February 19, 2010

Vol. LXXXIX No. 22 Omaha, NE

Holocaust speaker at Creighton University

by LEONARD GREENSPOON Dr. Zev Garber will present a lecture, “Reading Scripture by Way of the Holocaust (Shoah),” at Creighton University on Monday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. The lecture will take place in Room 3028 of the Harper Center.

Garber, Emeritus Professor and Chair of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at Los Angeles College, is a prolific scholar and internationally acclaimed speaker on a wide variety of topics Dr. Zev Garber related to the Holocaust. He has been especially active in promoting inter-religious study and dialogue.

Among his many publications are Mel Gibson’s Passion: The Film, the Controversy, and Its Implications, Post-Shoah Dialogues: Re-Thinking Our Past Together, and Methodology in the Academic Teaching of Judaism. In addition, Garber edits Shofar, a leading journal in Jewish Studies. In recognition of his multi-faceted contributions, a large group of his colleagues contributed to a volume in his honor, titled Maven in Blue Jeans, which was published last year by Purdue University Press.

Garber is associated with a number of prominent organizations that address the moral and religious dimensions of the Holocaust. Among these is the recognition that we must read and interpret Scripture in new, sometimes uncomfortable ways in the postHolocaust era. This will be the focus of Garber’s lecture at Creighton.

Continued on page 2

Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

5 Adar 5770

February 19, 2010

Jewish biathlete bringing passion for success to Vancouver

by BEN HARRIS Chicago native Ben Agosto, a 2006 Olympic silver NEW YORK (JTA) -- When the call from Germany medalist, is returning to compete in the ice-dancing arrived at the Spector family home in Lenox, Mass., last pairs. Steve Mesler, a bobsledder from Buffalo, N.Y., is month, the voice on the other end betrayed little of the back for his third Olympics. excitement one would expect from a newly minted Israel is fielding a team of three in Vancouver: Olympian.

Mykhaylo Renzyhn, an alpine skier originally from Laura Spector, 22, had qualified for the U.S. Olympic Latvia, and the brother-sister duo Alexandra and Roman biathlon team that are competing this month in Zaretsky, born in Belarus, who compete in ice dancing.

Vancouver.

Agosto, 28, who “It was a very quiet nearly missed the voice, and it was just, 2006 Olympics ‘Daddy, Hi it’s because his partner, Laura. I made the the Canadian-born team,’” her father, skater Tanith Belbin, Jesse, recalled. “It was not yet a naturalwas just like that. It ized American citiwas that quiet, from zen, said he was this 5-foot, 100looking forward to pound kid. It was soaking in the probably a very emoatmosphere of what tional three to five will almost certainly seconds because her be his last Olympics. voice sounded as A last-minute act of though, ‘Dad, I didCongress granted n’t make the team.’

Belbin expedited citBut she was so comizenship and she was posed. It had its own able to represent the -- I don’t know -United States at the moment is the only Laura Spector discovered biathlon at 14, saying “It was my first experience Games in Turin, with shooting a gun, but I loved combining two sports.” way I can put it.”

Italy.

Credit: Nordic Focus Spector is the “When that came youngest American woman vying in the biathlon, which through it was really a big surprise, but we really didn’t combines cross-country skiing with target shooting. She have that time to build up and kind of think of what to is also one of five athletes measuring in at 5-feet tall -- expect,” Agosto told JTA by phone from his training the shortest members of the 2010 U.S. Olympic team. rink in Pennsylvania. “We were just kind of thrown into A student of genetics and Jewish studies at Dartmouth it. There’s a lot that I don’t remember because it was College, Spector is among a handful of Jewish such a whirlwind.”

Olympians in Vancouver for the 21st Winter Olympics. Continued on page 15

NIF fracas: Defending Israel or destroying democracy? group of soldiers reporting on Israeli army

by LESLIE SUSSER violations of moral norms; and ACRI, the JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A campaign Association for Civil Rights in Israel -- had against the New Israel Fund -- a U.S.-based provided Goldstone with material conorganization that funds civil society activists tributing to false charges against the Israel in Israel -- has sparked a fierce debate over Defense Forces in informer-like actions that the limits of free speech, the financing of were tantamount to betrayal in a wartime NGOs, the dictates of loyalty to the state situation. and, ultimately, over the fundamental values “The results of these groups’ activities of Israel’s Zionist democracy. caused significant diplomatic damage to The questions cut close to the bone on Israel and harmed the country’s capacity to both sides of the ideological divide. For defend itself militarily,” Im Tirtzu said, example: Are left-wingers using Zionist adding that NIF was largely to blame money to undermine the foundations of the because it had funded these “anti-Zionist” state? Or, are right-wingers trying to gag organizations. nongovernmental organizations critical of In late January, young Im Tirtzu memIsraeli policies and actions? And to what bers dressed as Hamas fighters demonstratextent are the government and its agencies ed outside the Jerusalem home of NIF involved in trying to silence their critics?

President Naomi Chazan waving placards At the center of the storm is the Goldstone depicting Chazan with a horn emerging report on alleged Israeli war crimes during from her forehead. The text on the placard the fighting in Gaza last winter. read: “Fact! Without the New Israel Fund Most Israelis see the report as biased, based on flimsy evidence and false assump- Jewish right-wing activists dressed as Arabs demonstrate in Jerusalem against the New there could be no Goldstone Report and Credit: Yossi Zamir/Flash 90/JTA Israel would not be facing international tions, and part of a concerted international Israel Fund, Jan. 30, 2010. campaign to delegitimize the Jewish state. The attack on organization called Im Tirtzu, which describes itself as accusations of war crimes.”

The horn was a play on words, the Hebrew “keren” the New Israel Fund was part of an angry Israeli back- “an extra-parliamentary movement to strengthen lash against Goldstone. But was it a bona fide attack on Zionist values” and boasts a video endorsement from meaning both fund and horn, but critics say it also had an organization accused of undermining Israel’s interna- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It claimed that 16 obvious anti-Semitic connotations that many found tional standing or a premeditated onslaught against civil NIF grantees -- among them Physicians for Human offensive.

Rights and B’Tselem, human rights organizations active Im Tirtzu used the image as well in advertisements society?

The campaign against the NIF was conducted by an in the Palestinian territories; Breaking the Silence, a Continued on page 2

Inside Opinion Page see page 12

This Week: Purim recipes on pages 10 & 11 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’

Protesters arrested at university as Israeli ambassador speaks Page 3

Coming Next Month: Home and Garden ADL notes cross-pollination of hate, criminal activity Page 4

Jewish-Muslim interfaith study course uses sacred text Page 16

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

NIF: Defending Israel, destroying democracy?

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The Zionist Organization of America has seconded the criticisms of the NIF. The New Israel Fund says it knows that many of the minority rights groups it backs in the name of empowering the disenfranchised and fighting discrimination in Israel also take positions that the NIF does not endorse, such as calling for an end to Israel’s Jewish character.

NIF officials say that while they do not agree with everything their grantees do or say, revoking their funding would be inimical to NIF’s goal of promoting free speech and strengthening Israel’s minorities.

“They’re using me to attack in the most blatant way the basic principles of democracy and the values of Israel’s declaration of independence; values of equality, tolerance, social justice and freedom of speech,” Chazan declared.

In dismissing the Im Tirtzu case against the NIF as baseless, Chazan said that the materials the groups allegedly transferred to Goldstone are mostly in the public domain. And even if they were not, it would be the duty of the groups to pass on what they know -- that is their raison d’etre as human rights groups.

Far from giving succor to Israel’s enemies, the grantees were trying to create a better Israel, Chazan said.

The NIF and its defenders note that its work goes well beyond organizations focusing specifically on Palestinian rights. It also funds civil society groups dealing with a host of domestic Israeli issues, such as providing women’s shelters, supporting Ethiopian immigrants and challenging the Orthodox monopoly on Jewish religious practice.

In early February, a group of leading Israeli academics, writers, actors, directors and political activists, including novelists Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua, placed a fullpage ad in Haaretz expressing “disgust at the campaign of incitement and hatred” being waged against Chazan, the NIF and the organizations it supports.

Several U.S. Jewish groups on the left side of the political spectrum issued their own statements slamming the anti-NIF campaign on similar grounds. The tenor of the anti-NIF campaign was criticized as well by Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League.

In late January, 13 of the 16 NIF grantees slammed by Im Tirtzu fired off a letter to President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin complaining that the Im Tirtzu attack on the NIF was part of a larger pattern encouraged by “senior government officials.” In other words, it was more than a one-off campaign by a young, marginal group but part of an anti-democratic trend for which the government was setting the tone.

They gave some examples: Interior Minister Eli Yishai backing claims that organizations which help refugees and asylum seekers “aim to destroy Israel”; Netanyahu denying the legitimacy of Breaking the Silence testimonies on the Gaza war; Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon referring to Israeli human rights organizations as “enemies from within.”

Others see the specter of an impending clampdown against civil society.

Anat Hoffman, chair of Women of the Wall and director of the Reform movement’s Israel Religious Action Center, an NIF grantee, was questioned and fingerprinted by police in early January after taking part in an allfemale prayer session at the Western Wall that involved the use of a Torah. A week later, ACRI director Hagai El-Ad was arrested while monitoring a protest against Jewish settlement in the Arab neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah in eastern Jerusalem, and released as soon as the case went to court.

Were these isolated cases of police folly or part of a pattern dictated from above?

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There is no hard evidence to suggest that the Netanyahu government is planning to curb civil society or that the police action had the prime minister’s blessing. What is clear is that Netanyahu is deeply concerned by what he calls “Goldstonism” -- moves in the international community aimed at delegitimizing Israel.

The prime minister says he sees three existential threats: Iran; a Palestinian state without adequate security arrangements; and rampant Goldstonism. That means that Israeli organizations the government feels contribute to delegitimization of the state could be seen as serious threats to national security. But the government does not seem to be considering operative moves against them.

Moves, however, are afoot in the Knesset.

The Law Committee, headed by Yisrael Beiteinu’s David Rotem, whose party has proposed that Israeli citizens take loyalty oaths, has set up a subcommittee to examine the sources of funding of NGOs active in Israel.

Some of the committee members aim to ban funding by foreign countries, which is seen as interfering in Israel’s internal affairs. Most of that funding is from European countries for left-wing NGOs. Otniel Schneller of the Kadima Party wants to go a step further, proposing the establishment of a fullfledged parliamentary commission of inquiry to probe the conduct of the NIF and its grantees. Schneller says he is against the absurdity of Israeli civil society “paying organizations like Physicians for Human Rights to slander us,” and wants to stop the NIF from supporting anti-Zionist groups.

Schneller’s proposal, which he plans to submit next week, has run into stiff opposition from the left and right.

Left-wing Meretz leader Haim Oron asked who would decide who is a Zionist or what are Israel’s best interests.

Schneller, he suggested, should fight the left-wing organizations with counter arguments, not try to cut off their funding.

On the right, the Likud’s Michael Eitan argued that parliamentary commissions of inquiry are established on non-political issues, such as corruption in soccer or water prices.

“It is unheard of for the majority in the Knesset to investigate the minority,” he fumed.

Eitan’s stand has the support of others in the Likud, like Rivlin and Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin, and it is not clear whether Schneller can muster a majority for his proposal.

Meanwhile, Im Tirtzu’s funding also has attracted scrutiny in recent days.

Liberal organizations and bloggers have been reporting that Im Tirtzu has received money from the Central Fund of Israel, a U.S.-based nonprofit that has also supported pro-settler organizations and a group that aids militant Israeli Jews accused of carrying out violence.

They also note that Im Tirtzu reportedly has received $200,000 over the past two years from John Hagee, an evangelical pastor in San Antonio, Texas, who is staunchly pro-Israel but came under fire for having declared in a sermon that God allowed the Holocaust to happen as part of a plan to bring Jews to Israel.

