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New Jersey Jewish News 3-25-22 Flipbook PDF
New Jersey Jewish News 3-25-22
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NJJN
O IN U T R HI C SI H S IL SU D E: R EN
NEW JERSEY
MARCH 25, 2022 VOL. LXXVI NO. 29 $1.00
JEWISH NEWS
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Page 3 New Passover flavor sensations? l It’s not easy being Manischewitz.. How do you maintain a 134-year-old brand whose very essence is Ashkenazi Jewish food like your grandmother — or your grandmother’s bubbe — used to make, while making sure that the new generation of shoppers don’t dismiss your offerings as food for grandmothers? Social media offers one way to balance these conflicting marketing demands. The pinned tweet of @ManischewitzCo announces that “Manischewitz is the nation’s leading brand of kosher food products. We’re more than just matzo!” In the company’s sporadic posts to its 5,163 Twitter followers, Manischewitz adopts a light-hearted ap-
proach, presumably hoping to seem more with-it and also, perhaps, of going viral. Which would explain the two images posted on Tuesday of packages of Manischewitz-brand macaroons with horseradish and charoset flavors. They were posted in response to a Manischewitz tweet earlier this month, which suggested: “Thinking we should shake things up a bit. Whatcha think?” Responses ranged from “I wish this was real” to “Why do you hate us Jews, Manischewitz?” Neither horseradish nor charoset currently are listed as available on Masnischewitz.com, which lists 17 flavors of canned macaroons, including “Red Velvet” and LARRY YUDELSON “Rocky Road.”
Sandy Koufax, Dodger idol l If ever there was a Jew famous for one mitzvah, it is Sandy Koufax. The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher famously refused to play in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series, because it fell on Yom Kippur. (The Dodgers lost that game. The next day Koufax pitched, and they lost again. But the Dodgers went on to win the series, with Koufax as the lead pitcher for two of the four winning games — and Koufax picked up that season’s Cy Young award, as he had in 1963 and would again in 1966.) But while Yom Kippur was his thing, graven images, it turns out — not so much. On the afternoon of Shabbat, June 18, Dodgers Stadium will unveil a statue of Sandy Koufax, shortly before the team faces the recently renamed Cleveland Guardians. The first 40,000 fans to get to the 56,000 seat stadium for the game will get miniature replicas of the statue. The Koufax statue is being crafted by artist Branly Cadet, whose statue of Koufax’s trailblazing teammate Jackie Robinson was erected at the stadium in 2017. The Dodgers first announced the Koufax statue in 2019, with its unveiling originally planned for the summer of 2020. Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten announced the new date this week. He said fans entering the centerfield gates now would be greeted by Robinson and Koufax. “Not only are both of these Hall of Famers part of our rich Dodger history, they are also continuously inspiring sports fans everywhere,” Kasten said in his statement.
CONTENTS NOSHES.......................................................... 4 AROUND THE COMMUNITY....��������������12 COVER STORY.............................................16 JEWISH WORLD........................................22 OUR CHILDREN..........................................26 HOME DESIGN & REAL ESTATE.......... 30 OBITUARIES................................................34 THE FRAZZLED HOUSEWIFE...............37 CROSSWORD PUZZLE............................37 OPINION.......................................................38 CLASSIFIED ADS.......................................43 PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT: (USPS 275-540) The New Jersey Jewish News is published weekly by JJMedia LLC at 70 Grand Ave.,Suite 104, River Edge, NJ 07661. ©2022, NJ Jewish News. All rights reserved. Periodical postage is paid in South Hackensack, NJ and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to JJMedia LLC, 70 Grand Ave., Suite 104, River Edge, NJ 07661. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual subscriptions (including postage) New Jersey: $52. Out of state: $56. TELEPHONE: 201-837-8818 The appearance of an advertisement in the New Jersey Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut endorsement. The publishing of a paid political advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political party, or political position by the newspaper or any employees.
Sandy Koufax grins after striking out 14 batters in a game in 1955.BETTMANN/GETTY IMAGES
Koufax, now 86, became the youngest player to enter baseball’s Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1972, at 36. That same year, the Dodgers retired Koufax’s jersey number, 32, alongside Robinson’s iconic 42, which is retired across the sport. One of the best pitchers in baseball history, Koufax was a member of four World Series championship teams, winning two World Series Most Valuable Player awards. Koufax also won a National League MVP during his 12-year career with the Dodgers. Koufax posted a career record of 165-87 with a 2.76 earned run average, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 40 shutouts. He was the first pitcher to throw four no-hitters. JACOB GURVIS/JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
The New Jersey Jewish News assumes no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial or graphic materials. All rights in letters and unsolicited editorial, and graphic material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and subject to New Jersey Jewish News’ unrestricted right to edit and to comment editorially. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. ©2022.
Candlelighting: Friday, March 25 - 6:56 p.m. Shabbat ends: Saturday, March 26 - 7:56 p.m. For convenient home delivery, call (201) 837-8818 ON THE COVER: This little girl has just escaped from Ukraine with her mother. She’s now in Poland. COURTESY JASON SHAMES NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 3
Noshes
“My heart breaks for my fellow Christians in Ukraine that are fighting for their freedom. Christians around the world should join us and pray for Ukraine.”
Family movie; Radcliffe kidnaps Bullock; Godfather “Rescued By Ruby,” an original Netflix film that was released on March 17, is a feel-good movie for the whole family that’s based on a true story. The real Ruby was a wayward puppy, an Australian shepherd and border collie mix who ended up in a Rhode Island animal shelter because of behavior problems. Five families adopted her and then returned her. Then Dan O’Neill, a state police corporal, came to the shelter looking for a free search-and-rescue dog. He was taken with Ruby’s intelligence and energy. He adopted Ruby, then a 8-month-old pup, in 2011, and trained her. Well, you can guess that Ruby did something special to merit a lot of press — and then a movie about her. I won’t spoil your viewing by telling you what she did. Grant Gustin , TV’s Flash,” plays Dan. SCOTT WOLF, 43, has a big role as Dan’s
commanding officer. Wolf, who was raised in a Reform Jewish home, became well known playing star character Bailey Salinger on the hit series “Party of Five” from 1994 to 2000. Wolf didn’t become a big star after “Party of Five” ended, but he has worked steadily. He was a series regular on “The Night Shift,” an NBC medical show from 2014 to 17, and he is a regular on “Nancy Drew,” a CW series that now is airing its third season. “The Lost City,” which opens in theaters on the 25th, stars Sandra Bullock as Loretta, a romance novelist who is kidnapped by Fairfax, an eccentric billionaire. Fairfax thinks that Loretta really knows the location of a treasure-filled lost city mentioned in a novel she wrote. Loretta’s novel has a photo of its fictional hero on the cover. Alan (Channing Tatum) is the handsome model whose photo was used
— Senator Marsha Blackburn (R.-Tenn.), on Twitter
Scott Wolf
Daniel Radcliffe
— and he decides to make fiction real and rescue Loretta. Brad Pitt plays a CIA agent who helps him. DANIEL RADCLIFFE, 32, plays Fairfax. As everyone knows, Radcliffe became famous as the adolescent star of the “Harry Potter” movies. His adult film career hasn’t been stellar, but he’s worked steadily, and he is doing much better than many actors who become stars when they are children or teens and then fade away. Plus, Radcliffe is sitting on a gelt pile. His huge Potter paydays left him with a personal fortune of about $100M. As I have noted
before, Radcliffe is the son of an English Jewish mother and an Irish Protestant father. He identifies as Jewish, although he was raised secular and remains so. As you probably heard, 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the release of first of the three “Godfather” films. On March 22, a boxed set of the trilogy was released on BluRay discs (Ultra-HD, 4K). If you have a 4k TV set, you might consider buying it. Also, late in April, a mini-series about the making of the first “Godfather” movie will stream on Paramount+. Below is a list of
Jewish actors in the first “Godfather” film. I’ll cover “The Godfather: Part II” in another column. Readers of this column know that I kvetch about non-Jews playing very Jewish parts — that’s so true that Jewish actors say they rarely, if ever, get a Jewish part. That said, I think Italian (not Jewish) actors and Jewish actors have a special relationship. There is something about the look, culture, and body language of these groups that is so similar that members of one group can credibly play the other. Plus, there seems to be a fair exchange — if you survey all major and movie roles, you see that the number of Jews playing Italians is roughly equal to Italians playing Jews. Here are the Jewish actors who played Italians in “The Godfather”: JAMES CAAN, now 81, co-starred as Sonny Corleone.
By the way, Caan ad-libbed the words “bada-bing” as he, as Sonny, talked about shooting someone. “Sopranos” fans know that Bada Bing was the name of a strip club run by the Soprano crime family. The late ABE VIGODA played Tessio, one of the Godfather’s two main lieutenants; the late RUDY BOND played Cuneo, a crime family head; and the late LOUIS GUSS (who played Cher’s Italian uncle in “Moonstruck”), played a Mafia leader who memorably proclaimed, at a Mafia big-wig meeting, that he would keep the drug trade in black neighborhoods. Two others of note: the late Alex Rocco, an Italian, played Jewish gangster Moe Greene, and the late JOHN MARLEY, who was Jewish, played the (possibly Jewish) movie executive who woke up with a horse’s head –N.B. in his bed.
California-based Nate Bloom can be reached at [email protected]
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Local Doctors, bring your documents! For medical professionals, the road to Israel runs through north Jersey expo LARRY YUDELSON
S
ome of Israel’s infamous bureaucracy is coming to New Jersey on Sunday and Monday — but don’t worry, it’s being imported to make life easier for medical professionals planning to emigrate to Israel. The bureaucrats will be appearing at the Aliyah MedEx — that’s short for “medical expo” — taking place at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe on Sunday and Monday. (See box.) The expo is sponored on by Nefesh b’Nefesh, the organization devoted to helping Jews from North America and the United Kingdom make aliyah to Israel. The expo is designed to help medical professionals explore career options in Israel — and to help those who have decided to make aliyah take care of some of their professional paperwork before crossing the ocean. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals hoping to practice in Israel have to be relicensed by Israeli authorities. To be issued that license, the applicant must present diplomas, certifications, and other American professional documents, and an Israeli notary must authenticate them. So Nefesh b’Nefesh is bringing two Israeli notaries to the Glenpointe to certify those documents — along with representatives of many Israeli government offices. The goal is “to get everything under your belt pre-aliyah, so after you make aliyah all you’ll need is your Israeli identity card to be issued a license,” Ronen Fuxman said. Mr. Fuxman is responsible for government advocacy and the employment division of Nefesh B’Nefesh and he is one of the organizers of the MedEx program. “Someone who is coming to the event can do paperwork in three to four hours that would take four to six months if it had to be done one by one,” he said — What: MedEx pre-aliyah fair for potential immigrants in medical professions Where: Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe, 100 Frank W Burr Blvd, Teaneck When: Sunday, March 27, and Monday, March 28, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information and advance registration: http://bit.ly/medex22
American medical professionals meet with Israeli HMO recruiters at the 2019 Aliyah MedEx.
Israeli Cabinet Minister Oded Forer hopes to recruit immigrants to the Negev and Galilee.
in large part because officials who normally occupy separate buildings, if not separate cities, will be gathered in one hotel ballroom. In addition to government representatives — including half a dozen from the Ministry of Health — Nefesh B’Nefesh also is bringing representatives of the Israeli medical association and officials from hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and medical technology companies looking to hire soon-to-be Israelis with American medical training. More than 150 people already have booked slots with licensing professionals, and another 200 have expressed interest in attending, Mr. Fuxman said. It’s a “two-step process” for American doctors to qualify to practice in Israel, he explained. First they must get their Israeli license, and then they need Israeli board certification. For that, “someone
6 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
needs to review your credentials, your residencies, your work experience, your publications. So we’re bringing two representatives of the Israeli medical association who will sit near the representatives of the Ministry of Health. Doctors will move to that table after being instructed and helped by our team.” His advice to attendees: “Bring as many documents as possible: your license, your employment documents, your school transcripts. If you’re a surgeon, you need to bring your surgery log.” Mr. Fuxman said that most of the time slots to meet with licensing officials on Sunday already are filled, but there are plenty available on Monday. “I would recommend coming on Sunday and see what you have to do, and come back on Monday with all the required documents,” he said. While medical professionals other than doctors, such as occupational and physical therapists, have fewer licensing requirements, the hoops they must jump through are higher. Unlike physicians, they will have to take Israeli licensing exams. “It’s kind of an obstacle,” Mr. Fuxman admitted. “We’re doing our best to help by connecting the new olim” — immigrants — “with old olim who already took the exam and can offer advice.” The MedEx event also will provide a venue for job interviews. “It’s a great opportunity to see what the country has to offer in terms of the
JENNA BASCOM
medical landscape, whether you are 21 years old and fresh out of nursing with no idea of what to do with your life, or are a doctor and thinking of shifting directions,” Mr. Fuxman said. “You can talk to people who can tell you how to combine work in a hospital and an HMO to get a nice salary.” This will be the first MedEx event since 2019; one scheduled for March 15, 2020 was cancelled at the beginning of the pandemic. Mr. Fuxman said the Israeli government sees recruiting immigrant doctors as an urgent task. “We are very low on the charts in terms of doctors per one thousand residents,” he said. “The further you go from the center of the country to the periphery, the situation becomes even more critical.” Oded Forer, a former Knesset member who heads the Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee, will be at the Glenpointe, along with the ministry’s deputy director. “They’re trying to lure more doctors to the periphery as the shortage in those areas is really critical,” Mr. Fuxman said. But the shortage of medical professionals stretches across the entire country and is expected to get much worse soon. “A huge chunk of current Israeli doctors are the olim who immigrated from the former Soviet Union in the 1990,” he said. “That chunk is now retiring and exiting the work force in bulk.”
SHAHAR AZRAN
This shortage is true for all the medical professions, including emergency paramedics, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physical therapists, with the exception of nurses and dentists. “The Ministry of Health is relying on about 10 percent of the medical work force to be manned by olim, and the Americans are the larger piece of that pie,” Mr. Fuxman said. If the 150 professionals who have registered make aliyah this year, that would be “a huge, huge contribution.” In 2021, 94 North American doctors were relicensed in Israel — but only 38 of them were under 70. “That’s not a good number,” Mr. Fuxman said. “This year the average age is going down.” Israel recently instituted a major policy shift to encourage more young doctors to make aliyah. “Together with the Israel Defense Force and the Ministry of Absorption, we were able to renegotiate the mandatory draft age for doctors,” Mr. Fuxman said. “Until recently, the age was 35 or 36; a doctor coming to Israel, whether a psychiatrist or an emergency medical specialist, would be drafted for two full years
JENNA BASCOM
Local
The upcoming MedEx fair, like this one in 2019, offers potential olim a chance to meet with Israeli employers.
as an army doctor. “If you were married and lived up north, you could still be assigned to serve in Beersheba and only be able to go home every other weekend. This was a big no-go for many of our olim who wanted to come at the beginning of their careers. If I’m an orthopedic surgeon and I’m not in surgery two days a week, I’m losing my skills.
“We got it down to 30. That’s a big deal. We don’t have a lot of doctors trying to come below that age — usually they’re coming at age 31 and up, after their residency and working a bit to pay off student loans.” Nefesh B’Nefesh and government ministers are working together to create a program to help pay off immigrants’ student loans, Mr. Fuxman added. “The
average current student loans for doctors is about $180,000,” he said. “Young American doctors know our salaries are lower compared to the U.S. and so are kind of afraid to move to Israel.” While it’s not final, “everyone in the government” — that includes the ministries of health and finance — “is really thrilled about this program and we hope to get the green light soon,” he said.
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NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 7
Local FIRST PERSON
Going from one bubble to another Our correspondent writes about illness during covid JONATHAN E. LAZARUS
T
ransitions are a continuing part of our lives. Some are seamless, others jarring, many positive, a few heartbreaking. Recently, as I’ve come to the cusp of 80, I’ve been forced to contend with a transition not of my own making, but one imposed by health challenges. That’s hardly unusual for a person my age, although it’s a bit more complicated facing it during the pandemic, even one that’s seemingly winding down. In the months ahead, I will continue to mask and maintain social distancing as those about me are shedding their protection and cozying up to friends and loved ones. While restaurants, concert venues, and congregations begin to re-acquire the trappings of the old normal, I will be maintaining my distance — no, it’s something more than that, a measured apartness — as my immune system copes with chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma of the spleen. The only relatively close contact with others will occur during appointments for infusions and assessments at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. When I’m at the supermarket, I practice defensive cart-wheeling in every aisle. And although I’ve returned to the JCC MetroWest for light workouts, gingerly trying to coax back some muscle tone, I’ve made sure to exercise in wide-open spaces. For the past two years, my wife and I adjusted to covid restrictions as they unspooled, often ambiguously, always in flux, sometimes in contradiction. Both of us are vaccine and science advocates, and have been ever since we queued up for polio shots as youngsters in our Newark school playgrounds decades ago. And we are fully vaxxed and boosted. As delta and omicron variants intruded, our family canceled a vacation and several holiday gatherings out of an abundance of caution — just like millions of others. Because we are retired empty nesters and mutual caregivers, our stress factors during the pandemic were considerably less than couples working remotely while their children sat (or roughhoused) in the next room during virtual classes, or those dealing with elderly loved ones living with them or sequestered in a nursing home. As a result of my chemotherapy, I recently received two doses of Evusheld to strengthen my covid resistance. The new drug has been authorized by the FDA on an emergency basis, but the process hasn’t gone smoothly. According to a recent New York Times article, some doctors and patients didn’t know the medication existed while other physicians were unfamiliar with the two-shot, twice-repeated regimen and didn’t advocate for it. The government has yet to provide guidelines on who gets Evusheld, with most hospitals reserving it for cancer and transplant patients, while others are using first-come first-served lotteries. And adding to the confusion, the treatment is offered as prophylaxis for recipients without covid, not as a curative for those who’ve already contracted it. 8 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
Jonathan Lazarus before and after; above, he’s with his wife, Gail.
