Jtnews | November 27, 2009

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november 27, 2009 10 kislev 5770

n Hand Painted Dreidels by Yair Emanuel

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December Family Calendar For complete details about these and other upcoming JFS events and workshops, please visit our website: www.jfsseattle.org For the community

For parents

Bringing Baby Home

AA Meetings at JFS

For Expecting Couples and Those with Babies and Toddlers Keep your couple relationship strong while also being the best parenting team possible! m Four sunday mornings starting January 17th Held in Seattle Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]

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PEPS A New Partnership with JFS! PEPS is now offering a peer support group experience for parents of newborns within a culturally sensitive context. Jewish and interfaith parents are invited to join us! Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected] or go to http://www. pepsgroup.org/register-for-peps/jfs.

Mom2Mom Provides ideas, support and connections to 1st or 2nd time moms through peer mentorship. Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]

For children oF aging parents

Understanding Changes in Our Aging Parents: A Focus on Dementia & Memory Loss Part of the Caring for Our Aging Parents Workshop Series m december 7 (monday) 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Held at BCMH in Seward Park, Seattle Advance registration encouraged. $10/person. Scholarships available; please ask if interested. Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]

Volunteer to make a diFFerence! For details, please see Volunteer Opportunities on our website, or contact Jane Deer-Hileman, Director of Volunteer Services, (206) 861-3155 or [email protected]

1601 - 16th avenue, seattle (206) 461-3240

tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. JFS, 1601 – 16th Ave, Seattle Contact Eve M. Ruff, (206) 861-8782 or [email protected]

Latkes Taste Great with Everything! Chanukah Potluck for Interfaith Couples & Families Blending two tastes together is part of being an interfaith family. Join us for this special dinner with a chance for discussion and songs to get you ready for Chanukah and the winter holidays. We will provide kosher potato pancakes and a dessert; please bring a vegetarian dish to share. m december 5 (saturday) 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Held at Montlake Community Center 1618 East Calhoun Street, Seattle Advance registration required. Contact Emily Harris-Shears, (206) 861-8784 or [email protected]

JKIDS Hanukkah Pajama Jam The Hanukkah Pajama Jam promises to be a fun afternoon with a concert, snacks, stories, arts and crafts-and parents have the opportunity to attend a special parent seminar facilitated by JFS. m december 6 (sunday) 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way, Mercer Island Check out http://www.jewishinseattle.org/newsevents/events/jkids-hanukkah-pajama-jam for more information.

Latkes & Applesauce: Chanukah Fest 09 Taste an assortment of olive oils, potato pancakes and applesauce, delicious donuts, and other treats. Donations of cooking oil are welcomed to help others have a tasty holiday! m december 9 (Wednesday) 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Whole Foods, Roosevelt Square, Seattle Free ($1 for wine and beer tasting) Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected] Open to anyone who loves to eat, so please join us! Shaarei Tikvah: Gates of Hope

A Chanukah Celebration for People of All Abilities A community-wide nondenominational celebration for everyone in the community, including persons with developmental disabilities or persistent mental illness, their families and friends. Great for all ages! Led by Cantor David Serkin-Poole. m december 13 (sunday) 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. FREE. Registration encouraged Temple B’nai Torah 15727 NE 4th Street, Bellevue Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]. To discuss special accommodations, please contact us by December 2.

For JeWish Women Programs of Project DVORA (Domestic Violence Outreach, Response & Advocacy) are free of charge.

Hanukkah Celebration For Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse Join Project DVORA and spiritual leader Ruz Gulko for an afternoon of food, discussion, ritual and song. m sunday, december 13 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Confidential location. Contact Project DVORA, (206) 461-3240 or [email protected]

Kids Club Helping Children Who Have Witnessed Domestic Violence A 12-week series of classes for mothers and their children aged 9-12. FREE Registration deadline is January 5, 2010. Contact Project DVORA, (206) 461-3240 or [email protected] for dates, times and location.

For adults age 60+

Endless Opportunities A community-wide program offered in partnership with Temple B’nai Torah & Temple De Hirsch Sinai. EO events are free and open to the public.

Ready or Not, Here Comes Winter! With Debbie Goetz, Emergency Preparedness Training Specialist for the City of Seattle m december 8 (tuesday) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Temple De Hirsch Sinai 3850 156th Avenue SE, Bellevue

A Musical Chanukah Celebration with The Shalom Ensemble december 17 (thursday) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Temple B’nai Torah 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue m

Crossing Cultural Barriers – A Musical Journey to Sub-Saharan Africa With Barbara Reeder Lundquist, Professor Emeritus of Music Education m december 22 (tuesday) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Temple De Hirsch Sinai-Foyer 1441 16th Ave., Seattle RSVP Ellen Hendin, (206) 861-3183 or [email protected] regarding all Endless Opportunities programs. JFS programs and workshops are made possible through generous community support of

to donate, please visit www.jfsseattle.org

vol. 85, no. 25

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10 kislev 5770

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jtnews.net

news

the voice of jewish washington

Courtesy The Jewish Day School

Earlier this month, the 3rd grade class at the Jewish Day School presented the school with a peace mural, titled “Peace is in Our Hands.” The class created a presentation about how the school’s students should be accepting of each others’ differences and work toward peace. The mural is posted outside JDS’ athletic center for each student to sign.

Jewish community notification network seeks to go nationwide Editor, JTNews It’s a program that has caught the attention of the highest echelons of the Department of Homeland Security. SAFE Washington, a unique emergency alert system created by and implemented in the Puget Sound region’s Jewish community, has been helpful in not only giving the 40 member organizations immediate warnings about criminal incidents against local agencies, but also as a first defense against public health threats. “When we have communicated and shared knowledge about things that have happened right on our campuses, we have been able to better protect our organizations,” said Larry Broder, executive director of Temple De Hirsch Sinai and a member of SAFE Washington’s core leadership team. Members of SAFE Washington met with a group of law enforcement officials on Nov. 20 to explain the system as well as to get feedback on ways they can improve communication and notification across jurisdictions. Jeff Slotnick, president of security company Setracon and a founder of SAFE Washington, outlined the program to the officials, representatives from the cities of Seattle, Bellevue and Mercer Island as well as from the King County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. The program, he said, utilizes communications systems within the state and nationwide to ascertain whether there might be any threat — be it physical, technological or viral — that would require further action. While created for Seattle’s Jewish community, Slotnick said, it can be taken to any ethnic, religious or other type of discrete community. “We’re opening it up as a model for any community to replicate this,” Slotnick said. There is “no cost to the community. All it takes is commitment and time.” Though SAFE Washington’s genesis is based in the aftermath of the shooting at the Jewish Federation of

Greater Seattle in 2006, Slotnick said conversations about building something like it had been occurring prior. “We found out there’s a much wider need for disaster resilience,” Slotnick said. “We had no means of communication in case of a heightened disaster.” A briefing on the coalition has reached the chief of staff of Homeland Security, Slotnick told JTNews. That could allow the program here to be replicated anywhere. The Seattle Archdiocese is currently looking at implementing a version of SAFE Washington, he said. SAFE Washington now includes 40 Jewish organizations and synagogues, from Everett to the north to Tacoma to the south. Since even before the shooting, the Federation, which maintains SAFE Washington, disbursed money from Homeland Security to apply to security measures, including training in learning best practices. “We need that protocol,” Broder said. “We need to know exactly what to do.” Organizations have received anywhere from $14,000 to $408,000 since 2005. SAFE Washington is connected to several communications sources, including the Washington Interfaith Disaster Recovery Organization and the Northwest Warning, Alert and Response Network, a collaboration of government and private entities that deal with security and disaster preparedness. Were it not for the NW WARN system letting SAFE Washington in, “we would not be here today,” Slotnick said. Broder said that since the system came online in September 2008 he sees more activity, but that might also be due to people actually paying attention. “The more you test, the more you find,” he said. “Whenever we have an inkling that there’s an issue that should be reported, we get that out.” Temple De Hirsch Sinai’s Seattle facility, which straddles Seattle’s Capitol Hill and Central District neighborhoods, is

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j e w i s h

JTA World News Service WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama said that within the next few weeks, the United States and other world powers would be formulating new sanctions on Iran. “They have been unable to get to ‘yes,’ and so as a consequence, we have begun discussions with our international partners about the importance of having consequences,” Obama said Nov. 19 at a news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, according to media reports. “Our expectation is, is that over the next several weeks we will be developing a package of potential steps that we could take that will indicate our seriousness to Iran,” Obama said. Obama’s statement comes after Iran rejected a proposal to ship its low-enriched uranium abroad so it could be made into fuel for medical purposes — which would have delayed Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapon. On Nov. 20, representatives of the U.S. met with Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany in Brussels and afterwards urged Iran to reconsider the enriched uranium proposal. “We are disappointed by the lack of follow-up on the three understandings” in the proposed deal, said senior European official Robert Cooper. “We urge Iran to reconsider the opportunity offered by this agreement,” said a statement released after the meeting, “and to engage seriously with us in dialogue and negotiations.” The countries said they would hold their next meeting before the end of the year.

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< page 17 Food, glorious food. page 14 Bringing a message home.

JTA Staff

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M.O.T.: Member of the Tribe Community Calendar What’s Your JQ? Winter books Lifecycles The Shouk Classifieds

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Joel Magalnick

Obama: New Iran sanctions coming within weeks

jew-ish.com

p u b l i c a t i o n

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viewpoints

The need to fill the holes Concerted effort required to meet demand for educators Jehuda Reinharz JTA World News Service WALTHAM, Mass. (JTA) — The Talmud teaches that if a king of Israel dies, all Jews are eligible to succeed him. But if a scholar dies, we are told, he cannot be replaced. I hope this is not so. Like t he Talmudic sages, today’s Jewish educators have made it their life’s work to ensure safe passage of our age-old tradition from one generation to the next. But they have become increasingly scarce. The growth we have seen in Jewish day school enrollments over the past two decades is truly a blessing. With it, however, comes an increased demand for qualified Judaic studies and Hebrew teachers — a demand that, sadly, we have not yet met. There simply are not enough of them to meet current needs. Indeed, it is possible there never were. This shortage includes administrators and heads of school, to be sure, but there is also growing competition among day schools for engaging and knowledgeable teachers who can educate and excite young minds on topics from Alef-Bet to the Zohar. Such teachers are increasingly hard to come by. Synagogue religious schools have also long suffered from just such a shortage. In A Serious Man, the new film by Joel and Ethan Coen, an elderly man whose accent makes clear he hails from

somewhere in Mit teleu ropa sta nds before a synagogue classroom mechanically conjugating Hebrew verbs for bored students. The scenario is so ingrained in our culture that it has now found its way to the big screen. This is where we find ourselves: on the flip side of a gold coin, struggling to meet wonderful new demands whose emergence would have seemed altogether unlikely just a few short years ago. What now? The Jewish community must move quickly to prepare more, better teachers for both day- and religious-school classrooms. We must place a greater emphasis on encouraging our bright and talented young people to consider the field of Jewish education as a serious career opportunity. We must recruit and train them. And then we must work hard to compensate them fairly and to retain them. A number of positive signs have emerged recently indicating a move in the right direction. In September, the Jim Joseph Foundation announced $12 million in grants to three leading academic institutions that train Jewish educators. The Jewish Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion and Yeshiva University will receive the funds in an effort to increase the number of future educators, and to improve the quality of professional preparation and Jewish education they receive.

The initial grants will be used as financial aid for students pursuing education degrees or certification in programs that prepare them to work with Jewish youth and young adults, and to assist each institution in planning new and enhanced programs that will attract more educators to the field. For the next five academic years, the foundation will give $700,000 per year to each of the seminaries. The rest of the grant money will be divided among the institutions to be used in the 2009-10 academic year for planning and innovative programs. Uniquely, the grant encourages JTS, HUC and YU to collaborate on projects to provoke creative new directions in Jewish education and a renewed commitment to educating future Jewish educators. This is a welcome development. Even as the difficult economic climate forces institutions from coast to coast to cut back, rein in and shut down, this grant allows these three major institutions of Jewish learning to expand and to innovate. Further, according to Arnold Eisen, the JTS chancellor, the collaborative nature of the grant has led the heads of the three schools to engage in more conversations over the past year and a half than their predecessors did during the prior decade or more. Our tradition teaches us that “kol Yisrael areivin zeh la zeh” — “all of Israel are responsible for one another.” This grant

has inspired a meaningful realization of this beautiful ideal. Generous individuals and foundations are funding day schools at very impressive levels today; this is very, very good. The non-Orthodox Jewish movements are trying to freshen their religious school curricula. This, too, is good. Indeed, things are going very well in several different realms of Jewish education — so well, in fact, that we simply cannot meet the demand for high-quality Jewish educators. Doing so will take smart marketing and more money. The Jim Joseph Foundation is placing a large bet on the future of U.S. Jewry, and this grant truly offers a bright ray of hope. But it cannot stand alone atop the hill as a light unto the nation. Other funders concerned for the Jewish future must follow its lead and step up with similarly targeted grants. It is going to take a concerted effort on the part of Jewish leaders across the spectrum — from funders to first-grade teachers, from the presidents of our schools to their principals, from YU to JTS to HUC — to reach the promised land. It is not enough if we successfully replace the scholars we lose. We need more and better, still. Jehuda Reinharz is president of Brandeis University and the Richard Koret professor of modern Jewish history.

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Please make a gift that will help JTNews start 2010 healthy and strong. Become an Honorary Masthead sponsor today! Because you know the value JTNews brings to our local Jewish community, and support the cause of local Jewish journalism, we’re asking you to contribute to our annual Honarary Masthead sponsorship event. We’ll thank you for your generosity by including your name and a line of greeting on our Honorary Masthead, published January 15, 2010. Simply choose your sponsorship level, complete this simple form, and return it to us by December 31. Thank you very much! The JTNews Team FOR DETAILS, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 30.

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jtnews

rabbi’s turn

The Grinch

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page viewpoints

We can save Hanukkah by rededicating ourselves to being Jews

Rabbi Josh Hearshen Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation It seems that only yesterday we were all standing in our synagogues awaiting the final tekiyah of the High Holy Days and looking forward to speeding off to our break-fast meals. It is incredible how quickly our days go by, and how quickly we pass through our Jewish cycle of holidays. Nevertheless, we are about to embark on the next Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. Now, I must be the Grinch who stole Hanukkah, because this holiday does not even make it to my top five list of holidays. In fact, I will state right now, at the beginning of this article, what the conclusion is and then you will not need to read the entire thing: I don’t mind clerks at stores wishing me a Merry Christmas; I don’t hate Christmas songs; I don’t think there is some form of discrimination going on when our society treats Christmas one way and Hanukkah another. And I believe we as Jews have lost the true meaning of Hanuk-

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kah, the true miracle. In order to find it, we must rededicate ourselves to finding that meaning and miracle. The core of the story we have been learning all these years is some containers of pure oil were left after the defilement of the Temple in Jerusalem. These containers should not have been enough oil to last for more than a day and a half, but miraculously they lasted for eight days. Details of this version of the story are found in the Talmud and in the book of Maccabees (not part of the Jewish Bible, but part of the Apocrypha). Historians have researched this story and it does not check out, but they have put together pieces of a much greater story and an even greater miracle. Here is my summary of the historical story of Hanukkah: After Alexander the Great conquered most of the Middle East, the Jews found themselves under his control. Alexander implemented a unique style of absorption similar to acculturation rather than assimilation. He allowed for minorities to remain unique, but in a Greek context. Trouble began for the Jews when Alexander died and there was a struggle for leadership. Eventually the Jews found themselves living in the Seleucid dynasty under Antiochus III, who allowed the Jews freedom of religion and expression as long as it did not interfere with state functions. A bitter dispute began in the Jewish community when Antiochus IV became king. The division was between a group in favor of a high level of Hellenization and a group that wanted Judaism in a more pure form. The priesthood became very corrupted during this time and it was a source of

anger among Jews. During this period, the king would appoint a kohen gadol who was in favor of Hellenization, and then appoint another when he no longer wanted the one serving. One of the prior kohanim g’dolim fled the country and came back to attack the current kohen gadol when Antiochus IV was rumored to be dead during an attempted seizure of Egypt. Upon hearing of an “uprising” in Jerusalem, Antiochus returned, attacked Jerusalem mercilessly, and then plundered the Temple. The king’s soldiers and officials in the area were quite oppressive, and the Jews were offended by the high level of Hellenization and the presence of statues of pagan gods. Antiochus IV next outlawed Judaism. While there are various theories as to why Antiochus outlawed Judaism, two things are obvious here: 1) This was by far the most severe decree Jews had encountered in their history and thus it was completely devastating, and 2) The intense push for heavy Hellenization in Judea was initiated by the elite upper Jewish class and not by the Hellenist outsiders. In 167 B.C.E., the Maccabees began their revolt and in 164 B.C.E. they successfully retook the Temple and rededicated it. The tradition of the oil lasting for eight days probably comes from the celebration lasting for eight days as there is little historical support for the tradition of the eight-day miracle. Scholars believe the reason for the eight days is most likely because they celebrated the festival of Sukkot late, as the Temple had been unusable during the previous Sukkot. This line of reasoning is very intriguing because the Temple had origi-

Changes on the ground President Obama needs to revisit Israel Danny Danon JTA World News Service JERUSALEM (JTA) — In the year since President Obama visited Jerusalem as Candidate Obama, much has changed. Running for president, he of course leveraged his presence here to mobilize his supporters in America. Obama’s visit undoubtedly helped further endeared him to the American voter. He spoke from the heart with his legendary eloquence of the dangers posed by terror from Gaza and Israel’s right to defend itself at all cost. When Candidate Obama, then a U.S. senator, kissed the stones of our revered Western Wall and shed tears at the sobering Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, we were confident that were he elected, Israel again would have a true and trusted friend in the Oval Office. Israelis therefore looked on with the same pride and admiration shared by untold millions of Americans as President Obama was inaug urated and assumed leadership of the world’s most powerful nation. Israel, like many in the global community of nations, was eager to witness the positive change heralded by his administration. On both the domestic and foreign policy agendas, the president’s pledge for a new direction gave hope that a new era was upon us. Regrettably, it quickly became clear t hat our good w ill and hopes were likely misplaced. Rather than looking to accommodate and truly understand

Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, we began feeling new pressures within mere weeks of the Obama presidency. Regularly overlooking or ignoring the realities of a decades-old war with our Arab neighbors, the main issue for President Obama seemed to become the growth of our settlements. Rather than address the real sources of distrust, the Obama administration focused on limiting the legitimate growth of Jewish communities. Ignoring these outposts’ role in our common struggle against terrorism and extremism, they sought to decide for us how and where our families could build and develop their towns. We have no doubt that these statements and positions were motivated by a legitimate desire for progress, but they ignored realities and created obstacles between us and the Palestinians rather than removing them. Israel is facing a genuine, grave threat. The American administration must understand that such an existential challenge commands our focus and resources. I refer to the very real threats of an Iranian despot who repeatedly has declared his commitment to our destruction. Dismissing historical truths of the Jewish people’s past tragedies and our legitimate rights to our own hard-earned homeland, this madman rants and rails and seeks to call into question — with classic anti-Semitic chutzpah — our very existence. As a man of peace who holds the title of Nobel Peace laureate, President

nally been dedicated during Sukkot, so it makes sense to base the rededication of the same structure on that holiday. Okay, so I have made Hanukkah less about oil and more about civil war. But I want to save Hanukkah, and not steal it away as the Grinch did to Christmas. The way we, as Jews, can save Hanukkah is by rededicating ourselves to being Jews. We will save Hanukkah when we begin to argue less about Judaism and find the common threads that unite us as Jews. Hanukkah has nothing to do with gifts — although they are fun — and everything to do with recognizing our responsibilities to our ancestors and our descendants. We need to continue the fight to keep Judaism vibrant and wonderful. We need to continue to find reasons to sit together and not be divided. If we rededicate ourselves, we will create our own miracle in our own time and we will find the true and deeper meaning of the holiday so many love to celebrate. This Hanukkah, over the eight days, let’s try to rededicate ourselves to our people, our religion and our God. Each day we need to find something new and Jewish to add to our lives: Perhaps giving tzedakah, or maybe lighting Shabbat candles. We could keep kosher, or become more aware of the struggles of Israel. Whatever we each choose, it will connect us to the holiday of rededication and fight against assimilation. As I said, I do not care if the clerk wishes me a Merry Christmas, what I care about is that I do not equate my minor holiday with their major one and thus diminish its already beautiful values and practices. Obama surely knows that the land of Israel and the Jewish people always have and always will be committed to true peace. Yet true peace requires concessions by all sides. And it must come with real commitments and sacrifices by those bodies who today bitterly oppose us. As the president’s predecessors and hundreds of equally well-intentioned diplomats who have come before you can attest, most of our day-to-day realities cannot be appreciated from afar. The land of Israel and the tensions in our cities and on our borders are not easily understood from intelligence reports or maps or briefings alone. This is a region that needs to be seen and felt. One needs to hear the sounds and speak with the people to genuinely comprehend the challenges — and opportunities — inherent in this volatile area. So I appeal to the president to revisit this land and see just how much has changed in the past 12 months. President Obama agreed, and recently met with community representatives during a major American Jewish gathering in Washington, D.C., but this cannot and must not substitute for speaking to the people of Israel directly in Jerusalem. I am confident that such an experience will deepen his understanding immeasurably. Certainly it will help him better formulate America’s vital positions concerning Israel and our neighbors. But most of all, it will help us renew our faith that the White House and the American people truly understand our plight and are committed to helping us overcome it. Danny Danon is deputy speaker of the Israeli Parliament and chairman of World Likud.

