Vol. LXXXVII No. 25 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
by LARRY LUXNER MIAMI (JTA) -- Fidel Castro’s announcement last week that he’ll step down after 50 years as president of Cuba may be cause for celebration in South Florida -but Cuban exiles here say precious little will change for the few Jews remaining on the island “This means absolutely nothing for the Cuban Jewish community,” said Jaime Suchlicki, director of the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. “Why would they be affected? There will be no change in policy.” Omaha Rabbi Maximo Shechet, who left Cuba as a young teen to attend yeshiva Cuban exiles play chess at Maximo Gomez Park in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, a Credit:: Larry Luxner in New York, thinks there hotbed of anti-Castro sentiment in South Florida. will eventually be “pay back.” Many of Miami’s Cubans freedom in the country. The country’s new leadership is still remember their lossses, he said, surmising that not expected to make any immediate changes to the sta“there might be bloodshed,” not necessarily by Jews, tus quo on either of these two policies. Stanley Cohen, international chairman of the B’nai but by others who still harbor resentment toward the Communist takeover, and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion B’rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project, said Castro’s retirement will have no effect on Cuba’s foreign relations. in 1961 during John F. Kennedy’s administration. Castro’s younger brother Raúl Castro, who has been Cohen has taken more than 900 Americans to Cuba on directing the country’s day-to-day affairs since Fidel 35 humanitarian missions through B’nai B’rith. He estitook ill about a year and a half ago, is widely expected to mates that Cuba has some 1,300 Jews, many of them be named his brother’s official successor by Cuba’s 31- converts. “In Cuba, they’ve resigned themselves to the fact that member Council of State when the council meets in Fidel is no longer there. It’s the rest of the world that’s Havana this week. While Cuba under Fidel Castro has been stridently concerned,” he said. anti-Israel, Cuba’s Jews have enjoyed relative religious Continued on page 2
New JFS Assistance Coordinator brings a lifetime of service to others
Inside
makes perfect sense for me,” she says of her current placement in relation to her previous experience. She was approached about the open position at JFS and is up and running with the job already. Previous work as an Assessment Coordinator for an assisted living facility and volunteer work for more than 30 years for organizations from National Council of Jewish Women-Omaha Section, Hadassah, and Temple Israel, to Omaha Symphony, Junior the new Assistance Coordinator League’s Jumble Shop, and the Henry Doorly Zoo has prepared her well for her post as the point-ofcontact for every assistance client inquiring at JFS. Most of her career, to this point, has been spent in the healthcare industry in settings ranging from hospital to skilled care, but she’s enthusiastic about working with people of every age. Continued on page 2
This Week: Women’s Health Section starts on page 15
See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 20
Obama surges in primaries, faces critcism related to Israel: Page 4-5
February 29, 2008
Noted psychologist still pushing ideas some think are radical
Castro gone but Cuban Jews expect little to change, for now
by ANDREA BARTMAN for Jewish Family Service She describes herself as “educated as a nurse -trained as a volunteer,” but her spirit of service to others was instilled at an early age by her father. Sandy Nogg is the new Assistance Coordinator at Jewish Family Service, and she’s bringing her passion for people to the job. Nogg describes growing up at home with her father, who was a country doctor, and her mother, his nurse, and how paying visits to people in need Sandy Nogg has been named as was just part of a normal for Jewish Family Service. day for her. She went along on these visits before there were laws restricting an eight-year-old from serving lunch trays at the nursing home or helping make someone comfortable at home when they were ill. She’s spent her whole life in volunteer service in addition to working, so there’s nothing new to her about helping out where it’s needed. “Being in a non-profit
23 Adar I, 5768
by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press Almost 40 years after publishing his groundbreaking book, Ten Heavy Facts About Sex, Dr. Sol Gordon continues to push parents, school districts and others to respond to children and teens. And he hasn’t given up the hope that adults can be trained to be “askable.” He’ll say it again on Wednesday, March 5, 7 p.m., when he speaks to parents and teens at the Jewish Community Center about “Being an Askable Parent.” Now Professor Emeritus after a long distinguished career as founder of the Institute for Family Research and Education at Syracuse University in upstate New York, Dr. Gordon is a proponent of discussing these issues and others with children because, as he told the Jewish Press, “No one else is doing it. There’s little sex education in the schools today. So parents have to respond to their children’s questions. Where are they going to get answers? You can’t count on newspapers and TV giving kids the answers they need.” Author of more than 100 books and articles and the recipient of numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Planned Parenthood, Dr. Gordon says if kids don’t ask, parents have to take the initiative: “There are things they have to know,” he insists. Dr. Gordon is no stranger Dr. Sol Gordon to Omaha. He was here in 1981 in a two-day event sponsored by Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Cultural Arts Committee. In addition to a public lecture on human sexuality, Gordon also ran workshops for mental health professionals and educators. In the Dec. 18, 1981, Jewish Press coverage of the event, Dr. Gordon was quoted as saying, “Children need role models, not critics.” In a separate session with young teens, he advised them that all thoughts are normal, but that behavior can be abnormal. He stressed the point that “sex is never a test of love.” Today Dr. Gordon adds, that for so many young people who are confused about sex and their emerging sexuality, harboring thoughts they assume are wrong can lead to drastic results, including suicide. “Some kids who feel guilty about their thoughts of homosexuality, for example, wind up committing suicide because they don’t realize those thoughts are normal,” says Dr. Gordon. “And kids need to know that masturbation is normal as well. There’s nothing wrong with those thoughts or the action,” he adds, as long as it takes place privately and not obsessively. His newest book is How Can You Tell If You’re Really In Love, published by Adams Media in 2001. Because he thinks adolescent sexual health is so neglected by his peers, he wrote this book to tell young people not to confuse lust, sex, love and friendship. “About 50% of marriages fail today,” Dr. Gordon says. “Love and sex are not the issues in a relationship. Young people should be learning how to be in an intimate caring friendship. Spend a year with that person before you commit.” He has spent a lifetime addressing this issue as a clinician, sex educator and author. In an interview with the scholarly journal, Contemporary Sexuality in March, 2002, the author, Diane Richard, notes that Gordon’s career “got its major push with the publication of the 1971 comic book that put him in the cross hairs of conservatives for his openness to sexual experience, either Continued on page 2
Coming Next Month: Spring Home & Garden: March Monthly Calendar for March: Pages 12-13
Blumkin Home opens new addition to tours: Page 18
Page 2
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Castro gone but Cuban Jews expect little to change
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Continued from page 1 On Feb. 19, the ailing 81-year-old revolutionary leader of Cuba said in a letter published on the website of the official Communist Party newspaper Granma that he would quit, 19 months after being stricken by an undisclosed illness that has kept him out of public view. “I communicate to you that I will not aspire to nor accept the position of president of Council of State and commander-in-chief,” Castro said. Bernardo Benes, a 73-year-old banker who left Cuba in 1960 and played varsity soccer with Raúl, now 76, while both men were students at the University of Havana, said Fidel Castro was not an anti-Semite. He declined to speculate on Raúl’s attitudes toward Jews. “I can assure you that Fidel has great admiration for the Jewish people. I had some conversations with him about Judaism and Israel, and he showed a tremendous amount of interest,” said Benes, who was the former legal counsel for Cuba’s largest synagogue, the Patronato, until he left Cuba. “In spite of that, his government’s policy has been horrendous for Israel. Fidel is a difficult personality. Most people don’t understand who he is.” Indeed, Castro has been no friend of Israel. In 1966, he opened guerrilla training camps for Palestinians, beginning a lifelong relationship with the Palestinians and their leader, Yasser Arafat. Speaking to the First Party Congress of the Cuban Communist Party in 1975, two years after breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel and assisting the Syrians in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel, Castro declared, “Yasser Arafat is a man we deeply love and admire and to whom we have always shown our solidarity.” In 1975, Cuba co-sponsored a U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism, and in 1991, it voted against the U.N. proposal to revoke that resolution. And at the first U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, in 2001, Castro called on delegates to “put an end to the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people” by Israel. Despite the lack of diplomatic ties between Jerusalem and Havana, private Israeli businessmen are among the top investors in Cuba’s citrus-export industry and have poured tens of millions of dollars into a suburban Havana office complex. Estimating the number of Jews in Cuba is virtually impossible, experts say, because while large numbers of Jews have left the island in recent years, there also have been numerous conversions to Judaism. Moisés Asís says the island has no more than 400 or so bona fide Jews left. Omaha’s Jewish Federation took a group to Cuba in May of 2006. Chaired by Nancy Noddle, the humanitarian mission delivered prayer books, Shabbat candles clothing and medicine to small groups in Havana and outlying towns.
Asís, a former Hebrew teacher in Havana and generalsecretary of Cuba’s B’nai B’rith lodge, says the Jewish community in Cuba frequently exaggerates its size “in order to show that they need more assistance and more money.” He said approximately 800 Cuban Jews have left for Israel since 1992; about half stayed in Israel, with the rest emigrating to the United States. Ascribing the large number of Cuban converts to Judaism to Cuba’s favorable treatment of Jews, Asís speculated that about 80 percent of the people who attend weekly synagogue services in Cuba “have nothing to do with Jewish life.” Among other things, Jews are entitled to kosher meat rations three times a month and frequently receive generous “care packages” from wealthy Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. “Actually, if you compare it with other former Communist countries, the situation for Jews in Cuba is better,” said Asís, who now lives in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Fla. “Fidel Castro was hostile to religion in general, but not to Jews in particular. He was more hostile to Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists and SeventhDay Adventists, but because the Jews were so few -- and most of the people attending services were elderly -they weren’t a challenge to his power. For that reason, he was very tolerant of the Jewish community.” Asís said he doesn’t expect any dramatic changes in Cuba’s Middle East policy -- or in anything else -- as long as Castro remains alive. “He will be giving opinions under the table and behind the scenes about everything,” he said. “Raúl Castro is very dependent on Fidel. If Fidel has an opinion, Raúl will not contradict him. It will be the same.” Cohen of the B’nai B’rith relief project, echoed that sentiment. “The people in Miami are as happy as can be, but people in Cuba today are just ho-hum,” Cohen, who is based in Pittsburgh, said. “He’s already been gone for awhile, so they just made it official.” Certainly, Cohen said, there will be no change in the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba until after the U.S. elections in November. Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz, spiritual leader at the 200member Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami Beach, says his members are anxiously awaiting a change of government in their homeland. As soon as the Castro regime is gone and the possibility for democracy exists, “there will be a tremendous influx of Jews to Cuba,” Abramowitz told JTA. “But it’s going to be tourism, not immigration. Nobody I know is even thinking of going back to live there.” Jewish Press Editor Carol Katzman contributed to this article.
JFS coordinator brings lifetime of service Continued from page 1 “There are a lot of health problems that bring people here,” she says. This is just one match with Nogg’s past work experience and gives her a leg up on understanding what her clients’ needs and concerns really are in today’s world. “I’m the initial contact when people come to JFS with questions or needs,” she says. From there, she works with others, through the JFS Assistance Council, and helps make decisions on what the agency can do to reach out and help. When asked if it’s typically younger families who call JFS, the surprising answer is “no.” Although she receives calls from people in every walk of life, “It’s typically people who’ve worked their whole lives and thought their social security would take care of them,” she says. “They’re hard working people who did everything right. When it came time for them to retire, they thought they’d be okay and they weren’t.”
She goes on to describe the satisfaction in filling a temporary need for someone through assistance and seeing them flourish because of the help. Nogg has been involved on the Jewish Community Center campus for as long as she can remember. She was on the board at the Dr. Philip Sher Home when it moved and became the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, and she’s been volunteering there since her daughter was a toddler. “From the time I was a little girl I followed my father. I used to go with him on his visits. So I was always involved with the elderly, especially,” she comments. She’s raised her children and is now the proud grandparent of three. She remarks about her lack of computer experience for the job, but she’s working hard to learn that new skill while bringing qualities to the table that are much more important; like the ability to listen and to put herself to work for the benefit of others in her community.
Noted psychologist still pushing ideas Continued from page 1 individually, or in the context of a healthy, loving relationship. Today, his approach is still controversial, particularly over his advocacy of taboo topics, such as masturbation.” Dr. Gordon does feel that progress has been made in two areas: women’s rights and gay rights. But overall, he says, our nation’s sexual health is in decline. “It’s worse because of the increase in sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and abortion,” he told Contemporary Sexuality. “We’ve not made progress in
sexual education at all. There’s an increase in violent, pathological aspects of our society.” Those comments were six years ago. With more access to the internet, more violence in video games, and more explicit sex on television, how can parents combat what’s “out there”? “Talk to your kids when they’re young,” Dr. Gordon insists. If you need to find out how, a good place to start would be with his presentation on Wednesday, sponsored by Jewish Family Service. For more information, call them at 330.2024.
February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
Expect a full plate as Beth El Scholar-in-Residence shares food for Jewish thought by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Spend some time listening to Dr. Neil Gillman, and you’ll find a man who, after 50 years in the teaching business, is still passionate about his work. Gillman, the Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, says he finds teaching energizing; he’ll share that energy with the Omaha Jewish community when he serves as Beth El’s scholar-in-residence on Friday, Feb. 29 and Saturday, March 1. The renowned scholar, teacher and author said from a young age, he aspired to be a professor “because I love philosophy and because I love Jewish thinking. This is what I wanted to spend my life working on and teaching.” During his upcoming visit, Gillman will present an intriguing variety of topics to contemplate, from different ways to define and look at God; our belief -- or disbelief -- in the words in our prayer books; and Jewish views of the afterlife. “These are the issues that I work with all the time; these are the issues that I teach, that I think about and write about,” he commented. In his first presentation, during Shabbat dinner, the professor said he plans to discuss “whether we really think that God is totally different than anything else that we can envision. God is not really any of the things that we say about God: God is not really in heaven, God is not really in space; and God is not really a man, and God is not really in our hearts.” Enjoying the opportunity to pique his audience’s points-of-view, he shared
some of the questions to be explored that evening: “Does God hear in the same way we hear? Does God speak in the same way that we speak? When we talk about God as being a he, and in the heavens, and God is hearing our prayers and speaking to us, and God is a shepherd and God is a judge and God is angry, God is pleased ... what do all of these words that we apply to God, what do they mean? It seems as if we’re talking about God as another human being, and how can God be just another human being? “I’m going to describe different ways people answer these questions, and I’ll also talk about the way I feel about these questions in my own life,” he said. Gillman will continue to feed his audience much food for thought during Saturday morning Shabbat services, when he leads an interactive discussion with the congregation about the words written in prayer books, and whether we should believe everything between the covers. There are various ways to deal with this question, he said, noting that, “The prayer book prayers were written two thousand years ago, and sometimes our beliefs change, so sometimes we change the Hebrew of the prayer book; sometimes we keep the Hebrew and change the translations; sometimes we drop prayers and substitute new ones or alternatives. “We’re going to read specific prayers, read translations, learn how some of them have been dropped, some of them have been re-written, some of them have been kept but with different translations.” During his presentation at Saturday’s Kiddush luncheon, Dr. Gillman will again engage his audience in conversation, this
time in exploration of “The Afterlife: Jewish Views of Life After Death,” the subject of his book, The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought. “We have to believe that death is not the end,” he said, “because we have to believe that God is stronger than death. What does that mean? In our prayers, we talk about the fact that God gives life to the dead. Is it possible to still be living after death? Does it mean resurrection? Does it mean that our soul continues to exist? “Since nobody knows, it’s fun to talk about.”
