xt75736m3h6v https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt75736m3h6v/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2008-02 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Central Kentucky Jewish Federation Inc Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, February 2008 text image Shalom, February 2008 2008 2008-02 2025 true xt75736m3h6v section xt75736m3h6v

l‘l ,

NEWSPAPER OF THE CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH FEDERATION

FEBRUARY 2008

SHEVAT-ADAR I 5768

Holocaust training for
100 local teachers slated

Program to boost Kentucky curriculum prospects
¢ + +

By Gloria B. Rie

The Community Relations
Committee of the Central Kentucky
Jewish Federation, Humanitarium:
Center for Culture & Diversity, and
the University of Kentucky College
of Education have arranged to bring
the ADI. (Anti—Defamation League)
acclaimed multimedia curriculum on
the Holocaust to Lexington. For the
first time, this program delivers the
pedagogical experience and resourc-

ltl vi. ‘x-vlLi rillv"~,ll;2i1"."c=

m...» . .7

CKJFIUJC Campaign Phone-a-thon
scheduled for March 2

09+

Super Sunday is about reaching out. When we call you,
we are not asking merely for money, we are asking for
your commitment to Jewish life in Central Kentucky, in
Israel, and around the world. We don’t raise the money
only for its own sake, but for what it does. This year's
program, chaired by David and Kathy Feinberg, will take
place on Sunday, March 2 from 9:00 am. to 2:00 pm. at
the CKJF offices. It is a great opportunity to be part of a

nizations: Anti-Defamation League,
USC Shoah foundation Institute, and
Yad Vashem. Training specialists
from each of these organizations will
be facilitating this training.

On March 17, 2008, 100 teachers
from Central Kentucky (primarily
preservice educators—middle and
high school in a variety of subject
areas, but also public school teach—
ers) will have the opportunity for

an entire day's trainii‘ig and v. ill

Hawtmmmeaa “Wasatwkse “hammer c a- - n ~ ‘ ' "

-— CAMPAIGN NEWS —

Super Sunday is about reaching out

great enterprise: helping people and
building community, and you can be
a part of it.

So what does the money do?

Think about teenagers growing up
in poverty, with all the despair and
frustration attached to it—and think

of a program that can help break the

see Super Sunday, page 10

Central Kentucky Jewish Federation
1050 Chinoe Road - Suite 302 - Lexington, KY 40502

Change Service Requested

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Lexington, KY
Permit I 719

CKIF announces
“Israel@60” essay contest

Topic to be “What Israel Means to Me”

0o}

As part of the community celebration of the 60th
Anniversary of the State of Israel, the Central Kentucky
Jewish Federation is sponsoring an essay contest for
Jewish children in middle school and high school. Each
contestant is to submit an essay on the topic ”What Israel
Means to Me.” The Federation hopes that this program
will further strengthen the ties between our children and
the State of Israel.

The contest will have one category for middle school
students and a second category for high school stu—
dents. Essays from middle school children must be

under 500 words and those from high school students
under 750. The winning essays will be read at the Israel
Independence Day celebration on May 11 and be pub-
lished in Shalom. In addition, the high school winner will
receive $250 and the middle school winner $150. Funds
for this program have been provided by a generous dona-
tion from the Lowell Nigoff family.

All essays must be typed and double-spaced. If typing is
not possible, essays must be submitted in legible hand-

