WESTCHESTER May 2017 -- Iyar-Sivan 5777, Volume 23, Issue 5 JewishWESTCHESTER COUNTY’S ONLY MONTHLY JEWISHLife NEWSPAPER Lincoln Park Jewish Center Continues its Mission BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN LPJC Rabbi Rigoberto Vinas, serve the Yonkers community.” gogues and schools. “This lo- 48 observed,” “and we devel- “LPJC should be able cation is between where many Despite a shrinking de- oped a Mission.” to keep up their services for people pass, going upstate on mographic population of only Vinas also offers Mi- their holidays. We are trying the New York Thruway.” 70 families with concomitant drashia, a series of classes that to establish something in the LPJC President Jack Sch- financial difficulties, Lincoln have appeared on You Tube in- Jewish community, perhaps weizer stressed that LPJC will Park Jewish Center (LPJC), cluding Kaddish, Chanukah and a Jewish museum and maybe retain their Chapel, Office, 311 Central Park Avenue, Yon- mythological Talmudic mon- with the elderly retiring, they Dairy Kitchen and Bridal Suite; kers continues to be a vibrant, sters; free LPJC classes are avail- should be able to have a little the rest, including the Main modern Orthodox congrega- able Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. housing,” Veyetar Yitzhok Rab- Sanctuary will be shared with tion, seeking to foster spiri- “Proceeds of the sale will bi Eluzar Lieberman observed. Veyetar Yitzhok. tual growth through prayer, create an endowment to con- “We are studying the As a portent of the future, acceptance, community and tinue our operations. The down needs of the neighborhood, to LPJC will celebrate its 79th an- fellowship thanks to their sale payment was liquid; instead of look out for the Jewish elderly.” niversary on Sunday, May 21 to Veyetar Yitzhok, Brooklyn. putting it in escrow we are able Asked why Yonkers was select- with a gala cocktail party from The new owners plan to rent to use these funds to continue…” ed rather than Brooklyn; Li- 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. portions of the synagogue Vinas added. “We are not clos- eberman replied that Brooklyn For further information, back to LPJC at $100 a month ing our doors, but continue to and Monsey have many syna- call LPJC at 914-965-7119. plus utilities for the next three years until a smaller location (L-R) Rabbi Eluzar Lieberman congratulates Lincoln Park Jewish Center (LPJC) President Jack Schweizer, celebrating can be found for LPJC. the successful sale of the Center’s Yonkers campus to Rabbi Lieberman’s Vayetar Yitzchok, a Jewish Religious organiza- “When I arrived in 2003, tion based in Brooklyn. The closing at the law offices of Smith, Buss and Jacobs concluded after almost a year of we could not even get minyan,” friendly and protracted negotiations, and a great deal of work. Photo by Robert Kalfus District Attorney Addresses Anti-Semitism World Premiere of Cantor Gerald Cohen’s New and Bias Crime at Legislative Breakfast American Opera Steal a Pencil for Me Announced Opera Colorado will present the world premiere of Steal Following a rise in na- a Pencil for Me by composer and Scarsdale’s Shaarei Tikvah tional and local anti-Semitism Cantor Gerald Cohen and librettist Deborah Brevoort in Jan- and hate crimes, Westchester’s uary 2018. A moving love story based on the real-life experi- new District Attorney Anthony ences of a Dutch man, the woman he loves, and his estranged A. Scarpino, Jr. addressed is- wife, Steal a Pencil for Me chronicles the trio’s struggle to sues of concern to the county’s survive in two Nazi concentration camps. The secret lovers Jewish community at the An- exchange passionate letters written with stolen pencil stubs, nual Westchester Government keeping their hopes and hearts alive in a time of darkness. Relations Legislative Break- Steal a Pencil for Me will be presented January 25–30, 2018, at fast. The event took place on the Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center Friday, March 31, 2017, at the (MACC) in Denver. Jewish Community Center of The production marks the second world premiere for Harrison. the company in two years, following the debut of The Scar- U.S. Congressman Eliot let Letter in May 2016, and will be the first world premiere to Engel, U.S. Congresswoman be presented as part of Scene Change, Opera Colorado’s new Nita Lowey and Westchester venture presenting opera outside the traditional grand opera County Executive Rob Asto- house setting. The premiere of Steal a Pencil for Me will be di- rino also shared remarks at the Cantor Gerald Cohen (From left) Westchester District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.; UJA-Federation’s rected by Omer Ben Seadia in her Opera Colorado debut and breakfast, which is sponsored Westchester Government Relations