Vol. LXXXIX No. 21 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
28 Shevat 5770
February 12, 2010
New editor selected to head Jewish Press
Y.E.S. and VISIONS combine forces to create “Main Streeters”
by JILL BELMONT Interim Editor, Jewish Press Bobbi Leibowitz, president of the Jewish Press board, has announced the hiring of Annette van de KampWright as the newspaper’s new editor. Van de Kamp-Wright succeeds Carol Katzman, who retired last December after 13 years at the paper’s helm. “Our search committee conducted a nationwide search, but we were lucky enough to find a local candidate who fit the bill perfect- Annette van de Kamp-Wright Credit: Kim Goldberg ly,” Leibowitz said. “We’re all very excited to welcome Annette as the newest editor of the Jewish Press. She’s bright and articulate; she knows the community and the importance of the Press, and she has a vision for the future of the newspaper.” A native of the Netherlands, van de Kamp-Wright received her undergraduate degree from the University of Utrecht, where she studied American Cultural Studies, and a master’s degree in English Arts and Literature from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During the past four years, she has worked as a freelance writer and editor, and has volunteered for a variety of Jewish organizations in Omaha. “I am extremely excited to have been offered the job of Jewish Press editor,” she said. “It is a wonderful opportunity, and a true honor; I have no doubt my learning curve will be steep, as I will be working with a very talented team, both within the immediate Press office, within the Federation, and within the community at large. I am very grateful to all who have helped Continued on page 2
classes; and Jim Wax, communications. Other commitby OZZIE NOGG The Yiddish term shidach means “a good match.” tee members are Doris Alloy, Harry Alloy, Jack Noodell, And that’s exactly what our community will witness Ilene Pachman and Sivi Roffman. Mike Silverman, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home when the current memexecutive director, and bers of Y.E.S. and Maggie Conti, RBJH VISIONS join forces to director of activities, are become “Main Streeters” advising the group. -- a new organization Many popular activities under the umbrella of established by Y.E.S. and Jewish Social Services -Visions will remain on the that welcomes all resiMain Streeters’ calendar. dents of the Omaha “We’ll continue to meet metropolitan area age 60 for lunch on the third and older, whether or not Friday of every month at they belonged to the the Home,” Wax original two groups. explained. “The Yiddish “You might describe group will still gather Main Streeters as a blendevery Thursday, and Mah ed family,” said coordinaJongg will keep its regular tor Susan Rothholz, “with new members Making plans for the Main Streeters’ April 16 kick-off are steering Tuesday game. We’ll also added to the mix. Our committee members Suzanne Singer, left, Susan Rothholz and retain Harry’s Mystery Trip, the Brownville programs are geared to Rocky Stern. every mature adult who is looking for ways to stimulate Concert Series, our summer picnic and Royals baseball creative thinking. That includes Livingston residents games, plus outings to Lauritzen Gardens, the casinos, local museums and theaters.” and spouses of Blumkin Home residents, too. Creating interest in new areas is the responsibility of “The wide variety of social events, speakers and educational opportunities will have broad appeal, and we Rocky Stern and Suzanne Singer. “When the Pennie Z. plan to build on the success already established by Y.E.S. Davis Learning Center is up and running on Main Street and Visions by offering even more activities. All of us on at the Blumkin Home, we’ll offer computer training in Word, Excel, Outlook and Skype, as well as technology the Main Street steering committee are very excited.” The new organization’s official kick-off will be Friday, classes for cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders and April 16. “The opening event will be five-star, so put any other training in which the community expresses an the date in your book right now,” Rothholz advised. interest,” Singer said. “We also hope to offer opportuni“I’m not giving any details, but believe me, you’ll be ties for members to play poker, Pan, bridge, canasta, sorry if you miss it.” pinochle, you name it.” Also under discussion are cookCurrently working with Rothholz are: Tootie Simon ing classes, a quilting group plus craft and ceramics classand Ida Banner, culinary committee; Rose Pitlor, social es, all to be held on the JCC campus. “You could committee; Rocky Stern and Suzanne Singer, games and Continued on page 2
For Temple Israel family’s simcha, timing was everything by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Director Rory Sudbeck hoped he would be Jewish by the time of his son’s bris. It was close; just four days to spare. Growing up in Hartington, Nebraska, about two and a half hours northeast of Omaha, Sudbeck didn’t meet many Jews -- if any -- in the town of 1600 whose population was predominately Catholic. He attended 12 years of Catholic education at Holy Trinity Church and was confirmed at the end of eighth grade. After high school, Rory enrolled in Bellevue University on the Lincoln campus and graduated in early 2006 with a degree in business administration. Six years ago, Rory met Rebecca Blumkin who was in Lincoln finishing her degree in business at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She graduated in late 2005. Becca grew up in Omaha and was affiliated with Temple Israel “all my life,” she said. Much of her family, including her parents, Irv and Susie Blumkin, and grandparents, Louie and Fran Blumkin, belong to Temple. Becca became a Bat Mitzvah at Temple following the path so many in her family had walked before her. “Becca was the first Jewish person I ever met,” pointed out Rory. “I asked a lot of questions,” he recalled. As they dated and their relationship seemed headed toward marriage, they talked about raising children. “I wanted to have my family raised the same way I was,” Becca acknowledged. “It didn’t bother me at all, because I had met her family, and they weren’t any different than my own family,” according to Rory. He actually began to think about
Inside Opinion Page see page 12
Brody, Becca and Rory Sudbeck choosing Judaism for himself before he and Becca became engaged. “I witnessed how loving and caring her family was to someone who wasn’t Jewish,” he remarked. “If we were going to live in Omaha around Becca’s family,” it made sense to be a Jewish family.” Becca had some concerns. “I wanted him to do it
This Week: Simchas and Celebrations starts on Page 8 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’
Goldstein Supporting Foundation awards grants Page 2
(convert to Judaism) for himself. Not for me,” she insisted. She told Rory, “I want you to be sure. A mixed marriage would have been OK,” she said. Once they were engaged, they went to worship services at Temple. Rory was introduced to the High Holy Days and Passover and “met even more of Becca’s extended family and friends.” Becca and Rory were married on October 7, 2006. Once they decided to have children, the decision was settled for Rory. In the fall of 2008, he called Rabbi Eric Linder who suggested that Rory enroll in Derech Torah classes. For several months he went to class choosing to go alone “so I would have my own original thoughts.” Subsequently, he began working with Rabbi Linder. There were numerous assignments, such as going to Torah study on Saturday mornings, attending worship services, and composing his own writings on Jewish topics. While Rory was completing his journey to becoming a Jew, Becca was going through a new experience as well. She was pregnant and expecting their first child in December. Rory’s conversion ceremony was scheduled for Dec. 4, 2009. Surrounded by many family members and friends that night, Rory said, “It felt great!” He is especially grateful to them for all their support. “I had a lot of cheerleaders. There were numerous, numerous friends and family who helped me along the way.” Great aunts, great uncles, and members of another synagogue encouraged Rory. “Everyone was just a phone call or an email away,” he mentioned. Continued on page 10
Coming Next Month: Home and Garden Partnership with Israel program makes vital connections Page 3
Vancouver Jews gearing up for the XXI Winter Olympic Games Page 16
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
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Goldstein Supporting Foundation awards grants by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation During its recent annual meeting, the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation board of trustees awarded 16 grants totaling over $42,000. Established in 2003, the Goldstein Supporting Foundation supports local projects and programs of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies, synagogues and Jewish service organizations. The foundation also considers applications from local and national Jewish and secular charities in the areas of medicine and medical research (with an emphasis on kidney-related diseases), education and current events of Jewish content, and human rights. “The community is fortunate to have the Goldstein Supporting Foundation providing support to a wide array of projects,” said Marty Ricks, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Beth El Synagogue received a grant to fund a specialneeds classroom assistant for BESTT (Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah), to assist students with learning disabilities so that they may fully participate in classes and the synagogue. B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) also received a grant to help cover costs associated with the 2010 March of the Living this April. March of the Living gives Jewish teens an educational experience focusing on the history of the Holocaust and Israel. Students will travel to Poland and join thousands of others to walk the symbolic “March of Death’ from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The teens then travel to Israel, visiting memorials to fallen Israeli soldiers on Yom Hazikaron, Israel Memorial Day, and celebrating on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. The Center for Jewish Education was awarded a grant for a continuing education opportunity for teachers; all synagogue religious-school teachers, as well as teachers from Friedel Jewish Academy and the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center, will be invited to a seminar presented by a professional speaker. A grant was also given to CJE for the CornerStones Fund, to support financial aid committee scholarships. Through CornerStones, donations are made to assist Jewish children who have financial need to attend Jewish preschool, Jewish summer camps, Friedel Jewish Academy and other youth programs. Chabad of Nebraska received funding for Camp Gan Israel day camp, geared to children from ages three though 10. Chabad also received funding to maintain and expand its Chesed program, which provides needy individuals with things such as food, rent, emergency relief, a Jewish Alcoholics Anonymous support group, the Parsha Club at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, and help for out-oftown families receiving medical treatment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The Friedel Jewish Academy received a grant to support special-needs students who will benefit from extra assistance with reading, math and/or writing. This assistance will increase Friedel’s success in meeting students’ academic goals.
