April 1, 2011

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

Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem amid rocket attacks on South

April 1, 2011 26 Adar II 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 30

This Week

Arts & Entertainment highlights Puccini’s Madama Butterfly Page 5

Friedel Jewish Academy performs Isaac Bashevis Singer Page 7

by JTA NEWS STAFF over the past two years.”

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- One President Obama in conwoman was killed and at least demning the Jerusalem three dozen people were bombing stressed that “Israel, injured when a bomb explodlike all other nations, has a ed in central Jerusalem. right to self-defense” and “in Two of the injuries in the the strongest possible terms.” attack, which took place In the same statement, shortly before 3 p.m. March Obama offered condolences 23, were considered serious, for the deaths Tuesday of according to news reports citPalestinian civilians in Gaza ing Magen David Adom, that were caused by Israeli Israel’s version of the Red tank fire.

Cross. One of the injured “There is never any possiwent straight to surgery at ble justification for terrorism,” Hadassah Hospital; five othObama said. “We stress the ers are reported in moderate importance of calm and urge condition, injured by shrapnel all parties to do everything in packed into the 2- to 4-pound their power to prevent further bomb. violence and civilian casualPrime Minister Benjamin ties.”

Emergency personnel responds to the scene of the bomb explosion near a bus station in the Netanyahu, who delayed Similarly, Palestinian Authcenter of Jerusalem.

Credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90/JTA ority President Mahmoud by several hours leaving on a planned trip to Moscow, said follow- against terrorism,” which have led to ple. They will learn that the govern- Abbas in a statement issued from ment, the IDF and the Israeli public Russia, where he is on an official ing the attack that his government two years of relative quiet.

“Recently, there have been ele- have an iron will to defend the state visit, condemned the attack as well has had a clear and successful policy on security, including “a vigorous ments that have tried to violate this and its citizens. We will act vigor- as the Israeli military’s attacks in response to any attempt to harm quiet,” Netanyahu said in a state- ously, responsibly and prudently in Gaza that killed eight Palestinians, Israeli citizens, and systematic and ment. “They are trying to test our order to maintain the quiet and the including four civilians. assertive preventive measures resolve and the fortitude of our peo- security that have prevailed here Continued on page 2

Blumkin Home hosts Passover Seders

by OZZIE NOGG As they do every Passover, the residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home cordially invite family and friends to share the Seders with

Blumkin Home seders include symbolic food, rituals and songs. And RBJH seders, in themselves, symbolize the words of the Haggadah: All people, in every generation, should

them on Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19. Andy and Carole Greenberg will lead the First Seder and the Polack family -- Jim, Susan, Max and Josh -- will lead the Second Seder, both of which begin at 6 p.m. in the JCC Auditorium.

see themselves as having experienced the Exodus from Egypt. “These evenings are always so meaningful,” said Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at the Home. “It’s very sweet to see the residents participate with their families and friends in this traditional ceremony. The seders keep the residents connected to their Judaism and bring back happy memories, and we look forward to this year’s celebration.”

Both seders are free to Blumkin Home residents. Dinners for adult guests are $18 a plate; children under twelve, $12.50. Deadline for reservations is April 8. If you have questions, please call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor dies Page 11

Meet the JCC Dance Training Company

by COLLEEN HALPIN JCC Training Company Member Since the beginning of this year, 15 dedicated young women have met every Friday to rehearse, learn, and serve together through dance. We make up the JCC Dance

ities, and then helped the Yachad members choreograph their own dance. It was a wonderful experience, and it was truly incredible to see how much spirit and personality the Yachad members were able to show through their dancing.

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

8 10 11

Coming April 15 Passover Issue See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

The JCC Dance Company visits Prairie Lane Elementary School.

Training Company. Led by Esther Katz, the Training Company members have so far learned three complete dances and continue to work on more choreography each week.

But the training company is about more than becoming a better dancer. Throughout this year, the training company members have performed for and done workshops with various groups.

On Feb. 13, we performed for the JCC’s Yachad group, a group of adults with developmental disabil-

Seeing how much they appreciated us through the smiles on their faces was the most rewarding part.

A few days later on Feb. 18, we had the opportunity to go to Prairie Lane Elementary School and perform for their preschoolers. First, we demonstrated a ballet warm up, and then we performed two of our dances for them. Some of us also tried on other types of dance shoes and costumes, like tutus, tap shoes, jazz shoes, and Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | April 1, 2011

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Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem, rocket attacks on South Continued from page 1 cent,” said Shalom on a visit to a site in Beersheba that was Palestinian terror groups in Gaza praised the bombing. struck by two long-range Grad rockets on March 23. “I hope Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Ahmed called the attack a it won’t come to another Operation Cast Lead, but if there is “natural response to the enemy’s crimes. It is a clear and no other choice we will launch another operation.” powerful message to Israel that her crimes won’t be able to Shalom, of the Likud Party, grew up in the Beersheba resbreak the resistance.” idential neighborhood hit by Police said the bomb was the rockets, which left one left in a bag either in a teleman wounded. The attack folphone booth next to a busy lowed a Grad rocket attack bus stop or at the bus Tuesday on the port city of stop itself, along a main artery Ashdod; that rocket landed in central Jerusalem, near the near the center of the city of International Convention 200,000. Ashdod schools Center and about a block were closed following the from the city’s central bus terattack. minal. The blast blew out the At least seven mortars and windows of two buses picking one other rocket were fired up passengers. into southern Israel. Israel’s The entrance to the city of Home Front Command Jerusalem was closed followcalled on Israelis living in the ing the explosion. country’s south to go about Jerusalem Mayor Nir their daily routine, despite the Barkat called on citizens to increasing rocket fire. return to their normal lives, Earlier, Israel’s Air Force said so that the terrorists could it bombed the rocket launchnot score a victory in the er from which the rocket was attack, The Jerusalem Post fired into Ashdod. reported. He also asked Defense Minister Ehud The scene in Jerusalem where a bomb was detonated at a Jerusalem residents to keep Barak said that Israel will bus stop near the western entrance to the city. their eyes open in order to continue to take pre-emptive Credit: ISRANET prevent future attacks. Barkat action to protect its citizens, called the explosion a “cowardly terrorist attack.” including acting along the Gaza border.

A marathon through the streets of Jerusalem is scheduled “There will be highs and lows,” Barak said. “Not everything for Friday. Barkat told reporters that he still planned to par- will end tomorrow, but we are determined to return the ticipate in the run. quiet and security.”

Jerusalem during the second Palestinian intifada was the J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami and board chair Davidi site of dozens of attacks that targeted buses.

Gilo, who are in Jerusalem for a Knesset debate, condemned Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom threat- the Jerusalem bombing and the increase of rocket attacks on ened to launch a new operation against Gaza in the wake of the South in a statement. increased shelling on Israel’s South.

“We support the state of Israel in taking the steps neces“The period of restraint is over; we must do everything we sary to respond to today’s attacks, to protect all its citizens, can to strike out against those who wish to hurt the inno- and to bring those who perpetrated today’s attack to justice,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, an 8-year-old Gaza boy injured in an Israeli attack was taken to an Israeli hospital Wednesday for treatment. The transfer was coordinated with the Palestinians.

