When its time to feed, we feed. When its time to educate, we

educate. When its time to provide

medical care, we treat.

next dorJewish Federation oF the Lehigh VaLLey

opening the door to the next generation

BUBBYS KITCHEN

A One Woman Musical

This real-life womans wisdom and courage comes to life in Bubbys Kitchen, a one-woman musical created and performed by her

33-year-old granddaughter, Shira Ginsburg.

7:00pm at the JCCThursday, April 28, 2011

Created & Performed by Cantor Shira Ginsburg

- the Democrat & Chronicle

By Abby TrachtmanJFLV Program Coordinator

Ben Lewis wants his community to be more aware of how to be green in their daily lives, and hes using his bar mitzvah to spread the word.

For Ben, a 7th-grader at Springhouse Middle School, being green is an issue that is near and dear to his heart. Bens Aunt Roann lives in Connecticut, and in her town, there are a myriad of programs designed to help the community reduce, reuse and recycle. She visits often and made it her mission to help the Lewis family become green, too. Bens mom Stacy loved that her sister was showing them how they could use less water and electricity, and the Lewis family is now using fewer plastic grocery bags and recycling more.

When it came time to make Bens Bar Mitzvah invitations, Stacy says Ben became very aware of all the paper they would be using, and he pointed out that the paper comes from trees.

It was around the time of the devastating wildfires in Israels Carmel Forest that burned over 5 million pine trees, and Ben wanted to do something to help. He realized that all those invitations, envelopes and stamps were paper that was just going to be thrown away: paper that comes from trees.

The Lewis family decided that, to save trees, Bens invitation would not include a response card and return envelope. Instead, they would ask for RSVPs by email. They took the money that they would have spent on the response cards and donated it to the Jewish National Funds JNF Parsons

Water Fund: a comprehensive $100 million initiative to increase the supply of high-quality water in Israel by more than 440 billion gallons by 2020. It will invest in a variety of water-related ventures, including building reservoirs, promoting water recycling, drilling for new aquifers, rehabilitating rivers and streams, and supporting educational initiatives.

So what can you do to help Ben with his Bar Mitzvah project? Ben isnt asking you for anything or to donate anything. He wants you to do some research into how you can be greener every day. He says that PPLs website offers many suggestions for lowering your energy use and that that is a good place to start.

Things like using a programmable thermostat to lower the heat when no one is home or unplugging appliances when they arent being used are easy ways to help the planet by using less energy. Ben says that being green is not just a Bar Mitzvah project; it needs to be a way of life.

In addition to his mitzvah project, Ben will make his first adult gift of tzedakah to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

For help developing your mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, Program Coordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500, ext. 321.

give a mitzvah, do a mitzvah

Greening the community7th-grader Ben Lewis commemorates his Bar Mitzvah by raising awareness for eco-friendly initiatives

ERG CourseContinues from page 1

By Abby TrachtmanJFLV Program Coordinator

The Holocaust Resource Center of the

Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is pleased to announce the establishment of the

Helen and Sol Krawitz Holocaust Memorial Fund

supporting Holocaust education, prejudice reduction, tolerance education,

and teacher training

Tribute and memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104 610-821-5500

ghana

afr

ica Eva Levitt will be visiting Ghana as part of a medical mission led by her son, Dr. Marc Levitt of Cincinnati, OH. She is currently accepting donations of new or gently used stuffed animals and duffel bags to take

with her to give to the children.

If you would like to make a donation, please call Eva at 610-398-1376.

