xt770r9m6d5d https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt770r9m6d5d/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2002-06 2002-07 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, June/July 2002 text image Shalom, June/July 2002 2002 2002-06 2002-07 2025 true xt770r9m6d5d section xt770r9m6d5d

Newspaper of the

6 at
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Centra/ Kentucky Jewish Federation

halom

Serving the Central Kentucky Jewish Community Since 1962

June/Ju/y 2002

Sivan-7ammuz—A v 5762

Tal Keinan Tells It Like It Is

Campaign Kickoff Speaker Offers Ways We Can Help Israel

h‘

he opportunity to help Israel has never been

greater." With these words. Tal Keinan.

keynote speaker at the Central Kentucky
Jewish Federation Kickoffevent. began his moti—
vating and information packed presentation. He
emphasized several major avenues that Jews in the
United States need to use to take advantage of this
opportunity: generous campaign contributions.
ongoing contact with our legislators. and factual
communication with the media.

Why does Israel need our money? At the outset,
the speaker assured us that none of the money sent
to Israel via our campaigns goes to the government
for military spending. All of it goes to The Jewish
Agency and The Joint Distribution Committee for
use in educational and social services, including the
costs of health care and the costs of resettling

. 7 .

'1"’.r':‘.”.:1irl\l:t“iii.:llinﬂate}

state of war in which ”I'm herselfhas doci—
mated Israel’s economy. Unemployment is at an all-
time high of 11%! Tourism, previously Israel’s
largest industry has dwindled to a trickle. The needs

Uiltﬂf ‘ij {tin 3.1”i

Evelyn Dantzic Geller

of new olim~immigrants—are many and diverse.

Schools need to be built. kept in good condition. and

staffed. But the costs of maintaining a constant state

of readiness against terrorism and out and out war 0

are overwhelming and ever present. As Jews, as

members of the same people, we Jews outside of

Israel must respond to these needs.

What is it we need to discuss with our legislators
and the media? Some of the more cogent points
Keinan made were the following:

0 This war is Arafat’s choice. It is his response to
an Israeli peace proposal.

- Civilian deaths in any conflict are horrible. But
there is a difference between targeting innocents
for death, as do the terrorists who invade Israel,
and the tragic deaths of those who are killed
collaterally as the result of essential military

stopped now. The Palestinian Authority is the only

agency that can intervene to halt this destructive

pattern.

“We, i.e., Israel, didn’t ask for this war.“ The

Palestinians were offered all of the conditions in

the current Saudi proposal two years ago and

refused them at that time!

- Jenin. a refugee camp that is administered by the
United Nations. had facilities to make bombs.The
point would seem to be that truth. and our grati-
tude to those who act in light of truth, needs to be
our watchword.

The ﬁnancial pathway received an immediate and
positive response. Contributions from those attending
this event answered the call with a 25 % card for
card increase in pledges over those made last year.

Now it is up to all of us to see to communications.
1‘ ‘ ' Mtl‘ai‘ugh Keinan spoke generally about this area. I
- Palestinian ehﬂdreaﬂmbemsmmm not -- am taking thchberty ofinserting some applications to

only Israel and all Jews, but also the United States our community. The Community Relations Commit-

of America and her citizens. This hatred will have tee of the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation has a

long—term repercussions unless the process can be group, under the guidance of David Wekstein, that is

writing letters to the local paper weekly to keep the

CKJF to recognize Rabbi Smith, Lowell NigOff, publicinformedaboutthesituationinlsraeland

and Bret Caller at Annual Meeting June 19
New Federation Board Members Will Be Elected

wards to three Central Kentuckians will

highlight the Annual Meeting of the

Central Kentucky Jewish Federation
Wednesday evening, June 19, 2002. Rabbi Uriel
Smith. Lowell Nigoff and Bret Caller will each be
recognized by a different award for their efforts in
promoting and advancing the Central Kentucky
Jewish community.

