Publisher’s notes
Jim Clevenson on a new director of development, memories of Rabbi Rubin, a book talk at Federation, and what we really know.
Jim Clevenson
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Oct. 26—It’s almost 10 weeks since I hit a curb and tumbled off my bicycle on a morning neighborhood cruise, breaking my collarbone. That put a crimp in my mojo for weeks; I’m much better now, and my doctor, Len Goldstock, says I am “healed” and can do anything. I’m moderating that, starting to swim gently at the SJCC.
Business news
Andrew Levin
Andrew Levin, who has worked in television and senior living, has joined The Jewish World as director of development (aka marketing and sales!).
Andrew did promotions and creative services in Rhode Island and at News 10 and Fox 23 in Albany, and has been sales manager and director at senior living facilities in Rhode Island and Troy.
We’ve reached out to community organizations for feedback on their needs and desires, and to businesses for advertising. First finding: people want more local stories.
JoEllen Kaiser of J, the Jewish News of Northern California (San Francisco), suggested to us that in addition to pushing special sections we might seek “fiscal support” — underwriting from businesses and individuals, to pay for a new reporter. We’d love help to transform our activity and really get a fire going!
Rabbi Rubin, of blessed memory
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Read the appreciation on page 3 of his father by youngest son Rabbi Motti Rubin, of Colonie Chabad—and lessons of Lech l’cha embodied in his father’s life.
Rabbi Rubin senior told that when he came to Albany, the only instruction he got from the Rebbe’s office was, “Bring shmura matzo to Sam Clevenson.” In 1974, my father’s news and typography office was at 771 State St., Schenectady. Referring to the Rebbe’s famous office and Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Rabbi Rubin told me he thought, “Wow, 770 plus One!”
I remember the then strange handmade matzo at our Pesach table. Since those days, Rabbi Rubin always delivered matzo, and continued after the death of my father in 2008 and my mother in 2011 to ceremonially give me and Laurie boxes of matzo after the pre-Passover siyum (learning celebration) at Maimonides School.
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Behind the Book’
Sophie Panzer
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon fed questions from approximately 30 attendees to Albany’s ‘Son of Sasha’ author Sophie Panzer, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Federation building.
Ms. Panzer said in her book she uses Oct. 7, 2023 as a springboard for conversations on current issues. Like books set in the 1920s-30s, readers know what’s about to happen. Protagonist Ollie, child of Nazi survivors, grows out of her insular wealthy New Jersey Ashkenaz group as she encounters disparate forms of Jewish perception. The book tries to enlarge the context to include the historic panoply of Jewish persecution, a tapestry including characters grappling with, for example, the Genesis command p’ru ur’vu — “be fruitful and multiply,” and raising questions of the role of God in the blessing of fertility.
Ms. Gordon is the Managing Attorney of the Agricultural Worker Project of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. She is a Federation board member and a cabinet member of Young Adult Division.
‘Politics’ vs. truth
Ongoing confusion and annoyance with “political discourse” in America, and the globe. Jewish tradition teaches us to question everything, even, maybe especially, our own certainties. It seems everyone is convinced of his own “rightness.” I remind readers of the Jewish response to a death: “Baruch dayan ha-emet, blessed is the true judge.” We have to walk the wavering tightrope of “knowing” things without having the Big Omniscient picture. We can’t help judging, and Judaism teaches us to use our discriminative minds, our “seichel.” But when the rubber meets the road, what the bleep do we know? Who is the True Judge? Not me.
Coming soon
— Nov. 12 — SJCC Gala
— Dec. 3 — JFS Gala
— Dec. 6 — Chanukah “on Jay”
ADVERTISEMENT
Publisher’s notes
Jim Clevenson on a new director of development, memories of Rabbi Rubin, a book talk at Federation, and what we really know.
Jim Clevenson
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Oct. 26—It’s almost 10 weeks since I hit a curb and tumbled off my bicycle on a morning neighborhood cruise, breaking my collarbone. That put a crimp in my mojo for weeks; I’m much better now, and my doctor, Len Goldstock, says I am “healed” and can do anything. I’m moderating that, starting to swim gently at the SJCC.
Business news
Andrew Levin
Andrew Levin, who has worked in television and senior living, has joined The Jewish World as director of development (aka marketing and sales!).
Andrew did promotions and creative services in Rhode Island and at News 10 and Fox 23 in Albany, and has been sales manager and director at senior living facilities in Rhode Island and Troy.
We’ve reached out to community organizations for feedback on their needs and desires, and to businesses for advertising. First finding: people want more local stories.
JoEllen Kaiser of J, the Jewish News of Northern California (San Francisco), suggested to us that in addition to pushing special sections we might seek “fiscal support” — underwriting from businesses and individuals, to pay for a new reporter. We’d love help to transform our activity and really get a fire going!
