Voice Summer 2019 by Bnai Zion Foundation

SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 102 NUMBER 1

Bnai Zion Foundation Combats Anti-Semitism

The Alarming Rise of Anti-Semitism

Remembering Past Honoree Elie Wiesel

The March of the Living and Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fight Against Anti-Semitism 12 Anti-Semitism As a Global Crisis

message from Bnai Zion’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Why Anti-Semitism? Dear Friends,

hen we wrote our introductory letters for the last issue of Bnai Zion’s VOICE Magazine, the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue was still fresh in our minds. We could not have imagined that, as we write this at the end of April, we would be reeling from yet another vicious hate crime in an American synagogue, this time at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue in California. Yet, long before this most recent attack, we knew it was time for the VOICE to address the alarming rise of anti-Semitism, both in the United States and around the world. It is a sickness that permeates every part of our society, whether left-wing, right-wing, or centrist. As an organization with its roots in Jewish culture and Zionism, it is our duty to speak out against this bigotry whenever we see it. That is why we have chosen to devote this issue to the topic of fighting anti-Semitism. In our cover article, Kenneth Abramowitz covers the alarming rise of anti-Semitism in this country and six ways that we as individuals can work to combat it, from our college campuses to the halls of our government. He rightfully says: “Silence, above all else, can be deadly. Don’t wait for someone else to take a stand against antiSemitism, or hate in any form. Be the role model that other people around you need in order to be inspired to fight back.” We all need to be that role model to those who are not yet ready to stand up and let their voice be heard. Anti-Zionism is a virulent form of antiSemitism we see becoming rampant in the US and around the world. As Zionists, Bnai Zion is compelled to speak out wherever and whenever we hear Israel being threatened or slandered in any way. As you will see in our Letter from the Editor, Bnai Zion Foundation is continuing to evolve. At 111 years old, our organization has always strived to move forward with the times. We’ve updated

our mission statement to clarify our goals, and it is actually quite simple. At Bnai Zion, “we demonstrate our love for the people of Israel with capital projects that address the needs of all its people with dignity and compassion.” We at Bnai Zion are committed to combatting anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism through literally building up Israel with capital and humanitarian projects that strengthen the country and fill the unmet needs of its people, especially those who are most vulnerable. We work with projects that represent and support all of Israel’s people: courses at David Yellin College that teach Jews and Muslims to respect and love each other through learning each other’s cultures and scripture; units at Bnai Zion Medical Center that keep people of all backgrounds healthy; apartments with Israel Elwyn that help people with disabilities participate, work, and live in their communities; and so much more. In that respect and in so many other ways, we protect Israel against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism by helping to keep our homeland strong, today and always. We hope and pray that through our actions and the actions of the Jewish community and its allies, we will erase this overwhelming tide of baseless hate, and that with God’s help we can all live in peace. Am Yisroel Chai! Sincerely,

Stephen J. Savitsky President

Cheryl Bier Chief Executive Officer

letter from the Editor

Bnai Zion’s Changing Face Dear Reader,

elcome to the Summer 2019 edition of VOICE Magazine, a publication of Bnai Zion Foundation. Frequent VOICE readers will notice that this magazine is very different, both in look and in content, from prior editions. Revamping our VOICE Magazine is one of many changes we are making to ensure this 111-year-old organization stays current, while retaining its history and its values. In mid-June, we will launch a new website to fit the needs of our current supporters and inform potential donors about the good that we do (still at our current url, bnaizion.org). Our new logo, a variation on the same menorah we have used since our inception, reflects current best practices while maintaining our history. We have refined our mission statement to reflect what we have always done as an organization: show our love for the people of Israel by meeting their needs, wherever they are. In this issue of the VOICE, we have taken on an important and urgent theme: the resurgence of anti-Semitism and how we can fight it. Our feature articles from Kenneth Abramowitz, Richard Heideman, and Special Envoy Elan Carr explore this issue on the national and global levels. Journalist Dani Klein Modisett explores internalized anti-Semitism and celebrating Jewishness in her personal essay, and our excerpt from our VOICE archives, an exclusive interview with Elie Wiesel, is haunting in its timeliness. In our new lifestyle section, readers will discover a book that illuminates Israel’s hidden early history, test their wits with a crossword puzzle, and learn a mouthwatering Our new branding summer recipe from Dallas restauranteur Chef reflects our Jordona Kohn. commitment to Of course, we will update you on the latest making Bnai Zion developments at our current projects, including succeed for another construction updates for the Therapy Center at 111 years. Ahava Village and Bnai Zion Medical Center’s Protected Emergency Room. You will read highlights of recent Bnai Zion events, from New York City to Dallas, and journalist Laurie Graff’s experience on our recent Media Mission to Israel. We hope that you enjoy reading this latest edition of the VOICE — and, more importantly, that you come away from it having learned something new.

SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 102 NUMBER 1

FEATURES The Alarming Rise of Anti-Semitism

Remembering Past Honoree Elie Wiesel 8 Israel: A Girl, A Mother, A Jew

The March of the Living and America’s Fight Against Anti-Semitism 12 Anti-Semitism As a Global Crisis

A New View on Israel

PROJECT UPDATES Ahava Village

Bnai Zion Medical Center

Projects at a Glance

STYLE Eats 26 Book Look

Puzzle 29

Sincerely, EVENTS Ayelet Parness Editor-in-Chief Communications Manager

New York

Texas 32 Upcoming 33 SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

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The Alarming Rise Of Anti-Semitism

BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

By Kenneth S. Abramowitz 2018 Bnai Zion Foundation Gala Honoree Chairman, Citizens for National Security Founder, Save the West

n the morning of October 27, 2018, eleven innocent people were killed and seven injured as they began a worship service in Pittsburgh. The reason? They were Jewish. The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting is the deadliest attack against the American Jewish community in U.S. history. The murderer had earlier posted anti-Semitic comments against the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which the synagogue supported. He regularly shared content from anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi groups, and his profile on white nationalist site Gab read, “Jews are the children of Satan.” After his apprehension by police, he was overheard telling them, “All these Jews need to die.” The Tree of Life Synagogue murders can be seen as a terrible manifestation of anti-Semitism, domestic terrorism, mental illness, or all three. But as shocking as the crime was, the antiSemitic hatred behind it may not be as much of an aberration as we’d like to believe. Tragically, six months to the day after this attack, the American Jewish Community was hit with another horrific synagogue shooting. On April 27, 2019, a man entered the Chabad of Poway Synagogue during Passover services and began shooting. He killed synagogue member Lori Gilbert Kaye, who had come to say Kaddish for her mother, and injured 3 more, including the congregation’s leader, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. Anti-Semitism is rising. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports that the number of antiSemitic incidents was nearly 60 percent higher in

and Six Ways You Can Fight It

2017 than 2016, the largest single-year increase on record. That’s the second-highest number reported since the ADL started tracking incident data in the 1970s. The past two years have seen many disturbing manifestations of anti-Semitism in American life. At the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, hundreds of marchers waved swastika banners, made Nazi salutes, and chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” Counterprotestor Heather Heyer was murdered by a professed neo-Nazi who intentionally ran her down. Just a few months earlier, hundreds of Jewish tombstones were desecrated in Pennsylvania and Missouri. The FBI noted a doubling of anti-Semitic incidents on university campuses during the same period. Online, false and noxious conspiracy theories have flourished, and not just on neo-Nazi sites in the dark corners of the internet. Anti-Semitic material about Jewish billionaire George Soros and other prominent Jews, for example, is shared on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The rise of digital and social media and the anonymous web has enabled hate speech and anti-Semitic insults and threats in a way that didn’t exist previously. Where Does Anti-Semitism Come From? Anti-Semitism has been with us since biblical times. Many scholars see the roots of anti-Jewish sentiment in the rule of the Roman Empire and the birth of Christianity. When Greek and Roman conquerors invaded Israel and destroyed both the first and second Temples, Jews were forced to move away and form new communities that were scattered across the ancient world. As Christianity grew, there was a push to attract new followers and a desire among early Christians to protect themselves from persecution by the brutal Romans. Their solution was to become separate from the Jews. At some point, the idea of deicide — that Jews, not Romans, had crucified Jesus, became a persistent anti-Semitic myth. SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

