Local Jewish News

News, Info & Resources for the Cleveland Orthodox Jewish Community

I90 Travel Alert – Accidents and Closures Between Cleveland and Buffalo

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Alert Orange Exclamation Round IconAs of 5pm Thursday, there were multiple multi-vehicle accidents between Cleveland and Buffalo on the I90. One was in Lake County, Ohio and another was in Pennsylvania. Last heard, it seems vehicles were diverted for both but check before you go.

For this incident, you can do the following Google News search: https://www.google.com/search?tbs=qdr%3Ad&tbm=nws&q=I90+accident

In NY State, you can call 511 for travel advisories.

2016-12-08-i90-accident-google-search

 

In an Unprecedented Move, Jewish Federation of Cleveland Takes a Public Position on an Abortion-related Issue

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Urges Governor Kasich to veto the pending heartbeat abortion ban bill.

Federation’s full public statement:

Act Now: Veto the Fetal Heartbeat Bill

Action Alert

Join the Federation in opposing the enactment of the Fetal Heartbeat Bill in Ohio, which would ban almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected (about six weeks following conception). Though historically, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland has not taken a stance on reproductive policy, in light of the extreme nature of the Fetal Heartbeat Bill, we are compelled to oppose the bill. This bill imposes excessive restrictions that would strictly limit a woman’s right to obtain an abortion, even under circumstances resulting from mental health, and improperly ignores religious concerns. It takes medical decisions out of the hands of doctors by criminalizing those medical practitioners who perform procedures outside the narrow prescriptions of the bill.

If signed into law by Governor Kasich, Ohio would have the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation. According to legal experts, the law likely will be ruled unconstitutional.

Call Governor Kasich today at 614-466-3555 to make your opposition known.

Stephen H. Hoffman, President
Gary L. Gross, Board Chair
Cheryl Davis, Community Relations Committee Chair

In a patch.com article, the background on the Federation’s position is explained: The Federation has never before issued a statement about abortion, but felt this new bill would threaten Jewish religious freedom (patch.com).

Chavie (Jessica) Cohen, Managing Director of the Community Relations Committee at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, who is quoted in the Patch article, added the following for Local Jewish News readers.

The impetus to us issuing this statement was the lack of religious exemption in this bill. As it was passed, the bill does not allow a Rabbi’s ruling to supersede the law in that rare case where necessary, and so restricts the religious freedoms of Orthodox and other practicing Jews. For this reason, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland developed this statement.

Also, this is the first time the Federation has ever spoken out on the position of abortion. That’s specifically because the Federation takes its responsibility to represent the entire Jewish community very seriously – including the views and positions of the Orthodox community. In this case, the lack of religious exemption speaks directly to us as a Jewish community and we were compelled to issue the statement.

Rabbi Yitz Frank, Ohio Director Agudath Israel of America, said “It is a complicated issue from a halachic perspective” and provided the following letter for Local Jewish News readers. (It was provided last year to members of the general assembly when the issue was originally being debated.)

Agudath Israel of America on Abortion:

October 20, 2015

Agudath Israel of America on Abortion

Jewish tradition teaches that all human life is sacred and a human fetus has status and dignity. Termination of pregnancy therefore raises profound moral concerns. Agudath Israel of America has long opposed the central holding of Roe v. Wade, that the right to abortion protected under the Fourteenth Amendment’s personal liberty/due process clause is uniformly “fundamental,” and thereby protected against governmental abridgment absent a compelling state interest.

At the same time, as a representative of a religious minority community whose constituents rely heavily on the religious freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment, Agudath Israel is a staunch advocate of religious liberty for all Americans. As a general rule, Judaism rejects the notion that termination of pregnancy, even prior to fetal viability, is properly a matter of free maternal choice. Nonetheless, in certain exceptional cases, Jewish law may authorize abortion, indeed, may require abortion as a matter of religious obligation. Accordingly, in conjunction with its opposition to legalized abortion on demand, Agudath Israel has supported a woman’s legal right to abortion where she seeks the abortion as an expression of her religious faith.

The central premise of Agudath Israel’s position is that characterization of the right to abortion as “fundamental” need not be a matter of always or never. In most cases, where the sole constitutional source of the claimed right to abortion is the personal liberty/privacy right developed in Roe v. Wade, the right to abortion should not be accorded the status of a “fundamental” right. Accordingly, legislative measures designed to restrict the availability of abortion should generally be upheld even in the absence of any compelling state interest, so long as there is a rational basis for the legislation.

There are times though when a woman’s claimed right to an abortion is grounded not only in her personal liberty/privacy right, but also in another constitutionally protected interest. For example, for a state to deprive a woman the right to an abortion even where continuing a pregnancy threatens her life, it is not merely to deprive her of some vague sense of a personal liberty “interest”; it is literally to deprive her of the “life” the Fourteenth Amendment expressly protects. Surely a strong case can be made that abortion in such cases is a right that is “fundamental”.

Additionally, when abortion is an expression of the mother’s religious beliefs, her constitutional claim is enhanced by her right to freely exercise her religion. In such cases, access to abortion is indeed a right that is “fundamental,” and may not be abridged, absent a countervailing compelling state interest.

We commend your efforts to protect the sanctity of life. However, in the context of the present legislation, we respectfully ask that an exception be made when an abortion is an expression of the mother’s sincerely held religious belief. For practitioners of the Jewish faith that would include where the pregnancy poses a risk to the life of the mother, and perhaps even if it poses a grave danger to her physical or mental health. We ask that you not force citizens to choose between following their religion and complying with the law. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

 

Immediate Position Available in a Fast-paced Office.

