xt7tb27psf4m https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7tb27psf4m/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2007-08 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, August 2007 text image Shalom, August 2007 2007 2007-08 2025 true xt7tb27psf4m section xt7tb27psf4m AUGUST 2007

 

 

   

Gesher o

ff to gre

  
 

1455, .4, . i‘,

 

at start

Israeli shlichah
4 + +

Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher
are winding up the first week of
the 2007 session. Enrollment has
been very good this year and a
multitude of activities have been
planned. Don’t miss out on all the
fun: hurry and call the CKJF office
to sign up for the second week!

That week—August 6 through
9—will feature a special guest.
Einat Divir, an Israeli shlichah (emis-

sary), will be a staff member for
Week 2 of camp. Einat is 21 years
old and has served in the Army and
Navy in Israel. She studied theater
and literature in high school and
has worked with children teach-
ing drama classes. She has also
done volunteer work with children
with disabilities. Einat’s visit to the
United States has been arranged
by the Jewish Agency for Israel.

 

 

see Camp, page 7
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation "SnipiZEitaoreg'
1050 Chinoe Road - Suite 302 - Lexington, KY 40502 FAIIg)

Change Service Requested

Lexington, KY
Permit l 719

 

 

 

  

 

John and Paula Frank

relate tales of escape
Road to us. in 403 fraught with peril

O49

By Mary lfngel

A box of Cuban cigars saved John Frank’s life.

That was 66 years ago, but the journey that took him
from Nazi Germany in 1934 to the United States in
1943 seems as fresh in his 93-year-old mind as if it
all happened yesterday. To John, it might as well
have. Such things, he says, you never forget.

John Frank and Paula, his wife of 61 years, have lived in
Lexington since 2002. They moved here to be near one

we... (mental Kentucky} eggsh
Federation annual meeting

 

AV-ELUL 5767

of their two sons, Daniel, a profes-
sor at the University of Kentucky,
and four of their seven grandchil-
dren. (Another son, Leonard, and
his family live in Israel.) But two
years aftet his parents’ arrival,
Daniel Frank, after 24 years at UK,
accepted an offer from Purdue
University and moved his fam-

ily to Indiana. His parents decided
to remain in Lexington, in their
home at Richmond Place.

John Frank was born in 1914 in
Germany. His family lived in
Cologne, where his father was a law—
yer and a grandfather was a rabbi.

see Escape, page 4

 

Linda Ravvin elected new president, Volunteer

Awards presented
¢ 4 +

On June 27, the Central Kentucky
Jewish Federation held its annual
meeting at the corporate offices at
the Chinoe Center. The program
started with a report by outgoing
president Marty Barr, who reviewed
the changes introduced in the func-
tioning of the Board of Directors to
promote more active and participa—
tory meetings. He then reported pos-
itive developments in almost every
area of the organization, culminating
with improved, cooperation among
the different local Jewish organiza-
tions, as highlighted by the joint pro-
grams on Martin Luther King Day,
Yom Hashoah, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
He also highlighted the reactiva-
tion of the Community Relations
Committee and its growing activity
in representing the Jewish commu-
nity on issues of public concern.

Following Marty, Executive Director
Daniel Chejfec gave a brief report
on the state of world Jewry and the

 

     

a . -. 4:?
Linda Ravvin, incoming President, shares

vision for CK IF

 

situation in Israel. He pointed out
the importance of every member of
the Jewish community’s taking to
heart the lyrics of the old pioneer :
song, “Anu banu artza lib’not u’leibanot
ba”—”We came to the land to rebuild
it and to be rebuilt by it,” meaning
that we need to continue our efforts

see Annual meeting, page 3

 

 MIS-PAGINATICN

TH RUGHUT
VOLUME

 

  

IN THIS ISSUE
President's Message ................................ 4
Leisure Club revives favorite activity ....................... 4

