July 2-15, 2021 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume L, Number 14 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Federation plans event for young families on July 15 By Reporter staff ages and will include activities and healthy we want to gather families again,” said Jewish community come together for The Jewish Federation of Greater snacks. The park also has a playground. Shelley Hubal, executive director of the children and parents to get to know each Binghamton will hold an event for young Rabbi Benny Kellman will perform chil- Federation. “Everyone had a great time other better.” families on Thursday, July 15, at 5:30 pm, dren’s songs and Rabbi Rachel Esserman and it was nice to see each other again RSVPs are not required, but are appreci- at Stair Park off Murray Hill Road in Ves- will tell a story. after the pandemic.” ated in order to make certain there is enough tal. Children and their parents are invited “We were so pleased with the atten- Hubal added, “I think it’s important food for everyone. To make a reservation, to attend. The event is for children of all dance at our Tot Shabbat in June that to have families from all parts of the e-mail Hubal at [email protected]. Save the date Federation to hold Super Sunday on August 29 By Reporter staff Larry Kassan, who has directed produc- know how much money we’ll have available time,” she noted. “Since the pandemic has The Jewish Federation of Greater tions of the musical, will facilitate the film before the allocation process starts this fall.” eased, we are hoping that we will be able Binghamton will hold Super Sunday early discussion. A special guest, comedian Josh Hubal noted that there was no Super Sun- to gather as a community and break bread this year on Sunday, August 29. The plans Wallenstein, will perform during the event. day event last year because of the pandemic. together. All protocols that are current at are for a brunch and a showing of the film “Do a mitzvah and pledge early,” said “We were so sorry not to be able to gather that time will be followed.” “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles” about the Shelley Hubal, Federation executive direc- as a community, although our community For more information about the event, Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” tor. “Help us plan for our future by letting us spirit never faltered during that difficult see future issues of The Reporter. Temple Concord to take part in NAACP Community Forum on July 8 Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell and idation-during-driving-lesson/?fbclid=I- don’t want to be rescued, rather they want racism is to understand that each person members of Temple Concord are taking wAR3UX.) Registration for the program allies, people to stand with them. The term has the potential to be a perpetrator, victim, part in the Broome Tioga Chapter of on Zoom will be available from the Temple which started to be used in this work more bystander or upstander. It is up to us to be the NAACP’s virtual community forum Concord office at 723-7355 or TempleCon- recently (the past 15 or more years) is the intentional in the way we interact with others “Looking in the Mirror: Reflections on [email protected], or through option to be an upstander. The upstander and stand up to acts of injustice.” Racism in our Community,” which will https://bit.ly/BTNAACPRegister. is a person who actively intervenes in “We hope that participants will commit take place on Thursday, July 8, from 5:30- Goldman-Wartell noted the connection some way in a situation. One aspect of the themselves to be accountable: becoming 7:30 pm. The purpose of the forum is to between Holocaust education and prejudice community forum will be to offer tools to an advocate and ally to those in need of raise awareness of racism and bias, and reduction work: “In Holocaust education, help people to do or say something when support,” said organizers of the event. its impact on individuals. The event came we often talk about these roles of people in they witness or are part of an aggression “We are looking to engage others beyond out of the incident in Sunrise earlier this a situation: perpetrator, victim, bystander or a micro-aggression. This forum is about this forum in ways to positively impact year. (For information on that incident, and rescuer. The language we use now has being an effective upstander.” our community.” visit www.binghamtonhomepage.com/ been modified. In the past, we spoke of She also noted that “the other piece of Goldman-Wartell and three other mem- news/town-of-dickinson-family-experienc- rescuing as a way of saving people’s lives Holocaust education and its place in work- bers of Temple Concord will be facilitators es-alleged-racial-harassment-and-intim- in the Holocaust. In today’s