xt7rbn9x432q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7rbn9x432q/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2015-04 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, April 2015 text image Shalom, April 2015 2015 2015-04 2025 true xt7rbn9x432q section xt7rbn9x432q Volume XIV
Issue 3

Newspaper of Nisan/Iyar 5775
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ori THE BLUEGRASS Apnl 2015

 

Israel Independence Day
Celebration

It’s Israel’s birthday! On
the fifth day of the Jew-
ish month of Iyar, which
corresponds this year to
April 23, Israel will turn
67 years old. The years go
by, and our young coun-
try continues to evolve
. and grow. At the
writing of this article, we are anticipating elections in Is-
rael. And now it is time to celebrate Israel, with our love
of the land, of the people, of the arts, of the beach, and of
our spiritual home.

This year, on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Ohavay Zion
Synagogue at 4 pm, our community will come together
to celebrate.

We will savor Israeli wine, tasting several wonderful
wines from Ha’aretz (The Land).

We will integrate our wine tasting into an exploration of
the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Is-
rael. Members of our community will share with us their
perspectives of the text, and look at the vision. We will
lovingly reflect what we wanted in 1948, and what we
want now.

And the celebration will be studded by special activities
and tables, including‘

An Israeli book swap — participants are invited to bring
books about Israel, and/or by Israeli authors, to swap
with each other.

Nail painting — participants can get their nails painted
in blue and white.

Shop — selling Israeli products.
Food — since there is always food.

A $5 contribution is strongly requested to defray costs of
this program.

This will be a time to come together, to celebrate, to
reflect, and to dream.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration to
be held on April 19

The Jewish Community’s
annual commemoration
of Yom HaShoah will be
held on Sunday, April 19,
at 10:15 a.m. at Temple
Adath Israel. This year’s
= theme will be the 70‘h
Anniversary of the Lib—
eration of Auschwitz.
The program will include a service of commemoration,
a short film on the topic of liberation followed by table
discussions, and the presentation of awards to the win-
ners of the Emilie Szekely Holocaust Awareness Writing
Project. The combined choirs of Ohavay Zion Synagogue
and Temple Adath Israel under the direction of J aemi
Loeb and Lorne Dechtenberg will perform. The religious
schools of both congregations will meet together at Tem-
ple Adath Israel and will study age appropriate lessons
related to the Holocaust.

For information, please call Judy Wortman at 268-0672,
or email her at jfb@jewishlexigton.org.

 

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Thank You Super Sunday Donors and
Volunteers

The 2015 Annual Community Campaign was launched on
Sunday, March 1. We were able to reach 96 households
and they pledged a total of $22,310. We are so grate-

ful for our donors who help us change lives. Thank you
also to our wonderful volunteers who worked tirelessly
to reach our donors and encourage them to contribute.
Our volunteers this year were Mike Ades, Dianne Bazell,
Marcia Blacker, Evalyn Block, Jane Chaput, Susan Co—
bin, David Feinberg, Kathy Feinberg, Lynn Fumess, Jenn
Garlin, Barbara Goldman, Mike Grossman, Mickey Her-
nandez, Larry Kant, Janice Newman, Bob Orbach, Angie
Omstein, Judy Saxe, Stanley Saxe, Ken Slepyan, Hanna
Smith, and Rabbi Uri Smith. Thanks also to our staff for
all their help.

Please save the date of Sunday, May 17 for our Major
(continued, page 2)

 

 (Campaign News, continuedfrom Page 1)

Gifts brunch which will again take place at the home
of Linda and Leon Ravvin. The guest speakers are
Jeff Polson and Tiffany Faber. the Executive Director
and Board Coordinator of the Jewish Heritage Fund
for Excellence in Louisville. This foundation has
partnered with the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
and has helped fund transportation services for Camp
Shalom as well as the salaries of our camp nurse and
Jewish program specialist.

For more information and registration. please call Judy
Wortman at 268-0672.

The 2014 JFB Community Campaign Donor List can
be found on page I 0.

ShOWWYourSupport
Help us keep Shalom solvent.