Hagee has expressed regret for the upset caused by his remarks and promised to be more sensitive in the future.

A spokesman for the pastor criticized the tenor of Im Tirtzu’s campaign against NIF. Meanwhile the debate goes on, with each side seeking to claim the mantle of preserving Israel’s fundamental nature.

“Today the question is not whether Israel survives, but what kind of Israel survives,” said Daniel Sokatch, the NIF’s chief executive officer.

Im Tirtzu leader Ronen Shova countered that “The debate is not about left or right. The new debate is between Zionists and non-Zionists.”

Creighton University to host Holocaust speaker Continued on page 2 This presentation is part of the Holocaust Lecture Series, which is sponsored by Creighton’s Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society and cosponsored by the Creighton College of Arts & Sciences and the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization.

The Holocaust course (this semester it is “The Bible and the Holocaust”), which the lecture series supports, is made possible in part through the generous support of the National Holocaust Endowment, with special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fried.

For further information, contact Fran Minear at 280.2303 or fminear@creighton.edu.

February 19, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Protesters arrested at California university as Israeli ambassador speaks

by LISA ARMONY LOS ANGELES (L.A. Jewish Journal) -- Israel’s ambassador to Washington was heckled throughout much of a speech on the University of California, Irvine campus, leading to the arrest of 12 protesters, including the president of the campus chapter of the Muslim Student Union.

The ambassador, historian Michael Oren, came to the Orange County campus Monday to address an overflow crowd of more than 600 students, faculty and community members at the UCI Student Center on the subject “U.S.Israel Relations: A Historical Perspective.”

He was interrupted 10 times by boisterous hecklers and dozens of jeering students before the anti-Israel protesters walked out en masse to stage a demonstration outside.

Security was tight on the campus, where the Muslim Student Union has been extremely active in staging antiIsrael protests, and where multiple clashes and unrest between anti- and pro-Israel demonstrators have occurred at public events.

In 2007, anti-Israel protesters unfurled provocative banners and heckled conservative political analyst Daniel Pipes of the Middle East Forum during a lecture titled “The Threat to Israel’s Existence.”

With rumors circulating of student plans to disrupt Oren’s speech, university officials spoke to Muslim Student Union members before the event in an attempt to ensure civil discourse, according to Shalom Elcott, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation Orange County.

The Muslim student group had issued an e-mail earlier in the day condemning Oren’s presence on campus.

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Signs at the entry to the ballroom while protesters responded with jeers. where Oren was to speak stated that no Oren walked off the stage after the fourth signs, posters, banners or flyers would be interruption, as university officials allowed inside.

Oren, a New Jersey native and best-selling author of two authoritative books on the Middle East, was less than two minutes into his talk when the first heckler jumped up and shouted, “Propagating murder is not an expression of free speech,” followed by thunderous applause and cheers from protesters seated in groups throughout the audience.

Oren continued to talk, only to be inter- A protester is removed by security after heckling Israeli U.S. rupted every few min- Ambassador Michael Oren during his speech at the University of Credit: Peter Halmagyi utes by another pro- California, Irvine, Feb. 8, 2010. tester and more cheering and boos. Many admonished protesters for their behavior. audience members also cheered Oren.

Petracca and the school’s chancellor, By the third interruption, police began Michael Drake, said they were embarescorting individual protesters out of the rassed on behalf of the university. room. Opponents of Oren’s speech could “We do not value heckling; we do not be seen text messaging one another and value those who do not share our values using their cell phones to videotape the of respect,” Drake said. “The principles speech and the audience. that make us a great university have been Mark Petracca, the event moderator violated this evening.” and chair of the school’s political science Many Jewish audience members sang department, urged a halt to the interrup- songs in support of Israel as they waited tions. for the program to resume.

“This is no way for our undergraduate Oren returned to the stage nearly 20 students to behave,” a visibly upset minutes later, asking for a show of hospiPetracca said from the podium, calling for tality, which he said typifies Middle East respect and civility. “Shame on you.” culture. When dozens more protesters Fed up after several interruptions, Israel stood up and left the room as a group supporters called for detractors to leave several minutes later, with only a few stay-

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ing behind, Oren told the remaining audience members he wished that his detractors had stayed because he felt they needed to hear what he had to say.

Shouts and chanting could be heard from the street as Oren resumed his presentation uninterrupted.

“Every time there’s an event they’re opposed to, they disrupt it,” said Pam Chozen, a Laguna Beach resident who said she felt concerned for her personal safety. “No one from the other side would think of disrupting an MSU event.”

Oren described U.S.-Israel ties as “the most multifaceted and multilayered relationship the U.S. has ever had with another country.”

Despite initial disagreements, he said Israel’s government and the Obama administration have come to see eye to eye on several potential obstacles to engagement, including the need to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks without preconditions and the danger posed by Iran as it continues to enrich uranium to potential weapons grade.

Oren’s speech was sponsored by a host of university and community organizations. It was made possible by a grant from the Rose Project of Jewish Federation Orange County.

“We wish the campus officials had been swifter to respond to these types of incidents and commend the university police and administration for taking action, making arrests and escorting antagonists out of the room,” said Elcott, the CEO of the federation. “We are confident that the university will follow through and take action against the students and the MSU, so these incidents can be eliminated and civil discourse can reign.”

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

ADL notes cross-pollination of hate, criminal activity

by THERESE VAUGHN-WEINER Anti-Defamation League Plains States Region When the federal investigation—Operation Red Swastika http://www.adl.org/learn/extremism_in_ the_news/White_Supremacy/red+swastika+omaha. htm?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubC at=Extremism_in_the_News — culminated in the indictment of seven Nebraska and Iowa men last year, the ADL Plains States reached out to law enforcement as a resource on extremism and crime. The suspects, some of whom are reputedly white supremacists, pled guilty to drug, conspiracy and weapons charges last month.

Alleged ringleader Jason Hawthorne has been known to call himself “Skin,� brandishes white supremacist tattoos and a shaved head and boasts of membership in the Church of the Creator, a Creativity Prison Ministries group. Appealing to young, white males who are incarcerated, the growing movement calls the white race “nature’s highest creation� and non-whites “natural enemies.�

ADL Regional Director Alan Potash recently spoke with the Omaha World-Herald http://www.omaha. com/article/20100108/NEWS01/701089917 about the case, noting the disturbing cross-pollination of hate groups and criminal activity – much of which takes root behind bars.

With an estimated 10 percent of the country’s inmates associated with race-based gangs, prison white supremacist groups stir up racial tensions and undercut security, Potash said. Even more troublesome is the frequent continuation of hate group affiliations after inmates get out. According to ADL investigative experts, hate group membership is rising—in and out of prison. “We’ve seen an increase in white supremacists engaged in drug and weapons crimes,� Potash said. “I think the past year has been a record.�

The ADL was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure fair treatment for all. Today’s ADL: • works to prevent bigotry and unite our community, presenting award winning anti-bias education and diversity initiatives; • helps our community stand strong against hate groups, extremism and discrimination, providing expert counsel and intelligence to community leaders, law enforcement and educators; and • advances dialogue on civil rights, religious freedom and human relations, fostering a balanced discussion on Israel, religion and society and relevant public policy.

For any questions about ADL Plains States, please call 402.333.1303 or visit www.adl.org/plains_states.

Purim Food Customs

by SYBIL KAPLAN Purim has its share of interesting food customs, like all the other Jewish holidays, many unique to the various ethnic communities.

Most Ashkenazic Jews only know of hamantaschen, the triangular pastries filled with prunes or other fruit fillings. This word is taken from the German words mohn (meaning poppy seeds) and taschen (referring to pockets). Some say the pockets refer to Haman who stuffed his pockets with bribe money.

The original name was mohntaschen, and the tradition of eating them may date back as far as the 12th century. The Midrash, however, says while reflecting on his plan to get rid of the Jews, Haman realized the three Patriarchs would intercede. Thus, the pastry is triangular in shape.

Some people also serve kreplach on Purim, the triangular-shaped meat-filled, savory pastry. On holidays on which there is some form of “beating,� kreplach are served because the meat inside is prepared by chopping which is a form of beating. Kreplach are thus eaten on the seventh day of Succot (Hoshanah Rabah), the day before Yom Kippur and on Purim.

On Purim, it symbolizes the stamping of feet on the floor to drown out Haman’s name which is considered a form of beating.

In Israel, the pastries are called oznei haman (Haman’s ears), presumably because it was said Haman cut off the ears of criminals. Others say it was because he listened to evil gossip.

Other Jewish communities have developed their own Purim food customs. A few years ago, the Curator of Jewish Ethnography at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem wrote a fascinating article in Hadassah Magazine about the celebration of Purim by the Jews of Afghanistan.

There, the prospective mother-in-law would send her prospective daughter-in-law mishloach manot (sending of gifts) with a tray of foods. She included colored eggs, colored tie-dye fashion and a live, decorated chicken--all on Purim.

Edda Servi Machlin, whose life in Pitigliano, Tuscany, is chronicled in The Classic Cuisine of the Italian Jews, relates their custom of making ore chi di Aman (Haman’s ears), twirls of fried sweet pastry. They also make manicotti di Purim(fried, thin, pancake-like crepes or blintzes coated in honey). Other Italian Purim sweets include castagnole (deep-fried dough pieces served plain, with confectioners’ sugar or with a honey syrup) and miscandini (almond and cocoa cookie sticks).

In his Cookbook of the Jews of Greece, Nicholas Stavroulakis says each Greek Jewish community makes its own peculiar Purim foods. For example, Jews of

Salonika make navies (marzipan in the shapes of young men on horseback, brides, scissors, clocks, baskets or other shapes). Marzipan is candy, molded into various shapes, often colored or glazed, brought to Europe by the Arabs. Jews of Salonika also make orejas (Haman’s ears).

Jews of Komotini (northern Greece, midway between Salonika and Istanbul, Turkey) make folares, a type of marzipan in the shape of Haman’s foot with an egg stuck in the center. They also make kassadikas de arroz, rice and cheese pastries.

Jews of Trikala and Ioannina (central Greece) make aftia, deep-fried circles, also called Haman’s ears.

Jews of Larissa (central Greece) and Patras (west of Athens) make sesame bars called koubetaor “fleas of Haman.� Jews of Larissa also make almond pastries called fatalika al mendra for Purim; while Jews of Corfu make walnut squares called simikioukioulaor teeth of Haman.

Many Sephardim have a traditional Purim sweet called roscas di alhashu, a walnut-filled crescent made to resemble Haman’s ears.

South African, Elsie Menasce, who wrote The Sephardic Culinary Tradition to preserve the recipes of Sephardim who had settled on the island of Rhodes, relates that for Purim they made folarikos, eggs baked in the shell with pastry coiled around them to symbolize rope used to hang Purim.

In his research for Sephardic Cooking, Copeland Marks found Bukharian Jews make samoosa puroee, stuffed fried dumplings for Purim; Turkish Jews make borekas de nuez u de almendar, walnut or almond turnovers; and Jews from India make puran poli or sweet stuffed chapatti, a pancake filled with chickpeas, sugar, cinnamon and cardamom.

Some Jews of Middle Eastern backgrounds serve dishes with chickpeas on Purim because, they say, in order to keep kosher, Esther lived on vegetables, particularly beans and peas.

In case one might wonder what do the Jews of Persia serve on Purim since they have such a direct connection to the Purim story, the answer is halwa bereng, a rice flour custard made with rose water and garnished with almonds and pistachio nuts.

One other interesting note on Purim: some people make challah shaped into a very long braid—to symbolize the rope used to hang Haman!

Sybil Kaplan, a journalist, book reviewer, food writer and cookbook author, has two spots on the radio and lives in Jerusalem.