The Goldstein Foundation also awarded the Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund a grant to support Holocaust education programs at colleges and universities. HHEF’s goal is to teach future leaders about the Holocaust and genocides, eliminating intolerance and fostering mutual respect and compassion. A grant was awarded to the Institute for Holocaust Education; funding will be used for middle- and highschool teacher training and program facilitation through workshops and educational programs. IHE’s programs provide schools with the avenues to teach about humanity through understanding the lessons of the Holocaust. The Jewish Community Center received a Goldstein Foundation grant for the JCC’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration on April 20, featuring a live concert by Rick Recht, a singer/songwriter who performs a mix of American Judaic and Israeli songs. The JCC also received a grant for this summer’s Maccabi Games. The event is expected to draw 1,000 teens, 300 coaches and chaperones and hundreds of other families and guests. In addition, around 120 local teens are anticipated to participate. The Games will include social and educational components, in addition to the athletic competition. Jewish Family Service was given a grant to help provide financial assistance to Jewish families and individuals experiencing financial hardship due to serious medical or mental illness. JFS funds are used to meet essential living needs and help people re-establish their own financial independence. The Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation was awarded a grant for its B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy program. Through this program, students establish endowment funds in their names and allocate gifts to non-profit organizations. By offering speakers, hands-on activities and community service projects, Bnai Tzedek also teaches students about non-profit Jewish organizations and how to make wise philanthropic choices. A grant was also given to the Jewish Press for its new editor to attend a professional conference this June, sponsored by the American Jewish Press Association. This convention will offer opportunities to network with other editors, participate in skill-building sessions, learn about new web site features, and more. The Press will also receive funding to upload web site content. The new web site will offer more features, including photos, videos, art projects for children, recipes for the holidays, and podcasts of local classes. The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society received a grant to maintain the NJHS oral history/educational program. Funds will be used for supplies, software and equipment, as well as for filming interviews. The NJHS oral history program captures memories and stories about Jewish organizations, businesses, families and synagogues. Members of the Goldstein Supporting Foundation Board of Trustees include Leonard Goldstein, Shirley Goldstein, Donald Goldstein, Gail Raznick, Cheryl Cooper, Sandy Friedman, Jerry Kohll, Louri Sullivan and Arnold Weitz. The board meets annually to consider grant applications. For more information, contact the Foundation at 334.6439.
Y.E.S. and VISIONS create “Main Streeters” Continued from page 1 say that the Main Streeters' main goal is to create new experiences and learning opportunities.” According to Rothholz, “Our agenda is simple. We want everyone in our community, age sixty and older, to have fun socializing. We and our peers also want to exercise our brains, learn new skills and continue enjoying life to the fullest. We understand that every program may not appeal to everyone, but just like in a Chinese restaurant, Main Streeters lets you choose one from column ‘A’ or two from column ‘B’ and have a very satisfying time.” First-year participation in Main Streeters is dues-free. Only one member of a couple needs to have hit “the magic 6-0” in order for both to participate. “Right now,” Rothholz said, “the steering committee’s main job is to spread the word about Main Streeters and about our programs, so everyone can get on board.”
To stay in the loop regarding upcoming Main Streeters’ events, contact Maggie Conti at 334.6521, or mconti@rbjh.com.
New Jewish Press editor Continued from Page 1 me get to this point, and can’t wait to get started. “The Jewish Press is more than a paper; it is an expression of how strong and vibrant our community is,” she added. “The continued success of the Jewish Press is something that is very close to my heart. I am so thrilled to be a part of its newest chapter.” Along with husband Jeremy Wright, van de KampWright has two children, Isabella, 8, a third grader at Friedel Jewish Academy, and Mendel, 5, a student at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center.
To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press:
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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: editor@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.
February 12, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Partnership with Israel program continues to make vital connections FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR by JAN GOLDSTEIN, Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Omaha
People are always asking me about the Federation’s Partnership with Israel program, and having just returned from our annual stateside Partnership meetings in Austin, Texas, along with Ellie Batt, Lisa Epstein, Kim Goldberg and Zoe Riekes, this is a great opportunity to talk about it. Every year, our Partnership leadership meets once in Israel and once in the states. The purpose of these meetings is to evaluate our projects and budgets and make strategic decisions on how we go about accomplishing the two primary goals of Partnership: creating peopleto-people relationships that foster a shared Jewish identity, and helping to develop the Western Galilee region in northern Israel. The Partnership program is now in its 13th year, our Bar Mitzvah year. The expansiveness of our programs is a reflection of what we are accomplishing. At these recent meetings, the Partnership collectively allocated $600,000 for projects in 2010. There are many programs in Partnership. These diverse projects touch on areas like helping children at risk and young people with disabilities, supporting the Western Galilee Hospital, providing interactive musical education and twinning programs, supporting food distribution programs in Akko and creating dialogue between Israeli Jewish, Muslim and Christian students. Each of these has the potential to affect the lives of our local community members and donors by putting a face on Israel, and creating Jewish Peoplehood through what we call a “Living Bridge.” In 13 years, our consortium communities in the U.S. have collectively invested more than $10 million into projects, programs and emergency needs in our region. Together, we have made a significant impact in Israel, exemplified by the new Emergency Services underground unit at the Western Galilee Hospital in
Nahariya. The need for the new underground unit became apparent during the 2006 war that saw the Western Galilee region and its hospital take direct hits from Katyusha rockets fired from Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. The underground unit became possible by our consortium advocating and investing in the hospital. Because of our initial investment and effort, the hospital also received funding from the National Israel Emergency Campaign; these dollars were used to leverage more money directly from the Israeli government. All totaled, over $25 million have been invested into infrastructure for the Western Galilee Hospital that serves all the residents of the region. This is an important point, as one of the criteria we look for in programs we fund is whether we can leverage additional funding from the Israeli government, non-governmental organizations and individual Israeli philanthropists. For 13 years, Partnership has focused on developing connections between American and Israeli Jews. It is very exciting for Omaha, as our own Zoe Riekes, who recently stepped down as Partnership Consortium chairman, has agreed to become chair of the newest Partnership endeavor, the Budapest Connection. This new trilateral partnership with Budapest adds another dimension by connecting us directly to those whose families suffered through 70 years of the Holocaust and communism, and are just now discovering their Jewish selves. As our Partnership programming expands to include Budapest, we have heard from our American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee partner about the impact that this new Budapest connection is having. We are bringing Israeli, American and Hungarian kids together at the JDC Sarvas International Summer Camp outside of Budapest. This camp lets teens tap into their Jewish passion by creating friendships with other Jewish teens and becoming actively part of a diverse and meaningful global Jewish community. The integration of American, Israeli and Budapest teens helps them become young leaders in their respective communities. Particularly in Budapest, many of these kids come from parents who did not know they
were Jewish, and have just recently discovered their Jewish heritage. It is through these camps that many of these teens learn about Jewish holidays and practices. They are often crying out to be part of the Jewish world and do not know where to start. By sharing these experiences with other Jewish teens, they are able to have a stronger Jewish foundation and can make future decisions regarding their Jewish identity. The American and Israeli teens also grow by seeing Judaism through the eyes of others struggling to be Jewish. They begin to see themselves as part of the global Jewish community and get excited as they start to define their roles as Jews. We learned what the JDC and the Jewish Agency for Israel are doing in the Budapest Jewish community to create attractive programs for the younger and unaffiliated, offering events like “Judaism without Walls,” where Jewish holidays and topics are discussed through conversation, music, theater and literature in a casual, non-threatening café environment, a street festival called “Judafest” that includes Israeli and Jewish movies, music and food and a weekend of learning called “Limmud.” All of these are organized and driven by young volunteers. Programs like these, that we already invest in through our campaign dollars, become a springboard for more Partnership projects. The Austin meetings were invigorating. After 13 years, this new Budapest connection is revitalizing longtime volunteers and building new connections. We are creating opportunities for supplemental funding to help build our Jewish world. Partnership’s success is dependent upon getting people involved, creating projects and really doing something. One of the things that makes Partnership special is that there are multiple access points for people to get involved. Partnership is exciting. We invite you to get involved. If you want to get involved or just want information, please contact our Federation offices. And the next time a group from Israel comes to visit, offer to house them; the next chance you have to go to Israel and visit the Partnership area and projects that we support, take it! Partnership is waiting for you -- are you ready?
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Native American storyteller shares tales with Friedel students
by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT for Friedel Jewish Academy On Jan. 28, second- and third-grade students at Friedel Jewish Academy received a special treat when Kindra Foster Lindbloom visited their classroom. Lindbloom is an artist, a writer and a storyteller; she specializes in Native American heritage. Her interests range from art and history to oral history. “I have collected a number of pieces of Native American art: rattles from different tribes, pottery, sand paintings, and dream catchers made of twigs, feathers, and beads.” Lindbloom brought beadwork and dif-
ferent kinds of musical instrument for the students to experience; she also told them a story. “One of my favorite types of Native American story are those about a guy named ‘Trickster.’ He was also called ‘Backwards Man,’ because he did things the children listening to the story knew were not right. The idea behind these stories was that the children in the tribe would learn to tell right Second- and third-grade Friedel students enjoyed the recent from wrong. The trickster, as visit to their classroom by artist and storyteller Kindra Foster he appears in Omaha leg- Lindbloom (in back).
ends, is called ‘Iktinike.’” Lindbloom left the students with a message: “I want you to know it’s okay to be interested in other people’s traditions,” she said, “especially if you treat people from other traditions respectfully. We all have different ways of looking at the world, and we all do the best we can to live the way we think we should.” Lindbloom was invited to come and speak to Friedel’s second-grade and third-grade class by Kim Goldberg, who teaches art at the school. For more information, please contact Goldberg at kimgoldberg1@gmail. com.
Beth Israel Synagogue offers Advanced Halacha Kollel
by BETH COHEN Beth Israel Executive Director Under the direction of Rabbi Jonathan Gross, Beth Israel Synagogue has established the Advanced Halacha Kollel, meeting weekly on Wednesdays, 9 p.m., at the synagogue. “Kollel,” literally translated from Hebrew as “a gathering of scholars,” has come to be the name used for institutes of advanced study of Talmudic and Rabbinic Literature. Participants study classic texts in depth with a lead scholar. In Omaha, the Kollel uses teleconferencing technology that allows for guest lecturers from all over the world. Currently, Rabbi Mendel Senderovic is leading the
weekly session. Rabbi Senderovic is the Dean of the Milwaukee Kollel. His lectures and classes cover a broad range of Jewish topics, from contemporary issues and Jewish philosophy to advanced Talmud and Jewish practice. He is also the president of the Beth Din Rabbinical Court of Milwaukee, assisting Jewish couples who require a “get” (traditional Jewish divorce) and facilitating compromises in financial disputes. Educated at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood NJ, and a sixteen-year-resident of Milwaukee, Rabbi Senderovic has an infectious personality, an intelligent style and a quick wit. “We are so pleased to offer this highcaliber halacha class,” says Rabbi Gross.