We would love to hear from you! Our guide to writing a letter to the editor can be found on our Web site: www.jtnews.net/index.php?/static/item/611/ The deadline for the next issue is december 1 n future deadlines may be found online

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community news

SAFE Washington t Page 3 something of a nexus for possible criminal activity, Broder said. SAFE Washington has been used to broadcast images of people who have exhibited threatening behavior toward Jewish sites in the event they show up at other Jewish agencies. “Even if that person leaves the place, [if he] shows up somewhere else, we already know,” Slotnick said. S lot n ic k a l s o de mon s t r at e d t o t he of f icers how SA FE Wash i ng ton responded to events nationw ide. In July, within a minute of a Twitter posting announcing the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, “we had 40 agencies on modified lockdown,” he said. A shooting in the parking garage of a Sephardic synagogue in Los Angeles in October had a possible connection to the Seattle area, which also prompted an alert. “When the shooting occurred in Los Angeles, we received communication w it hin t he Secure Communit y Network,” Slotnick said. “The report went out to all law enforcement in Washington State.” SCN is a system that alerts Jewish communities nationwide to any issues around security or disaster preparedness. Briefings from the Departments of Health on the spread of the H1N1 virus have also been spread on the network. What became clear over the course of the meeting is that while SAFE Washington has been effective in transmitting information to its member groups — assuming those member groups act when necessary — mitigating circumstances can sometimes keep information from getting into the right hands

Joel Magalnick

Jeff Slotnick, president of the Setracon security consulting agency and member of the SAFE Washington core team, presents the coalition to local law enforcement officials on Nov. 20.

at the right time. For example, officers charged with notification and understanding religious or ethnic communities’ needs often change positions, leav ing no institutional memor y or backup information. And many agencies simply do not have the manpower to keep t hese smaller communities apprised of a threat. “There’s this big gap,” said one officer in attendance. “Let’s address how we’re going to mitigate this gap.” Det. Doug Larm of the Seattle Police Department said that with the 30 smaller police departments that surround Seattle averaging about 12 officers, having a network like SAFE Washington in place is a great concept, but “the only way this is going to work is communication and commitment,” he said.

That means already overstretched officers must be willing to take calls in the middle of the night or on weekends, and then act on that information. Given the economic realities of departments today and the pressures of working in law enforcement, it’s not always easy to find a point person to take on that responsibility. Still, it’s important that the information on possible threats be disseminated rather than ignored, Larm said. “In the real world it’s going to be based on communication, communication, communication,” he said. “I’d rather have more stuff in my inbox.” Cross-agency communication is also an issue. Bellevue, for instance, where a large number of Washington’s Jews reside, does not subscribe to the Fusion

network that disseminates intelligence to law enforcement agencies across the state. And though they are two of the state’s largest municipalities, Bellevue and Seattle have neither adequate communication, nor similar protocols, to coordinate in the event of a multipronged threat. Another challenge not just for SAFE Washington, but for threat assessment in general, is defining what exactly constitutes suspicious behavior, what constitutes a threat, and what should be communicated. Information, said one officer in attendance, might not always be useful, particularly if it is not vetted and processed. Raw information, he said, can in fact sometimes be dangerous. “You can cause the whole community to go into lockdown based on useless information,” he said. The danger in waiting, however, is that if the information gathering takes too much time, the resulting intelligence can quickly become stale, meaning it may be too late to act on a threat. Hilar y Bernstein, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League’s Pacific Northwest office and a member of the SAFE Washington core team, said her agency can be of assistance i n s p e e d i n g up t he i nt e l l i genc e gathering process through identifying hate groups’ tattoos or graffiti tags, for example. Within the Jewish community, Broder said, it’s important that members of SAFE Washington actually use the system. “Something will happen and we find out about it two days later,” he said, noting that it’s the failure to act that could put the larger community in jeopardy. “I want to do my part to keep the community safe,” he said. That, in turn, “keeps my temple community safe.”

Open HOuse

for Incoming Kindergarten parents

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community news

Fighting off Armageddon Military foundation fights creeping spread of Christian extremism in armed forces Morris Malakoff JTNews Correspondent Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation he leads say the nation is threatened by an influential group of religious zealots who want everyone to convert or die. No, it’s not the fighters of Al-Qaeda, but a coalition of military, political and business leaders with its tentacles reaching deep into all branches of the U.S. military and posing, he claims, a security risk every bit as evil as the jihadists in Afghanistan. “I call it the fundamentalist Christian para-church military corporate proselytizing complex,” said the effusive trial lawyer, who visited Seattle on the weekend of Nov. 21 and 22. “It sees anyone who is not in line with their beliefs as ‘not religious enough’ no matter their faith — Jewish, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Buddhist or atheist.” He refers to this informal organization as a sect called “Dominonism.” He says they are anti-Semitic, anti-gay, Islamophobic and misogynistic. He says that they are hijacking the U.S. Constitution and violating the separation of church and state. Weinstein is no liberal skeptic of the military. He comes from a long line of proud U.S. military officers. His father graduated from Annapolis. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy, as are three

MRFF now has a large Web presof his sons and a daughter-in-law. He also ence and Weinstein travels the country worked in the White House under Ronald spreading the word and raising money for Reagan. his cause. He sees the hand of the DominHis attention to what he sees as a ionists all over the place. growing danger began in 2004. He was “The program being put into place to at the Air Force Academy for a leadership prevent returning soldiers from comconference. While there, he went to lunch mitting suicide is based on the teachings off-campus with one of his sons. these people believe in,” he said. His son told of the cadet corps being He also is under fire from many Jewish strongly advised to see the Mel Gibson organizations. movie The Passion of the Christ and that fol“I call them Islamophobes,” he said. lowing that, he was subjected to repeated “They want to paint every Islamic person verbal attacks on his Jewish faith. with the brush of AlWhile that was his face-to-face int ro- His son told of the cadet corps Qaeda. I tell them duction to the phe- being strongly advised to see the we beat back Fasnomenon, Weinstein Mel Gibson movie “The Passion cists in World War II said that what really of the Christ” and that following w ithout becoming got things going was that, he was subjected to repeated Fascists and we can the discontinuation verbal attacks on his Jewish faith. do that in Afghanistan.” of the universal comHe also takes aim at Jews who have pulsory draft in the 1970s. entered into an alliance with fundamen“Up until then, you had a military talist Christians, a relationship he thinks that pulled in people from all locations is short-sighted. and of all stripes of class, education and “The born-again Christians will be background,” he said. “When the draft fine with it while it serves their purpose,” ended, you began to see more red state he said. inductees and with that, a growth of While attempts at lobbying and changDominionism.” ing policy have been a slow grind, MRFF Weinstein founded the MRFF and has had success as an advocate for those began to lobby Congress, the W hite who feel victimized by the DominionHouse and t he Pentagon, sounding ists’ sect. the alarm. He says MRFF was ignored, “The military is not a place you can scorned and even thrown “under the just say ‘no’ to a commander,” Weinstein bus” by those they believed to be its said. “That is not an option.” friends.

MRFF has taken on cases like that of Akiva David Miller, a Navy veteran and convert to Judaism who could not get a rabbi chaplain when he was in a Veterans Administration office. He says his request was met with an odd answer. “They sent an Assembly of God minister who proselytized for 20 minutes while I asked him to leave,” said Miller. He eventually was cut off from treatment. MRFF stepped in and got him a lawyer and medical treatment at a different VA Hospital. Miller now handles veterans’ issues for MRFF. Meanwhile, Weinstein’s phone never stops ringing. He said he and his support staff can handle the issues, including lawsuits initiated in the federal courts and aimed at the Secretary of Defense. These days it’s the organization and his personal finances that are taking a hit. That is what brought him to Seattle: The quest for funding. Meanwhile, he said, he will sell his last sheet of toilet paper to continue his mission of keeping national defense from becoming a Christian jihad. “The reality is these people will spill oceans of blood in the name of Christ,” he said. “They see Armageddon as a positive step.” For more information on the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, visit www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org.

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friday, november 27, 2009

community news

Round and round and round The Big Spin Hanukkah party debuts Seattle Children’s Jewish guild Diana Brement JTNews correspondent The Mitzvah Mama Guild of Seattle Children’s hospital will debut its community Hanukkah party and fundraiser on Dec. 13 at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle. Dubbed The Big Spin, the party is a debut for the guild as well. One of the hospital’s newest, it’s the first and only one identified as Jewish. The idea for Mitzvah Mama began with Laura Glass, who had long wanted to form a guild. As an advertising salesperson for the local ParentMap magazine, Glass says she felt a “profound relationship” with the hospital, one of her clients, and wanted to do more for it. At Children’s, guilds are groups of women who raise money for patient care. “T h is past Aug ust I was hav i ng dinner with friends,” Sara Eizen and Dani Ruthfield, Glass explains. Eizen, the mother of twin 2-year-olds, Ruthfield, mom of a 4- and 2-year-old, and Glass, mother of 9-, 5- and 2-year-olds, all shared the common experience of having children treated at the hospital at one time or another, and the support they received there. Over Pad Thai, Glass fielded her idea. Her friends immediately responded, “Let’s start a guild!” This meant developing a fundraising idea or event. “We stayed up until midnight or one in the morning talking,” Glass says, trying to figure out “the one thing missing in Seattle.” Finally, they hit upon “one huge, blowout Hanukkah event.” Having grown up in Seattle, Glass says, “I love and appreciate what the JCC does,” but thought they might not be attracting all potential participants. After checking dates to avoid conflict with the SJCC party (Dec. 6), they set about creating a “really compelling” event.

Deciding against “just another auction,” they focused on something “Jewish families could look forward to every year,” something that would teach children about tikkun olam, repairing the world. Aileen Kelly, executive director of the hospital’s guild association, confirmed that there was no Jewish guild in the 500 affiliated with Children’s. “I was mortified to learn that was true,” says Glass, despite the fact that the hospital has many Jewish supporters. “I’m changing that,” Glass remembers saying. Kelly was “delighted” with the idea and “honored that [Glass] and her friends wanted to do such a great event for Seattle Children’s.” Glass used to have a business called Baby Loves Disco, a mont hly dance party for families, and drew on her event organizing sk ills and local connections. “I thought if I could attract a rock star friend or two to… give us an in-kind concert, put together some fun booths, step up the food, we would have something special.” The rock star in question turns out to be Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America. Ballew is not Jewish, but he is a dad, and has recently turned to composing and performing children’s songs under the name Caspar Babypants. Glass promises some “real rock stuff that parents will get into,” as well (www.babypants.com). GG Green, “really a Mercer Island dad named Chad Reibman” (and Jewish) will perform magic. There will be a variety of carnival-style booths geared for kids around ages 1 to 11. Tzedakah boxes will be the featured arts and crafts project; there will be games, face painting and a photo booth. A certain number of “gelt”

Join Latke Larry at Temple De Hirsch Sinai for our

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Hanukkah Celebration!

Friday, December 11, 2009

are included with admission and more can be purchased there. For parents, Glass says, “the largest spinning dreidel in the Northwest,” will be available to twirl. “My husband is building it as we speak,” she says. “I hear him on the porch with a table saw.” For $25 a spin, contestants are guaranteed a prize worth at least $50. Glass is excited about the food, too, which w ill include Caesar salads and macaroni and cheese. “We tried to provide…some degree of nutritional redemption,” she laughs, in par t nership w it h Julia’s restaurants. Of course there will be latkes — at the “Latkes of Love” booth, catered by Nosh Away and sponsored by Lisi and Rob Wolf, creators of the Oy Baby! music series, in memory of Sam Owen, the 13-year-old Seattle Hebrew Academy student who died of cancer on Oct. 21. Glass says e-mails to the guild have increased dramatically since Sam’s untimely passing. Many who knew

New Iran Sanctions t Page 3 The head of t he United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, encouraged Iran to accept an offer to process its enriched uranium abroad, but also said he opposed additional sanctions on the Islamic Republic if it did not reciprocate. “I would hope definitely that we’ll get an agreement before the end of the year,” said ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, at a news conference in Berlin, Reuters reported. “I believe frankly the ball is

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very much in the Iranian court. I hope they will not miss this unique but fleeting opportunity.” ElBaradei said in the news conference that “you need to understand that this is the first time that you will have a genuine commitment from an American president to engage you fully, on the basis of respect, with no conditions.” Furt her sanctions on Tehran, he added, would not help. “Are sanctions going to resolve the issue? I don’t think so,” he said. “In my view sanctions are going to make things much worse” and make Iran “more hawkish.”

Friday, December 18 Chanukah Shabbat Service - 6:00 pm Community Shabbat Latke Dinner - 6:45 pm

RSVP required to 425.603.9677 $10 for Adults $4 for Kids 6-12 Kids 0-5 Free

Community Latke Dinner and Hanukkah Celebration - 6:00 P.M. Hanukkah Service - 7:30 P.M.

Seattle Sanctuary

Sam and his family want to do “something to support Children’s” and acknowledge the care he received there. Sadly, there will always be sick children, observes Glass, but The Big Spin helps the community support the hospital in a Jewish context. “Ch i ld ren’s hospita l is, i n a n areligious way, a holy place,” she says. Kelly expects 250 active guilds will raise almost $10 million in the next fiscal year, mostly to defray the cost of uncompensated care. Uninsured and underinsured patients are projected to cost $100 million next year, compared to $38 million five years ago, “and this Hanukkah party is going to help,” she says.

Join members of TBT for Chanukah candle lighting, Shabbat celebration, and delicious latke dinner.

OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY - FREE EVENT

Dreidles, Scrumptious Latkes with all the trimmings and one BIG celebration! Kids bring your homemade Hanukkiahs. Prizes for most creative!

The Big Spin takes place Sun., Dec. 13 from noon–3 p.m. at the Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E. Tickets are going fast, and can be purchased at www.thebigspin.org where you can also find a schedule and other information about the Mitzvah Mama guild.

Chanukah Celebration and Latke Dinner

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If you go:

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Bellevue, WA 98008

Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg

425.603.9677

Bellevue Sanctuary 3850 - 156th SE (425) 454-5085

www.TempleBnaiTorah.org

friday, november 27, 2009

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community news

Everyone’s invited

Costco to sell Torah

Stroum JCC and Jewish Federation partner for community-wide Hanukkah bash Leyna Krow Assistant Editor, JTNews The Stroum Jewish Community Center’s annual Hanukkah party is getting a makeover this year, thanks in part to the enthusiasm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and 18 other sponsoring organizations from throughout the community. “This is a new and different twist on what has traditionally been at the J,” said Stefanie Somers, program manager of the PJ Library, the nationwide program that sends free books each month to Jewish kids under age 7. As a Federation staffer, she, along with program chair Talya Jeffries, was responsible for reaching out to the JCC and facilitating the expansion of the party. “We saw this year as an opportunity to reach a little bit of a broader community.” This year’s party, called the JKids Hanukkah Pajama Jam, will be specifically tailored to families with young children and will feature a carnival-like arrangement with each of the 18 sponsoring organizations running a booth with different activities, such as facepainting, Hanukkah crafts, games, and gift-wrapping lessons. There will also be latkes and two concerts by children’s music performer Robbo. Somers said that when looking for sponsors, she worked to bring in organizations from all across the Seattle area representing the full range of local Jewish life. The three lead sponsors, in addition to the JCC and the Jewish Federation, are JTNews, ParentMap magazine, and the Samuel Israel Foundation. Community sponsors include a variety of synagogues, day schools and other educational organizations. “We really wanted this to be more than just a Mercer Island thing,” Somers said.

Admission to the party is free, as are all of the activities and offerings, with the exception of latkes. As the name of the part y suggests, attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their pajamas. Along with activities for kids, Jewish Family Service will host a discussion for adults called “Parents Jam: Making Holiday Choices That Fit Your Family,” which will focus on the challenges that pop up for Jewish kids and parents around this time of year. “It’s about how to answer kids’ questions about Christmas trees and why we do this and not that, and also about figuring out what your values are and being able to communicate those things to your kids and spouse,” Somers said. “There are no judgments being made, just some helpful tips.” Somers noted, however, that childcare will not be provided during the party, so parents who wish to attend the JFS session are encouraged to bring along another adult to hang out with the kids. The Pajama Jam party is the first event to be hosted as part of a new program through the Jewish Federation called JKids. According to Somers, JKids is, like the Pajama Jam, aimed at families with young children from throughout the Jewish community. Although the program is still in the process of securing funding, she anticipates that future JKids events will include family Shabbat nights and Jewish neighborhood playgroups. “We’re hoping JKids will take the form, primarily, of neighborhood programming,” she said, although she noted that other community-wide holiday parties may be on JKids’ agenda as well. The PJ Library program, which in addition to sending out the free children’s books, hosts local storytime events, will

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also now operate under the umbrella of JKids. Somers noted that the connection of the PJ Library to JKids and the choice of the Pajama Jam Hanukkah party’s theme was not entirely coincidental. “This isn’t specifically a PJ Library event,” she said. “Kids love any chance to wear their pajamas.” More than anything, Somers stressed, the party is about providing an opportunity for families from all corners of the community to share in a single holiday event. “We felt Seattle’s Jewish community could use the opportunity to come together,” Somers said. “No matter where people fall on the observance level, Hanukkah is very accessible. Everyone can have fun with it.”

(JTA) — The retail giant Costco has begun to sell a special edition of the Torah. The Illustrated Torah, published by Gefen Publishing House of Jerusalem in conjunction with The Studio in Old Jaffa and the Jewish Publication Society of New York, went on sale this month at about 12 select stores throughout the United States — though not in the Seattle area. “Most people in the Jewish demographic are probably going to be Costco members,” said Neal Warnick of the Seattle-based Wholesale Solutions, the manufacturer’s representative company that brokered the deal. “Early indications are it’s selling pretty well, so we’re excited about that.” While the book is currently for sale in places with a large Jewish customer base, Warnick said, he thought it would be of enough interest to cross over into the Christian market as well.

Cameron Levin/JFGS

Chaim Rosenbaum gives a pint to the Puget Sound Blood Center during the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Super Sunday fundraising event on Nov. 22. The event brought in 100 volunteers, 30 of whom contributed 23 pints of blood, while 18 more registered for the accompanying bone marrow drive. The event raised the Federation more than $230,000.

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10 jtnews

n friday, m.o.t.: member of the tribe

november 27, 2009

Fighting the good fight against H1N1

and he eventually developed a specialty in AIDS. After studying epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control, he came to Seattle for a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Washington. He worked at King County public health for 18 years before moving to his current position three years ago. He traces his interest in public health to a crisis in his own family. When he was a child his family moved to Denver so his father could be treated for tuberculosis at National Jewish Hospital, a leading sanatorium at the time. His parents encouraged him to go into medicine (“no surprise there,” he wrote in a follow-up e-mail) and while studying in Denver, “I often thought about my father’s illness.” “I’ve also been intrigued and influenced by Jewish practices that focus on prevention,” including regular hand washing and bathing, and avoiding foods that in the past posed risks of food-borne disease, such as pork (trichinosis) and shellfish (typhoid). Given a few minutes of soapbox time, Gary would like to make us more aware of how public health is responsible for our good health. Compare our country to places where children die of “completely preventable diseases before the age of 5,” and you see the role prevention plays in overall health. “The medical community [is] helping to save lives, but public health [is] there trying to prevent people from getting sick,” he says. An avid bike rider, Gary bike commutes as much as possible, riding to a

Also: Small business awards nominee affected almost all of us either personally So, on top of all his regular work or professionally. came word this past April of a new flu “My life [was] already full,” Gar y in Mexico, followed by the first death on says. “For the past 18 months it’s been U.S. soil of a toddler visiting from that more full.” country. He’s had to lay off more than one“All of a sudden we had kids in the U.S. quarter of his staff since January and who were affected,” he says. It proved “an additional layoffs may come if the state unusual strain,” which continued — to further cuts funding. the shock and dismay “My agency has been of public health officials devastated,” he says. — to spread around the F o r t u n a t e l y, t h e Northern and Western warm spring and hemispheres through summer brought spr i ng a nd su m mer, people outside, which when the flu usually disi n t u r n broug ht a appears. respite in new cases, Gary and staff got to giving the district the work, adding long days opportunity to plan for and weekends to their t he aut u m n mont hs schedules, “an exhaustahead. ing effort,” he says, but “ We w e r e opt i“a remarkable demonmistically skeptical,” stration of the public scheduling a mass vachea lt h com mu n it y ’s cination clinic on Oct. ability to respond efficiently, effectively” to a Courtesy Gary Goldbaum 31. In actualit y t hey put 10 clinics in place new virus. “ Public health official and flu by Oct. 24. The district We had plans in place expert Dr. Gary Goldbaum. worked closely with the for dealing with a f lu emergency management and medical pandemic,” he said, but they had hardly communities in the county to run those ever been implemented. He finds it “truly clinics. remarkable” that the bug appeared in “It was really a coordinated effort,” April, was identified in July, and new vache says. cines were available four months later. Gary, started out as a family practice Parallel to this, the district was dealdoc, but “I love public health,” he says, ing with the financial crisis that has

Diana Brement JTNews Columnist With H1N1 so much in the news these days, I wanted to talk to someone on the front lines of fighting this new virus, and settled on Gary Goldbaum, M.D., MPH, health officer for the Snohomish Health District. Before getting to the flu, I needed a short course in public health. “My agency is not a department of county government,” Gary explained. Like most health departments, “it is an independent health jurisdiction,” he said, like a water or school district, reporting to its own board of health. (Health departments that serve large urban areas are usually an exception, reporting to county government, like King County’s.) In addition to supervising the normal activities of the district — including restaurant inspections and disease-outbreak management — Gary says, “I think of myself as physician to the community.” Caring for patients is his job, but his patients are the 697,000 residents of Snohomish County.

