xt7gb56d5g98 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7gb56d5g98/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2010-05 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 Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 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, May 2010 text image Shalom, May 2010 2010 2010-05 2025 true xt7gb56d5g98 section xt7gb56d5g98 W

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Benefactors event to be held on May 23

Ambassador Danny Biran to speak

The Benefactors event will be held

at Portofino on Sunday, May 23 at

6:00 pm. Guest speaker Ambassador

Danny Biran of the Israeli Consulate in
New York will
discuss Israel’s
role in Haiti.

The cost of the
dinner is $28
per person.
Individuals
who donate
a minimum
gift of $200
or couples
. who donate a
Ambassador) Danny ,,.,..3W:321;;r010,:§11§
' ’ 2010 Campaign
are invited. 1
Danny Biran has served as the ambas—
sador of administrative affairs at the
consulate since August of 2008. He
is responsible for human resources
and administration for all of Israel’s
embassies and consulates in the United
States, Canada, and Central and South
America. In this role, he was called to

Haiti after the earthquake to serve as
chief administrator of Israel’s rescue
operation and of its ﬁeld hospital
assisting Haitian victims. Prior to his
present appointment, he served in
diplomatic posts in Washington, DC,
Athens, Buenos Aires, and Lima.

Ambassador Biran’s special skills
brought him the privileged posi-

tion as one of Israel's top delegates

to participate in special operations

and missions. He was the head of the
rescue team after the terrorist attack

at the Israel embassy in Buenos Aires
and was the key administrator for the
erection and operation of the Israel De—
fense Forces' field hospital for refugees
in Kosovo.

Ambassador Biran was born in Israel,
has served in a paratroopers unit in the
IDF, and holds a BA in international
studies. He and his wife, Eva, have
three daughters.

For information or reservations, please
call Judy Wortman at (859) 268-0672. :2

The deadline for the June/July issue is

May 10. If you have an event in July that

you would like publicized, the deadline

for that material is May 10.

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Tzofim Israel Scouts Friendship Car-
avan to visit Lexington onJune 23 at
Temple Adath Israel

The Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
is pleased to announce and sponsor
the performance of the Israel Scouts
Friendship Caravan in Lexington.
Those who have had the pleasure of
seeing this group say the experience
was fantastic. Judy Wortman says,
”They are the most incredibly talented
group of singers and dancers, that
radiate ruach (spirit).”

Temple Adath Israel has generously
donated the facility for the evening,
which will begin at 7:00 pm. on June
23. Please come out and enioy this
troop’s positive energy, aimed at
strengthening the relationship between
the US. and Israel and promoting
tolerance and respect among people of
all faiths. Their music and dancing will
enthrall all ages.

Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc. has been
around since 1995, continuing pro-
grams that began in the early 19005
and were revived in the 1960s as a
youth movement promoting both non-

political and non—sectarian views. This
group of eight Israeli scouts began as a
program for the Young Judaea camp-
ing system, planting seeds that have
grown for more than 40 years.

We are happy to present this free night
of fun for the entire community; we
invite our campers and staff especially
to enjoy this pre-camp experience. If
you have not yet signed up for camp,
there will be someone available to take
your registration. You may also take
the opportunity to meet our staff.

We are looking for host families willing

to offer home hospitality, particularly . ,. _ _

families who have teenage children
themselves. If you are interested in
opening your home to two or more
members of the Israel Scouts, please
contact Jana at janaCﬂljewishlexington.
org or (859) 268-0672.