see Israel essay, page 7

IN THIS ISSUE

Spotlight: David and Merle Wekstein ...................... 3
President's Message ................................... 4
From the Executive Director ............................. 6
Third Opinion ........................................ 7
Lexington Havurah's 30th Anniversary celebration ............ 7
Ask a Rabbi ......................................... 8
Local cabaret act to perform at TAI March 1 ................ 9
JFS: At Your Service .................................. 1O
TAI Sisterhood to be guests at Maxwell Place in February .... 10
University of Kentucky plans events with a Jewish theme ...... 11
Memoir: The two-thousand year old question .............. 11
B’tayavon .......................................... 12
One World Film Festival announces 2008 schedule .......... 12
Jewish Family Services joins service group for seniors ......... 12
CKJF 13th Annual Winter Dinner a glowing success .......... 13
Sim Shalom News ................................... 13
Volunteers make a difference during December ............. 14
A Poem II .......................................... 17
History of the Israeli—Palestinian Conflict — Part XXV ......... 18
Tolerance: A two-way street ........................... 19
Israel: 21c ......................................... 20
Around the Community ............................... 24
Lexington Chapter of Hadassah ......................... 25
Lexington Havurah ................................... 25
TAI ............................................... 26
OZS .............................................. 27
Three new books from two local authors available .......... 27
Community Calendar ................................. 28

Published ten times per year by the
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 302, Lexington, KY 40502

Phone (859) 268-0672 0 Fax (859) 268-0775
email: shalom@jewishlexington.org

FEBRUARY 2008, VOLUME XV, ISSUE 1

Linda Ravvin, President
Daniel Chejfec, Executive Director
Jana LaZur, Activities Director
Tamara Ohayon, Staff Associate
Abby Miller, JFS Director

SHALOM COMMITTEES

Editorial Board
Ruth Poley, Editor-in-Chief
Mary Helene Rosenbaum. Editor/Administrator
Marcia Blacker
Judy Levine

Advisory Board
Elissa Brown, Gail Cohen, Angie Ornstein,
and Rose Rita Wurmser

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marcia Blacker, Rachel Kaplan, Oliver Leaman, Annette Mayer,
Gloria B. Rie, David Shamah, Hanna 8. Smith, Michoel Stern, and Jesse Weil,

Production Services by Direct Response, Inc.

The editorial staff has the right to edit all articles submitted for publication
in Shalom. The appearance of any advertising in this publication does not
represent a kashruth endorsement on the part of CKJF or any other agency
or organization. Shalom is supported by the advertisements appearing in

the paper.

2 I February 2008 Shalom

: ' ‘ I ' ' ﬂ ‘ December 31, 2007 - UK Children’s
' Hospital’s Judi Martin accepts several
boxes of Lego building brick toys collected
by Nate Schattner for his Mitzvah project.

Nate chose to donate these toy ”bricks” because
bricks were mentioned in his Bar Mitzvah

Torah portion, "Shemot," in which Pharaoh
commanded the Hebrews to make bricks
without straw. The hospital uses the bricks
both as toys and as a tool to reassure frightened
children. The bricks help young children
understand in a tangible way how their bodies
sometimes must be taken apart and put back
together to be made better.

Nate appreciates the generosity ofthose who
donated Legos for his Mitzvah project.

OOOOO009.0000000000000000000000.CO0.000.0.90.0000000000000000QOOOOO

—

We welcome input from
every individual and every

\\\
7
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\I\\\W\\\\\‘

.5
\
,.\

Attention proud
grandparents,
parents, and

students

group in the community.
But for the sake of sha-
lom bay/t (peace in the

We want to publish any original writ-

ing produced by our community’s

‘§\\\\\V.

”MW-+4? . elemeﬂiﬂl and high-“WW ~

children. If you’re proud of something

\\\\\

only one person from

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

written by one of our kids, either fic— your organization to act

as liaison to the paper.

tion or non-fiction, please email it to

W\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

DI-IFR@Bardstown.com.

lhmswwws

MWWWWWWNWWWWWNWWW‘g

If you are not receiving Jewish weekly email and would like to, please

send your name and email address to ckif@iewishlexington.org

Q; Central Kentucky Jewish Federation

CKJF President CKJF Board

Linda Ravvin

Executive Committee

Michael Grossman, Vice President
Pat Shraberg, Secretary

Robert Grossman, Treasurer

Ruth Poley, Member-At-Large

Marty Barr, Immediate Past President

Judy Baumann
Elissa Brown
Ronit Eres
David Feinberg
Rose Garden
Odette Kaplan
Doug Katz
Mimi Kaufman

David Levine
Jennifer Miller
Lowell Nigoff
Linda Noffsinger
Angie Ornstein
Ricki Rosenberg
David Wekstein
Carole Wilson

Ski/om Deadline

Deadline for articles for the March Shalom is February 10.

