Vol. LXXXVI No. 31 Omaha, NE
Leslie Graul named teen leader by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director During the annual Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, Leslie Graul will receive the 2006 Jewish Teen Leadership Award. The award ceremony will kick off the B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium on Sunday, April 22, 1 p.m. Graul was active in the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization throughout her high school years. A member of MZ Yoshanah BBG, Graul has held chapter roles of treasurer, shlicha and president. She has also served as BBG Council Mit-Mom (Membership VicePresident), 2005 Winter Regional Convention Coordinator, and 2006 New Members Convention Coordinator. When asked if a particular role stood out as her favorite Graul replied, “I love everything I did for this organization. With each position, there were new challenges, and different angles to look at. I loved the people I met, and the friendships I made.” In 2006, Graul was elected to be a regional voting delegate at the BBYO International Convention. “I have never in my life seen so many Jewish teens in one place,” she mar veled. “You can’t imagine how moving Lesley Graul it is to stand with 300 other Jewish girls and sing the BBG pledge. And being from Omaha made it even better, because this is where BBYO started.” In addition to her involvement with BBYO, Graul has been an active participant in Shiputznick, the JCC Jewish teen volunteer program. “Ever since I was a kid, I have been taught that giving back to the community is of the utmost importance,” said Graul, who pointed to a long list of her mother’s volunteer activities as her inspiration. “So when Shiputznick first started, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be involved. It was a great way to give back to the Omaha community.” At Westside High School, Graul is a member of the National Honor Society and Quill & Scroll (the national honor society for journalists). Some of her favorite activities were ‘WTV’, a news show produced by the senior broadcasting class, ‘Westside Transmit’, an online podcast produced by Graul and two of her friends; and the marching band’s drumline, where she was section leader of the bass drums. Graul is also a member of the Chemistry Club and the German Club. Graul graduated early from Westside, in order to spend the spring semester attending school in Germany. “I decided to graduate early because I wanted to get out in the world and try something new,” Graul explained. Although she admits that it’s hard to be so far from home, Graul describes her semester in Germany as the best decision she’s ever made. “It’s amazing to be halfway around the world and yet the conversation is exactly the same, just in another language. My school here is great. I’ve learned a ton here, and the people in my class make it fun and interesting.” Graul is anxious to correct any misconceptions people Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 12
Celebrating 86 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
25 Nisan, 5767 April 13, 2007
Omaha home to first “terror-free oil” initiative by GARY JAVITCH edge of terrorism to lecSpecial to the Jewish Press ture around the country. “Every time you fill up During the course of with gasoline derived his work with Loftus, from Middle Eastern oil, Porter did a great deal of you are contributing to research on terrorism, the next 9/11,” Alex becoming quite knowlPorter thought. And edgeable about the steps that’s why when he that could be taken to opened the very first reduce its role in the “Terror-Free Oil” station world. He purchases his in the United States, he gasoline from Sinclair Oil, put that cautionary which does not import oil phrase on the back of his from the Middle East. business card. The gas Arguably the most station is located at important step, he felt, Gas station interior shows a customer in the background, Alex revolves around the 12901 “Q” St. The Florida-based entre- Porter in the middle and writer Gary Javitch in the foreground. power and influence of preneur was in Omaha to Because of death threats, Porter’s face has been distorted to pro- oil, and the world’s discuss his involvement in tect his identity. dependence upon it. The the initiative. Born in Southern Europe, he came to the revenue garnered from the sale of oil enriches the very United States in 1990 through HIAS, (The Hebrew countries that fund terrorism. Complicating the picture Immigration Aid Society) which played a major role in is that a terrorist nation, like Iran, can manipulate oil helping Jews leave the former Soviet Union.) prices, for example, by manufacturing a hostage situaWatching the destruction of the Twin Towers on tion. That would more than likely create fears of a 9/11 convinced Porter that he had to do his part in potential oil shortage which would then drive up the combating the war on terror. More than that, the natu- prices and increase profits for the oil-producing nations. ralized American felt it an absolute imperative. “Lots of people shared the feelings I had about wanting He left his successful import/export business in the to do something to fight the terrorists,” Porter explained. hands of a friend-partner and began volunteering with “So why should we buy gas from companies that purJohn Loftus, putting on counter-terrorism conferences. chased their oil from any of the nations that supported terLoftus, who once spoke in Omaha at a Jewish Federation rorism? Why should the terrorist nations profit?” of Omaha fundraising event, is a former Justice With that in mind, he started two corporations. One Department prosecutor. He gained fame going after for- was a nonprofit organization to explain his Terror-Free mer Nazis living in America. Now Loftus uses his knowl- Continued on page 2
Schrager Foundation fulfilling mission to meet needs of Jewish community by CLAUDIA SHERMAN “To this day, I remember being excited when my for the Jewish Federation Foundation fourth grade class was asked to raise funds for the March New Board members of the Phillip and Terri Schrager of Dimes, said Phil Schrager. “A classmate of ours was Supporting Foundation met last fall to determine alloca- stricken with polio, and we were all frightened. I think tions to be awarded to organizations in the Omaha Jewish that’s when my enthusiasm for helping others first took community. The new Board includes “public” members root. Since then, I’ve had a soft spot for people in need, Rosie Zweiback, John Vann, David Gilinsky, and Todd and I’ve always had a special commitment for our Jewish Simon as well as Schrager family members Rick Schrager, community and for Israel. Even as a young man, when I Tim Schrager, and Harley Schrager. Phil and Terri didn’t have much in the way of financial resources, I was Schrager are non-voting members of the foundation. eager to do my share. I’ve never hesitated or been afraid “Phil’s goal in creating a of giving my money away new Board is to further for worthwhile causes.” involve the next generaSchrager added, “The fact is that I’m proud to tion in our Jewish commucall myself a philanthronity to become our future pist. That’s the legacy I lay leaders,” explained would like to leave to my Marty Ricks, executive children and grandchildirector of the Jewish dren. I want them to Federation Foundation understand the value of a which manages the ‘philanthropic heart,’ and Schrager Supporting I want them to appreciate Foundation. that each of us has a In a supporting foundation, the majority of the responsibility to Israel and to our community. I Board members must be believe strongly that it is appointed by the supup to us to help repair the ported public charity. most vulnerable areas of Therefore, the four “public” members were society. I hope I can conappointed by the Jewish New members of the Schrager Foundation include: Todd Simon, tinue to do my part, right Federation of Omaha seated; Dr. John Vann, standing left, David Gilinsky, and Rosie up to the end.” Continued on page 3 Board of Directors. Zweiback.
This Week: Holocaust commemorations set for Lincoln, Omaha: Pages 4-5 Coming April 27: Mother’s Day Issue, See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Former Omahan shares views on Jewish education: Page 3
JTA series on the Sudanese, “A Troubled Exodus,’ continues: Pages 6-7
Blumkin Home hosts open forums on “New Beginning”: Page 16
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
Schrager Foundation fulfilling mission Christopher A. Stanosheck, D.D.S.
Continued from page 1 The mission of the foundation that Schrager and his wife Terri established in 1984, is to make charitable grants to serve current needs of the Omaha Jewish community. In the belief that a strong social fabric is essential to a stable, safe, durable, and prosperous society, the Schrager Foundation’s primary focus is to invest in and repair the most vulnerable segments of society. Priority consideration is given to issues that are generally underserved. Areas of support emphasized by the founders include college scholarships for Jewish students and assistance provided by Jewish Family Service (JFS) for Jewish children in need of clothing, healthcare, and other necessities of life. Tuition and fee subvention for Jewish children who require financial assistance to attend preschool, childcare, and/or summer camp programs at the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center (CDC) of the Jewish Community Center are also priorities of the Schrager Foundation. Other areas of consideration are the special needs program of the Center for Jewish Education (CJE); programs fighting bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and violence, particularly those sponsored by agencies and organizations affiliated with the Jewish Federation; need-based scholarships for Jewish children to attend Jewish summer camps; and capital campaigns of Omaha Jewish institutions. Recognizing that the needs of the Omaha Jewish community change over time, the Schragers’ intention is not to restrict the trustees from making decisions that don’t follow the mission statement guidelines exactly. The trustees are provided with the flexibility to act accordingly. In keeping with the mission statement priorities, the Board approved subventions to the CDC, CJE, JFS, The Institute for Holocaust Education of the AntiDefamation League, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s building campaign, and the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s annual campaign. In addition, the Jewish Federation was granted fund-
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ing to support the Israel Emergency Campaign and the new Spirit of Federation Award which is presented to two volunteers past the age of 45. These awards, companion honors to the Lois Jeanne Schrager and the Bruce Fellman tributes for younger women and men, respectively, will be presented by the Federation to two individuals each year. “The generosity of the Schrager family allows us to recognize leaders, ages 45 and older, who have demonstrated their personal commitment, dedication and leadership across multiple Federation agencies,” said Jan Goldstein, executive director of the Jewish Federation. “This award also includes a $1500 stipend, which provides a wonderful opportunity for an Israel experience, further exemplifying the Schragers’ passion for the state of Israel.” With a lead-off gift from Phil Schrager, the foundation allocated $180,000 to the Israel Emergency Campaign which helps support thousands of Israelis still affected by the devastating Hezbollah rocket attacks of last summer. “As we were just beginning to collect funds for the Israel crisis, it was Phil and Terri who immediately stepped in and challenged the rest of the community to support our campaign, which resulted in $1.4 million dollars raised to date,” Goldstein pointed out. “While this was one of the largest campaigns for cities our size, we continue to look for the additional dollars to take us to our goal of $1.5 million. Phil and Terri’s spirit of giving is truly a blessing to this community.” “It’s been a gratifying experience to work with Phil, Terri, and their new, young, energetic Board,” said Ricks. “Phil is a passionate donor who carefully considered the ingredients that make up the mission of their supporting foundation. Regarding the numerous times that I have met with him over the last two years,” Ricks explained, “I leave those meetings knowing that Phil has set high standards for his Board and, at the same time, is setting an example for others in the community to establish foundations with similar goals and parameters.”
