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XLII NO. 3 PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY WWW.JEWISHLEADERWEBPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 5, 2016/26 SHEVAT 5776 NEXT DEADLINE FEB. 11, 2016 16 PAGES HOW TO REACH US - BY PHONE 860-442-8062 • BY FAX 860-443-4175 • BY EMAIL [email protected] • BY MAIL: 28 CHANNING STREET, NEW LONDON, CT 06320 Western Wall compromise Hamas is warned matters...and doesn’t TUNNELS A THREAT TO ISRAEL By Ben Sales, JTA - By Edgar Asher, Ashernet to 2014’s failed conversion re Sunday, January 31, after- form — achieved this level of decades of conflict, leaders of- consensus. - rime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a harsh Judaism’s three major denom But the agreement won’t warning to Hamas at an ambassadors’ conference at inations reached a compro mean much until it’s imple the Foreign Ministry on Sunday, January 31. The Prime- mise on the future of prayer- mented, which is why … PMinister was responding to recent statements by at the Western Wall, and got I’ll believe in the expansion Hamas saying that the building of tunnels from Gaza towards Is the Israeli government’s back when I see it. rael will continue. Netanyahu responded that, “if we are attacked ing. The deal comes with a few Construction in Jerusalem from the tunnels in the Gaza Strip, we will act with immense force- important unknowns and will can be a nightmare — even against Hamas, much more than we used in Operation Protective take a while to implement. when it’s not at a sacred site Finishing touches Edge.” The Prime Minister continued, “We are working methodi Here’s why it matters, even that gets 10 million visitors cally and level-headedly against all threats, including that from though it might not seem to. a year. Beyond the inevitable- to Harvesting Stones Hamas, using both offensive and defensive measures.” - The deal’s provisions aren’t obstacles that will come with- Internationally acclaimed story- Prime Minister Netanyahu said that he has spent only six- historic — but the deal itself planning, delegating and bud teller Peninnah Schram record- hours in negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Mah is. geting a public project, the ex- ing the soundtrack to the film moud Abbas over the last seven years. “Abbas is on the interna What is agreed on in the pansion will have to contend Harvesting Stones earlier this tional frontlines. But apart from Sweden, there is almost no state Western Wall deal actually with working in an archaeo week. The movie will have its that supports him. Palestinian children are fed on hatred and the doesn’t change much. logical site with remains from premiere at the 22nd Annual In- desire to destroy Israel. If this was solely a matter of settlements, Right now, at the Western the Second Temple. ternational Film Festival of East- the conflict would be over.” Wall, there’s a large gender- The government may also ern CT presented by the Jewish separated prayer area under run into opposition from the Federation of Eastern CT some- Haredi Orthodox control, next Waqf, WALLthe Islamic CONT. ONreligious PG 15 time in May. to a smaller non-Orthodox area run by non-Orthodox Sanders jubilant after Iowa leaders. Under the deal, that BY AFP, AP and Times of Israel Staff will still be the case. - Yes, the non-Orthodox space will double in size. Yes, Democratic White House hopeful Bernie Sanders told sup it will be physically upgraded porters his “virtual tie” in Iowa had “astounded the world” and and gain a more prominent- vowed to repeat the feat again as attention shifted from the US- entrance. But in the end, non- Midwest to New Hampshire. Orthodox leaders have sim Hillary Clinton narrowly eked out victory in the state, garner- ply won a makeover of their ing 49.9 percent to Sanders’s 49.6% with 99.9% of precincts in prayer space. The Orthodox Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressing a conference of Iowa reporting, but the surprisingly strong showing by the Jew area of the site and the plaza Israeli ambassadors and overseas representatives in Jerusalem on ish candidate seemed to put the wind at his back. - behind it — what people have Sunday, January 31. Sanders was jubilant as he took the stage in a packed hotel historically meant when they ballroom close to Des Moines airport Monday night, where en referWhat’s to the historic Western here Wall are — thusiastic supporters waved signs saying “A future to believe in” notwill barelythe particulars change. of the and chanting “Bernie! Bernie!” - A senior IDF officer warned that Hamas in Gaza is once again- deal but the fact that it was Later on, on his campaign plane, he said, “What