The Jewish Light Summer 2020 by The Jewish Light

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Volume 10, Number 6 Summer 2020

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Domestic Violence Hotline Doubles Its Hours During Stay-At-Home Orders By Shira Hanau

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“For some of them, we’re their lifeline," Nechama Bakst, senior director of family violence services at the Met Council, said of the domestic violence helpline.

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(JTA) – The change was clear as soon as New York City’s stay-athome order went into effect: Calls to the domestic violence department at the city’s leading Jewish poverty nonprofit departed from their regular pattern. Women used to call during the day while at work or while their abusers were out of the house. But with people living together now trapped at home around the clock, the calls started coming from inside locked bathrooms late at night or during dog-walking outings in the morning and evening. “We were typically 9-5, it was more business hours,” Nechama Bakst, senior director of family violence services at the Met Council, said of the helpline before the coronavirus pandemic reshaped how New Yorkers spend their days. In the past two months, she said, the helpline has seen an increase of about 8-10% in calls — spread over a wider swath of the day. Social workers are now working with clients “way after hours,” Bakst said. This week, the organization officially added hours to the helpline’s operation. The line, the family violence unit’s first line of access for victims of abuse, now has social workers on call from 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays. The hotline changes are not the only ones the coronavirus has induced for the family violence department at the Met Council, one of the largest nonprofits providing food assistance and social services to poor New Yorkers. The organiza-

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tion, which launched in 1972 with the goal of serving poor Jews in the city, now works with New Yorkers of all backgrounds while continuing to provide kosher food assistance. Calls reporting serious violence are way up, according to Bakst, who attributed the spike to heightened anxiety about the pandemic playing out in the close quarters of New York City homes. “Being at home and not having any breaks from each other has created another level of stress,” Bakst said. “The financial stress has certainly gotten to people, too.” And the number of victims of domestic violence reaching out to the organization for the first time has nearly doubled from the usual rate. The Met Council’s family violence department, which offers counseling and help with accessing social services, typically serves an average of 53 new people per month. In the past two months, the average has nearly doubled to 103. Bakst said she expects to see an even bigger increase when stay-athome orders are lifted and victims of abuse are able to call without fear of their abuser finding out. Some domestic violence hotlines and police departments have reported a decrease in calls while victims are unable to get away from their abusers to make the call. “A lot of our clients are very alone and part of the abuse has isolated them from others,” said Bakst, adding that social distancing aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus has isolated them further. “For some of them, we’re their lifeline.”  THE

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Federations Tap Deep Experience And Networks To Respond To Unique Pandemic-Era Needs By Michele Chabin

Volunteer Van Lessig helps with a Jewish Meals on Wheels program at Houston’s Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. (Jeff Fitlow)

When the novel coronavirus began its relentless sweep through elder-care facilities in North America, Andrew Banoff, chairman of the Association of Jewish Aging Services, found himself pleading with medical suppliers and government agencies to sell the facilities enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, to protect their employees and residents. “The shortage of PPE was like a wave coming in from the ocean,” said Banoff, who is also the president and CEO of Jewish Senior Services in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “The first week there was a battle for masks. As that wave came ashore, there was a shortage of gloves. The next week, a shortage of gowns.” The facilities in the Jewish aging network were running out of options when, at the beginning of March,

the Jewish Federations of North America stepped in, drawing on its vast network and experience to tackle the problem. “Facilities were competing with each other for scarce equipment, prices were skyrocketing, and nursing homes were at the bottom of the chain,” said Mark Gurvis, executive vice president of the Jewish Federations of North America. Working in partnership with Jewish Aging Services, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, the Jewish overseas student group Kahal International, the Jewish Funders Network and others, the federation umbrella organization found an opportunity to develop a coalition to tackle the PPE challenge. Together, this group of eldercare facilities, organizations and private individuals launched a PPE buying consortium and distribution system. Some consortium members searched for PPE, while others found ways to get the equipment to facilities and their high-risk residents. Within a short period of time, the consortium was able to distribute $5 million worth of protective equipment: 2 million masks, 2 million gloves and 500,000 isolation

gowns to 200 facilities across North America. Being able to purchase PPE as a group saved the elder-care facilities $1.3 million, Gurvis estimated. Banoff marvels at what the coalition managed to achieve in a matter of days. “This was real leadership,” he said. “It’s always people with a cando attitude that get things done.” Federations and their partner agencies have dealt with many crises over the years. Now, they’re drawing on their experiences and adapting resilience plans to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. In Texas, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is applying the

lessons it learned after Hurricane Harvey to the coronavirus pandemic. When the hurricane hit in August 2017, approximately 5,000 of the 52,000 individuals the federation serves experienced flooding. Some lost their homes or businesses. See FEDERATIONS on Page

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Table of Contents Covid-19

Israel Under Radar

Global

Judaism

Bookshelf

Arts Culture

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The Nosher

Financial

Jewniverse (Jewish Culture & History)

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Covid-19 FEDERATIONS Continued from Page 3

Volunteer Van Lessig helps with a Jewish Meals on Wheels program at Houston’s Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. (Jeff Fitlow)

Although the federation was already helping with everyday needs, it lacked the infrastructure to deal with a catastrophe of Harvey’s magnitude. “We didn’t have a community relations committee, we didn’t have a professional who could advise us on how to liaise with the government on the state and local level,” recalled Taryn Baranowski, the federation’s chief marketing officer. Houston JCC employee Morgan Steinberg sorts meals for a Meals on Wheels program. (Jeff Fitlow) Last year the federation created the Jewish Response & Action Network, a collaborative initiative between the federation and its partner agencies aimed at responding quickly to any emergency.

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“It was like creating a community playbook,” said Jackie Fisherman, the federation’s director of government affairs who heads the initiative. “In the process of creating the network we asked ourselves: What lessons did we learn? What resources can we offer?” Since February, the network, known as JRAN, has become a onestop source of breaking information on everything from coronavirusrelated resources from the Centers for Disease Control to local school and synagogue closures. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, which serves about 27,000 Jewish households, is applying many of the lessons it learned following the deadly October 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, which killed 11 people. “Our federation already had a good relationship with our beneficiary agencies, but after the attack we began to look for ways to better coordinate with each other during times of crisis,” said Adam Hertzman, the federation’s marketing director. The attack re-emphasized collaboration on three longstanding primary goals the federation established with beneficiary agencies: to prevent an overlap of services, to ensure that services and funding go

where they are most needed, and to create a smooth, dignified way for people in need to quickly access assistance. During this crisis, the Pittsburgh federation is providing virus-related relief to seniors, families with children and teens, and people considered vulnerable due to financial or other hardships. The number of local Jewish families who have applied for emergency loans or other assistance is surging. “Let’s say you’re a family that’s living on the margins, and you can’t pay a $500 car repair because your spouse is suddenly unemployed, but if you don’t repair your car you can’t get to work,” Hertzman said, noting that weekly applications to the Hebrew Free Loan Association are about 10 times higher than normal. The Pittsburgh federation is also helping senior care facilities purchase everything from PPE to disposable dishes to prevent the virus’ spread, and is assisting beneficiary organizations that help the needy. On a national level, the Jewish Federations of North America created the Jewish Together website to provide local Jewish communities with pandemic-related resources and has been instrumental in advocating for the inclusion of the nonprofit sector, including federation partner agencies, in federal Covid-

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19 relief programs. Jewish Federations’ ability to provide so much assistance so quickly during this crisis relies in large part on the generosity of donors, said Dirk Bird, associate vice president of planned giving and endowment at the national network. “Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, we have witnessed community mobilization efforts that have often been led by contributions from Donor Advised Fund holders of federations and Jewish community foundations,” Bird said. “This has resulted in tens of millions of dollars being deployed to address immediate, critical needs.” At the same time, federations have been able to draw from the endowments that support annual campaigns, operations and community programs. “The ripple effect of gifts secured decades ago is being felt in a visceral, profound way as this crisis unfolds,” Bird said. This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America, which represents 146 local Jewish Federations and 300 network communities. This story was produced by JTA's native content team. 

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The Biggest Jewish Coronavirus Relief Fund Will Soon Start Giving Out Loans By Ben Sales

The main entrance of the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center in Denver, photographed in 2018. JCCs are among the establishment institutions prioritized by a $91 million Jewish coronavirus relief fund. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

NEW YORK (JTA) — Money will begin flowing from a relief fund put together by a coalition of eight Jewish philanthropies within the next month, organizers say. A few things have become clear about the fund since it was announced last month, including its size — $91 million, up from $80 million at launch — and when the fund will start accepting applications, which are by invitation only: that should happen within days. The fund will provide both interestfree emergency loans to Jewish organizations and grants that do not need to be repaid. Other questions remain unanswered. Chief among them: how much money will go to loans as opposed to grants, whether benefiTHE

ciaries will be publicly identified, and how much the fund will be able to fill the gaping financial hole left by the coronavirus crisis. The fund was launched three weeks ago by a group of seven major Jewish philanthropic foundations and the Jewish Federations of North America. Called the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund, it is, in raw dollars, the largest collective Jewish response to the current economic crisis. It is focused on the fields of education, engagement and leadership and seeks primarily to help long-established Jewish institutions. “When we launched on April 20, it was sort of an advance launch,” said Shira Hutt, chief of staff of the Jewish Federations of North America. “It wasn’t like, on April 21, organizations were going to be handing us applications … Everyone is eager, I’m eager, the lenders are eager to start bringing together these loan resources to really help organizations that need this bridge.” Since the fund was announced, JFNA announced deep layoffs and a growing number of Jewish camps have canceled their upcoming summer seasons. Even with the fund’s efforts, it’s likely that some of the

Jewish organizations it seeks to needs places to go to for ritual and help will need to shut down, said for gathering,” Herman said in an Felicia Herman, executive director interview in April. “If you want to of the Natan Fund, who is running the fund’s grant program. See RELIEF FUND 6 “You could say a community on Page

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Visions For The Post-Pandemic Jewish World: Imagining A Better Future By Laura E. Adkins

Visions of a post-pandemic Jewish future (70 Faces Media)

NEW YORK (JTA) — After nearly two months of intense social distancing, we are all finding ourselves longing for things to return to normal — and recognizing that it might be a long while before that happens. But is a return to business as usual really what we should aim for? The extended disruption gives us a chance to take stock of how we’ve operated up to now, consider alternatives and even build a better vision for the future. We’re already seeing that happen across the Jewish world. Jews of all denominations have tapped digital tools to deliver the Torah and connection that had been largely analog. The heartbeats of Jewish life — weddings, funerals, bar and bat mitzvahs, studying Torah, cooking together, telling jokes and daily minyanim — have been reimagined to match the circumstances. And communities are stepping up to support their neediest members in new ways. But those have mostly been quick fixes, responsive and scattershot

RELIEF FUND Continued from Page 5 preserve that function in a community, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need x number of synagogues in a community. Maybe structurally you need fewer or structurally you are forced to have fewer institutions.” Hutt said the fund is “trying to cast the widest net possible,” but said priority will go to Jewish organizations like synagogues, day schools, camps, Jewish community centers and campus Hillels. Beyond that, the fund is soliciting applications from other organizations with a national scope. Groups outside those categories will not be considered for loans, Hutt said, at least at this stage. That 6

