http://www.jstandard.com/content/item/ en _JStandard@js.com Copyright 2009 2009-06-12T11:47:44+00:00 /content/item/8671 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/cycling_through_israel_for_health_peace_and_the_environment/#When:11:47:44Z “You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Hallel, Psalm 116:8-9). As I said these words on Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Tel Aviv on the 61st anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel — and at the beginning of the longest bicycle ride I have ever done — I realized how literally they applied to me. Two months ago, I had begun to ride my bicycle again after a six-week hiatus, owing to treatment of my larynx for cancer. I had been literally speechless since the middle of January, able to communicate only in gestures and whispers, and here I was in the middle of Tel Aviv about to embark on the ride of a lifetime. How did it happen? I resolved that if and when I recovered, I would do this ride, to prove to myself that life on the bicycle has not come to end. In addition, I wanted to see whether I could do it on a folding bike (Brompton) that fits in a suitcase. That is how I came to participate in Israel Ride, sponsored by Hazon and the Arava Institute.“You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Hallel, Psalm 116:8-9). As I said these words on Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Tel Aviv on the 61st anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel — and at the beginning of the longest bicycle ride I have ever done — I realized how literally they applied to me. Two months ago, I had begun to ride my bicycle again after a six-week hiatus, owing to treatment of my larynx for cancer. I had been literally speechless since the middle of January, able to communicate only in gestures and whispers, and here I was in the middle of Tel Aviv about to embark on the ride of a lifetime. How did it happen? I resolved that if and when I recovered, I would do this ride, to prove to myself that life on the bicycle has not come to end. In addition, I wanted to see whether I could do it on a folding bike (Brompton) that fits in a suitcase. That is how I came to participate in Israel Ride, sponsored by Hazon and the Arava Institute. Day 1: Tel Aviv to Ashkelon The ride began on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Wednesday, April 29, at 7:15 a.m. After a short ceremony including Tefillat Haderech (the traveler’s prayer) and the sounding of the shofar, we cycled into history, passed Rabin Square, where the prime minister was assassinated Nov. 4, 1995, then down the bike path on Rothschild Blvd. We stopped briefly at #16, Independence Hall, where the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel was signed on this exact Hebrew date 61 years ago. After leaving Yafo, we headed down the coast, ending in Ashkelon, the place where the biblical Samson pulled down the Philistine temple. About five miles into the ride, my rear tire blew out. It was very embarrassing. I had been keeping up pretty well with the group, but now I was hopelessly behind. They couldn’t get it fixed, so I was loaned a hybrid bike for the rest of the day. The support staff on this ride was amazing. I did manage to catch up on the hybrid but developed sores on my rear. During the evening, I replaced my tire and was able to ride the Brompton for the rest of the trip. We learned that Ashkelon is famous for having the world’s largest desalinization plant, providing 5-6 percent of Israel’s water. We also passed a large JNF reservoir. The importance of the research on water conservation being done at the Arava Institute was stressed. Day 2: Ashkelon to Mashebei Sade The second day started at 7:15 a.m. and included a gradual uphill climb, moving from the coast to the northern Negev and ending at Kibbutz Mashebei Sade. I managed to keep up with the group initially, but gradually fell behind, until I was riding by myself between the main group and the support van. For much of the way, there were no cars, just the desert scenery. It was not hilly or picturesque, but there were flowers along the road. There were very few buildings; I had the feeling that I was in a real midbar (wilderness area). I could relate well to the ancient Israelites walking these paths with their camels and herds, with nothing but the sky above and land beneath their feet. The road itself was just an asphalt ribbon that enabled me to take a spiritual journey and connect with my ancestors. This was also the longest ride I ever did in one day — 72 miles officially, but 74 on my bike computer — and I felt like saying a Shecheheyanu (prayer that celebrates reaching a milestone in life). Day 3: Mashabei Sade to Mitzpe Ramon On Friday, the ride was shorter but more intense. We left before breakfast and stopped to eat it at Sde Boker, the home of David Ben Gurion, first prime minister of Israel. He was so imbued with the pioneering spirit that he resigned