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Jewish Journal

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November 20, 2019

Canada Votes for UN Resolution Condemning Israel for ‘Occupying’ East Jerusalem

Leave a Comment / Online, Worldwide /

Canada was among the 164 countries that voted in favor of a United Nations resolution on Nov. 19 condemning Israel for “occupying” Jerusalem, the National Post reports.

North Korea, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua and what the U.N. denotes as “the state of Palestine,” sponsored the resolution calling the right for Palestinian self-determination. The resolution refers to Israel as “the occupying power” and included East Jerusalem as part of the “Occupied Palestinian Territory.” 

It also condemned Israel for building a security barrier in 2004.

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer tweeted that under the resolution’s text, “Occupied Palestinian Territory” would include “Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem & holiest sites of Judaism.” Additionally, the resolution “ignores hundreds of Palestinian rockets just fired at Israelis.”

Neuer noted in his tweets that Canada had voted against the resolution from 2014-2018; he suggested that the change in vote came from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s desire to have Canada voted into the U.N. Security Council.

“By voting for a resolution co-sponsored by North Korea & Zimbabwe, he has entered a Faustian bargain with dictatorships that does not bode well for a free & democratic society,” Neuer wrote.

In a later tweet, Neuer highlighted a Nov. 4 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) article reporting that the U.N. Security Council was going to scrutinize Canada’s history of votes on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The article states that Canada “regularly votes against or abstains on, the 16 recurrent resolutions on Palestinian issues which go before the General Assembly every year, including resolutions on Palestinian self-determination, sovereignty over natural resources and the illegality of Israeli settlements.”

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein similarly said in a tweet that Canada’s vote was “so disappointing!”

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland spokesman Adam Austen told the National Post, “In keeping with Canada’s long-standing position, it is important at this time to reiterate our commitment to a two-state solution and the equal rights and self-determination of all peoples.” He also said that Canada is firmly against resolutions that they think are unfair to Israel.

UN Watch launched a petition on Nov. 20 calling on Canada to reverse its vote, noting that two more votes will occur on the resolution in December.

“The Trudeau-backed text slammed Israel for its security barrier that has saved countless lives after the bloodbath wrought by the PLO and Hamas suicide bombings during the Second Intifada,” the petition states, later adding that Trudeau should “tear up this Faustian bargain, and to stop trading Canada’s principles of fairness in exchange for the votes of dictatorships in Trudeau’s bid for a U.N. Security Council seat.”

Canada Votes for UN Resolution Condemning Israel for ‘Occupying’ East Jerusalem Read More »

NY Youth Hockey Players’ Parents Say Opposing Team Shouted Anti-Semitic Slurs During Game

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

Parents of players on a New York youth hockey team are alleging that their opponents hurled anti-Semitic comments at their players during a Nov. 17 game at the Westchester Skating Academy.

Steven Borenstein and Gary Sipos, both of whom have sons on the Scarsdale Raiders, told CBS New York that the North Park team shouted “disgusting Jew” and “go back to synagogue” at the Raiders. Additionally, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale Rabbi Avraham Weiss wrote in a Nov. 19 letter to the Scarsdale Youth Hockey League that the family of one of the Raider players told him that “take that you Jew” and “go back to Shabbos” were also shouted at the players. 

He was also told that the referees and the North Park head coach didn’t take any action on the matter.

“Such actions are beyond reprehensible,” Weiss wrote. “They are unacceptable. I write to demand you, as leaders of the league, take immediate action.”

The North Park Hockey Association said in a statement to CBS New York that they “are working with the Scarsdale Hockey Club and the Hudson Valley Hockey League to gather the facts so we can take appropriate action if action is warranted. Regardless of what happened, we are going to use this as a moment to educate our players on this important issue, as this is clearly about much more than hockey.”

According to News 12 Westchester, practices have been put on old while the investigation is ongoing.

Anti-Defamation League New York and New Jersey Regional Director Evan Bernstein tweeted, “This report of a #Westchester #youth hockey team that says their players were attacked [with] #antisemitic comments during a game is horrible and we are reaching out to learn more.”

In April, 15 members and three coaches for the Los Angeles Junior Kings were suspended after a video emerged of members of the team saying “f— the Jews” and laughing as a member issued a Nazi salute. The team toured the Museum of Tolerance a month later.

Museum of Tolerance Director Liebe Geft told the Journal at the time, “Being a champion is more than winning. These young people are playing at a formidable level of competition and they have to do so while they’re also leaders and role models and they need to demonstrate excellence in character and emotional intelligence. So yes, being a champion – you have to be a winning player… and you have to be a mensch: a human being of integrity, humility, dedication, commitment, caring, and you have to relate well to others, and this is where the museum comes in.”

