the voice of jewish washington

the state of the state 8 nights, 8 ways to give j-teen returns! beth el’s new cantor

6 10 Inside 17 november 12, 2010 • 5 kislev • volume 86, no. 23 • $2

t h i s d a n c e ?
ha v e
May I
Bernel Goldbert/Friends of the IDF

Fanny Wald, a resident of the Kline Galland Jewish nursing home and a Holocaust survivor, dances with Israel
Defense Forces Corporal Uri Elkayam on Nov. 4. Elkayam and a group of singing Israeli soldiers did a concert
at Kline Galland a few days before performing at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island. The
soldiers raise money for Friends of the IDF, which provides services that include assistance to soldiers whose
families are in dire financial straits and offers help for lone soldiers, people from around the world who come
to Israel to serve in the army.

www.facebook.com/jtnews professionalwashington.com
@jew_ish or @jewish_dot_com connecting our local Jewish community
2 JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

Help rescue and resettle Jews worldwide at www.JewishInSeattle.org/Overseas

friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews Opinion
the rabbi’s turn
Adding the shalom to Shabbat
Rabbi David Fine Union for Reform Judaism
Questions. We love ques-
tions, and we love asking
questions of our rabbis. How
many letters are in the Torah?
(304,805, assembled into 79,847
words). How deep is the Dead
Sea? Is it the saltiest body of
water in the world? (It’s more
than 1,200 feet deep. Though
it is situated at the lowest place
on earth, it is not the saltiest).
Why does Hebrew read from right to left?
(The best answer I know of is that right-
handed chisel users tended to chisel from
right to left when incising on stone). What
is the median letter in the Torah? (In Leviti-
cus 11:42, the vav in the word gachon). How
many Jews live in the Puget Sound area?
(About 35,000, based on the Jewish Federa-
tion population survey of 2000).
We have a special place for those ques-
tions that seem factual but are in actually
opinion-based. Who really deserves to be
called the MVP of the NBA? No matter
what any magazine tells us, isn’t Seat-
tle the most livable city in the continen-
tal United States? Which synagogue is the
warmest and most inviting to newcom-
ers? An important question, one that I fre-
quently discuss, is, “Which holiday is the
most important?” Some people prefer the
question to read as “What holiday is my
favorite?”
A good case could be made for Pesach
— after all, where would we be if not for lib-
eration from Egyptian bondage? In addi-
tion, our own enslavement has prompted
us to work for the freedom of others. The
seder remains the most-observed Jewish
ritual. We surely feel its power.
Yom Kippur could score high in this
regard. Though not as mournful as Tisha
B’Av, which marks the destruction of the
Temples, it is certainly the most serious and
introspective. After all, refraining from feed-
ing our appetites and afflicting the soul cer-
tainly has consequences. Rosh Hashanah, the
annual meeting of the Jewish people, would
be a close second. This Day of Remembering
calls to mind family and history.
Purim and Hanukkah have their own
merits. Each marks the triumph of the few
against the many. Hanukkah has been trum-
peted as the Jewish counterweight to Christ-
mas, but Hanukkah, despite the gift giving,
deep frying, and early-winter attention,
doesn’t have the depth to carry the day.
Sukkot is a possibility. As my friend
and colleague Rabbi Dan Fink likes to
say, “any Jewish holiday that encourages
camping is a good one.” This reliving of
the Exodus and celebrating of the fall har-
vest has a lot of potential for learning. We
translate it into modern terms — noting
how fragile our lives are; how thankful we
“We have something very valuable and very beautiful to offer, which is not going to be forced upon you, but certainly, you should become more familiar with it.”
are for shelter; how vulnerable
we are without a home.
Yet I maintain that Shab-
bat is the essential Jewish hol-
iday. Its very frequency is a
reminder of our Jewishness.
Its regularity adds meaning,
providing a frame for each
week. It is both common and
distinct.
Shabbat contains all of the
key Jewish religious themes: In the kid-
dush, the prayer that marks the beginning
of Shabbat. The very rhythm, and the way
it is sung and not spoken, reflects that joy.
The big themes of our lives, the non-
tangibles that we prize exist with Shabbat
as well: Community, learning, reflecting
on what matters.
Let me suggest three ways of marking
Shabbat. For those already there, they will
seem exceedingly familiar. For those con-
sidering making Shabbat their own, the
initial novelty has the potential to develop
into something much richer.
The first: Invite people to your erev
Shabbat Friday night table. It may seem
awkward at first. For many, taking this
first step will be the biggest challenge, but
there’s no shortage of teachers willing to
help in this Jewish community. Find a
partner to take on this Shabbat initiative
with you. Call or e-mail a rabbi or cantor.
We are eager to match you with a Shab-
bat mentor.
Shabbat is not so daunting. Even if you
did not grow up with the tradition, Shab-
bat is within your reach.
These three sites are a starting point for
“how-to” and ways to fortify your Shab-
bat table:
• Union for Reform Judaism: www.urj.
org/holidays/shabbat/celebrate/
• United Synagogue for Conservative
Judaism: www.uscj.org/Shabbat5092.html
• Orthodox Union: www.ou.org/holidays/
shabbat
For those who prefer books, I recom-
mend The How-to Handbook of Jewish
Living. The resources are plentiful. Take
the time and make the effort. The rewards
are great.
The second: Turn off your computer
for a full day. If you want to be really
daring, refuse to carry your cell phone as
well. Six days a week, mobile technology
enables us to stay close to everyone. The
cumulative result? We are a wired popu-
lation. Shabbat is designed as an antidote.
Rest. Refrain from creating. Allow your-
self l’hinafash — to regain your human
soul. Look people in the eyes, talk with
the people in your home, synagogue and
neighborhood.
The third: Treat yourself well on Shab-
— Rabbi Shalom Hammer, who is speaking at several local synagogues in November. See page 7.
letters to the editor
Buyer’s remorse
While Robert Wilkes is entitled to his opinion, it is incumbent upon JTNews to correct
the misinformation and falsehoods in his column (“Epiphanies and the search for truth,”
Oct. 29). I looked all through that issue and could find nothing to counter the outrageous
claims Wilkes makes in his attempt to push the talking points of the Republican Party. I just
renewed my subscription and am fighting off buyer’s remorse.
Carole Glickfeld
Seattle
No appeasement
News reports indicate that the Obama administration would like Israel to cede most of
the West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Palestinians to achieve a peace agreement. Pal-
estinian leaders have made no secret they will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state and
continue to campaign to delegitimize it. That would certainly threaten Israel’s long-term
survival.
Arab leaders know that if Israel is willing to give up any of its land that means they don’t
believe it belongs to the Jewish people, for if we believe the land is ours, we would not be
abandoning it.
Policies of appeasement encouraged our enemies in the years leading up to World War
II. Modern policies of appeasement are encouraging radical Islamic extremists today.
After more than 60 years of statehood, Israel is a lone outpost of Western civilization
and its values. It is the staunchest ally of the U.S. in that part of the world — a bulwark of
democracy. The Arab nations surrounding it are a swamp of terrorism, corruption, dictator-
ship and human enslavement. However, the hatred of the Arabs against Israel and against
all Jews is so abiding and so virulent that peace, at least for the foreseeable future, seems
unattainable and most unlikely.
On Nov. 15, 1988, Yasser Arafat proudly read a declaration by his Palestinian Liberation
Organization unilaterally proclaiming “the establishment of the State of Palestine on Israel’s
Palestine territory with its capital in Jerusalem.” Shortly afterwards, the United Nations over-
whelmingly supported the declaration. The state never came into existence. That proved
meaningless. Yet Arafat’s successor Mahmoud Abbas appears to be giving consideration to
repeat this maneuver rather than continue negotiations with the Israeli government.
The “Mandate for Palestine,” a historical League of Nations document, laid down the
Jewish legal right under international law to settle anywhere in Western Palestine, the area
between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, an entitlement unaltered in interna-
tional law. Also the San Ramo Resolution of 1920 addresses Israel’s right to the land. The
U.S. and Britain signed off on it in 1924, confirming the resolution as international law.
Under Article 5 of the Mandate for Palestine,” eretz Israel, “no Palestine territory shall
be ceded or leased to, or in anyway placed under control of the goverment of any foreign
power.” Palestine is the geographical area assigned in favor of the Jews by the League of
Nations and reserved for the Jewish people for their self-determination and political develop-
ment in acknowledgment of the historic connection of the Jewish people on the land.
Israel has always embraced the sacredness of human life, while the Palestinians do not.
Until there is a positive change in the culture of hatred, violence and death by Palestinians,
Israel must remain militarily strong to defend its citizens.
Josh Basson
Seattle
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: We would love to hear from you! Our guide to writing a
letter to the editor can be found at www.jtnews.net/index.php?/letters_guidelines.html,
but please limit your letters to approximately 350 words. Deadlines may be found online.
bat. Live out the word “oneg,” which means is a Jew?” Among his answers: “A person
joy, delight, pleasure. Yes, we usually asso- called upon…to cultivate passion for
ciate oneg Shabbat with sponge cake and justice and the ability to experience the
a glass of punch, but the words point to arrival of Friday night as an event.”
something much larger. Make the day dif- Both are possible. Both are attain-
ferent. Sleep in. Determine how you will able ideals. Heschel reminds us that it is
transform Saturday into Shabbat. important to engage deeply in this world,
Anticipate Shabbat. Plan ahead. Will to develop our sense of righteousness. At
it be a special meal? Double desserts? Lei- the same time, we need to celebrate ongo-
surely time with a friend? A time to learn? ing creation and the possibility of rest-
Time with family? Figure what you will ing. Friday night is an event to which each
add to your week — and joy. of us has a standing invitation. Shabbat
Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the shalom is more than a greeting — it is a
great scholars and thinkers of the 20th refreshing hope for us and the world.
century, asked his own question: “Who
4 opinion JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

Fund protection of land and water

Fred Scherlinder Dobb and Terry Gips JTA World News Service
WASHINGTON (JTA) — With a tra-
dition thousands of years old, Judaism
informs us on taking the long view — the
Divine view, as it were, since God is con-
cerned even to the thousandth generation
in the future (Exodus 34:7). So with envi-
ronmental policy, we consider not only
our own immediate interests, but also pro-
tecting Creation overall.
Our organization, COEJL (the Coali-
tion on the Environment and Jewish Life),
which works with numerous Jewish agen-
cies and all major denominations, has this
notion as its mission: “Protecting Creation
from generation to generation.”
This year we’ve seen frustrating setbacks
in our efforts to protect Creation: Needed
legislation to dramatically reduce U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions has failed, even
as we suffered the largest oil spill in Amer-
ican history. While the immediate politi-
cal focus was on midterm elections and
their projected impact on many fronts, we
cannot afford to lose track of our country’s
valuable natural resources in the bargain-
ing process. And there is something we can
and must do, even in this political climate.
As part of Creation, our land and
water have the capacity to nourish or van-
quish each of us, regardless of how we
voted. We humans (“adam,” in Hebrew)
come from and are dependent upon the
land (“adamah”), and the “living waters”
(“mayim chayim,” as Jeremiah calls them).
That is why we urge safeguarding our pre-
cious public lands and water resources by
having Congress dedicate full funding for
the bipartisan-supported Land and Water
Conservation Fund, or LWCF.
The LWCF was established in 1965 to
protect America’s great outdoors using
royalties paid by oil companies to the gov-
ernment to fund the conservation of natu-
ral resources. As oil and gas were extracted
from federal waters, a portion of these roy-
alties was to be reinvested for the conser-
vation of open space onshore through the
fund. The fund has since created local parks
and playgrounds, and protected important
wild places in every single state.
As the principal source of federal dol-
lars for protecting national parks, forests,
monuments and other public landscapes,
the LWCF ensures recreational opportu-
nities for citizens across the United States.
Chances are, we have all benefitted from
the Land and Water Conservation Fund
without even knowing it.
Yet since its inception, the fund has
never received sufficient appropriations.
More than enough oil revenue flows by
the LWCF, at no cost to the American
taxpayer, yet Congress has failed to use
that money for its intended purpose (its
recent low in appropriated funding was
just $138 million, less than one-sixth of
what it could be). Over the years the fund
has been shortchanged by some $17 bil-
lion — a huge loss for our communities
and Creation.
Without this financing, the program
cannot fulfill its enormous potential for
us and our environment. Finally, this July,
the House of Representatives passed the
Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic
(CLEAR) Act, which includes full funding
for the LWCF. Now we wait — will it also
pass in the U.S. Senate? We need to push
for full funding for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund as legislation moves
forward.
President Obama declared September
National Wilderness Month, saying that
“together we must ensure that future gen-
erations can experience the tranquility and
grandeur of America’s natural places.”
We could not agree more. Our Jewish
values teach us this very responsibility, as
in the Psalms, where we experience divin-
ity most clearly through Creation. We
must preserve America’s great outdoors
for the benefit of future generations.
Even while pursuing full funding for
the LWCF, we at COEJL are still deeply
committed to reducing our dependence
on fossil fuels, increasing our economic
and national security, and pursuing
renewable energy and green jobs. We still
see the desperate need for comprehen-
sive energy and climate policy to accom-
plish all this while regulating and curbing
dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. In
2010, the hottest year in recorded history,
our spiritual contribution to the national
and global conversation on environmental
policy is more needed than ever.
So without faltering in our efforts
toward comprehensive climate legislation,
let us take meaningful steps even now to
protect our natural resources and heritage.
We must urge our politicians to provide
immediate, full and consistent funding for
the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
And we must turn up the heat in a sus-
tained effort against the scourge of climate
change, which harms not just our land
and water but people here and now, our
human future, and all earthly Creation.
Both efforts are needed. Our descen-
dants demand no less.
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb and Terry Gips
are governance committee members of the
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.

Limited Tickets
Available;
What is Seattle Really Missing? Celebrate Chanukah with
Buy Yours a dinner & party to benefit

Mazon
Online Today!
One throw-down, blow out
HANUKKAH PARTY!
a Jewish Response to Hunger
Incredible Kindie Music Concert with
Caspar Babypants,
Recess Monkey, and The Not-Its! Sunday, dECEmbEr 5
and more... 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Amazing Snack Packs • Face Painting at Temple De Hirsch Sinai
• Booths of Fun • Arts & Crafts 1520 E Union St. in Seattle
• A chance to spin the
Giant Dreidel for prizes!

benefiting uncompensated care at

a,
y ittat
v i d ed b n a ch fr
o i
t pr
p
g af, s
feas Caterinn, blintz lor dessert
!
h d by
h a n u k a
o m m a
s a l m o
u t s f o
p r o vide
C m baked doug h n t
zoh men
Sunday, December 12th mat to latkes , and jelly
,
t e
En m Ens
r tain emble
Pota r salad o
2pm - 5pm at MOHAI caes
a
Shal

Museum of History and Industry in the Montlake neighborhood

bring your appetites, your checkbook, your friends and family
You will be helping to feed the hungry all over the world and in our own community too.
www.thebigspin.org
Fueling local Jewish families with Join us Co-sponsored by
Hanukkah thrills since December 2009 After
Sunday
School!

For further information, please contact Matzoh Momma Catering at 206-324-6262

RSVP to MatzohMommaMazon@gmail.com

TBS_JT_AD_QTR_V_2010mechREV.indd 1 11/9/10 10:24 AM

friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews inside
Isaac Condiotty, a student in David
Menz’s class at Torah Day School of
Seattle, shows his sister Grace how
his catapult works for doing some
“Punkin Chuckin.” Isaac and his class
built catapults and trebuchets as
exercises in woodworking, math and
engineering before inviting neighbors
out to watch the pumpkins fly.
Sara Simon/Adar Images
Yiddish Lesson
By Ruth Peiser
A shlekhter sholem iz beser vi a guter krig.
A bad peace is better than a good war.
Remember when
From the Jewish Transcript, November
15, 1984, page 17
Susan Paley Weaver is announced as
the coordinator for the Stroum Jewish
Community Center’s new Northend facil-
ity, which had just opened four months
prior. After much discussion about
whether a center in this quickly growing
area of the Jewish community should exist
and deliberations over securing a site,
programs were finally underway.
t h e v o i c e o f j e w i sh w a sh i n g t o n
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
diverse viewpoints and vibrant debate on many fronts, includ- Staff
ing the news and events in Israel. We strive to contribute to Reach us directly at 206-441-4553
Publisher *Karen Chachkes
the continued growth of our local Jewish community as we
Editor *§Joel Magalnick
carry out our mission.
Assistant Editor Eric Nusbaum
Account Executive Lynn Feldhammer
2041 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 Account Executive David Stahl 235
206-441-4553 • editor@jtnews.net Account Executive Stacy Schill 292
Classifieds Manager Rebecca Minsky
www.jtnews.net
Art Director Susan Beardsley
Intern Lillian Cohen-Moore
JTNews (ISSN0021-678X) is published biweekly by The Seattle Jewish
Transcript, a nonprofit corporation owned by the Jewish Federation of Board of Directors
Greater Seattle, 2041 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Subscriptions are Peter Horvitz, Chair*; Robin Boehler; Andrew Cohen§;
$56.50 for one year, $96.50 for two years. Periodicals postage paid
Cynthia Flash Hemphill*; Nancy Greer§; Aimee Johnson; Stan Mark;
Daniel Mayer; Cantor David Serkin-Poole*; Leland Rockoff
at Seattle, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JTNews,
Richard Fruchter, CEO and President,
2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Ron Leibsohn, Federation Board Chair
*Member, JTNews Editorial Board
The opinions of our columnists and advertisers do not necessarily §Ex-Officio
Member
reflect the views of JTNews.
p u b l i sh e d b y j e w i sh t r a ns c r i p t m e d i a
inside this issue
J-Teen is back!
This special section, at the middle of this week’s paper, is stories by and for teens. Find out what our local
young Jewish population is doing.
The state of the State of Israel
A look, from four different perspectives, about life in Israel today:
Bradley Burston 6
The columnist for the online edition of Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz thinks the Israeli government’s behavior
is causing young American Jews to walk away.
Rabbi Shalom Hammer 7
The IDF rabbi and school guidance counselor says the idea of a Jewish homeland is of utmost importance
and must be defended at all costs.
Rabbi Daniel Gordis 8
This rabbi from the Shalem Institute in Jerusalem says American Jews must pay attention and fight back
when people try to delegitimize Israel.
Daniel Sokatch 9
Proposals and bills being put forth in the Knesset are chipping away at the fundamentals of Israel’s status
as a democracy, says the CEO of the New Israel Fund.
The 8 nights of Hanukkah 10
Hanukkah’s early this year, and so is this section, but we’ve got three pages of ideas about ways you can
make the holiday a charitable one, plus we give a shout out to people in our community making a difference.
The Synagogue Chronicles: Temple Beth El 17
This weekend the Tacoma Reform temple installs its new cantor and education director, Leah Holland. The
synagogue has seen a slowdown in its growth due to the economy, but things are starting to look up.
Eating disorders in the Jewish community 21
Eating disorders are diseases that have often been swept under the rug, in particular in the Jewish com-
munity. But there’s a growing realization that disorders must be dealt with.
Seattle’s Jewish fashion plates 24
A photographic look at Chai Couture, Seattle’s first fashion shows that exclusively showcased Jewish
designers.
MORE
M.O.T.: Making a difference in science education 13
Crossword 13
Community Calendar 14
A View from the U: Our sukkahs, our selves 16
Lifecycles 22
The Shouk Classifieds 19
Kashrut alert: Effective immediately, the Teapot Restaurant is no longer certified kosher. The Teapot in
Redmond still has its certification.
+ ext.
267
233
240
264
Tell our advertisers you saw them in JTNews!
238
239
Diane Rae Jones/Windermere Real Estate 206-406-5232
Still time to order your Haunkkah Greeting.
See page 14 for more information.
Final greeting deadline November 19!
Look for
Nov 19
Holiday Giving Guide
Nov 26
Kosher Gourmet
6 the state of israel JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

The state of the State of Israel

While most eyes outside of Israel have been focused on peace talks and set-
tlements, there has been a lot of controversy inside the country in the past few
years about social issues such as marriage, conversion, and who is eligible for
full citizens’ rights. Several experts have come through (or are en route to) the
Seattle area to talk about Israel and its inner workings, and what kind of soci-
ety the Jewish State should be. JTNews spoke with four of these experts to get
their take on the subject: Bradley Burston, senior editor of Israeli newspaper
Ha’aretz’s online edition; Rabbi Daniel Gordis of the Shalem Institute; IDF lec-
turer and school guidance counselor Rabbi Shalom Hammer; and Daniel Sokatch,
CEO of the New Israel Fund.