The President’s Award will be presented to
Rabbi Uri Smith for long—term service and exem-
plary effort on behalf of the Federation. Rabbi
Smith, in his role as chair of the CKJF Community
Relations Committee and as a community activist
has represented Federation and the Jewish commu-

events in the local Jewish community. Please

contact Dr. Wekstein if you want to participate in this

critical undertaking.

nity for many years in various forums, programs AIPAC’ the primary Jewish lobbying group in our

and interfaith dialogue groups. Both on and Off nation, needs our assistance in maintaining contact

campus Rabbi Smith has presented Jewish and with our legislatorS- If the Opportunity arises, write,

Israeli viewpoints, both historical and contemporary, call, or email any Kentucky legislator either to

in his interactions with religious and lay leaders in express thanks for an action or vote that supports

Central Kentucky. Jewish causes and Israel, or to give factual informa—
Volunteer of the Year Award is decided annually tion that Will help that legislator make informed

by the Federation Board, which has selected Lowell decisions. Be certain 0f your facts before initiating a

Nigoff as the 2002 recipient. Nigoff, who has co- contact, and cite authoritative sources whenever you

chaired Super Sunday in past years, served as can.

Federation vice—president this past year and is T31 Kienan is an 013k who followed the call Of his

completing a term on the Federation Board is being heart to help our homeland, Israel. His words and

cited for his leadership and commitment as Chair of COhViChOh 3110““ help “5 fOHOW the dictates Of our
see Annual Meeting, page 5 hearts and do all that we should to help her as well.

(JG
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 203
Lexington, KY 40502

Il'illlllllllllllllllIIllllll'lllllllllllll'llll'l'l'll‘IIlll'

51 PS iiililﬁﬂUTOIGS-DXGIT 10502
SOIDEE IILDES

124 I HSNLQID AVE
LEXINGTON. KV 40502-1509

Change Service Requsted

Nonproﬁt Org.

Big Changes At CKJF

UK???" New Ofﬁce, New Website,
Permit#7l9 New Computer System

Lexington. Ky New Office Location

KJF has moved to brighter and larger

space on Chinoe Road in the Chinoe

Center ofﬁce building. The new ofﬁce has
two areas for committee meetings and volunteers, a

see Big Changes, page 14

In This Issue:
President’s Message .................................. 2
Super Sunday .............................................. 3
Havurah Elects Officers ............................ 3
Is The Race For Mayor A Jewish Issue? 4
Mideast 101 ................................................ 5
Alexanderplatz Berlin: Cabaret Revisited 6
Leisure Club ............................................... 7
Rabbi’s Comer ........................................... 8
Camp Shalom a Hit With This 5-Yr. Old 9
Ask JFS About ......................................... 10
JFS National Conference ......................... 10
Hadassah Installation ................................ 11
B’Tay Avon .............................................. l2
UJC Emergency Campaign ...................... 12
Community Boat Trip ............................... 12
CKJF Send Kids To Camp ....................... 13
Open Letter to the Community ................. 13
Letter To The Editor ................................. 14
Lexington Singles Outing .......................... 15
Camp Shalom ........................................... 16
Community Calendar ................................ 17
Ohavay Zion Synagogue .......................... 18
Temple Adath Israel ................................. 19

CONDOLENCES TO:

Joann Cazden on the death of her husband,
Robert Cazden, on May 9, 2002

Robert Flashman on the death of his
mother, Esther Flashman.

Clark & Shawn Mandel on the death of
their father, Bernard Mandel.

Howard Rackmil on the death of his mother,
Lilly Rackmil.

Bob & Jeannette Sloat on the death of
Bob’s father, Robert E. Sloat on April 9, 2002.

MAZEL TOV TO:

Joshua Adland on his election as NFTY—OV
President. Joshua also won an all expense paid trip to
St. Louis as a delegate at the Town Meeting on
Tomorrow sponsored by the National Council on
Youth Leadership. Joshua is the son of Rabbi Jon &
Sandy Adland.

Mr. & Mrs. Viktor Badacker on the birth of
their son, Leo, on April 21.

Aaron Davidson, age ten, who won at the
Country & Regional Science Fair in March. He was
judged to have the best fourth grade project in microbi-
ology in the N orth—Ceniral Kentucky region. Aaron is
the son of Jeff Davidson & Janet Tamaren.

