November 8, 2012 Edition of the Reporter

Non-profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE PAIDPermit # 482Scranton, PA

PLUSOpinion ..........................................................2Jewish Community Center News ...........6D’var Torah ................................................10

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

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INSIDE THIS ISSUEFunds for Shoah survivorsVictims of Nazi persecution in the FSU may be eligible for a one-time payment from Germany.

Story on page 15

In brief... Iran is still enriching uranium to 20 percent; Syrian tanks on the Golan Heights; and more.

Stories on page 19

Point/counterpoint Two views of the reasoning behind, and ramifications of, a letter sent by Christian leaders to Congress.

Stories on page 2

November 9.....................................4:30 pmNovember 16 ..................................4:24 pmNovember 23 .................................. 4:19 pm

Federation on Facebook

The Jewish Federation of Northeast-ern Pennsylvania now has a page on Facebook to let community members know about upcoming events and keep connected.

The

Jewish Federation of Northeastern PennsylvaniaPublished by the VOLUME X, NUMBER 22

A group of volunteers helped make calls on Super Sunday, October 14, held at Nivert Metal headquarters in Throop. Executive Director Mark Silverberg and Campaign Chairmen Jeff Rubel, Don Douglass and Barbara Nivert organized the volunteers and discussed solicitation methods.

Due to the volunteers’ efforts that Sunday morning, as well as during the evening fol-low-up session on October 15, the Jewish Federation’s annual UJA Campaign raised thousands of dollars to help local Jewish agencies and Jews around the world, espe-cially in Israel. Some volunteers took cards home to continue the calls even after the session at Nivert Metal ended.

The Federation expressed its gratitude to volunteers Esther Adelman, Maggy Bushwick, Douglass, Bernice Ecker, Esther Elefant, Nancy Friedman, Jeff Ganz, Ruth Gelb, Janet Holland, Nivert, Rubel and Millie Weinberg.

The JCC will run a 2012 Teen Leadership Seminar in Israel from December 20-31. The program will provide an opportunity for Jewish teenagers to build their Jewish and Zionist identity, gain a sense of Jewish pride and learn about Israel as “the cornerstone of the Jewish world.”

Nine teenagers will participate in the program, including a four-part educational series to prepare them for their trip. They

Participants of the 2012 Teen Leadership Seminar in Israel will include (front row, l-r) chaperone Rika Schaffer, Ali Epstein, Nina Lyubechansky, Alison Abdalla, Liza Rosenstein and chaperone Hilary Greenberg. Back row: Becky Fallk, Andy Fiegleman, Bradley Smertz, Sam Vale and Rachel Pollack. (Photo by Ann Wadika)

Jewish teens ready to experience Israel with the JCC

will have the opportunity to learn about con-temporary Israel, from culture to politics, as well as internal issues facing the country.

“The teenagers will also visit major sites and become immersed in Israeli society. These teens will return with new leadership skills and a strong sense of energy to be educators or advocates of Israel, whether at home or on their college campus,” said organizers of the seminar.

The JCC expressed its thanks to the sponsors who have helped make the pro-gram possible, including B’nai Brith Amos Lodge, Aaron Glassman Fund, Bruce Lewis Gelb Fund, Temple Israel of Scranton, Am-skier Insurance Agency, Morey and Sondra Myers, Steven Bruce Arenberg Israel Youth Travel, Jewish Cultural Memorial Fund and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Community members volunteered for Super Sunday

Phone volunteers Bernice Ecker and Nancy Friedman helped at Super Sunday on October 14.

At left: Executive Director Mark Silverberg spoke with Louis Nivert, who lent his office for the Super Sunday Telethon.

Jeff Rubel, Campaign co-chairman, attended Super Sunday.

Esther Elefant and Nancy Friedman listened during the briefing.

Millie Weinberg was seen at the breakfast table.

At right: Jeff Ganz made a call on Super Sunday.

$353,074as of Nov. 5, 2012

For information or to make a donation call 570-961-2300 ext. 1 orsend your gift to:Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania601 Jefferson Ave.,Scranton, PA 18510

(Please MEMO your pledge or gift 2013 UJA Campaign)

2013 UJA

Goal:$800,090

Campaign UpdatePay it forward & give to

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THE REPORTER ■ nOvEmbER 8, 20122

a maTTer OF OpINION

“ The Reporter” (USPS #482) is published bi-weekly by the Jew-ish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510.

President: Jeff RubelExecutive Director: Mark Silverberg

Advisory Board Chair: Margaret Sheldon

Executive Editor: Rabbi Rachel EssermanLayout Editor: Diana SochorAssistant Editor: Michael NassbergProduction Coordinator: Jenn DePersisGraphic Artist: Alaina CardarelliAdvertising Representative: Bonnie Rozen

FederatIon webSIte:www.jewishnepa.org

How to SUbMIt artICLeS:Mail: 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510e-mail: [email protected]: (570) 346-6147Phone: (570) 961-2300

How to reaCH tHe advertISIng rePreSentatIve:

Phone: (800) 779-7896, ext. 244e-mail: [email protected]

SUbSCrIPtIon InForMatIon: Phone: (570) 961-2300

oPInIonS The views expressed in edi-torials and opinion pieces are those of each author and not necessarily the views of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. LetterS The Reporter welcomes letters on subjects of interest to the Jewish com-munity. All letters must be signed and include a phone number. The editor may withhold the name upon request. adS The Reporter does not necessar-ily endorse any advertised products and services. In addition, the paper is not responsible for the kashruth of any advertiser’s product or establishment.deadLIne Regular deadline is two weeks prior to the publication date.

Point/counterpointChristians’ letter is an unworthy

tacticChristians’ letter was reasonable,

worded sensitivelyby rabbI noaM e. MaranS

(JTA) – Iran is threatening Israel, the Middle East and the world with the specter of nuclear weapons. Christians across the Middle East are persecuted and martyred in the repercussions of the so-called Arab Spring. But some American Christian lead-ers are busy dedicating time, money and resources to their habitual demonization of Israel.

T h e l a t -est tactic is an October 5 letter to Con-gress alleging human rights v i o l a t i o n s by Israel and calling for an investigation of U.S. mili-tary aid to the country. The s i g n a t o r i e s include certain leaders of the Presbyte-rian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the National Council of Churches, among others.

What motivates these individuals to open a new anti-Israel front? One could be the frustration of their own failure to convince denominations to use divestment as a club to pressure Israel. The letter’s signatories are grappling with the reality that Methodists and Presbyterians again

by rabbI brant roSen (JTA) – There has long been an un-

written covenant between the Jewish establishment and Christian leaders when it comes to interfaith dialogue: “We can talk about any religious issues we like, but criticism of Israel’s human rights violations is off limits.”

Over the past few weeks, we’ve painfully witnessed what can happen when Christians break this covenant by speaking their reli-gious conscience.

On October 5, 15 prominent American Christian leaders released a letter that called on Congress to make military aid to Israel “contingent upon its government’s compliance with applicable U.S. laws and policies.”

While most A m e r i c a n s wouldn’t con-sider it unrea-sonable for our nation to insist that an aid re-cipient abide by U.S. laws, some Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defama-tion League and the Jew-ish Council on Public Affairs, lashed out at their Christian co l leagues , eventually walking out on a scheduled Christian-Jewish Roundtable. They are now requesting that the Christian leaders come to a “summit meeting” to discuss the situation.

Considering the vehemence of such a re-sponse, one might assume that the Christian leaders’ letter was filled with outrageous and incendiary anti-Israel rhetoric.

But in fact their letter is a sensitively worded and faithful call supporting “both Israelis and Palestinians in their desire to live in peace and well-being,” as well as acknowledging “the pain and suffering of Israelis as a result of Palestinian ac-tions,” the “horror and loss of life from rocket attacks from Gaza and past suicide bombings,” and “the broad impact that a sense of insecurity and fear has had on Israeli society.”

Yes, the authors of the letter also ex-pressed their concern over “widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinians, including killing of civilians, home demolitions and forced displacement, and restrictions on Palestinian movement, among others.”

As painful as it might be for these Jew-ish groups to hear, however, these are not scurrilous or arguable “allegations.” They long have been documented by international human rights groups, including the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem. The letter points out that a 2011 State Department Country Report on Human Rights Practices has detailed widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinian civilians, many of which involve the misuse of U.S.-supplied weapons.

Why has the Jewish establishment re-acted so violently to a relatively balanced and religiously based call? Because by speaking their conscience, these Christian leaders had the audacity to break the unwrit-ten covenant: If you want to have a dialogue with us, leave Israel alone.

A recent JTA op-ed by Rabbi Noam E. Marans, who serves as director of inter-religious and intergroup relations for the

rejected their leaders’ divestment proposals in May and July.

Criticism of the letter to Congress by diverse Christians has been sharp, including a call for leadership accountability. Presby-terians for Middle East Peace, for example, declared, “It is unjust and disrespectful to the many General Assembly commission-ers who worked so hard to serve the church

at past assem-blies to see their work un-dermined and misrepresent-ed by church officials and staff with no authority to make policy.”