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February 19, 2010

Featured speaker at upcoming Temple service to discuss health care for the future

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN ty-identified priorities, advance commuTemple Israel Communications Director nity health, enhance learning, and foster With all the debate about health care civic engagement among community reform among Americans recently, how members, students, staff, and faculty, she will new graduates in the various health added. professions be prepared to Based on her work over the care for patients in a changpast two years, Dr. Margalit ing environment? and Dr. Ayman ElRuth Margalit, MD, assoMohandes, MD, MPH, who ciate professor and director just recently arrived here as of the Inter-Professional the dean of the New College Service Learning Academy of Public Health, founded of the College of Public the Academy. Dr. Margalit is Health at the University of the Academy’s director.

Nebraska Medical Center, “Students in various disciwill address that question at plines are being exposed to Ruti Margalit, M.D. Shabbat worship services principles of teamwork, that begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, February inter-professionalism, and the patient 26 at Temple Israel. centered care model,” she said. “We are “Graduates need to be more involved in trying to create a menu of supervised and informed about the communities opportunities for students to practice they serve and to see their patients in a skills that will enhance their professional wider context,” Dr. Margalit explained. and personal development. With commuGraduates “need to learn to share power, nity partners acting as co-teachers, stuhave excellent communication skills, dents engage in projects that are identiwork well in teams, and practice patient fied by the community as specific areas of centered care which considers the patient need. This is about reciprocity with direct and/or community of patients as partners benefits for both. Looking at the bigger in care,” she said. picture of health in this state, the At UNMC’s Inter-professional Service Academy will directly contribute to the Learning Academy, a university-wide ini- preparation and education of the public tiative administered through the College health workforce in the future.” of Public Health, unique inter-profesDr. Margalit, who moved to Omaha via sional service-learning opportunities for Baltimore from Israel, has lived here since undergraduate and graduate level stu- 2003. A family physician also trained in dents are provided through the medical pediatrics, Dr. Margalit completed medcenter in partnership with the University ical school and residencies at Hadassah of Nebraska at Omaha. The Academy’s Medical Center in Jerusalem. Her public mission is to facilitate inter-professional health fellowship was at the Johns and interdisciplinary public health learn- Hopkins School of Public Health in ing experiences in local, regional, and Baltimore. Temple invites other health international communities, clarified Dr. professionals to engage in additional conMargalit. Activities developed through versation at the Oneg following the worthe Academy strive to address communi- ship service.

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The Jewish Education Service of North America has announced the appointment of Beverly Fellman to its board of directors. Fellman is the current chair of the Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah (BESTT) and a member of the synagogue’s board of trustees and executive committee.

She is also a board member of the Omaha Jewish Federation’s Kripke Library and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. She is a past board member of the Omaha Jewish Federation board of directors and a former chair of UJA, Young Women’s Division.

Fellman is a retired department chair and French teacher at Omaha Central High School.

JESNA works closely with the central agencies for Jewish education that operate in more than 60 communities and the Jewish federations in more than 150 communities throughout North America.

The organization’s goal is to increase the availability of engaging, inspiring, highquality Jewish education.

Nominations are now being taken for the 55th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, hosted by United Way of the Midlands. Individuals, families, groups or corporations that were actively engaged in providing volunteer service during 2009 in Sarpy, Douglas, Pottawattamie and Mills counties are eligible for nomination. Nominees must have provided direct service or been responsible for planning, organizing or supervising other volunteers. The categories are: Business, Cultural, Education, Elderly, Ethnic, Health, Religious, Youth, and Special Needs.

All nominations must be submitted on an official form, available at www.uw midlands.org/volunteer, or by calling 522.7931. All mailed entries must be postmarked by midnight, Wednesday, March 10, and sent to: 2010 Outstanding Volunteer Awards, United Way of the Midlands, Volunteer Resource Center, 1805 Harney St., Omaha, NE 68102-1972 The annual Volunteer Recognition luncheon will be held on Thursday, April 22 at the DoubleTree Hotel, during National Volunteer Week.

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BIRTH

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He has a sister, Beatrice, age 23 months.

Grandparents are Ann and Don

Goldstein, and Patti and Charles Baum of Severna Park, MD, and Jane and Stan Rodbell of Baltimore, MD. Great-grandparents are Shirley and Leonard Goldstein.

Contact your advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.

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

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

British Jews weigh fight after court ruling on ‘Who is a Jew’

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by WINSTON PICKETT port a change in legislation only if their converts henceLONDON (JTA) -- To fight or not to fight? forth would be accepted into mainstream Orthodox That question has bitterly divided the Jewish commu- schools. These representatives were pleased that the nity in Britain following the Supreme Court ruling last court ruling struck a blow against Orthodox dominance December striking down a Jewish school’s policy of lim- of religious matters, even as they were alarmed by the iting admission to the children of Jewish mothers. government’s level of meddling in internal Jewish reliThe ruling, which said that state-funded Jewish gious matters. schools may not award places on the basis of whether a To articulate a unified Jewish response to the ruling, student’s parent is Jewish because it contravenes the Board of Deputies established a community consulBritain’s Race Relations Act, went beyond forcing an tative committee comprised of representatives from the expansion of admissions criteria to children whose various denominations, with the exception of the ultraJewish identity is a matter of dispute between Orthodox Orthodox, or haredim. Haredim generally attend Jewish and non-Orthodox Jews. schools that do not receive state funds.

By detaching Jewishness from Jewish legal criteria, The effort to forge a consensus Jewish position failed, whether Orthodox or Reform, it opened up the possibil- however, and a default approach was adopted: wait and ity that non-Jews could qualify for admission. It also see. introduced the idea that the government, rather than “Consultations with synagogue and other leaders had Jewish religious authorities, can determine who is Jewish made it clear that the vast majority of the community in Britain. would rather see how the Supreme Court judgment “This case had nothing to do with denominations or impacts on their activities and then consider what kind of conversions,” Britain’s chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, amendment we need rather than rush into it,” said wrote in the London Jewish Chronicle. “It focused on Board of Deputies President Vivian Wineman. one simple fact: that Jewish identity is -- conversions “Everyone felt it sensible to wait.” aside -- conferred by birth, by the mother, or in the case Rabbi Tony Bayfield, head of the Reform movement, of liberal Judaism, by the father if the mother is not praised the board’s approach as confirming that Britain’s Jewish.” non-Orthodox movements “are now indispensable to The court decision consensus” -- in other struck down those interwords, on equal footing pretations of Jewish idenwith the Orthodox movetity and introduced its ment. own, Sacks said.

But Rabbi Yitzhak British Jews across the Shochet of the Orthodox denominational spectrum United Synagogue have viewed the ruling accused the nonwith alarm as government Orthodox movements of intrusion into religion. shattering any possibility But a bitter debate has of consensus by “holding erupted within the Jewish us to ransom in this matcommunity over exactly ter to only agree to a how to respond, exposing change of legislation on deep fault lines in the condition that we do not community and fueling revert to the status quo Britain’s “Who is a Jew?” ante.”

State-funded Jewish schools may not award places on the basis of Meanwhile, Jews in debate.

For now, the umbrella whether a student’s parent is Jewish, Britain’s Supreme Court Britain remain concerned Credit: Board of Deputies of British Jews that the government is organization for British ruled.

Jewry, the Board of Deputies, has decided to take a wait- interfering with the question of Jewish identity. They are and-see approach on how the ruling will play out. worried, too, that the ruling means the state views Leaders of the non-Orthodox movements here have Judaism as somehow being discriminatory. praised the stance, but Orthodox leaders remain unsatisSacks, who is Orthodox, warned that the ruling fied by the process. defined any distinction between Jew and non-Jew as dis“We were deeply concerned that a change in legisla- criminatory, which is a problem for all Jews, regardless of tion is not being actively pursued,” said the rabbinical denomination or position on conversions. council of the United Synagogue, Britain’s mainstream “Any discrimination, regardless of motive, between Orthodox movement.

Jew and non-Jew, unless specifically exempted by law, The debate started with the case of a Jewishly obser- has now been held to contravene the 1976 Race vant 12-year-old boy, identified in court papers as ‘M,’ Relations Act,” he wrote in the Chronicle. whose father is Jewish and whose mother is a convert to The president of the court, Nicholas Phillips, said in Judaism through the Reform movement. announcing the verdict in mid-December that it did not The boy applied to the state-supported JFS school, a mean that those responsible for the school’s admissions flagship of North London’s Jewish community founded policy had acted in a way that was “racist as that word is in 1732 as the Jews’ Free School. The school, which has generally understood.” about 1,900 students, rejected ‘M’ on the grounds that But Jewish groups in Britain remain concerned that he was not Jewish according to halachah, or Jewish law, the ruling, which forces schools to consider applicants’ which traditionally holds that only those born to a Jewish practice rather than their halachic status as Jews, Jewish mother or a woman who converted to Orthodox might stigmatize Judaism as a discriminatory religion Judaism can be considered Jewish. anytime schools give preference to those who are Jewish Britain has nearly 7,000 state-supported parochial according to Jewish law. schools, including some 50 Jewish schools. Under the Meanwhile, some Orthodox leaders criticized memlaw, schools can give preference to applicants from their bers of their own movement for refusing to work with own faiths using criteria set by a designated religious non-Orthodox leaders to find a remedy to Britain’s authority.

“Who is a Jew” problem so the community could presBut ‘M’s’ family sued, saying the school had discrimi- ent a united front against the bigger problem of governnated against him. The family lost, but the ruling was ment intrusion into the Jewish religious sphere. overturned by the Court of Appeals.

“What needs to happen now is that rabbis and lay leadUltimately the case reached Britain’s newly created ers across the denominations work together in addressSupreme Court, which ratified the Appeals Court deci- ing new realities and furthering the interest of the comsion in a 5-4 ruling, saying that basing school admission munity as a whole,” Rabbis Michael Harris and Naftali on whether one’s mother is Jewish is, by definition, dis- Brawer, the vice-chairmen of the rabbinical council of criminatory and in violation of the 1976 Race Relations the United Synagogue, wrote in the Jewish Chronicle.

Act. They called on “all denominations” to work together The decision has left British Jews divided. to reverse the Supreme Court’s judgment through a On one side are the Orthodox, who advocated early change in the law. intervention by seeking an amendment to legislation In the meantime, JFS and other state-funded Jewish that effectively would nullify the court’s decision and re- schools have made some major adjustments to their establish halachah -- and with it, the primacy of British admissions criteria. The criteria now focus on requiring Orthodoxy – as the determining criterion for school applicants to demonstrate participation in faith-based admission. activities, such as synagogue attendance -- something On the other side are representatives from non- Sacks characterized as “a Christian solution for a Jewish Orthodox Jewish movements, who said they would sup- school.”

February 19, 2010

Purim Celebrations at Beth Israel

by BETH COHEN Executive Director, Beth Israel It’s that time of year! It’s time to get creative and choose your costume. And, it’s time to make plans to attend Megillah readings and enjoy festive meals with your family and friends.

Amid all of the fun of Purim celebrations, everyone has an obligation to fulfill four requirements: Mishloach Manot (sending food packages), Matanot L’Evyonim (gifts to the needy), Seudat Purim (festive meal), and Kriat HaMegillah (reading of the Megillah). “The purpose behind these mitzvot is to bring us together as a community,” explains Rabbi Jonathan Gross of Beth Israel. “Mishloach Manot gives us a chance to tell a person how much we care about them. Matanot L’Evyonim reminds us of our obligation to help those less fortunate.

The Seuda gives us a chance to celebrate together, and the reading of the Megillah is a public session of study that allows us to learn and explore our shared tradition and history.”

“It is very important to fulfill all four of the Purim Mitzvot on the day of Purim so at Beth Israel we make it convenient for people,” continues Gross. “In order to help facilitate the mitzvah of gifts for the poor on Purim, I have a special arrangement set up with the directors of Orot Chesed in our Israel Partnership city of Akko.

