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 50, No.3 March 2020 Adar - Nisan 5780 ShaloThe Journal of the Reading Jewish Communitym published by0 the Jewish3 Federation2 of Reading/Berks0 Your Federation Supports: Matching donation program Jewish Education Food Pantry Friendship Circle a great opportunity for giving Chevra By Richard Nassau Semitism, as well as cultural The result guarantees we annual campaign. Community Shabbat Federation is asking every programs such as speakers, remain a strong and vibrant Increased revenue ensures person to consider increasing the Jewish Film festival and Jewish community now and in Federation can continue Reading Jewish Film Series their gift or to make a first- more. And this is all being the future. providing cultural programs time gift to the community done with greater cooperation That is why a group of such as speakers, Jewish Film PJ Library campaign. Federation does than ever before with Reform committed donors have Festival, Literatour Berks, PJ Jewish Family Service so much for the Jewish Congregation Oheb Sholom, established a matching gift Library events and community community and the people of Kesher Zion Synagogue and pool. Every new or increased Shabbat. It allows Federation Jewish Cultural Center Berks County. Chabad-Lubavitch of Berks gift to Federation’s Community to develop services that are Lakin Holocaust Library Federation is the central County. Campaign will be matched helping fellow Jews and organization that connects all If the Federation is dollar for dollar by this confront issues like the growing & Resource Center of us — especially on issues to continue meeting the pool. The goal is to expand problem of anti-Semitism. such as helping fellow Jews growing demand for program Federation’s programs and To donate online – Israel & Overseas in need, support for Israel, opportunities and services, we services through a substantial ReadingJewishCommunity. Camp Scholarships the growing problem of anti- also need to grow the campaign. increase in Federation’s org. Israel Trips Jewish Community 16th Annual Yashek Lecture High School Emergency Support What did America do to save Lakin Preschool Richard J. Yashek Lecture Jews during the Holocaust? Transportation By Amanda J. Hornberger Drawing on previously Maimonides Society “It is a fantastic commentary unpublished letters, diaries, and on the inhumanity of our times visa records, Dobbs paints a Your Jewish Legacy that for thousands and thousands vivid picture of what it was like to of people a piece of paper with live among increasingly hostile 92ND ST Y Programs a stamp on it is the difference neighbors, waiting for “the piece Joint Distribution Committee between life and death.”— of paper with a stamp” that would Dorothy Thompson, journalist, determine their fate. He describes Meir Panim in 1938. the expulsion of these “unwanted” This year’s Richard J. Yashek German Jews to France in 1940 Annual Campaign Memorial Lecture gets at the and their continuing quest for Jewish Agency for Israel importance of American visas. And he recounts those papers, the heated debate taking place in Yemin Orde specifically the United States over whether from the United or not to admit refugees and School Education Programs States, in the national security threat from Interfaith Unity Council saving a Jewish “Fifth columnists,” both real life during the and imagined. The result is a Israel Advocacy Holocaust. “The page-turning narrative filled with Youth Events Unwanted: The memorable characters facing U.S. Response life-or-death moments that will Great Decisions Series to the Jewish resonate with readers today. “The Refugee Crisis, Michael Dobbs Unwanted” was named the 2019 Jewish Community 1938-1941” is Jewish Book Award winner in the Relations Council the title of the 16th Annual Yashek Holocaust category. Lecture, to be given by author As a foreign correspondent Community Holiday Programs Michael Dobbs on Thursday, for The Washington Post, March 26, at Albright College. Dobbs covered the collapse of Women’s Philanthropy “The Unwanted” by Dobbs communism. He has taught at Jewish Federations tells the story of Jewish families leading universities including from the village of Kippenheim Princeton, Michigan and of North America on the edge of the Black Forest. Georgetown. He is on the staff Thanks to the generous 7:30 p.m. on March 26 in the They were desperately seeking of the United States Holocaust support of Rosalye Yashek and Wachovia Theatre at Albright Counseling Services American visas to escape Nazi Memorial Museum. her daughters in memory of their College. For directions or Leo Camp Lecture Germany. Some made it to the The lecture is part of husband and father, the Richard additional information please United States, after