TEAM FRANK PREPS FOR RUBIN RUN page 6

REMEMBERING THE SPIRIT OF '68 page 10

YAVNEH'S FIELD OF DREAMS page 12
THE SUMMERS OF ROBERT LIPSYTE page 16

MAY 11, 2018

VOL. LXXXVII NO. 34 $1.00 87 2018

NORTH JERSEY THEJEWISHSTANDARD.COM

The dance of
coexistence
Jaffa’s ballroom superstar
screens in Closter page 20
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Teaneck, NJ 07666
1086 Teaneck Road
Jewish Standard
 CHICKEN,
YOU’VE
MET
YOUR
MATCH
The most award-winning kosher winery.

2 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

BH match ad sizes.indd 15 3/19/18 12:14 PM

 Page 3

Tales of the chasidic matjes

● There’s something fishy going on
in the kosher herring business.
Two different herring compa-
nies are branding their gourmet
delicacies with the names and
visages of such rabbis as Men-
achem Mendel of Kotzk.
Yes, you can order the Honey
Mustard Sriracha Herring from the
Rebbe’s Choice line of premium cer-
tified kosher herring. “This sharp and
fiery herring is inspired” by the “fiery
truth and sharp wit of the rebbe of
Kotzk,” according to the Rebbe’s
Choice website. Kotzk is only one
of six herring flavors in the Rebbe’s
Choice product line, which also in-
cludes such favorite chasidic masters
as Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
and Reb Zusha, available at kosher
supermarkets, including Teaneck’s
Cedar Market.
Most of the 4,000 words on the
Kotzker-inspired herring product’s
webpage are devoted to the biog-
raphy and teachings of the Kotzker
rebbe, though it does list the ingredi-
ents: pickled herring, onions, mayon-
naise, sriracha, mustard, sugar, and
spices. The Rebbe’s Choice brand
of herring was inspired by a magical
encounter with flavorful herring that
yeshiva student Naftali Engel experi-
enced in the holy city of Tzfat.
Does naming a herring flavor after
packaging borrows the analytical
terminology of Rav Chaim’s talmu-
dic lectures in a way that makes
surprisingly little sense, even by the
low standard of food marketing: “A
Herring that is Gavra and Cheftza —
uniting subject and object — with
the analytical prowess of Volozhin.”
An analytical herring?
What would the Kotzker rebbe
have made of all this?
There’s a line in Dr. Joseph Fox’s
1988 biography that seems relevant.
Commenting on Genesis 43:20, de-
scribing how the sons of Jacob went
down to Egypt for food, the rebbe is
said to have asked, in all seriousness:
“Is food that important?”
And indeed, Rabbi Abraham Josh-
ua Heschel titled his study of the
Kotzker “A Passion for Truth,” not “A

Sounds like fun

a chasidic rebbe work in the kosher
marketplace? Apparently yes, be-
cause one of the old masters of her-
ring has started to play that game.
Flaum’s has been selling kosher
foods for a century, originally out of
a store in Williamsburg. It has an-
nounced its own line of rabbinically
inspired herring products.
“The Herring of Kotzk” is spicy
matjes.
“The Herring of Volozhin” is
a nod to the 19th century non-
Passion for Herring.”
Yet another saying attributed to
the Kotzker is more ambiguous: “You
don’t love fish,” he is said to have ● Listen, people. Foreign languages are know a language much better than you
told a chasid who professed love hard!. Hire a professional. Otherwise it’s actually do.
for the delicacy. “If you loved the open season on your hilarious spelling Here, the sign in Tzfat was supposed
fish, you would not have killed it and mistakes and Google Translate errors, to point to an antiques store. Oops!
cooked it on a fire.” committed because you think you LARRY YUDELSON
On the other hand — the Kotzker
famously spent the last decades of
his life in seclusion, isolated from his
followers. Biographers have no clear CONTENTS PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT: (USPS 275-700 ISN 0021-6747) is pub-
lished weekly on Fridays with an additional edition every October,
answer to the question of why. Per- by the New Jersey Jewish Media Group, 1086 Teaneck Road,

chasidic Lithuanian Talmud schol- NOSHES ...............................................................4
haps it was herring breath?
BRIEFLY LOCAL .............................................. 18
ar, Rav Chaim of Volozhin. The LARRY YUDELSON
COVER STORY ................................................20
JEWISH WORLD ............................................ 24
SHAVUOT ......................................................... 32
OPINION ...........................................................34
For convenient home delivery, D’VAR TORAH .................................................41
Teaneck, NJ 07666. Periodicals postage paid at Hackensack, NJ and
additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New
Jersey Jewish Media Group, 1086 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666.
Subscription price is $30.00 per year. Out-of-state subscriptions are
$45.00, Foreign countries subscriptions are $75.00.
The appearance of an advertisement in The Jewish Standard does
not constitute a kashrut endorsement. The publishing of a paid
political advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of any

call 201-837-8818 or bit.ly/jsubscribe
Candlelighting: Friday, May 11, 7:45 p.m.
THE FRAZZLED HOUSEWIFE ................... 42
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ................................ 42
CALENDAR ...................................................... 43
OBITUARIES ....................................................46
CLASSIFIEDS ..................................................48
candidate political party or political position by the newspaper or
any employees.
The Jewish Standard assumes no responsibility to return unsolic-
ited editorial or graphic materials. All rights in letters and unsolic-
ited editorial, and graphic material will be treated as uncondition-
ally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and subject

Shabbat ends: Saturday, May 12, 8:50 p.m. REAL ESTATE.................................................. 52 to JEWISH STANDARD’s unrestricted right to edit and to comment
editorially. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without
written permission from the publisher. © 2018

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 3

Noshes
FAST FORWARD:
‘New Girl’ finis,
with a flourish
The last (ever) epi-
sode of “New Girl,” the
hit Fox series, will air on
Tuesday, May 15, at 8
p.m. This special one-
hour episode will be set
three years after the
previous one, and it will
catch us up with chang-
es in the lives of the
main characters. Suffice
it to say that all the main
characters are happy,
including Jess (played
by series’ title star Zoe
Deschanel) and Schmidt
(MAX GREENFIELD,
37). Guest stars include
ROB REINER, 71, and
JAMIE LEE CURTIS, 59,
as Jess’s parents, and
ZOE LISTER-JONES, 35,
as Schmidt’s former par-
amour, Fawn Moscato.
In 2015, Deschanel
wed a Jewish guy in
what the press de-
scribed as a “secret
ceremony,” and they
now have two kids. “US
Weekly,” not a great
source, said she convert-
ed to Judaism before
the wedding, but didn’t
provide any details. This
2015 story has been re-
peated all over the inter-
net, but there’s been no
confirmation since 2015.
HAL LINDEN, 87, will
guest-star in an episode
of “Law & Order: SVU”
that will air on Wednes-
day, May 16, at 9 p.m.
A woman living in an
assisted living facility
claims that she has been
raped. She has Alzheim-
Want to read more noshes? Visit facebook.com/jewishstandard
4 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
er’s and her mental state
brings her allegation
into question. Linden
plays a mysterious man
from her past.
Linden, the star of the
hit series “Barney Miller,”
recently was given a
major award by the Los
Angeles Jewish film fes-
tival. His new indie film,
“The Samuel Project,”
was shown at the festi-
val. Linden plays a Ger-
man Jewish refugee who
tells his grandson about
the Holocaust. Linden
has been a spokesman
for the Jewish Nation-
al Fund for 20 years,
raised money for Jewish
charities throughout his
career, and has visited
Israel many times.
At the movies
The documentary
“RBG” and the dramatic
film “Disobedience” are
opening in many cities
on May 11. “RGB” is about
the life and career of
Supreme Court Justice
RUTH BADER GINS-
BURG, 85. While Gins-
burg has become a pop
culture icon, relatively
few people know either
about the tremendous
legal legacy she created
even before she joined
the Supreme Court or
about the details of her
personal life. “RBG”
explores how through
pure grit, and the aid of
a great husband, she was
able to balance being a
ELEV A T E Y O U R
TWO LOCATI
ONSTO SERVEYOU BETTER -ENGLEWOOD,NJ& HARRI
“I would like to thank all the
celebrities for choosing not
to wear tefillin to the #MetGala.”
Max Greenfield
Naomi Alderman
wife, mother, law pro-
fessor, groundbreaking
litigator, and judge. (This
documentary will have
only a short theater run,
so look for it soon on
streaming services).
“Disobedience,” which
has earned universally
great reviews, is based
on a novel by Brit NAOMI
ALDERMAN, 44, that
centers on the London
Orthodox community.
The film opens with the
death of an Orthodox
rabbi after a fiery ser-
mon (ANTON LESSER,
MAN,NY -BENZELBUSCH.
— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg on Twitter
site, says she asked Wolf
if she was Jewish by
messaging her via Insta-
gram last year, and Wolf
replied that she isn’t
Jewish. Do google Larisa
Klebe and Michelle Wolf
and you’ll find two ar-
ticles Klebe wrote about
Wolf. The most recent
one is a smart explora-
tion of how the criticism
of Wolf often veers into
Hal Linden Ruth Bader Ginsburg anti-Semitic tropes.
The Orthodox Zayat
family of Teaneck had a
horse, Solomoni, in this
year’s Kentucky Derby.
He had a big win go-
ing into the race, but he
drew a poor start posi-
tion and finished 10th. In
2015, the Zayats’ horse,
American Pharoah, was
the first horse in 37
years to win the Triple
Crown. As I write this, I
Larisa Klebe Gary Barber don’t know if Solomoni
will run in the Preakness
66, who was Qyburn shows she’s interested Stakes on May 18 — it’s
on “Game of Thrones”). in a physical relationship the second leg of the
His rebellious daughter, with Ronit, who already Triple Crown. Solomoni is
Ronit (RACHEL WEISZ, is out as a lesbian. named after SOLOMON,
48), returns from New a toddler in the extended
York for his funeral. She Something heavy, Zayat family.
soon gets re-acquaint- something light But GARY BARBER,
ed with the two best Now-famous come- 60, a former MGM CEO,
friends from her youth: dian Michelle Wolf is had a better day with
Esti (Rachel McAdams), not Jewish. The Times his filly Wonder Gadot
and Dovid (Alessandro of Israel, while mention- (named after— well, you
Nivola, who had a Jewish ing her tour of Israel know). Wonder Gadot
paternal grandmother). a few years back, said finished a surprising
Esti and Dovid are mar- she is not Jewish. Also, second in the Kentucky
ried, and Dovid is a kind, LARISA KLEBE, the Oaks, the Derby for fil-
much-admired Orthodox deputy director of the lies. The Oaks is held at
rabbi. Huge complica- Jewish Women’s Ar- Churchill Downs, the day
tions ensue when Esti chive, a quite good web- before the Derby. –N.B.
California-based Nate Bloom can be reached at
Middleoftheroad1@aol.com
ST A N D A R D S
COM
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 5
Local
A unique family reunion
‘Team Frank’ prepares for the Rubin Run at the JCC
LOIS GOLDRICH
F
or the past 37 years, people from
all over the country — and, it
seems, from beyond our borders
as well — have been participating
in the Rubin Run, a fundraiser for special
needs programming at the Kaplen JCC on
the Palisades in Tenafly that draws more
than 1,500 runners.
While its many participants all have their
own reasons to run — whether for exercise,
a commitment to special needs program-
ming, or just the need to do something dif-
ferent — runner Kimmy Chedel, who lives in
Montreal, has perhaps the most compelling
reason of all.
Ms. Kimmy Chedel met Frank Doyle on
an evening cruise of New York Harbor for
college alumni from both his school, Bow-
doin College in Maine, and hers, Middle-
bury College in Vermont. His name tag fell
off and stuck to her shoe.
“I said, ‘Who is Frank Doyle?’ He came
over when he heard his name. It was love
at first sight.”
The couple married and moved to Engle-
wood in January 2000. “My best friend
Anna Stein (now Merker) lived in Engle-
wood and belonged to the JCC,” Ms. Chedel
said. “Frank and I decided we wanted to
raise children here.” The couple joined the
JCC, and with several friends, they took part
in the 2001 Rubin Run.
Now most of that group is gone. Frank
and his friends were killed on September 11,
2001, at the World Trade Center.
“He worked at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods,
KBW, a bank boutique at 2 World Trade Cen-
ter,” Ms. Chedel, who also worked in finance,
said. “He worked there for 16 years as head of
the equity desk. It’s funny. We were both in
the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.”
Ms. Chedel, left with two children — a
daughter, Zoe, then 2, and a son, Garrett,
1 — moved back to Canada, where she was
born. Today, Zoe, 19, is a student at Elon
University in North Carolina, and Garrett, 18
Who: The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
What: Will sponsor its annual Rubin
Run, featuring an 8K run, 10K run, and
5K run/walk
When: On May 13, from 7:30 a.m. to
12 p.m.
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades,
411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly
For information: Go to
http://www.jccotp.org/rubinrun.
How much: Fees range from $30 to $45;
register at the JCC early that day. There
is more detailed information online.
6 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
Team Frank in front of the Kaplen JCC.
has just been accepted there. It was a tough
time, she said, although partially eased by
the help of close friends. “We were a young
couple with babies,” she said. “He was 39.”
The run, she said, is a way to honor
Frank “and gather everyone who loved him
around his children. They’re surrounded by
people who cared about their dad.”
Ms. Chedel has come back to Tenafly to
participate in 18 runs. Last year, she gath-
ered a crew of 45 friends and family mem-
bers, all wearing their distinctive “Team
Frank” tee-shirts. This year, there will be
20. “My daughter is flying up,” she said.
“Friends from Maine and Boston are com-
ing. People are coming from across Canada
and New England.”
Other friends from around the New York
metropolitan area come out the day of the
race to cheer the runners on. She is espe-
cially pleased that this year the race will
include an 8K trail run, “which will make it
more interesting for people like my son. It’s
a good event to add.”
Frank, she said, “was a tremendous ath-
lete. He and Neal Merker” — a close friend
and active member of the JCC — “would run
at night on the hills of Englewood. A lawyer
and a guy from Wall Street.
“After he died, I decided we had to do
events to honor him. He would have wanted
us to be together and stay active and healthy.”
The weekend, she said, has become
somewhat ritualized. “Every Thursday of
race week, people fly in and stop at Lake
George, at the same diner. Then we shop at
Woodbury Commons. We stay in the Clin-
ton Inn, and then we all go to New York. We
always spend several hours at the World
Trade Center Museum.
“Then we go to Carmines on the upper
west side for a carb dinner and then to Ben
and Jerry’s. When we wake up at the Clinton
Inn, we order a big picnic lunch for after the
race.”
Ms. Chedel said while she has participated
in a local triathlon for the past 16 years “and
Garrett Doyle, left, and Canadian
world triathlete Matt Posh at the Start
of the Rubin Run last year.
recently hiked up our biggest mountain,”
this year she and several from her group will
walk, rather than run, in Tenafly.
Several years ago, Ms. Chedel, who said the
family gets together to do other activities as
well — some have climbed Kilimanjaro and
done several Iron Man events — took her chil-
dren to Africa. “I worked in emerging banks
for Chase so I traveled there frequently,” she
said. “I decided to bring the kids to see the
animals.” On that trip, she decided to create
the non-profit Team Frank Africa, which will
build schools there, she hopes at the rate of
one a year. She already has held a fundraiser
for her first project, a school in South Africa.
“It’s so nice when we come” to the JCC,
she said. “They hug all of us and thank us for
coming. They take pictures. Now the children
are bringing all their friends. Last year there
were 12 teens from Canada.”
Participating in the Rubin Run, Ms. Che-
del said, is one way to remember Frank
each year. In a perfect trifecta, it unites fam-
ily, it encourages the people he loved to be
active, and it marks Mother’s Day. “The kids
are grown, the cousins are grown, but we
use this as a kind of annual family reunion,”
Ms. Chedel said.
Rochelle Lazarus, the JCC’s public relations
director, said “The Rubin Run, now in its 37th
Anna Stein, left, and Kimmy Chedel at
the start of the 5k last year. They are
childhood friends.
year, has a three-pronged significance. The
first is the fact that it is held on Mother’s Day
as a celebration of family togetherness, where
parents and other adult role models can set
an example for healthy lifestyles for children.
All participating moms receive a rose as they
cross the finish line and there are all kinds
of outdoor activities for kids, as well as light
bites and beverages, and free babysitting and
DJ entertainment.
“Second, it allows people to set personal
fitness goals for themselves and their fami-
lies. To prepare people for the race, the
fitness staff at the JCC provides extensive
training options. And last, it allows people
to make a difference in their community,
as proceeds from the event support social
services, life skills classes, and vocational
training for people with special needs. The
goal each year is to help this special popula-
tion live more productive, meaningful lives
and this is a great community motivator.
Many people commit to this run in particu-
lar because it fulfills an important personal
and JCC mission at the same time.”
Ms. Lazarus pointed out that the run is
named for the late Leonard Rubin, a past
president and founder of the JCC, who estab-
lished this community-wide athletic event to
encourage and promote healthy living.
 T
Lethis is
the where
good
it all begins
times Roll!
From your heirloom family recipes to your
Whether you’re craving a snack, need a family
famous Lag Baomer barbecue, every incredible
meal or you’re planning a full-blown party,
dish starts with Season’s expert-cut meats and
nothing says delicious friends-and-family
poultry --bursting with freshness and flavor.
time like Seasons’ sushi. Our sushi artists roll
So whether you’re preparing Bubbe’s famous
the freshest, most creative sushi rolls and
brisket or sous vide rib eye, start your recipe
platters that please the eye
with Seasons, andand the palate.
And with such an assortment of choices,
your something
there's family will thankyouyou.
for everyone love.

BALTIMORE • CLIFTON
BALTIMORE • LAKEWOOD
• CLIFTON • LAKEWOOD••LAWRENCE
LAWRENCE • QUEENS••SCARSDALE
• QUEENS SCARSDALE • MANHATTAN
• MANHATTAN • • LAWRENCE
LAWRENCE
S HSOHPO 2
P 42/46/ 6S ES A
EAS SOONNSSKKO
OSSH
H EE R
R .. C
COOM
M •• I N
I NF FOO@@
S ESA
E SAO
SNO SNKSOKSOHSE H
R .ECRO
.CMO M

Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018 7

Local
Torah at Citi Field
Rabbi Menachem Genack of Englewood recalls
his conversation with Joe Lieberman at the OU’s day of study
J
JOANNE PALMER
oseph Lieberman of Connecticut retired from the
United States Senate in 2013.
Since then, he’s been in and out of the news,
both locally and nationally. Locally, Mr. Lieber-
man, a Democrat-turned-Independent (who caucused
with the Democrats) who ran for vice president on
the Democratic ticket in 2000 and has endorsed both
Republican and Democratic presidential candidates
( John McCain in 2008, Hillary Clinton in 2012,) and
endorsed Josh Gottheimer, the freshman Democrat who
represents the state’s Fifth Congressional district.
Like Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Lieberman feels strongly that
compromise is necessary; he’s a founder of the group
called No Labels, which advocates bridge-building
rather than burning.
Nationally, Mr. Lieberman was on the New York
Times’ and the Washington Post’s front pages last week-
end. That’s when his good friend Senator John McCain
of Arizona, the Republican who is dying of brain cancer
and looking back at his life with the freedom impend-
ing death gives him, said that he wishes he’d listened to
his own heart and chosen Mr. Lieberman as his running
mate in 2008.
Rabbi Menachem Genack of Englewood, who heads
the Orthodox Union’s kashrut division, is another good
friend of Mr. Lieberman’s; in fact, the two men study
together every week, usually but not always by phone,
and have done so for the last 25 years.
In fact, Rabbi Genack said, he has been in Mr. Lieber-
man’s office when Mr. McCain has called; although
much of their conversations are serious, they also joke
with each other, the way friends do. He remembers Mr.
McCain joking with Mr. Lieberman about a ride in a
Shabbes elevator they took together. They were going to
a penthouse. It was a tall building, and a very long ride.
Mr. McCain “said that it was an expletive-deleted funny
experience,” Rabbi Genack reported. He also remem-
bers an autographed picture that Mr. McCain sent Mr.
Lieberman; on it, he’d scrawled “Joe, I miss you in the
Senate — but I don’t miss the salmon!” (That’s what Mr.
Lieberman would eat.)
On Sunday, April 29, Rabbi Genack and Mr. Lieber-
man were among the 2,000 or so Orthodox Jews who
went to Citi Field, the Mets’ home stadium in Flushing
Meadows, Queens, to listen to speakers and learn Torah.
Rabbi Genack and Mr. Lieberman were learners, but
they also were teachers; they shared a session where
Your mom taught you to give...
This Mother’s Day, make a donation to JFCS in honor of your mom.
...Not only will it make your mom proud,
but will impact the lives of so many others.
For more information or to make a donation visit www.jfcsnnj.org or call 201-837-9090
8 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
Joseph Lieberman, left, with Rabbi Menachem Genack.
Rabbi Genack interviewed Mr. Lieberman about his new
book, “With Liberty and Justice.”
Torah in the City, now two years old, is a full-day pro-
gram of plenaries and (slightly, but still very big) con-
current shiurim, taught by Orthodox luminaries for the
Orthodox Union, starting with daf yomi at 8:45 in the
morning and concluding at 6. Citi Field is an easy place
to get to — it’s the center of a tangle of subways, trains,
and highways — and there’s enough parking for a sta-
dium full of fans (or students).
The program is all indoors, Rabbi Genack said; but
“you are looking out over the field.”
The day is a project of OU’s president, Mark Bane,
“who is very focused on getting people to study Torah,”
Rabbi Genack said. To that end, “many of the issues dis-
cussed were contemporary issues.
“I went to hear Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon talk about
“The responsa that led to finding the three kidnapped
boys from Gush Etzion,” Rabbi Genack said.
In 2014, three Israeli teenagers, Eyal Yifrah, Gilad
Shaer, and Naftali Frenkel, were kidnapped; about three
weeks later, their bodies were found. They had been
murdered. “Rabbi Rimon is a rav in Eretz Yisrael” — he is
an Israeli rabbi and scholar — “and he was one of the pos-
kim” — the halachic decisors — “involved in finding their
bodies,” he said. “The question was whether you are
allowed to search for them on Shabbat, and the answer
was yes.” If the search had not been allowed, he said, it
is likely that their bodies would not have been found.
He also talked about listening to Sivan Rahav-Meir, a
popular anchor on Israel’s Channel 2 who is a baalat tes-
huva, someone who had been just Jewish but returned
— or just simply turned — to rigorous Orthodox practice.
Ms. Rahav-Meir talked about interviewing Natan and
Avital Sharansky, about how inspirational that is, and
about how Mr. Sharansky said that in many ways “what
people have to do now is more difficult than what he
had to do then.” That, Rabbi Genack said, is because for
him, “everything was black and white; he was fighting
to leave a totalitarian regime, to be free.” Today, he said,
often choices are not quite as stark, which makes them
that much more difficult to make.
In his own session, Rabbi Genack and Mr. Lieberman
talked about “With Liberty and Justice,” a book of 50
short chapters tracing the Israelites’ 50-day journey
from Pesach to Sinai. It followed Mr. Lieberman’s “The
Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath.”
“That book was very well received,” Rabbi Genack said.
“I asked him why he didn’t write about Passover next,
given that about 85 percent of American Jews make
some kind of seder.
“He said no, he wanted to write about Shavuot, the
most obscure, least observed of the holidays. He wanted
to write about the links between the freedom of Pesach
and the law at Shavuot, and about the journey from one
to the other.” (Pesach is when the Israelites were liber-
ated, and Shavuot is when God gave them the 10 Com-
mandments and the rest of the law.) “He said he wanted
to write about how the journey from Pesach to Shavuot,
from freedom to law, has inspired the basic foundation
of our democracy.
“The principles behind our Declaration of Indepen-
dence are biblical principles,” Rabbi Genack said.
“We also talked about the corrosive environment nowa-
days, and what can be done about it,” he continued. “Joe
represented bridge-building across the aisle, and in his last
years in the Senate he was criticized for doing that.”
Still, both he and Mr. Lieberman have hope that the
situation will change.
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 9
Local

Looking at 1968, 50 years later

JCC U speaker explores that explosive period through history’s hindsight
Joanne Palmer

T
ime seems to move in
a logical way; one year
follows the next in neat
chronological order;
2016 is followed by 2017 is followed
by 2018.
History doesn’t work that
neatly. It moves in fits and starts.
Everything seems placid, turmoil
remains under the surface — and
then boom! Everything explodes,
or at least so it seems to people liv-
ing through it.
We could make the case that we
are living through such a period
right now, although we lack the dis-
tance to be sure. But certainly we
can look back 50 years — to 1968
— and absolutely know that it was
such a year. A year of explosions,
turmoil, hope, and bitter despair. Robert F. Kennedy Martin Luther King Jr.
L awyer and historian Jess
Velona will talk about that year Velona said. “He wrote his own speeches. I want to ask what would have happened if Martin Luther King had
in a two-part talk for the JCC U at be clear — I had many duties there, and occasion- lived? If Bobby Kennedy had lived? Would things have
the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in ally I wrote a speech for him, and occasionally he’d been different?
Tenafly; the first part will be this use part of what I wrote in a speech. “A change in a very few inches, in the course of a bullet,
Thursday. (See box.) “Remember,” Mr. Velona continued. “Someone could have changed history in the years to come,” he said.
Mr. Velona’s interest in 1968 said about him” — according to Google, that some- In the course of making these four points, Mr. Velona
was piqued in 1968; he was 7, liv- one was Mr. Moynihan’s close friend, the columnist will touch on such issues as the Columbia uprising in
ing in Manhattan with his mother, George F. Will — “that he wrote more books than April, as well as the movements of students and workers
who was very politically attuned most senators read.” in France that year; he might talk as well about the Prague
in a year when politics was on the Mr. Velona is fascinated by good American politi- spring.
radar of even the most apolitical, cal oratory, and 1968 was a peak year for it. He Why did all this happen in one year? “I can’t say,” he
and the excitement and rage in the teaches a course called “Great Modern Speeches,” said. “But clearly social tensions were building within
air was impossible to miss. In par- Jess Velona he said, and it relies heavily on 1968. “There were various countries. And then there was the generation
ticular, “my mother loved the Ken- so many incredible speeches that year,” he said. gap” — a term coined by Grayson Kirk, Columbia’s presi-
nedys,” he said. “Bobby Kennedy was like a member of “Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech, Bobby Kennedy’s dent, just before it proved his prescience as students took
our family. So when he died, it was like a member of the eulogy for Dr. King, Teddy Kennedy’s eulogy for Bobby.” over the campus.
family died.” Mr. Velona went on to clerk for Ruth Bader Ginsberg, to “The problem, I think, was that the political systems
Mr. Velona went to Harvard as an undergraduate, and practice law for 25 years, and now to teach. were not open enough to handle the protests and the ten-
then to Columbia Law School, where he teaches today; he His JCC course “is fast-paced, and has four goals,” sion that were building.”
also has a master’s in history from NYU. But between col- he said. “The first is to recreate what it was like to live In the United States, Mr. Velona said, that led to reforms
lege and law school — still practically a baby — he became a through the incredible ups and downs of that year. I use that have made a difference. “The political system was
speechwriter for the legendary writer, public intellectual, video and audio and power points to bring it to life.” changed in the wake of 1968 to make sure that the del-
U.S. senator, sociologist, and all-around Democratic icon The second goal is “to bring in a lot of the behind-the- egates to the convention are elected by the people. That
Daniel Patrick Moynihan. “I drafted some speeches for scenes stories, things that we didn’t know about at the means that it is very hard to get a situation like in the Dem-
Senator Moynihan, but the key word there is drafted,” Mr. time we were living through them.” Examples? “There was ocratic party in 1968, where you got a pro-war candidate
a meeting between Gene McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy, in an anti-war party.
Who: Jess Velona to discuss possibly working out a way to coordinate their “Today, I think that we get the candidates we want,”
What: Will talk about “1968: The Year That Shook Our campaigns against Lyndon Johnson,” he said. “I also talk he said.
History” about the meetings that were perpetuations of the feud And yes, of course Vietnam was central to everything
between Bobby Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. We now that happened in 1968, Mr. Velona said. The Tet offensive
Where: At the JCC U at the Kaplen JCC on the
Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly can fill in what we didn’t know then. happened during 1968 too; “we don’t always remem-
“Third, we talk about perspective. A lot of the drama ber this, but it was during Tet that we heard the phrase
When: On Thursday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m.
that year was on the political left, but in 1968 there was ‘We had to destroy the village in order to save it.,’” Mr.
And also: For the second JCC U session that day, after a quiet reaction building on the political right, among Velona said. “Tet exposed the illusion that the war effort
a break, a Whitney Museum teaching fellow, Janine
the people who Nixon later would call the ‘silent major- was going well, and that we could win it. That’s true even
DeFeo, will talk about “Grant Wood: American Gothic
ity.’ Throughout the course, I show how different people though Tet was a technical victory; it leads to McCarthy’s
and Other Fables.” The painter is the subject of the
Whitney’s current exhibit. — on the left and on the right — interpreted the same victory in Vermont, and Johnson’s defeat.”
events differently. His two classes are generally chronological, Mr. Velona
How much: $35 for JCC members, $42 for everyone else
“And of course, for all the drama on the left, the right said; the first one “ends on a moment of hope in late May
For more information: Call Kathy Graff at (201) ends up winning the presidential election.” 1968.” After that, it’s all downhill.
408-1454, email her at kgraff@jccotp.org, or go to
The last point, Mr. Velona said, “is to assess what But it’s also revealing and fascinating, and if we’re lucky
www.jccotp.org/adult-JCC-university.
impact the events of 1968 had on the years thereafter. I we can learn from it too.