Email articles to di-ifr@bardstown.com.

Articles submitted in hard copy should be double-spaced.

"FNF—tﬁmnH‘I—q

{'ﬂ‘?‘

r-1

Spotlight

By Hanna B. Smith

David and Merle Wekstein
o + ¢

David Wekstein and his wife, Merle,
have worked for the improvement
of the Lexington Jewish community
and have helped shape its direc-
tion ever since the couple moved to
Lexington in November 1962. Over
the years David and Merle have
held numerous positions in local
Jewish organizations, so many in
fact that it is hard to name them all.

While volunteering for the United
Jewish Appeal during the 1960s and
19708, David recognized the need
for an umbrella organization that
would bring together the various
Jewish groups in the area. Together
with Dr. Charles Gorodetzky, then
president of Temple Adath Israel,
David wrote the constitution of
what was to become the Central
Kentucky Jewish Federation. At the
time, David was president of Ohavay
Zion Synagogue. Dr. Gorodetzky
became the first CKJF president, and
David became the second president.

David describes the 1960s and 1970s
a “interesting years politically

or srael" and one more reason to
rally and. strengthen the Lexington
Jewish community. As a member
of Ohavay Zion Synagogue David
”held about every office in 025.”
He taught religious school, acted as
treasurer, was a board member, and
became synagogue president in 1978.

Also in the 19705 David's employer,
the University of Kentucky Medical
Center, asked David to develop a
center on aging, and the Sanders-
Brown Center on Aging was started.
Asked how he could be involved
successfully in so many demand-
ing projects, David explains that

he likes to start up new projects

in response to a need and to see
the projects grow and flourish.

An example of this philosophy is
the Lexington Havurah, a Jewish
fellowship, which was co-founded
by David and Merle together with
other members of the Jewish com-
munity. The Havurah continues to
flourish and will celebrate its 30th
birthday in April 2008. The Havurah
plays a significant role in the Jewish
community with its emphasis on
membership participation, services
that are experimental yet within the
Jewish tradition, and egalitarianism.

_ gave the pro ram the coveted

David observes that the Havurah
has attracted otherwise unaffiliated
Jews and has helped them recom-
mit to their Jewish heritage.

One of David’s proudest achieve-
ments is a television program that
he and Marilyn Moosnick devel-
oped together in 1983. The pro-
gram, named And I Was There, dealt
with the Holocaust. It was done in
response to a teacher in the Fayette
County school system who denied
publicly that the Holocaust ever
occurred. This program featured the
testimony of Holocaust survivors liv-
ing in the Lexington area as well as
of World War II veterans who helped
liberate the concentration camps.

This program aired on Channel 18,
with Dr. Otis Singletary, president
of the University of Kentucky, as
narrator. It also has been shown
several times over the years

and has been used as a teaching
tool in area schools. In 1983 the
Advertising Federation of Louisville

is? :

Louie Award Also, the National
Council of Jewish Federations
bestowed the National Public
Service Award upon the program.

This television program, in addi-
tion to countering the Holocaust
denier’s claim, also met David's
interest in educating the general
public about Judaism. David avers
that ignorance is at the root of much
negativity about Jews and Judaism.
Merle Wekstein, who holds a master’s
degree in public administration and
is a trained electron-microscopist,
managed a research project at the
University of Kentucky for many
years. Merle is one of the found-

ers of Jewish Family Services, the
social services arm of CKJF. She
was chairperson and she continues
to serve as a board member. Jewish
Family Services was founded to help
settle immigrants from the former
Soviet Union. Its programs meet the
needs of Jewish elders, singles, and
families at different life stages.

