Vol. LXXXVIII No. 22 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 88 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Omahans show support for Israel
Rabbi Jonathan Gross of Beth Israel, with help from a group of children at last week’s Rally for Israel, leads “Am Yisrael Chai” -- “The People of Israel Live.” A follow up to the Jan. 8 special evening edition of “Eye on Israel” which offered updates on Israel’s War in Gaza against Hamas, the rally drew about 400 supporters of the State of Israel to the Jewish Community Center on Jan. 21. Speakers, which included all of Omaha’s community rabbis, as well
as representatives from the Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League, spoke of the Israeli government’s need to protect its citizens from the nearly 10,000 rockets that Hamas has launched against the State since the Israel Defense Force evacuated Gaza in August of 2005. A brochure, listing addresses and messages of elected officials, also offered informative websites. Continued on page 8
5 Shevat, 5769
January 30, 2009
Survivors inspire photographer UNO to host exhibit and lecture by SHERRIE SAAG The Center for Jewish Education When internationally acclaimed photographer Mark Seliger was a young boy growing up in Houston, he often visited Three Brothers Bakery, owned by Holocaust survivors Max, Sol, and Sigmund Jucker. The numbers tattooed on the brothers’ arms, combined with a pilgrimage to Auschwitz at age 16, inspired Seliger to photograph survivors, including the Juckers, and publish the book, When They Came to Take My Father. From that haunting book came the traveling photography exhibit of the same name, now on display at the Criss Library at the University of Nebraska-Omaha through March 9. The exhibit originated at the Houston Holocaust Museum and, according to a museum spokesperson, “This exhibit conveys a brutal honesty through the camera lens, bringing to light the horrific and dark memories that these survivors carry with them. The black-and-white images, together with the survivors’ personal accounts, form a moving testimony to human dignity and record a part of history never to be forgotten.” Seliger was born in Amarillo and raised in Houston. He currently works for Conde Nast publications, shooting covers for Vanity Fair and GQ magazines. Seliger was also chief photographer for Rolling Stone, where he shot more than 100 covers. His celebrity portraitures includes those for musicians Kanye West, Usher and Dolly Parton. Continued on page 3
Waiting for Obama to fill out ‘Kvelling’ for Obama Mideast policy machine U.S. presidency last week and faced the fallout from the recent fighting in Gaza, plenty of names were in the mix: • George Mitchell, the former U.S. senator from Maine and a former majority leader, was mentioned in both The New York Times and the Washington Post as a likely envoy to the IsraeliPalestinian peace talks and, in fact, was named to that position late last week. Insiders have said that such an envoy will report to Secretary of State Clinton, leapfrogging Dennis Ross, but it won’t be a “peace processor” -- one of the many casualties, like Ross, of failed past attempts to broker a permanent peace. Israeli troops withdrawing from the Gaza Strip on Jan. 18, One would think that Credit: BPH Images would have eliminated 2009. foreign policy team, but the picture Mitchell; his commission’s recommendaremains fuzzy when it comes to the mid- tions in April 2001, on the way out of the level appointees and nominees -- the ones second intifada, fell on deaf ears and the who on a day-to-day level often play the violence continued unabated for at least another year. main role in making policy. Still, as Barack Obama assumed the Continued on page 2 by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Pro-Israel activists already have a feel for the major players on the Obama administration’s
Inside Opinion Page see page 12
by RON KAMPEAS and ERIC FINGERHUT trate the “promise” of Obama’s election. WASHINGTON (JTA) -- It was a week Recalling how his father and grandpardedicated primarily to marking the elec- ents fled Bessarabia after their home was tion of the first African-American presi- blown up in the pogroms, Axelrod said dent in U.S. history, but the ongoing cer- they “weren’t just looking for a place of emonies were punctuated by several safety, they were looking for a place of Jewish moments, wrinkles and parties. promise and opportunity.” Barack Obama’s supporters said it was an historic week for all Americans, and especially Jewish ones, to take pride in. The sentiment was captured by David Axelrod, a newly appointed White House senior adviser and President Obama’s longtime strategic guru, during an appearance at the Jewish Community Inaugural Reception held the night before Tuesday's midday inauguration. Axelrod, who until recently has been shy about talking about his Jewishness, told White House senior adviser David Axelrod hobnobs at the the crowd of 800 that he main Jewish inaugural bash Jan. 19, 2009. Credit: Ron Kampeas was there “to do a little kvelling,” and then spoke movingly about “They were drawn to America -feeling a rush of gratification when he America was that beacon,” he said, and saw Jews voting for Obama in over- the inauguration “would have been a whelming numbers. Axelrod also reached great affirmation of that” idea. back into his own family story to illus- Continued on page 5
This Week: Monthly Calendar for February: Page 10 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Photos from Federation’s Rally for Israel: Page 8
Coming Next Month: Simchas & Celebrations on Feb. 6 King’s pro-Israel legacy should guide Obama: Page 13
Beth Israel celebrates five years in new building: Page 16
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
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Mideast policy machine
Continued from page 1 House Middle East policy job. Lynn started his policy The commission urged tougher Palestinian anti-terror- life as an AIPAC intern in 1998. He subsequently ism measures, agreeing with Israel that the Palestinian worked for U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.) until Authority’s efforts were inadequate. He also urged a set- Deutsch, one of the most committed pro-Israel figures tlement freeze. Mitchell, of Irish and Lebanese descent, in Congress, retired in 2004 after an unsuccessful Senate was more successful in helping to broker the Northern bid. Lynn spent a year studying in Israel and speaks Ireland accords. He also led investigations into steroid Hebrew. abuse in baseball. • James Steinberg and Jack Lew have been named as • Dennis Ross, the Clinton administration’s top Clinton’s deputies at State. Steinberg, as a national secuMiddle East peace broker, will be back in a job that -- it’s rity council staffer under President Clinton, had a strong hard to finish the sentence, even when you hear it from relationship with the pro-Israel community. In 2002, as the closest insiders, especially now that Sen. Mitchell has a senior Brookings Institution scholar, he told CNN that been named Mideast Envoy. the onus was on then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Depending on whom you believe, Ross will be the last end violence and on Arab nations to nudge him back stop on Middle East policy, except Clinton will still have toward peace talks -- key talking points for the pro-Israel a say. Ross’ emphasis is supposed to be Iran -- but will community. Lew, an Office of Management and Budget that decrease his infludirector under President Clinton, will direct economic ence on Israelstimulus overseas. He is a Sabbath observer. Palestinian talks? • Samantha Power, a genocide scholar, quit the During the camObama campaign in March after calling Clinton, then paign, Ross said the his rival, a “monster.” Pro-Israel activists had been agiIsrael-Palestinian tating for her removal in any case; in 2002, she had track should be derushed to accuse Israel of war crimes during its Jenin emphasized because operation and recommended an international force to as long as Hamas in police the region. the Gaza Strip and In recent weeks, Power has made reappearances as a Fatah in the West member of Clinton’s transition team -- reportedly after Bank could not come an abject apology -- and then among 50 or so Obama together, it was futile. acolytes appearing in a New York Times Magazine phoObama has sent out tographic portfolio. Before her departure last March, Obama aides insisted that Power’s advice was limited to strong signals, especially in the wake of Dennis Ross, formerly the top genocide prevention -- an area that had earned her deep the Gaza Strip war, Middle East peace broker in the Jewish friendships before her 2002 outbursts. She is married to Cass Sunstein, Obama’s top rule that he plans to be Clinton administration, is the top very much involved. Middle East adviser to Barack keeper as the head of the White House Office of Credit: The Washington Information and Regulatory Affairs. Sunstein is Jewish. Ross also favors accel- Obama. Institute for Near East Policy • Rand Beers, a counter-terrorism official from erating the Iran process -- in other words, intensifying sanctions now, Presidents Reagan through George W. Bush, quit in and when the punishment has sunk in, holding out the 2003 just before the Iraq invasion, saying Bush’s counter-terrorism strategy was misdirected. He became the carrots of engagement. It’s an approach that would play out against a behind- lead national security adviser to Sen. John Kerry (Dthe-scenes Iran policy battle now under way in MA) during Kerry’s presidential run in 2004 and built Washington: Doves want to wait out the Iranian presi- close relations with the pro-Israel community. Beers also advised Obama on counter-terrorism, and dential election in June because they don’t want to hand incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a prize for his will serve as a counselor to Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary designee. Beers is likely to extremism (“You see, my Holocaust denial worked!”). Hawks say that if there’s going to be outreach, do it be a linchpin as Israel and the United States forge a closnow that we need to assess where Iran is before it man- er alliance in the area; Israel, after the Sept. 11, 2001 ufactures a nuclear weapon -- an eventually Israelis attacks, has trained U.S. security and first-responder offibelieve may happen before the year ends. Ross’ approach cials, and the countries are sharing technology. • Lee Feinstein and Mara Rudman are Jewish veterans -- hurrying along sanctions, delaying outreach -- would of the Clinton administration -- Feinstein as a senior seem to draw on strategies from both camps. • Dan Shapiro and Puneet Talwar are said to be split- planning official at the State Department, Rudman as a ting Middle East policy at the National Security Council. National Security Council staffer involved in the Oslo Shapiro, who is to handle Israel-related issues, was a sen- process. Feinstein, a Council on Foreign Relations scholior adviser on Jewish issues to Obama during the cam- ar, was a lead adviser to Hillary Clinton during her presidential bid and accompanied Clinton to her Senate conpaign and one of his top surrogates to the community. Until he joined the campaign, Shapiro was a private firmation hearings earlier this month. Rudman became a private consultant and helped broconsultant, but has many years as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate behind ker the Holocaust insurance compensation deal under him. As a staffer for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in 2003, the International Commission on Holocaust-Era Shapiro was key in shepherding the Syrian Insurance Claims. With the Center for American Accountability Act through the Senate; the measure Progress, she also established Middle East Progress, an imposed tough sanctions on Syria until it stops backing e-mail bulletin that compiles an array of think pieces on terrorists and developing weapons of mass destruction. the area and aims to balance the conservative slant of the Shapiro helped draft Obama’s hugely successful speech Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy Organizations Daily Alert. Rudman appeared on stage with Obama just before the election as one of his senior conference in May. Talwar, who will handle Persian Gulf issues -- includ- foreign policy advisors. Even as pro-Israel organizations and activists attempt ing Iran -- also has a background in the Senate, working to make sense of the rumors as a staffer for then Delaware regarding the mid-level Sen. Joe Biden on the picks, they have a high level Foreign Relations of familiarity with the people Committee. Talwar has a at the top. reputation for keeping • Gen. James Jones, the AIPAC happy even as he former NATO commander tweaked the tough language who is Obama’s pick for it favored in ways that would national security adviser, is not hamstring U.S. Middle the “it makes sense” guy. East policy. His ability to When he commanded “nuance,” to use an overNATO, it made sense to used Washington term, intensify the regional relacould stem from earlier stints tionship with Israel, and the at the State Department and Israelis loved it. More at one of the U.N. agencies recently, when he oversaw monitoring Israeli-Arab compliance with Israelipeace. Eric Lynn, right, and Josh Kram attended the main Jewish Palestinian peace agree• Eric Lynn, like Shapiro, inaugural bash Jan. 19, 2009. The duo started their profesments, it made sense to train was a senior Jewish outreach sional Jewish careers together as AIPAC interns, but ended Palestinian security forces official for Obama during up squaring off in the Democratic primaries, with Lynn workand it didn’t make sense for the campaign; he is said to ing on Jewish affairs for Barack Obama and Kram playing Continued on page 3 be headed for a White Credit: Ron Kampeas the same role for Hillary Clinton.