10 Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018

UPCOMING AT KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades
JCC U—Spring Term:
Keep Learning
Top professors and experts present on a diverse
array of topics. May 17: Columbia lecturer Jess
Velona presents 1968: The Year That Shook Our
History & Whitney Teaching Fellow Janine DeFeo
presents Grant Wood: American Gothic and Other
Fables. June 7: WNYC’s Matt Katz presents How
Trump’s Immigration Policies Impact Lives and
Change America & Professor Seth Gopin presents
Frank Lloyd Wright and the West.
Thursdays, 10:30 am-2 pm
2 Thursdays $65/$80, 1 Thursday $35/$42

Early Fall Registration Open

to Members
Check out all our great classes and programs in arts,
athletics, music and more and avoid a last-minute
scramble when school’s about to start.
Visit our online class finder tool to find the classes
you want on the days and times you need!
jccotp.org/class-finder.
Registration starts May 14

The Leonard & Syril Rubin

Nursery School -
Registration is Open!

Registration
Children enjoy our warm, child-centered
preschool with a progressive curriculum
rooted in Jewish values. Half-day, full-day

OPEN
and extended day (7:30 am-6 pm) options
available.
Schedule a tour today! Contact Elissa at
We’ll see you soon ;) eyurowitz@jccotp.org or 201.408.1436.

INFANT SPORTS COMMUNITY

Welcome to the World
Baby Gift
Do you have a friend, family member or
neighbor who just had a baby? Did you
just have a baby? Let us know! We’d love
to welcome the new bundle of joy to the
community with a special gift!
Visit jccotp.org/welcomebaby
Private Sport Skills Training
Looking to get an extra edge on the courts or
on the field? Sign up for the JCC’s private sports
skills training in basketball, soccer or tennis
and get top level instruction from the best
trainers around.
Our trainers will not only add variety and fun to
your workouts but their motivation, inspiration,
education, and feedback will ensure success.
Email Athletics@jccotp.org
Join us for our Annual Meeting!
We will review highlights of the past year, enjoy
special performances from our talented students,
announce board appointments and celebrate our
impact on the community!
Tues, May 15, 7:45 pm, Taub Auditorium

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO

VISIT jccotp.org
STAY IN THE KNOW! LIKE US ON
facebook.com/KaplenJCCOTP

KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades TAUB CAMPUS | 411 E CLINTON AVE, TENAFLY, NJ 07670 | 201.569.7900 | jccotp.org
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 11
Local
‘Like Yogi Berra on
Old-Timers’ Day’
Yavneh recognizes the
Gordon family with new
baseball field of dreams
ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN
The new red-and-white illuminated scoreboard dedicated
at the renovated Yavneh Academy ball field on May 3 is
inscribed “Rebecca and Herb Gordon Field of Dreams.”
In the movie “Field of Dreams,” an Iowa farmer played
by Kevin Costner tears up his cornfield to build a baseball
diamond. He is spurred by a voice telling him “If you build
it, he will come,” referring to the ghost of the late great
player “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.
The field of dreams at the Paramus day school was
spurred by the exact opposite situation. Nearly 800 lively
pre-kindergartners to eighth-graders already were there;
what was lacking was a field they could play on even in
wet weather.
“Over the last couple of years we took one of our fields
and created a gym,” Yavneh’s executive director, Joel
Kirschner, said. “So all the kids have been playing on one
ball field and it gets pretty beaten up pretty quickly.
“Last summer we decided to put down AstroTurf and
it’s been an incredible hit. Kids can go out and play imme-
diately after it rains or snows. They used to have to wait
days or weeks for the grass to dry. Now they all use the
field from 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, for
outdoor play and scheduled sports.”
When friends of Rebecca Gordon learned about the ball
12 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
PHOTOS BY DEBBIE ABRAMOWITZ/YAVNEH ACADEMY
From top, Yavneh’s cheerleaders added
even more spirit to the dedication;
Yavneh’s choir sang as the baseball field
was dedicated; the field of dreams was
named in memory of Herbert Gordon
and in honor of his wife, Rebecca; here,
Rebecca Gordon thanks the school and
its supporters
field improvement project, they decided to
raise money to pay for the upgrade and dedi-
cate it in memory of her late husband, Herb,
an avid Yankees fan, and in honor of her long-
time devotion to the school.
Ms. Gordon has worked in the principal’s
office at Yavneh since 1977, but her involve-
ment goes back much farther.
“This September will be 53 years since we
enrolled our son Eric at Yavneh, and almost
from that moment I just hung around the
 Local YOU COLD STORAGE
of your valuable furs,

NAME IT, shearlings & cashmeres

from heat, humidity &

WE
moths in our state of
the art COLD STORAGE
VAULTS!
school all the time volunteering for whatever needed
to be done. I ended up serving as president of the
women’s club and on the board of directors,” she said.
FIX IT. • Great Remodeling
Ideas
• Shearing Old Furs
• Generous Trade-In
Herb Gordon got involved too; he regularly sent
over medical supplies from his drugstore without
Electrical Values

charging for them. He was president of Yavneh men’s Plumbing

club from 1967 to 1971.
In 1977, Ms. Gordon agreed to fill in for a sick and
Closter Furs
employee of the school’s business office, but soon she All Home & Fashions
moved over to the office of the then-new principal, 570 Piermont Rd.
Rabbi Eugene Kwalwasser. He retired in 2008 and Ms. Repairs Closter Commons
(near Annie Sez next to
Gordon has stayed on, working with current head of Whole Foods Mall)
347-470-3832
PHOTOS BY DEBBIE ABRAMOWITZ/YAVNEH ACADEMY

school Rabbi Jonathan Knapp three days a week.

“My husband and I were honored in 1986 and 2012
201-767-0448
References Upon Request www.closterfursandfashions.com
at the Yavneh dinner,” said Ms. Gordon, who lived in
Teaneck from 1958 until her recent move to Paramus.
Her husband died in January 2013.

S U M M E R
“Even my mother was involved in Yavneh, and she
was honored by the parents’ organization. She sent
out the ‘golden books’ when someone made a dona-
tion to the school, and she did that until she was in her
90s and I took it over.”
All of the above, reasoned the Gordons’ friends and
family, was more than enough reason to pay tribute to
the couple in a tangible and appropriate way.
Ms. Gordon will not soon forget the grand entrance
arranged for her by event chairwomen Barbara
Frohlich and Joanne Zayat of Teaneck at the dedica-
tion ceremony on May 3. That was the Jewish holiday
of Lag B’Omer, when day schools traditionally offer
outdoor games and activities.
“They put me in a convertible so I could wave to
people,” she said. “We had a police escort from the
Yavneh parking lot to the field. It was like I was Yogi
Berra at Old-Timers’ Day! It was really nice.”
That afternoon, the entire school body took part in
the ceremony and a celebratory parade — complete
with a choral performance and little cheerleaders — at
the Rebecca and Herb Gordon Field of Dreams.
Out on the field, which measures 125 by 150 feet,
Joyce Heller of Fair Lawn made a formal presentation
to the Gordon family. Then the piece de resistance, the
lighted scoreboard, was unveiled by Richard Baum of
Montvale, Meyer Berkowitz of Fair Lawn, and David
Jackson of Franklin Lakes. Bonnie Silfen of Teaneck also
worked tirelessly on the project.
And there was a surprise in store. “They announced
at the dedication that they also will expand the effort
to incorporate a running track around the field and an Now, the finest Italian suits, sport jackets, pants, shirts, polos,
area for soccer,” Mr. Kirschner said.
Ms. Gordon’s children, Yavneh alumni Amy Gor- ties, accessories & shoes can be purchased at tremendous savings!
don Kushmaro and Eric Gordon, were on hand. Ms.
Kushmaro lives in Closter with her husband and two
children and is an active volunteer at the Solomon
Visit the SALE STARTS
Schechter Day School of Bergen County in New Mil- Boy’s Store WEDNESDAY
ford. Eric Gordon and his wife and two children live at Emporio MAY 9th.
in West Orange.
Ms. Gordon proudly said that her granddaughter, COME EARLY
Rachel Gordon, an Israel Air Force lone soldier, was
chosen as one of 119 Israeli soldiers to receive the Pres- FOR THE BEST
ident’s Award of Excellence during a Yom Ha’atzmaut
ceremony at the president’s residence in Jerusalem
SELECTION.
last month.
Rabbi Kwalwasser, who also now lives in Israel,
sent Ms. Gordon a message of congratulations on the
Field of Dreams honor. “I truly believe that, without
you handling so many tasks and day to day issues,
EMPORIO
the school would not have enjoyed the success that it BORO PARK: 5020 13TH AVENUE, 718.972.4665 | FLATBUSH: 1505 CONEY ISLAND AVE. 718.676.7706 | LONG ISLAND: 467 CENTRAL AVENUE, 516.295.5006
achieved and continues to enjoy,” he wrote. LAKEWOOD: 1700 MADISON AVENUE, 732.987.9480 | TEANECK: 215 W. ENGLEWOOD AVENUE, 201.530.7300

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 13

Local
Sky-high bar mitzvah
Ringwood man, Holocaust survivor celebrate war-stopped rite of passage, 30,000 feet up
ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN
O
n the day that should have
been Aharon Steinberg’s bar
mitzvah, he was in a bomb
shelter in the Tel Aviv suburb
of Ramat Gan.
He turned 13 in 1967, during the Six-Day
War. All the men in town had been called
up for reserve duty. Young Aharon never
got to chant his bar mitzvah portion,
Baha’alotecha. The party that had been
planned was cancelled.
Nearly 61 years later, Mr. Steinberg, a
long-time resident of Ringwood, unexpect-
edly had his long-overdue bar mitzvah cer-
emony aboard an El Al plane. The plane
was en route from Poland to Israel, carry-
ing 150 members of the Friends of the Israel
Defense Forces’ “From Holocaust to Inde-
pendence” mission, as well as 50 IDF sol-
diers and officers.
As they boarded the plane in Poland
on April 16, the participants’ mood was
somber. They had toured tragic land-
marks, including Krakow, once home to a
flourishing Jewish community of 60,000
souls; the Buczyna forest, where the
Nazis executed more than 800 children;
and the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentra-
tion and extermination camps.
Polish-born Leon Shear, 91, of Beach-
wood, Ohio, was one of three Holocaust sur-
vivors on the trip. He was accompanied by
his son, Howard, and his grandson, Jeremy.
“Listening to Leon’s stories when we
visited Auschwitz, it dawned on the mem-
bers of our mission that he never had a bar
mitzvah,” Mr. Steinberg said. “He was lib-
erated at age 14.”
Rabbi Peter Weintraub, FIDF’s national
president, wanted to do something special
for Mr. Shear, Mr. Steinberg said, but the
schedule was too tight to allow for it. “The
only time we had would be on the four-and-
a-half-hour flight to Israel,” he said.
Before the flight Mr. Steinberg went with
Rabbi Weintraub’s wife, Ellen, to browse
in the Katowice Airport duty-free shop. He
soon sensed that she was trying to get rid
of him. “Later I understood she was buy-
ing the candies to throw at Leon and she
wanted to keep it a secret.”
Little did either of them know that those
candies would shower him too.
But first the mission members experi-
enced another highly emotional scene.
Before takeoff, El Al Captain Ofer Aloni
announced that he had requested to pilot
this mission because all four of his grand-
parents had perished at Auschwitz. The
captain then took out a guitar and led the
passengers in singing classic Jewish songs.
A flight attendant caught the moment on a
video that soon went viral in Israel. (To find
it, google “Facebook FIDF pilot singing.”)
14 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
SHAHAR AZRAN
Aharon Steinberg of Ridgewood, at left, and Holocaust survivor Leon Shear cel-
ebrate their bar mitzvah on the FIDF flight from Poland to Israel on April 16.
Rabbi Weintraub, who then tried to make
an announcement on the loudspeaker,
“but nobody listened because they were
Think about it: still singing and dancing,” Mr. Steinberg
recalled.
30,000 feet Finally Rabbi Weintraub got everyone’s
above ground is attention and invited them to the back of
the plane, where an IDF soldier was pre-
the closest you paring to chant the day’s Torah portion.
can be to God For the fourth and final aliyah — the call-
ing up of a member of the minyan to say
unless you’re a blessing over the scroll at set points in
aboard Gemini or the reading — both Mr. Steinberg and Mr.
Shear were summoned.
Apollo. What’s the “As soon as we were done, everyone
probability that started throwing the candies at us,” Mr.
Steinberg said. “We all sang again, and it
an opportunity was a joyous moment.
like this would “Think about it: 30,000 feet above
ground is the closest you can be to God
come along? unless you’re aboard Gemini or Apollo.
You couldn’t What’s the probability that an opportunity
like this would come along? You couldn’t
duplicate it. duplicate it.
AHARON STEINBERG “I will send a letter to Guinness World
Records to see if anyone has ever had a bar
After takeoff, FIDF National Direc- mitzvah at that altitude.”
tor Major General (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir More than six decades after the Six-Day
came to Mr. Steinberg’s row to share the War, Mr. Steinberg doesn’t recall how he
news that they had decided to make an felt about his “real” bar mitzvah being can-
impromptu bar mitzvah for Mr. Shear. celled. The trauma of the sirens and the
Everything they needed already was shelter, the blackouts and the existential
onboard: rabbi and cantor, prayer shawl worry during that tense time overpowered
and Torah scroll. It was a Monday, one his emotions, he explained.
of the three days of the week when the He still has the recording of the Torah
Torah is read publicly, so all the condi- portion that his bar mitzvah teacher
tions were perfect. made for him. As to why the ceremony
“My wife said to General Klifi, ‘You didn’t take place once the war was over
know, Aharon didn’t have a bar mitzvah and miraculously won, he only can guess
because the Six-Day War broke out that it had something to do with his parents’
day,’” Mr. Steinberg said. “So he said, earlier trauma of surviving the Holo-
‘Okay, we’ll do two bar mitzvahs.’” caust, a period of their lives they never
The general cleared the idea with talked about.
Mr. Steinberg and his sister were born
in Romania after the war. The family emi-
grated in 1959 after getting governmental
permission, leaving on very short notice,
carrying only one small suitcase.
“We spent three months on the road
from Bucharest,” Mr. Steinberg said. “In
Naples, we waited for the Theodor Herzl
vessel to take us to Israel. When we arrived
with other new immigrants, we were put
in Upper Nazareth and lived there for two
years.
“During that time I was lucky enough to
be in the filming of ‘Exodus’ along with the
other kids in my kindergarten. It’s easy to
spot me in the movie; I’m the boy on the
shoulders of Paul Newman!”
The family moved several times before
settling in Ramat Gan in 1964. After high
school and service in the air force, Mr.
Steinberg worked for Israel Aircraft Indus-
tries; he was on the team that designed the
first Israeli drone in 1974. In 1977, he took
a two-year leave of absence and came to
New York to earn an engineering degree
at Brooklyn Polytechnic.
Just before he was to go back to Israel, he
met his future wife, Orly, and they decided
to remain in the United States. They have
lived in Ringwood since 1982 and have three
daughters — Monica, Tara, and Jaymee —
and two grandchildren. Monica Steinberg
is the FIDF development associate for New
Jersey.
The Steinbergs have been active in the
Solomon Schechter School of Oakland and
other Jewish and Israeli organizations, and
belong to Chabad Jewish Center of Upper
Passaic County.
For the last 33 years, Mr. Steinberg has
been in the travel business. It is therefore
quite fitting that his belated bar mitzvah
was a spontaneous in-flight ceremony as
part of a mission symbolizing the journey
of the Jewish people from Holocaust to
independence.
After landing in Israel, the delegation vis-
ited military bases, commemorated Yom
Hazikaron — Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen
soldiers and victims of terror — and cele-
brated Israel’s 70th Independence Day. They
met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.
“This mission comes at a crucial time,
and is one of the last opportunities for
survivors to return to Auschwitz and tell
of its horrors,” Rabbi Weintraub said. “We
passed through the gates of hell, ignoring
the false promise that ‘work will set you
free,’ where countless Jews suffered from
unimaginable cold, hunger, and despair.
We were surrounded by those who sur-
vived within the camps’ walls, and also by
those who make sure their stories are not
forgotten — the brave soldiers who protect
their legacy.”
 Local

A birthday party for Israel, in Paramus

LARRY YUDELSON Ms. Abrams grew up in Woodcliff Lake. She now lives

T
o celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday, the Jewish
Federation of Northern New Jersey is throwing
a house party.
Actually, it’s a yard party — the entire cul-de-
sac in Paramus where the federation has its offices will
be closed off from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, for the
celebrations. There will be a bouncy house and arts and
crafts for children, as well as the opportunity to write let-
ters to lone soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. (Federa-
tion leaders plan on sending at least 500 of them.) The
Maccabeats will sing, there will be Israeli dancing and
food, and Silvio Berlfein, the popular and charismatic
program director of the New Jersey Y Camps, will oversee
the afternoon.
“We want to celebrate in our community, with our com-
munity,” Roberta Abrams said. Ms. Abrams is the incoming
president of the federation (she takes office on July 1) and
has been involved in the planning of the Israel at 70 event.
That’s why it’s a community event, not just a federa-
tion event. The federation has reached out to its agencies
and the community’s synagogues and day schools to par-
ticipate “and make this really special,” Ms. Abrams said.
“We’re not doing this alone.”
in Montvale. At 52, she not only doesn’t remember Ben
Gurion declaring the State of Israel’s independence, she
doesn’t even remember the Six Day War.
“I have no memory of Jerusalem not being whole,”
she said. “It’s like the George Washington Bridge hav-
ing only one level” — something she heard stories about,
that happened before she was old enough to notice.
She was 13 when she first visited Israel. “It was a UJA
mission,” she said. “A friend of mine was
having his bar mitzvah in Israel. They had
two buses: one for the adults, and one for
the kids. The Maccabeats
“It was such a perfect time to experience
Israel. We had Passover at an army base. to be there. To me that’s what becom-
We went up to the top of Masada in the ing a bat mitzvah was about.”
morning.” And that’s why Ms. Abrams, who
Ms. Abrams was offered the chance went to Israel three times last year, is so
to celebrate her bat mitzvah there on excited about celebrating Israel’s mile-
Masada. Her best friend chose to do so, but stone anniversary outdoors, on a closed-
she made the opposite choice. “I felt that Silvio Berlfein off Paramus street.
as meaningful as it is to have your bat mitz- “That’s what so beautiful about cel-
vah and read from the Torah on Masada, I wanted to cel- ebrating Israel at 70 in New Jersey,” she said. “We can cel-
ebrate my bat mitzvah at home,” she said. “I wanted my ebrate it in the streets. We can literally shout our pride and
grandmothers and my friends and my extended family love for Israel. I’m so grateful that we can do it.”

RCBC

Glatt Kosher Caterers

Wine & Liquor Specials
Now Through Shavuot
Go to Maadan.com for our complete menu

H DAIRY H H DELI H
Fresh Sliced Nova Stromboli
Over 80 Items
Fresh Sliced Sable Broccoli Quiche
Baked Salmon Spinach Quiche New Low Calorie
Grilled Salmon Mushroom Onion Quiche • Riced Cauliflower Pilaf
Teriyaki Salmon Baked Salmon Salad
Moroccan Salmon Vegetable Farmer • Broccoli Slaw
Panko Crusted Salmon Walnut Raisin Farmer • Cole Slaw with Splenda
Fried Flounder Pineapple Farmer
White Fish
White Fish Salad
Chocolate Farmer
Plain Cream Cheese H MEAT H
Tuna Fish Salad Vegetable Cream Cheese
• Moroccan Appetizers NEW
Low Fat-Low Carb Salad Scallion Cream Cheese
Egg Salad Nova Cream Cheese • Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Eggplant Parmesan Fresh Sliced Cheese • BBQ Chickens
Baked Ziti/Lasagna Challah
Macaroni & Cheese Whole Wheat Challah • Ziti with Meat Sauce
Cheese Blintzes Raisin Challah • Sausage & Peppers NEW
French Toast Souffle Challah Rolls (6)
• Chicken Marsala
Homemade Cheese Cake • Chicken Florentine
Over 15 Varieties of Homemade Herring
Plus over 40 Salads and Side dishes • Hasselback Salami
Soups: Cream of Broccoli, Cream of Spinach,
Vegetable, Butternut Squash, Fruit Soup, LARGE VARIETY
Strawberry Banana GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS
WINE & LIQUOR SPECIALS NOW THROUGH SHAVUOT
All Bottles 10% OFF · 15% off Cases of 12 Mix and Match
Bartenura Blue $10.99
SHAVUOT HRS. Thurs. 5/17- 7:30-8, Fri. 5/18- 7:30 -4, Closed Sun. & Mon. 5/20, 5/21
Owner Operated · Visit www.maadan.com
446 Cedar Lane · Teaneck, NJ · 201-692-0192 · Fax 201-692-3656
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 15
Local

‘Measure
of a Man’
CURT SCHLEIER

B
obby Marks’s religion isn’t spe-
cifically mentioned in either
the film “Measure of a Man”
or the 1977 young adult novel,
“One Fat Summer,” on which it is based.
But he certainly was Jewish in author
Robert Lipsyte’s mind.
Mr. Lipsyte, who lived in Closter for 20
years, and whose children went through
the town’s public school system and then
on to the regional Northern Valley High
School in Demarest, elaborated. “I don’t
think it comes through in the film, but I
always thought of him as Jewish,” he said.
“And his parents are Marty and Lenore
Marks, and that sounds Jewish to me.”
More to the point, the book is auto-
biographical. It’s based on, well, one fat
summer in Mr. Lipsyte’s life.
In the book, Bobby (Blake Cooper) and
his family spend the summer at a cabin
at fictional Lake Rumsen. One of Bobby’s
few pleasures there is his relationship Blake Cooper plays Robert Lipsyte’s more-or-less alter ego in “Measure of a Man.” PHOTOS COURTESY GREAT POINT MEDIA

with Joanie Williams (Danielle Rose Rus-

sell). But the pair are mercilessly picked
on by local teens, she because of her
large nose and he because of his weight.
What Bobby, particularly, goes through
is familiar to anyone who ever has been
bullied: he is constantly on the lookout
for tormentors. He never knows where or
when they will appear or what they will
do when they do show up. It is almost
claustrophobic.
Bobby takes a job caring for the estate of
Dr. Kahn (Donald Sutherland), who in the
film (though not the book) is a concentra-
tion camp survivor. Over the course of the
summer, the young boy learns responsibil-
ity and to stand up for himself.
Mr. Lipsyte, 80, grew up in Rego Park, New York Times writer Robert Lipsyte lived
Queens, and did all the things Jewish kids in Closter for 20 years. Donald Sutherland plays a concentration camp survivor in the film.
his age in Queens did. He went to Hebrew
school, was a bar mitzvah, and even con- should rename the area “Lake Wop or lose weight. But Mr. Lipsyte did, some 40 “I loved the idea of journalism as a call-
tinued on toward a confirmation until his Lake Kike,” he added. pounds, that changed his life. He joined ing and being part of something other
beloved rabbi died unexpectedly. “That Mr. Lipsyte got a job mowing lawns a traveling softball team in Monroe and than yourself. I guess if the job had been
really tested my faith and turned me off,” and generally caring for the estate of a even went out for his college tennis team. in the art department, that’s what I
he said. Jewish man, but here real life and the “I tried to make up for lost time,” he said. would have wound up doing — art.”
He was the son of two New York City film diverge. Mr. Sutherland’s Dr. Kahn His life in the sports world continued. Mr. Lipsyte never made it to Califor-
school teachers, and the family had a sec- “was much nicer than the character in the If his name is familiar now, it may be nia. Ironically, at a time when there were
ond home in Monroe, N.Y. “We” — par- book,” he said. “I thought he was a ter- because in addition to being a respected three baseball teams in town, Mr. Lipsyte
ents and children — “had the same vaca- rible man.” and award-winning author, he also was a had been to only two games his entire
tions,” he said. “We went up there every In the film, too, the townies are far sports columnist for the New York Times, life — and found them disappointing.
weekend, every holiday, every summer.” more violent than those with whom Mr. a job he landed “totally by accident. “I’d listened to baseball on the radio,
Like Bobby, young Robert Lipsyte was Lipsyte dealt. “There was a long walk “I’d just graduated from college and and by the time I got to Yankee Stadium
overweight. “I didn’t play any sports,” he from my house to the house where I needed a summer job before I left for with my dad I’d expected something big-
recalls. “I was good at underwater swim- worked, and I really had to keep my grad school in California,” Mr. Lipsyte ger and much more beautiful,” he said.
ming,” which plays a key role in the film and eye out,” he said. “But they just kind said. “I saw an ad in the New York Times “Mel Allen was a great announcer and he
book. And like Bobby, Mr. Lipsyte also had of harassed me and pushed me around, that the paper was looking for an edito- painted a picture that really impacted my
to put up with bullies. It was the townies but they never did any real damage,” as rial assistant. The job turned out to be imagination, and made me believe it was
against the summer people, he said. “There they do in the film. “As the summer pro- a copy boy in the sports department. I much more than it was.”
was a lot of anti-Semitism up there.” gressed and I became stronger, I became hated the job and wasn’t all that inter- But obviously that changed. He did go
Many of the locals resented the wealth- less and less afraid of them.” ested in sports, but I kind of loved the back to baseball. His third game was as a
ier summer people and wondered if they Ironically, in the film Bobby doesn’t Times. reporter for the Times.

16 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

 25
Jewish Federation celebrates 25 years of women’s

Lion Of Judah Endowment

Lucille J. Amster Angelica Berrie Nancy G. Brown Geri Cantor Mariam Davis Eleanor Epstein

Jeanne Liss Rella Feldman Stephanie Arline Herman Joyce Joseph Sharyn J. Gallatin
Epstein Goldman

Adrienne M. Marjorie June Kozak Kane Lee Langbaum Sue Ann Levin Linda Mirelson
Greenblatt, MD Immerman

Susan Penn Jo-Ann Hassan Jayne Petak Sylvia Safer Pearl Seiden Sylvia Shirvan Barbara Smolin
Perlman

Thank you for sustaining vibrant Jewish life for future generations.
Throughout the month of May, we pay special tribute to 88 women from
northern New Jersey who have ensured their Jewish legacy by endowing
their Lion level gift of $5,000 or more to Jewish Federation of Northern
New Jersey. Look for more of these special women in the coming weeks.
Jayne Petak
Endowment Foundation, Chair
For more information, please contact
Donna Kissler Robin Rochlin at 201-820-3970 | robinr@jfnnj.org
Joan Krieger Len Fisher at 201-820-3971 | lenf@jfnnj.org
LOJE Co-chairs

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 17

Briefly Local

Irene Reiss Janice Greenberg Albert Nahum Helga Bodeen Lotte Buff
Henry and Lola Weber

JCC of Paramus/CBT plans celebration to mark 60 years since groundbreaking

This year, the JCC of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah’s annual journal dinner dance
— the shul’s 36th dinner dance — will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ground-
breaking ceremony for what then was called the Jewish Community Center of Para-
mus. It is set for Sunday, June 10, at 4:30 p.m., at the synagogue. Several members have
been at the shul from the beginning. It started in 1951 when 14 families came together
to realize their dream of building a shul. That dream was realized and a ground break-
ing ceremony was held on May 4, 1958, on the southwest corner of East Midland Ave-
nue and Spring Valley Road in Paramus. A building campaign was launched; within
three years the building was a reality and dedication ceremonies were held. At the
time, Henry Weber, pictured above, was the shul president.
The new synagogue quickly became a meeting place for newly organized chapters
of Jewish organizations, as well as a place for morning and evening minyanim. Contin-
ued growth added a religious school and a few years later the building was expanded.
Members of seven of the synagogue’s founding families still belong to it. Above,
Henry and Lola Weber, Irene Reiss, Janice Greenberg, Albert Nahum, Helga Bodeen,
and Lotte Buff will be at the celebration; founding member Leon Klein, not pictured,
will join them.
The gala includes a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing; an ad journal will be pub-
lished in conjunction with it. For more information, call (201) 262-7691 or go to
JCCParamus.org.

