Page 37 - Jewish News_January-2021

JEWISH INTEREST January 2021 37A

The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars – K’zohar Ha-Ivrit

a band with a difference! Etz Tamar – Palm Tree DID YOU

By Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin
turing various jazz groups. It is a stroll ard to believe, but Tu-Bishvat, prophet Ezekiel mentions this town as KNOW?
down Orleans Avenue with the band the New Year of the Trees, is at part of the border of the tribe of Gad
seated in the back of an iconic New Hour door. In Israel, Tu-Bishvat (Ezk. 27:19; 28:28).
Orleans mule-driven carriage while marks the end of winter and the onset Tomer, the tree itself, which was
playing klezmer music. of spring. The almond trees show their tall and distinctive, was mentioned in
of subscribing
This is clearly a group that doesn’t beautiful blossoms all over the land, as the Bible as the tree under which Deb- 50% households
take itself too seriously. A couple of the trees wake up orah, the prophetess and judge, was sit-
their albums have hilarious names such from their winter ting when people came for arbitration earn more than
as “Mozeltov Cocktail” and “Man- repose. and advice (Judges 4:2). Because of
ichalfwitz.” In an interview, Jonathan In honor of its shape and strength, the word Tomer $100,000/year
Freilach said he likes music that has Tu-Bishvat, let us was known not only as the name of a
seven letters in it. (Klezmer). He says, virtually travel tree, but also as a noun which meant
“Without their audience they would south to the Israe- ‘pillar’ and ‘scarecrow.’ The proph- ACT NOW to reserve your space in upcoming
just be another bar mitzvah band.” li desert, known et Jeremiah refers to the Tomer as a
More information about klez-mer as the Negev, and symbol of an idol when he dismiss- editions of The Jewish News:
music can be found in my earlier ar- enjoy the grace ingly called it Tomer mik-sha, literally ISSUE DEADLINE
ticle entitled, “As my grandmother Dr. Rachel Dulin of the palm trees, ‘a scarecrow or pillar in a cucumber
would say…Klezmer! Oy vey! I can which beautify its landscape. Palms, patch’ (Jer. 10:5). FEBRUARY.................Jan. 4 , 2021
hardly believe it!” (The Jewish News, which produce dates, have grown in Interestingly, despite its impor- MARCH ......................Feb. 1, 2021
May 2015) the arid area of the ancient Near East, tance and beauty, the Tamar is men- APRIL .........................Mar. 4, 2021
Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sara- including Israel, from time immemo- tioned in only a couple of Hebrew MAY ...........................Apr. 2, 2021
sota Jewish Chorale, is a member of rial. Their fruit is not only tasty and phrases. In the Song of Songs (7:8), we JUNE ..........................May 3, 2021
the Jewish Congregation of Venice. A sweet, but it is high in nutritional value find the lovely description of the be-
retired educator from Rochester, New and antioxidants, and it is an important loved in the words Ko-ma-tekh dam-ta JULY ...........................June 4, 2021
York, she has sung in choral groups source of food for the inhabitants of the ka-Tamar, namely, ‘your stately form is
for over 25 years and also sings in desert. like a Tamar.’ We should also mention
The Venice Chorale. Her interest in The Hebrew word for palm tree is that Jeremiah’s words Tomer mik-sha Contact Adam Kaplan at
the preservation of Jewish music of all Etz Tamar, and a corresponding name are used in modern Hebrew to mean akaplan@jfedsrq.org
kinds has led to this series of articles to it is Tomer. Both names are derived ‘unmoving’ or ‘staunch.’ Also, based or 941.552.6307.
on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora. from the verb ta-ma-r, which means on the Tamar’s and Tomer’s height
‘to be high.’ Tamar and Tomer appear and distinction, we find the modern Download the Media Kit at
26 times in the Bible. Tamar is men- Hebrew noun Tamrur, meaning ‘sign JFEDSRQ.org/Advertising
tioned 22 times as a woman’s proper post,’ ‘road sign’ and ‘traffic sign.’ And
name, and twice as a name of a town. the adjective tamir, namely ‘tall’ and
Tomer, on the other hand, is mentioned ‘upright,’ is also a derivation of the tall *Statistics compiled from a survey of our publication
by the Circulation Verification Council
only twice in reference to the name of Tamar tree.
the tree itself. Three biblical women This brings us to the end of our
were named Tamar. First, Tamar was short virtual trip in the Negev. Hope-
the name of the wife of Er, who, after fully, on Tu-Bishvat we can sit together IN 2019,
her husband’s death forced her father- with family and friends and enjoy eat-
in-law Judah to marry her (Gen. 38). ing dates, the fruit of the Tamar, known ANTISEMITISM
Secondly, Tamar was the name of in Hebrew as T’marim.
12%
David’s daughter who was raped by Chag Sa-me-ach to us and to the GREW BY
her half-brother Am-non (II Sam 13). trees.
And thirdly, Tamar’s brother Av-sha- Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor
according to the ADL’s
lom called his daughter by the same of biblical literature at Spertus Col- 12 % ac c or ding t o the ADL ’ s
annual audit
.
T
his is
name (II Sam 14:27). lege in Chicago, and a retired adjunct annual audit. This is
we for you was a town by the name of Tamar College in Sarasota. the highest numb er
We should also mention that there
professor of Hebrew and Bible at New
the highest number
or
d sinc
ec
on record since 1979.
on r
e 1979.
on the southern border of Israel. The
because we CARE about you. Israel, Bahrain sign
historic tourism MOU
erusalem, December 3 – Israel’s from both sides met to discuss practical
Minister of Tourism, Orit Far- plans and initiatives in the field of tour-
Jkash-Hacohen, and Bahrain’s ism.” The MOU, the minister stressed,
We believe your doctor should get to know you personally, have Minister of Industry, Commerce & provides the framework to turn ideas
the flexibility to see you at any time, and commit to delivering Tourism, Zayed Al Zayani, signed a into plans into packages. “Together,
historic Memorandum of Understand- we can create packages for regional
benefit-oriented care and advice tailored to your unique needs. What are we doing about it?
ing (MOU) in the field of tourism as tourism, offering tourists from Brazil,
Israel and Bahrain continue to build China or Australia or the Philippines to
Discover how LernerCohen puts the CARE in Healthcare. upon the Abraham Accords regional visit both our countries.” EDUCATION.

