January 25, 2008

Vol. LXXXVII No. 20 Omaha, NE

B’nai B’rith sports banquet to feature legendary Sooner Coach

by HOWARD BORDEN At the 32nd Annual B’nai B’rith Charity Sports Banquet in 1986, then Oklahoma Head Football Coach Barry Switzer opened his first speech ever in Nebraska by shouting “Go Big Red!” The record crowd of over 1,800 sports enthusiasts roared with laughter and appreciation at the Peony Park Ballroom.

Barry Switzer will reprise his appearance at the 54th Annual Charity Sports Banquet on Wednesday May 7, at the Qwest Convention Center.

The former Dallas Cowboys Coach and Superbowl champ will also help the Lodge honor the Metro area's most outstanding high school senior male and female student-athletes.

The honorees will receive the Lodge’s prestigious Bert Render and Earl Siegel Memorial Awards and will split $3000 in scholarships provided by radio sponsor NRG Barry Switzer Media (1620 The Zone).

“We are thrilled that Coach Switzer will entertain us once again with his insight and observations on the changes on and off the field pertaining to college and professional football,” Banquet Chairman Gil Cohen stated.

“We are also looking forward to hosting our event for the first time at the Qwest Center. We are expecting a tremendous crowd of sports fans for the evening,” said Cohen.

Cohen announced another highlight for the event: The popular Omaha media personality, Otis XII, will again delight the crowd with his humorous role as Master of Ceremonies.

Also new this year will be a silent auction of incredible sports memorabilia. The evening begins with the cocktail hour at 5:45 p.m. with the dinner following an hour later. Regular ticket price is $110 per ticket or $1100 for a full table of 10. Special VIP reception/dinner tickets are $150 each and include a free-parking pass.

Tickets and information can be obtained by calling the B’nai B’rith Office at 334.6443.

Previous banquet speakers include: Howard Cosell, Lou Holtz, John Madden, Joe Paterno, David Stern, Mike Ditka, Bob Devaney, Keith Jackson, Bobby Knight, Bill Walsh, Dick Vitale, Bobby Bowden, Joe Theismann, Lee Corso, Terry Bradshaw, Dr. Tom Osborne, Roy Firestone, Dick Schaap, Steve Spurrier, Greg Gumbel, Dan Patrick, Trev Alberts, Ron Jaworski, Barry Alvarez and last year Colin Cowherd.

Henry Monsky Lodge is part of B’nai B’rith, an international Jewish service organization that promotes brotherhood, fights discrimination and works for community improvement. The Lodge distributes a portion of the proceeds to local charities and their youth programs.

Barry Switzer was born in Crossett, Arkansas and was a top student and athlete at Crossett High School. After receiving many offers, Switzer attended the University of Arkansas where he played center and linebacker for the Razorbacks. He captained the 1959 team that garnered the Southwestern Conference and Gator Bowl titles, and graduated in 1960.

After his military service, Coach Switzer returned to the University of Arkansas as a coach in 1961. In 1966 he became Offensive Line Coach under Jim MacKenzie at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued on page 2

Inside

Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

18 Shevet, 5768

January 25, 2008

Jewish community unites to help Muslim child and family

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN who was a building contractor in Israel. He left his job Temple Israel Communications Coordinator and began a six-month mission and tour of Israel to raise Rayik Sulliman and Radiya Grefat, a Muslim Bedouin the money. His government insurance paid $275,000. couple from El-Zaarzir, a small village near Nazareth in Another $250,000 came from a complementary insurthe Central Galilee of Israel, had hoped to take their 23month-old son, Basem, home in December after he underwent multiple-transplant surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on April 24 last year. But after follow-up surgery in September, Basem became critically ill.

At one point, his parents feared he wouldn’t live through the night.

Basem was born at a small hospital in Nazareth six weeks premature and developed a complication called NEC, necrotizing entrocolitis. His bowel was inflamed and stopped functioning normally.

He was transferred to Rambam, a large medical Basem, son of Rayik Sulliman and Radiya Grefat, is recovering at UNMC, from a setback folcenter in Haifa, where he lowing a multiple organ transplant last April. He and his family, Muslim Bedouins from the and his healthcare team bat- Upper Galilee, hope to return to Israel as soon as Basem is well enough to travel. tled for his life. After long-term intravenous nutritional ance agency. The Department of Health contributed supplement, he suffered liver failure, one of the treat- $150,000, and a bank donated $50,000. Another ment's complications. At that point, with both liver and $250,000 had to be raised from private donations. intestine damage, his only chance was organ transplant.

They were still $25,000 short, but Rayik, 42, and Sulliman’s insurance company recommended two Radiya, 30, left behind their older son, Muhammad, places in the world for the transplant surgery. First on who is now three and living with Radiya’s parents, and the list was the University of Nebraska Medical Center brought Basem to Omaha on March 25, 2007.

(UNMC) followed by a facility in Miami, Florida. The Once they arrived here, they waited less than five couple decided to come to Omaha, but first, they had to weeks for the organs that would potentially save Basem’s raise one million dollars. life.

“Everything we had was shattered,” said Sulliman, Continued on page 2

Ms. magazine’s rejection of ad elicits strong response from Jewish community paign, launched Sunday, urges people to write, call or email the prominent feminist magazine to “register your complaint at their anti-Israel bias.”

Among those who were to have addressed the news conference in New York were: Orthodox feminist leader Blu Greenberg, authors Phyllis Chesler and Francine Klagsbrun, and Susan Weidman Schneider, editor of Lilith magazine. Statements were read from author Cynthia Ozick and scholar Susannah Heschel.

The ad in question features photos of three prominent Israeli women leaders and the phrase, “This is Israel.” AJCongress leaders claim it was rejected by Ms. magazine because of the magazine’s bias against Israel, a charge the magazine’s editor hotly denies.

“We only take mission-driven advertisements,” Ms. magazine’s executive editor, Katherine Spillar, told JTA on Jan. 11.

“Because two of the women were from the same political party, we understood it as political” endorsement, she said, and Ms. “does not get involved in the domestic politics” of other countries.

Credit: JTA Staff Continued on page 2

by SUE FISHKOFF SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- The American Jewish Congress ramped up its protest against Ms. magazine’s rejection of its pro-Israel ad.

It has launched a letter-writing campaign and held a news conference last week featuring a roster of highpowered Jewish feminist speakers. The protest cam-

Ad rejected by Ms magazine.

This Week: Monthly Calendar for February: Pages 10-11 Coming Next Month: Simchas and Celebrations: Feb. 8

See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 16

Exhibit showcases diseases once thought only Jewish: Page 3

America Decides 2008 features Ben Nelson, Mitt Romney: Pages 14 & 15

New signage shows progress on Home’s new addition: Page 20

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Muslim child and family

319-1600 Seniors Real Estate Specialist

12050 Pacific Street Omaha, NE 68154 Office: 402/397-5008 E-mail: kmiller@npdodge.com Associate Broker

Residential Mortgage Services Lowest fixed rates in Omaha guaranteed!

• Home Purchase Financing • Consolidate Debts • 100% Financing, Equity Lines, Bridge • Loans, Construction Loans • We’ll make getting your mortgage • “pointless.”

• Apply for your mortgage and check • rates at: www.residentialmortgages.com Omaha Bellevue Council Bluffs

333-7900 292-7900 322-7900

Continued from page 1 “He went through the evaluation process and then through the transplant surgery very well,” explained Dr. Ruti Margalit, a family physician and medical educator at UNMC. Dr. Margalit comes from Sasa, a kibbutz in Israel where her parents and a sister still live.

Coincidentally, Sulliman had built the shelter rooms there that were added to each apartment to protect families from rocket attacks coming from Hezbollah in Lebanon, only half a mile away.

Members of Grefat’s family have served in the Israeli Army, not a requirement for Muslims. According to Rayik, “Israel is our country. It has given us all these opportunities. We have to take part in its defense.”

Two members of Grefat’s family were recently killed in action in Gaza.

After the surgery, Basem recuperated quickly and was drawing compliments from the transplant team. The scheduled follow-up surgery in September to close his bowel, (stoma) went well.

But shortly after the second operation, Basem developed multiple complications, needed surgery again, and needed intensive care including dialysis. “He was very sick, and the transplant team worked wonders to bring him back,” Dr. Margalit said.

On Jan. 4, Basem celebrated his second birthday in his room in the pediatric intensive care unit at UNMC. His parents, nurses, doctors, hospital staff, and volunteers from the hospital and the Jewish community dropped in to sing “happy birthday” and rejoice in the little boy’s recovery.

“He’s doing great, playing, walking, eating on his own, and getting ready to move on,” Dr. Margalit confirmed as Basem eyed some new toys, smiled despite the tubes in his nose and his neck, and played happily with his father and his favorite nurses.

“Ideally,” Dr. Margalit indicated, “Basem could go back to Israel in two or three months. He’ll be followed

closely by a team of physicians at Rambam to ensure his successful post-transplant course.”

Sulliman and Grefat have been living in an apartment near the medical center. Sulliman’s original plan was to go to work as soon as he arrived in Omaha, however, his visa didn’t permit that.

Volunteers, including Professor Guy Matalon, Iris Varkoni, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Zohar Winer, Professor Moshe Gershovich, Yoni Kipnis, (who has since moved from Omaha), Rabbi Mendel Katzman, Ophir Palmon, Elaine Urban, Naava Naslavsky, and Dr. Margalit have been instrumental in providing for the family’s needs.

Jody Gentleman and Sue Kinney Weiland, social workers at UNMC, have also been doing an exceptional job.

The setback in September, delaying the family’s return to Israel, brought additional financial burdens. The Jewish community, with the help of the hospital social workers, have once again stepped in to help. Toby Fellman has been covering monthly telephone, television/internet and other bills.

The Foundation of the Jewish Federation is paying for some food expenses, and another hospital-linked foundation has been contacted to help with car insurance.

Chabad House has donated food and other items from its pantry and facilitated regular access to the food bank.

A calling schedule of Hebrew-speaking members of the community has been established to ensure steady communication with the family.

Temple Israel has forwarded donations for living expenses and special needs. El Basha Mediterranean Grill, at 7503 Pacific, has also been taking contributions.

The Islamic Center of Omaha has raised some money on behalf of Basem’s family as well.

Despite these efforts, donations are still needed and can be sent to Temple Israel (attention: Dennis DePorte). Please indicate that the money is for the Sulliman/Grefat family.

Continued on page 3

Ad rejection elicits strong Jewish response Continued from page 1 AJCongress President Richard Gordon disputes that as the reason for Ms. magazine’s rejection of the ad. He noted that the magazine ran a cover story about Jordan’s Queen Noor in 2003, and a story in its most recent issue about Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) under the headline “This is What a Speaker Looks Like.”

Gordon said that the only difference he finds between Pelosi and the three women featured in the AJCongress ad is that Pelosi is not Israeli. “Ms. magazine obviously is trying to create a legal fiction after the fact to cover their bias at the time of the incident.”

Spillar said last week that it is “unfair and untrue” to allege that Ms. magazine is anti-Israel. She said that the magazine is running a two-page profile of Israel’s minister of foreign affairs, Tzipi Livni, one of the three leaders pictured in the AJCongress ad, in its Winter 2008 issue, which hits newsstands Jan. 29.

She wrote, in a faxed statement, that the magazine has covered the Israeli feminist movement and women leaders in Israel in 11 articles in its 16 past issues.

But the AJCongress ad was “inconsistent” with the magazine’s policy of not being politically partisan, she wrote. She added that the slogan “This is Israel” in the ad “implied that women in Israel hold equal positions of power with men,” whereas “Israel, like every other country, has far to go to reach equality for women.”

Speaking later to JTA by phone, Spillar emphasized that she “puts the U.S. in the same category as Israel” in terms of having far to go to achieve full gender equality.

But the AJCongress ad “was almost a country ad, and

we don’t take country ads,” she said.

Greenberg, who is founding president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, said that by rejecting the ad, Ms. magazine is “aligning itself with the political far left that wants to delegitimize Israel altogether on the stage of world opinion.

“I wish I could believe that we’re over-blowing it, but I’ve been in numerous situations where I’ve seen the same thing, this total excoriation of Israel,” she said.

“That’s what we’re all feeling right now.”

Weidman Schneider of Lilith magazine said she was “very surprised” by the refusal of Ms. to run the ad. She said that after speaking with the publisher of Ms. magazine last week, she believes that the ad was likely rejected “out of a place of ignorance” and was not intended as “a willful slap in the face to Israel.”

She said she considers Spillar’s argument “possibly an ex post facto explanation.” She said she told the magazine’s publisher, Eleanor Smeal, that in retrospect, Ms. would have done better to suggest to the AJCongress that they shape an ad reflecting a broader range of women’s advancement in Israel if any perceived partisanship in the original ad was the impediment.

But beyond the fracas surrounding the actual ad, Weidman Schneider said she is disturbed by the “vitriol” she has seen on Jewish and feminist blogs relating to the incident over the past few days.

“I didn’t expect the depth of anti-feminist sentiment that this incident has stirred up,” she told JTA, noting that she’s read comments referring to “ femiNazis,” and others suggesting the feminist movement is inherently anti-Israel. “I felt quite chilled.”

Sports banquet to feature Sooner Coach Continued from page 1 During the next sixteen years he compiled an overall record of 157-29-4, including 12 Big Eight Conference Championships, and three National Championships. His overall record ranks behind only Knute Rockne, Frank Lahey and George Woodruff in career college football winning percentage. Fifty-four of his players were selected as All-Americans. He coached Heisman Trophy Winner Billy Sims in 1978.

At Oklahoma Switzer had a tremendous respect for the Nebraska Football program and still admires and respects the tradition of Big Red football along with the relationships with then Athletic Director Bob Devaney and former Head Football Coach and current Athletic Director Tom Osborne.

In 1994, he was named Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys and a year later the Cowboys were Super Bowl Champions, making Switzer one of only two coaches who have won National Championships in both the NCAA and NFL. Seventeen years ago, Switzer funded a private foundation at the University of Oklahoma, which provides nonathletic scholarships for minority students. Recently, a major athletic facility there was named in his honor. In 200, he was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today he is retired and lives in Norman, OK, with his wife, Becky. They have three children, two step-children and six grandchildren.

