jtnews | may 24, 2013
DESCRIPTION
JTNews | The Voice of Jewish Washington issue for May 24, 2013.TRANSCRIPT
JEWISHthe voice ofJTnews W a s h i n g t o n
W W W . j t n e W s . n e t n m a y 2 4 , 2 0 1 3 n 1 5 s i v a n 5 7 7 3 n v o l u m e 8 9 , n o . 1 1
land of rain & salmon page 20a teacher arrested page 6
@jew_ish • @jewishcal/jtnewsprofessionalwashington.comconnecting our local Jewish community
A temple looks back at 75
An Olympia synagogue’s history, on pages 3 and 12.
2 JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
For complete details about these and other upcoming JFS events and workshops, please visit our website: www.jfsseattle.org
June/July Family Calendar
1601 16th Avenue, Seattle (206) 461-3240 • www.jfsseattle.org
Volunteer to Make a difference!
Help Us Glean Produce at the Broadway Farmers Market!Come once or all seasonm Sundays: June – october
2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.Contact Jane Deer-Hileman, (206) 861-3155 or [email protected]
in your relationShip are you…
• Changing your behavior to avoid your partner’s temper?
• Feeling isolated from family and friends? • Being put down? • Lacking access to your money?
• Being touched in an unloving way?
Call Project DVORA for confidential support, (206) 461-3240
for parentS & faMilieS
Welcoming Summer ShabbatFor Jewish single parent families & JFS Big Pals/Little Palsm friday: June 21
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]
From Partners to Parents!Co-sponsored with Jconnectm Sundays: July 14 & 21
time: tBdContact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or [email protected]
OF GREATER SEATTLE
for the coMMunity
AA Meetings at JFSm tuesdays: 7:00 p.m. Contact (206) 461-3240 or [email protected]
A Conversation About Life with David Shieldsm Mid-June
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.Contact Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or [email protected]
CEO Retirement Celebrationm tuesday: June 4
6:00 p.m.Contact Leslie Sugiura, (206) 861-3151 or [email protected]
Kosher Food Bank Eventm Wednesday: June 5
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.Pre-register Jana Prothman, (206) 861-3174 or [email protected]
Yoga & Jewish Ritual Workshop: Rosh ChodeshFor survivors of intimate partner abusem Sunday: June 9
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.Contact Project DVORA, (206) 861-3186
for adultS age 60+
Endless Opportunities A community-wide program offered in partnership with Temple B’nai Torah & Temple De Hirsch Sinai. EO events are open to the public.
China: Global & Economic Powerm tuesday: June 11
10:30 a.m. – noon
Edible Mushrooms From Around the Globem thursday: June 20
10:30 a.m. – noon
Classical Guitar with Michael Partington
m thursday: June 2710:30 a.m. – noon
RSVP Ellen Hendin or Wendy Warman, (206) 461-3240 or [email protected] regarding all Endless Opportunities programs.
Celebrate Pride with us!Pride Shabbatm friday: June 28
6:30 p.m.
PrideFestm Sunday: June 30
12:30 p.m.Contact Leonid Orlov, (206) 861-8784 or [email protected]
let’S get Social!
Find us online:
jfs.seattle JFSSeattle JFSSeattle
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: We would love to hear from you! You may submit
your letters to [email protected]. Please limit your letters to approximately 350 words.
The deadline for the next issue is May 28. Future deadlines may be found online.
The opinions of our columnists and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the views of
JTNews or the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
letters to the editorthe rabbi’s turn
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . jtnews
3opinion
“They’ve invited us to try and create some of what we’ve created here. It’s scary and it’s exciting.”— Rabbi Beth Singer, on the move she and her husband Rabbi Jonathan Singer will be making to San Francisco next month. See the story on page 7.
school conflict
seattle public schools will begin school for the 2013-14 year on september 4, erev rosh
hashanah. our families must choose between the first days of school and being practicing
Jews. i have been in contact with my board member, ms. smith-Blum, who is aware of the
problem. all she could do was assure me that it would be an excused absence.
for our family, not only will our first grader and our seventh grader begin a new year,
but our sixth grader, a child with asperger’s, will enter middle school. school conflicts with
Jewish holidays are difficult for any child. missing the first two days is unreasonable and
insensitive.
so often in our Jewish community we worry about the future of Judaism. We worry
about intermarriage and synagogue affiliation, yet we completely ignore the roadblocks
that are put before us by school and extra-curricular schedules.
as it stands, my kids won’t be attending any rosh hashanah services at the shul where i
will be leading music. i will arrange childcare. the kids will learn that most Jewish holidays
are not nearly as important as christian ones.
emily Katcher
seattle
editor’s note: the school calendar is negotiated between the teachers’ union and the
district. to register a complaint or offer a suggestion you may contact schoolboard@
seattleschools.org.
not a jeWish parent’s Worst nightmare
While reading the article “a Jewish tombstone” (april 26) by emily K. alhadeff, i was
appalled by her use and context of the pejorative word goy, referring in part to a “Jewish
parent’s worst nightmare.” her insensitivity to non-Jewish people, her use of a word as
derogatory as the n-word, and the offensive generalization of a Jewish parent’s worst
nightmare, was hugely offensive — a narrow-minded editorial tangent — and an indica-
tion of her lack of acceptance and inclusivity. i am a Jewish parent, and this is not my worst
nightmare, by a long shot! it would seem this flippant expression of intolerance and big-
otry by your associate editor is awkwardly inconsistent with your stated Jtnews mission
statement. extremely disappointing…if you presume to be the voice of Jewish Washington.
dennis Warshal
seattle
rabbi akiva and the irs
as the irs scandal unfolds, it is worth recalling that, according to the medieval rabbis,
the practice of reciting Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, originated in the medieval
story of rabbi akiva found in mahzor vitry. Walking in a cemetery, akiva meets a naked
man, carrying wood on his head and apparently alive. stopping him, akiva asks why he
does such onerous work and just who he is. the man replies that he is dead, and that in life
he had been a tax collector who showed partisan prejudice in assessing taxes, favoring the
rich and killing the poor. akiva asks whether his “superiors” have told him how he might
relieve his condition. the unfortunate man, “black as coal,” says there is probably no relief
for him, but that he has heard that if he had a son and his son were to stand before the con-
gregation and recite “Bless the lord who is blessed!” and the congregation were to answer
“amen,” and the son were also to say “may the great name be blessed” (a sentence from
the Kaddish) “they would release him from his punishment.” unfortunately, the tax collec-
tor never had a son, although he did leave his wife pregnant when he died. But even if she
gave birth to a boy, who would teach torah to the son of a friendless man? perhaps the irs
culprits should pay close attention to akiva’s story.
edward alexander
seattle
What we’re all aboutRabbi Seth GoldStein Temple Beth Hatfiloh
Whenever I find myself outside Olympia speaking to a member of a local Jewish community, I will invariably be asked two questions. First, I will be asked, “How many Jews are there in Olympia?” When I respond that we have about 150 affiliated house-holds, but we serve almost double that, plus more unaf-filiated, I get a surprised look.
The second question is some version of, “Isn’t Olympia very anti-Israel?” To which I reply that although there is a local minority who are very vocal and who get a lot of attention, it isn’t really like that, and life in our state capital is quite com-fortable.
Which leads me to believe that maybe I should say a word or two about our Olym-pia Jewish community and Temple Beth Hatfiloh.
This year of 5773 (2012-2013), Temple Beth Hatfiloh has been celebrating its 75th anniversary. The local Jewish families — mostly merchants — decided in 1937 to incorporate as a synagogue, and set out to build a synagogue building. In June 1938, the original building of TBH was dedi-cated at the corner of 8th and Jefferson in downtown Olympia and it served as our home for almost 70 years.
The history of our local Jewish com-munity stretches back further than 75 years, though. Olympia is the home of the first Jewish settlement in the area, the first Jewish cemetery (still in use) and the first Jewish organization in Washington Ter-ritory, the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Puget Sound, established in 1873 to create and maintain the aforementioned ceme-tery. TBH absorbed the Hebrew Benevo-lent Society in the 1950s and we continue to manage the cemetery.
In the decades following those early years after the establishment of TBH, the Jewish community remained rela-tively stable. The core of families who established the congregation continued to maintain and guide it, and slowly new families would arrive. The congregation began to truly grow in the 1970s with the growth of state government and the estab-lishment of The Evergreen State College. After a long period of lay leadership and support from rabbis in Tacoma and Seat-tle, by the late 1980s the congregation sought its own rabbinic leadership, first with part-time Rabbi Vicki Hollander, then with full-time Rabbi Marna Sapsow-itz. I joined the congregation 10 years ago this coming July.
As with any community there were growing pains and changes. A number of
families left TBH to form a Conservative congregation. After many years of being unaffiliated, TBH decided to affiliate Reconstructionist. And by the 1990s it became clear that our sweet shul was not big enough to house our growing congregation and the number of programs — including a full religious school — we were offering.
After numerous options were weighed and rejected, the opportunity arose to purchase the Christian Science Church, just three blocks from our original home. We moved in 2004 with a Torah walk and communal celebration, and spent the next several years in renovation and expansion until we dedicated the new space in 2008.
Today, TBH continues as a full con-gregation, very active in community and interfaith affairs, and serves a diverse community comprised of people who come from a wide range of backgrounds and approaches to Judaism.
I understand how some folks might not understand what is going on in Olym-pia, since our small Jewish community is sometimes off the radar screen. And when unfortunate events like the Olympia Food Coop’s boycott of Israeli goods occur, it overshadows the strong and vibrant Jewish community that exists here.
I will admit, though, that we some-times do things a little differently here. For example:• We don’t have High Holiday tickets or fees. We just publish the service schedule and open the doors.• We hold a major fundraiser every year — Blintzapalooza — during which we wel-come in the community and sell blintzes, bagels and used books. This year we raised $11,000. Then we give all that money away to local charities.• We held a “Community Conversations” project in which we got a large number of people — both members and non-mem-bers — together to sit and share their personal Jewish journeys, not for any stra-tegic planning process, but simply to have people meet each other.
So, yes, we do some things differently down here in Olympia. I like to think that being a smaller congregation we get to do some interesting and creative things. But mostly we just keep the flame of Juda-ism alive in the South Sound region, as we have been doing for 75 years.
And everyone is welcome to help us celebrate at our 75th Anniversary Street Fair on Sunday, June 2. Then you can see what we are all about!
4 commuNiTy News JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 7PM
Town Hall Seattle
From Strength to StrengthSongs for the Journey
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit: www.seattlejewishchorale.org or call: 206.708.7518
TICKETS:General: $18 adv/$20 door
Students/Seniors: $16 adv/$18 doorUn(der)employed: Pay what you can
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
© WASHINGTON STATE JEWISH
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESENTS
WORLD PREMIEREAn original theatre production of Jewish History
in Washington State by Book-It Repertory Theatre. Kosher reception to follow
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 Performance at 2 p.m., doors open for open seating at 1:30 p.m.
LANGSTON HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTE 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle.
Author Signing: The acclaimed book “Family of Strangers” will be available for sale at the production.
All three authors will be on hand.
DAY OF JEWISH ARTS AND CULTURE
Tickets: $30 before May 28, 2013, $36 after. $108 group of 4 by May 28. $18 students and 18 & under.
Purchase yours today! Call 206-774-2277 or visit wsjhs.org.
CourTesy urJ
Starting third from left, Shelly Cohen, Alexis Kort, Diane Baer, and Steve Gelb, all of Temple Beth Am in Seattle, traveled to Washington, D.C. in April to receive the 2013 Fain Award from the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center. The temple was given the award, its third, for its work in support of marriage equality and the passage of Referendum 74 in November 2012. Beth Am collaborated with other congregations and organizations as part of the Jewish Coalition for Marriage Equality in Washington State. Surrounding the quartet are directors of the Religious Action Center and members of the awards committee.
■ Diversity Week 2013May 28-30
“Ever wonder why people say Israel practices apartheid? We do too!” That’s the slogan of Antioch University’s “Diversity Week 2013,” a response to six years of Israel Apartheid weeks on the downtown campus.
Students and StandWithUs Northwest will hold three days of Israel educational activi-ties, including a presentation by its community liaison Hen Mazzig on “The Israeli Perspec-tive, From a Real Israeli”; a screening of “Israel Inside” and discussion on “Is There Any Israel Apart from the Conflict?”; and a talk on “The Real History of the Israeli-Palestin-ian Conflict” with Prof. Roberta Seid from the University of California at Irvine. For more information, contact Efrat at [email protected].