Environmental concerns bring Israelis, Jordanians and

Palestinians together .................................. 5
From the Executive Director ............................. 6
Third Opinion ........................................ 7
Ask a Rabbi ......................................... 8
IFS: At Your Service .................................. 9
Just for Kids ........................................ 10
The new student .................................... to
History of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Part XX ........... II
B’tayavon .......................................... 14
Around the Community ............................... 16
Lexington Havurah ................................... I6
Lexington Hadassah .................................. I7
TAI ............................................... I8
OZS .............................................. 19
Community Calendar ................................. 20

D

W sta

 

SHALOM

Published ten times per year by the
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 302, Lexington, KY 40502
Phone (859) 268-0672 0 Fax (859) 268-0775
email: shalom@jewishlexington.org

AUGUST 2007, VOLUME XIV, ISSUE 6

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

SHALOM COMMITTEES

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

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nicky Blackburn, Ryan LaZur,
Michelle Levine, and Ruth Moser

Production Services by Direct Response, Inc.

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

© 2007 by Central Kentucky Jewish Federation

2 - August 2007 Shalom

 

 

' ' CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH FEDERATION
SHALOM ENDORSES ICPA RESOLUTION ON
0"] Vfléfltipw IMMIGRATION REFORM

In accordance with the underpinnings of American values of
democracy, tolerance. entrepreneurial spirit and equality under
the law.and congruent with core JeWish values of human
rights, human dignity and fairness. the Jewish Councrl For
Public Affairs (JCPA), adopted a resolution on immigration
reform during its recent 2007 Plenum. Immigration reform

in the US. should be guided by the following prinCIples:

1. The US. has a valid national interest in promoting the rule of law,
securing borders and excluding those who engage in unlawful activity.

It therefore should develop effective, reasonable and conSIstent security
standards which should be applied both to persons wishing to enter

the US. as well as those who are already here, legally or illegally.

 

2. Most who migrate to the U.S. are hardworking, and willing to
make personal sacrifices to improve their circumstances. Most are
devoted to family values, seeking to provide a better future for their

Neil Poley reads
Shalom Whfle waiting children, and are open and eager to embracing American values while

for the golem in preserving the values and culture ofthe countries of their birth.
Prague. . . . . . .
3. US. policy should strive to Institute uniform, compassionate

and humane protocols to process refugee and asylum claims,

 

Opinions 4. Those entering the US. legally who desire to settle here
(I b permanently should not be subject to undue delays. Punitive
EXPI‘ESSE y measures that criminalize actions by social service providers
writers in should be avoided, undocumented workers should be afforded

appropriate protection as to working conditions and standards.
and a family reunification policy should be implemented to

Silalom eradicate the inhuman separation of family members.
. 5. A rational system of immigration is vital to the continued
are "at necessarily economic growth ofthe US: it fosters entrepreneurship. attracts
those of the editorial productive workers, and helps the U S to remain on the leading
‘ . , .‘ . edge of science. humanities and the arts. As the undocumented
staff or adVisors, nor 0f become "legal." their contribution to the U 8. economy is enhanced
the Central Kentucky through work paying taxes and buying goods and serVices.

*w‘.‘ ‘d era -)
It 18h Ft L t“ n JCPA urges JeWish communities around the country to actively

01‘ its constituent participate in the legislative reform process. so that immigration
- - ~ fl reform reflecting these prinCIples can be implemented.

 
 
 

 

i 01' committee The Central Kentucky JeWish Federation based upon the

 

mpmlwrc“ Letters to rertzmrnerniam . x t, ., .lqialualia vuliillllllee. fully
, endorses the JCPA resolution on immigration reform, and encourages
the Ed‘t‘” are JIWJYS all members of the JeWish community and its allies in the broader
welcome community to work to ensure that immigration reform is adopted.
send them to July 10‘ 2007
dj—ifrqbbardstowngom, Michael J. Grossman, Co—Chair CKJF Community Relations Committee

 

 

 

 

 

