“Israel: The Will to Prevail” by Danny Danon (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012)

It isn’t often that one gets to see the manuscript of a well-known political figure before it is published, so I was flattered when a good acquaintance asked in June if I would look over an edited manuscript of a Member of Knesset, who needed it in two days. I readily agreed.

The author was Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Danny Danon, chairman of the World Likud Organization and chairman of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee in the Knesset.

Forty-one-year-old Danon writes that his late father was severely wounded in the 1969 War of Attrition, something that influenced his entire life. Danon was born the same year the PLO established itself in Lebanon.

The book is, in Danon’s words, “a concise but detailed response to [recent events], including an analysis of the position Israel finds itself in today and an argument for the United States to reassert support for the State of Israel; an illustration of how history shows us Israel is better off when she acts on her own behalf; and a road map for Jewish victory.”

Danon “defines the present moment and describes what Israelis of [his] generation and the next must do to preserve the nation they love.”

Danon says Israel arrived at its current situation because of: the instability in the region and a nuclear Iran; the U.S. administration’s appeasement strategy in relation to the Palestinians; and the ideological war against Israel.
In Part 1 he describes the current landscape as danger and opportunity. Part 2 explains how Israel arrived at the crossroad; and Part 3 is a road map for Jewish victory.

Danon is highly critical as he outlines the series of mishaps of Obama with regard to Israel. He explains and analyzes America’s support for Israel, which has “laced Israel into a precarious position [and] threatens to endanger American interests throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.”

He states that the current conflict is based not only on territorial demands but on a cultural conflict. Among his recommendations are: that Israel should apply sovereignty over the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria; stop talking about the establishment of a Palestinian State; and declare its right to exist within the current borders.

He also calls on the Arab world to stop incitement and teaching of hatred.

This book is, in Danon’s words, “a call to action to adopt a new ... way in dealing with the conflict,” namely, a three-state solution engaging Egypt and Jordan.

He sees permanent status of the Palestinians determined in a final peace agreement which would be signed by Jordan and Egypt. In other words, the three-state solution would include Jordan (which has a 70 percent Palestinian population) and Egypt as places of residence for the Palestinians.

There are four appendices: General Provisions and Oslo Accords; the Council of the League of Nations; Resolution 242; and the Biblical connections to Israel and Jerusalem.

This book is provocative. It is informative. It is not just one’s man’s opinions and ideas but a vocalization of what many people in Israel are feeling today. This is a must read for any and all sensible people who care about Israel and who care about a peaceful future.


Sybil Kaplan is a foreign correspondent living in Jerusalem.

Rabbi ‘profoundly embarrassed’ by book

Barbara Bayer recently wrote about a newly released book called “Am I a Jew?” by Theodore Ross. (Oct. 4)

In it, she properly criticized both Ross and me. In response, I wanted Chronicle readers to have an explanation from me about this matter.

Several years ago Ross contacted me to learn more about Classical Reform Judaism for a book he was writing. I was glad to help educate him. He came to Kansas City twice for interviews, once even staying at my home by my invitation.

At the time, I was in a frustrating relationship with the board of my former congregation, The New Reform Temple. I made the mistake of trusting Ross to be judicious when I expressed some of my frustrations about my situation in front of him. The account of my distress with NRT in his book has embarrassed me as well as the Kansas City Jewish community. I profoundly regret venting my frustrations to Ross and I regret his account of our conversations, which — as Barbara Bayer correctly noted — had almost nothing to do with Classical Reform Judaism. In fact, when I read the book, I was baffled by why Ross thought my relations with NRT had anything to do with the purpose of his book.

Ross made a number of factual errors and misquotes in his writing about me, but that’s really beside the point. I made the larger error of trusting him and expressing some personal feelings in front of him. I won’t make that mistake again.

My plan is to continue to work to build a wonderful congregation at Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City, which now has a chastened and somewhat wiser rabbi.

Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn
www.templeisraelkc.org

Proud to serve Israel

First, please allow me the opportunity to tell you what a fine paper you run. The Jewish Chronicle has been keeping Kansas City’s Jewish community informed and current on local Jewish happenings and issues for almost a century.
I am writing you in response to the article, “Dynamic speakers, new leadership headline AIPAC Israel Action Forum,” from the Sept. 27 issue. I would like to correct some misinformation.

The article reads, “Former Kansas Citian Jason Barnett is an officer in the Israel Defense Force.” I am, in fact, a non-commissioned officer in the IDF. Another line began, “Master Sergeant Jason Barnett…”  In reality, I have attained the rank of first sergeant to this date. At the time the article was published I had still only made sergeant. I apologize if I seem a bit overly dedicated to correcting the details, however I was quite discouraged to see my ranking misprinted, as I have worked extremely hard to achieve all of my rankings from my first day as an enlisted man.

I encourage any writer on your staff to please consult me directly for a number of reasons, first and foremost security, before printing any information about myself or other Kansas Citians currently serving in the IDF.  I would also like to humbly offer my services to The Chronicle if you should have any questions concerning Israel or the IDF in the future. Let me work with you in providing useful and correct information about the IDF to Kansas City’s Jewish community.

As Kansas Citians serving in the IDF, we want nothing more than to make our families and community proud of the work we are doing. We appreciate to no end the sacrifices made by our families and friends as we pursue the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people overseas. Thank you for your continued support.

First Sergeant Jason Barnett
101st Airborne
Israel Defense Force

A Jewish Holocaust survivor is haunted by memories of the Polish lover that risked his life to save her. The romantic war drama “Remembrance” directed by Anna Justice is the opening night film of the 14th Annual Kansas City Jewish Film Festival.

The remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in 1944 Poland is inspired by true events. A bond of passionate feelings forms between Tomasz Limanowski, a young Polish prisoner, and Hannah Silberstein, a German Jew from Berlin. Although men and women are separated in the camp, these two lovers meet clandestinely. Against all odds, Tomasz finds the courage to pull off a daring escape and rescues Hannah from a likely death. They survive a treacherous journey to freedom through the forest. They do whatever it takes to find food, clothing and shelter.

They end up at Tomasz’s mother’s house. His mother, upon being introduced to Hannah, tells Tomasz to get rid of her. She is against Tomasz marrying a Jewess. Tomasz is in possession of a film canister that he smuggled out of the camp. It is vital evidence of the Final Solution. He needs to turn this information over to the Polish homeland army. He keeps this a secret from Hannah. He leaves for Warsaw and promises to be back in two days.

Hannah is unable to get along with Tomasz’s mother. After nearly being discovered by an SS officer, she makes her way to Tomasz’s older brother’s house. She forms a friendship with sister-in-law Magda. Hannah finally gives up hope when Tomasz never returns.

The other half of the film takes place more than 30 years later in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Hannah is a happily married 52-year-old mother of a college-aged daughter. While waiting to pick up her tablecloths at a New York City dry cleaners, she accidentally notices a television interview with a man that resembles her former Polish lover. He is recalling his first encounter with a woman who became the love of his life. Hannah is overwhelmed by memories of the past she has never shared with anybody. She begins to search again for Tomasz believing that he is still alive.

The movie goes back and forth between 1944 and 1976 much like the narrative in “Sarah’s Key.” Initially, the scenes are short to keep the viewer guessing. The scenes are then replayed and drawn out in longer takes to fill in the blanks.

A different set of actors play the central couple in the two time periods. The cast is mostly unknown to American audiences except for David Rasche (“Burn After Reading”) who plays Hannah’s present day researcher husband Daniel Levine.

Besides the superb acting, the movie’s strengths include the beautiful cinematography and an intelligent script that explores the deepest emotions of mankind. The movie was previously shown at Jewish film festivals around the world and won the Audience Award in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Zagreb.

This emotionally moving film is for mature audiences with scenes of torture and sexuality. It holds your interest throughout a running time of 105 minutes. The dialogue is in German, Polish and Russian with easy-to-read English subtitles. It gets my vote as the best film of this year’s festival and deserves my GOOD rating of 3 stars.

Kansas City Jewish Film Festival

Seven films will be featured at the 14th Annual Jewish Film Festival. They are:

“Remembrance,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13

“The Rescuers,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14

“A Serious Man,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15

“Jews and Baseball — An American Love Story,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17

“This Is Sodom,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

“The Yankles,” 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

“Le Concert,” 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

The film festival program is posted in its entirety at www.kcjff.org, along with preview clips and links for ticket purchase.

Tickets for individual films or a festival pass are available online at kcjff.org or by calling the box office 913-327-8054. Box office hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. All films are general admission; festival pass holders are seated 10 minutes before general public.

For further information contact Krista Blackwood, director of cultural Arts at 913-327-8073 or .

Thank you JET Express

During these special days of remembrance and appreciation, my thoughts are focused on all the wonderful people in my life — my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, who are no longer living, and my wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and friends who surround me always with love and care.

This past year I have added another SPECIAL FRIEND — JET Express, sponsored by Jewish Family Services. This agency provides driving assistance to those of us no longer able to drive. By calling one week in advance to schedule appointments, they send a driver to your place of residence, who takes you to your appointment (medical, grocery store, beauty shop, etc.) and returns you to your home afterwards. There is a very small fee for the service (every time I started my own car in my driveway, it cost much more, I am sure) and in addition to not having to buy gas, maintenance expenses on the car — insurance, licenses, etc. — I have made wonderful new friends and renewed old ones!

These drivers volunteer their time and we, the recipients of their services and care, are most grateful. If you have a morning or afternoon when you could offer your services for this mitzvah, it would be deeply appreciated.

My thanks to the staff and volunteers of JET Express who have so greatly assisted me in my adjustment to life without driving!

Anita Loeb
Overland Park, KS

Voter suppression is personal

In 1964 we were living in Louisiana and because the elections were approaching we went to register. However, I failed the literacy exam. At that time I was a professor at Tulane School of Medicine. If they were correct I would have been the first illiterate professor at Tulane University and at their Medical School. However, one thing I was positive of, I was far more literate than the person who tested me.

Of course, poll taxes and literacy tests are the most undemocratic and the most un-American policy in a democracy. Not believing my ears I asked why I had failed. The man said that he could not tell me. Hmmm, why not? Later on we learned that there were many blacks and other northerners who just weren’t literate enough to vote in Louisiana.

We went to the League of Women Voters where we learned about the tricks that were used to suppress the “undesirable vote.” This is not North Korea, Burma or Russia. This is The United States; the land of the free — where each person is supposed to have the right to vote as they please.

Now in 2012 we have the same egregious behavior. Suddenly and just in time for the election, 11 Republican state legislatures have passed laws to prevent one type of “voter fraud” that is essentially nonexistent (except perhaps if these voter suppression laws in 11 states are carried out). It is not surprising that the type of voter suppression that Republican legislatures are targeting will disenfranchise blacks, Hispanics, the poor, the infirm, the young and the elderly.

The type of voter suppression they have ignored is the type that they themselves are accused of fostering. As you know from today’s news in Florida the Republican Party hired a firm to register voters, but they tore up the forms by those who identified themselves as Democrats and submitted all the forms submitted by Republicans. This is not only immoral but it is illegal.

This should make every American angry, regardless of party and indeed it has. Many Republicans are fighting against these immoral tactics and have even reported the cheaters to the authorities. This is an American problem.

Perhaps I am a shade more indignant than some because it happened to me. But I know that no Jewish Chronicle reader would want that to happen to them or to our fellow countrymen or women.

Jack Katz, Ph.D.
Prairie Village, Kan.

The community is buzzing about a newly published book, “Am I a Jew?” written by Theodore Ross, an author from New York. It’s been out a month or so already. I wasn’t terribly interested in it, and it just sat on my desk waiting to be given to one of our book reviewers. However out of the blue, just before Yom Kippur, I got some phone calls about it. Then I was intrigued.

The book focuses on different types of Judaism, one being Classical Reform Judaism. Ross claims (I didn’t confirm the facts myself) that there are only 15 such congregations in the United States. He hand-picked our own Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn as the expert on that subject.

He came to Kansas City to interview Rabbi Cukierkorn twice about the topic. According to the book, he even stayed at his home. I am deeply disturbed by what he wrote about Classical Reform Judaism and the New Reform Temple in particular.

In my opinion, the chapters on Classical Reform Judaism are not really about Classical Reform Judaism at all. He spends very little time describing the difference between Classical Reform Judaism and what we typically refer to as simply Reform Judaism. Instead, I see it as a not-so-flattering depiction of Rabbi Cukierkorn, the former rabbinical leader of The New Reform Temple who now heads up the year-old Temple Israel. In doing that, these chapters also become a not-so-flattering, and I believe skewed, view of the Jewish community in Kansas City as a whole.

I have not interviewed either the author or any of the parties quoted in this book. I believe it would be a waste of my time as I would probably get typical comments such as “I stand by what I wrote,” and “I was misquoted.” As a journalist I do have to wonder why Ross chose to publish the information he gathered about New Reform from Rabbi Cukierkorn after he met with the rabbi the first time. At that time the relationship between the rabbi and the congregation had become a rocky one. In my opinion that’s when he should have walked away and chosen another congregation and rabbi to profile. By not doing so, he implies that the relationship between this rabbi and this congregation represents a typical rabbi-congregational relationship for such parties in Classical Reform congregations. I certainly believe this is not the case.

By the time Ross came to Kansas City a second time, Rabbi Cukierkorn’s relationship with NRT’s board of directors had deteriorated to the point of not renewing the rabbi’s contract. The two parties negotiated a separation agreement. Did the author really think he was getting an accurate depiction of a Classical Reform congregation when he discovered that all the parties involved were effectively right in the middle of a “divorce?” As a journalist, has he never had to walk away from an interview because he wasn’t getting the information he needed?

At this point you might be saying, but The Chronicle mentioned all of these things in its newspaper as well. Yes, we did. It’s something we have agonized about, but we see it as our duty to report the news in our community. But that news certainly does not represent what is going on in Classic Reform congregations.

Rabbi Cukierkorn isn’t off the hook here either, by any stretch of the imagination. He was speaking to a journalist who was writing a book, so he should have been more careful about what he said and the words he chose to use. Clearly he was unhappy with his situation and many people involved in it. But as my mother, of blessed memory, used to say to me on a regular basis, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I hope he has learned this valuable lesson.

As I read on Kol Nidre “words matter, words can hurt, reputations matter, gossip hurts.” I am not and have never been a member of The New Reform Temple. But as a member of the Kansas City Jewish community I am hurt by this book. I don’t want people across the country thinking this is how the Kansas City Jewish community speaks to others or speaks about others. It simply isn’t an accurate depiction of who we are. Period.

Don’t buy the book. If you want to know the author’s personal story, read it online. He’s told it in plenty of interviews. The rest isn’t worth your valuable time.

Paying taxes is a privilege

I would like to thank Marc Birnbaum for his letter of Sept. 13, wherein he inadvertently substantiated one of the points I made in my letter of Aug. 30.

I’d like to share a response that I received from one of my cousins after she read Birnbaum’s views. I couldn’t have stated it any better than she did:

“Ye gads my heart flutters. Should we perhaps have pushkes to contribute some funds to help out these rich folk who are being robbed of their profit margin?”

“If only we could be struck with such a misfortune. I remember back when (my husband) was in practice how he said, ‘Goldie, I’m grateful we have to pay taxes. It means we have money.’ ”

Carole Plesser
Prairie Village, Kan.

Assisting the less fortunate

I was delighted to read your recent articles about the JFS Food Pantry and Yachad — The Kosher Food Pantry (Sept. 6). What a tribute to Kansas City! Here we have two organizations committed to feeding the hungry and a community that is willing to support both.

Yachad has always served the needy with dedication and soul. It is wonderful that JFS has decided to follow its example.

I know that many of the local congregations have supported Yachad in the past through food collection bins and tzedakah boxes. I salute the rabbis and the Rabbinical Association for continuing their support of Yachad and at the same time, supporting JFS’ new food pantry. How fortunate we are to live in a Jewish community that is unified on the issue of assisting those less fortunate, especially in these times of politics and pettiness!

To Chabad, keep up the good work. You exemplify what dedicated, hard-working volunteers can achieve. To JFS, may your endeavor be as meaningful and successful. And to the Jewish community and its spiritual leaders, thank you for sharing your voices and resources to ensure that both food pantries thrive.

B. Silver
Overland Park, Kan.

Unacceptable censorship

My wife and I have been longtime subscribers to the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. We are proud members of the K.C. Jewish community. Unfortunately, I understand that due to pressure from leftist Democrats — some of whom may be subscribers — you are not publishing Ms. Shoula Romano Horing’s articles. This, of course, is partisanship, censorship and a violation of people’s right to know.

I am reminded of the leftist and anarchic articles by Rabbi Margolies that you published week after week, much to my sadness, disappointment and dismay, which were mainly accusations and reproaches against our homeland, the United States of America, and our beloved Israel. Throughout the many years of your publishing these articles, we never cancelled our subscription! However, you are now getting into the realm of violating my right to know and the First Amendment.

Our Jewish people, as well as any other people, have the right and deserve to hear a variety of opinions so they can wisely select their leaders. What you are doing is censorship and not acceptable. The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle must be fair.

Please begin publishing Ms. Horing’s articles again.

K. Tom Khadavi
Overland Park, Kan.

For someone like me, who spent most of his career in the business community, working at Jewish Family Services for the last five years has been a real eye-opener. I knew there were people living in poverty in our community, but I never got close enough to those in need to really understand their stories. But at JFS, as I talk with our social workers and clients, I have learned just how basic some of those needs are.

In Pirkei Avot, there is a saying, Im ein kemach, ein Torah; Im ein Torah, ein kemach — “If there is no flour, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour.” The rabbis, for whom Torah and study were everything, understood that study and spirituality couldn’t take place when someone was hungry. Food, represented here by flour, is our most basic human need.

Many people assume that hunger is a problem in the broader world, but not a problem here in our own community. Chronicle Publisher Steve Rose wrote an important article this summer in the Kansas City Star, “Suburbs are not immune to rising tide of hunger.” Rose describes how many families in Johnson County are experiencing more and more food insecurity, a term used to describe the inability of a family to meet basic food needs. At JFS, we just distributed Rosh Hashanah food baskets to twice as many people as we did only three years ago. There is a huge amount of need out there, and while there are government programs to help, there are large, gaping holes in the government safety net.

To take a small step toward filling one of those holes, JFS is opening a food pantry. Some people have asked me why we’re doing this. Doesn’t Harvesters take care of food needs for our community? Harvesters-The Community Food Network, while a wonderful organization, is a wholesale network, not a food pantry. It supplies food pantries in our community; it is not a place individuals and families go to get food for themselves. Each year, JFS works with hundreds of food insecure clients, both Jewish and non-Jewish, right in our community and it has been frustrating not to be able to meet their needs for food directly.

The JFS Food Pantry will serve our clients who are food insecure, regardless of their religion. We will provide kosher food to those that keep kosher, and the pantry will offer a way for people to shop and choose what they need. We’ve already become an affiliate of Harvesters, which means we’ll be able to acquire food from that terrific source. But while food from Harvesters is essential, it’s not enough to meet the need. We will still have to collect donations from our own community. We have already seen the community come together with donations during the High Holiday Food drives. As you read this, we’re beginning to collect barrels of food from many synagogues in town. That’s a great start, but we have a long way to go.

To learn more about hunger in our community and how you can help, please join us for the official launch of the JFS Food Pantry. It will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Jewish Community Campus. You’ll hear from leaders working on reducing hunger in our community.  You’ll learn about the Mitzvah Garden, our community garden that will be a partner of the new JFS Food Pantry. And you’ll learn how you can participate, whether through volunteering at the pantry, donating food, or getting involved in other ways. Yaish Kemach, Yaish Torah. There will be flour, so there will be Torah.

Don Goldman is the executive director and CEO of Jewish Family Services.

Local Islamic organization condemns violence, killings

I am the chairman of the Midland Islamic Council in Kansas City. MIC is an umbrella organization in the central region and includes 15 Muslim organizations. One of the Council’s goals is to foster interfaith understanding. Many people say that moderate Muslims do not speak out enough about the extremists who commit violent crimes in the name of Islam. I want to make sure the Jewish community knows that MIC condemns the violence and killings that happened in Libya and Egypt against our fellow Americans and our embassies. The Islamic Society of North America, The Islamic Circle of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council and other Muslim groups have also released statements. Here is our statement:

The Midland Islamic Council expresses its profound sorrow at the killing of U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Mr. Christopher Stevens and his staff. We also denounce the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned, the act has been committed by a group of savage people who did it independently without support from Muslims, Libyan people or the government. Available reports indicate that this heinous act was committed in response to a video defaming and insulting Prophet Mohammad (peace be on him). Despite the offensive nature of the video, Islam does not allow taking innocent life for any reason. During his lifetime the Prophet (peace be on him) was insulted and attacked many times but he always acted with compassion, forgave the offenders and was never revengeful. Clearly the perpetrators have violated the basic teachings of Islam.

Shakil Haider
Chairman
Midland Islamic Council

We are all watching history unfold before us. President Obama and Gov. Romney are engaged in a tight race to see who will be the next president of the United States. The Senate race between Todd Akin and Claire McCaskill has the national spotlight shining on the state of Missouri. As it does for every single election, National Council of Jewish Women and its Greater Kansas City Section, of which I am a life member and past president, has words of wisdom to share regarding the upcoming election.

Voting this November is not only primary, but it is also our right, privilege and duty. Most importantly, it is paramount for women! This general election may be the most important election of our lifetime! It will impact you and those in your life! It’s about your job, your health, your community and your future.

In this election NCJW specifically holds dear a variety of issues — from reproductive rights to economic security, from the kinds of judges who will preside in our courts to how our children and grandchildren will be educated. NCJW’s priorities are women, children, families and every issue that will affect them. Each of us has the power to impact these critical Issues, but only if we plan to step forward and exercise our hard-earned right to vote. We ask you not only to pledge your own vote, but to be proactive by urging everyone you know here and across the country to vote as well.

On Election Day Nov. 6, Kansas and Missouri polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. But if you can’t be there in person that day, Kansas and Missouri have other options for you to exercise this important right.

Kansans — including college students living away from home — may take advantage of advance voting either by mail or at special advance polling places prior to Nov. 6. To take advantage of these options, one must be a registered voter. For those who live in Johnson County, registration is as easy as calling the Johnson County Election Office at 913-782-3441 or downloading a form at www.jocoelection.org.

The deadline to register to vote in Kansas is Tuesday, Oct. 16. Advance voting by mail begins Wednesday, Oct. 17. Voters must complete an Application for Advance Voting Ballot in order to receive a ballot by mail. In Johnson County registered voters can simply call the election office at 913-782-3441 to request the Application for Advance Voting Ballot or visit www.jocoelection.org and download a form. Per the new state law, a registered voter applying for a mail-in ballot or voting in person must provide a photo ID. Those voting by mail must provide either a valid Kansas’s driver’s license number or non-driver identification card number on the form. There are many valid forms of ID listed on the application; or simply call the election office for more information.

(Here’s a voting tip: If you receive an Advance Ballot and forget to mail it in timely manner, simply take it with you to your polling place. It will be voided and you will be allowed to vote on another paper ballot. Your ballot will count!)

Johnson County registered voters who wish to cast their ballots early and in person may do so beginning Oct. 22. The Johnson County Election Office in Olathe will be open the following times and dates for advance voting: Monday through Friday, Oct. 22 to Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to noon.

Three other locations will also host advance voting polls — Great Mall of the Great Plains, Metcalf South Shopping Center and Ten Quivira Plaza in Shawnee. These polls will be open Monday through Friday, Oct. 22 to Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This information may also be found at the website, www.jocoelection.org.

For Kansas City, Mo., residents, the last day to register to vote is Wednesday, Oct. 10. Voting by absentee in person begins Tuesday, Sept. 25, and is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Kansas City Election Board in the Union Station. Absentee voting applications may also be downloaded at www.kceb.org. Voter ID is required; however, the law has not changed so Missourians will continue to follow the same procedure as always. For more information or for absentee satellite locations, call the Kansas City Election Board at 816-842-4820.

Whether you vote advance, absentee or at your polling place on Election Day, affirm your commitment as a United States citizen and the issues you care about! Please remember, bad leaders will be elected by people who do not vote. Your vote really does count!

An active member of the National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Kansas City Section, Barbara Holzmark has served as its president and is currently its Kansas Public Affairs chair. She was a candidate for state representative from Leawood in 1990 and is an active member of the League of Women Voters and MainStream Coalition. Holzmark is currently a supervising judge for the Johnson County Election Board and has worked in this capacity since 1992. She can be contacted through the NCJW office at 913-648-0747.

“Tzaki and His Holiday Miracles” by Avraham Feder (Mosaica Press, August 2012)

When you receive a review copy written by a former neighbor and friend, you can’t help but take notice, and this was the case when this book arrived in our post office box.

Rabbi Avraham Feder is a charming man with a great gift for conversation and an outstanding voice. His wife, Tzipora, had told me once about the great stories he would tell to the children at his former synagogue, Beth Tikvah in Toronto.

The hero, Tzaki, is based upon a real-life man by the same name. The real Tzaki is the son of the rabbi’s cousin who lives in Rishon l’Tzion. From the age of 6, Tzaki insisted on sleeping in the sukkah during Sukkot. The real-life Tzaki grew up, served in the Israel Defense Forces for 20 years flying helicopters, and today is 51 years old. The three stories are all based, to some extent, on truth.

In “Tzaki and his Sukkah”, Tzaki helps some Israeli soldiers behind enemy lines, near the Suez Canal, with the help of his “flying sukkah,” the etrog and other Sukkot symbols.

In “Tzaki’s Sukkah and his Magic Dreidel,” Tzaki goes into action helping Israeli navy men and their gunboats.

In “Tzaki and the Frozen Helicopters,” Tzaki is called upon to assist in another adventure — 12 helicopters and their crews stranded during a blizzard in the Austrian Alps.

The stories are all very cleverly written, and for young readers, particularly boys ages 9 and up, these are really a good read.
Besides being a rabbi in Toronto, Rabbi Feder, who moved to Israel in 1981, has lectured at various schools of higher learning and the Israel Defense Forces. He has written two books and numerous essays and articles. He and his wife Tzipora live in Jerusalem.

“Be Like God” by Dr. Ron Wolfson (Jewish Lights Publishing, June 2012)

Dr. Ron Wolfson, professor of education at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, has written about 10 books for children and adults.

Now he has written this stimulating handbook for 8- to 12-year-olds to motivate them to be a partner with God. He helps them define how to create a personal relationship with God and uses kid-friendly stories to illustrate his points.

He tells his readers that “this book is written to inspire you to create your own God’s to-do list.” He begins his interactive book with 10 chapters suggesting 10 “superpowers” — create, bless, rest, call, comfort, care, repair, wrestle, give and forgive. He asks his reader to read each chapter, which has examples of good that God does and how people use their powers to imitate God’s ways.

He then asks his readers to consider doing items on God’s to-do list. He suggests readers create a to-do list, then actually do one of those things every day. Once they’re done, he recommends thinking about how doing these changes your life. He also believes you should read the list every day and share it with others.

In the conclusion, Wolfson guides the readers with three more ways to be a superhero and do God’s work on earth; analyzes Shalom Aleichem; and provides a space for the reader’s to-do list.
Notes and a bibliography conclude the book.

I would take exception to this being a book for 8- to 12-year-olds and instead suggest it for 10- to 12-year-olds as an outstanding companion to studying for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

“It’s a Mitzvah” by Liz Suneby and Diane Heiman (Jewish Lights Publishing, September 2012)

If you know any 3- to 6-year-olds, sit them down and read this to them. As you show them the illustrations of animals they will probably squeal with delight as did the 3-year-old on whom I practiced reading this book.

Each set of pages illustrates animals such as bears, beavers, kangaroos, zebras and others in actions regarding a particular mitzvah. The refrain — it’s a … it’s a … it’s a mitzvah is so catchy, soon the children anticipate it and say it with you.

A meerkat, also known as a mongoose from South Africa, which stands on its back legs and uses its tale to balance, sits on each set of pages. It is the narrator and explains each mitzvah in a sidebar. Regretfully, a brief explanation about the meerkat and why it’s on the pages is needed in this book.

The book will make a wonderful introduction to good deeds for young readers because its style is so appealing, encouraging and animated. Welcoming new friends, forgiving someone who makes a mistake, cheering on your friends and giving tzedakah are just a few of the 12 mitzvot mentioned.