ADL National Director Greenblatt Gives a View of Anti-Semitism

Transcription

1 WESTCHESTER November Cheshvan-Kislev 5778, Volume 23, Issue 11 JewishLife WESTCHESTER COUNTY S ONLY MONTHLY JEWISH NEWSPAPER ADL National Director Greenblatt Gives a View of Anti-Semitism BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Temple Sholom, Greenwich, CT presented ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt, (NYC) who spoke on A 360-Degree View of Anti-Semitism in 2017 on Thursday, October 19th. We are very glad to have Jonathan Greenblatt speaking tonight Temple Sholom President Ben Kriegler stated to an audience of over 100. The topic of discussion is one of utmost importance, to talk about the uncertainty in the environment with groups politicizing hate, bigotry, anti-semitism, anti- Muslim, fighting immigration issues These are all hot topics today things we need to be aware of to push back as hard Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director, Anti-Defamation League (left) and Benjamin Kreigler, President Temple Sholom Greenwich. Photo credit: Oleg Asaulenko as we can, to call people out for this type of hate and support ADL Introducing Greenblatt, Dr. Dale Atkins Rosen noted that she grew up in a prejudiced, anti-semitic community. I have been involved with Rabbi David Saperstein Featured Speaker at Larchmont Temple Program BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN American Jewish Committee (AJC) Westchester/ Fairfield in conjunction with Larchmont Temple presented former United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Rabbi David Saperstein, Washington, DC, who gave the Keynote Presentation on Wednesday, October 18. Before Rabbi Saperstein spoke, AJC Westchester/Fairfield Regional Director Scott Rabbi David Saperstein Richman stated that his organization meets in 115 different countries on a regular basis and is seen as, The State Department of the Jewish People Introduced by Joel Negrin, AJC Westchester/Fairfield Co-Chair, Diplomatic Outreach Committee, Saperstein, a cousin of Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum said, I take the debates that we have about religious freedom in America very seriously. There is the question whether corporations have religious freedom under the Constitution. I am going to turn to the international scene. Today 75% of the world s population has restrictions of religious freedom, harassed for worshiping G-d in the way that they believe. Here you have your funcontinued on page 2 Left to right: Temple Sholom Greenwich, CT Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz; synagogue member Willow Oberweger. Photo credit: Oleg Asaulenko ADL for the last 30 years, Rosen said. Greenblatt began by contrasting the October 19th Richard Spencer Neo-Nazi demonstration at University of Florida, Gainesville with former President George W. Bush s stirring speech in Columbus Circle, NYC where he called bigotry or white supremacy blasphemy against the American creed. My story goes back to my grandfather Bernhard Grunblatt His store was destroyed and he fled East Germany with a fake passport. He lost almost his entire family in the Shoah. Even though my grandfather came to this country without any money or connections to language, he carved a middle class life in Bridgeport, CT. He had me, my brother and cousins marching down Park Avenue in the late 70 s in rallies to free the Soviet Jews. Amazingly, the Jews Kristallnacht Commemoration at Westchester Jewish Center In April 1939, Warner Brothers studios released the first Hollywood film to confront the Nazi threat in the United States. Confessions of a Nazi Spy, told the story of German agents in New York City working to overthrow the U.S. government. The film alerted Americans to the dangers of Nazism at home and encouraged them to defend against it. Published almost eighty years later, Hollywood s Spies by Laura B. Rosenzweig, tells the remarkable story of the first American Jewish resistance organization to Nazism groups operating in Los Angeles, and the role that Jewish Hollywood played in combating the rising Nazi threat. Rosenzweig has written a mesmerizing narrative illuminating the unknown role that Jewish- Laura B. Rosenzweig Americans played in battling insurgent Nazism in the United States in the decade before World War II. Drawing on more than 15,000 pages of archival documents Laura has uncovered a story that has remained hidden for 80 years. At 7:30 pm on November 9, Visit were freed. They were able to escape the Soviet Union. As a little boy, this lit something in me He pointed out that ADL speaks out against anti-semitism and BDS, advocates for immigrants and tracks twitter posts, revealing a shocking amount of anti-semitism, mentioning that anti-semitism exists on both the Radical Left and Right. Greenblatt emphasized educating law enforcement officers; anti-hate crime training is mandatory in the FBI. The front line in fighting hate is Facebook. I don t care how you vote. I do care about what you value, Greenblatt repeatedly stressed. Westchester Jewish Center s Holocaust Learning Center, chaired by Dan Berkowitz, will start the commemoration with a solemn ceremony. Then they will welcome author Laura Rosenzweig, who will speak about her book and commemorates November 9th, 1938, the night that a deliberate, coordinated and massive attack on Jews throughout Germany began. While these assaults lasted well into the next day, November 9th has become known as Kristallnacht or The Night of Broken Glass, and a harbinger for what would befall the Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis. Westchester Jewish Center is located at Palmer and Rockland Avenues in Mamaroneck. To attend, RSVP to adminasst@wjcenter.org

2 2 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev 5778 Westchester Jewish Life Rabbi David Saperstein Featured Speaker at Larchmont Temple Program continued from page 1 damental religious rights as long as they don t impinge on anybody else s. We did not get there all at once. There were clashes in Philadelphia between Protestants and Catholics in the 1860 s and 70 s Today with religious freedom we face serious problems. Hate crimes have escalated against Muslims. African Americans are still targets of hate crimes. Fights against the LGBTQ community have escalated. Since the end of World War II, the number of anti-semitic incidents has fallen fairly consistently, according to ADL polls, co-incidentally with rise of educational standards, although there are new forms of anti-semitism on our college campuses. Saperstein went on to say that the President is seeking to repeal the Johnson Amendment, originated by then-senator Lyndon Johnson in 1954, preventing a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization from opposing or supporting political candidates. Rabbi Saperstein then delineated the Colorado Civil Rights Commission s decision on May 30, 2014, determining that Masterpiece Bakeshop unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to sell them a wedding cake. Discussing corporate religious freedom, Saperstein cited the case of Hobby Lobby, a closely held (family owned) for-profit corporation where the Supreme Court ruled that they had a right to their Christian beliefs and did not have to pay insurance coverage for contraceptives for their employees. Approximately 250 citizens from Westchester and outlying Jewish communities attended the presentation. Celebrate Thanksgiving At Your Place Or Ours! $50 BONUS! Order your Thanksgiving Catered Feast for 10 by Monday, November 20, 2017 & get two BUY-1-GET-1 FREE Meal Coupons with a maximum value over $50 in your Ben s Friends Rewards account. Our Dining Rooms are OPEN Thanksgiving Day!! Roast Turkey Dinner... $25.99 Including homemade soup & soft drink Kid s Feast... $9.99 Including soft drink & kid s dessert Reservations Recommended Larger Parties Accommodated Seatings at 1:00, 2:30, 5:00 & 7:15* pm in all locations *No 7:15 pm seating in Manhattan Complete Your Last Minute List At Ben s! Everything you need to complete your holiday table. See in-store flyer or visit BensDeli.net for details. Thanksgiving Catered Feast for $ ENTREE Whole Roast Turkey (15 lb. avg.) Ben s Own Stuffing & Gravy SIDES (Choose 2) Roasted Red Potatoes with Garlic & Rosemary Thyme Baked Yams Fresh String Beans Almondine Fruit Noodle Pudding Sweet Potato Pudding Mashed Potatoes ACCOMPANIMENTS (All Included) 1 qt. Cranberry-Pineapple Compote 1 qt. Fresh-Cut Cole Slaw Assorted Relish Tray RESTAURANT DELICATESSEN BAR CATERERS Catering Hotline: BENS BensDeli.net BENS (2367) We Are Kosher 718 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, New York Ronald M. Dragoon World-Class Artists Will Exhibit Silver, Ceramics, Glass and Other Media A dazzling array of contemporary Judaica including works of crafts, art and jewelry will be shown and sold at the 23nd Bet Am Shalom Judaica Craft Show in White Plains. Among the items featured are ultra modern menorahs, blown glass dreidels, traditional and contemporary Kiddush cups and gold and silver jewelry at prices to fit any budget. The only show of its kind in the Northeast, it opens at Bet Am Shalom Synagogue on Saturday, December 2, 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., and continues on Sunday, December 3, 10:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m. The juried show features hundreds of one-of-a-kind works created by 50 artists, including 10 who are entirely new to the show this year. 20 of the artists who are exhibiting will travel to Westchester from their homes in Israel; the others are from many parts of the United States. The artists represented were selected from a large pool of applicants by a jury of Judaica art curators. Several of the artists works are collected by museums worldwide. A sampling of the work can be seen at: Featured are unique items representing the finest in handcrafted Judaica ceremonial pieces and stunning jewelry. Visitors will discover beautiful objects in ceramic, silver, fabric, wood, paper and other media, created for ritual, decorative and practical use in the home and synagogue. Also on offer is a wide selection of gift items for Chanukah and lifecycle events at a full range of prices. Betsy Miller Landis, this year s Show chairperson, said, We are so excited to present the most diverse group of artists that have ever been invited to this contemporary crafts and jewelry show. It is our primary mission to bring high quality and affordable Judaica into more homes and demonstrate the vitality of the Jewish craft community. Funds from the show support the artists and Bet Am Shalom Synagogue s vibrant role in the Westchester community. Over 200 volunteers help with the logistics of this annual event, and past shows have attracted attendees from the entire tri-state region as well as buyers from throughout the Northeast. Rabbi Les Bronstein, the synagogue s rabbi, said, We see this show as a community building event. Not only do BAS volunteers devote many hours working together, but it also brings in members of the broader Jewish community who come through our doors to meet each other, shop and support these artists and their unique craft. Live musical entertain- October 2 - AJC Central Europe October 16 - Rabbi David Saperstein October 30 - Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast Preview Show ment provided by the Moody Jews on Saturday evening and the Nadav Snir Zelniker Jazz Trio on Sunday. Food is available for purchase on site. Admission to the Bet Am Shalom Judaica Craft Show is $8 per person (Sunday reentry free if paid Saturday night.) Children under 13 are free. A discount voucher can be found online for those who pre-register with an address or bring in the Craft Show ad in the November copy of Westchester Jewish Life newspaper. Bet Am Shalom Synagogue is located at 295 Soundview Avenue in White Plains. For additional information and directions call Mon.- Fri. or visit: org/judaicacraftshow