Money can be donated anytime in the weeks leading up to Purim. Just before Purim ends, I call the director and make a pledge of all the money collected. The money goes directly towards feeding hungry families in the city.

Many Omaha people have volunteered there on trips to Israel and know the wonderful work that they do.”

In preparation for Purim, children are invited to a special activity with Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. It has become Beth Israel’s minhag -- or custom -- to prepare something special for the residents of the Blumkin Home that the children of the congregation deliver on Purim day.

This year, the project will be done on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 10:15 a.m.

“Sweet Dreams” is the theme of this year’s Purim Celebration at Beth Israel. Because the Megillah reading for Purim takes place soon after Havdalah on Saturday, Feb. 27, everyone is invited to the night’s Megillah reading in pajamas. Havdalah is at 6:55 p.m. and the Megillah reading will begin at 7:15 p.m. An ice cream social will follow the Megillah reading at approximately 8:15 p.m.

For the Purim Day celebrations, expand the idea of the “Sweet Dreams” theme to include anything you’ve ever dreamed of such as your dream profession, the movie or story book character you dream of being, or being on your dream vacation. Shacharit on Sunday, Feb. 28 will be at 8:30 a.m. Megillah readings at Beth Israel will take place at 9:15 a.m. and 10 a.m. Rabbi Jonathan Gross will read the Megillah at 1:15 p.m. at Remington Heights. Minchah will be at 4 p.m. at Beth Israel, followed by a 4:15 p.m. Megillah reading. A traditional Purim Seuda -- festive meal -- will follow, beginning at 5 p.m. The annual Costume Parade will take place during the Seuda. Best Costume prizes will be awarded by age category -- adult, child and baby -- and the historically hotly-contested prize for best group costume will be given out. Back by popular demand, Poppin’ Penelope will be making balloon creations for kids of all ages. The Purim Seuda meal, including meatloaf and mashed potato bar, costs $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages four to twelve, and is free to children three and younger. Please make meal reservations with the synagogue office.

“We always have such a great time during our Purim celebrations, with the costumes and the entertainment and the Megillah readings,” noted Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross. “You won’t want to miss out on the enjoyment and sense of community that we share as we observe this festive holiday.”

To RSVP for the Feb. 28 dinner, contact the synagogue office by calling 556.6288 or emailing BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

To order a gift subscription to the Press...

Send a check for $35, made out to the Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 334.6448.

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.

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There’s something for everyone at Temple Purim event

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Director “Avatar 2.....but still in 3D” will premier on Purim, Saturday night, Feb. 27, at Temple Israel. Three “famous actors,” according to Rabbi Eric Linder, will read the Megillah, or Scroll of Esther, as part of the spiel.

As in the blockbuster movie, the plot thickens when the actors discover they’re not in Kansas anymore -- and not even on Pandora -- but in Shushan, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Persia. The leading couple go there to get married and find an officiant who will perform inter-species weddings. Thus begins the story of Queen Esther, Mordecai, King Ahasuerus, and the evil Haman. Wear your costumes and be prepared to drown out the name of the king’s wicked chief of staff! Written for adults and children, the spiel begins at 5 p.m. and includes a costume parade.

Immediately following the spiel, the annual Purim Carnival, run by members of Omaha Temple Youth Group, will feature a duck pond, chicken in a pot, dinosaur moonwalk, roller bowler, a cake walk, and more. There will also be hot dogs, cheese pizza, cotton candy, and of course, hamantaschen, compliments of Women of Reform Judaism. Dinner is free. You can thank Esther and Mordecai for that! And no need to go home early to get up for religious school the next day.

Students get the day off.

If you can bake a cake for the carnival cake walk or donate two-liter bottles, please contact Jennifer Miller, 933.0766 or Mary Wampler, 592.7793.

While the children are checking out the games at the carnival, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will facilitate an adult education chat on the complex theological themes of Purim such as: “What does Haman represent? Is God really hidden from the story?” (Esther means hidden.) Rabbi will meet with adults in the Livingston Chapel.

Festivities and study conclude at 8 p.m.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

Cycle of Israeli Arab-Jewish violence sparks sizzling “Ajami”

and machinations are designed not merely to keep the drama percolating but to illuminate the hierarchy within the Arab community. Malek, who is in Israel illegally and

by MICHAEL FOX has no rights, is at the bottom of the pecking order— illustrative of the callous way in which the wider Arab Even by the high standards set by Israeli films in the world views the Palestinians.

In due time, “Ajami” introduces Jewish characters last few years, “Ajami” is a knockout. A crackling urban drama shot with unblinking realism and steeped in whose paths collide with the Arabs we’ve already met. astringent Middle East irony, “Ajami” sinks its hooks in Copti and Shani accomplish this far more organically and believably than films like “Traffic” and “Babel” handled the first minute and never lets up.

Written, directed and edited by Scandar Copti (a their interrelated character arcs, partly because none of Palestinian citizen of Israel) and Yaron Shani (a Tel Aviv the actors are familiar (let alone famous) but largely Jew), “Ajami” takes its name -- and its intersecting plot- because the story feels as if it’s springing from the streets before our eyes. lines -- from the Jaffa The overriding sensaneighborhood where tion of the film is immiJews and Arabs live in nent and omnipresent uneasy proximity. Melting violence, though assuredpot? Try boiling pot. ly not in the quasi-enterThe story unfolds from a taining, nerve-wracking succession of characters’ manner of a Tarantino perspectives, augmented at flick, where a scene might times with flashbacks, that gratuitously skip from grant us entrée to a numconversation to fusillade ber of worlds. The kinetic at any moment. Every effect of this 21st Century shooting and stabbing in neo-realism, achieved via “Ajami” is the surface non-professional actors manifestation of the perand handheld cameras, is petually stressed characto experience this seething ters’ churning suspicion city at the speed of life.

A scene from the movie Ajami and frustration.

“Ajami” has been nomCourtesy of the film’s website www.kino.com/ajami/ Speaking of suspicion, inated for the Academy the filmmakers employ misdirection with great skill to Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film begins with a bang, with a child gunned encourage incorrect first impressions and arrive at wrong down on the street by a duo on a motorcycle. This gut- conclusions—that is, for the viewer to experience what less revenge killing turns out to be a case of mistaken it’s like to be Arab or Jewish in a mistrustful world.

To be clear, “Ajami” isn’t interested in violence -- that identity; the intended target was an innocent Arab teenager who’s been inadvertently thrown into the mid- is, the romantic fatalism or macho glamour that most movies offer—but its crushing consequences, and the dle of an Arab-Arab dispute.

So Omar (Shahir Kabaha) appeals to a well-off, well- ripples of mania and revenge that ensue. The source of connected, Christian Arab restaurant owner, Abu Elias the tension, the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian ter(Youssef Sahwani), who arranges a cease-fire with the ritories, is rarely alluded to for the simple reason that aggrieved Bedouin gang and a meeting to arrange a set- Israeli and Palestinian moviegoers know the backdrop.

Frankly, it would be easier (though less compelling) to tlement. The price is more than Omar can pay, leaving him susceptible to illegal and dangerous schemes to raise watch “Ajami” if it were set somewhere other than Israel. For this remarkably constructed story is also a catthe cash.

One of the workers in Abu Elias’s kitchen is a alog of the residue of bitterness and grief on both sides, Palestinian, Malek (Ibrahim Frege), who’s even younger along with the thwarted potential and wasted resources.

Michael Fox, a film critic, journalist, and more naïve than Omar. He also has money worries, instructorCinemaLit curator and host, of Mechanics’ for his mother urgently needs major surgery.

The first hour of “Ajami” is devoted to the fraught cir- Institute, is based in San Francisco. He can be reached cumstances of these Arab youths, but their motivations at: foxonfilm@yahoo.com.

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Temple Israel’s choir delights congregants on Shabbat Shira

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Director Practicing for Shabbat Shira, Kol Rina, the Temple Israel choir, sang almost the entire Shabbat worship service to the joy of the congregation that evening. It was “a delightful evening,” according to Bob Kully. “It was obvious that Cantor Shermet and the choir had prepared diligently.”

Choir members preparing for Shabbat Shira are, from left, Jeff Schweid, Scott Goodman, Sharon Sobel, Miles Remer, Abby Schondelmeyer, Sarah Schondelmeyer, Marvin Parilman, Lauren Goldstein, Scott Goldberg, Maxine Noodell, and Pam DePorte.

In the month of Adar, people rejoice

by ELYA WILSON Community Shlicha The month of Adar is the month of the Purim festival, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman’s plot to annihilate them, as recorded in Megillat Esther.

As a part Purim’s tradition it is customary to have fun, sing and dance, and drink together! So if you’re 21-35, come to the PuriMardi Gras party sponsored by YJO. We’ll have good music, karaoke, open bar with margaritas and beers, and fun people! The party will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m., at One Pacific Place (apartment compound), admission is $10.

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February 19, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Purim mixed with pasta promises fun for all at Beth El

Feb. 24 by contacting Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550 or programming@bethel-omaha.org. Be sure to include the number of adults and children in your party. At 7:45 p.m., the full Megillah will be read in the chapel.

Gutnik requested that in observance of one of the mitzvot of Purim, attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item (“a box of macaroni makes a great grogger,” she said) for donation; or Beth El grocery certificates may be purchased for donation to the needy.

BILU USY Purim Carnival Tons of fun is also on tap for everyone attending the annual BILU USY Purim Carnival, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. The event will feature age-appropriate game booths, a silent auction and raffle, plus lunch served by the synagogue’s Men’s Club members.

The Purim carnival serves as USY’s biggest fund-raiser of the year; proceeds are used for convention travel expenses and scholarships, and a portion is donated to two charities selected by USY members. The entire community is invited to supYoung children, teens and adults all got to strut their stuff port Beth El’s teens and during the costume parade at last year’s Beth El Family have a great time in the Megillah Reading. They’ll get another chance during this process. year’s Purim festivities on Feb. 27.

According to organizers, Promising fun for all ages, the syna- game tickets are five for $1, four for $1 gogue’s Shushan shenanigans will com- the day of the carnival. Raffle tickets are mence with the boisterous Family $1 each – buy 10 and get one free.

Megillah reading, planned for Saturday, Individual meal tickets are $7, and Feb. 27, following the 6 p.m. Ma’ariv patrons may also take advantage of the service. Attendees will be dazzled by col- combo packages being offered: a combo orful, creative costumes, an entertaining pack (one meal, 10 game tickets and one Purim Spiel performed by USY teens, and raffle ticket) is $8 in advance, $9.50 the of course, an abbreviated reading of the day of the carnival; or the Family Pack Megillah, complete with cheers for (including four meals, 50 game tickets Queen Esther and boos for Haman. and 11 raffle tickets) is $40. New this At the end of the service, all holiday year: a ping pong tournament for all ages, revelers – children and adults alike -- will complete with a prize for the winner. Sign have a chance to strut their stuff during a up to play for only $5. costume parade and costume contest; Tickets orders are being taken now: prizes will be awarded. No attire will be checks -- made payable to Beth El USY – too wacky; the crazier the better! may be sent to Beth El Synagogue, 14506 After the Family Megillah Reading, California St., Omaha NE 68154. For everyone is invited to stay for a free pasta more information about the carnival, conbuffet dinner at 7 p.m., which will also tact carnival chairmen Kylie Kirshenbaum, feature Sisterhood’s delectable haman- 697.1262, Noam Margalit, 502.6762, or taschen. The dinner is free, but for plan- Youth Director Jason Rich, 492.8550, or ning purposes, RSVPs are needed by youthdir@bethel-omaha.org.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Purim fun at Beth El is infectious and entertaining; year after year, the synagogue’s holiday festivities deliver a rollicking good time filled with food, fun, costumes and prizes.