We hope to see you at TAI on June 23.
a

Super Sunday launches 2010
campaign successfully

The 2010 Jewish Federation campaign
kicked off on Sunday, March 21 with
our annual Super Sunday Phonathon.
Thanks to the combined efforts of

our chair, Carole Wilson, and a group
of dedicated volunteers, we raised
$37,000 in pledges and an additional
$2,700 in proeeeds from the Services
Auction. Thanks to David Shakib for
developing the auction, to Jana LaZur
for implementing it, and to the many
volunteers who offered their time and

skills. A follow-up night of phone
solicitation will be held on May 6 from
7:00 to 9:30 pm. so that we can reach
people who were not home on Super
Sunday. Please answer your phone
when a volunteer calls; help provide
needed services for our brothers and
sisters here in central Kentucky, in
Israel, and around the world. If you
would like to make a pledge now or to
volunteer as a phone solicitor, please
call Judy Wortman at (859) 268-0672. 3:?

N“ m

Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher announce new location, themes for 2010 ............................... 3
President’s Message 4
Installation of new ofﬁcers to highlight TAI Sisterhood closing meeting ........................................ 4
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass slate of ofﬁcers and board members, 2010-201 1 ............ 4
Third Opinion 5
From the Director 6
Emilie Szekely Memorial Essay Contest winners 7—8
JFS: At Your Service 8
Kyrgyzstan and the Jews: A status report from the JDC 9
Yom HaShoah program brings community together in remembrance ......................................... 10
Thank You to Super Sunday Volunteers ....... 10
Community—wide Women’s Seder provides food for thought .............................................................. 11
Women enjoying the spirit of the Sedar 11
Israel 21c: Israel is my country, good or bad ................. 12-13
B—tayavon ....... 13
Ask A Rabbi 14
The Lexington Chapter of Hadassah ..15
The Lexington Havurah 16
Temple Adath Israel 17
Ohavay Zion Synagogue ...... 18
Around the Community .......... 19
Community Calendar .......... 20

Shalom

Published ten times per year by the
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 302, Lexington, KY 40502
Phone (859) 268-0672 - Fax (859) 268-0775
email: shalom@jewishlexington.org

MAY 2010, VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 4
Linda Rawin, President
Judy Wortman, Executive Director
Jana LaZur, Activities Director
Paula Clancy, JFS Director
Tamara Ohayon, Communications Director

SHALOM EDITORIAL BOARD
Ruth Poley, Editor-in-Chief
Mary Heléne Rosenbaum, Editor/Administrator
Jane Chaput
Peter Schogol

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathy Feinberg, Abigail Klein Leichman

i LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
i Lowell and Betty Nigoff

Production Services by Georgetown News-Graphic

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 either a
kashruth or any other endorsement on the part of the Federation or any other agency
or organization.

Shalom is partially supported by the advertisements appearing in the paper.

2 I May2010 Shalom

n‘ “n lr-wixi! in tin ”Hun
' or we momma:

STEWART HOME SCHOOL
VISITATION SCHEDULE:
May 14 (Family Weekend)

The Stewart Home, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, is a residential school for individu-
als with disabilities. It is renowned throughout the country for the high quality of care
given to the students, and attracts people from all across the country. Tikkun Lexington
brings celebration to the Stewart Home’s Jewish students by honoring Shabbat and
Jewish holidays. It is a very special evening for all who participate, volunteers and
students alike. Please call Jana at (859) 268-0672 or
email jana@jewishlexington.org for more information

ﬁrm/arm/L

670mg
6%

Sunday, May 16, 2010
12:30 pm.

Hilton Suites — Lexington Green
$20 for sit—down luncheon

FEATU RED SPEAKER:

SCOTT TE RRELL
CONDUCTOR or THE
LEXINGTON PHlLHARMONlC

RSVP by MAY 10 to
Tamara Ohayon
lexhadassah@yahoo.com
or (859) 420-3925

Please give Tamara your luncheon choice of
either Baked Flounder or Vegetable Risotto

OF THE EJJEGRASS

If i \\ Thcjewish FCdCr'diiOn

Fede at' B J 'f M“
Federation President r Ion oard enmer 'er

. . Evalyn Block lAngie Ornstein
Linda Ravvm Bruce Broudy peremy Popkin

_ . Jane Chaput Ricki Rosenberg
Executlve Committee . Susan Cobin Kathye Schattner
Michael Grossman, Vice Presrdent Evelyn Dantzic Geller Kae Schennberg
Pat Shraberg, Secretary Larry Kant David Shakib
Robert Grossman, Treasurer Mimi Kaufman . David Wekstein
Odette Kaplan, Member-At-Large David Levine

