community review www.jewishharrisburg.org May 3, 2013 | 23 Iyar, 5773 | Vol. 87; No. 9 Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg | Greater Harrisburg’s Jewish Newspaper SUNDAY MAY 5TH OPENING FOR THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL At last! On Sunday, May our guest speaker event on sessions are $8.00. Season a few weeks ago. Tips for Film Festival has been well- 5th -- hot on the heels of the Wednesday the 8th, at 7:30. passes for $50 (a savings parking around the State supported by this community tremendously well-attended Executive producer Judith of $18) will be available on Museum can also be found for many years. As ever, Yom Hazikaron screening of Manassen-Ramon, who is Opening Night. Details about in the Festival program, and we look forward to seeing Follow Me -- it’s Opening Night well-versed in the issue of the films and special events we are again pleased to offer our loyal patrons again for the Harrisburg Jewish Film post-trauma in Israel, will can be found on the Harrisburg – with thanks to Mickey and this season, and hope to Festival. There’s been plenty answer questions after the Jewish Film Festival website Edan Shefet and the Zodiac expand our audience as we of buzz around Hava Nagila screening. (www.hbgjff.com) and in your Under 21 Club -- the Stallions continue to share interesting (The Movie) since it premiered The Festival will present Festival program, which was Club lot across 3rd Street, as and entertaining films from at the San Francisco Jewish an out-and-out happening mailed to each household a free parking option. around the world. Film Festival six months ago on Saturday night, May 11th. throughout the community The Harrisburg Jewish See you at the movies! – now it’s your turn to see for Mary Lou: a Night of Dreams yourselves this delightfully and Music, will start with a surprising documentary dairy, kosher-style reception about the song you thought at 6:30, and will be followed by you knew so well. Join us in a screening of the acclaimed the Mary Sachs at 7 p.m. A Israeli miniseries Mary Lou at dessert reception will follow 7:00. At film’s end, all ticket the screening. holders are invited to walk On Monday, make your across the street to Stallions way downtown to the State Night Club to continue the fun Museum of Pennsylvania at a one-hour live drag show, for one treat after another compliments of Stallions – beginning with the newly Entertainment Complex. refurbished, re-cushioned Don’t miss it! (Cover charge seats in the auditorium -- applies to non-ticketholders.) throughout the rest of Festival On Sunday the 12th - Week. The quirky French Mother’s Day - two encore comedy The Day I Saw Your screenings will be held at Heart opens things at 5:30 on the State Museum at 2:30 Monday afternoon, and like and 4:30 p.m., the start times most of the films, will have an chosen so as not to interfere encore presentation later in with Mother’s Day brunch the week. or dinner. The Festival The award-winning short committee wishes a Happy Elijah the Prophet will only Mother’s Day to all, and be screened once, at 7:30 on hopes that you choose to Monday evening the 6th, as spend some of your time that part of the My Best Enemy day with us. program, so mark your Tickets for Hava Nagila calendars for that now. (The Movie) and Mary Lou: a Dolphin Boy will also only Night of Dreams and Music be screened once, as part of are $10.00; tickets for all other Community opinion/editorial Review Vol. 87 No. 9 May 3, 2013 Chemical Weapons in Syria and its Effects on the Region (ISSN 1047-9996) By Congressman Scott Perry position of “Monday morning quarter- backing.” The American people (USPS 126-860) Published bi-weekly During a recent House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, I had and our closest ally in the region, Israel, must know we have a plan. by the Jewish Federation of the opportunity to question the U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Ambassador Syria has an estimated 1,000 Scud ballistic missiles and 4,000 shoulder- Greater Harrisburg, Robert Ford. While I appreciate the Ambassador’s testimony, his remarks fired missiles to target civilian or military aircraft. The Assad regime 3301 N. Front Street, left me concerned about our plans to contain Syria’s vast stockpile of has missiles that have the range and the capability to strike Israel with Harrisburg, Pa., 17110. Subscription rate: $50 per year. chemical weapons. The distance between the Syrian capital of Damascus chemical weapons. Periodicals postage paid at A variety of news reports suggest that the Syrian Army likely already and Jerusalem is only 135 miles; a shorter distance than the trip between Harrisburg, Pa., and has used chemical weapons on its