March 24-30, 2017 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLVI, Number 12 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Ithaca College to hold annual Israel Film Festival on March 25, 29 and 30 The fourth annual Israel Film Festival rael is Real,” highlighting human elements catch a glimpse into the internal world of “Mr. Gaga” at Ithaca College will be held on March of Israel life and culture exclusively through those with Down Syndrome. Thursday, March 30, 6:20 pm work- 25, 29 and 30, and will feature three documentary film selections. “The Essential Link: The Story of Wil- shop; 7 pm screening, Cinemapolis, Itha- documentaries illustrating stories from “This year’s festival portrays a unique frid Israel” ca. Workshop: “Gaga Dance Workshop” life in Israel and beyond. For the first reality through art, disabilities and his- Wednesday, March 29, 7pm screening, with Prof. Lindsay Gilmour, assistant time, IFF has partnered with local theater tory with a selection of unique, vibrant Textor Hall 102, thaca College; discussion: professor, Department of Theatre Arts, Cinemapolis to present the third and final and diverse Israeli cinema,” said Mirit Director Yonatan Nir and Dr. Michael and instructor of modern dance at Ithaca film of the series, “Mr. Gaga,” which will Hadar, IFF co-founder and director. Richardson, professor, Department of College, and students. be screened there on the festival’s closing “We are honored to present these films Modern Languages and Literatures and Ohad Naharin, artistic director of the night, Thursday, March 30. around Ithaca communities and, for the 20th and 21st century German literature and Batsheva Dance Company, has been called All communities are welcome to learn first time, in downtown Ithaca at the cinema, Holocaust studies. one of the most important choreographers in about Israel’s culture through personal Cinemapolis theater.” Wilfrid Israel, the owner of a depart- the world. The documentary will introduce stories of people with Down Syndrome “My Hero Brother” ment store in the center of Berlin, has viewers to the man and his work. Filmed over and their families in the film “My Hero Saturday, March 25: 7:30 pm reception; been called one of the great saviors of a period of eight years, director Tomer Hey- Brother,” the art of dancing in “Mr. Gaga” 8:30 pm screening – Park Hall Audito- Jews during the Holocaust who played a mann mixes intimate rehearsal footage with and stories of Israeli Holocaust survivors rium, thaca College; discussion: ques- role in the Kindertransport operation. His unseen archive material and dance sequences. in “The Essential Link: The Story of tion-and-answer with director Yonatan Nir. story becomes very personal as filmmaker The Israel Film Festival is sponsored by Wilfrid Israel.” A group of young people with Down Yonatan Nir takes viewers on a journey Hillel at Ithaca College, the Ithaca College Panel discussions focusing on multiple Syndrome embark on a demanding trek from a kibbutz in northern Israel to Ger- Jewish Studies Program, the Ithaca Area aspects of the film will follow each screen- through the India Himalayas, accompanied many in the 1930s. The filmmaker, who United Jewish Community, The New Fund ing. All events are open to the public and by their brothers and sisters. Unresolved was born on the kibbutz where Israel’s for Cinema and TV, J Street U at Ithaca the first two screenings will be free and conflicts and the complexities of growing name was known, but his story was kept College, and Student Alliance for Israel shown on the Ithaca College campus, while up with a Down Syndrome child in the fam- secret, searches for the mysterious hero at Ithaca College. For more information, the third and final film will be shown at ily come to the surface, while a closeness and the reasons for his disappearance visit israelfilmfest.com or contact mhadar@ Cinemapolis in downtown Ithaca at regular develops among the siblings as they deal from history. ithaca.edu. admission cost. with physical and emotional challenges. The theme for this year’s festival is “Is- Through the eye of the camera, viewer Naomi Seidman to speak Spotlight TV comedy introduces Israelis at Cornell on March 27 Naomi Seidman, Koret Professor of “Faithful Renderings: Jewish-Christian Jewish Culture at the Graduate Theologi- Difference and the Politics of Translation,” to their Ethiopian neighbors cal Union, will give the David and Rachel “The Marriage Plot: Or, How Jews Fell in Siegel Lecture in Jewish Women’s Studies Love with Love, and with Literature” and By Andrew Tobin on Monday, March 27, at 5:30 pm, in 165 “A Marriage Made in Heaven: The Sexual TEL AVIV (JTA) – For the first time, McGraw Hall at Cornell University, Ithaca. Politics of Hebrew and Yiddish.” In April Israelis recently saw a black lead character Her talk, “Sister Scholars: The Emergence 2016, she received a Guggenheim Fellow- on a