One of the most vivid, significant eye-witness accounts to come out of the Holocaust, the book would ultimately reach around the world. The book inspired the noted British actor Antony Sher to adapt the material, turning it into a one-man show, which he called Primo. The solo piece would be acclaimed, first on the London stage and ultimately (in 2005) on Broadway, where it would win the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show. (L–R) Itzy Firestone as the miserly Reb And now we all have the opportunity, Kalmen and Mike Burstyn as the heroic by way of television, to experience Levi’s vagabond title character in “The own private Auschwitz. It is a classic, Adventures of Hershele Ostropolyer.” unforgettable piece. Now in documentary Photo by: Michael Priest Photography form (it is Antony Sher on a bare stage), Sir Antony Sher as Primo Levi in the HBO Film Primo. Photo credit: HBO / Kerry Brown. NAT 12 June 16, 2010 Republic, which shares the same island, accepted values. It would be adding but there was no time. disaster to disaster for those people in to the Jewish And what about the safety of the New York who make these sensitive Letters Editor America coal mines? decisions to not review the location. Freedom of the Press – The Post & And what about the oil spill in the This moment gives us the opportunity Opinion encourages readers to send letters. Gulf of Mexico? to talk about what separates Jews from All letters to the editor should be addressed BY HOWARD W. KARSH And what about the floods in Arabs and Muslims. In the 62 years since to The Jewish Post & Opinion, 1111 East Tennessee? the founding of the State of Israel, 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220, The days our I grew up on the premise of Future we have often found ourselves in two or by e-mail: jpostopinion@ gmail.com. Shock written by Alvin Toffler in the different conversations about the same bubbles burst 1970s, and our feeling that the world issue, and the likelihood that it will ever Dear Editor, was racing out of control. What about be different is punctuated by the clash of Enclosed is my autobiography Freeing You know that the world is accelerating now? How can we possibly assimilate all ideologies. Jews preach justice, and the the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other when it consistently makes yesterday of this information when these events Arabs that they live with and argue with Adventures of an Archaeology Outsider. irrelevant. I have been experiencing that follow each other so rapidly? are just as dedicated to the concept of Would you please forward this to lately in my writing about current Especially when we acknowledge that honor. Even on those rare occasions Morton Teicher? Thanks. events. I wanted to try to understand we are not in control of the process. Like when we seem close to understandings, I knew Gabe [Cohen] and loved him. I the lessons in the recent “Iceland- those of you who begin each day with the “oil and water” that had temporarily remember once I hired a limousine to Volcano-Travel Meltdown,” and before I the acknowledgement of G-d in our lives, looked like a single new entity separates, take him from Washington to Baltimore. could finish the column, there was a I have to take a series of very deep breaths and we are back to square one. (This was at a time when I editing “glitch” in the stock market, and that and reestablish my grounding that I am There are Arab Muslims, Arab Moment.) Gabe insisted on sitting in the “meltdown” seems to pale before what not in charge of the world, and all of the Christians, and Jews who lived their lives front seat with the driver. just happened. things that are happening are not the in Arab countries. The “Arab” prefix is Hershel Shanks, Editor of Biblical In that case, the volcano, thankfully, chaotic aftershocks from the “Big Bang.” more important in terms of ideology Archaeology Review. there were no reported deaths or In the short term, this does not mean than the faith they follow. Jews lived in injuries. We mostly suffered a blow to that I am immune to loss, either financial Arab countries, sometimes peacefully Dear Editor, our concept of our supremacy over or a sense of balance, but I am warmed and at other times not, but they I would love to agree with Dr. Miriam nature, and we didn’t like it. There were by that faith, that we will come to remained Jews. Zimmerman and I would be thrilled if I debates all over the world if the price of understand that there was an order in The inability of Jews to take Muslims am proven wrong. Go into a time safety was worth it. Can you imagine all of these happenings. seriously can be traced, in measure, to machine and come back 75 years from how narrowly we have come to view I love to ride roller coasters, even at our inability to understand their position today. The words of the Rav and myself the world? This is not to minimize the this advanced age, and it is a wonderful on justice, and therein their feeling will ring true. The Holocaust will be no disappointment, the inconvenience, and opportunity to bond with my grand- about life itself. more than a date in history and will have the monies lost, but should we be children who love to be scared. Before We hold life as being sacred, and yet, become a humanitarian genocide issue. arguing about what the best science the ride begins, I check to see that the we are exposed every day to scenes of Read my books Contemplating the suggested? There were many risk takers bars and buckles are in place, and then Muslims killing Muslims, and we just Holocaust and Theological and Halakhic who were very unhappy with being sit back to scream with my other riders, cannot come to an understanding of Reflections on the Holocaust. This theme conservative with life. All of that and to have a good time. how that seems outrageous to us and is discussed at length. discussion was a carefully taken picture There is no question that we are on a only regrettable to them. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg, of what has happened to all of us in our roller coaster, and the people who are in During the war between Iran and Iraq, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth-El in quest to be in absolute control. charge of explaining what is going on and both countries, in the name of their faith, Edison, N.J. And before I had the chance to assemble where it is heading are usually giving us were willing to throw everyone into all of the facts and the thoughts that their “best guesses,”but we need some- the battle, even if they were untrained Response from Zimmerman: Send went with them, there was this glitch in thing to hold on to until the ride stops. children, women, the aged and infirm. me a copy of your book(s) and I will be the market, and in just minutes, lives I hope there will be time to talk with Just the pictures and the accounts made happy to read and perhaps write a were changed forever. No one died, but you about the politics of safety regarding us doubt their saneness, and then, as review of one or both of them. all of the things we thought we knew to fuel, underground and in the sea, and now, the world at large, which is so Dr. Miriam L. Zimmerman, Professor about the science of investment came the real dilemmas we face to keep the critical of their treatment by Israel, Emerita, Notre Dame de Namur falling in on our heads. Along with 9/11 machinery of life going. I hope there will accepts the fact they murder each University. and the John F. Kennedy assassination, be time to talk about the numbers in other. They attack funerals, weddings, all of us with investments will know Haiti, and how we can help the Haitian pilgrimages, and all with some kind of where we were when the glitch caused people work their way out of suffering. I impunity. Jews are held to a higher j i the market to plunge. hope there will be time to talk about the standard, not only by the world, but It is hard for me to understand why We have yet to hear what affect it had, suffering in Tennessee, not only the by ourselves. the New York Planning Commission and if any, on the elections in England, or physical and financial, but the realization When Prime Minister Rabin was Mayor Bloomberg are so separated from how many people came to believe that that lives have been severely impacted, assassinated, there was a double the reality that seems so obvious. with the turmoil in Greece still growing, and that the response that was expected mourning, first, by his senseless murder, There is still a group of reactionary that Spain and Portugal were next, and has not materialized as of yet. and then, by the fact that it was at the Christians who show up at Military the whole common market seemed to be In the midst of the season of disasters, it hand of a Jew. The most difficult history Funerals blaming the deaths on the being tested. would seem that there is a natural limit to of the formation of Israel was when Jews nations’ attitudes toward homosexuality. Like many of the readers of this our ability to respond on a timely basis. were fighting, injuring and sometimes They stand across from the cemeteries column, I was fixed on my computer for killing other Jews for issues of power. invading the space of families who are the day-after-opening, looking to see if Doesn’t everyone feel the same way? We have already seen that the world burying their children. They are at the the whole thing made any sense. And Apparently not! has a stratified view of human suffering. wrong place at the wrong time, and because of the overwhelming event that The latest outcry-uproar in New York We want everyone to have the basic so are the funders of this mosque to touches me, rather than the many that City about the proposal to build a $100 necessities of life, but we can excuse the promote peace in the world. surround me, I find myself reacting to an million mosque just blocks from the 9/11 worst of the suffering if the victims are It is by any common sense, the wrong emotional priority list. disaster is another example that not black and poor. We cannot solve all of neighborhood at the wrong time. I wanted to write about Haiti. Did you everyone shares the same values. And the problems of the world, but in No lasting good will come to their know that before the recent earthquake even though the building project has ignoring what is obviously human work. You cannot bring pain to those disaster, there were 300,000 orphans in gained the early support of the New transgression and leaving our who mourn their dead. It is a violation of Haiti, and we can only assume that now York City Planning Board and Mayor conscience to groups like Amnesty the place where they died. the numbers have dramatically grown? Bloomberg, the road ahead will not be an International, we do a disservice to our Howard W. Karsh lives and writes How can that be? I wanted to look at the easy one.