March 8, 2024

The Jewish Press

What are you fighting for?

SASHA DENENBERG

This article was originally published at the Westside Wired and is reprinted with permission from the author. To hear this article in podcast form, go to: https://youtu.be/IizBkVVG NbE?si=BUp-sdNuOj7nY8iS

WESTSIDE’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE ISRAEL-HAMAS

WAR

Westside has allowed concerning elements of antisemitism to appear on its campus. Biased and inaccurate news articles, student expression of antisemitism, and a failure to educate students adequately about crucial current

PJ Library Purim opportunities

events all contribute to the problem.

The first article published on Westside Wired about the Israel-Hamas war is titled, Israel-Palestine Conflict Shouldn’t Spread Conflict Among American Education. In this article, a Westside student criticizes New York University’s (NYU) decision to suspend Hafiza Khalique, an NYU student and pro-Hamas activist. Khalique was arrested at a protest where she was videotaped vandalizing NYU’s campus and tearing down posters of hostages who are being held captive in Hamas’s tunnels underneath Gaza. Some of these hostages are children who witnessed their entire families See What are you fighting for? page 2

Jeanne’s Passion: A Jewish life in Omaha

REGULARS

welcome

families of young children to the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus for two free Purim-themed events in March.

While Purim is all about parties and fun, it is also about giving. Bring your children or grandchildren to the PJ Library Pre-Party on Thursday, March 21, 3-4 p.m. Come in costume to pack mishloach manot, gifts of food, for residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, sample hamantaschen, and enjoy a PurimSee PJ Library Purim page 5

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS

JFO Foundation Executive Director Jeanne Blacker Lipsey Rosenblum’s name is synonymous with a deep-rooted commitment to Jewish life in Omaha. Born in 1928 to parents, David and Marie Blacker, who immigrated from Russia, Jeanne’s upbringing was steeped in Jewish tradition and community involvement from a young age.

Starting her Jewish education at Beth El Synagogue’s Hebrew School at the age of eight, Jeanne imbibed the rich cultural and religious heritage of her faith under the guidance of Julie Wolfson. Two pivotal moments in

her journey came at age 13 when she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, marking her formal initiation into Jewish adulthood and lighting the dedication candle at the opening of the new Beth El Synagogue on 49th and Farnam. Jeanne’s deep connection to her faith and community was evident from an early age. Jeanne was the second Bat Mitzvah in the city of Omaha following her friend, Ruthie Kay. Her familial ties to Jewish customs ran deep, with vivid memories of Seder dinners at her grandparents’ home where her father would lead the Haggadah in Hebrew, albeit with some lengthiness. Despite the See Jeanne’s Passion page 2

Creatively captivating: Joe Wees speaks at JBL Page 3

Jewish Pride like none other

HEIDI HEILBRUNN-NEEDLEMAN JFO PJ Library Coordinator PJ Library is excited to

Jeanne Blacker Lipsey Rosenblum

PJ’s Purim Bash in 2017

What are you fighting for?

Continued from page 1

slaughtered. They are now being held hostage as bargaining chips for Hamas. NYU’s Office of Student Conduct stated that Khalique was suspended for violating the University Student Conduct Policy by vandalizing university property as well as violating its Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policies.

If this Westside author wanted to write about the Israel-Hamas war’s effect on college campuses, she could have written about the death threats aimed at American Jewish students, or how Israelis are frequently kicked out or barred from clubs, simply because they were born in Israel. Or how the older brother of a current student at Westside High School had to transfer out of the University of Pennsylvania last semester because of overwhelming antisemitism.

My brother, a sophomore at Harvard, faces antisemitism every day. On the right is a photo of a hostage poster found on the Harvard campus. It was defaced by a pro-Palestine activist.

This Westside author could have addressed the rampant antisemitism on college campuses, but instead, she chose to defend a vandal who broke her school’s laws and tore down posters of innocent civilians who had recently been brutalized and kidnapped, some of whom are our fellow Americans.

In late January, another article was published on Westside Wired, titled, Westside Alumna Participates in Local Movement for Palestine. This student journalist’s article featured an interview with a Westside graduate who organizes pro-Palestine protests. The article presented her as a hero who stands with the oppressed, and gave the impression she supports a racist Palestinian government called Hamas, which is hell-bent on the death of Jews, the classic defini-

tion of genocide. Don’t take it from me, hear directly from the leaders of the movement she endorses:

Blessings to whoever put a belt of explosives on his body or on his sons’ and plunged into the midst of the Jews...

Sermon by Ibrahim Madhi

The annihilation of the Jews here in Palestine is one of the most splendid blessings for Palestine.

Palestinian cleric Muhsen Abu ‘Ita Al-Aqsa TV

We must attack every Jew on planet Earth! We must slaughter and kill them.

Fathi Hammad, Senior Hamas Official

The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs.

Ali Baraka, Senior Hamas Official

Fathi Hammad, Senior Hamas official delivering a speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =zSgBFPnQiho&t =40s

More Hamas quotes: Anti-Defamation League, Center for Israel Education, StandWithUs

Well-meaning members of our community are not educated on the Israel-Hamas war but feel the need to comment loudly about it anyway. My goal for this article is to give a basic understanding of the war and what each side is really fighting for.

HOW ISRAEL CAME TO BE

Jews have had a constant presence in the land of Israel for 3000 years. This is a fact. I say this not to diminish the indigeneity of other ethnic groups, but to immediately shut down the false narrative that Jews are “European colonizers.” There is clear archeological and textual evidence of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (the origins of the word “Jew”). Top left is a map of the area around 830 BCE, coutesy of World History Encyclopedia.

After Greek conquest, the land around Jerusalem was referred to as Judea/ Samaria. A few hundred years later, the Romans took over and renamed the land “Syria Palestina.” This is where we get the name “Palestine.” The Romans organized murderous pogroms to ethnically cleanse the Jews. In the 600s CE, Arab/Muslim powers conquered the land. Due to mass murder and exile, the Jews remained a minority in their own land for centuries.

Many people think the establishment of the State of Israel was a reaction to See What are you fighting for? page 3

Jeanne’s Passion

Continued from page 1

marathon sessions, the warmth of family gatherings and the aroma of Jewish cuisine lingered in Jeanne’s recollections.

Jeanne’s father, a respected figure in the community, instilled in his children a sense of social responsibility and a strong work ethic. Family dinners were not just meals but forums for lively discussions, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and moral guidance. Such values shaped Jeanne’s worldview and her unwavering dedication to caring for her siblings and community.

Throughout her formative years, Jeanne’s commitment to Jewish life remained steadfast. She found joy and camaraderie at JCC camps, celebrated milestones at Beth El Synagogue, and cherished the vibrancy of Omaha’s Jewish community. Even as life led her to California, Omaha remained her cherished hometown, a place she fondly reminisced about and remained connected to through frequent calls to friends and family.

Reflecting on her journey, Jeanne credited her father’s unwavering love and guidance for instilling in her a deep sense of familial duty and the importance of nurturing relationships. Her devotion to her children and grandchildren mirrored the values she imbibed, emphasizing the importance of hard work, kindness, and familial bonds.

“My mom always cherished her Omaha Jewish roots and loved the work of the NJHS.

It’s an incredible blessing to be able to watch and hear my parents talk about their lives because of their participation in the Oral History Project. Her personal motto was, ‘it’s important to reach out to all kinds of people’,” said Janet Lipsey, her daughter.