The emotional divestment from Israel

Joel Magalnick Editor, JTNews
Bradley Burston is concerned about
divestment from Israel. But his imme-
diate concern is not the financial divest-
ment and boycotts, though those he finds
problematic as well. It’s the emotional
divestment he’s seeing from the American
Jewish community.
“They are quietly — but in terms of
impact, dramatically — withdrawing alto-
gether,” Burston wrote in a column this
week at the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz’s
online publication, where Burston is senior
editor. These were comments he also made
to a small group of Seattleites on Oct. 29
while in town as a guest of the pro-peace
Israel advocacy organization J Street.
Mostly the Jews he is concerned about
are the younger Jews who see anti-Israel
rhetoric on campuses, or have a strong
distaste for violence, which are often the
only images they see when watching news
about Israel, and they will give up on the
WE’VE CONNECTED WITH JETBLUE,
SO MORE OF YOU CAN CONNECT TO EL AL.
Our new partnership with JetBlue offers passengers from 35 U.S. cities an easy connection and automatic luggage
transfer to a nonstop EL AL flight to Israel. For more details, call EL AL at 800-223-6700 or any travel agent.
country right there.
“But it doesn’t mean [they] can’t be
reapproached,” Burston said.
Yet when Burston speaks, usually
through his column “A Special Place
in Hell,” he’s angry about the problems
inside his own country, and what he
believes is a slide toward fundamentalist
hegemony, particularly in Jerusalem.
When he visits the embattled city, he
parks in a lot situated on the site of the
now-scaled-back Simon Wiesenthal Cen-
ter’s Museum of Tolerance, under which
lies an old Muslim cemetery.
“This seemed to me tremendously
intolerant of the people living in Jerusa-
lem. Not only the Muslim residents who
objected to having this Muslim cemetery
become a construction site, but also the
Jewish residents who are citizens of the
most impoverished large city in Israel,”
Burston said. “There is a tremendous
number of disadvantaged citizens in Jeru-
salem, and the Wiesenthal center made
a decision build a $250 million museum
while people are having trouble making
ends meet.”
But this lot, he said, is also a meet-
ing place for the city’s young secular
population, “which in many ways is an
endangered minority,” Burston said. “Sec-
ular people are moving out of Jerusalem
because of the enormous political power
and the growing numbers of religious
people — fundamentalist Jews, but also
fundamentalist Arabs.
“Every other community has enormous
political clout and access to city hall,” Bur-
ston said. “This group has nothing.”
Add to that more issues that have
roiled the country internally but have
slipped into the discourse of American
Jews as well.
At the Jewish Federations of North
Joel Magalnick
Bradley Burston talks to a small group of Israel
supporters at the Jewish Federation of Greater
Seattle on Oct. 29.
America’s annual General Assembly in
New Orleans this week, for example,
hecklers were removed from Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address
who chanted that a loyalty oath delegiti-
mizes Israel.
Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lie-
berman and his party, Yisrael Beiteinu,
ran — and won — on a platform of pro-
posing that new citizens sign an oath of
loyalty to the Jewish State. Now the party
has put the measure forth, but even Israel’s
right-wing legislators are beginning to feel
uncomfortable with the idea.
“A healthy, life-seeking society does
not intentionally create conflict with 20
percent of its members,” wrote Knesset
member Yehuda Ben Meir of the National
Religious Party in an Op-Ed piece for
Ha’aretz. “It acts to integrate them into the
society and to increase their identification
with the state, and not to isolate them and
create among them feelings of alienation
and hatred.”
Despite the press the oath proposition
has received, “if you look at how many of
Israelis that actually voted for the party
that advocated the loyalty oath — and this
was the only party advocating that oath,
nobody else would touch it, it was radio-
active,” Burston said, “you would find out
that only 12 percent of Israelis voted for

1103
that party, and I guarantee you in any soci-
Roundtrip Seattle
$
ety you can get 12-and-a-half percent to
Includes vote for anything.”
to Tel Aviv fuel surcharge. Like many of his fellow citizens, Bur-
Travel before March 31, 2011. ston also has issues with government
policy on building settlements in the West
SkyWordsWithELAL.com EL AL Israel Airlines USA ELALUSA www.elal.com Bank, or the deportation of people who
disagree with Israeli policies, including the
Above fare not available Dec 17-24, 2010 and is subject to availability on select flights. JetBlue flights connect to a nonstop EL AL flight. Tickets valid for 6-30 day stay and must be purchased within
72 hours of confirmed reservation. Up to $104.69 applicable taxes not included (these include the September 11 security fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement, up to $5 one way, and $10 roundtrip).
EL AL reserves the right to cancel promotion at any time. Cancellation/change penalties and other restrictions apply. ©2010 EL AL Israel Airlines.
XXPage 9
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews the state of israel 7
There should be no compromise on
the Jewish homeland
Janis Siegel JTNews Correspondent
Rabbi Shalom Hammer admits right
up front he’s not a politician or a political
person, and that he doesn’t pretend to be.
What Hammer told the JTNews he is
trying to do, as he has been speaking in
several synagogues and schools around
Seattle between Nov. 5 and 16, is to inspire
Jewish togetherness and unity. In particu-
lar, he wants to foster connections to the
land of Israel as the Jewish home that can
never be compromised.
As a religious Zionist, this Brooklyn-
born-and-raised rabbi is a father of six
who moved to Israel in 1990. He served
in the Israeli Rabbinate unit of the Israeli
Defense Forces, is a frequent contributor
to the Jerusalem Post, lectures on behalf of
the IDF, teaches at a yeshiva in Israel, and
is a school guidance counselor within the
ultra-Orthodox school system. He defends
the religious leadership there as fiercely as
he helped defend his country.
“We believe strongly in two things,”
Hammer said, “that we facilitate the
redemption of the Jewish people, that it
will not happen automatically, and that it
will not happen without our active interest
and investment into the land of Israel…
and that everyone should try their hardest
to continue that.”
Call or email Elizabeth Goertzel at 425.460.0230 or egoertzel@JDS.org to request
an invitation or to make a tribute to honor Laurie and Jerry or JDS.
That, however, may be more difficult
than it sounds.
Israel is no longer a collective and uni-
form “melting pot,” according to models
defined by the Israel Democracy Institute
in 2008. Israeli society, the report said,
now reflects multiculturalism and individ-
ualization due to the many ethnic groups
that have immigrated there since 1950.
The IDI reported several factors that
contributed to social divisions in Israel,
including unequal governmental policies
of assimilation for the newly arrived Jews of
Asia, North Africa, the former Soviet Union,
Europe, and the United States, tension
between Ashkenazim and Mizrachim or
Sephardim, and strained relations between
early immigrants and those who came later.
In addition to the apparent racial and
ethnic disparities is the ongoing tension
between observant and non-observant
Jews.
A 2006 YNet News poll of 40,000 people
in Israel revealed that 71 percent of Israeli
Jewish citizens believe in God, however,
only 26 percent of Israelis want to see Israel
become more traditional, and 27 percent
want to see Israel become more secular, lead-
ing study authors to surmise that a majority
of Israelis believe it is possible to believe in
God without observing Jewish law.
“Yes, the Orthodox rabbinate has a
monopoly on religious service in Israel,”
said Hammer, “but at the end of the day,
the fact is that they were given those aus-
pices as representatives of the Israeli
people. As far as conversions go, it’s run by
the Orthodox rabbinate. As far as kashrut
symbols in Israel, it’s run by the Orthodox
rabbinate.
“Perhaps the Orthodox rabbinate
could be a little more open, understand-
ing, and conversant with other denomi-
nations of Judaism,” he added. “I believe
that if the Orthodox rabbinate in Israel was
more patient, understanding, and tolerant,
people would not have any objection to the
Orthodox rabbinate running things. The
problem is the way that Jews handle each
other. That’s what it comes down to.”
Rabbi James Mirel, the senior rabbi at
the Reform congregation Temple B’nai
Torah in Bellevue, invited Hammer to
speak to the students in his Introduction
to Judaism class about religious Zionism.
Although Mirel had been called out of town
when Hammer spoke, Assistant Rabbi
Yohanna Kinberg moderated the discus-
sion and had some comments of her own.
“It is genuinely important to under-
stand that there are different world views,”
Kinberg told JTNews. Kinberg’s family
I believe women take on the role of nurturer
first and foremost. So who is taking care of them?
Karen Calara MSPT, CSCS
Women come to me to find
support, get better, and
go on to live vivacious lives.
Physical Therapy for Women
1836 Westlake Ave N, Suite 202 • Seattle
206.283.1030 • www.thenextsteppt.com
A gifted child gains
inspiration through
SEATTLE COUNTRY
DAY SCHOOL
TOURS: 206-284-6220 seattlecountrydayschool.org
If
you
go:
Rabbi Shalom Hammer will
speak at Congregation Shevet
Achim, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer
Island on Nov. 12 and 13 and at
Congregation Sha’arei Tefilah–
Lubavitch, 6250 43rd Ave. NE,
Seattle on Sun., Nov. 14 at 10
a.m. He will also speak to Hebrew
school students at Herzl-Ner Tamid
Conservative Congregation, 3700
E Mercer Way, Mercer Island, on
Tues., Nov. 16.
lives in Israel, but she said she lives in the
U.S. because, as a woman, she would not be
allowed to be a practicing rabbi in Israel.
Kinberg said it is important for the
young people at her temple to understand
that theirs is a “big tent” approach to Juda-
ism that accepts each denomination’s
right to hold different views.
Hammer disagrees with critics of the
Orthodox rabbinate in Israel, like the New
Israel Fund, who he said claims it’s a the-
ocracy, while they promote what he calls
anti-Zionistic rallies, support the removal
of religious texts from public schools, and
advocate the incorporation of Palestinian
history within the texts of Israeli schools.
XXPage 9
Home owners club ®
1202 harrison seattle 98109
Have you ever worried about which
electrician to call for help? Which painter
or carpenter or appliance repairman?
For over 50 years the Home owners club
has assisted thousands of local homeowners in
securing quality and guaranteed home
services! To join or for more information call…
(206) 622-3500
www.homeownersclub.org
OPEN HOUSE:
Nov. 18
6–8 p.m.
8 the state of israel JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

An insider’s look into Israel, If

you
from the outside go:

Eric Nusbaum Assistant Editor, JTNews Daniel Gordis will speak at

When StandWithUs Northwest booked
Daniel Gordis as the keynote speaker for
its annual community reception, orga-
nizers were making a choice: This would
not be a lighthearted evening. Gordis, an
author, rabbi, and Ph.D., is not one to shy
away from tough issues — he makes it a
point to confront them.
In 2009, Gordis’ seventh book, Saving
Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a
War That May Never End, won the National
Jewish Book Award. His “Dispatches from
an Agitated State” e-mails, essays on wide-
ranging topics, regularly arrive in thou-
sands of inboxes and appear on his Web
site DanielGordis.org. Gordis’s writing has
appeared in The New York Times, The New
Republic, The Jerusalem Post, and Commen-
tary, among other publications.
Gordis writes a great deal on the dynam-
ics of Israeli life. In a recent dispatch, he
bemoaned Israel’s shortcomings in liberal
arts education at the expense of science and
mathematics. And earlier this year, he wrote
a column in the Jerusalem Post chastising
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox who “reject the idea
of a ‘Jewish and democratic’ state.”
These issues are internal, but his writ-
ings also ripple outward, such as into
the state of domestic Israeli politics.
For instance, the interna-
tional community might
see Israeli Prime Minis-
ter Benjamin Netanyahu’s
unwillingness to further
freeze settlement building
as intractable and become
frustrated. But Gordis says
it’s important to have con-
text to consider domestic
concerns — a botched or
unreturned gesture would
cost Netanyahu his coali-
tion in the Knesset — and
the fact that Israel lacks a
strong partner in the Pales- Dr. Daniel Gordis, who will be speaking in Seattle on Nov. 17.
tinian Authority, he says.
While in Washington
State, Gordis will talk about Israel’s stand-
ing in the international community — in
particular the concerted efforts to delegiti-
mize Israel by governments, world leaders,
and non-governmental groups.
“The delegitimization issue is the most
potent weapon that Israel’s opposition
has,” Gordis told JTNews. “It is more pow-
erful than Egyptian tanks and Syrian MiGs
— because Egyptian tanks and Syrian MiGs
we know how to defend ourselves against.”
Jews and Israel supporters in Washing-
Zion Ozeri
ton are likely familiar with one branch of the
delegitimization movement known as BDS,
which calls for boycotts, divestment, and
sanctions on Israel. BDS supporters success-
fully passed a boycott on Israeli products at
the Olympia Food Co-op earlier this year.
Gordis says BDS is not pro-Palestin-
ian, but anti-Israel. It’s up to American
Jews to step in on Israel’s behalf, he says,
partly because Israelis are almost entirely
unaware of these local issues and their far-
reaching implications.
StandWithUs Northwest’s annual
community reception, Thurs., Nov.
18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Theater at
Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE
6th St., Bellevue. Tickets cost $54.
Contact 206-548-4350, ext. 3 or
northwest.rsvp@standwithus.com
for tickets and information.
“The Israeli press is doing a very min-
imal job focusing on the international
delegitimization movement,” Gordis said.
“BDS has gotten virtually no coverage in
the Israeli press here at all.”
Gordis was born and educated in the
United States, and moved with his family to
Israel in 1998. His roots in both major hubs
of modern Jewry, America, and Israel, inform
his perspective of an important and powerful
connection between the two societies.
“I think the American obligation to Israel
is very simple.” Gordis said. “It is to under-
stand first and foremost that the American
Jewish life that we take for granted — the
sense of belonging the sense of pride the sense
of a bright future — is because of Israel.”
But simply understanding that American
XXPage 9

QFC is Bringing
Hope to the Table
By Eric Miller, QFC Public Affairs Specialist

What’s on your menu for dinner tonight? It’s a simple
question that you may not have the answer to just yet, but
for most of us it’s a question that does have an answer.
Knowing that there will be something for breakfast
tomorrow and for lunch after that might sound trivial to
most of us, but unfortunately it is not something we all can
count on. In fact, many local families are at risk of hunger.
Food Lifeline is Western Washington’s largest
hunger relief agency and is dedicated to changing
this situation. In 2010, Food Lifeline helped feed more
than 685,000 hungry people in our communities by
delivering more than 24 million meals to its network
of local food banks, meal programs and shelters. Here
are some statistics:
n 37% of the people Food Lifeline serves are children
and 12% are seniors.
n 47% of the people Food Lifeline serves say they
have had to choose between food and paying for
heat or utilities.
n 29% of the people Food Lifeline serves say they
have had to choose between food and paying for
medicine or medical care.
n 42% of the people Food Lifeline serves say they
have had to choose between paying for food and
paying for rent or mortgage.
These are staggering
statistics from the most
recent Hunger in America
2010 study. So what can
you do to help? Back in
2002, QFC launched a
food drive benefiting
Food Lifeline and their
more than 300 member
agencies, of neighbor-
hood food banks, shelters, and hot meal
programs. Bringing Hope to the Table continues this
year, and QFC is offering many ways to get involved: will donate $1 for every case of selected beer varieties
Customers can purchase and then donate $10 pre- sold in QFC stores during Bringing Hope to the Table.
packaged bags of groceries for neighborhood food banks Enjoying nutritious food not only feels wonderful,
(a savings of more than 30% off regular retail prices). it sets the proper foundation for so many other
Cash can be donated at any QFC checkstand from important things to happen. Please join QFC and
October 31st, 2010 through January 1st, 2011. Food Lifeline as we bring hope to the table of families
You can donate your 3¢ bag reuse credit. throughout our community. No one should go hungry,
Customers can purchase and donate food bank and with your support of this program, we can take a
recommended items, identified by shelf tags and by a step closer to the day when everyone has an answer to
special “shopping list” that will be available in your store. the “what’s for dinner” question. Thank you, and have
Also, two vendor partners are offering donations a wonderful Holiday Season!
to Food Lifeline: Kendall-Jackson will donate $2 for
every case of selected wine sold in QFC stores during *Statistics provided by Food Lifeline
Bringing Hope to the Table. Full Sail Brewing Company

