July 1-7, 2016 Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton Volume XLV, Number 27 BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK Federation plans Yiddish Theatre trip on Aug. 7 The Jewish Federation of Greater The trip will leave from the Jewish Com- arrival in New York City, the museum Binghamton has planned a one-day bus munity Center, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, will be open for self-guided tours using trip to the National Yiddish Theatre at 8 am. The cost of the bus transportation, individual headsets. Further details of the Folksbeine on Sunday, August 7, at the gratuities for the driver and a theater ticket to itinerary of the day are being planned. Museum of Jewish Heritage in New the show costs $90 per person. Availability Organizers have asked that those inter- York City to see “The Golden Bride,” a is on a first-come-first-served basis. The ested in attending also mention the trip critically acclaimed operetta, first seen deadline for payment is Thursday, July 7, to their friends. on the stage in the 1920s. It will be and is non-refundable unless the ticket can For any questions, call the Federation performed in Yiddish, with English and be resold. office at 724-2332. Russian supertitles. Federation notes the bus is already be Marty Klionsky saw the production in filling up, so those interested in attending December and said, “It is not to be missed. have been encouraged to send a check, The costumes, acting and stage presentation made out to JFGB, with a notation in the were fantastic.” memo line, “Yiddish theater trip.” Upon At right: “The Golden Bride” Netanyahu accuses Abbas of spreading “blood libel” in EU speech that earns standing ovation By JTA staff offend Jewish people around the world,” his Abbas, who also asserted in his speech: honest broker when its elected officials (JTA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin office said in a statement issued on June 24. “Once the occupation ends, terrorism will applaud a speech laden with lies and Netanyahu accused Palestinian Authority U.S. Jewish groups also decried his disappear, there will be no more terrorism mischaracterizations?” President Mahmoud Abbas of spreading a remarks. in the Middle East or anywhere else in The European Jewish Congress called blood libel in Abbas’ address on June 23 to Also on June 23, Abbas refused a meeting the world.” on European leaders to condemn the the European Parliament in Brussels. with Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, while American Jewish Committee CEO speech. “It is unconscionable that a foreign In a speech that earned a standing ovation Abbas and Rivlin were in Brussels. Martin David Harris called Abbas the “great leader proudly states a blood libel in the from parliament representatives, Abbas al- Schultz, the uropean Parliament’s president, disappointer” in a statement condemn- European Parliament and he receives a leged that Israeli rabbis recently called for had offered to arrange and mediate. Rivlin ing the P.A. leader’s remarks. Jonathan standing ovation,” said Dr. Moshe Kantor, the poisoning of Palestinian water, a medi- said he welcomed the meeting and “was Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation the EJC’s president. “If a far-right politician eval antisemitic libel and a report for which very sorry” to hear of Abbas’ rejection. League, said in a statement that Abbas would have made similar comments, they there is no evidence nor factual basis. He “Someone who refuses to meet with the “interspersed claims of an interest in would have been correctly discredited, but also blamed global terror on Israel’s control president and Prime Minister Netanyahu reconciliation with Israel with base al- Abbas is feted like a hero and this double of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. for direct talks, who propagates a blood legations against the Jewish state, which standard allows him to evade scrutiny in On June 24, Abbas walked back his libel in the European Parliament, is lying are reminiscent of age-old antisemitic ste- the international arena and the negotia- claim that Israeli rabbis had called for the when he says his hand is outstretched in reotypes. ...Unfortunately, conspiratorial tions table. In one short speech, Abbas poisoning of Palestinian water and said peace,” said a statement issued by the incitement by the Palestinian Authority is reminded the world that he has no interest he did not intend to offend Jewish people. Prime Minister’s Office. “Israel awaits not new. His charges of an Israeli effort in peace, continues to incite against Jews “After it has become evident that the the day when Abu Mazen stops spreading to poison Palestinian water, and claims and Israel, and uses the understandable alleged statements by a rabbi on poisoning lies and dealing in incitement. Until then, of Israel serving as the root of terrorism fear of terrorism to rail against Israel and Palestinian wells, which were reported by Israel will continue to defend itself against worldwide, are particularly disturbing score political points. The only question various media outlets, are baseless, Presi- Palestinian incitement, which motivates and significant,” the ADL statement said. that remains is about the reaction of the dent Mahmoud Abbas has affirmed that he terror attacks.” Noting the standing ovation, Greenblatt international community to such a mali- didn’t intend to do harm to Judaism or to Abu Mazen is the nom de guerre of added: “How can Israel see Europe as an cious and malevolent speech.” Spotlight Kids’ soccer leagues aim to bridge Israel’s religious divide By Ben Sales Shabbat and soccer, thanks to a team run PARDES HANNA, Israel (JTA) – When by Tzav Pius, a not-for-profit organization Yoel decided, at age 8, to begin observing that aims to bridge the divides between Shabbat, there was one problem: It meant he religious and secular Israeli Jews. Tzav couldn’t join most of Israel’s youth soccer At left: Members Pius teams play games during the week, teams, which played games on Saturday. of the Tzav Pius from Sunday to Friday, allowing religious Yoel, now 12, has always lived in the 13-year-olds’ Israelis to participate. increasingly large gray area between Israel’s team in the “Tzav Pius lets me play soccer,” said starkly divided religious and secular Jewish Israeli city of Yoel, who as a minor couldn’t give his societies. His father observes Shabbat, his Pardes Hanna last name without a parent’s permission. mother doesn’t. He attended a religious participated Saying he has religious and secular friends, elementary school, but transferred to a before practice he adds: “I know how it feels to be in two secular school this year. in an educational different societies.” He enjoys how Shabbat forces him away exercise meant to Tzav Pius, which has organized 96 youth from TV and video games, allowing him teach teamwork. soccer teams across Israel, is aiming to to relax. But as a budding soccer forward, (Photo by Ben change how the country’s religious society Yoel also likes the feeling of grass under Sales) and soccer establishment view each other. his cleats. Few things excite him more Because Israel’s most popular sport is than going one-on-one against a goalie and played on its day of rest, about one-third of kicking a “missile” into the goal. Israeli Jews – the proportion that observes Yoel no longer has to decide between See “Soccer” on page 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Point/counterpoint Berlin Music Video Awards Newbriefs Special Sections Two different opinions on Gov. A look at the Israeli-founded Israeli unemployment rates hit Legal Notices ................................... 4 Andrew Cuomo’s exectuive order awards show whose catagories all-time low; Venezuelan Jews Family Living ................................. 6-8 dealing with the BDS movement. include “bizarre” and “trashy.” authenticate mikvah; and more. Dine Out .......................................... 9 ........................................Page 2 ........................................Page 3 ...................................Page 5, 12 Classifieds ..................................... 12 Page 2 - The Reporter July 1-7, 2016 Opinion Point/counterpoint Anti-BDS laws don’t perpetuate Anti-BDS law can’t be “pro-Israel” discrimination – they prevent it if it tramples on free speech By Eugene Kontorovich do not pose a First Amendment problem. By Rabbi Jill Jacobs the famous words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall, (JTA) – The New Jersey Assembly is Under well-established U.S. Supreme (JTA) – If you’re a supporter of Israel that even if “I disapprove of what you say... scheduled to have a final vote on a bill re- Court precedent, states can choose not to and of the Jewish community, you should I will defend to the death your right to say stricting the state’s dealings with companies do business with companies that they re- be very worried about a new executive it.” The way to fight distasteful speech is that boycott Israel the last week in June. gard as engaged in discriminatory activity. order issued by New York Gov. Andrew with more speech, not by shutting down The measure, S1923/A925, would have That is how states routinely legislate, for Cuomo on June 5. While billed as an the other side. the Garden State join the nine states that example, that their taxpayer money will not initiative to prevent New York state from Cuomo’s action constitutes a danger- have already adopted such measures in just go to businesses that maintain sexual-ori- supporting the Boycott, Divestment, ous threat to this right. As explained by the past year. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed entation boycotts. Indeed, many localities Sanctions movement, the law actually Lara Friedman of Americans for Peace an executive order implementing similar even require state contractors to engage in constitutes a frightening attack on free Now, which also opposes BDS, the order policies in New York state.