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friday, november 27, 2009

jtnews 11

n community calendar

november 27 – december 16, 2009 The JTNews calendar presents a selection of ongoing events in the Jewish community. For a complete listing of events, or to add your event to the JTNews calendar, visit www.jtnews.net. Calendar events must be submitted no later than 10 days before publication.

Ongoing Friday ■■9:30-10:30 a.m. – SJCC Tot Shabbat Dana Weiner at 206-232-7115, ext. 237 Parents with children ages infant-3 celebrate Shabbat with challah, live music, singing, and dancing in the JCC’s foyer. Free. At the Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Tots Welcoming Shabbat 425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.org This Temple B’nai Torah program for kids ages infant-5 includes songs, stories, candle lighting, challah, and open play. Free. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue. ■■12:30-3:30 p.m. – Drop-in Mah Jongg Roni Antebi at 206-232-7115 ext. 269 A friendly game of Mah Jongg. Free for members, $2 for guests. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■12:30-3:30 p.m. – Bridge Group Roni Antebi at 206-232-7115, ext. 269 Prior bridge playing experience necessary. Coffee and tea provided. Bring a brown bag lunch. Free for members, $2 for non-members. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

Saturday ■■9-10:30 a.m. – Temple B’nai Torah Adult Torah Study 425-603-9677 A discussion of each week’s parshah. No experience needed. Temple B’nai Torah youth room, 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue. ■■9:45 a.m. – BCMH Youth Services Julie Greene at 206-721-0970 or [email protected] Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath Congregation has something for all ages: Teen minyan, Yavneh program, Junior minyan, Torah Tots, Mommy and Me, and Navi class. Starting times vary. At Congregation Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath, 5145 S Morgan St., Seattle.

■■10 a.m. – Morning Youth Program 206-722-5500 or www.ezrabessaroth.net Congregation Ezra Bessaroth’s full-service Shabbat morning youth program focuses on tefillah, the weekly parshah and the congregation’s unique customs in a creative and fun environment. For infant to 5th grade. At Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 5217 S Brandon St., Seattle. ■■10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. – Herzl Mishpacha Minyan 206-232-8555 or www.herzl-ner-tamid.org A Shabbat morning service at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation that meets twice a month and features songs, stories and treats for 2- to 5-year-olds and their families. Meets first and third Shabbat of the month. At Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■5 p.m. – The Ramchal’s Derech Hashem, Portal from the Ari to Modernity Rabbi Harry Zeitlin at 206-524-9740 or [email protected] This is the earliest systematic and reliable explanation of Kabbalah, which is grounded in tradition and comprehensible to contemporary, educated Jews. At Congregation Beth Ha’Ari Beit Midrash, 5508 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■6:30 p.m. – Avot Ubanim Rabbi Yehuda Bresler at 206-722-8289 A class where children can learn alongside their parents. Refreshments and prizes at each session. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.

Sunday ■■9 a.m. – Shabbat in Practice Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] An ongoing course taught by Rabbi Yehoshua Pinkus on the Abridged Book of Jewish Law, known as the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Free. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■9 a.m. – Advanced Talmud for Men Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] A chance for men to study the intricacies of a classic Talmudic text and examine the basic commentaries that bring forth its understandings. Taught by Rabbi Avrohom David. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■9 a.m. – Intermediate Halachah Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] Designed for students who want to learn comprehensive, in-depth, everyday halachah. Taught by Rabbi Yeshoshua Pinkus. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.

■■10 a.m. – Mitzvot: The Fabric of Jewish Living 206-722-8289 or [email protected] An ongoing course about the philosophical underpinnings and practical implications of the 613 mitzvot. Free. Part of the Seattle Kollel’s “Breakfast Club,” offering bagels, lox and cream cheese, Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme Donuts. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■10:15 a.m. – Sunday Torah Study Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 Weekly study group. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■10:30 a.m. – Intermediate/Advanced Prayerbook Hebrew Alysa Rosen at 206-525-0915, ext. 210 or [email protected] This course focuses on developing a basic Hebrew vocabulary necessary for understanding the Siddur. At Temple Beth Am, 2632 NE 80th St., Seattle. ■■1–4 p.m. – Shalom Bayit Warehouse Volunteer Work Party Rachel at 425-558-1894 or [email protected] Help organize donated items for survivors of domestic violence and their children. This event takes place every second or third Sunday. Call for exact dates and location. ■■7:15 p.m. – Beginners’ Talmud Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] This course will walk the novice through the basic learning skills to begin to learn Talmud. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■7:30-10:30 p.m. – He’Ari Israeli Dancing Ellie at 206-232-3560 or [email protected] or israelidanceseattle.com Seattle’s oldest Israeli dance session. Couples and singles welcome. Call for schedule changes. Cost is $6. At Danceland Ballroom, 327 NE 91st St., Seattle.

Monday ■■10 a.m.–2 p.m. – JCC Seniors Group Roni 206-232-7115, ext. 269 The Stroum JCC’s Seniors Group meets on Mondays and Thursdays for activities and celebrations. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

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B”H

Chabad-Lubavitch of Washington State & Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch

An Unforgettable Weekend invite you to join us for

December 4th & 5th

19th of Kislev Rosh Hashanah of the Chassidic Movement Brent Brown

A junction box on Mercer Island was vandalized on Sun., Sept. 15 with a swastika and the words Aryan Nation misspelled. No arrests have been made in the vandalism, but Mercer Island Police Dept. Commander David Jokinen said the incident was isolated and thought some teens were the likely suspects. An obscenity also written on the surface has been blurred out.

With Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Simon Benzaquen

Friday, December 4th 8:00pm Special Oneg At the home of Saifo & Frumi Marasow 7201 40th Avenue Northeast ~ Seattle, WA 98115

Shabbos Morning, Saturday, December 5th 9:00am Services Followed by a Gala Kiddush Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch 6250 43rd Avenue Northeast ~ Seattle, WA 98115 Rabbi Simon Benzquen has been rabbi of Sephardic Bikur Cholim Congregation in Seattle since 1984. He studied at Yeshavat Netzah, Jewish College University, Jew’s College in London, & the Rabbinical Academy in France. He is a talented mohel, a Sofer and an artist. Rabbi Benzaquen, along with 3 other Seattle rabbis introduced legislation regarding the identification of kosher with the Consumer Protection Act. Rabbi Benzaquen has a weekly lecture on the Torah that can be followed on www.torahcentral.com. He is married to Cecilia and has four children.

Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch 6250 43rd Avenue Northeast ~ Seattle 98115 For more information: [email protected] or 206-527-1411

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n friday, community calendar

Ongoing t Page 11 ■■10 a.m. – Jewish Mommy and Me Giti Fredman at 206-935-4035 or [email protected] Giti Fredman leads a weekly playgroup for Jewish moms and young children. Sponsored by the Seattle Kollel. Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Seattle. ■■4:30–6:30 p.m. – Modern Conversational Hebrew Sharron Lerner at 206-547-3914, ext. 3 or [email protected] or www.kadima.org Kadima Reconstructionist Community offers conversational Hebrew classes for students in the 3rd–7th grades. Open to non-members. At Kadima, 12353 8th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – CSA Monday Night Classes [email protected] Weekly class taught by Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld on topics in practical halachah. At Congregation Shevet Achim, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer Island. ■■7-8 p.m. – Ein Yaakov in English Joseph N. Trachtman at 206-412-5985 or [email protected] Ein Yaakov has been studied since its publication in 1516 by those desiring an introduction to the Talmud through its stories. Free. At Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch, 6250 43rd Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7:30 p.m. – Torah Scroll Class for Men [email protected] Shemer Berkowitz, a professional Ba’al Koreh, will teach students to become their own Torah readers by learning the cantillation marks and becoming familiar with the secret of Torah reading. At the Eastside Torah Center, 1837 156th Ave. NE #303, Bellevue. ■■7:45-8:45 p.m. – For Women Only 206-527-1411 Rabbi Levitin offers classic commentaries on the weekly parshah, Rashi, Rambam and Or HaChaim. At Congregation Shaarei Tefilah, 6250 43rd Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■8-10 p.m. – Women’s Israeli Dance Ruth Fast at 206-725-0930 Learn Israeli dance steps in an all-female environment. At the Lakewood/Seward Park Community Club, corner of 50th Ave. S and Angeline St., Seattle. ■■8:30 p.m. – Iyun (in-depth) class in Tehillim [email protected] Class led by Rebbetzin Shirley Edelstone and sponsored by the Seattle Kollel. For women only. Free. Location provided upon RSVP. ■■8:30 p.m. – Talmud in Hebrew Rabbi Farkash at [email protected] An in-depth Talmud class in Hebrew for men taught by Rabbi Mordechai Farkash. At the Eastside Torah Center, 1837 156th Ave. NE, Suite 303, Bellevue. ■■8:30 p.m. – Talmud, Yeshiva-Style [email protected] This class tackles sections of ritual, civil and criminal law. Be prepared for lively discussion,

november 27, 2009

debate and analysis. Students should be able to read Hebrew and have had some experience with in-text Torah study. At the Eastside Torah Center, 1837 156th Ave. NE #303, Bellevue.

Tuesday ■■9:45 a.m. – Bringing Baby Home Marjorie Schnyder at 206-861-3146 or [email protected] A hands-on, interactive parenting and relationships class, based on the findings of Drs. John and Julie Gottman and the Relationship Research Institute. $150. At Jewish Family Service, 1601 16th Ave., Seattle. ■■11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Mommy and Me Nechama Farkash at 425-427-1654 A chance for parents and kids to explore the child’s world through story, song, cooking, crafts and circle time. At a private address. Call for location. ■■12 p.m. – Torah in Sneakers with Rabbi Borodin Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org Power walk with the rabbi while discussing the Torah portion and other topics. Meet at Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■12 p.m. – Torah for Women Rochie Farkash at 206-383-8441 or [email protected] Rochie Farkash leads a group of Eastside women in a discussion of the weekly Torah portion. At Starbucks (backroom), Bellevue Galleria, Bellevue. ■■7 p.m. – Crash Course in Hebrew Reading Level 2 [email protected] Five-week course taught by Rabbi Dovid Fredman. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Teen Center Ari Hoffman at [email protected] Video games, game tables, food, and fun for high school students. Hosted by NCSY. Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7 p.m. – Living a Meaningful Jewish Life: From Social Justice to Sexuality Jacob at [email protected] This year-long class for people new to Judaism as well for Jewish young adults who are interested in deepening their knowledge of Jewish life will cover the Jewish calendar, lifecycles, theology and prayer and will emphasize the deeper meaning behind Jewish practice. At Hillel UW, 4745 17th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 - 9:15 p.m. – Living Judaism - The Basics with Mary Potter Kris Klippel at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org An introduction to Judaism for Jews looking to deepen their knowledge, non-Jewish partners of Jews, and conversion students. The tuition for this weekly class includes a year-long Hebrew course. At Congregation

Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Eve M. Ruff at 206-461-3240 or [email protected] Meeting for anyone who has stopped or would like to stop drinking. At Jewish Family Service, 1601 16th Ave., Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Hebrew Level I Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org Learn the Alef Bet and become familiar with the basic vocabulary of the Siddur. Cost is $250. Discounts available for members and early birds (by 9/16). Call to pre-register or visit www.bethshalomseattle.org. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Hebrew II (Biblical) with Elizabeth Fagin Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org Learn the building blocks of basic biblical Hebrew. Cost is $250. Discounts available for members. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Hebrew III (Biblical) with Mark Solomon Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org Designed for students with some foundation in basic Hebrew grammar (including Pa’al/Qal verbs), this class focuses on remaining verb forms and translating the Joseph story. $250. Discounts available for members. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Hebrew IV (Prayerbook)Unlocking the Siddur with Beth Huppin Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org For students with basic Hebrew grammar/ vocabulary, this class will focus on understanding Siddur in Hebrew. Cost is $250. Discounts available for members. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 - 8:30 p.m. – Intermediate Conversational Hebrew Janine Rosenbaum at 206-760 -7812 A course for students with some Hebrew background interested in expanding their conversational skills and understanding the basic principles of Hebrew grammar. $65 plus materials. At Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7:15 p.m. – SoulQuest: The Journey Through Life, Death, and Beyond 206-290-6301 Six-week course about Jewish perspectives on death and the afterlife. Led by Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky. $60. Offered through the Jewish Learning Institute. At Mercer View Community Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island. ■■7:15 p.m. – The Mishna and its Sages Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected]

Learn about the Mishna and the Talmud, the books that are the backbone of Jewish tradition, faith and history. $25. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■7:15 p.m. – How to Learn Rashi Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 This course will unveil some of the beautiful simplicity and complexity of Rashi’s commentary for the layman. $25. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■7:30 p.m. – Why Be Jewish? Melanie Berman at 206-232-8555 or [email protected] This class explores Judaism and the Jewish people. At Herzl-Ner Tamid, 3700 E Mercer Island Way, Mercer Island. ■■7:30 p.m. – Parshah class 425-427-1654, [email protected] Rabbi Berry leads an in-depth Parshah class. At Chabad of Issaquah, 24121 SE Black Nugget Rd., Issaquah. ■■7:30 p.m. – Weekly Round Table Kabbalah Class [email protected] Men and women join together to explore the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah. At a private home. ■■7:45 p.m. – Mystical Understanding of the Hebrew Alphabet Dovid Fredman at 206-251-4063 or [email protected] Discover the mystifying depth and beauty of the Hebrew letters. Free. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■8:30 p.m. – End-of-Life Issues and the Beyond Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] This series addresses the halachic questions of end-of-life issues and explores customs of Jewish burial, mourning rituals, the secrets of Kaddish and a perspective of the world to come. $25. At Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. 8:30 p.m. – Soul Diet Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] The Soul Diet is a no-holds-barred approach to restricting the invasion of pseudo-wisdom that is shaping core values and causing a general state of confusion in the minds of many. $25. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.

Wednesday ■■11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Torah with a Twist 206-938-4852 Women learn Torah with Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz of the Seattle Kollel at this weekly class. At a Mercer Island location. Call for directions. ■■11:45 a.m. – Talmud Berachot Rabbi Yehoshua Pinkus at 206-718-2887 or [email protected] Interactive discussion and study session of the Talmud Berachot. Hosted by the Seattle Kollel.

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friday, november 27, 2009

Ongoing t Page 12 Free. At Tullys Westlake Center, 1601 5th Ave., Seattle. ■■ 1:30 p.m. – Book Club at the Stroum JCC Roni Antebi at 206-232-7115, ext. 269 Book discussions the first Wednesday of every month. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■3 p.m. – The Mother’s Circle Marjorie Schnyder 206-461-3240, ext. 3146 A program for moms from other backgrounds raising Jewish kids to get support, learn about Jewish rituals, practices and values, and get connected to the Jewish community. Sponsored by Jewish Family Service. Every other Wednesday. At Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St., Seattle. ■■7–9 p.m. – Teen Lounge for Middle Schoolers Ari at 206-295-5888 Foosball, ping-pong, pool, basketball, arcade games and optional classes. At the Yavneh building at Congregation Bikur CholimMachzikay Hadath, 5145 S Morgan St., Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Beginning Israeli Dancing for Adults with Rhona Feldman Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 Older teens and all experience levels are welcome. $40 for a five-session punch card. Discount for members. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7 p.m. – Wisdom for Women 14+ Rabbi Bresler at 206-331-8767 or [email protected] Jewish Women ages 14 and up are invited to take part in an afternoon of thought-provoking learning, wisdom, and ideas from the Torah. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■7 - 8 p.m. – Authentic Contemporary Ethical Dilemmas Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org A five-week class examining what guidance our tradition, sources, and values gives to true-life ethical dilemmas. Instructor: Jeremy Alk. $75. Member discount available. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. ■■7-10 p.m. – Parshah and Poker [email protected] A look at the Torah portion of the week followed by a friendly game of poker with proceeds going to tzedakah. Led by Rabbi Josh Hearshen. At Herzl-Ner Tamid, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7:15 p.m. – The Jewish Journey 206-722-8289 or [email protected] This two-year comprehensive program guides students through the historical, philosophical and mystical wonders of Judaism’s 3,500-year heritage. $360, plus a $36 registration fee. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.

■■7:30 p.m. – Parshas Hashavuah [email protected] This class provides a general overview of the week’s Torah portion accompanied by Midrashic commentaries, philosophical insight, and practical lessons. At the Eastside Torah Center, 1837 156th Ave. NE #303, Bellevue. ■■8:15 p.m. – God, the Universe, and Me Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 or [email protected] Rebbetzin Shirley Edelstone leads a class addressing questions about God and free will. $25. Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.

Thursday ■■9:30-10:30 a.m. – Women’s Talmud Sasha Mail at 206-323-7933, ext. 301 Talmud study class for women. Free. At Seattle Hebrew Academy, 1617 Interlaken Dr. E, Seattle. ■■12 p.m. – Women’s Ramban on Chumash Marilyn Leibert at 206-722-8289 Discussion of foundational Jewish concepts through the eyes of Nachmanides on Chumash in the Book of Genesis, and an analysis of key Rashis. Must be able to recognize the Hebrew letters and wish to learn basic Hebrew grammar. Women only. $25. Sponsored by the Seattle Kollel. At a private home, Mercer Island. ■■6:50 p.m. – Introduction to Hebrew Janine Rosenbaum at 206-760-7812 Helps students build fluency and comprehension of the prayers of the Friday evening service. $50. At Herzl-Ner Tamid, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7 p.m. – Junior Teen Center Ari Hoffman at [email protected] Video games, game tables, and food for middle schoolers. Hosted by NCSY. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7 p.m. – Beginners Bridge Class Roni Antebi at 206-232-7115, ext. 269 or [email protected] An eight-week class to familiarize students with the basic principles of bridge. $60/JCC members, $70/non-members. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■7:30 p.m. – Judaism: The Ultimate Journey [email protected] Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum leads a course called “From Slavery to Freedom: Political Activism and Personal Ethics in the Bible and the Age of Democracy.” At Herzl-Ner Tamid, 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■8–10 p.m. – Teen Lounge for High Schoolers Ari at 206-295-5888 Foosball, ping-pong, pool, basketball, arcade games and snacks. At the Yavneh building at Congregation Bikur CholimMachzikay Hadath, 5145 S Morgan St., Seattle.

Candle Lighting Times 11/27/09 12/4/09 12/11/09 12/18/09

4:05 p.m. 4:01 p.m. 3:59 p.m. 4:01 p.m.

November Friday 27 ■■ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.–Tree of Life Hanukkah Party www.treeoflifejudaica.com Hanukkah party for all ages featuring live music and a storyteller. At Tree of Life Judaica and Books, 2201 NE 65th St., Seattle.

Saturday 28 ■■7 p.m. – Tightwad Kosher: Building a Jewish Home without Breaking the Bank Carol Benedick at 206-524-0075 or [email protected] or www.bethshalomseattle.org Learn techniques for a kitchen kashered on the cheap. No charge. RSVP. Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle.

Sunday 29 ■■1 - 4 p.m. – Seattle Jewish Chorale PreHanukkah Performance A free concert and sing-along with the Seattle Jewish Chorale and special guests Kesselgarden Klezmer Duo and Sandra Layman. At the University Village Barnes & Noble, 2675 NE University Village St., Seattle.

December Wednesday 2 ■■12:30 - 2 p.m. – Law School Lox ‘n’ Learn Jacob at [email protected] This monthly event is sponsored by the UW Jewish Law Students Association. Non-law students welcome to join. Lunch provided. RSVP requested. UW Law School, room TBA. ■■6:30 p.m. – Taglit-Birthright Israel Winter Orientation Josh at [email protected] Information session for those going on TaglitBirthright’s winter trip to Israel. At Hillel UW, 4745 17th Ave. NE, Seattle.

Thursday 3 ■■5:30 p.m. – Pioneer Square Art Walk Anna Frankfort at 206-774-2226 or [email protected] The Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy group does the Pioneer Square art walk. At Pioneer Square galleries, meet-up location provided upon RSVP. ■■8 p.m. – Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah Planning Workshop [email protected] or www.nbn.org.il/workshops Learn about making aliyah, living in Israel, immigrant rights, employment, education and more. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

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n community calendar

Saturday 5 ■■6 p.m. – Latkes Taste Great with Everything! Emily Harris-Shears at 206-861-8784 or [email protected] Hanukkah potluck for interfaith families. Latkes and dessert provided, participants are asked to bring a vegetarian side dish. Hosted by Jewish Family Service. RSVP required. At the Montlake Community Center, 1618 E Calhoun St., Seattle. ■■8 p.m. – Latke/Vodka Night Julie Greene at 206-721-0970, ext. 41 or [email protected] A mixer for Jewish singles in their 20s and 30s with latkes and vodka. $20 in advance/$25 at the door. 21-plus. At the home of Ari and Jessica Hoffman, 6222 Chatham Dr. S, Seattle.

