™ ™

summer 2003
KEEPING POSTED WITH NCSY
JOURNAL OF THE ABOUT THE COVER
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SYNAGOGUE What a dilemma! Our designer
gave us TWO covers to choose
YOUTH OF THE ORTHODOX UNION from! We went with the group

|
11 Broadway New York, NY 10004 shot in large part because of the
Hebrew sign with “NCSY” on it.
But the “up close and personal”

Published twice annually for $2.00 per year, ISSN 00-229644. cover was so nice, we wanted
you to see that one, too. Never-

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO

theless, we think we made the
right choice. (Or did we?)
NCSY | Keeping Posted | 11 Broadway | New York, NY 10004

Jack Abramowitz Editor >>> LONG-TIME READERS will probably

Pamela Weiman Graphic Designer notice that Keeping Posted has undergone a
SIGNED ARTICLES DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT
change in direction over the past few issues. We
THE OFFICIAL VIEW OF NCSY, THE OU OR THE EDITORS. are striving to make Keeping Posted less of an
NCSY “NCSY magazine” and more of a “magazine for
Shira Reifman Director of Operations Jewish teens.” Accordingly, cover stories have
Rabbi Glenn Black Director of Regional Programming not been so much “NCSY Summer Programs”
Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch Educational Director and “Yarchei Kallah” as they have been
Rabbi Jack Abramowitz Director of Regional Programs “Missionaries Want You” and this issue’s
Rabbi Lenny Bessler Administrative Director
“Getting to Know Jews of Color.”
Katie Brinn National President
So why Jews of Color? Honestly, the idea
came about because of last Summer’s “The
ORTHODOX UNION
NCSY Year in Pictures.” Months after it came
Harvey Blitz President, Orthodox Union
out, somebody was flipping through it and
Moshe Bane Chairman, Youth Commission
commented, “I bet this is the first issue of Keep-
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb Executive Vice President
ing Posted that has pictures of two black Jews in
David Olivestone Director of Communications and Marketing it.” Our initial reaction was “Hmmm…you’re
probably right.” Our next reaction was “Why

L
should that be noteworthy?”
keeping posted
People don’t like to be objectified. Nobody
i n t h i s i s s u e should be defined by the color of his or her
skin. So we asked some NCSYers and advisors
7 NCSY Online Haiku Contest (who also happen to be people of color) to share
their thoughts and experiences. We hope that
8 From the Director of Operations this will help our readers to look at their fellow
Jews as people, not as colors. Hopefully, next
and the National President
year, we will all be able to look at old issues of
Keeping Posted and commenting on the number
9 SPECIAL SECTION
Getting to Know Jews of Color
of Jews of Color will be no more knee-jerk a
reaction than counting the number of people
wearing glasses or neckties.
16 Performing Web Searches As part of our new focus, we have been invit-
ing guest authorities to contribute their com-
18 Hagbah ments on our themes. This issue we welcome
Yavilah McCoy. Mrs. McCoy is a professional
20 Book Reviews diversity consultant and the founder of Ayecha,
a resource center for Jews of Color and individ-
22 Letters/Mendy and the Golem uals interested in learning about Jews of Color.
More information about Ayecha can be found

23 Images of Yarchei Kallah following Mrs. McCoy’s article on page 15.

As always, we welcome your thoughts at
ncsy@ou.org. (Unless otherwise noted, all cor-
respondence to Keeping Posted is considered
intended for publication.) kp
news ncsy
N E W S

>>> Droppin’ in on the Island

L ONG ISLAND NCSY is pleased to announce that their Paul J. Ebin Great
Neck Towne Centre has relocated to a new site, three times the size of the
original. NCSYers on the north shore of Long Island convene on Saturday
>>> Rabbi
nights to watch HDTV, surf the web, enjoy a Judaica lending library or just hang
out with one another and cool advisors. On Sundays, the Centre hosts the Teen
Torah Center free Hebrew high. For more details, call 516.466.4682 or email
Schonbuch
lincsy@aol.com. kp Speaks!
RABBI DANIEL SCHONBUCH,
>>> Loungin’ around North of the Border Educational Director, National

V ANCOUVER NCSY is proud to announce the opening of its second NCSY, has delivered his inspiring
youth lounge, in Richmond, BC. Every Thursday night, Vancouverians lecture “The Seven Principles of
gather to play PlayStation 2, shoot pool, watch DVDs, eat, and enjoy the Jewish Leadership” at high schools
camaraderie of other Jewish teens. Of course, Vancouverites can still enjoy the across the country. Among the
original lounge on Wednesday nights. But what are they going to do on Mon- schools that have invited Rabbi
days? That’s Latte and Learning at Starbucks. To learn Schonbuch to deliver this presenta-
more, contact Rabbi Avi Berman, Director of Vancou- tion are HANC, Maimonides, New
ver NCSY, at 604.323.6308 or vncsy@hotmail.com.
Jewish High School, Rav Teitz
Mesivta Academy, Nefesh Acad-
AS WE GO TO PRINT
West Coast has just announced the opening of a Teen Center in
emy and Bais Rivka (New Haven).
Phoenix, AZ. With Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, and Rich- He also delivered the address at the
mond that makes five Teen Centers that West Coast has 2002 NCSY National Conclave.

L
opened in three years. Yasher koach! kp The crux of the presentation is
proactive Jewish leadership. In the

✭✾❘❂❉✄✴GN
talk, Jewish students are encour-
aged to take responsibility for
themselves, for their schools, for
their communities, for Israel and
Morrie and Carrie Klians of Toronto, Canada, both former Regional Presidents of
for the world. “One committed
Eastern Canada Region, on the birth of a granddaughter, Adira Eliora, in Ramat
Beit Shemesh, Israel. Mazel tov to the parents, Sharona & Nachman Rosen- individual can make a difference,”
berg. said Rabbi Schonbuch. But he
Kenny and Jenny Landsman on the birth of a son, Dov Baruch Simcha, stressed self-motivation, saying
8 lbs 9 oz and 19 inches long. Kenny is the Regional Technical Director of “growth has to come from within.”
Greater Midwest NCSY. While the target audience has
Moshe and Joanne Bane on the bar mitzvah of their son, Avraham Naftali. been primarily teens, Rabbi Schon-
Mr. Bane is the Chairman of the Orthodox Union Youth Commission. buch has developed a version of the
Rabbi Jack and Alana Abramowitz on the bar mitzvah of their son, talk for families, ideal for presenta-
Yitzchak Aryeh. Rabbi Abramowitz is Director of National Programs. tion in local synagogues.
Shira and Rabbi Daniel Reifman on the birth of a daughter, Hadara Sima, When he presents the talk,
their second, on March 25. Mrs. Reifman is Regional Director of Upper Rabbi Schonbuch also makes him-
New York NCSY and Interim Director of Operations, National NCSY. self available to speak about NCSY
Rivka and Michael Zauderer on their marriage. Mrs. Zauderer (née Gershon) Summer Programs. If you are inter-
is the OU Webmaster, as well as a former New Jersey Regional Board mem- ested in having Rabbi Schonbuch
ber and advisor. Mr. Zauderer is a former Atlantic Seaboard advisor.
speak in your school or community,
Brett and Esther Bekritsky on the birth of a daughter. Brett is an alumnus contact Esther Zlochower at
of and was a Regional administrator for Long Island NCSY.
212.613.8324 or estherz@ou.org. kp
Rabbi Shimmy and Stacey Trencher on the birth of a son. Rabbi Trencher
news And
ncsy
N E W S

>>> Sizing up the Competition

Then
T h e re N EW YORK NCSY has released the first edition of its new publication,
iNCSYder (pronounced “insider” – we’re suckers for a punny name).
The first edition of this newsletter contains stories on New York
Region’s Vermont Shabbaton, their 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the “Party

we re Cruise” melave malka, the “Crazy Quest” limo rally and more.
Keeping Posted congratulates New York Region on this exciting publication.
We’re keeping our eye on you! kp
Two
DUE TO THE
POPULARITY
of NCSY’s
Kibud Av V’Eim
brochure, NCSY >>> We ARE the Competition!
has released the
second in what
is now called the
NCSY Torah on
One Foot Series,
F OR THE FIRST TIME in many years (since Fall 1999’s Keeping Posted,
Jr., to be exact), there is a National Jr. NCSY publication. The Junior
NCSWire (love those punny names!) is the brainchild of National Jr.
NCSY Coordinator Kiva Rabinsky and National VP for Communications Jef-
frey Beitsch. Virtually the entire National Board of NCSY contributed, with
Lashon Hara. divrei Torah and articles on Summer Programs, Social Actions and Yachad.
Compiled by Also contributing were Regional VPJs and–yup–the Jr. NCSYers themselves!
Director of National You can read The Junior NCSWire online at www.ou.org/pdf/ncsy/jun-
Programs Rabbi Jack iors/ jrncswire.pdf kp
Abramowitz, this
item, already in its BARUCH DAYAN HA’EMES
second printing, is available NCSY is saddened to note the passing of:
free, one per person, Rabbi Joshua Epstein, former rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Achim in
while supplies last. Fairfield, CT, one of the pioneer communities of NCSY in New England.
Zelda Lowy (Rus Zelda bas Masha) mother of Rabbi Yehuda Lowy.
Rabbi Lowy is Director of NCSY’s JOLT Summer Program.
NCSY’s Aaron Segal, father Rabbi Binyomin Segal. Rabbi Segal is an
Lashon Hara
summer 2003

advisor in Greater Midwest NCSY.