January 30, 2009
Mideast policy machine Continued from page 2 the Israelis to get in the way -- making him rather less enamored of by the Israelis. • Hillary Rodham Clinton, sworn in as Secretary of State on Jan. 22, has been one of Israel’s fastest friends in her eight years in the Senate, taking the lead in bringing to light anti-Jewish and antiIsrael incitement by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and threatening to obliterate Iran if it launched a nuclear weapon at Israel. As first lady, she was a stalking horse for Palestinian statehood, angering some in the pro-Israel establish-
When it comes to bottom-line support, pro-Israel insiders say he is solid, with a deep understanding of the issue. • Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a carry-over from the Bush administration. Gates is the “realist” brought in to correct the sharp ideological tilt warfare had taken under his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld. Gates’ refusal to count out engagement with Iran -- if only as a practical matter, in terms of allowing Iraq’s neighbors a stake in how it fits into the region -- dovetails with Obama’s own pledge to reach out more to the Islamic Republic.
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Learn how to ‘go green’ at Beth El’s annual Tu B’Shevat celebration by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Ecology and nature will be front and center, as Beth El and Lauritzen Gardens will co-sponsor a special community-wide Tu B’Shevat celebration at the Gardens, 1st & Bancroft St, this Sunday, 1:30-3 p.m. Not only will the public be entertained during the afternoon, it will also be educated about ‘going green,’ conserving, recycling and living in more environmentally friendly ways. OPPD will offer energy tips; the Nebraska State Recycling Association will present an exhibit and a presentation; and a recyclable-art exhibit by Friedel Academy students will be on display.
Other highlights during the afternoon include: tours of the inside gardens with tasting of traditional Israeli fruits and nuts; cookie-decorating and art activities for children; JCC Schlicha Tamar Halevy’s presentation about the life cycle of plants in Israel; and a special musical performance at 2:30 p.m., by Cantor Beth Schlossberg and a variety of performers. According to the cantor, the instrumental and vocal music performed with be mostly classical, sung in Hebrew, Italian and English, and will carry naturebased themes. Admission is free for this family-friendly Tu B’Shevat celebration, thanks to a generous donor.
UNO to host exhibit and lecture
Then President-elect Barack Obama, at lectern, with Cabinet nominees Robert Gates, left, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with Vice President-elect Joe Biden in December, 2008. Credit: Presidential transition team ment at the time. Since then, however, • Susan Rice, U.N. ambassadorit’s become a non-issue, as virtually every- designee, at the Cabinet level. Rice signed one is for a Palestinian state. onto a Washington Institute for Near • Vice President Joe Biden, expected to East Policy paper last summer calling for take a leading foreign policy role, has a greater Israel-U.S. coordination on Iran history of arguing with Israel and its U.S. policy. More recently, in Senate testimofriends -- of course, he has a history of ny, she accused the world body of sinarguing with everyone, including himself. gling out Israel for blame.
To order a gift subscription to the Press... Send a check for $35, made out to the Jewish Press, to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 334.6448.
Continued from page 1 In conjunction with this exhibit, the Criss Library and UNO’s Department of History are sponsoring a lecture by Paul Jaskot, who will discuss, “Architecture and Oppression: Nazi Berlin, 19331945”. The talk will be held at the Criss Library on Sunday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m. and is open to the community. Jaskot is professor of Art History at De Paul University in Chicago and president of the College Art Association. He is a specialist on the relationship between culture and state policy within National Socialist Germany. According to Jaskot, “To debate the significance of Nazi culture one must ana-
lyze the monumental architecture of Berlin favored by Hitler.” His lecture will address the relationship between National Socialist architecture and brutal state policy and illustrate the political function of architecture. Dr. Moshe Gershovich, Professor of History at UNO, finds Jaskot’s lecture to be a perfect compliment to the Seliger exhibit. “Both men, scholar and artist, in different ways, show the manner in which artistic expressions are used to depict the horrors of the Holocaust,” he said. For additional information on the lecture or exhibit, please call Linda Riviera at the UNO Criss Library, 554.2640 or Dr. Gershovich at 554.3175.
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.
Do you know an outstanding Jewish teacher currently teaching K-12 in the Omaha metro area? Just write a letter describing this teacher and tell us why she/he deserves this special recognition. You can even encourage others (students, former students, parents, teachers) to do so also. Be sure to include the name of the teacher’s school as well as your name and phone number.
$10,000 Sokolof Teacher’s Award
Send your letter by March 2 to Janet Henthorn at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154. Call her at 334-6551 or jhenthorn@jewishomaha.org.
$10,000 Sokolof Merit Scholarships for 2009 College Freshmen and Students in Health Care Fields Sokolof Javitch Scholarship also available for Music Majors
Applications due by March 2, 2009 For details and an application, go to www.jewishomaha.org Center for Jewish Education Scholarship and Grants page or call Janet Henthorn at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, 334-6551
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
IN THE NEWS
The Marlene F. Landy Cancer Foundation recently was approved as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Formed last year, in memory of former Omahan Marlene Friedman Landy, who died in 2004 after a four-year battle with breast cancer, the Foundation to financially assist cancer patients and their families, particularly when it is the breadwinner of the family who is fighting the disease. Landy, a graduate of Central High School and the University of Missouri, moved to Denver after marrying Dr. Richard Landy, now president of the Foundation. She was preceded in death by her brother Lester Friedman. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children, Brian, Ellen and Matthew; five grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Felicia and Stan Shrier; and brother Harry Friedman of Agoura Hills, CA. For more information or to make a contribution, contact Dr. Landy at 303.740.8142 or e-mail buckhornranch@comcast.com, or by mail at 9618 E. Maplewood Cir., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces has acquired Dale Ocken Floors, a leading quality wood floor provider that has been in business for more than 15 years in the Omaha area. Dale Ocken and his craftsmen have joined the CKF team in the Omaha location at 10325 J St. This acquisition allows Consolidated to be a one-stop shop for kitchen remodeling, from cabinets to countertops, wood floors to tile back splashes. Professional designers, installers and the showroom are also at the location.
CKF owner Sam Marchese says, “We’re excited about the specialized quality craftsmanship that Dale Ocken and his team add to our operation.” CKF is now a fullservice shop for wood flooring, from the most affordable to very high-end custom jobs, with a huge selection of wood species and finishes to choose from. Repair and refinishing services are also offered. “Quality and customer satisfaction are keys to our business, and we’ll have both with Dale Ocken Floors, now a division of Consolidated,” according to Consolidated president, Don Steffensmeier. CKF is a wholesale distributor and total solution for kitchen remodeling. Showrooms are located in Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines, and online at: www.ckfco.com. Seven past and present outstanding Omaha area business leaders will be inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame at a gala Thursday, April 16, at Qwest Center Omaha in the Peter Kiewit Grand Ballroom. Hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the annual Omaha Business Hall of Fame gala honors individuals whose accomplishments in business are historically significant to the development of Omaha. Among the inductees is Harold M. Maurer, M.D., Chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center Tables of 10 are available for $2,000. Individual tickets are $200. The evening begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception with the honorees or their representatives followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. Make reservations by April 10, online at www.omahachamber.
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org/businesshalloffame, to reservations@omahacham ber.org or 402.978.7912.
Care Consultants for the Aging, founded in Omaha in 1991 and in Lincoln in 1998, has opened a new office in Des Moines, Iowa. A home health registry that places certified, screened, and insured caregivers with clients in both private homes and facilities, Care Consultants refers the entire range of caregivers from companions to certified nurse’s assistants to nurses. In addition to its Home Care Registry, Care Consultants also produces the ElderCare Resource Handbook, an all-inclusive listing of services in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. To learn more about healthcare that is affordable or to obtain a copy of the ElderCare Resource Handbook, call Care Consultants for the Aging in Omaha at 402.398.1848, in Lincoln at 402.488.3771, or in the new Des Moines Office at 515.221.1195. Or visit them online at www.careconsultants.com.
Harley Schrager, Bob Freeman and Jay Lerner were recently re-elected to 2009 terms on the Board of the Omaha Sports Commission. Schrager is also serving his third year as Chairman of the Board, and Freeman also continues to serve on the Executive Committee.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Diavolo Project: Nebraska is holding auditions on Monday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., to select up to 12 participants for involvement in the project. Auditions will take place in the Scott Recital Hall inside the Holland Performing Arts Center and are open to any Nebraskan with extensive experience and interest in movement, including, but not limited to, dancers, gymnasts, acrobats, athletes and physical theater artists. For further information, call Jenni Boldra at 402.661.8492 or email: jboldra@omahaperformingarts.org.