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Excellent Job Opportunity! Immediate position available in a fast-paced office. Seeking motivated individual with ability to multi-task. Computer and phone skills a must.  No experience needed; will train. Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Please contact 516-295-4000 x 247.

PSA: Reflect on the Consequences of Walking at Night – Make Yourself Visible!

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Don't be the invisible pedestrian - wear your reflective belt!
Don’t be the invisible pedestrian – wear your reflective belt!

Repost from previous years:

Just recently a young man was hit by a car crossing a street at night in Beachwood. Despite the fact that he crossed in a crosswalk, it was just too hard to see someone dressed in black at night. At the encouragement of his family, our community is being asked to be more vigilant about wearing reflectors. Sponsored belts can be purchased for $3 at the local seforim stores. Marc’s and discount stores frequently sell very inexpensive reflective vests. Flashing lights and flashlights are only a few dollars. Just recently Lakewood launched a “Shabbos of Reflection” after 101 pedestrians were struck, 5 fatally in 2012. Maybe it is time for a little more “reflection” in Cleveland too? Well, Chaverim has plans underway for a whole campaign soon! Click here to view a pamphlet which outlines the halachos of wearing a reflector in a place where there is no eruv (say you are traveling outside of the Cleveland eruv on Shabbos or do not carry).

Chef Dave’s Restaurant Nights, 12/13 and 12/14

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2016-12-08-chef-daves-restaurant-nightsOur next set of Restaurant Nights will be Tuesday 12/13 & Wednesday 12/14. A menu is attached and can also be downloaded at https://chefdavescatering.com/uploads/menus/Restaurant_Nights_Menu_121316.pdf.

Reservations are strongly recommended. When making your reservation, please include your name, the date, time and # of people. We seat on the 1/2hr. from 5:30 – 7:30.

A reminder that if you have any dietary restrictions or questions about the menu, please ask beforehand so we can do our best to accommodate you.

No Bnos This Shabbos, Dec. 10

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There will be no Bnos in Cleveland Heights, University Heights/Beachwood, and Wickliffe this coming Shabbos, פרשת ויצא- December 10th. The leaders will be at the annual Bnos leaders’ convention in Detroit. Bnos will resume in all neighborhoods פרשת וישלח- December 17 th .

Updated Shiva Information for Lillian “Lifshe” Hefter, ob”m

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Sons Tzvi, Malkiel & Yossie will be sitting Shiva at 3106 Shelburne Rd, Pikesville, MD

Malkiel will be sitting Shiva Motzei Shabbos – Monday AM at 3558 Bendemeer

  • Motzei Shabbos & Sunday until 11:00 PM
  • Friday: Mincha 4:36 PM
  • Shabbos: Shacharis 9:00 AM Mincha 4:21 PM Maariv 5:46 PM
  • Sunday: Shacharis 7:30 AM Mincha 4:40 PM
  • Monday: Shacharis 7:00 AM

HaMakom yenachem et’chem b’toch shar avay’lay Tzion vee’Yerushalayim.

More Carjacking Safety Tips from the Director of Community-wide Security

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Alert Orange Exclamation Round IconThe following information was provided by Jim Hartnett, Director of Community-wide Security at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Mr. Hartnett provided these suggestions in response to a request for more detailed information, specifically what to do when there are, G-d forbid, children in the vehicle.

Here are some additional points to consider if you are ever the victim of a carjacking:

  • If there is a child in the car with you, let the carjackers know by informing him in a loud-clear voice repeating, “my child is in the car.”  While announcing the presence of the child in the car, continue to unbuckle the child from the car seat.  Remove the child to a safe area and leave as fast as possible.
  • In the past, many law officers said that victims of carjacking, especially women, should not resist the criminal act or fight back. Not all people agree with this position, but most agree you have a better chance of surviving if you resist and fight back.
  • If thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back taillights, stick your arm out of the opening and start waving like crazy.  The driver will not be able to see you, but everybody else will.  This has saved lives.
  • Women have a tendency to get into their car and just sit (organizing their belongings).  DO NOT DO THIS!  The predator may be watching and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.  AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
  • Be aware of your surroundings, especially upon entering your car in a garage or parking lot.  Look into your car, including the passenger side and back seat before entering the car.
  • If a van is parked next to your car on the driver’s side, enter your car from the passenger door.  In many cases an attacker will pull the victim into their van while they are attempting to get into their car.
  • Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of the vehicle and the passenger side.  If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may be better off to walk back to the mall, work, and get a guard/policeman to escort you to your car.

 

Unger’s Seeking Part Time Office Help

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Click for printable Unger’s Bakery job description.

Part Time Office Help

Job Duties:

  • Assist in Preparation of Daily Sales Orders
  • Order Acknowledgement Processing for Outgoing, Incoming and Confirmation of Completed Orders
  • Assist in Customer Service Issues
  • Any Additional Tasks or Projects that may be requested by Management

Requirements:

  • Must have computer software experience
  • Must be detailed oriented and driven to complete job at hand
  • Works as a team player and enjoys the smell of freshly baked goods 

Hours:

  • Training and Working Hours: Approx 3-5 hours during the evening hours
  • Example:
    • Sunday 5-7 pm
    • Monday – Wednesday 5-8 pm
    • Thursday – 5-10 pm
    • Motze Shabbos – 1-2 hours

Apply:

  • ungers.bakery@gmail.com
  • Inquire at Store during store hours

Newly Renovated House in Beachwood Available for Rent

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  • Ready to move in
  • Near the shuls
  • 3 bedrooms on the lower level with 1.5 bathrooms
  • A complete second level
  • Large eat-in kitchen which includes a refrigerator and stove
  • Enclosed family room
  • Large finished basement
  • Large backyard
  • Attached 1 car garage

Please call 216-381-0443 or 216-381-9178 for more information.