The new initiative led to the can-cellation of t h e a n n u a l

Christian-Jewish Roundtable, which was founded in 2004 to open lines of communication between Christian and Jewish leaders in the wake of initiatives by liberal Protestant movements to divest from companies doing business with Israel. Jewish organizations expecting to discuss Arab-Israeli peace efforts at the Roundtable on October 22-23 were blindsided when they learned of the Christian outreach to Congress.

In lieu of this year’s Roundtable, a broad spectrum of seven Jewish orga-nizations joined to call for an extraor-dinary meeting of Jewish organizations and the senior leadership of the Christian institutions that signed the letter to Congress and have participated in the Roundtable. At that meeting, a more positive path forward for our communi-ties might be determined.

Even as we hold specific Christian de-nominations accountable for the excesses of some of their leaders, we should not generalize about all Christians or even all Presbyterians, Methodists, Luther-ans, etc. Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, and at least 75 per-cent of Americans are Christians. They understand that Israel is on the front line of the worldwide terrorism threat. They know that Israel strives mightily to avoid inadvertent harm to civilians while protecting all of its citizens – Jews, Christians and Muslims. They believe that Israel has pursued peace relentlessly and, when there is a partner – as there was with President Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan – has obtained sustainable peace and security with its neighbors. They comprehend that Israel is America’s only reliable ally in the Middle East, with shared democratic and religious freedom values, in a dangerous part of the world.

Interfaith dialogue has had a trans-formative positive impact on the Jewish experience; we must never take that for granted. Christian-Jewish relations in the past two generations have changed the course of the unfortunate first two millennia of Christian enmity and perse-cution of Jews and Judaism. Even as we continue to labor in the religious relations vineyard, we should be ever vigilant that the successes of the past 50 years not be undermined by a non-representative anti-Israel sentiment of some Christian leaders and their small, but vocal, energetic and well-funded following who are attempt-ing to hijack the positive trajectory of Christian-Jewish relations.

American Jewish Committee, provided an interesting window into the mechanics of this covenant. In his October 21 piece, “Christians’ letter is an unworthy tactic,” Marans said nothing about the substance of the letter itself, choosing instead to ve-hemently attack the Protestant leaders and reject the statement as nothing less than “the opening of a new anti-Israel front.”

Marans went on to surmise that this reasonable, religiously based call for justice was the product of “certain lead-ers” who are frustrated with “their own failure to convince denominations to use divestment as a club to pressure Israel.” Nowhere did he address the issue of Is-raeli human rights violations (except to

refer to them as “a l l ega -tions.”) In the end, he sug-ges ted tha t this letter rep-resents “the a n t i - I s r a e l sentiment of some Chris-t ian leaders a n d t h e i r small, but vo-cal, energetic a n d w e l l -funded fol -lowing who are attempt-ing to hijack the positive trajectory of

Christian-Jewish relations.”It is difficult to read such a statement

without concluding that Marans’ definition of “postive Christian-Jewish relations” means anything other than “no criticism of Israel allowed.”

It is important to note that the letter to Congress was not written by a few angry church renegades; it was authored by 15 prominent church leaders representing a wide spectrum of the Protestant faith com-munity, including the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the National Council of Churches, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the American Friends Service Committee (a Quaker agency) and the Mennonite Central Committee.

While it is painful to read such accusa-tions leveled at respected Christian lead-ers by a Jewish director of interreligious and intergroup relations, it is even more saddening that some Jewish organizations have chosen to walk away from a sched-uled interfaith roundtable, then demand that the Christian leaders attend a “sum-mit” on their own dictated terms.

It is not the role of Jewish organizations to dictate how their Christian partners can live out their conscience or their values, no matter how much they may disagree. Unpleasant realities cannot be discarded simply because these organizations regard such issues as off limits.

We can only hope that these Christian leaders will stand firm and that this sad epi-sode will lead us to a new kind of interfaith covenant – one based on trust and respect, a willingness to face down our fear and suspicion of one another, and a readiness to discuss the painful, difficult issues that may divide us.

Will the American Jewish establishment be up to such a task?

Rabbi Brant Rosen is the co-chairman of the Rabbinical Council of Jewish Voice for Peace and a congregational rabbi in Evanston, IL.

Even as we continue to labor in the religious relations vineyard, we should be ever vigilant that the successes of the past 50 years not be undermined by a non-representative anti-Israel sentiment of some Christian leaders and their small, but vocal, energetic and well-funded following who are attempting to hijack the positive trajectory of Christian-Jewish relations.

See “Unworthy” on page 6

Why has the Jewish establishment reacted so violently to a relatively balanced and religiously based call? Because by speaking their conscience, these Christian leaders had the audacity to break the unwritten covenant: If you want to have a dialogue with us, leave Israel alone. ... It is not the role of Jewish organizations to dictate how their Christian partners can live out their conscience or their values, no matter how much they may disagree. Unpleasant realities cannot be discarded simply because these organizations regard such issues as off limits.

3 november 8, 2012 ■ THe rePorTer

Visit the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania on the web at www.jewishnepa.org or on FacebookÊ

COmmUNITy NewS

DEADLINE

DEADLINESThe following are deadlines for all articles and photos

for upcoming Reporter issues.ISSUE

Thursday, November 8 .................November 22Tuesday, November 20 .................. December 6Thursday, December 20 ..................... January 3Thursday, January 3 ......................... January 17

Bais Yaakov High School students have begun their rotation and visits to the Jewish Home, as well as ac-tivities with the residents. Bais Yaakov participated in the Jewish Federation’s Super Sunday to raise funds for Jewish causes and education, including Bais Yaakov High School.

The Mishmeres program began the year with learning each day a specific law pertaining to refining one’s speech. The program also showed a video on this year’s theme,

by CHaIM davIdSonOrganizers of the Jewish Discovery Center have an-

nounced that they have moved out of their location in Chinchilla and relocated to 216 Miller Rd., Waverly.

The 20-acre property has been called “a nature-lover’s dream,” featuring open fields and meadows, surrounded by trees and lightly wooded hills. While the acreage is set back hundreds of feet from the road and neighboring farms on Carbondale Road, it is less than a mile from Abington Road and the Waverly Community House.

Rabbi Benny Rapoport, director of the Jewish Dis-covery Center, said that the decade of Jewish activities at the original location, leased from Pedmar Inc., have spawned “many vibrant programs that have grown ex-ponentially” throughout the years. “The rental space served as an incubator for the vision of how the Jewish Discovery Center can impact and enrich all segments of the community,” Rapoport said. “Many popular programs were conceived and launched, events such as family Shabbat Dinners, adult education courses, teen learning programs, children’s Hebrew education, hands-on mitzvah workshops and the ever-popular

bais yaakov school programs under way“Respectfully Yours.” Students heard from several speakers, including Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rebbetzin Rena Tarshish and Atara Malach.roSH CHodeSH CHeSHvan

Bais Yaakov went on its annual trip to Roba’s Tree Farm to enjoy the fall foliage and celebrate Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the new month, for Cheshvan. The G.O. heads, Feigl Kofman and Miriam Raven, prepared an activity on this year’s theme, “Wear a smile, it’s the style.”

Expansion to Waverly called “investment in Jewish future”

Jewish discovery Center purchases waverly estate

An aerial view of the estate purchased in Waverly.

that space was becoming an issue. The Passover seder sold out; Purim and Chanukah events had to move to outside venues; and our catering facilities needed expan-sion. Now, the JDC has purchased a spacious location with lots of exciting potential for our community.”

According to organizers, plans are in place for the con-struction of a 4,500-square-foot facility that will house the JDC’s social and educational programs offered throughout the year. In addition, the natural setting of the new location will lend itself to new activities for all ages.

“We are deeply indebted to the generosity of Gilbert Weinberger and Andrew Weinberger, of Pedmar Inc., who in their foresight recognized the potential and were very generous in helping to provide the space,” said Rapoport. “Thanks to their bold vision 10 years ago, the Jewish Dis-covery Center has become a force for Jewish education and enrichment in our community.”

Further information about the development of the new facility will be announced in the future. The facility will offer an expanded array of events and activities for all members of the community, regardless of background, observance or affiliation.

Shabbat and holiday cooking programs... truly some-thing for everyone!”

Rapoport also explained what prompted the move. “Over the past few years, it became increasingly clear

Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms welcomes rabbi Steve nathan

Men’s Club President Dan Marcus (left) introduced Rabbi Steve Nathan (right) to the congregation.

by JUdy HaMer and gaIL neLdonThe Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms, the Syna-

gogue of Pike County, welcomed its new spiritual leader, Rabbi Steve Nathan, at a breakfast on October 7, hosted by the Fellowship Men’s Club. Dan Marcus, Men’s Club president, introduced Nathan to the crowd. Nathan described his background and answered questions about his vision for the future of the Fellowship.

Nathan received his undergraduate degree in psychol-ogy from Boston College. His graduate degree was done at Columbia Teacher’s College, where he received a degree in counseling and psychology. He noted that Judaism and Jewish life were always very important to him. Wanting to combine Judaism and counseling, he attended the Recon-structionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia and became ordained as a rabbi. The Reconstructionist movement emphasizes a community-based approach where rabbis and the community decide what path to take. Nathan is currently the educational director of the religious school of Temple Israel in Scranton. He also counsels children and adolescents.

A third generation native of Scranton, Nathan explained that he was attracted to the position at the Fellowship because he likes diversity. The Fellowship’s population

ranges from Reform to Orthodox to Reconstructionist. Nathan also enjoys writing prose and poetry on Jewish themes. To conclude his talk, he shared one of his poems, “The Conversation Begins,” which was about the begin-ning of a conversation with God and His people. Nathan made the analogy that he considered his welcome breakfast as the beginning of a conversation between himself and

See “Nathan” on page 4

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SHdS rabbis publish “the List”

After years of effort, two staff members of the Scranton Hebrew Day School recently saw their work come to frui-tion. Rabbis Yaakov Aichenbaum and Dovid Freeman have published “The List,” a comprehensive list of frequently used words in Chumash.

The public premiere of “The List” will be held at the Yachad National Staff Development Conference in No-vember at Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, NJ. Both rabbis will present a two-part workshop about “The List” and will discuss the learning tool with all of the educators in attendance.

The undertaking began with 1,000 words most often used, which comprise approximately 87 percent of all the words in Chumash. Proper nouns constitute another nine percent, leaving only four percent of the 79,847 words used in Chumash that did not make the frequent word list.

However, “The List” is more than a list of frequently used words. Each word is referenced in the order that it appears in the Chumash and in the exact chapter and verse in which it is located. Each word is also translated into English and Yiddish. The format facilitates systematic and coordinated instruction of vocabulary.

“The List” also features an interactive CD, PDF files from which to make flashcards and classroom videos of various elements of the program. The endeavor will serve as a teacher training manual for educators in the United States and beyond.

Scranton Hebrew Day School students will be the immediate beneficiaries of the educational material. The Scranton Hebrew Day School Board of Directors staff and students have congratulated Aichenbaum and Freeman on their accomplishment. According to a school repre-sentative, “SHDS takes great pride in their achievement, which continues the school’s 65 years of excellence in educational development.”

Community members enjoy sukkah festival

Fellowship members.Those in attendance expressed

“delight and the congregation’s good fortune” to have Nathan as its spiritual leader. Many commented on the “warmth and spirituality” he conveyed, his “articulate and knowl-edgeable address,” and his “beautiful singing voice” as well.

As past spiritual leaders have done, Nathan will participate and represent the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms in many of the upcoming ecumenical events tradi-tionally held in the local Hemlock Farms community. Until then, the congregation has invited anyone interested from Hemlock Farms or outside in the local Pike and Wayne County communities to meet Nathan and the Jewish Fel-lowship of Hemlock Farms members at Friday night or Saturday morning services on the first and third weekend of each month. Services are followed by an oneg Shabbat of light refreshments. To verify the time of the service, call the Fellowship office at 775-7497.

Emily Kessler enjoyed a pony ride at the sukkah festival.

Above: Children and their parents enjoyed live entertainment at the sukkah festival.

At right: Yosef and Avrem’l Rapoport performed a fire-juggling show.

Laura Litvak and Talia Sullum enjoyed the bounce castle and seeing their friends.

nathan Continued from page 3

R a b b i S t e v e Nathan spoke to the attendees at the Men’s Club breakfast.

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on Facebook!ECHOES AND REFLECTIONSProfessional Development CONFERENCE

Thursday, November 29, 2012 • Brennan Hall, University of Scranton

Offering Two Workshops:ECHOES AND REFLECTIONS: A Multi-Media Curriculum on the HOLOCAUST Great resources for educators to incorporate in their classrooms – no matter the time frame of their unit. andBECOMING AN ALLY: Responding to Name-Calling and Bullying for EducatorsPlease Note: The Holocaust and Bullying are not parallel, but do share the basis of “targeting the other.”With bullying growing as a national – and local – problem, it is timely and appropriate to deal with both subjects.

Please cut and send in the form below.Additional Information: Tova Weiss, 570-961-2300, X6 or Rae, 570-961-2300, X4

NAME: _______________________________________________________________________POSITION: ________________________________________________________________

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ECHOES AND REFLECTIONS EDUCATORS CONFERENCE

All registrations forms must arrive by TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13THSend to: Holocaust Education Resource Center, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510

Wednesday, Dec. 12 • 5:30pmJCC Auditorium

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See Harrisburg Mission photos on page 7.

by JoSePH FISCHA delegation of 18 people of diverse ages and geography

traveled from the Scranton JCC to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg on October 16 to spend a day on Capitol Hill. The program was arranged by Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, in cooperation with Dassy Ganz, assistant executive director of the Jewish Federation of Northeast Pennsylvania.

The travelers were welcomed to the capitol by Kyle Mullins, legislative director for Senator John Blake, who served as the group’s leader throughout the day. A Senate hearing room was placed at the group’s disposal and served as the site for meeting legislators and the visit with Consul General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region Yaron Sideman, as well as the luncheon provided by the Federation.

At the time of the delegation’s visit, the legislative ses-sion was to be adjourned sine die after two days to avoid “mischievous legislation” that could be enacted by a lame duck legislature between election and the assumption of of-fice of the newly elected representatives. The circumstance was compounded by the funeral of former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector at Temple Har Zion in Penn Valley, which was being attended by many of the current and former Pennsylvania elected officials, including Governor Tom Corbett and former Governor Ed Rendell.

The assembled were addressed by Senator Mike Stack,

THe peNNSylVaNIa JewISH COalITION

State capitol newsReprinted from Vol. 6 Edition 4, October 19, 2012

PJC Mission Statement: The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, working individually and collectively with others, represents Pennsylvania’s Jewish communities before state government and with other Pennsylvanians. Jewish values guide the PJC’s focus on issues of importance to these communities, including public social policies and funding and regulation of the delivery of human services.PennSyLvanIa JewISH CoaLItIon MoUrnS tHe LoSS oF ForMer Senator arLen SPeCtor

The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition said that it is “deeply saddened” by the loss of former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector,

calling him “a true fighter both in his personal and profes-sional endeavors.” He was Pennsylvania’s longest serving United States senator, serving 30 years in the U.S. Senate. “He was a champion for the citizens of Pennsylvania and a fighter for the state of Israel,” said a PJC representative. “May his accomplishments, fight and memory forever remain a blessing.”ISraeLI ConSUL generaL MeetS wItH Penn-SyLvanIa LeaderS to PUSH For InCreaSed ISraeL/ PennSyLvanIa reLatIonS

Israel’s Consul General of the Mid-Atlantic Region Yaron Sideman and Deputy Consul General Elad Strohmayer

recently traveled to the Pennsylvania capitol to discuss efforts to improve relations with the state’s elected leaders and the state of Israel. Sideman and Strohmayer met with Governor Tom Corbett, House Speaker Sam Smith, Senate President Pro-Tempore Joseph Scarnati and Representative Dan Frankel (the highest ranking Jewish elected official in Pennsylvania). Sideman was also invited to speak before the entire Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate. Along with these visits and speeches, Sideman was able to schedule in some time with the mem-bers of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania,

Mission to Harrisburg 2012Secretary of Aging Brian Duke, Blake and Sideman. They were also visited by Senator John Wozniak. The sena-tors discussed issues of interest to the community, including the progress of legislation relating to Terror Free Procurement (to preclude procurements to invest in Iran). They described the legislative process and a consensus building across the aisle required to pass legislation. Bi-partisanship was common and the philo-sophical differences was said to have adversely affected a very small percentage (estimated at five percent) of the business of the legislature.

The senators also described their support and the support of the Pennsylvania state legislature for issues of interest to the Jewish community, as well as for Israel, and exhibited sensitivity to the problems Israel faces gleaned in part from multiple trips to the Jewish state. The senators’ comments were underscored by the remarks of Butler, who deals with the elected officials at the capitol on a daily basis in his capacity as executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition.

Duke spoke about aging issues, aging in place and naturally occurring retirement communities. Duke also discussed his department’s four-year plan, the Older Americans Act, the Aging and Disability Center, and the Link Program. Butler explained that the NORC concept originated in Israel.

All speakers were reportedly “generous” with their time, invit-ing questions and remaining until all questions were answered. They

indicated “their door is always open” when needed, and encouraged suggestions for legislation and requests for assistance. Delegation members said the senators exhibited collegiality when referring to colleagues across the aisle that might well be emulated on the federal level.

During lunch, the delegation visited with Sideman and his deputy consul, Elad Strohmayer. Sideman explained his duties and areas of responsibility, as well as the trade co-operation envisioned between the Commonwealth and the state of Israel. After lunch, the delegation was seated in the Senate gallery as guests of Blake to hear Sideman’s remarks to the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The day concluded with a tour of the capitol, which has been called “the most beautiful state capitol in the United States.” President Theodore Roosevelt is said to have remarked at the dedication of the edifice in the early days of the 20th century that the building was “the most magnificent structure” he had ever witnessed.

“The point was to learn about the legislative process and meet with legislators as constituents and that objective was accomplished,” said a representative of the delegation. “The visit with the general consul was an additional treat.”

See “Coalition” on page 6

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NEPA Jewish FederationBusiness & Trade Alliance in Groups

The Jewish Federation is proud to give a helping hand to the businesses, business professionals, and

non-profit organizations of NEPA during these difficult economic times by creating the

NEPA Jewish Federation Business & Trade Alliance.

It will allow people from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Wayne and Pike counties 24/7 access to:. Exchange Business Leads . Post Job Opportunities and Receive Resumes. Promote your Business . Increase Search Engine Optimization. Develop Critical Business Skills and Solutions . Socialize and Network with Other Successful Business people

Sign up for membership at http://JewishNepaBTA.org If you have not yet registered your business on our new Alliance web site, please contact Mark Silverberg at 570-961-2300 (ext. 1)

or [email protected] with your contact person, business name, business phone number, business e-mail address, and regular business postal address to ensure further Business and Trade Alliance communications and event invitations.

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JewISH COmmUNITy CeNTer NewS

Coalition Continued from page 5

The JCC’s new wellness center is now open. The JCC staff expressed its thanks to the members for being “patient and understanding” while the renovation was conducted. “We know it was not easy working out in a variety of differ-ent places around the building,” said a JCC representative.

The JCC also thanked its personal trainer,

new JCC wellness center opens

The JCC’s new wellness center is now open.

Ralph Caputo, who offered three separate learning sessions on how to utilize the new equipment. “The JCC wellness staff is com-mitted to helping you learn how to fully utilize the new machines and equipment,” a representative added.

Members have been encouraged to visit the wellness office to ask for assistance, leave feedback or just to say hello.

who were present for a “Day on the Hill” and strategy planning discussions with Matt Handel, chairman of the Pennsylvania Jew-ish Coalition.

The meetings and presentations were said to be “very successful” as progress was made to advance legislation to prevent the state of Pennsylvania from entering into procure-ment contracts with companies investing in

Iran’s energy sector (Terror-Free Procure-ment), and increase trade relations between Pennsylvania and Israeli businesses.

Follow-up meetings to move these efforts forward are in progress.

For any questions, call Hank Butler, ex-ecutive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, at 717-330-4574 or e-mail [email protected].

So it is important for American rabbis and other Jews to share their concerns with their Christian clergy colleagues and neighbors about this latest effort to demonize Israel and damage American-Israeli relations.

The people in the pews, Christian and Jewish, deserve better. Time will tell whether Christian leaders will take this crisis opportunity as a moment to reflect and offer a credible reset to Jewish lead-ers who have called upon them to step up to the plate.

Peace for Palestinians and Israelis will arrive only though direct negotiations between the parties leading to a two-state solution, the Jewish state of Israel and a future Palestinian state, dwelling in peace and security. New tactics that ultimately are not about peacemaking but are about demonizing Israel will not bring the peace that Israelis and Palestinians so much desire.

Rabbi Noam E. Marans is the director of interreligious and intergroup relations for the American Jewish Committee.

Unworthy Continued from page 2

November 2012

Monday, November 12 at 12:45pmFilm Presentation: My Week With Marilyn In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark, just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lo wly assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Aurthur Miller. Rated R. Running time: 1 hr. 39 min

Tuesday, November 19 at 12:30pm

Wednesday, November 21 at 12:45pm

Monday, November 26 at 1pmPresentation on The Jewish Home by Rabbi Sandhaus

Wednesday, November 28 at 12:45pmShort Presentation on thehistory of Yiddish

Tuesday, November 13 from 6-8pmDinner and a Show!The PoetsSee flyer for details

Jewish Homeof Eastern Pennsylvania

The

Give Thanks Party!With Live Music from The Doug Smith BandGreat food, friends and fantastic entertainment!

Social Adult ClubGeneral Session Meetings:

November 12, 26 and December 3, 17

Social Adult Club

Video Concert Presentation: Natalie ColeNatalie Maria Cole is an American singer, songwriter and performer. Natalie rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits “This Will Be”, “Inseparable” and “Our Love”.

Need someplacefor your kids to be when there is no school?

JCC “School’s Out”Programs

• for children in grades K-7 •

$30/day for JCC members$40/day for non-members

$5 sibling discount for up to three childreen$10 friend referral discount

School’s Out includes field trips, swimming, games, arts & crafts,

special activities and much more!

On Veterans Day, we’ll have “Build Your Own MiniGolf”,

swimming and games!

Extra Care is available from 8-8:30am and 5-5:30pmfor an additional fee of $10 per day.

For information, contact Aaron Brooks at(570)346-6595, ex:116 or [email protected]

JCC Youth Programs

Nov. 12 - Monday, Veterans DayNov. 26 - Monday after Thanksgiving

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For information on advertising, contactBonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244or [email protected]


HARRISBURGJewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s

MISSION T O


The Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania hosted Barbara Dexter, a harpist, for the 2013 UJA Women’s Cam-paign Opening Event. More than just a musician, Dexter is a therapeutic harpist who spends time at the bedside of patients with traumatic brain injuries, premature babies and the mentally and physically challenged residents at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton. Dexter also performed at an afternoon program for the Jewish Fellow-ship of Hemlock Farms.

Dexter explained the healing power of the harp, particularly for those with head injuries, and shared stories of recovery, which members of the audience called “miraculous.” Dexter answered attendees’ questions and gave people a chance to try playing the harp.

The event, which was attended by young and old, was introduced in Scranton, at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, by Dassy Ganz, assistant executive director of the Federation, and by Barbara Nivert,

Harpist barbara dexter performs at 2013 women’s Campaign opening event

Harpist Barbara Dexter entertained at the Women’s Campaign Opening Event. Barbara Dexter looked on as Dassy and Shira Laury

tried to play the harp.

Margaret Sheldon and her mother, Anita Sklarsky, enjoyed the program.

Women’s Campaign chairwoman, at the Jewish Fellowship.

“But mostly, she gave us all a chance to soar on the wings of her truly heavenly music,” said organizers of the event.

Roz and Molly Rutta attended the Women’s Campaign Opening Event.

The audience at the Jewish Home watched Barbara Dexter’s performance.

Sara Morris listened to the music while Roz Ben-Dov and Esther Elefant looked on.

Audience members Roz Ben-Dov and Miriam Luchens enjoyed the program.

Barbara Nivert, Women’s Campaign chairwoman, tried playing the harp.

L-r: Steve Natt, Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms president; Mark Silverberg, and Vernon and Marilyn Schklamo attended the performance by Barbara Dexter at Hemlock Farms.

The audience at Hemlock Farms listened to Barbara Dexter perform.

Are you on the Jewish Federation’s email list?We send updated announcements and special

event details weekly to those who wish to receive them.

Send Dassy Ganz an email if you would like to join the list.

[email protected]

Planning on leaving town for a few months? Going on a long vacation? Moving any time soon?

You can help save the Jewish Federation money by informing us of your plans and preventing the U.S. Postal Service from charging us for returned

mail and address change notices.

Before you go, call the Federation office or send us an email and let us know if you would like the mail sent temporarily to a different address, at no charge to you, or halted for a certain number of months. Give us a chance to get it

right for you on the first mailing.

Contact Dassy at (570)961-2300 or [email protected]

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To get Federation updates via email, register on our website www.jewishnepa.org

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THE REPORTER ■ nOvEmbER 8, 201210 D’Var TOraH

that Sarah was alive, there was a cloud [of the Shekhinah] at the entrance of her tent... the doors of the tent stood wide open... there was blessing in the dough of the bread... there was a light burning from one Shabbat eve to the next Shabbat eve” (Midrash Bereshit Rabbah, 60:10).

The midrash continues to tell us that the light went out, the doors closed and the cloud vanished when Sarah died, only to return when (in this week’s parasha) Isaac brought his new bride, Rebecca, into “his mother’s tent,” where she comforted him following her death.

In this midrash, it is clear that Sarah was seen as a para-digm of hospitality, kindness and blessing; she also had a special connection with the Divine. Our sages remind us that when the angels (visitors) came to Abraham to prophesy Isaac’s birth, Abraham went to Sarah and asked her to prepare the meal, for he knew that it was because of her that the dough was blessed. Though Abraham car-ried on the conversation with the visitors, it was Sarah’s hospitality that provided these divine messengers with sustenance. In the rabbinic mind, Sarah and Abraham’s relationship was portrayed as a true partnership. How sad, then, that for years the Amidah, the central prayer of our daily liturgy, has begun by calling on God as simply the God of Abraham (Isaac and Jacob). Only within the last few decades, within more liberal circles, has he been referred to as the God of Abraham and the God of Sarah (Rebecca, Rachel and Leah). The sages made it clear that Sarah had a relationship with God separate from that of Abraham and unique in its own way. She was not merely connected to God through her husband.