Rash, Rash, Rash or Why the Grogger?

by SYBIL KAPLAN One of the most popular customs for Purim is to drown out the name of the villain, Haman, with a noisemaker. In Hebrew, it is called a ra’ashan; in Yiddish, it is a grogger.

The origin of this custom comes from the Book of Exodus 17:4: “For I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the Heavens.” Haman’s ancestors were Amalekites.

Around the 9th century, it was customary for European Jews to take flat stones or wooden paddles on which Haman’s name was inscribed and beat them together when Haman’s name was mentioned, in the reading of the Megillat Esther. It was also popular to write Haman’s name on the soles of their shoes and then stamp their feet when his name was read, thus erasing his name.

Some form of grogger has been used since the Middle Ages, primarily among Ashkenazic Jews. Today, the traditional

grogger looks like the Hebrew letter dalet, a horizontal piece made of wood or metal with a rotating cylinder or tongue attached to a vertical handle, which, when turned, makes noise.

The custom of using a noisemaker during the reading of the Megillah is more recent among Sephardic Jews.

One also finds groggers decorated with illustrations from the Book of Esther, plastic with clapping hands, and designs in wood and metal. School children often make other containers of paper or metal and fill them with beans, so when they are shaken, they make noise.

Whatever grogger you use for Purim, just make sure you do it loud and often, for in each generation, a Haman has arisen to live among us!

Sybil Kaplan, a journalist, book reviewer, food writer and cookbook author, has two spots on the radio and lives in Jerusalem.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

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by LINDA MOREL NEW YORK (JTA) -- Purim is a busy holiday. It starts with an evening reading of the Megillah of Esther, followed the next morning by the second reading of a story that rivals the pace of a best-selling novel. The plot features a brave and beautiful heroine, a despotic king, a clever uncle and a villain who is destroyed by his own evil plans.

After the morning reading, many people visit family and friends to distribute “mishloach manot,” packages filled with two baked goods and a drink. They also give “matanot l’evyonim,” donations to the needy.

Finally comes the highlight of any Jewish holiday -- a delicious meal. But unlike most Jewish celebrations, where dining occurs at night, the Seudat Purim is a feast served midday, often lingering until evening.

The idea of consuming a meal during daylight hours was decided in the fourth century by the scholar Rava, who thought the timing would prevent Purim from becoming a regular workday.

Bearing out Rava’s worst fears, the lavish luncheon now passes under the radar screen of many, and it is mostly observant Jews who throw Seudat Purims.

However, because Purim falls on a Sunday this year, Feb. 28, it’s an opportunity for the celebration to reach a larger audience.

But how do you get started?

“There’s no such thing as a traditional Seudat Purim,” says Janet Andron Hoffman, a social worker from Teaneck, N.J. Hoffman finds that most families develop their own style of hosting the celebratory lunch. However, the meal begins like other Jewish holidays -- by breaking bread and reciting blessings.

If you’re thinking of guidelines, the Seudat Purim must start midday and end at sundown. Most important, the luncheon should be joyous because it commemorates the Jews of ancient Persia defeating their enemies.

Drinking plays heavily in the Purim story, which opens when King Ahasuerus of Persia gets drunk at a party and asks his first wife to show off her good looks. She refuses, so the king banishes her.

Ahasuerus then holds a contest to select a new wife.

From hundreds of applicants he chooses a nice Jewish girl named Esther. She’s the niece of Mordechai, a prominent Jew who suggested that Esther enter the contest. He warns her not to reveal her religion at court.

In the next scene, Mordechai overhears that the King’s vizier, Haman, is plotting to annihilate the Jews.

Mordechai implores Esther to save the Jewish people by intervening with her husband. She organizes a three-day event at which everyone gets drunk.

Ahasuerus becomes enraged when people he has not summoned request an audience, so Esther gathers her courage and approaches him.

Risking her life, she drops two bombshells: She reveals her religion and exposes Haman’s evil plot. Upon hearing the news, the king becomes so outraged, he hangs Haman on the gallows that the vizier had prepared to murder the Jews.

An ecstatic Mordechai and Esther host a huge celebration. From then on, they want Jews to observe Purim by exchanging packages of food and drink, and by making charitable donations.

“This is what I love about my religion,” Hoffman says.

“Even in the act of rejoicing, we’re still thinking about people in need. It’s built into the holiday.”

The foods eaten at Seudat Purim luncheons are rife with symbolism. Seeds and nuts are customarily cooked into holiday foods. The Talmud relates that Esther as queen ate only seeds and nuts in the palace of King Ahasuerus because she had no access to kosher food.

Some experts believe she subsisted on chickpeas, too.

Many families buy an especially long, braided challah, commemorating the rope used to hang Haman. As turkey is generally known as a stupid animal and Ahaseurus was a foolish king, turkey often is the entree of choice on Seudat Purim menus.

Hamantaschen is the most well-known Purim food because its shape is reminiscent of Haman’s triangular hat. While hamantaschen is often filled with preserves and chocolate, poppy seeds were the traditional filling.

The drinking of alcoholic beverages is not only suggested but encouraged. In the Talmud, Rava said at Purim that people should drink to the point of not remembering whether it is Mordechai or Haman they are praising or cursing. If that degree of drunkenness is not appealing, a Seudat Purim is an occasion to serve your best wines.

Among all Jewish celebrations, this special meal is a time to express joyous revelry and release.

The bottom line is, a Seudat Purim is great fun.

Hoffman has a large house and more than 20 in her extended family, so she has hosted the festive lunch many times. With her three children now in their 20s, her Purim celebrations have evolved as her children have grown.

“The Seudat Purim is an opportunity to be with my family,” Hoffman says. “We love each other and have fun together; we’re lucky in that way.

“We celebrate with food, wine and merrymaking.

We’re all together. What could be better than that?”

Below are some recipes for a Seudat Purim menu.

DRUNKEN TURKEY (MEAT) Because the liqueur in this recipe is cooked through, the alcohol has lost its potency and thus is safe for children to eat.

Turkey Ingredients: No-stick vegetable spray 3-3 1/2 pound turkey breast 1/4 cup orange liqueur Kosher salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Orange Sauce Ingredients: 1/4 cup orange liqueur 1 1/2 cups orange juice 3/4 cup orange marmalade 1 teaspoon lemon juice 6 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons Balsamic vinegar Turkey Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a roasting pan and rack with no-stick spray. Place rack inside of roasting pan.

Rinse turkey breast under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

Place breast skin side down on a plate. Douse with 1/8 cup orange liqueur. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder. Place breast skin side up on rack and repeat, seasoning with remaining orange liqueur, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding any bones. Slide roasting pan inside the oven.

Meanwhile, place Orange Sauce ingredients into a medium-sized pot. Stir well to blend. Bring to a boil on a medium flame. Reduce flame and simmer sauce for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If sauce returns to a boil, reduce heat again. Cool to warm and reserve.

After breast has roasted for 1 1/2 hours, remove it from oven. With a ladle, drizzle Orange Sauce on breast, reserving the remainder. Then return turkey to the oven.

Breast is ready when temperature on the thermometer reaches 170, which takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and wait 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with Orange Sauce.

Yield: 6 servings

POPPY SEED NOODLES (DAIRY OR PAREVE) This recipe from Hungary reminds us of Queen Esther’s plight in King Ahaseurus’ court.

Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package of extra wide egg noodles A few drops of cooking oil 2 shallots 6 tablespoons butter or margarine Kosher salt to taste White pepper to taste 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, garnish Preparation: Prepare noodles according to package directions, adding cooking oil to the boiling water. While noodles boil, chop shallots fine and saute in butter or margarine until translucent, about 2 minutes. Reserve.

When noodles reach the desired tenderness, drain them well in a colander. Place noodles in a large mixing bowl.

Pour shallot butter (or margarine) over them. Add salt, pepper and poppy seeds; stir until blended. Move noodles to an attractive serving bowl and sprinkle parsley over the top. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6 servings (as a side dish) CHICK PEA SALAD (PAREVE) This recipe tastes best when made 24 hours in advance.

Ingredients: 2 (19 ounce) cans chick peas 15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, cut in half 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 1/2 medium-sized red onion, chopped 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Continued on page 11

February 19, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Not just another Purim

ORGANIZATIONS

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots!

Come join us every Thursday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. in the social hall of the JCC. For information call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS The JCC’s Israeli Shilicha, Elya Wilson. A former lieutenant in the Intelligence Division of the Israel Defense

Forces will give us a real insight into Hamas, and the significance of that terrorist organization on politics and life for Israelis on Wednesday, Feb. 24, noon, in the JCC social hall at 333 S. 132nd St. Everyone in the community is invited.

The program is free; an optional lunch is $13; beverage service, $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list, contact Jenny at 334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.

Let the revelry commence Continued from page 10 Kosher salt to taste 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil Preparation: Drain chick peas in a colander. Place chick peas and remaining ingredients in a large bowl and toss until well combined.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Toss again before serving, adding more olive oil and vinegar, if necessary.

Yield: 6-8 servings

ALMOND TRIANGLES (PAREVE) Like hamantaschen, this pastry reminds us of Haman’s three-cornered hat.

Ingredients: No-stick vegetable spray 1 egg 1 cup dark brown sugar (hard lumps removed) 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cardamom 1 cup blanched, slivered almonds,

coarsely chopped Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8inch square baking pan with no-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl, with a wooden spoon hand mix the egg, brown sugar and almond extract. (Don’t use an electric mixer in any step of this recipe.) Fold in flour, baking soda, salt and cardamom, mixing well. Add almonds and stir until well blended.

Place batter in prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until edges brown and top surface is slightly firm to the touch but soft and spongy underneath.

Remove from oven and cool to room temperature on a wire rack. With a knife, cut across the pan, making 3 horizontal but equal strips. Then cut down the length of the pan, making 3 equal vertical strips.

You’ll have 9 squares.

Remove these squares from the pan and cut them in half diagonally, creating triangles. Recipe freezes well.

Yield: 18 triangles

by SHEVI KATZMAN for Chabad Center Purim. The mere mention of this holiday conjures up images of children in costume, scrumtious foods, and joy galore.

At Chabad we take this joy stuff seriously.

And we start early!

The home of Dr. David Gossat of Kearney, Nebraska will be the venue for our premier Purim party. Jews in Kearney and nearby towns are invited to join on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. for a celebration to include Purim how tos, whys, and hamantashen previews. Rabbi Mendel Katzman will lead the engaging discussion. “We are extremely grateful to Dr. Gossat for so graciously opening his home to the Jews of Kearney”, Rabbi Katzman commented.

“He exudes warmth and sincerity which are sure to welcome many,” he added.

Thousands of Hamentashen will come through the assembly line at the famed Rotella’s Italian Bakery on 108th and Q Streets to be shipped to Soldiers defending our people in Israel, to Americans stationed in Afghanistan, and to the earthquake victims and volunteers in Haiti. To accommodate these large quantities, we

will be utilizing the massive 1,200 Hamentashen capacity oven! We invite voluteers to assist with cookie shaping, filling, baking and packing to ensure expedience.

To participate in Hamantashen 5770, contact Shevi Katzman at 570.7491 or email shalom@ ochabad.com. This is our opportunity to share the joys of Purim with thousands throughout the world!

Celebrate the complete Purim package at Purimania, Chabad’s Purim party on Feb. 28. Megillah, mishloach manot, matanot l’evyonim and a delectable feast.

A funny, impromptu Purim Shpiel will be presented. Email shani@ochabad.com to receive your part of the script. No dress rehearsal necessary. The program from 13 p.m. at the Chabad Center will allow you to be home in time for the Winter Olympics viewing.

Megillah and Haman bashing, hamantashen and song are on the schedule to share with family and friends at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home on Purim, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. If you are available to volunteer for this event please contact Mushka at shalom@ochabad.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Brownville Concert Series in its first nineteen years has established a reputation in the local area and nationally as a presenter of the very best musical experiences.

