running for office page 14 dribbling home page 9www.jtnews.net JT news n july the voice of n a h t e r r Mo e b m u n a JEWISH 19, 2013 n 12 av 5773 n volume 89, no. 15 W a s h i n g t o n This year’s winners of the annual Holocaust writing and art contest, on page 11. professionalwashington.com connecting our local Jewish community /jtnews @jew_ish • @jewishcal August Family Calendar For complete details about these and other upcoming JFS events and workshops, please visit our website: www.jfsseattle.org for coupleS for the coMMunity for adultS age 60+ “Can We Talk?” Staying Close & Connected as a Couple AA Meetings at JFS tuesdays • 7:00 p.m. Contact (206) 461-3240 or
[email protected] m Endless Opportunities A community-wide program offered in partnership with Temple B’nai Torah & Temple De Hirsch Sinai. EO events are open to the public. A Garden Party m Summer Shabbat Experience friday: august 2 5:30 p.m. Service begins 6:45 p.m. catered kosher dinner Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or
[email protected] m m Sunday: august 4 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. thursday: august 8 10:30 a.m. – noon tuesday: august 13 10:30 a.m. – noon How Many Hats Does She Wear? The “Eat Local” Food Movement m Kosher Food Bank Event m thursdays: august 1 • 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. august 8 & 15 • 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Pre-register Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or
[email protected] m Wednesday: august 7 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Pre-register Jana Prothman, (206) 861-3174 or
[email protected] for lgBtq coMMunity Behind the Scenes: Seattle Opera’s Costume Shop thursday: august 22 10:30 a.m. – noon RSVP Ellen Hendin or Wendy Warman, (206) 461-3240 or
[email protected] regarding all Endless Opportunities programs. m Ice Cream Social & Book Reading with Ronni Sanlo Sunday: august 18 3:00 p.m. Contact Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or
[email protected] m in your relationShip are you… • Changing your behavior to avoid your partner’s temper? • Feeling isolated from family and friends? • Being put down? • Lacking access to your money? • Being touched in an unloving way? Call Project DVORA for confidential support, (206) 461-3240 Volunteer to Make a difference! Food Bank Shifts m Monday – friday time tBd date & time tBd Teach ESL in Bellevue m Help Us Glean Produce at the Broadway Farmers Market! Sundays: august – october 2:45 – 4:45 p.m. Contact Jane Deer-Hileman, (206) 861-3155 or
[email protected] m Creativity & Healing Workshops Mondays: July 29 & august 12 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Contact Project DVORA, (206) 461-3240 m let’S get Social! Find us online: jfs.seattle JFSSeattle JFSSeattle SAvE THE DATE! Our community-wide Food Drive is just around the corner… Food Drive m September 5 – 27 Sunday: September 15 OF GREATER SEATTLE Food Sort m 1601 16th Avenue, Seattle (206) 461-3240 • www.jfsseattle.org Visit www.jfsseattle.org for details. friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews opinion 3 the rabbi’s turn An emerging vision for Jewish Countering anti-Semitism in life the month of Ramadan Rabbi Rob Toren Samis Foundation A waiter approaches a customer to take his order. The customer, thinking aloud, says, “Let’s see. This week is the Nine Days, so I have to eat dairy. I’ll take the fish.” The confused waiter goes back to the kitchen and says to the headwaiter, “There’s a strange guy out there. He thinks there are nine days in a week and that fish comes from a cow.” Hebrew University professor Mike Rosenak told this story to a gathering of Jewish educators in the 1990s in Jerusalem. Mike, who recently passed away, was an outstanding philosopher of Jewish education. He told this mildly amusing joke to make a point of the centrality of Jewish literacy. The joke requires a level of Jewish knowledge. The “Nine Days” preceding the 9th of Av, the date commemorating various Jewish tragedies and the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE, involve observing certain restrictions, like abstaining from meat, as an expression of national mourning. It also requires knowing some rudimentary principles of kashrut. With this joke, Mike introduced a framework for Jewish education that transcended the liberal–traditional, secular–religious divides. His framework was “literacy” and “literature”: Without some basic literacy, it is impossible to be an active participant in the creation of “literature.” Before Sam Israel passed away in 1994, he established the Samis Foundation to support K-12 Jewish education in Washington State and five program areas in the State of Israel: Archaeology; wildlife conservation; “widows and orphans, for those who have lost their provider”; immigrant absorption; and university scholarships for gifted, needy students. Since inception, we at Samis have been privileged to distribute nearly $70 million, approximately 80 percent, to Jewish education in the Seattle metro area. Most of the funds have gone to day schools, overnight camping, and Israel experiences — intensive, immersive Jewish experiences that optimally convey the richness, timeliness and timelessness of the traditions of our people. Recently, we at Samis stepped back to ask ourselves some big questions about our work. Would Sam be pleased with us and what we’ve tried to carry out in his name? What is the ideal Jewish community in which we seek to live, and what should educated Jews ideally know and believe, and how should they act? The visionary conversation within Samis is still going on, but I thought I’d take the opportunity JTNews has given me to share some of our thoughts thus far. The Avi Chai Foundation’s vision is three-fold and resonates with Samis: Literacy, religious purposefulness, and ahavat Yisrael (love of one’s fellow Jew). The joke above illustrates these three elements, which are deeply interrelated. Besides the obvious requirement of knowing the “what” of the Nine Days (literacy) the Nine Days framework carries along with it other key values and narratives that touch upon “religious purposefulness” and “love of one’s fellow Jew.” According to Talmud and Midrash, the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred among Jews, the polar opposite of ahavat Yisrael. Our joyous festivals include the challenging words, “because of our sins were we exiled from our land.” Ultimately, we Jews take responsibility for our failures as a nation, which resulted in God destroying His temple as punishment for our sins and booting us from the land He promised to us and our ancestors, a land whose gift was always conditioned on our observance of the covenant and His commandments, including “love your neighbor as yourself.” But what about Jews who are not knowledgeable or don’t believe in God? Does a vision that emphasizes Jewish literacy and religious purposefulness exclude them? For a foundation committed in practice to Jewish education, it seems absurd to envision a community embracing ignorance as an ideal! This vision of ahavat Yisrael broadly includes all Jews. It is indeed a “commandment” (religious purposefulness: There is a commander!) for us to treat each other with profound respect, indeed, love. I’m reminded of the Midrash of the four species of the lulav, which compares the four species to four kinds of Jews. The Midrash asks the provocative question of whether God destroys them all because of the deficiencies in the group as a whole. The Midrash answers, “No, rather God binds them all together.” Rabbi Soloveitchik defined collective Jewish existence in terms of two covenants: Brit goral, a covenant of fate, which binds all Jews due to common ancestry and history; and brit ye’ud, a covenant of ultimate Rashad Hussain JTA World News Service WASHINGTON (JTA) — During Ramadan, Muslim communities around the world experience a month of fasting, devotion and increased consciousness of their faith. They also remember those who are suffering around the world and seek an end to the forces of hatred that lead to violence against people of all faiths. The spirit of Ramadan, which lasts this year through Aug. 7, can serve as a positive force to bring people together and a powerful reminder of the common humanity that all people share. Muslim communities collect donations to aid those in need around the world. Campus groups at universities in the United States hold “fastathons” in which students of all faiths fast together to raise money for charity. In recent years, as Muslim communities have dealt with hateful depictions and inflammatory actions, American interfaith coalitions have come together to strongly reject such bigotry. It is this backdrop that makes the reported Ramadan release of the television drama “Khaiber” in some Muslim-majority countries particularly disturbing. The new drama purports to provide a historical account of the Prophet Muhammad and the Arabian-Jewish town of Khaiber. But its producer has said that “the goal of the series is to expose the naked truth about the Jews and stress that they cannot be trusted.” The series also will reportedly focus “on the social, economic and religious characteristics of the Jews, including politics and conspiracies and how they dominate and control tribes.” Rather than emphasizing Muhammad’s efforts to establish peaceful relations among religious communities, “Khaiber” does just the opposite. And it does so at a time when a number of reli- gious groups, including Christians, face discrimination and violence in countries where the series will air. Communities that were outraged at negative depictions of Islam must condemn this divisive and anti-Semitic effort. They should also understand that in many ways, this type of programming is also a disservice to Muslims and the legacy of the prophet. While censorship is not the answer, communities must come forward to counter such depictions with more informed views to prevent the spread of stereotypes and hatred that can dehumanize entire groups of people. In May, I joined imams from around the world on a visit to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration and death camps. As we toured the area in shock of the horrors that we saw, one imam commented, “Whether in Europe today or in the Muslim world, my call to humanity: End racism for God’s sake, end sexism for God’s sake. Enough is enough.” Addressing Holocaust denial is an important step, and I raise this issue when I travel to meet government and civil society leaders in Muslim countries. Efforts also must be made to ensure that textbooks and television programming in the Muslim world are free from the types of dehumanizing ideas and images that breed intolerance and hate. In doing so, honest and courageous voices must step forward, particularly during Ramadan, to condemn not only negative depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, but also a television series that uses a slanted historical narrative of his life as a façade for sowing discord, division and hatred. Rashad Hussain is the U.S. special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. purpose or destiny, commandments, and Torah, which is the reason God chose the Jewish people from all nations. The three modalities of Jewish education to which Samis has devoted most of its education funding — day schools, overnight camps and Israel experiences — provide participants with compelling experiences and learning opportunities embracing this three-fold vision. Day schools at their best provide students deep immersion into the classical texts and language of our tradition. Camps provide a 24/7 immersion into a full Jewish communal existence: Eating, playing, sleeping, hiking, all in a Jewish context, with a culminating Shabbat experience every week. Israel experiences immerse participants in perhaps the most intense educational experience of all, in the context of the energy, creativity, the palpable spark of the “beginning of the flowering of our redemption,” experiencing a fuller Jewish existence than can be experienced anywhere else. May we at the Samis Foundation continue to merit being able to meaningfully support the wonderful day schools and camps in our community and to realize our aspirations for meaningful, purposeful Jewish life in our community. Rabbi Rob Toren is the executive director of the Samis Foundation. “Baseless hatred and in-laws are a match made in heaven, or perhaps hell.” - René Levy at Town Hall on Sunday, July 14, speaking about baseless hatred and the crisis of Jewish peoplehood. Read the full story starting on page 20. 