Lehigh Valley Jewish FoundationThe endowment fund of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

IN MEMORYGERALDINE BENOWITZ(Mother of Nancy Greenfield) Marilyn EntisBESSIE BERENSON(Mother of Mimi Silberstein) Jan, Glenn, Naomi and Noah EhrichSTANLEY BLOCH(Husband of Faye Bloch and brother of Leonard Bloch) Avie and Phil JacobsonFAYE BRAFMAN(Mother of Joan Lowenfels and grandmother of Erica Papir) Elaine and Leon PapirLISA BRATT(Sister of Evelyn Lipschutz) Wendy and Ross Born Lisa and Barnet Fraenkel Carol and Barry Halper Elaine and Leon PapirRON CHMIELEWSKI(Husband of Linda Chmielewski) Wendy and Ross BornZELDA COOPER(Mother of Peter Cooper) Roz and Al MishkingAMIRAM BEN EZER(Brother of Sharona Schnitzer) Sandra and Harold GoldfarbBIRDIE AND HARRY GOLD-BERG(Ann Goldberg and Family) Michele and Gilfrid LevyJOYCE GRATCH(Mother of Allison Lipson) Joanne and Robert PalumboSHEILA GREENBERG(Mother of Nechama Katz and Matt and Bram Greenberg) Randi and Donald SenderowitzMARILYN GROB(Mother of Robert Grob) Joanne and Robert PalumboROBERTA LUBER(Mother of Robert Luber) Evelyn and Jay LipschutzHAROLD ROTHFELD(Husband of Elaine Rothfeld) Lenny Abrams Joani Lesavoy and Sid Greenberg Carol and Barry Halper Roz and Al Mishkin Penny and Adam Roth and Family Selma Roth Barbara and Fred Sussman Debbie and Morty ZelicksonELAINE SAMPLINER(Mother of Marjorie Hertz) Wendy and Ross BornFRED WIENER(Husband of Linda Wiener and father of David Wiener) Lenny Abrams Wendy and Ross Born Judy, Marc, Noah and Molly Diamondstein Iris, Jonathan, Harry an Charlie Epstein Lisa and Barnet Fraenkel Avie and Phil Jacobson Suzanne Lapiduss and Tracey and Jason Billig Joani Lesavoy and Sid Greenberg

Elaine and Leon Papir Penny and Adam Roth and Family Selma Roth Randi and Donald Senderowitz Barbara and Fred Sussman Debbie and Morty Zelickson

IN HONORJUDY AND STEPHEN BARRETTHappy 50th wedding anniversary Ruth and Bill GrossSUSIE AND LARRY BERMANSon Joshs engagement to Cindy Elaine and Leon PapirMARGE AND DOUG BLAKEBest wishes in your new home Elaine and Leon PapirRITA AND MIKE BLOOMHappy 40th wedding anniversary Elaine and Leon PapirJEANETTE EICHENWALDThank you for your wonderful words of wisdom, warmth and friendship in Yachad studies. Roberta and Robert KritzerMITZI GOLDENBERGMitzis engagement to Bernie Topfer Roz and Al MishkinDIANE AND IRWIN GREEN-BERGSon Keiths engagement to Ali Joani Lesavoy and Sid Green-bergJANE AND ARTHUR KAPLANBirth of grandson, Aiden Elaine and Leon PapirBETH AND WES KOZINNBirth of grandson, Dean Elaine and Leon PapirJUDY AND CARL OLESHBirth of grandson, Brody Sylvia and Sam BubMIRRA AND SAMUEL PAPIRHappy 65th wedding anniversary Elaine and Leon PapirJOE PETERSONNamed Builder of the Year by the PA Builders Association Carol and Barry HalperLOTA AND BOB POSTHappy 50th wedding anniversary Sylvia and Sam Bub Roberta and Jeff EpsteinNANCY AND ABE ROSSBirth of granddaughter, Sarah Elaine and Leon PapirKYLE ROTHHappy birthday Selma RothMR. AND MRS. RICHARDSTAIMANBirth of daughter, Alexandra Elizabeth Beth and Howard KushnickMARGERY AND JAY STRAUSSDaughter Allisons engagement to Seth Lisa and Ellis BlockSANDI TEPLITZBirth of granddaughter, Logan Suzanne Lapiduss Elaine and Leon Papir

break, and maybe even a glim-mer of hope.