3 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Biennial Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration The fifth Westchester-wide Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration, co-sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council and the Westchester Board of Rabbis, is scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle. Beginning at 7:00pm p.m., the event allows participants to attend two 45-minute workshops chosen from more than 30 topics covering Jewish thought, text, philosophy, spirituality, sports, culture, life and love. Following the workshop, participants will socialize at a festive celebration, including a delicious dairy dessert and musical entertainment by Binghamton University s Jewish a cappella group, Kaskeset.. Attendance is expected to be over 500. The rabbis have put together a truly wonderful Elliot Forchheimer and varied range of topics, so everyone should be able to find something of interest, said Steven L. Young, Westchester Jewish Council Event Co-Chair. Workshops include Israel Travel for Young Families, Can You Say Kiddush over Beer Instead of Wine?, Eating Ethically, Did Moses Thanksgiving Table Look Like Mine? Complicated Family Dynamics Then and Now, and more. This is a true community event. It brings together a diverse group of people from all over Westchester. Not only do the Rabbi s teachings represent a cross section of areas and denominations but so do our participants. All adult learners are encouraged to attend. Everyone, regardless of background, practice, affiliation or age, is welcome, commented Elliot Forchheimer, Executive Director of the Westchester Jewish Council. Tickets are available online at for $20/person through November 10th, after which the price will increase to $25/person. Tickets will be available at the door if space allows. Participating rabbis include: Rabbi Adam Baldachin, Shaarei Tikvah, Scarsdale; Rabbi Jeffrey Beer, Westchester Hebrew High School, Mamaroneck; Rabbi Alfredo Borodowski, Congregation Sulam Yakov, Larchmont; Rabbi Jeffrey Brown, Scarsdale, Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-el, Scarsdale; Rabbi Aaron Brusso, Bet Torah, Mt. Kisco; Rabbi Fredda Cohen, White Plains Hospital, White Plains; Rabbi Billy Dreskin, Woodlands Community Synagogue, Hartsdale; Rabbi Andrew Ergas, Shames JCC on the Hudson, Tarrytown; Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, Congregation Emanu-el, Rye; Rabbi Jennifer Goldsmith, Jewish Education Project, White Plains; Rabbi Shai Held, Mechon Hadar; Rabbi Evan Hoffman, Congregation Anshe Sholom, New Rochelle; Rabbi David Holtz, Temple Beth Abraham, Tarrytown; Rabbi Jennifer Jaech, Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, Croton-on-Hudson; Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Temple Beth El Northern Westchester, Chappaqua; Rabbi Steven Kane, Congregation Sons of Israel, Briarcliff; Rabbi Nuriel Klinger, Young Israel of Scarsdale, Scarsdale; Rabbi Joshua Lookstein, Westchester Hebrew Day School, Mamaroneck; Rabbi Chaim Marder, Hebrew Institute of White Plains; Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Temple Shaaray Tefila of Westchester, Bedford Corners; Rabbi Beth Nichols, Temple Israel of New Rochelle; Rabbi Harry Pell, Schechter Westchester, Hartsdale; Rabbi Daniel Rosenfelt, Fleetwood Synagogue, Mt. Vernon; Rabbi Alex Salzberg, Pelham Jewish Center; Rabbi David Schuck, Beth El Synagogue Center, New Rochelle; Rabbi Jordan Soffer, Carmel Academy, Greenwich; Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Dobbs Ferry; Rabbi Seth Sternstein, Yorktown Jewish Center, Yorktown Heights; Rabbi Rami Strasberg, Westchester Torah Academy, New Rochelle; Rabbi Joshua Strom, Congregation B nai Yisrael, Armonk; Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center of White Plains. For more information about the Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration, contact Donna Bartell, donna@wjcouncil.org or at (914) Information about the event is also available on the Westchester Jewish Council website at Sign language interpretation is available upon request.

4 4 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev JCCs to Forge New Jewish Partnerships in Tarrytown Scores of Jewish Community Centers from around the world, including nine from throughout the New York area in partnership with UJA Federation of New York, will go speed dating to create new global partnerships and build an unprecedented network of Jewish Peoplehood, during the upcoming JCC Global World Conference in Tarrytown, November 5-9. Hosted by the Harold and Elaine Shames JCC of Tarrytown, the conference will convene 110 Fellows from 52 JCCs in 15 countries, who will undergo an indepth process to meet global partners and programs. As part of this process, they will participate in speed dating intense networking, in order to create global partnerships. In addition to the speed dating, participants will also develop their own Jewish identity and learn more about the Jewish world, while building long-term Dr. Mark Ramer relationships between the JCCs to strengthen their respective Jewish Community Centers. Ultimately, Amitim 2.0 aims to allow Jews in different countries to connect, break down stereotypes and build bridges of understanding and support. According to JCC Global President Mark Ramer, JCCs are the center of Jewish peoplehood and the ideal venue to teach that concept. In today s world, where fear and mistrust often segregate and isolate, the Jewish Community Centers are the big tent under which a wide range of people congregate, he said. JCCs, often at the heart of the Jewish community, provide services and programs that build and strengthen Jewish communal life and provide Jewish educational experiences to and for Jews and non-jews of all ages and orientations. Funding for the Global Fellowship Programs comes from JCC Global and from a grant allocated by UJA- Federation of New York. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and participating JCCs are also supporting the program. Building on the unique character of each JCC, JCC Global creates meaningful and inspiring relationships among Jews and Jewish communities worldwide, combining their resources and enriching their members. Study Reveals How Faculty who Boycott Israel Increase Likelihood of Anti-Semitism A new study released by AMCHA Initiative, reveals how academic boycotts of Israel pose a serious threat to Jewish students and significantly increase the likelihood of anti- Semitism on campus. Much has been written in recent years detailing how academic boycotts, and particularly an academic boycott of Israel, are an assault on academic free expression and intellectual inquiry critical to academia. Even more alarming is AMCHA s recent research that found a strong link between the presence of faculty members expressing support for an academic boycott of Israel and the worst form of anti- Semitism, acts of anti-jewish hostility. Such acts include assault, harassment, destruction of property and suppression of speech. The research indicated that schools with one or more faculty boycotters were between four and seven times more likely to have acts of anti-jewish hostility, and the more faculty boycotters on a campus, the greater the likelihood of such anti-semitic acts. The association was replicated in three separate studies conducted over two different calendar years. The study released by AMCHA Initiative investigates why this is happening. It examined the three disciplines that were responsible for sponsoring close to 90% of anti-israel events Ethnic, Gender and Middle East Studies. Data reveals that the greater the number of faculty boycotters in a department, the greater the number of outside BDS proponents brought to campus by that department and the greater the instances of students anti-zionist expression and incidents of anti-jewish hostility. Although the statistical association in previous studies between faculty boycotters and aggressive acts toward Jewish students is quite strong, it is not immediately evident why this is so, wrote the researchers. For unlike members of anti-zionist student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine, whose activities have directly resulted in incidents of anti-jewish hostility, it is not obvious how the mere presence of faculty boycotters is associated with an increase in campus anti-semitism. This new research strongly suggests that that at least some faculty who have signed petitions or statements in support of an academic boycott of Israel bring their anti-israel sentiments and support for BDS to campus through their department s sponsorship of pro- BDS events and those events increase the likelihood of resulting anti-jewish hostility on campus. The incredibly strong association of students anti- Zionist expression and acts of anti-jewish hostility indicates a possible and dangerous chain reaction: BDS-supporting speaker-events incite anti- Zionist expression among students, which in turn increases the likelihood of anti-jewish incidents, note the researchers. AMCHA s researchers point out that the study s findings demonstrate that promoting an academic boycott of Israel is unlike any other social justice cause that a faculty member may choose to pursue. This is because by its very nature an academic boycott, if carried out, harms not only its intended target in this case the academic institutions and scholars of Israel it also directly and substantially harms students and faculty on U.S. campuses, violating their academic freedom. However, this study indicates that even advocating for a boycott of Israel as part of a department s sponsorship of BDS-supporting speaker-events is significantly associated with acts Call to reserve your ad space in the next issue! that target Jewish students for tion of property, and suppression searchers explain that they are not anti-israel events or BDS speakers demic freedom makes them permissible. Indeed, we believe discourse, debate and dissent on the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other issues certainly belong on the college campus. However, they are concerned about the increasing trend for some academic disciplines or sub-disciplines -- and consequently some entire college and university departments or programs -- to become politically corrupted, controlled by, and dedicated to anti-zionist and anti-israel beliefs. That trend has a corrosive impact on students and faculty and on the character of the education a campus can provide. They hope these findings will harms that may result from the on-campus promotion or an academic boycott by individual faculty members and academic units, and that it will, in the very least, spark a conversation in academic senates and administrative offices about those harms and how to AMCHA monitors more than 400 college campuses across the U.S. for anti-semitic activity. Campus anti- Semitism increased 40% and genocidal expression doubled in 2016, according to AMCHA s most recent annual study. The organization has recorded 466 known anti-semitic incidents non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to combating anti-semitism at colleges and universities in the United harm, including assault, harassment, destruc- of speech. The re- suggesting that should be prohibited. Aca- raise awareness about the possible implementation of address them. so far in AMCHA Initiative is a States.

