local
Jarrad Saff ren | Staff Writer
I n late October and early November,
as Josh Shapiro’s resounding vic-
tory over Doug Mastriano in the
Pennsylvania governor’s race became
apparent, a new narrative emerged
about the Jewish Democrat: Could
Shapiro become the future of the
Democratic Party in the post-Joe Biden
era? And could he run as early as 2024
or 2028?
Huff Post and Rolling Stone both
wrote stories along those lines. And
they were not far-fetched, either. In his
gubernatorial campaign that started in
October 2021, Shapiro combined sup-
port for progressive culture war victo-
ries — like a woman’s right to choose
to have an abortion — with support
for more conservative approaches to
practical issues, like hiring 2,000 more
police offi cers to fi ght rising crime.

And then he got more than 3 million
votes and beat Mastriano by 15 per-
centage points.

But at Shapiro’s election night vic-
tory party at Th e Greater Philadelphia
Expo Center in Oaks, his supporters
demurred on 2024, saying their can-
didate might have to wait until 2028
to consider running for president. One
woman even said 2032.

Shapiro also remains a great dis-
tance from Washington, D.C. Th e
Abington resident and Beth Sholom
Congregation member in Elkins Park
has yet to serve a day as governor.

But on Jan. 17, he will be inaugurated
in Harrisburg, and the unglamorous
work of delivering for Pennsylvanians
will begin.

“Today, I stand before you, hum-
bled and honored and ready to make
Don Needs a Kidney to Save His LIFE!
You can give the greatest gift this holiday...

Discover the joy of saving a LIFE for a lifetime!
Don spends his time helping others.

Now he needs your help to save his LIFE!
Kidney donors have reported a profound sense of fulfillment.

• You do NOT have to be a match to donate a kidney.

• It is well documented that we can all live a normal life with only one kidney.

• All costs to the donor are covered.

• Voucher programs guarantee that the donor or a family member would be
first in line for a kidney if ever needed.

To learn more, please visit www.Kidney2Don.com
or email Ned Brooks, kidney donor & Founder of the
National Kidney Donation Organization at nedbrooks@nkdo.org
6 DECEMBER 15, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
this transition to serve as
Pennsylvania’s next governor,”
Shapiro said during a Nov. 16
press conference in Harrisburg
with Gov. Tom Wolf, also a
Democrat. “And now is when the
real work begins to meet these
expectations and deliver real
results on our economy, on edu-
cation and public safety.”
Shapiro, though,
hasn’t detailed his plans for using his
mandate from the common-
wealth’s masses to build a safer,
more prosperous Pennsylvania.

Instead, he has spent the past
month focusing on how to tran-
sition from the state offi ce he
holds, that of attorney general, to
Josh Shapiro talks to supporters at a
the one that will defi ne his legacy
canvass kickoff in Swarthmore on Oct. 8.

in Pennsylvania.

At that Nov. 16 press conference, date who took on “big fi ghts.” It seems
Shapiro said he will continue serving as evident that he intends to add to that
attorney general until his inauguration. reputation in his fi nal months as the
He mentioned that, by law, Deputy state’s top prosecutor.

Attorney General Michelle Henry of
As a candidate, he talked about
Bucks County will take over once he himself as a leader who could bring
takes the oath of offi ce as governor.

a diverse coalition, in terms of race,
Shapiro added that he would income and political views, together.

announce his intention to nominate And he has tried to live up to that repu-
someone to the state Senate for con- tation in his eff ort to build a transition
sideration as attorney general. He did team.

not make clear if that would be Henry,
Th e Philadelphia Gay News credited
whom he selected in 2016 because Shapiro with bringing on 13 mem-
she had the prosecutorial experience bers of the LGQBT+ community. His
that he lacked at the time. (Shapiro transition leadership board includes
had been a state rep and Montgomery both CEOs, like Gregory E. Deavens of
County commissioner as well as a cor- the Independence Health Group, and
porate lawyer.)
labor leaders, like Angela Ferritto of
Between his campaign and service as the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. And his
attorney general, Shapiro has worked team has brought in leaders from, as
two jobs at once for over a year. And a recent transition email put it, Erie to
since his victory on Nov. 8, he has con- Indiana to Philadelphia.

tinued with that heavy workload.