Iowa has prepared for a military campaign against Israel. “The group has made. - begun tonight is a political revolution,” the Politico website re rebuilt the tunnels, its rocket systems, intelligence collection, re ported. - connaissance, and it is essentially prepared for war,” said the IDF For nearly three de He said the Iowa results had “kick-started” his campaign. officer. - cades, a coalition of women’s The result further strengthens Sanders’s hand in the upcom The Prime Minister wanted to see more contact with the Arab- rights advocates and non-- ing contest in New Hampshire — which neighbors his Vermont- world, noting that Israel will be able to put forward practical so Orthodox Jews waged a fight constituency. lutions regarding the Palestinians. Many Arab countries under against Israel’s Haredi Ortho- “The reason that we have done so well here in Iowa, the rea stand Israel now and realize the veracity of Israel’s message. dox establishment. Now, the son I believe we’re going to do so well in New Hampshire, and in Leader appeal off to good start sides have signed a peace trea- the other states that follow, the reason is, the American people ty — with the government’s Thank you to all who have responded to the 2016 are saying no to a rigged economy,” Sanders said. imprimatur. Save for a break Annual Appeal letter that was sent out in mid-Janu- “We do not represent the interests of the billionaire class, away faction of Women of the ary. To all who have given, thank you for your gener- Wall Street or corporate America,” said the self-proclaimed Wall, every party involved has osity. For those who have added the appeal letter to Democratic Socialist. endorsed this deal. - Although Clinton said she was “breathing a big sigh of relief,” your stack of bills, please don’t forget about sending When it comes to Israeli and her campaign said it had won an outright victory, the neck-- in your check. Your contribution is essential to keeping religion and state, that’s re- and-neck contest was a blow, evoking the setback she faced in the Leader in top operating form. ally rare. No recent religious SANDERS CONT. ON PG 15 2008 after her upset loss to then-Sen. Obama. Given the close legislation — from the expan sion of military conscription 2 THE JEWISH LEADER, FEBRUARY 5, 2016 She is the author of “Swords Into Dow Shares: The Liberation of Eilat Mention & Menschen Governing the Decline of the Military Indus- By Edgar Asher, Ashernet trial Complex” and co-editor of the “Oxford Preservation work has just been completed by the Council NADINE LIPMAN Handbook for Urban Planning.” Rachel gradu- for the Preservation of Israel’s Heritage Sites of the mud-brick [email protected] ated from East Lyme High School in 1985 and guard station that was built in 1933 by the British. The station attended Brown University, receiving her Ph.D. overlooked the Red Sea and is situated near the present Eilat Welcome to the World: from Cornell University in 1998. She spent her Airport. In March 1949 Eilat was liberated by Israeli forces and Grayson Miller Kapp junior year of college in Benares, India, and was - a Fulbright Scholar in Calcutta in 1992. Rachel membered by a sculpture outside the renovated station. Jeannette Gershowitz called me to share the is married to Dr. John Slocum and is the proud a hand-madeIn January 1994flag was the hoistedsite was over declared the station. a national This heritage event is site. re wonderful news that that she is a great-grand- mother of Estelle and Ruby. The family resides © ASHERNET mother for the SIXTH time! Brian and Marnie in Oak Park, Illinois. Kapp New England Patriots wide receiver Julian birth of their second child, Grayson Miller, Edelman has never been elected to a Pro Bowl weighing of Westfield, in at 7 lbs New 14 oz; Jersey, his older announced brother the is — the NFL’s all star game — but he can now add Logan Mark. Grandparents are Sandra and a Jewish honor to his resume. He is the fourth- Martin Kapp of Manalepan, NJ and Boynton best Jewish football player ever, the American Beach, FL; they are the parents of three chil- Jewish Historical Society announced recently. dren, with each having two of their own. Jean- Here is the American Jewish Historical Soci- nette, of New London, and I reminisced a little; ety’s full list: she and her late husband Sydney used to sit Sid Luckman, QB, Chicago Bears (1939 near my parents at Ocean Beach, and I went to -1950) New London High School with both Sandy and Ron Mix, OL, Los Angeles/San Diego Char- gers, Oakland Raiders (1960 – 1971) met the the Gershowitz girls through a Jewish Benny Friedman, QB, Cleveland Bulldogs, Elaine,High School who passedSorority away that a hadfew ayears local ago.