One Shabbat, One World at Chabad House
by SHEVI KATZMAN for Chabad of Nebraska “We live in a world that is exceptionally interconnected. It has allowed us to become a part of a worldwide linked community,” says Shani Katzman, education director at Chabad of Nebraska. So Jewish leaders worldwide have named the Friday-Saturday, Feb. 6-7, Shabbat weekend as “One Shabbat, One World.” Heralded as a global initiative to increase universal peace, that Shabbat is dedicated to worldwide Jewish unity and will be celebrated by tens of thousands of Jews across the Chava and Chaya Morgenstern are excited globe. Eager to join their parents and the Omaha comto be a part of munity for a Shabbat of peace.
this amazing project, Chabad House is hosting the Shabbat celebration in Omaha on Friday evening and Saturday and invites the community to join. Traveling from Kansas City for the event, Rabbi Simcha and Simi Morgenstern will address the theme of unity and world peace. The Friday night celebration will begin at 5:15 p.m. with Shabbat candle lighting and will follow with Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:30 p.m. A dinner coordinated by Lisa Epstein will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and free for children under the age of 10. Reserve now at RSVP@OChabad.com or by calling 330.1800. Shabbat morning will begin with davening and a special kids program beginning at 10:45 a.m. A Kiddush luncheon honoring participants in the Chabad Women of Worth Kabbalistic Insights program begins at 11:45 a.m. Course students include Sandee Friedman, Kelly Kirk, Sandy Kohll, Nancy Wolf and Annette Wright, who have completed studying the Tractate of Avos. Chabad is dedicating this weekend to the memory and merit of support and friend Abner Rubin, who died 10 years ago last month.
January 30, 2009
‘Kvelling’ for Obama
Continued from page 1 “Not just that we elected Barack Obama, but that their son will be 20 feet from the Oval Office, and have a chief of staff named Rahm Emanunel,” Axelrod said to cheers. Obama has surrounded himself with several key Jewish advisers, but no rabbis were tapped to give prayers at the inauguration, as Obama followed in the path of several of his recent predecessors in turning to Protestant clergymen. But three rabbis -- one Reform (David Saperstein), one Conservative (Jerome Epstein), one Orthodox (Haskel Lookstein) -- were slated to offer prayers at a Wednesday service, a move that left some observers impressed with the Obama team’s attention to the nuances of Jewish communal life. But the inaugural was not without Jewish flourishes: During his invocation, Pastor Rick Warren recited (in English) the opening declaration of the Sh’ema prayer. In addition, one of California’s two Jewish senators -- Democrat Dianne Feinstein -- served as the emcee and Itzhak Perlman took part in an ensemble performance shortly before the swearingin. And, according to a source, there was a sizable contingent of American Jews at the Obama family’s private church service before the inauguration. Emanuel and Saperstein were present, as was Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Union’s representative in Washington who attended Harvard Law School with Obama. They were joined by several Jewish supporters, including Lee Rosenberg, Lester Crown, Jim Crown, Alan Solow and Rabbi Jack Moline. Also there was First Lady Michelle Obama’s cousin, Rabbi Capers Funnye, the leader of a black Jewish congregation in Chicago. *** The lead-up to the inauguration was packed with Jewish events, the headliner being the bash attended by Axelrod on Jan. 19. The event, an hors d’oeuvres and drinks reception at the Capital Hilton in downtown D.C., was sponsored by nine organizations -- the National Jewish Democratic Council, the United Jewish Communities, the American Jewish Committee, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, AIPAC, NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia and the Jewish federations of New York, Chicago and Washington. It was not an official inaugural event, but organizers said that prominent Obama supporters encouraged Jewish communal leaders to follow the lead of other ethnic groups by privately sponsoring such a gathering. “You were all shareholders,” Axelrod said, and “you’re going to be our partners as we move forward and try to fulfill the commitments we have made.” Elie Wiesel also spoke, praising Obama’s “absolute passion for human decency,” while calling the new president “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wiesel has high expectations for the new commander-in-chief. He said he was “convinced” that Obama “will bring an end to the tragedy in Darfur” and utilize “his energy and passion” to bring about “peace in the Middle East.” The Nobel laureate added that Obama’s election makes him think that his son and daughter will one day be “celebrating the first Jewish president of the United States.” Actress Debra Winger, who campaigned for Obama in Virginia this fall, kept her remarks very brief, saying she hoped “all our prayers are answered.” A short speech was a wise decision because the excitement in the room meant many partygoers wanted to chat
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Call Today for a Free Design Consultation. Omaha’s Trusted Name in Sunrooms, Solariums & Conservatories Actress Debra Winger was one of the big names to show up at the main Jewish inaugural ball Jan. 19, 2009. Credit: Ron Kampeas more than listen to speeches. Earlier in the evening, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) twice had to ask the crowd to quiet down during his remarks, and it took a very loud demand by someone in the crowd to finally achieve silence for Wiesel -- as well as Axelrod. The hall was filled with rabbis, Jewish leaders and virtually all of what one might call “official Jewish Washington.” Michael Lieberman, the Anti-Defamation League’s Washington counsel, counted seven of his former summer interns in the crowd (including a JTA correspondent). But a portion of the tickets were made available as well to the general public, so some had come long distances simply to celebrate the new president. Joanna Charnes had left the Sundance Film Festival in her hometown of Park City, Utah, for the nation’s capital on Saturday night. As a resident of a “very red state,” Charnes had spent lots of time campaigning in neighboring Colorado and raising money. She also spent hours a day refuting the Internet rumors that circulated about Obama in the Jewish community throughout the campaign. “I can’t stop getting tears in my eyes,” she said. *** One of Obama’s pitchmen to the Jewish community during the campaign was Tony Lake, the Clinton administration national security adviser who in recent years had converted to Judaism. Lake’s “Jew by choice for Obama” stump speech was a poignant way for an old foreign policy hand to make the pro-Israel case for a greenhorn senator from Illinois. Lake all but disappeared after the campaign. He made a reappearance, not at Washington’s main Jewish event, but at the Arab American Institute dinner eight blocks away. Institute president Jim Zogby warmly praised Lake’s insights as a foreign policy heavy at a time when American Jews and Arabs routinely worked together to try and make the Oslo peace process work. It was an odd, nostalgic note at an Arab American Institute event otherwise fraught with the aftermath of the Gaza Strip war. An official of Anera, the Palestinian relief group, described the devastation in the area. Its 17 staff and office were unharmed, and were beginning to distribute food and medicine to Gaza residents. Most jarring, perhaps, was the Al Jazeera English set-up in a corner of the Fairmont Hotel ballroom. Producers from the network pulled over passers-by for comment on U.S. foreign policy. More than once, their voices rose above the natural crystal-clinking party din. Continued on page 6
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
‘Kvelling’ for Obama
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Continued from page 5 While much of Washington was partying prior to the inauguration, the leaders of the Jewish Grassroots Action Network were working. About 25 leaders of the group assembled an “action plan” laying out how they will go about choosing issues, and advocating for them, over the next four years. Then they partied, with about 100 guests attending a kosher inaugural ball, complete with a klezmer band, at D.C. synagogue Tifereth Israel Congregation. The organization grew out of a Jews for Obama group -- running the gamut from unaffiliated to Orthodox -- that formed during the campaign. President Yocheved Seidman said she hopes to continue the activism that animated so many people over the last year, although she acknowledged that it is much easier to get people excited about a campaign rather than policy. Obama “throughout the entire campaign said we can’t do this alone,” Seidman said, and her group hopes to advocate for issues that the president is pursuing when they advance Jewish values. She said the organization will decide over the coming months on which areas they hope to focus on and hopes to have a conference in Washington later in the year. Assisting the group was Rabbi Yosef Blau, a spiritual adviser at Yeshiva University and president of the Religious Zionists of America. Blau, who wrote an influential article in The Jewish Week last spring encouraging Jews to respond to Obama’s effort to reach out to the community, said he was helping the group to frame its issues around traditional Jewish values, from providing jobs to offering health care. Blau didn’t endorse Obama, but noted in an interview -- and later in a speech to the ball attendees -- that he found similarities between “Obama’s sensibility and Jewish sensibility” on the issue of fighting evil. He noted that in the August forum at Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddelback Church, Republican candidate John McCain talked about how the United States must defeat the evil represented by the Iranian regime. Obama, on the other hand, said that while the U.S. must contain Iran, “only God can defeat evil” -- a point Blau found to be “consistent with Jewish tradition.” *** “I danced with Barack at the National Synagogue,” exclaimed Debra Kirsch. Actually, it was only a cardboard cutout of the president-elect, but Kirsch was one of a couple hundred people who celebrated Obama’s inauguration at a Washington shul on Jan. 18. The National Jewish Inaugural Ball at Ohev SholomThe National Synagogue was the brainchild of Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, who wanted to give Jews a place to celebrate the inauguration in a Jewish setting. Herzfeld noted that it was an “inaugural ball according to Jewish law,” with kosher food and men and women dancing separately to a klezmer band. Howard Gutman of Bethesda, MD, an early member of Obama’s finance committee and a trustee of the inauguration, predicted that as the new president gets to know the city, “I can just about guarantee that Barack Obama will come to this shul one day soon” because Herzfeld is such a dynamic presence in the city. A promised toast from actor Louis Gossett Jr. didn’t
materialize -- the Academy Award winner couldn’t make it -- but Obama campaign Jewish outreach and Middle East staffer Dan Shapiro did offer a toast to the “wonderful inspiration” that Herzfeld had for the event -- and to the future. This is a time, Shapiro said, that everyone feels is “full of possibility for our country, for our community, full of possibility for a safe Israel, for a better future than we have had.” “There’s a lot of work to do, and we need everybody’s help to get it done,” said Shapiro, who is likely to get a foreign policy position in the Obama administration. Other toasters included Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver and “the only Jewish legislator in North Dakota,” Eliot Glassheim. The latter said that he gets to recite a prayer in Hebrew once a year at the North Dakota House of Representatives, and “the whole Legislature is dumbstruck and they love it.” Former New York Knick John Starks, another promised guest, was a no-show, but spotted in the crowd were Bahrain Ambassador to the United States Houda Nonoo (who is Jewish), former AIPAC staffer and current trial defendant Steve Rosen, and Life and Times of Hank Greenberg filmmaker Aviva Kempner. *** Walking into the Science Club in downtown Washington, the sign at the entrance said that the J Street inauguration party on Jan. 18 was “underground.” “Underground,” though, was referring only to the section of the bar in which the bash was taking place, not the organization. The fairly new “pro-Israel, propeace” group has been under fire in the past few weeks from some prominent Jewish leaders -- particularly Union of Reform Judaism president Rabbi Eric Yoffie - over its criticism of Israel’s Gaza operation. But there were plenty of young Jewish adults who were willing to offer strong support for the newest voice in the D.C. pro-Israel community. Dan Scarvalone, 22, who recently finished a stint as an Obama campaign field organizer, noted that Judaism has always encouraged a “multiplicity of viewpoints” and “American Jews are tired of hearing one viewpoint” on the Israel issue. “I respect Eric Yoffie,” Scarvalone said, but argued that J Street hadn’t “crossed the line in any way” in its criticism of the Gaza operation. Of course, some of the 75 or so revelers were more interested in a place to celebrate the inauguration than Middle East policy. As one partygoer said when asked why she was there, “My housemate’s friend works for J Street.” J Street also had a closed-to-the-press wine-andcheese party earlier in the day for its top donors and the members of Congress it endorsed. Singer Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, also stopped by and performed. *** Israel, the Palestinians, the Irish -- they all got the Bono shout out at the inauguration festivities on Jan. 19. Martin Luther King's dream, Bono declared from the Lincoln Memorial where King first described it, was “not just an American dream -- also an Irish dream, a European dream, African dream, Israeli dream and also” -- dramatic pause -- “a Palestinian dream!”