Sarah’s spirit and her strength can serve as a role model for us all, regardless of gender. The fact that the midrash portrays the Divine Presence as returning to Sarah’s tent upon Rebecca’s entry into the tent also shows us that the lineage and tradition continues. Rebecca is the clear spiritual heir to Sarah’s legacy. And so the tradition of the God of Sarah, the God of Rebecca, the God of Rachel and the God of Leah may indeed be as old as the idea of God as the God of their male partners; it has only taken us this long to acknowledge this fact and rectify the situation. Let us hope that, as time goes on, more Jews realize this and more congregations outside of Reconstructionist, Reform and some Conservative ones begin to include their names

Unwavering faithby rabbI Steven natHan, SPIrItUaL Leader oF tHe JewISH FeLLowSHIP oF HeMLoCK FarMS

Chaye Sarah, Genesis 23:1-25:18This week’s parasha is Chaye Sarah (Bereshit/Genesis

23:1-25:18). Though the name of the parasha means “life of Sarah,” it actually begins by telling of her death at the age of 127. Our matriarchs, and other women in the Torah, are often forgotten, compared to their husbands and other men. For though many portions are named after a man, this is the only one named after a woman. And if only one woman were to have a parasha named after her, it is quite fitting that it be Sarah. Not only because she was one of the two first monotheists (and proto-Jews), but because looking at the character of Sarah as portrayed both in the Torah and the midrash (rabbinic exegetical tales) it is easy to see that she surely deserves recognition.

Within the Torah, Sarah is a character who is strong, yet flexible. When she thinks that her son Isaac is being threatened by his brother, Ishmael, (even though this may not have been the case) she immediately protects him by insisting that Abraham cast out Ishmael and his mother, Hagar. Though her actions may be viewed by us as harsh and disproportionate to any actual threat, no one can claim that she was being passive.

Yet, the same Sarah, or Sarai, as she was known then, leaves her home and her family with her husband and fol-lows him to an unknown land, guided by an unknown God, without ever seeming to question him. This may seem to some the actions of a passive or subservient wife. Yet, the sages do not view these actions as passive. In fact, the sages say that Sarah is actually to be more praised than Abraham because he went on the journey having spoken with God and knowing that God was with them. However, Sarah went on this journey because she had unwavering faith in God without ever hearing God’s voice directly. We are even told by the sages that Sarah’s prophetic powers were greater than Abraham’s because the Ruah Ha’kodesh (Holy Spirit) rested upon her in a special way, which it did not rest upon Abraham or anyone else. This is symbolized in the midrash, which states that the cloud of the Shekhinah (God’s Divine Presence) hovered over the entrance to Sarah’s tent, just as it was to later hover over the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary where worship was held during the Israelites’ years of wandering in the desert. “All the years See “Faith” on page 12

ABINGTON TORAH CENTER Rabbi Dovid SaksPresident: Richard RuttaJewish Heritage Connection108 North Abington Rd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411570-346-1321 • Website: www.jewishheritageconnection.orgSunday morning services at 8:30 amCall for other scheduled services throughout the week.

BETH SHALOM CONGREGATIONRabbi Yisroel Brotsky1025 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510, (corner of Vine & Clay Ave.)570-346-0502 • fax: 570-346-8800Weekday – Shacharit: Sun 8 am; Mon, Thurs. & Rosh Chodesh, 6:30 am; Tue, Wed & Fri, 6:45 am; Sat & Holidays, 8:45 am. Mincha during the week is approx. 10 minutes before sunset, followed by Maariv.

BICHOR CHOLEM CONGREGATION/ CHABAD OF THE ABINGTONSRabbi Benny RapoportPresident: Richard I. Schwartz216 Miller Road, Waverly, PA 18471570-587-3300 • Website: www.JewishNEPA.comSaturday morning Shabbat Service 9:30 am.Call or visit us online for our bi-weekly schedule

CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF THE POCONOSRabbi Mendel Bendet570-420-8655 • Website: www.chabadpoconos.comPlease contact us for schedules and locations. CONGREGATION BETH ISRAELAffiliation: Union for Reform JudaismRabbi Allan L. SmithPresident: Henry M. SkierContact Person: Ben Schnessel, Esq. (570) 222-3020615 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431570-253-2222 • fax: 570-226-1105

CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIMAffiliation: Union for Reform JudaismRabbi Peg KershenbaumPresident: Phyllis MillerP.O. Box 757 Sullivan Rd., Pocono Pines, PA 18350(located at RT 940 and Pocono Crest Rd at Sullivan Trail 570-646-0100 • Website: www.bnaiharimpoconos.org Shabbat Morning Services, 10 am – noon; every other Saturday Potluck Shabbat Dinner with blessings and program of varying topics, one Friday every month – call for schedule.

JEWISH FELLOWSHIP OFHEMLOCK FARMSRabbi Steve NathanPresident: Steve NattForest Drive 1516 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428570-775-7497 • E-Mail: [email protected] evening Shabbat service 7:30 pm, Saturday morning Shabbat Service 9:30 am.

MACHZIKEH HADAS SYNAGOGUERabbi Mordechai FinePresident: Dr. Shaya Barax600 Monroe Ave., Scranton, PA 18510570-342-6271

OHEV ZEDEK CONGREGATIONRabbi Mordechai Fine1432 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510Contact person: Michael Mellner - 570-343-3183

TEMPLE HESEDUnion of Reform JudaismRabbi Daniel J. SwartzPresident: Eric Weinberg 1 Knox Street, Scranton, PA 18505, (off Lake Scranton Rd.)570-344-7201Friday evening Shabbat, 8 pm;Saturday morning Shabbat, 11:15 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF DUNMOREPresident: Isadore Steckel515 East Drinker St., Dunmore, PA 18512Saturday morning Shabbat 7:30 am; also services for Yizkor

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOSAffiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative JudaismRabbi Baruch MelmanPresident: Suzanne TremperContact person: Art Glantz 570-424-7876711 Wallace St., Stroudsburg, PA, 18360(one block off Rte. 191 (5th Street) at Avenue A)570-421-8781 • Website: www.templeisraelofthepoconos.orgE-Mail: [email protected] evening Shabbat, 8pm; Saturday morning Shabbat, 9 am

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF SCRANTONAffiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative JudaismPresident: Michael Mardo918 East Gibson St., Scranton, PA, 18510(located at the corner of Gibson & Monroe Sts.)570-342-0350 Fax: 570-342-7250 • E-Mail: [email protected], 8 am; Mon & Thurs, 7:15 am; Tue, Wed & Fri, 7:25 am;Rosh Hodesh & Chagim weekdays, 7 am; Shabbat Morning Service, 8:45 am; evening services: Sun – Thurs, 5:45 pm; Friday Shabbat and Saturday Havdalah services, call for times.

Dear Friend of The Reporter,

Each year at this time the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania calls upon members of our community to assist in de-fraying the expense of issuing our regional Jewish newspaper, The Reporter.

The newspaper is delivered twice of month (except for December and July which are single issue months) to each and every identifiable Jewish home in North-eastern Pennsylvania.

As the primary Jewish newspaper of our region, we have tried to produce a quality publication for you that offers our reader-ship something on everything-from opinions and columns on controversial issues that affect our people and our times, to publicity for the events of our affiliated agencies and orga-nizations to life cycle events, teen columns, personality profiles, letters to the editor, the Jewish community calendar and other

columns that cover everything from food to entertainment.

The Federation assumes the financial respon-sibility for funding the enterprise at a cost of $26,400 per year and asks only that we

undertake a small letter writing mail campaign to our recipi-

ents in the hope of raising $10,000 from our reader-ship to alleviate a share of that responsibility.

We would be grateful if you would care enough to take the time to make a donation for our efforts in bringing The Reporter to

your door.

As always, your comments, opin-ions and suggestions are always

welcome.

With best wishes,Mark Silverberg, Executive Director

Jewish Federation of NE Pennsylvania601 Jefferson Avenue

Scranton, PA 18510

Friends of The Reporter

I WILL SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF OUR EXPANDED FEDERATION REPORTER BY CONTRIBUTING

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Robert H. Graham is President and Chief Investment O�cer of Riggs Asset Management Company, Inc., an independent boutique investment advisory firm serving a�uent families and institutions throughout the United States and abroad. Mr. Graham advises clients on Growth and Income Investment Strategies; Wealth Preservation and Succession Planning for Entrepreneurs. Mr. Graham began his investment management career in 1989 and joined Riggs Asset Management Company in 1999 as a Senior Investment O�cer and Principal. He is Chair

of the Board of Directors for the North Branch Land Trust, serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Diamond City Partnership, member of the Board of Directors of Leadership Wilkes-Barre and the Family Business Forum. He is also a member of the Director’s Leadership Group for the William G. McGowan School of Business at King’s College. Mr. Graham is frequently featured in publications such as The Times-Tribune, The Citizen’s Voice, The Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, The Times Leader and The Standard Speaker where he provides insight into economics, investing and wealth management.

Cost: $10 per member • $15 per non-member • Breakfast Buffet Included*Please RSVP by Thursday, November 29, 2012 by calling or e-mailing either

Rae Magliocchi at 570-961-2300 x4 • [email protected] Becky Schastey at 570-540-5250 • [email protected]

Make sure to bring business cards and brochures for our Alliance Resource Table!

Our Speaker, Robert H. Graham of Riggs Asset Management Company, Inc.will discuss today’s economy & provide insight into its future. Attend this breakfast

and find out how the economy will affect business today and in the future!