When Jeanne passed in November 2022, she left a gift to establish the Jeanne Lipsey Rosenblum Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) Endowment to fund oral histories and other initiatives. Her life and legacy stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of Jewish identity and community in Omaha.

Consider honoring a loved one or creating a future endowment by giving back to Jewish Omaha with an after-lifetime gift at The Foundation. I know Jeanne would approve!

Jeanne Blacker Lipsey Rosenblum

Creatively captivating: Joe Wees speaks at JBL

JAY KATELMAN

JFO Director of Community Development

On Jan. 26, 2024, Jewish Business Leaders hosted Joe Wees, Executive Vice President of Creative Advertising at Universal Pictures. He talked about what an EVP in Creative Advertising does, told some amazing stories, gave us examples of his work, and shared details of the cool projects he’s worked on. These include The Fast and Furious franchise, The Super Mario Bros., Nope, Us, Get Out, Split, Girls Trip, Ride Along, The Minions: The Rise of Gru, the latest in the Halloween trilogy, and The Fall Guy (coming Soon)!

his story and wisdom with all of us.

As always, we extend a special thank you to our Platinum Sponsors – Bridges Trust, Valmont, OMNE Partners, and Jet Linx Omaha. We’d also like to thank the event sponsors –CFO Systems LLC and Alex Epstein.

Joe spoke and took questions for over an hour to a captivated audience.

As one audience member put it after the event:

“There should have been 1,000+ there!”

Jewish Business Leaders is very thankful Joe Wees flew across the country to return to Omaha for this event. He has made the “straight outta Omaha to Hollywood” story come true in an inspiring way. It’s rare here in Omaha to hear stories about the entertainment industries, behind-the-scenes on movies, celebrity dealings, and how the creative world works in film. A special thank you to Joe for coming up and sharing

The next Jewish Business Leaders Bagels & Breakfast will be held on April 19 and will feature David Gilinsky from Bergman Incentives. It will be held at Happy Hollow Club at 1701 S 105th St, Omaha, NE 68124 in the Grand Ballroom. Breakfast will be buffet style provided by Happy Hollow. We will have Kosher options from Star Catering, and as always, Stories will be on site to provide coffee for all! Registration will be available soon. If you have any questions, please contact Jay Katelman at jkatelman@jew ishomaha.org, or at 402.334.6461. Please register for the event using the link https:// fundraise.givesmart.com/ form/b7aa0w?vid=13 pyog or scan the QR code.

What are you fighting for?

Continued from page 2

the Holocaust. However, attempts to create a Jewish state started much earlier, trying to prevent a genocide on the scale that the Nazis achieved. During World War I, this area that was the Ottoman Empire was divided by the Allied Powers. The Arabs received four land mandates: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Trans-Jordan. The Jews received one mandate: Palestine, to be administered by Britain. In the Balfour Declaration, the British government made clear that they favored a Jewish state in the mandate of Palestine. As time progressed, all the Arab mandates became sovereign states. The only commitment left unfulfilled was to the Jews. The main reason for the lack of a Jewish state was Arab violence. The Arab reaction to the idea of a Jewish state was brutal. In the 1920s and 30s, Arabs in Palestine conducted violent, barbaric attacks on the Jewish people. These attacks include the Black Hand killings, the Palestine riots of 1929 (including the Hebron Massacre), the 1936 Jaffa riots, and the Tiberias pogrom. In fact, a leader of these Arab-Palestinian assaults, Amin al-Husseini, met with Adolf Hitler in 1941. Al-Husseini told the Fuehrer how much the Arab world admired Hitler. He stated that Nazi Germany and the Arab countries were obvious allies because they both wanted the Jews dead (Times of Israel).

the creation of a Jewish state even if it was one square inch. Even later, after the establishment of the State of Israel, the Arabs repeatedly rejected generous proposals from the UN and other peace brokers for a “two-state” solution (all of which Israel proposed or agreed to). From the very start, the only acceptable solution to them was that the Jews be driven out of the Middle East (the Jews’ ancestral home) entirely. In 1948, the United Nations created a partition plan for a Jewish state and an Arab state in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. This is the point in time when we stopped using the name “Palestine” to describe the mandate given to the Jews and started using it to describe the territory given to the Arabs after the creation of Israel. The Jews didn’t even receive Judea or Zion/Jerusalem. Regardless, the Jews were thrilled because the creation of Israel was their top priority. The Arab states, true to their top priority, immediately launched a coordinated war on Israel to destroy it entirely.

Although these Arab massacres gave rise to Jewish paramilitary, Arab aggression was extremely successful in preventing the creation of a Jewish state in the British Mandate of Palestine. (To learn more: Foreign Policy Research Institute, ZOA)

What is Zionism? A Zionist is someone who believes it’s okay for Israel to exist, who thinks it’s okay for a Jewish homeland to exist. Zionism is the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. After centuries of expulsions and violence, the United Nations agreed that the Jews needed a state where they could live safely and properly defend themselves. Many people on social media who use “Zionist” as a derogatory term do not understand its meaning; they use it to express their antisemitism. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking antisemitism!” (JVL). Denying the Jews’ right to a homeland just because they are Jewish is inherently antisemitic. Dr. King was a proud Zionist.

The 1937 British Peel Commission Plan proposed a Jewish state the size of Rhode Island. No parties liked it, but more importantly, it revealed the blatant truth about the Arab stance towards Israel: in rejecting the Peel Commision, the Arab League retorted with the famous quote, “not even the size of a postage stamp.” The Arab countries would not allow

You may have heard the term, “the Nakba.” During and after the war of survival for Israel in 1948, 700,000 Arabs living within Israel fled to surrounding Arab countries and what is now the Palestinian territory. Many of these refugees were belligerents in their war launched on Israel, in which both sides committed atrocities. The Arabs call this flight the “Nakba,” and refer to it as a great horror and injustice, but it was their war to destroy Israel that caused the need for that flight! Pro-Palestine activists use the Nakba to invalidate the Jewish state’s right to exist, all the while denying the Arab countries culpability in this tragedy.

“GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA” “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA”

When people shout, “globalize the Intifada,” they are referring to the series of Palestinian terrorist attacks waged on Israelis. The first Intifada (1987 – 1993) and the second Intifada (2000 – 2005) consisted of deadly attacks on Jews. Molotov cocktails were thrown, people stoned and stabbed to death, terrorists setting off their dynamite vests on crowded buses, all in the name of the annihilation of the Jewish state. Shouting “globalize the Intifada” calls for people to attack and slaughter Jews worldwide, a classic trope of antisemitism.

A popular chant at pro-Palestine rallies is to free Palestine “from the river to the sea,” from the Jordan River (the eastern border of Israel) to the Mediterranean Sea (the western border of Israel). “From the river to the sea” geographically means all of Israel. This chant explicitly calls for the annihilation of the only democracy in the Middle East (Israel) and the slaughter of every Jew in it.

See What are you fighting for? page 4

Alex Epstein, left, Joe Wees and Jay Katelman

ROOFING SIDING GUTTERS

OMAHA

What are you fighting for?