Sunday 6 ■■9 - 10:30 a.m. – Lori Palatnik Lecture 206-722-8289 Author and Jewish educator Lori Palatnik will give a talk called “Bridging the Gap: Achieving Harmony Between Observant and NonObservant Friends and Family.” Free. At the Seattle Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle. ■■11 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Chachkes & Things [email protected] A chance to eat latkes, buy Hanukkah crafts from local artists and hear stories of everyday miracles. Free. RSVP requested. At Chabad of the Central Cascades, 24121 SE Black Nugget Rd., Issaquah. ■■1 p.m. – Hanukkah Pajama Jam Stefanie Somers at 206-774-2247 or [email protected] An event for the entire family focused on themes of religious freedom, standing up for one’s beliefs and strengthening Jewish identity. Includes arts and crafts, music, candle lighting and a discussion for parents on “the December dilemma.” Free. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. ■■1 p.m. – Elementary School Open House Amy Adler at 425-460-0260, [email protected] An open house for the Jewish Day School’s elementary school program. At the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, 15749 NE 4th St., Bellevue. ■■6 p.m. – A Hanukkah Musical Soiree chabadbellevue.org A musical presentation by Chanale Kornfeld, including holiday favorites and an eclectic mix of Jewish song. For women only. $20. At the home of Karen Mannering, address provided upon RSVP.

Tuesday 8 ■■10 a.m. – Kindergarten Open House Connie Kanter at 206-323-7933, ext. 239 Open house for the kindergarten program at SHA. At Seattle Hebrew Academy, 1617 Interlaken Dr. E, Seattle.

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14 jtnews

n friday, arts & entertainment

november 27, 2009

The complexities of war Israeli-born filmmaker dispatches ‘Messenger’ of war Michael Fox Special to JTNews Not one of the many American movies about the Iraq War has been made by a former soldier — until now. The Israeliborn, U.S.-based writer-director Oren Moverman earns that distinction with his powerhouse debut feature, The Messenger. The quietly riveting independent film stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson as casualty notification officers whose job entails delivering the news to the next of kin that a loved one has died. The script offers no hint that the director and cowriter served in the Israel Defense Forces, although that experience helped Moverman immeasurably on the set. “These are different countries, different wars, different eras, different types of terrorism. Everything’s different, but fundamentally I felt that I could communicate to the actors what it meant to be a soldier,” Moverman says, “and to communicate with the film the emotional landscape of fear and anger and guilt and the inability to express a lot of the experiences you go through in combat. That stuff I felt very comfortable with.” Moverman lived in the U.S. from 13 to 18, when his family moved back to Israel and he entered the army. “There’s nothing in the movie that’s per se my own personal experience,” he

If you go: The Messenger opens Fri., Nov. 27. Check local theater listings for locations and showtimes.

says. “And even if there is, it’s probably stuff that I don’t notice or I’m too afraid to talk about.” He returned to New York four years later, after he completed his service, to pursue a career in film and has now lived more than half his life in the States. Moverman’s credits include collaborating on the screenplay for I’m Not There, which explored the life and myth of Bob Dylan. A good deal of The Messenger, which opens Nov. 27 in Seattle, was shot at Fort Dix with a military advisor and photographer on the set, as well as extras supplied by the U.S. Army. Moverman was surprised at the reaction he received. “I got a lot of respect for being an Israeli soldier,” the soft-spoken, hyperarticulate filmmaker recalls with a wry smile. “Much more than I deserved. There’s definitely a feeling of camaraderie and a feeling of ‘You’re an ally, and your experiences are real.’ I didn’t expect that, but I only benefited from it.” Moverman was received with parallel good will when he returned to Israel to show The Messenger at the Jerusalem Film Festival. “Partially they see me as a representative of Israel, because that’s what happens with anyone Israeli who works outside the country and does okay,” he says, laughing. “But partially they identified with what the movie was about and they felt it was very much about them.” While the U.S. Army sends two men to break the news to the soldier’s parents or spouse and then leave, the Israeli team consists of four people, including a doctor and a psychologist, who stay and provide for the family. Many, many Israeli films, especially in the 1970s and ’80s, centered

Wednesday, December 2, 8 p.m.

on the army, and a few include a notification scene. “I grew up watching all those movies,” Moverman remembers, “and for a while Israeli cinema was just stuck in the army experience, which makes perfect sense because that was central to Israeli life. Everyone was connected through the army. It took a different generation to start developing other stories. But I had those movies in my mind. In approaching this [film], I remembered the pitfalls and what happened when a movie was political and how easily dismissed it was.” Some viewers will see The Messenger as antiwar simply by virtue of its acknowledgement of combat deaths. But Moverman worked and reworked the screenplay (with Alessandro Camon) to provoke a more complex and thoughtful reaction. “What we wanted to do was make a film that’s not political, that’s not prowar or antiwar, but in war,” Moverman explains. “If the movie becomes political, then it’s part of an argument. And being Israeli, I’ve had my healthy share of experience in arguments.”

Moverman’s parents were born in British-mandate Palestine. His grandparents had left Poland in 1935 and their entire family was subsequently wiped out. “The first thing that I knew in my conscious life was the Holocaust — the war and what the war did,” Moverman says. “At least, that was the beginning of my search for what the war did.” His fascination with the world of his grandparents led to his immersion in the great Yiddish writers, such as Jacob Glatstein (whom he reads in Hebrew). And it has more than a little to do with his next assignment, adapting Daniel Mendelsohn’s nonfiction epic The Lost: A Search For Six of Six Million for the screen. Although he doesn’t say so, one discerns that his new project shares an underlying theme with The Messenger. “Life has pain, there’s grief, there’s loss, and the question is how do you get back to being alive,” Moverman muses. “You do it through very, very simple mechanisms, such as love and friendship and shared emotions and shared experiences.”

December 3-13

SJCC Center Stage Theater: Peter Pan Returns Theater

Blind Pilot Music blindpilotmusic.wordpress.com

This family musical production picks up where the original Peter Pan ended. 70 years have passed. Never Land is changing into an evil place and Peter Pan has disappeared. Tiger Lilly, the crocodile, and Tinker Bell leave to find Wendy and bring her back to help save Peter and Never Land. Oh yes, Captain Hook is still alive! At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

Portland band Blind Pilot, led by frontman Israel Nebeker, blends acoustic indie-rock music with lyrics about fading romance and missed opportunities. They will perform with Laura Viers and Mimicking Birds. Cost is $12. At Neumos, 925 E Pike St., Seattle.

the arts

Oscilloscope Pictures

Woody Harrelson as Capt. Tony Stone in Oren Moverman’s The Messengers.

december 2 – 13

Thursday, December 3, 3-4:30 p.m.

“My Song in the Night: Hasidic Women’s New Yiddish Songs” Lecture Dr. Asya Vaisman recently completed her Ph.D. in the Yiddish program at Harvard University. She will give a lecture for the University of Washington’s Jewish Studies Program on her research into the music of the Hassidic communities in New York, Jerusalem, London, and Antwerp. At the University of Washington, 202 Communications.

Calendar t Page 13 ■■6:30 p.m. – The Cultural Connection of Jews and the Arts Roni Antebi at 206-232-7115, ext. 269 or [email protected] Seneca Garber of Seattle Opera will talk about “Nabucco,” Verdi’s operatic triumph about the Jews in Babylon. At the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Seattle.

Wednesday 9 ■■ 9 a.m. – SHA’s 100-Year Building Birthday Rosemary Sixbey at 206-323-7933, ext. 301 or [email protected] Celebration for the 100th “birthday” of the Seattle Hebrew Academy’s building. At Seattle Hebrew Academy, 1617 Interlaken Dr. E, Seattle.

■■12 - 1 p.m. – East-Side Lox ‘n’ Learn Jacob at [email protected] Lunch and a discussion led by Rabbi Jacob Fine. RSVP requested. At Microsoft, building 9, room 2569, Redmond. ■■4 - 7 p.m. – Latkes and Applesauce: HannukahFest09 A Hanukkah foods tasting event featuring olive oils, latkes and applesauce, donuts and other treats. Free and open to the public. At Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St., Seattle.

Thursday 10 ■■12:30 - 1:30 p.m. – School of Social Work Lox ‘n’ Learn Jacob at [email protected] Rabbi Will Berkovitz or Rabbi Jacob Fine will

Saturday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. An Evening of Hanukkah Freylakh! Music

Crossroads Bellevue presents a night of songs, sing-a-longs and a menorah lighting ceremony. This event will include performances by the Seattle Jewish Chorale and The Shalom Ensemble. Free and open to all. Crossroads Bellevue, NE 8th and 156th Ave. NE, Bellevue.

lead an informal discussion. Non-social work students welcome. Bagel and lox lunch provided. RSVP requested. At the UW School of Social Work, room 116. ■■6 p.m. – Nimble Finger Knitting Anna Frankfort at 206-774-2226 or [email protected] A group for beginning and advanced women knitters sponsored by Women’s Philanthropy in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Location given upon RSVP.

Sunday 13 ■■12 p.m. – The Big Spin A Hanukkah party to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital, featuring Hanukkah songs by Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America. $18 per person. Museum of History

and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E, Seattle. ■■3 p.m. – Shaarei Tikvah: A Hanukkah Celebration for People of All Abilities A community-wide non-denominational celebration for persons with developmental disabilities or persistent mental illness, their families and friends. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue. ■■5 p.m. – Hanukkah Party Alysa Rosen at 206-525-0915, ext. 210 or [email protected] Temple Beth Am’s Hanukkah celebration. At Temple Beth Am, 2632 NE 80th St., Seattle. ■■5:30 p.m. – Giant Candy Menorah Hanukkah party, including the construction of a 10-foot-tall menorah out of candy. Hosted by Chabad of the Central Cascades. At Blakely Hall, 2550 NE Park Dr., Issaquah.

friday, november 27, 2009

n

jtnews 15 what’s your jq?

Eight nights of learning

The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle “All Mixed Up”

Educational activities for while the candles burn bright

Rivy Poupko Kletenik JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, Chanukah is our family’s favorite holiday. As it approaches every year I try to plan something a bit different and uniquely special for our eight nights of celebration. Of course we already do the usual Chanukah activities, make latkes, play dreidel, have a grab bag. This year I’m stumped. Any ideas? Given that there are eight nights of Chanukah, what about focusing on a different aspect of the holiday on each of the different nights? Right after lighting the candles, saying the blessings and singing “Maoz Tzur,” you could introduce the topic for the night with a question and a short discussion. Doing this, your family could be having fun and learning something as well, which is always a good thing. You might assign a different family member or guest to be the night’s leader. I will get you started with a theme and a question each night. And just for the added thrill, our themes will spell out the word Chanukah as the evenings progress, starting with C and continuing on through the last letter, H. Chanukah: Why is the holiday called Chanukah? Yes, of course we all know: Dedication, as in re-dedication of the Temple in the year 165 B.C.E. after having been desecrated by Antiochus in 168 B.C.E. But there is more. The word Chanukah shares a root with the word for education, chinuch, and interestingly with the word for gums, as in the tissue in which our teeth our situated, chinkayim. Strangely enough, the three words have a common thread — newness. The Temple is dedicated anew, teeth spring with newness from our gums and chinuch — well, education is about learning something new all the time. What else can you think of that the three words share that might explain their common root?

Hasmoneans: The heroes of our holiday are members of a family called Hasmonea ns. T houg h t hey a re t he champions of our story, they are also a controversial priestly family who ruled over the Kingdom of Judea for 103 years until Herod killed them off circa 37 B.C.E. In the story of Chanukah, they reign supreme with Matityahu, leading the revolt followed later by his sons Judah, Jonathan and Simon. However, as the years progressed, they became more controversial and less true to tradition. Their names demonstrate as much: They went from the early Judah, Jonathan, and Simon to the later Hyrcanus, Aristobulus and Menelaus. The very Hellenization that they first fought they came to embrace. Should this color the way that we remember them? Antiochus IV: The villain of our story. We wonder about him. Known as Antiochus Epiphanes, he is the only Hellenistic king who took on the additional name “illustrious one” and divine epithets. He saw himself as godlike. Later, his deranged behavior led contemporaries to make fun of him and call him Antiochus Epimanes, the deranged one. To strengthen his rule in the region, he chose to side with the Hellenized Jews in what was becoming a civil war. He then went on to oppress the people with decrees that spurred the Hasmonean revolt. W hat ma kes cer ta in people become intolerant tyrants? Do we ever see this in our more every day lives? Is it preventable? Nerot: The Chanukah lights. That the miracle of Chanukah is centered particularly on the Temple’s menorah, the candelabra, is significant. There are other vessels of the Temple, for example: The table for the showbread, the altar for incense or the wash stand — these were not the focus of the intensely felt need to rededicate. The search for the oil took on an almost disproportionate centrality relative to its inherent utility. Many scholars discuss the overzealousness in getting the menorah lit. That very enthusiasm is apparent in perpetuity with our continued lighting today of the menorah in our homes, synagogues and houses of study. Those nerot, the lights,

u Page 25

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Create meaningful Chanukah gifts that last a lifetime! We have a Wide variety of JudaiCa

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Across 1 Puzzle 6 Aviv or Hai 9 Samuel Gompers foe 13 Ticked off 14 Don’t buy retail 15 “___ Ever Wanted” (“Prince of Egypt” song) 16 Einstein’s was powerful/ Assassination victim of ’95 18 Philly ringer 19 Kind of killer Berkowitz was/The Promised Land 21 Marshall Holman target 24 It has nine digits: abbr. 25 Makes shekels 26 “It’s ___ bet” 28 Aquarium fish 32 Turnip cousin 34 Synagogue/Unlike the Negev 39 Film critic Pauline 40 Plus-column entry 42 How many times Richard Dreyfus has won Best Actor 43 Israeli port/Mark Spitz competition 45 Knesset sounds 47 ___ acid 49 Paris’s water 50 One way to be taken 54 Actor Tayback 56 H.S. degree alternative 57 Kirk Douglas, to Michael/ Infamous banquet of 1883 62 Peace Prize city 63 Heder classmates, say/Israel’s President 67 Tuches 68 Erstwhile kind of shop 69 Jew, often in history 70 The other choice 71 Ending of many Jewish surnames 72 Polio conqueror

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Down 1 Baby wear 2 Act like a klutz 3 Airline watchdog org. 4 Singer Redding 5 Beginnings, biblically 6 Eilat neighbor 7 Viktor Frankl subject 8 Nazi filmmaker Riefenstahl 9 Native 10 Exonerate a la Dreyfus’s name 11 Burns’s go with 12 Friend of ___ (Ira Magaziner, for example) 14 ___ Paul (Norm Coleman’s hometown) 17 Monopoly acquisitions, for short 20 Close up, as a deal 21 Winter coat 22 Singer of fiction 23 Y2K name in the news 27 Mossad docket 29 What to do at a tisch 30 Start of many Malamud titles 31 Sex Dr. 33 Ahad ___ 35 Ear part 36 Take apart, as a sailboat 37 Bit of “The Dybbuk” 38 Cut 41 Feynman’s field, broadly: abbr. 44 Fall tool 46 Wallenberg facilitated many 48 In the open 50 Prior to, poetically 51 Site of Herzl’s congress 52 Cartographer’s tome 53 The dishes, e.g. 55 Unknowns 58 Tire measurements: abbr. 59 Hard wood 60 Depend (on) 61 Twice tri64 Adam’s is famous 65 Hebrew word spoken by Jesus on the cross 66 Boxer, e.g.

16 jtnews

n friday, celebrate hanukkah

november 27, 2009

Holiday spirit Some off-the-wall and not-so-off-the-wall Hanukkah gifts that will, if nothing else, come as a surprise The good books

Erez Ben Ari JTNews Correspondent Hanukkah can be a real challenge — finding the right gifts for everyone, not to mention trying to make the present about Hanukkah and not just about whatever the latest trend may be. We have scoured the earth — and the Web — for some of the most interesting and unique items that you can be proud to give…or to get!

Bless you Saying the proper blessing is a tough job even if you say it in English, but saying it in Hebrew is even tougher. With the Say A Ble s s i n g k e ychain, your kids ca n lea r n t he correct pronunc i at ion f a s ter and easier than ever. The keychain has 10 different blessings, said clearly in Hebrew with an added English translation, as well as the Sh’ma and the morning prayer Modeh Ani. It’s even got a small LED light! What a blessing! $15 at Baron Bob, http://tinyurl.com/yk53oym

I need a drink Spelling the word Hanukkah can be a headache for even the most devout Jew, but this mug will help you by clearly listing all the possible permutations. If a mug won’t do it, the site offers the same pattern on shirts, cards, trousers, hats and even a bib. The site also offers a large variety of Hanukkah and Judaism-themed prints to show what makes a proud Jew. $14 at Café Press, http://tinyurl.com/yl4oxh9

Can’t tell your kreplach from your kneidalach? With Jewish Cooking for Dummies, you will be able not only to tell the difference, you’ll be able to make the difference. From challah to rules of kashrut, this book is a great tool for any Jewish cook. While you’re at it, you might as well pick up Judaism for Dummies, written in part by Seattle’s own Rabbi Ted Falcon. The original Jewish Dummies book complements the cookbook wonderfully, with a wealth of info about the origins of our faith, the history and everything else that was taught on the days you played hooky from Hebrew school. Jewish Cooking for Dummies, $13.59 at Amazon, http://tinyurl.com/yklkzl7 Judaism for Dummies, $14.95 at Amazon, http://tinyurl.com/yh8wcy5 Find both at Tree of Life Books and Judaica as well, 2201 NE 65th in Seattle or www.treeoflifejudaica.com.

Button of safety With recent statistics on road safet y show ing that nobody is safe, even nonJews could use the wayfarer prayer (tefilat haderech). Instead of trying to recite the entire thing for every trip to the kosher deli, this gizmo will recite it for you at the push of a button. Don’t you think five bucks is worth protecting you from the average driver? $5 at spectacular-shop (on eBay) http://tinyurl.com/yjyzo94

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n

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O O O O O

over 20 of your favorite designers

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T he hol iday s a re a g r e at t i me t o g at he r around the fireplace and throw some movies into the DVD player. Let your neig hbor s have t hei r Christmas carols while you a nd you r fa m i ly crack up watching the classic The Hebrew Hammer, now on DVD. Adam Goldberg plays Mordec ha i Jef fer son Car ver, a.k.a. The Hebrew Hammer, an Orthodox Jewish stud who goes on a mission to save Hanukkah. A brilliant satire with enough action to satisfy anyone! To finish off the evening, w hy not c he c k out Kuni Lemel, another cla ssic Je w ish hero from the ’60s, recently re-released on DV D. Ku n i L emel, played by Mike Burstyn, is a con f used C ha ssid ic Jew recruited by the local matchmaker as par t of a scheme to manipulate his customers. This musical comedy of errors was so popular in Israel that it spawned two sequels and the name Kuni Lemel became part of the cultural idiom there. The Hebrew Hammer, $13.99 at Amazon, http://tinyurl.com/ylb3as2 Kuni Lemel, $26.99 at Amazon, http://tinyurl.com/yj9usnu

holiday gifts & parties

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ood. Glorious food. Delicious food. Gourmet food. Excessive food. Isn’t that what Hanukkah is all about (aside from all those miracles and stuff)? Once again, for the fifth gut-breaking time, we assembled a small army to taste a bunch of different kinds of gourmet and out-of-the-ordinary kosher foods that you can give as gifts or set out for your own Hanukkah parties. And so much of it this year was simply magnifique! Our food came courtesy of Albertson’s on Mercer Island, which is renowned for its kosher food section and deli counter; Metropolitan Market’s West Seattle store (marked here as MM); and Whole Foods Market’s South Lake Union location (marked as WFM). Taste on!

