Vol. LXXXV No. 17 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Jewish Omaha’s First Annual Decathlon Scheduled During Olympics by MARY BORT cussions. “We were lookIn a few short weeks, ing for creative ways to February will be upon us. get the Jewish communiAnd with thoughts of ty involved,” said Simon. February comes the “The Men’s Clubs from excitement of the 20th Beth El and Temple held Olympic Winter Games two softball games this in Turin, Italy. summer. We started talkWhile many of us may ing about holding future tune in to root for our matches, which led to the favorite athletes as they idea of doing something skate, ski and bobsled more.” their way to Olympic “After Beth, Scott and I medals, there will also be talked things over, we happening something decided to bring the idea closer to home that we of an ‘Olympiad’ to our can do to get into the synagogues, who gave us spirit of friendly competithe ‘go ahead’ to proThe scoreboard shows a 7-1 score during a win last year by Israel’s tion. The First Annual ceed, said Silverman. junior national hockey squad over a team from the Laurenhill Jewish Omaha Decathlon The Olympiad became a Academy in Quebec. Israel will field teams in ice hockey and send will be held throughout decathlon after the synacompetitors in ice dancing and skating to the Olympics in Turin, the month of February gogue representatives Italy, next month. Credit: Bram Eisenthal/JTA and teams are forming came up with a list of 10 now. events: Backgammon, Bowling, Dodgeball, Mah Jongg, Perhaps you enjoy the strategy and skill of playing bil- Pictionary, Ping Pong, Poker, Pool (billiards), Spelling liards? Or, are you someone who likes the excitement of Bee and a Walk-A-Thon. a good game of dodgeball? Or, would you prefer putting “We envision the first scheduled event in February will your spelling skills to the test? Whether you prefer games be the official start of the Decathlon, with updates prothat involve physical activity or that require you to sit vided to the community each week,” stated Silverman. and concentrate, you'll find plenty to do in February. “The last scheduled event will likely end with some sort Representatives from Beth El, Beth Israel and Temple of awards ceremony and reception.” Israel got together to discuss a way of bringing congreEach congregation has a team captain for each of the gants together in the spirit of competition, but in good events. Captains are responsible for forming teams from fun. In order to do so, they developed the first Jewish their congregations and organizing practice sessions, if Omaha Decathlon. Coordinating the event are repre- necessary. The three team captains for each event are sentatives Scott Simon from Beth El, Beth Cohen from meeting to determine the date and location for their Beth Israel, and Mike Silverman from Temple Israel. events, as well as other rules and guidelines pertaining to The idea for holding a Decathlon in February was their specific “sport.” derived from previous competitions and subsequent dis- Continued on page 5
6 Tevet, 5766 January 6, 2006
Ulpan for Four-Year-Olds? Only at the JCC! by LYNN BATTEN JCC Publicity Associate Ulpan is a linguistic immersion method developed and popularized in Israel. This class, traditionally taught at the collegiate level, is designed to rapidly assimilate individuals into a foreign culture. This assimilation is primarily achieved through teaching strictly in the language being studied; forcing students to learn comprehension and language skills in order to keep up with the class.
Community shaliach Uri Levin teaches Hebrew to four-yearolds at the JCC’s Child Development Center. Such a method requires great concentration and patience. Needless to say, it is not a class you would expect to be composed of four-year-olds. Yet, over the past year, the JCC’s Community Shaliach, Uri Levin, has been using a variation of this method to teach Hebrew to the children at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center. Four days a week, Levin spends his lunch hour over at the CDC. On Tuesdays and Thursdays his students, primarily four year olds, are split into small groups containing an average of six children. These groups then rotate between three 30-minute stations, one of which is Uri’s Ulpan class. Mondays and Wednesdays the children are together for large group activities. Continued on page 2
Part II: Struggling to Make the Grade
Israel’s Democratic Schools, Students Assume Responsibility by DINA KRAFT HADERA, Israel (JTA)--Under a classroom’s fluorescent lights, students and teachers scramble to find seats. An important “Parliament session” is under way as together, they hammer out a plan for allocating the school’s activities budget. This is the Hadera Democratic School, where students take an equal role in deciding not only how and what to study, but how the school is run. As they debate how to spend the $27,000 activities budget, one student writes in neat letters at the top of the blackboard, “order of speakers.” A debate soon breaks out over how much money to spend on the school’s music department and whether it’s worth purchasing additional acoustic equipment. Next, the drama teacher asks for additional funds to allow students to see professional theater productions. One by one, everyone in the room is heard. After much wrangling, a budget is produced for the 2005-2006 school year. The Hadera Democratic School, which receives funding from both public and private sources, was the first of its kind in Israel. Since it was founded in 1987, 23
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
other schools have opened around the country, based on its model of democratic education in which student participation and choice is emphasized. With its relatively large number of democratic schools, Israel is considered a ground breaker and leader in the field internationally. There is growing interest in alternative schools in Israel, where the public school system is mired in a crisis born of poor teaching and disciplinary problems. The Hadera Democratic School has 350 students, with hundreds more on a waiting list. Most of the students are secular, from a variety of economic backgrounds. Scholarships help students from poorer families pay the annual tuition of approximately $1,200. Among the school’s most famous alumni is Gal Fridman, the windsurfer who won Israel’s first Olympic gold medal in 2004. Based on the idea that children are naturally curious and want to learn, the democratic schools focus on respecting the individual. There is close teacher-student interaction, and teachers--called “educators” by the students--mentor 15 stu-
There are no required classes, no grades or required tests. Staff and students are treated as equals and share in school decisions, sitting on a variety of committees that range from the school Parliament to a teacherselection committee and a field-trip committee. Teachers say the committees are a key part of the education, teaching students how to analyze situations and make choices: “All these things they normally never have a chance to do,” says one teacher here, Aviva Golan. Kids at the Democratic School in Hadera, Israel, play cards, On the field-trip commitJune 27, 2005, just before the start of summer vacation. tee, for example, it’s the stuStudents at the alternative school take an equal role in dents who hire the bus, deciding how and what to study and how the school is run. organize the food and choose Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA where to go. dents in addition to their classroom Golan, who taught in a traditional duties. With their elders’ help, students school before coming to the Hadera guide their own education. The goal is to Democratic School, no longer believes in instill in children the notion that they’re conventional education. responsible for their choices. Continued on page 2
This Week: Teen Age Features Teens of Beyt Shalom: Page 7 A Flamenco “Goodbye” at Beth El Next Week: Page 3
Wrap-up of the Year in Movies: Page 6
Coming Next Week: Tax & Financial Planning A Year After the Tsunami, Group Works for Change: Page 7
Daniel Pipes Worries About “Desensitized West” Page 8
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 6, 2006
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Tot Shabbat & Lunch, 11 a.m. at Beth El Parent Teacher Inservice for Children at Risk, 7 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 “Living Hebrew” Class, and Bible Study, 10 a.m.
C C at Beth El L L I I Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel P Prayer Class, Jewish Potpouri and Torah Training, 11 a.m. P
at Beth El & Stillwell Art Reception, 2 p.m.