■ Drash Vol. VII ReadingJune 2, 4–5 p.m.
The seventh edition of the Drash literary journal makes its debut at Ravenna Third Place Books with readings by many of its contributors. This annual compendium of fiction, essays, poetry and photography includes a memorial to a father from the streets of Vilnius, a commentary between two scholars on the weekly Torah reading Tetsaveh, a tribute to the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, and a story about three sisters spending a day in New York. Ravenna Third Place Books is located at 6504 20th Ave. NE, Seattle.
For more in format ion about Drash , contac t Wendy Marcus a t [email protected].
Coming up
New website educates Jewish community about genetic health issues
GeneSights, a new online education and resource program hosted by Yeshiva Univer-sity and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, was recently launched to provide indi-
vidual lessons about genetic issues affecting people with Jewish ancestry. Lessons include hereditary breast and ovarian cancers and the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and resources like webinars and options for handling next steps once diagnosed with a genetic condition. For more information, visit www.genesites.com.
news briefs
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.jtnews.net . jtnews
inside this issue
5inside
p u B l I S h e d B y J e w I S h T R a n S c R I p T m e d I a
JTnews
A Proud Partner Agency of
JTNews is the Voice of Jewish Washington. Our mission is to meet the interests of our Jewish community through fair and accurate coverage of local, national and international news, opinion and information. We seek to expose our readers to di-verse viewpoints and vibrant debate on many fronts, including the news and events in Israel. We strive to contribute to the continued growth of our local Jewish community as we carry out our mission.
2041 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 206-441-4553 • [email protected]
www.jtnews.net
JTNews (ISSN0021-678X) is published biweekly by The Seattle Jewish Transcript, a nonprofit corporation owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 2041 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Subscriptions are $56.50 for one year, $96.50 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JTNews, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121.
Reach us directly at 206-441-4553 + ext.Editor & Publisher *Joel Magalnick 233Associate Editor Emily K. Alhadeff 240 Sales Manager Lynn Feldhammer 264Account Executive Cheryl Puterman 269 Account Executive David Stahl Classifieds Manager Rebecca Minsky 238 Art Director Susan Beardsley 239
Board of directorsPeter Horvitz, Chair*; Jerry Anches§; Sarah Boden; Cynthia Flash Hemphill*; Ron Leibsohn; Stan Mark; Cantor David Serkin-Poole* Nancy Greer, Interim CEO and President, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Shelley Bensussen, Federation Board Chair
*Member, JTNews Editorial Board§Ex-Officio Member
get JtneWs in your inBox!Every weekday at 3 p.m. Just visit www.jtnews.net, scroll down, and fill out the short form to sign up.
RemembeR when
1040under
coming upJune 7
How you can help provide relief for Oklahoma tornado victimsNEW YORK (JTA) — Jewish groups are joining the effort to help those displaced by the
tornado in suburban Oklahoma City.Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, announced Tuesday
that his organization will collect donations and distribute them to the American Red Cross and others on the ground in Oklahoma.
To make an online donation, go to www.urj.org/relief.The Jewish Federations of North America also has started a fund to aid the relief effort
of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City at bit.ly/1a3ZL9t.“Our hearts go out to all those who were in the path of this disaster and who are griev-
ing the loss of their loved ones,” said Michael Siegal, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees. “This was a terrible tragedy. The destruction of an elementary school filled with students and teachers was especially painful.”
B’nai B’rith International has opened its Flood, Tornado and Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund (bit.ly/16718I7).
Meanwhile, the Chabad Community Center of Southern Oklahoma has opened its build-ing as a shelter and is collecting supplies for those displaced by the tornado that hit Moore.
grads
From the Jewish Transcript, May 21, 1981.
V i s i t o r s t o t h e Stroum Jewish Commu-nity Center on Mercer Island can’t walk in without noticing the Holocaust memorial sculpture that sits a few steps from the entrance ramp. Each year on Holocaust Remem-brance Day, a commemoration is held at the sculpture. The piece was created by sculptor Giselle Berman, a survivor herself, who in this picture is in her studio work-ing on the molds that eventually became the bronze piece.
a teacher arrested 6A Torah Day School teacher has been charged by county prosecutors with molesting children in the class-room.
Saying goodbye 7The husband-wife rabbinical team of Jonathan and Beth Singer from Seattle’s Temple Beth Am will be mov-ing to San Francisco at the end of June to take the helm of one of that city’s largest temples.
health is in the home 9In anticipation of new Obamacare regulations as well as hoping to expand its continuum of care, Kline Gal-land has launched a new home-health program.
help at the bottom 11Urmi Basu, the founder of an organization that helps young women in India escape the degradation of sex slavery, visited Seattle to tell her story.
celebrating 75 12Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia’s first synagogue, is in the midst of celebrating its 75th anniversary. Here’s a history of the growing congregation.
Books for summer 14It sure doesn’t feel like summer yet, but don’t let that stop you from checking out these thrillers, all with a hint of mystery.Books in brief 15
Finding the peaceful moments 16Not everyone would expect a meditation CD to come from a rabbi, but this new work from Bet Alef Medita-tive Synagogue’s Olivier BenHaim takes his students into the mystical and multiple levels of consciousness.
In the land of rain and salmon 20A new staged reading from the Washington State Jewish Historical Society and Book-It Repertory Theatre will bring alive the history of Jews in our state.
mORem.O.T.: The grad and the hoopster 8what’s your JQ?: Blessings for dad 10community calendar 13The arts 13lifecycles 19The Shouk classifieds 18
6 commuNiTy News JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
Day school teacher accused of child molestationtim KlaSS JTNews Correspondent
A teacher at Torah Day School of Seat-tle pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree child molestation on Monday, May 20. If convicted, Jordan Eareck-son Murray, 32, could face from 149 to 198 months in prison with an indetermi-nate sentence of up to life following that, according to the King County prosecut-ing attorney’s office. If a jury finds preda-tory intention, the sentence could start at 25 years.
Murray was jailed briefly before being released on $100,000 bail on May 3. His next hearing will take place June 18.
In a statement filed in King County Superior Court, police detective Michael Moore wrote that according to statements from the victims, two girls who attend Torah Day School, Murray touched them under their clothing as they stood by him in front of the class. He appeared to focus elsewhere as the desk shielded his actions from view, Moore wrote.
“The defendant is a clear danger to children given the circumstances of this crime…secretly molesting these girls in class in front of others,” wrote deputy prosecutor Carol D. Spoor in court papers.
Murray, a married father of three, declined to make a statement to police. His attorney, Brad A. Meryhew, who special-izes in defending clients charged with sex offenses, did not return telephone calls to
his office for comment.Murray, known to his students as
“Rabbi Yaakov,” is not an ordained rabbi but was allowed by the Orthodox school’s administration to call himself one as a “merely honorary” title, Moore wrote.
He has no known criminal convictions, said Dan Donohoe, the press secretary to the prosecutor’s office.
Murray moved to Washington State 20 months ago and began teaching at the school in the Columbia City neighbor-hood at the start of the 2011–12 school year, according to Moore’s statement.
“By promptly reporting this matter to the appropriate authorities, TDS has taken the necessary action to ensure the safety of our students,” said Randy Kessler, the school’s executive committee president, in a statement.
Murray has since been fired.Rabbi Sheftel Skaist, head of the school,
urged parents in a post shared on Face-book Friday, May 3: “We are diligently working to find an appropriate safety pro-gram that will assist our community to move forward and further ensure a safe school environment for our students. We are researching programs that provide updated safety protocols, specialized staff training, parent workshops, and class-room presentations for students.”
Kessler said in a telephone interview he
has two children in the school, which is in its seventh year.
“It has been a wonderful experience for us,” he told JTNews.
He also said he had met Murray but would not comment further.
About 130 youngsters from kinder-garten to 8th grade, almost all from Seat-tle, attend TDS classes in a former public school building, Kessler said.
“We did a thorough background check,” Kessler told JTNews, but said that though Murray’s references checked out, the school did not perform a criminal check. Kessler added that a criminal check wouldn’t have been of help, as Murray’s record is apparently clean.
Going forward, however, all staff will be screened more closely.
“That policy has been changed,” he said.As for the current staff, Kessler said,
“my understanding is that they have all been criminally background checked.”
TDS notified parents the day after the school received reports of the investiga-tion of Murray. Kessler would not release the notification letter sent to parents, and the school’s website was taken down after the matter came to light.
“We just want to not provide anyone with information that they could use in a detrimental fashion,” Kessler said. “There’s just so much going on right now.”
After Murray’s arraignment on May 20, Kessler told JTNews the school is step-ping back and letting the authorities take it from here.
He said he knew of no falloff thus far in enrollment, attendance or interest among families with children who might attend the school. He would not say whether the children described in court papers were still going to class or enrolled at the school.
David Chivo, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, said he was told of the matter while it was under investigation, before Murray posted bail, but said he had heard nothing from the school since then.
“The Federation supports strong and immediate action by law enforcement and the courts to bring the individual in ques-tion to justice. Keeping children safe at all times and in all places is of paramount importance,” according to a statement released by the Federation. “Our thoughts are with Torah Day School families at this difficult and painful time.”
Kessler said he had not heard from any other Jewish schools in the area except for a call of support from Rivy Poupko Klete-nik, head of school at the Seattle Hebrew Academy.
“I honestly don’t think that this has
X PAGE 10
THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE.THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
2031 Third Avenue | Seattle, WA 98121-2412 | 206.443.5400jewishinseattle.org
OF GREATER SEATTLE
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONSThe Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
is pleased to announce that seven organiza-
tions received Small Agency Sustainability
Grants totaling $28,000 for fiscal year 2014.
Small Agency Sustainability grants are
available for agencies with annual budgets
of less than $200,000.
Agencies awarded grants include:
• Congregation Beth Hatikvah, serving
the Jewish community on the Kitsap
Peninsula.
• Washington State University Hillel,
serving Jewish students at both WSU
and the University of Idaho.
• Western Washington University Hillel,
serving Jewish students enrolled in any
institution of higher learning in Skagit
and Whatcom counties.
• Whidbey Island Jewish Community, serving
more than 100 individuals and families of
all denominations.
Small Agency Grants Awarded Conditional Building Sale Agreement Signed
• Seattle Jewish Chorale, preserving and
promoting Jewish chorale music through
multiple performances each year.
• Chabad at University of Washington,
serving needs of Jewish students at UW
and other area campuses with family-style
programming on all Jewish holidays.
• Congregation Shaarei Tefilah, serving
the observant Jewish population of
North Seattle.
For more information, please visit
http://bit.ly/101deh8.
The Jewish Federation of Greater
Seattle is pleased to announce the sign-
ing of a conditional purchase and sale
agreement for the Federation’s property,
the Charles and Ann Bianco Building, at
2031 Third Avenue in downtown Seattle.
The impending sale stems from a
once-in-a-generation opportunity that
emerged as a result of changing eco-
nomics in downtown Seattle’s commer-
cial real estate market. The Federation
received an unsolicited offer to sell from
a local developer. After careful delibera-
tion, the Federation board decided to
take advantage of this offer, realizing it
will grow the organization’s resources
and enable the organization to locate its
new offices where it can optimally serve
the growing Seattle Jewish community.
The sale is subject to a long due
diligence period by the buyer, and
the buyer will be able to terminate the
transaction at different stages of its
due diligence. Therefore, the process
of looking for a new location is being
deferred until such time as all sale
contingencies have been removed and
we are closer to an actual closing.
The potential sale presents an op-
portunity to explore how the location
of the Jewish Federation will further
strengthen our ability to advance
Jewish life in Seattle. The Federation’s
new office site will be the one that
both makes the best business sense
and also takes into consideration how
our physical space connects us to
our partners in the community as well
as the leaders and volunteers who
interact with us.
“We are very excited by the dynamics
the sale presents to the Federation for
the community,” said Nancy Greer, the
Federation’s Interim President and CEO.
Building BridgesLinking people, Organizations & Community
June 20
2013 annual meeting
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews commuNiTy News 7
156th ave n
e
NE 8th st
crossroadsbellevue.com
Tuesdays12 - 6:30pm
Fresh from the farm.Peak-of-the-season produce, bouquets of blooms and specialty treats.
2013 Season starts May 28.
Facebook/Crossroads Bellevue Farmers Market
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS & EBT CARDS ACCEPTED.