Eric Miller is the Public Affairs Specialist for QFC. He can be reached at eric.miller@qfci.com or 425-990-6182.
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews the state of israel 9
Chipping away at the fundamentals of democracy
Joel Magalnick Editor, JTNews
Not long after Daniel Sokatch left the
relative comfort of his executive director
position at the Jewish Community Federa-
tion in San Francisco last year, a firestorm
directed at his new organization erupted.
In January, a group called Im Tirtzu
began a campaign against the progressive
New Israel Fund, which raises money for
civil and human rights groups in Israel, that
condemned several NIF grantees for pro-
viding South African Justice Richard Gold-
stone with information that reflected badly
upon Israel during the 2009 Gaza War. The
Goldstone Report was heavily critical of the
Israel Defense Forces’ handling of the war,
and alleged several war crimes.
“The results of these groups’ activities
caused significant diplomatic damage to
Israel and harmed the country’s capacity
to defend itself militarily,” Im Tirtzu said
in a statement at the time.
But further study showed that less than
1 percent of the information included in
the report came from these groups, and
Sokatch, New Israel Fund’s CEO, said his
organization has since been vindicated.
WWgordis Page 8
Jews are indebted to Israel is not enough,
says Gordis. American Jews have an obli-
gation to stay informed on the delegit-
imization movement and its potential
consequences, and further, stand up for
Israel — whatever their particular politics.
“There’s StandWithUs and there’s
CAMERA and there’s AIPAC and there’s
even J Street,” Gordis said. “And American
Jews who want to counter delegitimization
should support those movements and get
involved.”
Gordis does not believe that the need to
defend Israel’s right to exist should stifle con-
ʣ"ʱʡ
Congregation Shevet Achim
Presents ~ the Way to Pray ~
Chanukah Style
with Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld
Why is the celebration of this
centuries-old story relevant today?
Learn the meaning behind:
~ the blessings for lighting the Menorah
~ special Chanukah prayers, songs & food
Class 1 - Monday Nov. 15, 2010
Class 2 - Monday Nov. 22, 2010
Class 3 - Monday Nov. 29, 2010
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
The entire community is welcome ~ no charge
Held at: Northwest Yeshiva High School
5017 90th Avenue S.E. Mercer Island, WA 98040
website: www.shevetachim.com
email: info@shevetachim.com
(206) 275-1539
“The human rights and civil rights
organizations that were pilloried by the
hard right for being traitorous were
thanked over the summer by the IDF,”
Sokatch told JTNews during an October
visit to Seattle. “And then it thanked the
general Israeli human rights community
for its work in reporting — not in making
conclusions — but in reporting what it
found, which had led the IDF to create and
implement new operating procedures for
civilian areas.”
But it’s the source of these attacks that
has Sokatch concerned, and support for
his organization has increased in the past
year because of it:
“What we see in Israel, what is extraor-
dinarily worrying to many of us at New
Israel Fund and many of other people in
Israel, is an increase in the attempts by
many people who are currently in great
positions of power in Israel to chip away at
the very fundaments that underlie Israel’s
status as a liberal democracy,” he said.
Sokatch pointed to the loyalty oath put
forth by Yisrael Beiteinu, the party of for-
versation about Israel among American Jews,
even if the dialogue is critical and weighty.
“Sovereignty is not an end to itself,”
Gordis said. “There are certain things
you want to accomplish, there are certain
things you want to do.”
Those things aren’t up to just Israelis,
but Jews everywhere.
“I think that American Jews should be
involved in the conversation about what
Israel should and should not be,” he said.
“Israel casts a certain light on Jews wherever
they are. But American Jews have to recog-
nize that if they have this conversation they
are having it in a period of time when Israel
is being marginalized as a rogue state.”
eign minister Avigdor Lieberman, though
he didn’t dismiss the idea of a loyalty oath
in and of itself.
“When I was sworn into the bar in
Massachusetts, I had to pledge an oath
to uphold the Constitution of the United
States, and that’s what American elected
officials have to swear, and people who
become American citizens have to swear,”
Sokatch said.
But he did express a distrust of the con-
text in which the bill was introduced.
“There are bills there that would cir-
cumscribe the way civil society orga-
nizations can get funding from foreign
entities, if those foreign entities are lib-
eral European governments, not if they’re
right wing — or for that matter, left wing
— private citizens in the United States,”
he said. Or bills that would strip Reform,
Conservative or even some Orthodox
rabbis from doing conversions that would
be considered kosher in Israel.
“That’s one of the reasons why [the loy-
alty oath is] so upsetting,” Sokatch said.
“It’s fundamentally not something liberal
WWburston Page 6
Irish Nobel peace laureate Mairead Corri-
gan Maguire, who in October was banned
from Israel for 10 years following her pres-
ence on a ship that broke the blockade to
deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
Israel today is a society that between 2000
and 2009 suffered its worst decade in its short
existence, Burston believes. The country’s
election in 2009 was the will of an electorate
that was tired and alienated after two wars,
suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and the
upheaval of the Gaza evacuation in 2005.
“And then world condemnation that
came in waves and never stopped,” Bur-
democracies do. They don’t ask prospec-
tive citizens to swear fealty to a particular
religious identity.”
Sokatch also pointed to the broader
freedoms that he sees as under attack:
“Freedom of speech, freedom of con-
science and freedom of religion, free-
dom to gather. These are all things that
we see being challenged, and increas-
ingly in Israel, people who voice opposi-
tional opinions or dissenting opinions are
branded or labeled as traitors,” he said.
In the past two years, Knesset ministers
who have attempted to have Arab Israeli
lawmakers arrested for treason. In the past
two weeks, riots began when rabbis in the
cities of Tzfat and B’nai Barak have told
their communities not to rent property to
Arab-Israelis or African immigrants. New
Israel Fund supports NGOs that serve
both populations.
“What’s next for the one-fifth of the
population of Israel that isn’t Jewish,
and what message does it send to them?”
Sokatch said.
ston said. “So what you have is a situation
in which a society sees itself under attack
by the entire world, and the society has had
no rest and no time to recuperate.”
WWhammer Page 7
“In the religious Zionist world, we think
we’re now making a positive turn in the
right direction to be less threatening and to
engage in dialogue in order to demonstrate
that that’s the kind of people we are,” said
Hammer. “We have something very valu-
able and very beautiful to offer, which is not
going to be forced upon you, but certainly,
you should become more familiar with it.”
10 8 nights of hanukkah JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

8 grocery items your local food bank could really use:  

1. 18-oz. bottles of vegetable oil
(plastic containers, please)
5. Dishwashing soap
6. Bars of hand soap
8 days, 8 ways
2. Peanut butter 7. Canned soup To make this Hanukkah a holiday
3. Toothpaste 8. Pasta
4. Canned fruit
for giving tzedakah.
Thanks to Carol Mullin of Jewish Family Service for compiling this list.
8 ways you can perform service for your community and
at
a l l of us les, the world

1st
Night
fine foods
From right Sa a
JC W wish you kah!
we Hanuk
y
1. Make a commitment to something ongoing in your community.
2. Make a commitment to a single day of meaningful service, and take the time
to study and learn about the group and cause for which you’re working.
3. At your next birthday or your next child’s birthday, or if you give gifts on
of Hanukkah since 1947 Happ Hanukkah, instead of giving presents to each other, give those same gifts to
s p o n s o r e d b y: people who don’t have the means to get their own.
4. Advocate politically for a cause: Learn about the cause, then write a letter or
make a phone call to your elected officials to let them know how you feel.
al Food Bank
5. Support somebody who can do the work if you can’t — if a student or young
d for a Loc
Drop Off Foo
adult is going to do Jewish service somewhere in your local community or
Can
8 Places You 227 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue d
across the world, support that person’s aspiration, then invite him or her to
1. The UPS Stor
e, e. NE, Redmon your home to share stories with your family and friends.
hl et ic Cl ub, 8709 161st Av W ay
2. Redmond At Way S, Federal 6. Rather than walk past homeless people on the street, give them a healthy
sp er ’s Coff ee Co., 33501 1st ., St e. E1 03 , Issaquah snack and try to engage in conversation with someone you might normally
3. Ja 0 N W Gi lman Blvd
e, 70
4. The UPS Stor ., Mercer Island otherwise ignore.
PS St or e, 7683 SE 27th St Seattle 7. Become a traveler and not a tourist. Commit to doing a service trip, whether
5. Th e U
47 42 42 nd Ave. SW, West
6. The UPS Stor
e, Seattle through American Jewish World Service, the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Fo od Ba nk , 711 Cherry St.,
7. Cherry Street Seattle Committee or other Jewish organizations, or support your child if he or she
o, 50 30 Ro osevelt Way NE you can visit
8. Scarecrow Vi
de
e ju st eight sites, but zens more. wants to do those trips.
No rt hw es t H ar vest. Th es e ar
bl ic _D ro p_ Si te s.htm to find do 8. Split your tzedakah between your own community and global causes. Make
Via s/Pu
arvest.org/Event
www.northwesth one Jewish, but make the other go beyond the Jewish community. If these can
be facilitated through Jewish organizations that support global relief, learn
r
alexande ative about what the Jewish community is doing in these efforts.

sh,omsrd
ve, restor
in preventi
specialist
y
ic dentistr Contributed by Rabbi Will Berkovitz of Repair the World. Resources for finding service
and cosmet

2n d dms
efficient & qu
ality care at a
convenient loc
ation organizations can be found at Repair the World’s Web site, www.werepair.org.

ight
edental.com
• www.eastlak
N
f Hanukkah
206-325-7456 Fun and Food at the

4th
d b y: sJC Hanukkah party
sponsore
saturday, december 4th

8 books that would be great for kids

By Nancy Pearl
Night 5:30 – 9:30 pM

http://secularjewishcircle.org
of Hanukkah
With the help of my good friends at Seattle’s University Book Store, here are s p o n s o r e d b y:
some great choices for every child and teen on your Hanukkah list:

Picture books:
1. Simms Taback’s Joseph Had a Little Overcoat 8 gifts that kids in ne
2. Mo Willems’s Knuffle Bunny Free ed would really app
this year: reciate
Middle grade chapter books:
1. A warm hat
3. Ingrid Law’s Savvy
2. Gloves
4. M.T. Anderson’s Whales on Stilts
3. Diapers (all sizes)
High Schoolers:
4. Kids’ books
5. Robin McKinley’s Sunshine (for older teens)
5. Games for all ages
6. John Green & David Levithan’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson
6. Target gift cards
All ages:
7. Game Stop gift cards
7. David Macauley’s Built to Last
8. Movie tickets
8. Marilyn Singer’s Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
Thanks to Carol Mullin of
Nancy Pearl is the author, most recently, of Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading Jewish Family Service for
compiling this list.
for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers. She will be the featured speaker at the
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Women’s Division Connections event on Jan. 30.

the gift

5 t h Tonight, give
BMW of Bellevue • 425-643-4544
join us
13617 Northup Way, Bellevue of camp and

3rd
e
as we celebrat
www.bmwbellevue.com
N ight our fifth year
!
of Hanukkah
Night up to $2500 Holiday Credit oN

lease or fiNaNCiNg a 2011 BMW.

s p o n s o r e d b y:
of Hanukkah
s p o n s o r e d b y:
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews 8 nights of hanukkah 11

8 tips for sending a kosher CARE package to deployed

Jewish soldiers
1. Keep the package small. Choose a standard, flat-rate box from USPS and it 8 ways to make the mo
will be delivered anywhere overseas at the domestic flat rate. st of your Tzedakah Bo
Packed inside the last iss
ue of JTNews was the Tze ok
2. Pack nonperishable, unbreakable objects. Remember, your package needs to for helping with giving dakah Book, a resource
to many different local cha guide
travel a long way and it likely won’t be handled with kid gloves. are some ways you can use ritable organizations. He
the Tzedakah Book. re
3. Wrap delicate items inside rolls of soft toilet paper. Need we say more? 1. On one or more nights
4. Choose a theme so your soldier can share the supplies. For example, send a of Hanukkah, look throu
family and find organiza gh the Tzedakah Book as
tions that resonate with a
six-pack of body wash or toothpaste. And remember, soldiers travel light, so 2. Also included with the you.
keep the items travel-sized. Tzedakah Book was a bu
Put it together and decora ild-your-own tzedakah bo
te! Then fill it up. x.
5. Send CDs, DVDs, and entertainment magazines. 3. E-mail your friends an
6. Tasty as it is, chocolate melts. Send candies and treats that will hold up d family and tell them the
JTNews web site and ma y can download it from
ke their own opportunit the
well. 4. Take it to a non-Jewish ies to give.
7. Confirm that your package is addressed properly. neighbor who might also
give for the holidays. be looking for places to
8. Most important of all, personalize your care package. Include a handwritten 5. Use the Tzedakah Book
note, a bit of local news, a picture of your family, or a child’s drawing to as a jumping-off point.
types of organizations the Ask your children about
y might want to support, other
express your appreciation. 6. Give the Tzedakah Bo and research them togeth
ok and a roll of quarters er.
Hanukkah gift. to your best friend as a
To send a care package to local deployed Jewish soldiers, contact Karen 7. The Tzedakah Book is
Fitzgerald of the Joint Base Lewis McChord Jewish Chapel at karen.fitzgerald@ about making donations,
volunteer. On the inside but you can also use it
cover of the Tzedakah Bo to
us.army.mil and she will provide names and addresses. Or visit Project MOT, a volunteers. Contact Blair ok are organizations tha
at 206-774-2251 or blairf@ t seek
volunteer-run organization that prepares and delivers CARE packages, and gladly connected. jewishinseattle.org to get
accepts contributions. Visit Project MOT at www.rimmon.com/ProjectMOT.htm. 8. Donate!

iberty
Cynthia
6th
Night
Life, L
and P
astram
for all
!
i
7 t h Williams
Managing broker, eco
Quorum — Laurelhurs
broker
“Home is the
when you ha
place where,
ve to go ther
e,

of Hanukkah
Pike Place Market University District
93 Pike St. #4 5200 Roosevelt Wy NE
Nig ht cwilliams@quorumsea
www.seattlehomesfors
t, Inc.
ttle.com they have to
ta ke yo u in.

—robert Fros
”
t
of Hanukkah office 206-522-7003
ale.net
s p o n s o r e d b y: 206-381-DELI 206-523-0606
s p o n s o r e d b y:
Cell 206-769-7140

washington state holocaust education WWadd this to your tzedakah book!

resource center

Mission - to inspire teaching and learning for humanity in the schools and
communities of this region through the study of the holocaust

Who we are Your contribution

matters:
The Holocaust Center reaches over 30,000 students each year with its programs
and resources. Through the study of the Holocaust young people and adults learn $20 a book for a classroom set
about human behavior, social responsibility, moral courage, the importance of $150 general program support
$300 document a survivor testimony
speaking out against intolerance and the difference just one person can make.
$500 sponsor a speaker
Teachers report that the incidence of bullying is reduced when students learn and
$800 adopt a holocaust teaching trunk
apply these valuable lessons.
Visit the Holocaust Center’s website at www.wsherc.org to learn more about the
programs and resources we provide.
As a small non-profit, we rely on donors like you who believe in the mission of
the Center. It is through the study of the Holocaust that young people and adults can
learn understanding, moral courage and social responsibility.

WSHERC is a donor-funded 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1989.

Send your Mail | wsherc | 2031 third ave. | seattle, wa 98121

online | www.wsherc.org
contribution to:
Phone | 206-774-2201
12 8 nights of hanukkah JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

8 Extraordinary Volunteers in the Jewish Community 5. David Serkin-Poole — Anti-

Defamation League
1. Fran Hasson — Jewish Cantor David Serkin-Poole, of
Family Service’s volunteer Bellevue’s Temple B’nai Torah,
of the year accepted the Cal Anderson Civil
In the 11 years since Rights Advocacy Award from the Anti-
Fran took over the Jewish Defamation League’s Pacific Northwest
Family Service food basket chapter for his ongoing work on
centerpiece program, she civil rights and marriage equality
has volunteered more than on Nov. 5. State Sen. Ed Murray, a
1,350 hours in creating previous recipient of the award, and
hundreds upon hundreds of former state Supreme Court Justice
custom centerpieces, one Bobbe Bridge spoke about David’s
by one, for special events accomplishments at the ADL’s annual
and family celebrations. No Place for Hate luncheon.
“When they told me the
program has raised over 6. Judy Schwarz —
$140,000 to benefit JFS, Kline Galland Center
I was truly amazed,” Fran and Hospice Service
says. “It’s been so easy, so Judy Schwarz has the
effortless, so wonderful.” distinction of being
Kline Galland Hospice
2. Adam Goldblatt — AJC Seattle chapter Service’s first volunteer,
Adam is not only the AJC Seattle regional accompanying her first
president, he is also the organization’s most patient last February.
exceptional volunteer. To both raise the profile Judy has been a
of AJC in Seattle and to achieve the mission volunteer at the Kline
of the organization, Adam dedicates countless Galland Home for many
hours to working with his fellow board years, helping out with
members, and the local and national AJC staff. the enameling group
every Friday. She bring her cheerfulness, positive demeanor, and compassion
to the hospice patients. Judy is a good listener and can also share from the
3. Marci Greenberg and Dave Rapp — Seattle Jewish Community School wealth of her own experiences, when appropriate. They are lucky to have
The Rapp/Greenberg power couple are parents and volunteers extraordinaire. her, says the staff, and so do the patients she devotes her time to.
Marci encourages, motivates, and entertains volunteers with an upbeat and 7. Team Samurai — Northwest Yeshiva High School
contagious enthusiasm. Dave is her constant partner in crime. As a couple,
they complement one another, and together, they inspire parents and
students to give to and participate in the community. Marci also fortifies
everyone with her unbelievably awesome chocolate brownies.

4. Josh Gortler —
Washington State
Holocaust Education
Resource Center
Josh Gortler is a
Holocaust survivor and a
member of the Holocaust
Center’s Speakers Bureau.
He tells his story to
young people at the
Pictured above are only some of the members of Team Samurai, post-race
state’s correctional
at the Run Scared 5K to benefit the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. Team
centers. Many of these
Samurai was formed in memory of Sam Owen, a classmate of these Northwest
people have written Josh
Yeshiva High School students, who succumbed to Burketts Lymphoma earlier
to tell him that his story
this year, a few days after his Bar Mitzvah. The Run Scared 5K was organized
gave them hope and
by NYHS alum Ilana Balint in honor of her father, David Balint, a lymphoma
turned their lives in a
survivor. This was the 4th year the race was run.
positive direction.
8. Shoshana Kaplan­— Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Shoshana has been a phenomenal volunteer since she started with the
Kline Galland Center Jewish Federation in August. She worked on a city-wide food drive as part of
the Focus and Fight Poverty program around Sukkot, and has spent the last

8th
Kline Galland Foundation
month helping with marketing and logistics of the Ethnic Flavors of Israel
Kline Galland Hospice services
program. 

