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June 19-25, 2020 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLIX, Number 25 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Statements against racism Local rabbis affirm Binghamton JCC of Binghamton affirms Interfaith Clergy Statement anti-racism message The Jewish Community Center of Bing- faiths and backgrounds, new immigrants Against Racism hamton affirms the message offered by its and veteran Americans and Canadians all national organization, JCC Association are part of our movement. They are JCC Rabbis Geoffrey Brown. Rachel Esser- Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and of North America, which is the umbrella members and participants, and they hold man and Barbara Goldman-Wartell are countless others to awaken in us the need organization for all JCCs, YM-YWHAs and proud and honored places on the staffs and among local clergy who signed the “Bing- to seek justice and to dismantle systems of camps throughout North America. boards of Jewish Community Centers and hamton Interfaith Clergy Statement Against oppression. Our hearts are torn for every Statement from the JCCA: When One Camps from coast to coast. Embracing and Racism.” The text of that statement follows. victim of white supremacy and police Community Hurts, We All Feel the honoring that diversity is fundamental to our As leaders of diverse predominantly brutality. Every time we forget that each Pain mission – and may now be more important white faith communities in the Binghamton, person is made in the image of God, we “Each of Us Has a Part to Play” than ever. New York area, we are angry and saddened move further away from our own humanity. Rabbi Tarfon taught: “It is not your re- We are inspired by voices calling upon by the unspeakable tragedies of the Black We value the sanctity of every human life. sponsibility to finish the work [of perfecting us to come together to root out racism and deaths we have been witness to in recent Ideas and systems that support white the world], but you are not free to desist inequality while those who would incite weeks and the hideous underbelly of white supremacy are a cancer that eats away at from it either.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16) and divide us, sow discord and disharmony supremacy that these events and the re- our minds, hearts, and souls. Indifference We are profoundly disturbed and deeply that place our progress as a nation at risk. sponse to them has revealed. and fear perpetuate systems of inequality offended by the specter of racism and dis- The ethos of the JCC Movement, predicated We confess that our eyes have not always that hurt poor and working class white crimination in this country and join with on a celebration of our diversity as Jews and been open to the plight of those who have communities along with black, brown and the Black community and with all those as a community, is at the very heart of who been the victims of brutality and violence. native people. demanding that we live up to the principles we are and what we aspire to be. As people of privilege we are usually blind We acknowledge the need to examine of freedom, equality, and justice that are the Elie Wiesel, of blessed memory, Holo- to the actions that hurt, brutalize, and kill our own reflexive racist impulses, and to cornerstones of our society. caust survivor and symbol of the Jewish those without our privileges whose blood work every day on becoming anti-racist in These same principles are integral to people’s triumph over evil during the today cries from the soil. We confess that thought, word and deed. who we are. We take great pride in our worst period of vicious antisemitism in at times it takes the deaths of those created We commit ourselves to being guided own diversity – as a Jewish community and history, left us a legacy of great wisdom, in God’s image like George Floyd, Breonna See “Clergy” on page 2 as a movement. People of color, of diverse See “JCC” on page 2 Chabad Center to offer virtual tribute program Chabad Center will hold a virtual tribute “This program is not a Holocaust pro- ed. There is sadness, but there is also the Creator and more,” said organizers of the program “Alone, With G-d,” to mark the gram,” explained Rivkah Slonim. “Though profoundest kind of hope. In a time where event. “The reshimot contain many ideas 26th yahrtzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the entries were written during the war, many are offering easy answers and solu- and concepts which were barely hinted at Tuesday, June 23, at 7:30 pm, via Zoom at they are focused on how an individual tions, this program suggests new questions in his later public career, and represent a www.Jewishbu.com/virtual. Prior registra- confronts a world that suddenly feels hos- and, perhaps more importantly, a new way new stage in the revelation of the Rebbe’s tion for the program is not necessary. The tile and vastly unfamiliar. In some ways to ask them.” message for the world.” multimedia program, produced by Yuval – and thankfully, it is only some – this is From his earliest years, the Rebbe would One of the entries featured in the film Films, explores through film and study the how many of us feel today. A study of the record his insights and ruminations. These will be explored further in a series of classes personal journals of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe’s thinking during those challeng- private writings, which he himself called allowing participants to experience the way much of which was written during his years ing times can offer all of us new ways to reshimot, accompanied him in all his travels. the Rebbe thought and wrote. The entry as a refugee in Nazi Europe. Combining think constructively – even during very The reshimot span the period from 1928-50. explores such topics as hashgocho protis, readings of eight entries from these jour- difficult times.” “In these hundreds of pages, written with Divine providence, and dirah b’tachonim, nals with archival footage from the time “There is no question that the time in extreme concision in a small and crowded building a dwelling place for the Divine, and and place in which they were written, the which these entries were written was a sad hand, are novel insights and collections of the centrality of man to both. The three-part 35-minute film offers what has been called time,” said Rabbi Aaron Slonim. “But after sources in all areas of the Torah, the legal course will be offered on three successive “a powerful and immediate encounter with we see how the Rebbe ‘spoke’ during the and non-legal passages of the Talmud, Monday nights at 7 pm beginning June 29 the Rebbe’s way of thinking in the face of darkest of times, the film also allows us ethics and homiletics, customs and prac- via Zoom. To register for the classes, e-mail devastating uncertainty.” to see how he ‘spoke’ after the war end- tices, stories, lessons in the service of the [email protected]. Film Fest second virtual showing also “a success” By Reporter staff history of the docu- lot of fun to talk with them both. They answered The Jewish International Film Fest of mentary, where the questions for almost 50 minutes and covered Greater Binghamton held its second virtual initial idea came everything from the team’s trip to Israel, to the event. The film screened “Heading Home: from, some of the re- current state of baseball during COVID-19, to The Tale of Team Israel” directed by Seth jections he got when antisemitism in the sport.” Kramer, Daniel A. Miller and Jeremy pitching it to pro- Hubal also noted the positive response Newberger, which charted the underdog ducers, etc. He was of viewers to the film. “Everyone I heard journey of Israel’s national baseball team very entertaining from really enjoyed the film,” she added. when it competed for the first time in the and clearly has en- “Many felt a real sense of pride in watching. World Baseball Classic. Almost 50 house- joyed meeting with If you were not able to view the film with holds signed up to view the film, which Jewish communities us, it is available on iTunes.” was available free for a 48-hour period. all over the country In addition, Hubal noted the commu- Twenty-four people attended the Zoom to discuss the film.” nity’s contribution to making the event a film discussion on June 8, which was led Hubal was pleased success. “I’d also like to offer a thank you by Newberger and included a surprise: Alex with the surprise to everyone that made a donation in support Katz, a professional baseball player and a Newberger offered. of the Film Fest,” she said. member of Team Israel, joined the group. “It was wonderful The Film Fest Committee is not certain “Jeremy Newberger, the film-maker, to have professional Screen shot of some of those who participated in the Zoom discussion. if more films will be screened this season. was really engaging!” said Shelley Hubal, baseball player, and If the committee does decide to offer more executive director of the Jewish Federation a member of Team Israel, Alex Katz join the with the Kansas City Royals and will be playing films, information will appear in future of Greater Binghamton. “He gave us some Zoom call,” she said. “Alex is currently signed for Team Israel in the Olympics in 2021. It was a issues of The Reporter.

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