New York City wasn't the only place in which the treatment of Israel at the United Nations was under discussion recently.
On Sunday evening, September 25, 2011, Penn Friends of Israel and the International Affairs Association hosted Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, at Houston Hall on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
UN Watch is a non-governmental organization the goal of which is to measure the performance of the UN according to its founding mission. Neuer's topic was, "From Eleanor Roosevelt to Qaddafi: An Insider's Account of the Rise and Fall of Human Rights at the U.N."
The twentieth annual Equality Forum is being held in Philadelphia. This year this global LGBT summit is highlighting the achievements of the State of Israel in giving equal opportunities to all sexual orientations.
According to the Equality Forum's Executive Director Malcolm Lazin:
Our 20th anniversary celebrates the transformation from a groundbreaking conference that focused on an emerging civil rights movement into the annual Equality Forum recognized as the premier annual national and international LGBT summit.
Israel as the featured nation will be represented by the Ambassador to the U.S., major Israeli LGBT leaders, and Tel Aviv DJs and entertainers."
The annual Equality Forum includes 25 panels, International Equality Dinner, SundayOUT! at The Piazza, six parties, 13th Annual Gay and Lesbian Art Exhibit, theater, and special events. There is no registration fee and all panels are free.
Details of the Featured Nation Israel Programs follow the jump.
JRAid is a new program of the Jewish Relief Agency (JRA), the food distribution program founded by Rabbi Menachem Schmidt, of the Chabad Hasidim.
JRA Director Amy Krulik describes JRAid as
A brand new program...launched on September 18, 2011. The goal of the program is for our JRA volunteers to provide additional assistance and support to people in the community. It's a way to go beyond just providing food support, but to help people with everyday tasks, (such as) changing light bulbs, doing minor home repairs, providing rides to the doctor, (making) friendly phone calls or friendly visits to home bound seniors, really trying to fill in the pieces, primarily for people who don't have family or support networks in the area.
(JSPAN) The third Progressive Summit in Philadelphia begins Friday night with a debate between Kathleen Kane and Patrick Murphy at 6:30 pm at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St. (just north of City Hall).
On Saturday and Sunday there will be workshops and panels about critical issues progressives are working on this year, and some of the best practices in progressive organizing. Saturday evening is a night of comedy and a variety of parties. The full agenda is here. Here is a link to register for the Summit.
The Summit is a place to build relationships and network with other progressives. Start with JSPAN Board member Marc Stier who will be on two panels, Don't Stop Believing: Managing Activism Fatigue, and Building Coalitions That Win.
Students at the Jack M. Barack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, PA studied the Republican Presidential Candidates engaged in debates, and ran mock primaries and caucuses.
Barack Obama, Glenn Beck, Ed Koch and Ehud Barak will headline the premiere of Shalom TV Live
Jews throughout North America will have a new channel available for viewing beginning today, February 1, 2012, as "Shalom TV Live" premieres with a wide array of programming.
Shalom TV Live can be viewed online on any computer or mobile device by visiting the Shalom TV Web site. The channel will also be premiering in New York City and in Miami on Hotwire Communications and will soon be carried on cable systems throughout the country.
The new television channel will compliment Shalom TV's extremely successful Free Video On Demand programming which is currently available in more than 40 million homes on virtually every cable system in the United State and on Rogers Cable in Canada.
A Jewish "PBS-style" channel in the breadth of its programming, the first week of Shalom TV Live features:
the annual dinner of the Zionist Organization of America in NY and the addresses of ZOA President Morton Klein and keynote speaker Glenn Beck;
the Union For Reform Judaism's Biennial in Washington, DC, with President Barack Obama, Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Jewish Agency Chair Natan Sharansky, and outgoing URJ President Rabbi Eric Yoffie,
an interview with former New York City Mayor Ed Koch
an interview with the recent past chairman of the Presidents Conference, Alan Solow, a longtime friend of President Obama.
And viewers will share in the fiftieth anniversary of the Foundation For Jewish Culture as its CEO, Elise Bernhardt, presents Jewish Cultural Achievement Awards to individuals who have made major cultural contributions, including Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt.
In addition, Shalom TV Live will feature a daily newscast from Israel, children's programming every morning and afternoon, a series profiling the hottest Israeli musical artists ("Muzika"), and an "HBO-like" series following Jewish singles in their search for that special someone ("From Date To Mate").
If you're like me, it's a let-down to buy produce flown or trucked in from California, which is what are available these days in the supermarkets, even in Whole Foods, which may have the biggest selection of organic produce around. Some farmers' markets are open on Saturdays, but if you keep Shabbat, your best option is the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. It's open seven days a week, and it's indoors, so you (and the vendors) do not have to freeze in the open air.
When was the last time you've visited this market? You'll be surprised and delighted by the lively changes there. Check out the Reading Terminal Market website for fun events, including the Valentine Day's wedding of four couples in the center court at noon.
Some 900 Jewish high school students, gathered in Center City Philadelphia from across North America this week for United Synagogue Youth's annual international convention, appear to have "topped" the official world record for the most Hanukkah dreidels spun simultaneously in the same room. With so many more present than needed to break the current record of 541, these Jewish teens fully expected to reach their goal and independent observers say preliminarily that they believe 687 of them successfully achieved their goal.
Over 900 Jewish high school students from across North America will gather in Philadelphia December 25-29 for United Synagogue Youth's annual international convention. The convention, the largest annual gathering of Jewish young people, wraps up a year of events marking USY's 60th anniversary, and will include an attempt - expected to be successful - to achieve the official world record for the most dreidels spun simultaneously in the same room; remarks by Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, the highest ranking Jewish member of the U.S. military; and student participation in community service work in Philadelphia.
Last week, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces began a new tradition here in Philadelphia with their first annual Gala. Everyone enjoyed the music under the direction of Udi Bar as well as the drinks and fine food.
However, the real reason everyone came out was to show their support for the soldiers of the IDF. Their jobs is to look after Israel, and it is the job for the Friends of the IDF to look after them.
Keynote speaker former Governor Ed Rendell explained that he and his brother Robert were not raised in a religious home, but his father told them to remember that they are Jews, to remember how Jews have been treated over the years, and to support Jewish causes like FIDF whenever they could.
Although Rendell has had many titles: Governor of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Mayor of Philadelphia and Philadelphia District Attorney, he said the title of which he is most proud is that of 2nd Lieutenant from his service in the reserve from 1968 to 1974.
The Friends of the IDF supports Israeli soldiers in many ways:
The IMPACT! program grants full scholarships to soldiers who come from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background and seek a higher education. Each scholarship recipient is required to complete 130 hours of community service annually. IMPACT! Student Maru Gete, an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant, came to tell us how the FIDF allowed him to realize his dream of going to medical school.
The Legacy Program supports thousands of widows, orphans and other family members who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved-one fallen during military service. Galit Cochva was on hand to speak courageous of her husband Ron who died when his helicopter crashed in Lebanon.
The Lone Soldier Program supports the 2,800 determined young men and women from all over the world who choose to leave the comfort of their homes and families to travel to Israel, become proud IDF soldiers and make Israel their home. Friends of the IDF is a family to Lone Soldiers who have no family of their own in Israel.
Wynnewood native Shoval Dorani returned to Philadlephia to tell us about her life as a lone soldier and the support she received from the Friends of the IDF.
Here is what she had to say:
Good evening. My name is Shoval Dorani and for the past year I have been serving as a proud lone soldier in Oketz, the independent canine special forces unit of the Israel defense force.
I was born in North Miami Beach, Florida and raised in beautiful Wynnewood, Pennsylvania along with my brother Omri and my sister Liat. I had the privilege of receiving a Jewish Day School education and was raised in a home where the state of Israel was constantly in our hearts and in our minds. My father was born in Israel and my mother has always considered Israel her second home, so we traveled to Israel often. Each time I stepped onto Israel soil, I felt a sense of belonging. I was home.