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rather than carefully considered and coordinated. What if we had a shared vision for the Jewish future, so we could do more than just fumble our way there? We’ve asked some of the most thoughtful people we know to share their best ideas for the post-pandemic Jewish future. Below are the pieces we’ve published in this series so far — we’ll be publishing more and updating this list in the days and weeks to come. We want these ideas to start conversations and inspire new visions that can help the Jewish people weather this crisis and emerge even stronger. Use #JewishFuture to share your ideas on social media. If you’d like to submit an essay for consideration, email opinion@jta. org with “Visions Project Submission” in the subject line. Arts and Culture • Saturday Night Seder showed the power of accessible Jewish art. Does it really take a plague to make it happen? by Benj Pasek • Jewish humor will get us through this pandemic — and all of our hardships to come by Jon Savitt • More people than ever are making Jewish food. Let’s make this connection to tradition last. by Shannon Sarna Community Life • Today, we’re mourning the loss

of our social spaces. Tomorrow, let’s redesign them. by Hannah Lebovits • Anti-Semitism was already on the rise. Now we must contend with its post-pandemic forms. by Jonathan A. Greenblatt • We built Jewish education around once-in-a-lifetime experiences. That was a mistake. by Rabbi Benji Levy • Frontline workers are heroes. We can show our appreciation as we repair our world. by Randi Weingarten • Vulnerable Jewish communities are suffering through this crisis. We must not forget them when it’s over. by Hen Mazzig • It’s time to talk about democratizing Jewish philanthropy. by Lila Corwin Berman • Our rabbis are exhausted. It’s time to adopt a startup mentality. by Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein • It’s time to build digital-first Jewish communities that will outlast the pandemic. by Lex Rofeberg • It is time for Hasidic leaders to embrace the internet by Frimet Goldberger Education • After this pandemic, higher education will have to leave the ivory tower by Morton Shapiro and Gary Saul Morson • Hillel is usually a happy, vibrant

space. Now, we need to help students process their grief by Rabbi Jonah Geffen • To meet our students’ needs, Hillel must do more than build Jewish community on campus by Michael Simon • Technology makes Jewish education more accessible. We must ensure the tradeoff isn’t our values. by Henry Abramson Family Life • Modeling values and resilience for our children is our most important job as parents by Chana Lightstone • We’re all Jewish homeschoolers now. That’s one shift that should stick around. by Bethany Mandel • Zoom Judaism helps us in crisis. But we can’t let it replace building a stronger Jewish home. by Avigayil Halpern Ritual and Observance • Making Jewish traditions work for you doesn’t have to be an emergency approach by Roberta Rosenthal Kwall • Our post-pandemic Shabbat meals should include far less meat by Melissa Hoffman The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. 

means the fund will not loan to human service agencies, like those that provide health care or social services, which tend to have more local support and access to government funds. It also won’t consider any local organizations that are not part of a national network. The need across those institutions appears to run deep. An early estimate of the collective financial need of the longstanding Jewish institutions the fund is focused on placed the figure at $650 million, a number some have said could rise even higher. One Jewish nonprofit leader called for a $1 billion fund. The focus on legacy institutions is understandable, said Lila Corwin Berman, an American Jewish history professor at Temple University

who focuses on philanthropy, because of the number of people those institutions employ. But she said the loans may not be able to offset the effects of the current economic crisis, and the invitation-only structure privileges establishment groups and concentrates power in the foundations funding the initiative. “It means a kind of effort to stabilize these institutions as they are, and to hopefully try to help the people employed by them,” she said. “But … nothing about these loans suggests that these institutions will be able to get back to where they were.” The loan fund is only a piece of the solution emerging for struggling Jewish organizations. Some Jewish federations, which act as

communal funding bodies, have also started large funds to help local institutions. New York’s UJA-Federation has pledged more than $45 million in funding, while Chicago’s Jewish United Fund has a $26 million pool. In addition to philanthropic dollars, as of April 24, 575 Jewish organizations have received a total of $312 million in federal assistance, according to a survey conducted by JFNA. “While we want to be able to encompass lots of different organizations, at the end of the day we won’t be able to fund everybody,” Herman said. “This is not meant to be the solution. It couldn’t possibly be. If we had 10 times the amount of money, it couldn’t be the solution.” 

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Brett Kavanaugh’s ‘Hypothetical’ Question: Can The Us Require Groups To Recognize Israel? By Ron Kampeas

In this illustration photo, Chief Justice John Roberts speaks during oral arguments before the Supreme Court as a case is livestreamed on a laptop, May 4, 2020. (Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Those tuning in this week for just the second day of live Supreme Court broadcasts were treated to a surprise: In a case about NGOs, HIV-AIDS funding and prostitution, the discussion unexpectedly turned toward U.S. support for Israel’s right to exist. The case features a group of NGOs that are resisting the Trump administration’s requirement that they explicitly oppose sex trafficking and prostitution as a condition for receiving funds to combat HIVAIDS overseas from the U.S. Agen-

cy for International Development. The NGOs argue that the requirement violates speech freedoms and inhibits their ability to reach those who need their assistance. During the questioning of the NGOs’ lawyers, Kavanaugh brought up Israel. “Suppose the U.S. government wants to fund foreign NGOs that support peace in the Middle East but only if the NGOs explicitly recognize Israel as a legitimate state,” Kavanaugh said at Tuesday’s hearing. “Are you saying the U.S. can’t impose that kind of speech restriction on foreign NGOs that are affiliated with U.S. organizations?” The lawyer for the NGOs, David Bowker, did not equivocate: It would be constitutionally kosher for the U.S. to require such foreign affiliates to recognize Israel. “I don’t hear that as requiring affirmation of a belief,” Bowker said. “Rather it is in recognizing a

fact that the U.S. has established a certain diplomatic relationship with Israel. And the U.S. government gets to say what that relationship is for the United States.” Kavanaugh’s question could be seen as reflecting the increasingly important role that Israel’s wellbeing has taken in mainstream conservative political thought over the past two decades. At the same time, Bowker’s response was noteworthy because it comes at a time when many NGOs and their political allies on the left have resisted efforts to link government aid to Israel-related issues. For years, pro-Israel figures and groups have been working to marginalize groups and individuals who oppose Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. There have been efforts in Congress recently to make U.S. aid to nongovernmental groups contingent on rejecting Israel boycotts. Additionally, some of the parties involved in the arguments have battled over U.S. laws that would inhibit boycotts of Israel or its West Bank settlements. Some of the groups and figures featuring in this Supreme Court case have been involved in political battles over U.S. policy concerning Israel. The lead defendant is Alliance for Open Society International. Its parent group, Open Society

Foundations, founded by the Jewish billionaire George Soros, has funded J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group that has opposed as impinging on free speech U.S. laws sanctioning Israel boycotters. (J Street opposes boycotts of Israel.) A group filing an amicus brief in support of the Trump administration is the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative group. One of the lawyers ACLJ named to the case is Jay Sekulow, a lead private lawyer to Trump during the recent impeachment hearings who founded ACLJ and made it a platform for right-wing pro-Israel activism. In 2013, the court ruled that the NGOs were protected by speech freedoms. The current argument, initiated by the Trump administration, is whether those freedoms extend to the foreign partners and affiliates of the U.S.-based groups. Tuesday was the second day that the Supreme Court broadcast audio of its proceedings in real time, a historic switch made by the high court because of the coronavirus pandemic. The hearings had only been available in real time to people inside the Supreme Court’s building, and audio took days to be posted to its website. The justices and the lawyers participated by calling in from remote locations. 

WHO IS JONATHAN? I. EXPERIENCE - Licensed to practice law in the state of Louisiana for over 20 years - Former Special Assistant Attorney General - Former General Counsel, Louisiana State Board of Private Investigators - Former Special Assistant Parish Attorney - Currently in private practice. - Past President of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society - Past member of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors II. EDUCATION - B.A. Degree in Political Science, Southern University - Juris Doctorate Degree, Southern University Law Center III. FAMILY - Married to Yvonne Edmonds of Monroe, LA. - Father of four children: Jonathan, Haile, Zachary and Nicholas IV. MY VISION FOR DIVISION “C”

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A ‘Holocaust Disneyland’? Historians Say A Controversial Film Director Wants To Turn A Ukrainian Museum Into One.

By Cnaan Liphshiz

Russian filmmaker Ilya Khrzhanovsky at the closing ceremony of the Berlin International Film Festival, Feb. 29, 2020. (Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)

(JTA) — The latest cinematic release by the Russian film director Ilya Khrzhanovsky is so extreme that he is currently under a police investigation for alleged torture of extras, including underage orphans, in Ukraine. He worked on the movies in his “Dau” series on a 3-acre set in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv over more than a decade to fictionally recreate the harshness of life under

the Communist Soviet Union. Beatings, interrogations, rape scenes and other forms of abuse were simulated by the actors, nearly all of them amateurs and many of them minors, including some from orphanages. Until recently, the films were hailed as innovative achievements. But now Khrzhanovsky is accused of abusing his actors, exploiting them through exposure to physical

violence, humiliation and sexual harassment. Khrzhanovsky is also, at least for now, the artistic director of a big Ukrainian Holocaust commemoration project: The Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, a museum that has cost millions and is still in the planning stages. It’s named after one of the worst Holocaust pogroms, in which Nazis and local collaborators murdered more than 150,00 people, including 50,000 Jews, at the Babi Yar ravine, also known as Babyn Yar, outside Kyiv. The Ukrainian government has invested a million dollars in the project — more than they’ve put into any previous Holocaust commemoration. Khrzhanovsky, who is Jewish, wants to bring his hyper-realistic cinematic style to the museum and make it, in the words of a former director of the project, a “Holocaust Disneyland.” According to Karel Berkhoff — who was appointed chief historian of the museum in 2017 but has since

quit — Khrzhanovsky told staff that he plans for displays “in which visitors would find themselves playing the role of victims, collaborators, Nazis, or prisoners of war who were forced to burn corpses.” But the scandal over his latest film, “Dau: Degeneration,” has put Khrzhanovsky’s work with the museum in jeopardy. Dozens of Ukrainian artists and historians penned an open letter on May 1 demanding his dismissal from the Babi Yar project. “Mr. Khrzhanovsky’s appointment as artistic director has already tarnished the Memorial’s reputation and is undermining the achievements of the previous three years of work, while the Center faces a brewing international scandal,” wrote the cosignatories. In a responding statement last week, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Charity Foundation said the “Dau” projects are See DISNEYLAND on Page

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DISNEYLAND Continued from Page 8 practically irrelevant to Khrzhanovsky’s work at the in-the-works Holocaust museum. “The Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and DAU project are two completely distinct projects,” the statement read. It added that “all accusations addressed now to Illya Khrzhanovsky are made based on emotions and subjective thoughts built upon speculations and assumptions.” Yet Khrzhanovsky’s nomination as artistic director, which was announced in December, preceded and likely caused several key individuals from the staff of the museum to quit. The museum’s former director general, Hennadiy Verbylenko, left last year, as did exexecutive director Yana Barinova, among others. Most of them have not said why they quit. The environment Khrzhanovsky created for the “Dau” films was completely immersive. The project was sometimes referred to as the “Soviet Truman Show,” referencing the 1998 Hollywood film about a man whose everyday life was filmed without his knowledge. “There wasn’t a script, there wasn’t a screenplay, we were living as we lived,” said actress Natalia Berezhnaya at a press conference at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival in February. “In some ways it was scary, in some ways it was oppressive. We had fear, we had love, we had relationships. We were living, we didn’t work according to a screenplay: It was our life.” At the same press conference, Khrzhanovsky denied any illegal incidents had taken place during filming. But the participation of a prominent Russian neo-Nazi, Maxim Martsinkevich, in the “Dau” project is undisputed. Known as Tesak, Rus-

sian for “the cleaver,” he was filmed reenacting what he is currently 10-year sentence in a Russian penal colony for: robbery and assault. Most prominent Holocaust museums, including the AuschwitzBirkenau State Museum, discourage or forbid role playing on their grounds. At Auschwitz, for example, it is forbidden to climb inside the models of cattle wagons, resembling the ones the Nazis used to transport Jews. The Auschwitz museum was criticized in 2015 just for showering tourists standing in line during a heat wave with water. Offended Jews around the world argued that they “looked like the showers that the Jews were forced to take” before entering Nazi gas chambers. Khrzhanovsky has declined to publicly specify his vision for Babyn Yar, saying it will be presented sometime this year. He did not reply to an interview request. Last week, Berkhoff warned against a departure from international standards at the would-be museum in Kyiv, whose partners abroad include former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the former vice-chancellor of Germany Joschka Fischer, and the ex-president of Poland Alexander Kwasniewski. Eric Schultz, who had served as deputy white house press secretary under former president Barack Obama, is the museum’s top public relations man in the U.S. “My biggest fear is that it will be an entertainment complex to some extent,” Berkhoff said in an interview with UkrInform. “I don’t want it, it’s a memorial.” 