Dessert first I don’t recommend serving Béquet’s caramels — we tried Celtic sea salt, chipotle, and soft ($2.99 or $4.99 with a ribbon, WFM) — if for no other reason than there won’t be any left by the time your guests arrive. I thought they were awesome, particularly the ones with Celtic sea salt, which were just a perfect mix of sweet and salty. The chipotle had just the right kick at the end, and as far as the soft went, Leyna said, “I love these, but I think I just gave myself Type 2 diabetes.” What you could serve are Original Two-bite pumpkin tarts ($4.49, Albertson’s), which Lynn noted actually can

be eaten in just two bites. Plus, she said, they’re delicious. “Ver y tasty,” Stacy agreed. Lauren couldn’t really taste the pumpkin, though, and I thought the crust-pumpkin-creamy topping ratio could have gone a little more in favor of the pumpkin. Leyna, however, was just fine with the amount of cream cheese on top. If you want to get a bit more traditionally Jewish, Green’s Homestyle Chocolate Rugelach ($7.99, Albertson’s) got good ratings, though tasters would have been in favor of a bit more chocolate. Karen, with New York running through her blood, noted that these are “not from Zabar’s.” But you take what you can get. Who doesn’t love sugar cookies? What about with an infusion of lime? Karen loved Dancing Deer Sugar Cane Lime Cookies ($6.49, WFM). “The fragrant lime goes well with the chewy cookie,” she said. David thought it was “a real treat — great with cheese!” Susan thought these cookies had “just the right amount of chewiness. Delish!” She suggested pairing it with the lavender soda (see the end of the article). If you add butter, you’ll get something like the Biscottea Earl Grey Shortbread

Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews

Treat & eats for gifts & guests this Hanukkah Biscuits ($4.99, WFM). “Mmmm,” I said. “Sweet, buttery, with just a hint of tea at the back end.” Karen loved them as well: “If you love Bergamot, this is for you. Buttery and light and dippable,” she said. Want to play a cruel joke on some unsuspect ing k id? Tr y ser v ing him or her one of Yummy Earth’s Organic Hot Chili Lollipops ($2, WFM). Interestingly enough, Stacy’s 12-year-old son actually loved them. And Leyna said they were “both delicious and painful at the same time.” Some people feel like they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. They’d probably be the perfect recipients of the Sunspire Milk Chocolate Earth Balls ($6.49, MM), little bite-sized chocolate balls wrapped in an earth-resembling foil that I thought had a nice flavor. Jo’s chocolates make wonderful gifts, and they’re so tasty! “M’od ta’im,” said Rachel, using her Hebrew to express her appreciation for the peppermint chocolates ($8.99, MM). Leyna said the “peppermint taste comes through just enough. Great!” while Susan thought they’d be an excellent chaser — but to what, I’m not sure. As for the English toffee ($8.99, MM), Leyna and I both thought they were pretty good, but they need to reduce their packaging. Each toffee is wrapped in cellophane, which is wrapped in corrugated plastic, which is placed in a box, which is wrapped in more plastic. Too much waste to get to the goodies!

If you’re entertaining with an Asian theme, check out Bubbie’s Ice Cream Bites ($7.99, MM). We tried a strawberrydark chocolate ice cream wrapped in a rice flour skin, Japanese-style. “Like Jewish mochi balls!” said Leyna. She was a bit put off by the flavor, though. “I liked the chocolate and strawberry together,” Lauren said. “More f lavorful than the usual chocolate or vanilla mochi balls.” Personally, I love mochi and this to me was tops. The rice skin was nice and chewy and the ice cream was oh-so-creamy! And Asian just ain’t Asian without a fortune cookie to finish the meal. Metropolitan Market’s got a container full for just $4.49, and as a bonus all of the cookies we picked up had at least two fortunes! I’ve got twice as much good luck coming, I’m just sure of it. We also picked up Joy va sesame crunch candies ($3.99, Albertson’s). The rectangular treats took Leyna back to her childhood. “My grandma used to keep these in a dish on her coffee table,” she said. “They’re kind of gross.”

Oh, cheese! The Pacific Northwest is undergoing something of a cheese renaissance these days, as many of our readers’ palates can

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Holiday Stuffing t Page 17 attest. Unfortunately, the methods of production (including some of the ingredients), distribution and packaging make some of these new stinky, runny cheeses particularly non-conducive to kosher consumers. Too bad, because we’re missing out. We tried four different cheeses — all of them quite tame compared to what’s out there now. Three came from Les Petites Fermieres ($5.99-$10.99, Albertson’s): a cheddar, which we all agreed was nice but could have used a bit more bite, a Monterey jack, which Leyna found “pretty flavorful for a typically bland cheese,” and Rachel called “so good,” and a Camembert, which Lynn found delicious. Susan, who’s not normally a fan of soft cheeses, said it was good. We also had Danablu’s Danish blue cheese ($7.99, Albertson’s), which many of us liked, but I found it didn’t have quite the freshness or bite of some other blues.

Let’s go crackers! Cheese just isn’t cheese if you don’t have anything to put it on. So we tried a lot of crackers — and a few breads as well.

The Israeli entry, Shibolim Whole Wheat K’nockers crackers ($2.49, Albertson’s), tasted like cardboard. Particularly compared to crackers from Beecher’s ($4.99, WFM), the cheese folks down at the Pike Place Market, which Karen called “buttery and flaky, they taste freshly baked.” I found that they didn’t get in the way of what you’re putting on them. Susan thought they were the best crackers on the table. Bremner sesame wafers got similar kudos. Karen thought they’d be “perfect under everything,” while Stacy celebrated their versatility. Susan called it the “archetypal understated cracker.” To give you a sense of the flavor, think oyster cracker, only bigger. If you like crackers with a bite, La Panzanella Fieri chipotle crackers ($2.99, WFM) is not only great as a cracker, but it gives you a kick at the end. Leyna “liked it alone, liked it with stuff on it.” Karen called it outstanding while David said it was “just the best.” For something completely different, a company called Two Moms in the Raw has a gluten-free garden herb sea cracker that neither looks nor tastes remotely like a Saltine, but dang if they weren’t good.

“Mmm,” I said. “Very much like the sea. Rosemary, buttery almost.” Ilana found it earthy and herby, without any real need to put anything on top. We tasted two breads: Culinary Circle Kalamata & Moroccan Olive Bread ($3.49, Albertson’s) and Wild Harvest Organic Multigrain ($3.69, Albertson’s). Lynn thought the olive bread might have been better toasted, but Stacy, ever the contrarian, countered “who doesn’t love fresh bread and cheese?” Stacy loved the multigrain bread as well, saying, simply, “Yummy!” David and I both concurred.

the edge for me. Karen liked the “sweet, light cure and velvet texture.” Dee, who knows her smoked fish, called the G&D “moist and not too smoky.” We also tried a packaged whitefish ($8.38, MM) that was flavorful but too bony and just a bit too salty, according to several tasters. For the fish bathed in cream portion of our tasting, we had Mirsa’s herring in cream sauce ($6.99, WFM) which I will state, right now and for the record, that unless you’re of a certain age who grew up eating this stuff after morning minyan or at the shvitz, regardless of brand, it is disgusting. Stacy and Karen begged to disagree. Stacy merely said “Delish!” while Karen somehow found the herring to be perfectly balanced. Between a rock and a hard place, perhaps. Blue Hill Bay’s salmon in cream sauce ($7.99, MM) got even less of a reception than the herring.

Get saucy!

Lox, stock and two smoked barrels

We had something of a lox-off at our tasting event, pitting locals Gerard & Dominique’s smoked salmon (4 oz., $6.99, MM) against internat iona lly renowned chef Charlie Trotter’s Darjeeling Tea & Ginger Cured lox (4 oz., $8.99, WFM). Stacy preferred the G&D to Trotter, calling her favorite moist and flavorful. I loved the mellow flavor of the Trotter lox. It tasted amazing (not that the G&D didn’t!), but the subtlety of the tea and the novelty of its infusion into something already so delicious just pushed it over

Who would have thought that people could get so excited about mustard? But everyone who tried the Bone Sucking Mustard ($7.49, MM) loved it. “I want to put this on everything. Literally, everything,” said Leyna. “Love it,” said Stacy, “especially good on a spicy cracker.” Susan thought it was the best mustard she’d ever tasted. Lauren, who doesn’t even like mustard, liked the sweetness of this spicy stuff. It certainly would go great in a gift basket. We tried a number of Sabra hummuses ($4.99-$5.99, Albertson’s), from the plain to the spicy to the caramelized onion to roasted red pepper. Lauren liked the spicy stuff. “Just like the regular hummus, she said, “smooth and garlicky — but with heat!” Susan thought all the flavors were good, though Rachel found them a bit lacking.

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tried veggies in jars. In various brines. You know, like pickles. Peppadew whole sweet piquante peppers ($7.99, WFM) got roundly good reviews. I thought it would be great with a creamy cheese or one of the dips to dampen the delicious spiciness, though the sweet at the back end was a bit too vinegary for my taste. Karen thought it was “very festive — fill these with a dollop of goat cheese or mozzarella and serve with antipasto!” Not faring as well were the Kvuzat Yavne eggplants in brine ($3.69, Albertson’s), cute little baby-sized eggplants in a purplish broth from Israel that Karen said were “peculiarly atextural and salty.” Another Israeli find, Osem canned pickles ($3.29, Albertson’s), had the feel and taste of having been canned and shipped across the world. Enough said.

Robert Rothschild makes a number of dips in beautiful hexagonal jars, any of which would make for nice gifts. We tried the Dirty Martini dip ($8.99, MM), which made the spice lovers in our midst rejoice. “Spicy, creamy goodness,” said Ilana. “But not nearly as tasty as a real martini.” Duly noted. Stacy thought it would be tasty with a martini. Blair loved the olives. Sometimes it’s nice to have something besides crackers to dip into the sauces, like vegetables for instance. Rather than a boring ol’ crudité, we

And to wash it all down… We got a number of drinks as well, some of which we didn’t actually taste — like the organic orange bitters ($4.99, MM) that we all agreed looked delicious but didn’t have the liquor to mix them

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into. Would certainly make for a great gift to your favorite drinkmi x ing friend, though. We t r ied three Super Ch i l l selt zers, raspberry, mand a r i n or a n g e and lemon-lime (A l b e r t s o n’s). The mandarin or a nge d id n’t get much of a reception while I t houg ht t he raspber r y was fine for a seltzer. Gus Pomegranate soda (4-pack $5.99, MM), however, made an impression. “Generally fruity, but not specifically pomegranate tasting,” noted Leyna. She found it “enjoyable nonetheless.” I thought it was a bit sweet and syrupy, but when does soda not taste sweet and syrupy? Stacy thought it tasted rich while Jean thought it had no taste at all.

The other soda we tried, the Dry Soda Co.’s lavender flavor (4-pack $4.99, MM) knocked my socks off. “So tasty, so effervescent,” I said. “I’m not a soda drinker,” said Susan, “but I could make a habit of this.” David, however, was unimpressed — except, perhaps, as a pick-me-up after going to the gym. “Great for underarms,” he said. Once you finish a meal and want to sit back and relax, nothing soothes like coffee. Allegro coffee has an organic French roast ($11.99/lb., WFM) that’s kosher and fair trade. Stacy said she loves that it’s kosher. And that it’s good coffee.

So are you full? Finally, when you’re out stocking up for your parties and gift baskets, remember to pick up a few cans or non-perishables for your local food bank or one of those packages at the supermarket checkout that feeds a set amount of people a number of meals. Where everything else we’ve tried for you will fill up your stomach, this will fill up your heart. B’teavon!

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Winter books: God, faith and Rashi New books on religion, study, belief Diana Brement

also get a portrait of Jewish life in Sepharad contrasted with northern Europe. In the north, women have more rights and more is expected of them, and while northern scholars cling to Torah study, their southern counterparts are more interested in math, science and poetry. There is a sense that Anton is trying hard to get all possible details into the book, the last of the promised trilogy. It is in Book III that we get to the crushing and faith-testing Crusades. Anton has derived her fictional accounts directly from eyewitness reports. They are painful to read, but the author notes that she felt

JTNews Columnist God is much in the news these days. Atheists have launched a full-frontal attack with books and media appearances by confirmed non-believers such as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. As Lisa Miller wrote in Newsweek, they give us this choice: “Either you don’t believe in God or you’re a dope.” Robert Wright is not as virulent in The Evolution of God (Little Brown, cloth, $25.99). Exploring how humans came to believe in God, he offers more understanding of those who do believe while making his lack of belief clear. Starting w it h “primordial fait h,” Wright moves to shamans and chieftains, through city-states and up to the “Abrahamic” faiths in his close examination (563 pages) of God-evolution. His sources are scholarly drawn from history, anthropology and sociology. Ultimately, he says he’s “unqualified to answer” the question of whether or not “Yaweh” exists, but admits that the moral structure provided by the “Abrahamic” faiths is a good thing, if used for good. He even concludes that the “awe and wonder” of religious and spiritual experience might be part of human nature, although he thinks it has more to do with our weirdly evolved brains than any external force beyond our ken. But: maybe it’s not an external force. Just ask Jay Michaelson who has written Everything Is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism (Trumpeter, paper, $18.95) with its Kabbalistic, super-esoteric approach to God. Nondualism is the idea that everything is God: You, me, the chair, the Internet, the earth. Dualism is the more common, Western idea that God is other, something up “there,” far from us. We might associate Nondualism with Eastern religions, but Michaelson, who has a law degree from Yale and is completing a doctorate in Jewish thought from Hebrew University, argues that it has Jewish roots, particularly in Kabbalistic teachings. After all, in the Sh’ma we assert that “God is One.” After grounding the reader in the concepts, Michaelson turns to practice and how to incorporate meditation, prayer and acts of love into our lives — not unlike what you would hear in synagogue, even if the packaging is different. About 1,000 years ago t here was another man who had a lot to say about God. His name was Rashi, and his goal was to make the Torah comprehensible for everyone to grasp. As a young yeshiva bucher (student), Elie Wiesel became very fond of Rashi and he writes warmly about their relationship in Rashi: A Portrait (Nextbook-Schocken, cloth, $22). This is a 21st-century book. It’s short, to the point, well written and broken down into segments. It also engages the reader in dialogue (of course you’ll have to answer in your head) and Torah study. Wiesel sketches Rashi’s life and times, and makes them relevant to today — the brutality of the Crusades and violent Islamic fanaticism both arose when Rashi lived. To delve imaginatively and more densely into Rashi’s life and times, there is Rashi’s Daughters by Maggie Anton. The newly published Book III: Rachel (Plume, paper, $15), picks this historical fiction up where the second book left off. (Readers new to the series should start with Book I.)

Anton’s research is thorough and thoughtful. She delivers a picture of medieval French life in Troyes so detailed and intricate that we ought to be grateful smells are not included. Rachel’s husband is a merchant who travels to Spain, so we

M.O.T. t Page 10 bus stop in Seattle and taking the bus to Everett. He’s done the Seattle-to-Portland and Seattle-to-Vancouver rides a number of times, occasionally with his daughter Kaitlyn. He is married to Judy Unger and their son Shane is studying theater management at Syracuse University. The family belongs to Temple Beth Am.

80

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obligated to include them. Rashi’s family survives, we know, because though he had no sons, he had grandsons, some of whom became renowned Torah scholars in their own right. Faith in contemporary America is what Mitch Albom examines in Have A Little Faith (Hyperion, cloth, $23.99), his first non-fiction book since Tuesdays With Morrie. Asked to write a eulogy for his dying childhood rabbi, Albom travels back and forth from Detroit to New Jersey to get better acquainted with Rabbi Albert Lewis. At the same time, Albom is reporting on Pastor Henry Covington, a reformed drug addict and criminal trying to run an impoverished downtown Detroit church as a city falls down around him. Yes, it is sentimental, but also moving as Albom, a professed non-believer and non-practitioner, moves between these different worlds of faith, questioning his own beliefs and giving us the opportunity to ask ourselves how we would meet the challenges presented to the men profiled here.

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n friday, celebrate hanukkah

november 27, 2009

Books in brief From life on a commune to the princess who makes more than reservations Local History

the influence they had on him and on our popular culture.

The Love Israel Family: Urban Commune, Rural Commune, by Charles P. LeWarne (UW Press, paper, $24.95). LeWarne traces the growth, development and collapse of the Seattle-based Love Israel family religious commune (or cult) in this fascinating history. Founded by Love Israel (born Paul Erdmann), the group started out in an old mansion on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill. The “family” eventually expanded its interest in farming to a piece of property outside the town of Arlington, but as their financial viability and leadership waned in the early part of this century, they were forced to sell that beautiful piece of land, now the home of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Kalsman. The author ties this commune’s history in with the overall history of communes in the United States. The book ends with an afterword by Serious Israel, one of the group’s early leaders.

Geniuses of the American Musical Theater, by Herbert Keyuser (Applause, cloth, $29.99). A lovely coffee-table book with pictures and short biographies of 28 of America’s most talented songwriters. Of course, they’re not all Jewish, but yes, a lot of them are.

Family History My Father’s Paradise, by Ariel Sabar (Algonquin, paper, $13.95). Journalist Sabar explains at the beginning of this family history that he spent most of his life trying to avoid learning anything about his father, Yona, who grew up speaking Aramaic in the Jewish section of the remote Kurdish village of Zakho. The birth of his first child caused him to do an about-face and he set about listening to his father — a professor of Near Eastern languages at UCLA — contac ting relatives and visiting Israel. This resulting novel-like memoir traces Yona’s story as it follows the arc of modern Middle East history.

Poetry In My Bustan, by Michal Mahgerefteh (Poetica, paper, $13). The poet writes about Jewish themes, about life and death, about Israel and about spirituality in straightforward and accessible language. Her language is most beautiful when she ta kes a bibl ica l turn, reinterpreting the psalms in the final section of the book.

Jacob’s Cane, by Elisa New (Basic, cloth, $27.95). New, a professor of Engl i s h at H a r v a rd , clung to her family history as her relat ives recounted it. She dutifully quizzed her elderly great-aunts about her great-grandfather Jacob and her great-uncles, recorded their sto-

Music History A Fine Romance, by David Lehman (Nextbook/Schocken, cloth, $23). Lehman — editor of the Oxford Book of Poetry — takes us through a non-chronological history of American Jewish songwriters, the lives and times of those most famous names: Gershwin, Berlin, Hart, Hammerstein…Dylan, and

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Cooking Jewish American Food Culture, by Jonat han Deutsch and Rachel Saks, (University of Nebraska, paper, $17.95). A small book that crams a large amount of information on the eating proclivities of American Jews into its pages. The dominant theme is Ashkenazic, but the authors also include Sephardic traditions, too. Recipes for basic holiday foods are included, along with an explanation of kashrut. This would serve as a good basic introduction, and possibly as a handbook for caterers. Jewish Cooking Boot Camp, by Andrea Marks Carneiro and Roz Marks, (Three Forks, paper, $19.95). Sub-titled “The Modern Girl’s Guide to Cooking Like a Jewish Grandmother,” this fun and sometimes funny compact cookbook and holiday guide promises (and seems to deliver) “a real-life approach to Jewish cooking.” Along with traditional recipes like “Sweet and Tangy Brisket,” and the less traditional “Ice Cream Pie,” you can enjoy the authors’ suggestions for updating your festivities, like their guide to hip hop music for Hanukkah. Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes, by Laura Frankel (Wiley, cloth, $24.95). The executive chef of Wolfgang Puck’s kosher restaurant in Chicago reveals professional cooks’ in-home secret: they love crock pots! This book, which is nice looking enough to make a great gift, is full of delicious-sounding recipes all designed to simmer in your slow cooker. Some are quintessentially simple and basic, others more complex. Some may call for exotic ingredients like harissa or smoked paprika. Study up before you dive into the actual cooking.

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ries and considered her work done. But some of the stories didn’t seem quite right and some of the facts didn’t quite f it, and once her great-grandfather’s ca ne resu r faced, even more questions arose. So New set off to discover the real history of her family from its roots in Lithuania (not Austria, as she’d been told), to London and Baltimore, and their rising and falling fortunes. New’s lyrical style is engaging and almost poetic.

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T he Jewish Princess Feasts and Festivals, by Georgie Tarn and Tracey Fine (Sterling, cloth, $19.95). Hmmm…I thought the sexist and outdated joke was that Jewish princesses only made reservations. But it seems that in England, whence the authors hail, princesses scurry around the supermarket in high heels and perfect ly coif fed hair, preparing holiday meals for massive numbers of friends and relatives, all while keeping a sense of humor! Organized by holidays and significant events, the recipes are all simple and fun, and the inter vening essays are humorous. Of Esther, the authors say, “I bet she over-catered,” and they discuss Passover Panic in a frank way.

Ethics How to be a Mentsch (& Not a Schmuck), by Michael Wex (Harper, cloth, $24.99). It seems unlikely that anyone who’s an actual schmuck would read this book. Those in the choir to whom the author is preaching, though, who would like to understand the religious and cultural sources of t heir “mentsch-ness,” will find copious references here from biblical, Talmudic, Mishnaic and folk sources. Along with all that comes the opportunity to feel smug about not being a schmuck. (Ooops! Not very mentsch-like.)

Spirituality Kabbalah for Inner Peace, by Gerald Epstein, M.D. (ACMI, cloth, $20) Epstein is already an establ ished ex per t i n usi ng g uided imager y to heal both mental and physical ailments. The author of Healing Visualizations, here he draws on Kabbalah as a source of inspiration and guidance, providing practical exercises for relaxation and restoration, along with stories of successful treatments.

