New Jersey Jewish Standard, December 6, 2013

JSTANDARD.
COM
2013 83
They walk the line
DECEMBER 6, 2013
VOL. LXXXIII NO. 13 $1.00
page 22
JOSHUA MEIER, SCIENCE GUY page 6
A SEMINARY GROWS IN GERMANY page 8
SHOOTING FOR SUPER BOWL SNACK SUCCESS page 12
HOPING FOR A MORE HEBREW AMERICA page 29
Locals talk
Orthodoxy and feminism
on eve of conference
T
A
L
M
U
D
J e w i s h S t a n d a r d
1 0 8 6 T e a n e c k R o a d
T e a n e c k , N J 0 7 6 6 6
C H A N G E S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D
2 JEWISH STANDARD DECEMBER 6, 2013
JS-2
Page 3
JEWISH STANDARD DECEMBER 6, 2013 3
JS-3*
PUBLISHERS STATEMENT: (USPS 275-700 ISN 0021-6747)
is published weekly on Fridays with an additional edition
every October, by the New Jersey Jewish Media Group, 1086
Teaneck Road, 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 candidate political party or political
position by the newspaper, the Federation or any employees.
The Jewish Standard assumes no responsibility to return
unsolicited editorial or graphic materials. All rights in letters
and unsolicited editorial, and graphic material will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright
purposes and subject to JEWISH STANDARDs unrestricted
right to edit and to comment editorially. Nothing may be
reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from
the publisher. 2013
NOSHES ...................................................5
OPINION ................................................ 16
COVER STORY .................................... 20
KEEPING KOSHER ............................. 32
CROSSWORD PUZZLE .................... 34
TORAH COMMENTARY ................... 35
ASK THE RABBI ................................. 36
CALENDAR .......................................... 37
OBITUARIES ......................................... 41
CLASSIFIEDS ...................................... 42
GALLERY ..............................................44
REAL ESTATE ...................................... 45
For convenient home delivery,
call 201-837-8818 or bit.ly/jsubscribe
CONTENTS
ITS YOUR PAPER, TOO
Tell us: What makes marriage last?
Have you been happily married for decades? What do
you think makes your marriage work?
Were working on a story about marriages that
work, and wed like to hear your secret. Do you
have a secret?
Please let us know how you do it at
jstandardletters+wed@gmail.com.
Candlelighting: Friday, December 6, 4:10 p.m.
Shabbat ends: Saturday, December 7, 5:13 p.m.
First-ever Hasmonean house
discovered in Jerusalem
The Israel Antiquities Authority
says it has found a house
dating back to the Hasmonean
period in archaeological excavations
in Jerusalem.
The impressive building from
the second century BCE is being
unearthed in excavations the Israel
Antiquities Authority is directing in
the Givati parking lot, located in the
City of David in the Walls Around
Jerusalem National Park.
The importance of this discovery is
primarily because of the conspicuous
paucity of buildings from the
Hasmonean city of Jerusalem in
archaeological research, despite the
many excavations that have been
conducted to date. Apart from several
remains of the citys fortifications
that were discovered in different
parts of Jerusalem, as well as pottery
and other small finds, none of the
Hasmonean citys buildings have been
uncovered so far, and this discovery
bridges a certain gap in Jerusalems
settlement sequence, said Dr. Doron
Ben Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets, the
excavation directors on behalf to the
Israel Antiquities Authority.
The Hasmonean city, which is
well-known to us from the historical
descriptions that appear in the works
of Josephus, has suddenly acquired
tangible expression, they added.
The archaeologists say the
buildings broad walls, more than
one meter thick, are made of roughly
hewn limestone blocks that were
arranged as headers and stretchers, a
construction method characteristic of
the Hasmonean period.
Although many pottery vessels
were discovered inside the building,
it was mainly the coins that surprised
the researchers. These indicated the
structure was erected in the early
second century BCE and continued
into the Hasmonean period, during
which time significant changes were
made inside it.
VIVA SARAH PRESS / ISRAEL21C.ORG
Israeli Jewish and Arab bands tour as one
Two rock groups, Orphaned Land
and Khalas, one Jewish and one Arab,
have just wrapped up a joint tour across
Europe, serving up heavy metal beats
infused with a message of coexistence.
Orphaned Land is Israels most
successful band in the Arab world.
Its goal always has been to unite
listeners through music. I am inspired
by all religions but I have discovered
that music is the strongest religion,
Orphaned Land lead singer Kobi Farhi
said.
Our music has no nation and no
religion.
Sky News covered Orphaned Land
and Khalass joint performances in the
U.K., the Netherlands, and France. Mr.
Farhi told the British station that he
and Khalas guitarist Abed Hathut have
succeeded to grow above the conflict.
Whether we come from an Arab,
Jewish, Israeli, Muslim background, we
adopted music as our religion above
anything else.
We share ideas, we talk about
life. We talk about history. Its a
strong, deep friendship. One of the
most interesting friendships I have
discovered in my life. And Im learning
every day, being a friend of Abed, how
much we are brainwashed.
Khalas Arabic Rock Orchestra band
mates are based in Acco. Their music
combines traditional Arabic rhythms
with electric guitars and Arabic lyrics.
Orphaned Land hails from the central
city of Petah Tikva. The group sings in
Hebrew.
The two bands say their collaboration
shows that peace is possible.
VIVA SARAH PRESS / ISRAEL21C.ORG
Back to Bali: Israels Bennett
joins trade forum in Indonesia
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett
became the first Israeli cabinet
member to visit Indonesia, the worlds
most populous Muslim country, in
more than a dozen years.
Mr. Bennett was representing Israel
at a conference of the World Trade
Organization in Bali. Shimon Peres
had visited Indonesia in 2000, when
he was Israels minister of regional
cooperation.
At the trade conference, which
included representatives from
countries including Canada, Mexico,
Russia, Vietnam and India, Mr. Bennett
stressed the importance of Israel
expanding its free-trade relations and
upgrading the free-trade agreements
it already has signed.
Economic ties can create bridges
for peace, Mr. Bennett said in his
speech. As minister of economy, I
anxiously await the day I can sit down
and sign free-trade agreements with
all of Israels neighbors, as well as
other Arab and Muslim states in the
wider region.
While the majority of Indonesia
is Muslim, Bali, an island and the
countrys smallest province, is 85
percent Hindu.
JTA WIRE SERVICE
ASSAF PERETZ, COURTESY OF
THE ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY
JS-4
We reserve the right to limit sales to 1 per family. Prices effective this store only. Not responsible for typographical errors. Some pictures are for design purposes only and do not necessarily represent items on sale.While Supply Lasts. No rain checks.
O r t e g a
T a c o K i t
z o z . b o x
646 Cedar Lane Teaneck, NJ 07666
Tel: 201-855-8500 Fax: 201-801-0225
Visit Our Website at:
www.thecedarmarket.com
5ales Ellective
zz/8/zj thru zz/zj/zj
5TORE HOUR5
5UN - TUE: 7AM - 9PM
WED: 7AM - 10PM
THUR5: 7AM - 11PM
FRI: 7AM - 2 HOUR5
BEFORE 5UNDOWN