Shabbat Shira Journey at Temple to include music, dinner and fun by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator As Temple Israel looks forward to Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel noted, “Although we are the People of the Book, those books from ancient times and even today’s books contain many musical notes that elevate our spirits.” “This year’s music on Shabbat Shira focuses on texts of joy plus familiar congregational melodies that have been newly-set for choir,” said Cantor Wendy Shermet. Kol Rina, Temple's adult choir, will sing in several languages on Shabbat Shira, A Musical Journey, at the service on Friday, Feb. 6, 6 p.m. The chorus will be joined by the choir from St. Paul United Methodist Church, and both groups will be directed by the church's music minister, Jerry Brabeck. “Anytime we are part of an interfaith community that shares its common narrative,” commented Rabbi Azriel, “we are in a way strengthening our own Jewish identity and understanding of our own religion.” Dr. Keith Johnson, senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church, has been invited to speak during the
service. A Mediterranean-style dinner, at $15 per person, will be served after worship services. It will consist of “grilled Mediterranean chicken breast, couscous, grilled vegetables, humus, and dessert. You’ll think you’re in an Israeli eatery,” said Executive Director Dennis DePorte. Following dinner, congregants will showcase their vocal, instrumental, and dramatic talents at an open mic event which will extend “the themes of togetherness, community, and joy,” according to Rabbi Eric Linder. Open mic entertainers include Zane Fletcher and Joe Hack performing “Hip Hop Opotamus,” Grace Hack and Molly Goldberg reciting slam poetry, Maxine Noodell’s vocal talents accompanied by Julie Sandene, Rabbi Linder and Patrick Jensen on blues guitar, Rabbi Azriel singing “The Falafel Song,” and more. Spectators will be encouraged to express their opinions of the “talent” by applauding, cheering or even heckling the performers. Reservations are due by Monday, Feb. 2. Please contact the Temple office at 556.6536 or mkube@templeisraelomaha.com.
January 30, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
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Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
Omaha rallies for Israel
Continued from page 1 Photos from top left: Greeting rally goers in the JCC lobby with Israeli flags are Tomer Palmon, left, Lauren Kirshenbaum, Shir Palmon and Rachel Meyer; before she speaks, Federation Executive Director Jan Goldstein gives Rabbi Myer Kripke good wishes on his 95th birthday -- which will be celebrated at Beth El this Shabbat at a luncheon following services; Rabbi Mordechai Levin of Beth El recites a prayer for peace; Temple Israel’s Rabbi Aryeh Azriel leads
“Hashkiveinu�; Joel Alperson -- a national board member of United Jewish Communities -- gives the crowd, estimated at about 400, an update based on correspondence with Israelis; Temple’s Cantor Wendy Shermet, left, Beth Israel’s Don Gerber and Beth El’s Cantor Beth Schlossberg lead the crowd in the “Star Spangled Banner� and “Hatikvah�; ADLCRC Director Alan Potash describes what led to Israel’s incursion into Gaza; Chabad’s Rabbi Mendel Katzman recites the prayer for the IDF; Federation President Bob Lepp
makes a statement on behalf of the Jewish community; community shlicha Tamar HaLevy, left, Soviet Jewry activitist Shirley Goldstein and former mayor and congressman Hal Daub wait for the program to begin; Sam Kricsfeld listens patiently to speeches; in addition to filling the JCC lobby, about 60 watched the rally via closed circuit tv in the JCC auditorium; Hannah Bargas, left, and Aleia Budwig cheer after singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem -- which means “hope.� Photo credit: Gary Javitch and Carol Katzman
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PJ Havdalah, Tu B’Shevat programs entertain preschoolers during busy Beth El weekend
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by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Preschoolers had a full dance card recently, as Beth El presented a Pajama Havdalah service, and the following morning, a Nitzanim program, where the children learned about the holiday of Tu B’Shevat. Photos from above left: Wayne Schwarz had his hands full with daughters Melanie, Courtney and Sabrina during PJ Havdalah; leader Patty Nogg donned flannel pajamas for the program, as did program director Margie Gutnik; Peyton Kelln enjoyed an orange slice and, left, Alan Tipp and daughter Adria, all participated in the Tu B’Shevat Seder.
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YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC with a special first time program with Teddy Grable, performing 50s style Golden Oldies. The program begins at 12:30 p.m. and lunch is served at noon for $7 per person. Join us for Bingo with Miles Remer at 10 a.m. Call Teresa at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521.
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.
VISIONS Join your fellow Visionaires for a fun day on Thursday, Feb. 12, 11:15 a.m., for lunch and a movie at Hooters (12405 West Center), followed by a movie at Westwood Cinema 8 (on your own and your choice of movie). Cost of $13.50 includes lunch, beverage, tax and gratuity. Send reservations to Phyllis Roffman, 4118 No. 139 St., Omaha, NE 68164 by Feb. 5. For information, call Rosalie Greenspan at 391.1954 or Phyllis at 333.1222. Make check payable to Visions. Reminder: Visions Board meeting is Friday, Feb. 6, 9:30 at the JCC.
B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Jim Suttle is the first of three mayoral candidates to speak at Breadbreakers, Wednesday, Feb. 4, noon, at Regency Lodge. Cost is $13 for optional buffet lunch and $3 for beverage service. The free program is open to the community. To be added to the e-mail list, call 334.6443 or e-mail lepstein@jewishomaha.org.
Unit leaders are asked to send the names of those Jewish Scouts who earned religious awards during the past year to Cassie Lange at the Council office. The awards include MACCABEE (Tiger Cub and Cub Scouts), ALEPH (Bear Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts), NER TAMID (Boy Scouts), and ETZ CHAIM (Varsity Scouts) so they can be recognized during the special Shabbat services.
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Members met for lunch with entertainment by Temple Israel’s Cantor Wendy Shermet. The board was recognized for their hard work and dedication: Doris Alloy, left, Harry Alloy, Florence Hauss, Phyllis Schwartz, Howard Silber, Jim Wax, Sol Schwartz, Tootie Simon, Phyllis Roffman, Rosalie Greenspan. Not pictured: Phyllis Aron, Rose Pitlor, Ilse and Marcel Kahn, Betty Sanford.Below: Harry Alloy chats with Cantor Shermet.
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BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Scout week celebrates the founding of the Boy Scouts of America and begins with Scout Sunday, Feb. 8 and ends with Scout Sabbath on Saturday, Feb. 14. Special services will be held Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel. All Jewish Scouts are urged to attend in full uniform. The SHOFAR award for adult Scouters for their support of scouting within Omaha’s Jewish community will be presented during the services.