You may contribute online or mail a check to JFB.
1050 Chinoe Rd Ste l 12, Lexington. KY 40502.
Please make checks payable to JFB and write
"Shalom" on the memo line.

Giving levels
Chai — $18; Double Chai - $36; Three Times Chai -
$54; Haboneh (Builder) - $72; Gibor (Hero) — $90

$

Summer

20,5 for ages 'H'f Wi

age-aPPrOPria'e

 

- s (Jr’s
July 3! .Water Play
3 “7'5 & Crafts

Camp Shalom offers a unique and

I Jewish «163 (am
menioraln e M seasoned

Programming including:

P experience

0 Music '

anature activities

0 Shauna? K,
experience ,

University of Kentucky Jewish Studies
April Events

By Emily Cottingham

The University of Kentucky Jewish Studies Program
is proud to feature a number of events this April. The
second half of the “Year of the Middle East” — part of
the “Passport to the World” series — is in full swing,
and with it comes a few experiences that can't be
missed. in particular, the program is especially excited
to host two large events this month, a talk with the au-
thor Claudia Roden and a performance by the female
ensemble. Divahn. These opportunities promise to be
engaging and interesting, and are open to students,
faculty, and community members.

-“Gefilte Fish and Couscous" with Claudia Roden
April 16 at 7 pm. — UKAA Auditorium. W.T.
Young Library

. Claudia Roden will talk about
the development of Jewish
cuisines and the stories behind
them, and her experiences

. ‘ working on The Book of Jew—
' , ish Food.

‘ ' Roden was born in Egypt. and
' moved to London during her
childhood. She was drawn to
the subject of food, born out
’ of a desire to evoke her own

a lost heritage. and wrote

Camp
Shalom

Established in |3G8

staff and

Sign up today!

 

 

For more information contact. Director Tamara Ohagon
at (853) 288-0672 or camquewishlexingtonorg
or visit wwjewishlexington.org/camp-shalom

amass

,. H i \\ TheJewish Federation "

THE ONLY J " Isuk’ii‘iR DAY CAMP
5. IN CENTRAL um

OF THE BLUEGRASS “ . ,

 

 about the cooking of the Middle East, North Africa,
the Mediterranean, Italy, Spanish, and Jewish food.
Her book has won eight awards, including the James
Beard Best Cookbook of the Year and the National
Jewish Book Award in the USA.

She has written other books, including The Book of
Middle Eastern Food (1968), which is said to have
“revolutionized Western attitudes to the cuisines of the
Middle East and North Africa.” It was inducted into
the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2010.

r

— Performance by Divahn — April 30

.4.
:v.

3‘ 1....»

Iranian descended vocalist and scholar, Galeet Darda—
shti, leads the NY-based renowned all—female power-
house Middle Eastern Jewish ensemble, Divahn. The
group has gained an international following with its
fresh and fiery take on Jewish music: eclectic Indian,
Middle Eastern, and Latin percussion, lush string
arrangements and vocals spanning Hebrew, Judeo-
Spanish, Persian, Arabic, and Aramaic. The band has
performed in venues ranging from top international
concert halls and festivals to the most prestigious
clubs in NYC, and has appeared with some of the
most renowned master musicians. As one of the few
groups performing J udeo-Persian and J udeo—Arab
music in the US, Divahn welcomes its audiences to a
beautiful sphere of shared Jewish and Muslim culture.
They will perform in a FREE concert at 7pm on April
30 at Center Theater.

For a full list of the April UK Jewish Studies events,
visit: https://jewishstudies.as.uky.edu/calendar

 

“Like" us on our

facebook.

page

" follow us on
, twitter

@JFedofBluegrass

www.twitter.com www.facebook.com

Editorial
Barbara L. Goldman

“Hope is the companion of power
and the mother of success; for who
so hopes strongly has within him
the gift of miracles.” - Samuel
Smiles

“Why is this night different from
all other nights?” As a Jewish
people we have many traditions.
This question is one of the most
important questions celebrated by Jews, as a people, of
the many different Jewish communities of the world
every year. Together, on Friday April 3, 2015, we as
a people, will ask this vitally important question yet
again, followed by an observance of other delicious
questions and acknowledgements.

