The Jewish Journal Archive July 7- July 20, 2000 feature stories international news local news national news letters to the editor arts & entertainment opinion pieces editorial Broadening the Reach The Jewish Federation of the North Shore voted on its allocations for agencies, programs and services last week. All beneficiaries received increased funds, though many less than desired, since allocations depend on the funds raised in the previous year's campaign. As Executive Director Neil Cooper says, he is heartened by the annual campaign's improved success in 1999, but the community still ranks in the lowest quartile nationally for Jewish giving. Some might attribute the relatively poor giving record of North Shore Jews to a kind of Yankee New England frugality. There's a long tradition in these parts of watching one's dollars because one never knows when a quick storm or other natural disaster might blow away a lifetime of belongings. Maybe there is some truth in a unique perspective existing among Jews living near the sea in New England. But maybe that's not it at all. The North Shore is home to an amazingly diverse group of Jews. Long a haven for artists, writers, academics, and other intellectuals, the North Shore has attracted many who identify strongly as Jews but have little affiliation with Jewish institutions. Just as a recent study of New York Jews indicates, there is a need to reach out in innovative ways to that population which is proudly Jewish but not traditionally observant. The Federation has made some inroads in this direction. Recent programs such as the one on domestic abuse in Jewish families, the commitment to funding services for women and children through the new Women's Fund, the networking opportunities provided by the Jewish Business and Professional Association, and the plan to create a separate division on social action, all promise to engage more and more people. The need remains, however, to continue to create activities and to support causes which appeal to an ever wider segment of the local Jewish population. As important, the words and deeds of the federation need always to feel inclusive and inviting to those members of the community who may not live strictly halachic lives but nonetheless value their "Jewishness". Only then will the Federation find its coffers filling to levels above that discouraging lowest quartile. back to top feature stories Youth Leave for Poland, Israel Twenty-two North Shore teens left Boston on June 28 bound for Poland and Israel as participants in the Let's Go Israel (LGI) program sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the North Shore. The group of high school juniors spent four days exploring Auschwitz, Treblinka, Kracow, and Warsaw, even hooking up with the Klezmaniacs, North Shore's teen klezmer band, who were performing at a Jewish Cultural Festival. From Poland, the group proceeded to Israel for four weeks of sightseeing, education, and cultural experiences. There, they were joined by 26 other North Shore teens who flew directly to Israel for the LGI tour. For one week of their stay, the combined group will live on a kibbutz in the Mifgashim program, an encounter opportunity for American Jewish teens and their Israeli counterparts to learn about each other. In addition to the 48 teens on the LGI trip, 18 other North Shore teens are visiting Israel this summer on other trips organized by Camp Yavneh, the Cohen camps, and the Young Judaea program. All the trips are part of the Youth to Israel opportunities offered by the Jewish Federation of the North Shore, with subsidies provided in partnership by the Robert I. Lappin Foundation. Participants attended orientation trainings and meetings together; and upon their return, they will complete Youth to Israel post-trip meetings. Teens on the Poland/Israel LGI trip are: Riva Bakal, Jonathan Budd, Emily Copans, Joseph Dinkin, Adam Fink, David Frisch, Rebecca Katz, Alxander Katsnelson, Craig Kolodny, Diana Leader-Cramer, Jessica Leong, Gregory Libon, Betsy Miller, John Pearson, Ross Rosen, Matthew Shapiro, Adam Simon, Andrew Sorkin, David Winer, Eric Winokur, Jennifer Zicherman, Jason Zimelman; counselors: Karen Benyoseph and Suzie Cheatham. Those participating in the LGI Israel trip are: Ari Beilin, Abigail Cohen, Joseph Demin, Dina Dukhanov, Inna Furman, Jonathan Gay, Rachel Goldman, Anthony Gross, Leah Jacober, Emily Jacobson, Natalie Kaminsky, Leonid Lednev, Vadim Levin, Jeremy Levine, Shari Levine, Shawn Northrop, Chad Remis, Jennifer Roman, Dmitriy Shnayder, Danielle Shnider, Olga Shulman, Eric Siegel, Vera Skuratovsky, Jordan Straff, Sasha Westerman, Danni Yanoff; counselors: Lori Grossman, Alisha Goodman, Orna Siegel and Rafi Fischer. Participants in programs of Camp Yavneh, the Cohen Camps, or the Young Judaea program are: Jaclyn Belson, Shira Berman, Pamela Bolotin, Kimberly Brenner, Heather Comak, Irina Derman, Mindi Greenberg, Jessica Gurman, Danielle Harsip, Benjamin Haskin, Aaron Lawee, Joel Makhluf, Talya Mazor, Abram Mendal, Jacob Miller, Jennifer Noymer, and Ashley Orenberg. back to top The Tastes of Summer GARY J. BAND, Jewish Journal Staff The search for the perfect peach or the ideal ice cream need lead one no further than the country roads of the North Shore. In almost every community, family-owned farms and ice cream stands invite visitors to enjoy some good old-fashioned summer delights. On a Sunday drive to the beach, or to nowhere in particular, tourists and residents can explore the picturesque scenery and savor some glorious tastes of the season. Natives and those in the know are familiar with the best beaches, hiking paths, and boating launches. But here are a few reminders and recommendations of roadside stops for a luscious homegrown or homemade nosh. Cherry Farms, 210 Conant Street in Danvers, serves homemade ice cream in unusual flavors including ginger (fabu- lous), kaluha chip and grapenut, frappes, yogurt and sorbet, sugar free available. A popular lunchtime spot, they also serve grilled foot-long hot dogs, pepper steaks, chicken fingers, fish sandwiches and more. The strawberry frappe is wonderfully flavorful and the strawberry pieces hardly get stuck in the straw. Outdoor seating and plenty of parking are available and the adjacent golf driving range, formerly farmland, is a perfect way to knock off some calories as you drive a few golfballs out to the 300-yard marker. Call 978-744-0519. Clark Farms, 163 Hobart Street in Peabody, has been in the same location since 1728. Open 9-6 seven days a week, they offer a variety of fruits, vegetables and tzachkes, and customers can pick out the finest strawberries during all business hours. Specialty items include homemade honey, jams, pottery and furniture crafted by local artists. For history buffs, the first witch trials were held down the street. The land behind the farm looks an apt setting for filming The Peabody Witch Project. In addition to growing some excellent produce, the owner is something of an expert on the area, and will spin a yarn or two if encouraged. Call 978-774-0550. Brooksby Farms, 38 Felton Street in Peabody, is a local landmark. A bucolic stop hidden behind the bustle of Lowell Street, the original piece of land was granted to John Thorndike from the English monarch in the 1600s. Property and houses once owned by Nathaniel Felton dot the lane leading to the 232-acre farm. The produce from their 110 acres of orchard and vegetable gardens is a treat for eye and palate. For the true nature enthusiast, there are 100 acres of hard woodland evergreen forest, 3.7 miles of scenic trails and a petting zoo. The farm's three ponds provide irrigation, wildlife habitat and recreation areas. In addition to an extensive array of garden vegetables, specialty items include fresh pressed apple cider made on site, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, fruit butters and honey spreads, homemade pies, cider donuts and cookies, Vermont maple syrup, candies and more. Open daily June-March. The month of July features vine-ripe tomatoes, fresh native corn and pick-your-own raspberries and blueberries. Saturday the 15th is Customer Appreciation Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 508-531-1631. White Farms, 326 High Street in Ipswich, is a perfect spot for children's parties or stopping by on the way back from the beach. Established in 1953, they offer eat-in or take-out service, funky cow motif picnic tables (48-person capacity, under cover for unexpected showers) and feature homemade, super premium ice creams and frozen yogurts in generous servings, ice cream cakes and pies made to order. Sugar-free is available. There are also snacks from the grill and great sandwiches. Although they have many flavors, the vanilla dipped cone is a purist's favorite. Open from mid-April to mid-October, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 978-356-2633. Green Meadows Farm, a local mainstay at 650 Asbury Street in Hamilton, is a bit off the beaten track but worth the well-marked drive. Owned and operated by the Patton family, Green Meadows carries a variety of fruits and vegetables, organic produce, specialty items, and homemade baked goodies. July 15 marks their first annual Blueberry Festival, starting at 9 a.m. with a blueberry pancake breakfast and hayrides through the beautiful grounds to the huge blueberry patch. A special visit from Pocohantas is scheduled for 11 a.m. and a pie-eating contest will conclude the day's events. Be sure to look for the dog and goat who are best buddies and often found napping together in the shade.Visit the farm on a Sunday and then head over to the nearby Myopia Polo grounds on Route 1A in Hamilton for the weekly 3 o'clock match. Call 978-468-3720. Russell Farms, formerly Goodale Orchards, 143 Argilla Road in Ipswich, is conveniently located on the road to Crane Beach. The orchard store is housed in an 18th century barn and the grounds are as picturesque and unspoiled as the nearby Crane wildlife preserve. A North Shore tradition, Russell Farms is now a bonded winery, producing fruit wines and hard ciders. The apples, peaches, pears, all the berries, vegetables, herbs, grapes and flowers are all grown on the premises. Their renowned cider donuts are made from scratch from a family recipe. They make apple, pumpkin and berry pies on the premises, as well as old-fashioned candies, preserves, cheeses and honey. Strawberry picking lasts until around July 10, depending on weather and business. Raspberries are available for picking from July 10-August 7 and blueberries from July 15-September 10. A peach festival is scheduled for mid-August. Apple picking begins mid-September, when the cider pressing begins. The strawberries, donuts and cider are to die for. The animals en route to the fields are adorable. Bring the kids, go to Crane's Beach and have a perfect day. Call 978-356-5366 for picking conditions. Marsh View Farms, on Old Route 1 in Byfield, is a good place to stop en route to or from Newburyport. Their selection and quality of produce is excellent. Established in 1890, they feature super sweet and silver queen corn, fresh sweet peas, zucchini, beets, peaches, plums, nectarines and a variety of berries. Specialty items include fabulous homemade pies, breads, jams, jellies, and pickles. Flowering hanging plants are also for sale. A small petting zoo entertains the youngsters, and