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Page 10
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Men’s Club World Wide Wrap, 9 a.m. at Beth El Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, and BESTT 5th Grade Family History, and Talmud Torah Pre-Kindergarten, 10 a.m. at Beth El Teen Class with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Mishpacha Morning, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad AZA #1 Blood Drive, 11 a.m. Beth El Tu B’Shevat, 1 p.m. at Lauritzen Gardens 39 Forever Planning Meeting, 2 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 YES Luncheon, 10 a.m. Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad JFO Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Hebrew 10, 6:30 p.m. Friedel Love & Logic Class, 6:30 p.m. JFO Board of Director’s Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Mishnah Club, 3:45 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. ADL Youth Leadership Mission Trip Meeting, 6:30 p.m. JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 ADL Cyberbullying Presentation, 7:30 a.m. ADL Teacher Workshop, 5 p.m. Aleph Bet and Beyond, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Torah Studies Class, 7 p.m. at Chabad THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 ADL Teacher Workshop, 8:30 a.m. Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Ideals and Ethics, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad YJO Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Prophets, Prophecy, and Politics, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Foundation Planned Giving Council Meeting, 8 a.m. Visions Board Meeting, 9 a.m. Chabad One Shabbat, One World, 5:15 p.m. at Chabad Tot Shabbat & Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Caring Comm. Card Making, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Teen Class with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Mishpacha Morning, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Primary Grades Tu B’Shevat Seder, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Hazak Lunch and Cinema Series, noon at Beth El Shall We Dance? The Choreography of Shabbat, noon at Beth El JCC Basketball Awards Ceremony, 3 p.m. Kids’ Crafts with Miss Andreea, 5 p.m. at Beth Israel Sunday Night Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Bedtime Storytime for Kids, 6 p.m. at Chabad House
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 The Faith Book Club, and Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Temple Israel Torah on Wheels, noon Jewish Ideals and Ethics, noon at Beth El School Directors’ Meeting, noon Dorothy Kaplan Book Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Friedel Science Fair, 6:30 p.m. Prophets, Prophecy, and Politics, 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Tu B’Shvat - Jewish Arbor Day Holiday P2K Teen Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad BESTT Tu B’Shevat Seder, 4:30 p.m. at Beth El Tu B’shvat Seder - P2K and Artza, 5:30 p.m. Hebrew 10, 6:30 p.m. Jewish Learning Institute, 7 p.m. at Chabad Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon Mishnah Club, 3:45 p.m. BESTT Tu B’Shevat Seder, 4:30 p.m. at Beth El Neil Lazarus, Teen Community Program, 5 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Friedel PTO Party, 6 p.m. Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Sixth/Seventh grade Minyan, 9 a.m. at Beth El Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El WRJ Book Sorting Day, and Social Justice Book Club, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Teen Class with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Talmud Torah Pre-Kindergarten, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Morning, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Shall We Dance? The Choreography of Shabbat, noon at Beth El Teacher Training Session, 12:30 p.m. Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, 1 p.m. Camp Gan Israel Open House, 1 p.m., at Chabad
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Rabbis & Presidents Meeting, noon RBJH Community Billy James Concert, 1:30 p.m. Aleph Bet and Beyond, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Torah Studies Class, 7 p.m. at Chabad THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Visions Lunch & Movie, noon Center for Jewish Education board meeting, noon Jewish Ideals and Ethics, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Friedel Executive meeting, 5:30 p.m. Friedel Board meeting, 7 p.m. Eye on Israel, 7 p.m. at Kripke Library Prophets, Prophecy, and Politics, 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad Hebrew 10, 6:30 p.m. Jewish Learning Institute, 7 p.m. at Chabad Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Rosh Chodesh Adar Holiday Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad JSS/RBJH Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m. WRJ Luncheon, noon at Temple Israel Mishnah Club, 3:45 p.m. BBYO Chapter Elections, 6 p.m. Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, 7 p.m. Beth Israel Sisterhood Spirits & Spirituality, 7:45 p.m. Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Library Meeting, 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Teen Class with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Shall We Dance? The Choreography of Shabbat, noon at Beth El Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, 1 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Omaha Symphony: Mission Imagination Concert, 8 a.m. Spice and Spirit Cooking Club, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad AIPAC Nebraska Council Briefing and Lunch, 11:45 a.m. Torah Studies Class, 7 p.m. at Chabad
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 YES Luncheon, 10 a.m. Jewish Book Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m. Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad Hebrew 10, 6:30 p.m. Jewish Learning Institute, 7 p.m. at Chabad Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Ideals and Ethics, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Men’s Club Poker Night, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel ADL 2009 Youth Leadership Mission Meeting, 6:30 p.m. LOVE Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Prophets, Prophecy, and Politics, 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Mishnah Club, 3:45 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel ADL Youth Leadership Mission meeting, 7 p.m. Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Torah Studies Class, 7 p.m. at Chabad NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Beth El Shabbat comes to the RBJH, 2:30 p.m. BESTT Grades 4 and 5 Class Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El 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 events listed above.
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Page 11
The dance of davening: Beth El’s Cantor Schlossberg to lead “The Choreography of Shabbat Services” by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator During Shabbat services, we stand, sit, stand again, bend our knees and bow. Ever wonder why? Each ritual motion has a reason, and Beth El’s Cantor Beth Schlossberg will explain their meaning during her new five-week mini course, “The Choreography of Shabbat Services,” to be held at the synagogue. Scheduled for Sundays, Feb. 8, 15, 22, March 1 and 8, noon-1 p.m., the Cantor Beth Schlossberg class is open to all adults in the Jewish community (knowledge of Hebrew is not required). “Everything in our lives has a rhythm, and our prayer experience is no different,” Cantor Schlossberg explained. “In any song or dance, there are certain beats and steps that are used to mark our places, and act much as punctuation would in a sentence.” She added, “In the words of our liturgy, the Kaddish acts as a separation. It is a punctuation mark to go in between the different sections of our service. Our physical movements often do the same. They tell us when we are accentuating a prayer because it is an integral part of the service. The movements let us know when we are praying and reciting things together as a community, and when we have the opportunity to have a ‘one on one’ with God. Noting that, “Personally, the movements of bowing, of lifting my heels, of standing and so on, help
me to feel more involved in my prayer,” Cantor Schlossberg said, “Instead of just my mind and my voice being active throughout the service, my entire body has the opportunity to engage in prayer. For me, that is a very special and meaningful feeling.” The cantor noted that she created this class after observing the uncertainty of congregants regarding what to do during certain parts of the service. “One of the things I have noticed over the years is that many times people wait to see what someone else is doing before they themselves engage in an action. It’s a matter of confidence in one’s own knowledge and abilities. I truly believe that when people feel confident about what and when they are supposed to say or do something, they are more likely to take a more participatory and/or more of a leadership role.” Through The Choreography of Shabbat Services, she is “hoping to build the confidence of members in their own prayer skills, so when the opportunity presents itself to participate in services, it is a task to look forward to and enjoy. This class can be a wonderful way to begin to build a prayer experience; it can also be a beautiful way to enhance the experience one already has.” Cost to attend the mini course is $18; for more information or to register, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or via e-mail at programming@ bethel-omaha.org. “Prayer engages every aspect of our being, from our hearts, to our minds and our bodies,” Cantor Schlossberg remarked. “By taking time to learn about one simple part, we are building a solid foundation to begin engaging the rest of ourselves into our prayer experience.”
Children and their secret itineraries
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Whoever coined the phrase “never a dull moment” must have looked into the future and seen my kids. My husband and I, we like boring. Boring is good. But boring doesn’t live at our house. Not a week goes by that some mini-crisis doesn’t occur and throw the whole family into a tailspin, causing us to wonder whether everybody else’s children are this weird, ‘why us’, and what’s next. I do know there are other parents who have experienced the explode-a- kid: you ask them for something completely innocent (put on your coat, brush your hair) and complete pandemonium ensues. Screaming, throwing objects, crying; you’d think you’d done something awful like cutting off Barbie’s head or taking a blowtorch to their dollhouse. The worst thing about these disproportionate anger attacks is that you can’t see them coming; one minute everything’s fine, the next your day is ruined and you feel like grabbing a bottle of rum and hiding in the broom closet for the next three hours. I believe the reason children are so unpredictable is that they have a daily itinerary only they know about. You may think it’s a quarter to twelve and time to put on their coat, but to them, it’s 11:44:08; the moment they were planning to space off and pick their nose a bit. You can look at the clock and decide it’s almost 7 pm and time for dinner; to them, it’s 6:49:19: the exact time during which they need to switch Barbie’s purple dress for the blue one. By callously asking them to go wash their hands, you disrupt their rhythm, and they will never ever be happy again. How dare you? The difficulty is that, as a parent, you never find out what kids are up to until it is too late. We recently experienced this when our four-year-old son started spreading a nasty stench that seemed to be coming from his nasal cavities. It could only be described as the smell of rotting mackerel that’s been lying in the sun for a few days. We bathed him several times, disinfected his clothes and investigated whether he had gotten into something we weren’t aware of. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and took him to the doctor. As it turned out, when children smell this nasty, it’s usually caused by something they stuffed up their nose. In Mendel’s case, it was a Reese’s wrapper. I didn’t know
it could fit up there in the first place, but apparently, he managed just fine. (7:43:17 pm: stuff wrapper up nose). I spoke with a friend of mine, who is a pediatrician, and found out this is not unusual at all. Children put all sorts of things up their noses, and if it doesn’t fit at first, they just push harder until they succeed. He told me about a boy who peeled off a plastic cling his mother had painstakingly put on the window while decorating for Hanukkah; the smooth plastic went in easily, but medical intervention was needed to get it out. (4:12:08 pm: do something festive with a Menorah). Another friend told my husband about his nephew who had stuffed a miniature kitty up his nose, then had to follow it with a fireman to rescue the kitty. Once they were both stuck, the child saw no other solution than to put in a policeman to rescue the first two. All three had to be extracted in the emergency room. (9:06:53 pm: rack up large medical bill). Why children do these things, I don’t even want to know. I am guessing it has something to do with trying to find a purpose in life; when everybody around you is always busy, you need to come up with your own agenda. Even a four-year-old wants to feel important, and if you’re too young to have meetings and jobs and errands, you’ll just have to invent some very necessary tasks to fill your time. I just wish they would be a little less secretive about how they plan their day; with a little prior warning about that Reese’s wrapper, I could have totally scheduled around that. Annette Van de Kamp-Wright is a freelance writer who also volunteers for Friedel Jewish Academy and Chabad. A member of the American Jewish Press Association, she can be reached at: avandekamp@ tconl.com.
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.
Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
Are ‘hope and change’ enough? Barack Obama has now taken the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. A poll taken immediately after his speech noted that: “51% of Republicans were confident that the economy would improve over the next four years compared to 38% before watching the speech ... There was (also) an increase of 17% of Democrats who believed that the issue of the war in Iraq would improve in the next presidency after watching,” according to HCD Research. His words were inspirational, but not necessarily movers of mountains. Phrases like “imagination joined to a common purpose” and a “new era of responsibility” are healthy descriptions of citizenship. So we welcome President Obama’s understanding that accountability is vital and that making choices have consequences, but that people can (and must) learn from their mistakes. He has already begun reaching across the aisle; there was a dinner prior to the inauguration honoring his opponent, Sen. John McCain. President Obama has met with both conservative commentators as well as Republican leadership from the Congress. Those are all good signs, dating back from his days as editor of the Harvard Law Review, when he managed to walk a fine line between his progressive black colleagues on the left and his new found conservative friends on the right. Both sides were surprised by his actions -- and that’s probably a good tactic to continue using. But his signal to not-so-friendly countries about “our patchwork heritage” as “a strength, not a weakness”-- certainly welcome on American soil, may not be understood in the same way by those from Gaza to Pakistan, for whom loyalty to the tribe counts for more than devotion to country. Remember, tribal chieftains would just as soon decapitate a dissident as silence (by murder) a daughter who
demands to choose her own husband. Just as a reminder of the dangerous world in which we live, this is a part of the world where terrorists launch rockets from the basements of media buildings (see the YouTube video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY50c ktUKbA&eurl=http://mypetjawa.mu.nu) and schools run by the United Nations, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmX XUOs27lI&feature=related) and wonder why the Israel Defense Forces fire back? It’s where the IDF finds weapons like anti-aircraft guns in mosques (http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=2-Zd55Zhj5gQ&feature=channel_page) and where the chief security officer of Pakistan claims both 9/11 and the Mumbai attacks were the work of “Jews, Zionists and the neocons” ( h t t p : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . com/watch?v=a8ZrqCW vo88). Although President Obama stated that “we will extend a hand, if you’re willing to unclench your fist,” this is what America is up against. How can we possibly expect to sit down across a table and make peace with people who wish us dead! And that goes for the detainees in Gitmo, 62 of whom rejoined terrorists groups after their release. Trying them in criminal court did not work after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center; it only encouraged the 9/11 terrorists in their quest to kill Americans and destroy our way of life. And while it was quite heartening to hear Rev. Rick Warren quote our own Sh’ma: Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is One,” perhaps another message in his
invocation holds importance in this, the opening days of the Obama Presidency, when he asked for “civility in our attitudes even when we differ.” We Americans will be civil, even as we disagree on policy and actions-- but will the rest of the world? And if they’re not civil, how will our 44th President react? Hamas has already announced it will rearm and its lackeys in Europe and the U.N. continue to quote falsehoods about the “civilians” who died in the recent fighting. Now, Mr. President, after the speeches and parties and parades, the world is waiting and watching to see how you’ll govern. Good luck and God speed.