When Merle and David and their old-
est child came to Lexington, Merle
wanted her family to meet other
Jewish people and to develop roots
in the community. This led Merle

to Hadassah. Over the years Merle
held various offices in Hadassah
including those of treasurer, bulle—
tin editor, and president of the local
chapter. She was eventually elected
to the regional chapter, where she
served as treasurer for Young Judea
for several years. Merle also orga-
nized one of the regional chapter
conferences held in Lexington.

Merle taught Sunday school at
Ohavay Zion Synagogue and
served as treasurer of the syna-
gogue’s Education Committee.

Merle and David have raised a
family of four children and they
have six grandchildren. They are
happy to know that their children
treasure their Jewish heritage and
are actively involved in the Jewish
communities where they live.

Asked why they have worked

so hard, both Merle and David
expressed a deep love for the Jewish
people coupled with a realistic assess-
ment that community needs have to
be met in order for Jews to flourish.
Recalling the saying that the reward
for doing a mitzvah is doing another
mitzvah, David says that it is emo—
tionally satisfying to do a good job.

Merle and David Wekstein

Merle advises young people who
are pressed for time to become
involved in the Jewish commu-
nity even if they can spare only a
couple of hours each month. Small
jobs are also important, and doing
them helps busy people become
anchored in the Jewish community.

Today David and Merle have
slowed down, mainly for health
reasons. David is still a board
member of CKJF and he is co-
chair of the Community Relations
Committee. He also volunteers for
Hospice of the Bluegrass. Merle
and David’s commitment to the
community remains strong. it!

isu» '

Jemsh experience next year but
worried about the. cost?

Deadtine for applications is March 1, 2008.
Applications may be requested from J’FS or downloaded
from the }F S page at http://www.jewishlexington.org.

* Contact A bby Miller, JFS Director, ‘96“ FEderebo
for more information. \Q’ (s) 0’)

859.268.0672 or I_'-_-__--'__l

jfs@jewishlexingtonorg 90031 Ke‘w)"

February 2008 Shalom | 3

C
What is the work of a board of direc-
tors? It sets the strategic direction
of the organization, establishing
policies, strategic planning, finan-
cial planning, governance, and all
responsibilities outlined in the orga-
nization’s constitution and bylaws.

During November and December,
the Board of CKJF went through a
serious and realistic budget process.
Each committee has submitted a
detailed budget request for the year
2008. The Budget Committee, chaired
by CKJF Treasurer Robert Grossman,
reviewed all the requests. After
hours of discussion and review, the
committee recommended a budget
that reflects a fiscal policy of belt
tightening that is unfortunately
necessary to ensure the long—term
financial health of the community.

The recommendations cut more
than $30,000 from committee
requests. This includes monies for
both programs and staff. It means
that we have had to make the dif-
ficult decision to cut staff time in

President's Message

Linda Ravvin

two areas. Jewish Family Services will now have a staff
position at 50 percent and Community Activities will
have a staff position at 60 percent. The board has set a
realistic budget and will monitor it under the guidance
of the treasurer to make sure that it is strictly followed.

While our campaign has
been growing steadily,
our budgeted expenses
have grown as well. This
past year we have had

a wake-up call: we can-
not continue to budget
based on requests—we

The discussions of both

the Budget Committee and
the Board were conducted
with heavy hearts and a true
sense of the community
responsibility we all have.

them were present and part
of the Board deliberations
regarding the 2008 budget.

Daniel Chejfec, in his capacity
as executive direc- -
tor of CKJF, informed both Activities Director
Jana Lazur and JFS Director Abby Miller of the
Board decision, and both have accepted the
necessity of cutbacks in their positions. All of
the committees, and indeed, the community as
a whole, will be called upon to make sure that
the services and programs provided by CKJF
are not diminished despite these changes.

must budget based on
fiscal reality. The discus-
sions of both the Budget Committee and the Board were

conducted with heavy hearts and a true sense of the com-

munity responsibility we all have. The decisions were
made reluctantly and with the hope and expectation that

we have taken temporary measures, not permanent ones.