hayrides and pumpkin picking will start in September. The peaches are sweet and juicy, just right for eating on the spot or making a cobbler at home. Open 7 days a week, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. An outing for the day or for even an hour can fill the eye with country beauty and the belly with sweets of the earth or the creamery. There's a reason New Englanders put up with the ice and snow. It's called summer. back to top Cruising Alaska, Jewish Style RACHEL ROME, Special to The Jewish Journal Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska for two weeks in May on the SS Universe Explorer, a 737-passenger ship, Friday night services onboard and a friendship with two Hebrew-speaking Alaskan Tlinkits added a Jewish flavor to my voyage. On May 16, we left Vancouver, Canada, cruised past British Columbia to Alaska's Southeast Inside Passage then headed across the Gulf of Alaska to Seward. We toured eight Alaskan ports-of-call, visited historic museums, panned for gold, kayaked, rode Skagway's historic White Pass and Yukon Railroad, drove on the Klondike Highway to the Yukon, ate lots of Alaskan salmon, halibut and cod, and biked in Valdez with "Alaska Bike and Hike" guides, John and John, who had 18 Trek 21-speed hybrid bicycles onboard. Natural wonders abounded: two Orca whale pods cruising in the Kenai Fjords waters near Seward; diving dolphins, Steller sea lions climbing to cliffs, an elegant albatross, sea otters with pups, whales breaching and blue-white glaciers roaring and calving (term for chunks breaking off). A bonus was a chance to create a Jewish community at sea. Jewish cruisers organized, conducted and participated in two Sabbath services aboard the SS Universe Explorer. On my two shipboard Sabbaths I relaxed, watched whales, counted Dall sheep, black bears, eagles, the ocean; lounged in a deck chair. Ashore, I even ate lunch at the Spirit Lodge in the Yukon; strolled along scenic Sitka Harbor and the Tongas National Rain Forest. In Wrangell, on a Saturday, Ethel Miller gave me a lift in her pickup to ancient beachside petroglyphs near the Stikine River. Ethel returned unexpectedly to take me the one mile back to the ship so I wouldn't have to walk. A riddle. When does Sabbath begin in Alaska, the land of the midnight sun? This question provoked discussion as 15 shipboard congregants awaited our leader, Garold Whislter, a classical trio's piano player. Miami Beach time? New York? Jerusalem? Nope. Final Answer: In Alaska, on the ship, sundown begins when the Captain says it does. Oi vey. It was 7:30 p.m. and wouldn't get dark until after 11 p.m. The service had been posted in the Daily Explorer bulletin. We were in the 160-seat theater on the Aloha deck, the time Captain Donal Ryan reserved for his Jewish tribe to begin a 40-minute service. The men pulled yarmulkes out of suit coat pockets and put them on. On the small stage (our bima) Roslyn Tunis put a white lace head covering on, lit two little round Sabbath candles and recited the Hebrew blessing. We chanted several different melodies to familiar prayers, read in Hebrew and English from the prayer booklets. After our service, no sermon, Roslyn recited the prayer over the challah, broke it, passed it around. Another congregant recited the prayer over the Manischewitz wine (from Juneau). We all drank it, kibbitzed, then strolled to the dining room for the 8 p.m. dinner seating. Chicken soup, chicken and rice were on the menu, nu? It was our ship's chef who had made the two challahs for our first Sabbath, anchored in Bastineau Channel, Juneau. Fish, meat and vegetarian entrées were served every night and breakfast always offered bagels, cream cheese and fresh Alaskan lox. Cruising kosher is possible on this ship. At our second Friday night service at sea, in Sitka, our little congregation had grown to 20. We held the same service, the same routine. But when it came time to break the bread, the challah cover was lifted up to reveal - no challah. Instead, two dinner rolls. We were shocked. "Why no challah?" The poor chef had had an accident in the kitchen and had been taken to the hospital. Nonetheless we chanted from worn Xeroxed prayer booklets, prepared and left on board by Jewish students who'd finished a Semester at Sea program one week earlier. In Ketchikan, our first port of call since Vancouver, a group visited Saxman Village, a Tlingit site. Nathan P. Jackson, a famous Tlingit master woodcarver and artist, demonstrated the art of totem pole carving. Nathan was carving a totem pole with a bear theme for Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Cambridge, to be installed in October. A hand-lettered Hebrew sign stood on the cedar counter of his outdoor woodworking shop - Ba'ru'chim ha'ba'im l'kfar Saxman. "Nathan, did you write this? (No, he isn't Jewish!) "Dorica, my wife did. Can you read it?" Before I could translate a word, a cheery voice called out, "I can! It says, Welcome to Saxman Village." An artist since 1967, Jackson works in the traditional style of Northwest Coast Indians art, primarily carving panels and totem poles in red cedar. He has artwork in the public and private sectors, and in many collections. His commissions include an eagle/bear totem pole in London, a raven and eagle panel in Juneau, Alaska (the state capital), and 1993 killer whale and king salmon panels in Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, 1994.Roslyn Tunis, the petite, energetic onboard Northwest Indian art scholar and curator from Oakland, California, read the sign Ba'ru'chim ha'ba'im l'kfar Saxman, then translated it, "Welcome to Saxman." "Did you study Hebrew for your work?" "No, I'm Jewish." Later, we met Dorica Jackson, Nathan's wife, artist and weaver, who had written the sign on Nathan's counter. She was in the middle of getting dinner ready for two Israelis who were coming over. Seattle natives, she and Nathan moved to Ketchikan 16 years ago. "We love Israel and the Jewish people. In 1995, we took our daughter, Rebecca, to Israel. Before we left, my daughter and I studied Hebrew for four years rather intensely (as much as one can in Ketchikan, Alaska). In Israel we stayed on a kibbutz for five weeks but also traveled around some too," said Dorica. "When we returned home to Alaska, I wanted to keep in touch with Jewish people; it's not so easy in Alaska. So I made this little sign for Nathan's counter hoping Israelis and Jews would find us. It worked and with all of the cruise ships, we have made many new Jewish friends. One man even wrote his own Hebrew greeting at the top of my sign." Back onboard ship, four professors lectured on biology, geology, natural history, and Northwest Indian Art. I felt guilty if I missed a lecture, meal, promenade, session with Theresa in the Wellness Program, midnight buffet, or beautiful Elena Ivanina's classical piano concert, opera recital, song and dance routine or Scrabble. For information on World Explorer Cruises SS Universe Explorer, call 1-800-854-3835; www.wecruise.com. back to top It Takes a Village: Chelsea Before the Exodus GARY J. BAND Jewish Journal Staff Starting in the late 1940s, residents of densely populated inner-city Boston and North Shore Jewish neighborhoods began moving to the suburbs, changing forever the demographics and function of the "old neighborhoods." For the most part, those residing in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan moved west to Brookline, Newton, and Weston; those in Chelsea, Revere and Malden migrated north to Marblehead, Peabody and Swampscott. In many cases, temples, day schools and Jewish Community Centers were either taken down, sold or donated and are now home to other religious faiths. Precious few remain in their original form. And while it is people, not buildings, that make up a community, certain places hold a certain charm and precious memories for those who grew up in and around them. The Walnut Street Synagogue in Chelsea is such a place. Named a Historic Site which can never be torn down, the brick structure miraculously survived the Chelsea Fire of 1908 and is today one of the last two remaining synagogues in a city which was once home to 16 Jewish houses of worship. It stands in its original form within a stone's throw of the Tobin Bridge. The congregation, formed in 1900, will celebrate its first 100 years on September 10 with an evening service and kosher dinner. Once claiming the largest Jewish population for its size outside New York City, Chelsea had a pre-WWII population of 52,000, nearly half of whom were Jewish. And while the faces of this once vibrant Jewish community have changed dramatically since the first half of the century, there are some who maintain a strong connection to the 1.8 square mile village that raised them, and insist that some things will never change as long as they and their family are alive. Herb Kupersmith, born in Chelsea in 1939, is one of them. Winding through the streets he grew up on 50 years earlier, Kupersmith points out former synagogues, delis and drugstores, offering and receiving greetings from passersby on nearly every block. He has long maintained a deep affection for and connection to the place that raised him. Sitting in the pew where his grandmother once sat, he shares some of his memories about the synagogue and the early days in Chelsea. "My grandmother used to sit in this seat and watch me. She had a perfect view. If I tried to leave, she would be down the stairs before I could get to the door and make me go back in. It was great on the Jewish holidays because we would walk from synagogue to synagogue and be with friends during special times." The neighborhood today is mostly Hispanic and low income. In Kupersmith's day, it was economically, if not culturally, similar. "We were poor, but we didn't know we were poor," he says. The neighborhood back then could be described as a smorgasbord, a little bit of everything. But the city, the sense of closeness and safety it evoked, were harder to describe. "Chelsea was very unique," Kupersmith maintains. "Everybody had little or nothing, but we had each other. We used to lock our door with a clothespin. What was there to steal? It was a poor city with a lot of wonderful people. I am very fortunate to have grown up there." The orthodox synagogue, once seating over 1000 congregants, today has just over 100. They have held services everyday in the downstairs chapel for years and the synagogue has never closed. Beginning in 1989, Kupersmith began raising money to restore the upstairs to its original majesty. The rededication ceremony in 1991 was a powerful experience for many people, Kupersmith explained, as they were able to sit in the same pews that their relatives had occupied. Brass name plates identify congregants from generations earlier. "I saw people break down in tears of happiness as they saw their family's name plate. An 85-year-old woman sat in the same seat as her great-grandfather. Where else in the world could someone do that? This is a mystical place. It is what a shul should be." back to top Youth Beat The Jewish Lifeline STACEY F. KIDECKEL The following won first place in the annual speech contest at Cohen Hillel Academy. The author will deliver the speech at graduation on June 14. The rabbis of the Mishna ask "ayzo hu ha-ashir" " who is the richest person?" Here in America, we have come to understand wealth in terms of money and acquisitions. Winning the lottery, or creating a successful dot com company, has become an American passion. Outperforming the stock market has until recently become a fascination. If one were to define the American dream today, it would not be understood as achieving freedom. Rather it might best be defined in terms of reaching the ultimate dream - attaining wealth. Recently, we here in America have been fascinated by the desire of individuals to seek that dream as contestants on one particular television game show. We love to try to answer the questions as host Regis Philbin prods the contestants with "is that your final answer?" We love the show because the questions remind us of the subject matter we learned here at Cohen Hillel Academy. However, if there is something that we have been given the opportunity to understand about ourselves through the years that we have studied together, it would be how to answer the question of "ayzo hu ha-ahir?' This evening, I would like to ask the question differently. We have been led to understand through our educational experiences about our Jewish lifeline. These lessons have redefined the question that we need to deal with the rest of our lives, which is not "who wants to be a millionaire?" but "who wants to be a Jewish heir?" And the lessons that we take with us as we graduate must not be our final answer. They are the tools that will help us make the right decisions throughout our lifetime. As we traveled together as classmates, our teachers have led us to use our Jewish lifelines wisely. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perachya teaches us that we should "acquire a friend." The Hebrew is "kenay lecha chaver" which means literally "buy yourself a friend." So how do you buy a friend? We have learned that being a friend does not just mean with people with whom we spend time on a regular basis. It means reaching out to help others who need friends. Think back to the first time that we went to the Jack Satter House. Do you remember how the residents began talking to us as though they had known us all of our lives? That is the meaning of "kenay lecha chaver," "acquire a friend." Can you see the eyes of the children at the Ford School, how excited they were to have a book and to have someone read it to them? That is "kenay lecha chaver." For three of us, helping a young girl with Down Syndrome has not only enriched her life, but our friendship has allowed her to be able to attend religious school. This little girl showed us that our friendship was reciprocal. The hugs that she gave us and the songs that she sang to us, hit a chord in our hearts that will remain an influence for many years to come. All of us, with our reaching out to different people and communities through our mitzvah hours, have become wiser and richer as the rabbis have taught us. We have learned by listening to the life experiences of Holocaust survivors, how our world can become anything but a place to find a friend. As Jews, we need to take their stories and continue to make them resonate in the world's ears. Perhaps then the world will understand the principle of "keney lecha chaver." Our special moments at the Ford School have enlightened us with the understanding that making friends means teaching others about who we are as Jews. It also requires that we learn about who they are through their religious and cultural celebrations. As Jews in America, we need not only to teach others, but to allow others to accept us for our differences and our similarities. This can be conveyed through the kindnesses that our tradition teaches us to show all human beings. "Ayzo hu ha-ashire," "Who is the individual who has attained wealth?" The rabbis teach us that being rich means not only acquiring friends, but also using the lifeline of teachers and texts. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peracheya adds "aseh lecha rav," "make for yourself a teacher." Our Jewish lifeline has been enhanced by the tools we have been given by you our teachers, to seek out and understand for our own selves. It doesn't mean that we can find the answers to everything. Making ourselves teachers means how to find and use the resources to obtain the questions and answers. "Ayzo hu ha-ashir," "who is the wealthy person?" The ones who have teachers to guide them. And I know that as we all continue on our educational pursuits we will have spiritual guidance by thinking about the lessons you have shared with us through your life experiences. We have been privileged that you have chosen to make yourselves our teachers. And we hope that in the future we can turn back to you for guidance. But now we have to use the wisdom that you have taught us to make the right choices. Life in many ways is a fifty-fifty challenge. There will be times when situations prompt us to take away something, and by doing so we will find the right answer. I know that we can all proudly look back and realize that the lessons that we gained here at Cohen Hillel Academy, will help us to make the right decisions. We will all be traveling down different roads, at different schools. And at each juncture in our lives, there will be forks in the road that we need to travel down. One of the best lessons that we have learned is how to understand not only the direction that we may travel, but how to appreciate the road less traveled and the richness from within. Robert Frost describes this richness in the following way in the conclusion to his famous poem "The Road Not Taken": I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I ­ I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Presence Prepares for Future ALEZA REMIS The following won second place in this year's annual speech competition at Cohen Hillel Academy. The author delivered the speech on May 30 at the school's Evening with the Graduates. "F ly away little bird. Soar through the sky. Fly to where your heart takes you. Just do not forget there is an eagle in the sky." As we spread our wings, and fly away from our Hillel nest, each of us will encounter different eagles, or dangers and challenges. However, we feel secure with the foundation that Hillel has provided us, life lessons, and our secular and Jewish studies that will enable us to overcome any stumbling blocks in our paths. The illustration of a nest described in this song reminds me of one of my favorite mandatories in kindergarten, the baby chick unit. Upon reflection, the process of nurturing the chicks is analogous to our journey through Hillel. Each day, we hovered around the incubator, watching the eggs. This was our first venture into scientific observation. We turned the eggs over and marked them, and we observed changes on a daily basis. By 21 days, all the eggs hatched, some sooner than others. Daily feedings and fresh water were our responsibility. When the chicks were mature enough to leave their protective surroundings, off they went to different farms. So too have we been nurtured by the warm environment at Hillel. We started off the very first day of kindergarten as baby chicks; constantly being hovered over, constantly being watched. Day by day, the teachers and administration witnessed our growth, and nurtured us in our daily endeavors. Slowly, we too began to grow, and to mature. Now, just as the chicks did nine years ago, we too are about to leave our protective surroundings and "fly" in different directions. Through the grades, our friendships grew stronger, our desks got bigger, and our back-packs got heavierand heavier. "The day is short. And the task is great, but we know at the end of the day, we will succeed." Even when we had a frustrating day: too many assignments, too little time to accomplish them, no free time, wanting to be under less pressure, having to find room in our back-packs for one last bookyou get the point, the week always seemed fulfilling. Why? Because by Friday afternoon, as we prepared for Kabbalat Shabbat, we felt complete. Our enjoyable interaction with our adorable little buddies, visiting and reading to the younger grades at the Ford School in Lynn, or even visiting the elderly people at the Jack Satter House, made us feel that these mitzvot superseded any unpleasant or difficult stresses during the week. We began our Shabbat with the knowledge that we had accomplished good deeds for others. I feel truly fortunate to have been a part of this class. We have been together through many rites of passage; births, simchot, b'nai mitzvah, and deaths. Not only have we learned to cheer each other on in the classrooms, we have learned it from the different experiences in school such as the Maccabi games we used to have, group projects, and Hillel basketball. Furthermore, we have also learned that by doing a mitzvah we have embraced each other's needs. A mitzvah is not something that has to be a complex endeavor. It can be as simple as calling or visiting a friend when he or she is sick, or even making a shiva call to our friends in their time of sorrow. Whether we were supporting each other in our lives, at school, or 50 feet up in the air at Kieve, we have always worked together as a community. For me, Hillel has always been a protective umbrella, a comfortable nest in which we have been able to grow, and so, this school is similar to a tallit - a protective shawl. "May the tallit spread its wings over them and rescue them like an eagle rousing its nest fluttering over its eaglets." Just as the mother bird must bestow upon her babies warmth and support to guide them on each of their journeys, so too has Hillel granted us the lessons and the support needed to move on from a pint-sized kindergartner, to a strong and knowledgeable person. In The Precious Present by Spencer Johnson, he writes, "It is wise to think about the past and to learn from my past. But it is not wise for me to be in the past. For that is how I lose myself." Up until now I have focused on recollections of the past years in Hillel. Now I know that it is important not only to think about the future and where the wind may take us, but also to focus on and cherish the present. During my years at Hillel, I always had to remind myself that I was not going to be there all my life. I had to savor the moment and remember that the present truly is precious. I know that many experiences that I have had here will never be duplicated. "When you have the precious present you will be perfectly content to be where you areThe precious present is not something that someone gives youIt is something you give to yourself." Tonight, as experiences turn into memories as the class of 2000, 5760, the class of the new millenium approaches graduation from Cohen Hillel Academy, we will go our separate ways, and fly away. We do not know where the wind will take us, for we will all fly in separate directions. But we will be ready for the future. We have our Jewish heritage, our education, the knowledge that we can always return to our nest, and most importantly we have each other. We always have and we always will. "I have always known that graduation day would come, that we would have to separate. But now, all of a sudden, the day is almost here. What's the wonder that I am a little worried? Fly away little bird, glide through the sky. Fly to wherever your heart may take you!" back to top God's Country: Cape Ann in the Summer GARY J. BAND Jewish Journal Staff