March 14, 2014

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

More than a Summer Camp

March 14, 2014 12 Adar II 5774 Vol. 94 | No. 26

This Week

Mitchell Bard by DR. MOSHE GERSHOVICH Director, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies Ever wondered what would have happened if Tevye the Milkman were to end up immigrating to Palestine? You are welcome to come find out by attending a lecture by Dr. Mitchell Bard, entitled

WRJ hosts Purim masquerade wine tasting Page 5

Mitchell Bard

Staying in touch Page 6

by LYNN BATTEN JFO Publicity Manager For the past 40 years something special has been happening at the Jewish Community Center. Every summer, large groups of children start to congregate on the grassy field behind the building. They come with

Inside This Month The Arts See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

they will tell you it was one of the best times of their lives; their time at JCC Summer Camp. JCC Summer Camp has a rich tradition in this city. In the spring of 1926, the Omaha Jewish Community Center opened its doors and Continued on page 2

Omaha’s Russian Cultural Club

Growing number of Venezuelan Jews opting for ‘Plan B’ Page 12

Point of view Synagogues

backpacks, lunches and an unbridled sense of excitement as they greet their friends in the fresh morning air. They gather around a flagpole and lift their voices in song as flags are hoisted up into the sky. To some, it might appear to be a tad old fashioned, but ask anyone who’s ever experienced it and

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by OZZIE NOGG On Wednesday, Feb. 19, eight Russian-speaking seniors boarded the Jewish Senior Services bus and took a day trip to the Joslyn Art Museum. JSS staff members Shelly Fox, Director of Outreach and Admissions and Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs, accompanied the group. Anna Mosenkis served as translator. “We spent the morning exploring the two new permanent exhibits of the American Indian: Art and Innovation and The Arts of Asia,” Fox said, “and then enjoyed a nice lunch at the Durham Café at Joslyn. The participants were so appreciative. They had a wonderful outing and said they’d like to visit the Museum again.” The Russian Cultural Club is an important focus of JSS. “Shelly and I really enjoy working with our Russ-

Russian Cultural Club members enjoy a museum outing. Seated: Igor Mosenkis, left, Svetlana Tsymkovsky and Lydia Linde; Standing: Anna Mosenkis, left, Alexander Tsymkovsky, Lina Levit, Lisa Magalnik, Svetlana Goldina and Maggie Conti. ian-speaking seniors,” Conti said, “and want to include them in Jewish Social Services Outreach events and even plan separate programming to engage them so they don’t feel isolated.” Members of RCC recently enjoyed Voices of Ellis Island -- Pippa White’s one woman show that played on the JCC stage on March 7 -- and will also be in the audience for Musical, Magical Moments with Karen Javitch and Friends on Sunday, March 30, as well as The Omaha Chamber Music Society Concert scheduled for April 30. “Anna Mosenkis translates during these programs,” Conti said,

“but she does much more than that. Anna helps organize events from the beginning stages, maintains the mailing roster and keeps in contact with RCC participants to get their ideas for future programming. We couldn’t do our work for the Russian Cultural Club without Anna.” In the spring, Fox and Conti plan to screen a Russian-language movie for the group. Programming for the Russian Cultural club is underwritten by The Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation Fund. “We are so grateful for their generous support,” Conti and Fox said.

“When Fiddler on the Roof Meets Exodus,” to be held at the Kripke Library on the JCC campus, Wednesday, March 19, 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For further information, contact Mary Sue Grossman, Program Coordinator, Center for Jewish Life, 402.334.6445, or mgrossman@jewishomaha.org. The lecture will conclude a day that will also include two other presentations by Dr. Bard. In the morning of March 19, the Schwalb Center will host a breakfast reception in his honor, during which he will discuss the state of Israel Studies in the United States. The reception will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be held at Room 202 of the Arts and Science Hall on the main UNO campus. The event is also free and open to the public. For further information, contact Kasey Davis, Staff Assistant for the Schwalb Center, at 402.554.3175 or kaseydavis@unomaha.edu. In between these two events, Dr. Bard will also attend the weekly B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers luncheon, to be held at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home at noon. There he will talk about “BDS, the Palestinians, and the Peace Process.” For further information, contact the Henry Monsky Lodge of B’nai B’rith International, 402.334.6443, or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org. Dr. Mitchell Bard is the Executive Director of the nonprofit American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) and a foreign policy analyst who lectures frequently on U.S.-Middle East policy. Dr. Bard is also the director of the Jewish Virtual Library, the world’s most comprehensive online encyclopedia of Jewish history and culture. Bard holds a Ph.D. in political science from UCLA and a master’s degree in public policy from Berkeley. He received his B.A. in economics Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

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by SHERRIE SAAG JFO Communications New York City, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Scottsdale, St. Louis. Native Omahans live everywhere. This becomes more apparent every day as Mary Bernstein of Events, Inc. stays busy speaking to out-of-towners about the Omaha Jewish Reunion, planned for Sept. 12-14, 2014. “The phone calls and email inquiries arrive weekly, if not daily, now,” Bernstein said. “People are genuinely interested about the events planned and want to sign up and make their reservations.” Randi Friedel Jablin wrote, “I’ve read with interest about the Omaha Jewish Reunion. I live in Scottsdale, AZ. As you know, there are a ton of Omahans here. If there’s anything I can do from here, please let me know.” An email sent from Michael Staenberg in St. Louis says, “Love to get more information. Plan to go. Thanks for doing this!” A really enthusiastic Debra Rubin of Leawood, KS emailed, “Someone just forwarded the Omaha Jewish Press article announcing the Reunion. It sounds like a GREAT idea!” Husband Ben Rubin agreed, telling his wife, “I’m ready to go!” He grew up in Tecumseh and moved to Omaha as a senior in high school. “I grew up in Omaha and retain family ties there. Add my name to your mailing list and I will put it on my calendar,” responded Lenore Richter of New York, New York. While not everyone’s schedule will permit them to join family and friends in Omaha this September, well wishes are

nonetheless flooding in and inspiring Reunion volunteers are working hard to plan the weekend. Harry Friedman, brother of Felicia Schrier and Executive Producer of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in Culver City, CA has a television production schedule that makes his attendance impossible. However, he took time to write a short note. “I had been hearing about the Reunion for a while through the Omaha-California grapevine. I am disappointed the dates conflict with my work. No doubt the event will be filled with great nostalgia and lots of laughs. I know it will be a great success.” Sheldon and Lorrie Bernstein of Carlsbad, CA, are enthusiastic to help augment the Reunion’s reach to those outside Omaha. “Lorrie has been an incredible resource, forwarding names and contact information so that we are sure to reach out to everyone who wants more information. We are happy to ‘grow the rolls,’ and if you have people you want us to reach out to, please let us know,” Bernstein said. Save the date and make plans to be in Omaha for a weekend filled with reunion-worthy events. Whether it’s your birthplace, your childhood home or your current mailing address, plan to join the community and celebrate Jewish Omaha. Help all the committees and volunteers by passing along word of the Omaha Jewish Reunion to family and friends near and far! Forward the contact information of your connections to either Patty Nogg, Chair of the Outreach Committee at noggster2@aol.com or Mary Bernstein at maryb@eventsinc.com.

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Continued from page 1 introduced the city to a new type of community center. It was a place where all members were given the unique opportunity to associate with each other through social, cultural, recreational and educational programming. The popularity of the JCC grew rapidly. In 1974, it moved from its 20th and Dodge Street location to an expansive area “out west” that would accommodate the growth of future generations. That focus on the future, combined with the opportunities of a new location, gave way to a contemporary type of dynamic youth programming: JCC Summer Camp. Today, 40 years and thousands of campers later, the Jewish Community Center of Omaha Summer Camp has evolved into one of the premiere programs in the city. For three years in a row, JCC Omaha Summer Camp programs have been voted “Best of Omaha”. In 2013 more than 600 children attended JCC Summer Camp. Getting ready for Summer Camp is a year round process, one the JCC takes seriously. Their Summer Camp staff completes over 25 hours of training, including American Red Cross Safety, CPR and First Aid workshops. In addition, the extensive safety protocol, low camper-to-counselor ratio and professional staff all contribute to American Camp Association certification that JCC Summer Camp holds. “We take our role as a community resource very seriously. Every day we work to ensure that the welfare and happiness of every member remains our top priority,” said Mark Martin, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center. The Jewish Community Center of Omaha offers a wide variety of Summer Camp programs to choose from. Programs are generally dependent upon age and are open to JCC Members. There is traditional Day Camp for children ages 2 – 5 and Grades K-7th. JCC Specialty Camps focus on specific areas of interest such as sports, swim and dive team, dance, arts and musical theater. The popular College All-Stars Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer Camps give kids the opportunity to learn from some of the area’s top collegiate players. For older kids in 5th – 8th grade, there is also the opportunity to have a Minneapolis/Wisconsin Dells adventure through Travel Camp. Leora Werner, Director of BBYO at the JCC, leads the Kindergarten through Third Grade level of Day Camp pro-