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During the medieval period, Jews were associated with the devil, and the idea of “blood libel” — that Jews used the blood of Christians for ritual purposes — took hold within Christendom. It became particularly deadly in the Middle Ages with the widespread persecution of Jews on religious grounds. After the devastating Great Plague pandemic swept Europe in the 1300s, killing from 30 to 60% of the population, many blamed the Jews for the contagion, claiming they had poisoned the water wells. Additionally, thousands were persecuted and murdered during the Spanish Inquisition. In 1476, the rulers of Spain asked the Pope to start the Inquisition to catch Jews who pretended to be Christians. In 1492, they commanded all Jews to leave Spain or die. To fight anti-Semitic thinking, we must first try to understand the goals of those who spread it. There are three main types of anti-Semitism that threaten us today. Islamic fundamentalism is behind many of the violent attacks and rhetoric against Jews, and it is spreading all over the world. As New York Times opinion columnist David Brooks wrote, “This form of anti-Semitism cannot be reasoned away because it doesn’t exist on the level of reason.” The response must include deterrence and swift law enforcement action. Yet, although law enforcement is an ally, education can also help over time. Another form of anti-Semitism comes from a small but highly vocal group of white nationalists. It was white nationalism that drove the neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville, the Tree of Life murderer in Pittsburgh, and the recent attack on Chabad of Poway synagogue. Anti-Semitism as white identity politics thrives on neo-Nazi websites, protests, and political rallies. Although he wasn’t elected and was denounced by the GOP, self-professed neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier Arthur Jones won 26.5 percent of the vote in Illinois’s third district in 2018. That is a frightening indicator that this form of antiSemitism is becoming more mainstream. BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

Anti-Zionism as Veiled Anti-Semitism Yet the most insidious form of anti-Semitism of all may be the creeping anti-Zionism we’re seeing across college campuses and in our political discourse. Alarmingly, it has found a home in some circles in the form of the BDS movement. Inside Higher Ed reports that study-abroad programs are increasingly a target of a movement to boycott Israeli academic institutions. At the University of Michigan, two instructors refused to write letters of recommendation for students looking to study abroad at Israeli universities. Judea Pearl, Turing Award winner and father of Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and later beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan, recently denounced such anti-Zionism. Pearl chose to reject his status as a distinguished alum of NYU after the school honored the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter for the “extraordinary and positive impact” of its work, which includes the boycott of Zionist student clubs. Pearl publicly decried the SJP’s “intimidation tactics” that have made him and others feel “unwelcome and unsafe on our own campus.” In January, US Representative Rashida Tlaib tweeted in response to US Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders regarding the anti-BDS bill that was soon to be presented to Congress for a vote, writing, “They forgot what country they represent.” The comment has been widely condemned for evoking an old attack on American Jews — namely, that Jews are not loyal to the United States. Similar false claims were made about Jews in Europe during the early 20th century by both Nazis and Communists, even after Jews had served their countries in battle, leading to their persecution and mass murder. Tlaib’s comment also implies Jewish control of politicians — another frequent anti-Semitic theme on both the far-left and far-right.

6 Ways to Combat Anti-Semitism 1. Expose incidents of anti-Semitism by reporting dangerous online posts or sharing signs of anti-Semitic behavior with social media moderators (online) or community authorities (in real life). Don’t be afraid to disturb the conscience of otherwise good people who tolerate or ignore anti-Semitic behavior. Non-violent confrontation is the historically-proven method of isolating and delegitimizing social bias and bigotry.

Whether you’re in high school, college, or fully adult, there are many ways to combat the scourge of anti-Semitism. Most of us don’t have a public platform like Judea Pearl, but we can still do a great deal to identify and refute anti-Semitic content and behavior. Here are six suggestions for doing just that.

2. Educate friends and colleagues about anti-Semitism. Many people who aren’t directly affected by anti-Semitic attitudes or content may not even recognize it. Some anti-Semitism is blatant and violent, but often it’s nuanced or coded, like a reference to “globalists” or an allusion to conspiracy theories about prominent Jews in business, finance, or politics. Point them to websites and resources like combatantisemitism.org, which clearly defines anti-Semitism with examples, and worldjewishcongress.org, the international organization representing Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries, which fosters unity and represents the interests of the Jewish people. 3. Contact policymakers. Write or call your elected representatives about subtle forms of anti-Semitism, particularly sanctioned anti-Zionist writings and protests. Jews need to enlist advocates in the spiritual and political arenas, reminding them of Israel’s significance and its role in the well-being of Jews in the U.S. and the world over. Consider attending AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). Support anti-BDS legislation in your state. Remind our leaders — and Jews within your own circle — that anti-Israel bias is anti-Semitism in a thin masquerade. 4. Become active on college campus. Students can participate in their campus Israel Club or Hillel to plan and execute pro-Israel events and educational programs. It is of utmost importance to fight the BDS movement that is making frightening in-roads into the minds of young adults every day. We are at a point where some activists believe Jews should be excluded from social justice causes like women’s or civil rights, and some academics hold Israel to a standard different from other countries like China or Russia. This is clearly both anti-Semitic and wrong. 5. Challenge revisionism. The Holocaust wasn’t “just another genocide.” The Tree of Life shooting wasn’t just another act of domestic terrorism, although it may well qualify as that. Jewish people have been subject to persistent and pernicious discrimination, persecution, and violence throughout history, and these recent manifestations of that discrimination cannot be brushed aside. 6. Support organizations like Bnai Zion Foundation that fight anti-Semitism by strengthening Israel and the Jewish people. A stronger Israel means a better and more secure world for all Jews, and for all people. Too many American Jews take Israel’s survival for granted, or they fail to recognize its role in combating anti-Semitism while spreading democracy here and all over the world.

Silence, above all else, can be deadly. Don’t wait for someone else to take a stand against anti-Semitism, or hate in any form. Be the role model that other people around you need in order to be inspired to fight back. Remember that by joining the fight against the cancer of anti-Semitism, you are choosing to make a stand for what you believe in. Any and every action counts, whether it’s a trip to Washington, D.C., a tour of Israel, or a simple social media post. Everyone can do something. u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

Remembering Past Honoree Elie Wiesel

H I S T O RY

from left: Herbert Quittman, Elie Weisel, Raymond Patt, and Rabbi William Berkowitz

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

hese timeless words were spoken by Elie Wiesel A”H, who experienced the consequences of the world’s indifference firsthand as a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Most well-known for his memoir Night, which detailed his experiences during the Holocaust, Mr. Weisel was an author of over 57 books, journalist, professor, political activist, and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. What you may not know is that in 1978, Mr. Wiesel was honored at Bnai Zion’s annual Gala as the recipient of the America-Israel Friendship Award.

bibliography. I don't even examine them on that. An examination, what does it mean? Suppose they know the figures, how many Jews were here, how many Jews were there; suppose they know how many Jews were killed in one day. Would it mean that they know?”

A Past to Be Proud of, A Future to Be Part Of: Documents from the VOICE Archives

"I like to think he would have found the words to bring us unity as he and few others could, across geographies and congregations and demographics and political views. And in his absence — we must all try our best to find those words on our own.” Elisha Weisel

When we reached out to Mr. Wiesel’s son, Elisha Wiesel, for his thoughts on what his father would think of the current state of global anti-Semitism, he said: “I think my father would have been distraught at the degree to which antiSemitism has seen such a resurgence today, and across the political spectrum.” “I like to think he would have turned to the divided people we have become, as we argue bitterly over who is more dangerous, white nationalists on the right or anti-Semites masquerading as anti-Zionists on the left. I like to think he would have found the words to bring us unity as he and few others could, across geographies and congregations and demographics and political views. And in his absence—we must all try our best to find those words on our own.” In anticipation of our 1978 Gala, writer and activist Richard Yaffe sat down with Elie Wiesel for an exclusive interview for our gala edition of the Bnai Zion VOICE. Excerpts from that interview, reproduced below, are as timely now as they were when they were first printed.

On teaching: “I saw the 100 students, chosen students, and I said to myself, 'What do they know?' And my assistant prepared a quiz for them — a simple one: Words, what do they mean? And I was shocked, shocked to the depth, by their ignorance. You can't believe it. One out of twenty did not know who Eichmann was. Yad Vashem? Most of them said they didn't know, one of them said it was an American holiday! You can't believe it. I was so shocked that I decided on the spot to change the whole course and teach text, text, text." "I never teach my books. I take documents and, for instance, I take words and teach the metamorphosis of words, the destiny of words; what words do when they grow, what do they do when they die, what do they do when they kill. "But nothing about the Holocaust. That they have to study themselves. I give them a list, a

On Holocaust survivors: “I fear [for] the survivors, because of this avalanche of Holocaust studies, speeches, has become a dehumanizing process. "It's too much. It has suddenly become a tool, an instrument, and there is now a rush of books denying that the Holocaust ever did take place. This, while the survivors are still here! "The survivors; this is the most tragic minority of all. Every day, there is no day without one dying and irreplaceable, the last one of a family, or even a town. And ten years from now there will be ten a day, because of age. It's a biological process, and so eventually there will be a last one, the very last one.” On the youth in 1978: “Twenty years ago, when I came here," he said, "when you needed the Jewish community, you could not mobilize the masses. Now, we can get 100,000 people for this, 100,000 for that. Something is happening. The young people, the high school children. I remember when I began mobilizing the community about Soviet Jewry, in the beginning they didn't want to hear about it. The high school children, the college students changed it. They changed the scenery. Now these high school, the college students became older and they themselves are taking over positions of leadership and therefore there is a different mood and a different, and better, viewpoint of Israel." "I am biased because I see only the good ones, and those I see are pre-selected — those who come to my lectures and those who come to my classes, those who are really interested. Therefore, I am very optimistic.”