Continued from page 3

Which brings us to the present. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization whose written goal is the annihilation of Israel, the death of America, and the slaughter of all Jews. Hamas was elected as the government of Gaza in 2007. What did they do with their leadership position? Instead of using billions of dollars in aid to build Gaza into a beautiful metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, Hamas turned it into a terrorist base. Underneath Gaza lies a thick network of terrorist tunnels bigger than the New York subway system. Missile launch locations, arms depots, and military intelligence installments are located under schools, hospitals, and mosques. They groom children to believe that their purpose in life is to violently “liberate” Palestine from a sovereign Jewish state. They teach Palestinian children to hate and kill. Hamas’ goals are the very definition of genocide.

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH?

Many people blindly follow Palestinian activists’ ceasefire narrative because war is devastating, and “ceasefire” is an appealing word. I agree. An end to fighting sounds wonderful. However, a ceasefire only works when both sides follow the terms and put down their weapons. Hamas has never had any intention of stopping their mission of the extermination of the Jewish people. Since its creation, Hamas has broken countless ceasefires that Israel has granted them. In fact, a ceasefire was in effect on October sixth. After the October seventh attacks, Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad stated, “We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do it twice and three times. The Al-Aqsa Deluge [Hamas’s name for their October 7th massacre] is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth... We are called a nation of martyrs, and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs” (The Economic Times). Hamas is outspoken about its genocidal goals, shamelessly announcing that they will repeat their terror attacks “until the last drop of [Jewish] blood” is shed (Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum).

WEST MAPLE | 3655 N. 129th St. | 402.933.0091

OLD MARKET | 1308 Jackson St. | 402.933.5168

MILLARD | 17664 Welch Pl. | 402.702.5168

LINCOLN

HAYMARKET LINCOLN | 601 R St. #100 | 402.261.9388

SOUTH LINCOLN | 5730 Hicote Dr. | 402.318.5188

SUSHI | JAPANESE | CHINESE www.Hiro88.com

THE JEWISH PRESS IS LOOKING FOR A SUMMER INTERN.

If you are currently a high schooler age 16 and up, or college student up to 24 years old, and want to become more involved in our community, this is your chance.

If you are interested,

send your resume and cover letter to avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

The Jewish Press

On October 7, 2023, Hamas executed the deadliest attack in one day on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Over three thousand terrorists invaded Israel, taking hundreds of hostages, killing babies, raping women, and burning entire families alive. They entered a concert and slaughtered and burned as many people as they could. More than 1200 people were killed, many of whom were not Israeli. The perpetrators were both Hamas members and Palestinian civilians.

A good resource for first-hand testimonies of the October seventh massacre is @survived.to.tell on Instagram.

Significant proof of the horrors of the October seventh massacre comes from the terrorists themselves. Hamas taped their murders, shamelessly bragging to the world about their triumph over each life they took. My friend received a video from her classmate’s phone. The terrorists took her phone so they could tape themselves gang raping her. Then they sent it to every person on her contact list. That video was followed by a video of her murder. Hamas also streamed some murders live on the social medias of their victims. Here is a phone call from a terrorist to his family, made from the phone of a murdered woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKN HBdGbcgY

Hamas’s use of sexual violence on October seventh was horrific. I will not, however, go into depth about that in this article. I’ve provided two links to eye-witness testimonies: New York Times, CNN. October seventh was a sadistic act of terrorism against the Jewish people, it was not “resistance.”

A LIBERAL CAUSE?

The popularity of pro-Palestine bias among liberal groups is bizarre. Liberals emphasize their support of inclusion, diversity, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. I am a liberal! Supporting Hamas contradicts every one of these principles. Hamas enforces strict Sharia law, banning women from showing their hair, dressing “immodestly,”,dancing, or traveling without male approval. In Gaza it is completely legal for a man to rape his wife. Jews are barred from living in Gaza and it is illegal to be gay. In fact, queer people are publicly executed. Hamas states in its covenant that, “Any procedure in contradiction to Islamic Sharia, where Palestine is concerned, is null and void” (Yale Law School). Do these laws sound progressive to you?

CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE

Hamas states clearly in its charter, “[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement... Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint the infidels as arbitrators in the lands of Islam... There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility” (Article 13). Hamas shouts from the rooftops that there is no room for peace or any type of negotiation regarding their mission of annihilation. Their answer is Jihad. By definition, Jihad is a holy war of martyrdom, waged on the enemies of Islam. This holy war manifests itself in honor killings and the slaughter of anyone who disagrees with Hamas’s undertakings.

War is devastating, but it is naive to demand that Israel must put down its weapons because “war is bad.” Would you have told the Allied Forces to stop fighting the Nazis because war is bad? Israel does not have the luxury of doing nothing. To paraphrase former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir: If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.

ACCUSATIONS OF “APARTHEID,” “ETHNIC CLEANSING,” “GENOCIDE”

Israel is not an apartheid state. Apartheid means segregation or discrimination on the basis of race. Israel is an integrated country made up of every race, religion, and gender orientation. Arabs have full equal rights in Israel and even hold major positions of power in Israeli government. Mansour Abbas, Hamad Amar, Yasser Hujirat, Walid al-Huashla, and Iman Khatib-Yasin are only a few of the Arabs in the Knesset right now (the Israeli version of our House of Representatives).

Arabs are judges. Arabs serve in the Israeli army right alongside their Jewish brothers and sisters! If you want to talk apartheid, let’s talk about the fact that Israelis are not allowed in Gaza, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Yemen.

The accusation that Israel is conducting a “genocide” or “ethnically cleansing” the Palestinians is ridiculous. Ethnic cleansing is the mass expulsion or killing of members of an ethnic or religious group. Let’s look at the numbers. In 1948, there were 156k Arabs living in Israel. Today, there are over 2 million. In 1948, there were 80k Arabs living in Gaza. Today, there are over 2 million. Above is a graph of the Palestinian population over time, provided by the UN. If Israel is trying to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians, they’re doing a horrible job. You will also find a table from USJ titled, “Jewish Populations in Arab Countries.” Between 1948 and 2018, hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered or expelled from their Arab homelands. That is what ethnic cleansing actually looks like.

The Jewish population in Arab countries has decreased 99.6% in the last 76 years. On the other hand, the Arab population in Israel has been multiplied by thirteen. Who is ethnically cleansing whom?

THE OBSESSION WITH ISRAEL

The fixation on Israel is unlike any other issue in the world. People are obsessed, rioting in the streets in support of Palestine, against Israel. Shockingly, anti-Israel sentiment worsened on October seventh. The calculated, brutal slaughter committed by a recognized terrorist organization actually encouraged people to leap to the defense of the terrorists. It’s hard for an ethical mind to understand that reaction.

The country of Jordan is 80% of the original British Mandate of Palestine. Not a single protester is shouting for the annihilation of Jordan. Not a single protester is demanding that See What are you fighting for? page 5

Continued from page 1

themed story. The cutest costume, as determined by RBJH residents, will win a prize!

