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[email protected] Quick Look 5 Arts & Culture Motivated by 6-7 Dallas Doings 8 Around the Town Medicine 10-12 Youth Akiba Yavneh teens 13 Jewish Foodie create kids’ books, pp.10-11 14-15 Post Pics 16-17 Columnists 19 Obituaries Thursday, March 4, 2021 • 20 Adar 5781 • VOLUME 75 NO. 9 • tjpnews.com $1.00 Masks and Merriment With safety in mind, North Texas brings on the Purim joy, pp.14-15 Photo: Julie Carpenter/Shearith Israel The cast of Shearith Israel’s Purim shpiel, “Schmutz,” from left, Rabbi Shira Wallach, Rabbi Ari Sunshine, Shirley Davidoff , Mark Fleschler, Avi Mitzner, Hazzan Itzhak Zhrebker; front row: Irving Prengler, Rabbi Adam Roff man Light Shabbat candles: TYCHER LIBRARY SPRING READ 6:09 p.m. Friday, Mar. 5 Jan Eliasberg’s ‘Hannah’s War,’ March 21, other BookFest events, p.4 Shabbat ends: 7:20 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 6 2 | March 4, 2021 Israeli Supreme Court’s new conversion ruling in Israel State must grant such as Conservative or Reform will cause arguing and a diffi cult citizenship to Jews, however, still often face rupture among the people.” non-Orthodox hurdles in obtaining Israeli Successive government Jewish converts citizenship and are sometimes coalitions, based on their political denied. leanings, have attempted to By Ben Sales Monday’s decision extends the either liberalize or narrow (JTA) — Israel must grant right to citizenship to those who Israel’s conversion standards. citizenship to Jews who converted converted to Judaism under non- But such efforts at reform usually to Judaism in Israel under non- Orthodox auspices in Israel itself. fall fl at. Haredi Orthodox Orthodox auspices, its Supreme The petition that spurred the politicians object to laws that Court ruled Monday, possibly court ruling was fi led in 2005 but would broaden the range of igniting another round in the was postponed for more than a recognized conversions, while long-running government battle decade because the court wanted attempts to make requirements over whom the state should to give the government time stricter have provoked backlash recognize as Jewish. to resolve the matter through from organizations representing The decision, written by Chief legislation. American Jews, the vast majority Justice Esther Hayut, comes less “The petitioners came to Israel of whom are not Orthodox. That than a month before national and went through a conversion has effectively meant that any elections. process in the framework of a change in conversion regulations Israel’s Law of Return offers recognized Jewish community comes from court decisions. automatic citizenship to and asked to join the Jewish Once they become citizens of Photo: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90 Supreme Court President Esther Hayut presides over the high court in Jerusalem, anyone with at least one Jewish nation,” Hayut wrote in her Israel, non-Orthodox converts March 19, 2020. grandparent. The state also ruling, according to Haaretz. still face restrictions. Several generally recognizes those who Rabbi Gilad Kariv, a leading issues of personal status in Return but are not considered decided that Israel should be a converted to Judaism under Reform rabbi in Israel and a Labor Israel, including marriage and Jewish by Orthodox standards national home for all types of Orthodox standards. Party candidate for the Knesset, divorce, are controlled by the — such as immigrants whose Jews,” said Mickey Gitzin, the Past Supreme Court decisions called the ruling a “foundational country’s haredi Chief Rabbinate. maternal grandmother is not Israel director of the New Israel have mandated that the state also decision of the High Court” in a Because the Chief Rabbinate does Jewish — similarly cannot marry Fund and a longtime Israeli recognize Jews who converted Facebook post. not recognize non-Orthodox legally in Israel. Legislation activist for religious freedom. outside of Israel under non- Aryeh Deri, the head of the converts as Jews, they have no way to address that issue has been “It is a day to celebrate, even as Orthodox authority, provided Sephardi haredi Shas party, wrote to marry legally in Israel. stymied as well by haredi the road towards equality for all they live in a recognized Jewish on Facebook that the decision was Others who obtain Israeli opposition in the Knesset. — especially those who are not community. Non-Orthodox converts, “misguided, very troubling, and citizenship under the Law of “Today Israel’s Supreme Court Jewish — remains long.” Watch the DSO whenever, whereever you like... Enjoy concerts virtually with our new digital concert series Watch at dallassymphony.org/ NEXTSTAGE PRESENTED BY March 4, 2021 | 3 DJCF creates emergency fund after winter storm Other helpful resources With thousands experiencing emer- Given the unprecedented weather and the Jewish Federation of Greater Many of the buildings that house gency repairs, some needing respite conditions and their resulting effects, Dallas made the