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Vol. LXXXV No. 29 Omaha, NE

Infamous Story Behind Protocols Revealed at Film Showing and Discussion by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Administrator, The Center for Jewish Education When Dr. Guy Matalon first saw The Protocols of Zion at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005, he and colleague Dr. Bill Blizek immediately decided to bring the movie to Omaha as soon as it was available. In creating “Protocols”, filmmaker Marc Levin, drew his inspiration from an encounter he had in a New York taxi not long after 9-11. His driver, an Egyptian immigrant, made the disturbing claim that the Jews had been warned not to go to work at the World Trade Center on the day of the attack. The cabbie added, “It’s all written in the book,” referring to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious forgery created 100 years ago this year, purporting to be the Jews’ master plan to rule the world. Long ago discredited as a fake, the book was a crucial influence on Hitler and fueled hatred, violence, and ultimately genocide through the first half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, the book continues its popularity today, sold on Amazon.com and until recently, at Wal-Mart. The Center for Jewish Education will show the powerful and thought-provoking film on Sunday, April 30, 7 p.m., in the Jewish Community Center Theater Following the presentation, panel members Matalon and Blizek will discuss the film. “The issues raised are sobering and there is no doubt that everyone who sees the film will be affected,” says Matalon, Executive Director of the CJE. The event is open to the Omaha community; cost is $5 per person. For information, call 334.6445; for more background on the film, visit www.protocolsofzionmovie.com/.

Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

Operation Promise to Rescue Most Vulnerable Jewish Communities by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Specialist The story of the Jewish people began with a promise to make the world a better place, to be generous and seek justice. Values that survive today. Operation Promise is a nationwide effort to raise $160 million in new funds over three years in order to meet some of the most pressing needs of Jews worldwide. Operation Promise seeks to expand and continue the North American Jewish community’s already extraordinary achievements overseas: in the former Soviet Union, caring for hundreds of thousands of needy elderly, and building and supporting the next generation of Jewish life; and bringing the Ethiopian Jewish community home to Israel and helping them to take their rightful place in Israeli society. The goal for the Omaha Jewish comElderly Jews take part in a Shabbat dinner at a Hesed social services center in munity is to raise $600,000 for Operation Yekaterinburg, Russia, sponsored by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Promise. Bruce and Anne Shackman are Committee, in a file photo. Credit: Lev Krichevsky/JTA chairing the Omaha campaign. How will the money raised by Operation Promise be people didn’t. I feel an obligation to help them. There but for the grace of God go I. There but for the grace used? More than 100,000 of the 350,000 elderly Jews in the of God go all of us.” Another $30 million will help connect young Jews in former Soviet Union (FSU) rely almost entirely on their the FSU to Jewish life. There are some 50,000 young fellow Jews in the Diaspora--both for the welfare delivJews in the FSU between the ages of 17 and 28. Fewer ery network and for the funds to provide food, meds and than 10,000 are affiliated with anything Jewish; 80% will home care services. With current overseas allocations, marry a non-Jewish partner. these basic needs are not being met; $30 million of “Yet, here again, Operation Promise can stem the Operation Promise funds will bridge this gap. tide,” says Shackman. It will increase the number of kids Bruce Shackman feels strongly about this issue. sent to Jewish camps, double the time they can stay, and “We have so many elderly in the FSU, living in dire birthright israel. send more young people on conditions,” Bruce says. “My grandparents were from the FSU. They made it over to this country, but these Continued on page 2

Jewish Community Native Son Brings Commemorates Yom HaShoah Passion and Relationship “From Tragedy to Triumph” Building to National by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Specialist When Omaha’s Jewish community gathers next month to recall the Holocaust and the murder of six million Jews, they’ll hear a story of hope and persistence, not just death and destruction. According to cochairmen Bea Karp and her daughter, Nancy Kutler, that’s an important message. Karp, who was hidden during the war by Catholic nuns and the OSE, a French-Jewish organization that had the unlucky task of separating children from parents in order to rescue them from certain death by the Nazis, has spoken to churches, youth groups, clubs, college and high school students since 1963. “Prejudice is a terrible thing. The story (of the Holocaust) is still very important,” she said, “because even today, people still say it never happened.” Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, will be observed Wednesday, April 26, 7 p.m., at Beth El Synagogue, with a commemoration open to the community. The event will also include a special candlelighting ceremony. Continued on page 2

Inside Opinion Page see page 20

Leadership Role by OZZIE NOGG The headline on a Feb. 23 press release from the United Jewish Communities office in New York read, “Joel Alperson of Omaha Named Chair of UJA Federation Campaign: New Chair Represents a Young Generation of National Leadership; Campaign Meets Compelling Needs of Worldwide Jewish Community.” That degree of journalistic hype could spell ego-tripin-the-making, but Alperson views his new assignment from a healthy perspective. “My goal,” he says, “is to be worthy of this position.” In simple terms, the position makes Alperson the volunteer spokesman for United Jewish Communities fundraising efforts in North America, with responsibilities that include speaking at events around the country and soliciting donor gifts. “But,” he says, “I don’t want to be a Jewish tax collector or have my Jewish taxes collected. I don’t want to be on either side of that equation. Personally, I’d like to emphasize the relationship building aspect of this job. Too often we approach donors with requests and don’t take the time to listen, to get a sense of what matters to them, what motivates them. Our job in the Jewish nonprofit world is to be more than fund raisers. We must sit down with other Jews and explain how much their help is needed, but we must also listen for cases in which we can help the donor.” Continued on page 4

With Kadima’s Slim Victory, Olmert Moves Israel to Center by LESLIE SUSSER JERUSALEM (JTA)--A major shift in Israeli politics was cemented this week, with Ehud Olmert’s centrist Kadima Party poised to form the next government. The party didn’t fare as well as expected in Tuesday’s elections, but Olmert is likely to be able to form a solid majority in the Knesset, allowing him to move ahead with his stated intention of further withdrawal from the West Bank. The elections, the first since Ariel Sharon’s abrupt departure from the Israeli political scene, were seen in large part as a referendum on the withdrawal proposal. As is often the case in Israeli politics, there were surprises. The Interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud biggest were Olmert casts his ballot in Jerusalem, Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA Kadima’s weak- March 28. er-than-expected showing; the emergence of the hardline Yisrael Beiteinu as the third-largest party, ahead of Likud; and the strong showing of a newcomer, the Continued on page 17

This Week: See Front Page Stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Community Concert Joins Vocal Talents Together: Page 3

2 Nisan, 5766 March 31, 2006

Sodexho Brings New Flavor to Blumkin Home: Page 7

Breadbreakers Features Senate Candidate Dave Kramer: Page 8

Next Week: Passover Issue Part II of Cream of the Crop: Shirley Goldstein: Pages 14-16

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March 31, 2006

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Operation Promise help, language classes and Continued from page 1 job training; $40 million in Anne Shackman speaks of Operation Promise funds the importance of this camwill go towards these paign component. “Now absorption centers. that we have this opportuniToday, more than 70% of ty, we have to do everything Ethiopian-Israelis live in we can to bring these young poverty; 55% of the men are people into the fold and give unemployed. From prethem the opportunity to school, Head Start-like procherish their heritage,” says grams through university Anne. “We simply have to preparedness and scholardo everything we can, ships, educational intervenbefore an entire segment of tion can transform Ethiopian our Jewish community disIsraelis and Israeli society. appears altogether.” Of the $160 million goal, Operation Promise Chairman Anne and Bruce Shackman Some $37 million dollars from Operation Promise will $23 million of Operation Promise funds will go towards aliyah preparation and expand these programs, in order to prevent a permanent transportation for up to 20,000 Ethiopians, doubling underclass from taking hold in Israel. When asked why this campaign is so important, Bruce the rate from 300 to 600 Ethiopians able to come to had this to say: “To rescue these Ethiopians and to care Israel each month. “This is our chance to save thousands of Jewish for the Jews of the FSU, is true tzedakah. We are so Ethiopians who live in abject poverty. These people have blessed and fortunate to live in Omaha, Nebraska, where never been given a chance in life. We can provide that there is a thriving Jewish community. The contrast is so great, we need to rise to the occasion and help these opportunity,” Bruce says. Once the Falash Mura arrive in Israel, Operation people. We can improve their quality of life to such a Promise covers the costs necessary to help them transi- tremendous degree. There’s a huge disparity between our lives and theirs. We can truly help them by reaching tion to life there. “I was in Israel in 1991 when one of the first groups into our pockets. It won’t change our lifestyle, but for came from Ethiopia,” shares Anne. “I saw the prepara- them it means everything.” Adds Anne, “Our job as Jews is to help other Jews in tions that were made to welcome them, and how much it meant to them. There’s so much that needs to be need around the world. These two Jewish communities done to help these people make the transition from a are trying desperately to find their way. Part of our mispoverty-stricken third-world country to Israel. It’s nec- sion in life must be to help them.” For more information and to learn how you can help, essary not just to bring them, but to help them make a visit our website at www.jewishomaha.org/operasuccessful transition.” The absorption centers include: room, board, medical tionpromise.

“From Tragedy to Triumph” Continued from page 1 Air-raid sirens sound for two minutes throughout The focus of this year’s commemoration is “From Israel each year at 10 a.m. on Yom HaShoah. All traffic Tragedy to Triumph.” Leatrice Rabinsky, Adjunct comes to a stop, and people stand in silence. Tens of Associate Professor of Jewish Literature at the Siegel thousands of Israeli high school students and Jews from College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland, Ohio, will be the around the world travel to Poland on the annual March keynote speaker. Dr. Rabinsky has led eight Journeys of of the Living to hold memorial services, in defiance of Conscience for students and survivors to the sites of the the Holocaust death marches. This year, Omaha teens Shoah in Europe and Israel, has written and edited sev- Jaclyn Adelson and Seth Rich are participating in the eral books about the Holocaust, and serves as a board March. member of the Ohio Council on Holocaust Education. Yom HaShoah is presented by the Center for Jewish Prior to the Yom Education. HaShoah commemora“Our agency is honored tion, Dr. Rabinsky will to coordinate this annual meet with synagogue commemoration for the teens to discuss their feelOmaha community,” Dr. by LISA LIEB ings about the “Diaries of Guy Matalon, Executive Federation Communications Specialist Humanity” exhibit sponDirector, says. “It is our Diary pages of young people who lived during the Holocaust will responsibility never to sored by the ADL. Dr. be part of an interactive exhibit called “PAGES...” in coordination Rabinsky will speak to the forget the Holocaust. We with the Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration. students about issues of must teach our children An addition to the “Diaries of Humanity” exhibit, located in the intolerance and connect about the Shoah and by Pennie Z. Davis Gallery for Holocaust Education through May 7, her discussion to the varidoing so, we honor those “PAGES...” brings the thoughts of youngsters to the visitor through ous diary entries from the who perished, the sura variety of visual and auditory approaches. exhibit. vivors, and remind the Diarist Moshe Flinker, a young man who fled to hiding in Belgium Yom Hashoah is a world what happened. with his family of eight siblings, shares how he secretly studied national day of rememThis commemoration brance in Israel, begin- Hebrew and Arabic before being sent to Auschwitz. Hannah event is our public affirning at sunset on the 27th Senesh, who became a parachutist with the English partisan unit mation to the memories day of Nisan and ending based in Palestine during World War II, writes of her concern for of the six million who the following evening. In the Jewish people being persecuted in Europe. These and other perished.” memory of the six million diaries help the visitor better understand life during that difficult Yom HaShoah Jews murdered in the historical period. Committee members are “PAGES...” will be exhibited at Beth El from Monday, April 24- Miles Holocaust, places of Ehrenkranz, Thursday, April 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday, April 28, 9 a.m.- Katherine entertainment are closed Finnegan, and memorial ceremonies noon. The exhibit will then move to the Jewish Community Center’s Margie Gutnik, Beth Seldin are held throughout the Social Hall, and will be open on Sunday, April 29-May 4, 9 a.m.-5 Dotan, and Rabbi country. All radio and tel- p.m., and Friday, May 5, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. The exhibit will be open Mordechai Levin. For any evision programs during during the Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration on Sunday, May 7. questions regarding Yom “PAGES...” is sponsored by the Institute for Holocaust Education HaShoah, please call the the day are connected in one way or another to the and the Jewish Community Center and the Center for Jewish CJE office at 334.6445. Education. Holocaust.

Insight into Holocaust Diaries Showcased at Beth El

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

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Piano & Violin Tuesday, April 25, 2006 • 7:30pm Holland Performing Arts Center 13th & Douglas

Tuesday Musical P.O. Box 6132 Omaha, NE 68106-0132 For Concert Tickets Call

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Due to the closing of the Jewish Press office for the first two days of Passover, Thursday-Friday, April 13-14, and last two days of Passover, Wednesday, Thursday, April 19-20, there are early deadlines--at noon--for ads, articles and photos, as follows: Deadline Issue There is no regular news in the Passover issue next week; photos April 14 Wednesday, April 5 used in that issue may be picked up in the Press office during norTuesday, April 11 April 21 mal business hours. Questions? Call 334.6448. April 28 Tuesday, April 18

March 31, 2006

Community Concert Brings Together Outstanding Vocal Talents programs. by LISA LIEB Federation Communications He occasionally Shabbat Specialist chants When two powerservices at Temple house voices team up, Israel. He is curconcert goers can rently a Ph.D. stuexpect the title--“Why dent in architecThis Knight Is tural engineering Different From All (acoustics) at the Other Knights”--to be University of just that. Join Jonathan Nebraska’s Peter Rathsam and Cantor Kiewit Institute. Gaston Bogomolni at He hopes to the Jewish Community secure a post-docCenter for a musical toral fellowship at extravaganza Sunday, one of Israel’s uniApril 16, 3 p.m. The Cantor Gastón Bogomolni, left, and versities. A native of concert is free of singer/student Jonathan Rathsom battle Aires, charge, presented by over the age-old question: “Why Are These Buenos the Center for Jewish Knights Different From All Other Knights?” A r g e n t i n a , Bogomolni was named cantor at Beth El Education. Rathsam was born and raised in San in August of 2003, after becoming one of Diego. From an early age, he was active the youngest cantors accepted and musically in his congregation. During inducted into the Cantor’s Assembly. Prior to settling in Omaha, he served high school, he studied voice privately and sang with the Madrigals, a small, Jewish communities in the Dominican Republic and Spain. In addition to advanced choir. Shortly after arriving for his first year at singing with the Omaha Symphony, Grinnell College, he was asked to chant Cantor Bogomolni has performed High Holiday services and became the throughout Europe, Israel and the three cantor for Grinnell’s Jewish community. Americas. He has released a CD of During a study abroad semester in Berlin, Passover songs, and his lullaby-style rendiGermany, Jonathan completed a six-week tion of “Ki Lo Na’e” was recently selectinternship with three cantors from ed for inclusion on the CD The Spirit of Berlin’s liberal Jewish community and Passover, released through the United studied voice with László Pasztor. Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Upon graduation, Rathsam attended (USCJ) and the Cantors Assembly. ulpan (intensive Hebrew) at the Jewish Several members of the Omaha Jewish Theological Seminary. Since moving to community also will lend their musical Omaha in 2003, he has been active in accompaniment to this Passover concert. Omaha’s Jewish community singing solo For questions, please call 334.6445.

Dancing the Night Away

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Congratulations to the Winners of the Inaugural Awards from the Phil and Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund $10,000 Merit Scholarship — College Abby Ginsburg

Daniel Susman

Burke High School

Central High School

$10,000 Merit Scholarship — Health Care Field Janet Baack

Brittany Epstein

University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Nebraska School of Medicine Medical Center

$10,000 Outstanding Teacher Award Janis Fischer

Millard North High School

Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Appreciation Fund Merit Scholarship Cantor Gastón Bogomolni University of Nebraska-Omaha

Dani Burr

Boston Conservatory

Recipients will be profiled in future editions of the Jewish Press On Thursday, May 11 at 7:15 p.m., the community is invited to a “Live from NY’s 92nd St. Y” broadcast with Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, followed by a reception honoring the recipients.

Steven Bloch President Martin C. Ricks Executive Director

The Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Lecture

“Theology, Identity and Politics: Jews, Christians and Israel in the 21st Century?” featuring

Rabbi David Sandmel, Ph.D. Crown Ryan Professor of Jewish Studies Catholic Theological Union Head rabbi for K.A.M. Isaiah Israel, Chicago

Thursday, 6 April 2006 7:00 p.m.