NY Youth Hockey Players’ Parents Say Opposing Team Shouted Anti-Semitic Slurs During Game Read More »

Gantz Says He Cannot Form a Government, Paving Way for Possible Third Israeli Election

Leave a Comment / Online /

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Blue and White party head Benny Gantz told Israeli President Reuven Rivlin that he is unable to form a government.

Gantz made the announcement on Wednesday evening, about four hours before his mandate to form a government was scheduled to expire at midnight.

Gantz spent the last 28 days trying to cobble together a coalition government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to do so. Netanyahu was first tapped to try to assemble a government following the September national elections.

Israeli lawmakers now have 21 days to identify another lawmaker to try and form a government. The signatures of 61 lawmakers are required to charge another person with the opportunity.

Failing that, Israel will go to its third elections in less than a year, which would be scheduled for the first half of March.

Gantz said that he will continue his efforts over the next 21 days “to form a good government for the citizens of Israel,” according to a party statement.

Earlier in the day, Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avigdor Liberman, whose eight Knesset seats both Gantz and Netanyahu would need to form a government, announced that he would not join either a narrow right-wing or a narrow left-wing government. Liberman is holding out for a secular unity government without the religious and haredi Orthodox parties and without the Joint List of predominately Arab parties.

Gantz Says He Cannot Form a Government, Paving Way for Possible Third Israeli Election Read More »

Letters: Housing the Homeless, Release of Iranian Hostages, Impeachment

Leave a Comment / Letters to the Editor /

Housing the Homeless

One possible solution for homelessness would be to start an adoption program like the foster care system that the state sets up for children.

There are many single seniors who have enough room to house another person. They could contact social service employees who would screen homeless applicants who seek a compatible volunteer. This would be a cost-effective means to help solve homelessness.
Joseph B. D. Saraceno, Gardena

Social Division

It’s a tragedy that seemingly only a calamity like war can unite us.

Our bitter divisiveness continues to tear apart the fabric of our society. Until each of us finds that middle ground where we agree more than we disagree and accept that we have more in common than not, can we put the nation back on the road to harmony, progress and greater prosperity for all. The alternative is self-destructive and unacceptable.
Hal Rothberg, Calabasas

Release of Iranian Hostages

I have a question about Tabby Refael’s story on the release of the American Embassy hostages in Iran almost 40 years ago (“America Held Hostage, 40 Years Ago,” Nov 15). She wrote that the release was because of the persistent work of President Jimmy Carter, who should be given full credit, and not President-elect Ronald Reagan. The release took place on the day Reagan took office.

So, I wonder, when would the release have happened if Carter had won the election?Joseph Ruder, via email

Middle East Policy

Donald Trump’s administration has peeled back the lies, one by one, with truths. 

Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. 

The Golan is not returning to the Syrian dictatorship.

Settlements in Judea and Samaria may be negotiable but are not illegal.

This is a revolutionary approach to the Israeli-Arab conflict because lies have held back the Arabs from making compromises and accepting a Jewish state. They (including Palestinians) feel they can hate and terrorize and make war and never suffer the consequences or face the truth.

That the “Hatikvah” was played in Abu Dhabi this week was also progress. An Israeli jiu-jitsu athlete won. Everyone stood at attention. Its existence was acknow-ledged. All truths.
David Schechter, Los Angeles

Democratic Candidates Cutting Aid to Israel?

A Nov. 15 letter to the Journal was primarily optimistic but also contained the rather ominous statement that three of the four top Democratic candidates “want to stop aid to Israel.” Alarmed but skeptical, I reviewed their recent statements, which led to watching their appearances at J Street.

What I saw sometimes made me nervous but the letter writer’s characterization is misleading and deserves thorough correction.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mayor Pete Buttigieg specifically argue that U.S. aid dollars should not be used for annexation. i.e., withholding aid would occur only if annexation were to move forward in a financially traceable way and only to the extent that the aid might contribute to the policy.

That said, neither candidate has
ruled out leveraging aid in other ways. Buttigieg, when pressed, implied that he agreed with his hosts that there are other anti-two-state policies that might deserve considering leveraging aid but didn’t go so far as to suggest any specifics. Warren sent a video and was not interviewed.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) more openly and forcefully wants to leverage aid, pointedly saying the U.S. can afford to shave off some from the large amount given. He is the only candidate who appears to consider rerouting aid even aside from leveraging it, specifically for humanitarian relief in Gaza.

I am leery of the political left’s increasing tolerance of anti-Zionist or even anti-Semitic voices. And the aforementioned politicians, especially Sanders, worry me that their zeal against some of Israel’s worst policies, even when well-founded, will be trumpeted in such a way as to give strength to Israel’s truer enemies.

But let’s not group them all together or take their comments in isolation. Buttigieg in particular repeatedly talks of the U.S.-Israel alliance in terms of deep friendship, calls out Hamas’ role in Gaza suffering, and rejected Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comparison of Israeli’s treatment of Palestinians to Iranian oppression: “People like me get strung up in Iran, so the idea that what’s going on is equivalent is just wrong.”