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Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher
announce new location, themes

for 2010

Special pre-camp event to be June 23 at TAI
By Kathy Feinberg, Director, Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher

This summer, Camp Shalom and
Camp Gesher will be held at the
Woodman of the World campsite

off Tates Creek Road, a few miles
beyond the Tates Creek Road and
Man O’ War Boulevard intersection.
This beautiful 60-acre campsite has
much to offer our campers. Assistant
Director Rachel Heller and I are busy
planning enjoyable and challenging
activities.

Theme for July 26-30 (week one):
Jewish Camping Rocks with Unlim-
ited Adventures

Campers will explore our new camp-
site. Activities will include swim-
ming, hiking, canoeing on a two-acre
lake, using a rock-climbing wall and
high ropes (for older campers), and
playing low ropes, miniature golf,
basketball, volleyball, gaga, and
much more. Each camper will have
age- appropriate tum, music, Israeli

5 Wing, games, sports, and slum-ﬁn .

activities as part of the daily sched- ‘
ule.

Theme for August 2-6 (week two):
Horse Mania

As Lexington prepares for the
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,
September 25 to October 10, our
campers will discover who is coming
to our city for the World Games and
what the games are all about. We will
also learn about the horse industry
in Israel. Select activities will relate
to Horse Mania. Campers will also
continue their usual daily activities.
On the last day of camp, we will hold
our all-camp Maccabbiah. Camp-

ers will compete in track and field,
archery, pool events, tug of war, and
a new event: horse racing. Campers .
and staff will be divided into four
teams, each with campers from every

age group.

Camp Shalom is composed of three
age groups. Ofarim campers are ages
4 and 5, Tsoﬁm is for campers ages 6

to 8, and Chalutzim campers are ages
9 and 10. Camp Gesher is for camp-
ers 11 to 13. Each group has age-
appropriate activities and is staffed
with a group leader, counselors, and
counselors-in-training. Each camper
will have an opportunity to have ac-
tivities with our teva, art, sports, and
music/ drama specialists.

Community storytellers will contin-
ue the tradition of oral tales —which
campers and staff rate as a favorite
activity—during both weeks. Camp-
ers ages 6 to 13 will choose one chug
(special activity) for each week to eX—
plore a particular interest‘for'a'n hour.
This summer’s chugim options in—
clude cooking, teva, archery, art, and
dance / drama. Each Friday morning
at camp we celebrate Shabbat with
Visits from community rabbis, sing—
ing, stories, and blessings.

Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher
6. Registration forms are avail " e
www.jewishlexington. org. Just fol-
low the link to Camp Shalom. Please
note that early bird registration sav-
ings will be available until June 3.

You will get to meet our terriﬁc staff
of group leaders, specialists, coun-
selors, and counselors’éi'rrvtrair‘iirig~ in
next month’s issue of Shalom as well
as on June 23, when many will ap—
pear at Temple Adath Israel. We will
be hosting the Israeli Scouts for one
night only as a pre-camp party and
gathering opportunity. Those who
have seen the scouts will tell you that
they are exciting and entertaining.
Don’t miss out on this great opportu-
nity to see the Tzoﬁm Caravan (Israel
Scouts) in person while meeting staff
for the 2010 Camp Shalom and Camp
Gesher as well as other campers.

We continue our efforts at Camp
Shalom and Camp Gesher to go
green: we reuse, recycle and respect
our environment. ﬁ

Join us for the

Annual Meeting

of the
Jewish Federation
of the Bluegrass

Wednesday, May 26
7:00 pm. to 9:00 pm.

at the Federation office
1050 Chinoe Road, Suite 302

Participate in the election of JFB's
incoming board members and join the Board
in showing appreciation for those members
completing their terms.