5U5HI
5ign Up For Your
Loyalty
Card
In 5tore
201-855-8500 Fax: 201-801-0225
info@thecedarmarket.com
201-855-8500 Fax: 201-801-0225
info@thecedarmarket.com
M A R K E T
M A R K E T
TERMS &CONDITIONS: This card is the property of Cedar Market, Inc. and is intended for exclusive
use of the recipient and their household members. Card is not transferable. We reserve the right to
change or rescind the terms and conditions of the Cedar Market loyalty programat any time, and
without notice. By using this card, the cardholder signifes his/her agreement to the terms &
conditions for use. Not to be combined with any other Discount/Store Coupon/Ofer. *Loyalty Card
must be presented at time of purchase along
with IDfor verifcation. Purchase cannot be
reversed once sale is completed.
CEDAR MARKET
Loyalty
Program
CEDAR MARKET
Loyalty
Program
Fine Foods
Great Savings
2/$
5
lor
Original or Natural
Motts
Apple 5auce
6 oz. jar
Reg. $j.j ea.
2/$
4 lor
5ave On!
Lipton Onion 5oup
& Dip Mix
z. oz. box
Reg. $z. ea.
2/$
5 lor
Kettle Corn or 5kinny Kettle
American Farmer
Popped Corn
.-) oz. bag
Reg. $j. ea.
4/$
3 lor
Regular
Gelen
Tomato 5auce
z oz. can
Reg. $z.z ea.
All
5ushi Rolls
FREE!
BUY 2, GET 1
OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE
z
/
z
P
rice 5ale - Fives a
r
e
A
live at Cedar M
ark
e
t
D
irect Receivers o
l F
a
r
m
Fresh Produ
ce
FROZEN
GROCERY
2/$
3 lor
5emi-5weet
Gelen
Chocolate Chips
zo oz. pkg.
Reg. $z. ea.
2/$
5
lor
Assorted 5esame 5treet
Apple & Eve
Juice Boxes
8 pack
Reg. $z.8 ea.
M
EAT
99
each
(Excluding Airy &5ugar Free)
Elite
Chocolate Bars
j oz. pkg.
Reg. $z.6
4/$
5 lor
Medium or Large
Barilla
5hells
z6 oz. box
Reg. $z. ea.
4/$
5
lor
In Olive Oil
Brunswick
5ardines
j.) oz. can
Reg. $z. ea.
89
each
5ave On!
Haddar
Chick Peas
z oz. can
Reg. $z.z
2/$
4 lor
Assorted
Betty Crocker
Gushers
. oz. box
Reg. $j. ea.
Assorted
5muckers
5trawberry Jam
jz oz. jar
$
2
99
each
Reg. $j.6
$
7
99
each
Reg. $zo.6
5ave On!
Reynolds Wrap
Aluminum Foil
zoo sq. lt. roll
$
4
99
each
Reg. $6.
Honey Wheat
Haddar
Braided Pretzels
z oz. cont.
3/$
4 lor
Reg. $z. ea.
Dark Peanut Butter, Dark Mocha,
Dark Chocolate Chip or Dark
Chocolate Pretzel
Nugo Bars
z.) oz. box
2/$
3 lor
Cut ONLY
Glicks
Hearts ol Palm
z.z oz. can
Reg. $z.z ea.
$
7
99
each
Regular
Mendelsohns
z8 Pizza
8 slice box
Reg. $zz.
DAIRY
Assorted
Mehadrin
Leben
zo oz. cont.
each
Reg. $z.z
59
Powder
Elite
Chocolit
z).6 oz. cont.
$
4
99
each
Reg. $6.z
5ave On!
Poland 5pring
Water
z gal. btl.
99
each
Reg. $z.j
5ave On!
Vegetable
Roll
$
4
50
each
Reg. $.)
5ave On!
Tuna Tempura
Roll
$
7
50
each
Reg. $.
5ave On!
5picy Trio
Roll
$
9
95
each
Reg. $zz.
Reg. $z.
Assorted
5abra
5alads or Tahini
8 oz. cont.
2/$
3 lor
Reg. $.
Original
Farmland
5kim Plus Milk
6 oz. cont.
$
3
99
each
Reg. $z.z
Assorted Fit-to-Go
Friendship
Cottage Cheese
oz. cont.
99
each
Reg. $.z
Assorted
5ilk
Almond Milk
6 oz. cont.
$
2
99
each
Reg. $z.
Natural
Daisy
5our Cream
8 oz. cont.
99
each
Reg. $z. ea.
Assorted
5abra
Hummus
zo oz. cont.
2/$
4 lor
5ave On!
Tuscan
Hall & Hall
z6 oz. cont.
2/$
3 lor
Reg. $z.j
Assorted
Greek Gods
Yogurt
6 oz. cup
99
each
Reg. $z. ea.
Assorted
Nasoya
Organic Tolu
z oz. pkg.
2/$
4 lor
Reg. $j.
Assorted
YoKids
5moothies
6 pack
$
2
99
each
Reg. $j.z ea.
Assorted
Turkey Hill
Drinks
z gal. btl.
2/$
5 lor
Reg. $z. ea.
Assorted
5anta Barbara
5alsa
z oz. cont.
2/$
4 lor
Reg. $j.
5ave On!
Friendship
Farmer Cheese
). oz. pkg.
2/$
5 lor
PRODUCE
5/$
5
Farm Fresh
Broccoli
Bunch
lor
Farm Fresh
Romaine
Lettuce
5/$
5 lor
5weet
Large
Cantaloupes
5/$
5 lor
Fresh
5ugar 5weet
Mangos
5/$
5 lor
Fresh
Eastern
Potatoes
5/$
5 lb. bags
Hot House
5eedless
Cucumbers
5/$
5 lor
5weet
Grape
Tomatoes
5/$
5 lbs.
Peeled
Baby
Carrots
5/$
5 z lb. bags
Fresh, Family Pack
Chicken
Drumsticks
$
2
49
lb.
On the Frame
Turkey
Breast
$
3
99
lb.
All American
Angus Beel
French Roast
$
9
99
lb.
All American
Angus Beel
Deckle Roast
$
99
lb.
Round & Blade
5houlder
Lamb Chops
$
9
99
lb.
Fresh
Beel
Neck Bones
$
2
99
lb.
$
5
99
lb.
Fresh
Turkey
5hwarma
Seasoned
Ground Beel
5hish Kebab
$
99
lb.
FI5H
Fresh
Tuna
5teaks
$
10
99
lb.
Breaded
Lemon Pepper
Fillet
$
4
99
lb.
Round Container
Cinnamon
Rugelach
z oz.
$
4
99
each
Reg. $6.
Mini
Chocolate
Buns
zz oz.
Reg. $).
$
5
99
each
BAKERY
5ave On!
Farms Creamery
Cream Cheese
8 oz. bar
99
each
Chili, Dill, Cilantro, Parsely or Ginger
Dorot
Chopped Cubes
zo pack
Reg. $j.z ea.
2/$
5 lor
Hot or Mild
Meal Mart
Bullalo Wings
z lb. pkg.
Reg. $.
$
99
each
Assorted
Pepperidge Farms
Pastry 5hells
zo oz. pkg.
Reg. $.z
$
3
49
each
Chocolate Chip
Kineret
Cookie Dough
z oz. pkg.
Reg. $j. ea.
2/$
7 lor
5ave On!
Barneys
Potato Pulls
zz oz. pkg.
Reg. $.
$
3
49
each
5ave On!
5eagate
Tilapia Fillet
z6 oz. bag
Reg. $. ea.
2/$
7 lor
Frozen
Galil
Artichoke Bottoms
z oz. pkg.
Reg. $j.6 ea.
2/$
5 lor
Frozen
A&B
Parve Kishka
z6 oz. pkg.
Reg. $j. ea.
$
1
99
each
5ave On!
Aarons
Chicken Tenders
z oz. pkg.
Reg. $).
$
5
99
each
Assorted
Hod Lavan
5liced Turkey
zo oz. pkg.
Reg. $6.
$
4
99
each
$
2
99
each
Dependable
High Gluten
Flour
lb. bag
Reg. $.
Fresh
Family Pack
Chicken
Thighs
$
1
99
lb.
5ave On!
Rainbow
Cake
z oz.
$
4
99
Reg. $6.
each
Noshes
JS-5
Do you know what its like to be a 20-something-
year-old kid and his country lets him be
James Bond? Wow! Te action!
Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who worked on Fight Club, Pretty
Woman, 12 Years a Slave and the upcoming Noah, just told the world that he
also had been an Israeli intelligence operative.
Access one Holy Name doctor
and benet from all of them.
Find a Holy Name physician whos right for you.
holyname.org/network 1-877-HOLY-NAME (465-9626)
www.HolyName.org/Network
Pulmonology
Selwyn Levine, MD, Pulmonary Medicine
tions were merged to
form AMFAR in Septem-
ber 1985. Krim and Taylor
deserve huge credit for
marshaling public and
private resources to
find AIDS therapies and
to care for people who
were HIV positive.
Krim, then a Swiss
citizen, converted to
Judaism before she wed
a Swiss Jewish medical
student in 1946. They
both smuggled weapons
to the Irgun during the
run-up to Israeli inde-
pendence. Krim and her
husband moved to Israel
in 1953 where they did
medical research. Later,
they divorced, and in
1958 she married AR-
THUR KRIM, a top Hol-
lywood movie exec, and
relocated to New York.
Taylor was born in the
U.K. to Christian par-
ents. Her mother and
godfather were pre-war
supporters of Zionism.
In 1959, after the death
of producer MIKE TODD,
her beloved Jewish hus-
band, she converted to
Judaism on her own.
While she rarely went to
synagogue, Taylor active-
ly supported many Jew-
ish and Israeli charities
and causes and her
Jewish funeral gave her a
final victory over big-
ots: Members of the tiny
but infamous Westboro
Baptist church, knowing
Taylors role in the AIDS
fight, planned to picket
her funeral. But they
didnt know that most
Jewish funerals happen
one day after death, and
Taylors funeral was over
by the time they learned
this and showed up at
the cemetery. N.B.
Jordan Feldstein
UNDOING THE DOS:
The Feldstein/
Francesca fiasco
Jonah Hill
Rob Epstein Jeffrey Friedman
On November 17,
actress Franc-
esca Eastwood,
20, the daughter of
Clint Eastwood, 83, wed
music manager JOR-
DAN FELDSTEIN, 35, the
brother of actor JONAH
HILL, 29, before an Elvis
impersonator in Las
Vegas. Reports say that
they both were probably
drunk while taking their
vows and on November
25, Eastwood moved to
have the marriage an-
nulled.
While delving into Jor-
dans background, I
found an interesting 2012
interview with singer
ADAM LEVINE, which
reveals he has more of
a Jewish cultural back-
ground than I reported
last week, just after he
was named Peoples
sexiest man alive.
Details magazine says
that Levine has a Los
Angeles-based Bris
Pack of Jewish showbi-
zzers who have been
almost lifelong friends.
They have nicknames,
and Levines is the
Bear Jew, after a fierce
Jewish commando in
the movie Inglourious
Basterds. Adams father
was best friends during
childhood with Jonah
and Jordans father, and
Adam refers to Feldstein,
his manager, as family.
By the way, back in
2004, Clint Eastwood
cried Kinehora! when
a reporter queried him
about the Oscar chances
of his movie, Mystic
River. He then laughed
and explained it was a
Jewish expression meant
to ward off a jinx. Maybe
he should say it every
time he sees Francesca.
The Battle of
AMFAR pre-
mieres on HBO on
Monday, December 9,
at 9 p.m. Its directed by
Oscar-winning docu-
mentary makers ROB
EPSTEIN, 58, and JEF-
FREY FRIEDMAN, 62.
This short film focuses on
the dire early days of the
AIDS crisis and the mo-
ment, in 1985, when Dr.
MATHILDE KRIM, now
87, and actress ELIZA-
BETH TAYLOR (1932-
2011) launched AMFAR,
the foundation for AIDS
research.
The first medical jour-
nal item on the syndrome
that became later known
as AIDS was written by
Highland Park native
MICHAEL S. GOTTLIEB,
then 33, and published in
June 1981. He met Taylor
when he was treating her
great friend, actor Rock
Hudson, who died of
AIDS in Oct. 1985. Taylor,
Gottlieb, and others in-
corporated a Los Ange-
les-based AIDS research
foundation in August
1985. Meanwhile, in 1983,
Dr. Krim, then at Me-
morial Sloan-Kettering,
co-founded a N.Y.-based
AIDS research founda-
tion. These two founda-
Mob City
Jewish bad boys
Mob City is a six-episode series that airs over three
weeks on TNT. (Two episodes were shown on Wednes-
day, December 4; two will be shown on December 11,
and two will air on December 18. There will be many
encore showings on Saturday and Sundays; check list-
ings). It is a ilm noir-style series, set in Los Angeles in the
1940s and 50s, and its produced, directed and devel-
oped by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption).
It focuses on the conflict between real-life gangster
MICKEY COHEN (19131976) and real life L.A. Police
Chief William Parker, who cleaned-up the citys notori-
ously corrupt force after he took over in 1950. Real-life
Jewish mobster BENJAMIN Bugsy SIEGEL (played by
Edward Burns) is another important series character.
Jeremy Luke, who plays Cohen, isnt Jewishbut much
of the rest of the cast is, including JON BERENTHAL,
37 (as Joe Teague, a police oficer); ANDREW ROTHEN-
BERG, 44 (as Eddy Sanderson, a mobster); and ALEXA
DAVALOS, 31 (as Jasmine, the lead female character).
Davalos, whose father is Jewish, and identiies as Jewish,
played a Jewish partisan in the ilm Deiance. Born
Alexa Dunas, her maternal grandfather is actor Richard
Davalos (East of Eden).
N.B.
California-based Nate Bloom can be reached at
Middleoftheroad1@aol.com
Local
JS-6*
Local student a science finalist again
Siemens competitor credits much of his success to Talmud study
ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN
F
or 17-year-old Joshua Meier of
Teaneck, scientific discovery and
Talmud study do not represent a
clash between new and old. Both
pursuits require training the mind to evalu-
ate ideas critically, analytically, and system-
atically, he said.
Most people think ancient religion and
modern science dont go together. But one
has catalyzed the other, said Josh, who ear-
lier this month was named a national finalist
in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science
& Technology.
On December 7, he will join other finalists
in Washington, D.C., to vie for the $100,000
grand prize in the contest, which is geared to
recognizing and fostering talented American
high school students. The Bergen Academies
senior already won $3,000 for his regional
victory, and he will receive another $10,000
for participating in the nationals.
It may be the most impressive prize in his
young hands so far, but it is hardly the first.
As a fifth-grader at Yavneh Academy in
Paramus, Josh took first place in an inter-
national middle-school competition about
Jerusalem. Three years later, he was back in
Israel as a finalist in the 47th International
Bible Contest, scoring third among diaspora
contestants and sixth overall. His roommate
during the weeklong touring portion of the
event was Avner Netanyahu, a son of Israels
prime minister.
In 2012, Josh made the Google Science Fair
finals and captured second place for cellu-
lar and molecular biology in the Intel Inter-
national Science and Engineering Fair. He
placed in the top 12 high school juniors in the
USA Computing Olympiad for 2012-2013.
And yet, he said, For me, its about the
experience and not about winning.
He entered the Siemens competition
mainly to publicize his research on how stem
cells age, and how to slow that process so the
cells can be used for regenerative medicine.
He has worked on this project since fresh-
man year, his curiosity piqued by conversa-
tions about umbilical cord stem cells with
his father, Ronny, and his sister Efrat, both
obstetricians.
Stem-cell research is big in the news, and
I started looking at the controversy about
induced pluripotent stem cell experiments
by Japanese scientists, where you could take
any cell and create stem cells with a persons
own geno-fingerprint so the body wont
reject them, he said. But theyre not being
used, because these cells are found to rapidly
age. Nobody knew why. As a nave freshman,
I said, let me jump into this.
After much research and late nights of lab
work, Josh proved a theory that mitochon-
dria the battery of all cells develop
lesions over time. They cannot keep produc-
ing enough energy.
Last summer, he continued this research in
the lab of geneticist David Sinclair at Harvard
Medical School. He had seen Dr. Sinclair dis-
cuss the biological mechanisms of aging on a
TED Talk, and emailed him to ask if he could
stop in while on a college campus tour. Dr.
Sinclair ended up inviting Josh to join his lab,
considered the best of its kind in the country.
There, he redesigned his original experiment
and got even better results.
Josh starred in his own TED Talk last year.
It was called Shaping the Mind: Ancient
Hebraic Texts.
In the 14-minute presentation, he
explained before a live audience at Micro-
soft headquarters in Washington State how
his Talmud studies with Rabbi Menachem
Meier of Teaneck to whom he is not related
gave him an appreciation for constructively
challenging authority, rejecting conventional
approaches, and deriving concepts.
The Talmud approaches a problem the
way you approach science: someone may
have said something that turns out to be
wrong, but you can learn from it, he said.
Thats how I approached my theory, as a
Talmudic analyst.
Jewish study is not just theoretical for the
Sabbath-observant teen. He ran into a practi-
cal issue when he found out that the Siemens
contest was to take place at the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology on November 2,
a Saturday.
Siemens was extremely accommodating
about Shabbat, Josh said. Speaking with for-
mer Orthodox contestants, including Ilana
Teicher, a graduate of Maayanot Yeshiva
High School for Girls in Teaneck, he learned
that kosher food would be available. But the
organizers also suggested housing him and
his parents on a low floor of the hotel they
do not use electricity on Shabbat and even
offered to let Josh present his project on Fri-
day. However, because no writing or micro-
phone usage was required, he chose to pres-
ent with his peers.
In another melding of the old and the
new, Josh developed an iPhone application
for the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides 14-vol-
ume code of Jewish law. Maimonides was
a 12th century physician and astronomer
whose religious writings have a rational,
scientific basis.
Im grateful we have these traditions for
tackling problems, for learning how to think
and not just learning Jewish law, Josh said.
What I love is applying ancient wisdom to
making a contribution to the world.
His contributions are multifold. Earlier
this year, he founded the nonprofit group
called Rescue the Voice (www.rescuethev-
oice.org), which uses debate strategies to
give voices to homeless and abused youth.
He got this idea from serving as captain of
his schools debate and mock trial teams,
and from being part of its Model U.N.
delegation.
I recognized that debaters use their
methodology throughout life, sharing their
ideas and being active in the classroom, he
said. Others, such as some homeless and
abused kids, dont have that.
Its not only that theyre afraid of shar-
ing about their experiences. Rather, theyve
become closed and inhibited.
He also founded the BCA Israel Club and
has coached fellow students for the English-
language division of the National Bible Con-
test. They won second and third place in
2012, and we had one national finalist in
2013, he reported proudly.
Is he nervous about the Siemens finals? I
like to say that my parents should be more
stressed than me at this point, he said.
The worst I can do now is $10,000, and
theyre the ones paying for college.
Joshua Meier, 17, in the Bergen Academies stem cell research lab.
Local
JS-7*
Going pro
New Berrie leadership program targets
a cadre of communal professionals
LARRY YUDELSON
L
aura Freeman is looking for
a few good middle managers.
Managers of area Jewish
agencies, to be speciic.
Ms. Freeman is director of the Berrie
Fellows Leadership Program at the Jew-
ish Federation of Northern New Jersey,
which has provided leadership training
to 60 local community
activists.
Now Ms. Freeman,
who graduated from the
Berrie program before
joining the federation
in a professional capac-
ity, wants to bring lead-
ership training to other
Jewish professionals.
Were looking for
people who are in the
middle to upper level
of management in their
organizations, who have some supervi-
sory capacity, and are involved in cre-
ating initiatives in their area, she said.
Ms. Freeman hopes to recruit a
cadre of 20 to 25 such executives from
federation-afiliated organizations,
including JCCs, social agencies, day
schools, and the federation itself, for
whats being called the Berrie Profes-
sional Excellence Program.
The professionals will take part in
11 sessions and receive one-on-one
coaching.
The program will begin reviewing
nominations for participants in January.
Another parallel track will train the
senior executives at the agencies.
The program is being funded by the
Russell Berrie Foundation.
Professional leadership is one of
the most underinvested areas in the
Jewish communal world, said Angelica
Berrie, the foundations president.
When the federation came with its
proposal for the leadership training,
it made total sense, she said. In any
career, its so easy to
lose your creative juice.
The gift we hope to give
the professionals is to
repleni sh the spring
from which they draw
inspiration, so they can
give back to the commu-
nity at a higher level.
One of Ms. Freemans
goals for the program is
to bring the profession-
als working in different
corners of the com-
munity into a more cohesive, uniied
group.
It will be great for people with simi-
lar jobs to learn together and to realize
that theyre colleagues, she said. We
suffer in the community from a lot of
silo-ism everybody is in their own
little world and doesnt necessarily
have a sense of the larger community.
Hopefully this will lead to more colle-
giality and a reduction in duplicative
services.
The program wont be all lectures.
Participants will have to design and
begin a project and apply their learn-
ing. For the CEOs, that means creat-
ing a vision for the North Jersey Jewish
community and iguring out how their
organization its into that community
vision.
For the management group, it will
mean working on a speciic problem
or issue.
We will help them work through the
process of iguring out an action plan,
Ms. Freeman said.
While Jewish communal profession-
als long have had opportunities for
professional development, Ms. Free-
man believes that the group effort will
have a big impact. They will suddenly
form a network of collegiality with
their colleagues within their organiza-
tion and in other organizations, she
said. The capacity of the individuals
and the organizations should increase
exponentially because everyone will be
doing it together.
Laura Freeman
We suffer in the
community from
a lot of silo-ism
everybody is
in their own
little world
and doesnt
necessarily have
a sense of
the larger
community.
LAURA FREEMAN
Like us on
Facebook
facebook.com/jewishstandard
SAMPLE
SALE
Cashmere sweaters + more
Prices from $15
Hilton Hotel
Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands
(Lower Level)
650 Terrace Ave
Hasbrouck Heights NJ 07604
Free Gated Parking
8 Minutes from GW Bridge
FOR DIRECTIONS:
www.hasbrouckheights/hilton.com
Cash & All Major Credit Cards Accepted
Limited supply minnierose.com Gift Cards on Sale
ONE DAY ONLY
Sat Dec 7 10am- 6pm
If you cant make it to our sale,
see minnierose.com
Local
JS-8*
Its miraculous, local rabbi says
Dream is fulfilled as new school opens in new Germany
JOANNE PALMER
D
r. David J. Fine, rabbi of
Temple Israel and Jewish
Community Center in Ridge-
wood, was instrumental in
last months opening of Zecharias Fran-
kel College.
If we lived in another world, a world
with a sunnier history, the fact that a
Jewish seminary just opened in Germany
would be very nice, but not particularly
earthshaking.
We live in this world, though, this post-
Shoah, post-decimation-of-European-
Jewry world, so it is a very big thing.
First and yes, it sounds counterintui-
tive, but bear with me it is important
to understand the structure of European
universities. In Europe, would-be clerics
from a range of Christian denominations
are educated together at universities, and
earn their ordinations separately from
seminaries that are part of those universi-
ties. (Part of that model is
not unlike Harvard Divin-
ity Schools, or the Union
Theological Seminarys,
although those schools do
not maintain seminaries
alongside their academic
departments.)
In 1836, Abraham Gei-
ger, the great German
Reform theologian, pro-
posed the formation of
a Jewish seminary that
would affiliate with a Ger-
man university, thus pro-
viding Jews with the same
sort of education their Christian neigh-
bors had. In 1999 a century and a half
and a genocide later the school was
founded. It is part of the University of
Pottsdam, affiliated with its Jewish stud-
ies program, and trains Reform rabbis
and cantors.
Now, that seminary is joined by Zech-
arias Frankel, which was dedicated on
November 17 and will train Conservative
rabbis and cantors. On November 19, the
school of Jewish theology was dedicated
at the University of Pottsdam. Unlike its
predecessor, which had been smaller-
scale, less autonomous, and granted only
masters degrees, the new school will
offer doctoral degrees.
Rabbi Fines connection to German
Jewish life is longstanding. His doctorate,
from the City University of New York, is
in modern German history; his disser-
tation was on German Jews in the Ger-
man army during World War I. For the
last three years, he has taught an intense
inter-semester course on halachah to rab-
binical students at Geiger twice a year.
About half of his students generally
are German, Rabbi Fine said. The oth-
ers come from across Europe; among
them, I have one student from France,
one from Sweden, one from Norway, one
from Hungary, and two who are Rus-
sian, he said.
From his vantage point, Rabbi Fine has
seen a resurgence of Jewish life in Ger-
many. There were not substantial num-
bers of Jews living in Germany between
the Holocaust and 1990, but after the fall
of the Soviet Union, the community has
skyrocketed, he said. The German gov-
ernment has applied Nuremberg rules
if you have a Jewish grandparent you
are counted as a Jew to applicants for
residency, so Jews from the FSU have
swarmed there; the economy is good and
unemployment is negligible. The Jewish
population is close to half of what it had
been before the economy, and the over-
whelming majority of them are Russian
speaking.
Many of those Jews left Russia with
very little in the way of Jewish knowledge
or background, but they had a great
desire for community and for religion,
so Judaism in Germany also is thriving.
As a result, There is a great need for rab-
bis there. But its a hard sell for Ameri-
can rabbis to go hang their shingle in
Germany, so basically most German Jew-
ish communities have been hiring from
Israel.
In a twist, though, A lot of the com-
munities are interested in Conservative-
trained rabbis. Theyre not necessarily
Orthodox communities.
Therefore, continued Rabbi Fine,
who is Conservative, I thought it would
be a great service to train Conservative
rabbis.
Together with Rabbi Walter Homolka,
the German Reform rabbi who is rector
of Geiger, Rabbi Fine worked to establish
the Frankel school. He had a surprising
ally the German government. The rab-
binical program is entirely funded by the
government, he said. Tuition is free,
and there is a stipend. The separation of
church and state that we Americans hold
dear does not exist in Germany; that lack
of separation is not something he would
prefer here, but it certainly is helpful
there. There is a real sense that being
able to rebuild Jewish life in Germany is
something that governments there are
interested in, he said.
Zechariah Frankel, who was a near-
exact contemporary of Abraham Geigers
their lives spanned the first three quar-
ters of the 19th century was another
German rabbi, the founder of the histori-
cal school that led directly to Conserva-
tive Judaism. The seminary that bears
his name is part of the Ziegler School of
Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, itself
part of that citys American Jewish Uni-
versity. Frankels graduates will become
members of the Conservative move-
ments Rabbinical Assembly, just as Gei-
gers graduates become members of the
Reform movements Central Conference
of American Rabbis.
Because the two schools will be housed
in the same building on the Pottsdam
campus once construction is completed,
and because the divisions among differ-
ent branches of liberal Judaism in Europe
are less marked than in the United States,
they share some classes. It is possible for
rabbinical students not to decide which
movement they will choose to join until
the end of their second year, Rabbi Fine
said.
Liberal Judaism appeals to Europe-
ans, just as it did to Americans 100 years
Rabbi Walter Homolka hugs Rabbi David Fein, who has just been given the
rst Zacharia Frankel Seminary tallit; at left, a close-up of the tallit.
PHOTOS BY TOBIAS BARNISKE
Local
JS-9*
Ideal for children
ages 2-10
Accredited by
275 McKinley Avenue,
New Milford, NJ 07646
Solomon Schechter Day
School of Bergen County
RSVP: www.ssdsbergen.org/schechter-rocks
FREE! Open to the public!
Musical sketch comedy featuring stories by kids!
Sunday, December 15
w
10-11:30 am
w World-class Science, Technology, Engineering
& Mathematics (STEM Program)
w Inquiry-based Approach
w Middot/Character Education Program
w Hebrew language and Israel studies program
w Warm, Inclusive Community
w Age 3 through Grade 8
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR...
ago, he said. It is an exploration, a way to be a stu-
dent of religion, and at the same time to be in an aca-
demic program in a university. Students can always
go study at a yeshivah, but the idea is that a modern
university education will fill needs that a yeshivah
education wont.
He does not agree with the notion that liberal
Judaism is failing. We hear talk about Conservative
Judaism failing, but I think of it more as a market
correction, he said. The Conservative movement
was much larger than it should have been, because
of waves of immigration, particularly the last wave,
in the 1940s and 50s. Those were Jews who found
themselves most comfortable in a Conservative syna-
gogue because it had the trappings of tradition and
they were coming from a traditional world. Now
those demographics have changed.
If you dont just look at the demographic decline,
but at the quality of what were offering, its not
something to start writing requiems over, he said.
Rabbi Fine was touched that his work in starting
Frankel was acknowledged when he was honored
during the dedication with the gift of the first tallit
carrying the schools logo. The second one went to
Gesa Ederberg, who is rabbi of the Oranienburger
Strasse Synagogue, where Albert Einstein once gave
a violin recital, and a founding member of the Gen-
eral Rabbinical Conference of the Central Council of
Jews in Germany.
Rabbi Fine also was deeply moved by the talk
Andreas Buttner, a member of the Brandenberg
Assembly, gave at the dedication. Akhshav shilamnu
et hechalom shel Avraham Geiger, the non-Jewish
German politician said, in heavily accented Hebrew.
We have now fulfilled Geigers dream.
We were all excited when Clinton said Sha-
lom chaver, Rabbi Fine said, recalling the former
presidents remarks at the funeral of Prime Minis-
ter Yitzhak Rabin. And here was a German politi-
cian speaking in Hebrew. Not that there arent issues
of anti-Semitism here there are, there are those
issues everywhere but we see changes, things that
were dreamed of but never fulfilled before the Holo-
caust, and weve gone even further.
Its miraculous, he said.
Rabbis Homolka and Fine listen to Rabbi Gesa
Edelberg of the Oranienburger Strasse Syna-
gogue.
Local
JS-10*
Negev
negativity
Local rabbis
add their voices
to Bedouin dispute
LARRY YUDELSON
F
ifteen policemen were injured
and 30 arrests were made when
protests in Israel against a govern-
ment plan to modernize the living
conditions of Israels Bedouin citizens turned
violent last weekend.
The plan, which would develop the
Negev and end the legal limbo in which
many of the once nomadic Bedouin have
lived since the creation of the State of Israel,
would require more than 30,000 Bedouin
to leave their villages and move to new set-
tlements that would be created for them.
Opponents of the plan had called
for Days of Rage, and the protests in
the Negev and elsewhere in Haifa were
matched by protests around the world.
In northern New Jersey last month,
however, several rabbis lodged a quieter
protest, signing their names to a petition
protesting the Israeli plan distributed by
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
(The organization formerly was known as
Rabbis for Human Rights North America.)
Demolishing villages and dispossessing
people of their land build animosity among
the Bedouin towards the state, reads the
petition, which garnered the signatures of
780 rabbis, cantors, and rabbinical and can-
torial students.
Forcing more Bedouin into impover-
ished urban settings with high unemploy-
ment and few economic opportunities will
further entrench cycles of poverty, it con-
tinues. To treat the Bedouin population in
this way runs contrary to the Jewish values
on which the State of Israel was founded.
The prophet Micah warned us about
such abuses of power, saying: They covet
fields, and seize them; and [they covet]
houses, and take them away; thus they
oppress a man and his house, even a man
and his heritage.
Local signers include Rabbi Randall Mark
of Shomrei Torah in Wayne; Rabbi Israel
Dresner, rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth Tik-
vah in Wayne; Rabbi Barry Schwartz of Con-
gregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, who is
the director of the Jewish Publication Soci-
ety; Rabbi Lawrence Troster of Teaneck;
Rabbi Daniel Epstein of Fair Lawn; Cantor
Orna Green of Teaneck; Rabbi Mark W. Kiel
of Woodcliff Lake; and Rabbi Jonathan Woll
of Glen Rock.
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, who lives in
Teaneck and is Truahs director of North
American programs, also signed.
As Jews in the Disapora, we have a
responsibility to speak out because we care
about the state of Israel and the people of
Israel, said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Truahs exec-
utive director. Much like we speak out
against human rights violations when they
occur in the United States.
At issue is what is known as the Prawer-
Begin plan a proposal that aims to legal-
ize the status of Israels Bedouin. More than
half of the Negevs 210,000 Bedouin live in
legally recognized settlements, but 90,000
live in areas whose legal status never was
formally defined. While some of them have
successfully received land titles through
protracted court battles, no formal plan-
ning process was set up until now that
would allow them to legally build on the
land where they lived, even if they proved
ownership.
As a result, the Israeli government now
considers 60,000 Bedouin buildings to be
built illegally.
The Israeli plan aims to resettle the Bed-
ouin into new villages that would be con-
structed for them, along with the creation
of new economic opportunities. All told,
the plan would spend hundreds of millions
of dollars over the next five years, with
some of that sum going to settle land claims
and some on the creation of infrastructure.
The overall goal of the plan, according to
the Israeli foreign ministry, is to integrate
the Bedouin into Israeli society and thereby
to afford Bedouin children a better future.
To oppose the Begin Plan is to oppose
improving the lives of Bedouin children, a
foreign ministry position paper posted on
its website declares.
Without formalizing the status of their
settlement, the Bedouins will not be able to
benefit from the many resources that will
be made available to the Negev in the com-
ing years, and it will not be possible to fully
fulfill the task of developing the Northern
Negev for all of its residents, wrote former
Israeli minister Benny Begin in a report he
prepared for the government laying out the
plan.
The precise implementation of the plan
is the subject of legislation that is expected
to be finalized and approved by the Knesset
in the near future.
But statements by Israeli Foreign Minis-
ter Avigdor Lieberman imply that the plans
focus may not be only on the well-being of
the 30,000 Bedouin who will be dislocated
as 25 of the existing 35 Bedouin settlements
are razed.
We are fighting over the national land
of the Jewish people, he said this week in
response to the demonstrations.
Critics of the Israeli governments
approach to the Bedouin have pointed to
the recently announced plans to raze the
unrecognized village of Umm el-Hieran and
replace it with a new development meant
to house Orthodox Jews. Five hundred Bed-
ouin live in el-Hieran; they were relocated
there by the Israeli government in 1956.
This demonstrates that the primary
motivation behind these plans is the gov-
ernments racist policies towards Arab Bed-
ouin citizens, said a statement issued by
Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minor-
ity Rights in Israel.
Bedouin opposed to the plan have said
that being moved into urban or semi-urban
towns and villages will undermine their tra-
ditional agrarian way of life.
Joshua Bloom, director of Israel pro-
grams for Truah, said, The government
is treating the Bedouin as a hindrance
to the Jewish settling of the land of the
Negev, rather than seeing the Bedouin
representatives as equal citizens of the
State of Israel who have longstanding
land claims that predate the state.
Were interested in seeing a negotiated
solution that engages the Bedouin commu-
nities in Israel as equals partners in that
negotiations, he said. To date, we have
not seen that level of engagement from the
Israeli government.
Truah has not yet received a response
to its petition, which it presented to both
the Knesset Interior Committee and to Maj.
Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, director of the
Headquarters for Economic Community
Development of the Negev Bedouins in the
Prime Ministers Office.
Major General Almog was just quoted
as saying that 80 percent of the Bedouin
in Israel agree with the governments plan,
yet there appears to be no substantiation of
that claim, Mr. Bloom said.
Addressing the protests, Mr. Bloom said
that we do not condone the use of vio-
lence to achieve a political aim. The fact
that some minority of participants in the
protests that occurred over the weekend
engaged in violent acts is not justified. We
pray for the recovery of the police officers
and civilians that were injured.
However, the protests showed just how
much of a tinderbox the situation is and
how much potential there is to turn what
has been a stable relationship between an
Arab population and its Jewish neighbors
into one that has the potential to become
an ongoing conflict between the state and
its citizens.
A demonstration in the Negev against the Prawer-Begin plan.
OREN ZIV / ACTIVESTILLS.ORG
Joshua Bloom of Truah, right, with an
unnamed Bedouin in the Negev.
JS-11
Celebrating the dedication of the
FRIENDS N FUN WEEKENDS
in memory of
SARI ORT, AH
Chai Lifeline
ANNUAL GALA 2013
The Roads to Healing
12.18.13
MARRIOTT MARQUIS
New York City
This year Chai Lifeline will touch the lives of more than 4,300
children and families around the corner and across the globe.
Become a partner. See how much more we can do together
The roads to healing are many
Chai Lifeline makes the journey easier for more than 4,300 children and
families every year. Join us in celebration and gratitude on December 18.
Chai Heritage Award
MIKE AND KAREN OZ
Dinner Chairs
RICK & ROBIN
SCHOTTENFELD
Dinner Chairs
MENACHEM & MARIAM
LIEBER
Dinner Chairs
MOSHE & SHAVI BODNER
Campaign Chairs
NELSON & STACEY
BRAFF
Maimonides Medical Achievement Award
RICHARD OREILLY, MD
Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Dinner Chairs
DR. STEVEN & MARJORIE
KELLNER
Campaign Chair
JOSEPH SPRUNG
Alumni Chairs
YOSSI & DEENI
SCHWARTZ
Camp Simcha Appreciation Award
BENJI AND RAISSA SAMET
Dinner Chair
DAVID LAWRENCE
Alumni Chairs
MOSHE & TOVA BOLLAG
Medical Leadership Award
BRENDA KOHN, MD
Director, Division Pediatric Endocrinology
NYU Langone Medical Center
WALTER J. MOLOFSKY, MD
Medical Director, Pediatric Neurology
Mount Sinai Healthcare System
Master of Ceremonies
CHARLIE HARARY
151 WEST 30TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10001 T:212.699.6658 F:212.465.0949 WWW.chaidiNNER.ORg
Local
JS-12*
Shes Nacho baby!
SHIRA LICHTMAN
Its true that Doritos are not certified kosher,
but Elisha Mlotek of Teaneck reassures his
friends that no Doritos were eaten as he
produced a Doritos commercial that he
hopes makes it to the Super Bowl.
He is trying his luck at winning the Interna-
tional Doritos Commercial Competition. The
prize? Having his ad broadcast at the Super
Bowl halftime show this year.
Mr. Mlotek co-wrote, produced, and
directed a commercial for Doritos that stars
his 18-month-old niece, Revaya Maayan
Mlotek. He worked with Zach Federbush of
Paramus, who co-wrote the script, and Dov
Adler, who managed the productions techni-
cal details. All three are studying media arts
and communications at Queens College.
We plan on entering the ad industry as
religious Jews, Mr. Federbush said. He feels
that their level of religious observance not
only will not limit them, but is something
they can use to a creative advantage, hop-
ing to be wholesome in our work.
As the commercial begins, Revayas
mother, Yael Kornfeld-Mlotek, and Eli-
sha, playing her father, are in Central Park,
pushing a baby carriage and eating Dori-
tos. Suddenly they notice that the stroller
is empty. Panic-stricken, the mom yells,
Wheres the baby? As they turn a corner,
an adorable, smiley baby is seen sitting on a
bench with a homeless man, played by her
real father, Avram Mlotek. The faux home-
less man asks for Doritos in exchange for the
baby, and the parents contemplate this tough
decision.
Baby or Doritos?!
Revayas acting career began when she was
six months old; her uncle filmed her sitting
on the toilet reading a newspaper. Soon,
producers at Tosh.0, a TV show on Comedy
Central, asked him for permission to air his
video internationally. Now, Revayas vocabu-
lary consists of Mommy and Up. She and
her parents live on Manhattans Upper West
Side; her mother is a social worker at Dorot,
a Jewish agency serving elderly clients, and
her father is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat
Chovevei Torah in Riverdale, N.Y.
It is age-old advice that any theatrical pro-
ducer should avoid working with children
and animals, Mr. Adler said, but the three
videomakers avoided the potential pitfalls.
Superstar Revaya was very cooperative
during the three hours of filming. Thinking
ahead, they washed an empty bag that once
had held Doritos. When she started getting
kvetchy, they calmed her down by feeding
her kosher nacho chips that they had put in
the bag.
There were some very funny moments, Eli-
sha Mlotek said. Every time an actor would
yell Wheres the baby? passersby would
look worried. They also seemed concerned
when they saw an apparently homeless man
seemingly holding baby Revaya hostage.
Because they are college students working
on a budget, the three young men managed
to make excellent use of natural resources.
Mr. Adler, who works as a technician for a
Revaya Maayan Mlotek, 18 months, sits with her father, Avram Mlotek, during
the lming of a commercial for Doritos. Avram Mlotek portrays a homeless
man in Central Park.
Leadership as family affair
Bergen newlyweds Tuvia and Miriam Brander pursue Jewish communal careers together
JUNE GLAZER
If confidence and charisma are qualities of
effective leadership, then Tuvia and Miriam
Brander have been blessed with these and
more
The newlyweds from Bergen County
married just six months are deeply pas-
sionate about serving the Jewish community
and fiercely determined to make a difference
in the world.
Tuvia, who comes from Teaneck, and Mir-
iam, ne Apter, from Fair Lawn, are spending
the 2013-2014 academic year in Jerusalem,
where Tuvia is pursuing rabbinical stud-
ies at Yeshiva Universitys Gruss Kollel and
Miriam works as an intern at PresenTense,
an organization that fosters young social
entrepreneurs.
Recently, they were among a delegation
of 14 young leaders from the Gruss Kollel
community selected by Yeshiva Universitys
Center for the Jewish Future to represent the
university at the Jewish Federations of North
Americas General Assembly. Once every five
years the GA is held in Jerusalem; in Novem-
ber, Jews from North America and Israelis
from across the political spectrum gathered
there for three days to discuss issues facing
Israel and the global Jewish community.
Federation is an umbrella for so many
organizations, and interacting with their lead-
ers and learning from them was a tremen-
dous opportunity, said Tuvia, whose father
is YU vice president and communal leader
Rabbi Kenneth Brander.
On the other hand, it was important for
everyone at the GA to see that the people YU
trains for leadership are actively engaged in
learning from all types of leaders in the Jew-
ish community, he added. One of my favor-
ite things about being there was just walking
around and meeting the representatives of so
many different organizations.
Miriam, who earned her place as a YU del-
egate in her own right, agreed. One of the
highlights was meeting the people on the
ground from various Federations leading the
charge in creating innovative and engaging
programming and shaping the global Jew-
ish community, she said. A graduate of YUs
Stern College for Women, she plans a career
in Jewish communal and nonprofit work and
is applying to graduate programs in the New
York area for next year.
Im very grateful that YU enabled us to
attend the GA and I enjoyed being counted
among those who are pushing Jewish leader-
ship, said Tuvia, who expects to receive rab-
binic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary in June 2014. He
also is working toward a masters degree
in Jewish studies at YUs Bernard Revel
Graduate School for Jewish Studies, and
he is a Wexner Graduate Fellow. The four-
year Wexner fellowship program identifies
and nurtures emerging Jewish professional
leaders.
Both Miriam and Tuvia have extensive
experience that qualifies them as just that
kind of leader. At Stern, Miriam was active
in student government and clubs and was a
coordinator for the volunteer organization