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friday, november 27, 2009

American academia’s acceptance of Nazism How, in the lead-up to war, America’s universities approved of Hitler’s rise Edward Alexander Special to JTNews The Third Reich in the Ivory Tower: Complicity and Conflict on American Campuses by Stephen H. Norwood (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009). It is common knowledge that Hitler’s professors (the title of Max Weinreich’s famous book of 1946) were the first to make anti-Semitism both academically respectable and complicit in murder. Stephen Norwood’s The Third Reich in the Ivory Tower demonstrates how these professors and the universities, and the genocidal regime they served, were themselves made respectable in America during the Nazi regime’s formative years, among them Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, and the Seven Sisters women’s colleges. They played a major role in legitimizing the Nazi regime, negatively by refusing to take a stand against it and positively by welcoming Nazi officials to their campuses and participating enthusiastically in student exchange programs with German institutions that had become travesties of universities. Nor wood describes how, starting in 1933, at the very time many groups i n A mer ica were demonst rat i ng i n the streets against the Hitler regime and boycotting its products, universities were conducting business as usual and refusing to attend, much less organize, anti-Nazi protests. When Robert Hutchins, president of the University of Chicago, was reproached for sailing across the Atlantic on a German ship f lying the Nazi f lag, he couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Harvard’s special contribution to making the anti-Semitic policies and actions of the Third Reich respectable among America’s learned classes came mainly in its pattern of inviting prominent Nazis to lecture and receive honors in Cambridge. Harvard president James Conant invited and warmly welcomed Ernst Hanfstaengl, a Nazi leader and close friend of Hitler, to attend his class’ 25th reunion at the Harvard commencement of June 1934. One of the book’s striking photos shows Hanfstaengl demonstrating the Hitler

salute while standing in the reception line; he had apparently developed it during his cheerleader days back in 1909. Harvard was not lacking in its own, homegrown Nazis, either: German professor John Walz spoke at Nazi rallies in Boston. So deeply entrenched was the belief that it was acceptable, indeed laudable, to welcome and honor spokesmen for the Nazi regime that university presidents reacted with fury against those who thought and publicly said otherwise. At Harvard, for example, seven protestors of Hanfstaengl’s presence in Harvard Square were arrested for speaking without a permit and confined in prison for six months of hard labor. W hen Columbia president Nicholas Murray Butler sent a professorial delegate to Heidelberg’s 550t h anniversar y celebration (a Nazi propaganda festival at which Josef Goebbels officially received delegates), a student named Robert Burke publicly criticized Butler, and was summarily forbidden to register for further classes at the college. He was being expelled for “deliver[ing] a speech in which he referred to the President disrespectfully” and was brazenly contemptuous of “good manners” and “good taste” in his language. Columbia, located in New York City, had more trouble than Harvard with student opposition to anti-Semitism because, despite its quota system, it had a large body of Jewish students; at Harvard, student opinion (for example, in the Harvard Crimson newspaper), was decidedly welcoming to spokesmen for the new Germany. The frequency w ith which “good manners” were invoked by these univer sit y president s a s a rea son for welcoming Nazi spokesmen and cracking down on obstreperous Jews who objected to their presence raises the question of whether these academics were themselves motivated by a kind of anti-Semitism.

Bernard Harrison, aut hor of t he indispensable book The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism (2006), dist ing uishes between social and political anti-Semitism; the former is a prejudice that would exclude Jews from country clubs or even certain professions; the latter, far more lethal, is a prejudice of panic, which views Jews as an absolutely depraved people whose aim is world domination and who pursue that aim by incessant destructive activity aimed at the control of non-Jewish societies and destabilization of the world order. The latter, of course, was the type officially espoused by the Nazi regime. Most of the American university officia ls whose eg reg ious ac t ions a nd statements Norwood abundantly cites were soc i a l a nt i-S emites, although some were worse. Ta k e , f or e x a m p le , Dea n V i r g i n ia Gi ldersleeve of Barnard College i n t he ’30s. She fou nd time, amidst her efforts, to reduce the number of Jews at Barnard, to wage a decades-long campaign aga i n st “I nter nat iona l Z ion ism,” t he “Z ion ist control of the media of communication” in t he U.S., politicians’ fear of the “Jewish vote,” which led them to “bully” Arabs into letting “alien foreigners” into Palestine. Wit hin t he book itself, Nor wood refrains from linking the universitybased anti-Semitism of the ’30s with that of today, Harvard’s invitation to Hanfstaengl with Columbia’s recent invitation to Ahmadinejad or to the countless instances of Judeophobia now deriving from the left rather than the right. Perhaps t he most poignant ex istential realization Norwood gives of the American ivor y tower’s immoral thoughtlessness where Nazi anti-Semitism was concerned was the University of Chicago’s long, loving relationship with Mircea Eliade. Eliade had been a loyal servant of, and propaganda atta-

ché for, the Nazi government of Rumania from 1940-45, an ardent supporter of the Iron Guard, whose barbaric massacres of Jews shocked the world. Emigrating to the United States after the war, he became a celebrated scholar of comparative religion, was hired by the University of Chicago in 1956, and became chairman of its Department of the History of Religion. When his visa expired, the university persuaded the State Department to grant him a special waiver allowing him to stay here forever because his work in Chicago was “indispensable to the security and welfare of the United States.” In 1981 Chicago’s president Hannah Gray congratulated him on publication of the first volume of his autobiography. “You have had a fascinating life, and I’m delighted that you’ve put it down to inform and instruct all of us. It’s a wonderful story,” she said. The only Chicago-based dissenter from this orgy of oily sycophancy was Saul Bellow, the protagonist of whose novel Ravelstein says of one Grielescu (based on Eliade): “Grielescu is making use of you. In the old country he was a fascist. He needs to live that down. The man was a Hitlerite....Do you have any memory of the massacre in Bucharest when they hung people alive on meat hooks in the slaughterhouse and... skinned them alive? Just give a thought now and then to those people on the meat hooks.” And just what is the lesson in which Eliade’s “wonderful story” and others like it in this book “instruct” us? It is that knowledge is one thing, virtue another. If you expect moral nourishment from professors, you should try getting warmth from the moon. Edward Alexander is co-author, with Paul Bogdanor, of The Jewish Divide Over Israel: Accusers and Defenders (2006). His most recent books are Lionel Trilling and Irving Howe: A Literary Friendship (Transaction, 2009) and Robert B. Heilman: His Life in Letters (U. of Washington Press, 2009).

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november 27, 2009

A broader reach for The Jewish Touch Stroum JCC opera lecture series to include other art forms Leyna Krow Assistant Editor, JTNews For the past two years, the Stroum Jewish Communit y Center has been enlightening opera lovers and novices alike as to the influence of Jewish themes, writers, and performance in the world of opera with its “Opera Sings the Soul” lecture series. But now the JCC has decided to broaden the program to include other art forms as well. The new series is called “The Jewish Touch,” and will focus on Jewish connections to film, theater, dance, visual art, and a variety of other musical genres as well as opera. The Jewish Touch kicked off Oct. 16 with a session on Bernard Herrmann, a film composer who wrote for many of Alfred Hitchcock’s works. According to Stroum JCC adult programs coordinator Roni Antebi, program organizers decided to shift the focus of the lecture series in an effort to attract a broader audience.

If you go: The Jewish Touch’s lecture “Nabucco: Verdi’s Operatic Triumph of the Jews in Babylon” will take place Tues., Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. Cost is $10 general admission, $5 for seniors.

“We hope a greater variety of topics will engage the community in a cultural discussion and cultural growth,” Antebi wrote in an e-mail to JTNews. Volunteer coordinator Joyce Rivkin also noted that the Opera Sings the Soul series had more or less exhausted topics of Jewish-opera connection. “We were running a little short of material,” she said. The Jewish Touch isn’t getting out of the opera game completely, however. The next event, scheduled for Dec. 1, is about Verdi’s opera, “Nabucco” which tells the story of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. The lecture is inspired by the Seattle Opera’s upcoming series of Verdi productions, including La Traviata, Il Trovatore, and Falstaff. Rivkin said that in this case, The Jewish Touch provides an opportunity for attendees to learn about both a Jewish connection to opera, as well as one of Verdi’s less famous compositions. “Most people probably don’t know that Verdi wrote an opera about Jews in Babylon,” Rivkin said. “It’s not one that’s performed very often.” Rivkin noted that although the lecture series focuses on Jewish contributions to the arts, the events are open to the public and non-Jews are more than welcome to attend. The lecture on Hermann drew about 25 participants. After the Verdi lecture, The Jewish Touch will move back toward a focus on

Rozarii Lynch/File photo

Seneca Garber, an education associate with the Seattle Opera, was one of the speakers for the precursor to the Stroum JCC’s new “The Jewish Touch” lecture series. film, with a Jan. 24 screening of the 1930s film Mirele Efros, a movie often referred to as “the Yiddish Queen Lear,” followed by a lecture on Yiddish cinema. “There’s been a lot of interest in that one because it’s so rarely shown,” Rivkin

said. “A lot of people who may remember it from the past are eager to see it again.” The subjects for Jewish Touch lectures are often determined by whom organizers can get to come speak at the events. For example, Seattle Symphony conductor Adam Stern, the first speaker in The Jewish Touch series, chose the topic of Bernard Herrmann’s work himself. “When I told him about the theme of The Jewish Touch, he right away suggested Hermann,” Rivkin said. Finding speakers isn’t always so straightforward, however. W hen Je w i s h Touc h or ga n i z er s decided they wanted to show Mirele Ef ros, R iv k i n w a s i n it ia l ly u nsu re where to get a Yiddish expert to come talk about the film. After some searching, she discovered the Seattle Yiddish Group. Club president Murray Meld then suggested to Rivkin that she ask Barbara Henry, an instructor at the University of Washington in the Russian studies department who agreed to give the lecture. The Stroum JCC had been hosting its Opera Sings the Soul lectures once every six weeks. Antebi said that The Jewish Touch program will keep that schedule. A complete list of topics for 2010 hasn’t been pinned down yet, but Rivkin said she and her fellow organizers are considering lectures on cantorial music and a collaborative event with the Seattle symphony.

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jtnews 25 community news

Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah planning workshop Individuals and families interested in moving to Israel are invited to an aliyah planning session led by Nefesh B’Nefesh. This workshop will provide information about liv ing in Israel, immigrant rights, employment and education. For more information, contact [email protected], or visit www. nbn.org.il/workshops. Thurs., Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

Hanukkah potluck for interfaith families Jewish Family Service will host a potluck dinner for interfaith couples and families. Latkes and dessert will be provided, and participants are asked to bring vegetarian side dishes. This event will also include a discussion and a chance to learn holiday songs. All ages welcome. Advance registration required. Contact Emily Harris-Shears at 206-861-8784 to RSVP. Sat., Dec. 5 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Montlake Community Center, 1618 E Calhoun St., Seattle.

Latkes and Applesauce: HannukahFest ’09 Whole Foods Market at Roosevelt Square will host a Hanukkah foods tasting event with Jconnect and Jewish Family Service featuring olive oils, latkes and applesauce, doughnuts

and other treats. There will also be kosher beer and wine samples for $1. This event is free and open to the public. Wed., Dec. 9 from 4-7 p.m. At Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St., Seattle.

Giant candy menorah Each December, Chabad of the Central Cascades builds a giant menorah out of a different material. Last year, it was balloons, the year before, Legos. This time around they’ll be constructing a 10-foot-tall menorah out of candy. The building party will be followed by a public outdoor menorah lighting with Issaquah mayor Ava Frisinger and other elected officials. Sun., Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Blakely Hall, 2550 NE Park Dr., Issaquah.

Shaarei Tikvah: A Hanukkah celebration for people of all abilities Jewish Family Service and Temple B’nai Torah will host a community-wide non-denominational celebration for persons with developmental disabilities or persistent mental illness, their families and friends. Led by Cantor David Serkin-Poole. Free. All ages welcome. Festivities will include dreidel spinning, music, and latkes. Advanced registration requested. Contact Marjorie Schnyder at 206-861-3146 or familylife@ jfsseattle.org for more information or to RSVP. Sun., Dec. 13 from 3-5 p.m. at Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue.

What’s Your JQ? t Page 15 on the menorah are an enduring symbol of God’s love for the people Israel demonstrating presences of the shechinah. What do the lights of menorah symbolize for you? Uprising: The Maccabees launched an uprising. Though much of the conflict was internal, their standing up to the Greeks was a decided deviation from the norm in Asia Minor, where Greek culture was embraced and happily adopted. The internal conflict pitted traditionalists against those Jews who embraced the culture at large: Greek language, philosophy, the gymnasium and more. With whom do you think you would have stood in that quarrel? Kosher: A dramatic moment at the start of the Chanukah story is told in the Book of the Maccabees I, involving the forced offering of a pig by a Greek officer. The backdrop to this incident is the forced Hellenization of the Jews, profaning of the Temple, and the prohibitions against Sabbath observance. There were decrees issued ordering Greek cities to compel Jews to partake of the sacrifices, and to put to death those who would not consent to adopt the customs of the Greeks. As a Jew of Modiin was poised to partake of the pig offering, Matityahu stood up defiantly and stabbed the traitor, saying to the crowd, “Follow me, all of you who are for God’s law and stand by the cov-

enant.” Thus the revolt began. W hy do you think the Greeks chose a pig to offer? Why do you think through history the laws of kashrut are often the ones used in persecution? Al Hanisim: The prayer added to the Amidah and the grace after meals throughout the eight-day-long holiday. Interestingly, there is no mention of the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. Instead, it describes the uprising of the Hasmoneans against the Greeks and stresses the miracle of delivering the strong into the hands of the weak and the many into the hands of the few. It concludes with the accomplishment of rededicating the Temple and kindling lights in the court yard of the Temple. Other traditional sources such as the Talmud tell the story of the oil that lasted eight days instead of one. Why do you think this text, called Al Hanisim, “for the miracles,” does not emphasize the miracle of the oil but the military victory? Which is the greater miracle? Why did God “bother” with the oil miracle? Hallel: The series of paragraphs from the Psalms recited through the week of Chanukah during the morning service. Hallel is a celebratory liturgy full of songs of gratitude that we sing on Rosh Chodesh and other happy occasions. It is seen as one of the major observances of this minor holiday. What aspect of this holiday is most worthy of thanksgiving?

26 jtnews

n friday, arts & entertainment

november 27, 2009

Inked To honor her body, a writer visits a Tel Aviv tattoo parlor Jo-Ann Mort Tablet NEW YORK (JTA) — On my first trip to Israel 29 years ago, I was waiting for a friend at the entrance to Beit Hatfutsot, a museum on the Tel Aviv University campus. It was during a conference convened for Holocaust survivors, and as I watched older survivors flow out of the building, I glanced at the occasional uncovered arm to see the tattooed numbers there, remnants of their Holocaust experience. It was a powerful vision for a first-time visitor to Israel, one that underscored triumph over adversity and the human will to survive along with the need for the country as a safe haven for the Jews. But now, as a regular visitor to Israel, I see a different country, especially in Tel Aviv, a city that has pioneered a freef lowing hedonistic lifestyle that promotes free expression in art and fashion. The campus of Tel Aviv University offers a parade of inked bodies. Which is partly why, though I’m not an Israeli, I decided to join Israel’s tattooed ranks during a visit this summer. But unlike the bulk of Tel Aviv’s inked masses, I’d recently survived a harrowing ordeal, and a tattoo seemed as good a way as any to mark it. The Jewish taboo against tattooing is culled from a verse in Leviticus: “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.” There is a great deal of additional rabbinical commentary supporting this prohibition, including the notion that the human body is created in the image of God and, thus, to tamper with it is a kind of blasphemy. In

Marjan Laznik

recent times, the taboo has become more rooted in contemporary history than in biblical injunction — linked as it is to memory of the Holocaust. The sight of survivors’ tattoos traumatized a nation and a people, as it should have. A friend of mine whose grandparents perished in Auschwitz nearly threw his oldest son out of the house on their kibbutz when the son came home with a tattoo. After making an appointment at Kipod on King George and Allenby streets, I had to choose a design. Until I entered the tattoo studio, I had little sense of the final marking. But I knew where I wanted it to be (my upper right shoulder), and I knew that I wanted something that had a somewhat generic elegance to it, since it and I would grow old together. I came equipped with pictures of lotuses and roses, different shapes and colors, but it wasn’t until I sat down in the

studio and looked through the picture books that I decided on a final design: a rose with a sense of movement that makes it look like it is budding right on my back. And I chose the color black. Tel Aviv women may not dress in black from head to toe, but me and my fellow New Yorkers are persistently robed in it, and so it seemed to make sense to me to have my tattoo match the rest of my wardrobe. The operative word in the previous sentence, though, is “chose.” As it turns out, my new rose is the third tattoo on my body — but the only one I asked for. Sixteen years ago I was diagnosed with treatable breast cancer, and I had to go through a six-month radiation treatment. Prior to this treatment, the doctors outlined the area to be radiated with two tiny tattoos. Some women get these removed after their treatment, though it’s advisable to keep them in case you have a recurrence so that a doctor will see these telltale signs when considering further treatment. Sometimes I stare in the mirror and try to smudge away the unsmudgeable — these navy blue dots that appear intermixed with

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Jo-Ann Mort writes frequently about Israel for a variety of publications. Reprinted from Tabletmag.com, a new read on Jewish life.

Holiday Spirit t Page 16

Electrify the holiday! Lighting the Hanukkah menorah every day is a big deal for kids of all ages, but why stop there? With the LED Menorah Kit, your kids can build their own menorah from scratch, and customize it the way they like. Choose your LEDs from a variety of sizes and colors, and set the LED height to your liking. While not strictly kosher, the power-saving LED lights are also good for the environment, so this is a win-win situation for everyone. Some soldering experience is required. $14-$17 at Evil Mad Scientist, http://tinyurl.com/24raph

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my natural body markings. These tattoos were not by choice; they mark an attack on my body and on my life by a deadly disease. As fixtures on my chest, they are reminders of the disease and of my triumph over it. Either way, they are reminders of a time in my life when I was out of control. My new tattoo is something I did for me. It has no political or religious significance for me, nor does it show disrespect for my body, as the Leviticus passage implies. Rather it is a sign of respect for my body — and for me — to create a unique design on my skin that is not harmful. It doesn’t connote something dark or destructive. It’s about my own personal choice, making a decision for which I was fully in control. It’s playful and distinctive, like the city where I had it done, born from the past but not wedded to it, influenced by its own people’s history but not fated to relive it.

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n the interfaith family

friday, november 27, 2009

Memoirs of an Invisible Woman Sometimes unstated grudges can take years, or a death in the family, to be erased Laurie Biundo InterfaithFamily.com When my husband and I celebrated 23 years of marriage, we got cards and e-mails from both sides of the family. It hadn’t always been like that. Twent y-four years ago, when we announced we were getting married, my husband’s parents looked at us like we were on another planet. We had been officially dating only four months at the time. I was 28 and he had just turned 25. It wasn’t that they thought we were young; it was they didn’t think we knew each other well enough or had dated long enough. My sister-in-law-to-be had been living at home, met and dated her husband the requisite two years, became engaged for 18 months and then got married. John’s parents didn’t know we had met and become friends two-and-a-half years before the official first date. We tried to explain this to them, but they didn’t want to hear it. So John invited his parents and me to dinner to give them an opportunity to get to know me better and to talk about our future with them. We were living in the Boston area. John’s family lived about five miles from us and mine lived in Florida. We wanted to get married in the next few months. We didn’t see any point in waiting. We were all at John’s house when the bomb hit: His parents found out I’m Jewish. They are Catholic but hadn’t practiced since the kids were young. “Are you going to convert?” my fatherin-law-to-be asked me. I looked at John. I didn’t know what to say. I knew I wouldn’t convert and I didn’t think he would. “I think one of you should convert; I

InterfaithFamily.com

Laurie Biundo, who finally has ingratiated herself to her husband’s family. don’t care which one. It’s better for the kids to have one religion,” Sal said. “I’m not going to convert, nor will I ask John to. Neither of us grew up in a religion we followed faithfully, so it doesn’t make sense,” I said. “What about the kids? How will you raise them?” “We aren’t going to have any kids,” John said. My future in-laws, including the siblings, tended to ignore me — I felt invisible to them. I think the siblings were afraid of going against their father by trying to get to know me. They all hoped I’d go away. I tried to be friendly and helpful but couldn’t seem to break through the emotional barriers to become friends with them. I arrived at my in-laws’ house one night and overheard a tape recording of my father-in-law and some of his friends discussing Jews and making anti-Semitic remarks. My father-in-law was playing the tape for John’s two brothers, laugh-

ing, and saying, “You gotta hear this.” He didn’t know I had arrived. I was appalled and didn’t know what to do. I asked John what the tape was. He mumbled something like “Oh, just my father fooling around with his friends.” I just glared at him. He shrugged his shoulders and turned it off. Later at home he apologized for his father and said he hadn’t known his father disliked Jews. We were married at a hotel by a female justice of the peace. My father-in-law was aghast. Not only was it a justice of the peace (meaning no religion), but a woman, as well! He didn’t want to believe it was legal. Over the next 10 to 11 years, my husband’s siblings and parents continued to ignore me. At the holidays when we had to spend 10 to 12 hours with them, I sat there bored. If I asked someone a question, it was as if I wasn’t there. Persona non grata, that was me. After we’d been married for five years, we decided to have kids. We invited his parents over one evening to tell them I was pregnant. They were ecstatic and never mentioned our original intent not to have children. When my first son was born, the grandparents doted on him like he was the only baby in the universe. They still ignored me, however. My husband and I discussed how I felt invisible when I was with his family. It was very difficult for us. He understood my anger and frustration, but didn’t know what to do. They were not the kind of people one could confront. They didn’t like any conflict. But we came up with a great solution: He would take the boys (we soon had another son) over to John’s parents for dinner every other Sunday night, and I got to have time alone.

