Weekly Printed in two sections Since 1924 INSIDE: Home $40 PER YEAR WITHIN MONROE COUNTY, $42 OUTSIDE COUNTY/SEASONAL 70¢ PER ISSUE n VOL. XCVII, NO. 30 n ROCHESTER, N.Y. n TEVET 12, 5780 n JANUARY 9, 2020 France Advises Caution Across the US, Police and Locals For Its Citizens in Haifa Rally Around Jewish Communities in Amid Iran Tension Wake of Rise in Anti-Semitic Attacks French citizens in the north- “Following the recent escala- BY MARCY OSTER ern city of Haifa should exercise tion in tensions in the region, (JTA) — New York City held caution considering the tensions the city of Haifa has been the a huge rally this past weekend, in the Middle East, the French subject of explicit threats,” it but it wasn’t the only place to Foreign Ministry said in a state- said in a statement, without protest against a recent rise ment on its website on Wednes- giving any more precise details. in anti-Semitic attacks. Police day. The remarks were made Mohsen Rezaee, a former and locals in cities around the after a high-profile Iranian offi- chief of Iran’s elite Revolu- United States have pledged to cial mentioned the northern city tionary Guard Corps, said on support and protect their Jew- by name in a speech following Sunday following the killing of ish communities over the past the killing of Iran’s top general Gen. Qassem Soleimani, that week. by the United States. (Haifa — Page 11) In South Carolina, religious leaders gathered in the state capital on Monday to speak out Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi against anti-Semitism and ra- (iStock) cial attacks across the country. Calls Former Soviet Immigrants They also demanded state hate at ease. ment of support for the region’s crime legislation. “Please know… we are here Jewish community, which em- ‘Religion-Hating Gentiles’ On Sunday, top Los Ange- to work for you,” LAPD Deputy phasized that “Hatred has no les Police Department officers Chief Jorge Rodriguez said. home here.” Police departments met with members of the local Police departments across from Cleveland’s east side sub- Jewish community to put them northeast Ohio issued a state- (Rally — Page 6) 4 Ways New York’s Government Is Trying to Fight Rising Anti-Semitism BY BEN SALES NEW YORK (JTA) — After this past weekend’s rousing march to protest rising an- Israel’s Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, left, and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi ti-Semitism in New York — David Lau at a Chief Rabbinate ceremony in Jerusalem, Sept. 4, 2014. (Yonatan where Jews have been shot, Sindel/Flash90) stabbed, assaulted and ha- rassed over the past year — two BY MARCY OSTER fire for calling immigrants from big questions still loom large. JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s the former Soviet Union “Com- What is causing all of this? Sephardic chief rabbi is under (Immigrants — Page 7) And what are officials doing about it? The first question is fraught, NBC Article Blames Jews for Spike bedeviling experts and commu- From right: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Chuck Schumer, In Anti-Semitism in New York nity members alike. The second Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hold a banner at the march has some answers. against anti-Semitism in New York City, Jan. 5. (John Lamparski/Echoes Wire/Barcroft (Trying to Fight — Page 13) Media via Getty Images) Israel Unveils Breakthrough Laser To Intercept Missiles, Aerial Threats BY ANNA AHRONHEIM Israel’s Defense Ministry has announced that it has made a technological breakthrough Orthodox Jews arrive during the 13th Siyum HaShas, a celebration marking in the development of lasers the completion of the Daf Yomi, a seven-and-a-half-year cycle of studying to intercept a variety of aeri- texts from the Talmud, the canon of Jewish religious law, at the MetLife al threats, including against Stadium in East Rutherford, Jan. 1. (Reuters/Jeenah Moon) rockets and anti-tank guided missiles. BY ARIEL KAHANA Defense Minister Naftali Ben- An NBC news article, which nett said on Wednesday eve- claimed on Thursday that ning that new laser technology the growth of ultra-Orthodox “makes the security apparatus neighborhoods in certain areas more lethal, more powerful and of New York state were to blame more advanced.” Artistic depiction of how innovative laser defense system would function on 04 74470 90456 (NBC — Page 8) (Laser — Page 4) the battlefield. (Courtesy) One Hip Chic + Sole The Home of 1521 Monroe Ave. Wearable Art. in Brighton. Page 2 • THE JEWISH LEDGER • Thursday, January 9, 2020 Reflection … We Traveled as a Group From Rochester BY