Before the budget presentation went to the Board, I
had personal conversations with both Community
Activities Committee Chair Mimi Kaufman and Jewish
Family Services Committee Chair Evelyn Geller to
apprise them of the recommendations regarding the
staff cuts in advance of Board discussion. Both of

I would have preferred to write a light,
uplifting message for this month, but the decisions
made weighed heavily on my mind and it is part
of my responsibility as president to make sure that
the community is involved and informed. This is
our community that I am talking about, and CKJF is
just that: our community organization—representa—
tive of all elements of our Jewish community.

It is time for all of us to step forward to make sure that
our community as a whole continues to move forward!

If you would like to discuss these issues, you will
find a complete list of Board members on page 2. $

At Toyota South, expect us to go

"Beyond

4 l February 2008 Shalom

OUT

ON THE BY-PASS
AT 4-MILE ROAD!
(859) 624-1313 0 Richmond
1-800-688-6968
www.toyotasouth.com

Expectations"

At The Corner Of
Four Mile Road & The By-Pass

(859) 624-1313 Richmond
1-800-688-6968

www.scionsouth.net

"Kt-HHLirni—d a—«Ay-rs—i-na-H’ Ana'shdﬂHAAmA

near-em ~—

(£2

Than/e

Thank you for your support of the
2007 CKJF/UJC community
campaign. Your contribution and
support helped us provide for a
variety of local services as well as for
our ﬂagship programs in Israel,
Netwi}: from High Risk to High Tech.
housed at the Youth village of
Hadassah Neurim near Hadera; and
the Therapeutic horseback riding
program at the Youth Village of Ben
Yakir.

Our community supports programs
which enhance Jewish life in Central
Kentucky and around the world such
as Camp Shalom (celebrating its 40th
anniversary this year). Tikkun
Lexington. Jewish Family Services,
the Jewish Community Day of
Giving. the JSO/Hillel at the
University of Kentucky. and more.

We provide for the disadvantaged in
Israel. the elderly in the Former
Soviet Union. the rebuilding of
Jewish life in Eastern Europe, and
the welfare of the Falas Mura in
Ethiopiawnh your help. we are
making a difference in the Global
Jewish community.

Locally. we also participate in the
Emergency Food and Shelter
Program as part of a social service
national coalition in partnership with
the Federal government. providing
5145000 for social services in Fayette
County. as well as $17000 in
Montgomery County and 551 1.000 in
Bourbon County. allot it distributed
to local agencies caring.r for those in
need.

You can take pride in the fact that
together we provide support to people
from Delhi to JPi'llSillt’ni. from Addis
\bbalm to Kit-V. \\ lii't'l‘vtii' there are

-ll \\\ iii iiiiil '.\l1n i.\.i till it istili

opportunity for likkun clam, that is

who we are.
Take pride, for you make a difference.

Todah Rabbah

31—3599

June Abisch-Wash

Nancy Amster

Eric and Lynley Andcrman
Janice Bales

Matthew and Ruth Barrett
Rachel Bashikhes

Don Beal

Eleanor Benblatt

Harold and Vivian Bitensky
Larry Bitensky and Kathy Nelsen
Sylvia and David Boggs

Lila Boyarsky

Bryan Carson and Gayle Novick
Francie Chassen-Lopez
Richard and Diana (‘lewett
Donald and Millie (".ohen
Janice Crane

William G. Deehan

Gregory and Elena Domatov
Sidney and Gladys Edelstein
Evalynne and David Elias
Moshe and Shlomit Elitzur
Ed Engel

Michele Erdmann

Dee Fizdale

Kiki Freedman

Daniel and Robin Geiger
Barry and Linda Gorall
Jonathan and Beth Glixon
Izzy and Nina Goldis