Nechama: Jewish Response to Disaster as
part of a tornado cleanup mission in 2012.
She also volunteered in Rwanda, where she
worked at an orphanage and assisted women
who were victims of gender-based violence
to become self-supporting. In Muchucuxcah,
Mexico, she joined an American Jewish World
Service mission to work on construction and
sustainable agriculture. Also on her resume
are stints at the aliyah organization Nefesh
bNefesh, at NCSY as a chapter adviser, and
at the Jerusalem Journey as a supervisor of
high school students in Israel.
Tuvias resume, like his wifes, shows ser-
vice and volunteerism. At YU, among other
activities, he was head resident adviser in the
dorms for several years, played active roles
in student government and in the student
court, and revived and oversaw a student-run
journal. Beyond the YU campus, his activities
and leadership experience include a rabbinic
internship at the Young Israel of Plainview,
N.Y.; leading an AJWS mission to Muchucux-
cah (the year after Miriams trip there); help-
ing to develop and run the Kansas City YU
Summer Experience, which brought a group
of students to that city for internships and to
engage with the local Jewish community, and
coordinating programs for NCSY in Israel.
While these experiences certainly con-
tributed to developing Tuvias resume as an
aspiring Jewish communal leader, growing
up in the Brander household first in Boca
Raton, where his father was a pulpit rabbi
and leader of the Orthodox community, and
Miriam and Tuvia Brander both
deeply committed to service.
Local
JS-13
Salon and Spa
DECEMBER SPECIALS
$25 WASH AND BLOW OUT
$35 SHEITEL WASH AND BLOW OUT
($70 sheitel color process)
282 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ
201-568-6898
Gift
Certicates
Available
Ask about
our
specials
eci itn
lr ve br
y el fo ed
STOP!
If you own or lease your car or SUV,
do not sell it or return it until you see
Joe of The Swedish Connection to repair:
4Chipped Windshields 4Bumper Sprayed & Repaired
4Seat & Upholstery 4Bent Wheels
4Dings & Minor Dents
4Tires 4Detailing 4Scratches
We do it all from A to Z!
247 S. WASHINGTON AVE.
BERGENFIELD
201-501-8266
www.swedishconnection.org
See
Us First!
FREE
ESTIMATE!
company that rents visual equipment, had access to
everything they needed.
There were some problems, of course.
The video wasnt going to happen, Mr. Mlotek
recalled thinking, as his hard drive crashed the day the
video was due. Mr. Adler was able to use his technical
expertise to restore the original footage for Mr. Mlotek
to edit all over again. When they finally were able to
send it to the contest, it was too late. They just missed
the deadline. But a message to Doritos saved them.
Their video made it in to the contest. And it was erev
Chanukah a real miracle!
They will be happy even if they lose, because this pro-
duction is another piece to add to their media portfolios.
Mr. Mloteks grandmother, the Yiddish musicologist
and folklorist Chana Mlotek, died soon after the ad was
filmed. He said that during this intense emotional expe-
rience, he was comforted by the fact that he was mak-
ing his grandmother proud. Bubbe always encouraged
me to embrace my talents and share them with others,
he said.
Mr. Mlotek hopes that his video can make a kiddush
Hashem that it will bring honor to Gods name. The
Talmud teaches him that a person is to use his strengths
and talents for Torah and wholesome activities. The ad
he made, he feels, is appropriate, family oriented, and
entertaining. It reflects on his and his friends values as
proud Jews.
The three see their religious observance as an advan-
tage rather than a drawback. Religion isnt something
we try to avoid and work around, Mr. Mlotek said. Its
actually embedded into our creativity.
It is something we embrace and have learned to love.
then in Teaneck, where the family moved when Tuvia was
in 12th grade gave him an insiders view of the life for
which he and Miriam now are preparing.
I often get the joke about, well, at least you know what
youre getting into forewarned is forearmed, he said.
But growing up, I got to see on an intimate level the
incredible ability to be active in peoples lives, to really
matter and make a difference. I got to see how leaders, no
matter what their Jewish perspective, can have an incred-
ible impact on the national Jewish scene and how they can
contribute to the eternality of the Jewish people.
The Branders now plan to stay in America after they
both finish their education, although that might change.
Miriam says she doesnt yet see the where of their future
once their studies are done. Well go wherever theres a
need, she said, open to the challenges of both small and
large Jewish communities.
Large communities have large infrastructure but also
larger and more complex problems and less clear-cut
ways of moving forward. Smaller communities generally
have room to grow but usually have fewer resources. Each
has its own unique challenges and advantages.
Both Branders agree, however, that it is a decision they
will make together, and wherever they go, it will be as a
team.
Were both very motivated and focused on helping the
Jewish community and society in general, and whatever
capacity we do that in, and in whatever place we end up,
well be a strong team, Miriam said.
Were both committed to the same goals. But what
makes us strong is that while were both working towards
those goals, were also trying to help each other, Tuvia
added. In all my endeavors, I know that Miriam is right
behind me supporting me. And she knows that Im there
for her. Were not just two people working toward some-
thing. Were helping each other to succeed.
Local
JS-14*
Weekend retreat for recovering addicts
JACS ( Jewish alcoholics, chemically-
dependent-persons and significant oth-
ers) offers a spiritual retreat weekend on
December 13-15 in Fish Kill, N.Y. The glatt
kosher weekend includes meetings and
workshops for Jews affected by alcohol
and drug addiction. Call the JACS office to
register at (212) 632-4600.
Seminar scheduled for educators
by Museum of Jewish Heritage
The Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living
Memorial to the Holocaust invites educa-
tors from Jewish schools to participate in
an education seminar focusing on Jewish
rescue in Europe. Part of STAJE (Shoah
Teaching Alternatives in Jewish Educa-
tion), the seminar will be held on Sunday,
December 15, from 12:30 to 5:15 p.m., at
the Manhattan museum.
The seminar will explore the efforts by
Jews and Jewish organizations to aid and
save Jews in Nazi occupied areas. NYUs
Harriet Eliana Jackson will look at the
rescue, relief, and resistance activities
of Rabbi Zalman Schneerson; Nancy
Lefenfeld will talk about the rescue efforts
of the OSE, a French humanitarian group
dedicated to childrens welfare; Clarence
Schwab will discuss Hillel Storch and his
negotiations with Himmler, and Mordecai
Paldiel of Stern College will describe the
way some Jews were rescued by boat.
The program is free, but space is
limited and pre-registration is required.
To register, email Dr. Paul Radensky at
pradensky@mjhnyc.org or call him at
(646) 437-4310. A light kosher lunch for
teachers will be available at 11:30 a.m.
Public transportation or parking for
teachers will be reimbursed up to $20 per
person or vehicle upon presentation of
original receipt.
Remembering
Chaya Newman
Bruriah High School hosts a lecture in memory of Chaya
Newman, its longtime principal, on Saturday, December 14,
at 7:30 p.m.
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, founder of Hineni International,
will discuss Turning Negatives Into Positives. Refreshments
will be served.
The school is at 35 North Ave. in Elizabeth. For information,
call (908) 355-4850, ext. 6214, or go to Bruriah.theJEC.org.
Chaya Newman
Lone Soldier Pinchas Silberstein, left, is pictured with Steve Selvin, FIDF
national board member Melinda Lowell Paltrow, Lone Soldier Shaun
Estrin, Sylvain Siboni, and Dr. Irving Paltrowitz. KRAMER IMAGES
IDF dinner raises funds,
pays tribute to soldiers
The New Jersey chapter of the Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces held its ninth
annual IDF tribute dinner, at the Hilton
Secaucus Meadowlands in East Ruther-
ford on November 23. More than 400 lay
leaders and FIDF supporters from across
the state attended the gala, with the
theme Lone Soldiers as Ambassadors.
The dinner featured Maj. Gen. Yaacov
Ayish, Israels defense and armed forces
attach to the U.S. and Canada, as the
main speaker.
Other speakers included Miriam
Peretz, whose two sons, 1st Lt. Uriel
Peretz and Maj. Eliraz Peretz, died in
battle. Tal Bar-Or, whose father, Sammy
Bar-Or, is one of the founders of the FIDF
New Jersey chapter, was emcee.
The dinner honored and celebrated
Israels soldiers and featured six IDF
members who traveled from Israel
to New Jersey to meet with FIDF
supporters. Among the participants
were Lieutenants Sheliya Avyatar, an
operational officer at an artillery training
base, and Nitzan Elimeleh, a 24-year-
old officer in the Air Force Operational
Department Iron Dome.
The New Jersey chapter, also known
as the Lone Soldier chapter, was
created in 2005 when three former Lone
Soldiers with connections to New Jersey,
Sammy Bar-Or, Mike Gross, and Avi Oren,
reunited after their service in the IDF.
Their goal was to provide aid to soldiers
serving in Israel who do not have any
immediate family in the country.
Seth Rosenberger, FIDF New Jersey
chapters director, also was a Lone
Soldier when he enlisted in the IDF
when he was 24. He served in the Nahal
Brigade, Battalion 50.
Former Englewood Mayor
Michael Wildes, center, is
flanked by actress Kelly
Rutherford of Gossip
Girl and Professor Alan
Dershowitz. PHOTO PROVIDED
Dershowitz speaks at memorial
dedicated to Ruth Wildes
To commemorate the 18th yahrzeit of
Ruth Wildes, wife of Wildes & Weinberg
senior partner Leon Wildes, and mother
of managing partner and former Engle-
wood mayor Michael Wildes, Harvard
professor/attorney/author Alan Dershow-
itz spoke at a recent event in her mem-
ory. The Manhattan Jewish Experience, a
nonprofit organization for young Jewish
professionals founded by another son,
Rabbi Mark N. Wildes, sponsored it.
More than 500 guests attended,
including Rabbis Norman Lamm and David
Bleich and actress Kelley Rutherford.
Michael Wildes and Mr. Dershowitz are
working together to help Ms. Rutherford
with an immigration issue surrounding a
custody dispute.
Eva and Arie Halpern PHOTO PROVIDED
Halpern family
donates $3 million
to Rutgers Hillel
The children of real estate developer/phi-
lanthropist Arie Halpern and his wife, Eva,
both Holocaust survivors, have donated $3
million to Rutgers University Hillels capi-
tal and endowment campaign. The organi-
zations soon-to-be-built campus home will
be dedicated in their parents memory.
The 33,000-square-foot building, the
Eva and Arie Halpern Hillel House, will be
built at 70 College Ave., in the heart of the
universitys $300 million College Avenue
redevelopment. Groundbreaking at its
new location will be later this semester.
JS-15
KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades 411 EAST CLINTON AVENUE, TENAFLY, NJ 07670 | 201.569.7900 | jccotp.org
TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO, VISIT
jccotp.org OR CALL 201. 569.7900.
UPCOMING AT
XXX
JUDAIC FILM
KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades
NURSERY
A Dangerous Method
A FILM/DISCUSSION SERIES
WITH HAROLD CHAPLER
David Cronenbergs new lm stars Keira
Knightley as a young Russian en route to
a clinic in Zurich. She is treated by Carl
Jung (Michael Fassbender), who consults
with his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo
Mortensen). A subtle and thrilling true
story by Christopher Hampton. For info,
call 201.408.1493.
Mon, Dec 9, 7:30 pm, $3/$5
NEW! North NJ JTech Meetup Group
A panel discussion with experienced startup investors,
who will discuss current market conditions impacting
startups and their investors.
PANELISTS:
Eyal Bino, Founder, Worldwide Investor Network (WIN)
Charlie Federman, Managing Partner, Crossbar Ventures
John Frankel, Founding Partner, fVC Ventures
Lou Kerner, Founder and Senior Partner, The Social
Internet Fund
Sponsored by Sorin Rand, Attorneys at Law.
RSVP ashechter@jccotp.org, 201.408.1427
Wed, Dec 11, 6:45 pm, free and open to the community
Youre Hungry. Sit Down. Eat!
FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN AGES 10+
Come with your children and learn how to make great food
like your Bubbi used to makethis month we are baking
scrumptious Rugelach, and Mandel Bread and cooking up
some fun! For more info call Jessica at 201.408.1426.
Wed, Dec 18, 6 pm, $36 per session, per family
THE LEONARD & SYRIL RUBIN
Nursery School Open House
Come see what were all about! Our school
curriculum includes cognitive learning and
enrichment; ne and gross motor skills;
reading readiness skills; sensory experiences;
Judaic programming; art, music, dramatic play
and cooking; and gym and swimming. Options
for toddlers, 2s, 3s, 4s, and Kindergarteners,
including extended day programs. RSVP to
201.408.1436.
Dec 10, Jan 22, Mar 5, 9:30-10:30 am
SHIRAH JCC Community
Chorus on the Palisades
CELEBRATE CHANUKAH IN SONG!
Presented by the JCC Thurnauer School of
Music. Celebrate the season with SHIRAH and
enjoy secular and sacred songs from the Jewish
tradition. Matthew Lazar, founding director and
conductor. Admission free as a gift from the
Weinash family. This concert is made possible
with the generous support of the Ruth & Bernard
Weinash Fund in tribute to Matthew Lazar, the
Ethel & Irving Plutzer Fund for the Shirah Choir
and the Rhoda Toonkel Fund for the Shirah Choir.
Call 201.408.1465 to reserve tickets.
Wed, Dec 11, 2 pm, Free
WITH MARGARET CHIBOOKIAN
Use the natural resistance of water to get healthy and
toned using aerobic and strength training workouts
with zero impact on your joints. For more info, call
201.408.1475. Open to the community.
Free trial classes Wed, Dec 11 & 18, 10:45-11:30 am
NEW!
WATER
WELLNESS
Editorial
1086 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 837-8818
Fax 201-833-4959
Publisher
James L. Janoff
Associate Publisher
Marcia Garfinkle
Executive Editor
Shammai Engelmayer
Editor
Joanne Palmer
Associate Editor
Larry Yudelson
Guide/Gallery Editor
Beth Janoff Chananie
Contributing Editor
Phil Jacobs
Correspondents
Warren Boroson
Lois Goldrich
Abigail K. Leichman
Miriam Rinn
Dr. Miryam Z. Wahrman
About Our Children Editor
Heidi Mae Bratt
Advertising Director
Natalie D. Jay
Classified Director
Janice Rosen
Advertising Coordinator
Jane Carr
Account Executives
Peggy Elias
George Kroll
Karen Nathanson
Brenda Sutcliffe
International Media Placement
P.O. Box 7195 Jerusalem 91077
Tel: 02-6252933, 02-6247919
Fax: 02-6249240
Israeli Representative
Production Manager
Jerry Szubin
Graphic Artists
Deborah Herman
Bob O'Brien
Bookkeeper
Alice Trost
Credit Manager
Marion Raindorf
Receptionist
Ruth Hirsch
Jewish
Standard
jstandard.com
Founder
Morris J. Janoff (19111987)
Editor Emeritus
Meyer Pesin (19011989)
City Editor
Mort Cornin (19151984)
Editorial Consultant
Max Milians (1908-2005)
Secretary
Ceil Wolf (1914-2008)
Editor Emerita
Rebecca Kaplan Boroson
The refrigerator
and the terrorist
I
t was the mid-1990s. The Ameri-
can Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee, working with funds
provided in part by the Confer-
ence on Material Jewish Claims Against
Germany, opened a Hesed Center in
Minsk, the capital of Belarus. As part of
the ceremony, gifts were handed out
to some of the elderly Shoah survivors
in that city.
One gift in particular stood out.
Rabbi Israel Miller, the late president of
the Claims Conference, handed a table-
top refrigerator to a woman in her 80s
who had never owned one in her life
before then. The woman cried as she
received the refrigerator; so, in fact, did
everyone who watched her reaction.
She and the other Shoah survivors in
Minsk were among the many thousands
of Jews caught behind the Iron Curtain
in the wake of World War II. They are
known as the double victims: the vic-
tims of Nazism and the victims of com-
munism. The Nazis sought to take their
lives, and in almost every case did take
the lives of their families and friends.
Because they lived under the thumb
of the Soviet Union, they were unable
to rebuild their lives. That is because
the West, the United States especially,
refused to allow anyone to send money
to them. Despite the intense suffering
they had experienced under the Nazis,
and the continuing suffering they were
going through under the communists,
the fact that they lived within the Soviet
orbit kept desperately needed repara-
tions and restitution funds from reach-
ing them.
This policy was cruel, but it was
also understandable and arguably
even necessary. Few doubted that
monies sent to survivors would
remain with them. It was reasoned
that the communist regimes under
which they lived would take the funds
and use them for their own purposes
to further oppress their own peo-
ple and to continue to threaten world
peace. No one in any U.S. administra-
tion enjoyed denying Shoah survivors
some modicum of justice, but neither
the exigencies of the Cold War nor
the reality of it could be ignored.
That is what makes a particular
United States policy so hypocriti-
cal and unintelligible a policy that
has been in place since the creation
of the Palestinian Authority in 1994,
and has been endorsed by presidents
of both parties. This policy calls for
sending many millions of dollars to
the PA despite the fact that some of
that money is used to reward terror-
ists for killing Jews. If the terrorists
die or are imprisoned, their families
will receive stipends; salaries will
be paid to the imprisoned terrorists
for the time they served.
A Jewish survivor of the Shoah lived
a life of abject poverty because the
United States barred her from receiv-
ing money that was coming out of West
Germanys treasury, out of concern that
at least some of that money would fall
into communist hands. A terrorist stabs
a Jew to death and knows that his family
will be taken care of because the United
States will send money out of its own
treasury to the PA, and at least some of
that money will help foot the bill for his
familys upkeep and perhaps his own.
Where is the justice in that?
JS-16*
The more things change
Six years ago, an old, extraordinarily
beautiful synagogue was restored to life
in Berlin. Recently, a seminary to train
rabbis was attached to a new Jewish
theological college that itself is attached
to the University of Pottsdam. (See the
article on page 8.)
How far the world has turned since
1945. How different the Jewish world is
today than it was back then.
Jewish life is resurgent in the very
heart of the land that once marked it
for extinction. It is something to cheer
about.
And yet there is evidence that the
world has not turned all that much,
at least not the European world. Anti-
Semitism once again has become part
of the European landscape, and not just
in Germany.
Scandinavian countries, for example,
succeeded in October in securing pas-
sage in the European Parliamentary
Assembly of a nonbinding resolution
that called for a ban on ritual circum-
cision, which it said was a violation of
the physical integrity of children.
In the wake of that vote, Thorbjorn
Jagland, the secretary general of the
Council of Europe, insisted at a press
conference in Berlin at Octobers end
that in no way does the Council of
Europe want to ban the circumcision of
boys. It is a very important part of Juda-
ism and of Jewish life.
His reassurance is not reassuring,
however. Europes parliament, after
all, did pass the resolution. It did so
in the wake of efforts that have been
under way for several years to ban the
practice in individual European nations
efforts that often have the approval of
sitting governments, and from all sides
of the European political divide. Earlier
this year, a German court banned the
practice; in this case, the German gov-
ernment itself moved to counteract the
ruling, but that it was issued at all says
much.
Ritual slaughter also is under attack
in Europe. Last January, for example,
Poland issued a new regulation that
required all animals to be stunned
before they could be slaughtered, effec-
tively banning kosher ritual slaughter.
That decision was upheld by Polands
parliament in July. It is now under con-
stitutional review.
The more things change, the more
they seem to stay the same.
Names:
Jewish,
Hebrew,
and English
I
n choosing names for their children, my parents
were guided by the following: a Jewish name in
memory of a deceased relative, and an English
name that they liked. My Jewish name, Yitzchak
Chayim, and my brother Everetts, Avraham Meir, are
Hebrew, and my sisters, Shayna Zelda and Masha
Leah, are Yiddish (respectively, Jessica and Marissa).
Our parents used our English names exclusively,
and our Jewish names were used only at our Jewish
day school. Being called upon during Judaic studies
classes, however, did not cause us to really embrace
our Hebrew names, and so we all grew up identifying
solely with our English names.
Sarah and I wanted our children to identify with
both their Jewish and English names. We felt that the
best way for them to do so was to go biblical. Ideally,
we wanted the biblical name to also be in memory of
a deceased relative, but after our first two children,
Nathan and Rebecca, were
named after my grandpar-
ents, we had to go pretty
far for Ruth, named for a
great aunt of Sarahs whom
she never knew. With Ezra
and Elie Eliyahu we
gave up trying to find a
family namesake and went
with biblical names that we
liked.
Our system of naming
initially hit a snag. Nathan
is named after my pater-
nal grandfather, and since Nathan is also a biblical
figure (pronounced Natan in Hebrew), we thought
that our firstborn would be Nathan/Natan. The only
problem is that my grandfather Nathan was named
in Hebrew after a completely different biblical figure:
Naftali. Since we liked the name Nathan more than
Naftali, and since we wanted our children to identify
both with their Hebrew and English names, we went
with Nathan/Natan much to the displeasure of my
father who wanted us to duplicate the name mismatch
of my grandfather.
When we made aliyah, our naming system worked
beautifully for four of our five children. There was no
Teddy
Weinberger
Op-Ed
JS-17*
Sing us the songs of Zion
A
rik Einstein, who died last week at the
age of 74, basically invented Israeli popu-
lar music. He was a unique Israeli combi-
nation of Sinatra, Dylan, and the Beatles,
embodying the spirit and the struggles of a younger,
more optimistic Israel.
His death brought tributes from the top leaders
of Israeli society. Shy, almost reclusive, he died
in the same Tel Aviv house in which he had been
born. Find another rock star who has never changed
addresses.
But Einsteins death has broader cultural impli-
cations. At a time when the U.S.-Israel relationship
appears particularly fragile, and with the state of
American Jewrys ties to Israel again under discus-
sion, the death of Arik Einstein presents us with the
opportunity to ask if, musically, American Jews and
Israelis are on the same page?
Im grateful to my friend and colleague Rabbi
Morley Feinstein of the University Synagogue in
Los Angeles for posing the
question. Feinstein noted
that Ei nstei ns cl assi c
Ani vatta (You and I)
had been sung in Reform
mov e me n t s u mme r
camps, youth groups, and
creative services, helping
to forge an important link
between American Jewish
teens and Israel.
Back in the early 1970s,
Israeli pop songs were
a mainstay of American
Jewish camping. The playlist I remember includes
Bashana ha ba-ah, an optimistic song that in the
heady days between the Six-Day War and the Yom
Kippur War proclaimed the hope that next year will
be better. We were full participants in the post-1967
Israel euphoria. The Naomi Shemer classic Yerush-
alayim Shel Zahav, despite its right-wing conno-
tations, expressed the conviction that Jerusalem
would always be in our hearts as well as on our lips.
And years later there was Abanibi, an exercise in
pure fun based on jumbled Hebrew sentences.
It was all rather easy. The songs flowed into
each other. Everything was in A minor or D minor,
depending on where you put the capo on the neck
of the guitar.
In those days there was an unbroken link between
Israeli popular culture and American Jewish youth
culture. Our song leaders listened to Israeli rock
music and almost instantly imported it into camps
and youth programs.
And today? Based on largely anecdotal evidence,
most of the songs sung at Jewish summer camps are
written by contemporary American Jewish compos-
ers. By and large, our American Jewish youth are not
singing the songs of Zion.
The proliferation of American Jewish popular
songs at summer camps is quite understandable.
First, the golden age of Israeli popular music in our
camps coincided with the post-Six-Day War Ameri-
can Jewish infatuation with Israel an infatuation
that has deepened into a more mature love, but one
in which the bloom is clearly off the rose.
Second, our ways of teaching and presenting
music has changed over the years. Kids are less
likely to have song sheets in their hands, making
the singing of complex modern Hebrew lyrics much
more unwieldy.
Third, in the early 1970s there were essentially
no American Jewish composers writing for a youth
market. It was the BDF era Before Debbie Fried-
man. We were dependent on Israeli imports and,
to a lesser degree, on the music of Shlomo Carle-
bach. In some ways, the absence of Israeli popular
music from our summer camps demonstrates that
American Jewish culture has come of age. But with
that cultural declaration of independence, what do
we lose?
The Zionist thinker Ahad Ha-am hoped that the
reborn state would become the cultural center of the
Jewish world, with a new kind of Torah coming forth
from Zion. Without Israeli songs on our lips, we lose
a connection between American Jewish youth and
Israeli culture. A pop culture connection represents
the opportunity to see an Israel that goes beyond the
crisis narrative, an Israel that is rich, vibrant, cool,
sophisticated. And in fact, as I have learned from
Yossi Klein Halevi, a meticulous observer and fan of
this music, the music is better than ever, with much
to say and teach.
Lets work on restoring the link. It is easy, painless
and technologically feasible. Lets teach the songs
and their significance to contemporary Israelis,
and to us as American Jews.
Sing us the songs of Zion, says the Psalmist. This
was how the Babylonians taunted our hopeless and
hapless ancestors who despaired of ever having
songs to sing again. The Temple musicians, deprived
of their sacred venue, hung their harps on the wil-
lows. The midrash says they even broke their fingers
in protest.
Its time for us to walk with history and to sing
the songs of Zion. And here is the good news. Ein-
steins Ani vatta is still being sung at Jewish sum-
mer camps. It is Ariks musical kaddish.
In the musical world to come he now inhabits,
Arik is surely smiling. And come next summer, he
will surely sing along. JTA WIRE SERVICE
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin is the spiritual leader of Temple
Beth Am in Bayonne and the author of many books
on spirituality and Jewish identity published by
Jewish Lights Publishing and the Jewish Publication
Society.
Rabbi Jeffrey
K. Salkin
Lets work on
restoring the link. It is
easy, painless and
technologically
feasible. Lets teach
the songs and their
significance
RABBI JEFFREY K SALKIN
disconnect between what they had been called in America
and what they were called in Israel. Their English names just
shifted to the Hebrew version: Nathan/Natan and Ruthie/Ruti.
For Ezra and Elie there was no shift at all. The only catch was
Rebecca. In the United States Rebecca is a fairly cool name,
but when it moves to Hebrew we are not talking about a mere
shift but a seismic change to Rivka. Rivkas in Israel are mainly
octogenarian and up. The next generation mine already
prefers the diminutive, such as Riki. And as far as my daugh-
ters generation, well, unless you go into an ultra-Orthodox
community, you will find it almost impossible to track down
a native-born Rivka. We know of another Rebecca, a girl my
daughters age (the family is from California), who insists on
being addressed as Rebecca in Hebrew (even though Israelis
have trouble with that first syllable), and she will correct you
if you refer to her as Rivka. God bless our Rebecca; though
she is wont to berate us for saddling her with an incredibly
square name, she is Rivka in Hebrew even for the announc-
ers at her professional basketball games. Indeed, the crowd
seems thrilled to chant Rivka, Rivka. I keep telling her: Just
want until youre a grandma, then youll thank us that you
have a proper name. Those cool, hip Israeli names (mainly
taken from nature) will seem strange on septuagenarians;
e.g., Gal (Wave), Stav (Autumn), Tal (Dew), and Bar (Wild).
Those names, by the way, typically are considered unisex,
and Israel is filled with hundreds of boys and girls sharing the
same names.
You would think that young national-religious parents
would be more sensible in choosing names for their children,
especially for their boys. After all, it is one thing to name your
son Shachaf, Almog, or Maayan, but it is another to be called
up to the Torah as Seagull, Coral, or Well-Spring.
You might think this, but you would be wrong. The key for
grandparents is to remember to do what our friend did for the
last trimester of her daughters pregnancy.
She kept practicing over and over saying the following
words: Thats a lovely name. I hope that my turn to repeat
this mantra will come soon.
Teddy Weinberger is an Israeli-American writer who made
aliyah with his family in 1997.
Rivkas in Israel are
mainly octogenarian
and up. The next
generation mine
already prefers the
diminutive, such as Riki.
Herring is not religion
Cultural alternative to conversion is a bad idea
EFRAT, west bank The
reputable car dealers adver-
tisement in the local paper
screams Brand New Mer-
cedes Only $500!
You get excited but think it
sounds too good to be true.
Upon closer inspection, it is:
The car dealer is offering only
Mercedes hubcaps of the Mer-
cedes for $500. If you want the
whole car, it will cost the stan-
dard price. Suddenly the car
dealer doesnt sound so reputable.
You would never find such an ad,
because no car dealer in his right mind
would make such an offer. Yet hubcaps
masquerading as the car is exactly what
Steven M. Cohen and Rabbi Kerry Olitzky
offer, in their recent op ed, Conversion
shouldnt be the only path to joining the
Jewish people.
Cohen and Olitzky bemoan that as of
now, theres only one way for a non-Jew to
become Jewish conversion and offer an
alternative they call Jewish Cultural Affir-
mation. Under this scheme, those who are
not interested in Judaism as a religion, and
even those who follow a different reli-
gion, could choose the Jewish
Cultural Affirmation path.
To achieve this lofty
status, they suggest
that the candidate
undertake a web-
based self-study
course, along with
undefined experi-
ences of lived Jewish-
ness. Candidates could
sample Jewish topics ranging from
politics to comedy to social action and
text study. They then would be eligible to
receive a certificate of membership in the
Jewish people, much like my certificate
from the American Legion.
As someone who is married to a convert,
who has spent the better part of his profes-
sional life as a Jewish communal leader and
counseled a wide range of sincere people
in intermarriages who seek entry into the
Jewish people, I find such a proposal shal-
low, impractical, and offensive.
To reduce membership in the Jewish
people to a shallow cultural affirma-
tion completely misses the point of
being Jewish. To put it bluntly, herring
is not a religion.
We are a people who,
despite our small size, have
had a critical mission in the
world for 3,500 years. As
Christian scholar Paul John-
son wrote in his seminal
History of the Jews, The
Jews stand at the center of
the perennial attempt to
give human life the dignity
of a purpose.
J udai s m address es
the most pressing life-and-death issues,
teaches us how to infuse the sacred into
all of existence, and presses us to strive to
become a light to the nations. To reduce
all of that to a mere cultural affirmation is
to say that the most profound elements of
Judaism are unimportant.
The proposal is impractical. People who
wish to convert can and will do so. The
myriad approaches to American Jewish
life offer a range of conversion options,
from traditional conversions that require
years of preparation and a commitment to
all of the mitzvahs, to conversions that can
be completed in a matter of months with
minimal lifestyle changes. If someone is
uninterested in following even a minimal
conversion route, why would he or she be
interested in affirming a Jewish identity
at all?
And just what would such an affirma-
tion accomplish? There already are a num-
ber of non-Jews in intermarriages who
are attempting to raise Jewish children,
who serve on synagogue boards, and who
observe some Jewish holidays with their
Jewish spouses even as they celebrate
Christmas and go to church. Jewish edu-
cational opportunities are readily available
to them. Rabbis and other Jewish leaders
often praise their efforts.
All this has happened without an affir-
mation process or completion certificate.
Creating a new process is superfluous; it
would do nothing to change the reality on
the ground.
Finally, Cohen and Olitzkys proposal is
offensive. In my experience, Jewish leaders
who propose novel conversion procedures
almost never consult with the end users
converts who could tell them from deep
personal experience what is and isnt
needed.
The responses of converts with whom
I shared Cohen and Olitzkys proposal
ranged from befuddled to offended. Most
of all, they just didnt get why something
like this is needed. Neither do I.
A Jewish Cultural Affirmation track
would undermine the hard work of sin-
cere converts who have chosen to trans-
form their lives and souls in joining the
Jewish people. To offer Jewish Cultural
Editorial
JS-18*
Conversion shouldnt be
the only path to joining
the Jewish people
Right now, there is just one
way for someone who is not
Jewish to become Jewish in
a publicly recognized and
officially authorized fashion:
undergo religious conversion
under the auspices of a rabbi.
Whether the path to
Jewish identification follows
Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform, Reconstructionist,
or other auspices, conversion
is explicitly and entirely
religious in nature. These
movements and their rabbis
vary both in the preparation
they demand and the religious
commitments they seek of
potential converts. But all
require a significant measure
of rel i gi ous educati on,
practice and expressed
commitment to a Jewish way
of life.
In the United States,
interest in becoming Jewish
has grown, owing in part to intermarriage,
intergroup friendship, and more positive
feelings about Jews and Judaism. As a
result of Judaism entering the marketplace
of ideas, Jewish thought and ideas resonate
with many people. And with the melting
of hard social boundaries separating Jews
from others, many have entered into
marriages, friendships and close working
relationships with Jews.
Yet, notwithstanding the thousands of
non-Jews who maintain familial, friendship
and collegial ties to Jews, many with some
interest in joining the Jewish people may
be disinclined to do so for any of a variety
of reasons. In the Jewish Community Study
of New York: 2011, 7 percent of adults who
identified as Jewish reported that neither of
their parents were Jewish. Of the 7 percent,
2 percent said they formally converted
and 5 percent said they became Jewish
by personal choice and not by way of
religious conversion. How can we explain
the popularity of people assuming a Jewish
identity without undergoing religious
conversion?
We believe that some prospective
converts to Judaism feel that religious
conversion demands what for them would
be an insincere affirmation of religious
faith. Perhaps they are agnostic or atheist
or secular, or even committed to another
faith tradition. Others may be wary of
adopting Judaism as an
exclusive religion so as not
to offend their parents or
other family members,
or because conversion
requires abandonment
of religiously grounded
customs and holidays like
Christmas.
Even though significant
numbers of Jews are
secular, atheist, or celebrate
Christmas as a seasonal
holiday, holding such
positions and observing
such practices present
prospective converts with
insurmountable barriers to
conversion.
As a resul t , many
would-be members of
the Jewish people have
no possibility of engaging
in a course of study and
socialization that would
lead to public recognition
of their having joined the Jewish
people, and they have limited
access to enriching their
familiarity with lived
Judai sm the
actual culture and
ethos of Jewish life
as lived in families
and communities.
And we know that
most people live out
their Judaism more in the
informal context of family and
friends than in the more formal context of
religious institutions.
In theory at least, broader access to
Judaism beyond that already offered
by rabbis, congregations, and religious
movements could result in more non-Jews
in Jewish families and friendship circles
building Jewish homes.
To provide a viable alternative to the
religious route to becoming a Jew, we
propose a second explicitly cultural
pathway to join the Jewish people. This
pathway, which we call Jewish Cultural
Affirmation, would be clearly distinguished
from Jewish religious conversion.
Religious conversion would remain a
rabbinic prerogative, and Jewish Cultural
Affirmation would not assume an anti-
religious ethos. Nor are we suggesting that
Jewish Cultural Affirmation undermine or
obviate the traditional path to conversion.
Rather, by offering an additional vehicle
to acquiring a Jewish social identity,
Jewish Cultural Affirmation would allow
prospective Jews to acquire a measure
Steven M.
Cohen
Harold
Berman
Kerry
Olitzky
SEE CONVERSION 1 PAGE 27 SEE CONVERSION 2 PAGE 27
Harold Berman, the co-author of
Doublelife: One Family, Two Faiths
and a Journey of Hope, is the former
executive director of the Jewish
Federation of Western Massachusetts.
He and his wife, Gayle, are the founders
of J-Journey.org, a support system
for intermarried families who seek to
become observant Jews.
Steven M. Cohen is research professor
of Jewish social policy at Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi
Kerry M. Olitzky is executive director of Big
Tent Judaism/Jewish Outreach Institute.
Letters
JS-19
JS-19
Church-state separation
Ridgewood now has a public chanukiyah (Chanukah
lights to shine in Ridgewood, November 22). It joins
Berlikum, in the Netherlands, which has just erected a
36-foot menorah on a 6-ton base, thanks to the efforts
of Christians for Israel. The Dutch display is claimed to
be the largest in Europe.
One part of me is proud to see these visible symbols
out on display. But my pintele Yid also thinks of crosses
in schools, and cringes. Whats next? Will we see Bud-
dhas in city halls, statues of Jesus in bus stations, or a
crescent and star in the firehouse?
These may be extreme examples, but the principle
is the same. Yes, the White House has a Christmas tree
and an Easter egg roll. And no, I didnt like it when Ala-
bama was forced to remove a Ten Commandments
monument from its Supreme Court building. But the
federal court order was correct. A public venue in
America has no business promoting a religious agenda.
Menorahs belong in our homes and synagogues,
where they can and should be displayed to the out-
side world. The bigger, the better. In my family, we
have a bunch on the dining room table, and our elec-
tric menorah is placed in the living room window.
Theres always next year for the 6-ton variety!
Eric Weis
Wayne
Dont repeat Munich
The thrust of your editorial, Be careful what you
wish for (November 29), is that the sanctions against
Iran, ... have only one goal: to bring the recalcitrant
nation (in this case, Iran) to the negotiating table.
This is not true. The purpose of the sanctions was/
is to prevent Iran from having the capabilities to pro-
duce nuclear weapons, not just to bring them to the
table. To read the interpretations being reported
about what the deal consists of, as stated by vari-
ous Iranians and by Kerry and Obama, makes you
wonder if they are reading from the same page. The
moves in Congress to increase the sanctions are not
coming just from congressmen on the right, but also
from those on the left. The increased sanctions that
are being discussed, should they be passed, will not
come into play until the current negotiations fall
through, not now.
It is important that any further agreements include
ironclad statements that leave no room for interpre-
tations that can negate what is meant by no path to
nuclear weapons. The Iranians will seek to make sure
that there are loopholes that will allow them to pass
through to their goal of being a nuclear weapons
power; the P5 +1 must make sure there are none.
The Obama administration must take a hard-line
approach and not lead to a repeat of Munich 1938.
Howard J. Cohn
New Milford
Jaw-jaw not war-war
Writers who aspire to master the art of purveying
false equivalence would do well to study Negotiating
with evil (op ed, November 29) on the subject of the
nuclear deal with Iran. The article is a classic example
of the genre. Differences between Iran today and Ger-
many in the 1930s abound.
Germany was engaged then in openly violating the
terms of the Versailles Treaty, expanding the army,
building an air force, and re-militarizing the Rhine-
land. Notwithstanding these acts of defiance, no steps
were taken by the Allies in response to them. No eco-
nomic sanctions were imposed, no demands for on-site
Lifetime Income for Retirement.
And an even greater outcome for Israel,
science and education.
For information on AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuities,
please call AFHU Executive Director, New Jersey Region,
Michelle L. Hartman Ph.D. at (201) 399-3701 or email:
mhartman@afhu.org
P.O. Box 477
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 (201) 399-3701
afhu.org/CGA3
CALL OR EMAIL NOW.
THE RETURNS ARE
GENEROUS. THE CAUSE
IS PRICELESS.
Research engine for the world. Engine of growth for a nation.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rates are calculated based on a single life. Cash contributions produce partially tax-free annuity income.
Learn why Ruth
chose her plan.
See a video prole:
afhu.org/cga3
Sample AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity Single-Life Rates
67
6.2%
Age
Rate
70
6.5%
75
7.1%
80
8.0%
85
9.5%
90
11.3%
inspections were made. Furthermore, at the time of the
Munich conference in September 1938, the democracies did
not possess sufficient military power to enforce any interven-
tion (nor the will to use it, if they had).
The viewpoint expressed in the op ed serves merely to
encourage the kind of militancy now emanating from Jeru-
salem (of all places). How ironic that it is now Israel that is the
rattler of sabers. It is playing a very dangerous game indeed,
one that could very well drag us into yet another war, just as
we have been winding down the two in which we have been
engaged for so long and so fruitlessly.
It is also interesting that the op ed should invoke Winston
Churchill in support of this argument, for the writer seems
either to have forgotten (or conveniently to have ignored)
something else Churchill said: It is always better to jaw-jaw
than to war-war.
Sanford Kluger
Englewood Cliffs