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“It is so encouraging to have so many members of the community challenge themselves to achieve advanced levels of scholarship.” Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi, Beth Israel’s assistant rabbi and a Kollel participant explains, “Beth Israel’s Kollel retraces the path that our great sages took to extrapolate the halacha from the words of the Torah. It demonstrates how later commentaries induced the principles behind the sages’ conclusions and applied them to modern reality. Through the discussions at the Beth Israel Kollel, one cannot help but admire the profound insight and tremendous intellectual integrity that is in our tradition.” The discussion each week
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is transcribed and can be followed online at www.omahakollel.blogspot.com. There is a tradition to sponsor Torah learning to thank God for celebrations and milestones, for the sake of recovery from illness, or to honor the memory of a departed loved one. Sponsorship opportunities at Beth Israel for youth and adult education include sponsoring a week of learning for $100, sponsoring a month of the Chodesh Chronicle Newsletter for children for $100, or sponsoring a full year of a class for $1,800. If you are interested in experiencing traditional Jewish learning, contact Rabbi Gross or Rabbi Mizrahi for more information about participating in the Kollel.
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119th and Pacific | 778-9296 51st and Underwood | 934-1289 To submit obituaries: E-mail to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. The Press does not “pick up” obituaries from other publications. For more information, call 402.334.6448.
February 12, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Book offers teens guidance on building better relationships
by SUZANNE KURTZ WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Carl Levy remembers the day he met Randy, his wife of 39 years. It was Oct. 15, 1965, and they were teenagers attending a United Synagogue Youth convention in New Jersey. “I remember sitting at the table for dinner. Randy was a little late that night,� Levy says, adding, “I remember her sitting down at the table. I remember being interested.� Says his wife: “I remember what I wore.� Five years later they married, and Levy says with a chuckle, “It’s all because of USY.� The Levys and 50 other couples lovingly shared their romantic journey on a recent video for USY titled “Summer Lovin’.� The couples had one thing in common: Each relationship blossomed due to some involvement with the Conservative youth movement. As the video concludes, a smiling newlywed and expectant father advises, “So look to your left, look to your right; that might be your future wife or husband.� While the Jewish community places an emphasis on the importance of Jews meeting and marrying other Jews, it rarely looks at the nature of these relationships, said Deborah Rosenbloom, director of programs at Jewish Women International. “We talk about the end goal of marrying a Jew, but we don’t talk about what [makes] a good relationship,� Rosenbloom said. Recognizing the need to have this discussion, JWI teamed with USY nearly two years ago to develop a comprehensive guide to help educate Jewish teenagers on the importance of developing healthy relationships. The result of the collaboration is a nearly 200-page source book titled Love Your Neighbor, Love Yourself, which debuted with the “Summer Lovin’� video before 1,000 teens last December at USY’s annual convention in Chicago. “This was my fourth [USY] convention,� said Josh Block, 17, of Massachusetts, “and I was most impressed with the topics in this book.� Divided into four major sections in 13 chapters, the book addresses some weighty issues affecting healthy intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships, and provides useful tactics for good relational decision making. Problems such as abuse and aggression in relationships are discussed at length, and modern dilemmas of self-image, sexuality and the power of language also are explored. Woven throughout the book are quotations, parables and insights from contemporary Jewish writings such as Rabbi Elliot Dorff’s “This Is My Beloved, This Is My Friend: A Rabbinic Letter on Intimate Relations,� and ancient sources like the Talmud and Torah with real-time scenarios, pop-culture references and thought-provoking exercises. One exercise, on the meaning and responsibilities of a good friend, resonated strongly with 17-year-old Charlene Thorpe. Thorpe said that at the convention, she found herself reflecting on a quotation in the source book from Pirke Avot that spoke of the importance of friends keeping each others’ secrets. The insight, she said, helped her confront a friend who
told other friends about Thorpe’s crush on a particular boy. “It made me look at how I define my friendships,� the Massachusetts high school senior explained. “I talked to [the girl] and said, ‘We can’t have this. Friends are trustworthy. How can you tell my secrets?’� The book also delves into some timely issues such as appropriate language and behavior when communicating via the Internet and social networking sites. “We’ve had kids exchange e-mails and Facebook [postings] before they’ve even gone on a summer trip together,� noted Karen Stein, USY assistant director and the book’s editor. “They might have had an entire relationship with someone before they’ve ever met in person.� It becomes a problem of “cyber-bullying,� said Stein, when teens post inappropriate, sometimes hurtful statements, comments and photographs of themselves and others online. She said the book was designed with the hope of teaching teens “how to behave online [and] how to portray themselves [appropriately].� The pervasiveness of teens and technology abuse in relationships was highlighted by a 2007 survey conducted by Liz Claiborne Inc., which showed that 71 percent of teens said boyfriends or girlfriends spreading rumors about them on cell phones and social networking sites was a serious problem. Sixty-eight percent of the teen respondents said a boyfriend or girlfriend sharing private or embarrassing pictures or videos on cell phones and computers is another serious problem. Making matters worse, Rosenbloom said, is that “parents are clueless.� The Claiborne survey also found that 82 percent of parents whose teens were emailed or texted 30 times per hour were unaware this was even happening. With their source book, JWI and USY are hoping to not only educate teens but their parents, too. Louis Sacks, 17, a high school junior from Pennsylvania, said he hopes his friends who could not attend the USY convention will be able to use material from the source book. “My dad is borrowing it!� he added. “Our goal is for Jewish teens to have opportunities to talk about relationships in a guided, facilitated conversation with adults,� Rosenbloom said. “If we can help instill core values, it will impact their relationships.� Among those core values is respect, she said, “whether that relationship is with parents, friends, partners, the community or yourself.� As for the book, Rosenbloom said she welcomes the opportunity to develop similar material for teens from other denominations. “We see this as prevention work,� she said. “The material takes time to sink in, but it will come back to [the teens]. They get it.� For Melissa Sperber, 18, it is already sinking in. “I hadn’t put much thought into [relationships] before convention,� the New Jersey high school senior said. “I guess I subconsciously knew in order to have a healthy relationship you need to be your own best friend. But I walked away from convention thinking about it more: Don’t give your heart away until you really love yourself.�
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Grant applications available for Israel summer travel
Mercedes-Benz of Omaha Under New Management Please contact Ryan Knott, your Mercedes Sales Consultant 402.891.2612
Mercedes-Benz of Omaha 14335 Hillsdale Ave. (Just South of 144th & “L”)
by SHERRIE SAAG Center for Jewish Education The Israel Experience Grant, a one-time gift from the Omaha Jewish Federation for travel to Israel, is now available; applications are due by Feb. 15. This grant is offered to students in grades 9-12, or young adults ages 18 to 25, for an approved Israel experience. It is available to everyone in the Omaha Jewish community. Eligibility requirements for the grant follow: the applicant must reside in the Omaha metropolitan area; the applicant, or his/her family, must be a donor in good standing to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha; the applicant will provide an arti-
cle and pictures of the experience within one month of return to Omaha, for publication in the Jewish Press; the applicant will participate in any required preparatory program. To apply for a grant, visit www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Center for Jewish Education”; then select “Scholarships and Grants.” Applications may also be requested via email at scholarship@jewishomaha.org. Return completed applications to the Center for Jewish Education, 333 South 132nd St., Omaha NE 68154. For additional information on all grant and scholarship programs, call 334.6445 or email mgrossman@jewishomaha.org.
IN THE NEWS Aaron Placzek, a senior at Westside High School, was one of 12 Omaha area students awarded the Fall 2009 Top Scholar Athlete Award by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. This award honors participants for both their academic and athletic accomplishments. Placzek was recognized for his four years on Westside’s varsity tennis team. He was honored last month during a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel. Placzek, son of Kimberly and Matthew Placzek, also received the Best Male Sportsmanship Award by the Omaha Tennis Association at its annual banquet last October.
Scholarship recipients will also be provided the opportunity to have a paid intership at the firm. The deadline to apply is March 12. Applications are available in the counselors’ offices at all metro high schools, and on the firm’s web site, www.fraserstryker. com. Each scholarship is worth $2,500 per academic year, and can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment to further their education. Formed in 1898, Fraser Stryker is a nationally recognized law firm of 50 lawyers who represent local, national and multinational clients in complex business transactions and litigations matters.
Bob Batt, executive vice president of the Nebraska Furniture Mart, was recently honored by the Omaha Press Club as its 124th “Face on the Barroom Floor.” Batt serves on the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission; he is also a former chairman of the Omaha Personnel Board and the Nebraska Building Commission, and has served on the boards of the Nebraska Hospital Utilization Review Committee, and the Salvation Army.
Partnership with Israel has organized a special Birthright Israel trip for 22-26 year olds from our consortium cities. If you live in one of the 16 Central Consortium cities and meet the regular Birthright criteria (see www.birthrightisrael.com), you are guaranteed a space on the bus (up to 40 participants). This exciting trip is planned for this summer -- the exact dates will be announced in March. If you sign up but have to cancel, your down payment will be fully refunded. The official Birthright sign-up deadline is Feb. 17, but we need to know your name as soon as possible! Birthright is popular and spaces are limited; share this with the 22-26 year olds in your community, or with their parents. In order to reserve a spot for this trip, contact Regan Wagh, rwagh@jfgd.org or 214.615.5259 before Feb. 17. You may also contact Bob Goldberg at 334.6431 or bgoldberg@jewishomaha.org.
Fraser Stryker is pleased to announce that it will once again award two college-level scholarships in 2010 through the Fraser Stryker Diversity Scholarship Program. The program provides college tuition assistance for local students of African-American, Asian, Latino and Native-American origins who come from low-income families and are interested in a career in law.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT From Feb. 19 to March 18, Film Streams will present “The Great Directors: Orson Welles Series,” featuring the following films: “Citizen Kane,” “The Magnificent Ambersons,” “The Stranger,” “The Lady from Shanghai,” “Touch of Evil,” “The Trial,” and “F for Fake.” All films will screen for one week at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, 14th and Mike Fahey (formerly Webster) St. This series is being generously sponsored by Omaha Steaks. Tickets are $9; $7 for seniors, students and teachers; $4.50 for Film Streams members. For more information, visit www.FilmStreams.org.
include bluegrass, Cajun, Irish, Klezmer, and newly-composed tunes by the campers. Camp for Intermediate/Advanced Fiddlers is Monday, July 12 - Friday, July 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Among the activities, campers will participate in selecting tunes for contests, performing in public, practice techniques, reading music and playing by ear. A variety of fiddling styles will be represented, including original compositions by the campers. Registration is available online at www.greenblattandseay.com. For more information, contact Greenblatt at debby@ greenblattandseay.com.