January 25, 2008

Muslim child and family Continued from page 2 In honor of Radiya, who is expecting a baby girl in mid-February, a baby shower was hosted by Elyce Azriel, Elinor Matalon, Danielle Gordman, and Dr. Margalit last week, at the Azriel home. Cash donations can still be sent to Temple.

Radiya and Rayik have become friends of Smadar Sweisa, mother of Michael, the Jewish Israeli baby who also came to UNMC for an organ transplant at the same time as Basem. Michael received his new organs last June and is recovering well.

Sweisa finds it “very encouraging that there is another Israeli family here going through the same journey as we are. It’s easier when we all speak Hebrew to communicate frequently by phone and answer each other’s questions. We support and encourage each other and pray and hope together for our children’s success.”

“The people here and especially the ones from the Jewish community are wonderful people,” commented Sulliman through Dr. Margalit. “They help us; they stand by us; they were there when we had no one to turn to. We are grateful for all they have done for us, and we will never forget it. We tell all our Arab friends in Israel what has happened here and all about the support we found.”

And despite all the hardships his family has experienced, Sulliman insisted, “If we go back with Basem, we’re truly blessed.”

Basem and his parents celebrated his second birthday at UNMC. The Israeli Bedouin family has been in Omaha since March for Basem’s multiple organ transplant and his recovery.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Exhibit showcases disorders once thought uniquely Jewish

by BETH YOUNG ease,” she said. The study “made WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Many genetic it all the more serious. We don’t diseases long believed to primarily affect want people to think you can’t Jews may cast a wider ethnic path. have this disease because you’re That’s the thrust of the “Expression of not Jewish.”

Hope” exhibit at the National Museum of The second largest group of Health and Medicine through March 2. sufferers is Hispanic, Cristalli The National Gaucher Foundation and noted. “So we have a twoBoston’s Genzyme Corp., which produces pronged problem,” she said. “If the best-known therapies for these disAshkenazi Jews still don’t know eases, teamed up to produce an exhibit feathat they have the disease and turing 32 works by artists and patients there are over 11 Jewish genetic from around the world whose lives have diseases, how are you going to been touched by lysosomal storage disortell other people that they have ders. these diseases, too?”

The two most commonly known of these Linda Rubenstein, who has disorders, Tay-Sachs and Gaucher’s disGaucher’s, was one of the first ease, both predominantly affect Ashkenazi patients to agree to collaborate Jews, but more than 40 exist throughout “Flowers for Hope,” painted by an 11- with an artist for the project. the world and in most major ethnic year-old with Gaucher's disease, is part Keitaro Yoshioga took the picof a Washington exhibit featuring works ture of Rubenstein and her famigroups.

Lysosomes are parts of a cell that contain by those who have been touched by lyso- ly, grinning and in good health, enzymes that break down nutrients to their somal storage disorders. using the world’s largest Polaroid most basic form for absorption by the body. An enzyme camera. deficiency makes it impossible for the nutrients to break Rubenstein, of Massachusetts, was diagnosed in 1992 down further, and they build up inside the cells. at the age of 32. Atypically she didn’t show any sympLysosomal storage disorders are classified by the type of toms, although she did notice she bruised easily. missing enzyme.

“In 1991 I went for a physical and my platelets were Organizers said the exhibit is part of an awareness low and my spleen was enlarged,” she recalled. “The campaign. doctors couldn’t figure it out.” Rubenstein’s disease was “Our work has really pointed up how prevalent discovered just as the first enzyme replacement therapy Gaucher disease is,” said Rosina Cristalli, a spokesman for Gaucher’s hit the market, and she’s been able to stay for the Florida-based National Gaucher Foundation. healthy with a monthly treatment. She’s been a regular “There are 3,500 to 5,000 cases in this country, and 50 at meetings of the National Gaucher Foundation. percent of those who are being treated are Ashkenazi “We now get a lot of people at meetings who get diagJews.” nosed quicker but the old-timers, a lot of friends that Cristalli cited an international study released last sum- had the disease before the treatment, went through serimer, however, proving that Gaucher’s cuts across ethnic ous bone crises, hip replacements, lost spleens. It’s realgroups. ly affected them,” she said. “You can’t reverse bone “For years it was considered to be a Jewish genetic dis- Continued on page 4

Look to the future.

Get tested for Gaucher Disease today.

If you are Jewish and of Eastern European Symptoms: Fatigue • Bone pain • Easy bruising and/or bleeding • Enlarged abdomen •

descent, one simple test today may make a very big difference tomorrow.

Type 1 Gaucher Disease is the most common Jewish genetic disease. It can strike anyone at any time and the symptoms can be devastating, even fatal.

Fortunately, type 1 Gaucher Disease is treatable. In fact, the earlier the diagnosis, the better… sometimes even life-saving. Ask your doctor if a Gaucher test is right for you.

To learn more, call 1.888.TYPE1GAUCHER (1.888.897.3142), or visit www.gauchercare.com GAUC/US/P003D/12/07

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Exhibit showcases disorders Continued from page 3 problems, but you can stop them from getting worse.”

Rubenstein never believed that being Jewish set her apart in having such a rare disease.

“I think it was more like before two Jewish people get married, they test you for Tay-Sachs. I never even think of it as Jewish thing,” she said. “It’s just a rare disease. I know people of all different backgrounds that have it, but being Jewish helped them [doctors] figure it out.”

Common themes such as flying, escape, travel and pain echo throughout the exhibit, which just concluded a world tour and is on display at the museum on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.

Each piece features a testimonial from the sufferer.

“I am ten years old and have MPS,” wrote Nicklas Harkins, who suffers from mucopolysaccharidosis and was one of several artists who depicted his disease as an overwhelming dragon. “My painting of a dragon expresses the courage that everyone needs when they have MPS.” Grant Bowen, 13, of Calfornia flew to Washington with his mother to attend the exhibit opening in November. “I am a swimmer and play basketball and take art once a week,” he wrote. “My painting is a bunch of bright flowers. I really like to use bright colors.”

Grant first developed symptoms of Gaucher’s disease at age 4, when he lost the ability to walk because of severe bone deficiencies. He had been adopted from a small, predominantly Jewish village in South America, but his parents didn’t have enough genetic information to be sure of his heritage.

“He was a healthy baby. Nobody saw it coming. He never got sick,” said his mother, Tina Bowen. Though Grant was diagnosed quickly and responded well to the treatment, he still cannot participate in all of the sports he enjoys.

“We’re not sure if he breaks a bone if it will heal,” Tina Bowen said. “His medical issues are a continuing thing. He’s restricted in some life choices.”

Grant was amazed by the support he found from the exhibit participants. Since the exhibit opening he has become more active in speaking out about the importance of early diagnosis of and therapies for Gaucher’s.

“I hope one day in the future scientists will do stem cell research and find better treatments,” he said. “It’s a bad life if they don’t have treatments.”

The most recognizable symptoms of lysosomal storage disorders are skin blemishes, clouding of the cornea, muscle weakness, skeletal deformities, short stature, enlarged organs and declining function of the brain.

Enzyme replacement therapies are available for half a dozen of these diseases. Pioneering research using small molecules that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier has given hope to many patients.

“Some are onset at birth and some live several years [without knowing],” said Jennifer Heilman, a public affairs specialist at the museum. “With testing before and after birth, it’s possible to become more aware of the risks inherent to each child.”

Heilman noted variations on MPS diseases in China, South America and Europe. In the United States, though, many of the diseases indeed disproportionately affect Jews.

The carrier rate for Gaucher’s disease, for example, ranges from one in 10 to 15 people of Ashkenazi descent and one in 17 for Tay-Sachs disease. For the general population it’s one in 500. If both parents are carriers, they have a 25 percent chance of having a child with Gaucher’s.

The Gaucher foundation estimates that one in 450 to 600 Jewish Americans now has Gaucher’s disease. One in 7,700 children of any ethnic group worldwide will be born with one of dozens of lysosomal storage disorders.

“We don’t want researchers studying Jewish diseases to say ‘that’s not my disease. that’s your disease, I can’t work on your disease,’ “ said Cristalli, adding that the Gaucher foundation has built enormous resources in its 23-year history that could be useful to patients with other diseases.

“We wanted to say that we’re a pan-ethnic disease and we’re one of few that has treatment,” she said. “TaySachs got a lot of attention because it was fatal. Many of these are fatal. It’s not about gender or age or ethnicity.

It affects anyone.”

Yachad members show up to support the Mavericks Earlier this month, several members of Y a c h a d joined over 8,000 other UNO Mav’s hockey fans (their second-largest home crowd of the season) to show their support for the home team. With excellent seats, the Yachad group was in the middle of the action from the very first face-off to the final slap-shot of the game. The Mav’s scored the first goal of the match on the number two rated team in the nation, but ultimately conceded the win to their rivals. Despite the team loss, Yachad members, including Eric Friedberg, left, Jeff Steinberg, Alan Friedman and Ben Friedman had plenty to cheer about: a night out with friends and the thrill of the game.

Curriculum Night High School

Monday, February 4 7:00 p.m.

Speakers at Temple Israel describe their faiths and respect for others

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator When Temple Israel congregant Ellen Platt asked Shakil Ahmed, vice president of the American Institute of Islamic Studies and Culture (AIISC) if his Pakistani accent has interfered with his daily interactions in the Omaha community, he said he has had very little problems.

Father Ernesto Medina, left, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, and Shakil Ahmed presented “Know Thyself, Know Thy Neighbor.”

When Father Ernesto R. Medina, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, who recently moved to Omaha from Los Angeles, was asked the same question, he responded that when he was in California, people were surprised that he didn’t have an accent! “I had to deal with it on a daily basis there,” he said, “but not here.”

Rabbi Azriel, who participated in a discussion of “Know Thyself, Know Thy Neighbor,” with Ahmed and Father Medina before a group at Temple Israel on Jan. 9, feigned astonishment in his native Israeli inflection and asked, “I have an accent?”

As the three spoke of the challenges and advantages of minority religions in America, Ahmed said he “feels blessed to live in North America. It has been difficult since Sept. 11 (2001) to be always on the defensive,” but he believes in America’s “self-correcting system.

This country is the best system, although it’s not perfect, that humans can design. People have a fear of the unknown so we have to be good to our neighbors, be good people. On the Day of Judgment,” he pointed out, “I’ll be standing up as a human being -- not as a Muslim or a Pakistani.”

Father Medina said, exclusion and a cultural “superiority to other faiths” are two challenges of Christianity in this country which is “about freedom.”

Howard Needelman, who was in the audience, described it as “a nice discussion but too short! The guest speakers were wonderful for their understanding of their own beliefs and unquestionable respect for those of others.”

Jackson Home Appliance “OMAHA’S MOST TRUSTED NAME IN APPLIANCE REPAIR” NOW BRINGS THAT SAME ATTENTION TO HEATING & COOLING

Jackson Heating & Cooling

Q Learn about our requirements for graduation - the highest in Nebraska

FEATURES CARRIER HOME HEATING & COOLING PRODUCTS CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR HVAC SPECIALISTS ON A NEW FURNACE, AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT PUMP

Q Find out about our students’ success in earning college scholarships - 85 percent of the Class of 2007 received scholarship offers totalling more than $3 million

8827 Maple Street Omaha, NE 68134

391-4287 Carrier Factory Authorized Nate Certified Technicians

Open House Preschool - Grade 12 Wednesday, February 6 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Visit with students and parents Learn about the Independent Difference Q Q

You’ll be

amazed

at what you’ll discover.

Thurs. - Sun., Jan. 31 - Feb. 3 Go Green at the Home & Garden Event of the Year!

Featuring 1,000's of products, services, and ideas to be more eco-friendly

MeetTV&MovieActor

MeetTheGardenerGuy

From the HGTV series "LivingwithEd".ThegreenestmaninHollywoodshares greenideas&stories.

Fri. 8p.m., Sat. 1 & 4 p.m.

From the HGTV series "GardeningbytheYard".Paul presents the lighter side of gardening and practical advice. Sat. 2 & 6:30 p.m. Sun. 2:30 p.m.

EDBEGLEY,Jr. PAUL JAMES

REGISTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NEW HOME ($200,000 VALUE) Everything for the Home - Inside & Out!

Fun for the Kids!

Exotic Animal Show

5p.m.-10p.m. Thurs., 11a.m.-10p.m. Fri., 11a.m. - 9p.m. Sat., 11a.m. - 5p.m. Sun. Admission to both shows - $7 Adult, $3.50 under 12, Under 5 FREE Produced by Mid-America Expositions, Inc. • 402-346-8003

www.showofficeonline.com

Remnants of Jewish life in Spain THE HISTORIAN’S F OOTPRINT

by OLIVER B. POLLAK England banished its Jews in 1290 and Oliver Cromwell introduced toleration in the 1650s. Germany attempted to exterminate Jews and re-opened the Berlin Jewish Museum in 2001. Germany has at least a dozen Jewish museums.

Jews had contact with Spain as early as the Roman era. During the medieval period Moslems, Christians and Jews coexisted. The Sephardic community developed Ladino. The Crusades and Spanish nation building introduced intolerance and expulsion, first the Moslems, and, in 1492, the Jews. Toledo and Girona, an hour from Madrid and from Barcelona, maintain Jewish museums.

Over winter break, Karen and I took our first trip to Spain. We visited Bilbao, Madrid, and Barcelona. We viewed Frank Gehry’s breathtaking Guggenheim

Museum, opened in 1997, from the window of our hotel. The Museo de Bellas Artes was two blocks away.

The art and architecture of Madrid’s Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofia were exalting. Barcelona’s Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and architect Antonio Gaudi’s extravagance, educated me on the role of one city’s influence on 20th century culture.

We visited at least eight hallowed cathedrals and churches in these cities as well as Burgos and Segovia. The craftsmanship, high domed ceilings, stained glass windows, relics, sarcophaguses, tourists, the faithful, and flickering candles exuded love, faith and fellowship, belied by Spain’s history full of religious intolerance, civil war, class consciousness, and Basque and Catalan separatism.

Signs of earlier Jewish and Moslem life were limited, subtle and significant for the remembrance rather than effacing.

Fuzzy orally transmitted memory may be apocryphal. Arabesque decorations on building sides were attributed to Islam.