The following week, on Thursday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m., PJ Library and Friedel Jewish Academy are excited to bring back Challah Tots. Everyone’s favorite tot program will have a vibrant Purim theme this month. Children will get creative: decorating their own mask, playing with themed sensory bins, tracing letters with colorful beaded necklaces and listening to a Purim story, all while their challah bakes. These programs would be enjoyed the most by children ages two-six, yet all are welcome including parents with babies in arms, grandparents and older siblings. PJ Library does request that participants pre-register for these events to have enough supplies available for everyone. If you have any questions, please reach out to PJ Library Coordinator Heidi Heilbrunn Needleman at hheilbrunn@jewishomaha.org

Things you might not know about Purim

According to midrash, while Queen Esther lived in the court of King Ahasuerus, she followed a vegetarian diet consisting largely of legumes so that she would not break the laws of kashrut (dietary laws). For this reason, there is a tradition of eating beans and peas on Purim. (After all, you’ll need something healthy after all the booze and hamantaschen.) (MyJewishLearning.com)

On Purim, there’s a religious obligation to get drunk. The festive drinking stems from a Talmudic statement that one should drink until unable to distinguish between the wicked Haman and blessed Mordechai. Countless commentaries have since debated how much one should actually drink, with the bottom line being that getting wasted isn’t really what the author intended – but this little fact has yet to deter some people from having a drink (or three) too many. (Israel21C.com)

The Book of Esther is the only book of the Hebrew Bible that does not mention G-d. However, many believe the story shows how G-d works in ways that are not always apparent, as any time “the King” is mentioned, it’s a hidden reference to G-d. (multiculturalkidblogs.com)

What are you fighting for?

Continued from page 4

Jordan be given to the Palestinians. There is a simple answer why: this conflict is not about land. The problem is the Arab countries’ unyielding opposition to the existence of a Jewish state.

A FIGHT WITHOUT FACTS

Many of the American pro-Palestine supporters are marching for a cause about which they know nothing. They believe they are moral saviors of the Palestinian people, when in reality they are calling for the genocide of every single Jew, the death of America, and the annihilation of the only democracy in the Middle East (Israel). Legitimizing Hamas as a respectable leader and pushing for more people to suffer under Sharia law is not the progressive cause they believe it to be. If you really wanted to “free Palestine,” you would advocate for the release of the hostages, the disbandment of Hamas, and the establishment of a rational democratic governing body in Palestine.

If you genuinely hate the creation of the Jewish state, you are in interesting company: Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, alQaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and more. When you find yourself agreeing with North Korea, maybe it’s time to take a step back.

ANTISEMITISM AT WESTSIDE

Antisemitism has been a problem in the Westside district long before October seventh. Alan Kohll, a Jew in Omaha, faced antisemitism in the 1980s at Westside High School. Kohll’s class was shown a video about the Holocaust. While the video played, students threw pennies at him. These incidents continued with his younger sister in 1990.

In my English 2 Honors class last year, the entire class was shown a video that called Israel “oppressive” and claimed

that Israel’s border security is only a way to oppress the Palestinians. Israel faces regular terrorist attacks; they must screen those who enter the country to maintain security. Spreading the disgustingly biased narrative of “oppression” is not education, it is political indoctrination.

Last year, my sister was in eighth grade at Westside Middle when a boy came up to her in the hall and called her a “Kike” (Jewish slur) twice. This boy is currently a freshman at Westside High School.

The publication of this article marks the end of the World War II unit in my AP US History (APUSH) class. In no lecture has the word “Jew” or “Holocaust” been mentioned. The Nazis’ systematic murder of over six million Jews has nothing to do with World War II? Not only is the curriculum’s avoidance of the Holocaust shocking, it’s also bad education. If I had not learned about the Holocaust outside of APUSH, I would have no idea why the Nazis were bad or why the US was fighting them. As someone who grew up around people with numbers tattooed on their arms (the Nazis’ method of marking its Jewish prisoners),

ORGANIZATIONS

I am appalled by this erasure of my people’s history.

On Tuesday, Feb. 6, just two weeks ago, a friend of mine in eighth grade at Westside Middle School shared a horrifying story with me. While sitting in study hall that day, she overheard a boy ask his friend if he knew of any Jews in the room with them. A minute later, the boy put his hand up and said, “Heil Hitler.” He proceeded to play a video with Hitler’s face, Hitler apparently apologizing for dying too soon and not “finishing the job.”

Our community is no stranger to antisemitism. The spread of disinformation about Israel and Jews normalizes hatred and ignorance. It gives hateful people a platform to share their horrifying ideas without shame. It is our duty as well-intentioned community members to seek the truth and protect each other. Antisemitism and all forms of hate decrease with education and understanding. It is the duty of the Westside administration to take these forms of hate seriously and to educate its students and faculty, so students can learn without fear.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

INFORMATION

ANTISEMITIC/HATE INCIDENTS

If you encounter an antisemitic or other hate incident, you are not alone. Your first call should be to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in Omaha at 402.334.6572, or email JCRCreporting@jewishomaha.org. If you perceive an imminent threat, call 911, and text Safety & Security Manager James Donahue at 402.213.1658.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

PARENTS & SENIORS

Rabbi Geiger’s Weekly Torah Expedition

Beth Israel’s Kitchen: Cholent (meat)

MRS.

JACOB LEFKOWITZ

This recipe comes from Happiness is Still Good Food, the 1993 cookbook produced by the Beth Israel Sisterhood.

CHOLENT

Ingredients:

2 lb boneless chuck or brisket

1 marrow bone

1 large onion, sliced 1/2 cup lima beans (pre soaked in hot water 1 to 2 hours)

2 Tbsp. barley

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. coarse salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

4 small potatoes

5 1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:

Use a large casserole, 3 to 4 quart size. Cut meat into 4 portions. Add all other ingredients. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Set in preheated oven 275 degrees. Allow to cook undisturbed for 20 hours. Serves 4.

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at the Omaha Community Playhouse

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville A Sherlock Holmes Mystery opens at the Omaha Community Playhouse on Friday, March 8, 2024. The show will run in the Hawks Mainstage Theatre through Saturday, March 30, with performances Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Packed with quick changes and zany characters, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville is a must-see mystery. Five actors play more than 40 char-

acters to bring this classic novel to life. Sherlock Holmes and Watson are on a mission to solve the family curse of the Baskervilles. An energetic and thrilling rendition of the famous Sherlock Holmes mystery, this classic whodunit is a complete delight from start to finish.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices varying by performance. Tickets may be purchased at the OCP Box Office, by phone at 402.553.0800

or online at OmahaPlayhouse.com

The Omaha Community Playhouse is supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. Established in 1924, the Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community theatre in the United States based on memberships sold and facility size, among other factors. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

PARSHA PEKUDEI

There are unfortunate expectations for every rule. But as a rule, no one loves as fully and unconditionally as parents do. Recently, I walked into the kitchen and found our 2-year-old, Dass’s, face covered with something brown. I asked her mother what happened. Turns out Dassi decided that she would help herself to some chocolate. Part of me knew I should probably reprimand Dassi for taking it without asking. But instead, I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help myself; her ingenuity made me proud and amused. Parents filter everything they see in their children through a filter of love and goodness.

Israel

In this week’s parsha, the temporary temple for G-d is called the Mishkan of testimony (Exodus 38-21). Rashi explains that the temple’s purpose was to stand as testimony that G-d forgave our sin of serving the Golden Calf. G-d wanted us to build him a house so we would never forget this important lesson. We are his children. And no matter how far we stray or how much chocolate we steal from Him, we are always His children. We may need to repent or even go through some consequences, but ultimately, He loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend.

Cholent pot, Eastern Europe, ca. 1700

SP O TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have

GENEROUSLY

SUPPORTED BY

a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org

Kashering Veg.Edible. Above: Rabbi Ben Geiger, left, Rabbi Mordechai Geiger, and Staci Van Cleave; right: Rabbi Ben Geiger - Have blowtorch, will travel; and below: Rabbi Mordechai Geiger continuing the work.