battling our Literatour Berks series of J. Yashek Memorial Lecture call Amanda at 610-921-7214 or Shabbat B’Yachad formidable bureaucratic programs, and copies of “The is in its 16th year of bringing send an email to hrc@albright. obstacles. Some were turned Unwanted” will be available for sale distinguished scholars from edu. back. Some perished along the after the event, courtesy of Reads across the country to Albright to Please note that the Kesher way. Some were murdered in & Company, a local independent discuss Holocaust-related topics. Zion minyan will take place at Auschwitz. It is a German story bookstore and the official book The lecture is free and open 7 p.m. at Albright College on that is also an American story. vendor of Literatour Berks. to the public and begins at Thursday, March 26. Page 2 SHALOM March 2020 Why the Community Campaign? By Richard Nassau continued viability and vibrancy — and the our community campaign. However you Development Director dignity of all of its members. This includes our choose to do so, with time or dollars or a Imagine a world where sisters and brothers who may live thousands of future legacy gift, your decision is making a all people have access miles away but are no less precious to us than difference. Not just today, but for our future. to an active Jewish life, those who live next door. Our work engages In 2020, Federation will continue working where children have food people and builds community. with you to build our Jewish community. No t on the table, where all Participating in a centralized campaign matter what your passion is, we are here to can age gracefully and is also a statement about Jewish values. As help you fulfill your charitable goals. Federation where Jews can live Jews, we count on the ability of individuals serves the entire community. Our programs safely. Federations across to uplift the entire collective, and we treasure and social services address a broad scope n the country harness the our historic desire to be full participants in a of needs. resources of communities to connect people community’s welfare. Like you, we are committed to the Jewish and create this vision. When you donate to our campaign, you value of repairing the world. We believe that Federation campaigns are how Jewish are part of our community and the Jewish working together makes our community better. e communities effectively meet local needs and people. You are providing essential programs I invite you to participate in our vibrant, help Jews and, when needed, other Jewish that serve our diverse Jewish community. You thriving Jewish community. Your gift to communities no matter where they are in the are strengthening the fabric of Jewish life here Federation helps do that by connecting Jews world. Federations are able to address the in Berks County. here in Berks County and across the globe. most pressing needs and issues at a moment’s The funds we raise save lives every day. To make a donation online, go to m notice. It may be by feeding the hungry, helping the ReadingJewishCommunity.org. In Berks County and elsewhere, unemployed, supporting families with special To discuss, confidentially, the many ways Federation’s community campaigns are needs or funding Jewish education. you can achieve your charitable goals, call me concerned with the entire community — its So thank you to every person who supports 610-921-0624. p Batya Shmueli to share her unique journey o l of resilience from Ethiopia to Israel Come join us at the JCC the history of the Jewish people. Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. to Married with three children, she e meet Batya Shmueli and learn is completing a dual Master’s how she and ImpactIsrael help degree in Israel history and Israel’s children at risk at Yemin Jewish law at Haifa University. v Orde’s Youth Village ImpactIsrael continues Growing up on the banks to focus its support on Yemin of the Blue Nile in Ethiopia, Orde Youth Village and has Batyta’s story is one of transition expanded its national educational e from agrarian village life to the movement, called the Village Way, fast pace of modern Israel. to all segments of Israel’s diverse Batya is responsible for society, including Jews, Arabs, finding established Israelis Druze and Bedouin, religious, D who are willing to give their secular, and youth of all cultures time, experience and financial and countries of origin, serving resources to help children more than 2,500 educators and Annual Campaign and graduates of Yemin Orde 22,000 youth in 55 educational Youth Village. Arriving in Israel communities in Israel. Women’s Philanthropy in 1991 she and her family The traditions and values Maimonides Society lived in a caravan adjacent to of Judaism are woven into a small town in the Galilee.