JFS NEPA Launches Free COVID-19 Counseling Program Jewish And
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Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME XIII, NUMBER 11 MAY 28, 2020 JFS NEPA launches free COVID-19 Counseling Program Jewish Family Services of Northeastern offering to help, for free.” man Abdo stressed, “JFS is here to serve us,” a representative said. “If you need Pennsylvania announced the launch of its Through the JFS Telehealth Helpline, the entire community. Our doors have someone to talk to, we’re here to listen.” free Covid-19 Counseling Program. “The JFS will offer half-hour sessions that will been open for over 100 years, through Established in 1915, Jewish Family COVID-19 pandemic is stressful for many allow people to speak with a licensed JFS this pandemic they remain open, even if Service is a human service organization, people,” said a JFSNEPA representative. social worker in a “safe and supportive only virtually.” which reflects the Jewish tradition of “Fear and anxiety about the disease can be virtual environment.” The sessions will To schedule a free appointment, e-mail caring and compassion for all people in overwhelming, causing strong emotions in be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from [email protected] or call 570-344-1186 need. Through professional counseling, both adults and children. In order to help 4-7 pm and are open to anyone needing and leave a message. Messages are advocacy and educational programming, those in the community who are coping to discuss overwhelming emotions during checked regularly throughout the day its services seek to enhance and strength- with stress and anxiety during this difficult this difficult time. Monday through Friday and someone will en the quality of individual, family and time Jewish Family Service of NEPA is JFS Executive Director Sheila Nudel- contact a person within 24 hours. community life. It is this agency mission “If you or someone you know needs that drives all services and activities of Virtual version of the annual someone to talk to please reach out to Jewish Family Service. Celebrate Israel Parade UJA/Federation 2020 Members of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Campaign Honor Roll to Pennsylvania will be able to participate in the virtual annual Celebrate Israel Parade by accept requests for anonymity sending in brief videos to the The Jewish Federation of Northeast- ymous should contact Dolores Gruber, parade organizers. The video, ern Pennsylvania will publish its UJA/ the Federation’s office manager, at 570- which will include clips from Federation Campaign 2020 Honor Roll 961-2300, ext. 3, or at jfnepareporter@ previous parades, will also this summer as a thank you to those com- jewishnepa.org, and the request for have messages of support in Rika Shaffer made a video for the virtual version of munity members who made a financial anonymity will be respected. video form. The parade will the annual Celebrate Israel parade. gift to the annual UJA Campaign this “On behalf of Jews everywhere who stream on Sunday, June 7. year, thereby continuing the local com- benefit from your generosity to our an- “Even though we won’t walk down care workers and to everyone who has munity’s tradition of tzedakah. nual UJA Campaign, please accept our Fifth Avenue this year, we will be a part been reaching out with kindness during Any contributor to the 2020 UJA sincerest thanks,” said Mark Silverberg, of the parade theme of ‘Todah’/thank you this difficult time,” said a Federation Campaign who wishes to remain anon- executive director of the Federation. to Israel, to first responders and health representative. Jewish and pro-Israel groups applaud passage of Never Again Education Act BY JACKSON RICHMAN passed legislation. “The men and women (JNS) – Jewish and pro-Israel groups of the United States Senate deserve credit applauded the U.S. Senate passage on At left: Survivors at the for setting aside their differences to clear May 13 of the Never Again Education Dachau concentration the way for swift and unanimous passage Act, which seeks to expand Holocaust camp cheered their of this much-needed legislation,” said education in the United States. The leg- liberation by U.S. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks in islation, which passed the U.S. House soldiers. (Photo a statement. of Representatives in January and now courtesy of the United “As survivors pass on, there has never goes to U.S. President Donald Trump for States Holocaust been a more important time for Holo- his expected signature into law, would Memorial Museum caust education,” tweeted the American expand the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and of the National Jewish Committee, applauding a few of Museum’s education programming to Archives and Records those who led the effort to get it passed in teachers nationwide, requiring the muse- Administration, Congress – Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), um to develop and disseminate resources College Park, MD) Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Rep. Carolyn to improve awareness and understanding Maloney (D-NY). of the Holocaust and its lessons. In the Senate, Marco Rubio (R-FL) and The Senate version was slightly differ- “Particularly in light of the recent and Natural Resources Committee. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced ent from the U.S. House of Representatives use of Nazi imagery by right-wing pro- “It’s very rare for a substantive bill the bill along with Rosen and Cramer, one, which the Senate ultimately passed, testers praised by President Trump, we to move like this without going through while Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) intro- in that the former had the U.S. Department are pleased to see that the Never Again committee,” a Hill aide told Jewish Insid- duced it with Maloney in the House. of Education, not the USHMM, oversee Education Act passed the Senate unani- er. “[Lee] and his staff wanted to review “Senator Rosen has been building con- the expansion of Holocaust education in mously this week after it was held by at the text.” sensus on the urgency of quality Holocaust the United States. least one Republican senator,” Jewish Ultimately, no changes were made to education within her caucus and across the Under the passed bill, $2 million would Democratic Council of America Executive the bill, the Hill aide told the outlet. aisle since introducing the Never Again be allocated annually for this year and each Director Halie Soifer told JNS, referring “It has become painfully clear that more Education Act in the Senate,” said Hadas- of the next four years to the Holocaust to Holocaust imagery and slogans being must be done to educate Americans about sah’s national president, Rhoda Smolow, Education Assistance Program Fund, featured at demonstrations over state the horrors of the Holocaust and the threat and its CEO and executive director, Janice administered by the USHMM’s govern- and local restrictions to the coronavirus posed to the Jewish community through Weinman, in a statement. “Today, her hard ing body, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial pandemic, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) the use of Nazi hate symbols,” said Soifer. work paid off.” Council. Private donations for the fund placing a hold recently on the bill after it The Republican Jewish Coalition See “Never” on page 4 would be permitted. was discharged from the Senate Energy applauded the bipartisan nature of the Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE May 28 .......................................... 8:09 pm May 29 ...........................................8:10 pm COVID-19 Shavuot Follow the money June 5 ............................................8:15 pm More online Jewish resources; an The d’var looks at converts; a A new report traces how June 12 ..........................................8:19 pm Israeli defense company works review of a book of essays on the European money makes its way PLUS with hospitals to fight COVID-19. 10 Commandments. to Palestinian terrorists. Opinion .......................................................2 Stories on pages 4-5 Stories on page 6 Story on page 7 D’var Torah ...............................................6 2 THE REPORTER ■ M AY 28, 2020 A MATTER OF OPINION Will the movements survive the pandemic? BY JONATHAN S. TOBIN er, if there is any real difference between Yet the forces pushing liberal move- While the faux optimism that mocks (JNS) – It sounds like a good business that centrist denomination and its more ments together existed before the pan- talk of the “ever-dying” American Jew plan. With American Jewish religious liberal counterpart. demic. As devastating as the toll of the should be dismissed, the notion that denominations facing agonizing budget The answer from many in the Conser- coronavirus has been on institutions, the seminaries, synagogues and other decisions in the coming year as a result of vative movement is that much separates the changing demography of Ameri- Jewish forums are no longer capable the financial losses they are all suffering them from Reform, let alone the more can Jewish life is a far more important of producing a vibrant intellectual fer- in the wake of coronavirus shutdowns, radical Reconstructionist and Renewal game-changer. ment is false. The question is whether perhaps the most logical solution to their movements. Disagreements on intermar- On a local level, this has already re- that will be infused with the same problems is for the liberal denominations riage – the Conservative movement still sulted in Reform and Conservative syn- strong sense of Jewish peoplehood that to merge. refuses to allow their rabbis to officiate agogues pooling their resources to create existed at the core of the formation of If more people are thinking the at ceremonies where both parties are not a single religious school in some areas. the major movements. unthinkable these days, it’s hardly Jewish – remain an obstacle to any talk Population shifts have led to the closure The contrast between a demograph- surprising.