On this week’s edition of Radio Chavura, we feature exclusive interviews with two Denverites who will be active participants in the upcoming JNF National Conference, scheduled to be held here in Colorado from October 25^th through October 28^th. 

Our first guest is noted historian Jeanne Abrams.  Dr. Abrams – author of the newly published book, Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers in Sickness and health – will lead an afternoon session on Sunday the 27^th, during which she’ll share the amazing and at times harrowing tales of Colorado’s early Jewish Settlers. 

After Jeanne, we talk about the Jewish National Fund with Gene Kay, board chair of the JNF’s Rocky Mountain Region.  Gene, along with Stanley Kamlet, are well-known throughout the United States for their tireless work on behalf of the Jewish National Fund.

Both Gene and Stan will be honored at the national conference on Monday morning, October 28^th.

If you haven’t yet registered to attend the JNF national conference, we at Radio Chavura encourage you to do so today.  Simply visit JNF.org and click on the national conference logo.

The JNF Conference, like the JNF itself, is a chance to give of yourself and discover how much personal satisfaction you will reap in return.

The national edition of Radio Chavura is intended to build support for the Jewish National Fund conference to be held in Denver from October 25th through October 28th. The conference will bring together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders from across the United States to learn about JNF's ongoing work on behalf of the land and people of Israel. Those attending will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with committed volunteers of all ages, as well as to contribute their own ideas for enriching the work of JNF.

CREDITS:

Hosts:  Maxwell and Dean Rotbart

Musical Director:  Julie Geller

Audio Production:  Blane Nichols

Additional Audio Elements:  Jason Hickman

Director of Research:  Talya Rotbart

Staff Photographer:  Avital Rotbart

Opening Music (Hinei Mah Tov) and Closing Credits (Elokai):  Julie Geller

Songs:

• Eli Ata Ve'Odecha - Oded Melchner
• Jews Don't Camp - Rocky Mountain Jewgrass
• Lo Yisa Goy - Miami Boys Choir [Support Jewish Day Schools]
• Open the Gates (Pitchu Li) - Rabbi Joe Black - Leave a Little Bit Undone
• Niggun Nevo - Shlomo Katz [Denver Community Kollel]
• Sim Shalom - Talya Rotbart, Vocalist and Gabriela Gottlieb, Pianist - Lu Yehi

JNF Liaisons:  Neta Yoffe and Boaz Meir

Photo:  Dr. Jeanne Abrams

Russell F. Robinson, JNF's CEO and a member of its global board of directors, is the featured guest on this inaugural national edition of Radio Chavura.

Robinson divulges that at this year's national conference, JNF will formally announce an unprecedented 10-year, $1 billion fundraising campaign, that he says will be "the most innovative, most bold campaign" even untaken by a Jewish organization.  

The national edition of Radio Chavura is intended to build support for the Jewish National Fund conference to be held in Denver from October 25th through October 28th. The conference will bring together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders from across the United States to learn about JNF's ongoing work on behalf of the land and people of Israel. Those attending will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with committed volunteers of all ages, as well as to contribute their own ideas for enriching the work of JNF.

"Colorado has a flourishing and vibrant Jewish community which couldn't be more excited to welcome the JNF national conference," says Maxwell Rotbart, co-host of Radio Chavura.

Rotbart notes that the Colorado Jewish community, which predates statehood in 1876, gave rise to the United Way and helped inspire Golda Meir's Zionism during her sojourn in Denver as a high schooler.  Well-known global brands that have Jewish roots in Colorado, include Samsonite Luggage, Hot Pockets, and perhaps most famous of all, the Barbie doll.  (Inventor Ruth Mosko Handler was born and raised in Denver.)

Today, Colorado is an incubator of many cutting edge companies in the technology and health sectors, serving as the global headquarters of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, which educates and connects biomedical and health innovators who seek to commercialize their ideas, inventions and discoveries.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who recently returned from an inspiring visit to Israel, will be the JNF conference's opening speaker on Friday, October 25th.  Other Coloradans scheduled to participate in the program include Rabbi Joe R. Black, spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel; Jerome "Jerry" Tinianow, chief sustainability officer for the City of Denver; and Dr. Jeanne Abrams, an historian and professor at the University of Denver.  

At the breakfast and closing plenary on Monday, October 28th, Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, will be the speaker.  During the breakfast, longtime JNF lay leaders, Eugene "Gene" Kay and Stanley Kamlet will be honored for their years of service. 

CREDITS:

Hosts: Maxwell and Dean Rotbart

Musical Director:  Julie Geller

Audio Production:  Blane Nichols

Additional Audio Elements:  Jason Hickman

Director of Research:  Talya Rotbart

Staff Photographer:  Avital Rotbart

Opening Announcement: Eugene Kay

Opening Music (Hinei Mah Tov) and Closing Credits (Elokai):  Julie Geller

Songs:

• Zum Gali Gali - Fred Fastow, Jewish Songs for Classical Guitar
• Maym Mayin - Israeli Folk Group, Authentic Israeli Folk Songs & Dances
• Lo Yisa Goy - Miami Boys Choir
• Yism'Chu - Rabbi Joe Black, Sabbatical

JNF Liaisons:  Neta Yoffe (New York) and Boaz Meir (Colorado)

Rabbi Gadi and Mrs. Eve Levy discuss their workshop, "7 Habits of Highly Effective Jewish Marriage."   The Levys, both of whom work at The Jewish Experience in Denver, developed the course to offer married couples Torah-principled marriage guidelines.  