Rabbi Rubin, of blessed memory
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Read the appreciation on page 3 of his father by youngest son Rabbi Motti Rubin, of Colonie Chabad—and lessons of Lech l’cha embodied in his father’s life.
Rabbi Rubin senior told that when he came to Albany, the only instruction he got from the Rebbe’s office was, “Bring shmura matzo to Sam Clevenson.” In 1974, my father’s news and typography office was at 771 State St., Schenectady. Referring to the Rebbe’s famous office and Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Rabbi Rubin told me he thought, “Wow, 770 plus One!”
I remember the then strange handmade matzo at our Pesach table. Since those days, Rabbi Rubin always delivered matzo, and continued after the death of my father in 2008 and my mother in 2011 to ceremonially give me and Laurie boxes of matzo after the pre-Passover siyum (learning celebration) at Maimonides School.
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Behind the Book’
Sophie Panzer
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon fed questions from approximately 30 attendees to Albany’s ‘Son of Sasha’ author Sophie Panzer, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Federation building.
Ms. Panzer said in her book she uses Oct. 7, 2023 as a springboard for conversations on current issues. Like books set in the 1920s-30s, readers know what’s about to happen. Protagonist Ollie, child of Nazi survivors, grows out of her insular wealthy New Jersey Ashkenaz group as she encounters disparate forms of Jewish perception. The book tries to enlarge the context to include the historic panoply of Jewish persecution, a tapestry including characters grappling with, for example, the Genesis command p’ru ur’vu — “be fruitful and multiply,” and raising questions of the role of God in the blessing of fertility.
Ms. Gordon is the Managing Attorney of the Agricultural Worker Project of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. She is a Federation board member and a cabinet member of Young Adult Division.
‘Politics’ vs. truth
Ongoing confusion and annoyance with “political discourse” in America, and the globe. Jewish tradition teaches us to question everything, even, maybe especially, our own certainties. It seems everyone is convinced of his own “rightness.” I remind readers of the Jewish response to a death: “Baruch dayan ha-emet, blessed is the true judge.” We have to walk the wavering tightrope of “knowing” things without having the Big Omniscient picture. We can’t help judging, and Judaism teaches us to use our discriminative minds, our “seichel.” But when the rubber meets the road, what the bleep do we know? Who is the True Judge? Not me.
Coming soon
— Nov. 12 — SJCC Gala
— Dec. 3 — JFS Gala
— Dec. 6 — Chanukah “on Jay”
ADVERTISEMENT
Publisher’s notes
Jim Clevenson on a new director of development, memories of Rabbi Rubin, a book talk at Federation, and what we really know.
Jim Clevenson
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Oct. 26—It’s almost 10 weeks since I hit a curb and tumbled off my bicycle on a morning neighborhood cruise, breaking my collarbone. That put a crimp in my mojo for weeks; I’m much better now, and my doctor, Len Goldstock, says I am “healed” and can do anything. I’m moderating that, starting to swim gently at the SJCC.
Business news
Andrew Levin
Andrew Levin, who has worked in television and senior living, has joined The Jewish World as director of development (aka marketing and sales!).
Andrew did promotions and creative services in Rhode Island and at News 10 and Fox 23 in Albany, and has been sales manager and director at senior living facilities in Rhode Island and Troy.
We’ve reached out to community organizations for feedback on their needs and desires, and to businesses for advertising. First finding: people want more local stories.
JoEllen Kaiser of J, the Jewish News of Northern California (San Francisco), suggested to us that in addition to pushing special sections we might seek “fiscal support” — underwriting from businesses and individuals, to pay for a new reporter. We’d love help to transform our activity and really get a fire going!
Rabbi Rubin, of blessed memory
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Read the appreciation on page 3 of his father by youngest son Rabbi Motti Rubin, of Colonie Chabad—and lessons of Lech l’cha embodied in his father’s life.
Rabbi Rubin senior told that when he came to Albany, the only instruction he got from the Rebbe’s office was, “Bring shmura matzo to Sam Clevenson.” In 1974, my father’s news and typography office was at 771 State St., Schenectady. Referring to the Rebbe’s famous office and Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Rabbi Rubin told me he thought, “Wow, 770 plus One!”
I remember the then strange handmade matzo at our Pesach table. Since those days, Rabbi Rubin always delivered matzo, and continued after the death of my father in 2008 and my mother in 2011 to ceremonially give me and Laurie boxes of matzo after the pre-Passover siyum (learning celebration) at Maimonides School.
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Behind the Book’
Sophie Panzer
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon fed questions from approximately 30 attendees to Albany’s ‘Son of Sasha’ author Sophie Panzer, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Federation building.
Ms. Panzer said in her book she uses Oct. 7, 2023 as a springboard for conversations on current issues. Like books set in the 1920s-30s, readers know what’s about to happen. Protagonist Ollie, child of Nazi survivors, grows out of her insular wealthy New Jersey Ashkenaz group as she encounters disparate forms of Jewish perception. The book tries to enlarge the context to include the historic panoply of Jewish persecution, a tapestry including characters grappling with, for example, the Genesis command p’ru ur’vu — “be fruitful and multiply,” and raising questions of the role of God in the blessing of fertility.