In 1995, we moved to California. Hooray! We could get away from them. We could have our own holiday celebrations, no matter what they were. We had enrolled Matthew in a Jewish preschool back in Massachusetts to learn the traditional Jewish holidays. In those days we lit the candles at Hanukkah and said the prayer in Hebrew, just the four of us. On occasion friends invited us to their Hanukkah parties. Otherwise, we didn’t really observe any holidays at home. When we moved to California, our boys were 2 and 5. Four months later, John’s brother was getting married and we were all going to fly back for the wedding. Two nights before we were to fly east, we got a phone call from John’s brother: his father had suffered a major stroke. Could John fly back any sooner? We made arrangements for the redeye flight that night and took off. My father-in-law never came out of his coma, and died about five days later. It took another eight years before my sisterand brother-in-law realized they could be nice to me. I think part of the reason it took so long had to do with the distance. Yet when we finally went back for a visit in 2003, suddenly I existed. Everyone talked to me. My husband’s brother actually hugged me when I walked in his house. My mother-in-law, however, was still skeptical. If I looked at her wrong, she wouldn’t talk to me for two days. She doted on my kids and my husband and occasionally talked to me. We still seemed to dislike each other. I continued to be as nice as I could for my kids’ and John’s sake. A couple years ago, we spent a week with all my in-laws, including the kids, and had a great time. Everyone got along well — even my mother-in-law and me. The spell had been broken. Laurie Biundo is a freelance writer, teaches writing to middle schoolers and lives in California with her husband and two sons.

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friday, november 27, 2009

sports

Israel: It’s time to play ball JNF aims to turn Israel diamonds from rough to ready Rachel Tepper JTA World News Service

field was erected. The sport has found a strong base in Jerusalem, where hundreds of residents, adults and children, take part in league play. However, the city has only one baseball field — and it’s in poor condition, devoid of grass and instead covered with rocks, dust and thorns.

JERUSALEM (JTA) — People historically have associated the Jewish National Fund with planting trees in Israel. Now the century-old charity is also working to make sure that Israelis will have decent places to put good wood on the ball. T he or g a n i z ation’s latest venture, P roje c t Ba s eba l l, a i m s t o d e v e lop baseball facilities in Israel for the count r y ’s nea rly 2,300 amateur players. Baseball has seen a rise in popularity in the State of Israel, Courtesy JNF but inadequate and A young Israeli baseball player who will likely benefit from a unmaintained facil- field on flat ground. ities have hampered Other fields in Israel face similar probits progress. lems. Baseball is regularly played in Bet “People really love it,” said JNF spokesShemesh, but the town’s lone field is conwoman Jodi Bodner, who described basestructed on a slope, requiring players to ball as “great team sport” and credited its run uphill to first base. A field in Tel Aviv recent spike in popularity to the fact that is not equipped with lights, forcing play it offers Israelis “a different kind of recto end at dusk. The cities of Haifa, Beerreation.” sheba and Tiberias also boast players but With funds raised by Project Baseball, no fields on which to play. JNF has helped refurbish several fields Inadequate facilities have not been across the country. Work is under way on baseball’s only obstacle in Israel. Project a state-of-the-art sports park in Kibbutz Baseball, though now a solo effort by JNF, Gezer, not too far north of Jerusalem. at one point was working in conjunction JNF also recently completed work with the Israel Baseball League. The proon Sportek Field just outside of Tel Aviv, fessional league’s only season came in which hosted the 2009 Maccabiah Games 2007, attracting players from the United baseball competition. States, Canada, Venezuela, the DominBaseball was introduced to the Holy ican Republic, Australia, Europe and Land in 1927, when the governess of a Israel.  Jerusalem orphanage tried to engage her Financial difficulties struck out the children in a game. According to pop2008 season, and the league’s front man, ular accounts, the sport was so alien to David Solomont, is facing legal chalthe children that they dropped the baselenges. Solomont filed for Chapter 11 balls to the ground and kicked them like bankruptcy in April, according to papers soccer balls. submitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court It wasn’t until five decades later, in in Boston. 1979, that the first true Israeli baseball

Debra Rettman

Shoshana Goldberg of the Northwest Yeshiva High School’s girls’ volleyball team goes for the set in a game against Highland Christian Prep. The team finished second in their league with an 8-4 overall record.

Despite the hiccup, Project Baseball is working toward advancing Israeli baseball. The JNF says its motivation stems from the belief that baseball is more than just a game.  In 2005, the Israel Association of Baseball hosted a clinic for 80 Israeli-Arab and Jewish students, teaching them the

game’s basics and then having a game on a Tel Aviv field. According to JNF’s Web site, “the setting of a baseball field gave them a rare opportunity to interact and work together.” Instances of cooperation and unity, JNF says, are what make baseball a unique fit for the land of Israel.

Meanwhile, last week at the URJ Biennial in Toronto, Ontario … The Seattle contingent gathered to catch up on news from home with one single, well worn copy of JTNews.

Sharing your copy with a crowd? Time to buy gift subscriptions for the holidays! This is the last time you’ll be able to spread Hanukkah cheer with a gift of JTNews for only $25 (alas, we raise the rates in January).

Don’t delay! A year of JTNews is the best value in town, and makes a terrific first night of Hanukkah gift.

Whether you read JTNews in print or online, please subscribe. Your subscription makes all the difference to the success of local Jewish journalism. Thank you!

Log on to www.jtnews.net & subscribe today. Or call Becky at 206-441-4553, extension 238 & she’ll get you started.

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n national & international news

friday, november 27, 2009

u

world news updates, daily at www.jtnews.net

To shoot or not to shoot IDF colonel discusses dilemmas of warfare Adam Kredo Washington Jewish Week WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Jeep brimming with explosives barrels down an Israeli road, destined for a crowded schoolyard or home. An Israeli soldier spots the vehicle and aims his gun at the driver, yet hesitates to pull the trigger. Why? For those serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, the decision to shoot is not always self-evident. Warfare — even of the guerilla sort — is governed by a strict ethical code. Rather than relying on gut instinct or a snap judgment, Israeli soldiers are directed to uphold an explicit “code of ethics,” according to IDF Col. Ben-Tzion Gruber. Displaying video footage of the Jeep incident to a group of about 50 staffers and onlookers in a Capitol Hill conference room on Wednesday of last week, Gruber explained that soldiers have no more than “eight seconds” to spot an assailant, and react accordingly. In the Jeep incident, the IDF soldier intercepted the vehicle, firing upon it from the cover of an armored Humvee. The decision likely prevented a horrific crime, but cost the soldier his legs. “I found the driver 10 minutes later, without his legs, but still alive,” said Gruber, who spent nearly three weeks in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, commanding an armed division of about 20,000 soldiers. Had the Jeep been carrying not only explosives, Gruber said, but also Pales-

tinian children — a tactic often employed by Hamas terrorists — the IDF soldier would have been required to hold his fire until definitive evidence confirmed the driver’s murderous intent. The United Nations-backed Goldstone report, which accused Israel of numerous war crimes during last winter’s war, blatantly ignored ethical distinctions such as this, Gruber said. If necessary, “[w]e’ll shoot and kill the kids, but we won’t shoot” if there is any doubt as to the immediate threat posed by an assailant, even if that person is a known terrorist, Gruber said, summing up the IDF’s policy as “shoot or not to shoot.” Waging war within a densely populated city against an enemy who wears no uniform can be problematic, Gruber said, admitting that it leads to civilian casualties. (The IDF, he noted, went out of its way to inform citizens of attacks beforehand by dropping swarms of leaflets and placing phone calls to households.) “The terrorists wear the same clothes as everyone else. So who’s a terrorist?” he asked. “I thought Goldstone would deal with that question,” but the report did not. Further evidence of the IDF’s combat dilemma was revealed in what Gruber said was rarely seen news footage. As the camera focuses on a wounded Arab man with a Kalashnikov rifle lying by his side, an arm is suddenly seen removing the smoking weapon. This, said Gruber, is a media-savvy tactic that, if the camera had not captured the gun being removed, makes it appear as though the IDF has injured a civilian.

W h E R E GREATER SEATTLE Chabad House (Traditional) 206/527-1411 4541 19th Ave. NE Bet Alef (Meditative Reform) 206/527-9399 16330 NE 4th St., Bellevue (in Unity Church) Congregation Kol Ami (Reform) 425/844-1604 16530 Avondale Rd. NE, Woodinville Cong. Beis Menachem (Traditional Hassidic) 1837 156th Ave. NE, Bellevue 425/957-7860 Congregation Beth Shalom (Conservative) 6800 35th Ave. NE 206/524-0075 Cong. Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath (Orthodox) 5145 S Morgan 206/721-0970 Capitol Hill Minyan-BCMH (Orthodox) 1501 17th Ave. E 206/721-0970 Congregation Eitz Or (Jewish Renewal) 6556 35th Ave. NE 206/467-2617 Cong. Ezra Bessaroth (Sephardic Orthodox) 5217 S. Brandon Street 206/722-5500 Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch (Orthodox/Hassidic) 6250 43rd Ave. NE 206/527-1411 Congregation Shevet Achim (Orthodox) 5017 90th Ave. SE (at NW Yeshiva HS) Mercer Island 206/275-1539 Congregation Tikvah Chadashah (Gay/Lesbian) 206/355-1414 Emanuel Congregation (Modern Orthodox) 3412 NE 65th Street 206/525-1055 Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation (Conservative) 206/232-8555 3700 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island Hillel (Multi-denominational) 4745 17th Ave. NE 206/527-1997 Kadima (Reconstructionist) 206/547-3914 12353 NE 8th, Seattle Kavana Cooperative [email protected]

To

K’hal Ateres Zekainim (Orthodox) 206/722-1464 at Kline Galland Home, 7500 Seward Park Ave. S Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation (Orthodox) 6500 52nd Ave. S 206/723-3028 The Summit at First Hill (Orthodox) 1200 University St. 206/652-4444 Temple Beth Am (Reform) 206/525-0915 2632 NE 80th St. Temple B’nai Torah (Reform) 425/603-9677 15727 NE 4th, Bellevue Temple De Hirsch Sinai (Reform) Seattle, 1441 16th Ave. 206/323-8486 Bellevue, 3850 156th Ave. SE 425/454-5085 SOuTH KING COuNTy Bet Chaverim (Reform) 206/577-0403 25701 14th Place S, Des Moines WEST SEATTLE Kol HaNeshamah (Reform) 206/935-1590 Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds St. Torah Learning Center (Orthodox) 5121 SW Olga St. 206/938-4852 WAShinGTon STATE AbERdEEn Temple Beth Israel 360/533-5755 1819 Sumner at Martin AnAcoRTES Anacortes Jewish Community 360/293-4123 bAinbRidGE iSLAnd Congregation Kol Shalom (Reform) 9010 Miller Road NE 206/855-0885 Chavurat Shir Hayam 206/842-8453 bELLinGhAm Chabad Jewish Center of Whatcom County 820 Newell St. 360/393-3845 Congregation Beth Israel (Reform) 2200 Broadway 360/733-8890

IDF statistics from Cast Lead, however, paint a different story, Gruber said. According to military estimates, 295 civilians were killed during the war (including 15 women and 89 children under the age of 16), compared with 709 known combatants. One-hundredsixty-two deaths still remain undetermined. “The meaning of those numbers is that we work with a laser knife,” Gruber said, labeling claims that the IDF intentionally targeted civilians nonsense. “Goldstone, in the beginning of his report, said Israel intentionally targeted civilians. No way! This [the statistics] is aiming at civilian targets? No way!” Chaotic combat situations in Gaza were further complicated by several

deceptive ploys, Gruber said, showing footage of armed Hamas militants emerging from the back of a U.N.-marked ambulance. “They use almost every place as a shield,” Gruber said, as footage showed seven gun-wielding militants exiting the ambulance’s rear hatch. One participant wondered why the IDF’s moral dictates are not w idely known. “I don’t see any of this presented in the media,” said the 72-year-old during a question-and-answer session. “You know you’re losing the propaganda war.” Gruber acknowledged that Israel is “losing the war outside,” but said his presentations are “not for the media. We are doing it for us.”

Report: Charity funding anti-Israel, pro-Iran profs (JTA) — A Manhattan-based Islamic charity is funding anti-Israel, pro-Iran professors at Columbia and Rutgers universities, the New York Post reported. The Alavi Foundation has aggressively given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to Columbia and Rutgers for Middle Eastern and Persian studies programs that employ professors sympathetic to the Iranian dictatorship, the newspaper reported Monday. “We found evidence that the government of Iran really controlled everything about the foundation,” Adam Kaufmann, investigations chief at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, told the Post. Federal agents also believe the foundation funnels money to Iran-supported Islamic schools in the United States and to a syndicate of Iranian spies based in Europe, according to the newspaper. U.S. agents have begun seizing as much as $650 million in assets from the foundation, according to the report. The foundation donated $100,000 to Columbia after the school agreed to host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Post reported, based on 2007 tax filings. The foundation would not comment on the Post’s report. — JTA World News Service

Wo R S h i p bREmERTon Congregation Beth Hatikvah 360/373-9884 11th and Veneta EVERETT / EdmondS Chabad Jewish Center of Snohomish County 2225 100th Ave. W, Edmonds 425/967-3036 Temple Beth Or (Reform) 425/259-7125 3215 Lombard St., Everett FoRT LEWiS Jewish Chapel 253/967-6590 Liggett Avenue & 12th iSSAquAh Chabad of the Central Cascades (Hassidic Traditional) 24121 SE Black Nugget Rd. 425/427-1654 oLympiA Chabad Jewish Discovery Center 1611 Legion Way SE 360/584-4306 Congregation B’nai Torah (Conservative) 3437 Libby Rd. 360/943-7354 Temple Beth Hatfiloh (Reconstructionist) 201 8th Ave. SE 360/754-8519 poRT AnGELES And SEquim Congregation B’nai Shalom 360/452-2471 poRT ToWnSEnd Congregation Bet Shira 360/379-3042 puLLmAn, WA And moScoW, id Jewish Community of the Palouse 509/334-7868 or 208/882-1280 SpokAnE Congregation Emanu-El (Reform) P O Box 30234, Spokane 99223 509/835-5050 www.spokaneemanu-el.org Temple Beth Shalom (Conservative) 1322 E. 30th Ave. 509/747-3304

TAcomA Chabad-Lubavitch of Pierce County 1889 N Hawthorne Dr. 253/565-8770 Temple Beth El (Reform) 253/564-7101 5975 S. 12th St. TRi ciTiES Congregation Beth Sholom (Conservative) 312 Thayer Drive, Richland 509/375-4740 VAncouVER Chabad-Lubavitch of Clark County 9604 NE 126th Ave., Suite 2320 360/993-5222 E-mail: [email protected] www.chabadclarkcounty.com Congregation Kol Ami 360/574-5169 Service times and location can be found at www.jewishvancouverusa.org VAShon iSLAnd Havurat Ee Shalom 206/567-1608 15401 Westside Highway P O Box 89, Vashon Island, WA 98070 WALLA WALLA Congregation Beth Israel 509/522-2511 E-mail: [email protected] WEnATchEE Greater Wenatchee Jewish Community 509/662-3333 or 206/782-1044 WhidbEy iSLAnd Jewish Community of Whidbey Island 360/331-2190 yAkimA Temple Shalom (Reform) 509/453-8988 1517 Browne Ave.

30 jtnews

n friday, november national & international news

27, 2009

A next stab at peace Plan to create Palestinian state now, ask questions later seen more as posturing than practical Uriel Heilman JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — Shaul Mofaz has a plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Mofaz, the Likud Party defense minister-turned-Kadima leader, says the first step is the immediate establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders on 60 percent of the territory in the West Bank. Then, over the course of the next four to six years, the two sides would negotiate the final-status issues, including permanent borders. The final deal would be put to national referendums in Israel and Palestine. Under his plan, not a single Israeli settlement would be uprooted during the course of final-status negotiations, and both Gaza and the West Bank would be united under a moderate Palestinian government. In the end, Jerusalem would remain united under Israeli sovereignty, the large Jewish settlement blocs in the

West Bank would be annexed to Israel, and the Palestinian state would be completely demilitarized. “Israel must initiate forward movement rather than being dragged into unwanted agreements,” Mofaz said last week at a presentation of his plan to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. He also sat down for  a one-on-one interview with JTA to  discuss  his proposal. “Today, we don’t have an Israeli master plan for implementing the vision of the two-state solution,”  Mofaz said. “This is the first plan.” Absent a Palestinian leader with the willingness and standing to sign on, the only thing Mofaz needs is a genie in a bottle to make it come true. Of course, Mofaz isn’t really expecting anyone to implement his plan anytime soon. The proposal is part of a strategy to win some attention as he jockeys for the

leadership of Kadima, Israel’s chief opposition party. In the last Kadima primary election, in September 2008, Tzipi Livni edged Mofaz by just 431 votes. While many political analysts dismissed Mofaz’s strong showing as a fluke — it was Kadima’s first primary, and fewer than 40,000 votes were cast — Mofaz sees himself as a strong contender for the premiership. Having a plan to talk about allows Mofaz to criticize both Livni, his Kadima rival, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the presumed front-runner the next time Israel goes to elections. T he pla n itself, however, hasn’t received much traction in Israel. Livni has dismissed it as a political ploy, and Israeli media outlets have shown little interest. Mofaz came to the United States last week hoping for a better reception in a trip paid for by ORT, the worldwide Jewish educational organization. (Mofaz

did some work promoting ORT during his visit.) But if the audience at Mofaz’s presentation Nov. 19 to the Presidents Conference is any gauge, the former general’s proposal will be met with great skepticism here, too. “I’m not sure I understand what’s new and different about it,” one questioner said at the presentation. “I don’t understand how you propose to get it done and who you propose to negotiate with.” Several potential trouble spots are apparent in the plan. It presumes Palestinian acquiescence to an interim step, but the Palestinians are insisting they won’t return to the negotiating table unless final-status issues like dividing Jerusalem, the right of return to Israel for Palestinian refugees, and the removal of Israeli settlements are up for discussion. It also presumes the Palestinians

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friday, november 27, 2009 Send submissions to: JTNews — Lifecycles, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 [email protected] Phone: 206-441-4553 Submissions for the December 11, 2009 issue are due by December 1. Download forms or submit online at www.jtnews.net/index.php?/lifecycle

n

jtnews 31 lifecycles

Peace Plan t Page 30

Bar Mitzvah Yonatan Baruch Peretz Kintzer

Bar Mitzvah Jamey Allan Perry Vinnick

Yonatan will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on December 5, 2009 at Congregation Beth Shalom in Seattle. Yonatan is the son of Jane Becker and Jason Kintzer of Seattle and the brother of Raphael, David, Maya, Avi and Yoel. His grandparents are Edward Becker of New York, N.Y., Jolanda Kintzer of Long Beach, N.Y., and the late David Kintzer and the late Mildred Becker. Yonatan is in the 7th grade at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle. He loves to meet people and learn about new ideas. He also enjoys basketball, tennis, swimming, travel and schmoozing. For his mitzvah project, Yonatan worked at various food banks, raised money for those less fortunate, and assisted with the Friendship Circle.

Jamey will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on December 5, 2009 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island. Jamey is the son of Michael and Stacy Vinnick of Sammamish and the brother of Gabriel. His grandparents are Joey and Marcia Mayo of Bellevue, Allan and Annette Vinnick of Bellevue, and Howard Adler of Kirkland. Jamey is in the 7th grade at Beaver Lake Middle School. He enjoys most sports and is an avid baseball card collector. He also loves music and traveling with his family, especially his cousins. For his mitzvah project, Jamey is involved in the Ronald McDonald House and has participated in Herzl-Ner Tamid’s Teen Feed program.

Engagement Lindsay Kantor and Joel Krivosha Joel and Lindsay got engaged on October 11, 2009. They are planning a January 2011 wedding. Joel is the son of Bruce and Marsha Krivosha of Mercer Island. He graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1998 and Washington State University in 2002.  Lindsay is the daughter of Steve and Elaine Kantor of Portland, Ore.  She graduated from Portland’s Lincoln High School in 2002 and the University of Oregon in 2005. 

