Jewish Federation of Reading Non-Profit Organization Jewish Cultural Center U.S. Postage PAID PO Box 14925, Reading, PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 www.ReadingJewishCommunity.org Reading, PA Change Service Requested Jewish Federation of Reading Non-Profit Organization Jewish Cultural Center U.S. Postage PAID JewishPO Box Federation 14925, Reading, of Reading PA 19612-4925 Non-Profit OrganizationPermit No. 2 Jewishwww.ReadingJewishCommunity.org Cultural Center U.S. PostageReading, PAID PA POChange Box 14925, Service Reading, Requested PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 www.ReadingJewishCommunity.org Reading, PA Change Service RequestedSHALOM The Journal of the Reading Jewish Community Published as a community service by the Jewish Federation of Reading, Pa. JewishVolume Federation 40 of No.Reading 3 MARCH 2010 Adar-NisanNon-Profit Organization 5770 Jewish Cultural Center U.S. Postage PAID PO Box 14925, Reading, PA 19612-4925 Permit No. 2 www.ReadingJewishCommunity.orgINSIDE Reading, PA Change Service RequestedSHALOM1100 Berkshire Boulevard The Journal ofSHALOM the Reading JewishIt’s been Community an Publishedincredible as a community year. service Hope by you’ve the Jewish beenFederation here! of Reading, Pa. TThehe JJournalournal ofof the ReadingIt is hardJewish to believe Community.Community that a year Published Published has gone as as by a a since community community we relocated service service to the by by Jewish the the Jewish Jewish Cultural Federation Federation Center at of1100 of Reading, Reading, Berkshire Pa. Pa. Volume 40 No.Boulevard 5 in Wyomissing. If you haven’tMAY been here,2010 we hope to see you in the very near future.Iyar-Sivan For those of you 5770 who VolumeVolume 45, 40 No. No. 3 5use the Center regularly or from ‘time MAY MARCH to time’, 2010 we 2015 always appreciate your visits and encourage ADAR-NISANIyar-Sivan your feedback. 57705775 INSIDE And, thank you all for your support throughout the year! ReflectionsINSIDE on Paul D. Cohn, President, Jewish Federation of Reading Cindy Balchunas, Chair, Jewish Cultural Center Committee Passover SHALOMJewishTammy Federations K. Mitgang, Executive Director,condemn Jewish Federation murders of Reading/Jewish in CulturalCopenhagen Center The Journal of the ReadingThe Jewish Jewish Federations Community of North America Published stands as shoulder a community to shoulder service in firm bysolidarity the Jewishnecessary. Federation of Reading, Pa. Page 12 areThere shocked and grievedis no following free the February lunch with our Jewish— or brothers is andthere? sisters in Siegal and fellow JFNA leaders Diane S. Volume 40 No.attacks 3 on the Krystalgade Synagogue andM ARCDenmarkH – and2010 indeed with all of the Danish Feinberg andAdar-Nisan Jerry Silverman sent 5770 a letter the cultural center in Copenhagen that left people at this very difficult time.” to Denmark’s Jewish community expressing County Jews have gone to the JCC’s preschool to look at all expenditures, making sure that we twoBy Paulpeople D. Cohndead — including Dan Uzan, a Paul Goldenberg, director of the Secure condolences. Federation president for its excellent learning curriculum.Many times are being good stewards of your contributions. Children’s reading Jewish volunteer security guard — and others Community Network (SCN), traveled to “At this time, you should know that FreeINSIDE Jewish The 2010 Jewish the preschool is a gateway for Jewish families in We are making progress in all areas of your programProgram a great at injured. Copenhagen to support the community millions of Jewish people across North books for FederationEllen Azrael, JewishLarry Rotenberg Annual and Hilde GernsheimerBerks County, where they can meet and make Federation. We are now in a position to focus FreeAlvernia Jewish to Michael Siegal, chair of JFNA’s Board1100 of in addressing Berkshire security issues. Boulevard SCN, the America, and indeed around the world, are kidsopportunity available for Campaign is under way.Photo by Jeremy Drey: Courtesyfriends of with Reading other Eagle Jewish families. In addition, on those programs and services that our booksfocus foron EllenTrustees Azrael, stated, Larry “We Rotenberg are once and again Hilde horrified Gernsheimer national homeland security initiative of The standing by your side, sending messages throughfamilies This campaign is the since the school is open to everyone, it provides community wants and needs. kidspeace available by these violent attacksPhoto against by Jeremy Jews Drey: and Courtesy Jewish of Federations Reading Eagle of North America and the of solidarity and support and also mourning Federation Federation’s majorIt’s source been an incrediblea diversity experience year. at an earlyHope age. you’veHowever been the bottom