Judy Goldsmith and Andrew Klapper
Sylvia Green

Stuart and Lydia Grist
Norman and Betty Grossman

You to Our 2007 Contributors

Flora Guter

Carol and William Harman

Lee and Anne Hoffman

Susan Isaacs

Jim and Darcie Jarman

Gregory and Valery Kaitlanov
Edward and Suzanne Kaplan

David and Cynthia Keown

Elisa Klein and Seth Noar

Max and Mindy Kovinow

Pat Lawrence

Sydelle l\’le_vers Leff

Richard Levine and Anne Frye Levine
Evelyn Levy

Sarah Liebman

llyse Lonsbury

Clark Mandel and Fran Morris Mandel
Greg and Bonnie Martin

Tonya and Brent Merritt

John and Claudia Michler

Jeff and Linda Noffsinger

Robert and Sheila ()i‘bach

Daniel and Terri Potter

William Reed

John and Jean Rosenberg

Harold and Robin Roth

Jerry and Karen Sander

Mark Scarr

Richard and Kae Schennherg
Elizabeth and Robert. Scher

Dale and Elaine Schermer

Mollye Schwab and Robert Ferguson
Deb Shoss

Mimi Siegel

Jonathan and Angie Smith

David and Deborah Sogin

Brenda Starr

Marilyn Swan

Mark Swanson and Nancy Schoenberg
George and Laura Szekely

Dan and Lisa 'l‘aulbee

Valentine Tiplinskiy and Nina Tiplinskaya
Constantine and Olga Vulakh

Alan Weinstein and Elissa Brown
Jennie Wilson

l‘lllE'I'Htv Zi‘l‘lllt .llltl \lrituiil \lilli r

’ 6lamnymouec. > - - .

$100 - 3249

Michael Ades
Ray Archer and Colby Cohen-Archer
Michael Bashikhes
Cynthia Beeman and Lynn Dennis
Michael Biel
Ann Bucklioltz
Steven and Kate Davis-Rosenbaum
Eugene and Andrea Doren
Harold and Kaye Frankel
Jeffrey and Marcia Freyman
Theodore and Fran Friedman
Tom and Marilyn Getchell
Rochelle Goldbloom and Richard Mandell
Richard and Barbara Grossman
Oscar Haber
Len and Teri Harper

Doug and Ricki Harrison
Garry K. Hoover and Evalyn Block
Lloyd and Jane Hughes

Ronald and Carol Hustedde
Jacquelyn Johnson
Alan and Eva Kaplan

Benjamin Karp and Margie Bashkin
Neal and Jennifer Kash
Micah and Mimi Kaufman

Brian and Eileen Keplinger

lerald and Paula Klini

Steve Kraman

Edythe Laeh

John and Shirley Lakes

Lexington Theological Seminary
David Liebschutz

Elise Mandel and Joseph Anthony
Dana Manning and Scott E. Diamond
Wayne and Susan Masterman
William Meegan

Alice Mickler

Annette Milch

James Miller

Jennifer Miller

= : Jonathan and Liam Satin

Joseph and Suzanne Miller

Jeff Moscow and Lynn Campbell
Ruth Moser

Howard and Elisabeth Myers
Jack Nigoff

Allen Paritz

Karen Petrone and Kenneth Slepyan
Eve I’odet and Michael Finucane
Neil and Ruth Poley

Sanford and Rhoda-Gale Pollack
Etta Pollan

Jeremy I’opkin

Norman and Adele Potter
Marcia Risk

Joel Roitman

Scott and Beth Schumacher
Barry and Jeanie Schumer
Harold and Marianne Sherman
Gregory Smith and Diane Sobel
Anne Snell

Peter and Bonnie Sobel

Charles and Leona Stern

Irvin and Sybil Stern

Irving and Ellen Trachtenberg
Rose Rita and Jerry Wurmser
Brad and Julie Youkihs

Rick Zimmerman

Janet Zusman

51 anonymous

$250 - 3499

Craig: and Holly Bandoroff
Maxme Bobys

Jeff Davidson and Janet Tamaren
Roger Fleischman and Elizabeth I’iercy
Diane Friedman

