Temple Israel of Great Neck Where tradition meets change Voice a Conservative egalitarian synagogue Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Bret Stephens Will Speak with ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt April 29th Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Bret Stephens will speak at Temple Israel on April 29 in conversation with Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Mr. Stephens, widely respected for his “contrarian twist” on issues, will discuss a wide range of domestic and foreign topics with Mr. Greenblatt, a leader of one of the most respected civil rights organizations. They will then open the program to questions from the audience. The presentation, made possible New York Times Columnist Bret Stephens —Continued on page 8 ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt Temple Israel Holocaust Survivor Vera Eden Speaking at Yom Hashoah Service On April 11th by Marc Katz, Editor six million Jews murdered by the Nazis away that their light can only be seen Temple Israel member Vera Eden— during World War II, is organized each year after the stars are gone. It says it is who survived the horrors of the by Temple Israel’s Shoah Remembrance the same with loved ones who have Holocaust—will tell of her experiences Committee. The committee, chaired by Lori passed. Their memories and the and those of her family members Oppenheimer, also plans the congregation’s lessons that they have taught remains at the congregation’s annual Kristallnacht observance and a number of forever. “These lights are particularly Yom Hashoah service, to be held other activities throughout the year. —Continued on page 7 Wednesday, April 11, beginning at Performing at the service for the first 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary. time will be members of the new Shireinu Choir of Long Island, a non- The moving service begins with denominational group of singers who Temple Israel’s Holocaust survivors explore Jewish heritage through music entering a darkened sanctuary and song. The group is led by Temple holding Shoah memorial candles, Israel members Anne Hirsh and Sherry accompanied by members of Husney and Musical Director Debbie their family and children from the Tartell. congregation’s Religious School. As they enter, Rabbi Marim D. Charry They will perform a song called Yeish announces their name and their Kochavim, with text from a Hannah former hometown in Europe. Semesh poem. Soloists are Lori Freudman and Ava Steiner. The poem, The service, in commemoration of the a lovely memorial, tells of stars so far Holocaust survivor Vera Eden Vol. LX, No. 10 Friday, March 30, 2018 14 Nisan 5778 Voice p1 3-26-18 CS5.indd 1 3/27/18 9:19 AM The Benefits of the Seminary Our History A Voice Guest Column by Karen Ashkenase From the President by Rob Panzer EDITOR’S NOTE: Temple Israel Sisterhood President Karen Ashkenase asks for My wife and I recently visited Greece. On your support of their Torah Fund Campaign to support the Jewish Theological a Jewish tour of Thessaloniki, the second Seminary in this Voice Guest Column. largest city in the country, we learned a new term. Our guide, Hela, comes from My dear Temple Israel family, very the list goes on. Our support is needed a family that has resided in Thessaloniki soon you will be receiving a letter from to make sure that the next generation for generations, and the stories of how Sisterhood, asking for your support of Conservative Jewish leaders will her parents survived the war are at of our Torah Fund Campaign. I hope be there for all of us and for future once fascinating and horrifying. What generations. she emphasized, though, was that the I hope you will take the time Jewish community, rather small now, is So when you receive the letter, please fighting what she termed “memocide.” to think about how your family be generous. Our contributions are has benefited from the Jewish not only to support students at the The Jewish community of Greece, Theological Seminary... Seminary, but it is in support of what numbering 85,000 prior to the war, we believe in and what we want to currently numbers in the several you will take the time to think about guarantee for the future. thousands at most. In Athens, the only how your family has benefited from acknowledgement of their history seems the Jewish Theological Seminary and I want to thank Ellen Cooper, a longtime the many leaders who came from the active Sisterhood member, who for Seminary background. well over 20 years has been the Torah Only with our passing along Fund Campaign chair for the Temple history can we fight the effort Remember people who influenced your Israel Sisterhood. Her devotion and to re-write it, deny it, life—rabbis, cantors, teachers, Camp dedication to teaching us about and eradicate it. Ramah counselors, youth leaders, and —Continued on page 9 to be a small Holocaust memorial, The Best Place In the World out of the way and easy to miss. It is periodically defaced, so perhaps those who want to find it are able to do so. From the Rabbi by Rabbi Howard Stecker The memorial in Thessaloniki, a small In 1986 I spent my junior year of recent Global Happiness Index, an object near the port, took decades of college studying in England. I used annual ranking which measures well- lobbying on the part of the community one of the vacation breaks to visit my being in areas that include education, to create and have dedicated. friend who was spending the year in environment, emotions and citizens Israel and we had a wonderful time. Hela’s contention, and I think it hard On the way back to the airport, I Israel is, in many ways, to dispute, is that there is an effort to listened to the cab driver complain re-write history, as evidenced by the incessantly about living in Israel. an impossible country. recently enacted law in Poland regarding He expressed frustration with the responsibility for the Holocaust, the government, the cost of living, the engagement. Israel scored higher lack of responsiveness of the Greek high level of stress. You name a topic than the United States and the United authorities, and other such situations. and he complained about it. As we Kingdom. Considering all of the internal were pulling up to the airport, he and external challenges that Israel As Passover is upon us, and asked me, “So when are you going to faces, this is truly remarkable. Yom Hashoah soon to follow, our make aliya?” responsibility is to tell the stories, over As Israel prepares to celebrate the 70th and over. As we say at the seders, we I was a little surprised. I said to him, anniversary since her establishment must act as if we, too, came forth from “You spent the last hour complaining as a modern state, we at Temple Israel Egypt. On Yom Hashoah as well, it about everything having to do with are doing a number of things to mark should be as if we survived and lived Israel and you want me to come live the occasion. On the evenings of April to tell about it. Only with our passing here?” I’ll never forget his answer. 16, 23 and 30, Rabbi Schweber and I along history can we fight the effort to “Forget all that. Israel is the best place will be a teaching a mini-series entitled re-write it, deny it, and eradicate it. in the world.” “Israel at 70,” focusing on some of the major milestones in Israel’s history. My family joins me in wishing all a sweet Israel was ranked 11th in the most —Continued on page 9 Passover. Chag Sameach. 2 In Memoriam Upcoming Events Temple Israel extends condolences to the families of: March 30 April 22 SYLVIA IONESCU Erev Pesah Annual Rabbinic Dialogue 10:00 A.M. mother of Lynn Frankel March 31 – April 7 at Temple Beth-El DIANA ALBERT Pesah April 23 mother of David Albert March 31 “Israel at 70! Milestones 8:15 P.M. Second Night Seder 7:30 P.M. and Meanings” Class ANNA RUBIN Sponsored by the Men’s Club April 26 esteemed member of Temple Israel April 2 Men’s Club Meeting 7:30 P.M. ADELE LICHTENSTEIN “Israeli and Palestinian 8:15 P.M. April 29 sister of Rabbi Abraham Eckstein Poems and Short Stories” Bret Stephens in Conversation 6:30 P.M. April 9 with Jonathan Greenblatt RONI SAZER Sisterhood Board Meeting 10:00 A.M. April 30 mother of Gary Sazer April 11 “Israel at 70! Milestones 8:15 P.M. AARON J. BRODER Yom Hashoah Service 7:30 P.M. and Meanings” Class esteemed member of Temple Israel April 12 May 3 Board of Trustees Meeting 8:15 P.M. Lag B’Omer May their memories be for a blessing. April 15 May 4 Blood Drive 8:30 A.M. Shabbat in the Park 4:30 P.M. Candle Lighting Times Sponsored by the Men’s Club May 7 Federation of Jewish 12:30 P.M. Sisterhood Board Meeting 10:00 A.M. Friday, March 30 Men’s Clubs’ Dinner May 8 6:59 P.M. April 16 Last Day of Tuesday Waxman Friday, April 6 “Israel at 70! Milestones 8:15 P.M. High School Classes 7:06 P.M. and Meanings” Class May 10 Friday, April 13 April 17 Last Day of Thursday Waxman 7:13 P.M. Yom Hazikaron Service 8:00 P.M. High School Classes Friday, April 20 at Temple Beth-El May 16 7:21 P.M.