For 15 years, Beth Wolfe has served the people of our community as a Judge in the 21st Judicial District. Now, she’s asking for a promotion to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, so she can represent a larger community and continue her dedication to us – and to the law. As a Judge, Beth has handled both criminal and civil matters, always ruling on the side of the law – not biased by personal opinion or relationships. Respected by attorneys and reelected twice without opposition, she is fair and impartial, and upholds the Constitution and the laws of our state. A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and LSU, her roots here run deep. A wife, mother and grandmother, and a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, she shares our values and our concerns for the future of Louisiana and our Nation. A former prosecutor, she has fought for justice, stood up for crime victims, and always puts the Constitution first. When we vote on July 11, or during Early Voting from June 20 - July 4, we will be filling an important vacancy on a vital court. Please give Beth Wolfe your support.

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The memorial at the site of the Babi Yar killings, seen in 2019, includes a large menorah. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images) THE

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Rosh Hashanah By Zoom? Synagogues Are Already Planning For A Socially Distanced High Holidays. By Josefin Dolsten

Some synagogues are already preparing for the possibility that they could be empty during the High Holidays. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)

(JTA) — For rabbis, the end of Passover marks the beginning of a new season: planning for the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the High Holidays in the fall when Jews pack synagogue sanctuaries. This year, that planning includes grappling with the reality that inperson services might still be impossible, depending on the course the coronavirus pandemic takes between now and then. American synagogues have been conducting services virtually — or not at all — for more than a month. When they closed their doors, many expected that several weeks or, at most, a few months would elapse before the pandemic was under control enough for in-person religious services to resume. But as the weeks wear on, it is becoming increasingly clear that the resumption of normal activity remains a far-off proposition. Even as a few states begin allowing some businesses to reopen, social distancing guidelines remain in place, and some city officials and public health experts have warned that large gatherings are unlikely to be safe until some time in 2021. That leaves Rosh Hashanah, which this year begins Sept. 18, as a major question mark. “We’re making the assumption that by September it’s not going to be OK to have a thousand people together in one room, so we’re taking that as a starting point,” said Rabbi Barry Leff of Herzl-Ner Tamid, a Conservative synagogue just outside Seattle on Mercer Island, Washington. 10 Summer 2020

Leff says that in the coming months, the congregation, which has 750 member families, will be planning for a number of possibilities. That includes thinking about how many people would fit in the synagogue’s sanctuary — which can regularly hold up to 1,000 — if social distancing measures are enforced. It also means thinking about who would get to attend if the state lifts its stay-at-home order and allows smaller gatherings of people. “If they say ‘Fine, you can have 50 people,’ how do you pick which 50 people get to be the ones that get to be there? Or do you set up a rotation, where people can sign up for an hourlong time slot? It can get very complicated pretty quickly,” he said.

Members of the media wear protective masks film outside the Young Israel of New Rochelle which was quarantined after a member was hospitalized with the coronavirus, in New Rochelle, N.Y., March 10, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/ AFP via Getty Images)

It’s too early to say for sure what things will look like in September, said Stephen Buka, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University. Whether gathering in person will be advisable depends on a number of factors, including how the country’s testing infrastructure develops and if coronavirus infections rise again as temperatures cool. “Right now, the requirement is that everything be virtual, and I think that wouldn’t necessarily be needed in July, and it’s too hard to say what will be needed in September,” he said. Buka says that even if High Holiday services could be held in person, they wouldn’t be the same as in previous years. Social distancing

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measures would likely be needed and at-risk groups could be cautioned from going. “I think a very likely scenario to predict at this point is that if you’re over 70, don’t congregate, stay home, and that if families with young children want to come and be socially distanced that could very well be a reasonable compromise,” he said. The rapidly changing recommendations and policies around preventing the spread of the coronavirus, which so far has killed at least 44,000 people in the United States, has some rabbis waiting to plan for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. “We’re not thinking about that yet, so I can’t tell you what’s going to happen,” said Rabbi Hershel Billet of Young Israel of Woodmere, an Orthodox synagogue on Long Island, which would not hold virtual services in place of in-person ones. “If this stretches out into the summer, we’re going to have to begin thinking about it.” But many other synagogues have started planning for multiple contingencies. Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia, holds eight services on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, and 3,000 people typically spend some time in the synagogue’s three spaces. “The busiest airport in America is what our building looks like,” said Rabbi Amy Schwartzman. With that experience seeming increasingly unlikely, Schwartzman and the four other clergy members at Rodef Shalom are holding a scenario planning meeting this week to explore other possibilities — including the fact that the synagogue may have no in-person worship at all due to the coronavirus. “We know that in the worst-case scenario we could provide the congregation with an online worship experience for all the holidays,” she said. Rabbi Joshua Stanton at New York’s East End Temple has been exploring how his community might be able to do certain parts of

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the High Holiday rituals in person. For example, if officials allow people to gather outside in smaller groups, the Reform synagogue may be able to do tashlich, the ritual where people gather outside to throw bread in a body of water to represent casting off their sins. “I think that we will supplement with virtual elements as much as is needed while prioritizing in-person experiences as much as it is safe,”

Rabbi Danny Burkeman of Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, Massachusetts leads virtual services for his congregants from home. (Courtesy of Burkeman)

he said. Rabbi Robert Harris, a professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary who also serves as a parttime rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Cambridge, Massachusetts, sent out an email to congregants on Monday soliciting their thoughts on a number of possibilities. Harris, who made an early and bold plea to his colleagues to cease all live synagogue events in March, said he expects services to take place via a livestream. But he said he is still figuring out details such as whether members at the nondenominational synagogue will join virtually or whether a minyan, the prayer quorum of 10 people required to say certain prayers, would gather in one place if permissible and the rest would join via livestream. “None of us are prophets,” Harris said, “but I think if we’re not planning for the eventuality that this fall we’re going to still be socially distancing ourselves, then we’re abandoning our responsibilities to our communities.” 

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It’s Time To Build Digital-First Jewish Communities That Will Outlast The Pandemic By Lex Rofeberg

A digital shiva call; Lex Rofeberg on Zoom (Getty Images; Courtesy)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (JTA) — The other day, I saw an interesting Facebook post written by a college student who lives in New York. She was looking to find a daily morning minyan. Specifically, she sought one that met at a “college studentfriendly hour,” since most minyanim are scheduled for fairly early in the morning while she is still asleep. A simple response arose in the comments: “Try a shul in the Midwest.” We cannot lose sight of how thoroughly astonishing a comment like this would seem to Jews of any previous generation, how ordinary it has become over the past two months, and what that shift signifies for the present and future of Judaism. Not only is it possible today for any of us to go to services — every day — 1,000 miles away, it’s more possible than doing so at our synagogue down the street. A few months ago, the digital Jewish ecosystem was relatively sparse. For most institutions, livestreaming a program was rare — the occasional cherry-on-top of the sundae that was in-person Judaism. In just two months, the norms have flipped entirely. The reason that we need to sit with the astonishing nature of this reality is that it represents a change in the entire Jewish world for the years and decades that will come. I have worked for a digital Jewish organization for over four years. For five years I’ve been studying to be a rabbi — digitally. For seven years I’ve been a part of Jewish social justice projects that operate largely via video chat, Facebook groups and other digital modalities. It is exceedingly hard for me to believe that people will simply flip a switch at the end of social distancing and go back to how things were. Once somebody has held a Passover Seder that brings together their grandparents in Arizona, their parents in Houston and their own self in Massachusetts, for free, I THE

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don’t think they will be content to gather only with folks who live nearby or can afford to travel in. The importance of digital Jewish gathering goes beyond that, too. People with disabilities — many of whom have been calling for digital programming for years — will still want and need Jewish experiences that they can enjoy from their homes once this period ends. Jews who have grown frustrated by their local communities, or who live in places without Jewish institutions, will continue to crave digital opportunities for Jewish engagement. What we’re experiencing right now isn’t a blip on the radar. For many of us, finding transcendent, supportive communities online isn’t some ridiculous pipe dream. We’ve felt it. We’ve shed tears at digital shiva minyanim. We’ve forged close bonds of friendship and connection with people we have never met inperson. In fact, we who have struggled to connect with our local institutions may have found that growing and connecting to Judaism online has been easier than in our on-theground neighborhoods. Perhaps that fact is a challenging thing to hear. Our approach to the digital world has too often been to perceive it as a competitor to “inperson” Judaism and its institutions. That need not be our attitude. Every Jewish community, all around the world, deserves to be celebrated and supported. And as it turns out, the Jewish community with the largest population today is not in Jerusalem or New York City. It’s the digital Jewish community, with a population numbering many, many millions. So let’s build it together; may digital Judaism become strong – truly strong – and through it may we all be strengthened. For some Jewish organizations, maybe all of this sounds like heresy. I can’t say that impulse is ludicrous. It’s rare that you can accurately use “always” to describe a historical reality, but Jewish religious and cultural practices have always — always! — been built on shared geographic proximity. Indeed, the very phrase “Jewish community” being ascribed to digital spaces might initially seem like a contradiction in terms. But will it feel like a contradiction to our grandchildren? Could

we begin to craft early versions of digital Jewish experience that grow potentially into fully formed expressions of Judaism in the coming decades and centuries? My instinct is that we can, but doing so requires us to rethink what a community is and means. If community refers to a set of Jews who share a metropolitan area, then digital work is a challenge. But if community refers to a set of people who are interested in gathering together, supporting one another, sharing life’s moments of sadness and joy, and marking important calendrical times together, that’s achievable online. We just have to adopt that task fully as a Jewish collective in order to make it a reality. This piece is a part of our series of Visions for the Post-Pandemic Jewish Future The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. 

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Summer 2020

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A Jewish Anti-Racist Reading List For Children Of All Ages (Kveller) By Lior Zaltzman This story originally appeared on Kveller.

