C ommunity / mazel tovs
ENGAGEMENT SHARP-ROSENBAUM
Joanie and Robbie Sharp of Exton and Hilary and Jimmy
Rosenbaum of Needham, Massachusetts, announce the engage-
ment of their children, Jordan Sharp and Josh Rosenbaum.
Jordan graduated from The Pennsylvania State University
and Wilkes University and teaches high school English and
ESL, while also pursuing a doctoral degree in education.
Josh also graduated from The Pennsylvania State University
and teaches high school business.
Sharing in their happiness are siblings Brandon and Corey
Sharp, and Ari Rosenbaum.
Jordan and Josh live in Lancaster and plan to be married in
July 2023.
Photo by Brandon Sharp
COMMUNITYBRIEFS Philadelphia Commerce Director Quits After
Reports of Antisemitic Comments
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA Commerce Director
Michael Rashid resigned Dec. 5 after reports surfaced
that he made antisemitic remarks, The Philadelphia
Inquirer reported.
The antisemitic remarks included describing
“Schindler’s List” as “Jewish propaganda” and an
unverified quote from Malcolm X that calls Jewish
neighborhoods “Jew Town.”
“My continued service would serve as a distrac-
tion from the work of the Department, which is far
too important to the City and region,” Rashid, 74,
said in a statement. “I also have had the opportu-
nity to speak with leaders of the Jewish community
in Philadelphia and apologize for my previous
comments which were inappropriate and insensi-
tive. I look forward to future engagement with the
community going forward.”
Several people in Rashid’s department apparently
had quit because he verbally abused staffers, the
Inquirer reported.
“He will continue to lose employees and hollow out
the Department, and his anti-Semitic comments could
eventually become public,” former Communications
Director Taj Magruder wrote in a letter to Mayor
Jim Kenney’s Chief of Staff Jim Engler and mayoral
spokesperson Lessard on Nov. 22.
Before Rashid’s resignation, Jewish organizations
called for his firing.
“Kenney, earlier this week, stood side by side with
leaders of the Jewish community to condemn the
rise of Antisemitism,” Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia President and CEO Michael Balaban
said in a statement. “If there is no room in our City
for Antisemitism, as Mayor Kenney said, then Mr.
Rashid should be removed from office immediately.”
“AJC {American Jewish Committee] calls on
Mayor Kenney to take immediate action in line
with this pledge by calling for Rashid to resign and
work with the Jewish community to educate all city
offices and city-funded institutions on the IHRA
working definition of antisemitism and utilize
Translate Hate, an AJC resource that clearly explains
when statements are antisemitic,” the organization
said in a statement. “Only through education and
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM accountability will Philadelphia truly be the city all four Main Line Health acute care campuses and held
of brotherly love where pluralism and diversity are a variety of clinical leadership positions.
Most recently, Stallkamp helped lead Main Line
respected and honored.”
Health’s COVID-19 response, partnering closely with
operational and medical leaders from across Main
Delaware Governor Signs Proclamation to
Line Health to develop and deploy a vaccine distribu-
Fight Antisemitism
Delaware Gov. John Carney signed on Dec. 1 a tion strategy for employees, patients and community
proclamation that affirms the state’s commitment to members.
In his new role, Stallkamp will provide executive
fight antisemitism and expose the hatred of Jews that
leadership and oversight of the Main Line Health
poses a threat to tolerance and democracy.
The proclamation was signed during Chanukah medical staff.
Stallkamp brings nearly 20 years of clinical experi-
and coincides with the ongoing national Shine a Light
campaign to raise awareness about antisemitism and ence to his chief medical officer role. Before he arrived
at Main Line Health, he worked as an internist for
urge people to stand against Jew-hatred.
“Chanukah is a time for the Jewish community the Indian Health Service in Bethel, Alaska, and in
to shine light in the wake of darkness,” Carney said. private practice in Wayne.
“These past two years have been challenging, and
there has been an increase in antisemitic incidents. Former State Supreme Court Justice
It’s on us to come together to combat antisemitism, Bruce W. Kauffman Dies at 86
racism and discrimination and stand with our Jewish Bruce W. Kauffman, a Philadelphia attorney who
served on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as well
neighbors.” The proclamation calls antisemitism a “persistent as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
and disturbing problem in society” that must be Pennsylvania, died on Nov. 29 in Bala Cynwyd. He
addressed to “protect all Americans from acts of hate, was 86.
Kauffman joined what is now Dilworth Paxson
bigotry and discrimination.”
after graduating from Yale Law School in 1958,
The proclamation follows the recent release by
according to the Dilworth Paxson website. He was
the American Jewish Committee of “The State of
the chairman
and a named partner (Dilworth Paxson
Antisemitism in America 2021,” the largest-ever
Kalish &
Kauffman). He left the firm briefly from
surveys of American Jews and the U.S. public on
1980-’82 after
being appointed
to the Supreme Court
antisemitism in America. Among its findings were
that 90% of American Jews surveyed believe antisem- of Pennsylvania.
He returned to Dilworth Paxson after that term
itism is a problem.
“Antisemitic incidents are increasing worldwide. and stayed until 1997 when President Bill Clinton
This Chanukah, we are sending a powerful message appointed him to the federal district court.
Kauffman taught at the University of Pennsylvania
of standing up and standing together for our commu-
nity,” said Seth J. Katzen, president and CEO of the Law School and co-chaired the Elliott Greenleaf law
firm executive committee, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jewish Federation of Delaware.
reported. In addition, in the 1980s he chaired the state
Main Line Health Names Dr. Jonathan
Judicial Inquiry and Review Board and was chairman
Stallkamp SVP and Chief Medical Officer
Main Line Health announced that Dr. Jonathan of the board at USA BancShares Inc. in the 1990s.
Kauffman is survived by his wife, Carol (née
Stallkamp was named senior vice president and chief
medical officer for the health system. He served in Jackson); children Brad (Joan), Margie Sherr (Tony),
Robert (Stacy), Lauri Damrell (Jim), Christine Tracy
those roles on an interim basis since July 2020.
Stallkamp has been a member of the Main Line Health (Jeff); seven grandchildren; and a brother, Alan. l
medical staff since 2005. Since then, he has practiced at
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
JEWISH EXPONENT
DECEMBER 9, 2021
21