Night www.klinegalland.org
polack Adult day Center

The summit at First Hill

“Shoshana is our ‘Yes, of course!’ volunteer around the office — no matter
how short the notice or how frustrating the task, Shoshana is always willing
of Hanukkah 206-652-4444 • 206-725-8800 to help out,” says Blair Feehan, the Federation’s volunteer coordinator. “We
s p o n s o r e d b y:
couldn’t do it without her.”
j-teen
The l i f e a n d t
i
i
s
m
h
e s
t
o
e
f
e n s
e s t j e w
northw

n t h e c o ver: l B u rstein-Fra
me.
O rboris,” b
A
y R a iz e
el is a
“Mandala 4”. Raiz
o n c a n v as, 14” x 1 ld orf High S
chool.
Acrylic ea tt le W a
er at the S
10th grad

n f r ida y , no v embe r 1 2 , 2 0 1 0 n 5 kis l e v n

a jewish transcript publication

2 J-TEEN friday, november 12, 2010

e n e r a l ’s v i s i t t o
Th e c o n s u l g
i v a H i g h S c h o o l
Northw e s t Ye s h
By Raphael Kintzer and Josh Voss he served four years
as an officer. After
On November 3, the honorable Akiva the army, Tor applied
Tor, consul general of Israel for the Pacific for a job in the Israeli
Northwest, spoke to the students at Northwest Foreign Ministry. He
Yeshiva High School. With the temporary won the position and
relocation of the Israel consulate to Seattle has since served abroad
for the week, Tor spent time meeting with in countries such as
many constituent groups in the Jewish and Holland, Taiwan and now
general community. For just under an hour Tor in the U.S.
enraptured the students, speaking about his We connected
upbringing, Yitzchak Rabin (whose yahrzeit deeply with Tor. He
was the next day), current Israel affairs, and talked about issues
how teenagers can help Israel. relevant to today and to Courtesy NYHS
Tor’s relationship with Israel commenced our own life decisions Akiva Tor, Israel’s consul general to the Pacific Northwest, left, with
when he was in 10th grade and his family moving forward Northwest Yeshiva High School seniors Juliana Gamel, center, and
visited Israel on a sabbatical from the U.S. after graduating. His Sarah Varon.
After graduating from high school, Tor returned experiences as an
to Israel to study in yeshiva for two years. He American student,
described his time in Israel as one of his most studying in day schools, and choosing to make school (pun intended).
formative life experiences and encouraged all aliyah after earning a college degree resonated When asked about the favorite part about
of us to spend time in Israel before embarking with us and our peers. He talked about the his job, Tor responded: “Speaking with people
on the next phase of our education. He existential threats that face Israel today, like you.”
returned from Israel to study at Columbia including the attempts to delegitimize Israel His enjoyment and enthusiasm for his
University, where he earned his bachelor’s as a state and the danger of Iran. He was also work was easy to see as he spoke with the
degree in Psychology, and then received a very personable — many of us took advantage NYHS students.
graduate degree from Harvard University’s of the opportunity to ask him questions
Kennedy School of Government. one-on-one after the speech. NYHS student Raphael Kintzer and Josh Voss are seniors at the
Returning to Israel to make aliyah as a president and vice president Juliana Gamel Northwest Yeshiva High School.
24-year-old, Tor enlisted in the army, where and Sarah Varon took Tor on a tour around the

The Israel ambassador

By Robbie Ellenson totally great.
Not only did I get
This past summer I embarked on a to do fun programming,
National Conference of Synagogue Youth high but I also made friends
school trip called The Jewish Journey. The five- from all over the U.S.,
week-long trip of around 40 TJJ Ambassadors Canada, and Israel,
traveled all around the land of Israel. We hiked, who I still talk to every
biked, studied Judaism, learned about the land day. The kids as well as
of Israel, did community service, and much the staff were amazing.
more. The purpose of the trip was not only to Our trip leader, Rabbi
create a closer connection to Judaism, but Barry Goldfisher, was
also to the land, and learn how to advocate for a fantastic tour guide,
Israel on our high school or college campuses. full of knowledge about
From day one, TJJ was an absolutely the land of Israel.
amazing experience. From riding camels to However, my
river rafting, to seminars, the activities were experience on TJJ
so much fun. Every day was a jam-packed goes far past just a
adventure. Our exploration of the land made summer experience.
it come to life. We traveled from Eilat to the TJJ Ambassadors Courtesy Robbie Ellenson
Golan, and everywhere in between. was a chance for me Last summer’s full contingent of ambassadors for The Jewish Journey.
Some of the highlights of the trip for me to learn about the
were water sports in Eilat, hiking in the Golan, history of my people
and hearing fantastic guest speakers. However, and the beauty of my religion. I learned about has no doubt made me a better speaker, leader,
my favorite part of the trip was running a four- Israeli current events and went to seminars that and person.
day-long camp for kids from the Israeli town taught me how to advocate for Israel. I have
of Sderot. We got to set up and run our own taken what I have learned from the summer Robbie Ellenson is an 11th grader at Bellevue
summer camp. Working with the kids was and use it in my daily life. TJJ Ambassadors High School.
friday, november 12, 2010 J-TEEN 3

By Kalman Clement

The captain’s announcement

woke me from my sleep. We were
almost there. Up ahead lay the Holy
The inspiration of
Land. I grew up hearing about it,
from friends and the media, and I
had read countless books and spent
Jerusalem’s golden sunset
innumerable hours watching videos
of Israel, but I still had no idea what
I was getting into. It was still a bit of
shock that I would have the privilege
of actually going there. All my life, this
place had a special, sacred meaning to
me, and now I was here.
When the plane touched down
on Israeli soil, my heart skipped a
beat. Everyone cheered as we taxied
to our terminal. I joined in, too, my
voice barely audible among all of the
members of my five-week trip through
NCSY, called The Jerusalem Journey.
“I am here,” I thought. “I am home.”
TJJ ambassadors, as we were
called, divided onto five busses, sorted
by region. Bus 2 was mostly teens from
the West Coast. Earlier, when we had
all met at JFK Airport, I was told my bus
mates would become my best friends,
almost like family. I disregarded this as State of Israel Ministry of Tourism
typical optimistic and unrealistic banter
— probably because I was scared out of my a series of left turns, right turns, and narrow That, I believe, is what makes Israel
wits. Needless to say, when I boarded my bus passages. Then, suddenly, there we were. As so special. It’s not just the land’s beauty, or
in Israel, everyone else didn’t really seem like I approached the Western Wall for the first the culture, or the food. What makes Israel
family. Sure, I made a few acquaintances, but I time in my life, every single emotion that could so special is that it is the land of the Jews,
still felt like a complete antisocial loner. possibly be felt coursed though me like an politically and spiritually. So during the
My negative brooding thoughts were electric shock. afternoon of our last Shabbos together, I
interrupted as the sun began to set. Let me tell The next month was a blur. We went realized that I wanted my children to see the
you, they don’t call it “Jerusalem of Gold” for everywhere, from the Lebanon border to hills of Jerusalem just as I saw them. It was then
no reason. I soon discovered, however, that not the Red Sea. We visited places filled with that I realized who and what I wanted to be.
all of Israel can be captured through a camera spirituality and Judaism, such as Hebron During the month before Rosh Hashanah,
lens. That sunset seemed to vaporize any and Tzfat. We did insanely fun stuff, from when we blow the shofar to signify the coming
nervousness or uncertainty in me. Its beauty banana boating in the Red Sea to jeep riding of the New Year, the vibrations send a chill
burned through my retinas and carved itself in the Golan Heights. We shared unbelievable up your spine. I felt that same chill numerous
into my mind, sealing the memory of it forever. I memories, such as watching the sunrise over times during The Jerusalem Journey, from our
rode to Jerusalem in tranquility. the Dead Sea from Masada. And yes, we first night at the Kotel to the last night when
By the time we reached the Old City, night actually became a family. Every person on my we returned to the Kotel. And through those
had set. Walking to the Kotel, the Western bus is very close to me, someone I would look moments, I knew I could be a better person in
Wall, my heart began to pound hard. I felt out for or cheer up, because I know he or she every aspect.
unprepared for this moment. The walk became would do the very same thing for me.

Come Bounce Off

Our Walls
Book online for hourly jumps
Dodg or call to plan a party!
eball • AIR p Events
obics • The Foam Pit • Parties • Grou

www.JumpSkyHigh.com

425.990.JUMP (5867)
SEAinfo@JumpSkyHigh.com
Wear tennis/gym shoes & comfortable clothing.
A parent signed waiver is required for all 1445 120th Ave NE
patrons under 18 years old. Bellevue, WA 98005
4 J-TEEN friday, november 12, 2010
Let’s take over the kitchen!
By Andrew Kranseler
Whether you are a beginning cook
or advanced in your culinary skills Susie
Fishbein’s The Kosher by Design Teen and
20-Somethings Cookbook is fabulous. Choose
any one of the 100 recipes and trust me, you
will not be disappointed. Author Fishbein has
now made it cool and easy to cook, rather than
go out to eat, if you are hungry.
The majority of these recipes don’t take a
long time to cook — many of them, in fact, are
relatively simplistic. However, even as a more
experienced cook, I appreciate this because
nearly all the recipes are great ideas and all are
items I would enjoy cooking and eating.
One exception is the Barbecued Potato
Kugel, which doesn’t sound all that appealing to
me, but some people might love it. One recent
weekend, I tried the recipe for the scones (page
50); with some I added raisins. The scones
came out of the oven fluffy and tasted delicious
served with some jam. I also tried the Frozen
Banana Pops (page 34) for dessert, the Tex-Mex
Salad (page 80) and the Spicy Carrot Sticks
(page 174). All received rave reviews from my
family and I would definitely make these again.
Then there are the recipes I cannot wait
to try: Mexican Pizza Empanada (page 24),
Portabello Burgers (page 150) and the No-Bake
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (page 96). The
pictures in the book make the recipes jump out
from the page, so it is tough to pick which ones
to make next.
In the back of the book, there are even
ideas for complete meals or themed party
meals. Also in the back of the book are pages
for notes to list the recipes you have made,
which I think is a great feature. I also like the
cooking tips provided, such as pre-measuring
all your ingredients ahead of time and placing
them in muffin tins. And, of course, each recipe
is designed to be kosher, and indicates whether
it is meat, parve, or dairy, which is also helpful.
I know I will continue using this book many
times over the next few years and I recommend
it for everyone, even adults, as it is simple to use
and the recipes are not too time-consuming.
Scones
Dairy
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. fine sea salt
11 Tbs. (1 stick plus 3 Tbs.) butter, at room
temperature for 15 minutes
2 eggs, plus one for additional brushing
1/2 cup milk
6 Tbs. mix-ins such as chocolate chips,
blueberries, or raisins (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Line two cookie sheets with parchment
paper. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking
powder, and salt.
4. Cut the butter into small cubes. Add it to the
flour mixture and use both hands to knead
the dough, rubbing the butter into the flour.
Andrew Kranseler and the Tex Mex Salad from
Susie Fishbein’s The Kosher by Design Teen and
20-Somethings Cookbook.
Courtesy Andrew Kranseler
5. Add the eggs and milk, kneading to form a
crumbly but somewhat sticky dough.
6. Turn the dough out onto your work surface
and knead for another minute or two; the
dough should start to become more smooth
as the butter softens from the warmth of
your hands. Divide the dough into two
pieces. Use the heel of your palm to spread
each piece into a circle, about 3/4-1 inch
thick.
7. If adding any mix-ins, spread them over the
dough, then knead and press into a circle.
Do not over mix the scones.
8. Using the mouth of a drinking glass or a
round 2-inch diameter cookie cutter, cut out
circles of the dough and place 2 inches apart
on the prepared cookie sheets. Re-roll into
scraps, and cut out more scones.
9. With a fork, whisk the remaining egg. Using a
pastry brush, brush generously over the tops
of the scones.
10. Bake for 15 minutes or until bottoms are
golden brown and tops are light golden.
Remove from oven and place on cooling
rack.
11. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Yield: 20-24 scones
Spicy Carrot Sticks
Parve
6 large carrots, peeled, ends
trimmed
1 egg white from a large egg
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. water
1-1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1-1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a
jelly-roll pan with parchment paper.
Set aside.
2. Cut each carrot in half to make
two 3/4-inch pieces.
3. Cut each carrot half in half
lengthwise. With the cut side down
on your cutting board, cut each half
into 3 equal strips to make carrot
sticks.
4. Place the egg white into a large shallow bowl
or container and whip with a fork or whisk till
foamy.
5. In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, water, garlic
powder, cumin, sugar, paprika, and white
pepper.
6. Place the carrot sticks into the beaten egg,
turning to coat the carrots in the egg white.
7. Remove the carrots from the egg white and
stir into the spice mixture. Arrange in a single
layer on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt.
8. Roast, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
9. Transfer to a serving plate or bowl.
Yield: 4-6 servings
Andrew Kranseler is a senior at Newport High
School. He has always loved to cook and he
attended the two-period culinary program at
Newport High School in his junior year. He
has spent many summers at the Blue Ribbon
Cooking School and although he does not always
use recipes when he cooks, he plans to use this
cookbook for upcoming meals in the Kranseler
household.
friday, november 12, 2010 J-TEEN 5

Yom Kippur
The synagogue doors stand tall and foreign it rustles, between dying and living
tucked away between two back alleys of Berlin which are separate only in our imagination
a city I love but do not quite understand ancestors nestle themselves beside us
cloaked
it’s a pity, this poem but so close to the touch
will not capture the raw, ringing power By Joanna Wright when that microscopic distance hurts too much
of high holy days when we learn that we are not invincible
but there are ways to try, I suppose we are fully alive
because God only knows we find wholeness in bruised places
we answer questions with more questions and traces of the sacred in each other’s faces I cried for my Zayde today
doing our best to wrestle with this beautiful life and he died eight months ago
the meaning of the word Mensch tonight and my eyes know he’s gone
we wear white but the well inside me
I slip through those doors and into a bench in become nothing but soul is still full of tears and his matzoh ball soup
the back row yearning to return to the light, to an
an observer and a participant, I’m a stranger here authentic poet in an imperfect world today, though
in search of a Yom Kippur home beginning to forgive is not just about grief or regrets or missing or forgetting
far away from my own each other and it’s about letting go, letting out, letting in
and as the music starts and the voices rise ourselves to be entered and picked clean
I realize by the moon that knows no ideology
I found it entered
by that energy, divine and indefinable today, we’ve created the hope
These are my people we remember what it means to that there’s a communal safe-keeping deeper
belong to a community than well-kept secrets
it’s not a thought I’ve composed, just grasping at comfort fill a room with broken symphonies no parking meter in spirit’s sanctuary
it’s an ancient sensation, emanating and fill our bodies with those half-built melodies they call it a day of atonement
from the walls of this temple that has known brutal a mix of soil and mysticism but really
history Hebrew words we understand by blood it’s atunement
and from the faces of those around me but cannot translate today we are
glowing with a fervent desire to be bruised by God millions of prayers
the veil between worlds is simultaneously trying to summarize
wrestlers, we are tissue paper right now one-ness.
tickling our skin with tender, windless breath

Bringing everyone into the circle

By Rena Genauer
Mark Twain once wrote an article in
Harper’s Magazine in which he described the
Jews. He depicted a nation of strength and
valor that overcame the largest of obstacles
while maintaining a strong faith. Oftentimes
it’s hard to believe we are the people Mr. Twain
described. We are the illustrious Jews.
However, with society the way it is today,
there is much concern over our failure to
maintain this identity. As teenagers become
increasingly careless about their heritage,
anxiety over becoming lost among the nations
becomes more and more realistic.
This is where NCSY comes in. Teenagers
of course like to do fun things that involve their
friends. NCSY provides the opportunity to
combine social interaction with religion. Teens
from across the region gather to take part in
any one of the fun activities. Last year we had a
plethora of events, from a mock Jewish wedding,
to our annual Seattle Shabbaton with 215 teens,
to Basar Fest, our meat cook-off event.
Coming from an Orthodox background
in a community like Seattle, as I entered high
school I was suddenly exposed to a wide
array of students. With NCSY, I was able
to find teens with whom I shared common
values. People I would never have even met
were suddenly, to coin a Facebook term,
popping up on my news feed. The best
part was, they all had one common thread:
Judaism. Whether they came from a Reform,
XXPage 7

helps build our Jewish future by connecting young kids & teens
to Jewish experiences and community through:
~ Stipends for Israel Experiences
~ J.Team, the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Team
~ Hebrew High
~ J-Serve, the National Day of Jewish Teen Service
~ Jewish Overnight Camp Scholarships
~ Youth Mitzvah Fund
~ The PJ Library®
We hope you’ll join us at some of our innovative programs throughout the year!

More at www.JewishInSeattle.org ~ 206 774-2251 ~ BlairF@JewishInSeattle.org

6 J-TEEN friday, november 12, 2010 -
Teachings from the Top
By Uriel Cohen
Being the social creatures we humans are,
societal organization is mandatory for our inner
workings. We have leaders who work close to
home, like mayors, and also ones on greater
scales, like governors. We even have supreme
dignitaries, like the president, that exercise
control over other luminaries.
Following suit with the rest of humanity,
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization also adheres to
and values a system of power checks that make
our daily lives worthwhile and enjoyable. Being
a youth-led association, we as members must
take it upon ourselves to make BBYO our own: A
place that represents the Jewish youth of today.
Boys and girls hold weekly meetings
separately at the Stroum Jewish Community
Center, the male counterpart being called Aleph
Zadik Aleph (AZA) and its female counterpart
referred to as B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG). Meetings
are held gender separate for a variety of
reasons. One local youth, Adam Epstein,
says the separation is to “provide a safer and
friendlier environment for students to express
certain beliefs or ideas without the pressure
of thinking what a person of another gender
thinks of you. Since most of our lives are
surrounded by gender inclusion, BBYO enables
kids to talk more freely.”
Adam is the president of his chapter
and attends the Seattle Academy of Arts and
Sciences.
Many people “find it hard to make friends
at a public school, because it tends to be really
cliquey,” says Jessica Korotkin, a student at
Interlake High School. “When I go to BBYO,
I know I am going to a place where there are
many girls, just like me, willing to be my friend,
and willing to make a sisterly bond with me.”
In the Seattle area, there are three AZA
and two BBG chapters. Each individual chapter
has a board that includes, but is not limited to, a
see what’s
happening
at seattle
nCsY
Junior nCsY for
Find out about
our amazing
5-day trip
to new york
on our
web site
programs for
www.seattlencsy.com grades 9–12
(tweet) JEW-ISDoHyo.COM
u totally get it? Right? jew-ish? Anyway, Follow along @jewishdotcom. Worth
Courtesy BBYO
Jeremy Sherman, the international president
of AZA, left, and local BBYOer Andrew
Arbogast.
president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and
so on. These boards plan out nearly all activities
BBYO members wish to take part in, fulfilling the
“for the people, by the people” approach BBYO
identifies itself with, an approach that makes
BBYO unique from other youth groups.
In the spirit of acquainting ourselves with
higher leadership, a very important affiliate of
BBYO recently visited our area. In late October,
Jeremy Sherman, the international president
of BBYO, came to the Evergreen region, which
includes most of the Northwestern United
States as well as parts of Canada.
JsU Clubs operate in
most seattle area
grades 6–8 public schools
Fully accredited hebrew high in
partnership with the Federation
it.
Originally hailing from Michigan, Jeremy
is in the midst of the gap year between high
school and college, which is required to
fulfill the position of international president.
Jeremy spent his time meeting individuals
and answering the multitude of questions we
threw at him. He also conducted a seminar on
Shabbat about how to take leadership in one’s
own community. It was very interesting to hear
such powerful words from a boy not even two
years my elder. After all, he was once a normal
member just like the rest of us.
It is not often that a constituent of a large
institution is privileged enough to meet the
most powerful leader of that establishment.
For many members who strive to achieve the
political positions Jeremy has held, his tales
of personal trials and tribulations are idolized.
However, it must be noted that Jeremy does not
only “talk the talk.” Before his election, Jeremy
“walked the walk” significantly, contributing
inspiration, ideas, and logistics for his local
chapter. As the leader of roughly 30,000 Jewish
teens worldwide, Jeremy still avidly fulfills his
role as the number one man for the organization
for which he has worked so hard. Yet he does
not come across as flamboyant in his actions or
headstrong in his manner.
There is much to be learned from one who
concentrates not on appearances, but on getting
the job done. His inherent qualities, like work
ethic and taking initiative, are things all humans
can learn from, not just B’nai B’rith Youth.
No government is today without a
representative, an individual who carries the
hopes and dreams of the body’s members.
Fitting, is it not, that a youth group dedicated
to the continuity of the Jewish tomorrow is
summarized by initiative?
Seventeen-year-old Uriel Cohen is an active
member in BBYO as well as several other youth
groups. He lives on Mercer Island.
A COLLEGE
EDUCATION
IS A MAJOR
INVESTMENT
Sensitive professional
assistance to ensure a successful match
between student and school
Linda Jacobs & Associates
College Placement Services
206/323-8902
friday, november 12, 2010 J-TEEN 7