Thank you to our 2012-13 Board of Trustees
President Mitchell Dernis Vice President Rebecca Steinfeld Treasurer Natasha Grossman Secretary Julie Lyss
Paul Schwartz Ellen Spear Perry Weinberg Immediate Past President Yonah Karp
Trustees Mitchell Hymowitz Robert Lavitt Aaron Lemchen Justine Norwitz Marcy Porus-Gottlieb Glenn Puckett
Welcome to our incoming 2013-14 Board of Trustees
President Natasha Grossman Vice President Glenn Puckett Treasurer Paul Schwartz Secretary Julie Lyss
Katya Turnbow Perry Weinberg Immediate Past President Mitchell Dernis
Trustees Julie Hayon Robert Lavitt Aaron Lemchen Elaine Sachter Stefanie Somers Ellen Spear
Mazal Tov! Kaplan Award Recipient — Keith Eaton
Volunteer of the Year — Stefanie Somers
Shoshi Bilavsky — Head of School www.SJCS.net - 12351 8th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98125 - 206.522.5212
Beth Am rabbis prepare for a new lifeJoel maGalnicK editor, JTNews
Rabbis Beth and Jonathan Singer know they’re taking a risk. When the co-senior rabbis of Temple Beth Am pack up and leave Seattle at the end of June, they’ll be moving from their large synagogue com-munity to one that’s more than double the size. For a couple that has made a point of building relationships with as many of their temple’s members as possible, start-ing from scratch in a new community will be a daunting task.
“We have prided ourselves, even though we’re a fairly large synagogue, on being very personal and accessible,” said Jonathan Singer. “Learning how to do that, and to share with other clergy to ensure that people feel connected, is going to be a challenge for us.”
The synagogue the couple will be moving to, Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, is an urban temple in the center of the city with about 2,000 families and four rabbis already on staff.
“We’ve been able, at Beth Am, to create a serious liberal community, where we don’t have privatized B’nai Mitzvah services, for example, but the community comes,” Jon-athan Singer said. “Those are the areas that that synagogue is looking for our help. They want to build a better sense of community.”
The Singers weren’t looking to leave Beth Am, but the confluence of relatives nearby and the invitation to interview from Emanu-El’s retiring senior rabbi, who had visited Beth Am earlier this year for a family lifecycle event, created some-thing of a perfect storm.
It’s a risk, “but the fact that my family is there, I can’t think of any other congrega-tion I would leave to go do this for. They’ve
invited us to try and create some of what we’ve created here,” said Beth Singer. “It’s scary and it’s exciting.”
The S ingers have spent the past 18 years building upon Beth Am’s foundation as “a place that’s serious but also joyful and is committed to social jus-tice and is welcoming,” said Jonathan Singer. “It was important to me to not make a New Jersey synagogue — to work hard against the entropy that’s always there, to turn into a place that honors only certain people, or that is cold, that’s hier-archical in some ways, but to make sure that this was a place that would be intellec-tually engaging and spiritually inspiring.”
Beth Singer said they spend a lot of time making sure they don’t get stagnant.
“We’re always monitoring that,” she said. “It’s just ongoing work to maintain your authenticity.”
Beth Am’s employees are charged with the same mission.
“We run our staff as a team approach,” Jonathan Singer said. “We encourage people to work together and share and say what’s broken and needs to be fixed.”
The staff will have two new rabbis to work with come August 1. The congregation voted to approve the hiring of interim Rabbi Ilene Bogosian through June 2014 until a permanent senior rabbi is selected, and of Jason Levine, who will receive his ordination next month, as Beth Am’s assistant rabbi.
The Singers have plenty of accom-
plishments they can point to — the synagogue’s explosive growth and building the largest Jewish school of any kind in the Pacific Northwest, as two examples — but
Beth Singer said that much of her pride and inspiration in Temple Beth Am has come from members with big ideas.
“We do a lot of the midwifing that makes those things actually happen,” she said. “It was a congregant who came to us and said, ‘I’d really like to see Tent City in our parking lot,’” citing one example.
Jonathan Singer also cited the temple’s work on gay rights, in particular many of its members’ work to get marriage equal-ity passed last November.
“We worked hard on that, and I’m proud of this synagogue,” he said. “But 16 years ago, when I took that stand, it was a much less popular stand to take, and it was this synagogue board made up of librarians at the university and small busi-ness people who could have fired me, and they didn’t. Ultimately we took the stands together, and I think that’s part of why Beth Am has done so well.”
When the Singers prepared to move to Seattle 18 years ago, their mentors actually told them they should stay on the East Coast, because nobody here wanted to be Jewish.
“I think we’ve proved them wrong,” Jonathan Singer said.
“We started out in synagogues in West-chester [N.Y.], and Beth Am invited Rabbi
Jonathan to be the senior rabbi. It was a lot smaller, and there was no job for me at Beth Am. It was really a risk for us to do that,” said Beth Singer. “But we went ahead and felt optimistic that things would work out.”
Beth Singer initially found part-time rabbinical work at Temple De Hirsch Sinai before becoming associate rabbi at Beth Am. The temple elevated her to co-senior rabbi five years ago, and the two have led the synagogue since.
“I always thought I would be here for five years and I would leave and go on because it was a smaller place,” said Jonathan Singer. “It kept growing and changing, so about every five years I felt like I was at a new insti-tution. With the growth you have to change how you work and how you manage.”
Beth Am had about 380 families in 1995, compared to 900 today.
“It was a very warm, small group of people who made up the core of Beth Am. There were no Saturday morning services unless there was a Bar or Bat Mitzvah,” Jonathan Singer said.
Today you’d be hard pressed to find a weekend, excepting July, where usually two kids are celebrating that rite of passage.
As they prepare to leave, the Singers believe their home for nearly two decades is in good hands.
“Rabbis come and go, but the congre-gation’s a really strong, healthy, congre-gation,” said Beth Singer. “I believe that Temple Beth Am is going to have this unexpected, unanticipated opportunity to grow in a way that the congregation oth-erwise wouldn’t have grown, and it could be a very positive thing.”
8 m.o.T.:member of The Tribe JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
OF GREATER SEATTLE
To sign up, contact Amy Paquette [email protected] or 206.774.2237
Or visit jewishinseattle.org/pjlibrary
Put great Jewish books into your children’s hands.
Sign up for the PJ Library!
Connecting Jewish Youth Through the Game
of Basketball
Hebrew Hoops provides a unique Jewish basketball experience which leaves each individual with a better
understanding of what it means to be a Jewish athlete.
Camp dates: June 24–June 27Jewish Day School Gymnasium
Bellevue, WA
To register and for more information, please check out our website
HebrewHoops.com or contact Sam Fein
Graduation honors and Hebrew hoopsdiana bRement JTNews Columnist
1 When I last spoke to Chelsea Garbell in early 2012, she had
been named one of New York University’s most influential students. Now she’s garnered another honor: She was stu-dent commencement speaker at the all-school graduation ceremony at Yankee Stadium on May 22.
The Northwest Yeshiva High School alumna will graduate summa cum laude from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development with a B.S. in media, culture, and communication, and minors in public health and policy, and Hebrew and Judaic studies
The dean of each of NYU’s five schools nominated com-mencement speakers, submit-ting the students’ CVs and transcripts with letters of rec-ommendation. A review com-mittee narrowed it down to five finalists who each submitted a draft speech and were interviewed.
It’s “a little overwhelming,” said Chel-sea, who has been hard at work on her speech, and “such a huge honor. My Face-
book kind of exploded,” with the news, she adds.
Last year, Chelsea was part of an American Jewish Com-mittee delegation that attended the “Women as Global Lead-ers” conference in Abu Dhabi. I asked what that was like.
“ E x c e l l e n t , ” C h e l s e a responded, who wasn’t sure what to expect of travel to a Muslim country, but “nobody batted an eyelid,” at her pass-port with its Israeli stamp.
“Whenever I mentioned I was Jewish, especially to Emi-
rati women [at the conference], they were surprised, but not neg-ative,” she said.
She was probably the first Jew many delegates had met, and she managed to keep Shabbat there by staying with a friend on NYU’s campus there.
Chelsea also enjoyed a summer internship in Patty Murray’s office in the “other”
Washington and, given her interest in reproductive rights policy and advocacy, “everything I learned about the Hill and politics [made it] the perfect summer.”
With plans for the next year still evolv-ing, Chelsea couldn’t give me specifics, but
she’s hoping for opportunities to travel and volunteer before returning to gradu-ate school. While she has no specific plans to return to Seattle, “I’ll always be a Seattle girl at heart,” she says. “The only time I care about sports is when Seattle is playing.”
2 I told Sam Fein that he ought to be called Mr. Basketball.
“I agree with that,” the Univer-sity of Southern California senior replied.
This past year, Sam has been busy inte-grating his love of basketball into his life and he’ll be bringing that love to the Seat-tle area next month with Hebrew Hoops, a weeklong basketball camp for 5th through 9th graders to be held at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue. It will be a place, he says, “for Jewish kids to meet other Jewish kids…and interact with Jewish role models who happen to be athletes as well.”
Sam grew up in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. He attended the Seattle Jewish Community School and then Lake-side Academy, where he played basketball. He has been a camp counselor and head of basketball instruction at Camp Solomon Schechter and last summer interned at A PLUS, an after-school education program that uses sports for education and “charac-ter development necessary for student-athletes to succeed in life,” according to its website, www.aplusyouthprogram.org.
Last year, Sam, a political science major minoring in business and entrepreneur-ship, reached out to the Boys and Girls Club closest to the USC’s L.A. campus, and started coaching there.
“I tried to implement some of the things A PLUS does,” he says, like requiring a minimum GPA and instituting a man-datory study hall after school for team members. He’s seen results already in at least one student, and remarked to me that many of these inner-city students do
m.o.t.member of the tribe
X PAGE 11
CourTesy NyHs
Chelsea Garbell
CourTesy sam FeiN
Hebrew Hoops camp founder Sam Fein.
For riders ages 6–10 For information: www.theunionhillranch.com • 425-868-8097
Private Lessons
Available
Let’s hang out this summer!Mercer Island
Parks and recreatIon
Youth suMMer daY caMP
Ages 6-11
Adventure, field trips, friends and fun-in-the-sun
themed camps all summer long,
spots are filling up, sign up now!
Go to www.playonmercer.com to view our recreation guide and camp details.206.275.7609
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews commuNiTy News 9
You Can Choose Where Your Gift Goes
THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE.THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.OF GREATER SEATTLE
When you give to The Jewish Federation…
Helping Our Local Community in Need
Strengthening Global Jewry
Experiencing Judaism Birth-Grade 12
Experiencing Judaism: Post Grade 12
Give to Any of Our 4 Impact Areas at www.jewishinseattle.org/donate or 206.443.5400
Kline Galland brings health homeJaniS SieGel JTNews Correspondent
It’s taken two years, but in mid-April Washington’s nearly century-old Caroline Kline Galland Home opened its new home health care agency to all eligible clients in the Jewish community and to all who qual-ify in King County.
After complying with hundreds of fed-eral Medicare regulations and working in close partnership with the Jewish Fed-eration of Greater Seattle, which granted $45,000 in operating funds for the new service while it proved its competence to the state, Kline Galland earned Washing-ton’s Department of Health certification and now offers a full continuum of health-care services.
“This is an important program for us and a great gift that the Jewish community can give to the greater community,” Kline Galland CEO Jeff Cohen told JTNews. “Kline Galland is a five-star rated facility. If we can take that Kline Galland quality and follow it into people’s homes, we can continue to be the preferred partner of hospitals who are referring patients to us.”
To help fund the program’s transition to viability, the Jewish Federation marshaled its resources in 2011 by contacting its nearly 2,000-member Washington State Jewish Action Center mailing list, asking them to support Kline Galland’s new venture.
Hundreds of letters poured in, blowing
away the competition. “Several applicants applied to become a
home-health provider,” said Cohen. “We generated over 200 letters of support from the Jewish community. Our competitor generated three.”
Currently, the Kline Galland’s rehabil-itation unit is caring for 10 patients. But with the expansion of services into private homes, independent and assisted living communities, and adult family homes, Cohen said he hopes to serve hundreds, if not thousands more each year.
“The Jewish Federation sees serving the needs of our community’s elderly as a criti-cal obligation, especially as this population grows here in Seattle,” said Nancy Greer, the Federation’s interim president and CEO. “Thanks to support raised specifically for the needs of older adults under our phil-anthropic model, Federation donors were vital partners in this important accom-plishment for Seattle’s Jewish community.”