When asked if the idea of an afterlife is simply a crutch for those who are afraid to die, he responded emphatically, “No, I don’t agree with that at all. I believe that the real reason for believing in life after death is that if God is really God -- if you believe in God -- then you have to believe that God is more powerful than death. That’s what keeps me going.” The community is invited to join in these thought-provoking conversations. Saturday’s luncheon is free of charge. In addition, free babysitting is available on both Friday night and Saturday morning, by reservation only.
Temple to present panel on the truth about immigration by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Illegal immigration has been a longstanding issue in the United States, creating immense controversy. Harvard University economist George Borjas explains that the controversy centers around the “huge redistribution [of wealth] away from [unskilled American] workers to [American employers] who use immigrants.” In 2007, President Bush called for Congress to endorse his guest worker proposal, stating that immigrants took jobs that Americans would not take. The Pew Hispanic Center notes that while the number of legal immigrants arriving has not varied substantially since the 1980s, the number of illegal aliens has increased dramatically and, since the mid 1990s, has surpassed the number of legal immigrants.
According to Immigration Counters.com, there are some 21,379,500 illegal immigrants in the United States. To explore the complex topic of immigration, Temple Israel’s Social Justice Committee has invited Creighton University professors, business owners, and Hispanic workers to participate on a panel that will focus on “The Search for Truths about Illegal Immigration” on Sunday, March 2, 10:15 a.m., at Temple. The discussion is open to the community. “We’ll present a balanced discussion,” said Rabbi Eric Linder. Recognizing that Governor Dave Heineman proposed to deny state services to illegal immigrants, the panelists won’t be pushing a specific agenda, although they’ll try to spur meaningful thought on this issue.
“Are you an Ask-able parent?” featuring
Dr. Sol Gordon
Dr. Sol Gordon is a clinical psychologist and internationally acclaimed expert in sexual education for teenagers.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm JCC Auditorium
This is a free program for parents co-sponsored by Beth El, Beth Israel and Temple Synagogues. Funded by the Lazier L. Singer Memorial Fund. Please reserve a spot by emailing Josh Gurock at jgurock@rbjh.com.
Page 4
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Even as Obama surges in primaries, he faces new Israel-related criticism secret radical Muslim, the “adviser” e-mails appear to have struck a chord among some Jewish organizational leaders, in addition to worrying some grassroots voters. This week, in an interview with Shalom TV, a Webbased Jewish channel, World Jewish Congress President by RON KAMPEAS Ronald Lauder said that “if you have an adviser that is not sympathetic to Israel -- not sympathetic to some WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Even as Jewish concerns -- you have a potential problem.” “If U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) solidifies his status as you only have one or two close advisers and they’re both the Democratic front-runner with victories Feb. 19 in anti-Israel,” Lauder said, then “it’s only a matter of time Wisconsin and Hawaii, he is facing a new line of attack before the president becomes anti-Israel.” from some Jewish circles regarding his advisers on forLauder made no specific reference to Obama, but the eign policy. In recent weeks, writers associated with sev- comments come at a time when the Illinois senator eral right-wing media outlets have taken aim at what appears to be the only candidate facing major questions they describe as anti-Israel voices advising Obama on about his advisers on Israel-related issues. Last week, Middle East issues, spurring a rash of mass e-mails voic- Malcolm Hoenlein, the professional head of the ing similar concerns. Conference of Presidents Among those cited by of Major American Jewish critics are Zbigniew Organizations, reportedly Brzezinski, the national told Israeli reporters that security adviser in the the “change” mantra in Carter administration; the current U.S. election Samantha Power, a -- mostly associated with Pulitzer Prize-winning Obama -- was worrying. author and lecturer at the Ha’aretz framed John F. Kennedy School Hoenlein’s comments as of Government of an expression of concern Harvard University; about Obama’s camp, but Robert Malley, an adviser the Jewish communal on Israeli-Arab affairs durleader told JTA that he ing the Clinton adminiswas speaking generally tration; and George about this campaign seaSoros, an international Shortly before taking the stage with U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy on son and the calls for financier who has funded Jan. 28, Barack Obama was on a conference call with the Jewish change coming from suppro-democracy efforts media in an effort to quell e-mail smears about his religion and porters of several of the Credit: Obama for Change candidates in both parties. throughout Europe and record on Israel. in recent years became a major supporter of the In an effort to counter various attacks against Obama Democratic Party in the United States. going back several months, his campaign has responded Fairly or unfairly, each has been on the receiving end with several long e-mails to Jewish supporters. Insiders of criticism from some pro-Israel activists or Jewish say response has been positive -- a perception borne out groups over positions viewed as being hostile to the by primary elections exit polls that show Jews trending Jewish state. The Obama campaign acknowledges that it toward Obama more than other whites in some states. has received advice from the people named in the nega- Even with minimal impact, attacks can still cross the line tive e-mail campaign, describing the meetings with these and are cause for concern, said Dennis Ross, the Clinton individuals as a product of Obama’s “one America” phi- administration’s top Middle East envoy. losophy of reaching out to all Americans. “When you’re in the political season, every difference But, in the end, campaign officials say, the candidate tends to be magnified,” said Ross, who has given the should be assessed according to his own votes and state- Obama campaign advice and who is now a senior fellow ments. Besides, they add, the personalities in question at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a prodo not play any formal role in advising Obama on Israel think tank. “We can have political differences, but Middle East issues. it can’t lead to demonization.” That task, they say, falls to a collection of policy Much, if not the vast majority, of the material targetexperts in good standing with the pro-Israel lobby. ing Obama’s advisers is distorted and even false. Unlike the Internet attacks falsely painting Obama as a The campaign notes that its Middle East policy is
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strictly the province of four individuals, each of them perceived as pro-Israel and three of them Jewish: Dan Shapiro, a longtime activist and bridge between the Jewish organizational leadership and Democratic Party; Anthony Lake, a Clinton administration national security adviser; Eric Lynn, the Obama campaign’s Jewish liaison who has lived in Israel; and Dennis McDonough, once the foreign policy adviser to former U.S. Senate majority leader Tom Daschle (D S.D.), who had impeccable pro-Israel credentials during his time in office. Of the four regular advisers, only Lake has taken shots from Obama’s critics. In an article in the American Thinker -- the online conservative magazine that has been the principle redoubt of Obama-Israel skepticism - Ed Lasky faults Lake, who recently converted to Judaism, for having worked for the Carter administration and for living in the Berkshires. Much of the material appearing in a number of Lasky articles and circulating in e-mails is similarly flimsy, especially his attacks on Malley, according to Obama supporters and some former U.S. diplomats. Like Ross, Malley was a senior adviser to the Clinton administration at the U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian talks at Camp David in the summer of 2000. Malley has differed with Ross and others over the degree of blame to be assigned over the talks’ breakdown -- Ross singles out the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat -- but he does not solely blame Israel. And in public talks in Washington, he emphasizes Israel’s security as a critical element in formulating policy. “He is not anti-Israeli, he is not a fanatic anti-Israeli,” Ross told JTA. “To use these tacks is just wrong.” The targeting of Malley led Ross and four other Clinton-era officials to publish an open letter last week defending his record. “Whatever differences do exist, there is no disagreement among us on one core issue that transcends partisan or other divides: that the U.S. should not and will not do anything to undermine Israel’s safety or the special relationship between our two nations,” the letter said. “We have worked with Rob closely over the years and have no doubt he shares this view and has acted consistent with it.” Soros, the billionaire philanthropist, has donated to Obama’s campaign. He has also been critical of Israel and of pro-Israel orthodoxies, but the Holocaust survivor has cast his criticisms as mindful of Israel’s security. Recently, he considered funding an alternative proIsrael lobby, one that would more aggressively advocate for a two-state solution, while also maintaining Israel’s security needs. Lasky links to a Soros article last year in the New York Review of Books to show that the financier is a “fierce foe” of Israel. In it, Soros describes his thesis as follows: “Military superiority is necessary for Continued on page 5
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February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Temple sponsors first challah, chicken soup cookoff
Beth Israel partners with the OU for “60 Days for 60 Years”
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “It’s obvious I love good food!” declared Jon Meyers, president of the Temple Israel Board of Trustees. “Just look at my waistline!” Meyers will be one of the judges for Temple Israel’s Challah and Chicken Soup Cookoff on Sunday, March 9, noon, at Temple. After all, the Italians have their pasta, the Chinese have their stir fry, and the Irish are famous for their stew. What could be more Jewish than challah and chicken soup? So far, 17 chefs have entered the non-professional soup group, and eight bakers have registered in the challah category. In addition, six professional chefs will match their culinary expertise for the right to claim the titles of Best in Chow, Most Unusual/Creative Soup, Most Beautiful Challah, Best Tasting Challah, People’s Choice Award, Kids’ Choice Award, and Best Decorated Booth. In addition to prizes such as engraved soup ladles, rubber chicken pot-holders, and chickenhandled whisks, bragging rights await the winners in each category. Meyers, who expects cooks to “live up to my Mom’s chicken soup and matzo balls and my Dad’s and my wife’s kreplach,” will be joined by fine food experts at the judging table. The Cookoff Committee is honored to have Jim Trebbien, executive director of the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College; Judy a la carte (Gilliard), author of 10 cookbooks and food talk show host at KFAB radio; and Dave Wingert, who hosts a morning (i.e. breakfast time) show on KGOR, to select the winners. Temple members Adam Kirshenbaum,
by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue This year marks the 60th anniversary of Israel. In honor of this historic event, Beth Israel is partnering with the Orthodox Union (OU) for a special program. The “60 Days for 60 Years: Israel” project will be launched on March 9 and culminate the day before Israel’s 60th on May 7. This project features an inspiring 60-day program of learning, one day at a time. The idea is to unite with hundreds of thousands of Jews across the world in preparing for an inspiring commemoration and celebration of 60 years of Israel. “60 Days for 60 Years” is a compilation of 60 moving essays authored by famous
Phyllis Glazer, and Danielle Gordman will also be judges. Among the celebrity chefs are Bob Freshman of Fresh Catering & More; Kory Guyer, executive chef of Old Mattress Factory Bar and Grill; John Hattam, Chef Hattam Catering; Erwin Siegler, a caterer and European trained chef; and Archie Loehr, executive chef at Ironwood Country Club. Dennis DePorte, Temple’s executive director, explained that “long tables will be set up by noon and people can roam from place to place to their hearts’ content. Every visitor will have the chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award. Kids can pick a winner too.” Tickets are $5. Patron tickets, for $10, include a raffle ticket. Raffle prizes include coffee from the Village Grinder, restaurant certificates, and a Tupperware container of the soup of the winner’s choice. The community is welcome to attend. Just bring your appetite! Members of the committee are Len Burrell, Rick Fox, Patrick Jensen and Temple staff DePorte and Rosie Zweiback. The event is a fundraiser for Temple’s family trip to Israel during Hanukkah next December. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Omaha Food Bank. Zweiback noted that Temple has “an executive director (DePorte) who has a passion for food. He’s even a member of the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame. With his connections to executive directors around the country, he learned about this event held in other cities and knew it was just right for Omaha. We hope this first cookoff will be the start of a great Temple tradition!”
Jewish educators, historians and scholars, including: Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, Alan M. Dershowitz, Elie Wiesel, Natan Sharansky, Rabbi Paysach Krohn and others. A limited number of copies of the book are available at Beth Israel for only $5 per copy. “I encourage you to participate in the program,” said Rabbi Jonathan Gross. “There are some fantastic authors who have contributed to this compilation of essays. This is a great opportunity to learn and to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary.” For information, please call the office at 556.6288.
Undergraduate, Graduate, Professional & Yeshiva Studies Academic Excellence Scholarship Deadline: March 17, 2008 Jewish Summer Residential Camps Jewish Community Center Summer Camps Deadline: March 31, 2008 Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center Preschool Friedel Jewish Academy NEW EARLIER DEADLINE! April 28, 2008 All applications can be printed from the Jewish Federation of Omaha website at www.jewishomaha.org. Select “The Center for Jewish Education” and then select “Scholarships & Grants”. Applications are also available by calling 334-6445 or via email request to scholarships@jewishomaha.org.