his office and became an active kibbutz member, working on sheep-shearing and other manual activities with great joy. He is buried here, and at his grave we discussed his philosophy of conquering the desert. Today, this is no longer an accepted practice, and it is not considered sustainable. We must learn to work with, not against, the environment, and not every square inch of desert needs to be made to bloom. We then took a short off-road excursion on mountain bikes. I found this scary at first, but was amazed at how well the bike handled going over rocks the size of baseballs. Shabbat Saturday was a true and much-needed sabbath. We had an egalitarian service with a full Torah reading, preceded by a short visit to the maktesh (crater). We learned about its geological origin, from running water eroding the limestone, resulting in a settling. The maktesh is a beautiful crater and richly deserved the blessing recited on seeing the wonders of creation, which I recited as soon as I saw it. Following services and Shabbat lunch, alumni of the institute made a presentation stressing that in order have real peace in the Middle East, we must learn to show respect for the Arab position and realize that most of the people want peace as badly as we do. Building bridges through a shared environmental vision may be a key step in this process. The rest of Shabbat was spent eating and walking around the rim of the crater and generally relaxing and talking to members of the group. There were 34 other riders beside myself. They ranged in age from 12 to 76. I was the second oldest. Most were men in their 40s and 50s, but there were a mother-daughter team, three father son/daughter groups, and a married couple. We ended Shabbat at sunset with a Havdalah service at the maktesh. Day 4: Mitzpe Ramon to Kibbutz Ketura – Arava Institute The ride to Kibbutz Ketura was mostly downhill and delightful. I arrived at the kibbutz at about 3 p.m., after 60 miles of riding. We were treated to a tour of the institute’s facilities and heard firsthand about student projects and how students from Jordan and Israel get along with one another. The institute was founded in 1996 by Alon Tal, Israel’s foremost environmental lawyer and winner of the Bronfman Prize for outstanding achievement in 2006. Its purpose is to bring peace to the Middle East through environmental cooperation. More about the institute and its projects can be seen at http://www.arava.org/. Day 5: Kibbutz Ketura to Eilat The last day of the ride was unusual. Some riders were bused to the top of a hill (Shizaphone), while others rode to the top. I joined a third group that was to tour and bike ride in Timna. We got to see the formations and the copper mines, but before we could do the bike riding, our bus was recalled to rescue the main group from a sandstorm. It was impossible to ride and dangerous to breathe. We were bused to within about 10 miles of Eilat and had a smooth downhill ride from there, riding at times right next to the Egyptian border. While the others were disassembling their bikes, I took a ride to the center of Eilat in one direction and to the Taba border in the other. The experiment was a success. My little bike and I survived, although I was the last rider most of the time. Evening activities included a buffet banquet, a slide show of the many pictures taken by the official photographer, and some celebratory speeches. It was hard to believe the ride was really over. Reflections For me, this ride was the culmination of years of study of and advocating for environmental causes. I first developed an interest in the connection of Jewish tradition to environmental issues in the mid-80s as byproduct of work I was doing as a Boy Scout leader. I subsequently started an environmental study group (Hug Teva) at Cong. Beth Sholom in Teaneck, and what I learned greatly increased my respect for Jewish tradition and what it says about the environment. According to the Rambam, one must “contemplate the world to know Him, who said, and it was.” This was a critical turning point in my thinking. With my new-found zeal for the environment, I joined and subsequently chaired, as I currently do, the Teaneck Environmental Commission. Supporting the work of the Arava Institute provides a new dimension, since this ride was more than a pleasure jaunt. It was both an education and an opportunity to raise money and awareness of a Jewish institution that is attempting to deal with real environmental as well as political problems At the Arava Institute, international cooperation happens in projects emphasizing that “nature knows no bounds” — including research on solar energy, water conservation, and plant diversity and fostering cross-cultural understanding. It is my hope that others will support the institute and come to look at the world, and particularly Israel, in a new way. The author invites e-mails at Harrybike@optonline.net. The next Israel Ride will take place Nov. 3-10, 2009. For