*under strict kosher supervision

To become a member,please register at

http://JewishNepaBTA.org

Due to scheduling conflicts, we arerescheduling the NEPA Jewish Federation

Business & Trade Alliance Fall Networking Dinnerand making it an

with guest speaker Robert H. Graham

Tuesday, December 4 • 8-10amRadisson Hotel - Station Ballroom

700 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton, PA

Economic OutlookFall Networking Breakfast


The National Disaster Distress Helpline will provide constant access to crisis counselors and support for Penn-sylvanians experiencing emotional distress in relation to Hurricane Sandy.

“The helpline is a national hotline answered by a network of crisis call centers across the U.S., providing phone- and text-based support to people experiencing emotional distress before, during and after disasters,” said Secretary of Public Welfare Gary D. Alexander.

Distress symptoms can manifest as anxiety, stress, con-fusion, isolation and fear. For those impacted by previous

as well. And if one’s traditional practice does not allow for changing the liturgy, perhaps a way could be found in text study and commentary, or in writing kavvanot (introductory or intentional reading) to include the heritage of Sarah and the other matriarchs.

Remembering that God has a unique relationship with the matriarchs as well as the patriarchs is not only about feminism or gender equality, it is about acknowledging and paying attention to the fact that the God of Abraham and the God of Sarah is within each of us. Rabbinic tradition attributes a specific middah (quality or personality trait) to each of our ancestors. If we stop and pay attention to the voices of all as they speak to us through prayer, meditation, study or living our lives, we discover these voices, these divine/human qualities within ourselves. Without paying attention to both the God of our matriarchs and the God of our patriarchs we are all diminished; our task of bringing the Divine into the world is incomplete, just as Abraham’s task of welcoming the Divine visitors would have been un-finished if Sarah had not been there to provide for them.

As we remember the life and death of Sarah, as well as the welcoming of Rebecca into her tent in this week’s parasha, let us remember this message. Let us reach out-ward and inward to connect with the God of Abraham and the God of Sarah. One God with many faces who touches each of our lives in a different way in each and every mo-ment, bringing us together as one humanity, one world in the name of the Divine.

national helpline to provide crisis counseling, support to Pa residents affected by Hurricane Sandy

catastrophic events in their lives, new events can trigger memories of prior experiences.

Populations most likely to suffer from distress related to tropical storms and hurricanes include survivors of previous disasters living in the impacted areas – especially children and teens – loved ones of victims and first responders, rescue and recovery workers.

Anyone experiencing distress in relation to Hurricane Sandy can call the Disaster Distress Helpline toll-free at 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. Spanish-speakers can text “Hablanos” to 66746. Calls and texts will be answered by trained crisis counselors from call centers throughout the U.S.

The Disaster Distress Helpline, a program of the Sub-stance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is the first national multi-lingual helpline dedicated to providing crisis counseling and support to those struggling emotionally before, during or after disasters.

The Disaster Distress Helpline can also connect callers with counselors in more than 100 languages. Interpretation services and counseling services are also available to hear-ing-impaired individuals through the text service.

Visit the Disaster Distress Helpline online at http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov for additional resources and to access brochures available for download to the public in both English and Spanish.

Faith Continued from page 10

Study: young pro-Israel activists are diverse ideologically, religiously

by neIL rUbIn WASHINGTON (JTA) – Jewish student leaders may

be strident in their Israel advocacy, but they are tolerant in defining pro-Israel activism and diverse in their political views. Those are among the major findings of a new survey being billed as the first major study of North American young adult leaders involved in pro-Israel advocacy.

Of the 4,000 or so Israel advocates age 30 and younger who were surveyed, 87 percent said they welcomed “mul-tiple perspectives” on the pro-Israel spectrum. Ideologically speaking, 45 percent self-identified as either politically liberal or slightly liberal; 30 percent said they were conservative or slightly conservative; and 21 percent called themselves mod-erate. Four percent said they were extremely conservative and 2 percent said they were extremely liberal. The respondents came from diverse religious backgrounds, too: 37 percent said they were Conservative Jews, 27 percent Orthodox, 18 percent Reform and 16 percent “other Jewish.”

The study, titled “Next Generation Advocacy: A Study of Young Israel Advocates,” was released recently by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. It was conducted by Ezra Kopelowitz and Daniel Chesir-Teran

of Research Success Technologies. “There’s a sense that young advocates come from

a particular political persuasion, that they’re shrill and that there’s polarization,” Lisa Eisen, the director of the Schusterman Foundation, told JTA. “They are very diverse, sophisticated and non-ideological, which is not something that most people would imagine.”

Divisive activists are part of the spectrum, Eisen ac-knowledged, but they “are way out on the margin.”

Those surveyed were leaders of such organizations as Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Hillel, iCenter, the Israel on Campus Coalition, Moishe House, The David Project, Write On For Israel, Hasbara Fellowships, MASA Israel Journey, Stand With Us and the BBYO group for teenagers. The study also pointed to a relatively high correlation between participa-tion in Birthright Israel, the free 10-day trip to Israel for young adults, and Israel activism: Some 26 percent of the pro-Israel leaders surveyed were Birthright alumni.

Pro-Israel activist Samantha Vinokor, 22, said she dis-covered early on that there is no single profile for pro-Israel

See “Study” on page 14



activism. “You don’t need to be religiously observant because you can connect in your own way and you don’t need to be politically aware because you can connect culturally or through food or in other ways,” said Vinokor, who was active in pro-Israel groups at the University of Pittsburgh before enrolling in a master’s program at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York and landing a job as director of com-munications for the World Zionist Organization.

“The pro-Israel movement can give so many different people a home,” she said. “That’s something that I tried to bring onto campus and that I bring to my professional life as well.”

Eisen said the study debunks some myths about who pro-Israel activists are and what they believe, while also revealing some shortcomings in how pro-Israel activists are mobilized in American Jewish life.

While 85 percent of high school seniors and 66 percent of college seniors said they wanted to continue pro-Israel work after graduation, only 27 percent and 33 percent, respectively, reported being asked to do so by a Jewish organization. “The motivation is there, the passion is there, the interest is there,” Eisen said. “We just haven’t fully tapped the potential.”

by rabbI raCHeL eSSerMan Novels about family life have sometimes been pejo-

ratively referred to as kitchen-sink dramas. Yet our con-nections to our loved ones are a fundamentally important part of our lives. Two recent literary novels – “The World Without You” by Joshua Henkin (Pantheon Books) and “The Innocents” by Francesca Segal (Voice/Hyperion) – do a brilliant job showing just how complex and fascinating these relationships can be.

Everyone mourns in their own way: That’s a lesson the Frankel family still needs to learn. “The World Without You” takes place in July 2005, one year after the death of Leo Frankel, a journalist who was captured and killed while on assignment in Iraq. His mother, Marilyn, has scheduled a memorial service just for family and friends to counter the drama and press that had attended the funeral. She’s spent the past year writing opinion pieces against the war and

President George W. Bush, whom she feels is responsible for Leo’s death. Her husband, David, has coped by busy-ing himself with hobbies – cooking, reading opera libret-tos and running. However, their fundamentally different approaches to the loss of their son has created fissures in their 40-year-old marriage.

Visiting for the service are Leo’s three sisters – Clarissa, Lily and Noelle – and his widow, Thisbe. All four women are struggling with the aftermath of Leo’s death. Thirty-nine-year-old Clarissa has finally decided she wants a baby, but her inability to conceive is driving a wedge between her and her loving husband. Lily, who refuses to allow her significant other to attend the service, fights with everyone as though deliberately seeking to alienate her parents and sisters. Traveling from Israel with her husband and four sons, Noelle, now an Orthodox Jew, is troubled by images of a past she longs to forget. Thisbe worries that not only is her 3-year-old son, Calder, beginning to forget his father, but that revealing a new aspect of her life might anger her in-laws. Each member of the family is seeking love and acceptance, something they might receive if only they opened their hearts and minds to each other.

What makes Henkin’s work so wonderful is that he suc-cessfully places readers in his characters’ minds. He shows just how complex each person is so that, even when you dislike a character, it’s impossible to dismiss their concerns. I felt each sister’s irritation and shared their desire to yell at and/or shake annoying family members. Yet, often in the next chapter, when he focused on a different character, I suddenly understood and sympathized with their problems and dilemmas, even the characters who once seemed so infuriating. Henkin also does an excellent job showing how very different our self-image can be from the way others perceive us. For example, Lily doesn’t believe that her strong mother might be frightened of her, even though her father clearly sees how terrified Marilyn is of her daughter’s anger. This is but one of the many insights Henkin reveals about his characters in a work that ranks as one of this year’s best novels.

While Henkin writes from more than one point of view, Segal focuses mainly on one person: 28-year-old Adam Newman. “The Innocents” has been compared to Edith Wharton’s “The Age of Innocence,” although Segal’s work

has a depth and breadth of its own. What the author does have in common with Wharton is that Segal is not only capable of giving great psychological insight into the mind of her characters, but also offers a wonderful sociological analysis of the tight-knit Jewish community of Temple Fortune (a suburb of London) to which they belong. Yet, none of this distracts from the novel’s engrossing and engaging plot.

