H eadlines
Attack Continued from Page 1
The response from Jewish
organizations came swiftly.

“This attack on a Muslim
community at prayer is an attack
on the sanctity of life and tears
at the fabric of society,” said the
Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia, in a statement. “We
stand together with the Muslim
community to denounce and
oppose violence, hatred and big-
otry in all its forms.”
The Board of Rabbis of Greater
Philadelphia also released a state-
ment, signed by board president,
Rabbi Joshua Waxman.

“Coming so soon after
the massacre at Tree of Life
Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the
thought of peaceful worshippers
being gunned down by hate-
filled extremist has an extra
tragic measure of resonance for
Jews in Pennsylvania,” Waxman
wrote. “Even as we prepare for
Shabbat and its vital foretaste
of olam ha-ba, we recognize the
huge gap that exists between the
world as it is and the world as
it ought to be, and the critical
role we can all play in bringing
some measure of consolation
and hope to olam ha-zeh.”
Waxman and about 25 other
area rabbis attended after-
noon prayers at Masjidullah in
West Oak Lane on March 15.

Following services, Waxman
said, Imam Mikal Shabazz spoke
about the Tree of Life massa-
cre and thanked members of the
Jewish community.

The same evening, at
Congregation Mikveh Israel,
after a moving concert of
Sephardic Andalusian music,
Rabbi Albert Gabbai offered his
remarks on the massacre.

“We are very sad about
what happened,” he said. “We
as Jews know what it means
to be persecuted and we stand
in solidarity and in sadness …
May God protect all of us.”
The next day, many area
Jews attended an interfaith vigil
in LOVE Park, where Rabbi
Arthur Waskow of the Shalom
Center and Rabbi Shawn Zevit
of Mishkan Shalom joined other
faith leaders onstage. Attendee
Rabbi Shelly Barnathan, of
Or Zarua, was also there to
demonstrate solidarity.

“It’s really important for us
to support all of our brothers
and sisters of all faiths,” she
told KYW Newsradio.

That night, Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia CEO
Naomi Adler attended a vigil in
Princeton Junction, New Jersey,
while Main Line Reform Temple
Senior Rabbi David Straus,
former chair of the Jewish
Community Relations Council
of Greater Philadelphia, spoke
in Narberth.

Monday afternoon, Rabbi
Batya Glazer, director of the JCRC,
participated in an interreligious
Alpha & Rose Levis Museum
22 Anniversary Induction Ceremony & Cocktail Supper
nd 2019 Inducties:
C HUCK B RODSKY - A story teller, song writer troubadour and a
modern day baseball bard. He has 22 songs enshrined at the Baseball
Hall of Fame.

C OLBY C OHEN - A noted professional hockey player as a
defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche and the doll Stanley Cup
Champion Boston Bruins. He is currently a color analyst for a myriad
of networks.

M IKE K OPLOVE - A Shortstop and pitcher on the University of
Delaware1998 American East Championship and NCAA Atlantic
II Regional team. Also Played professional baseball for Arizona
Diamondbacks & Cleveland Indians.

C HRIS O’L OUGHLIN - 4 time All-American & All-Ivy in Epee and
intercollegiate Fencing Association Eastern Championship in 1986.

Silver Medal winner at 1989 MacCabiah Games & Bronze medal
winner at 1991 Pan-American Games.

H OWIE R OSEMAN - The Philadelphia Eagles Vice President of
Football operations. Was named Executive of the year by the Pro
Football Writers of America and The Sporting News NFL Executive
of the year.

M YRNA S ACK - A dynamic soccer player, in high school earned
two time Allstate status; at Darmouth a fi rst-team All-Ivy Midfi elder,
Rookie of the year, Soccer Player of the year and Team Captain.

Pillar of Achievement Award: Stephen H. Frishberg
Simcha Gersh Award: Pine Forest Camp - Jewish Basketball League team 1990-2006
With Special Recognition of: 2018 JCC Maccabi Games Team Philadelphia Graduating Athletes
Tuesday April 30 th , 2019 • 5:30pm
Radeph Shalom • 615 North Broad Street, Philadelpihia
For more information, please call 215-900-7999
or email INFO@PHILLYJEWISHSPORTS.ORG
14 MARCH 21, 2019
JEWISH EXPONENT
Several area rabbis and colleagues pose with Imam Mikal Shabazz
(center) of Masjidullah following services.
Courtesy of The Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia
service at Saint Joseph’s University
organized by the Institute for
Jewish-Catholic Relations.

Meanwhile, national Jewish
groups responded with statements
lamenting the tragic events.

American Jewish Committee
CEO David Harris said his orga-
nization was “appalled by the
murderous assaults.”
“Racist individuals imbued
with pure hatred of Muslims
have attacked normally peace-
ful New Zealand,” he added.

“We say as loudly as we can:
We stand against hate and
xenophobia. We stand against
racism. We stand against ter-
rorism. We stand for mutual
understanding. We stand for
mutual respect. We stand for
pluralism. We stand for coex-
istence and outreach.”
Zionist Organization of
America’s President Morton
A. Klein and Chairman Mark
Levenson issued a joint statement:
“The vicious terrorists who
perpetrated this monstrous act
are nothing less than evil scum.

The Jewish community is espe-
cially sensitive to such horrible
religious hate crimes and mur-
ders since almost 60 percent of all
religious hate crimes in America
are committed against Jews.”
In its statement, the Anti-
Defamation League pointed to
the problem of social media.

“As has become a pattern
with white supremacist vio-
lence, the shooter not only
meticulously planned the attack,
but also designed it for social
media, even live streaming it
on Facebook,” CEO Jonathan
Greenblatt said. “The fact that
his video is still accessible on
several social media websites is
a reminder that these platforms
need to do more to stem the
flow of hateful messages and
memes on their platforms, espe-
cially white supremacist memes
targeting Muslims, Jews and
other minorities.”
The Union of Orthodox
Jewish Congregations of
America also responded,
saying, “We stand with our
Muslim brothers and sisters
of good faith throughout the
world against senseless hatred
and bigotry, and the despicable
violence they breed. We con-
demn, in the strongest terms,
the horrific murder of innocent
people, and the added abhor-
rence of violence in houses
of prayer.”
World Jewish Congress
President Ronald S. Lauder
echoed national statements,
saying, “We must redouble
efforts to combat hatred and
division in our societies, from
wherever it emanates.”
Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted,
“Israel mourns the wanton mur-
der of innocent worshippers in
Christchurch and condemns
the brazen act of terror in New
Zealand. Israel sends its condo-
lences to the bereaved families and
its heartfelt wishes for a speedy
recovery to the wounded.” l
lspikol@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0747
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H eadlines
Population One of the differences between the last study
and the current one is terminology; for example,
the current survey uses the phrase “interfaith”
instead of “mixed” to refer to marriage.

Continued from Page 1
A new population study looks at Jewish activity, religious and ethnic identity, philanthropy, social service
needs, health, anti-Semitism and perceptions about Israel in Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish community.

f11photo/iStock/Getty Images Plus
organizations can use them.

The study is led by
Romirowsky, who is supported
by a lay leadership committee
and a technical advisory com-
mittee. The Jewish Federation
selected Westat as the research
firm to conduct the study.

The study is more than just
a census because it has prac-
tical goals, said Adam Laver,
who, along with his wife Sara,
is co-chair of the lay leadership
committee. That goal is for the
community to better prioritize
resources based on need.

“If we have true numbers
on the extent of that need, it
can help us delve deeper into
meeting the needs and finding
ways to respond,” said Laver,
who is on the board of trustees
of the Jewish Federation, board
chairman of Jewish Family and
Children’s Service and a member
of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel.

The participants are ran-
domly selected to ensure the
sample isn’t biased.

The first stage is a screener
that asks the participant basic
questions. The invitation to
complete this screener, either
online or with a hard copy, is
mailed out. This step includes
both Jewish and non-Jewish
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM respondents, but only those
who identify as Jewish are
invited to complete the next
stage: an in-depth 20-minute
survey, either online or via hard
copy. The survey can also be
done over the phone for those
who need extra assistance, and
is available in Russian.

It’s been a decade since
this kind of study of the local
Jewish community has been
done. Romirowsky said such
studies usually take place every
10 years in similar cities.

One of the differences
between the last study and
the current one is terminol-
ogy; for example, the current
survey uses the phrase “inter-
faith” instead of “mixed” to
refer to marriage. This study
also has more questions about
anti-Semitism, Israel, health
and transportation.

“I don’t believe in the past
we asked much about trans-
portation,” Romirowsky said.

“I know, being an evaluation
director here, that transporta-
tion is a huge issue for our com-
munity members, both young
and old, in being able to access
both religious Jewish and just
general social services.”
The survey 10 years ago
defined Jewish engagement
as synagogue membership or
participation in rituals like
lighting Shabbat candles or
attending a Passover seder. The
new survey has broadened that
definition by including visits
to a Chabad House and less
traditional ways to celebrate
holidays, such as a Shabbat hike.

“My major goal with this
stuff is to look at and mea-
sure on a continuum the range
of Jewish practices that ...

folks today might be doing,”
Romirowsky said.

She also said the new study
may reveal an uptick in con-
cern about anti-Semitism, at
least since the last survey was
done. She’ll also be interested
to see the new demographic
information. “We know that we have an
older population than some
other Jewish communities,”
she said. “That proportion
we know about. The question
is, because the last study was
done and didn’t include cell
phones at a time when cell
phones would have represented
at least some portion of the
population, there may have
been an underrepresentation
of the young population. We
don’t know.”
They are holding focus
groups to gather qualitative
data that can supplement
the information they collect
through the study.

“We can’t ask everything
because you really want to keep
it to about 20, 25 minutes,”
Romirowsky said. “That’s why
we’re following up, and we’ve
already started doing focus
groups to really get the story
and the why for people and
really get a rich picture of what
people are experiencing.”
The focus groups allow
researchers to delve deeper into
issues facing specific subsets of
the Jewish community, such as
Russian speakers, Israelis, older
adults, college students and
more. Focus group participa-
tion is open to the community;
participants do not need to have
been selected for the study.

“This is Abraham’s tent,”
Adam Laver said, “and it’s
open to all.”
People interested in partici-
pating in focus groups can call
215-832-0863. l
szighelboim@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729
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