By Ginny Cohen

Sixty five years ago, Israel was a barren country with little water and no natural resources. Half of its land mass was desert. Today, it has become an oasis of innovation, technology and culture.

To celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday, the Afikim Foundation, in conjunction with the World Zionist Organization and the Israel Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, is organizing a global event to “walk the land.”

On Tuesday, April 16, the Lehigh Valley Jewish community will join with Jews from The Netherlands to Australia to Suriname by bringing Israel to the streets, in this case, of Allentown.

Synagogue congregations will be out in full force with banners and flags. Jewish Day School students will lead the procession along with a “lone soldier” from Israel, Yoona Kolfina, who is serving in the Israel Defense Forces though her family lives in Russia.

The walk from the Jewish Day School to the Jewish Community Center will culminate in a giant birthday party at the JCC.

There will be singing and dancing, along with a big birthday cake for everyone to share.

Seeds from Israeli plants will be distributed to participants, and hundreds of thousands of seeds will ultimately be planted worldwide, symbolizing the preciousness of life. 

Shuttles will run from the JCC to the JDS, starting at 3:45 p.m. The “Walk the Land” celebration will kick off at 4 p.m. at the JDS with games and activities. At 4:30 p.m., the walkers will head out, and the party at the JCC will run until 5:30 p.m.

The celebration is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, Jewish Community Center of Allentown and Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley, in partnership with area synagogues and business partner Palram. To learn more, visit www.jewishlehighvalley.org.

By Jennifer Lader

HAKOL Editor

One of the first of 135 volunteer to arrive early on the morning of January 27, Sheila Berg was ready to get down to business.

It was to be a record-breaking Super Sunday with over $71,000 pledged, a 40 percent increase over last year.

But for Berg, her role and its mission were simple. She chose a table festooned with candy and balloons, sat down and got out her cell phone.

“I love [making the calls] because it’s for the Federation,” she said.

Soon, Dr. Harvey Hakim walked in and joined her.

“We all have advantages from the Federation,” Hakim said, referring to the funds that, thanks to everyone in the community who donates, support the JCC, the Jewish Day School, the kosher food pantry at Jewish Family Service, the Family Life Education programs at many area synagogues, and help Jews and non-Jews in need locally and around the world.

Erin Corsa, who with her husband, Justin, is chair of the Federation’s Young Adult Division, looked even closer to home for her inspiration in making the calls: “Justin loves doing this.” She saved a seat for their pre-K son, Caleb, who showed up with paper and crayons, and for Dr. Nicole Rosenthal, her co-chair of the Ben Gurion Society, a donor recognition program for individuals ages 25 to 45.

By then, Corsa’s husband was sitting across from her, talking on the phone: “Would you give the same as last year … ,” Justin asked, “or a little bit more?” Although he successfully completed the call, Justin denied having any special talent for fundraising. “My job is easy,” he said, “because the Federation does a good job.”

He wasn’t the only one who thought so. At around 11 a.m., elected officials began arriving. JFLV Executive Director Mark L. Goldstein greeted each new arrival and the volunteers -- or at least those not on a call -- seconded that with enthusiastic applause.

After greeting Easton Mayor Sal Panto, Goldstein announced the arrival of our newest Congressional delegation representative, Matt Cartwright, who described to those gathered his children’s preschool years at the JCC of Scranton. Despite being raised Catholic, his children went to so many bar and bat mitzvahs, they questioned why they never had their own, he said.

When state Rep. Gary Day greeted those gathered and asked whether anyone was here from his district, Berg, the early arrival, cheered and he soon made his way over to her. That was only one of many happy meetings between officials and their constituents. Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan greeted Rabbi Allen Juda of Congregation Brith Sholom as he finished making a call, and state Rep. Mike Schlossberg read a selection from PJ Library to the children of volunteers.

Besides children’s activities, Niles Dubin offered massages for tired neck muscles and many callers took a timeout for that. Even though he hadn’t been visiting for long, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski got in line, perhaps only anticipating sore muscles.