Martin Friedman

Arthur and Jane Graham

Robert and Barbara Grossman
Renee Hynison

Jeffrey and Jean Kessler

Stuart and Donna Lowenthal
limk :tl'tl .\l;irl\< i\\. it /

Dax'id and Judith Mari/ml

Stanley H. Schwartz

Steven and Karen Shedlofsky

Hanna Smith

David and Elizabeth Wachtel
Jonathan and Wendy Ewing Waltman
Judith Worell

25 anonymous

$500 . 3999

Judith Baumann

Janice Brock

Austin and Susan Cantor
Michael and Kathy Grossman
Estelle Hamburg

Judith Hersh

Sheldon Hymson

Odette Kaplan

James and Ann Levenson

Art and Marilyn Lieber

Dan Liebman

Paul and Carol Mandelstam
Kenneth and Annette Mayer
Jo Mink

R. Eric and Mary Kathryn Waldman
Terry and Carole Wilson

11 anonymous

$1000 - $2409

Sandy and Sandra Archer
Martin and Barbara Barr
Bruce and Rachel Belin
Robert and Jo Belin

Joseph and Sandy Berger
Philip Berger

Marcia Blacker

Alan and Stephanie Brock
Bruce and Elizabeth Broudy
Daniel (Thejfec

Gail Cohen

Harriet Cooper

Ira Cooper and Tina Trent
Vinnie Duhilier

Karen Edelstein

David and Kathy Feinberg
Evelyn Dantzic Geller

Hans and lrmgard Gesund
David and Mary Beth Henderman
Barry Hunter and Debra Katz
Barbara Hyinson-Frommer
Martin Kaplan

Stephen and Nancy Kristen
Avram and Judith Levine
Jonathan and Lisa Miller
Penny Miller and Stuart Harris
Franklin and Marilyn Moosiiick
Steve Peskoff

Leon Ravvin

Linda Ravvin

Harriet Rose

.Dan Rosenberg

Irma Rosenstein

Irving Rosenstein

Arthur Salomon

Judith Saxe

Stanley Saxe

David and Patricia Shraberg
Alan and Kathy Stein

Don Sucher

Turf Cateringr Company
William Wenneker

Sue Wides

It) anonymous

$2500 - S 1999

Robert Baumann
Louis Dubilier
Gerald Dubilier
Stacy Donahue
lra and Anita Mersack
(‘arl Meyers
Morris lihli‘lt
Simone Salomon

Vivian Wei]

4 anonymous

$5000 - $9999

Alan and Irene Bloomﬁeld
Leon Cooper

Stephen Edelstein

John W. and Paula Frank
Alvin and Elisabeth Goldman
Steven and Susan Goldstein
Ricki Rosenberg

4 anonymous

$10000 +

Antony and Angela Beck

Bret Caller

Steve Caller

Susan Caller

Nancy Hoffman

Phillip Hoffman

Warren and Betty Rosenthal
Walter Solomon

Zantker Charitable Foundation

%\§\5“ F Ederal‘f
‘3

0
d) o
{WI
Qua (31“
’rai Ken's”

February 2008 Shalom I 5

From the Executive Director
Daniel Chejfec

Communicating, or the art of get-

ting the Jewish message across
+ + +

Have you ever thought about how people passed on
their knowledge to the next generation when few people
knew how to read or write? I ask the question because

it got me thinking about all the different ways we can
deliver a message, and that the way we do so will to
some extent determine whether we get through or not.

Imagine yourself in a cave sitting around a fire to keep
the darkness away and listening to an older mem-

ber of the tribe telling you the stories of a hunt and
you will get an idea as to how cave people passed on
knowledge from one to another. Fast forward...

Some people know how to read and write and others
don’t. In ancient times, those who knew were a distinct
minority, among whom was Moses. He came down from
Sinai and brought the Torah "from the mouth of God by
the hand of (or through) Moses.” The only way to share
the commandments with all Israelites would have been
a public reading, which was the practice for many centu-
ries—including at services at the Temple in Jerusalem.