First “terror-free oil” initiative CLIP & SAVE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 13 Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights SATURDAY, APRIL 14 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Havdalah Pajama, 5 p.m. at Temple Israel
C L I P & S A V E
SUNDAY, APRIL 15 The Living Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Chabad House Class with Rabbi Nadel, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad House Temple Israel 4B’s, 10:30 a.m. What’s Jewish About BUGS?,” 12:15 p.m. at Beth El BESTT Chaverim Trip, 12:30 p.m. MONDAY, APRIL 16 JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m. Women’s Book Group, 1 p.m. at Beth El Hadassah Board Meeting, 1 p.m. Foundation Meeting, 4 p.m. Jewish Film Series, 7 p.m. at Beth El NCJW Book Club, 7 p.m. Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Lecture Series, 7 p.m. at William H. Thompson Alumni Center, UNO Jewish Press Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Derech Torah: Judaism 101, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 17 WOW Tehillim & More, 9 a.m. at Chabad Senior Card Players, 11:30 a.m. ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon Foundation Meeting, 4 p.m. BBYO Night, 6 p.m. Intro to Jewish Ethics, 6 p.m. BESTT Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El Parshah Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad House JCC Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel Spirits & Spirituality Group, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel
C L I P & S A V E
&
THURSDAY, APRIL 19 USY Spring Kallah in South Sioux City, April 19-22 Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Getting More Out of Prayer, noon at Beth El Ann Kirschner, author of Sala’s Gift, noon at Kripke Library Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m. at Chabad House Yiddish Group, 1 p.m. Foundation Meeting, 4 p.m. JFS Becoming a Love & Logic Parent, 6 p.m. Hebrew Classes, 6 p.m. NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m. ADL Youth Leadership Meeting, 7 p.m. Bible Translation for Jews, 7 p.m. at Beth El The Mothers’ Circle, 7 p.m. at Beth El B&A Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel Advanced Parshah Study, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel
S A V E All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)
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“Of course, I also received a few death threats and other negative mail,” Porter commented. “That’s one reason I don’t want my picture taken.” “There’s no question the United States needs to become energy independent. I urge the government to take a look at all the suggestions being offered on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum, including exploring for more oil, maintaining concern for the environment and finding alternative sources of fuel. These are the priorities, but not the only ones, Porter stated. Still opening the gas station was not an easy proposition. “We’ve only been open just over two months. We had a number of start-up costs, including building expensive signs. Also, we’re competing on a stretch of real estate that has two other gas stations adjacent to mine.” It appears, however, that the idea has taken hold. Mr. Porter has had inquiries from almost every state in the union. At the same time, Porter feels that the people of America must step forward and fully embrace the idea that when it comes to terrorism, we need to be on guard. “We are in a race against the clock.”
Graul named teen leader
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 Abba, Eema and ME, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El AIPAC Council Lunch, 11:45 a.m. at Ironwood Foundation Meeting, 4 p.m. Yom HaShoah, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. at Chabad House
C L I P
Continued from page 1 Oil (TFO) initiative. Their website is www.terrorfreeoil.org. The other corporation was set up to launch franchises around the country. To encourage the startup of gas stations, the franchise fee was set at just one dollar per year. According to his website, the “Terror-Free Oil Initiative is dedicated to encouraging Americans to buy gasoline that originated from countries that do not export or finance terrorism. “We educate the public by promoting those companies that acquire their crude oil supply from nations outside the Middle East and by exposing those companies that do not. “We are also looking into creating a healthy debate concerning alternate methods of fuel production and consumption.” When the initial publicity came out in late January of this year, announcing the February launch of the first TFO gas station in Omaha, the email response was overwhelmingly positive. The recurrent theme of the messages was “God bless you and thank you.”
C L I P & S A V E
Continued from page 1 might have about the German people. “Everyone in my class knows that I am Jewish and I have encountered no problems,” she said. “These are not Nazi’s. They are the most loving and caring people I have ever met, and they look at what their grandparents have done with great shame.” Graul has kept busy in the Jewish community while in Braunschweig, Germany. “I’m working on setting up pen pals between Temple Israel and Braunschweig, and I also sing in choir,” she said. She enjoys participating in services, indicating that it’s “nice to find something familiar half way across the world.” After returning from Germany, Graul will attend the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where she will study secondary education. Graul plans to return to Germany during her sophomore year for another semester of study. The Jewish Teen Leadership Award honors Jewish teens who demonstrate outstanding leadership in BBYO or a synagogue youth group, and who have helped strengthen the organization and develop future leadership. The award comes with a $1,000 stipend that can be used towards Jewish educational course work or a
Jewish experience such as a trip to Israel. BBYO Director Rachel Blum had high praise for Graul. “Leslie has worked hard throughout her high school career keeping a balance between school, athletics, volunteer work, and her Judaic interests,” Blum said. “She is a role model for her peers, and a leader in all sense of the word.” “Winning this award means a lot me, not only because I am a long way from home and it’s nice to know that I’m not forgotten, but because Rachel Blum nominated me for it,” Graul replied. “I have worked closely with Rachel for the last four years, and she is someone I have greatly respected and admired. To know that she nominated me is such a high compliment.” To incoming high school students, Graul strongly recommends getting involved in a Jewish youth group. “Not only do you get to meet kids from all over the Metro area, but you get to meet kids that understand your background and where you are coming from,” she said. “In addition to all of the useful skills I learned, I took away the friends and memories of a lifetime. The girls that I worked with are some of the funniest, hardest working, trustworthy people that I have ever met. It is truly an honor to call these people my friends.”
April 13, 2007
Beth El welcomes Gratz College President Dr. Jonathan Rosenbaum as upcoming scholar-in-residence School of Law; and professor of religious by JILL BELMONT studies at Gratz College. Omahans will Beth El Publicity Coordinator The entire community is invited to also remember Dr. Rosenbaum as a Beth El on April 27 and 28, as the syna- tenured faculty member of the religious gogue welcomes prominent rabbi, schol- studies department at the University of ar and lecturer, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Nebraska at Omaha, as well as executive during a special scholar-indirector of the Jewish residence weekend. Dr. Federation’s Department of Rosenbaum serves as Jewish Education, from President of Gratz College in 1976-86. Melrose Park, PA, the oldest After receiving honorary non-denominational college doctorates from both the of Jewish studies in North Jewish Theological Seminary America, which specializes in and Hebrew Union Collegetraining professional Jewish Jewish Institute of Religion, educators and communal plus serving for six years as leaders. part-time rabbi of a mainDr. Rosenbaum’s diverse stream Orthodox synagogue background boasts a variety Dr. Jonathan Rosenbaum in West Hartford, CT, Rabbi of interests. A specialist in the ancient Rosenbaum attained the rare position in Near East and in Biblical studies, he has the American rabbinate of having served taught and published in those fields, as in three streams of Judaism. well as in rabbinics, American Jewish hisDuring his stint as Beth El’s scholartory and Jewish education. He conceived in-residence, Dr. Rosenbaum’s presentathe Henry Luce Forum in Abrahamic tions will focus on “The Irony of Religions, a national program devoted to Acceptance: Living Jewishly in Today’s advancing mutual understanding among World.” Speaking at the April 27 American Jews, Christians and Muslims; Shabbat dinner, he will discuss “Back to he also created an awards program that the Future: Acceptance, Assimilation recognizes the best teachers of Holocaust and Anti-Semitism in Contemporary America;” during Saturday morning studies in New England. His esteemed positions during his pro- services, he will address “Subverting fessional career include serving as deputy Scholarship: The Politics of Biblical director of the Ein Gedi Archaeological Studies in the Contemporary World;” Expedition in Israel; director of the and at the Kiddush luncheon following Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Shabbat services, he plans to explore Studies, and chairman of the Department “Jewish-Christian Dialogue: How Far of History at the University of Hartford; Should (or Can) It Go?” lecturer at the University of Connecticut Continued on page 4
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Rosenbaum to first address Jewish educators by CHERYL LERNER Administrative Assistant Center for Jewish Education It has been said that Omaha may be one of the Jewish world’s best kept secrets, and, that there’s nothing like free publicity. Thanks to Dr. Jonathan Rosenbaum, the secret is out, and the former Omahan has been “tooting” our horn ever since he left, nearly 20 years ago. “There’s a certain hubris that exists in Omaha, a humbleness that belies what has been existence in this community for years in all elements, but very notably in education. During my 10 years in Omaha, there was always a real devotion among the educators. As good as things were, there was always a desire and openness to make it better,” he said. That openness, Dr. Rosenbaum says, is exemplified in the trans-denominational, communal approach that he observed in Omaha. From the community campus to the abundance of scholarships and support for children and education, he notes Omaha as an example to communities around the country. It is in that spirit of community that Dr. Rosenbaum will address our community’s Jewish educators as the keynote speaker at the Teacher Appreciation Dinner, Thursday, April 26, 6:30 p.m., at the JCC, presented by the Center for Jewish Education. The event, open to the community, will honor teachers in the Jewish community synagogues and schools. Dr. Rosenbaum is giving the address to honor Rabbi Myer Kripke. The topic will be, “Guaranteeing the Future: Jewish Education and the Window of
Opportunity.” He added, “We have a limited opportunity to educate the current generation. We have to take advantage of that. We have to get them excited. And that requires inspired and inspirational teachers. You could pour lots of time and money into trying to hook them later on but it might be too late. You can’t replace what a great teacher can provide. For kids, when they have the right feeling, it will be there for life.” Cookie Katskee, Principal of Friedel Jewish Academy couldn’t agree more. “Children grow up quickly, we may think there is plenty of time to foster a Jewish identity, but the best time is the present. Jewish education is the most important action a parent should consider. It’s difficult to measure the value of a Jewish education in numbers or in charts. How do you calculate the pride a man feels when his granddaughter recites the Shema?” she asked. “This is truly going to be a great event,” said Corey Kirshenbaum, Director of the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center. “To have Dr. Jonathan Rosenbaum speak to our teachers who have devoted so many years to help educate our children is just a perfect way to show them our appreciation. The teachers are key in assuring that our children and the future generations of children are devoted to learning in a Jewish environment.” Cost for the dinner is $12 and is complimentary for current teachers. Reservations are due by April 19. For more information, contact me at 334.6462, or clerner@jewishomaha.org.
