“From the Borscht Belt to the Great White Way” – Jewish Comedy Topic
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March 17-23, 2017 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLVI, Number 11 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK “From the Borscht Belt to the Great White Way” – Jewish comedy topic for next BD luncheon By Paula Rubin In his talk, Cali will explore several intelligence, culture and/or a defense mech- Fordham University, Cali taught Latin Philip Cali will speak on Saturday, March aspects of comedy and Jews, including anism play a role. While explaining these for 19 years in addition to being a public 25, on Jews and comedy “From the Borscht why there are so many Jewish comedians. questions and other related entertainment school administrator for 13 years. He has Belt to the Great White Way.” His talk will According to organizers of the program, topics, Cali will share one-liners from also taught 19 courses for Lyceum. follow the free luncheon after Shabbat ser- 80 percent of all comedians at the end of Jewish comedy. For more information on how to sponsor vices at Beth David Synagogue, 39 Riverside the 20th century were Jews. The program A graduate with an M.A. in library all or part of a luncheon or how to make a Dr., Binghamton. The entire community has will discuss what draw show business has science from SUNY Geneseo and a B.A. donation to the Beth David Shabbat Lun- been invited to all of the events. for Jews, and how factors such as history, in major classics, Latin and Greek from cheon Fund, call the synagogue at 722-1793. Intersisterhood program to be held on April 5 The annual Intersisterhood program will will be served. Those interested in attend- ferent?” Part of the holiday is the retelling an opportunity for people to “get together be held on Wednesday, April 5, at 7 pm, at ing should RSVP by Thursday, March 30, of the story of the Exodus, organizers noted, and interact in a fun and meaningful way.” Temple Israel, 4737 Deerfield Pl., Vestal. to Beth David Synagogue at 722-1793, to and so the program has been designed to Organizers added, “We always have a good All women in the community have been Temple Concord at 723-7355 or to Temple give all attendees a chance to bring their time and come away enriched and ener- invited to attend and have been asked to Israel at 723-7461. favorite Passover Judaica and share why gized.” The event will be held in the newly bring a non-perishable food item or personal With Passover following soon after it is important to them, or to share Pass- rebuilt Temple Israel. care item for CHOW. The cost will be $5 the Intersisterhood event, organizers have over-related stories or even recipes. For more information, call Roz Antoun per person at the door. Light refreshments chosen the theme of “Why is this night dif- The goal of Intersisterhood is to provide at 203-1126. Saperstein Sermon Contest Awards Gala at Cornell U. The seventh annual Harold I. Saperstein Ellsworth Cook, Class of 1908, who was a For more information, visit www.curw. cost to attend, space will be limited. Those Student Topical Sermon Contest Awards suffragist and the winner of the Woodford cornell.edu. The Awards Gala dinner buffet who wish to attend the gala should contact Gala will be held on Sunday, March 26, from Prize in Oratory. This year’s sermon topic and dessert reception will be catered by 104 Janelle L. Hanson at [email protected], 5-8:30 pm, at Cornell University in Ithaca. is “Women’s Issues of Today.” The gala West, Cornell’s kosher dining hall, under or Sidney Madsen at [email protected], This year’s sermon contest is being will feature the presentation of the winning Star K supervision. While the gala will be no later than Monday, March 20, so they held in honor and memory of Elizabeth sermon, along with several guest speakers. open to the community by invitation, with no can be added to the guest list, if possible. Spotlight Jerusalem art school fosters design talent among students with disabilities By Andrew Tobin is designing an inflatable pillow to help JERUSALEM (JTA) – The shrapnel At left: Asaf Ventura posedwith lift a person with mobility issues out of a that exploded into Asaf Ventura took a lot his floating gym at an Israeli seat. The idea came from helping manage away from him: His body and brain were army rehabilitation center in the care of his wife’s grandfather, who has shredded, his right hand was mangled. He Haifa in June 2015. (Photo Alzheimer’s disease and is relegated to a was unable to fire his gun, swing his tennis courtesy of Ventura) chair. “To pick him up takes two people racquet or maintain focus. But over time, because he’s a big guy, so that means a Ventura realized the injuries he endured family member has to be around 