The Prado Museum recently expanded its space by opening the Jeronimo wing, adjoining the Jeronimo church, allowing

the museum to unveil pictures that had previously been in storage. Among them was a large 1889 oil on canvas by Emilio Sala (1850-1910) titled “The Expulsion of the Jews from Spain (in the year 1492.”

Sala depicted The Spanish monarchs receiving a representative of the Jewish community, who had assisted in financing Spanish wars, and Inquisitor Torquemada hurling down a crucifix, accusing Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of selling Christ as Judas had done.

In Segovia, a city of about 50,000, the walled old medieval city is surrounded a more recent conurbation. The medieval city is enchanting. It has the Alcazar Castle. Our guide pointed out a synagogue that had served as mosque and church and two street signs, The Old Jewish Quarter, the New Jewish Quarter.

The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s, 2001 bibliomystery translated into English in 2004, set in Barcelona opens with the narrator in the 1950s, Daniel, the son of an antiquarian bookseller, revealing that his mother had died while he was young, and that she was buried in Montjuic, the Jewish Cemetery.

The intrigue starts in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a sort of Genizah (synagogue repository for worn out religious books). A bestseller, translated into various European languages it was criticized according to Wikipedia, by some Barcelonans for having been written in Castilian rather than Catalan. You don’t have to visit Spain to read this mystery of quality.

Spain and its New World territories are deeply wrapped in Jewish life. Elie Weisel relates, in Legends of Our Time, the story of 15th century Jewish converts to Catholicism rediscovering their Jewish roots in the 20th century. Similar anthropological stories come periodically from New Mexico.

We indulged in Basque, Castilian and Spanish cuisine. We befriended Miles Brickman, a displaced Toronton, and his spouse Maria Luisa. They guided our Madrid walking tours encompassing restaurants and keeping us out on New Year’s Eve to an unprecedented 3:30 am.

The Worldwide Web educates the prospective travel searching for contemporary Jewish life. In 1945, Spain had less than a 1000 Jews. Moroccan immigration and the death of dictator Franco in 1975 made Spain more attractive. Today Jews number from 12 to 50 thousand, out of a population of 42.5 million, with an organized presence, according to the web, in 16 towns.

Oliver B. Pollak is an attorney, historian and author in Omaha. He can be reached at: obpomni@aol.com.

MARIJUANA

January 25, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

IS A DRUG.

HELP YOUR KIDS UNDERSTAND.

For more information call 1-800-648-4444 http://www.prevlink.org

PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK

3706 South 132nd Street • 402/330-5050

Letterhead • Brochures • Newsletters Business Cards • Mailers • Postcards

10909 West Maple Road • 402/397-0694 www.alkarbilliards.com

OPENS NEXT WEEK!

TM

JANUARY 30– FEBRUARY 24 ORPHEUM THEATER 402.345.0606

BIRTH

• ticketmaster.com Andrea and Brian Lewis of Chicago, IL announce the Dec. 19. 2007, birth of their daughter, Paulina Madaline, named for maternal grandfathers, Paul Sigel of Del Ray, FL and the late Morrie Lipp.

Grandparents are Rocky Lewis and the late Marshall Lewis, and Barbara and Michael Apter of Plantation, FL. Great-grandparents are Anita Sigel of Del Ray, FL, the late Helen Lipp, and the late Harry and Elizabeth Lewis.

Page 5

Group Discounts (15+): 866.681.7469 or 402.661.8516 thephantomoftheopera.com

Out

Dining

Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Beth El teens recall memorable USY summer trip Registration under way for 2008 programs

When you patronize these fine establishments, tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press.

“since 1920”

3151/2 So. 16th St.

CANTONESE FOODS and CHINESE FAMILY-STYLE DINNERS • Luncheon Specials 11-2 Mon-Sat • DINNER SERVED 5-9 Mon-Sat • Take Out Orders Available to 9:30 OPEN Daily 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

CLOSED Sundays & Holidays

341-3437

When people mention Jack & Mary’s, they’re talking

Chicken!

RESTAURANT

Lunch and Dinner Miracle Hills Square

Steaks • Seafood Chicken 114th & Dodge 496-2090

KING KONG Greek Gyros • Steaks Phillies • Burgers

Home of Omaha’s Original Gyro Our Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials are #1 #1 Food in the Midwest Open 7 Days a Week

In Omaha: 4409 Dodge Street • 553-3326 72nd & Q • 932-6420 I-80 & 13th • 934-8988 In Lincoln: 6800 Wildcat Drive • 402/435-1001

How About A Little Italian Tonight?

Pasta • Chicken • Veal • Seafood Full Bar • Great Wine List Lunch – M-F • Dinner – 7 Nights Michael Frank, proprietor WEST OMAHA

Old Market

LINCOLN

1818 N. 144 498-3889

1207 Harney 342-4010

808 P Street 435-3889

by JILL BELMONT we went to the big garden in the middle of the city. It Beth El Publicity Coordinator was just so beautiful.”

A group of Beth El teens got a great ‘two-fer’ last He noted that through this six-week trip, he feels summer as they enjoyed one six-week trip with two mar- “much more connected to Jewish history,” and repeatvelous destinations. The globe-trotting teens traveled to ed a comment by a member of the Knesset that resSpain and Israel during a USY ‘Great Summer Escape’ onated with him: “Once you leave this trip and go trip, sponsored by United Synagogue Youth, a branch of home, I want you to be a Jew, not Jewish.” the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and the Explaining the effect this summertime journey had on Jewish Agency’s Youth and Hechalutz Department. The him, Schuller said that, “Any trip to Israel will enhance local contingent included Effie Tsabari, Joey Kahn, Alec your Jewishness just by forging a stronger bond to the Lerner, Ygal Schuller Holy Land. USY does and Salo Cemaj. an exceptional job of The first stop of the this by offering activiteens’ journey was ties, observing kashrut Spain, where particiand keeping the pants spent one week Sabbath. We studied exploring the country’s the Talmud and how it vast Jewish heritage, relates to modern including philosophers, times, and we also writers and poets such prayed three times a as: Maimonides, day, including tefillin.

Abarbanel, Ramban This helped me learn and Ibn Ezra. The parprayers and tunes that I ticipants then spent had never learned, and five weeks in Israel, also Jewish songs and learning about the melodies that I had land, historical Israel, never heard before.” plus contemporary Schuller, a junior at Judaism and Israeli Millard North High society.

School, reminisced The group traveled about several memowith peers around the rable moments: “The country, staying in first one was the feeling hotels, youth hostels Alec Lerner, Effie Tsbari and Joey Kahn explore the gardens of the at 7 a.m., after not havPhoto courtesy of Alec Lerner ing slept in the past 36 and kibbutzim, and Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. enjoyed the opportunity to swim in Lake Kinneret, hours, arriving on the plane from Spain; we drove climb Masada, and spend three weeks immersed in life straight to the Tayelet in Jerusalem, and we looked in Jerusalem. Several of the Omaha teens shared some upon the city of gold with drooping eyes.” thoughts and insights about their memorable summer He added, “My second memory was in the Negev experience. desert at night. We went on a nature walk in complete “This trip was by far the most amazing thing I have darkness, and we laid down to enjoy the stars. It was ever done in my such a vivid view life,” said Lerner. that I had never “I think it made seen before; now, at me more grown any time during the up and I became day, I can close my more of a welleyes and remember rounded person. the exact view and Praying in Israel how the stars with 43 other kids seemed to fill the who you were with entirety of the every day was world. It was amazpowerful.

The ing.”

Kotel, Masada, the Registration for hostel, the hotel, USY’s 2008 Great the dessert, and so Summer Escape many more places programs is now were all perfect for under way. In addiprayer. I feel a lot tion to the more pride in my Beth El’s teens who enjoyed last summer’s six-week-long USY Spain/Israel S p a i n / I s r a e l Pilgrimage included, from left, Alec Lerner, Effie Tsabari, Joey Kahn, Ygal Pilgrimage, religion.” this Photo courtesy of Ygal Schuller upcoming When asked Schuller and Salo Cemaj. sumabout his favorite memory from the trip, the Burke mer’s offerings include programs in North America, High junior replied, “This question is basically impossi- including Classic USY on Wheels; USY on Wheels, ble to answer. Every single day of the trip was the best Mission Mitzvah; USY on Wheels, East; Outdoor memory of the trip. I would have to say that my best Adventure, Pacific Northwest and Summer in the City. memory of the trip was lying on the ground in the mid- International offerings include the Israel Adventure; dle of the dessert looking up at the stars. It was Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage, Israel absolutely incredible. There wasn’t a light around me Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar; and Etgar! Outdoor for miles in every direction. It was me, 50 of my best Adventure, Israel. friends, and the stars.”

USY’s official web site notes that the organization’s For Joey Kahn, also a Burke High junior, the first day summer programs provide excellent staff, security, transin Israel remains his best memory. portation, lodging, and sightseeing, and adds that par“We went to the Kotel on the first day and I remem- ticipants return home with a strengthened sense of ber as soon as I got there I just burst out into tears themselves and of their identity as Conservative Jews. because of how powerful the Kotel is.” Kahn recounted For more information about USY and its programs, that his favorite place to visit “was definitely Haifa, when visit www.usy.org/programs/escape/.

R O Ñ E S S A î T MA 90th & Arbor 391-0191

Fax: 391-1086 Mon-Sat 11am-1am Sun 4pm-9pm Locally Owned & Operated

LUNCH SPECIALS Serving Mexican Food • Fajitas • Tacos • Enchiladas • Tamales Full American Menu • Steaks • Sea Food •Prime Rib • BBQ Ribs • Chicken Childrens Menu Available Party Room Available

JIM & JENNIE’S GREEK VILLAGE Traditional Greek Dishes

♦ Roast Lamb ♦ Fish Plaki ♦ Stuffed Grape Leaves ♦ Chicken Reganato ♦ Souviaki ♦ Mousaka

TAKE-OUT

♦ Saganaki ♦ Spanakopita ♦ Lamb Kabob ♦ Chicken Kabob ♦ Seafood Specialties ♦ Full Bar

CATERING

3026 No. 90th St. • 571-2857

January 25, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

y B t h y e l M n O u sic d e L One of the few chamber orchestras in the world that performs without a conductor

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Thursday, January 31, 2008 | 7:30 p.m.

Kiewit Concert Hall | Holland Performing Arts Center Part of the

Classical Series

Sponsored by Nebraska Arts Council & Nebraska Cultural Endowment Media Partners: Classical 90.7 KVNO, City Weekly, metroMAGAZINE and Action 3 News

Tickets from $19

Natalie MacMaster She’s Celtic.

She’s Fiddling.

She’s Captivating.

Saturday, February 2, 2008 | 8:00 p.m.

Kiewit Concert Hall | Holland Performing Arts Center Part of the

Popular Entertainers Series

Supported by Douglas County Commissioners and Douglas County Visitors Improvement Fund Hospitality Host: Hilton Omaha Media Partners: City Weekly, metroMAGAZINE and Action 3 News

Tickets from $19

| 402.345.0606 | www.ticketomaha.org | 13th and Douglas streets

PHOTO: Steve Sherman

with nikolaj znaider

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

How well do you know your nest egg to be topic of Temple women’s event ation, Neussendorfer will welcome your

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator questions.

“Women should be financially secure Stacie Neussendorfer, vice president and trust officer with Great Western on their own,” she said. “They need to Bank, is “baffled that schools don’t teach have some assets of their own.”

An attorney who has practiced in both more about finances. Classes are offered” in personal finance, she acknowledged, the government and private sectors, Neussendorfer is an Omaha “but not required.” native and received her Everyone, and that means undergraduate degree from women, too, “needs to the University of Nebraska know what their finances at Lincoln and her J.D. from are,” Neussendorfer the University of Nebraska emphasized.

College of Law. In addition, She has met women she is a Certified Financial whose husbands took care Planner™. Within the comof all financial matters munity, Neussendorfer is leading to wives, mostly involved with the Omaha those who are 55 and Bar Association, the Omaha older, who don’t know Estate Planning Council, the what their assets or their bills are. According to Stacie Neussendorfer, Great American Business Women’s and the Neussendorfer, younger Western Bank, will talk to Association, women are getting the women at the Women of Goodwill Industries Advimessage and are paying Reform Judaism event on Jan. sory Board. At Great Western Bank, she specialcloser attention to house- 31. izes in the areas of personal trust and hold finances.

Neussendorfer, who has been at Great estate administration, estate planning, Western Bank since May 2000, will be and investment management.

WRJ invites women of the community the guest speaker of Women of Reform Judaism on Thursday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m., to hear Neussendorfer by sending a check at a discussion of “Know Thyself, Know for $7 to Temple Israel, 7023 Cass Street Thy Sister...Know Thy Nest Egg” at the (68132). WRJ will be accepting donahome of Danielle Gordman, 1430 So. 85 tions that evening of towels, blankets, cat Ave. Whether you’re saving for a rainy toys, and little critter water bottles for the day, for retirement, or for the next gener- Nebraska Humane Society.

DEADLINE NOTICE Please send all articles, photos and ads to the Press by Thursdays, 9 a.m., for all regular issues. Early deadlines will be announced in advance. Questions? Call 334.6448.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Omaha Performing Arts welcomes the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to the Peter Kiewit Concert Hall at the Holland Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. The Jewish Press is a media sponsor of this concert.

Founded in 1972 by cellist Julian Fifer and a group of fellow musicians who aspire to present musician-led performances of standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire, Orpheus is a selfgoverning organization. Central to its distinctive personality is its practice of sharing and rotating leadership roles. For every work, the members of the orchestra select the concertmaster and the principal players for each section.

Tickets may be purchased through Ticket Omaha online at www.ticketomaha.org, by phone at 402.345.0606 or toll free at 866.434.TKTS (8587), and in person at the Ticket Omaha box office at the Holland Center, 13th and Douglas streets. Tickets for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performance are priced from $19 - $40.

A botanical watercolor exhibit entitled “Among Lilies and Thorns” will be on display at Laurizen Gardens from through Feb. 28. This show by Israeli artist Irene Blecher is based on only one line of the “Song of Songs,” but more than 30 Holy Land plants are represented.

Both as an ecologist and botanical artist, Blecher is passionate about plant conservation. Her time is divided between painting and doing research for natural resource management and protection of endangered species. She is employed as a researcher by the Dead Sea

Institute of Research, Development and Study, and is participating in several conservation projects.

