Articles by Jesse Bernstein
Summer Books Preview
Courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux If you look around right now, you might be thinking, “Wow. The weather is amazing, the streets are alive and it’s time for me to get outside again. The worst of the pandemic has passed, the summer is here and it’s finally time for me to safely, responsibly engage with the people I love. Heck, even the people I’m not so crazy about!” A classic mistake.
Jewish Philadelphia's Summer Camp Album
Elliot Miller, top row, second camper from right, at Silver Arrow Day Camp in 1957. Miller is vice president of Beth Sholom Congregation. Courtesy of Elliot Miller The first Jewish summer camp in the United States was opened in New York by the Jewish Working Girls Vacation Society in 1893. The early camps grew out of a larger social reform movement, which held that children needed to be taken out of their newly industrialized, smoke-choked cities to enjoy the fresh air of the country.
Longtime Gratz Educator Uziel Adini Dies at 83
Uziel Adini | Courtesy of Tali Udini Uziel Adini, an educator and administrator who won admirers across the country for his dedication, innovation and energy for Jewish education, died on May 27 at the age of 83. Adini — Uzi, to those who knew him — had battled leukemia for some time.
Why Do People Call Israel an Apartheid State?
Human Rights Watch, a nongovernmental organization, published a report on April 27 called “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution.” At more than 200 pages, the report details the ways in which “Israeli authorities methodically privilege Jewish Israelis and discriminate against Palestinians,” concluding that the Israeli government’s “intent to maintain the domination of Jewish Israelis over Palestinians across Israel and the OPT [Occupied...
Books: Bibi Netanyahu as Fiction, Childhood in Philadelphia Remembered
Courtesy of New York Review Books The Creation of Netanyahu “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family” Joshua Cohen New York Review Books It appears, for now, to be over. Though the howling of a few MKs may have drowned out Naftali Bennett’s first speech as prime minister before the Knesset, the reign of Benjamin Netanyahu — Bibi, Melech Yisroel — has come to an end.
Joe Zuritsky to Receive Award From AJC
Joe Zuritsky, chairman and CEO of Parkway Corp., will be honored with the American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey’s Human Relations Award at the organization’s annual meeting on June 23. Zuritsky, a longtime AJC board member and a key supporter, was an obvious candidate to be this year’s recipient, according to Marcia Bronstein, regional director of AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey.
‘Golem’ Considers Death, Associated Jewish Rituals
From left: Logan Gabrielle Schulman and Benjamin Behrend | Photos by Noah S. Thompson At the Old City Jewish Arts Center, playwrights and theater artists Logan Gabrielle Schulman and Benjamin Behrend are trying something new: an art exhibition. For Schulman and Behrend, who met as teachers at Congregation Rodeph Sholom before expanding their partnership, it’s a totally new experience, one born out of calamity.
Survivor Michael Herskovitz Dies at 92
Michael and Tonya Herskovitz on Michael’s 88th birthday | Courtesy of Tonya Herskovitz Michael Herskovitz, a Holocaust survivor who spent the latter portion of his life speaking to audiences around the world about his experiences, died on May 30 at the age of 92. The Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center in Elkins Park released a statement mourning Herskovitz, who was a part of the institution for years and served on its board.
Antisemitic Fears Creating a Hyperawareness
A woman told the Philadelphia Police Department that “three Middle Eastern males dressed as Orthodox Jewish men” had found out that she was Jewish and harassed her on the street.
Former Rep. to Recount Search for War Criminals
Elizabeth Holtzman | Courtesy of Herrick, Feinstein LLP In the years that followed the end of World War II and the end of the Thousand-Year Reich, members of Nazi military and police units, political bodies and the scientific establishment lived on. With the war concluded and their political project in ruins, they had choices to make about how they would spend the rest of their lives.
Philly Faces: Lauren Rosen
Lauren Rosen | Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers Former Duke Blue Devils point guard Jay Williams dished out a ton of assists to his teammates in the early aughts, powering them to an NCAA championship in 2001. Lauren Rosen, 26, is one of those lucky few who can claim an assist from Williams without ever having stepped onto the court.