COMMUNITY YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION SERVICE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST Wednesday, April 18, 2007 7:00 PM Temple Israel 7023 Cass Street Featured Speaker
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
Always time to remember at Friedel by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Talking, or writing, about the Holocaust is never easy. Teaching our children about it is even more difficult. Yet it is a topic that must come up when we plan our children’s Jewish upbringing. Certain challenges present themselves when teaching about the Shoah to Jewish American youth: there are no geographical landmarks to serve as reminders; one cannot drive around Omaha and tie memory to place. The nation as a whole does not commemorate Yom HaShoah; there are no special events on television and the country does not -- as Israel and some other countries do -- maintain several minutes of silence to honor those who lost their lives. As a result, forgetting and foregoing can be all too easy. Luckily, there are teachers like Na’ama Artzi, who teaches Hebrew at Friedel Jewish Academy. Together with ADL’s Beth Seldin Dotan, she has developed an age appropriate curriculum for students from kindergarten to sixth grade. “We teach the children about the Holocaust year round,” Artzi explains, “and by the time we arrive at Yom HaShoah, they have a good understanding about concepts like freedom and tolerance. They understand there are many different people in the world, and that tolerance for these differences is an important step towards peace in the world. They also understand that remembering the Shoah is a constant, it isn’t confined to one particular day. We teach them about resistance to antiSemitism during Hanukkah, and the younger children become familiar with figures such as Janusz Korzcak.”
Artzi also adds that “we don’t introduce the horror of the Holocaust to our kindergartners; rather, we emphasize the resilience of our people. There is a delicate balance between educating young children, and scaring them. By the time our students reach fourth through sixth grades, we talk about morals and about survival. Through testimonials of those who have experienced the Holocaust first-hand, they learn about young children just like them. They learn that children can be very strong, and that even in the face of adversity, children will always remain children.”
Friedel students and staff commemorate Yom HaShoah 2006 in the Riekes Museum. Dotan, Director of the Center for Holocaust Education, has proved a helpful resource for all teachers at Friedel. During the summer months, she and Artzi plan many Holocaust related lessons for the following school year.
Temple’s Institute on Judaism for Christian Clergy to feature professor of Islamic thought by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Atif Khalil, assistant professor of Islamic Thought, University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, will be the guest lecturer at this year’s Annual Sidney H. and Jane Brooks Institute on Judaism for Christian Clergy on Friday, April 20. Every year, leaders of churches in Nebraska and Iowa are invited to Temple Israel for the Institute which has brought outstanding scholars to teach and inspire clergy of various denominations. Professor Khalil’s topic will be “Islam Meets the West.” His morning lecture is entitled: “The Vision of Islam: Understanding an Abrahamic Religion.” In the afternoon, Khalil’s topic is “The Medieval Islamic Philosophical Tradition and Its Dialogue with the West.” Born in Ontario, Canada, Khalil lived in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia before returning with his family to Canada shortly before the outbreak of the first Gulf War. Khalil, who will begin teaching at the University of Lethbridge
in the fall, is currently in the process of completing a doctorate at the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Religion in classical Islamic theology, philosophy, and mysticism. His undergraduate degree in religion and philosophy was completed in 2000 at University College, University of Toronto. He remained at the University of Toronto, which has one of the largest Islamic Studies programs on the continent, for his graduate studies. Professor Khalil and Rabbi Aubrey Glazer co-founded the JudeoIslamic Contemplative Circle in 2002 to foster understanding between the Toronto Muslim and Jewish communities. In 2005, Professor Khalil taught a monthlong intensive course at Holy Blossom Synagogue in Toronto at the invitation of Rabbi Yael Splansky. The course, “What Every Jew Should Know about Islam,” was an overview of Islam’s understanding of the Abrahamic faiths, particularly Judaism; Jewish-Muslim relations; the Qur’an; the Islamic understanding of prophecy; and a brief overview of Islamic mysticism.
“Friedel students are well prepared for this type of education,” Dotan says. “Holocaust education is introduced fairly early in most Jewish schools. We begin by asking how prejudice develops, and how we should act if we are faced with it. Through personal histories and exhibits, the children become more and more familiar with our past.” According to Artzi, the actual Shoah commemoration is fairly similar to what is experienced by children in Israel: “At 10 a.m., we hold two minutes of silence. We have a ceremony in the Riekes Museum and students light six candles. Parents of our students are encouraged to come and join the children during the service.” The ceremony is Monday, April 16, 9:45 a.m., at the Riekes Museum. Because of her environment, the native Israeli feels very much at home at Friedel. “The General Studies teachers are every bit as involved as the Hebrew teachers when it comes to Holocaust Education,” said Artzi. “Everyone is aware and supportive of the requirement to pay attention to the Shoah. They all have big hearts and that experience helps me feel as if I am home.” Jewish History in general, and the Shoah in particular, are not solely in the past; by teaching our children about every aspect of Judaism, we can ensure that future generations will feel a personal connection to the Holocaust. They will comprehend the urgency of speaking for those who can no longer speak for themselves.
Dr. Rosenbaum upcoming scholar-in-residence Continued from page 3 (Rabbi Rosenbaum noted that he will dedicate his Saturday presentations in honor of his friend and colleague, Beth El Rabbi Emeritus Myer S. Kripke, “because he’s done so much for the community.”) “We are delighted to have Dr. Rosenbaum back in Omaha,” said Rabbi Mordechai Levin. “For those who know him from the time he lived here and for those who haven’t yet met him, this will be a great opportunity to learn from this gifted lecturer and teacher. I encourage everyone in the Jewish community to attend and be enriched by Dr. Rosenbaum as he addresses three fascinating topics during the weekend.” Reservations are needed by April 23 for the Friday night dinner. Cost is $12.50 for adults, $8.50 for children ages six through 12, and no charge for children five and younger. In addition, free babysitting will be available after dinner. To RSVP or for more information, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik in the office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. This scholar-in-residence weekend has been made possible by a donation from the Dorothy and Henry Riekes Family Endowment Fund.
Hazak 4th Annual Deli-Dinner
YOU DO HAVE ACHOICE! WE HOPE YOU CHOOSE WISELY.
Beth El Synagogue Sunday April 29, 2007 • 5:30-7:30 PM Includes delicious kosher deli, condiments, pickle, cole slaw, potato salad, dessert, beverage Entire Community Invited Call Gloria Goodman 333-3351
Fun! Food! Friends!
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Fascinated by footnotes THE HISTORIAN’S F OOTPRINT by OLIVER B. POLLAK The English historian Edward Gibbon in the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and the German historian Leopold von Ranke set pioneering standards for writing history. They anchored their assertions, opinions and errors in footnotes. Historians did not invent footnotes, but adopted them as tools of the trade, refining them into an art. While readers may enjoy history, particularly biography, they may none-the-less be footnote averse. There is a divide between scholarly academic publications and commercially popular history. Publishers are conscious of the extra expense of footnotes and their potential to narrow the audience. Best selling authors, such as twotime Pulitzer Prize Winners David McCullough and Barbara Tuchman, know their audiences, and reduced citations to a visually unobtrusive minimum. History students read footnotes and are expected to write using documentation styles. The dominant style for historians follows the 100-year-old Chicago Manual of Style. The first edition appeared in November 1906. Two books highlight the footnote sub-genre. Anthony Grafton, a renaissance scholar at Princeton University tracks the German fascination with scientific history and its laboratory-like paraphernalia in The Footnote, A Curious History (1997). Grafton’s book has been translated into German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and Italian. Chuck Zerby’s, The Devil’s Details: A History of Footnotes (2002) is less authoritative but quirky and pungent. They both reveal the scholarly at mind work, and the debt researchers owe to those preceding them. Other scholars who have lined up to preserve and protect this battered vestige of scholarship include Gertrude Himmelfarb who wrote a short essay in 1994, “Where have all the footnotes gone” in which she objected to “end notes” supplanting footnotes. Footnotes provide evidence, the source for the quotation, statistic, the document to support the assertion. Footnotes may be discursive and reveal contested ground, disagreements among scholars or controversy over the use and quality of evidence. Footnotes may provide a venting for the author that would not be appropriate in the text. Sterile fields protect patient and physicians from infection; safety glasses protect chemists from caustic splashes; aprons protect cooks from dirtying their clothes; gloves protect from the cold; and footnotes protect from plagiarism. The difference between plagiarism and scholarship is a footnote. Failure to cite appropriately a source embarrassed Dorothy Kearns Goodwin, and Stephen Ambrose, among others. Jon Wiener has surveyed the problem in
Temple Israel to honor its “Greatest Generation” by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Approximately 250 members of Temple Israel are at least 75. “These are the people who created our community,” said Lisa Epstein, chairman of Temple’s Caring Committee. “We should honor them for all they have done.” These respected members of the community will be honored by the entire congregation at the April 20, 6 p.m., Shabbat worship service at Temple Israel. “From Generation to Generation: Celebrating You!” will include the voices of Kol Rina, Temple’s choir, singing music from several bygone eras as Temple pays tribute to the contributions, wisdom, Yiddishe kup, compassion, seichel, strength, and stories of this revered generation. Epstein and Judy Josephson are organizing an elaborate appetizer Oneg complete with live music to follow the service. Anyone who would like to help bake can call Epstein at 496.9159. Donations to help defray the cost of the instrumentalists and the Oneg can be made by calling Josephson at 498.9328. “I think our seniors deserve very special thanks,” said Josephson. “We are planning a beautiful service with the choir, a special quartet at the Oneg, delicious food, valet parking, the teens are involved, and a wonderful generational spirit. It will be a warm, wonderful evening.” Senior congregants are asked to RSVP by Tuesday, April 17, by calling the Temple office at 556.6536. Rides will be provided for those who request them.