The people on the Tikkun Olam committee heard the call and reached out to help. The group set up donation drop-off locations across the Lehigh Valley, including all Jewish congregations, ABC Family Pediatricians Offices, the JCC, JDS, the Human Performance Center and the two Panera Bread cafes on Tilghman and

in Trexlertown. The restaurant chain, which participated in the drive last year as well, was even kind enough to offer free coffee to anyone who entered the eatery with a donated item.

Much like last year, the Baby Bundle Clothing Drive turned out to be a huge suc-cess. Dozens of bags filled with donated baby and childrens clothing were collected during the course of the drive. Those who were in charge of the do-nation stations had to clear the overflowing bins many times over during the two weeks of the drive. At Panera Bread, people didnt even ask for the free coffee when dropping off their donations.

Times are hard on every-one, and people all around us are struggling. This is why this drive was even more special. People gave away what they

could to help children in need; children who count on the gen-erosity of strangers to fill their very basic need of clothing.

If you or someone you know would like to donate baby or childrens clothing to Central Family Center, please contact Director Connie Sentz at sentzc@allentownsd.org.

A special thanks is extend-ed to all who took part in the Baby Bundle Clothing Drive. Without all these wonderful women, this drive would not have been possible:

Melissa MaggioncaldaErin CorsaTama TamarkinRegina BrennerKim VoluntasAnat SchorBen DavisShoshana Gosselin Carah Tenzer

ClothingContinues from page 1

A special thanks from the JFLV

to co-chairs Matt & Keren Saltz

On December 17, the president signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

This much-anticipated legislation features the continuation of tax cuts that were scheduled to expire, the extension of unemployment benefits, and other measures designed to stimulate the economy.

While the media focused much of our attention on the tax cut portion of the legislation, it did not target much attention to a significant provision benefiting indiv-iduals with Individual Retirement Account (IRA) assets who want to make charitable donations.

The IRA Charitable Rollover, extended through 2011, allows individuals to distribute funds from their standard or Roth IRAs directly to charities. Individuals age 70 and older may once again request direct transfers of funds from IRAs to qualified public charities, such as the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, without any income tax on gifted funds.

The funds must be transferred directly from IRA accounts to the charities (the Federation can provide interested donors with special forms to make these requests to their IRA custodians). Each individual is entitled to make a total of $100,000 in gifts to charities each year under the IRA Charitable Rollover provision.

The IRA Charitable Rollover offers tax-wise options to donors. Since IRA rollover proceeds are not added to ones adjusted gross income, these contributions do not qualify donors for a charitable income tax deduction. However, not being taxed on the withdrawal is worth even more than a standard charitable deduction.

The IRA Charitable Rollover provision is a significant opportunity for donors who hold assets in their IRAs that they do not need, would like to make a large one-time gift, and/or are subject to the 2% rule that reduces itemized deductions from taxable income.

The IRA Charitable

Rollover may be the best pocket from which to make charitable gifts over the next year. IRA assets cannot be transferred to heirs during lifetime and at death may be some of the highest taxed estate assets.

The Charitable Rollover provision enables donors to continue their giving while avoiding income taxes on the rollover amounts and excluding the amounts from ones taxable estate. Furthermore, the amount directly distributed to charity will be counted toward the required minimum distribution (RMD) even though the funds were distributed tax free.

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley has received several IRA Charitable Rollover contributions and is quite familiar with the documentation required to enable the fullest tax benefit to donors.

For more information, contact Mark L. Goldstein at the Federation office at 610-821-5500 or markg@jflv.org.

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Project Yachad thanks Wendy Rosenfeld

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and the local Jewish community said thanks and farewell to Wendy Rosenfeld at a lunch on December 13. Wendy worked as the director of Project Yachad for 14 years, during which time she was instrumental in expanding the Teachers Learning Center (TLC) and its relocation to the JCC building to enable easier access to its resources by religious and day school educators. Here, Rosenfeld accepts a gift from Cantor Kevin Wartell.

We are all saddened that her voice was silenced too soon, but her

songs will live on in our hearts.

~Cantor Ellen Sussman

HELP WANTED

TIKVAH HOUSE, the Lehigh Valley's

group home for Jewish adults with

special needs, is seeking part-time

staff.