Democrats don’t get a pass on Israel just because Trump is dangerous. So, let’s stay accurate and keep things in context.
Michael Feldman, Los Angeles

Trump, Impeachment and Jews

It’s amazing that as I write this, in Washington, D.C., a “show trial,” a la Lavrentiy Beria-KGB (in the former Soviet Union), is about to start against President Donald Trump. In Gaza, terrorists are firing rockets into Israel.

In Hong Kong, police are violently cracking down on student protesters, many of  whom carry American flags. In Venezuela, the epitome of socialism for Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, people are starving and dying under a dictatorship.

In Hong Kong, people raised in a free society are being coerced into oppression. And the flags they’re waving are the Stars and Stripes.

In Colombia, food and medical supplies are being shackled by the Venezuelan military at the border.

Yet Reps. Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi and Jerrold Nadler waste precious time whining about losing power with all of this continuing chicanery of “wrongdoing” by the president. And this waste of time activates bad actors around the globe.
Enriqué Gascon, Westside Village

I fear the contempt many Jews feel toward President Donald Trump is distracting them from grasping the dire threat to American Jewry coming from the political left. More than a decade ago, radical Muslim groups began indoctrinating college students to hate Israel and Jews as part of the progressive movement.

An anti-Semitic curriculum was nearly adopted recently in California but was blocked by a coalition of Jewish, Christian and conservative groups.

Republicans, who are overwhelmingly pro-Israel, officially condemn all anti-Semitism, including from the far-right, but because Democratic leaders are reluctant to criticize progressives, leftist anti-Semitism is becoming mainstream.

If this isn’t the America we want to leave to our children, we must unite across political lines.
Rueben Gordon, via email

CORRECTION

In “UpStart Aims to Transform Jewish Organizational Life From Within” (Nov. 15), Rachael Martin of InterfaithFamily was left off a list of people and organizations participating in this year’s UpStart Change Accelerator.

Now it’s your turn. Don’t be shy, Send your letters to the editor! Letters should be no more than 200 words and must include a valid name and city. The Journal reserves the right to edit all letters.
letters@jewishjournal.com.

Letters: Housing the Homeless, Release of Iranian Hostages, Impeachment Read More »

What’s Happening: Thanksgiving Events

Leave a Comment / What's Happening /

SUN NOV 24

The Big Give on 6th Street
The Big Give on 6th Street, organized by Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the Karsh Center, serves hungry families and needy Koreatown neighbors on 6th Street between Hobart and Harvard boulevards. For 10 consecutive years on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, volunteers have prepared and distributed 1,000 meals-in-a-bag. Although food is the main attraction, there also will be arts and crafts, live performances, wellness activities and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s blood mobile, where volunteers can donate blood. 1-4 p.m. Free. (213) 401-4651.

Turkey Drive
As Thanksgiving season arrives, the motto at Kehillat Israel (KI) is “Let’s give thanks and turkeys.” With that in mind, KI conducted a community-wide frozen turkey drive the first two weeks of November. They encouraged members to continue the Reconstructionist synagogue’s tradition of feeding families in need. Throughout the year, they practice this model, especially at holiday time. Michael Schwartz, president of KI’s One on One Outreach program, told the Journal there are plenty of volunteers for the 5 p.m. deliveries but at noon on Christmas Day, KI will be delivering hundreds of toys to children who live in the neighborhood. (310) 459-2328. Volunteers can contact Schwartz at michael@oneononeoutreach.org.

MON NOV 25

Interfaith Service
Give thanks for the many blessings in your lives at an interfaith Thanksgiving prayer service with Northridge religious communities. Participants include the Reform congregation of Temple Ramat Zion, the Islamic Center of Northridge, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and the host, Northridge United Methodist Church. Those attending are asked to bring non-perishable goods for Pacoima-based M.E.N.D. (Meet Each Need with Dignity). A reception at the church follows the prayer service. 7-9 p.m. Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. (818) 886-1555.

TUE NOV 26

Faithsgiving
Pico Union Project presents its sixth annual FaithsGIVING community festival, featuring performances by PLVNK, Las Colibri, Jeff Stern and Keshet Chaim Dance Company. Volunteer to donate a turkey to a family in need ($20). 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Pico Union Project, 1153 Valencia St., Los Angeles. (213) 915-0084.

“Is Turkey Really Kosher?
Sinai Temple’s Rabbi Sam Rotenberg leads Thanksgiving-themed Jewish learning, in a discussion titled, “Is Turkey Really Kosher?” where he will explore the contentious history of the beloved American bird. The event is for members of Atid, the young adults of Sinai Temple, ages 21-39. 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518.  

WED NOV 27

“Merry Erec Thanksgiving”
For those who need a little uplift this time of year, a “Merry Erev Thanksgiving” at the Laugh Factory features the always Jewy, always funny comedian-actor-writer-producer Elon Gold and a selection of his comic friends. Gold, who is known for his keen observations about Jewish life as well as his impersonations of stars including Jeff Goldblum, performs two stand-up shows. Ages 18-and-older only. 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m. $40-$85. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 656-1336.