Historians in Trouble: Plagiarism, Politics, and Fraud in the Ivory Tower (2005). America publishes about 10,000 history books per year, the vast majority of which abide by the established documenting protocol. Few know that footnotes were in the 18th and 19th century also called bottom notes. In the 18th century notes were marked * † ‡ ? § ¶ or with letters. Only in the 19th century did numbered footnotes become dominant. While we still use ibid, no one mourns the disappearance of loc. cit. and op. cit. Reading a history book with a publication date earlier than 1960 may confuse modern readers confronted with figuring out a citation say on page 163, “Hill, op. cit. 72,” referring to a book fully cited way back on page 5. Last year, the University of Nebraska Press published in conjunction with Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, The Jews of Bohemia and Moravia, Facing the Holocaust by Livia Rothkirchen. Decades in the making, this 307-page authoritative study closes with 79 pages containing over 1300 notes. Rothkirchen’s scholarship and Deborah Lipstadt’s History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving (2005) are testimony to the vulnerability of truth to scurrilous revisionists, and the abiding role of footnotes in behalf of truth. Editor’s note: Lipstadt will tell her remarkable journey throughout the trial when she speaks on Monday evening, April 16, 7 p.m., at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln. Her appearance is part of the Yom HaShoah commemoration through the 2007 Annual Wald lecture. Deborah Lipstadt Lipstadt, a professor at Emory University and the author of several books, was sued by David Irving in British Court. She won, yet Irving, whom Lipstadt called a Holocaust denier and right wing extremist, continues to lecture against the authenticity of the Holocaust. From 1996-99, she served as a member of the United States State Department Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad. In this capacity she, together with a small group of leaders and scholars, advised Secretary of State Madeline Albright on matters of religious persecution abroad. Oliver B. Pollak is a Professor of History at the University of Nebraska- Omaha and an attorney; he published A State of Readers, Nebraska’s Carnegie Libraries, last year. He can be reached at: OBPOmni@aol.com.
Author to explore her book at Kripke Library by GARY KATZ Library Administrator Yom HaShoah speaker Ann Kirschner will speak on her book Sala’s Gift, Thursday, April 19, noon, in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Kirschner will be the featured speaker for the 2007 Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration Service on Wednesday evening, April 18, 7 p.m., at Temple Israel. Sala’s Gift is the story of her mother’s experiences in Nazi labor camps. At the book discussion group, she will talk about the writing of the book and discuss letters featured in the story. Kirchner says in the book, “For nearly 50 years, my mother kept a secret. After surviving five years of Nazi slave labor camps, Sala Garncarz Kirschner came to America as a war bride and raised our family without ever speaking of her wartime experiences. I grew up in a happy and safe home, and became a scholar, writer, and a mother myself, but always wondered about the black hole in my mother’s past.” Kirschner has skillfully crafted her mother’s documents, interspersed with a powerful and intriguing narrative. Copies of Sala’s Gift will be available for signing afterwards. The cost of the book is $23, which includes tax. The Kripke Library Book Discussion Group is open to the community, at no charge. For more information, please call 334.6462. For more information on the book, please visit: www. salasgift.com.
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April 13, 2007
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Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a multi-part JTA enterprise series, “A Troubled Exodus,” on Sudanese refugees in Israel. See the series on the web at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press.’
most were put in prison. Some are being released to kibbutzim and moshavim while they await word on which country might give them political asylum. Israel has yet to officially make such an offer. The Yad Vashem tour was initiated by the Committee for the Advancement of Refugees from Darfur, which works to assist the Sudanese refugees in Israel. Robert Rozett, director of the Yad Vashem Libraries, led the group on its tour, explaining the ideology of the Nazis and how they executed their plan to murder the Jews. The Sudanese leaned in to each other, occasionally putting hand on each other’s shoulders for comfort. Some could be seen wiping away tears. Some images seemed to hit home especially hard: a blurry photograph of an SS soldier aiming his rifle at a
by DINA KRAFT JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A group of refugees from Darfur on a visit to Yad Vashem lingered next to a model of the crematorium at Auschwitz, taking in the ghastly sight of bodies carried on cots and pushed into ovens. They walked through the museum in silence, listening to the words of the guide and trying to understand that the photographs of young boys in sailor suits and girls with silk ribbons in their hair were the same children whose names appeared on the list of those transported to concentration camps and among those killed. “It's such a sad history, tears fell from my eyes,” said G., 25, whose parents and two siblings were killed by Arab militiamen when they Sudanese refugees who escaped genocide in Darfur by crossing into Israel comfort each raided his home village. “It other during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, March 12, 2007. Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA made me remember things that happened in my own past.” mother who had wrapped her body protectively around His visit to Israel’s Holocaust memorial was the first her young child, and a portrait of a young woman with time he ever set foot in a museum, and he left hoping sad, empty eyes gazing at a globe and wondering if she that one day the victims of the Darfur genocide might would ever find refuge. build a similar memorial. The Sudanese too live with uncertainty over what “I hope there will be such a place in the future, but I country might take them in, and with the memories of don’t know when,” he said. “Maybe in another genera- relatives and friends killed before their eyes. tion far from our own.” The parallels told in the museum felt cruel, including G., who asked that his name not be used, said he the story of the St. Louis, a ship full of Jewish refugees escaped on foot from his village the day of the attack. He from Europe that sailed to Cuba in 1939 only to be does not remember how or even where he first ran refused entry. After sailing to the United States and before he began the long journey through Sudan and Canada, where it also was refused entry, the ship Egypt to Israel, where he is seeking asylum. returned to Germany. Most of its passengers were killed G. spent 15 months in an Israeli jail because of his sta- in the Holocaust. tus as an enemy alien before being released to Kibbutz The Sudanese refugees also speak of no one wanting Yotvata in southern Israel, where he works in the date them and of their fears of being deported back to their fields. home country. In Egypt, where many said they were Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev addressed the abused and harassed by the authorities, some say they group of 11 refugees, saying they might take inspiration were threatened with being sent back to Sudan. from the museum to one day record and document their As Rozett guided the group into a section of the stories and the story of their people. museum documenting roundups from the ghettos to Although the bloodshed continues in Darfur, Shalev concentration camps, he also talked to them about comurged them to think about commemoration even now. memoration. “It is important that you already begin to think about “You have photographs, you have documents maybe, ways to remember the events and memorialize the vic- you have your stories,” he said. “It’s important to know, tims,” he said. so people in 50 years will also know” what’s happening. “As Jews, who have the memory of the Shoah embedAt the Hall of Names, the repository for Yad Vashem’s ded within us, we cannot stand by as refugees from collection of “Pages of Testimony” -- short biographies genocide in Darfur are knocking on our doors,” Shalev of each Holocaust victim -- the group gathered in a said. “The memory of the past, and the Jewish values semi-circle and looked up at the photographs of some that underpin our existence, command us to humanitar- victims. ian solidarity with the persecuted.” As they peered up at the faces, Rozett reminded them, He reached out to shake hands with the refugees, “They don’t have a cemetery, but they do have a page.” most of them recently released from prison. “It was very hard, I was shocked,” said M., 24, from Yad Vashem has been among the more outspoken ele- Darfur. “It reminded me of my own people, seeing the ments in Israeli society advocating for a swift and killings, the shootings I want to say that I am sorry that humane response to some 300 Sudanese who have this happened to the Jews.” crossed into Israel in recent years via the Egyptian G. said it will take him a long time to digest what he desert. saw at Yad Vashem. About a third of the migrants are from Darfur; others “People were supposed to learn from history,” he said. include Christians who claim they also are victims of per- “But still it happens now. In 1994 in Rwanda, and now secution. Since Sudan technically is at war with Israel, in Darfur. I thought the world was supposed to learn.”
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Sudan aided Ethiopian aliyah by YOSEF ISRAEL ABRAMOWITZ KIBBUTZ KETURA, Israel (JTA) -The only direct flights from Sudan to Israel occurred in late March 1985. Eight hundred Ethiopian Jews were stranded in camps run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, after the public disclosure of a rescue mission, dubbed Operation Moses, was terminated by then-Sudanese president Genera Numerei. Operation Moses, which spirited 8,000 Ethiopian Jews out of eastern Sudan, was largely a result of U.S. government and CIA intervention, while Operation Solomon, which brought to Israel 14,000 Jews in the hours before rebels overtook Addis Ababa in 1991, was run by the Mossad. The Sudanese story blended the resources of the United Israel Appeal, a fundraising arm of American Jewry, with the ingenuity of a handful of key U.S. government officials, who had the blessing of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. Gordon Zacks, a top Jewish Republican, worked the White House via National Security Adviser Richard Allen. UIA received its funds from the U.S. Congress as part of an allocation to resettle in Israel refugees from communist states. UIA is the organization that channels funds raised by North American federations to humanitarian needs in Israel. In October 1984, senior UIA official Neale Katz flew from Jerusalem to Geneva to attend a secret meeting with key U.S. government officials, including Princeton Lyman, director of the East Africa unit of the U.S State Department; Richard Krieger of the U.S. Refugee Affairs unit; and Jerry Weaver, an enterprising State Department representative in Khartoum.