“Live and Let Live,”and “Turn claim to be children of the Almighty, a in Milwaukee, Wisc. His e-mail is population figures in the Dominican the Other Cheek” are not universally “Light Unto the Nations,”and so forth. [email protected]. June 16, 2010 NAT 13 between the “vast majority of the Jewish condemned European anti-Semitism in Khalidi had finished, that he was putting community” and the “hawkish Likud- no uncertain terms for the evils of the the entire State of Israel in the “occupation Media dominated pro-settlement” Jews who Holocaust and for all that led to the and settlements” category. And sure are “out of step”with the “community.” Holocaust, but also for Herzl’s Zionism. enough, the other speaker, John Watch But it is not so simple to set up criteria It was Western guilt over the Holocaust, Mearsheimer (one of the authors of the for “good” and “bad” Jews. Liberal Jews Khalidi contends, that led to the vicious tract, The Israel Lobby), stated BY RABBI ELLIOT B. GERTEL have noted the vehemence with which establishment of the Jewish State on the very clearly that Israel must disappear. Palestinians would exclude Jewish backs of the Palestinians. He wishes that The two speakers complemented one The latest rhetoric enclaves anywhere around them in the United States, the United Kingdom another like a tag team. whatever form. What about the Jewish and other Western countries had been Any hope of objectivity on in Israel bashing community’s (and the world’s, beginning willing to provide refuge for the Jews, Mearsheimer’s part was dispelled by with the Clinton Administration’s) so that European Jews would not his opening comment that it was an On May 14 the University of Chicago growing awareness since 2000 that the have joined the longstanding Jewish honor “to be here to commemorate the chapter of Students for Justice in Palestinians have preferred to act out community in Palestine. tragedy of the nakba, which happened Palestine offered a forum spotlighting with violence rather than develop the To Khalidi, the partition of Palestine in 62 years ago.”Mearsheimer played hatchet Rashid Khalidi and John Mearsheimer to infrastructure for at least a start-up 1948 was a “belated attempt to rectify at man to Khalidi’s “moderate”reflections. commemorate Nakba (“Disaster”) Day, state? Khalidi actually concluded his the expense of Palestinians what Europe Mearsheimer believes that “Israelis the end of the British Mandate on May talk by declaring Palestinian violence to had done in the Holocaust.” Yet he have few qualms about killing 15, 1948. The program had the rather be counterproductive. conveniently neglected to mention that Palestinians,” and that the “nakba,” unfelicitous title, “The Nakba and the the Palestinians allied themselves with which he sees as continuing, is one of Future of Palestine.” Jews observe the the Nazis during World War II. If there is the major crimes against humanity. He anniversary as Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel Khalidi contended that… a shocking growing literature about the reinforced Khalidi’s “revelation” that the Independence Day, on the Hebrew date 1930s and 1940s, it is not in the under- Israelis have been inventing stories since of 6 Iyar. In recent years especially, “scientific propaganda,” standable efforts of Zionist to make a 1948 to cover up their “crimes”and to Palestinians observe the English date public relations case (which largely blame the true victims. He does not with Israel-bashing. I felt obligated to …[like the funding of] failed, by the way), but in the extent mention, of course, that Palestinians attend in order to hear first hand the of collusion between the Palestinians have grown in population, education current anti-Israel rhetoric. Though the Zionist novelist, Leon Uris, and the Hitler regime. In fact, certain and health under Israeli “occupation”– event was not greatly publicized, there documents reveal that the mufti was one except to state repeatedly that their was a large audience of people of all faiths. to write, Exodus,… of the first to know about Hitler’s death growing numbers will spell the end of Khalidi opened the program. He brought camps, and of the first to refuse to intervene. the Jewish State, while all the while a somber mood to what he regards as the romanticized the Zionist The partition was not at the “expense” accusing Jews of “ethnic cleansing.” most somber of days. No one observed of the Palestinians. It was an amazingly Indeed, I sensed in Mearsheimer’s that the loosening of the British hold cause and led to disregard generous and fair offer to provide for an presentation an assertion that the State was the only prayer for a Palestinian Arab state alongside a Jewish State (built of Israel was born in a kind of original state as well as for a Jewish State, though of Palestinian concerns. upon a significant base of continued sin that can only repeat itself. If I heard Khalidi came close to admitting that an Jewish life in Palestine, to the extent that Mearsheimer correctly, he said that opportunity came to the Palestinians and Khalidi put much blame on the Jews were the ones called “Palestinians”) Israel was born as an “apartheid state” was forfeited by them. His arguments motion picture, Exodus, and the late Paul despite the efforts of those who were to because it was sanctioned by partition, were a reflection on the tenor of Newman for many of the Palestinians’ call themselves the Palestinians to and that it can only be an apartheid state contemporary academic discourse. woes. Indeed, Khalidi objected to any undermine the Allies in the Middle East. until the partition is removed. He He declared that supporters of Israel, pollster or PR person who wrote up These Nazi supporters, whose anti- “kindly” (disingenuously?) “conceded” mainly Jews, succeeded in suppressing talking points to defend the State of Semitism and anti-Americanism already that a two-state solution might be the best the Palestinian side of things by Israel. He did not mention that this has rivaled European bigotry, would never alternative, but that because the Zionists blackballing and blacklisting all who been necessary because of the tremendous have had a chance for a state of their never allowed for a Palestinian state in would tell it as “anti-Semites.” He choke hold that the Arab oil industry own had it not been for the partition the first place, they will never be able to contended that the rightness of the had over many United States politicians and for the events of May 15. Khalidi deal with one. He further declared that Palestinian cause was subverted by and citizens. To Khalidi, Jewish lobbyists, did not excuse their failure to establish no United States government could ever “scientific propaganda,” namely, by the such as AIPAC, are the bullies and the their state then and there, though he pressure Israel to make the necessary public relations industry as founded by purveyors of the “same canned lies”that rationalizes that “collusions” between sacrifices to have a viable Palestinian clever Jews like Edward Gottlieb. Khalidi “indoctrinate”a “not very knowledgeable” Israelis and Hashemites and between state because of the undue influence of observed that it was Gottlieb who public, along with Israeli tour guides. Jordanians and the British exacerbated the “Israel lobby.” funded a young Zionist novelist, Leon Khalidi finds hope in growing Arab disunity and “Palestinian errors.” I wondered if it was his purpose to Uris, to write a novel, Exodus, which recognition by Americans and by Jews Khalidi finds hope in every Western nullify whatever hopeful comments romanticized the Zionist cause and led worldwide that the Palestinians are a condemnation of Israel’s responses to Khalidi made about the future. If Khalidi to disregard of Palestinian concerns. people “entitled to national rights.”Yet aggression from Beirut, Gaza and other expressed hope in youth (including Khalidi insinuated that it was hard to he admitted that the Palestinians did places, and in books now being Jewish youth and Israeli youth in pin such subversion on Gottlieb and that not consider themselves a people until published that are highly critical of particular) in dismantling “unjust one has to be quite adept at Internet the early 20th century, but rather as Israel. He has confidence that “young structures,” Mearsheimer concluded by research to find “the memos.” Yet one a “construct” of “preexisting elements.” people,” Jewish as well as Gentile, will saying that Jewish youth would never need only to have watched the opening Like the Zionists, he said, the Palestinians provide a “sea change” in opinion accept a state dominated by Palestinians, episodes of the AMC television series, built an identity that consolidated under regarding the relative merits of the though “most Palestinians” want a Mad Men, to have found an account of “hardship.” He was quick to observe, Palestinian and Israeli causes. He insists democratic binational state. the young Jewish State’s efforts to find a however, that this was “not simply” that the Palestinians now realize that So Mearsheimer is now completing public relations agency for tourism, a in response to Zionism, but also in “violence does not work against that Khalidi’s arguments by saying that Jews major concern for Israel then as now. response to Arab and Syrian nationalism. enemy.” (Would violence work against are not entitled to their state because of The irony, of course, is that most Jews I would add that when the Palestinians an enemy less demonized?) He declares where it is (in Israel), and that they do do not think that Israel does a very good were under Egyptian and Jordanian that “the handwriting is on the wall” not deserve a Palestinian state next to job at public relations, and that the domination before May 15, 1948, any against occupation and settlements and them because they have the state that media are, in general, not kind to Israel. talk of “identity”on their part would have against Israel’s history of “artifice and they have. I would point out that And how is it not anti-Semitic to suggest been severely punished by those regimes cunning.” He concluded by saying that most Jews have been critical of fellow that the by-product of an entire industry who considered them “from Damascus.” it is up to Israelis and Palestinians to Jews who have suggested that the built by Jews a plot to suppress the truth Khalidi’s main thesis is that the dismantle the “unjust structure.” Palestinians are unready for a state about what happened to the Palestinians? Palestinians, not