Facebook will monitor intifada page

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Facebook will monitor a page calling for a third Palestinian uprising against Israel but will not remove it.

The page, established on Facebook less than a month ago, calls for a third Palestinian uprising to begin May 15.

The page, which as of March 27 had more than 330,000 friends, includes quotes and film clips calling for killing Jews and Israelis, and for “liberating” Jerusalem and Palestine using violence. It also directs users to related content on Twitter, YouTube and elsewhere. In a statement released to several media outlets, Facebook commented on the Third Palestinian Intifada page controversy.

“While some kinds of comments and content may be upsetting for someone, that alone is not a reason to remove the discussion,” the statement said. “We strongly believe that Facebook users have the ability to express their opinions, and we don’t typically take down content, groups or Pages that speak out against countries, religions, political entities, or ideas.”

Individual posts and comments on the page that are considered problematic are being investigated by Facebook and removed, according to reports.

An Israeli government minister and the head of the AntiDefamation League have called for the removal of the page.

“This Facebook page constitutes an appalling abuse of technology to promote terrorist violence,” said Abraham Foxman, ADL’s national director. “Although the managers of this group claim to be calling for peaceful demonstrations, the Third Intifada pages include calls for followers to build on the previous two intifadas. We should not be so naive to believe that a campaign for a ‘Third Intifada’ does not portend renewed violence, especially in the current climate that has seen a dramatic increase in rocket attacks from Gaza, the brutal murder of the Fogel family in the West Bank, and a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem.”

Editor’s note: Facebook administrators shut down the group during the early morning of March 29 in response to an enormous outcry from pro-Israel activists.

JCC Dance Training Company Continued from page 1 pointe shoes to show the kids. The girls especially seemed to really enjoy it! Dancing for the little ones reminded me of when I was younger and I would watch the older girls and think, “When I’m older, I want to be just like them.” It was wonderful to be able to be that role model for someone else.

Finally, on March 6, we performed at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

After we performed, we danced a shtetl dance,and encouraged the residents to dance along with us. We chose this type of dance to use with the residents because it can be done in a wheelchair, and also because it brings back memories for them of celebrating and spending time with family and friends. It was very rewarding to be able to dance and spend time with them as a way of showing our respect for them.

So far, the training company has made all of us better dancers, better friends, and better members of our community. It has been incredible to be able to serve others by doing something we all love. I love being able to share my love of dance with other people, especially people that I know will appreciate us for simply spending time with them. I truly believe dance is something that anyone can do, regardless of physical or mental status, because with the right intention and emotion, every movement becomes a dance. Being able to show that to people is something the training company can hopefully continue to do in the years to come.

April 1, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 3

Genetic Testing Forum to Feature UNMC Professionals

by JOANIE JACOBSON The Greater Omaha Committee for Jewish Genetic Testing, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Jewish Federation of Omaha, will present an Informational Forum on Jewish Genetic Testing, Monday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. The Forum will feature professionals from the Med Center and Jean Duitch, co-chairman of the Committee. It is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to be part of this event,” said panel member Dr. Warren G. Sanger, director of the Amber Carter Human Genetics Laboratory and interim director of Clinical Genetics at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at UNMC. “It’s an excellent opportunity for people of all ages to gather information about the May screening event in the Jewish community.”

Dr. Sanger was referring to “Round #2: Jewish Genetic Testing” scheduled for Sunday, May 22, 9 a.m.-noon, and Wednesday, May 25, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Thanks to local Jewish organizations, local and national foundations, and individual donors, testing is being offered free of charge to the first 100 men and women in the Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City and Des Moines area who register. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, and not currently pregnant. All test results are private and kept confidential within the patient’s medical records at UNMC. “At the Forum, we’ll provide information on the nine genetic diseases included in this particular screening,” Sanger explained,” and the importance of screening, how it will take place, what the results mean for future pregnancies and other family members, and how your results are protected by law.”

Dr. Sanger earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from UNL and UNMC. He is certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics as a Clinical Cytogeneticist and a Ph.D. Medical Geneticist.

Also featured at the Informational Forum will be Elizabeth Conover, MS, PNP, a board certified genetic coun-

selor since 1984; and Amber Carter, MS, a genetic counselor at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

“I have always been interested in the concept of prevention, and it is especially relevant to preconception testing for genetic disorders more prevalent in people of Jewish ethnic-

Elizabeth Conover

Dr. Warren Sanger

ity,” said Conover. “Many genetic conditions are very difficult to treat, so that makes it even more important to screen increased at-risk individuals and counsel them about strategies to limit their chances of having a baby with a genetic disease. Knowledge is power!”

Conover is a pediatric nurse practitioner and provides genetic consultation in a General Genetics Clinic, Prenatal Clinic, and the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic at UNMC. Involved in the education of genetic counselors since 1988, she is also a faculty member in the Mid-America Genetic Education Consortium, designing and teaching courses for graduate genetic counseling students.

Carter noted, “One out of five individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry carry a genetic mutation for a serious medical condition. Two carriers of the same condition have a 25% risk of having an affected child.

“Often times, an individual will have no family history of the condition and no idea he or she is a carrier,” she added.

“Screening is most helpful when performed before pregnancy. However, if individuals of child-bearing years aren’t tested for whatever reason, we encourage their parents or grandparents to be screened. If found to be carriers, they can then inform their children or grandchildren, in order for them to be tested, as well.”

Carter earned a Masters Degree in Genetic Counseling

from the University of Pittsburgh and provides counseling in a General Genetics Clinic and a Prenatal Clinic, along with Conover. She has also presented the case for “Ashkenazi Jewish Carrier Screening” to obstetricians, gynecologists, and residents.

“We are so fortunate to be working with these outstanding professionals from the Med Center,” said Duitch. “Their participation in this project offers a degree of credibility and confidence to anyone considering being tested. The reputation of the Med Center is respected across the country.”

To register for the screening on May 22 or 25, or for more information, contact Jean Duitch, 402.393.1141 or JDUITCH@aol.com, or Joanie Jacobson, 402.554.0500.

Clinton: U.S. not ready to intervene in Syria JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- The United States is not ready to send troops to Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.

“Certainly we deplore the violence in Syria,” Clinton said during an interview on the Face the Nation program on CBS Television that aired Sunday. “We call -- as we have on all of these governments during this period of the Arab awakening, as some have called it -- to be responding to their people's needs, not to engage in violence, permit peaceful protests and begin a process of economic and political reform.”

Thousands of demonstrators marched in southern Syria over the weekend. On Sunday, protesters called for a nationwide general strike in a country that borders Israel.

Dozens of protesters have been killed in the violence, according to reports. Amnesty International has reported that at least 55 people have been killed in the southern Syria city of Daraa.

Clinton said the situations in Libya, where U.S. troops have joined other allies in protecting a no-fly zone, and in Syria are “unique” and that Syria’s circumstances do not yet warrant a U.S. military operation.

She said the U.S. would require significant international support in order to intervene militarily on Syria.