5 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Marlee Matlin Brings Message of Inclusion and Advocacy to Westchester (From left) Seth and Linda Plattus of Scarsdale, Marlee Matlin, Beth Scharfman and Uri Shabto of Scarsdale, Rikki and Barry Kaplan of Scarsdale Nearly 100 of Westchester s most philanthropic donors came together to kick off UJA- Federation of New York s 2018 Annual Campaign and celebrate the organization s vital work on Wednesday, October 18, Guests heard from actress Marlee Matlin at the event, which took place at a private home in Scarsdale. Matlin has dedicated herself to raising awareness for many humanitarian causes, including diversity and LGBTQ rights, and has served as a champion for the deaf, children, and those struggling against domestic abuse and addiction. At 21, Matlin became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut for her role in Children of a Lesser God. Despite losing her hearing at 18 months, she has enjoyed a successful acting career, also winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and earning two Emmy nominations for her work. Matlin has joined Quantico as a series regular for its upcoming third season. Guests heard from Scarsdale resident Alexis Kashar, president of the Jewish Deaf Resource Center, which builds bridges between Jews who are dåœeaf and hard of hearing and the individuals and organization that serve the North American Jewish community, as well as from UJA leader Pam Wexler, also a Scarsdale resident, who was one of the original JDRC board members. Other speakers included Kenny and Joey Lane of Scarsdale, who recently had taken part in a UJA relief mission to Puerto Rico that brought aid to the area devastated by Hurricane Irma, including medical supplies, infant formula, diesel fuel, personal care products, cleaning products, batteries, work boots and gloves, and hundreds of bottles of water. I m so happy to be here with people who truly understand that it s only through our support that such missions like that one, and others that followed, are possible, said Cindy Golub of Mamaroneck, UJA s Westchester Regional Chair, to the guests. It is my pleasure, on behalf of UJA, to say thank you. We are deeply grateful. Funds raised at the event go to UJA-Federation, which sustains the activities of a network that includes hundreds of nonprofits, including more than 80 core partners, a dozen of which are located in Westchester. These community-based organizations provide services that combat poverty, help the elderly age with dignity, promote Jewish identity and renewal, strengthen children and families, and open doors to those with disabilities and special needs. Act of Vandalism Discovered at Bet Torah Synagogue Over the weekend of October 14-15, staff discovered two swastikas on an exterior wall of Bet Torah synagogue, 60 Smith Avenue, Mount Kisco. The wall where the discovery was made houses the synagogue s nursery school and is adjacent to the playground on the premises. New York State Senator Terrence Murphy, who represents the Mount Kisco community, took great exception to the hateful acts perpetrated against the Bet Torah synagogue and its congregation: The recent defacing of the Bet Torah synagogue in Mount Kisco is a contemptable and cowardly act. To vandalize a playground with swastikas where innocent children play is particularly cruel and heartless. We live in contentious times, and an act of this nature only further serves to fan the flames of hatred. We must have zero tolerance for hatred and NY State Senator Terrence Murphy bigotry and elevate, rather than denigrate one another. I hope the perpetrators are caught and held accountable for their heinous actions. Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Offers Professional Development Workshop On November 2, from 3PM to 7 PM, The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center will host a Professional Development Workshop at Iona College which will explore commonly held beliefs and biases that influence an educator s ability to be responsive to all students. Participants will engage in personal reflection, learn strategies for facilitating difficult conversations, plan student-centered instruction and investigate ways to include teaching about implicit bias, race, racism, police violence and crimes against humanity in your academic instruction. Participants will receive use tomorrow classroom resources and publications from Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. They will also receive 4 CTLE credit hours. There is no charge for the workshop. This training is suitable for kindergarten through college educators including teachers, administrators and counselors. Westchester District Attorney, Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr., will open the program followed by Susan Brownbill-Vega, Assistant District Attorney, Director of Community Affairs, Bias Crimes Unit Chief. The workshop will be led by Sara Wicht, Independent Educational Consultant. Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. Sara Wicht has over two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, teacher mentor, professional developer, curriculum designer, and educational writer. She has worked in public schools in Minnesota and Texas and at the American School of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As the Senior Manager of Teaching and Learning with Teaching Tolerance, Wicht led curriculum development of Teaching Tolerance s award-winning K-12 curriculum, Perspectives for a Diverse America, and teacher trainings online and across the country. Wicht holds an MA Ed in Language and Literacy and a BA in English from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, and is certified in secondary English/Language Arts. Since 2012, Wicht has facilitated professional development on anti-bias education at national conference events. Some of these conferences events include the National Council for Teachers of English, National Council for Social Studies, Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color, and National Association of Multicultural Educators. Most recently, she provided in-person professional development for Global Islam and Arts Teacher Fellows through the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and for Chicago-area educators at the IL Holocaust Museum and Education Center on Confronting Bias and Facilitating Difficult Conversations. This workshop will be held at Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, in Spellman Hall, Thomas J. Burke Lounge. For more information and RSVP to Julia Scallero (914) or jscallero@hhrecny.org