FOCUS ON ISSUES by HOWARD RIEGER NEW YORK (JTA) -- As the Code Red siren sounded, warning of an incoming missile attack, I wondered: Why had I seated myself at a conference table when we had been instructed that during an evacuation, those on the room’s outer perimeter were to leave first because anyone closest to windows and walls were most vulnerable to injury or worse. Those few extra seconds of waiting before we could get to a safe space seemed to last a long time. Our group -- some 30 North American participants from across the UJC/Federation system taking part in the recent Leadership Solidarity Mission, along with local residents of Ashkelon and southern Israel -dutifully headed to a nearby stairwell in the municipal building we were visiting. Given that we only had 45 seconds until the missile hit, the stairwell was the closest protected area. What struck me most was the businesslike calm on the faces of the Israelis acting as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Sadly, for nearly 1 million Israelis in the line of missile fire, this is normalcy. This is a kind of life we can hardly imagine. What makes it more bearable for some is the incredible work our UJC/Federation system supports to address the growing humanitarian and social crisis in southern Israel, which has
... even if the missiles stop, the pain and suffering will not end and the less obvious, more longterm human toll will need our attention for some time to come.
Jewish Press Board Michael Sigmond, Vice President; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Marc Brodkey; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; Andy Ruback; 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. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press . Guidelines and 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.
Find a way to support Israelis living under fire been hit by some 10,000 missiles over eight years -- the overwhelming number of the attacks coming since Israel left the Gaza Strip in 2005. The work we do through our overseas partners -- the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee -- along with the Ethiopian National Project and the Israel Trauma Coalition makes a real difference in people’s lives. Just after Israel’s Operation Cast Lead began, our UJC/Federation system launched the Israel Solidarity Drive, committing $10 million to meet these critical needs. Already we have begun distributing funds, and they are saving people’s lives. Our UJC Leadership Solidarity Mission went to see the needs firsthand and to offer moral support to some local residents. Our work includes taking up to 23,000 young people out of the missile zones for daylong respite trips to parks, zoos and other places where they can simply have fun without fear of being hit by a missile. We’re providing basic care packages and children’s games for bomb shelters. We’re offering creative therapy programs to immigrants in absorption centers. We’re providing extra case managers to help care for 25,000 elderly and disabled residents. We’re providing trauma relief to children through projects like the “Havens of Calm,” where students are encouraged to discuss their fears. We’re coordinating volunteer networks and helping municipal emergency workers with planning for faster response efforts and providing them critical emotional support.
(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper
We’re also supporting small businesses suffering in a weakened local economy. A few hours after the Code Red sounded during our Ashkelon visit, we stopped by a lovely home whose top floor had been crushed by an incoming Grad missile -- one of the longer-range weapons Iran has supplied Hamas. Already people were reclaiming objects and starting repairs. In other words, it was just another day in the line of fire in southern Israel. As we drove northward and left the radius known as the missile zone, I felt myself exhale and relax. I wondered what it must be like to live in southern Israel, never getting that chance to take a deep breath and relax a bit. Back in New York, just hours after returning, I walked my grandson to his preschool in our synagogue a few blocks from home. I thought about the Israelis living under fire, following similar daily routes, who at any second might be forced to run for cover. As one Israeli told us during the mission, “Whether one makes a left turn or a right turn might just be a life and death question.” Through community commitments, the UJC/Federation system has raised more than $6 million to help us address the crisis in southern Israel. But even if the missiles stop, the pain and suffering will not end and the less obvious, more long-term human toll will need our attention for some time to come. Meanwhile, let’s pray for a speedy end to this terrible situation, so all the people of southern Israel can at least live their lives without being forced to run for cover. Howard Rieger is president and chief executive officer of the United Jewish Communities.
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January 30, 2009
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 13
King’s pro-Israel legacy should guide Obama
FOCUS ON ISSUES by RABBI MARC SCHNEIER
NEW YORK (JTA) -- Since claiming the presidency, Barack Obama has been universally praised by foreign leaders as a breath of fresh air for American diplomacy. On Dec. 27, however, world leaders’ jubilant anticipation of his inauguration took a backseat as Israel began its current operation in Gaza and questions arose as to how the incoming president would respond to the conflict. While President-elect Obama correctly insisted that there cannot be “two presidents at a time,” his inauguration signaled that the global community is now looking to him for guidance on the Middle East. Obama would be best served by embracing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his unequivocal support and commitment to the State of Israel. Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in order to end Hamas’ capacity to launch rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. These Israeli citizens are on the front-line and continue to be bombarded on a daily basis by an endless barrage of
attacks from the terrorist group Hamas. Pro-Israel supporters should take comfort in the pronouncements by President Obama and key figures in his administration. Obama himself affirmed his pledge to pursue aggressively an end to the conflict. Additionally, when visiting Sderot last July, then-candidate Obama said he would do whatever he could to protect his daughters if they were threatened by rocket attacks. His top political advisor, David Axelrod, has been quoted as saying, “when bombs are raining down on your citizens there is an urge to respond and act to put an end to that. That’s what [Obama] believes.” Axelrod has also said that the Obama administration plans to work closely with Israel, which he called Washington’s “most important ally in the region.” Needless to say, one’s rhetoric is only just that -- one’s words. It is action that will dictate legacy. King’s life is that legacy. What irony that Barack Obama’s inau-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor: Thank you for the Acco Theater Festival article (in the Jan. 16 Jewish Press). We think it is important to mention that the Acco Theater Festival was never canceled, only delayed. After 29 years and a minimum attendance of 250,000 people, it was vital to the entire area that the festival took place over Hanukkah. Acco is central to our Partnership with Israel program and we have become greatly invested there through our friendships and the programs we support. We hope that our community will continue to support the festival next Sukkot on its 30 anniversary with our attendance, as well as with other resources. Zoë Riekes Chairman, Central Consortium Western Galilee Partnership 2000 Kim Goldberg Arts Task Force Chairman Stacey Rockman Federation Partnership/Overseas Chairman To the Editor: President Obama wants he is hitting the floor running. And PA head Mahmoud Abbas sorely needs something to bolster his standing among Palestinians. With the possibility that a prisoner trade is in the offing to gain the release of Gilad Shalit and that Hamas will ultimately control reconstruction efforts in Gaza, Abbas can be expected to fall further behind Hamas. Many Israelis have advocated the release of Fatah leader and convicted murderer Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison as a move to help Abbas and the “moderates.” But even if one accepts that Barghouti has the potential to help Abbas and Fatah, such a move would be counterproductive if it took place in a vacuum. If simply released, Barghouti would instantly transform from the ostensibly squeaky clean revolutionary to yet another Israeli pawn. The release of Barghouti, therefore, has to be part of a swap of such magnitude that it is clear that Israel agreed only because it had no choice. And this -- without setting a precedent that Israel can be forced by America to act against its interests. A Pollard-Barghouti trade would solve this problem. It creates a trade that shows just how much Israel did not want to release the Palestinian murderer, without putting Abbas in a position that he has to deliver something that would undermine his standing at this stage. President Obama’s team has no doubt prepared a laundry list of initiatives for the Middle East. But all of them are either recycled or will get bogged down in details before they are ever implemented. A Pollard-Barghouti trade requires only a phone call and his signature on a pardon. Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA Independent Media Review & Analysis
guration fell one day after King’s 80th birthday commemoration and national observances of the day across the country. King’s struggles and his supreme sacrifice laid the groundwork for an Obama presidency. We came together to swear-in the first African-American president against the backdrop of the current crisis in the Middle East. Obama should recall the noble legacy of King and his steadfast dedication to Israel. King understood the necessity for Israel to protect its citizens, invoking the sentiment, “Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all of our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity.” The people of Israel held a special place in King’s thinking. During Israel’s 1956 war with Egypt, he wrote: “There is something in the very nature of the universe which is on the side of Israel in its every struggle with Egypt.” In March of 1959, returning to the United States by a circuitous route that took him through Jordan and Egypt, King visited Jerusalem and Jericho, then still in Arab hands. Though Jordan
Obama should recall the noble legacy of King and his steadfast dedication to Israel. King understood the necessity for Israel to protect its citizens ...
refused to let him into the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, King often spoke of the adventure and excitement of being in the Holy City and the Holy Land. In fact, the last speech he gave before his death specifically referred to his trip on the Jericho Road. King remarked, “I see Israel, and never mind saying it, as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land almost can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy.” The weight of the whole world was thrust upon Barack Obama’s shoulders the day after celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy. As president, he is faced with a number of urgent domestic and international issues. The crisis in the Middle East presents a great challenge to our new president, and I trust King’s legacy will offer him great wisdom and guidance. As King so eloquently stated, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Rabbi Marc Schneier is the president of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and author of Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Jewish Community.