Conflict Aftermath Stresses Local Organizations
JCRC’s work brings the group into contact with a wide variety of politicians and politically-minded groups. Here, JCRC Director Laura Frank moderates a roundtable discussion with Bishop J. Louis Felton | Photo by ESM Productions As Israelis and Palestinians alike emerge from the rubble of 11 days of fighting that killed 200 and sparked a global wave of antisemitism, the stakes of the conflict are heightened once more, at home and abroad.
Synagogues Start Returning to In-person Events
A recent Kabbalat Shabbat service hosted by Makom Community | Photo by Beverly Socher-Lerner They’re coming in for confirmation and Kabbalat Shabbat. There’s a mock-up Israeli shuk coming to Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid, sitars and flamenco guitar at Congregation Beth Sholom and dancing in the alley behind Makom Community at 20th and Sansom streets.
Jake Fischer Trusts ‘The Process’
Jake Fischer | Courtesy of Jake Fischer Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid scored 30 points in a first-round playoff victory over the Washington Wizards on May 23. To 76ers fans, it was an auspicious beginning to the team’s quest for an NBA championship, which would be the franchise’s first since the 1982-’83 season. Having entered this year’s playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, hopes are, understandably, quite high.
‘She Was a Person’: Man Searches for Infant Sister He Never Met
Abraham (back left) and Sadie Goldfinger (back right) with Irving (front left) and Harold (front right). Norma Goldfinger was born in between Harold and Irving. | Photos courtesy of Marci Goldfinger Marci Goldfinger was noodling around on the internet in July 2012 trying to find out a bit more about the family of her father, Irving Goldfinger. On a census document from 1930, she found the names she expected.
Shavuot a Special Holiday for Goodblatt Students
In the first chapter of Ruth, read during the holiday of Shavuot, the eponymous convert speaks her most famous line. Gill Segal (left) and Eric Papa (right) with their children, Joseph and Shawn-Benjamin. Papa was introduced to the Rabbi Morris Goodblatt Academy by a rabbi in Durham, North Carolina. | Courtesy of Eric Papa Ruth, a Moabite woman, is widowed around the same time as her Jewish in-laws, Naomi and Orpah.
‘Final Account’ Visits an Uncomfortable Place
Archival footage in “Final Account,” by director Luke Holland | Courtesy of Focus Features “Final Account,” a new documentary from recently deceased English director Luke Holland, is as straightforward in its presentation as it is complicated in its subject matter. For 90 minutes, elderly Germans look into Holland’s camera and describe their former lives as Nazis.
Health-Tracking App Promotes Patient Empowerment
Tracey Welson-Rossman Photo by Neil Hoving Journal My Health, a new app created by local entrepreneur Tracey Welson-Rossman, is billed as a tool for patients and their physicians to manage illness. The app, which allows users to track symptoms in a private, detailed and simple manner, is intended to help patients give their providers as accurate of a picture of their health as possible during their visits.
Books: Falling Short After a Great Start, Going Beyond
Great Premise Falls Short “Secrets of Happiness” Joan Silber, Counterpoint The deception that sets up the story of “Secrets of Happiness” is revealed on page 10. The premise — after 32 years of conventional marriage and a comfortable Upper West Side existence, a father reveals that he has a second family in Queens — is so juicy, so ripe for exploration, that one appreciates Joan Silber’s to-the-point-ness here. Don’t mess around; state the problem so we can get to the richly dramatic consequences.
Philly Faces: Elijah Tomaszewski
Elijah Tomaszewski | Photo by Yael Pachino Elijah Tomaszewski, 29, began his Tribe 12 fellowship in January. Tomaszewski’s project is a little different than that of the typical Tribe 12 fellow; it doesn’t revolve around mentorship for his new business or nonprofit. Instead, Tomaszewski is being mentored through the process of writing a series of novels. Tomaszewski, who is trans, lives in West Philadelphia.
Vaccines to Allow Camps to Return Closer to Normal
At JCC Camps at Medford, summer 2020 fishing specialist Bill Hamby teaches first-grade campers about their catch | Photo by Sara Sideman For Jewish summer camps in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the wide availability of vaccines represents a chance for a summer that’s closer to “normal” than the summer of 2020 was. Though camp directors are hardly rushing to drop policies regarding mask-wearing or disinfection, they acknowledged that some of the mental weight of in-person camp was lifted.