Top, above, below and bottom: Greetings from your friends at the ELC!

Left, above and below: RBJH employees want to thank Howard Kooper for the delicious Staff Food Day with Mexican cuisine from Santiago’s Mexican Food Truck. As you can see from the photos, everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you, Howard.

Above: Many students at Beth El synagogue wrapped Tefillan for the first time during World Wide Wrap, below left: Beth El Hebrew High students “compete” to sort events from the Torah, and below right: Liat Frey from Beth El and others enjoy Havdallah during the EMTZA region USY Winter Shabbaton.

The Jewish Press

(Founded in 1920)

Margie Gutnik

President Annette van de Kamp-Wright

Editor

Richard Busse

Creative Director

Howard Kutler

Advertising Executive

Lori Kooper-Schwarz

Assistant Editor

Gabby Blair

Staff Writer

Sam Kricsfeld

Digital support

Mary Bachteler

Accounting

Jewish Press Board

Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; Helen Epstein; Andrea Erlich; Seth Feldman; David Finkelstein; Ally Freeman; Mary Sue Grossman; Chuck Lucoff; Suzy Sheldon; Joseph Pinson and Larry Ring.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

Editorial

The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@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: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced 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. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. 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 information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

Postal

The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 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 email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org

Welcome to the Misinformation Age

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT

Jewish Press Editor

We are in trouble. Our kids are in trouble. For decades, we thought we sort-of understood what antisemitism looked like; we couldn’t always put our finger on it, but we knew it when we encountered it. Then, October 7 happened and the world turned upside down.

Like many parents, I’ve watched my kids navigate this new landscape, lose friends, confront teachers, and become more depressed by the day. I’ve also watched them find their fighting spirit. Pride in being Jewish, a stubborn refusal to back down, the knowledge that they need to present ten sources to counter any one argument—if they choose to argue. And even then they won’t win anyone over.

Someone told one of my children that Jews have no right to Israel because “today’s Jews are not the same Jews that lived in Israel thousands of years ago.”

What do you say to that?

them—it’s discarded as “Zionist propaganda,” which is a really convenient cop out.

Worse: antisemites have no qualms speaking for us, gaslighting us, telling us they know more about our history than we do. They question everything

League states:

“In a reversal of past trends, younger Americans are more likely to endorse anti-Jewish tropes, with millennials agreeing with the greatest number of anti-Jewish tropes on average, at 5.4. They’re followed by Gen Z at 5, Gen X at 4.2, and Baby Boomers at 3.1. In addition to individual attitudes, more than 42% of Americans either have friends/family who dislike Jews (23.2%) or find it socially acceptable for a close family member to support Hamas (27.2%).”

The antisemites who call us dogs and rats and tell us we are money-hungry and drink the blood of Christian babies, we all know what to think about them. But the antisemitism we are currently facing is born from a type of moral absolutism that borders on zealotry. And it doesn’t matter how many articles and history lessons we throw at

we’ve ever learned about ourselves.

And so, that fighting spirit, that Jewish pride, it’s being tested. Every day. And while my kids still live at home while attending college, so many others do not. They are out there, in the world, and what can we do to make sure they stay well, strong, even (dare I ask) happy?

A recent report from the Anti-Defamation

Those numbers are staggering. I have no doubt they are fed by the misinformation that’s out there, coupled with an incredible eagerness to believe news that confirms already existing prejudice. It’s the part that hurts the most: people who were part of one’s life, suddenly show that previously hidden side of themselves. And we’ve put energy into people and relationships that were at least partically built on a terrible misconception.

And yet, there is one big thing our enemies have forgotten. Jews have been at this for thousands of years. Are we tired? Yes. We are fed up, we are hurting and we are disappointed in so, so many people we thought were friends.

But will be give up? Hell, no. I guarantee we have more fight in us than those misinformed protesters, because we know what we are fighting for. And so do our kids. Am

Yisroel Chai

This year’s ‘Little Purim’ is an opportunity to appreciate the good

RABBI REBECCA BLADY

This article initially appeared in My Jewish Learning’s Shabbat newsletter Recharge on Feb. 24, 2024 | JTA

About 400 years ago, in the city of Frankfurt, a peculiar historical event took place. At first, it looked like so many other spasms of antisemitism that plagued Europe over the centuries.

In 1612, in the lead up to the election and coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias, the citizens of Frankfurt were informed that they had to cooperate totally with this new transfer of power or face the loss of certain privileges. Not satisfied that these so-called “privileges” actually existed, protests against various government representatives began. The ringleader was Vincenz Fettmilch, a pastry chef who resented both the authorities and the Jews. As his gang’s list of demands grew, one remained relatively constant: expel the Jewish community from the city.

In 1614, overflowing with anger at the status quo, and fueled by typical antisemitic beliefs, Fettmilch and his gang attacked Frankfurt’s Judengasse, or Jewish ghetto. They looted the neighborhood and expelled the Jews from the city. A known troublemaker, Fettmilch was shortly thereafter arrested, and two years later executed, his home destroyed, his allies banished. On the same day, the Jews were permitted to return to Frankfurt, their rights and citizenship restored.

On the surface, nothing seems too peculiar about this persecution. Antisemitism in Germany in the Middle Ages probably surprises no one. But the sudden reversal and homecoming was. When the uprising was over, the Jews began the process of commemorating the experience. In response to their brief expulsion and restoration, they created an annual holiday on the 20th of Adar called VinzPurim, a clever allusion to Vincenz Fettmilch and the familiar Jewish holiday of Purim. Every year, the Jews observe a day of fasting followed by a day of feasting in memory of the events of 1614. The tradition continued in the Frankfurt Jewish community for 200 years.

Declaring a Second Purim (also known as Purim Katan, “Little Purim”) was once a common practice in Jewish communities that had experienced

threats of extermination that were suddenly — in true Purim spirit — turned upside-down. Like Frankfurt on Vinz-Purim, those communities established special days of feasting and gift-giving, rejoicing in their unexpected redemption from violence and annihilation.

As it turns out, this week we mark another kind of Purim Katan. This one is not about a historical event, but is connected to the current moment in the Jewish calendar, which follows the lunar cycle and periodically extends the calendar from its typical 12 months to 13 in order to maintain alignment with the seasons. We do this by doubling the happy month of Adar, which also happens to be the month of Purim. In years like this one, we have both a First Adar and a leap Second Adar. While Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Second Adar, the 14th of First Adar is known as Purim Katan. (It falls this year on Feb. 22 and 23.)

space for all of us to live.

So in cultivating a Purim spirit suited for 5784, let us take the energy of medieval Jewish Frankfurt seriously. Even in the face of threat, we must celebrate the good, reminding ourselves how far we’ve come and how robust Jewish tradition is. The choice to extend the Purim spirit speaks volumes about how our people value resilience. Facing near-annihilation or near-expulsion is tragic and undoubtedly

During leap years, while we await actual Purim in Second Adar, we have the opportunity to extend the Purim spirit and reflect on ways the Purim story relates to modern history and our contemporary lives. On Purim Katan, many Jews abstain from the sadder Jewish rituals (like saying Tachanun or fasting) and even celebrate a bit.