Efraim HaLevy, who later became director of the Mossad joined the group the next day. “The morning’s meetings were dominated by Weaver’s detailed explanation of the proposed rescue and flight arrangements, as well as the methods to be used to identify the Jews in the Sudanese camps,” Katz wrote in the Winter 2000 Journal of Jewish Communal Service. Toward the end of the discussion, someone stated that the flights alone from Sudan will cost about $12 million and asked, “How will we pay for it?” All eyes turned to Katz. “No problem,” he heard himself answer. “The funds will come from UIA.” Weaver, a former college football player with a doctorate in political science, already had expended U.S. government money to purchase and store 500 gallons of gasoline to fuel the four converted trucks he had purchased from Saudi Arabia, which were used to transport the Jews from the UNHCR camps, Tawawa and Umel Rekuba, to the Khartoum airport under the cover of darkness. Irving Kessler, Katz’s boss in New York, served as “paymaster” for the secret airlift, starting at Thanksgiving 1984. The planes were chartered by UIA from Trans European Airways, or TEA, based in Brussels, which was known throughout the Arab world as one of the charter companies that took Muslims on the Hajj to Mecca. TEA presence at the Khartoum airport did not raise any suspicions. The TEA flights went to Europe twice a week, and then re-routed to Israel. “After press reports linked to UJA fundraising killed Operation Moses,” Kessler told JTA recently during a visit to his family, "the U.S. government, on its
own initiative, bribed General Numerei and whisked into Khartoum airport a fleet of three Hercules planes to spirit out the remaining Jews an flew them directly to Israel.” This follow-up mission was called Operation Joshua. An estimated 4,000 Ethiopian Jews died either on the way from Ethiopia to Sudan or in the UNHCR camps in Sudan waiting for rescue. A new book, Black Jews, Jews, and Other Heroes: How Grassroots Activism Led to the Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews by Howard M. Lenhoff (Gefen Books, 2007) includes the
details of the Sudanese rescue from Weaver. “Israel owes a debt of gratitude to the Sudanese for allowing the rescue,”Kessler said. “We should not be imprisoning Sudanese refugees in Israel.” He added, “While we have no love for the current Sudanese government, we owe an historic debt to the black residents living in the eastern region where Ethiopian Jews lived prior to the airlift.” Yosef Israel Abramowitz is an awardwinning journalist and founder of socialaction.com. He blogs daily at peoplehood.org.
Teacher extraordinaire by SHARI HESS “I love going to work every single day,” is the description Gail Kenkel gives of her teaching career. She is the 2007 recipient of The Phil and Ruth Sokolof Jewish Teacher Award, honored Sunday, along with five scholarship winners. The committee received 11 nominations from students, parents, fellow teachers, administrators and friends. Throughout every letter there was an overwhelming applause for the phenomenal work that Kenkel has accomplished for 30 years in the Council Bluffs Public Schools. She has taught at many different grade levels and schools. She is currently in the Gifted and Talented Program that she began in 1995 at Bloomer School. It is so evident by reading the nominations from parents and students just how much she has touched their lives. One former student wrote: “You are the best teacher in the world. You taught me a lot over the years, and not just about social studies, but life in general. I still wish you
were my teacher.” A parent praised her by saying, “She has not only been a mentor and role model to my son, but to me as a mother.” A colGail Kenkel league discussed the combination of intellect, professionalism and sense of humor Kenkel possesses that leads to the motivation and successes of everyone she touches. Patti Nogg, a nominator, fellow educator and friend, described the great pride that Kenkel has for her profession. Kenkel knows there is more to education than just teaching the subject matter. She has taught her students it’s not enough to know the what, but you must understand the how and why in order to make informed decisions in the future.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
Temple Israel Artist-in-Residence JFS intern helps every way she can to share story of “A Land Twice Promised” blessing in every curse and was intrigued by CLAUDIA SHERMAN by the healing power of stories and Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “I believe that once you really get to drama. She set out in search of more. Upon completing her study of acting know someone and hear their story -they can no longer be your enemy,” in New York, Baum received her master’s explained Noa Baum, who will be an in educational theater from New York artist-in-residence at Temple Israel May University with an emphasis on drama therapy. She was awarded a 2-4. graduate assistance fellowShe will share her story of ship and worked in inner “A Land Twice Promised” city schools in New York. with the entire community Baum returned to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 p.m., in the sanctuary. in 1986 and worked in a “This performance stems school for emotionally disfrom my experience as an turbed boys. She combined Israeli having a dialogue and storytelling and drama in friendship with a Palestinian her work there. She also woman,” she said. “It was taught at teachers colleges not an easy process. and toured Israel with a Building trust took many shadow puppet show and Noa Baum years. We spent hours argustorytelling presentations. ing and disagreeing, struggling with the In 1990, Baum returned to the United voices we grew up with, the narratives we States and has been exploring “the inexbelieved were The Truth.” tricable link between the voice and the Baum has become a bridge of peace psychology of the individual” and and understanding as she tells the story expanding the potential of the human of the heartfelt dialogue she had with the voice which is linked to individual develPalestinian woman she met in the United opment. States. Working with many diverse populaA performer and teacher in schools, tions and age groups from Head Start libraries, festivals, and many other set- programs to adult day care centers, tings for audiences of all ages since 1982, Baum has performed at the Mayo Clinic Baum will also lead a storytelling work- for Humanities in Medicine in shop at Temple, be the guest speaker at Minnesota, the Kennedy Center in Women of Reform Judaism’s Donor Tea, Washington, D.C., The Jewish Museum and give the d’var Torah at a Shabbat in New York City, and hundreds of family worship service. Her residency is schools, libraries, community centers, co-sponsored by the Special Donor and Jewish congregations across the Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation country and in Israel. Foundation and the Hermene Zweiback Baum’s recording, “Far Away and Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. Close to Home,” won a Parents’ Choice Born and raised in Jerusalem, Baum Recommended Award. She’s also the received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in recipient of artist awards from the Theater Arts from Tel Aviv University. Maryland State Arts Council and the An actress with the Khan Repertory Arts and Humanities Council of Theater of Jerusalem, she was “cast out” Montgomery County in Maryland. when the theater experienced financial A resident of the Washington, D.C. difficulties. She was relegated to the area where she lives with her husband Cinderella job of entertaining family and two children, Baum is a member of audiences with stories and creative the National Storytelling Network, a drama. Initially downcast and humiliat- non-profit organization dedicated to ed, Baum soon discovered that there is a advancing the art of storytelling.
Celebrating Project Harmony’s 10th Anniversary with
TOMORROW’S STARS and some of today’s greatest musical talents
JAY GREENBERG • WORLD PREMIERE “the best composing talent in two hundred years” - 60 Minutes Join 15-year-old composer Jay Greenberg for the first public performance of his Quintet for Strings.
provide help in any way they are needed. by ANDREA BARTMAN She began her education before a hus- It’s one thing that makes JFS successful band and children, now she’s finishing in assisting as many people as they can her time at UNO with a semester of work reach out to. With previous experience with Jewish Family Service. Ann during an internship with the Salvation Silverman Osborne is set to graduate Army, she brings much to the table. Osborne had a chance to work with from the University of Nebraska Omaha in May with a Bachelor of Science degree their assistance programs as well, and spent time in a day care servin Family and Consumer ing immigrants taking ESL Science. As part of her final classes. Her coursework at coursework, she’s completUNO includes classes on ing 150 hours of practicum immigration issues and famiwork at the place of her ly intervention techniques. choice. JFS is that place for “It has been great to have many reasons. Ann interning with us this Osborne grew up as a semester for her degree,” member of the Omaha says Gustafson. “She has Jewish community, and provided numerous services when presented the opporto the JFS in the form of tunity, she says “I thought I Ann Osborne working with clients in need really wanted to work for a Jewish agency.” She contacted Karen of assistance, working to provide a helpGustafson, Director of JFS and, accord- ing hand with Yachad, doing research for ing to Ann, “Karen thought it would the Yachad Task Force and more. JFS has work out great, because she could expose certainly benefited from Ann’s time and I believe she has benefited from learning me to so many different roles here.” Osborne has spent the bulk of her time more about what we do to help others in with JFS shadowing Jenny Meyerson, the this community on a daily basis.” Of all her experiences at JFS, Osborne Assistance Coordinator, working with financial assistance clients. She also assist- names her work with the Yachad group as ed Projects Dreidel and Passover her favorite. She’s assisted them with a tzedakah. She’s mailed letters, sent out few events, including their preparations food vouchers, covered the phones and for the upcoming Yom Ha’atzmaut. everything in between. “They’re a really great bunch of peo“I’ve done a lot of the little things,” she ple,” she says. “This is just a great comsays; “paperwork and the like, that frees munity. I’ve met so many people that I them up to do more important things. I never had before. There are a lot of very had no idea what all they did here to help generous people in our community who people. It’s been interesting to learn are willing to give of their time for othmore about how they work here to get ers.” Her future plans include taking the people out of a rut.” summer off after graduation to spend with This agency, which gives so much to her kids and then beginning her job hunt the community, is happy to reap the in the fall for permanent, part-time work, rewards of volunteers like Osborne who possibly in a group home or hospital.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Opera Omaha is holding chorus auditions for the 50th Anniversary Season production of Aida on Sunday, April 22, 2-4:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 3, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Opera Omaha Offices at 1625 Farnam St. Aida will be performed in April of 2008. Auditions are open to anyone high school graduates or older. Prospective
members will be assigned a time slot and asked to present two selections, at least one in a foreign language, not to exceed four minutes. Arias, arts songs, or hymn solos are all acceptable.Contact Brad Watkins at bwatkins@ operaomaha.org, or 402.346.4398, ext. 204 for additional information and to schedule an appointment, or visit www.operaomaha.org.