the Israelis, have been I wondered what he meant by “unjust and should not have one, based on Sure, Khalidi is careful to distinguish the true victims of the conflict. He structure.” It seemed to me, by the time (see Gertel, page NAT 19) NAT 14 June 16, 2010 “In recognition of his prolific career as a composer of both secular and sacred As I music…. The Cantors Assembly, The Roads assembled on the occasion of its Sixty- Heard It Third Annual Convention presents its from Babel most prestigious Kavod Award to Dr. BY MORTON GOLD Morton Gold. We wish Dr. and Mrs. BY SETH BEN-MORDECAI Gold, their children and grandchildren, Prestigious continued joy and good health in a Say what? world at peace.” As if all this were not Kavod Award enough, the entire audience then sang My last column noted that people “L’Shanah Haba’ah”from my Haggadah. tend to pronounce a vowel longer if it Normally I would devote this column Friends, it could not have been any occurs in an “open syllable”(a syllable either to a review of a CD or to let my better than this. And as it appears in my that ends in a vowel) and shorter if the readers know what I think about one “Oseh Shalom,”let us say Amen. vowel occurs in a “closed syllable” (a thing or another somehow related to syllable that ends in a consonant). In Judaism.This time I simply want to share CD of quality and musical excellence English, this tendency has many the warm and fuzzy and often emotional I just had the fargenign (great joy) of confusing exceptions. But in Biblical feelings that occurred when I was listening to the CD Cantor David Hebrew, this tendency was a firm rule the recipient of the Kavod Award Dr. and Mrs. Morton Gold with Kavod award. Lefkowitz: Legacy. This recording has with exceptions that are sensible and given to me by the Cantors Assembly been proudly produced in honor of predictable. A later column will discuss (Conservative) of North America at their of Ms. Rosensweig. The experience as Cantor David Lefkowitz’ 33 years of what the exceptions teach us about the annual convention in New York City on well as the musicality of the hazzanim in commitment to excellence in cantorial development of Hebrew. May 3 this year. the choral ensemble, in the last analysis, music at Park Avenue Synagogue (NY). My last column also noted that a It is reasonable to ask why I hadn’t made it all possible. Hazzan Lefkowitz has been blessed with qamatz (a T-shaped mark beneath a written about this event any sooner, The program consisted of the following: a beautiful lyric tenor voice, which he letter) denotes an “ah”sound in an open and my reply would be that it simply was Psalm 100 (1979), a chorus from the has used with superb musicianship and syllable, and a patach (a dash beneath a too soon. Prior to the award, a concert oratorio “Songs of Praise”; Psalm 23 unerring accuracy. letter) denotes an “ah”sound in a closed of my music was given (The Best of (1978) with Hazzan Rebecca Carmi, I count myself syllable. Because a qamatz occurs in Morton Gold) by a chorus comprised of soloist; Psalm 150, a chorus from “Songs fortunate that he open syllables, we know that “ ” Hazzanim, conducted by Hazzan Sheldon of Praise”; Amar Rabbi Elazar, a solo was the soloist in must be pronounced “ya-le-DA” (she Levin (New Jersey) accompanied by from “Havdalah” (1976) performed by my oratorio “Days of gave birth). And because patach occurs Ms. Joyce Rosensweig (NY City). The Hazzan Benjamin Maissner (Toronto, Joy,” which was in closed syllables, we know that chair of the concert was Hazzan Chaim Canada); “Jerusalem,”a chorus from the commissioned and “ ”must be “yal-DA”(a girl). Najman (Southfield, Mich.) who said so oratorio “Not So Wild a Dream (1986) performed by the In addition to the difference in the many nice things about me that I with Cantor Marina Shemesh as soloist; Youth Chorale of Cantor David length of qamatz and patach, the two also quipped that this was the nicest funeral “Mighty God”a chorus from the oratorio Dayton, Ohio, under Lefkowitz differ in sound quality. Essentially, service that one could wish for! “Haggadah”(1973) with Hazzan Murray the direction of qamatz is the sound “a” as in “father,” One could hardly quarrel about the Simon (Princeton, NJ) as soloist; “David another celebrated cantor, Jerome Kopmar. while patach is the sound “a” as in merits of the compositions selected for Melekh Yisrael”a chorus from the oratorio In this CD, Lefkowitz has selected “what.” Disregarding the spelling, the the concert. There were many other “Havdalah”(1976) with Hazzan Raphael excerpts from CDs recorded from 1976 “ah” sound of patach is identical to the works that I would have liked to have Frieder (Long Island, NY) as soloist; and to 2004. One would be hard pressed to vowel sound in “what,”“shut” and “but” been included, but I was keenly aware of “Oseh Shalom” (1999) a work for tell which was recorded earlier and and is different from the vowel sound in the limitations both of performance time Chorus with Hazzan Arianne Brown which later just by listening to the tracks. “father.” The difference between the as well as rehearsal time. As a critic, as well (Los Angeles, Calif.) as soloist. The range of composers, styles and vowel sounds of “father” and “what” as the composer, I was truly fortunate I could not help but be deeply moved genres is incredible running the gamut results from the fact that the jaw and that the performances were as good as by the ovation given me by an audience from Sulzer to Kurt Weill, from tongue are in a lower position for “a”in they were. of Hazzanim. The best, however was yet Novakowsky to the cantor’s father, Jacob “father” and a higher position for “a”in The credit for this must go chiefly to to come. Cantor Najman went to the who was also a distinguished hazzan. “what.”Returning to the example above, the conductor Hazzan Levin and also to microphone, asked me to join him and Lefkowitz (and the rest of us) were “she gave birth” would be pronounced the astute and sensitive accompaniment read from the award scroll the following: fortunate that he had other gifted artists “ya-le-DA,” while “a girl” would be associated with him over the years, pronounced “yul-DA.” namely Neil Robinson, organist and Using this distinction eliminates the Abraham Kaplan who frequently long slack-jawed “a” sound common to conducted the superb mixed choir at American Hebrew accents. Knowing the Park Avenue Synagogue. I wish to distinction also eliminates confusion digress only to stress that his was and between pairs of words whose only remains a Conservative synagogue. distinction is that one uses a qamatz The use of an organist and mixed choir and the other a patach, as shown in the was and should be considered a normal earlier example. and usual part of the musical apparatus An example of words that are nearly in a Conservative synagogue. Since we identical except for qamatz/patach is now live in religiously regressive times “ ” (thief) and “ ” (he stole). The (in my opinion), there are many who do first word in the pair has a dagesh – a dot not agree with this state of affairs. It is my – in the letter nun. As noted in an earlier belief that these (perhaps) well-meaning column, the dagesh tells us that the nun folk are musically unsophisticated and should be pronounced as two nuns, back unknowledgeable. If they are unhappy to back (e.g., “unnamed” versus with the beauty and religiosity of this “unaimed”). Thus, in the Hebrew word music, that is their problem. My problem for “thief,” the first syllable is closed, is that they have as much sympathy and spelled with a patach, and pronounced empathy with music as the mullahs in “gun.”In other words,“gun-NAV”means Concert of Dr. Morton Gold's music for Kavod award performed by a chorus comprised Baghdad who have outlawed outright “a thief.” By contrast, in the Hebrew of Hazzanim, conducted by Hazzan Sheldon Levin (New Jersey) accompanied by the teaching of music. word for “he stole,” the first syllable is Ms. Joyce Rosensweig (NY City). Photo credit: Tsvi Gold, Morton's son. (see Gold, page NAT 19) (see Ben-Mordecai, page NAT 19) June 16, 2010 NAT 15 what had been an interesting but gaze on becoming the titular head of the the official successor to the previous marginal group in Judaism’s wide Lubavitcher movement? Lubavitcher Rebbe. But Schneerson Book denominational spectrum, into a driving The answers to this question are was astute enough to understand that it and dynamic international presence. perhaps the only architectural fault in was going to be necessary to win over Review That genius, the authors explain, was this otherwise brilliant study. Although everyone, and to this end, he honed his expressed in various practical ethical Heilman-Friedman concede that the diplomatic skills by paying tribute to his REVIEWED BY ARNOLD AGES modalities – the mitzvah mobiles, the Rebbe continued his learning exercises predecessor in public and visiting his kindness campaigns, the distribution in Torah, Talmud, Kabala and virtually gravesite on a regular basis to “consult” One of the most of dollar bills for charity and the all the other disciplines attached to with him. important religious revolutionary use of videos. Hassidic lore while he was in Europe Within a few years the new Rebbe The authors suggest that even the and America, his main goal was to had basically consolidated his hold on figures of the 20th innovative administrative structures as obtain a professional position in his the position, and he had only one real seen in the explosion of the corps of chosen field as an engineer. opponent – the wife of the last Rebbe – century shluchim (emissaries) dispatched by the However, according to the authors, who expressed her disfavour by refusing Rebbe all over the world was part of that his rudimentary knowledge of English to hand over her husband’s iconic The Rebbe: The Life and Afterlife of brilliant strategy, even though it might and the challenges of an entirely new streimel to Schneerson. Instead of Menachem Mendel Schneerson. By have piggy backed on the idea of the environment in the united States made confronting the revered wife of his Samuel Heilman and Menachem peace corps that President Kennedy him realize that the engineering predecessor, Schneerson merely decreed Friedman. Princeton University Press. inaugurated in the early 1960s. But profession was not going to be his that henceforth the black fedora was to 343 Pages. perhaps the Rebbe’s most potent calling and that his “default” position, be the formal headgear of the It was the instrument in revitalizing the Lubavitch if one might characterize it as such, Lubavitcher, thereby disarming and French scholar movement on his ascension to leadership was to