William H. Thompson Alumni Center UNO Campus

Public Welcome

Beth El was filled with “movers and shakers” several weeks ago during the synagogue’s festive Tropical Salsa Night. Novices and veteran dancers alike showed off their rhythm and moves during fun-filled

lessons in salsa, merengue and other varieties of dance, as taught by the event’s cohosts Philip and Esther Katz, top photo, and Cantor Gastón and Lena Bogomolni bottom photo.

Sponsored by UNO Religious Studies Program, College of Arts and Sciences and Temple Israel The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

National Leadership Role Continued from page 1 Alperson once solicited a man who gave a great deal to Jewish causes. “On the surface he seemed to lack for nothing, but underneath he was in pain because his kids were completely disconnected from Jewish life. So I helped arrange a VIP mission to Israel for the man and his family,” he said. “I don’t know if they’ll ever take that trip or not, or if his kids will ever get closer to Judaism, but I wanted to take the opportunity to connect this man with the resources he needed. That opportunity exists more often than we realize.” Getting Alperson to talk is easy. Tracking him down is not. This interview was conducted via emails sent from Omaha to Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Toronto and other cities where business interests, committee meetings and personal life had taken him. In one telephone interview session, Joel was in his car, on his cell phone, and our conversation was briefly interrupted while he stopped at the dry cleaners and asked them to hold the starch in his shirts. But despite the fact that Alperson juggles a wall-to-wall schedule, his responses to emailed questions were always prompt and candid, his manner polite. This is a man on a Mission Impossible. “It’s been my life’s dream to be the National Campaign Chair of United Jewish Communities,” he says. “I’m so grateful for the chance to do work at this level in the Jewish world. It’s my passion.” Passion is a word Alperson uses often and comfortably. “There is no substitute for passion,” he says. “It’s the energy that drives us to succeed when all around us say it can’t be done. It’s the internal force that moves us when we might otherwise be exhausted or uninterested.” Alperson brings his passion, his sense of purpose, to meetings with donors--meetings he feels represent both the opportunity to raise funds for Jews in need, and the chance to build relationships that bring Jews closer to their communities and to one another. “Why can’t two people simply sit down and get to know each other in a manner

Wilf, 2005-06 National Mark that builds trust and openness? Who doesn’t know how to listen, to Campaign Chairman, said, “Joel’s empathize? It all starts with caring about extraordinary leadership and committhe other person. When we learn about ment to Jewish life in North America, in another person’s life, we better under- Israel and around the world serves as an stand what’s meaningful to him, we gain example to us all. His unwavering dedicainsight into his passions and find out why tion to engaging the next generation of he makes--or doesn’t make--certain young philanthropists is essential to Jewish choices. In turn, when we tell our Jewish continuity. Joel possesses a true own story honestly, other people under- understanding of the issues that are censtand that we really care about the cause. tral to the Jewish community.” References to the next generation and Our sincerity, our passion is the feeling we pass on to others that says, ‘This issue the need to foster young leaders further ignites Alperson’s passion. truly matters.’” “The older generation fought in World The issue that truly matters to Alperson Wars, they had more traditional values. is the welfare of the Jewish people. Long involved in Jewish communal work, his first high-profile position was as co-chairman of a 1995 national singles mission to Israel. In 1996, he received the Harry B. Rosen Young Leadership Award of the Jewish Agency for Israel, as well as Omaha’s Young Leadership Award. In 1998, United Jewish Appeal (UJA) named him to their Board of Trustees. Alperson served as Campaign Chair for Omaha’s 2000 Annual Federation Campaign, cochaired other UJC missions to Israel, chaired UJC’s Network Communities from 2002 to 2006, chaired UJC’s Operation Promise mission to Ethiopia and Israel last month, and currently serves on the Joel Alperson board of the American Jewish Joint Chairman of UJA National Campaign Distribution Committee. As a past co-chairman of the National My generation lives so comfortably and Young Leadership Cabinet, he worked to so predictably that we often miss what’s enhance the skills and dedication of other important in life,” he said. “We live in young philanthropists and turn those nice homes or apartments, work in skills into action. decent jobs, run errands, go to sleep, When UJC Chairman Robert Goldberg wake up the next morning and start all announced Alperson’s selection as head over again. There is a powerful hunger of the National Campaign, he praised for meaning among my generation. A Alperson’s “fervor for Jewish communal hunger that a BMW and a nice home simcauses and his significant record of com- ply won’t fill.” munity involvement (which) will inspire In his meetings with young leadership, generations of young leaders to continue Alperson often hears the question, “Why building a vibrant Jewish community be Jewishly involved when it’s so easy to deeply rooted in our commitment to not be?” tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam Behind that question is a search for (repairing the world).” substance that many young people

haven’t yet found. Many in Jewish leadership positions sit atop a mountain of meaning. “We have a great product but terrible marketing. We need to be more promotional and less judgmental,” he said. “We need to reach out to young Jews and not wait for them to contact us, because all too often they won’t contact us. And when we do reach out to them, it must be without conditions regarding how much they’ll have to give or what level of Jewish observance they’ll have to commit to. They can’t feel judged or obligated.” It’s very tempting to talk negatively-this generation is lost--the causes are tired --but those are quick, cynical phrases. “To the extent we’re willing to listen and work with them, I’m convinced there are many Jews out there ready to respond-- individuals wanting to act.” Alperson insists his generation has such a great opportunity to better explain what a meaningful Jewish life is all about. If he were to design a marketing curriculum, he’d call it something like, “Discovering Passion, Meaning, and Purpose in 21st Century Jewish Life.” “Too often we approach our Jewish lives by the numbers. We go to the synagogue when we’re supposed to, or when we want to, but we don’t always know what’s going on while we’re there,” he added. “We light Hanukkah candles or have a Passover seder, but don’t know the stories and meanings behind those events. And on that basis we’re supposed to infuse the next generation with a sense of commitment and obligation about their Judaism? I don’t think so.” He insists that before--or at least as-we teach people how to fundraise, organize programs and the like, we should try to make them great advocates for Judaism. And in order to create these great salespeople, they need to be sold themselves. “And I’m not just talking about helping them make emotional connections to Judaism. I’m talking about helping them understand the purpose of Judaism in a way that gives them the capacity and desire to make that case to others.” Continued on page 5

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National Leadership Role we’re really here,” he said. Alperson asked himself out loud, “Why is the United Jewish Communities Federation campaign different from the thousands of other charities available to our donors?” Is it different only because it happens to help Jews, or does it accomplish something more profound? One of the more common responses is: If we don’t save Jewish lives, who will? “But then we have to admit, if we don’t save those suffering in other countries, no one else will, Clearly, either. Jews are not the only group for whom there are not enough dollars or help to go around.” So why should we give Jewishly? “We often have to fight hostile governments, overcome great distances, and operate on limited resources to Nationally known author and commentator Dennis Prager, middle, vis- achieve our objecits with Joel’s parents, Pacey and Margie Alperson, in 1992, on a visit tives. The time it to Omaha for a teen retreat organized by Joel Alperson. takes to raise the “Dennis and I have become very good funds to pay for all these services is stagfriends. I’ve stayed at his home and he’s gering.” stayed at mine. For about 13 years he’s Yet Jews contribute and offer services been developing his own complete com- to whatever degree necessary. Why? mentary on the Torah, and for the past While Judaism is not the only way to be three years I’ve been helping him put it good, it is one very compelling way to into writing. Dennis gave me much of my make ourselves better, he says. Jewish passion and purpose, and he con“If we are to preserve our heritage, we tinues to be an ongoing source of ideas must also save the people who will keep and inspiration for me. To have him as a our religion and practices vital. By saving good friend is icing on an already won- Jews, we help insure that our legacy of derful cake.” Alperson says he still “wres- tikkun olam will live on in the acts of future tles with prayer and ritual, although I’m generations. The intent is to focus on the Jtrying to grow.” -the Jewish--in UJC. Jewish values are disSince the national chairmanship of the tinctive and meaningful. They work.” UJA Federation Campaign typically goes What doesn’t work, in Alperson’s opinto someone in a large, metropolitan city, ion, is relying too heavily on mailing lists Alperson looks at his appointment as a and community events. small breaking of the mold. “We’re most successful when we “When I walk into a community to approach people one on one. Each perspeak or solicit, it’s who I am as a person son has different desires, for himself and --not where I come from--that matters. I for his children. Their needs may not be hope my appointment will hearten others food or medicine. Their needs may be, in smaller communities and make them ‘Where can my child get the best Jewish feel they can be players.” education? Which synagogue is right for Experience has shown him that Jewish me?’” Alperson asks. “When people feel communities, regardless of size, are basi- they’re listened to as individuals, they’re cally alike. “When I visit a new city, the more apt to respond. It’s fascinating to professional will take me aside to tell me note that even when someone protests about his community’s unique chal- that he really has no great interest in the lenges. They’d be saddened, or amused, Jewish community, he almost always to know that their issues are the same as maintains some connection.” those of most other communities. How It’s important that we find a way to to engage the next generation and how connect that person’s passions with to bring them along. How to reach the Jewish causes. average long-time donor who under“We must show donors the needs of stands the needs, knows what goes on, world Jewry and also address the donor’s but must be re-energized after hearing personal needs. In the end, our willingthe message for the 20th or 30th or even ness to engage others in a caring way will 40th time.” do more than raise money. It will help us Reframing the message and re-energiz- build genuine relationships and greater ing donors are not the only challenges commitment in our respective communifaced by workers in Jewish philanthropy. ties,” he said. Recent studies show that today’s Jews During his term as National Campaign still give generously, but often in support Chair, he’s going to talk to quite a few of global issues--education, health and people. He want those conversations to human services, the arts and politics-- be about more than dollars. rather than to Jewish institutions. “If I can make someone feel good Alperson acknowledges the trend, and about the good that he’s done--and perplans to use his position within UJC to haps about the good his community can make the case for why giving to Jewish do for him--then our whole experience causes is distinctly important in relation- together will be warmer and more meanship to non-Jewish and secular causes. ingful.” Postscript: When Joel Alperson begins “When Jews around the world were struggling to stave off war and oppres- his Campaign duties later this summer, sion, the reasons for Jewish involvement he won’t be alone. Joel and his fiancée, and unity were as easy to find as the near- Dr. Daphna Pollak of Toronto, will marry est newspaper headline. As global Jewish this May. Talk about passion and relacrisis diminishes, we must face up to why tionships... Continued from page 4 Alperson practices what he preaches. “My upbringing--I went to Sunday School and Hebrew School--was filled with ‘musts and shoulds,’ but I received few satisfactory answers to the whys of Judaism.” In his mid-20s he came across a remarkable book. Joseph Telushkin and Dennis Prager’s, The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, was a tremendous jumping off point in terms of helping him to better understand Jewish rituals and values.

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Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Friedel’s Science Fair Erupts by JORDANA L. KURTZMAN and ideas for future experiments. Science Lava flowed, bread grew moldy, and fair organizer, Josephine Zbylut-Birkey, or geysers erupted at Friedel Jewish Mrs. ZB, as the children called her, said Academy as students presented their the projects were so well-organized and annual science fair exhibits at the school. prepared that the Creighton students said Twenty-two students prepared experi- that some were better than the seventh ments for this year’s science fair, making and eighth grade exhibits they had seen at it an amazing sucother schools. cess for everyone After the involved. Creighton stuhow Seeing dents had exammold grows ined each science seemed to be the project, Zbylutmost popular Birkey and Friedel experiment for principal Cookie the children, with Katskee distribchildren five uted medals and preparing three certificates to each projects to examchild who particiine this natural pated. Every exEva periment received growth: a unique award, Phillips, Hannah Aaron Kurtzman wins a medal. focusing on its Stein, Josh Stein, positive aspects, so Elissa Wiener, and that the emphasis Samantha Wiener. was on developing One student, a love of science Aaron Kurtzman, rather than deterspent a month mining whose growing grass just project was solely so he could see whether organic “the best.” Tal Margalit, materials helped prevent erosion of whose project was entitled “The Best topsoil. Working Filter,” won the with her father, certificate for The Howard, Sarah Kutler created an Most Organized and elaborate volcano Sarah Kutler shows her project to her father, Project, Robert Levitan that actually Howard Kutler. and Max Polack received the certificate erupted! Creighton University students Richard for The Best Research Scientists for their Burlingane, Andrew Dickel, Maggi Shea, project on “Magnetism.” For more information about Friedel, and Megan Swartz spoke with each child about their project, offering positive com- call Katskee or Administrative Assistant ments and suggestions for each of the stu- Mary Jane Tweedy at the school at dents to offer them both encouragement 334.0517.

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ORGANIZATIONS BREADBREAKERS Ricketts will speak at Pete Breadbreakers on Wednesday, April 5, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. Ricketts is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. All men and women in the community are invited to attend Breadbreakers. Cost is $11 for a complete lunch and $3 for beverage service only. YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC for an African Experience with Michael Opohu, a native of Ghana, West Africa. Opohu will give a demonstration in traditional drumming, tribal dancing and vocals in African languages. The students from Friedel Jewish Academy will join us for the program starting at 12:45 p.m. Lunch is served at noon for $6 per person. Try your luck at bingo with Eileen Remer at 10 a.m. Exercise will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the discussion group at 11 a.m. Call Dee Dee for transportation

at 330.4272. Call Maggie Conti at 334.6521 for reservations for the day trip to the Horseshoe Casino on Thursday, April 27. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. VISIONS Reminder: The day trip to Des Moines to see the Lion King on stage at the Civic Center is Thursday, April 6. For those members going, please be at the JCC by 9:15 a.m. Join us on Wednesday, April 26 for a special lunch at Rick’s Boatyard Café at 11:15 a.m. We will continue on to the Hot Shops Art Center, at 1 p.m. Cost is $15. Send reservations by April 17 to: Rosalie Meiches, 5036 Parker, Omaha, NE 68104. Make check payable to Visions.

Beth El Presentation to Offer A Visual Tour of the World’s Synagogues by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator On Sunday, April 9, 11 a.m., Beth El congregant Andy Greenberg will present “Picture This,” a slide-show presentation highlighting the many synagogues around the world which he and his wife, Carole, have visited during their travels. Countries featured will include India, Denmark, Norway, Egypt, Nairobi, Tunisia, Morocco, Sweden, Helsinki, Hungry, Czechoslovakia,

Poland, South Africa, Romania, and Russia (the Greenbergs are pictured at a St. Petersburg synagogue). Greenberg noted that “some of these synagogues are stunning; some are in places few American Jews would think of,” and he invited the community to attend, to get a glimpse of some of the world’s most fascinating places of Jewish worship.

IN THE NEWS Kashrut.com has updated its website to include current information to aid your Passover preparation, such as up-tothe-minute kashrut alerts gathered by a noted food scientist, as well as links to Passover-products lists compiled by rabbinic authorities at worldwide kashrut organizations. The website also features a list of Kosher-for-Passover recipes, articles on Passover preparation and links to exotic travel destinations that accommodate the Passover diet. Kashrut.com is a yearround kashrut information website that is always up to date on kashrut alerts, kosher travel and pertinent kashrut-related articles. Adam Kirshenbaum has been elected as a partner in the law firm of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP. Adam joined Blackwell Sanders’ Corporate Department in 2000 and has focused his practice on commercial transactions and business entity formation and structuring. Kirshenbaum has assisted clients in closing numerous finance and lending transactions, private and public securities transactions and merger and acquisition transactions. He also has experience in the formation and structuring of various corporations, limited liability companies and other business entities. He earned a B.A. from the University of Nebraska in 1996 and J.D. from the University of Nebraska School of Law in 1999. On “Match Day”--the day when medical school seniors are matched to their top choices for internships and resi-

dences, Michael Igor Shnayder received a match in preliminary surgery to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Seniors graduating from the following Omaha Public Schools high schools-Benson, Bryan, Burke, Central, North, Northwest or South, may apply for the Jake J. Schreibman Foundation scholarships, announced Marlene S. Bernstein, Executive Director. The scholarship is limited to those seniors who have no more than two or three absences or tardies per semester, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and involvement in school athletics, cheerleading, DECA. In addition a recommendation from an English teacher (preferably from the student’s junior year), coach or sponsor is required, as well as work experience detailed in a letter from the student’s employer. Seniors applying for this scholarship must be available for a personal interview, conducted at the student’s school during the second week of April. For more information, contact the guidance counselor at the OPS schools listed above. Tell a winning five minute familyfriendly whopper and win a great prize at the Liar’s Contest, Saturday, April 1, 46 p.m., at the Reading Grounds bookstore and coffee shop, 3928 Farnam St., located mid-town at 40th and Farnam streets. Sponsored by Nebraska StoryArts, the contest is free and open to children 10-14 years of age, and adults over 15.