Steve & Debbie Flomenhoft, on the birth of
their son, Elisha Joshua, on April 28, 2002.

Bennet Goldstein for receiving the Youth Salute
Award, the Youth Leadership Award, and the
Academic Excellence Award for straight A’s through
his Jr. year. Bennet was also chosen as a Govemor’s
Scholar and inducted into the National Honor Society
as well as having his photos published in the Arts
Across Kentucky magazine. Bennet is the son of Dr.
Steven & Susan Goldstein.

Jonathan Grossman, a senior at Henry Clay
High School, for being awarded a Bard Presidential
Scholarship. He will be attending Bard College in
Amandale-On—Hudson, New York, this fall. Jonathan
is the son of Kathy and Michael Grossman.

Sarah L. Mandel-Anthony, daughter of Elise
Mandel & Joseph Anthony, upon her graduation
from UK, majoring in Spanish and Political Science.

Marsha“ Roorda, who won ﬁrst place at the 4th
grade level in creative writing sponsored by SMART
Technologies, Inc. The competition was open to
schools across the United States and Canada. The
prize was a SMART board and ﬂoor stand to be
given to the school. Marshall’s novel, “In a Remote
Lab in Death Valley,” will be published on the
SMART website. Marshall attends SCAPA and is
the son of Randall Roorda & Susan Cobin.

Olga & Constantine VuIakh on the birth of their
son, David Aryeh, on May 13.

- and vulnerable; Israel is “The Liffle Satan” riot-only.

$hnlom

Published ten times annually by the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Road, Suite 203, Lexington, KY 40502

(859) 268-0672 0 Fax (859) 268-0775 0 e-mail: shalom@jewishlexington.org
June/July 2002, Volume IX, Issue 9
Stanley Saxe, President
Daniel Chejfec, Executive Director
Fran Morris, Jewish Family Services

Editorial Board
Marcia Blacker, Evelyn Dantzic Geller, Judy Levine, Ruth Poley

Production Editor & Advertising Manager, Carrie McDanald

The editorial staff has the right to edit all articles submitted for publication in \Shulom .The appearance of any advertising
in this publication does not represent any endorsement on the part of CKJF or any other agency or organization. 5hanm
is supported by the advertisements appearing in the paper.

" President's

Message
by
Stan Saxe

The First
Year

president of the Central Kentucky Jewish

Federation that the world as we know it
changed forever. It was a year marked by terror in
the US. and in Israel; a year which has seen the
continued orchestration of a campaign to disparage
the democratic state of Israel.

What could not be realized by the wars in 1948,
1967 and 1973, in which several Arab states
prepared to invade and destroy Israel but were
instead defeated, has led to a different type of
aggression against Israel. On all fronts, in UN
councils and conferences, despite what outrages
take place in the world, what poverty exists, what
injustices are put in place against women, what
states allow human slavery to exist, the focus
internationally is to demean and delegitirnize the
only democracy in the Middle East.

Israel epitomizes Western democracy in a region
ﬁghting perceived threats to medieval beliefs and
governance. The United States is ‘jThe Great Satan”

I t was during this ﬁrst year of my serving as

vulnerable but a close and convenient target.
Religious fundamentalism in the Islamic world
has borrowed heavily from classical anti—Semitism
in its war against Israel. Hey, it’s a Jewish state.
Terror, always used against Israelis, became
formally incorporated in the war launched by Arafat

see President's Message, page 5

REFUAH SHLEMAH (get well wishes):
Marty Barr, Edie Frankel, Elaine Gellin,
and Irv Rosenstein

CORRECTION

Condolences to Harry Cohen on the
death of his father, Robert Cohen. His name
was inadvertently omitted last month. ‘

3 DON’T MISS OUT! E

: Get this great paper delivered FREE :

| to your home ten times annually. Mail your |
name & address to:

\Shalom / CKJF
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 203
Lexington,-K¥_ 40502 p
or bye-mail at .
shalor'n@jewishlexington.org

L---—-_

I
I
I
I
I '.
I
I
I
i.