6 6 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev 5778 Westchester Jewish Life Calendar of Events Beth El Synagogue Center, North Avenue, New Rochelle will host an Israeli Art Festival and Sale featuring works from the Safrai Art Gallery in Jerusalem featuring many late and great Israeli artists. Schedule is as follows: November 8 from 7:30 to 9pm Patron & Sponsor VIP Preview; November 9 from 6:15 to 10pm First Public Viewing: Music, Food & First Choice on Art; November 10 from 9am to 3pm Additional Sale Hours; November 11 from 7:30 to 11pm Beth El s Speakeasy: Art, Drinks & Live Jazz; and November 12 from 9am to 1pm Final Sale. For more information, visit bethelnr.org/safrai On November 30, Jewish National Fund will host its 5th Annual Westchester Water & Wine Event with Alon Ben-Gurion featuring personal stories of his grandfather s legacy at Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale with a signature Dessert & Wine reception and a complimentary VIP dinner beginning at 6:15pm. RSVP by November 22 at jnf.org/waterandwine or call , ext Bet Am Shalom Synagogue, 295 Soundview Avenue, White Plains will hold the 23rd Annual Judaica Craft Show featuring 50 Judaica craftspeople 19 from Israel on December 2 from 8 to 11pm and December 3 from 10am to 5:30pm. Preview the artists at betamshalom. org/judaicacraftshow and call for additional information. On November 2, a special event featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Steven Bayme, AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life and the Dorothy and Julius Koppelman Institute for American Jewish Israeli Relations, honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration at Temple Beth-El, 350 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT at 7:30pm. RSVP to Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla presents the annual President s Forum event entitled, United or Divided: One Year Later, from 2:30 to 5:30pm beginning with a panel discussion moderated by Lester M. Crystal. Panelists include: Ari Fleisher, Ruth Marcus and David Sanger. A reception will follow. RSVP online at mysunywcc.org/events. For further information, call On November 18 at 7pm, the Westchester Board of Rabbis and the Westchester Jewish Council will sponsor a Night of Jewish Learning and Celebration at Beth El Synagogue Center, 1324 North Avenue, New Rochelle. RSVP to UPCOMING EVENTS AJC Westchester/Fairfield will hold the following: November 16 from 7:30 to 10am Annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast at Manhattanville College honoring Rev. Doris Dalton, William Darger, and Rev. Kymberly McNair (RSVP to ); November 20 Community program with AJC CEO David Harris at Temple Shaaray Tefila; and November 29 at 6pm 2017 Judge Learned Hand Award Dinner honoring William P. Harrington and Stanley A. Twardy. For complete details, visit ajc.org The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue, New York City, presents Modigliani Unmasked, on view through February 4, 2018 featuring drawings by Amedeo Modigliani. For additional information, call (212) or visit thejewishmuseum.org Westchester Jewish Center, Rockland and Palmer Avenues, Mamaroneck and The Koslowe Gallery, will host a fall exhibition, Across Divides: Borders and Boundaries in Contemporary Art. The exhibit is on view until December. For details, amyruth67@aol.com Beth El Synagogue Center, 1324 North Avenue, New Rochelle is the location for a new course entitled, It s all Greek to Me, taught by Rabbi Molly Karp on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12:15pm November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, December 6, 13 and 20, and January 3. To learn more, visit rabbimollykarp. com or rabbimollykarp@ gmail.com. Derfner Judaica Museum + The Art Collection at Hebrew Home at Riverdale, 5901 Palisade Avenue, Riverdale announces its latest exhibition, Brenda Zlamany: 100/100, on view through January 7, 2018 Call for details. Every Monday from 9:30-10:45am, WJCS offers Jewish Mindfulness Meditation at Temple Israel Center, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains. Call to learn more. Every Thursday from 9:30-10:45am, WJCS offers Jewish Mindfulness Meditation at Chapel in the Woods, Congregation Kol Ami, 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains. Call to register. On Thursday nights from 7:30-9:30pm, join the Sisterhood of Temple Israel Center of White Plains, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, for Mah Jongg. Players need not be Sisterhood or Temple Israel Center members. For questions, call NOVEMBER 1 At 7:30pm, The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center and AJC Westchester/Fairfield will present a Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Mehnaz Afridi speaking on Finding Common Ground: Muslim-Jewish Relations at Bet Torah, 60 Smith Avenue, Mount Kisco. RSVP by calling or westchester@ajc.org 2 At 8pm, Chabad of Pelham will offer a Mindfulness Meditation Lecture by internationally acclaimed Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf, LL.BM.Ed.Psych. D. Div., Dean, Spiritgrow Josef Kryss Center, Australia. RSVP to rabbilevi@chabadpelham.com or call At 5pm, doors open at Yorktown Jewish Center, 2966 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights for Bingo Night. Call for details. 7 At 8pm, AIPAC and Westchester Reform Temple will host a discussion featuring Ambassaor Dan Shapiro (July ) and Rabbi Jonathan Blake at Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale co-sponsored by Beth El Synagogue Center. Contact westchester@aipac. org with questions. 8 At 7pm, Hadassah Westchester s Business and Professional Club presents, Everything You Wanted to Know About Social Media But Were Afraid to Ask, at the Ritz Carlton Residences Tower 2, 8th Floor, White Plains. Contact or dbaer@hadassah.org for more information. 9 Bnai Zion Foundation will hold their New York Gala Dinner honoring Kevin Roche and Shoshana Bederman at The Roosevelt Hotel, 45 E 45th Street, NYC with comedian Joel Chasnoff beginning at 6pm with cocktails and 7pm, program and dinner. RSVP to or visit BnaiZion.org 11 From 8 to 9:15pm, JCC of Mid- Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale will hold a special event, a Recital with Yossi Arnheim. RSVP to jccmy. org At 8pm, the Music Hall Theater, 13 Main Street, Tarrytown will present Jackie Mason. Call for tickets. 12 At 6:15pm, ZOA will host their Justice Brandeis Annual Award Dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 109 East 42nd Street, NYC. For more information, visit zoa.org 13 At 6:15pm, join Cerebral Palsy of Westchester for A Taste of Westchester at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison. The Chef from Hive Living Room + Bar will be hosting a cooking demo, Williams Sonoma will host a cutlery demo and Aries Wine & Spirits will host a wine and food pairing at their table. To purchase tickets, visit ticketriver.com/event/ For further information call , ext From 7:30 to 9pm, the Holocaust & Human Right Education Center and Iona College present their Annual Kristallnacht Commemoration: November 1938 Perspectives from the Vatican Archives with distinguished lecturer, Suzanne Brown-Fleming taking place at Iona College, 715 North Avenue, Spellman Hall, Thomas J. Burke Lounge, New Rochelle. RSVP by calling or jscallero@hhrecny.org 14 At 6pm, Stand With Us will hold their Leaders of Tomorrow Gala in New York City. For more information, hannahj@standwithus.com Yorktown Jewish Center, 2966 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights will host a Ladies Class on Midrash at 7:30pm. Call for details. The Scarsdale Library is the location for The 2017 Jewish Film Festival presented by Hadassah Westchester at 7pm screening, Gett: the Trial of Viviane Amsalem. For more information, call (914) , westchesterregion@hadassah.org and visit Hadassah. org/westchester 15 From 9:30am to 2:30pm, UJA- Federation of New York presents, A Day of Learning and Inspiration, with lunch and learn speaker Deborah Grayson Riegel at Westchester Reform Temple, 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale. For more information, contact Susan Ackerman at or ackermans@ujafedny. org From 7:30 to 9pm, JCC of Mid- Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale will hold a Book Talk Jews in Comedy: An Evening of Laughter & Conversation with Jeremy Dauber and Susan Silver, moderated by Paul Warhit. Call to find our more and visit jccmw.org/at 16 AJC Westchester/Fairfield has announced that from 7:30 to 10am, the Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast honoring Rev. Doris Dalton; William Darger; and Rev. Kymberly McNair will take place at Manhattanville College, Purchase. For additional information, friedman@ajc.org 19 American Israel Cultural ebration of the Arts of Israel org to RSVP. 29 At 6pm, AJC Westchester/Fairfield will host the 2017 Judge Learned Hand Award Dinner at the Ritz Carlton, White Plains. To attend, call

7 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev OU Announces the Creation of the Department of Women s Initiatives Dr. Adina Shmidman Mazel Tov The Orthodox Union, the nation s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the Orthodox Jewish community, has announced the creation of the Department of Women s Initiatives to coordinate all of the OU s programming for women. Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman will lead the new department, which will be committed to advancing the spiritual, religious and communal involvement of women at all stages of life and within all segments of the Orthodox community. We want to create programs that will inspire women of all ages and stages to find their personal leadership voice - to lead others and lead themselves toward greater religious growth, said Dr. Shmidman, a dynamic community leader and teacher for more than two decades in New York, Alabama and Pennsylvania. Dr. Shmidman, whose doctorate is in Educational Psychology, currently serves as the rebbetzin of the Lower Merion Synagogue of Bala Cynwyd, PA. She is the founding chair of the Rebbetzin Elaine Wolf a h Rebbetzin to Rebbetzin Mentoring Program at Yeshiva University s Center for the Jewish Future. She will begin as Director of the Department of Women s Initiatives on November 1, By strengthening our commitment to women, we hope to advance spiritual, religious and communal engagement and infuse lives with renewed energy and meaning, she added. The OU is committed to putting its full array of resources into this bold new department, said OU President Moishe Bane, and dedicating all means necessary to ensure that every woman in our community is not only connected, but feels encouraged to grow and reach new spiritual heights. We want to create a department that meets the challenges religious women face and will continue to face in the 21st century. Whether spiritual, professional or healthrelated challenges, we wanted to ensure that Orthodox women have all the resources they need, said Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld, member of the OU executive committee and an attorney at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. We envicontinued on page 12 Dr. Ruth Talks Sex with Scarsdale Women UJA-Federation of New York s Scarsdale Women spent the morning with psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a trailblazer who made frank talk about sexuality acceptable. The event took place on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. Dr. Westheimer pioneered open and honest dialogue about sexual matters on the radio with her program, Sexually Speaking. Launching in 1980, the show featured Dr. Ruth, as she became known, answering callin questions from listeners. It became part of a communications network to distribute her expertise that has included television, books, newspapers, games, home video, computer software, and online media. Dr. Ruth s efforts to normalize straight talk led to greater acceptance, and UJA embraces that value deeply, both in words and in action, said Rochelle Waldman, who chaired Dr. Ruth Westheimer (center) with event chairs (from left) Elizabeth Brucker, Leslie Perelman, Rochelle Waldman, and Liza Levy, all of Scarsdale the event with Elizabeth Brucker, Liza Levy, and Leslie Perelman, all of Scarsdale. Not only do we work tirelessly to find a place for everyone within our community, but we support programs that provide a safe space for conversations that once were taboo, Waldman continued. That s why we fund programs that support digital platforms where teens can talk about mental health challenges and find services, opportunities to create community around those struggling with infertility, support for LGBTQ youth and adults, and so much more. By allowing for open dialogue, we, too, advance acceptance and create a caring community, one where everyone has a voice. Funds raised at the event go to UJA-Federation, which supports a network of more than 80 core partners and hundreds of other nonprofit organizations, large and small. These nonprofits provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, independence for the elderly, jobs for the unemployed, as well as stimulating education programs for people in New York, in Israel, and in nearly 70 countries. Bet Am Shalom Synagogue White Plains New York 23rd Annual Judaica Craft Show 50 Judaica craftspeople 19 from Israel. Saturday, December 2nd 8:00pm - 11:00pm Sunday, December 3rd 10:00am - 5:30pm Items for all budgets to enrich your traditions at home or for those special gifts. Preview the artists at betamshalom.org/judaicacraftshow Joy Stember 295 Soundview Avenue White Plains, New York $8 entry per person; $1 off with this ad. Major credit cards accepted for purchases.