Interfaith Service
On the night before Thanksgiving for the 35th consecutive year, the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry encourages the Jewish community to join Adat Ari El congregation to participate in an interfaith evening of music, inspirational readings and children’s messages. Please don’t arrive empty-handed: The food pantry would like attendees to bring nonperishable items, including peanut butter, tuna, canned meat and beans. 7:30 p.m. Free. The First Christian Church of North Hollywood, 4390 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood. (818) 766-9426.

Big Snday Thanksgiving Stuffing Event
Do-gooders of all ages from all over Los Angeles join Big Sunday in hosting the service organization’s eighth annual Thanksgiving Stuffing Event, a huge celebration to fill bags with delicious holiday food for thousands of hungry people. Along with packing bags for those in need, the event features arts and crafts, bluegrass music and a community breakfast for everyone. Sponsors include Food Forward, Netflix, L.A. City Councilman David Ryu and Ralphs/Food4Less. Sign-ups begin after 6 pm. on Nov. 25. 9 a.m.-noon. Big Sunday, 6111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 549-9944.

THU NOV 28

Interfaith Breakfast and Service
People and families of all ages are welcome at Kehillat Ma’arav’s 36th annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Breakfast and Service with the Brentwood Presbyterian Church. The event includes a light breakfast at the Conservative synagogue followed by an interfaith service with songs, prayers and reflections by clergy from both congregations. 8:30 a.m. Suggested $4 donation and a can of food. Kehillat Ma’arav, 1715 21st St., Santa Monica. (310) 829-0566.

Thanksgiving Feast of Caring
Join the Temple Beth Hillel (TBH) Brotherhood and other volunteers for the 19th annual Thanksgiving Feast of Caring, serving the at-need community a traditional home-cooked Thanksgiving Day banquet. Enjoy delicious food, caring people and free gift bags. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Temple Beth Hillel, 12326 Riverside Drive, Valley Village. (818) 763-9148.

What’s Happening: Thanksgiving Events Read More »

What’s Happening: Equality Shabbat, ‘Jewish Dog’

Leave a Comment / What's Happening /

FRI NOV 22

Elana Arian
Recording artist and composer Elana Arian, who studied conducting, violin, jazz guitar and songwriting at Yale, appears at Simply Shabbat services at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills (TEBH). She performs a program of contemporary Jewish music. Arian, whose music has inspired Jewish communities across North America, recently released her third album of original music. She returns to TEBH, performing in the first of three Sacred Sounds Unbound concerts co-organized by TEBH and Temple Beth Am. Friday 6:15-7:45 p.m. Free. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Corwin Family Sanctuary, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. Saturday night 7-10 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Greer Social Hall. (310) 288-3737.

Singles Shabbat Dinner
A singles Shabbat dinner for an age group often overlooked — ages 35-55 — takes place at Nessah Synagogue. Who knows? You may meet someone new and interesting. 7 p.m.-midnight. $35. Nessah Synagogue, 142 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2400.  For more information, contact Shideh Zarrabian or Edna Broukhim at njs@nessah.org.      

Transgender Shabbat
Unanswered questions, including how and why a black gay rights activist died 27 years ago, are the focus of “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” a 2017 film screening at Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC). Afterward, friends and members of BCC participate in a Transgender Day of Remembrance Shabbat service, honoring transgender people slain in the past year. BCC Rabbi Alyson Solomon and BCC former President Davi Cheng lead services. 6-7:45 p.m. screening. 8-9:30 p.m. Transgender Day of Remembrance services. Free. Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6090 Pico Blvd. (323) 931-7023.

Social Justice Shabbat
A social justice Shabbat at Kehillat Israel features senior attorney David Pettit of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) speaking about President Donald Trump’s administration’s environmental rollbacks and their negative effects on California. Drawing on the expertise of 600 scientists, lawyers and policy advocates, the NRDC aims to safeguard the planet’s people, plants, animals and the natural systems pivotal to sustaining life. 7 p.m. Free. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328.

Equality Shabbat
Reform West Valley community Kol Tikvah holds an Equality Shabbat service, emphasizing unity, equality and inclusion for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBTQA+ service features music, poetry and prayer. Socializing, coffee and dessert follow. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670. .

Paper Midrash
Scholar-in-residence at Adat Ari El, known as PaperMidrash, features Isaac and Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik, who bring pop culture Torah to a unique Shabbat experience. After kabbalat Shabbat services and a community dinner, the couple shares their participatory visual presentation, “Women of Valor and Other Super Heroes.” 6 p.m. services, 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. program. $21 dinner. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426. To RSVP click on link above.