Super Sunday Efforts Raise Significant Funds

H May 19th, the Central Kentucky Jewish

Federation held the 2002 Super Sunday

Phone-a-Thon to raise funds, not only for
the regular Community Campaign, but for the
Israel Emergency Fund as well. A group of
dedicated volunteers, led by Lowell Nigoff and
Gail Cohen, gave us a great start in the
grassroots campaign with more than $10,000
raised on Sunday for the regular campaign. This
money subsidizes Camp Shalom, provides
scholarships and camperships, provides services
through the Jewish Family Services, advocates
for Israel, and contributes to the Birthright of
Israel initiative that offers our teenagers an
opportunity to travel to Israel. It also funds
community programs and community-wide
celebrations. An important part of the community
campaign funds are used to fund programs in
Israel, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America,
and wherever Jews are in need.

In addition to the regular campaign, we raised
an additional $1,000 for the Israel Emergency
Campaign, a national fund to provide Israel with
extra financial help in this time of need, when the

CKJF President, Stan Saxe, calling
prospective donor.

Lexington Havurah

Elects New Officers

t its recent Annual Meeting, The Lexing-
ton Havurah elected new ofﬁcers for the
coming year, 5763.

Judith Saxe will serve as President, with Ernie
Cohen taking on the roles of Vice-President and
Bulletin Editor.

The rest of the board is composed of: Evelyn
Dantzic Geller, Secretary; Terry Wilson, Trea-
surer; Rafi Finkel and Jeremy Popkin, Religious
Committee Co—Chairs; Judith Goldsmith, Educa—
tion Committee Chair; Michael Rie and David
Wekstein, Membership Committee Co-Chairs;
Judith Baumann, Social Committee Chair; and
Rabbi Uriel Smith, CKJ F Representative.

tourist industry has collapsed, unemployment has
reached over 11% and more than half a million
Israeli children live below the poverty line.
Because of critical defense needs, many social
services are curtailed, hurting populations in
need. It is our money, raised from local commu-
nities, that fund those services. Today, more than
ever, we stand‘ with Israel in spirit and in deeds.

Thanks to the following volunteers who
helped make this Super Sunday such a success—
ful one: Phil Berger, Sandy Berger, Ernie Cohen,
Gail Cohen, Evelyn Dantzic Geller, Bennett
Goldstein, Susan Goldstein, Larry Kant, Stephen
Kesten, Lowell Nigoff, Judy Saxe, Stanley Saxe,
Rabbi Uriel Smith, and Leona Stern.

Rabbi Uriel Smith, seated, and Phil Berger
working at Super Sunday Phone-A-Thon.

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR NEEDED

The Central Kentucky Jewish Federation is looking for an
energetic individual to work with the following areas of the
organization:

0 Community Activities Committee — Organizes programs

. wisuehrasthewinterdinnenathesummerrboatrideythetriptowows :r-w .

the Huntington Museum, and the annual celebration of
Yom Ha’ atzmaut.

Camp Shalom — Provides administrative and staff support
for the Camp Shalom committee.

Hillel — works with the Hillel Advisory Board and the
Faculty Advisor to promote the Jewish Student
organization’s activities at the University of Kentucky
and other campuses.

Tikkun Lexington - works with the Tikkun steering
committee to help promote volunteerism in the Jewish
community.

Experience working with volunteers and familiarity with
Judaism and the Jewish community required. This is a part-
time position. Send cover letter and resume to:

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR SEARCH
CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH FEDERATION
1050 CHINOE ROAD, SUITE 203
LEXINGTON, KY 40502

Or by e-mail to ckj f @ jewishlexingtonorg

June/July 2002 - 3

Email us at

shalom@jewishlexington.org

Jewell/s

ﬁlm!» fepnir
Jpecinlists

233-1173

NOTE:

Lots of people are weighed down by guilt, over things
they do every day, or over something they did maybe 30
years ago. We imagine that if we didn’t feel guilty, nothing
would restrain us 1- om being bad and doing bad things

In fact most people would be about as decent as they
are now, even if they could eschew guilt. True antisocial
people, those said to have no conscience, are only 3% of
males, 1 % of females.