go after the mantle of the defusing any potential strife. Ernst Renan who in 1950 was his determination to make Lubavitch movement. In this detailed account of the Rebbe’s once said that his habitat in Brooklyn a Mecca from rise and his powerful direction to his the best person which he would not move, no matter followers in the fields of education, to write about what the reason. [The authors] suggest outreach, public policy, attitudes toward religion is the The astounding success of Menachem the State of Israel, the authors cover individual who Mendel Schneerson is all the more that the incredible all the bases with intimidating “once believed stunning when one takes into successes that the Rebbe thoroughness. By the end of his life, and no longer consideration the fact that although he his influence had become so strong does.” For Renan was a lineal descendant of a former achieved…in so many that Israeli officials would often make that was the only Rebbe, he was merely the son-in-law pilgrimages to his headquarters to kind of person of the incumbent sixth Lubavitcher domains were factored… consult with the Rebbe (who single- who could bring the requisite objectivity Rebbe and – that there was another handedly reversed Chabad’s previous to the subject matter. strong contender for the position when into his belief that he anti-Zionism) and receive advice Renan’s dictum requires some fine Rabbi Joseph Yitzhak passed away at the from him. tuning in the face of the extraordinary mid point of the 20th century. had been favored by the The most delicate part of the biography of the Lubavitcher Rebbe As Heilman-Friedman tell it, the Heilman-Friedman essay pivots on the executed by Samuel Heilman and claimant had never gone to a Lubavitcher divine to be the Messiah. Rebbe’s messianic aspirations, and the Menachem Friedman, two sociologists Yeshiva and had spent his early years in authors perform yeoman’s work in who have cooperated in an exacting Russia, Berlin and Paris pursuing his Whether that interpretation is exploring every aspect of this issue. study of one of the most important studies in mathematics and engineering legitimate is contestable, but the Rather than cursorily dismiss this aspect religious figures of the 20th century. and even in those disciplines had compiled authors’ description of the way in which of the Rebbe’s career, the authors deal (Having read other works by Heilman only an average academic profile. Menachem Mendel Schneerson began with it very carefully. One of the avenues this reviewer surmises that while the Moreover, much of his time in Europe to lobby for the coveted Rebbe’s role they explore is very fruitful. co-authors divided the research chores, had been spent in trying to establish after the death of his predecessor is They suggest that the incredible Heilman’s writing skills are clearly citizenship in Germany and France, magisterial and leavened with attention successes that the Rebbe achieved visible in the finished work.) and bona fide academic credentials, to what Flaubert once called the “little (and those successes are numbered in Be that as it may, both have brought to which inevitably, because of political significant detail.” People outside the extravagant detail) in so many domains this volume an amalgam of scholarly developments, were beyond his grasp. Lubavitcher jurisdictions will be were factored, perhaps misguidedly but discipline, encyclopaedic knowledge and One of the remarkable feats exhibited surprised to learn that that in 1950, sincerely into his belief that he had been a respect for the sancta of Judaism as by the authors is that they actually another candidate was favored to win the favored by the divine to be the Messiah. they have been incorporated into the obtained the transcripts of the Rebbe’s cherished crown.The deceased Rebbe had He and a coterie of close followers special élan of the Lubavitch movement academic work in Paris and reveal them two sons-in-law, and most observers interpreted his miraculous recovery from and its most recent leader Rabbi in the book, detailing his frequent were certain that Shmaryahu Gourary, a a massive heart attack as evidence of his Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Renan’s absences from class and rather long time confident of Joseph Yitzhak, selection. Even the massive stroke, view must give way to a more nuanced undistinguished marks in certain courses. would win out in any competition. which ended his life at age 92, did interpretation in the case of this work Given the political turmoil in the early The competition in question began not diminish the fervor of belief among because Heilman-Friedman are believers 1940s with Nazism about to explode, it is subtly during the shiva for the deceased his disciples. who are nonetheless able to mount a not surprising that this might have Rebbe when Menachem and Shmaryahu The Rebbe passed away in 1994, but critical objectivity in their appraisal both affected both his attendance and his engaged in subtle rivalries as they 16 years later his legacy lives on. The of the movement and its late leader. academic progress. delivered divrei Torah and sichot lustre has somewhat dissipated, and They deploy this approach in a narrative It is the authors’ contention that both (conversations on pious themes). The Heilman-Friedman conclude their study that is extraordinarily smooth in its literary in Europe and New York, where he crucial “informal” examination occurred by asking some penetrating questions style and transform what could have finally found respite from a Europe being when Menachem Mendel was urged, about whether the momentum can be been a dry and jargon-ridden sociological overrun by the Nazis, the Rebbe-to-be during one of his sichot, to present sustained.Their intellectual labor stands, foray into a highly readable and intended to spend his life as a “Hassidus,”that is to say, a presentation however, as a monument of solid occasionally even gripping exploration professional engineer and in fact did that goes beyond conventional pieties research and writing about another of the inner workings and theological some work at the Brooklyn naval yards to explore cabbalistic themes. Those monument whose influence still complications that have animated the in the pursuit of this endeavour. The present were apparently stunned by resounds in the 21th century. Lubavitcher “empire”in the recent past. question then is why within five years of Schneerson’s erudition and mastery of Arnold Ages is distinguished emeritus The word “empire”being used here is a war’s end and the death of the sixth the sources in addition to his wonderful professor of French language and literature, tribute to the accomplishments of the Rebbe, Menachem Schneerson suddenly competence in delivery skills. University of Waterloo, and scholar-in- seventh Rebbe, Menachem Mendel, turns from a search for a livelihood in It did not take long for Schneerson residence at Beth Tzedec Synagogue in whose religious genius transformed the professions and concentrates his to displace his rival and to become Toronto, Ontario. NAT 16 June 16, 2010 and his setbacks. He discusses the American army although his wife was never forget what happened so as to physicians who treated him, especially confined in a California “relocation prevent such “a cruel time” from Book Reviews Dr. John Healey, head of orthopedic camp.” Arthur had married Ursula, his recurring. This book is a monument to surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering German-born wife, and they eventually her tenacity and that of other Holocaust REVIEWED BY MORTON I. TEICHER Hospital in New York, who was the chief settled in Dane, Wis., where they operate survivors. We dare not tire of reading doctor. He expressed the view that “this the publishing company, Fort Dane these powerful testimonies! Inspiring evidence is a war, and I intend to win it.” Books. Eva was not only attracted by that people can In addition to the letters and the the story that Arthur told but also descriptions of each member of The recognized Ursula’s German accent. This Mixes hilarity and confront calamity Council of Dads, the book includes led her to ask them to write about her tragedy in equal chapters that deal with the ongoing experiences, which they agreed to do The Council of Dads. By Bruce Feiler. interactions of Bruce, Linda, and their and this book is the result. In order to proportions New York: William Morrow, 2010. 241 daughters. These poignant accounts of bring the story to life, the Rathburns Pages. $22.99. Bruce’s ups and downs and their impact decided to present it in the first person Peep Show. By Joshua Braff. Chapel Hill: Outstanding achievers in their on his wife and the twins bring to life the even though they are the authors, using Algonquin Press, 2010. 272 Pages. 13.95. separate endeavors, Bruce Feiler and his pain – and the humor – of the “lost year.” Eva’s recollections, supplemented by Joshua Braff’s debut novel in 2004, The wife, Linda Rottenberg, were enjoying They conclude with a triumphant story their own research. Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green, was their successes of how the family walked across the The result of this combined effort is a well received. Returning to the topic of and their three- Brooklyn Bridge. Finally, the book ends gripping narrative that forcefully the dysfunctional family, which was fea- year-old twin with an especially touching letter from describes how Eva and her husband, tured in his first book, Braff has now daughters when Bruce to the twins, which he hopes they Martin, took off their Jewish stars and, written another account of a family in their lives were won’t read “for a long, long time,” in against great odds with constant peril, trouble, successfully mixing hilarity and greatly upset. which he tells about his illness and hid their identity and lived through the tragedy in equal proportions. The new He unexpectedly about The Council of Dads. Also, he asks entire war. Eva was born in German- book promises to learned that he the girls to “be awash in love every day” occupied Poland the day after World War win additional had a rare form and he says, “whatever else happens, I ended on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918. enthusiasts for of cancer in his always comfort your sister.” A month earlier, her father had died in Braff’s work. left leg. At the This book is inspiring evidence that the flu pandemic. He and Eva’s mother The story of time, Bruce was people can confront calamity and had operated a small department store, what happens to a best-selling catastrophe. Thomas Wolfe said it best – but when the area came under Polish the Arbus family author, one of “Man was born to live, to suffer, and to rule, she sold the store and moved with is told in the whose books, Walking the Bible, had die, and what befalls him is a tragic lot. Eva and Eva’s five-year-old brother to first person by become a highly rated TV miniseries. There is no denying this in the final end. Berlin. There, she opened a women’s David Arbus, the Born in Savannah in 1964 to a family of But we must deny it all along the way.” apparel shop and remarried. 