WESTCHESTER September 2015 — Elul 5775 - Tishrei 5776, Volume 21, Issue 9 JewishWESTCHESTER COUNTY’S ONLY MONTHLY JEWISHLife NEWSPAPER Local Residents Head to Israel to AJC Executive Director David Harris Begin New Lives as ‘Lone Soldiers’ An El Al Boeing 777 char- vice: pre- immigration, pre- Speaks About the Nuclear Deal with Iran tered by Nefesh B’Nefesh de- recruitment, during active BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN anti-Semitism raging across parted New York’s JFK Inter- military service, after release Europe and now with the deal national Airport this summer from the army, and during ad- Over 300 citizens from with Iran.” carrying 232 Olim (new immi- justment to civilian life. Harrison, Rye and outlying “First of all, we are Jews,” grants) from the U.S. and Can- The passengers on this municipalities poured into Harris noted. We can’t agree ada who will begin new lives special flight included 29 fami- Congregation Emanu-El of whether or not to eat rice on in the Jewish State. The flight lies with their 75 children as Westchester in Rye for a Town Pesach. was facilitated in cooperation well as 9 couples and 86 sin- Hall Meeting: the Nuclear Deal There are people who will with Israel’s Ministry of Ali- gles. with Iran, featuring American ‘fall on their sword’ regarding yah & Immigrant Absorption, Among the Olim who will Jewish Committee (AJC) Exec- the spelling of (Ch) Hanukah. the Jewish Agency for Israel, be making Aliyah and later vol- utive Director David Harris on So why should not agreeing on Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel, unteering for the IDF are some Wednesday, August 26. Iran be news? JNF- USA, and Tzofim- Garin local residents, Maya Allon, 17 Welcoming the com- “Second the stakes are Tzabar. and Matan Bocarsly, 22, from munity, AJC Westchester enormously high. I don’t be- Fairfield Regional President lieve that there is anyone who Beverly Rosenbaum said, “As wants to see Iran with nuclear a child of a survivor I cannot weapons with their stockpiling Left to right: AJC Westchester/Fairfield Regional Director Scott Richman; but think back to the Jews who Intercontinental Ballistic Mis- Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Rabbi Howard Goldsmith; AJC Exective felt powerless that couldn’t siles. In the real world of dis- Director David Harris use their voices in the 1930’s cussion and debate we need to or look for common ground be asked to make a binary deci- and 40’s as Jews were being understand that no one has all with such deep divisions, at sion, yea or nay. annihilated. Today we can use of the truth on their side. the end of the day there is no Harris reviewed previous our voices and have organiza- “Point number three: this middle space. Presidential administrations’ tions like AJC to speak out for is a binary decision. For those Members of Congress in shortcomings, including Clin- Israel’s security or the growing who try to find a middle space the coming weeks are going to ...continued on page 2 Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle Future Israeli soldiers at JFK, moments before they boarded the plane to Israel. Photo Credit: Shahar Azran Welcomes Rabbi David Schuck Fifty- nine of the inspir- Yonkers; Samuel Cohen, 19, ing young men and women from Woodmere; Ella Dahan, Volunteer Position in Mumbai, India Leads to Rabbinical Career on board will volunteer for the 19, from Long Beach; Ron Pesa- BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN a significant impact on me.” goal is to continue his legacy Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hovitz, 21, from Oceanside; After another year of by building relationships and as ‘lone soldiers’ — young Adina Fadis, 21, from Swam The profound experi- teaching and studying in yeshi- trust through listening. I want people who left behind their Lake; Yuval Hadari, 17, from ence as an American Jewish va in Israel, Schuck enrolled in to meet as many people as pos- homes, families and friends – Harrison; Noa Heller, 18, from Joint Distribution Committee the Jewish Theological Semi- sible and learn about their in the coming months. They Chestnut Ridge; Menachem (AJDC) Service Corps Educa- nary (JTS) and upon ordina- fears and dreams for this sa- will join the 850 lone soldiers Friedman, 19, from Suffern; tor Volunteer in Kalwa, India, a tion, began his service as Rabbi cred community. Eventually, from the U.S., and the 2,800 Zoe Vatash, 18, from Sag Har- suburb of Mumbai, ultimately of the Pelham Jewish Center, common