RABBI ELIEZER Y. LEHRER, M.ED. Twenty eight of us traveled as a group from Rochester. It was 4:45 AM, dark More comfortable out and the frost More interesting frozen on the wind- than a bike seat. shield needed to be than football. scraped off. We all gathered in Light One Hip Chic + Sole by One Hip Chic of Israel’s parking For comfortable glasses, shoes and bags lot where a Niaga- ra Scenic Tours Bus was warming up. It 1521 Monroe Ave. in Brighton. One Hip Chic + Sole by One Hip Chic had been seven and a For interesting glasses, shoes and bags half years. This time we would be partic- ipating as a group. I 1521 Monroe Ave. in Brighton. was excited. The Siyum. This is how organizers from Agudath Isra- GET YOUR el of America have billed the event. Lit- SEATS! erally it means The Conclusion, referring to the dra of Siberia. I have a coat. She sented on the massive jum- completion of the daily study did not. botron and live-streamed, Daf of the 2,711 folios of the Bab- The energy, excitement, en- Yomi Around the World. Two We would like to personally invite you ylonian Talmud. For the nine- thusiasm and joy was palpa- minutes in, Rochester is on the to the JCC Gala on January 25, 2020. ty-five thousand streaming to ble. So was the silence that screen. They get up each morn- It is our pleasure to be honorary chairs with our children. MetLife Stadium in East Ruth- occurred the instant Shemoneh ing to study the Daf together. – Debbie & Michael Gordon erford, New Jersey — our Roch- Esrei began. They meet in Beth Sholom’s ester contingent included, the The dancing challenges my library. Now they appear larger 2020 HONOREES Barclays Center in Brooklyn, senses. I am singing and danc- than life. Justin L. Vigdor Menorah Park of CNY • 3x5 • 12/31/19 • GB Email:New [email protected], and the millions ing with tens of thousands of I wished this day would last Tikkun Olam Award (Repairing the World) streaming the event live, this my fellow Jews. I am with two forever. I wished you could all Expositor-Ledger Newspapers Emily Rittenberg is much, much more. This is a of my sons. Nearby are two of be there. Rochester GolfYoung Week Leadership • Award The Jewish Ledgerculmination. A celebration. An my brothers, a brother-in-law We exit the stadium and head 2535 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road, Rochester, NY 14623 affirmation of the power of the and four nephews. One of them for the bus for the six hour trip Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester eternal study of our precious is actually finishing the Tal- back home. The corned beef (585) 427-2468 • FAXCommunity (585) 427-8521 Partnership Award Torah. mud. I am holding the hand of hoagies were a special touch, Chaired by the TulganWe & Gordonwant YOUR Families. AD to be perfect…Others may focus on the a complete stranger, forming a but the camaraderie was eu- IMPORTANT… wind-chill. It was thirty five de- ring around the entire stadium. phoric. We dissected our expe- Your ad will run Foras seatsit appears or to make here a donation, unless email we hear fromgrees you with immediately. a blowing wind that Wherever I turn I look upon a riences for hours. [email protected] or call 461.2000 ext. 368. Please review this ad carefully. could be felt in one’s bones. I sea of shining faces. I am re- Daf Yomi — a page a day. My n Check spelling and punctuation focused on my Bubby Esther luctant to take out my phone to father finished. My brother fin- n Check addresses and phone numbers, as well as e-mail addresseswho and webpassed sites. away less than snap a picture. I do so anyway ished. Members of our commu- n Check dates and times of all events listed. ten months ago. She had been so I can give others a glimpse of nity finished. As I sit to write If there are any corrections, please call us immediately at 427-2468.twelve years old when she spent what I was privileged to expe- this on the following Sunday, World War II in the frozen tun- rience. Maybe it will stir a little tens of thousands have started jealousy and they will want to the journey of daily study all join. over again. I invite you to join Intense feelings course as well. through me. I am proud to be We will travel as a group Kosher Catering By The Oaks a Jew. I am proud to repre- from Rochester. It makes it sent Rochester. I am grateful much more special. b for the ability to study freely in Rabbi Eliezer Y. Lehrer, M.Ed., our magnificent country. I feel serves as Headmaster of Ora connected to those who came Academy, an all-girls high school before me. I feel responsible for located in Rochester, New York, those who will come after.