Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Monkey Mind
January 31, 2014 30 Shevat 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 20
This Week
by OZZIE NOGG On Wednesday evening, April 2, the community is invited to hear author Daniel Smith discuss his book, Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety. The presentation, which runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Temple Israel, will be followed by a reception and book signing. The program is sponsored by Jewish Family Service in partnership with Temple Israel, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue and National Council of Jewish Women, and is underwritten by a grant from The Lazier L. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth, a component fund of, and administered by, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. According to reviews, Monkey Mind is wise and funny, a great mix of startling memoir and fascinating medical and literary history. The book is an attempt to grapple with a lifetime of anxiety: to locate its causes, describe its effects and possibly identify a cure. Or, if not a cure, at least a temporary cessation of the worry that’s been plaguing Smith since his youth. Aaron Beck, the most influential doctor in
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PJs and pancakes at Tifereth Page 7
modern psychotherapy, says that, “Monkey Mind does for anxiety what William Styron’s Darkness Visible did for depression.” Chad Harbach, author of The Art of Fielding, said, “You don’t need a Jewish mother, or a profound sweating problem, to feel
Daniel Smith’s pain in Monkey Mind. His memoir treats what must be the essential ailment of our time -- anxiety -- and it does so with wisdom, honesty, and the kind of belly laughs that can only come from troubles transformed.” Daniel Smith began his career as a staff editor at The Atlantic Monthly. He has published articles, essays, and reviews in The American Scholar, The Atlantic, Granta, New York, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times Magazine, and Slate. Smith’s first book, Muses, Madmen, and Prophets: Hearing Voices and the Borders of Sanity, explores the lives of some of the greatest thinkers, leaders, and prophets in history who heard, listened to and had dialogues with voices inside their heads. In this fascinating quest for understanding, Smith examines the history of this powerful phenomenon and delivers a ringing defense of the validity of unusual human experiences. Daniel Smith holds the Mary Ellen Donnelly Critchlow Endowed Chair in English Continued on page 3
Inspired concert set for JCC Behind Japanese fascination with Anne Frank Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
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by DIANE AXLER-BAUM dessert reception. poignancy of the Kaddish prayer “We are thrilled to share chamber which praises God and proclaims the The Omaha Chamber Music Society will present Inspired on Sunday, masterpieces that have transcended magnification and sanctification of Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., in the JCC The- time, space and religion to achieve His Name for all eternity. This ater. This extraordideeply expressive nary concert music resonates features works by with the power of renowned comthe liturgical Kadposers who were dish. not Jewish, but were Prokofiev’s Overinspired deeply by ture on Hebrew Jewish folk and Themes employs an liturgical traditions. interesting combiA varied program nation of clarinet, includes Maurice piano and string Ravel’s Kaddish for quartet. The comviolin and piano; position grew from Sergei Prokofiev’s a notebook of JewOverture on Hebrew ish folksongs Themes for clarinet, Prokofiev received Top professional Omaha musicians will perform the “Inspired” concert at piano and string from a chamber the JCC on Feb. 16. Back Row: Paul Ledwon, cello; left, Thomas Kluge, quartet; and, by group of Russian viola; Carmelo Galante, clarinet; Front Row: Christi Zuniga, piano; left, Max Bruch, Eight Jews touring the Anne Nagosky, violin. Pieces for Clarinet, U.S. Stirred by the Viola and Piano and Kol Nidrei for universal acclaim,” said Stacie Hane- juxtaposition of joy and tragedy in line, Executive Director of the these songs, the composer explored cello and piano. Free and open to the entire Omaha Omaha Chamber Music Society. similar dynamics to create some of community, the concert will last ap“The expertise of top professional his most evocative chamber music. proximately one hour, followed by a Omaha musicians will fully capture Jewish folk music and sacred liturthe beauty and intimacy of the se- gical music both influenced Max lected works,” she added. The per- Bruch. Exposure to the engaging formers, all known to OCMS and melodies of Klezmer inspired his Omaha Symphony audiences, are lively Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola Carmelo Galante, clarinet; Anne and Piano. Visits to a synagogue, Nagosky, violin; Jeffery King, violin; where a friend’s father served as canThomas Kluge, viola; Paul Ledwon, tor, sparked his response to the Kol cello; and Christi Zuniga, piano. Nidrei service that ushers in Yom Ravel’s exquisite Kaddish is Kippur. In Bruch’s mesmerizing conmelodic and textured, combining cert version, the solo cello imitates shimmering impressionism with the rhapsodic voice of the cantor, strong emotion to reflect the Continued on page 2
Omaha Jewish Reunion by SHERRIE SAAG Communications, Jewish Federation of Omaha The countdown began last September when over 15 different committees dug into the planning and prepping for the first ever Omaha Jewish Reunion, taking place Sept. 12-14, 2014.
Save the date and make plans to be in Omaha for a weekend filled with reunion worthy events. Whether it’s your birthplace, your childhood home, or your current mailing address, plan to join the community and celebrate Jewish Omaha. The Tours and Exhibits committee, chaired by Renee Corcoran, is one of the many committees with activities and plans already in place. “Our group has been meeting regularly and quickly planned out what we wanted to do. The members are really wonderful, with great ideas and a sincere willingness to accomplish the planning for our guests next September,” said Corcoran. Committee members include: Rocky Stern, Howard Epstein, Debbie Josephson and Janey Dann. In additional to campus tours running continuously Friday and Saturday afternoon, Marty Shukert will conduct a Friday morning tour of the three new Synagogue buildings, Beth El, built in 1991 at 14506 California Street, Beth Israel, built in 2004 at 12604 Pacific Street and Temple Israel, built in 2013 at 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive. Janey Dann, affiliated with The Durham Museum, will head an afternoon tour to include aspects of the Durham Museum’s popular Millionaires & Mansions North and South Tours. This tour covers the areas both north and south of Dodge Street in mid-town Omaha. Sights may include the Mercer Mansion, home of Dr. Sam Mercer and Joslyn Castle, the beautiful residence of George and Sarah Joslyn. Key landmarks south of Dodge Street include the Blackstone Hotel, the Storz Mansion and the home of Arthur and Zerlina Brandeis. Friday afternoon tours are Continued on page 2