Blecher has been a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists since 2004. She expresses her admiration for plants by painting realistic botanical watercolors. Combining her biological experience and artistic talent, she creates lifelike paintings without the use of photographs or computer aids.

Lauritzen Gardens is an urban oasis of beauty and tranquility. This 100-acre botanical garden, comprised of many outdoor garden areas, creates a living museum of unique four-season plant displays, maintained to the highest standards consistent with environmental stewardship. The visitor and education center includes the 5,000-square-foot floral display hall, a café, gift shop, resource library, classrooms, banquet areas, and a community room.

The Gardens are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the café serves lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is $7 per adult ($6 Nov.March) and $3 per child ages six to 12.

Lauritzen Gardens is conveniently located at First and Bancroft, and is close to the Henry Doorly Zoo, Rosenblatt Stadium and the Old Market. For more information, visit www.lauritzengardens.org or call 402.346.4002.

TU B'SHEVAT AT THE GARDEN

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 - 1:30 TO 3 P.M. - FREE Enjoy story telling, live music, children's activities and more with Tu B'Shevat, a family event which marks the beginning of a "New Year for Trees" and celebrates the importance of nature preservation.

Garden admission and activities are free for this event, generously underwritten by a donor. Activities and crafts are underwritten by Beth El Synagogue.

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, year-round 100 Bancroft Street - (402) 346-4002

www.lauritzengardens.org

January 25, 2008

Beth Israel participates in YU business executive training

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross and lay leader Dr. Alan Kricsfeld attended a special Yeshiva University (YU) conference last month in New York. It was one of two held by YU’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF), as part of CJF’s Legacy Heritage Fund Rabbinic Enrichment Initiative (LHREI).

According to a YU press release, “...

CJF teamed up with YU’s own Sy Syms School of Business (SSSB) to focus on the rabbi’s role as an executive of his synagogue and his partnership with lay leaders. The objective of this program is to tackle the traditional challenges of the modern orthodox rabbinate by applying contemporary business management skills where they are appropriate.”

The program’s facilitators included Steven Nissenfeld, PhD, and Brian Maruffi, PhD, both clinical professors of management at SSSB, and Robert Leventhal, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute, which helps religious congregations address their needs in a changing world.

“The concept is outstanding -- a real break through. It creates a model of the rabbi-lay leader team which, from a management and organization perspective, can be used to build a truly successful, high performing synagogue,” said Dr. Nissenfeld.

Buy or Sell a Classic Car at midwestclassiccars.com Just call this newspaper today to place your classic car, truck or motorcycle for sale ad and photo on the midwestclassiccars.com web site for only $25. Or go to the site to find your dream car. It·s your connection to classic vehicles for sale throughout the Midwest.

Yes, for only $25 your ad runs until SOLD!!!

www.midwestclassiccars.com Your connection to classic car buyers throughout the Midwest.

ROUTE SERVICE /SALES TECHNICIAN

Family owned company seeking Pest Control Service Technician in the Omaha, Columbus, South Sioux City, Schuyler

•Competitive Salary •Company Vehicle •3-4 week training •Opportunity for growth

Page 9

WHY NOT DO IT THE EASY WAY?

NORM’S

DOOR SERVICE GARAGE DOOR SPECIALISTS SALES AND SERVICE COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

6200 South 90TH St. at 90th & Washington

Contact: Human Resources @ Plunkett.NET

Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Dr. Alan Kricsfeld participated in a YU business conference.

Rabbi Gross had nothing but praise for his experience at the conference. “Alan and I came away with many useful ideas and tools to bring back to Beth Israel,” he said. “The concept of applying business management approaches to how we do things is innovative, and is one that I’m excited to share with the leadership of the synagogue.”

(Email resume including salary history) Call: 877-770-1250 Fax: 763-571-7103 For an application see our website @ Please reference the city you are applying for

www.plunketts.net

Omaha, Nebraska

402/331-8920

PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPERS ARE

STUDENTS WITH BETTER GRADES It all starts with Newspapers

SEWING CENTERS

IN THE NEWS The University of Nebraska Medical Center will name its new geriatrics center the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging.

The naming of the building would recognize a major gift made through the Univer-sity of Nebraska Foundation by Paul and Lori Hogan, co-founders of Home Instead Senior Care, the largest provider of non-medical home care to seniors in the world.

Home Instead Senior Care, headquarted in Omaha, was founded in 1994 and now has 765 franchise businesses in the United States and 12 foreign countries.

The company’s franchise owners e m p l o y Artist's rendering of Home 5 0 , 0 0 0 Instead Center for Successful w o r k e r s Aging. called CAREGivers.

The two-level center will occupy 25,300 square feet and will cost nearly $10.2 million. It will be built at the intersection of Leavenworth Street and 38th Avenue at the present site occupied by the Annex 4, 5 and 6 buildings on the east end of the UNMC campus.

Demolition of the annex buildings is slated to begin late this summer with construction of the new building completed in late summer/early fall of 2009. The building will be funded entirely with private donations.

Today, people age 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population, and more than 36 million Americans are over the age of 65. By 2030, that number will nearly double and reach 71 million with one in every five Americans over the age of 65. Nebraska, along with other Midwestern states, has seen a rapid aging of its population due to greater natural longevity and an outmigration of younger people, said Dr. Potter, who served as president of the American Geriatrics Society in 2005-06 and is now serving as chair of the AGS board of directors.

“This gift is in honor of all those who

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

believe in the Home Instead mission -thousands of CAREGivers, office personnel and franchise owners -- who dedicate themselves every day to helping seniors age safely at home instead of anywhere else,” said Paul Hogan, who serves as CEO for Home Instead Senior Care.

The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust and the Robert H. and Dorothy G. Kooper Charitable Foundation Trust have announced the availability of scholarships for the 200809 academic year. The scholarships will be based on financial needs of students pursuing their post-secondary education.

These scholarships is limited to undergraduate studies only and does not include any graduate programs.

Bruce, son of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, was a 1982 graduate of Westside High School. He was active in BBYO and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of Chaim Weizmann AZA. He attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and was participating in the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea at the time of his death in 1984.

Trustees for the Fellman Foundation are Darlynn Fellman, Terri Schrager, and Howard Kooper.

Robert Kooper had a long history of service to the Jewish community. He was elected B’nai B’rith president in 1929; headed Beth El Synagogue in 1941; was president of Highland Country Club in 1951; and was President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha 1958-60. He died in 1961. Mrs. Kooper was a strong supporter and worked with the Jewish Federation and Beth El Sisterhood. She passed away in May, 1995.

“Awarding a scholarship to a young Jewish person is a very appropriate way of honoring my parents,” Howard Kooper noted. He and his wife, Sharon, fund the Kooper Charitable Foundation Trust.

Tom Fellman also serves as trustee for the Foundation.

Applications are available by contacting Mr. Kooper’s office in writing at 809 No. 96 St, Omaha, NE 68114. The application packet will be mailed out and must be received back in our office no later than April 1.

3407 S. 84th

10144 Maple

(Westgate Plaza)

(Maple Village)

392-0430

572-1212

Mon & Thur: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Your Look...

Your Lifestyle

Januayr 25, 2008

132nd & Dodge

TM

(Next to Hy-Vee)

Hairstyling Manicuring Pedicuring Waxing

A Full Service Salon for Men+Women

Countryside Village Pacific at 87th | 392-2039

FOR A

The Start of Something New!

DR. KRISTINE B. SIMONSON CHIROPRACTOR

Quality Water ®

402/496-6090 Back & Neck Pain Headache Arm & Leg Pain Auto & Work Related Injuries Sports Injuries M-W-F: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Tues: 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Thurs: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sat: A.M. by appointment

- Water Softeners

- Whole-House Filtration

- Bottleless Coolers

- Reverse Osmosis

- Chlorine Removal Systems

- Service All Makes and Models

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

for RELIABLE & RESPONSIBLE FABRICARE

Jade Garden

Come see our new store at

8600 Cass Street

Chinese Restaurant

5213 Leavenworth

2301 Lincoln Rd.

4963 So. 155th St.

214 N. 114th St.

8728 Pacific

4028 N. 132nd St.

10910 ‘Q’ St.

2214 N. 90th St.

1810 N. 144th St.

498-8833

108th & Center

5624 Ames

2541 S. 174th Plz.

Beer and Wine Available

14430 W. Center Rd.

Page 11

CARRY OUT AVAILABLE

5102 N. 156th St.

2068 N. 117 Ave.

Call Dave at 991-1414 or 440-1074 www.HagueWaterNE.com

8600 Cass Street • 391-7733

www.martinizing.com/omaha

Open Mon.-Fri.9-6,Sat.9-3

Dundeal

North Park (117th & Blondo) M-Th: 11-9:30 • Fri & Sat. 11-10:30 • Sun. 13-9:30

ENTERTAIN

FIRST CLASS

Call

WITH

HONEYMAN RENT-ALL The Party Place FOR THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINING ACCESSORIES, HOW CAN YOU THROW A PARTY AND NOT INVITE US?

Dundee Realty Co.

SALES • RENTALS • MANAGEMENT Listing and Selling–Omaha and surrounding areas

Residential and Commercial Real Estate

February

All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the below events.

Howard Weiner Dik Weiner 4645 Dodge • 553-2121

EL ALAMO

“Best Mexican Food”

Nachos • Guacamole • Tacos • Fajitas Burritos • Shrimp • Enchiladas Combination Dinners Carnitas • Tostadas Tamales • Arroz Con Pollo • Machaca MEXICAN BEER Corona • XX • Bohemia • Tecate • Carta Blanca Open for Lunch and Dinner 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

4917 South 24th St. • 731-8969

• Debt Consolidation • Purchase Loans • Interest Rate • Reduction Loans

Brent Rasmussen 402-991-5153 | 800-519-1870 831 N. 98th St. Omaha, NE 68114

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 Halil BaGalilee Performing Arts Series, 7 p.m.

Family Havdalah for Halil BaGalilee, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Know Thy Service, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth El Tu B’Shevat at Lauritzen Gardens, 1:30 p.m.

Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC OTYG Spaghetti Dinner, 5 p.m. Temple Israel MONDAY, JANUARY 28 Kripke Library Story Time, 10:30 a.m.

The Life of Joshua, Son of Nun, 7 p.m.

Jewish Press Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad Eye on Israel, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m.

Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m.

Israel Fair, 6 p.m.

Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad The Many Faces of Extremism, 7 p.m. at Beth El Federation Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 ADL Managing Religious Diversity, 7:30 a.m.

The Art of Jewish Stenciling, 8 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 All Day Event Temple Israel WRJ Program Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

School Directors’ Meeting, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Beth El USY Winter Shabbaton, 3 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

brent@mtg-specialists.com

334-6451

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY BBYO Weizmann Sweetheart Dance, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Four Bs, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Basketball Awards Ceremony 1-4 Grades, 3 p.m.

Bedtime Storytime, 6 p.m. at Chabad House

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Yachad at Creighton Basketball, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Men’s Club WorldWide Wrap, 9 a.m. at Beth El Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Lessons for the Jewish Soul, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Grade 5 Family History Museum, 10 a.m.

Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Know Thy Service, 10:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Visions Film Streams and dinner, 12:45 p.m.

Al Rhea Art Exhibit Reception, 1 p.m.

Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Story Time, 10:30 a.m. at Kripke Library CJE Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.

ADL Youth Leadership Meeting 2008, 7 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Bedtime Storytime, 6 p.m. at Chabad House Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m.

Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 JSS Senior Luncheon, 9:30 a.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m.

Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Gary Zola, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel JFS’s Love and Logic, 7 p.m. at Beth El NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Torah Therapy: Jewish Ethics at Work, noon at Temple Israel Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Friedel Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Friedel Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Understanding Jewish Mysticism, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 RBJH Project Construction Meeting, 9 a.m.

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Gary Zola, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Understanding Jewish Mysticism, 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Parent/Toddler Class, 9:30 a.m. at Temple Israel International Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 5:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El No BESTT Classes (President’s Day Weekend Beth El Sisterhood Annual Karin Levine Health Symposium, 1:30 p.m.

Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Jewish Literature Identity and Imagination, 2 p.m.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Friedel Academy No School - Presidents Day JSS Senior Luncheon, noon No BESTT Classes (President’s Day Weekend) Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Friedel Academy No School - Teacher Curriculum Day WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m.

Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel CJE Eye on Israel Evening Edition, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Friedel Academy Science Fair Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El ADL Youth Leadership Mission Meeting, 7 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Understanding Jewish Mysticism, 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Grade 3 Family Siddur program, 10 a.m.

Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Sisterhood Family Art Project, noon at Beth El Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, 1 p.m.

Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Visions Playhouse and dinner, 1:30 p.m.

Yachad, 1:30 p.m. at the Kripke Library Gan Israel Camp Reunion, 2 p.m. at Chabad MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25 JCC Executive Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.

Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad BBYO Council Elections, 6 p.m.

Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m.

Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad

nal o i t sa

n e

• Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • 12,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space accommodates up to 250 guests • On-site planning and catering professionals

392-2600 and Coffee

For information, Call the sales department at 402/496-0850 ext. 143

Crowne Plaza® Omaha Old Mill 655 North 108th Avenue Omaha, NE 68154

Present this coupon & receive a full hour massage for the price of a half hour massage!

S

CD Rates Ask an Enterprise Banker about our latest CD Special and let us help put your money to work for you!

12800 West Center Road

330-0200

Gift Certificates available for all occasions

402.393.4219

www.dayspaomaha.com

(1 Block South of 114th & Center)

333-2882

Wed Di ding & S splays upp lies

The pharmacy that specializes in home delivery!

• North Omaha • South Omaha • Council Bluffs • • City-wide Delivery • Discount Prices •

• Discount prices, both charged and delivered • Medicines, Herbals and Natural Vitamins • Accepting HMO & Insurance Cards BRUCE GOLDBERG, Pharmacist Serving Our Community

For Home Delivery, Call Me Directly

968-4574 • www.phexpress.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 RBJH Project Construction Meeting, 9 a.m.

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El LOVE Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

FOR A LIMITED TIME!

• Weddings • Anniversaries

11226 Wright Circle

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Passover Mini-University, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel AIPAC Nebraska Council Dinner, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights Beth El Young Familes Retreat, 5 p.m. thru Feb. 23

We believe that special occasions deserve special attention.