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Obama surges, faces new Israel-related criticism Continued from page 4 Israel’s national security, but it is not sufficient.” Despite what Obama supporters and some observers say are distortions and falsehoods, there’s enough that would worry parts of the pro-Israel community, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its allies. Brzezinski’s time as Carter’s national security adviser left a bitter taste among Israelis and pro-Israel activists. They perceived Brzezinski as creating a false dichotomy between Israel’s needs and the effort to recruit Middle Eastern states to America’s side in the Cold War -- a key point given that his overriding concern in the Carter administration was containing the Soviets. It didn’t help that Brzezinski initially endorsed the views of Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer, academics who promulgated the thesis that the pro-Israel lobby fundamentally distorts U.S. foreign policy. He later backtracked to a degree, suggesting that their book overstated its case. The Obama campaign says it does not take advice from Brzezinski, but has accepted his endorsement as a senior U.S. statesman, who says the Illinois senator has the best policy for extricating the United States from Iraq. Power, the lecturer from Harvard, is a more sensitive problem for the campaign. An expert on genocide who has worked with Jewish activists who press the case that the United States should have done more to stop the Holocaust during World War II, she served for two years on
Obama’s Senate staff and is a permanent adviser -- but not, the campaign says, on Middle East-related issues. Still, she has published lacerating criticisms of Israel’s first Lebanon war -- although none that would be out of line with Israel’s Labor Party. And in a 2003 Soros-funded symposium, she appeared eager to jump to the conclusion that Israel had committed war crimes in the West Bank town of Jenin. The Obama campaign has rejected efforts to paint her as anti-Israel, although notably, it does not address her writings related to Israel. “Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prizewinning author of a book about the evil of genocide, which includes an extensive discussion of the Holocaust, so for this smear e-mail to paint her as anti-Israel is outrageous,” said a statement from the campaign that first appeared in the Palm Beach Post in Florida. Even as they defend Power, Obama campaign officials say she has little say on Middle East issues, confining her advice to issues such as the genocide in Darfur. U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who is arguably Obama’s top congressional backer in Florida, told the Palm Beach Post that the e-mail campaign criticizing the candidate’s advisers was a “lie.” “I wouldn’t be involved with any candidate,” Wexler was quoted as saying, “that didn’t recognize Israel as a Jewish state, that didn’t reject the Palestinian right of return, and that didn’t demand that Hamas reject terror as a condition for talks with the Palestinians.”
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Send Passover Greetings 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.
Yoga becomes a lifestyle for two Jewish women by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Suzy Rubin and Judy Vann didn’t invent yoga, but they were among the first in Omaha to introduce the system of Hindu philosophy that teaches control of the body and mind as a means of achieving spiritual insight and tranquility. Initially considered by some Americans to be a religion or a hippie affectation, yoga dates back 5,000 years and comes from the Sanskrit word, “yuj,” which means to unite or integrate. Ancient yoga belief held that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, he had to merge the body, the mind, and the spirit by balancing emotion, action, and intelligence. The yogis
Church, Catholic Charities, Uta Halee Girls Village, the YMCA, the YWCA, many gyms, the Jewish Community Center, and still teaches in her home and twice a week at First Lutheran Church at 31st and Leavenworth where her Spanish comes in handy. “I’ve had a lot of fun with this,” said the grandmother of nine some of whom also practice yoga. “I always wanted to teach a class of mostly Jewish men,” she admitted, achieving that goal when she taught at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. “Just about anyone can do yoga -- even people in wheelchairs,” she pointed out. Rubin explained that the benefits of yoga for women include strengthening the upper body, learning how to do the
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Judy Vann gets her grandchildren, Jake, 11, left, and Cecelia, nine, involved in yoga, too. formulated a way to achieve and maintain breathings to relieve stress and to calm this balance through exercise, breathing, yourself down, gaining a sense of power and meditation, the three main yoga and strength. Yoga also can help “you get structures. yourself organized and concentrate, Rubin learned yoga in her native focus, and give yourself a sense of Mexico City before moving to empowerment. Balances are very imporPlattsmouth, Nebraska, in 1960. She was tant,” she added, “to get your left brain around 11 or 12 when she and a young and right brain working together.” She friend were first exposed to yoga by a also mentioned that “you can do yoga Mexican-Indian who “would only teach without sweating,” something that us if his own grandchildren were there. appeals to women in her classes who “When I came to Omaha, I got intro- change right into their work clothes after duced to all these beautiful women who an early-morning class. knew yoga.” One of the women was Judy “You learn a lot about your body and Vann, who first tried yoga in the 1960s about balancing your life and how to when she and her husband traveled with cope with your life. Yoga emphasizes the their three sons to Los Angeles to visit positive. It has enhanced my life despite her parents. physical problems and helped me “I noticed my mother was reading through 90 percent of them,” said Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation, a true Rubin. “I love yoga. I don’t think of yoga story, which prompted Vann to visit the as work.” It has been “a blessing.” Yoga School of India in Los Angeles. It took until the 1990s, with some Rubin and Vann, both members of help from pop stars like Madonna, for Temple Israel, were among about six yoga to become American mainstream. women who met in 1966 to talk about According to Rubin, yoga came out of teaching yoga. “The main question,” the closet in Omaha as well for which Rubin said, “was should we call it yoga?” “this town has to be very grateful to At that time, yoga had a somewhat “bad Judy (Vann).” reputation,” according to Rubin who was After her initial yoga experience at the teaching yoga as “exercise” at Offutt Air school in Los Angeles, Vann noticed that Force Base. Nevertheless, they decided to Eunice Denenberg was teaching yoga in call their classes yoga. Omaha and took her class. In 1972, “I learned a lot from Judy,” Rubin Denenberg left to start another business recalled. She also learned “deeper yoga” and offered her class to Vann who first at workshops on philosophy and medita- taught at the old Jewish Community tion Yoga gurus guest teaching at the Center downtown. From there she University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught in the basement of “an old leaky continued to further her training at out- building” on Pacific Street which served of-town retreats which she described as as the Jewish Day School in those days. “yeshivas for yoga,” and compared the “When we moved to the new JCC (in philosophy of yoga to kabbalah. its present location), it was like a five star “Mysticism in the Jewish faith is connect- hotel!” Although she’s retired now after ed to all the mysticisms,” she believes. 17 years, Vann still has a few private stuRubin taught yoga all over Omaha dents. Whether she has a student or not, including the Omaha Community however, she does yoga “every single day. Playhouse, the University of Nebraska I enjoy doing it. It’s fun for me. In the Medical Center, Mutual of Omaha, past, it was a career. Now it’s a hobby.” ConAgra, Union Pacific, St. Roberts Continued on page 7
February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
Yoga becomes a lifestyle Friedel invites community to Open House Continued from page 6 Vann identified several benefits of practicing yoga such as gaining the youthful characteristics of flexibility, positive thinking, optimal good health, being in the present moment, feeling calm, and “keeping the pain away. We live in such a fast passed world that 20 minutes of doing yoga postures prepares you for this facet of our lives. It keeps us from being overwhelmed with daily activities. It enhances the joys of our lives.� She added that “yoga is not aerobic. It is done in slow motion.� Whereas some exercise routines emphasize: “No pain, no gain, yoga’s mantra is no pain, all gain,� observed Vann. For herself, Vann adheres to “a fitness triangle,� which includes aerobics, weights, and yoga. “One is not better than the other,� she insisted. “They work together for optimal good health. “Yoga balances your life. It’s a combination of breathing, movement, and relaxation. The breathing techniques can be a natural tranquilizer. Yoga and meditation are companions. Meditation allows us to focus our lives on one idea which helps quiet our minds and gives us a tranquil feeling,� she said. “It’s my lifestyle. Yoga, along with proper nutrition and adequate sleep make up my lifestyle. I get up in the morning, wash my face, brush my teeth, and do my yoga!�
Suzy Rubin is congratulated on her 70th birthday by Temple Israel’s Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. 6LJQ XS QRZ DQG UHFHLYH D
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with the Hebrew curriculum. Sasson continues: “My by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT With spring around the corner, the staff, parents, and opinion before the first school day was that the kinderboard members at Friedel Jewish Academy are getting garten curriculum is so all-encompassing, yet extremely ready for the annual open house. On March 6, from 7 age appropriate. Now that we are deep into the school to 8:30 p.m., Friedel will open its doors to visitors who year, I am amazed at the caliber of teaching; my daughwant to take a closer look at what the school has to offer. ter’s progress is immeasurable. More importantly, there “The annual open house is always very successful,� is a love of teaching and learning, and a kindness and Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller says, “and we are extremely love shown to each and every student,� she added. excited to show prospective parents, as well as other interested parties, what we are made off.� Podbilewicz-Schuller chairs the Friedel Executive board, together with Susan FellmanWitkowski. She is also in charge of student recruitment. “The open house is a wonderful opportunity for members of the Jewish Community to visit and learn about the amazing things that are happening at Friedel. We welcome everybody to come and see what this institution is doing for the education and development of confident and Left photo: Lily Goldberg, daughter of Bob and Kim Goldberg, and Ilana McNamara, daughter committed American of Patrick McNamara and Aviva Segall-McNamara, are enthralled during story time in Diana Jewish youth,� said Zeman’s kindergarten class, as is Lillian Cohen, right, daughter of Michael and Karen Cohen. Podbilewicz-Schuller. “I especially encourage parents to “My daughter missed a few days last month because come and see what we can offer their children; the she was ill, and upon returning, was greeted by so many school is here for them, and as parents go through the teachers and students welcoming her back, letting her process of making an informed choice, they should be know they missed her,� Sasson said. given the chance to explore all available options.� She admits that sending your child off to Kindergarten The open house is a fast and low-key way to see what can be heart wrenching. “I was a mess the first day, as the school is all about. Anyone wishing to find out more are so many parents. You have to let your baby go, about Friedel is also welcome to schedule a personal knowing that it is the first step on a path that will eventour during school hours. tually lead her away from you,� she noted. “However, I One current parent who took such a tour is Lise am so grateful for Friedel’s staff. They instilled a confiSasson, mother of kindergartner Eliana; she and her hus- dence in me that Eliana is getting the absolute best of band couldn’t be happier about their choice to send everything, every single day.� Eliana to Friedel. “Our experience at Friedel has been so Refreshments will be offered during the open house; wonderful that we are now committed to sending all baby-sitting is available as well. “There will also be a three of our children here to attend kindergarten panel of past students, and a panel of faculty,� through sixth grade,� she said. “They will benefit from Podbilewicz-Schuller added. “Visitors will be able to ask it so much. My husband and I were given a personal questions and meet with current or other prospective tour early on, and it made all the difference. We were parents. Since we will be showing a video about the able to see for ourselves what the school is all about, and school, there is an opportunity to see our current stuit convinced us this was the right choice to make.� dent body and our faculty in action.� Lise Sasson’s in-laws are Israeli and accompanied Lise For additional information, please contact Friedel and her husband on the tour. They, too, were impressed Jewish Academy at 334.0517
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Page 8
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Aging gracefully: aging gratefully STAYING IN TOUCH by OZZIE NOGG So how did she do it, our matriarch Sarah? Without benefit of Botox or facelift, how did she manage to remain youthful in appearance until the day she died at the age of 127, her skin still soft as a young girl’s and looking (according to the rabbis) like a 40-year old woman with no need to feel bad about her neck? Questions of physical beauty aside, how did Sarah retain her mental and emotional well-being as she grew older? At 65, she left her family home in Haran and moved to the unfamiliar land of Canaan, yet nowhere do we read that the relocation threw her for a loop. At 89, after decades of infertility, God told her she would bear a child -- news that prompted her to laugh, not sing the blues. And although jealousy of Hagar and Ishmael eventually made Sarah pitch a fit, a description of her basic nature is given by Rashi. “All the years of Sarah’s lifetime were good, because no matter what occurred she looked upon them as good.” Our sages teach that Sarah accepted the challenges of life with confidence and courage, without complaint. Through each stage of life she exhibited the innocence of a child, the determination of a young adult, the wisdom of the ages. She was, the sages tell us, an integrated whole, complete in body and soul. Perhaps that’s the answer. If we want to stay attractive, fit, and emotionally balanced -- in youth, middle years and beyond -- we must live each part of life fully ( as Sarah seemed to do) and recognize that cultivating equanimity and prioritizing our values is right up there with blueberries, Pilates and occasional tune-ups from a friendly shrink. Bioethicist William F. May writes, “Certain traits of character are always necessary to age well. They are gratitude, acceptance, courage, simplicity, humor and wisdom.” On days when you feel that some (or all ...) of
these traits are beyond reach, remember the words of the Rambam. “Repeat, over and over, the behavior you wish to acquire until it becomes automatic.” Let’s pick a few and see what happens ... First, repeat after me: gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. The Talmud instructs us to refrain from complaint, stressing that the very fact of being alive is enough reason to be thankful. Traditionally, we Jews open our eyes each morning and say modeh ani -- “I am grateful and thank you, God, for restoring my soul and for giving me the gift of life once more as I awake to the new day.” To paraphrase the Jewish learning site, Aish.com, being a Jew is synonymous with expressing gratitude, to see everything in life -- every ray of sunshine, every child, every breath -- as gifts from God. According to the website, when one is depressed a dose of modeh ani is better than anything. Next -- say simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. Jewish tradition teaches that money won’t buy happiness. “Who is rich?” asks Ben Zoma. “Those content with their portion.” Rabbi Hillel declares, “The more possessions, the more worry.” Rabbi Steven Leder, author of More Money Than God: Living a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul, asks, “Could it be that 90 percent of what we spend our time and energy amassing is unnecessary? We should be grateful for the simple good fortune that pours like rich cream upon most of us each day.” Rabbi Arthur Waskow defines simplicity as “a sense of sharing, enoughness, not-too-muchness.” Choosing to live with less can make more room for family, add time for study, bring opportunities for rest and renewal which, in turn, can increase our well-being. (Maybe Sarah’s move from Haran to Canaan was free of stress because she was free of stuff.) Finally, say wisdom, wisdom (one more time), wisdom. How can each of us acquire the rank of chachamah -- wise woman -- she who brings the gifts of teaching, of stories, of memory to the young? First, of course, we must get some experience under our belts, live a while, although Sarah’s 127 years seems excessive to me. Next, we might look for guidance in the
Alcohol and the Jews
PEOPLE OF THE
BYTE
by MARK MIETKIEWICZ “Women, ministers, and Jews do not get drunk.” – Immanuel Kant. [tinyurl.com/2h26ex] When Kant wrote those words in the late eighteenth century, he wasn’t alone in believing that Jews could handle their liquor better than their non-Jewish neighbors. While there may be some anecdotal and scientific justification to that belief, alcoholism is a serious problem in Jewish communities around the world. Today a look at the history of Jews and alcohol. Next week, how communities are responding. The Tanach contains dozens of references to wine and spirits, some of which are positive: “Your love is more fragrant than wine” (Song of Songs 1:2), “Wine gladdens the heart” (Psalms 104:15); others less so: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them.” (Isaiah 5:11) [jacsweb.org/ article-10.html] Rabbi Daniel Siegel of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal examines Judaism’s ambiguous relationship with alcohol (usually wine). On one hand, wine merits being the only liquid which has its own, specific blessing (boray pri hagefen) which is recited before drinking and it is also central to the Passover seder. But the rabbis warned of its dangers. In the Talmud, Rabbi Meir says: “That tree‚ from which Adam ate was a grapevine, for there is nothing that brings calamity on a person more than wine” (Sanhedrin 70a-b). Rabbi Siegel writes that Jewish rabbinic tradition encourages the moderate use of alcohol. [tinyurl.com/232jno] “Do Jews really drink less than other people? And if so, why?” Time Magazine asked those questions back in 1958. The Yale Center of Alcohol Studies had just published a study that suggested that although Jews drank regularly their rate of alcoholism was negligible compared to other religions. The Time article also reprinted the lyrics to the popular Yiddish song, “Shikkur iz a Goy” (Drunken is a Gentile) which reinforced the per-
ception that the real drinking problem lay elsewhere. [tinyurl.com/24484j] The Yale study did mention some reasons that drinking problems were lower among Jews: since Jews spend a lifetime of rituals around wine, excess is avoided. Another reason: food. Because of the Jewish emphasis on food, “‘compulsive’ eating is more likely to be selected as a means of alleviating psychic tensions [than] addictive drinking.” Fast forward a few decades. In Confronting Addiction, Marcia Cohn Spiegel and Rabbi Yaacov Kravitz say that the “rate of alcoholism among Jews appears to be less than that among the general population. This difference is probably a product of both cultural and genetic factors.” [tinyurl.com/ywbnoe] Genetic factors are what Columbia University’s Dr. Deborah Hasin was looking for in a study of Jewish Israelis. She found that a fifth carried a gene that helped them resist alcoholism. [tinyurl.com/2ejoex] “This finding adds to the growing body of evidence that this genetic variation has a protective effect against alcoholism among Jewish groups,” Hasin said. But she noted that recent immigrants from Russia had a history of heavier drinking that their counterparts despite sharing the protective gene. Hasin concluded that the heavy drinking environment found in Russia could overcome the protective effects of the gene. [tinyurl.com/323ge3] A heavy drinking environment is what prompted the Orthodox Union to call for the complete elimination of so-called Kiddush Clubs. The Saturday morning Kiddush Club is a mid-service retreat from the sanctuary to make kiddush and drink up. Three years ago, the OU said the practice has to end. In “Why Kiddush Clubs Must Go,” Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb writes, “This behavior is not lost on the rest of the congregation, particularly the youth, including the very children of these participants. This practice glorifies and idealizes alcohol at precisely a time when alcohol and other addictions are clearly on the rise in our community.” [tinyurl.com/2cxba6] I couldn’t find any reference to whether the campaign has had a real impact. Next week, where Jews can find help for alcohol and substance abuse. Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at highway@rogers.com.
