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 IX, NUMBER 18 SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 Obama’s $38B aid package to Israel comes with caveats that’s been an arena where the pro-Israel At right: Jacob Nagel, NEWS ANALYSIS lobby has flexed its muscle over the last left, Israel’s acting decade or so, consistently asking Congress national security adviser, BY RON KAMPEAS for multiples of the missile defense ap- signed a Memorandum WASHINGTON (JTA) – President propriations requested by each president of Understanding for $38 Barack Obama’s near parting gift to Is- – and getting it. billion of U.S. defense rael, a guarantee of $38 billion in defense “The MOU as it’s constructed seems to assistance over 10 years assistance over a decade, distills into a obviate the need for Congress’ traditional with Undersecretary of single document what he’s been saying role in recent years,” said Jonathan Schan- State Tom Shannon, on throughout eight fraught years: I have zer, the vice president of the Foundation September 14. (Photo by your back, but on my terms. for Defense of Democracies. “What this Embassy of Israel) The agreement signed September 14 means is that the relationship between in the State Department’s Treaty Room Congress and Israel will have to evolve. to ensure that this agreement is mutually formal signing, that the Israelis had asked here increases assistance for Israel over Members of Congress feel they are being beneficial and meets the needs of both the Graham to back off. “Senator Graham is the prior Memorandum of Understanding pushed out of a role that they relish.” U.S. and Israel,” she said in a statement. one of the greatest supporters of Israel in signed in 2007 under the George W. Bush Democrats in Congress praised the deal Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, the Congress,” he said. “But everyone who administration and guaranteeing Israel unequivocally, but Republicans had caveats. chairman of the Senate Appropriations spoke with him” on Israel’s team in the $31 billion over 10 years. But it also Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL, the Committee’s subcommittee dispensing talks “said it was not a good idea – Israel substantially shrinks the role Congress chairwoman of the U.S. House of Repre- foreign aid, was infuriated by the arrange- is a country that honors its agreements.” plays in a critical forum shaping U.S.-Is- sentatives subcommittee for the Middle ment. “We can’t have the executive branch Indeed, written into the agreement rael relations, defense assistance, and in East, led passage of a congressional reso- dictating what the legislative branch will is Israel’s pledge to return to the U.S. so doing diminishes the influence of the lution urging an extension of the defense do for a decade based on an agreement we government any extra monies that Con- mainstream pro-Israel community, a sector assistanc – coincidentally, just hours after are not a party to,” he told The Washington gress approves on top of the memoran- that at times has been an irritant to Obama. the sides announced a deal was in the off- Post, and pledged to push more funds for dum before it kicks in, October 2018. Wrapped into the $38 billion memoran- ing on September 12. Ros-Lehtinen said Israel through Congress. There is an exception for requests for dum is $5 billion in missile defense fund- she intended to subject the agreement to Jacob Nagel, the acting Israeli national emergency assistance in the event of ing, with clauses placing tough restrictions congressional scrutiny. “It is important for security adviser who led talks ahead of “major conflicts,” and Nagel noted that on Israel’s ability to ask for supplements Congress to conduct its oversight authority the agreement, told reporters before the See “Caveats” on page from Congress. Under Obama and Bush, and examine the MOU closely in order UJA Campaign opens with a ah Tovah Tik an at day at the movies h ev ’S u L The Federation’s 2017 UJA Campaign opened in partnership with the University of Scranton’s Department of Theology and Religion and presented a one-day Jewish film festival on August 28 at the Moskovitz Theater in the DeNaples Center. Above: Afternoon volunteers worked the ticket table. L-r: Rhonda Fallk, David Fallk, Dolores Gruber, Mary Ann Mistysyn and Esther Adelman. See page 5 for further coverage of the event. Candle lighting Federation September 23 ............................. 6:39 pm September 30- ........................... 6:27 pm on Facebook October 2 ..................................... 6:24 pm The Jewish Federation of Northeast- October 3 ...........................after 7:21 pm ern Pennsylvania now has a page on October 7 ......................................6:16 pm 5777 Facebook to let community members October 11 ................................... 6:09 pm know about upcoming events and keep October 14 ...................................6:04 pm connected. October 16 ...................................6:01 pm October 17 ........................ after 6:49 pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE October 21 ..................................5:54 pm October 23 ...................................5:51 pm Holiday round-up The sound of music Jews on the gridiron October 24 ....................... after 6:49 pm Local High Holiday services are The new Hebrew Music Museum Two Jewish brothers play in the PLUS announced; focusing on the pos- looks at the history of Jewish NFL; the Vikings’ Jewish owner is Opinion .......................................................2 itives; recipes; kids; books; more. music and lets visitors listen to it. big on football and philanthropy. D’var Torah ...............................................8 Stories on pages 3, 8-9, 14-16 Story on page 4 Stories on pages 12-13 News in Brief ..........................................19 2 THE REPORTER ■ SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 A MATTER OF OPINION Jewish pride on campus is under siege – here’s what your kids can do to fight back BY ARNOLD M. EISEN some Jewish undergraduates that the Jew- same passion attracts me to the state of against the very existence of the state of (JTA) – More than 300,000 Jewish ish community and tradition are worthy Israel, which I view as an attempt to trans- Israel. BDS materials say nary a word college students have arrived or will ar- of their involvement and commitment. I late age-old Jewish values into policy. This about the partial responsibility of the cor- rive shortly on American campuses – and worry about increased suspicion – thanks attempt, which will always fall far short of rupt Palestinian government in the West what they experience there is likely not in part to language endorsing BDS posi- perfection, deserves our enduring support Bank or the murderous Hamas regime in only to broaden their minds and uproot tions in the platform released by a coalition – and, when necessary, our critique. Like Gaza for the failure of the peace process long-held assumptions, but shake their affiliated with the Black Lives Matter any nation, Israel requires such challenge thus far. One hears a great deal from Jewish selves to the core. They will con- movement – that students can stand up and correction if it is to remain true to its BDS and affiliated groups like Jewish tend with powerful faculty and student for justice as Jews, and can fight mass founding ideals. Israel has a lot to figure Voice for Peace about Jewish and Israeli voices accusing them of complicity in a incarceration and racism as supporters out, many wrongs to make right, incredible culpability – but nothing about mistakes regime of privilege and oppression here of Israel. I want all to know that they can achievements on which to build, deep-seat- made on the Palestinian side, oppression in America and of colonialism, genocide and should maintain deep ties to the Jew- ed currents of bigotry to overcome, a proud committed by it, the blatant antisemitism and apartheid in Israel. ish community and tradition at the same tradition of democracy (the only one in the built into its policies and publications. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions time as they claim membership in larger Middle East) to develop, and the hopes of BDS is silent about the many countries movement and its campus allies have far communities and work alongside others many millions and many centuries that it that are guilty of abuses far worse than had little impact thus far either on the for universal causes of justice and peace. dare not betray. those charged to Israel. investments made by universities or the My message to students, this fall in par- But history shows that whenever people Much of the Middle East is in flames. policies of the governments of Israel or ticular, is this: Have pride in your Judaism. say that Jews (or any other group) are The Syrian death toll has passed 400,000. the United States. They are, however, Learn about its history and Israel’s. Keep largely to blame for significant portions And not a single Middle Eastern society diverting enormous time and resources your minds and hearts open. Maintain the of the world’s ills, or that things would be guarantees equality and justice for all its from important work of Jewish education moral courage to reject claims that Israel perfect if only Jews stopped insisting that citizens – women and men, Christian and and community building. No less import- practices apartheid and genocide – because we, too, have a right to live in the world, Muslim – to anything like the degree that ant, they are causing untold numbers of they are unequivocally false. Work to or that the Jewish state, or the Jewish Israel does, however imperfectly. students to keep their heads down where create spaces on campus where one can community, has no right to exist unless it As we approach Rosh Hashanah, my Israel – and Judaism – are concerned, and openly, and lovingly, question choices and conforms to allegedly “universal” ideals hope for the new year is that no Jewish to feel ashamed when they have every actions made by Israel’s leadership, and demanded of no other people as a condi- students leave Judaism behind in the reason to be proud.