In the face of the resurgence of anti-Semitism we are seeing today, it is natural to despair. But if we are to take any lesson from Elie Wiesel’s words, it would be to have faith in the Jewish community, and especially its young people, to rise up against intolerance and bigotry — and to join that fight with a full heart. u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

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Author Dani Klein Modisett with her son (courtesy of the author)

Israel: A Girl, A Mother, A Jew

hy am I going to school today?” I asked. “We’re Jewish.” “No one needs to know that,” my mother said, taking a drag on a Kent, and kissing me on the cheek at the bus stop. It was Yom Kippur, 1975. I was 12. I didn’t know much about religion, but even I knew this holiday was a big one. We had moved to Connecticut from New York City the year before. BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

Living in Manhattan, I don’t remember ever thinking about being Jewish, but suddenly it had become some kind of “if they don’t ask, don’t tell,” situation. I wasn’t going to burst my mother’s bubble that Fall morning, but it was a little late to hide my Jewishness under a bush. I had already been chased around the school and called “kike,” a word I had to ask the other Jewish kid in the class to define for me. It wasn’t just the no-one-needs-to-know aspect of who I was that made me feel less than compelling as a young girl. It was also being hyper-aware that my mother spent hours thumbing through the pages of Vogue and Gourmet magazines, neither of which ever featured girls who looked like me, girls with olive skin and curly dark hair. Once a week at night, the whole world stopped for my father when Angie Dickinson, with her tousled blonde hair, came on screen as “Police Woman.” From there he moved on to Melanie Griffith. I grew up understanding what men found attractive, and that was not me. Despite our underground Jewish status during those years, I did eventually make my way to Israel in the summer of 1978, when I was 15. What I remember most vividly from that trip was stepping off the plane and having an enveloping feeling of being welcome in Israel. The airport walls were plastered with Hebrew and people all around me were…wait for it… Jewish. Many of them wearing gold chai’s on chains around their necks or, even more brazenly, yarmulkes! It was okay to be Jewish here. Better than okay, it was what you were supposed to be. The women here were olive-skinned, with thick

Dani Klein Modisett Author, “Take My Spouse, Please” Founder/CEO, “Laughter On Call”

dark tresses, and they laughed loudly. No one seemed to find this embarrassing. These are my people, I wanted to shout. We were whisked from the airport to a kibbutz by a team of happy Jewish people — also something I had never witnessed in my Eastern European depressed family. For the next two months I lived on a farm measuring apples, dropping them into circles in a vast, round wooden disc. Despite being approached by an Israeli soldier who asked me if I was gym teacher in America — “Because you have very pretty face but you are very fat!” — I still wanted to move Israel. I didn’t. But when I returned to Connecticut, I did make my parents stop with the Christmas trees. Forty years later, I got a call to return to Israel. I don’t mean I was called to go there in some deep spiritual way; I mean I was literally invited to Israel with the Bnai Zion Foundation, an organization that has been helping a very wide range of communities there for over 110 years. It was an opportunity to see the country through their eyes: an offer I couldn’t refuse. On the outbound flight, my seat was next to a visibly Orthodox man. He immediately asked the woman next to him if she would like to sit next to me. “Why would I want to do this?” she asked. “I don’t know her.” At least, I thought that’s what they were saying; they were speaking in Hebrew. He then proceeded to pray the entire flight — to distract himself from my exposed shoulders, I assumed. To distract myself from his praying, I pulled the map up on my individual screen. I had made that first trip to Israel from the east coast, and this one came upon me so quickly I didn’t have time to focus on the actual journey; I was entirely preoccupied with my young son’s schedules in my absence. Sitting in my seat now, facing the cartoon plane in front of me and the distance I was traveling away from my children, I nearly passed out. I put my head between my knees. Then I felt a tap.

“I have some chocolate if you would like it,” said my new Orthodox friend. “Kosher. It’s very good. You’ll see.” As soon as we landed we were immediately taken to a factory in the West Bank, an airconditioner plant called Twitoplast. We were told the Palestinians and Israelis work together here, happily. We met the founder, Israel Twito, and heard about his passion for inventions that make life better for everyone, regardless of religion. It was jarring to witness all this, since all talk in my progressive circles back in LA paint Israel solely as an evil oppressor. From there we were taken to Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa, where after the bombings of the Second Lebanon War they are now busy building an underground ER. Next up was Ahava Village, where neglected children move in with a couple and their offspring to experience normal family life, then a music and art center where again Jews and Palestinians work together, and then to the Knesset. I finally sat down there, facing a wall of Marc Chagall’s tapestries. They are so beautiful, so rich with detail and color, that I was rendered speechless. Every stop on this excursion was so emotionally loaded that I had little time to revisit my personal feelings of belonging until we took a break and went to the Old City of Jerusalem, to the shuk. It was here, seeing tables and tables of sweets and nuts and what felt like hundreds of versions of granola, inhaling the smells of freshly roasted meats and ground coffee, that I thought of my family, my boys, wishing they were with me and experiencing this marketplace in this ancient city, created by Jews and run by Jews. I wanted to bring a piece of it back for them to hold in their hands. I was overwhelmed by options. I remembered my younger son will become a Bar Mitzvah in 2020, and instantly I knew what to buy him. A tallit, from here. I haggled a little, but not wanting to be too Jewish -- still my mother’s daughter after all -- I settled pretty quickly. “What did you get?” my traveling companions asked when I rejoined the group. I showed them the handwoven fabric with prayers on it. “So gorgeous,” they said. No one pushed it back in the bag. No one said, “That’s enough, put that away, no one needs to see that.” Nobody says that to me anymore, and this makes me very happy. u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

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Elan S. Carr, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, at International March of the Living 2019

BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

The March of the Living and Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fight Against AntiSemitism

by Elan S. Carr United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism

mong the many steps this Administration has taken in the fight against antiSemitism, earlier this month it sent the first-ever official United States Government delegation to the March of the Living. I had the great privilege of being part of that delegation. On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, I joined six United States ambassadors – our envoys to Israel, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the Vatican – in walking the three terrible kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau. We marched shoulder-to-shoulder, arm-in-arm, together with thousands of students, clergy members of different faiths, world leaders, and Holocaust survivors. And we bore witness to humanity’s most inhuman moment. We saw the remnants of the gas chambers and crematoria that the Nazis had destroyed upon their retreat, we saw a room filled with piles of human hair, and we learned that at its operational capacity, the Birkenau extermination camp murdered 20,000 men, women, and children per day. We came faceto-face with unadulterated evil, and we were left devastated. The very next day the ambassadors and I boarded a plane to Israel. And that evening we again were shoulder-to-shoulder and arm-in-arm, but this time in jubilant celebration of Shabbat at the Kotel – the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. Students, soldiers, and people of all ages prayed and sang and danced the evening away in unconstrained joy. The contrast was indescribable. In one 24-hour period we inhabited two opposite worlds. A world of darkness and a world of light, of hell and salvation, of Jewish powerlessness and Jewish empowerment. And that stunning contrast led to the inescapable conclusion that in commemorating the 71st Independence Day of the modern State of Israel, we were celebrating not merely an anniversary and a country, but also humanity’s

greatest response to history’s greatest evil. Out of the ashes of six million murdered Jews, the Jewish people reclaimed their ancient homeland, rebuilt their state into a thriving democracy, and made Israel a model of justice, freedom, prosperity, and world-changing innovation. There are two reasons why learning about the Holocaust is so vitally important. The first reason is to remember the victims, not as a means to an end but as an end in itself. Either by divine providence or accident of fate, we were born in a different time and place from that horror. By virtue of our birth, we escaped unimaginable suffering. And here in America, we have the great privilege of living in the greatest country in the history of the world. The very least we can do is remember those innocent souls from whom every joy was mercilessly taken. We owe them no less than to remember who they were and how they died. The second reason why we must learn about the Holocaust is because understanding the unspeakable horrors to which anti-Semitism can lead is vital to winning the war against it. Anti-Semitism is unique among hatreds in its ubiquity, longevity, ferocity, and destructive power. President Trump regularly calls it a “vile poison” because it kills not only Jews, but ultimately also the societies that imbibe it. Every person on earth must be made to understand the ruinous evil of anti-Semitism, and Holocaust education is an indispensable part of gaining that understanding. I am proud to lead America’s fight against the world’s oldest hatred. And I am proud to do so on behalf of an Administration committed in unprecedented fashion to this fight, as well as to the protection of the Jewish people throughout the world and to support for the State of Israel. We will fight the scourge of anti-Semitism whether it emanates from ethnic supremacists, from anti-Zionist radicals, or from Islamic extremists. And we will fight anti-Semitism in every capital and on every campus, whenever and wherever in the world it arises. u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