book of Proverbs. When speaking of wisdom, the text says, “All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peace.” Meaning, perhaps, that to become a chachamah we must try to keep smiling, speak gently, with kindness on our tongues. One could argue that Sarah dropped the kindness ball when she demanded that Abraham drive Ishmael, his firstborn, and Ishmael’s mother, Hagar, into the desert to die. “Cast out this slave woman with her son,” Sarah raged, “for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son, with Isaac.” Sarah’s words and behavior were far from gentle. But God told Abraham, shema b’kolah -- listen to her voice. Some commentators suggest that God’s admonition meant, “Listen beyond the words Sarah is saying. Listen to what she is feeling. Be empathetic. Acknowledge her fear and jealousy. Hear her.” (Bless our biblical sages -the original Relationship Counselors ...) In her book, The Goddess Companion: Daily Meditations on the Feminine Spirit, Patricia Monaghan writes that we do not love Sarah for her beauty but rather for her wisdom based on inner strength and selfknowledge. “Women’s wisdom,” Monaghan continues, “gained through years of watchful awareness and inner searching, was important for the health and happiness of all her family and, beyond that, of her entire people. We must reclaim that wisdom, finding it within our selves and sharing it fearlessly.” Amen to that, my friends. Here’s to aging gracefully. And to aging gratefully, simply, wisely -- and fearlessly. Ozzie Nogg’s personal stories and feature columns, exploring Jewish tradition, identity and values, run in weekly newspapers around the country. She is the author of Joseph’s Bones and her short story, “Blue Plate Special,” appeared in Margin: Exploring Modern Magical Realism Magazine. The story was later nominated for both a Pushcart Prize and the E-2-Ink Prize from Mildhorse Press. Read more at her blog: http://themeditationsofmyheart.blogspot.com/ or at www.rabbisdaughter.com.
Reform Judaism organizations offer Berit Mila training by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbis, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Union for Reform Judaism, a Berit Mila Training Certification Program for licensed medical practitioners will enable qualified doctors and nursemidwives to become certified as a Mohel/Mohelet. The intensive weekend course, April 4-6, in Newton, MA, will introduce Jewish sources and the history of Berit Mila as well as the theology and halacha (Jewish laws) of ritual circumcision. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the Mohel/Mohelet in the Reform religious context and the creation of meaningful Berit Mila and naming ceremonies for contemporary families. The program will nurture sensitivities to unaffiliated and interfaith families and explore the complex interpersonal/family dynamics that may arise at a Berit Mila. The course will also focus on conversion to Judaism and adult circumcision rites. Faculty includes Reform rabbis; guest lecturers; and Dr. Robert Levenson, pediatrician, mohel, and instructor at Harvard University School of Medicine. Pre-registration is requested along with an application which can be found on-line at http://www. beritmila.org/BecomeMohel/applicationRequest.htm. Also needed are a photocopy of the applicant's current medical license, a recommendation letter from the head of a hospital department in which newborn circumcisions are performed, evidence of malpractice insurance covering newborn circumcision (optional), a short description of the applicant's medical qualifications to perform newborn or adult circumcision including a description of training and experience in performing circumcision, a two to three page written statement discussing the applicant's reasons for wishing to become a mohel/ mohelet, a letter validating current membership in a congregation, and a letter of recommendation from the sponsor/mentor rabbi. Upon notification of approval, the full registration fee of $1,400 must be submitted. Partial scholarships are available upon request at beritmila@huc.edu. For more information, contact the URJ Northeast Council at 781.449.0404 or 888.291.8242 or at nec@urj.org or visit www.beritmila.org or beritmila@huc.edu for additional information.
February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
Omaha Performing Arts Presents Alvin AileyÂŽ American Dance Theater Monday, April 14, 2008 | 7:30 p.m. Slosburg Hall Orpheum Theater Part of the Part of the
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
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FINKEL/POULOS Marti Finkel, daugther of Lois and Joel Finkel, and George Poulos, son of Dan and Kathy Poulos of Council Bluffs, IA, announce their engagement. The bride-to-be graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in English. She also received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago in 2002. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and currently is a mental health therapist. She is the granddaughter of Helen and Leonard Finkel and the late Sue and David Greenberg. Her fiancé is a graduate of the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, with a BA in Finance. He currently owns and operates a family restaurant in Council Bluffs, IA, and is the co-founder of Switchfly Throttles. He is the grandson of the late George and Ourania Sgourakis and the late Harry and Eleni Poulos. An August 2008 wedding is planned. LEVINGSTON/POLIKOV Barbara and Jeffrey Levingston of Cleveland, MS, announce the engagement of their daughter. Carla, to Chad Polikov, both of Atlanta, GA. The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a BA in psychology. She received a Masters of Social Work from Tulane University in New Orleans. She is a community liaison with VistaCare Hospice in Atlanta. She is the granddaughter of David Antis, the late Gerry Antis, and the late Vivian and Alfred Levingston. Her fiancé is the son of Sheila and Marvin Polikov. He is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he earned a BS in Broadcast Management. He is currently employed as a senior search marketing specialist at Jackson Healthcare Solutions in Atlanta. He is the grandson of Ethel Goldston, the late Seymour Goldston, and the late Bernice and Abe Polikov. A Nov. 1, 2008, wedding is planned in New Orleans.
Beth El welcomes State Treasurer Osborn during Men’s Club breakfast by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator The Beth El Synagogue Men’s Club Speakers’ Series will continue on Sunday, March 2, 10 a.m., as the congregation welcomes guest speaker Shane Osborn, Nebraska State Treasurer. Osborn is a former U.S. Navy pilot who belonged to the elite Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, which flies classified surveillance missions around the world. In 2001, he received international attention after successfully landing his crippled U.S. spy plane on the Chinese island of Hainan, following a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet. Because of his quick thinking and heroic efforts, Lieutenant Osborn saved the lives of his 23 crew members. After landing the aircraft, he and his crew were held hostage for 12 days by Shane Osborn the Chinese government before finally being allowed to leave. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, along with the Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership and achievement in flight. Osborn documented his harrowing experience in the book, Born to Fly: The Untold Story of the Downed American Reconnaissance Plane, which he co-authored with Malcolm McConnell. Elected to his office in 2006, Osborn holds the distinction of being one of the youngest treasurers in Nebraska state history. He and his family reside in Omaha. The community is invited to attend; a complimentary breakfast will be served.
LEVY/SHYKEN Susie and Paul Shyken announce the engagement of their son, Jeff, to Paige Levy, daugther of Lisa and Morris Levy. The bride-to-be graduated with a BS in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University, where she was a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. She also earned a BS in Nursing from University of MarylandBaltimore. She is a Pediatric Registered Nurse at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. She is the granddaughter of the late Phillip and Bessre Levy and the late Dr. Chester and Bess Lowendorf. Her fiancé graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Chemistry and Judaic Studies, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. He is a diamond wholesaler with Fredrick M. Gottlieb and Co. in Chicago, IL. He is the grandson of Ilene Pachman, the late William and Gertrude Pachman, and the late Samuel and Bess Shyken. A June 22 wedding is planned in Youngstown, OH.
MARRIAGE SCHNEIDERMAN/SOHN Tamara Gayle Schneiderman and Adam Jason Sohn were married Dec. 20, 2007, in St. Augustine, FL, at the Casa Monica Hotel. Rabbi David Kaiman of Congregation B’nai Israel of Gainesville officiated. The bride is the daughter of former Omahans Martin and Sue Schneiderman of Tallahassee. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. She is currently pursuing a master’s in Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The groom is the son of Richard and Phyllis Sohn of Bensalem, PA. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Industrial Engineering and currently is employed as a production manager at Intel Corporation in Portland, OR. Crystal Lai served as maid of honor. The bride’s attendants were Sarah Kaufman and Jessica Macpherson. Best man was Scott Kivitz. The groomsmen were William Melton III and Umesh Jalan. The couple honeymooned in Jamaica and will make their home in Portland.
Community discussions set for Lincoln’s Jewish Federation by ALAN TOMKINS Federation Board Member This month the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Lincoln is sponsoring community discussions about the Federation’s current and future priorities as part of its year-long strategic planning process. Jaine Evnen Merliss, Federation President, explained the importance of obtaining input: “Hearing the voices of our donors will provide our board key information as we determine the Federation’s short and long-term strategic directions. We are committed in responding to the desires of the Jewish community we serve and providing a formal opportunity for donors and potential donors to tell us their priorities will help us to that end.” The discussions will be held Sunday March 9, 10-11 a.m., at Tifereth Israel; 1-2 p.m. at the South Street Temple; and Tuesday March 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel, and will last about one hour. In addition, the Federation has developed a survey to get additional input, available via a link on the Lincoln Federation’s new website, www.jewishlincoln.org. The password to access the survey is jfol (for Jewish Federation of Lincoln). A paper copy will be mailed by request. You can register for a discussion session when you take the online survey or you may contact me at 474.1095 or atomkins@nebraska.edu or Jaine Evnen Merliss at 327.2321 or jaineevnen@msn.com.
February 29, 2008
ORGANIZATIONS THE YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC for the Heartbeats, dancing and singing by students from the Central Park School. Lunch is served at noon for $7 per person. Join us for bingo with Miles Remer at 10 a.m. Call Dee Dee at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. If you have any Yiddish books to donate, please call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. VISIONS Visions luncheon meeting is Friday, March 14, 12:30 p.m., at the Venice Inn. Cost is $11. Send reservations to Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard St., Omaha, NE 68114. For information, call Harry Alloy at 697.8709. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha will perform on Sunday, March 16, 1:30 p.m., at the JCC. There is no admission fee and all are welcome. The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha performs original compositions written by conductor Chuck Penington. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS David Kotok will speak about “The morning after the night before” at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, March 5, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. The Omaha World-Herald reporter will discuss the crucial elections and more. All men and women in the community are invited to attend. Cost is $13 for a complete lunch and $3 for beverage service only.