Registration is now open for the 2010 Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps, in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, in Avoca, NE. Deborah Greenblatt, championship fiddler, author of many fiddle collections, will help campers get in touch with their inner fiddler. The course of study during camp will be designed specifically for individual campers. Fiddle Camp for Beginners runs from Monday, June 14 - Friday, June 18, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., and will include the basics of fiddling, such as performing in public, practice techniques, and reading music. Fiddling styles
On Feb. 17 and 21, The Rose Theater’s “Teens ‘n’ Theater Young, Gifted & Black” performing troupe will present “The Colored Museum,” 11 vignettes which, through satire, look at what it means to be black in America. The play will be performed in The Rose’s Hitchcock Theater. Tickets are $6, and may be purchased by calling 345.4849. Tickets are also available in advance or the day of the show, at The Rose box office, 2001 Farnam St.
ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOUR EVENT Howard Drew Theatre | Owen Lobby | Drew Foundation Plaza Guiou Board Room | Hitchcock Rehearsal Hall | Dance Studio Scott Lobby | Howard and Rhonda Hawks Mainstage Theatre
To determine space availability and pricing info Please call the Director of Sales at 402-553-4890 x147 or Email knewman@omahaplayhouse.com
YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday for a musical program with Joyce Torchia. Lunch cost is $7 per person. Lunch will be served at noon; the program begins at 12:30 p.m. Come play bingo at 10 a.m. For transportation, call Theresa, 330.4272. For more information, call Maggie Conti, 334.6521. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Tom Goutierre, Dean of Afghan studies at UNO, will discuss the new surge strategy and more on Wednesday,
Feb. 17, noon, in the JCC social hall. The entire community is invited. Program is free; optional lunch is $13; beverage service, $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list, contact Jenny, 334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.
LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Join us every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. in the JCC social hall. For information, call Anne Skolkin, 343.1638.
February 12, 2010
OTYG’s spaghetti dinner to feature auction and plenty of pasta
ing the dinner with help from her parents by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Director Mendy and Mike Halsted, Helen and When you think of Italy, images of John Burns, Jennifer and Paul Miller, Jeff ancient Roman ruins, Venice’s canals and Slutzky, and Dick Katz. Steve Danon will Michelangelo come to mind. When you again be the auctioneer. Junior Youth Group members will be think of Italian food, pasta is the basic responsible for the coat room. All tips fare, as well as the specialty. Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG) throughout the evening will be donated won’t have any ruins, gondolas or price- to the fund-raising effort. less works of art to show off, but the teens will have plenty of pasta at their annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 21 at Temple Israel. “A Night in Italy,” open to the entire community, will be the theme of the evening, which also features an auction. Items up for auction include electronics; a coffeethemed basket; a night at the movies; a spa package; a night Jordan Jensen, left, Haley Halsted, Haley Burns, and Morissa in Dundee; a challah a month; Miller are getting ready for the Feb. 21 OTYG Spaghetti Dinner. Proceeds from the spaghetti dinner are tickets for Husker, Creighton, Lancers, and Omaha Royals games; knitting lessons; donated to camps for children with life challah baking lessons, bedtime stories with threatening illnesses such as cancer. Camp Rabbi Aryeh Azriel; and a personal five- CoHoLo is located in Gretna and was started in 1985 with the help of Temple course meal, to mention a few. A silent auction will begin at 10 a.m.; member Robin Freeman when she was dinner and the live auction begin at 5 p.m. the director of the Campfire USA Salad will be served followed by the auc- Midlands Council. Near St. Louis, MO, tion and then dinner which also includes Camp Rainbow will be represented at the spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and dinner by Pam Bierne, special projects Italian ice cream. Dinner cost is $10 for coordinator for the North American adults; $4 for children three to 12 years Federation of Temple Youth-Missouri old; free for children two and younger. Valley region. The Missouri Valley Region Babysitting service will be provided free of of NFTY is one of the sponsors of Camp charge. To make reservations, email OTYG Rainbow, which, since 1988, has been advisor Amy Katz at akatz@templeis- providing a week of camp for children previously unable to attend. The dinner raelomaha.com. OTYG member Haley Halsted is chair- also supports OTYG programming.
Passover GREETINGS ADS This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Passover issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren. Just fill out the form below and send or bring it to the Jewish Press office. But hurry these ads will only be accepted through March 5, 2010.
Passover Greetings Form Name ___________________________________________________________
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Cook “like a Jewish grandmother” READ IT AND E AT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Jewish Cooking Boot Camp (Globe Pequot, $19.95), by Andrea Marks Carneiro and Roz Marks, says it is “the modern girl’s guide to cooking like a Jewish grandmother.” This mother/ daughter duo has followed this idea and compiled recipes gathered from the top of mom’s fridge, aunts, grandmas, greatgrandmas and friends. The recipes range from appetizers to desserts and are “good old traditional holiday favorites,” tho’ not necessarily calorically responsible or kosher (there is an essay on kosher). In addition to holiday foods, chapters focus on “The Basics,” “TakeAlong Foods,” and “Comfort Foods.” In addition, guidelines, suggestions and sidebars are listed, as well “Andrea’s Tips,” which are helpful if you are a total klutz in the kitchen. Essays for leftovers or making every day sacred and other mini-essays were contributed by rabbis, caterers, doctors and other food friends. “Burning Questions” addresses everything you ever wanted to know about ... brisket, matzo, latke toppings and more. “The Facts, Did You Know?” and “Real World Traditions” (people’s comments) are part of the various chapters. For
A $52
Shabbat, many of the recipes can be made ahead during the week, the 39 categories of forbidden acts (melachot) are listed, wines and blessings are suggested. For Yom Kippur there’s a guide to “The Fast and the Famished”; the many spellings of Hanukkah and how to create your own Haggadah are other holiday sidebars. All the recipes include preparation and cooking times and brief numerical instructions. From Aunt Judy’s Sweet Noodle Pudding to three brisket recipes to Yom Kippur Jello mold, “Jewish food is an expression of love, comfort and tradition.” Try this recipe from the Passover section. BROCCOLI SOUFFLÉ 2 10-ounce packages frozen broccoli 1 cup mayonnaise (author prefers Hellmann’s) 1 10 3/4 –ounce can cream of mushroom soup 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 eggs, well beaten 1 8-ounce package shredded cheddar cheese Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes, Cooking Time: 35 minutes Preheat the oven to 3500F. Cook the broccoli per instructions on the box and drain well. Grease a l 1/2-to 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Mix all of the ingredients together and pour into the casserole dish. Bake for 35 minutes. Casserole will be lightly browned and firm to the touch. Serves 6-8 Lois Friedman can be reached at ReadItAndEat@yahoo.com.
Passover Greetings from Your names go here
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City ________________________________ State _________ Zip _____________ Check the size of ad you would like: O A O B O C Use the lines below to list your family members names you would like on your Passover ad. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Please send a check for the amount listed along side the different sized ads or you can drop the form and payment off at the Jewish Press office in the JCC. Jewish Press, 333 South 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Beautiful atmosphere, deep-seated traditions set the tone for joyous simchas at Beth El
by JILL BELMONT “I wanted to get married at Beth El because it’s the sing is mesmerizing and it was just one more thing that Beth El Publicity Coordinator synagogue I grew up in, it is where I had my Bat Mitzvah, made the ceremony so beautiful and special.” When the current Beth El Synagogue was built 20 and I knew it would feel really special to be married in a Julie Potash’s family has belonged to Beth El for genyears ago, careful attention was paid to providing ideal place where I hold so many wonderful memories.” erations – the synagogue “just feels like home,” she said spaces to gather, to worship and to celebrate. The social Even the hours prior to the ceremony went without a -- so having family members gather with her son, Ethan, hall was designed for multiple purposes, lending itself to hitch, and the newlyweds praised the synagogue for for Thursday morning minyan before his Bar Mitzvah a myriad of decorative themes: Want to host an elegant making the “getting ready” phase go so smoothly. With weekend set the tone for the teen’s milestone event. sit-down wedding dinner for up to 450? Going to the 7 a.m. service “started the Done. Need a large, informal space to set simcha weekend right,” Julie said. up inflatable climbing equipment and “Having Ethan putting tefillin on with his games for Bar/Bat Mitzvah fun? No zayde, cousins, uncles and the rest of the problem. Looking for a place to hold a minyannaires really gave it the true feelsmall meeting? Fine -- the room can be ing of tradition.” partitioned off. The next night found the family at The synagogue’s community court Kabbalat Shabbat services; then the festivoffers a large, airy greeting area used for ities continued during a Shabbat dinner receptions; there’s also a kosher kitchen for 100 guests in the synagogue’s West which allows every Jew the comfort of Court. “We have had many dinners in the eating all food items. West Court,” she said, “and we wouldn’t Last but certainly not least, there’s the have had it anywhere else.” sanctuary, a lovely, holy space. The archiAnother congregant singing the praises tecture of the room emphasizes the draof Beth El, its clergy and staff, was Karla matic atmosphere: the high, wood ceilCohen, whose daughter, Alyssa, celebrating; warm, golden overhead lighting; the ed her Bat Mitzvah last fall. Citing Cantor colorful curtains depicting Creation that Schlossberg’s work preparing the eighth surround the room; the arches surroundgrader, Cohen said she appreciated the ing the curved walls of the room and the cantor’s tenaciousness in imparting her warmth of the wood-paneled ark, all help expectations of her students. “She’s very to create an impressive and yet intimate thorough, she takes it very seriously and setting for celebrants. the kids get a sense of that. It’s something All in all, Beth El is ideal for all types of they know they have to do, and they Clockwise from top left: Lisa and Chuck Lucoff celebrate daughter Makayla’s baby naming; with study with a sense of purpose, knowing simchas. During recent months, the synagogue his grandparents Ruth and Merle Potash on one side and Cantor Beth Schlossberg on the other, why it’s important.” has hosted a variety of joyful events, as Ethan Potash reads Torah in the chapel during Thursday morning minyan before his Bar Mitzvah; Unfortunately, Cohen noted, due to a evidenced by a trail of happy congregants. Jessica Belmont and Cliff Smolinsky, following their nuptials in the sanctuary; Alyssa Cohen, sec- nasty case of the swine flu, Cantor Lisa Lucoff and her husband, Chuck, ond from right, joins friends in a candle-lighting ceremony during her Saturday night Bat Mitzvah Schlossberg was unable to attend services celebrated the baby naming of their party last fall. that October morning; however, the daughter, Makayla, during Thanksgiving weekend last a wedding party of six bridesmaids, the girls needed week of the Bat Mitzvah, “she dragged herself to the year. Around 75 family members and friends joined the ample space to coif and dress. synagogue every day – wearing a protective mask – to family in the social hall for the naming ceremony, and “I loved being able to use the West Court and the practice with Alyssa. She was terribly sick but she took then enjoyed a brunch afterward. Having the ceremony social hall before the ceremony,” she said. “My atten- the time to prepare her. She was unbelievable.” and the meal in the same place proved to be convenient, dants and I had so much room to get ready and relax, Cohen also had kind words for Rabbi Levin, expressLisa said. and the social hall was great before/during/after photos ing gratitude for his “warm, approachable, supportive The couple chose Beth El for their simcha because it were taken because it provided an area for snacks and an personality. holds a special place for both: Rabbi Mordechai Levin area where the whole wedding party could socialize and “He is a very stabilizing presence,” she explained. “He officiated at their wedding in 2008, and since moving hang out – having that space definitely helped calm any made Alyssa feel very comfortable. During the service, back to Omaha from Scottsdale, Ariz., last October, nerves that started to act up before the ceremony!” he came down from the bimah and whispered to her, they’ve become part of the congregation. She also praised Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor ‘This Torah is very heavy; if you can’t carry it, just give In fact, Lisa said, “We booked the naming before we Beth Schlossberg for making the early evening ceremo- it to your dad.’” made the decision to move back to Omaha.” ny so special and memorable: the rabbi for making the Kudos also went to all of the supportive congregants For Jessica Belmont Smolinsky, getting married at service personal and unique for her and her bridegroom; who offered to bake for the Kiddush, helped Alyssa with Beth El last September 6 was a given. and the cantor for “her beautiful voice. Listening to her Continued on page 9
