Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks Non-Profit Organization Jewish Cultural Center, PO Box 14925 U.S. Postage PAID Reading, PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 readingjewishcommunity.org Reading, PA Change Service Requested Enriching Lives Volume 49, No. 2 February 2019 Shevat - Adar I 5779 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish2 Federation1 of Reading/Berks9 Your Federation Supports: Community Shabbat set for March 1 Jewish Education By Amanda J. Hornberger Afterwards a kosher meal will be served Last year more than 170 community Food Pantry On March 1 our community will gather family-style, and a vegetarian option is members attended our community for its annual community Shabbat service available. The cost is $20 per person. Shabbat, and our wish is that we will Friendship Circle and dinner. This year our community Children 18 and under are free. All have another memorable community Chevra Shabbat theme is one community, one are welcome, and if you need financial evening in March. voice. The event will be hosted by assistance to attend, please contact Sari Coming together as a community Community Shabbat Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom. Incledon at 610-921-0624. for this annual event is a special Join us at 555 Warwick Drive, We are hoping for another great experience for community members Reading Jewish Film Series Wyomissing, at 6 p.m. for a service crowd at Community Shabbat on March of all ages! PJ Library led by Rabbi Brian Michelson with 1!.RSVP with payment is required by For questions or additional information participation from Rabbi Yosef Lipsker February 21 to [email protected] or please contact Amanda at amandah@ Jewish Family Service and other members of our community. 610-921-0624. jfreading.org or 610-921-0624. Jewish Cultural Center Lakin Holocaust Library Our children’s impressions of Israel & Resource Center By Bill Franklin Israel & Overseas Our community’s family mission to Israel in December included a number Camp Scholarships of children making their first trip to the Holy Land. Here are some of their Israel Trips thoughts on the experience. Jewish Community I like Israel because it is our holy High School place. The Western Wall was my favorite site. Emergency Support —Eva Karchevsky Lakin Preschool Our trip to Israel was a lot of fun. I Richard J. Yashek Lecture had a great experience. We saw a lot of different interesting sites. Transportation —Bella Karchevsky Maimonides Society My favorite part in Israel was when Holly and Rabbi Brian Michelson with kids participating in the family mission to Israel celebrate their arrival. At right, Your Jewish Legacy we were climbing rocky areas near three generations of Schneiders in Israel. Masada and went into the Dead Sea 92ND ST Y Programs and floated in it. I want to go back with my friends! Joint Distribution Committee —Ari Levin Meir Panim I just loved everything in Israel. Annual Campaign —Alexandra Levin Jewish Agency for Israel Yemin Orde School Education Programs Interfaith Unity Council Israel Advocacy Youth Events Harry and Ari at Masada. Ben, Will, Harry and Andy in the Dead Sea Great Decisions Series Jewish Community Relations Council Community Holiday Programs Women’s Philanthropy Jewish Federations of North America Counseling Services Leo Camp Lecture Shabbat B’Yachad Luba, Eva & Bella Karchevsky at The Wall. In the grottos at Rosh Hanikra. At right, Alexandra makes a new friend. Page 2 SHALOM February 2019 Celebrating women’s philanthropy By Richard Nassau it valorizes “The New Colossus,” the poem Development Director On April 16 we will celebrate our written by Emma Lazarus, a Jewish woman. On April 16 we community’s Jewish women at a She said, “Emma Lazarus was an activist … renew Women’s special event with Letty Cottin She did not take injustice lying down. She Philanthropy, celebrating Pogrebin. claimed her Jewish identity with pride.” our community’s Jewish Women’s philanthropy at Federation t women and their young girl performing to ‘Hava Nagila’ in front provides sisters and daughters, mothers contributions to improving of the world and see her win for it.” and friends, compassionate and committed lives. Jewish women are Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a Jewish woman. women at every stage of life and career to the change-makers and She is also a lawyer, the subject of movies, meet other women who share interests and n community-shapers of books and a song, and an Associate Justice on passions. It is a place women of all ages the world, at every age in every profession. the U.S. Supreme Court. At the U.S. Holocaust can come together. Aly Raisman is a Jewish woman. She Memorial Museum in 2004, she spoke about Whether your interests lie in education, e is