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 XIV, NUMBER 4 MARCH 4, 2021 JFNP established Emergency Fund to assist Texas Jewish communities As each of you know, the Jewish Jewish Federation of San Antonio, as and strength of our people. by the freezing weather, allowing them to Federation of Northeastern Pennsylva- well as the smaller Network communities In response to this effort, Houston get through the immediate emergency and nia on many occasions has participated in Brownsville, Bryan/College Station, Federation President and CEO Kari Dunn rebuild from this disaster. in emergency fund-raising efforts in the Corpus Christi, Galveston, McAllen, Tyler Saratovsky commented that “there’s very The Jewish Federation of Northeastern U.S., in Israel and around the world to and Waco. Where there is need, they have little that is warm in Texas right now, but Pennsylvania is participating in this effort assist in responding to crises of all kinds. supplied warm blankets, bottled water and I can tell you that my heart is very warm, and invites each of you to join, as well. Unfortunately, events unfolding in Texas plumbing assistance. thanks to all of you! You are an incredible Please share this information with others as a result of the recent deep freeze are JFNA has already stepped up to help group of colleagues and friends.” who might be inclined to contribute to yet another instance when we are called their colleagues in Texas. Within a few In addition to this generous outpouring this cause. upon to assist our people. hours, the Large Intermediate Federa- of support, JFNA’s Emergency Com- We will continue to evaluate and ad- Our national Federation office in New tions of North America pulled together to mittee, a volunteer body that allocates dress the situation. In the meantime, we York has been in close contact with all of contribute funds to their peers in Dallas emergency funds contributed by the com- send our love and best wishes to all the the Texas Federations – Dallas, Shalom and Houston – enough to support 1,000 munity to address disaster relief, opened communities affected by the storm. Austin, the Jewish Federation of Greater Shabbat packages along with kosher hot a national mailbox (https://form.jotform. Mark Silverberg, El Paso, the Jewish Federation of Fort meals at multiple locations. Our national com/210493421444954) to ensure that Executive Director Worth and Tarrant County, the Jewish Federation office was proud to contribute additional contributions flow to commu- Jewish Federation of Northeastern Federation of Greater Houston and the to their effort, which highlights the beauty nities throughout Texas and elsewhere hit Pennsylvania Texas Jewish communities mobilize to get food, medicine to those in need BY FAYGIE HOLT Both initiatives have allowed the Gold- walls and through ceilings. At least 30 (JNS) – On any given day, people com- feders to supply even more food – the people have died since February 14 from ing into the Kosher Palate in Dallas do so plan was to provide meals at least through the cold. Power has been restored to much know they are going to be spending money February 19. The GoFundMe effort proved of the state, although clean water and even on groceries or prepared foods. However, so successful that the couple has been able food in some areas remain scarce. hundreds of people were treated to free hot to set aside some of the funds to provide It was amid these conditions – and meals made by the staff of the supermarket/ Passover items to Jews in need, as well despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic catering company amid the recent week as sending funds to help people in Austin – that members of the Jewish communities of brutally cold winter weather. who are in need. throughout the Lone Star State mobilized “My husband being the kind of guy Additionally, a truck filled with addi- to help people in need. They opened their he is, he likes to feed people, and he said tional kosher-food provisions for Shabbat doors to friends without power, cooked there are people who are at home and no arrived in Dallas on February 19 from meals, arranged for medication pickups way to get hot food, so we have to feed the Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim – a Jewish for those homebound, and, in one extreme Members of a Jewish family got them,” said Miriam Goldfeder, who, along organization in Lakewood, NJ – while a case, mobilized to ensure that hundreds vaccinated at a Texas synagogue after with her husband, Chaim, owns Kosher chef friend of Chaim Goldfeder flew down of doses of critically needed coronavirus a freezer lost power. (Photo by Rabbi Palate. “That was Tuesday night [February on February 18 from his home in New vaccines would not go to waste. Barry Gelman) 16], and we have fed about 1,000 people Jersey to help with the on-site cooking. “Many