world, people ing to deal with other hate and prejudice and for the breakout groups. Reporter wins three AJPA Rockower awards By Reporter staff behind Hank Greenberg’s decision not ling and balanced commentary on Donna erwood, among others. For all the book’s The Reporter won three awards from to play on Rosh Hashanah in 1934, even Rifkind’s ‘The Sun and Her Stars: Salka new details, not all of them are of equal the American Jewish Press Association’s though his team was in a pennant race. Viertel and Hitler’s Exiles in the Golden interest, Esserman notes, ‘At times, the 40th Annual Simon Rockower Awards. According to the Rockower judges, Age of Hollywood,’ which illuminates the book’s focus was uneven: the story of sun Executive Editor Rabbi Rachel Esserman “Jewish sports fans know about Hank critical role of Jewish refugee women in (Viertel) was eclipsed by that of her stars won two awards in the Excellence in Arts Greenberg, but this story gives the entire the film industry.” (those who visited her salon).’” – Review/Criticism category: first place context and all the details that we never Esserman’s first place column “Holly- Her “Jewish food studies” review, for “Hollywood and Jewish refugees” knew for a better appreciation of the all- wood and Jewish refugees” (www.there- (www.thereportergroup.org/past-articles/ and honorable mention for “Jewish food time great Jewish slugger. Wonderful!” portergroup.org/streams/executive-editor/ feature-book-review/feature-book-re- studies.” Columnist Bill Simons took Simons was pleased to receive an award executive-editor-stream/off-the-shelf-hol- view-stream/book-review-stream/off- first place in the Excellence in Writing he called the Jewish writers’ version of lywood-and-jewish-refugees) is also listed the-shelf-jewish-food-studies-by-rabbi- About Sports category for “Ballfield the Academy Awards. He also offered as a finalist for a 2021 Syracuse Press rachel-esserman), received honorable or synagogue: Hank Greenberg’s High his congratulations to Esserman on her Club Award, which will be announced mention. According to the Rockower Holiday dilemma.” work. “Kudos to our editor, Rabbi Rachel in September. Rockower judges called it judges, it is a “big-hearted review of two “Three awards for the paper was a won- Esserman, on receiving the prestigious an “excellent review of Donna Rifkind’s new Jewish food books, ‘Feasting and derful surprise,” Esserman said. “I’m so Simon Rockower First Place Award for ‘The Sun and Her Stars: Salka Viertel and Fasting: The History and Ethics of Jewish pleased that Bill won for one of his terrific Excellence in Arts – Review/Criticism,” Hitler’s Exiles in the Golden Age of Hol- Food’ and ‘The Dairy Restaurant,’ both sports columns. And that’s from someone he said. “More than an individual victory, lywood’ by Rabbi Rachel Esserman. Like about how to think about the intersection who is not a sports fan. I may not read the honor underlines the importance of the author, Esserman argues the book’s of food and religion but one takes an ac- the sports section of the local paper, but I local journalism to the Jewish community. important because women’s accomplish- ademic approach, the other: anecdotal.” always enjoy Bill’s work. His column is The award brings much deserved recog- ments in Hollywood then were either lost Esserman said that while awards are an excellent addition to our paper, whether nition to The Reporter. Thanks to Rabbi or ignored even though women worked wonderful, it’s the interaction with the he’s writing about sports, Jewish movie Esserman’s editing, commentary and book in every studio department. Rifkind not community that is the true reward. “When stars or more personal columns like his reviews, The Reporter remains an essential only tells Jewish refugee-actress-writer people tell me how much they enjoy one moving Father’s Day column.” anchor of our local Jewish community. Salka Viertel’s story but she dispels mis- of my columns or praise something Bill Simons’ column, which can be Although her reviews, issue after issue, conceptions about Viertel’s reputation. wrote, then I know we’re providing a true found at www.thereportergroup.org/ are consistently incisive, informative and Viertel opened her house to fellow refugee service to the community,” she said. “The archives/feature/ballfield-or-syna- interesting, Rabbi Esserman’s winning writers, actors and artists who’d escaped fact that we can offer people exclusive gogue-hank-greenbergs-high-holi- entry, ‘Hollywood and Jewish refugees,’ fascism in Europe – Heinrich and Thomas articles – ones they can read nowhere else day-dilemma, talks about the reasons merits this special accolade for its compel- Mann, Bruno Frank and Christopher Ish- – is something I’m proud of.” INSIDE THIS ISSUE Holocaust education Golan Heights News in brief..