If you are not receiving Jewish weekly email and

would like to, please email your name and email
address to ckif@iewishlexington.org

 

9:96“ Federaf/o I I
gr Central Kentucky JeWIsh Federation
”harms“
CKJF President CKJF Board
Linda Ravvin Judy Baumann Lowell Nigoff
Elissa Brown Linda Noffsinger
Executive Committee David Feinberg Angie Ornstein
Michael Grossman, Vice President Odette Kaplan Rickie Rosenberg
Pat Shraberg, Secretary Doug Katz Walter Solomon
Robert Grossman, Treasurer Mimi Kaufman David Wekstein
Ruth Poley, Member—At-Large David Levine Carole Wilson
Marty Barr, Immediate Past President Jennifer Miller

J

Ski/om Deabline

Deadline for articles for the September Shalom is August 10.
Email articles to di—ifr@bardstown.com.
Articles submitted in hard copy should be double-spaced.

 

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Annual meeting (from page 1)

to strengthen the Jewish community
and its connections with lsrael and
the Jewish world.

Ricki Rosenberg reported on the
Campaign, emphasizing this year’s
outside-the-box approach and cre—
ativity in getting the community
involved. Her examples included the

  

Evelyn Geller receiving President’s Award.

 

 

Comedy Night and the mid-level
event on October 6, Havdallah Under
the Shining Stars. She also pointed
out the success of the Pacesetters
event and the fact thaf'tfi'é’campaign
is running, so far, with an eleven per-
cent increase card-by-card over last
year, and that the expectation is that
we will meet our goal of $380,000.

Marty Barr acknowledge those Board
members who finished their terms
and are not eligible for reelection. He
extended thanks to Lisa Satin, Stan
lsenstein, and Ray Archer for their
participation on the Board.

Pat Shraberg presented the
Nominating Committee Report, pre-
senting a slate that included Michael
Grossman, Odette Kaplan, Mimi
Kaufman, David Wekstein, and

Pat Shraberg for reelection as well
as Linda Ravvin as newly elected
member of the Board. The attendees
approved the slate and the members
were installed.

Next, Pat Shraberg presented the
nomination of Linda Ravvin as
new president of CKJF, which was
approved unanimously. Linda was
then installed as president (see her
acceptance speech on page 4).

Former president David Feinberg,
with his special humor, recognized

the efforts of his successor, outgo-
ing president Marty Barr, to promote
Jewish life and the goals of CKJF in
Central Kentucky over the past two
years. Marty accepted a work of art
by Gad Almaliah featuring a famous
quote by Rabbi Hillel.

Volunteer awards were presented.
The President’s Award, for an indi.
vidual selected by the president who
has shown commitment and dedica—
tion to the goals of CKJF and the
wellbeing of the Jewish community
in Central Kentucky over the years,
went to Evelyn Dantzic Geller. Evelyn
has served as president of CKJF, has
chaired JFS, and has been a member
of the Shalom Editorial Committee,
the Spinoza Society, and the local and
regional boards of Hadassah; she has
made many more contributions to
our community.

The Volunteer of the Year award,
named after Cookie Wenneker, is
presented every year to an individual
whose dedication and commitment
to the goals of CKJF and the wellbe-
ing of the Jewish community made
him or her stand out in the past

year. Nominations for this award are
taken from the community at large,

and the winner is selected by the
Board. This yea r’s Winner was Pat
Shraberg for her efforts on the Day of
Giving, on the Community Activities
Committee, as secretary of CKJF, and
for working on the decoration of our
new offices.

 

Pat Slzraberg ~ Volunteer of the Year.

 

The Young Leadership Award is
presented every year to a commu—
nity member between the ages of 25
and 45 for his/her commitment to
the goals of CKJF and the programs
to the community, as well as show—
ing leadership qualities in her/his
activities in the Jewish community.
Nominations are taken from the
community at large, and the winner
is selected by the Board. This year’s
winner was Judy Levey, whose past
participation as a Board member, as
well as service on the Camp Shalom
committee and her active volunteer-
ism on the Day of Giving and at
other events, including those of her
congregation at 025, mark her as

a great choice for the award. It was
bittersweet because of the upcom-
ing departure of Judy, her husband
Sandy Goldberg, and their children
from our community.