SAT NOV 23

Jewish Communities Around the World
Daniel Helman, a lecturer on the faculty of labor relations at a Vietnam university, has traveled to Jewish communities in distant, exotic settings. He discusses his colorful experiences at Mishkon Tephilo. Helman is interested in geoscience, mental health and the arts. He speaks about the Jews of India, Chile, Singapore, Cuba, Finland, Australia and, of course, Vietnam. 1-2 p.m. Mishkon Tephilo, Social Hall, 206 Main St., Venice. (310) 392-3029.

SUN NOV 24

“Body and Soul”
In its Los Angeles premiere, the film “Body and Soul” recounts the historical connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. The seemingly well-known story is related with cogency and with fresh factual information. The film screens as part of a Sunday afternoon series at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel. Refreshments served. 4:30 p.m. Free. Sephardic Temple, 10500 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 475-7000. RSVP at juliah@sephardictemple.org.

TUE NOV 26

“Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog”
Pro-Israel education group StandWithUs and its Center for Combating Antisemitism holds a private screening of “Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog,” an award-winning film about a dog’s unbreakable connection to an 11-year-old boy and his amazing survival during the Holocaust. The evening includes a Q-and-A with the film’s writer-producer-director Lynn Roth, and the young star of the film, August Maturo, will be present. The film is suitable for ages 11-and-older. 6 p.m. VIP dinner reception. 7 p.m. screening. $25 general admission. $100 VIP admission. Dessert reception for all. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Rebekah at (310) 836-6140, ext. 106. standwithus.com/shepherdfilm.

Have an event coming up? Send your information two weeks prior to the event to ryant@jewishjournal.com for consideration. For groups staging an event that requires an RSVP, please submit details about the event the week before the RSVP deadline.

What’s Happening: Equality Shabbat, ‘Jewish Dog’ Read More »

Israel Film Festival Awards, Friends of IDF Gala

Leave a Comment / Movers & Shakers /

The opening night gala of the 33rd Israel Film Festival (IFF) honored independent producer Arthur Cohn with the 2019 IFF Lifetime Achievement Award and producer Sharon Harel-Cohen with the IFF Achievement in Film Award. 

The more than 900 guests on Nov. 12 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills included Meir Fenigstein, founder and executive director of the IFF; Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles Hillel Newman, Israeli directors Dani Menkin (“Picture of His Life”) and Alon Gur Arye (“Mossad”); Temple of the Arts Rabbi David Baron, whose congregation holds services at the Saban; Israeli actress Tal Berkovich; and comedian Sunda Croonquist, who emceed.

On the red carpet, Newman said the festival captured the best of Israel. “It really displays what Israel is all about: a full democracy and freedom of expression.”

Following the red carpet, attendees enjoyed an awards ceremony with actress Rosanna Arquette presenting the award to Cohn, and Avi Lerner, chairman and CEO of Millennium Media, presenting the award to Harel-Cohen.

The evening also included the premiere of Israeli director Yaron Zilberman’s latest film, “Incitement,” about the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. It is Israel’s official selection to the 2019 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film (the category previously called Best Foreign Language Film). 

In an interview, Fenigstein told the Journal the festival was the perfect opportunity for L.A. audiences to better their understanding of Israel. He expressed hope people would come out to the festival, which continues through Nov. 26 with screenings in Beverly Hills and Encino.

“It’s not just a festival, it’s an educational festival and I hope people will come out and see what Israel is about, today and in the past.”

From left: Maurice Marciano, U.S. Ambassador Jamie McCourt and Professor Yitshak Kreiss, director general of Sheba Medical Center, attended the Friends of Sheba Medical Center gala. Photo by Curtis Dahl

The Nov. 3 Friends of Sheba Medical Center (FSMC) gala at the Beverly Wilshire hotel drew more than 650 people and raised over $6.5 million for Israel’s Sheba Medical Center.

The “Humanity Heals Humanity” event honored U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic Jamie McCourt for her humanitarian efforts and continued support for Israel and the Jewish community; Beverly Hills art collectors Ruth and Michel Steinberger for their 30-plus years of service to FSMC and Sheba Medical Center; and Mimi Paley and Evan Paley for their commitment to FSMC’s young leadership group, Sheba 2.0.

“We chose the theme ‘Humanity Heals Humanity’ because Sheba Medical Center in Israel will do everything in its power, at all times, to provide healing and peace for anyone in the world, no matter their color or creed,” FSMC Executive Director Molly Soboroff said in a statement. “It is a call to action to continue to build bridges to peace through medicine and to provide humanitarian aid to those in need worldwide.”

Chaired by Patti and Steve Soboroff and Shoshana and Parham Zar, the event celebrated Sheba Medical Center’s high standard of medicine, technology and research, FSMC said in a statement.

Dr. Talia Golan, medical director of Sheba’s pancreatic cancer program, delivered the keynote lecture and spoke about her new pancreatic cancer treatment breakthrough. Yoav Hadas, a patient in Golan’s clinical trial whose cancer is now in remission, was in attendance.

A panel on the vaping epidemic was held at Temple Ahavat Shalom. Photo courtesy of Jonah Sanderson

Temple Ahavat Shalom, along with Jonah Sanderson, who is studying for a master’s degree at the Academy for Jewish Religion California, organized a Nov. 10 panel on the vaping epidemic.

Approximately 50 people, including children ages 12-15, gathered to hear from Doug Rosen of Beit T’Shuvah, Dr. Leslie Kaplan, Keri Pacheco from the Los Angeles LGBT Center and psychologist Simcha Russak. 

Rabbi Dalia Samansky, director of education at Temple Ahavat Shalom, moderated the panel.

The participants discussed why the vaping crisis has become so dangerous and what treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy can do to curb it. Samansky asked how parents can help their children cope with stress.

In an email, Sanderson said in the coming months he plans to continue organizing events dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, to attract people otherwise not engaged in Jewish life.

“Mental health is the most important battle of our time. We must continue to bring it into homes and synagogues,” he said. “Many Jews are feeling alienated from the core of what our religion has to offer. One way to bring them back is to erase the stigma of mental illness that has so many people in its grasp.”

From left: At the FIDF annual gala, two IDF soldiers join Cheryl and Haim Saban; Amy and Robert Book; FIDF National Director Meir Klifi-Amir; FIDF Western Region Executive Director Jenna Griffin; Gila Klifi-Amir; another IDF soldier; and Yael Eckstein show their support for Israel’s fighters. Photo by Mark Von Holden

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) held its annual Western Region gala on Nov. 7 at the Beverly Hilton hotel. The event was attended by 1,000 people and raised $29 million.

The “Making a Difference” gala was held in memory of the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who died earlier this year after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 67.

Eckstein, who dedicated his life to unifying Christians and Jews to support the State of Israel, was the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Event attendees remembered him for his large annual contributions to FIDF and his love of Israel.

“My father was a dedicated and ardent supporter of Israel and its soldiers, and firmly believed in the vital mission of FIDF, caring for the men and women who protect Israel and the Jewish people,” Eckstein’s daughter, Yael, said. “I am proud to be part of this big family — a family that celebrates our diversity and embraces our different backgrounds.”

Attendees included Eckstein’s wife, Joelle Eckstein, who established the Eckstein Fund in memory of her late husband.

A delegation of both American and Israeli soldiers and veterans attended the gala and addressed the crowd. During the event, IDF Staff Sgt. (Res.) Amit Kadosh, who
was part of a special IDF operation to neutralize a senior Hamas terrorist, surprised
his girlfriend of seven years, Talya, by proposing onstage. She said yes as the crowd cheered.

Haim and Cheryl Saban, who have chaired the FIDF Western Region gala for 13 years, donated $15 million. Haim Saban announced last year that he would resign from his position as the gala chairman. 

“Cheryl and I are honored to have served as FIDF Western Region gala chairs for 13 incredible years and are proud to see the outpouring of support that this event continues to receive,” Saban said.

Attending the event were FIDF National Vice President and Western Region Chairman Tony Rubin and his wife, Linda; FIDF National Board Member and Western Region President Ari Ryan and his wife, Rebecca; FIDF Western Region founder Leo David; and FIDF Western Region Executive Director Jenna Griffin. 

The event featured a performance by David Foster and Friends.

— Ayala Or-El, Contributing Writer

Want to be in Movers & Shakers? Send us your highlights, events,
honors and simchas. Email ryant@jewishjournal.com.

Israel Film Festival Awards, Friends of IDF Gala Read More »

The Incidental Joy of Taking Jewish Sports Seriously

Leave a Comment / Columnists, In Good Faith /

The bell rang, signaling the end of recess, but no one left the yard. This is exactly how it went down: It was sixth grade versus fifth — the reviled fifth — the score was tied, and we had last licks, a runner on, and Hillel at the dish. Stevie was on the mound for the fifth graders. The sixth-grade boys waited on various stages of the jungle gym abutting the field, which was neither dirt nor grass, but a big square of tawny stubble. Looming over the outfield were 15-foot cinder block walls. In our lunchtime wiffle ball games, if you hit one off the wall, it was a home run. 

You don’t choose your flashbacks any more than you choose your memories. For some reason, the tales of games I played while growing up, have stuck with me. As a high school freshman, I kept stats on intramural basketball to stay in the graces of upperclassmen. As a junior, I co-founded an intramural touch football league. And in college, I hosted a campus radio show that used stories about these “Yeshiva Leagues” to describe life in the Jewish enclave I grew up in. Many of those stories emerged from games that didn’t count for anything — backyard battles and recess rumbles that were as essential to my Jewish coming of age as any Gemara lesson they made me late for. 