4 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Coming up July 25-27 ■■Tribute to the Jews of Rhodes and Kos Special guest Rabbi Marc Angel will return to Seattle for a Shabbaton honoring the memory of the Jews of Rhodes and Kos, who were deported to Auschwitz. Rabbi Angel will speak on Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m. on “Active and Passive Judaism: Lessons from the Sephardic Experience” and will give the Shabbat morning sermon July 27 on “The Jewish Martyrs of Rhodes: Memory and Challenge.” At 7:15 p.m. he will give a Shabbat afternoon talk on “Sephardim and Ashkenazim: Together and Apart.” A special memorial kiddush will be held after Shabbat services. All memorial events are sponsored by Lela and Harley Franco, who will also freshen up the Franco Family Courtyard landscape. At Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 5217 S Brandon St., Seattle. For more information contact
[email protected]. news briefs Maxwell to resign State Representative Marcie Maxwell (D-41st) is resigning from her position to join Governor Jay Inslee’s Legislative Affairs and Policy Office as the senior education policy advisor. Prior to serving three terms in the Washington State Legislature, Maxwell served on the Renton school board for eight years and served all King County school boards as legislative representative to the Washington State School Directors Association. She has extensive experience with STEM and arts education, and with maintaining a safety net for at-risk students, improving teaching and learning, and working for college access. She also has a background in banking and as a realtor and a small business owner. In her new role, Maxwell will be focusing on K-12, early learning, and higher education policy. “I’ve been honored to serve the people of the 41st District in South and East King County, and believe that my new position in the Governor’s office will continue my work on their priorities for our state,” Maxwell said in a statement. Host sought for Jewish exchange student AFS-USA is looking to place a Jewish teen for the fall semester with a family in Seattle. Gideon, 16, is from Austria and enjoys working out, biking, snowboarding, science, arts, politics and philosophy. His parents are both journalists educated in America, and Gideon thrives on conversations about world events. The host must live in a school district open to foreign exchange students. Gideon is allergic to cats, so his host must be feline-free. AFS students arrive with medical coverage and spending money. “Hosts are not paid with money but with everlasting memories.” For more information, contact Heidi Cook at 425643-3045 or
[email protected]. Found on Facebook n It was THIS big. But more amazingly, it was THAT old! Local Jewish man catches a fish that’s older than, well, you. By more than double. n Our jew-ish.com columnist Steven Blum jumped to Tablet to get the skinny on the plumpness of real, honest-to-goodness bagels - in Berlin. n Thanks to everyone getting a head start and posting their fall events on the n Like us at www.facebook.com/jtnews community calendar! Just a reminder to check the date you’re interested in to try to avoid conflicts whenever possible. n L.A. gets a taste of our homegrown life-saving resource for Israeli soldiers. n Check out some selections from the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center art and writing contest winners. Great stuff. Rosh hashanah’s coming eaRly this yeaR! Get ready to send your family’s greeting. JTNews Greetings will run in our August 30, 2013 High Holidays issue. Get a jump on yours! Contact Becky now at 206-774-2238 or
[email protected]. jew-ish .com jewishdotcom jew_ish om jew-ish .c /jewishdotcom /jtnews friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews inside 5 7 ladino lesson By Isaac Azose inside this issue Technically speaking The Life Science Innovation Northwest biotech conference held in Seattle this month didn’t feature any Israeli companies, despite the country’s pulsating tech field. Two community leaders are working to change that, but it’s going to take some time. Ke se kayenten los huesos May our bones be warmed up When spring or summer is late in coming, we hope for some sunny days that will put an end to the chills of the body by absorbing some of the beneficial rays of the sun. Dribbling on home A former NBA player brings his skills back to his home court in Washington. 9 10 Connecting to their heritage This Sunday, July 21, the Seattle cohort of prestigious Wexner Heritage fellows sets out for Israel. But this trip is no “shot in the arm” of Jewish identity. Graphic details 11 Remember when From the Jewish Transcript, July 30, 1970. Judge Charles Horowitz received an appointment for the state’s Court of Appeals, but as politics work in this state, judges must run to keep their seats, which is what the judge announced he would be doing that fall. His résumé came with a long list of volunteer leadership positions within the Jewish community, including the Kline Galland Home and what was then known as Temple De Hirsch. The Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center announces the winners of its annual high school art and writing contest. Committed to community 14 Steve Kasner is running for Bellevue City Council on a platform of transparency and social values. He may have a long road ahead (and he won’t be getting there by light rail). Can’t we all just get along? 20 A local scientist is using his retirement to spread the gospel of love among Jews. What will it take to turn our swords into ploughshares? more M.O.T.: Israel comings and goings Crossword What’s Your J.Q.?: Coming to the table Community Calendar The Shouk Classifieds Lifecycles 8 8 12 13 16 19 get jtnews in your inbox! Every weekday at 3 p.m. Just visit www.jtnews.net, scroll down, and fill out the short form to sign up. JTNews is the Voice of Jewish Washington. Our mission is to meet the interests of our Jewish community through fair and accurate coverage of local, national and international news, opinion and information. We seek to expose our readers to diverse viewpoints and vibrant debate on many fronts, including the news and events in Israel. We strive to contribute to the continued growth of our local Jewish community as we carry out our mission. 2041 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 206-441-4553 •
[email protected] www.jtnews.net JTNews (ISSN0021-678X) is published biweekly by The Seattle Jewish Transcript, a nonprofit corporation owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 2041 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Subscriptions are $56.50 for one year, $96.50 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JTNews, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. JT news Reach us directly at 206-441-4553 + ext. Editor & Publisher *Joel Magalnick 233 Associate Editor Emily K. Alhadeff 240 Sales Manager Lynn Feldhammer 264 Account Executive Cheryl Puterman 269 Account Executive David Stahl Classifieds Manager Rebecca Minsky 238 Art Director Susan Beardsley 239 Board of Directors Chuck Stempler, Chair*; Jerry Anches§; Shelley Bensussen; Lisa Brashem; Cynthia Flash Hemphill*; Ron Leibsohn; Stan Mark; Cantor David Serkin-Poole*. Nancy Greer, Interim CEO and President, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Celie Brown, Federation Board Chair *Member, JTNews Editorial Board §Ex-Officio Member A Proud Partner Agency of up Coming 2 August hool c s o t Back p u bl i sh e d b y j e w i sh tr a n s c r i p t m e d i a 6 JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 OF GREATER SEATTLE THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. jewishinseattle.org C jewishinseattle M@jewishinseattle community connections Federation Welcomes Keith Dvorchik as CEO The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has named Keith Dvorchik as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. “Keith will be a change agent who brings to the table a powerful understanding of the critical role the Federation can play in enriching Jewish life. He is a dynamic leader who will strive for innovation and a good listener who will strengthen community bonds. We are very excited to bring Keith to Seattle,” said Board Chair Celie Brown. Dvorchik, who starts August 19 but is working in Seattle for two one-week periods before his start date, comes to the Federation from Hillel at the University of Florida. Dvorchik served there as executive director for 15 years and built Hillel at UF into an innovative, exciting organization whose award-winning programs expanded its reach and brought it to the forefront of the Hillel movement. “Keith will bring fresh energy that will take the Federation to the next level of achievement,” said Shelley Bensussen, the Federation’s Immediate Past Board Chair. “He brings the right combination of leadership, communications, strategic planning and management skills that will serve the Federation and the Jewish community very well as we carry out the vital work of tikkun olam.” “The Search Committee was delighted to present Keith Dvorchik to the Federation board because of his Advocacy Work in Olympia Delivers Results The Washington State Legislature adopted 2013-2015 operating and capital budgets that include decisions reflecting the advocacy work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Government Relations and Public Affairs team. One capital budget highlight was inclusion of $150,000 for the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center’s plan to open Washington’s first independent Holocaust center and museum in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. In a challenging fiscal environment, lawmakers protected services for refugees and immigrants in the operating budget. After first proposing to eliminate safety net programs for disabled adults, the Legislature maintained both the Housing and Essential Needs Program and Aged, Blind and Disabled medical coverage for disabled adults. These programs allow people with disabilities to retain their dignity while also ensuring they receive critical support. To secure funding for essential services, the Jewish Federation spearheaded formation of a coalition of 16 rabbis and the Catholic archbishop of Seattle, who sent a letter to legislators urging them to adopt a responsible, humane budget that protects the poor and recognizes the intrinsic dignity of every person. Judaism teaches us