The Evusheld uncertainty also confronted me with a painful reality. My stepson Michael was diagnosed with MS nearly 20 years ago. The autoimmune disease affects neural transmissions and requires him to take twice-a-year infusions. Mike is a model patient and an activist in the MS community who exhibits a steely determination not to let the condition dominate his life. But the pandemic presented him with an additional hurdle. Although he received both vaccine shots and the booster, he could not develop sufficient antibodies against covid. For the past two years, Mike has rarely ventured from his home at the Shore. He works remotely, fulfills his parental duties as creatively as he can, and maintains an even, optimistic disposition despite the extra burdens. As of this writing, Mike had spent two months attempting to obtain Evusheld through contacts in his medical and MS networks, but to no avail. I reached out to my Barnabas treatment center and the MS office and was told that only cancer or transplant patients were receiving the shots. Finally, Mike’s proactive persistence paid off. After using a website and contacting area hospitals again, he was able to have the necessary preclearance paperwork faxed to his doctor’s office and now has a date-certain appointment to receive the shots at Jersey Shore Medical Center. According to the Times report, the federal government has bought hundreds of thousands of Evusheld doses from AstraZeneca that sit in warehouses awaiting distribution. The disconnect feels doubly frustrating when a family member is involved and is forced to go to such great lengths to obtain the drug. Meanwhile, my treatment for lymphoma proceeds along a well-ordered schedule. Like all cancer patients,
I have a personal narrative, and it’s one that I choose to share beyond family and friends in this public space. Symptoms began presenting late last year with a rapid drop in weight, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, and balance issues. After confounding my GP and two specialists for weeks, my wife and I went to the emergency room at Cooperman Barnabas, where my oncologist (observing me for several years for a much less acute lymphoma) immediately ordered a battery of tests and scans. After a spleen biopsy confirmed cancer in that organ, I began chemotherapy and remained in the hospital for 13 days. The most difficult part of my stay was not being able to see my wife or have visitors as part of the covid protocols. Fortunately, Gail and I and Dr. Robert Grossman had an early, three-way phone call where the diagnosis and course of treatment were discussed in detail and unanimity. Although the void of not being able to interact with loved ones can be terrible at times, let me offer unstinting praise to the professionals and support staff at Cooperman Barnabas for trying to cushion their absence. From the custodians to the food servers to the gurney transporters, to the chaplaincy representatives (a rabbi with a Shabbat kit, a Catholic layman with empathy), to the nurses and on up to the physicians, an atmosphere of caring and concern predominated. I was fortunate enough to have a single, freshly remodeled room in the oncology unit. While the medical regime was sometimes grueling, the human interactions were always pleasant and often uplifting. As a patient, I never felt ignored or had a request denied. All the praise directed at these front-line responders, especially during the pandemic, still doesn’t do justice to their demanding tasks. For the next several months, the rhythm and choices of my life will be dictated by my outpatient chemotherapy every three weeks. Each session lasts about six hours when a mix of drugs is dripped or injected into my body through a port implanted in my upper right chest. I will feel a bit queasy for three or four days before a normal feeling returns and lasts until it is time for the next round. Three infusions completed, three to go. Since starting treatment, I’ve gained back weight and lost hair. For someone extremely proud of his full head of gray matter (quite literally), the experience was slightly disconcerting until I told my wife to take the clippers and remove what little remained. Samson shorn? Hardly. But I’ve escaped baldness for so long that the Daddy Warbucks look takes some getting used to. I feel fortunate and blessed for many reasons during this transition, including family love and support, excellent medical care and coverage, and encouragement of friends. I also feel a kinship with other cancer patients that bonds us in ways real and mystical that were unimaginable just a few months ago. My doctors expect an excellent outcome and I’m going to hang my hat (which I now wear constantly) on that. Jonathan E. Lazarus of West Orange, a retired editor at the Star-Ledger, is a copy editor at the Jewish Standard and the New Jersey Jewish News.
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Local
The audience watches the Yachad program at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck.
Yachad New Jersey celebrates honorees
M
ore than 500 people attended the Orthodox Union’s annual Yachad New Jersey gala on Sunday, March 8, at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck. Ronit and Amnon Wenger of Teaneck were the guests of honor. Batya Jacob of West Orange received the Keter Shem Tov award, and Shana and Evan Carmen of Teaneck were the Young Leadership awardees. This year’s Yachad Family award was presented to Tammy, Josh, and Tova Stern of Passaic. In addition, high school seniors were presented with leadership awards; they included Gavi Benoff, Shoshana Besser, Liora Dreifus, Gabriella Herrmann, Leah Hornung, Meira Kirshner, Leah Kossove, Danielle Mero, Bella Neiss, Micha Pickett, Kayla Schachter, Zehava Schapiro, Zehava Shatzkes, Ayelet Shields, Harrison Tassler, and Yaeli Weisberger. For more information, go to Yachad.org.
Mendel Balk Yachad Center High School Seniors award honorees.
Keter Shem Tov awardee Batya Jacob, third from left, with Yachad executive staff 10 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
Shana and Evan Carmen, Youth Leadership award honorees
Guests of honor Amnon and Ronit Wenger with presenter Azriel Mandel, left.
The Yachad Family award honorees, Josh, Tammy, and Tova Stern
Local
Remembering Ben Perlmutter Maplewood man was a guiding force behind Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest MIRIAM ALLENSON
into business with a loan from Hebrew Free Loan and gave back to the community later in life by sitting on its board during the 1940s. Following his father’s example, Ben became involved in the community as a teen. He was senior class president at Weequahic High School and then went to the University of North Carolina, where he was elected president of the school’s Hillel and was an early supporter of civil rights, leading an interfaith student group that worked for the first integrated concert in UNC history. Mr. Perlmutter and his wife, Ruth, honored his time in Chapel Hill by establishing the UNC Hillel Ruth and Benjamin Perlmutter Foundation for Ethics in Our Time, which is dedicated to internationally recognized thinkers on the topics of ethics and Judaism on the campus. He was drafted into the army in World War II, sustained an injury during basic training that kept him in the United States until his service ended. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Perlmutter earned a law degree at Rutgers and then went into business with his father-in-law, Cecil Luria. Mr. Luria’s company, Atlas Steel Products, provided
T
he Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest New Jersey recently named its student loan program the Ben Perlmutter Student Loan Program, after one of its founders and a main force behind its success. Benjamin Perlmutter, who lived in Maplewood, died in September. He was 96. His was a life well lived; he was a guiding force in many organizations, including the Hebrew Free Loan Society (now called Hebrew Free Loan of New Jersey), the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, and the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research at Hebrew University. But during the many years that he was involved in a variety of organizations, the Jewish Vocational Service always held a special place for him. Mr. Perlmutter came by his devotion to the Jewish community naturally. His parents, Harry and Rebecca Perlmutter, emigrated to this country from Vinnytsia in west central Ukraine and settled in Newark. Harry Perlmutter went
Ben and Ruth Perlmutter
SEE PERLEMUTTER PAGE 42
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Around the Community Friday MARCH 25 Shabbat in West Orange: B’nai Shalom has services followed by dinner. 6:45 p.m. RSVP: clc.bnaishalom. net.
Sunday MARCH 27
Side,” on Zoom, for the sisterhood of Congregation Shir Shalom. 10 a.m. For link: Shari.Brunn@ ShirShalomRockland or NanuetHC.org.
Hackensack’s river keeper: Hugh Carola, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s longtime program director, speaks online on “Climate Change, Its Affects in Our Area, and What We Can Do About It,” as part of Temple Israel & JCC in Ridgewood’s ongoing lecture series. 11 a.m. For link: Synagogue. org.
Rav Baruch Gigi
Hebrew shiur: Harav Baruch Gigi of Yeshivat Har Etzion gives an in-person and online shiur, in Hebrew, “With Your Blood You Shall Live: The Covenant Between Hashem and His Nation,” for Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck. 9:30 a.m. Rinat.org.
The Lower East Side: Author Ellen M. Snyder-Grenier discusses “Taking Action in Time of Need: Lillian Wald, Henry Street Settlement, and the Lower East
T-Klez
Klezmer in Teaneck: T-Klez, pictured, from left, David Licht, percussion; Dena Ressler, clarinet; and Psachya Septimus, accordion, keys, melodica, and voice; returns to play klezmer for the Teaneck Public Library’s first live concert since covid
started. Limited to 50 people in-person. Also livestreamed on the library’s YouTube channel. 2 p.m. (201) 837-4171 or TKlez.com.
HaZamir concert: The Zamir Choral Foundation, founded and directed by Matthew Lazar, presents “HaZamir Live in Concert,” at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in Manhattan. 3 p.m. ZamirChoralFoundation.org or Hazamir.org.
Catskill comedians: Mort Segal presents “The Rise & Fall of the Catskills and the Comedians Who Made Them Famous,” on Zoom, for the Jewish Historical Society of North Jersey’s “Rooted in North Jersey Speaker Series.” 7 p.m. [email protected] or (201) 300-6590.
Tuesday MARCH 29 Teach NJ mission: Teach NJ’s virtual mission to Trenton let participants meet online with elected officials to advocate for government funding for safe,
strong, and affordable nonpublic schools. 11 a.m. Register: TeachCoalition.org/ NJMission.
Thursday MARCH 31
Wednesday MARCH 30
Sylvia Fallas COURTESY JFSCNJ
Interactive cooking demo: Kosher Making unforgettable seders: Dr. Murray Spiegel, author of “300 Ways to Create an Unforgettable Seder,” gives an in-person and Zoom multimedia presentation of “300 Ways to Ask the 4 Questions.” Hosted by Adath Shalom Synagogue in Parsippany and NJ Case and part of the Chazak Lunch Program funded by Hirschhorn Foundation. Noon. adathshalom.net.
food blogger Sylvia Fallas gives a free virtual interactive Passover cooking demonstration, hosted by Jewish Family Service of Central NJ. Funded by a grant from the JFNA Center on Aging and Trauma and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ in conjunction with the Union Y. 3:30 p.m. Register for the Zoom link for ingredient list and recipes. info@ jfscentralnj.org or (908) 352-8375.
Sunday APRIL 3 Passover and mass incarceration: Join Rabbi Hilly Haber and Rev. George
Chochos as they discuss “Celebrating Passover in an Age of Mass Incarceration: Toward a Jewish Liberation Theology,” on Zoom, for the Kol Rina Independent Minyan of South Orange. Rabbi Haber is the director of social justice organizing and education at Central Synagogue in Manhattan and Rev. Chochos is a senior program associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, where he helps build collegein-prison programs. 10:30 a.m. Email: kolrinanjwelcome@ gmail.com.
Environmental problems in the Ironbound: Temple Emeth in Teaneck’s B’Yachad and Social Action programs offer a screening/ discussion on “The Sacrifice Zone,” the environmental problems of the Ironbound area of Newark. A speaker from the environmental activist organization Food and Water Watch leads a discussion. 10:30 a.m. For link: [email protected] or (201) 833-1322.
Making music and memories Cantor Erica “Riki” Lippitz, Lippitz said. “We can cantor emerita of Oheb Shalom each be a channel to Congregation in South Orange, bring music into a presents “Music and Memory silent room and use — Music to Heal in the Coda of music to awaken consciousness in a family Life,” on Thursday, March 31, at member or friend.” 1 p.m. The program’s goal, she Cantor Lippitz is said, is to make the therapeutic use of personalized music a co-founder of the Cantor Erica a standard of care throughout Kol Dodi Chorale of (Riki) Lippitz the health care industry. Greater MetroWest, Cantor Lippitz will give an hourand she directed Oheb Shalom’s adult long presentation and talk on Zoom as and children’s choirs. As a member part of the West Morris branch of the of the Beged Kefet folk-singing group, National Council of Jewish Women’s she recorded three albums that raised Clergy series. Combining her passions thousands of dollars for charity. for music and people, and certified Registration with name, email by the Music and Memory Foundaaddress, hometown, and phone numtion, Cantor Lippitz has been studyber is requested by email to Dorf ing and applying ways in which music Manahan of Morristown, the series can help people with Alzheimer’s disco-chair, at [email protected]. The other ease and other memory disorders and co-chair is Melanie Levitan, also of challenges. Morristown. For more information, “Music is a source of comfort, go to ncjwwestmorris.org. affirmation, peace, and joy,” Cantor 12 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
From left: Purim co-chairs Linda Weissbrod and Laura Queller and Nikki Leske, president of Congregation Beth Israel’s sisterhood. COURTESY CBI
Readying for Purim in Scotch Plains Volunteers from the sisterhood of Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains prepared gift bags with hamantaschen and other treats to be delivered as mishloach manot to the entire congregation for Purim. The sisterhood also donated Purim bags to residents of AristaCare at Cedar Oaks, a nursing home in South Plainfield served by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest’s chaplaincy program. Boxes of hamantaschen were
delivered to seniors in the Berg-Lieppe Adult Enrichment Program at the JCC of Central New Jersey. In addition, CBI’s sisterhood fulfilled the Purim mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim, presents to the poor, by making donations on behalf of the synagogue to two nonprofits that help feed the hungry: the food pantry at the Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey and Leket Israel, the National Food Bank of Israel.
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NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 13
Around the Community
Andrew Getraer
Ron Ladell
Meryl Gonchar
Liran and Ariel Kapoano
Rutgers Hillel announces spring gala set for April 1
Phil Yourish, left, with Linda Forgosh and Lisa Suss
Synagogues of Newark offers traveling exhibit The Gaelen Gallery East at the JCC MetroWest in West Orange has featured the “Synagogues of Newark” exhibit twice, first in 2019 and again in 2021. Phil Yourish was the exhibit curator, Linda Forgosh was a research assistant. Lisa Suss, the Gaelen Gallery director, decided to do a rare repeat of an exhibit that continues to resonate with members of the Greater MetroWest community whose synagogues have roots in Newark. As one visitor noted in the guest register: “Earlier today I had the pleasure of viewing the Synagogue exhibit at the JCC. It was fascinating and informative and really well presented. The photos brought back memories of my
grandfather and my early childhood in Newark. Until I saw your display, I never knew the history of the synagogues of my childhood. Thank you so much for presenting this exhibit.” The exhibit, which now is housed at the archives of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest in Whippany, was designed for travel; it’s ideal for local synagogues and other Jewish institutions. Talk to Phil Yourish and the Jewish Museum of New Jersey about displaying the exhibit; email him at [email protected]. Write to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest to learn about its extensive synagogue collections.
YU book talk this week Yeshiva University offers an online talk with Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank, the author of “Illuminating Jewish Thought: Faith, Philosophy, and Knowledge of God,” on Tuesday, March 29, at 8:15 p.m. It’s the latest book in the RIETS Hashkafa series (Maggid Books). The Rabbi Netanel discussion by Rabbi WiederWiederblank blank, who teaches Talmud, Jewish philosophy, and halacha at Yeshiva University, focuses on “War in Ukraine? Gog and Magog?—a Torah perspective on current events.” For the link, go to yu.edu/illuminating
14 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
Rutgers Hillel in New Brunswick will hold its annual gala in person on campus on Monday, April 1, at 6 p.m., after a two-year hiatus. The program will recognize the outstanding contributions of Rutgers Hillel’s longtime executive director, the now-retired Andrew Getraer of Highland Park; real estate executive and educator Ronald Ladell of Livingston; land-use attorney Meryl Gonchar of
East Brunswick; and Ariel and Liran Kapoano of East Brunswick, who met at Hillel and found success together. Ari Alter of East Brunswick, Ilana Berkman of Manalapan, Samuel Iofel of Fort Lee, Morgan Lewin of Medford Lakes, and Robert Samuel of Long Branch as Student Rising Stars. For more information, go to RutgersHillel.org/gala2022/ or call (732) 545-2407.
Cooking with Hadassah for Passover Kosher cookbook author Sharon Heyden gives a hands-on demonstration of Passover-friendly recipes that she is developing for a new cookbook, in a program for the Raritan Valley Hadassah called “Cooking for Passover With Sharon Heyden.” It’s set for Sunday, April 3, at 5 p.m. Participants can meet in-person in Ms. Heyden’s Highland Park kitchen, or watch on Zoom. To attend in person Sharon Heyden you must be fully vaccinated, boosted, and masked, and you must register by March 28. There will be no walk-ins. For more information and to register to attend either in person or by Zoom, email [email protected].