JS-20*
Cover Story
The unorthodox
Orthodoxy of JOFA
Feminist conference broadens appeal by dealing with basic life issues
JOANNE PALMER
I
ts fair to say that although the Jewish
Orthodox Feminist Alliance JOFA
is both feminist and big O Orthodox,
small o orthodox its not.
Now, its even looking beyond feminism,
as societal understandings of that word
morph as well.
Devoted to working at the places where
Orthodoxy and feminism overlap, JOFAs
members are well positioned to watch
the world change around them as they
institute some of that change themselves.
JOFA expands the spiritual, ritual,
intellectual and political opportunities for
women within the framework of halacha,
by advocating meaningful participation
and equality for women in family life,
synagogues, houses of learning, and
Jewish communal organizations to the
full extent possible within halacha, its
mission statement reads.
Its a tough and exhilarating balancing
act.
JOFA was born out of a conference; in
1997, a group of Orthodox Jews met at the
Grand Hyatt Hotel next to Grand Central
Terminal to consider questions of gender
and religion. The conferences, held
about every three years, have grown and
moved, as its founders looked for space
inexpensive enough to permit younger,
less financially secure participants to join
them. This year, it will meet at John Jay
College in Manhattan; the conference is set
for this Saturday night and Sunday. JOFA
conferences draw between 800 and 1,000
attendees.
As times have changed, so has JOFAs
conference, this year called Voices of
Change.
At the beginning, it was heavily
women, its president, Judy Heicklen of
Teaneck, an accountant whose day job is
as a managing director as Credit Suisse,
said. The last conference was about
70/30, men to women. These issues are
really mattering to a lot of men, and the
younger you go, the more gender balanced
it is. The youngest cohort, the 20 to 30
group, is much closer to 50/50. And we
have child care.
Saturday night will be social, Ms.
Heicklen said; in keeping with the voices
its name invokes, the entertainment
is labeled Wine, Women and Song.
There are four performances that will
run simultaneously and two time slots
for each of them, so each conference-
goer can see two of them. The choices
include the a cappella groups from
Columbia, Barnard, and Queens College;
the Jewish alt rock band Girls in Trouble;
Ofir Ben Shitrit, the young winner of the
Israeli Voice competition; and storyteller
Peninah Schramm and Sephardi musician
Gerard Edery. After the professionals have
finished, a kumsitz will allow the amateurs
to sing, too.
The next day is the conferences core.
Fifty sessions are broken into tracks
covering a range of subjects a random
sample from the schedule posted on the
website includes agunah (a woman whose
husband will not give her a religious
divorce), social activism, changing
communities, changing rituals, sexuality
and body image. Those tracks are open to
all; two others, for high school students
and educators, are limited to members of
those groups.
One of the things weve focused on in
this conference is that we dont want to
lecture at you, top down, Ms. Heicklen
said. Its about how you live your life.
What are the real issues that affect
you?
Toward that end, one of the conferences
taglines is Its Not Just For Feminists
Anymore.
Not surprisingly, there has been a great
deal of heat, if not much light, generated
by it.
Its really all about diversity, Ms. Heicklen
said. We thought of it as broadening our
appeal. People should realize that a lot
of these issues the changing nature
of families, homosexuality, agunot,
education, body image, Israel matter to
you, even if youre not out there marching
with the feminists. These are issues that
hit you in your own homes, schools, and
shuls. They are things that many people
are struggling with.
Some people got upset because it
looked like we were trying to back away
from the label. That is not our intent. We
wanted to broaden, not back away.
Part of it also was to stimulate the
conversation about what it means to be a
feminist.
We are very proud of the F in our
name. We dont want to dismiss all the
hard work of the feminists who came
before us, and who continue to lead the
charge. But we dont want someone to say
it doesnt speak to me, because we think
that with the variety of sessions we offer,
we speak to lots of people.
The position of women in the Orthodox
world at least her part of it has changed
a great deal since the conferences began 16
years ago, she continued.
We see it in terms of womens
leadership obviously maharat is new,
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah is new, and the
partnership minyan is new, she said.
(Maharat is the title given to women who
have been trained for leadership roles
in synagogues, roles that are not unlike
those filled by rabbis; Chovevei Torah
is the rabbinical seminary that follows
open Orthodoxy; partnership minyanim
allow women to play bigger roles than
is traditional in the Orthodox world.
All, proponents say, are bound by the
Orthodox understanding of halachah.)
Rabbi s have become much more
interested in womens tefillah groups
where women join in prayer, without men
and without constituting a minyan. It has
become a safe option, where 15 years ago
it was radical.
The culture has changed, as well, Ms.
Heicklen continued.
Stern College Yeshiva Universitys
college for women now offers a graduate
program in advanced talmudic studies,
and works to place its graduates in schools
and synagogues as learned women, she
said. And YU gave a woman the first Ph.D.
in Talmud two years ago.
Women saying kaddish, simchat bat,
bat mitzvah theres been a lot of change.
A womens tefillah group welcomes a sefer Torah to its new home on Rosh
Hodesh Tammuz in Teanecks Netivot Shalom.
We dont
want to
lecture at
you, top
down. Its
about how you
live your life.
JUDY HEICKLEN
Cover Story
JS-21*
Simon Fleischer of Teaneck taught
English for two years at Maayanot High
School there; he is now co-chair of the
English department and teaches English
and Jewish philosophy at SAR High
School in Riverdale, N.Y. He is a co-head
of the conferences educators track, in
which participants will have the chance
to explore questions of particular interest
to them. All have to do in some way with
gender.
One of the sessions is relating to
tefillah, he said. Another is on best
practices in education that have to do
with gender issues, such as teaching
difficult, challenging texts; managing
coed classrooms, and raising sensitivities
around extracurricular activities.
Another, about finding gap-year programs
in Israel, with a particular eye toward
gender-related problems, is open to
parents and students, as well as educators.
The sessions will highlight problems
and examine thorny situations; they are
less likely to offer solutions. For example,
the session on tefillah prayer will break
the issue down by age groups. In lower
schools, boys might say the brachah
the blessing on tsitsit out loud, while
girls sit there silently. What do you do with
that moment? Whatever you do sends a
message. What do you do while boys say
shelo asani ishah? Thats the morning
blessing during which men thank God for
not having been made female.
Particularly after bar- and bat-mitzvah
age, what do you do? Do you structure it
so girls are passive observers? he said.
Thats a brainstorming question.
The Orthodox community has a great
consensus on certain things, such as
Shabbes, but very little on others, such as
womens involvement in ritual.
These issues are not necessarily
problems for everyone. They are examples
of the norms of gender identity that
emerge in school.
Schools are amazing little laboratories,
he said.
Evan Hochberg of Englewood will
talk about partnership minyanim at the
conference; his firsthand knowledge
comes from his background as past chair
of Minyan Tiferet of Englewood and
Tenafly.
To me, these mi nyani m are a
tremendous movement. Its people who
are engaged in the Orthodox community,
and committed to building communities
where men and women are actively
engaged in prayer, he said.
They have been spreading because
One JOFA focus: Gender issues
in day school classrooms
When her daughter was
in first grade, Dr. Elana
Maryles Sztokman said,
she was in a music class.
I was early to pick her
up, so I sat in the back.
The teacher had just
written some notes on
the board, and she took
out a keyboard, and asked
who wanted to play these
notes. Every hand in the
class was raised.
She picked a boy.
He tried and failed. She
said, Lets try someone
el s e. She pi cked
another boy. He also
didnt get it. She chose
five boys in a row, and
none of them gets it.
I wat ched my
daughter. Each time
the teacher called
another boy, fewer
girls hands went up.
Soon they stopped.
They understood the
rules.
Eventually, the
teacher took out a triangle, and said,
Ill chose a girl.
The message was clear. To the boys,
it was that you can handle complex
music, that requires reading notes.
To girls, it was that you can tinkle a
triangle.
Boys learn that if they push hard
enough, they will get what they want.
Girls learn that if they are sweet and
quiet enough, they will get what they
want.
Dr. Sztokman, JOFAs executive
director, earned her doctorate in
sociology of education from Hebrew
University. Together with Dr. Chaya
Rosenfeld Gorsetman, she wrote
Educating in the Divine Image:
Gender Issues in Orthodox Jewish
Day Schools, which was released last
month. She will talk about the book at
the JOFA conference.
Stories such as this one, from her
own experiences, from Dr. Gorsetman,
and from friends and colleagues,
prompted the two women to write the
book.
It examines gender issues in
Jewi sh educational institutions,
especially Orthodox day schools, with
implications for other educational
settings, Dr. Sztokman said. It is
about how we educate children into
understanding gender; it looks at all
kind of different practices in schools
that teach boys and girls about social
expectations of gender.
Those issues are not
unique to the Orthodox
world, she said, but it
is a generation or two
behind in having these
conversat i ons. The
topic of gender issues
in education exploded
in the Western world in
the early 1990s with the
publication of Gender
Gaps: How School s
Shortchange Girls.
As a result, over
the l ast 20 years
there literally have
been more than 1,000
studi es of gender
issues in schools and
academic programs.
The book propelled
a whole discipline
gender in education
but none of that
reached the Orthodox
schools.
S h e a n d D r .
Gorsetman compared
not es about t hei r
experiences things like how schools
teach girls to clean for Passover, and
whether books have pictures of both
boys and girls, and the language
teachers use when they tell girls that
they are sweet, orderly, caring, and
boys that they are smart and brave.
We kept a file of these stories, and
after a few years we decided to conduct
our own research study, a survey of
teachers. The fruits of that research
are in Educating in the Divine Image.
Even peopl e who dont see
themselves as big feminist advocates
even they are startled when they
are confronted with such things as
the complete absence of pictures of
girls in books, or as examples in math
problems in math books. It is very hard
for people who have daughters to get
behind that, she said.
She is fully Orthodox, Dr. Sztokman
said, and she acknowledges that
there are many activities forbidden
to women by halachah. Still, she said,
There are many things that girls can
do before they hit the brick wall. There
is much room for empowerment and
activity for girls before we get there. We
are not anywhere close to the Do Not
Trespass sign.
Instead of banging their heads
against the wall, I would like to educate
Orthodox girls to expect more, to want
more, and to fight for more, she said.
JOANNE PALMER
Dr. Elana Maryles
Sztokman
The first four maharats celebrate their graduation last spring.
SEE JOFA PAGE 22
Do you
structure
it so
girls are
passive
observers?
Thats a
brainstorming
question.
SIMON FLEISCHER
After I
started
saying
kaddish,
I realized
that there was
no literature for
women to fall
back on about
saying kaddish.
BARBARA ASHKENAZ