Although this question falls upon the youngest par-
ticipant of the seder to ask, Passover speaks to every
generation. Each instrumental element, the food, the
frolic, and the heritage, speak together invaluably
reminding us of the right to freedom.

Growing up, Passover was my favorite holiday. I
understood the basic aspects of the holiday as a child
but as an adult many particulars of the holiday have
become all the more reason to celebrate with each
passing year.

According to Exodus, the Israelites were serving as
slaves in Egypt. Moses was sent by G-d to demand
their release. Passover commemorates the birth of a
Jewish nation by G-d. On Passover we celebrate free-
dom by inviting our friends, loved ones, and worldly
compatriots into our homes.

Passover has always amazed me because it is such

an amazing celebration of freedom and tradition. G—d
wants us to be free. Freedom is a right everyone, ev-
erywhere is entightled to have. Regardless of religious
belief, that is something all children of the world can
appreciate. No matter, what the year of the Passover
celebration, the holiday speaks to each generation
because of the dictatorships, modern slaveries, and
apocracies constantly constricting the dreams, hopes,
and beliefs of cultures in populations across the world.

On Passover we open our doors to the Prophet Elijah
while opening our hearts to G-d. This serves as a re-
minder that G-d will take care of us. We are not alone.
Passover is not only a holiday memorializing freedom,
but it is a tradition in which we commemorate hope.
Hope motivates people. Hope reminds us that the
freedoms of our heart are attainable and within reach.
Hope serves as a reminder of the devoted community
around us, dedicated to being free.

Happy Pesach.

 

 Director’s Report
Judy B. Wortman
A Message to our Donors

In this month’s Shalom, you
will find our list of donors
to the 2014 annual cam-
paign. We have listed them
by category and noted how
many additional gifts in
each category we received
from individuals who pre—
ferred not to be listed by
by name. The total of gifts we received is about
$300,000. This is close to the same amount that
we have received for the last three years. Like most
other federations nationally, we have not reached the
level we had achieved prior to the 2008 economic
downturn. The unfortunate news is that a number of
our generous donors have passed away. Others have
moved away from Lexington. While we have a num—
ber of new, young donors, they are not in the financial
position to be able to give as much as those people
whose gifts we have lost.

On behalf the Federation Board and the staff, I would
like to thank you for your generous contributions

to the 2014 campaign. To those of you who have
already given to the 2015 campaign, I send an ad—
ditional thank you. I hope all of you will tell your
children that you have made a gift to the Jewish com—
munity and encourage them to do the same wherever
they may live.

In addition to thanking you for your generosity, I
would like you to know how your contributions are
making a difference in the lives of our own Jewish
community and in the lives of our sisters and broth-
ers in Israel and throughout the world. More than 3A:
of the funds we raise stay here in central Kentucky.
Funds are used to subsidize Camp Shalom, provide
scholarships and camperships to children for Camp
Shalom, other Jewish resident camps, and teen Israel
experiences. Other children’s programs are PJ Library
and our new playgroup for tots co-sponsored by the 2
congregations. We also have reserved funds to subsi-
dize participants in Jewish youth group conferences
and conventions. The Federation sponsors programs
of informal Jewish education including Lunch and
Learn with our community rabbis, the Global Day

of Jewish Learning, One Book Lexington, and Arts
and Adventures - monthly program for seniors. We
also sponsor the Yom HaShoah commemoration and
Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. We publish the Shalom
newspaper and provide community emails to inform

the community about the events sponsored by Federa-
tion, the congregations, Hadassah and B’nai B’rith.
Through Jewish Family Services we provide counsel—
ing, referrals, and emergency financial assistance to
those in need. Quite a bit of the JFS director’s time

is working with older adults and their families and
referring them to services that help them remain in
their own homes and in other cases making referrals to
assisted-living facilities and nursing homes.