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February 12, 2010
Bar mitzvah celebrations trim down amid recession
by ADAM SOSNIK NEW YORK (JTA) -- With the weak economy forcing lifestyle changes large and small, one of the mainstays of American Jewish life -- the bar mitzvah party -- is undergoing some recession-era adaptation. While few seem to be doing away with the traditional celebration, many families are scrapping themed parties, trimming guest lists and in some cases holding joint or group bar mitzvah parties. “The creative aspect of bar mitzvahs has been decreased,” said Jeffrey Stansfield,
are looking for simplicity.” In Dallas, Lowell Michelson of Simcha Kosher Catering said that while he has slashed prices to satisfy clients who want to produce a bar mitzvah at half the usual price, the fixed costs of his own expenses -- gas, labor, food, shipping -- have made his business all but unsustainable. “We’re not able to produce profit,” Michelson said. “Business has been hurting.” Among the extras clients are eliminating are special decor, extravagant cocktail hours, food upgrades and size. They aren’t, however, doing away entirely with the party. “We’re doing as much work as ever here; people just spend less,” said Howard Heiberger, president of Exquisite Caterers in Marlboro, N.J. Heiberger said the Darwinistic nature of the catering business -- weaker companies are felled by the recession, and stronger ones pick up Beyond the Torah portion and synagogue service, shown here clients from their failed during a Bar Mitzvah in 2009, “the rest is just a child’s birthday counterparts -- means party,” a Long Island caterer says. that surviving companies Credit: Godutchbaby/Creative Commons are doing more business the chef of Advantage Jewish Catering than ever. He said the last two years have and Event Planning in Encino, CA. been two of his company’s best, despite The cost cutting at Jewish life-cycle cel- the recession. ebrations by no means is universal. Plenty “Caterers who went out of business of lavish bar mitzvah celebrations, not to were going out of business anyway,” he mention extravagant Jewish weddings, said. “The recession just pushed them are still being held. But the cutbacks in over the top. We’re not going anywhere.” bar mitzvah parties have been proStansfield concurred, saying that “Even nounced in some communities, according though business is off, the business that to caterers in the industry. has been there has been a lot of business.” Stansfield said he recently catered a Experts say the effects of the recession joint bar mitzvah for four friends whose are more apparent at bar mitzvahs than families decided to have a combined cele- weddings because the bar mitzvah is bration, saving on invitations, food, pho- more expendable, weddings often have tography and specials such as entertainers multiple funders -- the bride and groom’s and giveaways. Stansfield said spending families -- and weddings often represent on those kinds of specials has fallen about the last of the major expenses for a child. 40 percent. Bar mitzvahs, on the other hand, are One caterer in Cherry Hill, N.J., said usually followed after several years by colthe average spending on a bar mitzvah lege tuition bills, then perhaps a wedding. has dropped to $15,000 from $30,000 a “For a bar mitzvah, the Torah portion few months ago, as clients cut out bells and synagogue service is what counts. and whistles. The rest is just a child’s birthday party,” “The last time we did a full weekend one Long Island caterer said. “A wedding event with kiddush meals, breakfast, is not a birthday party. It’s a pinnacle lifeluncheons and dinner buffets was a year- cycle event for adults, and the continued and-a-half ago,” said the caterer, who resistance to downsizing in the face of asked not to be identified. “Most families economic hardship proves this.”
Joyous simchas at Beth El Continued from page 8 her speech, coordinated the service and helped out in a variety of other ways. Cohen also recognized the synagogue’s executive director, Larry DeBruin, who she described as “so key to the synagogue. Most of his work is behind the scenes, but he’s the reason everything
runs so smoothly at Beth El’s events.” All in all, she expressed her gratitude to everyone at Beth El, saying, “They do everything with care, with such grace, that it enhanced the entire weekend. We felt that they really care – and that feels like family.”
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN ty has meant we can have a level of participation in Temple Israel Communications Director Jewish life that would not have been possible had she not Martin and Bonni Leiserowitz, members of Temple chosen Judaism. It has been a great joy for me to go Israel since the mid-1980s, thought, “We should start through Amanda’s conversion process with her, to study thinking about ourselves as grandparents,” when they and learn along with her. Although I know that nonread that Temple would be offering the Grandparents Jewish spouses can and do successfully raise Jewish chilCircle last November. dren the way that my Mom Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, did, I feel fortunate that executive director of the Amanda and I can raise a Jewish Outreach Jewish family together as Institute, came to Omaha two Jewish parents.” to introduce this educaThey moved to Pocatello, tional and support opporIdaho, in August 2005, so tunity developed for Amanda could earn her Jewish grandparents Ph.D. in biology at Idaho whose adult children have State University. She has a intermarried and are fellowship teaching science unsure of how to cultivate at a junior high school. the Jewish identities of Naomi’s law practice is in grandchildren. immigration. They belong to “We both really enjoyed Temple Emanuel, one of Rabbi Olitzky the first three synagogues in Idaho. night of the sessions,” The 70-member congregaBonni noted. “It was tion is led by Dr. Carl especially touching for me Naomi Leiserowitz, left, and Amanda Fisher with their new Levenson, a philosophy prothat night. He seemed to daughter, Miriam, live in Idaho but cherish their ties to Temple fessor at Idaho State know all the details of Israel in Omaha. University. “We love the challenges of being a non-Jew raising a Jew.” She also diversity of beliefs at Temple Emanuel and the chance to mentioned the weekly sessions which offered tips and make a difference in such a small community,” Naomi suggestions that “we did pick up.” and Amanda agreed. At the time, the Leiserowitzes’ daughter, Naomi and However, “Temple Israel means a lot to both of us,” her partner Amanda, were expecting their first child. Naomi said. “It is the temple where I grew up. We love Although Bonni is not Jewish, she and Martin decided and admire Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet. It’s where that their family would be raised Jewish. Naomi “did not we participate when we travel back to Omaha, and where question us when she was small, but as she got older, she Amanda converted, and where we were married.” They had questions. I always felt like she liked being Jewish,” have maintained their membership at Temple, enjoy mentioned Bonni. “Naomi always knew that I was not staying connected to the Omaha Jewish community, and Jewish, but she was, and we had a Jewish household.” miss the “fantastic programs we can’t attend.” Naomi grew up in Council Bluffs. While in junior high From the beginning of their life together, Naomi and school, she met Amanda Fisher, and the girls became Amanda wanted to be mothers. “It was only a question friends as they progressed toward high school gradua- of timing,” Naomi stated. They decided to use an tion. Amanda went to the University of Iowa, majoring anonymous sperm donor to achieve the pregnancy. in English and environmental sciences. Naomi attended Amanda gave birth to Miriam Aviva Fisher Leiserowitz Creighton University, earning degrees in Spanish and on Dec. 10, 2009, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. At four anthropology. Then in 2002, while pursuing her law pounds, 11 oz., she was healthy at birth and is “doing degree at the University of Iowa, she met Amanda again. great,” according to Naomi, who stays home to care for “We found that we both had a commitment to social the baby and practices law part-time from home. and environmental justice. We discovered our mutual Bonni said the weekly Grandparents Circle sessions interests in someday growing our own garden and rais- offered “tips and suggestions to help us on our way to ing children and found that we both love cooking, hik- having a happy and meaningful relationship with the ing, and biking,” explained Naomi. new person in our lives, Miriam,” who was born about a Although Naomi knew of Amanda’s interest in week early while Martin and Bonni were still attending Judaism, she was “very happily surprised when Amanda the Grandparents Circle. They excitedly informed the said she wanted to become a Jew,” Naomi recalled. other participants of Miriam’s birth. “I was raised as an Episcopalian,” Amanda mentioned. “It feels right and good to be grandparents,” Bonni “I chose to convert for many personal reasons.” She added. “My biggest immediate hope for Miriam is to live studied for three years before converting on May 16, closer to us. Of course, many people have very happy 2008 at Temple. “I am very grateful for Rabbi Azriel’s long distance relationships, but there is not the close, help and direction during my conversion process,” she casual component we crave.” added. About 50 people attended “a beautiful ceremony” for Later that year in October, Naomi and Amanda were Miriam when she was named at Temple Emanuel in married at Temple by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. Cantor Pocatello. She wore a green leaf sweater, symbolizing her Wendy Shermet also officiated at the ceremony. “It was mothers’ enthusiasm for the outdoors, and hat that a traditional Jewish ceremony under the chuppah,” Amanda’s mother had knitted. explained Naomi. The women were also married at the Another baby naming is being planned for later this Council Bluffs Court House on May 21, 2009, after the year at Temple when Naomi, Amanda, and Miriam Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the Iowa Constitution return for a visit “so all of us can meet her and welcome requires the state to permit same-sex couples to marry. her into the Jewish community in Omaha,” Bonni “Only our parents attended that ceremony,” Naomi explained. pointed out. “It was simple but meaningful. Miriam’s family hopes and dreams that this is just the “I didn’t expect Amanda to convert,” she continued, beginning for her of a life of “Torah, chuppah, and “and would have never demanded it or even asked her to mitzvot!” convert.” On the other hand, “Amanda’s Jewish identi-
For Temple family, timing was everything Continued from page 1 Becca recalled how her grandmother, Frances Blumkin, “was very helpful. She would go to services with Rory.” So did Becca’s parents. Rory said his parents were supportive of his marriage to Becca and of his conversion. He took them to services. “I was really proud of Rory,” Becca emphasized. She recognized how much time and effort Rory put into his conversion journey. “And he was doing it for the right reasons,” she said. On Nov. 29 last year, five-pound, 15-oz. Brody was born -- a little ahead of schedule. Rory’s conversion ceremony was on Friday, and the bris was Dec. 8 -- just in time for several inches of snow that fell on the city. But
Rabbi Linder made it to the bris at Methodist Hospital, and Brody entered the covenant of Abraham four days after his father. For the new parents, the best part of parenting is “knowing that you can provide for him, nurture him, and help him make the world a better place by teaching him values and guiding him,” Becca explained. She added that she hopes Brody will grow to be “a compassionate and loving person, and we can help him achieve his goals.” Rory hopes that Brody “gets to be whatever he wants to be.” Well-put by a young father who chose what he wanted to be.
