FEBRUARY 2020 | SHEVAT/ADAR 5780 VOLUME 86 NO. 6 RABBI’S NOTES INSIDE: by Rabbi Michael Mishkin ◾ Sexual Politics in the Story of Purim, Monday, March 2 Pharaoh, Haman & ◾ Author of The City Game, Matthew Goodman, Antisemitism Today March 5 Shalom Friends, Last month, Dr. Annette Kasle and I presented a This issue of the TBI Tablet three-part series on Dr. Deborah Lipstadt and her book is sponsored by Antisemitism: Here and Now. Dr. Lipstadt, a professor of ADINA SCHNEIDER Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, is one of the world’s leading scholars on the & JEFF FREILICH history of the Holocaust, antisemitism, and Holocaust in honor of the Bar Mitzvah denial. If you have not read her book, I encourage you to of their son do so. It’s an important book, which explains some of the history of antisemitism, and the different ways that antisemitism manifests itself in ABRAM contemporary times. In explaining the theological origins of antisemitism (which is a very small part of the book), Dr. Lipstadt goes back to the origins of Christianity and the riff that took place at that time, between the Jewish community and the new Christian community. However, from a biblical perspective, antisemitism goes Sign Up Online to Order Your back much further than that. To enrich our discussion, Annette Kasle presented two biblical texts, which have a lot to say about antisemitism and the necessary response MISLOACH MANOT to antisemitism. BASKETS Rabbi continued on page 2 Select “ALL” for Misloach Manot and you will be entered into a raffle for a High Holiday Parking Space PURIM CARNIVAL Sunday, March 8 11:30 AM FUN! FOOD! GAMES! and don’t forget PURIM SPIEL & MEGILLAH READING Monday, March 9 • 5 PM Visit us online at www.tbiport.org Contact us at 516-767-1708 Rabbi continued from page 1 The first text is the beginning of the story the Egyptian enslavement of the Israelites (Exodus 1:8-22). This text opens, saying: Temple Drive, Port Washington NY 11050-3915 A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, T: 516-767-1708 F: 516-944-6461 ‘Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us. Let us deal shrewdly with them, www.tbiport.org so that they may not increase; otherwise in the event of war they may join our enemies in fighting against us and rise from the ground.’ Rabbi It’s amazing how similar Pharaoh’s words are to antisemites’ words throughout Michael Mishkin history. First, this new king didn’t remember—or didn’t care to remember—that an Cantor Sharon Grainer Israelite (Joseph) had done great things for Egypt in the past. This is like the Nazis Cantor Emeritus ignoring the major contributions of German Jews to Germany, including serving Baruch Blum in the German army during WW I. Second, the fact that the Israelite community President is getting larger in Egypt doesn’t mean they are threat. But, since Pharaoh wants Rita Shumsky to enslave them and persecute them, tells perpetrates the lie that the Israelites, by Vice President, Ritual David Volpe increasing in size, have become a menace to Egypt. Pharaoh then goes on to spell Vice President, Fundraising out the ways the Israelites are a potential threat, saying, “the Israelites could join Steve Castar our enemies and fight against us.” Here is another antisemitic canard, one that has Vice President, Administration been used for millennia – the Jews are not loyal to the countries, in which they live. Louis Silfin Another troubling part of Pharaoh’s speech is when he says, “let us deal shrewdly Vice President, Education Adina Kay-Gross and Eden Kasle with them.” Why should they need to deal shrewdly with the Israelites? By using Vice President, Membership that word, Pharaoh was sending a message to his people: the Israelites are not like Jen Latner us. They are tricky, powerful, and conniving. Therefore, we must be deceitful in Vice President, Communications Eric Letuchy how we deal with them. Treasurer In response to Pharaoh’s speech, the Egyptians enslave the Israelites. Then, Andrew Silver the Egyptians turn up the dial on their persecution and deal “ruthlessly” with the Financial Secretary Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh “[charges] all his people saying, ‘Every [Israelite] boy that John Teeger is born you shall throw into the Nile, but let every girl live,” (1:22). What starts Corresponding Secretary David Cooper with speech, moves to violence and persecution, and then to murder. In addition, Recording Secretary Pharaoh initially dehumanizes and demonizes the Israelites, which incite his people Susan Levbin to participate in the persecution of the Israelites, and then he emboldens his people Trustees to go even further—charging them to murder all of Israelite baby boys. Alan Doubert Jack Mishan Mark