The Kline Galland’s newly expanded division couldn’t be more well timed. Under the new Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program added to the Social Security Act and implemented in 2012 under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare will reduce its payments to hospitals that have “excess readmissions” within 30 days of a discharge from a facility. The incen-
tive, said Cohen, is to get people well, if possible, outside of the hospital setting.
“Hospitals are laser-beam focused on preventing these readmissions,” said Cohen. “Under Obamacare [the Affordable Care Act], hospitals are looking for partners that can help prevent these readmissions.”
In order to qualify, Medicare and most insurance companies require patients to be under the care of and referred by their doc-tors. Patients must also be “homebound.”
Diane Tepfer, 68, flew to Seattle for knee replacement surgery at Virginia Mason Hospital in April from her home in Washington, D.C. Tepfer spent time in Kline Galland’s rehabilitation wing before she was discharged to a temporary apart-ment in South Seattle, where she has been using the new home health services.
Tepfer told JTNews that as of her current nine visits from their in-home caregivers, she has been progressing, getting stronger and better every day, and learning how to take care of herself once she gets back home.
“I had physical therapy, I had occupa-tional therapy, I had a shower aide, and I had a nurse,” Tepfer said. “They came into where I live and found ways to make it safer for ‘ADLs,’” or activities of daily living, she said.
Tepfer’s Medicare coverage and her supplemental insurance plan covered the
procedure and all additional expenses, leaving her with no out-of-pocket co-pays. She said she has been impressed by the overall experience.
“I feel very fortunate to have their ser-vices,” Tepfer said. “They’re all very expe-rienced. Sometime by the end of the month I’ll go home.”
Pam Swanborn, the program’s clinical director since May 2012, has been working as a physical therapist for 18 years, 13 of them previously in Swedish Medical Cen-ter’s home health program.
According to Swanborn, in order to qualify for in-home care, it must take “a considerable or taxing effort to leave the home, or require assistance, or it could be that there is a condition that prevents them from leaving home for safety reasons.
“Let’s say someone is at a high risk for infection, or there can be cognitive issues,” said Swanborn. “If someone has severe dementia or has memory issues, it wouldn’t be safe to leave the home with-out assistance. If someone is wheelchair-bound but has systems in place to allow them to get out of the home on a regular basis, then they wouldn’t qualify.”
To determine whether someone qual-ifies for home care, home health sends a
X PAGE 18
10 whaT’s your Jq? JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
Blessings for DadRivy PouPKo KleteniK JTNews Columnist
Dear Rivy,This year on Father’s Day,
besides the regular celebra-tions, we are also commemo-rating a significant birthday for my father, the patriarch of our family. I have been tasked with the role of emcee at this event and must now face the daunting task of creating something memo-rable for the occasion. The part about my dad I can take care of — but I was thinking about putting some Jewish thoughts in as well. Any ideas for a d’var Torah for Father’s Day?
Though it is not a specifically Jewish timeframe, this period we are in between the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day feels like it should have some designation — kind of like the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur or the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot. It feels like a distinctly bracketed time in the American Jewish calendar, a time of filial honoring.
Though as the song reminds us…every day is Mother’s Day! It has become appropriate to use these particular days as moments in time to express particular unexpressed sentiments and appreciation for Mom and Dad that might otherwise never be brought to light.
You know the drill: First, we search furtively for the perfect Mother’s Day gift and then plan the day’s gatherings — taking care that all family members are in sync — all the while putting up with the media barrage around flowers and jewelry.
Then the next stage kicks in: There is no mistaking it as we collectively experience the manly onslaught of outdoor cooking gadgets and tool-chest advertising campaigns. The tone is palpable as the mood changes from goodies to gear. We may as well give a name to this month-long period that moves us from brunch to barbecue, from cel-ebrating Mom to fêting Dad.
Some might throw out a name for this 30-or-so-day period along the lines of “Guilt Trip,” but no, not me.
How about “Take Five” — as in Com-mandment Number Five: Honor your father and mother? Since we all “Take Five,” so to speak, to remember and recog-nize our parents, this is an everyday obli-gation and should be a daily practice, but it can’t hurt to have one particular day as a reminder. “Take Five” here we come!
Now, on to the Father’s Day d’var Torah. Some might approach this task pessimis-tically or even cynically. They might sug-gest, tongue in cheek, a focus on the sending away of a son, the sacrifice of Isaac, or maybe a discourse on the seemingly lethal preferential treatment of Joseph. Fathers in the Torah? They might skeptically be drawn to speak of the heart-wrenching visceral bellow of the paternally scorned firstborn Esau, “Have you but one blessing, Father?”
Yes, there are those who would take a cursory glance at our famous forefathers and surrender with chagrin. They might step away from this Father’s Day d’var Torah to cite the continued Genesis pat-
tern of filial favoritism. They might toss in references to blessings and a coat of many colors as exhibits A and B. And who would blame them?
But let’s focus instead on the lofty, noble and inspiring father–son moments in our teachings that you might draw on for your Father’s Day d’var Torah.
We shouldn’t forget that the Torah text is to teach and to instruct. If all of our Biblical heroes were perfect, what would we learn? Our holy patriarchs are human and their deeds are recorded to provide instruction and guidance.
Let those short on stamina step aside as we prepare to get messy with the text: Dig deep, probe with determination, and let’s get Dad his d’var!
Three fathers, three powerful mes-sages of paternal passion. The episode of the binding of Isaac is one of the most sig-nificant, complex and evocative — no one will debate its centrality in our tradition. It is read daily as part of the morning ser-vice, read yearly in the Shabbat portion of the week, and it takes center stage on Rosh Hashanah as the centerpiece to the Torah service and theme for the holiday. Few of us are not perplexed by the issues this por-tion presents. Perhaps even fewer would evoke its tale on Father’s Day. Let us go where no one has gone before!
So, choose one of three blessings for Dad:Abraham
The text describes the walk toward the Binding of Isaac, “and they went both of them together.” Dad, I thank you for believing in something transcendent and timeless — for valuing it and treasuring it with faith. I admire you Dad for never compromising when it comes to belief. Thank you for passing on not only the beauty of our tradition but also the cour-age to remain loyal to it, even when belief was not a given. As Abraham our forefa-ther walked together with his son Isaac toward Mount Moriah, so too have you walked with me. At those times it was your steadfast presence and unwavering com-mitment that gave me the confidence to continue on. In an odd way it was your strong silence, your knowing that some-
times there are no words that can commu-nicate more authentically than our walking together. May you be blessed with the length of days as was our father Abraham. Isaac
Dad, as a father, I now know the chal-lenge of treating all children equally. Not easy. Dad, forgive me for always thinking your favor was with someone else...anyone but me. Now I have firsthand experience that parent-child relationships are not simple. They are quite complex. There are times when one child needs to be brought close, one child needs to be strengthened. You have always understood that each of us in our own way cries out as did Esau, “Bless me, even me also.” We may have given you quite a run for your money over the years, but you stuck with us. Dad, as Isaac our forefather knew the particular blessing that fit each child, so too you have always known what each of us kids has needed from you. Jacob
Whose parenting could be more com-plicated than that of Jacob? Of all the Bib-lical figures, perhaps Jacob’s love for his sons is most visceral: A coat for Joseph, a tragic premature mourning for him, and for Benjamin the most striking of all Bibli-cal endearments: “Nafsho keshurah bena-fsho,” his soul is bound up with his soul. What does this mean to be connected soul to soul? It might be something you know only if you have experienced it. Dad, to be connected soul to soul is to understand and to feel a love so strong it almost hurts. It is to know someone, maybe even better than he knows himself. It is to believe so deeply in him and his abilities that you would spare no effort for him to deeply know the other and to realize his deepest hopes and dreams. Dad, you are that for me — you always have been and I know you always will be.
May we all be blessed to have fathers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
rivy poupko Kletenik is an internationally
renowned educator and head of school at
the seattle hebrew academy. if you have a
question that’s been tickling your brain,
send rivy an e-mail at
What’s your JQ?
anything to do with the fact that this is a religious school or an Orthodox school,” he said.
Det. Moore, in the charging papers, wrote that the investigation began April 23, following two referrals from Child Pro-tective Services, a state agency.
A relative of one of the assaulted girls told Moore she had noticed a pattern that began early in the current school year: Her relative, the other girl who said she had been molested, and four other 1st- and 2nd-grade girls in Murray’s classes com-
plained frequently of “stomach aches, headaches and general nervousness,” but “appeared fine and acted normally” after going home early.
Moore wrote that one of the two girls listed in the complaint talked to the other about Murray. Both then told the second girl’s sister, who had babysat for Murray’s three young children, and eventually they told the girls’ mother.
“The [two] girls mentioned a book they have seen and read called the Let’s Be Safe book,” the detective wrote. “The book deals with safety rules and is used at the school and in [the sisters’] home.”
W ABUSE PAGE 6
7525 SE 24th St., Suite 100, Mercer Island 206-232-7878 [email protected]
www.islandcrustcafe.com Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year
Offer good through June 30.
Like us on
Buy 1 breakfast, get 1 free!
Now serviNg Breakfast!sunday brunch buffet 9–12 Monday–friday open at 7 a.m.
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews commuNiTy News 11
Chesed (Loving-kindness)
For Our World
THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE.THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.OF GREATER SEATTLE 206.443.5400
jewishinseattle.org/donate
Since 1926, The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has strengthened the bonds of community through service. We support causes that lift people up, locally, in Israel and overseas.
Join us as we work to fulfill shared hopes for a better future.
Breaking the cycleemily K. alhadeff associate editor, JTNews
When Urmi Basu was 9 years old and growing up in the genteel suburbs of Kol-kata (Calcutta), India, she survived an attack on her family by a rival political group.
“My father was stabbed in three places,” she said. “Our house was burnt down. All our possessions were com-pletely destroyed.”
In spite of the attack, her father, a doctor, refused to abandon his commu-nity. Later, he even forgave the attackers.
“I can go to any place and not be afraid,” said Basu. “I had great examples in my day.”
This spirit of resistance drives Basu to continue the work she does to help break the cycle of sex slavery in Kolkata’s red-light district. Petite and soft-spoken, Basu shrugs off the danger she faces every day.
“If I were afraid, I couldn’t have man-aged to do what I do,” she said. “I could have gotten kidnapped or even bumped off.”
In 2010, Herzl-Ner Tamid Conser-vative Congregation’s Rabbi Jay Rosen-baum set out on a sabbatical trip to New Light India, the organization Basu founded in 2000. New Light provides shelter, food, education, recreation, and health care to sex workers and their chil-dren. It also works to educate the South-east Asian public and the world at large about human trafficking, gender inequal-ity, violence against women and children, and the deplorable conditions of prostitu-tion. New Light was featured in Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wu Dunn’s documen-tary “Half the Sky.”
Basu came to Seattle in late April–early May as a guest of Herzl-Ner Tamid and the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. On May 5, Basu spoke on “Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking” at a joint congregation event.
“I was hoping that when I came back [from the sabbatical] I would be able to do something to help New Light,” said Rosenbaum. He partnered with the church, and together they raised $25,000 for a housing complex for women over 18 with no place to live.
Basu also spoke at Hillel at the Uni-versity of Washington and to a UW class on global mental health. She met with the Child Rights and You (CRY) chapter at Microsoft, the editorial board and a col-umnist at the Seattle Times, Village Vol-unteers, See Your Impact, and with private groups. She was a guest on KUOW’s “Weekday” program as well.
Human trafficking and sex slavery are thriving industries, with India leading the way. According to Basu, girls are trafficked from Indian villages, as well as across the porous borders of Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Pimps go across the border, propose marriage to a family or promise jobs, and bring them to Kolkata and sell them into prostitution,” she told JTNews.
As incomprehensible as it may be to Western sensibilities, families — strapped for cash and accountable for dowries — rarely look for their daughters, assuming they’re working in the city. It’s only when the money stops coming back that they begin to wonder. Yet even then, families of women sold into sex slavery rarely take their daughters back. In this traditional society, the burden of an unmarriageable child is too heavy and laden with stigma. Maybe one in 1,000 mothers will look for her daughter, Basu said.
“It’s literally abandoning your child,” she said. “We are a country of so many people, a family thinks, okay, one child off the list of my responsibilities.”
Basu has witnessed enormous growth in New Light over the past 13 years. “In the beginning, [the prostitutes] were very doubtful…they couldn’t even imagine what was possible for their daughters to achieve.”
But now, “for the girls, it is like, ‘This is my birthright.’ It is such a contrast,” she explained. “They can walk into store, any library…raise their voices and say, ‘This is what we want.’”