Count on us for memorable events that exceed expectations

Our Visit room w o Sh

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Ga’aton, Western Galilee Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.

CELEBRATIONS ARE OUR BUSINESS

This spot could have your name on it.

Call Allan Handleman to see how easy it can be.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Visions Board Meeting, 9 a.m.

Parent/Toddler Class, 9:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth El USY Winter Shabbaton, 3 p.m. and Kadima Shabbaton, 3:45 p.m. thru Feb. 2 Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. Beth El Shabbat Dinner, 6:15 p.m., at Beth Israel

• Tables • Chairs • Linens • Skirting • China • Glassware • Champaign Fountains • Chafing Dishes • Party Canopies • Wedding & Church Displays • Dance Floors • BBQ Grills • Coat Racks • Candelabras • Margarita Machines • Chocolate Fountains

210 Regency Parkway

392-0400 N.A., MEMBER F.D.I.C.

Park Your Ad Here

Call Allan Handleman for more information about this opportunity.

334-6451

Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

A bedtime story

ORGANIZATIONS

Peter Gorski, M.D., chairman of the early childhood

by SHEVI KATZMAN committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics for Chabad Studies have shown that reading educational stories to explains, “More than anything, you want [your child] to children at bedtime boosts their their brain develop- associate reading with emotional warmth and fun.�

Bedtime Storytime is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 10, ment. The warm, cozy setting does much more than prepare a child for sleep.

6-7 p.m., at the Chabad House. Families of Kim “Neural research shows that when parents and care- Goldberg, Linda Saltzman, and Annette van de Kampgivers interact verbally with children -- which includes Wright have prepared a fantastic program which includes reading to them -- kids healthy snacks, fun learn a great deal more games, and a neat craft. than we ever thought posThe Jewish story will be sible,� says G. Reid Lyon, read by the talented stoPh.D., chief of the child ryteller Jeremy Wright, development and behavwho loves reading to his ior branch of the National children and enthusiastiInstitute of Child Health cally offered to read to and Human Development this group. in Bethesda, MD. The November StoryBedtime Storytime is a time event, led by captiprogram developed by vating storyteller Nancy Mishpacha University to Rips, was met with enthucombine the advantages siastic children and parof reading bedtime stories ents. Rips read two by local storytellers and Feigy Katzman, left, and Destiny Wiseman anticipate traveling to a Jewish stories about kindcreating a fun and educa- far away land at November’s Bedtime Story event. ness, sharing, and being tional environment with friends and family to practice happy with what we have. For more information or to Jewish bedtime customs and learn how to be finer peo- RSVP, e-mail chabadoffice@cox.net or call me at ple. Children wear their pajamas and are wrapped in 330.1800. their blankets, making the event very homey.

Exhibit about Jews refugees in the Caribbean opens in IHE Gallery

by BETH SELDIN DOTAN Director, Institute for Holocaust Education “SosĂşa, The Dominican Republic: A Refuge for the Holocaust in the Tropicsâ€? has opened in the Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Holocaust Education at the JCC through the end of February.

This exhibit, developed at the Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives in Queensborough Community College in New York was brought to Omaha by the Institute for Holocaust Education, and tells the story of a small group of Jews who arrived in the Dominican Republic during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

As described in the show’s educational materials, “only a fraction of the original 100,000 Jewish refugees that Trujillo had offered to accept actually went to the Dominican Republic. About five thousand visas were extended but approximately 645 Jews arrived in that country. The entry of the United States into the war, the growing perils of crossing the Atlantic, the lack of steady financial support for an indefinite period to keep the community growing, and the limited amount of arable land stopped immigration after 1943. Those who stayed in SosĂşa were never discriminated against on account of their religious beliefs, and anti-Semitism was unknown.â€?

Although few Jews remained in SosĂşa, those who lived there have a strong connection to their refuge during the war. The story unfolds in the exhibit through striking photos and educational text.

For more information about this exhibit or other IHE programs, clal me at 334.6575 or e-mail bdotan@adl.org.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Sara Juster will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, Jan. 30, noon at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. Juster, Vice President/Corporate Compliance Officer with the Nebraska Methodist Health System, will discuss how the tragic death of a young man named Tyler Kahle has transformed care at Methodist Hospital. All men and women are invited to attend. Cost is $12 for lunch and $3 for beverage service only.

WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going on the day trip to the Ameristar Casino, please meet at the JCC on Thursday, 8:45 a.m. For information call Maggie Conti at 334.6521.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. If you have any Yiddish books to donate, please call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

VISIONS Got the winter blahs? Join Visions for a Sunday afternoon movie and early-bird dinner on Sunday, Feb. 3 at the Film Streams. The featured film is The Savages, staring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney and Philip Bosco. There will be a school bus leaving from the JCC promptly at 12:45 p.m. Please be at the JCC by 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, stop at Jason’s Deli for dinner on your own. Cost for transportation and ticket is $11 (members of Film Stream the cost is $9). Send reservations and checks to Visions to Doris Alloy, 11317 Harney Plz. Cir., Omaha, NE 68154 by Jan. 25.

Questions? Call Doris at 697.8709 or Sissy at 292.8062.

The Omaha Community Playhouse at the Howard Drew Theatre presents Company on Sunday, Feb. 24 (meet in the lobby at 1:30 to pick up tickets for the 2 p.m. show). Dinner on your own follows the show at Grisanti’s. Playhouse members: use voucher in membership packet when sending reservations. Make check payable to Visions, and send to Betty Sanford at 9205 Western Ave. #127, Omaha, NE 68114. For information, call her at 399.2001.

MID-AMERICA COUNCIL, JEWISH SCOUTS Scout Sabbath will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Synagogue.

The Jewish Committe on Scouting, chaired by Dr. Jeffrey and Sandra Passer, is coordinating this special event, open to all Jewish Scouts and their families.

Please encourage all Jewish Scouts in your units to attend. All Scouts should wear their official BSA uniforms. For questions, please call Jeffrey or Sandra Passer at 402.330.4289.

COMING 02.2008

Women’s Health Publishing Date:02.29.08 | Space Reservation:02.15.08 | Camera Ready Deadline:02.20.08

Contact Allan to advertise in this very special edition.

Call Allan Handleman at 402.334.6451 or email:ahandleman@jewishomaha.org

ARE YOU 19-50?

3,634 in your spare time.

Earn up to $

t )FBMUIZ .FO 8PNFO t /PO TNPLFST t 7BSJFUZ PG TDIFEVMFT t "TTJTU NFEJDBM SFTFBSDI

Ask about our referral program!

CALL TODAY at 1-800-609-7297 3PTF 4USFFU -JODPMO t www.mdsparticipants.com To g e t h e r

w e ’r e

m a k i n g

l i v e s

b e t t e r.

January 25, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Hypnotic South African Voices Ladysmith Black Mambazo Long Walk to Freedom Friday, February 8, 2008 | 8:00 p.m.

Kiewit Concert Hall | Holland Performing Arts Center Sponsored by Media Partners: Power 106.9, City Weekly and metroMAGAZINE

Tickets from $19

Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Pipes, Drums and Dancers of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Sunday, February 10, 2008 | 2:00 p.m.

Kiewit Concert Hall | Holland Performing Arts Center Media Partners: The Reader and Omaha Magazine

Tickets from $19

| 402.345.0606 | www.ticketomaha.org | 13th and Douglas streets

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

6RPHWKLQJ <RXÂśYH $OZD\V :DQWHG WR 'R 5HFHLYH D

6FKRODUVKLS

Â&#x2021; &ODVVHV 6WDUW (YHU\ 0RQWK Â&#x2021; )LQDQFLDO $LG IRU WKRVH :KR 4XDOLI\ Â&#x2021; ,QGLYLGXDO ,QVWUXFWLRQ

KVFROOHJH FR Z MRVHS P ZZ

&DOO 7RGD\ IRU 6FKRODUVKLS ,QIR )5(( %URFKXUH

/LQFROQ &RVPHWRORJ\ %DUEHULQJ &RVPHWRORJ\ +DVWLQJVÂ&#x2021;*UDQG ,VODQGÂ&#x2021;.HDUQH\Â&#x2021;1RUWK 3ODWWHÂ&#x2021;1RUIRONÂ&#x2021;%HDWULFH 2PDKD %DUEHULQJ

LEAD TEAM. OUR

You have the desire and the drive to make it to the top. In the Army National Guard, you learn skills that are critical to leading a team through difficult situations. Most Guard members serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year, leaving you with plenty of time for school, friends and family. Join our team and learn to lead. In the Army National Guard,YOU CAN.

Nebraska Senator covers topics from energy to his colleagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation AMERICA DECIDES 2008

by JOAN K. MARCUS United States Senator E. (Earl) Benjamin Nelson (D-NE) addressed Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nai Brith Breakbreakers recently, covering a myriad of topics..

Nelson, a longtime friend of the group, was again introduced by Al Abramson, a member of Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gubernatorial cabinet as Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Abramson began by describing Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success as an attorney before entering public service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was the insurance commissioner for Nebraska before being governor for eight years. Today, he is the junior senator who serves on the Armed Forces, Personnel, Appropriations and Agricultural Committees.â&#x20AC;?

Sylvia Wagner, former Omaha City Council member, asked Nelson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the Democratic presidential candidates seem to want to â&#x20AC;Ś I will use the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;socializeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; everything. They want insurance for everyone, medication for everyone, college for everyone! How do you stand on this?â&#x20AC;?

Nelson responded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do what you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to do! I think that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a false belief that somehow you can get all Americans into the same health care pro-

is to take hold and be able to govern and secure itself.

Another senator and I have proposed that there be a transition from America providing all of the security in Baghdad and allowing the Iraqi troops to take over that responsibility. Then, we can release some of our troops to go into the north with the Sunnis. We have cooperation there to take out al Qaeda.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can break up the militias, we can move this government toward self protection and self security. We can push them harder to work toward reconciliation. Our job in Iraq can become more of a residual force than a fighting one. We can be there to protect border security and integrity -- as well as to be there to protect our own assets and troops, help the government move along and prepare more security forces to take on more responsibility. And, to weed out the infiltrated members of Al Qaeda and other sects that are fighting.â&#x20AC;?

Although Nelson says that he would like to have our troops home tomorrow, it is impossible because of the airlift. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to establish an appropriate way to transition the message because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re creating a cycle of dependence and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how it can be broken.â&#x20AC;?

Buddy Goodman asked Sen Nelson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How do we stop financing the Al Qaeda side of the war by paying all this money for Arab oil?â&#x20AC;?

Nelson responded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Corn got us started and it has gotten us into a position where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now producing energy on our own. Using coal may not be the best conversion product, but what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see now in the energy

1-800-GO-GUARD â&#x20AC;˘ www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com

FABRICATION SUPERINTENDENT

Bison,aleaderinthemanufactureofsportingequipmentlocated in Lincoln, has an opening for a Fabrication Superintendent.

Thesuccessfulcandidatemusthavetechnicalskillsinwelding, turret presses and other fabrication/sheet metal processes.

Previous manufacturing experience in supervising multiple departments,productionplanning,inventorycontrol,communication&teambuildingarerequired. Excellentbenefitpackage isincluded.PleasesendresumĂŠtoswhite@sourceonex.com

Bison, Inc. a Sub. of IMSCORP 603 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lâ&#x20AC;? Street â&#x20AC;˘ Lincoln, NE 68508 â&#x20AC;˘ EOE

Has A Great Little Parttime Job!

Outside Salesperson with an office at the Jewish Press

College Student... Retireee...

Stay-At-Home Mom or Empty Nester interested in

Good Money...

Draw Against Commission...

Flexible Schedule...

Tuition Assistance or

FREE Omaha Special Event Tickets?

Call Advertising Manager Allan Handleman - 334.6451 or email:ahandleman@jewishomaha.org

Make Money On Your Own Time!

Left: Al Abramson, right, greets Sen. Ben Nelson before he covers numerous topics at a recent Breadbreakers. gram. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got issues about whether or not we can bill that we passed are more proposals for supporting keep Medicare solvent. That â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;socializationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; right now research and development for more bio mass. Near includes, Medicare, Medicaid and Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affairs. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Dakota City, an ethanol plant is next to its city dump. not demeaning these programs because the government Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting methane out of that landfill producing energy to grind corn to make ethanol. So, help is on the provides them.â&#x20AC;?

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;These candidates canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do what canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be way. In the meantime, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck!â&#x20AC;?

On another subject, Nelson feels encouraged about done. The private sector ought to do what they do best.

My theory is that we ought to do what we should do, President George W. Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trip to Israel and his meetpay for it, put some away for a rainy day and give the bal- ings with top officials. The fact that they are all togethance back. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what they say. They arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going er indicates to Nelson that something is possible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There will be a new administration coming on a year to be able to pull off socialization.â&#x20AC;?

Though Nelson is a Democrat, he is known to be one from now. And, we need to continue to work with them of the more fiscally conservative senators and refers to because it is a critical area for many reasons, not the least of which is that it (Israel) is the only real functioning himself as being â&#x20AC;&#x153;tighter than three coats of paint!â&#x20AC;?

He went on to speak of the anniversary of President democracy in that part of the world. And when thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announcement of the surge in Iraq. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The mili- change of government, it is peaceful,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Gerald Meyer asked Sen. Nelson to state his opinion tary has fulfilled its responsibility in quieting violence in Baghdad and moving into other areas. The Malachi gov- on recent actions of Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ernment hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t moved forward to do what it is supposed think that Chuck is frustrated by the way in which this to do. The primary military objectives were to give war has been handled,â&#x20AC;? Sen. Nelson responded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He Prime Minister Malachi an opportunity to reconcile the feels very strongly about it; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all frustrated about the various sects, move forward on an oil deal and get way the intelligence information was funneled to us.â&#x20AC;?

Mike Erman asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What do you do about the probprovincial elections in place.â&#x20AC;?

Nelson said that as a senator, he had a key role in get- lem of illegal immigration?â&#x20AC;? Nelson said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are only ting some of these things into legislation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our military certain things that we can do. The FBI can help us if we achieved its objectives but what has Iraqâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government can get it into a situation where illegal immigration is done? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been asked whether it is ineptitude or if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controllable. Right now, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said all along that we have to secure the borders. But, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a land borjust too high of a hill for them to climb,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to Iraq twice this year and, both times I der. We have to start with that first -- and our water areas. have told the Prime Minister that the American people Then, we have to deal with the people who are here.â&#x20AC;?