\Vith guilt I excuse myself for doing the bad thing. This
leaves me free to go on doing it.

For the most part, anticipating that we’ (1 feel guilty
doesn’t keep us from doing bad. Rather, it handicaps us
afterwards from using our full mental energies on present
challenges.

Harwell F. Smith, Ph.D.
276-1836

Imam»; Wm Guam 8: ER: i... i...
133% ll. W iii-«E {km a were“ R1. {53‘ its: 3 ER 9 steam
{Ema} {am 1» Frim ﬁrm were

4 ' \Shalom

have been reading a lot lately — like

all of you — about the upcoming

election for Mayor of Lexington. I
could choose to see my interest in such a
political contest as something completely
separated from my “Jewish hat,” and face it
as just one more citizen for one city — but
can I? While my Jewishness is only part of
who I am and only one aspect of my total
identity, it is nevertheless who I am. When I
was studying hard sciences a long time ago,
one of the areas of knowledge that attracted
me was “epistemology” or the science of
knowing. This branch of philosophy deals
with the process by which we learn about
the world. One of the most striking concepts
in epistemology is the concept of “condi-
tions.” In order for us to learn, some condi-
tions need to be part of the process; but
sometimes those conditions by themselves
are not enough. Science refers to those
conditions as “necessary conditions" (they
MUST be there) and “sufficient conditions”
(they, by themselves or as a group, are
enough to interpret what we see).

It is clear to me that while my “Jewish
side” will always be a necessary part of the
way I look at the world, it is not “sufﬁcient.”
I am a Jew who was born in Argentina, lived
there for a good part of my life, and immi-
grated to the United States. I am the sum of
my experiences.

So when I look at the race for Mayor, it is
all of me that reacts to it. Not just my
“Jewish” side, but all of me. Yet it wouldn’t
be me if my Jewish side was not included.
From that perspective, I believe that the
race for mayor, like most political races, is
missing the mark. As time goes by, the race
becomes more and more about individuals
and less and less about the issues our city
confronts. Yet whoever wins the ofﬁce will
have to deal with those issues.

Is C:rhe race for Mayor

“Jewish issue?‘

By aDaniel Chejfec, Executive Director
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation

One big issue is the inequality of life.
Some parts of the city are well connected
and have all kind of services for their
citizens, while other parts of town look
isolated, with no access to basic services.
This problem touches my “Jewish" soul and
demands that we do something to ﬁx it. Too
many people roam the streets of Lexington
without a home. One would be too many, but
there are over 1000 homeless in town. Even
more worrisome, there are many thousands
of “working poor” — people who manage to
make ends meet day by day but can be
pushed into the street by many unforeseen
circumstances. One of those circumstances
was that the high cost of winter fuel last
year motivated the start of the “Keep the
Heat On” program. Did you know that in the
nineteenth century, the first big Jewish
charities in the Pale of Settlement were
dedicated to providing winter fuel for poor
J e w s 1’

The question remains how to deal with
the problem, not who is going to become
mayor. We need adequate low income
housing and we need to promote home
ownership as ways to deal with the problem.
We need adequate public transportation for
people to get to work and for people to be
able to move around town. We need health
services accessible to everybody, and not
just to those who can get there.

Tikkun Olam (there goes my Jewish hat
again) is about restoring the wholeness of
our human and natural environment, and to
restore that wholeness we need to restore a
balance.

As a Jew, as an Argentinian, as an
American—by-choice, I just believe that we
need to demand from each and every one of
the candidates that they answer the hard
question: How are they going to make
Lexington better?- ’ ~

\Sha lom ”@eadline
Deadline for articles for the August Shalom is July 10.
Email articles to shalom@jewishlexington.org

Articles submitted in hard copy should be double-spaced.

