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.
I write as a concerned music patron. The recent decision to apply for Chapter 11 financial re-organization sets a troubling precedence in the music world and I wonder how Philadelphia would fare in the end? Since that decision, I have been having weekly conversations with a source within the organization and I was moved to write by our latest chat yesterday.
Yes, we can be proud that the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the top five in the nation (along with New York, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland), but I was amazed to learn that our orchestra also pays the highest salary of all these as well as the highest starting salary for the musicians (at $70,000, an unheard-of amount in the fine arts)! Equally amazing facts to me are: the Orchestra does not perform or rehearse on Sundays; the 12-week vacations that some musicians enjoy; and the contracts that stipulate a full orchestra for each performance, necessitating substitute players and a huge substitute salary payroll.
"Save Our Stiffel" is the name of a newly-formed group dedicated to keeping the Jacob & Esther Stiffel Senior center, 604 Porter Street in South Philadelphia, from closing due to lack of funds.
Programs held at the Stiffel Center include classes in Yiddish; art, poetry and music classes; cultural and travel experiences; health and exercise programs; traditional holiday programs; daily hot kosher lunches; fitness and wellness classes; medial and legal advice; chaplaincy services; and a thrift shop.
Laurel Katz, actor and radio host, is part of the effort; "No one had organized," she recalls, "a committee to raise the funds that are needed, because we found out fairly recently that that Stiffel is operating on a $200 thousand annual deficit, and they need $200 thousand by June 30th, and a promise for future funding, because they want to close it." The Stiffel Center is a branch of the Klein JCC.
Confetti rained down on philanthropist and Drexel trustee emeritus James E. Marks at the dedication of the new Intercultural Center named for Marks. The James E. Marks Intercultural Center is located on the northwest corner of 33rd and Chestnut Streets and welcomes all University students and alumni, regardless of religious traditions, humanistic beliefs, or cultural values. The Center embraces the University's broad definition of diversity, which includes socioeconomic status, ability, political beliefs, racial and ethnic background, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
This year, as every year, Jewish Women International (JWI) honors the 45,000 women and children spending Mother's Day in battered women's shelters through our annual Flower Project. These families, and the shelters that house them, need aid and resources more urgently than ever.
JWI's Mother's Day Flower Project delivers hope — both in the bouquets, gifts and beauty products we send to 200 shelters across the United States on this special day, and through initiatives, supported by Flower Project proceeds, that work every day to educate communities, empower women and break the cycle of abuse. Over 70 synagogues and organizations have signed on to help raise awareness and funds for this important cause. For each $25 contribution, JWI will send a Mother's Day card to any woman the donor chooses, thanking her for the inspiration to help women in need.
Local Participating Synagogues and Partners:
Kesher Israel Congregation, West Chester, PA.
Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County, Uwchland, PA.
Beth El, Allentown, PA.
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Wyomissing, PA.
Women of Vision - Jeiwsh Community Foundation of Central PA, Harrisburg, PA
JWI Chapter 0368, Batim, Union, NJ
JWI Chapter 0941, Springfield, NJ
Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, NJ
Jersey Tribe, Morristown, NJ
String of Pearls Reconstructionist Synagogue, Princeton, NJ
Temple Har Shalom, Warren, NJ
Participating Local Shelters:
Laurel House, Norritown, PA
Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center, Tarentum, PA
Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, West Chester, PA
Women Against Abuse, Philadelphia, PA
The Safe House, Belleville, NJ
Women Aware, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ
Strength Our Sisters, West Milford, NJ
Jersey Battered Women's Service (JBWS), Morris Plains, NJ
Opening in Partnership with Centropa coincides With Holocaust Remembrance Day, May 1.
-- by Beverly Rosen
Highlights: Over 70 Six-foot Story Panels, Student Videos, and Guided Tours
All during the spring trimester, Barrack Hebrew Academy 9th graders researched Czech history; the richness of Jewish life in Czechoslovakia prior to the Holocaust, including vibrant music, theater, and art scenes, in addition to daily life; the horrors of the Shoah; and life after World War II. They turned their research and photos into larger than life story panels and videos based on key historical happenings, personal family histories, and interviews with Holocaust survivors and children of survivors to create the Barrack Museum of Czech Jewry.
Pictured (left to right) are 9th graders Jacob Reich, Sarah Wolfson and Avi Gordon.
The Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia announces its Yom Ha'zikaron (Memorial Day) Ceremony for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. On Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m., the event will be held at the beautiful and historic Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St., in Philadelphia.
Enjoy the warmer weather by strolling through Philadelphia's historic Jewish neighborhoods. If you come from Philadelphia, chances are that you once had a close family member living in the Jewish Quarter. Take a tour of memories when South Street was the center of Jewish life in the trendy part of Philadelphia now called Society Hill.
Professionally, I lead tours of Jewish Historic Philadelphia, and this is what LimmudPhilly hired me to do. As a presenter at the LimmudPhilly held in February, I felt like I learned as much as I taught.
The participants were a varied group in age, gender and knowledge. Some added their experience, some simply took in each word with relish.
Hired by AJC in 1995 by Murray Friedman, I am the link with "continuity of identity" that is part of the mission of this great organization. Actually my husband always says my mission is to convince people that everyone in the history of the city is Jewish. He might have a point.