Bridal Show proceeds benefit Eppley Cancer Center by CARRIE DAYTON Director of Catering The Embassy Suites Old Market will host its Second Annual “Suite of Dreams” Bridal Boutique and Fashion Show on Sunday, March 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with the Bridal Gallery & Mr. Tuxedo, and exclusive vendors (Borsheims, Whole Foods, The Cakery, Florals, Etc., Complete Music and many more). Join the finest bridal experts in town for a fashion show, door prizes, elegant hors d’ouevres and champagne! This show is unique as ticket proceeds will be donated to help find cures for cancer. Admission is $25 per person, and all ticket proceeds will benefit the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. To purchase advanced tickets, please call 402.541.1487. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Walking home from Russia TIME OUT by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT My daughter, like many six-yearolds, has a bit of a lazy streak. While visiting our family in Holland, she notices how much walking is involved in daily life. The Dutch do not jump in the car for every little errand, and when they do, they park far away and still walk for a long time. This is not because they are so health conscious; rather, it’s a behavior born out of necessity. There is no parking close to anything, and the traffic is a mess. “You know, I once had an uncle who walked all the way from the Russian-Polish border back to Rotterdam,” I remark when she complains. “We are only going to the supermarket.” My daughter looks at me as if to say: “and this has something to do with me how?” I guess she’s still too young for the ‘you-don’tknow-how-good-you-have-it’ speech. She comes by her complaining honestly. My husband, who never fails to mention how much he does at the gym (he works out, big deal) refuses to carry her because now that she weighs over 50 pounds, she is too heavy. He will hurt his back; he’ll pull a muscle, or he is just too tired from sitting in his office all day. Besides, his knees hurt. And here I was thinking that going to the gym made you healthier. Of course, going to the gym does nothing. I’ve been to the gym many times. It’s actually doing something while you’re there that makes a difference. And, apparently, when you do the right things while you’re there, it gives you the right to complain about sore muscles and such. I admit, I’m a little jealous; I, too, want to be able to say: “My legs hurt! Because I worked out! Aren’t I a good girl?” It’s not as if I never do anything; I’ve owned and used a treadmill for years. I don’t use it for running though; I walk. Running would be much more impressive, but, as far as I’m concerned, extremely undesirable When I walk, I can focus my thoughts on nothing in particular. I can think about this week’s Parsha, or about the shopping list I still need to write. I like to make up stories, sing along with my Ipod, daydream; whatever strikes my fancy that day. It is also a time to kind of clear my head and get rid of any cobwebs I might have been cultivating. Nonetheless, as healthy as this all is for my
psyche, it doesn’t do all that much for my physique. Recently, my friend Susan and I decided we would start working out together. The Talmud teaches that our bodies are temples and need to be treated as such. Besides, with kids in school we have run out of excuses. Full of good intentions, I call the JCC and I make an appointment with Beth, one of the trainers. She gives me a fitness assessment. She pinches, pokes, and measures; the scale at the gym is unforgiving and tells me that I weigh six and a half more pounds than I do at home. I manage six push-ups. I agree to come back in two days and she will set up a workout regimen for me. To celebrate taking this important first step, I decide to try out one of the machines right away. I must say, I’m a little afraid of these machines. They seem to have a mind of their own, and, what’s worse, they seem to have opinions. “Look at her,” I imagine them saying to each other, “what is she doing here? I hope she’s not planning to touch me.” Okay, I probably have a little too much imagination for these types of situations, but the truth is, there are few things that could make me feel more out of place -- except for the Dallas cheerleaders Christmas party, maybe. I finally settle on an exercise bike; it seems the least threatening, and besides, I know how to ride a bike. Thirty minutes later I walk, very slowly, to the car. Who knew riding a bike would hurt this much? The next day, I can barely move. My body feels nothing like a temple; instead, I resemble one of those sandbags they use when the floods threaten. Or maybe a cardboard shack on the beach after a tsunami. You get the point. Still, I am a little proud of myself: I made important progress. Now I’ll have to go back. That is, after all, the down side of exercise: you have to keep doing it, again and again. I sincerely regret every bad thing I’ve ever eaten, and wonder for the millionth time: did they have to make the M&M’s kosher? If I want to truly improve myself, old habits need to make way for new neuroses. Will my thighs finally get smaller? Will I fit into that black dress? Will my unbearably high fat percentage shrink? And, most importantly, will I stick with it? We’ll have to see. Rome wasn’t built in one day, my mother always said, and neither are temples. Especially when that temple is mine. Annette Van De Kamp-Wright is a freelance writer who also volunteers her time writing for Friedel Jewish Academy and Chabad. She can be reached at: avandekamp@tconl.com.
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February 29, 2008
February 29, 2008
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All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the below events.
www.martinizing.com/omaha SATURDAY, MARCH 1 Scholar-in-Residence, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Beth El USY Kadima Kinnus, 3 p.m. Havdalah in Pajamas with Steve Brodsky, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, MARCH 2 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, Lessons for the Jewish Soul, and Men’s Club Breakfast and Speaker, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Immigration Panel, 10:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Neil Gillman speaks to BESTT faculty, 12:15 p.m. at Beth El Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Bedtime Storytime, 6 p.m. at Chabad House MONDAY, MARCH 3 JSS Senior Luncheon, 9:30 a.m. Iran, Jews & Israel with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 7 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 4 WOW Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 9 a.m. at Chabad Eye on Israel, noon Hebrew Lunch ‘n Learn, 12:15 p.m. at Temple Israel
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THURSDAY, MARCH 6 Jewish Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Community Open House, 7 p.m. at Friedel Academy Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, MARCH 7 Parent/Toddler Class, 9:30 a.m. at Temple Israel Visions Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m. Understanding Jewish Mysticism, noon A Look at Jewish Mysticism, noon at Temple Israel SATURDAY, MARCH 8 Scholar-in-Residence, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel
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SUNDAY, MARCH 9 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Four Bs, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Teen Class with Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad BESTT third grade Consecration, 11:15 a.m. at Beth El Challah & Chicken Soup Cook-off, noon at Temple Israel Hazak Deli Dinner, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El MONDAY, MARCH 10 ADL Essay Contest Judging, 5:30 p.m. Iran, Jews & Israel with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 7 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 11 Eye on Israel, noon Hebrew Lunch ‘n Learn, 12:15 p.m. at Temple Israel Friedel Academy Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. ADL Essay Contest Judging Snow Date, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m. Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad Friedel Academy Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 AIPAC Nebraska Council Meeting, 11:45 a.m. Rabbis & Presidents Meeting, noon Hadassah Purim & 100 Birthday Party, 1:30 p.m. BESTT Hebrew High School dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel JFS’s Love and Logic, 7 p.m. at Beth El THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Center for Jewish Education Board Meeting, noon Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El ADL Youth Leadership Mission Meeting, 7 p.m. Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 Understanding Jewish Mysticism, noon A Look at Jewish Mysticism, noon at Temple Israel Visions Luncheon Meeting, 12:30 P.M. Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Purim Carnival, 11:30 a.m. at Temple Israel RBJH Intergenerational Orchestra, 1:30 p.m. Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Kids’ Crafts, 3 p.m. at Beth Israel
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18 Visions at Western Heritage Museum, 10 a.m. Eye on Israel, noon Hebrew Lunch ‘n Learn, 12:15 p.m. at Temple Israel BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Yachad Vocational Skills Class, 6 p.m. Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Temple Israel BESTT Talmud Torah Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 Friedel Academy Kindergarten Round-up, 10:30 a.m. Parsha for Kids, 3:45 p.m. at Chabad House NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 28 Understanding Jewish Mysticism, noon A Look at Jewish Mysticism, noon at Temple Israel JSS Support Group Meeting, 1:30 P.M. Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 2:30 p.m. at Blumkin Home
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 Hazak Lunch and Learn, noon at Beth El
SUNDAY, MARCH 30 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad BESTT fifth grade play, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, 1 p.m. Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Concert Honoring Blumkin Home Residents, 2 p.m. Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature Identity and Imagination, 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 23 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad USY Purim Carnival, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Early Dismissal, 11:30 a.m. MONDAY, MARCH 24 Iran, Jews & Israel with Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 7 p.m. Beginning Hebrew, 7 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 25 Eye on Israel, noon Hebrew Lunch ‘n Learn, 12:15 p.m. at Temple Israel Parent/Teacher Conferences, 5 p.m. at Friedel Academy BBYO Advisor Appreciation Dinner, 6 p.m. Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad Jewish Federation Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 27 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Parent/Teacher Conferences, 5 p.m. at Friedel Academy LOVE Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Akko Theater Company at Western Galilee Performing Arts Series, 7:30 p.m. Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel The Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Lecture, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 21 Purim Celebrations, 12 a.m. at Beth Israel Understanding Jewish Mysticism, noon A Look at Jewish Mysticism, noon at Temple Israel New York Deli Purim Lunch, 12:30 p.m. at Chabad International Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 5:45 p.m. Purim Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel Purim, 7 p.m. at Chabad House
MONDAY, MARCH 17 The Art of Purim, 9:30 a.m. Iran, Jews & Israel by Dr. Moshe Gershovich, 7 p.m. Jewish Press Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 8 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 Parsha for Kids, 3:45 p.m. at Chabad House
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Purim Family Megillah Reading & Dinner, 5:45 p.m. at Beth El Purim Spiel and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Purim Mania, 6:30 p.m. at Chabad House Purim Celebrations, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 Out of Sight Saturday Night, 6:30 p.m. Pour-em Wine Tasting, 8:15 p.m. at Beth El
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Page 14
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Nutrilicious by Edith Rothschild (Feldheim, $26.99)
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description of the category. Stories, poems, quotations, and hints are here and there throughout the cookbook. The vegetarian recipes with a “few token fish and egg recipes” have brief numerical instructions and variations. Beetiful Salad, Rootie Roast, Dillicious Carrot Salad, Tofony Scrambled Eggs, Green Lokshin Kugel and this recipe (be sure to thoroughly rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve which she mentions in another recipe). STEEL-CUT OATS - QUINOA BREAKFAST 2 tbsp steel-cut oats 2 tbsp quinoa 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup Rice Dream non-dairy beverage a handful of organic Thompson raisins 2 to 3 pinches ground cinnamon To a medium saucepan, add the above ingredients, bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and cook for 25 - 30 minutes. Stir a few times during cooking to make sure the cereal won’t stick. If at this point you are not ready to eat your cereal, place it on a flame deflector to keep it warm. If the cereal has become too thick, you may add more water or Rice Dream non-dairy beverage. Serves 1-2. Lois Friedman can be reached at ReadItAndEat@ yahoo.com.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns Tuesday-Sunday, March 4-9, at the Orpheum, sponsored by Omaha Performing Arts. Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Songs including “Dancing Queen”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “Money, Money, Money”, and “Take A Chance on Me” are all featured in this feel-good night of fun and laughter. Tickets, priced from $28-65.50, can be purchased at the Ticket Omaha Box Office at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas; by calling Ticket Omaha, 402.345.0606; online at www.ticketomaha.org or www.ticketmaster. com or by calling 402.422.1212. The Omaha Community Playhouse will present Cliffhanger from Feb. 29 through March 22. An ingenious thriller mingling suspense and dark humor. A seemingly mild-mannered professor of philosophy is driven to murder to protect his reputation and career. He attempts to devise a fool-proof cover-up, but complications arise, and you’ll be watching from the edge of your seat as he tries to disentangle himself from his web of deceit. It’s suspenseful, funny and full of unexpected twists! Times are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (matinee) and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are adults, $32, and students, $21, and can be purchased at the box office at the Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., or by calling 553.0800, or online at www.OmahaPlayhouse.org. Opera Omaha’s 50th anniversary season is in full swing with the upcoming production of The Tragedy of
Carmen, the brainchild of genius director Peter Brook and composer Marius Constant, which puts the high points of Bizet’s brilliant score into a hard-hitting, intense drama with a modern edge. Performances at the Joslyn Art Museum, Witherspoon Concert Hall take place on March 5, 6, 8, and 9. Single tickets for The Tragedy of Carmen, are now on sale. Tickets are $30 to $70 and can be purchased by phone at 402.34.OPERA, or online at www.operaomaha.org or In-person at the Opera Omaha Office 1625 Farnam Street (17th & Farnam) Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. For Groups contact Maggie Wood at 402.346.4398, ext. 102. Omaha Performing Arts welcomes the legendary sound of the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra to the Kiewit Concert Hall at the Holland Performing Arts Center for one night only on Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m. Alton “Glenn” Miller, a native of Clarinda, Iowa and one-time Nebraska resident, was one of the most successful dance bandleaders in the swing era of the 1930s and ‘40s. Having played and recorded with big-band greats Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and Coleman Hawkins in the early 1930s, Miller broke away from The Ray Noble Orchestra, which he directed, and started his own band in 1937. The first band had limited success, despite week-long engagements in New Orleans and Dallas. Just 12 months later, Miller launched his second band, which went on to produce record-breaking hits such as “Tuxedo Junction,” “In the Mood,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Tickets priced at $19-$30, may be purchased through Ticket Omaha online at www.ticketomaha.org, by phone at 402.345.0606 or toll free at 866.434-TKTS (8587), and in person at the Ticket Omaha box office at the Holland Center, 13th and Douglas streets.
IN THE NEWS Russell Bennett, son of Sandy and Bruce Gordon, graduated the Omaha Police Academy in November, 2007, and will complete Field Training this month. He continues to serve as a Sergeant in the Marine Corp Reverves. Sandra Passer was elected president of the Methodist Hospital Volunteers In Partnership (VIP) during its Annual Meeting and Recognition Program. The VIP pledge for 2008-09 is $200,000, to help fund the Methodist Women’s Hospital. The Nebraska Center for Nursing (NCFN) wants to recognize and reward those nurses who make a difference in the lives of Nebraskans. Last year nearly 300 nurses were recognized. Nominations are now being accepted for NCFN’s second annual “Nurses Who Make a Difference” recognition program. Any Nebraska Registered Nurse or
Licensed Practical Nurse is eligible for nomination. The public is invited to nominate one or more nurses who have or are making a difference in their lives. Nominations should contain specific information on how the nurse performed in an extraordinary manner, beyond his/or her regular scope of nursing care. The deadline is April 15. Nomination forms are available at www.center4nursing.com. Nominations also can be submitted by writing to Nebraska Center for Nursing, PO Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailing the nomination to charlene.kelly@dhhs.ne.gov. Include the nurse’s name, place of employment or location where the care occurred (plus any other contact information that will assist in locating the nurse) and a brief explanation of what this nurse did to make a difference. Please include your name, address and telephone number. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your letter or on the nomination form.
February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Women’s Health
Look to the future. Get tested for Gaucher Disease today. If you are Jewish and of Eastern European Symptoms: Fatigue • Bone pain • Easy bruising and/or bleeding • Enlarged abdomen •
descent, one simple test today may make a very big difference tomorrow. Type 1 Gaucher Disease is the most common Jewish genetic disease. It can strike anyone at any time and the symptoms can be devastating, even fatal. Fortunately, type 1 Gaucher Disease is treatable. In fact, the earlier the diagnosis, the better… sometimes even life-saving. Ask your doctor if a Gaucher test is right for you.