Essex County charity run/walk on April 19 The Arc of Essex County will host its 24th annual Building Tomorrows 5K Run and Family Walk on April 9 in West Orange. The inclusive event will feature a scenic 5K race, followed by a fundraising walk and family-friendly entertainment. All proceeds will directly benefit children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The gathering will return in person to the Clipper Pavilion, near the Paddle Boat Launch area in the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. The venue features free, convenient parking as well as a flat, scenic course for runners and walkers. For more information or to register, go to runorwalk.org or call (973) 5351181 ext. 1224.
Announce your events We welcome announcements of upcoming events. Announcements are free. Accompanying photos must be high resolution, jpg files. Not every release will be published. Please include a daytime telephone number and send to: [email protected]
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Around the Community
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Dara Horn to speak in Livingston this week
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“Still the gold standard in the Ironbound,” this Newark Spaniard has been pleasing patrons with “plentiful helpings” of “consistently good” seafood, steak, and traditional Spanish fare plus “old-world service” for two decades; the “partylike atmosphere” makes it “good for large groups...”
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The Greater MetroWest Day Schools and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest invite the community to hear award-winning author Dara Horn. She will talk about her new book, "People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present." The program is set for Thursday, March 31, at 8 p.m., at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, 110 South Orange Ave., in Livingston. For more information or to RSVP, email Erica Rosenfeld at [email protected] or call her at (862) 437-8176.
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Nam Knights donate to Responders Run motorcycle rally Members of Nam Knights, a Vietnam War veterans motorcycle club, banded together to make a donation to Responders Run, a motorcycle rally that raises funds for first responders — police, fire, EMTs, and military seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. Jack Quigley founded the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club for veterans who served in Vietnam. The Nam Knights has participants from all over New Jersey, including many from the MetroWest area. Responders Run president Bob Nesoff, a former president of Congregation Beth Tikvah in New Milford and member of the JCC of Paramus/CBT, said “These men, more than most anyone else, know what Jack Quigley, left, presented a it is to sacrifice and be willing to give check to Bob Nesoff on behalf of all for this country. They were willthe Nam Knights. ing to sacrifice and know that others have taken their place and stand for the country. 8-year-old daughter of a Green Beret “The members of his organization killed in action, and the family of a still take their obligation to service Rockland County volunteer fireman and helping others very seriously,” Mr. who died while saving elderly resiQuigley said. dents of a senior facility from a fire. The Nam Knights is a national orgaThe next scheduled Responders nization; through its chapters, it holds Run rally is scheduled for August 21 a variety of events from motorcycle from Paramus Veterans of Foreign rallies to motorcycle shows to raise Wars Post 6699 at 6 Winslow Place. funds for these worthwhile causes. There will be entertainment, prizes, The Responders Run, a 501(c)3, tax and vendors at the event following exempt organization run entirely by the run. Food and soft drinks will be volunteers, also donates to the Speprovided for riders, passengers, and cial Operations Warrior Foundation walk-ins. Commemorative tee-shirts and the Disabled American Veterans. will be given to first 200 rider regAmong the donations it has made are istrants. Others may buy them. For to the family of a Jersey City detective more information, email Mr. Nesoff at murdered by urban terrorists, the [email protected].
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Refugees are greeted with help from around the world once they leave Ukraine.
COVER STORY
Russians tell lies, and Ukrainians flee
More propaganda from the angry dwarf, and a look at the refugees JOANNE PALMER
S
o far, Alexander Smukler of Montclair, whose understanding of Russia comes from his life there, from when he was born in Moscow until 30 years later, when he left, and from the friends, the business connections, and the active businesses that he has there still (although it’s unlikely the businesses will survive, because no business can survive in Russia today, after the invasion and the sanctions), has explained why the angry dwarf, as he has called the undersized, enraged, and paranoid dictator of Russia, has done what he has done. Now, he talks about what Russians are being told and what they believe, and also about what’s happening to the
Ukrainian Jews whose lives the Russians are demolishing. First, he sets the scene (and readers, please note that this was from a discussion on Monday; we’re a weekly newspaper, and things change rapidly). “During the last few days, it seems to me, from a military point of view the Russians are exhausted. The main battle is around Mariupol,” where indiscriminate, unspeakably cruel attacks against civilians seem unending. “The city is a key strategic point. It is surrounded by the Russians, and heavily bombarded. The Russians are claiming that they’ve taken the city, but the Ukrainians are saying that’s not true. I think the Russians probably are lying; they show it on their news channels, but in a way so that you see only part of the city. That probably means
16 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
that they control only part of the city.” He’s talking about television, which now serves Russians some images of the war. At the beginning, it showed nothing. Now, “they show more and more pictures of destruction, the result of what they,” the Russians, “are calling a special operation. They still don’t use the word ‘war.’ They show the destruction, but they say that it’s the Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis who are causing it. “But at the same time, they talk about how precisely they are operating.” Wait. What? “As it is well known by now, during the last few days the Russians used their hypersonic, very modern missiles twice.” Those are the Kinzhal missiles — dagger in English. “On the news stations, they said that ‘We have to use these very
expensive but very precise weapons to protect the civilians. We don’t want to hurt them.’” In fact, Mr. Smukler said, Dmitry Kiselev, one of Russia’s premiere news anchors, used his Sunday night show, Vesti Nedeli — that’s News of the Week, a much-watched Sunday night roundup — to say, “I can show you examples of how precisely our army is conducting special operations, by using these very expensive, very precise weapons, these hypersonic missiles, to destroy military objectives but not touch civilians.” This is a change from what Russians had been told. Until now, they’d heard that a quick special operation was going to liberate Ukrainians from the tyranny of the drug-addled, corrupt neo-Nazis who were leading them. It would be over
Cover Story quickly and would be no big deal. They can’t say that anymore. Even though the government has forbidden any discussion of the war, there are too many ways for its people to find out about it — too many connections between Russians and Ukrainians, too many phone calls, too many dead soldiers — to pretend that nothing at all is going on. They also know that the truth — that the government is trying to bomb civilians into submission through what are basically brutal acts of state terrorism — would be too much to bear. So they alter the truth. “Now Russians understand what ‘special operations’ means,” Mr. Smukler said. “Now Russian TV shows tanks and missiles and helicopters and aircraft. But it keeps saying ‘We are liberating the civilian population, which was surrounded by Ukrainian nationalists.’ “They keep saying that Ukrainian nationalists are using civilians as a shield, because we cannot hurt the
The propaganda is so completely twisted from the truth. They lie with every word. It is brainwashing. civilian population. That is why we have to start using these very precise weapons, which are very expensive. We use them to save lives.’ “The propaganda is so completely twisted from the truth. They lie with every word. It is brainwashing.” That’s not why the Russians are using those weapons, Mr. Smukler said. “Putin wants to demonstrate to the world, and to NATO, that he has these missiles. That he can use them. “There was no need to use them except to demonstrate to the Western world that he has them, and that potentially they could carry nuclear warheads.” These missiles — the Daggers — “are Russia’s newest invention,” he continued. “They first used them in Syria about a year and a half ago, when Putin showed the world that he had that kind of technology. As far as I know, no one else in the world except the Chinese have these kind of missiles — and there is zero protection against them. “The United States already announced that they will have similar missiles — but only by the end of 2023. “This is a very important sign that the conflict is escalating during the last few days.” Mr. Smukler gave some other examples of Russian truth-twisting. “They showed a picture of a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol. They say that nationalists exploded it from the inside. You see elderly women coming out of the bomb shelter and show Russians giving them water. But you can see that the building hasn’t been exploded. It’s still standing, and there’s a hole in the middle of it.” It wasn’t exploded by anyone inside the building. It was hit from the outside, by Russian missiles. “They showed a large group of people in Ukrainian uniforms, who Russian soldiers were taking as prisoners. They showed a Russian journalist giving them a microphone, and some of them saying, ‘We are here. We are alive. They aren’t beating us. They aren’t SEE ANGRY DWARF PAGE 20
Dov Ben-Shimon turned to drawing to describe what he saw when words failed him. This shows a family at the Medyka border crossing; a parent wheels a small child in a shopping cart as other refugees make way. DRAWING BY DOV BEN-SHIMON
The sound of silence Federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon reflects on his trip to the Polish border JOANNE PALMER
I
t’s the silence that was the most striking, Dov Ben-Shimon said. Mr. Ben-Shimon is the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest; he’s just gotten home from a three-day trip to Poland, where it borders on Ukraine, to see the situation there for himself, and to offer what help he and the federation can give. He expected to see heart-rending things, and he did. But he didn’t expect the silence. He and the rest of the small group from the Jewish Federations of North America, including JFGMW’s president, David Saginaw of North Caldwell, and JFNA’s president, Mark Wilf of Livingston, were at the Medyka crossing from western Ukraine to eastern Poland. “There are long lines of refugees crossing, and what strikes you the most, along with the exhaustion and the shock and the trauma, is the pervading silence,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. “You could even say that it’s a deafening silence, because it carries so much emotion. There is so much weight to it.” The second most striking thing was something that he knew to expect, but still found extraordinary. That was the absence of men. Only women, children, boys younger than 18, men above 60, and men who are disabled, have other medical conditions that would bar them from army
service, or have more than three children are allowed to leave the country. “So we almost always were confronted with the sight of younger women, small children, and seniors. “And even the children were silent. “There was a sense of extreme post-traumatic stress disorder and extreme fatigue,” Mr. Ben-Shimon continued. “There were some refugees who had left Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv, where they’d spent days hiding in bomb shelters or even under staircases, where there were no bomb shelters. They’d spent days on end in shelters, as Russia bombed civilian populations. Then they spent days trying to get to the western part of Ukraine, and then more days at the border crossing. They’d have maybe one suitcase, if that, and no sense of where they were going. “What gave me immense pride was knowing that at the border — and even before the border — there were signs in Ukrainian, in Russian, in Hebrew, in Yiddish telling Ukrainian Jews where they could go for shelter and support and telling those Jews who want to make aliyah where to go to get help and all the logistical support they need for their new lives.” It’s not clear what percentage of the refugees leaving Ukraine are Jewish. But we know that Ukraine has about 44.3 million residents, we know that an estimated 3.4 million people have left the country, we know that Ukraine’s Jewish community, while a SEE REFUGEES PAGE 18
NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 17
Cover Story
From left, the president of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, David Saginaw, the president of the Jewish Federations of North America, Mark Wilf, and the federation’s CEO, Dov Ben-Shimon, stand together in Poland.
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small percentage of its population, is the third largest in Europe, and we assume that Jews are leaving at the same rate as everyone else. That’s a wave of Jews in a sea of traumatized Ukrainians. Many delegations of Jewish leaders have gone to get some idea of the situation, to understand the scope of the devastation and the need, and to calibrate their efforts to get the community back home to help by raising both money and awareness. “When we say never again what are we really saying?” Mr. Ben-Shimon asked rhetorically. One thing that he and all the other Jewish leaders are saying is
that although there were no organizations around to help Jews escape the Holocaust, now there are representatives of many Jewish organizations who have come together to help both Jews and non-Jews escape Vladimir Putin’s war. Although we don’t have firm numbers, “we do know of thousands and thousands of Ukrainian Jews who have made it to shelters and facilities run by our partner agency, the Joint” — that’s the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee — “in towns across eastern Europe that border on Ukraine, as well as the ongoing support the Joint has provided to thousands of frail elderly Ukrainian Jews trapped by the bombardments and sheltering in Ukraine’s major cities,”
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Polish police and volunteers load refugees’ bags onto a bus at the border.
DRAWING BY DOV BEN-SHIMON
Cover Story he said. Some of the oldest among them are Holocaust survivors; the rest of us can only try to imagine what this nightmare must be doing to their possibly long-dormant memories of other nightmares. “We also know that several thousand Ukrainian Jews have made aliyah in the last two weeks,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. “That’s thanks to the work of the Jewish Agency for Israel, federation’s partner in this work. Thousands more Ukrainian Jews wait to be processed on their way to Israel, and once they land, our task continues to be support-
When we say never again what are we really saying? ing them, supporting Israel and Israeli society with their successful absorption. We are committed to that task. “With the support of the federation, the Joint is bringing food and medicine to the homes of frail elderly survivors who are trapped by the bombardment. We also are funding Joint chesed social workers so they can remain in the homes of the frailest Holocaust survivors, so that they are not left alone and abandoned. “That’s paid for by the federation. The social workers are deeply committed to the work they do. There were social workers from chesed who were killed in 2014,” when Russia invaded Crimea and claimed it. “They deliver food and medical supplies, and they check on elderly Jews. Their work is
deeply heroic.” Mr. Ben-Shimon’s trip was the first that the JFNA sponsored; it’s continuing to take small groups of federation leaders to eastern Europe. The trip went to Warsaw and to Lublin, once home to the biggest yeshiva in the world, Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, which the Nazis desecrated and used as a police station. After World War II, it was put to a variety of uses. Now, it’s a shelter for immigrants newly arrived over the Polish border. Once Ukrainians cross the border into Poland, they find themselves treated with compassion. “It was inspiring to see a huge array of volunteers from all over the world,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said; he noticed many members of the Sikh community. “It was lovely to see,” he said. “They had tents on the border corridor.” Those tents, run by a wide assortment of volunteers, “had people handing out free food, and toys for the kids.” In a change from Jews’ historical memory, “the Polish army and the Polish police are organized and compassionate,” he said. “I saw them carrying small children and people’s bags. “I am a student of Soviet and European history,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. He knew that the Warsaw train station, which he visited, and where many Ukrainian refugees disembarked, did not have a history of Jewish deportation. Still, “Poland is so filled with Jewish suffering, and the weight of history is so strong, that for me, on a deeply personal level — and I’m sure this is true for so many people in our Jewish community — the idea of simply setting foot in Poland carries so much meaning. “But there is a point at which
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Cover Story Angry dwarf FROM PAGE 17
torturing us.’ “But they are 17-, 18-year-old boys and 60-year-old men. Men with gray hair and gray beards. They are 60 years old or older. They are my age, or older. They are not the regular army. “This is not the army. These are civilians” — too young or too old to be in the army — “who are protecting their homes, their country, their land. “These are grandfathers standing with their grandsons. They are wearing the uniforms of what is called territorial defense. They basically took machine guns to protect their towns and their land, and the Russians made the big mistake of showing them as war prisoners. “It means that everyone who could is fighting against the invasion. These people are civilians who have been defending their houses and their towns and their country. They were presented as captured warriors, but they are just regular citizens. “Through the propaganda, you can see the face of the real war.” Mr. Smukler described the dilemma facing the Russians. “They can’t say nothing anymore. It’s already been a month; it’s the longest military operation that Russia has had since the war in Chechnya.” And there’s the question of how many dead Russian soldiers there really are. “The Ministry of Defense said that there have been about 700 casualties and deaths,” Mr. Smukler said. “It’s more like 14,000 Russians killed or captured. And an incredible number of tanks, helicopters, and war planes have been grounded.” Mr. Smukler also is astonished by the silence of the Russian Orthodox church. “As the months have passed, the church, including the Russian patriarch” — that’s Kirill, the patriarch of Moscow and all Russia — “never raised its voice against the war. “There are lots of videos on the internet showing the highest-level priests blessing the Russian soldiers for their operation in Ukraine.” Most of eastern Ukraine is Russian Orthodox, he said, so the patriarch was blessing soldiers “who were killing the children of their own church. We have never had that before in our history. “The church is one of the most important pillars holding up Putin’s power, and the church is playing such a significant role in Russian society today that this is putting me in shock. They did not raise their voices to support those who are dying beneath Russian artillery and missiles. Those are the kids of their church. And they never raised their voices to condemn it. “This conflict is unusual. Usually, it’s
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Sunnis against Shias, Christians against Muslims, Protestants against Catholics. Yes, most of western Ukraine is Catholic, but right now most of the battles are
These are civilians who are protecting their homes, their country, their land. in eastern Ukraine, and the people dying are mostly Russian Orthodox. “I keep expecting the church to say ‘Guys, stop this. We need to stop this. These are the children of our church.’ “But they are never raising their voices to say that. What kind of church is this?” Mr. Smukler also talked about the refugee crisis Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused; his passion about it is not theoretical but comes from his own experiences as a refugee. “This is the biggest and deepest refugee crisis in the world since World War II,” he said. “About 3.4 million people have crossed Ukraine’s borders as refugees, and almost 14 million have been displaced — that means that they have had to leave their homes and their towns and migrate to different parts of the country. They’re moving from the east to western Ukraine. “We know that European countries are doing everything possible to
20 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
accommodate these refugees and give them temporary or permanent homes or places to stay. Most of them cross the border at three places, he explained. The largest group goes 15 miles from Lviv, in far western Ukraine, to the Polish border, which is open to them. “They come by cars, by train, and even by foot. The Polish border today is the biggest and widest gate for refugees.” Others go to Moldova, which also is open to them, but “Moldova is very poor, and it has no resources. It’s had hundreds of thousands of refugees, and most of them go on from there to Romania, in order to get to the European Union.” (Romania is part of the EU.) The third country that borders on Ukraine — although the border is small — and accepts its refugees is Slovakia. In general, Mr. Smukler said, “refugees from western Ukraine go to Poland, and refugees from the Black Sea area go to Moldova. “European countries are having a major crisis as they try to accommodate and provide food and shelter for these people. “And it’s important to understand that most of these refugees are women with their children, and elderly people” because of the rules keeping most men of military age in Ukraine, “Ukrainian border patrols do not allow men to cross unless they have severe medical issues, and if for some reason a man came to the Polish border the guards there would push them back.” So that means that families have been separated. “The emotional crisis is unique,” Mr. Smukler said. The women worry about their husbands, the children worry about their fathers and also
respond to their mothers’ distress. The older people worry about their sons. And of course, everyone worries about the future, which is even more unknowable than usual. “It is an extremely complicated operation, to accommodate all those people, to feed them, to make them comfortable physically and psychologically, to have a safe place to stay. I know that the Polish, German, and Romanian governments are doing everything possible to provide them with this help.” All refugees need and deserve help, Mr. Smukler said; as a Russian Jewish immigrant, though, he’s particularly interested in Jewish Ukrainian refugees. “There are approximately 270,000 Jews in Ukraine,” he said. “And maybe there are many more. We really don’t know. There are people in Ukraine who have Jewish ancestors but are not practicing Judaism but instead are fully assimilated. “The Ukrainian Jewish community is considered to be the third largest in Europe, after Russia and France,” he continued. “Thousands and thousands of them are among the refugees who had to leave cities like Odessa, Kyiv, and others with large Jewish populations. “I know that the Jewish Agency, the Sachnut, is actively working to set up a strong operation there,” in Poland, “and so is the Joint,” the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. “They’re very much involved in helping people on the ground, providing extremely important services for elderly people and for those who need their help. “The Israelis are there, and they are trying to airlift refugees from Poland and other countries to Israel. “Israel is overloaded today with refugees from Ukraine. They are processing 1,000 applications a day, I have been told.” But not all the refugees can go to Israel. To begin with, not everyone wants to. And second, not everyone would be welcome. Although the Law of Return allows everyone with a Jewish grandparent to become an Israeli, it is fair to say that life in Israel is harder for people not considered to be halachically Jewish than it is for those who are. Also, many refugees left home without the documents that can prove that they are Jewish. (In fact, many left home without the documents that provide them with their identities in general; that is another part of the overwhelming feeling of instability and formlessness that can afflict them.) The question of whether Ukrainian refugees can come to the United States is a fraught one. So far, in general, the answer has been no; that is an issue that enrages Mr. Smukler, and that we hope to investigate in our next installment of his story.