Funds donated to Federation go to national organiza—
tions including Birthright Israel, Jewish Federations
of North America, Association of Jewish Family and
Children’s Services, and Jewish Council for Public
Affairs. Internationally our funds go to the Jewish
Agency for Israel and American Jewish Joint Distri-
bution Committee, both of which provide services

to Jewish families and individuals in Israel and in 70
countries around the world who are in need or in dan—
ger. We also fund World On which provides vocation-
al schools for Jewish students throughout the world.
Our Equine Division continues to provide funds for
the horseback riding therapy program at the Ben Yakir
Youth Aliyah Village.

One gift to Federation provides so much to so many.
Thank you for helping us to make a difference.

The 2014 JFB Community Campaign Donor List can
be found on page 10.

 

 

Make a Donation to JFB in Someone's

Honor or Memory
Make a donation to the Jewish Federation in
honor or memory of someone, or in celebration
of a special occasion, and help JFB nurture
the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world),
tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah
(Jewish learning) within our Jewish community
at home and abroad.

Send us your special contributions with a note
specifying its intent. Also, let us know if you
would like your contn'bution published in this
box in Shalom. You may also make your special
contribution online.

Celebrate your loved ones and support our
Jewish community by giving a special contribu-
tion. Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

 

 Hadassah to Honor Judy and Stanley Saxe

On September 6,
2015, the Lexington
Chapter of Hadas—
sah will honor two
beloved members
of our community,
Judy and Stanley
, Saxe. The gala trib—
, ute dinner will be
. held at the Embassy
Suites on Newtown Pike. The featured speaker will be
Marcie Natan, National President of Hadassah.

The Saxes have lived in Lexington since 1962, when
Stanley was recruited as part of the faculty that opened
the dental school at UK. Judy has served in various
leadership positions at Ohavay Zion Synagogue, and
was the first professional director of what was then
called the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation from
1981-1986.

Judy became involved in the Lexington Chapter of
Hadassah in the mid-sixties, serving as President from
1972—1974. She served in various positions on the re-
gional (Central States) level, becoming regional Presi-
dent from 1987-1990. Since that time, Judy has been
a member of the Hadassah National Board, and was
installed as a National Vice President in 1995 at the
convention held in Israel. Judy’s great love is Young
J udaea, and she currently acts as National Chair of
Young Judaea Regional Programs. In 2012, during
Hadassah’s Centennial Celebration, Judy was nation-
ally honored as one of “100 Women of Hadassah” for
her many years of service and accomplishments.

Aside from being Judy’s strong supporter and patient
spouse, Stanley has served on the Board of Directors
at Ohavay Zion Synagogue and is a past President

of the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. He is

a founding member of the Lexington Havurah and
served as President several times. He is, of course,

a Hadassah Associate and was a visiting professor at
Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medi-
cine in Jerusalem in 1970. A graduate of the Harvard
School of Dental Medicine, Stanley is now professor
emeritus of periodontics and geriatric dentistry at the
University of Kentucky.

Stanley and Judy have three grown children, Harriet
and Natalie, both life members of Hadassah, and son
Neal, an associate. They have three granddaughters,
Zoe, Olivia and Hila, who were born at Hadassah Hos-
pital in Jerusalem.

Please plan to join the celebration of this extraordinary
couple and their service to the Jewish community of
Lexington and beyond.

B’tayavon:
Zucchini with Lemon and Thyme
By: Vivian Bitensky

(Serves four)

3 medium zucchini

4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

Cut 3 medium zucchini into large pieces. In a large
skillet, heat 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil over medium
high. Add half the zucchini, and toss to coat in oil.

Season the skillet with coarse salt and ground pepper.
Cook until golden brown in spots (about four min-
utes). Transfer zucchini to a serving bowl. Repeat
with two more teaspoons of oil and the remaining
zucchini. Stir batches together and add one Tbsp fresh
lemon juice and one tsp fresh thyme leaves. Season
the dish with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

 

JFB Women’s Philanthropy Event
March 19, 2015

 

 Ask a Rabbi—
Rabbi Moshe
Smolkin

Q: I am always chal-
lenged by the passage
in the Haggadah that
asks God to pour out
God’s wrath. What are
some Jewish perspec-
tives or alternatives to
this passage?

A: In the aftermath of
the decimation of Jew-

ish communities during the Crusades, the following
passage was incorporated into the Hagaddah:

Pour Your wrath upon the nations that do not know
You and upon the kingdoms that do not call Your
name, for they ha ve consumed Jacob and destroyed
his habitation. (Psalms 7926-7) Pour upon them Your
fury, and let Your furious anger come upon them.
(Psalms 69:25) Pursue them in anger and destroy
them from under the heavens of Adonai / (Lamenta-
tions 3:66)

For the communities who experienced or had heard
of the decimation of Jewish communities during the
Crusades, feelings of pain, anger, hatred, and ven—
geance would have been very natural. Many of us and
our fellow Americans may have experienced similar
feelings after the attacks of 9/1 1. Some may have had
feelings of wanting our enemies to be completely and
utterly undone. These feelings are natural.

On the other hand, these verses seem to recommend
vengeance, rather than justice. In light of the Torah’s
injunction ‘Justice, justice, you shall pursue!’ (Deuter-
onomy 16:20) and the Psalmists call ‘Seek out peace,
and pursue it!” (Psalms 34:15), these verses are chal—
lenging.

This is combined with the fact that before the cru-
sades, the passage Pour Out Thy Wrath was not part
of the Hagaddah. Prior to the incorporation of this
passage, the Hagaddah was focused on our celebra-
tion of our redemption from bondage in Egypt and
our tremendous gratitude to God for freeing us. The
insertion of these vengeful verses shifted the liturgical
mood of the evening.

For some of us, this may feel fine. Our world has
certainly not been redeemed, and anti-Jewish senti-
ment around the world has risen once again. It is only
natural to have feelings similar to the passage.

For others, our commitment to peace and justice may
make saying these verses, even as a recollection of our
ancestors’ feelings, simply untenable.

Here are a few alternative readings that might better fit
the sense of ultimate redemption that this holiday of
freedom anticipates.

One common alternative is the prayer that was either
discovered, or perhaps created, by Rabbi Hayyim
Bloch:

Pour Your love upon the nations who know You and
upon the kingdoms who call upon Your name, for the
kindnesses that they do for the seed of Jacob and for
their protection of Your people from those who would
consume them. May they merit to see the Sukkah of
Your chosen ones and to rejoice in the joy of Your
nation.

This positive restatement of the traditional verses can
be refreshing. Rather than speaking of vengeance
against our enemies, it continues the liturgical theme
of gratitude. Rather than focusing on our enemies, we
are thankful for the help of our allies.

Still, questions remain about this formulation. It is
certainly focused on our people. though that may

be just fine since Passover is the celebration of our
people’s liberation from bondage. On the other hand,
it misses a broader sense of the world that Judaism en-
visions when we wish for redemption for all of God's
children.

While not as readily found, there is the alternative that
was suggested by Rabbi Leopold Stein:

Pour Your spirit upon all flesh. and may all peoples
come to worship You together and with common
speech that Adonai 's sovereignty be realized.

Here we have a suggested reading that moves beyond
the focus on our people and evokes the visions of our
prophets for a more universal redemption. “For then
I will change the peoples so that they may all come to
call upon the name of Adonai together and with clear
speech.” (Zephaniah 3:9) “Nation shall not take up
sword against nation; neither shall they again learn
war.” (Isaiah 2:4) “For the world will be filled with
the knowledge of Adonai, as water covers the sea.”
(Isaiah 11:9)

In this alternative, we leave our anger behind, and
move beyond the focus on our own people, as we fol-
low the visions of the prophets in hoping and praying
for the redemption of all humanity. Perhaps this better
fits the ultimate intention of the messianic era that
Elijah the prophet is supposed to usher in, as we pray
for a world in which all of God’s children will join in
peace and love as they come together to give thanks to
God.

For some, the passage Pour Out Thy Wrath may con—
tinue to be meaningful. For others, one of the altema-
tives mentioned in this article may be more mean—

 

 Moosnick Lectures

Professor Susannah Heschel, the Eli Black Professor
of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, will pres—
ent at Transylvania University on Tuesday, April
28. 2015. at 7:00 p.m.in Carrick Theater. Her talk is
entitled “Scholarship and Ethics: How Do Jews and
Christian Connect?”