John Prine Fandom Sparks Musical Connection
Bruce Rits Gilbert with his grandson, Jack | Photo by Molly Gilbert Zulauf In 1964, Bruce Rits Gilbert saw The Beatles play at the Milwaukee Arena. It was the type of show that might have sparked a lifetime of obsession, a sold-out show that opened with “Twist and Shout” and ended with a cover of “Long Tall Sally.” Tickets topped out at about $5, and it was the first and last time that the band ever played in Gilbert’s hometown.
ADL: Antisemitism Stats Decline Slightly in 2020, Still High
Antisemitic incidents in the ADL Philadelphia region since 2016 | Images courtesy of ADL The print version of this story featured an incorrect headline that said that antisemitism stats declined in 2019, rather than 2020. Pennsylvania experienced a slight decrease in antisemitic incidents in 2020 relative to 2019, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s 2020 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents.
Bruce Rubin Keeps It Movin'
Grandson Adiv Brooks-Rubin and Bruce Rubin | Photo by Miranda Chadwick Bruce Rubin, 77, started running in the ’80s and has no plans to stop as he approaches his own 80s. Back then, it was to get in shape and, to this day, he can tell you the exact number on the scale that prompted him to get off the couch. Today, running plays a different role in his life.
Jews of Philly Fashion: Kimby Kimmel and Amy Fink
From left: Kimby Kimmel and Amy Fink | Courtesy of Kimby Kimmel and Amy Fink It’s the newest edition of Jews of Philly Fashion, introducing you to the Chosen few who dress our city. They might mix wool and linen, but they’ve got some strong opinions on mixing stripes with florals. In this space, we’ll talk to designers, sellers, buyers, influencers, models and more. This week, we spoke to Kimby Kimmel and Amy Fink. Amy Fink and Kimby Kimmel share quite a bit.
Panel on IHRA Anti-Semitism Definition Rankles
Lila Corwin Berman, Kenneth S. Stern and Joyce Ajlouny discuss the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. | Screenshot by Jesse Bernstein An April 20 online event hosted by Congregation Rodeph Shalom was meant to educate congregants about the potential for free speech issues surrounding the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism.
Activist, Former Actor to Run for State House
Jonathan D. Lovitz | Photo by Joe Mac Creative Jonathan D. Lovitz, a Democrat and a political activist for LGBTQ causes, announced his candidacy for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on April 19. Lovitz seeks to represent the 182nd PA House district, an area that encompasses a sizable chunk of Center City. He said that the “constant state of growth” in the area could “teach a lot of lessons” to lawmakers and business communities across Pennsylvania. “This is personal to me.
Dean Family Fellowship Nurtures Entrepreneurs
Daniel Dean (center) with AICAT students in October 2019 | Courtesy of Daniel Dean Daniel Dean knows something about taking intelligent risks. The Bala Cynwyd-based management consultant and executive was a founding principal of PREIT Capital Advisors, and serves as the managing director of Real Property Capital. Taking intelligent risk has been his professional life.
Theatre Ariel Debuts ‘Leaves from the Garden’
A still from “The Wonder Child,” a story from the Egyptian-Jewish oral tradition. Top row, left to right: Lois Abdelmalek and Abdul Sesay. Bottom row, from left: Marissa Barnathan and Nathan Foley | Courtesy of Theatre Ariel In a year marked by upheaval, Deborah Baer Mozes and the artistic team at Theatre Ariel turned to tradition for inspiration. The result is “Leaves from the Garden,” a collection of nine classic Jewish folk tales that were adapted for Zoom performances.
Businessman, Philanthropist Robert Fox Dies at 91
Robert Fox was enmeshed with the University of Pennsylvania from his graduation in 1952 until his death | Courtesy of Debra Fox Robert Allen Fox, a businessman and philanthropist whose contributions and leadership often benefited Jewish organizations in Philadelphia, died at home on April 14 from pneumonia. He was 91. Fox was born in 1929 to Frederic and Zena Fox, and grew up in Germantown and Mt. Airy.