It was an evening of celebrating
accomplishments, taking stock of
where we are and laying up future
plans: everything an Annual Meeting
is supposed to be. There are many
ways to get involved in the activi-
ties of CKJF which benefit the whole

Jewish community—serving on a

 

Br .I: 4 .
Judy Levey accepts Young Leadership Award.

 

committee, participating in our annu-
al Day of Giving or our upcoming
training for the friendly visitors' pro—
gram, and many more opportunities.
If you are interested, please contact
Daniel Chejfec at the office, (859) 268-
0672, or by email at ckjf@jewishlex—
ington.org. 23X

 

859.231.0464

 

’7‘
Q. M;
g

 

For all the celebrations in life!

Dupree Catering

1006 Delaware Avenue
fax 859.253.1727

www.dupreecatering.com

 

 

 

 

August 2007 Shalom - 3

 

 

  

 

 
  

  

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» tansdowne Shoppes .

Far more im’ormeumi, c2

 

President's Message

Linda Ravvin

 

    

 

 

   

  
  

  

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1...

Escape (from page 1)

After Hitler came to power in 1933,
the family remained in Germany
until the next year, when they
moved to the Netherlands and
settled in Amsterdam. Refugees
were unable to get work permits,
so the family lived off what money
they had and by renting out rooms
in their apartment. John’s brother,
a dentist, left for England in 1935
so he could go into practice.

In 1938, John decided to leave, too,
but the immigration quota was
closed. He was working with a
Kindertransport committee that
evacuated Jewish children from
Germany after Kristallnacht. It was
during that time that he received, as
a thank-you gift, the box of cigars
that would become the currency
used to buy his way to freedom.

After the war began in 1939,
the Frank family was caught
in Holland. “Nobody could
get out, nobody," John says.

The Germans invaded Holland in

lU-lll; the conquest took just five

days. Then came the Man occupation

4 0 August 2007 Shalom

and the Gestapo, and that's when
“everything changed,” John says.

He lived underground to stay out of
the Gestapo’s way, but that wasn’t
always easy. In February 1941, many
of his friends were picked up in the
street. John escaped by running into
a bank and hiding under a desk.

The next month, John had the oppor-

I believe that the primary goal of CKJF, as part of the
National Federation system, is to be convener, coordina—
tor, and umbrella for the Jewish community as a whole.
Working with the other representatives of our commu-
nity organizations, I hope that we will reach new levels
of cooperation with joint programming, educational
opportunities, leadership development, and connec-
tion to Israel. To enable all of this, of course, we must
continue to develop and increase our annual CKJF/UJC
campaign. We must also emphasize the inclusive nature
of federations and encourage involvement by reaching
out to those. who are not connected or who are periph-
erally involved. This means that the onus is on you,

as community members, to fully participate, become
involved and take leadership roles to further these goals.

In his book, Building Powerful Community Organizations,
Michael Jacoby Brown writes: "To build commu-

nity and mutual support, groups have to go beyond
helping the individuals in the groups. They have to
help all the members to see themselves as part of a
community that can help each other in many ways,
and to use the power of the group to do this."

There are many goals which I have for CKJF and our
community (I do have a rather ambitious mind). I would
like to see new and exciting activities of all types that
will attract as many of us as possible and provide oppor-
tunities for both individual and community growth. We,
as members of CKJF, need to review our mission state-

travel from Amsterdam to Brussels.
He stayed there for a month in a
boarding house with the Gestapo,
sleeping in a bathtub by day when
the Germans were not around,

and hiding on the street at night.

