Issuu

The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community

www.jewishlehighvalley.org

| Issue No. 492 | December 2025 | Kislev/Tevet 5786 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977

DECEMBER 2025 | CHESHVAN/KISLEV 5786

What topics are off limits for jokes? a Jewish comedian asks our audience. War? The Holocaust? See his answers. p6

It’s Chanukah time! See what our Jewish agencies are up to. Read of the hostage homecoming our clergy columnist witnessed in Israel. Special section

FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 LVJF TRIBUTES p8 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p10-11 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p12 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p13 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p19

War expert to set Gaza record straight, weigh what’s next By Carl Zebrowski Editor John Spencer, combat veteran, award-winning scholar, and leading global expert on urban warfare and military strategy, is coming to the JCC on Monday evening, January 12, to talk with our community about the Gaza war and set the record straight. “John is a voice of moral clarity and a respected military expert who has been a steadfast ally in articulating and defending Israel’s actions in Gaza,” says Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of the development for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, host of the event. “He has consistently lent his expertise across major

media platforms to ensure that the true nature of the war in Gaza is accurately communicated.” “In a media landscape often marred by misinformation and half-truths, we are honored to host John, who brings integrity, expertise, and truth to the conversation.” Spencer has been one of the most articulate voices in the media explaining Israel’s military operations in Gaza and elsewhere after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. He’ll provide our audience with expert insight into Israel’s efforts to defend itself and offer his well-informed view of what may follow as the war comes to its end. He brings decades of first-

hand military experience to his task. His 25 years of U.S. Army experience, including elite units and two combat deployments, along with his ongoing work training military leaders and developing the world’s only course on largescale urban operations, boldly underscore his reputation. Academically, he’s chair of urban warfare studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, where he regularly distills complex military and political information into clear, actionable insights for varied audiences, whether covering operations in Ukraine, Israel, or Gaza, or potential confrontations involving China or Russia. He’s done more than a decade of groundbreaking

field research, written three influential books, and had over 140 analyses published in major outlets. Then there’s the endorsement of influential American Jewish organizations. “We are proud to stand alongside the Jewish Federations of North America, America Jewish Committee, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Anti-Defense League, and American Israel Political Action Committee in welcoming John Spencer to our community,” says Gorodzinsky. Spencer’s presentation will begin in the JCC at 7 p.m.

Registration is required at jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/ israel-in-focus.

Speaker to help women find their voice for Jewish advocacy By Carl Zebrowski Editor Shai Albrecht has dedicated herself to combatting antisemitism and debunking lies about the Jewish people and Israel online since October 7, 2023. She has 400,000 social media followers to testify to her effort. On January 27, she’ll bring the knack for storytelling, clear explanations, and energetic discourse that helped her earn that following to the Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy. She’ll talk at Temple Beth El at 6:30 that evening about her personal experiences as a Jew living in the United States with immediate family in Israel and pro-

vide guidance to the women for finding their personal voice to advocate for Israel and the Jewish community here and elsewhere. Albrecht will delve into how the October 7 Hamas attacks, the hostages and their long captivity, and the Gaza war has impacted her and her family. She’ll also share her passion for Israel and how it has shaped who she is. “I’ll reveal why my voice fights for Israel’s pride and our unbreakable future, sparking that same fire in everyone in the audience,” says the advocate the Zionist organization Hadassah has named among its 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know. “You’ll walk Non-Profit Organization

of the Lehigh Valley 702 North 22nd Street Allentown, PA 18104

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away knowing you hold the power to understand the situation and act.” Through all the challenges of the past couple of years, including being the target of public hatred and death threats, Albrecht has remained vocal as her social media following has grown. She’ll offer tips to the Women’s Philanthropy audience for how they can hone their own voices as advocates, especially coming together in strength as part of the Jewish Federation. Tama Tamarkin, co-chair of the event along with Naomi Schachter, is excited about the choice of Albrecht for this meaningful gathering at a critical time, with the end of the war seemingly in sight. “Since October 7, 2023, Shai has rapidly grown her social media platform, fearlessly tackling misinformation and rising antisemitism,” she says. “Like me, Shai is a proud grandchild of Holocaust survivors who has inherited a fierce refusal to stay silent. We are eager for the Lehigh Valley women to hear her journey toward advocacy and be inspired to find and use their voices for good.”

Schachter says she’s eager to be part of “the inspiring conversation about the power of using our voices. At a time when standing up against hate matters more than ever, Shai has used her platform to speak out for the Jewish community. This event is a meaningful opportunity to come together, learn, and strengthen our collective voice.” Albrecht’s own Jewish voice has been long evolving, going back to childhood. She grew up in an Orthodox family, the daughter of Israeli parents, and she says she learned to speak out from an early age. Besides online, these days, she has continued to make her voice heard as a keynote event speaker and in print for numerous publications. Her presentation to the Women’s Philanthropy on January 27 will be her first time in Lehigh Valley, raising her voice, increasing visibility, and spreading a dedication to uplifting others that has resonated across many com-

munities. Her talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost to attend the event is $36. Registration is required at jewishlehighvalley. regfox.com/womens-empowerment-event. Arrive early and bring ID for security. To talk about participating meaningfully and purposefully in the Jewish community through Women’s Philanthropy, advocating for the Jewish people and raising funds to fill Jewish needs here, in Israel, and elsewhere, contact Lee Kestecher Solomon, Jewish Federation director of community engagement, at lee@jflv.org or 610-821-5500.