Rabbi Gabe Greenberg to Lead Penn Hillel
Rabbi Gabe Greenberg Photo by Dina Ley Rabbi Gabe Greenberg assumed the role of executive director at Penn Hillel on April 1, and had served as interim executive director since Jan. 1. But in a sense, he’s been preparing for the job for years. “Taking this position felt like just an incredibly exciting opportunity,” Greenberg, 39, said. “As someone who is passionate about the Jewish future and about Jewish education, Penn Hillel is the place to do those things.
Can You Link Yom HaShoah, Pandemic?
Daniel Goldsmith delivers his Holocaust testimony at a HAMEC event for Yom HaShoah. Screenshot by Jesse Bernstein As synagogue congregations, Holocaust remembrance groups and educational institutions gathered last week via Zoom to mark the second Yom HaShoah observed during the pandemic, speakers for those events considered the thematic confluence of two very different, era-defining events.
An April Shower (of Books)
Courtesy of Paul Dry Books Another month, another slew of exciting new Jewish books. We wish we could review them all, but the space available is finite, and there’s a whole lot of other stuff going on. As a consolation prize, we’re highlighting five new releases coming out this month that we think you’ll enjoy.
David Broza Slated for Two Local Performances
David Broza will perform at the Sellersville Theater on April 17 and via Zoom for “Philly Hearts Israel: An All-Star Concert” the next day. Photo by Gil Lavy David Broza, the trilingual Israeli singer-songwriter who has performed all over the world, will come to the Sellersville Theater for a benefit concert on April 17, his first live show since February 2020.
Review: “Philip Roth: The Biography”
Courtesy of W.W. Norton & Co. “Philip Roth: The Biography” Blake Bailey W.W. Norton & Co. Philip Roth was born March 19, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey, and, until his death in 2018, he was still trying to figure out what that meant. In the ethnic patchwork of the city, Roth saw middle-class strivers and upper-class anxieties, sexual opportunities and his community’s social and religious pieties.
Jewish Judicial Candidates Make Their Case
In the May 18 primary election, Pennsylvania’s voters will select candidates from their party to run in the November general election. In the state court system, there will be openings on benches at every level, from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to the magisterial courts. Seven Jewish candidates responded to our request to complete questionnaires. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order.
Penn Commencement on Shavuot Sparks Petition
Abby Stein, Eva Spier, Simcha Stadlan and Yoni Gutenmacher, at a Penn Hillel event in December 2019. Stadlan and Gutenmacher are part of the student-led effort to change the date of commencement. Courtesy of Yoni Gutenmacher Nearly 1,600 people signed a petition urging the University of Pennsylvania to change the date of commencement for the class of 2021. Set for May 17, the ceremony falls in the middle of Shavuot.
Local Author Pens Book on Jewish Festivals
Ronit Treatman wrote “Hands-On Jewish Holidays” over two years. Courtesy of Ronit Treatman Ronit Treatman, a local writer and the former president of the Philadelphia Jewish Voice, published a book intended to explain Jewish festivals to people who may be connecting to their Jewish ancestry for the first time.
Pandemic Doesn’t Stop Family Reunions
Cheryl Friedenberg (highlighted in yellow) has held Zoom calls with her mother (top left) and siblings (top middle, top right and middle right) five nights per week since the pandemic began. Photo by Cheryl Friedenberg They came from Russia and the state of Georgia, New York and Israel. From France and New Jersey they arrived, ready to gab.
Pandemic Produces New Wedding Officiants
Lynda Simons (center) weds her daughter, Jocelyn, to her now-son-in-law, Ben Rodriguez. Photo by Parr Photo Co. For those who chose to marry amid the pandemic, their special days were often an exercise in miniaturized joy. Miniature parties, miniature ceremonies and miniature guest lists proliferated as the prospect of waiting out the pandemic for wedded bliss proved too much for many.