24/7 in during a mission with his army unit in the work with really talented classmates.” well known art and design school, and addition to an aid worker,” Dalcera said. West Bank gave him a new perspective, Bezalel, a 111-year-old mainstay of the not a disability organization, yet they still See “Students” on page 4 which as it turned out made him a great Israeli art world, is known for producing choose to include people with disabilities industrial designer. top-notch talent in a variety of fields. The in what they do,” said Shira Ruderman, “I remember in the hospital thinking, school also prides itself on promoting an the Israel director of the Ruderman Family ‘I’m only 22 and I’ve lost my body and my inclusive creative process for people with Foundation. “We think they are an example looks. I can’t do any of the things I used to disabilities. About a decade ago, Bezalel of how Israel can use innovation to change do,’” he told JTA. “Eventually I realized started a class in industrial design for people the Israeli mindset on disability.” that because I don’t think like a normal with special needs. Over the years, students With the prize money, Bezalel will person [anymore], I can actually do some have created dozens of products: costumes launch two undergraduate courses next new things with design technology.” that encourage children to move during fall in “inclusive design.” The school has Ventura, now 35, discovered his talent for physical therapy; air-cushioned prosthetic begun awarding scholarships – worth more design years later – attributing it to the effect legs with superhero designs; fashionable than $1,000 each – to students whose final of the metal fragments that tore through clothes that people with limited range of projects are in inclusive design. his brain – when he became a student at movement can easily get on and off. “We are committed to increasing aware- the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design Due to this kind of work, Bezalel in De- ness of people with disabilities and the in Jerusalem. He credits his experience at cember won the $50,000 Ruderman Prize in difficulties they face,” said Liv Sperber, the school with helping him come “back Inclusion, which recognizes organizations the vice president for international affairs to real life.” that foster the full inclusion of people with at Bezalel, who applied for the Ruderman “Bezalel Academy demands 100 percent disabilities. The Ruderman Family Foun- Prize. “This allows us to get more students from you, and I have 72 percent disability,” dation has been awarding the prize for the involved in creating beautiful and inclusive he said, referring to a state scale for physical past five years; this year the $250,000 was designs.” disability that goes from 0 to 100 percent. split among five organizations around the Luca Dalcera, 28, learned recently that he “But they gave me a chance to succeed. I world involved in art, technology and media. is eligible for a scholarship for his project. learned from amazing teachers and got to “We loved the fact that Bezalel is a very In his fourth and final year of school, he INSIDE THIS ISSUE Preserving Ladino “Jewish Identities” Special Sections A Sephardi studies scholar sees A new intro to Judaism book puts Legal Notices ................................... 4 preserving Ladino as an “act of Jewish identity questions front Book Review .................................... 4 resistance.” and center. Classifieds ....................................... 8 ........................................Page 2 ........................................Page 3 Wedding, Prom & Party Guide .. 1A-8A Page 2 - The Reporter March 17-23, 2017 This Sephardi studies scholar sees preserving Ladino as an “act of resistance” By Josefin Dolsten At left:Devin Naar says native Greece. By teaching Vidal Ladino, Naar hopes to (JTA) – One-year-old Vidal doesn’t know the signifi- Ladino connects Jews with fulfill a longtime dream of transmitting its legacy to his son. cance behind the lullaby his father sings him at bedtime. Latinos and Muslims, two In recent months, there’s something else at stake, too. He knows it helps him fall asleep, but not that the Ladino communities he considers The 33-year-old Seattle resident sees the linguistic roots song is part of an effort to teach him what served as the marginalized in today’s of Ladino, which include Hebrew, Spanish, Turkish and lingua franca of Sephardi Jews of the Ottoman Empire for America. (Photo by Meryl Arabic, as providing a way to connect Jews with Latinos over 500 years. Schenker Photography/The and Muslims. Preserving Ladino is “a specific political act And he doesn’t know that when he says his first words, Stroum Center for Jewish of resistance in Trump’s America,” Naar said.