Fridman Lane Palmer The second biblical text we discussed, comes from the Book of Esther. After Sheryl Gordon Adam Smith Haman hatches his evil plot to murder all of the Jews, Mordecai sends Queen Halona Jaffe Mike Smolow Helene Hechtkopf Andrew Sollinger Esther a message, telling her she must speak out against the plan. Esther is afraid, Laura Landau Scott Tashlik and her fear prevents her from speaking up. Mordecai responds to Esther saying, Jenny Markman Alison White Jill Mellow silence is not option. His words are: “Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will Trustees Emeritus escape with your life by being in the king’s palace… And who knows, perhaps you Elkan Abramowitz Joel Greenblatt have attained to royal position for just such a crisis,” (4:13-14). Mordecai knows Saul Muchnick when antisemites act out, the community must respond. What was true in the time Sisterhood Presidents of Mordecai and Esther, remains true today. We cannot be silent out of fear, or Alisa Schindler and Michelle Mondschein apathy, or by downplaying an act of hate. We must speak out against antisemitism, Men’s Club Presidents Jon Brooks and Michael Nerenberg and should report it to the police and the ADL. Mordecai has another lesson for us Immediate Past President too. If we are not outraged by antisemitic attacks that happen to other Jews, because Matthew Engel they don’t look like us—meaning Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jews—we are making Synagogue Director a big mistake. An antisemitic attack against any Jew, is an attack against all of us. Cathy Seldin In addition, we should not imagine that it can’t happen to us. If it’s happening to Director of Education and Engagement Anya Morgulis other Jews, it can very easily happen to us too. In contemporary times, Mordecai’s Preschool Director message is even broader – if we see any minority group being attacked (verbally or Diana Snaider physically), we should not remain silent. Again, we should not imagine that it can’t TBI Tablet is published monthly by TBI. Submissions happen to us. Dr. Lipstadt passionately expresses this view, saying: must be received by the tenth of the month prior to the “The existence of prejudice in any of its forms is a threat to all those who value an issue in which they will appear. inclusive, democratic, and multicultural society. It is axiomatic that if Jews are being Rabbi continued on page 4 PAGE 2 | TBI TABLET FEBRUARY 2020 PRESIDENT’S NOTES Mitzvah Day By Rita Shumsky On January 20, 2020, Martin Luther King Day, four synagogues on the Port Washington Peninsula came together as a Jewish community to perform mitzvah projects benefitting many local and national organizations. It was a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr. King and his vision of “Beloved Community.” The day started at Community Synagogue and after a program of inspirational prayers, songs and readings we headed to our own synagogues (TBI, RSNS, and Port Jewish). The turnout at TBI was wonderful and included a multigenerational cross section of our congregation. The excitement in the Social Hall was palpable. Kids were in charge of selling baked goods and hot beverages. There were stations to sort crayons and to sort coins. A group of people was decorating bags to be filled with snacks for the INN and Our Lady of Fatima. We didn’t forget the pets; playthings were made for the animals at the North Hempstead Animal Shelter. A popular table was the sorting of hundreds of trading cards for Commons4Kids children’s charities. Twenty-pound bags of rice were divided into smaller bags to be distributed at Our Lady of Fatima. Not hard getting volunteers for that job. Meanwhile in the kitchen—our “cooks” were making vegetable lasagnas! Many organizations, as well as the children, adults, and pets they help benefited from our “labors.” Our day of giving service and doing Mitzvot benefitted us as well! It was a wonderful, feel good, day. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” SHEVAT/ADAR 5780 TBI TABLET | PAGE 3 Historic Civil Rights Activist Speaks at TBI Mazal Tov Submitted by Bob Epstein February Birthdays Lila Shapiro On Sunday, January 12, TBI’s Library Nathan Mishkin and Social Action Committees co- Grayson Levy sponsored an inspiring and educational Leo Fridman program in commemoration of Dr. Cooper Holzman Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Our guest Sonia Robins speaker, civil rights activist and author, Caleb Gagne Bernice Sims, recounted her experiences Ailey Benjamin as a youth volunteer in rural Mississippi Charlotte Kraus during the summer of 1964. That Tyler Schwartz “freedom” summer stands out as one of the most significant periods in the rich history of the civil rights movement.