8 8 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev 5778 Westchester Jewish Life UJA-Federation of New York s Northern Westchester Women Learn about Teen Mental Health UJA-Federation of New York s Northern Westchester Women spent a powerful morning with Randi Silverman, writer and producer of the film No Letting Go. After a screening of her film, which draws on her personal experience having a son with bipolar disorder, she fielded questions from women in the audience, providing inspiration with her courage and openness. The event took place on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. Given that 1 in 5 children suffers from a diagnosable mental health condition, Silverman was determined to give voice to the millions of families who suffer alone and in silence. Made to inspire community dialogue about childhood mental illness and (From left) Event Chair Tracy Stein of Chappaqua with Randi Silverman its impact on families, the film takes viewers on a challenging ride from which they emerge with hope and inspiration about never giving up or letting go. The more we know, the better, because there is treat- Mazel Tov ment available to help those who struggle with these issues. Among the areas that UJA-Federation supports, mental health ranks high. Of the 80 core partners and hundreds of other nonprofits we fund, many address mental health challenges and well-being, explained event chair Tracy Stein of Chappaqua. Right here in Westchester, many of our core partners the Jewish Child Care Association, the Jewish Board of Family and Children s Services, and Westchester Jewish continued on page 10 Dr. Farber Will Join The New Jewish Home as C.E.O. The New Jewish Home (Jewish Home) has announced that Jeffrey I. Farber, MD, MBA, will become the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the wide-ranging not-for-profit geriatric health and rehabilitation system. A specialist in geriatric medicine with extensive management experience, Dr. Farber will assume his new position on December 18, Dr. Farber comes to Jewish Home from the Mount Sinai Health System, where he is Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Population Health, leading the quality, utilization, clinical integration, physician engagement, care management, and practice transformation efforts to drive performance in the System s broad portfolio of value-based contracts. Dr. Farber is also Chief Executive Officer of Mount Sinai Care, LLC, the system s Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organization, which has more than 42,000 aligned Medicare beneficiaries. Jeffrey I. Farber, MD, MBA Dr. Farber will succeed Audrey Weiner, DSW, who will remain President of Jewish Home s Fund for the Aged Foundation focusing exclusively on Jewish Home s Manhattan Master Plan, including the construction of The Living Center of Manhattan. The Living Center will be New York City s first nursing residence designed and operated according to the groundbreaking Green House philosophy of long-term care. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this venerable healthcare institution, with its solid track record of providing outstanding and innovative health- and social-care services to older adults, and excited about The New Jewish Home s bright future in our rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, said Dr. Farber: Michel Luskin, Chairman of Jewish Home, said: In Jeff Farber we have found a worthy successor to Audrey Weiner, who has led Jewish Home brilliantly for more than 25 years. A proven leader who is passionate about eldercare, Jeff will build on our strengths and prepare us to embrace the challenges ahead while honoring our core mission and values.

9 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Volunteers Refresh Residential Treatment Facility On Sunday, October 22, UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester and J-Teen Leadership volunteers came together at JCCA s Edenwald Center for a fall refreshment volunteer experience. Families, teens, and Edenwald residents painted murals and decorated tiles to beautify this residential treatment facility for children with emotional and cognitive disabilities in Pleasantville run by UJA s partner agency, JCCA. Participants, who came from all over the county and spanned all ages, also packaged donated toiletries as a special treat for the young people living on the JCCA campus, many of whom are in foster care. Event chairs were Ben Brucker of Scarsdale, Kate Eichel of Scarsdale, Ben Friedland of Scarsdsale, Elissa Strauss of Irvington, Anya Wiebke of New Rochelle, and Mauri Zemachson of Scarsdale, as well as our teen chairs from J-Teen Leadership, Alix Weiss of Armonk and Jessica Baden of (From left) Coco Zemachson, Juliana Stein, Billie Eichel, and Summer Eichel, all of Scarsdale, decorate tiles. Stamford, Connecticut. Amy Gutenplan of Mount Kisco serves as UJA s Westchester Community and Volunteer Services Chair. Since 1822, JCCA s mission has been to provide the highest quality child welfare and mental health services to New York s neediest and most vulnerable children. They are guided by the Jewish mandate of tikkun olam the responsibility of every person to make the world a better place. They work in partnership with 17,000 children and families every year to build on their strengths, preserve the family when possible, and help create new families when necessary, so that all children may thrive in a safe and loving place they can call home. Visit for more information. For more information on J-Teen Leadership, visit jteenleadership.org. Cross Israel Cycling Tour Shows Solidarity with Israeli Soldiers Supporters of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces {FIDF} took part in an intense six-day bicycle ride through Israel in October. Joining the American FIDF supporters for this crosscounty ride, which began in southern Israel on October 20, was a group of wounded Israeli combat veterans who have benefited from FIDF rehabilitative programs and prosthetic devices, and professional Israeli cyclist Roy Goldstein. The 34 cyclists from across the U.S., including some New Yorkers, covered more than 350 miles and a total vertical climb of over 22,000 feet. The ride allowed the participants, all of whom are avid cyclists, to show solidarity with and support for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while they experience Israel from the seats of their bikes. This cycling tour is an Mark Glick of Westbury, riding through the Negev Desert on Oct. 22 during the FIDF Cycling Tour of Israel (Photo credit: Gilad Kavalerchik). incredible opportunity to bring FIDF supporters together with Israeli soldiers, said FIDF Midwest Executive Director Tamir Oppenheim. Biking across Israel together with wounded veterans will help participants to really understand the impact FIDF has on the lives of the brave men and women who benefit from FIDF programs. Beginning at the Red Sea in Israel s southernmost city, Eilat, the cyclists headed north, riding through the Ramon Crater in the Negev Desert, before continuing to Ashkelon, and finally finishing in Jerusalem. Along the way, the group visited national landmarks, ancient historic sites, and Israeli military bases. The participants met active-duty soldiers serving on these bases, Lone Soldiers who serve in the IDF with no immediate family in Israel, and combat veterans who benefit from the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program. For more information, visit: WJCenter Stage Concert Series presents: DAN NICHOLS (Patrons/Sponsors help offset the cost of the week-long events.) Saturday, November 18, pm concert, doors open at 7:30pm Dan's creative, lively music integrates universal messages of healing, celebration, introspection and the beauty of the human condition Concert begins with a spirited & upbeat Havdalah and is followed by drinks and light refreshments 1324 North Ave. \ New Rochelle, NY A portion of the proceeds will benefit Beth El Synagogue Center and Temple Israel New Rochelle. To purchase tickets or for more information, call or adminasst@wjcenter.org TICKETS $25 IN ADVANCE, $30 AT DOOR, $15 WITH STUDENT ID AT WJC, Palmer & Rockland Avenues, Mamaroneck

10 10 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev 5778 Westchester Jewish Life AJC Westchester/Fairfield to Honor Two Attorneys at the Judge Learned Hand Award Dinner William P. Harrington Privately owned and operated by the Weinstein Family since 1930 Day after day, season after season, year after year people come to us because they know we will be there for them Central Park Avenue Yonkers, NY (1 block North of Tuckahoe Road) P F AJC Westchester/Fairfield announced that it will be honoring Westchester attorney William P. Harrington of Bleakly Platt & Schmidt LLP in White Plains and Fairfield attorney Stanley A. Twardy, Jr. of Day Pitney LLP in Stamford, CT. on November 29, Both of these respected attorneys will receive the AJC Westchester Fairfield Judge Learned Hand Award for their outstanding work in the legal field as well as for their philanthropy and highly valued community service. This is the seventh year that AJC will be presenting the award, which is the organization s most prestigious recognition of excellence bestowed upon members of the legal profession. It will take place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in White Plains on Thursday, December 1st at 6:00-9:30pm. Last year s Judge Learned Hand Award recipients Kathryn Emmett, Corporation Counsel for the City of Stamford and David Golub of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP are the Dinner Chairs and will emcee and preside over the evening. Ellen Jancko-Baken and Scott Baken, also past honorees from last year, will help present the award to the honorees. AJC established the Learned Hand Award in 1964 to cite leaders in the legal profession for excellence and for their contributions to the legal community. The recipients of this award are people who embody much of what the Judge represented: the Stanley A. Twardy, Jr. rights of the individual and the importance of democratic values in an orderly society. This philosophy also sums up a major thrust of the American Jewish Committee s work and the programs it has promoted since its inception in Nearly 250 guests, including numerous judges, officials and diplomats are expected to pay tribute to the honorees at the dinner which will feature mock Moot Court debate on the topic of Liberty vs. Security - Whose Rights are Being Protected when Protesters Bear Arms? Given recent events in Charlottesville and elsewhere across the county this topic is very timely and relevant. The honorees, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Twardy, will act as the judges for the oral advocates. To join the Tribute Committee or to support the work of AJC, contact Vicki Kline at klinev@ajc.org or AJC s mission is to enhance the well-being of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. AJC s approach is intensive outreach to top decision makers and diplomats in more than 100 countries. Through 10 global offices and 22 regional offices around the United States, AJC engages leaders internationally, nationally and regionally. Some 175,000 supporters keep AJC moving forward. AJC Westchester/Fairfield is one of the most vibrant regions in the network. The Region s 2,100 members bring this national and international mission to life at the local level through innovative programs and high level advocacy. UJA-Federation of New York s Northern Westchester Women Learn about Teen Mental Health continued from page 8 Community Services provide a lifeline for those desperately need the programs and services they provide. Brenda Haas of Briarcliff Manor, a program coordinator for Mental Health GPS (Guiding Parents through Services), spoke to the group. An initiative of UJA-Federation and Westchester Jewish Community Services, Mental Health GPS is a confidential consultation service designed to assist Jewish families who have questions or concerns about their child or adolescent s social, emotional or behavioral development and well-being, with a focus on mental health needs. Funds raised at the event go to UJA-Federation, which supports a network of more than 80 core partners and hundreds of other nonprofit organizations, large and small. These nonprofits provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, independence for the elderly, jobs for the unemployed, as well as stimulating education programs for people in New York, in Israel, and in nearly 70 countries. In addition to Stein, event chairs included Jodi Baretz of Millwood, Mindy Bass of Chappaqua, Michele Budoff of Goldens Bridge, Jill Cantor of Chappaqua, Heidi Israel of Millwood, Jessica Morgenthal of Armonk, and Tracy Stein of Chappaqua. westchesterjewishlife.com