NORPAC hosts Senator Cardin

Last week, the Kazmir family of Closter
hosted a Norpac pro-Israel private dinner
for the pro-Israel lobby group Norpac to
support Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
Ben Cardin is a senior member and for-
mer ranking member of the Senate Foreign
Relations committee. He was one of four
members of his party in the Senate to vote
against the Iran deal in 2015. Last year, he
and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced
the bipartisan Israel Anti-Boycott Act leg-
islation to combat the anti-Israel boycott, Senator Ben Cardin, left, with Dr. Munr
divestment and sanctions movement. Kazmir COURTESY NORPAC

Mr. Cardin is completing his second

term in the Senate and is running for re-election this year. The primary will be in June.

BCHSJS board president Sy Blechman, left, stands with Alla Fine, Rabbi Dr.
David Fine, Deborah Lesnoy, Heidi and Seth Seigel-Laddy, and Fred Nagler,
BCHSJS’s principal and director. JO ROSEN PHOTOGRAPHY.

BCHSJS enjoys gala dinner

Rabbi Mordechai
and Shterney The Bergen County High School of Jew-
Kanelsky flank ish Studies recently held its annual gala
Lt. Governor at Temple Israel and JCC in Ridgewood.
Sheila Oliver. Fred Nagler was the emcee and Rabbi
COURTESY
Dr. Wallace Greene gave the d’var Torah.
BRIS AVROHOM Heidi and Seth Seigel-Laddy were the
Parent Honorees. They have three chil-
dren — Alyssa, who is a BCHSJS alumna;
Kayla, a BCHSJS senior, and Spencer,
a freshman.
Debora Lesnoy, the director of the
Russian Jewish community Helen Troum Nursery School at Temple
Beth Sholom in Fair Lawn and a teacher
highlights its programs at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/CBI,
Rabbi Mordechai and Shterney Kanelsky of Bris Avrohom recently met with Sheila Oliver, was honored as BCHSJS’ Educator of
New Jersey’s lieutenant governor, to discuss different programs for the Russian Jewish the Year.
community in the state, focusing on BA’s educational programs for teens. They also pre- Alla and Rabbi Dr. David Fine received
sented her with a tzedakah box from Israel.
the inaugural Walter Ramsfelder Exem-
plary Service award. Temple Israel’s
Rabbi Fine is the president of the New
Jersey Rabbinical Assembly and is the
BCHSJS treasurer. Ms. Fine is on several
committees at Temple Israel and on the
BCHSJS dinner committee. The recently
named service award is in memory of
Walter Ramsfelder, a BCHSJS founder
who served the school in various capaci-
ties for more than four decades.
BCHSJS’s graduating seniors were
honored with a video presentation
and senior Kayla Seigel-Laddy spoke.
For more information, go to www.
bchsjs.org.

18 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

 Briefly Local

From left, Chaim

Kiss, Michael Roth,
Len Grunstein,
Rabbi Steven
Pruzansky, and
Jack Forgash, all
of Bnai Yeshurun,
with Mottie
Dan of Ateret
Cohanim, on the
roof of the Aish
HaTorah center,
overlooking the
Kotel, on Yom
Ha’atzmaut.
PHOTOS PROVIDED

Bnai Yeshurun goes to Israel

About two dozen members of Teaneck’s Congregation Bnai Yeshurun recently trav-
The Bnai Yeshurun group stands together at the Tomb of the Patriarchs and eled to Israel together to celebrate its 70th anniversary. The trip spanned Yom HaS-
Matriarchs; the shul went there on a trip led by One Israel Fund. hoah, Yom Ha’zikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Other CBY families joined in the pro-
gram there, including members who live in Israel for part of the year.

START A NEW TRADITION IN SUNNY SOUTH FLORIDA

It’s Our Tradition

to Take Care of
Every Single Need.

Spacious, Beautifully-Appointed Apartment Suites | First-Class Service | Gourmet Kosher Dining

Indoor Pool | Luxurious Spa | Fitness and Wellness Center | On-Site Medical Office
Synagogue | Exciting Social Events and Enriching Cultural Activities

RESERVE YOUR APARTMENT TODAY | 561.220.8492 | MorseLife.org

Marilyn & Stanley M. Katz Seniors Campus

4920 Loring Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33417

License #AL10577
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative
advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 19

 COVER STORY

Dancing together
Unlikely partners

W
JOANNE PALMER Palestine, in 1944. His mother, Georgetta 12,” Pierre said. He was unhappy. He did
Safadi, was Palestinian, and his father, Eric not fit in. “I was bullied,” he said. “I had an
bring the civility hat do you think of Alexandre Heney, was from northern Ire- accent. I didn’t speak the British way. I had

and grace of when you think of

ballroom dancing?
land, a Protestant, from a family of Prot-
estant ministers. Georgetta and Eric met
a broken tooth, so I never smiled.
“But when I was 14, one of the girls in
ballrooms to Fo r m a l i t y t h a t
sometimes sparks
and married in Jaffa, and Pierre grew up
Catholic, like his mother.
the class was going to a local dance studio,
and she invited me to go with her.” He did.
classrooms in and catches and turns into magic? History intruded. “In 1948 the state of He loved it. “My personality changed,” he
That’s what the dancer and dance Israel was created, and we had to leave,” said. And so I stayed with it.” This was still
Israel, screens teacher Pierre Dulaine thinks. Pierre said. The family moved to Amman, pretty immediately post-war, definitely

in Closter And then there is the dance that is Pierre

Dulaine’s own life, less a formal ballroom
performance than a sinuous chase after
dreams, through worlds, ending up in
some ways where he had begun, but in
other ways not at all.
He ended up creating Dancing Class-
rooms, a program that brings the com-
bination of creativity and technique that
ballroom dancing — in fact that all art, to
varying degrees — entails to children. He
brings them both discipline and delight.
Wait. What?
Okay. Here’s the straightforward version
of his life.
Pierre Dulaine was born in Jaffa,
Jordan, where he grew up; his education
came from the College des Frères. Pierre
grew up speaking “Arabic on the street,
French at school, and English — only Eng-
lish — at home. We had to make sure that
we knew we were British,” he said. And
the Pierre part? The French name? That
story comes later; back then, his name
was Peter Heney.
And then history hit again. “On Novem-
ber 2, 1956, we lost our home and we had
to flee, because of the Suez Canal cri-
sis,” Pierre said. “We were British, so we
couldn’t hang around there.”
The family went to England, and estab-
lished themselves in Birmingham. “I was
pre-Beatles, pre-rock ‘n’ roll.
“Eventually, at the age of 20, I went to
live in London, and I started teaching at the
Arthur Murray dance studio in Leicester
Square,” Pierre said. He changed his name
to Pierre Dulaine — it sounded ever so
much more like a dancer than Peter Heney.
His name might be assumed, but his accent
is not, and he picked the perfect name for
it; when he says Pierre, the double rr in its
center sounds as if it’s made up of at least
18 rs. It rolls lusciously off his tongue. It is
hard to tease apart the elements of Pierre’s
accent, but it is a lovely combination of all
his languages and influences.
So — Pierre Dulaine is in London, and

20 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018


Left, Pierre Dulaine teaches in Jaffa; above, students pair up in another class in Israel.
In a series of 20 classes, they learn
the courtesies, craft, partnership
skills, and musicality that ballroom
dancing demands. It is not accidental
that many — most — of those skills
are transferable to the rest of life.
“I become famous there,” he said. He had
a dance partner; together, “we danced at
the Royal Albert Hall.” There was a dance
competition that pitted two couples
against each other there; the audience
chose the winners. “We won that in 1967
and in 1969,” he said. From there, Pierre
started performing on cruises, and then
became a cruise director. “I had never
done anything like that before — but I’m
good with people,” he said. His home base
remained London.
After some time, he decided to take “a
two-week holiday in New York,” he said.
“I went to visit the Arthur Murray stu-
dio in Columbus Circle, they offered me
a job and I said ‘Fine, I’ll stay for three
months,’ and then they offered me a
work permit. That was in 1971, and I have
been here ever since.”
Pierre and his dance partner, Yvonne
Marceau, won four world championships
in dance, and they were both on Broadway
and in London’s East End with a musical
called “Grand Hotel.” They also formed
the American Ballroom Theater, a traveling
company that they took around the world.
When he was performing, Pierre found
himself with a lot of free time during the
day; most Broadway shows play at night,
Cover Story
matinees notwithstanding. “So I volun-
teered; I taught ballroom dancing at the
Performing Arts School on 48th Street.
“That was the seed of what became
Dancing Classrooms.”
From there, Pierre expanded to other Pierre Dulaine in London years ago, and with his partner, Yvonne
schools; the program now is in more than Marceau, in “Grand Hotel.”
30 cities and five countries around the
world, Including Israel.
Dancing Classrooms is a program,
mainly for fifth graders — that magic win-
dow when girls and boys can sometimes
touch each other without fearing that
they’ll get cooties, but their hormones
have not yet started to rage — where, in a
series of 20 classes, they learn the courte-
sies, craft, partnership skills, and musical-
ity that ballroom dancing demands. It is
not accidental that many — most — of those
skills are transferable to the rest of life.
“At the heart of the Dulaine method
of teaching dance there are elements”
demanded of the teacher, Pierre said.
“Respect and compassion, to be able to
control the children, to teach with humor
and joy, to give the children a safe space
so they can really enjoy themselves and
be free to express themselves.” He knows
that many of the children don’t want to
be there when they begin; it is up to the Pierre Dulaine began his Dancing Classrooms program in Manhattan.
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 21
Cover Story

it. The talk is called “May I Have This Dance,

Drs. Kenny and Sharon Fried visited Israeli schools using Dancing Classrooms and photographed what they saw.
teacher to thaw those children out until
they can feel the joy inherent in the dance.
“What is great about Dancing Classrooms
is that we go to the schools, and so many of
the kids are underprivileged. Their parents
would never have the money to send their
kids to dance school. The program itself
is 10 weeks long, and we visit the schools
twice a week. The kids learn merengue,
foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing, waltz, heel-
toe polka, and some fun line dances. So
they learn a lot; about 10 different musical
styles in 20 lessons. The last lesson is a per-
formance. We call it a ballroom breakfast.
Parents are invited, and the kids demon-
strate what they have learned.”
Pierre explains his method in a Ted talk;
just google Ted Talk Pierre Dulaine to find
Please”; that’s the formula a boy asks of a
girl before they begin to dance. The neces-
sary response is “With pleasure,” he added.
In 2005, a documentary filmmaker made
“Red Hot Ballroom,” a look at the program
from the kids’ perspective as well as Pierre’s.
The documentary, which was well received,
linked Pierre to his next adventure.
In 2006, Miri Shahaf-Levi saw the film.
Miri, who since has retired, then was
“in charge of all the cultural managers in
Israel,” she said; she’d begun her career
managing the cultural center in Netanya.
Her husband, Yossi Levi, was in charge of
the country’s informal education. “Twelve
years ago, we watched ‘Mad Hot Ballroom’
in Tel Aviv, and I told my husband I had to
find this wonderful person, Pierre Dulaine.
“We’d already booked tickets to New
York to visit my brother” — that’s Moshe
Golomb, who lives in Tenafly — “so I called
my brother and said we have to find Pierre.”
They did — his studio was just a block away
from her brother’s Manhattan office.
“Miri was surprised to find out that I was
Palestinian,” Pierre said. “Her ears opened
up.” She asked him if he could bring Danc-
ing Classroom to Israel, and “I said that I
would go there only if I could work with

Great CD and Savings Rates!

2 Year CD* Choose the 6 Month CD*

2 10 
% APY
APY**
account that’s
right for you. 1 80 
% APY

1 60 %
100% liquid
No monthly
Grand Yield for balances of
$2,500 and up**
APY
maintenance fee Savings® 

Visit our Monsey branch today! 75 Route 59, Monsey Town Square (Evergreen Kosher Market Center)
Anita Levine, VP, Branch Manager • 845-425-0189
Open Sunday from 9AM - 1PM
Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) disclosed are effective as of 3/21/2018 and may be changed by the Bank at any time. *CDs require a $1,000 minimum balance
to open and earn interest. Early withdrawal penalty may apply. CDs must be opened in person at an Apple Bank branch. ** For the Grand Yield Savings Account,
interest earned on daily balances of $2,500 or more at these tiers: $2,500-$9,999: 1.60% APY, $10,000-$24,999: 1.60% APY, $25,000-$49,999: 1.60% APY, $50,000
or more: 1.60% APY. There is no interest paid on balances between $1-$2,499. $100 minimum deposit required to open account. A combined $3,000,000 maxi- Established 1863 · Member FDIC
mum deposit per household applies to the Grand Yield Savings Account. A household is defined as a family residing at the same address. This account may be www.applebank.com
opened as a passbook or statement savings account. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice.

22apple
JEWISH STANDARD
bk - JEWISH MAY 11, 2018
STANDARD - CD-GRAND YIELD SAVINGS - EFF DATE 3-21-18.indd 1 3/20/2018 2:16:08 PM

PIerre Dulaine, surrounded by Jewish and Arab Israeli kids in Jaffa, shows his joy.
both Arab and Jewish Israelis.”
It couldn’t happen right away —
both Miri and Pierre had other obli-
gations — “but in February 2011, I
stepped in the first school in Jaffa.”
They worked with five schools there,
in the city where he was born — two
Jewish, two Arab, “and the Weiz-
mann School, which had both Jewish
and Palestinian children under the
same roof, learning together.
“I have to say that this was one
of the hardest — if not actually THE
hardest — projects I have ever done.
“You are teaching children to
dance with the enemy. In the
streets, it’s Jews on one side, Pales-
tinians on the other.”
There were other objections to
overcome as well. “It was hard for
us to convince the Muslim commu-
nity that it was okay for their kids
to dance,” Pierre said. “But because
I speak Arabic with a Palestinian
accent, I could overcome that.
“And then there was a father in one
of the Arab schools who did not want
his daughter to dance with a boy.”
(Pierre would have encountered a
similar problem had he worked in
an Israeli religious school, but so
far all the Israeli schools have been
secular, although Miri now is begin-
ning to talk to religious ones.) “I told
the father that it would be good for
her to learn discipline, that it would
be good for her education, that her
grades would be that much better.
“I convinced him, and later he
became one of my best spokesmen.
“With the Jewish schools, they
wanted it — they liked that it was
free — and they didn’t mind letting
their children dance, but they didn’t
want them to dance with Arabs. It
was awkward. But they liked me a
lot. We were convincing to them.
“It was hard for both sides. It was
okay for them to allow their children
to dance with a boy or a girl who is
the enemy, but what do you say to
your family? To your neighbors? And
then, even more, it was being made
into a film, for the whole world to
know. What do you say?”
That film is called “Dancing in
Jaffa.” “It has a wonderful ending,”
Pierre said. “You see Jewish par-
ents and Palestinian parents sitting
together.
“When you see the film, you see a
Jewish woman with her arms com-
pletely bare, and sitting next to
her you see a completely covered
woman in black, wearing a hijab.
Both are smiling. Both are cheering
their children on. It is very powerful.
“I am so proud of the film! But
what I am most proud of is how
Miri has developed the program in
Israel. She’s become the site direc-
tor of Dancing Classrooms Israel.”
“I have taken on this wonderful
program as my life’s work,” Miri
said. “I now have a wonderful team
of 15 teaching artists, who are work-
ing from the north of Israel, from the
border of Lebanon, until Dimona, in
the south. We have 100 schools, Jew-
ish and Arab and mixed.”
The program teaches dance, but
— and? — it goes deeply into chil-
dren’s souls.
“You know, step by step, the kids
become friends,” Miri said. “They
come for breakfast with each other
and look each other in the eye.
Something happens between them.
Dancing Classrooms has run pro-
grams in Israel for five years now,
and it has reached about 7,000
students.
Temple Emanu-El of Closter
showed “Dancing in Jaffa” last
Wednesday; Pierre and Miri were
there to answer questions after it was
Cover Story ‫בס״ד‬
VA L L E Y C H A B A D I N V I T E S Y O U
T O A N I G H T O F C E L E B R AT I O N
A G A L A D I N N E R C E L E B R AT I N G
18 YEARS OF
COMMUNITY. EDUCATION. OUTREACH.
JUNE 5, 2018
6:30PM
screened. That’s because longtime
congregants Drs. Kenny and Sharon
Fried of Demarest stumbled across
Dancing Classrooms and fell in love
Honorees
with it, just as Miri Shahaf-Levi had.
The Frieds are sponsoring the eve-
ning because of Sharon’s Uncle Wil-
lie, her father’s brother, a Holocaust
survivor who recently died, at 97.
Uncle Willie — more formally,
Vilem Zelovic — “had a passion for
dancing,” Kenny said. “He was in the C H A I L I F E AWA R D
jewelry business on 47th Street, and Bernice &
worked till he died. He left money, Bernie Gola
he didn’t say what to do with it, and
we wanted to honor him.
“He was on the cover of Lincoln
Center’s brochure, he taught three
generations to dance — this is how
he faced life.
“Uncle Willie loved Israel, but he
never went there. But we thought
that his heart always was there.” S H E M TO V YO U N G L E A D E R S H I P
So — dance and Israel, and how to AWA R D AWA R D
honor Uncle Willie? Esther & Elana &
Sharon is a dermatologist; one
of her patients told her about “Red
Warren Feldman Lawrence Bibi
Hot Ballroom,” Kenny said. “So we
looked into it. It is amazing.
“We just got back from Ma’alot, TEENS
where there is a program that we
funded there and in a neighboring
Arab town. We thought it was a great
opportunity, because in this town,
that tried fostering respect between
the communities, we thought that it Maddy Gold Mitchell Bloom
might work.
TEEN VOLUNTEER “OUR FUTURE” AWARD
“So we saw it in action. We had an
amazing experience. We saw the kids
performing; they are planning an
end-of-semester joint program where
they all will dance hand in hand.”
It’s not as if a bunch of fifth-grad- ROCKLEIGH COUNTRY CLUB
ers rumba-ing together, boys and
girls, Jews and Arabs, will bring 2 0 1. 4 7 6. 0 1 5 7
peace, or even civility, to the world C E L E B R AT I O N 1 8 . C 0 M
— but you have to start somewhere.
So why not start with magic?
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 23
 To serve our communities…
Our Blow Out Bar Jewish World
will be open Sundays
and Mondays
Starting April 8th - 10-6pm
Blow-Outs from $35

1643 Schlosser St.

Fort Lee
201-944-8011

Sandi M. Malkin, LL C
Interior Designer Standing in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, President Donald
Trump announces his decision to leave the Iran deal on May 8, 2018.
(former interior designer of model  SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

rooms for NY’s #1 Dept. Store)

After pulling out

For a totally new look using
your furniture or starting anew. of the deal with Iran,
Staging also available
Trump is open to Plan B
973-535-9192 But no one seems to know what it is
RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON — When President Don-
ald Trump teased and then announced
that he would be pulling the United
States out of the Iran nuclear deal, the
next obvious question was, what next?
What was Plan B?
“Congress has heard nothing about an
alternative,” Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the
The best Bar & Bat Mitzvah chairman of the U.S. House of Represen-
tatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said at
and birthday parties... a hearing on Iran on Tuesday. That was
at affordable prices! just hours before Trump announced that
indeed he was pulling the United States
out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Royce
noted that he and others on the commit-
P
SUMMER CAM tee had opposed the deal in 2015 and had
Comprehensive Plan of Action, even
while leaving it.
“We urge the U.S. to ensure that the
structures of the JCPOA can remain
intact,” they said in a statement, “and to
avoid taking actions that can obstruct its
full implementation by all other parties
to the deal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-
yahu was eager to see the deal’s end.
“Israel fully supports President
Trump’s bold decision today to reject the
disastrous nuclear deal with the terrorist
regime in Tehran,” he said.
Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambas-
sador to the United States, said on Twit-
ter that his country “fully supported”
the pullout.

SAVE 50
$ been eager to work with Trump to fix it.
Trump’s announcement was short
Summer
Any week-long on answers.
Camp or
Camp, Soccer “Over the past few months, we have
p
Specialty Cam engaged extensively with our allies and
partners around the world, includ-
ing France, Germany, and the United
Kingdom,” Trump said. “We have also
consulted with our friends from across
the Middle East. We are unified in our
understanding of the threat and in our
conviction that Iran must never acquire
a nuclear weapon.”
And yet France, Germany and Brit-
ain remain committed to the deal. “Our
My daughter’s Bat Mitzvah at the
Superdome was fantastic! We wanted
to give our daughter a wonderful event 10% OFF friends in the Middle East,” particularly
Israel and Saudi Arabia, wanted out. “Uni-
fied in our understanding”? Not so much.
without breaking the bank and the ANY PARTY, CLASS or CLINIC
Superdome was a perfect choice! WITH COUPON CODE JS2018 The split was evident in the minutes
– D. COHEN, ENGLEWOOD, NJ following Trump’s announcement, when
leaders had responses at the ready.
France, Britain, and Germany jointly
134 Hopper Avenue, Waldwick · 201-444-7660 pleaded with Trump to do his best
www.superdomesports.com · info@superdomesports.com not to harm the deal, called the Joint
The American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, like an array of other Jew-
ish organizations, released a statement
following Trump’s announcement rec-
ognizing the tensions and seeking a path
toward reconciling them.
“We recognize that there are signifi-
cant differences over this decision,” said
the statement from the group, which
opposed and lobbied hard against the
2015 deal. “AIPAC remains committed to
working with Congress and the admin-
istration in a bipartisan fashion to forge
policies that will ensure Iran can never
acquire a nuclear weapons capability or
realize its dangerous regional ambitions.”
How that works is less than clear. The
deal swaps sanctions relief for Iran’s
rollback of its nuclear program. Trump
had said he might stay in the deal if it
could be renegotiated to remove “sun-
set” clauses that allow Iran to resume
some enrichment of fissile material
within a decade. He also wants a tougher

24 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

 Jewish World

inspections regime and to roll a missile Trump’s announcement, Iranian President

testing ban into the deal. Hassan Rouhani and other leaders said
European allies said reopening the deal that they were ready to take up Europe’s
now, particularly in relation to the sunset offer to figure out a way to stay in the deal.
clauses, was impossible, especially given “If the Europeans are willing to give us
the adamant opposition of the other par- sufficient guarantees, it makes sense for us
ties: Iran, Russia, and China. Instead, they to stay in the deal,” Ali Motahar, the dep-
countenanced increasing pressure on Iran uty speaker of Iran’s parliament, said in
in other arenas, including new sanctions remarks quoted by the Washington Post.
targeting its missile testing, and then com- Additionally, the Trump administration
mitting to pressure on Iran as the sunset would have to put in place staff and mech-
clauses loomed closer to extend bans anisms to monitor compliance with U.S.
on enrichment. sanctions, a process that could take months,
In his presidential order quashing giving some leeway to renegotiate a deal.
the deal, Trump said he was ready to But now that the United States is out of
keep talking. the deal, the stars may be aligning to keep
“I am open to consultations with allies another deal from replacing it. The sanc-
and partners on future international agree- tions Trump will reinstate target countries,
ments to counter the full range of Iran’s businesses, and individuals that deal with
threats, including the nuclear weapon and Iran’s financial system. Simply announcing
intercontinental ballistic missile threats, the re-imposition of sanctions is likely to Moustachioed White House National Security Advisor John Bolton is flanked by
and the heads of agencies shall advise me, have an inhibitive effect on doing business Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, and Vice President Mike Pence as they
as appropriate, regarding opportunities with Iran, effectively crippling the deal listen to Trump’s announcement at the White House on May 8, 2018.
for such consultations,” the order said. almost immediately. And Trump made  CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES

There may be some room to talk. After SEE IRAN DEAL PAGE 26

of needing help from your

grandchildren to fix your phone?
of waiting for a service tech appointment,
only to find it was a 10 minute fix?
of judgmental customer service
representatives who go too fast? ?

ur Choli ur Choli
x
&x
#&

SECOND ANNUAL
^$$

Bik Bik
xx@
m

m
SHABBAT BIKUR CHOLIM
er er
May 11th - 12th, 2018
ty

ty
B

B
es
gen C oun gen C oun
evic
all d
t for

nica
l su
ppor
‫שבת פרשת בהר ־ בחקתי‬
om
e tech Come out
in-h
and support A Shabbat dedicated to increase
Bikur Cholim community awareness and support of
this week! Bikur Cholim Bergen County's services
Please join us on Motzei Shabbat May 12th at 9:30PM
!

at the home of David and Marcia Kreinberg

393 Winthrop Road, Teaneck
Light desserts will be served There is no couvert for this event

LET Event Committee

GITAL We offer affordable

in-home technical assistance
Meira and Gerry Adest · Sheva and Dov Adler · Leora and Abie Cohen · Arlene and Arthur Eis · Lori and Barry Frank
Esther and Jerry Friedman · Amy and Daniel Gibber · Tsipi and Danny Gurell · Ariella and Chaim Herman

SERVICE on a range of devices.