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Shoes at the Danube Bank Memorial in Budapest

Anti-Semitism as a Global Crisis

nti-Semitism is a scourge that must be cured. It is immoral, indecent, and violates the basic human rights of Jews everywhere, including those who have settled in or support their ancient homeland. 2019 is the 80th anniversary of what Professor Rebecca Kobrin of Columbia University calls “the year of the Jewish refugee.” In the late 1930’s, Jews from Germany and elsewhere in Europe saw their synagogues go up in flames on Kristallnacht and were forced out of their homes and into Jewish ghettos, marking the start of the hateful, bigoted rise of Nazism and the commencement of the Holocaust seeking the genocidal annihilation of the Jewish communities of Europe and elsewhere. History may not repeat itself, but as Mark Twain is thought to have said, it often rhymes. Once again, anti-Semitism rears its ugly head through dramatic acts of hatred, causing terror and making headlines around the world. As the last Holocaust survivors are passing away and collective memory is fading, anti-Semitic attitudes in Europe continue to rise. According to a 2018 survey by CNN, more than a quarter of Europeans believe Jews have “too much influence” in business and finance. A recent survey of 12 EU countries found that Jews are increasingly worried about the risk of harassment or worse — with good reason. BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

France in particular has suffered many antiSemitic attacks, including the killing of four Jewish hostages at The Porte de Vincennes Supermarket in Paris, assaults on people in the streets, killing of Holocaust survivors in their homes, and other despicable criminal acts of bigotry, hatred, and intolerance. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s research has discovered that a startling 95% of French Jews see anti-Semitism as either a fairly or very big problem. Sweden’s 18,000 Jews remember the 2017 firebombing of a synagogue in Gothenburg during a Hanukkah party. Two days later, two more firebombs were discovered near the Jewish burial chapel. Unfortunately, Jews in Sweden have learned to expect this kind of violence. Examples are everywhere: in Belgium at a carnival celebration featuring a float with caricatured Orthodox Jews; at an event in Poland, a Jewish figure was beaten in effigy by young children and dragged through the streets. Throughout Europe, Jewish citizens and tourists question whether it is safe to wear kippot (skullcaps) or other recognizably Jewish garments. Synagogue security has become extra tight, due to recent violent incidents in Jewish places of worship. A particularly pernicious aspect of and prime contributor to recent global anti-Semitism is historical

Richard D. Heideman President, American Zionist Movement

and Holocaust revisionism. Deborah Lipstadt, the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, notes that in Europe — especially in Hungary and Poland — governments are attempting to rewrite the historical record in order to minimize the role that some of their citizens played in collaborating with the Nazis in the Holocaust. This revisionism is also rampant in Indonesia, home to only a tiny number of Jews. The disturbing popularity of Nazi imagery in the country came to international attention with stories of a Third Reichthemed restaurant and a museum where visitors take selfies with Hitler. In another hemisphere, the Argentine political consultancy firm Poliarquia Consultores conducted a poll of Jewish leaders in Latin America. Results showed that anti-Semitism in Latin America was the fourth biggest concern, after internal divisions, community leadership, and assimilation, challenges faced in many communities. In the United States, we are experiencing an alarming increase in anti-Semitic speech and heinous, murderous attacks. The criminal terrorist assaults at Tree of Life Synagogue and Chabad in Poway, CA, must serve as a wake-up call to our entire community, not only for security and vigilance, but also for education, enlightenment and energetic action against hatred. In Fighting Anti-Semitism, Fight Anti-Zionism The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement seeks to throttle Israel’s economic and social growth in the name of its call for the creation of the independent State of Palestine. The sponsors of the BDS movement have been identified as the same foreign organizations who have used terror as a means of expressing their political resistance. Their goals and objectives must be unmasked; the use of terror, in any form, in support of achieving political goals is a violation of basic human rights and international law. Most of the actions in the Boycott movement, like pressure on West Bank industrial businesses, have actually harmed the thousands of Palestinians employed there. The Boycott movement is guilty of deceptive hatepeddling and criminal terror attacks which must be punished and for which they must be held accountable and unwelcomed on college campuses dedicated to free learning and the exploration of truth.

Israel is among the most open, diverse, and innovative countries in the world — and certainly in the Middle East. Non-Jews such as Christians, Muslims, Bedouin, and Druze comprise 25% of the Israeli population. The large Arab minority has equal voting rights for both men and women and access to outstanding medical care. Israel protects freedom of religion and access to places of worship for all religions. Many key members of the non-Jewish population in Israel hold senior posts in the Israeli police force, the Knesset, and the judiciary. Arabic is an official language and employment discrimination is against the law. Vigilance, Understanding, and a Stronger Israel Since its inception thousands of years ago, antiSemitism has never disappeared. However, we can — and must — work against it. Our success hinges in part on spreading understanding of Judaism, its long history, and its diverse culture. Another key to stopping the rise of anti-Semitism is ensuring the strength of the nation of Israel — the world’s only Jewish State. Israel is critical to the preservation of Jewish sovereignty, and to fighting the ignorance and malignant distortions that breed anti-Semitism. When Israel is threatened, all Jews are at risk. Securing Israel and its future depends on us and the generations to come. Moreover, we must state clearly that antiZionism has become another form of anti-Semitism. Fighting anti-Semitism requires more than just tough talk; there must be a concrete plan of action to address this wicked hatred. It is not enough that people everywhere talk about anti-Semitism. We need a real strategy that protects and informs our community and educates those who have insufficient knowledge of who we are, what we stand for, and our commitment to social justice and non-discrimination for all. We need a solid Plan of Action that will take a Zero Tolerance approach toward anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Elan S. Carr, the new U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, recently spoke at the American Zionist Movement’s biennial assembly. He called for everyone to fight with the same ferocity and intensity in the battle against antiSemitism that he had as a military officer combatting terrorism. Carr and many global leaders know that anti-Semitism is larger than a problem for Jews; antiSemitism is about the future of all people, and this crisis of hatred must be confronted in every region regardless of ideology or religion. Some continue to use anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial as a cover for a religious war that targets not only Jews, but religious observances of people from all walks of life. The fight against terror, hate, and ignorance must go beyond condemning attacks against Jews. We must stand against attacks on mosques, churches, synagogues and all houses of free worship. u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

F E AT U R E

Lilac trees in full bloom at Kfar Bnai Zion, established in 1947 by Bnai Zion Foundation

Bnai Zion Shines the Light — A New View on Israel

ne of the best parts about travel is seeing how people in other countries and cultures live. Yet, a tourist typically will only experience the top must-see attractions. So it was a rare opportunity to be invited to travel now with Bnai Zion Foundation on a charity mission, and have an eye-opening re-visit to Israel. My first trip, three years ago, was off the charts. Constructed like a Birthright trip for Baby Boomers, Authentic Israel made sure we saw it all. Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, the Dead Sea, the Druze, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, Tzfat, Caesara — we even rode a camel in the Negev Desert. Then Bnai Zion showed me the underbelly. To fully appreciate this experience, let me tell you more about them. A US-based nonprofit in existence for 110 years, Bnai Zion — founded as a community of Americans who love Israel — has raised tens of BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

millions of dollars as it identifies and funds capital projects in Israel in the areas of social inclusion, health, and culture. Rebecca Harary, Bnai Zion’s Senior Vice President, created a remarkable itinerary that would have us see six of these incredible projects, while exposing us to a vibrant, healthy Israel. Alongside dining with a variety of guest speakers, we would be accompanied on our travels with Bnai Zion’s Board Chairman, George Schaeffer, Rabbi Elie Abadie MD, Founder of the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan and Nili Perri, a brilliant Israeli tour guide, who made our bus trip feel like a movie with insights of the country’s history, topography, and current events. Israel Elwyn was our first stop. Warmly greeted by Project Coordinator Janet Elion, we saw how Bnai Zion and Israel Elwyn worked together for over 30 years improving the lives of Israelis with physical, sensory, mental and emotional challenges. Early intervention an Israeli law, Israel Elwyn promotes independence and self-empowerment, moving away from traditional institutional residences toward supported apartment housing. We had the opportunity to meet and talk with young adults as they worked on their various occupational tasks. Bnai Zion Medical Center is one of Israel’s top medical facilities. Located in Haifa with an idyllic setting overlooking the Port of Haifa, CEO Dr. Amnon Rofe told us it is a preferred teaching hospital and major research hub. Said Dr. Rofe, “You take care of one person, you take care of a whole family.” He brought us to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where we donned scrubs

by Laurie Graff This piece was originally printed in Splash Magazines Worldwide (splashmags.com)

We also played together, some of us even jumping rope In my life, I do not think I have ever seen a more exquisite road lined with lilac trees.