JS-22*
Cover Story
Cover Story
Closter Furs & Fashions
WINTER
IS STILL
AHEAD
OF US
TRADE-INS
or
amazing
RESTYLING
or
SHEARING
of your old furs
570 Piermont Rd.
Closter Commons
(near Annie Sez)
201-767-0448
Our 2013/2014
collection of furs,
leathers, shearling
and reversibles
UNRIVALED
IN FASHION
& VALUE
Davids Dog Training
Obedience Training for Dogs
Education for Humans
201-286-9898
DavidsDogTrainingNJ@nj.rr.com
DavidsDogTrainingNJ.com
Providing
Pediatric Nursing
Throughout
New Jersey
310 Cedar Lane Teaneck, NJ
www.starhca.com
201-836-0500
people go to conferences like this one, or they go to a
partnership minyan somewhere, and they get so excited.
Then they bring that passion to their own community.
In just about every partnership minyan, you can
trace it to a particular person who went to a particular
conference or other minyan.
He defines a partnership minyan as one that within
a halachic framework tries to create space for both
women and men to participate actively in the davening.
You take it for granted that both women and men will
be involved in managing it, he continued. One of the
really beautiful things is that if you create a framework
where men and women are both encouraged to be
active participants, they do become active participants.
Men and women come on time to daven; when you
hear singing, its coming from both men and women.
(This is not possible in many traditional Orthodox
synagogues, where the principle of kol ishah, the ban
on hearing women sing, usually is in force.)
There is a real sense of everyone being important,
of everyones voice being important, he said. Every
person has a different voice, different skills, different
comfort level. A real community needs to involve every
person as an active participants.
Mr. Hochberg, who is a lawyer, said that his minyan
meets just every six weeks. Each of our members
belongs to a different local Orthodox synagogue, he
said. We all love them. Tiferet does not compete with
those shuls; instead, it supplements and complements
them.
Barbara Ashkenaz and Michal Smart edited the book
Kaddish: Womens Voices, and they will lead a panel
of women discussing their experiences with the classic
mourners prayer.
Ms. Ashkenaz is an artist and Jewish educator who
lives in Stanford, Conn. The book was born out of her
experiences. Her mother and her brother died within
six weeks of each other; for six weeks, both were deathly
ill, and then her brother, felled by an unexpected stroke,
died. Her mother followed.
It was a very difficult period, Ms. Ashkenaz
understated.
After I started saying kaddish, I realized that there
was no literature for women to fall back on about saying
kaddish, she said. There were a lot of books about men
saying it, and an article here and there, but not much.
She decided to do it herself, working with Ms. Smart.
The two women gathered almost 50 stories; the panel
will present a few of them.
The stories are not political, she said; they do not
focus on whether or not women should say kaddish.
I dont think there is a political theme in grief, Ms.
Ashkenaz said. I think these women have done it purely
as an honor to their parents or relatives. I dont think
that there is an anger, that feminist bellow. I think its
more of a sense of remembering, and doing it in a sacred
space, as part of a community.
There are many other ways to honor a parent by
learning, by doing volunteer work, but these women
chose to do it in a prayer space, she said.
Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus of Riverdale, N.Y., one of JOFAs
founding members and the conference chair, said that
this conference is aiming at a broader demographic.
Some of the younger women are interested more in
grassroots feminist issues, like how to balance the values
of community and family, than in what I call the meta
issues women as rabbis, women having leadership
roles in synagogues.
She sees JOFA as having shifted, now, she said. It is
not only working with the whole community, but with a
much broader range of issues.
Some of that just happened organically. Some of
the battles we were fighting we have won womens
learning, womens leadership, women in ritual roles,
partnership minyanim. The question now is how to
make this work in our lives.
The keynote, she said, will be four speakers talking
about four decades. Ronnie Becher will talk about
JOFAs beginnings, 18 years ago; how we were fighting
about whether a woman could hold a sefer Torah or say
kaddish. Then, she said, Maharat Rachel Kohl Finegold
will talk about becoming and being a maharat; Rabbi
Asher Lopatin will talk about open Orthodoxy; and Leah
Sarna, a college student, will talk about the future.
Yes, Dr. Marcus said, the Orthodox world is fractured,
but its always been like that.
JOFA
FROM PAGE 21
Some of the
younger
women are
interested
more in
grassroots
feminist
issues, like how to
balance the values of
community and family.
DR. BAT SHEVA MARCUS
Men and
women come
on time to
daven; when
you hear
singing, its coming
from both men and
women.
EVAN HOCHBERG
An elementary school girl learns to read Torah at
Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus.
Like us on Facebook.

JS-23*
www.jstandard.com
Cover Story
See hospitalsafetyscore.org for more
details about the Hospital Safety Score.
SM
Patient portrayal.
Once again, we have been awarded the
highest possible grade for patient safety
from the Leapfrog Group.
We remain committed to providing the

highest level of quality healthcare and
safety for you and your family. Learn
more at englewoodhospital.com.
Graded A
for safety,
four times
in a row.
HOSPITAL
SAFETY
SCORE
SM A
FALL 2013
Exquisite Styles for Men,
Women, Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Beaded, Crystal and
Crocheted Kippot
The Best Selection of Tallitot
and Kippot Anywhere!
www.thetallislady.com info@thetallislady.com
Lisa Prawer - Glen Rock, NJ 201-321-4995
Mention
this ad for
10% OFF
Its like mercury; it always seems to ball up and slide
away, and then re-congeal somewhere else. And then
another piece will break away.
So different parts are called different things, but
it seems to me that the Orthodox world is always a
moving, growing community. There is always pushback
from it, every step of the way.
But its always been like that. I remember, when I was
a child, my father saying that everything had become so
right wing.
So it always has splintered, and it always will splinter,
but you hope that the things that hold us together
continue to hold us together.
So this split its not a new thing. I have been hearing
about the split for 50 years.
WHO: The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
WHAT: Voices of Change conference
WHEN: December 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m.;
December 8, beginning at 8
WHERE: John Jay College; 524 West 59th St.,
Manhattan enter the New Building between
10th and 11th avenues.
WHY: For performances, lectures, workshops,
films, and panel discussions with leading
Orthodox feminist scholars, networking
opportunities, and action-oriented
programming.
HOW: Information is at www.jofa.org;
registration available at the door.
BRIEFS
Israel and Jordan agree
to build industrial park
on common border
Israel and Jordan have agreed to build a joint industrial
park on the border between the two nations, marking
their first large-scale agreement since the 1994 peace
treaty.
The future industrial park in the northern Jor-
dan Valley will consist of two parallel industrial and
employment zones that will be connected by a bridge
spanning the Jordan River. An Israeli ministerial com-
mittee has approved an initial NIS 120 million ($34 mil-
lion) investment and a future commitment of NIS 60
million ($17 million) for the project.
The agreement will strengthen relations between
the two states and add to growth in the region through
new factories, joint projects and the creation of new
jobs, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Silvan Sha-
lom said. JNS.ORG
Chinese foreign minister
to confer with Netanyahu
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Israel this
month and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-
yahu as well as other senior government officials.
During the visit, scheduled for December 17, Israeli
officials and Wang will discuss the interim agreement
on nuclear development signed with Iran in Geneva,
as Israel tries to weigh in on the final agreement
world powers are trying to formulate with the Islamic
Republic.
JNS.ORG
Two-year-old Israeli girl
injured in Jerusalem
stoning attack
Two-year-old Avigail Ben-Zion suffered a head wound
Thursday after her mothers car was stoned as it
entered the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood in Jerusa-
lem. She was released from Hadassah Ein Kerem Medi-
cal Center on Sunday.
Security forces arrested four Arab residents, ages
15-20, of the village of Sur Baher in eastern Jerusalem
in connection with the case.
Over the past few months we have been seeing an
increase in violence by Palestinians in several neigh-
borhoods in Jerusalem, especially in the form of rock
and Molotov cocktail attacks, a senior police officer
told Israel Hayom. JNS.ORG
Tel Aviv criticized for hosting
film festival on the Nakba
Member of Knesset Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) criti-
cized the city of Tel Aviv for hosting a film festival focusing
on the Nakba, the Arabic term meaning catastrophe that
Palestinians use to describe Israels victory in the 1948 War
of Independence.
I was shocked to discover that Tel Aviv Municipality was
helping produce an anti-Zionist film festival at the Tel Aviv
Cinematheque. A review of the events line-up clearly shows
that the films represented at the festival are of an anti-Zionist
nature, said Shaked.
The festival, titled 48 mm International Film Festival
on Nakba and Return, ran from Thursday to Saturday.
JNS.ORG
Egyptian Christian rights group
alarmed by possible Sharia law
The U.S.-based Egyptian Christian human rights group
Coptic Solidarity said the possible inclusion of Sharia law in
Egypts new constitution would institutionalize discrimi-
nation and persecution of all religious minorities such as
Copts, Bahai, Shia Muslims, and Jews.
Coptic Solidarity is extremely alarmed that the Egyp-
tian committee tasked with constitutional revisions may
be succumbing to intense pressure by Islamists to even
further enshrine Sharia as the basis of the constitution,
the group said.
Ultraconservative Salafi extremist groups have been vocal
in pushing for strict interpretations of Sharia law in Egypts
new constitution, according to the Gatestone Institute.
JNS.ORG
Med school: Al-Quds exchanges
need to be evaluated
after a Nazi-style rally
Student exchanges between the George Washington Univer-
sity School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Pales-
tinian Al-Quds University, which have not materialized since
being offered, would need to be evaluated following the
recent Nazi-style rally on the Al-Quds campus in Jerusalem.
In 2008, the [GW medical] school and Al-Quds Uni-
versity offered students the opportunity to study at either
school. There have been no student exchanges between the
schools, and given the reporting we have seen about recent
events, exchanges would need to be evaluated, Lisa Ander-
son, media relations coordinator for the GW medical school,
told JNS.org.
Brandeis University and Syracuse University both sus-
pended their Al-Quds partnerships after the Nazi-style rally,
while Bard College in New York said it would maintain its
partnership with the Palestinian school. JNS.ORG
Jewish World
JS-24*
Remembering Michael Weiner
PHIL JACOBS
Who is wise? The one who learns from
everyone.
The question and answer, a quote from
the Ethics of the Fathers, came from
Rabbi Ellen Lewis as she presided over the
funeral of Michael Weiner.
Mr. Weiner, who died on November 21
at 51, was the executive director of the
Major League Baseball Players Association.
He also was a local boy he was born
in Paterson and grew up in Pompton
Lakes. His father, Isaac Weiner, had been
a principal in the Pike Construction
Company, which built both the Frisch
Schools original home and then its new
building. Both were in Paramus.
Michael Weiner was a man who loved
easily and deeply he loved his wife,
Diane; his three daughters, Margie, Grace
and Sally; his relatives; his synagogue; his
law colleagues, and almost everyone he
came to know.
Mr. Weiner taught fourth and fifth grade
at the Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey in
Washington, New Jersey.
Did we mention that he was as
comfortable with Maimonides as he was
with A-Rod, Big Papi, or Derek Jeter?
He had to be. He lived in both those
worlds and many others as well.
Rabbi Lewis compared Weiner to King
Solomon, who knew you had to study
other people if you wanted to be wise and
if you wanted to make peace. That was the
kind of wisdom Mike had.
Mr. Weiners death, at his home in
Mansfield Township, marked the end of a
15-month fight with brain cancer.
Continuing to quote the Ethics of the
Father, Rabbi Lewis asked, Who is rich?
It wasnt the shock of his diagnosis
that made him wake up, look around and
suddenly appreciate what he had, she
said. That was part of the fabric of who he
was long before. Being sick just crystallized
it in a new way. Mikes response to his
diagnosis was, simply, that every day he
looked for beauty, meaning and joy. Mike
liked quoting his father, who said, You
cant be happy unless you want to go to
work in the morning and you want to
come home at night. Mike was genuinely
happy to be at work and at home.
Next, Rabbi Lewis asked, Who is
strong? It is the one who in Jewish tradition
exercises self-control.
If you saw Mike decked out in his
favorite blue jeans and infamous Chuck
Taylor sneakers, topped off with his
always rumpled hair, you wouldnt have
chosen to describe him as strong, she
said. His strength was quiet. He would sit
in difficult meetings and restrain himself
from speaking until he felt like he had
something significant to say. Then he
would say the right thing.
Mr. Weiners last public speaking
appearance was at last Julys Major
League Baseball All Star Game. Sitting in a
wheelchair, with his right side immobile,
he answered questions of his illness with
courage.
I dont know if I look at things
differently, he said. Maybe they became
more important to me and more conscious
to me going forward. As corny as this
sounds, I get up in the morning and I feel
Im going to live each day as it comes. I
dont take any day for granted. I dont take
the next morning for granted. What I look
for each day is beauty, meaning and joy,
and if I can find beauty, meaning and joy,
thats a good day.
Jon Pessah, New York Newsdays
Michael Weiner who died at 51 after a 15-month fight against brain cancer.
Jewish World
JS-25
See hospitalsafetyscore.org for more
details about the Hospital Safety Score.
SM
Patient portrayal.
Once again, we have been awarded the
highest possible grade for patient safety
from the Leapfrog Group.
We remain committed to providing the

