February 7, 2014

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

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February 7, 2014 7 Adar I 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 21

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PJ Havdalah at Beth El Page 5

by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation How do you express your commitment to your community? How do you support the Jewish organizations that are important to you? Omaha’s Jewish community is fortunate to have many who donate their time and/or money to area Jewish organizations. However, what happens after the donors are gone? What can you do for future generations to ensure that they are well-served by the Jewish organizations you support?

You can leave a legacy.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation (JFO Foundation) is pleased to announce a new initiative in partnership with the Massachusetts-based Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) designed to promote legacy gifting throughout Omaha’s Jewish community. Omaha was recently selected by the HGF to participate in its LIFE & LEGACY™ Program.

HGF’s LIFE & LEGACY™ Program provides motivation, training, marketing tools, and monetary incentives to help Jewish communities secure afterlifetime legacy gifts, such as bequests and endowments. The JFO Foundation is partnering with the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies, local synagogues and other Jewish or-

ganizations to secure legacy gifts.

“The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is thrilled to partner with the

LEGACY™ National Director Arlene Schiff. “Working together, we will provide the generous and forward-

Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation and its local partner organizations to integrate legacy giving into the philanthropic culture of Omaha’s Jewish community,” said LIFE &

thinking members of this unique community with the opportunity to express their passion, purpose and commitment to their most valued Jewish organizations, sustaining

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them for future generations.”

According to JFO Foundation Executive Director Howard Epstein, “It’s an honor for Omaha to be selected for LIFE & LEGACY™. This program enables us to ensure a dynamic and enriched future for Omaha’s Jewish community. In addition to training and support, the Grinspoon Foundation provides matching funds for the program’s operating budget for two years, which will enable us to fully engage in the process of working to establish legacy gift commitments.”

The JFO Foundation and each of the community partnering organizations will be trained by HGF staff, and each will, in turn, reach out to members of Omaha’s Jewish community to secure bequests, endowments and other forms of after-lifetime legacy gift commitments.

“The U.S. is in the midst of a great transfer of wealth,” stated Epstein.

“The World War II and Korean War generations are leaving substantial assets to their heirs, and Baby Boomers are retiring and preparing wills and estate plans. Who will inherit their assets? Many secular charities recognize this process and are making efforts to be included in Continued on page 2

Beth El’s Torah Tots

Intermarriage debate reignites Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

8 10 11

This Month Non-profit Organizations See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

Alyssa Cohen, left, Megan Kahn, Kylie Kirshenbaum, Melissa Epstein and Rachel Sullivan

by LEORA WERNER come and see what BBYO, a pluralBBYO/Teen Director istic movement of Jewish teens, Get ready, Omaha, for Rush Sea- alumni, parents, volunteers and phison 2014! We are looking for 8th lanthropists, is all about. It provides graders who want to be a part of the Saturday, Feb. 9 largest international Jewish youth orAZA #1 Rush (Boys) ganization, BBYO! Lunch will be provided.

This year, we have so many great 12:30-3 p.m. | JCC opportunities for 8th grade teens to Sunday, Feb. 9 BBG Rush (Girls) Lunch will be provided.

1-3 p.m. | JCC Saturday, Feb. 15 Chaim Weizmann Rush (Boys) Dinner and transportation will be provided.

6:30-8:30 p.m. | JCC & SkateDaze fun, meaningful and affordable experiences that inspire lasting Continued on page 2

Yonatan Feldstern helps son Yishai with an art activity.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity For Jewish preschoolers and their parents, Beth El’s Torah Tots class is a wonderland of fun and learning.

Now in its second year, the program introduces little ones to a variety of Jewish holidays and rituals, using engaging activities and learning tools.

The class is led by the motherdaughter team of Sindie Katskee and Naomi Gaca. Both teachers are dedicated to Jewish education, as well as early-childhood development: Gaca is in her sixth year as a full-time teacher at Kindernook Preschool, and Katskee spent 34 years teaching in the Omaha Public Schools, and is a longtime Beth El faculty member.

“Torah Tots is important because it gets the children and parents doing something together at Beth El,” said Katskee, who continues to work as a substitute teacher at both OPS and Friedel Jewish Academy.

“We want them to feel comfortable and to know that Beth El is a place of learning, as well as a place of worship. The rabbi and hazzan come and interact so the children can become familiar with them.

Our curriculum introduces the Jewish holidays, customs, the Hebrew letters and prayers to the children. It also allows the children to play with each other during music and other activities.”

Saying “It is never too early to get our youngest members involved Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | February 7, 2014

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LIFE & LEGACY™ Program Continued from page 1 estate plans. We want Omaha’s Jewish community to know there is a place for Jewish legacy giving as well.”

“The time is right,” explained Schiff. “This legacy program will make the most of the generational transfer of wealth, change the language and landscape of giving and afford Omaha’s Jewish community the opportunity to express their passion, purpose and commitment to their most valued Jewish organizations.”

“We are confident that large numbers of Omaha-area Jewish families will include gifts to the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies, area synagogues and other Jewish organizations in their wills, trusts and estate plans as a direct result of the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program,” noted Epstein.

“Several other Jewish communities have adopted the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program. In less than one year, the average community’s legacy commitment value is greater than $4,000,000. We expect Omaha’s Jewish community to meet, and probably exceed, those results.”

“The LIFE & LEGACY™ Program is a cooperative and collaborative community-wide effort” continued Epstein. “For

example, one solicitation to a potential donor could result in a legacy gift that benefits a synagogue, an agency of the Federation and another local Jewish organization. Most Jewish Omahans support more than one Jewish cause or organization, so everyone wins with LIFE & LEGACY™.”

Janie Murow recently joined the JFO Foundation’s staff to coordinate the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program in Omaha. “Janie has experience and connections to our community,” noted Epstein. “She serves on the Jewish Social Services board, on the Executive Committee of Beth El Synagogue and previously worked for both the Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. We’re so glad to have Janie join our team.”

“I’ve always been passionate about Omaha’s Jewish Community and this position enables me to help ensure its future for many decades to come,” said Murow. “I look forward to working with all of our community partners to reach this shared goal.”

To learn more about the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program, please contact Murow at 402.334.6432 or jmurow@jewish omaha.org.

Beth El’s Torah Tots

Continued from page 1 cheerful and the children and excited about their Jewish enjoy them. The stories and education,” Gaca added that, activities they choose are “We have focused on what it great for the children.” means to be Jewish and the Saying that she and husband holidays throughout the year.

Joe like sharing Torah Tots I believe that these two things with their son, Linda added are the basics to Jewish educathat, “I like that he learns tion and the easiest concepts about these holidays in his for these youngsters to underpreschool class at the CDC, stand and relate to. We have and then it is reinforced again also included lots of aleph bet at synagogue. I think this class and Hebrew word awareness is important to offer to the this year.” congregation. Younger chil“We emphasize areas such dren see their older siblings as reading, art, music, lanattend Sunday school. It lays guage and so much more,” she the foundation for them and continued. “The children love helps make a smooth transishaping play dough like our tion for when they move up to featured Hebrew letters, dancSunday School classes. Then ing and playing instruments each year they learn and grasp and doing our theme-related a better understanding of the art projects.” holidays and their heritage.”

Becca Ruetsch-Finkelstein At the end of the day, Gaca and David Finkelstein, along said she hopes that parents with their son, Asher, are regand children enjoy their time ular Torah Tots attendees and together in class and become appreciate what the class closer with those families who offers their family. will share upcoming Hebrew “We think the program is school years. great,” Ruetsch-Finkelstein Katskee agreed, adding that said. “It’s run very well, and her hope is that through the teachers keep it interactive Torah Tots, youngsters will and change up activities often learn that “Beth El is more enough to keep the kids from than a place of worship. It is a getting bored. Asher enjoys place that welcomes anyone the art projects and listening who is there. The young chilto Jewish stories, especially dren learn to respect it as a the ones about the holidays.” place to come to and be part “We are thrilled with the of its heritage.” foundation this is laying for This month’s session will be him,” added Finkelstein. held on Sunday, Feb. 23; the “Asher sees how we and his class theme will focus on older brothers participate in “Mitzvah and Tzedakah.” synagogue life, and this is Future programs are planned Pictured top: Luba Merrovich enjoys a Torah Tots morning something special that is just for March 9, March 16, April with her son, Michael; middle: Last November, the youngfor him. It is laying a great 6, May 4 and May 18. sters and their parents were treated to a visit from renowned foundation for him to develop All families in the Jewish Judaica artist Mordechai Rosenstein, standing at right; bothis Jewish identity. It’s an community are welcome to tom: Naomi Gaca, seated, center, leads a Tu B’Shevat activimportant class for the synaattend. For more information, ity during last month’s program. gogue to offer, as it lets previsit www.bethel-omaha.org, kindergarten students share their Judaism with their friends or call Eadie Tsabari in the synagogue office, 402.492.8550. and start building the bonds that they will carry with them, and it also lets them know that they, too, are members of the synagogue family.”

Liz Feldstern, who participates in classes with her husband Continued from page 1 Yonatan, and their children Yishai and Gila, said, “Our kids connections to the Omaha Jewish community. really enjoy going to Torah Tots and seeing their friends In BBYO, teens can attend conventions, plan Jewish there. The different stories, art projects and snacks make for and secular programs with their chapter, become leaders a very positive learning experience.” and much more.

For young Jacob Fischer, learning about the holidays -Omaha Cornbelt Council Gadol, Tyler Siegel, states especially making a bird feeder and menorah for Hanukkah “BBYO teens shouldn’t just be a part of the Jewish future, -- has been a favorite part of class, according to his mother, they should lead it.”

Linda Fischer.

We look forward to seeing you during this exciting Linda applauded both the program and the teachers, sayopportunity! For questions, please contact Leora Werner ing, “I think that Naomi and her mother do a fabulous job at 402.334.6404 or lazriel@jccomaha.org. running the class. I think it is well organized. They are

BBYO Rush time

Back row: Paul Ledwon, cello, left; Thomas Kluge, viola; and Carmelo Galante, clarinet. Front row: Christi Zuniga, piano, left, and Anne Nagosky,violin. Not pictured: Jeffery King, violin.

Concert and dessert reception underwritten by the Sokolof Javitch Music Fund

For more information: 402-960-6943 or omahachambermusic.org

February 7, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 3

Music mavens excited about ‘Inspired’

by DIANE AXLER-BAUM Local Jewish music professionals are giving advance raves to “Inspired,” the free concert scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., at the JCC. Presented by the Omaha Chamber Music Society, the concert spotlights works by acclaimed composers who were not Jewish but were influenced greatly by Jewish musical traditions. Top Omaha musicians will capture the emotion, intimacy and expressiveness of the works: Carmelo Galante, clarinet; Anne Nagosky, violin; Jeffery King, violin; Thomas Kluge, viola; Paul Ledwon, cello; and Christi Zuniga, piano.

“You couldn’t find a better group of musicians to play this music, and it is beautiful music,” said Tuffy Epstein, long-time music educator and musician. Epstein, who plays clarinet, soprano sax and flute, has wide expertise that includes liturgical music, klezmer and jazz.

The varied “Inspired” program features Maurice Ravel’s Kaddish for violin and piano; Sergei Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes for clarinet, piano and string quartet; and, by Max Bruch, Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano and Kol Nidrei for cello and piano.

Cantor Wendy Shermet responded to the selections with enthusiasm equal to Epstein’s. She said Temple Israel enjoys a performance of Bruch’s Kol Nidrei every year at the High Holidays, and she praised Ravel’s Kaddish for “reflecting the sentiment of mourners.”

She identified Prokofiev as one of her favorite composers. “Living in Russia, he was surrounded by the same sounds as our Eastern European ancestors,” she explained. “You can tell this by his Overture on Hebrew Themes. He got the modes exactly, and even though the rhythm of the piece suggests an upbeat, playful intention, the modes themselves counteract this with a sometimes ominous, albeit beautiful, sound.”

Hazzan Michael Krausman of Beth El Synagogue called it “most exciting” that “world-renowned, secular composers have been inspired by themes, idioms and texts that have been the backbone of Jewish musical creativity.”

The concert program, he pointed out, represents a “vast spectrum of Jewish music that spans many continents and multiple generations.”

“Inspired” is free and open to the entire community, thanks to support by the Sokolof Javitch Music Fund. A dessert reception for performers and audience will follow the hour-long concert.

More information is available at 402.960.6943 or omaha chambermusic.org.

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by DAVID GOLBITZ “I thought it was fantastic last year,” Wendy said. “It’s very Temple Israel Staff Writer family friendly, with a great variety of items up for auction.

Each year the Omaha Temple Youth Group holds a It had a really fun atmosphere.”

Spaghetti Dinner and Auction to raise money for its yearly OTYG President Hannah Budwig is excited for this year’s activities, including trips to regional and national chavu- Spaghetti Dinner, not only because of all the great items up for rahs. This year’s dinner is Sunday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. at Temple auction, but because of what the auction means to OTYG. Israel.

“Spaghetti Dinner is really “OTYG counts on the important for OTYG,” generosity and support of Hannah said. “We get all of the congregation to help our funds for the next year fund youth programming from it and the amount of at Temple,” Director of money we give to Camp Youth Engagement Nikki Rainbow depends on how Flatowicz said. “This year much we raise at Spaghetti is especially exciting Dinner.” because we are in a new Camp Rainbow is a free building and the youth are summer camp in Missouri for enthusiastic about making children with cancer or the event unique from past blood-related illnesses. It has years while still honoring become an important cause the traditions of the event.” for OTYG’s umbrella organiThe evening will begin zation, NFTY-Missouri with a silent auction, as Valley, and OTYG donates a guests will be able to OTYG members at last year’s Spaghetti Dinner dressed up for portion of the money it makes peruse various donated the occasion are Sol Marburg, left, Sophie Budwig, Sierra at the Spaghetti Dinner to items and gift baskets put Simpson and Brett Miller. help fund the camp. together by donors and members of the youth group. These “Every kid wants to feel normal,” Hannah said, “and to the items include gift certificates to local restaurants and stores, kids who go to Camp Rainbow, people are always asking like Fleming’s Steakhouse and the Dundee Gallery. them, ‘Hey, why is your hair falling out?’ But at Camp Also up for bid are season tickets to various Creighton Rainbow, everyone understands and no one asks questions sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and like that. No one asks why you’re throwing up. No one quesbaseball, Swarovski bracelets from Borsheims, a year’s mem- tions why you’re tired after walking from your bunk to the bership to Film Streams and a family photo session with bathroom. It’s just something that every kid deserves, to be Cynthia Kohll, but you’ll have to come to the auction to see able to feel normal, even if it’s only for a few weeks or a what else is up for grabs. month in the summer.”

Jennifer and Larry Gittelman attended the dinner for the The theme for this year’s dinner is Oh, the Places You’ll first time last year and had a great time.

Go!, putting an OTYG spin on the Dr. Seuss classic.

“It’s a great activity for the whole Temple community,” The Spaghetti Dinner is $10 for adults and $4 for children Larry said. “And it’s important to foster the youth group’s ages 6-12; children ages 5 and under are free. RSVP to activities.”

RSVP@templeisraelomaha.com. For more information, “We enjoyed the auction items that we won last year, too,” contact Director of Youth Engagement Nikki Flatowicz, Larry added. nflatowicz@templeisraelomaha.com.

Wendy Reiss also attended the dinner for the first time last “It’s nice that the congregation supports us the way that year, to support the youth group that her daughter has been they do,” Hannah said. “We know how lucky we are to have participating in. such a generous and caring congregation.”

To submit announcements: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai b’rith mitzvahs, 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. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

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4 | The Jewish Press | February 7, 2014

Names: Jewish, Hebrew, and English Nathan/Natan--much to the displeasure of my father who wanted us to duplicate the name mismatch of my grandfather.

When we made aliyah, our naming system worked beautifully for 4 of our 5 children -- there was no disconnect between how they had been called in America and how they were called in Israel. Their English names just shifted to the Hebrew version: Nathan/Natan, Ruthie/Ruti, and with Ezra and Elie there was no shift at all. The only catch was Rebecca. In the United States, Rebecca is a fairly cool name, but when it moves to Hebrew we are not talking about a mere shift, but a seismic change to Rivka.

Rivkas in Israel are mainly octogenarian and up. The next generation (mine) already prefers the diminutive, such as Riki. And as far as my daughter’s generation, well unless you go into an ultra-orthodox community, you will find it almost impossible to track down a native-born Rivka. We know of another Rebecca, a girl my daughter’s age (the family is from California), who insists on being addressed as “Rebecca” in Hebrew (even though Israelis have trouble with that first syllable), and she will correct you if you refer to her as Rivka. God bless our Rebecca who, though she is wont to berate us for saddling her with an incredibly “square” name, is Rivka in Hebrew even for the announcers at her professional basketball games. Indeed, the crowd seems thrilled to chant “Rivka, Rivka.” I keep telling her: just wait until you’re a grandma, then you’ll thank us that you have a proper name. Those cool, hip Israeli names (mainly taken from nature) will seem strange on septuagenarians; e.g., Gal (Wave), Stav (Autumn), Tal (Dew), and Bar (Wild).

Those names, by the way, are typically considered unisex, and Israel is filled with hundreds of boys and girls sharing the same names.

You would think that young national-reli-

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER In choosing names for their children, my parents were guided by the following: a Jewish name in memory of a deceased relative, and an English name that they liked.

My Jewish name (Yitzchak Chayim) and my brother Everett’s, Avraham Meir, are Hebrew; my sisters’ names, Shayna Zelda and Masha Leah are Yiddish (respectively, Jessica and Marissa). Our parents used our English names exclusively, and only at our Jewish day school were our Jewish names used. Being called upon during Judaic studies classes, however, did not cause us to really embrace our Hebrew names, and so we all grew up identifying solely with our English names.

Sarah and I wanted our children to identify with both their Jewish and English names. We felt that the best way for them to do so was to go biblical. Ideally, we wanted the biblical name to also be in memory of a deceased relative, but after our first two children Nathan and Rebecca (named after my grandparents), we had to go pretty far for Ruth (a great aunt of Sarah’s whom she never knew). With Ezra and Elie (Eliyahu), we gave up trying to find a family namesake and went with a biblical name that we liked.

Our system of naming initially hit a snag.

Nathan is named after my paternal grandfather, and since Nathan is also a biblical figure (pronounced Natan in Hebrew), we thought that our firstborn would be Nathan/Natan. The only problem is that my grandfather Nathan was named in Hebrew after a completely different biblical figure: Naftali. Since we liked the name Nathan more than Naftali, and since we wanted our children to identify both with their Hebrew and English names, we went with

gious parents would be more sensible in choosing names for their children, especially for their boys’ names. After all, it is one thing to name your son Shachaf, Almog or Maayan but it is another to be called up to the Torah as Seagull, Coral, or Well-Spring.

You might think this, but you would be wrong. The key for grandparents is to remember to do what our friend did for the last trimester of her daughter’s pregnancy; she kept practicing over and over saying the

following words: “That’s a lovely name.”

Hopefully, my turn for saying this will come soon.

Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest three, Nathan, Rebecca and Ruthie, are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision. net.il.

Volunteers visit the Home

by OZZIE NOGG This past Dec. 24, Lisa Vitale Janvrin, her husband, James, and their four kids volunteered at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home so that the activity staff could spend Christmas with their own families. “The day was filled with laughter and the essence of childhood revisited,” Lisa Janvrin said.

During the Janvrins’ visit to the RBJH, eighteen-year Blumkin Home Resident Millie Needleman, left, plays Jenga with old Alex played Anna Janvrin, right, during the Janvrin family’s volunteer visit to Broadway show tunes the RBJH on Dec. 24. on the piano while James and the younger kids -- Kyle (15) and Blumkin Home Residents for two hours. It Anna (9) played Scrabble, Monopoly, Jenga was hard to stop playing because everyone and Sorry with the Residents. And what was enjoying the ‘family’ time so much. about eight-month-old baby Luca Janvrin? The Activities Department gives big kudos According to Lisa, “All Luca had to do was to the entire Janvrin family for choosing to look cute. The Residents considered him the spend this time with the Residents. They brightened the holiday for everyone.” highlight of the day.”

“Visiting the Home is something we Jewish Social Services Activities Director Karen Menagh said, “The Janvrin family enjoy doing,” Lisa Janvrin added, “and played board games and drank tea with the need to do more often.”

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February 7, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 5

PJ Havdalah at Beth El Start planning for your Pesach meals

During last year’s PJ Havdalah, attendees were treated to an evening of entertaining activities led by the Omaha Children’s Museum, including “Fun with CO2. The museum will once again present fun and surprises during Beth El’s upcoming PJ Havdalah, planned for this Saturday night.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Families with young children are invited to don their pajamas and slippers, bring along a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, and come to Beth El on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a fun-filled PJ Havdalah program. Geared to little ones from infancy through first grade -- along with their parents, grandparents or other special adults -- this special program offers youngsters a meaningful connection to Judaism.

The fun will begin at 5:45 p.m. with an age-appropriate, brief Havdalah service, followed by a pasta dinner in the social hall. Afterward, children and adults alike will be delighted by an exciting surprise, courtesy of our special guests from the Omaha Children’s Museum, and the evening will wrap up at 8 p.m. with that favorite pre-bedtime snack: milk and cookies.

All families in the Jewish community are invited to join the fun. Cost for Beth El members (seven and older) to attend is $5; for non-members, the cost is $8. There is no charge for children ages six and younger. To RSVP and pay online, visit www.bethel-omaha.org. For more information, contact Beth El’s Program Director, Margie Gutnik, at programming@bethel-omaha.org, or 402.492.8550.

by ILANA WEISS It may not even be Purim yet, but believe it or not it’s already time to start planning for Passover. You may be thinking about whom you will invite to your seder and what kinds of matzah-based-cooking-experiments you might consider trying out this year. You also might be wondering how to find those special Passover ingredients and how to get them at affordable prices.

KC Kosher Co-Op, a company based in Kansas City specializing in providing Kosher food at low costs, is once again offering a full line of Kosher for Passover products delivered to Omaha at significantly discounted prices.

How does the Co-Op work? Any community member can go onto the Co-Op website at www.kckoshercoop.com to sign up for an account and easily browse, order and pay for products online. All items are sold in bulk, which keeps prices low, but if you don’t think you need an entire case of schmaltz (or anything else for that matter), registrants can also choose cases to split with other members. The Co-op carries hundreds of fresh meat/poultry, dairy, dry goods, fish, candy, etc. Beginning in mid-February, when you sign up for an Omaha based account, everything that shows up on the website for purchase will be kosher for Passover. Once the orders are made, the staff at KC Kosher Co-op processes the order and arranges a delivery to the city. When the order arrives, an unloading crew takes all of the boxes off the truck

and makes sure everyone gets what they ordered. Co-Op members have a one-hour window to pick up their order specially packaged and marked for them.

The KC Kosher Co-Op is not just for Passover. Since the first co-op delivery in March 2013, the Omaha community has organized four other deliveries over the course of the year and will continue to do so in the future.

Sherry Taxman, a regular co-op participant, has been enthusiastic about having the KC Kosher CoOp in Omaha. “The KC Kosher Co-Op has allowed us to find items that are either no longer, or never were, available in Omaha.

From really great prices on Organic poultry to that hard-to-find pantry item, like OU certified caviar, it has been wonderful,” she said. “The prices on almost all items are much less expensive than they would be in the stores, and splitting items with friends is easy, thanks to the co-op’s website.”

The upcoming Passover order deadline is Sunday, Feb. 23 with a delivery at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2 at the Jewish Community Center. (The usual turnaround time just requires about two weeks, but the distributors need a greater lead time to provide goods for Passover.)

Visit www.kckoshercoop.com to signup and even receive reminders for order deadlines and pickup times. Please contact KC Kosher Co-Op at admin@kckoshercoop.com with any questions, or locally, contact Ilana Weiss at weiss.ilana@yahoo.com.

In the news The Greater Omaha Chamber announces – and applauds – the latest class of Omaha Business Hall of Fame inductees whose professional accomplishments are historically significant to the development of Omaha.

Among the 2014 Omaha Business Hall of Fame inductees are: Irvin Blumkin, Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Furniture Mart, the late Louis Blumkin, Chairman Emeritus, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Ronald Blumkin, President, Chief Operating Officer, Nebraska Furniture Mart.

They will be inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame during a gala celebration on Wednesday, April 23, at the Holland Performing Arts Center. Hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber, the evening will begin with a 6 p.m. hors d’oeuvres dinner followed by the induction ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $250 per person. Parking is included. Reservations can be made online at Omaha Chamber.org/HOF by April 16.

Cindy Kohll loved growing up in the Westside School Community and wanted her kids to have the same educational values as her.

Kohll is a candidate for the Westside School Board of Education. An Omaha native and a 1983 Westside graduate.

Cindy and her husband, Joshua Persky, have two children, Isabella and Isaac, who attend Oakdale elementary school.

She is currently an active classroom and Community Club volunteer at Oakdale. She also has a background in business, communications andfundraising.

Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School, in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, will offer undergraduates the chance for a six-week in-depth look at Israeli startups. The program dates are June 15 though July 24, 2014. Students will receive course credit through WUSTL; the deadline to sign up is Feb. 15.

Program cost is $4,000 and includes tuition, housing, insurance, excursions, bus pass and some meals.

For more information, please visit olin.wustl.edu/isba.

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6 | The Jewish Press | February 7, 2014

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Rabbi Steven Abraham, left, Arlene Schiff, and Lloyd Roitstein

by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation The LIFE & LEGACY™ Program, developed by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), was formally introduced to representatives of Omaha’s Jewish community organizations and synagogues on Jan. 23.

HGF has recently partnered with the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation (JFO Foundation) to secure after-lifetime legacy gifts for the Jewish community.

In her first of many visits to Omaha, LIFE & LEGACY™ National Director Arlene Schiff presented the program and explained the tremendous impact it will have on Jewish Omaha. Schiff served as the executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires from 2001 until she joined the HGF in July, 2013. She works with 15 communities, including Omaha, through the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program.

JFO Foundation President Carl Riekes noted that Schiff ’s role was akin to having a personal trainer at the gym. “While all of us work to secure legacy gifts from members of our community, Arlene will help keep us motivated and on track in order to achieve our goals,” he said.

“When was the last time all of Omaha’s Jewish organizations got together in one place?” continued Riekes. “This is a unique opportunity for all of us to work together for the future of Omaha’s Jewish community.”

“If you want to maintain a vibrant Jewish community in Omaha, and exist for future generations, it’s critical to secure legacy gift commitments in support of Omaha’s Jewish organizations and synagogues,” explained Schiff. “The Harold Grinspoon Foundation

provides training, marketing materials, incentive grants and informational resources to better enable you to reach your legacy commitment goals.”

The enthusiastic response to Schiff ’s presentation indicated that there is strong interest by Jewish organizations to participate in the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program. Attendees received informational materials and an application to formally apply to the program. Applications are due Feb. 25.

“The LIFE & LEGACY™ Program is here for all of Jewish Omaha,” noted JFO Foundation Executive Director Howard Epstein.

“Together, we’re going to build a foundation for our vibrant Jewish community that will remain in place for future generations.”

For more information about the LIFE & LEGACY™ Program, please contact LIFE & LEGACY™ Coordinator Janie Murow at 402.334.6432 or jmurow@jewishomaha.org.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced for Wednesday, Feb. 12, noon, at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3.

For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnai brith@ jewishomaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH The Lomir Redn Yiddush group will be on hiatus from Dec. 20 through April 2.

For information, please call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

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For your next celebration, we hope you’ll consider Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City. More information is available online at www.liedlodge.org, or by calling 800.546.5433.

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February 7, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 7

Eye on Israel: Gazing at Gaza

Temple Israel Tot Shabbat

Bryan Howell and his daughter Emelia enjoy attending Temple’s Tot Shabbat service every month.

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Once a month Temple Israel holds a Tot Shabbat service for children ages 5 and under led by Director of Lifelong Learning, Debbie Massarano, and a member of the clergy. These services are as much for the parents as they are for the kids, according to Rabbi Josh Brown.

“It’s important for the parents to get to know each other, as well as the kids,” he said, “because they’re going to be around each other as their children grow up together. By the time the kids get to their Bar or Bat Mitzvah they’ll have known each other, conceivably, for 13 years.”

The Tot Shabbat services have activities for the kids that are centered around a specific theme, such as Tu B’shevat at the most recent service, and there are songs and stories told by the rabbi.

For Beth Meyers, who is not Jewish, the January Tot Shabbat was the first real exposure to a Jewish service for her and her son.

“I want to get into the habit of attending services,” she said, “for both myself and my son. He’s two years old and it’s time for him to start going to Temple, his religious home.”

For Beth, the informal setting for Tot Shabbat was a great way to ease herself into the culture.

“We really loved it,” Beth said. “It was really fun, singing songs and listening to stories about Jewish tradition. I definitely felt welcome and at home. It was great.”

In addition to snacks and orange juice for the kids, Tot Shabbat also offers coffee and bagels for parents.

The next Tot Shabbat is scheduled for Feb. 22. The service begins at 9 a.m. and will be over by 10:15 a.m.

Newcomers are always welcome to attend.

by ELIAD ELIYAHU BEN SHUSHAN Community Shaliach With the recent passing of Ariel Sharon and the important role he played with activities at Gaza, I began reflecting on the time I had spent in the area. During my army service, I was privileged to travel all around Israel and bring music to many soldiers at different military posts. I will never forget a unique performance in the Gaza Strip. The four of us, four musician soldiers, knew months before that we were going to perform there. I remember how we all started to pay more attention to the news that was coming from Gaza to be aware of what was hapEliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan pening and to prepare ourselves for this mission. The visit to the Gaza Strip was for only five days. During that time we needed to perform three or four performances a day at various military spots to reach our goal of bringing joy and happiness to the soldiers.

Sometimes the Jewish citizens in the area who heard our music gathered with the soldiers and shared in their enjoyment.

From this experience in Gaza I carry two strong memories. The first is from a settlement named Gush Katif. Just as many people have prejudices about Israel, (e.g., it is “the land of soldiers and camels”), I came with many prejudices about this place. But contrary to everything that I believed, at the moment of our arrival I was struck with the beauty of the beach and the palm trees swaying with the gentle wind that welcomed us. In the background were the voices and laughter from the kids who were playing ball or riding bicycles. The contrast between these calm pictures, to the image I had in mind, and to the idea that this place is surrounded by enemies that occasionally attack and hurt these settlements, just amazed me.

The second memory I have from this mission was during one of our performances. The audience started to enter in the hall. Suddenly, a siren sounded and all the soldiers disappeared. The four of us remained where we were with our background music still playing. We were very frightened, and found the commander, who took us to a safe place. As it turned out, the alarm was sounding because an animal had entered through a small hole in the fence. Through this experience I came to better understand the stress and the constant fear of the soldiers who lived with their families in that place. This was in great contrast to the image of the beach, palm trees, gentle breezes and children’s playful voices.