that we must not harden our hearts or shut our hands against people in need. The Legislature, unfortunately, had to make some difficult decisions. One was freezing nursing home payments at 2009 levels, which means Kline Galland and other nursing facilities will not be able to keep up with the cost of care. Another was funding the State Food Assistance Program at only 75 percent of estimated need. The Jewish Federation serves as the community’s voice in Olympia, advocating for key issues of interest to the Jewish community, including social services for low-income families, the disabled, immigrants, refugees and the aged, and protecting human and civil rights. impressive background, commitment to improving the Jewish community and excellent leadership skills. He embodies everything the community wanted and the board charged the committee to find,” said Search Committee Co-Chairs Robin Boehler and Andrew Cohen. “I am honored and excited to join the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in this role,” Dvorchik said. “The opportunities for building a stronger Jewish community in Seattle are tremendous. I am looking forward to working closely with the Federation’s lay leaders, professional staff and its many generous donors and partners on the important work that lies ahead to bring those opportunities to fruition.” Congratulations, Niva! The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle offers warm congratulations to Niva Gurewitsch, manager of the Jewish Junction, for her selection as a Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliate, a program of the Jewish Outreach Institute. Niva will use the training she received from JOI to continue bringing innovative engagement programming to the North End as part of the Federationsupported Jewish Junction’s efforts to reach out to young families, including unaffiliated and interfaith families, with programs that are inclusive, user-driven and meaningful. The Big Tent Judaism Professional Affiliates Program educates Jewish communal professionals seeking to “expand the tent” of the organized Jewish community. Page Highlights Seattle-Israel Connection The Jewish Federation has a strong focus on Israel, and part of that focus is strengthening the bonds of friendship and common memories between Seattle and Israel. Building Seattle-Israel connections is fertile ground for great stories the Jewish Federation is sharing with the community. To that end, we have developed a special page on our website filled with stories and photos about the experiences of local people visiting Israel and of Israelis spending time in the Seattle area. Please take a look and enjoy! Online now at www.jewishinseattle.org/ seattle-israel-making-connections. friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community news 7 Connecting Seattle and Israel through science Janis Siegel JTNews Correspondent No Israeli businesses or researchers were present at the 2013 Life Science Innovation Northwest biotech and biomedical conference this July at the Washington State Convention Center, but two savvy and shrewd Jewish communal leaders, Charles Broches and Barry Kaplan, are committed to changing the status quo. The event, sponsored by the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association, drew nearly 1,000 participants from 20 states and 12 countries representing researchers from private and public companies, industry executives, investment bankers, research institutions, and global health organizations. In a couple of years, as Broches and Kaplan continue to expand their contacts and connections at the WBBA, it’s very likely that Israel will partake of the life science bounty in this region. “This is an area that is very hot in Israel, and it’s very hot up here,” said Broches, founder of The Broches Group, a public affairs, government relations and strategic communications firm. Broches sits on the board of the Washington-Israel Business Council. He is also the former assistant executive vice president for community development at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. The WBBA asked Broches to serve on its steering committee not only for his community involvement but also for his ability to bring WIBC members into the group. The WIBC invited its member list to the conference, however the initial response was low. Broches said that although their efforts are in the early stages, the target is well within reach. “Our goal here is to think of a way of putting Washington State’s biotech and biomedical on the map of Israeli companies,” he said, “and to strategically develop those relationships, so that there’s more business and research interaction between Israelis and Washingtonians.” Even though Israel is one of the countries leading the world of research in the battle against diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, and it holds the patents on several technologies associated with those breakthroughs, the growing Northwest life science sector has yet to make those connections. Blockbuster Israeli companies like Amdocs have a strong presence in Seattle, and Microsoft employs hundreds of Israelis locally. “Since Israel is a world center of technology and innovation, including in the life sciences arena, as is Seattle, the potential for finding matches and good connections would seem obvious,” said Kaplan, who is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati Kaplan and a WIBC board member. WBBA’s 500 members represent a wide array of global health specialties, from bio-agriculture and biofuels to cancer research, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, and health care information technology. “Just walking through the poster presentations and listening to the podium presentations of the life sciences executives, one could see the associations,” said Kaplan. “Some of our local Northwest companies are working on the same problems, diseases, and issues, as are Israeli companies.” The latest innovations in the Northwest include local WBBA biotech companies like Alder Biopharmaceuticals in Bothell, which developed an anti-migraine drug and a drug for autoimmune diseases developed in partnership with BristolMyers Squibb. A Seattle company, Adaptive Biotechnologies, which emerged from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, developed a much sought-after “immune system profiling technology” that helps identify compatible study subjects for clinical trials. Another Seattle company, Omeros, is working on a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs for surgeons to use in treating neurological disorders. According to WBBA president and CEO Chris Rivera, the Israeli tech sector would be a natural fit. “It would be good to grow this over the upcoming years,” Rivera told JTNews. “The goal for the next two days,” said Rivera in his opening address at the conference, “is to highlight the strengths and innovation found in the Northwest’s life science community. It is also to help facilitate partnerships and collaborations that will help support the continued growth of life sciences in the Northwest and beyond.” Broches admitted these relationships take time and a certain amount of nurturing, so they won’t come about quickly. It begins with networking and gauging the level of interest on both sides. But first, he said, he’s got to get the attention of this diverse group of researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and executives who travel the usual circuit of high-tech hubs. “They generally go to the East Coast, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia,” said Broches. “Then they go the L.A. and to the Silicon Valley and go home. They are not aware of the depth and the diversity of what’s going on in Washington State.” Enjoy Eastside Dining From farm to table to delicatessen with stops in between Pages 10 & 11 D@TFGǢljQR Seattle Hadassah Chapter fall kickoff brunch celebrating grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends -women who inspire us and enrich our lives! EQN2NjDųDb@ZHN3ƞNjDųDb@ZHN3 SAVE THE DATE 9/22/13 WHEN: September 22, 2013 TIME: 11:00 am WHERE: Overlake Golf & Country Club, Medina WA GUEST SPEAKERS: Marcie Natan, Hadassah National President Patty Lazarus, Author of March into My Heart: A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters, and Adoption Seattle Chapter Office: $POUBDUr&NBJMTFBśMF!IBEBTTBIPSH -PPLGPSVTPO'BDFCPPLBU)BEBTTBI4FBśMF,JDLPĻ#SVODI 8 m.o.t.: member of the tribe JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Write More Books by Mike Selinker From tennis to gardening, Israel comings and goings 1 “The more books, the more wisdom,” says the Jewish proverb, and here we are left to wonder what might have been. When Boris Pasternak writes Doctor Zhivago, or Margaret Mitchell writes Gone with the Wind, and then never writes another novel, we want them to know we would welcome another work from them. Here are seven more authors who penned one classic each, then abandoned the novel form forever. ACROSS 1 The alphabetical gamut 5 It scores on a bell from 120 to 180 9 Eighteen-wheeler 13 It follows “Que” twice in a song title 14 Roof edge 15 Translation of a dog’s growl, perhaps 16 Her only novel: To Kill a Mockingbird 18 Salome had seven 19 Animal on Canadian currency 20 Heroine of five recent blockbuster films 21 His only novel: The Catcher in the Rye 26 The Golden Compass heroine 28 Many scouts 29 British record co. 30 Somewhat 31 Adds seasoning to, perhaps 33 With 42-Across, his only novel: The Picture 35 36 38 40 42 44 47 49 50 51 52 56 58 59 60 65 66 67 68 69 70 DOWN 1 Hero of the Evil Dead movies 2 Tazo offering 3 Bobby of hockey 4 Hit with a laser 5 The king, in Versailles 6 Online magazine 7 Makes reprisals for 8 Golf bag item 9 With 35-Across, suspect something isn’t 10 Her only novel: Wuthering Heights 11 Disease that the Bill & Melinda Gates 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 32 33 34 37 39 40 41 43 45 46 48 53 54 55 57 59 60 61 62 63 64 quite kosher “I think it will probably A third Washington be Rebecca [Ringer, his wife] State athlete will repreand the other guys’ wives sent the U.S. in Israel’s watching,” he says. There 2013 Maccabiah Games beginwon’t “be any trouble finding ning July 18 (see “Singing for a a place to park.” Cure,” Mar. 18, 2013, for more Bill’s goal is “to do as on the other two). Bill Cohon well as I can,” he says. “If I of Shoreline will play grand win or lose is secondary to masters tennis in the internathat.” Competing in Israel as tional games that are second a Jew is much more imporin size only to the Olympics, tant to him. For many years joining over 9,000 competitors he felt his Jewish roots were from 80 countries. Member of in Brooklyn, but that changed A retired school orchestra the Tribe on that first Israel trip. Seeing director, Bill, 64, was both a the Temple Mount, where in tennis pro and a professional ancient times only priests (kohanim, the violinist in his younger years before turnorigin of his last name) could go, “was ing to teaching. He returned to competitruly going back to my roots, and it was tive tennis in retirement, and was ranked profoundly moving,” he says. number one in the Pacific Northwest’s The 19th Maccabiah Games run July 18 over-60 age group last year. through July 30. Those interested in followNo matter what the competition in ing Bill’s exploits on this trip will find his Israel, he knows “going there is the prize.” writings at Williamcohon.blogspot.com. He has much to look forward to, like playing on clay at the Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon outside Tel Aviv, visiting His email address is organicjew@ the Kotel with his doubles partner Barry yahoo.com — yes, you can contact Brahver, and seeing sights he missed on his him there — so right off the bat you first visit there in 2009. get Shaul Judelman’s angle. Used to summer heat from tourna“It’s safe to call me a progressive Orthoments in central Oregon and California, dox rabbi, settler/peace activist,” he wrote Bill still assumes “it will be hot as hell” in in an email, a slightly different description Israel. He’s thrilled to be marching with than when we last chatted seven years ago his 1,200 teammates in the opening cer(“Our Washington Israelis,” Feb. 16, 2006). emonies — cheered by 60,000 screaming Shaul (Stefan) visits Seattle July 18– fans and seen on national TV — but susAugust 5 to speak at Congregation Beth pects the atmosphere at his first match will be quite different. XXPage 19 Diana Brement JTNews Columnist M.O.T. 2 of Dorian Gray See 9-Down Lab containers One of the Muses Letter after chi See 33-Across ___ Penh (Far East capital) So-so Prevaricate What some soccer matches end in ___ Men (2010 Jude Law film) Her only novel: Black Beauty ___ of Melniboné (albino antihero in Michael Moorcock’s fantasy works) Encounter Sudden shaking His only novel: Contact Where doves roost Unpromisingly dark Fury Like many modern TV broadcasts Where to get an Åfjärden bath towel Move at an even pace Foundation is attempting to eradicate Some cards “___ Just Seen a Face” (Beatles song) Letter before em Plant with a prickly stem The ___ (backing band named for the Godfather of Soul’s initials) Morgue tag Her only novel: The Bell Jar ___ spumante Host www.