themes will emerge lone soldiers from around bor; Elizabeth Kantarowitz, led new Beth El Synagogue stating that his 11 years in Pel- to help guide us in reimagining the world, who are currently 18, from Brooklyn; and Kevin Center New Rochelle Senior ham were deeply enriching our future. serving in the IDF. Nefesh Schechter, 23, Sheina Tolmas, Rabbi David Schuck on the and shaped his rabbinate in “Synagogues need to be B’Nefesh, in cooperation with 23, Aron Wander, 22, and Yo- path toward the rabbinate. profound ways. He also began places of refuge in which we Friends of the IDF (FIDF), natan Broome, 20, from New “I graduated Rutgers Uni- teaching in the JTS Rabbinical can find deep spiritual connec- cares for thousands of lone York City. versity with a Bachelor of Arts School about four years ago. tions to one another, our past soldiers serving in the IDF The planeload of Olim in Political Science and Middle About his vision for Beth and to the great Mystery of be- through the Lone Soldiers was the second of two char- East History in May 1995 and in El, Rabbi Schuck said, “It is ing alive. A synagogue can be Program, which offers guid- ters, which, along with six August went to India. I served important to me to honor the an oasis at which our ‘energy- ance, and support, for all group Aliyah flights and Olim Rabbi David Schuck as a Jewish educator, building 43 years of service that Rabbi sapping-obsession’ with pro- lone soldier immigrants dur- arriving independently on the educational infrastructure Living in a place where people Melvin Sirner dedicated to this ductivity can simply melt away ing each stage of their ser- ...continued on page 4 of their Jewish community. were thirsty for knowledge had community. My immediate ...continued on page 4 Covering all of Westchester for 20 Years! Happy New Year! Visit www.westchesterjewishlife.com 2 • September 2015 — Elul 5775 - Tishrei 5776 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com AJC Executive Director David Harris Speaks About the Nuclear Deal with Iran ...continued from page 1 Local Holocaust Survivors Address Teens at ton’s [failed] accord with North Korea. “Is- rael destroyed a Syrian nuclear reactor in BBYO International Convention 2007. What would it look like today with Assad killing 200,000 of his own people without using nuclear weapons? “President Obama drew a ‘red line’ on Syrian chemical weapons—and we blink- ed. They were using chlorine-laced bombs against their own citizens. And in five years, United Nations restrictions on sell- ing arms to Iran will be lifted. Iran is awash in oil and gas—why do they need nuclear energy? Iran’s nuclear weapons were not dismantled—they have been mothballed. “During the Bush administration For- dow was revealed by Iranian opposition. Many nuclear upgrades by the Iranian re- gime were unknown to us until revealed by others. And it is not just Jews but the ma- Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester Event Chair Emily Cohen jorities of Americans polled—oppose this (left) and AJC Westchester/Fairfield Regional President Beverly deal,” Harris concluded. Rosenbaum “Ben’s Rosh Hashanah Dinner For 10! Esther Geizhals of Larchmont (center) had her bat mitzvah at the BBYO International Kallah Order Early & Get 3 FREE Meals!” in Lake Como, PA in July. Ms. Geizhals, was part of a group of Holocaust survivors representing the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center who spoke about their experiences growing up under Nazi occupation before 225 teens from ten countries. Ms. Geizhals, whose family was forced into 2015 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Order by Wed., September 9, 2015* the Lodz ghetto when she was 10 years old, survived the Auschwitz extermination camp, and the – ROSH HASHANAH – and get 3 Ben’s Friends on-card concentration camps at Bergen Belsen and Rochlitze, and never had the opportunity before to have Close 4pm Sun., September 13th $ 99FOR BUY-1-GET-1 FREE meal coupons a bat mitzvah. Reopen Wed., September 16th 10 for future use. Three local Holocaust survivors – Betty Knoop of Armonk, Esther Geizhals of Larchmont and – YOM KIPPUR – Paul Galan of Suffern, gave a moving presentation about their lives growing up and surviving the Close 4pm Tues., September 22nd Reopen Thurs., September 24th 349 ❑ ...continued on page 8 APPETIZER 12 Mini Stuffed Cabbage PLUS CHOICE OF ONE ❑ 1 qt. Chopped Liver ❑ 10 pieces of Gefi lte Fish WISHING YOU SOUP ❑ 4 qts. 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