Crossword answers Hate crimes hit seven-year high WASHINGTON, D.C. (JTA) — The incidence of hate crimes in the United States in 2008 hit a seven-year high, according to data released Monday by the FBI. The 7,783 documented hate crimes in 2008 represented a 2.1 percent increase from 2007 and the highest since 2001. Of the 1,519 religion-based hate crimes, also at a seven-year high, 1,013 — or 66 percent — were directed against Jews and Jewish institutions. The FBI report also found the highest number of crimes directed at blacks, Jews and gay men and lesbians since 2001. “While the increase in the number of hate crimes may be partially attributed to improved reporting, the fact that these numbers remain elevated — particularly the significant rise in the number of victims selected on the basis of religion or sexual orientation — should be of concern to every American,” said ADL national director Abraham Foxman and ADL national chair Robert Sugarman. In response, the ADL called for a “coordinated campaign to prevent, deter, and respond effectively to criminal violence motivated by bigotry and prejudice — including training on the provisions of the new Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, more vigorous enforcement of existing laws, and antibias education and anti-bullying programs for schools and communities.” — JTA World News Service

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would agree to trading the West Bank settlement blocs for territory in Israel proper; the Palestinians have rejected such offers in the past. The plan ignores Hamas’ control of Gaza and the possibility that Hamas could trump the more moderate Fatah faction in the next Palestinian elections, which were supposed to be held in January but appear to be on hold. In addition, the plan does not account for what happens if Gaza remains under Hamas control, if the proposed Israeli or Palestinian national referenda reject the deal, or if final-status talks fail. The last time final-status talks failed, when Yasser Arafat rejected then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s offer at Camp David in 2000, the second intifada was launched. If that were to happen within Mofaz’s arrangement, the Palestinians already would have a state in 60 percent of the West Bank. At its core, the plan differs little from other Israeli efforts to reach Israeli-Palestinian accord. The Oslo Accords awarded the Palestinians interim territory in the West Bank and Gaza; the territory simply wasn’t called a state. The main difference in Mofaz’s vision appears to be the size of that area. Mofaz says his plan is about changing the atmosphere between the two sides so the gaps on the final-status issues can be bridged. It sounds very much like Netanyahu’s stated strategy, which is to foster economic prosperity in the West Bank to create the conditions necessary for peace. Talks between the Israelis and Palestinians haven’t shown much progress since they ran aground in 2000. And Mofaz’s proposal, given its reception thus far, doesn’t seem likely to get the two sides past their current impasse. The question is whether it can at least give him a boost in his effort to move past Livni and Netanyahu.

32 jtnews

n friday, november national & international news

27, 2009

Israel: Not just for Jews anymore Jewish support for Israeli-Arab causes goes mainstream, but not everyone likes it Gil Shefler JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — When the Reform movement passed a resolution endorsing advocacy for Israeli Arabs, it wasn’t the first time an American Jewish group had backed the cause of Israeli-Arab equality. In recent years, a growing number of American Jews have thrown their support toward Israeli-Arab causes, including civil rights and advocacy organizations, women’s empowerment courses, student-exchange programs and even film festivals. More than 80 Jewish groups belong to the Inter-Agency Task Force on IsraeliArab Issues, which works on behalf of equal treatment of Israeli Arabs and Jews. The Jewish federations’ Venture Fund for Jewish and Arab Equality and Shared Society, a mix of 21 private family foundations, federations and philanthropists, has raised more than $1 million for Israeli-Arab causes since its launch in 2007. And in 2006, the Jewish Agency for Israel announced it would invest in projects benefiting Israeli Arabs, scrapping a policy, in place since its founding in 1922, of exclusively helping Jewish causes. This month’s unanimous endorsement of the cause by American Jewry’s largest religious movement, at the biennial conference in Toronto of the Union for Reform Judaism, was the latest sign

pave the way for mainstream Jewish that Jew ish support for Israeli-Arab groups to support a cause long champicauses has gone mainstream. oned by organizations such as the New “There’s no doubt that more money Israel Fund and the Abraham Project. has been given to this issue then ever Not everyone is happy about it. before. It’s become a mainstream issue,” Morton Klein, president of the Zionist said Rabbi Brian Lurie, co-chair of the Organization of America, says American Inter-Agency Task Force, a former CEO Jews should not be sending funds to an of the Jewish Federation of San FranIsraeli community that is disloyal toward cisco and one of the key Jewish activists Israel. He cited visits by Israeli-Arab lawraising money in the Diaspora for Israeli makers to enemy states such as Syria by Arabs. “Whether your mindset is equalway of example. ity, whether it’s the security of Israel, “I think it’s a miswhether it’s building bridges, all three rea- Arab citizens constitute approximately take to be raising sons are involved and 20 percent of Israel’s population of 7 money for Israeli these are compelling million. Though they have the same Arabs, at least until reasons.” rights accorded Israel’s Jewish citizens, they show their supA r a b c i t i z e n s studies have shown that Israeli Arabs port for Israel and constitute approxi- routinely suffer from employment it s r ig ht s,” K lei n mately 20 percent of discrimination and receive fewer said. “There’s been Israel’s population government funds than Israel’s an inverse relationship bet ween t he of 7 million. Though Jewish sector. monies being allothey have the same cated to the Israelirights accorded IsraArab communities and their loyalties and el’s Jewish citizens, studies have shown commitment to Israel.” that Israeli Arabs routinely suffer from The New Israel Fund, for example, has employment discrimination and receive come under fire for its support of Israelifewer government funds than Israel’s Arab advocacy groups that take conJewish sector in such areas as education, troversial positions, including calls for infrastructure and welfare. eliminating Israel’s Jewish character. In 2006, an Israeli government comJust this month, three NIF-funded Arab mittee set up to investigate riots in OctoIsraeli groups were behind a poster for a ber 2000, in which Israeli police fire left conference on women’s rights in the Arab 12 Arab protesters dead, determined that world that suggested Israeli soldiers sexIsrael long had neglected its Arab citiually violate Palestinian women, promptzens. The Or Commission finding helped

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ing critics to cry foul. The NIF defended its position even as it criticized the poster. “While we certainly defend the conference as appropriate — and as always, may disagree with our grantees on some key issues but see no reason to force them into ideological lockstep — there’s no question that the poster in question is unnecessarily provocative and misleading,” NIF communications director Naomi Paiss told JTA. Other Jewish organizational officials say the Israeli-Arab community needs to be held to account. “We need to hold the leaders of the Israeli-Arab community or any other community to be responsible,” said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organizations, which is a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force. “That means that when there are incitements or actions that are detrimental, they need to counter it.” Warning that some of the money donated with the intent of bolstering Israeli society by reaching out to Israeli Arabs is used for “questionable purposes,” Hoenlein said donations by Diaspora Jews should be put to use effectively “to counter the Islamist forces, encourage moderation and create conditions that are inductive to it.”

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counselors/therapists Jewish Family Service Individual, couple, child and family therapy 206-861-3195 www.jfsseattle.org  Expertise with life transitions, relationships and personal challenges. Jewish knowledge and sensitivity. Offices in Seattle and Bellevue. Day and evening hours. Subsidized fee scale available.

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Frances M. Pomerantz, MS Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 425-451-1655 ✉☎ [email protected] Specializing in couples and individuals. Facilitating better communication, more satisfying relationships, increased selfawareness and personal growth. Day & early eve hours available. 1621 114th ave. SE, #224, Bellevue 98004

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dentists B. Robert Cohanim, D.D.S., M.S. Orthodontics for Adults and Children 206-322-7223 www.smile-works.com  Invisalign Premier Provider. On First Hill across from Swedish Hospital.

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Warren J. Libman, D.D.S., M.S.D. 425-453-1308 www.libmandds.com  Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics: • Restorative • Reconstructive • Cosmetic Dentistry 14595 Bel Red Rd. #100, Bellevue

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Michael Spektor, D.D.S. 425-643-3746 ✉☎ [email protected] www.spektordental.com  Specializing in periodontics, dental implants, and cosmetic gum therapy. Bellevue

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Wendy Shultz Spektor, D.D.S. 425-454-1322 ✉☎ [email protected] www.spektordental.com  Emphasis: Cosmetic and Preventive Dentistry • Convenient location in Bellevue.

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access the directory online www.jtnews.net www.jew-ish.com

Financial services Hamrick Investment Counsel, LLC Roy a. Hamrick, CFa 206-441-9911 ✉☎ [email protected] Professional portfolio management services for individuals, foundations and nonprofit organizations.

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Mass Mutual Financial Group Albert Israel, CFP 206-346-3327 ✉☎ [email protected] Jamison Russ 206-346-3266 ✉☎ [email protected] Retirement planning for those nearing retirement • Estate planning for those subject to estate taxes • General investment management • Life, disability, long-term care & health insurance • Complimentary one hour sessions available

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Solomon M. Karmel, Ph.D First Allied Securities 425-454-2285 x 1080 www.hedgingstrategist.com  Retirement, stocks, bonds, college, annuities, business 401Ks.

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Dennis B. Goldstein & Assoc., CPAs, PS 425-455-0430 F 425-455-0459 ✉☎ [email protected] 12715 Bel-Red Rd., Suite 120 Bellevue 98005

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Newman Dierst Hales, PLLC Nolan A. Newman, CPA 206-284-1383 ✉☎ [email protected] www.ndhaccountants.com  Tax • accounting • Healthcare Consulting

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Funeral/Burial services Congregation Beth Shalom Cemetery 206-524-0075 ✉☎ [email protected] This beautiful new cemetery is available to the Jewish community and is located just north of Seattle.

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invitations Occasionally Yours Adrian Lustig, owner 425-644-8551 ✉☎ [email protected] Specializing in Jewish Wedding and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitations 20% Discount • Hebrew type

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Hills of Eternity Cemetery Owned and operated by Temple De Hirsch Sinai 206-323-8486 Serving the greater Seattle Jewish community. Jewish cemetery open to all pre-need and at-need services. Affordable rates • Planning assistance. Queen Anne, Seattle

Mohelim

Graphic design

All About Graphics Joel Dames Photography 206-367-1276 www.joeldamesphotography.com  Events, Commercial, Portraits, Graphics, albums • all Your Photographic Needs

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Spear Studios, Graphic Design Sandra Spear 206-621-0240 ✉☎ [email protected] • Newsletters • Brochures • Logos • Letterheads • Custom invitations • Photo Editing for Genealogy Projects

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insurance Abolofia Insurance Agency Bob abolofia, agent 425-641-7682 F 425-988-0280 ✉☎ [email protected] Independent agent representing Pemco since 1979

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Eastside Insurance Services Chuck Rubin, agent 425-271-3101 F 425-277-3711 4508 NE 4th, #B, Renton Tom Brody, agent 425-646-3932 F 425-646-8750 2227 112th ave. NE, Bellevue We represent Pemco, Safeco, Hartford & Progressive www.e-z-insurance.com 

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United Insurance Brokers, Inc. Linda Kosin 425-454-9373 ✉☎ [email protected] F 425-453-5313 Your insurance source since 1968 Business, group and personal insurance 50 116th ave SE #201, Bellevue 98004

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Rabbi Simon Benzaquen 206-721-2275 • 206-723-3028 Fastest Mohel in the West Certified Mohel

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Photographers

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Dani Weiss Photography 206-760-3336 www.daniweissphotography.com  Photographer Specializing in People. Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, parties, promotions & weddings. Reasonable rates Digital or film

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senior services Jewish Family Service 206-461-3240 www.jfsseattle.org  Comprehensive geriatric care management and support services for seniors and their families. Expertise with in-home assessments, residential placement, family dynamics and on-going case management. Jewish knowledge and sensitivity.

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The Summit at First Hill 206-652-4444 www.klinegallandcenter.org  The only Jewish retirement community in the state of Washington offers transition assessment and planning for individuals looking to downsize or be part of an active community of peers. Multi-disciplinary professionals with depth of experience available for consultation.

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Our Professional Services Directory has changed! Now you can promote your business online as well as in the pages of JTNews.

now in print

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certified Public accountants

(continued)

your Business category Your Company Name Your Name or Company Your Phone Number ✉☎ Your E-mail address Your Web site  A few lines of copy about your business. Your business address

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and online! Post your own listing on our Web site and choose even more options, including your logo, up to five photographs, and detailed text you can update any time you like. If your business is on the Eastside or South Sound, call Lynn at 206-774-2264; Northend or West Seattle, call Stacy at 206-774-2292; Urban Seattle, call David at 206-774-2235 Call 206-441-4553 for more information, or log on to www.jtnews.net and click on the Professional Directory logo to get started.

Please call Becky at 774-2238 to update your print listing and receive an online listing free for a limited time!

you come highly recommended.

34 jtnews

n friday, november national & international news

Israeli Arab Support t Page 32 American Jews who support funding Israeli-Arab causes say they do so out of concern for Israel’s democracy and Jewish values. “Israel’s strength and survival depend on the democratic nature of the Jewish state,” said the Reform movement’s resolution on the issue. “These imperatives require that we be ever sensitive to the aspirations and just demands of Israel’s

27, 2009

minority citizens.” Jessica Balaban, the executive director of the Inter-Agency Task Force, says her mission transcends political and ideological boundaries. “With better education, people understand that improving the quality of life for the Arab citizens of Israel is not only a moral imperative but also in our selfinterest, and it’s been well received by the Arab community here,” she told JTA by phone from Israel.

the shouk

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, vice president of the National Council of Young Israel, an umbrella organization for Orthodox synagogues, said he objects to funding Israeli-Arab causes as a matter of priorities. “Tradition teaches us priorities, and those priorities dictate that we give to our own families first,” Lerner said. “Jews in Israel have needs, and you don’t see the Arabs giving money to the Jews.”

Rabbi David Ellenson, president of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, subscribes to an opposing theological view. Quoting the biblical injunction to “welcome the stranger in your midst,” Ellenson says it’s a religious imperative — and eventually it will strengthen Israel. “In general,” he said, “I think that people who are treated with respect and dignity tend to respond to those who treat them this way.”

jtnews

@

november 27, 2009

volunteers wanted

home services

housing needed

appliance sales

volunteer web developer

handyman/reliable maintenance

need sublet in seattle

Wiseman’s

Jtnews seeks a volunteer web developer to help with Web site upkeep and renovations. Volunteer must be well-versed in HTML, CSS and PHP (preferred) and have some working knowledge of content management systems. Candidate may work varied hours from home. For more information, please contact JTNews editor Joel Magalnick at [email protected].

Affordable, 20 year’s experience. Construction, plumbing, electrical Remodels & additions welcome. Licensed • Insured • Bonded Excellent references • Free estimates

college placement

a college eDUcatIon Is a maJor InVestment Sensitive professional assistance to ensure a succesful match between student and school

linda Jacobs & associates college Placement services

206/323-8902

[email protected]

short-term room or small apt. for approx. $600/mo. From January (last week of Dec., if possible) through March. Prefer Eastlake or close to UW Medical Center or near public transportation to the SCCA clinic.

call rick Petersen 425-736-3433

Please e-mail [email protected]

tutoring

cleaning services

improve your child’s hAndwriting!

domestic angels

Joan lite miller 206-527-6320

Reasonable rates • Licensed/Bonded Responsible • References • Free estimate Seattle/Eastside

Learn legible, rhythmic, rapid handwriting with calligrapher/ artist/elementary school tutor trained in multisensory approaches.

Call Yolimar Perez or Maria Absalon

experienced cantor-tutor Bar/Bat Mitzvahs—all levels Officiates all Lifecycles

Clean your house and office

206-356-2245 or 206-391-9792 [email protected]

insurance services

For insurance and Financial services tiM J. CAshMAn Agent — LUtCF

state Farm Insurance company

206-232-1024

[email protected] 7435 SE 27th Street, Mercer Is., WA 98040

Experienced piano & voice teacher

206-715-8796

college placement consultants Individual guidance in college selection, applications and essays.

425-453-1730 Pauline B. Reiter, Ph.D. [email protected]

www.collegeplacementconsultants.com

housekeeping housecleaning/companion

general housecleaning Shopping • Errands Doctor appointments Experienced, have car & transportation References available Eastside/Seattle

Call Cici • 425-213-9802

BeginneRs heBRew & FRenCh Elementary grades through adults • First lesson free • • Flexible hours • Excellent service • Reasonable rates • My house or yours • Seattle/Eastside Call Malka garni 425-486-9815 e-mail: [email protected]

Prompt & Reliable Service Great Selection Competitive Pricing Professional Appliance Installation 2619 California Ave. SW, Seattle

206-937-7400 photography

photography by anat Events, special & formal occasions, weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, music & educational Seattle & Northwest Excellent references please contact anat at 206-853-2286 or e-mail: [email protected]

Poems (3 max) and/or essays and fiction (under 5,000 words) on Northwest and Jewish themes from established and emerging writers for Spring 2010 issue of Drash. Include separate page with contact info and short bio.

2856 80th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA WaAutoInsurance.com [email protected]

funeral/burial services TEMPLE BETH OR CEMETERy serving the burial needs of Reform Jews and their families. For information, please call (425) 259-7125.

call Anat

For information, call temple Beth am at 206-525-0915.

next issue: december 11 ad deadline: december 4 Call beCky: 206-774-2238

• • • •

Jim Hale Serving the state of Washington 800-848-2120

A Jewish cemetery that meets the needs of the greater Seattle Jewish community. Zero interest payments available.

or e-mail [email protected]

Since 1960, Wiseman’s Appliance still gives personal attention and friendly service

seeking writers

All ages Bar/Bat Mitzvah students My home or yours • Seattle area

206-853-2286

mAytAG • dAcOr • ElEctrOlux • wOlf thErmAdOr • KitchEnAid • bOSch • viKinG

Auto Fire Life Boat Umbrella

Beautiful location near snohomish.

hebrew instruction & tutoring

GE • AmAnA • ASKO • Sub-zErO • friGidAirE

announcements

Cantor Marina Belenky [email protected] www.cantormarina.com

appliance

cemetery gan shalom

Traditional Jewish funeral services provided by the Seattle Jewish Chapel. For further information, please call 206-725-3067. Burial plots are available for purchase at Bikur Cholim and Machzikay Hadath cemeteries. For further information, please call 206-721-0970.

Deadline: December 15, 2009 submit by snailmail only to: Wendy Marcus, Music Director Temple Beth Am 2632 NE 80th St., Seattle 98115 206-525-0915 www.templebetham.org

WE NEED CARS! • Free Pick-up • No DOL filing • No smog certif. • Running or not

Donate your used car to Chabad & receive a tremendous tax write-off. • Any vehicle okay • Plus RVs, boats, real estate, lots, etc.

206-527-1411

jtnews 35

n national & international news

friday, november 27, 2009

Firm offers ‘terror-free’ investments Financial firm won’t invest in companies that do business with Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea Salvatore Caputo Jewish News of Greater Phoenix In addition to traditional investment vehicles, Empowerment Financial Group offers something relatively new: “TerrorFree Investing.” “It was something we’d been working on for several years,” and have introduced since launching Empowerment in April, said Mark Langerman, CEO and managing director of the Scottsdale-based company he founded with colleague Paul Seidman. They are working to trademark the term, Langerman said. Langerman has been in the investment business for nearly 25 years, and Seidman, president of Empowerment, has seven years’ experience in the field. They met while working at a large investment firm. Langerman and Seidman developed their product on their own and brought the idea to a portfolio manager, Advanced Equities Asset Management, based in San Diego, Calif. “They have a product called ‘Large Cap Select’ that they have been managing for several years,” Langerman wrote in an e-mail. “With our help, they now apply the terror-free ‘screen’ to their existing portfolio” to create a second product, “Terror-Free Large Cap Select.” As a result, Empowerment also offers a product of the same name, and the

portfolio manager works to ensure that the fund avoids investing in firms with act ive commercial, non-humanitarian ties to Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea. Until North Korea was removed from the list last year, these four countries were all on the U.S. State Department’s list of “state sponsors of terror.” Langerman said that using the State Department’s list was a way to create a uniform definition of terror-free investments. Langerman’s idea to offer such investments began germinating three years ago. He had just attended his first American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference and learned about AIPAC’s platform of divestment from companies that do business in Iran’s oil and natural gas sector. Like the divestment movement that helped put international pressure on South Africa to end apartheid, AIPAC has issued memos promoting divestment from Iran as a means to pressure Tehran to drop its nuclear program. One of Langerman’s clients was a member of AIPAC’s national board. “When we got back to Phoenix, he said, ‘Let’s put our money where our mouth is. Let’s divest,’” Langerman said. The client had a large portfolio and found that every single company in which it was invested did business with Iran, so the client divested the entire portfolio.

Courtesy Mark Langerman

Mark Langerman, CEO of the Empowerment investment company, which offers a portfolio it calls “Terror-Free Investments.” T h at i n s pi r e d L a n ge r m a n a nd Seidman to think about all the companies doing business with state sponsors of terror and how U.S. investment dollars in these countries were aiding the development of these countries and filtering out to terror groups intent on attacking the U.S., Israel and the West in general. “We thought, ‘We need to step up to the plate and offer a way to empower our clients to make a difference,’” he said, “to participate in the financial war on terror.” Launching their company gave them that opportunity.

One of the downsides of the divestment strategy is that as investors sell off shares of the company they find objectionable, someone else is buying those shares and infusing the company with capital, he said. However, the fund’s strategy mirrors that of the “green investing” movement, Langerman said, which evolved from a strategy of divestment to an exclusionary investment strategy. By investing only in companies that are “environmentally friendly,” they deny “environmentally unfriendly” companies access to that pool of capital. Langerman likened it to building an electric fence around the capital. Similarly, the terror-free screen denies capital to companies that do business with Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea. “As of Sept. 30, there were 586 public companies globally that do business legally in these four countries,” Langerman said, citing research by the Conflict Securities Advisory Group, based in Washington, D.C., which is used to provide the fund’s terror-free screen. “If access to U.S. capital markets were cut off tomorrow, we believe in the very short term you would see them pulling up stakes in these countries.” And that’s the vision behind the fund, he said, “to help put pressure on these companies by neutralizing their access to the U.S. capital market.” Reprinted with permission from The Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.