highest level of quality healthcare and
safety for you and your family. Learn
more at englewoodhospital.com.
Graded A
for safety,
four times
in a row.
HOSPITAL
SAFETY
SCORE
SM A
FALL 2013
www.jstandard.com
former sports editor and a founding editor of ESPN
the Magazine, is completing a book covering Major
League Baseballs last 20 years. During the course of the
research Mr. Pessah met Mr. Weiner, who succeeded
Don Fehr as MLBPAs executive director in 2009.
The first thing you need to know about Michael is
that he never took himself too seriously even though
he held a high profile and influential job, Mr. Pessah
said. He was one of the few people Ive met doing
the kind of work he did and occupying the position
of power he occupied who treated people with basic
respect. This was a guy who graduated from Williams
College and Harvard Law School. He was a smart,
successful person, but his standard was sneakers, jeans,
and rumpled shirts, never fancy. He took a bus to Port
Authority and then walked the rest of the way. It was a
two-hour commute. People of his station get limos or car
services to take them up and back to work. The union
would have paid for it.
Mr. Pessah said that many people attending the
funeral wore Chuck Taylors.
He added that Mr. Weiner never allowed his illness
to stop him from working, sometimes spending hours
at a boardroom table in his Manhattan 26th floor office.
He was soft spoken, funny, and a huge sports fan,
Mr. Pessah said. He loved the Jets and the Yankees. And
he was a huge Springsteen fan.
You hate to say you like some people better than
others, but Michael was someone you were glad you
met. He made you want to be a better person, because
he was a good person.
His mentor during his early years at the MLBPA was
attorney Lauren Rich, who now works in Atlanta for the
National Labor Relations Board.
Ms. Rich said that her friend would be embarrassed
by all the attention he is receiving. Like Mr. Pessah, she
said that Mr. Weiner always was respectful of everyone,
even when youre in a fish bowl where its an industry
drowning in egos. He stood out by being the steady,
calm, respectful person even when he was very young.
She added that there was a great deal of drama in
her office. We had a group of dramatic people. But
even in that drama, he maintained that demeanor. It was
maddening because you wanted him to yell.
She said that Judaism formed an important bond in
their friendship.
We both observed the High Holidays and Passover, and
Judaism mattered to us. I spoke to him this year at around
the High Holidays. It was poignant, because he and his
daughter were practicing the Torah portion together. I
remember how much he was looking forward to that.
Before he went to the MLBPA, Mr. Weiner clerked
for U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin in Newark. He
was a junior lawyer during the baseball players strike
in 1994 and was on hand for the deal that led to a labor
agreement in March 1997.
As important as his law career and baseball were to
Mr. Weiner, so was his work as a Hebrew school teacher.
According to Rabbi Lewis, a young bar mitzvah student
asked if he could change the date of his celebration so
that Mr. Weiner could be there. The bar mitzvah boy
chose to donate his bar mitzvah money to Voices
Against Brain Cancer. Just days before to his death, the
synagogues Voices chapter participated in a 5k run-walk
in Mr. Weiners memory.
Mr. Weiner taught at the synagogue for 15 years. Just
weeks before he died, the school was named the JCNWJ
Mike Weiner School of Jewish Learning.
Mr. Weiner and his wife, Diane Margolin, met when
they were in second grade. She said that her husband felt
that part of the Jewish community was very important
to him.
We live in a rural area, she said. Judaism is a
minority here. Belonging to a synagogue was important
for our children to be able to meet other kids who were
the same.
Her husband shadowed their oldest daughter when
she started religious school in the third grade.
He had some concerns she wouldnt be able to
keep up, Ms. Margolin said. He started tutoring other
students, and the school recognized he had teaching
abilities. He knew Hebrew and had a strong knowledge
of Judaism and an ability to work with kids.
When he began to teach, she added, all the kids
wanted to be in his classes.
After his illness was diagnosed, was he at all angry at
God?
Mike was angry at no one, Ms. Margolin said. He
was able to accept his diagnosis and accept each loss of
ability with a grace that I really was constantly amazed
at. He didnt miss a beat. He gave it his all in everything
he did. When he turned and talked to you about your
favorite cartoon, he was with you. It wasnt a bigness.
He was understated. Everyone was just drawn to him
because he was funny, wise, and kind.
The final words from the Ethics of the Fathers in Rabbi
Lewiss eulogy were about honor.
Mike treated people with respect, she said. His
belief in you helped you believe in yourself. He treated
us all as if we were all created in Gods image except
that he wasnt so sure about the God part. In fact, the
only time I ever had a major disagreement with him was
the day I found out he was teaching fourth- and fifth-
graders that God was a hypothetical proposition. Mike,
I said, you can do that in college but you cant do that in
Hebrew school. To his credit, he looked a bit chagrined.
You couldnt measure his religiosity by his theology,
but you could measure it by how he lived his life. He was
accepting. He was nonjudgmental. He was rational and
logical, at times infuriatingly so. He treated everyone
fairly. That was how he honored people. And in the end,
all those whom he honored returned that honor to him
in their visits, calls, letters, emails whatever way they
chose to show him their love, he received your messages
with love.
Ms. Rich, his mentor, saw him just a few weeks before
he died.
He had accomplished so much in a very short
time, she said. How he approached his last year and
a half of life is a lesson to everyone. He and Diane were
determined hed ring out of every last second all the joy
he could.
I still cant believe it, she said.
In her eulogy for her husband, Ms. Margolin said,
Our Mike lived an intentional, mindful and honest
life, and this led to much happiness for him and those
around him.
She repeated those words, as if to underscore the
central truth of her husbands life.
Later she said simply, I cant imagine a world
without him.
He stood out by being
the steady, calm,
respectful person
even when he was
very young.
LAUREN RICH
Jewish World
JS-26*
o
n

t
h
e
f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&H#!GE,$Q&3J21D&82D&36158-1D&0C&R855C&%3785&GS1@4-IK1&H <1;&T& !<1&:8@BC85D&
U F371&G8/-+ &
H#!GE,$Q&;35&1K15C&3@@8/I32&82D&1K12-&/L877 A785O1 AI2-IL8-1A@356358-1 AJ1DDI2OA0I5-<D8CA/IL671&
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
Best Of The Best 2011
Brunch - The Backyard at Sole East
Continental Cuisine - The Backyard at Sole East
ON THE FORKS CATERING
owned and operated by
Larry Kolar Executive Chef / The Backyard at Sole East.
catering for every occasion and event
smalllargeintimatecorporateweddingbirthday
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
Executive Chef Sole East
Owner On the Forks Catering
info@ontheforks.com
o
n

t
h
e f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
o
n

t
h
e
f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
o
n

t
h
e f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
o
n

t
h
e f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
646-389-1099
o
n

t
h
e f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
Catering for every occasion and event
small large intimate corporate wedding birthday simple barbeque...
o
n

t
h
e
f
o
r
k
s
!"#$%&'()*+ &
&&
,-./&0112&345&6718/4519 &
&&
:1/-&(;&!<1&:1/-&&=>?? &:542@<& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
H32-I212-87&H4I/I21&& A&!<1&:8@BC85D&E1/-84582-&8-&F371&G8/- &
&
$ 3J&-<8-&01/-&I/&8K8I78071&;35&C345&1K12-9& &
&& &
#773J&L1&-3&I2-53D4@1&LC&21J&K12-451** &
&&
&
($&!"G&M(E%F&N73O3P &
&
&
U F371&G8/-+ &
08501V41&35&730/-15&08B1*++ &
&&
&&
R855C&%3785 &
GS1@4- IK1&H<1;&F371&G8/- &
(J215&(2&-<1&M35B/&H8-15I2O &
I2;3U32-<1;35B/+@3L &
simple barbeque

Larry Kolar
info@ontheforks.com
Catering
Now Available in
New Jersey!
Life is too short for just
an average holiday party.
Reform biennial opening to outsiders
URIEL HEILMAN
F
irst there was the Conservative
movements October biennial
conference, billed as The Con-
versation of the Century and
opened up to presenters from outside the
movement.
Then came the November General
Assembly of the Jewish Federations of
North America, which featured a Global
Jewish shuk: a marketplace of dialogue
and debate led by young Israelis and
Americans from outside the federation
world.
Now comes the biennial conference of
the Union for Reform Judaism, which will
be distinguished from past years by you
guessed it opening up to outsiders.
For the first time, the conference, which
will be held December 1115 in San Diego,
Calif., will be open to participants who are
not members of Reform congregations.
Learning sessions, which in past years
were run almost exclusively by Reform
staff, will be led in many cases by pre-
senters from outside the movement. The
Friday night prayer service will be open
to all, not just conference registrants. And
the night before the service, performers
from the conference from musicians
to comedians will go out to venues in
the surrounding neighborhood to share
Reform Judaisms good cheer with greater
San Diego.
Reform leaders say theyre not try-
ing to be trendy; they want to bring the
conference in line with the movements
philosophy.
We have opened the biennial as a sym-
bol of where we are as the Reform move-
ment, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the unions pres-
ident, said in an interview in his New York
office. Openness is our practice. It is not
just a technique, a thing to do. It is who we
are. It is theology. It is commitment.
Rabbi Jacobs said he wants visitors from
outside the movement to experience the
incredible vitality and depth and openness
of Reform Judaism in the 21st century.
This will be the first biennial that he
will run. The last one, held near Wash-
ington and featuring President Obama
as a speaker, was the movements largest
conference ever and marked the transition
from the leadership of Rabbi Eric Yoffie,
his predecessor.
This year, Israeli Prime Minister Ben-
jamin Netanyahu is slated to address the
conference a first for a sitting Israeli
prime minister, though hell probably
deliver the address via video rather than
in person.
The last Reform biennial, held near Washington in December 2011, marked the
passing of the torch to Rabbi Rick Jacobs, left, from Rabbi Eric Yoffie, right. URJ
SEE REFORM PAGE 28
Affirmation as an equally viable alternative to tradi-
tional conversion is to cheapen the process of conver-
sion itself. And if cultural affirmation is offered merely
as a second-class track, then it will do nothing except
sow confusion.
Given the tenuous state of American Jewry, so-called
Jewish leaders and funders no doubt will gravitate
toward new schemes dressed up as solutions to the
challenges of Jewish demography. But as the recent Pew
Research Centers survey of U.S. Jews shows, the race
to water down Jewish life has only weakened it. Rather
than throwing more good money after bad, we should
focus instead on what makes a Jewish life worth living.
JTA.ORG
JS-27
Editorial
This holiday season, come to a free vein screening with our board-certied
vein specialists. Open to men and women with visible varicose or spider veins
and those with leg pain or blood clots.
Monday Dec. 9 9 am - 12 pm
Friday Dec. 13 1 pm - 4 pm
Tuesday Dec. 17 4 pm - 7 pm
Pre-registration required. Call 866.980.3462
or visit englewoodhospital.com and click
Class and Event Registration link.
englewoodhospital.com
This year, gift yourself
healthy legs.
THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
Robin Rochlin | RobinR@jfnnj.org | 201.820.3970
Stock market got you up?
Put your gain to good use!
Open a Donor Advised Fund with Jewish Federation
Request
distributions
to qualied
charities
- at your
convenience
You receive
a tax receipt
for charitable
deduction
purposes
no capital
gains taxes
are payable
Establish
a special
charitable fund
in your name
with JFNNJs
Endowment
Foundation
Contribute
cash or
appreciated
securities
JFNNJ sells
the asset
and credits
your fund
with the sale
proceeds
OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
Jewish Federation
Questions? Call us!
Were here to help!
Heres how it works:
1245 Teaneck Rd.
Teaneck
837-8700
Tallesim Cleaned speCial shabbos Rush seRviCe
We want your business and we go the extra
mile to make you a regular customer
WE OFFER REPAIRS
AND ALTERATIONS
of familiarity with being Jewish and to undergo a non-
religious pathway toward membership in the Jewish
people.
Candidates for Jewish Cultural Affirmation would
undertake a course of self-guided study and experiences,
outlined in a web-based curriculum to be developed by
a panel of scholars, communal professionals and others.
The curriculum would consist not only of reading, but of
experiences of lived Jewishness.
Candidates would be encouraged to sample a
variety of areas of Jewish civilization such as politics,
literature, music, comedy, social action, learning,
organized community, Israel, chesed, and sacred and
secular texts and to achieve a level of familiarity with
and competence in participating in American Jewish
life.
Candidates would meet with mentors (in person and
virtually), and gather from time to time in small group
sessions, perhaps at private homes, restaurants, cafes or
other convenient venues that are not explicitly Jewish in
association.
For those who may come to desire official recognition,
we propose a public ceremony that would need to
be designed, and also a certificate of membership
in the Jewish people, whose specific substance and
formulation would need to be addressed.
Accomplished Jewish cultural experts professors,
writers, artists, educators, communal leaders, and
others would constitute boards that would oversee
the program and attest to the validity of the affirmation.
Jewish Cultural Affirmation would not preclude
eventual conversion by rabbis, should people seek more
traditional religious recognition of their Jewish status by
religious authorities. Indeed, acquiring an identification
with the Jewish people is a crucial segment in all
approaches to religious conversion, implying that Jewish
Cultural Affirmation can be seen by religious authorities
as comprising a significant step on the path to religious
conversion.
We welcome those who would like to support this
endeavor to join us in the conversation so that this
proposition might be brought to reality.
JTA WIRE SERVICE
Conversion 1
FROM PAGE 18
Conversion 2
FROM PAGE 18
Jewish World
JS-28
2014
www.leisuretimetours.com
Leisure Time Tours
718-528-0700
NEW
YORK
800-223-2624
TOLL
FREE
Boca Raton Resort
Boca Raton, Florida
A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Gorgeous Private Beach
Scholars - Senator Joseph and
Hadassah Lieberman
2 Championship Golf Courses
30 Clay Tennis Courts, World Class Spa
Prestige Caterers NK Glatt Kosher
Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix, Arizona
PGA National Resort
Palm Beach, Florida
Entire Hotel Kosher for Pesach
Private Balcony in all rooms
5 Tournament-ready Golf Courses
In cooperation with Kosherica
Foremost Ram Caterers
ORB Glatt Kosher Supervision
Four Seasons
Whistler, British Columbia
Outstanding Spring Skiing
#1 Ski Resort in North America
Beautiful oversized guest rooms & suites
Scholar - Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Glatt Kosher Supervision
A Waldorf Astoria Resort
39 Lush Acres with 8 Swimming Pools
2 Championship Golf Courses
In cooperation with VIP Passover
Danzinger Caterers Phoenix Vaad
Westchester Hilton
Rye Brook, New York
30 minutes from New York City
Entire Hotel Newly Renovated
Prestige Caterers - ORB Glatt Kosher
Boca Raton Resort Four Seasons
g
Arizona Biltmore Westchester Hi
PGA National Resort
Fiuggi, Italy
ilton ilton Palazzo Della Fonte
45 minutes from Rome
Member of Leading Hotels
Of The World
Scholar-in-residence Rabbi Adam Mintz
under Rabbi G. M. Garelik of Milan
L
Other presenters include New York Times food writer Mark
Bittman; Donniel Hartman, an Orthodox rabbi who heads the
Shalom Hartman Institute; Rabbi Ron Wolfson, a star of the Con-
servative movement and a professor at the American Jewish
University; Israeli Knesset member Ruth Calderon; and Sharon
Brous, a Conservative-ordained rabbi who created and leads the
popular Ikar community in Los Angeles.
For the Reform movement, the question isnt so much
whether the four-day conference is a success but whether
Reform Judaism can tackle the growing disaffiliation and disen-
gagement in its ranks.
The recent Pew Research Center survey of U.S. Jews found
that while Reform remains the largest American Jewish
denomination, with 35 percent of American Jews, it ranks low-
est of the three major movements on some key metrics of Jewish
engagement.
Reform Jews are the most likely of the denominations to
leave the Jewish fold. According to Pew, 28 percent of Jews born
Reform no longer consider themselves Jewish by religion, com-
pared to 17 percent of Conservative and 11 percent of Orthodox.
Half of married Reform Jews have a non-Jewish spouse. Just 43
percent of Reform Jews say being Jewish is very important to
them, and only 16 percent say religion is very important in their
lives.
At 1.7 children per couple, the birth rate of Reform Jews is the
lowest of the three major U.S. Jewish denominations and well
below the replacement rate. Fewer than half of those children
are enrolled in any kind of formal Jewish educational or youth
program. The median age of Reform Jews is 54.
It is in this context, Rabbi Jacobs said, that he was
brought on a year and a half ago as president to re-exam-
ine everything the movement does. He has articulated
three strategic priorities for the movement: catalyze con-
gregational change, engage young Jews, and expand the
movements reach beyond synagogue walls. Some pro-
grammatic changes along those lines are under way.
Next summer, the movement will open two new sum-
mer camps. The 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, a science and
technology camp outside Boston, will be its 14th overnight
camp, and the movements first summer day camp, Camp
Harlam, will open near Philadelphia.
Since May 2012, a pilot group of more than a dozen syn-
agogues has been working to overhaul the movements
approach to bar mitzvahs as part of a program called the
Bnei Mitzvah Revolution. The effort, the movement says,
is intended to reduce the staggering rates of post-bnai
mitzvah dropout.
Everything from how to make bar mitzvah preparation
more engaging to making the celebrations themselves
more traditional and meaningful is on the table. Dozens
more synagogues are in the process of joining the pro-
gram and adopting some of the more successful efforts.
Like its counterpart in the Conservative movement, the
Union for Reform Judaism also is under pressure to dem-
onstrate to its 871 member congregations that they are get-
ting their moneys worth for the dues they pay.
The union now has a resource desk and hosts an online
forum for congregational leaders to share ideas and
resources. Consultants are available to provide congrega-
tions with strategic expertise. Congregational network
teams work with synagogue leaders to figure out ways
the union can be more helpful.
An initiative called Communities of Practice brings
together like-minded congregations to work on strategies
for programming for young adults, engaging young fami-
lies, improving early childhood offerings, and figuring out
how to stabilize synagogue finances.
The union itself has shrunk slightly since Jacobs took
over. Thirty employees were laid off in May 2012 as part
of a general restructuring; the union now has about 350
employees. (Because it is a religious organization, the
union is exempt from filing the 990 IRS tax forms that
disclose detailed financial information, including Jacobs
salary.)
For Reform Judaism to thrive, Rabbi Jacobs says, every-
thing must be reconsidered.
When I was hired, that was the job description, he
said. Challenge everything, question everything, and
make us stronger, make us more effective, make us more
filled with the core meaning of the Jewish tradition.
Its not enough just to keep doing the same things with
more vigor. You have to say: Is it effective? Thats exactly
what is needed in every part of Jewish life. This is not a
business-as-usual kind of moment.
JTA WIRE SERVICE
Reform
FROM PAGE 26
Its not enough just
to keep doing
the same things
with more vigor. You
have to say:
Is it effective?
RABBI RICK JACOBS
Jewish World
JS-29*
NEED HEALTH CARE SERVICES?
THE JEWISH REFERRAL SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS
Call Now: 1-888-261-2799
a
With Over 24 Years Of Experience, We Will Give You A Right Recommendation
Absolutely FREE!
We Can Refer You To Professionals In Other Fields, As Well!
Primary Care Physician
Dentists
Chiropractors
Acupuncture
Dermatology
Ear, Nose And Throat Specialist
Endocrinology
Internal Medicine
Gastroenterology
Mental Health
Gynecology
And Much More!
Drive aims to bolster
literacy in Hebrew
among American Jews
JULIE WIENER
F
or the first 3 1/2 weeks of the
summer, one group of 5-year-
olds at Ramah Day Camp in
Nyack, N.Y., was very quiet
as the children went about the typi-
cal camp activities, according to Amy
Skopp Cooper, the camps director.
But in the fourth week, the talking
started in Israeli-accented Hebrew.
By the end of the summer, evalua-
tions revealed that most of the 20 chil-
dren all of whom had started out as
Hebrew novices had gone up multi-
ple levels in their Hebrew proficiency,
Ms. Cooper said.
The campers were participants in a
pilot Hebrew immersion program at
the Jewish day camp 25 miles north
of Manhattan. And if leaders of a new
group promoting Hebrew literacy have
their way, those campers will soon be
joined by many others.
The Hebrew Language Council of
North America, which held its inau-
gural conference last month in New
Jersey, aims to make Hebrew a more
central part of American Jewish cul-
ture. Established by a partnership
among several organizations includ-
ing the World Zionist Organization and
the Israeli Ministry of Education, the
council is launching as growing num-
bers of Jewish educational programs
are rethinking their approach to teach-
ing Hebrew and as signs emerge of low
Hebrew literacy among American Jews.
Judaism is not just a religion, its
a people, said Arnee Winshall, CEO
of Hebrew at the Center, one of the
groups involved in starting the council.
We talk a lot about am Yisrael the
people of Israel and a language is
part of what distinguishes a people.
Many Jewish educators consider
Hebrew a core feature of Jewish iden-
tity building. But according to the
Pew Research Centers recent study
of American Jewry, just 52 percent of
American Jews know the Hebrew alpha-
bet, and only 10 percent can carry on
a conversation in Hebrew. Even among
those who attended yeshivah or Jewish
day school, the numbers are scarcely
better, with only one-third saying they
can converse in Hebrew. The number
rises to 64 percent for those with 10
years or more of day school education.
Experts variously attribute the
low numbers to poor teaching, lack
Campers at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, N.Y., participating in a pilot Hebrew
immersion program. RAMAH DAY CAMP
SEE LITERACY PAGE 30
We talk a lot
about am
Yisrael and
a language is
part of what
distinguishes
a people.
ARNEE WINSHALL
Jewish World
JS-30
RAINBOW
LOOM
INSTOCK!
271G Livingston St. Northvale, NJ 201.784.2665
www.booksandgreetings.com
HOURS: MON. TUES., WED. & SAT. 10-6 THURS. & FRI. 10-8 SUN. 12PM-5PM
3
6
0
4
6
6
3
N
J
M
G
Monday, December 16th 7PM
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th 12:00 NOON
LIDIA
BASTIANICH
Author & Restauranteur
JOEL OSTEEN
RETURNS!
ADRIANA TRIGIANI
Event being held at
ROCKLEIGH COUNTRY CLUB
Sunday, December 15th 10:00AM
0003604663-01_0003246219-01 12/2/13 11:23 AM Page 1
GET YOUR
TICKETS NOW!
Do you count the days till next Sunday,
cancel activities on Monday and Thursday nights?
Does nothing make you happier than a wide-screen tv, refreshments and remote control in
hand as you hunker down in your man cave. (Women, apply also!)
We need to talk.
The Jewish Standard is preparing a Super Bowl XIII preview for
January 15th and we want to share your story with our readers.
So, front and center. Tell us why you rank as one of the areas most devoted fan.
Email us at jstandardletters+superbowl@gmail.com
Rabid
football fans
WANTED!
Courtesy Cool Kippahs
of clarity about why Hebrew language
acquisition is important, and the few
opportunities to speak Hebrew in Ameri-
can Jewish life.
We know many if not most day schools
claim to be interested in [conversational]
Hebrew proficiency, but the reality is
they face limited time, and unless youre
really committed, its not easy, said Jona-
than Woocher, president of the Lippman
Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah and
a longtime CEO of the now-shuttered Jew-
ish Education Service of North America.
Day school directors face a dilemma
about where to put the emphasis and
resources and how to deal with the fact
that except for Israelis, there isnt a com-
munity of active Hebrew speakers in
America, Dr. Woocher said.
The emergence of publicly funded
Hebrew charter schools in the last six
years may help change the equation.
There are now 10 such schools in the
United States teaching Hebrew language
and Jewish culture, but like all public
schools they are prohibited from teach-
ing Jewish religion.
The schools are forcing us to up our
game, said Rabbi Andrew Davids, head
of Beit Rabban, a small nondenomina-
tional Jewish day school in Manhattan
now revamping its Hebrew curriculum.
Rabbi Davids said that four Beit Rab-
ban families transferred their children
to a new Hebrew charter school in Har-
lem this year. And while he recognizes
his school can never compete with the
free tuition of a charter school, he said
he wants to make sure his school can
offer a Hebrew program as good as the
charter schools.
We dont want Hebrew to be the rea-
son they leave, Rabbi Davids said.
The new council joins a number of
Hebrew teaching efforts that have been
percolating for the past decade.
In addition to Ramah Nyack, several
other Jewish camps have experimented
with Hebrew immersion. In Chicago, a
program called Moadon Kol Chadash
(New Voice Lounge) offers Hebrew-
immersion Jewish preschool. And seven
suburban public high schools, with sup-
port from the Jewish nonprofit Sho-
rashim, are offering Hebrew-language
courses.
Hebrew at the Center, an organiza-
tion formed six year ago that recently
partnered with Middlebury College in
Vermont to create the Middlebury-HATC
Institute for the Advancement of Hebrew
Language, has helped train teachers for
many of the programs. The Middlebury-
HATC Institute is launching masters and
doctoral programs to train Hebrew teach-
ers and support scholarly research.
Until now, Ms. Winshall said, most
Hebrew teachers in the United States
have had little formal training, and many
Jewish day schools recruit local Israelis
with little expertise in teaching language.
The Hebrew Language Council is plan-
ning to sponsor an annual three-day
Hebrew language and Israeli culture con-
ference, form a professional association
for Hebrew teachers in North America,
convene an online forum for sharing
information about various Hebrew pro-
grams, and raise money for Hebrew edu-
cation initiatives.
We have to bring under one umbrella
all the people who care about Hebrew,
said Simcha Leibovich, the World Zion-
ist Organization representative in North
America.
While Ms. Winshall knows of no studies
showing the impact of Hebrew literacy
on Jewish identity, she said there is signif-
icant research on how language mastery
influences a sense of connection to the
culture in which that language is spoken.
When I spent a year and a half in
Israel, I had a different experience than
my other American friends there, who
couldnt speak Hebrew or could only
function at the lowest level, she said. I
was invited to different things because
people said they didnt want to always
worry about speaking English.
JTA WIRE SERVICE
Literacy
FROM PAGE 29
We have to
bring under one
umbrella all the
people who care
about Hebrew.
SIMCHA LEIBOVICH
Jewish World
JS-31*
WASHINGTON Theres the six-month
interim deal on Irans nuclear program
that trades some sanctions relief for a
freeze on Irans nuclear program. And
then theres the interim before the
interim begins.
The fact that technically the deal
is not yet under way has been little
noticed in the wake of the historic
pact reached last month by Iran and
the major powers. A commission of
experts from the United States, Russia,
Germany, Britain, China, and France,
working with Iran and the International
Atomic Energy Agency, first must work
out the technical details before the deal
officially goes into effect.
The commission is not scheduled
to meet until January. And even then
its not clear how long it might take to
reach an agreement.
Obviously, once those technical dis-
cussions are worked through, I guess
the clock would start, Jen Psaki, the
State Department spokeswoman, said
in a news briefing on November 27.
Under the terms of the deal reached
in Geneva last month, Iran agreed to
limit its enrichment of uranium to 5
percent, freeze most of its centrifuges,
and halt construction on its plutonium
reactor. In exchange it would receive
sanctions relief totaling approximately
$7 billion.
President Obama strongly supported
the deal, which was intended to pro-
vide a six-month window in which to
conclude a final agreement on Irans
nuclear program. Critics, foremost
among them Israeli Prime Minister Ben-
jamin Netanyahu, saw the agreement as
a historic blunder, arguing that it would
advance Iran toward the acquisition of
a nuclear weapon.
Some critics say the uncertainty over
when the deal kicks in also works in
Irans favor.
Every day that goes by where Iran is
not bound to roll back its nuclear pro-
gram but still can benefit from a shift
in the market psychology from fear
to greed puts money in the regimes
pocket without doing anything to
address their growing nuclear weap-
ons capacity, said Mark Dubowitz, the
executive director of the Foundation
for Defense of Democracies, which
has helped shape many of the tough
sanctions passed in recent years by
Congress.
Mr. Dubowitzs colleague, Foun-
dation for Defense of Democracies
vice president Jonathan Schanzer, on
Tuesday tweeted links to Arab media
reports that some European oil compa-
nies already are considering new busi-
ness with Iran. The French oil giant
Total reportedly said last month that
it would resume dealings with Iran if
sanctions are revoked.
Ron Dermer, the new Israeli envoy
to Washington, also has cast the argu-
ment as one of momentum. In brief-
ings to members of Congress and Jew-
ish groups, Mr. Dermer has argued that
before the deal, tough sanctions and
the likelihood of more to come had
Iran on the ropes. With a deal in place,
however, the momentum could reverse
direction companies that once feared
being cut off from the U.S. economy
might consider deals with Iran.
Obama administration officials ada-
mantly deny the scenario. The princi-
pal sanctions targeting Irans energy
and banking sectors will stay in place
even during the interim deal, they say.
Right now our sanctions remain in
place, John Sullivan, spokesman for the
Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Trea-
sury section that monitors sanctions com-
pliance, said. More guidance on the relief
package will be forthcoming from Trea-
sury and our interagency partners.
What we agreed to is clear and lim-
ited. We will continue to enforce our
sanctions aggressively.
Alireza Nader, an Iran expert at the
Rand Corp., a think tank with close
ties to the U.S. defense establishment,
said that even those nations and com-
panies eager for sanctions relief would
not bust sanctions now for fear of
alienating the United States. India and
China, he said, would risk U.S. waivers
granted them on some dealings with
Iran should they be seen as planning
new business with the country.
Most countries are still wary of having
normal energy ties with Iran, he said.
Michael Adler, an Iran expert at the
congressionally funded Wilson Cen-
ter, acknowledged that the momen-
tum argument has merit. But he noted
that provisions in the deal that would
resume sanctions should Iran not com-
ply ultimately are enough to scare com-
panies away from resuming business
with the country.
To say that it will lead to Total
resuming contracts with Iran is wrong,
Mr. Adler said. You can be concerned
youre changing from a tightening
mode to a lightening mode, but the
deal is structured in such a way that
all the sanctions are reversible and the
money theyre getting is a drop in the
bucket. JTA WIRE SERVICE
Delay in nukes deal launch
might give Iran an edge
RON KAMPEAS
Under the terms of an agreement reached last month, Iran has vowed not to make any
further advances of its activities at its reactor in Arak. MAJID SAEEDI/GETTY IMAGES
Keeping Kosher
JS-32*
Think Cooperstown
for Pesach visit
Mendy Vims Holidays offers a new glatt kosher
Pesach vacation location this year at the AAA
4-diamond rated Otesaga Resort in Cooper-
stown, N.Y. The lakeside resort, set on the
southern shores of Lake Otsego, offers the
championship Leatherstocking Golf Course,
superior accommodations, and many water-
front activities. The landmark Otesaga Resort,
just three hours from Manhattan, is a member
of the Historic Hotels of America.
A popular tourist destination, Cooperstown
is the home of the National Baseball Hall of
Fame and Museum and offers world-class
cultural activities including the Fenimore Art
Museum, the Farmers Museum, Smithy Center
for the Arts, and Glimmerglass Opera, as well
as Hyde Hall, historic walking or trolley tours,
eclectic boutique village shopping, and recre-
ational activities on or around the lake.
Mendy Vims guests at the Otesaga will enjoy
a heated outdoor swimming pool, fishing, pon-
toon boating, tennis courts, fitness center, skeet
shooting, and an 11-acre driving range. Com-
plimentary passes to Clark Sports Center add
indoor swimming and diving, racquetball and
squash, an indoor running track, aerobics stu-
dio, a 30-foot-high indoor rock climbing wall, a
bouldering wall, a ropes course, and eight-lane
Brunswick bowling.
There also will be traditional sdarim, daily
shiurim and thought-provoking lectures,
nightly entertainment, singers and musicians,
including Cantor Sherwood Goffin of Lincoln
Square Synagogue, and guided trips.
The company also offers a popular recurring
Passover program at the Heritage in Southbury,
Conn.
The company features an early bird special.
Anyone who registers for the Cooperstown
resort before January 15 gets April 13 free (tax
and service not included).
For information, call (718) 998-4477 or (410)
484-5553 or go to www.vimsholidays.com.
Enter to Win
A Gift Certificate
for $18
from
Glatt Kosher Authentic Mexican
166 West Englewood Ave. Teaneck
1 winner will be chosen in a random drawing
from all entrees received by December 23, 2013.
Name __________________________________________________________________
Street __________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________
Phone __________________________________________________________________
Email ___________________________________________________________________
Mail to: Jewish Standard, 1086 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
or fax to: 201-833-4959 by December 23, 2013.
*By entering this contest you agree to have your
name added to the Jewish Standard e-mail newsletter list.
ASK OU outreach program in Monsey
The Harry H. Beren ASK
OU Kashrus Outreach
Program and Congre-
gation Bais Torah of
Suffern, N.Y., offer a
Special Communit y
Kashrus Event, Motzei
Shabbat , December
7, Parashat Vayigash,
beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Rabbi Yosef Gross-
man, seni or educa-
tional rabbinic coordi-
nator and OU director
of kosher education,
coordinated the program and will
serve as emcee. Rabbi Moshe Elefant,
OU Koshers chief operating officer
and executive rabbinic coordinator,
will discuss The Integrity of Kosher
Meat after the Recent Meat Scan-
dals. Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, OU
Koshers senior rabbinic coordinator,
will follow with a PowerPoint presen-
tation, The Production of Kosher
Wine and Liquor.
Attendees wi l l be
given a free copy of
the Daf HaKashrsus
Daf HaShana Volume
20. Rabbi Grossman is
the editor of the Daf
HaKashrus, a publica-
tion with information
about the latest develop-
ments in kashrut, which
is prepared for the rab-
bis of OU Kosher and
widely distributed out-
side the organization. A
question and answer ses-
sion will follow the presentations. Pri-
ority will be given to questions submit-
ted by fax, (212) 613-0621, or by email,
grossman@ou.org.
The Harry H. Beren Foundation of
New Jersey sponsors the program.
The synagogue is at 89 West Carlton
Road. For information, email Rabbi
Grossman at grossman@ou.org or
call him at (212) 613-8212 or (914)
391-9470.
Rabbi Yosef
Grossman will host
the Ask OU outreach
program. COURTESY OU
Keeping Kosher
JS-33
469 S. Washington Ave. Bergenfield, N.J.
DiNe iN or TAke ouT
201-384-7100 Fax: 201-384-0303
CATERING HOLIDAY PARTIES
NEW YEARS PARTIES
Temple House Office Parties
Kiddush Bris Bar/Bat & More
FULL DELI
HOMEMADE SOUPS
HOT DISHES
SALADS
APPETIZING
Daily Lunch Specials Eat-In Take-Out
Kosher Market
Meats Chicken Deli Appetizing
Prepared Foods Groceries Frozen Foods Catering
MON-WED 8-6; THURS 8-7; FRI 8-4; SUN 8-3; CLOSED SATURDAY
UNDER RABBINICAL SUPERVISION
67 A. East Ridgewood Ave. Paramus, NJ 07652
201-262-0030
SERVING THE KOSHER WAY SINCE 1976
DELI RESTAURANT CATERING
#
1 New Jersey
Annual
Readers
Choice
Poll Avi & Haim
Proprietors
Under Rabbinical Supervision
894 Prospect Street
Glen Rock, NJ
Tel: 201-445-1186
Fax: 201-670-5674 www.koshernosh.com
Sesame Coated
Pretzel Rings
456 Cedar Lane Teaneck
201-530-0808
www.SababaGrill.com
AND CATERING RCBC
Simcha Catering for Bar/Bat, Brissim,
Kiddushim, Sheva Brachot & more
Special Shabbat Menu
Approved Caterer at Rinat Yisrael
READERS
CHOICE
2013
TOP 3
MIDDLE EASTERN
RESTAURANT
& HUMMUS
We Are Now
Nut Free
STRICTLY KOSHER shomer shabbos
UNDER RCBC cholov yisroel pas yisroel
READERS
CHOICE
2013
FIRST PLACE
BEST BAKERY
BEST CHALLAH
Large selection of delicious
Challah Pastries cookies bobkas pies & More...
Commercial Caterers & Restaurants welcome
Where Quality and Freshness Count!
19-09 FAIR LAWN AVE
FAIR LAWN
201 796-6565
RCBC
Sunday-Thursday 12-10 pm
Sat. Night 7-11 pm
515 Cedar Lane Teaneck
201-530-5665 Fax 201-530-5662
Owned by Estihana
BROOKLYN
Call for Holiday/Ofce Catering
Starting at $20 per person
RCBC
$50
SUSHI
PLATTER
Take-Out Only
Exp 1/2/14
S T E A K & S U S H I
W W W . C H A I K O T A P A S . C O M
S T E A K & S U S H I
W W W . C H A I K O T A P A S . C O M
RCBC
Glatt kosher Mexican food in Teaneck
BurritOlam, a new Mexican restaurant
under RCBC supervision, has opened in
Teaneck. According to its website, it is
the only kosher restaurant in northern
New Jersey to serve authentic Mexican
cuisine. Dishes are prepared with kosher
pareve vegan cheese and sour cream;
everything is homemade, including its
nacho chips.
The dine-in Monday special from 7 p.m.
until closing offers all-you-can-eat wings
and fries for $12.99.
Lunch specials, daily from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. until
closing, include one taco, fries, and a
fountain soda for $6.99; two tacos and a
fountain soda for $7.99; and one burrito
or chimichanga, hand-cut fries, and a
fountain soda for $8.99.
Stop in for a bowl of hot soup one
meat and one vegetarian variety are
offered daily. Guacamole is made daily and
gluten-free wraps are available on request.
Coconut rice pudding and mini churros are
among the dessert choices.
The restaurant is open Sunday to
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m.; and Saturdays, one hour after the
end of Shabbat until 1 a.m. The restaurant
also offers catering for all party sizes.
Visit the restaurant at 166 West
Englewood Ave., at the corner of Queen
Anne Road. For information, call (201) 530-
7676 or go to www.burritolam.com.
Local store offers
healthy options
The Natural Spot in Teaneck, offering many
vitamins, protein bars, healthy snacks,
herbs, personal-care items including sham-
poo, conditioner, and lotions, is under new
management.
The store is located across from Sammys
Bagels at 1440 Queen Anne Road. Stop in and
ask for Ari Singer, the on-site nutritionist, to
help you with health concerns.
Refer to the ad in this weeks Jewish Stan-
dard for 10 percent off a purchase until
December 21. For information, call (201)
862-1034.
Kosher brand donating to injured teen
Joburg Kosher, a creator of
South African-inspired beef
jerky (called biltong) and
gourmet sausages in the
United States, announced
its Every Bite Helps cam-
paign. Proceeds will benefit
Orly Ohayon. On erev Yom
Kippur, as Orly and her mother walked to
shul in Jacksonville, Fla., they were hit by a
car. Her mother was killed and Orly was in
serious condition. Orlys father died of can-
cer a few years ago.
Kayl a Li besman, the
daughter of Joburg Koshers
founders, was a roommate
of Orly in an NCSY program
i n Israel l ast summer.
NCSY i s the Orthodox
Unions international youth
program.
When consumers buy Joburg Kosher
products in store or from JoburgKosher.
com, a percent age of the sal e i s
automatically donated to Orly. Go to www.
joburgkosher.com.
www.jstandard.com
JS-34
a
b
u
b
b
i
e
,
a
d a b
o
.
a
b
e
a
u
y
,
a
b
u
b
b
i
e
,
a
d a b
o
.
a
b
e
a
u
y
,
a b
u
b
b
i
e
,
a
d a
b
o
.
a