March 31, 2006

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Second Seder at Temple Israel to Debut New Haggadah

Sodexho Brings a New Flavor to the Blumkin Home and the Omaha Jewish Community

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Temple Israel’s clergy will introduce a new haggadah at the congregational Second Seder at on Thursday, April 13, 6 p.m. A traditional seder meal will be served, and a vegetarian option will be available. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, April 11. Call the Temple office (556-6536) if you need the reservation form that’s in the March Temple Tidings. The charge for adults is $19; $8 for youngsters through sixth grade; no charge for two-year-olds and younger children. The Second Seder is open to all members of the community. Edited by Rabbi Sue Elwell with art by Ruth Weisberg, the new haggadah, The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah, seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the Passover festival and its place at the heart of Jewish identity. The haggadah’s sacred texts and illustrations offer the opportunity to embrace a rich and varied Passover experience. Like its predecessor, the Baskin-Bronstein Haggadah, Open Door offers a classic Passover text and a generally straight-forward approach to the seder and its liturgy. Reflecting the diversity of Jewish flavors that Pesach brings to mind, some of the lessons are Ashkenazic, others are Sephardic. There are passages from the Tanakh and others from the Talmud. Also included are memories of seders in places like Chile, India, and Tunisia. Through the eyes of Israelis like Hebrew contemporary poet and author Yehuda Amichai and Ahad Ha’Am, a proponent of cultural and spiritual Zionism, along with the words of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and writer Julius Lester, the gender-neutral text rings with passion for civil rights. An effort is also made to consider the redemption of Passover against the darkly complex backdrop of the Holocaust. Open Door is infused with old rituals, like Elijah’s cup of wine, and new ones such as Miriam’s cup of water. Copies of the new haggadah may be purchased for $19.95 at the Temple office. Yizkor will be read on Wednesday, April 19, 10:30 a.m., at Temple. Names of loved ones to be read during the service should be called in to the office by Friday, April 7.

by SHOSHANNA SCHECHTER-SHAFFIN chef for several years at both the Denver Hyatt as well as Jewish Senior Services the Omaha Westin before moving to Creighton Something new is cooking at the Rose Blumkin Jewish University where he worked as a chef manager for six Home. In an effort to bring an even higher level of qual- years. In his short time at the Blumkin Home, Caniglia ity to their food service, the Blumkin Home recently has already become quite impressed with the level of switched culinary management companies from care offered to the residents. Aramark to Sodexho. “One thing that I have noticed here right away is that A leading provider of food service and facility man- the residents always come first. It really puts things in agement, Sodexho is the North American subsidiary of perspective for you.” In terms of food service, Caniglia Sodexho Alliance which operates in 24,900 sites in 76 is certain that the switch to Sodexho will benefit the rescountries. Sodexho offers their idents greatly. “Sodexho offers so innovative food management much to its facilities in resources, solutions to over 6,000 corporaknowledge, and experience, not to tions, health care, long term care mention buying power. This realand retirement centers, schools, ly will bring a higher level of procollege campuses, military and fessionalism to the Home’s food remote sites throughout North service.” America. Fortunately, this new level of “After doing extensive research high quality kosher food is now and visiting with many companies open and available to the entire that could provide food services Omaha Jewish community as well. to the Home, Sodexho is the Since moving to Sodexho in industry leader,” stated Michael December, the Blumkin Home Silverman, Executive Director of has completely expanded its Jewish Senior Services and the kosher catering services for the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. outside Jewish community. “They provide food service to Recently the Blumkin Home dozens of kosher long-term care General Manager of Food Service, Matt Caniglia food services catered several events facilities throughout the country for The Center for Jewish so they already know how to meet and exceed our Education and made quite an impression on all who expectations. The change has gone very well so far.” attended. “The events looked very professional,” said Guy With the Blumkin Home switch to Sodexho also came Matalon, Executive Director for the Center for Jewish the added benefit of a new onsite General Manager of Education. “The food was quite tasty and fresh and the Food Service, Matt Caniglia. quantity was sufficient for everyone. It is a real pleasure to A trained chef manager, Canigilia brings to the Home work with the Blumkin Home food service staff.” a passion for food as well as many years of experience in This Passover, along with offering community onsite the food service industry. Caniglia’s love of food began seders, the food service department will also be offering during his youth in Omaha. “I got into the food busi- complete take-out seder meals. These “Seder Meals To ness because of my love for large family dinners. Go” menus feature traditional Passover favorites. For Nothing brings people together quite like good food,” more information on the Passover menus or to learn he said. more about catering possibilities with the Blumkin After completing culinary school, Caniglia worked as a Home, contact Caniglia at 334.6522.

Seder 1 Menu

The Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home ends extend a cordial invitation to family and fri to share the Seders with them JCC Auditorium m. Seder 1 – April 12 at 6:00 p. m. Seder 2 – April 13 at 6:00 p. . Seder 1 – April 12 at 6:00 p.m Leaders Andy and Carole Greenberg

Matza Ball Soup Beef Brisket in Gravy Potato Kugel Fruit Compote/Cookies

Relish Tray Seder Plates Carrot Tzimmes Coffee/Hot Tea

Seder 2 Menu Matza Ball Soup Roasted Turkey Relish Trays Honey Cake

Seder Plates Broccoli Florets Matza Dressing Coffee/Hot Tea

Reservation deadline is April 7th. Please call Cathy at 334-6520 with any questions. Make check payable to Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Mail this order form with payment to: Cathy Carroll, Activities Director 323 So. 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154 Name: _____________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________

. Seder 2 – April 13 at 6:00 p.m der led by An intergenerational family Se itz Master Storyteller, Rita Paskow r 12 $18 Adult - $10 children unde

Residents you would like to sit with: _____________________ ___________________________________________________ April 12 – Seder 1 Meal

April 13 – Seder 2 Meal

Number of Adults _____

Children under 12 _____

Total Amount Enclosed $_________

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Kramer Seeks Nelsonâ€™s Senate Seat AMERICA DECIDES 2006 by JOAN K. MARCUS David Kramer hopes to safeguard American families from the threat of terror. â€œWe must give proper training to the border patrol so that they can properly do their jobs. If we learned nothing else from 9-11, we need to know who is crossing our borders,â€? he said in a speech last week to the Bâ€™nai Brith Breadbreakers. A lifelong Nebraskan and an attorney, Kramer, 41, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate. Democrat E. Benjamin Nelson currently occupies the seat. Most recently chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, Kramer was a member of the Douglas County and Nebraska State Central Committees since 1991. He has been a campaign volunteer on many races for the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, the Nebraska Unicameral, county treasurer, city council and school boards. He has always worked, politically, as a volunteer and successfully managed both the $194 million bond issue to build a new convention center and arena in Omaha and the $254 million bond issue for the Omaha Public Schools. â€œI was born in Nebraska and I spent every summer, until I was 22, in the country of Panama working on my grandfatherâ€™s farm, â€œ he told the group. â€œHe lived a simple life and, I like to practice in my own family, what I learned from my grandfather. My wife and I remind ourselves of the difference between â€˜wantâ€™ and â€˜needâ€™ and the time has come for the federal government to do the same thing.â€? Kramer says current representatives in Washington have lost their way. However, he doesnâ€™t assign blame. He names three structural changes that need to be made to control federal spending. The first thing heâ€™s like to see is a constitutional amendment that would require a balanced budget. In 43 of the 50 states, government is required to operate under balanced budgets. â€œThe federal government should be held to the same standard,â€? he said. â€œI also support a constitutional amendment that would give the president line item veto power. And, we should also have legislation that would prohibit borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund and Railroad Retirement.â€? These structural changes will take time to implement, he says. In the meantime, Congress should reconsider the earmarks in the recently approved transportation bill. The bill, passed in 2005, included projects like the

â€œBridge to Nowhereâ€? in Alaska for $223 million and the $180 million Iowa Rain Forest. He also suggested that cutting â€œin our own back yard,â€? such items as the $15.7 million dollar parking structure at Creighton University and the $19 million dollar pedestrian bridge that would connect Omaha and Council Bluffs. And he suggests an immigration policy that makes it possible for immigrants to put down roots and become part of their local communities. Learning English would be a critical part of assimilating into our nation. â€œI am the son of an immigrant. My mother is from the Republic of Panama,â€? he said. â€œShe came to this country when she was 16-years-old to go to the College of Saint Mary. My grandparents wanted her to leam our culture, and she did such a good job of it that she met my father.â€? His mother, however, only knew Spanish when she arrived. â€œMy parents made a lot of sacrifices so their children would have a better life. They had two expectations of us,â€? he added. â€œThe first was that we would excel at everything that we did. Their second expectation was that we give back to the community. We could decide how we were going to do that.â€?

David Kramer responds to a question from Marty Ricks. Breadbreakers continues to showcase political candidates for the governorâ€™s office and for the U.S. Senate in its weekly gatherings at Regency Lodge. To get on an e-mail update from Bâ€™nai Bâ€™rith, call Lois Epstein at the office: 334.6443, or check the Breadbreakers listing in the Organizations column of the Jewish Press. Todayâ€™s immigration policy is vastly different from when my mother came here. Our policy is backwards because those who follow our rules face nothing but obstacles and those who ignore them--find no obstacles whatsoever.â€? Kramer said his parents lived their own expectations. They took him to work on a political campaign, and he was hooked. â€œIâ€™ve been involved in politics ever since,â€? he added.

Heâ€™s been involved at a number of different levels and thinks this helped him live the American dream. â€œI believe that partisanship is important, but,â€? he said, â€œit used to be that we could disagree and come to a resolution. Thatâ€™s not the case today.â€? On the issue of stem cell research, Kramer answered, â€œI donâ€™t support any sort of stem cell research that would kill a human embryo to engage in the research. Any other research from adult stem cell, cord blood, embryDavid Kramer onic stem cells that are cultivated without having killed the embryo--I support strongly and want to encourage development.â€? Kramer noted that this administration is the first to provide any credible funding for stem cell research using the existing 13 lines that are in place. â€œI know that thereâ€™s a debate in Congress today over whether or not to expand that to invitro fertilization. I donâ€™t believe that there ought to be federal funding for that, but I am not on record as supporting a ban on private funding. The issue in Washington is if there should be federal funding for this type of research.â€? Kramer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and print journalism from Loyola University in New Orleans and a law degree from Georgetown University in 1990. He has been a partner in the Baird Holm law firm in Omaha from 1990-96 and again from 1999 to the present. He represents public and private sector clients with a special emphasis on government and community relations, the management side of labor and employment and education law. Kramer was named one of the Outstanding Young Omahans in 1999 by the Jaycees. In 1997 and â€™98, he worked in Luanda, Angola, as the resident program director for the International Republican Institute (IRI). During his tenure, he designed and implemented educational programs to strengthen the Angolan National Parliament and its political parties. He has also worked with the IRI in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and the Ukraine. In asking for votes, Kramer identifies himself as a candidate of ideas. â€œI know that the more ideas that are in the debate, the better chance we have of getting the best solution,â€? he said. â€œI will put Nebraska first by supporting energy policies that make us more self sufficient, and I will put Nebraska first by safeguarding our families from the threat of terror.â€?

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March 31, 2006

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Temple’s Ministers Institute to Address “Jews and Christians Speaking Truth to Each Other” by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbi David Sandmel, of K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation in Chicago and the Crown-Ryan Professor of Jewish Studies at the Catholic Theological Union, will speak on “Jews and Christians: Speaking the Truth to Each Other” at the 66th Annual Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane Brooks Institute on Judaism for Christian Clergy. This year’s institute is on Friday, April 7, at Temple Israel. Rabbi Sandmel will address Rabbi Sandmel “Passover as a Point of Conflict and Contact Between Jews and Christians” in his morning lecture. In the afternoon, he will discuss, “What Jews and Christians Are Saying About Each Other Today: “Dabru Emet” and “A Sacred Obligation.” He will also be the speaker for the Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Lecture on Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m., at the William H. Thompson Alumni Center on the west edge of the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. His topic that evening is “Theology, Identity, and Politics: Jews, Christians, and Israel in the 21st Century.” The lecture is open to the public at no charge.

Rabbi Sandmel served as the Jewish scholar at the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore from 1998 to 2001. In that capacity, he directed the National Jewish Scholars Project, a major initiative to promote a new discussion within the Jewish community and between Jews and Christians about the differences and similarities between the two traditions. As part of the Scholars Project, Rabbi Sandmel coordinated the publication of Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity, which generated international attention in the interfaith community as well as wide media coverage. Also the co-editor of Christianity in Jewish Terms, Rabbi Sandmel is the lead editor of Irreconcilable Differences? A Learning Resource for Jews and Christians, a study and discussion guide that focuses on theological issues on the boundary between Judaism and Christianity. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies from Ohio State University, Rabbi Sandmel was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. He completed his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. He lectures widely on contemporary issues in Jewish-Christian relations and foundations of Judaism and Christianity in antiquity, is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Association for Jewish Studies, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Celebrate Passover with Beth Israel Synagogue by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Searching for chametz, eating matza, holding a seder-there are many things to do for and during Passover. As you prepare for the holiday, don’t forget to consider Beth Israel’s Pesach-related offerings available to the community. Are you looking for some Passover recipes? Then look no further! Sisterhood’s cook book, Happiness is Still Good Food, includes a special section of recipe ideas to use as you prepare meals for Passover. Additionally, the Gift Shop has a great selection of seder plates, matzah boxes and many other items to use during Passover, or give as a gift during the holiday. And don’t forget to pick up some “Plague Puppets” for the kids. Gift Shop items can purchased during synagogue hours, or on Sundays by appointment. There is still time to place your order for Beth Israel’s “Pesach To Go!” entrees and side-dishes. These prepared Kosher-for-Pesach meals will help simplify things for you if you plan to host a Seder or other special meal during the holiday. “Pesach To Go” must be placed by Monday, April 3. That’s also the deadline to make your reservations for

Weizmann Sweetheart Dance: a Great Game by RACHEL BLUM BBYO Director On March 11 members of Chaim Weizmann AZA #150 hosted its 42nd annual Sweetheart Dance. Themed “I’ll Take Weizmann for $1510,” the dance played on everyone’s love of game shows. Trivia questions were called throughout the night, and teens joined in a round or two of Name that Tune.

Andy Siref and Sweetheart winner Alyssa Morris After the dance, sweetheart candidates and honoraries took the stage to see who the 2006-07 sweetheart would be. Alyssa Morris, a 16-year-old sophomore and daughter of Alan and Cindy Morris, was named the new sweetheart. Other candidates included Liatte Dotan, Noa Harnik, and Anna Munzesheimer. Honorary candidates are Lindsay Belmont and Dana Harnik. Congratulations, Alyssa, and to the men of Chaim Weizmann AZA #1510 on a great dance!

Beth Israel’s Second Seder,Thursday, April 13, 8:30 p.m. Rabbi Jonathan Gross will lead this traditional family seder, and the meal will feature an extensive menu. Beth Israel’s annual Pre-Pesach Dinner will be held at the Bagel Bin, Tuesday, April 11. The Bagel Bin has graciously agreed to stay open until 8 p.m. and asks that you place any pizza orders in advance. While it is preferable to either eat or give away chametz before Pesach, sometimes it isn’t possible to do so. You can also sell your chametz before the holiday to a non-Jew, and Beth Israel has Sale of Chametz forms available to the community. Rabbi Gross will be available in his office for the sale after morning minyan each day of the week prior to Passover, or by appointment. You can meet with the rabbi, or mail or fax it to him. Forms must be received no later than Tuesday, April 11. On Wednesday, April 12, burning of chametz at Beth Israel will occur at 11:30 a.m. Please bring it to the office by 11 a.m. For more information about Passover-related happenings, to place orders and to make seder reservations, please contact the Beth Israel office at 556.6288 or BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

Page 9

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All Aboard! by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator

Members of Beth El Synagogue’s PATTER (Parent and Toddler Torah, Exercise and Recreation) class were treated to a special field trip several weeks ago, spending the morning at the Durham Western Heritage Museum. The children explored the museum’s trains and enjoyed its featured exhibition, “Latin Jazz: la combinacion perfecta (The Perfect Combination).” Among those having a fine time riding the rails were: Zev Randone, left, Talya Matalon, Elianna Randone, Emanuelle Bogomolni, Derek Solomon and Aden Matalon. PATTER, geared toward toddlers ages 18 months to three years old, meets at the synagogue Wednesdays 10:30-11:45 a.m.; all Jewish families in the community are invited to participate.