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Beth El’s upcoming “Simchat Shabbat” to resound Nebraska Holocaust with the spirit of intergenerational families commemoration

by JILL BELMONT Jim Fried, who attended the March program and particiBeth El Publicity Coordinator pated in its entertaining parasha play, called Simchat Walk past Beth El’s West Court on the first Saturday of the Shabbat “a warm and uplifting alternative Shabbat experimonth, and you’re sure to hear singing, clapping, praying, ence. There was something for everyone – great for young chanting – the sounds of children and adults enjoying the families and seniors alike. It was wonderful to have the chilspiritual experience of Simchat Shabbat, Beth El’s contem- dren participate so directly and to participate in joyful worporary alternative Shabbat celebration. Since its establish- ship and learning together.” ment several months ago, these uplifting celebrations -Saying “there was a beautiful feeling of unity and sinceriopen to everyone in the Jewish community -- have drawn ty felt by all who attended,” Mindy Tene also remarked that, around 150 people. The next program will be held on “One thing’s for sure: we have incredibly creative and Saturday, April 2, at 10:30 a.m., and the morning’s organiz- dynamic members at Beth El. [I send] a great big ‘thank you’ ers look forward to presenting attendees with another mem- to the enormously creative team which has worked tirelessorable, meaningful experily to bring us these Simchat ence.

Shabbat services.”

“Simchat Shabbat is an Nancy Rips says that thanks alternative Shabbat experito Simchat Shabbat, she is ence that includes song, poet“learning and reading and ry, narratives, readings and thinking more about Shabbat even a little drama,” explained than I ever have before, and Joanie Jacobson, who creates the friendship and connectand coordinates each proedness of our planning group gram, along with Ozzie Nogg, is wonderful.”

Eadie Tsabari, Gloria Kaslow, Following this Saturday’s Nancy Rips, Helen and Tuffy program, Cafe Schmooze Epstein and Margo Riekes. returns to celebrate spring“‘New faces’ has always time with a ‘Spring Salad been a goal of the Simchat Buffet’ featuring salmon Shabbat experience,” she salad, white fish salad, egg noted, “and this month, we salad, bean salad, pasta salad, are blessed with new faces of lettuce salad, cucumber salad, The faces of "Simchat Shabbat": Among the intergeneragenerations in a family. and fruit salad. Promising tional families who will be participating in Beth El's upcoming Participating will be Patty “delicious, seasonal tastes and Shabbat celebration are Bob Goldberg with his daughter, Lily Nogg with grandson Jordan smells of Shabbat,” volunteer (in front); and Bea Karp, with granddaughter, Sarah Kutler. and granddaughter Riley, Bob chef Ben Shapiro said that, Goldberg with daughter Lily, Sarah Kutler with grandmoth- “As we transition into spring and the spring holidays, it’s the er Bea Karp, and Ozzie Nogg with granddaughter Alex perfect time to add some spring to our soul!”

Pichik. The kids from Junior Congregation return with their Thanks to the generosity of several anonymous donors youthful spirit and service expertise, and as always, we’ll from the congregation, Cafe Schmooze is free and open to offer some new material and a of couple new songs.” the entire Jewish community.

This unique Shabbat celebration has evoked enthusiastic “This month, the host family has declared lunch at Cafe responses from congregants, several of whom recently Schmooze to be ‘In Honor of All April Birthdays,’” said shared some thoughts about their experience.

Jacobson. “But whenever your birthday, come after soccer, “There’s a warm and palpable sense of community, ballet or from home. Schmooze a little or schmooze a lot -belonging, togetherness and sharing at Simchat Shabbat,” enjoying a meal with family and friends is a wonderful way said Kevin Saltzman, who attended with his children, Ari to celebrate Shabbat.” and Dina, “and the fact that services are lay led -- and that She also emphasized the importance of RSVPs to Café lots of people participate -- heightens that experience. I Schmooze, saying that although there is no charge for the found Simchat Shabbat to be at once relaxed and informal, meal, reservations are essential for planning purposes. To but also quite spiritual and full of meaning. It is a different reserve a spot, contact the synagogue office at 402.492.8550, and productive way to worship -- and it is very accessible, or via email, at programming@bethel-omaha.org. whether you’re 9 or 99.”

by HILLARY FLETCHER Institute for Holocaust Education The 2011 Nebraska Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. at the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda in Lincoln. This year’s focus is Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide. What Have We Learned? The Commemoration speaker is Rick Hirschhaut, Executive Director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

Senator Deb Fischer, District 43, will be the legislative representative and will open the ceremony following a musical prelude by violinist and UNL student, Rose Hunter. The candle lighting ceremony, honoring survivors, rescuers and liberators, will be led by local survivors. A Lincoln Southeast choir will provide additional music.

Prior to the ceremony, on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Lincoln Jewish Community School, Life in a Jar, the story about rescuer Irena Sendler, presented by South Street Temple (Congregation B’nai Jeshurun). Tickets may be purchased by calling Lori Schwartz at 402.261.8850. In addition, at 1 p.m., the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial will receive an award from the Nebraska Land Association.

These events are open to the community. Please contact Pam Gannon with any questions at 402.489.2125.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS David Bailiss, the interim CEO of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, will be speaking about the big changes taking place within the structure of the Jewish Federation. Join us and find out on Wednesday, April 6, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $10; beverage service is $3. For more information or to be placed on the e-mail list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish words have made their way into every phase of modern life, show biz, law, classrooms, etc. Come join us at our meeting room (across from the beauty salon) at the Blumkin Home, every Thursday, 1-3 pm. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 & 20 for Passover; the deadline for the April 22 issue is Wednesday, April 13, 9 a.m. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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Omaha Table Talk, Temple Israel to sponsor “Talking with Children about Race”

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “Are you talking to your children about race? Should you be? When? And How?” Omaha Table Talk will host a presentation and discussion on this topic from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5 at Temple Israel. All members of the community are welcome to attend.

Ellen Platt, a member of Temple Israel, is on the Board of Directors of Omaha Table Talk. Platt and her husband Jeff adopted their two African-American daughters in 1999 and 2002. Ellen found Omaha Table Talk to be “the first…safe experience we had discussing race with a mixed group of people.”

Table Talk, started in 2004 as a project of the Social Justice Committee of Catholic Charities, hosted more than 500 people of various racial and ethnic groups last October at private homes, a few houses of worship, and community centers to establish bonds of communication in pursuit of racial understanding. Mimi Silverman, chair of Temple Israel’s Social Justice Committee, hosted one of the dinners at Temple Israel in October last year.

While promoting informal gatherings of people of different races and cultures, Omaha Table Talk was presented with the NAACP-Omaha Branch 2010 Community Service Award. The organization also received an award from the City of Omaha’s Human Rights and Relations Department and was the recipient of the 2009 “Making It Happen” Award from the United Way of the Midlands. Table Talk’s monthly speakers, films, documentaries, book reviews, and

discussions include topics such as “The Forgotten Minority: Native Americans in Omaha,” “Hip Hop Culture: Friend or Foe: Issues of Gender and Race,” and “The Myth of the Model Minority.”

“Talking with Children about Race” will be led by Thomas Christie, multicultural school community administrator, Lincoln Public Schools. Participants will explore how children learn and practice racism and privilege as well as strategies for counteracting bias. The facilitators will engage parents, teachers, and concerned community members who are striving for equity in our society.