information, visit www.israelride.org. general 2009-06-12T11:47:44+00:00 /content/item/7731 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/a_new_look_at_redemption/#When:11:51:17Z All I wanted to do was give a donation to the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) while I was in Israel. But from that simple desire came one of the high points of my recent trip. Before I left for Israel to attend February’s Rabbinical Assembly convention in Jerusalem, several members of my congregation gave me tzedakah to distribute there. One of my favorite organizations is NACOEJ. I knew of their work with Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa who were waiting to leave for Israel, and of their continuing efforts to help these Jews integrate into Israel society.All I wanted to do was give a donation to the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) while I was in Israel. But from that simple desire came one of the high points of my recent trip. First PersonBefore I left for Israel to attend February’s Rabbinical Assembly convention in Jerusalem, several members of my congregation gave me tzedakah to distribute there. One of my favorite organizations is NACOEJ. I knew of their work with Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa who were waiting to leave for Israel, and of their continuing efforts to help these Jews integrate into Israel society. Rabbi Ronald Roth meets with Orly Tagedye in Ramla.Surfing on the Internet, I learned that NACOEJ had an office in Jerusalem, so I called the New York office to tell them that I would stop by their Israeli office and leave my donation. When they heard I was going to be in Israel, they suggested that I visit one of their Limudiah sites — intensive supplementary after-school programs in Israel where Ethiopian Jews are helped to succeed in school. I felt I could not refuse. There was no such program in Jerusalem, where I would be staying, but there was one in Lod, near Tel Aviv. Since there was no direct bus service from Jerusalem to Lod, I planned instead to visit Ramla, where there was another Limudiah program. Some eight years ago, when my daughter, Deena, became a bat mitzvah, she twinned with a young Ethiopian woman who lived there. We made a donation to NACOEJ, and the two young women exchanged letters and photos. I went to my files and found the letter we received from Orly Tagedye of Ramla. I again called the NACOEJ office in New York and then the office in Israel. They said they would try to find Orly; if possible, I would meet her as well as observe the after-school program. When I arrived in Jerusalem, I learned from the NACOEJ office that not only had they found Orly, but they had arranged for one of their part-time employees to drive me to Ramla. Orly would meet me there. Teaching about Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.”Who would have imagined such a meeting? The story of the rescue of Ethiopian Jews has always resonated deeply within me. It was the only time that black Africans were taken out of Africa, where they were persecuted, to live free in another land. Every Passover I put a pillow in a cover embroidered by Jews in Addis Ababa and recline on it as I lead the Seder. On my second day in Israel, I went to the NACEOJ office in Jerusalem. Their special projects manager, Kassahun (the equivalent of Jonathan in Amharic) Wondie, drove me to Ramla to meet Orly, who showed me an envelope. I recognized my handwriting on it. She had saved the letter from Deena as well as two photos I had sent to her. I showed her the letter that she had written to my daughter. She told me about her plans. She was studying for the Israeli equivalent of the SAT exams and looked forward to going to Bar Ilan University and becoming a social worker. Here, I thought, in a hallway of a school in Israel, two Jews meet for the first time. I thought of the midrash that says all Jews were present when the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, but that was a long time ago. My family had traveled to Europe, Poland, Russia, Moscow, and Riga — and then by way of Brooklyn and Nashville I arrived in Fair Lawn, N.J. Here I was with a fellow Jew whose journey took her to Ethiopia and then to Israel. We chatted about our families and our hopes for the future. I felt transported beyond my simple existence into a realm of Jewish history much larger than myself. Ethiopian students in Israel learn about Tu b’Shevat.Kassahun took some photos of me and Orly, and then we parted. I went to see the Limudiah program. It was Tu b’Shevat. The students were studying and eating fruits. I heard their teacher ask, “What did the boy give to the tree and what did the tree give to the boy?” It sounded familiar. Then, looking at the white board where the teacher had written notes, I realized they had read a Hebrew translation of the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. I thought of the many times I read that story to students in my synagogue. I went to Israel to attend a convention and to learn Torah. I wanted to spend a few days on my own in Israel before the formal program began. At one point, I thought I would go to Petra, across the border in Jordan, to see one of the world’s greatest wonders, the remains of a grand city carved in stone. I chose not to do so. Instead, I traveled to Ramla. Unlike Petra, Ramla is not one of those sites listed in books such as “1001 Places You Must See Before You Die.” However, I did experience one of the great wonders of the world: meeting Orly in person, seeing my fellow Jews living freely in Israel, and watching the cheerful faces of children learning our heritage. All I can say is thank you NACOEJ. For Orly and for all the Ethiopian Jews in Israel, the story of Passover has special resonance. I was fortunate to be able to meet those who so recently experienced redemption. general 2009-04-10T11:51:17+00:00 /content/item/6895 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/jogger_pedestrian_safety/#When:20:34:36Z We often see news accounts of joggers/walkers who were struck and injured by moving vehicles. Jogging and walking is supposed to be a healthy activity, but it can be much more hazardous than a pulled muscle or sore feet. Anytime you mix pedestrians and vehicles together, there is an inherent risk. In 2008, 39 persons were injured involving pedestrian/vehicle accidents in Teaneck and luckily, no fatalities were reported. In 2007, 42 pedestrians were injured with one fatality. In these incidents, the majority occurred at intersections. In 2005, a jogger was struck and killed by a hit and run driver while running on Queen Anne Rd. in the early morning hours. An intense investigation was conducted and the driver was later identified and charged with a crime. We often see news accounts of joggers/walkers who were struck and injured by moving vehicles. Jogging and walking is supposed to be a healthy activity, but it can be much more hazardous than a pulled muscle or sore feet. Anytime you mix pedestrians and vehicles together, there is an inherent risk. In 2008, 39 persons were injured involving pedestrian/vehicle accidents in Teaneck and luckily, no fatalities were reported. In 2007, 42 pedestrians were injured with one fatality. In these incidents, the majority occurred at intersections. In 2005, a jogger was struck and killed by a hit and run driver while running on Queen Anne Rd. in the early morning hours. An intense investigation was conducted and the driver was later identified and charged with a crime. The New Jersey laws on pedestrian activity are very simple but sometimes difficult to adhere to. It states that where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. In Teaneck we have a unique situation. On some streets, there are no sidewalks which forces pedestrians and vehicles to “share” the roadway. In this case, the responsibility falls equally to both. The pedestrian “shall when practicable, walk only on the extreme left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing approaching traffic,” (NJS: 39-4-34). On the other side, the vehicle operator has a responsibility to use caution when a pedestrian is on the roadway. “Nothing contained herein, shall relieve a driver from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway,” (NJS: 39-4-36). Of course, the safety of all residents is our main concern and educating everyone about pedestrian safety is at the top of the list. Here are some tips: • Run/walk on the sidewalk and out of the roadway, if at all possible. • Be alert for obstacles and problems where you run/walk such as unleashed dogs, icy areas, low branches and pot holes. • Have a planned route. Let someone know when you leave, the route you will take and the time you plan on returning. • Carry identification with you and a cell phone, if practical. Several companies offer identification badges that attach to shoes and clothing which are unobtrusive and quickly recognized by any emergency service person. • Wear reflective clothing, even when it is bright and sunny. The more visible you are to vehicles the better. • Run/walk with a friend. The buddy system is always enjoyable and a safe idea. • Stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings. Earphones are nice to keep you motivated, but they can also eliminate sounds of approaching danger. How about turning the volume down a bit so you can still hear what is around you. • Trust your feelings and intuitions when it comes to various situations you may encounter. Do not just dismiss them. • Drivers: be observant, be patient and yield to all persons in crosswalks. The Teaneck Police Department, under the command of Chief Robert A. Wilson, is committed to working together with our fellow residents, to keep our neighborhoods safe and secure. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Teaneck Police Department Community Policing Bureau at 201-837-8759 or email at mfalvey@teaneckpolice.org. Lieutenant Michael Falvey Teaneck Police Department general 2009-02-24T20:34:36+00:00 /content/item/6376 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/expert_tips_for_the_phony_bar_mitzvah_boy/#When:11:00:03Z NEW YORK (JTA) – A few months ago, an e-mail message began circulating among religious scholars: “Film studio looking for someone to teach non-Jewish 13-year-old actor a haftorah portion for Todd Solondz movie bar mitzvah scene.”NEW YORK (JTA) – A few months ago, an e-mail message began circulating among religious scholars: “Film studio looking for someone to teach non-Jewish 13-year-old actor a haftorah portion for Todd Solondz movie bar mitzvah scene.” Since few details about this movie have been made public, it’s hard to know what Solondz — the indie auteur whose films have gotten progressively weirder and bleaker since his 1996 debut, “Welcome to the Dollhouse” — has in mind. How might a young actor achieve authenticity in such a scene For advice, I asked Marlene Brostoff, who has been a bar and bat mitzvah teacher near Los Angeles for 38 years (and is the mother of Marissa Brostoff, Nextbook.org’s staff writer). Struggle with pronunciation. “Probably the most difficult sound to master, because we do not have it in the English language, is the ‘ch’ sound,” Brostoff says. “So I always tell kids, ‘Pretend you’re at the dentist’s office, and he’s asking you to spit into a spittoon, and you kind of are clearing your throat and you kind of have that ‘ch’ sound.’ And somehow a lot of kids can do it. Some cannot do it. It’s very, very difficult for them to make that sound. It’s the same sound you have in German in the composer Bach’s name.” Go too fast. “One of my mantras to them is ‘Loud, slow, and clear’ because they do tend to want to rush. Most students, if they know their portions well, want to go way too fast. I often tell them just to say their names in their heads whenever they get to a period.” Pretend you’re on “American Idol.” “A big thing that I would want to emphasize — something I emphasize with my actual bar mitzvah students — is that it’s not a show. It’s a time to be embraced by the community. It’s not that they’re standing up there waiting for their cue. At different points in the service, when there are congregational readings in English, or even in Hebrew if they know it, they need to partake in that. It’s not just standing and waiting for a little line and going up to recite. You’re a part of the congregation when you’re doing your specific solos. I also tell them, because it’s not a show, not to be waving to their friends — you almost have to ‘stay in character’ as a bar mitzvah person. You can smile, you can be natural, but you’re there to do something of a serious nature, and since you are leading the congregation, you’re expected to be acting in a way that is very adult-like.” Imagine the world is not like a Todd Solondz movie. “I would want the actor, and the actual bar mitzvah student, to look at this as almost a day of hope, more so in terms of their interpretation — when they’re writing their speech --their interpretation of their torah or haftorah portion. Often this can be a way to motivate kids to say something to this audience out there that hopefully encourages them to do something better with their lives -- a pretty awesome responsibility for a 13-year-old.” JTA Lawrence Levi, a co-author of “The Film Snob’s Dictionary,” is a senior editor at Nextbook.org. Reprinted from Nextbook.org, a new read on Jewish culture. general 2009-01-23T11:00:03+00:00 /content/item/5025 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/teaching_by_example/#When:11:00:50Z Canadian-born lecturer Doron Kornbluth has been speaking to Jewish groups for more than 10 years, telling parents how they can keep their families Jewish. The author of “Why Marry Jewish,” Kornbluth will visit Valley Chabad on Nov. 12 to speak on the topic of his latest book, “Raising Kids to Love Being Jewish.”Canadian-born lecturer Doron Kornbluth has been speaking to Jewish groups for more than 10 years, telling parents how they can keep their families Jewish. The author of “Why Marry Jewish,” Kornbluth will visit Valley Chabad on Nov. 12 to speak on the topic of his latest book, “Raising Kids to Love Being Jewish.” Most recently, he said, he’s been speaking to parents of teenagers, suggesting “easy-to-follow [strategies] that can make a big difference.” “What parents think will work often doesn’t work,” he said. For example, when parents drop their children off at Hebrew school and then drive away to do something else, “it’s a recipe for disaster.” “It says not only that the parents themselves aren’t learning but that being Jewish is [only] for kids,” he said. “We are what we see. You don’t have to be a perfect parent, but you need to let your kids see you doing Jewish things.” “If you write a check to a Jewish charity, don’t do it at night,” he continued. “Let the children see what you’re doing and talk to them about it. Frame it in Jewish terms. Show them what it means to be a mensch.” Kornbluth said that while the surest way to keep your kids Jewish is either to move to Israel or to become ultra-Orthodox and live apart from the rest of the community, “the vast majority of families aren’t going to do this.” “It’s not like it was in the past,” he said. “Even if we did the same things our parents did, it wouldn’t work. The world has changed.” For further information, call (201) 476-0157. Lois Goldrich general 2008-11-07T11:00:50+00:00 /content/item/4930 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/dealing_out_dreidels/#When:18:38:38Z “I grew up playing with dreidels at Chanukah parties,” said Jennifer Rivlin Roberts, “and my husband Webb and I love to play poker.” It is no surprise, then, that, during a six-hour drive home from a family visit in 2005, the Atlanta couple conceived a way to “make dreidels more fun” by combining the two games.“I grew up playing with dreidels at Chanukah parties,” said Jennifer Rivlin Roberts, “and my husband Webb and I love to play poker.” It is no surprise, then, that, during a six-hour drive home from a family visit in 2005, the Atlanta couple conceived a way to “make dreidels more fun” by combining the two games. “When we got home we wrote the rules down,” said Roberts, adding that they introduced “No Limit Texas Dreidel” to friends and family at their next Chanukah party. “Everybody loved it,” she said. “It’s much more complicated than dreidel, but less complicated than poker.” In 2007, friends encouraged them to market the game, which is suitable both for adults and for children older than 9. Last year, the couple sold 1,000 games through their retail outlet, ModernTribe.com. This year, they’ve produced even more games, distributing thousands through retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, “which picked it up after the team of holiday buyers sat around and played it themselves.” They are also offering the sets to Jewish nonprofit organizations “looking for a unique fund-raising opportunity.” According to Roberts, nonprofits can buy discounted tournament kits to use at fund-raisers and purchase additional sets on consignment to sell to members, keeping 40 percent of the proceeds. “We still play it at our own parties,” said Roberts, who encourages players to use chocolate Chanukah gelt for wagers. For addition information, call (404) 372-6418. general 2008-10-31T18:38:38+00:00 /content/item/4816 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/living_long_living_well/#When:10:00:50Z Berta Blum Rosenberg, born Sept. 5, 1896, ranks no. 26 on the Gerentology Research Group’s list of validated living supercentenarians. At 112 years old, says her grandson, Robert Hammer of Demarest, she is the 15th oldest person in the United States — and possibly the oldest Jew.Berta Blum Rosenberg, born Sept. 5, 1896, ranks no. 26 on the Gerentology Research Group’s list of validated living supercentenarians. At 112 years old, says her grandson, Robert Hammer of Demarest, she is the 15th oldest person in the United States — and possibly the oldest Jew. Cliffside Park resident Ruth Hammer, Rosenberg’s 83-year-old daughter, says she can’t explain her mother’s longevity, suggesting that it might be “good genes” or the personalized care her mother receives. “She eats everything fresh,” said Hammer. “I bring it myself.” But she also speaks of Rosenberg’s zest for life and “giving, loving nature. She gave to every charity in the world,” said Hammer. “Her accountant couldn’t believe it.” Rosenberg, now living in Washington Heights, N.Y., left Germany in 1938. “We were penniless,” says her daughter. “She used to have a maid in Germany and … she had to clean other people’s houses.” Soon, however, Rosenberg developed her own business, buying merchandise on the Lower East Side and selling it, on credit, to customers in the Bronx and Riverdale. Hammer points out that while her own mother is now bedridden and frail, “she still knows things,” registering emotions when others speak of her late son, who died at age 50. “Her mind is functioning,” she said, pointing out that until her late 80s, her mother continued to visit a local nursing home bringing treats for the residents. “I take more medicines than she does,” joked Hammer. general 2008-10-24T10:00:50+00:00 /content/item/4703 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/not_your_grandmothers_needlepoint/#When:14:02:17Z Michele Mandel and Renee Seidman, co-founders and owners of the Bergenfield needlepoint store Gone Stitching, developed their love for stitching in different ways —Mandel through classes taken as an adult, and Seidman as a child who “grew up around it. My mother was a master quilter, and she and my grandmother did some kind of handwork every night,” she said.Renee Seidman, left, and Michele Mandel have created a Judaica room in their needlepoint store. Michele Mandel and Renee Seidman, co-founders and owners of the Bergenfield needlepoint store Gone Stitching, developed their love for stitching in different ways —Mandel through classes taken as an adult, and Seidman as a child who “grew up around it. My mother was a master quilter, and she and my grandmother did some kind of handwork every night,” she said. The two women, whose three-year-old business offers classes and materials in needlepoint, embroidery, and ribbon work, continue to take high-level classes themselves “to keep our skills up,” said Seidman, adding that the store is unique in having “an entire room devoted to Judaica. About 85 percent of our business is Judaica,” she added, noting that in July, she and Mandel will publish a book on stitches for Judaic canvases. Seidman pointed out that needlepoint, like every type of artwork, has changed over the years, with different stitches and threads finding their way into the same project. From Oct. 27 through Dec. 15, the owners of Gone Stitching will teach these techniques at the JCC on the Palisades. According to Seidman, the class — “Not Your Grandmother’s Needlepoint” — will include more than 10 new stitch patterns and a variety of threads. “We’ll teach how to pick stitches that work in a particular area or on a particular canvas,” she said. “Every thread has its own ‘kink.’ You have to know how to use the threads themselves.” For more information or to register for the JCC class, call (201)569.7900, ext. 463. 2008-10-17T14:02:17+00:00 /content/item/4600 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/kitchen_memories/#When:11:00:32Z Close your eyes,” Paramus resident Sue Ann Kogan told some 40 seniors at Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne. “What do you hear?” With that, her husband entered carrying milk bottles and ringing a bell. Close your eyes,” Paramus resident Sue Ann Kogan told some 40 seniors at Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne. “What do you hear?” With that, her husband entered carrying milk bottles and ringing a bell. “That’s the first thing a Jewish mother or grandmother may have heard in the morning in the 1940s and ’50s,” she said. Kogan’s show, “In My Mother’s Jewish Kitchen,” part of her “Freilach in the ’50s” series, recreates the era through interactive games such as Jewish Jeopardy — with categories including “Name that tune” (hint: It may be “Yiddishe Mama”) and “Name that recipe.” “People love it when I bring out an old-fashioned coffee pot and old grilled-cheese makers,” she said. Kogan, who visited the Wayne shul in September as part of its senior daytime programming, has performed in Jewish venues throughout the area. She said she tries to recreate a typical day for Jewish mothers in the 1950s — focusing on the kitchen, where they might read the “Forvertz” (Kogan brings one along) and then (with the vintage kitchen gadgets she supplies) prepare lunch for their children when they come home from school. Also in the show is “The Great Chopped Liver Controversy,” where, Kogan said, audience members inevitably argue over the right way to make chopped liver (chopping bowl or grinder?). Kogan does a variety of seasonal shows and has prepared a Chanukah program for the National Council of Jewish Women. For more information, call (201) 967-0694. 2008-10-10T11:00:32+00:00 /content/item/4498 http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/site/pod_people/#When:11:00:09Z For several years Englewood resident and classical pianist Carolyn Enger studied Hebrew with Israeli Jonathan Sternberg, who spent three years teaching in New York and New Jersey. (He’s back in Tel Aviv.) Now Enger is editing the English text on Sternberg’s new Website, which draws upon his experience to teach Hebrew through the use of podcasts and PDF transcripts. For several years Englewood resident and classical pianist Carolyn Enger studied Hebrew with Israeli Jonathan Sternberg, who spent three years teaching in New York and New Jersey. (He’s back in Tel Aviv.) Now Enger is editing the English text on Sternberg’s new Website, which draws upon his experience to teach Hebrew through the use of podcasts and PDF transcripts. “It’s easy to use,” said Enger. “I download a lesson and take it into the car.” According to Enger, when Sternberg returned to Israel, he realized he could draw upon his teaching experience here to create a program tailored to the needs of American Jews. “Most language programs teach by rote and repetition,” she said. “This one uses upbeat, fun dialogue — not run-of-the-mill interchanges,” she said, noting that you come to care about the characters in the vignettes, whether they’re at the beach, a beauty parlor, or a soccer game. The site, http://www.learnHebrewpod.com, self-described as an online multimedia learning center, also offers games and quizzes, she said. “I attend an ulpan at the JCC,” said Enger, “but my fluency is coming from the site. It’s a wonderful combination. Once a week [lessons] is not enough.” 2008-10-03T11:00:09+00:00