Page 1 - The Jewish Voice - March '22

VOL. 12 NO. 3 www.seabreezepublications.com MARCH 2022

JFS No Excuse for Abuse Virtual

Evening Surpasses Fundraising Goal

Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service surpassed Directors. “His sharing about his mother’s pain and eventual
the $300,000 fundraising goal the agency set for its 18th healing touched our hearts. We are thankful to those who
Annual No Excuse for Abuse Virtual Evening. The event, joined us to hear his story and for their generous financial
now in its 18th or “Chai” year, raises money to support the support, which helps Alpert JFS continue its commitment
agency’s Domestic Abuse and Mental Health services and to domestic abuse prevention and mental health services
programs. and counseling.”
The highlight of the virtual event, which was broadcast to “We are thankful to Sean for his willingness to share
viewers internationally, was an intimate, sit-down interview his personal story so that others watching and listening in
between Alpert JFS Clinical Director Dr. Elaine Rotenberg could both learn and benefit,” said Marc Hopin, CEO of
and actor, director, and producer Sean Astin, who is also son Alpert JFS. “It is our hope that Sean’s message combined
of the late legendary film and television actress Patty Duke. Sean Astin and Dr. Elaine Rotenberg with the leadership of our Alpert JFS team will help break
Astin shared what it was like growing up with his mother, the stigma of domestic abuse and better educate us all on
who struggled with bipolar disorder throughout her life. in her memory. Astin’s message during the event focused mental health.”
He shared how he and his family survived her erratic and on removing the shame often associated with seeking help The 2022 No Excuse for Abuse Virtual Evening reached
abusive behavior and how, after her diagnosis and effective for mental health and domestic abuse issues, which aligned a global audience, including viewers from the U.S., Canada,
treatment, their lives improved. with the theme of the evening — Breaking the Stigma. the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and South America.
Duke became a fierce advocate for mental health “Sean’s message was truly inspirational,” said Zelda
treatment and education, and Astin now carries that torch Mason, president and chair of the Alpert JFS Board of
Angie Orosz-Richt – Reaction to a Personal Experience

By Hana Siegelstein Auschwitz was the destination for most of our families,
My husband and I are children of Holocaust survivors. who were deported in 1944. In my studies about Auschwitz,
This subject has played an oversized role throughout our I came across an amazing story about a baby girl being born
lives, interwoven with the related topics of antisemitism, to a Hungarian Jewish woman in December 1944.
Israel, and Judaism. My dad made sure that I was educated How was that possible? What strength does it take to hide the
on the subject in general, and that I knew his family history pregnancy, to continue to live on about 500 calories a day, work
in particular. in hard labor under difficult conditions, with the stress of death
With dismay, as we got older, we saw a dwindling at any moment, and do it with a growing fetus inside you?!
interest in the Holocaust among the younger Jews in Israel As I was reading this story my body was shivering, while
and the U.S., and certainly among non-Jews. After my dad the image of a baby born in Auschwitz played in my head. The
died in November 2000, I took up his mantle and made it story and the imagery stayed with me for a very long time.
my mission to educate children and adults about the horrors That this child was born and survived was a huge miracle.
of the Holocaust, and to further my own education. That Her name is Angela Orosz-Richt (Angie).
was my motivation, as I volunteered to be a docent in the
Houston Holocaust Museum. Angie Orosz-Richt – Reaction on page 2
Chocolate Tasting Sweetens

Annual Beth David Sisterhood Event

“As long as there is chocolate, there will be happiness.” support Beth David and its Sisterhood, and to be immersed
— Wayne Gerard Trotman in a tour of the world of chocolate and a guided tasting
of it, along with pairings of wine, led by Chef Ariele
Happiness did indeed flow lavishly and luxuriantly Schwartz.
during Temple Beth David Sisterhood’s Annual Paid-Up Chef Ariele, who holds a Grand Diploma in Pastry
Membership Event last month. Several dozen Sisterhood Arts from the French Culinary Institute, is a veteran of the
members and their guests turned out both in person and kitchens of noted Manhattan celebrity chefs. She cultivated
virtually to enjoy each other’s company and friendship, to her expertise in chocolate in those very venues, in a well-
known Brooklyn chocolate
boutique, and in the service
of a leading company
of Swiss chocolatiers. Several hundred bags of chocolate were prepared in
During an almost two-hour anticipation of the Sisterhood event.
presentation, she shared
her knowledge of chocolate the various routes it travels before arriving in our stores
history, spoke illustratively and finally finding its places in our recipes, foods, and
about how chocolate is upon our palates.
grown, harvested, processed,
and tempered, and discussed Chocolate Tasting Sweetens on page 2