11 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Health and Wellness Series Begins at Harold and Elaine Shames JCC As part of the Harold and Elaine Shames JCC s overall commitment to physical and mental good health, the agency is hosting a series of 4 interactive discussions, led by experts in their fields, on topics at the forefront of many adult conversations. Beginning the series on Sunday November 19 from 6:30-8:00 PM, the J will host, ARE YOU AT RISK? a discussion of the BRCA gene: testing, misconceptions and options. Featured speaker Bari Ruck will be Dr. Kenneth Offit, Chief of the Clinical Genetics Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Offit also represents BFOR (the BRCA Outreach Founder Study), an independent research initiative. The study will offer BRCA genetic testing at no cost to participants, for women and men of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish ancestry over the age of 25 a group that is at least ten times more likely than the general population to inherit certain kinds of BRCA mutations, which are associated with greater risks for several types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. More information is available at Coming in December is, ACT NATURALLY, winning the battle against memory loss. Featured speaker is Lisa Feiner, a holistic Life Coach and founder of Sharp Again Naturally, a non-profit that educates people about 10 specific reversible causes of memory loss. All their approaches to attaining or retaining memory are holistic and natural, where fruits and vegetables play a big part. The event will include an interactive food preparation session. Just in time for your New Year s resolution to make 2018 a better year, the J offers, Life Without Fear, an introduction to meditation and mindfulness as an anecdote to modern worry and anxiety. Featured speaker is Jeff Carreira, experiential meditation expert who has taught meditation and spiritual philosophy all over the world and who is now a Guiding Teacher at The Aligned Center in Irvington. The Aligned Center is a community and office space designed to create the ideal conditions for a more integrated and meaningful day. The series ends in February with a complete connection between mind and body featuring the wellness classes that the Shames JCC offers with a special focus on Yoga, led by J s Yoga instructor Bari Ruck. All programs will be located at the JCC, 371 South Broadway, Tarrytown. For more information including the dates and times for the rest of the series, visit the Shames JCC website at shamesjcc. org or call x1160. estchester Students Take Part in Anti-Opioid Summit Real Estate Matters: Start Now to Prepare to Sell Your Home Next Spring BY JOHN E. BAER, SRES, SRS If you and your home are ready to be listed now, in November, then keep in mind that the fall is the second best time of the year to list a home for sale. This is particularly true this year. The economy is better, mortgage rates are low, the inventory of Westchester homes is low, currently making this fall a seller s market. Before you know it, spring will be here. Spring time is the ideal time for home buyers and home owners to buy and sell homes. In the winter, home sales slowdown and people focus on the holidays. Once spring hits, your home can and should shine its brightest. To prepare your home for sale before the spring hits, here are a few important tips. Curb Appeal: Your home looks great to you, but buyers want to picture themselves living in it - so take a fresh look at it. Jump into your car, drive around the block, and then scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer will see it for the first time Believe it or not, buyers will make up their mind whether they like your house from its curb appeal. Get Your Home Inspected: Getting your home inspected prior to the spring selling season can give you more time to make repairs. Additionally, you might find it easier to find a contractor since many are looking for work during the less busy winter months. Make Repairs and Improvements: The last thing anyone wants to do before selling their home is to dump a bunch of money into it for an extensive renovation; however, there are minor repairs and improvements that can be made to make a home look fresher for potential buyers. Here are a few worthwhile improvements that can be made without spending a fortune. 1) Apply a coat of paint to walls and trim, and touch up all areas that look faded. 2) Buyers want homes to be light and bright, so replace your light bulbs that are lower wattage than they should be, or even add a lamp to lighten your home up. 3) The bathrooms and kitchen tend to be a focal point in homes and buyers pay attention to whether or not they ve been updated. Doing things like re-grouting the tile on the bathroom floor, or caulking the shower and bathtub, can give a used bathroom a fresher appearance. Start Packing: It may sound crazy to start packing months in advance of your move, but since you ll eventually need to do this anyway, you might as well get organized now. Start by sorting through your storage closets, attic, basement or garage to determine what you want to keep, what to give away and what to sell. Clear Away the Clutter: Get rid of clutter in every area. Remember, this is no time to be sentimental. If you don t use it, lose it. Clean, Clean, Clean: Next, it s time to really clean - and I mean REALLY clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, polish the furniture, wash the windows, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances. Start the Depersonalization Process: A big part of selling your home is making potential buyers picture themselves living there. That means photos of your family, a collection of figurines or sports memorabilia and other personal touches need to go. Organize Your Closets: Storage space is a huge selling point, and if your closets are stuffed to the brim, buyers think you don t have enough closet space. Invest in some boxes, dividers and other solutions that will help you make your stuff look more organized, and remove extra items you don t need immediately. Turn the Bathroom into a Spa: Create the feel of a relaxing, luxurious bath - for less than $30. Stack a few pretty washcloths tied with ribbon, add some scented candles or plants, and buy a fresh looking bath mat and puffy towels in coordinating tones. If you spend the next three months preparing for spring, you ll find yourself ready to move fast when buyers come out of hibernation. John E. Baer, SRES, SRS, DPA is a NYS licensed real estate salesperson associated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Westchester Properties of Scarsdale and Larchmont. He can be reached for questions at 914/ His website is Homes.info. County Executive Robert P. Astorino urged more than 400 students from across Westchester to become part of the solution in the life-and-death fight against opioid addiction on October 16. Joined by BMX Olympic coach and recovering addict Tony Hoffman, the County Executive led a Youth Summit at the Westchester County Center aimed at fighting a drug epidemic that has caused a 200 percent increase in fatalities in Westchester from Students from 37 schools, including those from Harrison, Pelham, Rye Neck and New Rochelle, took part in the daylong summit that was part of the county s Project WORTHY (Westchester County Opioid Response Teams Helping You) program launched earlier this year. The program mobilizes a full array of available resources and expertise to combat the growing opioid and heroin epidemic that affects all communities and people of all ages. Young people are dying, Astorino said in his remarks. This is not a show; this is not just a day-long assembly. This is serious business, and we need your help. Young people are on the front lines of this epidemic. You are eyewitnesses to what s happening in schools, at parties, at the mall and on the bus. You come from all walks of life, and all kinds of neighborhoods. That s the kind of real-life experience we need if we are ever going to wrap our arms around this deadly situation. The goal of the Youth Summit was to bring together students and have them come up with ideas on how to fight the epidemic in their own schools and neighborhoods. The Project WORTHY team is available to visit local schools, houses of worship and community organizations. To learn more, contact or projectworthy@westchestergov.com.