Recognition awards will also be given.

Slate of Officers and Board members 2010-2011

Officers
President Linda Ravvin
Vice President Bob Grossman
Secretary Angie Ornsfein
Bill Lucas

Treasurer

Atlarge 7 “Evelyn Selle? " i”
Board Members—Second Three-Year Term
Linda Ravvin
David Wekstein

Board Members—First Three— Year Term
Amy Faust Mayer
David Shraberg
Hanna Smith
Gary Yarus

Our heartfelt thanks to retiring Board members and
officers; Mike Grossman (VP), Pat Shraberg (Secretary),

Odette Kaplan (At Large Executive Committee member),

and Mimi Kaufman.

Thank you to the Nominating Committee: Odette Kaplan,

Chair; Evelyn Geller; Mike Grossman; and Pat Shraberg.

H \\ Thejewish Federation

OF THE BLUEGRASS

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May 2010 Shalom | 3

President’s Message

Linda Ravvin, JFB (Jewish Federation of the

Bluegrass) President

Well, ﬁnally!
Leon and I
have joined
”the club.”

-. No, we have
not joined
any of the

country / golf / hunt clubs that you

might automatically think of in the

Bluegrass. We have joined the Grand—

parents Club. We are now ofﬁcially

known as Bubbe Linda and Zaide

Leon, distinctive titles for us, indeed.

We were particularly pleased to be

included during the birth itself, and

we were both hoarse the next day from
cheering Heather (and Kirt) during

the delivery. I also had the pleasure

of watching my mother lovingly hold

her ﬁfth great-grandchild when she

came to help us celebrate Myer Samuel

McKee’s ﬁrst introduction to Jewish

life at his bris.

This wonderful addition to our lives
and the carrying forward of our fam-
ily and our Jewish tradition has had
me reﬂecting on Jewish generations
and continuity. Everyone wants to

see their children and grandchildren
succeed and, they hope, surpass them
in happiness, good health, life ambi-
tions, and connections. By connections
I mean family, friendships, and com-
munity. We, as the older generation,
need to lead by example in this. If we
do not teach our children how to care
and how to assume responsibility for
extending that caring to others, then
we are failing to give our children an
understanding of humanity. This is
part of the basic precept of Judaism as
stated in Deuteronomy following the
Sh’ma: ”Thou shall teach them dili-
gently to your children and shall speak
of them in your home and on your
way, when you lie down and when
you rise up... ”

We, as a community, have a respon-
sibility to ensure that Jewish com-
munal life—and all that

of common purpose and goal: that the
Jewish community is a worldwide one,
based on the same principles and on
caring for one another and the larger
community around us.

How do we accomplish this connec-
tivity and continuity? We teach by
example. We have to show the genera-
tions following us—our children and
grandchildren—that celebrating being
Jewish is part of the ﬁber of our being
and is something to celebrate every
day throughout our lives. That being
Jewish is not only a religious belief but
a moral, caring, historical, and com-
munal bond that is part of the value
of Judaism. Show your children the
value inherent in this bond; involve
yourselves in Jewish communal life.
Involve your children and grandchil-
dren. Bring them to activities, volun-
teer and encourage them to volunteer
with you. Send them to a Jewish sum-
mer camp. Studies have shown that the
best way to connect the next genera-
tions to Judaism is through Jewish
summer camping, Jewish day schools,
and trips to Israel.

Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher are
now accepting registrations for this
summer’s camping experience. They
have so much fun, the kids do not
realize how much they are learning—
about Judaism, community, sharing,
partnership, and leadership. The staff
learns along with them. And our Whole
community is enhanced, not for now
but for the future, when these kids

and young adults will have children of
their own and convey the same sense

. of community to them.