This moment has many of us reeling. Honestly, for those of you who are, like me, white-presenting Jewish parents, we should consider this a time of reckoning. Are we doing enough to make our homes anti-racist? What about our communal Jewish spaces? The work to dismantle racism goes beyond what we do when people are out in the streets protesting. And the activism we do outside of our home is just as important as the one we are doing inside our homes with our families, and especially with our kids. Our kids perceive race much earlier than we think. So we have to start the work early. Raising your kids with a “colorblind” mentality just doesn’t work — because we aren’t, and the world we live in

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most certainly isn’t colorblind. In the New York Times, Dr. Marietta Collins, a clinical psychologist and the co-author of Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice, a book for children about a police shooting, suggests that those first conversations about race be positive. As the article explains, “Dr. Collins gave the example of a white child asking why another child had brown skin. A parent can take this opportunity to explain what melanin is, and to talk about how wonderful it is that the world has so many different kinds of people.” The truth is, if you want to raise anti-racist children, the work starts with us, the parents. After all, we lead by example. Examine the biases that you were raised with and are still in your ears. This isn’t a finite process — or an easy, or a comfortable one — and we have to learn to live with that discomfort. But there are a lot of great resources out there. As always, it is key to listen to Black voices. Educator Brit Hawthorne, who is an expert in anti-racist education, is a wonderful resource, as

is Tiffany Jewel, who wrote the great This Book Is Anti-Racist — and who actually does 15-minute consults on how to raise anti-racist kids. (Remember, supporting Black artists, writers and businesses is also important at this time!) Certainly, diversifying your children’s book collection — and specifically, your Jewish children’s book collection, is one good step. These shouldn’t all be books about struggles for equity. Showing happy, diverse Jewish kids celebrating your kids’ favorite holidays is just as important. They show your kids that the world — and specifically the Jewish world — is diverse. And for Jews of color, these books show them that they belong. While this (far from comprehensive!) list shows that there are plenty of examples of such books, it’s still not enough. We need more diverse Jewish books, and we especially need more diverse Jewish books by Jews of color. So it is our hope that this list keeps growing, year after year. Since some of these books are hard to get, we’ve included the Amazon links for some of them —

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but whenever possible, we encourage you to get these books at Blackowned bookstores. FOR TODDLERS The Snowy Day and other Peter Books by Ezra Jack Keats The Snowy Day was the first mainstream children’s book to feature a Black main character, the lovable and delightful Peter. The book doesn’t mention race and it isn’t Jewish, but its iconic author, Ezra Jack Keats, was a Jewish immigrant who changed his name because of persecution. If your kids are big fans of Ezra Jack Keats, you can read them A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day, a book all the making of this groundbreaking book. It’s Tot Shabbat! by Naomi Danis, photos by Tod Cohen This book shows the faces of a diverse Jewish congregation, and it also tells the story of how and why Shabbat is celebrated. It’s available on Kindle, so you can read it with your kids right now! See READING LIST on Page

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READING LIST Continued from Page 12 Buen Shabat, Shabbat Shalom by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio My toddler and I love this book about a Sephardi family celebrating Shabbat. Written by the fabulous Sarah Aroeste, the book is both musical and lovely — and a great opportunity to expose your kids to Ladino and Sephardi culture. FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN Ezra’s BIG Shabbat Question by Aviva Brown, illustrated by Anastasia Kanavaliuk Written by Kveller contributor Aviva Brown, Ezra’s BIG Shabbat Question came to be when Brown saw there weren’t enough Jewish books that depicted families like hers. In this adorable book, Ezra wants to know if he can perform a certain action during Shabbat. He goes to his rabbi to get the answers but comes out with even more questions! Honestly, is there anything more Jewish than that? Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour Award-winning children book author Julius Lester’s 2005 book stars with Lester telling us his own story: where he was born, what he

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loves to do, and that he is Jewish and that he is Black. (“There’s something else that’s a part of my story,” he writes. “It’s part of yours, too. That’s what race we are. I’m Black. What race are you?”) While the book reminds us that we are all skeletons underneath, it also urges us to inquire about the story of every person we meet, and reminds us that race is a part of that story. The Color of Us by Karen Katz “When my daughter was 5 years old in kindergarten she asked why she was a different color than my husband and me,” Karen Katz, the book’s writer and illustrator says. “She is adopted from Guatemala. We talked about it. The next day I was at her school looking at all the beautiful kids in her class and I thought. These kids are brown and tan and peachy they aren’t just black or white. It was then I decided to do do this book as a celebration of the beautiful colors of kids.” Jalapeno Bagels by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Robert Casilla Joey finds a way to celebrate his Mexican and Jewish heritage in quite possibly the most delicious way possible: by making jalapeno bagels. (Yum!) This beautifully illustrated book teaches some Yid-

dish and Spanish words, too. Hanukkah Moon by Deborah De Costa, illustrated by Gosia Mosz This beautifully illustrated picture book explores the Hanukkah customs of Latin American Jewish families. It’s told through the story of Isobel’s visit with her aunt Luisa, a new immigrant from Mexico. Isobel plays with a dreidel piñata and learns about celebrating the luna nueva, the new moon that appears on Hanukkah. Yaffa and Fatima, Shalom, Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams, illustrated by Chiara Fedele Teach your kids about coexistence with this beautiful book that depicts the relationship and religious traditions of two neighbors: Yaffa, who is Jewish, and Fatima, who is Muslim. It’s a lovely way to teach your kids about Islam and loving your neighbor. Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar This book features a multicultural Jewish and Indian family celebrating Hanukkah, and starts one curious and perky little girl! It’s a delight. Always an Olivia by Carolivia Herron, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau In this pretty children’s book that’s based on the author’s remarkable family history, a girl’s great-

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grandmother tells her about her the story of her family’s Jewish and African American heritage.

Elan, Son of Two People by Heidi SmithHyde, illustrated by Mikela Prevost

This book tells the story of Elan, the son of a Jewish father and a Native American Pueblo mother, who undergoes both a bar mitzvah and the pueblo ceremony that takes one from childhood to manhood. FOR MIDDLE READERS Stealing Home by Ellen Schwartz In 1947, a biracial Jewish kid with a passion for baseball faces alienation in both his African American community and in the Jewish community of Brooklyn. My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman Aside from the challenge of learning her bat mitzvah Torah portion and dealing with the usual challenges of a girl her age, Tara (Hindi for “star”) deals with how to balance her Indian and Jewish identity, as well as what it’s like having a bat mitzvah while you’re questioning your faith. This is Just a Test by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg. See READING LIST on Page

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ommunity THE JEWISH LIGHTeferraLs

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Are you searching for a compassionate nursing home in New Orleans? Ferncrest Manor Living Center is a nursing home community with a highly trained staff to provide professional care, comfort and security to seniors in the New Orleans area. They are also equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and experienced physicians that will custom-tailor a treatment plan for each individual based on their unique needs while monitoring their progress throughout their stay. Whether your loved one needs shortterm post-operative care or long-term rehabilitative care, Ferncrest Manor Living Center is the place to consider for exceptional senior care. But, the best part of living at Ferncrest Manor Living Center is the sense of community shared by all of the residents and caring staff members. From the exquisite grounds and luxurious surroundings to the diverse calendar of activities, the concept of community is the main component of everything they do. Striving for a taste of true New Orleans hospitality and having a sense of community truly adds to the quality of life enjoyed by all the residents of Ferncrest Manor. Complex Care Unit For residents who require long-term dependence on sophisticated health technology in settings other than the acute care hospital, Ferncrest Manor Living Center offers a skilled level of care, providing highly technical skilled nursing care to meet the intense level of respiratory needs for ventilator-dependent residents. These specialized tasks are performed by a staff of registered nurses, certified respiratory therapists, social workers, and other qualified professionals under the supervision of a qualified physician. They also provide specialized care for patients with ventilator dependency

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requiring dialysis; Medicaid rehabilitation for closed head injuries; and Tracheostomy. Medicare Skilled Nursing Unit Ferncrest Manor provides a skilled nursing unit for residents with Medicare insurance. They maintain a high level of healthcare standards and procedures to ensure all residents receive quality treatment. The medical director and staff of physicians make regular visits to residents and are on call for emergency treatment 24 hours a day. Some of these services include tube feeding, tracheotomy, renal failure requiring dialysis, short and long-term rehabilitation, wound care (including decubitus ulcers), and physical, speech, occupational and respiratory therapies. Respite Care Respite care is available for individuals requiring a short-term stay. For caregivers going on vacation, the Ferncrest staff can care for their loved ones. Activities for All Ferncrest Manor Living Center encourages residents to take an active part in their own lives through programs designed with their special needs in mind. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strolling in the courtyards, visiting in the gazebo or attending a traditional religious service, they have the activities that will make your loved one feel at home and a part of a truly great community! Some of the regular activities include: arts & crafts, bingo, bowling games, card games, field trips, ice cream socials, monthly birthday parties, movies & popcorn, music hour, pizza parties, pokeno games, reading time, resident meetings, and wine & cheese socials.ĂŹ

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These 10 Yiddish Words Will Get You Through Quarantine By Ellen Scolnic And Joyce Eisenberg This story originally appeared on Kveller.

(Image by Imagno/Getty Images; design by Arielle Kaplan)

We’ve been self-quarantining for more than 40 days and 40 nights and, quite frankly, we’re running out of steam. Still, we can’t escape all the social media posts and articles (and our mother’s voices in our heads) telling us to make good use of this time. Friends, editors, and even country singer Roseanne Cash reminded us that Shakespeare wrote “King Lear” when he was quarantined during the Great Plague. Actress — no, sorry, lifestyle expert Gwyneth Paltrow urged us to write a book, teach ourselves to code online and learn a language. Teen idol Harry Styles upped the ante when he told us he’s learning sign language and Italian. But in between cooking every single meal — to say nothing of snacks — and motivating our kids to stay focused on their distance learning assignments, just how are we supposed to find the time to learn a new language? (Moreover, how can we even practice said language when our mouths are pretty much always filled with cookies?) Here’s one thing we can find the time to do, however: We could all learn just a few words of a new language. Why not spend part of your “free time” at home brushing up on some of your bubbe and zayde’s favorite Yiddish words? In the shtetl, Yiddish was the language that allowed Eastern European Jews to talk freely among themselves without fear of reprisals. In American Jewish homes, it was the language that grandparents spoke when they didn’t want the

kinder to know what they were talking about. And now, if your kids are literally all over you 24/7, wouldn’t it be nice to have a secret language when you want to have a discreet chat with your partner? So now that you’ve bingewatched “Unorthodox,” it’s time to get off your tuchas and start using your keppe (head)! These 10 Yiddish words — each one loaded with emotion and angst, and boy do we have plenty of that! — will come in handy to describe this pandemic mishegas (craziness). 1. Tsedrayte adj. (tsuh-DRATE) All mixed up, confused. Before the COVID-19 virus, tsedrayte meant we couldn’t remember if we promised to meet a friend for lunch on Thursday or Friday. Now we don’t know what day of the week it is. These days, just getting the mail makes us tsedrayte. Do we leave the letters on the floor for 24 hours? Do we wipe the package before we put it on the floor or wash our hands and then wipe the package? And what do we do after we open it? 2. Shpilkes (SHPILL-kiss) Impatience, restlessness. Before COVID-19, when our young kids had “ants in their pants,” we’d tell them to go outside and play. Now, however, we have to mask them up first, and watch them carefully so they stay six feet away from all the other kids who are also trying to get their shpilkes out. We used to go out to a yoga class; now when our little ones have shpilkes, we watch Cosmic Kids Yoga and do downward facing dogs right along with them. 3. Shlub n. (SHLUB) A slob; some who dresses sloppily. All this self-quarantining has made shlubs even shlubbier. Sweatpants and torn T-shirts have gone

from weekend wear to all day, everyday wear — unless you’re one of those people who dons business casual from the waist up for your Zoom conference calls. If we’ve learned any fashion sense while being self-quarantined, it’s that a bra is optional. 4. Pulkes pl. n. (PULL-keys) Thighs. The word usually refers to cute, chubby baby thighs, but it can also mean those belonging to poultry. And with all the freezer diving we’re doing, we’ve discovered and eaten our fair share of pulkes in the last month. We’re counting the days till we can swap out our sweatpants for shorts and attend a summer barbecue, but we’re not certain our pulkes will be ready for public viewing after all we’ve eaten. 5. Sekhel n. (SEH-khul) Common sense; good judgment. Advice used to flow downstream. Our parents would nag us: “Have a little sekhel; do you really have to fly when you’re pregnant?” Now the tables have turned and we nag our parents: “Wash your hands. Wear a mask. You’re going to the supermarket? You’re old. Stay home!” And our kids? They have the computer sekhel we need: They’ve taught us how to complete the online school attendance form and how to limit our Facebook posts to “friends only” so we don’t embarrass them in front of “the whole world!” They’ve also taught us that there’s nothing wrong with eating ice cream twice a day. 6. Eyngeshparter n. (AYN-guh-shpar-ter) A stubborn person; someone who cannot be convinced with logic. These are the people who are protesting to end the shutdown before it’s safe, ordering “cures” on the Internet, and claiming the pan-

demic is all a hoax. 7. Bubkes n. (BUP-kiss) Literally beans, nothing. Something that’s worthless or that falls short of expectations. In this new normal, we’re getting used to bubkes in the toilet paper aisle, bubkes in our fresh vegetable drawer, and bubkes in our checking account. 8. Ongeblozen adj. (un-geh-BLUH-zin) Sulky, pouty; a sourpuss. Our kids used to get ongeblozzen when we said we couldn’t go out for pizza. Now everyone’s ongeblozzen because we spent all afternoon making dough from scratch… and we didn’t have the right kind of cheese. “It tastes funny. It doesn’t taste like Panzone’s pizza. Why can’t we go to Panzone’s?” 9. Tsuris n. (TSORE-iss) troubles and worries; problems. We can’t help worrying when our sister tells us she had a suspicious mammogram or our son hints that someone bullied him in school. But these days, instead of worrying about illness or money or school or our family or the future — we’re worried about all of it. Tsuris has gone from personal to universal. 10. Oy int. (OY) Perhaps the most popular Yiddish expression, oy conveys dozens of emotions, from surprise, joy, and relief to pain, fear and grief. Bubbe Mitzi used to say that just groaning “a good oy” could make you feel better. So give a good oy, tie the shmata on your face — be sure to cover your mouth and your nose! — and try not to get tsedraye. Here’s hoping all this tsuris will be over soon. 

