Through my years of volunteer and organizational work I have come to believe in “the principle of thirds.”  Whether it be a congregation, a parents support group, a committee, or a board of directors, one third of the group does not participate, one third will get involved on a periodic basis, especially when asked, and one third is committed and enthusiastic to getting things done.  On a percent basis, in whole numbers, each third would be 33% and add up to 99%, slightly less than 100% because not everybody was involved.  Lately I have come to wonder if there is a fourth group, a 1% which could also be called a “special one percent.” We all know these people who are self-less, and tireless in pursuit of the greater good.  They are able to rise above self-interest, they lead by example and raise the level of all.  We admire their devotion and effort and we aspire be like them.  They are mentors and they leave a mark on our lives.  They motivate us to do more and be better when they are present.   They also inspire and motivate even when they are no longer around.  They can also be called pillars or cornerstones, as they carry the weight and shoulder the responsibilities of many.

When you lose a pillar, an organization or group is forced to deal with this new weight no longer carried by these “one percenters.”  Hopefully, others will rush in to carry the load.  Hopefully, your top third will generate new “one percenters,” people ready to serve at the next level.  Our community has be blessed have had many “one percenters” over the years.  Yale and Ida Schulman are “one percenters” and while we are very happy for them to be moving to be closer to family, we are also very sad to be losing them from our lives and our community.  On behalf of the Greater Altoona Jewish Federation, we wish them the best.

Two themes seem to continue to repeat in my life.  Looking a second time always seems to provide new insight and Judaism can be found in unexpected places.  Upon a visit with my parents this holiday season in San Antonio, Texas, these themes were again revealed during a visit to a traveling exhibit of reclaimed art from the Holocaust.  The story of plundering art during World War II by the Nazis has been a recent subject of interest for me through books such as The Forgers Spell and movies at our Altoona Jewish Film Festival such as the Rape of Europa and Making A Killing.  I became aware that there was an exhibit while speaking with Rebecca Cohen at the SAMA Shirley Goldfarb reception.  Rebecca, the daughter of Yale and Ida Schulman, lives in Austin, Texas, recommended I check out an exhibit of reclaimed art from the Holocaust when I was to visit my parents in San Antonio. Fortunately, I was able to make time to visit the McNay Museum of Art.

“The exhibit, Reclaimed, reveals the extraordinary legacy of Jacques Goudstikker, a preeminent art dealer in Amsterdam, whose vast collection of masterpieces fell victim, and was almost lost forever, to the Nazi practice of looting cultural properties.  In 2006, after years of working with a team of art historians and legal experts, Goudstikker’s family successfully reclaimed 200 of his paintings from the Dutch government – one of the largest claims to Nazi-looted art ever resolved.  Featuring nearly 50 of the finest examples of the recovered art, along with original documents and photographs, the exhibition reveals Goudstikker’s influence as a collector, art dealer, tastemaker and impresario; and celebrates the historic restitution of the artworks to the rightful heir.  Ten of the paintings on view have never been exhibited in North America before. Also included are 20 original documents and photographs relating to Goudstikker’s life – most significantly, Goudstikker’s own notebook inventorying the bulk of his gallery’s holdings at the time he fled the Netherlands.”  Click here to read more about the Goudstikker family story.

http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/GoudstikkerRelease

While one would not expect such an exhibit to be in San Antonio, I was also surprised upon arrival at the museum to find that I had already seen the exhibit at the Jewish Museum in New York City in May.  Regardless, a story this compelling was worth a second look.

Sunny sixty degree fall days, especially in November, are meant to be spent outside raking leaves, bicycle riding, walking my dog and watching football.  Even more difficult was to be so close to Heinz field yet so fall away while the Steelers were doing battle with the Bengals.  But at the end of the day, despite temptation, I was very happy with my choice to attend the ballet yesterday.  Certainly I was out of my element.  While I have no problem breaking down the action on the field, like the millions of other Steeler head coaches in Western Pa, summing up my experience at the ballet may be a little more amateur but here we go.

For me, there were two aspects of the ballet.  Firstly, one cannot help but be in awe of the incredible strength, flexibility, coordination and conditioning of the performers.  Additionally impressive is the mental focus and teamwork of the troupe.  It is clear that these performers are also actors through their expressions and movements.  They tell a story with their bodies and movements in a very profound way.  Unlike other ballets I have attended, this performance was very physical and athletic with elements of dance and drama.

Secondly and more importantly, “Light: The Holocaust & Humanity Project,” is more than a ballet.  Creator, Stephen Mills, who is not Jewish, has taken a catastrophic human tragedy and used this art form not only to remind us of the horror but to help us feel the emotions and help us attempt to experience this terrible genocide in a different way versus reading a book or watching a movie about the Holocaust.  The ballet follows the life on one survivor from birth, to family, and to confusion, fear, despair and hopelessness.  The portrayal of transport was especially profound as the dancers worked in “boxcar” space and projected the “intimate, stifling conditions in which many died before reaching their ominous destinations.”  Despite the devastation of such conditions and depictions of death and suffering, the ballet ends with the possibility of hope and also inspires us to take our responsibilities as world citizens very seriously.

As Mr. Mills explains in the playbill, “Art alone does not change the world, people do.  We all have to be diligent to individual and governmental protection of human rights whether or not we agree with other’s religious and political choices.  Acts of moral blindness did not go out in the 1940’s with the liberation of Auschwitz.

Before coming to see “Light: The Holocaust & Humanity Project,” try to reflect on an instance when you were a bystander, a victim, or a perpetrator of intolerance.  Use this work to reflect upon your own responsibilities when confronted with acts of bigotry and hate.  My hope is that this work sparks your interest, which in turn starts a conversation.  People engaging in dialogue begin the process of positive change.”

For Jews, the High Holidays are a time to reflect on the past year as well as an opportunity to look forward.  We look forward to a healthy and prosperous year for our families, our community and all humanity, and hope that this will be the year that peace will embrace all mankind.  Unfortunately, this view is not shared by all peoples and all nations.

While religion should be about putting people in touch with each other as well as putting people in touch with God, many use religion as a pretext for hatred and genocide.  No greater example of such hatred was recently on display at the United Nations.  Giving an audience to those who deny the Holocaust and champion the elimination of nations is difficult to fathom.  History has shown that repeated lies eventually blur the line between fact and fiction.  Please view the response of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the following link:

http://www.breitbart.tv/netanyahu-slams-u-n-for-giving-ahmadinejad-forum-have-you-no-shame/

Please check out our Jewish News Online section for additional perspectives on the emerging Iranian crisis as well as other topics of interest to Jews throughout the world.

It seems that summer has yet to arrive but Labor Day and the school year are right around the corner.  I hope everyone has made plans to attend Altoona Jewish Community night at the Altoona Curve game on Wednesday, August 12^th.  Also our community has been invited to attend a seminar of the Blair County Genealogy Society.  The Speaker is David Horowitz and the subject is tracing one’s Jewish roots.  Both events are featured below on our home page.

I hope our families with young children have signed up of the PJ Pajama program also detailed on the home page.  This program is a great way to spend time with your children through age appropriate Jewish storybooks and music.  The last program I would like to highlight is our annual picnic.  We will be returning to Diamond Carriage Farm for pumpkin carving, wagon rides, and fun around the bonfire on Sunday afternoon, October 18^th.  More details will be forthcoming.

Congratulations to Bill Wallen and Hazzan Horowitz for the their participation in “A Matter of Faith,” which recently concluded.  I was able to attend the last session and found the program to be very insightful.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the upgrades to our website and I want to thank everyone who has submitted content and photos as we seek to continue to provide new content on a regular basis.  Enjoy the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events.

I want to congratulate Henry Weinberg for putting together a fabulous Joint Veteran’s Memorial Service at our community’s cemeteries.  Our service was very inspiring and led by Adam Schneider and featured guest speaker Reverend Paul Johnson.  The honor roll of interred veterans was also acknowledged.  From the Civil War to the Vietnam War, Agudath Achim Congregation and Temple Beth Israel members have a long and proud tradition of military service, and there are 109 members of AAC and 59 members of TBI on our interred veterans honor roll.

In fact, Jewish participation in the US Military has been significant throughout the history of our country.  During World War I and II, the percentage of American Jews exceeded the percentage of the general population that served in our military forces.  I have included some links to Jewish participation in the military in the Jewish Holiday Links area.  Please check it out and have a joyous Memorial Day weekend.

I hope that everyone was able to meet Judy Meisel during her week visit to our area.  This was Judy’s fourth visit to our community and I am amazed at her continued devotion and zeal for advancing the cause of civil rights and her energy and commitment with regard to Holocaust education.  During her week visit she made visits to:

Hollidaysburg Area HS, Altoona Area HS, Altoona Jewish Community School, Continuing Education at St. Rose of Lima, Bellwood HS, Tyrone HS, Interfaith Yom Hashoah Service at AAC, Juniata College, Penn State Altoona, Celebrate Diversity and St. Francis University.

Judy also met with WRTA radio, Altoona HS principal Patty Burlingame, and the Altoona Mirror.  Judy met with and spoke to over 2000 people during these visits.  I hope everyone was able to see her documentary “Tak for Alt.”  If you have not seen the DVD, please contact the Federation office.

I was honored to speak at the interfaith service and my comments are located on the Yom Hashoah area on the Jewish Holiday Link.  This area is new to the website and we be updated for each Jewish holiday.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the upgrades to our website and I want to thank everyone who has submitted content and photos as we seek to continue to provide new content on a regular basis.

Welcome to the digital home of the Greater Altoona Jewish Federation.  To further our efforts to inform, educate and enrich our Jewish souls, your Federation is now available to you every minute of every day.

It is the goal of your Federation to continue to provide new and exciting ways to enhance the Jewish experience in our community.  To further this goal we have planned an interactive website that will bring current news and fresh perspectives on local, national and international Jewish concerns.  We plan to update our site on a regular basis and be more than an online reference guide.  We want to have new and pertinent content every time you log on to www.greateraltoonajewishfederation.com.

As you browse through our website you will find our community calendar, photos from Sunday school events, future programming, community favorites, news from Jewish communities around the world as well as links to websites of various interests

Not only will our website be full of social, cultural and educational content, I also hope this site becomes a tool for community building and bringing members of our community together.   Building on the success of our excellent biannual newsletter, L’chaim, our website will look to bring all the current happenings in our community and highlight our members activities in our community.  We will also use this site to profile member families as we have done in our newsletter.

Ultimately the success of our website will rest on your input and help with the development of our content, especially in the Jewish Life area.  We encourage everyone to submit book reviews, jokes, quotes as well as your favorite websites, podcasts, music, recipes and travel spots.  We can learn so much from each other and this is one vehicle to share various topics of interest.

I welcome your feedback and your input.  I hope you think of this website as your Jewish family album and community bulletin board.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of your Greater Altoona Jewish Federation, I hope you find this website meaningful and I hope you will visit often and contribute to this community resource on a regular basis.