That is how we ensure the future Jew—
ish generations , we show by doing
ourselves and by making the decisions
that will continue to connect the future
with the past, in tradition and caring,
for each other and the broader com-
munity 1::

Installation of new ofﬁcers
to highlight TAI Sisterhood

closing meeting

On Wednesday evening, May 19,

the TAI Sisterhood will install those
women who will lead the group for the
next two years. We have a terriﬁc slate
lined up and lots of new ideas for the
future. This will be a dinner meeting
and will include a short business ses-
sion as we approve the amendments to
the bylaws. After that, it’s just fun, fun,
fun as we socialize, enjoy each other’s

company after a busy year, and look
forward to the future.

Please join us on Wednesday, May 19,
at 6:30 pm. in the Temple social hall.
The cost of the dinner is $15 per person
and advance reservations are required.
Please call Sandee at the Temple, (859)
269-2979, no later than Friday, May 14,
to reserve your place. ﬁ

is inherent in it—grows
and continues through
the generations. Judaism
has endured throughout
the centuries because of
the strength of commu-
nal bond and common
belief. No matter where
we travel in the world,
there is a familiarity and
comfort level in contact-
ing the local Jewish com-
munity. There is a sense

4 | May 2010 Shalom

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Lucia’ 5 Worlcl)it‘ariltcnlllch

Shop Lucia’ 5 boutique for fai

gifts, jewelry, and clothi .

Jewish Federation of the
Bluegrass slate of ofﬁcers and
board members, 2010-2011

Ofﬁcers

President ....................................................... Linda Ravvin
Vice President .............................................. Bob Grossman
Secretary ....................................................... Angie Ornstein
Treasurer ....................................................... Bill Lucas

At Large ........................................................ Bruce Broudy
At Large ........................................................ Evelyn Geller

Board Members for a second three-year term
Linda Ravvin
David Wekstein

Board Members for a ﬁrst three-year term
Amy Faust Mayer

David Shraberg

Hanna Smith

Gary Yarus

Congratulations to the nominating committee—Odette Kaplan, chair; Pat Shra-
berg, Mike Grossman; Evelyn Geller—for their successful efforts. Our heartfelt
thanks to retiring board members and ofﬁcers—Mike Grossman (VP), Pat Shra-
berg (Secretary), Odette Kaplan (At Large Executive Committee member), and
Mimi Kaufman.

The election will be held at the Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of the
Bluegrass on Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm. at the Federation ofﬁces, 1050 Chi-
noe Road, Suite 302. v

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Third Opinion

Stanley Ned Rosenbaum, PhD

Typhus, Anyone?

Right after a successful seminar on
teaching the Holocaust, all of us on
the organizing committee got an email
from a Holocaust denier. His initials
are 8.5. and so was his message. He
challenged us to produce the names of
people who were gassed and cremated
by the Nazis. Why?

For one thing, Holocaust deniers claim
that all the dead Jews General Eisen—
hower and others saw died of typhus,
not poison gas. This, I submit, would be
a distinction without a difference. That
is, even if it were true, the claim does
nothing to exonerate the Nazi govern—
ment from the charge of genocide.
Purposefully causing the deaths of six
million people by whatever means is
genocide.

Deniers also like to point to the Ameri-
can round-up of Japanese as though our
guilt for this shameful act could some-
how excuse Germany’s. But the differ-
ences between the two are too vast to
allow comparison. Japanese had lived
here fewer than 100 years when their
native country attacked us. Jews had

lived in Germany for centuries before
there was a Germany. There were size-
able Jewish communities on the Rhine
900 years before Hitler—may his name
be forgotten~was born. Furthermore,
Germany had not been attacked by any
nation, Jewish or other, in 1933 when

it began the process of discrimination
against Jews that led to the Holocaust.

Another big difference between the two
cases is that the number of Japanese
interned was only about 120,000. This

is about ﬁve percent of the number of
lews killed between 1941 and 1945. And
the Japanese weren’t, killed. Some may
have died as a result of being moved
and of living under less than ideal con-
ditions, but this was not the aim of the
government policy.