Contact Eva Levitt at 610-398-1376 for more information.

PRIVATE PARTIES | BUSINESS FUNCTIONS154 Northampton Street, Easton | 610-849-1749 | phoeniciaonline.com

A summer experience that will last a lifetime.

215-563-8184 harlam.urjcamps.org

camp divisionsAcornsKindergarten (5-6 yrs)

Groundhogs1st & 2nd Graders

Bears3rd & 4thGraders

Rangers5th & 6th Graders

Sponsored by the Easton Leadership Council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

Join us for a great weekof fun, learning, and

friendship in the Easton Jewish Community

Enroll

Now!

DONT MISS OUT!

Age appropriate activities will include:

Arts/Crafts, Art Exhibit, Outdoor Water Play, Indoor

& Outdoor Games, Chefs-In-The-Kitchen, Music &

Song Daily, Israel Celebration Day, Torah Tidbits,

Yoga, Scavenger Hunt, Mitzvah Field Trip Day,

Camp Millionaire Day, Shabbat Party

BAS / TCP SUMMER CAMPTOWN AUGUST 15 THROUGH AUGUST 19, 2011

BAS / TCP Summer Camptown Week is August 15th through August 19th Monday-Friday 9am-3:30pm at Bnai Abraham Synagogue of Easton.

Snacks and lunch provided. $100.00 per child for the week. Children ages 5 to 11 welcome.

To enroll or volunteer, please contact Julie Hochhauser at 610-739-7500 or email jhoch@jazidental.com

ENROLL (610) 258-5343 www.bnaiabraham.org/CAMPTOWN

First-Time Campers:

$1,000 tuition assistance Call now for details.

The Spirit of Kibbutz Close to Home

Over 60 Years of Kibbutz Values Leadership Sports Hebrew Shabbat FunAn overnight camp located in Upper Bucks County, PA 2, 3, 4, & 7 Week Sessions

Call Abbey 484.684.6532 registrar@campgalil.org

$1000 Discount for Eligible 1st Time CampersInquire about "A Taste of Galil" (August 4 - 8 for 2nd graders)

WHERE JEWISH CULTURE AND FUN MEET.

BAS/TCP Camptown wishes to thank the Easton Leadership Council for its

generous sponsorship of this enriching, fun Jewish experience for children in the

Easton community.

Thanks to the generousity of the Annual Campaign, the Jewish FederATion oF The Lehigh VALLey is offering needs-based scholarships for Jewish resident summer camps such as ramah, Pinemere, harlam, galil, young Judaea, and Moshava.

LiMiTed Funds Are AVAiLAbLe. download a resident Camp scholarship form today at: www.jewishlehighvalley.org

deAdLine: MArCh 16, 2011

It's no se

The Federation is accepting contributions, including named scholarship funds, to increase the availability of scholarships granted.

Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley

610-821-5500

studies show that Jewish camping is a powerful way to build strong Jewish identity and commitment in young people.

Our parents think we're just having fun

CAMPSCholArShiPS AvAilAble

Construction Underway Join a brand new independent living community

at Country Meadows of Allentown!

Choice of several floor plans for one-floor living

Contemporary kitchens and bathrooms

Upscale services and amenities

All-rental community

Because you deserve it!

Country Meadows of Allentown 410 Krocks Road Allentown, PA 18106 610.395.7160

allentown@CountryMeadows.com

Act now only 9 patio apartments remain!

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Photos are artists renderings.

103783 Hakol.indd 1 11/3/10 3:17 PM

Celebrate 100 years of Hadassah!

For only

get a lifetime membership to Hadassah for

yourself or a loved one.

Call Maria Ain at 610-694-0940

for more information.

$100

Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley thanks PacSun for its very generous contribution of canned and boxed

food to our emergency community food pantry.Thanks also to the congregants of Temple Beth El for their

generous donation to the food pantry.

