The New Jewish Voice April 2017
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Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 184 Watertown, NY april 2017/nisan-iyar 5777 a publication of United jewish federation of Volume 19, Number 2 Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien Cocktails, Dinner, Legacy, Holocaust Through the and Laughs Lens of Cinema An Evening with Schoke JFS UJF Holds Annual Yom Hashoah Program The annual gala of the Solomon will perform his By Sharon Franklin the Jewish experience in film. Elayne and James Schoke stand-up comedy based on the United Jewish Federation He is adjunct professor of Jewish Family Service, An show. “His performance is a of Greater Stamford, New cinema at Yeshiva University Evening with Schoke JFS, to laugh-filled hour of everybody Canaan and Darien will and has also taught at Fair- be held on Wednesday, May you know, or have known, and hold a community wide com- leigh Dickinson University, 10, at 5:30 pm, at the Italian some you want to forget, but memorative Yom Hashoah Hebrew Union College, The Center, has a new format, com- can’t. Be prepared to laugh program on Sunday, April 23. Jewish Theological Seminary, bining a four-decade legacy until you cry!” said Lynn Saltz, The program will be held at Kean University, Queens Col- of honoring supporters with Schoke JFS marketing and Temple Beth El in Stamford lege and YIVO Institute for a celebration of the agency’s communications coordinator. at 4:30 pm. This year’s event Jewish Research. Goldman work across Fairfield County. Honoring a long-standing will be themed “A Commu- is founder of Ergo Media In lieu of a silent auction, Steve Solomon tradition, Schoke JFS will nity Wide Remembrance of Dr. Eric Goldman Inc., a New Jersey-based film this year’s celebration will offer the 38th Annual Mitzvah the Holocaust Through The distributor, specializing in welcome Steve Solomon, creator and Award to the Beldotti family and the Lens of the Cinema.” Jewish-oriented film. He has also been star of the two-time, award-winning 11th Annual Young Leadership Award The keynote speaker will be Dr. Eric on the faculty of the Wexner and Ru- Broadway comedy “My Mother’s Italian, to Mark Frank. Goldman, a Jewish film scholar and ed- derman fellowship programs, and is a My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy.” See “Legacy” on page 2 ucator, who has written extensively on See “Holocaust” on page 8 “Lost” Indian Jews A Council for Us All Immigrating to Israel UJF Establishes Jewish Community By JNS staff ognized the Bnei Menashe as a lost Relations Council (JNS.org) – One hundred and two tribe and about 1,700 Bnei Menashe By Gail Rauner issues in the immediate term: immi- members of India’s Bnei Menashe members moved to Israel before the United Jewish Federation of Greater gration and community engagement community arrived in Israel in mid-Feb- Israeli government stopped giving Stamford, New Canaan and Darien with refugees, and combating antise- ruary, marking the latest group of so- them visas. The government later announced the official establishment mitic violence and vandalism (with the called “lost” Jews to make aliyah. reversed that policy, enabling Bnei of its new Jewish Community Rela- hope of addressing racist violence and Members of the Bnei Menashe Menashe immigration to resume. The tions Council on March 9. Like JCRCs vandalism in all of its forms). After the community claim to descend from Jews latest Bnei Menashe immigrants come throughout North America, the Stam- meeting, JCRC member Ann Liebergall banished from ancient Israel to India from the northeastern Indian state of ford, New Canaan and Darien JCRC will of New Canaan commented, “When we in the 8th century B.C. Their immigra- Mizoram and will be the first members serve as the primary public relations first discussed establishing the council tion is organized by Shavei Israel, a of their community to make aliyah since arm for the Jewish community, with last year, we could not have known Jerusalem-based nonprofit that calls January 2014. particular focus on: interfaith and how relevant and needed it would be itself “the only Jewish organization “Over the course of the coming inter-community relations, Israel advo- in 2017.” today that is actively reaching out to year, with God’s help, we will bring a cacy, relations with political figures, law The JCRC is made up of volunteers ‘lost Jews’ in an effort to facilitate their total of more than 700 Bnei Menashe enforcement and the media, and tikkun from the area and is chaired by Peter return [to Israel].” immigrants to Israel – the largest-ever olam projects (repairing the world). Lilienthal of Stamford. A full-time staff In 2005, then-Sephardi Chief Rabbi airlift in a single year,” Michael