Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME XI, NUMBER 12 JUNE 14, 2018 NEPA Federation participants cheered during this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City On June 3, more than 35 members from was estimated by the media to be in the After the parade, the group proceeded and that they “look forward” to upcoming the Monroe, Pike, Wayne and Lackawanna thousands and, as NEPA Federation par- to Teaneck, NJ, where they ate kosher Federation programs. county Jewish communities representing ticipants marched by the parade stand with food at various restaurants and shopped The Federation extends its appreciation the Jewish Federation of Northeastern their blue and white streamers fluttering in local stores. Several newcomers par- to the organizational efforts of Dassy Ganz Pennsylvania and the Scranton Jewish in the wind and both the Federation and ticipated this year and noted they were and Leah Laury, and to the many mem- Community Center marched down New JCC banners held before them, supporters “particularly thrilled” with the opportu- bers of the communities in Northeastern York City’s 5th Avenue together with on both sides of 5th Avenue cheered and nity to march in support of the Jewish Pennsylvania who shared in “the joy and many Jewish organizations from the embraced them with a thumbs-up sign of homeland, to make new acquaintances pride” of this year’s Celebrate Israel Pa- Greater New York area to honor Israel’s support and appreciation,” said a NEPA from Northeastern Pennsylvania and to rade. “Their participation in this annual 70th anniversary. Federation representative. The parade “experience a larger Jewish community.” celebration was, is and always will be a “Under sunny skies, the massive crowd was covered by the national media and Attendees also expressed their gratitude statement of our communities’ support and that cheered as the Celebrate Israel Parade large portions of it appeared on national that the Federation subsidized the trip, pride for the state of Israel,” said a NEPA organizations marched down 5th Avenue television networks and YouTube. which made their participation affordable, Federation representative. Northeastern Pennsylvania community members carried the banners for the Scranton Northeastern Pennsylvania community members who marched in the Israel Parade Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania on June 3. at the Celebrate Israel Parade on June 3. Tens of thousands in New York cheer Israel’s anniversary with signs, song and wonder BY SHIRYN SOLNY friendship with China by featuring an Danon, New York City Public Advocate that same mission, “even when we’re (JNS) – Decorated signs were in full enlarged photograph of Israeli Prime Letitia James (who is running for New thousands of miles away.” display on June 3 at the “Celebrate Israel” Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and China’s York attorney general), Israeli chef Eyal Jewish rapper Kosher Dillz and singer parade, many of them paying homage to President Xi Jinping. Another banner held Shani and Israeli Consul General Dani Lipa Schmeltzer were among the event’s this year’s theme of “70 and Sababa!” by marchers read “70 years of turning Dayan. Earlier in the day, Israeli Consul performers. Many of the groups that Others held by the tens of thousands of desert land into green land,” and one group General of New York Dayan, said that marched in the parade played Israeli songs, people from the New York and elsewhere toward the end of the parade held signs outside of Jerusalem, New York is “the including the now ever-present “Toy,” the focused on Israel’s unity, strength and with the pictures of Lt. Hadar Goldin and capital of the world.” See “Anniversary” on page 6 freedom. One sign read “Israel @70: Still Sgt. Oron Shaul – two Israel Defense Force New York Govenor Andrew Cuomo, Putting Its Stamp on the Future,” while soldiers killed in action by Hamas during who is running for re-election, served another said “70 Years a Free People in Our Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” in as the parade’s honorary grand marshal. Own Land.” Some marchers held signs that 2014. Written on the same signs was a “Too often today diversity is seen as a Federation said “70” or “sababa” in big, bright letters, Jewish phrase that translates to: “All of weakness, but we know it’s our strength. while others held posters that depicted Is- Israel is responsible for one another.” NY wouldn’t be NY without the Jewish rael’s innovations, such as the navigation The five-hour procession, which went community,” Cuomo said in tweet. on Facebook app Waze. Another group of marchers held up Manhattan’s 5th Avenue from 57th Street American Friends of Magen David The Jewish Federation of Northeast- a banner that featured pictures of Israel’s to 74th Street, included a number of guests, Adom, one of the sponsors of the parade, ern Pennsylvania now has a page on popular sites, such as the Western Wall, including Dr. Ruth Westheimer, New noted that the organization works along- Facebook to let community members Dead Sea and the open-air Middle Eastern York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Israeli side the Israel Defense Forces, saving lives know about upcoming events and keep marketplaces known as “shuks.” Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev, 24 hours a day. The parade is important, connected. The America China Public Affairs New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, Israeli an MDA spokesman told JNS, because Institute had a float that boosted Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny it helps New Yorkers feel connected to Candle lighting June 15 ......................................... 8:20 pm INSIDE THIS ISSUE June 22 ........................................ 8:22 pm What they knew Jews of Yemen News in brief... June 29 ........................................ 8:22 pm An new exhibit shows ordinary A recent exhibit, in conjunction JDC and Israel send aid to PLUS Americans knew a lot about the with a conference, highlighted Guatamala; STEM preschool to Opinion .......................................................2 Holocaust as it was happening. Yemenite Jewish culture. open in Jerusalem; and more. D’var Torah ...............................................8 Story on page 5 Story on page 9 Story on pages 11-12 Federation Annual Report ...........Insert 2 THE REPORTER ■ JUNE 14, 2018 A MATTER OF OPINION The current administration can build trust and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians – if it wants BY KENNETH BOB AND to install solar panels for homes in poor the Palestinian health care infrastructure. ians by immediately reinstating funding BRAD ROTHSCHILD communities in Gaza. The program has This is precisely the kind of program that to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, (JTA) – The recent escalation of vi- also developed a portable solar pump builds trust and cooperation between which supports food supply, access to olence emanating from the Gaza Strip system to give Palestinian farmers im- Israelis and Palestinians, and can serve education, health care, social services and serves as a depressing reminder that the mediate access to water regardless of the as an important foundation for a future employment. Essential funding should Middle East lacks a peace process and electricity supply from the unreliable grid. peace process. also come from the collection of unpaid shows the hopelessness of the situation With funding from the European Union Gaza is in need of major infrastructure pledges made for the rehabilitation of in Gaza. It also reinforces the sinking and the Friends of the Arava Institute, and economic development, something Gaza after the 2014 war at the conference feeling that the United States is no lon- there will be training sessions for Gazans that can alleviate the sense of hopeless- held in Cairo. ger interested in or able to be an “honest to build technical capacity in the strip for ness that has caused thousands to resort to Additionally, serious consideration broker” in the region, which inevitably solar energy independence. desperate and violent attempts to change should be given to the various proposals to will have deadly consequences for both increase Gazan exports and imports, which Israelis and Palestinians. Given the current climate of mistrust and despair, it’s hard would create jobs. Israel’s minister of Given the current climate of mistrust to believe that behind the scenes, there actually had been a transportation recently proposed building and despair, it’s hard to believe that a Gaza offshore sea port, or alternatively behind the scenes, there actually had certain level of progress made by Jason Greenblatt, President expanding the Kerem Shalom crossing been a certain level of progress made Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, in returning trust between into a logistic trade hub and a source of by Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Israel and the Palestinian Authority. employment for adjacent communities in Trump’s Middle East envoy, in returning Gaza, Egypt and Israel. trust between Israel and the Palestinian De-escalating violence in the current Authority. Late last year, he brokered Interestingly, despite the overall cut in the status quo. It’s hard to envision Hamas climate will require a level of leadership a deal in which Israel began selling American foreign aid spending, USAID taking up the challenge of responsible that neither Israel nor the Palestinians water to the Palestinian Authority at has actually increased its grant programs leadership when it has failed to do so for seem to have at the moment. To bridge a discounted rate. The arrangement by 20 percent to support grassroots “people the 11 years it has had control over the this leadership gap the parties will need didn’t get a lot of media attention, but to people” organizations that strengthen area.