In August of 2005, a year after I finished my military service, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided to resettle all Israelis out of the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank. The Israeli citizens, who refused to accept government compensation packages and voluntarily vacate their homes prior to the Aug. 15, 2005, deadline, were evicted by Israeli security forces over a period of several days. The eviction of all residents, demolition of the resi-

dential buildings and evacuation of associated security personnel from the Gaza Strip was completed by Sept. 12, 2005.

The eviction and dismantleing of the four settlements in the northern West Bank was completed ten days later.

Many voices were raised against the citizens in these settlements, who refused to leave their homes and struggled with the soldiers who obeyed the directive of Israel to take all the residents in these settlements out of their homes. It was a very unfortunate period in the State of Israel.

And now I think about Ariel Sharon, who passed away at the age of 86. Many people my age and younger connect the figure of Ariel Sharon to this process of disengagement. But after his death, coming after eight years of being in a coma, young people discovered more parts of his history. His contribution to the State of Israel, his participation in Israeli wars and the role that he played in different positions are an important part of Israeli history.

In the upcoming “Eye on Israel” I want to invite you to learn more about the controversial issue of the settlements in Israel, and gain some insight into the personality of Sharon. Who would have thought that the man who championed construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from the 1970s to the 1990s would, as Prime Minister, become the one who orchestrated Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2004–05? Our discussion on this topic is sure to be educational and is guaranteed to once again promote dialogue as Israelis do. There will be differences of opinion for sure.

Eye on Israel will meet on Feb. 11, from noon-1 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. It is open to the community at no charge, and is presented through the Center for Jewish Life, whose mission it is to maximize involvement of Omaha's Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. If you have questions about attending this session, call 402.334.6463 or email mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.

Bagels and Finance

by RUSS KAPLAN Russ Kaplan Investments The Stock Market can be a ponderous mystery to most of us. Yet, it does not have to be that way. Would you like to find out what is happening in the financial world, without having to pay for the advice? Do you enjoy discussing the happenings in the world of investing? This can be done when you stop by Russ Kaplan Investments, Inc. Bagels and Finance, held monthly on Friday, at the Bagel Bin, at 3:30 pm. Enjoy your late Friday afternoon, kibitzing, enjoying a delicious bagel, being with like-minded individuals and keep up-to-date on the Stock Market. I am an independent financial adviser with thirty years of experience in the field. We always have current and interesting topics to discuss. We are happy to answer any of your financial questions. Bagels and Finance is an open discussion group to the public. Be sure to check the dates on the Russ Kaplan Investments Facebook Page or call Russ at 402.614.1321. We hope to see you there.

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8 | The Jewish Press | February 7, 2014

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Go Team

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Get ready, the Winter Olympics are starting. But while we normally spend weeks watching and talking about the athletes and what medals they might win, the focus this year has been on entirely different things. It all has to do with the location: the city of Sochi, Russia, is just under an eight-hour drive from what the Huffington Post recently called “one of the most antagonistic areas in the world.”

A little background: When the Former Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, not everyone was happy with the resulting borders. Take the former Chechen– Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, for instance. It was broken up into the Republic of Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic.

That came after what was, at the time, already a long history of Chechen suffering. When the population in the North Caucasus area rose up against Soviet rule in the 1940s, entire sections of the population were deported and murdered. It took until 2004 for the rest of Europe to officially recognize this as an act of genocide.

Chechnya declared independence in November 1991; the first Chechen War took place from 1994 until 1996.

Russia was not able to regain control of the mountainous region, and the President Boris Yeltsin was forced to sign a ceasefire. The second war lasted from 1999 until 2009, saw the restoration of Russian federal control, and introduced the Islamist International Brigade to the world. Since these conflicts are too complicated and have too many players to introduce in this limited space, suffice it to say that Chechnya has suffered and rebelled to the point where more bloodshed seems inevitable.

Fast forward to today: Chechnya still does not have its independence, and terror attacks continue to plague President Vladimir Putin. On 23 October 2002, 40 Chechen militants headed by warlord Movsar Barayev took 912 hostages at the Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow; when Russian troops tried to liberate the people inside by spraying gas, they accidentally killed 130 hostages. In September of 2004,

the Beslan school massacre resulted in 385 dead, most of them children. A suicide bombing at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport claimed 37 lives in January of 2011.

“Russian authorities in and around Sochi continue to watch for the so-called black widows,” writes Howard LaFranchi in the Christian Science Monitor, “women who have been trained to carry out suicide bombings as a means

of avenging the death of an Islamist militant husband or other male relation at the hands of Russian security forces.”

Under these circumstances, maybe a spot of research into the region, before planning those Olympic games, would have been a good idea. Are you hearing that, International Olympic Committee? What were you thinking?

While Americans are concerned (many athletes are leaving their relatives at home) the Israeli delegation is calm, according to The Times of Israel.

Since the first Israeli delegation participated in 1952, the Shin Bet has been in charge of protecting Israel’s Olympic athletes. Vladimir Shklar, the head of the Israeli delegation, told the Times of Israel: “We trust the Russian security services. The Russians have the village closed off hermetically.”

The Olympic village’s security, however, isn’t really in question, especially since Putin is said to have deployed more than 100,000 police, soldiers and secret service personnel. Add to that the anti-aircraft missiles, surveillance aircraft and drones, attack helicopters, as well as ground and air-based electronic warfare systems capable of monitoring phone calls and emails, according to Haaretz.com, and it is no wonder these are the most expensive Olympics ever.

Spending over $50 billion (more than all previous winter Olympics combined) in a time when allegations of corruption are intense, and many citizens continue to live in abject poverty, will only add fuel to the fire. That village may be closed off, but what about those who live outside that so-called ‘ring of steel?’ The whole thing is a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.

If I were a qualifying athlete, I think I would sit this one out.

On the rights of non-Orthodox rabbis, where’s the outrage?

Focus on issues JULIE SCHONFELD NEW YORK (JTA) – The good news is in: Rabbi Avi Weiss’ conversions will be accepted in Israel.

I am glad to see that the religious integrity and leadership of Rabbi Weiss has been acknowledged. Undoubtedly, this course correction on the part of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate is due in part to the hue and cry of influential Jewish leaders, many of whom are not Orthodox, who are to be praised for speaking out.

Of course, my conversions are not recognized in Israel.

Nor are those of my 1,700 Conservative colleagues, my 2,000 Reform colleagues and my 300 Reconstructionist colleagues.

The fact that Jewish leaders and major organizations are stepping up to address the issue of pluralism is a wonderful step forward and one that we should all applaud and encourage.

But why does this only happen when an Orthodox rabbi’s character is at stake? Where is the statement on behalf of the nearly 4,000 rabbis and the 85 percent of Diaspora Jewry we represent when the derogation of our Judaism is black letter law in Israel?

Weiss himself wrote in October in the Times of Israel that “Israel as a state should give equal opportunities to the Conservative and Reform movements. Their rabbis should

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be able to conduct weddings and conversions.”

Leaders of Jewish organizations and public figures have criticized Israel in defense of Weiss, something far too few have been willing to do for the Conservative and Reform movements. This double standard was expressed stunningly

by U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel.

“If Rabbi Weiss’ credentials are rejected -- an Orthodox leader with decades of experience -- what does that portend for other strands of American Judaism?” asked the New York lawmaker, who represents Weiss’ district in the House of Representatives. What indeed?

To those who issued statements in defense of Weiss that were both bold and effective, I thank you. And I call upon you to now issue a statement for Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis. Notify your board members and donors that the rabbis who married them, Bar Mitzvahed their children, buried their parents and converted their sons and daughters-in-law do not deserve to be called rabbis in the eyes of the Israeli rabbinate. Tell them that none of their life-cycle events count and that the State of Israel does not really think they are Jews for religious purposes.

The American Jewish establishment will not stand for the discrediting of someone known as an Orthodox rabbi.

Better than nothing, I suppose, but far less than the Jewish public deserves. Where is the outrage for us? Has the Chief Rabbinate exported its hatred of the streams? Has the Israeli political leadership exported its willingness to ignore the

mistreatment of the vast majority of the world’s Jews by an extremist minority?