King Josiah of Judah began a revolution in Jewish life
when, according to the biblical record, he sent teachers to
the four corners of Judah to teach the people. Still, the key

6 I February 2008 Shalom

to the door of the written language
was likely in the hands of a few.

As more and more people learned

how to read and write, some of the
old stories passed from one genera-
tion to the other through oral tradi-
tion were put into‘writing, and this

such as monks, kings, mer-
chants, and, yes, many Jews
had that access. Fast forward...

Gutenberg started a silent revo-
lution in the Western world

by creating movable type, which eventually made books
easily available to everybody, provoking among other

body of litera-

tu re is some—

to in sociology
and cultural

that is,

Maybe the time has come to
times referred seriously consider whether
we are making the most
anthropology effective use of the new

as “Orature”— forms of communications.

cultural revolutions, the Protestant
Reformation (since ordinary people
could own Bibles). Fast forward...

Centuries later, books became com-
mon and people began to take
them for granted. Newspapers
were published, as Well as other

literature

based on oral tradition. Our Torah
is probably to a large extent the
product of this process, reflecting
therefore different—and some-
times contradictory—streams of
oral traditions. Fast forward...

In the Middle Ages, relatively more

people knew how to read and write,
but books were rare and expensive,

so the skills tended to be limited

to those who had access to books,

forms of popular written commu-
nication. As letters became more common, societies
needed to develop postal systems. Fast forward...

Through all the above changes, Jewish identity not only
survived but thrived, a success based on the learning
of Jewish content and the promotion of literacy. The
Jewish message was passed on in writing, and the writ-
ten word was central to Jewish life. Fast forward...

The 20th century brought with it its own set of cultural
revolutions: the recorded voice, the telephone, movies,

see Communicating, page. 9

Make c1 lasting difference in your Jewish community. Buy a cor.
Thanks to Gene Hleger of Green loyoro. you can do both.

mum

MN way-n 44:94:.»

4i-«um..-m mu was. .- .

.4. m

"m... .umq»

«at». sh... a.

Mauve «Meammw mum.

an...

Third Opinion

Stanley Ned Rosenbaum, PhD

The richest man in Chicago
+ + +

The richest man in Chicago almost didn’t make it to these
shores at all. His family landed in Seattle four months
before he was born and twenty months after they had left
Poland—on August 31, 1939. That was the day before the
European war began.

In Poland the name was Zielonka. They changed it to
Zell, so he’s Sam Zell. I knew Sam in high school. He was
two years younger than I. We played bridge a lot, often
at the lakefront estate of John Gidwitz. John’s pa rents
owned Helene Curtis, the cosmetic concern. If anyone
might have been projected as the future richest man in
Chicago, it would have been John.

His advice is sought worldwide,

for example, by Sheikh Sultan bin
Tahnoon al-Nayan, chairman of the
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, who
was planning an island community
in the Persian Gulf. According to the
long Neri‘ Yorker article from which
I’ve gleaned this information and the
quotes above, he was just as direct
with them—something I wouldn’t
think would go

Another player was Henry Rothschild
who, despite his name, had no rela-
tion to the European banking family.
He lived in a nice, upper-middle-class
home in the town just south of ours.
As I recall, we never played at Sam's
house or at mine. My father was an
investment banker who only had

It gives me some hope for
our collective future that
Muslims would seek and
sometimes take the advice
of an outspoken Jew...and table.
unabashed supporter of Israel.

over too well in

a Middle Eastern
Muslim culture——
as he was with

us at the bridge

He thought the

three good years, 1938 to 1940, but

always lived above his means. Our house was modest
and a bit shabby. Sam’s father was a successful distribu-
tor of wholesale jewelry. If Sam was similarly self-con—
scious about his house, it may be because his folks spoke

English \\ 1th a foreign auvnt.

Wherever we played, Sam more than held his own at

the table. In those days he had a serious mop of dark
hair, penetrating, dark eyes and a gravelly voice. He was
rather short, but he had a brilliant smile and a personal-
ity that, while it could be grating, was always compelling.
Sam was voluble, a competitive bidder and I al