Freund, At the JCRC’s first meeting on March director will begin working with Lilien- of Israel Shlomo Amar officially rec- See “Indian” on page 18 6, the group chose to focus on two See “Council” on page 2 Candle Bits & Pieces Passover Professional Adult Voices & Lighting 2 6 14 Support 16 Volunteers 18 Views 18 Shabbat Across Stamford Community is what it’s all about. Once again, the Jewish communities of Stamford, New Canaan and Darien gathered together to celebrate Shabbat on March 3 at Shabbat Across Stamford. See page 5 for more details. L-r: Rebekah Raz, UJF VP; Ellen Weber, immediate past president; Ricky Arbron, UJF president; Sharon Franklin, UJF director of community campaign; Nan Gordon, JEEP chair; and Linda Spilka, Shabbat Across Stamford chair. 2 THE NEW JEWISH VOICE ■ APRIL 2017 CEO Message What Really Happened in Sweden By James A. Cohen stand. There are many ways that we can act in a posi- comes soon. I am very proud that Federation has By the time this edition of The tive fashion to serve as a bulwark against this bigotry. launched this important initiative. I look forward New Jewish Voice goes to print, First, we must demand leadership and appropriate to sharing more news about the JCRC’s activities in Sweden’s brief moment in the language from our elected officials. Second, we coming months. spotlight of the American media must support organizations that speak out against I have said many times in recent weeks that I am will have become a memory. But these acts, whether these organizations be Jewish or glad my grandmother is no longer living, because I would like to resurrect this sponsored by any other segment of the community. the rise of antisemitism and the viral verbiage being tangential moment in history to Perhaps, most importantly, we can rely on our newly used against Jews would have killed her. I owe it to raise a different point. One thing established Jewish Community Relations Council to her, and we all owe it to all who have come before that is actually taking place in build relationships with all segments of society to us, not to stand still, but to speak up and put a stop Sweden is unfortunately being make sure that relief from this unfortunate episode to this nonsense now. replicated here in the United James Cohen, States: a rise in antisemitic acts. UJF CEO Malmö (the third largest city in Sweden, well- Legacy Continued from page 1 known to readers of the Wallender mystery series) has The Beldotti family (James, Jim, Michael, Chris, seen incidents of antisemitism increase by threefold Lisa, Amy, Mike Jr. Tina, Lucas, Zack, Maxwell and in the last two years. This in and of itself is troubling. Grace) are life-long residents of Stamford and, When you add this statistic to increases across Europe along with the Beldotti bakery, the only family and the very troubling antisemitic acts taking place owned kosher bakery in Stamford, are household in the United States in the first quarter of 2017, the names to many across the community. Three picture painted is even worse. Today, as I write these generations of Beldottis have contributed to the words, nine more Jewish Community Centers were growth of the bakery, with brothers Michael and subjected to bomb threats. Chris leading parts of a business that began when As a community, we simply cannot allow this to Michael and his father, James, purchased DeLite bakery more than 30 years ago. The Beldotti family has supported synagogues, soup kitchens, youth athletic leagues and public schools with generous Thank You contributions. Schoke JFS clients have benefitted Thank you to Hildi Todrin of Crane Song Pho- from Beldotti donations for three decades, as well tography, who volunteered as photographer for the as the family’s participation in the Russian Immi- December 4 United Jewish Federation Soiree. UJF grant Absorption Program. regrets not crediting Todrin’s work for her photos, Frank was born in Charles- The Beldotti family which appeared on page 17 in the February/March ton, SC, and grew up in Flori- issue of The New Jewish Voice. da, where his leadership skills Awards, a New York City getaway with tickets to a became apparent through his play, a pair of fold-up bikes, and a home dinner involvement in camp and syn- for 10 prepared by Columbus Park Trattoria. The agogue activities. In his senior comedy stand-up will follow and the evening will CANDLE LIGHTING year in high school, Frank was conclude with dessert. The evening is co-chaired a participant on the March of by Liz Kitay and Meryl Japha, and the live auction TIMES the Living, which he said was a is chaired by Sandy Speter. March 24 .............................. 6:53 pm defining experience in his com- General tickets include the dinner, show and mitment to Jewish causes.