Twenty-four hours
on the kibbutz
By Jacob Goren

Driving through the gates of Kibbutz Yad

Mordechai, I didn’t know what to expect. We
were about to be thrown into a completely
different culture for the next 24 hours. The kids
we met there and stayed with were our age, but
at first I wasn’t sure if we could relate because
of our different cultures.
However, as soon as we met them and
began to make our way down to the beach,
it was just like hanging out with my friends
back at home. We hung out on the beach for a
couple of hours, swam in the ocean, ate some
Bamba, and played paddle ball, Israel’s most
popular beach game.
It was great getting to know these kids
and hearing what they had to say about going
into the army, and all of the different issues Courtesy AMHSI
that face Israel — especially Gaza, as Yad From left to right, Ariel Salka, Selena Lustig, Nicole Aqua, Gabe Fruchter, AJ Ostrow, Adam
Mordechai sits only about a mile from the Epstein, Jacob Goren and Nick Alkan, all participants in last spring’s Alexander Muss High
border. What amazed me was that they didn’t School in Israel.
seemed phased, like I was, about Gaza being
so close or the danger of rockets falling on But it worked. The residents all share a seven other teens from the Seattle area spent
them at anytime. This was just part of their lives special bond with their rich history and their eight weeks in Israel on the Alexander Muss High
and they simply lived with it. communal lifestyles, which makes life on School in Israel program, studying and traveling
The next day was Lag B’Omer and we kibbutzim special. the country to learn about its history and culture.
spent the entire day with their “youth society,” For more information, contact 206-948-2030 or
which was similar to youth groups such as Jacob Goren graduated from Interlake High kyeyni@amhsi.org
BBYO here in the U.S. We joined all of the kids School in 2010. During his senior year, he and
on the kibbutz to build hammocks and beds
that they would sleep on that night. It was a
lot of fun — it allowed us to get to know all
different ages of kids on the kibbutz and gave
us a peek into what their hobbies and traditions
are. That night they had a ceremony inducting
the 6th graders into their youth society, while at
the same time celebrating the holiday.
This whole day showed me how living on
a kibbutz is a unique way of life. The people
there really do everything together, even the
Herzl-Ner Tamid’s teen programs
kids. The night before, when we ate in the create friendships that last
communal dining hall, I had thought to myself: a lifetime!
“I can’t imagine eating with everyone in my
neighborhood every night.” tt
.
.BLF
.BLF
DPOOFDUJPOT
XJUI


L DPOOFDUJPOT
UJ XJUI
JUI
+FXJTI
UFFOT
UISPVHIPVU
UIF
/PSUIXFTU
During an eight week
t
1BSUJDJQBUF
JO
GSFRVFOU

FYDJUJOH
FWFOUT

MJLF

academic session,
WWthe circle Page 5 Chanukah
JDF
TLBUJOH
QBSUJFT

8JMMZ
8POLB the country becomes
JOTQJSFE
Shabbaton

BOE
BO
*TSBFMJ
kibbutz

Conservative, or Orthodox background, every
TJNVMBUJPO your classroom as
one of my new friends excitedly jumped up and you plunge into
down, singing their hearts out, during Havdallah
t
.FFU
OFX
GSJFOET
BOE
EFFQFO
FYJTUJOH

on the Shabbatons. There truly is nothing GSJFOETIJQT living history! This
comparable. t
#VJME
MFBEFSTIJQ
TLJMMT
no ordinary trip. This
Not only was I able to enjoy the events t
%FFQFO
ZPVS
DPOOFDUJPO
UP
+VEBJTN
is you in ISRAEL…
myself, but I also was able to take part in an t
5SBWFM
UIF
XPSME
PO
POF
PG
64:T
TVNNFS

extraordinary part of being a Jew. The concept QSPHSBNT
of bringing other Jews into the circle is known as
kiruv. NCSY provided me with the opportunity to Winner of USY’s
solidify my religious beliefs while simultaneously 3FHJPOBM
$IBQUFS
PG
UIF
:FBS
"XBSE
helping others discover theirs, and for this I am
forever grateful. Although I am a senior now, and (P
UP
XXXIOUPSHVTZJOGPIUN

this is my seventh and final year in NCSY, I will UP
TFF
XIBUT
IBQQFOJOH
never forget the lessons I have learned from my Kathy Yeyni E-mail: kyeyni@amhsi.org
experiences. With God’s help maybe one day
Tel: 206-948-2030 Web: www.amhsi.org
my children will attend an event, or join chapter

&
.FSDFS
8BZ
t
.FSDFS
*TMBOE

8"

board, and ensure the continuation of the Jewish 
t
JOGP!IOUPSH
t
XXXIOUPSH Learn It…Live It…Love It…
people Mark Twain described.
8 J-TEEN friday, november 12, 2010
Monday afternoons
By Yael Egnal
It’s 2:30 on a Monday
afternoon. The bell rings. Most
kids pack up and go home to do
homework or head off to sports
practice. There is one other
option that makes Monday worth
waking up for: Jewish Student
Union. At 2:33, about 15 kids are
sitting on the desks in room 503.
Our advisor Ari Hoffman walks
in with three fresh Island Crust
Pizzas. This is the beginning of
my favorite hour spent at school.
And I’m not just talking about the
pizzas.
At the Bellevue High
School JSU some of our favorite
discussion topics are “Glee,”
movies, current Jewish events and
Ari’s stories from his youth. Every
week there is something new to
discuss, something new to learn,
and something new to enjoy. Members of the Bellevue High School Jewish Student Union, with advisor least, having a great time.
After graduating from the Ari Hoffman on the right.
Jewish Day School in 2009, I have
severely missed being surrounded
by Judaism. I attend Camp
Solomon Schechter and BBYO, and love them
with all of my heart. But having a chance to
learn and be Jewish at school is remarkable.
I still remember the high school club fair
my freshman year. At the beginning of every
school year, each club gets its own table to
promote itself. When I got to the main hallway,
I was surprised that the Jewish Student Union
table had a huge line. When I got to the front,
J - T e e n ?
Ar e you a
Courtesy JSU exploring Judaism, and last but not
I realized there was a popcorn and a cotton
candy machine.
I think that JSU is so amazing because
not every Jewish kid is lucky enough to go to
summer camp or youth group like I am able
to. JSU gives Jewish kids — and non-Jewish
kids — a chance to explore Judaism cost-free,
while still having fun. I mention non-Jewish
kids because recently we have opened up our
make it your
j-teen!
Artwork Poems
Profiles Humor
Reporting Cartoons Essays Analysis
Short Stories Features
n d r a i s e !
fu J-Teen can help
Call or e-mail
meetings to everyone. At Bellevue
some of our frequent “clubbers”
aren’t Jewish, they just enjoy the
pizza and discussions.
Last year, JSU held a Seattle
Jewish youth group dodgeball
tournament. When you add Sky
High and Jewish friends together, it
becomes one great event. I thought
this event was so great because it
allowed USYers to meet NCSYers
and BBYOers to meet JSUers.
It really upsets me when kids
think if you are in one Jewish youth
group you can’t be in another. And
it seems like there is an unspoken
rule that states each youth group
is rivals with the others. Okay, so
they may all have to compete for
new members, but in reality they
serve the same purpose: Making
lifelong Jewish friends, learning and
JSU is a big part of my high
school experience and I hope
the clubs will increasingly have a
positive effect on the schools and
the community. As I said before, JSU leaves me
something new to think about and to discuss,
whether it is a profound current event or the
musical numbers from “Glee.”
Yael Egnal is the JSU city president. She’s a
sophomore at Bellevue High School.
Are you a J-Teen?
Calling all writers, artists, and designers.
Would you like your work published
in print and digitally?
Design Talent
We need you to help create our next issue of
J-Teen. Call or e-mail Joel to find out more.
206-774-2233 or editor@jtnews.net.
nization.
you raise mon
Karen to find ou
ey fo r yo
t more. 20
ur sc
6-
ho
77
ol, club, or orga
4- 22 67 or karenc@jtne
ws.net.
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews m.o.t.: member of the tribe 13
The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle
By David Benkof
Across Down
1. “No other ___ before Me...” 1. Aladdin’s discovery
(Exodus 20:3) 2. Unscrews
5. Fran Drescher stereotype 3. Loses weight
8. Righteous gentile Sendler 4. “___ 3” (Liev Schreiber film)
13. “Angels in America,” e.g. 5. “___ Nathan’s Jewish Holiday
14. Yours and mine Cookbook”
16. Elected MKs 6. Torah ___ (Jewish texbook
17. ___-do-well publishers)
18. Gaza Strip, e.g. 7. He might be studying for his bar
19. Put in a stake mitzvah
20. ___ Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 8. Bad boy Boesky
23. Milton Himmelfarb output 9. Gossiper Barrett
24. Trickster 10. 19th century German Orthodox
25. An end to Zion? leader Jacob
28. French prime minister Pierre 11. Chelsea Mezvinsky, ___ Clinton
33. 12 or 13, for Jewish adulthood 12. Total
36. Years on end 15. Eilat sight
37. Certain drums 21. Jewish deli bread
38. Rugs 22. Quirky
41. Male and female 26. Alan Menken won an Oscar for his
42. Patron from “The Little Mermaid”
43. Second Temple period, e.g. 27. Piglike
44. “Cuando El ___ Nimrod” (Ladino 29. Stinging plants
song) 30. Jewfros, e.g.
45. “Saturday Night Live” Actress, 31. Actor Liebman or Silver
1999-2006 32. “Milk ___ Honey”
49. Third king of Judah 33. Capital of Ghana
50. Shortly before? 34. Some synagogue fundraisers
51. Penne, e.g. 35. Author, “Fear of Flying”
55. She played Lucille Bluth on 39. Hebrew letter, literally “mouth”
“Arrested Development” 40. Compass dir.
60. Gastroenteritis cause 41. Elijah of Vilna, for short
62. Emulate Rembrandt making “The 43. Built
Jewish Bride” 46. More like some wines
63. ___ Island Jewish Hospital 47. Common Jewish profession
64. Former Vermont Gov. Madeleine 48. Revere
65. French judge Cassin 52. Item to leave on a grave
66. Not fooled by 53. Patriarchs’ living quarters
67. Barely beats 54. Lingo
68. Bear’s lair 56. British historian Kedourie
69. ___ Bank 57. Breaks a commandment
58. Teen spots?
59. A question of timing
60. ___ out a win
61. Kosher animals chew theirs
Answers on page 23
Making a difference in science
education • Also, teens raise
money for hospital guild
Diana Brement JTNews Columnist
1
When Ellen Lettvin
took the newly cre-
ated post of vice presi-
dent of science and education
at Seattle’s Pacific Science
Center almost two years ago,
she made what looked like
a sudden departure from a
career in academic research to
one in education.
The truth is, she told me
recently, is that the change
came gradually, an outgrowth of her previ-
ous job as assistant director of the Univer-
sity of Washington’s applied physics lab.
After getting her bachelors, masters
and doctorate at the University of Michi-
gan — plus a research stint at Stanford —
Ellen came to the UW, doing a lot of work
in conjunction with NOAA. Trained as
Courtesy ellen letvin
Ellen Lettvin
an oceanographer and engineer, Ellen’s
expertise is in “remote viewing,” using sat-
ellite data to model ocean wave patterns.
While there, she decided the public
ought to know more about the publicly
funded work going on at the lab.
“I felt there was an untapped need”
for the lab to reach out to the commu-
nity, she says, and to develop more “tech-
nology transfer, finding linkages to local
businesses” leading to commercial appli-
cations, “which would be mutually advan-
tageous.”
p enin g!
ra n d o
g The original from queen anne
1009 Boren avenue, Seattle
206-467-5046
One organization she
reached out to was the PSC.
“I worked on several proj-
ects with them,” she says.
So when the Science
Center created this new posi-
tion in 2008, naturally they
approached her and she
accepted.
“By being involved in edu-
cation and outreach I could
tribe make more of a difference,”
she says.
Ellen, who recently com-
pleted treatment for breast cancer,
described one of her best days at work
recently at PSC’s Discover Awards meet-
ing, “a big deal,” where children who come
to the center’s summer programs are recog-
nized for “curiosity, ingenuity, teamwork”
as well as inspiration or stewardship.
“There were hundreds of kids and par-
ents at this event, age 4 to 14. They were so
excited and so proud,” she says. “It was fun
to be there and see them all thriving.”
Ellen and her husband Peter are mem-
bers of Temple Beth Am where her son
Alexander had his Bar Mitzvah last year.
Raised Conservative in Brookline, Mass.,
and Ann Arbor, she had drifted from reli-
gious observance until her father died in
2003.
“A friend suggested I find a minyan,”
she says, and the experience connected her
with “a repository of memories and tradi-
tions and things that were part of me… It
was that moment I realized that I wanted
my son to have a Bar Mitzvah.”
2
Four years ago Maddy Berkman
lost a close friend to an inopera-
ble malignant brain tumor. Sydney
Coxon was only 11 at the time, and it left
Maddy and her friends at a loss as to what
to do with their grief.
Then, Maddy remembers, “one of my
friends read an article in the newspaper
about Seattle Children’s guild program.”
The hospital was seeking new guilds, and
so the Pink Polka Dots Guild, the brain-
child of Maddy, Kelsey Josund and Sierra
Ales, was born.
XXPage 14
14 m.o.t.: member of the tribe JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

WWm.o.t. Page 13
The name comes
from Sydney’s pen-
chant for pink. The
girls explained to
KING-5 television in
2009 that “she loved
everything pink —
pink fuzzy sweaters
and pink purses…
and pink polka dots
had always been From left to right: Sierra Ales, Kelsey Josund, Adora Svitak and Maddy Berkman,
one of her favorite at the TEDx conference in Redmond, organized and hosted by Adora.
things.”
All funds raised
by Pink Polka Dots is donated through
Seattle Children’s to Dr. Jim Olson at Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
“Most of the guilds at the hospital
raise money for uncompensated care, but
our guild is considered a junior specialty
guild,” Maddy explained, allowing it to
support Olson’s “really groundbreaking
work” in developing scorpion venom to
create a tumor marker.
The guild was especially busy in Sep-
tember hosting their annual memorial golf
tournament plus a benefit concert by the
Brian Waite band.
September also found them speaking
at a TEDx event in Redmond. (TED is an
idea-sharing organization which hosts con-
ferences where innovators showcase con-
cepts and talent.) The event, broadcast live
worldwide, was organized entirely by and
cal
Ongoing Events 7:30–10:30 p.m. – He’Ari Israeli Dancing
Event names, locations, and times are provided Danceland Ballroom
here for ongoing weekly events. Please visit 8:30 p.m. – Talmud, Yeshiva-Style
calendar.jtnews.net for descriptions and contact Eastside Torah Center
information.
Mondays
Fridays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. – JCC Seniors Group
12:30–3:30 p.m. – Bridge Group Stroum JCC
Stroum Jewish Community Center 12:30 p.m. – Caffeine for the Soul
12:30–3:30 p.m. – Drop-in Mah Jongg Chabad of the Central Cascades
Stroum JCC 7 p.m – CSA Monday Night Classes
Courtesy Maddy Berkman 9:30–10:30 a.m. – SJCC Tot Shabbat Congregation Shevet Achim (at Northwest Yeshiva
Stroum JCC High School)
11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Tots Welcoming Shab- 10 a.m – Jewish Mommy and Me
bat West Seattle Torah Learning Center (at Hiawatha
Temple B’nai Torah Community Center)
for young people. The three girls addressed 8:30 p.m. – Talmud in Hebrew
a crowd of 400 of “the most amazing kids Saturdays Eastside Torah Center
we’ve ever [met]” while parents watched in 9–10:15.am. – Learner’s Minyan with Ron 11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Women-Only Torah
another part of the building. Scheenweiss Study Class
Maddy is a junior at Seattle Academy Congregation Beth Shalom (2nd Saturday of Chabad of the Central Cascades
of Arts and Sciences while Kelsey and month)
Sierra are students at Shorecrest High. 10 a.m. – Morning Youth Program Tuesdays
An active member of Temple Beth Am’s Congregation Ezra Bessaroth 11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Mommy and Me
youth group, Maddy is also in the bee club 10:30 a.m. – Adult Torah Study Program
at SAAS where there’s a hive on the roof. “I Temple B’nai Torah Chabad of the Central Cascades. Call for
spent my whole lunch on the roof smoking 5 p.m. – The Ramchal’s Derech Hashem, location.
the bees out to get the honey,” she told me Portal from the Ari to Modernity 12 p.m. – Torah for Women
the day we spoke. Congregation Beth Ha’Ari Beit Midrash Eastside Torah Center (at Starbucks Bellevue
PPD has raised over $300,000 to date. 6:30 p.m. – Avot Ubanim Galleria)
Its ongoing efforts include selling cards Seattle Kollel 7 p.m. – Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
and holding dances. “Anything the guild 9:45 a.m. – BCMH Youth Services Jewish Family Service
thinks of that we think will make money, Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath Sundays 7 p.m. – Teen Center
we will act on it.” 10:15 a.m. – Sunday Torah Study Stroum JCC
Visit their Web site at www. Congregation Beth Shalom 7–8 p.m. – Hebrew I (Alef Bet)
pinkpolkadotsguild.net.

Support JtNewS with your

hanukkah GREETInGS
ORdER HanukkaH GreetinGs are publisHed november 26!
2
Print all names as you want them to appear in the

TOday Greeting, like: “Bob and Lucy Goldberg” or “Mr. and

There’s no better way to greet family & friends for the holiday than with a personalized greeting in our
big November 26th Hanukkah issue. Complete this simple 1-2-3 form and mail it back to JTNews with Mrs. Goldberg” or “The whole Goldberg Family," etc.
deadline nov. 19th your payment today. Or call Becky to charge your greeting by phone: 206-774-2238.