gramming. Werner, whose parents actually met at summer camp, remembers her time as a camper at the JCC. “My favorite part of camp was celebrating Shabbat and making new friends,” she said. “It was, and still is, such a meaningful experience because you have the chance to be creative, be active and experience positive social interactions with kids your own age.” Now that Werner is in a leadership role at camp, she works to make sure each camper has his or her own positive and memorable experience. “I want every camper to have a fun and safe time at Summer Camp. I want them to go home, excited to share the day’s activities with their parents and say ‘I can’t wait to go back tomorrow’.” Martin echoes this sentiment. “We strive to provide every camper with a positive experience that will provide them with memories that they can carry with them for their entire lives,” he said. “I think this, combined with the variety of programs and highly trained staff that our camp offers is what has made our camp so successful. Plus, kids have an opportunity to swim twice a day,” he said, smiling. Even though many aspects of Camp have modernized and evolved over the years, there is still a focus on keeping certain traditions alive. “With things like Shabbat, Gaga and camp color wars, we focus on the importance of being together, getting along and being kind to one another,” Werner said. “Setting that tone really allows special connections to flourish. I still keep in contact with the friends I met at Summer Camp years ago. We still have Camp reunions. Those are the types of bonds that are special and just can’t be replicated.” “Obviously, we strive to make improvements and incorporate current trends into our programming every year. That being said, we still realize the value of JCC camp traditions such as flag circle, song sessions, and the ever popular camp talent show,” Martin said. “Those traditions are where memories are made.” This summer, when once again the flags are hoisted up into the air, a new generation of campers will begin their Summer Camp experience. They will do so under the leadership of a dedicated staff focused on honoring the past by providing a positive Jewish environment where members of all kinds can experience quality programming. Memories will be made and the cycle will continue, so that 40 years from now, a new generation will come to know the tradition that is JCC Summer Camp. For more information on JCC Summer Camp, call 402.334.6426 or visit www.jccomaha.org.

March 14, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 3

Temple Israel Scholars-in-Residence by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer When he was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, Rabbi Douglas Kohn discovered a severe drought of Jewish literature with regards to living with cancer. “I was looking for something to read and sink my teeth into,” Rabbi Kohn said, “but there was a pronounced absence.” After Rabbi Kohn fought off the cancer, he contacted other Jewish clergy who had lived through similar diagnoses and asked them to be contributors to his first book, Life, Faith, and Cancer: Jewish Journeys Through Diagnosis, Rabbi Douglas Kohn Treatment, and Recovery. “I wanted to share my voice and the voices of others who had lived with this disease,” Rabbi Kohn said. And share he did, from Feb. 28 through March 2, as a Scholar-in-Residence at Temple Israel. Rabbi Kohn gave the d’var Torah during the Friday evening service, in which he discussed his cancer diagnosis and the perceived need for Jewish literature to help those in similar situations. Rabbi Kohn also discussed the topic of his second book, released in 2012: Alzheimer’s and dementia. A few years after the first book’s publication, Rabbi Kohn received a phone call from one of its contributors, one whose mother was suffering from Alzheimer’s. “He said, ‘This is the topic we need to write about next,’” Rabbi Kohn said. “So I contacted the publisher and told them I wanted to change the topic of my next book.” This second book, titled Broken Fragments: Jewish Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease through Diagnosis, Adaptation, and Moving On, follows a similar structure as the first: 18 contributing authors, all clergy, who have had to face a loved one’s descent into Alzheimer’s and dementia. Rabbi Kohn has plans to write a series of books about Judaism and illness. “Somewhat unwittingly and somewhat by design, I’ve

become the spokesman for Jews and illness,” Rabbi Kohn said. “I would like to put the more difficult subjects on the table, facing mortality... for the elderly community the greatest fear isn’t outliving their family, it’s outliving their minds.” Rabbi Kohn continued: “It’s very hard to live with Alzheimer’s disease. The person with dementia needs love as much as a healthy human being, more so... they have an emotional need, the spiritual side of things is even more compelling. Sometimes the person with Alzheimer’s gets the spiritual side more than someone with a healthy mind.” Since the release of his books, Rabbi Kohn travels all Daniel Smith around the country talking about Judaism and illness and ways the Jewish community can help those who are suffering. “I applaud Temple Israel for putting these ideas on the table,” he said. “The stories of illness are vital.” Temple Israel Rabbi Aryeh Azriel has known Rabbi Kohn for more than 20 years. He said that every rabbinate has a purpose, a specific calling. “Rabbi Kohn’s calling clearly is caring and compassion,” Rabbi Azriel said. “These are important topics to discuss in today’s congregations, especially with the ages of some of our members. We are fortunate to have Rabbi Kohn come and talk about these topics.” In addition to delivering the d’var Torah, Rabbi Kohn also led the Saturday morning Torah Study class, in which he discussed bioethics and topics such as abortion and euthanasia. Sunday morning, Rabbi Kohn spoke about memory, and how Jews are often instructed to remember, such as the third commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” Rabbi Kohn discussed the difficulties of such a commandment when one has been stricken by Alzheimer’s or dementia. “Rabbi Kohn’s teachings were thought-provoking and meaningful, both personally and professionally,” said Andi Willensky, Admissions Coordinator for the Rose Blumkin

Jewish Home. “His premise that ‘memory is the currency of the Jew’ struck a chord with me. One’s life experience and relationships continue to make us special, despite dementia. The lighting of Shabbat candles, the cadence of a familiar prayer, or the taste of a traditional holiday meal, these are memories worth sharing again and again, even if it appears almost hopeless.” Following the Friday evening service, Bright Pink Omaha was on hand to provide support and answer questions for those with a personal connection to breast or ovarian cancer. Bright Pink Omaha also gave a presentation after Rabbi Kohn’s discussion Sunday morning, about knowing your genetic history as it pertains to various forms of cancer. Denise Ibsen-Cole, Brandi Preston and Jamie Tully shared their personal stories of how cancer has affected their lives. The next Scholar-in-Residence is Daniel Smith, author of Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety. He will speak at Temple Israel on April 2, 7 - 8 p.m., about how he lives with and overcomes his anxiety. Temple Israel Scholars-in-Residence are sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning.

Mitchell Bard Continued from page 1 from UC Santa Barbara. Dr. Bard has appeared on local, national, and international media outlets, including the BBC, MSNBC and al-Jazeera. His work has been published in academic journals, magazines and major newspapers. He is the editor/author of 23 books, the latest of which, published in 2013, is the novel After Anatevka: Tevye in Palestine.

Did you know? On March 6, students at the National University of Ireland, Galway, voted to endorse an academic, economic and cultural boycott of Israel. Similar measures have come up for votes at schools across the United States, Canada and Europe. Last week, students at Ontario’s University of Windsor voted to boycott Israel.

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4 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

In the news

Just for kids: Six days of Purim

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER With Israeli kids celebrating Purim this year over a 6-day period, it is especially obvious that Purim is a kids’ holiday. How does a one-day holiday become six days? Each year, the day before the Fast of Esther is the day when all of Israel’s children come to school in costume. With Purim falling this year on Saturday night-Sunday March 15-16, the fast is moved up to the previous Thursday (so as to avoid fasting on the Sabbath or on the eve of Sabbath), and the school masquerade is therefore on the Wednesday before. Keeping in mind that all kids get off for Shushan Purim, you can see how for kids the Purim spirit this year will extend from March 12 through March 17. So this is a particularly good Purim to be a kid in Israel. Actually, now that it has been quite a number of years since we’ve had a small child in the house, it’s clear to me that it’s always better to be a kid on Purim. When you are an adult, and especially an adult without benefit of a small child in tow, the excitement and hilarity of Purim does not seem all that exciting or all that hilarious. Perhaps I should work on myself? After all, even though I am no longer a child nor do I have small children, what is to prevent me from bringing a cap-gun into shul and firing away when Haman’s name is read? The answer of course is that nothing prevents me from doing so, but I imagine that I would be just going through the motions. I could probably sustain some excitement into the second or third firing, but you need to be a kid to really get worked up for all or even most of the 54 times that Haman’s name is read. What about attacking the problem from a different angle? What about finding the deeper meaning of the holiday? In fact I dutifully went to several classes this year about the Purim holiday, learning in one of them that Esther had to be jarred out of complacency by Mordecai because she, unlike Mordecai, had not correctly identified the theological time in which they were living, a time when God was primed to act for His people. And still. You just can’t match the enthusiasm of children for the Purim holiday, and I can’t escape the sense that I as a grownup am just pretending great joy on this holiday. Perhaps this is the reason that in some quarters drinking to excess became encouraged on this holiday. Grownups often need help to get worked up. However, my overall experiences on the two or three Purims of my life when I have tried this practice were not happy ones. The bottom line is that I still struggle with my options on Purim. But you know what? I am perfectly willing to return to my opening contention and say that Purim is a child’s holiday and that it helps if you are a child or are with a child on

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this day. I maintain that I need not be upset that the way I experience Purim now is not the same way I experienced it as a child or as an adolescent or as a young father. To borrow from my friend Dr. Chuck Lawe (who was speaking about therapy), religious experience has an expiration date, and it doesn’t make sense to try to recapture something that has expired. I’m not going to be a kid again on Purim nor am I going to be a young father again on Purim. Who am I going to be this Purim? I’m not sure. Perhaps I’ll even be disguised from myself. And perhaps I’m in an interim stage between interesting Purim experiences. Thank God for the fact that I’m Orthodox enough not to leave my synagogue attendance (whether on Purim or year-round) to when I feel like it. I’ll go to synagogue this Purim just as I have gone the last few years, just as I did when I had small children. My commitment to the traditions will be able to bridge my previous powerful Purims with my future powerful Purims. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy what I can and be as merry as I can. Happy Purim! Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest three, Nathan, Rebecca and Ruthie, are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.