Christie has served Lincoln Public Schools as a classroom teacher, wrestling coach, building administrator, and most recently as the multicultural school community administrator. He has organized and presented at hundreds of workshops and conferences for educators and was the first recipient of the Leola Bullock Multicultural Education Award. Active in the Lincoln community, Christie serves on many boards such as the Malone Center, NAACP, Lighthouse, and Child Advocacy.

“Judaism acknowledges that each person is different,” pointed out Rabbi Eric Linder of Temple Israel. “We each have unique qualities and blessings to bring into the world.

At the same time, we each share a spark of the divine as we are created in God’s image. Judaism challenges us to ‘love thy neighbor as thyself,’ because by loving another human being, you are showing love to the divine spark within YOU as well as that other person.”

Please make a reservation by calling the Temple Israel office at 402.556.6536.

Rabbi Levin to share Pesach tips

by JILL BELMONT traditions and their meanBeth El Publicity Coordinator ings,” the rabbi said. “It also teaches us that there is always This month, Beth El’s more to learn. Whether Sunday Scholars Series proyou’re a veteran Seder particigram focuses on Passover and pant or a first-timer, join us as different ways to make the we keep alive the tradition of holiday a meaningful family Passover teaching and proaffair. Rabbi Mordechai Levin vide you with ideas to bring will be the featured speaker to your own Seder.” during the April 10, 11 a.m.

The entire community is program, offering a variety of invited to attend the program, tips and ideas for “Involving at no charge; a light nosh will Your Whole Family in the be served. For planning purPesach Seder.” He will also Rabbi Levin, seen here leading last year's Pesach class, will poses, RSVPs are requested explore the significance of the offer another holiday presentation during Beth El's Sunday and may be made by contactholiday’s rituals with attenScholars Series program on April 10. dees. ing the synagogue office at “Tradition teaches us that we must teach our children our 402.492.8550, or programming@ bethel-omaha.org.

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Arts+Entertainment Opera Omaha has scheduled two performances of Madame Butterfly. The first will be at the Orpheum Theater on April 15 at 7:30 p.m.; the second performance will take place at Slosburg Hall on April 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased by calling 402.345.0606.

Save the date for the JCC Community Theater Acting Group. The performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will take place on Thursday April 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the JCC Theater. A reception will follow immediately afterwards. Tickets are $5; to purchase, please contact Cindy Reed at 402.334.6419 or email creed@jewishomaha.org.

Tickets for Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Les Misérables at the Orpheum Theater are now on sale. The production will run Tuesday April 26 through Sunday May 1. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at the Ticket Omaha box office at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th and Douglas Street. For more information, visit www.TicketOmaha.com or call 402.345.0606

In the news Creighton University’s Jewish Student Organization--CU Jews--and the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization are sponsoring a Model Seder. It will take place on Monday, April 11, beginning at 5:45 p.m., in the basement of St. John’s Church. The cost for this event is $5.00.

To make a reservation, volunteer to help out, or for further information, please contact Fran Minear at 402.280.2303 or fminear@creighton.edu.

Radio host threatens to oust Minnesota lawmaker

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) – A conservative radio host suggested he would work to unseat a Minnesota state senator who opposed a pastor’s religious invocation in the statehouse.

An invocation earlier this month by the Rev. Dennis Campbell, a conservative Baptist, mentioned Jesus Christ three times. Campbell’s invocation had prompted state Sen. Terri Bonoff, a Jewish Democrat, to ask the body’s leadership to change the standard letter given to clergy. Bonoff told The Associated Press that the invocation made her “highly uncomfortable.”

Campbell told Conservative radio host Bradlee Dean over the weekend that Jewish members of the Senate should not be offended by the prayer since Jesus was a Jew. He also said he thought that America’s Founding Fathers would have supported the prayer.

Dean is the founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, a Christian youth ministry that holds assemblies in public schools. He suggested that Campbell’s ministry work against Bonoff ’s re-election in 2012.

“Maybe what we need to do is get her name eradicated,” Dean said, according to the Minnesota Independent. “She’s looking to get rid of who we are as a people. Well, then, why don’t we help her possibly leave?”

Campbell described what happened after the invocation.

“After the prayer we were ushered out to the back room there and I had one or two people that opposed the prayer - and they were both Jewish folks -- to one of them I said, ‘I want you to know that as Christians that we really love the Jews,’” Campbell told Dean and his radio sidekick, Jake McMillian. “He made a comment that they weren’t interested in our love so much as respect.”

G ROW I N G M O R E W I T H LE S S .

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Tribute to the Rescuers

by HILLARY FLETCHER Albania, is not widely known. Because of Institute for Holocaust Education Besa, Albania was the only European counThe Tribute to the Rescuers High School try to have more Jews after the war than Essay Contest challenges students to research prior to the war and it is the reason that the and pay tribute to people who Veseli family placed themhave demonstrated moral Award Winners selves in constant jeopardy to courage by risking their own 9th-10th Grades save these two Jewish families. lives to save others. The ninth First Place: Robert Phillips Mrs. Kumi-Veseli was a young annual Tribute to the Rescuers Burke High School girl whose responsibility was essay contest has again Second Place: Erin Clough to hide with the women and prompted hundreds of area Burke High School children in the cellar of their students to submit composi- Third Place: Anna Whaley home during Nazi searches.

Burke High School tions illustrating instances of Because of their devotion to moral courage – both historic Besa and to human dignity, 11th-12th Grades and personal. The contest has First Place: Mikaela Kelly Mrs. Kumi-Veseli’s parents been managed for the past Central High School and oldest siblings have nine years by the Plains States Second Place: Katti Suter already been recognized by Office of the Anti-Defamation Central High School Yad Vashem as Righteous League and the Institute for Third Place: Mitchell Faltin Among the Nations. The Holocaust Education and is Skutt Catholic High School Courage to Care Award is sponsored by the Carl Frohm based on the ADL’s evaluation Memorial Foundation. This Honorable Mentions of a rescuer’s acts. Past recipiyear’s awards ceremony will be 9th-10th Grades ents include Irena Sendler and held on April 11 at the Rose Aaron Zipursky Emilie and Oskar Schindler.

Blumkin Jewish Home and Burke High School The award will be presented awards will be presented by

by Plains States Office of the 11th-12th Grades Mayor Jim Suttle.

Anti-Defamation League Angela Cederberg The contest is based on a Skutt Catholic High School Director, Alan Potash and the curriculum that uses the Jacquelyn Harper Institute for Holocaust Holocaust as a historical Central High School Education Director, Beth backdrop and then asks stuSeldin Dotan. This is the first dents to explore other events and examples time that a regional ADL office had been of individuals who have taken a stand granted permission to give this award. against injustice. This year’s ceremony will Essays for the contest were judged by a feature a taped message from Mrs. Deshire group of nearly 50 volunteers from Omaha Kumi-Veseli of Albania, whose family res- businesses and schools which narrowed cued two Yugoslavian Jewish families dur- down the approximately 500 entries from ing World War II. Mrs. Kumi-Veseli’s grand- local students. daughter will travel to Omaha to receive the For more information about the Tribute to Anti-Defamation League’s Courage to Care the Rescuers Essay Contest or the Courage to Award on her grandmother’s behalf.