Mideast 101 Annual Meeting (frompagel)

An Informational Seminar on the Current Mideast Crisis the CKJF Website Committee. The new CKJF
website, www.jewishlexington.org made its debut

he Women’s Division of CKJF, led by mean? Or why the Palestinians insist in this spring.
Harriet Cooper, has put together a sending suicide bombers into Israel? Or what The Young Leadership Award, intended to
very different kind of program about happens to those who actually survive a recognize members of the community between the
the Middle East. It is not about the big political suicide bombing attack? What does Arafat ages of 25 and 45 who have distinguished them-
questions, but about understanding what is want? Or Sharon? Most important of all, how selves in the service of the community and serve as
going on and how it is being perceived. It is does it affect us? role models for others, will be presented to Bret
about trying to find, together, answers to our We all face an increasing number of people Caller for his ongoing role in promoting Federation.
questions. asking these hard questions. Join us on June Caller serves on Federation’s National Young
Rachel Belin and Alison Caller have orga- 20, at 6:30 PM at the Cafe Joseph Beth where Leadership Cabinet. Local activities included serving
nized a program for women to be held June 20 we will discuss these issues together. Please on CKJF’s successful New Facilities Committee this
at the Cafe Joseph Beth. RSVP by calling Alison at 266-5282 or Rachel at past year where he played a key role in locating the
Have you ever wondered what cartoons 269-5678. Or by email ckjf@jewishlexington.org space and negotiating the lease for our new location
' in the Chinoe Center.
“Wm, The Annual Meeting is the time when the

Federation’s activities for the year are reported.
President Stan Saxe will review committee activi-
ties and Executive Director Daniel Chejfec will
report on the status of the Federation.

Annual elections for the approximately one—third
of the at-large CKJF board members will be held.
Of the total Board Membership of 24 who serve
three year terms, 16 are elected at large by mem—
bers of CKJF and a total of eight are appointed by
1 the Presidents of Ohavay Zion Synagogue, Temple

{5” " Ail noun!!! W

Join the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation
for a

fummer ’5 Evening Boat Ride

0 O O & Picnic fupper

00 Q, aboard The Dixie Belle
Sunday, July 21.. 2002

t 6: OO- 8: 30 pm
We’ re meeting at HlSTORlC SHAKER LANDlNCt at 6: 00 pm!!
Boot will return at 8:30pm
Bring your own picnic supper, and CKJF will provide soft
drinks, plates, utensils (all disposable goods)
AND dairy dessert!

Adath Israel, The Lexington Havurah, and the
Lexington Chapter of Hadassah. Membership in the
CKJF and eligibility to vote is deﬁned as contributing
to the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation annual
campaign. Members are encouraged to attend. vote
and participate.
This year’s CKJF Annual Meeting will be at 7:30

pm, Wednesday. June 19, 2002, in the social hall of

g Ohavay Zion Synagogue, Edgewater Court. Light

i refreshments will be served.

President's Message (from page 2)

and the Palestinian Authority in September, 2000.

This current war of terror has deeply depressed the

Israeli economy. In late May, The Wall Street Journal

3 reported that since its founding in 1948 Israel has had
strong growth but last year the economy contracted
for the ﬁrst time. We cannot tolerate anti-Semitism,
not in Europe where it has been cultivated and
promoted through the centuries, not here in the U.S.,

i not anywhere else in the world. We cannot allow

‘ anti-Semitism to become accepted or tolerated. No

i longer can one kill Jews with impunity. We cannot

1 tolerate a weakened Israel.

Space is limited so mail in your reservation todmlt
For more info. or directions, call CKJF at 859.268.0672
or email us at octivﬁiesﬁewishlexhgtortom

Our challenge today is to build a strong commu-
nity here in Central Kentucky, one which promotes
social justice and can respond to anti-Jewish, anti-

_ Israel bias. This includes counteracting the organized

efforts seen on college campuses, including the

University of Kentucky, to wound Israel and its
supporters. Our challenge is one we gladly accept.

Our challenge is to continue what we know is
effective—programs of education and action. Educate
those around us. Write elected ofﬁcials, write the
media, write checks. Our challenge, which we gladly

E accept as a Federation, is to develop additional
' creative and innovative programs of education and
action and to implement them.