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thus far, the proposals in Washington have strong wills but their patience is thin. We arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seeing the kind of movement towards reconciliation have been amnesty first. But, the more talk about amnesty in Washington, the more people come across weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see. This thing cannot be won militarily.â&#x20AC;?

The troops were put into the area to calm down the the border and it makes the problem that much harder surge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now,â&#x20AC;? says Nelson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;my sense is that Malachi is to solve. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about illegal immigrants who are sort of stuck in a situation where they are at the top of here, because they want to work. But 80% of our meth the hill. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe they have won and they is coming from labs in Mexico. Securing our borders is arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure the Sunnis have lost. So, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no trust more than keeping out people who want to come and work here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about people who want to come in and within the government or within the government.â&#x20AC;?

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was (in Iraq) during Ramadan, do us harm!â&#x20AC;?

Senator Nelson closed by noting, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to the military was able to take me and some of my colleagues down into the Market. We talked to one of the be dependent on others, we have to become self-suffifellows who was selling watermelons and he had to have cient. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve fought for the Food and Energy Security Act. If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to import 70% of our fuel, his own electricity.â&#x20AC;?

Nelson commented that the problems are not totally how would we like to import 70% of our food? If we about violence. Many of the problems are just about donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get it done ourselves, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be stuck for good government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The need for this Iraqi government a long time!â&#x20AC;?

January 25, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

Romney’s appeal includes hard line on Iran, bipartisan record in Mass.

AMERICA DECIDES 2008

by BETH YOUNG WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Mitt Romney’s pitch to Jewish voters breaks down into three components: his tough line on Iran; his record as a Republican governor who worked well with Democrats; and belonging to an oft-misunderstood religious minority.

Romney boasts a master’s degree in business from Harvard and enjoyed phenomenal success during his 14year career orchestrating leveraged buyouts as the chairman of Bain Capital. As governor of Massachusetts from 2003-07, he worked with a Democratic Legislature and an overwhelmingly liberal Jewish community to enact a groundbreaking “Health Care for All” law. He has a scion of a famed Mormon family; his father was Michigan’s governor.

In his presidential pitch to the Jewish community, Romney has focused heavily on his support for Israel and condemnation of Iran.

Romney outlined a multi-tiered plan for dealing with Iran in a statement last June to The Israel Project. It included strategies to expand divestment efforts against the Islamic Republic, diplomatic isolation, indicting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for incitement to genocide under the Geneva Conventions, and pressing Arab nations and NATO to create an alliance that would force Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations.

One of President Bush’s former Jewish liaisons, speechwriter Noam Neusner, worked for Romney’s Commonwealth PAC last year. Neusner penned the speech -- delivered at the Herzliya Conference in Israel at the beginning of last year -- in which Romney first laid out his plan for dealing with Iran.

“Those ideas very much reflected his own thinking and his own research,” Neusner told JTA. “He was quite engaged in the production of that speech.” Romney did draw some criticism from other GOP candidates after saying at a debate in October, in response to a question,

that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons he would consult that “it has become part of our political culture for canwith his lawyers. But that same month, Romney was didates to be forced into asserting their religiosity.” talking tough at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s canRomney’s Mormonism should not be an issue, says didates’ forum in October. When it comes to the spread one of his Jewish backers, Michael Menis, an oral surof terrorism, he said there, the Democrats “are in the geon in Crystal Lake, Ill. most serious case of denial since Neville Chamberlain.”

“Jews throughout history have been persecuted for “The real problem is that jihadists want to conquer the their religious beliefs,” Menis recently told the Chicago world,” Romney said. He championed Israel’s security Jewish News. “If any one religious group should be supbarrier, which the Palestinians oppose because it cuts portive of someone’s right to believe in what they wish through the West Bank. “The security fence is keeping and not be persecuted for it or excluded from political violence from overrunning the Holy Land,” Romney said. office for it, it should be the Jewish people.”

At the forum, Romney voiced skepticism over the Menis, the chairman of the RJC’s Chicago chapter and renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that ultimately a declared Romney delegate, cited the former governor’s were launched in Annapolis, Md., in November. competence as why he favored him.

“How could you possibly have a peace conference at this “When he took the helm of the 2002 Olympic Games stage?” he asked, noting that Hamas terrorists were now in Salt Lake City, he turned an almost $400 million controlling the Gaza Strip. “Who would you talk to?” operating deficit into one of the most successful Romney finished third in fund raising from RJC board Olympics in history,” Menis told the Chicago Jewish members and in a favorability poll among Jewish News. He also praised Romney’s performance as a Republicans, in both cases finishing behind Rudy Republican governor in a Democratic state, where he Giuliani and John McCain. “worked both sides of the Romney’s public relationaisle.” ship with his faith met with Nancy Kaufman, the direccriticism and praise from tor of the Jewish Jews throughout the camCommunity Relations paign.

Council of Greater Boston, In a Dec. 6, 2007 speech said she worked extensively in College Park, Texas, with Romney during his Romney said that God time as governor, particular“should remain on our curly on services for seniors and rency, in our pledge, in the faith-based assistance after teaching of our history, and Hurricane Katrina. during the holiday season, Mitt Romney speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition's She also lobbied for nativity scenes and menorahs GOP forum, Oct. 16, 2007 in Washington. Courtesy of RJC Romney’s health-care plan, should be welcome in our public places.” He added that which provided assistance for low-income families but he would “take care to separate the affairs of govern- levied a tax penalty on those who did not get insurance. ment from any religion, but I will not separate us from “He’s backing away from that now, but it’s very the ‘God who gave us liberty.’” important,” Kaufman said of the health-care plan.

In a statement responding to the speech, the director On other areas, there were differences with Jewish of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, said groups. Romney tried to roll back his state’s historic that “we agree that there is no place in our society for approval of same-sex marriages and was not supportive bigotry, and that one’s religion should never be a test for of the JCRC’s plan to provide in-state tuition to legal political office.” Foxman went on to express concern and illegal immigrants.

The Jewish Press will publish Israel@60, on April 18, 2008. We’re calling for articles and photos from anyone who has been to Israel on a mission, teen trip or on their own, anyone who has spent a semester abroad there or a post-high school year on a program, anyone who has studied there, lived there, or lives there now.

Articles can be 500-2000 words in length (but for those who don’t feel comfortable writing, a few photos and captions are welcome, too). Photos can be real photographs or digital images e-mailed to the Press to ckatzman@jewishomaha.org, with stories as attachments (in Word) or mailed to the Press at 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Deadline is Feb. 29, 2008. Questions? Call Editor Carol Katzman at 402.334.6450.

Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

It’s almost Passover!

Having just celebrated Tu B’Shevat, it does seem a little odd to focus on Passover, nearly three months away. However, we at the Jewish Press began working on this special issue months ago.

Publishing on April 18 (the first seder is Saturday night, April 19), the Passover issue will salute the State of Israel on its 60th birthday. We’ve already received a number of articles from readers, as well as loads of photos, some taken 40 or 50 years ago and others just last year.

Some readers have submitted 3-5 photos and captions; others have written long articles on the early days of the State or their journey to become citizens there. We’ve heard from high school seniors to seniors in their 80s and every age in between.

Like our Passover issue a decade ago which celebrated Israel’s 50th, we’re looking for articles ranging from 1000 to 2000 words on life there. Whether you just visited on a short Federation or synagogue mission or learned there for a year as part of a university or posthigh school program, or whether you (or a member of your family) made aliyah and live there now, we’d like to include your comments in what’s sure to be a “keeper” issue.

If you’ve thought about participating, but haven’t looked through your photo albums and scrapbooks, here’s what to do: • Type your story (or photo captions) single-spaced and either submit to us via e-mail in the body of your e-mail letter or as a Word attachment; send it to the Editor at ckatzman@jewishomaha.org;

• Your photos should either be mailed to us (with clear identification on a sticky-note on the back of each one) to : Passover issue, the Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., omaha, NE 68154, or e-mailed to ckatzman@jewishsomaha.org as attachments. Make sure your photos are clear (blurry or dark photos cannot be used) and at least 100k, 300 dpi. (If you need a translation, just mail us the photos; we’ll scan them and you can pick them up after Passover.)

The deadline is Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. If you submit articles or photos after that date, we cannot promise that we can include them ... it all depends on space availability at that point. As an FYI, our printer -- Suburban Newspapers, Inc. -- does not print the entire issue on one day. As we have in the past, we submit sections of any of our large papers (including Hanukkah and the New Year’s issue, as well as last month’s Senior Living) several weeks before the issue is mailed to our readers.

That’s why we need the early deadline, for a head start in production while we’re still working on weekly issues.

Please consider participating. We’d like to have as many readers publish as many different experiences as possible.

And we hope this issue will encourage those of you who have not yet visited our Homeland to contemplate such a visit. In addition to Federation missions (which will be featured in the Passover issue), all our synagogues

have undertaken trips to Israel, sometimes in combination with visits to other countries of Jewish interest and other times geared to specialized groups, from families to young Jews to interfaith couples.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the Press at 402.334.6448. We’d be happy to “walk” you through the process, but we want this to be your story, your impressions, your voice in celebration of Israel’s 60th!

Bush’s Arab world tour is significant for Israel

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by LESLIE SUSSER JERUSALEM (JTA) -- With its focus on strengthening the moderate Arab coalition against Iran, President Bush’s tour of the Persian Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia and Egypt could prove extremely significant for Israel. From an Israeli perspective, the three key elements were isolating Iran, coaxing moderate Arab countries into moving toward normalization with Israel and getting oil-rich Arab states to honor their financial pledges to the Palestinians.

Progress on all or some of these issues would significantly boost Israeli foreign policy goals.

On Iran, Bush’s rhetoric was uncompromising. In a major policy statement in Abu Dhabi, he described Tehran as a threat to world peace and called on America’s allies to join the United States in confronting the danger “before it was too late.”

Bush accused the Iranian regime of funding terrorists and extremists, undermining peace in Lebanon, sending arms to the Taliban, seeking to intimidate its neighbors with alarming rhetoric, defying the United Nations and destabilizing the entire region by refusing to be open about its nuclear program.

But after last month’s National Intelligence Estimate, which concluded that Iran had suspended a clandestine nuclear weapons program in 2003, it is unclear what action the United States intends to take. Bush’s postNIE Mideast diplomacy can be read in two different ways: bolstering the moderate Arab coalition against Iran as part of an ongoing policy of containment through diplomatic and economic sanctions, or as laying the diplomatic groundwork for a possible military strike against Iranian nuclear installations before the president leaves office. Israeli experts are divided over how far Bush is likely to go.

Eitan Gilboa of Bar-Ilan University’s BESA Center for Strategic Studies says he would be

very surprised if Bush does anything dramatic during the remainder of his term, such as initiating a dialogue with the ayatollahs or launching a military strike. Indeed, Gilboa says the president may have ordered the NIE findings to get himself off the hook on attacking Iran. “The administration has no stomach for military action now,” Gilboa said. “The public doesn’t want it, and it could hurt the chances of the Republican candidate in the November presidential election.”

But Roni Bart, an expert on U.S. Middle East policy at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, argues that the NIE has been far less influential than is generally thought and that Bush still may attack Iran if he believes it is the right thing to do. Bart points out that the NIE failed to convince the Europeans, the Arab states, the U.S. presidential candidates and, most important, Bush himself that the Iranians have abandoned their drive toward nuclear weapons.

... the NIE has been far less influential than is generally thought and that Bush still may attack Iran if he believes it is the right thing to do.

“After seven years we know a bit about Bush. He doesn’t care about public opinion and he says God talks to him,” Bart said. “If he thought he should attack before the NIE, and if that’s what he still thinks a few months from now, the NIE won’t change his mind.”

Bush is committed to beefing up moderate forces in the Persian Gulf region as part of the effort to contain Iran. Most significant, the United States intends to supply Saudi Arabia with $20 billion in state-of-the-art weaponry over the coming decade. Nevertheless, the moderate Arab states are highly ambivalent about war with Iran. Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates told Bush they would not allow U.S. forces to use their territory as a launching pad for a military strike.

As for normalization between Israel and the Arab world, Bush declared in Jerusalem last

week that the Arab states should “reach out to Israel,” describing it as a step “that was long overdue” and which would give Israel the confidence to make concessions to the Palestinians. Indeed, Israel argues that things would proceed much better if the Arabs make a reciprocal gesture of normalization toward Israel for each step Israel makes toward the Palestinians. The Arabs, however, see normalization as a prize that Israel will be entitled to only after a peace treaty with the Palestinians is complete.

So far, the Arabs have shown little sign of any change in this attitude. The smattering of Israeli dealings in the Gulf countries is kept highly secret for fear of embarrassing Arab host countries. Last year, when a Kenyan athlete running for Bahrain won the marathon in Tiberias, the Gulf state summarily revoked his Bahraini citizenship for competing in Israel.

Last week, though, offered a significant exception to the rule: The Saudi-owned newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat ran an article calling on the Arabs to show greater understanding for Israeli concerns. Written by Mamoun Fandy, an Egyptian-born scholar at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, the column urged the Arabs to do much more to convince the West they really want peace and stability -- including peace with Israel.

“Perhaps the time has come for the Arabs, particularly the Palestinians, to take a serious view of Israel’s strategic fears,” Fandy wrote.

“The Israeli question about the nature of the Palestinian state is logical and legitimate.

Will this state add to stability or instability in the region?” The fact that such views were allowed to appear in a publication connected to the Saudi royal house constituted a small but possibly significant crack in the rejectionists’ wall. Bush on his trip also sought to ensure that the Arab contribution to the $7.4 billion aid package raised for the Palestinians at last month’s donor conference in Paris comes through.

Continued on page 17

(Founded in 1920) Howard K. Marcus President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Anne Muskin Editorial Intern Jewish Press Board Bobbi Leibowitz, Vice President; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Treasurer; Joanie Jacobson, Immediate Past-chairman; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; George Quittner; Eve Randone, Melissa Schop; Michael Siegel, Michael Sigmond; Jim Simon; Nancy Skid; and Dorothy Spizman.

