By Carl Zebrowski
Editor

How many synagogues are there in the Lehigh Valley? That was one of the trivia questions asked aboard the bus to Philadelphia on October 22 for the Women’s Philanthropy Lion of Judah and Pomegranate visit to the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Twenty-five women boarded the bus for the annual Lion Pom Fall Event. During the ride, they enjoyed wine and snacks. They also played the trivia game, on their phones, answering questions about the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, the Lehigh Valley and its Jewish community (the answer to the question above, by the way, is 10), and more. The trip was organized and run by event cochairs Carol Bub Fromer, Lauren Rabin, Beth Kushnick, Crissy Toff, Tama Tamarkin, Naomi Schachter, and Laurie Wax, president of Women’s Philanthropy and Lee Kestecher Solomon, Federation director of community engagement. 

At the museum, the group was split into three for hour-and-15-minute private tours that took the women back to the 1600s, when the first permanent Jewish settlers landed in the New World from Brazil. From there, the displays moved forward in time, highlighting the expectations and experiences of the Jews of diverse backgrounds who landed on American shores from elsewhere and their generations that followed. The exhibits presented the choices they had to make, the challenges they faced, how they shaped their new land, and how it shaped them.

The Lehigh Valley women also saw “The Future Will Follow the Past: An Exhibition by Jonathan Horowitz.” Known for his critical engagement with politics and culture, Horowitz organized this collection of works by artists of various backgrounds and ages to explore changes the United States has experienced since 2020 in antisemitism, racism, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.

After the tour ended, the women boarded the bus for the ride home and enjoyed a delicious meal of falafel and salad from Goldie, a Philadelphia restaurant from Michael Solomonov, whose Zahav won the 2019 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.