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 21 NOVEMBER 1, 2018 American Jewish community reacts after Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting BY JACKSON RICHMAN been among the most safe and secure in “No words are adequate,” said David dreadful crime of hate. During these (JNS) – The Pittsburgh Jewish commu- the nation, was rocked by horrible trag- Harris, executive director of the American terrible times, we stand even stronger nity is in mourning after a gunman killed edy. My heart is broken, and I offer my Jewish Committee. “A demented, bigoted against antisemitism, white supremacy 11 people and injured six others, including condolences to the friends and family of mind that would destroy lives in a house and intimidation.” four responding law-enforcement officers, those killed. of worship should leave us all speechless, “This horrific attack is yet another during a brit milah (“baby naming”) at The “I hope and pray for healing for ev- united and angry as hell.” example of the danger of antisemitism. Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in eryone affected and for all of us who are “Our hearts go out to our brothers and This baseless hatred is the mother of the Squirrel Hill, a historic Jewish neighbor- sickened by these recent events,” contin- sisters at Tree of Life, and throughout violence we saw today and have witnessed hood in the area, as the synagogue was ued Finkelstein. “We are truly all family the Squirrel Hill community,” said Ari throughout Jewish history,” said David observing its weekly Shabbat services in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, so Berman, president of Yeshiva University. Brog, executive director of the Maccabee on October 27. these deaths have affected me and all of “That this cowardly antisemitic assault Task Force, a pro-Israel campus group. According to Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate us as would a death in the family. was perpetrated during a brit milah, a “We must have zero tolerance for KDKA, the suspect is 46-year-old Robert “Many synagogues share the sacred celebration of new life, only highlights antisemitic speech and antisemitic acts, Bowers, who was apprehended at the space where this tragedy occurred, in- the twisted nature of the evil that has whether they target individual Jews or scene of the shooting. Police sources told cluding the combined Tree of Life*Or threatened the Jewish people over the the Jewish state,” he continued. “We the news outlet that when Bowers walked L’Simcha Congregation, a Conserva- ages and against which all people of good must respond to every antisemitic out- into the synagogue, he allegedly yelled, tive congregation, and Dor Hadash, a conscience must fight. burst in our communities and on our “All Jews must die.” Reconstructionist congregation,” added “May God grant our people both the campuses as if lives are at stake. They “It’s a time of mourning,” Adam Hertz- Finkelstein. “An attack of any kind, and strength to help each other during this time clearly are.” man, director of marketing at the Jewish especially an attack on a place of worship, of mourning and the fortitude to rebuild “We are devastated. Jews targeted on Federation of Pittsburgh, told Fox News is despicable. Violence has no place in our together. And may decent people the world Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy the night of October 27. society or in our community.” over join together with us in eradicating place of worship, is unconscionable,” A Jewish resident, who requested an- Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: this most ancient of all hatreds.” tweeted Anti-Defamation League CEO onymity for privacy reasons, told JNS: Jewish Action, a progressive Jewish In addition to giving condolences, Jonathan Greenblatt. “Our hearts break “I was about a mile from the synagogue, group, said, “We are overcome with grief Jack Rosen, president of the American for the victims, their families, and the so all I can say is that I’ve never heard and heartbreak at the unconscionable act Jewish Congress, remarked that the entire Jewish community.” ambulance sirens like that in all my life, of terror during morning prayers at the shooting is a reminder of the hatred that “It is simply unconscionable for Jews nonstop for probably an hour but what Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh persists against Jews. “The American to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath felt like more. The community here is today. We are sending our condolences, Jewish Congress strongly condemns morning, and unthinkable that it would devastated, and has historically been an our love, our strength and our support the acts of terrorism and hate against happen in the United States of America extremely peaceful and warm place.” to the victims, their families, the entire our community,” said Rosen. “Attack- in this day and age,” said Greenblatt in Jeff Finkelstein, CEO of the Jewish Pittsburgh Jewish community, and all who ing innocent civilians in their place of a statement. “Unfortunately, this violent Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said: are in tears. May the memories of those worship, when they are congregating to attack – the deadliest antisemitic attack in “Today our city, which has ordinarily murdered be a blessing.” practice their faith, is a cowardly and See “Pittsburgh” on page 9 SPOTLIGHT Community Relations Committee report BY DAVID FALLK in the country including Penn- Special Envoy to Monitor pogroms in Russia, through the Dreyfus Act calling for Holocaust education sylvania where it’s mandatory and Combat Anti-Sem- affair to Nazism in the 1930s and up until in schools nationwide proposed in for schools to include the itism Act of 2018 (H.R. its modern-day iterations. This has been U.S. House Holocaust in the curriculum. 1911) passes House joined, however, by two other streams of Never Again Education Act would This legislation is critically On September 13, the U.S. hate – one emanating from the world of be funded by donations, not tax- important because, unfortu- House of Representatives militant Islam, and one which is sometimes payer dollars nately, Holocaust denial is overwhelmingly passed a fomented by countries such as Iran. Strains The proposed Never Again Education still out there and there’s still bipartisan bill by a vote of of this new antisemitism can be heard in Act legislation heading to the U.S. House genocide happening around 393-2 that would elevate the the demands of the BDS movement, which of Representatives aims to make the Ho- the world. That’s why Hadas- State Department official always singles out Israel, and never other locaust part of education in schools across sah and a group of bi-partisan who deals with the issue of countries whose record on human rights legislators came up with the David Fallk, CRC is far, far worse. Even a few individuals the country. If passed in the U.S. House chairman antisemitism from envoy to of Representatives, it would grant money Never Again Education Act ambassador. The Special En- running in our forthcoming election for raised through donations to American which is meant to pull in donations, not voy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Sem- Congress from both parties have expressed schools as part of the Holocaust Education tax dollars, to fund Holocaust education itism Act upgrades the status of the anti-Israel sentiments. By passing this act, Assistance Program. in every state. special envoy to combat antisemitism See “Report” on page 4 A draft of the Never Again Education The Act could fund transportation to to an ambassadorship requiring Senate Act calls Holocaust education “a nation- Holocaust museums or books about the confirmation. Were the bill to become al imperative to educate students in the Holocaust. It will also give the opportu- law as is expected, the president would Federation United States so that they may explore nity for survivors still with us to go into be required to fill the position within the lessons that the Holocaust provides for classrooms and meet with students. 90 days. The special envoy position is all people, sensitize communities to the It’s been more than 70 years since currently vacant. The bill would codify on Facebook the end of World War II, and there are circumstances that gave rise to the Holo- the position’s responsibilities to coordi- The Jewish Federation of Northeast- very few survivors left. The Never caust and help youth be less susceptible nate the federal government’s efforts to ern Pennsylvania now has a page on Again Education Act was introduced to the falsehood of Holocaust denial and combat antisemitism overseas. Facebook to let community members in the U.S. House of Representatives distortion and to the destructive messages The reason for the passage of this act know about upcoming events and keep on April 10 and has been referred to of hate that arise from Holocaust denial is clear. There is, first, a persistent an- connected. and distortion.” the House Committee on Education tisemitism that has historically manifested and the Workforce. itself throughout European history, from Currently, there are only eight states Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE November 2................................. 5:38 pm On the gridiron Waldheim film News from Israel November 9..................................4:31 pm November 16 .............................. 4:24 pm A look at Cleveland Browns kicker A film on Austrian President Kurt IDF search and rescue help Greg Joseph’s journey from Jewish Waldheim draws parallels to the in Jordan floods; Palestinian PLUS day school to the NFL. modern rise of the right.