Vol. LXXXIII No. 28 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 83 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Purim Around the Heartland
Left photo: Playing the part of Vashti Cow in “The Megillah According to Farm Animals,” the Purim spiel enacted on Erev Purim at Temple Israel, Rabbi Craig Marantz gave a “mooving” portrayal. Right top photo: At Beth El Synagogue, “All They Need Is Love.” Samuel Bogomolni, held by his father, Cantor Gastón “Rabbi Pepper” Bogomolni, gets a fashion lesson in groovy ’60s attire during Beth El’s “Purim
a la Beatles Karaoke” celebration. Joining them in full ’60s regalia are, from left, Lena “Yoko” Bogomolni, Carole Greenberg and Andy “Ed Sullivan” Greenberg, who served as emcee during the festivities. Bottom: Steve Denenberg, holding son Daniel, celebrates Purim at Beth El, participating in reading the megillah, along with Cantor Bogomolni and USYer Laura Shkolnik. More Purim photos on page 15.
Author, Lecturer, Educator Rabbi Manis Friedman to Speak in Omaha by DINA ABRAHAMSON Guideposts and Insights. Conference Chairman Rabbi Friedman is a profession“So much illness today comes from ally ranked member of the the emotions of our past,” Rabbi Manis National Speakers Association, Friedman asserts. Rabbi Friedman is a and has spoken in Hong Kong, noted counselor and lecturer and host Canada, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil. of a critically acclaimed cable television Israel, England, Australia and series, “Torah Forum with Manis South Africa. He is the founder of Friedman”, syndicated throughout North the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish America. He is most recognized as the Studies in Minneapolis, the author of the internationally famous world's first yeshiva exclusively book on intimacy--Doesn't Anyone for women. Blush Anymore? In addition to Rabbi Friedman, Rabbi Friedman will be the keynote Omaha mental health professionspeaker when Chabad of Nebraska and als will present related topics, Nebhands, a faith-based and communiincluding: Steve Stiel from Jewish ty initiative, will sponsor “Let’s Make Family Services, John Dacey from Sense”--a community-wide conference Transitions Recovery and Barry Rabbi Manis Friedman addressing mental health issues on Summer from the Chabad L’chaim Monday, March 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the University group. of Nebraska W. H. Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Cost is $36, which includes registration, materials and Dodge St. Rabbi Friedman will speak about “Healing a kosher lunch. Seating at the Alumni Center is limited the Past-Healing the Future: Improving Tomorrow by to the first 65 registrations. Understanding Yesterday.” “We invite all interested members of the community “Through processing our experiences, bringing out to join us for what we know will be a truly remarkable their greatest potential, we create the way of the experience,” Rabbi Mendel Katzman added. “We all future,” Rabbi Friedman added. struggle trying to make the best sense out of our lives. The New York Times Magazine called Friedman “a ris- Rabbi Friedman has an amazing ability to put it all into ing superstar, eloquent and witty…sensitive and wise.” perspective.” He has appeared on CNN, A&E Reviews, PBS and BBC Reservations should be made in advance by calling Worldwide, in addition to having been the subject of the Chabad House, 330.1800. For more information, articles in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, please call me at 708.6724
Inside
This Week: Crossword Puzzle on page 10 Rabbis Discuss The Passion at Lunch ’n Learn: Page 4
Part II of ADL’S Religion in Public Schools: Page 6
19 Adar, 5764 March 12, 2004
Once Again, Palestinians Prepare to Challenge Israel’s U.N. Credentials by RACHEL POMERANCE NEW YORK (JTA)--An old tradition is being revived at the United Nations: challenging Israel’s credentials. The Palestinians’ U.N. representative, Nasser Al-Kidwa, plans to introduce a U.N. General Assembly resolution later this month that would limit Israel’s U.N. credentials to its pre-1967 borders and give Palestinians the right to represent the West Bank, Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem. “We uncovered this scheme about a week ago,” said Arye Mekel, Israel’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. “This is another effort by the Palestinians, part of their ongoing campaign against the state of Israel.” Challenging Israel’s U.N. credentials was common practice in pre-Oslo days but resurfaced recently only in a failed attempt last year. Palestinians introduced the resolution in December but decided against bringing it to a vote due to weak support. The move comes as pro-Israel activists await an opinion by the International Court of Justice at The Hague on the legality of Israel's West Bank security barrier. The pro-Palestinian faction at the United Nations sent the issue to The Hague. It also comes as Israel awaits its next trial: the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, which opens a sixweek session in Geneva on March 15. “Once again, the Palestinians will lead in using the commission to flog Israel,” said the American Jewish Committee’s Executive Director, David Harris, summarizing his recent meetings with key U.N. ambassadors in Geneva. The commission typically devotes one agenda item to Israel and another to the rest of the world. It generally passes a host of resolutions accusing Israel of human rights violations. But this year’s meeting of the commission may be “business as usual, and then some,” Harris said--with an additional session possible on Israel’s security fence. Still, Harris noted that the commission chairman, Australia’s U.N. ambassador, Mike Smith, is a “refreshing change” from last year’s chair. Najat al-Hajaji, Libya’s U.N. ambassador, chaired the 2003 forum, where she did not condemn Palestinian rhetoric comparing Zionism to Nazism. In the meantime, Israel is hoping to stave off renewed attacks on its credentials. In diplomatic meetings, the Jewish state argues against mixing technical issues with substantive ones, which could open the floodgates for countries with border disputes. So far, Israel is getting a “fair and good hearing,” Mekel said. Most countries view the Palestinian move as crossing a red line, he said. The Palestinians’ Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations did not return JTA’s phone calls. One U.S. official lambasted the Palestinians’ move to challenge Israel’s credentials. “We have said over and over again that this is a futile effort,” the official said. They “should work with Israel to try to solve some of the friction and deal with some of the outstanding issues that need to be dealt with at the peace process.” Amy Goldstein, Director of U.N. affairs at B’nai B’rith International, said the move underscores a Palestinian strategy to circumvent the peace process and challenge Israel’s very existence. “The Palestinians are trying to get the U.N. to confer legitimacy to them as a state without going through a negotiated process,” she said. For example, she said, the Palestinians at the International Court of Justice argued for sanctions on Israel like those imposed on apartheidera South Africa, which ultimately led to regime change. “The Palestinians are doing this in order to achieve a regime change in Israel from a Jewish democratic government to a Palestinian government.” The move must be countered quickly, Harris said.
Coming Next Month: Passover Issue: Publishes on April 2 Goldstein Supporting Foundation Approves 14 Grants: Page 8
Israel Fence Series Continues with Jerusalem: Page 16