1
Give us your
Make your selections by indicating the artwork you want, E-mail address for
the message you want and the size ad you want. a $5 discount
1 2 3 ( Same as last year)
Circle the size greeting you want.
E-mail
2” box
59 39
$ 3” box $


Name


Address
City/State/zip
 4” box $
150 Day Phone
4 5
$
76 8” box

$
 5” box

93 $
304
3 Total $
Please enclose your check for the full amount,
or use your VISA or MasterCard.
quarter page Card #
A Great Miracle Happened There Chag Sameach!
Happy Hanukkah!
$
114 Exp. /
6” box Signature
Hanukkah Greetings!
5% discount by november 16th
CLIP AND RETURN THIS AD ALONG WITH YOUR CHECK OR CREDIT CARD NUMBER TO: jTNEWS, 2041 THIRD AVENUE, SEATTLE, WA 98121 all greetings must be paid in full in advance!
Call Becky for assistance or to charge your greeting to VISA or MasterCard: 206-774-2238. Fax: 206-441-2736. Final GreetinG deadline 11/19/10
E-mail:beckym@jtnews.net
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community calendar 15
Congregation Beth Shalom.
7:30 p.m. – Weekly Round Table Kabbalah
Class
Eastside Torah Center (call for location)
8:15–9:30 p.m. – Living Judaism-The
Basics with Mary Potter
Congregation Beth Shalom
Wednesdays
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Talmud Berachot
Candle Lighting Times
11/12/10................................4:19 p.m.
11/19/10................................4:11 p.m.
11/26/10............................... 4:05 p.m.
12/3/10................................ 4:01 p.m.
Rachel Schachter at
Friday 12 November
events@shevetachim.com or
7–10 p.m. – Bet Alef Learning Institute
Diana Brement at info@seattlehadassah.org
Presents God, Gender, and Justice
Shellie Oakley at info@betalef.org or
206-527-9399 or betalef.org
Exploring the connection between spirituality,
politics and sexuality. Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue
welcomes you for thought-provoking, conscious
Andrea Sievert at info@chabadofseattle.org
raising presentations and dialogue. $85/Bet Alef
members; $95/non-members. At Queen Anne
events@shevetachim.com or
United Methodist Church, 1606 5th Ave. W, Seattle.
4:30–8 p.m. – Scholar-in–Residence Rabbi
Shalom Hammer
rmargolese@nyhs.net or 206-232-5272
events@shevetachim.com or
shevetachim.com/events.php
Congregation Shevet Achim welcomes, from Israel,
Rabbi Shalom Hammer. Topics: “Israel’s Future: A
Rabbi Yona Margolese at
Struggle for Survival”, “A Vision of Continuity – Israel in
the Aftermath of the War in Gaza.” Childcare available.
Lisa Odegard at 206-232-7115 or sjcc.org
Dinner reservations required. At Northwest Yeshiva
Toby Harris at tharris@tdhs-nw.org or
High School, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer Island.
Saturday 13 November
7–9:30 p.m. – Dance Through the Decades
Charlene Polyansky at charlene@tdhs-nw.org
or 206-315-7389 or www.tdhs-nw.org
Whether it’s the fox trot, hand jive or electric slide, this
Lisa Odegard at 206-232-7115 or sjcc.org
music is for you. Come to the first Dance Through the
Anna Vander Munnik at
Decades. Dance to the Craig Lawrence Band, with
Who is this man?
E-mail your reply to symphony@jtnews.net for a
chance to win one of ten pairs of tickets to attend
a performance of his 9th Symphony (hint) at Ben-
aroya Hall on either December 29, 30, or January
2. The world premiere on this concert is part of
the Gund/Simonyi Farewell Commissions, 18 new
works which honor Maestro Schwarz’s Farewell
Season as Music Director of Seattle Symphony.
Deadline to enter is November 30. TickETS for EacH
pErformaNcE arE limiTED, aND No SuBSTiTuTioNS will BE maDE.
Tullys Westlake Center
1:30 p.m. – Book Club at the Stroum JCC
Stroum JCC
7 p.m. – Beginning Israeli
Dancing for Adults with Rhona Feldman
Congregation Beth Shalom
7–8 p.m. – Beginning Modern Hebrew
Congregation Beth Shalom
7–8:30 p.m. – Modern Hebrew Literature
Congregation Beth Shalom (1st Wednesday)
appetizers by Matzoh Momma. Cost: “Choreographers”:
$90/person or $180/couple (includes 2 drink coupons
per person); “Dancers”: $50/person or $100/couple
(includes 1 drink coupon per person). At Temple De
Hirsch Sinai, 1441 16th Ave., Seattle.
the Jewish Federation’s community-wide phone-
9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi
Shalom Hammer
Come for a day of workshops with the women of Ethnic 2–4 p.m. – Hadassah Holiday Gift Boutique
shevetachim.com/events.php
Following the Shabbat service and sit-down kiddush,
join CSA for an informative address: “Trial and
Tribulation: Keeping the Faith.” Childcare available.
At Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave.
SE, Mercer Island.
7:30–9 p.m. – Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi
University St., Seattle.
Shalom Hammer
Join guest speaker Rabbi Shalom Hammer, who Monday
shevetachim.com/events.php
Rabbi Shalom Hammer will speak on “Armed and
Sacred: The Spiritual Role of an IDF Soldier.” At
Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave. SE,
Mercer Island.
Sunday 14 November
Island.
10 a.m.–12 p.m. – TDHS Judaic Library Open
House
Learn about NYHS and the unique education offered Learn how to make treats Monday and sides
206-315-7398 or www.tdhs-nw.org
Temple De Hirsch Sinai celebrates Jewish Book
Month with a library open house. Festivities will
feature a mini-book sale, historical book display, a
short reading for adults at 11:15, and light snack.
It is also Library Snapshot Day, sponsored by the
American Library Association, an opportunity to
showcase this Judaic library with many others
across the nation as part of an Association of Jewish
Vicki Robbins, ctc
Robbins Travel
at Lake City
Voted Best Travel Agent 2006
—JTNews readers
We are your experts for Israel—
our specialty!
UW special contract fares
El Al wholesaler
Multi-lingual
Great prices on Hawaii packages,
cruises, international tickets
and tours.
Your key to the world.
12316 Lake City Way NE • Seattle, WA 98125
Tel: (206) 526-5010 • (206) 364-0100
Toll free: 1-800-621-2662
robbins@lakecitytravel.com
7–9 p.m. – Teen Lounge for Middle Schoolers
NCSY (at Congregation BCMH)
7:30 p.m. – Parshas Hashavuah
Eastside Torah Center
8:15–9:15 p.m. – Resurrection, the Afterlife
& Reincarnation
Congregation Beth Shalom
Thursdays
10 –2 p.m. – JCC Seniors Group
Libraries group. At Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1441
16th Ave., Seattle.
4–6 p.m. – Ethnic Flavors of Israel: An
Evening of Workshops
rachels@jewishinseattle.org or 206-774-2236
or www.jewishinseattle.org/ethnicflavors
Flavors. Explore unique and exotic spice blends, learn
about the preparation and application of henna, and
more. Light snacks will be served. $10. At the Stroum
JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.
11 a.m.–1 p.m. – Israel: Struggle for Survival
A Vision of Continuity
or 206-527-1411 or www.chabadofseattle.org
15 November
serves as a motivational speaker for the IDF
Rabbinate and the author of several books. Free. At
Congregation Shaarei Tefilah Lubavitch, 6250 43rd
Ave. NE, Seattle.
7–8:30 p.m. – Open House for Prospective
Students and Parents
rmargolese@nyhs.net or 206-232-5272 or
www.nyhs.net
that blends exemplary college preparatory studies
with Judaic studies. NYHS is a full-time, dual-
curriculum, college preparatory Jewish high school.
Free. At NYHS, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer Island.
Sunday 14 November
9–5 p.m. – Super Sunday
annav@jewishinseattle.org or 206-443-5400
¸,_JLSSLU[\UHUPTV\ZPUZWPYP[OVTVNLULV\ZPU[VUL
^P[OÄULNP]LHUK[HRLIL[^LLUSLHKPUNHUKZ\WWVY[PUN¹
    :[YPUNZ4HNHaPUL
;P[SL:WVUZVY
;OL)VLPUN*VTWHU`
cal
Stroum JCC
6:50 p.m. – Introduction to Hebrew
Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation
7 p.m. – Junior Teen Center
NCSY (at the Stroum JCC)
8–10 p.m. – Teen Lounge for High Schoolers
Congregation BCMH
8–9:30 p.m. – Beth Shalom Beit Midrash
Congregation Beth Shalom (2nd Thursday of month)
or www.jewishinseattle.org/supersunday
Once a year — just for a day — hundreds of people
come together to build community and help repair
the world simply by making calls. It’s Super Sunday,
a-thon, and the impact is enormous. Free. At the
Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.
or 206-412-9132
Select local craftspeople and jewelers will show off
their wares. Presented by Tzafona Group of Hadassah
and the Summit at First Hill to benefit Hadassah
programs in Israel. At the Summit on First Hill, 1200
8–10 p.m. – Northwest Yeshiva High School
Open House
Northwest Yeshiva High School Open House for
Prospective Students and Families. RSVP for more
information. At NYHS, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer
7–9 p.m. – Thanksgiving Cooking Class
Tuesday for the upcoming holidays. Class includes
demonstration, recipes, and of course, food. $81. At
the Stroum JCC, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.
Tuesday 16 November
7–9 p.m. – Thanksgiving Cooking Class:
XXPage 20
:;905.
8<(9;,;
;\LZKH`
5V]LTILY74
4LHU`/HSS
VU[OL<>*HTW\Z
;PJRL[Z!
"Z[\KLU[Z

\^^VYSKZLYPLZVYN
16 a view from the u JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

Our sukkahs, our selves

Martin S. Jaffee JTNews Columnist
I don’t know about you. But
for me, the sukkah is a great
tutor of the meaning of life.
The lesson starts well before
the Festival of Booths, when I
anguish for most of Elul and
the first half of Tishrei: “How
will I get the plywood walls
from the garage to the deck?
Will I remember how to lay
the crossbeams so the roof
view
doesn’t descend upon our
heads in a shower of sgach? And as for the
sgach: Will I finally break down and order
bamboo mats and abandon the mess of
pine boughs and their ever-falling needles
and sap that turn the yontif soup into tur-
pentine?”
I dread thinking about the sukkah. It
weighs on my mind like the thousand iron
bars that fall upon the head of one so bold
as to seek a vision of the Living God on His
Celestial Throne!
But then, miraculously, it all comes
together and the sukkah “happens.” Every
year, one way or another, it gets built.
One year the visiting angels came in
the form of a crew of NCSYers, which
was like hiring the Marx Brothers or the
Three Stooges to star in a remake of Gone
With the Wind. But the sukkah survived
their ministrations to last through Shem-
ini Atzeret!
For the last three years Elijah reliably
showed up, in the form of our neighbors’
teenager, to manage the heavy lifting and
engineering. I hoped he’d show up again
this year, but, alas, this Elijah is now a
freshman at Wazzu.
This year’s redemption, it turns out,
came in the form of a Righteous Gen-
tile who appeared on my patio courtesy
of the Millionair Club. Two hours later
— and the day before Yom Kippur (!)
— our sukkah was up. My that left our sukkah ankle deep in water. ored Christmas lights now impressed with
wife (and personal electri- But — most of the time — just the the calling of a higher, yet more humble,
cal engineer) Charla did her opposite happens. Usually, despite the holiness — at those moments I feel like the
usual stellar job of figuring month of anticipatory anguish, I find world “works.”
out, in the tangle of wires myself sitting in repose, admiring the The sukkah has wrought its magic in
and bulbs, which plugs fit labors that went into the sukkah, and sigh- my life once again. And I am not “saved,”
into which sockets and, well ing in contentment: “This is the way it’s not “perfected,” and not “redeemed.” Just
before deadline, we were up supposed to be!” embraced by the warmth of the mitzvah —
and running. Simple! Unlike real life, the sukkah gives me wholly alive and in perfect peace.
Reminds me of that old a chance to be shocked by a world that is
joke about the battle for the actually better than I expect it to be. Not a
Martin S. Jaffee currently holds the Samuel &
Jewish Quarter of the Old City letdown at the end of years of hope, but a Althea Stroum Chair in Jewish Studies at the
in 1948. As the battle rages, a protective cloud of peace and calm in the University of Washington. His award-winning
little old Jew runs back and midst of the storm of life’s shipwreck. columns for JTNews have recently been
forth, waving his arms and shouting: “Yidn! At those moments in the sukkah, shel- published in book form as The End of Jewish
Don’t rely on miracles! Recite Psalms!” tered by a flimsy roof, surrounded by Radar: Snapshots of a Post-Ethnic American
And the miracle came. After a week of wobbly walls, bathed in the glow of col- Judaism by iUniverse press.
blustery weather, the first night of yontif,
you’ll remember, was balmy and clear.
Beautiful sukkah weather! After our guests
left, I sat alone in our cheerful little hut,
sipping a scotch with a nice piece of mezo-
nos (Charla’s killer chocolate-fig cake —
try it!), swelling with pleasure and pride in
a task well done.
And then the lesson of the sukkah
dawned on me.
Most of life is lived in anticipation of
how things will be, at some suitably far-off
moment, just as we always wished them to
be. But how often does that happen? More
often than not, the things we wait a lifetime
for fail to happen. Or they happen in a way
that makes us regret getting our wish. Or
what happens makes us abandon all hope.
The sukkah is different. Every year I
anticipate catastrophe befalling us in the
sukkah: It won’t get built; it will get built Courtesy JDS
and fall over; a guest will observe some Jacob, a student at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, fills bags with oats to deliver
flaw in my sgach and depart in a huff. Or to the Jewish Family Service food bank at the JDS activity station during the Global Day of Jewish
the inscrutable Will of God will intervene: Learning. The multi-agency event, which took place at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on
I remember two years ago arranging the Mercer Island, was one of two local events that accompanied the hundreds around the world in
sukkah for the first night and setting the celebration of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s completion of his 50-year Talmud translation project.
table just so — just in time for a downpour

Brian J. Calvo Russ Katz, Realtor

Mortgage Banker/Broker Windermere Real Estate/Wall St. Inc.
206-284-7327 (Direct)
www.russellkatz.com

Member
FDIC®
10230 NE Points Dr., Suite 530 Kirkland, WA 98033
Direct 425.893.5729 Cell 206.769.4432 JDS Grad & Past Board of Trustees Member
brian.calvo@sterlingsavings.com Mercer Island High School Grad
University of Washington Grad

Full service real estate

Ken Shiovitz 206-718-2140
Associate Broker Mary Frimer
E-mail: ken@shiovitz.com Residential Specialist
206-391-6161
Serving the community for over 25 years maryfrimer@johnlscott.com
11040 Main Street, #200
Bellevue, WA 98004