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Summer 2020

Entertainment

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It Might Be Hard To Laugh. But Jewish Humor Will Get Us Through This Pandemic With Our Collective Identity Intact

A microphone for stand-up comedy; Jon Savitt (Getty Images; Courtesy of Savitt)

NEW YORK (JTA) — Humor is as Jewish as challah. It also just so happens that we need both to survive — and producing the most satisfying versions can be especially challenging during a pandemic. As a comedian I may be biased, but I think humor is as important to Judaism as matzah ball soup. Humor is more than just humor — it’s hope. It’s invaluable. It’s the feeling that everything will be all right, even if just for a few moments. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone,

a nudge to keep going. When you’re lying awake in your apartment thousands of miles away from your friends and family, sometimes it’s all you have. Sometimes it’s exactly what you need. In my own life, I’ve viewed humor less as an intangible personality trait and more as a dusty family heirloom passed from generation to generation. At a young age, I could tell that my grandparents were funnier than they probably should have been. I don’t mean that they were

rattling off well-structured jokes. I don’t even know if my grandpa knew what stand-up was. This was something deeper-rooted: the ability to see humor in something that shouldn’t be funny. And not only see the humor, but unabashedly point it out to everyone in the room. Obviously, the ability to laugh — or make someone laugh — is not inherently Jewish. Still, it’s hard to deny our tight-knit relationship with humor. Part coping mechanism, part survival tactic, part odd-person-out, our connection with humor is not a coincidence. When I reflect on it, one word comes to mind: “perseverance.” The ability to move forward despite difficulties. Typically, we think of humor as a way to address our past. But Judaism, at least the way I see it, revolves around the future. Values like avodah (working together to accomplish something greater), mitzvot (performing acts of empathy and kindness), kehillah (committing to our community), menucha (resting, or as I call it, “nap time”). These

elements of Judaism all share the same future-focused mindset. And if Judaism is about tomorrow as much as yesterday or today, then that’s what makes our relationship with humor so unique. Humor isn’t something we stumble upon one day but a tool we’re given as kids. Like cursive, but useful! I’d be lying if I said it was easy to laugh these days. But as I sit in my apartment on day number who knows what, I’m trying to find the humor. Just like my parents and grandparents taught me. I laugh at Netflix shows, at texts and on Zoom calls. I’m not laughing at the situation; I’m laughing despite it. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned through synagogue, summer camp and Passover Seders, it’s that being serious and taking something seriously are not mutually exclusive. Nor should they be. In Judaism, there’s a certain pride when it comes to joking despite the heaviness around us. It’s not makSee HUMOR on Page

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‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Is The Best Show You’re Not Watching By Emily Burack

A scene from FX's "What We Do in the Shadows" (Courtesy of FX)

(JTA) — Taika Waititi is one of the hottest Jewish celebrities on the planet right now. The director, writer and actor is best known for his humorous “Thor” film and for “Jojo Rabbit,” his poignant Nazi satire that earned him an Academy Award. He was born to a Māori New Zealander father and a Jewish mother. He’s also a co-creator of the best TV show you’re not watching: “What We Do in the Shadows.” The premise is simple, if ridiculous: a documentary crew follows four vampires who live together in a house on New York’s Staten Island. The simplicity is what makes the show so successful — the tone is silly, deadpan, absurd and downright hilarious. Much of the credit goes to the stellar cast — that includes some famous Jewish guest stars such as Nick Kroll, Vanessa Bayer and Beanie Feldstein — and Waititi’s co-creator, the “Flight of the Conchords” star Jemaine Clement. Waititi and Clement have been collaborating since they attended university together. In 2004, they made the short film “What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires,” about vampire roommates in Wellington, New Zealand. Ten years later the Kiwi comedy stars turned it into a fulllength feature, using the same title, that premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance. The idea of mocking vampires came from a bit they used to do: Clement: We had played this thing on stage one time. Taika, Bret [McKenzie] and I all went to THE

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Calgary, to do a show, where one of us was on stage playing a vampire, doing vampire jokes. The only one I remember is like [exaggerated Slavic accent]: “I just flew from Transylvania, and boy are my arms tired. Because they were wings, and I flew all the way.” I think that was Taika doing that, and then I’d get up from the audience, dressed as a vampire, too, and I’m heckling him. Waititi: “You’ve been heckling me for 250 years!” Clement: “You heckled me in Vienna in 1563!” Waititi: “And then I chopped your head off!” “Ah, you have a new head, my friend.” Clement: I forgot that joke. “Yes, I have a different head.” Waititi: “Ah, but I remember the voice. And the heckles.” When we first met in Wellington, nothing was really open late at night except for video-game parlors. We would hang around, playing air hockey and doing those kinds of characters. “Ah, my old rival.” Just keep the stupid thing going on for ages. Thankfully they’ve kept “the stupid thing” going through a wildly funny movie and television show. When they initially pitched the film, Clement said, “The world needs ridiculous shit.” In a world where everything feels terrible, we need ridiculous and absurd and silly more than ever. Sometimes you just need to laugh at vampires trying to plan an orgy, or apply for a green card. The second season premiered Wednesday on FX and also is available on Hulu (along with Season 1). 

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Summer Special: Brisket Tacos With Carrot Slaw By Rebecca Firkser This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

When I was growing up, I knew brisket as an island of meat in a sea of sweet brownish-red sauce with carrot-plank buoys. Every holiday, this was plunked in the center of the table alongside a loaf of bread. It was … fine. But nothing to write home about. Whoever hosted the meal would lament about how the meat had been in the oven for hours as they sawed through the roast. I couldn’t help but think “all that time for this?” As I sliced through the brisket, I imagined all the ways it could be improved upon: more salt, always, maybe a bit of heat to break up all this fat, and some acid, too, to balance out the sweetness of the sauce. And why such thick slices of brisket? Brisket is a tough cut of meat, but if braised in well-seasoned liquid long enough, it can go so tender

it practically shreds itself when nudged with a fork. I’ll be honest, all I want to do with shredded meat is wrap it inside a warm corn tortilla with a big squeeze of lime. This summer, I dare you to leave the giant platter of meat for the winter months and embrace the warming weather with braised brisket tacos. A note on carrots: You’ll find none in this pot of brisket. When cooked to oblivion along with the meat, carrots become mush. But a crunchy, tangy raw carrot slaw served alongside the meat breathes new life into the familiar flavors. My great-aunt probably wouldn’t stand for it, but I say that once you’re changing one thing, why not just lean into some tweaks that speak to you? Personally, I don’t miss the original at all when this is on the table. Ingredients: For the brisket: 4 pounds beef brisket Kosher salt and black pepper 1 tablespoon neutral oil 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

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or honey 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 medium red onions, quartered or 3 large shallots, halved 1 head garlic, halved crosswise (no need to get rid of the skin) 1 tablespoon hot smoked paprika 1 tablespoon chile powder 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes 2 cups chicken, vegetable or beef broth For the slaw: 1/4 cup lime juice 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes Kosher salt and black pepper 5 medium carrots, grated 6 scallions, thinly sliced For serving: Corn or flour tortillas (small) Diced white onion, pickled jalapeño, sliced radish, hot sauce Lime wedges Directions: 1. Season the brisket all over with salt and pepper at least 1 hour at room temperature (or overnight in the fridge, then returned to room temperature before searing). Preheat the oven to 325 F. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over mediumhigh heat, then sear the brisket fatside down until well-browned, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board or plate. Pour out all but 2 tablespoons fat. 2. In a small bowl, dissolve sugar or honey in apple cider vinegar and set aside. 3. Add onions and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until they take on some color, about 4 minutes. Stir in paprika, chile powder and tomato paste, and cook until the spices are fragrant and the tomato

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paste turns brick red, about 1 minute. Stir in the vinegar mixture, tomatoes and broth, then bring to a boil. Season with a big pinch of salt. Let the mixture reduce for 5 minutes, then return the brisket to the pot, fat-side up. 4. Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Bake, removing the pot from the oven and spooning some of the liquid over the meat every 40 minutes or so, until the meat easily shreds when you pull at it with a fork, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. 5. Remove pot from the oven and carefully skim off as much rendered fat as you can from the surface of the mixture. Discard fat. Uncover the pot and let cook for an additional 15 minutes. Let cool, then skim fat again. Skim fat every 15 minutes until you’re ready to serve, then use 2 forks to shred the meat and coat entirely in the surrounding sauce. The onions and garlic will have essentially melted into the sauce, but if you spy whole cloves of garlic, give them a smash to incorporate. (Alternatively, remove pot without skimming fat, let the mixture cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight, covered. The following day, scoop off solidified fat from the surface and return to the oven at 325 F. Discard fat. Cover and reheat for 1 hour, then shred meat.) 6. To make the slaw, combine lime juice, honey and red pepper flakes in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Toss in carrots and scallions. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve brisket with warmed tortillas, slaw and desired taco fixings. Serves 6-8. 