&
MONDAY, JANUARY 9 S A CJE Advanced Conversational Hebrew Class, 7 p.m. V NCJW Book Club, 7 p.m. E
S A V E
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 The Guy & Bob Show, noon ADL Manhigim Institute, 4 p.m. Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Friedel BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Adult Education, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El American Jewish Writers, 11 a.m. Rabbis and Presidents Meeting, 11:30 am C Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 pm at Friedel L BESTT High School Dinner, 6 p.m. I Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel P Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel & S A V E
All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)
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Continued from page 1 In contrast to the mainstream Israeli school system, “It’s bankrupt, and I believe children only learn from there’s hardly any violence at the Hadera Democratic choice, not when they’re forced,” she says. School. At traditional schools, she says, “I saw how I fought “It’s because kids don’t feel the need to rebel against with kids instead of teaching them -- the whole time anything,” Shoham says. telling them to be quiet. I believe kids need to move and Parents say they’re relieved to have found a setting play. It’s where the real things happen for them.” where their children can thrive academically and socially. The school itself hums with activity. Everywhere, stu“We think that regular public schools limit children,” dents -- from pre-schoolers to high school seniors -- seem to be on the move. One girl reads a novel on a wooden bench. There are children juggling in the courtyard, while others bounce on pogo sticks. On break, a group of boys plays soccer in the long sandy field in the center of the campus’ brightly painted buildings. Other students work in the computer lab, housed underground in a concrete bomb shelter. Mike Moss, 17, came to the school as a disgruntled 11-year-old who was bored and restless in his regular school. He soon felt stimulated in the Hadera school and Students at the Democratic School in Hadera, Israel, celebrate a classmate’s birthday, June 27, became active in the 2005. Students at the alternative school take an equal role in deciding how and what to study music and drama depart- and how the school is run. Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA ments. “I feel I would not be doing half the things I am doing says Hadass Gertman, a performance artist whose 8here--preparing for matriculation, the music, the friend- year-old daughter attends the Hadera Democratic ships -- if I had stayed at regular school,” he says. School. “We heard of children going through very bad But the Hadera school isn’t for everyone; students experiences in public school and we wanted her to enjoy there need self-discipline and open minds, he says. learning, to enjoy school.” Chen Shoham, 17, says the school has taught her to Sitting outside the small, detached concrete building take responsibility for her education and her life. where he teaches 4-to-6-year-olds, Ron Vangrick speaks “It’s about freedom as an individual and freedom of of being drawn to the job after growing disappointed choice. I do what I want and what I need to do,” she with the mainstream educational framework. says. “I’m responsible for my life.” “Education is going through a deep crisis because of a Shoham sits on the budget committee and helps over- lack of relevance of what were once traditional goals,” see the budget requests each class submits. such as treating others with respect, he says. “I’ve learned about priorities,” she says. He feels that the unique atmosphere at the Hadera Traditional subjects such as math, English and history Democratic School contributes to the learning process. are taught, but it’s up to the students to decide if they’ll “There’s a feeling of home here. It’s a relatively small take them. Those who want can study for the high place; there’s an atmosphere of living within a tribe,” he school matriculation exam, which they need to pass with explains. “Kids of different ages are together and interthe highest possible marks to get into college. act with respect and warmth. There is a feeling of childThe school’s principal, Rami Abramovich, says the stu- hood that is very powerful here.” dents do well on the matriculation exam, but the school Abramovich, the principal, says the school works doesn’t keep data on how many students pass because it because it allows children to discover their own doesn’t consider the matriculation exam a proper meas- strengths. There’s learning in everything, he says -- from ure of whether a student has been educated well. the geometry of passing the ball on the soccer field to Students at the school speak of the value of learning the negotiations behind staging a school play. outside of class -- from philosophical conversations “Every child has his path and rhythm; it’s a matter of about the meaning of life to playing in a jazz band. finding it.”
Ulpan for Four-Year-Olds C L I P &
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Chabad Tiny Treasures Group, 10 a..m. Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin Study Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.
At Israel’s Democratic Schools, Students Assume Responsibility
S A V E
Continued from page 1 Although the classes aren’t taught strictly in Hebrew, Levin speaks it whenever he can. Lesson subjects include colors, keywords, foods, and basic Judaic objects. New items are often introduced to correspond with upcoming seasons or events. Past items are reviewed frequently to reinforce lessons learned. Levin offers a complete approach to the material he is teaching. Rather than just introducing a word and having the children commit to memory, he focuses on relevant information and explanations beyond the word. By doing so, it increases the children’s understanding of the
material and of Judaic culture. It also makes it easier for them to remember. Case in point: As the children scribble at their coloring sheets, Uri takes a moment to surprise them with a pop quiz. “Ay-zeh tseva zeh?” “What color is this?” he asks, holding up a red crayon. Without much concern for this sudden test of their knowledge, they shout out the correct response, “adom!” Such an occurrence may seem like a minor detail to Four-year-old students of the JCC’s Pennie Z. Davis Child some, but for Levin, it is a Development Center, gather around Uri Levin, Omaha’s com- small step towards community shaliach from Israel, for a Hebrew lesson geared to their pleting his goal, one word at a time. age group.
January 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Beth Israel’s Travelin’ Toddler’s Exciting Evening of Dance, Plan Special Visit to My Gym Music Planned at Beth El During by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Climbing, swinging, tumbling and playing...these are the kind of activities that most youngsters enjoy. But during the winter months, it can be a challenge for parents to provide energetic toddlers with the opportunity to engage in these type of activities. If you have a youngster under the age of five who has some “energy to burn” then make a reservation to join with Beth Israel Synagogue’s Travelin Toddlers for a special playtime session at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center on Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Travelin’ Toddlers is Beth Israel’s group for young children and their families. The group occasionally gets together to go on exciting excursions designed for youngsters under the age of five. Older siblings are also welcome to attend Travelin’ Toddlers events. Beth Israel membership is not a requirement for participating. According to Brooke Shrago, Beth Israel’s Youth Director, the trip to My Gym will be great fun for young children and their families. “After being cooped up all day, this will be a nice way for the kids to burn off some energy,” she said. “We’ve reserved the My Gym facility for our event and they’ll have staff on hand to lead the kids through activities. They’ll have circle time for games and will do ageappropriate gymnastics. And, My Gym has swings, slides and things for the kids to climb on,” Shrago added. Beth Israel will provide kosher snacks for Travelin’ Toddlers participants. Travelin’ Toddlers will meet at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center, located at 132nd and Center, next to Target in Orchard Plaza. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the event. There is no cost to attend on Jan. 14. However, in order for My Gym to have the appropriate number of staff members at the event, and so that there will be enough snacks for everyone, reservations are required. Please call Beth Israel’s office at 556.6288 to make your reservation.
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“An Exploration of Jewish Roots in Flamenco” by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Wanting to “give something back to Beth El” before moving to North Carolina next month, congregant and professional dancer Tamara Say will present “An Exploration of Jewish Roots in Flamenco” at the synagogue on Thursday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. “Beth El has been my second family, and this is my way to say ‘thank you’ before we leave for Fayetteville,” said Say, artistic director of the program and founder of the Prairie Flamenco Company. The upcoming event will be a “small and intimate production,” featuring dancers Say and Lena Bogomolni, poetry and readings by Joanie Jacobson, and vocals by Cantor Gastón Bogomolni. Flamenco is a folk performance art indigenous to the province of Andalucía, Spain, and is often regarded as the musical outlet of the poor and oppressed, including the Gypsies, the Moors, and the Jews, Say explained. The art, involving singing, dance and the guitar simultaneously, as well as rhythmic punctuation, was passed on by oral tradition. “It has been said that, while the carriage of the body in flamenco comes from the Gypsies and the rhythm comes from the Moors, the singing comes from the Jews,” Say commented. “Above all, flamenco embodies
a visceral cry for attention that has a historical precedent in the persecution of people – be they Gypsies, Moors, or Jews – and stands as a monument to the human spirit’s ability to create beauty from terrible suffering. Today, flamenco is still a storytelling art form, still handed down verbally, a testament to the strength and honesty of its message.” Say’s interest in this specialized dance form began seven years ago, when, after attending a flamenco show in New Orleans, “the bug bit me,” she said. After taking several classes, she joined the Fiesta Flamenco Company in that city, and flamenco became her passion. In 2002, Say performed solo for Vice President Leopoldo Navarro of Nicaragua, and his delegation during a diplomatic visit to the United States, and in 2004, she was selected to perform the signature performance at the Nebraska presidential rally for John Kerry; Say has studied flamenco with artists who studied with Luisa Triana and Carmen Amaya, and has performed as a soloist in Louisiana, Virginia, and Nebraska. While the Jan. 12 performance is free of charge, Say noted that voluntary donations to the synagogue’s Music Fund will be welcome. A unique and magical evening of music and dance has been planned for the entire community--don’t miss this special event.
Cantor Wendy Shermet Sings on New CD tion, American Conference of Cantors, recorded the CD. Temple’s former cantor, Erik Contzius, sings his rendition of “Shalom Rav.” Also included on the CD are “L’Cha Dodi,” “Shalom Aleichem,” “Yism’chu,” “V’sharm’ru,” “Mi-Chamocha,” “Ein Keloheinu,” and “Sim Shalom.” Some are new compositions and others are old with new arrangements. Cantor Shermet suggested logging on to www.TranscontinentalMusic.com to purchase the CD.