When I visit the sites of my youth, it’s the playground legends and rivalries that come rushing back. So when I returned to my alma mater, Shalhevet, to watch the finals of a Jewish high school basketball tournament, I flashed back to the wiffle ball days. Shalhevet has changed a lot in the decade since I graduated. The warm, dilapidated building I attended (and occasionally cut classes in) was knocked down; our old outdoor courts were paved over; and the security gate, once a wooden arm that swung up on command, is now a forbidding steel fence. The only faculty holdovers from my era are in the arts department. I might have found it hard to root for the home team if one of those remaining teachers wasn’t my mom.

Backyard battles and recess rumbles were as essential to my Jewish coming of age as any Gemara lesson they made me late for. 

Anyway, the tournament. Despite the school charging admission, and despite the boys final starting at midnight on a Saturday night (the girls tipped at 10:45 p.m.), the gym was packed, coursing with the nervous energy of a couple of hundred spectators. There was a student section bouncing and leading cheers (the best: “Late Start Mon-day!”), very official-looking referees and a live-streamed broadcast of extremely high quality. The gym itself, like the rest of Shalhevet’s facility, sparkled. For this professional basketball writer, it no longer felt like a night off work.

The home team stretched a healthy halftime lead to 16 points in the third quarter, but visiting Frisch chipped away, led by a red-headed lefty who, memorably, was the only boy on the court not wearing a yarmulke. Seemingly taking the entire Shalhevet defense off the dribble, he torched the Firehawks for 20 points, keeping Frisch in the game long enough to make a run in the fourth quarter. In the final minute, he broke a tie with a pair of free throws and sealed the championship with a floater in traffic.

I enjoyed the game immensely — the atmosphere, the competition and even the ending. At the same time, the scene made me a bit skeptical, although I couldn’t quite put a finger on why. Was it that this place cared too much about sports, or somehow cared in the wrong way? Or was it that the school seemed to care about sports as much as the kids did? After all, if the silly, relentless pressure on American kids to succeed in sports could be mitigated at any school, one might think it would be a Jewish one. But it’s not like I wanted that when I was playing. Maybe it was realizing that my own athletic memory-making days were behind me.

If the silly, relentless pressure on American kids to succeed in sports could be mitigated at any school, one might think it would be a Jewish one.  

The wiffle ball came in toward home plate, and Hillel connected with a mighty swing, pulling the ball deep down the third-base line. It hit high off the wall — I’m not sure we’d ever seen one crushed that far — but foul by several feet. No matter. Recess was over. So it was a home run. The sixth graders poured out of the jungle gym and rushed the field, elated. The fifth graders were furious, their protests drowned out by the jubilant elders circling them. We mobbed Hillel as he ran the bases.

Wouldn’t it have been nice, my old classmate remarked, if we’d had a gym like this when we went here? The hardwood was waxy and gorgeous, the walls decorated with colorful handmade signs toasting the home team. Brand new scoreboards hung on the wall behind each basket. The backboards had shot clocks. 

If I sound like a crank, so be it: Back in my day, we played on double-rimmed hoops with chain nets, and when the game was over, you had to wash the soot off your hands. Yeah, it would have been nice to have a gym, but then it would have been a different high school, and I would have had a different memory.

Louis Keene is a writer living in Los Angeles. He’s on Twitter at @thislouis. 

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Autumn Leaf Candleholders Make for the Perfect Thanksgiving Decor

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If you’re in a pinch for Thanksgiving dinner décor, here’s an idea with minimum effort and maximum wow factor. These beautiful candleholders adorned with artificial leaves provide a nice pop of autumnal colors while taking up very little of your precious table space. The light that filters through the leaves is soft and warm, but be sure to use battery-operated LED candles so the leaves won’t burn. 

What You’ll Need:
Glass candleholder
Artificial leaves
Hot glue

 

1. Remove the artificial leaves from their plastic stems and veins.

2. Apply a dab of hot glue to the bottom of each leaf. Be careful with the hot glue.

3. Working from the top down, position the leaves around the candleholder. Overlap rows of leaves as you work down.

4. When you get to the bottom, turn the candleholder upside down to get better access for the final row of leaves.

Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects online.

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Obituaries: Nov. 22, 2019

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Harvey Abraham died April 30 at 89. Survived by daughter Susan; sons Mark (Linda), Jefry, Ken (Cori); 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. Chevra Kadisha

Joshua Assor died Oct. 13 at 28. Survived by mother Jennifer Lynn; sister Chelsea; brother Nathan; grandmother Dolly; grandmother Elaine Schwartz; grandfather Bert Schwartz. Mount Sinai 

Fred Bess died Oct. 23 at 81. Survived by wife Ludmila; son Oleg (Irina); 2 grandchildren; brother Joseph (Olga) Bezfamilny. Mount Sinai 

Leonard Bovee died Oct. 17 at 99. Survived by wife Iris; daughter Linda; sons Leonard, Jeffrey Possky; grandchildren; step-daughter Jennifer (Mark) Fredman. Mount Sinai