and met Professor David Bader, who explained how they are saving lives of premature babies. It is also a great example of co-existence, working with refugees from the border and Palestinians. Yet Bnai Zion Medical Center, dangerously close to the borders of Syria and Lebanon, is especially vulnerable to rocket attacks. To that, they are now building an underground Emergency Room and just broke ground. We wore hard hats and toured the tunnel with the construction crew, as plaques were unveiled showing the generosity of donor George Schaeffer. Ahava Village for Children & Youth has children 6-18 who were in abusive, violent homes now in a safe haven at Ahava. Getting love and attention, they will learn to become functioning citizens of Israel by living with a functional family. Executive Director Yoav Apelboim has a motto, “Don’t let your weakness pull you down, let your strength pull you up.” We were treated to an extraordinary show where children of all ages sang American and Israeli songs and played instruments. George Schaeffer was moved, as were all of us, to see the brand-new Therapy Center, dedicated to him, which will provide life-changing and life-saving therapies. On the beautiful grounds was a fabulous garden and stable of horses, which we all stopped to pet. Ma’ale Adumim is actually a city of 42,000 people that includes 4,000 seniors of whom more than 700 are Holocaust survivors. Located near Jerusalem, many residents choose to commute there to work, and live in Ma’ale Adumim, as its more affordable. The nearby Mishor Adumim industrial park provides employment to over 1,300 Israelis and Palestinians who work together congenially. We were able to see The George Schaeffer Music Conservatory, Cultural Center, and The George and Irina Schaeffer Bnai Zion Foundation Regional Communities Support Center that houses the community’s Ashkenzai synagogue and helps children with special needs. However, most of the children of the city are flourishing. We watched a rehearsal for a dance show, heard the sensational Ma’ale Youth Symphony classical quartet perform, got swept up on the Plaza in a

carnival-like presentation, and spent time with Mayor Benny Kashriel. David Yellin College of Education, established in 1913, was the first college to offer classes that taught Hebrew. The idea “to talk in your own language,” they train teachers of the future by using inclusive and innovative disciplines. Can you think of any other place that would have Jews and Arabs studying the Bible and the Koran together? We sat with other students and faculty, as Professor Yosef Frost spoke of their core values to promote principles of diversity and inclusion. Their goal is to educate people to embrace multiculturalism in Israeli society, tolerance, and put focus on social involvement in order to reject violence. Kfar Bnai Zion has over 1,400 people living near Ra’anana in Central Israel in this moshav, which is a cooperative community of farmers. Bnai Zion originally bought the land 100 years ago, and was instrumental in establishing Kfar Bnai Zion in 1947. It is now over 70 years old. Avi Grossman has lived in this Kfar, or village, named after Bnai Zion, the entire time. He explained how it was originally intended to be a refuge for Holocaust survivors, as well as former Jewish POWs and farmers. The self-sufficient hamlet was nothing short of bliss. The scent of the flowers, the landscape and the peace, not to be outdone by its educational institutions, a revamped community center, the paint was still drying, and synagogue. It was sheer joy to join a group of school kids on a recess break and have them run towards us for a huge group hug. We also played together, some of us even jumping rope. In my life, I do not think I have ever seen a more exquisite road lined with lilac trees. The projects of Bnai Zion were inspiring as they addressed the needs of all with dignity and compassion, and demonstrated Bnai Zion’s love for the people of Israel. Now, back in New York, I know the next time in Israel, I will see even more, my eyes welling up to the extent the onion was peeled. As Rabbi Abadie eloquently said, “It was a great pleasure to show everyone on the Bnai Zion mission a different Israel than they may have heard about or seen before. This time they saw, and I joined in, seeing through their eyes, the true Israel. An Israel where all citizens — Israelis and Arabs, Jews, Muslims and Christians are treated equally. An Israel where all citizens work together in an industrial park, study together in an educational institution, receive medical treatment in the same hospital, and can be cared for together at a senior citizen adult home. It is our Israel, and an Israel that is the light unto the nations!”u SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

Project Ahava Spotlight Village P RO J E C T U P DAT E S

A PLACE FOR HEALING

Ahava Village’s New Therapy Center Opens Its Doors

In February of this year, Ahava Village for Children and Youth, a center for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, and other traumatic experiences, celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Therapy Center, a project for which Bnai Zion Foundation and its donors contributed a sizable portion of the funding. In the weeks that followed, furniture

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arrived, allowing the center to start providing their wide range of therapy programs in one centralized location. Children at Ahava Village for Children and Youth receive personalized treatment to help them heal and become happy and productive members of Israeli society. Each child at Ahava Village is provided with an individualized course of therapies with coordinated support from a dedicated staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, therapists, caregivers, and special education teachers. The specialized resources lay the groundwork for the children to grow into adults with purposeful and fulfilling lives. “Children are the key to a successful future,” said Cheryl Bier, Bnai Zion Foundation's CEO. “Ahava Village is helping to build a more inclusive, healthy, and vibrant Israel by providing the proper care and treatment these disadvantaged children need in order to grow and contribute positively to Israeli society.” Before the opening of the new facility, the program’s therapists and tools were spread out in different locations across Ahava Village’s campus and did not have sufficient space for the program to reach its full potential. In addition to one-onone and group therapy, the new Therapy Center houses art therapy, music therapy, movement therapy, drama therapy, parental counseling, writing therapy, and so much more. All are designed to help troubled kids grow into optimistic young adults with the tools to move past their traumatic childhoods. Having all the multimedia equipment and therapeutic tools and games in one facility will make them more easily accessible to the therapists, as well as encourage more frequent collaborations across therapeutic fields. Bnai Zion Foundation is thrilled that Ahava Village’s new Therapy Center is up and running, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with a new project, to be announced soon! Visit our website, bnaizion.org, to learn more. u

SIVAN’S* STORY

GRANITE PROJECT

Healing With the Help of Some Special Friends Sivan and his siblings came to Ahava Village at a very young age, after their parents neglected even their most basic needs. As a result, Sivan struggled with severe emotional trauma and behavioral issues. Ahava’s team worked with Sivan to try different therapies to address his trauma, and quickly found that he loved animal therapy, particularly riding horses. After school, Sivan would rush to finish his homework so he could help out in the animal therapy area. Working there calmed Sivan, giving him a sense of purpose and helping him develop emotionally and socially. When Sivan was in 11th grade, Ahava raised the funds to send him for a certification course to become and assistant to the horse riding instructors. Sivan was so proud to help the younger children find the same joy he had felt in learning to ride. Now an Ahava graduate, Sivan hopes to continue this training when he completes his IDF service. He dreams of returning to Ahava to provide riding instruction and animal therapy: his way of giving back to the home that gave him the love and support he needed to become the man he is today. *Identity changed for privacy reasons

Award-Winning Granite Project Continues Connecting Youth to Nature This Spring, a group of teenagers from Ahava Village undertook a 10-day survival hike in the desert. The trip represents the annual culmination of months of outdoor activities as part of Ahava Village’s Granite Project, which earlier in the year received an award for excellence in connecting the youth with the land. About 20 boys participated, 5 of whom served as assistants to the instructors after having successfully completed the project last year. In addition to learning survival skills, like navigation and field cooking, the boys also develop emotional skills such as coping with fear and new situations, connecting to and expressing their feelings, and working well in a team, with assistance from Ahava’s therapeutic staff. SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

Project Bnai Zion Spotlight Medical Center P RO J E C T U P DAT E S

PROTECTION IN THEIR MOST VULNERABLE HOUR

Rebecca Harary, Senior Vice President of Bnai Zion Foundation; Dr. Amnon Rofe, CEO of Bnai Zion Medical Center; the site's construction manager; and George Schaeffer, Chairman of Bnai Zion Foundation

Construction Underway at Bnai Zion Medical Center’s Protected Emergency Room

Bnai Zion Medical Center’s motto is “to feel at home, even when sick.” It is their goal to make every patient feel cared for and comfortable, whether they are coming in for a routine checkup or facing a frightening diagnosis. It is this attitude that has led to them being rated #1 in patient satisfaction for three years in a row in national surveys conducted by Israel’s Ministry of Health. But how can patients feel truly safe when they are under threat of attack? From the balcony of the Medical Center, one can easily see across the borders with Syria and Lebanon — Israel’s uneasy neighbors at best. In BNAI ZION VOICE SUMMER 2019