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Refugees FROM PAGE 19
you look around to see the immense decency and humanity of many people, of Poles and of other people from around the world. You see so many people from around the world — both Poles and others — who are stepping up to do the right thing. “One thing that really inspired me was seeing the large numbers of people at the train station with bags of food, and to realize that these were Polish people who had brought food that they had cooked, for the Ukrainian people. “I was inspired by that. and I was inspired by the lines of strollers, left by Polish parents for Ukrainian parents, and the toys, left for people to take.” Most of those Ukrainian people had lived lives more or less like ours, he said. “What struck me was all the people with whom I have spoken on the ground who said that their lives were good until a few weeks ago, when the Russians started bombing.” Mr. Ben-Shimon found himself so deeply moved by what he saw that he began to use a very new skill — drawing — to help other people understand the deep emotional truths that stared at him the entire time that he was in Poland. The medium he uses — charcoal on drawing paper — immediately evokes Holocaust art. He realized that, Mr. Ben-Shimon said, “but there is something about watching refugees walk across the border in eastern Europe, that makes it seem real. “It’s difficult for me to imagine what my family, or any family here, would do. I am in awe at the bravery of these people. So he’s seeing two things — the pain and trauma caused by Vladimir Putin’s attack on his sovereign neighbor, Ukraine, and “the immense decency and humanity of so many people from around the world who are stepping up to do the right thing,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. What about official responses? “The EU has stepped up beautifully,” he said carefully. “I am hopeful that the U.S., the U.K., and the Israeli governments will be equally accommodating.” To go back to his trip, “I found this mission to be deeply inspiring,” Mr. Ben-Shimon concluded. “It gives me much hope for the future of the work of the federation. Our commitment to the global Jewish family” is vitally important. What can those of us back home in the United States do? “Give to Jewish organizations that are on the ground in Ukraine, especially through our Jewish federation, which is supportive of dozens of agencies around the world,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. Oh, and one other thing. President Volodymyr Zelensky. What about him? “I have been watching President Zelensky’s public responses to the invasion, and his unique ability to capture the historic moment,” Mr. Ben-Shimon said. “I am deeply impressed by his humility, his humanity — and his Jewishness.”
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Jewish World From tefillin to troop training: Meet the Orthodox former IDF soldier on the front lines in Ukraine DINAH SPRITZER
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s an Orthodox Jewish man, each morning Tzvi Arieli wraps his arm and forehead with tefillin, the black leather straps that connect two small boxes filled with verses from the Torah. But he makes exceptions. “If I need to shoot some Russians, timing is really important. I might not be able to focus on tefillin and war in the same split second,” said Arieli, a former Israeli Defense Forces soldier who is fighting alongside the Ukrainian army as his adopted country defends itself against Russia’s invasion. The 42-year-old has spent the past weeks preparing for battle while lying low at his in-laws’ home, about 70 kilometers south of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in a town he preferred not to name for security reasons. Now, nearly a month into the war, he said he was on his way to ambush enemy troops as a member of a paratrooper unit. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched air and land strikes against its neighbor on Feb. 24 after Ukraine rejected his territorial demands. These included the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and the
independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Arieli, who first worked for the Ukrainian military in 2014 to fend off the separatists, is a rarity as an Israeli fighting directly against Russian troops. Yet he reflects the complex set of ties Jews from the former Soviet Union have to the region, and to Israel. “I see myself as Ukrainian,” said Arieli, who was born in Latvia. “I am also Israeli but I am not very happy with Israel at the moment,” he added, a sentiment he links to both personal and political concerns. Arieli emigrated to Israel after high school, where he attended college and served with an IDF unit that battled Palestinian militants in the West Bank during the Second Intifada. He also spent two years studying in the United States, at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown. He then headed the Zionist youth organization Bnei Akiva in Ukraine, where he met his wife, a Ukrainian Jew. Together, they moved again to Israel, where Arieli worked for an antiterror unit within the defense ministry. But Ukraine lured Arieli back. He received a job offer from a friend to work within Kyiv’s Jewish community as an educator. He later served
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Commitment. Compassion. Community. 22 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
as the deputy CEO of United Ukrainian Appeal. Then the Ukrainian military tapped Arieli as a tactical trainer for units that were trying to quell the separatist insurgency in Donbas. Most recently, Arieli was running a “computer business,” which, like many other enterprises in the country, has come to a standstill because of the war. After more than a decade in Ukraine, Arieli feels himself a native. And that’s exactly how he is viewed, he said. “Jews became very much more intertwined with Ukrainians and Ukrainian identity since the country became independent in 1991,” he said. “This is something many Americans and Israelis don’t understand.” He recalled when his Ukrainian boxing coach was dismayed that a champion selected to represent the country was not “100% Ukrainian.” But the coach’s line of thinking, Arieli continued, revealed the absence of antisemitism in post-Soviet Ukraine. “He said only Ukrainians and Jews should represent Ukraine.” Many Ukrainians see Israeli leaders’ refusal to yield to their country’s adversaries as a model for themselves. Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, is seen to represent the potential of Western intelligence that could help Ukraine in its time of crisis, Arieli said. That perception has put Arieli in some odd circumstances. “Many Ukrainians think, or wish, that I am from Mossad,” he said, adding with a laugh, “I try to convince them that I am not, but sometimes it is better if they think that I am. It’s like making their wishes come true.” Arieli is furious with what he characterizes as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s lack of support for Ukraine. While Israel has sent substantial humanitarian aid to the region and set up a field hospital in western Ukraine, it has not provided the specific military aid that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested. Bennett has sought to maintain relations with Russia even as other countries have imposed steep sanctions. Bennett has sought to play a significant role in efforts to broker negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, and Zelensky said this week that peace talks could potentially take place in Jerusalem. But Arieli dismissed the argument that Israel needs to tread lightly because of Russia’s role in Syria, which affects Israeli security. “A country’s leadership should decide what is good and what is bad. And Bennett says, ‘We don’t want to take sides,’” he said. Pointing to Russia’s attacks on civilian targets, he added, “Russia is killing innocent civilians every day, and Bennett is not going to say the truth? Russia is on the wrong side. You can’t be neutral towards this. This is not a kosher position.” Arieli is also “really angry” with Israel for a more personal reason: his dog. Before the war, as he considered the evacuation of his family, Israel was Arieli’s first choice. But that changed, he said, when he was told by Israel’s Veterinary Services, a government body, that since his Labrador was younger than one year, the
Jewish World puppy required another round of rabies shots and would need to stay in Ukraine for a month before coming to Israel. (Since the war began, Israel has relaxed entry rules for pets who are accompanying refugees). “Our dog thinks we are his parents. He sleeps with us. We won’t leave him alone. Israel should make an exception in times like this,” he said. Arieli’s wife and children, ages 13 and 14, are in Germany with the support of a rabbi in Stuttgart. Pupsik the puppy has made it there as well. Meanwhile, the soldier’s apartment in Kyiv close to the Dnipro River was still standing as of Tuesday, but he wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t the case for long. “A few apartment buildings right next to mine were destroyed by Russian shelling,” he said. Arieli’s links with Ukraine go beyond his wife. Like many Ukrainians, he is a native Russian speaker, and like many Russian-speaking Ukrainians, he has long been a proponent of Ukraine’s independent identity from its former political boss. When the war erupted, he trained civilians to become soldiers in the newly formed Territorial Defense Force, overseen by the Ukrainian military. But Arieli, who has previously expressed public concern about the military’s standards and training, admits he was frustrated. “You can have 150 people every day, another day
150 arrive and most of them do not know how to shoot. It’s hard to see the progress when you are training someone who has never held a gun,” he said. So he asked his fellow soldiers where he could be most useful — and that might just be in the forest west of Kyiv. Although Arieli cannot say exactly what his unit’s plans are, he offered possible hints by going into detail about “the absurdity” of Russia’s land campaign. “There are only a few roads from Belarus for tanks, and the Russians had mile after mile of tanks on these roads, out in the open. They are using these old Soviet tactics which make them sitting ducks,” he observed. Confirming reports that Russian forces have sustained severe losses, Arieli said the tanks were constantly
breaking down, blocking the road and running out of gas. “There are fewer tanks and soldiers here every day,” he said. Despite his optimism about the prospects for Ukraine’s military success, Arieli was worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s next move. “It’s a very dangerous situation because there’s a 50-50 chance he could use nuclear weapons,” Arieli said. “He doesn’t want to have Ukraine, he wants to destroy it.” He is also distressed about the abrupt and brutal turn his life has taken. “This war has ruined our lives; we’ve lost everything,” he said. “You know, I really don’t like violence, but what JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY choice do I have now?”
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Tzvi Arieli, seen here praying in a Ukrainian army barracks in 2017, is a Ukrainian immigrant from Israel who is fighting in its army. COURTESY ARIELI
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____ Eggplant Parmesan ...................$28.00/2lb.pan ____ Eggplant Parmesan 9 x 13 pan .......$78.00/pan ____ Lasagna 9 x 13 pan .........................$65.00/pan ____ Lasagna .....................................$18.00/2lb.pan
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COMPLETE PASSOVER DINNER ENTREES (check one please) Pricing for 10 people ____ Chicken Dinner ............................. $399.00/meal Oven Herb Southern Fried Oven Baked ____ Brisket Dinner................................ $460.00/meal With Mushrooms and Wine Sauce ____ Chicken Marsala............................ $430.00/meal ____ Oven Roasted Turkey .................... $400.00/meal ____ Stuffed Boneless Chicken Capon.. $450.00/meal ____ Salmon ........................................... $425.00/meal
APPETIZERS (check one please) ____ Homemade Gefilte Fish ____ Chopped Liver SOUP (check one please) ____ Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls ____ Vegetable Soup SIDE ORDERS (check one please) ____ Any 1 Kugel from menu ____ Traditional Tzimmes ____ Matzofarfel w/ Mushrooms ____ Oven Roasted Potato SALAD (check one please) ____ Cucumber ____ Israeli ____ Health ____ Coleslaw Please, No Substitutions. Call for Complete Menu. Minimum of 10 people for all entrees. To substitute or for less than 10 people is $10.00 extra per person.
Call for Allergy and Gluten Free NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 23
Jewish World
Zelensky offers new details about his family’s Holocaust history, igniting debate over Ukrainian Holocaust memory PHILISSA CRAMER
U
krainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s great-grandparents died when the Nazis burned their village, he said in an interview on CNN on Monday. Talking to Fareed Zakaria through a translator, Zelensky said, as he has many times before, that his grandfather and his grandfather’s brothers all joined the Soviet Red Army, and only his grandfather survived. He also offered details about what happened to his grandfather’s parents that have not been reported in English before. “His father and his mother were killed in a terrible fire,” Zelensky said. “The Nazis set ablaze the entire village where they lived and where my grandfather was born.” Zelensky did not name the village. But massacres by fire were part of the Nazi army’s playbook in Ukrainian territory and elsewhere. In one well known case, the village of Koryukovka was burned in 1943 after its
residents were shot in retaliation for partisan activity based there; most of the Jews of Koryukovka already had been deported and murdered by then. Zelensky did not mention the Holocaust or the fact that his grandparents were Jewish, even as Zakaria asked him to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “denazification” agenda as “somebody who is of Jewish descent.” Instead, he talked about “the war.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked about his family’s history during a wide-ranging interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on March 21, 2022. JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
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24 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
“When Russians are telling about neo-Nazis and they turn to me, I just reply that I have lost my entire family in the war because all of them were exterminated during World War II,” he said. Jews from the former Soviet Union said Zelensky’s way of speaking about his family history was not surprising. “Soviet policy after the war was one narrative: the Soviet people suffered greatly,” Alex Zeldin, who was born in the Soviet Union and goes by Jewish Wonk online, wrote in a Twitter thread that has been shared thousands of times. “The government would not acknowledge that the Nazis targeted the Jews specifically for extermination. They punished Soviet Jews who did not toe the party line. “As a result of Soviet persecution and limiting the distribution of information about the Holocaust, later generations of Soviet Jews came to understand their family history as part of the war, even if it didn’t sound like other experiences (e.g., why did Jews have to hide?),” he added. Zelensky’s interview with Zakaria — in which he relayed that he has “distant relatives” in the United States, Poland, and Israel — came a day after he addressed Israeli lawmakers, some of whom were rankled by Zelensky’s characterization of Ukrainians as having saved Jews during the Holocaust. While 2,673 Ukrainians have been recognized by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum, for their efforts to save Jews, Ukraine was also the site of notable collaboration between locals and their Nazi occupiers in the effort to murder Jews. Zelensky’s speech reflected his strategy of devising pleas for support that are tailored to each of the countries he addresses. Both Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid indicated that while they did not agree with Zelensky’s characterization of Holocaust history, they also were prepared to cut him slack because of the desperate situation his country faces.
Jewish World
AIPAC’s pro-democracy ‘super PAC’ does not mention Israel in its mission RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON— AIPAC’s new regular political action committee is self-evident about what it’s all about: It’s called AIPAC PAC, after all, and it is committed to supporting pro-Israel candidates. The “super PAC” that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee launched in December, however, is more opaque: It’s called the United Democracy Project. Its brief mission statement does not mention either Israel or the powerhouse pro-Israel lobby behind its founding. Instead, it emphasizes the promotion of democracy. “United Democracy Project is an organization comprised of American citizens, Democrats and Republicans, united in the belief that we are stronger as a nation when we come together in support of our democracy and other democracies around the world,” says the mission statement on its website. “United Democracy Project works to elect candidates that share our vision of Americans coming together to support our mutual interests and belief in democracy.” Asked why the super PAC does not state that it supports Israel, AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittmann did not answer directly. “As we indicated at the time of the announcement of the PAC and Super-PAC, the creation of the PACs is an opportunity to significantly deepen and strengthen the involvement of the pro-Israel community in politics,” Wittmann said in response to an email query. The revelation of the name and mission of the super
PAC comes as its sister political action committee, AIPAC PAC, drew fire from Democrats for endorsing several dozen Republicans who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s win on Jan. 6, 2021. Those critics said a pro-Israel PAC had no business endorsing candidates who, like the insurrectionists who took part in the deadly riot that day at the Capitol, sought to stop Biden’s certification. The AIPAC super PAC’s aims were further spelled out in an ad in the Hill, a daily newspaper that is read widely in Congress. The ad, seeking a political director, said the super PAC’s emphasis would be on the U.S.-Israel relationship, and that the political director would report to Rob Bassin, the United Democracy Project’s CEO, who was AIPAC’s political director for 22 years. The ad was removed after reporters started asking questions about the new super PAC. The United Democracy Project has so far raised close to $10 million, according to the Federal Election Committee, including $8.5 million from AIPAC itself. Super PACs may spend unlimited amounts money promoting a candidate, or opposing a candidate, or promoting or opposing an issue, as long as the super PAC does not coordinate directly with any campaign. Regular PACs may contribute a maximum of $5,000 to a candidate per election and may also relay individual contributions to a candidate; the added value for an individual routing his contribution through a PAC rather than giving it directly is that the candidate understands what is motivating the donation. Giving a candidate money through AIPAC’s regular PAC signals
This screenshot is of AIPAC’s new super PAC’s website. It does not mention AIPAC or Israel. Taken March 21, 2022. SCREENSHOT
that the donors’ primary motivation is pro-Israel. AIPAC PAC’s mission on its website is straightforward: “The AIPAC PAC supports pro-Israel Democratic and Republican members of Congress and congressional candidates to secure the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship.” For most of its history and despite its acronym, AIPAC was a lobbying group that did not and could not contribute to political campaigns. When it announced the launch of the two PACs in December, it said that the super PAC had yet to be named, although United Democracy Project has had a Twitter account in its name since last September. Vague generic names for super PACs are not unusual. “Restore Common Sense,” which backs a conservative Republican running for Senate in North Carolina, features only a sketch of Thomas Paine and a quote from the founding father on its website. “American Leadership Action” was established to back the candidacy of Mehmet Oz, the TV doctor turned Republican running for Senate in Pennsylvania.
