From the Editor 212

April 2022 ESRA News

Will the human race ever change?

A human horror tragedy once more in our history – the demise of Ukraine 2022. The aggressor, the inhumane Russia. Marian Lebor interviewed the Finklelbergs, a newly married couple, who told her of their perilous escape from Kyiv to Israel, and of the humane help and hospitality of the Leboffs in Raanana. You too can offer help to the 13,000 Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Israel this past month.

In our midst, writes Sima Rolnick, is Loretta Kay-Feld, a world-renowned song writer, who composed "Gonna Keep America singing" which presidents Trump and Biden played at their inaugurations. She has been commissioned to compose musical tributes for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth which reflect the 70 years the Queen has served her people. Pamela Peled tells us about Ross Belfer, the young, dynamic founder of Xhibition, his PR company that showcases the energy, the vibe, the innovation of Israel.

Lots about art and artists in this issue. Leah Raab, writes Maia Aron, is a photojournalist who paints a living chronicle of our times; Reva Mann describes the mother-daughter collaboration of artists Sally and Talia Bar, and of her own collaboration with her daughter Cookie Moon who does beautiful illustrations for Reva's stories; Debbie Sinai shows us that Cathy's Creations are made of fabrics and materials. For a fascinating few hours visit, as Lydia Aisenberg did, Kalia Gallery, near the Dead Sea, where street artists paint on army barracks abandoned by the Jordanians.

Youth feature in this issue. ESRA Magazine is holding a challenging writing contest for 10th graders – please tell your children and grandchildren. Talia Isaacson recounts how Sderot, once a town under attack, has grown into a city with a strong sense of community and cultural programs, including the Young Leaders debating group in English; Myra Olswang's granddaughter spent a National Service Year at Kibbutz Harduf with its anthroposophic lifestyle working with special needs children and adults; Mindy Ajzner describes Kol Zchut Noar, a groundbreaking information resource for teenagers; and Nina Zuck talks about ESRA's First Steps project which prepares kids for first grade.

In our Sports section you can read about Walking Football by Benny Last and Padel by the Steele family, well-known in the tennis world. And there is a fun article on Tennis in Eilat in 1968 amid mortars, by Bernie Hoffman.

You want to improve your health, read Dr Morton Leibowitz's article on Statins or pharmatoxity and his interesting article on Andropause, the male equivalent of menopause. Jodi Hurwitz, a physiotherapist, describes five myths about Osteoarthritis, an inflammatory and biomedical disorder. Dr Ilan Bank and team discovered that Gamma Delta T cells help cure cancer.

We have a great new consumer column by lively and popular Lisa Starr whom we welcome back to our pages, this time on apps that can help olim get ahead more easily in Israel; and of course our regular ConsumerWatch by Siri Jones-Rosen, full of good tips.

Wine drinkers will savor Donna Feldman's summer tour of wineries south of the Galilee, and interview with Jeff and Jodi of Covenant Winery, which produces kosher wines that Martin Sinkoff says are as good as Californian wines. Fruit aficionados will enjoy Anne Evans articles on Pawpaw Wars and Israel's papaya seller, and to top it all a Filipino soup recipe of green papayas by Arlene Pineda.

Want to explore our small but lovely country? Steve Kramer writes about the Salad Trail; Jack Copelevici enjoyed the Jewels in the Desert organized by ESRA Raanana; Lydia Aisenberg introduces us to the outdoor memorial museum of fallen Bedouin soldiers, a moving experience; Susan Lurie write of ESRA Rehovot's outing to the interactive Khan Shaar Hagai Museum and Iza Priza Goat Farm; and ESRA's monthly trips, Here and There Around Israel, has already had its first two trips, described by Ruth Barina.

For avid readers there are five book reviews to choose from. We have just launched our exciting new monthly online book club led by authors Pamela Peled and Carol Novis – book online on www.esra.org.il or call 09 950 8371 ext. 2. For poetry lovers read Pessy Krauz's The Three Hats and Helen Bar-Lev's The Wrong Tree.

Our legal articles maybe a bit depressing, but you must read them nevertheless. Advocate Guy Carmi writes on How to legally prepare for Death and Mental Incapacity and Adina Cooper writes on Where Legacy ends and Headaches begin.

The Holocaust is always with us: Judith Golub shares with us her poignant roots trip to Warsaw. You can learn about interesting people who have unfortunately left us – David Kline, Miriam Shapiro, Lily-Rose Michaelovsky, and Sally Sher.

Don't forget to Laugh out Loud with Jennia Chodorov; learn bridge with Alan Caplan – The Trump Coup; be challenged with our Crossword by Pat Zuckerman and Maureen Hoch; send us your Milestones; volunteer in and/or donate to our projects; please use our advertisers, see also the Classifieds; become an active member.

Happy Pesach 2022 and may it step over the past two difficult years.

Merle

About the author

Merle Guttmann

Merle Guttmann was born and educated in Zimbabwe and immigrated to Israel in 1962. She is well-known in Israeli Anglophone circles and Israel’s social and volunteer fields. A social planner, writer, editor and active community leader, she has held tens of positions serving Israeli society.

Guttmann has an M.A. degree in Social Planning from Bar Ilan University, and a B.A. from Cape Town University. She has taught at the Tel Aviv and Bar Ilan Universities and worked in Israel for the National Insurance Institute, Maccabi Health Fund, Ministry of Defense, and other public bodies. She has authored many publications and articles.

For over forty years Ms. Guttmann has been actively involved in the world of volunteering in Israel. She has helped set up numerous nonprofit organizations and served on their board of directors. Her most recent position (2003–2009) was chairperson of ETZA – Israel Self Help Center. She has also served on the boards of the Center of Small Businesses in Raanana (Mati), the Center for Family Peace (Herzliya), the National Council of Voluntarism in Israel, Telfed – South African Zionist Federation, the United Jewish Israel Appeal, and is a former member of the Kfar Shmaryahu Local Council.

Guttmann was the founder and chairperson and is the Life President of ESRA – English Speaking Residents Association, a self help organization composed of volunteers assisting in the absorption of English speakers and a multitude of social and community welfare projects for immigrants from distressed countries, disadvantaged families and people with disabilities. She is also the Editor of the ESRA MAGAZINE which she initiated in 1979.

Guttmann is the recipient of many awards for her contribution to Israeli society including the Israel President’s Award for Voluntarism (1992), the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership (1999) and the Telfed Yakir Zion (2008).

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