If we take a long, hard look at ourselves, the best explanation probably comes from a paraphrase of the famous Pogo cartoon, “We have met the enemies and they are (also) us.”

Structural intolerance and discrimination do not only harm the abused but obscure the human dignity of every individual. Such intolerance, allowed to not only survive but thrive, engenders an atmosphere in which it is impossible to treat even your friends and colleagues as your equals. In the words of Maimonides, “A rabbinic prohibition is always and everywhere superseded for the sake of human dignity.”

No one is asking any rabbi or Jew to hold personally by the interpretations of a community or a rabbi with whom they do not agree. But all must be equally respected and acknowledged.

American Jewish leaders derive legitimate authority only on the basis of their integrity and willingness to seek and grasp the convictions of the people they represent. In my experience, the colleagues I serve with are dedicated beyond measure to these ideals. That is what has made this chapter so chilling. We are becoming invisible to ourselves.

As it is written in Ethics of the Fathers, “Other people’s dignity should be as precious to you as your own.”

Rabbi Julie Schonfeld is executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association of Conservative and Masorti rabbis.

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February 7, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 9

Ukraine protest movement must shun anti-Semitic elements

Behind the headlines OLEKSANDR FELDMAN KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) -- From the moment of its spontaneous combustion on Nov. 21 and for weeks thereafter, the mass protest encampment in the center of Kiev set up to oppose the Ukrainian government’s decision not to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union appeared to represent the epitome of 21st-century European values.

The activities of the vast, multi-ethnic crowd in Maidan Square quickly came to be called Euromaidan and celebrated themes of democracy, pluralism and an end to government corruption. But the uplifting mood began to change in early December when Ukraine’s three main opposition parties -- Fatherland, UDAR and Svoboda -- began to take control of Euromaidan.

Activists of the ultranationalist, anti-Semitic and grotesquely misnamed Svoboda (Freedom) soon came to the fore, giving the protests a progressively darker and more violent edge. A turning point came during a mass march through the center of Kiev on Dec. 10, when a group of Svoboda activists, led by members of parliament, toppled a statue of Lenin while chanting an ominous warning to the president: “Yanukovych, you’ll be next!”

Ever since the breakthrough success of Svoboda in the 2010 elections, leaders of Fatherland and UDAR repeatedly have declined entreaties from myself and many other supporters of democracy in Ukraine to break their electoral alliance with Svoboda, apparently seeing the party and its leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, as essential partners in the coalition to topple President Viktor Yanukovych.

Yet during the last days of December, as momentum slipped from the demonstrators with news that Yanukovych had buttressed his position by accepting a $15 billion loan package from Russian President Vladmir Putin, Fatherland leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk and UDAR chief Vitali Klitschko must have become acutely aware that Svoboda’s growing profile was tarnishing the protesters’ claim to membership in the camp of modern-day Europe and not the fascist Europe of 70 years ago.

This became crystal clear during a cringe-inducing vertep, a comedic skit based on Ukrainian folk tradition, performed on the main stage at Euromaidan on New Year’s Eve. Based equally on the birth of Jesus and contemporary Ukrainian politics, the lead role was played by a Svoboda parliamentarian named Bogdan Benyuk, who donned black garb and sidelocks to play a stereotypical Orthodox Jewish wheelerdealer character called Zhyd (Kike). Explaining to the crowd that he is involved in various occupations -- including banking, stock market speculation, loan sharking and hosting a talk show -- the Jewish oligarch character sings gleefully,

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“East and West belong to me; our people are everywhere.”

Zhyd creates problems for the newborn Jesus and contemplates taking a bribe from a character evoking both Yanukovych and King Herod to help him crush the protesters. Fascinatingly, the Jew switches sides and joins the opposition when he learns that on orders from the king, the regime’s forces are preparing to kill Jewish firstborns. The audience is given to understand that the shift in loyalty is due not to a belated outburst of conscience, but rather because Zhyd is worried the regime may turn on his own people.

The bottom line of the supposedly all-in-good-fun skit -was followed by a solemn singing of the Ukrainian national anthem and congratulatory speeches by Yatsenyuk, Klitschko and Tyahnybok -- appeared to be that while perfidious Jewish oligarchs care only for the welfare of Jews, given their supposed power and influence it’s preferable for the opposition coalition to have them inside the tent pissing out rather than the other way around.

Even more jarring imagery came to the fore the following day when 15,000 opposition members greeted the new year by marching in a Svoboda-sponsored torchlight parade down Central Kiev’s Kreshatik Boulevard in commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the birth of Stepan Bandera,

an ally of Nazi Germany whose followers participated in massacres of Ukrainian Jews. Marchers carried red and black nationalist banners and shouted nationalist slogans as they cheered Tyahnybok and expressed their undying love for Bandera.

On Jan. 7, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from the use of force and maintain a national reconciliation dialogue with the opposition, while calling on all parties to refrain from hate speech and anti-Semitic actions. Clearly, while still sympathetic with the declared democratic aspirations of the opposition, neither the United States nor the European Union will long tolerate the growing ascendancy of Svoboda.

To salvage their remaining credibility, Yatsenyuk and Klitschko must immediately denounce the neo-fascist drift of recent weeks and break off their alliance with Svoboda.

Then they should sit and negotiate with the Ukrainian government and leaders of the country’s vibrant civil society, including all the religious communities, to find a solution to the protracted standoff in Kiev that gives hope for a democratic future for Ukraine based on rule of law.

Oleksandr Feldman is president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee and a member of the parliament of Ukraine.

Letter TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, If we are fortunate in life, we meet one or, maybe, two great men or women. Today some freely use the term “great” to describe a person of the moment whose contributions ultimately prove to be transient. Yet, the genuinely great live lives that serve as perpetual models. Rabbi Myer S. Kripke is that rare great man.

I first met Rabbi Kripke in 1976 at an informal gathering of Omaha’s rabbis. My family and I had just arrived from the East Coast and I had never witnessed such warm collegiality among rabbis of Judaism’s diverse movements. As the senior member of the group, Rabbi Kripke had contributed mightily to fostering that mutual respect and affection, exceptional then as now.

Together with his beloved Dorothy, of blessed memory, he immediately welcomed Susan and me into their home. Like so many others, I came to rely on him for sage advice. With his penetrating intellect leavened by absolute morality, he found solutions to the most difficult questions.

Quietly humble, Rabbi Kripke inspires us. His eloquent but accessible explications of the Torah portions serve as beacons to understanding complex passages and their contemporary applications. The warmth with which he greets everyone bestows serenity in a frantic world. That warmth, conveyed by Rabbi Kripke’s mellifluous voice, even surpass-

es the rabbinic ideal of welcoming “with a cheerful countenance”, conferring a feeling of well-being on each person he meets.

Rabbi Kripke lives his values. Assiduously devoted to Jewish life and education, he and Dorothy undertook the privilege of philanthropy by donating to Jewish schools and libraries. Because of their vision, students and scholars learn at this very moment and, with God’s help, unborn generations will immerse themselves in the bliss and challenge of studying Torah.

The extraordinary Kripke family, filled with people of profound accomplishment and caring, attests to his devotion as a father. His children, however, extend beyond his family. The rabbis equate the parent and the teacher, and by that standard, the number of his children defies measure.

Traditionally, Jews have spoken about gedolei ha-dor, the great ones of each generation. Rabbi Myer S. Kripke justly deserves this treasured accolade. His deeds and ideals have made him a great man in the classic sense. May God grant him 120 years and more as we all give thanks for the ongoing privilege of his friendship and his wisdom.

Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ph.D. President Emeritus, Gratz College

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Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.

FRIDAY, Feb. 14: Services, 7:30 p.m. followed by an oneg with guest speaker, Richard Fellman, Retired Lawyer and Adjunct Professor at UNO on Jews in Cuba. The community is invited.