Sex workers in India live completely
outside the caste system and at the very bottom of the social ladder, which Basu cites as a challenge. Another complicating factor, Basu told her audience at Hillel, is the Hindu belief system.
“Fate and karma is another thing that shackles our country,” she said.
This leads people to believe their cur-rent situations are responses to a past life, and often removes a sense of responsibility.
“We as human beings can alter our fate,” said Basu. “If we can save one life, five lives, 20 lives, we’ll consider ourselves successful.”
At the same time, Basu invokes the Hindu goddesses as models for her job, particularly when she has to deal with people who perpetuate the idea that pros-titutes can never become anything better.
“When people are nasty, you really have to deal with them that way. There’s no point of talking polite language with people who don’t understand that,” said Basu. “You have many other divinities in the form of very peaceful, very beauti-ful women [like Lakshmi]. And you also have the Kali, the destroyer of all evil; you have Chinnamasta, who has no head. She’s actually beheaded herself and is holding her head in her hand while blood is spurt-ing out of her neck.
“If you want Lakshmi,” she said, “be
ready to take Chinnamasta.”Pulling the rug out from under the
pimps is potentially dangerous work, but Basu shirks fear of death.
“We all have our designated moments,” she said. “It’s just that one second between being alive and being dead. And I’m dead; OK, fine I’m dead. I won’t be worried about that.
“The reason I feel why we have not had a huge deal of trouble [with the pimps] is because at the end of the day they know that what they are doing is completely not right,” Basu said. “I’ve walked down the streets and pimps are sitting on both sides, and they usually look away.”
One of Basu’s current projects is rais-ing money for a home for high school-age boys.
They need to “educate the boys so they know that pimping is not an option,” Basu said, adding that “issues of poverty and livelihood are so intrinsically woven into this.”
A private donor from Herzl-Ner Tamid has provided the down payment for the building.
Basu’s optimism for her organization echoes another Herzl: Theodore. “If we continue to dream a little bit by bit,” she said, “we will surely be able to achieve something.”
not own the calculators they need for high school math.
Sam brought in friends to be assis-tant coaches and tutors and also joined the local chapter of Coaching Corps, an organization that supports young people volunteering as coaches in underserved communities. He was recently elected
president of the USC chapter and says that “learning to lead meetings [and] take other people’s advice” has been invaluable.
“I’m really excited” about Hebrew Hoops, says Sam. If you haven’t seen the posters at Wedgwood’s Grateful Bread, at Island Crust Café on Mercer Island, or your synagogue, you can get information at www.hebrewhoops.com.
W M.o.T. PAGE 8
sHaymasree seN
Urmi Basu founded New Light after witnessing the hopeless conditions of sex workers and their children in the red light district of Calcutta.
12 commuNiTy News JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
Mazel Tov!You’ve earned it!
You rocked them to sleep, mah-nish-tah-nahed with them,
saved shoe boxes for dioramas, cheered them on from the sidelines, burned the midnight oil with them
for that last history final, and so much more.
Time to give them a great big public hug. In the Graduation edition of JTNews, parents, grandmas and grandpas, friends, and neighbors can send greetings to grads.
Published June 7 | Greeting reservation deadline June 1
Call to place your greeting right away!Seattle | Lynn 206-774-2264 or [email protected] | Cheryl 206-774-2269 or [email protected] & Professional Directory | Becky 206-774-2238 or [email protected]
“Love and a lifetime of success and joy to our graduates! You make us proud every day! Mom, Dad, Bubbe & Poppy”
Three Sizes
Small Box: $118Big Box: $150Quarter Page: $200
1x2" box
50 words
only $36!*
*No photo
4.75" x 6" tall
4.75" x 5" tall
4.75" x 3" tall
with photo
75 years of Jewish life in the South Sound RuSSell lidman special to JTNews
Let’s take a look back at a headline in The Olympian, dated April 1938: “Jewish folk in church ceremony.” The “church” in question was the newly completed Temple Beth Hatfiloh, which has been celebrat-ing its 75th anniversary this year. The use of the term “church” appears again in the text of the article, suggesting this was not simply a one-time mistake.
Jews have always been a part of the his-tory of the Olympia area, and we felt this anniversary year was a good time for the congregation to think about what Temple Beth Hatfiloh has meant to this area — and what this area has meant to us.
First, a little history: The original syn-agogue building, at the corner of 8th and Jefferson, was built in 1937-38, and the founders turned it into a community event. They celebrated with a fried chicken dinner once the speechifying and praying was done.
Shortly after that event, on August 14, 1938, Temple Beth Hatfiloh held its first wedding, of Anna Zlotnik to Percy Bean. The Bean family has been prom-inent throughout TBH’s history. Jacob Bean, Percy’s grandfather, emigrated from Russia with a set of Torah scrolls that he finally found a home for, according to the book “Family of Strangers: Building a Jewish Community in Washington State” by Jacqueline Williams, Molly Cone and Howard Droker.
W h i l e T B H started as an Ortho-dox shul, after World War II it became a mix of Conservative and Reform liturgy before affiliating with the Reconstruc-tionist movement in 2000. The mem-bership of Temple Beth Hatfiloh has grown from some 25 families in the early 1970s to more than 150 families today.
Our rabbi, Seth Goldstein, and the temple board have planned several mile-stones for the anniversary that have included a gala dinner last fall, to which we invited representatives from some of the original community institutions and churches who attended the synagogue’s dedication. The temple’s annual com-munity-wide food-based event, Blintza-palooza, also celebrated an anniversary, its 25th, earlier this year.
While the temple’s founders created a durable institution, they did a little more than that, too. Embedded in Jewish tra-dition is the notion of tzedakah, justice, and tikkun olam, repair of the world. Blintzapalooza represents both of those ideals. Temple members always select
community charities as beneficiaries of funds raised at Blintzapalooza — this year it was the urban gardening orga-nization GRuB and the homeless assistance pro-gram Sidewalk — but in honor of our anni-versary we asked the greater community to help. Over 2,000 people voted online to select the Thurston County Food Bank. These three major recipients each received $2,500 from the revenues of this event, as well as the tra-ditional donation of $1,500 to Interfaith
Works, the organization behind much of faith communities’ social justice work in the South Sound. As it does each year, the
temple wanted to show its support for the work of the many nonprofits that make the Olympia area such a good place to live.
Speaking of life here, the entire community — meaning the Olympia-area community as well as the Jewish community — is invited to Temple Beth Hatfiloh’s commu-nity street fair at the cur-rent synagogue on June 2 to celebrate this mile-stone anniversary. Tour the temple. Eat. Dance to klezmer tunes. We look forward to 75 more years of celebrating in our hometown of Olympia.
russ lidman is president of temple Beth
hatfiloh.
if you gothe first temple beth hatfiloh com-
munity street fair will be held at the
temple, on 8th st. between Washing-
ton and franklin,
olympia, on sun., june 2 from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CourTesy TBH
The first wedding at Temple Beth Hatfiloh in 1937 was between Percy Bean, the grandson of one of its founders, and Anna Zlotnik.
Jim sTeveNsoN
Temple Beth Hatfiloh’s current building.
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews commuNiTy caleNdar 13
For a complete listing of events, or to add your event to the JTNews calendar, visit calendar.jtnews.net. Calendar events must be submitted no later than 10 days before publication.
the calendarto Jewish Washington @jewishcal
Candlelighting timesmay 24 ............................ 8:32 p.m.may 31 ............................ 8:40 p.m.June 7 ............................. 8:46 p.m.June 14 ........................... 8:50 p.m.
WedneSday 29 may7–8 p.m. — Jewish High Graduation
Ari Hoffman at [email protected] or 206-295-5888 or jewishhighseattle.comCommencement exercise for Jewish High (formerly Hebrew High) class of 2013. At the Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.7–8:30 p.m. — Holy Hellraisers
Shelly Goldman at [email protected] or 425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.orgFrom the story of creation to today’s Senate, Jewish women have been raising hell. Rabbi Kinberg will teach more about women who have moved mountains and pushed boundaries. Two-part series continues on June 5. $5 payable at the door. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue.
thuRSday 30 may10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. — From the Hills of seattle to the mountains of Nepal
Ellen Hendin at [email protected] or 206-461-3240 or jfsseattle.orgMargaret Hinson, Director of JFS’s Refugee and
Immigrant Service Center, will speak about people she met at Nepalese refugee camps — relatives of her Seattle clients — and share photos of Nepal. At Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 3850 SE 156th Ave. SE, Bellevue.7–8:30 p.m. — Town Hall meeting with rep. adam smith
Stacey Giachino at [email protected] or 206-315-7390 or tdhs-nw.orgTown Hall meeting with U.S. Congressman Adam Smith on “American Leadership and the Middle East.” Sponsored by J Street and Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Open to the public. Reception following at 8 p.m. Free. At Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1441 16th Ave., Seattle.
SatuRday 1 June1:15–2:30 p.m. — Life Cycle Customs and Liturgy: Birth
Shelly Goldman at [email protected] or 425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.orgThree-part lifecycle series with Cantor Serkin-Poole. Part one: Birth. Naming, brit milah, pidyon haben, conversion. Free. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue.
Sunday 2 June12 p.m. — aJC Global Forum 2013
Wendy Rosen at [email protected] or 206-622-6315 or bit.ly/18YtmTQAJC’s Global Forum is the global Jewish advocacy event of the year. With participants from 50 countries and across the United States, the Global Forum offers three packed days of education, training and inspiration. Registration required. In Washington, D.C.
2 p.m. — Day of Jewish arts and Culture Lisa Kranseler at [email protected]
or 206-774-2277Go back in time and meet Washington’s Jewish pioneers in a live performance by Book-It Repertory Theatre of “In the Land of Rain & Salmon: Jewish Voices of the Northwest, 1880-1920.” At Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave., Seattle.7–9 p.m. — seattle Jewish Chorale spring Concert
Michele Yanow at [email protected] or 206-708-7518 or www.seattlejewishchorale.orgSeattle Jewish Chorale presents its fifth annual spring concert, featuring songs in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino. At Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave. (at Seneca St.), Seattle.
WedneSday 5 June12–1:30 p.m. — israel Current events
Shelly Goldman at [email protected] or 425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.orgNevet Basker leads a discussion on a topic in the news pertaining to Israel. To find out the topic for this month or join the email list, contact Jayne Carlin at [email protected]. Optional pre-reading is available at www.broaderview.org/current. This session will be repeated on Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. $5 payable at the door. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue.
SatuRday 8 June1:15–2:30 p.m. — Life Cycle Customs and Liturgy: engagement (Tna’im) and Weddings
Shelly Goldman at [email protected] or
425-603-9677 or www.templebnaitorah.orgHistorical customs and how they have evolved, including smashing of the glass, chuppah, bedekken (unveiling), ketubah text (what it promises), seven blessings, and music. Free. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue.
Sunday 9 June10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Dance Baby Dance: Kids’ Dance Party
Leyna Lavinthal at [email protected] or 425-603-9677 or templebnaitorah.orgDance party just for kids. Music by Seattle’s DJ Eric, bite-size food and smoothies, and a raffle. $18. At Temple B’nai Torah, 15727 NE Fourth St., Bellevue.12:30–4 p.m. — Let the Games Begin: mah Jongg and Game Day
Susan Pass at [email protected] or 425-836-1409Honor life-member Rahla Turck at the Hadassah of Redmond Ridge fundraiser. An afternoon of games, food and fun. To register or for more information contact Susan at 425-836-1409 or Darlene at 425-836-4539. $36. At Trilogy Cascade Club, 23225 NE Greens Crossing Rd., Redmond.3–5 p.m. — Preparing for the High Holidays
[email protected] or 206-528-1944 or secularjewishcircle.orgFour two-hour facilitated group sessions. Each focuses on a theme or value: Tshuvah, Tashlich, gemilut hassidim, vows and forgiveness. Classes on June 9, July 14, August 11 and August 25. At Secular Jewish Circle, Leschi area, Seattle.
Wednesday, may 29 at 7 p.m.
a conversation about life with david shields
New York Times bestselling author David Shields
reads from “The Thing About Life is That One Day
You’ll Be Dead” and “How Literature Saved My
Life.” Book signing and kosher reception will fol-
low. Free, but register in advance at DavidShields.
brownpapertickets.com. At the Phinney Neigh-
borhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle.