Adam, considered one of the most eligible young men in the community, has just become engaged to his longtime sweetheart, Rachel Gilbert. He’s content with his place in life, including his position at the law firm where his fiance’s father is a partner. However, when Rachel’s cousin, Ellie Schneider, moves back to London from New York City, Adam finds himself confused and at odds with his life. It’s not just that Ellie is beautiful and has worked as a model; she represents the outside world, one not part of the Jewish community cocoon that has always buffered Adam. He wonders what it would be like to explore that world and finds himself drawn emotionally and physically to Ellie. Yet, it is difficult for him to choose between the communal support and love of family and friends, and his desire for something new, different and possibly dangerous.

Segal’s careful delineation of her characters – whether it’s through their own eyes or Adam’s – creates portraits that will engage readers’ hearts. She also does a wonderful job showing how the Jewish community gathers and honors its customs. For example, one chapter features a Shabbat dinner at Rachel’s parents’ home. During the evening meal, the warmth and love these people feel for each other shines through; this includes their willingness to respect each oth-ers’ foibles and idiosyncrasies. Even when Adam focuses on the possibility of leaving the community for Ellie, he knows how much these people care for him – even with his faults and weaknesses – and just how much he stands to lose. I came to feel for and understand all the characters in “The Innocents,” to be moved by their fates and their futures. Segal’s ability to put me inside Adam’s heart – to see his growth in maturity and understanding – swept me away on a tide of emotion. Throughout the course of the novel, the characters came to feel like friends and family. Because of this, Segal’s marvelous work also ranks as one of the best of novels of the year.

BOOk reVIew

Family drama

Study Continued from page 12

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CHANUKAH Greetings2012

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Chanukah!

Once again this year, The Reporter is inviting its readers and local organizations to extend Chanukah greetings to the community by purchasing a Chanukah greeting ad, which will appear in our December 6 issue (Deadline: Nov. 28). Chanukah begins this year on the evening of Dec. 3. You may choose from the designs, messages and sizes shown here - more are available. You may also choose your own message, as long as it fits into the space of the greeting you select. (Custom designs available upon request.) The price of the small greeting is $18, the medium one is $34 and the largest one is $68. To ensure that your greeting is published, please contact Bonnie Rozen at 1-800-779-7896, ext. 244 or [email protected]. Checks can be made payable to The Reporter Group and sent to: The Reporter, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal, NY 13850

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by Cnaan LIPHSHIzODESSA, Ukraine (JTA) – In her dilapidated apartment,

Larisa Rakovskaya examines a stack of unpaid heating bills. Sick and alone, the 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and widow is preparing for another encounter with the cold, her “worst and only fear.”

Rakovskaya says her hope of staying warm this winter lies with a one-time payment of approximately $3,200 that she may receive from Germany via the Claims Conference following Berlin’s recent decision to include victims of Nazi persecution in the former Soviet Union as beneficiaries of the so-called Hardship Fund. Some 80,000 survivors across the former Soviet Union are expected to qualify for the payouts, half of them in Ukraine, where a crumbling welfare system often leaves the old and disabled to live and die in penury.

Rakovskaya says that once she uses the Hardship Fund payment to pay off the few hundred dollars of debt she owes utilities, she wants to visit Israel for the first time. “I don’t want to renovate and I don’t need a boiler. My last wish is to see Jerusalem,” she tells JTA.

Marina, her social worker from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, asks Rakovskaya to “be realistic” and use the money for day-to-day living.

The Claims Conference, which negotiated the expansion of the Hardship Fund with Germany, says the money will have “an enormous impact.” The application process starts in November, and eligible claimants are expected to be ap-proved as quickly as eight weeks afterward, according to Claims Conference spokeswoman Hillary Kessler-Godin. Applications will be processed throughout most of 2013.

JDC, which funds Jewish welfare operations in the former Soviet Union known as Heseds, called the new money a “welcome addition” but cautioned that survivors, as well as other Jews in the region, still need ongoing assistance.

Rakovskaya lives on a $111 monthly government pension in a one-bedroom apartment with her small dog, Chunya. Old newspapers absorb humidity from the broken floor; the brown walls are crumbling. With no hot water, she heats water over an electric stove and then washes over a rusty sink. She has managed to get food and medicine and keep

In Ukraine, new funds for survivors bring high – some say unrealistic – expectations

her home heated thanks to support from her local Hesed. Established in the 1990s, Hesed provides relief, medical

services and food to approximately 170,000 Jews in former Soviet countries. JDC’s 2012 budget for welfare and social services in the former Soviet Union comes to $113.5 million. Some of the money comes from the Claims Conference, which funds Hesed programs directed at Holocaust survivors. In 2011, those funds reached approximately $75 million.

Approximately 7,000 Hesed clients live in Odessa, a city with a Jewish population estimated at 40,000. Ukraine has some 360,000 to 400,000 Jews, according to the European Jewish Congress.

Rakovskaya has experienced far worse living conditions. As a girl, she had to live with her mother in the catacombs that run under Odessa’s streets. They went underground after Romanian soldiers occupied the city in 1941 as allies of Nazi Germany. Once home to 200,000 Jews, only about 90,000 remained when the Romanians arrived. Most of them were murdered. Thanks to her father’s non-Jewish last name, Rakovskaya and her Jewish mother were able to slip through the roundups.

Greg Schneider, the executive vice president of the Claims Conference, told JTA that the new Hardship Fund payment is the fruit of 20 years of labor.

During the Cold War, Germany “understandably” resisted compensating victims living behind the Iron Curtain for fear that Soviet regimes would confiscate the money, Schneider said. Since communism collapsed, the Claims Conference has “asked, pushed, pressed, urged and cajoled” Germany to compensate victims living in Eastern Europe just like victims living in the West.

“I think it’s too late, but we’re happy this is finally hap-pening,” he said. The $3,200 is “the equivalent of receiving a year’s worth of pension.”

Asher Ostrin, the JDC’s director of activities in the FSU, calls the fund “a welcome addition,” but also says “It will not elevate anyone from extreme poverty to middle-class comfort.”

Many of the Holocaust survivors who will receive the one-time payment from Germany will continue to be aided by Hesed, which has many other clients who are not Holocaust survivors.

One of the recipients is Svetlana Mursalova, 56. Once a social worker for Hesed, she suffered a crippling hip fracture that rendered her bedridden and unable to work. She says her two children have no interest in her, leaving her to survive on a monthly disability pension of $109.

“Without the help from Hesed, I would need to choose between food and medicines. I would have died,” she told JTA. “My situation is very painful because I always used to look after myself and others. But you have to stay optimistic.”

On her wall is a portrait of her Siamese cat, Marquis, which she describes as her best friend. Mursalova thought about leaving for Israel, she says, but now that she is unable to walk properly, “leaving is even more difficult than staying.”

Ostrin says many poor Jews resist immigrating to Israel for fear of the unfamiliar and a deep attachment to their apartments – often the only property they managed to keep during and after communism.

Although tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews require JDC charity to get by, a small number of Jews have become wealthy since the collapse of communism. In recent years they have been involved increasingly in charity and in projects that promote a self-sustainable Jewish life here, according to Eduard Dolinsky, director of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee.

One example is a Jewish kindergarten with 40 pupils and a long waiting list of parents willing to pay the $500 monthly fee – approximately double the national aver-age salary. The money keeps the school running, but also helps fund community services and activities ranging from pottery and aerobics lessons for the elderly to basketball tournaments for teenagers.

Those parents, however, represent “a very thin layer of rich Jews who are unable to tend to the serious needs of the elderly and poor,” Dolinsky says. “Without the generous support of American Jewry, we would face a humanitar-ian disaster.”

Dolinsky says the new funds secured by the Claims Conference “will not change anything on the fundamental level, but they are important for the recipients and as a form of belated justice.”


by raFaeL MedoFFJNS.org

Like American boys and girls, youngsters growing up in British Mandatory Palestine or the new state of Israel experienced thrills through the adventures of Tarzan, the im-mortal Edgar Rice Burroughs character whose 100th anniversary will be celebrated in October.

American Tarzan movies with Hebrew subtitles attracted standing room-only au-diences and Hebrew writers churned out a torrent of unauthorized Tarzan stories, sometimes with a Zionist twist – such as Tarzan helping to smuggle Jewish refugees from Hitler’s Europe to Palestine.

But the writers and their readers alike would have been very surprised to learn that one of the Tarzan movie producers was actually involved in sponsoring the real-life rescue of Jews from the Nazis.

“Tarzan of the Apes” debuted in the Octo-ber 1912 issue of The All-Story, an early pulp magazine. (Pulps, so called because of the cheap paper on which they were printed, were all-fiction periodicals that usually featured detective or adventure stories.) “Tarzan” was only the third story ever written by Burroughs, a 36-year-old pencil sharpener salesman who, after reading a number of pulps, concluded – as he later recalled – “If other people got money for writing such stuff, I might too, for I was sure I could write stories just as rotten as theirs.”

The story of the English infant raised by apes in Africa was so successful that Burroughs authored more than a dozen ad-ditional Tarzan novels in the years to follow. The character soon made his way to Hol-lywood, with the first Tarzan film appearing in 1918, starring Elmo Lincoln.

But it was the portrayal of the Lord of the Jungle by swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller that brought Tarzan to the pinnacle of international renown. Born in Hungary to ethnic German parents in 1904,

It was the portrayal of the Lord of the Jungle by swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller (pictured) that brought Tarzan to the pinnacle of international renown. ( P h o t o b y M G M studio)

tarzan and the Holocaust

The "Adventures of Tarzan" cover. (Photo by Ritchey Litho. Corp.)

We i s s m u l l e r was, according to some sources, of partial Jew-ish descent. As a child growing up in Chicago, he contracted polio and took up swimming to counter the ef-fects of the dis-ease. His athletic prowess brought him to the at-tention of Wil-liam Bachrach, a Jewish swim-ming coach who became Weiss-muller’s mentor. Weissmuller set numerous world records and won five gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.

From 1932 to 1948, he starred in 12 Tarzan movies. They were hugely popular, not only in the U.S., but also around the world. “As a boy in Tel Aviv, I saw every one of them, sometimes more than once,” says the award-winning Israeli filmmaker Moshe Levinson. “My friends and I also gobbled up the short Hebrew-language Tarzan books that came out almost every week. We loudly imitated his famous ‘jungle roar,’ although the neighbors weren’t always happy about that. We just couldn’t get enough of Tarzan.”

Levinson recalls that many of the Hebrew Tarzan stories were written by young authors who would later emerge as giants of the Israeli literary world. “People like Amos Oz, Amos Keinan and Yeshayahu Levit, were moonlighting – they needed to pay the rent while they were waiting for their big break, so they wrote these Tarzan stories un-

der pseudonyms, glorifying a char-acter who was deeply rooted in nature, vibrant, unafraid, scorn-ful of the in-tellectual life,” he says. “That was how they wanted the new Israeli society to look, and it had a big impact on us kids.”

The fact that many Jews in

Mandatory Palestine mistakenly believed Weissmuller was Jewish further added to Tarzan’s popularity in the Holy Land. Eli Eshed, Israel’s foremost Tarzan expert, notes that Oz, in his autobiographical stories, depicts himself as an avid Tarzan fan. Oz wrote that his parents “were very proud that Johnny Weissmuller, the real Tarzan, is a Jew... Tarzan for us was a Jew since he always fights as ‘one against many’ and because he was smart and full of tricks and his enemies were stupid.”

In one of the Hebrew novellas, Tarzan helps smuggle Jewish refugees out of Eu-rope and past the British naval blockade of Palestine. At one point in the story, Tarzan is captured by the British and imprisoned, although he later escapes.

In real life, the Irgun Zvai Leumi un-derground militia in Palestine initiated the Aliyah Bet (unauthorized immigration) campaign in 1937. It brought an estimated 20,000 Jews to the Holy Land during the next four years. About 7,500 miles away, a handful of Jewish activists were looking for donors in Hollywood to help bankroll the Aliyah Bet operations. Hillel Kook (using the name Peter Bergson), Yitshaq Ben-Ami, Samuel Merlin and Alex Rafaeli, follow-ers of the Revisionist Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky and members of the Irgun, had been sent by Jabotinsky to the U.S. between 1938 and 1940 to seek financial and political support for Aliyah Bet and the creation of a Jewish state. Their organization, known at that point as American Friends of a Jewish Palestine, later was popularly known as the Bergson Group. And Hollywood would prove to be one of its most important bases of support.

Although there were many Jews among Tinseltown’s film directors, writers and actors, some changed their names and hid their Jewish identity in order to advance their careers in the movie industry. Rafaeli later wrote of his surprise and disappoint-ment to find many Jewish actors “aloof and uninterested in their people’s fate.”

But others were more responsive to the young Zionists’ appeals. An early and im-portant supporter was Bernard P. Fineman. A Hollywood figure of some prominence, Fineman had produced movies featuring such stars as Gary Cooper (“Wolf Song,” 1929) and Lucille Ball (“Beauty for the Asking,” 1939). In addition, his first wife, Margaret, was the niece of legendary direc-tor Cecil B. DeMille. Fineman’s Tarzan connection was as the producer of the fifth of the 12 Weissmuller films, “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure,” which was released in 1941.

The plot was boilerplate Tarzan: Boy (Tar-zan and Jane’s adopted son) stumbles upon gold at the bottom of a river. Members of a Brit-ish expedition, learning of Boy’s discovery, kidnap him and Jane in order to force Tarzan to reveal the location of the treasure. Eluding crocodiles and aided by a herd of friendly elephants, Tarzan comes to their rescue. Like all of the Tarzan adventures, “Secret Treasure” was a box office success.

At the very moment Fineman was work-ing on “Tarzan’s Secret Treasure,” he was actively assisting the real-life adventurers of Aliyah Bet. Not only did the Tarzan producer provide financial support for the American Friends of a Jewish Palestine, but he also did for them what Hollywood types do best – networking. He introduced them to important potential supporters, including the actor Edward G. Robinson, Fineman’s sister, the journalist Frances Gunther and her husband John, the future author of “Death Be Not Proud.” It was Gunther who coined the term “Jew-running” to describe the Irgun’s refugee-smuggling operations. Robinson later starred in a dramatic pageant about the plight of the Jews, “We Will Never Die,” that the Bergson Group staged at Madison Square Garden. The Gunthers became pillars of the rescue movement, with Frances serv-ing as treasurer, spokeswoman, and fund-raiser; she even testified in Congress for a Bergson-initiated resolution on rescue.

Some of the Hebrew-language Tarzan knock-offs found the Lord of the Jungle do-ing things that Jews were unable to achieve, such as tracking down Nazi war criminals Martin Bormann and Rudolf Hoess. Such Tarzan stories substituted fantasy for unat-tainable reality. But in the case of Aliyah Bet, young Jewish activists took matters into their own hands and changed the course of history for tens of thousands of Jewish refugees. And a Tarzan movie producer, of all people, was part of the team that made it possible.

Dr. Rafael Medoff is director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, and coauthor, with Prof. Sonja Schoepf Wentling, of the new book “Herbert Hoover and the Jews: The Origins of the ‘Jewish Vote’ and Bipartisan Support for Israel.”

Dear Friend,

JOYPROJECT

PROJECT JOY, through the Jewish Community Center, was the “brainchild” of a very special woman, RoseBud Leventhal. Although RoseBud has passed on, the project continues in her memory. The monies come solely from private donations. Due to the ever changing needs of the community and our present economy, we have expanded our gift giving base. Our goal is a simple one. We want every child to experience a special Holiday season. Through your generosity, we can do this. This year in our area the economic situation has worsened. Our gift might be the only one a child receives.

from wish lists that we received from Jewish Family Services, the Catherine McCauley Center and Saint Joseph’s Center.

In 2009 we added Children and Youth Services and Children’s Advocacy to our list of needy children and were thrilled that we were able to help even more kids. And, as always, we still visited the pediatric departments of our three local Scranton hospitals to give their patients gifts of cheer over the

were fortunate to have the monies to assist them too.

We hope this year to give even more gifts with your help. Each year we receive

vital and special this project has become. This all depends on you!

Please send a donation to “PROJECT JOY” in care of the Scranton JCC, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, or just drop off a new unwrapped toy

We will be wrapping theses gifts on Tuesday, December 13th at the JCC starting at 9:00 am. All volunteers are welcome. Please call Carol Leventhal at 587-2931 or 586-0241 if you will be able to help us wrap gifts this year. It’s fun and worthwhile!

October 2011

Carol LeventhalCarol Leventhal, Chairperson Project Joy

.ytisoreneg dna troppus deunitnoc ruoy rof uoy knahT

PROJECT JOY, through the Scranton Jewish Community Center, was the “brainchild” of a very special woman, RoseBud Leventhal. Although RoseBud has passed on, the project continues in her memory. The monies come solely from private donations. Due to the ever changing needs of the community and our present economy, we have expanded our gift base. Our goal is a simple one. We want every child to experience a special holiday season. Through your generosity, we can do this. This year in our area the economic situation has worsened. Our gift might be the only one a child receives.

Last year, over 70 children benefited from wonderful gifts we purchased from wish lists that we received from Jewish Family Services, the Catherine McCauley Center and Saint Joseph’s Center.

In 2009 we added Children and Youth Services and Children’s Advocacy to our lists of needy children and were thrilled that we were able to help even more kids. And, as always, we still visited the pediatric departments of our three local Scranton hospitals to give their patients gifts of cheer over the holidays. Once we were made aware of specific needy families in the area, we were fortunate to have the monies to assist them too.

We hope this year to give even more gifts with your help. Each year we receive so many “thank you letters and notes” which just confirms how extremely vital and special this project has become. This all depends on you!

Please send a donation to “PROJECT JOY” in care of the Scranton JCC, 601 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510. Or you can just drop off a new unwrapped toy at the JCC office.

We will be wrapping the gifts on Thursday, December 13th at the JCC starting at 9:00am. All volunteers are welcome. Please call Carol Leventhal at 587-2931 or 586-0241 if you will be able to help us wrap gifts this year. It’s fun and worthwhile!

Thank You!Carol Leventhal, Chairperson Project Joy

Documents

November 8, 2012 Edition of the Reporter