Miles Remer will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Board of Trustees Shabbat, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10 a.m.; Shabbat’s Cool/Shul-in, 10 a.m., for all 2nd–7th grade BESTT students. Games and music during the afternoon; after Havdalah, sock hop and late-night movie. Cost: $20. Register online, www.bethel-omaha.org, or call Jeanne in the BESTT office; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.; PJ Havdalah, 5:45–8 p.m., for all preschoolers through first graders and their favorite adults. Enjoy Havdalah, have dinner and be treated to a surprise program.

The evening will end with cookies and milk. Cost is $5/members; $8/non-members; children 6 and under are free. Sign up online or contact the synagogue office; USY Movie Night, 11:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: BESTT Classes for Grades K & 1 only, 9:45 a.m.; Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; The Secrets of the Jews, 10 a.m.

Monthly adult-education class led by Andy Greenberg; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman; Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m., with Moshe Gershovich on Five Defining Moments: Shaping My World View of Israel in the 1970s and 1980s. Free and open to the community.

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

MONDAY: Tai Chi, Better Balance for everyone, six-week class at the synagogue with two sessions remaining, 6–6:45 p.m., led by certified Tai Chi instructor, Beth Staenberg.

Non-impact movement, perfect for men and women of all ages. For more information, contact the synagogue office.

TUESDAY: Wrestling with the Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. weekly adult-education class led by Rabbi Abraham.

No charge to attend; everyone is welcome.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes (grades 2-7), 4:15 p.m.

BESTT Hebrew High Classes, 6:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m.

Family Shabbat Service, Friday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m.

Torah Tots, Sunday, Feb. 23, 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

USY Leadership Training, Sunday, Feb. 23, noon-2:30 p.m.

Our Shabbat Tables registration deadline is Feb. 25. For more information, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@ yahoo.com.

All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit (Barchu), 9 a.m.; Mincha, 5:15 p.m.; Havdalah, 6:32 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m.

THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds, 9:30 a.m.

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m. followed

by Kiddush lunch.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office.

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu.

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis.

FRIDAY: Family Dinner and Early Family Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Mark Shkolnick.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Tetzaveh; LTYG on Ice, 6 p.m. meet in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LTYG Guest speaker and lunch, 12:15 p.m. for grades 7-12 students and their parents; Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 1 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 2 p.m.; LTYG meet at Temple, 4:30 p.m. to travel to Omaha.

TUESDAY: Alexander Technique Class, 7-9 p.m. led by Robert Rickover. To reserve a spot please email Jean in the Temple office at office@southstreettemple.org or by calling the office at 402.435.8004. The cost is a $10 donation to the Temple. You can learn about the Alexander Technique at www.alexandertechnique.com.

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

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

Candlelighting Friday, February 7, 5:30 p.m.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: February First Friday with Grade 3: Candle lighting in the Community Court at 5:30 p.m. Services at 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Stick around for Shabbat Lounge sponsored by the WRJ. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m.; Adult Hebrew, 11 a.m. Learn the basics of the Hebrew language. Everyone is welcome. $36 fee for non-members; Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Spaghetti Dinner and Auction, 5 p.m.

The cost is $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12 and no charge for children five and younger. Items up for bid include a gift certificate for Complete Music, a signed photograph from David Radler and an item from Borsheims.

We are still looking for more items to be auctioned off. If you’re interested in donating to the auction, contact Director of Youth Engagement Nikki Flatowicz.

TUESDAY: Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 6:30 p.m. with with Cantor Shermet.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; Community Wide Fifth and Sixth Grade Jewish Omaha Tour, 4 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Judaism and Religious Literacy, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Azriel.

THURSDAY: The way to the heart of Judaism is through the stomach, 10 a.m. with Debbie Massarano.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FRIDAY: Service, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High Lite, 9:45 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LTYG Guest speaker and lunch, 12:15 p.m. for grades 7-12 students and their parents; Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 1 p.m.; LTYG meet at Temple, 4:30 p.m. to travel to Omaha.

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

The Jewish Federation of Lincoln Annual Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 16, 10:30 am at Tifereth Israel.

Jewish Book Club Meeting, Monday, Feb. 17, 1-3 p.m. at Sara Friedman’s home. Please contact Stephanie Dohner with any questions.

Scarlett Johansson ends role as Oxfam ambassador over differences on BDS

by JNS NEWS STAFF (JNS.org) Jewish-American actress Scarlett Johansson stepped down as a global ambassador for the anti-hunger group Oxfam International, which criticized her for serving as spokesperson for Israeli carbonated beverage company SodaStream.

“Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years,” said a statement released

by Johansson’s spokesman. “She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam.”

Oxfam took issue with Johansson’s SodaStream deal due to its opposition to “all trade from Israeli settlements.” SodaStream has long been the target of pro-Palestinian groups for operating a factory in Ma’ale Adumim, which is across the Green Line east of Jerusalem. At the factory, SodaStream employs many Palestinian workers and has an on-site mosque.

“SodaStream is a company that is not only committed to the environment but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and Palestine, supporting neighbors working alongside each other, receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights,” Johansson said.

Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president of the Jerusalem-based watchdog group NGO Monitor, said SodaStream and Johansson “have taken a strong stand against BDS, highlighting Oxfam’s history of bias, duplicity, and immoral warfare in joining the political attacks against Israel.”

“Radical Oxfam officials have exploited their power to lobby the EU to impose economic sanctions, based on false allegations of ‘unlawful demolition of Palestinian civilian infrastructure,’” Steinberg told JNS.org. “Oxfam also campaigns on behalf of Hamas and ignores terror attacks against Israelis. This case demonstrates the need for an urgent and independent review of Oxfam’s biased and immoral agenda.”

In a Facebook post last weekend, antiIsrael activist and former Pink Floyd band member Roger Waters slammed Johansson for choosing SodaStream over Oxfam. The post by Waters also targeted musician Neil Young, who plans to perform in Tel Aviv in July.

“Scarlett, you are undeniably cute, but if you think SodaStream is building bridges towards peace you are also undeniably not paying attention,” Waters said.

SodaStream’s Birnbaum said, “Despite all the attempts to boycott us, we have received a whirlwind of support and sympathy.”

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

February 7, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 11

Three Sanctuaries

In memoriam MYRNA DIAMOND

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Tetzaveh Whether Jews live in the United States or Israel or Ethiopia or the Soviet Union or any place else, we are one people.

We are in another sense as well, and that sense is the sense of time, of history.

The Haftarah of Parashat Terumah changed the focus from the Sanctuary of the Wilderness, to which the Sidrah gave its attention, to the Temple of Solomon.

Something similar happens with Parashat Tetzaveh: the Haftarah changes the focus to the new Temple that would one day be built when the exiles returned from Babylonia to their own homes. Thus the Haftarot hurries the reader of last week’s Sidrah and the present one to the Temple of Solomon and to the Second Temple. Three Sanctuaries; one people.

The overwhelming majority of the Jewish people are perfectly content with the idea that the Synagogue has replaced the Temple permanently. They are convinced that the Synagogue is a better, more sensitive, religiously more profound institution than the Temple. They would be appalled at the idea of worshiping as ancient Israel did in Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple by sacrificing animals on an altar.

The Pharisees of ancient Israel, who, as it were, elbowed the Kohanim out of the way, did a profoundly meaningful service to Judaism and its daughter religions. They substituted prayer for ritual, meditation for sacrifices, learning and study for blood and smoke on an altar, and the devotion of the soul for what could easily deteriorate into soulless action.

The Pharisees (later, the ‘rabbis’) retained memories of the Temple and its method of worship within the scheme of their own worship. But it is time now to recognize that our interest in the Sanctuary of the Wilderness, and the Temples, is only historical.

Conversations about difference

by MICHAEL HOLLINS On Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m., KANEKO presents The Black-Jew Dialogues, a conversation that aims to get at the heart of prejudice and how our biases can separate us in ways we may not even think about. Emmy-award winner Ron Jones and veteran performer Larry Jay Tish take the audience on a hysterical and poignant ride, reliving three days they spent together in a cheap hotel room discussing their individual experiences, the history of their respective groups, and the rift between these communities that some feel has become wider in recent years. Admission to the performance is $5.