2006, during the Second Lebanon War, a rocket hit meters from the Medical Center during an attack on Haifa, damaging the building with shrapnel. Though no one was injured, the staff now needed to worry both on those wounded in other rocket attacks and about keeping themselves and their patients safe from the rocket fire. In that moment, it became clear that intervention was necessary, and Bnai Zion Foundation rose to meet that call. The project — a protected underground emergency room and hospitalization unit that would remain secure in the event of rocket, nuclear, chemical, or biological attacks — was an ambitious undertaking. The Medical Center’s plans required $22 million in funding in order to provide the best possible facility for the patients. Through contributions from the Israeli Government and donors in both Israel and abroad, including Bnai Zion Foundation, Bnai Zion Medical Center was able to begin construction in late 2018. Since then, the construction has progressed wonderfully, and over $20 million has been raised toward that goal. On April 2, Bnai Zion Foundation Chairman George Schaeffer laid the cornerstone for the building in a beautiful ceremony honoring his contributions to this and many other initiatives at the Medical Center. Dr. Amnon Rofe, CEO of Bnai Zion Medical Center and Senior Vice President Rebecca Harary were also in attendance, as were a number of members of the media who were attending our 2019 Media Mission. Construction is set for completion in 2022. In the meantime, Bnai Zion Foundation is trying to raise the remaining $2 million shortfall to complete and furnish the Protected Emergency Room and Hospitalization Unit. Help us show the people of Haifa how much we care by helping to keep them safe! u

UPGRADED LABOR AND DELIVERY SUITES

SHOVAL’S STORY

“The Most Beautiful Delivery Rooms In The Middle East” Expectant mothers love Bnai Zion Medical Center. They come from all over Northern Israel, and even as far as Jerusalem, to give birth there — so much so that the Medical Center delivers over 4,000 babies each year. Why? Because the Medical Center has a reputation for excellence in delivery and in neonatal care. This is thanks in part to generous donations from Bnai Zion Foundation, and Chairman George Schaeffer, who is the namesake of the Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Now, giving birth at BZMC is about to get even better, thanks to a $2 million pledge from Irina and George Schaeffer. In 2020, construction will begin on The Irina Schaeffer Labor and Delivery Suites, a beautiful, high-tech upgrade to BZMC’s current delivery unit featuring eight delivery rooms, an operating room, maternity emergency care, a reception area, and a family waiting area. The suites will offer more spacious accommodations, equipped with updated technologies and amenities to provide the best childbirth experience possible. The delivery rooms will also have a gorgeous view overlooking Haifa. “Sometimes the first struggles to survive start after birth.” said Irina Shaeffer. “We want to make sure that every newborn baby in Israel has the best chance for survival and a healthy life.”

Bnai Zion Medical Center Helped Her Twins Thrive Shoval was having what she thought was a normal pregnancy, apart from the cramps she felt from time to time. In her 27th week, she visited the clinic of Dr. Rami Samor, director of Bnai Zion Medical Center’s maternity department, for a regular check-up. That’s when Dr. Samor realized that her “cramps” were actually early contractions. He sent her to Bnai Zion Medical Center’s emergency room, where she was admitted to a highrisk unit. The medical team there hoped to prolong the pregnancy to at least 30 weeks, in order to give her twins a little more time to grow in their mother’s womb. At the time that she was admitted, they each weighed less than two pounds. With the help of the Department staff, and with much determination and optimism, Shoval was able to hold on until 35 weeks. At that point, the staff decided that she could be safely released to go home to celebrate her one-year wedding anniversary, and a c-section was scheduled for a later date. On the way to her car, however, Shoval began experiencing strong contractions and severe back pain. When she returned to the ward, the medical staff discovered that she was in the process of giving birth. They rushed her to the delivery rooms, where she gave birth to two healthy babies, a boy and a girl weighing nearly 4.5 pounds each. When asked about her time at Bnai Zion Medical Center, Shoval said, “This was not a simple period for me. You dream of spending your last months of pregnancy preparing your home and going shopping for baby equipment, not being hospitalized. “Those who helped me survive this difficult time are the department staff, who are very special; so professional, human, and caring. They supported me day and night. I felt they were like family, and the department was my home for those 2 months. I cannot thank them enough!” SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

Projects The David Yellin at a Glance Academic College of Education P RO J E C T U P DAT E S

David Yellin College Welcomes New President and Chairman Prof. Yosef Frost, President of David Yellin College; Rebecca Harary, Senior Vice President of Bnai Zion Foundation; Michal Goschenski, Director of Resource Development and Public Relations at David Yellin College This year, David Yellin College welcomed Prof. Yosef Frost as President of the College and appointed Prof. Jonathan Halevy as Chairman of the Board. Prof. Frost brings years of academic experience from his time as Professor, Head of the Interdisciplinary Center of Science, Health, and Society, and the Head of the Department of Service Management at Hadassah Academic College of Jerusalem. Bnai Zion looks forward to working with Profs. Frost and Halevy as we explore ways that we can support the College in the upcoming months.

Program for Jewish-Muslim Collaboration and Cooperation Expands Four years ago, David Yellin College began a new experimental program, called the Beit Midrash/Madrasa Project, for Jewish and Muslim students to explore each other’s religious cultures and thereby learn how to better coexist. In this program, students learn texts from the Torah and the Qur’an from expert lecturers and discuss them as a group. With the program’s success, this year another group of Jewish and Arab lecturers were brought in to teach an additional group. The program is held in the Bnai Zion Foundation Tolerance Classroom, which was dedicated this May during a visit from CEO Cheryl Bier. 22

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Projects Israel at a Glance Elwyn Self-Advocates Gather for 6th Annual Conference In October, 100 National Self-Advocacy Project participants with intellectual disabilities and 30 professional facilitators gathered in Jerusalem for the Sixth National Self-Advocacy Conference. The Project was initiated in 2011 by Israel Elwyn and Beit Issie Shapiro, and consists of eleven local selfadvocacy groups that meet at locations throughout Israel. The conference centered on employment of people with disabilities, with group discussions focusing on the worker’s rights, professional training, and job coaches. As in past years, the self-advocates expressed their satisfaction with the results of the conference and look forward to increasing the impact their opinions have on their lives.

A Special Visit to the Kotel For 3 years, a group of 12 residents at Israel Elwyn’s Supported Living Services in Jerusalem has been meeting each week to read and learn about a wide range of subjects. In 2018, the group expressed an interest in learning about and visiting the Kotel and Jerusalem’s Old City. Prior to the visit, they prepared notes to leave in the spaces between the Wall’s stones, including prayers for themselves, their families, and their friends. When they felt they were ready for the experience, the group travelled to the Western Wall. During the visit, they deposited their notes and some lay tefillin or read Psalms, and they sang Naomi Shemer’s famous Jerusalem of Gold as a group to wind up the visit. The reading group’s members excitedly expressed satisfaction with the trip and have been planning their next outing. SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

Projects Ma’ale at a Glance Adumim P RO J E C T U P DAT E S

Ma’ale Adumim Abuzz for Good Deeds Day On April 2, Ma’ale Adumim joined communities throughout Israel and the world in celebration of the 13th Annual Good Deeds Day, an initiative originated by Israeli entrepreneur and philanthropist Shari Arison. Throughout the city, participants had nearly 60 ways to participate, from giving blood to packing food parcels for those in need. A large group participated in a flash mob at the city’s center, and Mayor Benny Kashriel recognized George Schaeffer, who was visiting with our Media Mission, from the stage for his major contributions to the community.

Construction to Begin on Yuvalim Center Expansion In the next several months, the city of Ma’ale Adumim is set to begin construction on the new expansion of the Yuvalim Center, the only senior center serving the over 4,000 seniors living in the area. The Yuvalim Center provides services to over 700 area seniors, 150 of whom are Holocaust survivors, but faces issues of overcrowding. This expansion will allow the Center to provide services to even more of the area’s elderly population, and to expand the variety of classes and other services being provided at the center.

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Projects Yad at a Glance Leah

Yad Leah Shipment Brings Holiday Joy to 16 Communities in Israel 1,222 boxes of clothing from Yad Leah arrived in Israel in early April, containing over 60,000 items of clothing just in time to enrich the Passover holiday for people in need in Israel. The clothing was distributed to 16 communities in Israel, including Beit Shemesh, Tzefat, Yad Leah’s original location in Beitar, and Neveh, an agricultural community in the Sinai desert. The shipment included 15 boxes of formal gowns bound for a gown gemach in Beit Shemesh, where they will be loaned to women in need for special occasions such as weddings and bat mitzvahs.

First Steps for Yad Leah’s New Shoe Division This year, three different manufacturers throughout America have stepped up to distribute shoes through Yad Leah’s network of thrift shops in Israel. 3,000 pairs of men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes have been donated so far, prompting Yad Leah to develop a new distribution channel for shoes in Israel. Shoes are typically very expensive in Israel, so providing people in need with new, high-quality shoes that will last is a huge gift.

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style E AT S

Looking for the perfect summer dinner dish?

Look no further! This healthy roasted cod recipe from Chef Jordona Kohn will delight, whether you prepare it for family dinner or bring it to your neighborhood potluck. The romesco, prepared with hazelnuts and confit garlic, packs a flavorful punch, while the lemon and parsley in the gremolata brighten and lift the dish.