In contemporary times, Jewish resilience has never been more needed. Where I live in Germany, we not only walk streets loaded with the history of the Holocaust, we also face an unprecedented rise in antisemitism. Creating welcoming Jewish spaces, as we do at my organization, Hillel Deutschland, is essential to fostering resilience within today’s German Jewish communities. We’ve also learned, given our unique circumstances, that resilience need not be something we practice alone. We maintain strong ties with other marginalized groups in Germany that are frequently targeted, sometimes violently. Solidarity with our neighbors has become a key action we can take to maintain a pluralistic, democratic society — a safer

traumatic. However, we have learned from our ancestors not to let the horror completely define our memory of these events. Indeed, we have learned to celebrate and rejoice in our redemption. We’re alive. Our tradition is intact. And we’re getting stronger in our identities by the day. So let’s eat!

Rabbi Rebecca Blady is executive director of Hillel Germany and co-founder of Base Berlin, an initiative of Hillel International supported by Genesis Philanthropy Group, European foundations, and individual donors.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

JEWISH PRESS READERS

If you do business with any of our advertisers, please tell them you saw their ad in the Jewish Press. It really helps us!

A print depicts an attack on the Jewish quarter in Frankfurt am Main, 1612, led by Vincenz Fettmilch and his followers. Credit: Culture Club/Getty Images

For Ukraine’s Jews, the work is not yet done

As we mark the grim second anniversary of the Ukraine conflict this Shabbat, I’m reminded of a haunting melody I heard in the city of Poltava last month.

I was standing before Sonia Bunina, a plucky 17-year-old, when she opened her mouth to sing when an air raid siren rang out.

I flinched. Not Sonia — she didn’t miss a beat.

“Kol haolam kulo gesher t’zar meod, veha’ikar lo lifached k’lal,” she belted out before seeking shelter. “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the most important thing is to have no fear at all.”

Sonia, like so many Jews I know in Ukraine, is many things: determined, grieving, focused but she’s certainly not cowering.

As she sang those words by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov — the Ukrainian Jewish sage whose followers continue to come by the tens of thousands to his grave in Uman annually — she embodied the prayer’s indomitable spirit.

Sonia and I met outside Poltava’s Hesed, part of the network of Jewish humanitarian hubs founded by my organization — the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, or JDC — more than three decades ago. Today they’re a lifeline to tens of thousands of Jews facing loss and strife. Since she was a toddler, Sonia has been attending activities at Hesed — her mother coordinates cultural programs for the elderly, and she connects teen volunteers like herself with isolated seniors, a critical source of comfort these last two years.

These days, traveling to Ukraine feels like a pilgrimage — there’s a pull in my soul to visit family near Lviv, to bear witness to Ukrainian Jewish resilience, and to be inspired by the clarity of purpose that is so palpable there. Since my first trip in 2011, I’ve been eight times. Last year, I wrote about how a year of crisis had transformed the ordinary into the sacred in Ukraine. Now, visiting feels even more essential with the worsening humanitarian situation.

Ukrainian Jews aren’t blasé about these challenges — far from it. Just take the delicate ballet of emotions on their faces when checking their phones during an air alert — contacting loved ones, scrolling through photos of devastation, and analyzing Telegram chats speculating on a given rocket’s make and trajectory.

But life goes on — there’s work to do — and though they’ve

lost so much, they refuse to give any more away.

Showing up for each other, whatever it takes, is now baked into their very essence as Jews, and in Ukraine, there are tens of thousands to serve — hungry old women and displaced young families, disabled Holocaust survivors and stunned middle-aged professionals, shocked to now need help when they were once donors and volunteers.

They act fearlessly to ensure their communities make it through this crisis, body and soul intact. Can we expect anything less than boundless creativity from the people who birthed Sholem Aleichem and the Baal Shem Tov?

The author, center, visits with members of the Jewish choir at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s Hesed social service center in Odesa, Ukraine. They have continued their singing despite the ongoing crisis there. Credit: Arik Shraga

“These bombings, all these things that are killing people, destroying houses, leaving children homeless... it’s very scary,” Galina Limarenko, an 82-year-old retired nurse, told me in her small bedroom in Berezivka, taking note of the warm blanket, firewood, and other winter supplies my colleagues provided. “Thank God for the Jewish community, which never gives up and always shares even their very last piece of bread.”

I saw that irrepressible spirit again at our Beit Dan JCC in battered Kharkiv — a shapeshifting wellspring of strength just a few dozen kilometers from the eastern border. Shortly after Feb. 24, 2022, the center became a staging ground for truckloads of emergency aid — part of the 800 tons of humanitarian assistance we’ve delivered so far.

A few blocks from missile strikes, it now hosts children’s

camps and soulful Shabbat services and operates a “kids hub,” offering academic enrichment to children who haven’t had inperson school for years — robbed of normal childhood by the pandemic and now the ongoing crisis.

And amidst blizzards and blackouts, Beit Dan has also become a “warm hub,” a safe place for beleaguered Jewish Kharkivites to charge their devices and obtain a hot drink and warm meal.

“If you share in our pain, and provide support where it’s needed, I’m forever grateful,” said Nika Simonova, Beit Dan’s program director. “The ability to remain human is the main thing. Done right, I believe that can save the world.”

That’s why we at JDC, aided by a coalition of partners including the Jewish Federations, Claims Conference, and International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, deployed a historic response to this conflict and remain committed to the Jewish future here.

We’re focused on ongoing humanitarian support for more than 41,000 Ukrainian Jews, expanding trauma relief, closing children’s educational gaps, and getting unemployed Jewish community members, among millions of Ukrainians plunged into poverty, back to work.

There is no doubt that the Jewish world is now responding to crises on multiple fronts, including this one, but we have been here so many times before. We must draw strength from our history and from the sure knowledge that this is what we’re built for. Our compassion and commitment, when leveraged with that timeless sense of mutual Jewish responsibility, means we can tackle the challenges we face — and come out on the other side even stronger.

As I walked through Lviv on my last day in Ukraine, I asked my cousin Anna Saprun, a 25-year-old business analyst, how this period has changed her.

“I hate what’s brought me here, but I love who I’ve become,” she said with a fierce and feisty smile. “Nothing scares me anymore. I feel powerful.”

Two years after the conflict began, Ukraine’s Jews are inspired anew each day, resolute in the sure knowledge that they know exactly who they’re working for — each other.

Alex Weisler is a former journalist and the JDC’s senior video and digital content producer.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street

Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766

712.322.4705 www.cblhs.org

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980

402.492.8550

bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154

402.556.6288

BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646

402.330.1800

OChabad.com

email: chabad@aol.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism

2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797

402.435.8004

www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244

email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)

13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236

402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL

Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker, Gary Nachman. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information about our historic synagogue, please visit our website at www.cblhs.org or contact any of our other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber.

Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

IN-PERSON AND ZOOM MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m.; Mondays and Thursdays 7 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah & Israeli Wine Tasting, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY: BESTT (Grades K-7), 9:30 a.m.; Hamantashen Bake, 9:30 a.m.; Hebrew Reading for Adults, 10:30 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman; Torah Tots (Ages 3-PreK), 10:45 a.m.; Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 11:15 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT (Grades 3-7), 4:15 p.m.; Hebrew High (Grades 8-12), 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: PJP What Jews Think Series, Dr. Michah Gottlieb, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY-Mar. 15: Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 16: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Jr. Congregation (Grades K-12), 10 a.m.; Havdalah 8:05 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Candlelighting/Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:06 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class 10:45 a.m.; Kids Kiddush Club, 11:15 a.m.; Teen Leadership Kiddush, 11:15 a.m.; Soulful Torah: Unpacking the Or HaChayim’s Teachings, 5:15 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 6 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity, 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:07 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit 9 a.m.; Kinyan HaMasechta, 9:40 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 6:45 a.m.; Monday Mind Builders, 4 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.; Kinyan HaMasechta following Mincha/Ma’ariv.