The remainder of Shoval's remarks follow the jump.
Three generations of Folkshulers in the Robinson/Singer family: My children Natalie and Julia Robinson, my husband Dave Robinson (z'l) and my mother Pearl Singer. Photo: Margie Singer.
— Sari Harrar
Philadelphia's Kehilla for Secular Jews and the Jewish Children's Folkshul has just celebrated a milestone — the 100th anniversary of secular Jewish schools and camps in North America. Today, our Folkshul is unique, one of just a handful of secular Jewish schools surviving in the U.S. But during the heyday of this important but long-overlooked movement, there were dozens in Philadelphia and New Jersey - and nearly 1,000 secular Jewish schools across the U.S. and Canada.
Behind the celebration is a long history - and some modern-day evolution. Beginning with one small school in New York City in 1910, nearly 1,000 secular schools flourished in 160 communities in the U.S. and Canada between 1910 and 1960, teaching Yiddish language and Jewish history, culture and values to the children of Jewish families. These included about 50 schools in Philadelphia neighborhoods like Strawberry Mansion, Overbrook Park and the Northeast. Nearby, there were secular schools in Chester, Reading, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. In New Jersey, there were secular schools in Camden, Vineland, Trenton, Atlantic City, Asbury Park, Long Branch, New Brunswick and many other towns. In Delaware, there were three secular Jewish schools in Wilmington.
4th Annual Israeli JazzPhest Offers International Flare
From South to West Philadelphia and Center City to the 'Burbs, November will be filled with the eclectic sound of the Israeli JazzPhest (November 10-20). This year's JazzPhest hosts five dynamic ensembles each with a unique voice - fusing jazz with a wide range of musical forms and genres from around the world.
Fifth graders from the Perelman Jewish Day School in Melrose Park, PA join with seniors from the Klein JCC in Northeast Philadelphia to mark the Jewish holiday of Simchas Torah which celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings. Standing from left in the front row are, Selma Fleigelman, Zev Rosenberg, Bella Magerman, Helena Federman, Sara Weingram and Brynn Kantrowitz. Sharing the moment (back row from left) are Shelley Geltzer, Klein JCC adult services program director and Rabbi Chaim Galfand, of the Perelman Jewish Day School.
Now celebrating its 36th anniversary year, the non-profit Klein JCC provides social, educational and cultural programs, as well as vital social services for people living in Northeast Philadelphia and its surrounding communities.
P'nai Or Philadelphia is proud to celebrate the Chai (18th) anniversary of Rabbi Marcia Prager as our spiritual leader.
The community is holding a Shabbaton on Friday October 28-Saturday October 29, 2011. Events include Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday at 6:30 pm, Torah study, Services and a pot-luck lunch on Shabbat morning beginning at 9 am, followed by teachings and mincha, seudah shlishit, maariv, and havdalah. These are all free and open to the public. Delicious catered Shabbat dinner and Saturday night dinner are available for a fee; reservations must be made in advance by emailing RebMarciaChai@gmail.com.
Shari Beck-Nahman (center) pre-school director of the Klein JCC in Northeast Philadelphia, explains the meaning of the lulav and etrog, symbols of the seven-day Jewish festival of Sukkot to pre-school students Eden Bengera, 3, (left) and Jordyn Gomer, 2, (right) both also of Northeast, while seated in the JCC's Sukkah. The Sukkah structure is symbolic of the 40-year period when the children of Israel wandered in the dessert in temporary shelters. Sukkot is a joyous fall festival also celebrating the bounty of the harvest and is usually accompanied by music, singing and dancing.