17-year-old son German Jews who had been in the Until she was 14, Eva lived a relatively of Martin and United States for several generations, he normal life and had many non-Jewish Miriam Arbus. The name “Arbus” was is a graduate of Yale and Cambridge. The Powerful WWII friends. This ended abruptly in 1933 selected because David is interested in year he spent teaching English in Japan survivor testimonies when Hitler came to power. Banned photography, and Braff is an admirer of the and the year he worked as a circus clown from higher education, Eva studied to work of the photographer, Diane Arbus. both resulted in well-received books. No More Tears Left Behind. By Arthur become a seamstress, and her brother David’s younger sister was originally Linda comes from a Boston suburb and Ursula Rathburn. Dane, Wis.: Fort was sent to America to study there. As called Debra, just as their mother was where her parents are active in the Dane Books, 2010. $16. 267 Pages. conditions became worse and worse for once called Mickey. Martin and Miriam Jewish community. She earned her Although it is a truism that all memoirs Jews, Eva met and married Martin, a have been separated five times and now bachelor’s degree with honors at by Holocaust tailor. They and their families tried in are being divorced. Miriam has become Harvard and her law degree from survivors have a vain to leave Germany but, eventually, an adherent of a Hasidic sect, not only Yale. She is widely recognized as the good deal in their families were sent to concentration changing her name and life style but also co-founder of Endeavor, a nonprofit common, it is camps. Eva and Martin removed the insisting on renaming her daughter from organization that fosters entrepreneurship equally accurate Jewish stars from their clothing and Debra to Dena. Both David and his sister and economic development in the to say that each began a risky life, never staying in one attend a Jewish day school (as did Braff). emerging world. Bruce, Linda, and the one is unique. place for long, trusting nobody, and Martin Arbus, supposedly in real twins live in Brooklyn. Accordingly, occasionally trading their sewing skills estate, actually operates a pornographic Painfully aware of the impact on his although we are for meager food rations. They were in burlesque theater in the Times Square daughters if they had to grow up without rapidly reaching constant fear and had harrowing area. His continuing attachment to his a father, Bruce hit upon the idea of asking the point when experiences that continued for more than son and daughter leads to several six of his friends to serve as substitute there will no two years even after the Russians entered escapades, one of which results in David dads. He called the group “The Council longer be any Germany. Life continued to be difficult coming to live with his father and of Dads,” charged with fathering his more first-hand accounts of what it meant especially for women who were often becoming involved in his sordid “potentially fatherless daughters.” to live through one of history’s most brutalized and raped by drunken Russian business. The contest between the The book carefully describes each of brutal assaults on human dignity and soldiers. Once again, Eva and Martin’s parents for the loyalty of their children these men and the roles that Bruce human survival, it is important to value tailoring skills came in handy as they made takes on serious and comic aspects. asked them to fill. He sets forth his each record of what transpired during alterations and repairs for the Russians. Braff does an excellent job of portraying relationship to them and his expectation those darkest days.This autobiography is Eventually, with the help of the the two distinctive worlds in which that the group will enable his daughters more than worthy of being treasured for Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, CARE Martin and Miriam live. He is an equal to “know the world”and “know me.”The its portrayal of the determination to exist packages, and Eva’s brother, a soldier in opportunity satirizer, decrying the strength he manifests and the tragedy he despite all odds against enduring the American army, they survived and tawdry entertainment of Times Square in bravely contemplates inevitably brings through barbarous oppression and the finally sailed to America early in 1947. the 1970s as well as the rigid observances tears to the eyes of his readers. It would fierce determination to eliminate all Jews. After brief stays in New York and of the Hasidim. The characters he have been an arduous task to read the Eva Deutschkron, now 91 years old, Chicago, Eva and Martin finally settled skillfully introduces include strippers, chapters devoted to each friend had they told her remarkable story of hiding in in Madison, Wis., where Eva’s brother sex film actors and producers, and sellers followed one after the other. Fortunately, Berlin throughout World War II to Arthur had lived. Martin successfully ran men’s of sexual toys as well as rigidly observant they are separated by seven letters to and Ursula Rathburn. She had heard clothing stores there until he died in 1985. and extraordinary Hasidim. As Braff family and friends, which Bruce wrote Arthur Rathburn speak about one of his Eva concludes by expressing shifts back and forth between the two and are here called “Chronicles of books, The American Japanese, in which appreciation for the few Germans who communities, vile and obscene language the Lost Year.” In these letters, Bruce he described how an American of helped her and Martin to escape from (that some readers will find offensive) describes his treatments, his progress, Japanese ancestry fought valiantly in the the Nazis, and she asserts that we must (see Teicher, page NAT 17) June 16, 2010 NAT 17 that the sharing of experience will create listen to the tunes he has embedded in a collective consciousness so that the songs and dance numbers, the lilt of Book anyone can be an educator. In this way, Theater The Three Penny Opera is there but we transform the burden of memory into magically adapted to a different and Review a flame that lights the world.” BY HAROLD JACOBSON more felicitous environment – that of the A literary anthology such as this one on American experience in the fourth REVIEWD BY RABBI ISRAEL ZOBERMAN the complex Shoah theme presupposes Ontario’s Shaw decade of the 20th century. a variety of perspectives and responses. The same time slot saw the appearance Poems and short Surprises, even disturbing ones – after Festival opens of Mary Chase’s Harvey, a play about a stories by children all the Shoah is so very disturbing – man who chooses a six-foot rabbit as an might be in store depending upon one’s to rave reviews invisible companion. Having seen the and grandchildren of background, experience and inclination German-Jewish Composer, film version with James Stewart many as in the following explosive verse by Kurt Weil, featured years ago, this reviewer had some Holocaust survivors professor Bronislava Volkova from doubts about the ability of the Shaw Indiana University.“Who but God could, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,ONTARIO – Festival cast to a credible job with this Mizmor L’David Anthology (Volume however, / stand to watch such misery Although it is dedicated to George delectable piece of theatre. I: The Shoah). Edited by Michal and cruelty being inflicted even on the Bernard Shaw, The Shaw Festival, From the first moments of the Mahgerefteh with assistance from Pete guilty / much less so on the innocent!” situated in arguably one of Canada’s production, however, all anxieties were Freas, Michelle Langenberg and Jack Vancouver’s poet Christy Hill reveals her most beautiful towns. Niagara-On-The assuaged as Peter Krantz as Elwood Callan. Poetica Publishing Company. inner conflict which touches core issues, Lake, each year presents an eclectic Dowd and his companions breathed 2010. Pp. 91. $15.00. “I do not want to remember. I do not choice of plays, musicals and comedies new life into a vehicle that challenges We are once want to forget.” drawn from a wide variety of theatrical the artificial divisions that society more beholden The late Yehuda Amichai, Israel’s poet productions. places between reality and delusion within a brief span laureate and a native of Germany, This reviewer was and suggests that just perhaps the latter of time to Michal captures the Jewish life-affirming spirit especially pleased deserves a niche in our lives. Mahgerefteh – of “Amen” in the midst of untold in early summer to The Shaw Festival’s Harvey is poet, artist, editor historical brokenness of stones and lives see a revival of Kurt fortunate in having a supporting cast and publisher – culminating in the Shoah. He bids us to Weil’s One Touch that meshes perfectly as a theatrical Tidewater’s own turn “The Jewish time bomb of pain and of Venus, a fanciful precision instrument. One actor, in woman of valor rage into “an amen and love stone.” tale loosely inspired addition to Peter Krantz’s Elwood, must of Jewish letters Norman Gordon who taught physics by Pygmalion, which be noted – Gray Powell, who as whose indefati- is charging that already in 1942 German was also the source psychiatrist Dr. Sanderson, raises the gable initiative civilians, the U.S. State Department and for Shaw’s brilliant Kurt Weil, c. 1928. level of dramaturgy, through the and creativity is American Jews knew of European story about the flower girl who was smoothness of his performance, to exemplary testimony to what one person Jewry’s fate, yet they all failed to tutored in the finer point of English unprecedented heights. can accomplish to enrich the Jewish world. intervene. He accusingly laments,“What pronunciation and who was reincarnated She offers a stage on Jewish themes will you tell the Mashiach / on the night in Broadway’s My Fair Lady. to poets and authors, along with of transcendence / when all the living Kurt Weil, the composer of the j i establishing a fruitful literary bond and and dead climbing the ropes and hauntingly catchy music in a Touch of TEICHER bridge between the North American ladders / between heaven and Earth Venus, hailed originally from Dessau in (continued from page NAT 16) and