homegrown, primetime television of Orthodox Girls’ Education in Interwar ship to support development of an upcoming show. “Nevsu,” a half-hour comedy, focuses Poland,” will be a foretaste of her biography book about Freud’s Jewish languages. on an Ethiopian man who is married to an in progress of Sarah Schenirer, the pioneer- The event is open to the public and no Ashkenazi Jewish woman. Misunderstand- ing founder of the Beis Yaakov network of tickets are required. For more informa- ing ensues. Orthodox Jewish girls’ schools. tion, visit http://events.cornell.edu/event/ “There is definitely a lot of cultural Seidman’s previous publications include naomi_seidman. confusion in the show,” Yosi Vasa, the star and co-creator of the show, told JTA. “But the great thing about comedy is when the audience laughs, that means they get it. So “Nebsu” co-creators Yosi Vasa, left, and Community celebrated Purim that’s progress.” Shai Ben-Atar. (Photo by Reshet) Following a series of sometimes violent protests between Ethiopian Israelis and Vasa, 41, said such incidents are part of police in recent years, the creators of the his reality, which many Israelis find difficult new show think comedy is called for. They to believe. But one evening last year, the hope that by making light of the frictions show’s third co-creator, Liat Shavi, had a between Ethiopian immigrants and the firsthand look. After saying goodnight to broader society, they can promote mutual Vasa, who had stopped outside the office in understanding. “People went out to [the Tel Aviv to smoke a cigarette, her cellphone highway] Ayalon South and demonstrated rang. “Suddenly he’s calling me, and I don’t with anger. People wrote columns,” co-cre- understand. He’s speaking unclearly, and ator Shai Ben-Atar said in a promotional he says, ‘Come here for a second,’” Shavit video, referring to 2015 demonstrations pro- recalled in the promotional video. “So I look testing police brutality against Ethiopians. across the street and I see him standing there “Our demonstration is a demonstration of with a police officer.” love. We come to the audience with love. Ben-Atar adds: “He didn’t care about We come with characters full of love.” the fact that he was arrested. He just really In the March 9 premiere, Vasa’s charac- wanted us to see that it actually happens, ter, Gili, steps out of his suburban house to and that was really comedic.” run an errand. A police officer driving by Roni Akale, the director-general of stops and demands his ID, which he has the Ethiopian National Project, said most left inside the house. Moments later, the Israelis don’t get where Ethiopians are officer is aggressively frisking Gili against coming from because they live largely More than 300 community members attended the JCC’s annual Community Purim Carnival the trunk of his car. See “Comedy” on page 11 held on March 12.(For more photos of Purim celebrated around town, see pages 8-9.) INSIDE THIS ISSUE Team Israel Always the heroine Deciphering the past Special Sections A look at Team Israel, made up of Jessica Chastain discusses A Roman period road is unovered Legal Notices ................................... 4 American Jewish players, and its playing a Holocaust heroine in near Beit Shemesh; ancient Book Review .................................... 4 run in the World Baseball Classic. “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” Hebrew is found in a Galilee shul. Car Care ....................................... 6-7 ........................................Page 5 ........................................Page 6 ........................................Page 7 Classifieds ..................................... 12 Page 2 - The Reporter March 24-30, 2017 Opinion From the Desk of the Federation Executive Director Hello, it’s Sima SIMA AUERBACH Our granddaughter Edythe Jean Auerbach is now 7 the first initial of the mother’s name and the last name. chicken soup recipe? Should Neil teach her how to run weeks old. Seven is a special number in our world: seven When I married Neil, Edith (her way of spelling her like a beautiful gazelle? Can I tell her that nothing is more days of creation, Shabbat is the seventh day of the week, name) gave me Neil’s baby bracelet – “E. Auerbach” important than “a good name”? seven matriarchs and patriarchs, and seven branches on the – which I wear daily. This will become our Edythe’s at When our first grandchild was born, we were in our Temple’s menorah, to name but a few. The Hebrew word an appropriate age so I can pass on to Edy her grand- late 40s/early 50s – both working, active in our temple and for luck, “gad,” equals seven in Gematria and “mazel” is father’s beginnings. involved in many things. But life is less frenetic now, and 77. Seems like the right week to start thinking about what What is important for Edy to know? Her world will we have more time to contemplate and think about what is important.