Rembrandt's Head of Christ Philadelphia Museum of Art
-- By Hannah Lee
When I learned that the National Museum of American Jewish History would be collaborating with the Philadelphia Museum of Art on an interfaith forum and conversation about the Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus exhibit at the art museum, I was eager to sign up. So much has been written about this exhibit, both in secular press (New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer) as well as the Jewish press (Tablet and Forward). It is a topic that is not surprisingly fascinating to Jews, as Jesus was born of Jewish parents and so much strife over the centuries have been waged in his name by descendants of his apostles. It was thrilling to be in the audience with members of the other faiths, in a harmonious conversation about a religious icon and symbol, because we usually only are taught by members of our own faiths.
Larry Silver, Professor of Art History at the University of Pennsylvania, moderated the interfaith panel discussion, and he launched it with a query from his curator friend who asked, "why not the head of Christ?" He proceeded to answer it himself by pointing out the works of Rembrandt represented a movement away from iconography towards a more human portrayal of Jesus, and the face is the window onto the human soul. He then presented to us in the audience and the panel members (on a separate monitor) about 13 paintings of Jesus, only one of which was by Rembrandt.
Liberty Medal award-winner Secretary Robert Gates and David Eisner, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center
Presenting the Liberty Medal to former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates were SFC Dana Graham of the Liberty USO, Anthony Odierno, representing the Wounded Warrior Project, and David Eisner, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center.
After a lifetme of public service, in the CIA, and ending with serving as Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Robert Gates was awarded the Liberty Medal on September 22 at the National Constitution Center. The word "liberty" took on added meaning as David Eisner, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, had invited Iraq war veteran Anthony Odierno, representing the Wounded Warrior Project, and SFC Dana Graham of the Pennsyvalnia Army National Guard, representing the USO of Pennslvania and Southern New Jersey (Liberty USO), to present the actual Liberty Medal to Dr. Gates.
This fall, in Summit Church's Fellowship Hall, a High Holiday gathering unlike anything you may have ever experienced will unfold again, as P'nai Or - the Mt. Airy Jewish renewal congregation whose name means "Faces of Light" - offers High Holiday services of a different stripe to seekers of all backgrounds.
The High Holidays at P'nai Or are Jewish renewal at its best," said Rabbi Marcia Prager who has been co-leading these festive gatherings, along with many talented P'nai Or members, for eighteen years. "We blend traditional liturgy with uplifting heart-opening poetic translations so that Hebrew and English prayers flow intertwined with each other. The music is profound - deep, high and sweet in a way that caresses your soul. And of course, everyone is included. There is passionate prayer, quiet meditation, opportunities to reflect and do some pretty deep inner work, and also time to share, to be creative and even make some new friends."
Kenneseth Israel Launches E-Learning Hebrew Program for Elementary School Students.
BLUE BELL --- Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI) Blue Bell is marking both the Jewish New Year and the new start of the school year by introducing an initiative that will take learning to the next level. KI's e-Learning Hebrew program is one of the area's first online programs for elementary age religious school students. Combining both in-class and online instruction, students will acquire a broader understanding and appreciation of Hebrew and their heritage. Enrollment for the program is now in progress.
According to Rabbi Kevin Kleinman,
"We are very excited about the launch of this program, which will supplement KI's one-day-a-week classroom program. By meeting with their instructors and peers in a classroom once each week, and then connecting with their teachers from home for Hebrew e-learning, students can include their families in the learning process as they explore and interpret prayers and study Hebrew."
This on-going series will explore some of the ways that Jews have created a sense of kehillah (community), both traditional and modern. Part 1 focused on a contemporary approach, the list-serve; in this article, I will explore the traditional method of hospitality; future articles will focus on Chabad, a group of Jews with phenomenal outreach as well as integral cohesion, and how one religious institution, Lower Merion Synagogue, has managed to send so many of its youth to make aliyah (immigration to Israel), and even to serve in Tzahal (the Israeli Army).