brochure may Dr. Michael Weiss, father of New England Region NCSYers
be requested Ayelet and Avi Weiss.
by writing Mrs. Regina Hurwitz, mother of Dr. David Hurwitz. Dr. Hurwitz
to ncsy@ou.org. is a former NCSY National President and a member of the OU
Youth Commission.
It is also available
as a PDF at May Hashem comfort the Epstein, Lowy, Segal, Weiss and Hurwitz
families among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
www.ncsy.org.
4 |
news ncsy
N E W S

>>> Yes, For Women Only

Wsome dis-
cussion a
while back about
the review we ran
E HAD that’s not going to be an issue at all with Let Me be Me,
the new CD by Long Island NCSY (and Caravan) advi-
sor Randi Sinnreich; her CD is clearly labeled “for women
only.” So, guys, go read something else.
We gave Alana Abramowitz a copy of the CD to
of Barbara and review and she said that it transported her back to the six-
Cathy Heller’s CD ties (which she is too young to remember) and she likened
and the fact that it Randi to a modern-day Joni Mitchell (a reference that is
did not address probably lost on anyone under thirty, so go look it up on
whether there is an the Internet). Mrs. A continues:
issue of kol isha in “Randi’s music is perfect to listen to when you’re doing
regards to recorded homework, driving, or just want to de-stress from a hard
singing. We figured day…her mellow tunes and lovely vocals are a must-have
that those who were lenient wouldn’t refrain from listen- in any woman’s CD library.”
ing if we said not to and those who were stringent would- For more information on Let Me be Me, write to
n’t buy it if we said it was okay, so why take sides? Well, Randall613@aol.com. kp

NCSY and the Regions support Eretz Yisroel now more than ever.
>>> Regional Directors’ Mission to Israel

West Side or in a Newark Airport

hotel, the Regional Directors gath-
ered in Yerushalayim, Ir HaKodesh
( Jerusalem, the Holy City).
As many Regional Directors go to
Israel in order to meet with NCSY
alumni who are learning in yeshiva, it
made a lot of sense to schedule the
meeting around a common trip and
make a mission out of it.
Rabbis Black, Burg and Green-

land, Regional Directors of Canada,
West Coast and Greater Midwest,
keeping posted

respectively, were interviewed on

Arutz Sheva, Israel National News
Pictured: Regional Directors Rabbis Burg, Nathan, Greenberg, Tropp, Solomont, Greenland and Freedman at the radio, regarding the mission.
Kotel during the Regional Directors’ Mission to Israel. (Rabbi Burg doesn’t have tefillin on because West Coast The message behind the mission
is three hours behind.)
is clear: NCSY and the Regions sup-
port Eretz Yisroel now more than ever. We continue to

T HE REGIONAL DIRECTORS of NCSY held

their winter meeting in a different location than
usual. Rather than convening on New York’s Upper
visit and to show our support by encouraging young peo-
ple to go to Israel for a summer or to learn there for a year
or more after high school. kp
| 5
 ncsy
N E W S

>>> “It Could Have Been Me”

Goes to Washington Pictured: Charlotte, Monique, Tobey, Senator Sarbanes, Yitz and Andy

A T THE NCSY NATIONAL YARCHEI KALLAH,

NCSYers launched a grassroots effort in support
of Israel called “It Could Have Been Me.” Instead
of just another letter-writing campaign, NCSYers across
the US would write to Congress opposing terror attacks
NCSY contingent was comprised of National Vice Presi-
dent for Social Actions Monique Grunberger, Long
Island’s Charlotte Levy, Atlantic Seaboard’s Andrew Van
Houter and West Coast Regional President Yitz Novak.
The NCSY team met with and delivered letters to
in Israel and would enclose their photos. Each letter Senators Paul Sarbanes (MD), Chuck Schumer (NY ),
would start with the line “It could have been me.” Gordon Smith (OR), Arlen Specter (PA), Ron Wyden
750 letters were delivered to Capitol Hill when (OR), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Orrin Hatch (UT). kp
NCSYers joined the OU Mission to Washington. Led by
Tobey Herzog, OU Israel Task Force Coordinator, the

>>> Lieberman Scholar Advocates for Israel

L IEBERMAN SCHOLAR HILLARY ALTMAN

organized an impressive program with Senator Eric
Fingerhut (OH) at Beachwood High School. Stu-
summer 2003

dents from Beachwood, Shaker High School, Hathaway

Brown and Fuchs Beit Sefer Mizrachi came together to
hear Mr. Fingerhut speak about advocacy, especially for
Israel. The Senator’s message was clear: as was evident in
his campaign on behalf of Cleveland Mayor Michael R.
White, a small group of people can make a huge differ-
ence. As Hillary did with this event. kp

Pictured: Hillary Altman and the other

6 |

Lieberman Scholars at the JCPA Plenum

You Ku, I Ku,
We all Ku for Haiku
NCSY Online recently hosted a haiku contest. What’s a haiku? Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry consisting of 17 syllables,
17 5
7
5
divided into three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables each. For the contest, haiku had to be on the theme of NCSY. Having received an
unanticipated 97 entries, we have decided to divide the haiku into four categories: haiku about one’s chapter or Region; haiku
about NCSY Summer Programs; haiku about NCSY in general; and, while there were many tongue-in-cheek haiku, a special
category for the funniest haiku. We have also included runners up in each category, plus three Honorable Mentions.

✎ CHAPTER/REGION seg is really cool. Sundays are so sad

First Place: learning and shteiging all day at Shabbatons because I
With a Southern drawl everyone should come! will miss all my friends.
Kentucky youth would call out - Anonymous, Long Island - Anonymous Girl #1, Central East
“Chesed Torah Chai!”
- Randy Farb, Alumna, Central East No showers for weeks ✎ FUNNIEST HAIKU
A band of smelly students At last Shabbaton
Runners Up: Outward Bound-good fun! there was a skiing option.
Mom, I won’t be home - Ian Kessler, West Coast I went to the mall.
‘cuz there’s an NCSY
- Anonymous Girl #1, Central East
shabbaton in Maine
- Hannah Pasternak, New Jersey ✎ NCSY IN GENERAL ✎ HONORABLE MENTIONS
First Place:
Rabbi Solomont Etana Zack of Central East
A crowded hallway submitted two haiku, which,
The best New England has seen So many friendly faces aside from fitting the 5/7/5
Will surely be missed My first Shabbaton s y l l a b l e r u l e, a l s o r h y m e d .
- Anonymous, Alumnus, New England - Naomi Feigenbaum, Central East That’s totally unnecessary
in a haiku, but it yields
Yeshiva By Phone Runners Up: an interesting result:
Learn Halachos of Shabbos Crazy dancing. Fun! Torat Emet chap.
Learn from Rav Crystal Why can’t my shul dance like that is new on the C.E. map
- Joshua Balderman, Upper New York on Simchas Torah? let’s all cheer and clap!
- Anonymous Girl #1, Central East
The Midwest Region, New Jersey’s Allison Katz
the best region of them all! Be quiet, cell phone! also submitted two haiku.
Come see for yourself. NCSYers, call me Allison decided that she was
- Eva Greenspan, Greater Midwest after 9 PM. going to get her message
across and syllable count be
- Miriam Baron, Upper New York hanged! The following haiku
Maalot is here!
Nationals feels our presence has a rhythm of 17/20/22.
Ten hours of homework. That’s definitely an interest-
MAALOT TAKE OVER!! ing result for a haiku!
I still have enough time to
- Tiff Sameyah, Long Island
come to Shabbatons!
✎ SUMMER PROGRAMS - Anonymous Girl #1, Central East I think Etz Chaim NCSY IS THE BEST
ETZ CHAIM NCSY has the best
First Place: advisors, administrators, and kids
the singing revives
JOLT, indelible We have achdus and work hard on
a feeling inside, i miss
impressions with the children the behalf of am yisrael and eretz
yarchei kallah times


my own soul as well yisrael

- Anonymous Girl #2, Central East
- Jeremy Lorber, West Coast
keeping posted

Runners Up: A great place to be F i n a l l y, a n N C S Y a l u m f r o m

Camp Guila is great We s t C o a s t s u b m i t t e d t h e
NCSY is for you! following, the day after
Last summer was so awesome Anyone can come! the deadline:
I am going back ;-) - Max Rogers-Marcovitz,
- Anonymous, Canada Greater Midwest Just like all others,
this haiku is past deadline.
The best summer is Achdut fills the air What a big surprise!
Michlelet NCSY Shabbaton’s about to start
For the girls only counting down till then More NCSY haiku can be
- Aliza B., Advisor, West Coast
| 7

- Ronit Horwitz, Central East found at www.ncsy.org!