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Jewish Organizations Are In Danger. Our Legacy Planning Should Make Sure They Survive. By Mike Leven

A spectator holds a flag during the Celebrate Israel Parade along Fifth Avenue in New York City, May 31, 2015. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

ATLANTA (JTA) — My library has the popular book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” in which Yuval Harari — a Jew, an Israeli and an acclaimed author — states that the Jewish people don’t have a reason to exist anymore. They’ve finished what they had come here to do by contributing to a range of fields, from philosophy and ethics to science and the arts. Harari consistently downplays the role that Jews have had in shaping the world. “Jews may be a very interesting people,” he writes, “but when you look at the big picture, you must realize that they have had a very limited impact on the world.” This message counters how I was raised, how I live my life, and how my wife and I raised our three sons, who are now adults with children of their own. But Harari was right in stating that many Jews may no longer believe that being Jewish is a magical way of moving in our world. Many may not share my

READING LIST Continued from Page 13 David is preparing for his bar mitzvah, dealing with the drama between his Jewish grandma and his Chinese grandma, and… building a fallout shelter? A fun story about growing up Chinese and Jewish. For Young Adults Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert This is a coming-of-age story about Suzette, who is Black, Jewish, and bisexual, and her relationship with her stepbrother, Lionel, who has bipolar disorder. As Lisa Borten writes for our sister site, Alma: “The intersectionality and emotional honesty in this book are unmatched, and anyone looking for a realistic portrayal of mental illness and well-developed characters will enjoy this book.” THE

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conviction that Judaism gives us all a vital set of values, a deep sense of community and a powerful pride that comes with being part of an extraordinary and ancient people. I fear that these trends put the Jewish future at risk. I was raised in a Modern Orthodox home and remained observant through college, but after that I became secular. It wasn’t until my early 50s that I reengaged deeply with Jewish life. Since then, I have become involved with an array of organizations, from Birthright to the Jewish Federation to the AEPi Fraternity Foundation. In the past two decades, I have been part of a range of projects in the Jewish world alongside some of our community’s most significant donors and organizations. My generation gave back, to the best of our ability, to Israel and the Jewish people through our pledges and our philanthropic gifts. We spoke to our children about our Jewish values and about what matters most to us. But we haven’t always done that in the context of charitable giving. In the coming decades, our children and grandchildren will soon receive the single largest transference of wealth that the American Jewish community has ever experienced. They also may have different feelings about Jewish life and Israel from the people who are

Lucky Broken Girlby Ruth Behar A young Cuban Jewish immigrant to America adjusts to life in New York City while dealing with the aftermath of a terrible car accident in this dramatic coming of age tale. Color Me In by Natasha Diaz As Emily Burack writes for our sister site, Alma, Color Me In “is coming-of-age story of Navaeh Levitz. Navaeh is a Black Jewish teenager whose father forces her to have a belated bat mitzvah at age 16. Navaeh’s parents are in the midst of a divorce, and the bat mitzvah is her father’s way of having her stay connected to his family. Meanwhile, Navaeh is struggling to figure out her identity, her relationship to her blackness, her privilege, a blossoming relationship, and her family. It’s a compelling and timely read.” 

leaving them that money, as has been documented in recent studies like the renowned Pew Report from 2013. The Holocaust and its shadow did not shape them the way it shaped us, despite the rise of antiSemitism today. Politics have negatively shaped the relationship that our children and grandchildren have with the State of Israel. Many of my friends who have given decades of volunteer service to the Jewish community have children who are barely interested or affiliated. This reality will have a significant impact on Jewish philanthropy tomorrow. Many friends in the philanthropic community choose to give through donor-advised funds — charitable investment accounts that have added tax benefits. While I was creating my own donor-advised funds for my sons, my wife wisely asked, “How do you know they are going to spend this Jewishly?” It hit me like a bolt. I never thought about what was going to happen to my donor-advised funds after I die. Our children don’t have to support the same Jewish causes we do, but they should continue the legacy we started. I went back and put a clause in our funds stating that 75% of our philanthropic funds will go to Jewish causes. I started the Jewish

Future Pledge to invite others — not only Warren Buffet’s billionaires — to pledge that upon their passing, they leave at least 50% of their assets for charitable purposes to continue to support our people. We are in an existential moment. Perhaps more than ever before, people are thinking about what’s important in life and what legacy they will leave behind. Now is the time to be thinking about what commitments you can make to help Jewish life continue for generations to come. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, no one can predict what challenges the Jewish community will face or what needs it will have. As our world changes, so too will Jewish philanthropy. Some organizations and initiatives will close as new ones emerge. Yet one thing is certain: The Jewish people and the State of Israel will continue to require significant resources to continue this remarkable project that we have sustained for thousands of years. We will need funds to run schools, synagogues and camps; to support advocacy organizations and strengthen Israel; to connect our young people to their past and link them to our future. And if we don’t worry about how to sustain this future, who will? 

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I Helped Coin The Term ‘Jews Of Color.’ It’s Time For A History Lesson. By Shahanna Mckinney Baldon This story originally appeared on Alma.

(Header image design by Emily Burack; friend group via Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images; background via beastfromeast/Getty Images)

Last week, eJewish Philanthropy, an independent publication serving the professional Jewish community, published an op-ed titled “How Many Jews of Color Are There?” The article argued that current estimates of the number of Jews of Color in the United States, which have been

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recently estimated at 12-15% of the larger Jewish community, are too high. It also criticized the use of the term “Jews of Color,” arguing that it doesn’t accurately describe the people to whom it refers. I am one of the originators of the term Jews of Color, and I think it’s time for a history lesson. We haven’t done enough to tell the story of what the term meant to its early adopters, and why it is in continuous use today. In 2001, Bridges: A Journal for Jewish Feminists and Our Friends published an issue titled “Writing and Art by and for Jewish Women of Color.” The issue’s international team of contributors and editors were Jewish women of diverse heritages and identities, including Indigenous, African-American, Chinese American, Ethiopian, Puerto Rican, Arab, Indian, Peruvian, Yemenite, Mizrahi, Sephardi,

Ashkenazi, Mixed Heritage and Jews by choice. I wrote the introduction for that Bridges issue. “This collection of writings and artwork by Jewish women of color — Jewish women of African, Asian, Latin, and Native American heritages — offers readers a chance to think about racism within the Jewish community,” I began. “How we name ourselves and our experiences is a place to begin,” I continued, arguing for use of a new term: “Jews of Color.” It was the first time, to our knowledge, that the term had been used in print in a national publication. Over the next 20 years, a range of initiatives, networks, and organizations have been organized using the Jews of Color framing. We even became an acronym: JOCs! Our work has focused on acknowledging and lifting up the racial and ethnic diversity in our communities, and finding ways to end the exclusion we experience as racial and ethnic minorities within U.S. Jewish spaces. Some examples of this exclusion mirror racial and ethnic exclusion in the wider U.S. society; for example, the lack of images of people who look like us in educational materials, and the lack of diversity among staff and leaders in our institutions. Other examples are specific to U.S. Jewish spaces, such as the general dearth of acknowledgement of non-Ashkenazi histories, melodies, or nusach (prayer services), and the experience of being mistaken for a waiter or custodian at our own synagogues.

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But recently, I have been troubled by what seems to be a growing amount of confusion surrounding this term and how it has been applied in our work to create more welcoming and inclusive Jewish communities. The idea for the Bridges issue came into being in the late 1990s, when progressives placed great value on multicultural coalitions. “[The term] ‘people of color’ created a basis to do coalition-building among all people targeted by racism as nonwhites,” I wrote. “Using the phrase ‘Jews of color’ can help people think about how some Jews have been targeted by racism because they are of backgrounds other than, or in addition to, European…[and] mindful use of the term ‘Jews of Color’ can be a political act.” The term was indeed used mindfully by its early adopters — it was our call for a new coalition. It was a tool that we used to crack open the door to conversations about racial and ethnic “minority within a minority” experiences in Jewish communities. It was a nod to the idea that we simply cannot totally disentangle the Eurocentrism in our U.S. Jewish communities from the Eurocentrism in the wider world, nor the various varieties of contemporary American xenophobia from the eternal specter of American racism. It’s important to note that Jews of Color is a term that was created by women. And it has been in continuous use over decades of women-led organizing. When placed in this historical context, any criticism by men of the term Jews of Color, such as that which was employed in the recent eJewish Philanthropy article, is also a gendered criticism. In 2004, Sarah Tauber, current professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Graduate School of Education, wrote a beautiful review of our Bridges issue. In it, she made a bold statement: “These womenspeakers and subjects claim a voice, a place, and a role in how Jewishness as an identity will be imagined, and thus defined, in the twenty-first century.” She was right. It is See HISTORY on Page THE

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HISTORY Continued from Page 22 no exaggeration that many of the women who were doing early work in this area have had an outsize impact on Jewish life in 2020. As our communities and our work have grown over time, so has the experience of naming ourselves. But one thing has remained constant: The work continues to be led by mostly women. Twenty years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the incredible work of then-future generations of Jewish diversity leaders, or their own journeys of self-naming. I now understand better that the act of naming ourselves is an ongoing process that happens through shared experience — like a river that, as it flows, will continuously change its surroundings as well as be changed by them. Today there are folks mobilizing as “Jews of Color,” “Jewish People of Color,” “Jewish Women of Color,” “Jews Targeted by Racism,” “Jews of the Global Majority,” “Jews of Color Indigenous Sephardim and Mizrahim,” “Black Indigenous Jews of Color Sephardim and Mizrahim,” and each of these terms has been gener-

ated through shared experiences of people doing the work. And the list will continue to grow, as long as there is a need to name the marginalization we experience. I don’t know that any of us early adopters of the term Jews of Color foresaw the way that the uses and understandings of the term would evolve. I certainly did not anticipate how the term would become essentialized and even weaponized by those who think they know better than we do about the names we have chosen for ourselves and our own damn lives. Africana scholar Wade W. Nobles has written about self-naming as an act of cultural resistance, essential to psychological protection and well-being. He describes such cultural resistance as a tool for “being family and being awesome in a hostile, toxic…reality” that would deny Black people our humanness. In our continued work to eliminate the ways that racism impacts our Jewish communities, let us lift up the act of Jews of Color naming ourselves, as a way of being family and as a way of being awesome in the face of the hostility and toxicity of racism. 

HUMOR Continued from Page 18 ing light of a situation, but addressing it head on. It’s a way of saying, “I’m acknowledging reality, but I’m committed to finding a path forward.” It’s not realistic, it’s not even optimistic. It’s simply the only way we know. “Jewish humor” is this weird cocktail of bluntness, empathy, darkness and resilience. With a hint of Larry David. Today, as we self-isolate and social distance, as we continue to combat anti-Semitism and hate, we’re reminded of how sacred humor is. Not because it solves our problems, but because it stops them from defining who we are. As the weeks and months and possibly even years wear on, we risk losing our ability to laugh, and it will take effort to prevent that from happening. The Jewish world must continue to carve out space for

Taking care of each other is what

laughter, even in darkness. Whether Shabbat services or summer camp reunions, this means actively and creatively finding ways to connect with each other, even if it’s through screens and across time zones. So, no matter what the future brings, I’m going to keep finding a way to make people laugh, and not just because it’s my job. Jewish humor can bring us together when we must be apart. It can help us let go of what’s out of our control so we can focus on what we can change. It helps us heal. It’s a way to be present. It’s a way to call out injustice. And unlike hand sanitizer, it’s available to everyone. This piece is a part of our series of Visions for the Post-Pandemic Jewish Future — The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

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Home Improvement

Time To Properly Clean Your Historic Home! New Orleans has many examples of spectacular architecture, in many cases over a century old! But if you need to restore or clean the exterior, you can’t call just anyone to work on it. You need a recognized professional, such as Southeast Waterproofing, locally owned by Scott Heidingsfelder. Scott advises that inappropriate cleaning and coating treatments can be a major cause of damage to historic buildings. Cleaning may sometimes be followed by the application of a water-repellent coating. However, unless these procedures are carried out under the guidance and supervision of a professional, they may result in irrevocable damage to your historic building. Southeast Waterproofing is well-versed on the variety of cleaning methods and materials that are available for use on the exterior of historic buildings. There are several major reasons for cleaning a historic building including the need to 24 Summer 2020

improve the appearance of the building, by removing dirt, address deterioration by repairing cracks and water intrusion, and certainly to provide a clean surface to accurately match the original exterior material, especially when dealing with masonry. Historic masonry includes stone, brick, architectural terra cotta, cast stone, concrete and concrete block. Most people would consider that water is the most effective tool in cleaning any property, however in the case of many historic properties, water, especially high velocity water streams, such as a pressure washer, is likely one of the most damaging tools that could be used in cleaning the property. If the building isn’t watertight, any moisture that gets in through the exterior can exasperate damage and cracks in the exterior, especially the complex masonry, marble, and other soft stones on many historic properties. Abrasive cleaning methods are

not appropriate for use on historic masonry buildings, either, because abrasive cleaning methods are just that—abrasive. Since the abrasives do not differentiate between the dirt and the masonry, they can also remove the outer surface of the masonry at the same time, and result in permanently damaging the exterior. Abrasion of carved details causes a rounding of sharp corners and other loss of delicate features, while abrasion of polished surfaces removes the polished finish of stone. Beyond the potential of causing catastrophic damage to their historic building, property owners also need to consider the safety of the environment when planning to rehabilitate the property. Southeast Waterproofing recognizes the potential effect of any method proposed for cleaning historic properties should be carefully evaluated. Chemical cleaners and paint removers may damage trees, shrubs, grass,