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
Ketanji Brown Jackson brings up a Black-Jewish civil rights alliance in confirmation hearing RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON — Whether he meant to or not, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) gave Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, an opportunity for a breather in the middle of a contentious day of confirmation hearings on Tuesday. Cruz, who spent most of his 30-minute questioning session trying to corner Jackson on issues such as critical race theory, asked the nominee what she meant when she said she praises the “social justice” values that are exemplified by the private school her children attend. In her response, Jackson said she was proud to serve as a board member — and talked about the school’s origins as a Jewish-Black civil rights alliance. “Georgetown Day School has a special history that I think is important to understand when you consider my service on that board,” Jackson told Cruz. She went on: “The school was founded in 1945 in Washington D.C., at a time at which by law there was racial segregation in this community. Black students were not allowed in the public schools to go to school with white students. Georgetown Day School is a private school, that was created when three white families — Jewish families — got together with three Black families and said that despite the fact that the law is set up to make sure that
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 22, 2022. CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES
Black children are not treated the same as everyone else, we are going to form a private school so that our children can go to school together. The idea of equality — justice — is at the core of the Georgetown Day School mission.” Georgetown Day School’s history page on its website notes that it was founded in 1945 by seven — not six — families, and that it was the first integrated school in the nation’s capital, but does not add more detail. There appear to have been at least three Jewish, or
partly Jewish, families involved in its founding: Edith Nash (née Rosenfels), who was a Jewish poet married to Philleo Nash, an anthropologist and a senior official in Democratic administrations, whose daughters attended the school; the parents of Arthur Goldschmidt, who became a noted scholar of Middle East history; and the parents of Judith Martin (née Perlman) who launched the famed Miss Manners etiquette column. The school sustained a Jewish flavor. Nash, who went on to become the school’s second director, once recalled that in the 1950s, the school had an annual Seder Lunch, a parent-student event to mark Passover. Next month, the school’s calendar features Passover Freedom Assemblies for the entire lower and middle schools. The school’s most influential director, Gladys Stern, who led the establishment from 1975 to 1996, also was Jewish. The school, which is on spring break, did not return a request for comment. On Monday, the first day of her testimony, Jackson credited her Jewish high school debate coach, the late Fran Berger, with instilling her with confidence and making her believe she could succeed as a lawyer. Jackson also credited Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who is Jewish, for whom she clerked and whom she will replace if she is confirmed.
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 25
Our Children B’nai Mitzvah Adam Bear
Ava Fein
Yve Lieberman
Adam Bear, son of Danielle and David Bear of Montclair, and brother of Leonardo, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 12, at Temple Sholom of West Essex in Cedar Grove.
Ava Fein, daughter of Rachel and Jason Fein of Pine Brook, and sister of Anna, celebrated her b’nai mitzvah on February 5 in the sanctuary of Adath Shalom in Morris Plains. The family belongs to Temple Beth Am in Parsippany.
Yve Lieberman, daughter of Sarah and Paul Lieberman of Springfield, celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah on March 12, live and via Zoom at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael in Springfield.
Caleb Groffman
Logan Marangon, son of Dani and Chris Marangon of Flanders, and brother of Blake, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 19, during Shabbat morning services at Temple Shalom in Succasunna.
Owen Ehrenkranz Owen Ehrenkranz, son of Tara and Chad Ehrenkranz of Short Hills, and brother of Eva and Cameron, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 5, during a Shabbat morning service at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Caleb Groffman, son of Rabbi Laurence W. and Melissa Groffman of Montclair, and brother of Amaya, Isaac, and Samara, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on February 12, at Temple Sholom of West Essex in Cedar Grove, where his father is the spiritual leader.
We will make your bar/bat mitzvah an event that will never be forgotten!
Logan Marangon
Abigail Millman Abigail Millman, daughter of Angela and Jonathan Millman of Cedar Grove, and sister of Emma and Eliana, celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah on March 19, at Temple Sholom of West Essex in Cedar Grove.
Sam Reich Sam Reich, son of Jillian and Andrew Reich of Montclair, and brother of Lila, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 5, at Temple Sholom of West Essex in Cedar Grove.
Benjamin Rheingold Benjamin Rheingold, son of Jaime and Matthew Rheingold of West Orange, and brother of Mason, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 19 during a Shabbat Mincha service at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Tyler Rosenbaum Tyler Rosenbaum, son of Lori and Peter Rosenbaum of Short Hills, and brother of Benjamin and Cooper, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 12, during a Shabbat morning service at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Morris Saland
Zachary Zaslow
Morris Saland, son of Gillian Alexander and Daniel Saland of Livingston, and brother of Johanna, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 19 during a Shabbat morning service at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Zachary Zaslow, son of Elissa and Kenneth Zaslow of Livingston, and brother of Gabriella, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on March 5, during a Shabbat morning service at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Simcha Submissions Families are welcome to send births, b’nai mitzvah, and graduations to:
Kylie Stein Kylie Joy Stein, daughter of Mollie and Jonathan Stein of Roslyn Heights, NY, and sister of Rachel and Noah, celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah on March 5, at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation in Westbury, NY. Her grandparents are Mary and Robert Mandel of West Orange, and Arlene and Dr. Jeffrey Stein of Roslyn Heights.
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To be part of this Bar/Bat resource directory, please call 201-837-8818 x 121 or email natalie@ jewishmediagroup.com
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Comfy, cozy and oh, so Passover — matzah pajamas HEIDI MAE BRATT The Passover seder is a wonderful if long night. It is long for the grownups and even longer for the kids. We hope that our kids will stay awake and participate in the festivities, especially the recitation of the four questions and the counting of the 10 plagues, which some families accompany with props like toy frogs to add a bit of fun and drama, and of course, the hunt for the afikomen. Now, what if your sleepy-eyed child, after the seder has run its course, could seamlessly segue from the table to his bed when overcome with fatigue? And imagine that they are already dressed for bed in cozy, yummy soft jammies that celebrate the holiday. Nice, huh? Well, adorable, affordable, and
available, Passover pajamas are here just in time for the holiday. The brainchild of creative Jewish educator, entrepreneur, fashion designer, and mom, Rabbi Yael Buechler – who has been sharing her Jewish-themed nail art and Jewish-themed clothing and
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Disabilities and Special Needs (OPDSN) offers a variety of inclusive social events and recreation programs for children, teens, and young adults — including virtual programs such as yoga, karate, and cooking. Please see our ad on page 27.
The Union County Office for Persons with
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TEMPLE BETH AHM YISRAEL
60 Temple Drive Springfield, NJ 07081 (973) 376-0539 www.tbaynj.org Shorashim (Religious School): Grades K-7 Tichon (Teen Program): Grades 8-12 Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael’s Shorashim is an
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accessories through her business, Midrash Manicures — the Matza Pajamas were inspired by Rabbi Buechler’s younger son. It was last year, and the second Passover pandemic year — which meant no real guests at the seder — when Rabbi Buechler decided to outfit her son in a new pair of pajamas that he wore to the family-only seder. The pajamas happened to be yellow. Her son, Nadav, now 3 but just 2 at the time, saw the color and the holiday and dubbed his yellow PJs his “matzah pajamas.” Said Rabbi Buechler, “It was so great that as a toddler he could feel ownership of the holiday and connect to Pesach.” This gave her the idea to design pajamas that had a matzah pattern. It was a bit of a challenge because she wanted to make sure that the pajamas were all-cotton, and the print was a bit trickier on cotton than on other
religious school and youth group. We offer monthly Family Shabbat services and Torah Tot programming. Religious school meets virtually on Thursdays and in person on Sundays.
materials. But Rabbi Buechler and her design prevailed, and the PJs are now available on midrashmanicures.com in children and adult sizes. Besides being comfortable, attractive holiday-appropriate sleepwear, Rabbi Buechler is heartened that the pajamas, just like her other Jewish-themed clothing (fun facts: her matzah dress has been worn by actress Mayim Bialik and her Hanukkah scrunchie was worn by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg) has become another way for people to connect to and celebrate their Jewishness. “With the pajamas, I was able to see things through a kid’s eyes,” Rabbi Buechler said. “This is a way to give kids ownership of their Judaism and a way that people can physically connect to their Judaism. This is very important.” Rabbi Buechler, who currently works
Social Events: Night Out with the NJ Devils Night Out with the NY Red Bulls Lace Up Your Skates Spring and Fall Fishing Derby Community Egg Hunt Summer Carnival Hayride Barn Dance Summer Camp
For information on these and other programs, or to be placed on our mailing list to receive brochures and details, call/email: 908-527-4781/[email protected] Or visit our website at www.ucnj.org/opdsn-reg A Service of the Union County Board of County Commissioners
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SEE PAJAMAS PAGE 28
NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 27
Our Children Pajamas FROM PAGE 27
as the outreach director for young families at The Leffel School (formerly Schechter Westchester) in White Plains, creating programming for young families in Manhattan and the Westchester area, started a manicure club for bat mitzvah-aged girls to teach Torah through nail painting in a school club. The students would learn the Torah portion and then illustrate it doing
their own manicures and designs that helped tell the story. It was a fun and creative way to teach Torah. People became so interested in the designs that her business, Midrash Manicures, was born. Now, nail decals for the major holidays and other Jewish events are available to those who want to celebrate with both hands. Rabbi Buechler also offers many other items on her website, midrashmanicures.com.
Getting teens to get more sleep for their wellbeing
T
he typical teenager gets tons of sleep, right? Actually, the typical teenager needs tons of sleep, but most don’t get it. While teenagers need an average of 9 hours of sleep per night, a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health reported that 59 percent of all teens live with chronic sleep deprivation or less than six hours of sleep per night.
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Why is sleep so important at this stage and how can we help teenagers get this precious sleep?
Sleep is integral to the wellbeing of teenagers. Without enough sleep, teens can feel like they are walking around in a perpetual haze. And this haze can lead to disastrous consequences, among them: increased injury due to lack of attentiveness, impulsivity, and mood swings, as well as an increase in at-risk behavior.
How can we help teenagers get more sleep?
Simplify. In these times when life has slowed down and people are
generally at home, this is an easy one. But when and if things get crazy again, it’s important to remember that overscheduling can result in less sleep and less sleep can result in poor decision, especially with teenagers. Choose a few evenings a week that are activity-free. Discourage snacking after dinner. When we eat at night, we signal to our bodies that it is time to get working. Instead of slowing down and preparing for bed, our bodies are busy digesting and transforming the food into energy. This can disrupt our sleep patterns. Instead, encourage your teens to stop eating at least two hours before bed. Set a good example. Both in consistency — sitting to a schedule and in making sleep a priority — teach your teens through what you do that sleep is important for your wellbeing and for theirs. When it feels like the world has been turned upside down, it is important to know that there are some things that are within our control. Our teens are almost definitely not included in that category — but perhaps we can help them get their sleep under control.
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Our Children The power of birth order is not set in stone RIFKA SCHONFELD
M
oshe, Yechezkhel, and Dovid were playing in the living room while their mother made dinner. Eight-year-old Moshe was busy figuring out how to attach his Lego rocket ship to his model of the solar system. He was using everything in his arsenal – ruler, magnets, glue, the stepladder, and even his mother’s attention. “Mommy, do we have string?” “Which planet has the greatest gravitational pull?” “My rocket ship is red, so should I put it near Mars, the red planet?” Meanwhile, five-year-old Yechezkhel, was coloring in a picture he and his friends had started at school. They were in a secret spy club and Yechezkhel was in charge of their secret missions. Yechezkhel outlined pictures of his friends and made symbols for each of their special powers. And, three-year-old Dovid was walking in between Moshe and Yechezkhel. First, he pretended to be a rocket ship, making Moshe laugh with his crazy swirls and dips. He dove headfirst off the couch onto a pillow, “Landing on Earth!” Then, he picked up a crayon and drew a three-year-old version of a smiley face. “Look, Yechezkhel, I’m in your club,” he grinned.
The fate of birth order
Different children play differently, but is that really what’s going on with Moshe, Yechezkhel, and Dovid? Or are the boys simply doing what is typical for first-borns, middle children, and youngest? Studies show that much of our personalities are a result of our positions in our families. Dr. Frank Sulloway in his book “Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creativity” discusses the different fates of those born first, middle, or last. Let’s look at the different ways that birth order can affect personalities. I have created a chart that outlines the different strengths and weaknesses that
children have based on their placement in the family.
What can you do to nurture your children?
Because birth order can affect most children in the same ways, there are ways that you can help your children overcome weaknesses that birth order has thrown their way: Oldest: Share failure. Oldest children need to hear from their parents that it is okay to fail. Parents should share their own failures with their children (particularly ones that are no longer painful). Talk about the time you didn’t get the part in the school play or the time you didn’t get the job that you thought you would love. You are still standing and smiling. This will help your first-born understand that failure is not the end of the world. Youngest: Give responsibility. We tend to let our youngest off the hook because we say he is not old enough to clear off the table, or put his clothing in the hamper, or make his bed. In reality, you probably would have made your oldest do the same thing at your youngest’s age. Therefore, do not underestimate your youngest abilities. Give him plenty of responsibility. Ultimately, he will benefit from it. Middle: Attention. This one is the most intuitive, but it is also often the hardest. Try to give your middle child (or children) a shot at the limelight whenever you can. Maybe he can choose what to make for dinner one night or maybe he can sing the Four Questions at the Seder this year because he studied it in two languages. Perhaps you can go into his classroom, without any younger siblings tagging along, and read a book, bake a cake, or do some other age-appropriate enrichment. With this extra attention, it’s harder for the middle child to slip through the cracks. Studies show that birth-order shapes a lot of who we are, but we are not slaves to the order in which we were born. As a parent, you can help nurture all that nature provides.
Rifka Schonfeld, educator and social skills specialist, has served the Jewish community for three decades. She is the founder and director SOS, servicing all grade levels in secular and Hebrew studies. 718-382-5437, rifkaschonfeld.com or [email protected].
NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 29
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experience, connections “Ex-SPEAR-Ience” the best and insider knowledge of service with your home the New Jersey real estate sale or purchase! scene to assist you with your Renée Spear is thrilled next home purchase or sale. to announce her new Contact her today and you’ll association with Elite get access to her insider’s Realtors in Livingston. tips and advice on buying Elite Realtors is a full-service real estate company and selling homes in New Renée Spear with a staff of seasoned Jersey like: professionals and over 300 • How to target your agents dedicated to serving all the real home for sale to buyers estate needs of both buyers and sell• How to spot the best neighborers. Renée brings to Elite her extenhoods for quality of living and finansive experience buying and selling cial appreciation homes/real estate in Northern New • What home features you can use Jersey including: to negotiate thousands of dollars off of • Insider knowledge of the area’s your purchase real estate market • How to avoid the house nightmare • A detailed understanding of the mistakes that even experienced buyers can sometimes make nuances of home purchases and ownership — how to spot the homes that • And much, much more… can give you great value and quality Put Renée’s experience as a New of life and how to avoid the ones that Jersey real estate agent and expertise could easily turn your life into a real to work for you, helping you find your estate nightmare. dream home while possibly saving you • Exclusive access to a huge database thousands of dollars and aggravation of people interested in buying and sellin the process. ing homes in the towns that we have Renée is looking forward to working with you and the new team at spent years developing, allowing her to Elite Realtors! You can reach her by help you to make the best investment at phone at (201) 259-5353 (cell), (973) the best price and create the ideal lifestyle for you and your family. 994-9009, or by email at rspear55@ Ta ke a d v a n t a ge o f Re n é e ’s ELITE REALTORS yahoo.com.