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Cantor Wendy Shermet of Temple Israel sings five selections on a new CD published by Transcontinental Music, the world’s leading publisher of Jewish music since 1938. The CD is the third volume of “Shabbat Anthology,” described as “a diverse collection of Jewish Sabbath music from contemporary songs to liturgical settings in the style of 19th to 20th century masters. Members of the Reform organiza-
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 6, 2006
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(Men making an annual gift of $6,000 or more) Joel Alperson ● Baker Family ❍ Harold Bernstein Robert Belgrade Steven Bloch ❏ Irv Blumkin ❏ Ronald Blumkin ■ Marc Brodkey Sherman Brodkey Jack Cohen Henry Davis ■ Gary D. Epstein ❏ Harold Epstein ❏ Paul Epstein ❏ Robert Epstein Joseph Erman ❍ Michael Erman ❍ Tom Fellman ❍ David Friedland ❍ Friedman Family ❍ Sandy Friedman Willard Friedman ❏ Lawrence Gilinsky Morton Glass ❏ Dick Glazer ❏ Donald Goldstein ❏ Buddy Goldstein ❏ Herbert Goldsten Trust ❍ Jeff Gordman Jerry Gordman Nelson T. Gordman ❏ Don Greenberg Paul Grossman Gary Javitch Arnold Joffe ❏ Lawrence Josephson Howard Kaslow ■ Kavich Family Charitable Foundation ❏ Joseph Kirshenbaum ❏ Kevee Kirshenbaum Howard Kooper ❍ Howard Krantz John Lehr * Martin Lehr ❏ Jay Lerner Leonard Lewis Livingston Foundation ■ Edward Malashock Bernie Meyers David Meyers Jerome J. Milder ❏ Allan Murow * N. Pitlor & Son ❏ Murray Newman ❍ Allan Noddle Jay Noddle ❏ Steven Nogg Omaha Bedding Company ■ Omaha Steaks ● Anne and Alan Simon Eve and Fred Simon Kathy and Steve Simon Stacy and Bruce Simon Todd Simon Alan Parsow Sol Parsow Michael Platt Henry & Dorothy Riekes Endowment Fund ❏ Andrew Robinson ❏ Blaine Roffman Larry Roffman Harley Schrager ❏ Millard Seldin ■ Ted Seldin ❍ Bruce Shackman ❏ Norm Sheldon Dan Sherman Mike Sherman * Steve Silver ❏ Stanley Silverman Stuart Simon Gerald Simons ❏ Milton Simons Mark Singer Slosburg Family Charitable Trust ❍ Jerry Slusky Special Donor-Advised Fund ❍ Swartzbaugh FarberAssociates, Inc. Isidore Tretiak (In Memory) Maurice Udes ❏ John Waldbaum ❏ Arnold Weitz Eugene Zweiback ❏ Anonymous
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David Goldstein Gary Goldstein Herman Goldstein Howard Goldstein Larry Goldstrom Mark Goldstrom Alan Goodman Eric Goodman * Harold Goodman Thomas Goodman Peter Gordon Lonnie Graul Gary Green Andrew Greenberg Gerald Gross Barry Grossman Alex Grossman Bucky Greenberg Maurice (Bud) Greenspan Bruce Gutnik Mace Hack Michael Halsted James Hamicksburg * Sheldon Harris Larry Herman Jerry Hoberman Kenneth Hoberman Michael Hoberman David Hoffman Philip Itkin Richard Ivers Lewis Izenstat Jon Jabenis Art Jacobson David Jacobson Richard Jacobson Marc Kahn Marcel Kahn Howard Kaiman Jerome Kaiman Leo Kamisar Gary Kaplan Myron Kaplan Robert Kaplan Sandy Kasin Sanford Kasner Robert Katleman Richard Katelman Jerry Katskee Milton Katskee Michael Katzman Rick Katzman Larry Kelberg Adam Kirshenbaum Corey Kirshenbaum Dick Kirshenbaum Matt Kirshenbaum Tom Kirshenbaum Donald Klein Milton Kleinberg Mark Kohn David Kotok Joseph Kosinovsky Abe Krasne Leonard Krasne Lloyd Krasne Manfred Kreitstein Stanley Krieger Rabbi Myer Kripke Abram Kukawka Alan Kulakofsky Robert Kully Allen Kurland Stuart Kutler Paul Landow Alan Langnas Mike Lazer Richard Lerner Ben Lebowich David Leibowitz Michael Leibowitz Hugh Levin Rabbi Mordechai Levin Mike Levine Steve Levinger Vidar Levit Roland Lewis Michael Liddy Eugene Linde Reuben Lippett Harvey Lipsman Boris Litvin Jerry Mack Bernard Magid Larry Malashock Neal Malashock Robert Malashock Stanley Mandler Harold Mann Justin Manvitz Todd Manvitz Irv Marcus Howard Martin Sheldon Masnek Boris May Maurice Meiches Gerald Meyer Bruce Meyers Marty Meyers Larry Meyerson Leo Meyerson Troy Meyerson Carl Milder
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Your gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign impacts the entire Jewish world. Locally, your ONE gift to the Campaign funds a wide variety of community services provided by the Federation and our Family of Agencies: ADL/CRC, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Senior Services and The Jewish Press. In Israel and overseas, your gift helps feed the hungry, rescue the oppressed and fight anti-Semitism. Your annual gift to the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Annual Campaign empowers you to make a visible and measurable difference in Jewish life.
The 2006 Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Campaign 2006 General Campaign Co-Chairs: Anne & Bruce Shackman 333 South 132nd Street Omaha,NE 68154 402/334-8200 info@jewishomaha.org www.jewishomaha.org Please note that this list of Federation donors is complete as of January 2,2006.Every effort is made to ensure that the list is accurate and we sincerely apologize if any name was incorrectly printed or inadvertently omitted.To update information in this donor listing,please contact Brenda Frank at 334-6429.
January 6, 2006
ORGANIZATIONS WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the Thursday, Jan. 12 day trip to the Alpine Inn, please meet at the JCC main entrance at 10:45 a.m., and we depart at 11 a.m. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638 for more information. VISIONS The Luncheon Meeting is on Friday, Jan. 20, 12:30 p.m. at the Venice Inn with ragtime piano player Marty Mincer. The cost is $9.50 per person. Incoming, outgoing and present board members will be installed for the year 2006. Send reservations to Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard Street, Omaha, NE 68114 by Jan. 13. For information call Harry Alloy at 697.8709. Visions Membership dues of $7.50 are due for the year 2006. Please mail your check to: Visions, c/o Beverly Gilinsky, 1406 No. 126 St., Omaha, NE 69154. Make all checks payable to: Visions. BREADBREAKERS A discussion of Munich, the new Steven Spielberg film, led by Rabbi Jonathan Gross on Wednesday, Jan. 11, noon, at the Regency Lodge, 107th and Pacific Streets. Cost is $11 for a complete lunch and $3 for beverage service only. All men and women in the community are invited to attend.
Yachad Gathers at Hanukkah Celebration by DUANE J. PIEPER Last month, the Yachad members and their families gathered together at the home of Becki Brenner, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service, for an early celebration of the Festival of Lights. After a sumptuous meal in a family-like setting the members gathered around and entered into the spirit and joy of Hanukkah singing traditional songs of the season lead by JCC shaliach Uri Levin and CJE shlicha Rachel Ochana, representatives from Israel working and living in Omaha this year. As they reflected on the recapturing of the Temple, against all odds, from that notorious Syrian ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, and the subsequent miracle of the lamp oil burning for eight days, it was something very special to be remembered and celebrated. A great miracle happen there! The lighting of the first candle of the hanukkiah was an intimate experience and there was a real sense of reverence surrounding the prayers of thanksgiving for the miracles performed in the time of the Maccabees and throughout history. Light, as it pierces the darkness, is an eternal symbol of hope for every generation guiding and illuminating the path of life. As the rays of light shown on the faces of the members there was a real sense of joy and appreciation reflected. The evening concluded with the sharing of gifts and warm hugs.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 5
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IN THE NEWS On Tuesday, Jan. 10, 6 p.m., Annelise Ocanto will be giving her Senior Voice Recital at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Admission is free. She will be performing pieces from composers such as Mozart, Ravel, Von Gluck, Chausson, and more. If you have any questions regarding the recital, please call 210.3280.
BIRTH Nicole and Todd Schachtman of Minnetonka, MN, announce the Nov. 28 birth of their son, Louis Jed. He is named in memory of his great.grandfather, Louis Morrison, and his grandmother, the late Doreen Joy Lerner. He has two brothers, Samuel and Oliver. Grandparents are Cheryl and Gary Lerner, and Nancy and Steve Schachtman of Minnetonka, MN. Great- grandparents are Ethel and Jerry Lerner of St. Louis, MO, and Shirley and Zollie Baratz of Minnetonka, MN.
Alan Friedman, left, Rachael Ochana, Lisa Salomon, Uri Levin, Michael and Josh Parsow, Grace Isler, Jill Salomon, Avi Wolfson, Nancy Isler, Jeff Steinberg and Ron Giventer gathered together to celebrate Hanukkah. Yachad will begin the new calendar year with a trip to the Qwest Center on Jan. 8 as guests of the Creighton Bluejay basketball team. On Jan. 29, they will be entertained by Omaha’s newest hockey team, the Ak.Sar.Ben Knights. For special rates and an evening of fun-filled action, please call JFS at 334.6491 to reserve your seats.
JEWISH PRESS NOTICE Pictures used in the 2005 Jewish Press Passover and New Year’s issues must be picked up by the end of January or they will be given to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. Questions? Call 334.6448 during regular business hours.