here! line is that we are through JewishMaking institutions assure well as thosewe meeting never Conference forget of Presidents of Major American with you,” the letter said. “We are all deeply Page 2 of funding, and it helps — The asking for, and need your help. And guess FederationPage 23 peacefullyIt is to hard discuss to believethe value that of freedom a year hasof goneJewish• Cultural by Organizations, since Programs we relocated consults and Services to with the JewishJewish Culturaltroubled by Center the unsettling at 1100 climateBerkshire across all support the many important Federation provides many interesting and what? People do need a free meal every so Makingspeech.ByBoulevard Paul The D. Cohndisturbing in sureWyomissing. recent patternwe If and youof never Jews political haven’t organizations context, been forget here,nothing in thewe can Unitedhope toStates see youand aroundin the veryof Europe near future. that saw For this those tragedy of you as wellwho as programs and services that requested programs and services.Lectures, often. Seniors do enjoy the company and Page 3 beingFederation murdered Chairman in Europe, simply becausemask the darkestthe world side on of security-related human matters and in the assault on the cultural center earlier in help Jewsuse inthe our Center community regularly and abroad. or from Most ‘time films, to time’,discussion we groups,always and appreciate holiday events your are visits friendship and encourage that our services your feedback.provide. Parents Federations Bythey PaulAs are I Jews,D. write Cohn must be condemned byandbehavior.Could people political the context, onewake view ofnothing terrorist our ability can attacks such as the ones the day. New Director of of you are not new to the Campaign, And,and are thank just you a few all examples. for your In supportaddition, the throughout Federation theare year! relieved as they drop their preschooler helping Federationandthis governments column Chairman it across the world. maskWeand send responsibility the darkestperpetrated to side “never ofin forget” humanDenmark. as “Any attack on Jews, anywhere in the DevelopmentGuitarist accustomed to why this is such an important allocates funds to local synagogues to help off at our school, knowing that their child is in in Haiti ouris the Asdeepest dayI write after condolences to the familiesbehavior.Couldan of obligation? Dan IoneAs think weview so. mourn ourNo matterability with the Danish Jewish world, affects each and every one of us. And Reflectionsto perform on partPaul of your D. Federation.Cohn, President, Others Jewishmay be Federationnew with their of Readingprograms. WeCindy offer Balchunas, programs and Chair, excellent Jewish hands. Cultural Jews Center in Israel Committee and around the Guitaristjoins thisUzanyour column Federationand the otherit victims, and wish andahow speedy responsibility hard it community,is to to recall “never the forget”JFNA horrific asleadership will continue when innocent people are targeted the pain Passoverat annual to our community.Tammy Here are K. a Mitgang,few points Executivethat I services Director, that bring Jewish our communityFederation together. of Reading/Jewishworld are gratefulCultural for Center the funding we supply. tocommunity performPage 4 isrecoverysponsored the day to after those our injured, including numerousanevents obligation? of theto Holocaust,I conferthink so. with Nothose matter government who agencies and is felt by us all. meeting would like you to consider: Making a pledge to the Campaign is more at annual yourpoliceHolocaust Federation officers. howsurvived, hard andit officialsis tothe• recallIsrael generations on the mattersand horrific Jewsthat of Jewish around communal the worldsafety, “Please convey our condolences to the Page 12 — JFS now — Federation has a long and rich history of than the money, at least it should be. It should meetingPage 22 sponsoredRemembrance“The• Jewish Jewish our Family community Services of Northevents followed,America of the haveand Holocaust, toupdate remember those Jewish who and community leaders as victim’s family and the entire community.” servesThere all age groupsis no and is free dedicated lunchto helping Israel. — Although or isour worldthere? is rapidly be your way of saying that you believe in and Foes of Israel HolocaustDay, which survived,continue andto put the the generations events of that the maintaining and strengthening the quality changing, Israel is still a young country, and support our local Jewish community. It should start Pagecampaign 2 Remembrancewas held at followed,Holocaust have into modern-day to remember context. and Why Netanyahu ofBy individual Paul D. Cohn and family life in the Jewish unfortunately,County Jews have some gone groups to the JCC’sand