European Diaspora and Israel. are judged?” Germany and was the son of a cantor. A Michal, whose first collection of poetry Arizona writer Linda Pressman’s short prodigious talent, he acquired a strong alternates with staid and proper English, (In My Bussan) appeared in 2009 story with its arousing title, “Holocaust following for his slightly dissonant demonstrating the author’s ability to through her Poetica Publishing Vacation,”takes us on a family trip with musical harmonies and was well on his comprehend and to depict both worlds. Company, is enchanting us again with her parents-survivors from Illinois to way to becoming a major figure in the Braff, who now lives in California, grew the present collection of poems and Toronto to visit a relative, a survivor too. German musical scene when Hitler up in a New Jersey observant family, short stories by children and grand- She ponders with dark humor concerning came to power in 1933. enabling him to provide authenticity to children of Holocaust survivors, her parents’ vacation target, “where can Weil soon became the target of Nazi David’s suburban environment in New representing diverse and rich histories they go to find the most tragedy?” propaganda, and seeing the writing on Jersey. Similarly, his depiction of the of background and accomplishments. Though Michal Mahgerefteh’s Sephardic the wall, he soon left his homeland and Times Square smut scene is based on his The book’s artistic front cover of family was not directly touched by the ended up first in Paris and then finally in living in that area when he was a intriguing figures resembling emaciated Holocaust, she gives voice with others, the United States. He is, of course, best student at New York University. Further inmates is by Israeli born artist and including myself, whose lives resonate known for his Three Penny Opera and maintenance of autobiographical elements kibbutz member Miri Lavee whose with the lingering impact of an epic “Mack the Knife,” one of the major in his novel is demonstrated by the fact surviving parents are from Yugoslavia. event in a uniquely educational volume songs in that operetta, has become the that his own parents were divorced, just The back cover bears a stirring stanza from connecting us across a threatening abyss standard bearer of his music. as are Marian and Martin Arbus. Braff’s a poem by Rochelle Mass, a Canadian to the victims’ own voices of song One Touch of Venus was a collaborative relatively sympathetic portrait of these who lives in Israel.“Avi, now six / pulls at and supplication, meaning and doubt, work with lyrics by the American two characters is partly attributable to his grandfather’s arm / places a small silenced by life-negating forces. The humorists Ogden Nash and S. J. his own current comfort with being a Jew hand over the numbers / Doesn’t hurt literary quest to engage a critical and Perelman and was based on the novella who celebrates Passover and Hanukkah Sabah [grandfather]? Right? / Not any complex past will surely endure, even as The Tinted Venus by Thomas Guthrie. at home but who is not formally associated more, says Shmuel / bending to kiss the we’ll do well to harken to the implicit The Shaw version is a fluffy spoof of with the Jewish community. boy’s head. / Not any more.” present warning in the offered quote American mores circa 1944 and especially The truth of Thomas Wolfe’s observation In the book’s Introduction author sealing this searing anthology, by Israel’s the idea of female physical beauty and that all novels are autobiographical is Sandra Hurtes who teaches at John Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. the vanity attached to it. When those fully borne out by this fine novel as well Jay College, shares instructively and “No one yet knows what awaits the elements are featured in a statue that as by Braff’s first book. challengingly. “Many contribute to the Jews in the 21st century, but we must comes to life and the resuscitated Venus Incidentally, Braff’s brother, Zach Braff, largest body of work on the Holocaust, make every effort to ensure that is it interacts with a shy protagonist, a starred in the TV comedy, Scrubs, for each voice, each experience, unique yet better than what befell them in the 20th, musical comedy is born! The dialogues eight seasons and is scheduled to play utterly and uncannily similar. But, while the century of the Holocaust.”The book among the various characters are witty, the lead in an off-Broadway play, Trust, we carry these stories, we owe it to our may be ordered at [email protected]. vivid and zany. The songs are belted out this summer. parents and their very survival to move Rabbi Israel Zoberman, spiritual leader of with spontaneity and bravado. Dr. Morton I. Teicher is the Founding forward rather than stay wedded to their Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia But the highlight is Kurt Weil’s uncanny Dean, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, past. We owe it to ourselves to not carry Beach, Va., is the son of Polish Holocaust transformation from German musical Yeshiva University and Dean Emeritus, on their suffering… It is Michal’s hope survivors from Zamosc Sarnay and Pinsk. master to Broadway impresario. As you School of Social Work, UNC at Chapel Hill. NAT 18 June 16, 2010 Preheat oven to 450°F. Spoon liquid with an idea for a name. Gani didn’t smoke over meat or poultry. Bake for 30 think it was right, but then he got the Kosher minutes. Combine catsup, Worcestershire idea to call it The Lion’s Den since he is sauce, water, lemon juice, chili powder part of the football league and the team Kuisine and celery salt. Reduce oven to 350°F. is the Lions. “It felt nice to have that Pour sauce on meat or poultry and bake name. And we added ‘ha gov,’ which is BY SYBIL KAPLAN one hour longer. Hebrew for the Lion’s Den.” As the season goes on, Gani,Yona and Time to barbeque Here’s an interview with one of the chef’s Shai would like to be open for lunches; I interview each month for the Jerusalem during the NFL season, they plan to do Unfortunately, although we brought a Post, along with one of his recipes. all day breakfast. portable, collapsible barbecue with us, Shai would like The Lion’s Deb to be a our balcony is glassed in, and we haven’t Sports Bar Chef Extraordinaire Chef Shai Kapuya prepares a dish at The place where people come,“especially for yet decided whether to take the When you think of sports bar fare, you Lion’s Den. Photo by Barry A. Kaplan. the food and they like it and come again. barbeque to the front or side yard or to think of a cook frying up fast food.This is I would also like to open earlier and to close the doors to the living room and not the case with The Lion’s Den, and started to know the food, I make it work more and sell more food. I want to test whether barbequing would smell up HaGov Bar and Grill and co-owners, 26- other ways.” see the kitchen grow also so it won’t be the entire apartment! year-old Gani Meidad, and 37-year-old Shai says the people taste the burgers, a one-man kitchen.” I still make my own barbeque sauces Yona Mishaan. for example, and can believe that they’re The Lion’s Den, HaGov Bar and Grill and here are some to try on meat, chicken Gani and Yona had a dream to open a better. is located at the foot of Shammai St., on or turkey. sports bar in Jerusalem.Yona is coach of “Buffalo wings, club sandwich – now Solomon St. It is open Sunday through the women’s national flag football team, people say they’re great and they love Thursday, 7 p.m. to the last customer; Garlic Barbecue Sauce and Gani plays with the Big Blue Lions them!” Saturday evening from two hours after (1 cup) football team. What makes this sports bar unique is Shabbat ends until the last customer and After Shiloh-born-and-raised Gani definitely the food. closed on Friday. For reservations or 2 crushed garlic cloves returned from living in the States for “In terms of fresh food, I am trying more information, phone 052 870 9993. 1/2 tsp. chili powder three years, working and saving money, to do preparations more like the When Shabbat begins later, in the 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke he and Yona researched locations restaurants where I worked and not like summer, they would like to open 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce for over a year. Then they found a bar food,” explains Shai. “For example, their back yard with a special Friday 1/2 cup white wine more-than-120-year old building in we buy fresh meat for the hamburgers luncheon menu. 1/2 cup catsup Nachlat Shiva, which had been a bar and grind it ourselves. I do all the One of the most special items on the for five and a half years. The owner dressings from scratch, not canned or menu is the original Shai’s Salad, a Combine ingredients in a bowl and wanted to sell, so they bought it, fixed processed. We also think these are the beautiful blend of Romaine lettuce, blend. Brush over meat, chicken or it up and opened Feb. 21, 2010. only real Buffalo wings in Jerusalem!” green apples and sugared crushed turkey. Deciding they wanted special food and exclaims Shai. pistachio nuts in a unique vinaigrette. Since I was born and grew up in a chef, Gani and Yona asked a friend to Shai is very proud of what he’s doing. Another is Buffalo wings. Kansas City, Mo., and lived across the recommend someone. They interviewed “This time it’s my kitchen. I’m in the state line in Kansas, I thought I should Shai Kapuya, a 30-year-old Jerusalem- center of the stage. I choose the menu Buffalo Wings include what is known as a Kansas City- born chef and hired him. and I choose the ingredients.” style barbecue sauce. Shai grew up in Jerusalem, son of a The kosher restaurant is certified by 24 chicken wings, cleaned; cut in half mother from Morocco and a father from the rabbinate.“A mashgiach comes every 3/8 cup (100 grams) flour Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce Turkey. After serving in Golani, he day, and we really like him,”says Gani. oil (1 cup) worked as a security guard. Then he What’s on the menu? The first thing decided he wanted to make a change. you notice is the Lion hamburger Sauce 1/8 cup olive oil “I fell in love with cooking and cooking (350-grams) for 65 NIS ($17.24) and 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1/2 tsp. minced garlic for myself. People told me I had a talent,” the Lioness (250 grams) for 50 NIS 1 chopped onion 1/2 minced onion Shai said. ($13.26). These are served on a sesame 2 chopped garlic cloves 1/2 cup catsup He enrolled in the culinary course at seed bun with a choice of sweet potato 2 tsp. smoked paprika 2 Tbsp. honey or molasses Hadassah College in 2006 and graduated fries, French fries, hash browns or onion 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. chili powder in 2007. “It was the best experience I rings, tastefully presented with lettuce, 1 tsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. lemon juice ever had!” slices of tomato, red onion and dill 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke While in school and after, he worked pickle slices. 