Paulette Clafin died Oct. 13 at 95. Survived by son Jacques; 2 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Edward Edelson died Oct. 17 at 83. Survived by son Dennis (Lynn). Mount Sinai 

Dolores Fruchtman died Oct. 15 at 84. Survived by daughters Cynthia (Bert Goldman), Sarah Kramer, Gail Robbins. Malinow and Silverman

Norman Golds died Oct. 1 at 88. Survived by sons Alan (Ellen), Michael; 1 grandchild; sister Bertha (Bob) Hensen; sister-in-law Miriam. Mount Sinai

Jack Green died Oct. 11 at 90. Survived by wife Gilda; daughters Joyce (Chris), Barbara (Micheele Boyaner); sons David, Bruce (Mercedes Taha); 5 grandchildren; sister Frances Katz; brother Arthur. Mount Sinai 

Bernard Hamermesh died Oct. 20 at 99. Survived by daughter Judith Springer; sons Richard (Lorie), Kenneth ( Julie); 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Elizabeth Hartman died Oct. 20 at 97. Survived by son Paul (Corinne); 6 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Virginia Isenberg died Oct. 19 at 94. Survived by daughters Diane Berley, Jill (Rick) Crawley; son Peter (Jill Workman Isenberg); 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Berta Izbelinskaya died Oct. 20 at 72. Survived by daughter Elena (Eugene) Puskin; son Michael (Alexandria) Pinsker; 3 grandchildren; sister Anna (Moisey) Dayel. Mount Sinai 

Frank C. Katz died Oct. 21 at 85. Survived by wife Eleanor; son Marc; sister-in-law Janice Linver. Mount Sinai 

Bernard Kinzler died Oct. 12 at 88. Survived by daughter Jodi; sons David (Nancy), Steven (Debilyn); 14 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; brother Louis (Fran) Duberman. Mount Sinai 

Michael Lehrer died Oct. 20 at 69. Survived by wife Cecile; daughter Emily; son Brian; brother Brad. Malinow and Silverman

Joan Liebmann died Oct. 12 at 89. Survived by husband Sheldon; daughters Amy (Jerry) Tellio, Ruth (Thomas) Lawson; 4 grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Allen Sherman Lipin died Sept. 18 at 90. Survived by wife Irma; daughter Lisa (Herbert); sons Lawrence (Sylvie), Eric; 5 grandchildren. Mount Sinai  

Albert R. Marston died Oct. 19 at 82. Survived by wife Marlene; daughter Karen; son Joshua; 2 grandchildren; sister Jane Schlosberg. Mount Sinai 

Shirley A. Newman died Oct. 27 at 92. Survived by daughters Elisa (Andrew), Linda (Omri) Lior, Roslin (John) Osterman; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sister Eileen (Richard) Darmody. Mount Sinai 

Greta Sallet Panish died Oct. 19 at 87. Survived by husband Joel “Jay”; daughter Deborah; sons Jon, Adam; 2 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild.

Fay Pollock died Oct. 14 at 81. Survived by daughter Corinne; sons Steve, Jason (Zita); 2 grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Esther Popik died Oct. 18 at 86. Survived by daughters Vivian (Jeff) Gaines, Frida (Joel) Glueoft, Anita (Bernardo) Nof; brother Shlomo Grynspan. Mount Sinai

Jill Raich died Oct. 22 at 44. Survived by husband Ken; daughter Jennifer (Mark) Measures; son Jason (Amanda); 3 grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Robert Rothbart died Oct. 17 at 71. Survived by daughters Gogo, Sophia; brother Stanley (Miriam). Mount Sinai 

Belle Schacht died Oct. 22 at 92. Survived by daughter Gail. Mount Sinai 

Barbara Ann Shultz died Oct. 21 at 91. Survived by sons Jeff, Randy, Craig (Jennifer); 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai  

Ann Silverstein died Oct. 18 at 80. Survived by daughter Susan Weis. Mount Sinai 

Robert Weg died Oct. 24 at 61. Survived by mother Sheila; sister Barbara; brother Howard (Karlene). Mount Sinai 

Sonia Weiner died Oct. 16 at 84. Survived by daughter Jordan (Richard) Gallader; son Russell (Melissa) Scott-Walker; 2 grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

Marjorie “ Margie” Nan Wolfe died Oct. 16 at 75. Survived by husband Howard; daughter Donna; sons Stuart (Susanna), Todd (Meg); 4 grandchildren; sisters Toby Wolmet, Ginnie (Rich) Gibbs; brothers Earl (Dawn) Miller, Peter (Dee) Leiter. Mount Sinai 

Michael Zelon died Oct. 23 at 97. Survived by daughters Helen (Nethaniel Sasson), Edie (Eddie) Zelon Estrada; 3 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai 

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