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Roasted Cod with Romesco Sauce & Lemon-Parsley Gremolata Yields 4 servings

Confit garlic 3 whole bulbs garlic (around 30 cloves) peeled, room temperature 1 1/2 cups olive oil Rosemary and thyme (optional) Romesco 1/3 cup roasted, unsalted nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts etc.) 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided (use oil from confit garlic for a flavor boost) Kosher salt, to taste 4 red or yellow bell peppers 1 medium tomato, halved crosswise & seeded 4 cloves of prepared confit garlic 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1/2 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Roasted cod 4 (6-ounce) skinless cod fillets 2 tablespoons olive oil (use oil from confit garlic for a flavor boost) Kosher salt, fresh ground pepper Gremolata 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 cups parsley leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional) Drizzle of olive oil Pinch of salt Chef Jordona Kohn Instagram: @ChefJordona, @themarkettx Chef Jordona Kohn has been working in the food industry for the last 13 years, but she has been exposed to food all her life. Her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all kosher butchers, and her father was a restaurant owner for a time. After earning her Bachelor’s in Education from Queens College, Jordona went on to attend culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu of Dallas, earning the honor of Valedictorian and graduating with a Bachelors in Culinary Arts and Hospitality. Jordona has worked in the food world in Miami, New York, Baltimore, Jerusalem, and now Dallas, where she gained traction in the kosher scene as the executive chef at A Taste of the World Catering. In May, Jordona fulfilled her life-long dream of starting her own restaurant when she opened The Market, a kosher dairy café in Dallas, with partner Stacy Clark. Jordona lives in Dallas with her amazing husband, Justin, and their three wonderful children, Arianna, Gaby, and Ezra.

Instructions Confit garlic (can prepare up to two weeks ahead) Oven method: preheat oven to 250°. Place garlic and oil in a small saucepan (add more oil if cloves are not submerged). Cover tightly and bake until cloves are golden and tender, about 2 hours. Stovetop method: heat oil in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook over very low heat until soft, about 1 hour (do not brown). Let cool, then transfer garlic and oil to an airtight container & chill. Optional: add fresh rosemary & thyme to kick up the flavor. Romesco Chop roasted nuts until very coarsely ground. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in 2 tbsp. oil and season with salt; set aside. Place a rack in upper third of oven and heat broiler. Broil peppers and tomatoes, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet, turning peppers occasionally, until charred all around and flesh is soft, 12–15 minutes. Slip off tomato skins. Transfer peppers to a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap, where they will continue to steam and cook making it easier to remove their skins. Peel peppers (flesh should feel slippery) and discard seeds; coarsely chop. Transfer peppers and tomatoes to food processor. Slowly pulse peppers, tomato, and garlic together to desired consistency. Add nuts and pulse until just combined. Transfer romesco sauce to a clean medium bowl. Add vinegar, paprika, cayenne, and remaining 4 tbsp. oil; season with salt and let sit 15 minutes. Adjust spices to taste. Gremolata Toss all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix and let sit for 10 minutes. Roasted Cod Preheat oven to 350°. Place fish on a rimmed baking sheet and rub with 2 tbsp. oil. Season with kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper on both sides. Bake fish until cooked through and a paring knife can easily slip through flesh, 10–12 minutes. To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons of romesco in the center of your plate and place cod on top. Sprinkle gremolata on top just before serving. SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

style BOOK LOOK

Spies of No Country Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel by Matti Friedman Hardcover, 248 pages

A conversation with Bnai Zion Supporter Daniel Israeli, whose father was affiliated with the Arab Section in the 1940's Spies of No Country, published in March, is Matti Friedman’s riveting tale of 4 agents of the Arab Section, Arab-born Jews who operated as secret agents for Israel in the Arab world during the early years of Israel’s statehood. The book has received rave reviews in The New York Times, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. In addition to keeping readers on the edge of their seats with descriptions of the mista’arvim’s daring actions and narrow escapes, Spies of No Country also delved into issues of identity and inclusion in the fledgling Jewish State.

We spoke with Bnai Zion supporter Daniel Israeli, whose father was involved with the Arab Section during those early years, to get an insider’s thoughts on the book and the themes it explores. Tell us a little about your father. How did he get involved in the Arab Section? My father, born Ya’akov Bluvstein in 1924, spent his formative years in Jerusalem and grew up speaking a combination of Ashkenazic Yiddish and Hebrew. After showing a strong affinity for languages at the Gymnasia Rechavia High School in Jerusalem in 1942, he was recruited upon graduation into an “Arab Section” school. One of the participants in my father’s program was Yitzchak Navon, the future President of the State of Israel, who was of Mizrahi heritage. Does the book ring true, based on the stories you heard from your father? The stories, although different in content, are eerily similar in many ways. Both the Mizrahi spies described in Mr. Friedman’s book and Ashkenazic Arabists, like my father, were operating with very rudimentary resources and had more than their share of luck in surviving. My father often noted that the level of military and intelligence training he was given was minimal by 20th Century standards of war. There are some commonalities: my father’s brother

Interviewee Daniel Israeli with his father, Ya’akov, and son, Zachary

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participated in the night of the “Blown Up Bridges” described in the book and narrowly avoided capture and certain death at the hands of the British. After my father completed two years of intensive Arabic immersion he went to work, ostensibly as an Arabic teacher on Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’akov in the Galilee. The book speaks about launching off points from Kibbutzim in the Galilee during the same period. Did your father know the men profiled in Spies of No Country? The spies profiled were active in the Arab section in Beirut from late 1948 to early 1950. My father returned to Israel in November of 1948 and fought in the Haganah until he left to study at Rutgers University in in August of 1949. He spoke often about his excursions into Beirut and Gaza during this time. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm if he met any of the men profiled in the book, as he passed away at the age of 94, a few weeks before Mr. Friedman’s book was published. How do themes of identity and diversity tie into the book, and into your father’s experience? The founders of the country were mainly of European descent, and the close to one million Jews who arrived in Israel from Arab countries were almost treated as second class citizens. My father often spoke about his Arab friends living in the Katamon and Talpiot neighborhoods of Jerusalem, but never about any friends or colleagues who were Mizrahi. It’s unclear what role the Arab Section profiled in Mr. Friedman’s book played in Israel’s victory in the War of Independence. What is clear is that every component of Jewish society contributed to the creation of the Jewish State. One paramount takeaway for me from Mr. Friedman’s book is that each of us has a role to play regardless of superficial divides, and that when duty calls it is incumbent on us to pursue it to the best of our abilities. u

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Test Your Wits How much do you know about Bnai Zion Foundation and Israeli culture? Hint: most of the answers can be found throughout this issue! SOLUTION

ACROSS 4 _____ Bnai Zion — Bnai Zion's Moshav for Holocaust survivors, est. 1947 (p. 17) 6 Capital of Israel 10 Sent 1,222 boxes of clothing to Israel in preparation for Passover (p. 25) 11 Future home of the Irina Schaeffer Labor & Delivery Suites (p. 21) 12 "Cool" in Israel 13 Israeli Airline DOWN 1 Provides people with disabilities with tools to selfadvocate (p. 23) 2 Slang term for a native Israeli 3 _____ Center — senior center in Ma’ale Adumim set to begin expansion later this year (p. 24) 5 College campus inspiring dialogue between Jewish and Muslim Students (p. 22) 7 New Therapy Center built here (p. 18) 8 Performance venue for the Ma'ale Adumim Youth Symphony (p. 30) 9 New Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat AntiSemitism (p. 13) SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

eventsNEW YORK Bringing Us Closer Through Music A Jewish Unity Concert On December 12, two renowned musical powerhouses took the stage at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall for a Jewish Unity Concert sponsored by Bnai Zion Foundation: the Ma’ale Adumim Youth Symphony and the Ramaz Upper School and Community Choirs. The Ma’ale Adumim Youth Symphony, directed by Benjamin Shapira, is a product of the George Schaeffer Music Conservatory, a project of Bnai Zion. The night was emceed by Andy Adler of WPIX, and speakers included Mayor Benny Kashriel of Ma’ale Adumim. Benjamin Shapira conducts the Ma’ale Adumim Youth Symphony at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall

In the wake of the recent uptick in anti-Semitic incidents and with the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue still fresh, the event was reimagined as an opportunity for cross continental collaboration between Israeli and American youth as a way to strengthen our bonds and bring the Jewish community together. The music was magnificent, and the call to action in unifying Jews around the world was electrifying.

Israel: Looking Toward the Future An Exclusive Dinner at the Home of Amb. Dani Dayan

Rebecca Harary, Senior Vice President; Amb. Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York; Anthony Scaramucci; Pete Hegseth; Stephen Savitsky, National President

What’s more exciting than an exclusive dinner at the official residence of Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York? Getting to hear the latest on the relationship between America and Israel from guest speakers Anthony Scaramucci and Pete Hegseth! The event, held in Manhattan on February 5, was packed almost past capacity with Israel supporters from all walks of life, interested in hearing expert insights on several issues affecting the State of Israel. Ambassador Dayan, Mr. Scaramucci, and Mr. Hegseth all spoke glowingly about Bnai Zion’s continued importance to strengthening and protecting the people of Israel. Attendees also heard from President Stephen Savitsky, CEO Cheryl Bier, and Senior Vice President Rebecca Harary about Bnai Zion’s mission and projects, and went home with a piece of artwork produced by service recipients at Israel Elwyn, a project of Bnai Zion Foundation.

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eventsNEW YORK Never Forget — Lest We Repeat New York’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance The events of the last 6 months have made everclearer the importance of Holocaust Remembrance: as fewer Americans can recount basic information about the Holocaust, anti-Semitic incidents are rising. Bnai Zion Foundation is proud to have once again been a partner organization for New York’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance, presented by the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust at Congregation Emanu-el on April 28. With Yom Hashoah mere days away, the stories told at the Gathering of Remembrance were both a poignant reminder of what the Jewish community lost in the shoah and a testament to the strength of its survivors. Bnai Zion Foundation was represented by CEO Cheryl Bier, herself a daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer with CEO Cheryl Bier

A Meeting of the Minds Bnai Zion Well-Represented at AIPAC Members of Bnai Zion Foundation’s team and boards were thrilled to attend this year’s AIPAC Policy Conference, a landmark event in the history of Israel. The Policy Conference brings in over 18,000 people annually for speeches from Israeli and American leaders, breakout educational sessions, and opportunities to join the conversation and do their part to strengthen the ties between America and Israel. Representing Bnai Zion Foundation’s team this March were Cheryl Bier, Chief Executive Officer; Rebecca Harary Senior Vice President; and Debbie Tobias, Director of Development — Texas Region. National Board Member David Edrich was also in attendance, as were Texas Board Members Diane Benjamin, Martin van Brauman, and Gwen van Brauman. Highlights included recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilăă and Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez, both of whom pledged to move their countries’ embassies to Jerusalem.

CEO Cheryl Bier with some AIPAC “VIPs”: David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, and Theodor Herzl SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

eventsTEXAS Serving Up the Spice At the Annual Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-Off This March, Bnai Zion Foundation participated once again in the Annual Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-Off, which brings together the diverse Jewish communities of North Texas for a day of great food and fun. Dozens of teams competed for titles in best beef and veggie chili categories, judged by local food professionals and celebrities, as well as a people’s choice award. This year, Bnai Zion was represented by Board Members Summer Pailet, accompanied by her husband Jeffrey and their son; Barry Wernick, accompanied by his children; and Diane Benjamin; as well as Debbie Tobias, Director of Development — Texas Region. While the team did not win, their chili was a crowd pleaser!

Texas Region Board Members Summer Pailet, Diane Benjamin, and Barry Wernick; Barry's children; Debbie Tobias, Director of Development — Texas Region

Empowering People with Disabilities to Self-Advocate A Talk with David Marcu, CEO of Israel Elwyn

Debbie Tobias, Director of Development—Texas Region; David Marcu, CEO of Israel Elwyn; Lorraine Friedman, Director of Special Needs Partnership for JFS; John Peiser, Texas Board President

On April 3, David Marcu, CEO of Israel Elwyn, presented “Innovations in Israel: best practices for supporting people with disabilities and facilitating their self-empowerment throughout their lives” at the Dallas JCC. The presentation, which was co-sponsored by Jewish Family Service and Chai, drew upon Israel Elwyn’s many years of creating and refining programs that promote inclusion of people with disabilities and work to provide them the tools for self-empowerment. The talk was well-attended by a variety of professionals and advocates who work with people with disabilities, as well as members of the community at large.

Teaching Charity to the Next Generation Levine Academy Hosts Clothing Drive Benefiting Yad Leah Between spring cleaning & Passover prep, April brings plenty of opportunities to clean out your closet. We teamed up with Levine Academy to put that process to good use, with a clothing drive at the school benefiting our project, Yad Leah. Over the first week in April, Levine Academy teachers, students, and families donated close to two pallets of new and gently worn clothing for Yad Leah’s next shipment to Israel. Bnai Zion thanks our volunteers, including Texas Board Members Carole Wolanow and Summer Pailet, who spent weeks preparing for the drive and then sorting and packing the clothing for shipment. 32

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eventsUPCOMING NEW YORK Fall Forward A ladies’ luncheon with special guest speaker and auction August 21, 2019 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Home of Michele and Ronnie Oved Deal, New Jersey

Beate Berger and the Children of Ahava A Conversation with filmmaker and author Ayelet Bargur and Yoav Apelboim, Executive Director of Ahava Village

Annual New York Gala January 13, 2020 Honorees TBA NASDAQ Headquarters New York City

December 5, 2019 At the Official Residence of David Gill, Consul General of Germany in New York New York City By invitation only. Contact Cheryl Bier for more information.

TEXAS Jewish Film Festival of Dallas

Annual Texas Gala

Bnai Zion Presents: Promise at Dawn

November 4, 2019

September 10, 2019 7:00 PM

Honoring Roger Staubach Additional honorees TBA

Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley Dallas, Texas

The Westin Galleria Dallas, Texas

7th Annual Alan Marx Memorial IFPA Fundraiser

Beate Berger: Hero of the Holocaust

September 22, 2019 12:00 PM The Marx Family Home 5229 Alec Drive Garland, Texas

A screening of The House on August Street with filmmaker Ayelet Bargur and Yoav Apelboim, Executive Director of Ahava Village December 11, 2019 The Dallas Holocaust Museum Dallas, Texas

To see more information about our upcoming events, visit bnaizion.org/events! SUMMER 2019 VOICE BNAI ZION

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TEXAS REGION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Stephen J. Savitsky

President John Peiser

Chairman of the Board George W. Schaeffer*

Chairman of the Board Larry Strauss**

Treasurer Alan V. Schwartz

Board Diane Benjamin* Bettina Fehr Marvin Frackt Benji Gershon William F. Katz, Ph.D. Rabbi Dan Lewin Summer Pailet Maura Schreier-Fleming Kathi Silver, Ph.D. Fredell Shulkin Ron Smith Ann Stacy Shane Stein Shirley Strauss Gwen van Brauman Martin van Brauman Barry Wernick Reed Wernick Carole Wolanow** Joram Wolanow

National Secretary Cheryl Bier Vice Presidents Harvey Goldfarb Jan Kiderman Shelley Kilcoyne Donald H. Vogelman, Esq. Arnold Wagner Board Sanford L. Batkin Gabriella Diamond David S. Edrich Stephanie Garry Jack Goldman, M.D. Benjamin Gutmann Josh Katzen Ted Kirsch Rabbi Joseph Potasnik Sheryl Safran Larry Strauss Carole Wolanow

Past President* National Board Member**

Past President* OUR TEAM Cheryl Bier Chief Executive Officer cheryl.bier@bnaizion.org 646-485-7980 Rebecca Harary Senior Vice President rebecca.harary@bnaizion.org 646-485-7999

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Debbie Tobias Director of Development, Texas Region debbie.tobias@bnaizion.org 972-918-9200 Ayelet Parness Communications Manager ayelet.parness@bnaizion.org 646-485-7992

Support Bnai Zion Now

Get Peace of Mind Later

VOICE SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 102 NUMBER 1 ISSN 0884-5565 Editor-in-Chief Ayelet Parness Business Manager Cheryl Bier Contributing Writers Kenneth S. Abramowitz Elan Carr Laurie Graff Rebecca Harary Richard D. Heideman Daniel Israeli Jordona Kohn Dani Klein Modisett Contributing Photographers Shahar Azran Shai Getzoff Debbie Tobias Eliyahu Yanai Circulation Manager Stephanie Solorzano

Get a lifetime Bnai Zion membership and two cemetery plots for only $5,000. Available cemeteries: Beth El New Jersey Cedar Park New Jersey Mt. Hebron Queens New Montefiore Long Island For more information, please call Israel Diamond at 347-236-7386. bnaizion.org

Published By Bnai Zion Foundation Bnai Zion Foundation 1430 Broadway Suite 1804 New York, New York 10018 Phone: 212-725-1211 Fax: 212-684-6327 bnaizion.org The Bnai Zion Foundation, Inc. is a Qualified 501(C)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization and Donations Are Tax-Deductible to the Full Extent of the Law. Please Consult Your Tax Advisor Regarding Specific Questions About Your Deductions.

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INSIDE Healing With the Help of Some Special Friends page 19

6 Ways to Combat AntiSemitism page 7

Remembering Past Honoree Elie Wiesel page 8

A Meeting of the Minds page 31

visit our new website at bnaizion.org

Israel: a Girl, a Mother, a Jew page 10 Bnai Zion Foundation is a proud partner of Combat anti-Semitism (CAS), a non-partisan, international grassroots movement of individuals and organizations, across all religions and faiths, united around the goal of ending anti-Semitism.