Bonnie Squires, president of Squires Consulting, was honored by the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival at its recent New Filmmakers Festival at the Gershman Y, for her 25 years as vice-chair of the PJFF and her role in creating the New Filmmakers Festival. She is seen here with Louis Coffey, Esq., chairman of the board of the Gershman Y, who made the presentation.
International Society for Technology in Education Conference
Application deadline: April 28, 2011
Conference: June 26-29, 2011
The Partnership for Effective Learning and Innovative Education (PELIE) is now accepting applications for a fellowship to attend the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2011 conference, which will take place from June 26 to 29, in Philadelphia. ISTE's annual conference and exposition is the world's premier educational technology event, where 20,000 education and technology professionals from 60 countries unite for four days of professional learning and collaboration.
Individuals involved in part-time Jewish education for children are encouraged to apply. Applicants can come from all aspects of complementary Jewish education whether they are rabbis, educators, lay leaders or volunteers in synagogue schools, community programs, JCC initiatives, or youth groups. Fourteen fellowships are available.
Take your kids to see the frogs, gnats, wild beasts and locust in person.
In celebration of Passover, the Philadelphia Zoo will partner with Lubavitch of Bucks County, PA to offer Kosher for Passover food concession items on Thursday, April 21, 2011 and Sunday, April 24, 2011, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. As one of the top family destinations in the region, the Philadelphia Zoo recognizes the importance of being supportive to the Jewish community during such a significant time for families to gather.
"We are thrilled to honor Passover and give back to the community," says Andrea Rodgers, Manager, Events and Community Partnerships.
Al Berger and Carol Auerbach, husband and wife, each heads up a private family foundation. The Auerbach Agency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia was founded by Auerbach when she lived in Philadelphia. Now, as a board member of the Jewish Funders Network, she divides her time between New York City, Seattle, and Jupiter, Florida.
For the twenty-first year, the Jewish Funders Network convened its annual international conference, this time in Philadelphia at Loews Hotel. The theme this year: What's Your Story? The Power of Narrative to Drive Change.
Andy Goodman, the keynote speaker, entertained the audience while transmitting very important points, about how to inspire others to support the various philanthropies represented by the 315 attendees.
Dorit Straus shared the story of her chance encounter on a New York subway with the famous violist Joshua Bell, learning that Bell was the proud owner of a Stradivarius violin which had once belongs to an earlier generation's highly regarded violinist, Bronislaw Huberman, who had a dream of creating an orchestra in Palestine. Huberman managed to collect hundreds of professional musicians, saving them from the Nazis, and eventually establishing the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Enter the Israel 63 Talent Competition and Compete for Cash Prizes
Musically gifted individuals and groups of all ages are invited to compete for $500 cash prizes and the opportunity to perform on stage at Penn's Landing before thousands of participants in the Israel 63 Independence Day celebration on Sunday, May 22, noon to 5 p.m. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is sponsoring this Israel: A Song In Our Hearts contest and is soliciting entries now through April 1, 2011. Go to www.jewishphilly.org/israel6 for contest rules and submission information.
"The competition will be interactive and exciting," said Federation President Leonard Barrack," explaining that all entries will be posted on Federation's website and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite between April 15 and May 5. The three entries receiving the highest numbers of votes in each category will be deemed finalists and will be notified by email on May 10. All finalists must be available to perform live at the May 22 Israel 63 celebration between 12:15 and 4:45 p.m. before a panel of judges who will determine the winners of the following four categories:
What does yoga mean? It comes from the Sanskrit root yuj (pronounce it backwards!) which means to unite or yolk. "But when you crack an egg you break the yoke so it's really the opposite," said a little girl at the Children's Yoga class I was teaching at Limmud Philly 2011 held at the Gershman Y. This might be a tough crowd I thought, when a little boy chimed in: "Or maybe there's more than one meaning."
I've been teaching yoga for ten years, and "playing" yoga with children always returns me to the uninhibited imaginative world that unites the world of children and yoga.
Sunday was a rainy day in Philadelphia. All my classes begin with sun salutations so we turned to the window that faces Broad Street and we greeted the sun: "Good afternoon sun!" I explained how yoga teaches us to connect with the natural world. "Maybe if we really focus the sun will come out!" "That would be cool," one boy said.
Schoolchildren of the early 19th century were punished for speaking any language other than English. We've come a long way in our tolerance of differences. (My mother-in-law says that someone who speaks English with an accent knows at least one other language, a dig at the monolingual Americans.) We've changed our perspective in cultural assimilation and the iconic image is no longer of the melting pot, but the salad bowl, in which the ingredients are separate and distinct.
The Philadelphia Jewish Voice is an online non-profit volunteer based community newspaper serving the Philadelphia Jewish Community since 2005. We are dedicated to addressing the important social, political and cultural issues facing our community in a spirit of honesty, integrity and diversity.
Your tax-deductible donations will help give Voice to the Greater Philadelphia Jewish Community.
To pay by credit card or paypal, click here:
or send a check to:
Eric Smolen, Treasurer,
The
Philadelphia Jewish Voice,
327 Pembroke Road,
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
The Philadelphia Jewish Voice is organized pursuant to
Pennsylvania's non-profit corporation law. We have tax-exempt status under IRS
Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of
the law.
For more information about the Philadelphia Jewish Voice visit
GuideStar.
The official registrations and financial information of The Philadelphia
Jewish Voice may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by
calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does
not imply endorsement.
-- 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 
-- Dr. Lisa Grunberger
-- Hannah Lee