b
e
a
u
y
,
a b
u
b
b
i
e
,
a
d a
b
o
.
a

b
e
a
u
y
,
The Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St NYC (Between 9th & 10th Aves.)
Telecharge.com 212-239-6200 HandleWithCareThePlay.com
HILARIOUSLY FUNNY...FEARLESSLY ADORABLE!
Naples News
You say destiny, I say beshert!
Wih
Broadway
Legend
CAROL LAWRENCE
Tony
Nominee
West Side Story
Write by Emmy
Nominee
JASON ODELL WILLIAMS
Dieced by
Karen Carpenter
Love, Loss and What I Wore
Paying Cash for:
Dishes Glassware Watches
Stamp Collections Old Toys Lamps
Paintings Dolls Hummels
Jewelry - Rings, etc. Flatware Coins
Antique Furniture Trains
Pocket Watches Diamonds Rugs
Buying Musical Instruments of All Kinds
We will turn your old stuff into cash!
Please call or stop in.
NOW OPEN!
Paramus Antiques
Estate Buyers
300 Route 17 North, Paramus
(3/4 mile north of Century Rd.)
Store: 201-967-0222 Cell: 201-334-2257 Ask for Paul
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6-pm, Sat 9-9, or by appointment
Buying Anything Old!
One Piece or a House Full
Will Travel - House Calls
FREE
APPRAISALS
Crossword BY DAVID BENKOF
Across
1. Soprano Gluck
5. Anise-flavored drink
9. Wise guy?
14. Howard of Annie Get Your Gun
15. Wildcat
16. Brouhahas
17. Writer Faye or Jonathan
19. Photographer Vishniac
20. Seder, literally
21. Peres or Obama
23. Composer Shohat
25. Matzah places
26. Pastrami place
32. Eating fish heads is a good one
on Rosh Hashana
33. Palo Altos ___ Hausner Jewish
Day School
34. Conservative clergy pioneer Eilberg
37. Fear of Flying novelist Erica
38. Israels Red Cross (abbr.)
39. Final Four org.
40. World ___ (Jewish ed. group)
41. Second Torah portion to mention
Moses
44. JDL leader Krugel
45. French prime minister Pierre
47. Pass out
49. One of four at Passover
50. German-Jewish memoirist Herz
54. ___ of Israel
58. Gaza Strip and West Bank, e.g.
59. Misery director
61. Florida city near Tampa
62. Gershwin and Glass
63. On a wagon bound for market...
chorus word
64. Of yore
65. Its often added to Israeli lemonade
66. Specialist M.D.s
Down
1. Acre
2. Grouchos smirk
3. Mr. Spocks mind ___
4. Asserting without proof
5. Passover mo., often
6. Tush
7. Druze politician Hamad
8. Oscar nominee Carol (Hester
Street)
9. Attempted
10. Like Noahs ark
11. Spot checkers?
12. Laments
13. Coffee ___ my cup of tea: Samuel
Goldwyn
18. Mexican-Jewish L.A. Mayor Garcetti
22. Evoking a meh
24. ___ BaOmer
26. Martial arts school
27. Portion about halfway through the
Torah
28. Let use
29. Like the SATs
30. Cantor of American music
31. Company once led by Julius
Rosenwald
34. Open ___ of worms
35. Walking in Memphis singer Cohn
36. Henry Winklers alma mater
39. Moon product
41. Kosher, but unusual, meat
42. Penny, perhaps
43. Dolphins org.
45. Vegas hotel-casino founded by
Steve Wynn
46. Tactic
47. Kind of cat common in Jerusalem
48. What ___! (How uncool)
50. Surrounding light
51. Unlike Mama Cass
52. Actress Spelling (Beverly Hills
90210)
53. Abba of Israel
55. Joe Kleins sometime alias, for short
56. And the cloud covered the ___ of
meeting... (Exodus 40:34)
57. Second Temple and British Mandate
60. Alphabet sequence
The solution for last weeks
crossword is on page 43.
www.jstandard.com
Dvar Torah
JS-35*
Life after Thanksgivukkah
A
s we finally close
the curtain on
Thanks gi vuk-
kah, we now
turn to another more com-
mon anomaly in our Jew-
ish calendar, which is the
falling of a fast day, Asarah
BTevet (Fast of the 10th of
Tevet), next Friday, on Sab-
bath eve.
In fact, it is the only fast
day that can occur on a
Friday, for we read in the
Book of Ezekiel (24:2),
This very day, because
the king of Babylon has
laid siege to Jerusalem this
very day. The king of Babylon referred to
in the verse is Nebuchadnezer and as we
read in Zechariah 8 and II Kings 25, the
date remembered for the beginning of this
siege is 10 Tevet. The rabbis deduced that
the words this very day in
this verse teaches us that we do
not push off the fast of the 10th
of Tevet even if it is on Friday
(Yom Kippur, Tishah BAv, and
the other minor fasts can never
occur on the eve of Shabbat.)
While Asarah BTevets falling
on Erev Shabbat may seem
not as glorious or perhaps as
interesting as a once-in-a life-
time confluence of Thanksgiv-
ing and Chanukah, the falling
of this so-called minor fast
day on Erev Shabbat asks us to
go beyond our normal prepa-
rations for Shabbat. Customs
vary about whether one can or
should pray the afternoon Minchah ser-
vice earlier in the day or if one can daven
Minchah immediately before Shabbat.
(How jarring might it be to have a normal
rather quick Shabbat eve Minchah become
a Minchah with a Torah Reading!)
The halachah is pretty uniform in its
articulation of the importance of the prep-
aration of Shabbat.
For example, we learn in the Shulkhan
Arukh Orach Hayim 250:1 that one should
make a point of personally preparing for
Shabbat for this accords honor to Shab-
bat. Rav Chisdah used to cut up the veg-
etables. Rabbah and Rav Yosef would chop
the firewood. Rabbi Zeirah would light
the fire. Rav Nachman would put away
the weekday tableware and take out the
Shabbos tableware. Every person should
learn from them: No one should say, Its
beneath me [to perform menial tasks of
preparation] it should be an honor for
one to accord honor to Shabbat.
This shifting of our mindset next Friday
brings to mind a comment made by Rabbi
Joseph Ber Soloveitchik who wrote that his
heart aches for the forgotten Erev Shab-
bat (eve of the Sabbath) who will go
out to greet Shabbat with beating hearts
and pulsating souls? There are many who
observe the precepts with their hands,
with their feet, and/or with their mouths
but there are few indeed who truly know
the meaning of the service of the heart!
(On Repentance, pp. 97-98).
As diaspora Jews, our challenge of Shab-
bat preparation, especially on this Shab-
bat where Shabbat starts the earliest in
the year, is great. Next Friday, as we com-
memorate an important beginning of a
dark period of our history, let us commit
ourselves to be even more mindful of our
commitment to preserving Erev Shabbat
for as we know about Shabbat itself, more
than Jews have kept the Shabbat, the Shab-
bat has kept the Jews. All the more so we
need to be spiritually prepared for the
sanctity of time and space that Shabbat
affords us.
Wishing all of you a Shabbat (and prepa-
ration thereof ) of peace and joy.
Rabbi
Fred Elias
Solomon Schechter
Day School of
Bergen County
Congregation Kol
HaNeshamah,
Englewood,
Conservative
BRIEFS
Birthright Israel winter
program attracts largest
number of participants
More than 17,000 Jewish young adults will
participate in Taglit-Birthright Israels free
10-day tours this season, the largest num-
ber of winter participants for Birthright
since the program was founded in 2000.
During the past 13 years, more than
350,000 participants have gone on
Birthright trips to Israel. The program is
expected to reach 50 percent of Jewish
young adults worldwide over the next five
years.
Each year, Taglit-Birthright Israel
strives to reach new heights and surpass
our own goals and expectations and this
year, weve gone way above and beyond
those expectations, said Gidi Mark, Birth-
rights CEO.
JNS.ORG
Pope and Netanyahu
discuss Iran and visit
by Francis to Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-
yahu met with Pope Francis in the Vati-
can on Monday, telling the pontiff, Iran
aspires to attain a nuclear bomb. It would
thus threaten not only Israel but also Italy,
Europe, and the entire world.
Netanyahus wife, Sara, accompanied
him to the meeting with Pope Francis.
The couple told the pope about their son,
Avner, who won Israels National Bible
Quiz, and the connection between Jew-
ish sources and the foundations of Chris-
tianity. Netanyahu asked Francis, who is
expected to visit Israel next May, to stay
in the Jewish state for five days in order
to have time to visit sites that are holy to
Christianity.
Come to the synagogue in Chora-
zin, Jesus visited there, Netanyahu said,
according to Israel Hayom.
The prime minister gave the pope a
copy of a book that his father, Profes-
sor Benzion Netanyahu, wrote about the
Spanish Inquisition, as well as a large sil-
ver menorah. The pope gave Netanyahu
a medallion bearing the figure of Paul,
Jesuss most important disciple. Netan-
yahu also met with Italian Prime Minister
Enrico Letta.
JNS.ORG
Holocaust survivor
and Polish rescuer
meet after 69 years
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous
on Nov. 27 brought together Holocaust
survivor Dr. Leon Gersten with his Polish
rescuer, righteous gentile Czeslaw Polziec,
for the first time in 69 years.
For more than two years, the Polziec
family hid Gersten; his mother, Frieda;
and the Wiesenfelds, the family of Friedas
sister and brother-in-law, from the Nazis.
JFR has been arranging such reunions
for 20 years, usually on the day before
Thanksgiving. JFR Executive Vice President
Stanlee Stahl said that this years reunion
at JFK International Airport carried extra
significance because of the historic overlap
of Thanksgiving and Chanukah.
Chanukah is the festival of light, and
in many ways [Czeslaw Polziecs] Polish
Catholic family brought light into the lives
of the Gersten and Wiesenfeld families,
Stahl said.
JNS.ORG
Gross asks Obamas
help in Cuba release
Alan Gross, who is serving a 15-year prison
term in Cuba for helping the Cuban Jew-
ish community gain access to the Inter-
net while he was a subcontractor for
the United States Agency for Interna-
tional Development, asked for President
Obamas personal involvement in help-
ing to secure his release.
December 3 marked the fourth anniver-
sary of the imprisonment of Gross, who
said he was working to promote democ-
racy but was convicted by Cuba of crimes
against the state.
It is clear to me, Mr. President, that
only with your personal involvement can
my release be secured, Gross wrote in
a letter to Obama that was published by
the Washington Post. I know that your
administration and prior administrations
have taken extraordinary steps to obtain
the release of other U.S. citizens impris-
oned abroad even citizens who were not
arrested for their work on behalf of their
country. I ask that you also take action to
secure my release, for my sake and for the
sake of my family.
JNS.ORG
Reverse Gaza flotilla
sails and returns
minus confrontation
A reverse flotilla that left Gaza on Mon-
day returned without confronting the
Israeli Navy, Israel Hayom reported. About
150 Palestinian and European activists set
out on 19 boats traveling from the Gaza
shore toward Israeli Navy vessels in an
effort to break Israels blockade on Gaza.
Hamas personnel escorted the flotilla,
which was organized by a group called
Shabaab al-Intifada, to prevent an alterca-
tion between activists and the navy. The
Israel Defense Forces naval blockade is
enforced at a six-mile distance from the
Gaza shoreline, and prior to last years IDF
Operation Pillar of Defense, the blockade
had been set at three miles from the shore.
The activists approached the five-mile line,
and from there they threw plastic bottles
with protest letters into the water.
JNS.ORG
Ask the Rabbi
JS-36*
Dear Rabbi your talmudic advice column
Dear Rabbi,
A few years ago I divorced my wife, after
a long marriage. We had grown apart and
were living separate lives. Now my ex-wife is
ill, and her prognosis is not good. Although
we are not married, I still bear great affec-
tion for her and enduring admiration for
her as the mother of my children. When
she does pass away I will want to mourn for
her in a visible way. At her funeral, I plan
to tear my clothing in kriah as a sign of
mourning for her. What do you think?
Sad Divorcee
New Milford
Dear Sad,
You pose a woeful personal question,
one that has possibly conflicting objective
and subjective elements. Legally you are
not married to this woman, and so you
assume that you have no obligation or
expectation to mourn your former wife.
And socially it may not be acceptable in
your community to adopt a standard dif-
ferent than what others practice. Those
are the outer issues.
Your inner feelings tell you loud and
clear to mourn for a woman whom you
did love as a husband and continue to
love in an adapted non-marital relation-
ship as an ex.
On the merry-go-round that is our com-
plex world, the variations on the issue
you raise in this question can be dizzying.
What will be the difference in the mourn-
ing practice if neither ex-spouse remar-
ries? If one remarries? If both remarry?
What will be the effect if marital infidel-
ity triggered the divorce? In such a case,
do children need to mourn a parent who
was unfaithful as a spouse? What if the
spouse was a convicted criminal? What
about mourning for stepparents and
stepchildren?
And if I may hearken back to extend on
the subject of one of my previous Dear
Rabbi questions (November 1, 2013), I
might ask, may one mourn for a dear
departed pet in some ritual way? The pos-
sible scenarios go on and on.
Know well that questions about propri-
ety of mourning for a non-relative are not
new. In a simpler age in antiquity, Rab-
ban Gamaliel, a great sage of the time of
the Mishnah, apparently sat shiva for his
slave Tabi. Berakhot (2:7) reports that
Gamaliel accepted condolences following
Tabis death. When his students objected
to him that someone may not mourn a
slave, Gamaliel explained, My slave Tabi
was not like all the other slaves. He was
kosher. Gamaliel invoked a surprisingly
imprecise and vague cri-
terion and left it to us to
presume what he meant
to say. I think he was try-
ing to say that he was as
attached to Tabi as he
was to any member of his
family.
Bottom line, my advice
for you is because mourn-
ing is primarily an emo-
tional activity, I think it
reasonable that the sub-
jective element take great prominence in
determining what you may do.
If it is your inclination, yes, I deem it
proper and fitting that when sadly and
inevitably she does die, you as an ex-hus-
band ought to tear kriah for your ex-wife
at her funeral.
Dear Rabbi,
I am a Reform Jew. On occasion I am
invited to attend a service for a bar mitzvah
or aufruf before the wedding at a Conser-
vative or Orthodox synagogue. Invariably
I see people engage in a swaying movement
during part of the service, especially while
they are standing, reciting the silent Ami-
dah. I generally do not move about when I
pray. I wonder if I am expected to rock back
and forth as well. I hope I am not commit-
ting a faux pas if I do not. And could you
explain why they do that swaying?
Stands Pat
Fairlawn
Dear Stands,
No need to worry about embarrass-
ment. You are not required to sway dur-
ing services. Many of the greatest rabbis
stood perfectly still when they recited
the silent Amidah. The optional sway-
ing activity is called shuckling, derived
from the Yiddish word for shaking.
That swaying activity has both external
and internal components. Swaying helps
a person define his or her ritual prayer-
space. It signals to others that the person
is engaged in a prayer and that he or she
must not be distracted or interrupted.
Mystics and poets see in the swaying
the movement of the soul, undulating like
the flame of a candle.
I see the movement as a way to help a
person induce a state of consciousness
that differs from the ordinary. We com-
monly call that kavanah. Thats a part of
prayer that entails greater focus and emo-
tional resonance.
In popular culture today, focus is a hot
topic. A bestselling book called Focus:
The Hidden Driver of Excellence by Dan-
iel Goleman discusses how the unending
distractions of our digital age present
challenges to the act of focusing your
attention. Goleman claims in
many ways throughout the
book that if you follow focus
regimens, it will help you
improve habits, add new skills,
and sustain greatnessexcel
while others do not.
Our ancient rabbis had
many thoughts and prescrip-
tions on the matters of focus.
They expressed them in a
variety of ways through direct
teachings, and indirectly by
formulating our rituals in certain ways.
A basic assumption in what the rabbis
taught is that someone can and should
alter his focus in prescribed ways to recite
our different prayers. That means that,
without the benefit of a self-help books,
and starting way back in antiquity, pray-
ing Jews engaged in mental focus exer-
cises three times a day.
Here is a concentrated summary of the
assorted types of focus that I associate
with our prayers.
The scribal focus is the focused state
of mind you need to achieve when you
study texts, or when you write new mate-
rials, or when you add columns of num-
bers, or when you conduct inventories.
Its the target kavanah for the Shema, the
prayer during which many Jews sit and
shade their eyes so they may concentrate
on reciting the designated Torah texts.
The priestly focus is the focused state
of mind you need to achieve when you
comport yourself for a public ritual or
pageant. Its the target kavanah for the
Amidah, where the swaying you ask about
is like marching in place. You do not want
to get out of step as you move through
the procession of praises, petitions, and
thanksgivings of the multipart Amidah
prayer.
The mystical focus is the focused state
of mind you need to achieve to imagine
yourself in another place, when your
praying carries you off to the heavens
in search of God or to our momentous
Israelite historical episodes. Its the tar-
get kavanah for the many passages of the
prayers that invoke the heavenly angels
or recount the great miracles in our past,
such as the crossing of the Red Sea and
the revelation at Sinai.
The performative-mindful focus is the
focused state of mind you need to achieve
when you perform a ritual act. Its the tar-
get kavanah for the many mitzvot that a
Jew performs throughout his or her life
and for the recitation of blessings. Truly,
all of these focuses are mindful in
their own ways. But the essential mind-
ful focus takes sharp account for the here
and now, the immediate physical facts of
your present circumstances, the wedding
canopy, the lulav and etrog, the Chanu-
kah menorah, the Shabbat candles, the
challah
The compassionate-mindful focus is
the focused state of mind that you seek
to achieve when reciting such prayers as
the Tahanun, Grace after Meals, or the
Kol Nidre exercises in seeking out a
bond of loving kindness with God, with
yourself, and with other people.
The daily morning prayers often last
no more than 30 minutes in many syna-
gogues. Its amazing to me that praying
Jews can cycle through so many diverse
types of focus exercises during our short
prayer services.
Thats like a session of circuit-training
for the soul. Consider as an analogy that
physical circuit training is a form of body
conditioning or resistance training using
high-intensity exercises for strength
building and muscular endurance. In an
exercise circuit you complete all the pre-
scribed exercises in the program. In most
circuit training the time between exer-
cises is short, and the trainee moves on
quickly to the next exercise.
In our prayers, the spiritual circuit-
training that we engage in is a form of
soul-conditioning, using high-intensity
exercises for focus-building and con-
centration endurance. In a prayer cir-
cuit you rapidly complete all the pre-
scribed exercises in the program. In
most prayer circuit-training the time
between focus events is short, and the
performer moves on quickly to the next
focus event.
So, in my comparison, I propose that
if you follow the recommended focus
regimens of Jewish prayer, it too will
help you, improve habits, add new
skills, and sustain greatness excel
while others do not.
And thoughtfully, when somebody
asks you why Jews are so successful,
why we win so many Nobel prizes, in
addition to the other commonly invoked
rationales, such as the value we place
on study and education, you might sug-
gest that shuckling, and all of the other
assorted traditional talmudic focus exer-
cises rooted in our prayers, have some-
thing decisive to do with our abilities as
a group to achieve and excel.
The Dear Rabbi column offers timely
advice based on timeless talmudic
wisdom. It aspires to be equally respectful
and meaningful to all varieties and
denominations of Judaism. You can find
it here on the first Friday of the month.
Send your questions to DearRabbi@
jewishmediagroup.com
Rabbi Tzvee
Zahavy
Rabbi Dr. Tzvee Zahavy was ordained at
Yeshiva University and earned his Ph.D. in
religious studies at Brown University.
Calendar
JS-37
Friday
DECEMBER 6
Shabbat in Wayne:
Temple Beth Tikvah
offers a Choliday
potluck dinner after
6 p.m. services. There will
be performances by the
shuls Intergenerational
Choir and by students.
Participants should bring
a main or side dish; no
dairy. 950 Preakness Ave.
Dani, (973) 694-5408 or
danigrand@verizon.net.
Shabbat in Wyckoff:
Temple Beth Rishons
monthly family service
includes a story and
songs, 6 p.m. Family
dinner at 7. 585 Russell
Ave. (201) 891-4466 or
www.bethrishon.org.
Shabbat celebration:
Shaar Communities
hosts Friday Night
Live! with music and
melodies, inspiring
teachings, spirituality,
creative rituals, activities,
and food, at a private
location in Palisades, N.Y.,
6:30 p.m. JoAnne, (201)
213-9569 or joanne@
shaarcommunities.org.
Shabbat in Woodcliff
Lake: Temple Emanuel of
the Pascack Valley offers
family Chanukah services
and concert, 7 p.m. 87
Overlook Drive. (201)
391-0801 or www.tepv.
org or www.tepv.org.
Shabbat in River Edge:
Temple Avodat Shalom
celebrates the 10th
night of Chanukah,
6 p.m. Tot Shabbat for
children up to 6 and
their families, 6:30 p.m.;
dinner with latkes, 7:30;
family service with sixth-
graders leading services,
7:30, with alternative
services at the same
time. 385 Howland Ave.
Reservations, (201)
489-2463, ext. 202, or
avodatshalom.net.
Shabbat in Emerson:
Congregation Bnai
Israel hosts its casual
Frank Sinatra Shabbat
service, 7:30 p.m., with
traditional prayers set to
his melodies. 53 Palisade
Ave. (201) 265-2272 or
www.bisrael.com.
Shabbat in Maywood:
Reconstructionist
Temple Beth Israel
marks Human Rights
Shabbat with services
and a talk by member
Roz Altman, who works
with the National Council
of Jewish Womens
task force on human
trafficking, 8 p.m. She
will focus on the effort
to end modern slavery.
34 West Magnolia Ave. in
Maywood, off Maywood
Avenue. (201) 845-7550,
ext. 1.
Saturday
DECEMBER 7
Shabbat in Wyckoff:
Temple Beth Rishon
offers a Torah discussion
group in English with
Rabbi Marley Weiner,
9 a.m. 585 Russell Ave.
(201) 891-4466 or
bethrishon.org.
Shabbat in Maywood:
Reconstructionist Temple
Beth Israel offers a
Lunch & Learn session,
continuing its series on
midrash, after services
at 10 a.m. Adult ed
chair Martin Springer
and student rabbi Ellen
Jaffe-Gill will present
texts from Exodus
Rabbah, focusing on two
conflicting episodes:
the revelation of Torah
at Mount Sinai and the
creation of the golden
calf. 34 West Magnolia
Ave. in Maywood, off
Maywood Avenue. (201)
845-7550, ext. 1.
Sunday
DECEMBER 8
Rabbi Rex Perlmeter
Beth Sandweiss
Mindful Jewish
Parenting in
Washington Township:
Rabbi Rex Perlmeter
and Beth Sandweiss,
co-founders of the
Jewish Wellness Center
of North Jersey, lead a
seminar, Mindful Jewish
Parenting, at Temple
Beth Or, 9:15 a.m. The
workshop offers ways to
create a more peaceful
home environment and
a connection between
Judaism and mindfulness
to transform family life.
$18. 56 Ridgewood Road.
Lynne Graizel, (201)
664-7422 or lgraizel@
templebethornj.org.
Dementia support
group in River Vale: The
Jewish Home Assisted
Living offers a support
group, led by Amy
Matthews, associate
director of late stage
dementia care and
education/outreach
at the greater New
Jersey chapter of the
Alzheimers Association,
10-11:30 a.m. 685
Westwood Ave. (201)
666-2370.
Childrens program:
The Jewish Community
Center of Paramus/
Congregation Beth
Tikvah continues Sunday
Specials, for pre-K to
second-graders, with
Fun in the Kitchen,
10 a.m. Program includes
challah making, bounce
house, and nut-free
snacks. East 304 Midland
Ave. Marcia Kagedan,
(201) 262-7733 or
edudirector@jccparamus.
org.
Rabbi David J. Fine
Christianity and
Judaism: Rabbi David
J. Fine, Ph.D., continues
The History of Judaism
and Christianity,
an adult education
program at Temple Israel
of Ridgewood, with
Judaism and Christianity
in Late Antiquity: Rabbis
and Church Fathers,
10:30 a.m. Course ends
December 15. 475 Grove
St. (201) 444-9320 or
office@synagogue.org.
String ensemble
in Teaneck:
Jerusalems acclaimed
King David String
Ensemble performs
at Congregation Beth
Sholom for the annual
Curtis Hereld Memorial
Concert, 4 p.m. The
program, Music from
Schubert to Shemer,
with a guest appearance
by Cantor Ronit Wolff
Hanan, includes classical
masterpieces, beloved
Israeli songs, and lively
klezmer melodies. 354
Maitland Ave. (201)
833-2620 or office@
cbsteaneck.org.
Benjamin Nelson
Nelson on Fagin: To
mark Jewish Book
Month, Benjamin Nelson,
Fairleigh Dickinson
University professor
emeritus of English
and Comparative
Literature, discusses
Charles Dickens Fagin:
Villain or Victim? at
the Englewood Public
Library, 6 p.m. 31 Engle
St. (201) 568-2215 or
www.englewoodlibrary.
org.
Gil Lainer
Israeli consul in Fair
Lawn: Gil Lainer, consul
for public diplomacy at
the consulate general
of Israel in New York,
discusses Israels Public
Image: Challenges and
Opportunities at Temple
Beth Sholom, 7 p.m. 40-
25 Fair Lawn Ave. (201)
797-9321, ext. 415 or
AdultEd@tbsfl.org.
Monday
DECEMBER 9
Book club in Paramus:
Dr. Raisy Weiss facilitates
a discussion on Like
Dreamers by Yossi Klein
Halevi at the Jewish
Community Center of
Paramus/Congregation
Beth Tikvah, 6:45 p.m.
Refreshments. East 304
Midland Ave. (201) 262-
7691 or grandmamimil@
verizon.net.
Hebrew high parlor
meeting in Teaneck:
Students from the
Bergen County High
School for Jewish
Studies speak at a parlor
Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County hosts
Schechter Rocks for All Ages featuring Story Pirates, a
musical sketch comedy with stories by students, at the school,
for 2- to 10-year-olds, Sunday, December 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
275 McKinley Ave., New Milford. (201)262-9898 or www.ssdsbergen.org/
schechter-rocks. COURTESY SSDS
DEC.
15
Calendar
JS-38
Community shiurim in Fair Lawn
Young Israel of Fair Lawn offers weekly
shiurim, both on Shabbat and during
the week, to the greater Fair Lawn
community.
Rabbi Ian Shaffer, Jewish studies
professor at Yeshiva Universitys Stern
College for Women, offers shiurim on
Navi on Mondays at 7:55 p.m. He adds
personal recollections of learning
in Jerusalem with the late Nachama
Leibowitz and other Tanach scholars,
and weaves modern-day Israel into the
lectures. Rabbi Shaffers shiurim also
are on the web at yutorah.org.
Young Israel of Fair Lawn is at 11-05
Saddle River Road. It is also part of the
Torah Conferencing Network, which
offers simulcast shiurim of rabbis
including Rabbi Yissocher Frand on
Thursdays at 9 p.m. and Rabbi Yisroel
Reisman on Motzei Shabbat. For
information, go to www.YIFL.org.
Rabbi Ian Shaffer
meeting at a private
home, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Light refreshments. 314
Winthrop Road. (201)
488-0834 or office@
bchsjs.org.
Feature film: The
Treasure Hunting in Film
series at the Kaplen
JCC on the Palisades
in Tenafly continues a
series, Top Films of
the Decade, with A
Dangerous Method,
7:30 p.m. Harold Chapler
introduces the film and
leads the discussion
afterward. 411 East
Clinton Ave. (201) 408-
1493 or www.jccotp.org/
filmseries.
Tuesday
DECEMBER 10
Meeting for parents
of LGBTQ Jewish
teens: Shaar
Communities hosts
this initial gathering,
the states first Jewish
LGBTQ teen initiative,
at a private home
in Closter, 7:30 p.m.
JoAnne Forman, (201)
213-9569 or joanne@
shaarcommunities.org.
Wednesday
DECEMBER 11
Camping fair in
Englewood: The
Moriah School invites
the community to the
first modern Orthodox
Jewish camping fair,
6:30-8:30 p.m. Learn
about different day and
sleepaway camp options.
53 South Woodland
St. (201) 567-0208 or
ekessler@moriahschool.
org.
Make college count:
Helene Naftali, author
of Own Your Zone:
What Students Need to
Succeed from School
to Career and founder
of a coaching service,
oneTRUEzone, speaks
to parents and students
about goals of a college
education at the Jewish
Federation of Northern
New Jersey in Paramus,
7 p.m. $10 per family;
includes dairy-free
desserts. Organized by
Womens Philanthropy
of JFFNJ. 50 Eisenhower
Drive. JoAnn Goldstein,
(201) 820-3906 or
joanng@jfnnj.org.
Networking in Wayne:
The Passaic County
Jewish Business &
Professional Network
hosted by the Chabad
Center of Passaic County
meets there, 7 p.m.
194 Ratzer Road. (973)
694-6274 or www.
Jewishwayne.com.
Book discussion in Fair
Lawn: Congregation
Darchei Noam continues
a book group, The
Jewish-American
Experience in Literature,
with a discussion led
by Marshall Wilen on
Anzia Yezierskas Bread
Givers, 8:15 p.m. 10-04
Alexander Ave. (201)
773-4080 or mrkw01@
gmail.com.
Thursday
DECEMBER 12
Chanukah in Fort
Lee: The Englewood
& Cliffs Chapter of
ORT America holds a
Chanukah luncheon with
kosher Chinese food;
Fran Roberts sings The
Very Best From the
American Songbook
at Congregation Gesher
Shalom/JCC of Fort Lee,
noon. Chanukah gift
boutique at 11:30 a.m.
1449 Anderson Ave.
Shirley, (201) 585-1748.
Gettysburg Address:
Civil War expert Phil
Steinberg discusses the
150th Anniversary of
Lincolns Gettysburg
Address at the Fair
Lawn Jewish Center/
Congregation Bnai Israel,
8 p.m. 10-10 Norma Ave.
(201) 796-5040.
Friday
DECEMBER 13
Rabbi Dr. Donniel
Hartman
Shabbat in Closter:
Rabbi Dr. Donniel
Hartman discusses
issues facing Jewish
education as the scholar-
in-residence at Temple
Emanu-El. He will speak
during services at 7 p.m.,
and on Shabbat morning
during services that
begin at 9 a.m. Dessert
reception follows the
kiddush. Hartman is
president of the Shalom
Hartman Institute and
director of the Engaging
Israel Project. 180
Piermont Road. (@01)
750-9997 or www.
templeemanu-el.com.
Shabbat in Teaneck:
Cantor Ellen Tilem leads
services with the music
of Shlomo Carlebach at
Temple Emeth, 8 p.m.
1666 Windsor Road.
(201) 833-1322.
Shabbat in Jersey
City: Congregation
Bnai Jacob offers
Friday Night Live! with
new and old melodies
and instrumental
accompaniment,
8-10 p.m. 176 West Side
Ave. (201) 435-5725 or
bnaijacobjc.org.
Shabbat in Woodcliff
Lake: Temple Emanuel
of the Pascack Valleys
Cantor Mark Biddelman,
on guitar, hosts Shabbat
Yachad, Hebrew prayers
set to easy-to-sing
melodies, accompanied
by flutist Debra Blecher,
keyboardist Jonathan
Hanser, bassist Brian
Glassman, and drummer
Gal Gershovsky, 8 p.m.
Free copy of CD with
service melodies
available at the shul. 87
Overlook Drive. (201)
391-0801 or www.tepv.
org.
Saturday
DECEMBER 14
Shabbat in Wyckoff:
Rabbi Ziona Zelazo leads
an alternative meditative
prayer service in Temple
Beth Rishons library,
10 a.m. 585 Russell Ave.
(201) 891-4466 or www.
bethrishon.org.
Shabbat in Jersey City:
Cantor Marsha Dubrow
leads Torah Lessons
with a discussion on
Parashat Vaykhi at
Congregation Bnai
Jacob, 10:30 a.m.
Kiddush lunch follows.
176 West Side Ave. (201)
435-5725 or bnaijacobjc.
org.
Remembering Chaya
Newman: Bruriah High
School in Elizabeth hosts
a lecture in memory
of Chaya Newman,
its longtime principal,
7:30 p.m. Rebbetzin
Esther Jungreis will
discuss Turning
Negatives Into Positives.
Refreshments. 35 North
Ave. (908) 355-4850, ext.
6214, or Bruriah.theJEC.
org.
Music in Ridgewood:
Temple Israel and JCC
of Ridgewood kicks off
its season of Winter
Music Saturdays with
Duo Music, violinist/
musicologist Gabriel
Schaff and pianist Leslie
Frost. Program includes
pieces by Beethoven
and Jewish composers
including Salamone
Rossi, Henryk Wieniawski,
Anton Rubinstein, C.V.
Alkan, Aaron Copland,
and Kurt Weill. Havdalah
at 7:45 p.m.; concert
follows. 475 Grove St.
(201) 201-444-9320 or
www.synagogue.org.
Sunday
DECEMBER 15
Ample Harvest in
Franklin Lakes:
AmpleHarvest.org founder
Gary Oppenheimer
talks about his vision of
millions of gardeners
eliminating malnutrition
and hunger in their own
communities at Barnert
Temple, 747 Route 208
South, 9:3011 a.m. Free.
www.barnerttemple.org
or (201) 848-1800.
Israel Summer
Programs/Gap-Year
Fair in Teaneck: The
Bergen County High
School of Jewish
Studies hosts its Israel
Summer Programs/Gap-
Year Fair at Maayanot
High School for Girls,
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
School and program
representatives will be
there. 1650 Palisade
Ave. (201) 488-0834 or
office@bchsjs.org.
Christianity and
Judaism: Rabbi David
J. Fine, Ph.D., concludes
The History of Judaism
and Christianity,
an adult education
program at Temple
Israel of Ridgewood,
with Christian and
Jewish Perceptions and
Polemics in the Middle
Ages, 10:30 a.m. 475
Grove St. (201) 444-9320
or office@synagogue.org.
Mental health forum
in Teaneck: Temple
Emeths social action
committee hosts
a mental health
forum with panelists
including leaders
of Vantage Health
System, the Bergen
County Department of
Mental Health, National
Association of Mentally
Ill, and the Bergen
County Correctional
Department, moderated
by Sandi Klein, at Temple
Emeth, 2-4:30 p.m. 1666
Windsor Road. Elaine
Bergman, (201) 969-
0432.
In New York
Sunday
DECEMBER 8
School open house:
Yeshiva Universitys
Wurzweiler School of
Social Work holds an
open house at YUs Belfer
Hall, 12:30-3:30 p.m. 2495
Amsterdam Ave. at 184th
Street. (212) 960-0810 or
wurzadmiss@yu.edu.
Singles
Sunday
DECEMBER 8
Senior singles meet in
West Nyack: Singles 65+
meet for a social event at
the JCC Rockland, 11 a.m.
450 West Nyack Road.
$2. Gene Arkin, (845)
356-5525.
Sunday
DECEMBER 15
Singles meet in
Caldwell: New Jersey
Jewish Singles 45+
meets at Congregation
Agudath Israel, 12:45 p.m.
20 Academy Road. (973)
226-3600 or singles@
agudath.org.
Calendar
JS-39
Congregat i on Kol
HaNeshamah in Engle-
wood offers Tot Shab-
bat on the irst Shab-
bat of the month; the
initial program is set
for December 7 at
10:30 a.m. Kol HaNe-
shamahs early child-
hood educator, Jessica
Bay Graber, heads the
program. Ms. Graber
is a head teacher in
Solomon Schechter
Day School in New Mil-
fords pre-K program.
Services are on the
premises of St Pauls,
113 Engle St., Englewood. For information, email info@KHNJ.org or call 201.816.1611
New tot Shabbat program in Englewood
Museum to host
Shoah writers
Authors Susan Zuccotti (Pere
Marie-Benoit and Jewish Rescue)
and Leslie Maitland (Crossing the
Borders of Time) discuss their very
different books one a historians
portrait, the other a journalists fam-
ily story at France, Rescue, and
the Church. The discussion is at the
Museum of Jewish Heritage A Liv-
ing Memorial to the Holocaust on
Wednesday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
Call (646) 437-4202 or go to www.
mjhnyc.org.
PRE MARI E- BENO T
AND J EWI SH RESCUE
How a French Priest Susan Zuccotti
Together with Jewish Friends
Saved Thousands during the Holocaust
Two events billed
for the new year
Sharsheret, a national not-for-proit organiza-
tion supporting women and families from all
Jewish backgrounds who face breast cancer
and ovarian cancer, will participate in the NYC
half-marathon on Sunday, March 16, and the
NYC triathlon, set for Sunday, August 3.
As a member of Team Sharsheret,
participants receive race gear, coaching, group
runs (for those in the New York metropolitan
area), virtual training, and a personalized
fundraising page.
Email athletes@sharsheret.org for more
information.
Paul Anka PHOTOS
COURTESY BERGENPAC
Anka and Zappa memories
featured at bergenPAC
The Bergen Performing Arts
Center has tickets on sale
for new upcoming shows.
Zappa Plays Zappa Cel-
ebrating 40 Years of Zappa
Dweezil Zappa playing his
father Franks music will be
on Sunday, February 23, at 8
p.m. There will also be a spe-
cial master class offered to
50 ticket buyers.
The legendary Grammy
Award- wi nni ng si nger/
sonwri ter Paul Anka,
formerly of Tenafly, will
perform on Wednesday,
April 16, at 8 p.m.
Call (201) 227-1030 or go
to www.ticketmaster.com or
www.bergenpac.org.
Dweezil Zappa
116 MainStreet, Fort Lee
201.947.2500
www.inapoli.com
S
am
m
ys
North Jerseys Premier Italian
Steak, Seafood & Pasta Eatery
JoinUseverytuesday
andthursdayforthe
lobsterspecial, anystyle
Anddontforgetevery
MondayandWednesday
areDelmonicoSteakNights
ComebyMon. throughSat.,
4:00-6:00pmforourawesome
earlybird, completemeal
withdrink
You asked for it for the last 20 years and
nowits here! Chef Sams Basil Vinaigrette
House Dressing is nowbottled to go.
Bring this Ad in
to receive a
Free Bottle
min. $40 purchase
Expires 6/30/13
only
$19.95
only
$19.95
also
$19.95
3493212-01
napoli
5/17/13
subite
canali/singer
carrol/BB
This ad is copyrighted by North
Jersey Media Group and may not
be reproduced in any form, or
replicated in a similar version,
without approval from North
Jersey Media Group.
3
4
9
3
2
1
2
-
0
1
N
J
M
G
116 MainStreet, Fort Lee
201.947.2500
www.inapoli.com
S
am
m
ys
North Jerseys Premier Italian
Steak, Seafood & Pasta Eatery
JoinUseverytuesday
andthursdayforthe
lobsterspecial, anystyle
Anddontforgetevery
MondayandWednesday
areDelmonicoSteakNights
ComebyMon. throughSat.,
4:00-6:00pmforourawesome
earlybird, completemeal
withdrink
You asked for it for the last 20 years and
nowits here! Chef Sams Basil Vinaigrette
House Dressing is nowbottled to go.
Bring this Ad in
to receive a
Free Bottle
min. $40 purchase
Expires 6/30/13
only
$19.95
only
$19.95
also
$19.95
3493212-01
napoli
5/17/13
subite
canali/singer
carrol/BB
This ad is copyrighted by North
Jersey Media Group and may not
be reproduced in any form, or
replicated in a similar version,
without approval from North
Jersey Media Group.
3
4
9
3
2
1
2
-
0
1
N
J
M
G
Tuesday and Thursday
Our famous seafood special
Call for details
ONLY
$19.95
ONLY
$19.95
ONLY
$19.95
Monday and Wednesday
are Delmonico Steak Nights
Come by Mon. through Sat.,
4:00-6:00pm for our awesome
early bird, complete meal
with drink
Bring this Ad
in to receive a
Free Bottle
min. $40
purchase
Expires 12/20/13
Keep us informed
We welcome announcements of events. An-
nouncements are free. Accompanying photos
must be high resolution jpg les, and allow at
least two weeks of lead time. Not every release
will be published. Please include a daytime
telephone and send to:
NJ Jewish Media Group
1086 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666
pr@jewishmediagroup.com
(201) 837-8818
Jewish winter
camp for boys
The Chabad Center of Passaic County
in Wayne is participating in CAMP
F.R.E.E. Gan Israel in the Catkskills,
a Jewish winter camp experience
for boys 9- to 16-years-old. The pro-
gram runs from December 24-31 and
includes skiing, snow tubing, ice-skat-
ing, accommodations, a Jewish atmo-
sphere, and all meals.
Camp F.R.E.E. (Friends of Refugees
of Eastern Europe) is a branch of the
worlds largest Jewish Camping net-
work, Camp Gan Israel International.
For information, call (347) 850-0408
or visit www.campfree.info.
JTech schedules
its first meeting
All are welcome to the irst meeting of the
North Jersey JTech Meetup group at the
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly
on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:45 p.m.
The free program, Is Now a Good Time
to Invest in Startups? includes a panel of
four veteran venture capitalists and time
for networking.
Those employed by technoloy compa-
nies, entrepreneurs, technoloy investors,
service providers, and those just interested
in technoloy are invited. For information,
go to http://bit.ly/1aBzguL.
Childrens author
in Englewood
Anna Olswanger of Fair Lawn, an author/
literary agent, will discuss her latest book,
Greenhorn, on Wednesday, December
11, at 7:15 p.m. at the Englewood Public
Library. The Holocaust story is based on
the real-life experience of Rabbi Rafael
Grossman of Englewood. A book sign-
ing will follow. Call (201) 568-2215 or visit
www.englewoodlibrary.org.
JS-40
KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades 411 EAST CLINTON AVENUE, TENAFLY, NJ 07670 | 201.569.7900 | jccotp.org
Not just a gym,
A Family Wellness Center
JOIN BY
JAN 15 &
SAVE $150!
Try us out with
a FREE guest
pass.
Ofer may not be combined. Valid on new, annual
memberships. No building fund or bond required.
Individual, family, youth & senior membership options
available. Must take tour to receive guest pass. The JCC
is proud to be an inclusive environment, open to all.
KAPLEN JCC on the Palisades
STATE-OF-THE-ART tness center
FULL COURT basketball AND racquetball COURTS
outdoor tennis COURTS
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR aquatics center WITH WATER PLAY PARK
youth/teen tness CENTER
OVER 90 FREE GROUP EXERCISE classes INCLUDING SPIN, PILATES, BARRE,
ZUMBA, YOUTH ZUMBA, YOUTH SPINAND MORE!
FREE babysitting
ACCESS TO INFANT, TODDLER, AND SCHOOL-AGE programming IN
SPORTS, KARATE, ATHLETICS, GYMNASTICS, ARTS AND SCIENCE
LUXURIOUS spa CENTER OFFERING MASSAGES, FACIALS, WAXING AND MORE
RENOWNED NURSERY SCHOOL, DAY CAMPS; MUSIC, DRAMA & DANCE SCHOOLS.
Call 201.408.1448 or stop by membership
to nd out more.
Obituaries
JS-41
Planning in advance is a part of our lives.
We spend a lifetime planning for milestones such as
weddings, homeownership, our childrens education,
retirement, vacations, and insurance to protect our
loved ones.
End-of-Life issues are another milestone. You
make arrangements at your convenience, without
obligation and all funds are secured in a separate
account in your name only.
Call our Advance Planning Director for an appointment
to see for yourself what peace of mind you will receive
in return.
GUTTERMAN AND MUSICANT
JEWISH FUNERAL DIRECTORS
800-522-0588
WIEN & WIEN, INC.
MEMORIAL CHAPELS
800-322-0533
402 PARK STREET, HACKENSACK, NJ 07601
ALAN L. MUSICANT, Mgr., N.J. Lic. No. 2890
MARTIN D. KASDAN, N.J. Lic. No. 4482
IRVING KLEINBERG, N.J. Lic. No. 2517
Advance Planning Conferences Conveniently Arranged
at Our Funeral Home or in Your Own Home
GuttermanMusicantWien.com
Our Facilities Will Accommodate
Your Familys Needs
Handicap Accessibility From Large
Parking Area
Conveniently Located
W-150 Route 4 East Paramus, NJ 07652
201.843.9090 1.800.426.5869
Robert Schoems Menorah Chapel, Inc
Jewish Funeral Directors
FAMILY OWNED & MANAGED
Generations of Lasting Service to the Jewish Community
Serving NJ, NY, FL &
Throughout USA
Prepaid & Preneed Planning
Graveside Services
Gary Schoem Manager - NJ Lic. 3811
Leonard Chesler
Leonard Chesler of Fort Lee, formerly of Teaneck,
died on November 30.
Born in the Bronx, he was graduated from
Hunter College in 1957. An educator, he worked 35
years in the New York school system before retiring
in 1992 as principal of Pablo Casals Middle School
181 in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly, ne Levy, chil-
dren, Adam (Marla), Rochelle Forstot ( Jonathan), and
Joel; and four grandchildren.
Donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foun-
dation for Parkinsons Research, the American Can-
cer Society, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Arrangements were by Gutterman and Musicant Jew-
ish Funeral Directors, Hackensack.
Harry Lipshultz
Dr. Harry Lipshultz died on December 1.
Born in Jersey City, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of
World War II. He practiced dentistry in Cresskill for
more than 60 years.
Predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Anita Lois,
ne Fernbach, in 2005, he is survived by sons, Steve
(Tracie), Rick (Michelle), and Jack (Susan); a sister,
Pearl Kaplan; and nine grandchildren.
Contributions can be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements were by Gutterman and Musicant Jew-
ish Funeral Directors, Hackensack.
Josef Ross
Josef A. Ross of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Fort
Lee, died on November 30.
A Polish-born Holocaust survivor, he came to the
U.S. in 1949 and became a luggage manufacturer and
real estate developer.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Roslyn,
daughters Gail Ross-McBride (Michael), and Lisa
Ross-Benjamin (Michael); a sister, Lidia Cwynar; four
grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Donations can be made to Ross Survivor to Sur-
vivor Scholarship at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Arrangements were by Robert Schoems Menorah
Chapel, Paramus.
Marilyn Snow
Marilyn P. Snow, 75, of Wayne died on November 25.
She was a bookkeeper for Energy Equities, LLC,
in Wayne and a member of Temple Beth Tikvah in
Wayne, Tennis For Life and Golden Racquet Club,
both in Ridgewood, and the Packanack Lake Tennis
Club in Wayne.
She is survived by her husband, David, sons, Scott ( Jill),
and Brian (Wendy); and three grandchildren.
Donations can be sent to Tennis For Life in Ridgewood.
Arrangements were by Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn.
Stanley Sokoloff
Stanley A. Sokoloff, 99, of Teaneck, died on November 28.
Arrangements were by Louis Suburban Chapel, Fair Lawn.
Obituaries are prepared with information provided
by funeral homes. Correcting errors is the
responsibility of the funeral home.
BRIEFS
Report: Peres secretly speaks
to 29 Arab representatives
Israeli President Shimon Peres gave a secret speech to
29 representatives from Arab nations in November via
livestream as part of the Gulf States Security Summit in
Abu Dhabi, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. New York Times
columnist Thomas Friedman attended the meeting and
first revealed Peress appearance.
Participating nations included Bahrain, the United
Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. Peress appear-
ance was contingent on his comments remaining con-
fidential, but it has been revealed that he spoke about
how Israeli-Arab dialogue could take place regarding the
common ground of struggles against a nuclear Iran and
radical Islam.
Everyone understood that this is something historic:
The president of the Jewish State is sitting in his office in
Jerusalem with an Israeli flag, and theyre sitting in the
Persian Gulf talking about security, war on terror and
peace, said a representative involved with the event.
Middle East Forum President Daniel Pipes said that
a leading Israeli figure addresses and, apparently, is
well received by Muslim foreign ministers is itself an
encouraging development. Yet the secret nature of
Peress appearance is indicative of the Israeli presi-
dents reputation for underhanded dealings, dimin-
ishing from the utility of the event, he added. JNS.ORG
StandWithUs counters
anti-Israel ads in Boston,
Denver, and Portland
A new billboard campaign by the pro-Israel education
group StandWithUs counters anti-Israel advertisements
in Boston, Denver, and Portland, Ore.
SWUs ads, which went up in Portland on Monday
and go up in Boston and Denver on December 9, coun-
ter campaigns featuring maps depicting a disappearing
Palestine and a growing Israel, blaming Israel for the Pal-
estinian refugee problem, and accusing Israel of ethnic
cleansing.
The anti-Israel ads presume there once was an Arab
country called Palestine, when in fact no such country
ever existed prior to the one being considered today,
while neglecting that there has been a continuous Jew-
ish presence in the land of Israel for three millennia, said
Roz Rothstein, chief executive officer of StandWithUs.
The anti-Israel ads also leave out the context such as
the chronic wars and terrorism unleashed against Israel
that first created the refugee problem.
The pro-Israel ads from SWU depict Jewish loss of
land over time, highlight Israeli innovation, and direct
viewers to thewholestory.org, a website listing the Top
10 Things Palestinian Leaders Dont Want You To Know
about Israel. JNS.ORG
Prisoner release keeps
Palestinian Authority in talks
with Israel, official says
Fatah Central Committee Member Nabil Shaath said
that despite his belief that the ongoing Israeli-Pales-
tinian conflict negotiations have failed, the Palestinian
Authority would remain in the talks for the purpose of
getting Israel to release terrorist prisoners.
We have committed to negotiations for a period of
nine months, and by then we hope to see all 104 of our
prisoners released, Shaath told Maariv.
Israel has so far released half of the 104 Palestinian
terrorist prisoners it said it would free as part of the
negotiations. JNS.ORG
Classified
JS-42
Get results!
Advertise on
this page.
201-837-8818
(201) 837-8818
We pay cash for
Antique Furniture
Used Furniture
Oil Paintings
Bronzes Silver
Porcelain China
Modern Art
Top Dollar For Any Kind of Jewelry &
Chinese Porcelain & Ivory
Over 25 years courteous service to tri-state area
We come to you Free Appraisals
Call Us!
ANS A
201-861-7770 201-951-6224
www.ansantiques.com
Shommer
Shabbas
ANTIQUES
ENGLISH TUTORING IN YOUR OWN HOME
Improve your speaking, reading, writing, comprehension, grammar,
study skills.
youcanlearnenglishnow@gmail.com
201-894-0270(please leave clear message)
TUTORING
HOME HEALTH SERVICES
201-894-4770
Tyler Antiques
Established by Bubbe in 1940!
Antiques Wanted
Top Prices Paid
Oil Paintings Silver
Bronzes Porcelain
Oriental Rugs Furniture
Marble Sculpture Jewelry
Tiffany Items Pianos
Chandeliers Bric-A-Brac
Shomer Shabbos
tylerantiquesny@aol.com
Sterling Associates Auctions
SEEKING CONSIGNMENT AND OUT RIGHT PURCHASES
Sculpture Paintings Porcelain Silver
Jewelry Furniture Etc.
TOP CASH PRICES PAID
201-768-1140 www.antiquenj.com
sterlingauction@optonline.net
70 Herbert Avenue, Closter, N.J. 07642
ANTIQUES
Fuel surcharge added up to 10% Additional charge may be applied to credit card payment
CAR SERVICE
Residential Dumpster Specials 10 YDS 15 YDS 20 YDS
(201) 342-9333 (973) 340-7454
WE REMOVE
Pianos Furniture
Junk Appliances
Demo Work
WE CLEAN UP
Attics Basements Yards
Garages Apartments
Construction Debris
RUBBISH REMOVAL
Ricks
CLEANOUTS INC.
SENIOR CITIZENS
10% OFF!
SAME DAY
SERVICE
CLEANING & HAULING
FLORIDA CONDO FOR RENT
DELRAY BEACH Kings Point, 1
BDRM, 1.5 Bth, furnished. Kosher
Kitchen & carpeting throughout.
Ground fr/corner apt. Minimum 4
month rental. 201-797-5348
MOVING SALE
MOVING SALE
Queen Size Rosewood
Bedroom Set
Antique Chest
Chinese Rug
Queen Anne Table &
Chairs
Plus Assorted Furniture &
Other Extras
Very Reasonable
201-489-4747
CEMETERY PLOTS FOR SALE
BETH ISRAEL/WOODBRIDGE,
NJ - 2 Gravesites, $1050 each
OBO. Call Mrs. K 561-740-4542
CRYPTS FOR SALE
BETH ISRAEL Cemetery, Wood-
bridge, N.J. Triple Crypt for three.
Outside garden level 4. $7,500, ne-
gotiable. including transfer fees.
Value over $20K. 917-445-5293
SANTUARY Abraham & Sarah,
Paramus. Double side-by-side,
new building, eye level. Selling
price $24,000; asking $20,000.
201-684-0574
SENIORS
WOMAN
looking to meet
Senior Adults for
Activities,
Travel, etc.
Call Nat
201-768-9490
HELP WANTED
PART TIME
ADVERTISING SALES
For The
Rockland Jewish Standard
Knowledge of Rockland Cty
Previous Media Sales a plus
You are a people person and
a go-getter.
Use of Automobile
Generous Commission and
Car Allowance
email resume to:
natalie@jewishmediagroup.com
fax: 201-833-4959
SITUATIONS WANTED
A CARING experienced European
woman available now to care for
elderly/sick. Live-in/Out. English
speaking. References. Drivers lics.
Call Lena 908-494-4540
A responsible woman looking to
care for elderly. Live-in or out.
Reliable! Pleasant! Experienced!
References. Own car. Waiting for
your call 347-816-1363
SITUATIONS WANTED
CARING, reliable lady with over 20
years experience willing to work 10
to 12 hours anytime/nightime shift
at $10. hour. Excellent references.
201-741-3042
CHHA with 10 yrs experience,
live-in/out, excellent references,
valid drivers license. Call 973-342-
2160; 973-392-3028,
CHHA -Live-in; experienced, excel-
lent references. Call Mary 862-215-
4459 or 908-265-2763.
CHHA to care for elderly. Live-
in/out. Available weekends & holi-
days. Pleasant! 12 years experi-
ence! References! Drives own car!
201-580-0300
COMPASSIONATE Caregiver to
care for elderly/sick. Over 20 years
experience with Jewish families.
Live in/out. Excellent references.
Own car. 973-809-9186
HEBREW Day School Teacher.
Fluent in Hebrew, English, Russi-
an. Five years experience teaching
in Israel. Email: E.M.S.Rosen-
berg@gmail.com; cell 201-993-
1807
SITUATIONS WANTED
RICHALEX DIGNITY
Provides Certifed Home Health
Aide Services
Assistance w/bathing
Hsekeeping Companionship
Errands Meal Preparation
Laundry Medication reminder
Compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness & patience.
862-250-6680
SPORTSWRITER adept at cover-
ing all team sports on both national
and local level. Have covered
Mets, Giants and NJ Nets. Can
cover all angles of sports; fnancial,
team or individual. Also interested
in writig about Travel.
Call: David 973-641-6781 or email:
DavidFox1114@aol.com
NURSES aide seeking live-in/out
companion position. I have 20
years experience and references.
Also I drive/own car. 201-816-
0343; 516-451-9997
DAUGHTER
FOR A DAY, LLC
LICENSED & INSURED
FOR YOUR
PROTECTION
Case Management
Handpicked
Certified Home
Health Aides
Creative
companionship
interactive,
intelligent
conversation &
social outings
Lifestyle Transitions
Assist w/shopping,
errands, Drs, etc.
Organize/process
paperwork,
bal. checkbook,
bookkeeping
Resolve medical
insurance claims
Free Consultation
RITA FINE
201-214-1777
www.daughterforaday.com
Estates Bought & Sold
Fine Furniture
Antiques
Accessories
Cash Paid
201-920-8875
T U
NICHOLAS
ANTIQUES
PARTY
PLANNER
Classified
JS-43
Get results!
Advertise on
this page.
201-837-8818
Call us.
We are waiting
for your
classifed ad!
201-837-8818
Solution to last weeks puzzle. This weeks puzzle is
on page 34.
ANTIQUES
Jewish Music with an Edge
Ari Greene 201-837-6158
AGreene@BaRockorchestra.com
www.BaRockOrchestra.com
Free
Estimates
Roof
Repairs
201-487-5050
83 FIRST STREET
HACKENSACK, NJ 07601
ROOFING SIDING GUTTERS LEADERS
HACKENSACK HACKENSACK HACKENSACK HACKENSACK HACKENSACK
R RR RROO OO OO OO OOFING FING FING FING FING
C CC CCO OO OO. .. ..
INC. INC. INC. INC. INC.
ROOFING
CLEANING SERVICE
HOME CLEANING by perfection-
ist, meticulous, caring person. Ex-
cellent references. Bi-Weekly or
Weekly Call 973-461-3082
POLISH CLEANING WOMAN
- Homes, Apartments, Offices-
14 years experience, excellent
references.
Affordable rates!
Izabela 973-572-7031
WOMAN offers her Cleaning Serv-
ices; homes, apartments, offices. 8
years experience. Speaks English.
References. Free estimates. Call
Karnet 201-519-2461
MEN'S CLOTHING FOR SALE
. Mans medium Black Leather
Jacket with removable lining,
signed by J. Park of Cou-ture at
Barneys.
Mans medium/large Dark Grey
Suit with vest. Hammonton Park
Clothes at Barneys.
201-343-8540
CLEANING & HAULING
JIMMY
THE JUNK MAN
Low Cost
Commercial Residental
Rubbish Removal
201-661-4940
DRIVING SERVICE
MICHAELS CAR
SERVICE
LOWEST RATES
Airports
Manhattan/NYC
School Transportation
201-836-8148
FLOORING
American Oak
Hardwood Floors
25 Years of Experience
Installation of All Types of
Carpets, Floors & Borders
Staining & Refinishing
Complete Repair Service
Quality Products
Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Oakland Rutherford
201-651-9494 201-438-7105
FURNITURE FOR SALE
PARSON TABLE
Cherry wood frame
with Glass Top
25H x 56L x 21D
Like New $100.00
Call Karen
201-321-1839
HANDYMAN
Your Neighbor with Tools
Home Improvements & Handyman
Shomer Shabbat Free Estimates
Over 15 Years Experience
Adam 201-675-0816 Jacob
Lic. & Ins. NJ Lic. #13VH05023300
www.yourneighborwithtools.blogspot.com
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
BEST BEST
of the
Home Repair Service
Carpentry
Decks
Locks/Doors
Basements
Bathrooms
Plumbing
Tiles/Grout
Painting
Kitchens
Electrical
Paving/Masonry
Drains/Pumps
Maintenence
Hardwood Floors
NO JOB IS TOO SMALL
24 Hour x 5 1/2 Emergency Services
Shomer Shabbat Free Estimates
1-201-530-1873
BH
General Repairs
PROGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION
Driveways Belgian Block
Retaining Walls Pavers
Snow Plowing Steps
Firewood (delivered at stacking)
Bob Cat Service available
201-543-3795
Lic#13VH0314200
PLUMBING
Complete Kitchen &
Bath Remodeling
Boilers Hot Water Heaters Leaks
EMERGENCY SERVICE
Fully Licensed, Bonded and Insured
NO JOB IS TOO SMALL!
201-358-1700 Lic. #12285
APL Plumbing & Heating LLC
RUBBISH REMOVAL
CHICHELO
RUBBISH REMOVED
973-325-2713 973-228-7928
201-704-0013
Appliances
Furniture
WoodMetals
Construction
Debris
Homes Estates
Factories Contractors
P.O. Box 96119 Washington, D.C. 20090 | (800) 813-0557 | mazon.org
We cant put off paying my moms
medical bills and her oxygen, so we
struggle to get enough to eat.
- Rhonda
Every day, hungry people have to make impossible choices, often
knowing that, no matter which option they choose, they will have
to accept negative consequences. It shouldnt be this way.
MAZON is working to end hunger for Rhonda and the millions of
Americans and Israelis who struggle with food insecurity.
Please donate to MAZON today.
2012 MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger/Barbara Grover
Gallery
JS-44
1 2
3
4
5
6 7
8
n 1 Students at the Bergen County
High School of Jewish Studies
marked Chanukah and Thanksgiv-
ing by doing chesed projects. Their
work included writing letters to IDF
lone soldiers, creating a coloring
book for JFS clients, and making
menorahs for residents of the new
J-ADD group home. COURTESY BCHSJS
n 2 The Gerrard Berman Day
School, Solomon Schechter of
North Jersey, held a musical cele-
bration for families of second grad-
ers as their children received the
first book of the Chumash. Grand-
father Erv Schoenblum, left, helps
hold up the tallit. LEEOR WIESELBERG
n 3 Yeshivat Noams sixth grade
debate team, coached by Rabbi
Jeremy Hellman, recently ar-
gued its first debate of the year
at the Hebrew Academy of the
Five Towns and Rockaway on
Long Island. The topic was The
NSA Should Not be Able to Lis-
ten to Our Phone Calls and Read
our Emails. The team took first
place. COURTESY YESHIVAT NOAM
n 4 Religious and nursery school
students and their families joined
for Chanukah Fun Day at the Glen
Rock Jewish Center. Rabbi Neil
Tow lights the chanukiyak. Ra-
chel Blumenstyk, GRJC Hebrew
school principal, and Hilarie Kay,
GRJC nursery school director,
led the festivities. COURTESY GRJC
n 5 Ben Porat Yosef fourth graders
made Chanukah cards and treats
for the residents of the Jewish
Home Assisted Living in River
Vale. The schools Chevrat Chesed
(Chesed committee) sponsored the
project and delivered the presents
in time for the holiday. COURTESY BPY
n 6 Frisch students Hannah
Swieca and Ariela Rivkin attended
a meeting of the Conference of
Presidents of Major Jewish Or-
ganizations, where they heard
Naftali Bennett, Israels Minister
of the Economy, Religious Ser-
vices, and Jerusalem and Diaspora
Affairs, speak about his hopes for
Israels future. COURTESY FRISCH
n 7 Students at the religious school
at the JCC of Paramus/Congregation
Beth Tikvah shopped for gifts at the
annual Chanukah Boutique orga-
nized by the Association of Parents
and Teachers. COURTESY JCCP/CBT
n 8 The Fair Lawn Jewish Center/
Congregation Bnai Israel made
dreidels out of clay and lit meno-
rahs during a recent Chanukah
Hagigah. COURTESY FLJC
Real Estate & Business
JS-45*
Real Estate Associates
Ann Murad, ABR, GRI
Sales Associate
NJAR Circle of Excellence Gold Level, 2001, 2003-2006
Silver Level, 1997-2000, 2002,2009,2011,2012
Direct: (201) 664 6181, Cell: (201) 981 7994
E-mai l : anni eget si t sol d@msn. com
123 Broadway, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677
(201) 573 8811 ext. 316
Each Ofce Independenty Owned and Operated
ANNIE GETS IT SOLD
EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY
HOUSING EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Orna Jackson, Sales Associate 201-376-1389
TENAFLY
894-1234
TM
TENAFLY TIMELESS $795,000
Charming Dutch colonial on private dead-end street offers gracious ambience,
large living room with fireplace, enclosed porch overlooking deep serene yard, 4
bedrooms, 3 baths, walk-out basement with windows, award
wining schools, lots of potential for antique lovers.
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
568-1818
TENAFLY
894-1234
CRESSKILL
871-0800
ALPINE/CLOSTER
768-6868
RIVER VALE
666-0777
TEANECK VIC/BERGENFIELD
OPEN HOUSES 1-3 PM
For Our Full Inventory & Directions
Visit our Website
www.RussoRealEstate.com
(201) 837-8800
READERS
CHOICE
2013
FIRST PLACE
REAL ESTATE AGENCY
45 Dudley Dr. $799,000.
New Construc. 5 BR, 4.5 Bth Col. Granite Kit/Double Appl/
open to Fam Rm. Slders to Deep Back Yrd. Fin Bsmt. U/G
Sprnklrs. C/A/C. Gar.
11 Melrose Ave. $339,900.
Lov Expand Col. LR, Form DR, Deck, Mod EIK, 2 BRs incl
Mstr on 1st Flr, 2 Addl 2nd Flr BRs. 2 Bths Tot. Part Fin
Bsmt/Fam Rm. C/A/C. Gar. Lots of Updates!
All Close to NY Bus/Houses of Worship/Highways
2 BR, Tenafly border, central
a/c, w/d, great location near
NYC bus, Houses of Worship
and EHMC. $1,750 + utilities
Call 201.647.3680 or
201.568.3035
ENGLEWOOD HOUSE FOR RENT