If we can’t fix it, you don’t pay.
Janet and Lior Hod · Dasi and Danny Jacob · Hana and Brian Katz · Jessica and Laizer Kornwasser
Marcia and David Kreinberg · Miriam and Ezra Lightman · Rachel and Azi Mandel · Adeena and Yair Mayerfeld

HELP YOU! Francine and Adam Mermelstein · Susan and Brett Nadritch · Nancy and Andy Neff · Esther and Harold Perl
Debby and Glenn Pfeiffer · Gail and Binyamin Rieder · Tamar and Ross Rothenberg · Esther and Jackie Schlanger
Aliza Schulhof · Yael and Zev Schulhof · Deena and Mendy Segal · Gabriella and Noam Spinowitz
Resolving issues regarding:
Computer / Printer / Internet / TV, Remote, Cable / Pnina and Jason Suss · Bassie and Rabbi Michael Taubes · Jennifer and Michael Wiederkehr
Smartphone / Connectivity / Set-up / and more ... Elana and Seth Winslow · Meredith and Kenny Yager · Lydia and Lionel Zuckier
Your
Neighborh
oo
Tech Guy! d Bikur Cholim Bergen County 201-579-3066
in-home technical support for all devices info@bikurcholimbergencounty.org www.bikurcholimbergencounty.org
appointments starting at just $30
‫עברית שפת אם‬ Like us on facebook! Visit us on the web! Make a donation (PayPal option available)
References Available CALL
OR TEXT: (646) 988-6987 www.adigital-service.com OR
E.MAIL: adi@adigital-service.com BCBC is a 100% volunteer run organization. Join our core group of amazing volunteers by signing up on our website

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 25

Jewish World

Iran deal another promise in ending catastrophic Iran Deal which

fleischman FROM PAGE25

clear in his announcement he was not going to be spar-
I believe Obama instituted to strengthen Iran’s ability to
harm Israel. We urge Trump to make clear if Iran doesn’t

furs
…for only the finest
FUR STORAGE
in our secure, modern
climate and humidity
controlled vaults. Protect
your valuable furs
and shearlings during
warm weather from heat,
humidity, moths and
other crawling insects.
Free Pick Up
& Delivery
Call Now
201-568-2242
OUR
70th
ing in his sanctions.
“We will be instituting the highest level of economic
sanction,” he said. “Any nation that helps Iran in its
YEAR! quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanc-
tioned by the United States.”
Speaking to reporters afterward, John Bolton,
Trump’s national security adviser, said there would be
90- to 180-day “wind down” periods for companies that
have existing contracts in Iran.
If those sanctions kick in for European companies, it
could poison the atmosphere between the United States
and those allies, making coordination on a reconfigured
deal less likely.
The other circumstance clouding the prospect of a
new deal was tensions between Israel and Iran in Syria.
For years, Iran has assisted the Assad regime in quell-
ing the civil war in that country, and in recent months
Israel has said that it cannot tolerate a permanent Ira-
nian presence there.
On Tuesday, shortly after Trump’s announcement,
Israel’s military increased its readiness on the northern
border in the Golan Heights in response to what it is call-
ing “unusual movements of Iranian forces in Syria.”
Trump’s announcement also revived old tensions and
heated rhetoric that preceded the JCPOA’s adoption.
Morton Klein, the hawkish head of the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America, tweeted, “I’m thrilled Trump kept yet
end their nuke program, US & Israel will be forced to
consider military action.”
“A regime that serially celebrates the denial of the
Nazi Holocaust — history’s most documented genocide —
ever took place, can be relied upon to lie about its com-
mitments to the international community,” said Rabbis
Marvin Hier, founder and dean and Abraham Cooper,
associate dean, of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in a
statement. “Lying is the national anthem and magna
carta of the Ayatollah’s regime.”
And former President Barack Obama, who considered
the JCPOA a hallmark of his presidency, offered a rare
response to a move by Trump, saying his successor had
scrapped a deal that was working.
“Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventu-
ally be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed
Iran or another war in the Middle East,” Obama wrote
on Facebook. “We all know the dangers of Iran obtain-
ing a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already
dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruc-
tion; pose unacceptable dangers to America’s own secu-
rity; and trigger an arms race in the world’s most danger-
ous region. If the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program
under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day
when we are faced with the choice between living with
that threat, or going to war to prevent it.”
 JTA WIRE SERVICE

Register in person at the J

Friday, May 11
& on Race Day, Sunday, May 13!

Donate at jccotp.org/rubinrun

NEW! 8K TRAIL RUN *

5K RUN/WALK
10K RUN
Questions? email rubinrun@jccotp.org
For sponsorship information please contact:
Michal Kleiman at 201.408.1412 or mkleiman@jccotp.org.

WE THANK OUR 2018 LEAD SPONSORS

MAGGIE KAPLEN -
THE KAPLEN FOUNDATION
THE RUBIN THE RUBACH
FAMILY FAMILY

Mother's Day, sunday, may 13 THE SINGER

FAMILY

* Trail run open to ages 15+; recommended for experienced runners.

All giveaways while supplies last. Please arrive early on race-day.
Supporting individuals with special needs
KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades TAUB CAMPUS | 411 E CLINTON AVE, TENAFLY, NJ 07670 | 201.569.7900 | jccotp.org

26 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018


Rod Rosenstein speaks at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual conference
in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2018.
Rod Rosenstein praises
Trump — and extols those
who defend the rule of law
RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON — Rod Rosenstein came
to the annual conference of the Anti-Def-
amation League with plaudits for Donald
Trump, despite being at the center of
the president’s contentious relationship
with his Justice Department.
He extolled Trump’s call for unity in
the wake of the Charlottesville white
supremacist rally in August that turned
deadly, and compared Trump to Abra-
ham Lincoln.
Rosenstein’s speech to the group,
which itself has an adversarial relation-
ship with the Trump administration,
depicted Trump and his attorney gen-
eral, Jeff Sessions, as fellow warriors with
the ADL in the battle against bias crimes.
But it was also a strident defense of
adhering to the rule of law, with a long
aside about the merits of resisting a rul-
er’s illegal orders.
“We study the Holocaust not only to
understand the depths of depravity
that people can perpetrate, but also as
a reminder to guard against the risk of
moral corruption in our own time,” he
told the ADL crowd on Sunday night.
“The importance of enforcing the rule of
law is a central lesson of the Holocaust.”
The centerpiece of the address was
Rosenstein’s praise for the plea for
unity that Trump delivered in the after-
math of the Virginia rally last summer.
Trump, notably, later retreated from
those remarks, much to the chagrin of
Jewish groups.
“One way that the Department of Jus-
tice helps to enforce the rule of law and
Jewish World
RON KAMPEAS
deter discrimination is to prosecute hate
crime violations,” said Rosenstein, who
is Jewish. “When victims are attacked
because of their race, religion, gender,
or sexual orientation, there are laws that
empower us to respond. Enforcing those
laws is important to President Trump
and Attorney General Sessions, and we
enforce them aggressively.”
Rosenstein quoted Trump speaking
after the violence in Charlottesville,
when a marcher rammed his car into a
The importance
of enforcing the
rule of law is a
central lesson of
the Holocaust.
group of counterprotesters, killing one
and injuring at least 20.
“President Trump recognized last
August that ‘no matter the color of our
skin, we all live under the same laws, we
all salute the same great flag, and we are
all made by the same almighty God’,”
Rosenstein said, quoting the president.
“‘We must love each other, show affec-
tion for each other, and unite together
in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and
violence. We must rediscover the bonds
of love and loyalty that bring us together
as Americans.’”
Rosenstein went on to compare
Trump to President Lincoln and his bid
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 27
 Jewish World
to unite Americans in divisive times. However, the president stirred outrage again the very next
He quoted remarks Trump delivered on August 14, after day, when he told reporters in an impromptu news confer-
the president said on the day of the August 12 violence in ence that there was “blame on both sides” and “fine people”
Charlottesville that “many sides” were responsible. Trump’s among the white supremacists.
equating the neo-Nazi and white supremacist marchers to Trump subsequently has stood by the characterization
the counterprotesters prompted rebukes from across the that there are good and bad people on both sides, but
political spectrum, including the gamut of Jewish groups. Rosenstein seemed so taken with Trump’s August 14 plea for
The prepared remarks of August 14 — reportedly pre- “the bonds of love and loyalty” that he quoted the passage
sented at the behest of his Jewish daughter, Ivanka, and twice, at the beginning and again at the end of his speech.
her husband, Jared Kushner — assuaged concerns for a day. Rosenstein has been under intense pressure because of
Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
invites you to
a moderated conversation with Author and
Chef Michael Solomonov
and Michal Levison, local cookbook author
Temple Israel & Jewish Community Center
475 Grove St, Ridgewood
May 17, 2018 | 7 pm
$
18/ticket
Register today! www.jfnnj.org/oboc
A Wo r l d
of Israeli
Cooking
CHEF MICHAEL SOLOMONOV is the Executive
Chef/Co-owner at Zahav, a modern Israeli
restaurant that brings the authentic flavors of
Israeli's culture to Philadelphia. He is known for his
extraordinary skill at transforming simple foods
into artful culinary masterpieces and is widely
regarded as one of the country's top chefs and
entrepreneurs. He is the recipient of the 2017
Outstanding Chef award by the James Beard
Foundation.
Elisa J. Hirsch | elisah@jfnnj.org | 201-820-3918
ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY
a project of the Synagogue Leadership Initiative, is sponsored
by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation.
7 28 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
his role overseeing the special counsel, Robert Muel-
ler, who is investigating a wide-ranging case stemming
from allegations that Trump’s campaign and presi-
dency have colluded with Russia, and then obstructed
justice. Sessions has recused himself from the investiga-
tion, making Rosenstein the only person authorized to
fire Mueller — unless Trump does. Trump has called for
the case to be shut down many times, and as recently
as last month he criticized Rosenstein as “conflicted.”
For the most part, Rosenstein had resisted firing back
at Trump and indeed has praised him many times. Last
week, in an appearance at Washington’s Newseum,
Rosenstein said “there have been people that have been
making threats, publicly and privately, against me for
There have been
people that have
been making threats,
publicly and privately,
against me for quite
some time, and I
think they should
understand by now:
The Department of
Justice is not going
to be extorted.
quite some time, and I think they should understand
by now: The Department of Justice is not going to be
extorted.” The impromptu outburst was widely seen as
directed at Trump and his congressional allies.
Rosenstein’s ADL remarks, delivered to an attentive
if mostly silent crowd, did not refer to his difficult sta-
tus within the administration. But notably, a chunk of
his speech was about Thomas More, the 16th-century
Lord High Chancellor who preferred beheading to car-
rying out King Henry VIII’s illegal requests.
“The point is that we must defend the rule of law at
all times, even when it is difficult, so it will be there for
us when we need it,” he said.
Rosenstein praised the ADL for its work in educating
law enforcement about the Holocaust.
He repeatedly credited Trump for the Justice
Department’s focus on bias crimes. Rosenstein noted
the recent U.S. indictment of a 19-year-old American-
Israeli citizen believed to be responsible for a spate
of bomb threats on Jewish institutions in 2017, and
the prosecution of bias crimes against Muslims and
LGBTQ people.
The ADL, a leading advocate of encouraging police
departments to identify and prosecute hate crimes,
has had its run-ins with the Trump administration
and has been particularly active in opposing the presi-
dent’s efforts to ban travel from a number of Muslim
majority countries.
The group’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, appeared
after Rosenstein and talked about the price exacted
on the ADL for its confrontations with the left and
the right.
“So when there is a nominee for high office that has
spouted anti-Muslim bigotry or homophobic beliefs,
ADL will speak out even if it means we may not be
invited to their holiday party,” Greenblatt said. “When
they try to put in place a Muslim ban, we will take a
stand and fight them in court.” JTA WIRE SERVICE

This Jewish lawmaker wanted
to keep Chinese immigrants out
Should a park remain named after him?
JOE ESKENAZI
SAN FRANCISCO — Julius Kahn III grew
up in San Francisco, playing in Julius
Kahn Playground, which was named for
his grandfather.
The view from this clearing in the
opulent Presidio Heights neighborhood
is among the best in the city, meaning
that it’s among the best in any city. That
won’t change anytime soon — but the
name of the park soon may.
Several Chinese American groups,
working with the city’s Recreation and
Parks Department, and two Chinese
American members of the San Francisco
Board of Supervisors have moved to strip
Kahn’s name from this playground and
its adjoining ball field and sports courts
— all with the blessing of the San Fran-
cisco-based Jewish Community Relations
Council. The rationale: The elder Kahn,
a Republican from San Francisco who
served 12 terms in Congress between
1899 and his death in 1924, championed
an extension of the Chinese Exclusion
Act in 1902. The act prohibited immigra-
tion by Chinese laborers.
While doing so, Kahn approvingly
read to Congress excerpts from a travel
writer’s 1853 journey to the Far East,
describing the Chinese as “morally, the
most debased people on the face of the
[E]arth.” Kahn personally endorsed
these views, saying they are “undoubt-
edly equally applicable to any Chinese
community in our country.”
A tremendously influential legislator,
Kahn was successful in getting the votes
for the act’s extension, which made
Jewish World
Julius Kahn’s
efforts helped
extend the
discriminatory
Chinese
Exclusion Act.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Chinese immigration permanently illegal
and legally enshrined anti-Chinese senti-
ment until its repeal in 1943.
On April 24, Supervisor Norman Yee
introduced a resolution calling for the
city’s Recreation and Park Commission
to change the facility’s name.
“We don’t want to send him, as a per-
son, to the dustbin of history,” explained
Hoyt Zia, the president of the board of
the city’s Chinese Historical Society of
America. “But we’ve got a park in a city
with one of the largest Asian popula-
tions in the country. Do we want to have
things named after people who hated
Asians? We use the park every day.”
At least one local Jewish organization
understands Zia’s perspective.
“We were contacted a few weeks ago
by Recreation and Park Commission
Vice President Allan Low on behalf of
the Chinese Historical Society’s coali-
tion and asked to support this resolution
to rename the park,” Jessica Trubowitch,
the JCRC’s director of public policy and
community building, said in a statement
on May 2.
“When we were contacted, we had
no hesitation in supporting the reso-
lution,” the statement continued. “It’s
time to right a wrong, and to ensure that
our civic institutions and public spaces
celebrate our contemporary values. We
share an understanding that immigrants
have and will continue to be an integral
part of this city.”
On April 30, Trubowitch went to a
press conference on behalf of JCRC.
There, Zia called Kahn “anti-immigrant”
SEE LAWMAKER PAGE 30
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 29
Jewish World

Lawmaker
FROM PAGE 29
and said he would “fit right in with this [presidential] admin-
istration,” according to the San Francisco Examiner. “The
names of places should reflect the city as it is now,” he
added, according to the paper.
Reached at his San Ramon home, 86-year-old Julius Kahn
III was unaware of the developments surrounding the play-
ground, but he was not surprised by them.
“I figured they were going to do something like that,” he
said. “If they want to raise that issue, there’s not a hell of a
lot I can do about it. It’s the height of stupidity. I think it’s a
damn crime to hang something on him for one instance in
a career that I know he regretted doing but went along with
the party at that time.”
Whether Kahn felt remorse for championing the Chi-
nese Exclusion Act, a federal law signed in 1882 by Presi-
dent Chester A. Arthur, is difficult to know. That’s the fam-
ily’s claim, and Kahn III says it’s true, but he never knew
his grandfather — he was born seven years after the older
Kahn died.
What certainly is true is that the anti-Chinese immigration
stand was the party line of the day. And, Bay Area Jewish his-
torians say, virulently anti-Chinese sentiment also was par
for the course among Kahn’s fellow San Francisco German
Jewish gentry. A view of the Julius Kahn playground in San Francisco.  OMUNENE/FLICKR COMMONS

“They were a civilizing influence on a kind of boomtown

of young men running wild,” said Fred Rosenbaum, the racism. They really were leading participants in the persecu- literacy test for immigrants. So he was not anti-immigrant.
founder of Berkeley-based Lehrhaus Judaica and the author tion of the Chinese in California.” He was anti-Asian immigrant.”
of many books about San Francisco Jewry. “But they did Historian Ava Kahn — no relation to Julius — added, “Julius So was Jacob Voorsanger, the famed rabbi of the city’s
have a giant blind spot. And that had to do with anti-Asian Kahn was one of the few Congresspeople who was against a Congregation Emanu-El (and founder of the local Jewish

jccotp.org/camps | 201.408.1485
ENROLL IN ANY JCC CAMP AND GET READY
FOR A SUMMER OF FUN WITH A CAMP

$250
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP FOR AS LITTLE AS

CAMP FUN, THE AREA’S BEST FITNESS &

WELLNESS FACILITIES, AND A SUMMER POOL

mer
CLUB CAN ALL BE YOURS. SIGN UP TODAY!

@it’s best sum DAY CAMPS: AGES 3-GRADE 2

SPECIALTY CAMPS: GRADE 3+
• NEW! LOWER RATE FOR DAY CAMPS
• FULL DAY: 9 AM-4 PM BIG IDE A
HI -T EC H

FOR YOUR CAMPER • LUNCH, SWIM & TOWEL SERVICE INCLUDED

• TRANSPORTATION, EXTENDED CARE &
HEBREW IMMERSION OPTIONS AVAILABLE

AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY • AMAZING FACILITIES & FANTASTIC STAFF

*First time members. $750 for all others. Camp family
membership run Memorial Day-Labor Day and are available
to families enrolled in any Neil Klatskin Summer Camp.

KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades

TAUB CAMPUS | 411 E CLINTON AVE, TENAFLY, NJ 07670 DAY CAMP

30 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018


newspaper that became J.), who described
the Chinese as a “non-assimilative race”
who were “unable to mix with cauca-
sians” in the pages of J.’s predecessor, the
Emanu-El.
Levi Strauss summarily dismissed 180
Chinese workers from his famous blue
jeans factory after thugs targeted the Chi-
nese in riots in 1877. Adolph Sutro, a social
liberal and one of the city’s greatest indus-
trialists and philanthropists, who became
the first Jew to be elected mayor of a major
U.S. city in 1894, boasted about having
never hired “a chinaman.” He wrote that
“the very worst emigrants from Europe
are a hundred times more desirable than
these Asiatics.”
Rosenbaum’s research has revealed that
Jewish communities on the East Coast and
in the Midwest, where there were few Chi-
nese, were confused and horrified at San
Francisco Jews’ peculiar animus — which,
to be fair, they shared with much of the
city’s white establishment. Many worried
that the fanatical drive to limit Asian immi-
gration eventually would boomerang on
Jews — and, with the Immigration Act of
1924, it did: Jews from much of Europe
were barred from entry, intensifying the
magnitude of the Holocaust.
When asked if the names Sutro, Strauss,
and others should be stripped off San
Francisco’s map, Allan Low said that’s a
discussion for later.
“Racism and dark history surrounds
us,” said Low, pro bono attorney for the
groups looking to change the name of the
playground and one of seven commis-
sioners appointed by the mayor to govern
the San Francisco Recreation and Parks
Department. “But in my view, we can only
take name changes one at a time.”
BRIEF
Flavor-maker Frutarom is sold
in second-largest ‘exit’ in Israeli history
In the second largest sale, or “exit,” of an
Israeli company to date, the American
firm International Flavors & Fragrances
Inc. is acquiring Israeli flavor and ingre-
dient producer Frutarom in a deal worth
approximately $7.1 billion.
Only one deal in Israel’s history sur-
passes the Frutarom exit — the sale of
Israel’s Mobileye, makers of vision-based
advanced driver-assistance systems, for
$15.3 billion in 2017.
Frutarom, based in the coastal city of
Haifa, primarily develops and manufac-
tures natural food, flavor, fragrance, phar-
maceutical, and cosmetic ingredients. It
has 2,700 employees around the world and
sells more than 70,000 products to 30,000-
plus clients in more than 150 countries.
The company anticipates topping
$1.6 billion in sales in 2018, with that
number expected to increase to $2.25
billion by 2020.
Jewish World
In fact, the name of the Julius Kahn
Playground — which presents breathtak-
ing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pre-
sidio, and Marin Headlands — already has
been changed. The actual playground
portion of the facility was renamed for
the late Jewish philanthropist Helen Diller
after her foundation paid for its extensive
and innovative renovation in 2003. The
basketball and tennis courts, the green
space, and the baseball/softball diamond,
however, still are named for Julius Kahn.
What name will be used next is not
known. But both Julius Kahn III and his
son, Steve, are pushing for Julius’ wife,
Florence Prag Kahn, who took his seat in
Congress after he died and served for six
terms, from 1925 to 1937.
Her grandson rattles off the accom-
plishments of the woman he used to
ride streetcars with on the way to the
movies: “She got the enabling legislation
for the Golden Gate Bridge; she was the
first woman on the Military Affairs Com-
mittee; she got the legislation and fund-
ing for Moffett [Federal Airfield] and the
Alameda Naval Station; she got the fund-
ing for Alcatraz as a federal prison,” he
said. “In a sense, my grandmother did
more for the city than my grandfather.”
In fact, when todays’ Kahns talk about
their family history, they spend a lot more
time on Florence than they do on Julius,
said Steve, 60.
He, too, played in Julius Kahn Play-
ground as a kid growing up in San Fran-
cisco. “It was serene,” he recalled.
Unlike his father, grandfather and great-
grandfather, Steve Kahn is not a lawyer.
He’s a mechanic in El Cerrito.
He specializes in Asian imports.
J. THE JEWISH NEWS OF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VIA JTA
“We have long admired Frutarom, and
have a great deal of respect for its team and
all of its dedicated and talented employees
around the globe,” said IFF Chairman and
CEO Andreas Fibig. “We look forward to
welcoming Frutarom to the IFF family.”
Frutarom shareholders will each
receive cash and shares of IFF common
stock valued at $106.25 per share. IFF
said it intends to maintain an operating
base in Israel, but the headquarters will
remain in New York.
“Today marks the culmination of a
decades-long vision to become a global
leader in taste and health,” said Ori
Yehudai, president and CEO of Fruta-
rom. “Frutarom and IFF are committed
to maintaining a presence in Israel, and
I look forward to working with Andreas
and the team to ensure a seamless inte-
gration of these two terrific companies.”
 JNS.ORG
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 31
Shavuot

Turkish coffee ice cream

According to the authors, “The best ice
cream is coffee ice cream. It is a perfect
balance of bitter and sweet. Our version
uses Turkish-style coffee and a bit of
cardamom to add Arabic flavor. Be-
cause the coffee is so finely ground, we
don’t strain it all out before we freeze it,
which gives the finished ice cream a nice
speckled look and texture.”
STEVE LEGATO

The ingredient cardamom, native to

Michael Solomonov
Two cooking authorities join forces
for ‘One Book One Community’ panel
BETH JANOFF CHANANIE
To culminate the Jewish Federation of North-
ern New Jersey’s “One Book One Community”
community-wide program, chef Michael Solo-
monov, who wrote the book, will take part in a
moderated discussion on
Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m.,
at Temple Israel & JCC in
Ridgewood. Mr. Solomonov
is the author of “Zahav — A
Michal Levison
finished products by looking at them. According to
Mr. Solomonov, who was born in Israel but grew
up in Pittsburgh, “I want to get you as close as a
book can get you to the true experience of cooking
this food.” A James Beard Award-winner for best
chef, Mid-Atlantic, along with his business partner,
Steven Cook, Mr. Solomonov opened the
modern Israeli restaurant “Zahav” (gold
in Hebrew) in Philadelphia in 2008. The
book is a compilation of some of his reci-
pes and a wonderful flowing storybook to
PHOTOS COURTESY JFNNJ
India, comes from the cardamom plant,
which produces tapered pods that con-
tain intensely flavored black seeds. By
weight, it is an expensive spice, although MICHAEL PERSICO WITH
you don’t need much of it to make an PERMISSION BY RUX
MARTIN BOOKS/HOUGHTON
impact, and it will keep for a long time in
MIFFLIN HARCOURT. ALL
pod form. Of the several varieties of carda- RIGHTS RESERVED.
mom, green is the most widely available. On
its own, cardamom’s sweet, resinous flavor can be overpowering.
But as an accent to things as different as the peppery condiment
schug or Turkish coffee ice cream, cardamom is a flavor enhancer
that can make the flavors around it sparkle.
Yield: 1 quart
2 cups heavy cream
2⁄3 cup milk
1/4 cup ground Turkish coffee
5 cardamom pods
6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1. Combine the cream, milk, coffee, and cardamom in a medium

saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove the

World of Israeli Cooking,”
this year’s book selection.
He will talk with local cook-
book author Michal Levi-
son, who is the founder of
“Seasoned Moments” and a
board member at the Acad-
emies @ Gerrard Berman Day School in Oakland.
The evening will include a book signing and a
dessert reception as well as the opportunity to
meet the author, hear his story, and also hear an
interesting talk between him and Ms. Levison.
The book has beautiful photographs accom-
panying the recipes. You can almost taste the
read and savor.
Just in time for Shavuot, the author
gives his recipe for Turkish Coffee Ice
Cream (you’ll need an ice cream maker
for it). Of course some people might
love that ice cream as a main dish — but
another nice choice might be the feta,
potato, kale, and mushroom borekas (inspired
by Solomonov’s grandmother). Or how about
twice-cooked eggplant? For after Shavuot, there
are also many recipes that include meat.
For information or to register for the evening,
call Elisa Hirsch at JFNNJ at (201) 820-3918 or go
to www.jfnnj.org/oboc.
saucepan from the heat and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes.
2. Combine the egg yolks and sugar in a large heatproof bowl set
over a pot of simmering water. (The bottom of the bowl shouldn’t
touch the water.) Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mix-
ture falls from the whisk in ribbons when you lift it out of the bowl,
about 2 minutes. Add the cream mixture and stir with a rubber
spatula, scraping the sides to prevent coagulation, until the mix-
ture reaches 180 degrees.
3. Strain out some of the coffee grounds, pour into a container,
cover, and refrigerate overnight. Churn in an ice cream maker ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The recipe is excerpted from “Zahav,” with permission from Rux Martin
Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Tnuva shares yummy Shavuot recipe

Cheese tart - pecan pie
This recipe offers a great festive spin on classic pecan pie –
according to Tnuva, and it’s crunchy, and yet it melts in your
mouth… and they guarantee that your family will love the DECORATIONS:
instant classic as much as they do! 1 and 1/4 cup pecans, halved
Difficulty level: easy, Preparation time: 45 minutes. 2 tablespoons silan (date syrup)
10 – 12 servings. 9 inch pie tin PREPARATION:
Dust the surface with flour and gently roll out the dough
CRUST INGREDIENTS: to 1/4 inch thick, put it in the baking pan, cut the excess
1/2 pack of frozen Rolled Short Dough for Sweet Pastries by dough from the edges of the pan, pierce the bottom with
Tnuva, thawed according to the manufacturer’s instructions a fork, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to
CHEESE FILLING: 350 degrees .
11 oz of Tnuva Original Cheese Spread (28%) CHEESE FILLING:
1/2 cup powdered sugar Mix all of the ingredients of the filling, except for the beaten
1 tablespoon flour egg. Add the egg last, and stir until smooth and even. Pour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract into the pan on top of the crust.
1 medium egg, beaten
PECAN AND THE SILAN FILLING:
PECAN AND SILAN (DATE SYRUP) FILLING: Mix all the ingredients together and gently pour over the
1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon silan (try maple syrup instead) cheese filling. Arrange the pecans on top of the pie. Bake for
1 and 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar 40-45 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven.
1/4 cup Tnuva butter, melted and chilled Cool. Mix 2 tablespoons of silan with a teaspoon of boiling
1 medium egg water and brush the pie with the mixture. Cover with a plas-
Pinch of salt tic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

32 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018


Six warm weather wines that pair
perfectly with Shavuout menus
W
ine expert
Gabriel Geller
says Shavuot is
the ideal time
to explore the lighter family of
wines — whites and rosés. “Just
because you’re not tucking
into a hearty steak or burger,
it doesn’t mean you have to
leave out the wine. To the con-
trary, dairy- or fish-forward
dishes showcase many wines
beautifully.”
As director of public rela-
tions for Royal Wine Corp., the
largest producer and distribu-
tor of kosher wines and spirits
in the United States, Geller’s
expertise is kosher wines. And
the upcoming Jewish festival of
Shavuot (May 19-21) — the “hol-
iday of the first fruits” —means
spring and summer wines are
on his mind.
So, in the runup to Shavuot,
the conversation on Geller’s
blog – which has loyal follow-
ers not just in the Jewish com-
munity but among wine-lov-
ers everywhere – has been all
about fruity, refreshing new
white and rosé wines that can
accompany a wide array of
dairy and fish delicacies. Here
are his picks.
• Elvi Vina Encina Rosado
2017 is a Spanish rosé with a
beautiful, cherry pink color
and a mouthful of fruits such as
strawberries, raspberries, and
cantaloupe. (“It sounds like a
fruit salad!” Geller quips.) In
fact, it’s great with fresh fruit
or a fruit salad as well as soft
cheeses; think goat cheese and
mozzarella.
• Of the three different types
of Reisling made by Hagafen
winery in Napa Valley – dry,
semi-sweet, and off-dry –
Geller’s current favorite is the
Dry Riesling 2016. “I love its
versatility. With core acidity
and green apple and lime aro-
mas, it is sublime with either
savory flavors like smoked
trout or with a full-flavored
cheese such as aged, sharp
cheddar.”
• The new Chardonnay 2016
from Herzog’s Lineage series
is similarly versatile. “While
its compatibility with chicken
is undeniable, it will take a
simple toast topped with Brie
cheese to the next level.” It
has a medium body with light,
creamy notes of butter and
Shavuot
sour cream that showcase
fresh tropical fruit aromas.
• Domaine Les Marronniers
Chablis 2016 is also a Chardon-
nay, but in the style of wines
from Burgundy ’s Chabli s
appellation in France - much
leaner and more mineral than
its rich, buttery California
counterparts. Gellar character-
izes it as “a light yet complex
wine with notes of lemon pith,
fresh almonds, and pears” that
Just because
you’re not
tucking into
a hearty
steak or
burger, it
doesn’t
mean you
have to
leave out
the wine.
GABRIEL GELLER
would marry well with pasta
dishes or flounder almondine.
• G e l l e r ’s l i s t o f wa r m
weather go-withs also includes
a spicy, earthy red wine: Chi-
anti Classico Riserva 2012 from
Terra di Seta, which recently
earned impressive 93 and 92
scores from the prestigious
Wine Spectator and Decanter
magazines. “This amazing
wine boasts aromas and fla-
vors of ripe cherries, baking
spices, and Mediterranean
herbs, plus a juicy texture”
that would beautifully comple-
ment a Caprese salad or pizza
topped with mozzarella, sun-
dried tomatoes, and basil.
• Last but not least, des-
sert: the Herzog Late Harvest
Chenin Blanc 2016 is delicious
on its own but would be even
more delicious with a piece of
classic New York cheesecake.
Says Geller, “The pleasant
sweetness, together with the
classic aromas of peach, apri-
cot, table grapes, and orange
zest, will upgrade your Sha-
vuot dessert more than you
could ever imagine!”
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 33
Editorial
Substance abuse,
courage, and follow-up
A I
few weeks ago, we had a
cover story about a Teaneck
family going public with sub-
stance abuse.
The next week, we reported on the
meeting they put together, a meet-
ing that saw a crowd estimated to be
between 600 and 700 people sitting in
dead silence as they listened to social
workers, rabbis, and a recovering addict
tell stories of fear and hope, of hitting
bottom and sometimes — not always,
but sometimes, with support and under-
standing — coming up again for fresh air.
Coming up and staying up.
Now, we can report that the family
— Lianne and Etial Forman — have no
intention of allowing that meeting to be
a one-off.
They learned that there is a real need,
and they will follow up.
That need is right here. In the Jewish
community.
We don’t often think about substance
abuse in the Jewish community — but
when we don’t think about it, we simply
fool ourselves. In some ways we are dif-
ferent from other groups, but in many
ways we are not.
There are universal truths about drug
abuse — the biology and psychology of
addiction, the lure of self-medication,
the way some conditions co-occur.
And then there are the particulars, as
Rabbi Larry Rothwachs tells us; there
is something about the Jewish com-
munity’s demand for perfection that
makes admitting to imperfection even
more difficult than it otherwise would
be. And it always would be difficult, that
is clear; it’s also hard for other commu-
nities, for their own particular — and
sometimes similar, sometimes entirely
idiosyncratic — reasons.
Another truth about talking about
substance abuse is courage. The cour-
age to be different, to say what has to be
said (or at least what you, the speaker,
have to say unless you want to explode.
And you don’t.)
It must always require courage to go
Jewish Editor
Joanne Palmer
Standard Associate Editor
Larry Yudelson
1086 Teaneck Road
Community Editor
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Beth Janoff Chananie
(201) 837-8818
Fax 201-833-4959 About Our Children Editor
Heidi Mae Bratt
Publisher
James L. Janoff
Associate Publisher Emerita
Marcia Garfinkle
thejewishstandard.com
34 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
public and be open about something as
innately terrifying as substance abuse.
The idea of losing your child or partner
or sibling or parent to a yearning that
takes over their brains and threatens
their souls is terrifying. To go public
in a close community, where everyone
knows someone, where the idea of six
degrees of separation sounds impossibly
distant, takes a vast amount of strength.
But once you’ve gone public, you
have far less to lose. Nothing to cover
up. No smile to plaster on your face. No
scream to throttle. No more secrets. You
can tell your story.
The Formans know, through their
own experience, about the support that
family members need, both for them-
selves, so they can talk to people who
understand them, who get their short-
hand, who can laugh at their dark jokes,
and so that they can help the people
they love who are in addiction’s grasp
and maw.
Their courage in telling their story —
and of course the story of their daugh-
ter Elana, who has fought her way from
abuse through rehab and 12 steps and
pain and fear and relapse to a state of
hard-won freedom from drugs — has put
them in a position to hear stories from
other people. They want to help.
Working with Amudim, the New York-
based group that works both inside and
outside the charedi community, the For-
mans are offering a support group.
It will meet in Teaneck every other
Wednesday, beginning this coming
Wednesday, May 16. It’s free and open
to everyone who needs it; it’s not
restricted only to Jews, and certainly not
only to Orthodox Jews. Substance abuse
is nondenominational, and so is support
in fighting it. A licensed clinician who
specializes in addiction counseling will
facilitate the group. For more informa-
tion, email Time2TalkAddiction@gmail.
com.
We wish everyone who is at the begin-
ning of that hard road hope and love
and a drug-free life at its other end. —JP
Correspondents
Warren Boroson
Lois Goldrich
Banji Ganchrow
Abigail K. Leichman
Miriam Rinn
Dr. Miryam Z. Wahrman
Advertising Director
Natalie D. Jay
Classified Director
Janice Rosen
TRUTH REGARDLESS OF CONSEQUENCES
Poland and Jersey City:
Not quite perfect together
t might seem incredible that the Polish people suffered horribly under the
Polish people and press, thousands Germans and that large numbers of individ-
of miles away from New Jersey, are ual Poles participated in atrocities against
focused on a statue in Jersey City Jews, albeit never in an official capacity.
commemorating a Soviet massacre of Pol- Poland, unlike France, never created a col-
ish soldiers and officers during the war. laborationist regime alongside the Nazis.
But the news that Jersey City is — tempo- The Polish government in exile, and the
rarily — relocating the statue has generated Polish Home Army of partisans, always
considerable news in Poland and a growing resisted the Nazis. Still, Polish atrocities
rift between the mayor of Jersey City and against Jews, most famously in Jedwabne
the Polish government. during the war, and in Kielce after the war,
The United States has many memorials to never can be whitewashed.
the Holocaust, as it should. The Holocaust But amid the need to acknowledge the
is the greatest crime in the history of the extent of Polish suffering under the Nazis
world and must be remem- and Polish resistance of Ger-
bered always. Only the Jews man occupation, the Holo-
experienced genocide in the caust law has backfired com-
Second World War, making pletely, and Poland now finds
their suffering and the mar- itself on the defensive in inter-
tyrdom of six million victims national forums, accused of
incomparable and unique. trying to whitewash its war
But millions of non-Jews lost history. Repealing the law
their lives in the Second World is the only way to do justice
War, many of them civilian both to Jewish victims and to
non-combatants. Estimates are Rabbi an honest sense of dialogue.
that nearly two million Poles Shmuley Which brings me to Jer-
were murdered during the war, Boteach sey City and the necessary
and the Poles, of course, rose response of the Jewish com-
up against the Germans in the munity to the temporary
autumn of 1944 in Warsaw, only to see their removal of the statue. The Jersey City
uprising brutally crushed and 95 percent of monument commemorates the Katyn For-
Warsaw reduced to rubble. est massacre, in which, it is believed, some
Ever since the Polish government passed 22,000 Polish citizens were murdered by
its calamitous Holocaust law, making it a the Soviets, a crime they tried to blame on
crime to accuse Poland of having partici- the Nazis. This memorial is a reminder of
pated in Holocaust atrocities alongside the horrors of war and the atrocities perpe-
the Germans, the sentiment in the Jewish trated by the Communists. The Poles were
community is that the law is proof positive marched into the woods, many with their
that the Poles are, and have remained, anti- hands tied behind their backs, shot in the
Semitic. But having discussed the law with back of the neck and buried in mass graves.
a large number of Poles, including those in Jews also were murdered at Katyn, includ-
government, it seems that their intention ing Chief Rabbi of the Polish Army Baruch
was to stop the world from equating them Steinberg, who was murdered alongside
with the Nazis and to have history finally Jewish servicemen of the Polish armed
recognize the extent of Polish suffering forces.
during the war. Jersey City now is moving the monument
There can be no question both that the because of a waterfront redevelopment
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the author of 31 books, including his most recent work, The Israel
Warrior. Follow him on Twitter @RabbiShmuley.
Advertising Coordinator
Jane Carr
Production Manager
Jerry Szubin
Founder
Morris J. Janoff (1911–1987)
Account Executives
Peggy Elias
Graphic Artists
Deborah Herman
Editor Emeritus
Meyer Pesin (1901–1989)
Bob O'Brien
Brenda Sutcliffe City Editor
Administrative Assistant Mort Cornin (1915–1984)
Jenna Sutcliffe Editorial Consultant
Max Milians (1908-2005)
International Media Placement
P.O. Box 7195 Jerusalem 91077 Secretary
Tel: 02-6252933, 02-6247919 Ceil Wolf (1914-2008)
Fax: 02-6249240 Editor Emerita
Israeli Representative Rebecca Kaplan Boroson

project. Mayor Steven Fulop has prom-
ised that the monument will be re-
erected in a fitting location. But the
people of Poland are concerned that the
redevelopment is being used as an excuse
to remove a monument that some con-
sider gory, and that the monument lacks
defenders because the Polish-American
- community in Jersey City has diminished.
t I believe the Jewish community should
. do its utmost to respectfully prevail on
- Jersey City to re-erect the statue as soon
. as humanly possible.
The Polish people are the guardians of
memory for millions of Jews who were
murdered in the Holocaust. Those who
have had the privilege of participating in
, March of the Living, or visited the exter-
mination camps in a private capacity, can
bear witness to the admirable job the gov-
ernment of Poland is doing to preserve the
- camps and tell the story of the genocide of
- the Jewish people. We have come a long
- way from the Carmelite nunnery days of
the late 1980s. Let us not forget that it was
- a son of Poland, Pope John Paul II, a great
f lover of the Jewish people, who ordered
r the Carmelite nuns out of Auschwitz in
w 1993. Auschwitz-Birkenau today empha-
sizes constantly that of the 1.1 million peo-
ple murdered at Auschwitz, approximately
one million were Jews. The Poles have done
- a similarly admirable job at Treblinka, Maj-
y danek, and throughout Warsaw, where the
- Jewish ghetto is prominently remembered.
y It behooves us Jews to reciprocate and
y always remember the suffering of the
- Polish people where it is in our power,
especially mass murder like the Katyn
y forest massacre. If Jews living in New Jer-
sey can make a different, then we must.
f Remembering the horrors of the Sec-
- ond World War is vital amid shocking
and growing levels of ignorance about
r the world’s most deadly conflict. A recent
study by the Claims Conference, for
. example, showed some disturbing find-
- ings regarding Americans’ knowledge of
the Holocaust:
• 70 percent of Americans say fewer
people seem to care about the Holocaust
than they used to.
t • 31 percent of all Americans and 41 per-
t cent of millennials believe that substan-
tially fewer than six million Jews were
killed (two million or fewer) during the
Holocaust.
• 45 percent of all Americans and 49
percent of millennials cannot name a
single one of the 40,000 concentration
camps and ghettos.
• 80 percent of Americans have not vis-
ited a Holocaust museum.
• 58 percent believe something like the
Holocaust could happen again.
In the above cited survey, 80 percent of
Americans say that it is important to keep
teaching about the Holocaust so it does
not happen again. Memorials to victims
of massacres in the Second World War,
even where they are not directly Holo-
caust-related, such as Katyn, are critical
for that educational process, especially
as the last survivors pass away and Holo-
caust deniers try to convince today’s
social media generation that stories
about the crimes of the Nazis and Soviets
are fake news. Yes, the Soviets liberated
Auschwitz and fought the Germans tooth
and nail, losing millions of soldiers in the
process. But before Hitler’s sudden inva-
sion of the USSR in Operation Barbarossa
on June 22, 1941, Stalin had agreed with
Hitler to carve up Poland.
Polish Jewish leaders agree that
the Katyn monument should be pre-
served. My friend, Chief Rabbi Michael
Schudrich, who has led the community
of Poland for 30 years, Anna Chipczyn-
ska, president of the Jewish Community
of Warsaw, and Leslaw Piszewski, presi-
dent of the Union of Jewish Communi-
ties, said they “don’t understand, and
disagree with, the plans to remove the
monument dedicated to Katyn victims.”
In their statement, they added, they
“consider it a moral obligation to com-
memorate all the victims of this crime in
Poland and around the world, including
Jersey City.” Jonny Daniels of From the
Depths, who brought a majority of the
Knesset to Auschwitz in 2014 and contin-
ues to do admirable work on Holocaust
memory in Poland, has written publicly
of the need to preserve the monument.
It is especially important to demon-
strate our commitment to remember-
ing Polish victims in the war as many
of us protest the Polish government’s
“Holocaust Law,” which threatens pun-
ishment for anyone who suggests that
Poles played any role in the crimes
committed by the Nazis. When I met
with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz
Morawiecki, I urged him to repeal this
regrettable law, which undermines
Poland’s commitment to fully educating
people about the Holocaust. I thanked
the prime minister publicly for listening
to me and my colleagues over a kosher
dinner in Warsaw.
It is important that we show equal
determination to ensure that our own
government officials understand the
importance of symbols, such as monu-
ments to victims of wartime atrocities,
and preserve them for future generations.
I trust that Mayor Fulop of Jersey City
is in full agreement about the need to
remember the victims of the Katyn For-
est massacre. I have every confidence
that he and his city council will do the
right thing and protect the memorial,
using this controversy as a teachable
moment to educate New Jersey resi-
dents about the war crimes committed
by the Soviets against the Polish people
and the unspeakable horrors visited by
the Nazis on the Jewish nation in Poland
and beyond.
Opinion
Sharon Kaplan learns that yes, you can go home again.
I’VE BEEN THINKING
You can go home again
T
om Wolfe clearly never ate at from Chabad World Headquarters until
Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse. her family moved to Washington Heights.
OK, let me back up a bit and She remembered the building number, so
explain. we decided to take the service road. That
Brooklyn is very far from Teaneck. Very. would allow us to slow down as we passed
Far. But when wedding chores demand it, the old homestead.
to Brooklyn one must go. About a block away she said: “There
So, one bridge, one tunnel, a few tolls, it is! I’m sure that’s it.” We had planned
many highways and streets, lots of traffic, just to slow down when we reached it, but
and countless construction projects later, instead we saw that rarity in Brooklyn — a
my wife, Sharon, and I found ourselves large, legal parking spot, directly in front
on Coney Island Avenue of the apartment building.
one recent Monday morn- Some things are simply
ing. After a mother-of-the- bashert, so we parked and
bride gown fitting, picking decided to explore.
up our future son-in-law’s We took pictures of the
tallit, and too many stops building, the front awning,
at bencher vendors (includ- the gilded ceiling, the beau-
ing one whose name and tiful lighting fixtures in the
address we didn’t know — lobby, and all sorts of other
thank you Google and the odds and ends. We then
man in the flower shop), we Joseph C. decided we needed a picture
discovered it was already Kaplan of Sharon in front of the door
4 p.m. So although we had to her former apartment. But
ended up in Boro Park, we what was its number? Sha-
decided to treat ourselves to an early din- ron was only 3 when she moved. Luckily,
ner in Crown Heights at Izzy’s, which had she was able to text and then call her sis-
come with rave reviews from my daughter ter Andrea, who is eight years older and
and her fiancé. has a much sharper memory of living in
It was a great choice. Crown Heights.
Re-energized, we girded ourselves for She told us the apartment number, and
the long drive back (same bridge, tunnel, into the elevator we went.
tolls, and highways, and even more traf- We shared the elevator with a Chabad-
fic and some new streets and construction nik, who asked who we were going to see
projects), and asked Google Maps for the before he got off. When we told him our
best route home. (How did we ever live mission and destination, he said, “Can’t
before Google?) be. There’s no such apartment, though
When we looked at the route we noticed there are two with that letter on that floor;
that it took us down Eastern Parkway, a number 1 and a 2.”
where Sharon had lived directly across SEE HOME PAGE 38
The opinions expressed in this section are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the newspaper’s editors,
publishers, or other staffers. We welcome letters to the editor. Send them to jstandardletters@gmail.com.
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 35
Opinion
Israel at 70 — Zionism when the child is grown
I
t used to be so easy to be a Zionist….
Years ago, things were clear. Those were the
heady days of Israel’s miraculous birth in the
shadow of the Holocaust, of decisive victories in
its battles for survival, of the draining of the swamps
and the planting of the Negev. Those were the days of
our pride in a citizen army that could do no wrong, of
the Jewish David battling the Arab Goliath, of the kibbut-
zim, and of each farmer in his or her kova tembel — an
Israeli hat.
The moral lines were clear. Heroic figures abounded.
Right was on our side without equivocation.
For the first time in thousands of years, God had
granted us the miraculous gift of our Jewish home, and
nothing seemed more important than that.
But now things have become more complicated.
Israel, a mature state, reflects the imperfections of all
mature states. Not all of its leaders always behave ethi-
cally, its society wrestles with moral dilemmas, its lead-
ership makes religious and social decisions that antag-
onize elements of world Jewry. Sometimes it stumbles
as it balances newfound power over others with the
responsibility of keeping its own citizenry safe.
In some quarters, diaspora Jews have begun to ask:
How can our support for Israel continue to be unwavering
if we find ourselves questioning its policies, practices, or
politicians? What happens when we and Israel disagree,
whether about the peace process, immigration, egali-
tarian prayer at the Western Wall, or a plethora of other
issues? Do we even have a voice from the diaspora? What
are the boundaries of our partnership from afar?
An answer to these questions might emerge from a
totally unexpected source — from a mysterious ritual
A VIEW FROM THE PEW
A call to action on the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide
T
he State of Israel and I both turned 70 on
April 19 this year.
Israel’s birth 70 years ago was due in part
to the unified voice of American Jewry being
heard in the halls of Congress and the White House. After
the Nazis heard the sounds of silence a decade earlier as
permission to commit genocide against Jews, America led
the world in a campaign to combat the societal cancer
of anti-Semitism. Like biological cancers, if they are left
untreated and unmonitored, the diseases of anti-Semitism
and racism often reoccur in even more virulent modes.
The lesson of the Holocaust and the birth of the State of
Israel is that there are no innocent bystanders to acts of
hatred and bigotry.
The confirmation of Michael Pompeo as our new secre-
tary of state gives you and me both an opportunity and a
responsibility to have an impact upon American response
to the growing threats posed by the rise in anti-Semitism
worldwide as well as across America. I am therefore using
this monthly column to share with you a letter that I
recently sent to Secretary of State Pompeo. I ask each of
you to take action in one of the following ways:
1. Sign on to the American Jewish Committee statement
calling for filling the position of special envoy to combat
and monitor anti-Semitism by going to www.global.ajc.org
and adding your name to their petition effort.
36 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
recorded in the Torah at this time of the year.
At the beginning of parashat Tazria,
the Torah mandates that two offerings be
brought to the Temple by a woman upon the
birth of a child. One is an olah, a burnt offer-
ing, and the other is a hatat, a sin offering.
The troubling question is obvious imme-
diately. Why must a yoledet, a childbearing
woman, offer a sin offering? Wherein lies
the sin in childbirth? The creation of a new Rabbi
life marks the greatest act of partnership Shmuel
between man and God. It is a fulfillment of Goldin
God’s first blessing and directive to mankind,
to be “fruitful and multiply.” The suggestion
that a yoledet should offer a hatat on the birth of her child
seems not only puzzling, but offensive.
Perhaps the Torah itself hints at an explanation.
Whenever the Torah mandates the sacrificial combi-
nation of an olah and a hatat, the order is clear and con-
stant. The hatat, the sin offering, is listed first, and the
olah is second.
This sequence stands to reason. A burnt offering, sym-
bolic of a renewed relationship with God, can be offered
only after past misdeeds first are cleared through the sin
offering ritual.
There is only one exception to this rule.
In the case of the yoledet, the order of these sacrifices is
reversed in the text. The Torah lists the burnt offering first
and the sin offering second. Why invert the listing of these
offerings only in the case of the childbearing mother, espe-
cially if this reversal exists, as the Talmud later explains,
solely in the text and not in practice?
Perhaps because in the case of the yoledet, the sin
2. Write your own letter to Secretary
Pompeo.
3. Post this call to action on social media.
4. Reach out to your congressional repre-
sentatives and ask them to join in this effort
to lobby Secretary Pompeo to fill the State
Department position.
You can address the hardcopy letter to Sec-
retary of State Michael Pompeo, Department
of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC Rabbi Neal I.
20521, or you can send email through the offi- Borovitz
cial website, www.state.gov/secretary/2018
Here is the text of the letter I sent to Secre-
tary of State Pompeo:
Dear Secretary Pompeo,
Congratulations on your confirmation as the 70th Secre-
tary of State of the United States of America. You are assum-
ing your office at a time of great danger for our nation and
the world. Among these dangers is the dramatic rise in anti-
Semitism. I am therefore writing to you today, Secretary
Pompeo, to ask you to speedily fill the now vacant position of
Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-Semitism.
Two weeks ago, during your hearing before the Senate For-
eign Relations Committee, you said that one of your priori-
ties will be to fill the large number of diplomatic posts in the aggressive and non-aggressive anti-Semitic activity solely to
offering is brought not for a sin that has
occurred in the past but for one that is
bound to occur in the future.
The moment of childbirth is a moment
of rarefied personal perspective. In that
instant, you recognize with unerring clarity
that nothing in the world is more important
to you than this child, this precious gift that
God has bestowed upon you.
But then — three months later, at two
o’clock in the morning, when you are more
tired than you have ever been in your life,
you are changing the diaper of a screaming
infant; when, three years later, you are run-
ning in circles after a recalcitrant toddler; when, 15 years
later, your teenage son or daughter rolls his or her eyes at
you in that frustrating way, as only a teenager can…
At those moments, somehow, that child doesn’t seem
quite so precious. You lose sight of the clear instant
when you held a new life in your hands, when nothing
was more important than the life and welfare of that
newborn child.
The sin offering of the yoledet, we are suggesting, pro-
actively addresses all of the inevitable moments when the
crystal perspective accompanying childbirth will be lost,
all the times when this precious life will not be as dearly
appreciated as it was at the moment of its arrival. And if
the hatat does its job, the memory of this sacrifice will
resurface during those difficult future moments, remind-
ing each parent that the apparent distance developing
between them and their growing child may not be so
great, after all.
The parallel is clear. The hatat of the yoledet reminds us
Department of State that currently are vacant.
The Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor
Anti-Semitism is of utmost importance among
them, particularly today given the precipitous
rise in anti-Semitism during the past year.
The responsibilities of the Special Envoy are
defined by the U.S. Department of State Global
Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004. This act
passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote in
Congress, has served in both Republican and
Democratic Administrations as a deterrent to
over anti-Semitism around the world. Since its
creation in 2004, individuals holding ambas-
sador status have headed the Office of the Special Envoy.
Under their direction during both Democratic and Republi-
can administrations, the Office to Combat and Monitor Anti-
Semitism worked tirelessly to both (a) monitor and address
anti-Semitism around the world and (b) hold other nations
responsible for doing the same. Data collected by the United
States government and outside organizations demonstrate
that anti-Semitic activity and incidents actually declined
from 2004 through 2016.
The post of Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-
Semitism has remained vacant since July 2017, leaving the
vital task of monitoring and fighting against the scourge of