There were no Jewish units ﬁghting for
Germany in World War II, but America
formed the 441st Regimental Combat
Team, a unit composed entirely of
young Japanese kids who volunteered
for duty to show their loyalty to the
country that had interned their families!
They fought with such bravery and skill
that they were asked for by command—
ers all over the European theater of
operations.

If it is claimed that Russian Jews

were, by and large, sympathetic to

the overthrow of the tsar in 1917, that
attitude certainly cannot be attributed
to German Jews. They were generally
middle—class, conservative, and intense-
ly patriotic. Jews not only served in

the German army in World War I with
distinction, but in greater numbers than
their percentage of the German popula-
tion. (That same dictator I mentioned
above ordered a study that he expected
would show that Jews routinely ducked
military service. Imagine his surprise;
the report was not published.)

Ironically, those Jews who did sympa-
thize with Soviet Russia got a big sur-
prise when that country signed a non-
aggression pact with, of all countries,
Germany. This treaty, inked on August
1, 1939, allowed the two signees to cut
up Poland and doom most of its Jews.
After the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the
number of pro—Soviet Jews worldwide
dropped precipitously.

I don’t know what motivates Holocaust
deniers, whether it’s the same obsti-
nacy that causes some people to deny
that we have landed on the moon, or
anti-Semitism, or shame for their own

German (or
other) heri-
tage. Or what.

I was initially
tempted to re-
spond to 3.5.
with Proverbs
26:5: ”Answer
a fool accord-
ing to his folly, lest he think himself
wise.” Then I remembered Proverbs
26:4: “Do not answer a fool according to
his folly, lest you become like him."

The bottom line is this: you cannot
reason people out of something they
haven’t reasoned themselves into. All
we can do is continue to combat the
deniers’ lies with our truths. 1‘1!

Stanley Ned Rosenbaum, PhD (Brandeis),
is an adjunct professor of Hebrew at UK
and professor emeritus of Judaic Studies at
Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. The
title of this recurring column is drawn from
the old chestnut, "Two Jews, three opin-
ions. ”

te'ﬁo‘e
O

. ~ Jewish Family-Services

Upcoming Frograms

Picnic at TAI
0‘0 Wednesday, May 12
12 noon to 2:00 pm.

Temple Adath lsrael
124 North Ashland Ave.

Speaker: Rabbi Marc Kline
Master of the Grill: John McDonald

save
the “‘3

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w ,

Leisure Club Patriotic Tea
Thursday, June 17
with Bob Orbach and John Kalbfleisch

For more information about these events, to RSVP, or to
arrange transportation to the event location, please

contact Paula Clancy at
(859) 269-8244 or
jfs@jewishlexington.org.

Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
,. _‘ 'leir 3")“ t5... . , (fare

Benefactors Dinner
Sunday, May 23
6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm.

Portoﬁno
249 East Main, Lexington, Kentucky
Guest Speaker

Danny Biran
“Israel’s Role in the Haiti Rescue”

Convert - $28.00
Minimum 2010 Commitment
Individual - $200 Family - $400

You will have the opportunity to make your pledge to the
2010Jewish Federation Conununity Campaign
0

To RSVP or for more information about this event, contact
Judy Wortman at jfb@jewishlexington.org or 859-268-0672

The estimated cost of this event is $28 which is not tax—deductible.

HM 1“ {‘41- In‘\ Thejcwish Federation

OF THE BLUEGRASS

May 2010 Shalom | 5

- ‘55-?“l783mr‘x "V I

From the Director

Judy B. Wortman

This past March I was witness to two
lectures that I feel compelled to dis-
cuss. The ﬁrst was one by Oscar Haber
to 200 eighth grade students at Tates
Creek Middle School. The second was
one by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi at UK. Each
of these experiences evoked emotional
responses I found overwhelming.