206-526-5544 Fluent in Spanish

http://home.sprynet.com/~shiovitz
First class service — First class results
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews the synagogue chronicles 17
The Synagogue Chronicles: Tacoma temple welcomes
new cantor to de facto community center
Eric Nusbaum Assistant Editor, JTNews
At Temple Beth El, this is an era for
simultaneously recognizing old traditions
and welcoming in new ones. The Tacoma
congregation celebrated its 50th anniver-
sary in 2009. Then, earlier this summer,
it hired its first full-time cantor/religious
education director.
Cantor Leah Holland will be officially
installed in a service on Friday, Nov. 12.
But she already feels right at home.
“I am still quite the newby, but I am
really loving the community,” Holland
said. “I am really enjoying the opportuni-
ties to work with the community in terms
of the cantorial stuff, in terms of educa-
tion, and in terms of family program-
ming.”
Holland is excited about her dual roles
at Temple Beth El. She is taking a mea-
sured approach to both of her duties —
one that celebrates change but not at the
expense of the synagogue’s customs.
“You don’t want to come in as a cantor
and rock the boat so much,” she said. “You
want to preserve the musical traditions
and heritage of the congregation you’re
working with, but you also want to expand
their repertoire.”
Temple Beth El is a perfect place for
that balance. With half a century serving
Pierce County, and as the only Reform
synagogue in the area (there is also a
Chabad synagogue), Temple Beth El offers
more for its members than worship. Kate
Haas, the president of Temple Beth El’s
board of directors, has been a part of the
congregation for 47 years. She is a witness
to the way Temple Beth El has maintained
its identity, but expanded its reach into the
community.
“It used to be a place of worship and
a place to send your kids to religious
school,” Haas said. “But now it has broad-
ened itself programmatically. It has started
being a mini Jewish community center.”
The foundation of that community is
volunteers, says Rabbi Bruce Kadden. At
last week’s Shabbat service, nearly 100 vol-
unteers were honored for their contribu-
MeRceR ISLAnD HoMe
WItH eASy 2nD KItcHen optIon!
$879,000
Western tree-top views.
Architect-designed 5 BR/3.5 BA.
Big, bright & flexible.
Downstairs apartment w/sep. ent.
MLS# 127715
Diane Rae Jones
Windermere, 206-406-5232
See it at
www.windermere.com/tid299433
Leah Holland, Temple Beth El’s new cantor and education director, who will be installed into her
position on Nov. 12.
tions to the Beth El community — and that
wasn’t even everybody. Considering the
overall membership at Beth El, Kadden is
thrilled by the extent to which members
participate, especially considering that
in the recent economy, membership has
dwindled slightly.
“Right now we have 280 families,”
Kadden said. “It’s a nice size for the size
of the city. We had slow growth over
a number of years, then because of the
recession are down a few households. We
look to return to the slow growth over the
next few years.”
One way Temple Beth El hopes to
combat the impact of the recession, which
can especially hit young families with all
the expenses associated with raising chil-
dren, is to boost family and youth pro-
gramming.
For instance, with the help of a local
donor, the congregation has just intro-
Courtesy Temple Beth El
duced the PJ Library program, which lends
Jewish books and music on a monthly
basis to children up to 8 years old. The
program is not limited to members.
“It reaches out to people in the com-
munity,” Kadden said. “We’re pretty
pleased; we’ve only been doing it for about
a month or two, and it seems to be devel-
oping really nicely.”
Not that Temple Beth El’s primary
concern is membership. The leadership is
content with the size of the community,
as it is large enough to breed a dynamic,
multi-faceted programming, but small
enough to still feel welcoming.
“There’s something about the close-
ness of a smaller congregation where they
really know each other and they know
what they’re looking for and they’re just
welcoming,” said Holland, herself a new
member of the community.
Beth El is also welcoming to fellow
Dennis B. Goldstein
& Associates
Certified Public Accountants
Personalized Consulting & Planning
for Individuals & Small Business
12715 Bel-Red Road • Suite 120 • Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425-455-0430 • Fax: 425-455-0459
dennis@dbgoldsteincpa.com
If
you
go:
Cantor Leah Holland will be
installed on Fri., Nov. 12 at 7:30
p.m. at Temple Beth El, 5975 S
12th St., Tacoma. Rabbi Steven
Stark Lowenstein of Congrega-
tion Am Shalom in Glencoe, Ill. will
speak and install Cantor Holland.
Pierce County institutions. The temple
has members associated with nearby Joint
Base Lewis-McChord. It is also heavily
involved in interfaith activities through-
out Tacoma. Beth El cosponsors a food
bank and occasional blood drives with St.
Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located right
down the street, and is an interfaith part-
ner of the ecumenical group Associated
Ministries. The synagogue has also spon-
sored interfaith builds through Habitat for
Humanity and co-sponsored an interfaith
youth camp.
Within the Jewish community, Beth
El is in a unique place. Tacoma is a dis-
tinct region, and it comes without the
broad surrounding Jewish infrastructure
of Seattle. The synagogue is not affiliated
officially with the Jewish Federation, but
both Rabbi Kadden and Cantor Holland
are involved with certain groups and pro-
grams. Last year Beth El participated in a
Jewish Family Service of Greater Seattle
program that reached out to Jewish fami-
lies in Pierce County to provide Hanukkah
gifts for needy children.
Overall, however, Temple Beth El is
its own community with its own tradi-
tions separate from Seattle. And with Hol-
land around as a full-time cantor/religious
education director, new programs such
as the PJ Library underway, and a sturdy,
enthusiastic volunteer base, the congre-
gation appears poised for another strong
half-century.
Tax Preparation
 professional directory
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.
Hyatt Home Care Services
Live-in and Hourly Care
☎☎ 206-851-5277
 www.hyatthomecare.com
Providing adults with personal care,
medication reminders, meal preparation,
errands, household chores, pet care
and companionship.
Seniors Helping Seniors
Home Care Agency
☎☎ 206-971-6616
 www.seniorshelpingseniors.com
A senior helping another senior. We offer
all the services you need to remain in your
own home: transportation, errands and
doctor appointments, companion and per-
sonal care, homemaker services, pet care
and more. A way to give and receive.
Catering
Leah’s Catering, Inc.
Seattle’s Premier Kosher Caterer
☎☎ 206-985-2647
✉☎ leah@leahscatering.com
Full Service • Glatt Kosher
Delivery or Pickup • All your catering
needs. • Va’ad supervised.
Madison Park Cafe
Simmering in Seattle for over 30 years
☎☎ 206-324-2626
Full service catering for all your Jewish
life passages: Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Weddings
• Brit Milah • Special Occasions.
Karen Binder
Matzoh Momma Catering
Catering with a personal touch
☎☎ 206-324-mAmA
Serving the community for over 25 years.
Full service catering and event planning
for all your Life Cycle events.
miriam and Pip meyerson
Certified public
accountants
Dennis B. Goldstein & Assoc., CPAs, PS
Tax Preparation & Consulting
☎☎ 425-455-0430
F 425-455-0459
✉☎ dennis@dbgoldsteincpa.com
Newman Dierst Hales, PLLC
Nolan A. Newman, CPA
☎☎ 206-284-1383
✉☎ nnewman@ndhaccountants.com
 www.ndhaccountants.com
Tax • Accounting • Healthcare Consulting
to jewish washington
College placement Dentists
College Placement Consultants Toni Calvo Waldbaum, DDS
☎☎ 425-453-1730 Richard Calvo, DDS
✉☎ preiter@qwest.net ☎☎ 206-246-1424
 www.collegeplacementconsultants.com Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
Pauline B. Reiter, Ph.D. Designing beautiful smiles
Expert help with undergraduate and 207 SW 156th St., #4, Seattle
graduate school college selection,
applications and essays. Warren J. Libman, D.D.S., M.S.D.
40 Lake Bellevue, #100, Bellevue 98005 ☎☎ 425-453-1308
 www.libmandds.com
Linda Jacobs & Associates Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics:
College Placement Services • Restorative • Reconstructive
☎☎ 206-323-8902 • Cosmetic Dentistry
✉☎ linjacobs@aol.com 14595 Bel Red Rd. #100, Bellevue
Successfully matching student and
school. Seattle. Arnold S. Reich, D.M.D.
☎☎ 425-228-6444
 www.drareich.com
thouSanDS oF Just off 405 in N. Renton • Gentle Care
• Family • Preventive • Cosmetic Dentistry
reaDerS
Martin A. Rabin, D.M.D., P.S.
in print
☎☎ Kirkland: 425-821-9595
☎☎ Seattle: 206-623-4031
anD online
 www.rabinimplantperio.com
= Specializing in Periodontics.
Dental Implants • Cosmetic Gum Surgery
thousands of Oral Conscious Sedation
prospective clients Michael Spektor, D.D.S.
☎☎ 425-643-3746
✉☎ info@spektordental.com
Counselors/therapists  www.spektordental.com
Specializing in periodontics, dental
Jewish Family Service implants, and cosmetic gum therapy.
Individual, couple, child and family therapy Bellevue
☎☎ 206-861-3195
 www.jfsseattle.org Wendy Shultz Spektor, D.D.S.
Expertise with life transitions, relationships ☎☎ 425-454-1322
and personal challenges. Jewish knowledge ✉☎ info@spektordental.com
and sensitivity. Offices in Seattle and  www.spektordental.com
Bellevue. Day and evening hours. Emphasis: Cosmetic and Preventive
Subsidized fee scale available. Dentistry • Convenient location in Bellevue
Frances M. Pomerantz, MS Financial Services
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
☎☎ 425-451-1655 Hamrick Investment Counsel, LLC
✉☎ fpomerantz@earthlink.net Roy A. Hamrick, CFA
Specializing in couples and individuals. ☎☎ 206-441-9911
Facilitating better communication, more ✉☎ rahamrick@hamrickinvestment.com
satisfying relationships, increased self-  www.hamrickinvestment.com
awareness and personal growth. Day & Professional portfolio management
early eve hours available. services for individuals, foundations and
1621 114th Ave. SE, #224, Bellevue 98004 nonprofit organizations.
Mindy Blaski announces retirement
Following 30 years of practicing family medicine in the greater Seattle area, Mindy Blaski MD,
announces her retirement at the end of November from Lakeview Family Medicine to pursue other
interests including spending more time with family as well as working with Physicians for a National Health
Program (www.PNHPWesternWashington.org) to improve our very troubled health care system.
“It has truly been a privelege to provide for the needs of my patients in Seattle for the past 30 years and
I feel honored by all who placed their trust in me as their family doctor”.
The Polyclinic, with offices in the same building as Lakeview Family Medicine, will be acquiring
patient records after November. They can be reached at 206-525-4000.
11/12
2010
Financial Services (cont.) insurance
Mass Mutual Financial Group Abolofia Insurance Agency
Albert Israel, CFP Bob Abolofia, Agent
☎☎ 206-346-3327 ☎☎ 425-641-7682
✉☎ aisrael@finsvcs.com F 425-988-0280
Jamison Russ ✉☎ babolofia@yahoo.com
☎☎ 206-346-3266 Independent agent representing
✉☎ jruss@finsvcs.com Pemco since 1979
Retirement planning for those nearing
retirement • Estate planning for those Eastside Insurance Services
subject to estate taxes • General investment Chuck Rubin, agent
management • Life, disability, long-term ☎☎ 425-271-3101
care & health insurance • Complimentary F 425-277-3711
one hour sessions available 4508 NE 4th, #B, Renton
Tom Brody, agent
Solomon M. Karmel, Ph.D ☎☎ 425-646-3932
First Allied Securities F 425-646-8750
☎☎ 425-454-2285 x 1080 2227 112th Ave. NE, Bellevue
 www.hedgingstrategist.com We represent Pemco, Safeco, Hartford &
Retirement, stocks, bonds, college, Progressive
annuities, business 401Ks.  www.e-z-insurance.com
Mohelim
ConneCtinG
proFeSSionalS Rabbi Simon Benzaquen
with our ☎☎ 206-721-2275 • 206-723-3028
jewiSh CoMMunity
Fastest Mohel in the West
Certified mohel
Funeral/Burial Services photographers
Congregation Beth Shalom Cemetery Dani Weiss Photography
☎☎ 206-524-0075 ☎☎ 206-760-3336
✉☎ info@bethshalomseattle.org  www.daniweissphotography.com
This beautiful new cemetery is available Photographer Specializing in People.
to the Jewish community and is located Bar/Bat mitzvahs, parties, promotions &
just north of Seattle. weddings. Reasonable rates
Digital or film
Hills of Eternity Cemetery
Owned and operated by Temple De Hirsch Sinai physician
☎☎ 206-323-8486
Serving the greater Seattle Jewish com- Vision Improvement Center of Seattle, PS
munity. Jewish cemetery open to all pre- Joseph N. Trachtman, O.D., Ph.D.
need and at-need services. Affordable ☎☎ 206-412-5985
rates • Planning assistance. ✉☎ tracht@accommotrac.com
Queen Anne, Seattle 108 5th Avevue S, Suite C-1
Seattle, WA 98104
Graphic Design Serving the Central District.
Vision improvement and rehabilitation.
Spear Studios, Graphic Design
Sandra Spear Senior Services
☎☎ 206-898-4685
✉☎ sspear@spearstudios.com Jewish Family Service
• Newsletters • Brochures • Logos ☎☎ 206-461-3240
• Letterheads • Custom invitations  www.jfsseattle.org
• Photo Editing for Genealogy Projects 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 Hill
☎☎ 206-652-4444

www.klinegallandcenter.org
The only Jewish retirement community in
the state of Washington offers transition
assessment and planning for individuals
looking to downsize or be part of an active
community of peers. multi-disciplinary
Mindy L. Blaski MD professionals with depth of experience
available for consultation.
Lakeview Family Medicine
3216 NE 45th Pl, Ste 106
Seattle, WA 98105
Tel: 206-526-0210
 the
november 12, 2010
shouk @jtnews
appliance sales cleaning services funeral/burial services training & instruction

Wiseman’s
appliance
GE • AmAnA • ASKO • Sub-zErO • friGidAirE
mAytAG • dAcOr • ElEctrOlux • wOlf
thErmAdOr • KitchEnAid • bOSch • viKinG
Since 1960, Wiseman’s Appliance
still gives personal attention and
friendly service
• Prompt & Reliable Service
• Great Selection
• Competitive Pricing
• Professional Appliance Installation
2619 California Ave. SW, Seattle
206-937-7400
catering
Gift
Certificate
complete funeral/burial services
Serving the needs of the greater Seattle community
Available! Planning assistance • Affordable $2295.00
Howden-Kennedy funeral Home
Dennis 206-799-3334 • Jack Barokas 206-725-0364
a housecleaning service
Seattle Eastside cemetery gan shalom
206/325-8902 425/454-1512 A Jewish cemetery that meets the needs of
the greater Seattle Jewish community. HorsebaCk riding
www.renta-yenta.com Zero interest payments available.
Classical Training
• Licensed • Bonded • insured For information, call temple Beth am at Rider, Horse & Pony
206-525-0915.
Ages 8 to 80 • Beginners welcome
domestiC angels Traditional Jewish funeral services provided by the
Experienced trainer • Gift certificates available
Clean your house and office Seattle Jewish Chapel. For further information, please Colony Park Stables, Bothell, WA
Reasonable rates • Licensed/Bonded call 206-725-3067.
Rita Kapetansky • 425-232-7565
Responsible • References • Free estimate ritakap@comcast.net
Seattle/Eastside Burial plots are available for purchase at Bikur Cholim
and Machzikay Hadath cemeteries. For further
Call Yolimar Perez or Maria Absalon information, please call 206-721-0970.
206-356-2245 or 206-391-9792 tutoring
ylmrprz@aol.com

announcements Hebrew instruCtion

raCHel's home services Beginners to advanced
sepHardiC deliCaCies
Bar/B’nai Mitzvahs
meDIterranean cUIsIne
get reaDy For the seeking writers Children & adults welcome
Phone for price list and orders
Poems (3 max) and/or essays and Israeli instructor fluent in Hebrew
425-793-1945 holiDays! fiction (under 5,000 words) on 206-232-2193 or
ralmeleh2@q.com
www.sephardicdelicacies.com
handyman & home maintenance Northwest and Jewish themes from 425-443-0766
repair services established and emerging writers for esterne12@yahoo.com
Reliable, affordable, Spring 2011 issue of Drash. Include
college placement with over 30 years in business separate page with contact info and senior services
short bio.
Small jobs welcome as well as remodels,
a college eDUcatIon additions, handicap accessibility and Deadline: December 15, 2010 aFh options
provides Free Placement assistance in
seismic retrofits submit by snailmail only to:
Is a maJor Wendy Marcus, Music Director
adult family homes when the current residence
of a loved one is no longer the safest option.
InVestment Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Temple Beth Am • Complimentary nursing assessments
Sensitive professional lba haugen homes, inc. 2632 NE 80th St., Seattle 98115 • Placements based on care needs, location & cost
assistance to ensure LBAHAH1945pw
a succesful match 206-525-0915 • Comprehensive screening of care facilities
between student
and school 425-603-1492 www.templebetham.org • Personalized tours available 7 days a week
• Follow up calls and visits
Serving families of King and Snohomish counties
linda Jacobs & associates
Call us: 206-786-9124
college Placement services WE NEED CARS! or visit us at: www.aFhoptions.com
• Free Pick-up • No DOL filing
206/323-8902
linjacobs@aol.com • No smog certif. • Running or not house for sale
Commercial & Residential Donate your used car to Chabad &
toRChdown/shingle speCialties receive a tremendous tax write-off. 8 Bd/2.75 Ba near UW • $599K
entertainment new • re-roofs
leaks • repairs 24 hours • Any vehicle okay Spacious, light-filled, corner lot.
lic. #roofM**961pD
• Plus RVs, boats, real estate, lots, etc. Call 206-781-1225
michael 206-510-0490 206-527-1411 for showing
www.roofMex.coM or visit
bilavsky www.infinitired.com/
musician & singer bryant_home.html
One man band On a cupcake budget?
x
Keyboard piano The Baker’s Box ad offers smallnext issue:
businesses, cottage T he Baker’s Bo 12 Just Right.
november
industries, and individuals a way to get the word out without house for rent
Plays & sings all types of music
for any simcha breaking the budget. ad deadline: november 3 inches wide
2-1/4
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • All your special events You choose. Run your Baker’s Box in the body x 2 inches deep
Call beCky: 206-774-2238
of the paper or the Classified section.
Birch Bay on the Beach
I do it all! From klezmer, Hassidic, Israeli to
swing & rock & roll.
Plus one for Free. Sold in 12-packs. Run Very desirable, just remodeled house.
a consecutive dozen of these smart, sensible boxes and 2 bd/1.75 ba, partially furnished, all
Customize the music to your taste.
we’ll give you one more for free. Half a Loaf. Not appliances, covered deck, garage.
For more info, call ready for the whole dozen? Try six in a row and we’ll treat $850/mo. 1st/last deposit.
206-528-4722 you to the 12-time rate. Call for more information:
N/S, no pets. Available Dec. 1.
or michael_bilavsky@yahoo.com 206-441-4553 Call 206-713-2802
20 the arts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010
Carol Benedick at carolbenedick@
November 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Michael Fischman
Reading
Michael Fischman, the son of a Holocaust
survivor, was born into an Orthodox
Jewish home. In his spiritual memoir
Stumbling into Infinity: An Ordinary Man
in the Sphere of Enlightenment, Fischman
retraces his own sometimes journey to-
Irit Eliav at iriteliav@bethshalomseattle.org contact the above e-mail address. At Congregation Beth
ward a better life. Free. At the Elliott Bay
Book Company, 1521 Tenth Ave., Seattle.
Gabrielle Azose at admissions@seattlejcs.org
November 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Nora Ephron
Reading
Acclaimed writer and director Nora
Ephron — of Sleepless in Seattle fame,
Diana Black at sbholim@qwestoffice.net or
among other stories — reads from her
new book, I Remember Nothing: and
Other Reflections, a collection of per-
Jack DeLeon at jackdelman@hotmail.com Varon. At the Seattle Sheraton, 1400 6th Ave., Seattle.
sonal essays on the nature of woman-
hood. $15/$30 Patron. At Town Hall
Seattle, 1189 8th Ave., Seattle.
Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors!
My Viewpointe
Karenlee We found our luxury 1200 sq ft
2 bedroom/2 bath suite at
The Viewpointe on Queen Anne
Prices range from
$3,200–$4,500/month
The Viewpointe offers boutique hotel
lifestyle with the convenience and
amenities of Seattle’s urban energy.
Month-to-month rental—No buy-in.
Retire from Work, No long term contract.
not from Life.
Call and ask about our hassle-free
move-in package and TV promotion.
Hurry offer end soon.
2450 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, Wa 98109
206.282.5777
You’ll never retire from life at the Viewpointe. Join us.
• 24 hour Staff • Activity & Health Programs • Fine Dining
• Housekeeping & Transportation • Library & Multi-media Center • and much more
www.theviewpointe.com
WWcommunity calendar Page 15 10 a.m.–3 p.m. – North End Blood Drive
Learn how to make treats Monday and sides Tuesday for bethshalomseattle.org or 206-524-0075 or
the upcoming holidays. Class includes demonstration, www.bethshalomseattle.org
recipes, and of course, food. $81. At the Stroum JCC, The Puget Sound Blood Center will park their Blood
3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island. Mobile in front of the North End Public Library across from
Congregation Beth Shalom. To make an appointment,
Saturday 20 November e-mail CBSblooddrive@gmail.com. Volunteers needed
6:30–8:30 p.m. – Pajama Havdallah Under to hand out refreshments to blood donors. Volunteers
the Sea needed for shifts of 1/2 hour to two hours — please
or 206-524-0075 or Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle.
www.bethshalomseattle.org 2–3:30 p.m. – Seattle Jewish Community
Come in your pajamas for a special Havdallah service, School Open House
followed by a special dive into the world of marine
life. Learn more about what makes different marine or 206-522-5212, ext. 202 or www.sjcs.net
animals kosher and see how different creatures of the Meet SJCS faculty and learn about their K-5 program
sea are relevant to Jewish life. There will be arts and of general and Judaic studies, admission, and tuition
crafts, story time, snacks, and much more. Please assistance. Free childcare available, but reservation
RSVP. Free. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 is required. At SJCS, 12351 8th Ave. NE, Seattle.
35th Ave. NE, Seattle. 5–9 p.m. – Dinner Honoring Hazzan Rabbi
Frank Varon
Sunday 21 November
9 a.m.–12 p.m. – Hanukkah Kids’ Carnival 206-723-3028
and Family Breakfast Testimonial dinner in honor of Hazzan Rabbi Frank
www
or 206-251-0210
Scrumptious breakfast featuring bumuelos, face
painting, juggling, cookie decorating, bouncy house
and more! Featuring one-man band Michael Bilavsky.
$20/family or $7/person. At Northwest Yeshiva High
School, 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer Island. www.jtnews.net
Create a Lifestyle
That’s Just Right for You.
Happy
Hanukkah!
Guaranteed!
Retirement living at Merrill Gardens is full of opportunities
for self expression including Anytime Dining,SM activities,
classes, trips and more. We are so sure you’ll find living here
inspiring that we back it up with a 60-day guarantee.*
(800) 889-5510
www.merrillgardens.com
*Call your local Merrill Gardens
A one of a kind retirement community community for details.
Retirement & Assisted Living
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews community news 21
Fighting eating disorders within the Jewish community
Lillian Cohen-Moore JTNews Intern
While much of the nation closely fol-
lows worries about obesity, conversation
has begun within the Jewish community
about the opposite problem. Last year
Renfrew, a well-respected eating disorder
treatment facility on the East Coast, added
a therapeutic track geared toward Ortho-
dox Jewish women, the first of its kind. In
2010, 13 percent of Renfrew’s patients in
Philadelphia and Florida programs were
Jewish women, up from 5 percent three
years ago.
With programs like the Orthodox
Union’s Hungry to be Heard, or Dr. Cath-
erine Steiner-Adair’s curriculum Bishvilli,
a supplement to a prevention program
that addresses self-esteem and eating
disorders in the Jewish community, the
general silence often felt around such dis-
orders is slowly being replaced with recog-
nition and prevention.
Requests from the local community
served as a basis for Marjorie Schnyder,
director of Family Life Education at Jewish
Family Service, to offer “Choices, Changes
and Challenges,” an ongoing series of
workshops that runs until December. Co-
sponsored by Congregation Beth Shalom,
the series gives parents tools to support
their child’s healthy development in areas
of self-esteem, body image, and healthy
eating. Topics such as self-esteem and pos-
itive body image are interwoven through-
out many JFS programs, Schnyder said.
However, the agency will refer the not-
uncommon requests for direct assistance
to medical professionals.
“Since these disorders can be life
threatening, services should only be pro-
vided by specialists,” Schnyder said.
Clinicians Dr. Alexia Giblin and
Tawney Jones of Seattle both specialize
in eating disorder treatment. They agree
that eating disorders require expert care;
patients can experience health distur-
bances long before losing enough weight
to qualify medically for a disorder. Signs
can include electrolyte imbalances, tooth
decay and loss of menses, among other
issues.
The patient’s weight differentiates diag-
nosis of the two best-known eating disor-
ders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, Giblin
explained. Anorexia nervosa patients fall
below the 85th percentile for body weight
for age and height, while bulimia patients
will often exhibit normal weights.
Jones detailed the criteria for diagnos-
ing anorexia as “a refusal to maintain a
healthy body weight, fear of weight gain, a
lack of recognition of low body weight or
skewed body image, and often a cessation
of menstrual periods,” she said. “Bulimia
is diagnosed when there is recurrent binge
eating and some type of compensation for
the binge.”
That compensation can include laxa-
tive abuse, purging, or periods of fasting.
In addition, Jones added, “the binging
must occur at least twice weekly for three
months, and the person’s self-worth must
be highly influenced by their perception of
their body.”
Oftentimes, patients don’t meet the
diagnostic list for other eating disorders,
but still exhibit emotional distress or
unhealthy relationships with food. They
too can often benefit from therapeutic
treatment.
These patients, however, are not always
the best judges of when they should be
treated.
“I have patients who say that that they
don’t belong in treatment because they
don’t ‘look sick,’” Giblin said. “Most of
my patients look just like a normal person
who isn’t suffering from an eating disor-
der, someone you’d walk by on the street.
Body size is not always a helpful gauge.”
Jones said higher care options such
as inpatient treatment are limited in the
Seattle area, marking Seattle as an under-
served community. Three inpatient care
programs currently exist in Seattle, one
of which is exclusively devoted to ado-
lescent treatment, meaning patients must
often travel outside their communities to
receive the care they need.
Harriet Brown, author of the book
Brave Girl Eating, a memoir about her
own family’s fight with eating disorders,
is familiar with the search for adequate
treatment.
When her daughter Kitty was diag-
nosed with anorexia, Brown, a Jewish
writer from New Jersey, tried a method
known as Maudsley Family Therapy, or
FBT, an outpatient model where treat-
ment is handled primarily in the home
with oversight provided by a trained ther-
apeutic professional. Success, Brown
said, was fleeting. This is not uncommon,
as many eating disorder patients will a
relapse before they fully recover.
Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors!
Life begins
at the top!
“The first time we worked with a pedi-
atrician and therapist, and we all educated
ourselves together to pull a collaborative
effort together,” Brown said. “The second
time around we worked with an FBT ther-
apist and it didn’t work well.”
They eventually found an outpatient
program that served their needs. Still,
Brown saw firsthand how the Jewish com-
munity could be silent about confronting
eating disorders.
“I had a cousin who ruptured her
esophagus from bulimia,” she said. “Her
mother to this day denies it was an eating
disorder.”
Shani Raviv, a program assistant at the
Seattle-based National Eating Disorders
Association, recently released a book titled
being ana. The book tells Raviv’s story of
how, as a Jewish teen in South Africa, she Courtesy Shani Raviv
developed anorexia. Like Brown, she sees Shani Raviv, whose new book, being ana, is
the potential for the Jewish community to about her history of eating disorders.
speak more about eating disorders. She
also approaches the difficulties anorexics
may have with religious practice — such Raviv said. “She put me on a very strict
as with holidays like Yom Kippur. meal plan, and I followed that for about
“I used to fast…but I don’t anymore,” six months to year, till I felt comfortable
she said. “Having this in my history, it’s eating on my own, deciding what I felt
not something I want to mess with. It’s like.”
easy for me not to eat for a day.” Dedication to a meal plan is an impor-
Raviv thinks solutions could come tant aspect of treatment, said Barbara Ski-
from the Jewish community. bell, a dietician who specializes in eating
“I think maybe the Jewish community disorders.
could address eating disorders from a spir- “The preferred method right now is to
itual perspective, because I really do think normalize eating,” Skibell said. “From a
it’s spiritually related,” she said. diet point of view, you focus on a balanced
Raviv’s disorder developed before diet. Balanced food includes everything
she left home to join the Israeli Defense someone would eat.”
Forces. When she returned to South Raviv dedicated herself to her recovery
Africa, she was able to find treatment on for five years, and documented it during
her own, but it was a difficult and long- much of the process. That journal became
term regimen.
“I did a lot of work with a dietician,” XXPage 23
Enjoy the view at
The Summit
n
n
n
The one and only Jewish retirement community in Washington State
Financial simplicity of rental-only; no down-payments, no “buy-in’s”
Concierge services and 24 hour building security
n On-site highly trained, multi-professional staff
n Unparalleled location near shopping, health care and other essentials
n Priority access to nationally renowned rehabilitation, Hospice and
long term care at the Caroline Kline Galland Home
n Delicious gourmet Kosher cuisine
n Culture at your doorstep: minutes to all venues
n Desirable variety of daily in-house enrichment programs
n Attention to every detail of your home environment
n An inclusive, welcoming community
n Choices for floor plans and personalized services
Enjoy a complimentary meal & tour n Inquiries: Trudi Arshon 206-652-4444
The SummiT aT FirST hill
1200 university Street, Seattle, Wa 98101 n 206-652-4444
Retirement Living Re-visioned
22 obituary JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