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and plants. Scott’s team will have a plan providing for the environmentally safe removal and disposal of all cleaning materials involved in your project. It is absolutely imperative to consider the historic appearance of the building. For example, Southeast Waterproofing recently completed two major historic projects including St. Joseph Church in Gretna and the Tulane University President’s House. Both buildings were returned to their historic grandeur and are excellent examples of meticulous care, attention to detail, and a passion for the work that Southeast Waterproofing performs with each project they undertake. Indeed, Scott and his team can do the same for your special historic property. The first step of your wellplanned project is to call Scott and Southeast Waterproofing at 504-473-7390 today to set an appointment to discuss your needs and concerns.  THE

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The Top 4 Home-Selling Myths, Busted! market for 60 to 100 days or more, assessment by the National Associaand the closing process might last tion of Realtors notes that the averfor up to 45 days, especially as we age FSBO home price was $185,000, continue to navigate through the while homes sold by a Realtor went COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of for $245,000. That’s a $60,000 price expecting instant gratification, it’s difference, which is much more than best to talk with your agent to create what you’d pay in commission! a realistic timeline before listing. Myth #3: You Can Only Sell in Spring or Summer Myth #2: Selling Without an It’s no secret Agent is Cheaper that spring and Many sellers summer are are tempted to prime seasons list their home as for real estate, “for sale by but that doesn’t mean you should owner” PLEASEbecause CHECK YOUR they want to avoid a commission only list during these months. In AD CAREFULLY FOR fact, there are some hidden benefits fee. However, the risks involved PLEASE CHECK YOUR to selling definitely outweigh the savings. SPELLING & CHECK GRAMMAR, AS during the fall and winter PLEASE YOUR AD CAREFULLY FOR you might not have considered. Real estate agentsWELL haveAStoACCURACY wear a that OFMany ADCAREFULLY FOR SPELLING & GRAMMAR, AS people buying in the second lot of hats—they act asADeverything DRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS & year are often more motifrom property value analyzers to half of SPELLING & GRAMMAR, ASthe WELL AS ACCURACY OF ADprofessional marketers to legal vated to make a deal, whether they’re OTHER VITAL INFORMATION. WELL AS ACCURACY OF AD-& or adapting to a change in DRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS negotiators, all of which require relocating PHONE & life. That means they’ll OTHER VITAL years of trainingDRESSES, and Your experience. their personal ad INFORMATION. willNUMBERS run When you opt to sell on your own, likely have their paperwork and OTHER VITAL INFORMATION. AS-IS unless changes will run all of that responsibilityYour fallsad onto finances in order well beforehand, are made and your shoulders, andAS-IS it’s aunless lot tochanges which speeds up the closing process. Your ad will run handle at once. You’ll also deal with less competiapproved with your AS-IS changes areunless made Although it might seem like and tion, which will make your home Account Executive by out more and give you extra are made approved your you’re saving money by doing it with all and stand yourself, an agent can protectExecutive you approved with negotiating yourby power. Account from scams, guide you through Account ExecutiveMyth by #4: You Can Price Your paperwork, and even sell your home Home by Yourself for up to 75% more. In fact, a recent There are countless mistakes to avoid when it comes to pricing your Metro-New-Orleans.com After this deadline, property, especially if you’re a firstThe Nugent Freeland Team is an Award Winning Family the Teamonly changes time seller. Many homeowners After this deadline, with over 60 years of combined experience. Northshore & Southshore. believe they know their home best that made After thisbe deadline, the may only changes and can set their own price, but this areonly to correct the changes that may be made isn’t necessarily the case. Oftentimes, sellers put more value into PUBLISHER’S that beERRORS. made aremay to correct their home than it’s actually worth to correct ERRORS. ThisPUBLISHER’S isare a low-resolution due to personal feelings—after all, PUBLISHER’S ERRORS. it’s hard to see your own home PDF proof of your This is a low-resolution without an unbiased eye! The right advertisement ThisPDF is aproof low-resolution of your agent will know the ins and outs of (may PDF not beproof true to of actual . market and won’t be so your advertisement thesize) local isbeproperty of biased, advertisement (mayItnot true to actual size). which makes them qualified to give. you a more accurate estiRenaissance (may It notisbeproperty true Publishing to actual of size) mate. (orRenaissance the Itoriginal creator) is property ofIt’sand Publishing also crucial to be wary of cannotcreator) be onlineand Publishing (orRenaissance the original home estimators that promise results. Believe it or not, they (or the reproduced, original cannotcreator) be instantand

“Fake news” has become one of the trendiest terms of the last few years—even when it comes to real estate. Homeowners are often bombarded with selling advice that promises to get their home sold quickly and for top dollar…but more often than not, these “tips” are nothing more than misleading— and can throw you off-track. We want to set the record straight. Here’s our list of the top four selling myths, debunked. Myth #1: It’s Just like Reality TV If HGTV is your guilty pleasure, you’ve probably watched hundreds of buyers and sellers navigate the real estate process on camera. Although the shows do get some things right, they’re often scripted and don’t provide an accurate idea of what it takes to sell your property. One of the biggest misconceptions created by these programs is the length of the selling process. Don’t fall for the TV magic—it actually takes a lot more than a showing and a phone call to close a deal. In reality, homes can sit on the

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won’t take into account any recent upgrades or repairs you’ve made on your home. A website also lacks the same personal touch as a real person. An agent will do thorough research into real estate trends in your area, as well as other properties that have sold nearby. Their hyper-local analysis paints a better picture of what your home can actually sell for. Looking for More Selling Advice? Whether you’re selling your first home or your fifth, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your real estate knowledge. If you have questions or are ready to list, feel free to reach out to the Nugent-Freeland Team in Metairie at 877-409-1939. They can’t wait to team up and tackle the selling process together! 

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duplicated or used cannot be in any reproduced, other format. reproduced, duplicated or used inWilson any Bourg 2009, in any duplicated used otherorformat. Lynda Nugent Smith, CRS, GRICopyright Lesha Nugent Freeland, GRI, SRS Renaissance Publishing. other format. Copyright 2009, Lumber & Building Supply Michael Freeland, ABR, AHWDCopyright 2009,

Renaissance Publishing.

Call us to learn more – (877) 409-1939 Renaissance Publishing. teamnugentfreeland@gmail.com Keller Williams Realty 455-0100 | 3197 Richland Rd., Metairie 70002 Each Ofﬁce Independently Owned and Operated Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission

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APPROVAL 947-6678 APPROVAL(504) 7:30am - 4:00pm ____________________ APPROVALMon-Fri Sat 8:00am - 1:00pm ____________________ ____________________ DATE

Since 1938 2737 N. Peters St. New Orleans, LA 70117 www.wilsonbourglumber.com

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Going Solar Is On The Rise

Rising energy costs and a growing desire to live more eco-friendly lifestyles has spurred interest in solar panels to power our homes. Although solar panels have been around for quite some time, only recently have solar panels begun to be visible as homeowners have been trying to capture electricity from the rays of the sun. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the solar industry saw a robust expansion of 41 percent in 2019, and that popularity continues to grow. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association®, in 2019 the solar industry

grew at 34 percent more than 2017 figures. Through the first half of the year, the solar industry supplied 40 percent of all new 2019 electric generating capacity - more than any other energy technology. Solar energy now has the cumulative electric capacity to power more than 4.6 million average American homes. According to Green Tech Media, American solar companies are now installing one solar system every four minutes. If the market continues to grow at this pace, through 2020 there will be a system installed every 20 seconds. These gains in

the solar industry may have been spurred on by the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which the SEIA says has helped to lower the cost of solar energy by more than 73 percent. How does solar energy work? Solar energy is turned into electric power through the photovoltaic (PV) cells located in the solar panels. The PV cells transform sunlight into direct electric current. An inverter built into the system converts the DC electricity into the alternating current (AC) that powers homes. The AC is sent to the home's electrical panel and used to power lights and other devices. What happens at night? Unless a home is self-contained and off the grid, the average homeowner will not have to worry about night usage or batteries to store energy. He or she will continue to use energy off of the traditional electrical system at night. Many electrical costs will be offset by the amount of extra solar energy put back into the grid. There are a variety of programs, and some homeowners may even reverse bills further based on how much electricity is generated.

Solar panel needs Although it is ideal to have a south-facing location for panels, this is not an absolute necessity. According to SolarEnergy.net, positioning solar panels to face west or south will work, and even southeast-, east- and north-northwestfacing panels can produce adequate energy savings. The type of roof may affect costs. Solar panels will not harm the roof when installed correctly, but ornate Spanish tiles or other roofing material may increase solar panel installation costs. Many homeowners find that the solar panels protect the roof from extreme weather, heat and cold, providing an extra bonus to solar energy. Solar panel costs The "soft costs" associated with solar energy can be substantial. Such costs include permits, installation and labor. Energy Informative indicates that the solar panels themselves are relatively affordable. Call Solar Alternatives at 877776-5258 to discuss a solar panel installation to help you lower your energy costs! 

More energy for the things you love. Learn how solar can enhance your historic home. Solar Design & Installation Energy Efficiency

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The Benefits Of Composting • Composting removes food waste from the environment where it can pollute groundwater and streams. • Good composting destroys pathogens and produces a safe soil amendment. • Good composting produces a quality soil additive that improves both the physical condition and fertility of the soil. Types of Composting Vermicomposting This method is most often used for composting food waste. This type of composting uses red worms, bacteria, fungi, and other bugs to break down the materials. Each micro-organism serves a purpose, whether it is to break down materials or produce food for the others. Proper aeration and moist conditions are necessary for a healthy compost environment. Conditions need monitoring, but need a medium level of maintenance. Aerobic This composting uses air and bacteria, and is suitable for waste that is high in nitrogen. Things like grass clippings and leaves allow a type of bacteria to grow that produces high temperatures, up to 160

degrees Fahrenheit. This type of composting works quickly, but requires a high amount of maintenance to keep the temperatures up. It will need to be turned every few days to allow for proper air circulation. Watering the compost while turning it is also necessary to keep moisture levels up. Aerobic composting is suitable for large amounts of materials, but the rate will slow down if allowed to dry or cool. Anaerobic This composting, also known as slime composting, uses only slowmoving bacteria and does not need air circulation to break down the waste. Materials are gathered together in a pile and allowed to break down without any maintenance. This type of composting may take several years, and is the kind of composting that happens in landfills. Materials to Avoid when Composting Coal Ash – Most ashes are safe to mix into your compost pile, but coal ashes are not. They contain sulfur and iron in amounts high enough to damage plants. Colored Paper – Some paper with colored inks (including newsprint) contain heavy metals or other toxic

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by mentioning this ad www.CompostingNetwork.com 504.206.9298 materials and should not be added to the compost pile. Diseased Plants – It takes an efficient composting system and ideal conditions (extreme heat) to destroy many plant diseases. If the disease organisms are not destroyed they can be spread later when the compost is applied. Avoid questionable plant materials. Inorganic Materials – This stuff won’t break down and includes alumi-

num foil, glass, plastics and metals. Pressure-treated lumber should also be avoided because it’s treated with chemicals that could be toxic in compost. How can you join? Composting is a win-win situation! Contact Joseph Brock at 504-2069298 to set up composting at your home or office and join us in the fight to preserve our natural resources! 