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7

a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Character Development Class, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:10 p.m.; Parsha Class, 7:40 p.m.; Kinyan HaMasechta following Mincha/Ma’ariv.

FRIDAY-Mar. 15: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Candlelighting/Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:14 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 16: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:30 a.m.; Youth Class, 10:45 a.m.; Kids Kiddush Club, 11:15 a.m.; Soulful Torah: Unpacking the Or HaChayim’s Teachings, 6:15 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/ Kids Activity 7:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 8:15 p.m. Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE

All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: Ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Candlelighting, 6:05 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Shacharit, 99:30 a.m., Video Presentation, 9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.; Torah and Tea, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-Mar. 15: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: Ochaba d.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 7:13 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 16: Shacharit 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 8:13 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. All services offered in-person with live-stream or teleconferencing options.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Candlelighting, 6:08 p.m.; Erev Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex, 6:30 p.m. at SST.

Holocaust education bill fails in Washington

ANDREW LAPIN

JTA

A bill to mandate Holocaust education in Washington state’s middle and high schools died last week after debate over whether an amendment alluded to Israel’s war with Hamas.

H.B. 2037, introduced by a Republican state representative, would have built on a 2019 state law that suggested but did not mandate teaching the Holocaust in public schools.

The bill passed the House unanimously in Olympia but failed to advance out of a Senate education committee after Democrats added language that would require teaching about the experiences of “diasporic communities with lived experiences of surviving, being made refugee by, or otherwise being directly impacted by genocide.”

Republicans felt that the latest version of the bill contained implied references to Gaza Palestinians’ experience during the war. The debate that led to the bill’s failure encapsulated several ways in which rancor over the Israel-Hamas war is affecting seemingly unrelated aspects of civic life.

The bill did not mention Israel or Gaza, but Republican state Sen. John Braun still told local media, “I think there’s all this effort to overlap the Holo-

caust with what’s happening in Gaza right now.”

The bill was controversial from the start within the state’s Jewish community. Its author, Republican state Rep. Travis Couture, did not consult the Seattle Jewish Community Relations Council, nor the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle, prior to introducing it. This caught the museum’s CEO, Dee Simon, off guard: “Once he initiated the legislation, we couldn’t say, ‘No, we’re not going to back you,’” she told a local publication.

“There was not robust engagement with the Jewish community before the bill was introduced,” Tovah Bigeleisen, a spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “Especially in a short legislative session, there has to be a lot of time to do stakeholder and community engagement before the session to help ensure the bill can move through the process. There was no time to do this, which is one of the reasons the legislative process unfolded as it did.”

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Torah Study, noon on Parashat Vayakhel; Potluck Dinner and Family Game Night, 6 p.m. at SST. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome. Please bring a dish to share; Havdalah, 7:08 p.m.

SUNDAY: Daytime Savings Begins; LJCS Classes, 9:30 a.m.-noon at SST; Men’s Bike/Coffee Group, 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Room at Rock 'n Joe (5025 Lindbergh St.). For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. Anyone interested in playing or learning how to play can text Miriam at 402.470.2393. If there are enough interested people; we will play in the Social Hall at TI.

TUESDAY: Jewish Themes Through Jewish Films, 6:30 p.m. at SST.

WEDNESDAY: No LJCS Hebrew School

FRIDAY-Mar. 15: Erev Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex, 6:30 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 7:16 p.m.

SATURDAY-Mar. 16: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at TI; Torah Study noon on Parashat Pekudei; Havdalah, 8:16 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s service is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander

FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Tot Shabbat, 5:45 p.m. In-Person; Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service and Bat Mitzvah of Marley Atlas 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SUNDAY: Grades PreK-7, 9:30 a.m. In-Person; Book Club, 10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person; No Youth Learning.

FRIDAY-Mar. 15: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Shabbat Shira Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom; Congregational Dinner — Italian Dinner Night, 7 p.m. RSVP Required.

SATURDAY-Mar. 16: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. InPerson & Zoom.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

A Republican colleague, noting the potential for “politicization,” said he was also concerned that the bill’s new language “could inadvertently lead to folks being accused of genocide who have not actually committed genocide.” The label of “genocide”

has become a hot-button topic in Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Some progressives and pro-Palestinian groups have accused Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza, and a genocide charge was brought against Israel by South Africa in the International Court of Justice. Israel and its allies vigorously reject the charge.

Read more at www.omahajewishpress.com

Credit: Martin Kraft via Creative Commons

Life cycles

ROGER D. FRIEDMAN MD

Roger D. Friedman MD passed away on Feb. 22, 2024. Services were held on Feb. 25, 2024 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park and Mortuary and were officiated by Rabbi David Woznica of Stephen S. Wise Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth S. and I.H. Friedman.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda; sons, Dr. Adam (Amy) and Ryan (Ellisa); four grandchildren; and brothers, Steve (Gail) and Sandy (Amy).

Calls mount to investigate antisemitism in San Diego killing

BEN SALES, PHILISSA CRAMER AND JACOB GURVIS JTA

The brother of a San Diego-area Jewish dentist killed at his office on Feb. 29 says Benjamin Harouni was “murdered in cold blood” in an act of hate and pledged to set up a nonprofit to combat hatred in his memory.

Local police have not declared the incident a hate crime, saying that the motive for the shooting remains under investigation and noting that the alleged murderer appears to have been “a disgruntled former customer” of Harouni’s dental practice.

But Jake Harouni’s Instagram post is emblematic of a coalescing discourse surrounding his brother’s death: Jews and pro-Israel activists say the killing, allegedly at the hands of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem, was likely an act of antisemitism amid the heated atmosphere surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.

“Those saying this was not a hate crime need to rethink what they define as hate,” Jake Harouni wrote in his post. He added, “As a Persian-Jewish American, I have always felt so scared and vulnerable during these times of hatred. Now that it is at my front door, it feels much more real and urgent.”

Multiple Jewish advocacy groups are demanding that local police investigate whether antisemitism played a role in Dr. Benjamin Harouni’s killing, and his childhood rabbi said at his funeral Sunday morning that he was “struck down in a senseless act of violence, in all likelihood because he was a Jew.”

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells acknowledged fears that law enforcement could obscure antisemitic motivations for the murder but promised to uncover the facts.

Harouni’s killing took place the afternoon of Feb. 29 at Smile Plus Dentistry, the practice run by his father, Jack. Harouni, who was 28, joined the practice after graduating from dental school in 2022.

According to an account distributed by the El Cajon Police Department on Friday morning, three people were shot at the office at just after 4 p.m. One of them, Harouni, died at the scene. The suspect fled in a rented U-Haul truck, which the police department was able to associate with Abdulkareem. When police apprehended Abdulkareem several hours later, he was armed with a handgun that he had purchased legally less than two weeks ago, police said.

Abdulkareem is currently being held in the San Diego County Central Jail on murder and attempted murder charges. The sheriff’s department’s inmate database says he was booked shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday and lists his ethnicity as “Middle Eastern.”