High School Seniors
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2007
CONRAD TAO 12-year-old award winning pianist, violinist and composer.
HOLLY STELL 14-year old opera prodigy won raves on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has recorded with Andrea Bocelli. And special guest Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress.
Friday, April 27 • 8PM Holland Performing Arts Center Tickets $35 and $55 Visit www.omahaperformingarts.org or call Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606
High School Seniors... We will be publishing our annual Graduation Teen Age on June 8, 2007. To be included, we need your graduation photo and the following information. Name ____________________________________________________________ Parent(s)’ Name(s) __________________________________________________ Current High School _________________________________________________ College you plan to attend ____________________________________________ Send by May 11 to: The Jewish Press | 333 So. 132 St. | Omaha, NE 68154
April 13, 2007
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
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ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Hear the inspiring North Omaha story of Paul Bryant who will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, April 18, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. Bryant gave up a vice presidency at a local bank to help underprivileged young North Omaha students learn about “Business in the Boardroom,” among many other topics. All men and women in the community are invited. Cost is $12 for a complete lunch and $3 for beverage service only. WALK-IN, DROP-IN For those members going to Bunch to Lunch to the Hong Kong Café on Thursday, please meet at the JCC at 10:45 a.m. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. If you have any Yiddish books you would like to donate, please call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638. VISIONS Visit Joslyn Art Museum on Tuesday, May 8, to see a celebrated Impressionists Exhibit, one of the greatest collections on loan. Meet at 10:45 a.m. for an 11 a.m. docent-led tour. The artists featured in the exhibit include paintings by Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Followed by lunch at the Omaha Press Club. The cost of $15 includes lunch, tax, tip and Joslyn admission. The cost to current members of Joslyn is $11. Send reservations by May 1 to Doris Alloy, 11317 Harney Plz. Cir., Omaha, NE 68154. For questions, call Sissy Silber at 292.8062. Visions Luncheon Meeting is Friday, May 18, 12:30
p.m. at the Caniglia’s Venice Inn. Cost is $10. Members will be entertained by a preview of Peter Pan by the Omaha Community Playhouse leading and talented performers, along with the Musical Director, Jim Boggess. Send reservations to Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard St, Omaha, NE 68114 by May 11. For questions, call Harry Alloy at 697-8709. Chanticleer Community Theater presents The King and I on Sunday, May 20, 2 p.m. Dinner following the show at the Pizza King in Council Bluffs. Cost is $28.50. Send reservation by May 7 to Ethel Goldston, 1108 No. 92 Plaza, #101, Omaha, NE 68114. For questions, call Rose Pitlor at 558-5144. Make all checks payable to Visions. JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES Reminder: One’s Company with Pippa White presents “Voices from Ellis Island” at the JCC on Thursday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. From 1890 to 1930, Ellis Island was the first experience of life in America for millions of immigrants. Their stories are amusing, frightening, inspiring, and true. There is no admission charge. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Creatures of the Forest” on Wednesday, May 2, 7 p.m., at the JCC There is no admission fee. Enjoy audience favorites featuring: Strauss’ Overture to Der Fliedermaus (The Bat), Debussy’s The Afternoon of the Fawn and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf (with narrator). OMAHA CHAPTER OF HADASSAH Assistant Rabbis Eric Linder of Temple Israel and Seth Nadel of Beth Israel will combine both vocal and instrumental talents as the “Rockin’ Rabbi’s”, at Omaha Chapter of Hadassah’s donor luncheon. The event to be held Wednesday, April 18, noon, in Beth Israel’s social hall, is open to the entire community. For more information, call Carol Schneider at 493.3173.
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Understanding ourselves is rooted in stories, explains Temple Israel scholar by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator “Stories.are important to us, because they create and sustain our understanding of who we are and where we come from,” explained Dr. Dvora Weisberg, who was the scholar-in-residence at Temple Israel in March. Her topic throughout the weekend residency centered on “God, Torah, and Israel: Stories from our Early Rabbis.” On Friday night at Shabbat worship services, Dr. Weisberg, associate professor of rabbinics and director of the Beit Midrash at Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, related the Scholar-in-Residence Dr. story of how her grandfa- Dvora Weisberg speaks to ther, while driving “down an audience at Temple the street in Omaha, saw Dr. Israel about what God does Weisberg’s grandmother, all day. waiting at a bus stop. “He pulled over and offered her a ride. She asked if she could drive and proceeded to drive them off the road,” she said smiling.” Dr. Weisberg has no idea if the story is true, but she loves it, because “it epitomizes my impression of my grandparents’ marriage with my grandmother as the driving force, and because it confirms my experience of her as a terrible driver! My pleasure in telling this story reminds me that some stories are wonderful whether or
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not they are factually correct, because they capture ‘truths’ far more important than facts. “Our understanding of ourselves as individuals, then, is, in part, rooted in the stories we tell about ourselves and our families. This is also true for all of us as Jews,” she remarked. On Saturday and Sunday, she discussed stories that were told in the second through the sixth centuries by ancient rabbis who wrote the Talmud and other classical rabbinic texts. She used the stories to consider what the rabbis thought about the study of Torah and about the nature of God. “Rabbis used stories about biblical characters and events to ‘fill in’ the gaps they perceived in the Bible,” she explained. “Stories also provided explanations for the practices that the rabbis instituted. Other stories justify other customs” such as “changes the rabbis made in Jewish law, teaching us that Jewish tradition evolves in response to new situations. The rabbis also used stories to teach values and convey ideas.” Maurie Meiches, who studied with Dr. Weisberg on Saturday morning, thought “she was quite good. She did a very good job, and she had a good sense of humor.” “I thought it was interesting,” agreed David Swensen who attended on Sunday morning. “I enjoyed hearing some Talmudic perspectives on God. I think it would be interesting to explore some contemporary notions of what God is and isn’t,” suggested Swensen. Dr. Weisberg, said she “had a wonderful time in Omaha. I felt that people were very engaged in learning.”
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
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Beth El’s Merit Scholarship program offers incentives to high school students by JILL BELMONT be able to keep going to them.â€? Beth El Publicity Coordinator Introduced to the Merit Scholarship program by his A special incentives program offered through Beth brother, who also participated, Central High senior Seth El’s High School of Jewish Studies, offers the syna- Rich says he’s enjoyed the flexibility of the projects, and gogue’s teens multiple opportunities to enrich their noted that fulfilling some of the requirements was easy, Jewish lives, while earning money toward college or a since he served as an officer of USY, as a Purim Carnival trip to Israel. The Merit Scholarship Program, open to chairman, and regularly volunteered as a student tutor durstudents in the ninth-through-twelfth grades, “offers ing the Torah, Siddur Skills (TSS) program. In addition, he rewards to those students who choose to develop their remarked that, “I make sure that I come to Hebrew High own base of Jewish knowledge outside the framework of even if I have other things going on at the same time, as the formal Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah HSJS pro- well as making sure I get to services enough.â€? gram,â€? said Education Director, Judy Rubin. Noting that “College is expensive‌.really, really The program has been awarding dedicated, hard- expensive,â€? Rich said, “If you have the opportunity to get working students for over three decades. Scholarships some relatively easy money by doing a little more than are announced at the end of each school year, with pay- what you already do, do it.â€? ment awarded upon the student’s graduation from high Brianna Sadofsky echoed that thought, saying, “I school, Rubin explained. decided to become involved because I knew the scholarScholarships are based on a variety of criteria, including ship could help me later.â€? Sadofsky said one of her volunteer activities, attenfavorite aspects of the prodance at and participation in gram is working on the synagogue services, youth Jewish-themed projects, group participation, and “because it isn’t something I mentored tasks ranging from normally get to do.â€? research papers and presentThe Papillion-LaVista ing a d’var Torah, to creating freshman is a USY member a Jewish cultural arts project, and has volunteered for TSS, such as a sculpture, a video, as well as Teen Mitzvah Day. or composing music, a poem, Seeing the program as a posshort story or essay. Students itive experience during her may participate in the prohigh school years, she comgram during their entire high This year’s Merit Scholarship Program participants include, mented that she’d encourschool career, or they may front row: Effie Tsabari, left, Liatte Dotan and Shir Palmon; age other students to particjoin at the beginning of any back row: Seth Rich, Natan Lailari, Ygal Schuller, Dayna ipate in the program Cohen and Brianna Sadofsky. Not pictured: Lev Nachman. because, “It’s a good opporschool year. Students participating in the program this year include tunity to do something out of the ordinary and it may Liatte Dotan, Seth Rich, Brianna Sadofsky, Effie Tsabari, really help you out later in life.â€? Lev Nachman, Shir Palmon, Natan Lailari, Dayna Rabbi Mordechai Levin expressed pleasure with both Cohen and Ygal Schuller. Those interviewed had an the religious school and the scholarship program. “Our overall favorable view. high school offers an excellent and enriching program in “The program requirements are not difficult to follow, which students choose their classes, learn, have dinner however, it is important to stay on top of the due dates together and make friends. The Merit Scholarship is a and complete all work on time,â€? said Dotan, a junior at bonus for those who like to be more involved. Those Westside. “I am a person who goes to services regularly, who participated in it in the past and those currently so completing the hours is not difficult, and community enrolled are grateful for the program.â€? service hours fall into place as the year goes on.â€? Saying she’d like to see more students take advantage of Among the activities she’s helped out with at the syn- the scholarship program, Rubin encouraged others to sign agogue include high holidays activities for kids, Kadima up, saying, “It’s a very easy way to earn a respectable Shabbaton, Junior Congregation and Sisterhood amount of money that may be used for college education. Shabbat. “The program is a great way to become Not all students will qualify for scholarships based upon involved and it is fun to help with High Holiday activi- financial need or academics. This should give a student (and ties or Saturday morning services for children,â€? she his/her parents) a great deal of satisfaction because it was noted. “There are so many opportunities, it’s hard not earned by the student’s own efforts.