Andrea Marcovicci & Jeff Harner –Easy to Love. The “Queen of Cabaret” joins a perennial Brownville favorite to kick-off the 20th season offering an elegant and polished evening sharing the timeless words and music of the supreme sophisticate of the 20th Century, Cole

Porter. In Brownville on March 5 & 6 in Cabaret, March 7 in Concert. In Omaha on March 9 in Concert at Witherspoon Concert Hall, Joselyn Art Museum.

For ticket information and reservations for the concerts please call 402.825.3331 or 402.274.3661. For more information on the Brownville Concert Series or calendar of this season’s performances go to the website at www.brownvilleconcertseries.com.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

How to have a Civilized Argument

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press As I recently watched the BBYO debates between Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Temple Israel’s Rabbi Eric Linder, I was struck by the ability of both to disagree without resorting to insults. It wasn’t for lack of opportunity: neither shied away from tough topics, and neither downplayed his opinions and beliefs in order to placate the other. Yet, they remained polite and respectful, ever remembering that the purpose of the debate was to educate, rather than emphasize how ‘wrong’ the other was.

It is an ability we as a country seem to have misplaced, if not – at times- lost sight of completely. We have Tea Partiers and raging Liberals, shock jocks and late-night shenanigans, back-room politics and commercials designed to make us fearful and suspicious. If you’re not for us, you’re automatically against us: at the end of the day, it appears easier to throw a shoe than to have a healthy debate. Yet, we share backyards, schools, businesses, communities, and an entire country; at some point we have to figure out how to get past the mudslinging.

As the incoming editor of the Jewish Press, I face a monumental task. The Jewish Press serves a very clear purpose: it informs, it strengthens the community, offers an outlet for that community, and at the same time reflects its accomplishments small and large.

While doing all that, it has to remain relevant, preferably without spelling errors, and without alienating you, the readers.

The question of what alienates readers is an important one, and the way we answer it changes on a daily basis. However, alienation is not the same as making people a little angry, or allowing controversial topics to be covered

in these pages. I believe that the right kind of controversy can be healthy, and a fertile breeding ground for debate. The best thing a newspaper can generate in its readers is passion; to a newspaper editor, the three worst words in the English language are: “I don’t care.”

At the same time, the notion that we can all agree on anything is a myth. This community is extremely diverse, as it should be; we have different opinions about everything, from whether we’ve had enough snow (I think yes) to how kosher we should keep (I’ll cop to loving escargots, and I know some of you will wince). ‘Two Jews, three opinions’ is much more than a cute phrase.

When it comes to political hot buttons, we all like to find our comfort zone. We read this paper, but not that one; we turn off the television when our least favorite anchor is on, we DVR that talk show when the guest is someone we admire. Our favorite news outlets may keep us more or less informed, but if we only watch and read about things we agree with, our opinions aren’t challenged. We run the risk of becoming complacent in our convictions, and that doesn’t do anybody any good.

This paper will continue to bring you articles on what happens in the Omaha Jewish community, and it will keep you informed on matters relating to Jews elsewhere. Some of those articles you may like and heartily agree with; some may make you uncomfortable and slightly irritated. Some may make you rush to your desk and write a letter to the editor. I think if the Jewish Press can do all those things simultaneously, we have done our job; the most important thing is not that we all end up on the same page, but that we are all involved. We have a strong communi-

ty, a community to be proud of and care deeply about, and the Press will continue to reflect that. Let’s celebrate our differences, enjoy them and live with them, rather than try to deny and gloss over what sets us apart.

As editor, I’ll have a lot of help; I am only a small cog in the well-oiled machinery that is the Jewish Community. I owe an enormous debt to a great many people for giving me such a marvelous opportunity, and specifically to Carol Katzman, who has done this job so capably for so many years. She’s left me some very large shoes to fill; I promise not to throw them.

This time, J Street claimed that we had contributed money to an Israel-based Zionist organization named Im Tirtzu that published an offensive advertisement demonizing the head of the New Israel Fund. Yet CUFI has never supported Im Tirtzu. The actual donor was John Hagee Ministries, an independent entity with a different focus -- and the ad in question was published without the consent or knowledge of John Hagee Ministries.

Not content to merely mistake our actions, J Street proceeded to slur our chairman, John Hagee. In the only other piece of information that J Street provided about us, the organization claimed that Pastor Hagee “once said that Hitler was sent by God to force Jews to move to Israel.”

The lines J Street paraphrases come from a long sermon in which Pastor Hagee was wrestling with the perennial theological question of how a God who loves the Jewish people could have allowed the Holocaust. Like many rabbis before him, Pastor Hagee suggested a connection between this low point in Jewish history and the high point that would follow a mere three years later with the birth of the State of Israel.

It is certainly fair to object to this interpretation. But it is quite another thing to cite this one line in isolation to create an image of Pastor Hagee that is completely at odds with his life’s work.

J Street intentionally obscures the fact that John Hagee has devoted his entire career to combating anti-Semitism. J Street ignores the fact that American Jewish leaders from Elie Wiesel to Abraham Foxman, and Israeli leaders from Prime Minister Netanyahu to Ambassador Michael Oren, have all recognized Pastor Hagee as a leading Christian ally in the fight against anti-Semitism. And J Street neglects to mention Pastor Hagee’s expression of regret for any pain his sermon may have caused and his pledge to be more sensitive in his future theological speculation.

Yet no one should be surprised that J Street

has resorted to such distortions to shut opposing voices out of the debate. The group's disdain for opposing views extends all the way to Israel itself.

Most pro-Israel organizations, including Christians United for Israel, support the positions of the democratically elected government of Israel. We do not live within Hamas or Hezbollah missile range. We do not send our children off to the Israeli army. Whatever our personal views, we in CUFI believe that the difficult decisions about Israeli policy must be made by those who will most directly bear the consequences of the decisions: the Israeli people.

J Street's leaders, by contrast, are confident that they know better than Israel’s voters. Like many in the pro-Israel community, J Street supports a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and American pressure on the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table and cease anti-Israel incitement. Unlike many of us, however, J Street also favors U.S. pressure on Jerusalem, continuing to see Israel as a barrier to peace despite the Palestinians' repeated rejections of Israeli offers of statehood. Rather than persuade the Israeli people through reasoned debate, J Street has sought to override their will through American fiat.

The stakes are high and the time is short.

Iran has announced that it will begin enriching uranium to even higher levels. Hezbollah and Hamas continue to stockpile missiles. We in the pro-Israel camp need to come together to combat these existential threats to the Jewish state we all love.

The time has come for J Street to be true to its founding principles and devote itself to a serious debate on the merits. If it continues its present course, J Street’s only contribution to the Middle East debate will be to import into it the ugliest aspects of America’s broken politics.

David Brog is the executive director of Christians United for Israel. Before joining CUFI, Brog served as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The founding of J Street in 2008 sparked much debate in the pro-Israel community. Many were concerned that the group would be overly critical of the Jewish state and thus erode the pro-Israel consensus in the United States.

I and others disagreed and welcomed J Street’s stated desire to “broaden the public and policy debate in the U.S. about the Middle East.” It disturbed me that there were those who would seek to preclude any reasonable voice from competing in the marketplace of ideas.

Sadly, J Street has disappointed many of us who originally welcomed the group. Rather than seek to broaden the debate, J Street has worked to silence opposing voices. Rather than contribute new ideas to our dialogue, it too often has peddled misinformation and slurs. And rather than buttress Israel’s democracy, J Street has exhibited contempt for it.

When J Street was created, I had looked forward to working with adults dedicated to higher principle. Instead, we have suffered the attacks of partisans devoted to winning the news cycle.

As the executive director of Christians United for Israel, I have had firsthand experience with J Street’s unfortunate tactics. J Street does not like CUFI and from the very beginning has sought to banish us from the pro-Israel camp. Toward this end, J Streeet has made a series of false claims about CUFI policy and Christian theology. J Street has gone so far as to pressure public figures not to speak to our members. A particular low point was J Street’s extensive (and unsuccessful) petition campaign aimed at forcing U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) to cancel his appearance at our 2008 summit in Washington.

So much for broadening the debate.

Just last week, J Street again attacked CUFI.

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.

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J Street’s wrong turn

F OCUS ON ISSUES

by DAVID BROG

(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

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

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February 19, 2010

The vital center and Modern Orthodoxy confronting our rich and diverse community are being ignored or overlooked due to the continuous F OCUS ON ISSUES internecine battles. An official split only would exacerby SHMUEL HAIN

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Another month, another round of recriminations in the Modern Orthodox community.

Two months ago it was a breakaway rabbinic organization established, in part, to promote decentralized conversion standards. Last month it was a public forum on homosexuality in the Orthodox community.

The latest controversy centers on the decision by two rabbis to bestow the title of rabba, a feminized version of rabbi, on a woman previously ordained with the title of Maharat.

Public pronouncements followed by denouncements that generate name-calling and more rhetoric: chilul Hashem (desecration of God’s name). Conservative. Post Orthodox. Fundamentalist. Haredi. Beyond the pale.

Many are making the argument that the time has come to state the inevitable or to admit that which already has occurred: There is no longer a cohesive, singular Modern Orthodoxy. Separate rabbinical schools and separate rabbinic organizations, the argument goes, reflect the reality of a community divided.

Some on the right wing of Modern Orthodoxy would be pleased with such a split. Armed with the “truth” of our tradition and rabbinic authority, they would declare triumphantly that the left’s assault on Orthodoxy was now over as the left wing would now “officially” be relegated to “Conservative Judaism” status. Some on the left also would be validated, as they would finally have “conclusive proof” that the “shift to the right” and its “delegitimizing” have created the need for new institutions that uphold the “true” values of Modern Orthodoxy as opposed to the “haredi-lite” monolithic positions of the right wing of the movement.

However, the big losers in the schism sweepstakes are, or would be, all of Modern Orthodoxy’s adherents, from left to right. The many challenges and opportunities

bate the problem, with each side claiming to be the true Modern Orthodoxy while projecting itself as the victim of attacks and blaming the other side for the schism.

Moreover, it is unclear whether a bifurcation blame game would produce the sociological outcome of two totally separate camps, as many Modern Orthodox Jews defy neat categorization and labels.

Rather than expending all of our time and energy on divisive debates about who is Orthodox and on deciding the extreme “team” to which we belong or identify, we must shift our focus to the center and to substance. Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein once said that “It is of centrism’s very essence to shy away from simplistic and one-sided approaches, of its very fabric to strive to encompass and encounter reality in its complexity and, with that encounter, to seek the unity which transcends the diversity.”

Let’s take the current storm in which the core issue is being drowned out amid the cacophony of controversy.

Instead of one side pushing the envelope further on female rabbis by unilaterally announcing another name for female clergy through a news release, and the other side reacting by calling such a move beyond the pale of Orthodoxy and/or scornfully snickering at the title, should we not be discussing how to create halachically and communally accepted positions for female scholars to serve as role models and spiritual, pastoral and educational resources in some of our shuls and communities?

In the past few years, several Modern Orthodox rabbis and their communities have hired qualified women to serve in these substantive capacities, recognizing all that these individuals have to offer their members. A consensus exists among these rabbis and their communities that employing women in these roles is beneficial and halachically desirable, even as each rabbi and community has chosen a different job description and title. We bemoan

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

the dearth of educators and leaders and, especially, female role models in Modern Orthodoxy; let’s encourage our best and brightest to enter these fields and assure them that they will have our support and our respect.

Ultimately, Modern Orthodoxy will be much better served by promoting substantive and individualized roles for women across the broad spectrum rather than allowing the extreme camps to set the communal agenda.

Only by setting aside the cycle of labeling and attacks, and engaging in meaningful dialogue with one another will we be able to address this, and other pressing matters, as a mature community. If we collectively propose models and ideas that take into account the variegated and complex social and halakhic realities of our individual and collective communities (that is a lot of ifs, I realize), we will promote enhanced commitment to Modern Orthodox Judaism and its values, as well as fostering unity.