Her presentation at Ohavay Zion Synagogue will be
on Wednesday. April 29. at 7:00 pm. The title for
that presentation is “The Life and Legacy of Abraham
Joshua Heschel: Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audac—

ity.’

 

(Ask a Rabbi, continued from page 6)

ingful. And for still others, there may be a need for
additional alternatives that could address our pain and
our hopes for the world’s ultimate redemption.

 

 

Have a question?
Ask a rabbi

The rabbis write columns in re-
sponse to questions submitted by
the readers. We encourage you-
-whether you are a member of
the Jewish community or not——to
submit your queries on theology,
morality, ethics, religious obser—
vances, etc. for response by one
of our rabbis. If you have an issue
you would like to see addressed,
please email it to shalom@jew—
ishlexington.org and put “Ask a
Rabbi” in the subject line of your
email. (It may take quite a while
until your question is answered
or it may never be answered, if
no rabbi selects it.) You will not
be identified as the writer of the
question to either rabbis or read—
ers, nor will you be asked to spec-
ify which rabbi should answer.

 

 

 

 

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Jam us tor a Sun
attemcan ceianra ‘
snakesaear‘e's
Birthfiaifl

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Mercnaaz at rem ‘
will he lead it? ,
mama aiacx

a0 fireman: .2
refluireu.

ave the Date for
, “=9 ‘ ,

53‘

Cleveland magician. Manny Sperling.

is coming to Lexington!

Saturday \pi'il ill. I’Ul‘i
8:00 pm

llt‘allllvar'i‘ \lbi‘l'l B ["liantlli'i' Hospital

Pavilion \ _\uditoriirm

Tickets ,
$50 Advanced Reserved Seating
320 General Admission/$25 or the Door

$500 Patron Level (Includes Dinner 8. Priority Searing for two}

For more information call
Temple Adcth isroei
of 859269—2979

 

 ASK J FS
Mimi Kaufman

April is Child Abuse
Awareness month. It is
important to stop and give
attention and thought to
the occurrence of child
abuse that occurs every
year nationally. The statis-
_ a; tics are a bit alarming. In
\“\ y . the past 5 years there have

' been 350 fatalities and
near fatalities due to abuse or neglect. Last year there
were 19,407 substantiated abuse and neglect cases.
There were 89,193 reports that met the criteria to be
investigated.

Educational campaigns are necessary to make the
public aware of the seriousness of the problem and

its implications. Hospitals, schools and community
agencies have critical roles to help with prevention but
they really cannot fully shoulder the responsibility.
There are certainly many prevention strategies and
programs to support parents and future parents. Our
Federation’s Jewish Family Services is a Community
Partner with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAKY)
As a community, we can help to shoulder that respon—
sibility. Prevent Child Abuse America is committed
to preventing child abuse before it occurs. Since child
maltreatment is a complex problem with a multitude
of causes, an approach to prevention must respond to a
range of needs.

I see evidence of what one might call “protective
factors” all year within our Jewish community. Both
congregations have wonderful religious school pro-
grams with leaders who put great care and thought
into caring for our young families. We have quality
preschools in our community. We have a community
play group for families of kids ages 4 and under. All
of these things are wonderful protective factors in the
sphere of influencing healthy families. While I am
“tooting” our communities horn, I also want to thank
our congregations for all of the work that they do to
help others like the partnering with Ashland School’s
backpack program, Habitat for Humanity volunteering
, Mitzvah crib to benefit the Nest, Gods Pantry volun—
teering and many other social outreach projects. All
of these things matter. Whether we realize it or not, we
are lowering child abuse maltreatment risks every day
with all of these activities.

Here are a few reminders of how we can all have a
positive influence on children and parents every day:

1. Be a good example. Respect your family mem—

bers. Use a courteous tone of voice with them.
When children misbehave, let them know that you
dislike what they did not who they are. Reward good
behavior. Apologize when you are wrong.