â€? For information, to get involved.â€? The program has had a positive influ- contact her at 498.0904 or eddir@bethel-omaha.org. ence on Dotan; however, she said that “I think I would have been involved in Beth El Hebrew High, USY and service hours without being a part of the program. I do think that for some people the scholarship money is an additional boost to becoming involved, but the most important part is that they do become active and involved in the community.â€? by MARY BORT Another active Beth El teen, Ygal Schuller, joined the for Beth Israel Synagogue program because “I saw the opportunity to help out my Do you want to brush up on your Hebrew reading synagogue and get something in return. I was already skills, but hesitate at the idea of taking a class that going to services and Hebrew school and I was very requires a lengthy time commitment? The communiactive in USY, so it seemed like a good idea to do a litty is invited to attend Beth Israel’s Level 2 Hebrew tle more work and get a reward for doing so.â€? He also Reading Crash Course for teens and adults. The called the program “a good personal reminder,â€? as it course will be held on four consecutive Monday encourages him “to do what I already do.â€? evenings, beginning on April 16, 7:30 p.m. and Schuller’s volunteer resumĂŠ reflects his commitment: he taught by Rabbi Seth Nadel. In February, Nadel volunteers during Sunday school, tutors third-throughtaught the first level. sixth graders on Saturday mornings, preparing them for “As was the case with the first course, The Level 2 their B’nai Mitzvah; and attends all USY programs. Crash Course is one of the programs offered through Participating in the scholarship program has positively the National Jewish Outreach Program,â€? explained affected his growth as a Jew, said Schuller, a sophomore Nadel. “This class will be a continuation for those at Millard North. He explained that while some teens who participated in Level 1. It’s also open to anyone don’t feel the need to attend synagogue following their who wants to brush up on their reading skills. The B’nai Mitzvah, his involvement has become a routine Level 1 course is not a pre-requisite for Level 2. It’s part of his life, “and it’s more like a responsibility to the for anyone who has mastered the basic letters and community.â€? vowels, and can read. Students should be at an interDayna Cohen, a freshman at Millard West, said she mediate skill level for reading Hebrew.â€? became involved with “because I really love going to Materials will be provided to students, including a conventions and camps, and I’m hoping to go to Israel course book that contains some of the Siddur prayers. and the money would help me greatly.â€? “It’s not just about reading,â€? said Nadel. “It’s imporCiting USY activities and community service as her tant when reading the essential prayers that one favorite aspects of the program, Cohen’s involvement become familiar with the meaning of the words. has included helping with BESTT Chaverim, the Great That’s what we’ll be working on.â€? Plains Hanukkah Concert, and the Purim Carnival. In The class is free for Beth Israel members and only addition, her assistance with the annual Kadima $10 for non-members. For more information or to Shabbaton holds special meaning to her, “because I realregister, contact Rabbi Nadel at 556.6288. ly enjoyed them when I was in Kadima, and I wanted to
Beth Israel offers second level of Hebrew reading “crash course�
April 13, 2007
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 11
Shiputznick Teen Mitzvah Day teaches value of tikkun olam quilts and were also given a tour of the by RACHEL BLUM JCC Jewish Program Director Drop-in Center, which provides a safe and Teen Mitzvah Day Participants place for youth to receive services such as Any time you can get 40 Jewish teens a hot meal, shower, or laundry facilities. together, something great is bound to We learned how YES helps teens of happen, but when you put 40 Jewish Omaha who are less fortunate than us. teens together and give them the oppor- This made us realize how lucky we are as tunity to do community service projects, young women and how by giving just a a contagious phenomenon occurs. The bit of our time, we can help others to be Jewish Community Center’s third annual a little lucky too! We want to continue to Shiputznick Teen Mitzvah Day was held work with the YES House and go back to last month and just over 40 teens took help cook meals for them,” added others. “Our group spent time today cleaning advantage of the opportunity to do someup Temple Israel Cemetery. We raked and thing nice for somebody else. The Shiputznick program is a commu- bagged lots and lots of leaves and picked up trash. nity service We think program for that the Jewish teens families that works who come with differto remement organizaber the tions around departed Omaha in will very order to help m u c h repair the appreciate world, one the work job at a time, we did. The thus, practicentrance ing the mitzthe vah of tikkun BBG girls cook for families with ill children at Rainbow House. into cemetery is clean, and the environment is olam. On Teen Mitzvah Day, teens were sent much more enjoyable. Amazing we are!” Another group noted, “We went to out on five different projects around Omaha. The groups reconvened in the Boys and Girls Club of Omaha’s North evening at the JCC Pavilion for a bar- location to help to clean their six acre site. beque dinner and group discussions. The The mission of the Boys and Girls Club is teens were asked to describe their volun- to help young people of all backgrounds, teer experiences and discuss how their especially those coming from disadvangiving just a few hours of their time made taged circumstances. They provide development services to kids, giving them an a difference in somebody’s life. “We visited the offices of Youth alternative to the street. It’s a safe place Emergency Services (YES) to help them for kids to play organized sports, develop create quilt blankets for the teen shelter. leadership abilities, and even find the The mission of YES is to serve and pro- counseling they may need. It’s a really tect homeless and at-risk youth by pro- nice campus outside, and now it’s really viding shelter, programs, advocacy and clean, too!” One teen said, “After helping Jewish education that promote personal and family development,” said several teens. Family Service put together Passover “We spent time sewing patches onto boxes, we were given grocery store cer-
JFS bags up savings for tzedakah project Jewish Family Service staff Jenny Meyerson, left, Tanya Seina and Ann Osborne thank the groups and individuals who made this year’s Passover tzedakah project possible. Fifty families and individuals were provided food items, like matza, wine, gefilte fish and more, purchased at a discount price from JFS partner Bag ’N Save. The Passover tzedakah project is funded by JFS and community donors and is facilitated by
groups such as Visions and Burke High School students as well as many volunteers who box and deliver the items.
tificates to buy food for two elderly people, Isaac and Anna, who had difficulties getting out. We were also able to deliver the food, which was the highlight of our experience! We learned that Isaac grew up in Argentina and that he loves spaghetti! He was quite talkative, and told us about his whole life! Said another, “When we delivered the chicken dinner for Anna, she was so thankful and sweet. You’d never have guessed that she had such strong political opinions! I think sometimes we hesitate to spend time with the elderly because it makes us feel uncomfortable, when actually it was the opposite for us! By helping them out and giving them the opportunity to talk with new people who were interested in their lives, we came away feeling great that we made other people feel so good!” Others added, “I had never heard of the Rainbow House! Affiliated with Children’s Hospital, Carolyn Scott Rainbow House is a home-away-from-
home for families who have a child in treatment at Children’s Hospital. Established in June 1983, the House provides food and lodging for thousands of families for one night to year-long stays. Today, we provided the food! We cooked an Israeli dinner for the residents, which included chicken schnitzel, homemade mashed potatoes, Israeli salad, and chocolate balls. The cooking was fun, but what made it really fun was knowing that we gave up an afternoon so that families going through hard times could relax and focus on each other. “And one teen summed it up by saying, We made many people smile.or maybe it was the schnitzel!” The JCC’s Shiputznick teen volunteer program is sponsored by all of the Jewish youth groups in Omaha, and we sponsor a variety of community service projects throughout the year. For more information about how your teen can participate, please contact Zohar Winer, JCC Community Shlicha, at 334.6403.
“What Every Adult Child Should Know” to be discussed at Temple Israel by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Most of us think about how to preserve our savings, our precious keepsakes, our cars, our homes, and certainly, our health. But what about the legacy we leave behind us? “Most people are terrified to think that they’re not going to live forever,” said Speedy Zweiback, a retired general and vascular surgeon. “Only a frighteningly small number of people think about what messages they want to leave their kids. People don’t want to face it,” he added. Dr. Zweiback will join Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, attorney Bob Freeman, and Jewish Senior Services Director of Community Outreach Shane Kotok on Sunday, April 15, 10:30 a.m., at Temple Israel to talk about “When Your Parents Hit Their 70s: What Every Adult Child Should Know!” Open to the community, the discussion is the last in this year’s Four Bs (Behaving, Belonging, Believing, and Bagels) series which is presented monthly from October to April. Intended for the “sandwich generation,” people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who have aging parents as well as children of their own, the conversation will be focused on how “to help families be better prepared for later-in-life issues involving health, transfer of assets, passage of family businesses, end-of-life
decisions, and properly documenting someone’s or a family’s decisions,” indicated Freeman. He specializes in estate and personal planning and regularly meets with clients to discuss personal, family, and business succession issues. In addition to the issues that Dr. Zweiback and Freeman will raise, Kotok, who has been with Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home for 23 years, recalled, “We used to look at options as people needed assistance. Nor were there as many choices as there are now. It used to be a decision between a nursing home or remaining independent. Now there are so many choices that give people different alternatives of varying degrees of independence. They need help in stages. Some may need just some transportation assistance,” she suggested. “Choices and options are out there. It’s about being there for our parents as advisors and most of the time not being our parents’ parents,” she advised. “It’s important for the new generation that is emerging in the community to sit down and hear insights coming from these seasoned presenters on these vital issues,” added Rabbi Azriel. “We will provide useful tools in the religious, practical, financial, and medical realms. This forum will enhance the ability of a generation that is raising their children to also offer guidance to their aging parents.”