First Annual Decathalon Continued from page 1 After details for each event are established, the information will be publicized in future Jewish Press articles as well as at each synagogue. Congregants from each synagogue may participate in a maximum of three decathlon events. To sign up for any of the teams, people are to contact their synagogue team captains directly. The following is a list of team captains from the synagogues. Beth El Team Captains: Backgammon, Andy Raffel, araffel@netshops.com; Bowling, Gary Kudym, 496.4665; Dodgeball, Jeff Epstein, opscjeff@aol.com; Mah Jongg, Esther Wax, 393.4442 or Gloria Goodman, 333.3351 or Harriet Marcus, 397.0782; Pictionary, Cantor Gaston Bogomolni, 492.8550; Ping Pong, Wayne Schwarz, jetsmets@yahoo.com; Poker, Bret Atlas, 884.1474; Pool, Mike Schop, mschop@fntsinc.com; Spelling Bee, Lesli Shrago, 963.9889; Walk-A-Thon, Leslie Eades, 330.8208. Beth Israel Team Captains: Backgammon, Rabbi Jonathan Gross, 556.6288; Bowling, Michael Shrago, 963.9889; Dodgeball, Josh Gurock, 502.6520; Mah Jongg, Lynne Saltzman, 333.9778; Pictionary, Lesley Gendelman, 559.9330; Ping Pong, Donald Gerber, 681.2354; Poker, Rick Katzman, 614.0228; Pool, Shami Jacobs, 614.7327; Spelling Bee, Susie Shyken, 393.5816; Walk-A-Thon, Ann Moskovits, 491.3252. Temple Israel Team Captains: Backgammon, Jonathon Rockman, 397.7930;
Bowling, Adam Yale, 963.4084; Dodgeball, Matt Kirshenbaum, 445.4632; Mah Jongg, Linda Saltzman, 964.9013; Pictionary, John Glazer, john@phonet.com; Ping Pong, Joe Meyers, 491.0351; Poker, Adam Kirshenbaum, 964.5000; Pool, John and Hillary Fletcher, 346.9070; Spelling Bee, Jane Rips, 556.9338; Walk-A-Thon, Cantor Wendy Shermet, 289.4915. All three synagogue representatives emphasized that the idea behind the Decathlon is to provide a new and exciting way for the community to get together this winter. “Each congregation will encourage members to participate, as ‘athletes’ in events or as ‘fans’ in the cheering sections,” explained Cohen. “We tried to select events that would appeal to everyone, ranging from Dodgeball to a Spelling Bee,” said Simon. “We want to bring people together from the three synagogues, to socialize with one another in a new way.” Echoing a message similar to one associated with the International Olympic Games, Silverman stated, “This Decathlon isn’t about winning. The point is for people to participate and meet one another. To become more connected with our Jewish community. We’re a relatively small community and this is a fun and different way for us to meet and connect.” To participate in one of the Decathlon events, please contact the appropriate team captain from your congregation. And stay tuned for further details about the upcoming events.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 6, 2006
Temple Israel Serves Lots of Latkes to Hanukkah Crowd
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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Kol Rina sang, everybody ate lots of latkes, and the voices of young echoed children the during Hanukkah celebration at Temple Israel on Dec.23. Bev Gilinsky thought, “it was wonderful.” She enjoyed the worship Max Zweiback, three, and his grandservice and the din- mother, Judy Zweiback, wait patientner along with more ly for their table to be called to go than 200 others. through the buffet line. The evening was “warm and nice.” Kevin Saltzman agreed: “It was great, terrifically enjoyable, and I was surprised it was relaxing,” said the
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From ‘Venice’ to ‘Munich,’ a Far-flung Year in Movies The quintessential American Jewish independent, Woody Allen, released two films overrated by critics eager to trumpet his comeback. Quality aside, neither by MICHAEL FOX Melinda and Melinda nor Match Point contained Jewish characters, but one can hope that Allen hasn’t finished Steven Spielberg had to know he was walking into a mining his ethnic identity. hornet’s nest when he embarked on Munich. Still, he Hollywood more than made up for Allen’s shortfall, couldn’t have imagined that he’d be this year’s Mel though. The presumably Jewish sisters of In Her Shoes, Gibson. the boyfriend and his therapist mom (played by Meryl Gibson, of course, galvanized the Jewish community Streep) in Prime, lovelorn filmmaker Mark Cohen in in 2004 with The Passion of the Christ, which breathed Rent, TV producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney) in new life into the canard that the Jews killed Jesus. It was Good Night, and Good Luck and the manic protagonists hard to say which was more disturbing, the movie’s the- of The Producers were just some of the urban Jews sis or its phenomenal commercial success. prominently featured in central roles. As 2005 began, the likely subjects of controversy-Kevin Bacon played a Jerry Lewis-inspired comic though hardly on the named Lanny Morris in same scale--figured to be Where the Truth Lies, The Merchant of Venice which featured a key and Oliver Twist. The two scene triggered by the literary adaptations were word “kike.” Bob high risk and high profile, Hoskins winningly porwith Al Pacino and Ben trayed theater producer Kingsley interpreting the Vivian Van Damm in Mrs. problematic Jewish charHenderson Presents, and acters Shylock and Fagin. Allan Corduner played a But both films met with refugee tailor in 1930s unenthusiastic reviews Shanghai in the and indifferent public Merchant-Ivory misfire, response, and vanished The White Countess. from theaters almost Behind the camera, immediately. A few New Sidney Lumet, the deft York columnists assailed director of “Merchant” when it was A scene from ‘Paradise Now,’ a new movie directed by Hany Abu- The Pawnbroker and released in January, but Assad that explores the recruiting of suicide bombers. numerous other New by and large neither film Credit: Seamus Murphy, courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures York stories, received an made the slightest dent in Jewish consciousness. honorary Oscar. In the executive suite, Michael Eisner (Nonetheless, both are worth checking out on DVD.) was finally pushed out of Disney and Harvey Weinstein The most provocative Jewish-themed films of 2005, it left Miramax to form a new production and distribution turned out, came from the Middle East. Leading the entity dubbed The Weinstein Company. Another Jewish way was the quirky spy drama Walk on Water, which power player, the late Lew Wasserman, was the subject grossed $2.7 million to place fifth among all foreign-lan- of The Last Mogul, a documentary coming soon to DVD guage films, and the ultra-religious fable Ushpizin ($1.2 following its brief festival and theatrical run. million and counting). Those hits, plus the favorable It was an unexceptional year for Jewish documentaries, response to Nina’s Tragedies, Campfire and Or My all in all, with the prosaic Paper Clips, The Ritchie Boys, Treasure, guarantee that the wave of Israel movies Watermarks, Protocols of Zion and 39 Pounds of Love receiving U.S. distribution will continue. making the festival rounds. The Aristocrats featured a Generating the most discussion, though, was the crit- slew of Jewish comics from Shelley Berman to Howie ically acclaimed Palestinian drama Paradise Now. With Mandel to Jon Stewart, while a lone narcissistic comediticket sales approaching $1 million and the strong possi- enne commandeered the spotlight in Sarah Silverman: bility of an Academy Award nomination, the portrait of Jesus Is Magic. two suicide bombers is widely regarded as one of the A comparatively quiet year in movies, in other words, year’s most important films. until Munich arrived this month. Spielberg’s film kinOn the home front, Jewish families rather than politics dled the politely worded wrath of the Jewish establishprovided the focus for a surprising number of American ment by suggesting, among other things, that Israel paid independent films. Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the a moral price for retaliating for the Palestinian attack on Whale stood out from the pack, thanks largely to Jeff its athletes at the 1972 Olympics. Daniels’ performance against type as a selfish novelist Although reviews are mixed and other films seem and father. primed for glory come Oscar time, Munich will continA couple of bestsellers were transposed to the screen ue to provoke discussion on Op-Ed pages and within the with mixed results. Liev Schreiber’s deeply felt adapta- Jewish community. That’s hardly an insignificant tion of Everything is Illuminated was intriguing if not achievement for a movie, especially a flawed one. For all fully satisfying. David Siegel and Scott McGehee’s oddly the criticism that will be aimed at him, however, there’s detached Bee Season suffered from, among other things, no chance of Spielberg becoming a pariah. the miscasting of big stars. Speaking of Mel Gibson, he is reportedly producing a Slipping in under the radar was King of the Corner, a TV miniseries about the Holocaust that could air as poignant midlife comedy directed by and starring Peter soon as next fall. If you’re handicapping 2006 controRiegert that’s worth seeking out on DVD, and Paul versies, that’s a good bet. Reiser’s saccharine The Thing About My Folks.
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Bruce Goldberg (left) is served by Vince Long. Also serving are Jennifer Cohn and Ellen Long, Vince’s mother (right). father of two who attended with his wife Linda and their two children: Ari, four, and Dina, two.
January 6, 2006
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
underwritten by A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR Editor’s note: This month’s Teen Age features the teens of the Beyt Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation. Special thanks goes to Alice Weiss for collecting the material.
Beyt Shalom Teens on the Bimah
Adam Trubnikov, left, David Trubnikov, Anna Munzesheimer, Josh Pilley, Adam Simons, lay leader Marti Nerenstone, Judy Radloff, and Sara Munzesheimer.
If I Let It, BBYO Can Still Make an Impact
How We Learn in the Classroom by ADAM TRUBNIKOV “School is bad for children.” That is what John Holt said when he chose a topic name for his essay. There are actually reasons for why he believes this is so. A supplementary author by the name of Lynda Barry uses a topic name that describes the opposite perception. Holt and Barry have opposing views of the school environment. According to Holt and nearly every person in this planet, schools are designed to teach individuals in a manner which allows them to learn beneficially. When referring to elementary schools, this is not the case. Children are forced to work on their own and not converse with their fellow classmates. The students receive the correct answers before receiving the opportunity to truly think about and understand the given problem. Also, there are constant interruptions from students who don’t want to learn the material. Given this list of problems, our attention is focused toward the negatives of learning in an elementary school environment. Holt admits that schools have accomplished miraculous goals and that schools have been a proficient standard of education, yet that does not necessarily mean that this is the best way to achieve such goals. It could be improved just like industry improves itself. Tests should not be filled out individually, but with a fellow classmate to ensure understanding of a
by ANNA MUNZESHEIMER On Dec. 26, the day after the first night of Hanukkah I loaded my bulging duffel bag stuffed with about 10 outfits (around five of which I wasn’t going to need), a good deal of BBYO spirit accessories, and an excess of junk food into the trunk of dad’s van. I was on my way to spend four amazing days at a hotel with tons of Jewish teenagers from St. Louis, Omaha, and Kansas City for the annual Winter Regional Convention of BBYO. WRC was an amazing experience for me that made me realize my affection for this organization I had been of late drifting away from, BBYO. While at the convention the staff set us up in various programs where we not only were able to mix with and bond with Jews from other states, but we were also educated on the conflicts taking place in Israel. Before the convention, I had watched on television as they flashed shots of the Gaza Strip being evacuated and never bothered to dwell on the fine lines and details of this dilemma. It was soon revealed to me how little I actually knew about what was taking place in Israel. WRC rekindled the enthusiasm and optimism I had possessed upon joining BBYO and perhaps, if I allow it to, that enthusiasm can carry me throughout the rest of my high school career through the other conventions, BBYO programs, and friendships that await me in the future.
“A Gravediggers’s Discovery”
Anna Munzesheimer is a sophomore at Millard North High School.
by SARA MUNZESHEIMER She is a senior at Millard North High School
concept. By taking students out of the classroom who do not wish to study, a larger percentage of the class will be able to finish what was initially begun. Lynda Barry, on the other hand, thinks that this is not at all what schools for children are like. When she was attending school at a very young age, it was her “sanctuary”. Home was the place that grasped no desire from her. This being the case, she learned much more from her peers that paid attention to Barry rather then her parents who could care less about her well being. Thus contrary to Holt, schools are a great success in capturing the will of attendance. Both authors, John Holt and Lynda Barry, have truly opposing views on what the nature of the education system for minors is like. As this is so, there are surely others with their own beliefs, either those matching these authors’ extremes or stringing in the opposite directions. In the future, as more people begin to realize the tenacity of this vital component in a child’s life, change may very well become an even more common anomaly. However, until the majority of the public comes to an agreement on a single side, change may not make its breakthrough as one may expect. Adam Trubnikov is a freshman at Iowa Western Community College.
Second Best by JUDY RADLOFF Second best in art, trying to impress you in vain, and you say you are so smart. Second best in beauty, you say it’s personality, something I have not heard newly. Second best in intelligence, I understand what you say but can’t voice it, yet I am happy to be in your presence. You say you know, you say you understand. But how can you when you don’t see what is at hand. You asked me what was the one flaw I hated about you. My friend it is that you are blind and I wish you knew. That no matter how hard try to get this message to hit you like a dart. That I wish I would not always be second best in your heart. Judy Radloff is a sophomore at Millard North High School.
Drawing by RUTH RADLOFF She is a senior at Millard North High School.
After Tsunami, Group Works for Change in India by Focusing on Women’s Lives by PETER EPHROSS CHENNAI, India (JTA) -- In the southern Indian province of Tamil Nadu, time seems to be divided into two eras: before the tsunami and after the tsunami. “Before tsunami, we weren’t dependent on anybody for anything,” says Neataraj, a woman in the fishing village of Vellakoil. “After tsunami, we didn’t have anything at all.” But for some villages supported by the American Jewish World Service, the deadly tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004--and the outpouring of financial support that followed--has provided an opportunity to accelerate development efforts and focus on improving rural women’s lives. “This disaster has given us a space to create gender equality,” says Attapan, the director of Rose. Rose is one of the Indian nonprofit groups supported by the AJWS, which focuses on international development based on the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. The tsunami shook up rural Indian society, creating an opening for women to take a more prominent role. AJWS efforts were on display during a recent trip to southern India, a region where 10,000 people died and
Supporting rural women in the developing world, like these women meeting recently in southern India, is seen as the 'best single investment' that can be made in international development, says Michael Cohen, director of the New School for Social Research’s Graduate Program in International Affairs in New York. Credit: Peter Ephross/JTA hundreds of thousands more were left homeless by the storm. Women from area villages gathered in a thatched-roof
meeting hall in the village of Alamarai Kuppam to discuss their successes since they were organized by Guide, another of AJWS’ partner organizations in the region. “We stopped the men from making alcohol in our village,” one women said. Another explained, “We made demands for relief and got it,” referring to tsunami relief. Says Deval Sanghavi, founder of Dasra, an organization that finds project partners for the AJWS in India: “We try to involve women at every stage of the process” of aid and development in order to promote gender equality. In a country where male dominance is still the norm and girls younger than 15 are occasionally promised in arranged marriages in rural areas, there’s certainly a moral component to the pro-woman effort. “We have a mandate to look for people who are less well off,” and that means “women, children and refugees,” says Ruth Messinger, AJWS’ president. Results can be hard to quantify: One measure the AJWS and Dasra employ is how the leaders of their project partners are received when they enter a village. Continued on page 12
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January 6, 2006
The Rest of the Story... As promised, today we wrap up the list of Israeli accomplishments, published in Denver’s Intermountain Jewish News with assistance from the Israeli consulate. These facts are important to point out to both our non-Jewish friends of Israel (so they can spread the word, too) and to our enemies...like President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who would like to wipe us out. Perhaps, this should be sent to the United Nations as well, in hopes its leadership will ask Syria and Libya to step down from important UN committees. If you’ve been following along, you already know of many of the contributions by Israeli scientists, computer wizards and the like, from Intel processors to cherry tomatoes, from the popular game of Rummikub to the ICQ software that has made “IMing” the lifeline of teenagers. Here’s the rest of the list: • Israel’s Given Imaging developed the PillCam--the first ingestible video camera, which is so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, the camera helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive orders. • Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the United States, more than 70 in Japan and less than 60 in Germany. • A new acne treatment developed in Israel causes acne bacteria to self-destruct--all without damaging surrounding skin or tissue. • An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant in Southern California’s Mojave Desert. • Law enforcement agencies use Israeli tech-
nology to monitor voices and messages on conventional phones, mobile phones and emails. • Teva is the world’s largest generic pharmaceutical company. • A new brain implant has been developed in Israel that can lower the risk of stroke by diverting blood clots away from sensitive areas of the brain. • Two Israeli researchers are generating cancer-killing molecules that will recognize cancerous cells and target them aggressively, while not affecting normal cells. • Israeli researchers developed a novel stem cell therapy to treat Parkinson’s Disease--using a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells to produce the missing chemical that enables restoration of motor movement. • Israeli Professor Yehuda Finkelstein has discovered the cause and cure for halitosis (bad breath). • The Quicktionary, a pen size scanner that scans a word or sentences and translates it to a different language, was developed by the Wizdom company, based in Jerusalem. • Professor Ehud Keinan from the develTechnion oped a pen that identifies an improvised explosive. • Researchers at the Technion have
developed an antibiotic that destroys anthrax bacteria, as well as the toxins it secretes into the bloodstream of the infected body. • The sun-heated water tank, a device that converts solar energy into thermal energy and that saves about four percent of the national energy supply, was developed by an engineer in Jerusalem. Imagine what the Palestinian people could do if they put down their arms and agreed to negotiate a final settlement. With the brains and capital available in Israel and the manpower in the Palestinian Territory, they could partner to bring more of these original, inventive products to market. But maybe the PA President Mahmoud Abbas should first demand that Israel be noted in the textbooks used by Palestinian children...that is if he remains the one in charge after Hamas wins all the elections.
• Harvard and Georgetown universities each accepted US$20 million for Islamic studies from a Saudi prince who overtly promotes his government’s Wahhabi outlook, Alwaleed bin Talal. • A Florida jury somehow managed to overlook the massive evidence of Sami Al-Arian’s leading role in Palestinian Islamic Jihad and acquit him on this charge. • One leading Islamist organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, boasts an endorsement from Wells Fargo Bank, an of State Secretary invitation from Condoleezza Rice, and a letter of congratulations from the president’s brother, Jeb Bush. Another, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, hosted representatives of the departments of Justice and State at a conference last week.
bring Islam into the discussion, he was savagely criticized and threatened with libel, so he backed down. • The July transport bombings in the United Kingdom seemingly highlighted the dangers of homegrown Islamism. Five months later, however, lessons learned from this atrocity have been nearly forgotten. For example, the Blair government appointed an Islamist banned from entering the United States, Tariq Ramadan, to a prestigious taskforce; and it abandoned efforts even temporarily to close down extremist mosques. • As Israel’s population lurches leftward, led by a defeatist government (“We are tired of fighting, we are tired of being courageous, we are tired of winning, we are tired of defeating our enemies,” declares Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert), it forgets the lessons of Oslo, appeases its enemies, and virtually invites more violence against itself. Rudolph Giuliani worries that we are “going backward in the fight against terrorism.” Andrew McCarthy concludes that “the September 10[th] spirit is alive and well.” Steven Emerson tells me that “pre-9/11 political correctness has re-asserted itself.” And I worry that not even a catastrophic act of terror will return a desensitized West to its post-9/11 alarm, solidarity, and resolve. John Kerry’s notion of terrorism as a nuisance similar to prostitution or gambling has taken hold, suggesting that future acts of violence will be shrugged off. And, even if mass murders do wake the public, a next round of alertness will presumably be as ephemeral as the last one. If there ever was a crisis, it is over. Life is good, dangers are remote, security appears adequate … sleep beckons.
Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.
My Gloom
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by DANIEL PIPES Unlike most Americans, 9/11 made me feel more secure. Finally, the country was focused on issues that had long worried me. “The FBI is engaged in the largest operation in its history,” I wrote in late 2001, “armed marshals will again be flying on US aircraft, and the immigration service has placed foreign students under increased scrutiny. I feel safer when Islamist organizations are exposed, illicit money channels closed down, and immigration regulations reviewed. The amassing of American forces near Iraq and Afghanistan cheers me. The newfound alarm is healthy, the sense of solidarity heartening, the resolve is encouraging.” But I agonized whether it would last. “Are Americans truly ready to sacrifice liberties and lives to prosecute seriously the war against militant Islam? I worry about US constancy and purpose.” And right I was to worry, for the alarm, solidarity, and resolve of late 2001 have lately plummeted, returning us to a roughly pre-9/11 mentality. A number of recent developments leave me pessimistic. Within the United States: • The USA Patriot Act, a landmark of post9/11 cooperation between the military and law enforcement, passed the Senate 98-1 in October 2001. Last week, the same bill stalled in the Senate. • The mainstream media does not take Islamist aspirations seriously and sees the war on terror basically as over, as shown by Maureen Dowd’s comment that the Bush administration is trying “to frighten people with talk of Al Qaeda’s dream of a new Islamic caliphate.”
I worry that not even a catastrophic act of terror will return a desensitized West to its post-9/11 alarm, solidarity, and resolve. Then U.S. foreign policy: • Fixated on the goal of perfecting Iraq, where no major danger remains, the Bush administration seems to be allowing the Iranian regime to build nuclear weapons, stipulating only that the Russians carry out the uranium enrichment, an ineffectual safeguard. • Pursuing its democracy campaign to its logical conclusion, Washington is signaling a willingness to deal with Islamists in Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and elsewhere, thereby bolstering radical Islam’s power. Then international setbacks: • Elite opinion ascribes the French intifada only to faults in French society, such as unemployment and discrimination. When one leading intellectual, Alain Finkielkraut, dared
(Founded in 1920) Joanie Jacobson Chairman Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Jason Rich Sales & Marketing Intern Jewish Press Committee Howard K. Marcus, Vice-Chairman; Bobbi Leibowitz, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Finance Chairman; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Fred Tichauer, Immediate Past-chairman; David Herzog; Jamie Meyerson; Stanley Mitchell; George Quittner; Linda Saltzman; Joe Shyken; Michael Siegal; Nancy Skid; Dorothy Spizman; and Melany Weinstine. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is a constitutional committee of the Jewish Federation.
Daniel Pipes is Director of the Middle East Forum and author of Miniatures (Transaction Publishers). He can be reached at: www.DanielPipes.org.
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January 6, 2006
Real Elections/Real Democracy Now you can see the problem with the administration calling every country or entity that holds a by TOM NEUMANN vote a “democracy,” and anything that results from balloting “democratic.” The Jerusalem Post reports that Abu Mazen has gone to Egypt to discuss “postponing” the scheduled January Palestinian Authority (PA) elections because he believes a) Fatah is internally too fractured and b) Hamas will win. There is enormous irony in a semi-reformed terrorist meeting with a dictator-for-life to air his fears that un-semi-reformed terrorists will depose him and carry out the terrorist agenda more efficiently. Egypt’s autumn parliamentary election was marginally more open than previous referenda. But since Mubarak likes to threaten the U.S. that the only alternative to his continued rule would be Islamic extremists of the worst sort--après moi, le deluge--the election involved a tacit agreement between Mubarak and the Muslim Brotherhood to keep out truly democratic parties. The Islamists would gain enough seats by running as non-party candidates to scare the U.S. with the tide of the rising Brotherhood, but Mubarak would save the day with his victory. The deal, however, fell apart when the Brotherhood appeared to be making gains beyond Mubarak’s expectations, and he called out the army to beat and harass voters and candidates. In the Palestinian case, it is unclear why the U.S. ever accepted Abu Mazen as a legitimate interlocutor, since Mr. Bush called for the Palestinians to elect “new leadership untainted by terror,” and Abu Mazen is anything BUT untainted. Worse is how the U.S. accepted Hamas, a true, open avowed terrorist organization, dedicated to the destruction of an American ally and member of the UN as a legitimate contestant in elections. It is foolish and untrue to say the U.S. shouldn’t interfere--we have involved ourselves in everything about the PA from politics to negotiations with Israel to finances. Given the candidates and their platforms, the U.S. had the option of not certifying the election as meeting U.S. standards and withholding aid and recognition in advance. [We recall two JINSA Advisory Board members observing the Uzbek elections of 2000 as private citizens because the State Department decided a priori that the elections wouldn’t be “free and fair,” and refusing its imprimatur for the observers.] Currently, we’re rooting for Abu Mazen and Mubarak to come to an agreement on postponing the sham vote in the territories in January. The U.S. will be spared the immediate consequences of its indiscriminate approbation of non-democratic elections and may use the time to reflect on better models. Such as Iraq. In Iraq, it has become clear that most of the voters chose the parties of people most like themselves to represent their interests in Baghdad--Shi’ites voted Shi’ite, Sunnis voted Sunni, etc. The fact that non-religion/ethnicity based parties fared less well has been called a failure of “democracy.” But all the parties are committed to the political settlement of differences--a HUGE step toward consensual government which may, in time with proper nurturing, lead to real democracy. Less can be said of the others. Tom Neumann is the Executive Director of JINSA, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, found online at: www.jinsa.org.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Steven Spielberg’s film, Munich, is based on fraudulent information. Tragically, because he is such a good filmmaker, audiences will be deceived into taking his account, “inspired by real events,” to be the truth. Israel’s newspaper, Ha’aretz, reports that “the movie is based on a book in which there is no truth.” Research confirms this. Canadian journalist George Jonas’ 1984 book: Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli CounterTerrorist Team, is used by Spielberg as his reference. Jonas relied largely on the information given him by Yuval Aviv, a man who posed as a Mossad agent, “even though he had never worked in the Mossad and certainly had not participated in operations to kill those involved in the athletes’ murder.” His only security experience was when he worked as a security guard for El Al in New York. Shaister.com tells us that “Zvi Zamir, who was head of Mossad during that period, has also stated on several occasions that he has never known Aviv and there there is no connection between what is related in Jonas’ book and what really happened.” Zamir also states that he was never contacted by Spielberg for the true facts in the case, and he is surprised that the director would “rely on this particular book” for his source material. Dec. 21 marked the anniversary of the PanAm 103 bombing over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988, which is related to the same Yuval Aviv and his fraudulent actions. The bombing, which claimed the lives of 243 passengers and 16 crew members. There were 37 students on board flying home from an overseas study program in London. One of those students was the only child of Susan and Dan Cohen, who have never ended their efforts to avenge their daughter’s death. The Cohens are very disturbed about the fact that Yuval Aviv, the same Mossad imposter who tried to take advantage of them, is the man whose fraudulent information was the source for Steven Spielberg’s new film, Munich. According to the Cohens, Aviv’s “unscrupulous practice of telling tailor-made stories to the highest bidder” is illustrated by the fact that Aviv wrote a report exonerating PanAm in the 103 matter which gained him much media attention. Aviv had previously contacted them “and offered information that would prove that PanAm had been negligent in preventing the disaster,” just the opposite of what he was saying on behalf of PanAm. Spielberg does a disservice in basing his film on fallacious material, and presenting the Munich massacre and Israel’s response as a “perpetual motion machine” and a “quagmire of blood for blood.” He describes the massacre as a “response to a response”. One must ask Spielberg what the Arabs were “responding” to when they carried out their murderous deed. By falsely creating an atmosphere of moral equivalency in his film, Spielberg adds to the pain and suffering of the PanAm 103 families and all others who have been affected by the murderous actions of terrorists. By choosing to deceive his movie going public about the true nature of the “clash of civilizations” and Islam’s war against western civilization, he contributes to the threat to Israel, America, and the western world. Helen Freedman, Executive Director Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI To the Editor: For years, Girls and Boys Town has been a great neighbor to Beth El Synagogue. They have not only
allowed their lake near their Post Office to be used for Tashlich every year between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but have provided security for the members of Beth El crossing West Dodge to observe that ritual. So, last week at Girls and Boys Town, Harold Zabin, Steve Riekes, the Orloff family and I volunteered to serve the evening meal to about 300 boys and girls and staff members with other volunteers, under the auspices of the Beth El Men’s Club President Harry Weiner. We had a grand time and it was a wonderful experience for all the volunteers. The shining faces of the children at this special time of the year was a memory I will never forget. The eagerness of the volunteers to serve, work and attend to the food service and the clean-up afterwards was magical. Father Boes and Father Peter, the new director and director emeritus, thanked all the volunteers; the Beth El Men’s Club was singled out before the meal and premeal prayers with Hanukkah wishes. It’s important that people know about this time of sharing and helping our worthy neighbor--Girls and Boys Town--which does so much to help those in dire need. David Herzog To the Editor: When the President of Iran calls for the destruction of Israel, he’s talking about the elimination of David, Ari, Esther, you and me. When the United Nations holds sessions with maps that blatantly exclude Israel they’re eliminating David, Ari, Esther, you and me. But what can we do about this, especially from so far away? We can answer it by building and creating. We can embrace life, as the Jewish people have done for the past 5766 years. We can take care of Israel by building communities and caring for the land. This is what we have done for Israel, and no other organization has done more for the land of Israel over the past one hundred years than Jewish National Fund. What can you do to fight this rhetoric today? There are many things you can do, but please--do something. Create a stronger Israel today. Our answer to destruction is construction. This is the impetus behind our Blueprint Negev initiative, a bold new plan to develop 60% of Israel’s land, where only 8% of its population lives today. Secure our future. Israel has no chance for long-term survival without creating future advocates. JNF is educating tomorrow’s leaders with Caravan for Democracy, one of our educational programs where Jewish high school and college students in America are prepared for the anti-Israel sentiment they now face on campus. We are connecting students to Israel in an innovative way, by asking our college students to forego their usual spring breaks to Cancun or Florida and instead go to Israel, work in the Negev, and be a part of something bigger than themselves. We have over 100 students ready to participate in 2006. Plant a tree in Israel. This may be what you know JNF for best. We have planted over 240 million trees in Israel to celebrate life cycle events or memorialize Jewish people from all over the world. We do this because we understand that the soil of Israel is the soul of the Jewish people. Make a tax-deductible donation to Jewish National Fund today! Together, let us show the world that we are one with the land and people of Israel. Best wishes for a Ronald S. Lauder happy and healthy 2006. President, Jewish National Fund
Contact us at 330-4272, info@rbjh.com. or http://www.rbjh.com .
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January 6, 2006
Candlelighting Friday, Jan. 6, 4:52 p.m.
Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com
Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org
Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org
Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org
Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org
Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244
Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethlincoln.org
If you’re looking at this space, so are others! YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...
to reserve space, call Allan Handleman, 334.6451.
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. in the chapel. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; K’tantan (K-2), 10:45 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Beth El; Tot Shabbat, 11 a.m. Led by Esther Katz, this new monthly service will be followed by a special pizza lunch for Tot Shabbat families only--$5 for adults, children 6 and under are free. For reservations, contact Margie Gutnik in the office or via e-mail at: programming@bethelomaha.org; Evening Service, 4:55p.m. SUNDAY: Bible Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Living Hebrew, 10 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah class, 10 a.m.; Jewish Pot Pourri Class, 11 a.m.; Adult Trope Class, 11 a.m.; and From Your Heart to God’s Ears, 11 a.m. SERVICES: WEEKDAY Sunday, 9 a.m./5:30 p.m.; Weekdays, 6:55 a.m./5:30 p.m. PATTER: Wednesdays, 10:30 -11:45 a.m. led by Helen Epstein THURSDAY, noon: Discovering the Talmud: Lessons for Everyday Living, with Rabbi Levin. PASSOVER CANDY SALES: Talmud Torah students will be selling Barton’s Passover candy. (See full article on page 11.) FLAMENCO PERFORMANCE: Thursday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, the community will see “An Exploration of Jewish Roots in Flamenco,” an evening of music and dance directed by Tamara Say. (See full article on page 3.) FRIDAY NIGHT JUNIOR CONGREGATION: There will be a Shabbat service on Jan. 13, 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. (See full story on page this page.) HAZAK SHABBAT: Saturday, Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m., followed by a Lunch ’n Learn, featuring storytellers Marcy and Anna Cotton. (See full article on page 11.)
NASHIR CHOIR: Beth El’s new choir will meet in the chapel on Sundays, 10-11 a.m., beginning Jan. 15, open to the Omaha Jewish community, ages 14 and up, Nashir will be led by congregant Emily Meyer. Anyone interested in joining is to contact Cantor Gastón Bogomolni at cantor@bethel-omaha.org. KADIMA SHABBATON: Sign up for Kadima (Sixth to Eighth grade) Shabbaton, on Jan. 27-29 at Gretna’s 4-H Camp. Cost is $85 (financial assistance is available through BESTT); registration forms are available in the synagogue and BESTT offices. For more information, contact Education Director Judy Rubin at 498.0904, or eddir@bethelomaha.org, or Youth Director Jamie Skog at 492.8550, or youthdir@bethel-omaha.org.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 5 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free Babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Paysie and Susie Shyken in honor of Joey Shyken’s birthday; Mincha, 12:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 5:58 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Sunday Class and Hebrew Club resume today; Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time. TUESDAY, Fast of the 10th Tevet: Fast begins, 6:38 a.m.; Fast ends, 5:52 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Board of Commissioner’s Meeting, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Advanced Parshah Study, 9 p.m. Make your reservations for the Jan. 14 Travelin’ Toddlers trip to My Gym. Call the office for more information.
Beth El Plans Special Friday Night Junior Congregation Service by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator In addition to Beth El’s regularly-scheduled Saturday morning Junior Congregation services, a special Friday night Junior Congregation Shabbat service has being planned for Jan. 13, in the sanctuary. Led by Eadie Tsabari and Andy Greenberg, pictured right, practicing with some of the Talmud Torah students), this service will
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.; Ima & Me, 10–11:30 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush to follow service. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m.; Mishne class, 9:30 a.m.; Chabad Cheder and Aleph Champions, 10 a.m.-noon. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Halacha, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. Kabbalah WEDNESDAY: Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Tiny Treasures, a club that gathers Jewish children ages 3-5 for fun, interactive activities that promote Jewish values and friendships, 10 a.m.; Torah Tots (ages 3-5), 4:15 p.m. For information about programs or to register for classes, the office or visit: call www.nebraska-judaism.com.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg provided by Barb Straus. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, grades K, and 4-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon, at Tifereth Israel; grades 1-3 and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m., led by Andy Greenberg.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Tri Faith Dialogue, 8:30 a.m.; Tot Shabbat Family Service and Dinner, 6 p.m.; Rabbi Craig Marantz will officiate; College Shabbat Service and Dinner, 6 p.m.; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will officiate. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SITTER SERVICE: Available at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, and Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Advance reservations and a $5 donation are appreciated. Sorry, there are no facilities for infants. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Jan. 8: Beyond the Aleph Bet with Colleen Kennealy, 10:15 a.m. Class is $18, members; $25, non-members; The 4 B’s: Is She Here? Looking for God in the 21st Century, with Rabbi Azriel, 10:30 a.m. TUESDAY, Jan. 10: Experiencing Judaism, 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY, Jan. 12: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Cantor Shermet, 10-11:30 a.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 4:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. with a Shabbat dinner following. SATURDAY: Parashat Hashavu’a class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Shabbat lunch and Talmud class. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m.
Menorah Lit at Governor’s Mansion Yossi, the son of Republican State Central Committee M e m b e r Dinah Abrahamson, lights the menorah with Gov. Dave Hineman at the Governor’s Mansion during Hanukkah.
offer third-through-seventh graders the opportunity to help lead Shabbat services and participate in a discussion about the week’s parasha. All of Beth El’s
To Submit B’nai Mitzvah Announcements
students are welcome to participate in or attend this special service.
Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org. You can also submit announcements online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements.
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December 30, 2005
The Deaths of Jacob and Joseph Beth El’s Annual Hazak
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Vayehi It is interesting that both our Sidra, “And Jacob Lived,” and a previous Sidra, “the Life of Sarah”, both report deaths, not life. Jacob had said to Pharaoh that he was 130 years old (“few and evil”) and now it is reported he lived 17 years more in Egypt. He now demands of Joseph a pledge not to bury him in Egypt, but to bring him back to Canaan. Jacob blesses Ephraim and Menashe (the younger before the elder!), the sons of Joseph. Then in difficult and magnificent poetry, Jacob blesses his sons. To a large extent, we see this blessing as a kind of already accomplished foretelling of what will happen to the 12 Tribes. In Chapter 50, which closes the Book of Genesis, Jacob is embalmed and placed in a coffin. There is something pathetic here: Joseph is master of Egypt--and yet he asks others to ask Pharaoh for permission to take his father to Canaan for burial. A large armed contingent accompanies them. To protect them on the way? Or to make sure that they return!? Pathetic, too, is the fear of the brothers that Joseph now will take revenge upon them for their treatment of him as a youngster. But Joseph is magnanimous and has no desire to do harm to his brothers. We are told that Joseph lives to 110. He had made his brothers swear that if they leave Egypt to return to Canaan that they would take his bones back, they or their children or grandchildren, to be placed in the cave of Makhpela, where his ancestors lay. He is placed in a coffin in Egypt. With those words, the Book of Genesis ends. It is Moses himself, in the course of time, who brings Joseph’s bones to Canaan, a footnote to the Exodus story.
DEATHS WILLIAM (BILL) SIREF William Siref died Dec. 25 at the age of 84. Services were held Dec. 27 at Golden Hills Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Esther; children, Dr. Melvin and Dr. Janice Snyder of Rolling Hills, CA, Dr. Gilbert and Margie Brodsky of Needham, MA, Dr. Larry and Kathy Siref of Omaha; sister, Mary Saferstein; and sisterin-law, Sylvia Davis; grandchildren, Jason Snyder and Cynthia Richman, Kevin, Laurie and Michael Snyder, Joshua, Jeffrey and Adam Brodsky, Andrew and David Siref. Memorials to Temple Israel or charity of choice. MILLARD R. SPEIER Millard Speier died Dec. 29 at the age of 94. Services were held Jan. 1. He was a longtime owner of Badger Body Mfg., started by his father-in-law, Harry C. Rosenfeld. Since World War II, he has been active with the Red Cross and directed rescue efforts during the 1953 flood. After retiring, he enjoyed reading stories to children at Swanson Elementary School and to the blind. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Harriet, and wife of 14 years, Helen. He is survived by children, Richard Speier and Susan Hartman; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren and long time friend, Rosie Ziegman. Memorials to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
Shabbat to Feature Local Storytellers during Lunch ’n Learn by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El Synagogue’s Hazak group (for congregants ages 55 and older), is planning a special morning for its annual Hazak Shabbat on Saturday, Jan. 14. Coordinated by Buddy Goodman, Shabbat services – led by Hazak members--will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by an entertaining Lunch ’n Learn is on tap, featuring the mother-daughter storytelling team of Marcy and Anna Cotton. This talented duo will captivate and delight attendees with their yarn-spinning finesse--and the entire community is invited to attend!
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
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Cost of the luncheon is $8 for adults and $4.50 for children 12 and under; children five and younger are free. Reservations are needed by Jan. 9, and may be made by sending a check to Natalie Rubin, 2004 So. 138 Ave. Cir., Omaha NE 68144. For more information about the luncheon, contact Gloria Goodman at 333.3351.
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Beth El Passover Candy Sale Sure to Satisfy Your Seder Sweet Tooth by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator With Pesach just around the corner, students of Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah (BESTT) will once again be selling Barton’s Passover candy, offering a fantastic selection of sweets and treats for every Seder table. This annual fund-raiser, organized by BESTT PTA chairwomen Jill Simon and Leslie Eades, will accept candy orders from Jan. 9 through Feb. 19, with items priced from $2.50 to $25. Who can resist sweets such as almond butter crunch, chocolate lollycones, crème mints and chocolate matzoh? Barton’s boasts a delicious assortment of goodies, and everyone loves these special Passover sweets and treats, so be sure to order yours today! Order forms will be available at the synagogue office (492.8550), through the BESTT office (498.0904), on the Beth El web site www.bethel-omaha.org, and through all BESTT students. Beth El is the ONLY institution in town selling Barton’s candy--so satisfy your sweet tooth and help support Beth El’s Talmud Torah!
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Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 6, 2006
BLUE RIBBON
After the tsunami Continued from page 7 Still, even just having the women speak out is progress, local leaders say -- and for the first time, several women from the region say they will be running as candidates in local elections scheduled for next year. There’s an economic benefit to building a woman’s movement in India and elsewhere in the developing world, says Michael Cohen, director of the New
Top photo: A southern Indian villager discusses her experiences during last year’s devastating tsunami, during a December 2005 meeting with visiting American reporters. Bottom photo: Residents of the Indian village of Vellakoil take part in an emergency preparedness exercise on an Indian Ocean beach in December 2005 designed to help them respond more effectively to disasters like last year’s tsunami. Credit: Peter Ephross/JTA School for Social Research’s Graduate Program in International Affairs in New York: In post-disaster relief situations, women’s groups provide a vital contact for governments and aid groups because they have proven to be most effective in organizing local communities. Working with women, particularly educating them, is probably the “best single investment” that can be made in international development, he says. “It helps on the income side and reduces the family size.” Both elements are key to reducing rural poverty, still a major issue in India, where hundreds of millions of people live in the countryside. The AJWS also promotes equality across castes, a complicated goal in a country where the caste system remains a major social force, although it was officially abolished in 1949. The mixture of castes among the women at the meeting in Alamarai Kuppam was striking: It included some participants who are dalit, the group once known as untouchables. Like much of the world, the Jewish community opened up its pocketbooks after the tsunami, which killed more than 200,000 people. Jews donated to relief efforts by both Jewish and non-Jewish agencies. Individual Jewish groups, notably the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which raised $18.5 million, have been active in relief and rebuilding efforts in Thailand, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The AJWS’ efforts in the region make for a compelling story. First, the group raised tsunami relief money equivalent to more than 40 percent of its entire 2005 budget--more than $11.2 million in relief as of Dec. 1.
The extraordinary fund-raising effort was just the latest example of the growth of the AJWS, which was formed in 1985 and has grown substantially during the last several years under Messinger. When President Bush invited 19 nonprofit groups involved in post-tsunami work to the White House in January, the AJWS, which has received the top rating from the Charity Navigator nonprofit evaluation service, was among them. “We think it’s fundamentally Jewish to fight oppression and to meet the needs of the poor and the stranger and to pursue justice,” says Messinger, who has also made the ongoing crisis in the Sudan, where tens of thousands of people have died in government-sponsored violence, a focus of the group’s efforts. Until they find out about the AJWS, she says, many Jews don’t realize that supporting international relief and development and pushing for involvement in Darfur are things “they could do Jewishly.” After the tsunami, the AJWS expanded into Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the two countries hardest hit by the storm. But the group had been working in India before the tsunami, and had developed relationships with some nonprofits there. That prior involvement, AJWS says, helped it not only in distributing initial relief funds but in funneling aid to longterm development projects. The accomplishments and uncertainties of relief and development efforts can be seen in southern India. New fishing boats, often carrying the names of two or three relief groups that paid for the vessels, dot the oceanside landscape. In the months after the tsunami, “that’s what everybody was talking about -- nets and boats, nets and boats,” says Kate Kroeger, the AJWS’ senior program officer responsible for its India projects. There’s no doubt that this work was vital, and the AJWS did a lot of it. Indian fishing communities generally are selfsufficient--they eat some of what they catch and sell some at market--but their proximity to the water made them the most likely victims of the tsunami. However, villagers say the tsunami caused changes in ocean and weather patterns, evidenced most recently by recent heavy rains and floods that have made the ocean waters unpredictable. “Because of the ecological change, we can’t predict how much fish we can catch this month,” says Sambat, 32, who lives in the village of Pudu Kalpakkam. The influx of international aid has created a climate of dependence in which villagers expect handouts. To counter this possibility, the AJWS works with nonprofits screened by Dasra, giving small grants in the $20,000-$40,000 range per year. So far the group has distributed about 20 percent of the money it collected after the tsunami. It plans to parcel out the rest during the next few years. “A lot of donors just come and go after an emergency. But the real work really takes place a few years after the emergency,” Kroeger says. For the AJWS, that real work means supporting women and families, with an eye on the long haul. On a recent warm evening, as nightfall approached in the village of Devaneri, children sat in small groups on a rooftop. With directions from a staff member from a group known as Dreamcatchers, they’re drawing pictures of the sky, and which part of the sky they want to be. JTA Foreign Editor Peter Ephross recently traveled to India on a trip sponsored by the American Jewish World Service.
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