When asked how he managed to avoid making calls this year, he indicated with a smile that he’d likely be on the phone soon. Late in the day, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie took his turn on the telephone at a time when there were few volunteers left.

At one busy table that morning, Eva Levitt, Ilene Wood, Eileen Fischmann and Sandra Goldfarb were having great success: “You can pay any way you want,” Wood said into the phone, “You tell me what works for you.”

But Wood also understood when she heard from someone that money is tight this year. “Everyone’s money is important,” she said to the person on the other end of the line, “and it all adds up at the end of the day.”

Whether contributors can give $1 or $1,000, each showed their support for what the community does through the Federation.

This thought reassured some of the callers, as well as event co-chairs Jonathan and Iris Epstein, who might otherwise have found it difficult to ask for money. Jonathan voiced the thought that gave many of the Super Sunday volunteers the drive to make the call when he explained, “We’re helping people do a mitzvah.”

That message was understood loud and clear by the 393 donors, including 69 individuals who have not given in recent years, who responded to this year’s call with a generous donation.

At the conclusion of her call to the person having the tight year, Wood suggested, “How about donating chai?” meaning $18.

The response came back: “How about double chai?”

By Ruth Knafo Setton

Jane Yolen, who describes herself as a “Hans Jewish Andersen,” will speak at the Berman Center at Lehigh University on March 19.

Yolan is the author of over 300 books -- children’s books, fantasy, and science fiction -- including “Owl Moon,” “The Devil’s Arithmetic,” “How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?” and “Briar Rose,” a novel that re-imagines the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale during the Holocaust.

She is also a poet, a teacher of writing and literature, and a reviewer of children’s literature. She has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America, as well as the Aesop of the 20th century.

Yolen’s books and stories have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award, among many others.

On March 19 at 4:15 p.m., Yolen will speak on “Folklore vs. Fakelore” at Lehigh University’s Sinclair Auditorium, 7 Asa Drive, Bethlehem. She describes her talk as a polite rant with wry observations about a battle amongst folklorists, scholars, writers and storytellers about what makes a “real” folktale.

Along the way, Yolen will share her observations, critiques and comments, tell a story or two, find anti-Semitism in odd places and hope the audience has a good time.

Her talk will be followed by a book signing and reception. The program is free and is sponsored by the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Jewish Studies. More information is available at 610-758-4869.

Calling all Queen Esthers, Hamans and Mordechais: It’s time to pull together your best costumes and get ready to celebrate Purim at events across the Lehigh Valley.

Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Book of Esther. Haman, royal vizier to King Ahashverosh, planned to kill the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Mordechai and Queen Esther. The day of deliverance is a day of feasting and rejoicing.

The holiday is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (Adar II in leap years), the day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies. Purim is characterized by two public readings of the Megillah, additions to the prayers and the grace after meals, giving of gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (mattanot la-evyonim) and a celebratory meal.  Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes and public celebration.

The Jewish Community Center of Allentown will hold its annual Purim Palooza on Sunday, Feb. 24. Come in costume for a carnival featuring games, face painting, tasty treats and a moon bounce.

Temple Covenant of Peace and Bnai Abraham Synagogue are taking an unusual approach to Purim this year with “Purim schpiel - Boychicks un Meidlach” on Saturday, Feb. 23. Participants will sing and dance the Purim story through the characters and music of “Guys and Dolls.”

At Temple Beth El, it’s Total Purim 2013 on Saturday, Feb. 23, featuring a costume contest, Megillah reading and Midrasha Carnival.

Congregation Keneseth Israel will celebrate the “Wizards of Oy” on Saturday, Feb. 23, with a pizza party and Megillah reading, “Wizard of Oz” style.

Chabad will hold an adult costume party on Saturday, Feb. 23, and a family-friendly “Purim at the Zoo” event the next morning.

Temple Shirat Shalom will also hold a Megillah reading and festivities on Feb. 23 at the Wescosville Recreation Center.

Even more exciting events are still in the works at synagogues across the Valley. For an updated listing of Purim events, CLICK HERE.