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Summer 2020

Home Improvement

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Get The Best Mortgage Financing Deal

Getting a mortgage requires research and some preparation on the part of borrowers if they hope to get the friendliest terms possible. Few people are able to walk into a home, like what they see and then pay for a house in cash. In the vast majority of home purchases, mortgages make the dream of home ownership a reality. Getting a mortgage requires research and some preparation on the part of borrowers if they hope to get the friendliest terms possible. Homes are substantial, decadeslong investments, so it's smart to shop around to find the best rates and lenders available. These tips can make the process of applying and getting a mortgage go smoothly, and may even help borrowers save some money. · Learn your credit score. Your

credit score will be a factor in determining just how much bargaining power you have for lower interest rates on mortgage loans, according to the financial resource NerdWallet. The higher the credit score, the better. Well before shopping for a mortgage, manage your debt, paying it off if possible, and fix any black marks or mistakes on your credit report. · Investigate various lenders. The Federal Trade Commission says to get information from various sources, whether they are commercial banks, mortgage companies, credit unions, or thrift institutions. Each is likely to quote different rates and prices, and the amount they're willing to lend you may vary as well. Investigating various lenders can help you rest easy knowing you got the best rate for you. Lenders may charge additional fees that can drive up the overall costs associated with getting a mortgage. Compare these fees as well so you can be sure you get the best deal. · Consider a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers will serve as the middle person in the transaction. A broker's access to several different lenders can translate into a greater

array of loan products and terms from which to choose. · Learn about rates. Become informed of the rate trends in your area. Lower rates translate into significant savings amounts per month and over the life of the loan. Rate may be fixed, though some are adjustable-rate mortgages (also called a variable or floating rate). Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and a financial consultant can discuss what might be in your best interest. · Discuss points with your financial advisor and lender. Some lenders allow you to pay points in advance, which will lower the interest rate. Get points quoted in dollar amounts so they'll be easier to compare. If you're unfamiliar with points, discuss the concept with your financial advisor. The vast majority of homeowners secured a mortgage to purchase their homes. Learning about the mortgage process can help new buyers navigate these sometimes tricky financial waters. We recommend calling Levy Home Loans at 504-258-4332 to help you find the right mortgage for you. 

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New Iberia Company Raising The Standard For Covid-19 Decontamination By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This story is brought to you by Ampol. American Pollution Control, Corporation (AMPOL) has been on the front lines of many major disasters over the years. Its employees have helped clean up after numerous oil spills across the world. In the early 2000s, AMPOL was a contract company brought on to decontaminate facilities and offices in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. after anthrax attacks. AMPOL crews have worked to address contamination from issues related to Ebola and the bird flu. So when COVID-19 began to spread across the United States this year, AMPOL owner Kirk Headley and his team of about 250 employees were fully prepared to help businesses disinfect their facilities. The first thing we do when we approach any type of hazard is make sure we can do it safely,” Headley said. “Our employees have families and children, and we want them to be able to return home without any harm. We have someone with a Ph.D. in chemistry on staff. We have a certi-

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fied industrial hygienist. We first develop a plan to protect our people and then second, determine how to perform the decontamination task.” When it came to COVID-19, Headley said AMPOL referred to studies in the United States and England, where AMPOL and its teaming partner used testing meters to establish standards to make facilities hospital-grade clean. AMPOL is now using those methods in all facilities that have requested its services for COVID-19 decontamination. “What we do that our other competitors do not, is we take presamples of a facility, perform the disinfection, take post samples, and show the client the cleanliness levels before and after,” Headley said. “We’ll show you what hospitalgrade clean is and how we got your facility there. We do more than just disinfection. We show our client the results with a documented report that the client can show the employees, so they can feel comfortable and safe to return.”

Headley said the frequency of since its inception. It still has corthe cleaning depends on the cus- porate headquarters in New Iberia, tomer. For example, AMPOL but now also has five locations in crews are currently working in sev- Louisiana, one location in Texas eral courthouses and other build- and three international offices. ings each night to disinfect after the The growth doesn’t appear to be day’s business activities. Other cli- stopping anytime soon. In fact, Headents, such as hotels and offshore ley said he’s always looking for new companies that operate living quar- employees to join the AMPOL ranks. ters, have requested regular sched- The work can be dirty and intense, uled cleanings. AMPOL crews are and sometimes requires lengthy trips also working in California to disin- away from home, he said. But the fect control rooms 24 hours a day. rewards can be plentiful. “Some disinfection services hap“We feel it’s a rewarding career pen even while people are work- and a well-paying career, and I ing,” Headley said. “Some just don’t think the environmental busiwant us to work at night. Some ness is going anywhere anytime want a one-time disinfection. It’s soon,” he said. “One of our goals is really up to the clientsNew to decide to becompany a leader in our industry, so we Iberia raising how often they would like us to are always looking for high-characforwho COVID-19 provide disinfection.” the standard ter people want to learn.” For Headley, responding to situaFor more decontamination information on tions like COVID-19 feels like what AMPOL services, visit www. he was destined to do. He always ampol.net.  By Amanda McElfresh knew he wanted to be an amcelfresh@theadvocate.com entrepreneur and run his own business. Heto you This story is brought by Ampol. decided to open AMPOL in New American Pollution Control Iberia in 1993 after gravitating tohas been Corporation (AMPOL) on the front lines of many major disasters over the years. emergency response projects. Its employees have helped up after numerous oil “A lot of other types clean of projects spills across the world. In the early 2000s, AMPOL was a might take six months of contract planning,” company brought on decontaminate facilities he said. “With emergencytoandresponse, offices in New Jersey and D.C. after anthrax you’ve got to be able toWashington, do AMPOL someattacks. crews have worked to address contamination from issuesI’ve related to Ebola thing in two or three hours. and the bird ﬂu. So when COVID-19 always liked that. You still have to began to spread across the United States this year, AMPOL owner do it right, but also do itKirkquickly. I Headley and his team of about 250 employees were fully really enjoy that challenge.” prepared to help businesses disinfect their facilities. AMPOL has grown significantly “The ﬁrst thing we do when

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we approach any type of hazard is make sure we can do it safely,” Headley said. “Our employees have families and children, and we want them to be able to return home without any harm. We have someone with a Ph.D. in chemistry on staff. We have a certiﬁed industrial hygienist. We ﬁrst develop a plan to protect our people and then second, determine how to perform the decontamination task.” When it came to COVID-19, Headley said AMPOL referred to studies in the United States and England, where AMPOL and its teaming partner used testing meters to establish standards to make facilities hospital-grade clean. AMPOL is now using those methods in all facilities that have requested its services for COVID-19 decontamination. “What we do that our other competitors do not, is we take pre-samples of a facility, perform the disinfection, take post samples, and show the client the cleanliness levels before and after,” Headley said. “We’ll show you what hospital-grade clean is and how we got your facility there. We do more than just disinfection. We show our client the results with a documented report that the client can show the employees, so they can feel comfortable and safe to return.” Headley said the frequency

of the cleaning depends on the customer. For example, AMPOL crews are currently working in several courthouses and other buildings each night to disinfect after the day’s business activities. Other clients, such as hotels and offshore companies that operate living quarters, have requested regular scheduled cleanings. AMPOL crews are also working in California to disinfect control rooms 24 hours a day. “Some disinfection services happen even while people are working,” Headley said. “Some just want us to work at night. Some want a one-time disinfection. It’s really up to the clients to decide how often they would like us to provide disinfection.” For Headley, responding to situations like COVID-19 feels like what he was destined to do. He always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and run his own business. He decided to open AMPOL in New Iberia in 1993 after gravitating to emergency response projects. “A lot of other types of projects might take six months of planning,” he said. “With emergency

response, you’ve got to be able to do something in two or three hours. I’ve always liked that. You still have to do it right, but also do it quickly. I really enjoy that challenge.” AMPOL has grown signiﬁcantly since its inception. It still has corporate headquarters in New Iberia, but now also has ﬁve locations in Louisiana, one location in Texas and three international offices. The growth doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. In fact, Headley said he’s always looking for new employees to join the AMPOL ranks. The work can be dirty and intense, and sometimes requires lengthy trips away from home, he said. But the rewards can be plentiful. “We feel it’s a rewarding career and a well-paying career, and I don’t think the environmental business is going anywhere anytime soon,” he said. “One of our goals is to be a leader in our industry, so we are always looking for high-character people who want to learn.” For more information on AMPOL services, visit www. ampol.net.

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Outdoor Improvements That Boost Home Value Whether home improvement projects are design to improve the interior or exterior of a house, focusing on renovations that make the most financial sense can benefit homeowners in the long run. The right renovations can be assets if and when homeowners decide to sell their homes. So how does one get started? First and foremost, speak to a local real estate agent who is knowledgeable about trends in the community. While a swimming pool may be something coveted in one area, it may impede sales in another. It also helps to study generalized trends and data from various home improvement industry analysts to guide upcoming projects. The following outdoor projects are just a few renovations that tend to add value. • Fire pit: A fire pit is a great place to gather most months of the year. Bob Vila and CBS news report that a fire pit realizes a 78

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percent return on investment, or ROI. • Outdoor kitchen: Many buyers are looking to utilize their yards as an extension of interior living areas. Cooking, dining and even watching TV outdoors is increasingly popular. Outdoor living areas can be custom designed and built. In addition, prefabricated modular units that require a much smaller commitment of time and money are available. • Patio: Homeowners who do not already have a patio will find that adding one can increase a home's value. Patios help a home look neat, add useable space and may help a home to sell quickly. The experts at Space Wise, a division of Extra Space Storage, say that refinishing, repairing and building a new patio offers strong ROI. • Deck: Deck can be as valuable as patios. A deck is another outdoor space that can be used for entertaining, dining and more.

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Remodeling magazine's 2018 "Cost vs. Value" report indicates that an $11,000 deck can add about $9,000 in resale value to the home, recouping around 82 percent of the project's costs. • Door update: Improve curb appeal with a new, high-end front door and garage doors. If that's too expensive, a good cleaning and new coat of paint can make an old door look brand new. These easy fixes can improve a home's look instantly. • New landscaping: The National Association of Realtors says an outdoor makeover that includes well-thought out landscaping can net 105 percent ROI. Installing a walkway made of pavers, adding stone planters, mulching, and planting shrubs are ideas to consider. When trying to make your backyard dreams come into reality, speak to JimStone Co. at 985-882-5907. 

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St. Joseph Church Gretna, LA

We specialize in masonry repair and restoration, including the cleaning, repair, coating and caulking of new & existing commercial and residential structures. We take great pride in being the oldest and most experienced waterproofing contractor in the city, having worked on modern and historic properties across town, including the Vieux Carré. Our reputation for knowledge, service, performance and quality has made us one of the premier waterproofing and coating contractors in the Southeast United States.

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504-822-1684

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Sco� Heidingsfelder, President 1028 Jus�n Street, Metairie, LA 70001 www.thejewishlight.org

Summer 2020

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Pool Waterfalls & Grottos www.professionalpatios.com

Installations with up to

On qualifying installations of Outdoor Kitchens, Concrete Countertops, Water Features, Fire Pits, and all custom Cliffrock Projects. Special offer only applies to customer paying by cash, check, or money orders. (Does not apply to installations being paid with credit cards or any type of financed loans.) This ad must be presented at time of estimate to qualify for special offer. This offer expires on 12/31/2020 CANNOT BE USED WITH PRIOR ESTIMATES OR OTHER COUPONS

Be safe, be BLESSED, have a Happy July 4th and Thank God for our military, dedicated first responders, medical workers and their families and keep them in your prayers!