Recently, my daughter's new apartment was burglarized, so I found myself making travel arrangements on short notice. I couldn't find hotel space close to her Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago, so I reserved the bedroom and bathroom offered by a young couple on the Airbnb website. My daughter stayed with me there for two nights and it was perfect for our needs. Later this month, I will return for another visit, this time with my teen daughter. The very day I landed in Chicago, the New York Times ran a feature on Airbnb and its placement service in its Business section.
As the Pennsylvania General Assembly takes up the subject of school vouchers in September, the Jewish Social Policy Action Network will hold a discussion of vouchers at noon on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at Duane Morris LLP, 30 South 17th Street, Philadelphia. Register for details and to attend this event at 215-635-2664.
The speakers will be Pennsylvania Senators Anthony Williams and Daylin Leach. Last February, Marty Moss-Coane moderated a school voucher debate on Radio Times between William and Leach debated school.
This series will explore some of the ways that Jews have created a sense of kehillah (community), both traditional and modern. Part 1 will focus on a contemporary approach; in future articles, I will explore the traditional method of hospitality; a focus on Chabad, a group of Jews with phenomenal outreach as well as integral cohesion; and how one religious institution, Lower Merion Synagogue, has managed to send so many of its youth to make aliyah (immigration to Israel), and even to serve in Tzahal (the Israeli Army).
In June 2007, I launched the LMShuls list-serve for the Orthodox community of Lower Merion. It was immediately embraced and, as of this writing, there are 1,195 subscribers. No, there are not that many shomer-mitzvot Jews even if we are more identifiable by our festive garb on Shabbat and Yom Tov (the Jewish holy days).
-- by Amy Krulik Senator Arlen Specter will keynote this National Day of Service Event
The Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) will hold its monthly September food distribution on Sunday, September 11th, 2011 as part of the National Day of Service to recognize the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Senator Arlen Spector will give the keynote address and will be joined by area civic and political leaders. Volunteers from throughout the 5-county Philadelphia area, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware will join together to pack and deliver food to struggling families throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
Please join us for our Fall Open House
Sunday October 2nd, 2011
2:00-4:00pm
o Take a tour of our campsite and learn how we create the spirit of kibbutz...close to home.
o Meet Galil families, campers, counselors, & professional staff.
o Find out more about Galil's informal education and leadership training programs.
o Discover what we have in store for our 66th summer in 2012.
Camp Galil
146 Red Hill Road
Ottsville, PA 18942
Directions are available on our website at www.CampGalil.org.
Families are welcome! Learn more about Galil on our website at www.CampGalil.org
To RSVP by Friday, September 30th
or for more information, contact:
Ilana Goldfus, Camp Registrar
registrar@campgalil.org
(609) 558-1395
(Philadelphia) It is possible to make an immediate difference for the survivors of one of this month's many heart-breaking tragedies. Mt. Airy resident Aviva Perlo's sister and brother-in-law, Josh and Robin Berry died in a horrible Houston, Texas car crash. Their three children are injured; the older two are paralyzed from the waist down. Remaining family do not have sufficient funds for their care. If your first thought is how to help, there's an easy way to do so.
MobileCause is partnering with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston to raise donations for the family in need via The Berry Foundation, established for the children's care. Through Mobilecause anyone with a cell phone can make a carrier billed micro-donation of $10 by texting the word "Berry" to 85944.
As part of a lecture series at the National Museum of American Jewish History, this past Tuesday evening was a session titled, "Challenges to American Jewish Leaders Today." The featured panelists were Dr. Erica Brown, scholar-in-residence at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and winner of the esteemed Covenant Award for her work in Jewish education, and Dr. Steven Cohen, research professor of Jewish Social Policy at Hebrew Union College and director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at NYU.
The Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia hosted the Israeli National Master's Team (Nivcheret Yisrael Vatikim) this week. The soccer players began a few years ago as an unofficial group of former professional players who simply wanted to keep active in the sport. Now they travel the world representing Israel and its diversity. The Israelis play as one although they are members of several different religions: Christian, Druze, Muslim and Jewish.