February 12, 2010
New business offers elegant, unique paper goods by PJ FEINSTEIN Owner of The Social Life of Paper In the age of digital communication, it may seem old-fashioned to send invitations and letters through the mail. However, many life-cycle events still call for the traditional use of paper, from wedding invitations and birth announcements to B'nai Mitzvah invitations and thank you notes. But traditional doesn’t have to mean boring! The Social Life of Paper, Omaha's new destination for distinctive paper goods, makes the tradition of sending mail relevant and modern. The Social Life of Paper was born out of my belief that an invitation, announcement or piece of social stationery should reflect the personality and style of the sender. Working exclusively with boutique designers from across the country, The Social Life of Paper offers a mix of modern, classic and elegant designs that can't
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Largest fruit salad feeds the needy
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Page 12
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Respect, cherish the wisdom of role models GUEST EDITORIAL by RABBI JONATHAN GROSS The day that my family met Henry Frankel made a great “impression” on me –it was the day of my bris. New Jersey will always remember that day as the time that the Turnpike had to close due to one of the most severe snowstorms in recorded history. My parents will remember the day as the worst possible day for their heater to break down. With a newborn baby in the house and fearing that the snow would prohibit any repairman from making a house call, my parents began to panic. A neighbor told them about a local handyman named Henry Frankel who might be willing to help. My parents called Henry, and sure enough, he braved the snow, fixed the heat and celebrated my bris together with the family. I was privileged to know Henry my entire life. Henry had no family of his own, but he treated all of his many friends as though they were his family. Henry visited us regularly, joined us for Shabbat and holidays, and I never remember a birthday without a card, a gift or a phone call from Henry. Any regular day that Henry came to visit was instantly transformed into a holiday for my sisters and me. His warmth and positive energy always filled our homes and hearts with light and joy. When I got older, I learned about Henry’s past. He was one of the last survivors who had fought in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. He fought side by side with Mordechai
Anielewicz, the leader of the resistance. Henry fought until the bitter end. Unable to escape, he and the last fighters huddled into a bunker until they were smoked out by the Nazis. He was captured and sent off to the death camps where he suffered until he was liberated at the end of the war. On Dec. 28, 2009, Henry was brought to his final resting place. Henry was my connection to the Holocaust -- my link to that horrific epoch in Jewish history. His was the first arm I ever saw with a number. Most of all I will never forget his stories. There were stories of fear like being handed his cyanide pellet to ingest in case of capture or waiting on the barricades for the Germans to make their final advance. He also told stories of courage like the 12-year-old boy who sacrificed himself to destroy an oncoming German tank. And he told stories of hope like when the U.S. soldiers came to liberate the death camp. Henry was not a teacher, but I consider my relationship with him an integral part of my Jewish education. He taught me to be a proud Jew, to always trust in Hashem, and that no matter the circumstances, always search for ways to help others. Henry and many of his generation are gone but, thank God, there is yet another generation of young children before us, and please God, another generation will follow them.
As much as I wish that my own children could be privileged to have a relationship with Henry Frankel, unfortunately that is not meant to be. The next generation of kids will only have the next generation of role models to look up to. The future role models will have their own stories to tell and different lessons to teach, but hopefully they will also pass on the stories and lessons of those who came before them. I hope that my generation will be the kind of role models that Henry Frankel and his generation were for us.
FOCUS ON ISSUES by KENNETH BANDLER
NEW YORK (JTA) -- Sheik Hassan Nasrallah is not likely to take a seat at the U.N. Security Council’s horseshoe table, but the Hezbollah terrorist organization he has led since 1992 now has a toehold inside the world body’s most prestigious room. On New Year’s Day, Lebanon began a twoyear term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. When Lebanon’s ambassador speaks, he represents his nation’s coalition government, which includes Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy. Founded in 1982 with the direct help of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah first entered the Lebanese Parliament in 2005 after winning 14 seats. In elections last June, Hezbollah won 13 of the legislature’s 128 seats. Hezbollah holds two Cabinet seats, and its Shia ally, Amal, controls the Foreign Ministry. Hezbollah continues to rely heavily on financial and military support from the Islamist regime in Tehran. They share a dangerous worldview that seeks Israel’s elimination, an innate hatred of the United States, and a desire to use terror and violence to realize their goals. Entering democratic politics, competing in elections and serving in the government has not transformed Hezbollah at all. It is exactly the same Hezbollah that has been responsible for some of the deadliest terrorist attacks, including the 1982 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1994 destruction of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. Hezbollah remains the only group in Lebanon still refusing to disarm, making it impossible for the Lebanese army to take full
Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Michael Sigmond, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Eric Dunning; Jason Epstein; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Jim Simon; 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: editor@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org.
Hezbollah gains a toehold inside U.N. Security Council control of southern Lebanon, the stronghold of Hezbollah, as well as West Beirut, home to the group’s leadership and its powerful satellite television station, Al Manar. Its incendiary programming led the United States, France, Germany and other countries to ban satellite operators from broadcasting the station. Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in the wake of the 2006 Hezbollah war with Israel, called on the group to turn in its weapons. Hezbollah, of course, did not voluntarily disarm. Moreover, U.N. peacekeeping forces dispatched to Lebanon have failed to prevent arms going to Hezbollah from Iran and Syria. It has much more in quantity and sophistication than in 2006, when it fired some 4,000 rockets into Israel, hitting Haifa and other northern communities. Hezbollah now boasts that it can hit Tel Aviv. In further contravention of Lebanon’s interests and the U.N. Security Council, Hezbollah continues to seek more arms. Just two months ago the Israeli navy captured a ship carrying some 300 tons of Iranian weaponry for delivery to Hezbollah. The cargo was significantly larger than the weaponry aboard the Karine-A, another Iranian-stocked vessel seized by Israel in 2002 before it could reach Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority in Gaza. Apropos, the export of Iranian weapons is another violation of U.N. resolutions. So the reward to a recalcitrant nation, Lebanon, which counts as a member of its government a major international terror organization that ignores the U.N. Security Council, is to place it on the premier body charged with assuring peace and security worldwide Of course, one will point out that the United Nations is not at fault but is a victim of its own rules. Non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by the regional groups of which they are members. Lebanon,
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and Hezbollah, can thank member states in the Asia group, which includes the Arab world. Lebanon served on the U.N. Security Council once before, in 1953-54. But that was a different time, when Lebanon was widely considered the Switzerland of the Middle East, long before a fractious civil war further weakened it, allowing Yasser Arafat’s Fatah to control southern Lebanon until 1982, when the PLO leadership was expelled to Tunis. The vacuum then was filled by Hezbollah. Iran’s strategic investment in Hezbollah now guarantees that Lebanon will not support any Security Council measure calling for further sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program. Ironically, Israel, threatened by Hezbollah and its patron Iran, has never occupied a nonpermanent Security Council seat. Long excluded from its natural regional bloc, Israel finally was accepted several years ago into the Western European and Others Group, making it at long last theoretically eligible to run for a seat. But given U.N. realities, Israel won’t sit on the key body anytime soon. Hezbollah has set itself up as a model for others -- think Hamas in the Palestinian Parliament -- that no transformation from terror organization to a legitimate unarmed political organization is necessary. That does not bode well for those Lebanese people, or even the Palestinians, who truly aspire to live in peace. In sum, it is dispiriting to watch the political ascendancy of bona fide terrorist organizations in their respective countries. Even more so in the United Nations, which probably has not seen such a display since Arafat, holster on his hip, addressed the General Assembly 36 years ago. Kenneth Bandler is the director of communications for the American Jewish Committee.