The actors find humor in everything from Jewish involvement in the slave trade to octogenarian grandmothers singing about the joys of ethnic foods. The Black-Jew Dialogues is an exhilarating and insightful look at the state of race and cultural relations in America. In this show that has received national recognition, you learn as much as you laugh.

The evening performance will be preceded by a “Dialogues on Diversity Workshop” from 1 to 4 p.m., in which participants discuss the role prejudice plays in their day-to-day lives. Larry and Ron’s hope in writing the show was for it to be a catalyst to reunite not only their own ethnic groups, but all of us. Through laughter, honesty, and conversation, The Black-Jew Dialogues reminds us of a history of pain, oppression, and pride that the African-American and Jewish communities share.

KANEKO is a non-profit, interdisciplinary cultural organization founded with the mission of exploring creativity across the whole spectrum of human activity. KANEKO was conceived of as “open space for your mind,” a place where thoughtful examination of others’ ideas leads us to new and exciting ideas of our own. To learn more about The Black-Jew Dialogues and accompanying workshop, visit www.thekaneko.org.

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Myrna J. Diamond passed away on Jan. 31 at age 83.

Services were held on Feb. 3 at Beth Israel Cemetery, 78th and Crown Point Ave. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Stanley Diamond.

She is survived by her children and their families.

Myrna’s family would like to thank the staff at the Rose Blumkin home for the wonderful and compassionate care she and her husband, Stanley, received in the last years of their lives.

Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice.

Henry Waxman retires

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) — Rep. Henry Waxman, the dean of Jewish lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, is retiring. Waxman (D-Calif.), 74, will finish out his term, which ends on Jan. 2, 2015.

“I am grateful for my supporters and allies, who have worked side-by-side with me to fight for issues we care about, and strengthening the ties between the United States and our most important ally, the State of Israel,” he said in a recent statement.

The longest serving Jewish House member, Waxman has taken a lead on pro-Israel issues, most recently in joining with Energy Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) to advance a bill that would increase cooperation with Israel in energy research.

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CORRECTION The article about B'nai Israel's chili cook off in our Jan. 31 issue had Sandra Kurland's byline. The byline should have read Nancy Wolf. The Jewish Press regrets the error.

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ANNETTE R. GORDON Annette R. Gordon passed away in Omaha at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home at age 90. Services were held on Jan. 28 at Hillside Cemetary in Los Angeles.

She was preceded in death by husband Malcolm Gordon.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Sandy Gordon of Omaha, and daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Bob Bendetson of Marina Del Rey, CA; granchildren: Russell and Shannon Bennett, Rachel Gordon, Ben and Brooke Gordon, Becca Gordon, all of Omaha, and Jessie Bendetson and Eliana Bendetson of CA; great-grandchildren: Jameson Bennett, Delilah Bennett and Ephraim Bennett, all of Omaha.

She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1975.

Memorials may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center or the organization of your choice.

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12 | The Jewish Press | February 7, 2014

After lull, intermarriage debate reignites

by JULIE WIENER NEW YORK (JTA) -- In the months since the Pew Research Center’s survey renewed communal concern about assimilation, the intermarriage debate is flaring up again.

Jewish religious and communal institutions had been shifting away from seeing intermarriage as a problem to be combated and toward focusing on engaging the intermarried. But in recent weeks, there have been several high-profile warnings against abandoning the traditional Jewish emphasis on endogamy, or in-marriage.

When the leader of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, gave a speech suggesting that high intermarriage rates should be accepted by Jewish leaders as the inevitable result of life in an open society, he was criticized by the editors of two of America’s leading Jewish newspapers. Meanwhile, a new group of Jewish thought leaders has been convened by three longtime advocates of Jewish in-marriage hoping to influence the post-Pew conversation on assimilation.

“Pew gave a new impetus to the people who want to promote a more overt pro-endogamy camp in the community,” said Jonathan Woocher, president of the Lippman-Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah. Partisans on both sides of the debate cite the findings of the Pew survey in support of their views. The survey found that 58 percent of American Jews who married since 2005 have nonJewish spouses, a proportion that rises to 72 percent among the non-Orthodox.

Advocates for in-marriage point to survey findings that people with only one Jewish

parent are much less likely to identify as Jewish or engage in Jewish activities. But their critics say the prevalence of intermarriage means that the communal focus needs to be on engagement rather than on what

they see as futile efforts to turn back the tide.

In December, Jacobs called for an “audacious hospitality” to welcome the intermarried and others into the Jewish community.

“Incredibly enough, however, I still hear Jewish leaders talk about intermarriage as if it were a disease,” Jacobs said. “It is not. It is a result of the open society that no one here wants to close.”

Jacobs’ speech, however, has met with some belated pushback. The New York Jewish Week’s editor, Gary Rosenblatt, wrote a Jan. 15 column warning that intermarriage “becoming the norm poses a threat to the sustainability of American Jewish life.”

The next day the Forward newspaper wrote in an editorial that the approach supported by Jacobs has so far “not proved sustainable.” The paper concluded that “encouraging Jews to marry other Jews is too essential to surrender to the uncertainties of

American assimilation.”

Rosenblatt and the Forward’s editor, Jane Eisner, both attended a Jan. 9 meeting in New York of some 25 Jewish thinkers who came together to discuss the findings of the Pew survey and shape a communal agenda in response. Hebrew Union College sociologist Steven M. Cohen, the meeting’s lead organizer, told JTA he hoped the group would “raise the level of anxiety about the future of American Jewry.”

Cohen gathered the group with two other veteran advocates of in-marriage: Jewish Theological Seminary historian Jack Wertheimer and Steven Bayme, director of the Contemporary Jewish Life Department of the American Jewish Committee.

The three organizers -- who were working as individuals, not as representatives of their respective institutions -- were leaders a decade ago in a short-lived effort called the Jewish In-Marriage Initiative.

But Bayme said that the new group, which he called a work in progress, is “less about mixed marriage than about changing communal culture and priorities given the findings of Pew.” He said that participants shared a sense of disappointment that the Pew survey “failed to awaken a sense of crisis in the community, either because it was interpreted complacently by some or because the issues of assimilation and mixed marriage are so divisive within the community.”

Meeting participants have differing ideas about how central the issue of intermarriage should be to the communal conversion.

“I’m not particularly interested in a food fight between people who think intermarriage is here to stay and we should embrace

it and people who think intermarriage is a problem and we need to fight it,” said Rabbi Joy Levitt, the executive director of the JCC in Manhattan. “I’m interested in how we build a Jewish life that is attractive, engaging and deeply meaningful to the people who are in it.”

Rosenblatt, in a column on the meeting, wrote that papers presented for discussion showed intermarriage to be not “the sole cause, but rather the primary symptom of this thinning of Jewish identity.”

Jacobs, who said he only learned about the meeting after the fact, told JTA that there is “a slippery slope” between discouraging intermarriage and making the intermarried and their children feel unwelcome.

Asked whether he saw any value in encouraging in-marriage, Jacobs noted that some interfaith couples are more committed to Jewish life than some couples consisting of two Jews. He said that “talking about endogamy as an abstract concept is not the way to address” declining levels of Jewish engagement.

“The way to address it,” Jacobs said, “is to have an experience of Jewish life that’s so profound, so deeply engaging, that the question is not who’s going to be my choice in terms of partner, but what choices am I going to make in my home?”

Ed Case, CEO of InterfaithFamily, a group that advocates for including the intermarried in Jewish life, expressed concern that the group convened in New York would try to promote in-marriage. “It’s going back to an old debate that’s not productive,” he said.

But there is also common ground between the two sides in the debate. Even staunch advocates of in-marriage emphasize their support for outreach to the intermarried.

“It’s a bad tactic to make intermarried people feel bad or to hector people that they should in-marry,” Cohen said.

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