12 12 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev OU Announces the Creation of the Department of Women s Initiatives continued from page 7 sion the Women s Initiative as being a center of innovation, integration and growth for women in the Orthodox community, agreed Marian Stoltz- Loike, Dean, Lander College for Women, and an expert on diversity and work-life issues. The OU will implement the department s new programs and initiatives through its extensive network of hundreds of OU synagogues, more than 200 NCSY locations, Yachad s 12 regional chapters, and OU-JLIC s 24 campuses, as well as engaging and partnering with local communal and national institutions. Some of the many initiatives that the OU hopes to implement within this new department include: Defining Leadership Roles: Fostering community dialogue with a view toward developing guidelines for synagogues that encourage First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage... BY BERNARD A. KROOKS, CERTIFIED ELDER LAW ATTORNEY We all remember the lyrics from that famous song: First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage. While these words may be music to the ears of a young couple, folks who are considering getting married later in life have many issues to think about prior to tying the knot. In fact, many years ago, as a young elder law attorney (not an oxymoron) one of my first cases involved representing a man who was in a nursing home and had become friends with a woman across the hall. One thing led to another and the next thing you know, he was inquiring as to what the legal consequences would be if he married his new friend. That s how I got into this area of law that is now called elder law. One thing is for sure: a marriage later in life will certainly complicate any estate and financial planning decisions previously made, such as who will be the beneficiary of your assets on your death and who will be responsible for making financial and health care decisions in the event you are incapacitated. For example, under the New York Health Care Decisions Act, a spouse has priority over an adult child to make employment of women in senior professional positions in synagogues, with appropriate titles, compensation and benefits that reflect the dignity and significance of such roles. Lay Leadership and Training: Encouraging and cultivating women to take on significant roles within the community by providing professional development training and facilitating women serving on boards of synagogues and in other leadership positions within local and national communal organizations. Community Learning Groups: Engaging women in regular, weekly or monthly group learning programs that provide regular contact and an exchange of ideas with other women in their local communities. Female Scholars: Facilitating scholars-in-residence series - regardless of synagogue medical decisions for an incapacitated spouse in the absence of a health care proxy. This may or may not be what you want. There are also rules governing whether your spouse must be the beneficiary of certain retirement accounts you own. In addition, the amount of Social Security benefits available to you may be affected. The list of things to consider goes on and on. Don t get me wrong; I am not suggesting that people should not get married in their golden years. I am simply saying that there are a lot of things to consider prior to making the right decision for you and your family. One of the most important things to consider is that by getting married you will be responsible for the long-term care expenses of your new spouse. So, if he or she needs care at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home, you will have to pay for it even if you keep your money separate. The reason for this is that the law considers the marital unit as one when applying for means-tested government benefits such as Medicaid to pay for long-term care. This is a big issue since long-term care is expensive, costing more than $200,000 a year in some cases. Moreover, pre-nuptial agreements between the spouses are not valid for Medicaid purposes since Medicaid was not a party to the original agreement. This size - that give women teachers and scholars greater opportunity to share their teaching with broader audiences. High-level Torah learning: Devising continuing learning opportunities for women, including midrasha programs and yimei iyun. Youth: Enhancing the spiritual involvement of young women in our synagogues through mother/daughter weekly learning programs and other initiatives. Wellness: Partnering with other organizations to develop a platform of courses and forums devoted to women s health and well-being. Community Feedback: Conducting surveys and holding focus groups across the country geared to identifying the ever-changing needs of our communities, large and small, metropolitan and suburban. Synagogue Usability: Sharing best practices for synagogues to encourage female involvement in all aspects of synagogue life, including having the ezrat nashim [women s section] exclusively available to women at all times of day and the redesign of synagogue spaces to make them userfriendly for all congregants. Think Tank: Establishing a think tank of women representing the diversity of the female Orthodox constituency that seeks to focus our resources and identify needed programming and resources for women, regardless of age or marital status. The OU has included women in its most senior professional and lay leadership roles for quite some time. We believe that the Women s Initiative can establish an even more robust pipeline of leadership talent, said search committee member Esther Williams. can be a rude awakening to everyone involved if proper planning is not done. One solution to consider is long-term care insurance. This type of insurance must be purchased prior to getting a chronic illness such as Alzheimer s disease. Thus, you cannot wait until you are on the nursing home door-step before considering this product. In fact, the earlier it is purchased, the lower the premiums and the more likely it is that you will be approved. While long-term care insurance is expensive, so is the cost of long-term care. To determine if it is right for you, you must work with a reputable insurance person knowledgeable in these matters. Also, remember that just because you get married later in life, doesn t mean that the marriage won t end in divorce. The financial risks of divorce in a later-life marriage are typically greater than the risks associated with a divorce of a young couple. This is due to the fact that, as people age, there tends to be greater potential for a disparity in income and assets. In the event of a divorce, all marital property will be subject to an equitable distribution. Of course, you can enter into a prenuptial agreement if both parties are willing and able. If you are married at the time of death and there has been no waiver of spousal rights then your surviving spouse will be entitled to a right of election against your estate. While the rules are complicated, generally speaking, the right of election is equivalent to one-third of your estate. As with any legal rule, there are always exceptions and things that are not subject to the right of election. Proceed cautiously in this area and make sure you get expert advice. By addressing these issues up front, you can save your estate and your family time-consuming and costly legal battles down the road. Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., is a founding partner of Littman Krooks LLP and has been honored as one of the Best Lawyers in America for each of the last seven years. He is past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and past President of the New York Chapter of NAELA. Mr. Krooks has also served as chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. He has been selected as a New York Super Lawyer since Call ) or visit the firm s website at Living with Chronic Illness BY SARAH LIEBERMAN, LMSW What does a retired postal worker, a practicing social worker and a musician have in common? Not much at first glance, but they, like many other people -- spouses, parents, adult children and your friends might just be struggling with chronic illnesses and the daily challenges they present. Chronic illness longlasting, usually incurable conditions or diseases -- surrounds us, whether we re aware of it or not. Heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer abound. It can have multiple effects. Individuals can be tired, and not just physically tired, but also emotionally drained from all that is needed to be done to manage the illness. As people are living longer, and medical treatments continue to advance, the prevalence of chronic illness is increasing, and even those who are ill are living longer and fuller lives. One key to maintaining that full life is having support and knowledge about managing chronic illness. Learning how to advocate for one s self is a very important part of living with a long-term condition. Getting family, friends and others in your inner circle to understand what you are struggling with and challenged by is difficult but critical. Learn how to explain succinctly your symptoms and their effects, almost the elevator pitch for your illness. Find resources by searching the Internet or calling friends or a local support agency. Reach out and let a friend know when you need a ride or a listening ear. Caregivers also have unique challenges when caring for someone who is chronically ill. When the initial diagnosis is made, it is easier to muster concern and empathy. But when the event is not acute, but chronic, family, friends and other caregivers naturally become accustomed to the status quo, and it may be difficult to avoid what might be called compassion-fatigue. Sharing your struggles to support a loved one with others in a similar situation can help you avoid burnout. As a caregiver, your own self-care is important. Living with a chronic illness can be lonely, and not just for the ill person. Both those who are ill and those who are caring for them can benefit from advocacy and support. There are resources in the community, and learning to tap into those resources is key. Finding a support group, whether general or more specific to your disease, may help you feel less alone. Sharing ideas and resources often can be invaluable. Westchester Jewish Community Services facilitates a chronic illness support group called Connecting with Others. The group meets regularly and has become a vital, supportive environment for all its members. Through the WJCS Pathways to Care program, funded by a grant from UJA- Federation of New York, social workers provide support to adults with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, and also to their families. In addition, with grants from the Alzheimer s Association and the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services, the program provides support to caregivers, both individually and through caregiver support groups. Whether you are the one living with a chronic illness, or you are caring for someone with such an illness, you are not alone. Joining a support group can be just the relief that you need. Sarah Lieberman, LMSW, is a social worker with WJCS Pathways to Care program. She can be reached at x141.

13 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Kitchen & Bath Insider - #204: The Holidays are Coming; The Holidays are Coming BY PAUL BOOKBINDER, M.I.D., C.R. First the British were coming. Then the Russians were coming. Nevertheless, without fail, every year, the holidays are coming again. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and New Years. All occurring during a five week period. Year after year after year. There s shopping, family, traveling, gifts, preparations and eating. And, oh, all the eating. We are living the dream here! Now all that food, which we will consume with abandon, does not grow on trees. Well, perhaps some of it does, but all of it needs some attention before it miraculously appears on your plate in an edible fashion. And where does this attention occur? You guessed it, your kitchen! (Unless you re frying a turkey in the backyard like I am this year in my new Costco 20lb turkey fryer). Now more than ever, it behooves us to take the time out of our busy schedules to enjoy the holiday season. We spend more time in our kitchens than any other room in our homes, and this is especially true this time of year, when the kitchen becomes even more of the focal point of your home. Throughout these many Lincoln Park Jewish Center Celebrates 79th Year in Yonkers weeks, kitchens are not only filled with the immediate family (including Alexa or Siri), they re also cluttered with welcome (and unwelcome) guests as well; helping, visiting, kibitzing, snooping, etc. With all the time spent in this oasis in the middle of your home, and all the people milling around, folks have a tendency to notice what doesn t work well, in terms of design and function, so it s no wonder that more people start to think about remodeling during the holidays than any other time of the year. Unless you re very fortunate, no one is going to buy you a new kitchen for Christmas or Hanukkah. It s just not considered a romantic, holiday type gift, but maybe we should reconsider. What could say I love you more than a gorgeous new room to prepare meals for the family? Okay, maybe the preparing meals takes some of the romance out of it, but work with me on this. Wouldn t it be great to have enough room to prepare next year s holiday delicacies without bumping into everyone else? And enough storage space for all your spices, as well as places to put away all the dishes, glasses and silverware after the shiny, new dishwasher has made them spotless. If the festivities draw you to the conclusion that a new kitchen should definitely be a priority for the new year, you can get the process started by creating a wish list for this room to soon be. It should include everything that you would like in your new dream kitchen. Then make another list of what you really must have in case you need to trim things, if budget or space don t allow everything from the first list. Next step: go online to www. Houzz.com or or similar sites and view what other people are doing. When you see something that interests you, save it to a file or print it out and stick it on your fridge, so that you can show it to your kitchen designer. It s easier and safer to show someone a specific concept rather than trying to explain it, leaving less chance for misinterpretation of what you had in mind. This will ensure that your dream kitchen ends up looking like your dream kitchen and not your designers. When the holiday season is over, if someone loved you enough to promise you a new kitchen, or you decided to give one to yourself, you re now ready to begin the actual project. Gather up your lists, your pictures, your i-pad, and find a creative designer who understands you and will be able to combine all your ideas into a stunning, functional and affordable new kitchen just for you. Paul Bookbinder, M.I.D., C.R., is president of DreamWork Kitchens, Inc. located in Mamaroneck, New York. A Master of Design (Pratt Institute), and E.P.A. Certified Remodeler, he serves on the Advisory Panel of Remodeling Magazine. A member of the National Kitchen & Bath Assoc., he is also a contributor to ezine and Do It Yourself magazine. He can be reached for questions at or (L-R) former Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick (fourth from left) and candidate for Yonkers Council President Mike Khader (seventh from left) held a lulav and etrog while visiting the sukkah of the Modern Orthodox synagogue Lincoln Park Jewish Center in Yonkers, on the fourth day of the eight day harvest festival of Sukkot. Photograph Copyright 2017 Robert Kalfus BY ROBERT KALFUS FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT LINCOLN PARK JEWISH CENTER I am often puzzled by people who tell me: It s terrible that Lincoln Park is closing, because that is absolutely not true. I write to inform those people and others that the sale of the Lincoln Park campus this past January 2017 is a means for us to continue our mission! The membership of forty, fifty, and sixty years ago when all the 400 or 500 seats on a holy day were filled are indeed gone and we continue serving, expanding, planning and building for our future. We do plan to relocate to another building, which we will purchase, build, or lease. We cannot continue to maintain the expenses of a great synagogue which once housed 500 paying members and congregants. We continue to hold Orthodox services; we offer cultural programs, opportunities to learn, opportunities for education, joy and shared community, while we plan for and choose our new location and Rabbi. I too am sad that we will in a few years leave a great building with many wonderful memories. Every one of the most important days in the Jewish calendar Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Purim, Passover, Lag B Omer, are celebrated at Lincoln Park Jewish Center and bring people to our Yonkers synagogue who have a connection; either they have attended Hebrew school; had a Bar Mitzvah there; were married, or attended a Passover Seder, wedding or other family or life event, in addition to the regular members and friends. Those interested in joining in prayer, Shabbat services, our celebration of our 79th year serving the people of Yonkers at our annual cocktail party on Sunday, November 5th, or our annual Chanukah celebration serving a delicious full course dinner with sufganiot and latkes, and featuring the full-throated voices of the Riverdale Community Choir on December 17th, can reserve by calling the office at (914) , or find schedule continued on page 14