Fade
Please make checks payable to CKJF & mail to: was” 4) its

9
CKJF Boat Trip ,1050 Chime Rd. Suite 203, p @
Lexington, KY 40502 90%: mpg?“

June/July 2002 - 5

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6 ' “Shalom

Alexanderplatz Berlin:

Cabaret Revisited

by Michael Grossman

ctually, that’s not true. I had never physically been in Berlin before. My prior

experience with Berlin had been through Alfred Doblin’s Alexanderplatz, a brilliant

novel depicting Berlin during the years between the two world wars; or perhaps as
told through song ard dance by Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in the musical, Cabaret. Of
course, there was also JP ’3 famous misstatement of “Ich ben ein Berliner” (a dough—
nut) and Reagan’s lecture to Gorbachav “Tear down that Wall.” But all that changed
last month when I went to Berlin for the first time.

I did not visit Berlin as part of some tour of Germany. I travel to Germany quite
frequently on business. I overcame the raw emotion Of being in Germany a long time
ago. That’s not to say that I don’t look at elderly white haired men and women with a
sense of curiosity (“Where were you sixty years ago? What happened to your Jewish
neighbors?”). These days there are far more pink and orange aired, multi-pierced and
tattooed young people in German cities than there are older folks. And yet, Berlin still
has its own mystique.

Berlin! The name conjures up powerful images of demagoguery and war, terror and
torture and death, airlifts and walls, East versus West, massive classical architecture,
final solutions.

I went to Berlin as a Jew.

The cab driver, an African who had lived in Berlin for many years, pointed out a few
sights on the drive from Tegel Airport to Gendarmenmarkt, where my hotel was located
— a train station on the outskirts, where the Jews were put in rail cars to the camps.
There is a modernistic memorial across from the station marking this sight. (The driver
had no idea I was Jewish, and indeed he pointed out “non-Jewish" sights as well.)

Berlin is the fastest growing Jewish community in the world today! (Anyway, that‘s

what I read). There are

over 20,000 as" Jews in

Berlin, and , overl()().0()0

in Germany, I went to Berlin as a Jew. The vas,

majority are. recent

axriyals from i\)ii\~ill and M

points east, who have far different traditions from German Jews.

The most striking “Jewish” site in Berlin is the new Jewish Museum. I know practi-
cally nothing about architecture, but the architecture of this building is so .iscerall;
powerful that some have argued that the building should have been left empty so as not
to diminish its power. This Daniel Libeskind building is complicated, but will stir emo-
tions in even the most casual visitor, as it did for me. Libeskind used concepts of
absence, emptiness, and the invisible — expressions of the disappearance of Jewish
culture in the city —— to design the building.

The building’s shape is based on a Star of David that is intersected by a line.
Libeskind says he had three goals in mind when designing the building: the enormous
contribution to Berlin history made by its Jewish citizens, the necessity of integrating
Holocaust memory into the consciousness of the city, and the acknowledgment of the
erasure of Berlin’s Jewish life. Inside, the spaces make the visitor uneasy and disori-
ented, to simulate the feeling of those who were exiled. A vast hollow cuts through the
museum to mark what is gone. When the historical chronology reaches the rise of the
Third Reich, the hall’s walls, ceilings, and floor close in as the visitor proceeds. A
chillingly hollow Holocaust Void, a dark windowless chamber, reminds visitors that
much has been lost. This is punctuated at the end of the chamber by a recent sculpture
of thousands of contorted metal faces. The Jewish Museum is not a Holocaust mu-
seum; rather, it is a history-teaching device that reaches back roughly 2000 years when
the first Jews settled in Germany. It takes visitors through the ups and downs of
Germany’s once-thriving population of Jews who made major contributions to German
art and industry until Hitler came to power.

The Hebrew inscription above the main entrance to the New Synagogue reads,
“Open ye the gates to let a righteous nation in, a nation that keeps the faith.” (Isaiah
26:2). The building was consecrated in 1866. With its 3200 seats, it was the largest
Jewish house of worship in Germany. The Synagogue was desecrated and set aﬂame
on Kristallnacht, but due to the actions of the precinct police chief, the building was
saved from heavy damage. It was severely damaged by Allied bombs,