This morning, I woke up to find myself in the subject of a Google News Alert without having written the corresponding story — that, I must say, is always rather exciting. The lede story in today’s ”Anglo File” section of Haaretz picks up on my original story that spoke about Momo Lifshitz and Oranim’s decision to separate from Birthright. The author, Cnaan Liphshiz, also included a paragraph on the drama surrounded my “dis-invitation” to a Birthright Israel NEXT follow-up trip. While I have personally already clarified any previous misunderstandings with the Birthright staff, I do understand why Haaretz felt that it was important to mention the incident regardless.

Anyway, to read Cnaan’s article, click here.

Meanwhile, also check out some awesome Anglo File articles by my friend Raphael Ahren — one on an aliyah incentive program for physicians, and another on Jewish geneaology.

Israeli Culture, From N.Y. To L.A.

Dor Chadash and the Israeli Leadership Council celebrate the official announcement at the recent ILC Gala in Los Angeles, an event attended by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

by Sharon Udasin
Staff Writer

Walking the streets of Manhattan, it’s not uncommon to hear snippets of Hebrew conversation every few blocks or so — a young dad pointing out the “kelev gadol” [big dog] to his toddling son — or to witness an Israeli waitress serving hummus to pay for her university studies.

A similar influx of young Israelis has emerged in Los Angeles, but unlike 20- and 30-something Israeli New Yorkers, the L.A. group lacks a sense of community and remains largely isolated from local Jewish organizations, local experts say.

This is where Dor Chadash, which has brought together 30,000 Israeli and American Jewish New Yorkers in the past six years, comes into play.

 “The vision is to create a national community that shares a passion for Israel,” said Tzameret Fuerst, a founding member and chairwoman emeritus of Dor Chadash, who conceived the idea of expanding the organization beyond New York. “It was clear that Los Angeles was an important target.” Continue reading…

Crafting Israel’s Image

David Saranga: Branding’s a beach.

by Sharon Udasin

With the appointment of a new Israeli tourism minister, a debate is taking shape about how best to market the Jewish state. Stas Misezhnikov, of the Israel Beiteinu party, wants to revamp the previous administration’s strategy of promoting Israel as primarily “sunshine, beach and beautiful girls” and instead focus more on “history, religion and culture.” Here in New York, however, the man most responsible for changing Israel’s image is David Saranga, who is completing his four-year tenure next month as consul for media and public affairs at the Israeli Consulate. As his term winds down, Saranga, a Foreign Ministry diplomat, sits down with The Jewish Week to discuss Israel’s branding progress.

Q: Misezhnikov says that Israel should concentrate on acquainting visitors with culture rather than beaches. Some of your rebranding tactics have involved Tel Aviv beaches and beautiful Israeli models. How do you react to Misezhnikov’s ideas? Continue reading…
A:One doesn’t contradict the other. Our branding efforts of making people understand what Israel is all about are not only for tourist purposes.

Y Protesters Unbound

Critics of the 92nd Street Y’s decision to close the Buttenwieser Library protested Monday night. They’re likely fighting a losing battle. Michael Datikash

by Sharon Udasin

Not wanting to close the book on the Buttenwieser Library, a small band of passionate protesters took to the streets Monday night to save their beloved — but perhaps doomed — book room.

“It is so inimical to what the Y stands for, especially as the people of the book,” said Erwin Flaxman, a professor at Columbia University’s Teachers College. 

Flaxman and the other protesters braved on-and-off thunderstorms to hand out about 400 flyers and collect petition signatures from passersby and Y patrons in front of the building at 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. They’re demanding that the Y keep the library open, or at least postpone its closing. Protesters collected 340 signatures. Continue reading…

I’m happy to say that I had a very nice, lengthy conversation with Birthright, and any prior misunderstandings have been cleared up.

Today, I was officially uninvited to a free trip to Israel, my favorite place in the world hands down. Several weeks ago, I had received word that I could accompany a trip group of “Israel Diplomatic Fellows” — young professional Israel advocates trained by Birthright Israel NEXT — on their Aug. 9-16 trip to Israel, where they would tour some less popular avenues in the Jewish State, like Sderot, Ashkelon and well, you get the picture. This seemed like quite an interesting opportunity to get to know other young Jewish leaders, and write about sensitive issues and places.

And then, in walks Oranim. Or out, I should say.

Two weeks ago, after hearing word that the largest Birthright trip provider was severing connections with Taglit Birthright Israel, we ran a story about what had happened; namely, Oranim leader Shlomo “Momo” Lifshitz and Birthright were no longer seeing eye-to-eye. As a journalist for an American Jewish newspaper, it was not just my inclination but my responsibility to write about the fall-out, and I did so in a completely objective manner that was fair to all sides. 