___.com (telecommunication site) Series of horror films Country singer K.T. Jay-Z’s genre Pale violet Hit the defrost button, maybe Beer with a first-place symbol on the bottle, for short Table till the morning Its anthem “Der er et yndigt land” means “There Is a Lovely Country” BP product Director Brooks ___ around (roughhoused) Cliff dwelling Flashpoint of the civil rights movement UFO drivers Uses an AOL service Poli-___ Feature of many big-budget movies Sound from a pooch Guy’s dance partner In the past Novel Do You Have a Story, Joke or Photo About Larry Broder to Share? Larry Broder has been Temple De Hirsch Sinai’s Executive Director for 20 years and is retiring at the end of the year and we need your help. Please send your story, memory or photo via email to Kim Greenhall at
[email protected] or call Kim at 206-315-7392. Save the date on 2FWREHU SP for a “WILD” send-off Answers on page 18 © 2013 Eltana Wood-Fired Bagel Cafe, 1538 12th Avenue, Seattle. All rights reserved. Puzzle created by Lone Shark Games, Inc. Edited by Mike Selinker and Gaby Weidling. friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community news 9 Renton coach dribbles the ball home Hillel Kuttler Special to JTNews Leila Gray Shapiro entered the world last October 23. Because the Sacramento Kings’ NBA season was then beginning, her uncle Daniel, a coach on the team, couldn’t see little Leila for a while — so her Jewish baby-naming ceremony had to be delayed until last Sunday. With the regular season long over and the woeful Kings again missing the playoffs, Daniel Shapiro would be back in Seattle to celebrate with his family. Going forward, though, the Renton native’s work schedule promises to cause far less disruption. That’s because Shapiro has just left the NBA to become the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Washington Huskies men’s basketball team. Shapiro, 35, very nearly moved home earlier this spring with the very same Kings, but the NBA blocked the franchise’s proposed sale and relocation to Seattle as the reincarnated SuperSonics. In a telephone conversation, Shapiro said that “it was always a long-term goal [and] always a dream” for him to move back to Seattle, “but I didn’t know when” the opportunity would arrive. The best he could do in recent years was to return every December 24 — the Kings usually had Christmas off — to partake in Latkepalooza, the Seattle Jewish community’s large singles event. That’s where the still-single Shapiro went to catch up with old friends; as a young man, he attended Hebrew school and Olympia’s Camp Solomon Schechter, played basketball for BBYO’s Eastside and Rainier chapters, and served as president of his United Synagogue Youth chapter. Since taking his new job in late May, Shapiro has begun settling in. He found an apartment to rent in Kirkland and plans to join the synagogue he was raised in, HerzlNer Tamid Conservative Congregation, on Mercer Island. Shapiro spent eight years with the Kings. They reached the playoffs his first season there, but quickly sank to mediocrity and then irrelevance and haven’t returned to the postseason since. Throughout his career, which began with Ohio’s University of Dayton in 2003, Shapiro said he has not worked with another Jewish coach or player — with one notable exception. That occurred for two seasons, beginning in 2009, when forward Omri Casspi joined the Kings and became the first Israeli to reach the NBA. Casspi and Shapiro quickly became friends. They often shared meals in Sacramento and on the road, and celebrated Jewish holidays together. The two even lit Hanukkah candles in a room in the Kings’ arena following a 2009 game, joined by their mothers, who were visiting. Casspi’s trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers two years ago curtailed their gettogethers. Shapiro and Casspi last saw one another in January, when the Kings and Cleveland played each other twice. “I’m happy for him,” Casspi, from Tel Aviv, said of Shapiro’s job with the Huskies. “He’s a class act, one of the nicest guys there was in the league — aside from his ability as a strength and conditioning coach.” “We had some wonderful years in Sacramento,” Casspi said, likely referring to their friendship rather than the team’s play during their two seasons together that produced a 49-115 win-loss record. “The organization and players love him. He matured and grew up as a man there. Going to the University of Washington — I’m so happy for him.” With the Kings, Shapiro helped players rehabilitate from various injuries, devised exercise and nutritional regimens to keep them in top physical shape and even helped them stretch their bodies before games. His job promises to be much the same at the UW, he said. Huskies players so far seem impressed by Shapiro’s NBA pedigree, although the team’s head coach, Lorenzo Romar, actu- Courtesy Sacramento Kings Dan Shapiro trains with Sacramento King Ron Artest during the 2012-13 season. ally played in the league. The players, Shapiro said, have asked how he enjoyed training such Kings players as Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. Romar said Shapiro represents “the best of both worlds” through his NBA and college experience. “I didn’t realize until I saw him [working with Huskies] what a good teacher he was,” Romar said. Before he’d even begun supervising their XXPage 16 J oin us for so me o ut d oor fun ! Shabbat in the Park Please join us for worship and celebration in this extraordinary outdoor setting. The Jewish FederaTion oF GreaTer seaTTle welcomes new PresidenT and Ceo Keith dvorchik To The CoMMUniTY -8/< 30$5($% /87+(5%85%$1.3$5. 0(5&(5,6/$1' For more information contact us at 206.323.8486 or www.tdhs-nw.org OF GREATER SEATTLE THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. 206.443.5400 THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. www.jewishinseattle.org 10 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Seattle’s diverse Wexner fellows head to Israel Tori Gottlieb Special to JTNews Founded in 1984 by Leslie and Abigail Wexner, the Wexner Foundation has become one of the premier organizations dedicated to the development of Jewish leadership. This month, the Wexner Foundation’s Heritage Program, which specifically supports volunteer leadership, will be sending a cohort of 100 students from five different cities, including Seattle, to Israel to learn how to better partner their local communities with Israeli Jewry. In addition to the Heritage Program, the Wexner Israel Fellowship funds up to ten Israeli public officials each year to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and the Wexner Graduate Fellowship focuses on strengthening the leadership skills of Jewish professionals through Jewish education and philosophy. The Seattle branch of the Heritage Program is supported by the Wexner Founthe organization’s leaders felt that the Wexner Heritage Program played a significant role in the Samis Foundation’s work with Jewish youth. “What Wexner is doing, which is growing committed and educated leaders in our community, is so powerful to our foundation,” said Amiel, who participated in the Wexner Graduate Fellowship eastside dining Jared Brown The “Seattle 12” and their families at a retreat last August in Aspen, Colo. dation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and the Samis Foundation. Amy Amiel, senior program manager for the Samis Foundation, said that while Samis typically focuses its efforts on Jewish K-12 education and Israel experiences for teens, trellis. A menu that reads like a roadmap of the area’s finest farms. Extraordinary farm-to-table cuisine from Trellis at the Heathman Hotel Kirkland. www.trellisrestaurant.net tr ellis program herself. “We know it will affect, both directly and indirectly, the very causes that Samis supports.” David Chivo, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, called the Wexner Heritage Program a “twenty-first century toolbox.” He explained that the skills participants gain are “Jewish technologies” based on the Jewish history, text, and law studied during the course of the two-year program. “The Wexner program is a symbol of what Jewish leadership and Jewish engagement can look like in Seattle,” said Chivo. “We’re creating a network of human beings filled with knowledge and commitment and appreciation of our heritage who can change our Jewish world.” Rabbi Jay Moses, national director of the Heritage Program, echoed Chivo’s sentiments. “The program is meant to make [the participants] more knowledgeable, more competent, and more inspired Jewish leaders,” he said. Moses is an alumnus of the Wexner programs, having participated in the Graduate Fellowship program as a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. “Being in the Wexner Fellowship program exposed me to the best and brightest future Jewish professionals,” said Moses. “It gave me a framework for how to think about being a leader that still helps me as I navigate day-to-day challenges of working and being a professional in the Jewish community.” Moses will be leading the Heritage Program’s upcoming trip to Israel, and hopes that the trip will help the program’s participants understand the modern religious, political, and social challenges faced by Israel. He emphasized that this trip is XXPage 16 friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community news 11 Inspired by art This year’s winners of the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center’s annual writing and art contest. Art contest winners On the front page is first-place art contest winner (9th–12th grades) Alexander King, an 11th grader at Stadium High School in Tacoma. The image is one of three identical images, with the exception of the numbers on the arm, which correspond to the prisoners Alexander mentions here: “I was