Sun, Sun, Sun, Here We Come Snowbirds Please let the Jewish Press know in advance when you are returning. Sometimes several papers are sent to your “old” address before we are notified by the Post Office. Every time they return a paper to us, you miss the Jewish Press and we are charged 70¢! Use the form on page 23, call us at 402.334.6448 or email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org.

Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Creating Lively Passover Seders by David Arnow (Jewish Lights, $24.99)

READ IT AND EAT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Creatively make the Passover ritual your own--in a way to approach the connection between the ancient and the contemporary. â€œA source book of engaging tales, texts and activitiesâ€? is the subtitle. Originally many of the authorâ€™s readings for their family Seder which were later to be published as Haggadah supplements evolved into this idea packed book. Add to your gathering of family and friends to celebrate the festival of Passover at the Seder meal featuring matzah, wine, questions and â€œIn every generation, each individual should feel as though he or she had gone out of Egypt.â€?

Arnow suggests that right after Purim you pick a couple of the chapters to read that youâ€™ll share before your seder for an activity, conversation and discussion. Some of the 23 chapters are: The Long Road from Slavery to Freedom: From Ancient Egypt to Our Time, The Four Children: A Seat at the Table for Everyone, Women of Exodus: Redeemed by Their Righteousness and The Exodus from Egypt: The Question of Archeology. Whether you come to the seder â€œhungry for spiritual sustenanceâ€? or â€œfamished for a dinner that seems will never comeâ€? youâ€™ll find blessings, activities and discussions about Passover. Although there are no recipes...there are food activities...grow your own horseradish, parsley and barley. Read of bitter herbs, Hillelâ€™s sandwich, matzah, fruits and vegetables, 16 drops of wine and the ritual of Miriamâ€™s Cup legend and add something every year to your traditions.

Letâ€™s Write Together! by GARY KATZ Library Administrator Parents and kids will have the opportunity to write together on Sunday, April 2, 3:30 p.m., at the Family Writes Workshop, 3:30 p.m. in the Kripke Library. Peggy Epstein, a retired English teacher, and her son, Joel, a clinical psychologist and a research professor at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health in St. Louis, will present a workshop based on their new book: Family Writes, Parenting with Pens, Pencils, and PCs (Capital Books 2005). â€œBasically what we do at the workshops,â€? Peggy (Omaha Central alum, Class of â€™60) says, â€œis get parents and kids together, tell them to forget about handwritUrgent news for people who took

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Thereâ€™s No Single Recipe for Charoset, but Every Year at the Seder, Itâ€™s All Good by JOYCE EISENBERG AND ELLEN SCOLNIC NEW YORK (JTA)--Charoset n. Hebrew (hah-ROEset) is the mixture of apples, sweet red wine and chopped nuts placed on the seder plate at Pesach; specific recipes differ according to geography. Charoset is symbolic of the mortar and bricks the ancient Israelites used to build the pyramids when they were slaves in Egypt. Although charoset is a ritual food, there is no â€œofficialâ€? recipe. Itâ€™s an integral part of the Passover meal. It has a place of honor on every seder plate, and yet, in 5,000 years of history, no sage has ever recorded the recipe. No one doubts the ancient origins of charoset, also spelled â€œharoset.â€? Itâ€™s been around in one form or another since biblical times. The word itself comes from the Hebrew â€œcheresâ€? for clay, and the lumpy winestained mixture does resemble bits of brick and mortar. In ancient times, Passover traditions were passed orally from generation to generation; it wasnâ€™t until 1482 that the first printed Haggadah appeared in Spain. But charoset is not even mentioned in Kaddish Urchatz, the traditional rhyming song that gives a preview of the seder. Sometimes it is included in the Hillel sandwich of matzah and maror, so, as the sages say, we might â€œtaste the bitter with the sweet, as life is both bitter and sweet.â€? Occasionally, you also find might charoset on the wall. In an unusual Sephardi custom, the leader of the seder dips the tips of his five fingers into the charoset and makes an impression with his wine-soaked hand just under the mezuzah in the doorway. This â€œcharoset hamsaâ€™â€™ symbolizes Godâ€™s protection against evil and visi- Charoset, shown sandwiched bly evokes the story between matzah and on the back of the Israelites who left of plate. Credit: The Hadassah Jewish marked their homes Holiday Cookbook so the Angel of Death would pass them over. Apples are mentioned in Solomonâ€™s Song of Songs. Blessings have been recited over wine since ancient times. But these two basic ingredients of charoset arenâ€™t always available. In 1862, the Jewish Messenger published an account of a seder put together by Union soldiers in West Virginia. They couldnâ€™t obtain the ingredients for charoset in the midst of the Civil War, so they placed an actual brick on their makeshift seder plate. Likewise, Jews around the world have transformed the basic recipe with readily available local ingredients. The result is that charoset comes in many varieties. Jews in the southern United States use pecans as their nut of choice, and Jews from Surinam sprinkle a little coconut on top. In a Persian version, there are dates, figs and cardamom. Italian Jews like to add chestnuts, which they boil and ground to a paste. Modern Israeli charoset combines Askhenazi sweet wine with native Mediterranean fruits like dates, oranges and almonds. Some cooks add whole cinnamon sticks to the mixture, symbolic of the straw or papyrus stalks the Hebrew slaves mixed with Nile mud to make bricks for Pharaoh. Though there are hundreds of variations, every family seems to have its favorite. The Scolnic children created their own Passover ritual one year when they went to a seder at a friendâ€™s house. The charoset on the friendâ€™s table was a white paste of shredded apples and finely ground nuts, barely moistened with wine. The teens were so disappointed with the alternative version that when they returned home at 10 p.m., they raided the refrigerator for their charoset, which had been set aside for the second night. They cracked open a bottle of sweet Manischewitz wine, dumped a healthy swig into the mixture and proceeded to eat charoset straight from the bowl. Because there is no official recipe for charoset, Jews are free to celebrate in the way that is most familiar and beloved to their family, or to experiment and try a new charoset recipe every year. Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic are co-authors of The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words (Jewish Publication Society, 2001). The second edition is due out in September.

March 31, 2006

Spend the Second Night of Pesach at Beth El’s Congregational Seder by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Let all who are hungry come and eat... In keeping with the generations-old tradition of joining loved ones to celebrate the festival of Passover, Beth El Synagogue will host its annual congregational seder on the second night of Pesach, Thursday, April 13, 6 p.m.

Getting into the spirit of Pesach, Rabbi Levin (left) and Cantor Bogomolni recently took a break from their work day to practice some new melodies to be sung during Beth El’s upcoming congregational seder. The entire community is invited to come together as Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogomolni (accompanied by instrumental music) lead the commemoration of the Exodus and celebrate the Jewish people’s journey from slavery to freedom. Carole Lainof is serving as chairman of the holiday event. “A warm, joyful evening is being planned, filled with singing and meaningful concepts from the Haggadah to reflect modern slavery and freedom,” Rabbi Levin said. “We look forward to sharing our celebration with the community.” Cost is $20 for adults; $15 for children ages six to 12; $6.50 for children five and younger. It includes a three percent contribution to Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger. For reservations or for further information, please contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Temple Israel Enlisting Torah Corps Members by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “I wanted to see if I could do it,” said Doris Alloy. She read Exodus 34 at Shabbat worship services on March 18. Alloy is one of Cantor Wendy Shermet’s Torah Corps members. The Temple Israel Cantor put out a call about three months ago for additional Torah readers for Shabbat mornings. “Bar and Bat Mitzvah should not be the end of Torah involvement for our congregants,” Cantor Shermet insisted. “I want them to return and use the skills they know and to role model them for our teens and other adults. Lay involvement in all areas is important, and that includes Shabbat participation.” Alloy was a member of the adult B’nai Mitzvah class in 1998 at Temple Israel. “A small group of us continued after the B’nai Mitzvah,” she explained. “We sort of kept up with Rabbi Debbie Stiel,” Temple’s former associate rabbi. Alloy said it also helps to go to services every week. She practiced her portion by reading from the Tanach which has vowels in it. She also used a tape recording of her portion that Cantor Shermet makes for each Torah reader. “I also used my Hebrew dictionary,” Alloy said. “It helps a lot, and it helps to read it at least once everyday.” “Cantor talked me into it,” admitted John Glazer, another Torah Corps member. He learned his portion by listening to a CD and from a printed copy of it. Glazer said he learned Hebrew “when I was growing up at Temple.” He acknowledged that one reason he

joined the Cantor’s Torah Corps was “to role model for my children.” Another reason, Glazer kidded, was “because I want to help Larry Gendler, who shared the bimah with Glazer on March 24. “I feel like I’m studying for my Bar Mitzvah all over again,” Gendler said. “John Glazer and I read out of the Torah during Yom Kippur services a few years ago, and Cantor Shermet suggested we do it again. Of course, John wants top billing,” Gendler teased. “His portion contains a few short lines, and I have the entire column, but I’m working on requiring him to read his portion upside down!” Gendler added that “it would be nice in a few years if I read during my sons’ Bar Mitzvahs so this is good practice. And it’s always an honor to read out of the Torah regardless of how bad or rusty you are.” He admitted he’s “just a little rusty” since he began learning Hebrew “somewhere around the third or fourth grade and read occasionally for a few years after my Bar Mitzvah in 1966.” Like anything else, the best way to learn is “practice, practice, practice. It’s also fun to do it with someone you respect and enjoy” referring to the Cantor and Glazer. Other Torah Corps members are Jon Rathsam, Sarah Schondelmeyer, Samantha Long, Rosie Zweiback, Lee Needelman, Louri Sullivan, Deb Marburg, Ellen Long, and Jill Idelman. Cantor Shermet said she welcomes more readers. So far, she commented, they’re doing “great.”

Local Historian Walks Visitors Through Jewish Community History by GARY KATZ Library Administrator Local historian Carol Gendler will present a lecture on the “History of Jews in Omaha” on Sunday, April 23, 3:30 p.m., in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. In addition, she will give a walking tour of “Front Page: 85 years of Jewish Press History” on display in the JCC Gallery. The display showcases 120 front pages of the Press and 72 covers of New Year and Passover issues; it is co-sponsored by the Jewish Press and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

Afterwards, NJHS staff and volunteers will give an overview of the Jewish genealogical computer software that is available to the community. This software allows people to trace the lineage of their family back sometimes several generations. Harold Abrahamson of the NJHS will be in attendance to answer any questions and/or sign people up to use the NJHS genealogy center. This program is sponsored by the NJHS and the Kripke Library. For more information, contact Maggie Gerber at 334.6462 or mgerber@jewishomaha.org.

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March 31, 2006

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31 Scholar-in-Residence Mark Washofsky, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, APRIL 1 Scholar-in-Residence Mark Washofsky & Adult Education, 9 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, APRIL 2 Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Scholar-in-Residence 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Pesach Prep Class, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, 1 p.m. at Temple Israel Family Writes Workshop, 3:30 p.m. Live from the 92nd Street Y, featuring Rabbi David Wolpe, 6:30 p.m. MONDAY, APRIL 3 JFS Tzedakah Project for Passover, 8 a.m. JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m. OTYG Chavurah Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Men’s Club “Final 4,” 7 p.m. at Beth El Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Derech Torah Class, 7:30 p.m. Jewish Press Meeting, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 4 JFS Tzedakah Project for Passover, 8 a.m. Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. at Chabad The Guy & Bob Show, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El JFS Yachad Social Skills Class, 6 p.m. OTYG Chavurah Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel

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THURSDAY, APRIL 6 BBYO Spring Regional Convention, April 6-9 in St. Louis Thursday Story Time, 10 a.m. at Kripke Library Visions Day Trip to Des Moines, 10 a.m. Walk-in Drop-in, 10 a.m. Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel AIPAC Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m. Rabbi Levin’s Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1:00 p.m. OTYG Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel JCC Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13 JCC CLOSED FOR PASSOVER Friedel Jewish Academy Pesach Break April 13-21 Yachad, 6 p.m. at Beth El for Passover Seder RBJH Passover Seder, 6 p.m. Community Second Seder, 6 p.m. at Beth El Second Seder, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel

SATURDAY, APRIL 8 Jewish Film Festival, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15 Tot Shabbat & Lunch, 11 a.m. at Beth El JYG Chocolate Seder, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

SUNDAY, APRIL 9 Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Adult Education, 1 p.m. at Temple Israel Jewish Press Exhibit Reception, 3 p.m. Jewish Film Festival, 7 p.m. MONDAY, APRIL 10 JSS Nurse, 8 a.m. Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Friedel Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel ARTZA Teen/Parent Meeting, 7 p.m. A History of Israel Class, 7 p.m. Derech Torah Class, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 11 Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. at Chabad ADL Educator Training on Issues of Religious Diversity, 9 a.m. The Guy & Bob Show, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 Erev Passover JCC closed at 6 p.m. RBJH Passover Seder, 6 p.m.

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MONDAY, APRIL 24 Yom Ha Shoah Exhibit, at Beth El, April 24-28 Women of Worth Art Program, 7 p.m. led by Julie Phillips at Chabad House Derech Torah Class, 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 17 JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m. BEAM, 7 p.m. at Beth El Derech Torah Class, 7:30 p.m. Youth Commission Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El

TUESDAY, APRIL 25 Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. at Chabad The Guy & Bob Show, noon Federation Executive Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m. BBYO Parent/Teen Info Night, 6 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18 Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. at Chabad Men’s Club Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El The Guy & Bob Show, noon BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Adult Education, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel

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SUNDAY, APRIL 23 Seventh Grade/H.S. Recruitment Meeting, 7 a.m. at Beth El Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El BESTT Chaverim, 12:30 p.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 1 p.m. at Temple Israel Sunday Story Time, 2 p.m. at Kripke Library Book Discussion Group, 2 p.m. at Temple Israel Genealogy and The Jews of Omaha, 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Adult Education, 1 p.m. at Temple Israel Center for Jewish Education Community Concert, 3 p.m. Friends of the Library Reception, 4:30 p.m.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Center for Jewish Education Class, 11 a.m. Visions Tour of Hot Shops, 11:30 a.m. NCJW Board Meeting, noon JFS Yachad Social Skills Class, 6 p.m. Community Yom HaShoah, 7 p.m. at Beth El Beth El USY Spring Kallah, April 27-30

THURSDAY, APRIL 20 PASSOVER JCC OPEN/ FED OFFICES CLOSED Temple Israel OTYG Spring Chavurah, April 20-23 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel JFS Love & Logic, 6 p.m. Adult Education, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

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THURSDAY, APRIL 27 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin Study Class, noon at Beth El Temple Israel Blood Drive, 1 p.m. JFS Love & Logic, 6 p.m. ADL’s Youth Leadership Mission 2006, 7 p.m. Beth El 20s & 30-Somethings’ Dinner, 7 p.m. at Hiro Sushi Adult Education, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Beth El Rosh Chodesh Group, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Tot Shabbat & Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Temple Israel Family Shabbaton, 10 a.m. SUNDAY, APRIL 30 JCC Yom HaShoah Exhibit, 8 a.m. Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Annual Meeting & Brunch, 10 a.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Primary Promotion Day, 11 a.m. at Beth El Yachad, 1 p.m. at VSP Club Adult Education, 1 p.m. at Temple Israel JCC Spring Dance Experience, 2 p.m. Protocols of Zion film and discussion, 7 p.m.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Cream of the Crop: One Woman’s Remarkable Journey in the Free Soviet Jewry Movement Part II: Shirley Goldstein: Activist, Humanitarian, Philanthropist by LEO ADAM BIGA EDITOR’S NOTE: In this extended, two-part Jewish Press story, freelance journalist Leo Adam Biga tells the remarkable journey of Omahan Shirley Goldstein in the Free Soviet Jewry movement and how this historic campaign changed her life and is remembered today. Last week in Part One, the story of how this “typical” housewife became politicized and educated in the movement was revealed. This week, discover the lengths Goldstein went to in her human rights activist work and the generosity displayed, then and now, by her and her husband, Leonard “Buddy” Goldstein. Testing Limits, Courting Danger Continued: Contacts, Safe Houses and Spy Games Once swept up in the Free Soviet Jewry movement, Shirley Goldstein set about indoctrinating herself in the tactics of an underground activist. She read, she discussed, she kavetched. She formed Omaha’s Free Soviet Jewry Committee and joined the Union of Council for Soviet Jews. She became a part of an international network whose advocacy and activism sought relief and release for Soviet Jews denied basic human rights. She learned who to contact among refusenkiks, activists and dissidents in the former Soviet Union. She learned where and when it was safe to meet them. In short, she became a secret operative there, much the way a spy is, sneaking information and materials in and out of that oppressive regime. Back home, she made calls, wrote letters, collected and shipped goods, appealed to politicians, etc., all in an attempt to ease the burden and secure the freedom of Soviet Jews. For the few refugees who made it out at first and then for the flood that followed, she helped their resettlement here. But nothing she did compares to the missions she conducted in the USSR under the guise of “tourist.” This little Jewish lady carried on her work there despite becoming a person of interest to the KGB. When they tried scaring her off, she simply snubbed her nose at the mighty Soviet state. On a 1973 trip, Shirley and her daughter Gail Raznick went as part of a UNO-sponsored tour. As Part I explored, Leningrad residents Aba and Ida Taratuta were among the first refuseniks she met. The Taratutas opened their lives and their hearts to her, using their apartment as a meeting place for fellow refuseniks to come and share their stories with Shirley, who faithfully documented it all via tape recorder. These meetings built her circle of contacts and added to the testimonies she collected. Another key early contact she made, Edward Sorokin, was not a refusenik at all, but sympathetic to Soviet Jews’ plight and to her humanitarian mission. Shirley and Gail met Sorokin by accident in Leningrad. For Goldstein, such contacts were invaluable as she didn’t speak Russian and didn’t yet know her way around. “He wasn’t even Jewish,” Goldstein said. “Edward and I became very good friends. He helped me on all my trips during the next 15-20 years. He made sure I got places. He was a big source for me. He became friendly with some of my other friends there...helping me if something went wrong. He made phone calls for me. When I got home, I’d send packages and he would see to it they got delivered.” In Moscow, Shirley and Gail were unsuccessful locating the prominent dissident Vladimir Slepak, but they did meet an English-speaking couple, Galina and

it.’ And they said, ‘Pick it up,’ In Odessa, another and I walked right by them. attempt to scare off When I got on the plane, everyGoldstein at first angered body clapped. ” her and then only “She was defiant,” her emboldened her, but not daughter Gail said. before she had a good Ask Shirley Goldstein if she laugh at her own expense. was afraid, and she tells you, “I “I was asleep in my hotel was never afraid of them room when I woke up to because I knew they wouldn’t find a strange man standtouch me. They didn’t want an ing inside the door, lookincident.” “They could harass Goldstein photographed a ing at me. He didn’t say a you though,” Buddy said. To KGB agent on one of her trips. word. He just wanted me which Shirley adds, “Yeah, they to know somebody was wanted you to know they had the upper there. Harassing me. I told him to get the hand. But I really felt in command. I real- hell out. He did. After that, every time I ly did. Besides, it was ridiculous. All that went out of the room I walked backwards fuss over nothing.” and sprinkled baby powder on the floor so Ask Buddy if Shirley’s someone not to I’d know if anybody came in. And, you trifle with, and he says, “Oh, boy...” know what? I was the first person to walk Still, it took some negotiating before in and mark my own tracks,” she said, she could board the plane with her laughing at the memory. American tour party. She said Roskens Her chutzpah could be inspiring, Laura and company flashed enough money and Bialis, the director of a new documentary threw around enough names to secure film about the movement, Let My People her release. Go, said: “David Selikowitz tells a great “Roskens could talk his way out of story about that. In the ’70s he was a almost anything,” she said. That’s the way young American living in Paris who’d things worked there. “All the way along, if come to Moscow to drop off some stuff for refuseniks. He and a friend got to the apartment building, but he was scared by all the KGB cars lining the street. He said, ‘I can’t do this.’ The friend said, ‘Well, we’ve come this far, let’s try it.’ So, they go inside and find the apartment, and there’s Shirley Goldstein with Ally Milder...schlepping in all these contraband items. “And David said to himself, ‘Oh my God, here’s this housewife-grandmother from Omaha, and if she’s not afraid, why should I be?’ She encouraged him to start a French arm of the movement, which he did, and he ended up sending all kinds of people into the Soviet Union. It’s a great image of Shirley,” Bialis said, “because she’s so unassuming and so modest, and Omahans protest treatment of Jews in the USSR in 1975: Mark Krasovitsky, left, Shirley yet she did such incredibly brave things.” Goldstein and Miriam Simon--co-chairmen of Omaha Committee for Soviet Jewry; also idenGoldstein’s most historic trip to the tifiable are Howard Weinstein, fourth from left, Cantor Leo Fettman, Rabbi Isaac and Soviet Union came in 1975. It was an Jeanette Nadoff, at the right. Omaha World-Herald sponsored tour The Goldsteins’ home became a store- you had the bribes, you could do any- that, as usual, she used as cover for her house for hot-ticket items, especially, thing. I’m convinced of that,” she added. activist work or, as she called it, “doing jeans, large quantities of which she got “I took cartons of cigarettes with me. You my own thing.” The tour’s hosts were could show a cab driver a pack and go any World-Herald reporter Wally Provost and donated from suppliers she appealed to. Her return home from that ’73 UNO place. I learned lots of little tricks...” his wife, Irene. Shirley informed Wally To avoid hassles, she carried official cre- what she planned doing and he agreed to tour of the USSR was nearly delayed, however, when she was detained at cus- dentials and letters of recommendation. tag along with her to a meeting of “Before leaving for the USSR each refuseniks. toms in Leningrad. Authorities objected to some posters she carried. It was one of time, I’d go to my congressmen and have “Well, he came with me the first night many attempts made to hassle her and them write letters of referral for the in Moscow and after that he said, ‘Every discourage her actions. They soon discov- authorities that said I was seeing people I time you go see somebody, I want to knew and that the U.S. government go.’” Provost found enough material to ered she couldn’t be intimidated. “I had visited a Jewish day school, would appreciate it if I were not both- write a series of articles, one titled Shirley whose children made drawings for me to ered. When KGB or customs agents Goldstein Goes to Russia, about the bring back to children here in Omaha. As wanted to see my papers, those letters movement and how tough life was for I went through customs, I carried the always came out first.” Soviet Jews. “Wally’s series brought the To the end, it was a war of wills issue to the forefront. It made a lot of difposters under my arm when the agents said, ‘Hand it over--you’re taking out between her and the apparatchiks. When ference. I got lots of calls and letters from important artwork.’ And I said, ‘No, it’s Goldstein made her last visit to the Soviet that. And he and Irene really became children’s artwork.’ And they said, ‘No, Union in 1989 she went with her friend dedicated Soviet Jewry activists.” you can’t take them out.’ I argued, ‘But Ruth Potash and then Jewish Press editor Another journalist she brought to the it isn’t anything...’ They wanted my Morris Maline. Potash recalled how cus- movement is former Jewish Press editor purse, and I said, ‘No,’ and I just held toms agents confiscated Shirley’s wed- Morris Maline, who traveled with her to onto those things under my arm.” gies, even unscrewing the bottoms “to the USSR. Under his watch, the Press She was angry with them. make sure she wasn’t smuggling any tapes closely covered the Soviet Jewry struggle “Well, the other people in the tour in the heels of her shoes. She was on their and local efforts to address it. She even group were saying, ‘Just give it to list. But she was fearless.” filed occasional reports for the Press from them...’ But I said, ‘No, it’s not theirs. It Gail said she and her mother often got some of her travels. has no monetary value. Nothing.’ Well, crank phone calls in the middle of the Also in her own role as a reporter for the the Russians still wanted it.” night. That didn’t stop Shirley from slip- movement, she took still pictures of an The plane was held up and she could ping out of hotels after midnight to meet incident outside a synagogue in which a see either the group was going to leave people. “It was very spy-like. It was like gathering of Jews were rousted by police. without her or be stuck there with her, so you knew you were being watched but “It opened your eyes as to how they took she told them, “OK, here it is,” and you couldn’t see anybody. I’m amazed by care of affairs they didn’t want shown to unrolled the posters and tore them up, how courageous she was,” Gail said. the general public,” she said. Her pics piece by piece, right in front of the “She’s a gutsy lady,” Buddy said of his were published around the world. agents. “If I can’t have it, you can’t have wife. Continued on next page Victor Faermark, who soon put them in touch with all the leading Moscow refuseniks and activists. Among these were Benjamin Levich, for whom Victor Faermark served as translator. Levich had been one of the USSR’s most highly decorated scientists before he applied to leave, whereupon he was dismissed from his position and stripped of his medals. “One of Levich’s boys had been kidnapped off the streets in Moscow and sent to Siberia, just for being Levich’s son,” Goldstein said. “We became very good friends. While we were in Moscow Levich kept giving my name out and it became known, and before I knew it we were meeting Vladimir Slepak. All of them were intertwined. While we were at Slepak’s, people came in and out, including a woman who was a legend, Ida Nudel.” Once back home, Goldstein acceded to a request by Levich. She prepared and shipped care packages, filled with dried foods, for his imprisoned son. She also returned to the States with lists of names of other Soviet Jews in need of various things. She enlisted the help of Russian emigres in Omaha to box the goods. “We shipped out a lot of supplies,” she said.

March 31, 2006

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Part II: Shirley Goldstein: Activist, Humanitarian, Philanthropist Continued from previous page Sharansky On that same ’75 trip she was interviewing refuseniks one morning outside a Moscow synagogue closely watched by the KGB, when someone asked her, “Have you met Sharansky?” “And I answered with the now famous words, ‘Sharansky, who’s he? Never heard of him.’ Well, Anatoly Sharansky was the voice, really, of all the refuseniks. I don’t know why I didn’t recognize his name.” Shirley wasn’t into it deep enough yet. “Slepak said, ‘We will be at your hotel at one o’clock. I’ll bring Sharansky.’ So, a group of them came. There must have been 15-16 people in the room,” she recalled. “And there was Sharansky. He was a young guy. Very vocal in meeting with people. I said to him. ‘I want the names at the top of the list for being refused and what’s happening to these people.’ And he went in the bathroom with my tape recorder, closed the door and made a recording.” That became the famous “bathroom tape,” mentioned in Sharansky’s autobiography, Fear No Evil, in which Shirley is mentioned. He named people, how long they’d been held back and many of the details that weren’t well known in the West. Naming names, she said, helped ensure refuseniks were afforded better treatment. “If your name became known, Soviet officials knew the West was watching out for you, and so you were likely to have you mail and phone calls go through,” Shirley added. Sharansky’s words, widely circulated thanks to Goldstein secreting out the tape, were a kind of state-of-the-union address and call to action for the movement’s followers. Despite painting a bleak picture of the fate of Soviet Jews who dared assert their rights, his message was somehow optimistic and appealed to the international community to apply pressure on the USSR to do the right thing. Goldstein is proud to have helped make his voice heard. “I was the first person to bring a tape by Sharansky out. When I returned home, I sent the tape to the Union of Councils headquarters. I didn’t even think to make a copy of it. Look how I trusted the U.S. mail. When it got out I’d carried the tape, I got phone calls from all over.” By her third trip, she was an expert at bringing banned articles in and out. She knew which American items brought the most on the black market. While she knew a pair of jeans could be sold for enough rubles or bartered for enough

food to last a family weeks, she didn’t realize just how vital that exchange was for survival. “A few years ago a gentleman called us from Canada saying he’s coming through Omaha. He wanted to see Shirley, whom he’d met in Russia,” Buddy said. “We met him and he said to Shirley, ‘I was at your hotel and you gave me two pair of jeans, and those two pair of jeans helped me survive for three years.’” The chance to impact a person’s life this way is why she continued to help. “Well, you never want to hear of people suffering. And then seeing them and seeing how it was...and finding out what to do to help them and then doing those things--it was satisfying. When you look back on it, it was a lot of fun.” The Fruits of Her Labor Her last visit to the USSR came in 1989. She planned going once more, but by then she’d become such “a nuisance” to the Soviets they revoked her visa. Undaunted, she tried going in with a

Jews streamed out to stake their freedom. Shirley helped make it possible. She’s considered a hero in the struggle. So say her fellow activists in the movement and so say refugees whose freedom they feel is, at least in part, due to her work. Glenn Richter, founder of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jews, considers her “the cream of the cream. We all marveled at her energy, devotion, focus and creativity. God gave her an opportunity to make up for American Jewry’s relative silence during the Holocaust. Shirley proved one didn't need to be a political big shot, Hollywood star or billionaire to move mountains, he noted. “She kept and kept at it--the mountains moved, and the Kremlin walls fell. “I love Shirley. I’m proud of her and I’m proud I’m among one of her friends,” said Lydia Linde, who emigrated in 1990 with her husband Eugene thanks to the Goldsteins sponsoring them. “She’s an absolutely exceptional person. She did very much, not only for our family, but for

Goldstein met with refusenik Sanya Slepak in 1982; he’s now a BBC correspondent in group of Catholic nuns before being rebuffed. But by then the process she’d been part of to influence Soviet human rights reforms had merged with sweeping changes inside the USSR. “It was public pressure,” she said. “The Soviets hated a bad image and they had one.” She said when the U.S. and its allies tied future trade deals with the Soviets to their making human rights concessions, the USSR capitulated. For a time. Then tensions mounted and the borders re-closed. Pressure was applied again as Western leaders decried the USSR’s hard line. In the era of Glasnost, the Soviets finally relented. In the face of government and media denouncements, much of it fed by the movement, the borders reopened and

London. Right: Boris Litvin and Leah Kosinovsky are reunited in Omaha in 1991. every family wanting to come here. Shirley met with refuseniks and activists like us, people who believed in the right to be free. That’s why we fought for this. And finally, with her help, we won. Ann Yuz-Mosenkis agrees. “If you think of the things she was able to do, she definitely could be considered a hero, because she was risking her well-being doing these things and getting the attention of people around the world to what was going on in Russia. Her work definitely helped people in Russia who wanted to be free. It rose a tremendous amount of awareness of how to help, how to fight, how to push governments to change their views,” said Mosenkis, who came to the U.S. with her husband Igor

and their two children in 1991. The story of the movement’s success endures in the lives and in the accounts of people like Richter, Goldstein, Linde and Yuz-Mosenkis. With each passing year, however, the number of surviving activists and refuseniks declines. Thus, there’s an urgency to recording this story for posterity. That’s what drives the makers of Let My People Go, the new film that tells the story of the movement through the experience of Goldstein and others. It’s also what drives the organizers of an archive, Remember and Save, dedicated to preserving the history of the movement with materials from activists like Goldstein. Exodus and Resettlement Waging the campaign for the release of Soviet Jews was one thing. Helping sponsor refugees once they came here to start a new life was quite another. Yet Goldstein aided Miriam Simon in leading the Omaha resettlement effort. From 1971-80, the USSR let tens of thousands of Jews emigrate each year. When tensions with the West increased, the USSR made people pawns by closing emigration to Jews. It wasn’t until the fall of the Soviet Union a decade later that a mass exodus happened. During the migration of the ’70s, when cities across the U.S. were accepting refugees, Goldstein said she and Simon decided, “If we’re going to get them out, we ought to get some here. Miriam was the organizer. I was the instigator. We were like the mothers of the thing.” The two women secured the support of the Jewish Federation. Jewish Family Service pitched in. Private donations from individuals and businesses like Nebraska Furniture Mart and Borsheims helped. The first families came here in 1975. “As many families as we said we could take, HIAS would send,” Simon said. “In the beginning, the families that came had no relatives here. They didn’t know a soul. They couldn’t find us on a map.” Before they came, the committee got them furnished housing. They met each family at the airport with flowers, gifts and welcome signs. Once settled, theyhelped them get jobs and arranged for them to learn English. “We did all the things you have to do to bring someone from a totally different culture and make them American. It was a very exciting time, and Shirley helped with all that. Then, as families made lives for themselves, they started bringing over relatives,” Simon added. Continued on next page

Preserving the Past by LEO ADAM BIGA As a veteran of the Free Soviet Jewry movement, Shirley Goldstein supports the preservation of that campaign’s historic achievements. Recently, she donated hundreds of personal documents and photographs related to her own actions in the movement to the Haifa, Israel-based archival project, “Remember and Save: An Archive of the Jewish Aliya Movement in the USSR.” She also serves as honorary president of the non-profit archive, whose executive director is her old friend, Aba Taratuta, one of the first refuseniks she met in the former Soviet Union. In their efforts to save artifacts, documents, testimonials and narratives of the movement, Taratuta and his staff are in a battle against time. Many activists in the movement have died. Important memoirs, letters and photographs may disappear unless care is taken to place them in this or other archives. Remember and Save is operated by volunteers, including many former activists from around the world. Established in April 2002, the organization has gathered thousands of documents, photographs, memoirs, books and other materials from more than 150 private archives of former participants in the movement. It has also recorded dozens of detailed audio-interviews with former activists.

Gov. J.J. Exon joins Prof. and Mrs. Boris Shragin in Lincoln in examing a proclamation on behalf of Soviet Jews in 1975. At left is Bill Blizek, professor of religion at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Shirley Goldstein, right. The organization has plans to: open its archive to journalists, authors, educators and scholars engaged in historical research; publish, and assist in the publication of its archived documents and memoirs; and organize meetings and conferences of former aliya activists with Israeli students and Jewish organizations in Russia. Remember and Save is also curating an exhibition, “The Jews of Struggle: The Refusenik Movement in the

USSR, 1967-1989,” scheduled to open at the Diaspora Museum in Tel-Aviv, Israel in the spring of 2007. The exhibit will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the movement. The opening of the exhibition will be accompanied by an international conference on the subject organized by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The Honorary Board of Remember and Save includes former Soviet Jewish activists, as well as leaders of the movement in the West and in Israel. Among them are former political prisoners Vladimir Slepak and Joseph Mendelevich; British historian Sir Martin Gilbert, Israeli scientist Yuval Ne’eman and leaders of Western Jewish organizations. Remember and Save wishes to hear from anyone who can help in its efforts to locate information about relevant publications and materials, and assist in saving and preserving valuable documents for future generations. The organization is also seeking financial assistance to support its work. U.S. tax deductible contributions of at least $25 may be sent (and must be made payable) to: P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds, Inc., 317 Madison Ave., Suite 607, New York, NY 10017, with a recommendation it be used for the archive’s preservation purposes. For more information, check out the ‘Remember and Save’ website at www.soviet-jews-exodus.com.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Part II: Shirley Goldstein: Activist, Humanitarian, Philanthropist Continued from previous page “Anytime somebody came or anytime there was a problem, we had it. We did everything we could for them. We really worked hard. It was an exciting time. The Federation’s done a great job resettling them, too,” Goldstein said. “We’ve had such good rapport with refugees. I’ve been to their weddings and funerals and birthdays and graduations...So many have been successful in their careers and in the community, and now their kids are winning scholarships. It’s been great.” Simon said refuseniks hold Goldstein in high regard because she not only worked to free them but was always there for them after they arrived. She’s been called “an angel” to Omaha’s Soviet Jews. “Whatever happened to anybody here, Shirley came to help,” said Lydia Linde. “She was very good and friendly and helped us a lot,” said Mosenkis. Well known for doing special things, Shirley’s donated money for the Kripke Library’s Russian-language section that Linde heads, and she ensured pianist YuzMosenkis got a piano of her own after she and her family came. “They needed help and she responded,” said Simon. “She was committed to doing what she believed was the right thing to do. She never got tired of doing it. She didn’t give up. She didn’t abandon it and go onto the next thing. And she’s that way with everything. If it’s important, well then it’s important. This became her life. At times some of her friends thought she got carried away, and she really didn’t give a darn what they thought.” As more refugees began leaving the USSR, the resettlement effort needed more funding, and the Operation Exodus drive led by Tom Fellman and Jay Lerner

raised more than a million dollars. A Giving Nature Friends note Shirley and Buddy have continued taking up what Simon calls “wonderful causes,” adding, “She and Buddy are always sponsoring something.” In 1999 the couple endowed the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights series at UNO, which annually features presentations on emerging human rights issues. They provided seed money for the documentary Let My People Go. They’ve supported Israeli resettlement efforts. They support the Jewish Historical Society, the Kripke Library and countless other things. Their contributions have been recognized. In the 1980s Shirley won the Jewish Federation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award. In 1996 she received an honorary doctor of humane letters from UNO “for her tireless efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry and the cause of human rights worldwide, for her conviction and example that one person can make a difference in the lives of others, and for her ability to inspire compassion and humanity, both near and far.” She’s also been honored by the Union of Councils for Soviet Jewry and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In 2005, the couple received the My Brother’s Keeper Award from Chabad of Nebraska. “If you know somebody who needs help, you call Shirley and she figures out ways to help,” said Ruth Potash. “I teach

IS IT THE GUY & BOB SHOW? OR THE GUY & MOSHE SHOW? OR JUST THE DR. GUY SHOW? With ADL Director,Bob Wolfson,soon leaving for New York, the complexion of the Guy & Bob Show will soon change. But as they say in the biz,the show must go on! So mark your calendars for the following dates to hear Dr.Guy Matalon and guests talk about the latest happenings in Israel.

had a good family that stayed behind me. They’ve always been there for me.” Her work for the movement and for other causes has been all about the journey. “I’ve made wonderful friends I still have today,” she said. “It’s been a great period of my life. Everybody’s got their thing. This is my thing. I’m not a card player. I’m not a golfer. I’ve had a great time.” Like any giver, her life’s been enriched for her generosity. “I’ve traveled places I never would have gone to. I’ve seen how Washington works. I’ve seen how Israeli politics work. I have friends in Europe and Israel and Above: Dr. Del Weber, UNO chan- here in the States I never cellor emeritus, left, and Jeff would have otherwise. I Dempsey, University of Nebraska can go anywhere in the Foundation, right, present mem- world and see friends.” bership in the Chancellor’s Club Goldstein’s seen the to Buddy and Shirley Goldstein families brought in. She’s for their Human Rights Lecture seen them resettled. She’s endowment in 1999. Left: The seen their children grow Davidson family: Isaac, Helen and their accomplishand baby Boris, were resettled in ments. “It’s been a wonderful Omaha in 1991. part of my life and I can’t direct. She tells you exactly what’s on her imagine having done anything else. I’m mind and what she wants done. And she pleased I was a part of the movement, accomplishes it. “She’s not namby- and that I did not sit by and not do anypamby,” Potash said. “I think Buddy thing about it. I hope it doesn’t happen deserves a lot of praise, too. He supports again to the Jewish people.” She reminds us anyone can make a difher. They’re definitely a team.” Goldstein acknowledges she couldn’t ference. It starts with taking an interest do all she’s done without the support of and then acting on it. “Anybody that does any reading can her husband Buddy and children. “It wasn’t just me doing this alone. I always find something good to work on.”

English as a second language to adult immigrants. I called her with a problem one of my students was having trying to get his wife here from Syria. I asked Shirley, ‘What can I do?’ She said, ‘We’ll go see Congressman Lee Terry (RNE).’” She’s willing to help with anything. She has all these contacts. And she’s very

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Olmert Moves Israel to Center Continued from page 1 third-largest party, ahead of Likud; and the strong showing of a newcomer, the Pensioners Party, which hadn’t been expected to win any seats. With more than 99 percent of the vote counted by Wednesday morning, Kadima had 28 seats, the left-leaning Labor got 20 seats and the right-wing Likud Party had 11. Yisrael Beiteinu, which drew significant Russian support, garnered 12 seats. Shas, an Orthodox party that appeals to Sephardi voters, got 13 seats, and United Torah Judaism, another fervently Orthodox party, won six seats. The hawkish National Union-National Religious Party got nine seats. The Pensioners, led by 79-year-old for- Photos from left: As Israeli Prime Minister mer Mossad agent Rafi Eitan, appealed to Ariel Sharon lay in intensive care in senior citizens with its focus on benefits Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital, his stand-in, for the elderly and won seven seats. The Olmert, chaired his first weekly cabinet meeting Jan. 8, pledging to ensure that the mostly Arab parties won 10 seats. Voter turnout was 63 percent, by far If the exit poll numbers hold up, the lowest in Israel’s history. Olmert will be prime minister with wide Most significantly, the center-left par- coalition options. ties --Kadima, Labor, the Pensioners, He has made support for his plan to Meretz, which got four seats, and the establish new borders between Israel and Arab lists-- together have 69 seats in the the Palestinians a condition for joining his 120-member Knesset. coalition. That rules out the hawkish But it is possible that National Union-National Elections results Shas could join an Religious Party and the Kadima: 28 seats, Olmert-led coalition. Likud, and makes Labor the Labor: 20 seats So how did Kadima most natural coalition partner. Shas: 13 seats win? Around the Kadima-Labor Yisrael Beiteinu: 12 seats For one, Likud leader core, Olmert will be able to Likud Party: 11 seats Benjamin Netanyahu's choose one or more addiArab parties: 10 seats scare tactics--raising the tional coalition partner from National Union/ specter of an Iran-supthe Pensioners, Meretz, National Religious Party: nine ported, fundamentalist, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas and Pensioners Party: seven Hamas-led Palestinian United Torah Judaism. United Torah Judaism: six entity on Israel’s doorstep Ideally, he would like to Meretz: four --backfired. Those he achieve a balance between left frightened didn’t necessarily see him as and right and between secular and relithe leader best-equipped to deal with the gious parties. That would entail a broadthreat, and many of them voted for par- based coalition of 70-90 Knesset seats. ties further right, such as Yisrael Beiteinu. Whatever form the coalition eventually Under the leadership of Avigdor takes, Olmert will have a clear majority in Lieberman, who immigrated in 1978 the Knesset for his plan for separation from Moldova, Yisrael Beiteinu is a hawk- from the Palestinians, which is likely to ish party with an immigrant-rights focus. become the centerpiece of his new The party backs Olmert’s proposed West administration. Bank withdrawal in order to separate Because Olmert made his intentions Israelis and Palestinians, but also propos- crystal-clear before the elections, rightes redrawing Israel's border to exclude wing opponents of the plan won’t be able large numbers of Israeli Arabs who live to demand a referendum on the grounds close to Palestinian areas. that he misled the nation, as they did with Many other Israeli voters moved to the Sharon’s pullout from Gaza last year. center, backing Olmert’s plan for unilatTo a large extent, the election itself was eral disengagement from the Palestinians a referendum on the withdrawal plan. It as the most rational way of dealing with calls for a large-scale Israeli withdrawal the threat from a Hamas-led Palestinian from the West Bank and the establishAuthority. ment of permanent borders with the Likud lost much of its traditional Palestinians within four years, by negotiaSephardi working-class base to Labor, tion if possible and unilaterally if not. The with its strong socioeconomic message, plan is certain to dominate the political but Labor lost even more of its middle- agenda in the new Knesset’s term. class Ashkenazi voters to Kadima and the The second major item in the governPensioners. ment guidelines will be the administra-

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government continued to function. Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu and former education minister Limor Livnat meet with student representatives at Likud Party tion’s socioeconomic agenda. As the price for bringing Labor into the government, Labor leader Amir Peretz will make a number of key socioeconomic demands, including raising the minimum wage from $730 to $1,000 a month, providing pensions for all and increasing the basket of subsidized medicines. The Pensioners will back him up, and Olmert will be forced to incorporate at least part of these demands in the government guidelines. Both agendas, the political and the socioeconomic, are extremely ambitious. But how realistic are they? To set new borders unilaterally, Olmert will need international, especially American, backing. It’s by no means certain that the Bush administration will see eye-to-eye with him on where the new lines should be drawn.

Credit: Isranet. headquarters in Tel Aviv. Amir Peretz, center, and leading members of the Labor party distribute flowers in Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv on Monday, the day before elections. Credit: Isranet. The key American document on the territorial issue is the Bush letter of April 2004. It refers to “already existing major Israeli population centers” being taken into account in setting permanent borders, but doesn’t specifically mention any of the large settlement blocs--Ariel, Etzion and parts of Jerusalem--that Olmert wants t keep. Moreover, the American position is that permanent borders should be the product of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and it’s difficult to see Washington recognizing borders that Israel sets unilaterally. Olmert argues that with Hamas in power on the Palestinian side, Washington is likely to be more receptive to Israeli ideas on the border issue. Much will depend on Olmert’s diplomatic initiative on the Palestinian track.

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March 31, 2006

PART III: UNMASKING UNRWA

A Veteran of Other Refugee Crises, Relief Director Faces Her Greatest Test by MICHAEL J. JORDAN NEW YORK (JTA)--The honeymoon was sure to end sooner or later. Since Karen Koning AbuZayd took the reins nearly a year ago of the U.N. relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Israeli officials had praised her for steering clear of the politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the smoother sailing was always a bit misleading. AbuZayd’s controversial predecessor, Peter Hansen, had served during the intifada, when Israel cracked down on terrorists in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, often via incursions into UNRWA refugee camps that were incubators of militancy. During the relative calm since AbuZayd took over UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Israel had conducted no large-scale operations--and so had not come in for UNRWA criticism. That has changed in recent weeks, with an Israel Defense Force offensive into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and elsewhere to hunt down wanted men. With that, AbuZayd has made herself heard--in UNRWA’s familiar, imbalanced fashion. “Israeli military operations have continued in the OPT, including daily shelling (in response to Kassam rocket attacks), targeted assassinations in Gaza and new incursions in the West Bank,” AbuZayd told diplomats of the 21-nation UNRWA Advisory Commission on Feb. 27 in Amman. “In the latest IDF operation in Balata camp, some of our installations were commandeered by the IDF, despite all efforts made by my West Bank colleagues and myself at preventing these unacceptable and illegal intrusions.” Not only did AbuZayd adopt the language of the Palestinian narrative--the OPT refers to the “Occupied Palestinian Territories”--but her passive wording skipped over the fact that the Kassams were launched by Palestinians. And that was the lone reference to Palestinian violence; in contrast, several paragraphs focus on Israeli actions, with no mention of their motives. That sort of one-sidedness was familiar from the days of the intifada. While supplying vital relief and shelter for

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the neediest of its 1.6 million clients in Gaza and the would be the largest economic revival project in Gaza in West Bank--plus its traditional educational, health, social a decade, since the early, hopeful years of the Oslo peace services and micro-finance process. p r o g r a m s - - U N R WA Such investment is key made repeated statements to reviving hope for a that skimmed over, if not people who feel abanoutright ignored, Paledoned by the world, stinian contributions to AbuZayd told JTA by the “cycle of violence.” phone from UNRWA That lack of context and headquarters in Gaza. short shrift to Israeli secu“What we’re trying to rity concerns--by a U.N. do is to make sure that agency that presents itself there are some signs of as neutral to the internanew life and assistance, tional media, humanthat the international rights groups and foreign community is supporting diplomats--helped create them and the disengagea popular impression of ment,” said the former disproportionate, gratu- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, right, and wife Nane, left, professor of political sciitous Israeli violence. If arrive at UNRWA’s West Bank field office in 2005, accompanied by ence and Islamic studies. the situation grows more Karen Koning AbuZayd, second from left, the UNRWA commisIf Palestinians see tanviolent, AbuZayd’s words sioner-general, and her predecessor, Peter Hansen. gible benefits of steps will surely be watched Credit: Eskinder Debebe/U toward peace with Israel-closely by supporters of freedom of movement, a Israel. decent-paying job, food on the table--they’ll be less likeIn a quarter-century of refugee work, AbuZayd, 64, ly to take up arms, she said, or support those who do. has helped the displaced and dispossessed of Uganda, Of course, that also was the theory behind the Oslo Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia and Liberia. After the fall of peace process, and it failed to temper militancy. apartheid, she directed U.N. efforts to repatriate South Moreover, critics may dispute the premise that Africans. During the Bosnian war, she headed the U.N. Palestinian terrorism is driven by despair, which ignores refugee agency in Sarajevo. the influence of incitement in mosques, schools and offiWith Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last sum- cial Palestinian Authority media. mer, the Ohio native now faces her toughest challenge-Nevertheless, that is AbuZayd’s philosophy--and, as overseeing the historic transition from occupation to sov- the top administrator and fund-raiser for an organization ereignty and, potentially, an end to the Palestinians’ per- responsible for nearly 4.3 million registered Palestinian petual refugee status. refugees across the Middle East, she commands a unique UNRWA has unveiled a vast reconstruction and recov- pulpit. ery plan that AbuZayd says will cost “several hundred With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as much a battle million dollars over several years” to rejuvenate the for public opinion as a struggle on the ground, the Palestinian camps, rebuild damaged homes, renovate debate often becomes a contest of conflicting narratives. infrastructure and create thousands of new jobs. It In this debate, supporters of Israel say, an agency that is bound by the U.N. Charter to be “neutral” and “impartial” has been anything but. Vulcraft Engineering Department AbuZayd took over UNRWA last April, after four and CAD Detailers a half years of intifada violence in which Hansen had NUCOR Vulcraft Group is the nation’s leader in the manufacture of open web steel joists and steel deck. We are accepting applications for become such a vocal defender of the Palestinians that in at our Norfolk, Nebraska office. Two years experience and/or October 2004, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Dan equivalent schooling in architectural or structural detailing is required. Gillerman, labeled him a “hater of Israel.” We offer excellent salary, benefits, and job security. If interested in joining an excellent company, send a resume by April 7, 2006 to: Israel’s defenders accused Hansen, a Dane on the job for nine years, of turning a blind eye as UNRWA camps in the Gaza Strip and West Bank became sanctuaries for Rick Hubbard extremists and a primary source of terrorist attacks P.O. Box 59, Norfolk, NE 68702-0059 Email: hrd@vulcraft-ne.com against Israel. Equal Opportunity Employer • Please indicate if special assistance is required “Hansen was criticized for offering exculpatory arguments--cover for the killings and suicide bombings,” said Felice Gaer, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for Human Rights. “Some believe this attempt to explain the reasons for terrorism emboldens Palestinian extremists and terrorists to launch more attacks.” Hansen was unrepentant about his advocacy, yet he reportedly became too much of a liability for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was under pressure from the United States for various other controversies. The United States is UNRWA’s largest donor--typically providing about 30 percent of its annual budget--and was fiercely critical of Hansen’s bias. It was against that background that AbuZayd, a mother of two who is married to a Sudanese professor, stepped into the spotlight. Her public comments reveal a willingness to venture into sensitive topics. In an August 2002 issue of the Jerusalem Report, AbuZayd, at the time Hansen’s deputy, spoke candidly about the militarization of UNRWA camps, acknowledging the risk to staff and civilian safety. However, in an October 2004 chat with readers of IslamOnline.com, she was harshly critical of Israel, never mentioning the Palestinian contribution to the “cycle of violence.” “Israel is a difficult partner, thanks to their heavy security concerns, which are used as an excuse for all the obstacles put in our (and the Palestinians’) way,” she wrote. “Taking the offensive against us is a way of diverting attention from our criticism.” She also seemed to endorse an explicitly political agenda. Continued on next page

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March 31, 2006

Relief Director Faces Greatest Test people have been killed or Continued from previous page homes demolished,” “The international commuAbuZayd told JTA. “The nity is failing” the Palestinians, current period of relative AbuZayd wrote, “and groups calm--when there have been of nations could exert more no homes demolished or pressure on Israel.” children shot in UNRWA Yet at times she has angered classrooms--clearly creates the Palestinians as well. fewer points of friction.” Speaking to the Israeli daily The agency still is willing Ma’ariv last summer about the to criticize Israel, as it did in Palestinian demand for a an annual report delivered refugee “right of return” to to the UN in November that their former homes in what singled out the humanitarian became Israel, AbuZayd impact of Israel’s security acknowledged that no solution fence. Yet there also has could be imposed on Israel, been an internal calculation and suggested that the made, according to a UN demand is more symbolic than A Palestinian man walks official in New York, who practical. Considering that most past graffiti in the asked not to be identified. Israelis view the “right of Dehaishe refugee camp “A decision was made to be return” as demographic sui- near Bethlehem in the more careful about what cide, AbuZayd’s comments West Bank in a file photo. UNRWA addresses, and appeared to repudiate maxi- Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA how it addresses them,” the official told JTA. Still, as presaged by malist Palestinian demands. “We expect UNRWA to not get AbuZayd’s reaction to the recent Balata involved with Palestinian-Israeli politics, incursion, that could all change if the but to stick to responding to humanitari- intifada resumes under a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. an needs of the refugees,” she said. “There’s a straightforward formula To her good fortune, AbuZayd has taken over during the quietest period in here: As long as UNRWA has access to the past six years. This has been due to a the population it wants to get to, it can “truce” largely observed by the biggest operate in an environment even where Palestinian terrorist groups in 2005, the there’s armed conflict,” the U.N. official removal of Israeli settlements from the said. “But if UNRWA can’t deliver emerGaza Strip and the continued construc- gency assistance and life-sustaining water, tion of Israel’s West Bank security barrier, food and medical care, the agency feels which has drastically reduced terrorist duty-bound to bring that to the attention of the Israeli authorities and others in the attacks and concomitant Israeli reprisals. Any tensions between UNRWA and international community.” If so, Israel hopes that under AbuZayd Israel “have always been during especially bloody periods of the conflict -- during it will be done impartially--and in conan incursion or when a large number of text.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 19

UNMASKING UNRWA

History of UNRWA, 1950 to the Present: Where Did the Refugees Come From? by MICHAEL J. JORDAN the West. UNITED NATIONS (JTA)--The U.N. Unlike the U.N. High Commission for General Assembly established the United Refugees, or UNHCR, which serves the Nations Relief and Works Agency in 1949 world’s other 19.2 million refugees, as a temporary agency focused on relief UNRWA was not tasked with finding soluwork for the Palestinians. It began operat- tions to the refugees’ plight. ing in 1950. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became refugees in the war that began when the Palestinians and their Arab allies attacked the fledgling Jewish state the day after its independence in 1948. Some were purposely flushed from their homes as Jewish forces sought to secure key roads and pacify areas from which Jewish communities had An UNRWA map showing the agency’s camps as well as been attacked. Some were UNRWA’s estimates of registered refugees. Data is from March encouraged to leave by 31, 2005. (Some camps in Syria and Lebanon are off the edge the Arab states, which of this map, but are included in the fact box at upper left). Credit: UNRWA told the refugees that they could return shortly to claim the spoils Instead, UNRWA’s definition of after the Jews were killed. Many simply refugee--which counted even migrants fled what had become a combat zone. who had lived in the area for as little as two The Palestinians constituted just one of years--further expanded in the 1950s when, many refugee populations in the years after in an unprecedented move, UNRWA World War II, and many outsiders expect- included descendants of the original ed their case to be the easiest of the post- refugees. This was an expanded definition war refugee crises to resolve. Many found that the UNHCR never adopted. shelter in neighboring countries that Thus, while other refugee groups have shared their language, religion and culture, dwindled due to resettlement or death, the and where many of them had blood ties. Palestinian refugee population, uniquely, Indeed, the roughly equal number of continues to grow--from 914,000 regisJewish refugees who fled or were expelled tered refugees in 1950 to some 4.3 million from the Muslim world during the same today, roughly one-third of whom live in period were quickly resettled in Israel or in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Together at Sinai There’s an old joke about two men who meet after an absence of many years. “You look different,” one says. “I had more hair at Sinai,” the other responds. Tradition says all the Jews in the world today were together at Sinai. How can that be? One answer is that our souls have had to return time and time again in order to perfect ourselves. Very few (Moshe Rabbeinu and the Prophet Elijah are two exceptions) make it to Shamayim (heaven) on the first go ’round. If that’s so, then we probably did meet once at Sinai. In fact, there’s even a Jewish dating site now called SawYouAtSinai.com. Its purpose--like jDate and Frumster--is to provide matchmaking for Jewish singles. There weren’t any Reform Jews back then. Neither were there Conservative or Reconstructionist Jews, Humanist or Renewal Jews, or for that matter, Orthodox Jews. There were “just Jews” (and that title can also be found on Jewish communal surveys!). What does it mean to be “just Jewish” today? This is not a rhetorical question and the Jewish Press is not trying to be facetious. This is a serious issue--both inside organized Jewish circles--and outside where the vast majority of Jews reside. They’re outside, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to hear from us. When it comes time for the Passover seder (this year the first one is a week from Wednesday, April 12), they will, more than likely, want a place at the table. In fact, even the most unaffiliated, detached Jew will attend a seder, making Passover the most observed of all Jewish holidays (even more than Hanukkah,

and certainly Yom Kippur). We have an opportunity to bring those Jews home, so to speak, not just by inviting them to participate in the reading of the centuries-old Hagaddah, but to share a traditional meal and find a friendly face in the Jewish community. Surely there must be other ways we can open our doors to those Jews just waiting on the outside. In Silver Spring, MD, Rabbi Gerald Serotta of Temple Shalom, invites the young friends of the B’nai Mitzvah up to the bimah to witness his or her aliyah. When the B’nai Mitzvah finishes the Torah blessing, Rabbi Serotta turns to the group of teens and asked, “Do you have any questions?” Surprisingly, a few do. On one Shabbat, a teen asked about “paper” on which the Torah is written, which gave Rabbi Serotta an opportunity to explain how the scroll is made from kosher animal hides. Passover is the ultimate “teaching opportunity.” The entire Hagaddah is based on the premise of telling and retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt, of our journey as Jews from slavery to freedom, and of our becoming a community, a people. For those on the inside of organized Jewish life, there is a certain comfort in knowing with whom you will serve on committees and boards, who you will solicit for the Federation’s Annual Campaign, and who you will call for aliyot in the Shabbat service.

This would be a good time--in these weeks before Passover--to think about those preteens on the bimah and the questions they so desperately want to ask about Judaism and Jewish life. Let’s think about how we can make it easier for those Jews on the outside to ask those questions--and to find a friendly face here inside the community to answer. Remember--if we were at Sinai together, we should be able to recognize one another--even after all this time. Chag Samayach Pesach...have a happy Passover!

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha 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.

Mother of Murdered French Jew Speaks out on What Went Wrong

BEHIND THE HEADLINES by BRETT KLINE PARIS (JTA)--Ruth Halimi is afraid. Since her son Ilan was tortured to death in February, she hasn’t had a moment’s peace. Her life has been ravaged forever. “It’s a nightmare,” she says. “Sometimes I think I’ll wake up and find it isn’t so, but it is. Ilan is gone, and I must keep on living. I must keep on living.” In her modest apartment, she receives journalists but insists that they take no pictures of her. “I don’t want my face in the newspapers, on television or on the Internet,” she says. “I’m afraid there are more barbarians out there and that they’ll find me.” Ilan Halimi, 23, was left for dead in the train station of a Paris suburb on Feb. 13 after being kidnapped and tortured for three weeks by a gang demanding ransom. He died on the way to the hospital. More than 10 suspects have been arrested, including the leader of the gang, Youssouf Fofana, who was extradited from the Ivory Coast, where his parents were born. Suspects told police that they tried to kidnap Jews because “all Jews are rich,” and that they put cigarettes out on the victim’s face because “he was Jewish and we don’t like Jews.” Halimi says something is wrong with the educational system in France. “France has produced monsters,” she says, her face thin and skin tight, fraught by nerves and pain. “It’s not about being Muslim, because all the gang members went to secular, public schools. They have grown up with no feelings, like mechanical monsters.” Most of the gang members were Muslim, of North African Arab and black African origins, but others involved were not, including the superintendent of the building where Halimi was held.

“They promised him 1,500 euros, so he gave them an empty apartment to use and said nothing,” Halimi said of the superintendent. “What kind of a man is that?” She answers her own question: “It’s a man who simply does not care.” Many residents reportedly knew someone was being tortured in the basement, but did not intervene or alert authorities. “It was an open secret in the neighborhood that a Jew was being held and tortured, and nobody called the police anonymously, not one person,” she says, shaking her head. “The

Suspects told police that they tried to kidnap Jews because “all Jews are rich,” and that they put cigarettes out on the victim’s face because “he was Jewish and we don’t like Jews.” elevator was blocked for 10 days and people were guarding the door to the apartment, and nobody called the police. It was not that all those neighbors were anti-Semitic. It’s more that they simply did not care.” She doesn’t find it difficult to believe that most French people do not think this was an anti-Semitic crime. “Everyone agrees that this is a sick crime,” she says, “but beyond that, most French people simply do not care, one way or the other. That’s the way they are.” Halimi has been very critical of the French police. She says they broke the first rule in the book by telling her to break off contact with the kidnappers. “Everyone knows you maintain contact; otherwise, they become enraged, and that is exactly what happened,” she said. Even Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy “told me that the police had failed. He said, ‘I am taking this personally because I am the head of

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the police.’ “ “I feel like the French police abandoned me,” she adds. “I think they wanted to catch the gang members, but they were not thinking about Ilan. It was cold-blooded, with no feeling, like they didn’t care.” She is careful to say she has nothing against Muslims. “I grew up with Muslims in Casablanca, in Morocco,” she says. “I never had any problems, never. The problem is with France. I think the country has become sick from a lack of feelings, a lack of emotion.” Halimi says she always has been a religious Jew. “I have always prayed to God,” she says. “I still pray every day. This is what gets me through every day. Without my God, I would have collapsed already. They took my baby boy.” She begins to cry. The tears flow. She does not try to stop them. Her son-in-law Rafi is there. There are friends in the apartment. People from her building stop by regularly. “There are good people here,” she says. Halimi wants to leave France. “Ilan always wanted to go the United States,” she says. “The whole family wants to go. Myself, I want to go to New York.” For the first time, she has a small smile on her face, but it does not last. The murder was front-page news for weeks, but now it has been replaced by a new drama -- rioting in the streets over a new labor law for young people. No trial date has been set, but Halimi trusts the lawyer, Francis Spizner. “He wants to tear these guys apart,’’ she says. Halimi’s ex-husband has been talking to the press, but she does not talk to him. The tears have returned. The French Jewish community is taking care of her needs; she and her family will not go hungry. But she no longer feels at home in France. And her boy Ilan is gone forever.

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Page 21

The Threats to Israel…and the Coming Confrontation at the United Nations

FOCUS ON ISSUES by GEORGE BAUMGARTEN These are dangerous times for Israel…and for the world. Her Palestinian neighbors have just chosen a government which has been sworn to her destruction. Her Prime Minister lies incapacitated, and his acting successor is engaged in an election campaign which will likely determine the State’s political future for years to come. And at the United Nations Security Council, negotiations are going on--as this is written--to deal with what is likely the greatest threat of all: the dangerous and bellicose rhetoric of the President of Iran. The future course of the Hamas government has so far been treated by the world as a work in progress. The Western powers--and even Russia--have made it clear (so far) that they will not tolerate a Palestinian government which insists on the destruction of Israel, as an essential tenet of its national policy. (The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, was quoted in The New York Times as having told Hamas that it had “to transform itself into a legitimate political movement on the model of the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.”) The issue has therefore now shifted to the question of whether Israel should transmit funds it has collected for the Palestinians to their new government, as it has routinely been doing for some years. Her doing so is essential to that government’s operations, but not to do so might contribute to its downfall, and could influence it in the direction of a more peaceful policy toward its Israeli neighbor. This might, therefore, induce the Palestinian negotiators to return to the bargaining table, and engage in serious, meaningful peace negotiations with Israel, as they have not done in some five years. In the campaign for Tuesday’s Knesset elections, there are naturally some substantial differences between the outlooks and platforms of the three major Israeli parties-Labor, Likud and Kadima. They have each published their respective platforms, and their leaders all spoke, via satellite, to the annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Amir Peretz, the newly-elected leader of the Labor Party, said “…let us commit ourselves today to fight for Israel’s security, against Hamas, Iran and fundamentalist terror.” His published platform, however, merely says “The Labor party will strive to renew negotiations with the Palestinians while resolutely fighting terror and violence…”

Likud’s Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu spoke of an “iron wall around Hamas,” and promised political and economic isolation of the new Palestinian government. His platform was even more unequivocal, specifying no negotiations with the Palestinians, until they recognize Israel, stop the terror, and negotiate as equals. And Ehud Olmert, Acting Prime Minister, whose Kadima Party won Tuesday, said that Israel “will not negotiate with a Palestinian Authority which is led by Hamas.” He then further mentioned Iran as the greatest threat to Israel, calling it “a major threat to all the civilized world.” This was the single, greatest danger to the Jewish state, as seen by Olmert and other ob-servers, and as will now be treated by the United Nations Security Council. There has been something of an improved atmosphere for Israel at the United Nations--one that actually dates back to the repeal of the notorious “Zionism Equals Racism” resolution in 1991. This has led to improved relations between Israel and certain countries-many in Africa, and such countries as India. In addition, Israel’s Ambassador Dan Gillerman was chosen as one of the Vice Presidents of the 60th Session of the General Assembly--something that hasn’t happened since Abba Eban in 1952 (when the U.N. had only 51 members; there are now 191). And the U.N. now holds a special service every year--on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz--in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. At this year’s service Gillerman spoke movingly of how the lessons of the Holocaust have still not been learned: “A world… stood still 65 years ago, and has since witnessed Cambodia and Rwanda.” And Israel has finally been accepted into one of the U.N.’s “regional groups” (The “Western European and Other Countries” Group, known as “WEOG”). This will enable her to stand for a seat in the Security Council--though not until her name comes up, in 2019. Even Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself was quoted as saying, “I believe that the clear majority of the Palestinian people do not want to pursue violence or terrorism against Israeli civilians.” There have still been some occasional travesties at the U.N.: a photo of a Palestinian Rights “ceremony” showed Annan in front of a map on which the

name of Israel simply did not appear. And one picture caption cited the 1947 Palestine Partition plan, and wrote “Of the two states to be created under this Resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being” (as though the Arabs had not refused to accept the Jewish State, and had not fought a bitter war against it). But the greatest threat to Israel comes not from such ceremonies or other actions of the U.N.; it comes from the dangerous threats, inflated rhetoric and bizarre behavior of the new President of Iran, Mahmud Ahmadinejad. By any objective, analytical standard, Ahmadinejad could be called a buffoon-albeit a highly dangerous one. And there are eerie of echoes tyrants past: Much of the criticism of the President and his inflammatory rhetoric could easily have been levied at Adolf Hitler, in the period 1928-33. Ahmadinejad seems to be under the delusion that he can frighten the West, and thereby inspire the loyalty and devotion of his own people. Amid repeated, “spontaneous” chants of “Death to Israel,” the President--who had previously called for Israel to be “wiped off the map”--compared those who believe the Holocaust really happened to those who believe the Earth is flat. Asserting that Israel supported the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, Ahmadinejad assured his audience that, “All the people of the world are shouting for the death of Israel.” How, one wonders--even with a controlled press and totalitarian government--

But the greatest threat to Israel comes not from such ceremonies or other actions of the U.N.; it comes from the dangerous threats, inflated rhetoric and bizarre behavior of the new President of Iran, Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

can people be made to believe such statements? Naturally, it is not just this wild rhetoric that poses the greatest danger. The true threat comes from Iran’s insistence on developing nuclear power. Few doubt that her true intent is to produce nuclear weapons, despite repeated denials. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has referred the question of Iran’s actions to the Security Council, which has been meeting (under its President, Ambassador Cesar Mayoral of Argentina) for several weeks in “closed” consultations. The Council has been dealing with the investigation of the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, as well as events in Kosovo, Liberia, Georgia, Burundi, Haiti and Guinea-Bissau, et al. But it has not issued any press release on Iran for over two months. On Tuesday afternoon, in a “stakeout” with the Press outside the Council Chamber, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton confirmed that various consultations were taking place, but that there were as yet no concrete results from them. Meanwhile in Vienna, an Iranian official threatened the U.S. with “harm and pain,” equal to any which might be inflicted on Iran by the Council. Senator Collins (R-ME)--speaking of the appeasement of Hitler by the Western powers--had told the AIPAC Policy Conference that “we must be either a nation of Chamberlains…or a nation of Churchills.” The lessons of Munich--and the need to stand up to tyrants--may indeed be apt comparisons. These are indeed highly dangerous times…for Israel, and the world. George Baumgarten is a freelance journalist specializing in the U.N.,U.S. and international politics and Jewish and international affairs. He lives in in New York and may be reached via e-mail at: GeorgeB45@aol.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Much credit goes for excellent first class journalism to JTA for its “Unmasking UNRWA” series. Our agency has worked on the subject of United Nations Relief Works Agency since 1988 and it is gratifying to see a mainstream media outlet pick up on it. The U.S. House International Relations Committee has been considering legislation for the past three years on UNRWA. We have been in touch with their middle east subcommittee on the subject and would be pleased to share insight on the status of UNRWA legislation in Congress with American Jewish Press Association members, if there is

interest. Now that JTA has placed UNRWA on the agenda of the Jewish media, it will be easier to broach this issue with the U.S Congress. On a sad note, Dr. Joseph Lerner, from imra.org.il, the man who gave our agency the first grant to conduct a journalistic inquiry into UNRWA, suffered a severe brain hemorrhage last week, as news of the JTA story appeared. Dr. Lerner understood the importance of this story. David Bedein Bureau Chief Israel Resource News Agency www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

March 31, 2006

Candlelighting Friday, March 31, 6:30 p.m.

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, April 14, 7:30 p.m.: Services followed by Oneg with guest speaker, Barry Rubin, who will discuss “Democrat Politics: Jewish Perspective.” A Passover Potluck will follow. Call 323.8885 to let us know what you will bring.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 333 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethlincoln.org

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Allan Handleman, 334.6451, or Terri Greenwood, 334.6559.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m., in the chapel. SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; K’tantan (K-2), 10:45 a.m.; Evening Service, 6:40 p.m. Sitter Service is available during Friday night and Saturday morning services, on a drop-in basis, at no charge. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Weekdays, 6:55 a.m./5:30 p.m. ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY, 10 a.m.: Bible Discussion Group, and Living Hebrew, Nashir Choir, 10 a.m.; Jewish Pot Pourri Class, Adult Torah Trope Class and From Your Heart to God’s Ears, 11 a.m. PATTER: Wednesdays, 10:30 -11:45 a.m., for parents and toddlers, 18 months to age three. THURSDAYS, noon: Rabbi Levin leads Discovering the Talmud: Lessons for Everyday Living. PASSOVER CLASS: “How to Enrich Your Seder” will be offered two times: Sunday, April 2, 10 -11 a.m. and Thursday, April 6, noon. Open to the community, free of charge. Call the office to register. CONGREGATIONAL SEDER Thursday, April 13, 6 p.m. Open to the Jewish community, cost is $20 for adults; $15 for children ages six to 12; $6.50 for children five and younger. For reservations or for information, contact Margie Gutnik, 492.8550, or programming@bethelomaha.org.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Hours: MondayOffice Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services

conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Sisterhood; Kids Rule the Shul Mincha, 6:30 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:32 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Travelin’ Toddlers goes on Ollie the Trolley to the Children’s Museum. Meet at Beth Israel at 2:30 p.m. if you have reservations for Ollie, or meet us at the museum at 3 p.m.; Contact the office for Mincha/ Ma’ariv time. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m; Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time. MONDAY: Board of Commissioner’s Meeting, 7:30 p.m.; deadline is April 3 for ordering “Pesach To Go!” food and for making reservations for the second night seder. WEDNESDAY: NCSY Camp information night, 7 p.m. at the home of David and Janet Kohll. THURSDAY: Advanced Parsha class, 9 p.m.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service in honor of Shevi Katzman’s return from Israel. SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m.; Torah Studies, 10-11:30 a.m. The Exodus Series; Chabad Cheder and Aleph Champ, 10 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Halacha, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m. WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; Torah Tots (ages 35), 4:15 p.m. For information or to register for classes, call the office or visit: www.nebraska-judaism.com.

Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m., led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg provided by Marge and Alan Ross. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel. SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, grades 2-7 and Hallah High; 9:30 a.m.noon, at Tifereth Israel; grades K-1, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. (No Intro to Judaoism Class on April 12.) ADULT EDUCATION THURSDAY, 7 p.m. Music Education, led by Mark Miller, Holly Hefflebower, and Elaine Monnier (first and third Thursdays of the month).

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m. led by Beyt Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m.; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz and Cantor Wendy Shermet will officiate along with Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Mark Washofsky, whose theme will be: “The Talmud, the Halakhah and Reform Judaism: Old Sources and New Problems” Friday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. “Commandments and Choices: Do We Ever Have Free Will?” SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9-10:15 a.m. with Dr. Mark Washofsky, “Jewish Law and the Terry Schiavo Case: A Liberal Perspective”; Family Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. along with the fifth grade class. Sunday, April 2, 10 a.m. “Reform Responsa: How Jewish Tradition Responds to Today’s Problems”; No Religious School. SITTER SERVICE: Available

at each Friday evening service, Saturday mornings when there is a bar or bat mitzvah, and Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Advance reservations and a $5 donation are appreciated. Sorry, there are no facilities for infants. TUESDAY, April 4: No Family School. WEDNESDAY, April 5: No Religious School; No Middle/High School. ADULT EDUCATION THURSDAY, April 6: Adult Study with the Clergy with Cantor Wendy Shermet, 10-11:30 a.m. CONGREGATIONAL SEDER Second Night, Thursday, April 13, 6 p.m. A traditional seder meal and a vegetarian option will be served. Adults, $19; Children in sixth grade and younger, $8; children two years old and younger, no charge. Call 556.6536 to make reservations by Friday, April 7. Reservations open for non-members Friday, April 7-Tuesday, April 11.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 6:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m. with Shabbat dinner following. SATURDAY: Parashat Hashavu’a class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m., followed by Shabbat lunch and Talmud class. SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, grades K, and 4-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon, at Tifereth Israel; grades 1-3 and Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, at 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. ADULT EDUCATION Monday and Thursday evenings, 7-9 p.m, and Thursdays, noon-2 p.m

In a Rush for Passover

BAT MITZVAH Haley Elizabeth Halsted, daughter of Mendy and Michael Halsted will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 8 at Temple Israel. Haley is a seventhgrade Distinguised Scholar Honor Roll student at Westside Middle School. She plays striker for her Gladiator soccer team and is a member of the Westside Connection Show Choir at the middle school. Her interests include playing the piano, tennis, dance, reading,

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

and the computer. Haley has a brother, Max. For her mitzvah project, Haley made blankets for older children at Children’s Hospital and delivered them, along with Beanie Babies and movies. Grandparents are Minnette and Gabriel Klein of Dallas, TX, and the late Alvin Rose, and Joan Halsted and the late Bill Halsted.

At the Spice and Spirit Passover Cooking Club, the women worked very hard to make matza in the 18 minute allotted time at Chabad House. Deana Liddy, left, Kelly Kirk and her son Jacob, and Betsy Marantz raced the clock to roll out the dough.

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March 31, 2006

DEATHS MARY LOU GOODMAN Mary Lou Goodman died March 14. Services were held March 16 at Temple Israel Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Danny Goodman; daughter and son-in-law, Ricki and Jeffrey Skog; sons and daughter-in-law, Mark and Eileen Goodman of Cortlandt Manor, NY; Scott and Anastasia Goodman; and six grandchildren. Memorials to Temple Israel or the American Cancer Society. GEORGE KUKAWKA George Kukawka died in Los Angeles, CA. Services were held March 19 at Mount Sinai Cemetery, Simi Valley, CA. He is survived by his brother, Abe Kukawka; and niece

Sacrifices, Sacrifices

SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat VaYikra Most modern readers, with the exception only of Biblical scholars, are less interested in this Third Book of Torah than they have been in Genesis and Exodus, and than they will be in Numbers and Deuteronomy. It is simply true that we are not moved by the idea of sacrifices of living creatures who were brought to death and offered on an altar, as a form of worship. In the ancient world, not only among Jews, this was taken for granted. If we cannot bring ourselves to understand this, nonetheless it was true: animal sacrifice was the principal method of worship among Jews, our ancestors, and among other people as well. I think we must understand that most of the meat of these animals became food for the people. In their early society our ancestors could not possibly afford to “waste” this animal life, which was their principal wealth. Therefore the parts that were burned as sacrifice to God as worship were not the parts that were eaten by human beings. It is not totally a joke to say that the parts that were offered to God because He/She liked these parts best were the parts the people would not eat anyhow. We ought to bear this in mind constantly as we read the Book of Leviticus (VaYikra). If we forget this, this Third Book of Torah, which by its very nature is less interesting to most of us than the other four, would be even repellent to us. So now the book is open for us and we have 10 Sidrot that deal with a subject with which we are less interested than Torah generally. We must not forget that to our ancestors the sacrifices filled the same spiritual need that we get in our time by our gifts to synagogues and other Jewish institutions.

and nephew Ron and Susie Wolfson of Los Angeles. Memorials to the Jewish Press.

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HELEN E. LEVINE Helen E. Levine died March 22 at the age of 85. Services were held in Sioux City, IA. She is survived by her daughter, Mardee Brechwald; daughtersand son-in-law, Della and Jeff Vlaanderen of Sioux City, IA, and Marcia and Mark Niedorf of Minneapolis, MN; son, Michael Levine of Los Angeles, CA; and grandchildren, Aryn Brechwald, Michael and Jennifer Vlaanderen, and Sam Niedorf. FRANCES GUSS Frances Guss died March 26 at the age of 68. Services were held March 28 at Golden Hill Cemetery. She is survived by sisters, Anna Guss, Ione Guss of Kansas City, MO, brother, Fred Guss; nieces and nephews. Memorials to Beth Israel Synagogue.

MOVING?

GERTRUDE LOTMAN PEARLMAN Former Lincolnite Gertrude Lotman Pearlman died March 27 at the age of 97. Services were held March 27 at Beth Yeshurun Cemetery in Houston, TX. After graduating from the University of NebraskaLincoln, she and her husband, Joseph, moved to Sherman Oaks, CA. She was President of the Los Angeles Council of Jewish Women International and a regional board member. After moving to Houston, TX, in 1987, she became President of AMIT Women, continued her work with JWI and volunteered for other organizations. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Cynthia Levin Pearlman; son-in-law, Richard Szczucki of Mansfield, MO; grandson, Joseph Killon Pearlman, and his wife, Rachel; two great-grandchildren, all of Groveland, CA. Memorials to AMIT, c/o Beverly Bloom, 3350 McQue, #1401, Houston, TX 77056 or charity of choice.

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NORMAN PRED Norman Pred died March 28 at the age of 78. A graveside service was held March 29 at Beth El Cemetery. He is survived by his children, Deborah Pred, Beth Pred Brownlee, Robert and Stacey Pred of Philadelphia, PA, and Rachel and David Gehr of Boulder, CO; brothers, Gordon Pred of Cleveland, OH; and brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Gwen Pred; grandchildren, Marly Pred, Alice Gehr and Michael Gehr. Memorials to the American Lung Association. DAVID POTASH David Potash died March 28 at the age of 13. Services were held March 29 at Mount Sinai Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Linda Potash; sister, Sarah; grandparents, Floryne Potash and Tibor and Erika Neumann; aunts, uncles and cousins. Memorials to the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation, 3200 Wilshire Blvd, suite 1601, South Tower, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

B’nai B’rith Trip Ends in Tragedy as Dozen Die in Chilean Accident by MATTHEW E. BERGER WASHINGTON (JTA)-- The bodies of 12 Americans who died on a B’nai B’rith trip when their bus plunged down a cliff in Chile were returned to the United States. About a dozen family members of the deceased went to Chile to identify the bodies. The bodies were sent home to the United States last Friday in a journey that began with a silent motorcade escorted by police, a rabbi and relatives. The victims were identified as Marvin Bier, 79, Shirley Bier, 76, Marian Diamond, 75, Maria Eggers, 71, Hans Eggers, 72, Carole Ruchelman, 63, Robert Rubin, 72, Barbara Rubin, 69, Frieda Kovar, 74, and Arthur Kovar, 67, all from Monroe Township, N.J.; and Linda Greenfield, 63, and Ira Greenfield, 67, from Stamford, CT. Omahan Allan Gonsher, a nephew of the Biers, flew to New Jersey with his brothers to perform the funeral on March 28. Two survivors--Harold Ruchelman and Bernard Diamond, both 68 and from Monroe Township--were released from the hospital last Friday to accompany their wives’ bodies back to the United States. Diamond’s daughter, Arlene Frumkin, is a former NCJW National Board member who served with Jan Schneiderman, Carol Bloch and Carol Katzman. A number of Jewish organizations, including Chabad, B’nai B’rith International, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, sent representatives to the scene to help the families and survivors. The group was part of a 64-person B’nai B’rith group

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

on a 14-day Celebrity Cruise Lines jaunt around South America, and were returning to the ship after visiting Lauca National Park in Arica when their bus swerved to avert an oncoming truck and plunged off the highway. Officials with B’nai B’rith International said the passengers lived in the Ponds, an age-restricted development in Monroe Township, N.J., and originally were from places throughout the Northeast B’nai B’rith group members were given the option of returning to the United States, but all decided to continue to the next port in Lima, Peru. Martenstein said several may leave the ship in Lima. The cruise is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale, FL, on April 2. The Lauca excursion was booked separately by the B’nai B’rith members, and the tour was not affiliated with the cruise line, Martenstein said. The tour also was not licensed, according to Chilean officials. An administrator at The Ponds said she believed all the victims were members of the non-sectarian retirement community, and said the South American trip had been organized independently from The Ponds but was geared towards its residents. “They were very well known, very well liked and very active,” Eileen Marcus, community manager of The Ponds, said of the victims. “People are just in shock. It’s a very close-knit community and this is affecting all of them.” JTA Washington bureau chief Ron Kampeas and intern David Silverman contributed to this report, as did Carol Katzman, Editor of the Jewish Press.

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