Food Pantry

We thank the following individuals who have graciously supported JFS-LV by sending tribute cards:

A tribute card from JFS-LV is a wonderful way to share your thoughtfulness with family and friends. For a donation of $10 or more (the amount is up to you), we will send a lovely card to the recipient of your choice, letting them know of your contribution to JFS-LV. Your contribution may be made to JFS General Fund or may be directed to a special program such as the Kosher Food Pantry, Education and Programs, Senior Services and Directors Discretionary Fund. Call 610-821-8722 if you would like to order cards.

Congratulations on Phoebe Altmans AwardSondra Jacobs

In honor of Anita Bermans 90th BirthdaySusan, Larry, Josh and Lindsay Berman

In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Braunsteins 60th AnniversarySusan, Larry, Josh and Lindsay Berman

Congratulations to Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Bub, on being the honorees at the Jewish Day School DanceMitzi Goldenberg

In memory of Larry Feinman, brother of Sylvia FeinmanPhyllis and Chet Ringel

In honor and memoryEleanor Wiener Fletcher

Get Well Wishes to Tama FogelmanTama Lee BarskyLorrie and Jay Scherline

In memory of Robert Grobs motherBill and Jane Markson

Wishing Rabbi Lennick a Speedy RecoveryTama Lee Barsky

In memory of Evelyn Lipshutzs sister LisaHoward and Susan Sherer

In honor of Mr. and Mrs, Jerry Morses home and Jerrys birthdayAnne Cornfeld

In memory of Violet and Saul Musicans granddaughterSondra Jacobs

In memory of Donald PaulElliot Grossman

In memory of Muriel PropperSusan and Howard Sherer

In memory of Harold RothfeldMarilyn and Nate BraunsteinLillian BentonHelen CookJewish Family ServiceThe Yiddish Group at Jewish Family Service

Get well wishes to Arthur WeinrachHenriette Engelson

In memory of Fred WienerTama Lee BarskySusan and Larry BermanGary and Diane Miller Sondra JacobsMichael and Leslie Weinstock

14 FEBRUARY 2011 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Thank you for being part of our JCC Challenge Grant. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Alan & Sandra AbeshausRony AckermanAllentown AZA & BBGMarsha BaarBob Barrett & Cathy Kraus Michael & Barbara BassanoNancy BernsteinAlan & Donna BlackJeffrey & Jill BlinderRance & Sheryl BlockRoss & Wendy BornNathan & Marilyn BraunsteinSam & Sylvia BubDavid & Sara Jane BubRichard & Kira BubBetty BurianBarbara CohenEdward & Natalie ColemanAnne CornfeldDavison & McCarthy, PCAndrew & Lisa EllisEllyn & Marc ElsteinThomas & Roni EnglertMichael FeldmanAnna FiglinScott Brenner & Cheryl Figlin-BrennerEd & Brenda FinbergPeter Fisher & Kathy Zimmerman Harry & Amy FisherAri & Margee ForgoshBarnet & Lisa FraenkelM.J. & Jane Kay FriedbergHenry & Monica FriessStewart & Carol FurmanskyGene & Ann GinsbergBrian & Alyssa GoldbergD. GoldbergPaul & Debbie Goldberg Barry Golden & Cheri StermanHarold & Sandra GoldfarbMark L. Goldstein & Shari Spark Arkady & Sophie GolynskyDavid & Marsha GordonKaren GreenJeffrey & Elizabeth GreenbergAllen & Pat GribbenLeonard GurvitzBarry & Carol HalperBobby & Bonnie HammelGregory & Suzanne HarrisMark & Amy HoltzRon & Martha KahanAndrew & Nancy KahnSteven & Audrey KanoffAaron Katz & Joanne Cohen-Katz Rabbi Melissa KleinHilary Koprowski & Christine Gorigioitia Jeffrey & Carol KranitzJosh & Terri KrassenStuart & Lynda KrawitzJack & Ferne Kushner Martin & Monica LemelmanEric & Tina Luftig