Colors and patterns to mix and match in your home SHARON NAYLOR TORIS Have you ever opened up a design magazine and landed on an interior design article that features a sleek, light-soaked room filled with a perfectly coordinated furniture set in front of a roaring fireplace? But there are just so many colors, so many patterns put together? “There’s just too much going on!” you might say as you look for a calmer room layout. Your gut feeling about colors and patterns will show you immediately your deep-seated comfort level. As far as colors right now, earth tones are helping connect us to nature with the tones of river rocks that may be used during our hot stone massage. Georgianne Vinicombe, floral designer and shop owner, says: “I’m seeing lots of green. Anything green, from seafoam to mint.” Seeking that sense of calm through color, especially as we’ve tried to make our homes places of comfort throughout the pandemic, provides a connection to the grounded tones 30 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
of nature. “I’m seeing lots of grays and browns. Silvers with yellow,” says Vinicombe. The duality of deeper colors and lighter shades reminds us of Mother Nature. A takeaway here is that the weighty, earthy colors of gray and green get a pop of bright colors with yellow or silver, which might evoke a feeling of a silver lining. Another big trend is “metallic shades put together,” says Vinicombe. “Think gold, rose gold, silver and copper for accenting, just to give it a richer feeling that builds warmth when mixed metallics are used in pairing or bunches.” Whether it’s metallics or earth tones, designers are subtly contrasting colors by grouping similar shades. A pop of color still stands as an eyecatcher but eases the dramatic contrast of, say, a red and white. Even black and white, in all its elegance, may be too much contrast for some. This is where texture comes into play. Vinicombe says that texture is the key to coordinating colors, shine and CREATORS.COM materials.
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Home Design & Real Estate A&R Interiors No project is too big or too small for the expert designers at A&R Interiors. Their professional team offers all aspects of residential, commercial, and contract design including architectural blueprint and floorplan consultations for new construction and renovation projects; kitchen and bath design and specification; interior design of any space including bedrooms for all ages; work-from-home spaces; formal or casual living and dining spaces, and custom entertaining rooms. They also consult on color and pattern recommendations for paint/paper wall coverings to suit any style and floor coverings to compliment any project. The A&R showroom highlights the latest design trends with stylized room vignettes that mix traditional, contemporary, transitional, and exotic furniture with distinctive accessories from around the world. Whatever your style, A&R’s expansive product portfolio offers unlimited resources including furniture, fabrics and upholstery, wall and floor coverings, lighting, and a wide selection of window treatments. A&R is a Hunter Douglas retail specialist with a large in-showroom display of blinds, roman shades, silhouettes, and pirouettes that transform the light and define the mood in your home. Their showroom also offers an ever-evolving collection of finishing touches such as artwork, vases,
Ken Baris and Allan Dalton Senior VP - Chief of Strategy Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices expands New Jersey presence bowls, boxes, throws, pillows, candles, lanterns, lamps, accessories and other tabletop décor. Visit A&R Interiors today or call to schedule an in-home or in-showroom consultation for your next project. A&R is always looking to expand its team of qualified interior designers. If you have experience with high-end residential design, showroom sales, and project management, please email your resume to [email protected]. A&R INTERIORS 27 E Main Street, Denville, NJ 07834 (973) 625-8950 www.arinterior.com and www.arinteriordenville.com
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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, a global residential real estate brokerage franchise network, is pleased to announce its further expansion in the state of New Jersey with the addition of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Jordan Baris Realty. This addition marks the brand’s continued growth in the Northeast region with its 59th network location in the state. Owned by industry veteran Ken Baris, the firm will serve both the luxury and residential real estate market throughout northern New Jersey representing clients in over 9 counties. The brokerage is headquartered in West Orange and has 111 real estate professionals. The company and its agents actively support many local communities and have been heralded for their decades of involvement. Ken Baris, owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Jordan Baris Realty, commented, “Having been a fan of Berkshire Hathaway for decades, the opportunity to affiliate with one of the worlds most respected brands was simply irresistible. Beyond a name, there is tremendous substance in terms of marketing support, lead generation, business consulting, growth strategy services and a culture aligned with who we are. With our mission of delivering the highest level of service to our clients and our affiliation with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global brand, we are now in a position more than ever to provide true international exposure for our clients, and agents offering increased capabilities, tools and resources to achieve higher levels of success and to grow with us.” “Ken has led a successful company for more than 25 years,” said Christy
Budnick, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “He demonstrates our core values daily – trust, integrity, stability, and longevity – and we are thrilled to welcome him and his team to the network!” By joining the network, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Jordan Baris Realty agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks, and its “FOREVER Cloud” technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more. The brand also provides an exclusive Luxury Collection marketing program for premier listings. Its Prestige Magazine showcases network members’ premium listings with a strong lineup of feature stories covering topics that appeal to high-end real estate clients. Founded in 1952 by Jordan Baris and now led by his son Ken Baris, the company is celebrating its 70th anniversary as a highly respected Northern New Jersey business leader. Ken Baris is a three-time recipient of RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers of the year. Ken draws from his massive sales track record includes homes, apartment and office buildings, new construction tracks and land for helping his team maximize their success. As an innovator, Ken has helped develop some of the most prevalent and effective tools in the industry. The company benefits from this by having a lineup rich with tools, technology, support and career development provided to every member of the team. BHHSJORDANBARIS.COM For more information visit: http:// www.bhhsjordanbaris.com
NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 33
Obituaries/Jewish World
A film about Jewish New Yorker Steve Post remembers when local radio was wild and witty JULIA GERGELY
A
pioneer of freeform radio, Steve Post was a sardonic, witty, curmudgeonly — and yes, very Jewish — voice on New York radio stations for decades. “One of New York’s greatest contrarians” is how the New York Daily News’ described him when he died in 2014 at 70. The Bronx native was beloved and occasionally reviled across the five boroughs for his unfettered takes on the world. Broadcasting on public stations WBAI and WNYC, he could be heard railing against Jews for Jesus, President Nixon, and the Vietnam War, or openly embracing the absurd, the worrisome, or the inane aspects of New York and the world around him. A new documentary celebrates the life and career of the legendary radio host. Directed by radio producer-turned-filmmaker Rosemarie Reed, “Playing in the FM Band: The Steve Post Story,” brings together Post’s friends, family, and admirers to reminisce about Post’s life on and off the air. Post’s colleagues at WBAI and WNYC are in the film. So is his wife of 38 years, Laura Rosenberg, who tracks down fans who wrote love letters to Post in their teenage years. (The title is taken from Post’s 1974 memoir, “Playing in
Steve Post hosted “Morning Music with Steve Post” on WNYC on 1982-2001, and was known for his witty, off-the-cuff, and personal monologues and interviews.
the FM Band: A Personal Account of Free Radio.”) Large parts of the film are narrated by Post himself, using audio taken from his radio programs. The film opens with a characteristically frank monologue by Post on his own death: “I want to talk about a subject that is near and dear to my heart: death. It’s a good subject in that it’s universal as far as we know,” he says. “I’ve decided I want the whole catered, Jewish affair. I want a big mahogany or oak casket…
I want people to be miserable. I want a lot of people there, with tears streaming down their eyes, and I want hundreds of people to come to my funeral, and I want every single one of them to file past my casket and, on their way by, I want them to check and see if my heart is beating, because I don’t want to take any chances.” Born in 1944, Post got his start in radio as a bookkeeper at the noncommercial WBAI-FM in 1965. Soon, he became a host and producer alongside Bob Fass
Elaine Shapiro
Elaine Shapiro, 79, née Schwartz, of Roseland NJ, passed away on March 5, after a prolonged battle with complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to Roseland, Elaine lived in Livingston for 31 years where she raised her family. Elaine was born October 30, 1942, in Philadelphia to Blanch and Harry Schwartz. She attended nursing school in Philadelphia and started her nursing career as an emergency room nurse at a hospital in Center City Philadelphia. Elaine is predeceased by her parents, Blanch and Harry and her brother, Robert Schwartz. She is survived by her husband, Stanley, and their children Kenneth (Peggy) Shapiro, Elissa (Jonathan) Goldblatt, and Cheryl Shapiro Eckert; and their grandchildren, Abigail, Matthew, Adian, Jacqueline, Ryan, Avery, Leo, and Stella.
Elaine met Stanley in 1964 and were married in 1965, the beginning of a lifelong partnership. They went on to have 3 amazing children, Kenneth, Elissa, and Cheryl. Elaine was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her 8 grandchildren and was aways interested in their activities. She was active in her children’s school programs and was an active member of the Sisterhood of Temple B’nai Abraham. Elaine loved to travel with Stanley and has been to five continents and much of the USA. She was known to be a dedicated nurse who always demonstrated empathy and dignity for her patients. Many of her patients continued to stay in touch with her. Those who wish to honor Elaine’s memory may do so with a contribution to the Memory Center at the MetroWest JCC or Temple B’nai Abraham or the charity of your choice.
— Paid Obituary —
34 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
and Larry Josephson. Together, the trio spearheaded the freeform radio movement, which mixed off-the-cuff monologues and interviews with whatever music the deejay or producer chose, at a time when AM radio was highly programmed and commercial and the FM band represented the frontier. A “cross between summer camp and primal scream therapy,” is how Frank Millspaugh, a WNYC producer, describes WBAI in the film. “He brought New York into the airwaves,” director Reed told the New York Jewish Week. “[WBAI] was still chaotic. It was still crazy. But it was a place where people could express themselves — you know, sometimes too much they express themselves — but it was a place where real creativity was going on.” At WBAI, Post embraced the emerging counterculture of the ’60s, talking about the civil rights movement alongside Black civil rights activists Julius Lester and Bayard Rustin. He also spoke about the deep angst he felt during the Vietnam War, his insecurities about being overweight, and the intense grief he felt after his mother died when he was 10. “He’s an angst-ridden guy and he’s going to take you inside his head and create something deeply personal and it’s about him, but in being about him,
Donald Beiner
It is with heartfelt sadness, that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Donald Beiner, 92, of Hamilton, NJ, on March 18, 2022. He was born in Newark to Benjamin & Lillian Beiner. He raised his family in Elizabeth and then lived in Westfield for 35 years with his wife Carole. For the past 9 months, they resided in Hamilton. Donald served his country in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked for Schering Plough in Union as a chemical engineer for 34 years. He lived and loved life to the fullest. His love for figure skating resulted in him spending 47 years at the ice rink as a skater up until the age of 90. He also loved opera and classical music. His witty and funny personality made him loved by all who met him. Donald is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carole, and their three children, Robert, Scott, & Susan. A graveside service was on March 20 at Beth David Memorial Park Kenilworth. Arrangements were by Goldstein Funeral Chapel, Edison. — Paid Obituary —
Obituaries/Jewish World it was therefore about all of us,” Marc Fisher, an editor at the Washington Post, says in the film. Among his many career highlights, Post organized a “fat-in” in Central Park, inspiring the nascent body positivity movement. In 1968, his was one of the first programs in the country to interview a transgender woman on air. That same year, as a proponent of free speech, he fiercely defended an antisemitic poem, written by a 15-year-old girl, that aired on Lester’s show during the racially charged Ocean Hill-Brownsville teachers’ strike. The strike saw clashes between mostly Black and Latino families and white Jewish educators who were prominent in the teachers’ union. Lester, who eventually would convert to Judaism, denied the poem was antisemitic, saying instead it was an acknowledgement that “Jews are in the position of power.” Post relied heavily on his identity as an outsider to relate to everyone and anyone who tuned in — an identity that in no small part was reinforced by his Jewishness. “He was a very secular Jew; he wasn’t a believer,” Reed said. “But he carried the identity of being Jewish, I believe. I think he liked the fact that he was Jewish. It shaped how he thought, how he viewed the world, how he viewed New York, and how he viewed his own life.”
Post eventually moved to the more disciplined WNYC in 1982, where he hosted “Morning Music with Steve Post” for 20 years, and became one of the radio station’s top fundraisers. In the mid-1990s, Post led the charge in preventing then mayor Rudolph Giuliani from selling the station to the highest bidder. The successful campaign kept the radio station public and raised more than $20 million, Laura Walker, the former president and CEO of WNYC, recalls in the film. “He allowed people to share whatever feelings he was feeling — whether it was good or whether it was bad about his life, he wasn’t ashamed,” Reed said. “He really let you know what was going on. In that way, many people probably had the same feelings he had and could relate to him. Steve was the kind of person that even if you didn’t meet him, you know that there was something real about him, that you could trust him.” Reed hopes viewers understand the extensive legacy Post left in radio, and how his work and style inspired a new class of hosts to express their opinions and neuroses on air. “I wonder if there would be a Howard Stern or a Jon Stewart from ‘The Daily Show,’ or even if there would have been the kind of ‘Saturday Night Live’ we have today if it weren’t for him,” she said.
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Obituaries J.L.
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Max Adam Rigie, 30, of Princeton died on March 13. A U.S. Navy veteran, Petty Officer 3rd Class Rigie received Navy commendations and was a diver in the M.D.S.U., stationed at Pearl Harbor. He was the service manager of a Ford dealership in Princeton. He is survived by his father, Mitchell (Elizabeth); his mother, Nancy Crell; and his sisters, Amanda and Jenni Crell. Arrangements were by J. L. Apter Memorial Chapels of Cedar Grove.
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Beverly Betsy Kronen, 92, of West Orange died on February 5. Predeceased by her husband, Gilbert Leonard “Lenny,” she is survived by her children, Karen Mason (David) and Michael ( Julie), and 6 grandchildren. Arrangements were by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union.
*Graveside/SOP package includes professional charges, preparation, and local transportation. Does not include casket, vault, shroud and cash disbursements such as cemetery fees, death certificates, gratuities. Request our general price list. Call for details. Policies not accepted within a contestability period. Funds received from insurance company are irrevocably yours.
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Obituaries are prepared using information provided by funeral homes or families. It is the funeral homes’ or families’ responsibility to correct errors.