I met Oscar the ﬁrst Shabbat after I
moved to Lexington a year ago. He
was the Haftarah reader at 025 and

I was told he was 99 years old and a
survivor of the Shoah. As I listened to
him chant, I was so moved that I began
to weep. I introduced myself to him at
the Kiddush lunch and was greeted by
him as if we were mishpocha. We have
enjoyed a friendship all year and I was
thrilled to celebrate his 100th birthday
at two of his parties—one at IFS Lei-
sure Club and one at 025.

When I was contacted about bringing a
survivor to Tates Creek Middle School
by Sheila DeVary, the teacher who

was running the program, I called and
asked Oscar if he was willing to speak.
He agreed immediately. I picked him
up that day and was very excited to
hear his presentation because I had
never heard him speak about his
experiences during the war and his
escape from Poland. Oscar spoke for 45
minutes without a note, then answered
questions for ﬁfteen minutes and

A study in contrasts

concluded with the story of his ﬁnal
rescue. The students and faculty were
absolutely mesmerized by his talk.

They didn’t move; there wasn’t sound
in the library other than his quiet,
gentle voice. Before we left, almost ev-
ery student came to greet Oscar, to hug
him, to shake his hand, to take a photo
with him. He spoke of how he loves
humanity and how he loves God. He
spoke of the forgiveness necessary to
move beyond hatred and adversity. He
spoke of the importance of education
and how teaching children like those
at Tates Creek could change the world
and eliminate prejudice and intoler-
ance. Again, I found myself choking
back tears all morning.

Two weeks later I attended the lecture
by Dr. Ashrawi, a ﬁgure I had come

to know watching Ni ghtline when she
was the ofﬁcial spokesperson for the
PLO. Her appearance was the second
lecture of a two-part program on Peace
in the Middle East that began with the
October appearance by former Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert. When she was
introduced as a follow-up speaker to
Prime Minister Olmert, she made a
hateful comment about not wanting to
be mentioned in the same sentence as
that ”war criminal.” I thought this was
offensive, not only to the audience but
to the university that had invited her.

I felt particularly bad for my friend
Assistant Provost Richard Greissman,
who had moved mountains to actual-
ize both programs and who has such
great hopes for Peace House to be
established here at UK.

Dr. Ashrawi's rhetoric about Israel
was vitriolic, and as the Palestinian
students in the audience cheered each
statement, I felt targeted by active
anti-Semitism around me. It was the
ﬁrst time I have ever felt that way and
I was increasingly uncomfortable and
anxious to leave. I began to think for
the ﬁrst time that peace would never
be possible if most Palestinians agreed
with her point of view. I believe that
Olmert’s message was much more
conciliatory and conveyed understand-
ing of the Palestinians’ hardships. Dr.
Ashrawi gave absolutely no credit to
the Israelis or Israel’s government for
anything.

I thought about the messages of hate
that the Palestinian school children
have been taught and how different
those are from the lessons that I saw at
Tates Creek Middle School. How won—
derful it would be if all the children in
our world could sign the pledge that
the each Tates Creek eighth grader
signed after saying it in unison as they
were led by a beautiful young Muslim
girl:

”I believe in
the equality
of human-
kind and in
the equal
rights of each
individual. I
believe it is
wrong to be prejudiced or cruel, physi-
cally or emotionally, to any person or
group of people. I will not intimidate,
be cruel or act superior to others. I will
honor and support the equal rights of
everyone. I will look deep into myself
to see that I uphold this promise in
every way. I will work to educate oth—
ers so that they will not be prejudiced
or cruel. I will act to stop prejudice and
cruelty every time I am aware that it is
happening or about to happen. I have
the courage to take this stand. ”

Finally, I would like to congratulate
Sheila De Vary and the students and
faculty of Tates Creek Middle School
for their outstanding unit on the Holo-
caust. Every child in the eighth grade
also wrote an essay for the Emilie Sze-
keley Memorial Essay Contest. I read
many of them and was impressed by
the bresdt : ml their understanding and
sensitivity. 1 would also like to thank
Oscar Haber again for teaching us
about forgiveness and love. May God
grant him 120 years. 3?

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