Care Award, please call the Institute for Besa, the Albanian code of honor and Holocaust Education Director, Beth Seldin morality followed by Muslim families in Dotan, at 402.334.6575.

Beth El’s Community Seder promises a special holiday celebration for all

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by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator From babies to bubbes, Beth El’s annual Community Seder, held on the second night of Pesach, is a wonderful celebration for the entire family. This year’s celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m., and everyone in the Jewish community (regardless of synagogue affiliation or nonaffiliation), is invited to join Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg as they lead the commemoration of the Exodus, celebrating the Jewish people’s journey from slavery to freedom.

Several of last year’s Seder participants, including Judy Katskee, shared their praise of the synagogue’s holiday celebration.

“Milt and I have enjoyed participating in the Beth El second Seder for the past several years,” Katskee said. “Because our children and grandchildren are out of town, we look forward to sharing good food, on beautifully set tables, with good friends as we celebrate Passover together. Rabbi Levin does an excellent job of asking guests to participate and Cantor Beth is always an easy listen. Altogether, the Beth El Passover Seder is an experience that we will look forward to attending again and again.”

For Caryn Scheer, the synagogue’s celebration offered a festive, welcoming atmosphere for her, her husband and their three small children.

“My family and I very much enjoyed the Seder,” she said. “When we first arrived and saw our close proximity to the microphone, we were a bit nervous (having three children under the age of 2 with us)! But everything was perfect - our daughter, Cadee, enjoyed the music and running around with the other kids at our table, and our twin baby boys were quiet and looked so cute in their mini kippahs. It was a really enjoyable first

Passover as a family of five!”

Longtime Beth El Seder attendee Alan Goodman remarked that, “Both Gloria and I found the second Seder to be a time of great joy. We were with some of our closest friends of many years and together we enjoyed the service as presented by Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg. It was great fun to participate with them in the service and Rabbi passed the microphone around to many of the people present.

“We have gone to Beth El’s second Seder for many years and this was one of the best in all ways.”

In his open invitation for everyone in the Jewish community to partake in the Pesach festivities, Rabbi Levin said, “A warm, joyful evening is being planned, filled with singing and meaningful concepts from the Haggadah to reflect modern slavery and freedom. We look forward to sharing our celebration with the community.”

The evening’s attendees will be given dinner choices including meat, fish or vegan selections. Those making reservations by April 9 – payment included – will enjoy the following early-bird pricing (Note: prices listed here reflect Beth El members/non-members): adults, $20/$25; children 7-12, $14/$18; children six and younger, free. After April 9, the cost will increase to: adults, $25/$30; children 7-12, $18/$22. (These prices include a three percent contribution to Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger.)

To reserve, mail a check – payable to Beth El -- to Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California St., Omaha NE 68154. Please note with whom you’d like to sit, and if you will need a high chair or booster chair for little ones.

For more information about the Seder, contact the synagogue’s program director, Margie Gutnik, at 402.492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org

April 1, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 7

Friedel performs Isaac Bashevis Singer

Last week, the students at Friedel Jewish Academy participated in a theater residency with Drama instructor Fran Sillau.

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Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Bearing witness

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press A few weeks ago, I talked in this exact spot about Charlie Sheen and our collective need for fluff in the face of horrible tragedy. Since then, the hard news keeps getting harder, and the fluff keeps getting fluffier.

It’s difficult to know where to look these days: the recent number of horrible events is overwhelming, to say the least.

The New Zealand quake competed with Tunisia’s and Egypt’s revolution, only to be pushed aside by what happened in Japan, and what is still happening in Japan. Now we get to worry about Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain; about the murdered family in Itamar, and the bombing in Jerusalem.

And rockets. Did I mention there was an earthquake in Myanmar? Is anybody even following the events in Syria, or are we ready to give up?

Big tragedies, natural or man-made, tend to get a lot of airtime, but the coverage only lasts until the next disaster strikes. Lately, the competition has been tough, and we all suffer a bit from news-related attention deficit.

The media feel overwhelmed as well, as evidenced by the recent spat between Fox News and CNN over which journalists go out reporting, and which ones just hang out at the hotel and fabricate news stories out of thin air. Unless you use it as an introduction to discuss what is actually going on in Libya, that’s fluff.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post decided the most qualified person to comment on the crisis in Libya was Ted Nugent. “Africa isn’t called the Dark Continent for no reason,” he wrote, before disappearing in a sea of conjecture, bad grammar, and fear mongering. Getting our political commentary from Ted Nugent: more fluff. Rehashing Elizabeth Taylor’s eight marriages, speculating how much

time Lindsey Lohan will spend in jail (three years, they say), discussing what the exact ingredients are for William and Kate’s wedding cake (each tier will be made unique by delicate, handmade decorations that have been personally requested by Kate!): fluff, fluff, fluff.

The question of why so many news outlets spend time reporting on news-Lite is easily answered: it’s how they keep their audience’s attention. So where does that leave us? Do we listen to the proverbial devil on our shoulder that tells us to go ahead and watch that rerun of Piers Morgan interviewing Kim Kardashian? It’s an innocent pastime, right?

What’s wrong with turning away from all this misery, and taking a long break? It’s not as if by watching the news you will make that earthquake go away, or cause that dictator to treat his people any better. Why bother? What difference does it make?

The thing is, if we don’t pay attention, we won’t know when to act.

And deep down, we all still realize that making a difference is important. No, we don’t do it by watching alone, but when we watch, we will, sooner or later, feel driven to act.

When the terrible news came out about the Fogel family, slaughtered in their sleep, it came out sparingly. It came out through certain channels more than others, and it wasn’t the kind of news that had mega appeal. It wasn’t news that the whole world pays attention to, the kind that is rehashed and chewed over and dis-

cussed by panels of so-called experts. It was, at most, a blip.

The same thing is happening with Gaza. Both of these are much bigger stories that that wedding cake.

Israel is a small country, dwarfed by neighbors super-sized in attitude. The question: ‘what does it mean for the Jews’ stopped being academic a long time ago: what is happening around the world, particularly in the Middle east and North Africa, will have an effect. It would be nice if the world paid attention. That’s why it’s good when we, in turn, pay attention to the world: when we have mutual involvement, mutual understanding might just follow.

What matters to us? It all matters to us.

Rise of France’s Marine Le Pen stirs debate among Jews

Behind the headlines BEN HARRIS PARIS (JTA) -- On the second floor of the town hall in Paris’ third Arrondissement, leaders of France’s major Jewish institutions gathered to denounce the leader of the far-right National Front party and to assert that she remains unworthy of dialogue with the Jewish community.

Last week’s gathering was precipitated by two developments that the community found alarming, though for very different reasons.

The first was an online poll, published in early March in Le Parisien, that found that National Front leader Marine Le Pen was outpacing both major party candidates, President Nicolas Sarkozy of the UMP and the Socialist Party’s Martine Aubry. The second was the decision by a French Jewish media outlet, Radio J, to give Le Pen a hearing on its popular Sunday morning political program.