Chair Debra Abrahams Weiner of White Plains; conducted by Music Director Ari Pelto. Inna Dukach, Gideon UJA-Federation’s Public Policy Committee Chair Karen Spar Kasner of Scarsdale; Dabi, and Adriana Zabala portray the love triangle’s respective roles of Ina Soep, Jaap Polak, and his and Westchester Jewish Council President Paul Warhit of New Rochelle wife Manja Polak. “Supporting new American opera is core to our artistic vision. We believe it is vital for artists to by UJA-Federation of New York ish institutions across the test new ideas and continue to innovate within the opera form,” said Greg Carpenter, General Director and the Westchester Jewish country have been targeted of Opera Colorado. “We are proud to premiere Steal a Pencil for Me, and to be a creative partner in re- Council. with a record number of bomb Since January 2017, Jew- continued on page 4 continued on page 2 Visit www.westchesterjewishlife.com 2 • May 2017 • Iyar-Sivan 5777 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com World Premiere of Cantor Gerald Cohen’s New American Opera New Report Shows Rise of Anti-Semitism on Campus continued from page 1 Anti-Semitism on cam- not, indicating that a select dents and staff for harm. alizing an insightful depiction pus increased 40% and geno- number of schools are expe- Acts of anti-Jewish hos- of this poignant story of three cidal expression doubled in riencing surges. Columbia, tility that appeared to be lives that intersect during one 2016, according to AMCHA Vassar, New York University, primarily motivated by his- of the most horrific moments Initiative’s annual study, re- University of Chicago, Uni- torical anti-Semitism rose by in history.” leased recently that examines versity of Wisconsin Madi- 76%. Anti-Semitic genocidal Opera Colorado’s Mu- anti-Semitism at more than son, University of Minnesota expression, mostly consist- sic Director Ari Pelto worked 100 public and private colleg- and Ohio State University ing of swastikas and graf- closely with Gerald Cohen and es and universities with the had the largest increases. fiti, signs, posters and let- Deborah Brevoort to develop largest Jewish undergraduate On the topic of the BDS ters that call for the killing Steal a Pencil for Me, including populations. Main findings of Influence, all of the schools of Jews, doubled from 2015 guiding semi-staged presenta- the study include: 40% Spike: with the largest surges in an- to 2016. Examples include, tions in advance of the Opera veloping Steal a Pencil for Me in It was a simple story that they Anti-Semitism on campuses ti-Semitic activity were those “Kill all Kikes,” “GAS JEWS Colorado premiere. 2011; he and librettist Deborah imagined for themselves—of most popular for Jewish stu- that played host to anti-Isra- DIE,” “Gas the Kikes,” “Death “In telling the story, it is Brevoort interviewed Jaap and ordinary breakfasts, and butter dents continued to rise, in- el divestment votes in 2016 to Israel and to all Jews,” crucial to avoid caricature, both Ina many times in the process for the bread— but it neverthe- creasing 40% in 2016. but not in 2015. Classic anti- and “Holocaust 2.0.”Many of for the Jews and the Nazis. This of creating the opera, which less held great power and ulti- While anti-Semitic in- Semitism (57% of incidents) the incidents of anti-Jewish is not a story of outsized charac- was presented in a semi-staged mately enabled them to survive. cidents increased, the total and anti-Zionism (43%) were genocidal expression also ters and deeds, or villains and workshop in 2013 with Ina and When everything is taken away, number of schools affected the two motivating factors in targeted students from other heroes,” said Pelto. “Ina, Jaap, Jaap in attendance. only the essential remains.” by campus anti-Semitism did acts that targeted Jewish stu- continued on page 3 and Manja wrestle with the “My parents were World Gerald Cohen is a noted challenges, complications, and War II refugees, and for a long baritone and his experience as emotions of life, love, and part- time I contemplated creating a singer informs his dramatic, nership. We aim to create an in- an opera set during the Holo- lyrical compositions for opera, timate and natural connection caust because of this personal chorus, chamber ensembles, between the three leads against connection,” Cohen said. “I had and orchestra. Recognition of Kids Eat FREE On Mother’s Day! the backdrop of the war.” always loved Jaap and Ina’s sto- Cohen’s body of work includes In 1943, Jaap and Ina were ry, but it was upon seeing the commissioning grants from Meet Purchase any sandwich or entrée at regular price in Ben’s introduced by a mutual friend documentary for the second the Composer, National Endow- dining room on Mother’s Day and select an item of equal or in Amsterdam.