I found out today, however, that the leadership of Birthright does not agree, and they have reneged their decision to allow me to accompany the group. I’m trying to figure out what could have possibility generated such anger against me and what I wrote. I hope that the person who ultimately made this decision will get in touch with me personally, instead of speaking to others about me.

I guess this is just a sign of good journalism, and at least I can say I’m making a difference in some way, sparking enough attention with simple facts to cause this much of a reaction. But in the end, I still somehow feel like I lost. I respect myself for being a responsible journalist, I did give up a free trip to the place I love most. I mean, I guess I’ll  have plenty of time to spend in Israel if I do ever end up living there, though I should admit that I do now have the slightest bit of a sour taste in my mouth toward my favorite country.

So what to do with my 19 vacation days this year, 5 of which must be used consecutively before the end of August? I don’t think I have the money  to go anywhere else.

I meant to blog about this last week, but I’d just like to stress how important it is to rewash your lettuce/spinach/etc. each time before you eat it, even if the bag is labelled “prewashed.” And as The New York Times reported yesterday, do not eat anything while sitting on a sandy beach without first washing your hands, especially if you’re going to sit on a beach along Long Island or the Jersey shore, each of which are likely to have copious amounts of sewage run-off embedded in the sand grains.

Don’t feel like heeding this advice? Well, then, you just might end up with 14 hours of fun like I experienced last Sunday late-night, due to my own stupidity. E. coli outsmarted  me, and caused me to have scopes and cameras in places that are only normal fare for those in the 50+ crowd. Whether it was my unwashed lettuce, the sand or some other source unbeknownst to me, I do not know. But good thing for Cipro!

Noise In The Library

by Sharon Udasin
Staff Writer

Take your Kindle and shove it!

That pretty much sums up the anger of patrons of the 92nd Street Y’s Buttenwieser Library following last week’s announcement that the Y was shuttering the nearly 80-year-old beloved book room.

The library’s plan is to replace the 3,000-square-foot, 30,000-volume library with a Wi-Fi reading room on the ground floor that will include some new fiction (in traditional book form), laptops and Amazon’s electronic book device called the Kindle. Smaller book collections will be dispersed throughout the institution.

With a failing economy and a decreased demand for traditional library services, Y officials decided that an overhaul is crucial to the institution’s survival.

But for lovers of the library — who this week launched a “Save the 92Y Library” Facebook group that has more than 200 members — the Buttenwieser helped give the institution a soul. 

“The Y prides itself on its intellectual curiosity,” said Neal Sher, 61, former head of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and a former Justice Department official. “You can go anywhere for a nice gym.” Continue reading…

Eight Ideas for This Summer

The High Line, top, bicyclists (the author and a friend) on the Brooklyn Promenade, center, and a room at the Tenement Museum. TOP PHOTO: Michael Datikash

Wheel Life: Midtown to  Coney Island Bike Ride

Most city bike shops open by 10 a.m. and offer bicycles for rent for the entire day for $30 or less. Make sure to pick up a free city bike map, available at almost any bike store. Start your ride southbound down Hudson River Park toward the Brooklyn Bridge, where you’ll see panoramic views of New Jersey and compete for space with racers, Rollerbladers and runners.

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on a bike isn’t easy; pedestrian tourists are inclined to use bike lanes to take commemorative photos. So be careful on the bridge’s steep incline, as well as the breezy downward slope. At the bottom, head past the “Welcome to Brooklyn” sign etched in the road, and follow the blocks of brownstones until you reach Prospect Park — Brooklyn’s sprawling green refuge and wildlife conservatory. Ride around the western bend of Prospect Park, where you’ll pass by heavily wooded forests, expansive fields and lakeside picnickers, and exit at the southwestern corner, toward the tree-lined bike path on Ocean Parkway. As you ride toward the sunny boardwalk of Coney Island, you’ll see many a black-hatted bochur and a string of yeshivot.  

Once there, enjoy a Brooklyn Cyclones game, a rollercoaster ride or the sandy beach that was once home to so many Jewish-owned resorts. Or head east along the promenade to the traditionally Russian — and heavily Jewish — neighborhood of Brighton Beach. 

Continue reading…

by Sharon Udasin
Staff Writer

Each day, Joyce Traina works with seniors who are straining to make ends meet while staying healthy — struggling with impossible life choices, like whether to fill this month’s prescription or stock up on nutritious foods.

Seniors all across the country are suffering the blows of the economic recession, and some are facing such detrimental decisions regarding their personal health and welfare.

Out of work and often physically unable to return, the elderly American population must survive on personal savings, meager pensions, government aid and family assistance when available. But Medicaid is only available to New Yorkers whose annual incomes fall below $13,800, often leaving those just above the poverty line scraping for alternative solutions, according to experts at local Jewish agencies.  Continue reading…