If the first development unsettled France’s Jewish leadership, the second enraged it. Radio J, one Jewish leader said, was going to give Le Pen the “certificate of respectability” she so desperately craves. Pressure on the station grew so intense that its director, Serge Hajdenberg, canceled the interview.

“If the Jews host her,” said Richard Prasquier, the president of the French Jewish umbrella group known as the CRIF, “she is respectable.”

Across Europe, the growth of minority immigrant communities, the encroaching authority of the European Union and a lingering economic crisis have fueled substantial gains by far-right parties. But perhaps nowhere else since the rise and fall of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party last decade have those movements been as successful at the ballot box as in France.

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In 2002, Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie, then the party leader, sent shockwaves throughout the world when he defeated the Socialist Party candidate Lionel Jospin in the first round of French presidential voting. He was trounced in the next round by Jacques Chirac.

The new Le Parisien poll suggests that his daughter is poised to equal her father’s electoral achievements, if not better them.

The polls notwithstanding, few people believe Le Pen has a serious chance of winning the presidency. Still, the French Jewish community remains overwhelmingly opposed to the National Front, even if some pockets of support have cropped up. Much of the backing is said to be motivated by a common fear of France’s restive Muslim population.

The elder Le Pen was an unreconstructed anti-Semite and Holocaust “negationist,” or minimizer, even if he did try to soften his image by touting minority affiliation with the National Front. His statement that the Nazi gas chambers are but a “detail” of history is cited frequently as evidence of his hostility toward the Jewish people.

Marine Le Pen has taken steps to distance herself from her father’s more controversial pronouncements, saying several times that she does not share his view of history. But within France’s Jewish community, this is widely seen as a tactical move aimed at mainstreaming the party and improving its electoral prospects. The party remains, in this view, unrepentantly anti-Semitic.

“They have this vision of the world -- white Christian people on one side and the other on the other side,” said Emmanuelle Joseph-Dailly, a researcher who spent years studying the National Front.

“They would accept a Jew, an Arab, on an individual level.

What they don’t like is the community. They don’t like that a Jewish person would put a mezuzah on the door. But if the

Jewish person is acting like a French person -- eating pork, celebrating Christmas -- it’s fine.”

Last week, Le Pen held a news conference at party headquarters, a modern office block on a residential street in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre. The occasion was the release of 2010 earnings reports for the CAC40, France’s benchmark stock index. Le Pen seized the opportunity to pillory the companies for making obscene profits while much of the country remains mired in recession.

Later, in an interview with JTA in her private office on the top floor, Le Pen showed off a painting she said was done by an Israeli artist and denied that she harbors anti-Semitic feelings. Anything that contributes to feeding suspicions about the party’s feelings toward Jews, she said, was “particularly unwelcome.”

“The National Front is neither racist, nor anti-Semitic, nor xenophobic,” she told JTA. “It is, I think, Israelis who can understand this better than anyone. It has a desire to protect our borders, to be master of its own domain -- that is, to choose who enters and who remains on our territory. It analyzes, from an economic and social viewpoint, the consequences of immigration, but also the consequences to national identity of what appears to be massive immigration.

“The National Front defends France’s identity -- that is to say its values, its culture. I do not believe it can be condemned for these things.”

Le Pen went on to accuse the Jewish establishment of preventing her from reaching out to her “Jewish compatriots,” suggesting that the Jewish leadership is insulated from the social problems plaguing France and is afraid of allowing her message to reach the French Jewish masses.

Even if Le Pen’s sentiments are sincere, some say, the party’s membership rolls are filled by the same extremists who once supported her father.

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April 1, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 9

The heart of Jewish enterprise

Focus on issues RABBI ARYEH AZRIEL, Temple Israel No matter how insulated we may have become, there is no need for me to begin with a recitation of the endless list of cruelties, miseries, human pains and sorrows. We may not always know the precise and relevant statistics, but as every generation of Jews has known, our world is badly fractured.

We all understand that the very heart of Jewish enterprise is the repair of these fractures.

Yet in every generation there have also been those who have questioned the propriety of that historic commitment, who have insisted that as “Jews” we have other priorities and other interests, that if it is justice we feel disposed to pursue, there is nothing distinctively Jewish about that pursuit and therefore it ought to be conducted under other banners.

It is necessary, once again, to make the case for a specifically Jewish devotion to the mending of our fractured planet.

Why the Jews? My preferred way of responding is by telling Jewish stories, stories of where we have been and what we have done. Stories that reach back to our earliest beginnings and stretch all the way to our time. What these stories show is that the thread of social justice is intrinsically woven into the fabric of Jewish history. It is found from the most ancient “then” to the urgent “now,” and that none can plausibly challenge its rich authenticity. It is not the only thread – but seek to pull it out and cast it aside, and the fabric of our history unravels.

This editorial is too short to allow the leisurely telling of instructive and inspiring stories. Instead, I am bound to speak directly and explicitly to the question of Jewish interests, to the question of why a community so justifiably preoccupied as is our community, with pressing internal problems, with recurrent threats to its body and constant threats to its soul, should raise its eyes from the urgent work of defending its own interests to the larger challenge of repair-

ing the world.

The answer to that question, directly and explicitly is this: the Jewish community has no more urgent interest than the energetic pursuit of its values. Our values are not merely grace notes to our lives; they are our purpose, they are our announcement of who we are and what we are all about. And that is exactly why our energetic pursuit of them is in our urgent interest, now more than ever. The central American Jewish problem of our time is not anti-Semitism, inter-marriage specifically, or assimilation in general.

It is a problem with boredom, the fact that for very many American Jews, the experience of being Jewish does not seem to be about anything – not, at any rate, about anything that matters very much.

Many Jews are simply unable to fill in the blank in the sentence that begins with the words “It is important that the Jews survive in order to…” In order to what? In order to survive? Lots of luck: send out an invitation to the young that reads: “Please come survive with us,” and see how many RSVP. We need no focus groups or questionnaires, much less gimmicks and slogans to fill in the blank. We need only tend to the chronicles of our people, to which of life’s many roads it has most often chosen to walk in which grand visions have most consistently inspired it. I can think of no single statement to which more Jews throughout the centuries, and even today, would subscribe, no sentence more accurately and comprehensibly captures the most fundamental Jewish inside, than that this, our world, God’s world is not working the way it was meant to – and that to be a Jew is to know that, somehow you are implicated in its repair.

The complete sentence then will read: “It is important that the Jews survive, in order to help repair this fractured world.”

Our overriding interest is to ensure its correspondence to our behavior. Our children will want and deserve the evidence to support our presentation. There must be truth in Jewish self-advertising.

These are worthy battles to fight. There is mending to be done – healing, fixing, repairing. That is the Jewish calling, our historic vocation, and the education we offer our children. I am pleased to say, increasingly our adults, too, -- is,

therefore, a kind of a vocational education. Its purpose is to develop Judaic competence.

The Torah was given to us not only to study but also to do.

Judaism is not only our passive birthright, it is our active conviction, and to be a competent Jew means to act on the Jewish conviction. In a world so chaotic as ours, it is tempting to view religion as a much needed oasis, a place to escape to from daily stress. However, the rich religious culture that we have been bequeathed and that we are privileged to bequeath to our children and they to theirs is not a contemplative culture. In the end it is not the services we attend that will sustain us; it is the services that we perform.