 keeping
FROM THE DESK OF THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
>Shira Reifman
A S I WRITE THIS LETTER, we find ourselves in
the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot
known as the Omer. Unlike any other time of year,
during the Omer Jews are commanded to count each day
by verbally stating the number of days and weeks that have
passed since the second night of Passover. What is the
deeper message inherent in this mitzvah? Rav Soloveitchik
explains that the Omer period commemorates the transi-
tion from slavery in Egypt to freedom at Sinai. The differ-
ence between a slave and a free person is the relationship
that each has with time. A slave is not in control of his or
her own time whereas a free person may choose how to
spend his or her days, whether to live a life of leisure or a
life of activity and purpose. Therefore, says the Rav, as we
Jews develop into people who have control over our own
time it is appropriate to count and measure each day to
remind us of the value of time and the potential that each
individual day holds.
Many of you are about to make the transition from the
posted
FROM THE DESK OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
>Katie Brinn
A FEW DAYS AGO, along with
Jews all over the world, we cele-
brated a very special holiday. It is
not a Yom Tov or even a fast day. This
holiday is one that comes at the beginning of each Jew-
ish month. It is called Rosh Chodesh, the head of the
month. Rosh Chodesh is celebrated by reciting Hallel
after the morning Amidah. It is a special holiday
because it celebrates the beginning of the new month.
Much like Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Chodesh signifies
a new beginning. I know for me this Rosh Chodesh
was especially important as everyone in my grade
begins to end one part of their life and start the next.
summer 2003
The halls are buzzing with “Where are you going to
college?” or “What are you doing this summer?” This is
a new beginning, a clean slate. We are capable of any-
thing we put our minds to. Just as the moon is about to
enter a new cycle on Rosh Chodesh, we are entering a
new stage in our lives, a stage where we are preparing
to be in the real world and to make our own decisions.
The choices we make in the next part of our lives will
have a profound impact on the rest of our lives.
8 |
“bondage” of a structured school day to the freedom of
summer vacation. As you do, remember the message of the
Omer! Each day matters! It is up to you to decide whether
you will spend the next three months sleeping in and then
staring at the TV or actively bringing positive energy into
the world. Choose wisely – today will never come again.
Before I close, I would like to thank Katie Brinn and the
entire National Board for all of the enthusiasm and special
projects that they have brought to NCSY this year. I would
also like to thank the entire National office staff, the
Regional Directors, and the army of outstanding advisors
who make NCSY the special place that it is. Congratula-
tions to all of the graduating seniors. Always cherish what
you have gained from NCSY and come back to visit us
often. Finally, I would like to wish a mazel tov and
tzeitchem l’shalom (congratulations and farewell) to Rabbi
Ari and Sarah Beth Solomont from the New England
Region who are making aliyah this summer. They are an
inspiration to us all. Have a wonderful summer. kp
The moon that reappears every month on Rosh Chodesh
can be compared to the Jewish nation. Just when the moon
seems to disappear, it comes back even stronger. The Jewish
nation has suffered many hardships during its three-thousand
years of existence. Each time it seems as if we are just about to
fade away and be lost forever, we come back stronger than
before. Just like the moon will keep coming back each month,
the Jewish people will always come back. No matter what
hardship, Klal Yisroel, the nation of Israel, will always have that
spark that keeps us alive. The Romans, Spanish monarchy, and
Nazi Germany all tried to destroy us as a people. They are
gone, but the Jewish nation survives and flourishes. As the
new moon comes out on Rosh Chodesh, we have a chance
for a clean slate. We are given the chance to have a new
month, which will surely be better than the last, for with each
passing month we are growing older and wiser. We must
learn from our mistakes and learn to fix them as each
month passes. We must strive for greatness and always
remember to keep ourselves in perspective. As the moon
recycles again we are given another chance to analyze,
reflect and change the way we feel about ourselves and the
way we act toward others. kp
T here you are, sitting
in shul, when a
stranger walks in. He
looks awfully familiar.
He looks a lot like, you
know, that guy in that movie.
What’s his name again?
Oh, yeah! He resembles
Eddie Murphy.
But wait a second! Isn’t Eddie
Murphy a black guy? This guy is
wearing a tallis and a yarmulke and
that’s kind of Jewish. How can he
be both black and Jewish?
“He must be a convert,” you
reason. “Or maybe he was adopted.
No - I bet he’s an Ethiopian immi-
grant.”
The preceding thought process
might seem perfectly natural to
you, but would you voice it aloud?
Probably not. Why not? Because of
fear of offending. If it’s potentially
offensive, maybe we should train
ourselves not even to think along
those lines.
You don’t look at the redheaded
guy in shul and think “he must be
an Irish convert.” The rabbi’s a
blonde and you don’t assume he was
a Scandinavian baby adopted by
Jews. Don’t presume that Avraham,
Yitzchak and Yaakov must have
looked just like you; Jews come in
all shapes, sizes and colors.
In addition to the usual chal-
lenges that come with being Jewish,
Jews of Color must also live with
the assumptions and misconcep-
tions of their coreligionists. In this
article, Jews of Color share their
experiences so that other Jews may
become sensitive to the issues facing
these members of our community.
Being a Person
of Color in the
Jewish Community
AKEMEE CAPERS is an
NCSYer from Har
Sinai Region who
has had some awk-
ward experiences
as a Jew of Color.
“When I was
about ten, my
family moved too
far from my old shul.
When I first came to the new shul,
some people assumed I must have
been a babysitter.” But Akemee
quickly fixed that. “They were
shocked when they saw I knew the
prayers,” she recounts.
That was far from her most
uncomfortable moment. Before
joining NCSY, Akemee belonged
to a different youth group. “The
rabbi that was leading the group
didn’t believe that I was born Jewish
and that my family was Jewish. He
called my rabbi to check up on my
background. I didn’t like being sin-
gled out like that.” But once again,
Akemee had the last laugh. “He
would quiz me on Jewish history
and he was surprised how much I
knew.”
Greater Midwest NCSYer
NAOMI FULCHER has also
encountered this kind of tactless
behavior. Because her family had
moved several times, she ended up
attending a number of different
schools. In sixth grade, she found
herself back in a yeshiva after many
years in public schools.
“In American History, when we
got to the slavery part, they would
say all of these bad things without
taking into account that I was sit-
ting there – about lack of education
and being on welfare. I said that
there are white people on welfare,
too, but the arguments just esca-
lated.” This was just one incident of
many that contributed toward
Naomi eventually leaving that
school. “We thought the yeshiva
would be more accepting and we
got the opposite reaction. It was
very frustrating.”
At only 16 years of age, Naomi
has some hard-earned words of
wisdom for other Jews of Color.
“It’s important to understand that
what people say doesn’t impact on
your future. If you can get past it, it
can actually help. (Things people
have said) may have hurt at the
time, but without (that experience)
I would be naïve and oblivious. I
needed it to be where I am now. It

made me a stronger person.”
One yeshiva student in his twen-
keeping posted
ties who chooses to
remain anonymous
has encountered
some incredi-
ble insensitiv-
ity as a Jew of
Color – from
his friends.
| 9

“The hardest things are dating
and chavrusas (learning partners),” he
says. This is despite the fact that he’s
friendly socially with his peers in
other capacities. “Nobody gives a
clear reason what the problem is,
I’m just the last person to get a
chavrusa.”
As wrong as that may seem, it
pales before the insensitivity he
has encountered in dating. He
spoke with one of his Roshei Yeshiva,
a respected rabbi with whom he has
a good relationship, for advice. “He
told me to go to Israel and find an
Ethiopian family. I asked if he could
help me find a nice girl at Stern
(College) and he said, ‘It’s not going
to work. We’re not sophisticated
enough for interracial marriages.’ I
said, ‘So it doesn’t matter how much
learning I do?’ and he said, ‘You’d be
a great catch for an Ethiopian girl.’
But I’m American!”
Jews of Color in NCSY
Thankfully, despite her experi-
ences in her previous youth group,
Akemee’s experiences in NCSY have
essentially been positive.
“Most people think (being
black and Jewish) is
pretty cool. They accept
me without questions
or doubts.”
Naomi’s brother,
RAPHAEL FULCHER,
agrees that the environ-
ment in NCSY is generally a
positive one for Jews of Color.
“NCSY is very good with diversity
because a lot of different types of
people go (to NCSY ).”
summer 2003
That’s not to say that it is without
challenges. Naomi said that “coming
into NCSY, a lot of people asked if I
was Ethiopian. I was uneasy because
they don’t ask other people if they’re
from Europe. But because I’m black,
I have to be from Ethiopia when,
really, I came from Brooklyn.”
10 |
Because I’m black, people think
I have to be from Ethiopia when,
really, I came from Brooklyn
Despite this unintentionally pre-
sumptuous insensitivity, Naomi has
found the environment in NCSY to
be very welcoming. “They
looked past physical
appearances and saw
me as a person.”
Long Island advi-
sor PHILLIP VEDOL
works with Jr. NCSY
in his Region. He said
that since this population is
more impressionable, they may be
better able to develop appropriate
sensitivities than adults or older
teens. “The fact that they’re just
starting to develop a sense of com-
munity at that age is a big help for
them.”
Being Jewish in the
Black Community
While some people have encoun-
tered occasional incredulity from
non-Jews about their being Jewish,
most Jews of Color have found that
the black community takes it more in
stride than the Jewish community.
One Jew of Color related that her
non-Jewish, African-American
friends found it odd that she did not
attend the same church. “They said I
had to be mistaken that I was Jew-
ish,” she relates. That kind of attitude
appears to be the exception rather
than the rule.
Akemee says that her friends at
school “just wonder why I don’t eat
pork. I tell them that I am Jewish
and they’re like, ‘Oh. OK.’ and that’s
it.”
Speaking of her elementary
school days, Naomi relates, “In pub-
lic school I was around other black
people and as far as being Jewish,
everyone thought that was fascinat-
ing.” The family even took the
opportunity to provide education.
“My mother would do presentations
on the holidays; for Chanukah she
would bring a menorah to class…”
Similarly, Phillip has found black
non-Jews to be “very respectful”
about his being Jewish. “They’re
curious about what it’s like in Israel,
about Jewish weddings. It’s not
intimidating. There’s no feeling of
superiority. It’s just who you are.
They’re very accepting.”
To what can we attribute the fact
that the black community is more
accepting of Jews of Colors’ religion
than the Jewish community is of
their race? Perhaps it is the fact that
ethnicity does not presuppose a par-
ticular religion. There are black
Catholics, black Protestants, black
Moslems – why shouldn’t there be
black Jews? The problem, then, is
that we must eradicate the assump-
tion that religion presupposes race.
There are black Jews, white Jews,
yellow Jews and red Jews. The
greater Jewish community just needs
to learn this.
Lessons
What’s the most important thing
for Jews in the white majority to
remember when interacting with
Jews of other ethnicities? According
to Phillip, it is “to treat the person as
a person, not as an object. Remember
that they aspire to the same Jewish
values as other Jews in the commu-
nity.”
“It’s also important (for Jews of
Color) to be integrated in every way.
It’s not enough just that they count
in the minyan. Their kids have to
play with the other kids, other fami-
lies have to host them – they have to
participate in the community just
like everyone else.”
“Awareness of the issue is impor-
tant,” Phillip concludes, “otherwise
how do you know where you stand?
Knowing that there even is an issue
leads to having an opinion. Hope-
fully it will be a correct one – one
that leads to treating Jews of Color –
all Jews – the same.” kp
THE JEWS OF

H OW DID SUCH A LARGE

ETHIOPIA
community of black Jews
come to exist in Ethiopia?
The story one frequently hears is that
the Ethiopian Jewish community is
descended from Shlomo HaMelech
(King Solomon) and the Queen of
Sheba. (See Melachim Alef / I Kings
chapter 10.) According to the (non-
Jewish) legend found in the Kebra
Nagast, the book of the Rastafarian
religion, Shlomo and the Queen had
a son, Menelik. Curious about his
father, young Menelik traveled to
Israel for a visit. Upon leaving, he
stole the Ark of the Covenant and
brought it back with him to Axum,
making it the new Jewish capital.
Torah scholars have generally
accepted that the Ethiopian Jewish
community descends from the tribe
of Dan. In 883, Eldad HaDani vis-
ited Jews in Iraq, Tunisia and Spain.
He wrote that his people had a tradi-
tion that when the kingdom of Israel
divided, members of the tribe of Dan
defected to Ethiopia rather than
fight against their brethren.
In the fifteenth century, Rabbi
Ovadiah of Bertinoro, celebrated
commentator on the Mishna,
accepted the Ethiopian community
as full-fledged Jews. Rabbi David
ben Solomon ibn Avi Zimra (the
The first modern contact with the
Ethiopian Jewish community came
in 1769, when they were encoun-
tered by Scottish explorer James
Bruce. In 1868, Joseph Halevy of the
French Alliance Israelite Universelle
visited the Beta Israel to combat mis-
sionary efforts, but they refused to
accept that he was a white Jew. He
wrote that they exclaimed, “You - a
Falasha? A white Falasha? You are
laughing at us! Are there any white
Falashas?”
(The word “Falasha” means
“stranger” or “exile” in Amharic.
Israelis risked their lives to take the
black Jews – but not to make them slaves
While once a common name for the
Ethiopian Jewish community, it is
now considered derogatory. They
refer to themselves as the Beta
Israel– the House of Israel.)
The religion of the Beta Israel is a
form of Judaism generally unaffected
by post-Biblical developments; they
are unfamiliar with either the Baby-
lonian or Palestinian Talmud. Their
Bible and prayers are written in
Gecez, an ancient Semitic dialect.
The Beta Israel retained animal
sacrifice and celebrate Biblical holi-
days, as well as their own post-Bibli-
cal festivals. They observe bris milah,
family purity, Shabbos and kashrus,
but they do not have the Rabbinical
enactments that occurred following
their split from the rest of Israel.
The Beta Israel have been consid-
ered outsiders in Ethiopia since the
fourth century when King Ezana
declared Christianity the official
state religion. Most European Jews
did not pay much attention to the
situation of the Beta Israel because
they did not believe that the Beta
Israel were, in fact, Jews. Many
viewed the Beta Israel as a curiosity,
much like the Samaritans and the


Radbaz) did likewise in the sixteenth

century. In 1973, Rav Ovadia Yosef,
keeping posted

the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel,

recognized the Ethiopian Jews as
belonging to the tribe of Dan and
ruled that they “must be saved from
absorption and assimilation. We are
obliged to speed up their immigra-
tion to Israel and educate them in
the spirit of the holy Torah…” Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Israel with Ethiopian immigrants.
Photo by and © Judah S. Harris, used with permission. judahsharris@hotmail.com
| 11
 Karaites, due to the fact that the Beta
Israel had many customs that dif-
fered from mainstream Judaism.
The state of Israel did not accept
the Beta Israel as Jews and therefore
did not extend citizenship to them
under the 1950 Law of Return,
Israel’s immigration law, which guar-
antees citizenship to any verifiable
Jew. This policy was changed in
1975, helped in large part by Rav
Ovadiah Yosef ’s 1973 declaration.
In the 1980s, Ethiopia forbade
the practice of Judaism and the
teaching of Hebrew. Many Beta
Israel were imprisoned on charges of
being Zionist spies and religious
leaders were harassed and monitored
by the government.
Over 8,000 Beta Israel
came to Israel between
1977 and 1984. Operation
Moses, which ran for six
weeks starting in November
of 1984, rescued another
8,000 Ethiopian Jews and
brought to them Israel. In 1985,
Operation Joshua brought an addi-
tional 800 Beta Israel to Israel. After
that, rescue operations were stymied.
Then in 1991, for 36 non-stop
hours, 34 jumbo jets with seats
removed to accommodate the maxi-
mum number of passengers began
Operation Solomon. A total of
14,324 Ethiopian Jews were rescued
and resettled in Israel, twice the
number of Operations Moses and
Joshua in a fraction of the
time.
We spoke with singer
Karmella Casay, who lives
in Ramat Gan but was born
in Sudan, as her parents were
making their way from Ethiopia
to Israel. Her own experiences in
Israel have been very positive, but
she attributes that in large part to the
fact that she has lived there practi-
cally her entire life.
“There were not too many
Ethiopians in Israel after Operation
Moses. Most Israelis had never seen
black people, so I was special. Oper-
ation Shlomo brought a lot of immi-
grants. Israel was not ready for so
many,” she said.

“So, where are you from…

originally?” Special to Keeping Posted by Tobey Herzog
I was born in Korea. The most frequently asked question I receive from Jews who see me in the com-
munity is, “So, where are you from?” I usually answer, “Baltimore,” but I know what they usually
mean… “Where were you born and how did you end up here?” Depending on who’s asking, I some-
times say Switzerland… I sometimes say I’m part Moslem, and I’m here to check out the competition.
There’s nothing wrong with being curious. Just wait to start shooting the not-so-sly “So, where are you from?”
questions until after you’ve at least bothered to get to know the person a little, as a regular person. I, personally,
do not see myself as Asian. For someone to walk up to me and make that the focus of how they regard me is miss-
ing something… like the fact that I don’t speak Korean, that I lived in Korea for only a few months as an infant,
and that I know nothing of Korean culture and a lot about being Jewish.
Get to know the person just a little for who they really are before you relieve your curiosity and ask how they
came to be a part of the community. If you wouldn’t ask someone you didn’t know to share their lunch with you, I
don’t think you should ask someone to share a piece of their life story with you without getting to know one another
just a little. Honestly, when I see another Asian Jew, the same questions run through my head. But I don’t go over
and say, “Hey… wanna swap stories?” But definitely, once you’ve met, ask if you are curious. Trust me, it is so obvi-
ous when someone is beating around the bush, dropping clues that they want to hear your story. Just say that you’re
summer 2003

dying to ask and ask whether they mind telling you.

I guess the point is, for whomever you are meeting, Jew, non-Jew, white, black, or chartreuse, when you react
to the people around you, try to get to know them for who they really are before you sum them up by what they
look like. And while in the process of trying to get to know them… be a mentsch first, then be yourself. (Hopefully,
they’re one and the same!)

Tobey Herzog is the OU Israel Task Force Coordinator and the Founder of the Jewish Dream Network. She will
be leading NCSY’s Outward Bound Summer Program and is coordinating the Prayer for Peace Photomosaic Project.
For more information, see www.jewishdreamnetwork.org.
12 |
ETHIOPIA continued
“There is racism in Israel, based
on a mixture of immigrant status and
race,” Karmella reports. “Most
immigrants are poor and unedu-
cated. The children have to support
their parents and they don’t get edu-
cated.”
Because she was both an early
immigrant and in Israel from a very
young age, Karmella managed to
escape many of the culture shocks
endured by later or older Ethiopian
arrivals. “I’m very Israeli,” she said.” I
don’t (even) have an accent.”
A professional singer,
Karmella’s trio reflects
the immigrant
nature of Israel; her
partners are from
Morocco and
Yemen, respec-
tively.
Yossi Vassa is an
Ethiopian immigrant who
makes his living as a comedian. He
recently returned to Israel following
a US tour including many campus
Hillels. He said that his stay in the
US fills him with hope for race rela-
tions in Israel.
At a show in North Carolina,
Yossi saw blacks on one side of the
room and whites on the other. It was
the first time he had seen that kind
of segregation. “I thought it was an
accident; people just sat with their
friends,” he reported. “Now I see it’s
a way of life in the US. It’s no acci-
dent.”
“In Israel there is racism, too.
Whites feel superior to blacks all
over the world, but in Israel they talk
to one another. They want to be sure
that they hear you curse them,” he
said in his professional comedian
fashion. “Sure, there are arguments,
but it’s communication.”
There is tension, to be sure, but
it’s different than in the US. Many
Israelis “risked their lives by going to
Sudan and taking the black Jews –
but not to make them slaves.” kp
“Color” in the
Jewish Community:
A Matter of Perspective
Special to Keeping Posted by Yavilah McCoy,
Executive Director, Ayecha Resource Organization
A S THE EXECUTIVE
Organization, I have had
Direc-
tor of the Ayecha Resource
both the pleasure and opportunity of
gathering networks of support for
Jews of Color while providing educa-
tional resources to the greater Jewish
community on appreciating differ-
ence and building sensitivity and tol-
erance. Through our Rabbinical
Advisory Council, Training and
Curriculum, Relief Fund and Annual
Shabbaton, Ayecha has brought peo-
ple of various backgrounds and affil-
iations together to consider what
binds Jews to each other despite dif-
ference, and to examine the misun-
derstandings around difference that
can, unfortunately, keep people
apart.
What is most interesting, to me,
about working with Jews of Color, is
that for many Jews of darker skin
tone, differences in “Color” are not
an issue. Through participant discus-
sions at our various workshops and
correspondence, I have found many
Jews of Color who refuse to identify
themselves around the color of their
skin due to a feeling that doing so
would represent a misplaced notion
among Jewry. I have met many Jews
of Color who feel strongly that skin
color should not be used as a means
of defining their primary identity
because it describes their physicality
and not their spiritual affinity, which
is what makes them Jews. In fact,
many have posited that one role that
Jews of dark skin tone can play in the
Jewish community is to remind the
Jewish people, as a whole, that it is
not the exterior that makes the Jew,
but the internal spirit, and the con-
tent of the Jewish character.
Over the course of the last three
years, since Ayecha’s formation, our
members have discussed this topic
and many others that relate to the
understanding of “Color” in the Jew-
ish community. In contrast to Jews of
Color who avoid identifying by the
racial aspect of their physicality,
there have been others who have
voiced feelings to the contrary. For
these Jews, even though “Color” is
not their primary identity, they
would still like to create some posi-
tive identification with this aspect of
their physical package to counteract
the negative stereotypes and misin-
formation that exist around color in
American society and, at times,
inform social interactions between
Jews of different racial backgrounds
in the Jewish community.
Unfortunately, it is often the mis-
information that exists around
“color” in the Jewish community that
presents the strongest need for an
organization like Ayecha. Mistaken
assumptions around Jews having a
monolithic racial identity, that is

chiefly “White” and European, can
lead to situations where Jews with
keeping posted
dark skin tone, including those from
the Middle East and North Africa,
are considered to be other than “nor-
mal” or “standard” Jews. Mistaken
assumptions around Jewish identity
can also lead to situations where Jews
with dark skin are blanketly assumed
to be converts and where instead of
being celebrated as an aspect of
| 13
 mainstream Jewishness, they become
exotified, strange, curiosities that
remain outside of definitions for nor-
malized Judaism.
Stereotypes and prejudices that
exist within the United States,
regarding various racial, ethnic and
cultural groups, have been damaging
to American society as a whole, but
are particularly virulent when
brought into the communal interac-
tions of the Jewish community. Jews
rely on each other for community in
When we buy into prejudices, it plants hurtful separations in the
places where our religion naturally provides us with community
For Further Insight
 Bamboo Cradle:
A Jewish Father’s Story,
Abraham Schwartzbaum
 Black Boy,
Richard Wright
 Black Like Me,
John Howard Griffin
 Black, White and Jewish:
Autobiography of a Shifting
Self, Rebecca Walker
 The Hairstons: An American
Family in Black and White,
Henry Wiencek
summer 2003
 Nigger: The Strange Career
of a Troublesome Word,
Randall Kennedy
(Some people were uncomfortatble
with us including that last book,
because of the title. It is a critically
acclaimed work by a black Harvard
Law professor about the power of
words. If the title makes you feel
14 |
uneasy, good. It should.)
countless ways that bring people
together around food, prayer, obser-
vance of holidays, and the celebra-
tion of Jewish life. When we buy into
prejudices, it plants hurtful separa-
tions in the places where our religion
naturally provides us with commu-
nity and contributes to a deep level of
isolation that is akin to being sepa-
rated from one’s family. The entire
community is robbed when we allow
the supposed boundaries of “color” to
keep us from making deep and
meaningful relationships with each
other.
Even though Ayecha has had the
pleasure of celebrating the warmth
and welcome that many Jews of
Color have found in a variety of Jew-
ish communities, both in Israel and
the United States, each shared
instance of difficulty presents us with
the challenge of making welcome,
integration and retention in the Jew-
ish community a reality for all of us.
As an organization, Ayecha hopes to
improve our community by offering
Jews a safe “space” to talk about their
PHOTO BY JACK ABRAMOWITZ
A member of Ayecha (the father of NCSY alumni from Central East)
speaks to Rabbi Avraham Twerski at a recent Ayecha Conference.
experiences with “color” and explore
what has worked well in the past and
what needs to be fixed for the future.
Individuals who join our organiza-
tion, regardless of color, can both
contribute to and learn from discus-
sions, programs and activities that
stand to move us forward in our
communal acceptance of difference.
Ayecha is an organization that poses
a question: “Where do you stand?”
Our commentaries teach us that G-d
asked this question of Adam, after
the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, not
to find his physical location but to
inspire his introspection on where he
stood within his purpose for being
created. As Jews, we are a people
with tremendous potential to give
praise to our Creator through our
harmonious representation of the
diversity of our world. I have often
asked participants in our workshops
to imagine for a moment the look,
feel and sound of a moment when all
the Jews who currently exist in the
world are gathered together in one
location. With all the different lan-
Learn to
value the
“inner” Jew
in yourself
so that you
can better
appreciate
it in others.
guages and customs, there would
still be one word for G-d and one
word for our people, “Yisrael.” For
those who are already standing in
the Garden of Eden, the question
“Ayecha” is moot. But for those who
have the courage to look out into an
imperfect world and see where their
hands and perspectives can make a
difference, the question becomes a
call to action. kp
Yavilah McCoy is a teacher, writer, editor
and diversity consultant. She was raised in
the Flatbush and Crown Heights areas of
Brooklyn, New York, where she attended
Bais Rivkah Elementary and Yeshiva Univer-
sity High School. Mrs. McCoy has studied
Hebrew and Judaic Studies at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem and the Neve
Yerushalayim Zaidner Institute for Women.
She holds a degree in English Education
and Judaic Studies from the University at
Albany and has taught Judaic Studies,
Hebrew Language and English Literature on
elementary and secondary levels. She is cur-
rently the originator and director of a
national, not-for-profit, resource organiza-
tion, “Ayecha,” whose mission is to pro-
mote tolerance and sensitivity in the Jew-
ish and world community. Yavilah McCoy is
married to Dr. Pinchas McCoy and resides in
St. Louis, Missouri with her husband and
three children, Atarah Yocheved, Yair
Moshe, and Yonatan Nechemya.
Ayecha Resource Organization
7811 Blackberry Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130
Tel: 314.725.5814
e-mail: ayecha@prodigy.net
10 Tips Toward
Sensitivity in the
Jewish Community:
By Yavilah McCoy
 Reach out to other Jews across difference because you
will find our commonalities exceed our differences by far.
 Do not assume that Jewish history and the current Jewish
population is comprised most significantly of Jews of
European cultural ancestry.
 Consider that within the customs and traditions of the
Jewish people there are a great diversity of language,
culture, custom and color. Be willing to reach for and
stay connected to the diversity of the Jewish people.
 Do not assume that because a person has dark skin that
they must be a convert. This is not necessarily true.
 Learn to value the “inner” Jew in yourself so that you
can better appreciate it in others.
 Get to know the customs and traditions of Jews from the
Middle East and North Africa and welcome this knowl-
edge as a necessary component of your Jewish Education.
 If you find a person’s journey around difference to be
inspiring, be it their color, background, abilities, culture,
traditions, etc., try not to limit your praise of them to
their being “inspiring.” Tell them what about them
inspires you specifically.
 Remember that it’s OK to be curious, but to become fas-
cinated with a person because of an aspect of their phys-
icality alone, is to turn that person into an object in your
regard. Make efforts to make your relationships with
people who are different from you more than skin deep.
 Keep in mind that Jews of Color have a lot to offer the
Jewish community both in experience and perspective

and should be welcomed to participate in all levels of
keeping posted
Jewish social interaction, including leadership.
 Remember that denial is not just a river in Egypt
(smile), it can also be an obstacle toward finding lasting
solutions. When we sit with the things inside us that
make us the most uncomfortable, we often find deeper
truth and growth on the other side.
| 15
m
[f Technology Corner

>>> PERFORMING EFFECTIVE WEB

N
OTHING IS MORE FRUSTRATING
and
Most of these “advanced” functions can be accomplished by the
user by utilizing either Boolean logic or mathematical symbols

going online to find information about

than

installing new windows in your home and

SEARCHES

OR The Boolean OR command means “match any.”

finding page after page about Windows 95, Win-
dows XP and Windows 3.1. Typing just “windows” into
Google yields 134 million search results, and the majority
are about operating systems. But excluding the terms
“Microsoft” and “computers” narrows the results to a mere
4,120,000 pages with Andersen Windows, Marvin Win-
dows and Doors, and Pella Windows in the third through
fifth positions.The secret is in knowing how to “search
smart”.
There are several ways to narrow your search options.
The first is by using the “Advanced Search” option avail-
able on many search engines. Depending on the engine,
this could be a window that offers options such as
“Include,” “Exclude,” “Exact Phrase” and “Proximity,” or
simply an option to run another search within the results
of the first search.
Most of these “advanced” functions can be accom-
plished by the user by utilizing either Boolean logic or
mathematical symbols, although not every search engine
accepts both. Experiment on your favorite engine to see
what yields you the best results. (Boolean commands are
properly written in all caps; lower case letters may not
work.)
It is used to allow any of the specified search terms in
results. Dole OR Clinton would yield pages containing
either of those namss.
AND/+ The Boolean AND is used means “match all.” All
of the specified terms must be present in results.
+ performs pretty much the same function. Dole AND
Clinton would yield pages contain both of those names.
+Dole +Clinton is the same thing.
Some search engines perform an AND search by default,
others perform an OR.
NOT/- The Boolean NOT command requires that a par-
ticular term not be among the results. – performs essentially
the same thing. Searching for Dole NOT pineapple would
make it easier to find pages about the senator rather than
the fruit. Dole –pineapple is the same.
( ) Nesting in parentheses allows you to be more complex
in your requests. NCSY AND (Freedman OR Tropp)
should get you pages about either Regional Director.
A phrase search requires the specified terms to appear
in a specific order. “NCSY Summer Programs” would
require that specific phrase to be on resulting pages, while

Searching for Hebrew Words?

sabbath
shabbos
shabbat
summer 2003

* Don’t forget to try variations (Shabbos, Shabbat), as well as English equivalents (Sabbath).
* Try using wildcards (? or *) in these cases. ? replaces a single character, so that
searching for Shabba?on should return both information about a Shabbaton and the song
Yom Shabbason. *could be zero or more characters, so Avra*m should return both
Avram and Avraham.
* Not every search engine (including our favorite, Google) uses wildcards!
16 |
or ()
+NCSY +Summer +Programs might return pages that
have those words in other contexts.
Get fancy and combine terms. Want information on
NCSY Summer Programs, but not JOLT? Search
“NCSY Summer Programs” –JOLT. Want to know
about Rabbis who were doctors, but not the Rambam?
Search +doctor +rabbi –Rambam –Maimonides. Experi-
ment on your favorite search engines and see what gives
you the best results.
We searched ten engines for NCSY, NCSY Summer
For our money, Google is still the one to beat.
AllTheWeb had more results for NCSY, but we were put
off by the fact that national NCSY’s own page wasn’t first.
The same is true for HotBot and Lycos (plus Lycos had
pop-up ads, which we hate.) Ask Jeeves isn’t a search
engine per se, hence the poor results; Teoma is Ask Jeeves’
search engine and performed more to expectations.
Every user’s needs and preferences are different. Try
Boolean and mathematical searches on different engines.
Find the one that speaks your language! kp
Programs and “Kiva Rabinsky”. The results are below:

SEARCH ENGINE # OF RESULTS POSITION OF NCSY # OF RESULTS FOR WORDS # OF RESULTS FOR
FOR NCSY NATIONAL HOME PAGE NCSY SUMMER PROGRAMS PHRASE “KIVA RABINSKY”
IN RESULTS (NOT IN QUOTES) (IN QUOTES)

AllTheWeb.com 25,933 #4 811 9

AltaVista 6,105 #1 729 3
AOL 4,840 #1 260 0
TELLS # OF PAGES, NOT # OF RESULTS

Ask Jeeves 200 #3 200 10

TELLS NEITHER # OF PAGES, NOR # OF RESULTS, 200 MAX?, DIDN’T HONOR THE QUOTES IN “KIVA RABINSKY”

Google 11,100 #1 1,300 4

HotBot 26,751 #4 826 9
Lycos 26,751 #4 780 9
FOR SOME REASON GAVE EXACT SAME RESULTS FOR NCSY BUT FEWER FOR NCSY SUMMER PROGRAMS; POP-UP ADS

MSN 3,623 #1 396 3

Teoma 5,920 #2 821 2
Yahoo 9,890 #1 365 6

✢GG❉✾
The accompanying Venn diagram
represents three sets: NCSY, NER,

✢GG❉✾
and Events. “NCSY” could include
all Regions, Summer Programs,
the web site and this magazine.
WHAT IS THIS BOOLEAN LOGIC, “NER” could include New England
ANYWAY? George Boole (1815-1864) NCSY, Ner L’Elef and candles.


and John Venn (1834-1923) were 19th “Events” could include Shabbatonim,
the Oscars and the Super Bowl.
keeping posted

century mathematicians. Boole developed

what became known as Boolean algebra or
Boolean logic, which you may have encoun-
tered if you ever studied set theory. His work
became especially important when it was applied
to electronic logic circuits in the 1930s. Venn developed
Boole’s logic into symbols. He is best known for the cir-
cle diagrams representing the relationships between
sets, which bear his name.
The overlap of NER AND NCSY yields
the segment “NER NCSY.” The overlap of
NCSY AND Events yields “NCSY Events.” NER
AND NCSY AND Events gets us the center seg-
ment, “NER NCSY Events.”
Conversely, NCSY NOT NER would yield the entire NCSY
circle except for the part that overlaps NER.
Get it?
| 17
 HAGBAH

(Actually, that should more properly be
“hagba’ah,” but since we all say “hagbah,”
let’s write it that way.)

> By Rabbi Yaakov (Jack) Abramowitz

T H E T O R A H ’ S Q U I C K P I C K - M E - U P

After the completion of the Torah reading,

two people are chosen for the honors of
hagbah (lifting up the Torah) and gelilah
(rolling and dressing the Torah). The Tal-
mud (Megillah 32a) tells us that hagbah
carries a reward equal to that of all the
aliyot combined. (It says “the one who
rolls the Torah,” but in the time of the Tal-
mud, hagbah and gelilah were performed
by the same person. The Mishna Brurah
makes it clear that this refers to what we
call hagbah.)

O F COURSE THERE’S A DOWN SIDE

one who does not hold up the words of this

if one
does a poor job. The Torah says, “Cursed be the

Torah.” (Devarim 27:26). The Ramban says that, homilet-

ically, this refers to hagbah. He cites the “minor tractate”
Sofrim that the Torah must be spread and held aloft so
that people on all sides can view the script.
What is it about hagbah that’s so important that it mer-
its such a great reward (and, alternatively, the threat of a
curse)?
The public reading of the Torah is a reenactment of the
Revelation at Sinai. When the Torah is lifted up, the con-
gregants declare their acceptance of Hashem’s Torah and
reaffirm their commitment. When Moshe returned from
Mt. Sinai and saw the Jews worshipping the golden calf,
he threw down the luchos (Tablets). When we turn our
backs on Hashem we are, in effect, casting the Torah
down. By holding the Torah aloft and proclaiming that
this is the Torah that Hashem gave to us through Moshe,
summer 2003
The Torah must be raised so that it can be viewed by
the entire congregation. The Torah should be rotated to
face both the right and the left side of the shul. If the con-
gregation surrounds the bimah from all four sides, then
the Torah should be rotated in a complete circle. One who
raises the Torah but does not display it to the entire shul
actually commits a sin according to the Ramban.
Even though receiving hagbah is a great honor, if some-
one feels that he does not have the strength to do it prop-
erly, he should decline the honor.
The Torah should be unrolled so that at least three
columns are showing when it is raised. (The Magen Avra-
ham feels that this may mean exactly three, but the opin-
ion of the Mishna Brura is that a stronger person should
unroll the Torah as wide as possible.) A seam should also
be showing, but that is for a practical purpose. If the
Torah should, G-d forbid, tear as a result of the lifting or
rolling, this ensures that it will tear on the easily repaired
seam rather than down a column of text.

we are rededicating ourselves to His service.
Hagbah, therefore, can be a tremendous and inspiring
kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d’s name). Unfortu-
nately, every kiddush Hashem has the potential to be a
chilul Hashem (desecration of G-d’s name), therefore the
great reward (and potential curse) that comes with the
responsibility.
18 |
As the Torah is lifted, all the men and women in shul
should direct their gaze toward the text of the Torah. It is
desirable to be close enough to make out the actual letters.
Although not recorded in any of the classical sources, it is
customary to point at the Torah, usually with the pinky,
during hagbah. (The Meam Loez, parshas Ki savo, may be
the earliest record of this custom.) As they point to the
Torah, the congregation recites “vezos haTorah
asher sam Moshe lifnei B’nei Yisrael al pi Hashem
b’yad Moshe.” (“This is the Torah that Moshe
placed before the Children of Israel, by the word of
G-d, through the hand of Moshe.”) This “verse” is d
actually an amalgam of Devarim 4:44 in its entirety and
the last few words of Bemidbar 9:23. (Because it is not an
actual verse, some authorities object to reciting that text as
written. Nevertheless, that is the commonly accepted ver-
sion.) One who is not facing the Torah may not recite
(pointer).
Care should be taken that the parch-
ment is not touched with bare hands while
rolling the Torah. If the parchment needs
adjustment, it should be handled through a
tallis. The Torah is then covered with its man-
tel (mantle – aren’t these translations really helpful?) and
any decorations such as breastplates or crowns, or its yad

vezos haTorah.
The magbia (lifter) then sits down and the Torah is
rolled up by a second person, called the gollel. It is accept-
able to give this honor to a minor as this is considered
chinuch (education).
The Torah should be rolled so that the side with
Bereishis is above the side with Devarim. The Torah is
bound with its gartel (sash) around its upper third. (Peo-
ple commonly tie it around the middle, but it really
should be in the upper third, like a mezuzah is in the upper
third of a doorpost.) The knot should be tied on the side
of the Torah that faces up when it is read. This is so that it
will be immediately ready for use when taken out again.
The haftarah should not begin until after gollel has fin-
ished wrapping the Torah, so that he may also follow the
reading. The same is true for readings from a second sefer
Torah while the first is still being dressed. However, on
Mondays and Thursdays, the yehi ratzons after the Torah
readings may be recited before the gollel has finished.
Most of the opinions in this article follow the Mishna
Brurah but, as with most things, there is some difference
in practice. In Sephardi congregations, for example, hag-
bah takes place before the Torah reading, rather than after.
What is consistent, despite any small variations in
practice, is that hagbah is an opportunity to publicly pro-
claim that this is the Torah that Hashem gave us and that
we forever dedicate ourselves to upholding it, both liter-
ally and figuratively. kp

Tzeischem L’Shalom
N CSY WISHES FAREWELL
to Rabbi Ari and Sarah Beth
Solomont and family as they
depart to make aliyah.
Rabbi Solomont has served with distinction as
All of NCSY joins with New England in wishing the
Solomonts hatzlacha (success) in Eretz Yisroel. We look
forward to joining them there soon! kp

Regional Director of New England NCSY for the past

ten years.
www.jacobmedia.com
Both Rabbi and Mrs. Solomont are alumni of NCSY
and members of NCSY’s Ben Zakkai Honor Society.
Rabbi Ari served on the National Board and Sarah Beth
was Regional President of Atlantic Seaboard NCSY. In
2000, the Solomonts were honored with the Ezra Ben-
Zion Lightman Memorial Award at the annual Ben
Zakkai Honor Society Dinner.
The Solomonts were presented with a token of
National NCSY’s esteem and gratitude at the recent New
England Regional Banquet. Additionally, they are being
honored at New England Region’s annual Ner Tamid
Awards Banquet.

SEASON PREMIERE
9:00PM-10:00PM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
ADVERTISEMENT
 [ fFOR EVERYONE WHO SAYS
BRACHOS (OR SHOULD)
One Hundred Brachos
Rabbi Moshe Goldberger
The Judaica Press, Inc.
You may be aware
that there is a
practice that we
are all supposed
to say 100 bra-
chos (blessings)
each day, but
how much do you
actually know
about it? Do you know what those
hundred brachos are or how the prac-
tice evolved? (Would it surprise you
to learn that it was instituted by
Dovid HaMelech?) A staggering num-
ber of people do not even know what
one is supposed to have in mind
when saying these brachos.
Do you know during which bracha
it is appropriate to thank Hashem for
the gift of belts? Shoes? Indoor
plumbing? How about Vitamin D? Do
you know why the bracha of go’eil
Yisroel (that Hashem redeems Israel)
is the seventh bracha of Shemoneh
Esrei or why rofei cholei amo Yisroel
(that Hashem heals the sick) is the
eighth? And what’s so special about
modim that we bow?
If you want to know more about
these and the other brachos which we
say each day, then this is the book
for you. Especially appreciated is a
line-by-line analysis of the brachos of
summer 2003
bentching, explaining those blessings
in great detail.
While it is not particularly heavy
reading, this book is not intended to
be devoured in large portions. The
author suggests that it be ingested
gradually, at the rate of one bracha
per day over 100 days, the better to
savor and appreciate the meaning of
each day’s bracha.
20 |
[ fFOR PEOPLE WHO WATCH TV
What they don’t want
you to know about
television and videos
Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen
Targum/Feldheim
You might be aware
that many religious
people do not have
TV in their homes.
But that’s just an
example of right-
wing fanaticism,
right? It’s not for
“moderns” like us!
Well, maybe it’s not so simple.
This special “student edition” is
abridged from the “Television” chap-
ter of Rabbi Kelemen’s To Kindle a
Soul and contains about two-thirds
of the material found in that chap-
ter. Readers familiar with Rabbi Kele-
men’s books such as Permission to
Believe and Permission to Receive
know how scholarly and well-
researched they are. This is no
exception.
The volume is not so much about
the content of television program-
ming as it is about the medium of TV.
It explains that television exists not
to entertain, but to sell. In a sense,
all TV is educational. The question is,
what is it teaching?
We have all heard (and perhaps
dismissed) that studies have linked
television to violent behavior in chil-
dren. But were you aware that TV
viewing habits have also been linked
to obesity, attention deficit, hyperac-
tivity and other behaviors?
Read What they don’t want you to
know… Maybe you’ll be persuaded to
go cold turkey on the boob tube.
Maybe you’ll shrug it off. But one
way or the other, it’ll give you some-
thing to think about.
[ fFOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW
TEENS (OR WHO ARE TEENS)
Starving to Live
Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser
Judaica Press
“I tried on the shirt.
It was tight, way too
tight. The skirt fit a
little better. But it
was the look that
bothered me.
I hate my body.”
-14 years old
When speaking of eating disor-
ders, what could be more powerful
than an anorexic’s own words? While
Starving to Live contains plenty of
Torah thoughts (from the nazir bring-
ing a sacrifice to atone for self-depri-
vation to the Rambam’s rules for
healthy eating to Rav Nachman of
Breslov writing that partaking of
life’s blessings does more for one
spiritually than abstention), the
most moving and absorbing part is
the diary of a teen anorexic.
In addition to the diary and Torah
thoughts from the Chumash and Tal-
mud through the responsa of Rav
Moshe Feinstein ztz”l, you will find
practical advice for identifying and
coping with anorexic and bulimic
individuals. (Do you know the symp-
toms of anorexia? They include a pre-
occupation with calories and nutri-
tion, obsessive exercise and distorted
body image.) There is also a list of
“dos” and “don’ts.” For example,
never say, even jokingly, “I wish I
had that problem!”
Eating disorders are greatly mis-
understood. These disorders are not
about looks, they are about control.
Anorexics can control their own
weight; they then disguise how much
weight they’ve lost (which is some-
thing they wouldn’t do if it was
about looks).
 This book is not meant to make
you an armchair therapist – in fact
that’s one of the don’ts. But hope-
fully a greater understanding of
these disorders can help us detect
the early warning signs and get peo-
ple the help they need.
[f FOR THOSE AWAITING
MOSHIACH
On Eagles’ Wings
Herschel Brand
Targum/Feldheim
Subtitled “Moshiach,
Redemption, and the
World to Come,” On
Eagles’ Wings lays out
the lowdown on Moshi-
ach in black and
white. NCSYers (and
others) have gleaned
much information about what we
expect the time of Moshiach to be
like, but unless they have perused
the Rambam, they have probably
never seen many of the sources up
close and personal.
The book is constructed as a
weekly series of sessions between
“Daniel” and “Rabbi Cohen.” Each
week Daniel and Rabbi Cohen discuss
another aspect of the coming of the
Moshiach: How will we know the
Moshiach? What will the world be
like after Moshiach comes? Why don’t
we believe other religions that claim
that he has already come? What is
the war of Gog and Magog?
The text is cleverly structured to
accommodate a number of educa-
tional backgrounds. For a basic
understanding of the issues, one can
just read the dialogues. For interme-
diate readers, the sources cited by
Rabbi Cohen are inset in the text. For
the more advanced, Rabbi Cohen’s
“notes” are appended. (If you’re
really advanced, there’s an exhaus-
tive source index, so you can look
them up in the originals yourself.)
A lot of what we know about
Moshiach is shrouded in mystery and
the details will be revealed when he
gets here. In the meantime, Rabbi
Brand codifies what we do know in a
clear, concise fashion.
[ fFOR THOSE WHO WANT
TO REMOVE ALL DOUBT
Beyond a
Reasonable Doubt
Rabbi Shmuel Waldman
Feldheim Publishers
Keeping Posted
reviews are usually
done in the anony-
mous editorial
voice, but for this
one, Rabbi Jack has
to step out and
speak as himself:
Four out of the
last five Yarchei Kallahs, I delivered a
chug (workshop) entitled “Why We
Believe What We Believe.” When
somebody compared it to a certain
book, I intentionally refrained from
reading that book so that I could
honestly state that my presentation
was not influenced by it. I later read
that book and found the area of over-
lap was about 5%.
Having read Beyond a Reasonable
Doubt, I will probably not be able to
make that claim any longer. Rabbi
Waldman covers virtually every-
thing I do in my chug, plus lots of
other things.
In my talk, I focus on the Divine
origin of the Torah, touching on how
there has to be a Creator and the mir-
acle of Jewish history. What are tan-
gents to me are fully developed by
Rabbi Waldman. He also goes into
topics I don’t even begin to discuss:
The soul and the afterlife, Hashgacha
pratis (Divine providence), Prophe-
cies fulfilled, and much more.
Rabbi Waldman makes everything
crystal clear. After reading this, it is
so obvious that there’s a G-d and
that He made the world and gave
the Torah. Of course, Hashem always
leaves people the free will to dis-
miss the evidence, but the evidence
is there.
So this is a dangerous book. Not
for the reader, but for me. If I recom-
mend you read this book, I’m going
to have to write a new chug for
Yarchei Kallah because I have almost
nothing to say that Rabbi Waldman
hasn’t already said better and fuller.
I’m willing to take that risk. Read it.
[ fFOR YOUNG PHILOSOPHERS
The Torah Lifestyle
Rabbi B. Shafier
Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.
Disguised as a
series of dialogues
between a Rabbi
and an engaged
young man, The
Torah Lifestyle
addresses some
profound ques-
tions in an easily-
digestible format. Happiness, con-
science, identity and self, our animal
sides vs. our spiritual sides, and
other topics are all clearly discussed
and thoroughly analyzed.
Let us demonstrate the clarity
with which Rabbi Shafier addresses
his topics by sharing one of his
examples, which he calls “The Pants
Too Short Syndrome.” Imagine a boy
trying on his bar mitzvah suit a year
or two later. He will find the arms
and legs are too short. There’s noth-
ing wrong with the suit, it just no
longer fits him.
Similarly, a person who attends
Hebrew school through fifth grade
might grow up thinking that Judaism
is all cutesy stories. But that person
is now 20 and is trying on a “suit of

education” that is meant for a ten year
old. There’s nothing wrong with the
keeping posted
suit, it’s just too small for him now.
We use that example here because
it is easy to summarize in our limited
space. Rabbi Shafier addresses far
more complex topics in equally clear
terms.
And how many books have cover
quotes from both Rabbi Baruch Davi-
dowitz and Dr. Laura Schlesinger? kp
| 21
LETTERS
ncsy
L E T T E R S expand the DC/Marvel list much He had a lot of practice saying it
more than you did. while in The Vault for killing his dad,
We had a very exciting issue, with a Nachum Lamm I suppose.

Loved the FF Interview, but

scathing exposé on Missionary tactics, Also, the new Gotham Central
and all anybody wants to talk about is the book features a Jewish detective who
sidebar on Jewish comic book characters! your sidebar neglected to mention wears a black yarmulke. And, since

Checking out Jewhoo’s cartoon

section, they mentioned that Captain
Marvel is one-sixth Jewish- after all,
the “S” in “Shazam” is for “Solomon,”
after all.
one Jewish Marvel hero:
Justice. Unlike Kitty Pryde, we’ve
at least seen him in a synagogue (a
mixed seating one, but one nonethe-
less). Plus, who can forget that mem-
orable moment when he used kad-
dish to stop a brainwashed Sabra
he was hefting a box of them, we now
know that Gotham Donuts are in
fact kosher! And yes, I need a life.
Mordechai Luchins
So all anybody wants to talk about is
Jewish comic book characters? That’s


OK, it’s a bit of a stretch. They don’t from assassinating the Israeli PM. fine by us. Try this on for size:

The Return of
Mendy and the Golem ™

M ENDY
GOLEM
AND

book published by
Mendy Enterprises in the
1980s. Dubbed “The World’s
THE
was a comic
important for Jewish children
to have positive role models
to identify with. I think
they can find that with
Mendy and Rivkie.”
Only Kosher Comic Book,” each “I don’t believe the story is
issue focused on a different mitz- exclusive to Jewish children,”
vah such as lashon hara (guarding Brandstein continued. “My pri-
one’s speech) or hachnosas orchim (receiv- mary focus is to tell an entertaining
© TH
ing guests). E GO sion story. Because I’m Jewish and extremely
LEM used with permis

You may have seen Mendy in your local Jewish news-
paper. At one point the Mendy comic strip was carried in
as many as forty papers.
Well, Mendy and the Golem are back in comic book
format, but everything has changed.
No longer is Mendy and the Golem an “educational”
comic – at least not in the same way as it once was.
Tani Pinson is the creative force behind the current
incarnation of the Golem. (His father was the creator of
the original.) The new Mendy is very much an adventure
comic; the protagonists just happen to be Orthodox Jews.
The power of young Jews is central to the storyline.
While the Golem is a being of immense power, he (it?)
summer 2003
proud of that fact, I want to service that community first
and foremost, but not to exclude anyone else.”
The comic also benefits from the contributions of
prominent artists. The first issue was drawn by Archie
Comics artist Stan Goldberg; the second was by Ernie
Colón, known for his work on comics such as Richie Rich
and Casper.
Mendy and the Golem has received attention from both
the Jewish and trade press, including the Intermountain,
Cleveland and Detroit Jewish News, as well as the Comics
Buyer’s Guide. Special attention was paid to the series by the
Connecticut Jewish Ledger. Why? Because the series is set in
New Haven, CT. (New England NCSYers take note!)

needs the direction Mendy and Rivkie Klein. Their Jew-
ish lifestyle is not the focus of the story, but neither is it
apologized for or concealed.
The series is written by Matt Brandstein who comes
with a wealth of experiences, including creating music
videos with Sting and Mariah Carey.
The goal of the comic, Brandstein says, is to entertain
Jewish youth from a wide variety of backgrounds. What
they’ve done is put the Klein family in a world which they
hope will appeal to a wide variety of people. “It’s really
22 |
Why New Haven? For starters, Mr. Pinson was raised
there. Aside from that, “it’s just your typical American city,”
says Pinson. “It really is a great place. It’s got all the ameni-
ties of any American town, with a substantial Jewish pres-
ence.” Look for some real life sites in the Mendy comic.
The first two issues are on the stands as of this writing,
with the third on the way. In future issues expect to see
Mendy wear his yarmulke more and his baseball cap less.
That’s just a part of who he is.
For more information, visit www.thegolem.com. kp
 NCSY would like to thank
the following for their
generous donation of
prizes towards the game
show at Yarchei Kallah
(in alphabetical order):
The Berkshire Bank
5 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Chameleon Comics
and Cards
3 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
Five Towns Gifts
and Crafts
482 Central Ave.
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
FranklinCovey
60 Broad St.
New York, NY 10004
Goldstein Associates
Gifts, Incentives
and Promotions
avigoldstein@juno.com
Judaica Plus
530 Central Ave.
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
Ki-Tov
1847 Mott Avenue
Far Rockaway, NY
11691
Kosher Delight
1223 Avenue J
Brooklyn, NY 11230
NCSY Summer
Programs
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
OU/NCSY Publications
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Record Explosion
176 Broadway
New York, NY 10038
Roger’s Time Machine
207 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
Shlock Rock
www.shlockrock.com
Yarchei Kallah 5763 received rave reviews from all involved. Among the high points: An Israel/Social Actions Starbucks
424 Central Avenue
Multi-Media Presentation prepared by National VPSA Monique Grunberger and National Educational Director Cedarhurst, NY
Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch; a game show hosted by Director of National Programs Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, assisted 11516
Touro College
by Aliza Libman; a concert by Shlock Rock founder Lenny Solomon; and guest shiurim including Rabbi Herschel 1602 Avenue J
Schachter, Rabbi Zev Leff, Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz and Scholar in Residence Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen. Brooklyn, NY 11230
 ™

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