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February 12, 2010
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 13
Amid heated rhetoric, Israel’s reply to Goldstone suggests more civil approach by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Goldstone wars continue, but beneath the shouting a diplomatic track has emerged. The Israeli government has published a reply to the U.N. Human Rights Council’s report on the conduct of last winter’s Gaza war with Hamas, insisting that Israel Defense Forces investigations into possible Israeli wrongdoing in Gaza were not principally motivated by last autumn’s U.N. report. Nonetheless, the reply repeatedly refers to the U.N. report -- known as the Goldstone report for its principal author, retired South African judge Richard Goldstone - and was delivered within the six-month deadline that Goldstone recommended to avoid international prosecution. Moreover, the bulk of Israel’s reply is dedicated to establishing the independence of military investigators and prosecutors, which would satisfy Goldstone’s requirement that any investigation should not be a matter of the alleged perpetrators investigating themselves. The Israeli document notes Israel took a conciliatory that two senior IDF officers tone in its reply to a report were disciplined for firing on the Gaza War by Richard rocket shells into a populated Goldstone, shown here area of Gaza where the field addressing the media after office of the U.N. Relief and presenting the report to the Works Agency, the principal United Nations Human group administering relief to Rights Council in Geneva last Credit: UN Palestinian refugees, was sit- September. Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre uated. More striking is the conciliatory tone taken by the Israeli government toward Goldstone and the human rights groups from which he drew in writing his report - acknowledging that Goldstone and the groups played a critical role in helping the IDF examine its actions. An Israeli army spokesman said that while the army relied primarily on its own resources to identify deviations from policy, the human rights groups helped spur along the process. “We took a look at ourselves and where we were right and where mistakes were made,” Capt. Barak Raz said. “It’s important that a commander can go home at the end of the operation and look his family in the eye, and that the soldiers 20 years from now can look in their children’s eyes.” Nonetheless, he added, “I can’t deny that these reports also contributed to our ability to be made aware.” The civil tone does not mean the rhetorical wars engendered by Goldstone, a human rights icon with a pro-Israel history, are over. Top Israeli officials, up to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continue to cast
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might have been illegal. “We’re concerned that low-level grunts are being investigated for violating orders when in fact the orders themselves may have been illegal,” researcher Fred Abrahams said. “We don’t have faith in the military’s willingness to investigate itself.” Sfard agreed, saying he trusted the integrity of the military prosecutors in dealing with the military establishment, but wondered whether the prosecutors were willing to indict their own commanders. He noted, for instance, that the report said prosecutors cleared Israel of wrongdoing in the use of white phosphorous, while acknowledging the use of the chemical during the war. Army commanders likely would have sought the military advocate general’s opinion before using the phosphorous, which burns skin on contact but may also be used to identify targets in areas where there are no civilians. That puts prosecutors in the unenviable position of saying their commander sanctioned an illegal order. Moreover, Sfard said, as independent as he believes the military prosecutors are, he doubts that they would take on the military chief of staff himself, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who formulated much of the policy. “If the chief of staff has approved an attack, it is very difficult to expect that the military police and prosecution would deal with that,” he said. Sfard said there was still a need for an independent Israeli commission to investigate the conduct of the war. Anne Herzberg, the legal adviser for NGO Monitor, a group that tracks the funding and alleged biases of human rights groups, said she believed Israel may yet set up such a commission -- but not because of pressures from human rights groups such as the ones Sfard represents. “If they feel there’s room for that and there’s enough support, they should do it for internal purposes and because the Israeli public demands it,” she said, “not for a certain fringe sector of Israeli society making a lot of noise.”
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
In the spirit of “better late than never,” I want to salute the cast of “Children of Eden,” the musical presented at Beth El Synagogue last December. Every man, woman and child actually mastered 37 songs (that were far from easy to learn), and they did it with gusto. It was one of the finest efforts I’ve ever seen from a volunteer cast and one that deserves to be praised -- many good voices, creative scenery, touching moments, a group of wonderful soloists, and a commitment to the work that was evident from beginning to end. I won’t mention specific names for fear of leaving someone out, but the entire cast and crew should be very, very proud of themselves. The script was challenging, but the performance is to be admired. Good job, everyone! Joanie Jacobson
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FOCUS ON ISSUES
the report as inimical to Israel’s interests as Iran and its putative nuclear weapons program. Non-governmental defenders of Israel continue to demonize Goldstone. Most recently, Alan Dershowitz likened him to a “moser,” a Jewish traitor deemed in some interpretations as worthy of a death sentence. In the meantime, left-wing and pro-Palestinian groups continue to call for war crimes investigations of Israel, and have inhibited travel by Israeli officials to Europe lest they face arrest warrants. Against the noise, the government’s description of the Israeli army’s cooperation with the same groups was telling. Noting that 150 separate investigations arose from Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s name for the Gaza War, the government reply says that a portion were initiated by the army and “others were opened in response to complaints and reports from Palestinian civilians, local and international non-governmental organizations, and U.N. and media reports.” Of the 150 probes, 36 have resulted in criminal prosecutions -- 19 of these involved shooting toward civilians, and 17 involved using civilians as human shields, mistreating detainees and theft. Between 1,000 and 1,500 Palestinians died in the war. Human rights groups say the majority were civilians, while Israel says the majority were fighters. Israel launched the operation after Hamas stepped up its rocket attacks on southern Israel. Such attacks had been an almost daily occurrence since the terrorist group took over the strip in 2006, and dated back more than eight years. Of the 34 incidents outlined in the Goldstone report, the Israeli government says the army was investigating 22 before the report was published -- it admits that Goldstone’s research led to the other 12 inquiries. (The two officers reprimanded for shelling the UNRWA compound are not among them.) Additionally, the government reply says, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division “has sought assistance from non-governmental organizations (such as B’Tselem) to help locate Palestinian complainants and witnesses, and to coordinate their arrival at the Erez crossing point to Gaza, to allow interviews and questioning.” B’Tselem is an Israeli human rights group concerned with the mistreatment of Palestinians. The approach is welcome, said Michael Sfard, the legal counsel for three groups -- Yesh Din, Peace Now and Breaking the Silence -- that have been targeted by rightwingers and some Israel defenders as antagonistic toward Israel’s interests. “It’s the first time since Cast Lead that a government body has done something that is purely professional, and this is how it should have been handled,” Sfard said. Goldstone declined a request from JTA for an interview. Despite its conciliatory tone, the government’s reply said the report reflects “many misunderstandings and fundamental mistakes with regard to the Gaza Operation, its purposes, and Israel’s legal system.” A researcher for Human Rights Watch, one of the groups that Goldstone drew upon in compiling his report, said the army investigations, while welcome, focused more on the foot soldiers than on orders that
Page 14
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Candlelighting Friday, February 12, 5:37 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 Prayer Group 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. with guest speaker, Karen Gustafson, M.S.N.C.C. L.M.H.P., on Does It Happen to Us, Too? The community is invited.
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.; Junior Congregation (grades 3-7), 10 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Live, 10:30 a.m.–noon, for four- to eight-year-olds and their parents, led by Holly Weill. No charge. RSVP to synagogue office; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:35 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: 10 a.m., Beginning Hebrew, with Eadie Tsabari, and Bible Study Discussion Group; Jewish Images on the Big Screen, 11 a.m. with Susi Frydman-Levin. Classes open to all adults in the Jewish community. To register, call the office. WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Monday, 7 p.m., at the synagogue. Participants will help package hamantaschen orders. RSVP to hosts Caryn Rifkin, crgr6175@aol.com or 334.7216, or Dottie Rosenblum, 397.4805. THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Understanding and Living Jewish Values, noon. USY SHABBAT: Saturday, Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. NITZANIM: Sunday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. All families in the Jewish community with threeand four-year-olds are invited to this program, to learn about Purim. No charge to attend; to register, contact Judy Rubin at 498.0904, or eddir@bethelomaha.org All Beth El classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.
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, 5:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Understanding the Prayer Book, 9 a.m. with Rabbi Mizrahi; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Sara Taub will speak at the conclusion of services, “Is It Possible to Love Our Kids Too Much?”; Kiddush sponsored by Alan and Brigette Kohll, in memory of their grandfather, Is Tretiak, and sponsored in honor of North America Inclusion Month; “Guard Your Tongue,” “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up), one hour prior to Mincha every Shabbat;
Mincha, 5:15 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:39 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels & Beit Midrash begins with breakfast, 9:40 a.m.; Sacred Text Messages (for teens) with Rabbi Gross, 10 a.m.; Living in Season with Miriam Gross, 10 a.m.; Jr. NCYS PLearVie - Pizza, Learning & a Movie, 5 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.; Sisterhood’s Spirits & Spirituality, 7:45 p.m., at the home of Susie Shyken. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.; Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.; Parsha Club for the Elderly, 2:30 p.m. at the Blumkin Home. Contact shevi@ochabad.com to make sure your parent or friend at the home can join. 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.; W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 12:45 p.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings Remix, 10:15 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Portraits in Leadership: Timeless Tales for Inspired Living, 7 p.m. Visit www.OChabad.com for more details or to register. THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Contact Shevi@ochabad.com. All programs are open to the entire community.
(grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel. TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Jewish Ethics: Contempoary Sexuality and Sexual Choices, led by Rabbi Emanuel at Tifereth Israel.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by NCJW members. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Marty Shukert.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. led by Rabbi Eric Linder; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Madison Eisenberg, daughter of November and Steve Eisenberg, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. SUNDAY: No Religious School TUESDAY: Biblical Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, noon with Dr. Guy Matalon. Fee: $36, discounted to $27 for donors to the Annual Campaign of the Omaha Jewish Federation. Co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Education; Executive Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; OTYG Spaghetti Dinner Planning, 5 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 68 p.m.; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Adult Hebrew, 6:30 p.m., with Mor Sheinbein; Is Religion Good?, 6:30 p.m. with Rabbi Linder. Cost is $18 for members; $25 for non-members; no charge for Family School parents. THURSDAY: Adult Study
with the Clergy, 10-11:30 a.m. OTYG Presents: A Night in Italy, Sunday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. (see full story on page 7.) Purim Spiel, Dinner and Carnival, Saturday, Feb. 27, 5-8 p.m. Wear your costumes and drown out the name of the wicked Haman! Enjoy a costume parade and a carnival staffed by Omaha Temple Youth Group. During the carnival adults are invited to a talk with Rabbi Azriel about the story of Purim and the theologies that are at work. Each child will receive 10 free carnival tickets. Dinner for Temple Israel members, no charge.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:37 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Friday, 8-11 a.m. FRIDAY: Dairy Dinner, 6 p.m. prepared by Hallah High; LJCS Family Shabbat Service, 7 p.m. led by LJCS students at South Street Temple. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m., followed by Talmud study. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel, Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at South Street Temple. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. THURSDAY: Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7:30 p.m. Jewish Ethics: Contemporary Sexuality and Sexual Choices, led by Rabbi Emanuel.