inspired by the following: Rene Guttman, born December 21, 1937. Identification number: 16961. At the age of 5, he was used as a medical experiment by Nazi scientists. Renate Guttman, born December 21, 1937. Identification number: 70917. At the age of 5 she was used as a medical experiment by Nazi scientists because of Hitler’s fascination with twins. Eliezer Wiesel, born September 30, 1926. Identification number: A-7713. At the age of 16, Eliezer was beaten by other inmates for his food.” Aria Saisslin, a 6th grader at Kent Mountain View Academy, Des Moines, second place, 5th–6th grades “You see a hand with words in it and broken barbed wire while I see a Jew never giving up for what they believe in. When I see my drawing I see myself as this person never giving up hope, and doing what is right. I want other people to see my drawing as an encouragement and for them to never lose hope.” Blake Jeffcoat, a 7th grader at McMurray Middle School, Vashon Island, first place, 7th–8th grades “The image I drew represents the resisis an underground house they used to keep the camp hidden) and walked through this twisted forest back to my Ziemlanka and buried my possessions under the soil of this hidden camp. This way, I will become like a ghost so I hide the evidence of my existence. It will all be gone except, of course, my violin. My true friend will miss me, but will stay strong. I will wait till the morning to give it to him. Then they will fill the case with explosives, but for now I must rest and play my violin for the last time and I will savor every minute.” At left, art by second-place winner Aria Saisslin. Above, first place winner Blake Jeffcoat’s drawing. tance of the Jewish people within the death and work camps, which to me was an even more powerful story than the struggles outside the camps. The barbed wire represents the prisoners bound in fear, which brought about a great solidarity with the prisoners. Their hands clenched tightly represents the determination of strangers to come together united in pain and fear. With this unity and incredible courage overcame great odds in defeating the German soldiers that held them captive in deplorable conditions. My inspiration was from the fight for freedom at Treblinka Death Camp.” Based upon the life of a young man who tried to help the Jewish resistance by carrying his violin case, filled with explosives, to a camp of Nazis who had come to love the man’s music. Bielski replied, “Now we have a plan and we shall carry it out tomorrow. For now, make your last plans, Eli, and do what you must.” So I left the Ziemlanka (a Ziemlanka 7th/8th grade, first place Jazmin Ruiz, 8th Grade, McLoughlin Middle School, Pasco By sticking up for those in pain Their happiness can remain We can never let this happen again We must join together as a friend XXPage 19 eastside dining Writing contest winners 5th/6th grade, second place Noah Yeager, Finch Elementary School, Spokane eastside dining 8am-10pm Tuesday-Sunday 8a It’s our second birthday and we’ve added new seating and a full bar to accommodate the rushes. We have a new bartender, who will make fine, crafted classic and traditional updated cocktails with fresh, local ingredients. Come celebrate the beginning of year three with a drink, a nosh or dinner of a new summer entrée. We may not be 13 years old yet, but we call this our “bar” mitzvah! 12 what’s your jq? JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Bringing Jews of all ages to the table Rivy Poupko Kletenik JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, Last month the North American Jewish community witnessed the public pillory‑ ing of a Jewish communal worker. Was it another hor‑ rific, shameful case of sexual abuse or harassment in the work place? One more mor‑ tifying incident of misuse of funds? No, rather, it was a case of a strongly worded What’s opinion piece posted on JQ? eJewish Philanthropy that was behind the ouster of the former Israel center director of the Jewish Federation in San Francisco. I find the whole episode exceedingly distasteful. The position that she pub‑ licly and so disrespectfully took in regard to so-called “Millennials” was one thing. Then the reaction of her employer, who chose to fire her, was surprising. Is there no such thing as teshuvah, giving her an opportunity to respond and explain her‑ self? Regarding her ill-stated attitudes, is there any precedent for the financial sup‑ port of any age group over another? Are there Jewish legal considerations that underpin the distribution of commu‑ nity funds to Birthright programs versus Jewish camps, education or food banks? Whoa. There is a lot here. Three distinct issues need to be explored in the wake of Michal Kohane’s fiery piece, “40 Plus and Screwed: More on Less Young Adult Engagement”: First, the issue of parameters and determinations for the allocation of Jewish communal resources; second, an examination of Your Judaism and ageism (is there a preference in our tradition toward the support of any particular age group over another?); finally, the responsibility of leaders to communities they serve. The subhead for Kohane’s diatribe reads, “Building a sustainable community can’t be just about paying for buses full of young people in hopes they will make Jewish babies.” Regarding the over-40s, Kohane writes, “So we are not going to invest in you. Please, step aside, and hand over the keys.” This compels us to investigate the material angle here. If the Millennials are not deserving of this investment, who is? Is there another age group that the community should invest in? To what kind of programs should communal dollars be allocated? Who determines these issues? Laws of tzedakah outline Jewish standards of giving. Who should be on the receiving end of Jewish charitable funds is not a simple issue. If one were to attempt to adhere to the principles of tithing, to whom does one give? According to a number of classic Jewish sources the priority is as follows: First, someone whose life is in danger; then relatives in need; then Torah scholars and Jewish education; the poor; then communal needs such as a mikva or synagogue; and finally, funds helping people perform mitzvot, such as the observance of holiday rituals. What of those Birthright trips that Kohane seems to hold in contempt? Does sending young people to Israel fit into this rubric? Are we in the long run investing in and attempting to ensure their Jewish engagement and subsequent mitzvah performance? Could it be that if we do not devote resources to their education there is little hope they will support communal organizations? Perhaps investing in this generation and its connection to Israel and Judaism is in fact one-step removed from supporting Jewish communal institutions. Might some even go so far as to stress that anyone distanced from Judaism is someone whose spiritual life is in danger and who must then be “ransomed,” not unlike a prisoner? I can hear that argument being made quite compellingly by those in the Jewish outreach business. A trip to Israel can be life changing. The argument can be made that with a long life ahead, those younger than 40, with their family-making ahead of them, are a good “bang for your buck.” And yes, Michal, it may very well be every Jew’s “birthright” to go to Israel, no matter their age. I hope that that is where folks’ travel dollars would go if they have them. By all means, let’s try to help everyone get to Israel! Many federations have subsidized missions over the years in the hopes that those who are on the trip will later be inspired to “pay it forward” by helping others in the community. Whether or not this is tzedakah or the best use of communal dollars is debatable — but certainly not to be dismissed as out of hand. (An aside: In the case of Taglit-Birthright, sending 350,000 young people to Israel since 1999 is a tremendous accomplishment. The “Jewish Futures Project” report in 2010 concludes, “Participation in Taglit-Birthright Israel alters the trajectory of Jewish identification and engagement.” Is this really what Kohane casually calls a “goodie”?) Kohane summarizes her criticism with, “Above all — we need to leave our young adults with a clear message, that after 40 — you’re not screwed, because they too, like us, will reach that noble old age one day, and they should know that Jewish life isn’t over then; in fact, we’ve only just begun.” Well, Michal, I would like that, too, but when you toss out allegations like the following one from earlier in your piece you undermine your own stance: “But we are living in a society that assigns old people to old people’s home [sic], which often look worse, smell worse and are budgeted less than our prisons.” That’s an awful line. It hit me in the gut. I would ask you to document it and would want further information on what you mean by “society.” The Jewish nursing home in Seattle, The Kline Galland Home, where I have spent much time, is as far as one could get from your accusation. To assert such with blithe smoothness and generality is to perpetuate a horrid stigma about older people and their lives, and frankly, those who love them and seek to care for them. What of ageism? Judaism tells us that newborns are esteemed as being closest in proximity to a pre-birth full knowledge of Torah and for their inherent purity, and school-aged youngsters are admired for their quick thinking, while their prayers are preferred for wholesomeness of spirit. Teaching the young is like writing on new parchment; teaching the old is like writing on erased parchment. But then, one cannot study mysticism till the ripe age of 40. Who is old (zaken)? One who has acquired wisdom. Age 80 is the age of strength, teaches Pirke Avot. The young advisers lead King Rehoboam down the path of power abuse while the elder advisers offer wisdom and patience. Bottom line? We need everyone around our table. One cannot be valued over the other, and each needs to be treated with respect and genuine awareness. Finally, how do we work together in this Jewish community of ours? Should there be a modicum of tolerance for a communal worker gone rogue, who displays some decidedly poor judgment? Is there room for a sincere reflective apology? Perhaps an invitation to dialogue around some of Kohane’s dramatic contentions could have moved this conversation forward. Or is there a line that once crossed leaves no path of return? In this time of communal mourning over a temple destroyed on account of contentious Jewish in-fighting, perhaps a degree of mutual compassion is in order. Rivy Poupko Kletenik is an internationally renowned educator and Head of School at the Seattle Hebrew Academy. If you have a question that’s been tickling your brain, send Rivy an email at
[email protected]. Chesed (Loving-kindness) For Our World Since 1926, The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has strengthened the bonds of community through service. We support causes that lift people up, locally, in Israel and overseas. Join us as we work to fulfill shared hopes for a better future. OF GREATER SEATTLE THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. 206.443.5400 THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. jewishinseattle.org/donate fresh The 3 O'Clock News friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community calendar 13 the calendar to Jewish Washington For a complete listing of events, or to add your event to the JTNews calendar, visit calendar.jtnews.net. Calendar events must be submitted no later than 10 days before publication.