For more information contact Leonid Orlov at
[email protected] or 206-861-8784 or
jfsseattle.org.
the arts
friday-monday, may 24-27
folklife
arts festival
The annual Folklife festival features a slew of klezmer and
Balkan performers, including Klez Chaos (Friday at 2:45
p.m.), Nu Klezmer Army (Friday at 8:30 p.m.), Fleet Street
Klezmer (Saturday at 4:20 p.m.), Erev Rav and Chevrona
(Saturday at 6 p.m.), and Klez Katz (Monday at 1 p.m.). On
Sunday at 3 p.m., Harvey Niebulski will lead a workshop,
“Klezmer 101 and Jewish Music.” For more information, visit
2013northwestfolklifefestival.sched.org, and see our article
about this year’s Folklife performances on jtnews.net.
through june 1
seattle international film festival
cinema
Four Jewish-related films are screening at SIFF this year. “Out in the Dark” (Israel)
is the story of two star-crossed gay lovers, Israeli Roy and Palestinian Nimr (May 25
at 9:30 p.m. at the Harvard Exit and on May 26 at 2 p.m. at SIFF Cinema Uptown).
Romantic comedy “Putzel” (U.S.) follows “little putz” Walter Himmelstein, a home-
body in the Upper West Side aspiring to do nothing more than work in his family’s
smoked fish shop — until the vivacious Sally comes along (June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the
Kirkland Performance Center, June 3 at 7 p.m. at AMC Pacific Place, and June 7 at
1 p.m. at AMC Pacific Place). “Zaytoun” (U.K.) follows unlikely duo Yoni, an IDF sol-
dier, and Fahed, a young Palestinian refugee in Beirut out of Lebanon in 1982 (May
27 at 8:30 p.m. and May 29 at 4:30 p.m. at AMC Pacific Place). And “Inch’Allah”
(Canada) follows a Québecer in the West Bank, highlighting the effects of war and
the complexity of relationships, putting a “human face on the front line of the con-
flict” (May 31 at 4 p.m. and June 1 at 9 p.m. at AMC Pacific Place).
For more information, visit www.siff.net/festival-2013.
14 summer books JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
Joseph RomePersonal Injury/Criminal Defense(425) [email protected]
“Our law firm focuses on defending the rights of people who have been negligently injured or accused of a crime”
JDS Grad
come see our new location
Pardon our dust!Free pickup & delivery on orders over $300
or 30% off all rug cleaning
new address: 231 s. Hinds st., seattle 98134 off 4th ave s., just north of spokane st.
Fine Rug & Upholstery Specialists Since 1907
Phone: 206-322-2200 Fax: 206-325-3841
www.emmanuelsrug.com
Russ Katz, RealtorWindermere Real Estate/Wall St. Inc.206-284-7327 (Direct)www.russellkatz.com
JDS Grad & Past Board of Trustees MemberMercer Island High School Grad
University of Washington Grad
Marvin Meyers
Long-term health is not guaranteed.Long-term care can be.
206-448-6940 7525 SE 24th Street, Suite 350, Mercer Island, WA 98040
Variations on the theme of mysterydiana bRement JTNews Columnist
Only one of the four books featured here is an actual detective novel and that’s “The Missing File,” a new murder mys-tery from Israel by D. A. Mishani (Harper, cloth, $25.99).
Set almost entirely in the Tel Aviv suburb of Holon, the novel is cleverly bracketed by references to Israeli detec-tive literature, something our detec-tive protagonist, Avraham (Avi) Avraham, claims on page two doesn’t exist.
“Why doesn’t Israel produce books like those of Agatha Chris-tie, or ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?’” he asks a mother who comes in to report a missing son.
Avi claims it’s because life in Israel, and crime in Israel, is just too ordi-nary.
He’s wrong on both counts, it appears, as Mishani unfolds the plot of the missing boy. With its requisite twists, turns and red herrings, the book leaves the reader guessing until almost the very end and, of course, the book becomes that Israeli detective novel Avraham claims doesn’t exist.
A morose and neurotic chain smoker, Avi is a bachelor whose bickering parents live nearby. We wonder if he really knows what he’s doing as he goes up against faster-moving detectives, tangles in office politics, and tries to figure out what to do with the missing boy’s neighbor, who behaves more and more strangely as the book progresses.
A bonus for American readers are Mis-hani’s vivid images of Israel and Israeli
life, aptly translated by Steven Cohen, and a glimpse into neighborhoods and lives rarely seen by tourists.
Nancy Richler’s new novel, “The Imposter Bride” (St. Martin’s, cloth, $24.99), is less a who-dunit than
a “where-went-she.” Lily Azerov is a
mail-order bride, a refugee from World War II Europe whose entire family per-ished. She arrives in Montreal to marry Sol, a stranger to her and who rejects her immediately. But Sol’s brother Nathan falls for Lily, and they are soon married and have a daughter, Ruth. As time passes, it becomes clear to family and friends that Lily is not who she says she is.
Shortly after Ruth’s birth, the already quiet and retiring Lily disappears and Ruth grows up with the mystery of her mother’s disappearance and true identity weighing on her.
Richler uses multiple points of view and shifts back and forth from third person to first person, which can be confusing and
frustrating, especially in the beginning of the book. However, Ruth’s first-per-son narratives always feel most authen-tic and bring out the author’s best writing. As Ruth grows up, her voice takes over the story and it begins to flow. The reader will be on tenterhooks until the very end trying to
figure out Lily’s identity, motives and fate.
Richler, the author of “Your Mouth is Lovely,” also uses the plot to illustrate the horrors of war, and explore the challenges of the new immigrant and the psychological damage of extreme loss.
Local author Patty Lazarus has doc-umented her journey to find a daugh-ter in “March into My Heart: A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters and Adoption” (independent, paper, $14.95).
In her quest to complete her family with a daughter and to overcome both the grief of losing her own mother too early and the grief of infertility, Lazarus sets out to adopt a daughter through open adop-tion.
The mystery here is, Will She or Won’t She? Will the birth mother come through in the end? As with many memoirs, the reader knows the answer — here it’s in the cover photo — but Lazarus skillfully and movingly constructs the story and
keeps up a good level of tension that leaves the reader guessing till close to the end. Lazarus acknowledges she is already blessed when she begins her quest, with a loving husband and two sons, but she’s smart enough to be emotionally honest with herself and to share that honesty with her read-ers. Her willingness to be open about her life and her feelings adds to the
success of this book and the story of the adoption will certainly encourage others seeking to adopt children in this country.
Finally, in “The Art Forger” by B.A. Shapiro (Algonquin, cloth, $23.95), we meet Claire Roth, a talented young artist who earns a living copying famous works of art for a publisher. Claire is caught up in the intrigue of art forgery when she is asked to copy a work she is sure is stolen. Flaunting morality for ambition, she agrees to do it in exchange for a one-woman show at a gallery.
The foundation of this novel is a true story: In 1990, thieves stole $500 mil-lion worth of art from the Isabella Stew-art Gardner Museum in Boston, including Degas’ “After the Bath,” featured in Sha-piro’s novel. Shapiro writes from Claire’s perspective, going into great detail about the painting process itself, about art forg-ery and learning, as Claire does, about 19th- and early 20th-century art and the relationship between Degas and Isabella Gardner.
if you goauthor patty lazarus will read
from “march into my heart: a
memoir of mothers, daughters
and adoption” on Wed., may 29
at 6:30 p.m. at Queen anne book
co., 1811 Queen anne ave. n,
seattle.
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews summer books 15
Architects, Consultants & ContractorsConstruction Contact Information Now Online!
Check www.kcls.org/buildings for information about KCLS construction projects. You’ll find the latest available details on current and pending projects:
•RequestsforProposals •AnnouncementsofFinalists •RequestsforQualifications •CommunityMeetings •CurrentProjectBidListings •Contacts •CallsforArtProposals •NewsReleases •SiteSelectionPolicy
TheKingCountyLibrarySystemrecognizesstrengthand value within our communities, and we encourage allinterestedandqualifiedserviceproviderstoreviewour public bid construction project opportunities.
For additional information, contact Kelly L. Iverson, Facilities Management Services Department, King County Library System: [email protected] 425-369-3308
M AY 15T H R O U G HJ U N E 15
taproottheatre.org 206.781.970 7 204 N. 85th Street Seattle, WA
Books in briefdiana bRement JTNews ColumnistHistory
A Provocative People: A Secular His-tory of the Jews by Sherwin T. Wine (IISHJ, paper, $24.95). The late author was a founder of the Humanistic Juda-ism movement, dubbed the “atheist rabbi” in a 1960s Time magazine article. In this overarching history, mixed, as the intro-duction explains, with some opinion, Wine draws on secular sources, empha-sizing that Humanism gives no credit to any supernatural powers in the actions of people. Probably his most interesting assertion is that the roots of European anti-Semitism are not in religion, but in the strong Jewish role in commerce that dates back to ancient times.
Holy Wars: 3,000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land by Gary L. Rashba (Case-mate, cloth, $32.95). The author is a career defense-industry writer with an expertise in the Middle East. He turns to a more general audience here with 17 readable chapters, each covering a significant battle in what is now Israel, from biblical times to the 1982 Lebanon war. Rashba, who has lived in Israel for 20 years, demon-strates that today’s conflicts are just part of a series of almost unending conflict in that region.Torah Study
Text Messages: A Torah Commentary for Teens, edited by Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin (Jewish Lights, cloth, $24.99). A variety of rabbis, cantors, teachers and communal leaders have contributed these commen-taries specifically for high school students. For Parashat Noah, Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin asks teens to be the “un-Noah” and speak up in the face of the world’s wrongs. In Shelach-Lecha, Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman uses the line “we looked like grasshoppers” to encourage readers not to shy away from a challenge. Clear, short and to the point, these writings are ideal for bringing Torah relevance to teens.
HolocaustTwo recent Holocaust-themed books
focus on those who resisted and those who escaped. Doreen Rappaport’s Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resis-tance During the Holocaust (Candlewick, paper, $22.99) is written as a textbook for students ages 10 and up, but still makes for interesting — and chilling — reading. Tens of thousands of Jews across Nazi-occu-pied Europe resisted during World War II, demonstrated here by individual portraits of courage in the face of death. The award-winning author based her writing on per-sonal interviews and extensive research for this book that took six years to complete.
Professor Steve Hochstadt of Illinois College brings us a collection of inter-views with Jews who managed to get out of Europe in Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of Escape from the Third Reich (Palgrave, paper, $28). Sixteen thousand European Jews were able to get visas to enter the one place that permitted free entry, at least until 1939. While the stories Hoch-stadt has collected provide a fascinating look into this chapter of Jewish history, his initial discussion of how an interviewer melds the randomness of a conversation into a cohesive narrative was equally inter-esting. The book is part of the publisher’s “Studies in Oral History” series.
Trusting Calvin: How a Dog Helped Heal a Holocaust Survivor’s Heart by Sharon Peters (Lyons, cloth, $19.95). As a teenaged prisoner in a Nazi work camp, Max Edelman witnessed a horrific dog attack on a fellow prisoner. He then suf-fered a brutal beating by prison guards that
left him blind. How he managed to survive the camp
is an incredible story on its own. Then, at age 68, he was forced to overcome his ter-rible fear of dogs when his wife’s crippling arthritis made it clear he would need a guide dog to maintain his independence. Peters describes how Max and Calvin, a chocolate lab provided by Guiding Eyes for the Blind, work around their mutual difficulties in a touching and entertaining fashion.Israel
Saturday People, Sunday People: Israel through the Eyes of a Christian Sojourner, by Lela Gilbert (Perseus, cloth, $25.99). The author came to Israel for a pil-grimage six years ago and is still there. She arrived at the height of a war, already fasci-nated by a land of international conflicts of epic proportions, and found a country of “warm-hearted, smart and lively people.” A writer and a poet, she turned to journal-ism, writing about visits to Mamilla Mall and bomb shelters, and her conversations with Israelis, Jewish and Arab. She hopes this collection of her writings will promote understanding and harmony particularly among Jews and Christians.
Gefilte Fish for Neshama by Anna Shvets (Neshama Books, paper, $15.99). Here’s my dirty secret: I like jarred gefilte fish and never even had homemade gefilte fish until well into adulthood. Shvets’s well-crafted short book — part memoir, part cookbook — is filled with color photos of Israel where the Russian émigré spent her formative years before she moved to Van-couver, BC and opened Neshama Books. Her grandmother’s detailed gefilte fish recipe is illustrated with step-by-step photos
and tempted me to try it. But I was deterred. Not by the live carp to be gutted and scaled after swimming in the bathtub, or even the popping out of the eyeballs so the sockets can be a handhold to secure the head while pulling out the spine with a pliers. It’s the smell that will linger in the house for a week after two hours of sim-mering the fish on the stove. (After reading this, you should read or re-read the classic children’s book, “The Carp in the Bathtub.”)Fiction
A Wedding in Great Neck by Yona Zeldis McDonough (New American, paper, $15). Relying on cultural stereo-types to propel its story forward, this light but entertaining book errs more on the side of sitcom than literature. A wealthy Great Neck matron hosts a wedding at her mansion for her type-A, go-getter daughter while her type-B hippie daughter languishes in the background. Unruly teen-agers, well-meaning grandmothers, and an impulsive act that threatens the entire wed-ding are some of what you’ll find here.
The Other Shore by Fred Skolnik (Aqueous, paper, $21). This saga-length novel follows a motley cast of Israeli types through the 1980s between the Lebanese War and the outbreak of the first inti-fada. Skolnik, editor of the award-winning second edition of the Encyclopedia Juda-ica, has lived in Israel since 1961 and is a skillful writer and entertaining observer of Israeli society. The story illustrates the decade that saw the final shift in Israel from a Zionist-Socialist society to a West-ern-style consumer culture.
16 The arTs JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
Kehilla | Our Community
Where Judaism and Joy are One 206-447-1967 www.campschechter.org
The premiere Reform Jewish camping experience in the Pacific Northwest!
Join us for an exciting, immersive, and memorable summer of a lifetime!
425-284-4484 www.kalsman.urjcamps.org
Kol Haneshamah is a progressive and diverse synagogue community that is transforming Judaism for the 21st century.
6115 SW Hinds St., Seattle 98116E-mail: [email protected]: 206-935-1590www.khnseattle.org
Temple De Hirsch Sinai is the leading and oldest Reform congregation in
the Pacific Northwest.With warmth and caring,
we embrace all who enter through our doors. We invite you to share
our past, and help shape our future.
206.323.8486www.tdhs-nw.org1511 East Pike St. Seattle, WA 981223850 156th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006
Yossi Mentz, Regional Director 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 650
Los Angeles, CA Tel: 323-655-4655 Toll Free: 800-323-2371
Yossi Mentz, Regional Director 6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 650
Los Angeles, CA Tel: 323-655-4655 Toll Free: 800-323-2371
Saving Lives in Israel
Gary S. Cohn, Regional DirectorJack J. Kadesh, Regional Director Emeritus
415-398-7117 [email protected] www.ats.orgAmerican Technion North Pacific Region on Facebook
@gary4technion on Twitter
Find out how you can be part of KehillaCall 206-774-2264
or email [email protected]
Say ‘shalommm’JaniS SieGel JTNews Correspondent
With a voice that combines an exotic hybrid of his French roots, a decade in Israel, and a nod to the Pacific Northwest incorporated from his current environs in Seattle, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue’s Rabbi Olivier BenHaim’s new six-step meditation CDs feature his self-described straightforward technique that is geared to the novice practitioner.
“Souls’ Journey: Meditation and Kab-balah,” his inaugural release out on April 21, is a two-CD set designed to orient the student into the Jewish mystical, Kabbal-istic tree of life.
To train the aspiring listener, Ben-Haim begins and ends each session with a “three-fold” chant of the Hebrew word for peace and wholeness, “shalom.”
“This is Jewish,” BenHaim told JTNews. “This is from our own book. Meditation has always been part of our past and our texts.”
Once oriented to BenHaim’s chants and his use of the Hebrew names for the five levels of the soul — or as he prefers to
call them, “levels of consciousness” — the student begins his or her approach toward the five levels that Kabbalists say are acces-sible to all of us.
“I believe you can move through the tree of life through meditation,” said Ben-Haim. “They were states that the Kab-balists themselves had access to. We can experience what the Kabbalists experi-enced themselves in their bones and in their personal experience.”
BenHaim explained that the second track is a relaxation, centering, breathing, and grounding meditation. Instructions, he said, are simple and clear.
“It’s not convoluted and we don’t use highfalutin words,” he added. “It’s a very down-to-earth practice that follows the Kabbalistic system, but most importantly, follows our day-to-day human experience.”
His advice to would-be practitioners is that they practice with one each week, master that level, and build up to the more advanced lessons.
“I wanted to make it very easy for people to find 15 minutes during the day, to plug it in, and just do it,” BenHaim said.
During the sessions, BenHaim addresses one of the central teachings in Judaism often tackled by rabbis and mys-tics alike: The duality of the yetzer ha’tov, the good inclination, and the yetzer ha’ra, commonly called the evil inclination. Juda-ism says the human personality has both; however, the good-evil dichotomy is a misunderstanding of our essential natures, they say. The yetzer ha’ra is really where we form our ideas and plans for our lives. Some benefit us and others don’t.
While meditating about this aspect, BenHaim asks the listener to become introspective and to pay attention to his or her own thoughts and reactions.
“A lot of the yetzer ha’ra is out of the emotional body,” said BenHaim. “How can we not be enslaved to our emotions — to not be under their dictate? We can be responding instead of reacting.”
The techniques in the lessons, accord-ing to BenHaim, are a compilation of approaches that have been used by mys-tics and Kabbalistic teachers he has stud-ied over the years.
The five aspects of the Kabbalistic vision of “soul,” explained BenHaim, exist within us like concentric circles that lie at the core of who we are.
“Track four is a meditation that talks about the level of nefesh, which is enter-ing into our body,” said BenHaim. “Where are the sensations? Where are they coming from? Really being aware of whatever is happening in our body.”
By using these methods, said BenHaim,
X PAGE 18
Dentists
Toni Calvo Waldbaum, DDSRichard Calvo, DDS☎☎ 206-246-1424
☎✉ [email protected] Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry Designing beautiful smiles by Calvo 207 SW 156th St., #4, Seattle
B. Robert Cohanim, DDS, MSOrthodontics for Adults and Children☎☎ 206-322-7223 ��www.smile-works.com
Invisalign Premier Provider. On First Hill across from Swedish Hospital.
Warren J. Libman, D.D.S., M.S.D.☎☎ 425-453-1308��www.libmandds.com
Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics: • Restorative • Reconstructive • Cosmetic Dentistry 14595 Bel Red Rd. #100, Bellevue
Michael Spektor, D.D.S.☎☎ 425-643-3746
☎✉ [email protected] ��www.spektordental.com
Specializing in periodontics, dental implants, and cosmetic gum therapy.Bellevue
Wendy Shultz Spektor, D.D.S.☎☎ 425-454-1322
☎✉ [email protected]��www.spektordental.com
Emphasis: Cosmetic and Preventive Dentistry • Convenient location in Bellevue
Care Givers
HomeCare Associates A program of Jewish Family Service☎☎ 206-861-3193��www.homecareassoc.org
Provides personal care, assistance with daily activities, medication reminders, light housekeeping, meal preparation and companionship to older adults living at home or in assisted-living facilities.
Certified Public Accountants
Dennis B. Goldstein & Assoc., CPAs, PSTax Preparation & Consulting☎☎ 425-455-0430
F 425-455-0459
Newman Dierst Hales, PLLCNolan A. Newman, CPA☎☎ 206-284-1383
☎✉ [email protected]��www.ndhaccountants.com
Tax • Accounting • Healthcare Consulting
College Placement
College Placement Consultants☎☎ 425-453-1730
☎✉ [email protected]��www.collegeplacementconsultants.com
Pauline B. Reiter, Ph.D. Expert help with undergraduate and graduate college selection, applications and essays. 40 Lake Bellevue, #100, Bellevue 98005
College Planning
Albert Israel, CFPCollege Financial Aid Consultant☎☎ 206-250-1148
☎✉ [email protected] Learn strategies that can deliver more aid.
Counselors/Therapists
Jewish Family Service Individual, couple, child and family therapy☎☎ 206-861-3152
☎✉ [email protected]��www.jfsseattle.org
Expertise with life transitions, addiction and recovery, relationships and personal challenges —all in a cultural context. Licensed therapists; flexible day or evening appointments; sliding fee scale; most insurance plans.
Insurance
Eastside Insurance ServicesChuck Rubin and Matt Rubin ☎☎ 425-271-3101
F 425-277-3711 4508 NE 4th, Suite #B, RentonTom Brody, agent ☎☎ 425-646-3932
F 425-646-8750 ��www.e-z-insurance.com
2227 112th Ave. NE, Bellevue We represent Pemco, Safeco, Hartford & Progressive
United Insurance Brokers, Inc.Linda Kosin
☎✉ [email protected] Cacabelos
☎✉ [email protected]☎☎ 425-454-9373
F 425-453-5313Your insurance source since 1968 Employee benefits Commercial business and Personal insurance 50 116th Ave SE #201, Bellevue 98004
Photographers
Dani Weiss Photography ☎☎ 206-760-3336��www.daniweissphotography.com
Photographer Specializing in People.Children, B’nai Mitzvahs, Families, Parties, Promotions & Weddings.
Senior Services
Hyatt Home Care ServicesLive-in and Hourly Care ☎☎ 206-851-5277
☎✉ [email protected]��www.HyattHomeCare.com
Providing adults with personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, errands, household chores, pet care and companionship. References and discounts available.
Jewish Family Service☎☎ 206-461-3240��www.jfsseattle.org
Comprehensive geriatric care manage-ment and support services for seniors and their families. Expertise with in-home assessments, residential placement, fam-ily dynamics and on-going case manage-ment. Jewish knowledge and sensitivity.
The Summit at First Hillretirement Living at its Best!☎☎ 206-652-4444��www.summitatfirsthill.org
The only Jewish retirement community in Washington State. Featuring gourmet kosher dining, spacious, light-filled apartments and life-enriching social, educational and wellness activities.
Financial Services
Hamrick Investment Counsel, LLCRoy A. Hamrick, CFA☎☎ 206-441-9911
☎✉ [email protected]��www.hamrickinvestment.com
Professional portfolio management services for individuals, foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Solomon M. Karmel, Ph.D First Allied Securities☎☎ 425-454-2285 x 1080 ��www.hedgingstrategist.com
Retirement, stocks, bonds, college, annuities, business 401Ks.
Funeral/Burial Services
Congregation Beth Shalom Cemetery☎☎ 206-524-0075
☎✉ [email protected] beautiful cemetery is available to the Jewish community and is located just north of Seattle.
Hills of Eternity CemeteryOwned and operated by Temple De Hirsch Sinai ☎☎ 206-323-8486
Serving the greater Seattle Jewish com-munity. Jewish cemetery open to all pre-need and at-need services. Affordable rates • Planning assistance.Queen Anne, Seattle
Seattle Jewish Chapel☎☎ 206-725-3067
☎✉ [email protected] burial services provided at all area cemeteries. Burial plots available for purchase at Bikur Cholim and Machzikay Hadath cemeteries.
Hospice Services
Kline Galland Hospice☎☎ 206-805-1930
☎✉ [email protected]��www.klinegallandhospice.org
Kline Galland Hospice provides individualized care to meet the physi-cal, emotional, spiritual and practical needs of those in the last phases of life. Founded in Jewish values and traditions, hospice reflects a spirit and philosophy of caring that emphasizes comfort and dignity for the dying.
PlACe your ServICe onlIne
See your ServICe In PrInT
ACCeSS THe DIreCTory
onlIne
www.jtnews.net
5-24 2013
Professional
Directory
to Jewish
Washington
look for it
in June!
What do you need? Looking for a doctor,
an architect, or an SAT coach? We’ve got ‘em all in
the Professional Directory to Jewish Washington.
What do you do? Provide legal services?
Tax advice? Make beautiful smiles?
You should be a part of it! You’ll be
online at www.professionalwashington.com
year round and in the book in the spring.
You should be a part of it!
Get started now at professionalwashington.com or call us at 206-441-4553!
18 commuNiTy News JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
college placement
consultantsExpert help with undergraduate and graduate college selection,
applications and essays.
425-453-1730Pauline B. Reiter, Ph.D.
announcements
home services
funeral/burial services
help wanted
cleaning services
home services homecare services
companion/housing
jtnews needs an intern
Attention budding journalists: JTNews — The Voice of Jewish Washington is
seeking an editorial intern for the spring. Work on newsgathering and reporting
skills, help out with our newspaper distribution, work on our websites, and
get on-the-job experience you won’t find in a classroom.