14 14 November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev 5778 Westchester Jewish Life Edward Shapiro, President and Publisher Helene Pollack, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Pena, Art Director Mary DeYoung, Account Executive Westchester Jewish Life is published monthly by Shoreline Publishing, Inc., 629 Fifth Avenue, Suite 213, Pelham, NY The entire contents of Westchester Jewish Life is copyrighted by Westchester Jewish Life. No portion may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The views, opinions and content of this publication does not necessarily reflect that of the staff of Shoreline Publishing. BUSINESS CARDS $78. per issue. Prepaid only. Just mail us your Business Card and Full Payment and we ll take care of the rest. Mail to: Shoreline Publishing, 629 Fifth Ave., Suite 213, Pelham, N.Y Material Deadline November 20 Westchester Jewish Life Larchmont Ledger Harrison Herald New Rochelle Review The Pelham Post The Bronxville Bulletin Westchester Jewish Life Shoreline Publishing accepts the submission of articles, events and items of interest no more than 500 words with.jpg photos for inclusion in Shoreline newspapers and websites. to: or Shoreline Publishing, 629 Fifth Avenue, Suite 213, Pelham, NY Shoreline Publishing reserves the right to edit or omit any submissions. Target Your Market for Chanukah with Westchester Jewish Life Publishing Date December 1 Lincoln Park Jewish Center Celebrates 79th Year in Yonkers continued from page 13 information at Starting Sunday, December 3 at 9:30 am, Lincoln Park Jewish Center will offer a free course to learn to read and speak basic Hebrew. Yonkers resident Malkah Lesman- Kaplan will teach students of all ages how to recognize and pronounce all of the Hebrew alphabet s 22 consonants (some of which are silent), and the vowels, which are indicated by different dots and dashes underneath, alongside, or on top of the consonants. Ms. Kaplan previously taught this free class in January of this year, and was extremely proud of and congratulated her students who completed the six Sunday Classifieds ANTIQUES ART COLLECTIBLES Most cash paid for paintings, antiques, furniture, silver, sculpture, jewelry, books, cameras, records, instruments, coins, watches, gold, comics, sports cards, etc. Please call Aaron at EXPERIENCED INVESTOR Experienced Investor offers Dividend Program with yields of 7-10% as alternative to random investing. Advise amount to be invested. Fee $250. Program has worked for me for many years. Call or josephsadow94@gmail.com TUTOR AVAILABLE I love it. Math, Physics and Chemistry Tutoring offered by 2017 Regis H.S. Honor Grad, Perfect Score (800) Math level 2 Subject Test. First lesson is free. No Risk, Just Results. Call sessions, each 90 minutes long. The adult students who successfully completed the class came from such diverse places as the Dominican Republic, and Sri Lanka, and enjoyed the opportunity to finally learn how to pray in the traditional language of the Jewish people. She previously taught Hebrew reading and language courses at several different institutions, and made this free course available to accommodate a member of the Lincoln Park Jewish Center, Kevon Fernando, a Hofstra University freshman, who remarked that I learned the basic building blocks of an entire new language in just six weeks, during my school PURCHASING COLLECTIBLE CARDS Looking to buy Basketball (pre-1988), Football (pre-1987) and Garbage Pail cards (1985 to 1986). Mint condition only, please. If interest, call and leave a message and your phone number. BUYING ORIGINAL ART Buying original illustration art done for magazines, books and paperback covers, ads, pinups, comics. Also antique posters, maps, all interesting paper mwi0729@aol.com FOR SALE Kawai Black Upright (1990) Piano with warm, rich tone. Large rosewood credenza and china closet, approx 62x72x19ft. 12-piece crystal sets: goblets, wine, whiskey and champagne glasses. Fine china, full table settings and platters. Porcelain teapots and accessories. New Rochelle/Pelham area. Contact nyashalaing@gmail.com for more info, pricing and photos. All items in excellent condition. ROOFING SPECIALISTS Joseph A. Madonia Roofing specializing in shingles, slate, tile, flat roofs, gutters and downspouts, copper work, and repairs of all types. Call TENNIS INSTRUCTOR POSITION Tennis instructor for after school programs in Pelham, New Rochelle, Eastchester. Teach tennis to K-3rd grade in a gym after school. One hour per day, 3-4pm. We will train. Good pay. Call Joel Ross, or info@joelrosstennis.com Classified Ad Form winter recess. Adult student Ramon Santana remarked that the class was easy to understand, the teacher was patient, and now I feel that I can pray in Hebrew. People of all religious, ethnic, and educational backgrounds are welcome to attend the next series of free Hebrew reading classes, which will start on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 9:30 am to 11 am, and continue for six successive Sunday mornings. Register with the Lincoln Park Jewish Center office at (914) , or LPJ- Coffice@optonline.net and leave your name and contact information, and find info online at 7 newspapers over 100,000 readers -- 1 price, prepaid $ for 4 lines. Ad runs in 7 papers for 1 month. Make check payable to: Shoreline Publishing, Inc., 629 Fifth Avenue, Suite 213, Pelham, NY ) 2) 3) 4) 5) Name: Address: Call to reserve your space. City/State/Zip: Phone:

15 Westchester Jewish Life November 2017 Cheshvan-Kislev Awards for Young Jewish Leaders Making a Difference in Their Communities The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards are seeking nominations of exceptional Jewish teens leading meaningful community service and social change initiatives. Now entering its 12th year, the national award annually recognizes up to 15 Jewish teens with $36,000 each towards their project or education. Up to five teens from California and ten from across the United States will be recognized for their humanitarian efforts. Teachers, Civic Leaders, Rabbis anyone interested in nominating a teen, or any teen interested in applying can visit to begin the nomination/application process. The deadline for nominations is December 18, 2017 and the deadline for applications is January 8, Self-identified Jewish teens who are 13 to 19 years old on January 8, 2018 are eligible. Teens who have applied in the past are also eligible to reapply. Since its inception in 2007, the program has awarded over $3 million to 99 teens in recognition of their vision, compassion, innovation, and demonstrated ability to lead. Nominating a teen for the Tikkun Olam Awards is a wonderful opportunity for educators, civic leaders, and teen mentors across the country to recognize young Jewish leaders who are creating meaningful change at home and across the globe, says Jackie Safier, Helen Diller s daughter and President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. We hope the Awards encourage and catalyze a generation of Jewish teens in their ambitious work to repair the world. Previous awardees have taken on projects that address concerns as diverse as homelessness, rare diseases, food insecurity, social and economic inequalities, and education gaps. They have also been recognized by some of the world s foremost institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, the White House, the Clinton Global Initiative, Forbes 30 Under 30, the Jefferson Awards, CNN Heroes, and the Nickelodeon HALO Awards. Beyond bolstering national recognition of the teens and their projects, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards foster a growing network of award recipient alumni collaborating on leadership, innovation, and volunteer service across the nation. For questions, contact dillerteenaward@sfjcf.org or (415) The deadline for nominations is December 18, 2017 and the deadline for applications is January 8, Beth El to Present Israeli Art Festival A piece, or pieces to be exact, of Israel will be coming to New Rochelle this November as Beth El Synagogue Center welcomes its first ever Israeli Art Festival and Sale. The event, which will take place from November 8 until 13, will showcase artwork from the Safrai Art Gallery in Jerusalem, a renowned gallery just steps away from the King David Hotel. Highlights from the festival will include two evenings of music, drinks, and live music. We are very excited to display many works of late and great Israeli artists, said Dorothy Fox, chair of the Festival committee. In an effort to strengthen our Jewish commitment in support of Israel and Israeli artists and to draw our local Jewish community together, we are pleased to share this exciting happening. The Festival will begin on November 8 with a private sponsor preview. The following night will be the first of two large-scale events dubbed the First Public Viewing. This event will start at 6:15 p.m. and feature music, food, and give patrons the opportunity to have their first choice to select art. The second fundraiser will be Beth El s Speakeasy: Art, Drinks, & Live Jazz on November 11 at 7:30 p.m. There will be additional sale hours in-between those dates on November 10 and 12. Gallery owner Menachem Safrai of Israel who will be present at the event, said there is a large assortment of artwork that will be available ranging in all sizes and prices. Eighty percent of the artwork can be purchased framed in a price range of up to $500. Many are priced at $175 and $275, he explained. He noted there will also be more expensive pieces of art in the $2000+ range. Along with the planned events, Safrai will be on hand to give patrons a tour through the show, linking it with the development of Israeli art over the past 100 years. All events are free to the public. Sponsorships are available and come with special benefits. For more information, contact marketing@bethelnr.org. Beth El Synagogue Center is located at 1324 North Avenue, New Rochelle. Visit bethelnr.org/art for more details.

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