[email protected] or 425-603-9677 or templebnaitorah.org Camp-style Shabbat service for families, singles, and couples young and old. Non-members invited. With burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, salads, fruit, and s’mores. Dinner at 5:30. Service at 7. RSVP required. Adults $10, children 6-12 $4, children 5 and under free. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue. @jewishcal Sunday 1–3 p.m. — Chabad of Olympia Jewish Discovery Center Open House Chava Edelman at
[email protected] or 360-584-4506 or jewisholympia.com Hanukkat habayit and open house in celebration of Chabad’s new location. Free. At Chabad Jewish Discovery Center, 1770 Barnes Blvd. SW, Tumwater. 8:30 p.m. — Family Outdoor Movie: ‘The Bee Movie’ Kim Lawson at
[email protected] or www.sjcc.org Watch “The Bee Movie” in the SJCC Kesher Community Garden. Bring your lawn chairs. Make s’mores in the campfire area. Free. At the Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 Mercer Way, Mercer Island. 9 p.m.–2 a.m. — Tu B’Av Jewish Love Day Dance Party Al at
[email protected] or 206-423-8377 or www.facebook.com/pages/ Seattle-Jewish-Productions/200543053375036 Dance party, love and lots of fun. 21-plus. Hosted by Seattle Jewish Productions. Free till 9:30; $10 21 July after. At Barboza, 925 E Pike St., Seattle. Monday Candlelighting times July 19............................. 8:42 p.m. July 26............................. 8:35 p.m. August 2.......................... 8:25 p.m. August 9...........................8:15 p.m. Friday Camp SEED Three-Day Overnight Camping Trip Mrs. Shaindel Bresler at
[email protected] or 206-722-8289 or seattlekollel.org For Jewish children ages 5-12. Campers build meaningful friendships, engage in an array of activities, and learn to appreciate their heritage and its values. A wholesome camp experience in a friendly and safe environment. $90. Contact the Seattle Kollel for details. 5:30–8:30 p.m. — Get S’more Shabbat Karen Sakamoto at 19 July Saturday Shabbat Nachamu Celebration Julie Greene at
[email protected] or 206-721-0970 or bit.ly/nachamu Featuring Rabbi and Mrs. Alan Kalinsky and Rabbi Simon Benzaquen. With shiurim, kiddush, community-wide third meal, and services. Visit the website for lecture topics and times. At BCMH, 5145 S Morgan St, Seattle. 3–7 p.m. — Kol Ami July BBQ and Havdalah
[email protected] or 425-844-1604 Games, food, company, and a brief Havdalah service led by Rabbi Glickman. Call or email for exact location. 20 July 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. — Camp SEED Mrs. Shaindel Bresler at
[email protected] or 206-722-8289 or seattlekollel.org For Jewish children ages 5-12. Week 1: “Sports Camp with Jim Weisen” July 22-July 26. Week 2: “Day Trips Camp” July 29-August 2. Week 3: “Hiking, Biking and Overnighting Camp” August 5-9. “Seedlings” camp for children 2-5. Before and after camp care available. $185 per week. Contact the Seattle Kollel for location details. 22 July Tuesday 7–8:30 p.m. — Everyday Kabbalah Shelly Goldman at
[email protected] or 425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.org Rabbi Kinberg will explore the ancient Kabbalistic approach to finding meaning in everyday life. $5 XXPage 15 23 July Kehilla | Our Community Reform Congregation Woodinville WA 98077 • www.kolaminw.org B’nai Mitzvah Training Program Men’s and Women’s Social Groups Post B’nai Mitzvah youth groups • Adult Education programs Reasonable membership rates and tuition Be part of Kehilla Call 206-774-2264 or email
[email protected] Gary S. Cohn, Regional Director Jack J. Kadesh, Regional Director Emeritus 415-398-7117
[email protected] www.ats.org American Technion North Pacific Region on Facebook @gary4technion on Twitter Kol Haneshamah is a progressive and diverse synagogue community that is transforming Judaism for the 21st century. 6115 SW Hinds St., Seattle 98116 E-mail:
[email protected] Telephone: 206-935-1590 www.khnseattle.org Yossi Mentz, Regional Director 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 650 Los Angeles, CA • Tel: 323-655-4655 Toll Free: 800-323-2371
[email protected] Saving Lives in Israel The premiere Reform Jewish camping experience in the Pacific Northwest! Join us for an exciting, immersive, and memorable summer of a lifetime! 425-284-4484 www.kalsman.urjcamps.org 206-447-1967 www.campschechter.org Where Judaism and Joy are One Temple De Hirsch Sinai is the leading and oldest Reform congregation in the Pacific Northwest. With warmth and caring, we embrace all who 206.323.8486 enter through our doors. www.tdhs-nw.org We invite you to share our past, and help 1511 East Pike St. Seattle, WA 98122 shape our future. 3850 156th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 14 explore bellevue JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Jews on the ballot: Community values drive city council run Janis Siegel JTNews Correspondent Steve Kasner is banking on his 20 years of community service, including his role as the current chair of the East Bellevue Community Council since 2006 and his extensive teaching and sports coaching on the Eastside, to win the 2013 primary election bid for position 4 on the Bellevue City Council. His message of change and his zealous promotion of total governmental transparency, coupled with open citizen involvement throughout every decision-making process, may just persuade Bellevuites that he is the candidate who will find solutions to the city’s challenges going forward. Kasner, a married father of two boys, Aren, 21, and Kyle, 18, received the Seattle Times’ endorsement for Bellevue City Council on July 12 as one of the candidates who will bring “a fresh infusion of new voices” to it. It’s given him the extra mojo he needs to doorbell in order to compete with his opponent’s hefty cash reserves and run the race he thinks he can win. “I believe in absolute open transparency and full disclosure, but many people don’t believe that,” Kasner told JTNews from his home in Bellevue. “They believe, ‘We’re in power and we’re going to do whatever we want and if the community doesn’t like it — tough.’ But I have my core values and that’s what I believe in.” Several more endorsements for the former appointee to the West Lake Hills Advisory Committee add to the growing list, including the King County Democrats, Washington Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, now former State Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D-41st), and two former Bellevue mayors. But the Municipal League Foundation, which rates candidates for character, involvement, knowledge, and effectiveness, pronounced two incumbents, including his opponent Kevin Wallace, “outstanding” and “very good.” It assigned Kasner a rating of “adequate.” “I can’t tell you why I got the rating I did,” said Kasner. “They only called two of the six references that I offered and I was only interviewed by seven people. I believe they made a mistake in this particular evaluation of me and the race.” According to Kasner, Wallace has unfairly painted him with a “liberal” label, but he defends what he calls his “democratic values.” “I happen to identify myself as a Democrat and I am to the left of my opponent,” said Kasner, “but if you’re talking about bipartisanship, let’s talk about what I believe in — strong neighborhoods, open government, and reasoned decision-making. Those are John Wyble not partisan values, those are community values.” Kasner is expecting to be one of the two top-tier candidates to go forward into the general election out of the four primary candidates, including Bill Hirt and Jeffrey Talada. The 54-year-old former sports coach who was frequently found at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island anticipates that the race will be nasty and rancorous. But Kasner’s attitude borders on defiant. “They’re a shadow government,” said Kasner. “There’s absolutely no transparency as to who these people are, what they’re doing and what their backgrounds are. The planning commission does all of the work before it gets to the City Council. I will never railroad something through.” For the last two years, a fight over a future light rail route through South Bellevue consumed much of the Council’s time. The next body will have to revise design and development standards for the city’s downtown core, grapple with new shoreline use regulations, and choose who pays the bill for new building projects — the taxpayers or developers. “The Council is the bottleneck,” said Kasner. “They’re so focused on messing around with light rail that they’re getting no other work done. They took 50 percent of their time to work on light rail at the expense of the vitality of the city.” In 2003, when Factoria Mall proposed a South Bellevue community center there, Kasner led the effort, often amidst the voices of angry citizens who wanted it to be located at the mall, to develop it off of Newport Way, with baseball fields and tennis courts. “The easy thing would have been to let the neighborhood have what they wanted and put the community center in Factoria Mall,” said Kasner, “but that wasn’t what was best for the community. Now, that property is just short of 50 acres in an urban city of 130,000 people.” Kasner has already raised $15,411, with some coming from his supporters and some taken from his own money. Ultimately, he figures he will need roughly $75,000 to get his message out and contend with Wallace. “Regardless of what money we raise in the community,” said Kasner, “I would self-fund the primary. My budget is between $20,000 and $25,000 for the primary and I am willing to put all of that in if I have to.” explore bellevue explore bellevue friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community calendar 15 WWcalendar Page 13 Friday payable at the door. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue. Thursday 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. — Birds: Oracles of our Environment Ellen Hendin at
[email protected] or 206-461-3240 or jfsseattle.org Professor Gordon Orians, expert ornithologist, will explain the delicate relationships between birds and the environment. At Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1441 16th Ave., Seattle. 11–11:30 a.m. — Song and Story with Betsy Dischel Amy Paquette at amyhp@jewishinseattle. org or 206-774-2237 or www.jewishinseattle.org/pjlibrary Musikal Magik’s Betsy Dischel plays guitar and guides kids to sing, drum, shake their eggs and learn a few words in American Sign Language, Hebrew, and song or two in Spanish. Free. At Mockingbird Books, 7220 Woodlawn Ave. NE, Seattle. 6–8 p.m. — Music on the Field Amy Adler at
[email protected] or bit.ly/musiconthefield JDS alumnus Ben Gown and his ensemble, Sasson, will perform on the play field. PJ Library will provide a story for parents and children (birth-2nd grade). Bring a picnic. JDS will provide popsicles, water and some other surprises for children. Free and open to the community. At the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, 15749 NE Fourth St., Bellevue. 7–9 p.m. — Active and Passive Judaism: Lessons from the Sephardic Experience