On March 5, Omaha Public Schools and the Sherwood Foundation awarded prizes to OPS students for entries in the News Film Festival. Joshua Kurtzman won first place for his video, Why Everyone Should Learn About the Holocaust that was entered in the “In Our World” category. The News Film Festival was developed by MacNeil/ Lehrer productions and PBS with input from students, edu- Joshua Kurtzman and teacher cators, parents, and Melissa Kandido local public television stations. This year, 180 students participated in the Film Festival, and Joshua was one of seven winners from Melissa Kandido’s International Studies II classes at Beveridge Magnet School. For those interested, Joshua’s video is on YouTube, searchable by the title.

Schwalb Center to host Professor Lawrence Baron by KASEY DAVIS Staff Assistant, Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies The Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies invites members of the community to a reception Tuesday, March 18, 6-8:30 p.m. for the art exhibit My Heart is in the East and I am in the Farthest West. Originally introduced in an article in the Feb. 21 Jewish Press, the exhibit is on display March through the first week of April. Located at the Osborne Family Gallery in UNO’s Criss Library, this exhibit features ten Omahabased Jewish and Israeli artists and is free and open to Professor Lawrence Baron the public. Those who attend the event on March 18 will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists over hors d’oeuvres while being entertained by local Omaha Klezmer artist, Tuffy Epstein. Attendees will also be able to meet the exhibit curator, Dr. Anat Gilboa (the Schwalb Center’s 20132014 Schusterman Visiting Israeli Professor) and designer, Dr. Avery Mazor (UNO’s Art and Art History Department). Following the reception a lecture will be given by Dr.

Lawrence Baron, Professor Emeritus of Modern Jewish History at San Diego University and recognized expert on the depiction of Jews in cinema. The topic of the lecture will be The Jewish Immigrant in Israeli Cinema: From Absorption to Differentiation. Professor Baron, who earned his PhD in Modern European intellectual History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served as the Nasatir Chair in Modern Jewish History from 1988 until his retirement in 2012. He was also the director of the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies at SDSU from 1988 until 2006. His works include: Projecting the Holocaust into the Present: The Changing Focus of Contemporary Holocaust Cinema (Rowman & Littlefield, 2005) and The Modern Jewish Experience in World Cinema (Brandeis U.P.: 2011). Among his many lectures and presentations, the most notable perhaps was his 2006 keynote address at Yad Vashem’s first conference on Hollywood and the Holocaust. The Schwalb Center is proud to host its first art exhibit as well as Dr. Baron. We would like to share this event with the greater Omaha community. So, we have arranged for a limited number of special parking permits for non-UNO visitors at the parking lot of St. Margaret Mary Parish (6116 Dodge St.). These permits can be obtained on a first-comefirst-serve basis. To order your permit, or if you have any other question about this event, please contact the Schwalb Center 402.554.3175, or kaseydavis@unomaha.edu.

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Hazzan Krausman leads accompanist Anna Yuz-Mosenkis and choir members Andy Greenberg, left, Lou Wolfson, Tuffy Epstein, Lisa Senal, Lisa Lieb and Howard Marcus, in a recent rehearsal for the upcoming Cantor’s Concert at Beth El. by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity With the Cantor’s Youth Scholarship Fund Concert only two weeks away, Beth El’s Hazzan Michael Krausman is no doubt dreaming in Latin rhythms these days. Rehearsals, program details and making sure i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed are front and center for the hazzan, as he prepares for the exciting ‘Ta’am Latino LIVE!’ event, scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 7 p.m. Hazzan Krausman and the Beth El Choir will headline the musical evening, along with special guest Cantor GastĂłn Bogomolni, a former Beth El cantor who now leads Temple Aliyah in Needham, Mass. The two cantors have been acquainted for years, and came came up with the idea of doing a concert together during last year’s Cantors Assembly convention in New York City. The collaboration promises to be an entertaining and memorable evening: Hazzan Krausman and his choir, accompanied by pianist Anna Yuz-Mosenkis, will present classic synagogue music, as well as modern Israeli songs; and Cantor Bogomolni, along with his Ta’am Latino Band, will perform both lively and poignant selections from his CD, Ta’am Latino: A Latin American Shabbat. A grand finale will feature all of the show’s performers. “The combination of talented musicians in a Jewish setting is a rare treat for our Jewish community,â€? Hazzan Krausman said. “The audience will be uplifted by the spirit and passion of the artists in this program as they hear some of our most

familiar prayers and melodies expressed in a different, exciting manner. I hope they will leave the synagogue with the realization that there are so many colors in the beautiful spectrum of Jewish music, and hopefully, with the desire to experience other shades and hues of our musical heritage.â€? Hazzan Krausman also encouraged attendees to stay after the concert for a special dessert reception, offering them a chance to chat with Cantor Bogomolni. “For the great many members of the community who have fond memories of GastĂłn’s time as our cantor, this will be a fabulous opportunity to re-connect and share stories and experiences,â€? said the hazzan. The annual concert benefits the synagogue’s Youth Scholarship Fund, which offers financial support to Beth El’s children and teenagers who wish to attend Jewish summer camps, youth group conventions, and a variety of Israel experiences. Hazzan Krausman sees the event as a great two-fer for attendees. “Not only will participants enjoy a memorable, vibrant, exciting concert,â€? he said, “but they will be helping to ensure the future Jewish leadership of our community by helping kids attend Jewish summer camps programs, Everyone should take advantage of this evening!â€? Tickets for the concert are available at www.bethelomaha.org; for more information, contact Hazzan Krausman in the synagogue office, 402.492.8550, or hazzan krausman@bethel-omaha.org.

WRJ hosts Purim masquerade wine tasting by DAVID GOLBITZ all of which will be on sale at or below retail price, there Temple Israel Staff Writer will also be a special “Bourbon Street� table in celebration In celebration of Purim, Temple Israel is hosting a of the masquerade theme and Mardi Gras. The Purim Spiel was shot at Temple Israel and features Masquerade Wine Tasting that will feature live music by George Walker, a wine raffle, a photo montage of the con- members of the congregation taking on the starring roles of Esther, Mordecai, King gregation’s first six months Ahasuerus and, of course, at Sterling Ridge and the the dreaded Haman. world premiere of this year’s Tickets for the Wine Purim Spiel, filmed and Tasting start at $36 per peredited by Avery Mazor. son, with additional levels of The fundraiser is being hosted by the Women of giving at $54, $72 and $118. Reform Judaism, who are All proceeds from the combining the wine tasting fundraiser will benefit with their annual donor Temple Israel and all purevent to benefit Temple chases are 100 percent tax Israel. deductible. “We hope that combining “We hope this type of gala these two events will event will become a new traencourage both participadition for Temple Israel,� This year’s donor event will “build on the fun and excitetion and donations,� Event Gonzales said. “It’s a celebrament� of last year’s WRJ wine tasting fundraiser. Chair Dana Gonzales said. tion of the building, of the “Last year’s wine tasting was a wonderful event, bringing so community, and of bringing everyone together... there’s so many people together. We received many comments from much in life that pulls us apart, it is important to have one those who attended that they saw friends they hadn’t seen thing that brings us together.� in years and were able to reconnect. It was a very commuThe Masquerade Wine Tasting is Saturday, March 15, 7 nity-building environment, and now that we’re in our new - 10 p.m. at Temple Israel. To RSVP visit templeisraelomhome, this big, beautiful new space, we want to build on aha.com or contact Temple Israel, 402.556.6536. Tickets that fun and excitement from last year.� will also be available at the door. This event is open to In addition to wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages, everyone and everyone is encouraged to bring a friend.

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EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Tuesday, April 15, for Passover; the deadline for the April 18 issue is Wednesday, April 9, 9 a.m. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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6 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

Staying in touch

Class of 2014 High School Seniors High School Seniors and Parents We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation Class pages on May 23, 2014. To be included, we need your graduation photo and the information below. You can also email the items to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

High School Senior Information Name ________________________________________________ Parent(s)’ Name(s) ________________________________________________ Current High School ________________________________________________ College you plan to attend ________________________________________________ Send by May 1 to: The Jewish Press | 333 So. 132 St. | Omaha, NE 68154

by OZZIE NOGG Blumkin Home Resident Skypes with his Obviously, the younger generation is all twin brother on a weekly basis. Another atwitter over technology. But Facebook, Skypes with his daughter in Switzerland, YouTube, FaceTime and Skype are also and signs off their sessions with a fist bump embraced by older adults, as evidenced by and a kiss.” According to Menagh, “A sessions at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Resident who was in the final stage of life where Residents can now virtually connect -- watched her son’s wedding from the comfort via iPad -- with their out-of-town loved ones. of her bed, just days prior to her passing. The video conferencing program was developed by Josh Gurock, RBJH Director of Operations, and Karen Menagh, Activities Director. “For Blumkin Home Residents who participate in Skype or FaceTime sessions, this electronic tool translates into serendipitous reconnections to their past and brightens their lives today,” Gurock said. Current Resident fans of video visits include Bettie and Stuart Muskin, Fred Pieck, Bernice Green and Betty Goldstrom. “Betty Goldstrom Karen Menagh, left, RBJH Activities Director, accompanies was one of the first to Skype Blumkin Home Resident Fred Pieck as he Skypes on the iPad. on the iPad,” Gurock said. “She’s used it Another Resident, who recently passed, was many times to talk to her son, Mark, and his able to see his sister in Israel for the first family. Betty’s grandson is on his college time in over twenty years. There’s no way to baseball team, and she watches his games on measure the pleasure our Residents get from the iPad. Mark Goldstrom visits the Home these electronic visits.” at least once a week, and when he was out of According to Gurock, “The Home’s ability town, he worked with Karen to set up a to offer this technology gives Residents video conferencing session so he wouldn’t front row seats, even at a distance, for famigo a week without ‘seeing’ his mother.” ly simchas like weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Bernice Green is also a regular Skype user. Through these virtual conversations we’ve “She Skypes with her son, grandson, and connected with Los Angeles, St. Louis, great grandson who are all in different loca- Colorado and Arizona, and we’re designing tions.” Menagh said. “Right now, we’re work- a map to pinpoint all our journeys. We plan ing on future Skype sessions that will let to expand our reach very soon, so our Home Bernice talk to all three generations at the can connect with every country in the world same time in one big family confab.” -- except maybe North Korea or Iran -- and “This is such an enjoyable, positive expe- cities in every state of the U.S.” rience for our Residents,” Gurock said. If you are interested in Skype or FaceTime “During Skype time they’re able to share sessions with a Blumkin Home Resident, stories and memories with their families, please contact Karen Menagh at kmewhich then leads to new memories. One nagh@rbjh.com, or call 402.334.6520, #1.

Klutznick week three: Harmful speech by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Program Coordinator, The Center for Jewish Life The popularity of the Center for Jewish Life’s Klutznick Learning Series continues to grow each week. Week four of the series, which is focusing this year on “What is it About the Ten Commandments?”, will meet on Monday evening, March 17 beginning at 7 p.m. At the March 17 session, Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Elyce Azriel will discuss “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Rabbi Gross is senior rabbi of Beth Israel Synagogue and Elyce Azriel, an experienced Jewish educator, works with resource students at Millard North Middle School. Elyce will look at what this commandment means to our youth today and the use of God’s name in conversation and texting. Rabbi Josh Brown and Ari Riekes will then review “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Rabbi Brown is with Temple Israel and Ari Riekes is an attorney with Marks, Clare and Richards, practicing primarily in the area of litigation. Ari will talk about the legal and personal consequences of defamation/slander/libel as well as the consequences of lying.

The remaining Klutznick Learning Series sessions will meet Monday evenings through March 31, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the JCC Social Hall. Topics for those sessions will include the following: Mon, Mar 24 – “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” will be examined by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Dr. Michael Cohen followed by Rabbi Mendel Katzman and C. David Kotok discussing “Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.” Mon, Mar 31 – Rabbi Steven Abraham and Ellie Greenspoon look at “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” followed by concluding remarks on the series by Marty Shukert. The series is open to the community, free of charge and is sponsored by the fund of the Klutznick Chair of Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. For more information, call 402.334.6463 or email mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org. The series is presented by the Center for Jewish Life whose mission it is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

Birth Carin Riekes Parcel and Andrew Parcel of Bellevue, WA announce the Jan. 14 birth of their daughter, Dylan Matilda. She is named for her maternal greatgrandmother, Dorothy Riekes and paternal

great-grandfather, David Carroll. She has a sister, Sydney and brother, Liam. Grandparents are Zoë and Carl Riekes of Omaha, and Judy Carroll and Randy Parcel of Denver.

March 14, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 7

Wounded Ukrainian protesters airlifted to Israel for medical treatment by BEN SALES, TALIA LAVIN and CNAAN LIPHSHIZ “Our plane has taken off!� wrote one Kiev volunteer, exuTEL AVIV (JTA) – For 17-year-old Bolodimir Bedyuk, a berantly, on her Facebook page. “All the sleepless nights are Ukrainian who was severely wounded in clashes with worth it.� Ukrainian forces on Feb. 18, Israeli medical care may be his For project volunteers in Israel, however, the work is just only hope. beginning. After a pitched battle with Ukrainian police forces on According to Anna Zharova, who is coordinating volunInstitutskaya Street in Kiev, Bedyuk suffered extensive liver teer help in Israel, volunteers have helped arrange ambulance damage -- his brother, Aleksei, said Bolodimir’s liver “was torn care for the arriving wounded. A request for translation of practically in half � -- and wounds to the chest. In that confrontation, Ukrainian police forces advanced on protesters with automatic weapons, leaving dozens of protesters dead. While Kiev and its environs have been relatively peaceful since the chaos of Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, hundreds are still suffering from wounds incurred during clashes with riot police under the command of thenPresident Victor Yanukovych. But thanks to the effort of volunteers in both Kiev and Israel, Bolodimir and six other severely wounded patients were airlifted to Israel March 7, where they are scheduled to receive treatment at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot as well as at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Many of the wounded have A wounded Ukrainian man is transported to a waiting plane, where he will be flown already undergone multiple surger- to Israel to receive medical care. Credit: Shimon Briman ies locally. But care in Ukrainian hospitals is deeply lacking, medical documents from Russian or Ukrainian into Hebrew said Tzvi Arieli, a project coordinator who has lived in both or English went viral, arranged through a Gmail account. Ukraine and Israel. Over 100 volunteers have been recruited through a “When you go into a public hospital in Ukraine, you don’t Facebook group, “Israel Help Maidan Wounded.� know if you will leave dead,� Arieli told JTA. “Every injured person will have a volunteer to get everyThe initiative stemmed from the desire of Ukrainian Jews thing he needs: food, a place to stay for his family that’s comto help their countrymen, using the advanced medical ing with him,� Zharova said. “My vision is that there won’t be capacities of Israeli hospitals, Arieli wrote in an open letter politics here. There are different sides and opinions, but we’re to supporters. careful to come from a place of assistance. It’s a matter of life “We are a group of Jews from Ukraine,� Arieli wrote. and death. Over there, they’re volunteering 24 hours a day.� “What binds us together is our Jewish identity and our deep Zharova and others interviewed expressed frustration that desire to do something to alleviate the suffering of those government sources have been largely unresponsive to the who have been injured during recent events.� group’s efforts. Hennadii Nadolenko, Ukraine’s ambassador “We love our fellow Ukrainians,� he continued, “and we to Israel, pledged support but has not fulfilled initial promare proud of the Jewish state, Israel, whose first-class med- ises, Zharova said. ical treatment will give our countrymen the best chance at “This was all through private hands. There’s no time to resuming a normal life.� waste. People are dying from simple things because there are The project faced initial obstacles in terms of both hospi- no medical supplies, no medicine, nothing,� she told JTA. tal access within Israel and funding. Dr. Valeriya Babchik, a The Israeli government has been largely silent on the physician at Kaplan, helped to organize the project, along issue, despite the large population of Ukrainian emigres livwith Arieli and Marina Lysak, a Kiev resident. ing in Israel. Alexander Levin, a Jewish-American businessman with “We want to reach the government. There’s no shortage of extensive ties to Ukraine, donated $50,000 to the initiative, Ukrainians here with family or friends there, and it’s imporwhich covered the initial costs of transporting the first group. tant to them. This isn’t coming from a political standpoint. But Arieli and others estimate the cost of transportation and It’s humanitarian, to help people,� Zharova said. “It’s impormedical care for 20-30 severely wounded individuals to reach tant for us to connect to Hebrew speakers. We want Israelis into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not higher. to know about this initiative, anyone who can help, because For now, those involved in the project are feeling thrilled. that’s our way of doing tikkun olam.�

(SFUDIFO 3BEMFS

Temple youth in KC

OTYG member Mikayla Langdon, left, with JYG members Aleia Budwig and Ellie Reiss during an ice-breaking session at the JYG chavurah in Kansas City.

Topsy Turvy Purim by ROCHI KATZMAN This year, come join us for a Topsy Turvy Purim celebration! We are kicking off with a Megillah Reading Sunday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m. followed by a kid friendly early dinner of... breakfast! Everything at this party will be upside down, just the opposite of what you would consider normal. Come see for yourself! Your kids will love making their very own Topsy Turvy Purim masks and unique Shalach Manot gift bags for friends. Also not to be missed is a Topsy Turvy Purim show and games. Get in the spirit and “dress up like Mom and Dad or wear your clothes backwards� says Tippi Denenberg. The evening is sure to be full of fun and friends. Thanks to Aryeh and Crystal Epstein, Gabby Blair, Karen Cohen and Tippi Denenberg for pulling off a super fun party. Dinner will be compliments of Queen Esther. To reserve your spot, visit www.ochabad.com/rsvp or call the office at 402.330.1800.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Mitchell Bard, renowned best-selling author and director of the Jewish Virtual Library will speak on “BDS, the Palestinians and the peace process,� Wednesday, March 12, noon, at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnai brith@jewishomaha.org. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH The Lomir Redn Yiddush group will be on hiatus from Dec. 20 through April 2. For information, please call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

Visit us at jewishomaha.org

8 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Ukraine, part I

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press It’s hard to miss the conflict that is happening in the Ukraine; it’s equally hard for many of us to gain a good understanding about what is happening, and what’s at stake. A short history in a really tiny nutshell: Ukraine takes up approximately 233,000 square miles, and borders Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It’s where the horse was first domesticated, and it’s where the Indo-European language family originated. While a powerful center during the Middle Ages, Ukraine fragmented in the 13th century, and has been contested ever since. It became consolidated into the Soviet empire during the last century, and has only been independent since 1991. Ukraine has a population of 44.6 million. In addition to a majority of ethnic Ukrainians (77%), there are also ethnic Russians (17%), as well as Belarusians, Tatars and Romanians. Approximately 67,000 Jews call Ukraine home—although some reports say there are between 3 and 400,000. Ukrainian is the national language, but Russian is also widely used. In 1932-33, the Holodomor famine (a result of unrealistic quotas set by the Soviet Union, drought, and rapid industrialization, among other factors) killed 10 million Ukrainians. Courts in Kiev ruled it genocide, and it’s hard to argue with that. Further Stalinist policies during the 1930s killed off the majority of Ukraine’s cultural elite, as ¾ of its writers, artists and intellectuals were among the 681,692 dead. More losses happened during and after World War II, and another famine took tens of thousands of lives in 1946-47. It wasn’t until Nikita Khrushchev came to power in 1953 that life became a little better, and in 1954 Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Russian Republic.

Ukraine declared its full independence while Gorbachev was in power: on August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Act of Independence. The Soviet Union was officially dissolved on December 8 of that same year. It’s a black date for Russia’s current President, Vladimir Putin. If one thing is clear in the middle of this political quagmire, Putin longs for the days of yore, and would like nothing better than to restore the Soviet Union. The current unrest in Ukraine has certainly presented him with an opportunity. The Euromaidan protests, beginning in November 2013, led to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych; if you’ve been following the news, you’ve had a first hand look at the incredible luxury in which he lived. On March 1, 2014, Putin received permission from the Russian Federation Council to station his troops in Crimea, the southern peninsula of Ukraine. With over half the population of ethnic Russian origin, much of Crimea opposes the Euromaidan and would like to rejoin Russia. Several local television channels have been shut down and replaced by Russian state TV, foreign journalists and human rights monitors are refused entry, and it’s anybody’s guess which of the stories that are leaking out are true. Most concerning is the talk about Cossacks; pro-Russian bands of “soldiers” dressed in unidentified uniforms, wreaking havoc in the name of Mother Russia. That, we all know, is never a good thing. In addition, the Ukrainian revolution (although supported by many Ukrainian Jews, especially in Kiev) received support from far-right activists, and these are the types of bedfellows that give many Jews pause. Svoboda’s leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, for instance, has described his movement as the “worst fear of the Jewish-Russian Mafia.” It’s led to some serious division among the Jewish popula-

tion, and confusion about what should come next. The Jewish Agency announced a $400,000 allocation to upgrade security in over 30 cities in Ukraine. They have also noticed an increase in applications for Aliyah, many from Jews who were not previously engaged in the agency’s programming. They should be worried, says Putin, who mentioned the safety of the Jewish population as one of his reasons to station his troops in Crimea: “We have seen the work of neo-Nazis in Ukraine,” he explained. “They and anti-Semites are rampant in Ukraine today.” But: Putin is eager for Ukraine to join the Eurasian Union, which draws from National Boshevism, taking all the “most attractive parts from fascism and Stalinism. If you are looking for extreme right-wing ideology, you can find it in the Eurasian ideals. It’s an old fashioned case of pot calling kettle. Putin has his own reasons for the narrative, and they have nothing to do with keeping Ukraine’s Jews safe. But, he may not be entirely wrong: there have been a number of attacks on Jews in recent months. Who is responsible, however, is still in question: some Ukrainian Jewish leaders suggest proRussian forces staged the incidents, seeking justification for Russian involvement. While Ukrainian chief Rabbi Dov Bleich paralleled Putin to Hitler, seeking annexation (Hillary Clinton wasn’t the first to mention this), others say the threat of anti-Semitism is very real. Baruch Finchman, founder and president of the Ukrainian League against anti-Semitism, called the neo-Nazis “emboldened by the success of the revolution.” This, he says, makes them more dangerous than ever, and “Russian intervention is a positive thing for the safety of the Jewish population.” Whether the safety of the Jews is once again hanging in the balance, only time will tell. Sources: Reuters, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jewish Agency.org, nybooks.com, Tablet Magazine, Haaretz, Times of Israel, The Jewish Week, thedailybeast.com.

A Jewish approach to the ‘differently abled’

Focus on issues SID SCHWARZ ROCKVILLE, Md. (JTA) -- Increasing numbers of Jewish institutions are starting to pay attention to the disabled in our midst. The needs of this part of our community were in the communal spotlight this February, thanks to it being Jewish Disability Awareness Month. As with so many categories of Jewish teaching, the traditional Jewish approach to disability is a mixed bag. Several categories of the disabled, like the cheraysh (deaf-mute) and the shoteh (mentally deficient and/or insane) are neither obligated by the body of mitzvot (Jewish commandments) nor qualified to serve as witnesses in legal proceedings, essentially being placed in the same category as minors. The blind are obligated by the mitzvot but are not allowed to offer testimony in a trial. In other places in our tradition, a disability or a disease is seen as a punishment from God for bad behavior. Leprosy is the punishment for tale-bearing. Similarly, in the Talmud (Taanit 21a) a story is told of Nahum Ish Gam Zu, who had no hands, no feet and was blind in both eyes. These disabilities were not birth defects but were rather divine punishment inflicted on Nahum at his own request because he felt guilty for not being quick enough to feed a beggar who ended up dying. A third way that the Jewish tradition discusses disability is essentially used as a theological trump card. It is a way of saying that God’s agency in the world is far more significant

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than human agency. Thus despite the fact that Moses is said to be “slow of speech,” possibly a person with a speech impediment, he nonetheless offers the most important words in the biblical story. The rabbinic commentators use this to make the point that Moses is simply an agent for God, serving as God’s spokesperson in the earthly realm. None of the above three Judaic treatments of disability are particularly sensitive by 21st-century standards. I also fear what a disabled person, one who takes Judaism very seriously, concludes from such treatment in our sacred texts. From a theological perspective, I am far more comfortable with the theology implicit in Rabbi Harold Kushner’s When Bad Things Happen to Good People than I am with theological assumptions of the biblical and rabbinic texts. For Kushner, God does not cause disability, orchestrate natural disasters or punish human transgression with disease. Rather, God is the source of comfort to whom we turn when trying to cope with such setbacks. God is a source of healing, not of affliction. Many parts of classical Judaism are products of the thinking of earlier generations that may not fully reflect the most enlightened understanding of our time. Yet there is one insight on the issue of disability where Judaism was not only centuries ahead of its time but where the insight is still well beyond the way most of us behave in the realm of disabilities. The Jewish tradition prescribes a blessing upon meeting different kinds of people: a king, a wise person, a Torah scholar. The prayer prescribed upon meeting a person who is disabled or who suffers from a deformity is: “Praised are

You, Creator of the Universe, who makes people different, one from the other.” Amazing! The insight inherent in this bracha is that no two people are alike, that each of us is “differently abled.” One person can play piano; another might be skilled at computers; another can fix a toilet. A young man who was a member of my first congregation had Down Syndrome. Every week when he greeted me at synagogue, he offered me the most wonderful smile and the biggest hug that any person has ever given me. I came to look forward to Ben’s expression of unqualified love that was not the least bit calculated or contrived. It was his gift. I suspect that our discomfort with people with disabilities may have something to do with our fear of being in that situation ourselves one day. One might imagine that it would make us more compassionate. But denial may be an even more powerful emotion that we trigger when confronted with a circumstance that we are not prepared to confront. If we take to heart the Jewish teaching about every person made in the image of God and recall that one person is no better or worse than the other, simply “differently abled,” we might be better able to open up our hearts and our institutions to a wider swath of humanity. We’d all be better for it. Rabbi Sid Schwarz is a senior fellow at Clal and director of the Rene Cassin Fellowship Program for young adults on human rights and Judaism. He is the author of Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Community (Jewish Lights, 2013)

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March 14, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 9

With Esther’s voice, fighting violence against women

Focus on issues LORI WEINSTEIN WASHINGTON (JTA)-- On Mar. 8, we celebrated International Women’s Day, a day intended to celebrate the economic and social advances made by women, while at the same time drawing attention to areas that still need action. It is striking that this year the day fell so close to Purim. The proximity is not lost on us. We remember Vashti, who was killed for disobeying her husband. We celebrate Esther, who spoke out. Not every woman has the ability to speak. Not every woman has access to education. Not every woman can go about her day without fear of violence. It is for her that we must now speak. We know the stories. We know that one in every three women will experience violence at some point in her life. We know that 1 billion women and girls are affected by violence, including rape, domestic violence, acid burning, human trafficking, dowry deaths and so-called honor killings. In times of conflict, rape is often used as a weapon of war. The terrible consequences of this epidemic of violence rob countries of the contributions and talent of half their populations. Violence takes the lives of millions of women and girls and denies countless others their dignity and their right to live safe, productive lives. No country is immune. Violence crosses all national borders and affects women of all ages, social groups, religions and economic, racial and

ethnic groups. The Obama administration has taken key steps to support millions of women and girls by establishing the Office of Global Women’s Issues in the State Department, releasing the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security and developing a government-wide strategy to uplift and coordinate efforts to address gender-based violence in U.S. programs abroad. This comprehensive strategy improves existing foreign assistance programs with the goal of helping to prevent, reduce and ultimately end violence against women. But it’s not enough to create a strategy -- the U.S. Congress must take a stand against violence against women globally to effect true change. The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) will make existing efforts to stop violence against women more integrated, effective and efficient, placing women at the center of U.S. foreign policy. The legislation would direct the U.S. government to implement its strategy to reduce violence against women in at least five countries where violence is severe. The bill would also permanently authorize the Office of Global Women’s Issues, an important move that will ensure the prioritization of women and girls in future administrations. I-VAWA would also allow women’s organizations abroad to finally get the help they deserve. Programmatic support and capacity building will focus on both prevention, such as economic opportunity programs and public education campaigns to change attitudes, and intervention, such as health care for women who have been raped and who may become infected with HIV/AIDS. U.S. government agencies that engage in for-

eign assistance work overseas would be required to take all possible steps in their programming to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and to be coordinated in these efforts. Addressing violence against women is crucial to global development and stability. When women and girls thrive, societies are more likely to prosper, reduce rates of HIV and AIDS, decrease child and maternal mortality, and increase participatory and democratic governments -- all of which makes U.S. assistance dollars go farther. U.S. security -- and the security of all countries -- is only enhanced when the status of women is elevated. I-VAWA is championed by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), two powerful Jewish women leaders. The legislation was introduced in the House this past June and now has six Republican co-sponsors and will shortly be reintroduced in the Senate. This is now the fourth Congress to address this legislation. How many times does it need to be considered before it is passed? On the heels of passing a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, Congress has a historic opportunity to focus on women worldwide and finally pass I-VAWA. This Purim, let’s remember Vashti, honor Esther and use our voices to stop violence against women and girls around the globe. Lori Weinstein is CEO of Jewish Women International, which is a steering committee member of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women.

to the talks with Iran -- he signed a letter in January that opposed a bill that included such determinative language. As we noted earlier, AIPAC ended its conference by sending thousands of activists to Capitol Hill asking for signatures on the letters. Both letters ask President Obama to make sure that Congress maintains plenty of oversight over the Iran talks. There is a key difference, though: The House letter confines itself to the matter of oversight. Left out are the prescriptions for an outcome of the Iran nuclear talks that characterize the second part of the Senate letter. The Obama administration does not oppose any of the demands in the Senate letter, which include denying Iran a “right to enrichment,” dismantling its nuclear weapons program and dismantling reactors at Fordow and Arak. But the administration is resisting allowing Congress to dictate terms. Notably, J Street, the liberal Jewish group that has opposed many of the hawkish Iran initiatives, is backing the House letter, but not the Senate letter. One odd element in this is that Levin is embracing language co-authored by Cantor, who of all the names popping up in this back and forth is perhaps the most hawkish on Israel issues. The backstory is that there has been for months --

since December -- much to-ing and fro-ing between the offices of Cantor and Hoyer, both with close ties to AIPAC, over language appropriate for a nonbinding resolution urging new Iran sanctions. In the end, the offices could not agree, but AIPAC did not want its activists going to the Hill emptyhanded, so they launched the effort to circulate the letters. The House letter took longer than the Senate letter to write -- it was not ready until Sunday night, less than 48 hours before the activists went to the Hill. The Senate letter was ready last week. Why was Hoyer so steadfast in keeping out prescriptive language from his letter? He has a restive caucus when it comes to how the president deals with Iran; fully half of the Democrats in the House signed a letter last month that opposed new Iran sanctions. Cantor has made clear he favors the prescriptions his letter omits. Appearing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in the House’s Rayburn Room, he said as much. “I believe strongly that any agreement with Iran must require Iran to dismantle existing centrifuge facilities and its heavy water reactor,” he said.

Letter: House vs. Senate by RON KAMPEAS Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the venerable (and Jewish) chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, will not sign onto an Iran letter backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- at least not the one the AIPAC wants him to sign. He will sign onto the letter that AIPAC is distributing in the U.S. House of Representatives, however. Here’s the text of a note he circulated to colleagues Tuesday evening: “Two letters to the president are being circulated for signature regarding the ongoing negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program. One is a Menendez-Graham letter. The other is being circulated in the House of Representatives by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. Both are enclosed. “Because I prefer the text of the Cantor-Hoyer letter, I have decided to circulate the text of the Cantor-Hoyer letter for signature under my own name in the Senate. Levin, who has said he is not running again, doesn’t explain his preference, but the likeliest reason is that he does not want to be in the business of pre-determining outcomes

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10 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885. FRIDAY, March 14: Services, 7:30 p.m. followed by an oneg with guest speaker, Mary Sue Grossman, Program Coordinator for Center for Jewish Life on What’s New from the Center for Jewish Life. The community is invited. Miles Remer will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning Services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Purim evening begins with Mincha service at 6:45 p.m., followed by seudah shlishit (a light meal featuring different food stations) at 7:15 p.m., Ma’ariv at 8 p.m., and Havdalah at 8:10 p.m. The Megillah reading will begin at 8:20 p.m. SUNDAY: BESTT Classes, 9:45 a.m. (early dismissal at 11:30 a.m.); Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; The Secret of Jews Adult Ed Class, 10 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg; Torah Tots, 10 a.m. (early dismissal at 11:30 a.m.); Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m. with Hazzan Krausman; Sunday Scholar Series, 11 a.m., with UNO Professor Joan Latchaw on The History of Mystery of Purimshpiel. No charge to attend; Purim Carnival, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. BESTT classes dismiss at 11:30 a.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: BESTT Classes (grades 2-7), 4:15 p.m. BESTT Hebrew High Classes, 6:45 p.m.; Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. Chef ’s Demo, Friday, March 21, 1:30 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Home. Our Shabbat Tables, dinner at participants’ homes, Friday, March 21. For more information or to sign up, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@yahoo.com or Wendy Berenson as a contact munch765@aol.com. (Financial assistance available for participants.) USY Havdalah, Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m. Sunday Scholar Series, Sunday, March 23, 11 a.m., with attorney and Emeritus Professor of History at UNO Oliver Pollak on Adventures in Nebraska Jewish History. No charge to attend. Cantor’s Youth Scholarship Fund Concert, ‘Ta’am Latino LIVE!’ with Cantor Gaston Bogomolni, Hazzan Krausman and the Beth El Choir, Sunday, March 23, 7 p.m., at the synagogue. For ticket information, visit www.bethel-omaha. org. (see full story on page 5.) All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

by Kiddush lunch. SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. RSVP by calling the office. WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak. THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu. All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Zoya Zeman and students from UN-L as guests. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Tzav; Cantillation Class, noon; Special Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 1 p.m.; Creative Megillah Reading, 7:30 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple for Purim activities. Parents are welcom to join at 11:30 a.m. at South Street Temple for Purim treats; Hallah High Lite and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Special Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 11 a.m.; Regular Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 1 p.m.; Purim Carnival, 3-5 p.m.; Purim Spiel The Megillah according to the Beatles, 5:15 p.m. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Dino’s; Cantillation Class, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel; Memorial service for Ralph Siegel, father of Ellin Siegel, 7 p.m. at Mosow-Siegel home. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m. Everything you always wanted to know about Judiasm but were afraid to ask led by Rabbi Lewis. THURSDAYS, Beginning Hebrew, 6 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by LOVE.