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 an agency of the Jewish Federation.

Highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors 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.

Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.

Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1-402-334-5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org..

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written.

Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing.

All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request.

No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $33 per calendar year U.S.; $40 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.

Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.

Award Winner 2006

Nebraska Press Association

National Newspaper Association

January 25, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 17

Olmert can always say ‘No’ Bush and Rice are deluded, but the decision to push ahead on talks remains Israel’s

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

by JONATHAN S. TOBIN If you believe the opinion polls — and there’s no reason not to -- George W. Bush doesn’t have many fans. And last week, the dwindling number of Bush loyalists got a bit smaller.

For the majority of American Jews who are Democrats, nothing -- not even Bush’s first visit as president to Israel -was bound to win him much applause.

Despite the opposition to the Iraq war and bitterness that dates back to the 2000 election, the president has still been able to fall back on his reputation as the best friend Israel has had in the White House, a tag that was earned via steadfast support for the Jewish State during the worst of the second intifada and the 2005 fight against Hezbollah along the country’s northern border.

But the Bush trip to Jerusalem did not result in general hosannas from the proIsrael community. Indeed, for many of his most steadfast backers in this sector, the rhetoric coming out of the presidential party was nothing short of a disaster.

The Old Rulebook The decision to press ahead with IsraelPalestinian peace talks after the Annapolis summit is exactly what Bush’s opponents on the left have chided him for not doing the first seven years of his presidency.

They have wanted him to embrace the peace process that former Bill Clinton embraced in his presidency and even blamed Bush for the absence of peace, even though the Palestinians are the ones to blame for choosing terror over peace.

Bush changed the course chosen by the Clinton administration by refusing to meet with Yasser Arafat. He proclaimed that the Palestinians would have to give up terror in order to get a state, and said that any peace deal would be based on the reality of Israeli settlements and not solely on the pre-1967 borders.

In 2002 and 2004, Bush had appeared to throw away the old rulebook of U.S. Middle East diplomacy, which “realists”

who had dominated the State Department in his father’s time had always championed.

But in 2008, that rulebook, which emphasized pressure on Israel to make concessions in exchange for empty Arab promises, is back in place as Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have plunged head first into the diplomatic maelstrom.

Bush made it clear last week that he was prepared to apply “a little pressure” on Israel to get it to agree to a peace deal that few in the country believe is possible. Despite other comments that demonstrated his friendship for Israel, his goal of shepherding a Palestinian state into existence during his presidency seemed to be the priority. He even said that Israel was going to have to discuss the so-called Palestinian “right of return.”

All this has left Americans -- both Jewish and non-Jewish who liked Bush’s former policies -- stumped and saddened.

Some blame the influence of his father and elder Bush luminaries like former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker.

Others point to the need to appease Arab public opinion for the sake of the war in Iraq. Still others point to the increased influence of Rice in the aftermath of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s departure in 2006.

That may all be true. Yet while both Americans and Israelis have attempted to parse the contradictions in Bush’s policies and sought to find their authors inside the administration, the obvious answer to the decision to go ahead is right under their noses. Far from being Bush’s helpless victim and subject to the awful “pressure” that Israel has always dreaded, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is fully behind the current plan.

Olmert has been sending clear signals that he is ready to do a deal with the Palestinians, which replicates the wildly generous terms offered to Arafat by Ehud Barak at Taba. He has told Israelis that the world doesn’t accept an undivided

Jerusalem, and that they must learn to live with this. And he has made it clear that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is his peace partner, no matter what Fatah terrorists do.

No one but Olmert and his closest advisers know whether he really thinks that Abbas can sign a peace deal that accepts Israel as a Jewish state within any borders -- or that he would survive if he did. It may be that domestic political considerations have led them to believe that pursuing a peace process, even a futile one, is his best bet to hang on to office, despite popularity ratings even lower than Bush.

But while Bush is the senior partner in this alliance, Olmert is still the one in the driver’s seat on this question. Anyone who thinks the prime minister is being dragged kicking and screaming to the table is dead wrong.

All of this leads us to the question that many refuse to contemplate: Could Olmert say “no” to Bush and Rice if he wanted to?

Despite Israel’s dependence on the United States for military and diplomatic support, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Even as a lame duck with a secretary of state who is desperate for a diplomatic coup, there’s nothing to indicate that Bush would implement this strategy if Olmert said it was dead on arrival.

Go to Sederot If Olmert wanted to, he could have said that anyone in the president’s delegation who wanted to know why even Israelis who oppose settlements have no intention of handing over more territory to the Palestinians need only take a visit to Sederot.

That Israeli town within the 1949 armistice lines remains under siege as Kassam missiles launched from “Hamasistan” in Gaza -- territory Israel left in 2005 -- rain down on its people every day. If Israel backs up to the 1967 borders the same scene could be played out in 2009 at Ben-Gurion airport.

Olmert could have stated that until incitement against Israel and Jews on

... while Bush is the senior partner in this alliance, Olmert is still the one in the driver’s seat ...

Abbas’ own P.A.-controlled broadcast media ceased, peace was impossible.

Indeed, 15 years of post-Oslo Palestinian autonomy has resulted in a new generation of Palestinians raised on hatred.

In response to suggestions that Israel negotiate about the “right of return,” Olmert could have pointed out that several hundred thousand Jews were expelled or forced to flee from Arab countries after 1948, and are just as deserving of recognition and compensation as Arabs who fled Israel.

But for good or for ill, Olmert has done none of this.

The premier would certainly face some heat from Washington if he just said “no.”

But it’s just as certain that if he did that and called on Israel’s many friends in both major parties in the United States to back him up, Bush would not have persisted.

Those disillusioned by Bush’s flip-flop are right to criticize him. But anyone who thinks that Israel is being forced to go along is focusing on the wrong end of the partnership. What happens in the next year -- whether it turns out to be peace, war or the more likely option of a continued stalemate -- remains a fate that Israel’s democratically elected government is choosing of its own free will.

Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia.

He can be contacted via e-mail at: jtobin@jewishexponent.com.

Bush’s Arab world tour Continued from page 16 The largest pledge was $500 million from the Saudis over the next three years.

Israel has a clear interest in the money getting to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Israeli policy is based on sustaining the growing contrast between an increasingly prosperous West Bank and an economically declining Gaza Strip. The hope is that this will help bring down Hamas in Gaza and create a large Palestinian majority for peace.

Annapolis, Paris and Bush’s current Middle East tour are all part of this grand peacemaking scheme. But will it be enough in a region teeming with so many powerful countervailing forces?

Religion in the campaigns

DISPATCH FROM THE FRONTLINES

by ALAN POTASH With the 2008 presidential campaign in full swing, every day I find myself confronting a number of questions. One recurring theme is the appropriate role of religion in politics, a theme of keen interest to ADL since we have long been on the frontlines of those seeking to safeguard religious freedom in the United States.

Questions such as: should houses of worship or religious schools be given federal money to run their programs (no), or should government erect sectarian displays (no), or should public schools and government celebrate the religious elements of the December holidays (no) are not new for ADL. However, questions regarding the injection of increasingly strident religious appeals into political campaigns have recently moved to the top of our concerns about religious freedom in America. By this I don’t mean a candidate’s simply discussing religion, but rather, candidates actively hawking their candidacies by appealing to the religious sensibilities of the voters.

We first took note of this trend several years ago, when we responded to comments of a religious nature from Vice-President Al Gore, then-Governor George Bush and Senator Joseph Lieberman. However, the current

crop of candidates have elevated it to an entirely new level of intensity.

We’re not naïve, nor are we hostile to religiously observant candidates: we expect that many candidates for office will be religious and we understand that these candidates will, from time to time, express their religious beliefs -- and talk about how these beliefs shape their world view and policy positions. But there comes a time -- and it is up to each voter to judge for him- or herself -- when a candidate’s religious speech crosses the line from commenting on his/her own religious perspective to making an appeal to voters based upon religion.

We do not care about who gets your vote.

We do care that the next President of the United States -- or even the next mayor of our city or president of our school board -- is prepared to lead all Americans, of any faith, or of no faith.

Why do we care?

Excessive religious discourse in public risks alienating many of us, particularly those in the religious minority.

While many Americans are perfectly comfortable with such speech, we are troubled when a segment of our society is made to feel as if they do not have a place in our political or electoral process.

The United States is made up of many different types of people from different backgrounds and different

faiths -- including individuals who do not believe in any God -- and none of our citizens should be treated as outcasts, or made to feel outside of the electoral or political process.

In addition to alienation, we are concerned about the impact of such excessive religious speech on our commitment to religious liberty. Religion-based appeals to voters are often accompanied by promises to promote policies and programs that prefer one religion over another or promise a closer intermingling of government and religion.

However, among our core beliefs is strict adherence to the separation of government and religion embodied in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Separation, ADL believes, preserves religious freedom and is essential to the continued flourishing of religious practice and belief in America.

We do not care about who gets your vote. We do care that the next President of the United States -- or even the next mayor of our city or president of our school board -- is prepared to lead all Americans, of any faith, or of no faith.

A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, ADL neither supports nor opposes any candidate for political office.

ADL has been a longstanding advocate for separation of church and state.

Alan Potash is the regional director of the Plains States Region of the Anti-Defamation League and community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. He can be reached at: apotash1@adl.org.

Page 18

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Candlelighting Friday, Jan 25, 5:04 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 www.OChabad.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.tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: No Services at the synagogue. We will be attending services at Offutt Air Force Base.

FRIDAY, Feb. 8: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Zohar Winer, xommunity shlicha, speaking about “An Eye to Israel.”

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogomolni.

FRIDAY: Musical Shabbat services, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Shabbat Tunes & Tales: 11:15-11:45 a.m. Monthly Shabbat sing-along led by “Miss Patty” Nogg is open to all Jewish children (up to age five), their parents and grandparents; Minha/Ma’ariv, 5:20 p.m.

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

TU B’SHEVAT AT LAURITZEN GARDENS: Beth El and Lauritzen Gardens co-sponsor Sunday, 1:30-3 p.m. at the Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Insights and Values from the Torah, noon; Women’s Book Club, 1:15 p.m.

THE MANY FACES OF EXTREMISM: Mini-course led

by ADL Director Alan Potash, Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m.

KADIMA SHABBATON: Feb. 1–3, for sixth-eighth graders. For more information or to register, contact Robert Mosenkis at 492.8550, or youth dir@bethel-omaha.org.

TOT SHABBAT: Friday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m. Dinner follows; cost is $5 for adults, free for children six and younger. Open to Jewish families.. To RSVP, call the office.

WORLDWIDE WRAP: On Sunday, Feb. 3, 9 a.m. minyan, an annual event to learn about and wrap tefillin. Complimentary breakfast follows at 10 a.m., featuring Thomas Warren, former Omaha police chief.

NURTURING YOUR SPIRIT: ENRICHING YOUR JEWISH SOUL: New class led

by Susi Frydman-Levin, Sunday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m.

SISTERHOOD MEETING: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. , open

to all members. Call Caryn Rifkin, 334.7216, for more information.

WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the home of Ruth Goldenberg, 2307 No. 133 Cir. “What will you do with your one extra day/extra month?” Social hour, 7 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. program. RSVP to Dottie Rosenblum, 397.4805 or Goldenberg, 505.9877.

UNDERSTANDING JEWISH MYSTICISM with Guy Matalon on Thursdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28, 8-9 p.m. Cost is $23; fee is discounted to $18 for donors to the Federation Campaign. To register, contact Margie Gutnik in the office, or at programming@bethelomaha.org.

YOUNG FAMILIES’ SHABBATON: Feb. 22-23 at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. For information, call the office.

SISTERHOOD HAMANTASCHEN SALE: through Feb. 21. Cost is $6.25 a dozen. Order forms in the office, or send a check -- made out to Beth El Sisterhood -- to Beth El, 14506 California St., Omaha NE 68154.

Specify flavor and number desired. Pick-up is Sunday, March 16, 11 a.m.-noon, or at the Purim Carnival, Sunday March 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:13 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; Mincha, 5 p.m., followed by Suedat Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:18 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; “Reading the Rambam” with Rabbi Oxman, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s teen class, 10 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.

RSVP for Rabbi Gross’s 30th Shabbat birthday dinner on Friday, Feb. 1.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home.

SUNDAY: Religious School, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the JCC.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Halacha, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Parshah Roundup: Weekly Torah Portion Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.

All events and programs are open to the community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following hosted by Amy Zlotsky.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel; Melaveh Malkah, 7 p.m.

LJCS students will lead Havdalah.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Temple; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church: “Africa on Six Wheels: A Semester on Safari” with Prof. Betty Levitov of Doane College.

TUESDAY: LJCS ParentTeacher Conferences, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel.

MONDAYS, 7-8:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Hebrew Reading Crash Course One Day Review and Module II .

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home led by Beth El members, 2:30 p.m. in the Tea Room; Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. led by Andy Greenberg and Nancy Rips.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead the service. Halil BaGalilee will participate in the service.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Dru Beach, daughter of Mona Jones and Ron Beach, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Teacher Learning Coffee, 9:30 a.m.; Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; OTYG Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction, 5 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 3-12, and no charge for children under the age three.

TUESDAY: Hebrew Lunch & Learn, 12:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 712, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:04 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m. Contact the office to arrange for a minyan.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by kiddush lunch in honor of Elaine and Everett Evnen’s 80th birthdays and Talmud study.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at South Street Temple.

WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

ADULT EDUCATION MONDAYS, 7-8:30 p.m.

Hebrew Reading Crash Course One Day Review and Module II If you know your Aleph-Bet, why not try Adon Olam?

If you’re looking at this space, so are others!

YOUR AD CAN GO HERE...

to reserve space, call

Allan Handleman, 402.334.6451

BAT MITZVAH Rylee Paige Zimmerman, daughter of Linda and Todd Zimmerman, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Temple Israel.

A seventhgrade Principal’s Honor Roll student at Beveridge Magnet School, Rylee is a Grand Prize

How are Judiasm and weather related?

Winner in the YWCA Kids Against Violence Art Contest.

Her interests include dance, volleyball and skiing.

For her mitzvah project, Rylee volunteered during special events for the Boys and Girls Club: The Haunted Forest, Health Fair, and served Thanksgiving dinner.