Long ago, W. B. Yeats had an apocalyptic vision -- a vision that captures the current climate of Modern Orthodoxy in America: “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.”

Our challenge, to paraphrase the great American historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., is to make sure that the vital center holds and grows, as the best hope for our future lies in the widening and deepening of the center of Modern Orthodoxy. We cannot afford to continue letting loose the blood-dimmed tide. Our best, not just our most extreme, must display a sense of conviction with passionate intensity.

Rabbi Shmuel Hain, spiritual leader of Young Israel Ohab Zedek in Riverdale, N.Y. He serves as the rosh beit midrash of Yeshiva University’s graduate program in biblical and Talmudic interpretation for women.

Israel on Canadian college campuses: an uphill battle

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by NOAM BEDEIN

Presenting the human side of Sderot, Israel and the western Negev seems innocuous enough, as it is the only region in the western world where rockets and missiles target a civilian population. The people of southern Israel have their own story to share.

Yet after a 13-day coast-to-coast visit to Canadian college campuses, organized by Hillel Canada and the CIJA umbrella organization of Canadian Jewry, it would seem that even Sderot residents must fight for their legitimate right to live in the land of Israel.

The purpose of this trip was to balance the after-effects of the “Gaza narrative”, exactly one year after Israel’s 21-day Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

On Canadian college campuses, the challenge became to justify the very existence of the city of Sderot.

This was best exemplified by an article published in a Winnipeg student newspaper, by a Palestinian-Canadian sociology student. This student amazingly attacked the credibility of another student for sharing her experiences visiting Sderot. This student had described her shock at the ‘15-second’ alarm, known as the “Color Red,” which warns Sderot residents of only a few seconds to escape to safety from the missile fired from Gaza to the time it explodes in Sderot.

The Palestinian student showed little sympathy for Sderot under fire: “Sderot is actually a settlement on the Palestinian land of Najd, an illegally occupied territory stolen from Palestinians. It is a town created on the ashes of an ethnically cleansed and defaced Palestinian village....You want to talk about ‘terror’? Najd’s Palestinian villagers were expelled on May 13, 1948 by Israeli forces before Israel was even declared a state.”

Here is a well-educated student born in Canada, of Palestinian descent, who calls the Israeli town of Sderot an illegitimate “settlement,” constructed on the ruins of an Arab village abandoned during the 1948 war. Indeed this same student makes no acknowledgement of the historical fact that between 1951-1953, the Jews that settled in Sderot were from among the 850,000 Jews expelled in masses from Arab countries in the Middle East. During and after the 1948 war, 670,000 Palestinian Arab refugees were forced or fled from their homes.

Indeed, this Canadian-Palestinian college student was not the first to rationalize the thousands of aerial attacks

and terrorizing of Sderot and southern Israel civilians.

“You know why Sderot is under rocket fire? Because there was an Arab village called Najd,” began a BBC reporter in an interview.” I recall the reporter sitting in our Sderot Media Center office trying to find a ‘reasonable excuse’ to justify rocket fire against a civilian population.

Ironically, most Israelis/Jews do not even know that Palestinians and their leadership define Sderot as an illegal ‘settlement,’ while under international law it is undisputedly a city in the State of Israel.

Indeed, the first question I often ask student audiences during presentations is the following: “If Sderot is a settlement and two miles northeast of Sderot lies the ruins of the Arab village called Najd, which the Palestinians say had a population of 30 families, who now live in the United Nations refugee camps in Gaza, what’s the justification for Jews to live in Sderot or anywhere else in Israel?”

The challenge today is to first actually ask these basic questions, before throwing around answers or solutions for the modern Arab-Israeli conflict.

“What is our right, as Jews and as Israelis, to this country in our homeland? Do we have any rights to this land at all?”

This is the one way to get across and present Israel’s perspective to Muslims, pro-Palestinians, Israel critics and to the international press. By asking this basic question, we ask everyone to realize that Israel is the only independent country whose legitimacy as a state is being questioned.

The leadership and governing bodies of the Palestinian side do not recognize Sderot’s establishment in the first years of the creation of the Jewish state, while most Israelis/Jews have accepted a two- state solution.

Another Canadian-Palestinian student expressed himself during the presentation at Carleton University in Ottawa, “You Jews dreamt to go back to your home land after 2,000 years… Why do you think we will stop teaching our children to dream to return to our homes in AlMajdal (Ashkelon) after only 60 years?”

In other words, educated Canadian born Palestinian students living comfortably abroad view Sderot quite simply as an illegal settlement and do not recognize the Jewish State of Israel. They do not accept our existence as Israelis. So does the opposite apply to a Palestinian raised in a United Nations refugee camp, who has not been given any solution or hope for the past 60 years(even though the UN has resettled more than 50 million refugees worldwide since World War II), will that Palestinian recognize my existence as an Israeli?

Instead, Palestinian education focuses on the preparation of the Palestinian people for the ‘right of return’ to homes and villages from 1948 Israel which no longer exist. Homes and villages, for example, in and around

cities like Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beersheba, and more which have all been under terrorist missile fire.

“So, what’s your solution to this reality?” students asked at each Canadian campus that I visited. I always answer, “I’m not here to present you a solution. I’m here to articulate the problem.”

The answer to that logical question is that there may not be any instant “solution.” Yet that should not exempt students from knowing the reality of what people in Israel have to cope with. Rockets have become a daily routine of life in Israel, where one civilian population is being targeted by rockets and rocket-launchers take cover under another civilian population on the other side of the border. Can this definition of terrorism be understood from a typical five-second daily news broadcast in Israel in the past four years?

“Two rockets fell outside of Sderot today. No injuries and no damages,” is how the typical broadcast or news update would read, followed by a weather report in Israel.

These five-second news reports have now tallied up to 311 attacks and include 20 different types of rockets, Iranian missiles and mortars fired from Gaza since the END of the military operation in Gaza on Jan. 18, 2009.

If things were truly clear about our rights as Jews to live in Israel, I would not have found myself providing a testimony to a Jew, Judge Richard Goldstone in Geneva.

I was allowed a 30-minute presentation where I described to the Goldstone Commission the eight years of life under rocket fire, and concluded by raising my hands in front of them and saying, “I do not have enough fingers on my hands to count the amount of times rockets exploded only 10 meters from a kindergarten packed with children….”

“Why do we have to wait until a kindergarten or classroom full of children suffers a direct hit by a rocket, in order for Israel to have the international support and sympathy to do what is right to protect our own citizens?”

This was the question I put forth to Judge Goldstone and the rest of the panel of UN judges, which was met only with stone silence.

The time has come to raise these questions to college students around the world, and to provide them with proper and accurate answers for them to stand up with for Israel and for themselves as proud supporters of Israel.

By generating that kind of awareness, we promote peace without instant solutions and we force the world of public opinion to acknowledge the real barriers for peace, beginning with the continuing refusal of the Arab world to recognize the legitimacy of Sderot and of Israel.

Noam Bedein is the Director of Sderot Media Center.

For more information visit www.SderotMedia.org.il.

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

Candlelighting Friday, February 19, 5:46 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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Allan Handleman, 402.334.6451

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (grades 3-7), 10 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 5:50 p.m.

USY SHABBAT: Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

JR. CONGREGATION FAMILY SHABBAT: A learning service for students and parents, it provides an opportunity for leadership, camaraderie and spirituality. Students meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday; parents join them in the chapel at 11 a.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.

NITZANIM: Sunday, 10:15 a.m. All families in the Jewish community with three and fouryear-olds are invited to this program to learn about the mitzvot and customs of Purim. Crafts, movement, refreshments and fun promised for all. No charge to attend; to register, contact Judy Rubin at 498.0904, or eddir@ bethel-omaha.org.

THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Understanding and Living Jewish Values, noon.

SHABBAT TUNES & TALES: Saturday, Feb. 27, 11:15 a.m.

Sing-along and stories for children up to age five and their parents, led by “Miss Patty” Nogg.

Open to all families; no charge.

PURIM FAMILY MEGILLAH READING: Saturday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m. services and Family Megillah reading. Free pasta dinner will follow around 7 p.m. Full Megillah reading, 7:45 p.m. (See full article on page 9) PURIM CARNIVAL: Sunday, Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

HAZAK: Group for those 55+ will visit the Durham Museum on Sunday, March 7, 1 p.m. Cost is $8. RSVPs due by Feb. 24 and may be made by sending a check to Esther Wax, 118 S. 88th St., Omaha NE 68114. Need a ride?

Call Wax, 393.4442 or Helen Rifkin, 393.1283.

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, 5:46 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9

a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush sponsored the Oxman family in honor of the Beth Israel community and in thanks for your support during this difficult time; “Guard Your Tongue,” “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up), one hour prior to Mincha every Shabbat; Mincha, 5:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:47 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.; Children’s Purim Project with Rabbi Mizrahi, 10:15 a.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.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.; Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY: Fast of Esther: Fast Begins, 5:43 a.m.; Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Fast Ends, 6:45 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m

LJCS Teachers, 12:30 p.m. at South Street Temple; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street: “Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

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

Joint Purim Celebration with Tifereth Israel, Saturday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. Havdalah service followed by a Purim service. The evening includes a costume parade and megillah reading.

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.

CHABAD HOUSE

FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet.

Come for birthday and anniversary blessings.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. and Tyler Brooke Schneiderman, children of Heidi and Scott Schneiderman, will celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Tour St. Cecilia Cathedral, 9:30 a.m. with Cantor Shermet. Please register with Director Wendy Program Goldberg; Hamentaschen Baking, 10 a.m.; Grade 5 at Food Bank, 10 a.m. Meet at Temple; Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Children’s Choir Rehearsal, noon. Pizza lunch provided for choir members and younger sibilings; OTYG Presents: A Night in Italy, 5 p.m. Annual Spaghetti Dinner for Camp Rainbow and Camp Coholo.

Contact Amy Katz, akatz@templeisraelomaha.com to donate an item for auction. Contact Temple for a reservation. Adults $10, Kids 3-12 years old $4, no charge for children two and younger, Table Sponsor $80.

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.

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

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded.

Kiddush lunch follows -- join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 12:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings Remix, 10:15 a.m.; Class in Kearney, NE - learn with Rabbi Katzman and other Jews in Kearney at the home of Dr. David Gossat, 7 p.m.

RSVP to rsvp@ochabad. com or 402.330.1800.

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.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m.

Questions?

Contact Deborah Swearingen.

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: Grades 3-6, 46 p.m.; OTYG Fun, Games, and Treats, 5 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6-8 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.; Religious School Steering Committee Meeting, noon.

Health Care for the Future, Friday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. with Ruth Margalit, M.D. (See full article on page 5) Purim Spiel, Dinner and Carnival, Saturday, Feb. 27, 5-8 p.m. (See full article on page 7)

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Chef’s Demo, 1 p.m.

by Temple Israel.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by David Herzog & Jim Polack.

THURSDAY: LOVE Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:46 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: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch sponsored by Nancy and Charlie Coren in memory of Nancy’s father, Leon Chesnin and 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; LJCS Teachers, 12:30 p.m. 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.

Joint Purim Celebration with B’nai Jeshurun, Saturday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. Havdalah service followed by a Purim service. The evening includes a costume parade and megillah reading.

The Jewish Federation of Lincoln invites you to a performance from the klezmer group Abraham Inc on Saturday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center followed by a dessert reception. The Federation has a block of tickets available at $16.15 per person. RSVP by Feb. 24.

Large print living will available Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the large print “Jewish Halachic Living Will”, produced by the Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Union. Forward your request on your formal stationery by fax to: 718.338.0653 or send an e-mail to jewishheritage@gmail.com. Requests must include a phone number to confirm delivery.