own people in an attack on the city of Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. If chemical weapons were used or if additional entry office. Homs. Ambassador Ford readily confirmed during his testimony that the proliferation did occur, a strike on Israel would be fast, which is why we Editorial Board Chairman Syrian government has the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the need to know the Administration’s plan to defend our strong ally, Israel. Bruce Bagley Middle East. The Ambassador reiterated that the Syrian government’s In addition to concerns about the potential spread of chemical weapons chemical weapons stockpile includes sarin gas, choking agents and blister and the safety of Israel, I made the point to Ambassador Ford that with Editorial Board Members agents. the recent anniversary of the war in Iraq, it’s even more important to Bruce Bagley Barbara Trainin Blank What concerns me about Ambassador Ford’s testimony was his understand our plan. Justifiably, many have questioned what happened in Esther Boldes inability to give a definitive answer to what the Obama Administration’s Iraq, why we did what we did, and what we got out of it. If we don’t want Rabbi Carl Choper plan is to contain Syria’s chemical weapons. When asked, Ambassador to end up in a similar situation, we must learn from previous mistakes. Aaron Dym Ford said, “I don’t want to go there.” While I appreciate the sensitivity in Right now, I’m not sure that the American people are confident that we Rita Gordon refraining from speculation on hypothetical situations, it’s important for have a plan or that we’ve learned anything from history. Jeanette Krebs Unfortunately, based upon the Ambassador’s testimony, it appears that the American people – and the world - to know what we can expect to STAFF see if chemical weapons are or were used in Syria and how we expect to we’re relying on the Assad regime and its allies to ensure that WMDs Editor contain them. are not used and that they remain secure. I sure hope there’s a more Patti Bromley If the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, the use or proliferation comprehensive plan than this. Otherwise, this seems like the fox is [email protected] of chemical weapons will be very quick, and we don’t want to be in a guarding the hen house. Sales Director Marty Lamonoff Carol Hoffman to receive the 717 232-6279 717-877-5973 Ben Cherry Inspirational Athlete Award [email protected] the annual JFGH meeting. This children: Shelley, Rebecca, and on cardio machines and in spin award honors commitment to Daniel. Carol proudly declares or body-sculpting classes. She is Design and Layout physical fitness, positive attitude, “Arthur grew up in this building, a fixture at our fitness center and Benchmark Group Media and dedication to the JCC. Carol and so did my kids. They went to “loves the new equipment and Graphic Designer embraces each of these qualities. school here, played iddy/biddy instructors.” Shawn Skvarna You can find her almost everyday basketball, attended summer Whether as a finely conditioned in the fitness center either taking camp, and worked as camp athlete or an ambassador of the Postmaster: a spin class, bodyblast class, or counselors and lifeguards.” JCC, Carol Hoffman, just like Ben Send address changes using the elliptical and weight Carol Hoffman (yes – that’s Cherry, is an inspiration to the to Community Review, machines. Carol considers her maiden name, too) and Art JCC fitness community. 3301 N. Front Street, the JCC her “home away from Hoffman met at Northwestern Ben Cherry was a fixture in Harrisburg, Pa., 17110. home” and goes out of her way University in Chicago, and both the Fitness Center from playing Mission Statement of to make others feel welcomed in obtained post-graduate degrees racquetball in his younger years The Community Review: our building. from George Washington to walking on the treadmill Inform readers about local, Carol grew-up in Long Island, University (Carol – MBA; Art later on in life. He was truly national and international but other than the remnant of a – J.D.). They married in 1978 inspirational. Ben was the guy events of interest to Jews. New York accent you would never and spent the following year in in the gym who showed that age Promote Jewish values, The American Heritage know she is not a Harrisburg Israel. The young couple settled does not matter when it comes to Jewish identity and a Dictionary defines inspiration native. She is married to Arthur in Harrisburg in 1981 and “the physical fitness. He made sure to sense of Jewish community as: Something or someone that Hoffman (a Harrisburg native first thing we did was join the get his minutes on the treadmill, in central Pennsylvania.