“Further investigation into the incident may reveal additional felony charges,” the El Cajon police statement said.

Harouni’s family and a growing number of Jewish and proIsrael voices believe those charges should potentially include hate crimes. They say they believe Harouni may have been targeted because he was Jewish, at a time when record numbers of antisemitic incidents are being reported.

Roger graduated from Central High School in 1961. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and then graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical School in 1968. Roger continued his medical training in Los Angeles, specializing in pediatric ophthalmology. UNMC recently inducted Roger into the Holyoke Society in recognition of his achievements in the fields of medicine and philanthropy.

Memorials may be made to the Roger D. Friedman, M.D. Scholarship Fund at the University of Nebraska Medical Center or the Ruth S. and I.H. Friedman Endowment Fund at Beth El Synagogue.

From the JTA archives

JEWISH HOMELAND WILL LESSEN ANTI-SEMITISM, SAYS HAPGOOD

Anti-Semitism throughout the world will be lessened by the establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine, Norman Hapgood, Editor of Hearst’s International Magazine, declared at a dinner last night given in honor of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the World Zionist Organization, by the Flatbush and Coney Island Committee of the Palestine Foundation Fund at the Hotel St. George, Brooklyn.

“Those who argue that the Palestine movement will increase anti-Semitic feeling seem to me without knowledge of popular psychology. There are temporary local difficulties but it is clear that in the long run an idealistic emphasis of this kind can affect the world attitude only for good.”

Other speakers included the guest of honor, Dr. Weizmann, David A. Brown, Max Kiss, the local campaign chairman, and Dr. A. H. Heller, who presided. (March 28, 1924)

PAINLEVE DELIVERS STRONG ZIONIST ADDRESS

Support of the Jewish National Fund was strongly urged by M. Paul Painleve, former Prime Minister of France, in an address here yesterday. M. Painleve emphasized the necessity for encouraging Judaism throughout the world to favor Palestine. “Israel gave the world religion and civilization. All peoples should cooperate for the establishment of their National. Home. The fate of the Jewish nation is an historical scandal”, Painleve said. (March 28, 1924)

NEW INDUSTRIES FOR PALESTINE

A number of new industries are being established in Palestine, among them a bone fertilizer plant, a cigarette factory and an envelope factory.

Negotiations are proceeding for the establishment of the bone fertilizer factory at Tel Aviv. The prime mover in the scheme is a former resident of South Africa, who some time ago was struck by the fact that bones are not generally regarded as a product which could supply a valuable material. The promotor was formerly engaged in a similar industry in South Africa.

A small cigarette factory has been opened in Haifa by Mohammed Effendi El Nabulsi. Only cutting and sorting is being carried out at present. Four thousand pounds have been invested in the establishment of an envelope factory in Haifa and part of the necessary machinery has already arrived in the country. (March 4, 1924)

The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.

ANNOUNCEMENT

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! For $225/25 word classified you can advertise in over 150 Nebraska newspapers. For more information contact the Jewish Press or call 1-800-369-2850.

HELLO NEBRASKA! Introducing www.nepublicnotices.com, a new public notice website presented as a public service by all Nebraska newspapers. Free access, fully searchable – because democracy depends upon open government and your right to know.

AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 155 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

FOR SALE - SENIORS

SAFE STEP. North America s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-877-9330188.

PORTABLE OXYGEN Concentrator? May be covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-385-3580.

HOME SERVICES

DOES YOUR basement or crawl space need some attention? Call Thrasher Foundation Repair! A permanent solution for waterproofing, failing foundations, sinking concrete and nasty crawl spaces. FREE Inspection & Same Day Estimate. $250 off ANY project with code GET250. Call 1-844-958-3431.

ELIMINATE GUTTER cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-671-2859.

REPLACE YOUR roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-888-316-7713.

THE BATHROOM of your dreams in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer - $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today! 1-855-451-2244.

SERVICES - PUBLISHING

BECOME A Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author’s Guide 1-877-858-2822 or visit dorranceinfo.com/Nebraska.

Jewish Pride like none other!

MUSHKA TENENBAUM

Chabad of Nebraska

In the heart of New York City, amidst the dazzling lights of Times Square, a powerful expression of Jewish pride and solidarity unfolded last week. The “Times Square Takeover,” a highlight of Chabad’s annual CTeen International Shabbaton, took on new significance this year as representatives from the largest network of Jewish teens, including 200 from Israel, gathered to pray for the hostages and peace in the Holy Land.

With Israel at the forefront of their thoughts, Times Square pulsated with the rhythms of dance, song, and prayer, echoing the fervent hopes for the safe return of hostages held in distant lands.

“For 15 consecutive CTeen Shabbatons, we’ve echoed the same resounding three words.

Tonight, their significance resonates more deeply than ever:

iya Sharabi, brothers, survivors of the Nova Festival massacre and who fought off terrorists on Oct 7th for five hours, led a prayer for peace and the safe return of the hostages.

Reflecting on the experience, Moshe Italy, 21, from Maslul, Israel, who joined the weekend together with 200 fellow Israeli teens, shared his impressions with CTeen Connection Senior Editor Alfie Joseph: “The Times Square Takeover was incred-

AM YISROEL CHAI,” declared Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, his voice resounding through the CTeen branded streets of Times Square. These words, a testament to Jewish resilience, echoed not only through the streets but also within the hearts of all present, both physically and virtually.

Broadcasted live to an audience exceeding 100,000 viewers, the event featured uplifting performances by the renowned American-Israeli pop star, Gad Elbaz and Italian-Jewish singer Yossi Rodal. A poignant moment emerged as Daniel and Ner-

adversity has united us in ways we never imagined. Our resilience shines through, demonstrating to the world that the Jewish spirit cannot be broken. Despite our losses, we proclaim: Am Yisrael Chai and Am Yisrael Chazak!”

Aligned with the theme “Count On Me,” the concert showcased videos highlighting teen leaders who have spearheaded initiatives to support those affected by recent events in Israel.

Some 3,000 Jewish teens gather in Times Square in Manhattan on Saturday night, Feb. 24, 2024 as part of Chabad’s annual CTeen International Shabbaton. Credit: Rivkah Laber/Chabad

ibly impactful. The melodies, the collective prayers for the hostages—it felt as though the heavens themselves were moved by our actions. Since October 7th, the youth in Israel have matured beyond their years. Despite being labeled as the ‘TikTok generation,’ their strength is undeniable. They are the future leaders of our nation.”

Harry, 17, also from Maslul, Israel, echoed similar sentiments: “Times Square was an awe-inspiring display of Jewish unity and strength. Before October 7th, we were carefree, but

This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Passover issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren. Just fill out the form below and send or bring it to the Jewish Press office. But hurry; these ads will only be accepted through March 15, 2024

Giant tzedaka boxes circulated among the vast crowd, enabling direct contributions to affected communities.

As Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302 and Vice-Chairman of CTeen International, concluded the event, he emphasized the power inherent in each individual to effect positive change: “Our resilience, our spirit, our deeds—these are the true catalysts for change. Let us return to our communities, ready to lead and demonstrate to our brethren in Israel that they can indeed count on us.”

Rabbi Mendel Katzman and Rabbi Yudy Shemtov on a charter bus during the International Shabbaton last week.

Time Square billboards sporting staunch support of our people during the iconic event. Credit: Chabad.