Candlelighting Friday, March 14, 7:12 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m. led by Jim Polack and Hyim Rabinovitz. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. led by Debbie Massarano; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Tami Field. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Miles Remer and Haftarah Reader Sarah Schondelmeyer; Purim Masquerade Wine Tasting Celebration, 7 p.m. Costumes are optional for this adults-only masquerade party. There will be wine, appetizers, live music, wine raffle and wine will be available for purchase. (see full story on page 5.) SUNDAY: No Religious School. TUESDAY: Mah Jongg Lessons and Practice, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. $45 per person and includes 2014 Mah Jongg card. Contact the Temple office to RSVP; Executive Committe Meeting, 5:45 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: No Religious School, No Family School and No Grades 7-12 THURSDAY: Music in Transition, 10 a.m. with Cantor Shermet.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon; Purim Extravaganza, 7 p.m. at the Coren home, 3417 Hanson Ct. Come hear the megillah reading, nosh on hamantaschen, and enjoy the entertainment. Adults and children alike can wear costumes! This event is for all ages. RSVP to Nava in the office. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple for Purim activities. Parents are welcom to join at 11:30 a.m. at South Street Temple for Purim treats; Hallah High Lite and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Purim Seudah lunch, noon. This gathering is geared for young and old! Please let us know you're coming so we can prepare the right amount of tasty food! RSVP to Nava in the office; Regular Purim Spiel Rehearsal, 1 p.m.; Purim Carnival, 3-5 p.m. at South Street Temple; Purim Spiel - The Megillah according to the Beatles, 5:15 p.m. at South Street Temple. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Dino’s. Please contact Stephanie Dohner with any questions. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 7:12 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit (Barchu), 9 a.m.; Mincha, 7 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 8:11 p.m.; Megillah Reading, 8:30 p.m.; followed by an Ice Cream Social; Late Reading, 9:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 8:30 a.m.; First Megillah Reading, 9 a.m.; Second Megillah Reading, 10 a.m.; Poppin Penelope, 10 a.m.; Purim Brunch Seuda (Details to follow), 11 a.m.; Third Megillah Reading, 2:40 p.m. at Remington Heights; Fourth Megillah Reading, 4 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Mincha/ Maariv, 7:15 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m. THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds, 9:30 a.m.

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m. followed

Children’s Purim activity at Beth Israel On Sunday, March 9, Beth Israel Synagogue had a lively program to help get children of all ages ready for Purim. Led by Liat Shyken, the program focused on teaching about the four mitzvot of Purim – hearing the Megillah, enjoying a festive meal (seudah), giving gifts of food to friends, and giving tzedakah to the poor. Of course, no Purim program would be complete without making graggers and hamantashen! In addition to making hamantashen to eat as a snack during the program, the older kids helped with the synagogue’s hamantashen baking project led by Ilana and Yaakov Weiss. Pictures are clockwise: Leah Gurock, left, Beth Cohen, Brad Berman and Eliezer Shyken master the art of forming hamantashen; Aliza Shyken works with fellow bakers to roll out dough; Shilat Ben Shushan and Rayali Gross concentrate intently on their art projects.

Pulverent e

March 14, 2014 | The Jewish Press | 11

The name of God

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Tzav The Name of God, used in ancient Israel, appears in the Bible thousands of times. In reading Torah and in prayer, Jews have been accustomed not to pronounce the Name, probably since about 300 B.C.E. It may be that our ancient ancestors were reluctant to pronounce the name in Babylonia, lest the very surrounding, an unclean land, insult it. When Israel was restored in the second Commonwealth, Jews were already reluctant to pronounce the Name, or even write it. This may explain why late books of the Bible, like Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, do not use it, even once. And in Daniel it is only found a few times. It is thought that quite late into our times, however, perhaps as late as 1000 C.E., the pronunciation was known and was used by mystics and magicians for holy or magical purposes, such as curing the sick. The legend of the Golem has it that its use brought the clod to life. But we no longer know its pronunciation. Its meaning is also unclear. There are many who think it is meant to be a causative form of the verb “to be,� thus, “He who causes all else to be.� At the very least it implies eternity, “he who always was, is, and will be,� whether or not a universe exists. We are all aware that in the late centuries of the Second Temple, the use of the Name was so restricted that it was pronounced only by the High priest, and only on Yom Kippur; the people, in awe, would prostrate themselves on hearing it. In the earliest manuscripts of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Bible, the Name was written not in Greek but in Hebrew letter, to stress its sanctity. Thus the reader was warned about pronouncing it. In our own use, for many, many centuries, the word “Adonai� is substituted. In time this, too, became too holy to be pronounced carelessly; outside Torah reading or prayer, we substitute “Adoshem� or “HaShem.�

JCC Fitness news: Challenge to Train Duathlon Different from the Jewish Community Center’s past triathlon based "Challenge to Train" events, this special "duathlon" edition will consist of two sports: cycling and running. Participants will complete three time-based stations of running and cycling in the JCC Fitness Center. The first duathlon will be held on Sunday, March 16 and will be a 35 minute event. It will consist of 10 minutes of running followed by 15 minutes of cycling, followed by another 10 minutes of running. Longer duathlon events will be also held on April 27 and May 18. JCC Members can register for all of these events online or by calling Laura Wine at 402.334.6419. Once registered, please reserve your time slot at Member Services.

Sunday Morning Running Club

Opposing Maryland anti-boycott measure by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Two national Jewish organizations are opposing a Maryland bill that would financially penalize colleges involved in an academic boycott of another country. The American Jewish Committee and the AntiDefamation League in statements said that while they clearly do not support the American Studies Association’s call for a boycott of Israel, they also do not support any attempt to stifle academic freedom. “Maryland’s proposed legislative action, which itself raises academic freedom questions, is not the answer to discriminatory acts against Israeli academics,� Alan Ronkin, the director of AJC’s Washington office, said in a March 5 statement. “More helpful would be a General Assembly call for publicly funded colleges and universities to increase their cooperation with Israeli institutions of higher learning.� The AJC and ADL have objected to similar bills under consideration in other state legislatures. Two lengthy hearings on the Maryland bill were held last week in Annapolis. The bill prohibits public universities from paying for its employees to attend conferences or use public funds if they participated directly or indirectly in support of academic boycotts of countries that have a declaration of cooperation with Maryland. Israel has such a declaration. Also, the measure reduces state funding to the boycotting universities by 3 percent. Among regional Jewish groups, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington objects to any financial penalties, while the Baltimore Jewish Council is a strong supporter of any attempt to stop those who would delegitimize Israel. The Baltimore-Israel Coalition and Agudath Israel of Maryland also support the bill.

Canadian university’s student groups launch hummus boycott by JTA NEWS STAFF TORONTO (JTA) -- Pro-Palestinian student groups at the University of Ottawa have launched a campaign to ban Sabra hummus from campus. Sabra is partly owned by the Strauss Group, a foods manufacturer that the students allege financially supports the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces, according to The New York Times. The students say the Golani Brigade has been accused of human rights violations by numerous organizations. Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights and the Palestinian Student Association are among the student groups involved in the campaign, according to the university newspaper, The Fulcrum, along with the community group Young Jews for Social Justice. “We will be raising awareness amongst the student population, collecting signatures for a petition and encouraging students to individually boycott the product,� Assma Basmalah, a representative of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, told the paper. The campaign coincided with the 10th annual Israeli Apartheid Week, which ended earlier this month. Caroline Milliard, manager of media relations for the university, told The Fulcrum that the main objective of the institution’s food services department is to provide healthy options at fair and competitive prices. “The purchasing policy of our service provider is apolitical,� she said.