2. Be a friend to a parent. Having a friend to
confide in when you are angry with your children
can help to ease frustrations and tensions. Invite a
parent to exercise with you to relieve stress. Chil-
dren are usually better behaved when their parents
are relaxed and happy.

3. Reach out to a relative or neighbor in need.
Offer to babysit to give them a break.

4. Praise and encourage the children you know.
Every child can benefit from a cheerleader that is not
their mom or dad. It can mean the world to a child.
Be that positive force in a child’s life. Tell them if
you are proud of them and give them compliments
when deserved.

In summary, prevention is key in breaking cycles

of neglect and abuse. However, it is also all of our
responsibility to report neglect or abuse. You can
actually make a report on line as long as it is not a
situation that requires an emergency response. If the
situation is life-threatening, call the local law enforce-
ment or 91 1. If you wish to speak with someone you
can call Kentucky’s statewide Child Abuse Hotline
Number 1-877—597-2331.

If you would like to have a confidential discussion for
advice and or referral to support services for parents,
please call me at 269-8244.

 

An Early Childhood Program
for Toddlers & Preschoolers
at Ohavay Zion Synagogue

[inns

Creativity & Learning through Diversity.

Now enrolling for the
2015-2016 school year.

We welcome children from all ethnic. religious.
seeial, and economic backgrounds

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 Op-ed

(The editorial staff has the right to edit, accept or reject all
articles submitted for publication in Shalom.0pinions ex—

pressed in Shalom are not necessarily those of the Shalom

aditorial staff or the JFB or its constituent organizations.)

How to Become a Rodef Shalom
By Gary Yarus

Many Jews don’t want to accept the inescapable his-
torical truth that May 15th is not only Israel’s Inde-
pendence Day but also Nakba Day, “the catastrophe”,
for Palestinians. This date can’t help but incorporate
not only the Jewish narrative but also the Palestinian
story.

These views were substantiated when Avrum Burg an
Israeli author and Knesset member, asked the practi-
cal and pivotal question: Can the Nakba and Indepen-
dence Day coexist in the same space? Burg replied,

if the answer is that the two are mutually exclusive, it
then follows that key clauses in Israel’s Declaration
of Independence mandating equality for all, a State
fostering development for the benefit of all its inhabit—
ants, ensuring the complete equality of social and po-
litical rights to all inhabitants should then be officially
revoked.

If the answer is that the two cannot coexist, Israel
becomes the state for all the Jews only with the Pales-
tinians treated as second—class citizens. Israel will be
Jewish, yes, but hardly democratic.

There is another possible answer? One that allows for
a joint, mutually respectful existence, which favor-
ably accommodates one narrative that is joyful and the
other sorrowful, side by side.

It is clear the Israeli narrative of events in May 1948
are in need of an intervention from the blind accep—
tance of faux history staked out for nearly seven

decades. The Nakba must be absorbed into the Jewish
mainstream consciousness.

Rather than each side trying to competitively trump
the other, each side should honestly try to listen to the
feelings, the hurt, the wounds, the fears of the “other”.
No deep existential and meaningful peace settlement
will ever be undertaken before an authentic dialogue
is fomented between the different memories, traumas
and histories.

Nothing good will befall anyone if history takes in
only the Jewish narrative and not the narrative of all
Palestinians. No progress towards peace and justice
will occur if at every occasion we don’t take note of
the entirety of Israeli history — one people alongside
the “other” living with respect, security, self determi—
nation and peace.

We cannot change the past. History doesn’t work

that way. But we can mold the future. Creating a new
wrong today cannot amend yesterday’s wrongs. It is
our obligation to remember that, according to Zion-
ist rhetoric, olim, Jewish immigrants to Israel, are by
definition, not refugees. Aliyah, “ascent” to Israel, is a
positive ideological decision, while refugee status is a
negative result of expulsion, flight and defeat. In con-
trast to the Zionist olim, large numbers of Palestinians
are refugees in every respect.

We, as Jews, should be willing to accept the duality of
Israel’s historical past. I am hoping there are people
within our Jewish community willing to explore the
possibilities.

Let’s get to