March 15, 2013: Passover Edition

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Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund

AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

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March 15, 2013 | 4 Nisan 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 26 3 Sections

A2 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Introduction

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Forty years of Jewish community life

Welcome to the 2013 Passover edition of the Jewish Press. We’ve taken a nostalgic path this year; for me personally, it’s been quite a pleasure to dive into the archives and discover the history of the J. In 1972, the first spade broke ground in our current location; one year later, the cornerstone was placed, and in 1974, the building was officially opened for business. Pinpointing when exactly the 40th anniversary should be was the big question, and so we decided to pick the date of the cornerstone. It’s random at best; an argument could be made for any of these dates. Bottom line is that, as a community, we’ve accomplished a lot over the years. High time to take a trip down memory lane. Thanks to our freelancers, Hal, Ozzie, Amber, Bert, Lois, Gary, Sybil and Teddy: you know we could never accomplish these big issues without you, and we are grateful for all your hard work. When everyone else is still recuperating from too many Hanukkah latkes, you are already thinking about Passover, and that’s not always easy. The same can be said for the Jewish Press staff: Richard, Lori and Jessie, who never stop, and whose dedication impresses me on a daily basis. I also want to thank Barbara Kirkpatrick, for keeping our books and proof readers Deborah, Dottie, Margaret, and Suzanne for their tireless checking of grammar and spelling; any mistake left in this paper falls squarely on the editor’s shoulders. I’m grateful as well for the Jewish Press Board of Directors. Your unwavering support and input is priceless.

A very big thank you goes out to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, for allowing me to borrow so many of their files. They really do a phenomenal job preserving the history of this community, and visiting them is like a treasure hunt. Much has happened in our current building over the years. The fact that we could not possibly pay attention to it all is a testament to the vibrancy of our community. And take it from someone who didn’t grow up here, but had chosen to make Omaha home: this community is, by anyone’s standard, remarkable. Hearing Morley Zipursky speak about the inception of the current building is fascinating; Nick Newman’s words, all these years later, continue to be an inspiration. What makes a building like this come to life is not the bricks, walls or carpet. It’s the people. You, who take aquatic classes and run on the treadmills at the JCC gym. You, who drop your children off at Friedel Jewish Academy, and you, the teachers who help those children reach their potential. You, who visit the Center for Jewish Life’s Kripke Library, donate to Jewish Family Service, and visit your grandfather at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. From ADL’s anti bullying programs to the CJL Jewish Film Festival, from board meetings to Mahjong groups to overnights at Kidz Inn and pastrami sandwiches at the Deli, the reasons why you keep coming back for more are myriad. And that is what we are really celebrating with this issue: the fact that all of us have reasons to care, and reasons to show up, again and again. We hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane, and if we missed some-

thing: well, we’re going to be here for many years to come. Finally, I need to explain something about our front page. For every special issue, our award-winning Creative Director Richard Busse designs a front page months in advance. After deciding our theme, it’s usually the very first step in creating a holiday issue. He is always looking for innovative ways to mark the occasion, and this time, I think he came up with something very intriguing. What you see on the front page is a representation of the word “forty” in different languages. We decided we should tie it in with a contest for our youngest readers. Below you will find a list of all the languages used, and we invite everyone twelve years and younger to stare at that front page and identify as many languages as possible. Some are easier than others, but we don’t doubt you can do it. Participation forms -- including a high-resolution print of that front page -- can be picked up at either the Jewish Press office or the JCC front desk between now and April 7. Submit your answers by April 14 for your chance to win a fabulous prize. Make sure you include your name and contact information, so we know where to find you if you win. And yes, you can ask your parents to help you. After all, few things are as much fun as solving a puzzle together. In conclusion, it is our sincerest hope you all have a meaningful Passover. From all of us, to all of you: Chag Sameag! ANDY RUBACK, Board President ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT, Editor

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Happy Passover Staff+Board

(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Caryn Scheer, Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Sandy Friedman; Noah Priluck; Paul Rabinowitz; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma

ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial

material and photos to: avandekamp @jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content

and space restrictions, but it should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid per-

sonal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | A3

A new direction by MORLEY ZIPURSKY Jewish Federation of Omaha past President Editor’s note: It’s one thing to write a second hand account of what happened 40 years ago, it’s quite another to hear directly from an eyewitness. As a matter of fact, it’s a lot better. From 1972-1974, Morley Zipursky was President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha; he was also one of the driving forces behind the J’s move to its current location. Without further ado, here is his story, which he has been kind enough to share with The Jewish Press. During the 1960s, the Jewish Federation of Omaha was fairly insular. There was limited contact with other communities through the United Jewish Appeal; they didn’t visit us and we didn’t visit them. Fundraising was very different then; it happened on a smaller scale, the annual goal was $700,000. Many in our community were yearning for a new direction. The 1967 Israel War, the outcome of which guaranteed the future of the country, was a major impetus to world Jewry. It was experienced as a new beginning not only for Jews in Israel, but for Jews around the world. Here in Omaha, we listened to the radio, and we realized our hope for a future for Jews was being fortified. The whole world was recognizing what Top: Morley Zipursky; midwas happening, and Jews dle: Zipursky, left, unknown everywhere were inspired to person, and Chuck become more involved. Monasee; bottom: Monasee, Meanwhile, in Omaha, it left, and Zipursky. was business as usual. I went to visit my family in Winnipeg immediately after the 6-day War, and found out that the local Jewish community had sent members to all towns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, wherever there were other Jews, and collected funds to help Israel. The money raised exceeded all other drives, and were two to four times larger than what had been collected in previous years. When I returned to home, I spoke with my brother-in-law Dan Katzman and our friend Nick Newman. The three of us agreed: major change was needed in the structure and operation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. We were all in our mid-40s; business-wise we were in a position to be involved in bringing Omaha Jewish life up to date and re-energize community thinking. We realized that if we wanted real change, we had to provide the leadership, make staff changes, influence the level of giving and develop plans for a proper facility, which the entire community could use. We were fortunate to have the financial means to set an example in raising the level of giving to the Federation. Then, still in 1969, my wife Charlotte and I attended the United Jewish Appeal General assembly in St. Louis. The national leadership greeted us with open arms. We were greatly impressed by what we heard; we met many outstanding and involved people who were our age or younger. Initially, we assumed they were all professionals; it turned out most of them were lay leaders in their respective communities. The leadership they showed locally and nationally was needed, we knew, in Omaha. And so we asked for help, and they agreed. Later that same year, Charlotte and I traveled to Israel for the first time. The UJA arranged a personal tour guide for us, who arranged for us to meet with some Israeli leaders. Like most first timers, we fell in love with the country and the people. We knew we would be back. In 1970 and 1971, Charlotte and I ran the annual campaign for the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Each campaign exceeded $1 million, which had never happened before. At that point, our plans for change were in full force: Nick Newman was elected President of the Federation in January of 1971. The facilities at that point had been built in 1929; no changes had been made since that time. The Sher retirement home was located separately on North 52nd Street, and it

Happy Passover was not an enviable location. Dan Katzman, who was serving as chairman of the new building, and I, who was chairman of the architect search committee, had several beliefs about the new building. First, we believed that the funding was the responsibility of our community as a whole, and the sale of the old building should be used for operational cost of the new building. Second, the site needed to be large enough to include other Jewish facilities, including the retirement home. The Livingston Foundation became involved: Milton Livingston had designated a ten-acre plot at 96th and Western. But when our architect began planning the facility, he informed us that the area was not big enough for everything we wanted. Mr. Livingston had passed away, and we were very concerned that if we refused to build on the designated site, we would not receive further support from his philanthropic trust. Dan and Nick went to see Dave Beber, the trustee. Fortunately, he agreed the Livingston Foundation would take the land back, and pay for a more

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suitable site once it was found. The site we eventually found on 132nd Street cost $322,000 when it was purchased. The planning and building became a major community effort. Chuck Monasee was chairman of the program planning committee; this committee –- which divided into many sub-committees -- was responsible for defining what the building needed. Having so many different people involved with the planning definitely added to the excitement. Norman Batt assumed the position of construction coordinator. When the plans were completed, we faced a budget of $3.5 million. We had worked long and hard and felt this amount could be raised in our community. Besides, the Livingston Foundation agreed to pay 25% of any pledges made to the building fund, which was a tremendous help. That fund drive eventually brought in $3.8 million, and we used the additional funds for an outdoor swimming pool and sundeck. That was something we initially had planned for the longer term; it was great to see we could realize that much sooner. In 1972, Nick was given the news that he was very ill. I took over as President in July 1972, around the same time the Newman family agreed to fund the cornerstone for our new building. I remember planning the ceremony on a Sunday morning -- sadly, the Saturday night before, Nick passed away. The ceremony became a Kaddish for Nick.

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You belong here: Yachad by BERT LEWIS said: “What can I say, as a Mom? I guess Even if you’re familiar with all the fine with two sons in the program I always supprograms under the umbrella of Jewish ported it and appreciated the fact that my Family Service, I wonder if you’re somebody boys were not only exposed to different, safe who could conceivably say “Yachad? What’s learning programs and field trips, but the that?” I ask such a question because I believe outside world got a little more exposure to a unless you have a personal reason to know, diverse group of people. I’ve seen such a you just might not. If you’ll bear with me, positive change in the world as to the and read on, I’ll do my best to tell you about acceptance of this population over the past this very meaningful group. 20 to 30 years!” Yachad, when translated into English, means together, and when you learn more about it, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s perfectly named. To begin at the beginning, we need to go back two decades plus, when Rabbi Alan Gonsher started the program here in Omaha. (More about Rabbi Gonsher later.) The program is described in these exact words, in the literature provided by JFS: “Yachad is made up of individuals with developmental dis- Josh Parsow and Michael Parsow preparing to bake honey abilities. The group meets cakes. several times a month for a maha is one of ten active National Yachad variety of spiritual, social and creative events.” It chapters in the United States, and, as Bert goes on to describe some mentioned, one in Jerusalem. We are very of the benefits members are eligible for, which proud to boast that we are doing some unique extend beyond the social programming from some of the other chapters. network; but the next lines These events include creating and selling our own art so eloquently describe through the Yachad Art Show, Beth El Boutique and Yachad I want to quote the RBJH Gift Shop, with all proceeds going directly them here: “The goal of our members, families, back into Yachad programming. In addition, we are staff and volunteers is to currently very focused on the physical and mental engage in activities that well being of our members and have now provided, will nourish a valued qual- through generous community grants, personal ity of life. We share a destraining, self-defense classes, yoga, and, coming tiny and strive to help every Yachad member soon, adaptive swimming lessons through our very obtain personal and indi- own JCC. This is the essence of community inclusion. vidualized goals.” -Karen Gustafson, JFS Executive Director So, we now know the purpose of this organized group of Jewish At the top of this story, I wrote that young adults. These are people who share Yachad was started by Rabbi Alan Gonsher. the knowledge of what it’s like to live with At the time, Rabbi Gonsher was affiliated some kind of disability. Whether it’s some- with Beth Israel Synagogue here in Omaha. thing discernable to others, or perhaps a One of his responsibilities was Director of problem that’s not seen with the naked eye, the Synagogue Youth Organization. In this or even something as blatant as a wheel capacity he was often present at meetings of chair, a member of this group knows he or such groups in various other cities. The she, as well as everyone else, is fighting a Rabbi and his family now live in Kansas personal battle. Whether or not it can be City, and he spoke to me recently, to answer seen doesn’t matter, because if it causes some of my questions about his early work unbearable feelings, he’s miserable. in our local Yachad chapter. When I asked But wait a minute. Try to visualize a dif- how he happened to believe we should have ferent scenario, where a self conscious such a working group here, he answered me group of people have been exposed to ses- this way: “It seemed that every other city I sions where trained and understanding went to for these youth organization meetmentors have worked to gradually alter ings had a chapter of Yachad. I learned more socially uncomfortable feelings. Does this and more and concluded that we should not suggest that people formerly lacking the have our own such group, right here in courage to participate in a group social Omaha.” activity might ultimately overcome the fear? It apparently didn’t take too long for him Read the comments of Carol Parsow, whose to learn there were people here who would two boys have been actively connected to welcome Yachad. Nor is it a surprise to learn Yachad for years, starting with Josh who that one of the first supporters to come forth began at 13, when the group was new. Carol were the Parsows. says, “I’ve watched it grow since the beginIt would seem that no matter the location, ning. The kids needed a lot of structure and there could be found families with members guidance, but over the years, with fabulous who were developmentally disabled in some mentoring, they have learned to accept each way, and Omaha was no exception. other’s limitations and give each other so Gonsher stayed with the group until some much support, love and friendship. It’s seven or eight years ago, when the Gonshers extremely heartwarming.” Who could better opted for a move to Kansas City, where he’s make those observations than a parent who still connected to children who need him: witnessed them?” He is a practicing Child Therapist. I’m sure there are other parents who He spoke warmly and candidly about his might have stories to tell and personal com- tenure here as the man who started Yachad, ments about Yachad, but Carol Parsow has about its tie to the spiritual part of its forbeen on the scene since the inception of the mat, and his efforts to maintain the program; as such, she’s been my “go to” per- Jewishness of the organization. One of the son. So I wasn’t really surprised when, after points he stressed was the effort of Yachad asking for a “mom answer,” this is what she Continued on page A6

O

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | A5

First cultural arts director has fond memories of when the new JCC opened by GARY JAVITCH Mark Zalkin was there at the very beginning. He and staffers like Hy Tabachnick -- Executive Director, Jan Perelman (now Goldstein) -- cultural arts department, Chuck Arnold - physical education director, and myself, aquatics director, were a few of the pioneers in the opening of Omaha’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Jewish Community Center in 1973. The former Omahan and recent Northwestern University graduate (1972) had earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education at the Evanston, Illinois campus. He was then teaching in Colorado. “I received a call about an opening for a Director of Cultural Arts at the new JCC building from my friend, Chaim Najman, who, coincidentally, had just become the new cantor at Beth El Synagogue.” Mark liked what he heard about that job, feeling it would be perfect for him for a number of reasons. “I had the required skills and background to both lead and manage the department,” he said. “And, I thought I could bring something positive and meaningful to that position. Also, on a personal note, there were a few bonuses: returning to Omaha would give me an opportunity to see my parents and friends, especially Richard and Ellen Slosburg. I would also have a chance to work at Beth El Synagogue, directing the choir.” Indeed, he was excited by both the challenge of working in a new building and the opportunity to express himself creatively. For a city with only 6,000 Jews, the new Community Center was going to be as big as some of the community centers of cities with Jewish populations substantially over 50,000. Mark arranged for an interview with Tabachnick. The executive director was impressed with the young man’s talents and experiences, and to Mark’s delight, Hy hired him. The pressure was now on. The entire staff faced one major, multi-faceted challenge: launch new programs from scratch and have it done yesterday! Although the Central High graduate grew up in Omaha, he would still need to meet and recruit many new people, and then create programs, oversight, and planning committees. In one of his first initiatives, he worked successfully to develop stronger JCC relationships with the three major synagogues and other major organizations in the city. “With the opening of a new Center and the great community enthusiasm that accompanied it, everyone wanted to participate. “Working at the JCC was not all about programming, though,” Mark chuckled. So, when “Uncle Chuck” (Arnold) and some of the JCC members invited him to play in their lunchtime volleyball game, Mark joined in, figuring that he needed the exercise, and it would be a great way to get to know more members. “I met some really nice people, like “Max Platt, Joe Rice, and a few others,” Mark recalled. “I enjoyed the great cama-

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raderie, but the competition -- well -- not so much. I’m really a singer, planner, and organizer, not an athlete,” Mark laughed again.

Mark Zalkin “And for a bunch of old timers, they were actually pretty good. They spiked the ball, and were very versatile, despite their age. No one wanted me after a while,” he observed, laughing at his inability to defend against the spike. While volleyball was not Mark’s forte, he knew his great strengths lay in program planning. World Famous People Back then, the Center had a big budget for speakers. “I was able to get some very big names to come to Omaha. I also got to pick them up at the airport,” Mark noted, sounding a little starstruck. “One was Roman Vishniac, a physician, but also a big photographer of the European Jewish shtetls in existence before the Holocaust.” When he arrived, Mark, promoting the new Center proudly, said to him, “Roman, I want to show you our Jewish library. It is the largest Jewish library between Chicago and Denver.” The greatness of the library was in no small measure due to the work of Paul Veret (the retired executive director of the Center, when it was located at 20th and Dodge). According to Mark, “Paul loved the library and he loved books. He was able to get a ‘first copy’ of almost everything that was published in the Jewish world. Scholars flocked to

Omaha from all over to get information. Our diverse collection, however, didn’t garner real distinction until the Federation hired their very first professional librarian, Edye Wolf. She made it magnificent.” Another great “get” for Mark was Cynthia Ozick, the Jewish author, essayist, and writer. “Cynthia received a great deal of recognition for an article she wrote on ‘Why the World Wants the Jews Dead.’” When he met Cynthia, his wife Susan was pregnant with their first child, Sara. Cynthia said, “Your daughter is going to be very smart.” Cynthia turned out to be right! “I also met Mel Blanc, known as The man of 1000 voices,’ including - the Flintstones, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and many others). Because of Mel’s celebrity, Mark recalled that when they went for breakfast at the crowded hotel buffet, they got to go right to the front of the line. Not everyone Mark met was easy to get along with, he related. “One of our guest speakers was Leonard Fein. Leonard co-founded Moment magazine along with Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel. We were running late for our program, and I tried to get Mr. Fein to go a little faster.” But he balked. “I will go on when I feel like it,” he grunted. “Frustrated, I snapped back, ‘Then I will pay you when I feel like it.’” Leonard did move a little faster after that. Surprisingly, one of the most interesting people Mark met during his tenure at the JCC was a person he didn’t hire or contract for. “Management thought that I had extra time on my hands, so I was also asked to supervise kitchen activities. “One day while making my rounds, I saw Alan Turchin, our kosher cook, making sandwiches. Since I had not been informed about any special lunch arrangements, I went to Hy and asked him about it. “Hy told me that a high-level group of Israelis had come to Offutt Air Force Base and they wanted a kosher lunch. So the Air Force sent them over to our JCC to eat. Just then, two Greyhound buses pulled up. “We set up tables in the social hall. I joined them for lunch, sitting down next to a nice bespectacled gentleman, in a gray business suit and no tie. We talked a little bit. “Before I knew it, everyone was done eating and the man next to me said, ‘We have to go.’ As he was leaving, the man introduced himself, ‘I am Menachem Begin.’ “This meeting, of course, occurred before Begin became prime minister in 1977. I had not recognized him, but I did know that he was a rising star in the Likud party. I also knew that way back in his early career, before Israel became a state, he was a member of the Irgun, a radical group that helped drive the British out of Palestine.” After three years, Mark left Omaha, the JCC then appointed Jan Perelman Goldstein to head the cultural arts department. Before he left, Mark accumulated quite a few mental mementoes. “One of my most beloved memories was Continued on page A6

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Yachad

First cultural arts director has fond memories

Continued from page A4 to integrate those young people into the community -- to do everything possible to avoid the opposite, segregation from the community at large. He is remembered here by many, many Omahans who held him in very high esteem, whether they knew him from Yachad, or Beth Israel, or the fella that made every Purim festival so much fun! Thanks, Alan.

The JCC theater during construction. Jeff Steinberg proudly displaying a honey cake recipe. I also thank Carol Parsow for allowing me to use her words to tell you what Yachad is really all about. I think it’s easy to recognize when words come straight from the heart as well as the experience of the speaker. One last piece of information about Yachad: With individual chapters in so many cities in America, it’s been correct to refer to the program as national. Research into the history and continuing story of the program turned up a new fact. Yachad can now be called international, since a new chapter has been created in Jerusalem! How appropriate that a program aimed to and for Jewish folks with developmental disabilities is now represented in Israel.

Continued from page A5 of (the late) Norman Batt,� Mark concluded. “Norman was chairman of the Building Committee and was Mrs. B’s son-in-law. He selflessly devoted many hours in helping to build the new JCC.� Forty years later, Mark reflected on his experience as a 23-year-old at the new building. “Hy taught me an awful lot and I learned more also working with Steve Riekes, the late Ruth Katzman and many other fine people.� Update Mark now has a Master’s degree in Social Work in Jewish Communal Service and Group Dynamics (Yeshiva University). As head of his own coaching and training

firm, he has worked all over the world, and across the country (including here again at the Jewish Federation of Omaha), teaching about leadership, conflict management, and supervision. He added, “When I began my coaching work, I used many examples and experiences from my first years at the JCC.� Since 2009, he has been the High Holiday cantor for Congregation Beth Israel in Hempstead (L.I.), NY. Today Mark lives with his wife Susan in Denver. The couple has three adult children and three grandchildren. (His parents were the late Allen and Monie Zalkin.)

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A symbol of change and creation by OZZIE NOGG It is said that the Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Yehuda Loewe, he who formed the infamous Golem) considered the number 40 a symbol of cataclysmic change and new creation. If we buy this theory, it’s safe to say that the Omaha Jewish community was profoundly (if not cataclysmically) changed forty years ago by the creation of the new JCC. Leaving this historic local event aside for a moment, let’s look through the Hebrew Bible and see how many times the number forty pops up. (According to one source, the answer is ‘umpteen’ times.) Some references are well known: • The Great Flood waters lasted forty days and forty nights. • Forty days after the rain stopped, Noah opened a window in the Ark. • The Children of Israel waited forty days while Moses received the Ten Commandments and all the Laws of Torah from God on Mt. Sinai. • The spies scouted the promised land of Canaan for forty days, and (except for Caleb and Joshua) then reported that the people of Canaan were fierce, unbeatable giants. • God, angry at the spies’ lack of faith, doomed the Children of Israel to wander in the desert for forty years. Other references to the number 40 are plentiful but perhaps less familiar: • Moses led Israel from Egyptian bondage when he was eighty (2 x 40) and died at one-hundred twenty (3 x 40). • For forty days, morning and evening, the Philistine behemoth Goliath -- wearing a bronze helmet and carrying a spear weighing six hundred shekels of iron -- arrogantly challenged the Israelite army until the little shepherd, David, beaned the giant with a stone. • King Saul, King David and King Solomon each reigned for forty years. • There are forty days of repentance -- teshuvah -between the first day of Elul (when we begin to blow the Shofar and prepare for Rosh Hashanah) until Yom Kippur. • The lives of Moses, Hillel, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai and Rabbi Akiva were each divided into three forty-year periods. (For Moses that means forty years as a prince in

Egypt, forty years as a shepherd in Midian, and forty years shepherding the Israelites through the desert.) • There were forty generations from Moses to the completion of the Talmud. • And, according to said Talmud, at age forty a person transitions from one level of wisdom to the next and receives the deepest measure of understanding. The sages in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) support this idea, teaching that at forty a man is mature enough to analyze, infer, study precedents, and render wise decisions. • In Deuteronomy, before Moses dies, he tells the Jewish people that he led them forty years in the wilderness because “God has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day.” Yep. It took the Jewish people forty years before they could fathom the magnitude of the experiences that brought them to Mt. Sinai. The Omaha Jewish Community Center has stood on 132nd Street for forty years. Years during which we (like our ancestors in the wilderness) sometimes grumbled, questioned the direction our leaders were taking us, wanted to go back to the way things used to be. But we’re quicker on the uptake than the ancient Israelites. It didn’t take us forty years to understand the magnitude of our journey. During the last forty years we’ve watched our community recognize new priorities, push out walls, raise the roof, provide more services, adapt to needed change. From the get-go, we’ve looked at our Campus, our Federation and its agencies, appreciated their worth, and (because we’re savvy enough to know that all these riches did not fall miraculously on our heads like manna) we’ve been grateful for the professionals and lay people at the helm. Today, as we celebrate the Jewish Community Center’s fortieth birthday, we have the hearts, eyes, and ears to recognize how far we’ve come and to stand in awe of what this community has created and continues to create -- with bricks, mortar and heart. Let us honor those who began the work. Let us honor those who continue the work. May we go from strength to strength, from generation to generation.

BBYO memories by HAL G. SENAL but, rather, feeling like you belong, turning to people that “I would never join a group that would have me as a you know you can count on. member.” That mentality has followed me all through life. It just --Woody Allen took a while for it to catch up, at some critical points. After If I were to say that I’ve never been in a Fraternity, I all, the phone can be awfully heavy, sometimes. would technically be telling the truth. There were good times and bad times. I was never good I’ve never understood the concept of paying dues in at talking to girls -- sometimes, I’m still not good at talking order to be part of a group of friends. I’ve always found the to girls. Just ask my wife! -- but the guys in Chaim idea to be quite distasteful. Weitzman made me feel a little Then again, I was part of more confident, even as I exasthe B’nai B’rith Youth perated them with my awkOrganization, and that kind wardness. As far as bad times of tells you the craziest went, well, let’s just say when extent of the Activities secmy ears nearly started bleeding tion on my resumé. I’ve because of the volume-level of always been sort of a lone the Pink Floyd laser light show wolf. Most of my life, I’ve at the Durham Planetarium at always been one who has UNO, causing me to stumble problems discerning out into the night, I realized whether people are laughing that I was always going to be with me ... or at me. known as The Kid Who Calls After my Bar Mitzvah, life His Parents To Take Him The AZA marker commemorating the 1924 founding of got pretty crazy. Home. the Omaha chapter. I had joined Chaim Yep! That was me! Weitzman and, well, there was never a dull moment, let’s All in all, my experiences taught me that, in any group, just put it that way. If I had been placed in a green Kuala there are going to be people that you get along with great, Bear suit (a la The Grateful Dead), and was dubbed mas- while others, not so much. cot, that probably would come as close to a description of It also taught me to take everything and everyone as it, or my participation in BBYO as I can muster. they, come. Just because you’re in a club or a group or a felSomething is definitely not quite right when the kid with lowship, it doesn’t mean you have to like everything that the leg braces and a cane and, at some points, a walker, is goes on, or like everyone in it. It’s about making yourself voted in as Sergeant of Arms. available, being of service. Still, I had some great times. Though, it doesn’t hurt to try and have fun, every once in It’s nice to be in a fellowship or part of an organization of a while. people that share the same beliefs, if not necessarily the After all, life’s short and, when it comes to BBYO... same opinions as me. It’s not about strength in numbers We’re not getting any younger, are we?