that Zionism today should not be so complicated, after all.
Just as our grown children still are the children whom we
celebrated in their infancy, the State of Israel still is, at its
core, the miracle we once keenly felt it to be.
It is still the Jewish homeland for which Jews longed
over centuries; still the one place in the world where Jew-
ish destiny is in Jewish hands; still a home to which we
can move voluntarily to be with our family; still a refuge
to which any Jew can return from across the globe; still
a country built by Jews. It is still the most precious gift
granted to us by God in millennia.
Just as our enduring love for our children must tran-
scend the frustrations they may bring, so too our enduring
Zionism must transcend specific politicians, policies, and
problems. Transient issues will pass, but our cherished,
essential relationship with Israel will remain.
At this time of the year, as Israeli citizens mark their
annual series of national commemorations, culminat-
ing with Yom Yerushalayim — Jerusalem Day — on May
13, true Zionists across the globe should celebrate with
them. There will be time enough to return to the discus-
sions and debates. Now is the time for the perspective
and clarity of childbirth. Now is the time to simply rec-
ognize, appreciate, and cherish the wondrous, greatest
miracle of our times.
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin and his wife, Barbara, made
aliyah this year after he spent more than 40 years in the
American rabbinate (33 of them as rabbi of Congregation
Ahavath Torah in Englewood). They now live in Jerusalem
where Rabbi Goldin continues to serve as rabbi emeritus
of CAT, is senior scholar at Nefesh B’Nefesh, and
continues to write and teach in various settings.
outside agencies during a year of virulent anti-Semitic activ-
ity in the United States and abroad. The urgent need to fill
the position of Special Envoy is underscored by the recent
laws passed in Poland and Lithuania, denying their involve-
ment in the Holocaust. These policies both seek to rewrite
history and evoke malice toward the Jewish people. This is
but one example. Secretary of State Pompeo, by speedily fill-
ing the position of the Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor
Anti-Semitism, you will be making it clear to the world that
America stands firm against all forms of racial and religious
bigotry, including anti-Semitism.
Again, I congratulate you on your appointment and I
thank you for taking on the awesome responsibilities of Secre-
tary of State in these difficult days. I look forward to hearing
soon of your nomination for Special Envoy to Combat and
Monitor Anti-Semitism.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Neal I Borovitz
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Avodat Shalom River Edge NJ
National Vice Chair, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Neal Borovitz, rabbi emeritus of Temple Avodat Shalom
in River Edge, is a past chair of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Northern
New Jersey and the national vice chair of the Jewish
Council for Public Affairs.
Israel as the nation-state
of the Jewish people
Why the proposed basic law is a radical shift away
from a Zionist vision of an inclusive and democratic entity
A
n article in the Hebrew weekly
Makor Rishon, written by two
eminent scholars of Israeli law
and democracy, opened with a
quote by the founder of Revisionist Zionism,
Ze’ev Jabotinsky:
“I do not believe that the constitution
of any state should contain special clauses
explicitly guaranteeing its ‘national’ charac-
ter. I believe it is a good sign if a constitution Rabbi Aryeh
contains few such clauses. The natural and Meir
best way is for the ‘national’ character of a
state to be ensured by the very fact that it
has a particular majority.”
Remember that Jabotinsky is considered the intellec-
tual and spiritual antecedent to Menachem Begin, Ben-
jamin Netanyahu, and today’s Likud Party. It is the Likud
and Naftali Bennet’s National Home party that have been
promoting various versions of the nation-state bill, which,
in the words of an editorial in Haaretz “is an attempt to
The proposal would
reduce Israeli democracy
to a ‘democratic regime’
and thus sap its
essence as a way of
life, as a culture, and as
a moral system based
on equality among all
residents with regard to
their rights to life, liberty,
and human dignity.
enshrine in a Basic Law the preeminence of the Jewish ele-
ment of the state over the democratic element.”
Why this law, and what is a basic law?
Because Israel lacks a constitution, there is a category
of law called hok yesod — foundational or basic laws that
deal with the principal institutions of the state and protect of Independence.) This law makes it almost impos-
civil rights and similar core values upon which Israel was
founded. Those basic laws act as a de facto constitution in
the absence of a formal, written one.
This proposed new basic law from the Likud Party
gives primacy to the Jewish aspect of Israel’s existence
over the idea that Israel is a democracy, so that when-
ever there is tension between the Jewish character of the
state and its democratic character, Jewishness wins out.
The law defines Israel as “the nation-state of the Jew-
ish people,” not of its citizens, 20 percent of whom are
Arabs. It enshrines as “constitutional” aspects of Isra-
el’s Jewishness that we have all taken for granted: the
Star of David on the flag; the anthem “Hatikvah,” with
its Jewish-centered lyrics; the Jewish Sabbath and holi-
days as national holidays, and the Law of Return, which
Opinion
guarantees citizenship to Jews. It reduces
the status of Arabic from official language
to some sort of special status.
And where does the proposed law leave
the non-Jewish citizens of Israel? The bill
affirms personal rights to all citizens but
communal rights only to Jews. As a result,
Israeli Arabs will be marginalized further.
But the founding document of Israeli inde-
pendence, the megilat ha’atzmaut, says that
“Israel is to be a nation that grants equality
on all of its citizens without regard to ethnic-
ity, religion, or gender.”
The proposed law seems to establish a system in
which not all citizens have equal rights. The law also
would allow Jewish tradition and religious law to influ-
ence Israel’s legal structure, raising grave concerns
about the influence of the Orthodox and charedi author-
ities over Israel’s civil life.
It should be remembered that the Knesset passed the
Basic Law of Human Dignity in 1994. For the first time,
Israel guaranteed the protection of life, body, dignity,
property, privacy, and intimacy to all citizens. According
to Bernard Avishai, the proposed basic law defining the
nation-state of the Jewish people “will be seen to expand
on the meaning of Jewish and democratic in a way that
justifies the tyranny of the majority: discrimination as
a national right, the imposition of archaic Jewish law
entrenching rabbinic courts, and religious command-
ments as state institutions.
Bottom line: the purpose of this law is to change
Israel’s self-understanding as a Jewish and democratic
state radically by diminishing the democratic character
of the state in favor of its Jewish-national character. To
quote Professor Mordechai Kremnitzer and attorney
Amir Fuchs of the Israel Democracy Institute, “The pro-
posal would reduce Israeli democracy to a ‘democratic
regime’ and thus sap its essence as a way of life, as a cul-
ture, and as a moral system based on equality among all
residents with regard to their rights to life, liberty, and
human dignity.”
Israel’s Arab minority is left out of the proposed
law, except that the law further marginalizes them by
enshrining the Jewish character and symbols of the state
and reducing the status of Arabic.
Israel’s founders wanted a state that would grant full
equality to all its citizens. (Again, read the Declaration
sible for non-Jewish citizens of Israel to identify with
the state. Perhaps that is its purpose — to further mar-
ginalize and discriminate against Arab Israelis, thus
strengthening nationalistic and xenophobic trends
within Israeli society.
Israel must not become a state that has citizens with
different levels of rights: first-class citizens ( Jews, as
defined by the Orthodox rabbinate), and second-class
citizens (all others). This will create an Israel that would
be less Jewish, in my understanding of Jewish values,
and less democratic.
Rabbi Aryeh Meir of Teaneck is on the faculty of the
Academy for Jewish Religion and he is the chairperson of
the Teaneck Environmental Commission.
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 37
Opinion
Time to abandon the ‘original sin’ theory
A
s welcome as the
remarkably diverse
condemnations of
Mahmoud Abbas’s
latest anti-Semitic speech have
been over the last few days —
with UNESCO’s new director-
general, the New York Times,
J Street, and the German-Pal-
estinian Association all joining Ben Cohen
the list — there’s a deeper point
about the Palestinian Authority
leader’s remarks to the Palestinian National Council that is
still to be grasped.
Abbas, the world finally has begun to realize, has an abid-
ing attachment to conspiracy theories about the Jews, their
origins, and their unnatural powers. He has demonstrated
these proclivities time and again during his 13 years in power
(nine of which, by the current count, are the result of his
term as president being extended indefinitely in 2009).
Abbas’s mealy-mouthed apology last Friday for his PNC
speech made no mention of that attachment, because doing
so would fatally undermine his claim that he “didn’t mean”
to offend anyone with his remarks, and that he respects
Judaism as he does all monotheistic religions.
Of course, the fact that a gerontocrat like Abbas actually
apologized for his nasty little speech — now there’s a break
with tradition — is of huge significance. But that shouldn’t
obscure something more fundamental — that it is simply
not possible to separate Abbas’s grotesque views about sup-
posed Jewish culpability for the Holocaust from his equally
grotesque views about the origins of the State of Israel. The
demonology that is painfully visible in his views about the
Holocaust is the same demonology that grounds his visceral
objection to Zionism.
Abbas perhaps is the best-known exponent of the origi-
nal sin theory of how Israel came into being. As expressed
in the PLO’s founding covenant, this holds that Zionist set-
tlers “invaded” Palestine a century ago. Their purpose was
to extinguish its Arab national character so as to make way
Home
FROM PAGE 35
We had come so far that we decided to look for ourselves.
(Before we continued up we also played a little Jewish geog-
raphy, and discovered that his cousin married my cousin.
Of course.)
When we got off, we understood that both Andrea and the
Chabadnik were correct. As was clear from the door mold-
ings, the old single apartment had been divided in two. After
taking some pictures at the front door, Sharon, game and
curious woman that she is, rang the bell. A lovely Chabad
girl, about 14 or 15 years old, opened the door, and when
we explained why we were there she graciously invited us
in to look around.
As we strolled around the apartment, she told us that she
was one of 10 children (living in half of an apartment that
had housed four children once upon a time). As we chatted,
she continued to express amazement at the number of years
that had passed since Sharon moved from that apartment.
We were pretty amazed too.
And so we had a warm nostalgic experience, Sha-
ron directly and me vicariously (although I had a similar
38 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
for a foreign people with no historical connection to the
land. This precisely is the “original sin,” as Abbas sees it,
that eventually resulted in the naqba, or “catastrophe,” of
Israel’s creation in 1948.
This also is the image of Israel that informs Abbas in his
periodic negotiations with Israeli officials and American
envoys. This same conviction that Israel is the product of
a grand deceit purveyed by Jewish impostors who manipu-
lated and exaggerated the Holocaust pretty much explains
why those negotiations invariably fail. From Abbas’s point
of view, it’s impossible to negotiate in good faith with people
who exhibit the same traits of deceit and dishonesty in their
dealings with the Palestinians that they employed in Europe
— and got them chased out of there.
The newfound international consensus that these opin-
ions are outlandish and offensive will be on firmer ground
once it looks beyond the open anti-Semitism expressed by
Abbas. His insistence that Israel bears sole responsibility for
the Palestinian refugees of the 1948 War of Independence is
no less outlandish and offensive than his view that Zionist
leaders bear greater responsibility for the Holocaust than
the Nazis themselves do.
And yet, when Abbas speaks about the “right of return”
for the five million descendants of the 1948 refugees — at
the price of Israel’s sovereign existence — all of a sudden he
becomes a statesman again.
When he accuses Israel of seeking the elimination of the
Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, his comments are reported
faithfully and without comment by the vast majority of
media outlets.
All that feeds the impression that whenever Abbas says
something outrageous about the Holocaust, he merely is
expressing political exasperation — the sort of unfortunate
outburst, in other words, that can be fixed with the appro-
priate apology. As for the rest of his statements, we carry on
taking them seriously.
This transparent inconsistency has troubled many sup-
porters of Israel for a very long time; in the wake of Abbas’s
PNC speech, perhaps that’s finally starting to unravel. If so,
then perhaps the right lessons will be drawn as well.
experience in Far Rockaway a number of years ago, visiting
the house I grew up in). But more important than the nostal-
gia we felt was the fact that we shared the entire experience
via email and pictures with Sharon’s siblings in Manhattan
and Jerusalem, who likewise shared Crown Heights experi-
ences they remembered. And then we shared all this with
our children.
This was more than nostalgia; it was sharing and passing
down family lore that otherwise would be lost.
It also reminded me of something that happened at our
seder this year that I did not mention in my recent column
(“The only constant in life,” 4/19/18). At our first small, inti-
mate seder, our kids asked us to tell them about our sedarim
when we were children. And we did, trying to pluck from
our memories who was present, what songs we sang, and
whether we too came prepared with reams of divrei Torah
from school. Nostalgic for sure, but also the sharing of family
memories and traditions with another generation.
Unfortunately, I learned the lesson of the importance
of doing this too late. I often and deeply regret not asking
my parents, both of whom were born and lived in Europe,
about their lives there, their daily routines, what Shabbat
and chaggim were like, the family they left behind, their
FLASH90
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas
speaks with members of the Central Committee in
Ramallah on January 14, 2018.
The main assumption concerns far more than Abbas him-
self, or indeed his eventual successor. If the peace negotia-
tions that the Trump administration clearly desire are to
bear fruit, then what is required is a new vision for Palestin-
ian politics in a post-Abbas era that could yet dawn before
President Donald Trump’s first term expires.
The United States has signaled that profound changes —
for example, ending the policy of spending foreign aid on
welfare payments to convicted terrorists — are expected. But
that can only happen if the Palestinian leadership learns to
see Israel differently, chiefly by abandoning the “original
sin” theory.
That doesn’t mean the Palestinians have to stop regarding
Israel as an adversary. It might even mean that Palestinian
demands on such tangible matters as territory and state-
hood will be viewed with greater sympathy once they are
finally stripped of their doctrinaire, anti-Semitic baggage.
The sooner the world ends its indulgence of the “original
sin” theory, the sooner they will get there. JNS.ORG
Ben Cohen writes a weekly column for JNS on Jewish affairs
and Middle Eastern politics. His work has been published in
Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, the Wall Street
Journal, and many other publications.
adjustment to a new land, new language, new schools, new
friends. I’d love to know how my mother’s (and grandmoth-
er’s) hometown of Seilush looked. Was it a shtetl or modern
city? Who were her friends? What was school like? What
modern conveniences, if any, did they have? And there are
so much more questions.
I had many opportunities to ask, but I guess at the time I
didn’t think it was important. I was busy being young and
active. Now I know how so very important it was — but the
opportunities are gone.
So for those of you still blessed with similar opportunities,
don’t let them pass unused. Ask questions, find out facts and
family lore about your parents, grandparents, and larger
family before you discover there’s no one left to ask. You
can’t pass down family history you don’t know.
You can’t go home again if you don’t know where — and
what — home was.
Joseph C. Kaplan, a regular columnist, is a longtime
resident of Teaneck. His work also has appeared in various
publications including Sh’ma magazine, the New York Jewish
Week, the Baltimore Jewish Times, and, as letters to the editor,
the New York Times.

Remembering the Holocaust
Interfaith project in Albany will create outdoor memorial
Lois Goldrich
Perhaps because he has spent so many
years working to restore abandoned Jew-
ish cemeteries in Eastern Europe, Michael
Lozman of Albany, N.Y., has come to
believe that the lessons of the Holocaust
must be disseminated as widely as possi-
ble. And perhaps because the many years
he has spent doing this work have given
him the credibility to be an advocate for
a Holocaust memorial, he now is actively
engaged in that work.
“It all comes together,” he said. “I spent
the past 16 years restoring cemeteries in
Eastern Europe” — bringing students there
to stay with village families and learn more
about the Shoah — “and when I came back
home, I realized that this was a project I
wanted to do. Albany does not have an
appropriate Holocaust memorial.”
Dr. Lozman, an orthodon-
tist whose father came from a
small village in Belarus and later
emigrated to the United States,
said his interest in restoring
cemeteries began when he vis-
ited his father’s village and saw
the deplorable condition of the
cemeteries. With the Jews killed
and most synagogues burned,
without an effort to fence in and
restore the cemeteries, “there
would be no physical evidence
that the Jews were there,” he
said. “This is a way to preserve
Jewish history.”
His proposed outdoor memo-
rial, here in the United States has Dr. Lozman and Bishop Scharfenberger go over plans.
the added benefit of being an
interfaith project. “I approached Bishop
Edward Scharfenberger, the bishop of our
area, last summer and suggested this as
an interfaith project that speaks against
hatred and teaches what bigotry and prej-
udice can lead to if left to grow.” Bishop
Scharfenberger heads the Roman Catho-
lic Diocese of Albany. “I also noted that
Albany should have an appropriate Holo-
caust memorial. He totally agreed and was
very excited about it.”
Not only was the bishop receptive, he also kayuna, New York, a suburb that is both
offered to provide a newly acquired piece of
church property next to the Catholic ceme-
tery. “Since it had not yet been consecrated, and have its own entrance onto the high-
he could deed this to our foundation,” Dr.
Lozman said. (Realizing that he needed a
foundation so that people who contributed
to the project could get a tax deduction, he
established one several years ago.)
“Essentially, I wanted a memorial that
would be educational in design and give
the viewers a sense of what cruelty the
Jews were subjected to,” Dr. Lozman said.
“It has been estimated that four million
Jews were transported by rail, stuffed into
boxcars, and sent to the gas chambers,”
he continued. “I wanted a railroad box-
car, railroad tracks, a large wall that rep-
resented the gas chamber, all enclosed by
a wire fence, so that, similar to visiting the ple overwhelmingly see the bigger, long-
Vietnam Memorial, one would be drawn
into the memorial, to be changed by the
hard truth of what they are seeing. It is not they have the sense, the feeling, of what
designed to be shocking, but by symbol-
ism, to portray a shocking history.”
The proposed memorial will be in Nis-
close to Albany and on a major highway.
The memorial will be buffered by trees
way. According to Dr. Lozman, the Niska-
yuna planning board has given its unani-
mous approval. He now is waiting for the
town board to approve the project as well.
“Niskayuna is an excellent location,” he
said. “The town has a great school system,
high employment, and is a model commu-
nity. In years to come, this memorial will
become an important landmark that the
community will be proud of because it will
be an expression of people caring enough
Jewish World
This artist’s rendering shows an aerial view of the proposed Holocaust
memorial.
to help educate against hatred
and express hope for a better
tomorrow. “
Dr. Lozman noted that this
might be the first time in the
United States that a Catholic
diocese has joined with the
Jewish community to develop
a Holocaust memorial. “It’s
an extremely important step
forward,” he said. “It shows a
great deal of sensitivity to the
effects of the Holocaust. The
bishop is to be commended for his willing-
ness and enthusiasm.”
While, inevitably, there has been some
pushback against the project, “most peo- A team raises a fallen gravestone in a
Jewish cemetery in Belarus.
term picture,” Dr. Lozman said. “This is
educational, so that when one goes there, visitors can sit to meditate and pray.
Dr. Lozman said he anticipates that stu-
the Jews went through. We are going to dents who visit the memorial will have
have kiosks along the pathway with sig- learned about the Holocaust in their
nage explaining the symbolism of the schools, and that teachers will accompany
items used in the memorial. It will also them to the site to offer further instruc-
provide a historical perspective of what tion. He hopes that school buses will make
the Holocaust was all about and informa- their first stop at the Jewish Federation
tion on how many others were killed in the building, where they will receive addi-
Shoah as well.” tional information about the Shoah.
The boxcar will be closed to the public. Dr. Lozman has worked hard to spread
“It’s enough to see it,” Dr. Lozman said. his message, but, he said, “If there was no
The names of survivors who live in sur- Holocaust, none of this work would be
rounding communities will be behind necessary. I’m doing it for the victims of
the wall representing the gas chamber. the Holocaust. What else can you do for
Handprints of their children will be next them? They deserve to have their family
to it. Dr. Lozman is not concerned about cemeteries preserved and their family
the difficulty of locating these families. names preserved.
He is confident that “they will contact “It’s for the victims, but it’s also preserv-
me.” There also will be benches where ing our Jewish heritage.”
Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018 39
Jewish World

Rabbi Aaron Panken recalled

as the joyful president of HUC
Josefin Dolsten

R
abbi Andrea Weiss, an associate professor
of Bible at the New York campus of Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and
its incoming provost, remembered the joy that
Rabbi Aaron Panken brought to his work.
Weiss recalled how Panken would pop into his col-
leagues’ offices asking if they were having fun. “He had
this very serious position as president of a very large insti-
tution, and he approached it with such joy and with kind
of a boyish enthusiasm. He really loved his work,” she said.
Panken, the president of HUC, died in a plane crash last
Saturday. His friends and colleagues remembered him as
a strong leader who was passionate about Israel, and who
loved what he did as the leader of the Reform movement’s
flagship seminary and its campuses in New York, Jerusa-
lem, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles.
Jean Bloch Rosensaft, the school’s assistant vice presi-
dent for communications and public affairs, said Pan-
ken embodied “the best of the Reform movement.” “The
college was his whole life. He was a real product of the
Reform movement, and he was proud of it,” she said.
Panken, who had led HUC since 2014, was killed as he
piloted a small aircraft near Wawayanda, New York, close
to the New Jersey border. A passenger, flight instructor
Frank Reiss, was injured in the crash. The cause of the
crash is not yet known; the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion and the National Transportation Safety Board are Rabbi Aaron Panken teaches a Talmud class to Hebrew Union College students. Courtesy of HUC

investigating. Panken was a licensed pilot.

Before he became HUC’s president, the native New
Yorker held senior positions at the school, including vice
president for strategic initiatives, dean of the New York
campus, and dean of students.
Rabbi Aaron Panken leads a Torah procession at the
Western Wall in Jerusalem. Courtesy of HUC
Provost Michael Marmur said the school had not yet
made succession plans but would have an announce-
ment about the issue in the coming days. HUC is holding
memorial services on all of its campuses this week, and
livestreaming Panken’s funeral on Tuesday.
Rosensaft said Panken was passionate about Israel,
working to improve ties between American Jews and
the Jewish state, and strengthen Reform Judaism there.
“This was the mission of his life, and he really lived it
with every fiber of his being,” she said.
Panken worked to expand HUC’s rabbinical program
in Israel and its Jerusalem campus; he recently ordained
its 100th graduate. “He was so full of pride and excite-
ment about what these men and women are trying to
achieve in Israel,” Marmur said.
Panken started several Israel-related programs,
including one that brings Israeli rabbinical students
and graduates to visit the United States to learn more
about Jewish life here. Another program, in partnership
with Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, strengthens ties
between young Reform Jewish leaders and Israeli politi-
cal and key cultural figures. Panken also created a pro-
gram that brings Jewish, Christian, and Muslim school-
teachers in Israel to the HUC Jerusalem campus to learn
about tolerance.
“He was creating change and working toward positive
change in Israeli society in order to strengthen Israel,”
Rosensaft said.
Rabbi Joseph Skloot, an assistant professor of mod-
ern Jewish intellectual history at HUC, remembered how
friendly Panken was on their first meeting, when Skloot
was 18 and a counselor at the Union for Reform Judaism
Eisner Camp. “Aaron had a gigantic heart and no arti-
fice, and he was curious and engaged and wanted to get
to know you,” Skloot said.
Later, when Skloot was in HUC’s rabbinical school, he
was struck by Panken’s engaging teaching style and mas-
tery of rabbinic literature. “His love of the Talmud and
the rabbinic texts was unusual for someone who grew
up in the Reform movement, where unlike in Ortho-
doxy, where young people are trained in those texts
from a very young age, we aren’t,” he said.
Skloot said Panken was able to convey that passion for
the Talmud to his students.
“He was able to take students of different levels and
backgrounds and show them the technical complexity,
the inspirational wisdom at the heart of a basic sugya
[passage] of the Talmud,” he said.
Marmur, who worked with Panken for some 20 years,
said Panken had a talent for making others excited about
what was happening at HUC. “He was one of those rare
people who could really get people on board and get
them excited about a vision for this place. He was tire-
less,” Marmur said.
Weiss said Panken was dedicated to supporting the
HUC faculty. She recalled speaking to him about an idea
for a project to have 100 religious leaders write letters
about American core values to President Trump to be
delivered on the first 100 days of the new administra-
tion. He wholeheartedly threw his support behind it.
“He was the kind of person who really helped nurture
people to be their best and helped people grow profes-
sionally,” Weiss said.
Marmur also remembered Panken as “a very devoted
friend and incredibly devoted family man.” Panken lived
with his family in Scarsdale, New York, and was a mem-
ber of the Westchester Reform Temple, where he had
been a rabbinic intern.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Messinger; his children,
Eli and Samantha; his parents, Beverly and Peter; and
his sister, Rabbi Melinda Panken of Congregation Shaari
Emeth in Manalapan. JTA Wire Service

40 Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018


Shavuot: The month for Torah
A
lthough the
date for the
holiday is never
explicitly stated
in the Torah, Shavuot
occurs on the 6th (and in
the diaspora on the 7th)
day of the month of Sivan.
Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Spira
(1783-1841) explains in his Rabbi Ilan
work Bnai Yisascher that Acoca
the astrological sign of the Sephardic
Congregation of
month of Sivan is Gemini, Fort Lee, Orthodox
the twins. This sign relates
to dual aspects of the holi-
day of Shavuot. We all know that when
Israel left its enslavement in Egypt, it
emerged as a nation that would now be
free to serve the only master, the Master
of the World.
When Hashem gave Israel the Torah
shortly thereafter, unity of purpose,
holiness and love were evident between
Hashem and the nation. Those siblings
who are developed and born together —
twins — symbolize this kind of unity. Just
as a special bond exists between twins,
so too is there a unique feeling between
Hashem and the nation of Israel.
The special unity experienced and evi-
denced by the giving of the Torah was
not only between God and His people. It
existed amongst the people in the nation
of Israel as well. There was harmony
and unanimity of purpose. The feelings
of camaraderie were so great that the
Torah refers to the encampment of the
nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai in the singu-
lar, “And he (Israel) camped there.” This
unity is also alluded to by the sign of the
month of Sivan, the twins.
There is additional significance to
the sign of the month as it relates to the
giving of the Torah. The Bnai Yisaschar
quotes a parable. A king was preparing
for the wedding of his daughter and
wanted to display her beauty and splen-
dor in a manner befitting a princess.
One of the king’s advisers suggested
that she rides on an elephant. She
would be elevated above the throngs
and masses, seated in lofty majesty
in true royal fashion. Another adviser
noted that although the elephant may
be tall, it is lacking the dignity and maj-
esty of other animals, and therefore the
beauty of the princess bride would not
TALLESIM CLEANED • SPECIAL SHABBOS RUSH SERVICE
D’var Torah
be fully complemented. Torah was not given in Iyar. We have the opportunity on Shavuot to
He suggested instead that The Torah was given, as we know, in Sivan. recall how our forebears accepted the gift
she ride on a horse, well Gemini, the twins, which is Sivan’s astrologi- of all gifts, the Torah. They accepted it as a
groomed, muscular, and cal sign, represents the people carrying the unified nation. They accorded it the honur,
dignified. A third adviser princess in the analogy. The twins, as peo- respect and dignity due to such an exalted
chimed in. He observed ple, have the ability to praise, show respect gift. The offer and acceptance of this gift
that while an elephant and give honor. The ultimate respect for the firmly cemented the special relationship,
may be tall, and a horse Torah comes from us. We, creatures of flesh the unity of heart and soul, so to speak,
may be majestic, neither and blood, were endowed with the ability to that existed and continues to exist between
of these beasts has the comprehend and respond. It is with these Hashem and the Nation of Israel. Let the
ability to expound on the powers that Hashem wanted the praise of lessons of Gemini not be lost on us.
beauty of the princess, nor the Torah to be expressed. It is from people
the ability to demonstrate who can see the Torah, appreciate the Torah Rabbi Ilan Acoca leads the Sephardic
their respect for her, nor for what it is and express that appreciation. Congregation of Fort Lee, and is rabbi-in-
to bring her the joy befit- Therefore, Sivan was the month chosen for resident at Ben Porat Yosef Yeshiva Day
ting a bride with antics and entertain- the giving of the Torah. School in Paramus.
ment. He therefore suggested that she
be carried upon the shoulders of men.
In that way her beauty would be seen,
and she would be properly honored.
The month of Nissan is the first in the
Jewish calendar. Accordingly, the astro- Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
logical sign of that month, Aries, the
ram, is the highest ranking, so to speak, is pleased to launch the
of the astrological signs. Each astrologi-
cal sign brings with it certain attributes Lion of Judah Memorial Fund
and characteristics that are imparted,
perhaps in a metaphysical sense, dur-
ing that month. The Nation of Israel This Mother’s Day,
left the land of Egypt in Nissan. How-
ever, Hashem did not choose to give the
Torah in Nissan. Just as the elephant sig-
honor the memory of a
nifies an elevation above, so too does
Aries. Hashem did not want to give the loved one by making a
mistaken impression that the respect or
honor for Torah had to be bolstered or
enhanced, which could occur by hav-
LION OF JUDAH
ing it associated with the “highest” of
astrological signs. The Torah was to be gift in her name.
respected in and of itself, and therefore
Nissan was not the month chosen for Through a one time gift of $5,000,
presentation of this gift.
The sign for the next month, Iyar, is
you can perpetuate tzedakah in her name.
Taurus, the bull. The bull, like the horse
in the parable, signifies a powerful physi-
cal presence and beauty. We know that
during the month of Iyar the trees begin
Her memory will be
to blossom and plants begin to grow after for a blessing, forever.
their long wintry slumber. The beauty of
spring is truly one of G-d’s wonders. Yet
Hashem did not want to convey the mis-
To learn more, contact Robin Rochlin
taken impression that somehow the giv-
ing of the Torah needed to be enhanced 201.820.3970 | RobinR@jfnnj.org
by beautiful manifestations. He did not
want people to think that the Torah
was not worthy of being honored and
praised if it stood alone. Therefore, the
WE OFFER REPAIRS 1245 Teaneck Rd.
AND ALTERATIONS
We want your business and we go the extra
Teaneck
mile to make you a regular customer 837-8700
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 41
Crossword
“HABLA ESPAÑOL?”
BY YONI GLATT, KOSHERCROSSWORDS@GMAIL.COM
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: MANAGEABLE
Across
1. “‫”חבר‬
6. Coffee carriers
10. Makes a scene?
14. Took on, as freight
15. ___about (approximately)
16. In need of ice, maybe
17. “‫”בוקר טוב‬
20. Eggs, biologically
21. Butler at Tara
22. Ann and Cod, e.g.
23. Child’s room, often
25. Lead or copper, e.g.
26. Bit of slander
27. “Be a pal!”
29. Ski lodges
32. Funny Baron Cohen
35. Tree or roasted snack
36. “Don’t Bring Me Down” rockers,
familiarly
37. “‫”תודה‬
40. “Black-ish” protagonist
41. Dell, e.g.
43. Media attraction
45. Fables
46. Jewish leader, once
48. Audio receivers
49. Escape from Ford, e.g.
50. Commits a faux pas
54. Cotton thread used for gloves
56. Covered, as a song
58. “You’ve Got Mail!” co.
59. It means “against’
60. “‫”ברוכים הבאים‬
62. Marvel’s Sebastian or Lee
63. “The King ___”
64. Cleanser brand
65. Drench, in a way
66. Washing the dishes, e.g.
67. “‫”שלום‬
The solution to last week’s puzzle is on page 49.
42 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
Down
1. “The Five People You Meet
in Heaven” author Mitch
2. Reddish- purple
3. Brainstorms
4. Two before Lev.
5. Foot problem, perhaps
6. “Family” or Orthodox
7. Ally with
8. Animal acronym for
a sensational athlete
9. Many Jews in Fl.
10. Battery’s partner in crime
11. “?‫”מבין‬
12. Wayne’s “___ Grit”
13. Tennis units
18. “Get lost!”
22. MIT sessions
24. MIT, e.g.
26. Where magic happened
in October of ‘86
28. “Spider-Man” star
29. Windy City, for short
30. Become inedible
31. “Do not change,” to an editor
32. Parts of a min.
33. Loads
34. “?‫”מה שלומך‬
35. “Fortunate Son” band, for short
38. 1 and 95, e.g.
39. He lost to DDE, twice
42. Nut candy
44. Go for, as a prize
46. One might drive you meshuga
47. Second part of Israel’s
second largest city
49. Planters needs
51. He directed 28-Across
52. Ritzy street, out west
53. Where much change is lost
54. Whip unit
55. Interested in
56. Jewish girl of song?
57. Prefix for “ten”
60. Dracula, at times
61. Silent “yes”
The Frazzled Housewife
Confessions at an airport
W
hen your flight is delayed mother, and saying things like “If you
for four hours, you can
choose to be annoyed
and aggravated, or you
can use it to gain valuable material for a
newspaper column. Though I am usually
a student of the school of annoyed and
aggravated, there was so much good sub-
ject matter happening all around me, it
was hard to stay negative. I also learned
that four hours goes by very
quickly when you have so
much fodder to absorb. And
that some people get really,
really annoyed when their
flight is delayed, and they
spend their time yelling at
the people at customer ser-
vice and using really bad
words. No, this was not
me. I was too busy eaves- Banji
dropping on everyone’s Ganchrow
conversations.
Let’s begin with the
young man who wore scrubs to the air-
port. Only someone who wants everyone
to know that he is a doctor wears scrubs
to the airport. Please do not tell me that
you didn’t have two minutes to put on a
pair of pants and a t-shirt. I know, first- for 30 years. He was married once, has
hand, that it takes less than two minutes
to get dressed when you are putting in
no effort whatsoever. By the time we
Though I am usually a student of the
school of annoyed and aggravated,
there was so much good subject
matter happening all around me, it
was hard to stay negative.
boarded the plane, almost five hours after
first seeing this doctor in his scrubs, we
learned from his girlfriend of four years
(who also is a doctor and was not wear-
ing scrubs) that she also felt that he only
wears the scrubs for attention.
We also learned, from the girlfriend,
that she is going to make partner in her
medical practice in four months, and
scrubs-boy has another six years before
he accomplishes the same goal in his prac-
tice. And that he wants to get married and
have kids and she still is not ready. And
that she went to medical school on a full
scholarship. And that she and her boy-
friend went hiking in Vietnam and slept in
a cave for four nights as part of the hike.
She told me that is the coolest experience
ever and that I should put it on my bucket
list. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that
the only thing on my bucket list, currently,
is, “Get out of bed every morning.”
My contribution to this conversation
was sounding like a really old Jewish
ever want to have kids, you probably
should start sooner rather than later
because you never know how long it will
take…” and “If you don’t know about
marrying scrubs-boy after being together
for four years, maybe he isn’t for you.”
And my personal favorite, “Just wait until
your kids are old enough to find out what
nursing means…”
She met scrubs-boy on
the PATH train and she
couldn’t believe that hus-
band #1 and I met when we
were 13 years old. And that
he had a full head of hair
when we met. And that
I was thin when we met
( Just kidding. I never told
her that.)
Now let’s change chan-
nels to the man sitting
behind us. And you can’t
make this stuff up. “So
where are you off to?” the man sitting next
to the man behind us asked. “Well, my job
is sending me to a rehab in Florida for my
alcohol addiction.” Apparently this man
has been working for the same company
some older children, and then he remar-
ried and has an 8-year-old and a 5-year-
old. He wants to start setting a good exam-
ple for them, so he is looking forward to
starting over. “The rehab is sending a limo
to the airport to pick me up.” “What do
you do for a living?” The man sitting next
to the man sitting behind us then asked.
“I am an iron worker,” he said. “I build
bridges.” “It must be hard to do that kind
of work drunk,” responded the man sit-
ting next to the man sitting behind us.
Hey, that is just what I was thinking!!!!
And then it was time to board the
plane and all my fun ended. Will scrubs-
boy marry his girlfriend? Will the man in
rehab overcome his drinking problem?
Will husband #1 and I ever spend four
nights sleeping in a cave? At least I can
answer one of those questions….
Banji Ganchrow was on a plane because
she and husband #1 attended a family
bar mitzvah. It was very lovely and they
had a wonderful time. (In case you were
wondering….) And their flight home was
not delayed.
 Calendar of Awareness” when 10 a.m. All welcome.
Bergen County rabbis 950 Queen Anne Road.
talk to their congregants Register at lamdeinu.org.
about the mitzvah of
bikur cholim and the
valuable services that
Bikur Cholim Bergen
County provides.
(201) 579-3066 or
bikurcholimbergencounty.
org.