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Page 15
Page 16
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
In sickness and in health
BERT’S EYE VIEW by BERT LEWIS In today’s world, if the subject of women’s health comes up, a person can expect to hear about vitamins, exercise, hormones, yoga (maybe), diet, weight and probably another dozen “must do” items. I can live with that, even if I’m old enough to remember how things were many years ago when I was a little girl. To begin with, your mom was in charge of your health from infancy to the chuppah. When a kid was little, most moms knew you needed three basic things to raise a healthy child: cod liver oil (oy), whole milk (with plenty of butterfat, which was not only good for you but also tasted good) and last, mercurachrome. That may be misspelled, but I can’t find it in my dictionary. You may think calling these three vital to the health and welfare of small children is goofy, but it’s not such an exaggeration. If your mom was an advocate of whichever nutrition expert declared cod liver oil important, then you may remember that vile stuff. It was, however, thought to promote robust, good health and proper development. It was also, really vile. And nobody in their right mind would have doubted the importance of good, rich milk -- it was a given: milk was good for teeth, bones and just general growth. It must be remembered cholesterol had not yet been discovered, so nobody had to worry about clogged arteries. And mercurachrome? If you skinned a knee or scraped an elbow, Mom got out that red bottle and painted a badge of honor with it. In severe cases, it was iodine, but the screaming was more than most moms wanted to hear, so the less potent stuff was used. See? Those things plus clean clothes, school and loving parents were the important components to creating a healthy female. (Males too of course, but we’re talking womens health here, so excuse me.) In fact, I’m not sure I remember very much about grown up ladies and widely publicized health issues. Of course, the time I refer to wasn’t a decade when anything and everything was printed and or talked about. People, particularly women, were much more discreet about what they bought or used or did in the privacy of their own homes. Need I finish the comparison? Unlike today, when absolutely nothing is left to the imagination. I realize I’m dangerously close to sounding like an old woman, but you know what? Truth be told, I guess an octogenarian is an old woman. Naturally, we need more than the above mentioned three things to make healthy kids -- kids who grow up to be healthy (old) women. We need to realize that even
though we might have been skinny little kids, cod liver oil notwithstanding, most of us grew out of that category and hardly remember what it was like to be urged to eat. I’ll plagerize a comic’s words when I tell you, I was nine before I found out my name wasn’t “Eat.” Every time my mom looked at me she said “eat!” I was very thin -- in fact, the term underweight rings a familiar bell. That hasn’t been a problem for a long time. I found my appetite during my first semester in the sorority house at college. I now believe the Greek letters translate to mean Carbohydrate Castle. I will always remember the expression of disbelief on my mom’s face when I came home for Thanksgiving nearly three months after leaving for school. I was probably 10 to 15 pounds heavier than when I left and here was proof in my tight, pleated skirt and snug sweater. Aha ... I had learned the secret of gaining weight. Also had develped a smoking habit that hung on until 1968, but that’s another story. But I digress, and even for a cheap laugh that isn’t fair. Let’s go back to our original topic: womens health. Yes, you can walk into a drug store or a health food store and find a thousand remedies for every problem which plague women today. You can read about a gazillion different diets, exercise machines, personal trainers, hypnotists, yoga classes and heaven only knows what else. All “guaranteed” to make it better, whatever “it” is. And in addition to all that, if you’re more inclined to be sedentary (isn’t that nicer than couch potato?), every magazine has another article written by some maven giving you advice. So nu, where does that leave the average lady who feels pretty good but really wants to lose 30 pounds before her granddaughter’s wedding? Is she going to get a lot out of the story of that formerly fat girl who now looks like a movie star? No, it’s more likely she’ll see the perfect dress for the occasion, but it’s a size 8, and she isn’t. Now she’s got an incentive. Is that the key? Incentive? Women’s health is a big topic, and in my view, one of the major points is weight. And let me tell you about incentive. Somewhere, between the time I quit smoking and recent years, I finally stopped needing to be told to eat. I don’t know how it happened, but my weight became a problem. I didn’t know that until my doctor got too interested in the subject. It was the first time in my life I wasn’t proud of high test scores! She hocked me about it and made an impression, and I found out about personal dicipline. It’s taken six months, but I’m nearly back to where I should be ... not underweight of course, but not so zaftig (a dubious honor). Of course we need to take good care of ourselves. So many depend on us, no matter our age. We need to worry about strong bones, and good protime scores and admirable blood pressure readings. And don’t forget the
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eyes and the ears ... or have you noticed how many people mumble nowadays? Oh yes, it’s a very long list of everything we need to pay attention to, if we’re taking proper care of ourselves. And buying slacks with elasticized waists doesn’t solve the size problem. It would appear it really can’t all boil down to just one important point, but if weight isn’t the most important, it sure as heck must be up there in the top 10! Okay, back to square one. This is an important item in our lives. We need to be the best we can be, because we have so much to do. We have all those families to take care of, all those children to raise, all those husbands to cater to, all those professions we studied so hard for, all those businesses that couldn’t run without us, all those elders with whom we exchange roles, all those mothers (and daughters) in-law to keep happy. Good heavens girls, aren’t there days when you wish you could clone yourself so you could have some help? You need to be healthy, fabulous examples of womanhood. Personally, I think this is a great time for women, with so many opportunities available to she who can push aside obstacles. So take care of yourself, you hear? I think that’s what it’s all about ... in addition to making sure your guy gets his annual check-up and the kids get their shots, make certain you do what you need to do for yourself. There are those annual tests we all hate, but they’re important. Don’t put them off. Ok, that’s the lecture for today. If you promise to take the same care of yourself that you take of your family, you’ll be fine. I’ll leave you with one of the first yiddish expressions I ever learned, and still use: “Zie guzunt!” Good health! Bert Lewis can be reached at BertLewis39@aol.com.
BIRTHS Katy and Joe Platt of Mission Hills, KS announce the Jan. 16 birth of their daughter, Lila Jill. Grandparents are Barb and Mike Platt, and Jill and Tom Turner of Mission Hills, KS. Michelle and Jon Fellman of Chicago, announce the Jan. 28 birth of their son, Andrew Henry, named for his great-grandfather, Harold Bloom. He has two sisters, Anna and Samantha. Grandparents are Beverly and Richard Fellman, Michael Worth and his wife Greta, and the late Trudi Greenberg. Great-grandparents are Lillian Worth of Los Angeles, the late Harold and Dina Bloom, and the late Leon and Frances Fellman.
TRASYLOL HEART BYPASS SURGERY ALERT The drug Trasylol used in heart bypass surgery has been linked to kidney failure and was recently the subject of a CBS 60 Minutes segment. If you or a loved one had kidney failure resulting in either death or dialysis after heart bypass surgery, please contact us. You may be entitled to compensation.
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February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 17
Omaha Performing Arts Presents
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Page 18
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Caring and cared-for communities by WENDY ELLIMAN JERUSALEM (IPS) -- The Caring Community, initiated in 2000, is a multi-faceted social, communal and educational program aimed at enabling residents of Jerusalem’s poorest neighborhoods to create change from within their communities – by developing local leadership, supporting and integrating the efforts of schools, community centers and social service organizations, and working with local leaders to create new programs to address critical unmet needs. The ultra-Orthodox Romema neighborhood has been participating in the program since 2004. With the huge growth in the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews and families in the capital with 10, 12 or even 14 children, kids can easily fall between the cracks. By helping mothers communicate better with their children and evaluating “problem” children for potential learning disabilities, the school drop-out rate is falling and a new openness in families is beginning to change the face of the community. If you believe you have the best education system in the world, how do you reconcile the fact that growing numbers of under-14s drop out of it? Especially when dropping out of school inevitably leads to dropping out of the community? “This was troubling many of us in the community, and not only those with children among the drop-outs,” says a mother of nine in the ultra-Orthodox Romema neighborhood, near Jerusalem’s central bus terminus. “I was lucky with my kids – they all did well. But then, four years ago, in the months leading up to his Bar Mitzvah,
my sixth child began cutting school. I thought things would get better after the Bar Mitzvah, but they didn’t. In fact, they got worse. I didn’t know what to do.” This youngster, then enrolled at a Talmud Torah (ultra-Orthodox elementary school) in Romema, was one of the first to be included in a multi-faceted social, communal and educational war on poverty brought into this neighborhood in early 2004. Known as the Caring Community, the four-year program was launched in Jerusalem in 2000, and to date, has reached seven needy neighborhoods. “Romema is the first ultra-Orthodox community in which the Caring Community has so far operated,” says Jerusalem Foundation educator Udi Spiegel, one of the program’s leaders. “We’d already had observable successes in secular and traditional Jewish neighborhoods and in Arab neighborhoods in the city. Ultra-Orthodox women from Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood attend Romema recognized it had a problem and a Mothers and Adolescents class to learn how to better communicateCredit: IPS photo with their children. invited us in.” bat the existing culture of poverty, with its frustrations A grassroots, resident-driven initiative, the Caring and dependency, and prevent its transmission to future Community was initiated by the Jerusalem Foundation generations.” with the Jerusalem Association of Community Centers, The program’s campaign against poverty starts with Joint Distribution Committee, Hebrew University, the developing of a comprehensive plan that engages the Jerusalem Education Authority and leading education entire community and nurtures local leadership. It has and community development professionals. proven itself sufficiently flexible to adapt to Jerusalem’s “Forty-two percent of Jerusalem’s residents and 53 many and diverse populations, helping each to define percent of its children live below the poverty line,” says and reinvigorate itself. In A-Tur, for example, an Arab Spiegel. “The Caring Community was created to comneighborhood of 21,000 people on the Mount of Olives, 44 percent of whom are under 18, the focus is on youth programs. It has set up a pre-school center which also includes programs for young mothers, an after-school learning center, a range of social and educational options for teens, and lectures for parents on teen issues. In Jewish East Talpiot, where 40 percent of its 12,450 residents are immigrants, it is trying to build a community from scratch and encourage people to stay in the neighborhood. The Katamon neighborhoods (Tet and Chet) are among the city’s poorest, and Neve Yaakov suffers from its isolation on Jerusalem’s northern rim. “Romema, as an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood, has different issues from all of these,” says Spiegel. “Despite a strong community structure, a strong rabbinical community leadership, and strong values and traditions, the children were dropping out of school. They knew they needed help, but accepting it from the outside and introducing change was very difficult for them.” A key figure in bringing the Caring Community program to Romema was Ilan Sharfi, director of the neighborhood’s active community center, one of the city’s oldest. “During the three years I’ve been in the neighborhood, the community and I have come to know and trust one another,” he says, “although they were suspicious of me at the beginning. This trust has allowed us to be involved in every area of the community and work as partners.” The Caring Community model dictates that the neighborhood itself identify the issues with which it needs help. In Romema the school drop-out rate was on everyone’s agenda. “With the huge growth in the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews and families with 10, 12 or even 14 children, kids can easily fall between the cracks,” says Sharfi. “There was a consensus that we must reach out and meet the emotional, recreational and special educational needs of these children and prevent this.” With no formal counseling in the ultra-Orthodox school system, the voices of troubled children were not being heard. “I couldn’t keep up with my studies,” says the youngster who began cutting school around the time of his Bar Mitzvah. “I was trying to learn for my Bar Mitzvah and do well in school, but I couldn’t do it all and was understanding less all the time. My older brothers are all great students and I knew the whole family would be really disappointed that I wasn’t doing well. I began to hate school where I just sat like a dummy, and so I stopped going.” Identifying and helping such youngsters is a major part of Romema’s Caring Community initiative. “It took time to convince the neighborhood to permit this, but during the 2006/7 school year we brought in a team of professional psychologists and special needs experts to evaluate 60 children from four Talmudei Torah,” says Sharfi. “Those needing special attention were referred to the Treatment and Enrichment Activity Center for Haredi Children (TEACH) for tutoring, counseling, occupational and speech therapy, enrichment and help with study skills.” Continued on page 23
February 29, 2008
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 19
New wing at Blumkin Home dedicated
Above: After 15 months of construction, the new wing at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home was ready for visitors at an Open House on Sunday. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, and Rabbis Mordechai Levin and Jonathan Gross (above) dedicated the new wing by affixing a specially commissioned mezuzah on the main entry door post. Photo credit: Bob Belgrade and Ozzie Nogg.
Above: Mimi Silverman and son Adam and Mike Silverman, RBJH executive director, and son Jeremy, watched the rabbis affix the mezuzahs. The ‘New Beginning’ fundraising project was chaired by Richard Jacobson and Paul Epstein, middle photo, and their wives, Joanie Jacobson and Sandy Epstein (not pictured). RBJH board members Joanie Bernstein and Suzanne Singer (photo at right) are excited about the next phase of construction at the Blumkin Home -- a total renovation of the existing northwest wing. More photos from the Open House will be in next week’s Jewish Press.
The fused-glass and copper mezuzah (below left) is the work of Omaha artist, Larry Budwig, (pictured above with his children and Rabbi Azriel) whose late wife, Kirsten, was a nurse at the Blumkin Home until her death in 2003 at the age of 36. When describing the mezuzah, Budwig’s 11-year old daughter, Hannah, said, “It is so cool. When my sisters and I are older we can bring our kids here and tell them, ‘Your grandpa made that.’ It’s awesome!”
“We wanted to give everyone a chance to see that they made a good investment by contributing to the New Beginning project,” said Bob Belgrade, President of RBJH/Jewish Senior Services/Jewish Family Service, pictured above with Howard Kooper at the Open House. “This new space is all about our residents and their families; they are our focus. The Omaha Jewish community can take pride in what we’ve done together.” “The new wing is fabulous,” said Building Chairman Howard Kooper. “I’m most proud that everyone in the community participated.”
Page 20
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
What women (and men) can learn from pop culture (and what the Jewish community can adopt, too, for a healthy future) America’s Next Top Model premiered its 10th cycle last week. If you’ve never heard of ANTM (as it’s popularly called), you don’t have daughters or sisters in your family. The show created by super model Tyra Banks features a bevy of beauties vying for the coveted title through a series of photo shoots, runway walks, TV spots and “go sees” (model talk for visiting designers in hopes of getting a job). Week by week, a model is eliminated until the last one standing. Despite the occasionally cheesy lines and constant repetition of the prizes (“a six page spread in such-and-such magazine, a contract with a top modeling agency and $100,000!”), there is something we can all learn for this cult reality show: Tyra Banks (and her fellow judges) know how to mentor young women and teach them how to feel confidant. Wow! From start to finish, the audience watches as beautiful (but young, sometimes gawky, either not-so-confidant or cocky) women begin to believe in themselves. They’re all beautiful so it’s not just about looks. As Tyra often tells them, it’s about seeing the beauty within, about learning from your mistakes, about growing and using the gifts you have to become the person you’re meant to be. Wow again. Tyra Banks didn’t have to develop ANTM like this. She could have acted the way Janice Dickinson, one of her early judges did. Dickinson, a former super model herself, is often brutal in her criticism. Banks, on the other hand (as well as her other judges), offers critiques in a way that is both direct but not hurtful. In fact, Banks often asks the models
questions about their performances to get them to answer (and therefore understand) what went wrong -- and learn from that. And that’s what we can learn from this pop culture phenomenon. Whether it’s with our own children, our employees or the volunteers with whom we work, helping others grow and learn and become confidant in their roles (in life, in the workplace, in charitable organizations) is the best gift we can give. It’s pretty obvious how we can apply this to how we raise our children: make them understand we love them no matter what, that mistakes are inevitable, but if they learn from them, the experience will make them more confidant about their talents, abilities and their future achievements. Not only does this approach help create a mentally healthy young adult, it makes for secure healthy families as well. So, how do we apply this to the work and volunteer worlds? The simplest way would be through mentoring. Once this community paired up new volunteers with “seasoned” leaders, who used their vast experiences to help train newcomers to the alphabet-soup of the Jewish organizational world. We’d like to suggest going back to the model, not only with the Federation and its agencies, but at synagogues and other Jewish organizations. Trained leaders can use Tyra’s
techniques to ask younger volunteers the kind of questions that will help them learn from their experiences: How do you feel about the event, program, project? What would you have done differently? What do you know now you didn’t before? The end result will not only be more knowledgeable and trained volunteers, but a healthier Jewish community, prepared for whatever the future hands us. If Tyra Banks can do it with a dozen or so models, then surely we can.