For us Shabbat was never meant as a stopping place, it was meant as a resting place, a place to re-gather our energies, to take up again, and forever, God’s work in this world.

It is the work of clothing the naked and feeding the hungry, of embracing the stranger and freeing the captive, and smashing the idols; it is to insure the work of justice. That is the Torah that we are instructed to do. That is the Torah that drives us.

Others of other faiths and none share our dream and I’m happy for that; the world’s fractures are compound, and the work of many requires a grand alliance. But I permit myself to believe that we hold a special place in the ranks of the menders. We are unique in that we have known slavery and freedom, election and rejection, exile and redemption. We have been victors and vanquished, impotent and powerful, strangers and neighbors.

Because of all that, our testimony on behalf of the world of dignity and decency has singular weight. For this is what we testify: Though we still hear the hiss of the slave master’s whip and the canisters of zyklon-B, as the gas is released, God comes to us and we to God. Not in the wind, and not in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in the still small voice that echoes through time, asking us “Where are you?”

And then, just a handful of verses later, “Where is your brother?”

The only correct answer to that question is: “Here I am.

Hineni.”

Editor’s note: the above editorial was originally delivered as a sermon at Temple Israel on February 25, 2011, and was reprinted with permission.

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Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, April 8: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Richard Fellman, adjunct instructor of Politcal Science at UNO on What would my grandfather think? The community is invited.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.; Tot Shabbat & Say Shalom to Shabbat, 6 p.m. Dinner follows. The cost is $10 for Beth El members, $15 for non-members. No charge for children six and younger. To RSVP, contact Margie in the office.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Simchat Shabbat, 10:30 a.m. in the synagogue’s West Court. (see full story on page 4); Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:40 p.m.

ASSISTANT RABBI VISIT: Assistant rabbi candidate Rabbi Steven Abraham will spend time at Beth El during the weekend of April 1-3. The rabbi will participate in services on Friday evening and will lead a study session at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2.

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: The Mystique of Judaism, with Andy Greenberg, and Torah Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Jewish Images on the Big Screen, 10:30 a.m. with Susi Frydman-Levin; Sunday Scholars Series, 11 a.m. with Rabbi Levin. For planning purposes, RSVPs are requested and may be made by contacting the synagogue office at 402.492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org; Congregational choir meeting, 11:30 a.m. with Cantor Schlossberg. No experience is necessary. Open to all interested people. For more information or to RSVP, contact the cantor in the synagogue office or via email at cantor@bethel-omaha.org; Sunday Music in the Park (indoors), 3-5 p.m., featuring Tuffy Epstein and his group, playing the golden oldies of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Dancing in the aisles encouraged! All adults in the Jewish community are welcome. Cost: $5 with reservations, $6.50 at the door. For more information, contact Dottie Rosenblum, 402.397.4805, or Joan Marcus, 402.333.5995.

WEDNESDAY: No BESTT classes for grades 3-7.

THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Life Lessons from the Hebrew Bible, noon. Cost is $36 for members and $45 for non-members. Open to all adults in the Jewish community. To register, contact the office; Everyday Holiness, 7 p.m. mini course, taught by Guy Matalon.

WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Meets on Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m., at the home of Faye Ruback, 9403 Harney St. Topic: Career Transformation: Returning to the Workplace; featured speaker will be Margo Parsow, Career and Community Services Director for the Omaha YWCA. New and gently-used clothing will be collected that evening for the YWCA’s Career Closet, which supports women and men preparing to return to the workplace. To RSVP, contact Carol Lainof, 402.293.0321 or thelainofs@cox.net; or Ruback, at 402.391.2788.

MEN’S CLUB SHABBAT: Saturday, April 9, 9:30 a.m.

PASSOVER SEDER: Second night of Passover seder,

Tuesday, April 19, 6 p.m. (see full story on page 6) All Beth El classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; Following Kiddush, Beth Israel, in conjunction with Jewish Family Service, is proud to host Rabbi Aaron Schwarzbaum. He will speak at Beth Israel at 1 p.m. on the topic, Cults and Missionaries: Still a Threat to Our Youth; The Laws of Shabbat, 5:15 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 6:15 p.m.; Mincha, 7:15 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 8:33 p.m.

SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Pesach TO GO food orders due; Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. Contact the office to get the dial-in number and access code.

TUESDAY: Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.; Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Advanced Halchic Kollel, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m.; Pesach Kashruth Conference Call with Rabbi David Polsky, head of the OU’s Kosher Hotline, 4:30 p.m.

You can call in to the teleconference from any phone.

Contact the office to get the dial-in number and access code.

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

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Minyan, 10 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m.; Mini Mensch title will be awarded. Kiddush luncheon follows. Join Rabbi Katzman, noon-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 12:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: After school teen program, 2:40-4 p.m.

THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com with any questions or to recive a guest pass.

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Kiddush, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah

Bat Mitzvah Monica Siegel, daughter of Andrea and Michael Siegel, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 9, at Temple Israel.

Monica is a seventh-grade Distinguished Honor Roll student at Westside Middle School.

Her interests include soccer, basketball, music and the computer.

For her mitzvah project, Monica organized and prepared meals for the Rainbow House.

She has a two brothers, Tyler and Josh.

Grandparents are Sheryn and Arnold Joffe, and Anne and Stephen Siegel of Hewlett Harbor, NY. Davida Segal Richmon Halev, daughter of former Nebraskans Elyza Richmon and Jeff Spinner Halev, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 2, at Beth El

Synagogue in Durham, NC. Davida is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill, NC. She jumps with the Bouncing Bulldogs jump rope team and plays basketball.

Her interests include sports, reading, playing piano, listening to music and is an avid fan of the UNC Tar Heels.

For her mitzvah project, Davida has been volunteering with Special Olympics of Orange County helping teens learn to play soccer and basketball.

She has a two sisters, Avishai Samuel, and Shoshana Sivan.

Grandparents are Arlene and Harry Richman, Mildred and Edward Rosenbaum of West Bloomfield, MI, and the late David Spinner, and great-grandparents, the late Sam and Jennie Segal Richman.

Candlelighting Friday, April 1, 7:32 p.m.

Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

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

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP 1317 North 57 Street | Omaha, NE 68132 | 402.551.6609 FRIDAY: Minyan, 7:32 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend Services.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Educators Shabbat Service and celebration of Debbie Friedman’s music, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Cole Horner, son of Angela and Paul Horner, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Religious School (K-6), 10 a.m.; WRJ Meeting, 10 a.m.; Grade 4 meets at the Rose Blumkin Home, 10:1511:45 a.m.; Kindergarten Roundup, 11 a.m.; OTYG Board Meeting, noon.

TUESDAY: Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 6:30 p.m.; Talking with Children about Race: Are you? Should you be? When and How, 6:30 p.m. (see full story on page 5).

WEDNESDAY: No Religious School, No Family School and No Middle School.

THURSDAY: Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m.

Electronic Recycle & Paper Shredding Day on Sunday, April 10, 10 a.m.

Tot Shabbat on Friday, April 15, 6 p.m. The cost for dinner is $5 for adults and no charge for children. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536 or mkube@tem pleisraelomaha.com, to make a dinner reservation.