members of our community each night since. I saw people who came A massive plunge of arctic air and have been without power,” said Rabbi in that I have never seen before.” winter storms throughout Texas knocked Ari Sunshine of Congregation Shearith 2021 UJA Goldfeder, who also opened their home out power for nearly 4.5 million residents Israel in Dallas. “We’ve also heard about to family friends who had no heat, ex- the week of February 14 as the state’s a number of folks who had pipes burst, plained that “we have a full kosher kitchen, power grid was unable to keep up with and in some cases, had flooding damage Pay it forward & give to so we have the cooking capability, as well demand brought on by the record cold. ranging from minor to quite major. the 2021 Jewish Federation as cases full of meats and chicken. Plus, Power-generation stations and the elec- “At Shearith Israel, we have been trying of Northeastern Pennsylvania we are preparing for Pesach, so we have tric grid in Texas – separate from the rest to match up congregants in need of resources Annual Campaign! more on hand than usual.” of the country, and as such, unable to (hot food, warmth, a warm place to sleep, etc.) A GoFundMe account was established get help from neighboring states – were with other congregants who have not been to help offset the costs of the meals. The not properly winterized to handle the affected,” said Sunshine, who, along with Goal: Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas also below-freezing temperatures. The precip- his family, took advantage of a member’s $970,000 For information or to contributed funding and arranged for itation made travel outdoors dangerous hospitality as he had no power for two days. make a donation call $914,032 three communal food distribution sites while indoors, water pipes froze and then Now back at home, Sunshine said his 570-961-2300 ext. 1 or as of Feb. 25, 2021 send your gift to: in different parts of the city. ruptured, sending floods cascading down congregation is continuing to look after Jewish Federation others. “We have initiated an emergency of Northeastern Pennsylvania fund-raising effort tied into the mitzvah of 601 Jefferson Ave., matanot l’evyonim for Purim to raise money Scranton, PA 18510 (Please MEMO your to help those in our Jewish community and pledge or gift 2021 larger Dallas community who are in most UJA Campaign) acute need,” he said, “with 50 percent of the funds going to Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas and 50 percent going to the North Texas Food Bank.” In the first 24 hours of the campaign, which was scheduled to run until Purim started on February 25, the synagogue had Long lines at an HEB grocery store in Austin, TX, following power outages and already raised nearly $20,000. frigid temperatures on February 16. (Photo by Wienot Films/Shutterstock) See “Texas” on page 10 Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE March 5 ........................................ 5:40 pm March 12 ...................................... 5:48 pm Cyber-attacks Digging up the past Holocaust March 19 ...................................... 5:24 pm March 26 .....................................7:04 pm A former IDF intel officer says Fabric fragments, dating to the Polish court’s ruling in libel case foreign cyber-attack units are Iron Age, with royal purple dye causes concern; childhood friends PLUS targeting the U.S. and Israel. have been found; and more. Zoom after decades of separation. Opinion .......................................................2 Story on page 5 Stories on page 6 Stories on page 10 D’var Torah ...............................................8 2 THE REPORTER ■ MARCH 4, 2021 A MATTER OF OPINION Unmasking Palestinian “human rights” groups BY HILLEL FRISCH “human rights” organizations covering venerable organization Al-Haq (founded Human Rights. A medicine shortage for (BESA Center via JNS) – Recently, an Israel and the Palestinians – probably the in 1979) did not investigate, condemn or which Israel is blamed and a press release Arab Christian gynecologist, Dr. Salamah highest density of human rights organi- even mention the incident. A search for entitled “Israel Deprives Gaza Population Qumsiyeh, was brutally attacked in Beth- zations in the world relative to the size the terms “Christian” and “Christians” on of COVID-19 Vaccine” figure prominent- lehem. His assailant attempted to slash his of their beat – investigated these claims. its website was no more fruitful. ly on the site’s home page. On the attacks wrists (there is a video that documents the An internet search revealed that no or- The name of Addameer, an organiza- in the Bethlehem area, or the claims made wounds the doctor sustained – it is not for ganization other than Jihad Watch covered tion closely linked to the Popular Front around them, there is not a word.