Israeli Olympiads ready to go
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Dairy Dinner, 6 p.m. prepared by Hallah High; LJCS Family Shabbat Service, 7 p.m. led by LJCS Students. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel, Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at South Street Temple; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street: “Pakistan and Afghanistan.” TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon, Macaroni Grill. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes
Alpine skier Michael Renzin, left, and the brother-sister ice-dancing team of Roman and Alexandra Zaretsky comprise the Israeli delegation for the Winter Olympics in Vancover, Canada. Credit: The Olympic Committee of Israel/Flash90/JTA
February 12, 2010
After generalities, then particularities
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Mishpatim We must remind ourselves that we have just finished Parashat Yitro, in which we have the 10 “words” or “utterances,” more or less universally known as the Ten Commandments. It is easy enough to identify the last five, but there is much debate about what the first five are; but it is apparent that the Sabbath is of utmost importance and receives consideration of itself. And now we come to Mishpatim, “the judgments,” or “decisions.” It is of great importance to notice that the first of the “mishpatim” has to do with freedom for the slave. In a world in which slavery was taken for granted, the Torah here makes it clear that slavery must be limited. We have here what may be the first human demand for freedom, which was so well-stated in the 10th Amendment to the American Constitution: “that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” All of this precedes in time but not in thought the Emancipation Proclamation in American history. Abraham Lincoln was a serious reader of the Bible. It is not hard to conclude that the passages we have just quoted influenced his decision, which was bold and heroic in his time. It is hard for us to imagine how bold this was, since in our day we take it for granted that in this land there will be justice and freedom for all.
DEATHS DAVID M. CHAPMAN Services were held Feb. 1 at Beth El for David M. Chapman, who died Jan. 29 at the age of 86. A Des Moines native, Chapman moved to Omaha in 1946. He was the owner of Omaha Clothing Company, as well as clothing stores Lollipop Lane and Gadabout, and several other businesses. In addition, he was an auto salesman for several car dealers in town. Chapman served as chairman of the Westroads Merchants Association from 1975-’78; he was also an active member of Ak-Sar-Ben and Kiwanis. He was preceded in death by brother, Norris, and is survived by his wife, Reva; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Sheldon Schwartz of Fremont, CA; sons and daughters-in-law, Stuart and Hope of Hoffman Estates, IL, and Robert and Sandra of Des Plaines, IL; grandson, Kenneth Schwartz of San Diego; step-grandchildren, Holly, Stephen and James Kuperman of Des Plaines, IL; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bernice and Jack Green; nephew, Richard Green of Tucson. Memorials to Beth El Synagogue, or the charity of your choice.
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.
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JTA NEWS BRIEFS • Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly has agreed, in principle, to hold indirect peace negotiations with Israel brokered by the United States. An unnamed senior Palestinian official confirmed the talks, which are expected to begin Feb. 20, the French news agency AFP reported Monday. The official told AFP that the talks brokered by U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell “will be aimed at creating a better climate and reaching an understanding on the borders of the Palestinian state, and they will begin on Feb. 20. “They will last three months, with the Americans negotiating directly with the two sides after determining a timetable and agreed-upon mechanisms for implementation,” AFP quoted the source as saying. Abbas has not yet given his final approval to the deal. He will consult with Arab leaders and get some clarifications from the United States before responding, AFP reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the shuttle diplomacy will lead to direct negotiations, according to reports. • The New York Times’ public editor recommended that the newspaper’s Jerusalem bureau chief be reassigned because his son joined the Israeli army. Clark Hoyt, who serves as the paper’s independent ombudsman, wrote about the issue in a column Saturday, weighing whether bureau chief Ethan Bronner can be objective, and whether the Times’ reporting can be seen as fair, given that Bronner’s son is serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Bronner’s son enlisted last December for a year and a half of service with plans to return to the United States for college. “I have enormous respect for Bronner and his work, and he has done nothing wrong,” Hoyt wrote. “But this is not about punishment; it is simply a difficult reality. I would find a plum assignment for him somewhere else, at least for the duration of his son’s service in the IDF.” An American Jew, Bronner has been posted in Israel four times in the past two years. He served as the Times’deputy foreign editor for four years. The possible conflict of interest was raised several weeks ago by the pro-Palestinian web site. In a response also published in the newspaper Saturday, Times Executive Editor Bill Keller disagreed with Hoyt and said Bronner would remain in his post. “Much as I respect your concern for appearances, we will not be taking your advice to remove Ethan Bronner from the Jerusalem Bureau,” Keller wrote. “You and everyone you interviewed for your column concurs that Ethan Bronner is fully capable of continuing to cover his beat fairly. Your concern is that readers will not be capable of seeing it that way. That is probably true for some readers. The question is whether those readers should be allowed to deny the rest of our audience the highest quality of reporting.” • Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the release on bail of two pro-Palestinian activists who were arrested in Ramallah. Israeli soldiers reportedly entered the city -- which is under Palestinian control -- on Sunday, and arrested the two women, members of the International Solidarity Movement, for staying in the area with invalid visas. The women -- a Spaniard and an Australian -- were turned over to the Interior Ministry’s Oz unit in charge of deporting illegal immigrants to Israel. On Monday, the court ordered their release on a much-lowered bail, saying the two should not have been transferred to the Oz unit. The women were ordered not to return to the West Bank and can file an appeal over the deportation orders. The activists reportedly have demonstrated in protests against the West Bank security fence.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 12, 2010
Vancouver Jews gearing up for the XXI Winter Olympic Games
by BEN HARRIS NEW YORK (JTA) -- Shmuel Birnham’s road from Vancouver rabbi to official Jewish clergyman of the 2010 Winter Olympics began, in all places, at an interfaith service with the Dalai Lama. During the Tibetan leader’s 2004 visit to Vancouver, Hong Chian, a local Buddhist doctor, invited Birnham to be one of the Jewish representatives at the service. When the Olympics rolled around, Chian, who serves on the multi-faith committee for the Olympics, called on Birnham again -this time to head up the team of Jewish clergy providing spiritual support services to visiting athletes. It has made Birnham the semi-official rabbinic leader of the 2010 Winter Games. As head of a team of rabbis As the leader of a team of serving the Olympic and rabbis providing support Paralympic Games, Birnham services to the Winter is helping to arrange services Olympics in Vancouver, at both Olympic Villages -- Shmuel Birnham is the semithe Whistler mountain resort official rabbi of the Games. Credit: Brad Stringer and in Vancouver itself -and provide counseling to athletes who, having trained for much of their lives for a brief shot at Olympic glory, may find themselves facing crises for which spiritual guidance would be helpful. Rabbis and cantors will be on call for the duration of the Olympics for that purpose. “I ran track at Dickinson College,” said Birnham, who heads the Conservative Congregation Har El in West Vancouver. “Even at that measly, low level, I have a sense of what goes on. I cannot imagine the pressure of a once-in-a-lifetime chance.” Birnham is among the members of the city’s 30,000strong Jewish community gearing up to support the thousands of athletes and Jewish tourists expected to
descend on Vancouver, the most Jewishly active city ever to host the Winter Olympics. Synagogues are organizing Shabbat dinners for visitors. Several events will introduce the community to the three participating Israeli athletes. A local Jewish woman who competed in the 1972
Vancouver’s 30,000-strong Jewish community is gearing up to host the thousands of visitors and athletes expected for the start of the Olympic Games on Feb. 12. Credit: ©VANOC/COVAN Munich Olympics will be among the last torch bearers carrying the Olympic flame on its way to B.C. Stadium for the opening ceremonies. Karen James, who chairs women’s philanthropy for the local Jewish Federation, will carry the flame about 1,000 feet on the afternoon of Feb. 12, beginning near Rodney’s Oyster House on Hamilton Street in downtown Vancouver. “It’s very thrilling,” said James, who swam the 200 individual medley in Munich, and placed “17th or 18th.” She can’t remember exactly. At the 1972 Games, James was returning to the Olympic Village after hours when, rather than walk around to the main gate, she and her friends took a shortcut over a fence. Some dark figures nearby decided to climb with them. The next morning, James said, she awoke to the sound
of helicopters, and remembers watching Israeli athletes and coaches taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists being led out to a bus. Eleven Israelis died later in a failed rescue attempt at a nearby airport. On Feb. 14, James will light a candle in their memory at a ceremony in Vancouver. “The Olympics -- in general ever since then -- I have mixed feelings,” James said. “I always sort of sit with that ambiguity.” To keep the Vancouver Games secure, officials plan to deploy a force of about 15,000, according to USA Today, at a cost of nearly $1 billion. As part of the Jewish community’s observance of the Olympics, the Vancouver Holocaust Centre will run an exhibit for the duration of the Winter Games highlighting Canada’s dilemma over whether to participate in the so-called Nazi Olympics -- the 1936 Games in Berlin. It was in Berlin that many features of the modern Olympics were introduced, including the idea of a torch relay, according to the center’s executive director, Frieda Miller. “We were very careful not to make a direct link between those Games and the contemporary Games,” Miller told JTA. “It’s not a polemic. We do not pass judgment. We present the dilemmas and the situation as is and let people make their own analogies.” The history of Jewish Vancouver dates to 1872, with the arrival of the city’s first Jewish settler, Louis Gold. Vancouver’s second mayor, David Oppenheimer, was a German-born Jew who generally is considered the city’s founding father. The first synagogue was built in 1916. Today there are 12, in addition to six day schools, three Chabad centers and a community kollel, or subsidized religious study program for adults. The local federation has prepared a dossier with details of the city’s Jewish history to help guide visitors to the Jewish opportunities available in Vancouver. Like the athletes themselves, Vancouver’s Jews are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their city and community to the world. “I am looking forward to whatever is going to happen,” Birnham said. “I am looking forward to this very rare moment, and this very rare honor, and this very rare responsibility.”