Whistleblower Prepares for GOP Senate Run
Everett Stern | Courtesy of Everett Stern for U.S. SenateEverett Stern, the founder and CEO of a private intelligence agency who came to prominence as a whistleblower, announced his candidacy for Sen. Pat Toomey’s soon-to-be-vacant seat on Feb. 15. Stern is running “to make a significant, positive difference, fight corruption and to clean house,” he said.
Israeli Election Results Prompt Uncertain Outlook
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, vote in Jerusalem on March 23. Marc Israel Sellem/Flash90With the votes counted from the March 23 Israeli election, it appears that neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents have a clear path to forming a government. Preliminary exit polls gave the prime minister a good chance of being narrowly reelected.
Philly Faces: Michal Furman
Michal Furman, here with her nephew Zev Stanger, is the daughter of two prominent refuseniks, Lev and Marina Furman. Courtesy of Michal Furman Michal Furman, 26, is fairly certain that she is the first Israeli-American officer in Philadelphia Police Department history. It’s a position that she takes quite seriously. “I love Philadelphia,” said Furman, the daughter of prominent refuseniks Marina and Lev Furman. “It’s such a great city.
Jews of Philly Fashion: Joan and Ellen Shepp
Joan and Ellen Shepp | Photo by Gina Zo Photography It’s the newest edition of Jews of Philly Fashion, introducing you to the Chosen few who dress our city. They might mix wool and linen, but they’ve got some strong opinions on mixing stripes with florals. In this space, we’ll talk to designers, sellers, buyers, influencers, models and more. This week, we spoke to Joan and Ellen Shepp. For 50 years, Philadelphia women in search of something beautiful have gone to Joan Shepp as their guide.
Israeli TV Show ‘The Attaché’ on Acorn Misdirects
Eli Ben David plays Avshalom in “The Attaché,” the show he created, wrote and directed. | Photo courtesy of Acorn TV Chief among the many odd choices made by the creators of “The Attaché,” an Israeli dramatic series from the producers of “Shtisel,” is the show’s title. “The Attaché,” available now with English subtitles on Acorn TV, is not a political drama, nor a diplomatic farce. The title might suggest a workplace comedy-drama or an action-packed spy show.
Lee Wallach's Home Appétit Just One of Many Meal Delivery Services Thriving in Pandemic
Lee Wallach and Home Appétit deliver thousands of meals throughout the Greater Philadelphia area each week. | Photo by Rosie Simmons Lee Wallach, the founder of a growing personalized meal delivery service called Home Appétit, is sending thousands of meals each week from Home Appétit’s Wynnefield Heights kitchen to Greater Philadelphia.
Tales of Leaving Egypt Resonate at Passover
Joyce and Claude de Botton in 1956, shortly before leaving for Philadelphia | Courtesy of Joyce de Botton “In every generation,” we read during the seder, “a person must regard himself as though he personally had gone out of Egypt, as it is said: ‘And you shall tell your son in that day, saying: “It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.”” For most Jews sitting down to seder with their friends and families, this is a difficult proposition, one that frequently...
Reviews: New Books by Marc Lamont Hill, Mitchill Plitnick, Menachem Kaiser
“Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics” Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick The New Press “Except for Palestine” is a muddled, confusing book. Marc Lamont Hill, a professor at Temple University, and Mitchell Plitnick, co- director of Jewish Voice for Peace, seem to have written the book before they knew exactly what they wanted to accomplish.
Judge Maria McLaughlin Runs for Pa. Supreme Court
Judge Maria McLaughlin is running for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | Photo by R.D. Gallego The travel. That’s what Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Maria McLaughlin remembers from her last bid for statewide office, almost more than anything else: the interminable drives. In her last campaign, McLaughlin left straight from work on a Friday and didn’t return home to Philadelphia until Sunday night, driving for hours to every corner of the state.
Jeff Bartos Announces Bid for US Senate
Philadelphia-area real estate developer Jeff Bartos began his campaign for U.S. Senate on March 8 with a video announcement and a colorful message. “I’m running for U.S. Senate to get s— done,” Bartos tweeted alongside his three-minute video, “The Drive,” in which he laces up work boots, bumps elbows with masked Pennsylvanians and cruises down small-town main drags in a Chevy as he makes his pitch. Bartos is running for the seat held by Sen.
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