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Nebraska STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! For $225/25 word classified you can advertise in over 170 Nebraska newspapers. For more information contact the Jewish Press at 402-334-6449 or call 1-800-369-2850. BANKRUPTCY: FREE initial consultation. Fast relief from creditors. Low rates. Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308872-8327. steffensbankruptcylaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code. AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 175 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details. VINTAGE VILLAGE Antique Mall, 2425 O Street, Lincoln. 402-742-0063. Open daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 60+ Dealers. Storewide Sale, March 1-31. New items arriving daily! Antiques, collectables, jewelry, furniture, records. SELL YOUR classic car, truck or motorcycle online. Call this newspaper or call 1800-369-2850 to place your ad on the national Midwest Classic Cars web site for only $25.00. Your ad with photos runs until your vehicle is sold! DISH TV Retailer. Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months). Broadband Internet starting $14.95/month (where available). Ask about Same Day Installation! Call Now! 1-800-861-8062. WANTED: FARMER/Ranch hand. Must have experience in farming and with cow/calf production. Call Kristi at Poss Angus, Scotia, NE. Call 308-571-0434 or 308-245-3143. THE SIDNEY Sun-Telegraph is searching for an Advertising Sales Account Executive to join our team. We’re looking for a goal-oriented self-starter who enjoys working with business people to help them increase their name recognition through our print and online products. Job summary: Responsible for growing business in the assigned territory by managing customer base and developing new customers for our newspaper and e-edition. You will develop and implement a weekly sales plan and be responsible for reaching a monthly revenue goal. Qualifications: Previous sales or retail experience preferred. Must demonstrate team oriented work skills and be very customer-service driven. Ability to negotiate contracts and analyze competitive situations. Ownership of a dependable vehicle with proof of insurance and a good driving record. We offer a competitive salary and a great work environment. E-mail your resume to: publisher@sun telegraph.com. 2 FT openings: Service Tech and Installer: Degree Heating and Air, Lincoln, NE, for residential/light commercial systems. Must have good driving record. Competitive/negotiable wages. 402-416-6226 or e-mail: degree@windstream.net. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in southwest Nebraska looking for an experienced excavation supervisor. Travel and a pre-employment drug testing is required. Application available at www.bsbinc.net or 308-367-4336. Equal opportunity employer. GANA EXCAVATING is accepting applications for experienced heavy equipment operators. Contact us for more information or for an application, 402-794-5000, www.ganatrucking.com, brandong@ganatrucking.com. GANA TRUCKING is accepting applications for night shift mechanics, all skill levels will be considered. Contact us for more information or for an application, 402794-5000, www.ganatrucking.com, brandong@ganatrucking.com. HVAC/REFRIGERATION Technician - Younes Hospitality, Kearney. Skilled mechanical maintenance for inspection, repair and installation of HVAC and refrigeration systems. Preventative maintenance and routine servicing of equipment. Commercial appliance troubleshooting and repair. EPA certification. Send resume to Jarrod.Holz@Younes.com. JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER, Kearney area. Must have Journeyman license, valid drivers license. Holiday pay, vacation, retirement. Submit resume to: Warren-T, 1400 W. 22nd, Kearney, NE 68845, or info@warren-t.com. MASTER PLUMBER, Kearney area. Must have Master’s license, valid drivers license. Holiday pay, vacation, retirement. Submit resume to: Warren-T, 1400 W. 22nd, Kearney, NE 68845, or info@warren-t.com. SEEKING AN auto mechanic, at least 10 years experience. Columbus Chrysler is willing to pay up to $60,000 to start. For more information contact Dave Thompson at Columbus Chrysler. 402-564-2846. EOE SERVICE TECHNICIANS wanted at Platte Valley Equipment John Deere dealership, Clarkson, NE. Competitive wage and excellent benefits. Apply at 1093 Road W, Clarkson, 402-892-3444. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in southwest Nebraska looking for experienced heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with a clean driving record, current Class A CDL and Medical Card. Travel and a pre-employment drug testing required. Application available at www.bsbinc.net or 308-367-4336. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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HELP WANTED: Class A OTR/CDL driver. Two years minimum experience required. Caudy Trucking Inc., 402-768-6134. “PARTNERS IN Excellence� OTR Drivers APU equipped Pre-Pass EZ-pass passenger policy. 2012 & newer equipment. 100% No touch. Butler Transport, 1-800528-7825, www.butlertransport.com. GANA TRUCKING is currently accepting applications for Class A & B CDL drivers. Local driving, home nightly. Contact Brandon at Gana for more information, brandong@ganatrucking.com, 402-794-5000, www.ganatrucking.com.

12 | The Jewish Press | March 14, 2014

With Venezuela in a tailspin, growing number of Jews opting for ‘Plan B’ by URIEL HEILMAN (JTA) -- They left after Venezuelan secret police raided a Jewish club in 2007, and after the local synagogue was ransacked by unidentified thugs two years later. They left after President Hugo Chavez expelled Israel’s ambassador to Caracas, and when he called on Venezuela’s Jews to condemn Israel for its actions in Gaza in 2009. They left when Caracas claimed the ignoble title of most dangerous city in the world -- and when inflation hit double digits, food shortages took hold and the country’s murder rate reached 79 per 100,000 people. With Venezuela now roiled by anti-government demonstrations -- the death toll reached 18 last Saturday -Venezuelan Jews who remain have yet another reason to leave their country: growing despair. Over the last 15 years, from the time Chavez came to power and in the year since Nicolas Maduro has ruled the country, the Venezuelan Jewish community has shrunk, and is now estimated at about 7,000, down from a high of 25,000 in the 1990s. Many of those who left were community leaders. It’s not just Venezuelan Jews who are leaving. Hundreds of thousands of middle- and upper-class Venezuelans have relocated in recent years, swelling the size of expat communities in places like Miami, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. The exodus of Venezuelan Jews has put a great strain on the community’s institutions. “Emigration has really played a big factor in the community -- that’s our main problem,” said Sammy Eppel, a Caracas journalist and Jewish community member who also serves as director of the B’nai Brith Human Rights Commission in Venezuela. “When we were a numerous and prosperous community, we built numerous and heavy institutions,” Eppel said. “A lot of our members have left, and we are left with the same institutions but with less people to take care of them. We have to make serious adjustments while making sure the services we provide to the community don’t suffer.” A high school junior named Allan who attends the Jewish community school, Hebraica, says his grade has shrunk to 85 students from 120 six years ago. The younger grades are much smaller, with 40-50 kids each. The school is now considering combining the first and second grades, he said.

A man shoots a slingshot at national guard troops following one of the largest anti-government demonstrations yet on March 2, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. Credit: John Moore/Getty Images Interested in keeping as low a profile as possible, leaders of Jewish institutions in Venezuela declined to be interviewed by JTA for this story. The massive anti-government demonstrations that began on Feb. 12 were sparked in part by new lows for Venezuela’s economy and an upsurge in violence. “It started deteriorating to the point where a couple months ago you couldn’t get milk, chicken, eggs, toilet paper,” Beker said. “It’s really started to affect all families.” Allan, the high schooler, said the streets long have been off limits for him and his friends, due to threats of violence and kidnapping. But these days, it’s hard to leave the house to go anywhere. “Now it’s more dangerous,” Allan said. “Nobody goes out, nobody goes to parties, nobody goes to dinner. Everybody’s in their houses.” Outsiders might puzzle over why anybody would stay given the challenging circumstances of daily life. But Venezuelan Jews say leaving home is never easy. There are those with jobs that can’t be shifted overseas, and those who lack the money or energy to leave and start over somewhere else. And the changes have been gradual enough that, time and time again, Venezuelan Jews -- like their gentile coun-

trymen -- simply have adjusted to the new reality. “It’s a matter of adjusting, I think, not a matter of survival,” Eppel said. “That’s what the community has been trying to do: adjust to adverse circumstances.” Sandra Iglicki, who left Venezuela for South Florida a decade ago but still goes back often, says it’s also been emotionally difficult to leave a country that for decades was good to Jews, serving as an anti-Semitism-free refuge for European Jewish families who fled the Nazis. “It’s very painful for the community in Venezuela,” she said. And there’s still some hope, even among expats, that the country eventually will right itself. “If you talk to a lot of Venezuelans that are here, they’re waiting for this to be over,” Iglicki said in a phone interview from Florida. “I would love to go back to Venezuela.” Many emigrants still work in Venezuela, commuting back for weekdays to run their businesses while their families adjust to life in a new country. In Miami, the last few weeks have been particularly fraught for Venezuelan expats, filled with anxious phone calls to relatives back home and endless agitation on social media. With state media in Venezuela blacking out news of the massive demonstrations, the expats have occupied the peculiar position of funneling news to relatives back home in Caracas about what’s happening in Venezuela, often via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Offline, there have been large demonstrations in Miami against the Maduro government, which is blamed for Venezuela’s tailspin. “This is something that in Miami is top news every day,” said Juan Dircie, associate director of American Jewish Committee’s Latino and Latin American Institute in Miami. “The exile community of Venezuelans has been holding rallies, doing interviews on TV, writing letters to the editor. The demonstrations are in favor of democracy and human rights, but of course there is a big component of opposition to the Maduro government.” Andres Beker, who left Venezuela eight years ago at age 17 to go to Emory University, said he recently did a quick tally to calculate whether he had more family members in Miami or Caracas. He said he was shocked when he realized Florida won out. “It’s a little sad,” Beker said. “You think: it’s temporary, I’m coming back. But that never happens.”

The Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights Presents

Winona LaDuke

“Human Rights and the Rights of Nature in an Era of Climate, Energy, Food and Water Crises” Tuesday, 18 March 2014

7:00 p.m. The Thompson Center at UNO Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) is an internationally acclaimed author, orator and activist. A graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities with advanced degrees in rural economic development, LaDuke has devoted her life to protecting the lands and life ways of Native communities.

non-profit organizations in the country, and a leader on the issues of culturallybased sustainable development strategies, renewable energy and food systems. In this work, LaDuke also works to protect Indigenous plants and heritage foods from patenting and genetic engineering.

LaDuke is founder and Co-Director of Honor the Earth, a national advocacy group encouraging public support and funding for native environmental groups. With Honor the Earth, she works nationally and internationally on issues of climate change, renewable energy, sustainable development, food systems and environmental justice.

Her honors include the Reebok Human Rights Award, the Thomas Merton Award, the Ann Bancroft Award, the Global Green Award, and the prestigious International Slow Food Award for working to protect wild rice and local biodiversity. In 2007, LaDuke was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

In her own community in northern Minnesota, she is the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, one of the largest reservation based

In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of a several non-fiction titles.

Sponsored by Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution AA/EEO institution. For special needs or assistance please call/ contact 402 554-2628 (TTY 554-3799) or stop by ASH 205.

Public Welcome