Rylee has a brother, Zane.

Grandparents are Judy and Blaine (Buddy) Roffman, and Mike Shrier, and Teri Greene.

by SANDRA KURLAND for B’nai Israel Roger Schwarz, right, who dreamed of becoming a meteorologist since he was a child, told congregants and guests at the Council Bluffs synagogue, about the connection between Judaism and the weather at the Second Friday Speaker series earlier this month. “Jews like to kvetch about the weather!” he said. He covers the weather for KETV, channel 7. Next month’s speaker is Zohar Winer, community shlicha, who will speak about “An Eye to Israel” on Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., during Friday night services.

January 25, 2008

The Law, not men

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Yitro The Test, until the Israelites are actually at Sinai, does not warn the reader that an extraordinary event is about to take place. At God’s command, Moses climbs the mountain and then descends, climbs and descends, again and again, to hear what he is to tell his fellow Israelites, and then to deliver the message. Indeed, it is not clear at the end of Chapter 19 whether Moses left Aaron at the top of the mountain when he, Moses, descended for the last time, which would be absurd, for Aaron must have descended with him ...

And the “Ten Words.” I have have no intention now to analyze these Ten Commandments, nor to dwell on them at length. Others have, of course, as befits so important an event and so fundamental a list of utterances. And so have I at other points and other contexts.

Here I mention only that Jethro, father-in-law of Moses and Priest of Midian, gave valuable advice to Moses about the administration of justice. Moses wisely followed his advice -- and Jethro returns to his own land.

The Midrash is not fully satisfied with this brief account. It adds an observation of its own, not given in the Text. Jethro returns to Midian not as a priest of Midian, but as an Israelite. He is so impressed by the extraordinary events of Israelite life that he is certain that the Lord is with Israel -- and he converts to the religion of the Israelites.

Moses was his son-in-law, but Moses had a truth that Jethro was only beginning to understand. The Sacred Text says no more. But the Midrash, though offering no details, assures us that Jethro could not return to his land as a heathen priest; he returned as any wise and decent man would -- as a new man, a convert to the faith of the Israelites.

But the next great event is before us. The Lord reminds the Israelites of how He saved them from the Egyptians and how He had brought them here as though on eagles’ wings. This He demands of them that they listen carefully to Him, in which case they would be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The people, in a single voice, respond that all the Lord says, they will do.

The event itself is accomplished by the response of nature. The mountain is all a-smoke, and the atmosphere is shattered by thunder and lightening. (Note that the Bible here does as we do: it puts the thunder before the lightening, opposite to the way it actually occurs.)

Now, Chapter 20 lists the Ten Utterances. It is noteworthy that more space is given to the Sabbath than to any other, and that the Sabbath is the only ritual commandment among the 10. Note also that the only one offering reward -- length of days -- is the command to honor father and mother.

I need not call attention to these great Words or Utterances. I wish only to say this: that here we have the unstated principle that life is to be governed not by kings, dictators or conquerors, but by law. It is the law that determines the character of peoples, not the master.

It is the rule, not the ruler.

(Editor’s note: Rabbi Kripke is on vacation; his column will resume with the Feb. 11 issue. This column was excerpted from the Jan. 28, 2005 issue of the Jewish Press.)

To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: 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 (with photos we will scan and return).

Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.

Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

JCC Maccabi Games to be held Be a role model; the person you want your kid to be.

For more information call: in San Diego this summer 1-800-648-4444

by RACHEL BLUM JCC Jewish Program Director Team Omaha will be participating in the JCC Maccabi Games in San Diego, CA, Sunday-Friday, Aug. 3-8, and all Jewish teens who will be between the ages of 13 and 16 as of July 31 are eligible to attend.

The JCC Maccabi Games is an Olympic-style sports event held in multiple communities each summer in North America and is the largest organized sports program for Jewish teens in the world. In addition to sports, athletes experience home hospitality, help other people through community-service projects in Days of Caring and Sharing, get a taste of Israel at Hang Time, and meet Jewish teens from around the world.

The JCC is participating in the Maccabi Sister City program, which enables the community to bring three Israeli teens from Partnership with Israel here. The athletes spend the week before the Games with Maccabi athletes, getting to know the members of Team Omaha, and learning about Jewish Omaha by visiting local synagogues and meeting with rabbis. They also spend time talking with the teens in BBYO about their lives as Jewish teens in Israel.

Following their visit in Omaha, the Israeli teens become a part of Team Omaha and travel to the Games.

A “16 and under Boys’ Basketball” team is being recreuited, and athletes may also participate on a mixed team in one of the following team sports: baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball. Individual sports are also available and include bowling, dance, golf, swimming, table tennis, and tennis.

The cost to participate is $975 for the week, however a 15% discount will be offered to all JCC Members who register by Jan. 31, bringing the cost down to $829.

This fee includes JCC Association registration fee, transportation, meals for the week, team uniforms, as well as Team Omaha apparel and trading pins.

Scholarships for the Games are available through the Center for Jewish Education; all applications are due to Mary Sue Grossman by Feb. 15. She can be reached at 334.6445 or mgrossman@jewishomaha.org.

http://www.prevlink.org

Pet/House Sitter Responsible and mature healthcare professional will pet/house sit to take care of your needs. Reasonable rates with 20 years of experience.

References available on request.

Contact Linda at 639-1149.

Page 19

Pulverent e MONUMENT CO.

Frank L. Ciciulla Jr.

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

1439 So. 13th

341-2452

The City of Ottawa, Kansas, a municipal government, accepts online applications at http://www.HRePartners.com Please visit this site, then select the City of Ottawa logo to view current openings.

The City is NOW accepting applications for the following positions: Assistant Director of Utilities Police Officer THE CITY OF OTTAWA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

BULL SALE? Run this size ad in over 170 Newspapers for just $4.82/newspaper!

Place your 2x2 display ad in over 170 Nebraska newspapers & get your message to over 900,000 readers. Statewide coverage for just $4.82 per publication. Regional ads also available in Central, Northeast, Southeast or Western Nebraska.

Other sizes available upon request.

Call this newspaper or 1-800-369-2850 for more information.

Nebraska 2x2/2x4 Display Ad Network

Statewide Classified CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING works! Place your 25 word ad into thousands of Nebraska homes for $195. Contact your the Jewish Press at 334-6448 or call 1-800369-2850.

Photo exhibit opens in the JCC Gallery

by RACHEL BLUM JCC Program Director Albert Rhea, a returning artist to the Jewish Community Center Gallery, will be displaying his digital photography exhibit Feb. 3-27. The exhibit includes 25 window framed photographs, each 20x25 inches, and centers on California and Hawaii.

Rhea believes the window is a symbolic opening to the mind -- a portal, a material representation of an opening. The symbolic window is representing an unconscious desire to see the world at afar.

The window may represent a desired view, or do the windows we look through each day offer a desired protected feeling from the outside world.

His digital photos are framed in a window which is used as tool to view your ideas of pleasure, hopes, and fears. “Most of my work deals with the viewers desired pleasures and hopes for the future,” he said.

According to Rhea, “The window might be a more important mechanism for viewing our world than we realize. Windows may be a mechanism to view our reality and our dreams. We take looking through windows for granted. Subconsciously, there may be more to it.”

Rhea will also be displaying six sculpture pieces in our gallery, which range from four to seven feet high. Rhea will host an art reception on Sunday, Feb. 3, 1-3 p.m., in the JCC Gallery. The entire community is invited to attend.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact me at 334.6404 or rblum@jccomaha.org.

BANKRUPTCY: FAST relief from creditors. Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Affordable rates. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-872-8327. www.steffenslaw.com.

We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

GUN SHOW Jan. 26th - 29th. Modern & Muzzle loading Gun Show & Trade Fair. Ag Hall, State Fair Park, Lincoln, NE. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4, admission $4.00.

LOOKING FOR the classic car, truck or motorcycle of your dreams? Go to www.midwestclassiccars.com. It’s your Midwest connection to classic vehicles for sale. Need to sell a classic vehicle? For only $25, your ad with photos will run until sold! Call this newspaper today for more information, or call 1-800-369-2850.

FOR SALE at auction: 1970 Shelby GT350, 1955 BelAir Convertible & more. The Branson Auction, April 18-19. Call now to bid or consign. 800-335-3063, www.bransonauction.com.

HOT TUBS, floor models, 20 new tubs & 10 trade-ins at bargain prices, $995-$4,995.

Call 1-800-869-0406, for full information package, goodlifespa.com and osthottubwarehouse.com.

SHOW BUILDING: Western stock show discount. One per location. Choose your size.

Up to 50% off. Can erect. www.scg-grp.com Source# C00Z. 866-609-4321.

ENJOY WHAT you do! Be an ASAI Area Representative for a nonprofit high school foreign exchange program. Work from home, extra income. Toll free: 1-866-775-5414, greatplainskids.com.

ALL CASH candy route. Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route.

Includes 30 machines and candy all for $9,995. 1-888-755-1356.

AIRLINES ARE hiring - train for high paying Aviation Maintenance career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified - job placement assistance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 888-349-5387.

CROP OPERATION has opening for experienced, motivated individual to assist in crop production; equipment operation, maintenance, irrigation. Paid vacation and other benefits included. Call 308-643-2487.

EXPERIENCED HEAVY equipment operator needed with agriculture knowledge.

Ability to work independently; survey; decision making; advancement possible; home nights; excellent pay/benefits. 402-395-2301. EOE. MANAGER POSITION open in hog finishing facility for responsible individual seeking employment in Central Nebraska. Paid vacation and other benefits included. Call 308643-2487.

PROFESSIONAL SALES Reps: Ready for a new career? Pre-qualified appointments, $2,000 sign-on bonus, $50 per presentation guarantee, $50-80k first year. 1-800-4715136.

SERVICE MANAGER for world-class John Deere dealership. Modern facility.

Equipment knowledge and management experience preferred. Superior wages, benefits, incentives. Send resume to Vacin, 1093 Road “W”, Clarkson, NE 68629.

TRAVEL THE USA for pay! Use your pick up truck to deliver “new” RV’s nationwide.

Motor homes too! Get paid to see the country. www.horizontransport.com.

DRIVER: KNIGHT Transportation - the keys to success! 2,500+ miles. Great equipment. $Deliver today/paid today$. 3 pay raises in 1st year! Weekly home time! Call recruiting, 888-562-7783. www.knighttrans.com. Class-A CDL/4 months OTR required.

800-437-5907 O/O. DRIVERS: CALL today! Bonus & paid orientation, 36-43cpm. Earn over $1,000 weekly, excellent benefits. Class A and 3 months recent OTR required. 800-635-8669.

DRIVERS: GET respect you earned! Get support you deserve! $5,000 sign on with 1 year OTR. Students welcome. Tuition reimbursement available! www.ffeinc.com, FFE, Inc., 800-569-9232.

Page 20

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

January 25, 2008

Jewish NASCAR driver finds inspiration on birthright pit stop israel tour, Denning says he has acquired a sense of pride in learning more about Israel and Jewish history. He says that pride will bring him strength when he returns to the next racing season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After spending time with soldiers and talking with people on the street, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m jealous of how much respect they have for where they come from,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have inspired me to stay strong to my Jewish roots.â&#x20AC;? His knowledge of Israel before his birthright visit was minimal, he said.

Denning, who attended a Conservative synagogue growing up, said that moving to Virginia to train and race was a culture shock. Suddenly he was thrust from more liberal Northeast suburbs to working with mostly Southern Baptists who are ardent about their religion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People, even those I was working with and tightly associated with, kept trying to force Jesus on me,â&#x20AC;? said Denning, whose road to NASCAR began after his Jewish race-car driver Jon Denning has con- father, the owner of an auto body shop, nected with Israel during a recent birthright took him to a go-kart track. Denning israel tour in January 2008. says people urged him to attend church Credit: Jondenning.com and told him his racing career might take â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been a very spiritual person, a positive turn if he accepted Jesus. but here I have had many spiritual expeA NASCAR official, Andrew Giangola, riences,â&#x20AC;? said Denning, 20, explaining said the organization had no knowledge that the moment at the Kotel was the first of any misconduct and is trying to make time he sensed a touch of the divine. the sport more multicultural. Toward â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m definitely coming back here.â&#x20AC;? that end, NASCAR, which is dominated As a Jew from Springfield, NJ, Denning by white male drivers, recently instituted is an anomaly in the world of NASCAR, a diversity program that encourages a sport based in the American South. He minorities and women into the upper speaks openly about soldiering through leagues. Denning says he applied but was anti-Semitic barbs, calls to accept Jesus turned down after being told in official and even what he describes as discrimina- letters that the minorities program tion within the NASCAR organization. applied only to women, Hispanics and In Israel for 10 days on a birthright blacks.

Signs prove things are really moving at the Homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new addition

by DINA KRAFT TEL AVIV (JTA) -- Wrapped in tefillin and standing before the Western Wall, race-car driver Jon Denning said he found inspiration he had never known on any track.

Top Reasons to Move into...

by OZZIE NOGG Directional corridor signs have been placed in the RBJH new addition and furniture is being arranged in resident rooms, lounges and dining areas. The spaces, according to Mike Silverman, RBJH Executive Director, have already taken on the residential feel at the heart of the facility's New Beginning

project. Photos from top left: An All Makes crew moves resident lounge chairs into the new addition. Josh Gurock, RBJH administrative intern, tests sunroom cushions.

Kimberly Overton, Associate and Director of Interiors for Leo A. Daly, discusses furniture placement with Mike Silverman. Resident rooms signs have been hung in the addition.

PARTNERSHIP WITH ISRAEL

Western Galilee Performing Arts Series JCC Theater

= Beautiful, spacious suites = Live-in managers are here for you day and night = Three delicious chef-prepared meals served daily = Weekly housekeeping and linen service = Convenient, scheduled local transportation = Diverse activities and outings = Safety call system = All utilities, except phone = Barber/beauty salon = Small pets welcome = So much more! Š 2007 Holiday Retirement 2425

Call today for your complimentary meal and personal tour!

402-391-1055

/ OE 4USFFU t 0NBIB /& t XXX SPMMJOHIJMMTSBODI VT

HALIL BAGALILEE FLUTE CONCERT Saturday, January 26th, 2008 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by the Sokolof Music Fund