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by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT take it back and sell it. “The whole experiEditor of the Jewish Press ence was an enormous boost to morale,” The story goes like this: the current site of Steve said. the J was discovered by none other than Nowadays, Steve’s favorite part of the Steve Riekes while jogging on S. 132nd building is probably the Riekes Shul and Street. It’s a tale I’ve heard on several occa- Museum, recently relocated to the front of sions, from various people; time to find out the Jewish Community Center. However, whether it was true or not. You know how there is a close runner-up, and it’s a surpristhese things go. ing one. In 1967, Steve Riekes decided to take up “The sidewalk has an interesting story running. On those runs, he would explore behind it,” he said. the neighborhood; his first house was on The sidewalk? 126th and Leavenworth. Sunday mornings “Yes. I remember in the beginning, Chuck were a particularly good time to roam around the neighborhood: “I was aware of Heavenly Acres, just north of the current JCC,” Steve remembers. “And I thought it was a beautiful area. Gas lamps originally lighted it; it was on a hill, overlooking downtown Omaha. People still had barns and horses; it was very rural and quiet.” Dodge Street was still a four-way stop, and 132nd Street was even less developed. It didn’t even have a sidewalk. “So here I am,” Steve said, “running past scenery, and enjoying the view. I worked for the Beber and Richard’s law firm at the time, and we Steve and Carl Riekes in the new Riekes Shul and Museum.

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represented the Livingston Foundation. I was an active member of the Jewish community, and I was aware there were problems finding a new location. Many members of the community were starting to settle out west, and we all agreed there was a need to move the J in that direction.” The site originally selected for the new building had hilly land, complicated access, and was only 12 or 13 acres. Steve questioned in his own mind whether this was the best site for the new building, as he, once again, spent a Sunday morning running through Heavenly Acres. He would eventually build his own house there, but that was still in the future. “Suddenly, I saw a ‘for sale’ sign,” he said. “There were 20-some relatively flat acres, and I thought that it was worth exploring. I remember being extremely excited. I probably called Yale Richards next, and Eli Zalkin, most likely. Yale was my boss, and so was David Beber (Beber was the attorney for the Livingston Foundation, ed.). When we found out what the price was on those acres, we became even more excited. None of this was in my hands, but everyone who saw it thought it was a wonderful location. There were no complicated restrictions on the land either.” Of course, there was still the issue of the previous location, but that was dealt with when the Livingston Foundation agreed to

Arnold used to organize these running groups. However, without a sidewalk, 132nd Street wasn’t very safe. It wasn’t very well lit either, and it was a little scary to run on the road. I found a little known law in the State statute that said every highway had to have a sidewalk. The JCC went and petitioned the City Council; it would have to be paid for by the adjoining landowners, which were MUD, the cemetery and the JCC. I remember MUD wasn’t very happy, but they weren’t in a position to oppose it. It came before the City Council meeting, it went through, and we got our sidewalk. About two years later, someone brought a lawsuit declaring that particular law unconstitutional. But, by then we had our sidewalk. Just like Morley Zipursky and many others, Steve credits Nick Newman for revitalizing the community during the years leading up to the new building. “There was a growing satisfaction during the 1960s, and Nick put an end to that. He discovered the original articles of this community, and took those to the Federation. He confronted them, and said: “You haven’t been following your own rules.” Nick brought democracy back, and insisted the entire community should be involved and have a voice. Sparks flew, and we regained a lot of Jewish pride.” Continued on page A10

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | A9

You belong here: The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home by BERT LEWIS The email announcement read: “The Passover issue of the Jewish Press will celebrate the 40th anniversary of our building, as stated in the handsomely carved cornerstone.” Can that be correct? Is the building casually known as “the J” actually that old? If so, that would mean that the Library, and the Historical Society, and the ADL, the theater plus all the other separate parts of the Jewish Federation have been at home in that building for a long time, too. And don’t forget the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, added on to the north side of the original structure. The Blumkin Home isn’t just another segment of what we like to refer to as the campus. This large and imposing edifice wasn’t part of the original building, but it was part of the original plan. When a new home for the heart of the Jewish community was still just a plan in the mind of the architect, included in that plan was a separate structure for some of the geriatric part of our community. A new home to replace the old and loved Dr. Philip Sher Home, which was beginning to lose it’s reputation of “state of the art.” In all fairness, when it was new in 1948, it deserved that accolade, but time had begun to take its toll, and new regulations and restrictions were being felt. For many reasons, getting the building “up to code” began to look like a thankless job. Like maybe it made more sense to start fresh in a new location with a new structure. The people of Omaha’s Jewish community began to talk “new Home,” and before long, a campaign was in progress to raise the funds for the new Home. Before there was any concern about how long it would take to raise the necessary dollars, one of our most generous philanthropists, Rose Blumkin, came forward and said “I’ll give you a million dollars, but you must raise the rest.” There are still many who recall how, as if by magic, the pledges and the dollars began to roll in. Many still recall how fast the necessary funds were raised, and in addition, how easily the totals were over and above the original figure. The new Home was quickly the most talked about in the city. As charming and warm and fine as the old Dr. Sher Home had been, the first residents to move into RBJH were even

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more delighted with the latest and best of everything. In November of 1982, 78 residents of the Sher Home were transported to their new address: 323 North 132nd Street, and by noon were enjoying lunch in the beautiful new dining room. Everything about the building was admired and

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Main Street enjoyed, and people were encouraged to remember this was not an “old people’s home,” but a licensed Skilled Nursing Home. What did that mean? Registered Nurses available on all shifts, professional care if somebody was really sick -- no more being sent to the hospital when proper care was available right there. It also meant a place where a lonely elderly resident didn’t need to sit in a chair and stare at the walls, because there was always something going on, something to do. The Home grew in reputation and as the place many physicians would recommend to patients who needed a nursing home. From the beginning, non-Jewish doctors and residents both, were making applications for admittance. But wait. Let me insert a sidebar here. Raving about the new and fancy and how much better it was, let’s just take a look at exactly how far things had progressed. We’ve discussed the Dr. Sher Home and the important part it played in this community. To all intents and purposes, it’s no doubt fair to call it the first real home for the elderly. There had been, many years before Sher was built, an old frame house on 25th and Charles, designated as an old folks’

home. Research shows early occupants numbering five, both genders. In today’s jargon, those people would be called warehoused. They were cared for, in that they were fed three meals a day, probably helped with minor problems, kept reasonably clean as was the house they lived in. But they had nothing with which to occupy themselves. They simply sat, and waited. For what? Maybe for meal time, maybe an occasional visit from a family member. They sat and waited. People in the field of Gerontology today would call that abuse. That house operated for some years, until the structure itself fell into disrepair, and the more educated among the population began to realize something needed to be done. Changes needed to be made, and with enthusiasm high, a fundraiser was planned. However, fate and World War II interfered with that plan, and the campaign was postponed until a more appropriate date. That date came on the heels of the war’s end, and again, a campaign was begun. Once more, Omaha Jews responded and that money built the Sher Home. In its day, that Home was probably the best for the aged, anyone would agree. But forty-some years of service had worn it down, and that’s when we come back to the time for a new beginning. A time to build a new Home. Back to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home for the Aged. Through the years, somehow for the Aged hasn’t been used so much, but that was the proper name. Today, it’s called just Blumkin or maybe just The Home. Everybody knows what’s meant by “The Home.” As well they should. I don’t know that state of the art is used so much any more, perhaps because there are constant new innovations, new theories, new philosophies regarding how to make a nursing home as perfect a place as humanly possible. To that end, things seem in constant movement at Blumkin. When first built, we thought it was perfect, and we also thought it was plenty big enough. Wrong on both counts. To begin, it apparently wasn’t quite large enough because there was a waiting list to get in, almost from the beginning. Then minor inconveniences began to pop up on occasion, which led to the realization that maybe it wasn’t exactly perfect. In Continued on page A10

A10 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Continued from page A9 fact, within not too many years, a building project was begun. In 1990, a new addition increased the capacity, plus a new kitchen provided the opportunity for easier and better food service, as well as other changes for the comfort of residents.

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say: “the proof is in the pudding”, which suggests if you aren’t familiar with Blumkin, you really ought to take yourself out there and see for yourself. I could describe the clever double rooms that almost seem to be private units, or the spacious and attractive hallways, or the beautiful dining rooms, or the really amazing

Construction of the entrance and theater. Louis Blumkin, left, Rose Blumkin, and Frances Batt outside the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. After another decade, it was clear more changes were called for. To begin, a special wing specifically for resident patients with dementia was needed in order to provide a safe and secure environment for them. There were some problems with adequate bathroom space due to odd configuration. All told, most of the needed changes had to do with space. When completed, 20,000 square feet were added, bringing the total up to 86,000 sq ft. The new addition includes four distinct new units: a dining room, a new lounge, a new sunroom and spa, which satisfies former bath and shower problems. These are facts and figures. The old cliche

new entrance or the chapel, or the lovely lounges, but those are just attractions to see. Even better to see are the people who live there, and who participate in everything available to them, from bingo to current affairs groups or sing-along groups. Or maybe you’ll see a card game with serious players! The point is, there’s always something going on and it’s there for the taking. People are encouraged to join in, rather than sit. I’m tempted to be frivolous and use that commercial line “this isn’t your great-grandmother’s nursing home. This is now, this is what you find when you look for the best available now, in 2013.”

Continued from page A8 That Jewish pride was visible and tangible, when, for the first time Yom Ha’atzmaut was not celebrated with a private dinner at the Highland Country Club. Instead, Steve said, droves of younger people decided to go to Memorial Park and have a public celebration. “They had banners, out in public,” he said, “and Jews were being Jews in public, in the open, and that was made possible because of Nick. And when it came to the new J, it was the same thing: Nick said there would be input from everyone, and this would be a community process. Nick single-handedly brought an end to the apathy.

Because of him, we became vital again.” “When people get involved,” Steve said, “it brings vitality. Involving the entire community creates the enthusiasm necessary to sustain that community.” “The Omaha community is unique in the sense that we don’t have the viciousness of certain other places,” Steve continued, “We all acknowledge compromise is necessary, and our turf battles (although we have them from time to time) don’t have the dimension they have in other places. We may have our differences, but we tend towards community building. We have so many individuals who care about our communal future and understand this is our home.”

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Remembering Nick by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press We’re talking a lot about Nick Newman; the reasons are all around us, embedded in the very bricks of the Jewish Community Center. Because it is so important to remember him, and because this community would undoubtedly look very different today without him, the Jewish Press asked some of his family members to share with us how they remember Nick’s impact. Sons Peter and Ted, and Nick’s widow Raquel were happy to contribute some thoughts.

A Permanent Solution Hair and Skin Center to live and work. Nick’s desire to have a positive impact on community in Omaha was realized in many ways and that rewarded him with a sense of accomplishment. In order for real progress to occur, there have to be leaders, as well as those who are willing to pitch in and help do the lifting. Omaha has a long tradition of that ethic. Omaha is no longer a dusty little town on the edge of the frontier. Omaha has grown and matured, a good place to live. Nick Newman is part of Omaha’s history. Nick Newman left us on May 13, 1973. The 40th anniversary of his passing is also this year. When Nick Newman died young and prematurely, we all lost a friend and a true leader; a man of his word. May the memory of who Nick was serve as an example to all today. Sincerely, Ted Newman

My (our) father was born and raised in Omaha by parents who understood the importance of family and community (and their interconnectedness), and hard work. Nick Newman was an innate leader. He possessed vision and charisma. When he had an Nick was also on the boards of idea, he shared it with others, United Community Services, seeking their input and buy-in. and the Omaha National Bank, My father cared a great deal and several other non-Jewishfor others to the point that he agency boards. He was a major made real sacrifices so others fundraiser for Israel -- and a would benefit. Nick major donor to George Newman’s contributions of McGovern’s presidential camtime and money to Omaha paign. And, he was McGovern’s went far beyond the Jewish Midwestern Campaign Advisor Community, and included (and landed on Nixon’s Enemies co-founding the Community List as a result!). Bank in North Omaha, servMom was/is no slacker, either: ing as the president of The She was one of the first women Boys and Girls Club of delegates to a Democratic Omaha, and likely other offiNational Convention (where cial duties. I know that my McGovern was nominated) and father privately helped both has held many Jewish commuNick Newman in 1944 individuals and their larger nity board roles out here in community in unusual ways as a result of them being vic- California, including the Jewish Board of Education and the tims of racism. Jewish Community Federation, as well as being president of Nick Newman had the support and assistance of his wife, Jewish Family and Children’s Services. She built two schools our mother, Raquel (Racky) Newman in his work. in Israel, and donated the land for the Union of Reform Additionally, Racky had her own commitments to women in Judaism’s Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, CA. need, including Planned Parenthood and other social issues. Lastly, it might be mentioned that three or four thousand I have important memories of my parents’ activities, and people showed up for Dad’s funeral. Which, in my opinion, specific events that helped shape who I am today. is quite a testament to the impact he had on the community. Both Nick and Racky Newman were politically astute and We all were impacted by Nick’s life -- and I know we all active. At times our parents took viewpoints and positions miss him. on issues that some then might have considered risky. Our Sincerely, parents knew in their hearts that their convictions were corPeter B. Newman rect. Over time, much of our society has come to see that standing on the left side of issues has most often become the Nick was on the national leadership cabinet of the UJA. “right” stance. Our parents’ progressive views took a bit of He was also president of Goodwill Industries of Nebraska calculated moxie on their part, all the more so having been and interested in the work of the Urban League. He and raised as Midwesterners. Folk from that part of the country Warren Buffett and Dale Ball formed the black bank, and were then known as stable, reliable, honest, true to their helped the black radio station and credit union come into word. Those values have been the heart and bread of this being. I may have left something out in addition to Ted and nation and the larger Newman family. Our parents’ involve- Peter’s comments. Nick was a “mensch” as they say, and ment and commitment to the larger community has been much missed by many. passed onto my siblings and me. All the best, Clearly, Omaha was a good place for Nick and his family Raquel Newman

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You belong here: the Kripke library by OZZIE NOGG System and the Weine Classification System In the 1100s, the Spanish Jewish scholar that is particularly adapted to the needs of ibn Tibbon wrote to his son, “Cover your Judaic libraries. In 1998, the entire catalog bookcases with rugs and linens of fine qual- was brought online. Between 1972 and 1999 ity; preserve them from dampness and mice -- through determination, dedication and and injury; for it is your books that are your her persuasive way with the Federation’s true treasure.” Budget and Allocations Committee -- Edie I have no idea if Paul Veret, Executive Wolf took “three little rooms with books in Director of the Omaha Jewish Federation closets, all over the place, piled to the ceilfrom 1938 to 1970, was influenced by these ing,” helped grow the collection, added words, but the man did treasure books. more space for study, reading, and research, Beginning around 1940, Veret began collecting Judaic books, phonograph records, pamphlets, Israeli postcards, you name it, and anyone in this community of a certain age remembers Paul, puffing a cigarette, ashes The Children’s section of the Kripke Library. on his necktie and shirtfront, moving and shaking our and eventually turned the library into what community from his desk in the old Jewish Max I. Dimont (author of Jews, God and Community Center on 20th and Dodge. History) called “the finest Judaic library in The Library of Judaica opened there in any JCC or any Synagogue in the United 1945, and soon gained big-time attention. A States -- with the exception, of course, of 1957 article in the National Jewish Post by libraries at universities or seminaries. Not the late journalist Carl Alpert described only is the collection extensive, but also the Omaha as a Jewish cultural oasis in the heart quality of the titles bears testimony to the of America. “One [visiting the Library] knowledge of Jewish history and loving care would expect to find a modest collection of given to the library.” book discards from attics, rummage sales In 1999, after twenty-six years as the and the houses of old-time scholars,” Alpert Omaha Jewish Federation librarian, Edie wrote. “He will be surprised to discover a Wolf retired; her post was filled by Harris veritable treasure and culture in a collection, Finkelstein. In November of 2000, the which must be ranked among the very best library celebrated a grand opening with the working Jewish libraries in America.” move to its current location at the west JCC After Paul Veret’s death in 1970, Morris entrance. At the same time, it was renamed Hoffman, then Chairman of the Federation’s the Kripke Jewish Federation Library in Library Committee, was entrusted with honor of Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke. organizing Veret’s private collection -- esti- Finkelstein commented “You’d be hardmated at 10,000 to 13,000 volumes. pressed to find a library that is prouder to According to Hoffman, Paul Veret never felt have its benefactors’ names on it. Rabbi and a book was a wasted investment. “Veret was Mrs. Kripke have given so much to our encyclopedic. For those who questioned his Jewish community and the Jewish commupurchasing, even of the most obscure books, nity worldwide. They have enriched all of us Paul felt there was something very viable for in so many ways.” our religion or we wouldn’t have had it.” The following month, the Kripke Library Though Veret never catalogued the books received the 2000 Nebraska Center for the (“there was just so much a human being Book’s Jane Pope Geske Award in recognicould do”), Hoffman pointed out that, “any tion of the institution’s exceptional, longpiece of literature, any book or record, Paul term contribution to the Nebraska commuknew what it was and usually where it was.” nity of the book. In 2005, Gary Katz was Edythe Wolf was hired in 1972 as head appointed to succeed Finkelstein as Library librarian at the old JCC, and she discovered Administrator. Today, under the professionthat Veret’s collection of Judaic resources al leadership of Mary Sue Grossman, the “were contained in three little rooms. Books library is staffed by Library Specialist, Shirly were in closets all over the place, piled to the Banner, and Mark Kirchhoff, ceiling. Nothing was in logical order.” The Administrative Assistant for The Center for only record maintained in the Library was a Jewish Life. file of authors, a file of titles, and an attempt Scholars come to the Kripke Library for to group books in broad subject areas -- Holocaust research. Kids enjoy the wonderPhilosophy, Israel, Jewish Personalities, Six ful children’s section and take part in the Day War -- but one had to guess as to what Elinor A. and Norman Whitman Book subject the book was about and what shelf it Appreciation Contest. Adults visit the might be on. “One’s guess was frequently Library to scout the over 41,000 resources wrong,” Wolf said. “Furthermore, the origi- (including books, DVDs, CDs, videos, enal ‘check-out’ system was for the woman at books, audio books, large print, newspapers the desk to write down the name of the bor- and periodicals), to marvel at one of this rower in a ledger. Nobody had ever heard of country’s largest collections of Russian a card file, much less stamping a date or any material (funded by the Buddy and Shirley other method of record keeping.” Goldstein Foundation), to enjoy Jewish A history of the JCC Library is found in a Book Month activities, take classes, or be 2010 academic paper written by Marguerite part of the Dorothy Kaplan Book Miller for the Masters in Library Science Discussion Group -- named in honor of degree she earned at the University of Dorothy Kaplan, a long-time library assisMissouri. Miller describes the hours spent tant. By any measure, the Kripke Library by Edie Wolf and Carol Gendler who sorted, offers a wealth of reading material, and is indexed and catalogued masses of material the largest public resource center for Judaic prior to the move from the old ‘J’ to the cur- studies in the Midwest. rent facility, and chronicles how Wolf, A Veret family anecdote: When Paul was a Morris Hoffman and Ted Newman (then young boy, his mother gave him money for the Assistant Director of the Omaha Public shoes. He bought books instead. Library) installed the Dewey Decimal Lucky for us.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | A13

The Jewish Community Center and the 70s: From dream to reality by AMBER PARTIN gathered. It was unrealistic to house all of the programs sug- the Cornerstone Dedication took place. The Jewish commuBuilt in 1926 and located at 20th and Dodge, the first gested—even the projected 95,000 square foot building nity watched the gradual rise of their Center -- brick upon Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Omaha housed an audi- would not be able to accommodate everyone’s dreams. brick -- and everything that had once been a dream was now torium, a library, gymnasium and Talmud Torah. The Jewish The physical education wing of the building required the a reality they could look upon, touch and incorporate into people of Omaha found their their personal lives. “Doors will open April 28, 1974 recreational, social and culAs the structure grew and More than slabs of wood, tural needs substantially met took form, numerous tours in the handsome downtown were given to the energetic More than bricks and steel, location. Jews from Poland, Jewish community. The new Jewish Community center Germany, Russia and a variety Inquisitive children were is an expression of the unity of of other Eastern European quick to ask how many bricks our Jewish Community. countries were also able to it would take to build the It symbolizes our links—as Jews find a common ground Jewish Community Center. --to the past despite their differing cultures Jewish Press columnist Linda --to the future, and languages. Faith and fun Mirvish wrote, “...people, not --and to each other. had brought them together in bricks, are the strength of the Together we dreamed a city that was daily enriched JCC.” This statement proved and planned by their presence. true. Jews of all ages, backand worked In 1931, the JCC joined grounds, cultures and interTo bring about this day. forces with the Omaha ests were unified in their supThe Center stands Welfare Federation and port and optimism and creatas a symbol Omaha Jewish Philanthropies. ed the true strength and coheof our proud identification As a result, the JCC was given siveness behind the bricks, as Jews in Omaha. a new moniker: The Jewish steel and mortar. It stands as a symbol Community Center and When the offices officially of our links to the past, Welfare Federation. Thriving moved from the JCC on 20th our commitment to the present, with impressive opportunities and Dodge to the new locaand our hopes for the future.” in philanthropy and youth tion on 132nd, it was a bitterdevelopment, the center prosweet moment for everyone gressed throughout the next The Jewish Press proudly and beautifully printed this stateinvolved. Forty-eight years of three decades until a new ment of unification and vision in the April 5, 1974, Passover service had been provided dream emerged: to create a edition. Alongside the statement was a drawing of a door hanfrom this location. The deed dle, symbolizing the moment when Jews would be able to community center that was open the door to their new Center and walk into a welcoming, was transferred to the offilarger and located further nurturing environment for their faith, interests and personal cials of the Northwestern Bell west, as many families and needs. Telephone Company who The JCC Theater under construction. synagogues were also moving purchased the building for in this direction. The new Center would provide an enhanced largest single space allotment, as it would house the gymna- $700,000. The move from 20th to 132nd solidified the deal, experience for Jewish Omaha. sium and all of its extended amenities. The outside of the even though the JCC would not officially open its doors to “The new Jewish Community Center should be a center of building would boast parking for 400 vehicles as well as ten- programming until April of 1974. However, the offices were Jewish thought, Jewish learning and Jewish living.” The nis courts and football fields. available for the public to utilize until the opening day. Cultural Arts Program Study Committee presented this phiEdward Baker of Minneapolis’ Baker Associates, Inc., was Another added attraction to the new Jewish Community losophy in a Town Hall meeting, June 3, 1971. A barrage of hired on as the lead architect for this construction. Center was the library. The Omaha Jewish Community town meetings followed, in which attendants discussed new June of 1972 brought the dream of the new JCC closer to an Center Library had been recognized as the one of the finest ways to reach out to the community, from infants to the elder- exciting reality. And this particular construction was hailed of its kind. Allowing for the entire community to utilize the ly. What could be done to improve education? What sort of as “more than another Jewish community organization. The impressive collection of books and other research materials new and interesting activities should be offered for communi- Center IS the Jewish community...” The Executive Director of was the hope and dream of the librarian, Edie Wolf. “Up till ty development? What kind of new programming was needed? the Omaha Jewish Federation, Mortimer Greenberg, praised now,” she said, “the Library has largely been used by nonBy July, it was announced that a 30 acre site on 132nd South the design as “having all the components to make it a Center Jewish professionals as a source of reference. I hope to be able of Dodge was purchased by the Omaha Jewish Federation as for everyone.” Non-Jews were also welcome to register as to promote the library to laymen by speaking to local groups the location of the new Jewish Community Center. More members of the Jewish Community Center. and organizations. The new library will be very attractive meetings ensued and the Planning Committee conducted a A crowd of 200 attended the ground breaking ceremony with seats and tables, magazines and newspapers. It will thorough study involving more than 250 people in an effort on Nov. 19, 1972. They braved the unsavory weather and adjoin the music room and the adult lounge of the Center.” to investigate and understand the needs and desires of the mud to watch their leaders split the earth with shovels -At last, the wait was over. The doors would open and the community. Over twelve pages of recommendations were marking the area ready for construction. By May 13 of 1973, Continued on page A15

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A responsibility to our Jewish history by NICK NEWMAN Editor’s note: An often-heard refrain, when talking about our building, is that “none of this would have happened without Nick Newman.” We can’t mark the anniversary of this building without paying homage to one of the driving forces behind it. On March 19, 1972, before the first spade went in the ground, Nick Newman made a speech to the Jewish Federation Board of Directors, of which he was the President at the time. Here are the most important excerpts from that speech. More than 40 years later, Newman’s words continue to inspire. “I would like to say that both here and on our Federation Executive Committee meetings, I have tried to be restrained and keep my own remarks in reasonable proportion to those of others. I feel that as president (and I don’t know if I’ll be reelected here tonight, but I am sure that if reelected I won’t be here a year from now to make this type of a talk) I would like to make some rather personal remarks regarding my views of what we are about in this Jewish community, and what we should look forward to in the future. “I feel privileged to live in a time of Jewish renaissance, a time of Jewish scholarship, creativity and Jewish opportunity. “I look at Ben Gurion, Moshe Dayan and Golda Meir as historical characters of equal importance as Bar-Kochba, perhaps of more importance. And, when I have had the opportunity of shaking Moshe Dayan’s hand and to kiss Golda Meir, I feel that in my small way I have touched Jewish history, and become a little bit a part of that Jewish history. I feel a strong responsibility to this history, and I guess that is why I committed myself to the Jewish federation and have taken the time and made the commitment to do so.

“I see Jewish history as a continuing thing; as a growing, developing and improving Judaism. I guess I have a provincial and somewhat chauvinistic view of Judaism, but I choose to think that Judaism has been the

remember the Look magazine article; I think it concentrated on Iowa. It said that Jews were vanishing. I don’t accept that. I feel that a valid and important and meaningful Jewish life is possible here in Omaha.

regation; it cannot be built on cultural and social segregation, and it cannot be built on the hostility of the outside world. Judaism of the future must be built on positive factors. The positive values of Jewish education,

Nick Newman single most important civilizing factor in Western civilization. I shudder to think what the world would be like today if it were not for the contribution that we Jews have made to morality, ethics and learning over the years, and continue to make today. “While Jerusalem may be the heart of the Jewish people, Israel is not the sole repository of the mind and body of Jews. We exist all over the world, and we are important all over the world. Looking where Jews live and communities exist, unique and valid expressions of that Judaism are possible, and I think they are possible here in Omaha. “We don’t have to accept the prediction of sociologists of a few years ago that in Middle America, Judaism is going to be gone. You

Groundbreaking for the new JCC. Pictured are Hy Tabachnik, left, Chuck Monasee, Norman Batt, Mort Greenberg and Nick Newman. In a little community like this we can communicate with each other. We can work together, and we can create in this community an example. “Maybe at some time in our history, as many have theorized, prejudice and hostility in the outside world have made it possible for the Jews to stick together and caused this remarkable phenomenon: to still be here today. But in my opinion, this is not the way of the future; prejudice and hostility will not maintain Jews for the future. These are negative features, and Jewish identity cannot be built on them. It cannot be built on self-seg-

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identification with Jewish history and with Israel, and with love of Jewish music, language, and literature and Jewish lore. It must be built on our religion and ethics, and our children must know why they are Jews, who they are, and what it means to be a Jew and how to be a Jew. “In my view, if Judaism is going to continue in Omaha, it must be expansive and it must be broad. Broad enough to support bigger programs of Jewish education, both for adults and for children. We must work together to improve the effectiveness and Continued on page A15

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The strongest man in the gym by HAL G. SENAL I never really knew my dad until the year 2000. I was 18 years old. Oh, sure, I knew my dad and I’ve always, always, always loved and respected my dad, but I don’t think we ever really reached that fundamental understanding with one another that occurs between a father and son later in life. Some fathers and sons watch sports together, others go fishing or hunting. As one might have come to expect with this writer, having always been on the geeky outskirts of life, we did none of those things together. (FACT: when my dad would try to get me to watch wrestling on Sundays, while he was doing laundry, I would ask him why those flabby, sweaty, hairless men in the ring were rolling around in their skivvies, much to my dad’s exasperation.) For a while, the two of us went on a weekly run to Cosmic Comics, building our (read: my) comic book collection. However, at that time, I was still pretty young, naïve, unable to have or carry a true Adult conversation. And so it went, years passed by, and I forever remained, yes, a mama’s boy (and let’s be honest here: I still probably am a mama’s boy. I don’t ever think anyone will ever mistake me for being a Man’s Man). However, as I said in my original thesis statement, it wasn’t until the year 2000, when we started going to the Phil Sokolof Fitness Center at the Jewish Community Center that I truly began to understand, to get my dad. It all started pretty ordinarily, my dad and I would hop into the car and, for a short stretch (no pun intended), we would look quizzically at the machines, investigating the equipment, and then we’d lumber over to them, crack jokes, poke fun at one another, and yes, secretly give various gym

rats special code names, like “Floppy-Hair Guy,” “Headband Guy,” “Dancing Queen,” etc. We’d make our rounds. As always, as I continued to grow further and further into adulthood, and as life became more and more complex, as it always has a tendency to do, the more years (and Stairmasters) that we climb, our conversations became more and more full-bodied, enriched, with a level of uncertainty on my end. The gym became my safe haven to talk about life, love with my father; and there were always questions. And, God bless him, he usually had great answers for his part. Because of the Phil Sokolof Fitness Center, my father went from being a venerable question mark in my mind, to becoming one of -- if not the -- great heroes in my life. In short, he became my best friend. And we lost weight as it happened! I’ve achieved many accomplishments in my life, as well as many mistakes and, for better or worse, my dad has never been anything less than a wealth of strength and information. Alas, those days are behind me. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I no longer live in my hometown of Omaha. Rather, I live in Mankato, MN. I no longer see my father on a regular basis, and the days of working out at the Phil Sokolof Fitness Center are a thing of the past. I will always love my father. That is, and will forever be, an absolute. With that being said, if not for the JCC and the Phil Sokolof Fitness Center in the last decade, I would never have known him as well as I do, today. He’s not perfect. After all, he is just a man. In my eyes, he was the strongest man in the entire gymnasium.

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The Jewish Community Center and the 70s Continued from page A13 young adults and seniors. The parking lot boasted space for The Jewish community was invited to participate in the 400 vehicles as well as a bicycle rack. There were tennis opening ceremonies on Sunday, April 28, 1974, at 2 p.m. courts as well and two football fields that could be convertThere were 900 attendants assembled for the new Jewish ed into four softball fields! Community Center opening, with Daniel Katzman, chairIn all, the Jewish Community Center supplied its memman of the Center Building Project, as master of cere- bers with a potpourri of activities, events, and opportunities monies. Katzman presented a review of the events which led to the plans and final completion of the new building. Enrollment for the myriad of programs was taken following the ceremonies and into Monday, April 29 through Thursday, May 2. The finished product was above and beyond what many had imagined for the new JCC. The theater was designed for concert, dance, dramatic productions, film series and lectures. There was a workshop and backstage area. The theater would be able to accommodate 350 people. Swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, were Olympic-sized and Metro Area Transit had a bus that stopped at the JCC in the 70s. would not only be used for leisurely and athletic swims, but also lessons for people of all ages. for health and well-being. It was the dream that had become The Library housed the nationally recognized collection a reality. And as the 70s came to a close, the Jewish commuof Judaica with an adjoining music room for records, films nity of Omaha anticipated the future and all the possibility and tapes. The JCC Auditorium served a purpose for large and blessing it would bring. meetings, receptions, lectures and banquets. The Social Hall also provided space for groups of 150 or less. The Gymnasium was multi-purpose. It was large enough to hold two basketball games at once and included an elevated jogging track. Handball and paddle ball courts were a fun addition. Nursery school provided creative and progressive Continued from page A14 opportunities for small children and included a drive-up the quality of Jewish education, and while doing so, not entrance and enclosed, outdoor playground. The kitchen detract from the unique values of our different synaallowed for kosher food preparation and serving facilities. gogues. Judaism in Omaha must be broad enough to supArts and crafts studios supplied opportunities for painting, port a Jewish Day School. sculpture and ceramics with a kiln and drying room. There “There may be different ways for our people to find was also a dark room for photography. The dance studio their Judaism and to make it meaningful. I hope our included mirrors and exercise bars. Meeting/classrooms had community is big enough and broad enough to build this enough space for groups all sizes. The gallery housed pernew Jewish Community Center, and to think big. We manent and rotating art exhibits. The Health Club, with an should not get lost in arguments over the budget, because additional fee, provided members with a sun-lamp room, if we build a great program, a meaningful program, we’ll sauna, steam room, whirlpool bath, massage, and specialhave it full of people.” ized exercise equipment. Four lounges were available for

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Jewish Family Service: A history of caring by BERT LEWIS ers to American ways of life, so did our current JFS wel- and Passover are celebrated with gift baskets and greetings Experience has taught me that when telling a story about come and teach and encourage those recent arrivals. appropriate for each festival. Adoption Services are availa person or a thing, it’s best to begin at the beginning. For Perhaps there’s a grain of truth in the old adage which able with help from professional staff, trained in the skills that reason, this story about Jewish Family Service will start says “there’s nothing new under the sun”. I could fill pages necessary to navigate the often complex adoption process. with some of the lesser known facts of its Special Needs Jewish Family Service is inception, a little over one hundred years prepared to act as advocate for any client or ago. Unfortunately, research only proved community member with special needs. there was a scarcity of hard facts about what They provide support, information and JFS was like in its infancy. However, almost referral services where needed, as well as by accident some, if not many bits and assistance in other areas. Counseling may pieces were brought to light. be the best known of all the services providBy accident? Well yes. Among many yeled by JFS. Licensed Mental Health lowed and fragile papers were some eight or Practitioners are prepared to meet the nine booklets titled Annual Report, Jewish needs of individuals, couples, families and Welfare Federation of Omaha, Nebraska. children. Counseling is available to all The most intriguing one described what it clients, regardless of religion, gender, ethwas like for the Jewish community of nicity or ability to pay. Omaha in the year 1919, but there were also There are more services, including Yachad, such booklets for 1920, ‘21, ‘23, ‘24 and ‘27. but this list should supply anyone with the It seems logical to believe each year was so information necessary to answer the quesrepresented, but there were no other books tion, What does Jewish Family Service Do? to prove that. Executive Director of JFS, Karen Gustafson, Back to the booklet, and to my feeling that says: “I’ve learned over the years that no perhaps the most interesting part of history amount of advertising or story writing will is the name, and what it actually entailed. It inform many community members of the seems that Jewish Welfare Federation was work we do every day. It is not until you need Back row, left to right: Mark Kazor, Sandy Nogg, Melissa Whetzal, Karen Gustafson, Sally essentially what we think of today as “Jewish us that you can appreciate that we are here.” Kaplan, and Nate Bock. Front: Jan McCarthy and Teresa Drelicharz Family Service,” except that it also was comAsked about her hopes for the future of JFS, prised of many other separate entities, which we now call with both similarities and differences between that earlier she reiterated: agencies. century when this agency was in its infancy and today’s “Our job is to be here for you when you need us. We’re Jewish Welfare Federation was a huge umbrella under century, when every day we see that in many ways, some of the quiet, reliable agency; when you realize you need us, which there were individual sub groups to handle a large the same work is still being done. And we see that it’s still you know that we’re here for you. We aren’t flashy, we do variety of needs of the community. Done while basically necessary. In the little booklet which reveals the annual not shout from the rooftops, we don’t share stories. We just caring for what they called “well rounded activity in social report of 1919, the Presidents Report includes this quote: ‘do’. Every day we help to feed someone who doesn’t have endeavor and communal welfare work.” Those sub groups “The growth of our institution in influence and strength as enough food. Every day we provide support to those who were properly called committees, and if this sounds some- a force for the achievement of good and for the solution of need someone to care. Every day we provide professional what ambiguous, check out the committees in place in social and philanthropic problems in the community has therapy services. And every day we provide a caring envi1919: Relief Committee, Finance Committee, Social been steady and healthy.” Obviously they were proud of ronment for our community members with special needs Service Committee, Employment Committee, Hospital their achievements and wanted the community to under- to make sure they feel supported and loved by their comCommittee, Legal Aid, Free Loan and Educational com- stand what they were accomplishing. munity and are being encouraged to grow and thrive to mittees. Today, as we scan the list of the various items under the their fullest potential.” If you’re familiar with our present day JFS, you will notice heading of “Community Assistance,” it’s plain to see that Karen’s committment to her work is evident when she that many of today’s JFS departments bear a distinct like- the professionals of JFS are tending to all the important says: “We will continue to look at the services we provide ness to those of 90 some years ago. Way back then, demo- needs of the community. Current concerns include the fol- and ask ourselves if there is anything we can do better. Our graphics were notably different. For example, early in the lowing: Emergency Financial Assistance, which means improvements don’t often come in a flashy program offered 1900s, there were still fairly large numbers of incoming short term help to those who require support and relief to the community. They come in the quality of the services refugees from other parts of the world, principally middle from financial crisis due to unexpected circumstances. we provide on a daily basis.” and eastern Europe. “Crisis Intervention and Referral” means JFS can respond To sit back and listen to her speak about her work is to These newcomers required help in many areas, from lan- directly to those impacted by crisis in the community, know that she truly loves what she does. In fact, early in our guage, finding work, finances, etc. Not so different from whether individuals or even groups. “Family Life Education conversation she said “I have never loved a job more. Every today’s newcomers to this country, as our present JFS and Enrichment” means skilled professionals are there to day I come to work with a passion for what I do.” learned when the Soviets began opening its doors for the help family relationships if problems make an appearance. A listener can only conclude that our Jewish community Jews, who fled in droves. Just as those “committees” of early Project Tzedakah and Project Dreidel sees to it that for is indeed fortunate to have such a devoted and dedicated Jewish Welfare Federation introduced the foreign newcom- families or individuals in need, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah professional at the helm of our JFS.

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B3

Passover: Israel style by JUDY LASH BALINT Newspapers are replete with articles about (JNS.org) JERUSALEM – Not every Israeli selfless Israelis who volunteer by the hunobserves Passover, but every Israeli knows dreds in the weeks before the holiday to colPassover is coming. Preparations for the lect, package and distribute Passover supseven-day holiday are impossible to ignore plies to the needy. and encroach on almost every facet of life in In Jerusalem alone, more than 40 restauthe weeks leading up to Seder night. rants close a few days before Passover, clean Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reveals that 88 percent of Israelis will take part in a Seder and 47 percent will eat only kosher for Passover items during the holiday. As for Israel’s army, some 200 IDF chaplains, including reservists, are pressed into service to commence the massive task of koshering the hundreds of kitchens, mess halls and eating corners used by soldiers at bases all over the country. According to Rabbi Zev Roness, a captain in the Armored Training School, “It’s a whole operation. The army prepares more than a month before Passover to ensure that all of the army kitchens meet the highest kosher for Passover standards.” Street scenes in Israel change every day before Passover according to what’s halakhically necessary: Several days before the Seder, Above: Koshering underway on a Jerusalem street. Below: young men wielding blow Burning chametz on a Jerusalem street on the eve of Credit: Judy Lash Balint torches preside over huge vats Passover. of boiling water stationed every few blocks on the street and in the courtyard of every mikveh. The lines to dunk metal utensils start to grow every day, and at the last minute before the Seder, blow torches are at the ready to cleanse every last gram of chametz from oven racks and stove tops lugged through the streets by kids or overwrought mothers. Prominent newspaper ads from Israel’s Energy Ministry feature dire warnings about the dangers out and revamp their menus and open up inherent in cleaning gas burners. The text of with rabbinic supervision for the holiday to the ads advises on the minutiae of taking serve kosher for Passover meals to tourists apart the metal covers to get at that last bit of as well as the hordes that are sick of cooking chametz. after the Seder. No alarm clock is needed in the preSince most of the country is on vacation Passover period; clanging garbage trucks do for the entire week of Passover, all kinds of the trick as they roll through the neighbor- entertainment and trips are on offer. The hood every morning during the two weeks annual Boombamela beach festival, kid’s before Passover to accommodate all the activities at the Bloomfield Science refuse from the furious cleaning going on. Museum, concerts in Hebron, explorations Two days before the Seder, there’s the annu- at the City of David, solidarity excursions to al pickup of oversized items and appliances. the Shomron and music festivals at the Dead Dozens of antiquated computer monitors Sea are all popular. The popular Hebrew and old toaster ovens stand forlornly next to Bananagram game has even invented a spethe garbage bins. cial Passover version with points for words The day before Passover, families seek out in the Haggada. empty lots to burn the remainder of their The Passover theme of freedom and exochametz gleaned from the previous night’s dus in Israel even extends to criminals. Israel meticulous search. The city is dotted with Radio announces that 700 prisoners will get sputtering fires despite ads posted by the a furlough to spend the holiday with family. Jerusalem municipality announcing the According to the Ministry of Agriculture, location of official chametz burning bins Israel’s fishmongers will sell 1,100 tons of and banning fires in any other areas. carp, 80 tons of St Peters fish and 300 tons of Most flower shops stay open all night for mullet this Passover season to satisfy the the two days before Passover, working fever- tastes of gefilte fish lovers as well as the ishly to complete the orders that will grace Moroccan-style chraime fish eaters. the nation’s Seder tables. In every ultra-Orthodox neighborhood, Observant Jews mark the seven weeks men and boys block the narrow streets with between Passover and Shavuot by carrying hand trucks piled high with sacks of carrots, out some of the laws of mourning. One of potatoes and oranges and cartons of eggs -these is the prohibition against cutting hair. all courtesy of the Kimcha D’Pischa funds As a result, barber and beauty shops are that funnel donations from abroad to Israeli jammed with customers in the pre-Passover Haredim. days. At the entrance to many large supermarMailboxes overflow with appeals from a kets, teenagers hand out flyers listing myriad of organizations helping the poor. Continued on page B4

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B4 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

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by AMBER PARTIN The 1980s. It was a decade that allowed the Jewish Community Center of Omaha to progress and expand. This growth was not only concerning the physical structure of the building, but also the programs and outreach initiatives available to the Jewish community.

Omaha in general. The 52-unit Livingston Apartments would be built in conjunction with the 80-unit, long term care facility, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Named after beloved philanthropist Rose Blumkin, (“Mrs. B”), this facility would replace the 45-bed Dr. Philip Sher Home built in 1946, just north of 52nd and Ames. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 14, 1981. The same gold-plated shovel used in the 1972 JCC groundbreaking ceremony broke the ground for the Livingston Apartments and Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. There were 500 attendees of all generations who witnessed this important event in Jewish Omaha history. Construction began in September of that year. Applications for the apartments were taken in December. July of 1982 saw the opening ceremony for the Livingston Apartments, during which Rabbi Sidney Brooks said: “We have brought our dreams to reality ... we express our love and our care of those who have cared for us.” How true ... and beyond the impressive square footage of both the Livingston Apartments and Rose Blumkin Jewish Home was the The JCC after a spring rain. heartbeat of the Jewish community for servCookie and Jerry Hoberman were two ing their elders. individuals who set into motion the In the midst of the Center for Aging’s excitgrowth and possibility for the JCC at the ing construction, the JCC continued to serve beginning of the 1980s. The couple had its young population as well, by making room a vision for strengthening Jewish for the Jewish Day School of Omaha in 1982. Omaha as well as giving the JCC a new The school, which had formerly been housed challenge -- 1000 members of the Jewish at the Montessori Elementary School, would community were invited to attend the offer both general and Jewish education. Men’s Invitational Dinner on April 20. Students of the Jewish Day School would find This dinner would not only bring Jews their cultural, social and recreational educatogether for an evening of unity, but it tion enriched by being housed in the JCC. would also raise funds for programThe school opened its doors in the fall of that ming. A portion of the money would be year. used toward settling Russian families in All of this construction and expansion proOmaha. Committees and volunteers vided a glimpse of how the future would look came together to make it happen -- only for the Jewish community. The children’s educonfirming what had been said about cation was enhanced. Compassionate care the JCC in the 70s: “...the Center IS the Jim McCrea checking on part was provided for the sunset years of the elderof the JCC systems. Jewish Community.” ly, which brought comfort to families and The JCC’s gymnasium was commonly used for slam their loved ones. But not everything about the JCC’s dunks and running track. Now, it would be transformed growth was solely about the future. In 1982, the Nebraska into a dining area, complete with atmospheric décor. It Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) provided a vital window truly would be a challenge ... and one that would prove into the past. how well the facility accommodated such an event and Mary Arbitman Fellman and Oliver Pollack founded the crowd. Jim Farber, the head of the Men’s Campaign that NJHS to provide a strong foundation for Jewish history in year, believed the dinner would “bring the community Omaha. Printed materials, photographs and artifacts pertogether as an evening of the people, by the people, for the taining to families, businesses, ceremonies and special people.” He also hoped the dinner would be a demonstra- events would be displayed within the inner corridors of the tion of the Jewish community’s ability to handle its prob- JCC. This educational department would place a cornerlems. “Our population is getting older and we must solve stone into the lives of Jewish families -- it was a visible the needs of the aging.” It was a foreshadowing of the good record of their ancestors and gave them a feeling of being that was to come, and the largest building project for the rooted in Omaha’s history. campus of that decade. Human service efforts and education were only a part of On April 20, 1980, 722 men and women gathered for the what the JCC of the 1980s was offering Jewish Omaha. Not Men’s Invitational Dinner. Spacing restrictions at the gym to be forgotten was the flourishing artistic community. By cut down the possible attendance of 1000 members; the the mid-80s, the art gallery had seen a wide variety of event conceived by the Hobermans nonetheless was a painters, sculptors, photographers and many other artists tremendous success. Incredibly, $ one million was raised. whose expressions of beauty and pain in life had been on Jim Farber’s foreshadowing of the need for elderly care display. The gallery proved that the world-renowned and soon became a strong light shed on future projects. In local artist was welcome and given equal opportunities to August of 1980, the City Council approved zoning changes shine in Omaha. at the JCC for the proposed construction of two new facilThe JCC of the 80s was everything and more that had ities that would be combined to create the Center for the been dreamed of in its initial construction in the 70s. Every Aging. generation’s needs were met. But the 90s would prove to In 1981, the plans for an apartment for the elderly were serve more than just the needs of Jewish Omahans. There well under way. The name given to it would honor Milton would be an opportunity to reach out and assist Jews from and Corinne Livingston, philanthropists and pillars of other countries who would choose Omaha as a haven and leadership, not only in the Jewish community but in place for personal growth -- and freedom.

Passover: Israel style Continued from B3 suggested items generous shoppers may purchase to be placed in bins for distribution to needy families. Israel’s chief rabbis sell the nation’s chametz to one Hussein Jabar, a Moslem Arab resident of Abu Ghosh. Estimated worth: $150 billion secured by a down payment of NIS 100,000. Jabar took over the task some 16 years ago, after the previous buyer, also from Abu Ghosh, was fired when it was discovered his maternal grandmother was Jewish. At the Kotel, workers perform the twice-yearly ritual

(pre-Passover and pre-Rosh Hashanah) of removing thousands of personal notes stuffed into the crevices of the Kotel, prior to burying them on the Mount of Olives. Finally, the end of Passover is marked by the festive Maimouna, a traditional holiday celebrated by North African Jews immediately following Passover. In recent years, Maimouna has become a national day marked by music, eating sweets and pastries and political glad-handing before everyone heads back to work until the fast-approaching season of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Jerusalem Day.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B5

Asking the real experts at Friedel Jewish Academy by OZZIE NOGG In 1973, the year our JCC was built, Tammy Wynette had a number one country hit song titled, Kids Say the Darndest Things. Taking our lead from Tammy, and the TV comedy series Kids Say the Darndest Things (thanks, Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby), the Jewish Press recently interviewed a group of Friedel Jewish Academy students (ages 5 to 12) to hear what they had to say about the JCC at Forty. The kids were asked three questions. (1) Why do you come to the Jewish Community Center? (2) What is your favorite part of the JCC building? (3) What would you change if you were in charge? And the kids did say the darndest things, as evidenced by these responses to question #3. “I would give out memberships to everyone.” “I’d make membership cheaper.” “I would change the price so poor people can come.” Bless their hearts. In another forty years these three ‘kids’ could be in Congress, working on behalf of benefits for low income folks... But kids are kids, after all, and while the above three answers show an awakening social consciousness, most interview answers reflected the age-appropriate interests of grade-schoolers. Examples: in response to question #1, most youngsters said they come to the JCC to attend classes at Friedel, learn Hebrew, play sports in the gym, swim in the pools, take part in dance classes, act in or see the plays and hang out with friends -- answers that would please the men and women who built this JCC in 1973, and bring smiles to the current lay leadership and staff. In other words, mission accomplished. Omaha Jewish youth are in the JCC building, learning and having fun. The answer to question #2 -- what is your favorite part of the JCC building -- was a toss-up between the library, Friedel, the pools and the gym. Many kids think the current JCC is totally terrific. “I would change nothing because I like it the way it is,” swooned a pre-teen. Another starryeyed girl said, “On Mondays my class goes to the pool for

swim lessons, and sometimes when my mom is running late I go to the canteen. I like the hallway from the theater to the Jewish Press because art is always hanging up. I wouldn’t change anything really. The JCC is perfect the way it is, and I love it.”

Still, other students weren’t shy about describing changes they’d make were they in charge of the JCC. “I think they should put some more books in the library for people my age in the 6th grade that we would like.” “I’d get something that would warm the towels at the pool so they’d stay warm, always warm, all day.” “I would put in a refrigerated vending machine that had healthier items.” “I would clean the floors. They are gross.” “Well, I’ve noticed that the Israeli flag is ripped. You should really mend that. It looks like the Jewish community doesn’t care about Israel or their flag.” “I would have the gum scraped off the canteen tables.” “A bigger celebration for Yom Ha’atzmaut -- Israel Independence Day.” “I would have more programs with the synagogues in Omaha.”

“I would make everyone do math or you couldn’t go to the pool.” “I would make the walls more colorful. Less brown.” Younger Friedel students suggested the addition of a hot tub by the pool, allowing kids in the workout room, lots of candy every day, and jelly water to swim in. Also, “I would let people not go to school,” as well as “I would let people bring nerf guns.” And here’s a suggestion the staff might seriously want to consider: “I’d see that everyone in the building only had to work one hour.” Obviously, these three very simple interview questions -- plus the young ages of our sample group -- made for narrow market research results. IBut several answers proved that the very existence of the JCC and its educational, cultural, social and recreational programming, helps foster Jewish identity. “I come to the JCC because it’s where most of the things in our lives happen,” said a 12-year old girl. “At the JCC, I feel connected to the Jewish people,” answered one eleven year old boy. Yes. Kids do say the darndest things. Thoughtful, powerful things. Be sure to listen to them at your seder tables this year. Our thanks to the participation of Friedel students Hannah Stein, 12 1/2; Josh Stein, 12; Gabby Witkowski, 12; Destiny Howard, 11; Eylon Caplan, 11; Ilana McNamara, 11; Lillian Cohen, 11; Daniel Rosenfeld, 11; Lily Goldberg, 11; Isabella Wright, 11; Doron Margalit, 10; Zoe Berman, 10; Sarah Aoki, 10; Becca Denenberg, 10; Danny Denenberg, 10; Abby Kohll, 10; Rachel Kricsfeld, 10; Yael Schuller, 10; David Kay, 9; Shmuel Shyken, 9; Matan Shapiro, 9; Leora McNamara, 9; Jack Cohen, 8; Aviva Shyken, 8; Peyton Kelln, 8; Julian Witkowski, 8; Mendel Wright, 8; Noah Shrago, 8; Ari Finkelstein, 8; Isaac Clarke, 8; Ethan Finkelstein, 8; Jake Lucoff, 8; Leah Gurock, 8; Liora Shapiro, 8; Doniven Polivka, 7; Noah Blair, 7; Sophia Mavropoulos, 7; Linda Rosenfeld, 6; Ilan Modrkamen, 6; Shevy Shyken, 6; Mo Blair, 6; Sasha Belle Denenberg, 6; Brandon Raffel, 6; Oliver Lucoff, 6; Armond Davis, 6; Shiloh Wertheim, 5. Jacob Gurock, 5; Max Gurock, 5.

B6 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Is Elijah, the annual Passover guest, also the ‘Jewish Santa Claus’? by SEAN SAVAGE (JNS.org) In millions of Jewish homes across the world each Passover, a special cup of wine is poured and the door is opened for Elijah the prophet. But how did this tradition start? Who is the prophet Elijah and how can modern Jews relate to this Biblical figure?

The Prophet Elijah Credit: Wikimedia Commons “Passover is the season of redemption and the Prophet Elijah is seen as a redemptive figure in Judaism. The book of Malachi describes how Elijah will return and announce the coming of the Messiah and redeem his people,” Dr. Marc Shapiro, who holds the Weinberg Chair of Judaic Studies at the University of Scranton, told JNS.org. Indeed, Elijah’s role in the Bible is often to encourage the Jewish people to do what’s right, to steer away from false gods like the Phoenician Baal, and to obey Hashem. In later rabbinic literature such as the Aggadah and Babylonian Talmud, a more complete picture of Elijah emerges, including Elijah’s role as someone who fights injustice on behalf of God. For early rabbis, Elijah was also seen as someone who would visit communities and settle disputes of legal problems. This may be how Elijah became associated with the Passover seder.

“The real reason is because there is a dispute in the Talmud about how many glasses of wine we drink at the seder -- four or five. So we leave the fifth cup on the table for Elijah. The thinking is when the Elijah and the Messiah comes, he will solve this dispute for us,” Shapiro said. But since Passover is a widely recognized Jewish holiday that is celebrated even by many less observant and secular Jews who normally do not have much attachment to Jewish tradition, they may not be aware of the important redemptive role Elijah plays or the Talmudic dispute over the Passover seder. “Most Jews probably don’t know the story of Elijah in the Bible, all they probably know is that they pour a glass of wine and open their door for Elijah, that’s it,” Rabbi Laura Baum of Congregation Beth Adam in Loveland, Ohio -- who is also the founding rabbi of OurJewishCommunity .org, an online progressive Jewish community -- told JNS.org. Therefore, in order to connect the story of Elijah to many modern Jews, Jewish leaders such as Baum have come up with creative new ways of bringing the story of Elijah to life.

having fun. So why not have fun with the story of Elijah and capitalize on his journey around the world?” Baum said. Baum expanded on this point in an article for the Huffington Post last year that described Elijah’s role as a “Jewish Santa Claus.” “Sometimes religion becomes so serious and sometimes ritual feels like it must be laden with meaning. That framework is valuable, sometimes. Yet, there’s also value in adding an intentional playfulness to religion,” she wrote. As a result, OurJewishCommunity.org launched the ElijahTracker.com website, which allows people from all over the world to follow Elijah on his journeys during the week of Passover. “We have been doing it for two years now and people are really excited about it,” Baum told JNS.org. “One of the other cool things we did is we had people from Jewish communities around the world take photos for us,” she said. “We then placed a figure of Elijah there, to show him visiting these places. It is a great way to get kids involved in the holiday.”

The homepage of ElijahTracker.com, which allows users to follow Elijah on his journeys during the week of Passover. Credit: Elijatracker.com One of those new ways is to connect the mysterious and mythical figure of Elijah with another-- Santa Claus. “What I realized is that Elijah’s role during Passover is very similar to Santa Claus’s during Christmas,” Baum said. “Elijah and Santa Claus have this theoretical journey around the world, visiting homes and having food and drinks left out for them.” The story of Santa Claus is based on the legend of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek Christian Bishop living modern-day Turkey who became famous for his generous gifts to the poor. Like Elijah in the Bible, Saint Nicholas, and his later incarnation as the modern-day Santa Claus, is seen as a fighter of injustice. “As a liberal Jew, Judaism is a lot of different things: community, connection to tradition, and an evolving framework of how we think about the world. But Judaism is also about

On ElijahTracker.com, Elijah is seen visiting places from all over the world, from Hawaii to Uganda to, of course, Israel. Baum said she plans to keep the ElijahTracker.com site going again this year during Passover. She hopes that people can take away a positive message about Elijah. “The story of Elijah encourages us to have a positive impact on the world,” Baum said. “We want to empower people to have a positive impact and there are messages associated with Elijah like that.”

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Tuesday, March 26, for Passover. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B7

New haggadahs: Edgar Bronfman’s and an interactive version for kids by PENNY SCHWARTZ BOSTON (JTA) -- Francine Hermelin Levite and Edgar Bronfman have been using unique versions of the Passover Haggadah for years. Now both have decided to publish their versions of the Exodus story. Hermelin Levite, 43, the mother of three school-aged children, is the author of My Haggadah: Made it Myself, an interactive version for children of the ritual-laden book that is now available on Amazon.

which kids are asked to draw the personalities of guests at their seder. Blessings are written in Hebrew with English transliteration. In retelling the Exodus story, children are presented with an empty suitcase and asked to think about what they would take if they had to leave in a hurry. Hermelin Levite hopes the provocative questions spark conversation. She credits her Jewish education and a

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Francine Hermelin Levite was motivated in part to create My Haggadah: Made it Myself by the food allergies of her son. Credit: Made it Myself Books

In creating his haggadah, Edgar Bronfman says the popularity of Passover offers a unique opportunity to teach young people Credit: Rizzoli what Judaism is about.”

Bronfman, 84, the business giant and Jewish philanthropist, offers The Bronfman Haggadah (Rizzoli) illustrated by his wife, the artist Jan Aronson. Hermelin Levite’s journey to publishing a Haggadah began about eight or nine years ago when she joined some unaffiliated young Jewish families living in lower Manhattan who were banding to create a Passover celebration. Growing up in Detroit, Hermelin Levite says she enjoyed lively and inspirational seders led by her father, who followed the traditional haggadah embellished by music he composed and other innovations. But she knew it was not a universal experience. Hermelin Levite, a one-time journalist, educational software developer and graphic designer, volunteered to compile the haggadah. She said it had to resonate with kids and families of multiple backgrounds. She also was motivated by the needs of her young son, who has severe food allergies to nuts, chicken and wheat. “He was allergic to the food of Passover,” she recalls thinking and vowed to create a seder in which he could participate. Hermelin Levite recognized that children communicate in various ways. “The book is designed to invite artistic expression ranging from simple stickers to more complex collage and discussion,” she said, adding that her husband, also a graphic designer, helped with the images. Over the years, her do-it-yourself, handson haggadah has become popular through word of mouth. Last year she decided to self publish and was amazed with the number of orders from far-flung locales such as Budapest and Hong Kong. This year, with a grant from Reboot, a nonprofit that supports innovative projects to engage young, unaffiliated Jews, Hermelin Levite is traveling across the country introducing the haggadah to new audiences. The spiral-bound haggadah will appeal to kids with all levels of knowledge of Jewish observance. To illustrate the passage of the four children -- the wise, wicked, simple and silent -the haggadah offers four blank faces in

family that fostered a love of Jewish experience with the inspiration for creating the haggadah. “I used to think I was an accidental children’s book author,” Hermelin Levite wrote to JTA in an email. “But given my upbringing, professional path and journey raising my kids, [writing the haggadah] seems to make the perfect sense.” Bronfman, too, has fond memories of his childhood seders as joyful gatherings of family, but says they were uninteresting, uninformative and rote. Over his lifetime, dissatisfied with the available haggadahs, he has cut and pasted passages from various versions to create more engaging seders in his own home. A few years ago he decided to create his own haggadah. “I wanted to get all the words right,” he said. The popularity of Passover offers a unique opportunity, he tells JTA. “We have a chance to teach young people what Judaism is about,” Bronfman said. Children’s author Eric Kimmel, the author of Wonders and Miracles, a Passover companion filled with art that in 2004 won a National Jewish Book award, applauds that spirit. “If the traditional version doesn’t work for you, come up with something else,” he advocates, with a nod to the tradition but also with a dose of disrespect, he adds with a laugh. “What’s important is to follow the biblical injunction to tell your children the story of Passover.” The Bronfman Haggadah is written entirely in English -- Bronfman quips it’s to appeal to most American Jews, who do not know Hebrew. The reading takes about an hourand-a-half. Unlike the traditional haggadah, Bronfman includes Moses, who he holds as a role model of a leader who asks questions and disrupts the status quo. But all the characters of the Exodus, including God, are represented as metaphor and not historical facts, he writes. Welcoming Elijah the prophet earlier in the seder underscores the Jewish value of welcoming in strangers, Bronfman says. Continued on page B10

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8 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 9

e things we do

W

hen the J was built, it was built by the community for the community. It was meant to be used, in many different ways, by many different people. And so we keep coming, young and old, day aer day. We meet old friends and make new ones, play mahjong, take classes and go to the movies. We check out books, we come to heal, to teach and to play basketball. We bring our children to school and go to the theater, we dance and work and make memories. And, we dress up--a lot.

B10 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Making the Seder fun again by DR. ERICA BROWN (JointMedia News Service) Three times in the book of Exodus and once in Deuteronomy, we are commanded to tell the master narrative of our people to our children. Sometimes it is because children ask, and we have a responsibility as bearers of a legacy to answer. Sometimes children do not ask, and we have to stimulate their curiosity by becoming wonderful storytellers. Storytellers need to know their stories to tell them well. They need a terrific script and a pinch of creativity. Most of all, they need to feel inspired. It is impossible to tell a great story if it fails to move the storyteller first. The rabbis of the Talmud wondered why four verses were necessary to communicate the obligation at Passover to retell the tale of the Exodus. They concluded that these four verses must represent four different kinds of children, offering an educational scale of learning styles or personalities who each must hear the story in his or her own way. One size fits all rarely fits anyone properly. Not only do we have to know the story well to tell it; we also need to know our audience well to make sure they hear it. The best stories are fun to tell and fun to hear. They incorporate all our senses. They offer a range of emotional responses from laughter to tears, and good stories have staying power. They continue to inform our values long after they are shared. The Exodus story can be all of that. But most often, it is none of that. It is told in a tepid and incoherent way, read from a poor English translation without color or charm. It is the weak content warm-up to most family meals, even though it is one of the most observed rituals among American Jews. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. Everyone appreciates a well-told story, so this year ask yourself: am I doing a good job in the chain of tradition at telling the Exodus story? Is my Seder fun? Will it be memorable for everyone around the table? If the answer is “not really,” here are a few ways to fulfill the biblical commandment to tell the story, and the Disney way to make it stick. Brush Up on the Details: No actor reads his lines the night of the musical. Don’t just dust off recipes. Take out a haggadah a few weeks before Passover and read it through. You might want to assign parts to your guests and ask them to do something creative with it. Reading Exodus 1-15 never hurts either. Use props: Great storytellers use props because objects

• Rest

• Rejuvenate

themselves are powerful storytellers. Find objects in your home that tell your family’s Jewish story and put them on the table. Or have every guest bring an object that tells his or her family story. Decorate the Room: You do it for birthday parties. Why not for Passover? Why should anyone sit in a dining room in suburbia when they could be in downtown ancient Cairo? Try costumes. We even had our kids write and read ancient weather reports. Chances are it’s hot and sunny. Sing the story with show tunes or ask the kids to prepare a rap song. Just go online and you’ll find loads of lyrics. Here are a few of my top ten: Sung to the tune of These are a Few of My Favorite Things Cleaning and cooking and so many dishes

Out with the hametz, no pasta, no knishes Fish that’s gefillted, horseradish that stings These are a few of our Passover things. Sung to the tune of Maria Elijah! I just saw the prophet Elijah. And suddenly that name Will never sound the same to me. Elijah! Sung to the tune of Just a Spoon Full of Sugar Just a tad of haroset helps the bitter herbs go down, The bitter herbs go down, the bitter herbs go down. Just a tad of haroset helps the bitter herbs go down, In the most disguising way. These are a few of my favorite things to help make Passover a living history lesson and a memorable evening each year. We are a people with no word for history, only memory. We are memory-makers. That is an awe-inspiring responsibility. Let’s do it well on the most important night of our story telling year. Dr. Erica Brown is the scholar-in-residence at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Her forthcoming book is Happy Endings: The Fine Art of Dying Well (Simon and Schuster).

New haggadahs Continued from page B7 New words to the popular song Dayenu express gratitude for establishing a homeland in Israel. Bronfman ends the seder with a call for spiritual peace in Jerusalem among Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs, and all warring peoples. Notably, Bronfman expands the narrative of the traditional haggadah to include the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. While the foundation of Jewish law is the theme of Shavuot, he acknowledges that most Jews are unaware of the holiday that follows Passover. “Freedom doesn’t mean anything without the responsibility of law,” Bronfman tells JTA. “To be free is a privilege we too often take for granted.”

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Aronson, who has fond memories of Passover seders growing up in New Orleans, spent nearly a year working on the illustrations for the Bronfman Haggadah, determined to avoid cliched images. To keep the images fresh -and to entertain youngsters -- she changes up the artistic styles from one page to another -- some are realistic, others abstract or geometric -- and also varies the mood and colors. A biblical map of the Exodus depicts the possible routes traveled by the Israelites. For the Ten Plagues, Aronson draws a large singing insect that will capture the attention of children. Miriam’s tambourine is vibrantly colored with long flowing ribbons that complement the joy described in the narrative as the Israelites escape bondage.

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B11

Why doesn’t he know how to ask?

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER My Passover column last year featured a translation of my teacher Rabbi Lior Engelman’s thoughts on the Wicked Child. Here is what Rabbi Engelman has to say about the last of the Seder’s four sons, the one who doesn’t know how to ask. A Child Made To Order Nothing tops a child who doesn’t know how to ask. We’re speaking about the easiest kid in the world: he sticks to the tried and true, he doesn’t question or challenge, he doesn’t cause trouble, and he is not chutzpadik. A child made to order. He’s far from the wicked son who scornfully asks “what is this worship of yours?” And unlike the simple son, he doesn’t even ask “what’s this?” He’s just a shy, good boy blessed with good manners. Not for nothing is he beloved of parents and teachers. How pleasant to raise a child like this, how easy it is to bask in the illusion that his lack of questions means that there really aren’t any problems. How tempting to then become a parent who doesn’t know how to ask, who doesn’t stir up trouble by wondering why their child doesn’t ask any questions. Fear of the Absence of Answers It’s frightening to ask! A child might think to himself: “Maybe if I do get up the courage to ask questions that are really bothering me, maybe it will become apparent that there are no answers to my questions and I will be condemned to live with doubts all my life.” Fear of the absence of an answer can silence the need to ask. We are not speaking here of one who doesn’t ask because his path is clear to him. On the contrary: this is a child who has no true belief that he will receive a proper answer to his questions. He has no faith in answers that the Torah might provide, he does not trust his parents or teachers, and above all he does not believe in himself. And so he chooses to float in calm, question-less waters--not because he doesn’t have what to ask, but because he does not have hope for answers. Not infrequently a child who does not know how to ask is

the product of surroundings that do not really provide a place to question. Any time the child asked he was put off or silenced, or his teachers frantically hurried to come up with an immediate, shallow answer. The child learned that there are questions that one does not ask and there are thoughts that one does not think. Eventually he would himself silence his own questions--for what good can there be found in raising questions in a world without answers? Fear of the Meaning of the Answers There is a different type of child who doesn’t ask. This one does not fear the absence of answers; rather, he is bothered by the answers’ consequences. He knows that the courage to ask will yield answers that will make demands upon him. He is threatened by the significance of these answers, and thus he chooses to hide behind the mask of “everything’s fine.” This child who does not know how to ask is not necessarily one who finds it difficult to ask questions of others. We are speaking about someone who does not know how to ask questions about himself, about his life, about his path. He has questions, he is certain that there are answers, but he feels that they are liable to shake him to his core. The fear of the meaning of the answers causes him to neglect the questions. It’s easier for him to assume a calm expression and simply not to know how to ask. “And the one who does not know how to ask--open for him.” It’s certainly pleasant to raise a child who accepts everything as given, who does not force us to struggle with questions that we ourselves did not dare to ask. Pleasant but not right. How wonderful to live within a family that does question, that believes in a child’s ability not to fall to pieces in light of his questions. Such a family believes in the power of a question to open up new vistas and to be rewarded with grand answers. “And the one who does not know how to ask--open for him.” Open for him an opening for belief in his ability to ask big questions and to discover worlds. This child, the one who doesn’t know how to ask could be my son, my daughter, my brother or my student, and sometimes, this child could simply be me. 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@net vision.net.il.

Chocolate shakes up the seder ritual by DEBORAH PRINZ pants to consider labor justice and spotlight Passover’s (JTA) -- Rabbi Adam Schaffer, who’s been leading choco- underlying messages of freedom, dignity and fairness. late seders since he edited a chocolate seder haggadah in In A Socially Responsible Haggadah for a Chocolate Seder, 1996, acknowledges that “people often do feel ill” from all chocolate becomes the medium for uncovering teachings the chocolate. about ethical kashrut, worker Still, Schaffer, the religious equity and food sustainability to school director at Temple Aliyah celebrate those who toil, often in in Woodland Hills, Calif., says great poverty, to grow and harhe was motivated to “experivest cacao, including children ment outside the box and and young adults -- some of engage college students who them in bondage in the Ivory were not in the usual Hillel Coast and Ghana’s cocoa plantatrack,” and found that the tions. The haggadah hopes for a chocolate seder took things to a harvesting of the fruits of pro“fun level, helping make connecductive, meaningful and safe tions for people, re-contextuallabors. izing the seder.” The custom of three matzahs -In the last couple of decades, the chocolate haggadah version college campus groups and synuses chocolate-covered -- recalls agogue youth groups have conour tikkun olam, our ongoing cocted the seders that replace struggle to perfect the world, as the ritual foods with chocolate. we consider responsibility for There is green-colored chocothe contrast between the limited late for the karpas/lettuce; resources of most cacao growers chocolate-covered nuts for the and the wealthy consumers of charoset mix of nuts, apples and chocolate. When we cover our wine representing mortar used matzah with chocolate, we recall in building for the Pharoah; a that not only are we descended chocolate egg for the roasted egg from slaves in Egypt, we recall symbolizing the Passover sacrichild slaves on cocoa plantations fice; a very dark 90 percent to of our time. 100 percent chocolate for the As we prepare to celebrate bitter herbs or maror. You get On the Chocolate Trail is the latest book by Rabbi Passover this year, may we feel Deborah Prinz, the author of A Socially Responsible assured that we have helped the idea. Haggadah for a Chocolate Seder. A chocolate-soaked seder may advance the messianic era help sugar-hyped participants absorb the ritual’s teachings through our tantalizing array of chocolate choices, not just about freedom. An alternative to wallowing in the gooey chocolate matzah. substitutes for the usual ritual foods, as entertaining as that Rabbi Deborah Prinz is the author of A Socially might be, could use chocolate to name the issues of slavery, Responsible Haggadah for a Chocolate Seder, which may economic justice and fair trade in the chocolate business be found at her blog, www.jews-onthechocolatetrail.org. and to elevate the profound themes of Passover. Her latest book is On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious My chocolate haggadah amplifies awareness about ethi- Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, cal quandaries around chocolate, and challenges partici- Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao (Jewish Lights.)

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From L.A., following the Egyptian signs to the Red Sea by EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- If the Passover haggadah seems like hieroglyphics to you, it could be a good thing. Though the Israelites left Egypt presumably to escape the ankhs and eyes of Horus of the ancient written language, recently I discovered that hieroglyphics -- a system of pictorial characters -- had a way of writing me into the haggadah. Considering that on Passover we are com-

identical roles in the flesh and blood.” Now doesn’t that beat Uncle Earl droning through the Four Sons? Still thinking about those costumes, I left in haste for the theater. Upon arriving at its columned courtyard, I sat on a bench for a pre-holiday lunch of matzah and hard-boiled egg. Looking out at the surrounding cement walls that were cast to resemble stone blocks, I read a passage from a haggadah that I had brought along:

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Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics painted on a Hollywood theater wall inspire a new reading of the Passover haggadah. Credit: Brenda Rodman

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manded to re-enact an event of which we have no memory, perhaps adding some details from the Egyptian point of view might deepen our understanding, or at the very least acclimate us to the theme of leaving Egypt. Besides, since the current Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi had been seen recently in a video telling Egyptians to teach their children hatred for Jews, I was looking for a way to ameliorate my own responsive charged feelings and not bring them to the seder table. Carol Meyers, a professor of religion at Duke University in an interview on the PBS show NOVA, related, “There are other ways of understanding how people have recorded events of their past. There’s something called mnemohistory, or memory history,” she said. “It’s a kind of collective cultural memory.” I wondered, would looking into the holiday with an Egyptian eye help me to recover some of that cultural memory and see past the present? After sitting through seders for so many years, where a trip through the Exodus often becomes an endurance race to the matzah ball soup, I knew that my cultural memory definitely could use some augmentation and elaboration. To freshen my “mnemohistory” -- this being Los Angeles, where movie magic memories are made -- I made tracks for the historic Egyptian Theater in the heart of the Hollywood Boulevard tourist district. The theater, an ornate Egyptian Revival movie palace that had a large stage to accommodate the elaborate prologues before the films, recently was refurbished. Developed by Charles Toberman along with the Jewish impresario Sid Grauman of Grauman’s Chinese Theater fame, the theater had opened in 1922. As luck would have it, a few weeks later, King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in Egypt, resulting in an Egyptian craze that swept the nation. Further connecting the theater to the Exodus, I found that the The Ten Commandments debuted there in 1923. According to the theater’s website, the prologue for the Cecil B. DeMille silent epic featured more than 100 costumed performers on stage, including “players seen in their

“They put taskmasters over them to oppress them in their suffering; and they built the store-cities for Pharaoh, Pithom and Ramses.” And movie theaters as well? As I poured myself a little juice, I tried to decipher the hieroglyphics -- scarabs, ankhs, jackals, birds and snakes -- that were painted on a nearby wall. For me, Egyptian imagery conjures up a creepy feeling of deja vu. Was it a cultural memory from the generations spent in Egypt? More likely just the result of too many haggadahs illustrated with pyramids, crooks and flails. Even if the Exodus story has no basis in historical evidence, it is such a keystone story, so imbedded in Jewish outlook and religious practice, that when you see the signs of Egypt, even in kitschy indecipherable fashion, they speak to you. On the hieroglyphics wall there were no cute wind-up frogs or Ten Plagues puppets like the kids have at the seder. But looking up at them, I wondered whether after the hail, lice, boils and cattle death if some Egyptians might have wanted to inscribe “Hebrews go now” on a wall. Below the hieroglyphics I noticed a couple of cartouches. Originally worn by the pharaohs, the oval-shaped inscriptions could be worn as an amulet or be placed on a tomb. Thinking about the 10th plague -- the death of the Egyptian firstborn -- I imagined the resulting stacks of amulets. It put new meaning in the seder custom of taking a drop of wine from our cups, demonstrating that we are not rejoicing over our enemy’s loss. Curious how my own name would look on a cartouche -- as apparently are others -I used my smartphone to go a hieroglyphics website that provides the Egyptian symbols to spell your name. Mine was represented by two reeds, a hand, an owl, a hawk and water -- images that made me feel like I was connected to a body of water; making me think of the shore of the Red Sea. To get to Passover, it was time to cross. Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B13

The Jewish Community Center and the 90s: Moving toward the 21st century by AMBER PARTIN The Jewish Community Center of Omaha had come a long way from its roots on 20th and Dodge to its resettlement on 132nd. The dream had become reality, and since 1926, the JCC had been providing the Jewish community with the programming and opportunities needed to not only flourish in their faith and culture, but also as leaders and productive citizens of their city. Now, the thriving community would be given an opportunity to shine with love for others. Soviet Jews facing oppression in their own country were arriving in Omaha to taste freedom and safety. Volunteers were recruited to provide food, transportation, shelter and monetary and in-kind donations. The Jewish community of Omaha had been so blessed that they could, in turn, be a blessing to others. In the words of Corrie ten Boom: “The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.” The donation of goodwill was exactly what the Jewish community had given to these people in dire need. What a great way to start a new decade and serve the Soviet Jews throughout the years. Another great start of the decade took place in 1993 when the JCC of Omaha received accolades as one of the best among centers in small communities -- nationwide. Avrim Namask, the director of western services of the JCC Association, complimented the commitment to the community and how the JCC of Omaha was actually larger than the eight centers in Los Angeles. This was an impressive feat, seeing that Omaha’s population overall was much smaller than the aforementioned California metropolis. Many Centers around the country were striving to do what the JCC of Omaha had already done -- create an environment that was solely Jewish. From the exhibits of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society to the artwork featured in the gallery, a special atmosphere had been created to welcome the Jewish members of the Center. Courses in Hebrew, Jewish ethics and history were also a vital part of the JCC’s services. Non-Jews were also given the opportunity to learn about Jewish faith and culture. The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society won the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Community Service Award of 1993 for creating an atmosphere that was both wholly Jewish and wholly nostalgic. An exhibit demonstrating life on North 24th Street from 1910 through the 1940s created an exhibit chockfull of photographs and artifacts that recreated the feeling of that time period. From the entryway of the JCC through the expanse of the art gallery, the exhibit included antique washing machines, a phonograph and old fashioned car. A Kosher deli was set up in the auditorium, offering foods from the time period as well. The exhibit brought older and young generations together for reminiscence and education. Fitness, as always, was still an extremely important feature of the JCC. A new fitness center was opened on Oct. 3, 1993. The plans for the center had taken a year to develop, but it was all worth the wait. The center featured state-of-the art weight equipment by Trotter as well as aesthetic features like new carpeting, rubber flooring and wrap-around mirrors. An extended fitness staff was also offered for the convenience of the members. Another addition to the JCC took place in August of 1994. The groundbreaking for the Dan and Esther Gordman Center for Jewish Learning at the southwest corner of the JCC. The Gordman Center, built by Hawkins Construction Company, included classrooms and offices of the Friedel Jewish Academy, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, the Henry and Dorothy C. Riekes Historical Museum and the Bureau of Jewish Education. That same month, the Historical Society received a special gift from the Herbert Goldsten trust -- a donation of $50,000 for the creation of the “Wall of Synagogue History.” This wall would be located in the Dan and Esther Gordman Center for Jewish Learning and would capture the story of Nebraska’s early and current synagogues through various memorabilia, photographs and historical artifacts. The dedication ceremony of the Gordman Center took place on May 21, 1995 and Friedel Academy, the first occupant of the new campus building, took advantage of the classrooms, offices, library, arts and sciences and music rooms, as well as the common area. Mike Katzman, chairman of the board for Friedel, proudly stated: “This new facility provides Friedel with the space, technology, and surroundings worthy

of its role as Omaha’s Jewish community school.” Education on the JCC campus was not limited to the youth. Nurses at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home were also receiving an education -- in utilizing cyberspace. It was a step

toward the 21st century and one deemed highly progressive by professionals of that time. So many of the Home’s operational systems were computerized and having computers (and staff who knew how to use them properly) was extremely important, especially if things were to continue to function properly in regards to service to the residents. This was a true embrace of the era of change that had come not only to Omaha, but the entire world. Technology was at the forefront of communication and the interconnectedness of all people. Toward the end of the 90s, a renovation that was both architectural and symbolic occurred at the JCC. Three new entrances would provide an inviting and updated atmosphere for current and future members. The Community entry would still be the main entrance of the building, but it

Bob Freeman

would be redesigned -- the area would be larger and brighter. This renovation would allow the area to have an enhanced appeal and usability. The Fitness Center would have gifted a new entryway as well -- a two story entry located on the east side of the building. There would also be a balcony overlooking the member services desk and lobby. The third entrance to receive renovation belonged to the Child Development Center. Skylights would be added to create an uplifting, bright ambiance that would also double as an area for people to meet. These renovations may have seemed simple to some, but in reality, the entrance to a building spoke multitudes to those who entered. It was the first impression. It was the non-verbal greeting. It was an embrace of family, of friends. Jews and non-Jews alike were able to enter into a community that met their personal needs, the needs of their families, the needs of their friends. The Jewish Community Center of Omaha in the 90s would become the JCC of the 2000s and onward -- opening its doors to those in need, growing its programs, widening its heart. The JCC was the Jewish community. Like the tightly woven threads of a quilt, it would not easily unravel. Their unity would hold them together for decades to come. “How good it is when God’s people live together in unity!” --Psalm 133:1

Troy Meyerson

B14 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

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Bert’s eye view BERT LEWIS So by now, you’ve no doubt noticed this issue of our JP is devoted to all kinds of stuff relating to our Jewish community back in 1973. The main building, which houses the JCC and the Federation and much else constituting the heart of what first became known as the J, was a very important 1973 new addition. The old JCC on 20th and Dodge, where my kids loved to hang out after classes at Central, had become obsolete. For that matter, both their dad and I had also spent many hours in that old building, along with many other Jewish Omahans. For some reason or other, I recall that my then senior in high school mentioned that she and her friends had been quizzed about a sort of “wish list” -- such as this kind of question: If you could make it happen, what would you like to see available in a new JCC? I don’t know how many of those wishes or suggestions ever became reality, but the kids liked being invited to offer ideas. Fast forward 40 years, and here we are, and it’s 2013 and everybody is getting excited about a 40th aniversary. Good. Who doesn’t enjoy a celebration? Thinking about all this, something else occurred to me. What else was going on in the world that year? After all, the planet didn’t revolve around just us Omaha Jews! So I began a little search (and you can guess where I looked), and turned up an amazing number of items that were in the news that year. I wonder how many you remember? In a list of statistics, I learned the average annual income was $12,900 and a

gallon of gas cost 40 cents. An AMC Javelin (a moderately priced car then) cost $2900. Amazing. All right, that’s enough numbers to make you gasp -- have a look at some of the things that were going on both here and abroad. 1973 was the year the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v Wade. The U.S. withdrew from Vietnam. Watergate hearings began in the Senate, and President Nixon told the world “I am not a crook.” (Which remained to be seen.) It was also the year of the attack on Israel in what became known as the Yom Kippur war. And here’s an odd one - this was the year the term Endangered Species became part of the English language. Let’s switch gears for a second, and check out Technology. Skylab, the United States’ first space station, was launched. Also, the Concorde was setting records in flying across the Atlantic in half the usual time. Average speed was 954 mph! Whew. That was also the year scientists taught us about genetic engineering, and the ubiquitous barcode began showing up on everything we bought. And, Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Also, a patent was granted for a new machine which would become a very much used object: the ATM. Ready for a change of pace? Spiro Agnew resigned as the VP -- it was a little matter of income taxes. And, from the obituary column, former President Lyndon B. Johnson died. Probably a good place to end all this wandering around the past is with this little reminder of how innocent and unsophisticated we were when it came to technology as we know it today. All we need to do is take note of the response to the transistor radio. It was received as a really big deal. Imagine, an actual radio small enough to carry in a pocket! What’ll they think of next?

I’m only mildly astonished at some of these startling numbers and facts, probably because most all of that is familiar to me. It doesn’t really seem like such a long time ago, but then I’m still apt to say when I realize I’ve got a wrong number, “Oh, I must have dialed wrong.” Dialed? oops. That’s already an anachronism! Okay, so here we are, and it’s 2013. Never

mind that eggs were just 45 cents a dozen in 1973. If, when I was a little kid, somebody had asked me what I thought it would be like in the year 2013, I’d have thought Flash Gordon maybe would be president. Probably we just ought to concentrate on right now, today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. You think? Bert Lewis can be reached at BertLewis 39@aol.com.

In new children’s books, it’s rhyme time about matzah and the seder by PENNY SCHWARTZ BOSTON (JTA) -- Years ago, Nancy Steiner set out to make her family seder a bit more entertaining for her own young kids. She wrote a poem that became very popular among family and friends. On This Night: The Steps of the Seder in Rhyme, Steiner’s first published children’s book, is an updated version of that poem with large format, brightly colored illustrations by Wendy Edelson that will appeal to religiously observant families. Along with Lotsa Matzah, it’s one of two new Passover books for the youngest children to enliven the beloved holiday. On This Night features lively rhymes that follow the 14 steps of the seder, with each section identified by its Hebrew name. In a phone interview with JTA from her home in Los Angeles, Steiner says she hopes the rhymes not only entertain but also reveal the heart of the holiday and the meaning behind the seder.

Part of the verse reads: “Telling the story each year like it’s new helps us to feel that it’s what WE went through.” Edelson’s lively illustrations of the seder night depict a contemporary religiously observant family with a modern aesthetic. Young girls and boys, whose heads are covered with kippot, are shown participating fully in the seder’s activities. A fuzzy yellow duckling tags along for the festival. Lotsa Matzah (Karn Ben), a board book by Tilda Balsley and illustrated by Akemi Gutierrez, sets the beat with lighthearted rhymes about matzah and Moses, and the hunt for the afikomen. One double-page spread offers some tempting ways to enjoy eating matzah -- with “syrup on fried matzah brei. Matzah pizza, cheese piled high.” “So shout it out! Hurray for matzah! It’s Passover and we’ll eat lotsa.” Gutierrez’s cartoon-like illustrations will Continued on page B15

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | B15

“Painting lessonsâ€? Reviewed by SYBIL KAPLAN The no-potato Passover by Aviva Kanoff, BRIO Publishing, $29.99 (plus $4.99 shipping and handling) available from amazon. com or nopotatopassover.com, 2012 This cookbook is “a journey of food, travel and color,â€? as the eclectic author demonstrates in writing it to “change the way we think about Passover food and to put an end to the cooking rut.â€? Writing this as a challenge, she decided to have her cookbook be “an expression of artistic sensibilities.â€? She introduces readers to spaghetti squash and quinoa as potential substitutes for potatoes and offers a wide variety of recipes using foods for Passover. There are 17 soups and salads, 18 side dishes, 11 meats, 15 poultry, 10 dairy and pareve entrees, and 12 desserts—83 recipes in all. There are colorful photographs on every page; the ingredients are clearly written and the instructions are numbered. Kanoff does not indicate whether a recipe is dairy, meat or pareve; but a bigger problem is there is no indication of for how many people the recipes are made. Among the recipes that caught my eye to give a different approach to Passover were: cabbage soup with matzoh meatballs, quinoa taboule, eggplant lasagna, honey-mustard schnitzel and chocolate chip biscotti. One time saver for one-third of the desserts is her use of Passover cake mixes. Kanoff is an artist who gives painting lessons, a personal chef and a children’s author and illustrator. Her artistic ability shows in her interspersing of beautiful color photographs of the food with photographs from Havana, Prague, Jamaica, Italy, Croatia, England, Arizona, Israel and more. It’s especially nice to know there is a new Passover cookbook on the market and hostesses will surely appreciate this as a seder gift for an “international culinary experienceâ€? with exotic cuisines. Here are a few recipes from the cookbook. CABBAGE SOUP WITH MATZOH MEATBALLS 1 large diced onion 4 chopped garlic cloves 5 tablespoons canola oil 1 tablespoon sugar 4 diced tomatoes 1 large chopped green cabbage 8 cups chicken stock 1 tablespoon honey 2 cups tomato sauce SautĂŠ onion and garlic in canola oil until brown. Add sugar and carmelize. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Let boil for 30 minutes then simmer. MATZOH MEATBALLS ½ cup matzoh meal ½ lb. ground beef 3 eggs

Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon oregano 1 teaspoon cumin While the soup is boiling, mix all ingredients for the matzoh meatballs. Form into balls, then add the matzoh meatballs to the soup. Cook for 20 minutes. Serves 6-8.

Class of 2013 High School Seniors High School Senior Information

Name _______________________ Parent(s)’ Name(s) _______________________ Current High School _______________________ College you plan to attend We will be publishing our annual High School Graduation _______________________ Class pages on May 24, 2013. To be included, we need Send by May 1 to: your graduation photo and the information to the right. The Jewish Press You can also email the information and photo to: 333 So. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154 jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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COQ AU VIN WITH SAFFRON QUINOA 1 cup dry quinoa ½ cup dry white wine ½ cup water Pinch of saffron ½ cup thinly sliced mushrooms 4 chicken leg quarters 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper Paprika Preheat oven to 400°. Pour quinoa into a 9x13-inch pan. Season with salt, pepper and saffron. Pour water on top of quinoa and stir. Sprinkle mushrooms on top of quinoa. Rub chicken with paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil, place over quinoa in the pan. Pour wine on top of chicken. Cover and bake for 1 hour, then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through). Serves 4.

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VIENNESE CRUNCH 1 cup margarine 1 egg 1 teaspoon instant coffee 1 cup sugar 1 cup matzoh cake meal Ÿ teaspoon salt 12 ounces chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts Preheat oven to 350°. Put margarine in a bowl and beat on medium speed, adding sugar slowly until the mixture has a creamy texture. Add egg, coffee, cake meal, and salt. Spread mixture onto a cookie sheet with sides and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top, spreading them as they melt. Sprinkle nuts on top of chocolate. Cut into squares while warm.

/UR PASSION IS HELPING OUR STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL BY PREPARING THEM TO think critically, act responsibly, and adapt confidently to a CHANGING WORLD

The outcomes speak for themselves:

ups in the Galinsky and Lippa families start a foolish argument over hens and geese that divides their town. With Passover approaching, the children of the two families plot a reunion, inspired by the hope that comes with Elijah’s presence during the holiday. “Who can resist a folktale about starcrossed lovers with a Jewish twist and a happy ending?� commented Aimee Lurie, chair of the Sydney Taylor Awards Committee. The book stands out for its “lovely woodcut illustrations, creative problem solving and positive Jewish message of loving your neighbor,� writes Lurie, librarian at the Agnon Jewish Day School in Cleveland. “It all adds up to a story children will want to hear more than once.�

s OF OUR GRADUATES GO ON TO COLLEGE s 4HE MEMBERS OF 4HE #LASS OF EARNED MORE THAN MILLION IN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS s #LASS OF COMPOSITE !#4 SCORE n .EBRASKA S HIGHEST REPORTED !#4 SCORE

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New children’s books Continued from page B14 delight kids with lots of smiling faces and a madcap hunt for the afikomen. The front cover boasts a towering stack of matzah crackers with jam and a friendly dog eager to share in the festivities. The book will appeal especially to those aged 1-4. This year’s winner of the Sydney Taylor Award for young readers, recently announced by the Association of Jewish Libraries, is The Elijah Door: A Passover Tale (Holiday House). The Old World-style story was written by Linda Leopold Strauss and illustrated with richly detailed colored woodcuts by Alexi Natchev. The endearing, lighthearted tale is set in Poland (and sometimes Russia). The grown-

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B16 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

wishes you and your

family Passover a happy and healthy

RSUN01

in 5773 (2013)

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C1

The Wine of the Exodus by ANNA HARWOOD Every year the Passover story is retold in households around the world. We tell the story of the exodus from Egypt accompanied by four cups of wine and end by toasting to “Next Year in Jerusalem!” Providing a twist on the traditional story, Anna Harwood investigates how wine united Ancient Egypt and Israel, and gives suggestions as to how your wine choice can reflect these ancient vino-loving cultures. Wine in the bible is first mentioned when Noah plants a vineyard following the great flood, with less than positive results, while down in Ancient Egypt, wine was seen as divine and the beverage of the elite. Some of the earliest historical sources attesting to the presence of the vine in Ancient Israel come from Ancient Egyptian inscriptions thus linking these two cultures even before a Hebrew presence was described in Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians imported wine and olive oil from Israel and told of Ancient Israel having “wine more plentiful than water.” This trade between the two nations was necessary as wine production in Ancient Egypt is only recorded to have begun in later times. It has been credited to the ‘Apirou’ people, who scholars claim to be the ‘Hebrews’, as being the specialized wine makers of Ancient Egypt. Mural paintings around the tomb of Amenhotep II, in the 14th century BCE, portray these ‘Hebrews’ pressing grapes by foot and a scene entitled ‘Wine from the vineyard of the Roads of Horus’,” illustrates men decanting wine at an intersection located relatively close to Southern Israel. By the 19th dynasty of Pharaohs (11th century BCE.), wine had become far more commonplace amongst the nobility, and there are records of ships bringing in wine for the Egyptians in large quantities. It was during this dynasty that Ramsees II ruled, and he is most widely cited as the Pharaoh of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Following the ten plagues and a hasty retreat, the Jews left Egypt and eventually arrived in Ancient Israel. Wine making continued on a comparatively small scale in Ancient

Egypt but it was in Ancient Israel that it really thrived. Entering the Holy Land, the Israelites found it to be blessed with the seven species, including the vine, and they were instructed by God to cultivate the vineyards. The vine was a symbol of peace, tranquility and safety, and the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Ezekiel all give instructions as to the propagation and growth of vineyards. So great was the vine’s importance, that place names throughout ancient Israel make reference to viticulture, including Mount Carmel (Hill of the Vineyard of God) and Nahal Sorek (River of the Vine Tendril). Winemaking flourished in the Second Temple period and the historian Josephus Flavius (37 C.E – 95 C.E) wrote of the Galilee, in the north, as producing “fruits in a wondrous manner.” He described the vine and the fig as “the kings of all the fruit trees,” and to this day, archeological ruins of wine presses are found scattered across Northern Israel, Israel’s winemaking capital. Shipments of wine to Egypt from Ancient Israel are

recorded in Greek manuscripts as occurring biannually, but both Egypt and Israel’s wine production almost completely ceased with the Arab conquest in the 7th century CE. The conquest brought Islamic rule to the region, forbidding the consumption of wine and the vineyards were uprooted. With the resurrection of Israel’s flourishing wine industry, this Passover it is possible to return to wine’s ancient Middle Eastern roots and serve four wines reminiscent of these bygone days. Not only providing an interesting talking point at Seder night, these wines are delicious served throughout the festival. Sweet wine was one of the three types of wines drunk in Ancient Egypt. A varietal of the sweet Muscat grape, the Muscat of Alexandria, is so called because of its association with Ancient Egypt. The Muscat of Alexandria grape is still grown in Israel to this day, and the Yarden Muscat, a delicious dessert wine, is made entirely from this varietal. Moving to Ancient Israel, the grape species currently cultivated in Israel are considered to be of the same species originally grown in the land. To truly experience a wine which fully tells the story of its place of origin, turn to the superior quality single vineyard wines produced in Israel. Single vineyard wines would have been most commonplace in Ancient Israel as the winepress was generally located near, or within, the individual vineyards, avoiding the unnecessary transportation of ripe fruit. There are some excellent Israeli single vintage wines which have received international acclaim. Two such award winning wines are the Carmel Kayoumi Shiraz (2006), which won a Decanter award in London, and the Yarden Chardonnay Odem (2009), which won the Vinitaly Grand Gold Medal for its superior quality. Both vineyards are located in Northern Israel on the foothills of Mt. Meron and Mt. Hermon respectively. This Passover, to return to the wine of the Ancient Middle East, the fourth cup of wine can contain some spicy additions. The Talmud lists over 60 types of wine produced in Ancient Israel including spiced, cooked and diluted wines. Continued on page C2

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C2 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Matzoh Break by LISË STERN (JointMedia News Service) Passover is one of the most social Jewish holidays, with multiple generations getting together to celebrate. It can also be one of the most laborintensive, for those Jews who kasher their kitchens for Passover, changing dishes, lining counters with foil, stocking up on special foods, and preparing the many festive meals for friends and relatives. Due to this, companies offering kosher for Passover getaways, in which everything is taken care of for the eight-day festival, have become increasingly popular. Options range from stays in Arizona, Florida, California, the Catskills, and Cape Cod, to Aruba, Mexico, France, Italy, Israel, and more. Abby Polin of Skokie, Ill., is a single parent who works two jobs, as a vice president of a mortgage company and cofounder of figvine.com, a website that brings together small service providers and users. The ease of a Passover vacation is immensely appealing. “We’ve been going away for Pesach for about 13 years. We’ve gone to the hotels in Florida, gone to Israel a few times. My family is spread out all over, and it’s such a nice time to get together,” she says. “You don’t really have to prep the house.” That was the draw for Jillian Segal of Needham, Mass. Now the mother of three, she started going away for Passover when she was in college. “It always revolved around Pesach being a tremendous amount of work, ‘let’s go away,’” she says. “That way my mother could sit and join us and not be in the kitchen the whole time.” Segal’s grandparents lived in Florida then, so she, her parents, and siblings would go to a Passover escape in the Sunshine state. Florida is where the Passover vacations started. According to Robert Frucher, managing director of Leisure Time Tours, his

says, “has grown and grown and grown. It’s seen hard times, but this year it seems to have really weathered the economic downturn. You’re seeing far more new hotels coming in terms of Pesach.” A typical Passover getaway is all-inclusive, for nine nights. They are not cheap; while some start at about $1600 per adult, many are $3500 and up, depending on the accommodations. As Frucher says, “What’s hapPassover getaways are becoming an increasingly popular pened with Passover proway to enjoy the holiday. grams, it’s the cruise ship conCredit: Courtesy, Camp Ramah Darom cept on land.” They include father Daniel Frucher was the first to kasher- three meals a day, plus a “tea room” -- where ize a nonkosher hotel for Passover, in 1972. food is always available. There are daily Before that, the only options were kosher services (usually Orthodox), plus lectures, hotels in Miami and the Catskills. “These study sessions, day camps for kids, teen proweren’t great hotels,” Frucher says. “Passover grams, and excursions. was their biggest piece of business all year. “We went to the Hoover Dam, and to the My father saw the need, specifically in Miami Strip,” says Yussie Awendstern, a financial Beach. The demand was so big even for the advisor from Valley Stream, N.Y. One of his lousy kosher hotels, they were actually hous- daughters lives in California, and they meet ing people across the street and feeding them in Lake Las Vegas for a program run by in the lobby, putting up tables everywhere.” World Wide Kosher Tours. “What I really Leisure Time’s first venture was at an like is spending time with my daughter and upscale property in Miami Beach, with seven grandchildren.” spaces for about 400 people, and they sold A relaxed time with family is the goal for out in six weeks. Today the company runs Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia, Passover getaways in five hotels, with pro- which started offering a Passover retreat for grams serving 450 to 1300 people. about 300 people in 2002. The camp itself In the four decades since that first Florida was built in 1997. CEO Fred Levick says the luxury offering, the Passover getaway market facility was “built to accommodate groups has exploded. Raphi Bloom, London-based year-round. One of the first things we owner and sales director of the Jewish travel focused on was Passover. We’re primarily in website TotallyJewishTravel.com, notes that the camping business, and have the experithis year, “there are 135 disparate Pesach hotels ence of creating communal events, which around the world.” He’s been running the site are fun and educational. This seemed like a for a dozen years. The Passover business, he great opportunity for families.”

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This April, Polin, her children, and parents are traveling from Chicago to Camp Ramah Darom to celebrate Passover with her brother from Israel and sister from Massachusetts. “It’s a nice time that the family could all be together, and great for all the grandkids to spend with their cousins,” she says. “It’s not just about the food and going away, it’s being able to do activities in a kosher for Passover setting. It’s not just a getaway, but incorporates the whole Jewish holiday.”

The Wine of the Exodus

Treading and pressing grapes, depiction on mosaic floor. Continued from page C1 Ancient Egyptian wine was discovered to have also been sweetened by adding fruits and honeys. Spicing a young, fruity, red wine such as the Mount Hermon Red and heating with a little sugar and lemon will produce an unusual end to the most traditional of Jewish festivities.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C3

New customs and old traditions

Read it and eat Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Our Seder from forty years ago and those of following years featured Grandma Sally’s Vegetable Kugela, Aunt Ruth’s Gefilte Fish (baked briefly, topped with a carrot slice, and chilled), Nana Eve’s Popovers and other favorite recipes. I use my grandmother’s embroidered matzo cover. This year she would be a great-great-great grandmother. I also use a 50-year-old Kiddish cup and loose-leaf Haggadahs from a young friend in Tucson (replacing the blue Maxwell Coffee version) and her chocolate covered matzo dessert. Incorporating old and new recipes and treasures in today’s Seder keeps their memories part of our family traditions. Add to your traditions with recipes from these cookbooks for some of the symbols and traditional foods of Passover. The Apple Lover’s Cookbook by Amy Traverso (W.W.Norton, $29.95) A guide/primer for the major 59 apple varieties with, photographs. Apples 101 with cooking tips, pantry and equipment suggestions, and 100 recipes with notes for Soups & Starters to Entrees to Desserts. Chicken Liver Pâté with Apple; Apple, Pistachio, Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad; Cider-Glazed Root Vegetables and this Turkish like Charoset. Jazz apples are suggested.

APPLE, DATE AND ALMOND CHAROSET 1/2 cup slivered almonds

3 large firm-sweet apples (about 1 1/2 pounds total), unpeeled and cored 7 ounces dates, preferably Medjool 6 tbsp. sweet red wine, such as Manischewitz brand 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest In a skillet over medium-low heat, toast the almonds, stirring often, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Chop well, then set aside until ready to serve. Meanwhile, in a food processor or chopping bowl, very finely chop the apples and dates-to about the size of corn kernels. Stir in the wine, lemon juice, cinnamon and lemon zest and let sit for 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Just before serving, add the almonds. Stir and serve immediately. Makes: About 4 cups, Active Time: 25 minutes The Best Food Writing 2012 edited by Holly Hughes (Da Capo, $16)

From the explosion of food writing, Hughes has chosen 50 of the best food writers “who every year become more and more indispensable as guides to this shifting gastronomic landscape.” There are eight categories from Food Fights to Dude Food to Personal Taste and include topics like A Pastrami Dilemma, a pop-up Passover dinner, and from this Food and Wine writer, Daniel Duane’s homage in A Slice of Family History about a huge old black leather knife roll of razor sharp knives which was a gift to his wife, Liz, from her Aunt Mary. Duane is an acknowledged knife geek, self taught cook who is fascinated with the craft of cooking and now finds himself “Guardian of the Knives” that belonged to Liz’s grandfather, Bernie Schimmel, Mary Bernstein’s father. Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel, Reuben sandwiches, and more, a delightful read. The article contained no recipes, but almost forty years ago a combination of art from the Joslyn Art Museum’s collection and the food masterpieces of Bernard Shimmel was published by the Women’s Association and included this recipe: SHIMMEL SEASONING 3-pound package Kosher salt (coarse salt) 8 ounces Accent 8 ounces peppercorns, ground Blend thoroughly in mixer. Store on spice shelf, for convenience. Application: roasting, broiling, casserole dishes, etc, your flair! (a family motto!) From a Polish Country House Kitchen by Anne Applebaum & Danielle Crittenden (Chronicle, $40) What do you get when a Pulitzer Prize winner married to a Polish Diplomat gets together with her friend and fellow journalist? A fabulous and beautiful cookbook with 90 recipes and outstanding photographs. This is an homage to the food of Poland from the back porch of Anne’s Polish country home. Think Pierogi, dumplings, Kreplah, the Jewish and Polish magical flu-curing properties of chicken soup, and for Passover, Knejdlach/matzo balls (their family uses Wolfgang Puck’s recipe with the club soda as the secret ingredient) and this recipe using matyas herring, which has been soaked or “soused” in a low-salt brine, which is very soft and mild. HERRING WITH LIME AND RASPBERRIES 2 sweet apples, peeled and coarsely grated Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 1/2 tsp grated lime zest 1 tsp. white wine vinegar 4 matyas (matjes) fillets of herring 1 cup fresh raspberries, plus more for garnish Mix the grated apple with the lime juice and vinegar in a small bowl. Place the herring fillets in a small dish, spread the mixture on top, and marinate for 4 hours. (If not consuming within 4 hours, refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Remove the fillets and wipe off the marinade, reserving the marinade. Place the fillets on a serving dish. Pour the apple marinade into a blender, add the 1 cup raspberries and the lime zest and blend until smooth. Drizzle the mixture over the herring, garnish with the remaining raspberries, and serve. Serves 4 The New Jewish Table by Todd & Ellen Gray (St. Martin’s Press, $35) Over 125 recipes are organized Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer and cover brunch, starters, lunch, dinner, sides and desserts blending Eastern-European Jewish and seasonal Continued on page C4

May your home be blessed with Health and Joy this Passover. TheAlanCohens & Anne Marty, Jack, Sam & Will

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Old traditions and new customs Continued from page C3 bounty. Included are stories from this award winning Washington, D. C. duo -- the chef, his wife and their restaurant, Equinox (the Obamas have eaten there), their tips and tales. Beet-cured Salmon Gravlax, Not Exactly Aunt Lil’s Matzo Ball Soup, Baked Gefilte Fish and a Passover menu that includes this dessert: MANGO, PINEAPPLE, AND POMEGRANATE SALAD 1 small golden pineapple 2 medium mangos 1/2 cup sugar 2/3 cup passion fruit juice 1 pomegranate 6 mint leaves, finely chopped. Prep the pineapple and mangos. Using a strong sharp knife to cut away the peel from the pineapple: Take the top off first, and then stand the fruit upright and slice down the sides and remove any eyes. Slice it horizontally into rounds about 1/2-inch thick. Use a paring knife or a small round cutter to remove the core from each round. Cut the slices into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Peel and pit the mangos and cut the flesh into dice; add to the bowl with the pineapple and stir together. Mix the salad. Cut the pomegranate in half and take out enough seeds to equal 1/2 cup (discard the membrane that divides the interior of the fruit). Whisk together the sugar and juice in a small bowl. Pour the sugar mixture over the pineapple mixture; stir to mix well. Stir in the pomegranate seeds and mint. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to meld the flavors. Serves 6 Cooking Confidence by Joanne Weir (Taunton, $24.95) For anyone juggling a full-plate busy life, Weir shares her confidence, suggestions, tricks and ideas for dinner made simple. Over 100 flavor packed recipes for her wowfactor food in her seventeenth cookbook. HERB SALAD 1 1/2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 clove garlic, minced Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, washed and dried 1/2 cup small fresh basil leaves, washed and dried 1/2 cup small fresh mint leaves, washed and dried 2 cups fresh arugula leaves, long stems removed, washed and dried In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine the herbs and arugula in a large bowl. About 5 minutes before serving, add

dressing to the greens and toss together. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 4 cups 300 Sensational Soups by C. Snyder & M. Deeds (Robert Rose, $24.95) An international array of soups travel around the world one bowl at a time. Hot or cold, light or creamy, and, of course, Matzo Ball Soup. Use any extra grape juice in this dessert soup.

BLUEBERRY SOUP WITH YOGURT SWIRL 2 tbsp. water 1 tsp. powdered unflavored gelatin 3 packages (each 12 oz) frozen blueberries (5 cups) 2 cups white grape juice 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon Pinch salt Fresh mint leaves (optional) Yogurt Swirl: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup plain yogurt and 2 tbsp. whipping (35%) cream. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. In a microwave-safe dish, combine water and gelatin and let soften for 5 minutes. Microwave on High for 20 seconds, stir and then microwave on High for another 20 seconds to melt the gelatin. In a food processor or blender, purée gelatin mixture, blueberries, grape juice, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt until smooth and creamy. Strain into a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.Ladle into chilled bowls and top with yogurt swirl. Draw a chopstick or knife through the yogurt to create a decorative swirl. Garnish with mint leaves if desired. Serves 6 The I Love Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Cookbook by Kris Peters (Ulysses Press, $17.95) Choose from 150 recipes to plan vegetarian meals during Passover using Trader Joe’s ingredients. Continued on page C5

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C5

How to get through a Passover seder by LEO MARGUL (JNS.org) Passover means seders. They are important Jewish traditions, but also social and hunger-filled minefields. These tips will help you navigate the time between when you show up and avoid questions about your career/relationship to when you shout “Next year in Jerusalem!” and run out with all the flourless desserts. Staying full during the long wait Why did I starve myself in anticipation of dinner tonight? Can’t I just nibble on some brisket while we get through this seder? You could if you were at my house, but some people aren’t as cool. Here is how to stay satiated during the seder’s long, foodless period: • Dipping the bitter herbs: We dip the bitter herbs into some salt-water, but who says the dipping has to be over after that? Two words: side, guacamole. Between the salt water dip and your mouth, dip those leafy greens into a convenient bowl of guacamole you brought from home, and smile knowing you’re keeping hunger at bay and representing other cultures at the table. • The Hillel sandwich: A combination of horseradish and charoset that is so close to actual food it makes you weep for something more substantial. Two words: pocket, turkey. Keep a slice of turkey in your pocket, throw it on the Hillel sandwich and BAM! You’ve got a real meal, complete with delicious protein. Honey-glazed or oven-baked turkey, your call. Feel free to offer others your pocket turkey slices, but be prepared for their bewildered looks, which means they’re jealous. By the time the actual seder rolls around, everyone else will be struggling from hunger, but you’ll be ready for your second course. You can go put your pocket turkey in the fridge now, you champion. Finding the afikomen As someone in my 20s, I am still occasionally the youngest person at the seder, which means I have to find the afikomen. The sadists hosting usually decide that because I’m older they should hide it somewhere much harder to find, like the tool-shed in their garage or folded up in a tiny locket around their neck. To get them back, while you’re looking for the afikomen, feel free to re-arrange some of the stuff in their house too. Then when you come back, say “found the afikomen, good luck finding your checkbook.”

Hopefully this will get you off the hook for next year and convince people to start having babies, then they can go look for the afikomen. Reading from the Haggadah Usually at a seder, participants will take turns reading from the Haggadah. Your relatives’ monotones, however, don’t help you pay attention. Between Aunt Leah and Uncle Moishe it sounds like Ben Stein and Kristen Stewart got

together to help put some children to sleep. This leads to you zoning out while fantasizing about Bagel Bites and losing your place in the Haggadah. How do you pretend you’re focused when called on to read? Simple: just create a few sentences using any combination of these popular Passover words: Egyptians, bondage, Pharaoh, matzo, unleavened, bitter, ancestors, etc. For example: Continued on page C6

New customs and old traditions Continued from page C4 TANGY VEGAN CHEESE SPREAD 4 ounces Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Spread, softened 2 tbsp. Trader Joe’s Green Olive Tapenade In a small bowl, cream together the cream cheese and tapenade until well incorporated and smooth. Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to a week. Makes 1/2 cup of spread Roots by Diane Morgan (Chronicle, $40) A glorious picture book of delights. Global Roots 101 from Andean Tubers to Yuca. Well researched, definitive compendium and everything about these underground marvels with fabulous photography, over 225 recipes including this: ROASTED JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES WITH LEMON, ROSEMARY AND GARLIC 1 lb Jerusalem artichokes, unpeeled, cut into slices 1/4 in. thick 1 medium lemon, cut crosswise into thin slices 12 cloves garlic, peeled but left whole 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary 1 tsp. kosher or fine sea salt

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°. In a large roasting pan, toss together the Jerusalem artichokes, lemon slices, garlic, oil, rosemary and salt. Spread them evenly in the pan. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the Jerusalem artichokes are golden brown and tender when pierced with a knife, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately. Serves 4 as a side dish Cooking Without Borders by Anita Lo (Steward Tabori & Chang, $35) A dazzling array of over 100 fusion/global recipes with lush photographs from this NYC chef/restaurateur. In her first cookbook she draws from her traveling and cooking experiences, Asian family background and training in famous kitchens. CHILLED COCONUT-FRUIT SOUP WITH MINT 1 (13.5-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk 2 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup sugar or to taste Pinch of salt 3 1/2 cups fresh seasonal fruit 3/4 cup finely diced jicama 8 large fresh mint leaves, chopped Put the coconut milk, milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and heat just until the sugar dissolves. Remove to a bowl and put in the refrigerator until chilled. Mix with the fruit and jicama and divide among 4 bowls. Garnish with the mint and serve. Serves 4 Lois Friedman can be reached at ReadItAndEat@ yahoo.com.

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C6 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Passover, Purim and pirates: Jewish Jamaica revisited by PAUL FOER (Joint Media News Service) How was last year’s seder different from all other years at Shaare Shalom Synagogue in Kingston, Jamaica? It marked the Passover debut of Rabbi Dana Evans Kaplan, who last September became the first full-time pulpit rabbi in 40 years for the Jamaican Jewish community -- one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, as detailed in a 2011 story by JointMedia News Service. Dressed as Elijah, Kaplan left before the door was symbolically opened for Elijah’s arrival, and circulated around the room shaking hands upon his return. Kaplan added that, “Some said they were concerned I might cause a hurricane!” Kaplan’s arrival, along with his first Jamaican Passover experience, is just one of several new developments in the Jamaican Jewish community -- whose presence dates back to the 16th century, when Jewish conversos settled in the tropical island during Spanish rule. The community now offers formal conversion classes, is surveying its ancient cemeteries, and is possibly on its way to becoming the featured location of a motion picture about its somewhat romanticized “Jewish pirate” heritage. Jamaica’s Jews live mainly in or near the bustling capital city of Kingston, where Shaare Shalom’s whitewashed Dutchstyle building houses a traditional Sephardic and sandfloored sanctuary, a Jewish heritage center, and a collection of tombstones in its garden dating back to the 17th century. The putative leader or go-to man in Jamaica’s Jewish community is Ainsley Henriques, the descendant of 18th-century settlers in Jamaica that included the Henriques-Cohen brothers, whose exploits as pirates fighting the Spanish are legendary. He is also an accomplished historian, genealogist and preservationist, and he serves as Jamaica’s honorary Israeli consul. This March, when 90 people at Shaare Shalom gathered to celebrate Purim with their new rabbi, Henriques was noticeably absent. He had been awakened in the middle of the night by an Israeli request for help in searching for a Zim Shipping Lines officer who was apparently lost at sea. The disappearance was ultimately ruled an apparent suicide, but the call kept Henriques up and busy assisting Zim, whose ships frequently call at Kingston Harbor, one of the closest major ports to the Panama Canal. Despite his absence, the Purim party went on as planned, with Kaplan dressed as King Achashverosh -- holding a real sword. Virtually all of the children present were dressed in costumes, ranging from superheroes to shepherds to Queen Esther. Synagogue President David Matalon came as Fred Flintstone. A couple days earlier, Kaplan co-led a Purim service at the Great Huts resort near Port Antonio on the northern coast, where Franz Katzir, a visitor from Washington, DC, read the megillah on a scroll he brought to Jamaica. An ardent scuba diver, Kaplan has written about Cuban Jewry and penned his doctoral dissertation on conversion in early America. He expects to have formal conversion ceremonies in May or June for three students in his giur (conversion) program. Jewish pirates on the big screen? Jewish Jamaica was recently the destination of acclaimed filmmaker David C. Lewis, who visited as part of his exploration into making a movie based on the popular book

Top photo: Passover seder organized by Shaare Shalom Synagogue of Kingston, Jamaica. Above: Rabbi Dana Evans Kaplan, far right, dressed as Elijah, celebrates Passover with congregants of Shaare Shalom Synagogue in Kingston, Credit: Rabbi Dana Evans Kaplan Jamaica. Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean. The book was written by the late Ed Kritzler, who spent 30 years working and researching in Jamaica, and it chronicles much of the adventures and exploits of Sephardic Jews who made their way to the Caribbean to escape the Spanish Inquisition. Indeed, there were some actual Jewish pirates as well as explorers and adventurers, some of whom attacked Spanish treasure ships. “I knew there was an interesting tale to tell, yet no idea what the details were,” Lewis said. “I was amazed by what Ed had pieced together regarding Jewish activity in pirating and privateering. I contacted him and I ended up getting an exclusive option to the rights to make a documentary based on his book.” Lewis said his visit “helped me put some visual ‘real’ images to the words from Ed’s book and inspired me to continue to move forward in trying to get this documentary produced. It is an uphill battle in raising funds for the documentary project, but nevertheless I am confident a film will be done and I shall be returning to Jamaica.” “My intention is to produce a documentary in a docu-drama style,” Lewis explained. “The film will contain location interviews with historical experts on various subjects including the Inquisition, pirates and privateers, Jewish life in Jamaica, and, of course, experts on the Jewish personalities themselves. This will be combined with on-location re-enactments in such places as Port Royal, Jamaica, Spain and Amsterdam.” The American-born Lewis -- who made aliyah in 1986 --

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visited Kingston’s Hunts Bay Cemetery, where some of those who died in the Port Royal earthquake of 1692 are buried. He noted that, “The very ancient graves of earlier Jewish pioneers in the New World were found, including the sign of ‘skull and crossbones’ on some of the grave stones.” In addition to Lewis, Jamaica’s Jewish community also recently hosted nearly 40 national board members and donors from American Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), who visited the Hillel Academy, Port Royal, the National Gallery of Jamaica, the Bob Marley Museum, and other typical sites. Passover memories Shaare Shalom congregant Margaret Adam said this year’s festive Passover meal will be “nothing overly Jamaican,” including pumpkin soup, roast leg of lamb, steamed fish with sweet and Irish potatoes, vegetables, and salad. She described Jamaican seders from her childhood as alternating between communal ones in hotels and home seders with friends and family. “They were a tad tedious,” Adam said. “We have done much to enliven them since then. Coloring and activity pages with crayons are prepared for each table with kids this year. At any rate, things are definitely more kid-friendly now. We were to be quiet and sit still as best we could; disciplined... that is probably because of our British upbringing and our Sephardic traditions.” Henriques recalled that during World World War II, when there was no matzah to be had in Jamaica, the community “used Cassava wafers instead.” “Today, matzah for breakfast with Mango jam is a delight,” he said. Kaplan -- a.k.a. Elijah -- spoke about trips to various Jewish communities and the unusual customs he found in Afghanistan, Cuba, and India, and how his current community is “developing a uniquely Jamaican Judaism.” Studying the past and building for the future may sound cliché, but Jamaica’s Jews are doing just that. And if Lewis sees his project through, there will be another motion picture about the pirates of the Caribbean -- but instead of “arghs,” you might hear some “ahoy veys!”

How to get through a Passover seder Continued from page C5 • Our ancestors made matzah to escape from Pharaoh and the house of bondage. • We eat unleavened bread today just as our ancestors did. • Pharaoh was into bondage, but other Egyptians were not, and this made him bitter. Oh what’s that? Suddenly everyone stopped drawing cool shapes with the 10 plagues pinky wine on their plates and started paying attention. Following these instructions will certainly make you the most popular person at your gathering. Then you can host your own seder next year, where everyone gets a variety of side dishes and pocket meats.

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C7

The Heart of the Community

From the desk of the President JODY MALASHOCK, President, Jewish Federation of Omaha This issue of the Jewish Press is devoted to the 40th Anniversary of the JCC’s cornerstone being placed on our campus at 333 South 132nd Street. So it is fitting to reflect on its significance in the history of Jewish Omaha. My parents were probably the last generation to “live” at the JCC in downtown Omaha. It provided a place where they could engage in activities they couldn’t enjoy anywhere else in town. My generation has fond memories of watching the boys play basketball from the indoor track, Rayim car-

nivals, talent shows and numerous club meetings. In the 1970’s, people started moving out “west” and community leaders recognized the need for a community gathering place for Omaha’s youth and young adults. Our gathering place was the old Henry Monsky home near 90th and Dodge. In my day, this was the “hub“ of Jewish Omaha. My son, Ryan, was born two months after my husband, Buzz and I returned to Omaha: my daughter, Erin, followed two years later. It was the 80s and, much like my contemporaries, I sought out the JCC to connect, socialize and begin my children’s Jewish education at the pre-school. My heart was always at the JCC, and I threw myself into volunteering because I wanted to be involved in building Jewish community. I served on numerous committees, chaired the Maccabi Games and served on the JCC Board for more years than I can count. This wasn’t novel then, and it isn’t novel now. Our young

adults and families still walk through the JCC doors looking to connect, make new friends, and instill Jewish values and heritage in their children. And they are signing up for committees, volunteering at our programs and driving their kids to the JCC from farther points on the Omaha map than ever before. 40 years later, it’s time to thank those leaders that came before me. They envisioned what is now the Jewish Federation of Omaha campus. Not only did they plan for a new JCC, but the space was available to add the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center, the Livingston PLaza, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and Friedel Jewish Academy. It’s true; much has changed. The location and the look of the JCC has changed time and again over the last three generations. My personal history attests to that. The important thing to remember is that you can change the look of something, but its heart still stays the same.

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C8 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Writers -- not rabbis -- bring text to life Passover Greetings in the New American Haggadah Jeremy, Annette, Isabella and Mendel van de Kamp-Wright wish you a very happy Passover.

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by BETH KISSILEFF (JointMedia News Service) Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated, remembers that when he was growing up, his parents used a homemade haggadah for the Passover seder, put together from a variety of sources. The family joke was that this night was different from all other nights because copyright laws do not apply. It seems this spirit of creativity was successfully passed down to the next generation. Foer is the editor of the New American Haggadah, published this spring by Little, Brown and Company. In a phone interview with JointMedia News Service, Foer seemed unfazed by the boldness of giving his text the same name that Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan -founder of the Reconstructionist movement of American Judaism -- took for his versions of the Haggadah in both 1941 and 1978. According to the 1978 introduction in Kaplan’s New American Haggadah, it was meant to “inspire in the new generation the same devotion to freedom that our ancestors gained from the ancient Haggadah.” There were no rabbis involved in the making of the 2012 New American Haggadah. This is indicative of how the new American Jewish culture -- perhaps inspired by Kaplan’s philosophy of “Judaism as a civilization” -- is increasingly a product of fiction and non-fiction writers, historians, and professors. A whole class of people without rabbinic training are empowered and committed to creating a new Jewish text for their own era. Foer told JointMedia News Service that he originally envisioned an anthology format for The New American Haggadah, with contributions from 20 writers. But ultimately, Foer said, the writers “came to love the book we were working on” and realized that the best way to engage readers was to present the material and “get out of the way,” rather than obstructing the text with too much overtly contemporary or political material. Therefore, Foer -- along with Jewish studies professor Nathaniel Deutsch of the University of California at Santa Cruz -- chose ten moments for a smaller group of four writers to comment on. This format hosts sections titled House of Study by Deutsch, Nation by Atlantic magazine writer Jeffrey Goldberg, Library by philosopher and fiction writer Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, and Playground by children’s author Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler). Each commentator has short essays of three or four paragraphs that are themed around an examination of a particular theme. Goldberg asks questions like “How do we balance our faith’s demand to care especially for our fellow Jews, and care especially for the entire world, at the same time?”

Handler has an eclectic take on the seder, discussing such urgent matters as someone’s need to “check on the food” -which actually means “sneaking a few bites” -- while adding that “it is the muddle and the mess around the order that represent the freedom that everyone deserves, and that far too many people have been denied.” Deutsch writes movingly about the contrasts between the “shalem”(wholeness) that is contained in the name of Jerusalem with the necessity in the Hassidic tradition of being broken (“tsubrokhenhayt” in Yiddish) and the possibility that as Jews, we are trying to find “wholeness in brokenness.” Newberger Goldstein writes with astounding power of the need for the “tutored imagination” to involve ourselves in the narrative of the Passover story as we collectively “sanctify storytelling.” Overall, the haggadah’s format of highlighting different voices on a particular theme works effectively to convey both a variety of ideas and a modern outlook on the text. The haggadah’s design is by Oded Ezer, a modern Israeli artist and historian of typography. Ezer has not only invented a number of popular Hebrew fonts, but also produces art such as Typosperma and Typembra, which give new aspects to letters by merging them with other life forms. Ezer describes his work as “a great journey to try to bring forms from the past into the future,” and he incorporates fonts from different eras of Jewish history in the haggadah. Mia Sara Bruch, a fellow at the University of Michigan’s Frankel Institute for Advanced Judaic Studies, wrote the timeline at the top of the page. The timeline is an interesting pedagogical device shedding light on the formation of the seder service, the languages Jews have spoken and where they have lived around the world, and what percentage of the world population Jews have constituted at any point in time. Nathan Englander, who translated the haggadah service from Hebrew to English for The New American Haggadah, told JointMedia News Service that the task gave him a “new identity and ownership of the material.” Englander ended up spending three years on a project that he had thought might take six weeks. He found a partner to study the text within a chavruta (one-on-one study) and examined a variety of haggadah texts. The result is a translation that conveys the Passover story’s meaning to an English-speaking audience in mellifluous, thoughtful, and fluid language. Foer said that “the central trope of the Haggadah, ‘you yourself should feel as if liberated from Egypt,’” is a “radical” idea if taken seriously. The New American Haggadah -intended to bring Jews together around the notion of shared memory -- should help any reader fulfill that obligation.

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C9

Passover, peace, and Palestine: An Arab-style seder in 1920s Long Island by RAFAEL MEDOFF (JNS.org) Passover at Irma Lindheim’s Long Island home in the 1920s was not your standard Jewish holiday experience. There was plenty of matzo ball soup and brisket, to be sure. But the dining room was occupied by a makeshift tent, the Passover table was replaced by a pile of sheepskin rugs, and the Lindheim children were dressed in Arab garb. For Mrs. Lindheim, the national president of Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization, from 1926 to 1928, Passover was an opportunity to make a dramatic statement about what she perceived as the common heritage of Arabs and Jews, and her hopes for peace in Palestine. The path that led to Irma Lindheim’s unique Passover seders began during a trip to the Holy Land shortly after World War I. A visit to a Bedouin encampment near the Syrian border deeply impressed her. The sheik received her “so courteously,” his harem of wives were so attractive, his children were so charming, the ample food was “so delicious in taste and aroma,” that Mrs. Lindheim had to wonder, as she put it, “Under what possible circumstances could such people and I possibly be enemies?” In Mrs. Lindheim’s eyes, the Arabs of Palestine closely resembled the Jews of biblical times—so, surely, they should all be able to get along. She marveled at the fact that her host “pulled off my boots himself, and laved my feet with cool water, [just] as Abraham had done with the three strangers,” as recounted in Genesis 18:1-4. “The customs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were customs of the present-day Bedouin,” she wrote. “When Abraham sat before his tent in the heat of the day... he did no differently than a Bedouin sheikh we encountered, resting before his tent in the Plains of the Huleh.”

As her personal contribution to the cause of Arab-Jewish amity, Mrs. Lindheim decided to radically revise her own Passover

Irma Lindheim Credit: Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America seders. Her children “would wear the robes of the desert Bedouin and would eat their meal in a tent... to commemorate not only the flight of their forebears from slavery to freedom, but also bonds with the Arab people who lived now exactly as their forefathers lived then.” On their first such Passover, “young Norvin [her eldest son] stood, tall and darkly handsome in his Bedouin robes,” to recite the story of the exodus before a group that included Sir Wyndham Deeds, first secretary of the British government in Mandatory

Palestine, and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, the foremost American Jewish leader of that era. Wise was a renowned orator, and “his beautiful great voice boomed out” as the hosts and their guests all joined in reading sections of the Haggadah. Lindheim’s youngest son, Stephen, who was named after Wise, recited the Four Questions. “To the children, to ourselves, and to our many guests,” she later recalled, “the seder [was] at once an unforgettable experience in itself and, in its way, a family landmark.” But Mrs. Lindheim was not content with symbolic gestures such as her unorthodox Passover seders. She and the Hadassah organization undertook a series of projects in Mandatory Palestine aimed at improving Arab-Jewish ties, including providing free health care to Arab communities, establishing the U.S. Jewish leadership’s only Committee for the Study of Arab-Jewish Relations, and building the first Jewish-Arab playground in Jerusalem. Generously funded by Mrs. Lindheim’s aunt, Bertha Guggenheimer, the Zion Hill playground opened near the Zion Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City in 1926, complete with supervisors trained by the American Playground Association. Sadly, it did not last long. In the late summer of 1929, Arab residents of Hebron and Jerusalem carried out widespread anti-Jewish violence. Since the Zion Hill playground was situated in a predominantly Arab neighborhood, the supervisors, fearing for the children’s safety, quickly shut down the facility. Two months later, when they returned to the site to reopen it, they were horrified to find local Arab children painting slogans such as “Down with the Jews” and “Down with the Balfour Declaration” on the equipment and walls. Although one of the goals of the play-

ground had been to promote good relations with the local Arab residents, chief supervisor Rachel Schwarz found that “amongst the Arab neighbors are many who took an active part in recent riots, and are very active at present in the [anti-Jewish] boycott.” Schwarz reported to Mrs. Lindheim and the other American sponsors of the project that Arab children were harassing the Jewish children with shouts of “We will slaughter the Jews” and “The Jews are dogs,” and there had been incidents in which “the Arab boys ran after the Jewish children, throwing stones at them.” By the autumn of 1930, the majority of the playground’s sponsors decided to close it for good. Mrs. Lindheim opposed shutting down the facility, on the grounds that “the Arab and liberal press will make capital of this” to prove that the Jews were not sincerely interested in cooperation with the Arabs. But her colleagues were convinced that, despite their noble intentions, the site had become too dangerous. As Irma Lindheim’s experiences demonstrated, the notion that American Zionists ignored the Palestinian Arabs in the preIsrael years is a myth. Not only were American Jewish leaders well aware of the local Arabs, but some, such as Mrs. Lindheim, were acutely sensitive to Arab concerns and invested considerable time, effort, and funds to improve Arab-Jewish relations. But no matter how deeply American Zionists yearned for peace, and even when they went so far as to radically revise their Passover celebrations in order to foster positive feelings toward the Arabs, their good intentions often went unreciprocated. Dr. Rafael Medoff is the author of 14 books about Jewish history, the Holocaust, and Zionism, including the Historical Dictionary of Zionism (coauthored with Prof. Chaim I. Waxman).

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C10 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Passover Made Easy by Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek Mesorah Publications, $15.99 paperback, February 2013 Reviewed by SYBIL KAPLAN I once made a list of all the Passover cookbooks that had been written in recent years and was amazed at the number. Now two women, from very different backgrounds, have combined their expertise to write another one. Leah Schapira’s family came from Hungary and Victoria Dwek’s from Syria. Leah is author of Fresh & Easy Kosher Cooking. Victoria is managing editor of Ami Magazine and a food editor who lives in a New Jersey community of Jews from Syrian backgrounds. In the cute introduction are conversations between the two and the casual comments, hints and sketches with ideas continue throughout the cookbook on the recipe pages. In between, there are lots of color photographs, some of which show how to style and serve the dish. They say there are 60 recipes, but if you count dressings and sauces, there are 70. After the introduction, there is a food and wine pairing guide, an essay on seder wines and a charoset recipe from each of the authors, followed by recipes for mayonnaise, “bread” crumbs and crepes. The book then moves forward with seven chapters -starters like crackers and mock techineh and brisket eggrolls; soups and salads like Russian cole slaw and turnip and beet pickles; main dishes such as brisket short ribs in duck sauce and honey pecan salmon; side dishes; brunch and dairy -- I am excited to try banana French toast and matzaroni and cheese; desserts -- how about espresso macaroons and chocolate nut biscotti? A couple of drinks are at the end and a replacement index plus a regular index. The hints and chatty comments are really the most enjoyable part of the cookbook -- beside the recipes which are all very creative and original. The recipes are triple tested, and all but four are gluten free (non-gebrokts), i.e., matzah is not put into any liquid. I think this is going to be a wonderful addition to my collection of Passover cookbooks, and it would make a great gift before Passover to any hostess.

cheese in addition to shredded mozzarella or Muenster. Servings: 6-8 What kids don’t prefer mac’n cheese over anything else? This is an easy dinner that will get all the troops running to the table when the hot, cheesy, and bubbling dish emergesfrom the oven. Ingredients 5 matzahs, broken into small pieces 5 eggs 1 16 oz. container sour cream 1 16 oz. container cottage cheese 3 tbsp. butter, melted

1 tsp. salt 2 cups shredded mozzarella or Muenster cheese, divided Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°. In an 8 x 8-inch baking dish, arrange 1⁄3 of the broken matzah pieces. In a medium bowl, beat eggs. Add sour cream, cottage cheese, butter, salt, and 1 cup shredded cheese. Pour 1⁄3 of the cheese mixture over the matzah. Repeat with two additional layers of matzah and cheese. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. The cheese on top should be brown and bubbling.

EGGPLANT-WRAPPED CHICKEN This original kosher recipe, from the cookbook Passover Made Easy, calls for stuffed chicken thighs wrapped in oven-fried eggplant. It serves 4 to 6 people, making it a great meal for families during Passover. INGREDIENTS Eggplant: 1 tall eggplant 1⁄2 cup oil 1⁄4 tsp. salt Pinch of coarse black pepper Meat Mixture: 3 tbsp. oil 1 onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1⁄2 lb. ground meat 1⁄2 tsp. salt 1⁄2 tsp. garlic powder Chicken: 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs 1⁄4 tsp. salt Pinch of course black pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to broil. Grease a baking sheet. Cut eggplant lengthwise, 1⁄4-inch thick, to get 6 or 7 slices. Reserve remaining eggplant scraps. Place eggplant slices on prepared baking sheet. Brush slices with oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil 5 minutes per side, until the second side is

MATZARONI AND CHEESE This kosher version of macaroni and cheese substitutes matzah for pasta, making it a great Passover meal. It gets a creamy boost from a combination of sour cream and cottage

beginning to brown. The slices should appear as if they were fried. Remove and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°. Peel and finely dice remaining eggplant to obtain 1⁄2 cup diced eggplant. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and diced eggplant and sauté until soft, about 5-7 minutes. In a small bowl, combine onion mixture with ground meat. Season with salt and garlic powder. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Place a tablespoon of the meat mixture into each thigh and roll up to close. Roll an eggplant slice around each stuffed chicken thigh. Place, seam side down and close together, in a baking pan. Cover and bake for 2 1⁄2 hours.

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Chagall’s Gift by STEPHEN WHITFIELD Instead of a loincloth covering the otherwise naked Savior, (JointMedia News Service) The scheduling of Passover he is wrapped in a tallis. Surrounding him is not the jeering and Easter at close to the same moment on the calendar can mob that medieval painters sometimes portrayed, but remind Jews of the historic entanglement of the two faiths. instead the inhabitants of the shtetl. Instead of the pastoral For the adherents of charm that Chagall characterJudaism, the holiday celebrates istically evoked, there is national liberation from chaos, with an atmosphere of bondage, which is the prelude terror and flight enveloping to the emergence of an ethical those fragile Torah scrolls. monotheism that would The palette of the White henceforth be based upon land Crucifixion is recognizably and law. The claim that Chagall’s, but the brightest Christianity advances is of color in this painting is flamecourse far more explicitly and orange; and a Nazi thug, unambiguously Universalist. wearing an armband, is burnAfter suffering and sacrifice ing down a synagogue. Here and death, a resurrection can was a portent of the consumoffer hope for the redemption ing fire from which precious of humanity itself. Both of few would be spared. these holidays are occasions Desperate refugees hover on a for gratitude and for optimism, boat. (Could Chagall have but against a backdrop of the anticipated his own good forsting of the lash and the inflictune in escaping across the tion of unwarranted cruelty. Atlantic three years later?) So this is a season to conThe White Crucifixion template the legacy of an occurs in the context of a artist who was haunted by the pogrom, though the painter troublesome implications of could scarcely be expected to the entanglement of Passover have envisioned a Final and Easter. Has any painter Solution that would make managed to capture more Tsarist rampages seem an exuberantly, more indelibly, anachronism from a more Marc Chagall the possibilities of love and civilized era. Red flags are Credit: Wikimedia Commons liberty than Marc Chagall? In depicted at the top left of the the popular imagination, he is responsible for those cheerful painting, but the regime that succeeded the Romanovs hardimages of bouquets and of bovine contentment. His brides ly assures liberation. On the top right is the flag of Lithuania, float giddily above Paris; his fiddlers poise precariously on where Judaic learning had flourished and where antiroofs, but offer the pleasures of music and dance. semitism was commonplace. That nation’s own independChagall was able to deploy the brightest of colors to tap ence would be lost two years later as the rival totalitarian into the euphoria that can sometimes punctuate human powers divided the early spoils of the Second World War. experience. His canvases, his murals and his stained-glass What led Chagall to transform the passion of Christ in windows can bring smiles to viewers, but without forfeiting this way? In an incisive book on the painter, published in the admiration of serious critics and scholars. No major fig- 2007, Jonathan Wilson of Tufts University conjectures that ure in the span of Western art was more Jewish. And yet there was no precedent in the long annals of Jewish martyrChagall was hardly parochial, having done commissions for dom that could match in historic influence the Crucifixion. cathedrals in Metz, Reims, Zurich and elsewhere. Nothing else could match its ambiguous, inescapable In 1938 he produced a remarkable painting of Jesus on the “Judeo-Christian” magnitude, its capacity to inspire awe and cross. The White Crucifixion reimagines the single most even a sense of metaphysical mystery. No other subject iconic moment in the mythology of Christianity, and yet might suggest to believers in a risen Son of God what the comakes that reverberant representation a strikingly Jewish religionists of Jesus were enduring in 1938, on a continent phenomenon as well. This somber painting, which belongs that the Third Reich was about to dominate and devastate. to the Art Institute of Chicago, is something of an anomaly No other sign of agony might elicit sympathy for a beleaamong the artist’s odes to joy. But then, in one sense, to guered people that a sister faith could not--and would not-claim that Jesus was anything other than a Jew is as odd as protect. The best known and the most frequently portrayed classifying Jefferson as something other than an American. Continued on page C13

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by OLIVER B. POLLAK I have been writing for the Jewish Press since 1981. I look forward to the Passover and New Year bumper crop editions. Somehow this year my Passover piece eluded me, the deadline slipped by, and I had no copy. Maybe being late was an opportunity. The editor gave me four days to submit something. Julija Sukys gave a reading on Thursday, February 28, at UNO based on her book Epistolophilia, Writing the Life of Ona Simaite, published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012. The announcement was fascinating. Ona, an atheist (in Catholic Lithuania), a leftist revolutionary unmarried librarian, head of the cataloguing department at Vilnius University, was given permission to go into Vilna’s Jewish ghetto, which had swelled to 60,000 with Polish refugees, and pick up overdue books. Bob Runyon, former UNO librarian, has been trying for a couple of years to get me to go to lunch. I suggested we attend this lecture 10 to noon and have lunch after in the Student Union. He said: good idea. It was a bit of an embarrassing session. Sukys, who lives in Montreal, is on a book tour. She toted at least 20 copies of her book. Our attendance was paltry. There was Bob and myself-- great things can happen when only one or two are gathered. English professor Joanie Latchaw showed up, exhausted from her recent Nicaragua trip. The English department administrator and a Lithuanian sister cities sponsor were there. One woman came in late and left early. At the height there were seven people in the room, including the speaker. This is Sukys’ second book with Nebraska Press. A third book about her paternal grandmother’s deportation to Siberia in 1941 is almost complete. Sukys earned a doctorate from the University of Toronto in comparative literature. She is a literary scholar, not a historian. Her chapters are thematic fragments that do not hew to a chronological line. Ironically, Bob Runyon was a classmate of Steven Ambrose, the biographer of General and President Eisenhower, and Undaunted Courage, among other works. Bob brought Ambrose to UNO several years ago to give a talk. I recall with clarity, and have held it over the heads of my student’s, Ambrose’s dictum, “You depart from chronology at

your peril.” Sukys professes that the genre of “creative non-fiction” is freed of academic conventions. Sukys discussed how she found the topic in 2000 and spent the next thirteen years traveling the world searching out thousands of Simaite letters. Epistolophilia is a neologism, assisted by her Greek Classics scholar spouse, Sean Gurd of Montreal’s Concordia University, which means a passion for writing letters, and avoiding writing a memoir. Sukys physically inserts herself in the book by discussing how her marriage, pregnancy and birth of her son delayed her research and changed her voice. Finding Ona’s and Julija’s, a voice emerges within the culture of raising children, menial tasks of earning a living to pay the rent and put food on the table, stealing time to write, and overcoming the pressures of silence. During question time she disclosed that the writings of Omaha born feminist writer, Tillie Olsen, had left an important impression on her. Joan Latchaw and I smiled. My wife Karen had prepared a delicious dinner and energized discussion at our house in the 1990s when Tillie, then in her eighties, was our house guest. At least two people before Sukys have attempted unsuccessfully to record Simiate’s life. Perhaps creative nonfiction is the tool to investigate and broadcast the life of a remarkable woman who never turned her own voluminous letters, twenty-nine diaries which include much of the “dailiness” of life, and an 80-page typescript in Russian about life in Vilna during the Nazi occupation, into a memoir. There are several Passovers in Ona Simiate’s life. Living in a Christian community as an atheist, she eluded the pharaonic nazis, and ministered to the intellectual and human needs of oppressed Jews. For this she was arrested, tortured and imprisoned in Dachau. She lived three years in Israel. She spent her later years in Paris where she died in 1970. In 1966, her quiet heroic actions earned her a place among the Righteous in Yad Vashem. Sukys’s book and her talk revealed the importance of Simaite, the genre of “creative non-fiction,” women’s voices, and the travail of the book tour, adding up to a memorable and provocative experience.

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Taking Passover back to its roots by JUDY LASH BALINT (JNS.org) JERUSALEM - When most Israeli Jews sit down for the Passover seder on the night of March 25, the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nissan, they’ll wait for the kids to recite Mah Nishtana, the Four Questions; pucker up to inhale the bitter herbs; relish the sweet Charoset; dip herbs in salt water; sing rousing renditions of Dayenu and Chad Gadya; and knock back four cups of wine. But none of these rituals are part of the Passover observance of Israel’s Karaite and Samaritan believers, who observe the biblically mandated holiday in quite a different way. Rabbi Ovadya Murad, 62, leader of the Karaite community in Jerusalem’s Old City, explains that the Karaite belief in a strictly literal interpretation of the Torah without any adherence to the Oral Law embodied in rabbinic-Talmudic tradition makes observing Passover quite simple. “We buy a sheep; bake matzot; make wine from soaking raisins and prepare the maror (what you call bitter herbs) from pickled lemons,” he tells recent visitors to the Karaite Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Jerusalem. Pulling out the Karaite Haggadah, Murad points out that the text includes only verses from the Torah describing the Exodus from Egypt and the ten plagues, with the addition of some Psalms and portions of Hallel. “The whole thing doesn’t take more than 90 minutes,” he says with a smile. “Karaites eat only fresh foods during the festival of unleavened bread -- fruits, vegetable, fish and poultry -- nothing out of a box,” he adds. (Karaites generally do not refer to “Passover” since the Torah uses that word only to describe the sacrifice on the night before, never to refer to the 7-day festival of unleavened bread). Anything that has fermentation potential -- such as wine, cheese and yogurt -- is forbidden to Karaites during Passover. Karaites in Israel today number in the tens of thousands, with the largest presence in Ashdod and Ramle. Despite their outright rejection of rabbinic Judaism, Karaites are recognized as Jews, according to Prof. Michael Corinaldi, a legal scholar at Netanya College and expert on Israel’s minority Jewish communities. Most historians believe that Karaites emerged in the 9th century as a sect of followers of Anan Ben David in Baghdad, who prescribed following the Bible to the exclusion of rabbinic tradition and laws. Over the centuries, Karaites spread throughout Eastern Europe and into Lithuania, Crimea and Egypt. A tiny Karaite presence in Jerusalem has existed since medieval times, but most of the Karaites in Israel today arrived from Egypt with the wave of Egyptian Jews fleeing the unrest surrounding the Arab-Israel wars of the 20th century. Samaritans in Israel today are more visible than Karaites, despite their smaller numbers, largely due to the curiosity of Israelis. The annual Samaritan Passover sacrifice that takes place on Mt. Gerizim overlooking Nablus in Samaria has turned into a major spectacle, attracting thousands of onlookers to the scenic hilltop. This year, the Samaritans, who number just 756 souls

divided between the Kiryat Luza village on Mount Gerizim and Holon, will mark Passover on April 23. Prof. Corinaldi says the calendar discrepancy is because Jews start calculating from the first year of creation, whereas the Samaritan calendar starts from the first year Joshua Bin-Nun entered Israel. As a result, the leap years are not parallel and Samaritan festivals sometimes take place a month later.

While both Karaites and Samaritans are full-fledged Israeli citizens according to Israel’s Law of Return, Samaritans are not considered Jews by Israeli rabbinic authorities. Samaritans, who claim to be original ancient Israelites with genealogy going back to the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe, hold that Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem, is the spiritual center of Israel. Like the Karaites, Samaritans accept only the Five Books of Moses and the book of Joshua -- for this tiny remnant, the history of Israel after Joshua is that of a renegade sectarian community. According to British Rabbi Jeffrey M. Cohen, an authority on Passover customs around the world, “Only they (the Samaritans) remain the faithful ‘Israel.’” Jews abandoned the ritual of the Paschal lamb sacrifice when the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 C.E. The shank bone on the seder plate is the closest most Israelis will get to a sacrifice. Samaritans, who never identified with Jerusalem and who believe Mount Gerizim to have been where the binding of Isaac took place, never gave up the sacrificial practice. This year the Samaritans will perform the Passover sacrifice as they have done on Mount Gerizim for thousands of years. Following the biblical commandment in Exodus 12:5, each male head of household selects an unblemished lamb and the entire community gathers with the High Priest Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob at twilight on the 14th of Nisan to observe the sacrifice in a festive manner. Samaritan community leader Benyamin Tsedaka, director of the Institute of Samaritan Studies in Holon, describes the ancient annual ritual. “The High Priest opens with the sacrifice prayer and announces the ritual slaughter,” he says. “The sheep are brought to the altar and are slaughtered by experienced slaughterers. Members of each family check the kashrut of the slaughter for each other. Matzot with bitter herbs are distributed to all members of the community. The sheep are then

cleaned both inside and out and they are bound, each sheep on a spit and koshered by being sprinkled with salt. About two and a half hours before midnight, the sheep on their spits are put into ovens, which have been well heated. The opening of the oven is completely sealed with an iron net to stabilize the skewers and with burlap, which is immediately covered with a damp mixture of earth and bushes. The fire is stifling and the immense heat that wafts from the deep ovens roasts the sheep. In the middle of the night, at the time when the Angel of Destruction went out to slay the Egyptian firstborn, the sheep are removed from the ovens, taken off the skewers, transferred onto large platters, and accompanied by singing, which has not ceased since the start of the sacrifice, and the platters are brought home. There, the meat of the sacrifice will be eaten in haste with matzot and bitter herbs. Any remains left over are brought to be burned before dawn.” “Karaite and Samaritan Passover customs are differences not in principle, but in practice,” asserts Prof. Corinaldi. In his view, they illustrate freedom of religion in Israel. “The Orthodox would like to have unity and uniformity of practice, but that will only happen when the mashiach appears,” he concludes.

Chagall’s Gift Continued from page C11 Jew in history would have to symbolize for Chagall the anonymous and random deaths that the mechanisms of genocidal fury would soon inflict. The effect worked, at least for the eminent Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain. Israel is climbing Calvary, he wrote in 1941. “As in Marc Chagall’s beautiful painting, the poor Jews, Marc Chagall, 1941 without understanding it, Credit: Wikimedia are swept along in the great Commons tempest of the Crucifixion.” Not until after his bar mitzvah did Chagall change his first name from Moshe, the name of the liberator from Egyptian bondage. But in depicting Jesus in so transformative a setting as The White Crucifixion, Chagall made from the seasonal overlapping of Passover and Easter a painting that manages to blend his flair for summoning beauty with the gift of tragic depth. Stephen J. Whitfield holds the Max Richter Chair in American Civilization at Brandeis University and is the author of In Search of American Jewish Culture (University Press of New England, 1999).

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In experiencing real freedom, the importance of boundaries by DASEE BERKOWITZ NEW YORK (JTA) -- We have a love-hate relationship with boundaries. We hate being confined or told what to do. Many adults don’t like having a boss, and many schoolchildren get annoyed when the answer is “no.” Boundaries limit our individuality, intrude upon what we want to do and sometimes feel like an arbitrary obstacle to getting what we want. For children, limits of time (bedtime), sources of enjoyment (how much ice cream for dessert) or behavior (being scolded for shooting a toy bow and arrow around the living room) can seem like arbitrary rules that stymie their ability to fully enjoy the activity at hand in favor of some far-off goal that only their parent understands. As a grown-up, when I see a sign that says “Keep off the grass,” I want nothing more than to frolic in my bucolic surroundings. But we also love boundaries because we know that without them, life would be chaotic. As a parent, we know setting firm boundaries helps us raise our children and run our households. As a global citizen, we know that boundaries help us create civilized societies. And as Jews we know that boundaries help define who we are and what our purpose is. No holiday helps us understand this more than Passover. The form of the holiday is all about boundaries. The flow of the seder -- not to mention the very word itself, which means order -- requires us to take each step at a time, in a certain sequence. The rabbis teach that one does not fulfill one’s obligation of the seder until we have completed speaking about the pascal offering (pesach), matzah and the bitter herbs (maror). The themes of Passover also require a degree of prescriptive recitation. On seder night we travel from slavery to freedom, from being idol worshipers to worshiping God, and in the words of the haggadah, from degradation (“genut”) to praise (“shevach”). We understand these central themes of the holiday by the rituals on seder night. We have particular symbols on the seder plate. We ask four questions, hinting to us that our ability to ask questions itself is an act that reflects our status as free people. We drink four cups of wine, which relate to four languages of redemption from the Torah itself, when God says, “I will take you out from under the burdens of

Egypt,” “I will save you from their bondage,” “I will redeem you” and “I will take you to me as a people.” Recited in this sequence, we are encouraged to reflect how liberation from Egypt is a process from physical subjugation to forging a new relationship with God.

Our story of liberation is a carefully scripted narrative. And while creativity is not only allowed on seder night but encouraged (in fact the haggadah itself exhorts, “anyone who increases the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt is praiseworthy”), the prescribed ritual matters. It’s counterintuitive. If we are celebrating freedom, why can’t we be free to choose how we want to celebrate a holiday of freedom? A Jewish Woodstock? An intellectual salon contrasting the haggadah with other literary works of free-

dom? Freedom drum circles with a “L’chayim” to Elijah at the end? Freedom from slavery is one kind of freedom that we celebrate on Passover, but that is only half of the story. We were liberated from Egypt not to wander as free spirits in the wilderness but for a purpose -- to serve God. The words are interesting here -- we escape from “avodah kasha” (“difficult labor”), which the Egyptians forced upon us, to “avodat Hashem” (“worship of God”) and a system of life that God reveals to Moses and the children of Israel at Mount Sinai 50 days later. The fulfillment of Jewish freedom is a life of commitment, direction and purpose. We can understand what a purpose-driven freedom means from the Pirkei Avot (the Teachings of our Fathers) interpretation of the verse from Exodus, “the word of God was harut [engraved] on the stone tablets [that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai.]” (Exodus 32:16). In Pirkei Avot 6:2, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi writes, “Don’t read carved [harut] but rather freedom [heirut], for there is no free person other than one who is occupied with Torah.” Here there is a word play between “engraved,” which connotes rigidity, and “free.” If we neglect a relationship with the Divine, which is established here through the study of Torah, and more broadly with our Jewish tradition and the ethical system that has been passed down to us through the generations, then we lack freedom. One of the lessons of Passover is that only within boundaries and structure can we experience true freedom. When we create appropriate physical boundaries for our children, they are able to play and express themselves freely. When we embrace the boundaries of Jewish commitment through holiday and Shabbat celebration and learning, we open up for ourselves the contours of a meaningful life. We fill our lives with the grand narratives (of pursuing justice and working to free slaves) and lofty ideals (like the importance of Shabbat and turning off our ego-driven selves for a day to become attuned to our souls.) And when we see that our duty as global citizens requires us to put others’ needs before our own desires, we create caring societies. This Passover, celebrate the commitments you have made -- to your family, your Jewish community and the world, and feel truly free.

Out

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C15

Save the self-pity! Choices abound for Passover meals by HELEN NASH (JTA) -- For the many who feel overwhelmed by Passover because of the demands of cooking without leaven, a word or two: That should not be an obstacle. After all, on this most celebrated of Jewish holidays, we are allowed to eat fish, meat, poultry, eggs, nuts, fruits, most vegetables and fresh herbs. All of the recipes featured here are nutritious, attractive, flavorful and easy to prepare. They emphasize fresh, seasonal ingredients, fewer complicated techniques, and stylish, elegant dishes. What more would you want for Passover? The seder meals, when we recount the Exodus story, are the most important events of the holiday. Most people, like myself, favor their own traditional menu. Each year I repeat the seder menu as a way to hold on to cherished family traditions. The recipes are from the new cookbook Helen Nash’s New Kosher Cuisine (Overlook Press). MARINATED SALMON This is a variation on the traditional pickled salmon sold in every Jewish delicatessen. The difference: The salmon is more delicate and less vinegary, and has a richer color. It makes a perfect Sabbath luncheon dish. Ingredients: 6 skinless center-cut salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each) 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil for greasing the pan Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200°. Grease a glass or enamel-lined baking pan that can hold the fillets in a single layer. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels and season them lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Place them in the dish and bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cooked to your taste. Remove the baking pan from the oven, cover with foil, and let cool completely. (The fish will continue cooking outside of the oven.)

MARINADE Ingredients: 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 4 tbsp. rice vinegar (for Passover, replace with white wine vinegar) 1 1/2 tsp. salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced (see note below) 15 dill sprigs, snipped finely with scissors, plus 2 sprigs, snipped, for garnish Preparation: In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar and salt. Add pepper to taste. Pour the marinade over the salmon, add the onion and sprinkle with the 15 snipped sprigs of dill. Cover the dish with wax paper, then foil and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days without turning. To serve: Bring the salmon to room temperature. Place on individual plates along with some of the marinade and onions. Garnish with the fresh snipped dill; makes 6 servings. Note: I use a mandoline to slice the onion, as it makes the cutting easier. CHICKEN WITH POTATOES AND OLIVES I am always pleased to come up with a dish that is a meal in itself -- one that combines either chicken or meat with vegetables. This is one of my favorites, and because it is so easy to make, I often serve it at Passover. I bake it in an attractive casserole, so it can go directly from the oven to the table. Ingredients: 5 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 9 garlic cloves Kosher salt 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Leaves from 10 thyme sprigs Freshly ground black pepper 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each) 5 plum tomatoes 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled, quartered 1/2 cup pitted black olives, quartered Preparation: Preheat the oven to 450°. With 1 tablespoon of the oil, grease a glass, ceramic or enamel-lined baking pan that can hold all the vegetables in a single layer. Coarsely chop 4 of the garlic cloves on a cutting board. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt and, using a knife, crush them into a paste. Place the paste in a small bowl and combine it with the lemon juice, 2 tbsp. of the oil, half of the thyme leaves and pepper to taste. Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels and season Continued on page 16

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Choices abound for Passover meals Continued from page 15 lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Coat the chicken with the mixture and set aside. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water; bring the water back to a boil and drain. Core the tomatoes and slip off the skin. Cut the tomatoes in half widthwise and squeeze gently to remove the seeds. (Some seeds will remain.) Cut the tomatoes in quarters. Thickly slice the remaining 5 garlic cloves and spread them in the prepared baking pan along with the tomatoes, potatoes, olives, the rest of the thyme leaves, and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until almost tender. Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables and bake, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Turn them over, spoon on some pan juices and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is slightly pink on the inside. Cover with foil for 1 minute; makes 4 servings.

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Chicken Salad With Radicchio and Pine Nuts is colorful and features an interesting mixture of textures and tastes. Credit: Helen Nash’s New Kosher Cuisine, Overlook Press CHICKEN SALAD WITH RADICCHIO AND PINE NUTS This is a colorful and delicious salad with an interesting mixture of textures and tastes. The currants and pine nuts add an unusual Mediterranean piquancy. Ingredients: 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each) 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil for greasing the chicken

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Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 head radicchio, shredded 1 to 2 bunches arugula, leaves torn if they are large 1/2 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped Preparation: Place the onion slices in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand for 30 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Place in a large serving bowl. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and grease with oil. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Place each chicken breast in the center of a piece of cling wrap and wrap it so that it is completely covered. Place the packages in a steamer, cover and steam over high heat for about 9 minutes. (The inside of the chicken should still be pale pink.) Turn off the heat and let stand for 1 minute. Remove the chicken and cool, still wrapped. When cool, unwrap the chicken and cut it on the diagonal into thin strips. Place in the bowl with the onions; makes 6 servings.

STIR-FRIED SPINACH This is a delicious recipe that captures the very essence of spinach. Now that prewashed spinach is available in almost every supermarket, you can prepare this dish in minutes. Ingredients: 20 ounces prewashed spinach 1 1/2 tbsp. pine nuts 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Preparation: Break the stems off the spinach leaves and discard. Roast the pine nuts in a toaster oven on the lowest setting for 1 or 2 minutes, until they are golden. (Watch them carefully, as they burn quickly.) Heat a wok over high heat until hot. Add the oil. Add the spinach and stir quickly until it is just wilted, no more than a minute. Season with salt and pepper. With a slotted spoon, transfer the spinach to a serving dish. Sprinkle the pine nuts on top; makes 6 servings. Continued on page 17

March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C17

Choices abound for Passover meals Continued from page 16

Beet Soup is pareve and can be served at room temperature or hot. Credit: Helen Nash’s New Kosher Cuisine, Overlook Press BEET SOUP With their magnificent color, delicious flavor and vitamin richness, beets are one of my favorite vegetables. In the summer I serve this soup at room temperature; in the winter I like it hot. Ingredients: 1 1/4 pounds beets, plus 1 small beet for garnish 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 small red onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, sliced 1 McIntosh apple, peeled and sliced 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp. dark brown sugar Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Preparation: Peel and slice the beets (see note below). Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion, garlic and apple, and saute for 5 minutes. Add the beets and broth. Bring to a boil over

high heat. Lower the heat and cook, covered, for about 30 minutes, until the beets are tender. Cool a little. While the soup is cooking, wrap the reserved beet tightly in foil. Bake in a toaster oven at 400° for 30 minutes, or until just tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife. Cool, slip off the skin, and grate. Puree the soup in a blender until very smooth. Season to taste with the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. To serve, garnish with the grated beet; makes 6 servings. Note: I always wear thin plastic gloves when I work with beets, as this avoids staining my fingers with beet juice, which can be hard to remove. CHOCOLATE MERINGUE SQUARES These meringue squares are like cookies, but they are light, chocolaty and surprisingly low in calories. I often serve them at Passover. Ingredients: 1 tbsp. unsalted margarine for greasing the pan 1/2 pound blanched almonds 6 ounces good-quality imported semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces 8 large egg whites (see notes) 1 cup sugar Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan with wax paper and grease the paper with the margarine. Chop the almonds in a food processor, in two batches, until medium-fine. Transfer to a bowl. Chop the chocolate in the processor until fine, and combine with the almonds. Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Using the balloon whisk attachment, beat at high speed until foamy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff. With a large rubber spatula, gently fold the chocolatealmond mixture into the egg whites, making a motion like a figure 8 with the spatula. Do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out almost dry. Cool on a wire rack. Invert onto a cutting board and peel off the paper. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares; makes 3 1/2 dozen squares. Notes: It is easier to separate the eggs straight from the refrigerator, when they are cold. Make sure the whites have come to room temperature before beating. To freeze the squares, place them side by side in an air-tight plastic container, with wax paper between the layers.

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Congregation B’nai Jeshurun The South Street Temple Craig Lewis, Rabbi 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502 402-435-8004 www.southstreettemple.org

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C18 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

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, April 12: Services, 7:30 p.m. followed by an oneg with guest speaker, Mark Kirchhoff, Center for Jewish Life Administrative Assistant on Refugee Resettlement. The community is invited. Cantor Beth Schlossberg will officiate at all of the Speaker Series Services.

MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review, 7:45 a.m. TUESDAY: Women’s Study Group, 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m; Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC; Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:30 p.m. with Rabbi Gross. SUNDAY, March 24: Search for Chometz, 8:23 p.m. MONDAY, March 25: Taanit Bechorort Siyum, 7:30 a.m.; Last time to eat Chamets, 11:28 a.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:42 p.m.; First Seder Earliest Time, 8:24 p.m. TUESDAY, March 26: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Earliest Candle Lighting, 8:25 p.m.; Second Seder.

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: Scholar-in-Residence weekend, featuring Dr. Benjamin Gampel, Jewish history professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Dr. Gampel will speak briefly during our Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Dinner & Drash led by Dr. Benjamin Gampel, 7 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m. and Dr. Gampel will deliver D’var Torah, and will speak during a special Kiddush sponsored by Marcel and Ilse Kahn; Special study session with Dr. Gample, 7:30 p.m., between Mincha and Ma’ariv/Havdalah services. For more information about the weekend, contact the synagogue office or programming@ bethel-omaha.org. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; Torah Tots, 10 a.m. led by Naomi Gaca; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m., with Hazzan Krausman. MONDAY: Tai Chi Class, 6:30 p.m., led by certified Tai Chi instructor Beth Staenberg. For more information, contact the synagogue office. WEDNESDAY: Remington Heights Study Session, 10:30 a.m., Rabbi Abraham will lead a study session for Remington Heights residents. Everyone in the Jewish community is welcome. THURSDAY: Dames & Drinks, 7 p.m. All women of Beth El are invited. No charge to attend; babysitting provided free of charge with a reservation. For questions or to RSVP, contact Melissa Schop at melschop@hotmail.com. BESTT Students will be on Passover/Spring Break from March 24-April 2. Shaharit/Siyyum B’khorim, 6:45 a.m. and Mincha/Ma’ariv on Monday, March 25, 5:30 p.m. Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. and Mincha/Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. Congregational Seder, Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. Cost is adults, $30/$40; children 7-12, $25/$30. RSVP by sending a check to the synagogue, attention ‘Community Seder;’ or sign up and pay online at www.bethel-omaha.org. For more information, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik in the synagogue office, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. All Beth El classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

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-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:13 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; The Laws of Shabbat, 3:50 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Boys (ages 10 and up), 4:50 p.m.; Mincha, 5:50 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 7:05 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

CHABAD CENTER 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. FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush lunch will follow and is sponsored in honor of the birthday of the Lubavitvher Rebbe who continues to inspire us. 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. Please reserve by calling 402.330.1800. WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. Call 402.330.1800 to reserve. THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. Contact Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@ unmc.edu to receive updates. Seder for the whole family, Monday, March 25, 7 p.m. Call 402.330.1800 to reserve. 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: FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE! Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. featuring the Star City Kochavim with guests Trinity United Methodist Church confirmation class, Board of Trustees Installation with oneg following hosted by Linda and Don Glaser. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Vayikra; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LJCS Passover Program, 11:15 a.m. at Tifereth Israel. Everyone is invited; Confirmation class, noon; Jewish Book Club, 1:30 p.m. at Karen Coulter’s house. We’ll be discussing The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund DeWaal. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at The Egg & I, downtown at 17th and Q Streets. Questions? Please contact Stephanie Dohner. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m. Intro to Judaism, Session #12 led by Rabbi Lewis. THURSDAYS, Beginning Hebrew, 6 p.m. and Advanced Hebrew, 7 p.m. Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Annual Community Passover Second Night Seder, Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. RSVP to the Temple office at 402.435.8004 or stemple@neb.rr.com by Wednesday, March 20, at the latest. Guests are welcome. Seating is limited to 80. Adults $13, Children 6-12 $7, No charge for children 5 & under and for college students. This year’s menu includes salad, brisket, a vegetarian entree, matzah ball soup, potato kugel, mixed vegetables, and a light dessert.

To submit announcements: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return). Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: jpress@jewishomaha.org. Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines.

Candlelighting Friday, March 15, 7:13 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. PASSOVER MONDAY, March 25: First Seder, 6 p.m., led by Carole and Andy Greenberg. TUESDAY, March 26: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg; Second Seder, 6 p.m., led by the Polack family: Susan, Jim, Josh and Max. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: No Religious School. TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 5:45 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: No Religious School; No Family School; No Grades 7&8. THURSDAY: Dilemmas of Faith: God and Spirituality in the Modern World, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel; Naomi’s Table, 6:45 p.m. at Crave, 200 S. 31st Ave, Suite 4103. We invite all interfaith couples, Jews by Choice and anyone who considers their family to be an intersection of cultures and traditions to join us. Appetizers will be provided and dinner can be purchased. Please RSVP to Wendy Goldberg, wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com. Passover Service, Tuesday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. Congregational Seder, Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. Menu items for the seder include Matzah Ball Soup, Chicken, Kugel, Salad, Chocolate-dipped Macaroons for dessert and all the other traditional favorites such as charoses, gefilte fish and matzah, of course, according to Dennis DePorte, Executive Director. The cost for adults is $23, $12 for children six to twelve years old. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Temple Israel office, lsherrod@templeisraelomaha.com or 402.556.6536. Reservation deadline is Monday, March 18.

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 Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. FRIDAY: Shabbat Services, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. with Kiddush lunch to follow. SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; LJCS Passover Program, 11:15 a.m. at Tifereth Israel. Everyone is invited; Jewish Book Club, 1:30 p.m. at Karen Coulter’s house. We’ll be discussing The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund DeWaal. For more information please contact Karen at pkarinc_62@yahoo.com. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Temple office closed; First Seder on Monday, March 25 Temple office closed; Second Seder on Tuesday, March 26 Note: If an individual is looking for a home Seder, please call the office to leave your name and seder date request.

LAND FOR SALE Several small parcels of hunting/recreational land for sale throughout northeast Nebraska. Visit www.homesteadlandcompany.com for maps, prices, and details Or contact:

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March 15, 2013 | The Jewish Press | C19 CUSTOMER

Advertising index Advertiser Page A Permanent Solution ......................................... A11 Abrahams, Kaslow & Cassman LLP ...................... A8 Acura of Omaha ................................................ C12 Aksarben Cinema .............................................. B13 All Makes Office Equipment Co. ........................... C3 Allens .................................................................. A7 American National Bank ..................................... A11 American Payment Systems ................................. A5 Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Council ................................................... B1, C20 B’nai B’rith Henry Monsky Lodge ....................... C20 B’nai B’rith Youth Organization ........................... A16 B’nai Israel Synagogue ...................................... C20 B’nai Jeshurun - South Street Temple ................. C17 Badger Body & Isuzu Truck .................................. B7 Bag ’N Save ....................................................... C10 Bagel Bin ........................................................... B11 Baker’s Supermarkets ........................................ B16 Belgrade Family ................................................... B2 Bergman Incentives/Bergman Jewelers ................ A3 Bernina Sewing Centers ..................................... B12 Beth El BILU USY ............................................... A16 Beth El Sisterhood ............................................. C20 Beth El Synagogue ............................................ C20 Beth Israel NCSY ................................................ A16 Beth Israel Sisterhood ........................................ C20 Beth Israel Synagogue ....................................... C20 Bloom Companion Care ...................................... C6 Boys Town ........................................................... C2 Boys Town Ear, Nose & Throat Institute ............... C11 Broadmoor Market ............................................. C13 Brownell Talbot .................................................. B15 Canfield’s Sporting Goods .................................... B4 Chabad ............................................................. C20 Cohen Family ...................................................... C3 Cohen’s Computer Club ....................................... C8 Colliers International ............................................ A8 Countryside Village ............................................ C13 Creative Hair Design .......................................... B10 Debs-tique ........................................................... C4 Deck The Walls .................................................. C12 Decor & You ........................................................ C4 Enterprise Bank ................................................... B3 Finance1 L.L.C. ................................................. A12 Frankel Zacharia ..................................................... A13 Fraser Stryker Law Firm ..................................... B13 Friedel Jewish Academy ....................................... A8 Gallagher Grace/Mayer Insurance ........................ C8 Gallery72 ............................................................ C3

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Advertiser Page Garbo’s Salon and Spa ........................................ A4 Gordmans ........................................................... B5 Hap Abraham Catering ...................................... B11 Hiller Electric ..................................................... C15 Hockenbergs ....................................................... B7 Horizon Dental Center ......................................... B2 Ideal Pure Water & Coffee .................................... A3 Industrial Packaging Corporation ........................ A10 Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics ......................... A4 Institute for Holocaust Education ....................... C20 Interim Homestyle Services ................................ B14 Jewish Community Center ................................... B1 Jewish Family Service ................................... A11, B1 Jewish Federation of Lincoln ............................... A14 Jewish Federation of Omaha ................................ B1 Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation .............. B1 Jewish Press ............................................ A2, B1, B6 Jewish Senior Outlook .......................................... B1 Jewish Social Services ......................................... B1 Jewish War Veterans of America ......................... C20 Johanns, Senator Mike ........................................ B7 Julio’s ............................................................... C15 Kohll Family ....................................................... C16 Kohll’s Pharmacy & Homecare ........................... B12 Krav Maga ........................................................... B2 League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly ........... C20 Lerner Company ................................................ B14 Lifeline by Immanuel ......................................... C12 Lion’s Automotive Upholstery ............................... C8 Louie M’s Burger Lust ........................................ C15 Malashock Jewelry ............................................. A15 Malbar Vision Centers .......................................... A5 Marathon Real Estate ........................................... A7 Marathon Ventures ............................................ C11 Mark Sanford Group ............................................ A9 Marks Clare & Richards ...................................... A15 McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp, PC, LLO. ...... A3 McGrath North .................................................... B6 Me & Me Boutique ................................................A4 Mid Con Systems Inc. .......................................... A3 Mid-City Jewelry & Loan ....................................... B3 Midtown Crossing ................................................ C5 Nan C ............................................................... C11 Natan & Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies ......................................................... C20 National Council of Jewish Women ..................... C20 Nebraska Democratic Party ................................ B15 Nebraska Furniture Mart .................................... A15 Nebraska Jewish Historical Society ..................... C20

Advertiser Page Nebraska Press Statewide Classifieds ................. C19 Nebraska Spine Center, L.L.P. .............................. B4 Noddle Companies ............................................ A10 NOVA Fitness Equipment ..................................... A9 Omaha Compound Company ............................. A12 Omaha Perfoming Arts Society - Joan Rivers ......... C9 Omaha Perfoming Arts Society - The Lion King ..... C4 Omaha Steaks ..................................................... B3 Omaha Surgical Center ...................................... A13 Omaha Temple Youth Group ............................... A16 One Pacific Place-Broadmoor ............................. A14 Parsow’s ............................................................ A14 Pasta Amore ........................................................ C7 Peterson Brothers Realty Co. ............................... A11 Pulverente Monument Co. .................................. C11 Rehab Visions .................................................... C12 Remington Heights .............................................. A6 Rockbrook Village ................................................ C7 Rose Blumkin Jewish Home ................................. B1 Rotella’s Italian Bakery ......................................... C3 Russell’s ............................................................ C13 St. Joseph Villa .................................................. C17 Schwalb Realty ................................................... C8 Security Equipment, Inc. .................................... C15 Seim Johnson .................................................... A10 Senior Market Sales, Inc. ................................... C16 Smith Art Appraisal-Janet Smith ........................ C16 Sol’s Jewelry & Loan ............................................ A7 Sonny Gerber Auto Sales ...................................... C4 Spine & Musculoskeletal Medicine, P.C. .............. C15 Star Catering ..................................................... B12 Star Deli .............................................................. C1 Stoddard Family ................................................. A15 Suburban Newspapers Inc. .................................. A7 Suttle, Mayor Jim ................................................ C8 Swartzbaugh Farber ............................................. B4 Temple Israel ..................................................... C20 Terry, Congressman Lee ..................................... A12 The Center for Jewish Life .................................... B1 The Post & Nickel ................................................ C7 Tifereth Israel Synagogue ................................... C11 University of Nebraska Medical Center ................ C14 Union Bank & Trust Company .............................. C9 van de Kamp-Wright Family .................................. C8 Vann Realty ....................................................... C17 Visiting Nurse Association ................................... A13 Winery ............................................................... B11 Wolfson Used Cars ............................................. A11 Zio’s Pizzeria ...................................................... B11

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Tuesday, March 26, for Passover; the deadline for the April 5 issue is Monday, March 25, noon. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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We can’t let Nebraska become like Massachusetts! Check out www.massresistance.org The radical GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) agenda is making inroads in Nebraska. Their efforts always start with the introduction of so-called “anti-discrimination” legislation. Now, 4 bills have been introduced in our Unicameral. LB 380 allows adoption “by two persons jointly.” LB 385 places children in foster homes with GLBT foster parents. LB 485 anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation. LB 619 state-mandated sex education for public schools. (What happened to local control?!)

Call and email your state senators now to get these bills stopped! This should be decided by the people, not the politicians and the lobbyists!

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Nebraska STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS 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. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in over 170 newspapers. Reach thousands of readers for $225/25 word ad. Contact the Jewish Press at 402-334-6448 or call 1800-369-2850. LOOKING FOR the classic car, truck or motorcycle of your dreams? Midwest Classic Cars website is your Midwest connection to classic vehicles for sale. Need to sell a classic vehicle? For only $25, your ad with photos will run until sold! Call this newspaper today for more information or call 1-800-369-2850. 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. WALK-IN BATHTUBS. Priced lower than most competitors! Plain to luxury air and water jet models. Full line handicapped tubs and shower units. Installation available. 402-896-2966.

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ATTEND COLLEGE online from home. Medical, Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-487-0378, www.CenturaOnline.com. COORDINATOR P/T: Locate and screen host families, provide support and activities for exchange students. Make friends worldwide! www.aspectfoundation.org. AIRLINES ARE hiring. Train for hands on Aviation Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 888-896-8006. QC SUPPLY, a leading distributor of Ag products is looking for a Swine Equipment Sales Professional. Swine experience is a must. Basic computer and good communication skills required. Send resume to careers@qcsupply.com or PO Box 581, Schuyler, NE 68661. EXPERIENCED FINISH blade operator needed (knowledge of GPS system a plus). Company offers competitive pay, health insurance and a 401k plan for employees. Travel is required. Contact: Adams Construction Co., 308-962-7918. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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C20 | The Jewish Press | March 15, 2013

Beth El Sisterhood

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auxiliary

Happy

Passover

wishes its friends in the Jewish community a Passover filled with good health, happiness and peace.

Happy

League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly

Best Wishes for a

Passover

We offer social, religious, educational, fundraising and service programs for women of all ages. We are women who care about Beth El Synagogue! Check us out at www.bethel-omaha.org/

Passover to the Community

NCJW extends its warmest wishes to the Jewish community for a Joyous Passover.

Freedom is the incessant human drive to draw on one’s divine, infinite potential and reach beyond the self.

Henry Monsky Lodge B’nai B’rith

402-334-6443

B’nai Israel Synagogue Council Bluffs, Iowa National Register of Historic Places A Century of Tradition 618 Mynster Street, Council Bluffs

323-8885 You’re always welcome at B’nai Israel!

JEWISH WAR VETERANS of AMERICA Epstein Morgan Post 260

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful Passover. FREE membership to all active-duty personnel Contact: Jay Benton, Commander 402-250-6133 We welcome any and all new members

Peace and Happiness on Passover 333 South 132nd Street Omaha, NE 68154 402-334-6441 or 402-334-6442 www.nebraskajhs.com

A Happy and Healthy National Council of Jewish Women Omaha Section

Best Wishes for a Happy Passover

With Your Help We’ll Have A Great Past Ahead Of Us Pay your annual dues online

Happy Passover from

The Beth El Synagogue Board of Trustees, Congregation and Staff As we celebrate the Exodus this Passover, Beth El Synagogue invites you to celebrate with us at our community second Seder, open to all on Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. For more information and reservations, contact the synagogue office at 402-492-8550.

Chag Sameach

The Natan and Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel Jewish Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha wishes everyone a

Rabbi Mendel Katzman, Chabad Board, Staff and Volunteers

Happy Passover