Ms. Gordon is the Managing Attorney of the Agricultural Worker Project of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. She is a Federation board member and a cabinet member of Young Adult Division.
‘Politics’ vs. truth
Ongoing confusion and annoyance with “political discourse” in America, and the globe. Jewish tradition teaches us to question everything, even, maybe especially, our own certainties. It seems everyone is convinced of his own “rightness.” I remind readers of the Jewish response to a death: “Baruch dayan ha-emet, blessed is the true judge.” We have to walk the wavering tightrope of “knowing” things without having the Big Omniscient picture. We can’t help judging, and Judaism teaches us to use our discriminative minds, our “seichel.” But when the rubber meets the road, what the bleep do we know? Who is the True Judge? Not me.
Coming soon
— Nov. 12 — SJCC Gala
— Dec. 3 — JFS Gala
— Dec. 6 — Chanukah “on Jay”
ADVERTISEMENT
Publisher’s notes
Jim Clevenson on a new director of development, memories of Rabbi Rubin, a book talk at Federation, and what we really know.
Jim Clevenson
3
mins read time
Originally published at
The Jewish World
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Oct. 26—It’s almost 10 weeks since I hit a curb and tumbled off my bicycle on a morning neighborhood cruise, breaking my collarbone. That put a crimp in my mojo for weeks; I’m much better now, and my doctor, Len Goldstock, says I am “healed” and can do anything. I’m moderating that, starting to swim gently at the SJCC.
Business news
Andrew Levin
Andrew Levin, who has worked in television and senior living, has joined The Jewish World as director of development (aka marketing and sales!).
Andrew did promotions and creative services in Rhode Island and at News 10 and Fox 23 in Albany, and has been sales manager and director at senior living facilities in Rhode Island and Troy.
We’ve reached out to community organizations for feedback on their needs and desires, and to businesses for advertising. First finding: people want more local stories.
JoEllen Kaiser of J, the Jewish News of Northern California (San Francisco), suggested to us that in addition to pushing special sections we might seek “fiscal support” — underwriting from businesses and individuals, to pay for a new reporter. We’d love help to transform our activity and really get a fire going!
Rabbi Rubin, of blessed memory
Rabbi Rubin and Jim Clevenson, erev Pesach, 2025
Read the appreciation on page 3 of his father by youngest son Rabbi Motti Rubin, of Colonie Chabad—and lessons of Lech l’cha embodied in his father’s life.
Rabbi Rubin senior told that when he came to Albany, the only instruction he got from the Rebbe’s office was, “Bring shmura matzo to Sam Clevenson.” In 1974, my father’s news and typography office was at 771 State St., Schenectady. Referring to the Rebbe’s famous office and Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Rabbi Rubin told me he thought, “Wow, 770 plus One!”
I remember the then strange handmade matzo at our Pesach table. Since those days, Rabbi Rubin always delivered matzo, and continued after the death of my father in 2008 and my mother in 2011 to ceremonially give me and Laurie boxes of matzo after the pre-Passover siyum (learning celebration) at Maimonides School.
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Behind the Book’
Sophie Panzer
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon fed questions from approximately 30 attendees to Albany’s ‘Son of Sasha’ author Sophie Panzer, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Federation building.
Ms. Panzer said in her book she uses Oct. 7, 2023 as a springboard for conversations on current issues. Like books set in the 1920s-30s, readers know what’s about to happen. Protagonist Ollie, child of Nazi survivors, grows out of her insular wealthy New Jersey Ashkenaz group as she encounters disparate forms of Jewish perception. The book tries to enlarge the context to include the historic panoply of Jewish persecution, a tapestry including characters grappling with, for example, the Genesis command p’ru ur’vu — “be fruitful and multiply,” and raising questions of the role of God in the blessing of fertility.
Ms. Gordon is the Managing Attorney of the Agricultural Worker Project of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. She is a Federation board member and a cabinet member of Young Adult Division.
‘Politics’ vs. truth
Ongoing confusion and annoyance with “political discourse” in America, and the globe. Jewish tradition teaches us to question everything, even, maybe especially, our own certainties. It seems everyone is convinced of his own “rightness.” I remind readers of the Jewish response to a death: “Baruch dayan ha-emet, blessed is the true judge.” We have to walk the wavering tightrope of “knowing” things without having the Big Omniscient picture. We can’t help judging, and Judaism teaches us to use our discriminative minds, our “seichel.” But when the rubber meets the road, what the bleep do we know? Who is the True Judge? Not me.
Coming soon
— Nov. 12 — SJCC Gala
— Dec. 3 — JFS Gala
— Dec. 6 — Chanukah “on Jay”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios