Vol. LXXXIII No. 20 Omaha, NE
“Live from the 92nd Street Y” Continues with Kushner, Safire by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director As our broadcast season continues, two more big names are scheduled to appear Live from the 92nd Street Y. Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of the international best seller, Why Bad things Happen to Good People, will have his lecture broadcast live via satellite on Thursday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., in the JCC Theater. The broadcast is titled, “Psalms: Ancient Songs of the Spirit.” As one of today’s most Rabbi Harold Kushner thoughtful and engaging teachers and scholars, Kushner will explore the biblical book of Psalms, and the Jewish mysticism and spirituality it inspires. Kushner is also the author of Living a Life that Matters: Resolving the Conflict Between Conscience and Success. Kushner most recently released Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, a new conservative Torah volume, on which he was a primary contributor. This broadcast is being co-sponsored by Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS), and Guy Matalon, JELS Executive Director is particularly excited about the broadcast. “The Book of Psalms was given to the People of Israel as a way to connect to God,” explained Matalon. “It allows every person to find a particular chapter that fits to his or her own circumstances. Psalms are the heart of Jewish prayer and their effect in Jewish mystiContinued on page 2
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
ADL, Creighton, JELS & UNO to Host Conference on The Passion by JILL BELMONT for the Anti-Defamation League A day-long symposium motivated by the soon-to-bereleased movie, The Passion of the Christ, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Creighton University, according to I. Robert Wolfson, Executive Director of the AntiDefamation League-Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. The film, produced and directed by Mel Gibson, depicts the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, and has raised concerns about the portrayal of Jews and their role in the crucifixion. “A group of us looked at all the controversy surrounding the upcoming film and felt there was a lot of heat and not much light,” Wolfson said. “We decided to hold a conference about Passion plays in general, realizing that it might be very helpful to people confronting Director Mel Gibson Credit: Touchstone Pictures the issues raised
Albuquerque Rabbi to Sing on Shabbat Shira at Temple Israel
This Week: America Decides 2004 Starts on Page 4 B’nai Israel Synagogue to Celebrate Centennial Page 2
Iris Ricks Named New JELS Ass’t Director: Page 3
by this particular portrayal.” A group of nationally-known speakers will explore issues surrounding the Passion narrative, including antiSemitism, the historical Jesus, portraying Jesus in the movies, the Roman Catholic perspective, and media coverage of the controversy, Wolfson said. The event is being co-sponsored by Creighton University’s Center for the Study of Religion and Society, the ADL-CRC, the Journal of Religion & Film, the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization, the Journal of Religion & Society, and Jewish Educational and Library Services. “We have a great collaboration of people in the Omaha community, addressing an important issue and trying to educate. It’s Omaha at its best!” Wolfson said.” The film’s controversy has not been limited to Omaha, and the impact of this conference could be beneficial to a much wider audience, he added, noting that, “this will be one of the first academic conferences to take place around the release of this movie. It will not be a forum to attack Mel Gibson’s piece; rather, we want to discuss how and why passion narratives can be problematic. We hope to elevate the conversation, bring everyone to the table, and give people an opportunity to learn the issues so that they can have informed conversations with others.” The morning session, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (including lunch), will take place at the UNO William H. Thompson Alumni Center; the afternoon session, from 2-5:30 p.m., will be held at Creighton’s Skutt Student Center Ballroom. Both sessions, as well as lunch, are free and open to the public. Continued on page 12
BBYO Teens Plan Auction for Israeli Families
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN “The Magic Door,” which Temple Israel was sponsored by a rabbiniCommunications Coordinator cal association. Black was If he hadn’t become a Tiny Tov, the happy elf on rabbi, Joe Black may well the show, for three years. have become an entertainer. “I played an elf who When he was five years taught moral values, kind of old, Black started taking a combination of Peter Pan piano lessons. “He hated to and Dear Abby,” Black practice,” said his mother recalled. Sophie Black. “But he was He took some time off always very good, and I from college and went to never understood that.” Israel where he played his Little did she know then music on the streets. But he where it would lead. began to realize that music When he was in fifth or alone was not enough. “I sixth grade, young Joe missed the spiritual and Black picked up a guitar intellectual parts of life,” he and realized he had a pretty remarked. Rabbi Joe Black good ear. “I basically could After returning from hear a song and figure out how to play it on the gui- Israel, he earned an undergraduate degree in education tar,” he said. from Northwestern and then, after getting his master’s Some people think Black sounds like James Taylor. degree, he went on to receive his rabbinic ordination That seems to be all right with Black. Taylor was just from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of one of the musicians who inspired Black when he was Religion in 1987 after studying in Cincinnati, Ohio, and growing up in Chicago. Mostly, he listened to Chicago Jerusalem. folk and blues artists including Howlin Wolf, Jimi After serving as assistant and associate Rabbi at Hendrix, Steve Goodman, and John Prine. The rabbi Temple Israel in Minneapolis, MN, he was named senalso remembers Muddy Waters and Pete Seeger with ior rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New fondness. Mexico, in 1996. He maintains a heavy load as a counWhile still in high school, Black taught music in the selor, teacher, caregiver, administrator, community Jewish community. As a student at Northwestern spokesman, and performer, not to mention husband University, he played in some Chicago clubs and got a and father. job on the popular Chicago children’s television show, Continued on page 11
Inside
22 Tevet, 5764 January 16, 2004
by ALANA KINARSKY and LESLIE GRAUL An afternoon of Israeli foods and dance is making its way to the JCC! On Sunday, Jan. 25, 1-3 p.m., teens in the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, the largest and oldest Jewish youth group in the world, have invited all Jewish teens and their families to join them on a “Virtual Trip to Israel.” Come eat falafel and hummus, dance the Israeli way, participate in an astounding auction, and mingle with members of the Jewish community. The afternoon is free to all teens and their families, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds from these donations as well as the auction will be given to an Israeli organization called “Shop2Give.” Shop2Give raises funds in North America to buy products from suffering stores in downtown Jerusalem. These products are then distributed to social service agencies throughout Israel, and from there, the agencies distribute the products to needy families. A desire among Omaha teens to assist in the financial and social recovery of Israel has provided the drive to once again raise money for a charity that will benefit the people of Israel. Since the ongoing terror has plagued the lives of Israelis, a 70 percent loss of sales has occurred. Many families are turning to local agencies to assist them with everyday needs. Families in Israel need stable homes, quality libraries, and excellent schools, and that is why Shop2Give was created. Continued on page 2
Coming Next Month: Home & Garden Issue on Feb. 20 Read It and Eat: The Way We Cook: Page 7
An Omaha Student “Takes a Journey” Page 12