Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1990-12-20

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THE
The Ohio Jewish Chronicle
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
Jewish Community for Over 60 Years
.VOLUME 68
NUMBER 52
DECEMBER 20,1990
3TEVET5751
-DEVOTED   TO   AMERICAN   AND   JEWISH   IDEALS
\l
Poll finds
Americans still
back Israel
page 2
1 Sacred vessels' are
on display at WvH.H.
?•■   .page 2
Hq^to Ipse weight
witliput;ffieti^   ^ ^; > .;
160 NCSY'ers attend
' Shabbos with Rabbi'
. page 10
Commxinity Blood Drive
At JGG today—Dec. 20
12:30-6:30 p.m.
EARLY DEADLINES
Deadline for the Dec. 27 issue of the OJC
was noon on Tuesday, Dec,  18. The
deadline for the, Jan: 3 issue is noon.
Wednesday, Pec. 26. -.    , ~
'The OJC office will be closed an Monday,
Dec. 24, Tuesday, Dec'. 25i Monday,
Dec. M and Tuesday^ Jan,/l.*'r*".,,>, ;,;/
■mm In The Chronicle ■»■
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DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
Community extends 'helping hand9
By Ina Horwitz
The Columbus Jewish community is extending a large
"helping hand" this year in its
volunteer efforts to brighten
Christmas 1990 for many non-
Jews. Through their synagogues and organizations,
Jewish helpers will be giving
their services and goodwill
right through Christmas day
for those, not only in need of
material things, but also in
need of love and kindness, and
for those who otherwise would
not be able to be with their
families.
A program, in its fourth
year, by the Agudas Achim
Junior and Senior National
Synagogue Youth Group
(NCSY) took place at Children's Hospital on Dec. 3. The
youth participated in the hospital's lighting ceremonies
(the entire hospital's Christmas lights go on at the same
time), and, according to
NCSY director, Rabbi Hillel
Fox, they have been the only
group asked back every year.
This time, it was especially
poignant for Rabbi Fox, since
his daughter, Bracha, 26
months old, has been there for
treatment of leukemia find
was brought in by his wife that
day to watch the ceremonies.
The youth group put on a
Chanukah presentation for the
children. They showed them a
menorah, told Chanukah stories, entertained and distributed gifts. Many young patients, a lot of them who were
not Jewish, asked for dreidels
as they did in the past years.-.
"It really brightens up their
day, as we can see it in their
faces," said Rabbi Fox. The
program was interrupted
when Rabbi Alan G. Ciner of
Agudas Achim went up to the
podium to tell the crowd that
"the children are always
thanking us for making it festive, but this year we would
like to also thank Children's
Hospital, from the bottom of
our hearts, for their care of
Rabbi Fox's daughter, whose
leukemia is now in remission."
NCSY also will offer babysitting services on Christmas
day to some of the neighborhood churches. To express
-their thanks, the participating
churches usually make a donation to the Youth Group.
Some Jewish organizations
and synagogues are donating
their time this holiday season
to relieve employees who wish
to spend Christmas day at
home with their families.
Among such groups is the
Temple Israel Brotherhood,
whose members will conduct
their annual Mitzvah program
at Mt. Carmel Hospital and
University Hospitals on
Christmas Eve and Christmas
day.
"Since the hospitals are operating with pretty much of a
skeleton crew on Christmas,"
said Howard Gabe, Brotherhood president, "our families,
besides relieving some of the
employees, try to pretty much
do what hospital volunteers
might do, such as assisting
doctors and nurses on duty
and distributing meals to the
. p^ents."     ,_. „ . \
' i Stan Cooper, a Brotherhood
past president in charge of the
Mitzvahprogram, is a "Temple member 364 days of the
year," according to Gabe,
"but on the 365th day, he's
Santa ClauS and comes to the
hospitals dressed for the occasion."
Another program, called
"Mispacha Day," is sponsored by the Leo Yassenoff
Jewish Community Center. It
provides the opportunity for
member, as well as non-member, families, to volunteer on
Dec. 25 at a wide variety of social service agencies. All ages
can participate by going to a
homeless shelter, the Soup
Kitchen and St. Anthony Medical Center.
"We want to relieve the
staff at all these places," said
Barbara Weinberg, director of
Family Services, so they can
spend Christmas with their
families. "Last year, we had
about 100 families volunteering, and we hope that it will be
•even bigger this year. People
really had a wonderful experience last year,"
Volunteers from the Jewish
War Veterans of Capitol Post
122 spent part of Christmas
day at the Columbus Airport,
where they staff the USO.
Larry Felsenthal, post commander, said that the members have been relieving the
nonJewish staff for "at least
a decade. We come in teams
of two, each team spending a
few hours."
"Although this is not usually
a day when many service personnel come through the air-
. port," he said* '.wj. arje.tfcere
in case someone ne$ds a place
to just sit. We'vfe even had to
walk them on the plane, as
they become nervous or feel
scared and alone."
Wexner Heritage House
also has volunteers to help the
staff on Christmas; auxiliary
help comes in to serve a
Christmas dinner to the employees. "One or two come in
a few days before to prepare a
turkey, and the kitchen does
the rest," said Cynthia Huhn,
Activity and Volunteer Director. On Christmas, a "turkey
dinner with all the trimmings" is taken in to the staff
dining room.
Also on Christmas Eve,
Dave Levison, a past president of the Board of Wexner
Heritage House, along with
one of the administrators, appears at midnight to serve a
deli-type meal to the staff.
Then there are the B'nai
B'rith Men, Maccabee Lodge,
who, for 18 years, have been
providing meals for all central
Ohio police officers on Christmas Eve. "We put food trays
at 23 different locations," said
Gary Beim, a past president.
, "In addition, we cover the
jails, mental health organizations and the highway patrol."
About 70 people are in<
volved in this program.
"We've had a great response," said Beim. "We even
have had police officers calling to tell us that if we can't
find them, they'll be glad to
pick the food up."
And the week before Christmas, Beth Shalom members,
along with Bexley Methodist:
Church, will be hosting the
■ see 'HELPING HAND' pg /
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