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36 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
...We Truly Care
The Frazzled Housewife
Kosher Crossword
“END OF 22” BY YONI GLATT [email protected] DIFFICULTY LEVEL: CHALLENGING
The art of candy
T
he Frazzled Housewife. With the pile of stuff that my kids didn’t like everything that has been going but I did, followed by the pile of stuff on, I am going to concentrate the kids couldn’t take to school but on getting back to my roots. went in our snack drawer. The final pile Why did I start writing this column? was the stuff that no one liked, but HusMy main goal was to try to make peoband #1 would bring to the office — trail ple laugh — either at me or with me. I mixes, weird flavored juices, anything have been very touched by the outbarbecue flavored, and the like. pouring of support (and the bagels and I always loved when the boys would croissants) for Husband #1. We apprecitake their piles and divide amongst ate your prayers and good wishes. That themselves, deciding who was getting being said, I would like to focus this what. It was so adorable, and for the week’s column on one of most part, their sharing my favorite topics — food. with each other was just You know you are getpriceless for me to watch. ting old when you come Again, young parents, home from me gillah treasure these moments — reading and there aren’t even the moments when bags upon bags of shalach they’re totally hopped up manot waiting for your on sugar and not listening children. For those of you to a thing you say, getting who don’t know what I sticky candy fingerprints Banji am talking about, on the all over the place and not Ganchrow holiday of Purim, part of going to sleep on time. It’s the celebration is giving all good, I promise. gifts of food to at least two Fortunately, my kids people. I always thought that there had and I have different tastes in candy. And to be at least two foods that required difforget about Husband #1. He only likes ferent blessings, but over the years, that plain Hershey’s chocolate. That is it. Not ruling has been questionable. Consult a nut, no caramel, forget about peanut your local rabbi because I don’t have a butter, just plain. Even a Hershey’s kiss clear answer. In any event, for me, and is pushing it because it isn’t shaped like for others I am sure, Purim was the hola rectangle. He is no fun at all when it iday of candy, candy, and more candy. comes to food, but that is OK. Less for The Jewish Halloween, if you will. him and more for his big wife. The boys There were always the clever parents enjoyed all kinds of Laffy Taffy’s, fruit who had a themed shalach manot. That by the foot, any chocolate that is shaped was always very impressive to me. I tried like something sports-related — baseballs, footballs, basketballs, and so on. to do that a few times — not very successfully I am sure. One year, I gave out sticky I only really had to fight for the stuff I candy and a toothbrush. That was probliked with Son #2, but because he has ably the most original. But every year, such a big heart, he usually let me win. This year, even with no kids home, we when my nest was full, the rule was that still got a fair amount of nosh. I waited every bag we got went on the kitchen for Dil #1 to come for Shabbos so I had table, and at the end of the day, we went someone to go through everything with. through them. It was always very heartwarming when the kitchen table was She is very good about humoring me spilling over with bags. with activities like that. We had an enterFor all of you young parents out taining time sorting through the goods, there, cherish these memories. Time though there was not one cholov yisroel goes so fast and before you know it, product among the rations. Bad for Dil your table is empty, and you are won#1, but good for Mil #1…hee hee hee. dering why you don’t have any friends… And for some reason, not one Snickers. Who had all of the Snickers? Other (Not talking about me this time. We than that, it was a lovely Purim, even were very blessed with some special with all of the real-life stuff going on. deliveries this year.) Looking forward to next year and a Going through the bags had a very Purim filled with true joy, Megillah Man unique system. There were five piles. laining all across the land, and lots of One pile was for the actual bags that chocolate with caramel nutty goodness. had no identifying stickers on them, so I could reuse them the following year. Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck is grateful (That is what happens when you marry to report that scan #1 was stable. Next a guy from Monsey. Or at least that is scan is in three weeks. Keep those good what happened to me.) Then there was thoughts coming for Husband #1 and the pile of stuff that could be used for all of those people who need those good school snacks (because I never followed thoughts as well… the “healthy snack” rule). Followed by
Across
Down
1. It comes before Behar 5. Do a bit of prep fighting 9. Half a semicolon 14. Lion feature 15. Gemara on a fast day 16. Possible cholent ingredient 17. *___ Cain (Biblical sign) 19. Bubba Gemara tractate 20. What some soccer games end in 21. He is Edom 23. It’s next to Wash. 24. “Her ways ___ ways of pleasantness” (Prov. 3:17) 25. Third degree, for short? 27. *Notable wife of a wicked man 30. Melbourne grill 32. Erev Shabbos letters 34. “Of course!” 35. Famous Lazarus 36. One-time Florentine currency 38. Pumas alternatives 40. *Part of the Jewish wedding process 43. Israel’s Ram and Monfort 46. Great Babylonian Rav 47. Misbehavers, in a cute way 51. Denizen down under 52. Did banking business 54. Sign near construction zone, often 56. *Composer Mahler 58. Reason for a princess’s insomnia 59. Colt fans, for short? 60. “Shecket!” 61. For one 64. Animals that surround Indiana Jones in “The Last Crusade” 66. One digging 68. March Madness achievement...or another title for this puzzle? 71. Philistine to an Israelite, often enough 72. Heading, as the leader board 73. ___ Hara 74. What yes men do 75. Where basketballs might bounce 76. Yom Kippur and Cold
1. Hatzolah letters 2. Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, with “the” 3. What Jimmy Carter served 4. Notes between do and fa 5. Participant in 76-Across: Abbr. 6. Elbowed, perhaps 7. “Famous” cookie prophet? 8. Spanish superstar in tennis, familiarly 9. Post-picnic trash, maybe 10. Live 11. Pass out face-up, maybe 12. (Camp) Moshava alternative 13. Santa follower 18. Jewish frat. 22. Israeli magazine holder 24. Honest Mount Rushmore man 26. Kept 28. Traditional Israeli singer Netzer 29. Owns 31. Produce babka 32. It’s quite important in a marriage 33. Bad cut 37. Composer Raichel 39. J.K. Rowling attribute, for short? 41. Any of the Galapagos 42. Part of a child’s game 43. Jacob had an injured one 44. Entertaining 45. Eponymous Jewish school in Livingston, New Jersey 48. Beloved Inigo of cinema 49. What a rodef is 50. Married woman in Mex. 53. Busy travel time, often 55. Disraeli’s noble rank 57. Yoni Glatt’s puzzles always have one 58. ___ Penh, Cambodia 62. Quite a distance away 63. Queens field 65. Two or three, say 66. Culpa preceder 67. Common Jewish bread 69. Exams for college cred. 70. ER pros
The solution to last week’s puzzle is on page 44 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 37
NJ-38
Editorial
Opinion
Cleanse Yad Vashem of corruption
Two realities
W
I
NJJN
t feels as if we are living in two different realities. One is ours, right here. When I walk my dogs early in the morning, I see the Hudson; it looks almost as if it’s lit from underneath, an otherworldly blue that starts just around daybreak and lasts a heartbreakingly short time. The moon’s still up, and this morning it was a quarter gone; I know that it’s waning, soon it will vanish, and then it will reappear. The next full moon, in three week’s time, will mark the first seder. But that’s in three weeks. This morning, the sun rises, and it gilds the huge freighters in the center of the river, and the sturdy, small-by-comparison tugboats that boss those massive freighters around. The flowering trees are starting to turn purple and the forsythias as showing yellow already. It’s springtime both by the calendar and in real life. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, horror unfolds. It seems impossible that this far into human history, one man, one monster, one maniac, can unleash so much pain and death. We watch videos of the explosions. We listen to the stories of the survivors, of the women who took their children to the border, of the elderly refugees, of the very old Holocaust survivors who once more have to escape from horror. How is this possible? We listen to the stories of the Jewish community leaders who went there, and we are vicariously proud of the organizations that set up structures to help the refugees. We hope that members of the community donate to the JDC, or to the local
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federation — the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, the Jewish Federation of Rockland County, the Jewish Federation of Greater Metro West — that will pass the funds along to where they are needed the most. Yes, we made this same ask last week, because despite Russia’s bigger army, greater cache of weapons, and larger supply of everything, it hasn’t won this war. The Ukrainians are holding on. That’s astonishing. But then we think of two Jewish Ukrainians who have been in the news during the last few years. One is its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The other is a Ukrainian-American Jew, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who came to this country as a child and has gone on to serve it with honor, integrity, and courage. With men like that representing the Ukrainian Jewish community, it’s not surprising that Ukraine has not given up. We watch them with pride and awe. We hope that Ukraine will prevail. Until then, and for as long as it’s –JP necessary, we will support it.
Editor Joanne Palmer Associate Editor Larry Yudelson Community Editor Beth Janoff Chananie Our Children Editor Heidi Mae Bratt
Publisher James L. Janoff
38 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
henever I walk through the halls of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem I am gripped by a sense of awe, foreboding, and trepidation. True, Jerusalem is not the place where the Holocaust took place, and I indeed visit Auschwitz, Krakow, and Warsaw on a regular basis. Yet Yad Vashem is the place where the victims of the Holocaust, the Jewish people, chose to most commemorate the genocide. You feel the presence of the six million in every artifact. The full tragedy of the 1.5 million murdered Jewish children is felt in every exhibit. The combination of being in the eternal Jewish homeland, where the Jews fought for their independence for 3000 years, mixed with the full horror of the HoloRabbi caust and the greatest Jewish human tragedy of all time, Shmuley is so overpowering as to Boteach be numbing. I feel greater reverence in Yad Vashem than I feel in a synagogue. I am careful about my language, my posture, and I am sure to show complete and utter reverence. But Yad Vashem is now in crisis, its credibility undermined significantly by Putin-tinged corruption. And Israel better do something about it before it becomes irreversible. I find it astonishing that Israel, on the one hand, so understands the importance of Yad Vashem that it brings every visiting head of state to the Holocaust memorial first, before even the Knesset or the Kotel. On the other hand, Israel has watched as Yad Vashem has slowly been bought and sold by Putin cronies and Russian oligarchs, using its unmatched credibility to whitewash their ill-gotten gains and ties to the foremost monster of the 21st century.
While it didn’t begin with the story of Roman Abramovich and Yad Vashem that has dominated the news recently, it’s a story worth focusing on to show the extent of the debasement of Israel’s most sacred institution, and why Yad Vashem’s leaders have to be held accountable and perhaps even replaced. Last month a story hit the international press that Roman Abramovich — whose ties to Vladimir Putin are lamentable given that he has otherwise shown significant Jewish pride — was giving an “eight-figure” donation to Yad Vashem. I immediately found it weird that the amount was being described in such cryptic terms, but it only got stranger from there. We suddenly heard that the new head of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan — whom I know from his stint as consul general of Israel in New York — had written a letter to the United States ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides, pleading that Abramovich not be sanctioned by the United States government as a crony of Putin. Was this because of his large donation to Yad Vashem, which had been made, I presume, a few days earlier, so that the foremost Jewish Holocaust memorial on earth would plead his case? Here is how the Washington Post, under the headline “Israel’s Holocaust museum is so dependent on a Russian oligarch that it wants to protect him from sanctions,” told the story. “Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial and museum, is embroiled in controversy after attempting to intervene in planned sanctions against Israeli Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, a longtime supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a letter to U.S.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach of Englewood is the author of 33 books, including most recently “Holocaust Holiday: One Family’s Descent into Genocide Memory Hell.” Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @RabbiShmuley.
Correspondents Warren Boroson Lois Goldrich Banji Ganchrow Abigail K. Leichman Miriam Rinn Dr. Miryam Z. Wahrman Advertising Director Natalie D. Jay
Account Executives Nancy Karpf Lauri Sirois Peggy Elias Robin Frizzell Brenda Sutcliffe Administrative Assistant Jenna Sutcliffe International Media Placement P.O. Box 7195 Jerusalem 91077 Tel: 02-6252933, 02-6247919 Fax: 02-6249240 Israeli Representative
Production Manager Jerry Szubin Graphic Artists Deborah Herman Kelly Forbes
Opinion Ambassador Tom Nides, Yad Vashem … asked that the United States not sanction Abramovich, a major donor to the memorial and … that sanctioning him would cause harm to Jewish institutions … said Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. He said Abramovich was the museum’s second-largest private donor, after the late Sheldon Adelson and his widow, Miriam.” How embarrassing for Yad Vashem. And how utterly unfair to the Adelsons. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson supported Yad Vashem and became its single largest donors for no other reason than they cherish the memory of the six million. For Dani Dayan to have put them in the same sentence as Abramovich — who seems to have been seeking sanctions relief — is a disgrace. I have spoken to Miri many times about the more than 80 members of her family who were murdered in Poland during the Holocaust — her mother essentially was the family’s sole survivor, since she had made aliyah to the holy land before the war. This year at our World Values Network annual gala at Carnegie Hall, Elie Wiesel’s wife, Marion, and his son, Elisha, presented to Sheldon Adelson, posthumously, our organization’s highest honor, the Light of the Jewish People award, which Miri accepted on his behalf. It reflected the incredible esteem in which Sheldon was held by those who most cherish Holocaust memory. In 2015 Sheldon had presented the same award to the world’s most famous survivor of the Holocaust at our gala in Times Square, just a year before Elie’s passing. For the head of Yad Vashem to group together the names of the Adelsons with a cohort of a mass murderer is an affront to the foremost Jewish philanthropists of our time. But Dani Dayan’s letter raised further questions. Did the Abramovich donation come with explicit strings? Were the strings demanding that the memory of the six million be leveraged to protect a close associate of the man murdering babies in Ukraine? Did Dayan really agree to these terms? Who else on the board of Yad Vashem could have possibly sanctioned this move, to defile the memory of our six million martyrs for cash? Is Yad Vashem for sale? And finally, what kind of oversight does Yad Vashem have? Is it not a sacred trust for all the Jewish people, or can its politically appointed leadership do whatever the hell they want? This follows an unfortunate pattern over the past few years of Israel and Yad Vashem placating Vladimir Putin. When it comes to Naftali Bennet not going full throttle on condemning the Russian monster, there is at least the excuse that Israel effectively shares a border with
Putin in Syria and Israel risks compromising its security by angering the vindictive Russian strongman. Personally, I believe this is a poor excuse for one of the world’s most moral and majestic countries to do the right thing. But at least the issue is debatable. But what debate is there for the most important Jewish Holocaust museum in the world to placate a murderer other than the fact that his cronies, the oligarchs, are trying to buy Holocaust credibility through donations? Two years ago, just a month before the covid-19 lockdowns, I traveled to Auschwitz for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp by the Soviet Red Army in January 1945. There were almost no Israeli officials present. Instead, Israel and Yad Vashem had organized a separate commemoration, just days earlier, in Jerusalem. Now, Yad Vashem is, as I’ve said, the most important Jewish Holocaust memorial on earth. But it was not Jerusalem where one million Jews were gassed to death but Auschwitz. So why did Israel put on a commemoration that directly challenged — and some would say belittled — the commemoration at the actual death camp? It turns out that Russian oligarch Moshe Kantor had funded the Jerusalem event through his World Holocaust Forum Foundation. For years Kantor has been accused of being a stooge of Putin, and indeed the Russian dictator not only attended the event but it seems, given his hatred of Poland and Polish detestation of him, would never have traveled to Auschwitz. Here is how the Jewish Telegraphic Agency described the controversy. “Kantor has faced allegations for years of being a Putin stooge — something that Kantor and his media team have dismissed as gossip tinged with racism. What is known about Kantor’s ties to Russia is that he heads the multinational agrochemicals giant Acron Group, which is based in Russia … Kantor is that country’s 27th richest person with a fortune of $3.8 billion, according to Forbes.” At the time of the 75th Auschwitz commemoration, President Andrzej Duda of Poland, who was not invited to address the memorial in Israel, asked, “How is it possible that the ones who speak are the presidents of Germany, Russia, and France — whose government back then sent people, Jews, to concentration camps — whereas the president of Poland is not allowed to speak?” To be sure, the Red Army liberated Auschwitz, and millions of Russians died fighting Hitler and the Nazis. Their sacrifice can never be forgotten. But aside from Putin’s own evil, he also represented a country whose initial deal with Hitler in August of 1939 made possible the German attack on SEE BOTEACH PAGE 42
The opinions expressed in this section are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the newspaper’s editors, publishers, or other staffers. We welcome letters to the editor. Send them to [email protected]
Being present
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was doing awesomely (!!!!!) and find it really difficult to stay all that awesome stuff. Even as we present. As someone who wiggled one after the other, like ruminates and reminisces human-sized earthworms, through about the past, or despairs human-sized earthworm passageand daydreams about the future, ways, I talked her through with I have very little headspace for thoughts of rainbows and unicorns being in the moment. People and the huge chocolate milkshakes speak of mindfulness and I pretend to know what they’re talking we would get later on that evening. about. People talk about meditaSo we went on our merry way, tion and I tell them about that one wearing our hard hats with those time I took yoga in college. cute little lights attached to the There are some exceptions, front to make sure that we didn’t though, times when the moment is smack our heads into a wall or all there is. One is when I’m writing slide down into some abyss, never and have returned to to be heard from my zone, a meditative again. And it was safe space in which I all dwarves marching through tunnels can exist for hours, under the Misty until I finally look up Mountains of Midand realize that it’s dle-Earth until we got almost sunrise and to a point where you I’ve been writing all had to pull yourself through the night. Dena Croog up/push yourself off Another is that small a slippery wall while gift that happens too contorting your body infrequently, every sideways to get through what the other year maybe, when I finally Israeli guides aptly dubbed “the get to the beach, plant my feet into birth canal.” the wet sand, and let my breath One of the guides, laughing to rise and fall with the tide as I slowly himself out loud, helped each perinhale and exhale the ocean. son along, one by one. That was And then there’s what happened one of those points where you while I was on a mother-daughter now understand why any other bat mitzvah trip in Israel a few civilized country would make you years ago—the time I experienced sign a waiver. My daughter, no lonthe tranquility and oneness of a ger anxious, got through just fine. single moment amidst an adventure that was anything but serene. Me, not so much. What happened was that we As I struggled to get traction off were supposed to go to the Salt my 10-years-past-expiration-date Caves by the Dead Sea one afterratty old sneakers, while simultanoon, but since it was going to neously clawing my fingers into rain in Jerusalem that morning handholds that didn’t exist using and would become too dangerous upper body strength that also due to flooding, the location was didn’t exist, I decided that spelunking was not for me. After a changed last minute to the Tekoa little while struggling, I kind of caves. It was a choice that, while stopped to rest and appreciate my certainly exciting for a teen tour in surroundings. The way I figured it, 1995, should’ve been given more the guide would get me out of my thought for our group of tween predicament eventually. I mean, girls and 30- and 40-somethingother people were behind me and year-old moms. But it was invigorating all the same, especially the I was the bottleneck, so he kind of hike along the side of a cliff to get had to. I didn’t panic those two minto the cave. utes I was trapped inside that My daughter was nervous birth canal. I was pretty calm, going into the cave, so I sucked actually, frozen in time, stuck up my mild claustrophobia and inside myself in the moment exclaimed how awesome the thinking, “Hmm, so here I am.” adventure was (!!!) and how awesome she was (!!!!) and how she SEE CROOG PAGE 42 Dena Croog is a writer and editor in Teaneck and the founder of Refa’enu, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mood disorder awareness and support. Learn about the organization and its support groups at www. refaenu.org, or email [email protected] with questions or comments. NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 39
Opinion
The pink building
H
ome is where we live. Often it’s shared with family. It’s the place we kick off our shoes and relax. It’s a place packed with emotion and nostalgia, a place we will leave at some point, hopefully of our own volition. Being forcibly removed from home is a dreadful punishment. It threatens our stability. It removes our independence and security. Like a raging river, we are suddenly out of control. I’m going to tell you now about a home where everyone was dispossessed, with no warning and no place to go. It is a building leveled by Russian terror, a building that did not survive. It is now hollow, with only the silent sounds of echoes and memories. We can impute its story. We Rosanne cannot reliably relate it. Skopp You’ve seen the photo. We’ve all seen it. It’s on TV and in daily newspapers. It’s on our computer screens. It’s a gracious and lovely building situated in Kyiv or Kharkiv or one of those other cities whose names now roll off our tongues. It was clearly built to attract the well-to-do. There is expensive decorative molding on the exterior, placed there only to add beauty. On every floor, in what
I conclude to be the living rooms, there are beautiful arched bay windows, seemingly perfect for a custom velvet loveseat or perhaps two well-worn club chairs that would face the street so that people can sit indoors, protected against the elements outside, while watching the world stroll by. They can see if the weather is inviting or snowy and bitter cold, while they are being comfortably heated and cooled by central units in each apartment. When I enlarge my photo I can see inside a bit. I see refrigerators, white, broken, not yet part of the movement to stainless steel that is so ubiquitous here in America. And I see fragments of daily living, a torn piece of upholstered fabric, snips of carpet, splinters of wood. Everything more significant is left to my imagination. There is nothing left except the shell of the building, the shells of the owners’ lives and homes. And their recall of much better times in the beautiful pink building. I browse through stylish online Ukrainian furniture manufacturers and I see wonderful contemporary design, expensive and colorful, all locally produced. I
could furnish a stunning 21st century apartment in that building with that furniture. Snappy kitchens featuring this year’s featured color, periwinkle blue. As a real estate broker, I would describe the building as an elegant, upscale luxury tower in a busy neighborhood, close to excellent schools, fine shopping, and transportation. I wonder if any of the building’s former occupants are Jewish. Thousands of Jews can still be found in Ukraine’s largest cities, although the number is muddied by halacha and self-identification. The great Choral Synagogue in Kharkiv, for example, recently sheltered more than 100 Jews in the basement of its 1913 Romano-Gothic building. Were any of them escapees from the ruins of the pink building? Perhaps. Perhaps a neighborhood Jewish family living in the pink building prepared for a bar mitzvah in that beautiful shul. Perhaps another family welcomed a new son with a brit milah ceremony right in their sumptuous apartment. Or did a bride get ready for her wedding in one of its bedrooms? It’s hard to think of celebrating in the midst of total destruction. I do not know if any lives were lost during the attack that destroyed the building. It’s hard to imagine that everyone, or anyone, could have escaped.
