Jewish Society

NYU TO HOST FIRST MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LUBAVITCHER REBBE

United States of America Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Photo: The Lubavitcher Rebbe (April 18, 1902 - June 12, 1994)

Conference: Reaching for the Infinite: The Lubavitcher Rebbe – Life, Teachings and Impact. Sun., Nov. 6, 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (Kimmel Center for University Life, Rosenthal Pavilion, 10th Fl.)Mon., Nov. 7 (9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.) & Tues., Nov. 8 (9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) (Kimmel Center for University Life, Room 914, 9th Fl.)[Subway Lines: A, B, C, D, E, F, V (West 4th Street); N, R, W (8th Street); 6 (Astor Place)]

On the 10th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s death, New York University’s Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies will host “Reaching for the Infinite,” a three-day international academic conference on the contribution of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to his own movement and its teachings, to Hasidic thought, world Jewry and western civilization. The conference will take place Sun., Nov. 6 through Tues., Nov. 8 at NYU’s Kimmel Center for University Life (60 Washington Sq. South at LaGuardia Place). For a complete schedule of events, go to http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/hebrew/Rebbe.html. The event is free and open to the public, which may call 212.998.8981 or email gsas.hebrewjudaic@nyu.edu to RSVP for individual sessions. Reporters interested in attending should contact James Devitt, Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu. This conference will produce the first full-length academic treatment of the Rebbe, including both the papers and the prepared remarks of the respondents. Publication of this volume will make available the results of such work to a much wider public and set the stage for further academic research on this important topic in the modern history of Judaism.

Participants: Lawrence Schiffman, NYU; Elliot Wolfson, NYU; Ephraim Kanarfogel, Yeshiva University; William Helmreich, City University of New York; Moshe Hallamish, Bar-Ilan University (Israel); Naftali Loewenthal, University of London; Aviezer Ravitzky, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and others (full listing of participants can be found on website). Funding for the conference is being provided by George and Pamela Rohr, and Craig and Deborah Cogut.

Comedian Al Franken Visits with Ambassador Arye Mekel By David Prince

Photo: After a hearty exchange of jokes, Ambassador Arye Mekel (left) thanks Al Franken for his visit. Photo credits: David Prince.

On Wednesday September 28, 2005 author, radio show host, and comedian, Al Franken met with Israel’s Consul General, Ambassador Arye Mekel at the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan. Mr. Franken is best known for his involvement with NBC's Saturday Night Live as one of the original writers and characters such as Stewart Smalley, and as Henry Kissinger. Both Ambassador Mekel and Mr. Franken discussed several issues ranging from Israeli and American politics to their personal lives. Mr. Franken also discussed his involvement with Air America Radio, the first all liberal radio station created to counter the largely conservative talk radio format. Upon Ambassador Mekels offer to travel to Israel, Mr. Franken stated that he has a strong desire return to Israel since his last trip to Israel was in 1985. Mr. Franken has traveled to Iraq several times as a guest of the USO to entertain US troops stationed in Iraq. The meeting concluded with an exchange of jokes and warm regards.

The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding Featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl. By Ari Geller

The Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and the Tribeca Film Institute will present The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding Featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl on Sunday, October 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Museum, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280. This will be the first time this important program has been presented to a New York City audience. National Public Radio Senior Correspondent Jacki Lyden will moderate the dialogue. The event is co-sponsored by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. The world has come to know Daniel Pearl as the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered by terrorists in Pakistan, in early 2002. Since then, he has been remembered more for his courageous work than for his senseless death. Guided by shared values and inspired by Daniel’s legacy, Professors Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl will discuss Muslim-Jewish relations. Stressing the necessity of reconciliation, Doctors Ahmed and Pearl strive to shift the nature of discourse from accusation and fear to inquiry and respect. Ahmed and Pearl have been engaged in public dialogues across the country and abroad. Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and Professor of International Relations at American University in Washington, DC and former Pakistani Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Judea Pearl is the father of Daniel Pearl and the President of The Daniel Pearl Foundation, he is a professor of artificial intelligence at the University of California, Los Angeles. This will be their first joint-appearance in New York. The program will be introduced by Rabbi Marc Schneier, President and Founder of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation. Tickets to this event are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for members and students, and can be purchased online at www.mjhnyc.org or by calling (646) 437-4202.

StandWithUs Premiere

More Than 400 community leaders and students attended the Sept. 29^th premiere of the StandWithUs documentary “Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech of Campus” at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.