Victory dancing
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by SHOSHANA BRYEN There was no victory to be had in Gaza; all the possibilities were bad. Israel’s Operation Cast Lead intended to damage the Hamas leadership and infrastructure in hopes of stopping the rocket fire that has terrorized more than three quarters of a million Israelis in the south. Because Hamas not only fired at civilians, but fired from among civilians, it was always clear that the job of “dismantling the terrorist infrastructure” would be ugly and that Palestinian civilians would pay a price for the lousy Hamas leadership for which they voted. This is why the Israelis waited so long; returning fire only after 8,000 Hamas rockets of increasing range and precision hit Only in the warped minds Israel since the disengagement in of people who poison their 2005, including own children and hide behind 3,700 rockets in their own mothers could the 2008. Which is why, devastation of Gaza be since Dec. 27, portrayed as a victory. Israel has transferred more than 450,000 gallons of fuel and 37,000 tons of humanitarian supplies to Gaza in 1,500 trucks. And which is why the Magen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross) set up a medical clinic on the Israeli side of the Erez check point to serve the Palestinian population. Paramedics are working with volunteer doctors, specializing in family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, trauma, orthopedics and surgery. The clinic is equipped with laboratories, X-ray machines and a pharmacy. After diagnosis, patients may be transferred to Israeli hospitals so MDA ambulances have been sent to the clinic. Only in the warped minds of people who poison their own children and hide behind their own mothers could the devastation of Gaza be portrayed as a victory. But Hamas and its Iranian backers are performing a sort of loopy victory dance. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said the Palestinians had achieved an historic and strategic victory over Israel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed, congratulating Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader living in Syria, on a “great victory.” He called it “only the beginning.” Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of the Hamas “political bureau,” pointed to what he called, “the failure of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip and its failure to impose its conditions on the resistance and our
people ... We also emphasize our demand that the Zionist enemy withdraw from the Gaza Strip within a week and that the border crossings be reopened.” He’s making demands? Note: Abu Mazen’s term as elected president of the Palestinian Authority quietly expired last week. Israel, the United States and the European Union have continued to speak to him, and of him, as if he has some legal place in Palestinian affairs. Hamas disagrees. Faraj al-Ghul, Hamas minister of justice (oxymoron alert), said Abbas is the former president and according to the Palestinian Authority Basic Law, the Hamas government of Ismail Haniyeh is the only legitimate representative. No Palestinian government would honor an agreement signed by Abbas. The Jerusalem Post reported that al-Ghul called, “for the arrest of Abbas so that he could be interrogated and tried for committing hundreds of atrocities and for coordinating with [U.S. security coordinator Lt. Gen. Keith] Dayton and the Israeli occupation against the resistance. Abbas is also accused of giving a green light to the Zionist occupation to perpetrate the biggest holocaust in history against the Palestinians.” On the other hand, The Jerusalem Post also reported that Fatah’s armed wing, the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, bragged that its operatives in Gaza fired 102 rockets and 35 mortars at Israel and that one of its top commanders, Ali Hijazi, had been killed. Fatah, remember, is Israel’s “partner.” During President Bush’s last press conference, he was asked about Israel’s operation in Gaza. He said: “I’m for a sustainable cease-fire. And a definition of a sustainable cease-fire is that Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel. And there will not be a sustainable cease-fire if they continue firing rockets ... the choice is Hamas’ to make. And we believe that the best way to ensure that there is a sustainable cease-fire is to work with Egypt to stop the smuggling of arms into Gaza that enables Hamas to continue to fire rockets. And so countries that supply weapons to Hamas have got to stop. And the international community needs to continue to pressure them to stop providing weapons... Hamas, obviously, if they’re interested in a sustainable cease-fire, needs to stop arming.” In all of this, not one Palestinian leader suggested that the Hamas war against Israel was a tragedy for the Palestinian people and that for their sake it should end. They are dancing on the wreckage of their own people, something Israel could not and would not in a million years have done. Which, we suppose, is the difference. Shoshana Bryen is the Senior Director for Security Policy for JINSA, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs in Washington, D.C. Read more at www.jinsa.org.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
Candlelighting Friday, January 30, 5:21 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
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 323 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
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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush in honor of Rabbi Myer Kripke’s 95th birthday. A speical Kiddush lunch in his honor will follow services; Minha/Ma’ariv, 5:25 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Bible Study SUNDAY: Discussion Group; and Navigating our Services with Joy led by Susi Frydman-Levin, 10 a.m.; The Mitzvah Club, also led by Frydman-Levin; and Synagogue skills class, led by Cantor Beth Schlossberg, 11 a.m. THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Jewish Ideals and Ethics for Everyday Living, noon WORLDWIDE WRAP: Sunday, 9 a.m. Sponsored by Men’s Club. Free Breakfast to follow. BESTT: 5th Grade Family History Program, Sunday, 10 a.m.-noon. Students and their parents will retell their family’s history through keepsakes from home and from documents that students created in class. TU B’SHEVAT AT LAURITZEN GARDENS: Sunday, 1:30–3 p.m. (see full story on page 3.) SISTERHOOD BAKING: Hamantaschen bakers needed on this Sunday, Sunday, Feb. 15, Tuesday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 22, at 9 a.m. For more information, call the office. HAMANTASCHEN SALE: Now through Feb. 19. Available in poppy seed, apricot, prune, raspberry and cherry, all for $6.25 a dozen. All proceeds benefit Sisterhood. To order, send a check – made payable to Beth El Sisterhood – to the synagogue. PROPHETS, PROPHECY & POLITICS BEFORE THE EXILE: Mini course taught by Dr. Guy Matalon, on Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, 7:30 p.m. Cost is $35, discounted to $27 for donors to the Federation Campaign. To register, contact Margie in the office, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. TOT SHABBAT: Friday, Feb. 6, 6 p.m. Cost: $5 if RSVPs are received by Feb. 4; after that, cost is $10. No charge for children ages six and younger. To make a reservation, contact the office. SISTERHOOD SHABBAT: Saturday, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m. USY: Sunday, Feb. 8, 12:306:30 p.m., join the fun during a skiing program at Mount Crescent, IA, for all local Jewish groups. For cost and transportation details, contact Robert Mosenkis in the office, or at youthdir@bethel-omaha.org. THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF SHABBAT SERVICES:
Mini course, led by Cantor Beth Schlossberg, on Sundays, Feb. 8, 15, 22, March 1 & 8, at noon. (see full story on page 11.) HAZAK SACK LUNCH/ CINEMA SERIES: Sunday, Feb. 8, noon. Cost is $4 for members, $5 for non-members. Send a check to Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard St., Omaha NE 68114. For movie information, call Simon at 397.3616.
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 and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:21 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush sponsored by Bruce & Linda Potash in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Leonard Potash; “Guard Your Tongue” and “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 & up)” one hour prior to Mincha, 5 p.m., followed by Seudah Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:24 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Teen Class, 10 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Mishnah Club for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Peaceful Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel with oneg following hosted by Tracy Gordon. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel; No Winter Lecture Series this week. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. THURSDAY: Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION FEB. TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Yoga for Every “Body”, led by Barbara Barron. Please contact Jean at the Temple stemple@ neb.rr.com or 435.8004) or Barbara poppybarron@hotmail. com or 420.6990 if you will attend the yoga classes. Props will be provided for flexibly challenged participants. Donations to the Temple will be welcome instead of fees for the class.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Miles Remer.
TEMPLE ISRAEL 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.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. For more information or to register email Estie@ochabad.com. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Tanya Study Class, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Achieving Integrity, Torah Studies for the Workplace, 7 p.m. For more information call 330.1800 or email TorahStudies@ochabad. com. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II for ages 7-9, 3:45 p.m. Please contact shevi@ochabad. com for a pass. FRIDAY, Feb. 6: One Shabbat, One World. (see full story on page 4.) All events and programs are open to the entire community.
FRIDAY: Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. An informal childoriented Shabbat worship service led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. Hosts are Danielle and Jeff Gordman, Ron Beach and Mona Jones. Cost is $5 for adults; no charge for children. To RSVP, call the Temple office, or mkube@ templeisraelomaha.com.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m.; OTYG Night at the Movies, 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Teacher meeting, 9 a.m.; Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; WRJ Board meeting, 10 a.m.;
Children’s Choir Rehearsal, noon. Pizza lunch provided for choir members and younger siblings. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 712, 6 p.m.; Aleph Bet and Beyond, 6:30 p.m. with native Israelis Na’ama Artzi and Mor Sheinbein. Fee is $18 for members; $25 for non-members; no charge for Family School parents. Contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg at wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com to register. THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Cantor Shermet, 10 a.m. Shabbat Shira: A Musical Journey: Worship, Dinner, and Open Mic Night, Friday, Feb. 6, 6 p.m. Cantor Shermet, Kol Rina and the St. Paul United Methodist Church Choir, under the direction of Music Minister Jerry Brabec, will lead a musical journey. Services will be followed by a Mediterranean-style dinner and Open Mic Night. Please contact Rabbi Linder at Temple or elinder@templeisraelomaha. com, to find out how to get on the schedule. Cost is $15. RSVP to Maureen Kube at Temple or mkube@templeisraelomaha.co m by Feb. 2. Caring Community Card Making, Sunday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. -noon. Volunteers interested in making cards to congregants.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:21 p.m. SATURDAY: Srvices, 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. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m., and Talmud study. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel. 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.
City of David excavations reveal more treasures An 1,800 year-old Roman figurine discovered in continuing excavations at the City of David was probably used as a suspended weight together with a balance scale. Not long ago one of the largest and most impressive coin hoards ever found in Jerusalem was discovered at this site. It consists of 264 gold coins and was found at about the same time as a gold earring, inlaid with expensive pearls and remarkably well preserved, was also uncovered at Credit: ISRANET the site. and the Israel Antiquities Authority
Pulverent e
January 30, 2009
On recognizing brothers
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parshat Bo The great 12th Century Bible scholar, grammarian and philosopher, Abraham Ibn Ezra, offered a highly interesting comment to one of the verses of our Sidra. The Sidra describes the last few of the plagues that devastated Egypt before the Exodus. One of them was darkness. It did no physical damage by itself, but it was frightening, ominous, foreboding. The text tells us that the darkness was so impenetrable that “they saw not one another” for the three days of the plague. In so great a darkness, they could not recognize each other -- except for the Children of Israel, who had light in their dwellings. Now Ibn Ezra chooses to emphasize the literal meaning of the Hebrew idiom, which has it that “no man could see his brother” during the plague. It is clear to us that the Hebrew phrase is to be taken as an idiom: it really means that not one person could recognize anyone else. But by an ingenious (and philosophically impossible!) derivation, Ibn Ezra sees a below-the-surface meaning in the Hebrew idiom: the phrase means, he says, that no matter how strong the light, the Egyptians could not recognize a brother. And Ibn Ezra has led us here to the core of one of mankind’s most vexing plagues, and most dangerous. He has led us to the core of racism. It is a fundamental belief of Judaism that human beings are equally beloved of God, especially His children. We are all descendents of the family of Noah, and of the family of Adam and Eve. In this sense we are brothers. How is it then, that despite the light of religion and science, that we cannot recognize brothers? How is it that racism is still strong? We have learned some unsettling things about racism: that it is deeply rooted in the human psyche and uprooting it is difficult in the extreme; that it is not confined to majority versus minority; that it spills over from pure racism to religious hatred, often assigning special “race” characteristics to what are really only religious differences or ethnic cleansing. The last of these describes much of the stubborn appearance and reappearance of anti-Semitism over the ages. It is often put forward at the cost of attacks on democracy, brotherhood and equal opportunities of citizenship. In the terms of our Sidra, and Ibn Ezra’s interpretation, the anti-Semite is in a darkness that does not light when the sun comes up. He will not admit light into his view of humanity. He does not recognize his brothers. He may sometimes be articulate. He may even sometimes believe what he says. But he is benighted. (Editor’s note: this column appeared in Rabbi Kripke’s book, Insight and Interpretation, 1988.)