The Ukrainian Jew who saved Yiddish music from oblivion
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a long time many feared were lost. The ate last year, months before film details how they and other matea Russian missile landed near rial were recovered and made their way the Babyn Yar memorial outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, the to the Vernadsky National Library of site’s foundation announced plans for a Ukraine, where they have been digitized. new museum to honor the 33,771 Jews They are a treasure trove for scholars the Nazis slaughtered there in Septemand musicians who want to preserve and ber 1941. resurrect a culture that Natan Sharansky, chair of was nearly wiped out. “Nobody else did any the memorial’s supervisory projects like this, of colboard, described Babyn Yar lecting that much music as a “symbol of attempts to and writing that much destroy the memory of the about it,” Mark Slobin, Holocaust,” and said that an American ethnomuthe new institution would sicologist, says in the be called the Museum of film. Slobin’s collecthe History of Oblivion. Andrew tions of Beregovsky’s “The History of Oblivion” Silow-Carroll work were key to the would make an appropriate klezmer revival of the alternative title for “Song past 40 years. “Nobody Searcher,” a new documentary about Moyshe Beregovsky, the Jewdid a project like that in Poland when ish folklorist and ethnomusicologist who the culture was alive. Nobody did it traveled his native Ukraine in the 1930s in these other places where the Jews and ’40s collecting Yiddish folk music lived. So it stands as a monument not and klezmer songs. Before World War II, just to where he worked in Ukraine, Beregovsky shlepped primitive recordbut for the whole population of Easting equipment on his visits to then ern European Jewish culture.” Various klezmer musicians are seen still-vital shtetls throughout the region. in the film, playing the songs that BerDuring and after the war, he found and egovsky collected. Many of the songs interviewed residents and survivors of reflect the misery of the Jewish expeghettos in Chernivtsi and Vinnytsia. The voices that he captured are heard rience under the Soviets, the Nazis, on 1,017 scratchy wax cylinders that for and the Soviets again. Even a so-called 40 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
“humorous” song — sung here by Psoy Korolenko, a puckish Yiddish singer from Russia — is a revenge fantasy about confronting Hitler after the war. The film never loses sight of the incalculable human toll of the Holocaust in Ukraine. Survivors who were children during the war tell of the horrors of the forced marches, the suffering in the ghettos, and the grim fate of the Jews in Transnistria, who were spared the concentration camps but were starved and shot to death by German and Romanian occupiers. There are also rare color photographs of the slaughter at Babyn Yar, one of many moments when the pictures and stories of trapped civilians and desperate refugees blur with this morning’s headlines out of Ukraine. But the history, like today’s headlines, is head-swirling as you try to keep track of the shifting occupations and the various degrees of villainy. The Soviets are celebrated as the liberators of Auschwitz, but almost immediately turn on the Jews. Their targets included Beregovsky, who by this time had founded or led a slew of important and perfectly legal academic institutions in Russia and Ukraine: a Cabinet for Research on Jewish Literature, Language, and Folklore; the Archives for Jewish Folk Music; the Cabinet for Music Ethnography and Audio Recording at the
Kiev Conservatory. He had even received his Ph.D. from the Moscow Conservatory, with a dissertation on Jewish instrumental folk music. By 1949, such Jewish ethnic activities were considered “cosmopolitan” by the Soviets, and Beregovsky was shipped off to Siberia, where he joined other slave laborers in building a railroad. Already a grandfather, he found some solace in leading the prison camp’s choir, and the film includes snippets of letters he wrote home to his wife Sara in Kyiv, asking her to send — what else? — sheet music. Beregovsky was able to return to Kyiv after the death of Stalin, where he was able to arrange his private archive before cancer killed him in 1961. What was preserved? What was lost? And what might still be lost as the current war grinds on? Much of the film was shot in Ukraine in 2019 and 2020, with the camera lingering on Kyiv’s pastel-colored academic buildings, the lazy Dnipro River, and the waving wheat in the country’s bread basket. You recall this is a pre-war Ukraine, and then realize you are thinking back about three and half weeks. Jews have a complicated history with Ukraine. (How complicated? The filmmakers acknowledge the “generous support” of Roman Abramovich, the Russian Jewish oligarch who is being hit
Opinion
I can imagine when the building was brand new and the new occupants were moving in, perhaps 30 or 40 years ago. They brought with them their hopes, plans, aspirations, and dreams. They came with infants who are now middle-aged. They themselves may be now relocated to senior residences. Or beyond. But, on moving-in day, they brought their furniture, their paintings and wall decorations, their silver and carpets, their books, their mementos, the artifacts of their lives, especially many things of which they were exceptionally proud. They filled the apartments with themselves and they faced each day with optimism, sure that this new home would be a happy and tranquil place. They never expected to seek shelter eventually in subways. For many years, no doubt, the pink building was such a place. There were the joys of life and the defeats of life. The halls echoed with the sound of babies crying, and the elderly moaning, and the children running, and the lovers laughing, while normal life continued beyond it. It was a secure, well-constructed building that welcomed its occupants and called itself home to all of them. Regardless of where the day had taken them, when they entered the lavishly adorned lobby
they felt themselves to be safe and at home. The building itself never disappointed. It was built of stone and felt safe and secure. Indestructible. Many years ago, when my Israeli brother-in-law Zeev first came to visit us in America, he was nervous about sleeping in our home. He was a fighter in the IDF and a refugee from the Nazis. What could frighten him in our suburban single-family house? The neighborhood was safe and the house was very comfortable. He confessed the problem to us. He was afraid to sleep in a building made of wood. He likened it to straw or paper, a fire-trap. In the town in Romania where he was born, buildings were stone. The same was true in Israel, where he lived most of his life. In Europe, he knew, as did I, buildings were built to be indestructible. A building wasn’t built for 50 or even 100 years. It was built to be permanent. And so it was with the pink building, built to last. But it didn’t. It should have but it didn’t. Russian soldiers came, by tank, and foot, and air, and bombed our pink building so that it was a miracle that even the skeletal remains still stood. They sent powerful rockets that gutted the homes of those who loved living there. It left them bereft, homeless, without the anchors of their friends, their neighbors,
and their belongings, some of which undoubtedly were family heirlooms going back generations. And it left many of them with nowhere to go, nowhere to rest at night. It left them with only one thing. Overwhelming fear. And this is the price of war against the innocent. And we here are impotent. I weep for lives torn asunder. But like you, what can I do? I fear a world war, a horrible way to stop a war for sure. I know one thing, though. When this is over, I wish to go to Ukraine and see that building and watch it being rebuilt. I want to see the homecomings and hear laughter mixed in with the tears, the infinite number of tears that were shed. And I want to join with the survivors and memorialize those who remain lost and put brass stones on the sidewalk in front of the building, the pink building, with the names of those still not found and the dates of their lives. The only thing I can do is remember. The same is true for you. Rosanne Skopp of West Orange is a wife, mother of four, grandmother of 14, and great-grandmother of three. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and a dual citizen of the United States and Israel. She is a lifelong blogger, writing blogs before anyone knew what a blog was!
“Nobody else did any projects like this, of collecting that much music and writing that much about it.”
Moyshe Beregovsky’s photo is surrounded by a few of the documents and sheet music he collected in his vast archive of Yiddish folk and klezmer songs. COURTESY JEWISH MUSIC FORUM
with a slew of international sanctions thanks to his close ties with Vladimir Putin.) Perhaps one and a half million Jews were killed there. They were the victims of the Nazis, but also of the Germans’ local collaborators. Once home to the second largest Jewish population in Europe, and still a place where more than 40,000 Jews live, the country also can be seen as a vast Jewish graveyard. And yet its Jewish culture was as central to the country’s identity and
self-understanding as it was to the Jews’, as scholars in the film explain. As I write this, Ukrainian culture as a whole literally is under fire. A museum was razed in Ivankiv. Kharkiv’s Central Square is a war zone. Lviv is bracing for the worst by packing sandbags around public sculptures and hiding museum collections. “The heritage war for identity means that the target is not only territory or some military or civil objects,” Ihor
Poshyvalio, the director of the Maidan Museum in Kyiv, told PBS NewsHour on Thursday. “The target is our historical memory, our cultural traditions, our national and individual identity, our memory and identity as a nation.” The historical memory of the Jews was saved from oblivion by the survivors,
and by a dogged little man who was rewarded for his troubles with a prison term. “Song Searcher” ends on a note that is neither hopeful nor despairing — or maybe it is both. Igor Polesitsky, a violist and klezmer from Florence, sits near the graves of his slain Jewish relatives in Kalinindorf, once a Jewish agricultural colony in southern Ukraine. “Look around here, there’s nothing Jewish remaining,” he says, after playing a requiem preserved by Beregovsky. “The one thing that truly remains is what was saved by Moyshe Beregovsky. So his archive is what brings us here, and we become a link with the spirit of people who are no longer with us.” JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
Andrew Silow-Carroll of Teaneck is the editor in chief of the New York Jewish Week and senior editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He is the former editor in chief and CEO of the New Jersey Jewish News. NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022 41
Opinion Boteach FROM PAGE 39
Poland and the outbreak of World War II. That, of course, does not change the incredible story of heroism exhibited by the Russian people in the wake of Hitler’s invasion in June 1942. But at the subsequent event in Jerusalem, amazingly, a film was shown, made by Yad Vashem, that distorted history in order to placate Putin. Yad Vashem was heavily criticized for going overboard in emphasizing the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazism, and purging the historical record of information that Putin might find objectionable. In a letter sent later to the Israeli press, Yad Vashem apologized for presenting content that “distorted” historical facts at the World Holocaust Forum that depicted Russia as essentially the sole victor over Hitler. Yad Vashem acknowledged “inaccuracies” and “partial presentation of facts,” which “created an unbalanced impression.” Yad Vashem’s videos made it seem that Russia almost alone had defeated Germany. They downplayed the enormous sacrifice of the fighting men and women of the United States, the U.K., and other allied nations. Most of all the videos completely omitted any mention of the Molotov— Ribbentrop pact that preceded the war, where Hitler gave Stalin large parts of
Perlmutter FROM PAGE 11
Taking care of his business never stopped Mr. Perlmutter from engaging in service to the Jewish community. That became clear in 1959, when he received the Julius and Betsy Cohn Award, which was given by what was then called UJA but is now the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. The award recognizes potential in up-and-coming Jewish leaders. Much of Mr. Perlmutter’s passion for meeting the needs of the Jewish community was centered on JVS. Early on, he saw how important it was to create a student loan program for young people who could not pay for their college education after they’d exhausted all resources available to them. Mr. Perlmutter was instrumental in founding that program at JVS 44 years ago. “He was the one behind it,” Michael Andreas, JVS’s executive director, said. “He wanted students to be able to reach their educational goals.” When asked why making student loans were so important to her husband, Ruth Perlmutter said it was personal and a way for him to pay back. “He felt it was important that they should have the opportunity to continue their education as he had.”
eastern Poland if the Russian strongman allowed the Nazi dictator to invade the west. Let us also not forget that at the time Putin was invited to speak in Jerusalem he already had collaborated in the slaughter of some 600,000 Syrians, whose only crime was to fight the brutal regime of Bashar Assad in an attempt to gain freedom from the tyrant. What’s the takeaway of all this? Yad Vashem is Israel’s most hallowed memorial. It should never be politicized, and Holocaust memory should never be sold to the highest bidder. It’s time for Israel to clean house at the venerated Holocaust museum. While its chairman can be nominated by political leaders, it should be vetted by a group of world-class Israeli historians of the Holocaust, and most importantly, by survivors, who should be given veto power to make sure it is chaired by people of impeccable character and professionalism. And Yad Vashem must act with complete transparency, making it absolutely clear to any and all donors that while funding Holocaust memory is of monumental significance, no favors whatsoever will be afforded to those who do so, aside from the recompense of the unparalleled mitzvah of never forgetting those whose sacred tomb is subsequent generation’s memory.
Mr. Andreas, who lives in Roseland and has been at JVS for the last eight years, speaks of Mr. Perlmutter in glowing as well as respectful terms. “During covid, Ben would call just to check in,” he said. “He’d want to know how I was doing, how JVS was doing, and especially how the student loan program was doing. He was such a gentle man. He was a real big part of the success of JVS.” Mr. Perlmutter was on JVS’s board for decades and was its president from 1973 to 1975. “Every year that we went through the process of accepting candidates for the distribution of loans, he would be very much involved in vetting the applications, setting up meetings, and chairing them,” Mr. Andreas said. “He always wanted to make sure that people were taken care of. “Ben was one of those people who would come to a board meeting and sit on the side. There’d be conversations, give and take. But as soon as Ben spoke up, everyone got silent. Everyone listened to what Ben had to say. Because he knew JVS, they knew what he had to say mattered.” Although others might have left community service behind after they retired,
42 NEW JERSEY JEWISH NEWS MARCH 25, 2022
Croog FROM PAGE 39
And I didn’t analyze the fact that I was being present. I simply was. It was only after I managed to get free (once the guide stopped laughing at me) and was sitting in the large cavern with half of the group waiting for the other slowpokes to catch up that the delayed reaction of nausea and feeling faintish set in. It’s happened to me many times before and is called a vasovagal reaction (though my husband likes to call it a pizza-bagel reaction). After telling the other guide, who’s also a medic, that I wasn’t feeling too good, only to have him wave it off with a, “Ah, you’re ok, you’re ok,” he finally took me seriously when I staggered off to the side and started to “get sick” for like, probably, the same amount of time I was stuck. I sat down for a few minutes while the medic checked my pulse and told me absurd jokes to get the color back into my face. Eventually we got out of the cave, scaled back along the edge of the cliff, and reached the point where we had originally been given our hard hats. The guides drove me up to the tour bus at the top of the hill, while those other losers had to walk it themselves. As amusing as it is to tell that story after the fact, when I think about it part of me actually wants to be back
Mr. Perlmutter continued to be deeply engaged in it. He was involved in the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, which offers senior living options in Essex and Morris counties, and served on the board of Hebrew Free Loan, as his father had. He was a chair of the Maplewood Economic Commission and a founder of the Society of Musical Arts, which helped bring live classical performances to local venues. According to his wife, he hadn’t been interested in classical music but still saw its value to the community. “The entire community knew who my father was,” Risa Goldstein, one of his daughters, said. “He touched so many people. He was involved in the community in every possible way that he could be.” Quoting notes the family received after her father’s death and during shiva, she said, “If my father heard people were having a hard time, with whatever it was, he would say, ‘How can I help you?’” Ben Perlmutter’s survivors include his wife, Ruth; his daughters Risa Goldstein and Amy Perlmutter; two grandsons, Adam and Hannah Goldstein, and his son-in-law, Eli Goldstein. They also include legions of friends and admirers. His life was truly well lived.
there in that cave, in that “birth canal,” feeling that brief moment of serenity when I stopped struggling and simply was. That spot in between worlds, that moment of metamorphosis from being a fetus in the womb to a baby brought to life — a moment that you can’t even anticipate because you have no idea what comes next. You have no idea what you’re in for on the other side. It makes me wonder if what I really mean to achieve by staying present is to recreate that same sense of suspended time, that moment before life picks up again. A strange thought, maybe. But to me, having gone through that experience of comfortable “stuckness,” I came out of that cave feeling like a different person. Reborn, if you will. And so back to being an adult: zoning out while writing in a meditative state, hearing the sound of waves crashing against the shore, feeling the water and sand swishing between my toes, being stuck inside a crevice in the middle of a cave during a spelunking trip for which I did not sign a waiver. Maybe all these experiences are soothing because they are moments of serenity that exist in their own realm of time or place, where the future is full of possibilities but also beside the point. A state of being where a person simply “is.” Maybe that’s what it means to be present.
Letters Refuah shlema, Husband #1 Banji Ganchrow has been through a lot these past few weeks but she manages to express her worry simultaneously with her optimism, a pretty tricky thing to do. (“It’s not brain surgery,” March 18.) I’m a big fan of hers and wish her husband a refuah shlema. Rosanne Skopp, West Orange
Not triggering a response
About Joseph Kaplan’s complaint about there being no institutional orthodox condemnations of Putin. (“Say it now,” March 18.) There is a deep vested Jewish presence in Russia. They can’t say anything that could trigger a terrible response against Russian Jews and organizations in Russia from a “possibly unhinged” dictator. I’m sure these American institutions are intelligent enough to realize this and issued their statements accordingly. Surprised that this wasn’t at least mentioned. Abe Deutsch, Teaneck
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