Congregational Second Seder, Tuesday, April 19, 6 p.m.

Reservations required. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536 or mkube@templeisrael omaha.com,

by April 15, to reserve your seats. Cost for dinner is adults $23; children (six to twelve years old) $12; no charge for children five and younger. After Friday, April 15, the cost of the dinner is adults $28; children (six to twelve years old) $17.

Passover Seder, Wednesday, April 20, 6 p.m., St. Martha's Episcopal Church, 780 Pinnacle Drive Papillion. Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet will lead a traditional Seder sponsored by the Tri-Faith Initiative. Members of all faiths are invited to participate. Cost is adults $15; children $8; no charge for children five and younger. Please RSVP by April 5, to Nancy Kirk, info@trifaith.org or 402.934.2955. You can also register online, www.tri-faith.org.

Passover Seder at Remington Heights, Thursday, April 21, 4 p.m., 12606 West Dodge Road. Rabbi Azriel will lead a traditional Passover Seder. Reservations are requested by April 15. Contact Program Director Wendy Goldberg, 402.556.6536 or wgoldberg@templeisraselomaha.com, for more information.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

FRIDAY: Shabbat service, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Learners Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Morning Service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon and Torah Study.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Pulverent e

April 1, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 11

The Miracle of Birth

In memoriam CAROL RAE (FISHER) BRODKEY

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Tazria The Torah here plays upon our innocence and ignorance.

The average person, not a physician, is shocked and mystified at the miracle of reproduction.

During what is really a period of rest and reinvigoration after labor, the Sacred Text adds another mysterious note. We are told about a distinction between the time needed for rest after giving birth to a male, and after giving birth to a female.

Anyone who has ever had a manicure or pedicure is astonished at the sight of a newborn’s fingers and toes, and eyebrows and eyelashes.

Thus the miracle of reproduction is given an explanation in the Sacred Text.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Academy Award-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor, who maintained much support for Israel after converting to Judaism in the late 1950s, has died.

Taylor, known for her immense talent, violet eyes, and impressive charity work, died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks. She was 79.

Taylor converted to Judaism following the death of her third husband, Mike Todd, who was Jewish, in a plane crash and before marrying Jewish singer Eddie Fisher.

She denied that she had converted because of her Jewish husbands, saying that she had wanted to do it “for a long time.” Her 1959 conversion at Temple Israel of Hollywood was well attended by the press.

Taylor made a point of traveling to Israel and fundraising for the Jewish state during the Arab boycott in the 1970s.

Her films were banned in much of the Arab world. She was a supporter of the Kabbalah Center in Los Angeles.

She reportedly offered herself as a hostage for the more than 100 Air France hijack victims held by terrorists at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in July 1976.

In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a lawsuit challenging Taylor’s ownership of a Van Gogh painting that was claimed by a Jewish family. The family said the painting was looted from their relatives during the Holocaust.

A child star, Taylor won two Oscars for best actress, and is remembered for her roles in National Velvet and Cleopatra, among many others.

She also supported with her time and money several AIDS-related charities, including founding the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.

Taylor was a friend and staunch supporter of Michael Jackson when he was accused of molesting children.

Jackson wrote the song Elizabeth, I Love You and performed it at her 65th birthday celebration.

Carol Rae (Fisher) Brodkey passed away March 19 at age 66.

She is survived by husband, Peter Brodkey; daughter and son-in-law, Laura Brodkey-Scott and Glenn Scott, daughter, Gail Brodkey, and son, Steven Brodkey; grandchildren, Sydney and Max. Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Ste #1700, Chicago, IL 60603.

MORRIS “MACE” JABENIS Morris “Mace” Jabenis passed away on March 26 at age 89. Services were held on March 28 at Beth El Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by brother and sister-in-law, Eli and Pearl Jabenis, nephews, Ben and Martin Jabenis, and son-in-law, Larry Hasslinger.

He is survived by wife of 66 years, Elaine; son and daughter-in-law, Jon Lance and Dacia Jabenis, and daughter, M’Lee Hasslinger; grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew Frey, Jessica Hasslinger, Aliyah Jabenis, and Grant Jabenis; greatgrandchild, Liat Frey; brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Sandra Jabenis; and beloved dog, Sammy.

Memorial contributions may be made to Beth El Synagogue, or Paws for Friendship, P.O. Box 341378, Tampa, FL, 33694.

Israel deploys Iron Dome anti-rocket system

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel’s military deployed the Iron Dome anti-rocket system in southern Israel for the first time, following a week of increased rocket attacks from Gaza.

The system was put into place Sunday near Beersheba, which was hit by two long-range rockets launched from Gaza last week.

Sunday's deployment of the $200 million system is being called an “operational trial” by the Israel Defense Forces.

“It’s important to keep in mind that the Iron Dome is only in its preliminary testing stages,” said Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan, commander of the Home Front Command.

The IDF said in a statement that the Iron Dome will not be used consistently and will be moved around according to operational needs.

CORRECTION Judy Rubin was incorrectly identified as Suzy Rubin in the caption for the purim photos in the March 25 issue. The Jewish Press regrets the error.

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B’nai Israel Speaker Series

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On March 11 at B’nai Israel Synagogue, Rachel Jacobson, Executive Director of Film Streams, told how she blended her formal education, a creative view of something others had missed, a lot of hard work, a passion she shared with like-minded enthusiasts of film, and established the Film Streams Ruth Sokolof Theater. She described the birth of this popular movie venue and the service it now provides to the community.

Her presentation was part of the speaker series and the oneg was provided by Charlotte Bernstein, Carole Lainof, Claire Blass, Lynn Samuel, and Jane Dreyfus.

The speaker series continues on April 8 at 7:30 p.m., when Richard Fellman, Adjunct Instructor of Political Science at UNO will be the guest speaker. The title of his presentation is What would my Grandfather Think? The entire Jewish community is invited to attend.

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Multi-media Sales Position Multi-media sales professional needed to develop and present ad campaigns to local businesses for community newspaper and website in Blair, NE. This individual will coordinate all digital media sales including e-mail marketing, social media and mobile.

This candidate must have college degree, or experience in advertising, marketing, and business with ad copywriting and layout skills. Successful candidate will need to be motivated and organized, with a professional appearance and a strong work ethic. Must be able to build and develop current accounts as well as prospect for new business opportunities.

Compensation includes base salary, generous commission plan, bonuses, retirement plan and more. If this sounds like a position you could build into a successful career, send resume to: Chris Rhoades, Director of Sales & Marketing, Enterprise Publishing Company. crhoades@blairnebraska.com. 402-426-2121

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST/Manager full-time, Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial, Nebraska. MT and ASCP certification required. Supervisory experience preferred. www.chasecountyhospital.com.

VARIETY STORE Manager applications being accepted by Progressive Ravenna Group. Mail resume by April 10, 2011, to Linda Zinnell, PO Box 66, Ravenna, NE 68869.

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BUYING GOLD & Diamonds! Sartor Hamann Jewelers, your trusted local buyer in Lincoln or Grand Island. Cash or trade. www.sartorhamann.com or 877-570-9138.

12 | The Jewish Press | April 1, 2011