The Jewish Indiana Edition Post &Opinion Presenting a broad spectrum of Jewish News and Opinions since 1935. Volume 85, Number 6 • September 25, 2019 • 25 Elul 5779 www.jewishpostopinion.com • https://go.usa.gov/xn7ay Cover Art by Jackie Olenick (see About the Cover on p. IN 3) 2 The Jewish Post & Opinion – IN September 25, 2019 “The mandate to care for others comes Committee. Cantor Roger is married to Simcha Announcements directly from Torah,”Cantor Roger shared. Indianapolis native, Brandon Roger.They “Many times our ancestors have two sons, Eddie and Miles. If you’re were reminded to be interested in having a clergy member visit Mazel Tov to… mindful of the needs of you in your home, please contact Cantor the widow, the orphan, Janice L. Roger at 317-496-4985 or email Tahlia Alkobi, daugh- the stranger and the poor. [email protected]. ter of Saar and Shirley The rabbis translated that Alkobi received the into the maxim ‘Kol Yisrael Gavin and Haley Rourke on becoming President’s Education arevim Zeh bazeh – All Cantor Roger the proud parents of Josephine Mazal Award for outstanding Israel is responsible one for the other.’” Rourke (below) on Aug. 22, 2019. She academic excellence. Cantor Roger was kept busy during her weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19-3/4 nearly 40 years at Indianapolis Hebrew inches at birth. Grandparents include Lori Jewish Family Service – pleased to Congregation (IHC), working with the Katz and Don Katz of Indianapolis, announce the implementation of a Congregational Choir, Chai Notes Choir, Judith McCallum of Florida and John Community Chaplaincy Program with 65thStreet Klezmorim, and other musical Rourke of Michigan. Great-grandparents support from the Jewish Federation of groups. She also taught bar/bat mitzvah are Larry and Arlene Weinberg of Greater Indianapolis. Cantor Janice L. students, and Kindermusik in the Early Indianapolis and Evelyn Rourke of Roger will be working with the Jewish Childhood Center. Non-musical areas in Michigan. Family Services staff as the Community Cantor Roger’s portfolio included the Chaplain. Worship Committee, Task Force on Disabilities Issues, Heritage Committee, Library Committee and Cultural Arts Committee. She also writes a column for the Indianapolis Star. Since retiring from IHC in 2017, Cantor Roger has done coursework in Clinical Pastoral Education and served as a chaplaincy intern in the IU Health system at Methodist Hospital. She is a member of the NAJC (Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains) and serves on its Ethics Barb and Dick Leventhal on being honored with special recognition from the Life & Legacy Community at their annual celebration Sept. 12, 2019. They are both lifelong residents of Indianapolis and graduates of Indiana University. Barb earned a law degree from IU McKinney School of Law and worked in private practice, as well as the public sector in Marion County Superior Court hearing adoption and guardianship cases. Dick pursued a career in business, founding Top Value Fabrics, Inc., and he currently serves on the board of directors of Emmis Communications and WastePoint, LLC. Both Barb and Dick have generously given their time to many organizations over the years. Barb has served on the (see Mazel Tov, page IN 5) September 25, 2019 The Jewish Post & Opinion – IN 3 Editorial About the Cover Inside this Issue “Love the Stranger in Your Midst” By Jackie Olenick Simcha Announcements.........................2 Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Editorial.....................................................3 Paternity and Love. By Dani Shapiro. New This is a “memory”painting of going to About the Cover ......................................3 York: Alfred A. Knopf, January 2019. 250 Shabbat services with my Community Events .................................4 pages. $24.95. sister and Bubbeh. I’m Why Surge in Antisemitism is Alarming......6 Dani Shapiro grew up on the left with dark hair. Rabbi Irwin Wiener: (Rosh Hashanah) an only child in a subur- This is circa early 1950s. It The Power of the Spirit .......................7 ban Jewish neighborhood was painted from a photo- Seniors in Place .......................................8 in New Jersey. Her father’s graph of the Nationally Purdue U. Hillel Cookout......................9 family was Orthodox and registered historic Nezarin Indianapolis Opera...............................10 her mother was Jewish but Synagogue in Queen J. Olenick Hooverwood Mezuzah Project............11 secular. Before marriage Dani Shapiro Village in Philadelphia. It was built in 1805 The B’nai Torah BBQ............................12 her mother agreed to follow Orthodoxy. and was originally a Baptist church which Shofar Making.......................................12 Shapiro says her mother was a pathological welcomed immigrants from Poland, Broad Ripple H.S. 1969 Reunion .......12 narcissist who had a borderline personality Ireland, and Italy. Obituaries ...............................................13 