Perfect: Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind. By this time, even the most casual of pop-culture observers would be hard-pressed not to have read or heard of The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, and its subsequent cinematic adaptation, starring George Clooney and Mark Wallberg, opening in theaters June 30. The 1998 book and inevitable blockbuster film chronicles how, in 1991, the 72-foot sword-fishing boat Andrea Gail and her six-man crew out of Gloucester encountered and was sunk by an enormous storm in the Grand Banks, approximately 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, nearly halfway from home. The Andrea Gail, formerly among the biggest money-making ships in Gloucester Harbor, was one of many to have gone down near the Grand Banks, reputed to be one of the most dangerous fishing areas in the world. In the book, Junger writes that since 1650, an estimated 10,000 Gloucester men have died at sea. This reality has created an aggregate empathy in the Gloucester area, an intimate understanding of people's thoughts, feelings and motives. It is a community where family members leave for weeks and months at a time, uncertain if the forces of nature will allow them to reunite with those who wear grooves in the floor waiting for news of their safety. While some criticize the romanticizing and commercialization of a tragic event, Junger's and Hollywood's efforts have called attention to the elements of a community bound to the sea. The men and women with fishing in their bones posses a dual, often conflicting, desire: for the call of their trade and for the day when they can return to solid land, their families and friends. Sailors refer to the sea as God's Country in part because of the phenomenal weather patterns that often defy logical or scientific explanation. If, as Samuel Johnson wrote, going to sea is going to prison with the chance of drowning besides, then coming back to land signifies a most profound liberty. Visitors to Cape Ann will no doubt be struck by the range of activities, the diversity of the landscape and the warmth, depth and character of those who call it home. Instead of taking Route 128, those unfamiliar with northern Massachusetts may enjoy the scenery along Route 127 from Beverly, winding around the picturesque towns of Beverly Farms, Magnolia and Manchester-by-the-Sea before arriving in Gloucester proper. The rugged waterfront community may at first appear unwelcoming. It is not. With restaurants, pubs and whale watching businesses along the two miles of waterfront, it can be difficult to decide where to go first. Rest assured, whether a college student, a single 20- or 30-something, or a family of travelers, there is a place for everyone. A good, low key place to think about it is Schooners Restaurant and Pub on the left hand side of Route 127 with the water on the right. With a restaurant downstairs seating around 50 and a bar/dining area upstairs run by veteran bartender JK, this 18th Century establishment serves good local fare at a reasonable price. The Fantastic Fish and Chips is light and flaky and comes with fries and onion rings for $9.95. Continuing down 127 towards Rockport, just past the Gorton fisherman sign, is the now semi-famous Crow's Nest. The quintessential local pub, frequented exclusively until recently by truck drivers and fisherman, has changed slightly since The Perfect Storm. Adorning the far right bulkhead are photos of Steven Spielberg, Tom Selleck and George Clooney. While business and curiosity continue to increase, regulars believe it's a fad that will soon taper off. For beach lovers, Good Harbor Beach is just down the road. Formerly named Beauport by French explorers who first came to the area in 1605, Good Harbor is an excellent place to beach. Parking is worth the fifteen dollars and Amelia's Seafood, out the parking lot and to the right, is a local favorite. Continuing on the road (Thatcher, which turns into South St.) past Amelia's offers a beautiful scenic drive into Rockport. Modest beachfront houses along the coastal road eventually give way to older colonial homes and the Bed and Breakfast community. There are approximately 12 Rockport B & Bs, most of which are converted 18th Century homes. The Seven South Street Inn, a former 21-room house built in 1766, is one of them. Run and renovated by warm, easy going innkeepers, the house features exposed wood beams and brick in the dining room, comfortable sitting rooms, eight bedrooms and excellent breakfasts (fresh fruit, eggs Florentine and fresh squeezed orange, carrot-apple or pear-ginger juice, for example). Within walking distance of downtown Rockport, it is a best bet for comfortable accommodations. A day of sightseeing in the charming town of Rockport is made even more enjoyable with a little knowledge of the town's rich history. The Footprints two-hour walking tour, directed by a retired fireman and his wife, is time well spent. Beginning with a brief walk through a Revolutionary War Cemetery and ending on either Bear Skin Neck or the Headlands, tourists come away with a greater appreciation for the town. Don't leave home or a B & B without a camera. For evening activities, the non-profit professional Gloucester Stage Company offers a full bill of productions for the summer season. Located within walking distance of The Rudder and the Mad Fish eating and drinking establishments, GSC's intimate stage house provides a comfortable theatrical environment in which to view some very good plays. To wrap up and reflect upon the Cape Ann experience, Essex River Basin Adventures (ERBA) off Route 133, offers a three-hour kayaking tour. (Note: due to the time and energy necessary for this excursion, if the thought of seafood is still palatable, Woodman's, just across the street, is a must.) The tour, casually guided by four experts in the art, takes kayackers on mostly still and temperate waters through the Essex River, past the Choate and Crane Houses, through pristine, unspoiled landscape. After about a half hour, inexperienced paddlers are well on their way to a Zen-like experience of balance, being as one with the boat and the water. Cape Ann is a truly diverse and wonderful place. The combination of experiences provides visitors with a genuine sense of separation from the confinement of the city, and a new appreciation for the connectedness of a people to the land, the sea and each other. back to top international news Guilty Verdicts Threaten Iranian Jews MICHAEL J. JORDAN (JTA) - American Jewish politicians and activists say the conviction of 10 of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel places Iranian Jewry under greater threat than at any other time in its 2,700-year history. The worse-than-expected sentences also mean that Iran's hard-liners may succeed in rolling back the minor steps made by reformers in thawing relations with the West, experts say. The 10 guilty verdicts handed down last week produced sentences ranging from four to 13 years in prison. Three Jews, including a 17-year-old student, were found innocent. Activists compared the outcome with anti-Semitic blood libels of the 19th century and the Stalinist show trials of the 20th century. The United States, Israel, Britain and France criticized Iran after the sentences were issued; and President Clinton called on Iran to "overturn these unjust sentences." Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told his Cabinet that he would call on the international community to press Iran to free the 10. For their part, Iranian officials attacked Western criticism of the verdicts, saying it was a violation of its national sovereignty. Some Iranian officials said the verdicts were too soft and might not deter others from spying against the Islamic Republic. Anguished and irate, Jewish leaders vowed to redouble their efforts to secure the Jews' freedom. At the same time, they will pressure Washington and its European allies to make Iran "pay a price" for the sentencing of 10 men whom they continue to assert are guilty only of being Jews. In his verdict, the judge reportedly noted that all 10 men were guilty of contact with Israel, devotion to the Jewish state and study of the Torah. Several of the 10 were religious leaders in the southern city of Shiraz. The others were their adherents. The religious leaders received the harshest sentences. The verdict could be appealed, said the chief lawyer for the 10, which could lead to reduced sentences or even clemency from Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. How these verdicts and heightened international pressure will affect the approximately 25,000 Jews in Iran - already down from 100,000 at the time of the 1979 Islamic Revolution - remains to be seen. No Iranian official was quoted as offering any reassuring words to the rest of the Jewish community. That only adds to the "panic and fear" pervading the community, and any Iranian Jew who is even outwardly religious may be vulnerable to similar accusations and punishment, said Americans in touch with them. If there is any positive to be drawn from the verdict, observers say, it's that the rallying of international public opinion prior to the verdict likely spared the Jews the death sentence. Since 1979, 17 other Iranian Jews accused of spying have been executed, most recently in 1997 and 1998. The difference, say American Jewish advocates for the "Iran 13," is that the earlier arrests were virtually kept secret. The families reportedly heard about the executions only after the fact. U.S. Jewish leaders said they became convinced of the Iran 13's innocence after conducting their own investigation and consulting with the CIA, FBI and the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency. In piecing together the genesis of the case, American Jewish officials say it originated innocently enough as a conflict within Iranian Jewry, between the community leadership in Tehran - which is said to go to great lengths not to offend the Islamic authorities - and an increasingly active, fervently Orthodox faction in Shiraz. The Jews were arrested in January and March 1999. During the early stages of the trial in May, two of the accused Jews had their "confessions" broadcast on state-controlled television. It fanned the flames of Jew-hatred, and many Iranian Jews reported that they were afraid to go to work, or send their children to school, because some in the public now suspected all Jews of being spies. Several Jewish-owned shops were reportedly attacked, with one in Tehran set ablaze. In all, eight of the Jews "confessed" to the charges, while a ninth admitted to gathering, but not disseminating, information to the Mossad. But foreign observers insisted that the "confessions" had been coerced after 15 months of solitary confinement, with human contact limited mostly to the interrogators. The prisoners' families were later allowed to visit for only five minutes per week. During the trial itself, the courtroom was closed to the public and foreign observers, and the judge also assumed the role of prosecutor. According to Western law, that would be considered a clear conflict of interest. Hard evidence was not provided, say American observers, a violation of Iranian law. The verdicts were therefore based on the "confessions," say Iranian authorities, which raises more questions about their validity since four of the Jews recently recanted their statements in second appearances before the judge. On Sunday, Iran's judiciary described the Jews' espionage activity as part of a 20-year conspiracy against the Islamic regime - yet was unable to provide any evidence to support its claims. Moreover, if the Jews were indeed guilty, many questions remain unanswered: How would Jews who were mostly simple shopkeepers, clerks or teachers have had access to military sites and other sensitive information? Why would the Mossad, one of the most respected intelligence agencies in the world, hire Jews who live under a microscope? And why would the Mossad not have simply gotten such data from satellites? back to top Cuomo Says Trip Will Strengthen U.S.-Israeli Ties Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said last week that he expects a new Binational Commission on Housing and Community Development he helped create on a trip to Israel last month will strengthen ties between the Untied States and Israel. Cuomo, who was sent to Israel by President Clinton, joined Israeli Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Levi in signing an agreement to create the Commission. The Commission is the first of its kind between the United States and Israel. It will bring American and Israeli experts together to learn from each other and to develop new ideas and projects that can be used to benefit both countries. Cuomo and Levi will jointly chair the new Binational Commission and together develop a work plan specifying the areas of cooperation and involving officials from both government and the private sector in project implementation. Cuomo said those areas could include a future secondary mortgage market for Israel and sharing the U.S. experience in privatizing public housing. Cuomo met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to discuss the peace process, the new Commission and other topics. In addition, Cuomo met with Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres and Interior Minister Natan Sharansky. back to top Israel Thirsty for Sulutions as the Galilee's Waters Run Dry GIL SEDAN JERUSALEM (JTA) - Every summer, Israeli water officials alert the public to the same dry reality - that the nation is suffering water shortages. But this year, the officials are more worried than ever. If current usage continues, they warn, the country will run out of water. The level of Israel's main water reservoir, the Sea of Galilee, is well below the danger line. The water issue has important political implications. Those who oppose giving away land in exchange for peace with the Palestinians argue that Israel should never give up the vital water sources located in the West Bank and Golan Heights. Last month, Israel's senior water officials went to Turkey, which is blessed with a seemingly unlimited supply of water, to see whether it would sell Israel some 50 million cubic meters of water. Turkish officials expressed a willingness to sell, and bargaining has already begun. The Turkish side is asking for as much as 86.3 cents per cubic meter, according to Israel's Mekorot water company. Some experts maintain that it would be cheaper for Israel to desalinate sea water. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak convened a group of ministers for an emergency session on the water crisis. "The water system suffers from catastrophic shortages," said Dalia Itzik, the environment minister. "And if the premier deals with it," she added, "this is a sign that we have reached the verge of an abyss." Barak and his ministers agreed to seek bids in the coming weeks to build a desalination plant. The plant will be built on the Mediterranean within 20 months at a cost of $130 million to produce an annual water supply of 50 million cubic meters. They also agreed to continue contacts with Turkey to import water as an emergency measure. Many Israelis have mixed feelings about importing from Turkey. They like to feel self-sufficient - especially when it comes to a vital asset like water. "Not so," said Allon Liel, a former Israeli ambassador to Turkey. "Water imports from Turkey would be marginal. Israel would not depend on it." Water officials make a similar point, saying that imports from Turkey would be just one of several strategies, including desalination, recycling sewage water and finding ways to make large-scale savings of current supplies. Last year, the region suffered its worst drought in 120 years. Natural resources supply an annual yield of 1.6 billion cubic meters of water, but the average usage is 2 billion cubic meters annually - and the shortfall increases every year. According to the World Bank, the deficit between the current water supply and the actual water needs of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians will be more than 1 billion cubic meters annually by 2015. Environment Minister Dalia Itzik warned recently that 40 percent of the water in Israel is undrinkable because it contains large amounts of dangerous pollutants. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat often threatens Israelis who do not agree with him "to go drink water from the sea.'' The truth is that in the long run, both Arabs and Jews will have to do this - literally - because in the long run desalinated sea water will provide the parched region with the only dependable supply of water. Critics say this option is far too costly, but this is disputed. According to the estimates of former Water Commissioner Meir Ben-Meir, the cost of desalinating water should not exceed 70 cents per cubic meter. This is lower than the price currently being quoted by Turkish officials. The Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation in Washington suggests an even lower cost - 55 cents per cubic meter, 10 percent of the cost 20 years ago. Last week, the center published full-page ads in Israeli newspapers, calling for cooperation among Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians to solve the problem. As part of their water-shortage alert, Israel's water authorities told Israelis to stop watering their gardens and washing their cars. They recalled how during a previous water shortage crisis, former Agriculture Minister Rafael Eitan recommended that couples take showers together to save water. While couples are left to work that one out for themselves, the search is on for less drastic measures. Professor Arye Issar of Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, suggested, for example, to forget about Turkey and the desalination of seawater. He claims he has discovered a treasure - 1 billion cubic meters of salt water in a southern Negev aquifer that could be desalinated and shipped to the north at a much lower cost. Others propose curtailing the wasteful use of water for agricultural purposes. Nehemia Strassler, the economic editor of the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, argued last week that rather than importing 50 million cubic meters of water from Turkey, officials should stop allocating the same amount of water for fishponds in the coastal plain. One possible way to save water would be to have farmers change the crops they raise. For example, Israel produces water-thirsty plants like cotton, which is later exported to Europe. Some point to the subsidies farmers get for their water. Farmers pay an average of 20 cents per cubic meter. By contrast, an urban customer or an industrial plant pays almost 35 cents per cubic meter. Cheap water leads to wasted water, say critics. Several months ago, the government decided to cut water subsidies to the farmers by 20 percent - but so far, nothing has been done. back to top local news Youth Directors on Alert After Incidents in Middleton, Warren   JUDITH KLEIN, Jewish Journal Staff The arrest of a Middleton youth worker accused of child molestation, and the disappearance of a teenage lifeguard from her post in Warren, have camp and youth administrators already dedicated to the safety of children operating with a heightened awareness of potential risks and dangers. Kurt Douty, director of camp programs for the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore, is confident that their preventive measures are thorough and effective, yet he believes "we need to keep a keen eye open". As required by Massachusetts law, all job applicants are subject to a Criminal Office Records Investigation (CORI) which will expose any previous run-ins with the law. In addition, the JCC requests three written references be submitted with every employment application. A personal interview follows and, if questions persist, references will be called. The interviews, conducted by adult professionals, outline the expectations of workers and express the value system of the organization. Those hired spent three full days in orientation this year. Specialists were brought in to discuss specific issues with workers. Loretta Attardo, a Salem attorney, spoke about sexual abuse and "red flags" which may indicate problems. Howard Abrams, a local psychiatrist, outlined issues of group work, dealing with behavioral issues, and identifying children with family issues to be addressed. A representative from the District Attorney's office also spoke about abuseand neglect and how to identify warning signs. "The presentations were very informative," says Douty. "They prepared and educated counselors so they know what their jobs are." Before camp begins, parents are given packets of information to prepare them for the daily procedures. Parents are always encouraged to voice any concerns, says Douty. Once camp is in session, the administrative team monitors the grounds regularly, according to Douty, walking through the facility and observing the activities. Generally, two adults are with each group of children. One of the biggest safeguards at the JCC camps, Douty believes, is the connection the majority of counselors have to the community. Most are longtime members of the JCC, he says, teens recommended by local teachers and well-known by other staff and peers. Nonetheless, he admits, "Right now there is an awareness that there is a safety issue that has to be at the top of our concerns. If we see a vehicle driving in, we need to check it. Children and staff need to report any strangers on the grounds to the administration so that we can deal with it. Also, the issue of the missing Warren lifeguard makes us more keenly aware of potential dangers. We encourage the buddy system for campers and staff walking around the grounds." Sandy Sheckman, executive director of the JCC, agrees that the safety measures taken by the camp and youth programs are well thought out and comprehensive. Yet nothing is foolproof."The best advice we have given each other and staff," she says, "is to pay attention. If something doesn't look or feel right, pay attention. In other words, use your gut. We're doing everything we can to provide an environment where staff and campers feel comfortable coming forward with anything that doesn't feel right." Pearl Lourie, the executive director of the Eli and Bessie Cohen Foundation Camps (Pemroke, Tel Noar, and Tevya) says their overnight camps also have comprehensive safeguards in place. CORIS are done for the Massachusetts camps, though they are not required by New Hampshire law. However, both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, camp staff applicants must submit three written references. Directors call all the references and ask additional questions. With nurses, Lourie points out, it is more difficult because of privacy regulations which apply to medical personnel in hospitals. The most important question asked of references, says Lourie, is "If you had a child, would you want this person in charge of your child?" As at the JCC, a major advantage in the Cohen camps is that "our kids have grown up with us. We've known them [campers and staff] since they were very young children," says Lourie. Nonetheless, Cohen camps have a five-and-a-half day orientation with staff. During that time, adminstrators explain why staff should never be alone with a camper in a cabin or other situations. "If a counselor feels something is not right with another counselor, there is a process for sharing that information," says Lourie. This year, a psychologist, Dr. Paul Krentzel, spoke to staff about how to build community and the obligations staff have to children. "The difficulty with overnight camp," according to Lourie, "is the lack of telephone contact with parents. We talk to parents about telling their children that there are safe adults at camp for them to talk to. We encourage parents through parent orientation in the spring to have their kids learn to advocate for themselves." In addition, says Lourie, the children are told during their orientation about the need to talk and communicate with their parents and give troubling information to their counselors. On caampus, staff needs to sign in and out. "We're pretty nosy about where they are going." And there are consequences for prohibited behavior such as drinking. Referring to the young lifeguard in Warren who disappeared last week, Lourie said they always have a second person on duty. In addition, says Lourie, there are adults in charge walking around all day, strangers are stopped if they come on campus, and the town police patrol through the camp property at night. In sum, says Lourie, "We are doing everything we can possibly do. Anyone who deals with children has all these thoughts in their head about how to keep them safe and give them a warm, wonderful experience. That is our primary goal. We work toward that 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for seven weeks." With safeguards in place, parents and professionals have every good reason to anticipate that their children will be safe this summer. Yet, as all the camp and youth administrators must admit, unfortunately there is always some potential for harm. back to top Ahabat Sholom to Construct 'Eruv' for North Shore JEWISH JOURNAL STAFF REPORT Every city in Israel has one. And now the North Shore will too. The designated area will include a beautiful beach, boulevard, parks and playgrounds. Is a new housing development in the works? Hardly. Rather, Congregation Ahabat Sholom is planning to create an eruv for parts of Lynn and Swampscott. Eruv, which means mixture or blending, is a term for three rabbinic enactments intended to promote the sanctity of the Sabbath. Eruv tehumim (blending of boundaries) is a legal device to ease restrictions on how far one may walk from one's residence on the Sabbath; eruv tashlihin (the eruv of cooked foods) permits one to cook on a holiday falling on a Friday for the Sabbath that follows it; and eruv chatzarot (the eruv of yards) allows one to carry objects in the public domain on the Sabbath. It is an teruv chatzarot which will be constructed for parts of the North Shore Jewish community. By stringing a wire attached to posts around a whole area or town, a precinct becomes a single domain within which carrying and walking is permitted. Eruvim in Israel are commonplace, yet more than a few have also been erected in the Diaspora. Rabbi Baruch Freundel, a professor of law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and an authority on the construction and maintenance of eruvim, addressed the Lynn congregation on June 13 about the benefits of an eruv for observant Jews. He and Rabbi Avraham Kelman, spiritual leader of Ahabat Sholom, spent the better part of the day surveying the area to map out those boundaries which will require the least construction and expense. The eruv's purpose is to pool or mix all the private and public property rights within its boundaries in order to effectively turn the entire city into one large 'private domain'. The procedures for accomplishing a kosher eruv are complex; indeed, an entire tractate of the Talmud is dedicated to it. The main feature of the eruv is the posting of a symbolic wall, known as a "tzurate hapetach" or door frame wall, around the city. In the same manner as a door frame is constructed from two door posts with a lintel above, a similar structure is built, composed of two vertical posts topped by a third horizontal post, wire or rope above the sideposts. Under certain circumstances, even pre-existing telephone poles or above-ground cables may be utilized. Since there are many other requirements for the proper creation of an eruv, consultation with an expert is necessary. Rabbi Kelman refers to the medieval commentator Rosh who said it is the duty of a new rabbi in the community to build an eruv in order to allow young mothers to carry their children to the synagogue and elsewhere on the Sabbath. A committee is drawing the plans and starting the permit process necessary before the construction of the eruv can begin. back to top Federation Approves Allocations JUDITH KLEIN Jewish Journal Staff The Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore approved the recommendations of the Allocations Committee at a June 29 meeting. Subject to board approval, the committee, this year chaired by Debbie Ponn and Bruce Bial, determines the annual financial support to be distributed to community agencies, services, and programs. According to Neil Cooper, JFNS executive director, the allocations made in June reflect monies collected during the annual campaign of the previous year. In other words, the funds designated at the June 29 meeting were raised during the 1999 appeal. This year, the allocations include grants made to people and organizations in the community from several specific funds. Within the next four to six weeks, the federation will publish a booklet that will outline the eight or nine grant sources available potentially for community programs and services. The new brochure, said Cooper, will be a "how to" book that will attempt to standardize procedures and guide applicants through the grant process. Referring to the recent allocation decisions, Cooper stated that he is pleased the amounts were able to increase since it demonstrates what he sees as an "upward trend" in giving within the community. He is hopeful that North Shore Jewish families will continue to raise their contributions. Presently, the area ranks in the lower quartile nationally for money collected annually by a Jewish community. "It is the responsibility of all our members to ensure that we have a thriving Jewish community," Cooper said. "To achieve that goal, our central fund raising efforts need to be successful so that we can offer people vital services, programs, and subsidies." A list of subsidies appears in the accompanying chart.  Jewish Federation of the North Shore 2000-2001 Allocations (Allocations made on 1999 revenue) Total AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION - 3,045,449 Annual Campaign Revenue, plus carry forward $2,566,046 Other Revenue for Distribution 479,403 Allocation to Beneficiary Agencies Cohen Hillel Academy $223,500 Cohen Hillel Community Hebrew High 11,000 Holocaust Center of the North Shore 27,000 JCC of the North Shore, Marblehead 230,000 Jewish Family Service 158,000 NS Jewish Historical Society 6,500 North Suburban JCC, Peabody 77,000 The Jewish Journal 77,000 TOTAL ALLOCATION TO BENEFICIARY AGENCIES - $810,000 Other local Allocations Synagogue Family Ed Grants $17,200 Youth to Israel Subsidies and Administration 230,000 Israel Programs 5,200 Jewish Continuity Committee 12,500 Community Planning 28,864 Community Educational Programs 229,471 Federation Campaign Expense 329,294 Federation Administration 183,294 TOTAL OTHER LOCAL ALLOCATIONS - $1,035,823 National and Overseas Allocations Israel Job Creation with Koret $200,000 Missions 50,000 National Agencies 55,000 National College Hillels 26,000 United Jewish Communities (Rescue and Relief) 380,000 TOTAL NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS ALLOCATIONS - $711,000 TOTAL ALLOCATIONS TO Local, national & Overseas agencies - $2,556,823 Special Gifts and Grants for Designated Programs Federation Endowment Fund: $26,560 grants which support racial and ethnic harmony presented to North Shore Community College, Jewish Family Service, SAJE, Peabody High School, Jewish Film Festival, Gordon College, Community Minority Cultural Council of Lynn Federation's Endowment Fund: 42,129 grants for religious, educational and charitable objectives The Robert I. Lappin Foundation: 162,300 grants for teens, college students and young adults for trips to Israel Michael Steinberg Leadership Development Fund: 1,993 grants for education and training for those who will assume leadership roles in North Shore agencies Ben Olanoff Community Endowment Fund: 1,762 grants for Jewish culture, art, education, history and community service Jewish Federation of the North Shore with funding from the Robert I. Lappin Foundation and Community Campaign for Jewish continuity programs and services Rekindle Shabbat: for the celebration of Shabbat 64,240 B'raysheet and B'raysheet II: introductory courses in the basics of Judaism for adults 14,300 The Early Childhood Institute: training for North Shore Jewish educators 19,280 Mini-Ulpan: conversational Hebrew course in preparation for the Israel experience 3,005 Parent Connection Library: children's books with Jewish themes 850 L'Chaim! Jewish Life and Learning: instructions for celebrating Jewish holidays in the home for 1800 North Shore families 30,880 Sukkat Shalom: free sukkahs and holiday training for young families 50,210 B'nai Mitzvah Tefillin program for teens and parents to learn about and wrap tefillin at Temple Ner Tamid, North Shore Hebrew School, Temple Ahavat Achim and Cohen Hillel Academy 18,041 Jewish Teen Arts Festival 5,000 Funding for the Jewish Family Education program at Temple Ahavat Achim for parents and teens to study Jewish values, mitzvot and Holocaust education 4,280 Remembering Voices of the Past: exploration of the Holocaust for Temple Emanu-El families 3,528 Shabbaton Retreat for seventh grade students at Temple Emanu-El 2,117 Training teachers to bring conversational Hebrew into kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, with parallel learning for parents 7,450 Miscellaneous educational programs for parents and educators 3,372 TOTAL SPECIAL GIFTS & GRANTS - $461,297 FUNDING FOR OTHER DESIGNATED PROGRAMS: Arthur and Eunice Epstein Donor-Advised Fund: $11,000 Mitzvah Day, Choose to Connect, International Festival Other Sponsors of Special Events or Services $7,106 Black Family Philanthropic Fund, BJ's Wholesale Club, Neil and Deanna Cooper, Robert I. Lappin Foundation, Marcia and Mort Ruderman, Sagan Agency, Max Sontz Roofing Services, Inc. TOTAL 2000-2001 ALLOCATIONS - $3,036,226 back to top Saugus Shul Breathes New Life JUDITH KLEIN Jewish Journal Staff Like Phoenix rising from the ashes, Congregation Ahavath Sholom in Saugus has been given new life. At a community meeting on June 28, close to 30 people voiced a commitment not only to keep the 75-year-old independent shul open, but to revitalize the house of worship with new programs and services. For several years, the shul has been open only three days a year for High Holy Day services. Its maintenance has fallen almost entirely to its aging president, Harry London. London sought the help of Alan Teperow, executive director of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, an agency devoted to unifying the various elements of the Jewish community through dialogue, study, and management guidance. Teperow, who often works with congregations in transition, offered London advice by phone over the years. A year or so ago, the problems became more difficult as the 92-year-old London found the task of overseeing the temple more burdensome. Teperow and London met "to think about ways to rebuild," according to the Synagogue Council head. "But nothing changed." At the June 28 meeting, many expected a decision would be made to close the historic shul. However, says Teperow, those in attendance, many of them younger members of the community, displayed an "outpouring of love and sacredness, a feeling for the dignity and history of the shul, and a commitment to its continuity." The decision was made "to retain the building and to find ways to sustain it and make it grow," according to Teperow. Maintaining the physical plant is only part of the plan. A slate of officers was elected to support London, and a membership committee of three was created to enlist people in and around Saugus in the revitalization efforts. The Synagogue Council has pledged its continued support for new initiatives. The officers will look at the financial capacity of the shul to develop programming, according to Teperow, but the hope is to begin with a Sukkot celebration and a brunch series. "Younger people need to feel a connection more than three times a year," Teperow believes, so programs and services will be "designed to appeal to and encourage participation." Anyone who can blow a shofar or wants to read a passage is invited to become a part of this "small, hamish" temple community, says Teperow. Teperow hopes a Kol Nidre appeal will help to raise funds in the fall, but additional fund raising ideas are under consideration. Congregation Ahavath Sholom is an independent synagogue and not a member of the Orthodox, Conservative or Reform Movements. Men and women sit together at the traditional services. For more information about the synagogue, call 781-233-1357. back to top national news Expanstion of Hate Laws Approved in Senate, Pending in House GARY J. BAND Jewish Journal Staff The U.S. Senate approved a measure on June 20 that would expand hate crime laws to include victims of violence on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Following the 57-42 vote, the bill now goes to the House where the proposal's sponsors are hopeful it will pass. An article in the June 21 issue of the Boston Globe states that Senator Edward M. Kennedy, author of the bill, said during floor debate that "We don't say we have equal protection of the laws only if you're a white male, if you have no disability, [or] if you're straight. Equal protection of the laws must apply to all Americans. That's what this is all about." Forty-two states, including Massachusetts currently have hate-crimes laws. But, as supporters of the measure argue, some communities are less inclined than others to prosecute certain crimes due to inadequate resources or the tendency toward bias, the Globe writes. Andrew Tarsey, civil rights counsel for the New England office of the Anti-Defamation League, a group which has long advocated for this expansion, said, "This will mean more power to the federal government to help states respond when there is a hate crime." Currently, federal law enforcement can intervene only if the victim is being prevented from participating in a federally protected activity, such as voting. If the measure is approved, it would allow the federal government to work more closely with state and local law enforcement. "We are privileged to have liberal, smart and strong people in law enforcement," Tarsey said. "Essex County District Attorney Kevin Burke and U.S. Attorney Donald Stern already work together. Some states do not have the same type of relationship." With the expansion of hate laws, perpetrators would be subject to penalty enhancement. If it is proven that their crime was motivated by a law covered under the new legislation, additional time and punishment could be tacked on to their sentence. That is where a good working relationship between federal and state law enforcement officials will be essential. "There have been cases where local authorities didn't have resources or local statute that would allow them to treat the crime as a hate crime and federal authorities didn't have the right to intervene. It is important for federal government to have all the tools they need to respond. Hopefully with the new law they will," Tarsey said. Not all hate crimes are violent, however. For cases such as desecration of property, the ADL has developed a diversion program specifically designed to teach young perpetrators about the pain they are causing as well as what some of the symbols mean. According to Tarsey, "We can't put mass murderers in this program. They need to go to jail. It is targeted for non-violent, misguided people who fall into bad practices and need to be taught a lesson. " Kevin Burke, DA of Essex County since 1979, believes the new legislation will see "an increase in business," but hopes it will result in more training, more coordination and sharing of information among law enforcement officials. "We are in an information-based age," Burke said. "At this stage of the game, hate groups are like the drug cartels of 70s and 80s. They deserve monitoring and serious criminal investigation and that's what the federal legislation will be able to provide. I think it will absolutely be effective. The hurdle is our ability to monitor these groups." In terms of state compliance and cooperation with federal officials, Burke believes once the statute is in place that it will not cause problems in most states. "People are going to have to work together." Echoing the sentiments of President Clinton, who hailed the bill as "historic and long overdue," Burke said "its time has come. Legislation takes a long time." According to Neila Straub, former Essex County Assistant District Attorney, now in private practice with Straub and Lyons in Salem, "What we've seen is a tremendous increase in hate crimes. Almost on a weekly basis there has been some kind of issue. School violence is really tied to hate crimes." Straub hopes not for an increase in business, but hopefully a decrease in hate crimes. She strongly believes that the law should be extended to gender equality, but more importantly, at this time, to groups that are no longer content to hide their true identity and want to be in the main stream. "If you were a gay man ten years ago, you would be less likely to 'come out', but stay insulated in an invisible ghetto," Straub said. "As people become more open, and report crimes of assault, threats and violent intimidation, it is clear that it was not so much that crimes motivated by homophobia weren't being committed, as they were not reported as hate crimes to the police." She feels that as legislation gets broader, and as the DA's and Attorney General's office become more involved in the prosecution of hate crimes, those who desecrate a cemetery or beat someone up because of his sexual orientation will no longer just do community service, but could end up in jail. "When these crimes start being dealt with seriously, hopefully we'll get a reduction in their frequency. I think it's a dam that's bursting. I defended a woman who taught sex education in high school and was sued by group of plaintiffs. They argued you couldn't talk about homosexuality in school. There is so much homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism. It's taken a very long time for the legislature to stand up and say we have to protect all our citizens," Straub said. back to top High Court Says Religious Schools Can Buy Material With Public Money SHARON SAMBER WASHINGTON (JTA) - Orthodox Jewish groups are hailing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that it is constitutional for religious schools to use taxpayers' dollars to buy computers and other instructional materials. Other Jewish groups warn, however, that the use of these materials could be diverted for religious purposes. In a 6-3 ruling on the last day of the court's term, the justices ruled that the government may continue to provide money for religious schools to buy instructional items. However, the material must be secular in content and not advance a religious point of view. Orthodox Jewish groups, many of whom joined in a court brief in favor of parochial school aid, are applauding the decision. But other Jewish groups, like the Anti-Defamation League, say materials bought with government money, particularly computers, could be diverted for religious purposes. In the opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the court recognized that risk, but concluded that "the evidence of actual diversion and the weakness of the safeguards against actual diversion are not relevant to the constitutional inquiry, whatever relevance they may have under the statute and regulations." Whether this decision could be used to strengthen the argument for school vouchers is unclear. Vouchers provide government funds for students to attend parochial or private schools. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, considered to be the swing vote on the voucher issue, concurred in the decision, but indicated in a separate opinion her reservations about unrestricted aid to religious schools - and vouchers fall into this category. To some, the court may appear to be sending mixed messages on church-state separation issues, since in a decision last month the court ruled that student-led prayers at high school football games are unconstitutional. But school prayer and aid to parochial schools are "constitutionally and theoretically different issues,'' said Agudath Israel's Cohen. back to top letters to the editor Grad Student Seeks Volunteers Dear Editor, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ. Currently, I am working on my dissertation on Jewish families' psychology, beliefs, and reactions to the Holocaust. I am seeking Jewish adults (both survivors and non-survivors, the latter of whom will comprise the "control" or comparison group) to participate in this project. Participation involves filling out an anonymous, multiple-choice questionnaire; there is no personal interview for this study. Those who are interested in volunteering or who would like more information about the study can contact me via e-mail at: ibreslau@yahoo.com or by phone at (212) 580-0204. Sincerely, Ilana Breslau   Kolbo Alive and Well Kolbo Fine Judaica, Inc. of Brookline is alive and well, contrary to rumors that we are out of business. Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated. It seems that some folks on the North Shore read an article about my old business partner Billy Mencow becoming the head of Camp Ramah New England (Mazal Tov to Billy) and saw barricades in front of our store. They made the assumption that we were no longer in operation. Not true at all! As a matter of fact, we just celebrated 22 years in business and the completion of our renovation and expansion project with a big party last month. Three weeks ago, we went from 1500 to 3000 square feet of showroom space. We now display more graphic and ritual art, jewelry, books (including religious texts) than ever before. The store has been completely renovated and, according to vendors, artists and reps, not to mention our wonderful customers, is the most beautiful Judaica gallery in the country. So, we're still here! Come visit. Lev Friedman President, Kolbo Fine Judaica, Inc. back to top arts & entertainment 'Urban Cowboy' does It With Music JUDITH KLEIN Jewish Journal Staff Israel Horovitz has broken new ground at his Gloucester Stage Company this season with the musical, Urban Cowboy, based on the 1980 screenplay starring John Travolta. The presentation, more than a workshop but less than the full-blown version bound for Broadway next season, is what GSC Managing Director Matthew Putman calls a "bare bones production". Yet, as the producer of the upcoming New York premiere ("we're just waiting for an open theater"), Putman hopes the audience can envision what the show will look like with a full set and a 20-person dance ensemble. For those who remember the Travolta version, the show will seem familiar. First written as a story by Aaron Latham for Esquire magazine, it evolved into a movie co-written by Latham and James Bridges. The present script is a collaboration between Latham and Phil Oesterman, a fellow Texan. The plot is the same, says Putman, though the characters are developed differently. The score includes music composed for the movie, original music written by Jon Rosen for the play, and standard country western tunes by such notables as Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Faith Hill. "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" by Johnny Lee and "Could I Have This Dance (for the Rest of My Life)" by Anne Murray are stand-out tunes that first debuted in the film and are now in the show. Even country music detractors will start humming and stomping along to the sometimes rousing, sometimes moving, renditions of the songs.The New York Equity cast is winning. They all light up the stage with their dialogue, songs and dance steps. David Elder as Bud is as appealing as Travolta could ever hope to be. Tom Zemon as Wes has a set of chords that could fill a hall many times the size of GSC. Tamlyn Brooke Shusterman as Pam and Angela Pupello are both sexy and "bad", just as they should be. Michael Arkin and Susan Mansur as Uncle Bob and Aunt Corene are engaging salt-of-the earth contrasts to the young folk. And Jesse Hareman belts out songs with the best of them. Composer Jon Rosen, on stage playing piano, lends a presence both musical and comical. Co-choreographers Melinda Roy and Robert Royston have created highly original and beautifully sexy athletic dances, performed in this production by only Roy and Chad L. Schiro, yet destined for a full chorus line. Roy and Schiro pull it off (and then some), but in the finale, when the whole cast joins in, the audience gets a taste of what future productions promise. With all this going for Urban Cowboy, is there anything bad to say? The story needs a little updating. During the first act, the dysfunctional relationship between Bud and Sissy doesn't play as well in '00 as it did in '80. One feels the urge to send the lovebirds - along with Bill and Julie from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel - to AA, then to a couple of anger management classes, and finally to a Planned Parenthood session on STDs. In the second act, Bud's early failure on the mechanical bull ends with a first place at the rodeo, a development which seems to make no sense, since the audience has no clue he has been preparing for the contest. And some silly dialogue - "Now I know who's a real cowboy" - makes one wince now and again. However, as a work still in progress, there is time to work out the kinks. Then, Urban Cowboy may prove to be a winner. And Gloucester Stage Company can say, "We did it first." Urban Cowboy continues at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, through July 9. For tickets, call 978-282-1350. back to top A Man for All Stages GARY J. BAND Jewish Journal Staff A painter, trained by a German artist beginning at the age of six, Peter Dorflinger of Lynnfield says he hasn't picked up a brush in quite a while. Yet, when the North Suburban Jewish Community Center created its Children's Theatre in 1995, Dorflinger was asked to be the set designer. Since then, the art dealer and volunteer extraordinaire has grown more passionate about his new medium with each new production. Now a master of this art, he had no experience when he began. "It was really learn as you go," he said. "I would sit down with the director and try to visualize what we need, look at how the play progresses, how easy is it to go from one scene to next. Sometimes people would want to rush through something to get it done and say it's good enough. But it's not." A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Dorflinger contends, "things have to be done the right way." And although not everything he thought of translated perfectly from his mind's eye to the stage, Dorflinger has been happy with nearly all the finished products once the curtain came up. "A crew of parents whose children are involved in the play contribute their talents and ability, and we come off with great sets," he said. "Over the years, we have developed into quite a mature production." The budget is small, but the group recycles a good deal of their props. According to Dorflinger, the question of whether or not a certain prop will have a life after the current play is factored into the creative process. Depending on the production, designing the set takes about a month. Dorflinger does sketches and, together with the crew, thinks about how they want things to look and flow. Sometimes, Dorflinger says, he gets influenced or inspired by something he saw on TV or in a magazine and "adapts it to what will work for us." He tries to make the designs as authentic as possible, to add to the play "a certain character" and an "animated feel." For the upcoming performance of L'il Abner, July 12 and 13, he says the background includes a large-scale clothesline with patchwork clothes, "to provide a feeling for that area," and "tie everything in to the visual experience." To truly capture an era or feeling of a play, Dorflinger works closely with the director and producer on the important areas, building signage, structures and background. "It's a thinking process," he said. "I start by learning as much as I can about the play. Now it's gotten to a point where I come up with my own ideas first and sit down and try to build that into the play. I voice my opinion a lot. It goes back to the 'it's good enough' thing. We need to put a lot into it for the audience to experience every aspect of the play. If you have to go the extra mile, to build two houses instead of one, that's what you have to do." Of the nine plays so far, which include The Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof and The Princess and the Pea, Dorflinger has worked on every one except You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. When the theater group was created, many people volunteered to ensure its smooth operation. Since then, numerous community members have contributed their time and individual expertise. In the case of the Dorflingers, all four members of the family have been involved with the NSJCC Children's Theater in some way. Peter's wife Ivy, is the producer, Peter, the set designer, Ariel, 13 and Eric, 9 , frequent actors. As a volunteer, Dorflinger is motivated by a combination of things, including contributing to the JCC, keeping the theater program strong, and supporting his wife in her work. He is most pleased when something that he and the crew had conceptualized actually "comes to be." "When it's done well and it works, it's a great feeling. It is also," he says, "the opportunity for me to play artist for a while." back to top opinion pieces Bogeyman Judaism JOSEPH AARON Chicago Jewish News Anyone remember Jorg Haider? Come on, think now. Jorg Haider. He was all the rage a mere few months ago. Haider. Jorg. Surely you recall. He was in all the headlines. Give up? I hope you'll remember that you've forgotten. Because there's a very important lesson for all of us in that, a lesson that we need to cling to tightly as we make our way through this new century, new millennium, new world for the Jews. Jorg Haider was the politician whose party did very well in Austria's elections. A man who has said nice things about Adolf Hitler and his way of doing and not so nice things about Jews and their way of being. At the time of Haider's strong electoral showing, much of the Jewish world went nuts, went into a panic, said his appeal showed that anti-Semitism is alive and well in the heart of Europe, that Nazism was on the road back, that he would take over Austria's government, spread his venom, endanger Jews. That he was the beginning of yet another wave of Jew hatred and we all remember what the last wave did to us. And now we've forgotten all about Jorg Haider. Just months ago, I had many Jews tell me how serious a threat this was, how it showed we can never let our guard down, can never trust, can never believe the world is a friendly place for us. Well, guess what, a lot good happened and nothing bad happened. The president of Austria spoke out loudly and strongly against Haider and his views, had his prime minister put in writing a commitment to democracy and to democratic values, the nations of the European Union warned Austria it would pay a heavy price if its policies in any way reflected Haider's influence, the secretary of state of the United States pledged to monitor Austria and Haider on a daily basis. And now, one does not hear a peep from Haider, who holds no position in the government and who even resigned as head of his party. Now, I'm not saying he won't pop up now and again, say something outrageous here and there. But he is nowhere near the big threat too many Jews and Jewish organizations made him out to be only a few short months ago. We need to remember that and learn from that. Like you, I get a lot of Jewish mail, mail from and for Jewish causes, much of it scary. And so it was after Haider did well in the election, with much of my mail at the time warning that this signaled that Hitler was back. Today Vienna, tomorrow Virginia. I call it bogeyman Judaism. We got your Orthodox Judaism, your Conservative Judaism, your Reform Judaism, your Reconstructionist, Humanistic and Secular Judaism and we got your bogeyman Judaism. Most of us affiliate with, believe most deeply in, are most committed to the bogeyman branch of Judaism. Everyone scares us, all are a threat to us. Oh no, Jorg Haider got a lot of votes in Austria, oh, no, be afraid, be very afraid. We do it all the time. Some nut or kook comes along and we exaggerate it, draw parallels where there aren't any. With Haider, it was that Hitler, rem