The Voice of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community
www.jewishlehighvalley.org
| Issue No. 489 | September 2025 | Elul 5785/Tishrei 5786 AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION EST. 1977
Kids playing pirates and flying sky-high on the swings were just a couple of the fun sights at the NextGen annual picnic. p6
See our clergy’s takes on the High Holidays, greetings from Yoav, what the JDS and JFS are up to, synagogue services schedules, and more. Special section
FROM THE DESK OF JERI ZIMMERMAN p3 LVJF TRIBUTES p9 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER p10-11 JEWISH DAY SCHOOL p12 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE p13 DONOR HONOR ROLL p14-16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR p23
Prof who stood up to Columbia protests to talk here 9/11 By Carl Zebrowski Editor Dr. Shai Davidai, the Israeli assistant professor at Columbia University who became famous last year for standing up to anti-Israel protests and other antisemitic acts on campus, is coming to the Lehigh Valley on September 11 to give his first talk to a U.S. audience since he resigned from the faculty this July. Addressing this audience just a couple of hours west of downtown Manhattan on the anniversary of 9/11, as the global Jewish community continues to struggle with war in Israel, hostages still being held in Gaza, and increased incidents of antisemitism, Davidai will explore the relationship between the World Trade Center attack and what has been happening recently on college campuses and elsewhere
across America, he says. “The rhetoric targeting Jews and Israel on campuses is disturbing,” Davidai tells Hakol, “but it’s only part of a deeper story—a growing rejection of the values that define America and the West. On September 11, 24 years after the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil, I’ll speak about why this ideology must be confronted now, and why the moderate, common-sense majority has a responsibility to stand against it.” The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley invites all who have pledged $365 or more to its 2026 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs to attend this important and timely event. Partnering with the Federation for this special program at Temple Beth El is StandWithUs, an international Israel education organization that inspires and educates
people of all ages and backgrounds, challenges misinformation, and fights antisemitism using its own resources and legal professionals to defend civil and human rights. Davidai is widely recognized for his outspoken advocacy for Jewish students and his leadership in confronting antisemitism at Columbia last year. He was barred from campus in April 2024 after confronting administrators about pro Palestinian encampments during violent protests. He Israeli professor Shai Davidai outside of Columbia University, April 22, 2024. (Jewfaced widespread harassish Telegraphic Agency photo by Luke Tress) ment allegations that prompted an investigation. through this ordeal as a Dessert will be served (dietary In October he was tempopowerful voice promoting laws observed). Cost is $36 rarily suspended for violating academic integrity, campus per person. Registration is university harassment policies. safety, and moral clarity in required at jewishlehighvalHe resigned from his position the face of rising antisemitism ley.regfox.com/communityin July citing a lack of trust in across colleges. reception. the institution. The 9/11 evening begins Davidai has emerged at 7:15 p.m. at Temple Beth El.
Bill Markson, Federation’s new president, is Here for Good
By Carl Zebrowski Editor
One of the many things Bill Markson likes about the Lehigh Valley is that you have to put in some effort to be Jewish here. It’s not automatic. The new board president of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley has seen it both ways, thinking back to his days growing up outside New York City. “Almost our whole neighborhood was Jewish, and 70% of high school as well,” Billy says. “A
lot of the Jewish stuff you just took for granted. “It was all around you culturally, but you weren’t really making a choice. Here in the Lehigh Valley, it does require you to make a choice to live in a Jewish way. I think that enhances the satisfaction of it.” The Lehigh Valley has been a satisfying place for him to live and live Jewishly for close to 40 years, since moving here with his wife, Jane, in 1989. His family roots go even farther back. His grandfather Marko MarkowNon-Profit Organization
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itz, an Romanian immigrant, had textile mills in downtown Allentown. Billy’s father was born here and spent some time here as a kid, though he grew up mostly in New York. His dad attended Philadelphia Textile Institute and served a hitch in the U.S. Air Force, then resurrected part of the family textile business in Walnutport. Young Billy attended cousins’ bar and bat mitzvahs at the old Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street. Jane has roots in the Lehigh Valley too. Evidence of that remains for all to see in the form of photos of Gotlieb family members hanging on walls in the JCC. After settling here themselves, the Markson’s sent their kids to the JCC and Jewish Day School. As you’d expect, frequent visits to both places followed. They made a lot of friends fast. After Jane’s father, Milton Sanders, died, she and Billy brought Jane’s mom, Audrey, to town. A bunch of friendly Jewish women welcomed her, and she worked at Jewish
Family Service as a therapist. She provided a second home for the Marksons’ kids. Today, their son Jon and his wife, Julia, live in Allentown. Their daughters Becca and Liz live elsewhere, but both consider the Lehigh Valley a second home. By day (and no doubt some nights too), Billy is a cardiologist with St. Luke’s University Health Network. Jane is also with St. Luke’s, as assistant general counsel in the legal department—which is headed by none other than Robbie Wax, senior vice president and general counsel, and Billy’s friend and predecessor as Federation president. Billy has long experience volunteering the Jewish community. He was on the JCC board for years and chaired the committee for the JCC’s celebration of 100 years in the Lehigh Valley in 2018. For the Jewish Federation, Billy served as president of the Maimonides Society of healthcare professionals until 2022, cochair of the Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs
until this July, and now board president. No one reading this needs to be told it’s a tough time to come into a role like this, supporting and advocating for Israel and the Jewish community here and around the world. “We have a lot of challenges right now,” he says, “partially because of the October 7 Hamas invasion and the aftermath of that, all the protests on campuses related to that, and a lot of people suffering in Gaza. Bill Markson continues on page 7