Norman & Roberta Marcus Moische & Lisa MarkowitzWilliam & Jane MarksonPaul & Colleen McGeeGerald & Dolores McKeeGerald & Ethel MelamutHarry & Ethel Miller Memorial FundHolmes & Jeannie MillerMichael & Linda MillerMorton & Judi MillerAlvin & Roz MishkinSandy NewmanLillian NissenbaumMichael & Cookie NotisDaniel RawleighRichard & Barbara ReisnerLuther Rhodes IIIHarry & Carole RoseBarbara RudolphRichard & Amy Sams, Jr.Jason & Judith SarangaCarl Schoenberg & Susan York Mark & Deena ScoblionkoElliot & Linda SheftelJustin Sheftel Memorial FundLarrie & Judi SheftelRoss & Rebecca SilverJohn & Judi SilverbergArthur & Audrey SosisLeslie SperlingLeonard SternbachMax & Shelley StettnerBarbara SussmanDavid Vaida & Ellen SussmanDonna SwoyerKenneth & Lisa SzydlowFrank & Tama TamarkinWilliam & Pauline TrachtenbergDouglas TrachtmanMarc & Abby TrachtmanMichael & Eileen UfbergRobert & Laurie WaxStan & Vicki WaxHoward & Debbie WeberRobert WechslerJoel & Susan WeinerHarold & Louise WeinsteinBill & Cheryl WenholdBernard & Shirlee WienerHillel & Tamar WienerRobert & Carol WilsonWayne Woodman & Lisa SchellerCindy Zehnder

TRIBUTESJewish Community Center General Operating FundIn Memory of Harold D. RothfeldLouise & Harold WeinsteinMr. & Mrs. L. SternbachBetty GreenbergNeil SchwabCarole & Harry RoseBarbara & Michael Bassano

In Honor of Lillian Bentons grandsons engagement

Betty Greenberg

JPerks: Exclusive Benefits for JCC Members Look for your new 2011 jPerks cards in the mail this month.

The following businesses have graciously agreed to participate in jPerks, special offers and discounts for JCC Members.

Please check www.allentownjcc.org frequently for updates, new companies and more services.

B&M Provisions Food Distributor Bike Line (Allentown) Blink Optical Boutique, LLC Clotheszing! Community Music School Creative Closets, Ltd. Curious Goods at the Bake Oven Inn Enids Engravings Glenns Mobile Drycleaning Service Great Companions Grille 3501 Happy Paws Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Herons View Beach House Rental Jezabels Salon Lazeez Fresh Mediterranean Grill Louies Restaurant & Catering Mr. Bills Poultry & Deli Paper Bag Parkland Restaurant Parma Pizza Phoebe Floral & Home Dcor Pistachio Bar and Grille Pomodoro Pizza and Grille Positive Life Decisions, LLC Sally Ullman Photography The Jewelers Three Dog Night Top Hat Formalwear Twisted Scissors

2011

HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2011 15

Saturday,February 5

Saturday Night Lightsfor kids

Date Night for Parents

Sunday, February 6

Camp JCC Luau at the JCC

12:30pm-2:30pmLimbo, Hula & Swim

Sunday, February 13Summer Fun with Clifford

9:30am-11:00amArt & Water Play

Thursdays,February 3, 10, 17Ballroom Dancing

followed by Dancing with the Stars

Saturday, February 19

Sunday, February 13

Fun with Clay12:30pm-2:00pm

Sunday, February 20Swim Meet

February Program Snapshotdetails online at www.allentownjcc.org

Wild and Wonderful January at the J!

Camp JCC Kickoff and the Great Holtzie January 9 Dip & Disco January 15.......

