Whats nu, July 2018 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Whats nu, July 2018

 

Rabbi Cohen blows shofar at immigration rally

Rabbi David Cohen of Congregation Sinai in Fox Point spoke on June 21 at a Voces de le Frontera rally outside a Downtown Milwaukee federal immigration office. The rally was to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.

Cohen quoted from the Torah, that “you shall … proclaim liberty throughout the land to all of its inhabitants.” He said his quote was in response to the attorney general quoting a Biblical verse to justify “really inhumane treatment.”

The rabbi noted that the verse he quoted is actually inscribed on the Liberty Bell.

Cohen also blew a shofar at the start and end of a walk that followed the rally. It was explained that the sound of a shofar can bring down walls.

Leno’s San Francisco race was a close one

In a nail-biter of a race, it looked at first as though Wisconsin native Mark Leno, the subject of a profile in the June Chronicle, could become mayor of San Francisco.

Leno was ahead by 144 votes in ranked-choice balloting at four days after election night in early June, according to the area’s ABC affiliate. But as more votes were counted London Breed pulled ahead and Leno conceded. Breed becomes the city’s first black mayor.

Teen Philanthropy issues $16,000 in grants

After several months of meetings, the Milwaukee Jewish Teen Philanthropy Board made $16,000 in grants, announced at a May 23 ceremony at Congregation Sinai in Fox Point.

“The teens all presented beautifully to the attendees and the grant recipients were thrilled to be honored at this celebratory and meaningful event,” said Outreach and Teen Philanthropy Coordinator Anna Goldstein, of Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

The board, a program of the Federation, completed its first year of operation by doling out its $16,000 as follows:

  • $4,000 – Friendship Circle of Wisconsin
  • $4,000 – Jewish Family Services
  • $4,000 – Tikkun Ha-Ir
  • $3,000 – COA Youth & Family Centers
  • $1,000 – Midwest NCSY

Teens may apply to serve on the board in the second year. Visit MilwaukeeJewish.org/Departments/Outreach and click on Teen Philanthropy. The deadline is Sept. 6.

Musician seeks to form a ‘Cream City Klezmer Band’

Neil J. Zimmerman founded and played in the Lafayette Klezmorim for 33 years, when he was a professor at Purdue University. Now, the Glendale resident wants to again form a klezmer band.

“After I retired and moved to Cincinnati, I was a founding member of the Queen City Klezmer Band,” he said. “Now that I’m in Milwaukee, I’d love to be able to say I am a founding member of the Cream City Klezmer Band.”

Zimmerman plays clarinet and he’s got an interested mandolin player. They need experienced players, including a pianist, violinist, rhythm (string bass, tuba/trombone, drums) and a vocalist proficient in Yiddish songs.

If interested, contact Zimmerman at Neil@Purdue.edu or 765-714-5653.

Herber leaving Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid

Rabbi Jacob Herber is leaving Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid, the Glendale Conservative congregation, for a position with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.

Herber will be with CBINT through the end of July, said the synagogue’s board president, Rick Strait.

“We valued his 15 years of synagogue leadership and wish him all the best,” Strait said. The shul held two going-away receptions for Herber.

CBINT will hire a new full-time rabbi.

‘Hours Against Hate’ seeks to dismantle bigotry

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Jewish Federation has re-launched “Hours Against Hate” and hired coordinator Andrea Bernstein in recent months.

Hours Against Hate is a program aimed at dismantling bigotry by encouraging community members to interact with individuals of a different race, culture, religion, class or sexual orientation, according to a news release.

“I believe deeply in the value of this program and look forward to building on the great work of the current (Federation) team to expand the initiative into more workplaces and schools in the Greater Milwaukee area,” Bernstein said. “I’m proud to be part of this movement.”

The website for the initiative, HoursAgainstHate.com, offers a form for people to fill out to get involved.

“Andrea’s dedication to promoting advocacy and creating connections across all cultures will make her a great asset to the Hours Against Hate initiative,” said Elana Kahn, director of the Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council.

“Due to our current social climate, having this program and someone in her role has never been so important and timely; we look forward to the impact she will make on the Milwaukee community,” Kahn said.

Bernstein holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Bernstein serves on the Fox Point-Bayside Educational Foundation Board and is co-president of the National Council of Jewish Women – Milwaukee section. The National Council of Jewish women honored her as an “emerging leader” in 2016.