[email protected] or www.ezrabessaroth.net Special guest Rabbi Marc Angel will speak on “Active and Passive Judaism: Lessons from the Sephardic Experience.” At Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 5217 S Brandon St., Seattle. 25 July 6:15 p.m. — Kabbalat Shabbat Honoring Yiddish Wendy Marcus at
[email protected] or 206-525-0915 or templebetham.org/ worship/shabbat/friday-night Temple Beth Am’s annual Shabbat service honoring Yiddish with featured speaker Hannah Pressman and local Yiddish singers and readers. Free. At Temple Beth Am, 2632 NE 80th St., Seattle. 26 July on “The Jewish Martyrs of Rhodes: Memory and Challenge.” At 7:15 p.m. Rabbi Angel will speak on “Sephardim and Ashkenazim: Together and Apart.” A memorial kiddush will be held after Shabbat services. At Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, 5217 S Brandon St., Seattle. Take advantage of the warm weather for a women’s get-together. Sing Israeli and traditional campfire songs, roast marshmallows for s’mores, and swim, or at least dip your toes in the pool. At a private home in Seward Park. RSVP for address. Sunday Saturday Tribute to the Jews of Rhodes and Kos
[email protected] or www.ezrabessaroth.net Rabbi Marc Angel will give the Shabbat sermon 27 July 12–5 p.m. — Baseball Games and Barbecue Julie Greene at
[email protected] Games for kids and adults. At Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath, 5145 S Morgan St, Seattle. 28 July Sunday Wednesday 7:30 p.m. — Sing, S’mores and Swim Meryl Alcabes at
[email protected] 31 July 1–2:30 p.m. — A Garden Party Ellen Hendin at
[email protected] or 206-461-3240 or jfsseattle.org Irene and Larry Harvitz have built a tranquil and secluded sanctuary for their disabled son that is wheelchair accessible. Stroll through the paths that wind around perennials, arbors, bridges and waterfalls. At the home of Irene and Larry Harvitz, 3225 134th Ln. NE, Bellevue. 4 August explore bellevue Ignite your passion for driving — The BMW 650i convertible BMW of Bellevue 13617 Northup Way, Bellevue www.bmwbellevue.com 425-643-4544 16 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 WWbasketball Page 9 weightlifting, Shapiro explained how specific exercises would activate various muscles — and how that would relate to basketball play, Romar said. “He speaks the guys’ language while still holding their respect,” Romar said. The challenge of helping young players to achieve their potential remains consistent in Shapiro’s new position. “I’m training kids who are trying to ing to Israel with Rabbi Moses. BenzikryStern said she’s been to Israel a number of times to visit family, but is looking forward to the Heritage Program providing her with a different kind of trip. “The program does a really thoughtful and intentional job of creating a crosssection of the community [within each cohort],” she said, adding that “it’s going to be really special being able to see Israel again with a group of people from my Jewish community that are coming at the issues from different places.” Two of Benzikry-Stern’s fellow program participants, Brian Judd and Jeremy Derfner, are good examples of cohort get where I’ve been. I can help them work toward the same goal,” Shapiro said. Huskies players already have “asked me certain questions: How high did this guy jump? How strong is that guy?” Shapiro said. “I’m excited about the new members from diverse backgrounds. Judd, a Seattle native and self-proclaimed “Jew by choice,” converted to Judaism in 2007 and has been an active participant in Queen Anne’s Kavana Cooperative and West Seattle’s progressive synagogue, Kol HaNeshamah, which he and his husband helped found. By contrast, Derfner, who was raised in a Conservative Jewish community in South Carolina, now considers himself an atheist, but maintains a strong interest in the secular Jewish community. “What I conceive of as leadership for myself is slightly different,” said Derfner. “I’m interested in new intellectual pathways for people who care about being Jewish, but challenge: To get the most out of young athletes, to be a role model to some fine young men, to be an important character for teens in their development as winning athletes.” WWwexner Page 10 by no means a sightseeing trip or a way for participants to get a “shot in the arm of Jewish identity.” “We take these folks to Israel to explore the issues up close and have them hearing right from the people who are living in Israel every day,” Moses explained. “The ultimate goal is for people to find a way of engaging more deeply with Israel, and to help advance a new kind of relationship between Israel and North American Jews.” Tamar Benzikry-Stern is a participant in the Heritage Program and a member of the Seattle-based cohort that will be travel- don’t necessarily feel comfortable with the current institutional landscape.” Regardless of their different approaches to Judaism, all three program participants are looking forward to the trip to Israel. “The trip will allow us to interface with Israel in all of its complexity,” said Judd. “It will allow us to come home with some great experiences that we can share with the community to further our conversation around how Israel plays into our lives as North American Jews.” For more information on the Wexner Foundation and its programs, visit www.wexnerfoundation.org. shouk help wanted admissions counseling homecare services homecare services the Private Caregiver for Jewish Families Seeking Employment college placement consultants • 15 years experience caring for elderly with Parkinsons, diabetes, dementia & Alzheimer’s. • Positive energy & extraordinary culinary skills. • Loving attitude & lots of patience. • Highly organized with attention to cleanliness. Can provide excellent references from prominent Jewish families in Seattle community. Have all credentials & certifications. Nurse, cNa, licensed Home healthcare with over 15 yrs exp. Alzheimers exp. doctor appts., transp. avail., FT, live-in or -out, mother-in-law space helpful. Great references, mature, compassionate & loving. Will travel with client. 1/2 time position, works closely with rabbi and teaching staff to develop and implement our innovative education program for our Shabbat school program. EduCation Program Coordinator Expert help with undergraduate and graduate college selection, applications and essays. call carolyn 206-271-5820 License #46-23-29-790 425-453-1730 Pauline B. Reiter, Ph.D.
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You’ll be online at www.professionalwashington.com year round and in the book in the spring. = Get started now at professionalwashington.com or call us at 206-441-4553! 18 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 WWlevy Page 20 behaviors, as well as ego, in order to wage peace and assist the survival of the community. When all else fails, said Levy, ask yourself, “am I selfish enough to forgive?” Invoking an Eastern twist, Levy suggests that when we forgive, we become free and secure. Not only that, but the Jewish community must commit to educating children and focusing philanthropic efforts on peoplehood. “By perfecting themselves, Jews can perfect their communities,” said Levy. “And they can perfect the State of Israel.” Levy left the audience inspired, but not entirely without skepticism. At the question and answer session, he was presented with questions about Jewish anti-Semitism and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, members of which have endorsed a no-dialogue approach to Israel’s supporters. “Even if we accomplish nothing, we have to sit down and talk,” said Levy. “Are you willing to accept that they are doing this because they expect such a high moral standard for Jews and Israelis?” According to event moderator Joel Benoliel, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “René’s presentation was masterful, unique, and beautifully presented,” Benoliel told JTNews. “He is a scientist at heart, and is schooled in the art of making scientific inquiry and bolstering conclusions with proof.” The purpose of the talk was a call to conversation, and Levy hopes that will prove fruitful. A follow-up email to attendees asked for input on how to move forward, such as creating a curriculum, forming an organization, holding an annual discussion, or participating in relationship workshops. While a large percentage of attendees were members of Seattle’s Orthodox community, the talk appealed to Jews across the board. Rainer Waldman Adkins, a founder of South Seattle’s progressive Mitriyah community and an activist for the liberal Israel advocacy organization J Street, told JTNews he was initially skeptical about the topic, but wanted to find out if it would truly promote dialogue. Adkins was impressed by Levy’s insistence on shared responsibility and empathy for others. “The ability to listen to other people… to find a very basic commonality, those are critical tools in building connections between people,” he said. Adkins also said that while he’s experienced anti-Semitism, “the most painful contacts I’ve had have been with other Jews, because it seemed they were stereotyping me and not curious about what was motivating me.” Architects, Consultants & Contractors Construction Contact Information Now Online! Check www.kcls.org/buildings for information about KCLS construction projects. You’ll find the latest available details on current and pending projects: • Requests for Proposals • Requests for Qualifications • Current Project Bid Listings • Calls for Art Proposals • Site Selection Policy • Announcements of Finalists • Community Meetings • Contacts • News Releases Adkins hopes the conversation will somehow continue, because the community needs it. “We’ll see where it goes,” he said. “It will certainly be a lot of hard work.” David Chivo, the executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which helped sponsor the event, praised the evening. “Within Jewish life, there are always many voices, and at times they are in conflict with one another,” he said. “What Dr. Levy conveyed through the conversation he led is that the multi-vocality within our community is actually a source of strength, and that we can find ways to have differences of opinions and yet still care deeply for one another.” Benoliel admitted he had no idea what he was getting into when he was asked to participate in the event. In the end, he was moved. “The last time I felt a spiritual stirring in a large crowd like this was a few years ago when I went to Century Link Field to hear the Dalai Lama,” he said. “His message was actually very much in sync with René’s when it comes to interpersonal relationships.” Could it really be possible to elevate the nature of Jewish community, starting with family and working toward world peace by committing to a sense mutual responsibility? “Yes,” said Levy at the conclusion of his lecture. “It could be that simple.” The King County Library System recognizes strength and value within our communities, and we encourage all interested and qualified service providers to review our public bid construction project opportunities. For additional information, contact Kelly L. Iverson, Facilities Management Services Department, King County Library System:
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[email protected] www.seattlehomesforsale.net Office 206-522-7003 Russ Katz, Realtor Windermere Real Estate/Wall St. Inc. 206-284-7327 (Direct) www.russellkatz.com JDS Grad & Past Board of Trustees Member Mercer Island High School Grad University of Washington Grad friday, july 19, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews lifecycles 19 Lifecycles Sheldon Martin Biback March 12, 1926–June 27, 2013 Sheldon (Shelly) Martin Biback passed away on June 27, 2013 in his home at the age of 87, surrounded by his loving family. Born March 12, 1926 in New York City, he was the son of Fred and Min Biback. He had a full, productive and satisfying life blessed with enormous love, pride, and affection for his family. He valued ethical living, social justice, education, and Jewish traditions. Sheldon is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Reva Rose Levy of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; three children: Cheryl Piha (Josef) of Seattle, Greta Biback-Ballard (Thomas) of Portland, Ore., Deborah Biback-Williams (Bruce) of Snohomish; five grandchildren: Rebecca Piha (Paul Amato), Sarah Piha, Raphael Ballard, Ariel Biback, and Ariana Ballard; and two great-grandsons: Avram and Jake Amato. He was predeceased by sister Beverley Colman-Lokash and is survived by sister Phyllis Spivak (Manny) of Toronto, ON. After graduating medical school in 1948 from the University of Toronto, he and Reva (who was an R.N.) worked in New York City, Binghamton and Buffalo. During the Korean War, Sheldon served as chief of OB for two years at Fort Lawton Hospital in Seattle before opening his Seattle private practice in 1956. He was highly respected by his peers and practiced as an OB-Gyn physician for over 50 years at Doctors, Cabrini, Northwest, Virginia Mason, and Swedish Hospitals. He was chief of OB-Gyn at Northwest Hospital from 1978 to 1981. He was a clinical professor emeritus at the University of Washington, teaching medical students and residents. He was president of the Washington State OB Association, Seattle Gynecology Society, and the Washington OB Political Action Committee. When asked how many babies he delivered, he said he stopped counting at 10,000. Sheldon was an excellent physician and surgeon and he treated his patients with care, compassion and respect. He was progressive and innovative in childbirth methods, encouraging and supporting natural childbirth, allowing fathers to be present in the delivery room, and promoting rooming-in. After retiring in 1989, he served for five years as medical director of Planned Parenthood of Washington State. Sheldon was a strong proponent of maternal child health and education and he worked tirelessly in support of progressive legislation. He and Reva had a lifelong interest in travel and visited all the continents. His frequent visits to England and France were among his favorite destinations. Sheldon was a consummate linguist, fluent in French, Russian, Spanish, and Greek. He was a polymath and studied history, politics and astronomy, auditing classes at the UW in his later years. His many other interests included mycology, flying, skiing, fishing, sailing, golf, photography, gardening and wine making. He was a prodigious reader with a collection exceeding 3,000 books. He was a passionate Huskies fan who held football season tickets for over 40 years. Sheldon was a supporter of the arts: Seattle Symphony, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman, Seattle Opera, Seattle Ballet, and chamber music. He was a patron of the zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, Pacific Science Center, Weizmann Institute, Music of Remembrance and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. In addition, Sheldon was a certified mohel who performed the mitzvah of brit milah for hundreds of baby boys. He had an optimistic and strong spirit, enthusiasm for life, and a lifelong quest for knowledge. He will be missed by his family, colleagues, and many, many friends. The funeral service was held on Sunday, June 30 at Bikur Cholim Cemetery. Donations in Sheldon’s memory can be made to Planned Parenthood or your favorite charity. WWm.o.t. Page 8 Shalom, where he grew up, and elsewhere, about his efforts to bring environmental awareness and organic practices to Israel. He made aliyah now and lives with his young family “across the green line” in Bat Ayin. The Seattle Hebrew Academy and Garfield High grad once thought “being born Conservative was like being born Ashkenazi; I didn’t think it could change.” Now he’s a long-haired Orthodox rabbi who’s worked for years to illuminate the relationship between Judaism and environmentalism in his new home. Shaul first traveled to Israel in 2000 for his degree requirements in international studies at Pitzer College and was “com- pletely blown away” by Judaism’s connection to the land. Having spent time as a political activist among the Navajo, he found it reminiscent of the way Navajo “religion and culture were so tied to the land.” Speaking to me on July 4, Shaul reflected on modeling participatory democracy for Israelis. “Feeling empowered to make change [is]…something Americans bring here.” For example, he’s been involved with “halachic activism,” creating change and awareness by asking environmental questions of Israeli rabbis who interpret Jewish law. One query was, “Can tzedakah money be used to buy low-flow faucets?” “These are important questions,” a lot Randall: Was that hard, not being with your family? Avner: Yes…and no. On one hand, I didn’t know if my family was alright or not, on the other…I only had to worry about myself. It made surviving a little…easier. A silence follows. Randall: Do you know what happened to your mother? Avner shakes his head. Randall: Your sisters? Avner: I know what I hope didn’t happen to them. Randall: And what would that be? Find excerpts, artwork, and, for the first time this year, videos and digital media from all of the winners at www.wsherc.org/ writingcontest/WAC2013_winners.aspx. of rabbis noted. But they admitted that “They didn’t have the background” to decide, Shaul says. Shaul also works for JIVE, part of a larger Israeli environmental organization called Teva Ivri (www.tevaivri.org.il). Many in his settlement want to improve relations with Palestinian neighbors, says Shaul. There was even an Israeli-Palestinian cooperative organic farm for a while, but political pressures ended it. He wishes there was more reporting on collaboration and says older Israelis and Palestinians still remember back when there was more cooperation before the second intifada. “We as Jews have so much fixing to do inside of us,” he says, “but can’t do it without working outside.” Courtesy Shaul Judelman Shaul Judelman at his home in Bat Ayin. WWwsherc winners Page 11 I will remember those who died as brave If only I could of saved The thousands of innocent children Whose lives had been stolen...” 9th–12th grade, first place Lunden Laree Nugen, 10th Grade, Mead Sr. High School, Mead From a play, “The Interview.” Randall: [clears his throat] So let’s get started. How old were you when the Nazis moved you to the camps? Avner sucks in his cheeks and licks his lips. Avner: [quietly] Fifteen. [Clears his throat and speaks louder] Fifteen. I was fifteen. How do I submit a lifecycle announcement? Send lifecycle notices to: JTNews/Lifecycles, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 E-mail to:
[email protected] Phone 206-441-4553 for assistance. Submissions for the August 2, 2013 issue are due by July 23. Download forms or submit online at www.jtnews.net/index.php?/lifecycle Please submit images in jpg format, 400 KB or larger. Thank you! 2-for-1 “ You’re Amazing” Cards When you let JFS “Tribute Cards” do the talking, you send your best wishes and say you care about funding vital JFS programs here at home. Call Irene at (206) 861-3150 or, on the web, click on “Donations” at www.jfsseattle.org. Use Visa or MasterCard. It’s the most gratifying 2-for-1 in town. Sign up! www.jtnews.net The 3 O'Clock News 20 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, july 19, 2013 Stop the hate Emily K. Alhadeff Associate Editor, JTNews On Rosh Chodesh Av, the first day of the Hebrew month of Av, the controversial group Women of the Wall were praying at the Kotel in Jerusalem when they were pelted with insults and hard-boiled eggs by a group of Haredi men. The time and place are relevant: The first nine days of Av are a solemn leadup to the day of commemoration for the destruction of both First and Second Temples. The Kotel, the Western Wall, is the last bit of retaining wall from the temple that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Why did the Romans destroy that holy structure central to Jewish existence? The sages answer: Because of sinat chinam, or “baseless hatred.” In other words, Jewish infighting caused the Jewish people’s own downfall. Discussions of sinat chinam always pick up this time of year, but they seem to have a renewed sense of urgency this year. On Sunday evening, July 14, nearly 800 people from across greater Seattle’s Jewish community packed Town Hall to hear René Levy address baseless hatred and its threat to Jewish peoplehood at “Jewish Peoplehood Crisis: A Call for Conversation.” “When there are no existential crises, the concept of Jewish peoplehood suffers to the point of becoming obsolete,” said book, “Baseless Hatred: What It Is and What You Can Do About It” (Gefen, 2011), Levy, a retired professor of pharmaceutics at the University of Washington and longtime member of the Sephardic Orthodox community in Seattle, outlines the genesis of peoplehood in the Torah, its function in Jewish history, and the causes for its failure. When the fundamental concept of Jewish peoplehood self-destructs, it is typically due to a breakdown of mutual responsibility and the toxic spread of disgust for fellow community members near and far — starting with family. (For more background on “Baseless Hatred,” see our story “Manifesto for a Revolution,” Aug. 24, 2012). Levy’s suggestion for uniting Jewish people and curbing the phenomenon of baseless hatred is to start with family. “Baseless hatred and in-laws are a match made in heaven, or perhaps hell,” Levy said to a roomful of chuckles. “You are entitled to justice, not revenge,” he said. “It hurts, because deep down that person is important.” Ironically, one must override the “primitive neural system” that is wired to shut out or “hate” threatening humans or XXPage 18 Luci Veron René Levy on stage at Town Hall. Levy. Living in a crisis-free era of Jewish history is a good thing, of course. But the Holocaust, the Six-Day War, the plight of the Soviet Jews — all things that bonded older generations — have become history to younger Jews. Most troubling to Levy is that when many young Jews turn to Jewish sacred texts, they “are unable to decipher our shared mission or our purpose as a people.” What is needed is a renewed look at the purpose of Jewish peoplehood. In his Make this the sweetest New Year ever. If you’re ready to step up to a higher level of luxury and performance, we invite you to find the car of your dreams at our beautiful new state-of-the-art dealership. We can’t wait to welcome you! Shana tova umetukah from Mercedes-Benz of Seattle. 2025 Airport Way South Seattle, WA 98134 MBSeattle.com • 877-245-0795