FOLLOW TEAM V&N ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
www.vera-nechama.com
201-692-3700
SMART * EXPERIENCED * BOLD
SUNDAY DEC 8 - OPEN HOUSES - BERGENFIELD
107 Greenwich Dr $529,000 1:00-4:00pm
25 Westminster Ave $499,000 1:00-3:00pm
397 Greenwich Dr $449,000 1:00-4:00pm
PRICE CHANGE!
25 Westminster Ave, Bergenfield - $499,000
BY APPOINTMENT CLIFFSIDE PARK
$579,000 - Fully Renovated 2 Br 2 bth unit. Modern
Kit w Quartz Counters/ SS Appliances, Radiant Heat
fls in Bths, hrdwd fls throughout. 24/7 security, pool.
Zohar Zack Zamir
Broker Associate, REALTOR

Cell: 201.780.7884
Ofce: 201.568.5668 x134

zohar@zamirrealtor.com
www.ZamirRealtor.com
Gorgeous six bedroom Split
Level home in the heart of
the West Englewood section.
This park area property
resides on a cul-de-sac street
in a prime location. Close to
parks, schools, and Houses of
Worship. Move-in condition.
Local Expertise | Global Exposure
Marketing Teaneck Real Estate at the Highest Level
Open House
Sun 12/8 1-4PM
TEANECK 722 Washburn St.
Priced to Sell $739,900
2010-2012 NJAR

Circle of Excellence
Award
Recipient
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORT UNI T Y
90 County Road Tenafy, NJ
Each offce is independently owned and operated
Connect with Us!
/zamirrealtor
Big Game 5k to kick off Super Bowl week
The Big Game 5K Committee has announced
details for the inaugural Big Game 5K, One
Run, Many Lives Touched. The run will take
place on Sunday, January 26, the week before
Super Bowl XLVIII, at the Westfield Garden
State Plaza mall in Paramus, the events host
sponsor. Proceeds will benefit several area
nonprofit organizations and charities.
The Big Game 5K is scheduled to start at
9 a.m. on a timed course in the mall parking
lot. Starting at 9:30 a.m., a one-mile leisure
walk will get under way inside the mall.
Parti ci pants can regi ster at www.
raceforum.com/biggame5k and get more
information on the event web site (www.
thebiggame5k.com), on Facebook (www.
facebook.com/biggame5k) and on Twitter
(@biggame5k).
Expected to draw more than a thousand
participants, The Big Game 5K is open to
runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.
For the $25 entry fee, each participant will
receive a T-shirt, a medal and a swag bag.
Immediately following the 5K run there will
be an award ceremony, followed by live music
and a tailgate party.
The event was developed as a fun way
to raise funds for charities and nonprofit
organizations. Among the organizations
on the committee are the National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, Maria Fareri Childrens
Hospital, Childrens Aid and Family Services,
Adler Aphasia Center, Girl Scouts of Northern
New Jersey, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of
Bergen County, Hawthorne and Northwest
New Jersey, and Heroes and Cool Kids.
To become a sponsor of the Big Game 5K,
contact Bruce Silberman at (973) 202-0400.
First Commerce branch opens in Teaneck
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Teaneck branch of First Commerce Bank
brought together bank and local officials on November 14. From left, C. Her-
bert Schneider, president and chief executive officer of First Commerce;
FCB director Ben Romeo, who is also mayor of Cresskill; Jack Aaronson, vice
chairman of FCB; Karen Kitzis, a director of FCB; Mohammed Hameedud-
din, mayor of Teaneck; Abraham S. Opatut, chairman of FCB; and Gershon
Biegeleisen, a director of FCB. The branch is located at 1008 Teaneck Road.
Cooking with Beth
blog at
www.jstandard.com
For
cooking
ideas
visit the
Real Estate & Business
JS-46*
AYELET HURVITZ
Realtor
NJAR
Circle of Excellence Sales

Award
, 2012
Coldwell Banker Advisory Council, 2013
Member of NAR, NJAR, EBCBOR, NJMLS
Bilingual in English and Hebrew
Licensed Realtor in NJ & NY.
Direct: 201-294-1844
Alpine/Closter Office:
201-767-0550 x235
www.ayelethurvitz.com
3
5
1
2
6
7
0
N
J
M
G
18 LAMBS, CRESSKILL 185 E. PALISADE, ENGLEWOOD
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
20 HEDGEROW, ENGLEWOOD
275 ENGLE ST., ENGLEWOOD
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
A longtime Tenafly resident and prior resident of NYC: Ayelet possesses a strong
knowledge of the neighborhoods, communities and schools in Bergen County. This
along with her professional experience working on Wall Street makes a tremendous
difference when assisting her clients, says Terri Buffa, branch Vice President of
Coldwell Banker, Alpine/Closter.
*Based on MLS Report 2013 Coldwell Banker LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark of Coldwell Banker
Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.
0003512670-01_0003512670-01 6/25/13 3:32 PM Page 1
AYELET HURVITZ
Realtor
NJAR

Award
, 2012
Direct: 201-294-1844
201-767-0550 x235
3
5
1
2
6
7
0
N
J
M
G
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
20 HEDGEROW, ENGLEWOOD 275 ENGLE ST., ENGLEWOOD
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
0003512670-01_0003512670-01 6/25/13 3:32 PM Page 1
AYELET HURVITZ
Realtor
NJAR

Award
, 2012
Direct: 201-294-1844
201-767-0550 x235
3
5
1
2
6
7
0
N
J
M
G
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
20 HEDGEROW, ENGLEWOOD 275 ENGLE ST., ENGLEWOOD
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
0003512670-01_0003512670-01 6/25/13 3:32 PM Page 1
AYELET HURVITZ
Realtor
NJAR

Award
, 2012
Direct: 201-294-1844
201-767-0550 x235
3
5
1
2
6
7
0
N
J
M
G
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
20 HEDGEROW, ENGLEWOOD
275 ENGLE ST., ENGLEWOOD
J
U
S
T
S
O
L
D
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
0003512670-01_0003512670-01 6/25/13 3:32 PM Page 1
AYELET HURVITZ
Realtor
Direct: 201-294-1844
Alpine/Closter Ofce:
201-767-0550 x 235
HAPPY CHANUKAH!
185 E. PALISADE - ENGLEWOOD 16 MALLARD - ENGLEWOOD
NJAR
Circle of Excellence
Sales Award
, 2012
Coldwell Banker Advisory
Council, 2013
Member of NAR, NJAR,
EBCBOR, NJMLS
Bilingual in English/Hebrew
Licensed Realtor in NJ & NY
275 ENGLE - ENGLEWOOD
S
O
L
D
1530 PALISADE - FORT LEE
S
O
L
D
2185 LEMOINE - FORT LEE
S
O
L
D
110 SERPENTINE - TENAFLY
S
O
L
D
18 LAMBS, CRESSKILL
S
O
L
D
S
O
L
D
S
O
L
D
20 HEDGEROW - ENGLEWOOD
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
100 E. PALISADE - ENGLEWOOD
L
E
A
S
E
D
73 E. LINDEN - ENGLEWOOD
S
O
L
D
F
O
R
S
A
L
E
F
O
R

R
E
N
T
SELLING YOUR HOME?
Cell: 201-615-5353 BergenCountyRealEstateSource.com
2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.
An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.
Call Susan Laskin Today
To Make Your Next Move A Successful One!
Like us on Facebook
Nahmany joins sales force
at Friedberg Properties
Marlyn Friedberg, broker-owner of
Friedberg Properties, has announced
that Orit Nahmany is now a member of
Friedbergs sales force.
A five year resident of Closter,
Nahmany and her husband have three
children. She volunteers in Hillside
School and Chabbad on the Palisade
and is a former teacher at the JCC on the
Palisades.
While living in Israel, Nahmany was
a medical assistant in the army. She
speaks English and Hebrew fluently and
says her past experience allows her to
connect and relate to people on many
different levels.
Nahmany can be reached at
Friedbergs Alpine office, 1018 Closter
Dock Road. Call (201) 768-6868.
Jeff@MironProperties.com www.MironProperties.com
Ruth@MironProperties.com www.MironProperties.com/NJ
Each Miron Properties office is independently owned and operated.
Contact us today for your complimentary consultation!
ENGLEWOOD
260 W. HUDSON AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
566 RIDGELAND TERRACE
ENGLEWOOD
212 MAPLE STREET
ENGLEWOOD
401 DOUGLAS STREET
F
O
R

R
E
N
T
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
O
P
E
N

H
O
U
S
E
S
U
N
D
A
Y

1
-
4
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
O
P
E
N

H
O
U
S
E
S
U
N
D
A
Y

2
-
4
ENGLEWOOD
133-A E. PALISADE AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
154 MEADOWBROOK ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
200 S. DWIGHT PLACE
ENGLEWOOD
35 KING STREET
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
U
N
D
E
R
C
O
N
T
R
A
C
T
!
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
459 TENAFLY ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
280-290 E. LINDEN AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
98 HILLSIDE AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
285 MORROW ROAD
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
10 LEXINGTON COURT
ENGLEWOOD
360 AUDUBON ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
184 SHERWOOD PLACE
ENGLEWOOD
215 E. LINDEN AVENUE
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
185 E. PALISADE AVE, #D5B
ENGLEWOOD
400 JONES ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
350 ELKWOOD TERRACE
ENGLEWOOD
248 CHESTNUT STREET
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
Jeffrey Schleider
Broker/Owner
Miron Properties NY
Ruth Miron-Schleider
Broker/Owner
Miron Properties NJ
NJ: T: 201.266.8555 M: 201.906.6024
NY: T: 212.888.6250 M: 917.576.0776
ENGLEWOOD SHOWCASE
Remarkable Service. Exceptional Results.
Smadar Manor
now at Miron
Miron Properties, a residential real estate broker-
age firm located in Bergen County, has hired Smadar
Sammy Manor.
Ms. Manor worked in the insurance business for 15
years. Her financial savvy, analytical skills and attention
to detail are matched by her dedication to listening and
satisfying the unique needs of every client, says firm
owner Dr. Ruth Miron-Schleider.
Born and raised in Israel, Ms. Manor speaks fluent
Hebrew and English. She holds a B.A. degree from the Col-
lege of Insurance in Israel, and an MBA in Finance from
Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Ms. Manor and her family currently live in Closter.
Smadar Manor
JS-47
JS-47
Jeff@MironProperties.com www.MironProperties.com
Ruth@MironProperties.com www.MironProperties.com/NJ
Each Miron Properties office is independently owned and operated.
Contact us today for your complimentary consultation!
ENGLEWOOD
260 W. HUDSON AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
566 RIDGELAND TERRACE
ENGLEWOOD
212 MAPLE STREET
ENGLEWOOD
401 DOUGLAS STREET
F
O
R

R
E
N
T
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
O
P
E
N

H
O
U
S
E
S
U
N
D
A
Y

1
-
4
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
O
P
E
N

H
O
U
S
E
S
U
N
D
A
Y

2
-
4
ENGLEWOOD
133-A E. PALISADE AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
154 MEADOWBROOK ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
200 S. DWIGHT PLACE
ENGLEWOOD
35 KING STREET
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
U
N
D
E
R
C
O
N
T
R
A
C
T
!
F
O
R

S
A
L
E
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
459 TENAFLY ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
280-290 E. LINDEN AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
98 HILLSIDE AVENUE
ENGLEWOOD
285 MORROW ROAD
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
10 LEXINGTON COURT
ENGLEWOOD
360 AUDUBON ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
184 SHERWOOD PLACE
ENGLEWOOD
215 E. LINDEN AVENUE
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
ENGLEWOOD
185 E. PALISADE AVE, #D5B
ENGLEWOOD
400 JONES ROAD
ENGLEWOOD
350 ELKWOOD TERRACE
ENGLEWOOD
248 CHESTNUT STREET
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
S
O
L
D
!
Jeffrey Schleider
Broker/Owner
Miron Properties NY
Ruth Miron-Schleider
Broker/Owner
Miron Properties NJ
NJ: T: 201.266.8555 M: 201.906.6024
NY: T: 212.888.6250 M: 917.576.0776
ENGLEWOOD SHOWCASE
Remarkable Service. Exceptional Results.
JS-48
RCBC
Like Glatt Express
Supermarket on
Facebook for daily
specials and offers!
1400 Queen Anne Rd Teaneck, NJ
201-837-8110
Mashgiach Temidi / Open Sun & Mon 7am-6pm Tues 7am-7pm
Wed & Thurs 7am-9pm Fri 7am-2:30pm
We have
SUSHI!
Made fresh daily exclusively
for Glatt Express
As always, we continue to be
your one-stop super shop

New Jersey Jewish Standard, December 6, 2013

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

New Jersey Jewish Standard, December 6, 2013

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

JSTANDARD.

We remain committed to providing the

We remain committed to providing the

Circle of Excellence Sales

Circle of Excellence Sales

Circle of Excellence Sales

Circle of Excellence Sales

You might also like