disorder, which made it difficult for people It became a synagogue in approximately IJHS Honored Jewish Legends...........15 (including Shapiro) to get along with her, 1903 and welcomed Jewish immigrants Videographer Keeps Eye on Sports...16 and her father was depressed but Dani from the Polish town of Nezin where Jerry Delson: (Book Review) adored him. many settled together to be near this shul. Fond Memories of a Childhood........18 When Shapiro was 23, and attempting I added the Hebrew to the top of the shul Orthodox Union Hosts NCSY in Israel ...19 to make sense of her life, her parents were because of the current political crisis and Honoring Chevra Kadisha ...................19 in a car accident. because this shul welcomed immigrants, Hadassah Opening Meeting ...............20 Her father died including my family, for over 200 years. from the injuries Jackie Olenick is a Judaic artist and The Jewish shortly afterward. jewelry designer residing in Bloomington, Post &Opinion Her mother was Ind. Her work can be seen on her website Jewish News and Opinion since 1935. critically injured at www.jackieolenickart.com. Contact her at and Shapiro helped [email protected]. 1389 W 86th St. #160 take care of her for Indianapolis, IN 46260 the next two years. j i email: [email protected] Several times This revelation is shocking to her, and phone and fax: (317) 405-8084 throughout her life the few remaining mostly elderly relatives website: www.jewishpostopinion.com Shapiro is told that and family friends that she asks about it publisher & editor: Jennie Cohen she does not look Jewish. Frequently she have no answers for her. Although, she graphic designer: Charlie Bunes felt out of place, as if she did not belong, has a very loving exchange with her 93 did not fit in. Her pale blond hair and blue year old aunt who on p. 136 tells her, eyes amid many with dark hair and dark “I’m not giving you up.”When Dani starts Simchas Welcome! Had a recent joyous eyes probably did not help. weeping her aunt continues, “And you’d occasion in your family or Jewish organization? At age 25, Shapiro finds out the method better not be giving me up.”Now Dani is The Jewish Post & Opinion – IN Edition welcomes your announce- of her conception was artificial insemina- sobbing and her aunt finishes, “And you ments for placement in our Simcha tion. Her parents had trouble conceiving are my brother’s daughter.” section (see page 2). Submit photos and but they had not spelled out the details On p. 176 she writes,“The clues screamed text to: [email protected]. Next and she had not looked into it herself. in neon. But I had not seen them. After all Deadline: Nov. 1, 2019. All decisions Fast forward to when she is 54. Her plenty of people look or feel “other” than on publishing, date of placement, size of husband Michael wants to find out more their parents or siblings. Biology doesn’t photo, and length of announcement are at about his genealogy while his father is still promise similarity. Traits skip generations. the sole discretion of the publisher. mentally sharp to discuss it, and he Characteristics emerge, seemingly out of decides to take a DNA test. On a whim nowhere. Our parents seem alien to us.” voice became stronger and fuller within the she decides to follow suit. The reason I loved this book might be plaintive melodies of the Hebrew liturgy. On page 7 she writes: “The kits arrived different than why others like it. Besides The synagogue was his home. When he and sat on our kitchen counter for days, being a riveting mystery and difficult to put shook his tallis from his velvet pouch and perhaps weeks, unopened. … Finally one down, it seemed as if the teachings in the wrapped it around his shoulders, he night Michael opened the two packages book match our mission that we set forth became larger, almost mystical. Here in shul, and handed me a small plastic vial. ‘Spit,’ when my father handed the publishing prayer was our secret language, our way of he said. … Two months passed by and I torch to me almost 20 years ago: “To connecting. We had the choreography gave little thought to my DNA test … until protect, promote, and preserve time- down. We knew just what to do. Here one day an email containing my results honored Jewish values such as “Love your we stand. Here we sit. Here we sway. appeared.” neighbor as yourself.” Here we close our siddurs. Here we sing She is puzzled, to put it mildly: Scattered throughout the book Shapiro Ein Keloheinu. Here we kiss each other’s “According to Ancestry, my DNA was 52% includes some of these Jewish values. She cheeks and say: Good Shabbos.” Eastern European Ashkenazi. The rest was writes poetically about sitting with her I appreciate and benefit from the teachings a smattering of French, Irish, English, and father in shul as a young girl on pgs. of other traditions, but the parts of this German.”She eventually figures out she is 170–171: “I could feel the way his body book on Judaism strongly resonated with not at all related to her father biologically.