One of the 7 habits, Mrs. Levy explains, is to celebrate diversity.  

There comes a point in each marriage, she notes, when every husband and wife looks at one another and wonders, “How did I ever marry you? We’re so different!”

Mrs. Levy reminds us that gender differences a reality we need to laud. “It’s good to understand that we’re different, the Torah tells us so.”

Also on this week's program, lifelong bowler, David Suson, discusses the newly repositioned Denver Jewish Bowling League, which continues the tradition of weekly competitive Jewish league bowling begun by B'nai B'rith in the 1940s.  The new league, which began on August 28th, is still accepting new teams and individiual bowlers. 

Suson, by the way, has bowled three league-sanctioned perfect "300" games.

Photo: Host Maxwell Rotbart with Rabbi Gadi Levy

The Palestinian Authority continues to hide its true intentions toward Israel from the non-Arab world, while consistently pushing a three-part anti-Israeli message to the Palestinian people, says Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, and the special guest on this week's final installment of our three-part High Holidays series.

"When people understand the true Palestinian ideology, they realize that the victimhood [storyline] is a mask," Marcus explains during a pre-recorded telephone interview from Israel.  That internal Palestinian message has three consistent components, he says:  First, to deny Israel's right to exist; second, to demonize Israel and Jews, and third, to promote violence.

Since 1996, PMW has monitored the Palestinian media, speeches and schoolbooks to showcase what the Palestinians are saying - in their very own words, and how their Arab-language messaging differs from the mask the Palestinians present to the English-language world. 

While numerous global news organizations do report on PMW's findings, Marcus tells Radio Chavura that too often the news media miss a critical aspect of the Palestinians' messages to their own people - what the journalists call "incitement."

"We say there is no incitement," says Marcus, who grew up in the U.S. and now lives in Israel. "They're expressing their honest beliefs and opinions. They're saying it and we should listen to them and believe them."

The PMW has a staff of nine translators who read the Palestinian newspapers and watch the newscasts of two Palestinian TV stations.

Read more about Itamar Marcus and Palestinian Media Watch on our website.

Recent Palestinian Media Watch Articles - "In Their Own Words":

• PA daily:  US behind civil war in Syria and supports the killings
• PA promotes religious hatred against Jews
• PA TV: All of Israel is 'Palestine'
• Fatah: 'Without blood Palestine will not return'
• PA daily:  A Jew set fire to Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969 and Israel still tries to destroy the Mosque

Click here to Support Palestinian Media Watch and its vital mission 

One of Israel's staunchest allies in the U.S. House of Representatives is Congressman Doug Lamborn, representing Colorado's 5th District.

As the co-chair of the bipartisan Israel Allies Caucus, and co-chair of the Republican Israel Caucus, Congressman Lamborn is a consistent and strong supporter of the special strategic, economic and cultural ties that exist between the United States and Israel.

In recognition of his dedication to the welfare of the people of Colorado and his unwavering support for the State of Israel, Congressman Lamborn will receive the "Pillars of the Colorado Jewish Community" award during tonight's special broadcast of Radio Chavura, marking the start of our second year on the air.

Part of what makes Congressman Lamborn's support of Israel so remarkable is that his district - encompassing Colorado Springs and Buena Vista - is anything but a "Jewish" district. Indeed, Congressman Lamborn represents a minuscule Jewish population, estimated at only 500 families,

So why does he stand steadfast with Israel? Congressman Lamborn explains that he backs Israel because doing so is the right thing to do morally, is consistent with the best interests of America, and because his strongly held Christian values are closely aligned with a pro-Israel stance.

Congressman Lamborn's actions match up with his rhetoric. Three times since he first took office in 2007, Congressman Lamborn has led the effort to pass legislation that would relocate the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (the country's lawful capital). He has also been the lead sponsor of a legislative amendment that would prohibit the distribution of taxpayer funds to any individual, private entity or government that does not expressly recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist.

In tonight's exclusive sit-down interview with Congressman Lamborn, taped recently at the studios of 1460 KZNT AM in Colorado Springs, we discuss the roots of the Congressman's awareness of the special role that Israel plays in the world and its friendship with the United States.  We also talk about his strong Christian faith and values - shared with his wife, Jeanie - and how they have deepened his respect for the State of Israel.

In particular, Congressman Lamborn notes the Biblical verse, where G-d speaks to Abraham, saying "And I will bless those who bless you and curse him who curses you (Genesis 12:3)."

Among other topics that Congressman Lamborn covers are the reasons why the U.S. and Israel are so often the target of radical Islamic groups and whether America's support of Israel makes it a greater target for terrorists.

Congressman Lamborn also serves on the Congressional Task Force Against Anti-Semitism and the International Religious Freedom Caucus. Those wishing to comment on Congressman Lamborn's support of Israel may visit his website, or call him at 719-520-0055.

Radio Chavura is co-hosted Maxwell Rotbart and his father, Dean – both homegrown members of the Denver Jewish community.  The program is broadcast each Sunday at 6:30 pm on 990 KRKS AM in Denver.

Do you want to suggest a potential guest for the show or learn how to become a sponsor? Call Dean & Maxwell at 1-855-JEWISH-4 or email them at radiochavura@gmail.com. For more information, visit our website: www.Chavura.com.

First Broadast:  July 7, 2013
Photo: Congressman Doug Lamborn - (Photo Credit: Avital Rotbart, Radio Chavura)