Monday 
may 14
Loretta Weinberg,
State Senate
majority leader

Charlie Harary
Inspiration in Teaneck: James Tedesco, III,
To commemorate the Bergen County
first yahrzeit of Joseph
executive
Appel, Congregation
Bnai Yeshurun, the Photos courtesy NCJWBCS

may The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly hosts its annual Appel family, and Jewish
Diversity in Bergen
USATF-authorized Rubin Run, a family-friendly community race Journeys/JInspire-Bergen

13 present Charlie Harary County: The Bergen

with a new 8K trail run, 10k run, and 5k walk/run, on Sunday, May discussing “Climbing County section of the
13. Race day registration is available beginning at 6:30 a.m. and the Mountain: How the National Council of
Jewish Women offers a
until 30 minutes before each race starts. There will be snacks, giveaways, Counting of the Omer
diverse panel of experts
Can Change Your Life,”
free babysitting, warm-ups, and trophies. All participating mothers receive 7:45 p.m., at the shul, at its general meeting
a rose in honor of Mother’s Day as they cross the finish line. Lead sponsors 641 West Englewood to discuss “Diversity:
Expanding Awareness
include Maggie Kaplen-The Kaplen Foundation, Englewood Hospital & Ave. Book signing/sale
and Appreciation of
follows. (201) 836-8916
Medical Center, the Rubin and Rubach families, the Jewish Standard, Tenafly or www.bnaiyeshurun. Our Unique Bergen
Nature Center, and the North Jersey Media Group. 411 E. Clinton Ave. (201) org/events. County Community,”
12:30 p.m. Keynote
408-1412, mkleiman@jccotp.org, or www.jccotp.org/rubinrun. Courtesy JCCOTP speaker: James Tedesco
Tuesday III, Bergen County
May 15 executive; moderator,
at Congregation Rinat Loretta Weinberg, State
Friday  Saturday  Yisrael, 6:30 p.m.,
as part of the shul’s
Senate majority leader,
at Temple Emeth in
may 11 may 12 “Rambam and Moreh Teaneck, 1666 Windsor
Nevuchim: Innovation Road. (201) 385-4847 or
Shabbat in Closter: Shabbat in Paterson: and Controversy” shiurim www.ncjwbcs.org.
Temple Beth El and its The Paterson Shul at in memory of Rabbi
sisterhood celebrate the Federation Apartments Ozer Glickman. Shiurim
role of women in Jewish honors the Israel Defense continue through June 9.
life during services led Forces veteran who lives 389 W. Englewood Ave.
by Rabbi Beth Kramer- in the apartments at a (201) 837-2795 or Rinat.
Mazer, student cantor kiddush following Yom org.
Rabbi Tully Harcsztark
Julie Staple, and the Yerushalayim Shabbat Dr. Elana Stein Hain
sisterhood, 7:30 p.m. 221 services that begin at Shabbat in Teaneck: Melava malka in
Schraalenburgh Road, 9 a.m. 510 E. 27th Street Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, Teaneck: Bikur Cholim Rosh chodesh in
Closter. (201) 768-5112 or (corner of 12th Avenue). the principal of Bergen County hosts its Teaneck: Dr. Elana
www.tbenv.org. www.PatersonShul.com SAR Academy High second annual melava Stein Hain discusses
or email JerrySchranz@ School, discusses malka at a private home “On God, Humanity &
gmail.com. “Politics, Practice, and in Teaneck, 9:30 p.m. Torah: Between Rabbis Book talk in Fort Lee:
Pedagogy: Mitzvot in It’s the culmination of Akiva and Yishmael,” for The sisterhood of JCC of
Maimonidean Thought” the annual “Shabbat Lamdeinu in Teaneck, Fort Lee/Congregation

Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018 43

Calendar
Gesher Shalom’s Book Road. (201) 833-1322 or School of Jewish
Shavuot for women in
Club meets to discuss
Christina Baker Kline’s, Fair Lawn: Bris Avrohom
www.Emeth.org. Studies, discusses
“Creation, Revelation, Singles Sunday 
of Fair Lawn invites may 20
“ A Piece of the World,”
1 p.m. Refreshments. women to a night out to Saturday  and Prophecy” at
Congregation Rinat Thursday 
1449 Anderson Ave. paint a nature-themed may 19 Yisrael, 6:55 p.m., as part Lunch in Nyack: Singles
(201) 947-1735. canvas, arrange fresh of the shul’s “Rambam
may 17 65+ from the JCC
flowers, and have a Rockland meet for lunch
Shabbat in Jersey City: and Moreh Nevuchim:
Seniors meet in Wayne: buffet with wine, cheese,
Congregation B’nai Innovation and Widows and widowers at the Golden Mushroom
Marian Kleinman, and desserts, 8 p.m.
Jacob holds a family Controversy” shiurim meet: Movin’ On, a in Nyack, N.Y., 12:30 p.m.
Temple Beth Tikvah’s 30-02 Fair Lawn Ave. in memory of Rabbi monthly luncheon Individual checks. 425
service, 10:30 a.m.-noon,
administrator/educator, (201) 791-7200 or www. Ozer Glickman. Shiurim group for widows and North Route 59. Gene,
followed by a kiddush,
speaks at a seniors’ JewishFairLawn.org. continue through June widowers, meets at (845) 356-5525.
at Hamilton House. 255
meeting at the shul Brunswick St.; building 9. 389 W. Englewood the Glen Rock Jewish
about her mother’s
memoir about her work
Thursday  entrance on 10th Street Ave. (201) 837-2795 or Center, 12:30 p.m. 682
Harristown Road. $5 for
where free parking is Rinat.org.
in the Belgian resistance. may 17 available. rabbiaaron1@ lunch. (201) 652-6624 or
1 p.m. 950 Preakness Ave. gmail.com, or go to email arbgr@aol.com.
(973) 595-6565 bnaijacobjc.com.
templebethtikvahnj.org.
Erev Shavuot in Closter:
Wednesday  Temple Beth El has
services led by Rabbis
may 16 David S. Wizder and
Beth Kramer-Mazer and
Women’s lunch in student cantor Julie
Rockleigh: Jewish Staple, 7:30 pm. 221
Federation of Northern Schraalenburgh Road.
New Jersey will hold Community book (201) 768-5112.
its annual Women’s celebration in
Philanthropy Spring Ridgewood: One Shavuot in Franklin
Luncheon at the Book, One Community, Lakes: The Chabad
Rockleigh Country a community-wide Jewish Center holds
Club, 10:15 a.m.-2 p.m. program from the Jewish “TED Talks,” short
Honorees include Joan Federation of Northern power talks showcasing
Krieger, Women’s New Jersey, designed important, inspiring
Philanthropy board to enhance adult Jewish ideas found
member; Stacey Weiss, Jewish learning through on the internet, 9 p.m.
this year’s Shining Star; shared conversations, Blintzes and cheesecake.
and Barbara Joyce, discussions, and events, Participants welcome Inside the synagogue at Cavaillon. Photo provided

director, women’s culminates with a to submit 10-minute

philanthropy, on her 25th
year. Jenna Bush Hager
discussion with chef
Michael Solomonov,
Torah “TED Talk” to
rabbi@chabadplace. Jewish heritage tour of Provence
is the keynote speaker. author of “A World of org. 375 Pulis Ave.
26 Paris Ave., Rockleigh. Israeli Cooking,” this (201) 848-0449 or www. Chandri Barat, co-founder and direc- to Provence to “bring to life over 1,000
Melina, (201) 820-3906 year’s selection, and chabadplace.org/ted. tor of the Barat Foundation in Newark, years of Jewish history.”
local cookbook author
or www.jfnnj.org/SL. who was named one of this year’s NJ The trip is set for July 12 to 19. All are
Michal Levison, at Temple Shavuot in Teaneck:
Tour Brooklyn: JCC of Israel & JCC, 7 p.m. 475 The Jewish Center of Best Women in Business, has created welcome. For more information, go to
Fort Lee/Congregation Grove St. Reservations, Teaneck offers Tikkun a Jewish heritage tour in Provence for www.discoverprovence.org; 20 per-
Gesher Shalom hosts “On (201) 820-3918 or www. Leil Shavuot with themed adults. She has been taking students to cent of program fees are tax deductible,
the Road with the Rabbi: jfnnj.org/oboc. learning focusing on
“Communal Leadership the south of France for cultural immer- supporting arts education in under-
Walking Tour of chasidic
Williamsburg,” noon. Fee Musicale in Closter: The
sisterhood of Temple
in the 21st Century,” sion programs for the last 20 years;
this summer, in response to many
served communities. For information,
go to www.discoverprovence.org or call
S
o
includes a late lunch and 11:15 p.m. Speakers will
Emanu-El in Closter be CB Neugroschl,
bakery nosh. Information, requests, she will take a group of adults (973) 353-0003.
(201) 947-1735 or email hosts its Torah Fund head of school, Yeshiva
Musicale honoring Laura University High School A
rabbi@geshershalom.org.
Freedman, Dori Kirshner, for Girls, who will talk n
Be prepared: Tri Boro and Bruria Singer with about female leadership a
Hadassah meets at the
JCC of Paramus/CBT for
the Woman of Valor
awards, 7:30 p.m.
through the lens of
Megillat Ruth; Mechi Photographs on canvas in Tenafly r
p
a program on emergency Entertainment by the Jenkelowitz, who will
preparedness by the Avi Maza Orchestra, discuss lay leadership; The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades’ Waltuch m
Bergen County Division accompanied by Cantor and Rabbi Daniel Art Gallery presents “Up Close Through a a
of Senior Services, Israel Singer. Dessert Fridman, who will
reception. Proceeds Designer’s Lens,” an exhibition of limited-
1 p.m. East 304 Midland speak about rabbinic
Ave., Paramus. Email benefit the Women’s leadership. 70 Sterling edition photographs on canvas by Rona
Mayermi@aol.com. League for Conservative Place. (201) 833-0515 or Spiegel. The show will be on display until
Judaism’s Torah Fund www.jcot.org. May 31.
projects. Reservations,
(201) 750-9997 or Rona Spiegel is an award-winning interior
templeemanu-el.com. Monday  designer and a former president of the New
may 21 Jersey chapter of the American Society of
Friday  Shavuot Yizkor/lunch
Interior Designers. She also is a professional
may 18 and learn: Rabbi Aaron photographer.
Katz leads a Yizkor Ms. Spiegel and her family have lived in
Shabbat in Woodcliff service, noon, followed Englewood Cliffs for more than 30 years.
Lake: Temple Emanuel by lunch and current They have been JCC members for many
Ina Cohen-Harris of the Pascack Valley topics, at Congregation
Courtesy JCCOTP

hosts Shabbat Yachad, B’nai Jacob in Jersey years, and her daughter and grandchildren
Honorary dinner in Hebrew prayers set to City. 176 West Side Ave. have attended programs, classes, school,
Franklin Lakes: The easy-to-sing melodies, (201) 435-5725 or Info@ and camp at the JCC over the years.
Jewish Historical Society 8 p.m. 87 Overlook Drive. bnaijacobjc.com.
of North Jersey honors (201) 391-0801 or www.
All artwork is for sale, and a portion of the
Ina Cohen-Harris at its tepv.org. Shavuot in Teaneck: Dr. proceeds support invaluable cultural arts
gala dinner at Barnert Daniel Rynhold, Jewish programming at the JCC. Ms. Spiegel’s work A photograph by Rona Spiegel.
Temple, 6 p.m. 747 Shabbat in Teaneck: philosophy professor is online at www.red-zebra.net.
Route 208 South. Temple Emeth offers and coordinator of the
(201) 300-6590. klezmer musical services, Ph.D. program at YU’s For more information on gallery exhibitions, call Nina Bachrach at (201) 408-1406
8 p.m. 1666 Windsor Bernard Revel Graduate or email her at nbachrach@jccotop.org.

44 Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018

 Calendar

Celebrating Israel at 70
In commemoration of the 26th yahrzeit of Rabbi Isaac L.
Swift, who was the founding rabbi and rabbi emeritus of
Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, Rabbi Yosef
Adler of Teaneck’s Congregation Rinat Yisrael and the
Torah Academy of Bergen County will discuss “The Sanc-
Sinai students tity of the Flag: A Tribute to Israel on its 70th Birthday” on
rehearse for Thursday, May 24. The lecture, co-sponsored by Ahavath
the upcoming Torah and the Rabbi Isaac L. Swift Chair of Judaic Stud-
production of ies at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, is at the
“October Sky.” Englewood shul, 240 Broad Ave., after Mincha at 8:15 p.m.
Courtesy Sinai
For more information, call (201) 568-1315.
Rabbi Yosef Adler

Sinbad coming to Englewood in June

‘October Sky’ plays in May
Students at the Sinai Schools’ Karasick
Shalem High School at the Torah Acad-
emy of Bergen County will perform an
original production of “October Sky”
on May 15, at 6:30 p.m., at Ma’ayanot
Yeshiva High School for Girls in
Teaneck. Sinai teachers will direct the
performance.
“October Sky” is based on a movie
about a West Virginia coal miner’s son,
who is expected to follow his father into
the mines. Inspired by the launch of
Sputnik, he and his friends take up rock-
etry instead, and connect with a group of
scientists who support their endeavors.
Actor/comedian Sinbad performs on Saturday, June 2, at
8 p.m., at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Engle-
wood with Talent the Comedian as the opening act. Sin-
bad is ranked by Comedy Central as one of the “100 great-
Sinai works with children with spe- est standups of all Time.” Tickets are available at www.
cial needs, tailoring their programs to ticketmaster.com; at bergenPAC’s box office, (201) 227-
those needs. The school’s production 1030, or www.bergenpac.org.
of “October Sky” is a culmination of a
yearlong therapeutic drama program.
Work begins in September, when Sinai
teachers begin adapting scripts and
roles to match each student’s strengths. Sinbad
Teachers emphasize skills including
expressive language, organization, and
collaboration. The unique program is
designed to promote social develop- Natalie Rae New York Jason McLeod Jewelry
ment, build confidence, and create a
powerful unity of the student body and
school community.

Support group forms for families

of those with substance problems
As a result of the recent Teaneck aware-
ness meeting on addiction and substance
abuse and the feedback its sponsors
received, they plan to begin a peer-to-
peer family support group for any family
member with a loved one suffering from
addiction and substance abuse issues.
The group will meet in Teaneck every
other Wednesday at 8 p.m., beginning
on May 16. A licensed clinician special-
izing in addiction counseling will facili-
tate the group, which is available at
no cost. For more information, email
Time2TalkAddiction@gmail.com.

Senior source Network fair

scheduled Sunday in Monsey Sand and Water Creations in Glass, LLC Tellefsen Atelier

support handmade.
37th Anniversary

The Senior Source Network holds Expo 2018 on Sunday, May 13 from 5 to 8 p.m., at
Yeshiva of Spring Valley Girls, 142 Grandview Ave., in Monsey. Learn about services
for seniors including products, resources, and facilities. Yehuda Schuster will discuss hundreds of juried artists & makers.
“Ad Meah V’Esrim: 12 Concepts You Need to Know About Senior Care.”
For information, call (845) 608-3322 or email info@SeniorSourceNetwork.com. handcrafted specialty foods.
Sand and Water Creations in Glass, LLC

QUAILHOLLOW.COM
Courtesy JCCOTP

regional wine & craft beer.

for details & tickets
Jason McLeod Jewelry

Announce your events children's activities.

We welcome announcements of upcoming events. Announcements are free. Accompanying photos
must be high resolution, jpg files. Send announcements 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Not every release
live music.
will be published. Include a daytime telephone number and send to:
pr@jewishmediagroup.com • 201-837-8818 x 110
QUAILHOLLOW.COM
$1 OFF WITH THIS AD
Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018 45
Briefs
Trump team hired Israeli firm
to dig up dirt on Obama officials
Aides to U.S. President Donald Trump
hired an Israeli private intelligence com-
pany, Black Cube, to dig up dirt on offi-
cials serving in the administration of for-
mer U.S. President Barack Obama, who
were involved in negotiating the 2015 Iran
nuclear deal, according to documents
obtained by Britain’s Observer newspaper
and published first in the Guardian.
According to the report, Trump staff-
ers hired the company in May 2017 to find
material to use against Ben Rhodes and
Colin Kahl.
The investigators reportedly were
instructed to probe Rhodes’ and Kahl’s
private and public affairs to see if they
had any links to lobbyists who were posi-
tively disposed toward Iran or were in a
position to personally benefit from the
nuclear deal. They also tried to get infor-
mation from the two men’s wives.
In addition, investigators were
instructed to investigate media per-
sonalities who had spoken out in favor
of the deal in the New York Times,
Channel named for Hamas military wing
posts messages in bin Laden’s memory
on the seventh anniversary of his death
On May 2, 2018, the seventh anniversary
of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama
bin Laden, a Telegram channel named
for Hamas’s military wing, “The Martyr
Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades,” pub-
lished several messages about the late
Al-Qaeda leader.
Along with these messages, the chan-
nel, which has some 3,000 members,
reposted eulogies issued by Hamas after
bin Laden’s death in 2011 that were cir-
culated at that time on a Hamas forum.
One of the messages posted by the
Telegram channel, under the hashtag
“Sheikh Osama bin Laden, May Allah
Take Him to His Bosom,” stated: “On
Woman soldier’s remains indentified
from 1948 War of Independence
The remains of Private Livka Shefer,
who fell during Israel’s 1948 War of
Independence battles near Kibbutz Yad
Mordechai, finally were found after an
extensive army investigation, according
to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
The investigation was headed by
the IDF’s Missing In Action Account-
ing Unit, a section of the Casualty and
Wounded Soldiers Department.
During an Egyptian attack involving
enemy bombings and infantry inva-
sion, Shefer was a liaison between
Israeli defensive positions, and she was
killed overnight on May 24, 1948, while
trying to evacuate a wounded soldier.
She was 34 years old.
46 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
Obituaries
Ira Afromsky She did volunteer work City Board of Education
Ira Howard Afromsky, 59, of at Englewood Hospital and for many years.
Ridgewood died May 1. Medical Center for more Predeceased by her hus-
MSNBC, and Haaretz. Predeceased by his than 30 years. band of 58 years, Harold,
The Guardian quoted former U.K. For- mother, Dolores Afrom- Born in Germany, in 2002, she is survived
eign Secretary Jack Straw, who character- sky, he is survived by his she is survived by her by children, Lewis (Lorie),
ized the allegations as “extraordinary” wife, Susan Evans, father, husband, Curt, daugh- David (Chuck), and Ruth
and “appalling,” as saying that Trump Jerald Afromsky, children, ters, Audrey DeJonge of (Frank); grandchildren, Jef-
and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Jonathan (Kerri), Ashleigh, Fort Lee and Ellen Ozeri frey (Amy), Amanda, Elyse
Netanyahu were desperately trying to Sarah, and Jordan; siblings, of New York City; four (Dan), Jessica (Kevin), and
“discredit” officials involved in negotiat- Evelyn Brooks (Wayne), and grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, Har-
ing the agreement. David (Melanie), and grand- great-grandchildren. rison and Clara.
According to unnamed sources, U.S. sons, Jake and Luke. Arrangements were by Arrangements were by
officials with links to Trump reached out Donations can be made Eden Memorial Chapels, Robert Schoem’s Menorah
to Black Cube several days after Trump to Autism Speaks. Arrange- Fort Lee. Chapel, Paramus.
paid his first presidential visit to Israel last ments were by Louis Subur-
year. Trump made a promise to Netan- ban Chapel, Fair Lawn. Harriet Fischer Gerda Lehrer
yahu that Iran would not attain nuclear Harriet Fischer, née Rubin, Gerda Lehrer, 97,
weapons and expressed his disdain for Marion DeJonge 93, of Teaneck, formerly of died May 3.
the 2015 agreement, which he has repeat- Marion DeJonge, née the Bronx, died May 4. Predeceased by her
edly castigated as the “worst deal ever.” Mahler, 91, of Fort Lee She was a principal’s husband, Samuel, she is
The Guardian report confirmed contact died May 5. secretary for the New York survived by sons, Mark and
between the Trump aides and the intel-
ligence company, but it is still unknown
how much if any material was discovered
and what use, if any, was made of it.
The White House declined to comment
on the report.  JNS.ORG
In memory of
Gail Markowitz Jenny
that day, May 2, 2011, the nation lost its
lion, its educator, its jihadi, its innova-
tive imam, its martyr and its courageous
[son].”
The message accompanied a poster
The best mom and
published in 2011 on the above-men-
tioned Hamas forum showing bin Laden,
grandmother ever!
On Mother’s Day and every day,
a map of Greater Palestine and a quote
by the Al-Qaeda leader: “… The U.S. and
its people will have no security as long as
there is no security in Palestine.” you are loved, cherished
Also posted was a message addressed
to bin Laden: “Our beloved sheikh, you
and missed!
promised us that we will live in security,
and we, the people of Hamas, are com- The Gersh Family
pletely loyal to you.”
Kellie, Paul, Gary, Ali & Andrew
JNS.ORG
Shefer was born in Poland in 1914
and made aliyah in 1939, joining the
group that ended up founding Yad
A Traditional Jewish Experience
Mordechai and defended the kibbutz Pre-Planning Specialists • Graveside and Chapel Services
in 1948.
Until now, Shefer was the only
female Israeli soldier casualty whose Barry Wien - NJ Lic. No. 2885
remains was unaccounted for.
A cenotaph in her memory was
Frank Patti, Jr. - NJ Lic. No. 4169
erected at Yad Mordechai’s military Arthur Musicant - NJ Lic. No. 2544
cemetery. Frank Patti, Sr. Director - NJ Lic. No. 2693
A tombstone unveiling will take
place in a few weeks, where She-
fer’s name will be added to the mass 327 Main St, Fort Lee, NJ
grave at Kibbutz Nitanim, where her
remains were found. JNS.ORG
201-947-3336 · 888-700-EDEN
www.edenmemorial.com