swift decision to fund nonprofi ts have major issues, such as • The Jewish Federation of Greater housing and other necessities, the agen- the Dallas Jewish Community many of these meals. a local shelter that had to temporarily Dallas Community Crisis Manage- cy has interest free emergency loans of Foundation is providing support to Now, the Foundation is prepared to close for fi rst time in 35 years due to ment team is assisting with mitigation $500, general loans of up to $7,500 and those affected. help the broader community as a whole. structural damages. This fund will and restoration. While they cannot business loans to $20,000. Our community is benefi ting It has established the Natural Disaster make emergency grants to agencies guarantee the availability of plumbing For information, or to apply for emer- from so many besides us. Within days Emergency Response Fund of the that need the help and agencies that are and other professional services, if you gency or other loans, visit dhfl a.org or call of millions losing power and water, Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, providing assistance to those in need. fi ll out the intake form, a member of 469-206-1639. some local kosher establishments, which will supply emergency aid Together with you, the Dallas the team will share the most current in- • Jewish Family Service is available coordinated by Chaim Goldfeder of to nonprofi t organizations that are Jewish Community Foundation can formation around available resources. to help anyone in need with food and Kosher Palate, offered free hot kosher providing vital and urgent assistance help more in need. They have been here Visit https://www.surveymon emergency fi nancial assistance, coun- meals for anyone in need, distributing to affected communities and families. for tornadoes in Dallas, COVID-19 and key.com/r/dallassnowresponse to access seling, information referrals and other thousands of meals the week of the With many still suffering even after now the Dallas Winter Storm, and they the intake form. storm related issues. storm. To ensure they were able to the power returned — burst pipes, will always be here to help. For more • The Dallas Hebrew Free Loan As- Call the JFS intake line at 972-437- continue this generous offering, the plumbing issues and more — it is not information, visit www.djcf.org or call sociation is providing a helping hand 9950, etx. 340. Dallas Jewish Community Foundation just personal homes being affected. 214-615-9351. to those in need of emergency funds. SJP drops complaint targeting Jewish student at Tufts By Sean Savage 1964 and Tufts University’s stated (JNS) The anti-Israel group institutional policies. Students for Justice in Palestine Price said that while he has withdrawn its impeachment welcomed the decision by SJP to complaint against a Jewish student end its months-long harassment government member at Tufts campaign, he said it does not University. “absolve” the anti-Israel group of Max Price, the Jewish its behavior. Similarly, he expressed Community Union Judiciary disappointment that the university (TCUJ) member, was informed on did not intervene on his behalf. Monday that the complaint fi led “I am disappointed that by SJP that sought to have him university administrators failed to removed from offi ce for expressing intervene and have not yet reached Jewish identity was withdrawn and out to me to address my concerns. the hearing canceled. Unless Tufts introduces sweeping The hearing represented reforms to combat antisemitism, a continuation of a months- this will happen to somebody else.” long campaign of intimidation, Patrick Collins, a spokesperson harassment and discrimination for Tufts University, confi rmed to targeting Price on the basis of his JNS that the complaint has been Jewish identity, according to the withdrawn. Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human “We respect the TCUJ Senate’s Rights Under the Law (LDB), the independence regarding the group representing Price. conduct of its business according After Price attempted to point to its policies and procedures. out baseless lies in SJP’s proposed We take very seriously any “Deadly Exchange” referendum, concerns raised by students — he was harassed, targeted and regardless of their backgrounds marginalized; slandered in the and perspectives — of bias, safety, student newspaper; interrogated privacy and intimidation, whether as to whether he is fi t to hold by organizations affi liated or offi ce; muted for an entire student unaffi liated with Tufts.” government Zoom meeting that he Alyza Lewin, president of the was elected to participate in; and Brandeis Center, echoed Price’s attacked with age-old antisemitic sentiment and called on the tropes about money and power. university to take more proactive Earlier this month, the Brandeis steps to combat anti-Semitism. Center demanded that Tufts “SJP got caught, their president Anthony Monaco halt harassment of Jewish students was the disciplinary hearing and end exposed, and they backpedaled.