Obituary
Longtime community activist was devoted to the rights of
women and the Jewish community
Merrily McManus Laytner:
August 27, 1942–October 24, 2010
Merrily McManus Laytner was born in
Seattle on August 27, 1942 and, although
born to Jewish parents, did not know she
was Jewish until she was 9 years old. In the
4th grade, her teacher told his class how he
was a refugee from Europe and of the great
suffering he had endured. When Merrily
related this to her mother, she was told that,
like the teacher, she too was Jewish. That
encounter with her teacher — the late and
beloved Cantor Joseph Frankel of Herzl-
Ner Tamid — sparked a lifelong involve-
ment with the Jewish community, starting
with the youth choir of Temple de Hirsch.
After getting an MFA from the Otis Art
Institute, Merrily returned to Seattle and
started a family with her then-husband,
Sam Cordova. She became active in the
Jewish community, teaching art classes for
seniors at the Jewish Community Center
while her children were in daycare there.
Still later, she entered the Jewish Feder-
ation of Greater Seattle’s Young Lead-
ership program and, following Michael
Schuffler’s lead, she became active in the
Jewish Federation’s former Community
Relations Council, during which time she
served as chair, co-founded a statewide
organization (the now-defunct Washing-
ton Association of Jewish Communities)
and helped design and implement annual
statewide political action/Jewish cultural
conferences. For these accomplishments,
she was awarded the Spitzer Family Young
Leadership Award.
Moving from lay leader to professional
in 1984, Merrily was hired as the Jewish
Federation’s first Women’s Division direc-
tor. During the next five years, she brought
a new intensity to that program, adding a
serious dose of feminism to its work. Con-
tributions increased by 70 percent in three
years and in 1987 the program was recog-
nized for having achieved the largest Wom-
en’s Division increase in North America.
In 1989 Merrily was promoted to the
position of campaign director, and led
the Federation’s overall fundraising activ-
ities during a particularly exciting time
when the Jewish community was absorb-
ing Soviet Jewish immigrants and orga-
nizing the exodus of Ethiopian Jewry. In
1993, her development team brought in
$5 million for the annual campaign and an
additional $6.4 million for the second-line
Operation Exodus campaign.
Her proudest accomplishment during
this period, however, was to co-found with
the late Shirley Bridge, Michele Rosen,
Janet Gray, Karen Mayers Gamoran, the
late Babs Fisher, Lucy Pruzan and others
the Women’s Endowment Foundation, a
supporting foundation that provided the
seed money and for many years sustained
Jewish Family Service’s Project DVORA
as well as other programs benefiting
women and children. For all this work, she
was awarded the Shirley Bridge Power of
One Award by the Women’s Endowment
Foundation in 2000.
In 1993, Merrily left the Federation
to become vice president of the Wood-
land Park Zoological Society, running
the zoo’s external relations. For six years
she worked to design and implement the
first phase of a $125 million comprehen-
sive private/public campaign to address
the current and future capital and pro-
grammatic needs of Woodland Park Zoo.
During that time, many new exhibits were
funded and built, and zoo membership
grew by 33 percent.
In 1999, just before her first bout with
ovarian cancer, Merrily formed her own
development consulting firm and counted
among her clients the Cascade Land Con-
servancy, Museum of History and Indus-
try, Woodland Park Zoological Society,
Seattle Girl’s School, Artist Trust, Multi-
faith Works, and the International Snow
Leopard Trust.
But Merrily’s heart was never far from
the Jewish community and she remained
active both as a volunteer and a profes-
sional fundraiser. Merrily provided the
expertise and passion for campaigns
resulting in expanded programs and beau-
tiful new spaces for Hillel Foundation at
the University of Washington, the Union
of Reform Judaism’s Camp Kalsman, and
the soon-to-be-constructed Jewish Family
Service of Seattle. She also drafted a strate-
gic plan for the Stroum JCC’s Early Child-
hood Development Center. Throughout
her Jewish communal career, Mer-
rily mentored and inspired hundreds of
women professionals, volunteers and lay
leaders.
XXPage 23

Hyatt
Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors! Seniors!

EVERGREEN SPEECH & HEARING CLINIC, INC.

Managing your hearing, speech, and balance needs since 1979
Home Care ServiCeS

Live In and Hourly Care • 206-851-5277 Come out of your

Providing adults with personal care, medication reminders, shell and leave the
meal preparation, errands, household chores, pet care and companionship.
WA State Licensed Home Care Agency • References Available
isolation of hearing
loss behind you...
www.HyAttHomeCARe.com

Happy New Year

Serving the community with dignity & respect.

Burial  Cremation Better Hearing...Better Life! Three convenient

Columbarium  Receptions Eastside locations
Call for a hearing Bellevue
On Queen Anne consultation with one of our 425.454.1883
at 520 W. Raye St., Doctors of Audiology today! Kirkland
Seattle 425.899.5050
(In front of Hills of Eternity Cemetery)
Redmond
Barbara Cannon 425.882.4347
PleAse cAll 206-622-0949 or 206-282-5500 Visit us online at www.everhear.com
Photos courtesy of Oticon.
friday, november 12, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews lifecycles 23

life
Bar Mitzvah Bat Mitzvah
Benjamin Jacob Chase Sophie Leah Davis Rittenberg
Benjamin will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on November 13, Sophie was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah, on
2010 at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue. October 16, 2010, parshat Lech Lecha.
Ben is the son of Judy and Brad Chase of Mercer Island Sophie is the daughter of Elizabeth Davis and Rob Jacobs
and the brother of David and Sam. His grandparents are of Seattle and Steve Rittenberg and Cam Gaffney, and the
Marcia Chase of Kirkland, and Dr. Allen and Joyce Sosin of sister of Hannah and Samuel Davis-Jacobs and Katie
Boca Raton, Fla. Rittenberg. Sophie is the granddaughter of Reena and Stuart
Ben is a 7th grader at Islander Middle School. He enjoys Davis of Portland, Ore., Phyllis and Martin Jacobs of Lake
soccer and reading. Oswego, Ore., Phyllis and Jerry Rittenberg of Camarillo,
For his mitzvah project, Ben is donating art supplies to the Calif. and Kathleen and Len Gaffney of St. Augustine, Fla.
Seattle Children’s Hospital art therapy program. A graduate of the Seattle Jewish Community School,
Sophie is a 7th grader at the Jewish Day School of
Metropolitan Seattle. She enjoys dance, spending time with friends, attending Camp Solomon
Schechter, reading and theater.
Death Notice For her mitzvah project, Sophie has been collecting school supplies to be donated to First
Jeanette R.K. Nelson Place, a school and social service organization that focuses on educating and nurturing
January 23, 1918–November 5, 2010 children who face homelessness.
Jeanette Ruth Klemptner Nelson passed away
peacefully in Seattle on November 5, 2010. She was
born at home during a snowstorm in Chicago on
January 23, 1918, and delivered by her father, Dr. Bar Mitzvah
Dietrich (David) Klemptner. She went to Chicago Samuel Judah Sherer
Teachers’ College and later got her B.A. in Science Samuel will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on November 13,
and Education at Northwestern University. She 2010 at Congregation Beth Shalom in Seattle.
taught high school science  in Chicago before relo- Sam is the son of Amee and Michael Sherer and the
cating to Seattle after marrying Sidney L. Nelson in brother of Juliana. His grandparents are Gene and Gerry
1941. She taught elementary school in both the Seat- Huppin of Kirkland and Palm Desert, Calif., and the late
tle and Highline school districts for many years, until Abe and Eunie Sherer.
her retirement in 1982.  Sam is a 7th grader at Eckstein Middle School. He enjoys
She loved to travel and visited  many places, including Israel, Colombia, Brazil, sports, technology, being with his friends and family, and
Peru, Ecuador, Europe, Turkey, India, and the Far East. She enjoyed the opera, ballet, spending summers at Camp Solomon Schechter.
and theater and was an avid bridge player. She was active in League of Women Voters, For his mitzvah project, Sam collected more than 200
a life member of Hadassah, and also served several times as president locally. When new and gently used stuffed animals to give to children of
her daughter was growing up, she was active in Herzl synagogue and ran the gift shop. the Homeless to Renter program and the Ryther Children’s Center. He is also donating a
She also volunteered at the Seattle Science Center and with VITA, as a tax preparer. portion of his Bar Mitzvah money to support a favorite organization, HAMA (Humans and
She is survived by her brother Dr. H. Edward Klemptner of Morton Grove, Illi- Animals in Mutual Assistance), in Israel.
nois, her daughter, Dina (Dale) Tanners of Seattle, her three grandchildren and their
spouses Timna (Chad Smith) of Old Greenwich, Conn., Avi (Christine) of Long
Beach, Calif., and Nadav (Leah Zallman) of Boston, Mass.; two great-grandsons
Jonah and Ezekiel (Zekey), a great-granddaughter on the way, and several nieces and
nephews, including Elaine Hartholz of Seattle. How do I submit a Lifecycle announcement?
Donations to either Hadassah or the Kline Galland Foundation would be Send lifecycle notices to: JTNews/Lifecycles, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121
appreciated.
  E-mail to: lifecycles@jtnews.net Phone 206-441-4553 for assistance.
Submissions for the November 26, 2010 issue are due by November 16
Download forms or submit online at www.jtnews.net/index.php?/lifecycle
WWeating disorders Page 21 ing about your feelings no matter how big Please submit images in jpg format, 400 KB or larger. Thank you!
the pain, and like they say in AA, take it a
the basis of her book. day at a time.”
“I think you have to make a commit-
ment to wanting to be well,” she said. “I For more information on Jewish Family
want to be well, because I know what the Service’s “Choices, Changes and 2-for-1
alternative is and it’s not going to go any- Challenges”eating disorders program, contact
where. You just keep it simple. Eat your Marjorie Schnyder at mschnyder@jfsseattle.org “ Hostess with the
three meals a day. Follow your meal plan
every single day. Go to therapy, keep talk-
or visit www.jfsseattle.org.
Mostest” Cards
Express yourself with our special
WWobituary Page 22 on October 24, 2010/17 Heshvan 5770. “Tribute Cards” and help fund
Her funeral was held at Hillel; more than JFS programs at the same time…
In addition to her professional career, 300 people came to see her off. Devoted meeting the needs of friends,
Merrily was an accomplished artist whose friend Rabbi Dan Bridge presided on that family and loved ones here at home.
paintings and sculptures grace the homes sad and rainy day. Call Irene at (206) 861-3150 or,
of many in Seattle and elsewhere. —Barbara Maduell on the web, click on “Donations”
Merrily was married to Rabbi Anson at www.jfsseattle.org. It’s a 2-for-1
Laytner for 24 wonderful years and
between them shared three daughters: the because giving feels good. that says it all.
late Amy Cordova Myers (Michael), Anna
Cordova Reichstein (Daryl) and Miryam www.jtnews.net
Laytner; four grandchildren whom she Send a link to everyone you care about,
adored: Jackson and Nico Myers, and and download extra copies of The Tzedakah
Gabriella and Jacob Reichstein.
the tzed aka h book Book for friends and family, near and far.
Ovarian cancer claimed Merrily’s life because giving feels
InsIde:
let it shine!
good
Choose your night and
one night of Hanukkah to
Bring the whole family together guide.
using this step-by-step
explore the joy of tzedakah,
24 community news JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 12, 2010

A night of
passion in
fashion
In a town dominated by polar fleece
and Gore-Tex, sometimes the gloves
must come off. The runway sparkled,
the building shook, and the flash bulbs
popped as seven different designers
and one fabulous flamenco dancer
strutted their stuff down the red carpet
at the sold-out Chai Couture fashion
event.
The models wore the latest creations
from Seattle’s Jewish fashion designers
Butch Blum, Cameron Levin, Rita
Gruzman, Katerina Yedidim, Whitney
Heather Stern and so many others.
Eli Rosenblatt and his Afro-Cuban band
entertained when the lights came back
up, and the punch bowl from Liberty
Bar was empty by the time the evening
wound down to its inevitable end.

Who is this man?

Give the Gift of Music
wi a Seattle Symphony Gift Certificate
GIFT THIS
THE PERFECT
SON!
HOLIDAY SEA E-mail your reply to symphony@jtnews.net for a
chance to win one of ten pairs of tickets to attend
a performance of his 9th Symphony (hint) at Bena-
roya Hall on either December 29, 30, or January
2. The world premiere on this concert is part of
the Gund/Simonyi Farewell Commissions, 18 new
works which honor Maestro Schwarz’s Farewell
206.215.4747 | www.seattlesymphony.org Season as Music Director of Seattle Symphony.
Deadline to enter is November 30. TickETS for EacH
pErformaNcE arE limiTED, aND No SuBSTiTuTioNS will BE maDE.