also a gymnast, a leader of the #MeToo how growing up Jewish influenced her work, networking, fundraising or community movement and a two-time Olympian with “My heritage as a Jew and my occupation as a service, women’s philanthropy offers six medals — three gold, two silver and one judge fit together symmetrically. The demand meaningful experiences. Discover bronze. In January at the Jewish Federations for justice runs through the entirety of Jewish opportunities to connect, new ways you can of North America’s Lion of Judah conference history and Jewish tradition.” impact our community and how together she spoke about including “Hava Nagila” in Letty Cottin Pogrebin is a Jewish woman. women are building a vibrant Jewish future m her medal-winning routine. “I didn’t realize She is also an Emmy award winner, a founding in Berks County and around the world. at the time I was representing not only the editor and writer for Ms. magazine and a leader On April 16 we will celebrate our community’s United States but the Jewish community. I for social justice. Accepting an award from the Jewish women at a special event with Letty received a letter from a Holocaust survivor Jewish Women’s Archive in 2012, she pointed Cottin Pogrebin. To be part of the April 16 p saying she never imagined in her life seeing a to the Statue of Liberty and spoke about how Celebrating Jewish Women call 610-921-0624. o The media and the Anti-Defamation League l By Amanda J. Hornberger Part of Gutnick’s job is to take calls the ADL helps educate journalists. The Everyone has seen it. The episode of or emails from every-day Americans who organization’s website provides a list “Seinfeld” about the “soup Nazi.” Harmless view something as antisemitic or racist of 10 tips for journalists newly covering e comedy or underlying antisemitism? These on television, the Internet or radio. The extremism, which include be appropriately are some of the challenges and issues ADL then views the clip and determines skeptical and do your homework (a.k.a. facing Todd Gutnick, senior director of the response. Sometimes, as in the case talk to experts in the field). A media watch communications and digital at the Anti- of the soup Nazi on “Seinfeld,” the ADL section on the ADL website provides v Defamation League, every day. determines no response is necessary. It responses and editorials written by the ADL January’s session of the ADL’s Glass was a joke, most people will understand in response to bigotry in the media. There is Leadership Institute focused on the media the humor, and no harm was intended also a blog with news stories about current e and ADL. Led by Gutnick, our group learned or done. Other times, as in the case of events written by ADL experts. how the ADL uses the media to spread comments made by the late comedian Joan Next time you witness bigotry in the ADL reports on data analysis and trends Rivers or the Jew in the well song by Ali G media feel free to reach out to the ADL for antisemitism, hate crimes and other (a character created by comedian Sacha and let them know your concerns. The ADL information, and also challenges the media Baron Cohen) the ADL asks for an apology serves as our partner and connection to D when it sees antisemitism, racism, or other and for the clip to be removed. creating less bigotry in media in the United bigotry on air. In addition to monitoring the media, States. Annual Campaign Women’s Philanthropy Jewish Summer Camp Maimonides Society Your Jewish Legacy Financial Assistance Program Chai Circle Please remember that applications for the L’Chaim Society Jewish Federation of Reading’s summer Book of Life camp financial assistance program are due by Letter of Intent Friday, March 8. The information and financial assistance application are available at www. readingjewishcommunity.org. Please call Bill Franklin at 610-921-0624 with any questions. DONATE NOW TO OUR omen’s JEWISH W COMMUNITY Philanthropy CAMPAIGN Please visit Jewish Women: Their Pivotal Role in Society ReadingJewishCommunity. org Letty Cottin Pogrebin Make your gift today! Tuesday April 16, 2019 Author - Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America Advocate – a founding editor Ms. magazine Activist - co-founder National Women’s Political Caucus February 2019 SHALOM Page 3 From the President’s Desk Israel trip inspires community as we move forward By William D. Franklin President We had a wonderful family mission to Israel in December as 33 participants from ages 8 to 83 enjoyed Israeli food and culture, explored Israel’s ancient sites and modern challenges and enjoyed each other’s company. We traveled to the Golan Heights, which is on Israel’s border with Syria and visited Mount Bental. In the Yom Kippur War it was the site of one of the largest tank battles in history.