Beginning the U.S. tour in Philadelphia (Tel Aviv's sister city), last Sunday they challenged the West Chester Predators'Over-30 Men's Travel Team. Although the Israelis fought a hard game, they lost 2-1. Pictured here, the Israelis are in white and blue uniforms, the Predators are in black.
Dignity characterized Philadelphia's Gay Pride Parade yesterday. Each group marching past the review stands at Independence Mall stood tall and in the thousands, reflecting a growing and strong array of social service, religious and artistic, family and corporate support for equality across the full range of gender.
The Philadelphia Jewish Voice was on the scene with a substantial booth at the six hour Penn's Landing party into which the parade participants and observers poured. Why? Rabbi Janet Marder put the matter most succinctly to my mind in the October 1985 issues of the Reconstructionist Magazine: "Reverence for tradition is no virtue when it promotes injustice and human suffering."All afternoon long, Jews and non-Jews of all ages and gender orientations came over to appreciate and explore our Jewish presence. We could see representatives of Beth Ahavah, the Delaware Valley's only gay and lesbian synagogue, as busy as we, across the courtyard.
The progress in GBLTQ acceptance in Jewish life is substantial, albeit incomplete and insufficient. Since the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College led the way with unconditional ordination of gay and lesbian students in 1984, all the movements, save for for Orthodoxy have found their way to inclusive rites and ordinations. A few summers back National Havurah Institute offered programming to raise awareness of the leadership, challenges and needs of transgender Jews. In Jewish Renewal inclusion has long been manifest and encoded within its ethical platform.
"I'm so glad you're here," was what we heard over and over at the parade yesterday. We're offering a free raffle through the end of June with one of the prizes a free commitment ceremony with trimming donated from the flowers, cake, clothes and more.
Jeremiah Alexander retired last week as Refugee Resettlement Case Manager at HIAS. He was interviewed by Hannah Lee.
Do you remember your first meeting with a refugee family at the Philly Airport?
I'll never forget the first family that I met at the airport. It was actually my first day at work! They were a Burmese Chin family who came from India and were being reunited with their father who had immigrated to the states many years prior. Though he was dying from cancer, there was an intense joy that radiated from him knowing that he was going to spend the rest of his days with his family. I remember feeling extremely privileged to be a part of such an amazing moment. Two of those arrivals later went on to work for HIAS. Esther worked as a Case Aide before being hired as a translator for the Philadelphia School District. She was replaced at HIAS by her amazing brother Gin who currently accompanies many of our Burmese and Bhutanese clients to their necessary appointments.
Philadelphia Israeli Consul General Daniel Kutner held a celebration of Israel's 63rd anniversary at the National Museum of American Jewish History, and hundreds of area residents and VIPs turned out.
Mayor Michael A. Nutter (left) joined Consul General Daniel Kutner (right) for the celebration.
Sam Katz, Rabbi Aaron Landis, Councilman Jim Kenney, and Joseph Zuritsky (left to right) were among the people who came to the National Museum of American Jewish History to celebrate Israel's 63rd anniversary.
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-- by Lori Lowenthal Marcus
— by Chip Alfred
— by John O. Mason
— by Alan Oirich
— by Hannah Lee
The Legacy Program supports thousands of widows, orphans and other family members who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved-one fallen during military service. Galit Cochva was on hand to speak courageous of her husband Ron who died when his helicopter crashed in Lebanon.
Wynnewood native 
-- Stu Coren
-- by Tobie Hoffman
By Hannah Lee
By Hannah Lee
Senator Arlen Specter will keynote this National Day of Service Event
Dignity characterized Philadelphia's Gay Pride Parade yesterday. Each group marching past the review stands at Independence Mall stood tall and in the thousands, reflecting a growing and strong array of social service, religious and artistic, family and corporate support for equality across the full range of gender. 
Jeremiah Alexander retired last week as Refugee Resettlement Case Manager at HIAS. He was interviewed by 