10 drops Tabasco sauce 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce at Ha Chatzer, a Mediterranean But then you read: steak, real (add more if you want it hotter) 2 Tbsp. brown sugar restaurant on Bethlehem Rd., in an old American Buffalo wings, roast beef, 400 grams (1 cup) tomato paste 1 1/12 tsp. cider vinegar Jerusalem rail compound specializing in salads, soups, appetizers, daily specials, 2 tsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. mustard meat, casseroles and fish. Then in 2008, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages – all 3 1/2 Tbsp. (50 grams) pareve butter- he went to work at the upscale, high- currently on the menu, which will be flavored margarine Place oil in a frying pan and sauté design Scala Restaurant in the David changed from time to time. One also oil garlic and onion until soft, about 10 Citadel Hotel, in charge of entrees. In sees Lebo’s hot dog, named for Steve minutes. Add catsup, honey or molasses, 2009, he moved to Angelica, a kosher Leibowitz, chief editor of Israel Put flour on a plate or in a plastic bag. chili powder, lemon juice, liquid smoke, fine dining restaurant on Shatz St. Televisions IBA News in English and Add wings and shake. Remove from bag Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Before The Lions Den, Hagov Bar and founder and president of American and shake to remove excess flour. Heat vinegar and mustard. Spoon over food to Grill opened, Yona and Gani worked Football in Israel. oil in a pot. Saute onions 4–5 minutes. be barbecued or simmer slowly first for with Shai.“He helped us build the menu, The front room of The Lion’s Den, Add garlic and smoked paprika and 25 minutes. and we worked together to do American HaGov, whose original stone walls and saute 2 minutes more. Add salt, pepper, dishes,”says Gani. arches add to the warm atmosphere, has vinegar,Tabasco sauce, tomato paste and Mom’s Barbecue Sauce “These were not my specialty,” said dark wood tables and chairs that seat 16 sugar. Stir until it comes to a boil. Add Shai,“but I made research.” and a bar with nine places; there is also margarine to melt, and cook until it 2 Tbsp. liquid smoke After several months cooking a back room with the original stone boils. Strain sauce to remove onion and 1 cup catsup American style, Shai says he likes it even walls, which cannot be changed, and an garlic. Set aside. Heat oil in a pot. Add 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce more.“I think in Israel we have a stigma open garden. wings so they are submerged. Fry 4–5 1 cup water about American food, because we just The origin of the name comes from minutes. If you want them crisper, fry juice of half a lemon don’t do it right. We think American food Gani who was on miluim (yearly military longer. Drain on paper towels. Place on a 1 tsp. chili powder is just McDonald’s and I thought like reserve duty) in November when in the deep plate. Pour sauce on top. 1 tsp. celery salt that too. Now when I got to this place middle of doing guard duty, Yona called Sybil Kaplan lives in Jerusalem. June 16, 2010 NAT 19 PELLEGRINO correcting and dissecting and, above all, condemned it to dismantlement, with their mostly hostile Arab neighbors, who (continued from page NAT 7) exhibiting a wonderful sense of humor the help of the increasing demographics even resorted to Nazi (and then Soviet) all the time with these young people. of the “ethnically cleansed.”Such was the connections in order to create a united would have had them killed back during Sybil Kaplan is a journalist, lecturer, tag team argument on May 14. front of Western and Eastern anti- the war. It’s a lesson in reconciliation.” and food columnist; she leads walks in Interestingly, Mearsheimer echoed Semitism. Later, the Palestinians were Once the project is completed, the Machaneh Yehudah, the Jewish market, Khalidi’s call for nonviolent resistance in to export asymmetrical warfare, the research will be available to the general and has a weekly spot on RustyMikeRadio order to bring about a democratic terrorist option. They never even public, including a search engine to talking about shopping in the market. She binational state. He cited Gandhi as the thought to suggest asymmetrical identify survivors. It will also be used to lives in Jerusalem. example and byword of resistance. Yet statehood – namely, two peoples living assist in other research, and be a tool for I could not help thinking that his very in proximity, without borders, but with teachers of the Yiddish language. Virtual j i call for nonviolence was a justification of different governments. tours of each town will also exist to BACKALENICK violence that has been perpetrated A one-state solution is an anti-Jewish lay out what the town may have looked (continued from page NAT 11) against Israel. He constantly spoke of State solution. Only when Palestinians like during the war. A documentary the Zionists’ murderous, or at least can consider other alternatives can the will also be produced as well as a book home for dinner, the American names violent, designs to use any excuse to possibility of a two-state solution help written by Veidlinger. would ring out. But he would cringe, as expel Palestinian Arabs, and of their bring blessing and redemption to all. Much of the funding for the project his mother, with her heavily accented anticipation of Arab attack for such a But they have refused to do this since comes from two grants by the National English, would echo down the street – nefarious purpose. Like Khalidi, he does 1948. Khalidi and Mearsheimer showed Endowment for humanity. Other funds “Yohnkeee!” not think that violence works against themselves to be part of that refusal come from the Jewish studies department, But in many ways, Ehrenreich’s tale is “that enemy.”But it would seem that he – which can never lead to nonviolence in particularly from Dov-Ber Kerler’s chair not typical – except in the sense that all perhaps, both of them – might justify it theory or in practice. position, the Dr. Alice Field Cohn Chair families struggle with problems. His was if it had been working. Rabbi Gertel has been spiritual leader of in Yiddish Studies, and Veidlinger’s chair certainly an overwhelming burden to For two fellows who complain about Congregation Rodfei Zedek since 1988. He position, the Alvin H. Rosenfeld Chair in bear. Both his mother and his two sisters what they regard as a constant campaign attended Columbia University and Jewish Jewish Studies. would become victims of early-onset of vilification of Palestinians on the part Theological Seminary. He is the author of With over 700 hours of interviews and Alzheimer’s disease, and he would be of the Jewish State and its lobbyists, they two books, What Jews Know About numerous trips to Ukraine, the project works witness to their painful deterioration. certainly engaged in nonstop vilification Salvation and Over the Top Judaism: to preserve piece of Jewish history. Some While his love of music and his years as a of their own. The entire purpose of Precedents and Trends in the Depiction might say it is a worthy summer activity. musician would be his saving grace, that Mearsheimer’s presentation appeared to of Jewish Beliefs and Observances in For more information about the world would also take its toll, as Ehrenreich be fomentation of distrust of the Jewish Film and Television. He has been media AHEYM program, go to www.eviada.org/ descended into heavy drug abuse. State and its supporters. critic for P-O since 1979. collection.cfm?mc=7&ctID=69. For more But he would eventually find his way, All the usual questions raised at a information about the Robert A. and abetted by a solid marriage, a satisfying “Nakba”gathering – the extent to which j i Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program at profession, and a deep sense of Jewish Palestinians were expelled for “ethnic GOLD Indiana University, go to www.iub.edu/~jsp/. tradition. Beginning with a passion for cleansing” or out of self-defense or (continued from page NAT 14) Sarah Pellegrino is a junior at Indiana drums, he would find his way into the whether they left on their own for University, majoring in journalism and professional music world. And always, various reasons, the degree to which Some believe that all good things Jewish studies. She has interned for the even in dark moments, he would find Israelis have wanted to kill them or to must come to an end sooner or later. Jewish News of Greater Phoenix and is the healing power of laughter, thus spare them, not to mention the extent However, we can enjoy the gifted artist- currently across the country, conquering developing his skills as a stand-up and intent of Palestinian violence – will hazzan David Lefkowitz in all of his Washington, D.C. as she interns for The comic. And finally, discovering the be debated for many years to come, and vocal splendor just by listening to this Washington Jewish Week in Rockville. woman he was destined to marry, he will ultimately find some objective CD. In the event you haven’t caught my She is also a member of Sigma Delta Tau would enter a responsible world – as resolution in the sorting of archive drift by this point, this CD is very highly National Sorority. husband and father. materials and of oral history corroborated recommended. I am not at all difficult to Certainly the material that Ehrenreich by such material. Khalidi began his talk please. All I need or want is a CD of j i offers to his reading public is affecting by saying, “I’m not a historian and I’m quality and musical excellence. This CD WIENER and undoubtedly honest. And he offers not a political scientist.”We should take is has both attributes in abundance. (continued from page NAT 9) it in an informal chatty style. But the him at his word. Dr. Gold is a composer, conductor, book itself could do with strong editing – Yet this gathering at the University of pianist and retired educator and may be not make any noise.’ The trees reply: and the jokes, which may work on stage, Chicago was significant in that it reveals reached at: 6 Webster Street, Springvale, ‘Our fruit is sufficient publicity for us.’” are less intriguing in print. the rhetoric and the mindset of the Maine 04083 or by email at drmortongold A rabbi is a friend to those who have But, whatever the drawbacks of style, Palestinians and their supporters. They @yahoo.com. no friends and certainly a friend to those A Jew Grows in Brooklyn is a story worth have no interest in a two-state solution. who want to be friends. Because he telling. Readers will find much that is They have effectively nullified the “peace j i knows, as a Hasidic folk saying goes: “If heart-rending, but also much that will process”and all its previous incarnations BEN-MORDECAI you are looking for a friend who has no resonate in their own lives. and goals. They believe that the Jewish (continued from page NAT 14) faults, you will have no friends.” Irene Backalenick critiques theater for State will run its course.Yet ironically, their Something to think about! national and regional publications. She rhetoric is not without contradiction, which open, is spelled with a qamatz, and is Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader has a Ph.D. in theater criticism from itself points to the State of Israel as a blessing pronounced “ga.” In other words, of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation City University Graduate Center. She to the Palestinians as well as to the Jews. “ga-NUV”means “he stole.” near Phoenix, Ariz. Send comments to welcomes comments at IreneBack@sbc To Khalidi and Mearsheimer, the If you have noticed that the “thief/he [email protected]. global.net and invites you to visit her Zionists were consummate conspirators stole” example contains an exception to website: nytheater scene.com or at: jewish- (with public relations firms, even with the rule of where qamatz and patach are j i theatre.com. Arab leaders), but they also failed to used, you are entitled to a gold star! KAPLAN/ISRAEL think through their relations with the An attorney and Semitic linguist with (continued from page NAT 10) j i Arabs. Were they manipulators or degrees from Brandeis, Stanford and Univ. GERTEL bumblers? The answer is that they had of Calif., Seth Watkins (pen name, Ben- have different perspectives and so there (continued from page NAT 13) a dream of Jewish self-determination Mordecai) merges linguistic analysis with is no competition. and a historical mandate, in the face of legal sleuthing to uncover lost meanings of the self-destructive and aggressive unspeakable evil (in which Europeans ancient texts. His Exodus Haggadah A look at Yitzhak Perlman behavior of certain Palestinian factions and Arabs were all complicit), to do uniquely includes the full story of the Wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, with in recent years. Yet Mearsheimer, if whatever they could, right away. They Exodus in an accessible format. His short, curly grey hair, Mr. Perlman I heard him correctly, argued that the had a sense of peoplehood and a historic 20-year-old ocicat has, sadly, gone to demonstrates his vitality and knowledge very establishment of the Jewish State connection to the land, and they were her reward. Email: Seth@Vayomer during rehearsal, stopping frequently, determined its moral failure and regarded as a people by others, including Publishing.com. NAT 20 June 16, 2010 without potatoes. I’ve been on a modi- But with my father living with us, I “What’s happening?” fied low-carbohydrate diet for over a haven’t been able to earn money. “I got a new washing machine and Musings year and a half, but I still cook starches We have to stop wasting. Recycling is don’t understand one of the buttons.” for the family. Here are a couple of side important, and we can’t throw out food. “Isn’t there an instruction book?” from Shiloh dishes, very easy to prepare and a little Yes, I mean celeriac, the celery roots I “Well, it’s not that new a machine...” different from your standard fare. mashed with the potatoes. Apparently, it’s very old, but a classic BY BATYA MEDAD At first glance, if you were to guess No, not from the long pale stalks of from “Crystal,” an excellent company, what’s here, you’d say mashed potatoes. celery used in salads. The celery stalks and I once had the deluxe of that model. They were worth Okay, yes, most of it is simply made from that grow out of these are much darker, Nu, what do you think “drip” means? mashed potatoes. The easiest way is to shorter and stronger flavored. They’re After he read me everything on every the calories! boil some already peeled potatoes, cut great for soup, but my husband, who dial I guess that it means that the water into small pieces in a minimum of water cooks the weekly chicken soup, doesn’t doesn’t go out, so it’ll “drip”dry. Last night my husband and I, along with some onion pieces. Then when use the root. I gave him basic instructions as to with my cousin and hers, went to our they’re soft, add some oil, salt, pepper to I’m now searching for ideas on how to which cycles for what type of clothes, for favorite restaurant, yes, HaGov, the taste and mash. cook these. Besides mashing them with which he thanked me. It’s nice to know kosher sports bar & grill, to celebrate 40 potatoes, I’ve already shredded them in that I’m considered an expert at years of marriage. We got married in the the food processor with carrots and something, even something as simple same week, so we’re all married 40 years. onions for a vegetable soup. I also as washing clothes. And I was very And in all those 40 years I don’t sauteed them with the same vegetables impressed at how well he now reads remember ever going out together and then added cooked rice. Does English. He has some sort of dyslexia, so before to celebrate an anniversary. anyone have any other ideas? even learning to read Hebrew was a When we were dating, we used to challenge, but like many with a mild double date, and we do try to get Sweet Rice & Apple Kugel learning disability, they can learn to read together when we can with the kids This little “pie,” or kugel, is extremely and do. It just takes a little longer and lots of mutual friends. This was a easy to prepare and was very popular and different teaching methods. treat in more ways than one. with my family and guests. Unfortunately school is “one size fits all,” HaGov’s management knew that we but we’re not all the same size. were going to be there for a special occasion and treated us royally. We But this isn’t just that. Along with the One of those “Made to Blog” Siyata shared one of the chef’s specialties – a potatoes I boiled pieces of celery root. D’Shmaya stories tomato soup, which was fantastic. We The root of very strong celery leaves Even though I’ve always gone to very- all loved it, so if it’s on the menu when (good for soups, stews and such) looks nice-as-people dentists, going for dental you go, have some. like potatoes, but celeriac has more fla- treatment is not among my favorite We shared salad, and I had the Italian vor and taste so you need much less salt. events. In some ways I even dread it steak with mushrooms, absolutely Here’s some more information: more than a mammogram. So, I must delicious. My cousin had the Double-D admit that I was rather happy to hear chicken breasts, and the men ate Celeriac that my husband had some important hamburgers. We also shared a bottle of Raw Nutritional value per 100g (3.5 oz) plans the day of my dental appointment wine. The chef kept coming out to Energy 176 kJ (42 kcal) and couldn’t stay with my father. I check and accept very well-deserved Carbohydrates 9.2 g The main ingredient is rice, cooked figured that would give me another few compliments. They surprised us with Sugars 1.6 g rice, aka: left-over rice. Personally, I would weeks before the dreaded one-hour desserts, full of calories but worth eating Dietary fiber 1.8 g never bother cooking rice just to use for appointment could be rescheduled. them just the same. a kugel like this, unless I was making a My stress levels were down when I Compare this to an ordinary white potato: few to freeze. Rice keeps well in the called the secretary a couple of days Energy 321 kJ (77 kcal) refrigerator, so when I cook some, I cook before to postpone it. I was taken by Carbohydrates 19 g extra. If there’s a cup or more left by the surprise, yes, rather shocked, when she Starch 15 g end of the week, it’s recycled into offered me an appointment at the same Dietary fiber 2.2 g something like this. You can use either time of the day for the very next day, even white or any of the various types. sooner than my original appointment. Remember that basmati rice is lowest in And, yes, my husband would be available carbohydrates than other strains of rice. to stay home with my father. This is a no-sugar recipe, but it does “How do you have an hour free? have apple juice concentrate. You can Usually, it takes a few weeks for such a use a dietetic juice concentrate, but I long treatment.” used a regular one. I added apple juice “Just two minutes before you called, concentrate, a couple of eggs, diced we got a cancellation call, and I was just Every once in a while even the most apples, cinnamon and would have going through the lists trying to figure dedicated dieter must go off and have added ginger and nutmeg if I had some. out whom to call and offer the slot.” something spectacular, and that’s what I Mix and bake medium heat until inside “How often does something like this did last night. is dry like a cake. That’s it. happen?” “Not often, certainly not such a perfect Adding some celery root to your Late night call match.” mashed potatoes can significantly lower I quasi-panicked when I saw that it “Well, I guess G-d planned it, so I have carbohydrates and reduce salt. That’s was a call from handsome bachelor #1 no choice other than to accept it.” good for many of us. that I had missed as I fumbled getting Of course it wasn’t as awful as I had my phone out of the bag. It was late at feared, just more expensive. And I got all Reducing calories and saving money night, past my bedtime, but since I had the errands done in Jerusalem.Thank G-d! Isn’t that what we’re aiming to do? been at a wedding, I was still up. Batya Medad is a veteran American olah, Throw off our excess weight and What could he want? Could immigrant in Israel since 1970. Besides her spend less? something be wrong? articles and photographs we’ve been featuring I did manage to reduce my weight The panic simmered, since I couldn’t in this publication for a number of years, enough to graduate from obese to get through to him. Call-waiting. So I Batya has two active blogs, http://shiloh ordinary overweight. I can now buy continued with my going to bed routine musings.blog spot.com and http://me-ander More than mashed potatoes clothes in regular shops, in the middle of and called a few more times. Finally he .blogspot.com. You can contact her at For many people, it’s not a “meal” the size range, rather than with all those Xs. called back. [email protected].