Schedule a meet and greet to see if concierge care is right for you. peace initiative. At the ceremony in The MOU is the first of its kind be-
Jerusalem, Al Zayani said he and his tween Israel and the Arab states in the The Robert and Esther Heller Community Relations Committee takes
delegation were returning to Bahrain Gulf. It includes a number of sections a firm stand against antisemitism. We use community resources and influence to
“with lots of hope and ambition that we on bilateral cooperation between the combat a rise in antisemitism and anti-Zionist sentiments, which often result in
will forge the peace signed by our lead- governments and the private sector in aggressive acts and rhetoric against Jews. Through education, advocacy, and building
ership, so it transmits to every Israeli the field of tourism, and calls to devel- relationships with the greater community and law enforcement, together we can
and every Bahraini citizen.” op various types of travel: for families, combat hatred, bigotry, and harassment of Jews and other minorities.
Farkash-Hacohen said the visit wellness, business and others. Addi-
The Doctor Is In. Always.™ was “dedicated to bilateral profession- tionally, the MOU establishes a joint For more information contact Jessi Sheslow at 941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org
al meetings between the two minis- committee headed by the Ministers,
941.953.9080 • LernerCohen.com tries, to explore new opportunities and which will meet regularly to promote
1921 Waldemere Street, Suite 814 • Sarasota, FL 34239 promote tourism initiatives between joint ventures among travel agents,
Dr. Brad S. Lerner | Dr. Louis M. Cohen | Dr. James R. Cocco | Dr. Amy M. Roth our countries. Airlines, hotel represen- airlines, tour operators and all relevant jfedsrq.org
tatives, travel agents and tour operators continued on page 39A