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Tu B’Shwatt: Serving up energy action at the seder by BARBARA LERMAN-GOLOMB NEW YORK (JTA) -- In his 2007 State of the Union address, President Bush touted biomass-derived ethanol as a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. He specifically mentioned corn, switch grass, a fast-growing shrub called “biomass willow” and wood chips as “cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol.” Sources of biomass energy can include food crops, grasses (for example, sorghum, sugarcane), other plant matter and a variety of tree species, as well as agricultural and forestry waste and much more. Wood, however, is still the most common source. With Bush’s speech coming a few weeks before Tu B’Shevat, the “New Year of the Trees,” I couldn’t help focusing on his mention of wood chips. It inspired me to write an article titled “Trees, Shrubs and Bush: Breaking the Oil Addiction.” What was most notable about his speech was Mr. Bush acknowledging for the first time that America had a serious problem: an addiction to oil. Of course, admitting to an addiction is the first step on the road to recovery, but what was of equal interest and concern at the time was that while the president devoted considerable time in his address to the topic, he never actually used the terms “global warming” or “climate change.” At Tu B’Shevat two years later, we have a new president and I am no longer thinking about George Bush, but I am always thinking about climate change. So this year (on Tuesday, Feb. 9) as I sample the foods traditionally eaten at the Tu B’Shevat seder to commemorate springtime in Israel -- dates, almonds and figs, to name a few -- I’ll not only be thinking about the farmers who planted them but the distance the foods traveled and the amount of greenhouse gases associated with their journey. According to the Worldwatch Institute, the average food item travels 1,500 to 2,500 miles from farm to fork. For many, the foods featured at the seder are not locally grown and therefore catapult that “food miles” figure off the charts, increasing our carbon footprint. One way to assuage our guilt is to be more intentional in taking energy-efficient actions, or to purchase carbon offsets to make up the difference for the carbon emissions being released in the atmosphere from our seder food choices. We can even integrate energy action into the four worlds of the kabbalistic Tu B’Shevat seder. The seder begins with the first world: Olam HaAssiyah, the world of action -- concrete actions. One way to elevate this off the page is by engaging in emissions-reducing projects as simple as installing compact fluorescent light, or CFL, bulbs; no longer taking plastic bags or purchasing plastic water bottles, to driving less and eating mostly locally grown, organic food; or reducing our meat intake. The second world: Olam Ha’Yetzirah, the world of formation. It is the world in which we celebrate the ability to cause a transformation of raw materials. We have the ability to think creatively when it comes to solving our energy problems. We can transform renewable sources such as solar and wind into healthier, more sustainable energy rather than burning finite carbon-based fossil fuels that add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The third world: Olam Hab’riyah, the world of creation. According to many rabbinic sources, the prohibitions and obligations involved in observing Shabbat, the ultimate celebration of Creation, directly reflect our responsibility to protect the Earth. To truly recognize and honor the beauty and integrity of Creation, we need to refrain from over-consumption. This and other actions that negatively impact our world waste energy, which can result in changing the climate. Finally, the fourth world: Olam Ha’Atzilut, the world of emanation. It is the purely spiritual world in which we are appreciative of the Source of all Creation and in awe of the mystery of Creation. Actions such as purchasing carbon offsets and cleaner energy can seem ethereal and mysterious. They aren’t tangible physical actions, so investing in them often is a leap of faith. But sometimes we need to take actions that are based on faith alone because it’s the right thing to do. There is a Talmudic tale often told at Tu B’Shevat of Honi, who planted trees in his time that would bear fruit for future generations. It is a reminder of our responsibility and that our actions in this world do make a difference. Calculate your carbon footprint and find out how many worlds would be needed if everyone on the planet lived like you. Barbara Lerman-Golomb is the director of community relations for Hazon.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 30, 2009
Beth Israel celebrates five years in new building
by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue One date -- Feb. 14 -- holds a special place in the hearts of Beth Israel members. On Feb. 14, 1954, a plaque was dedicated at the synagogue’s previous location on North 52 Street, recognizing the efforts of its building committee. And on Feb. 14, 2004, Beth Israel celebrated the first Shabbat in its new building on 126th and Pacific Streets. This year marks the fifth anniversary in the building. The anniversary will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 14, Parshat Yitro, with Shabbat morning services, a Kiddush luncheon and a Havdalah concert featuring Israeli musicians from Akko. “This is an opportunity to celebrate Beth Israel’s rich history, dedicated volunteers and exciting future,” stated Beth Cohen, executive director. Rabbi Jonathan Gross concurred. “It’s amazing to me that it’s been five years since we’ve been in this building and since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s fascinating to ponder the long and illustrious history of Beth Israel. I’m amazed at what we’ve accomplished. We have a very bright future and I’m happy to be a part of it.” Chairman of the celebration is Ann Moskovits. “We have come a long way since the ground-breaking,” said Moskovits, who was a member of the building committee. “It was a wonderful experience to watch the synagogue being built. Every time I walk in the building, I feel great joy and am proud of what we accomplished. We didn’t just build if for today - we built it for the future and for the whole Jewish community to enjoy.” Programming Chairman Julee Katzman also reflected on what has been accomplished over the past five years. “We
worked closely with Rabbi Gross and the Presidents to create a warm and welcoming community at Beth Israel. As we developed our programs, we kept that in mind. In the five years we’ve been in the building, we maintained that focus of having an inviting and supportive community, while having the goal of making this our home. And we’ve succeeded. Beth Israel isn’t just a synagogue - it’s our home,” she said. “Our programming hasn’t only focused on spiritual renewal and observing tradition, but also on creating opportunity for us to be together socially,” she added. “While we always hold events in observance of holidays, we also have events such as the annual Chinese dinner, game nights, movie nights, and Sunday night dinners -- things on our calendar where the primary goal is to relax and enjoy each other’s company.” Katzman noted the importance of Beth Israel’s location on Pacific, as well as the connection to the entire Jewish community. “Not only are we physically closer to where many people live, to the JCC and to Friedel, but we’ve also gotten great support from the greater Jewish community,” she said. “We saw that in the fundraising for the new building, from the foundations and individuals from throughout the community. Beth Israel and our rabbis have gotten great support and that has given us the opportunity to get even more involved with the community.” The community is invited to attend the Shabbat service, followed by a Kiddush luncheon. There is no charge, but reservations are requested so the meal can be planned accordingly. A free Havdalah concert, performed by the Akko musicians, will be held Saturday evening, Feb.
ARTZA looking for 3rd Chaperone Omaha’s community Teen Trip to Is rael is back…and a wonderful opportunity exists for that right person to join our leadership team of Corey Kirshenbaum and Tamar Halevy, in chaperoning Jewish teens for one month in Israel. This individual must be 21 or older, and been to Israel once before. He/She must be
14, 6:45 p.m., followed by a dessert has given me a new connection to Israel. reception. Omaha has so much in common with The musicians from Akko are volunteers Akko. Just as people in New York might with “Garin Ometz -- Seeds of Courage,” be surprised to know there are Jews in an organization of young families dedicat- Omaha, the same can be said for Akko. ed to a variety of Our Partnership is a social and educawonderful educational tional projects to experience for our improve the lives of community. Bringing the people of Akko. the musicians who are The Western Galilee a part of Garin Ometz region is Omaha’s is another opportunity Partnership with to build relationIsrael. ships.” The area, includRabbi Gross added, ing the old city of “I find that I share Akko, has one of something in common the highest Arab with these members of populations in Garin Ometz. I moved Israel. Through the to Omaha, wanting to years, this area has live in a smaller Jewish prided itself on community and help it being a model for grow. The same holds co-existence for true for these people. Jews and Arabs They come from larger alike. Garin Ometz cities to Akko to build operates a food the Jewish community. storage and distri- The perochet, or curtain over the Ark, com- I’ve become friends bution Center, pletes a symbolic composition of the artist with them and am called Machsan Jonathan Nix’s frieze that intertwines the happy they can now Hesed, where vol- Torah and the letter Aleph -- the first letter of see where I live.” unteers help to feed the Aleph-Bet, of the Ten Commandments, There will be other hungry Jews and and of G-d’s name. opportunities to meet Muslims alike, one of several social servic- the Garin Ometz musicians at the Center es programs. They strive to provide cul- for Jewish Education’s “Eye on Israel” tural activities to benefit all the residents program, with Dr. Guy Matalon, of Akko. Thursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m., at the Kripke “I’m so grateful to the Jewish Library, and at a special Lunch and Learn Federation of Omaha for allowing me to at Beth Israel on Friday, Feb. 13, noon. For more information about the get involved with the Partnership 2000 Program,” said Rabbi Gross. “My prior anniversary and to make reservations for connection to Israel was Jerusalem, but the free Lunch & Learn, Shabbat lunch having this special relationship with Akko or concert, call the office at 556.6288.
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outgoing, enthusiastic, energetic, and mature. Experience working with teens is preferred. Actual trip runs from June 17th through July 16th, 2009. Participation in pre and post Artza programming is also required. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please send resume to Lisa Shkolnick, JCC Associate Executive Director, at lshkolnick@jccomaha.org
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