A doctor with connections—and help
from the cigars—got fake documents
for John that allowed him to leave
for Paris. Even so, he had to make

 

tunity to flee, it across
and he took three bor-
it. It meant The next month, John had the oppor— ders and
leaving his tunity to flee, and he took it. it meant through
parents behind leaving his parents behind because three

because their

their health wasn’t good. He never saw Check-

 

health wasn't them again. Both died in Sobibor. Pomts‘ At
good. He each stop,
never saw he would
them again. assess his

Both died in Sobibor, an extermina-
tion camp in Poland, in April 1943.

During his work with the
Kristallnaclit refugees, John had met
Gertrude Wijsmuller, a Dutch Red
Cross worker who is credited with
beginning the Kindertransport
program and later was declared a
Righteous Gentile by Yad Vashem.
ln March 1‘44], she obtained a per-
mit for him that allowed him to

surroundings, go into the bathroom
to figure out what to do, then make
his move. Sometimes it meant put-
ting his fake papers right in the face
of the security guards, so the papers
would be too close to read. Another
time, he used an immunization cer-
tificate to get through a checkpoint
because the paper was the same
color as the passes being waved by
the people being allowed through.

see Escape, page 12

 

ment and
bylaws, as
well as the
committee
structure.
(It’s gen—
erally called updating to meet the
changing times). I am sure that each
of you also has a Vision of what you
would like to see in our community
future. Together, I hope that we will
realize all of our combined goals.
That is how a community grows
and succeeds: by working together
as the extended family that we are.

The Dalai Lama has said,
“Responsibility does not only he
with the leaders of our countries or
with those who have been appointed
or elected to do a particular job. It
lies with each of us individually.”

You have just elected me president of
CKJF, but I will not take the respon—
sibility alone—I now charge each of
you to actively involve yourselves,

to step up to leadership roles and to
participate with me in tikkun olam. X15

Leisure Club
revives favorite
activity

By Ruth A loser

On August 16, the Leisure Club will
enjoy a Chinese buffet, something
we have not done in years. This
time we will be at the Number One
Chinese Buffet on Richmond Road.
So get ready for egg drop soup, egg
rolls, and egg foo young. (Or chow
mein, or whatever you want.)

We are off in September so we can
all celebrate the High Holidays. On
October 2 we will enjoy Sukkoth at
Ohavay Zion in the sukkah. There

are no plans yet for November,

but in December we will hold

our annual Hanukkah party.

Watch Shalom for upcoming Leisure
Club events. Invitations Will be
sent in the mail, and announce-
ments are placed in newslet-

ters from Ohavay Zion and TAl.
Hope to see you soon. it

 

Eli

en
col
alr
res
im
lar

pr(

“M
ing
brii
edu
of t
pro
ciai

  

Israel 21c: Environmental concerns
bring Israelis, Jordanians and
Palestinians together

By Michelle Levine

They may come from worlds apart,
but leading political and environ-
mental figures from Israel, Jordan,
and the Palestinian Authority have
found a common theme to bring
them together—the Great Rift Valley.

The Great Rift Valley is a series

of geological rifts stretching 4,000
miles, from southern Turkey to
Zimbabwe, running through Syria
and Lebanon, along the Jordan
River, the Dead Sea, the Gulf of
Eilat and the Red Sea until Kenya,
at which point it splits into two
branches. Five hundred million
birds use the valley route to migrate
twice a year from Europe to Asia.

The multi-national group—under the
moniker of the Dead Sea Triangle
(DST)—has met twice recently,

in Jerusalem and at Kibbutz Sde
Eliyahu, to discuss the future of the
Great Rift Valley and to step up the
environmental
collaboration
already in prog-
ress through
innovative and
large-scale
projects.

Sessions were
organized by Dr.
Yossi Leshem
from Israel's
Society for the
Protection of
Nature and Tel
Aviv University.
Together with

  

Participants of the Dead Sea Triangle release a predator which
feeds on rodents instead of using pesticides.

The global aim of the DST initiative is to provide

a platform for dialog though cooperative research
and education in the Dead Sea region. Three leading
institutions of higher education, Al-Balqa University
(ABU) in Jordan, Al-Quds University (AQU) in East
Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel,
will each set up a Dead Sea Research Hub along the
shores of the Dead Sea to jointly contend with a series
of scientific challenges common to all three parties.

While the group is currently fundraising for a
research center and research bases in all three
countries, work has already begun on one proj-
ect—reducing agricultural reliance on pesticides.

Barn Owls and kestrels prey on rodents that attack
crops, so farmers are learning to build nesting boxes
to sweeten the birds’ attraction to the area; once the
birds of prey inhabit the farm, the farmer is free to
discontinue use of chemical pesticides. Apparently
the owls breed more when there is enough food

for their young—and in the midst of Sde Eliyahu's
wheat fields, these owls are laying far more eggs
than usual and their young are of various ages.

In 2004, the Tel Aviv Municipality began using kestrels
and barn owls for biological pest control, exterminating
rats and mice in urban
courtyards. Eight local
schools joined in the
education efforts to
promote this project.
More recently, Jordanian
and Palestinian farm—
ers decided to join
SPNI's project to
reduce pesticide use.

“It is a good experi—
ence to learn from the
Israelis and this proj-
ect, in particular, is
very important for our
health and environment
because we are get-

 

 

his partners
in the project
—lmad Atrash of the Palestine
Wildlife Society and retired
Jordanian general Mansour Abu
Rashed—Leshem envisions a tri-
angle of research facilities (known
as the Dead Sea Triangle) in the
Great Rift Valley, Ein Gedi, Jericho,
and Wadi Mujeb in Jordan.

“Migratory and local birds are play-
ing a key role in our collaboration,
bringing people together: farmers,
educators and scientists. The results
of the birds' activities are far more
profound than those of the politi-
cians," Leshem told lSRAELZlc.

ting rid of the rodents
and pests plaguing farmers in a natural way,"
said Atrash, who has worked in close alli-
ance with Leshem and the SPNI for years.

In January 2006, the Cleveland Federation helped ful—
fill this vision—funding research and conservation
activities with Jordanian farmers, and 20 nesting boxes
for barn owls and kestrels on the eastern shores of the
Jordan River, across the river from the Bet She’an Valley.

The program is coordinated by Rashed, a retired senior
Jordanian Intelligence Officer and one of the leaders of the
Israel-Jordan peace process; Rashed is currently the chair-
man of the Amman Center for Peace and Development
(ACPD). He explained that in the Muslim tradition, barn
owls symbolize bad luck. Thus, many of the Jordanian
farmers were hesitant to cooperate at first. Yet after a few

 

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farmers used barn owls instead of chemical pesticides
with tremendous success, others were quick to follow suit.

An integral part of the Dead Sea Triangle Initiative; ‘
the proposed Research and Visitor Center will compile
research being performed in every nation situated along
the Great Rift Valley about processes and phenomena

of the valley. Emphasis will be placed on integrated
research in the fields of geology, life sciences and archae-
ology. The center will focus on issues such as migrat-

ing birds, geology, Dead Sea studies and heritage.

Atrash is optimistic about the Dead Sea Triangle initia-
tive, and will be establishing an environmental research
and education project with Al-Quds University and

the Jericho-Wildlife Monitoring Station (JWMS)

"The JWMS has been involved in research, education,
and eco-tourism since 2001," he told ISRAELZlc.

Likewise, Leshem is hopeful that the proj-
ect will move forward in the near future,
as support is already coming in.

”Representatives from the Japan International
Cooperation Agency and Japan’s ambassador to
Israel, Yoshinori Katori, are seriously consider-
ing sponsoring an initiative for regional coop-
eration in the valley, which they refer to as the
”Corridor for Peace and Prosperity,” said Leshem.

If funding is obtained for the Dead Sea Triangle initia-

tive, the great minds of the three triangle countries
will be coming together much more frequently. 23

August 2007 Shalom 0 5

 

 

 ... --...~—uo~ u -,

 

From the Executive Director

Daniel Chejfec

 

Time for a new Zionism
+ + +

The idea of Zionism is generally associated with the
establishment and independence of the State of Israel,
and this is indeed a very important part of what
Zionism is all about. Israel, however, is not the end
but the beginning of Zionism. The existence of Israel
represented the liberation of the Jewish people, but
the liberation movement has more tasks ahead.

One of those tasks is the liberation of the individual

Jew. But this goal has been interpreted in several ways.
There are those who believe that the liberation of the Jew
means to strive for a Judaism that stresses its universal-
istic elements to the point of subsuming or even denying
its particularistic elements. These are those who claim
that "we have transcended the stage of peoplehood"; in
its Israeli incarnation, it includes those who believe that
we are to work only for the betterment of all humanity,
because political states and national identities are issues
of the past. They believe that the Jews have superseded
Zionism and that attachment to Jewish tradition is atavis-
tic, even blaming it for the persistence of the conflict with
the Palestinians. They clearly state that Israel should not
call itself a Jewish State. This group of people calls itself
”post-Zionists” and includes many in the intellectual elite
of Israel. I disagree with them in that I believe there is a
clear role for Zionism in the liberation of the individual
Jew. 1' am also uncomfortable with them because they
appear to believe that they posses the ultimate truth and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 0 August 2007 Shalom

demand that everybody else adopt
it; those who do not are condemned
and shunned. Their attitude is no
better than that of Hamas and its

‘ cadres, although their behavior does
not include terrorism. They do, how—
ever, share with Hamas and the PLO
an absolute ideological certainty with
no room for doubt or reassessment,
and that bothers me enormously.

I go back to the original formulation
of the Zionist idea, best presented, in
my opinion, by Leon Pinsker’s arti—
cle, ”Auto-Emancipation." Zionism
was intended from the beginning

 

The role of Zionism today is,
in my view, to allow the indi-
vidual Jew to embrace his/her
tradition and carry it with
him/her to the broader world.

 

to allow the individual Jew to be
able to function as such while hav-
ing access to modern society. While
the Emancipation opened up many
new opportunities and created a
situation where Jews were not dis-

criminated de jure any more,
it perpetuated the anti-Jewish
discrimination de facto. It

was this intellectual discon-
nection that gave Zionism

an audience among the

rank and file of European Jewry. The persistence of
anti-Semitism in the face of the self-styled “mod—
ern world” forced Jews to reevaluate their ideas.

 

Among those who reevaluated their ideas were those
who believed that the path to acceptance was the refor-
mulation of their Jewish identity by eliminating all the
elements offensive to their detractors, and that if the
Jews ”were only to adapt” they would be accepted. They
sought to de-emphasize all that was specifically Jewish
and to emphasize that which they considered ”universal”
values in Judaism. Some even went so far as converting
out. Their ideological descendant are the ”post-Zionists”
who believe that if Israel gives up Zionism and the
emphasis on Jewish political sovereignty, the siege by

the Arabs will end, a new era of peace will dawn, and
Israelis will be able to live as normal people. My problem
with this is that it seems to imply that for Jews to have a
normal life they are supposed to renounce their specific-
ity, something that no other people is forced to do. I also
have strong doubts that Arabs will accept anything less
than total sovereignty over a unified Arab Palestine.

see New Zionism, page 9

Make 0 lasting difference in. your Jewish community. Buy a car.
Thanks to Gene Hieger of Green’s Toyota. you can do both.

 

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JFS: At Your Service

Abby Miller, Director of Jewish Family Services

JFS:/it Your Service is a monthly column covering a wide range of issues. If you have a problem or a concern that you would like addressed
in this Shalom column, please send your queries to JFS: At Your Service, c/o Iewish Family Services, 1050