Since the Shapiro administration is
Th e Democrat’s offi ce has announced not yet an administration, perception
a series of lawsuit victories that will is reality ... for now.

bring millions of dollars in settlements
“We’re going to assemble a talented,
to the Keystone State. Th ere was $453 hardworking, capable administration,
million from CVS and Walgreens for one that looks like Pennsylvania,”
their role in the opioid crisis, $38.8 Shapiro said. “For anyone who’s willing
million from JUUL for “deceiving con- to take off the red jersey and the blue
sumers about e-cig safety” and more jersey and just wear the Pennsylvania
than $19 million from Google over its jersey — you’re welcome to be part of
location tracking practices.

our team.” JE
Shapiro used those types of wins to
portray himself on the trail as a candi- jsaff ren@midatlanticmedia.com
Photos by Jarrad Saff ren
Josh Shapiro Transitions to
Governor’s Offi ce



local
Beth Chaim Reform
Congregation Selling
Banned Books
Jarrad Saffren | Staff Writer
Photo by Alex Scherer
A 2022 Pen America study found
more than 2,500 instances of
school districts around the
country taking books out of their
libraries and curriculums during
the 2021-’22 year. More than 40% of
the 1,648 titles impacted contained
LGBTQ+ themes and/or characters,
while 40% included Black or brown
characters. Many of the 1,648 books
were about sex (22%), race and racism
(21%) and rights and activism (10%).

To combat efforts to ban such titles,
Beth Chaim Reform Congregation in
Malvern, is dedicating the fifth night
of Chanukah to giving some of them.

Beth Chaim’s social justice commit-
tee put together a list of 75 books to
order from Children’s Book World in
Haverford. Members of the committee
are also going around to the syna-
gogue’s religious school sessions and
other activities to see if congregants
want to place orders.

People outside of the temple are wel-
come to buy books as well and can
do so by emailing socialjustice@beth-
chaim.net. All buyers can pick up their
orders at the synagogue at any point
during Chanukah, which begins on
Dec. 18. The social justice committee
is recommending that people who buy
books give them to family members
and friends as gifts on the fifth night of
Chanukah to start a new tradition.

The goal, according to social justice
committee member Lois Lamond, is to
“make our community aware of what
is happening in terms of book banning
and what they can do.” That includes
contacting school board members,
attending school board meetings and
saying “we want our children to have
these materials,” Lamond said. The
committee is selling “Heather Has Two
Mommies” by Leslea Newman and
“Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry, a
story about a Black girl growing to love
her hair, among others.

F TAY-SACHS
REE & CANAVAN
SCREENING CALL (215)887-0877
FOR DETAILS
“For a child who’s never had an expe-
“Wiesel wrote that whoever listens to
rience with someone who’s different a witness becomes a witness,” Pearlman
from them, a book would be an oppor- said. “The greatest amount of books
e-mail:ntsad@aol.com tunity,” Lamond said.

banned now are books about people
visit: www.tay-sachs.org
The idea for the banned book sale of color, books about the LGBTQ+
came up a month ago during a meeting community. These books reflect the
of the social justice committee. Later, experience of real people.”
Rabbi Michelle Pearlman told the com-
But Hebert and Lamond both
mittee about a Yom Kippur sermon acknowledged that it is up to adults to
given earlier this year by Rabbi Sharon decide which books are appropriate for
Brous in Los Angeles. Brous recom- children to open. Hebert believes that
mended that people buy the banned it should be up to the librarian since
books they were concerned about losing. the librarian is a paid professional.

This message is sponsored by a friend of
Beth Chaim members saw it as a Lamond said she doesn’t have the solu-
Jewish issue, too. A small percentage of tion for picking the right titles for kids.

the books taken out of schools, like “The
In Children’s Book World, Hebert
Diary of Anne Frank” and “Maus” by and her team pick try to select a story
Nat’l Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases
Association of Delaware Valley
Art Spiegelman, were about Jews. Plus, for “every child who would want one or
as Pearlman explained, “We’re lifting up need one, as inclusively and as openly
the fact that historically ban-
ning books is dangerous.”
Pearlman mentioned that
the Nazis started burning
books in 1933, years before
they began putting Jews in
concentration camps.

Removing a book from a
school library is, of course,
not the same as burning
it. Districts and parents
always need to make deci-
sions about which books
are best-suited to edu-
cate children. This does
not mean that they are
attempting to purge them
from public spaces in the
United States.

But Pearlman believes
that any ban can be a
slippery slope. The rabbi,
Beth Chaim Reform Congregation’s social justice committee is selling books that have been
Lamond and Heather banned in school districts across the country.

Hebert, the owner of
Children’s Book World,
think that it’s important
for kids to be able to at least access and as widely as we can,” she said. But hopes that the social justice committee
books about people from a wide variety they also “try to make sure these are can turn its sale into an annual event.

of backgrounds and life experiences. good books that we’d feel good about
“Our goal is to try to change the
Pearlman said she drew strength from putting in a child’s hands,” she added. world in the three feet around us,” she
Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and
Lamond concluded that these bans said. JE
author of “Night,” when she agreed to are “meant to prevent empathy for
help host the book sale.

people who are different from us.” She jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com
Screening for other
Jewish Genetic Diseases
also available.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 7