Despite recruitment grants, Israeli medicine stronger than ever
FOCUS ON ISSUES by DR. JONATHAN HALEVY JERUSALEM (JTA) -- This month’s announcement of a new initiative to distribute $60,000 grants to doctors from English-speaking countries who make aliyah raises an obvious question: If such incentives are required to bring top medical caregivers to the Jewish state, just how bad is Israel’s healthcare industry? In fact, this program for doctors from the United States and Britain -- sponsored by Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Legacy Heritage Fund in collaboration with the Israeli health and absorption ministries -- highlights the state of medicine in Israel, which is at its strongest point ever and has earned the welldeserved prestige of being a global leader. This is not an accomplishment that has come quickly or easily. When I began in my post at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center nearly two decades ago, the norm for seriously ill Israeli patients with means was to ask where outside Israel they should go for the best care. Lacking confidence in the Israeli health-care system, patients routinely sought out doctors in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Today the opposite is true. Now in Israel, we regularly get cases of supreme complexity in our operating rooms and medical departments, even from patients living outside of Israel. What has so dramatically and positively transformed Israel’s reputation as a medical provider? The answer lies within the same commitment to excellence that has inspired Israeli successes and global leadership in many fields. Slowly but surely we have improved the infrastructure of our hospitals and the standards of quality that are key for providing cutting-edge medicine in the 21st century.
Much of the credit goes to massive injections of support -- moral and financial -- from friends of Israel overseas who appreciate that a Jewish state is a most appropriate place to act as a beacon for medical excellence. Most important, we have relied on that same Zionist ethos of dedicated labor and belief in a dream that has enabled us to add top-level medicine to the feats of this remarkable little nation of ours. This transformation can be seen both in the physical infrastructure of Israeli hospitals and the rising quality of our primary resource: our doctors and nurses. Our major medical centers have acquired the type of equipment found in leading Western hospitals. All the diagnostic machinery and therapeutic modalities that characterize major clinical and research institutions in advanced nations now have become the standard in Israeli medicine.
... we have relied on that same Zionist ethos of dedicated labor and belief in a dream that has enabled us to add top-level medicine to the feats of this remarkable little nation of ours. Thus in almost every area, Israel’s leading hospitals offer the types of advanced technology that in previous decades might have been available only abroad. Institutionally, within our hospitals and health systems, and from directives issued by our Ministry of Health, we have strengthened our commitment to quality control and performance. On the human resource level, Israel has cultivated home-grown talent with medical schools that rival the best in the West. In addition, most Israeli doctors participate in fellowships and post-doctoral studies beyond our borders, typically at leading universities in the
United States. Responding to an expected shortage of medical personnel worldwide, Israel is taking steps to limit its impact at home. Of course we also have been aided by an influx of talent from the Diaspora. Despite popular perception, within the masses of immigrants from the former Soviet Union have come many skilled clinicians, medical researchers and accomplished biotechnologists who have contributed enormously toward raising the bar throughout the Israeli health-care and bioresearch communities. Immigrants of many other countries have joined our work force, and there is no doubt the international flavor of our hospitals and doctors’ offices has been a positive development. As a result of these and many other advances, Jerusalem and other Israeli cities now draw the most highly esteemed figures in health care worldwide to medical conferences in Israel. Procedures and strategies researched and designed within our hospitals’ halls are taught at symposia around the world. Painfully, some of the lessons we have to teach the world are the outgrowths of our nation’s wars and conflicts, as our experiences have made us experts in dealing with mass casualty incidents and rehabilitating victims of terrorism. Yet in today’s tense global climate, these experiences are vital for the provision of health care, and we are proud to be able to educate others in being prepared for such eventualities even as we pray they never come to pass. So while we look forward to welcoming new doctors and nurses to Israel -- as we welcome all immigrants from around the globe -- the world should be confident that at our 60th anniversary, Israeli medicine is just one more manifestation of our nation’s proud legacy of excellence and ingenuity. Professor Jonathan Halevy is the director general of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
(Founded in 1920) Howard K. Marcus President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Robyn Belgrade Sales Associate Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper Anne Muskin Editorial Intern Jewish Press Board Bobbi Leibowitz, Vice President; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Scott Meyerson, Treasurer; Joanie Jacobson, Immediate Past-chairman; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; Carin Parcel, George Quittner; Eve Randone, Melissa Schop; Michael Siegel, Michael Sigmond; Jim Simon; Nancy Skid; and Dorothy Spizman. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation. Highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. 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: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org.. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be singlespaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For more information, contact Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $33 per calendar year U.S.; $40 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or e-mail to: jpress@jewishomaha. org.
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Hezbollah will strike back, question is where and when
BEHIND THE H EADLINES by YEHUDIT BARSKY NEW YORK (JTA) -- For many of his victims around the world, the recent carbomb assassination of Imad Fayez Mughniyeh -- one of the world’s most wanted terrorists for two decades -- has the ring of true justice. At least in the short term, the killing of Mughniyeh will have a deterrent effect and hamper Hezbollah’s capability to carry out a revenge attack. It will not, however, preclude Hezbollah from planning a future strike over time -- and, judging from past experience, the Lebanese-based terrorist organization will not only eye Israeli targets for retaliation, but Diaspora Jewish ones as well. Mughniyeh, the second highest official in the Islamic extremist group and seen as a possible successor to Hezbollah’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, showed no boundaries of brutality or location. He was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list for the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847 and murder of one of its passengers, U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem. The FBI posted a $25 million reward for Mughniyeh’s capture. Earlier in his terrorist career, Mughniyeh joined Fatah’s Force 17, the personal security apparatus of Yasser Arafat. Mughniyeh was one of a number of young Shia Muslims recruited to Force 17 and initially trained by Fatah.
Mughniyeh went on to become a vided vital assistance and training for founding member of Hezbollah and was Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, placed in charge of its Special Security strengthening the ties of those terror Apparatus, also known as the Islamic organizations to both Hezbollah and Jihad Council, whose members were Iran. He also maintained ties with Osama trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri of alGuards. He ultimately became chief of Qaida by providing explosives training for the security apparatus and headed al-Qaida operatives. Hezbollah’s foreign operations, overseeFollowing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, ing terror activities worldwide. Both the Mughniyeh was believed to have been Islamic Revolutionary Guards and the instrumental in having organized the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and escape of up to 50 senior members of alSecurity facilitated Mughniyeh’s interna- Qaida’s leadership from Afghanistan to tional operations. Lebanon and facilitated ... Hezbollah will not let The 1983 massive the escape of dozens of car bombings of the Mughniyeh’s assassination other al-Qaida operaU.S. Embassy and pass without attempting a tives to Iran. U.S. Marine barracks display of its own capability for Over the last few in Beirut, which killed revenge. years, Mughniyeh more than 300, and further expanded the kidnappings and murders of Hezbollah’s influence and was reported Westerners in Lebanon, including CIA to be working with Iran to train Moktada station chief William Buckley and USMC Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army in Iraq. Lt. Col. William Higgins, as well as memMughniyeh’s most recent activities bers of the Lebanese Jewish community, included his key role in the construction all are accredited to Mughniyeh. of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in He gained international notoriety for southern Lebanon from 2000 to 2006. his involvement, together with Iran, in With Iran’s aid, he oversaw the efforts the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy, that transformed Hezbollah into an and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA organization with military-level capabiliJewish community center, both in ties. Mughniyeh also is considered Buenos Aires. The official findings of the responsible for the kidnapping of Israeli Argentinean investigation of the AMIA reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad attack revealed that it was planned and Regev, and he directed Hezbollah fightexecuted by Iran and Hezbollah. As a ing against Israeli forces during the 2006 result, Interpol, at the request of Lebanon war. Argentina, issued an arrest warrant for What comes next in the postMughniyeh and five Iranian officials. Mughniyeh era of Hezbollah? Serving as Hezbollah’s nexus to other Nasrallah immediately blamed Israel for terrorist organizations, Mughniyeh pro- the Feb. 13 assassination in Damascus
and declared that Hezbollah was prepared to immediately retaliate “anywhere” against Israeli targets worldwide. The 1992 strike against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires took place several weeks after Israel’s assassination of then-Hezbollah leader Abbas Musawi. Following Mughniyeh’s death last week, Israel issued security alerts to its embassies and an advisory to Israeli citizens abroad to be alert for possible abduction attempts. Following the example of the AMIA bombing, Hezbollah also includes Diaspora Jewish communities on its potential list of targets. The AMIA attack came two years after the embassy bombing in Argentina. Mughniyeh clearly left his imprint not just on Hezbollah, but on other terrorist organizations. Due to his contacts with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, those organizations may be called upon by Hezbollah to expand their own terrorist activities against Israel. Other organizations that received assistance from Hezbollah expressed solidarity with Hezbollah after Mughniyeh’s assassination and may decide to engage in their own violent actions or may be called upon by Hezbollah for assistance. Clearly, Hezbollah will not let Mughniyeh’s assassination pass without attempting a display of its own capability for revenge. The question is not if, but where and when. Yehudit Barsky is director of the American Jewish Committee’s Division on Middle East and International Terrorism.
Caucus tales 2008: a fragile trust
METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING by DR. MAGDA PECK Sometime after 11 a.m., it almost came apart. Two hours into Nebraska’s first Democratic caucus, folks started to leave the chaotic middle school cafeteria. Barak Obama’s supporters had swelled well beyond the designated space for their half. They surged onto the stage, overflowed into hallways, and cornered the relatively dwarfed Clinton camp. A few dozen “undecideds” huddled against the far wall, fielding persuasive pitches from each side. Most everyone looked considerably confused as they strained to hear a bulky Obama-shirted man on the cafeteria chair shouting into his bullhorn. Many of the Obama supporters had mistakenly turned in their ballots too soon; nothing could proceed until each had reclaimed his or her signed paper. Only when the designated Democratic official in charge, State Senator Tom White, addressed the crowd over an unearthed microphone did people tone it down. His promise was simple and clear: every eligible Democrat who came to vote would be able to vote, after the ballot mess was cleared up and everyone who wanted to had registered. With the line to get into the school still visible outside, he told frustrated folks it might be another hour more. More than 1200 established and 400 freshly minted Democrats had converged on Monroe Middle School just north of Midtown Omaha. Old and just old enough to vote. Men and women, black and white and brown. Gay and straight. Some bore canes and walkers, others steered baby buggies and wheelchairs. A sea of contrasting signs waved like human wallpaper from each side of the filled room. No coffee to be had, the bottled water was long gone, and the folks still queued up outside were just trying to stay warm. By 11:40 a.m., word reached us that two other overwhelmed sites had declared “electoral emergencies” and abandoned the prescribed protocol; we would follow suit. Senator White rounded up a small group of party officials and Obama and Clinton campaign representatives to tell us the plan: people would file out of the building in two lines. In each, supporters would place their ballots for their candidate into a recycled cardboard
box, which was to be held and monitored by a designated pair -- one Clinton, one Obama -- to keep it safe and fair. The few still uncommitted were to be tallied indoors. And just before noon it all came together. Democrats of both candidate persuasions sorted themselves quietly and walked outside. It was so cold on that concrete stoop as I clutched the ballot box. I wedged it securely between my knees and the wind picked up, cradling its ragged upper edges in both arms. “Obama box!” I announced as nearly 1500 people filed slowly past me. Lots of folks I knew and so many more I’d never seen before, each depositing a ballot, one by one. Some placed theirs gently on top of the growing heap of blue papers; others tucked them deep down so they wouldn’t blow away. One older man with tears in his eyes kissed his ballot before slowly putting on the pile. “You sure it will count?” he asked. Others looked me in the eye and made me promise to keep them safe. “Obama box!” I shouted again and again, until the very last person surrendered her ballot. Most folks hung in there and were glad that they did. To those who have whined about having wasted their precious time for a few hours one cold Saturday morning, I say: enough. What else is worth more than an investment in freedom? We have become ATM-like citizens, accustomed to depositing our most precious currency – our vote – whenever and however it is most convenient to each of us as consumers, for individual gain. Have Americans forgotten -- or perhaps we never learned -that real Democracy takes work? That it requires the active participation of a majority of its citizens? Chaotic as they were – nowhere more than at Monroe Middle School - the Democratic Caucus offered us a chance to sweat a bit together across lines of gender and geography, color and class and creed. Waiting in lines and waiting longer in gyms and cafeterias, we had a unique opportunity to engage in fundamental dialogue with folks we never knew about what is most important for us as a nation. To listen deeply to each other, to learn about our neighbors and ourselves. Nebraska’s unruly 2008 Democratic Caucus proved to be an inconvenient act of electoral faith. My 96-year-old activist friend Evie Zysman, who still calls her elected officials almost every day about something else that is just not right, later said that without a doubt, in all her years in Omaha, she had never seen anything quite like it. I will never forget the look on the tired faces of those who stayed to hope: the unexpected joy of engaged citi-
zenship. Of all the lessons learned this election season, may we never forget that Democracy, no matter how inefficient, always must be worth our precious time, and that it is up to each of us to honor and preserve its fragile trust. Dr. Peck is a public health leader and social justice champion who chairs the Economic Justice, Women and Families Task Force of the URJ's Commission on Social Action. She invites readers to send their “Caucus Tales” and other comments at magdapeck@hotmail.com.