Ronald; grandchildren,
Allison and Brian, and great-
grandchildren, Max and
Wesley.
Donations can be made to
American Friends of Magen
David Adom or American
Committee for the Weiz-
mann Institute of Science.
Arrangements were by
Robert Schoem’s Menorah
Chapel, Paramus.
Geraldine Rochman
Geraldine “Geri” Rochman,
née Kessler, 76, of Fair Lawn
died April 29.
She was a member of the
Fair Lawn Jewish Center/
CBI, Fair Lawn ADA, and
Fair Lawn Democratic Club,
and a former member of
Congregation B’nai Israel.
She is survived by her
husband of 52 years,
Saul; children, Lisa Beth
Mechanick (Glenn), Mindy,
and Michael; a sister, Shelly
Kornfeld; and a grand-
daughter, Alana Mechanick.
Donations can be made
to Fair Lawn ADA or Fair
Lawn Volunteer Ambulance
Corps. Arrangements were
by Louis Suburban Chapel,
Fair Lawn.
Daisy Singer
Daisy Singer, 93, of Glen
Rock died April 28.
She was an opera singer,
stage performer, guitar
player, and artist.
Predeceased by her hus-
band of 65 years, Emanuel
“Manny” and son, Aaron
Justin, she is survived by a
daughter, Eugenia “Gigi;”
a brother, Judd L. Fischler;
aide, Esther Aboagye, and
hospice nurse, Sharon
Isaacs.
Donations can be sent to
Valley Hospice, Paramus.
Arrangements were by
Robert Schoem’s Menorah
Chapel, Paramus.
Lilo Sonnenberg
Lilo Sonnenberg, née Hey-
man, 105, of Laguna Woods,
Calif., formerly of Engle-
wood, died April 24.
Born in Germany, she
was predeceased by her
husband, Bruno, and is sur-
vived by cousins.
Arrangements were by
Eden Memorial Chapels,
Fort Lee.
Barbara Tirschwell
Barbara Tirschwell, 79,
formerly of New City, N.Y.,
and Boca Raton, Fla., died
May 4.
At the New City Jewish
Center, she was cofounder
of the early childhood
program, education com-
mittee chair, long time
trustee, and sisterhood
board member. In Rock-
land County, she was an
executive board member
of the Womens Divisions of
UJA and Israel Bonds, and a
founder and member of the
steering committee of the
Jewish Federation. She was
a professional volunteer
for Hadassah, on the local,
regional, national, and
international levels.
Predeceased by her
husband, Donald, in 2012,
she is survived by sons,
Rabbis Perry and Aaron
Tirschwell, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren.
Services were at the New
City Jewish Center, and
shiva was at Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell’s Teaneck home.
Donations can be made to
Hadassah’s Donald and Bar-
bara Tirschwell Endowment
Fund, (800) 928-0685.
Paul Zaleon
Paul David Zaleon, 56, of
Bridgewater died May 7.
Predeceased by his par-
ents, Frieda and Henry, he
is survived by his siblings
Gail Zaleon and Steven
Zaleon.
Graveside services were
at Cedar Park Cemetery,
Paramus. Contributions can
be made to Human Rights
Campaign, www.hrc.org.
Arrangements were by
Gutterman and Musicant
Jewish Funeral Directors,
Hackensack.
The Jewish Memorial Chapel has been serving
the local Jewish community for over 95 years
We have the distinction of being the first non-profit, community-owned funeral
home in the United States. The Jewish Memorial Chapel was founded by a group
of civic-minded Jewish businessmen in 1921.
We uphold the highest standards of Jewish law pertaining to funerals. We are
a Shomer Shabbos facility and make other state and world-wide arrangements.
Remember and honor those Jewish men and women who died while serving
in the United States Armed Forces • MEMORIAL DAY • MAY 30 •
Obituaries
The Christopher Family
serving the Jewish community Obituaries are prepared with
information provided by funeral homes. Correcting
since 1900 errors is the responsibility of the funeral home.
Paterson Monument Co.
MAIN BRANCH
Paterson, NJ 07502 Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
317 Totowa Ave. 681 Rt. 23 S.
973-942-0727 Fax 973-942-2537 973-835-0394 Fax 973-835-0395
TOLL FREE 800-675-0727
www.patersonmonument.com
Funeral Planning Simplified
201-791-0015 800-525-3834 BergenJewishChapel.com
LOUIS SUBURBAN CHAPEL, INC. 201.261.2900 | 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Exclusive Jewish Funeral Chapel
Sensitive to Needs of the Jewish Community for Over 50 Years Owner/Manager Daniel W. Leber, NJ Lic. No3186
• Serving NJ, NY, FL & Israel
• Graveside services at all NJ & NY cemeteries
• Prepaid funerals and all medicaid funeral benefits honored
Robert Schoem’s Menorah Chapel, Inc
“Always within a family’s financial means” Jewish Funeral Directors
13-01 Broadway (Route 4 West) · Fair Lawn, NJ Family Owned & managed
Richard Louis - Manager George Louis - Founder Generations of Lasting Service to the Jewish Community
NJ Lic. No. 3088 1924-1996 • Serving NJ, NY, FL & • Our Facilities Will Accommodate
Throughout USA Your Family’s Needs
• Prepaid & Preneed Planning • Handicap Accessibility From
• Graveside Services Large Parking Area
Gary Schoem – Manager - NJ Lic. 3811
Jordan E. Schoem – Funeral Director - NJ Lic. 5146
Linda Ezrapour Conveniently Located
W-150 Route 4 East • Paramus, NJ 07652
Linda Ezrapour, 68, of Paramus died on May 3, 2018. 201.843.9090 1.800.426.5869
Linda immigrated to the United States from Tehran,
Iran in 1981. Linda always had a special connection
to all the children in her life. In Iran, she used to
teach for the Etefagh School, and upon moving to
the United States, she opened a daycare in her home.
Linda cared for many children throughout the years,
up through her very last weeks. Linda was also a
lover of Persian culture, butterflies, and travel.
Predeceased by her parents, Salim and Violet
Ezrapour, Linda is survived by her siblings Allen
(Ruth) Ezrapour of Teaneck, Tina (Eliahou) Murad
of Paramus, and Fouad (Mary) Ezra of Ohio, as well
many nieces and nephews who all love her very
much.
Donations can be made to the
Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County:
www.ssdsbergen.org/support
— Paid Obituary —
We continue to be Jewish family managed,
knowing that caring people provide caring service.
GUTTERMAN AND MUSICANT
JEWISH FUNERAL DIRECTORS
800-522-0588
WIEN & WIEN, INC. MEMORIAL CHAPELS
800-322-0533
841 Allwood Road • Clifton, NJ 07012
973-779-3048 • Fax 973-779-3191 402 Park Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
www.JewishMemorialChapel.org
ALAN L. MUSICANT, Mgr., N.J. Lic. No. 2890
Vincent Marazo, Manager
NJ License No. 3424 MARTIN D. KASDAN, N.J. Lic. No. 4482
COMMUNITY OWNED AND OPERATED
Advance Planning Conferences Conveniently Arranged
SINCE 1921 • NON_PROFIT
at the Funeral Home or in Your Own Home
GuttermanMusicantWien.com
JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 47
Classified
Co-ops For Sale Cemetery Plots For Sale Situations Wanted
(201) 837-8818
Cleaning Service Driving Service Masonry
A responsible woman looking to
1 HORIZON ROAD, PH1
Ft. Lee, N. J. 2 PLOTS care for elderly. Live-in or out. Re-
A POLISH CLEANING WOMAN MICHAEL’S CAR PICCA Masonry
Spectacular Hudson River at liable! Pleasant! Experienced! Ref-
erences. Waiting for your call 347- - Homes, Apartments, Offices- SERVICE Est. 1955
VWS; N,S,E,W BETH ISRAEL CEMETERY
816-1363 15 years experience, excellent LOWEST RATES Waterproofing · Steps
Renovated, Appx. 3,500 SF in references. • Airports • Cruise Terminals
Penthouse w/900 SF Terrace, WOODBRIDGE, NJ Affordable rates! • Manhattan/NYC Walls · Tile · Repairs
3 Bdrms +Den, Sunken L/R AIDE available to do elder care. Izabela 973-572-7031 • School Transportation Lic #13vh00258800
Warm, loving, caring, experienced,
w/13’ ceiling hght. Call Debra at 201-694-1423 201-836-8148
A MUST SEE $598,000 reliable, excellent references. Live-
in or out. 201-668-7946 201-314-9592 201-967-9295
Contact: DORIS COHEN
A Team of Plumbing
caregivers available to care for
PROMINENT PROPERTIES
201-218-0731 elderly, live in/out/overnight. Cook, Polish Women Handyman APL Plumbing & Heating LLC
Beth ISRAEL CEMETERY clean, drive; starting at $10/hour.
Woodbridge Clean Complete Kitchen &
2 plots - adjacent
201-814-4412
• Apartments • Your Neighbor with Tools
Asking $2500 ea Homes • Offices Home Improvements & Handyman Bath Remodeling
chha looking to work with elderly, Boilers · Hot Water Heaters · Leaks
973-731-6103 live-in. Over 10 yrs experience; ex- Experienced • References Shomer Shabbat · Free Estimates EMERGENCY SERVICE
cellent references. 732-689-0052 201-679-5081 Over 20 Years Experience Fully Licensed, Bonded and Insured
NO JOB IS TOO SMALL!
Adam 201-675-0816
chha, FT/hourly, live-in; 10 yrs
Cleaning & Hauling amark2@hotmail.com · NJ Lic. #13VH05023300
201-358-1700 · Lic. #12285
experience with dementia, stroke
Instagram: yourneighborwithtools
etc., excellent references. Monsur-
Help Wanted Roofing
at 609-325-1184
ALL Home Improvements
YBH seeks the following for Sept 2018:
CLEAN OUTS ALL ROOF
Male and FEMALE CHHAs look-
ing to care for elderly, years of ex-
Morah for 7th & 8th Grades
BESTof the BEST
B”H
perience, references on request,
Home or Business
REPAIRS
551-244-4004
Assistants for Limudei Kodesh (Gr. 1 – 3) Basement-Garage-Apartment Home Repair Service
Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org Yard & Renovation Debris
Get results! Fire Damage- Flood Debris
Carpentry
Decks
Painting
Kitchens Shingles | Flat | Slate
Antiques Advertise on Free Estimates
Locks/Doors
Basements
Electrical Englewood area
Paving/Masonry
Due to expansion, YBH of Passaic YBH seeks the followingCall
forPete
Sept 2018:
McDonnell Bathrooms Call Pete McDonnell
Drains/Pumps
Morahthis
for page.
7th & 8th Grades Plumbing Maintenence
Sterling Associates Auctions
seeks enthusiastic and experienced
staff for the following divisions: 201-837-8818
Assistants
201-286-8462
for Limudei Kodesh (Gr.
NJHIC#113VH07259700
– 3)
Tiles/Grout 201-286-8462
Hardwood Floors
YBH seeks the following Free
General Repairs Estimates
for Sept 2018:
No Hazardous Waste
Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
SEEKING CONSIGNMENT
• Elementary AND OUT
• General RIGHT
Studies PURCHASES
Teachers NO JOB IS TOO SMALL
Morah for 7th & 8th Grades 36 yrs exp
• General Studies Assistants Help Wanted 24 Hour x 5 1/2 Emergency Services
Assistants
Shabbat for Limudei
Kodesh (Gr.
NJHIC#113VH07259700
– 3)
Sculpture • Paintings
• Middle School • Porcelain
• Math • Silver
• Earth Science
Shomer Free Estimates

Jewelry • Furniture • Etc.

• Learning Center - Middle School General Studies  Due to expansion, YBH of Passaic
Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
1-201-530-1873

TOP
EmailCASH PRICES PAID
resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org seeks enthusiastic and experienced
staff for the following divisions: Roofing Due to expansion, YBH of Passaic
201-768-1140 • www.antiquenj.com • Elementary • General Studies Teachers
info@antiquenj.com • General Studies Assistants
seeks enthusiastic and experienced
Preschool Positions ROOFING · SIDING
HACKENSACK
staff for the
GUTTERS · LEADERS
following divisions:
YBH 70 Herbert Avenue, warm
Closter, N.J. 07642 • Middle School • Math • Earth Science
seeks enthusiastic, and
morahs for our growing preschool.
experienced
• Learning Center - Middle School General Studies  • Free ROOFING
OOFING
Elementary • General Studies Teachers
Roof
FREE•APPRAISALS TUESDAYS FROM 12-2
Nursery • Pre-1A Limudei Kodesh Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
Estimates
• Middle School • Math
CO.
• General Studies Assistants
Repairs
IN OUR GALLERY. CALL FOR •APPOINTMENT. INC. • Earth83
Science
• Pre-1A General Studies Assistants
Antiques 201-487-5050
• Learning Center - Middle School
FIRST STREET
General
HACKENSACK, NJStudies 
07601
Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
Preschool Positions
Antiques Wanted
Help Wanted
We pay cash for
YBH seeks enthusiastic, warm and experienced
morahs for our growing preschool.
Antique Furniture
• Nursery • Pre-1A Limudei Kodesh Preschool Positions
YBH seeks enthusiastic, warm and experienced
• Pre-1A General Studies • Assistants
WE BUY Modern Furniture
Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
morahs for our growing preschool.
• Nursery • Pre-1A Limudei Kodesh
Modern Art • Pre-1A General Studies • Assistants
• Oil Paintings • Silver
Paintings Email resume: ppersin@ybhpassaic.org
• Bronzes • Porcelain
Bronzes ❖ Silver
• Oriental Rugs • Furniture Chinese Porcelain & Art ADVERTISING
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
• Marble Sculpture • Jewelry Men’s & Women’s Watches The Jewish Standard is looking for professional,
• Tiffany Items • Chandeliers Top Dollar for any kind of ambitious, highly motivated and reliable full
and part-time outside sales representatives
• Chinese Art • Bric-A-Brac Jewelry, including costume for Bergen, Hudson and Rockland counties.
Candidates should have solid sales experience.
Print media and digital sales a plus. Work out of

Tyler Antiques ANS A

our Teaneck office.
• Good organizational, presentation
• Established by Bubbe in 1940! • and writing skills
Over 25 years courteous service to tri-state area
• Communication skills in person,
We come to you ❖ Free Appraisals by phone and email
tylerantiquesny@aol.com Shommer
Call Us! Shabbas
• Visit businesses and establish relationships

201-894-4770 201-861-7770 ❖ 201-951-6224

• Prospect via email and phone
Salary + commission. Car allowance.
Shomer Shabbos www.aadsa726@yahoo.com Send resume to natalie@jewishmediagroup.com

48 Jewish Standard MAY 11, 2018

 Classified

Solution to last week’s puzzle. This week’s puzzle is

on page 42.

“ Being hungry affects your

appearance, how you act.
When I’m hungry, I’m not in the
“
mood for anything.

PARTY
PLANNER
To advertise call
201-837-8818

Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON is a national advocacy

Jewish Music with an Edge organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and
Ari Greene · 201-837-6158
AGreene@BaRockorchestra.com backgrounds in the United States and Israel.
www.BaRockOrchestra.com

Help us end hunger.

Please donate today.

10850 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 400, Los Angeles CA 90024

Call us. We’re waiting for (800) 813-0557 | mazon.org
your classified ad!
201-837-8818
Jewish standard MaY 11, 2018 49
50 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018
Celebrating

Years!
Over the last 5 years, Links Residential has been on an exciting journey! Your
continued trust & loyalty have helped us grow our vision, providing you with an
all-encompassing real estate experience. As we celebrate our anniversary, we
recognize that YOU are our greatest gift.
Thank you for making us part of your community and choosing us as your
Neighborhood Specialists and Local Realtors®.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON!

LinksNJ.com

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 51

Real Estate & Business

Stacey Orden earns certified aging-in-place designation

from the National Association of Home Builders
Stacey K. Orden, director of the Jewish Home Family’s
Safely@Home program, is now one of the select group of
professionals nationwide to earn the Certified Aging-in-
Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, identifying her as pos-
sessing the skills and knowledge necessary to remodel or
modify a home to meet the unique needs of the older popu-
lation, disabled homeowners, or their visitors.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in
partnership with the AARP and NAHB Research Center, cre-
ated the CAPS program, which includes training and educa-
tion on the technical, business management and customer
service skills essential to compete in the fastest-growing seg-
ment of the residential remodeling industry — home modifi-
cations for aging-in-place.
The Safely@Home Membership Program was established
Happy Mother's Day
to offer peace of mind to aging adults who want to remain
in their own homes as they enter a more senior stage of life.
The program offers services including a home safety analy-
sis, regularly scheduled home maintenance visits, and rou-
tine check-in calls.
“Studies have shown that minimal investments in home
modifications and repairs, coupled with coordinated vis-
its by supportive services such as occupational therapists,
nurses and handymen, reduce health risks such as falls and
enable the elderly to remain in their homes for a much lon-
ger period of time,” explained Orden. “The Safely@Home
annual membership program enables older adults to ‘age
in place’ in the comfort of their own homes,” she added.
The annual membership fee of $500 provides a single
point-of-contact for all required emergency service calls,
PARAMUS
BANK OWNED
FIXER UPPER
GREAT
home modifications, repairs and renovations in con-
junction with BRAD-CORE Property Management.
Safely@Home believes that this program will ensure
the comfort and confidence many aging adults
require to maintain their current lifestyle.
CAPS graduates include remodelers, builders,
designers, architects, occupational therapists and
others who help homeowners remain in their homes
safely, independently and comfortably as they age.
In three days of coursework, the CAPS curriculum
incorporates market demographics, communication
techniques, marketing, common barriers and solu-
tions, building codes and standards, product ideas
and resources, and business management.
CAPS program graduates are required to maintain
their designation by attending continuing education
programs and/or participating in community service
projects.
“I look forward to helping homeowners in the
Bergen County area make the changes they need to
enable them to live in their homes for a long, long
time,” said Stacey Orden.
For additional information about the CAPS pro-
gram, visit www.nahb.org/caps. For more informa-

OPEN HOUSE OPPORTUNITY

$ 449,900
tion about Safely@Home, visit www.jewishhome-
family/safely or call 201-518-1175.
SUNDAY, MAY 13
t TEANECK t GARDEN STATE HOMES
25 Broadway, Elmwood Park, NJ Lester Senior Housing
Martin H. Basner, Realtor Associate Community in Whippany
(Office) 201-794-7050 · (Cell) 201-819-2623
to host visitors at
Memory Care Suite and
Assisted Living Residence
The Lester Senior Housing Community in Whippany
will host an open house for its Memory Care Suite

Let Us Finance Your and Weston Assisted Living Residence on Wednesday,

May 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. Area residents interested in
House Purchase learning more about Memory Care at Lester, the com-
munity’s personalized care approach for individuals
• Direct lender with dementia-related conditions, are invited to attend
759 Cottage Pl. $548,500 1 PM – 3 PM
Spacious Bi-Lev. 3/4 BRs, 2.5 Bths. Quiet Cul-de-sac. Lg LR open to • 2 to 3 day approval and tour the intimate, light-filled suite. Visitors can
also get information about the Weston Assisted Liv-
Formal DR, Mod Eat in Kit. Tiled Fam Rm, Deck. C/A/C, Sprinklers,
Portable Generator, 2 Car Gar. Rm to Expand.
• Closings within 30 days ing Residence, which offers seniors the daily support
• Northern NJ Appraisers they need to remain as independent as possible, while

BY APPOINTMENT • FHA loans w/55% debt ratio

t TEANECK t
W Eglwd Area. Beautifully & Tastefully Updated. LR/Stone Fplc,
Formal DR, Gorgeous New Kit/Soapstone Cntrs, Den. 3 BRs, 1.5 New
Baths. Att Gar. $439,900
South of Cedar. Gutted to the studs-new in n’ out incl C/AC, Huge
Deck, H/W Flrs, skylites. New Quartz Isle Kit/Dbl Appl & Sinks. 5 BRs
(2 en suite), 5 Bath Units Tot. Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Gar. $699,000
EXCLUSIVE. C Club Area. Beautiful & Meticulous. Renovated Col.
LR/Stone Fplc, DR/Sldrs to Enc Porch+Deck, Mod Kit. 3 BRs, 2.5
New Baths. Fin Bsmt. C/A/C. Gar. $449,000
ALL CLOSE TO NY BUS / HOUSES OF WORSHIP /
HIGHWAYS / SHOPS / SCHOOLS
For Our Full Inventory including
Details & Pictures, Visit our Website
www.RussoRealEstate.com
(201) 837-8800
enjoying three glatt kosher meals a day and a full range
of cultural, social, and recreational programs. Short-
• Credit scores as low as 580 term respite stays are also available.
Caregivers in the Memory Care Suite are specially
trained in a holistic approach that focuses on each
individual’s needs, preferences, and well-being. Resi-
dents enjoy a life that’s supported by compassionate
care, and that offers many enriching activities and ser-
vices that promote comfort and provide opportunities
for socializing. These include pet therapy, aromather-
apy, music therapy, crafts, exercise classes and games.
Larry DeNike Daniel M. Shlufman Memory care residents also join other residents at Les-
Managing Director
President ter for communal activities and entertainment, which
MLO #58058 MLO #6706
ladclassic@aol.com dshlufman@classicllc.com fosters a greater sense of community for all involved.
Memory Care at Lester is for adults ages 62 and up
Classic Mortgage, LLC with dementia-related diagnoses. To reserve a spot
Serving NY, NJ & CT at the open house and tour on May 16, contact David
25 E. Spring Valley Ave., Ste 100, Maywood, NJ Rozen at (973) 929-2725 or davidr@jchcorp.org.
201-368-3140 MLS
www.classicmortgagellc.com #31149

52 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

 LinksNJ.com

The Best Choice For Your Home Sale

522 WINTHROP RD, TEANECK 32 VAN VALKENBURGH AVE, BERGENFIELD 496 SUNDERLAND RD, TEANECK 602 MAITLAND AVE, TEANECK
6 5.5 $2.99M 7 5.5 $1.349M 6 4.5 $1.19M 7 5.5 $1.2M

PRICE REDUCED
ZEEVYAH BENOFF & LIORA KIRSCH MICHELLE WASSERLAUF 646.702.8577 ZEEVYAH BENOFF 201.956.0208 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025
201.956.0208 201.679.2230

45 MAIDEN LN, BERGENFIELD 287 SHERMAN AVE, TEANECK 580 RUTLAND AVE, TEANECK 475 CHURCHILL RD, TEANECK
4.5 4.5 4.5 2 FULL
5 $989K 7 $979K 6 $975K 4 2 HALF $919K

NEW LISTING
NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025 ZEEVYAH BENOFF 201.956.0208 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025

100 HALLBERG AVE, BERGENFIELD 1363 SOMERSET RD, TEANECK 901 GARRISON AVE, TEANECK 790 DEARBORN ST, TEANECK
2 FULL
6 2.5 $850K 3 2 $779K 4 2 HALF $574.9K 4 4 $499K

NEW LISTING NEW LISTING

MICHELLE WASSERLAUF 646.702.8577 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025 NINA EIZIKOVITZ 201.280.5025

1072 ALLESSANDRINI AVE, NEW MILFORD 707 OGDEN AVE, TEANECK 1267 DICKERSON RD, TEANECK 1217 W LAURELTON PKWY, TEANECK
4 2 $449K 3 2 $439K 3 1.5 $434K 3 2.5 $425K

RENA STRULOWITZ 201.214.1131 MICHELLE WASSERLAUF 646.702.8577 MICHELLE WASSERLAUF 646.702.8577 ZEEVYAH BENOFF 201.956.0208

Maywood: 201.636.7200 • Teaneck: 201.992.3600

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 53

Real Estate & Business

Investors Bank celebrates grand opening of Hackensack branch

Investors Bank is celebrating the grand open-
ing of its retail branch in Hackensack. The
branch has formed an alliance with the Ber-
gen Volunteer Center, and Investors Bank
will make contributions to this local not-for-
profit organization when individuals or com-
panies open new promotional accounts. The
branch is located at 70 Hackensack Avenue.
During the more than month-long grand
opening celebrations at the branch, Inves-
tors Bank is conducting weekly drawings for
sensational prizes. Community members
who are 21 years of age or older are invited
to come to the new Hackensack branch,
where they can enter a drawing to win such
valuable prizes as an Apple iPad 32 GB or
an Apple iPhone X. The weekly drawings
are continuing and the grand prize will be a
vacation cruise worth $2,000. The drawing
for the cruise is scheduled for May 18. See
contest rules at the branch for details.
Investors Bank Senior Vice President and
Market Executive MaryRose Genovese said,
“We have an exceptional banking team led
by Maricela Martin, who manages the Hack-
ensack location. The team serves our cus-
tomers, builds relationships and supports
community-based not-for-profits. You’ll find
a welcoming environment with experienced
bankers who are eager and able to help con-
sumers and businesses develop strategies
for achieving their financial goals.”
Ms. Martin, who has expertise in work-
ing with diverse groups of clients, said, “We
rely on team-work, our positive culture
and a deep commitment to serving our
customers. The branch actively serves
the community by participating in the
Hackensack Chamber of Commerce and
assisting local nonprofit groups. We look
forward particularly to helping small
businesses, which are the backbone of
the city’s economy.”
The Hackensack branch offers a full-
service lobby and drive-up banking lanes
that are open Monday to Thursday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6
p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The vehicle-accessible ATM is open 24/7.
Clients and prospective customers can
contact Manager Maricela Martin or the
branch team by calling (201) 881-0190.
Investors Bank, headquartered in
Short Hills, is a full-service community
bank that has been serving custom-
ers since 1926. With over $25 billion in
assets and a network of more than 150
retail branches, Investors Bank deliv-
ers personalized services and products
tailored to the needs of its custom-
ers. Investors Bank’s banking services
include complete deposit, loan and cash
management products for consumers
and businesses.

Black Box musical program for teens

SELLING YOUR HOME?

Rock Musical Theater Intensive, Black
Box Studios’s popular summer program
for teens with a serious interest in the
performing arts, will run for its ninth
season from Monday, July 2, 2018 until
Sunday, August 12, weekdays from 9:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The six show dates/
times will fall between 8/2 and 8/12.)
Auditions are starting on a first come,
first served basis.
In the collaborative Rock Musical
Theater Intensive program, students
aged 13-19 spend a month working on a
Broadway-style musical that culminates
in a fully-staged production for family,
friends, the community, and industry
professionals.
In this total-immersion, collaborative
theater experience created and run by
BBS/BBPAC Artistic Director Matt Okin
and other trained professional teach-
ing artists, participants receive hands-
on instruction in acting, improvisation,
voice, dance, stage combat, audition
technique and more. Students also
Call Susan Laskin Today
explore numerous genres of theater as
To Make Your Next Move A Successful One!
they rehearse and mount a uniquely
BergenCountyRealEstateSource.com Cell: 201-615-5353 staged, elaborately produced full-length
©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. show. Roles (and even the actual show
An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.
itself ) are chosen specifically for each
participant to showcase his/her/their
to grow over the course of the summer.
This year’s most likely production will
be ‘Rent’ (School Edition). (Note: Some
material may be considered sophisti-
cated, and content warnings for audi-
ences are displayed on all performance
publicity materials whenever deemed
necessary by the artistic director.)
Those students who are interested in
what goes on behind the scenes — set
design, lighting, costume design, special
effects, stage management, etc. — are also
encouraged to join. Black Box also seek
one student director (a 12th grade gradu-
ate) and, sometimes, one older student
stage manager for the program. To apply,
contact matt@blackboxnynj.com.
RMTI is limited to the first 25 perform-
ers; other slots are available for behind-
the-scenes participants. For those under
13 and over 19 (or otherwise not entering
Grade 6 through 12 in September 2018),
exceptions may be made on a case-by-
case basis. When it becomes necessary,
a waiting list will be formed and any
vacated slots will be filled on a first-
come-first-served basis.
For further information about RMTI,
Black Box Studios, and Black Box PAC,
please visit www.blackboxpac.com, call
(201) 357-2221, or email matt@black-

J J
J
talents and give each the opportunity boxnynj.com.

immy the Junk Man

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
WE CLEAN OUT:
Basements •Basements
Attics • Garages • Fire Damage
Construction Debris • Hoarding
Construction
WE RECYCLE
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
201-66•1845-600-5941
201-661-4940 - 4940
We do not transport solid or hazardous waste
im
im
Tedesco launches
BergenforBusiness.comthe
the
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco
has introduced a new free-to-access, free-
available properties, local community
demographics, businesses by category, RESIDEN
to-list website, BergenforBusiness.com. consumer spendingWE and the make-up
Its purpose is to help Bergen mayors of local•labor forces. The website was
Att
Specialists and their municipalities spur economic designed specifically to help local gov- De
growth. The county-operated website ernment, commercial real estate bro-
W
CALL
is a one-stop selection site for accurate,
informative data on all 70 municipali-
kers, chambers of commerce, site selec-
tors, developers and the general public TODAY
ties throughout Bergen County. The vast
information on the website includes 20
learn more about economic develop-
1
ment opportunities in Bergen County.- 6
We do not trans

54 JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018

l

-
-
e

t
l

,
y
-

y
,
p

-
-
-
c
-

JEWISH STANDARD MAY 11, 2018 55

THE SAVINGS AT ARE
SET IN STONE SALES EFFECTIVE: MAY 13 - MAY 18, 2018

25 oz 16 oz 15.25 oz 18.2-9 oz

Tonnelli Ronzoni Hunt’s Duncan Hines

Marinara Elbows Original Brownie Mix
Sauce Manwich Chewy, Dark Chocolate,
or Milk Only
Original Only

2/$
3 79¢EA 5/$
5 2/$
3
Domino 4 lb Heckers 5 lb Glick’s 9 oz Hunt’s 15 oz

Sugar Bag All Purpose Chocolate Tomato

Flour Chips Sauce

1
$ 99
EA
2/$
5 3/$
5 89¢EA
Goya 15.5 oz Don Pepino 15 oz Mott’s 64 oz Goodman’s 2.75 oz

Chick Peas Pizza Sauce Original Onion Soup

Apple Juice Mix

5/$
5 5/$
5 2/$
4 5/$
5
Farmland 64 oz Fleischmann’s 16 oz Temp Tee 11.5 oz Chobani 5.3 oz

Skim Plus Unsalted Margarine Cream Cheese Yogurt

Milk Sticks Assorted
Excluding Flip or Hint

2/$
7 2/$
4 2
$ 79
EA 89¢EA
Polly-O 9-12 oz Natural & Kosher 6 oz Oneg 8 oz Say Cheese 2.5 oz

String Cheese Sliced Cheese Shredded Cheese Cheese Cakes

Assorted Assorted Assorted Assorted

2/$
7 2/$
5 1
$ 99
EA
2/$
5
NY Pasta 12-13 oz Ta’amti 28 oz Dr. Praeger’s 42 pack Rich’s Whip 8 oz
Assorted Bourekas Breaded Fish Non-Dairy
Cheese or Potato Only Sticks Topping

2/$
7 $ 99
3 EA 6
$ 49
EA 79¢EA
Oronoque 2 pack Spring valley 12-13 oz Heaven & Earth 14 oz Papa Sal’s 16 oz

9” Deep Dish Blintzes Organic Riced Pizza Dough

Crust Cheese or Potato
Only
Cauliflower Original Only

2/$
5 2/$
5 2/$
6 5/$
5
Chicken Boneless & Skinless American Black Angus Beef American Black Angus Beef Boneless Ground
Legs Chicken Whole Brisket French Lamb Shoulder Chuck
Super Family Pack Thighs Pargiot Cut to Order Roast Roast Super Family Pack
Family Pack

2
$ 29
LB 5
$ 99
LB 7
$ 99
LB
$
1299LB $
1399LB 4
$ 79
LB

While Supplies Last. No Rain Checks. We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities.