Local Rabbis Part of Human Rights Mission in Dominican Republic
Rabbi Peter Rigler from Broomall’s Temple Shalom and Assistant Rabbi Anne Lewis from the Germantown Jewish Centre were among 15 rabbis from the United States who visited the Dominican Republic as part of a human rights mission.
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) said Rigler and Lewis were selected as 2017 Global Justice Fellows for the trip from Jan. 8 to 15. The fellowship program “educates and trains American Jewish leaders to advocate effectively as Jews in support of international policies that advance the human rights of some of the poorest and most oppressed people on the planet,” according to an AJWS release.
During the visit, participants studied Dominicans of Haitian descent whose citizenship rights were stripped due to their ethnic heritage.
Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai Repairs Vandalism
Eight — previously reported six — windows at Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai that were broken when vandals threw rocks through them have been repaired and replaced by glaziers from the District Council 21 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades “out of the kindness of their hearts,” synagogue president Malcolm Adler said.
Security cameras have been installed since the incident on Jan. 6, which Adler said has been elevated from “vandalism” to “institutional vandalism.”
“It’s unfortunate we had to do this, but I had the camera company put signs around the building that the building is under 24-hour surveillance,” Adler said. “It’s very upsetting that we’d have to go through all this.”
There has been an increased police presence in the area, and Adler said the synagogue has been working with the Tacony Town Watch. A man in Florida who prefers to remain anonymous has offered a $10,000 reward to someone who turns in the vandal(s), though the incident is still under investigation.
A Shabbat service is being planned to honor and thank the police, town watch members, legislators and others who have helped the synagogue following the incident.
NMAJH Announces Exhibit Exploring 1917
The National Museum of American Jewish History announced it will open on March 17 a special exhibit entitled “1917: How One Year Changed the World.”
The exhibit “will look back 100 years to explore how the dramatic events of a single year brought about fundamental changes in American politics and culture that reverberated throughout the world and still impact us today,” the museum said in a release.
The exhibit explores how the United States’ entry into World War I, the Bolshevik Revolution and the issuing of the Balfour Declaration created political, cultural and social changes that reshaped the nation’s world role and impacted Americans. About 130 artifacts are part of the exhibit, including an original draft of the Balfour Declaration.
The exhibit will run through July 16.
RSVP Philadelphia to Prepare Taxes for Free at KleinLife
RSVP Philadelphia volunteers will help people prepare simple tax returns and other documents for free at KleinLife, said Sue Aistrop, director of community services and RSVP Philadelphia.
Those interested in receiving free help in preparing their 2016 tax returns must have incomes below $65,000 for a single filing or less than $95,000 for a joint filing. They also must bring their W-2s, 1099s and other investment income and forms and make an appointment before coming to KleinLife. Make reservations by calling 267-345-7787 or emailing [email protected].