Photo: StandWithUs premiered its documentary "Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech on Campus" to more than 400 community leaders and students at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The film exposes extremist anti-Israel speakers who tour campuses and the impact of toxic speech on students and administrators. Standing with Roz Rothstein (left) SWU national director is UCLA professor Judea Pearl (center, left) who is interviewed in the film and spoke at the premiere, Gaza-born Arab-American author and lecturer Nonie Darwish who also addressed the audience (center, right) and Esther Renzer, SWU national president. Photo credit: Daryl Temkin

Esther Renzer, SWU national president opened the evening with exciting news of a grant SWU just received from the Jewish Community Foundation for its Los Angeles library project. This will serve as a model for a new national program in which SWU is building relationships with libraries and balancing collections and homework-help sites with positive material about Israel. Eli Lipschultz, representative for U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) presented StandWithUs a "Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition" for outstanding and invaluable service to the community. The audience responded enthusiastically to the 45 minute documentary which profiles the proliferation of toxic, anti-Israel and anti-semetic speakers on American universities and its impact on students and administrators. The documentary contains footage obtained by StandWithUs researchers of speakers such as radical, U.S.-based Muslim cleric Abdel Malik Ali; Washington, D.C. consultant Mohammed Al-Asi and DePaul University assistant professor Norman Finkelstein, who have spoken at UC Santa Cruz, UCLA, California State University-Fullerton and the University of California, Irvine, among others. UC-Irvine vice chancellor of student affairs, Manuel A. Gomez is interviewed in the film. UC-Irvine Dean of Students Sally Peterson attended the premiere. Also on-hand and interviewed in "Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech on Campus" are UCLA computer science professor Judea Pearl, father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl; Merav Ceren, past president of UC-Irvine's Anteaters for Israel 2004-5; Yonah Bookstein, Hillel Campus Rabbi for Long Beach and his wife Rachel, Executive Director of Long Beach State University and UCLA pediatrics professor Leila Beckwith, M.D. Student leaders featured in the film relayed their encounters with challenges on their campuses, were Stefanie Garden who protested her 2005 San Diego State University's graduation when an anti-Israel speaker politicized the graduation ceremony, and UCLA's Michelle Sassounian who has become involved in student government to promote balance on campus. Rebecca Olch talked about her negative experience at an anti-Israel rally disguised as an anti-war rally while she was a student at UC Santa Barbara. Rothstein expanded on the making of “Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech of Campus” and remarked, “You and I have a choice.

StandWithUs premiered its new documentary "Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech on Campus," which exposes anti-Israel extremist speakers on American campuses and the impact of toxic speakers on students and administrators. Filmed at UC-Irvine this year, Washington DC Mohammed Al-Asi states "Try to point to the lethal presence of the Zionist within your circles and PURGE yourself of the Zionist entity and the world will be a better place for all of us.

We can ignore or minimize the efforts of those who work hard from every possible angle to demonize Israel and the Jewish people. We can hope that they will be ineffective and go away. …or we can be proactive and work hard to advance peace and peaceful solutions through honest and productive education and conversations on all levels rather than allow the distortion and misleading of people about the conflict.” Judea Pearl received a standing ovation as he walked to the podium. He emphasized that we must recognize and deal with anti-Zionism as a form of anti-Semitism and not allow it to hide under the cloak of a political debate. Due to the fact that hate speech is permitted speech in our free society, the only way to combat it is to "expose it for what it really is; in many cases, it is racist speech against one group of people, Jews." Addressing the audience, Arab-American author and lecturer Nonie Darwish who learned through experience growing up in Gaza and Egypt, that hateful words lead to hate and violence. She emphasized that, "this kind of terrifying hate speech must be aggressively countered at every level, including from administrators at universities." SWU board member Marty Jannol spoke of his father's experience growing up with anti-Semitism and reiterated the necessity of fighting violent words that lead to hate and violence. Event sponsors included Evelyn and Shmuel Katz, Ellie and Bruce Lederman, Art and Dahlia Bilger, Debbie and Naty Saidoff, Sandy and Marvin Schotland and many others. Attending the screening were representatives from major Jewish organizations including, American Jewish Congress' Gary Ratner and Alyson Taylor; Anti-Defamation League senior associate director Alison Mayersohn; Republican Jewish Coalition Southern California regional director Larry Greenfield; Avi Davis, director, Israel-Christian, Nexus; homeless activist Ted Hayes; Rami Ganor from the JNF; Sheri Weinman, President of American Jewish Committee; David Levy, head of West Coast Hillel; Lewis Groner, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Jewish Community Foundation; Dr. Allan Bernstein, Chairman Israel on Campus Coalition of Orange County and students leaders from many campuses including Milken Community High School, Shalhevet and Yeshiva University.

Remembering Simon Wiesenthal 1908-2005

Photo: Ambassador Ayre Mekel (far right) shakes hands with Kofi Annan (center left), his wife (center right ) and Nelson Peltz (far left) Co-Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Simon Wiesenthal center, after addressing the crowd, remembering Simon Wiesenthal. Photo credits: Consulate General of Israel

On September 28, 2005 - Yesterday, Tuesday September 27, 2005 The Simon Wiesenthal Center remembered their esteemed founder, Simon Wiesenthal at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue located in Manhattan. Consul General of Israel in New York, Ambassador Arye Mekel, joined UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan, Austrian UN Ambassador, Gerhard Pfanzelter, New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg and former New York City Mayor, Edward Koch along with others to memorialize Simon Wiesenthal. Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center gave the eulogy. Ambassador Arye Mekel, the son of Holocaust survivors, stated in his speech "Simon Wiesenthal will be remembered as one of the top ten Jews of the 20th Century." Having lost his grandparents during this era, Ambassador Mekel commended Wiesenthal's efforts in perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust and referred to the recent UN proposal for Holocaust remembrance. Mr. Wiesenthal dedicated his life to hunting down Nazis and stated, “When history looks back, I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it." Mr. Wiesenthal passed away September 20 at the age of 96. Communicated by David Prince, Director of National Radio, Consulate General of Israel in New York.

SCREENING OF SISTER ROSE'S PASSION At Edmond J. Safra Hall at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280. Sunday, October 16 at 2:30 p.m. Sister Rose Thering To Discuss Her Life Spent Fighting Anti-Semitism

Photos from L to R: #1. Sister Rose Thering gestures during an interview in her Whippany, N.J., home. A Dominican nun, she is the subject of ‘Sister Rose's Passion,’ an Oscar-nominated documentary film about her lifelong work fighting anti-Semitism and promoting Holocaust remembrance. #2. Sister Rose Thering, years ago.

Winner of the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival's Best Documentary Short Award and Nominee for the 2005 Best Documentary Academy Award, Sister Rose's Passion tells the story of Sister Rose Thering, a Catholic nun who has spent her life fighting anti-Semitism and promoting Holocaust remembrance and education. The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will host a screening of this compelling film that follows the indefatigable woman who helped rebuild bridges between Christians and Jews by challenging the Roman Catholic Church and its centuries-old charge that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.

Photo: Oren Jacoby Producer and Director of Sister Rose's Passion.

An audience Q & A with Sister Rose Thering, Sister Mary Boys, and director Oren Jacoby will follow the screening. Sister Rose Thering, an American Dominican nun, is a professor emeritus of secondary education at Seton Hall University in South Orange, where she helped establish the school's graduate department of Jewish-Christian studies in the early 1970s. Thering was instrumental in creating the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel in 1974 and helped design New Jersey's state-mandated Holocaust education curriculum. Sister Mary Boys is the Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York City. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Teachers College, Columbia University. Boys has written or edited a number of books on the subject of Jewish-Christian relations. Oren Jacoby is the Producer and Director of Sister Rose's Passion. He has been making award-winning films since 1980. His film credits include The Topdog Diaries (PBS), The Shakespeare Sessions (PBS), The Beatles Revolution (ABC, VH-1) among many others. Jacoby founded Storyville Films in 1992. Cost: Free with suggested donation.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, located at 36 Battery Place in Battery Park City, uses a core exhibition of more than 2,000 historic photographs, 800 historical and cultural artifacts, and 24 original documentary films to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the broad tapestry of Jewish life over the past century-before, during, and after the Holocaust. The Museum develops special exhibitions and public programs to examine more closely specific areas of Jewish history and heritage. The Robert M. Morgenthau Wing contains the state-of-the-art Edmond J. Safra Hall, Andy Goldsworthy's Garden of Stones, catering hall, classrooms, and expanded gallery space for special exhibitions. The Museum receives general operating support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Museum is a founding member of the Museums of Lower Manhattan. For more information, visit www.mjhnyc.org or call (646) 437-4200

FREE HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICE AT NEW MINYAN OHEL AYALAH IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

Outreach Targets Young Jewish Singles, Intermarried Couples, Secular Israelis and Russian Emigrés. Photo of JUDITH HAUPTMAN

Photo: Prof. HAUPTMAN: By Yom Kippur, we believe that we have been forgiven for all of our misdemeanors and we start again afresh. This is a powerful idea, this notion of starting anew and being under God's scrutiny. There is the sense of closeness.

Jews looking for a High Holiday worship service that is meaningful, beautiful, spiritual, intelligent and traditional can attend a FREE, walk-in service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Ohel Ayalah in Greenwich Village. Ohel Ayalah is a new minyan (prayer group), that reaches out to young Jews in their twenties and thirties, to secular Israelis and Russians, to intermarried families, and to anyone who is searching for a welcoming High Holiday experience. All are invited to celebrate the High Holidays as a community. “Ohel Ayalah offers a free, walk-in service to meet the needs of many Jews who do not have a place to pray on the High Holidays,” said founder Rabbi Judith Hauptman. “Most synagogues require the purchase of a ticket to attend their High Holiday services. Ohel Ayalah does not. Ohel Ayalah believes the Jewish public should be able to worship at services that are free and open to all. Every Jew should be embraced. We respect the need of many synagogues to charge fees to help defray the costs of their High Holiday services.” Rabbi Hauptman added that in September 2004, when Ohel Ayalah was founded, the Rosh Hashanah service was filled nearly to capacity with about 200 participants. Many subsequently told their friends about their experience at this warm and inspirational service. As a result, the Yom Kippur service was joyously crowded with 250 participants. Another service was spontaneously arranged at the conclusion of the first to ensure that all Jews could worship on the holiest day of the Jewish year. Ohel Ayalah is open to Jews, whether they are young people in their twenties and thirties or intermarried families who do not feel comfortable in an established synagogue or whether they are Israelis or Russians who feel separated from established Jewish life. Ohel Ayalah wants to offer these Jews a communal prayer experience and make it possible for them to live Jewishly on Yom Kippur. The service will be held in the Great Hall of First Presbyterian Church on Fifth Avenue and West 12^th Street in Greenwich Village. Rabbi Hauptman expects 200 people will attend. The service will be egalitarian — both men and women will lead — and traditional. The prayers will be chanted in Hebrew, their language of composition, but there will be interspersed English explanations, comments, and readings. The service will aim to be awe-inspiring and, at the same time, warm and engaging. On Kol Nidrei night, Wednesday, October 12, the service will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end about 8:00 p.m. The service will be led by Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Talmud Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Chaplain Rosalie Osian. Additional participants are Patricia Rudden, Acting Cantor for Torah Service; Stan Alpert, Hazzan Sheni; Abraham Menashe, Torah Reader; and Professor Hasia Diner, New York University, lecturer on Rosh Hashanah. All of the leaders are volunteering their time without pay for this worship service. There will be no fundraising at this service. For additional information, please contact Rabbi Judith Hauptman at (212) 678-8905. juhauptman@jtsa.edu

Rabbi Judith Hauptman is E. Billi Ivry Professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the center of education and training of Judaism’s Conservative movement, where she has taught and conducted research for more than 30 years. Rabbi Hauptman is a world-renowned scholar and has lectured and published widely on the subjects of Talmud and feminist analyses of Jewish texts, including Rereading the Rabbis: A Woman’s Voice. (Photo available). Ohel Ayalah (Tent of Helen) is a minyan (prayer group) established in 2004 to provide a free, walk-in service to meet the needs of many Jews who do not have a place to pray on the High Holidays. Founded by Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Ohel Ayalah is named in memory of Helen Hauptman, who died in 1956 at age 45. Helen Hauptman was a loving mother, a high school teacher and an active member of her synagogue. Ohel Ayalah thanks the UJA-Federation of New York for a generous grant to sponsor this project, as well as its many supporters. Ohel Ayalah: Schedule of Services. Yom Kippur (Kol Nidrei): Wednesday, October 12 at 6:00 p.m. Great Hall of First Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue at West 12th Street, New York City 4, 5, 6, N, R to Union Square; F, L to 14th Street and Avenue of the Americas. Please bring a current photo I.D.

KEEPING THE NEEDY WARM IS FOCUS OF HOLIDAY PROJECT

Hats, gloves, warm coats to decorate Sukkah at Sherith Israel By Miriam Goodman

SAN FRANCISCO- Hanging gloves, scarves and hats are not a common sight in a sukkah, but religious school students at Congregation Sherith Israel are taking the idea of protection from the elements one step further and collecting warm clothing for those in need this holiday season. In celebration of the holiday of Sukkoth which begins October 17^th, religious school students are asking the community to bring gloves, hats, scarves and warm jackets to the synagogue. The warm clothing will be donated to the shelters the congregation supports throughout the year, the Compass Family Services Shelter and SF Women’s Shelter. And to make the idea a more visual way to teach the “mitzvot” or good deeds to the youngest students, some of the donated clothing will be used to decorate the Sukkah, the symbolic booth ancient Jews built for protection while wandering in the desert. Located next to Newman Hall at Sherith Israel and open to the public October 16-23, the Sukkah will also be filled with the traditional fall fruits as well as canned goods which will be donated to the SF Food Bank. The canned goods will be placed in the corners of the Sukkah in remembrance of the biblical mandate at harvest festivals to leave food in the corners of the fields for the poor. Religious School Principal Nancy Sheftel-Gomes explained that the theme of the religious school this year is the ‘year of the mitzvah’ and this project is the first of many the students will be adopting as part of learning to live according to the mitzvot. “Students will be fulfilling many mitzvot with this project…being in the sukkah, to give charity, feeding the hungry, leaving gleanings for the poor, clothing the needy. And it is a great way to learn tradition, the Bible and social action all at once, ” she said. Members of the community wishing to donate warm clothes may bring them to Sherith Israel, 2266 California St. during business hours or on Sunday morning during religious school hours. For more information, call 415 346 1720.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005, 7:30 pm at he Village Temple, 33 E. 12 Street, New York NY 10003 (Between University & Broadway)

On May 27, 1998, Mary Bryant got a call from one of her best friends, Diane Erickson, confiding her diagnosis of breast cancer. That phone call prompted Mary to immediately get her own breasts examined. The doctor found a lump. That same day, she called Diane back to announce, “We’re in this together, girlfriend!” Breast cancer survivor, Ford Agency model, marathoner and nationally acclaimed motivational speaker Mary Bryant will continue her mission of keeping Diane’s spirit alive by addressing the importance of self-examination and mammograms, new developments in detection and treatment, and how to speak with family and friends who are dealing with their own breast cancer. This event is sponsored by the Village Temple Sisterhood on Wednesday, October 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Temple, 33 East 12^th Street, between University Place and Broadway, two blocks from the Union Square Subway Station. A suggested minimum donation of $5.00 is requested, with proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Village Temple Sisterhood is a multi-generational group of dynamic women. It serves the Village Temple community by offering supportive programs that enhance the warmth of worship services and the connectedness of all Jews. It also presents lectures and organizes other events throughout the year, often in conjunction with holidays. Monthly meetings are designed to inform and inspire members, and all women and men of the Village Temple are welcome to attend. From Mid-Summer Night's Supper to Chanukah Brunch to the annual Street Fair fundraiser, Sisterhood members are actively translating the principles of Judaism into concern and action. For further information on this event or other Village Temple Sisterhood programs, please contact Janet Falk, 212-677- 5770. sisterhood@villagetemple.org . Cost: Suggested Donation $5.00; proceeds to Breast Cancer Foundation.

Jonathan Pollard Honored At Todah B'Katom Ceremony

Photo: Esther Pollard.

Jonathan Pollard was the final honoree a the Todah B'Katom ceremony which was held on September 29, 2005. in Gan Sacher in Jerusalem. Todah B'Katom, (Thanks in Orange) a huge, well-organized outdoor ceremony was organized to pay tribute to the youth of Israel in thanks for their devotion to the Land and People of Israel. Organizers thought it would be fitting to also pay tribute to Jonathan Pollard who is regarded by Israel's youth as the penultimate model of self-sacrifice for Am Yisrael. Pollard's wife, Esther, was on hand to accept the honor on her husband's behalf. Numerous speakers, including Rabbi Yigal Kamenetsky, Rabbi Motti Elon, MK Tzvi Hendel, Principal David Hatuel and a host of Gush Katif survivors and expellees paid tribute to the wonderful youth of Israel who fought to save Gush Katif and who give of their time and effort for a host of Jewish causes in the Land. Greetings and blessings from Torah sages, HaRav Mordecai Eliyahu and HaRav Avraham Shapira were read aloud. Speeches were interspersed with live entertainment, divrei Torah, as well as recorded songs, poems and film clips shown on two gigantic video screens on either side of the massive stage erected in the park for the event. The crowd wept openly when a video showing the utter destruction of Jewish homes and buildings in Gush Katif was screened. Rabbinic speakers responded to the video by vowing "This is just the beginning of the fight. We will return to Gush Katif!" A number of young people, representative of the entire crowd, were chosen to receive awards. Others were asked to speak. A number of honorees were asked to come up on stage to light a giant torch-like menorah. The 3 hour ceremony concluded with Esther Pollard being called to the stage to accept a beautiful bouquet of flowers in thanks for her work to free her husband, and to hear words of praise spoken for Jonathan's devotion to the Land of Israel and his sacrifice on behalf of the nation. A throng of youngsters holding orange helium balloons surrounded her on the stage. Esther was accompanied to the microphone by a new friend, a young girl, Shani Maimon of Gadid, Gush Katif. Shani cradled Jonathan Pollard's framed Gush Katif Citizenship certificate in her arms as carefully and as lovingly as if she were carrying Jonathan himself. Explaining that "This is my husband's most precious possession in the world," Esther pointed to Jonathan's Honorary Citizenship certificate and asked Shani Maimon to read aloud the words inscribed upon it. Shani graciously read: "This certificate testifies that Jonathan Pollard is an Honored Citizen of the Gaza Regional Council. This certificate is awarded with deepest thanks and love as an expression of appreciation by the residents of the Gaza Strip for his actions to save the lives of the People of Israel, through enormous self-sacrifice and great devotion." Esther thanked Shani and turned to the crowd thanking them from the bottom of her heart for the honor they had extended to Jonathan. She also told them: "What 20 years in American prisons, and the worst tortures and afflictions have never succeeded in doing to Jonathan, the expulsion from Gush Katif did. Jonathan was devastated by it. I watched the video tonight of the churban - the wanton destruction of Jewish homes and property - and through my tears I kept thanking G-d that Jonathan never got to see this with his own eyes because it would surely have destroyed him. "I spoke with Jonathan before I came here tonight. He asked me to give you a message. He said to tell you to please hang on to your keys, because we going to home to Gush Katif! G-d willing, sooner than anyone thinks! Amain!" Esther also told the youthful crowd, over and over again throughout the evening, "You are the reason that Jonathan lives and breathes. You are all his children! You are the reason he hangs on, the reason he still fights to come home. We love you all!" As Esther concluded her remarks, a young Pollard Youth volunteer was asked to step forward and present Esther with a huge bouquet of orange flowers. Esther accepted the flowers with great emotion. The crowd cheered wildly as the youngsters on stage released orange balloons into the air as a final salute to Jonathan. The balloons rose up and floated away in an orange cloud as the Todah B'Katom ceremony came to an end. Official reports indicate that upwards of 13,000 young people attended the Todah B'Katom Ceremony.

The World's only Russian-Language Israeli TV Channel launched in the U.S.

Photo: Israel's Consul General, Ambassador Arye Mekel (left) stands with Pini Cohen (center) representative of the Lev Leviev Group, an investor to Israel Plus and the Director General of Israel Plus.

On Tuesday, September 27, 2005: Israel's Consul General, Ambassador Arye Mekel gave opening remarks at the U.S. launch of Israel Plus : The Worlds only Russian-Language Israeli TV Channel on Tuesday September 20, 2005 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan, NY. Israel-Plus is carried on Globe Cast Satellite and being offered to the large Russian American population in the New York Tri-state area for the first time.

Jewish Life Festival on October 2nd, from Chabad on Washington Square.

Ring in the New Year (The Jewish one, that is!) At the 7th annual Jewish Life Festival Chabad on Washington Square hosts its annual event, October 2nd, 2005

Photo: Matisyahu Miller and his Hasidic Reggae band perform in U. Albany's Campus Center, in the dining area near Dreidels' and The Coop.

While some Jewish families will be preparing food for the next days’ New Year, over 3000 people will be celebrating with Rabbi Yakov Bankhalter and Rabbi Dov Yonah Korn as they welcome the year 5766 with their Seventh Annual Jewish Life festival in Washington Square Park, on October 2nd, 2005. The Jewish Life Festival is one of the largest annual public events in New York City. It combines a day of tradition, culture and fun and includes a live performance by the critically acclaimed Hasidic reggae superstar, Matisyahu, who has sold out venues such as Joe’s Pub, Mercury Lounge and the Knitting Factory. A public event, the festival caters to all ages. There will be hands-on mitzvah workshops including “Make Your Own Yarmulke”, “Shabbat Candle Decorating” and more. Kosher food will be available as well as a Judaica Bazaar and an extensive information center. A branch of the International Jewish outreach organization Chabad, Chabad on Washington Square is an organization that spreads knowledge and understanding of Judaism and enhances Jewish life in the local community through various activities and events. The organization’s fresh and vibrant approach to traditional Jewish customs has attracted participants and supporters from all over New York City. Since its inception, Chabad on Washington Square has been responsible for some of the most aggressive, creative and innovative Jewish programming in the downtown area. Chabad on Washington Square is now proud to direct the Jewish Life Festival, a wide range of community Holiday events, and the highly acclaimed Shabbat program at Chabad at NYU (whose Jewish population is 25%). Launching the night of the Jewish Life Festival, is Chabad Loft on Fifth. A brand new, chic loft space- at 182 Fifth Avenue. The loft will cater to the downtown young Jewish community looking for a non-traditional place to meet, study, have Shabbat dinner, but most of all feel “at home” in this warm, inviting environment. “ We are bridging the gap of traditional Judaism with modern day values by inviting sophisticated Jewish New Yorkers to be a part of something revolutionary.” Says Rabbi Bankhalter who feels strongly about incorporating the spiritual relevance of ancient Judaism in our every day lives. Being directors of Chabad on Washington Square, Rabbi Korn and Rabbi Bankhalter intend to make Jewish life exciting with their non-stop efforts to teach and entertain the young Jewish community. The Jewish Life Festival is an extension of how they run their programs. While most of us wake up the day after a New Years Party with a hangover, these two Rabbis are sure you will leave this festival with only blessings, abundance and sweetness for the year ahead. www.chabadwashingtonsquare.com jewishlifefestival@yahoo.com 212-674-1950 Contact: Meredith Levy, meredithlevy@mac.com 917 742 1687 Gwen Toline bywordofmouth@msn.com 917-204-5551.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY TO HOST ANNUAL FOUNDERS' DAY CELEBRATION AND CONVOCATION

Israel Hadany's art Israel Hadany, internationally renowned sculptor and environmental artist, will deliver Convocation Address and receive Honorary Degree. Noel Hillman'81, the Justice Department's top public corruption attorney, will receive Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Photo: Sculpture by Israel Hadany.

Monmouth University today announced that it will host its annual Founders' Day celebration on Wednesday, October 12, with its annual Convocation ceremony beginning at 2:15 p.m. in Pollak Theatre. The theme of this year's Convocation is "celebrating creativity." Founders' Day is a campus-wide event that celebrates Monmouth University's founding as a junior college in 1933. The first Founders' Day was held in 1983 as part of the University's 50th anniversary celebration and has since become a tradition. The celebration is centered on the Convocation ceremony in which the University community and invited guests assemble in Pollak Theatre. Presided over by President Paul G. Gaffney II, the ceremony is devoted to the remembrance and renewal of Monmouth University's dedication to education and scholarship. It begins with a formal academic procession and includes the presentations of awards and honorary degrees to individuals whose achievements merit recognition or who have been instrumental in nourishing the life of the University. Student leaders and honors scholars are also recognized. Israel Hadany, internationally renowned sculptor and environmental artist, will give the keynote address and receive an honorary degree. Noel Hillman'81, the Justice Department's top public corruption attorney, will accept the University's Distinguished Alumnus Award. In addition, the recipients for the President's Vision Award (Monmouth University's highest honor) will be announced during the ceremony. Israel Hadany's career has focused on creating numerous outdoor sculptures in urban and rural environments as well as designs for public architectural spaces in Israel and around the world. He has also worked as a painter, printmaker, and jewelry designer. He studied at the Avni Institute in Tel Aviv and Hornsey College of Art in London, and taught at Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem. In addition to many individual and group shows in Israel, he has exhibited in the United States, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, France, Colombia, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Spain. His many awards include the Beatrice Kolliner Prize for a Young Artist from the Israel Museum; first prize, national competition for the design of an environment for the burial site of David and Paula Ben-Gurion, Sde Boker, Israel; and Jerusalem Arts Award; first prize, Artifex International Competition for the Mediterranean Cultural Center, France. He was among the six finalists in the international Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project competition in Washington, D.C.

Noel L. Hillman '81 has been the chief of the Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice since December 2002. Hillman joined the Public Integrity Section as principal deputy chief in September 2001 after nine years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Hillman was an associate in the New York law firm of Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith and clerked for the Honorable Maryanne Trump Barry, then a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey. He has a bachelor's degree cum laude from Monmouth University, a J.D. cum laude from Seton Hall University, and an LL.M. (Trade Regulation) from New York University. He has twice received the Director's Award from the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys for superior performance as an assistant U.S. attorney and recently received the Attorney General's Award for Fraud Prevention. Hillman, a member of the federal government's Senior Executive Service, also serves as counsel to the Integrity Committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency and as a statutory member of the Advisory Board of the Election Assistance Commission. He has also served, at the request of the State Department, as a U.S. delegate to Global Forums III and IV, the world's foremost anti-corruption conference, and to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Merida, Mexico, and Vienna, Austria, now undergoing worldwide ratification. Contact: Petra Ludwig at 732-263-5507.

COMPOSER SHARON FARBER'S WORK ASHKINA TO BE PERFORMED AT THE FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF UNIVERSAL SACRED MUSIC NEW YORK CITY, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2005

Israeli-born and Los Angeles based Composer, Sharon Farber, will have her acclaimed work ASHKINA performed at the First Annual Festival of Universal Sacred Music on Saturday evening, October 29th in New York City. The piece was premiered in New York last October as a commissioned work by the Foundation for Universal Sacred Music (www.universalsacredmusic.org). Ashkina is written for choir, chamber orchestra and ethnic instruments. The music moves freely between Traditional, Western and Middle Eastern musical influences and brings about a fusion of cultures by using Hebrew, English and Turkish languages. Featured players for Ashkina will be Guest Artist, the renowned Omar Faruk Tekbilek on Ney (reed flute), Oud (lute) and Percussion; David Kontesz on Percussion and Freddy Shiftan on Flamenco Guitar. Ms. Farber graduated from The Berklee School of Music in Boston with Honors in a double major of Concert Music and Composition for Film and Television. She has a seat on the Board of the Society for Composers and Lyricists in Los Angeles. Sharon is the Music Director for The Temple for the Arts and is currently composing for her second season on the Emmy Award winning NBC series Starting Overâ. The First Festival of Universal Sacred Music features the world premieres of 8 new works of universal sacred music commissioned in 2004 and other works commissioned by the Foundation. Susan Peck, Music Director, will conduct SANGITA, the Foundationâ's 32-member choir, soloists and an instrumental ensemble. FOR TICKETS: Order online at www.smarttix.com or by telephone (SmartTix Phone Center at (212) 868 4444). New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, New York, New York.

Photo: Sharon Faber.

Sharon Farber, originally from Israel, has received critical acclaim as a composer in the concert world as well as that of film and TV. She brings to her music influences from her Middle Eastern heritage as well as her extensive knowledge of classical and Western music. Sharon began her musical career at the age of seven, as a classical pianist. After graduating from Thelma -Yellin High School for the Arts, she served in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) and later worked as a theater composer and musical director in Israel. She won the first prize in "Colors in Dance" in 1992 for her music for choreography. In 1994, she moved to Boston upon receiving a scholarship from Berklee College Of Music, where she won the first prize in the yearly Professional Writing Division concert with her first string quartet. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1997 (majoring in both Classical Composition and Film Scoring), she moved to Los Angeles to begin her professional career. Miss Farber was the recipient of the prestigious Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Internship in Film Scoring, as well as the Mentorship program of the Society of Composers and Lyricists on which she currently serves as a board member. In addition, she completed the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop in 1997. In the film and TV industry, Sharon has worked with such prestigious companies as Showtime and WB, as well as writing music for independent features and other projects. She won the Telly Award in 1998 for best score for the docu-drama series "California 2000" and her work can also be heard at the Museum of Sacramento, as part of the Museum's permanent exhibition. Farber has continued writing concert and choir music in parallel to her film scoring career. Her chorale composition, "The Third Mother/Mothers' Lament", was world premiered by the distinguished Los Angeles Master Chorale, at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion in Los Angeles. This A Capella work was written in dedication to Professor Judea and Ruth Pearl, in honor and memory of their son, slain reporter Daniel Pearl. Farber is currently working on a new work for women's choir to be premiered in Israel December 2004. She has also been commissioned by the "Rainbow of Life" dance ensemble to compose original work and "The Jewish Symphony Orchestra" premiered two of her works for Soprano, choir and orchestra in March. She recently completed "Time"- song cycle for soprano voice and piano, premiered May 23, 2004. In March 2004, Sharon was sent to Israel as the ambassador of "The Center For Jewish Culture and Creativity" to explore Jewish music. A concert of chamber orchestra will be held in Israel in December as a result of this trip, and will feature a new work by Sharon. Sharon is an affiliated artist with The Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity and the music director of Temple Shalom for the Arts in Beverly Hills, CA. She has representation in Los Angeles, Europe (London) and Israel.

Ness Technologies Presents Hanukkah Menorah to Rudolph Giuliani – Symbolizes the Linkage between Leadership, Israel and Miracles.

Photo: Raviv Zoller, President and CEO of Ness Technologies (left) presents Giuliani with a silver Hanukkah Menorah.

Ness Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTC), a global provider of IT solutions and services, held its Leadership Summit on September 22, 2005 at David Intercontinental hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel. The guest of honor was Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City. Aharon Fogel – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ness Technologies, and Raviv Zoller – President and CEO of Ness Technologies, presented Giuliani with a silver Hanukkah Menorah. "We thought about a meaningful gift, linking the worlds of leadership, Israel and Ness Technologies," said Zoller. "I believe that we found the symbolic combination of these worlds in the Hanukkah Menorah, which symbolizes for the Jewish people the victory over an enemy and the victory of faith and spirit. We see these characteristics as necessary traits of leaders. We are honored to present this gift to Mr. Giuliani for his public service, which has affected the entire world and every one of us, as a symbol of true leadership." "Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is also the festival of Ness Technologies," said Zoller. "Ness was founded in the month of the Festival, in 1999. Ness acquired several companies, in a short time, and when we looked for a company name – the process was somewhat longer. Morris Wolfson, Ness Founder and a stockholder, suggested that everyone must agree that it's truly a miracle to establish a company in such a short time.

Miracle is Ness in Hebrew and we selected this name. Our vision was to be Israel's leading IT services company and to expand our activity globally. After six years we can say that we realize the vision every day and continue to present new challenges for realization." Ness Technologies (NASDAQ: NSTC) is a global provider of end-to-end IT services and solutions designed to help clients improve competitiveness and efficiency. Specializing in outsourcing and offshore, systems integration and application development, software and consulting, and quality assurance and training, Ness serves a blue-chip client base of over 500 public- and private-sector customers. With over 5,000 employees, Ness maintains operations in 15 countries across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, and more than 100 alliances and partnerships around the world. Contact: david@kanaan.co.il

Special Torah scroll dedicated and installed in synagogue at “Zichron Menachem” Day Center in Jerusalem, in memory of young girl who was part of the Zichron Menachem “family”

A newly-written Torah scroll was installed in September 2005 in a festive “Hachnasat Sefer Torah” ceremony at the “Zichron Menachem Day Center - Jerusalem”.This Torah scroll - written in memory of Renana Rivka Avnery, who passed away from cancer - was donated to “Zichron Menachem” by family and friends. During her illness, Renana was a “Zichron Menachem” child who took part in the organization’s activities operated on behalf of Israeli children who are ill with cancer. The “Hachnasat Sefer Torah” procession departed from the Avnery home in the direction of the “Zichron Menachem Day Center,” whose innovative social-educational-rehabilitation center has been in operation since 2004. Hundreds of people, accompanied by a marching band and children carrying brightly lit torches, escorted the Torah scroll to its destination. The multi-purpose room of the “Zichron Menachem Day Center” is used as a synagogue on Sabbaths and holidays, on the only day of the week that the Center takes a “rest” from its busy weekday activities. Motti Avnery – Renana’s father – read a passage from the Torah scroll. In a voice filled with much emotion, Avnery thanked all the participants at this heart-touching event. Renana’s mother, Noga, expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped with the writing and acquisition of this Torah scroll. The Torah scroll dedicated in memory of Renana Rivka is intended to fill a very special role - it will be used not only on Sabbaths and holidays by the “Zichron Menachem Day Center” neighbors in their local synagogue. This Torah scroll was custom-made in petite proportions, in order to serve as a mobile Torah scroll to accompany the cancer-stricken children when they go on the well-known “Zichron Menachem” outings and adventure camps in Israel and abroad. In the near future, an equally diminutive Torah Ark will be constructed as a matching encasement for the “Renana Rivka” Torah scroll. The Holy Ark and Torah scroll will travel with the children - all of whom are cancer patients receiving assistance and support from “Zichron Menachem” - when they go on the organization’s “happy-therapy” camps and outings.

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