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR
To the Editor: Here I am in my room at the “Castle Methodist” -waiting to go Home tomorrow. The last time I was here was over two years ago when I was told I was suffering from stress; my now deceased wife and I subsequently moved into the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. The last thing we ever wanted to do was go into the Home, but we had no choice. When we moved here, two of the nurses -- one who is still at the home -- spent time holding my hand, talking to me, comforting me. They did more for me than any shrink! As time went on, I got into the swing of things. When I walked the halls, I spoke to everyone and learned their names. I had new friends and new tablemates in the diningroom. I did things that interested me. I started reading to the children from the CDC. Gary Katz -- from the Kripke Library -- got me back to reading. I even took part in a couple of other programs. Everything was great until two weeks ago when I contracted pneumonia. Meals were served in my room, but I couldn’t eat. I had no appetite for food, books or TV. Then the “brigade” got on me -- they marched into my room and tried to convince me to eat. Mitzi the dietician told me I had lost too much weight and mentioned the word “hospital.” Chef Mike Aparo offered to cook anything I wanted. Tom brought soup and Dana threatened me if I didn’t eat. Kathy was afraid I would become dehydrated, so she bought Gatorade. Micki, Shelly, Darlene, as well as the other nurses and aides hovered over me. I used to fear being here and dependent upon others, but now the Blumkin Home is my Home -- and I am anxious to get back to my friends and familiar faces. Mike Silverman has a Home full of Yiddishe Mama nurses and I love and respect them all! Dave Dvorkin
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008
Candlelighting Friday, Feb. 29, 5:56 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
Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.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 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154
Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org
The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609
Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org
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to reserve space, call
Allan Handleman, 402.334.6451 or Robyn Belgrade 402.334.6559
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogomolni. FRIDAY: Musical Shabbat services, 6 p.m. Fourth and fifth graders will participate in the service. Afterward, scholar-in-residence Dr. Neil Gillman will speak at a special Shabbat dinner, addressing “God: How Can Modern Jews Speak About God? How Do We Know Anything About God?” For information, call Margie Gutnik in the office. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; During the service, Dr. Gillman will lead an interactive discussion about “Prayer and Liturgy: What Happens When We Don’t Believe the Words of the Prayer Book?” His presentation during Kiddush lunch will focus on ‘The Afterlife: Jewish Views on Life After Death.” The community is invited to attend; Shabbat Morning LIVE, 10:30 a.m.noon; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 6:05 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Nurturing Your Spirit: Enriching Your Jewish Soul, 10 a.m.-noon. led by Susi Frydman-Levin; 10 a.m. The community is invited to hear Shane Osborn, State Treasurer during the Men’s Club breakfast series. (See full story on page 10). THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Insights and Values from the Torah, noon; Women’s Book Club, 1:15 p.m. HAZAK DELI DINNER: Sunday, March 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Daniel Grossman and Sarah and David Lopez in honor of the 60th birthday of Alex Grossman; Mincha, 5:30 p.m., followed by Suedat Shlishit; Havdalah, 6:57 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; “Reading the Rambam” with Rabbi Oxman, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s teen class, 10 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue. SUNDAY: Religious School, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the JCC.
9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gam Simcha-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Temple; Federation Board Meeting, 1 p.m. at Temple; Winter Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church: “Food Sustainability and Natural Resource Management: A Matter of Survival” with Prof. Andrew Manu of Iowa State University. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel. MONDAYS, 7-8:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Hebrew Reading Crash Course One Day Review and Module II .
CHABAD HOUSE
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE
BEYT SHALOM
Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m.; Bedtime/Storytime, 6 p.m. Come in your pajamas and listen to a story told by Nancy Rips. Reservations are appreciated. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Maamar Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Parsha class for pre-schoolers, 12:30-1:15 p.m.; Halacha class, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 9 a.m.; Parshah Roundup: Weekly Torah Portion Class, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m. All events and programs are open to the community.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN
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. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 5:56 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Mary Sue, Josh and
Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following hosted by Marc Shkolnick. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7,
FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead the service along with the Third graders. Dinner immediately after the service. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. Cleo Rogers, daughter of Mimi Rogers-Farkas and Scott Farkas, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah; OTYG Tri-faith Event, 3–5:30 p.m. OTYG goes bowling with friends from the Omaha Muslim Youth Organization and the All Saints Episcopal Church Youth Group at Cougar Lanes. RSVP to Sarah Bleicher, 990.3996 or SBleicher00@ yahoo.com or Temple; Havdalah in Pajamas with Steve Brodsky, 5 p.m. SUNDAY: Teacher Learning Coffee, 9:30 a.m.; Grades K-6, 10 a.m.-noon; WRJ-O Hamentaschen Baking, 10 a.m. Please RSVP to Mimi Silverman 932.6626 or mimitaffet@cox. net; Immigration Panel, 10:15 a.m. (See full story on page 3.) TUESDAY: Hebrew Lunch & Learn, 12:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; All School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m. at the JCC; Grades 7-12, 6 p.m.; Dr. Sol Gordon, 6:30 p.m. at the JCC.
“Raising a Child in a Sexually Permissive World,” sponsored by Jewish Family Service. (See full story on page 1.) UNDERSTANDING JEWISH MYSTICISM, Friday, March 7, noon with Dr. Guy Matalon. Four-week session from many different texts that will offer a unique glimpse of Judaism that is spiritually enriching and intellectually stimulating. To register, please contact Rosie Zweiback, 556.6536 or rzweiback@templeisraelomaha.com. SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE, Saturday, March 8, 10:30 a.m. Grade Five students along with Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Shermet, will lead the morning service. PURIM SPIEL AND DINNER, Thursday, March 20, 6 p.m. Remember to wear your costumes! Please contact the office to make a reservation by Thursday, March 13. Cost of dinner is $8 for adults, $5 for children five to 12, and no charge for children younger than five. The cost of meals made after March 13 is $10 for adults and $7 for children five to 12.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 5:56 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m. Contact the office to arrange for a minyan. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by kiddush lunch and Talmud study. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at South Street Temple. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION MONDAYS, 7-8:30 p.m. Hebrew Reading Crash Course One Day Review and Module II.
Explaining Purim to kids by SHANI KATZMAN for Chabad House Not sure how to explain Purim to the kids? Want a bit more this Purim season than a cute costume, a bunch of Hamantashen and a nice glass of wine? If you are a parent of a young child, then listen up! Mishpacha Mornings will present another “mini series” helping young families to gear up for Purim which is right around the corner. Coinciding this year with the eve of Thursday and Friday, March 20-21, Purim is a fun, joy-
ous holiday which despite a very simple story line has great depth beyond the surface. The Mini Series is a two part holiday session for creative parents seeking to enhance the family’s Purim experience. The sessions will take place on Sundays, March 2 and 9, 10:15-11:45 am. Both begin with healthy kidfriendly breakfasts and end with a bag of tools for families to bring the lessons home. While some say that the dreidel (the Hanukkah toy) is fraught with meaning, others argue that
the gragger (Purim’s toy), the noisier of the two is cooler and more inspiring. Believe it or not, there is significance to be gleaned and insights to be gained even from these toys and the roles they play in recounting the holiday narratives. Part one of the mini series, entitled “Off Broadway: the Purim Play,” will examine the historical background of Purim and develop the characters in the plot and match those characters to faces we know. The Mishpacha Mornings Mini
Series is presented by Mishpacha University. MU, located at Chabad House, and is dedicated to giving young Jewish families a wholesome and exciting Jewish experience and offering degrees in Jewish love and learning. For more information or to reserve for the Mini Series, call Carol at 330.1800 or visit www.ochabad. com/MishpachaU.
Pictures from the New Year’s issue may be picked during regular business hours at the Jewish Press.
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February 29, 2008
Cared-for communities Continued from page 18 An after-school learning center also opened in Romema last year. Although only 26 girls and five boys signed up during this pilot year, their attendance was 90 percent. Romema mothers were also closely involved in the center, with some 80 of them attending a four-part class on Mothers and Adolescents. “I have good kids and we get on pretty well with them,” says one of the 80 women. “But the classes suggested basic everyday things that I can do to make a real difference. For example, I’m in the habit of saying to my kids: ‘Wear such-and-such today!’ when I could just as easily say, ‘What do you want to wear today?’” “The women are very receptive,” says Sharfi. “Once they have the approval of their rabbi to attend, they’re amenable and active. They know the old tools aren’t working and they want new ones. They’re looking at the connection between mother and adolescent, and realizing that if the family is more open, the child is more likely to be open about any problems.” Last year, 20 Romema women attended workshops to learn how to lead community projects. “This went really well,” says Spiegel. “And even inside the schools, where progress is slower, things are beginning to change. It’s now accepted that professional counselors work inside the Talmud Torah with the staff, children and principal. A professional development program for Talmud Torah teachers has shown them how to detect and deal with difficult students, and how to develop techniques that motivate, involve and focus their students. Now, kids who would once have dropped out of the system are staying in.” “Neighborhoods across the city are clamoring to become part of the Caring Community,” says Spiegel. “The two that will enter during the coming year are Kiryat Yovel in Jewish Jerusalem and, after our positive experiences in Beit Safafa and A-Tur, the Arab sections of the Old City.” “The Caring Community was the right thing at the right time, certainly for our family,” says the Romema mother of nine, whose sixth son is now a contented yeshiva student. “What, after all, is a community if not a group of people who look out for one another?”
DEATHS GEORGE JACK WEISE George Jack Weise died Feb. 8 at the age of 88. Services were held Feb. 12 at Golden Hill Cemetery. After serving in the Air Force during WW II as a decoder for the Air Corps outside London, he returned to Omaha and was employed as a letter carrier. He is survived by his sister, Lillian Lerman, AZ; brother Dr. Phillip Weise, CA, and nephews and nieces in Minnesota, California, Oregan, and Arizona. ALYCE RADMAN Former Omahan and native of Sioux City, Alyce Radman died Feb. 22 at the age of 94 in Dallas, TX from Alzheimer’s and respiratory complications. Services are Friday, Feb. 29, 11:15 a.m., at Golden Hill Cemetery. She married Melvin Radman in 1946, who preceded her in death 1994. They moved to Park Forest, IL, in 1964, until 2000 when she moved to Dallas. She is survived by her sons, Arnold and Barry; and other family members in Albuquerque, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, Omaha, Sioux City and southern California. Memorials to Tarrant County College Foundation, May Owen Center, 1500 Houston Street, Ft. Worth, TX 76102. ARON BLYAKHER Aron Blyakher died at the age of 81. A graveside service was held Feb. 28 at Temple Israel Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his son, Boris Blyakher. He is survived by wife, Lyubov Blyakher; daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Gregory Tsyrlin and Galina and Gregory Kogan; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Irene Blyakher; grandchildren, Vitaliy Tsyrlin, Pavel Tsyrlin, Lina Kogan, Ada Blyakher, and Lia Blyakher.
To submit obituaries: E-mail to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements.
Lincoln Jewish community opens doors to Shabbat Across America by JENNIFER ROSENBLATT Congregation Tifereth Israel In an unparalleled display of Jewish revitalization and Jewish unity, members of Lincoln’s Jewish community will gather at Congregation Tifereth Israel for Shabbat Across America next Friday night. Conceived and organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) in 1997, Shabbat Across America/Canada represents a united effort by the entire Jewish community to renew interest in the fourth of the Ten Commandments – observing a weekly day of rest -- Shabbat. Congregation Tifereth Israel will be one of approximately 700 synagogues across the continent that will simultaneously open its doors to practicing and nonpracticing Jews alike, so they may join together to experience and rejoice in a traditional Shabbat service and festive meal. Over 600,000 people have participated in Shabbat Across America/Canada in the past. Led by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader, attendees will experience an interactive Friday night Explanatory Service and a traditional Shabbat dinner with all the rituals explained. The event in Lincoln will take place on Friday, March 7, 6 p.m., at Tifereth Israel. “We just can not accept the common perception that North American Jewry is an endangered species,” commented Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founder and director of NJOP. “While it is true that the vast majority of Jews in this country have never participated in a traditional Sabbath experience and do not feel a connection to the Judaism that their grandparents practiced only half a century ago -- this should not be! Shabbat Across America/Canada is an exciting and modern way of rein-
troducing friends and family members to a practice that has been with, and unified, our people for over 3,300 years, and which we trust will be with us for at least 3,300 more.” Prompted by the growing rate of Jewish assimilation in North America, NJOP hopes that a memorable and rewarding experience at Shabbat Across America/ Canada will infuse thousands of non-practicing Jews with a sense of a greater commitment to Judaism. Of the 5.2 million North American Jews, 2.4 million no longer identify themselves as Jews, one million are unaffiliated with any Jewish organizations, and 1.2 million are marginally affiliated, meaning they rarely attend synagogue and have little to do with Jewish life. In addition, 47% of American Jews intermarry and 54% of Jews below age 18 are being raised as non-Jews or with no religion. Perhaps, the most poignant fact is that more than twothirds of all North America Jews do not observe the Sabbath in any way (2001 National Jewish Population Survey, Council of Jewish Federations). NJOP was established in 1987 by Rabbi Buchwald, and has become one of the world’s largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations. NJOP offers free programs at more than 3,665 locations across North America and in 36 countries worldwide. Through programs such as Shabbat Across America/Canada and Read Hebrew America/Canada, NJOP has successfully reached more than 990,000 North American Jews, and engaged them in Jewish life. Please contact the office at 402.423.8569 for more information. Tifereth Israel is located at 3219 Sheridan Blvd. and online at www.tiferethisraellincoln.org.
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1439 So. 13th 341-2452
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Hadassah to host Purim Spiel by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES Hadassah Publicity Coordinator After inclement weather forced a disappointing lastminute cancellation of Hadassah’s Hanukkah party in December, the Omaha Chapter will welcome spring by hosting a Purim Spiel on Wednesday, March 12, 1:30 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. The event will also commemorate the world-wide organization’s 96th birthday, as well as Israel’s 60th birthday, so there will be
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
several reasons to celebrate, and the community is invited to join us. Entertainment will feature the musical talents of Dik Weiner and Bill Ericson. There will be plenty of light refreshments provided. There is no charge to attend, but reservations are requested. Please RSVP to Sandy Kohll at 391.5603. Also, save the date of Thursday afternoon, May 8, for another Hadassah gathering.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
February 29, 2008