Please send inquiries and writing samples to JTNews editor and
publisher Joel Magalnick at [email protected].
household companion 37-year-old college-educated Peruvian woman with good English skills would like to help with companionship and
safety of an elderly person or couple in exchange for a home where she can live
for low or no rent. Willing to cook and help
with minor chores. References available.
email [email protected] call 206-778-6407
admissions counseling
temple beth or cemetery
Beautiful location near Snohomish.
Serving the burial needs of Reform Jews and their families. For information, please call
(425) 259-7125.
get ready for spring!
Green Thumb SolutionsLandscape maintenance
Lawn renovation irrigation systems
ornamental pruning/hedges decks, retaining walls, masonry
Handyman, carpentry and more…
206-459-9228nisan pollack
www.greenthumbsolutions.comLicensed, Bonded & Insured
#GREENTS902902QC
imagination in design
• Kitchen/Bath
• Space planning
• Remodels & additions
• Custom kosher kitchen designs
Interior Designer Architect
Call Emma Stern [email protected]
bellevue adult home care
Quiet Bellevue location, 20 yrs exp. Reliable, honest and affordable.
RN on staff, 24-hr quality personal care;
special skilled nursing care; assist daily
activities, medications, dementia,
Alzheimers, stroke, hospice, etc.
Home includes a happy 103 yr old resident!
Call Jean Boldor
425-643-4669 • 206-790-7009
www.bellevueadulthomecare.com
Gift Certificate Available!
a housecleaning service Seattle Eastside 206/325-8902 425/454-1512
www.renta-yenta.com• Licensed • Bonded • insured
donate that CaR to Chabad!
• Free Pick-up • No DOL filing • No smog certif. • Running or not
Receive a tax write-off.• Any vehicle okay
• Plus RVs, boats, real estate, lots, etc.
206-527-1411
cemetery gan shalomA Jewish cemetery that meets the needs of
the greater Seattle Jewish community. Zero interest payments available.
For information, call temple Beth am at 206-525-0915.
Next issue: juNe 7ad deadliNe: may 31
call becky: 206-774-2238
the
shouk
Nurse, cNa, licensedHome healthcare with over 15 yrs exp.
Alzheimers exp. doctor appts., transp. avail., FT, live-in or -out,
mother-in-law space helpful.Great references, mature, compassionate & loving.
Will travel with client.
call carolyn 206-271-5820License #46-23-29-790
let us help you plaN aNd update
your home! Entertaining• Preparing to move
Want to enhance accessibility?Quality remodeling Custom Additions
In business over 30 years Licensed • Bonded • Insured
lBA hAugEn homES, InC gerry Haugen
In the Scandinavian Tradition of Craftsmanship & Excellence [email protected]
lBAhAh1945pw
425-603-1492
clinician to the home to make an initial assessment.
“We try to gather all of that informa-tion over the phone before we go,” Swan-born said. “The first visit typically takes
about an hour and a half. It’s a compre-hensive assessment — cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal, full vitals testing, a com-prehensive medication review, a fall-risk assessment, that looks at whether they have any incontinence issues or balance issues, do they have any vision impairments, hear-
ing impairments, and any mobility issues, like whether or not they can get in and out of bed.”
Kline Galland’s home health services include nursing, physical, speech and occupational therapy. Other staff includes medical social workers and certified nurs-
ing assistants who also function as home health aides. They can provide assistance with light chores, errands, bathing, and meals, but Medicare will only reimburse for the cost of a home health aide if one of the other skilled therapies is also being provided.
W KLiNE GALLAND PAGE 9
meditators can access these aspects of their personality and transcend their attach-ment to them.
The goal, he said, “is dissolving our identification with these concentric circles starting with the outer layer and working
our way in. Ultimately,” he writes on his website, “what one discovers at the center is one’s own True Identity, the Face of the One that is every one.”
BenHaim freely admits that his CDs are not meant to be a substitute for the expe-rience of meditating in a group or a class, or with a personal guide, but he does make
himself available to users for any questions or comments they may have through his site.
Mainly, he wants to get these typi-cally esoteric mystical techniques into the hands of many more people who can’t or won’t study meditation in the other for-mats. Also, by having a CD, students can “plug-in” at their convenience, whenever
they have the time. In addition to dissolving the five states
of the soul, BenHaim also wants to dis-abuse those who have the idea that medi-tation is “un-Jewish.”
“You’re not betraying the faith,” said BenHaim. “I will always be a student of Kabbalah.”
W BENHAiM CD PAGE 16
friday, may 24, 2013 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews lifecycles 19
LifecycLes
how do i submit a lifecycle announcement? Send lifecycle notices to: JTNews/Lifecycles, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121E-mail to: [email protected] Phone 206-441-4553 for assistance. Submissions for the June 7, 2013 issue are due by May 28.Download forms or submit online at www.jtnews.net/index.php?/lifecyclePlease submit images in jpg format, 400 KB or larger. Thank you!
grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which will also allow the production to tour. The performance will hit the road early summer and tour until
November or December, Laraeu said.“I’m excited about this,” Williams said.
“We [the authors] used to joke about it. Oh, this book would make a great movie — there’s drama and conflict.”
Bat MitzvahTalia Moriah Chivo
Talia will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 25, 2013 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island.
Talia is the daughter of Julie and David Chivo of Mercer Island and the sister of Daniel. Her grandparents are Claire and Allan Shumofsky of Fairfield, Conn., and Marion and Jack Chivo of West Vancouver, B.C. Her great-grandmother is Sarah Shumofsky of State College, Penn.
Talia is a 7th grader at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle. She enjoys playing volleyball.
Bat MitzvahJocelyn Kirsten Linnea Masen
Jocelyn will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 25, 2013 at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue. Jocelyn is the daughter of Jim Masen of Bellevue and the late Trisha Masen. Her grandparents are Richard and Karen Hogan and Gene and Cynthia Masen.
Jocelyn is a 7th grader at Tillicum Middle School. She enjoys reading, horseback riding, skateboarding, caring for animals, and travel. For her mitzvah project, she is helping Second Chance Wildlife Center in Snohomish.
W RAiN AND SALMoN PAGE 20
Express yourself with our special “Tribute Cards” and help fund JFS programs at the same time…meeting the needs of friends, family and loved ones here at home. Call Irene at (206) 861-3150 or, on the web, click on “Donations” at www.jfsseattle.org. It’s a 2-for-1 that says it all.
2-for-1 “ Baby Your Baby” Cards
BMW of Bellevue 425-643-4544
13617 Northup Way, Bellevue www.bmwbellevue.com
The all new BMW 320iIt’s a Big Deal!Base price $32,550
plus destination
A tale of love and darkness — and ultimately, lightKlaus Stern, 1921–2013
In spite of World War II closing in around them, Klaus and Paula Stern married in Germany in 1942, because, as Klaus stated in a short docu-mentary about their survival, “two people can fight what-ever comes better than one person.”
The Sterns were deported to Auschwitz nine months later. Over the next two years, Klaus sur-vived Sachsenhausen, Flossenburg, Leon-berg, and Mühldorf concentration camps, as well as death marches. Sick with typhoid when the Americans arrived, Klaus rallied through and made the slow journey back to Ahrnstadt, Germany, where he and Paula promised to meet again — if they survived. Klaus sent a note with a soldier going in the general direction of her town in the hopes it would reach her hands. It read: “Paula, I’m still alive. Wait for me.”
Klaus and Paula reunited and were married 70 years until Klaus’s passing on May 12 due to complications from pneu-monia. He was 92.
After liberation it took Paula six weeks to return to Ahrnstadt. She knew her family was gone, but she was sure Klaus would be there waiting for her. “There was no doubt about it,” she said in a film seg-ment that appeared on ABC’s Nightline. Every night in Auschwitz, Klaus sent his thoughts to her to stay strong.
“Maybe I would have gotten the feel-ing that Klaus was gone, and I would have given up, too,” she said.
Miraculously, the letter found its way to her, and so, eventually, did Klaus.
Klaus and Paula moved to Seattle a year later, where Klaus found work with Lan-gendorf Bakeries. They had two children,
Marvin and Marion, and later were blessed with four grand-children.
Shortly after the Sterns hit American soil in 1946, Klaus began speaking about his experiences during the Holo-caust, and in 1989 helped found the Washington State H o l o c a u s t E d u c a t i o n Resource Center. Part of the center’s speakers bureau, he
educated the public — particularly school groups — about the war and the conse-quences of intolerance up until his health began to fail in the past year.
In a comment to the Seattle Times’ obituary on May 16, a former high school teacher paid tribute to the survivor:
When queried at the end of the school year on what were the best things about the class, Klaus’ visit was always at the top of the list. He changed more lives than anyone else I’ve ever known, encouraging stu-dents to be tolerant of others and always respect human life as sacred. His horrific story of surviving Aus-chwitz showed kids they also could survive almost anything and come out on the other side to have a happy life. God bless dear Mr. Stern.
“Klaus Stern led by example,” said Dee Simon, executive director of the Holocaust Center. “With his support, the center now reaches over 40,000 students each year. He served on the center’s board of direc-tors since 1989 providing a moral compass for the center’s leadership, and keeping the survivor’s perspective at the forefront. Klaus was not only a leader but a dear friend of the center. He will be missed.”
Tributes can be made to the Klaus Stern Holocaust Education Fund at www.wsherc.org or by mail to 2031 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121. The fund will
support speaker outreach throughout the Pacific Northwest.
— emily K. alhadeff
20 raiN aNd salmoN JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, may 24, 2013
History of Washington State’s Jews comes to the stageGWen daviS JTNews Correspondent
Who were the first Jews in Washington State? How were they able to assimilate into American and Washington culture? Why did they move here and what were their lives like day to day?
On June 2, the Washington State Jewish Historical Society (WSJHS) and Book-It Repertory Theatre will premiere “In the Land of Rain & Salmon: Jewish Voices of the Northwest, 1880-1920” at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.
“It’s a collaboration of everything we stand for — our whole mission is in this production,” said Lisa Kranseler, exec-utive director of WSJHS. “It’s bringing awareness to Jewish history and that’s important.”
Kranseler anticipates the show will sell out.
“We expect it will be very popular,” she said.
That the performance will be at Lang- ston Hughes is significant: In 1914, Chevra Bikur Cholim (now Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath) built the facility and used it as its synagogue until 1958.
“It’s a really big thing,” Kranseler said. “The Langston Hughes community wel-comes our community.”
This original theater production is based on “Family of Strangers,” a 2003
book authored by Jacqueline Williams, Molly Cone and Howard Droker, which describes the history of Jews in Wash-ington, and materials from the Jewish Archives at the University of Washing-ton’s Special Collections library.
According to Annie Lareau, education director at Book-It, the staged reading combines several vignettes from historical moments in Washington State history that involve its various Jewish communities.
“We keep authors’ words intact,” she said. “They take place all over the state and include Sephardic and Ashkenazic sto-ries, with violin music. Photos are also dis-played during the performance.”
The theater contracts with organiza-tions like the WSJHS frequently.
“WSJHS commissioned us to create a touring staged reading, where this can be done in big or small spaces,” Lareau said. “We’ve done this several times with differ-ent historical societies.”
Author Jacqueline Williams is pleased her book is being made into a performance.
“Book-It picked out six or eight people from the book and used the dialogues from the book and supplemented it with oral histories,” she said.
4Culture, an organization that advances cultural services in King County,
partnered with WSJHS to make the per-formance happen.
“When I heard the WSJHS had the theme of ‘Jews in Arts’ this year, and we talked about different ways of approach-ing it, we realized that theater-style was the one format the WSJHS would be most interested in,” said Eric Taylor, a senior
staffer at 4Culture.4Culture has helped put on other sim-
ilar events.“We have done this type of program
before, starting in 2009 with commemo-rating Seattle’s first World’s Fair in 1909,” he said. “After the success of that program, we wanted to do something like it in the following years. In 2010 we did a perfor-mance to commemorate women’s suffrage in Washington State, which was also based on a book.”
In 2012 the performance commemo-rated the 50th anniversary of the World’s Fair.
Funding for this performance came from 4Culture and a Small and Simple
if you go“in the land of rain and salmon” will
be staged on sun., june 2 at 2 p.m.
at the langtston hughes performing
arts institute, 104 17th ave. s, seat-
tle. tickets at brownpapertickets.
com cost $30 until may 28, $36 after.
students and kids under 18 cost $18.
X PAGE 19
CourTesy WasHiNGToN sTaTe JeWisH arCHives
Seattle Jewish philanthropists Tillie and Alfred Shemanski sit with several unidentified men at Luna Park, circa 1909-1910.