Teen Volunteers-thanks ...Swimming and Dancing at the J

Saturday Night Lights January 15

Head to Toe Wellness Expo and Group X January 16 C on the Ab Coaster

Boys Basketball Game and Swim Meet with the Y Sunday, January 16 Skills and Drills Basketball Camp with Darryl Dawkins and Mike Iorio January 17

Sheila Greenberg Kindergarten Scholarship Fund:

To honor the memory of our beloved Sheila Greenberg (Morah Sima), the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley is setting up the Sheila Greenberg Kindergarten Scholarship Fund, which will provide financial support for students to attend kindergarten. Morah Sima dedicated her life to her kindergarten students, and this fund will be a fitting tribute to her memory.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send it to the school, specifying the Sheila Greenberg Kindergarten Scholarship Fund:

Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley2313 Pennsylvania StreetAllentown, PA 18104Attn: Sheila Greenberg Kindergarten Scholarship Fund

Joel Mittleman, JDS AlumniBy Sara Schonbach, Director of Admissions and Retention

18 FEBRUARY 2011 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY

Evolution of a superheroLocal Jewish teen uses hero tradition to fi ght cancer

By Jennifer LaderSpecial to Hakol

Who is your favorite superhero? Whether its Spiderman, Batman or the X-Men, chances are that that superhero has Jewish roots.

These early superheroes created the model for comic book writers that followed, and for others with daunting foes.

A provocative new memoir titled Twice, written by Benjamin Rubenstein and published by Woodley Books in Bethlehem, shows a legacy of the superhero comic tradition. Sub-titled How I Became a Cancer-Slaying Super Man Before I Turned 21, the memoir, with its c o m i c - b o o k - s t y l e illustrations, details Ben-jamins battles, fi rst against bone cancer and then against leukemia, starting at the age of 16.

In the 1920s, another Jewish teenager faced an uphill battle , and his method for coping laid the foundation for Rubensteins work.

Jerry Siegels father had died, and, not long after, the stock market crashed, bringing on the Depression. Jerry handled his troubles by applying his imagination to his studies of the 19th-century philosopher Neitzsche, who wrote of a Super Man beyond human moral constraints.

Working with an

illustrator and a publisher, Siegel created Superman, who stands for truth, justice and the American way. It wasnt a coincidence that Siegel happened to be Jewish. In fact, if you look at the blessing after the Haftorah, you will fi nd those very same words: truth and justice.

Benjamin Rubenstein tapped into a superheroic tradition that started with Siegel and continued with Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman and the X-Men in the 1960s. He wore the Super Man persona like a protective

cape. Although he wasnt fi ghting the Joker as Batman did, he had a strong foe, and the radiation treatments functioned for him a little the way kryptonite did for Superman.

Rubensteins mother, Debbie, said that he was able to tap into the superhero tradition to give him strength.

He had to defend himself, and it worked, Debbie said. He overcame things that are lethal.

Besides the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Rubenstein survived an

Author and cancer survivor Benjamin Rubenstein. Starting at the age of 16, Rubenstein tapped into the Jewish superhero tradition to fight first bone cancer and then leukemia. His illustrated memoir, Twice, was published by Woodley Books in Bethlehem, PA.

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overdose of potassium and a tainted blood transfusion.

Debbie recalls that her local rabbi in the Washington, D.C. area, Jonathan Katz, spent the entire day with the family the fi rst time Benjamin had surgery. When they went to Minneapolis for a stem cell transplant, Assistant Rabbi Sim Glaser was wonderful; spiritual, yet down to earth.

These religious leaders call to mind other Jewish heroes possessed of everyday human powers. Their lives can be seen in titles like Heroes of Jewish Thought.

Who are these heroes? They are the rabbis of the Middle Ages who interpreted the Torah with explanations that still stand. They are sometimes the ones whose foes brutally tortured them to death. They remained heroes because they did not renounce who they were, but died with the Shma on their lips.

Although Rubensteins Jewish identity seemed important to him, he kept religious observance at arms length. He could do this and still call on the super heroic tradition; it is that deeply ingrained. With his salty language and tell-it-like-it-is style, he keeps his experiences on a secular plane.

Things changed somewhat when his thick, corkscrew-curly hair started falling out. At that point in the memoir, Benjamin quotes his rabbi as explaining that the Shma is to be said two times every day. He made a start by saying it once a day.

And although he avoided sick kids while in the hospital, Benjamin, now in his twenties, regularly visits children and teens with cancer. He talks with them about the experience that he could never before delve into with therapists, his mother or his friends, paving the way for other cancer patients to do the same.

Like the changing forms of the superheroes, personal development and religious observance for Benjamin and for

many people is an evolving notion. The results for Benjamin remain to be seen: Will our young caped wonder eventually say the Shma each daytwice?

For more information about Benjamins memoir, visit his website at www.benjaminrubenstein.com.

Jennifer Lader is a freelance writer living in Bethlehem and a congregant at Brith Sholom.

RIGHT: Author Benjamin Rubenstein with his family on the day of his brothers bar mitzvah.

ABOVE: Rubensteins illustrated memoir, Twice: How I Became a Cancer-Slaying Super Man Before I Turned 21, tells of his battles against his biggest foe: cancer.

Will standard activism toolkit be enough? By Ben HarrisJewish Telegraphic Agency

NEW YORK (JTA) When a Miami community organization fi rst conceived of holding a Jewish summit to address the campaign to delegitimize Israel, it expected 400 people might show up.

Instead, 1,200 people packed a Miami auditorium for the Jan. 16 event, including an all-star cast of Israels most prominent defenders: Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky and Israels U.S. ambassador, Michael Oren.

The summit, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Miami, was the highest profi le meeting of the minds on combating Israels delegitimization since the Jewish Federations of North America announced last November at the General Assembly in New Orleans that it would be tackling the issue head-on.

Participants at the Miami conference were encouraged to use the standard tools of political advocacy contacting elected offi cials, calling in to talk radio and they were given information

sheets to help them.Yet its not clear whether

a strategy that relies on what is essentially the standard activist toolkit will be enough to set back the campaign of delegitimization. The campaign encompasses a broad range of tactics from the offi cial to the grass roots: picketing stores that sell Israeli products; urging corporations, universities, and state and local municipalities to stop investing in Israel; and pressing the case against Israel in Washington and foreign capitals, and at the United Nations.

On the pro-Israel side, a national strategy is taking shape under the direction of Martin Raffel, a senior vice president at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Its main focus will be on civil society the trade unions, liberal churches and university campuses that have proven receptive to the claims of Israels detractors.

Among the initiatives planned is a move to bring civil society leaders on trips to Israel and to provide fi nancing to communities to conduct meetings with key local leaders. All this and more will be fi nanced by a budget of just over $5.5 million over three years from the JCPA and the Jewish Federations of North America.

Fighting delegitimization

SIMCHAC | L | U | B

Are you retired? Then join us at the new social

and entertainment experience Brith Sholom & Keneseth Israel

The SImcha cluBmeets quarterly for a kosher lunch

and a program. The price of the luncheon is $5.

WednesdAy, MArch 23

nOOn at Brith Sholom

sPeAKer: TBa entertAinMent:

Featuring Rabbi Daniel Stein of Bnai abraham and

cantor ellen Sussman of KI

PleaSe RSVPBrith Sholom 610.866.8009

Keneseth Israel 610.435.9074

We want to feed you like a Yiddishe Mama

need a ride? contact:Rabbi allen Juda 610-866-8009

cantor ellen Sussman 610-435-9074

JFS 610-821-8722

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St. Lukes Hospice presents...

An Evening with Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

When Bad Things Happen to Good PeopleWednesday, April 13, 2011 at 7:30 pmDoors open at 7 pmCentral Moravian Church West Church & Main Streets, Historic Bethlehem General Admission tickets are available - $10/ticket

Harold S. Kushner, Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in the Boston suburb of Natick, MA, is best known for his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, a straightforward, heartfelt contemplation of his personal doubts, fears and suffering following the death of his teenage son. His reflections have provided guidance and support to millions of grieving people. His book is an international best-seller and has been translated in fourteen languages. One critic has called it the most important book of popular theology ever written in America.

Arrangements for Rabbi Harold Kushner made through the Bnai Brith Lecture Bureau

Premier Sponsor Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. HELLERTOWN SCHNECKSVILLE

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact

St. Lukes InfoLink at 1-866-STLUKES

(785-8537).