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

February 19, 2010

The Sanctuary

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Terumah The Israelite people were asked to bring gifts for the construction of the new sanctuary. The gifts were silver and gold and brass. (Notice: silver precedes gold and was apparently considered more precious!)

There were other things needed for the sanctuary: beautiful drapes, long poles by which to carry it, and a beautiful cabinet (called an “aron”). Everything was to be overlaid with pure gold.

There seems to be no question about where all this “stuff” was found in the wilderness. The assumption seems to be that the Israelites carried all of this out of Egypt, as though they expected to need it. And it was considered their right to take all of these things after the long period of slavery, during which, of course, they were not paid anything.

Notice to fundraisers: Moses had to tell the people that “we have more than enough; bring no more.”

Notice the Hebrew word “terumah.” Find out what it means and why this handling of the gifts required “raising.” And notice, too, that we still use this expression: for whatever purpose, we go out and raise funds. This expression seems to be natural. And so does this one: it takes money to raise money.

We must be sure, when we are asked for money, that the cause before us is a worthy one and there is no scam hiding behind the request. In our own immediate time, the cause of Haiti is certainly one to which we ought to give our money and our attention.

Jewish biathlete bringing passion to Vancouver Continued from page 1 Spector grew up on a farm in Lenox where her family keeps llamas, alpacas, goats, horses, sheep, turkeys and chickens. She does her academic work during the spring and summer to free up the fall and winter for training and competition.

In high school she would wake before the sun to make tracks on her skis in a field behind the family home. She discovered biathlon at a camp for the sport in Lake Placid, N.Y., when she was 14.

“It was my first experience with shooting a gun, but I loved combining two sports -- cross-country skiing (in this case running because it was summer time) and marksmanship -- to make each a little more challenging,” Spector wrote in an e-mail. “Therefore, the greater the reward when you do well.”

Her parents describe her as unusually precocious and passionate who, from a young age, was adept at meeting challenges.

“She’s not a frivolous kid,” said Spector’s mother, Patty, herself a national champion in marathon canoe racing. “Even when she’s on the road and traveling, she reads books that most people her age would never go near or pick up. She just finished ‘The Gulag Archipelago.’”

When she became a bat mitzvah at the Conservative Congregation Knesset Israel Synagogue in nearby Pittsfield, where her family has been members for 30 years, Spector conducted the entire Shabbat service in keeping with the synagogue’s tradition of lay-led services. Spector also attended the synagogue’s Hebrew school.

“For me, being Jewish is a lot about family and community, and the continuity of tradition,” Spector said.

“There is an entire congregation at home responsible for the shaping of my religious and cultural identity.

There is comfort in knowing that these are people who have known me since I was born and have instilled in me thousands of years of tradition in ethical behavior.”

Though generally considered a minor sport by Americans, biathlon is wildly popular in Europe and is said to be the continent’s top-rated televised winter sport. Patty Spector compares it to NASCAR racing in the United States.

The Spectors have watched their daughter perform in stadiums packed with thousands of fans in Europe, and they are in Vancouver to cheer for Laura and the other American athletes.

“What Jewish mother would not go see their daughter?” Patty said.

DEATHS SUSAN BLOCH Susan Bloch, 87. Funeral services in New Jersey followed by burial in New York.

She was preceded in death by husband and three siblings.

She is survived by children, Bonnie Bloch and Howard Gendelman, Bruce and Debbie Bloch of NJ; Six grandchildren; Seven great-grandchildren; two sisters of PA and MD. She was an avid dancer, musician, singer, and worldtraveler.

Memorials to Odyssey VistaCare Hospice Foundation or Alzheimer’s Foundation of the Midlands.

VICTOR CUKIER Funeral services were held at Beth El Cemetery on Feb. 12 for Victor Cukier, who died Feb. 9.

A native of Poland and a Holocaust survivor, he moved to Omaha with his wife, Celia, in 1957.

He was preceded in death by his wife, and is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Miriam Cukier and Mark Smith of New York City, and Toby and Mel Thorstensen of Omaha; grandchildren Emily and Erik; and great-grandson, Caleb.

Memorials to the Kripke Library or the Institute for Holocaust Education.

IRVING “MARC” MARCUS A resident of Omaha, Irv, also known to his relatives at “Marc,” passed away Feb. 15 in Lincoln, at the age of 83.

He was born in New York City, served honorably in the United States Navy during World War II, and moved to Kansas City where he married Harriet Etta Lerer on Dec. 25, 1948. He was employed by the Zale Corporation for 35 years. Irv was known for his great sense of humor and passion for jewelry.

He is preceded in death by his half-brother, Irving Poder, and sister, Henrietta Trichter.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Harriet; son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Karen Marcus of Avon, CT; daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Rich Konz of Franklin, WI; granddaughters, Jennifer and Michaela Marcus; grandsons, Matthew, Zachary and Aaron Konz; niece, Phyllis Alden of Pepper Pike, OH; and sister-inlaw, Betty Lerer of New York City.

Services were held on Thurs, Feb. 18 at Beth El Cemetery Family Chapel of Remembrance, 84th & L Streets.

Memorials to the Ambassador Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility, 4405 Normal Blvd, Lincoln, NE, 68506, or the charity of your choice.

Preschool Purim fun planned during Beth El program

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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CARL DETHLEFS & Sons 42nd Annual Angus Production Sale. Friday, March 5, 2010, 1:00 p.m. CST. Jerry and Gary Dethlefs, Rockville, NE, dethlefsangus.com, 308-3723200.

GOVERNMENT FUNDS available for Manufactured Homes. We own the bank.

Damaged credit okay. Zero down programs if you own the land. 15 homes available.

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SPORTS BAR for lease, fully equipped kitchen, in Sidney, NE. This restaurant is setting on an eighteen-hole golf course. 308-249-2248.

TIME HAS run out. Must sell 4-bedroom manufactured home. Owner will finance. Must move to your land. 785-841-4887.

TURN KEY Auction: Bud’s Steakhouse, Lounge & Campground on leased land on Lake Maloney, North Platte. Quality kitchen equipment, coolers, bar, furnishings, camper hook-ups and more included. Minimum Reserve $85,000. Saturday, 2-27-10, 10:30 a.m. Central Time. Email brucerichmanc21@yahoo.com for flyer. CENTURY21 Select Properties, 1-800-511-2121.

Preschoolers and their favorite adults have flocked to Beth El’s Nitzanim programs, above, for almost two years now, enjoying fun activities while learning about the Jewish holidays. The next program, focusing on the holiday of Purim, is planned for Sunday, Feb. 21, 10:15 a.m., at the synagogue. Geared to three- and four-year-olds, Nitzanim is open to all families in the Jewish community. There is no charge to attend; to register, contact Education Director Judy Rubin at 498.0904, or eddir@bethelomaha.org.

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

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IF A loved one underwent Hemodialysis and received Heparin between August 1, 2007, and April 1, 2008, and died after the use of Heparin, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorney Charles Johnson, 1-800-535-5727.

Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 19, 2010

Jewish-Muslim study course grounds interfaith dialogue in sacred text

by SUE FISHKOFF BERKELEY (JTA) -- Judaism is a harsh, exacting faith condemning rebellious children to death by stoning.

Islam exhorts Muslims to kill non-believers.

Neither statement, according to many Jewish and Muslim scholars, is true. But they are among the most persistent charges laid at the feet of Judaism and Islam by those who are unfamiliar with the basic holy texts of the other’s faith.

Hampered by such ignorance, how can Jews and Muslims engage in real interfaith dialogue?

A new graduate-level course in Berkeley, billed as the first of its kind, aims to rectify this failing, at least for the 40 or so students enrolled.

“Madrasa/Midrasha: Muslim-Jewish Text Study,” a nine-week course spearheaded by the Progressive Jewish Alliance and run by the Center for Jewish Studies and the Center for Islamic Studies of the Graduate Theological Union, introduces students of both faiths to the methodologies and foundational content of the Koran, Torah and Talmud.

Each session is co-taught by a Jewish and a Muslim scholar. The course also is open to the public.

The field of Jewish-Muslim dialogue and engagement is growing fast. According to a not-yet-published survey by the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement in Los Angeles, 13 of 18 groups involved in this work were launched in the past seven years, and six of them in the past two years.

The new Berkeley program stands out from the pack by its focus on rigorous text study. While 50 percent of the interfaith groups surveyed indicated they would like to do comparative study of sacred texts, experts in the field say very few actually engage in such work beyond one workshop, and none do so at the graduate level.

This Berkeley program is very special,” says Rabbi Reuven Firestone of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, which two years ago partnered with the University of Southern California and the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation to form the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement.

In January 2009, Firestone co-taught the text study section of a pilot program in joint text study and inter-

faith relationship-building run by the center and NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.

The joint text study was conducted similarly to the new Graduate Theological Union course, although it was not part of a graduate level program.

Naomi Seidman, left, explains the layout of a Torah page to a Muslim- Jewish text study class in Berkeley while coinstructor Hatem Bazian looks on, Feb. 2, 2010.

Credit: A.H. Sellars The center is looking for funding to replicate the course for other institutions. Neither Firestone nor organizers of the Berkeley course know of similar initiatives elsewhere.

Instructors in both courses say that bringing together adherents of both faiths in text-centered dialogue defuses some of the tensions that typically crop up in interfaith groups by focusing attention in a third direction: the page of a book.

“The experience of reading a Torah story we know as it appears in the Koran, seeing where it overlaps and differs, is very moving,” Firestone says. “It elicits questions. Your dialogue partner becomes the representative of a deeply fascinating religious tradition” rather than someone you’re trying to persuade of the rightness of your cause.

At the Berkeley course’s first meeting Feb. 2, Professor Naomi Seidman, director of the Center for Jewish Studies at GTU, shows the class a page from Genesis, demonstrating how one line of Torah might be surrounded by pages of commentary.

“The Torah is always read through the lens of rabbinic literature,” she explains.

Flipping to Exodus, she reads the Hebrew, “Ayin

tachat ayin,” and continues in English, “an eye for an eye, that’s the ‘proof text’ that the God of Israel is a vengeful god.” In fact, she points out, Judaism never understood that dictum literally, but follows the Talmudic interpretation that such crimes demand appropriate monetary compensation -- an interpretation that is at the root of contemporary tort law.

Hatem Bazian, a senior lecturer in Near Eastern and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and Seidman’s co-teacher for the night, provided similar insight into the Koran, believed by Muslims to be the word of Allah as revealed to his prophet Muhammad.

Muhammad had four main functions, Bazian begins -- prophet, head of state, judge and military commander. One cannot understand a passage from the Koran without determining in which function Muhammad proclaimed it. If he was speaking as a prophet, the ruling has universal applicability, whereas if he was speaking as a judge, it might apply only to the case before him.

Misapplying such rulings can lead to grave wrongs, Bazian suggests, such as nation-states that don’t protect the rights of all citizens.

Munir Jiwa, founding director of the GTU’s Center for Islamic Studies, says that when Jews and Muslims explore their sacred texts, they discover deep bonds of intellect and faith -- for example, shared assumptions about the primacy of religious law that is absent from Christianity. This can bring them closer as two minorities in a Christian-dominated culture.

When Bazian discussed an Islamic ruling on ablutions after touching one’s genitalia during the first evening’s class, the Jewish students “didn’t think it was weird,” Jiwa points out, because Judaism, too, regulates bodily functions via religious rituals.

“This course allows us to struggle with our texts in a scholarly way, as well as faith practitioners,” he says.

“People walked out that first night amazed by the commitment to learning they saw in each faith.”

Hatice Yildiz, a doctoral student at GTU who wears a hijab, or head covering, proclaiming her a religious Muslim, says she didn’t know the Talmud was the basic source for Jewish law. She says she’s taking the course “because I have a lot to learn about Judaism.”