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
British sailors released while Israeli soldiers seem to have disappeared Last week Britons celebrated the release of their sailors who had been captured by the Iranian military supposedly in Iranian waters. Supporters of negotiation declared this a “win” for peaceful relations between the United Kingdom and Iran, but all this sham did was expose Iran’s manipulation. In point of fact, Tony Blair did threaten Iran with retaliation, but it is its ally, the United States who is moving additional destroyers into the Gulf. However, Blair also added a caveat: Britain will not now, or ever, knowingly enter Iranian waters. So much for any military solution to Iran’s nuclear nose-thumbing against the West. And where was the European Union in all this? Isn’t the U.K. a member-state? According to Kenneth R. Timmerman, who wrote in FrontPageMagazine.com on April 5, “‘C’est vraiment une affaire qui ne passe pas outre-Manche,’ the French center-left daily Le Monde commented on April 4. Translated into plain English, the French observed (accurately) that nobody on the correct side of the English Channel could give a rat’s behind about the fate of the British hostages. They had too much (commercially) at stake.” But now that the British sailors have been released, can we expect the Israeli soldiers to be released by the Iranians? Iran definitely had a hand in the Hezbollah kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and one on its border with Gaza. And while the world watched as the 15 Brits ate a meal
together (the female sailor, of course, had to cover her hair), how do we even know that the three Israeli soldiers are even alive? The sole female British sailor and then several males “apologized” for straying into Iranian waters, but there has been no video -or audio -- of Gilad Shalit, Udi Goldwasser or Eldad Regev. No photos, no letters, no phone calls. The Red Cross has been unable to visit them (not due to any fault of theirs...they have not been allowed). No one from Israel, the United States, even the European Union (not that they have asked), has been granted access. In fact, we don’t even know where the three are being held! So while three young Israelis languish in prisons somewhere in the Middle East, 15 British sailors have now rejoined their families at home. That doesn’t say much for the Israeli government, nor for its Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his laissez-faire attitude toward this deplorable impasse. Olmert had originally promised to wipe out Hezbollah in order to get the
three soldiers returned. Not only didn’t he accomplish that goal, he’s now sitting passively by while Hezbollah once again builds up arms (and armies) in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese military (such as it is) doesn’t have the ability to intervene and UNIFIL (the United Nations troops) has no direct authority to stop Hezbollah. They can only “observe,” and wait for the terrorist group to attack Israel. And everyone expects that to happen this summer. As only Yogi Berra could say, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL by TEDDY WEINBERGER I want to mark the upcoming Holocaust Remembrance Day (Sunday night, April 15-Monday, April 16) with a column about Yad Vashem, Israel’s “National Authority for the Remembrance of the Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust.” If you haven’t already visited it, Yad Vashem’s new Holocaust history museum (which opened in March of 2005), it needs to be on your itinerary the next time you travel to Israel. The new museum is four times the size of the old museum, is graced by the stunning architectural design of Moshe Safdie, and uses original physical materials and videos to create an extremely powerful, emotional experience. Simply put, you have not been to Yad Vashem if you have not seen the new museum. It is easy to become emotionally drained after one’s visit to the history museum, and thus many people’s experience of Yad Vashem essentially begins and ends with the museum. But Yad Vashem spreads out over 45-acres and includes such other sites as the Hall of Remembrance, the Valley of the Communities, the Children’s Memorial, and the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations. I would like to highlight two of these sites, one because of its extraordinary emotional import and a second because it is emblematic of a certain troubling perspective on the Holocaust. It should be noted that one does not have to enter the history museum in order to access Yad Vashem’s other sites, and also: admission to the entire Yad Vashem campus is free. About a 10 minute walk from the history museum is an absolutely breathtaking installation entitled “The Cattle Car: Memorial to the Deportees” (Moshe Safdie, 1995). On its
...apparently Yad Vashem still feels that it is its duty to counter the “sheep to the slaughter” image of the Jew in the Holocaust. Between the new history museum and “The Cattle Car” is the “Memorial to the Jewish Soldiers and Partisans” (Bernie Fink, 1985). This monument “consists of six oblong granite blocks arranged in two groups and set in such a way that their inner edges form a window in the shape of the Star of David. The window, in turn, is dissected by the giant stainless steel blade of a sword” (from Yad Vashem's website). The Memorial bears the following inscription in Hebrew, English, Russian, French, and Yiddish: “Glory be to the Jewish Soldiers and Partisans who fought against Nazi Germany.” Here we come to a perspective on the Holocaust that I had hoped would have disappeared by now.
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Our generation’s great catastrophe website Yad Vashem says about this memorial: “An original cattle-car, appropriated by the German Railway authorities and given to Yad Vashem by the Polish authorities, stands at the center of the memorial site. It stands on an iron track which juts out from the slopes of Yad Vashem into the Judaean hillside. The cattle-car is perched on the edge of the severed track, paused on the brink of the abyss.” What makes this installation so viscerally shaking is that one feels the abyss that is the Holocaust as one looks upon the cattle car perched over nothingness. (I once heard Elie Wiesel speak of the Holocaust as a nightmarish abyss, which if looked upon directly can cause insanity. This was why, according to Wiesel, he only stared directly at the Holocaust in Night, his first book, whereas his many other works since then have circled around the abyss.)
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I ask you: why separate out the Jewish soldiers of the Allies who fought against the Nazis from the non-Jewish ones? This question is all the more pertinent when one realizes that Jewish partisans and allied soldiers are (with others) already memorialized in Buky Schwartz’s towering “Pillar of Heroism” (1970), located elsewhere on the Yad Vashem campus. Why then was a separate huge memorial needed to specifically highlight Jewish fighters? There is one obvious reason: To show that Jews can fight. Why is this important? Because apparently Yad Vashem still feels that it is its duty to counter the “sheep to the slaughter” image of the Jew in the Holocaust. And though this Memorial was made in 1985, the new history museum tacitly continues this approach. It is hard to imagine that there is a single instance of armed Jewish resistance in the Holocaust that is not highlighted in the new history museum. A surprisingly large number of the survivors, who speak from the many video screens throughout the museum, seem to have been selected precisely for their acts of violent resistance. One emerges from the museum thinking that there was a significant statistical connection in the Holocaust between violent resistance and survival. I wish that the designers of the new museum had studied The Survivor by Terrence Des Pres, for after one reads this book (and others like it) one cannot help but accord all those who survived the Holocaust with basic respect and dignity. Yad Vashem continues to create a hierarchy of survival by privileging armed resistance. Perhaps one day Yad Vashem will learn that surviving the Holocaust is and was good enough. Teddy Weinberger, Ph.D., is the Senior Executive, Resource Development, Education Department, for the Jewish Agency for Israel. He made aliyah 10 years ago with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children and live in Givat Ze’ev. He can be reached at: weinross@netvision.net.il.
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Peace Now’s 15,900% blunder
BEHIND THE HEADLINES by ALEX SAFIAN Peace Now, the Israel-based advocacy group, claimed in an October 2006 report that Israeli settlements are situated mostly on “private Palestinian land,” and in particular that the territory of the largest settlement, Ma‚ale Adumim, is 86.4 percent “private Palestinian land.” At the time CAMERA raised a number of serious objections to Peace Now’s claims, which the group has failed to address. The original report, “Breaking the Law -- One Violation Leads to Another,” was covered uncritically on the front page of the New York Times, and was based on information described as leaked government data. Now, through a court order, Peace Now has gained access to updated information which it portrays as confirming its original claims. However Peace Now has had to admit that it made an absolutely massive error regarding Ma‚ale Adumim, a 15,900 percent mistake. Rather than 86.4% Palestinian land, the new data shows just 0.54% of Ma‚ale Adumim’s land as supposedly Palestinian. In addition, Peace Now deceptively omits any mention of this extremely serious error both in the press release posted on its U.S. website, and in the announcement posted on its Israeli website. Only in the middle of its new report, strangely enough entitled “Guilty,” does Peace
Now get around to admitting its grave error. Such a massive error -- acknowledged in such a grudging and deceptive way -raises serious questions about Peace Now’s credibility, and the reliability of the rest of their claims (which include that most other settlements also infringe upon “private Palestinian land”). If they could make such a transparently absurd allegation about Ma‚ale Adumim -- and it was transparently absurd -- then how can one trust their assertions about the land situation in other communities? In addition, nowhere in its u p d a t e d report does Peace Now deal with the b r o a d e r problems that also afflicted its earlier report: 1. Peace Now is relying upon government maps that are based not on Palestinian ownership of land, but on Palestinian claims to ownership of land. With Ma-ale Adumim, for example, there were indeed Palestinian (more accurately Bedouin) claims over the land, but they were investigated and found to be baseless, as even the claimants eventually admitted. That would perhaps explain why there was a huge change in the map in this case. 2. Peace Now continues to misleadingly ignore crucial details of land law in the West Bank, in particular that: (A) Under
the Ottoman Land code which Israel inherited largely intact from previous sovereigns, most of the West Bank land used by Israeli settlements, being quite far from other built up areas, is mewat or waste land, which is always owned by the state and cannot legally be owned by private individuals. (B) Any land used by the settlements which was not mewat land was almost certainly miri land, which means land of the Emir, or the sovereign. Miri land is state land over which a private individual can gain certain limited rights by via cultivation, something like squatters‚ rights. Those rights expire, however, once cultivation ends, but the fact that someone once had rights to use the land (as long as hundreds of years ago) may still be recorded in the land registry, even long after the rights have expired. Peace Now apparently is counting as “private Palestinian land” any land over which any Palestinian ever gained such rights via cultivation. Which renders their term “private Palestinian land” meaningless. In their original report Peace Now charged that Israel “deprived thousands of Palestinians of the basic human right of possession.” We challenged them then, and we repeat that challenge now. If they claim the land is “private
...a massive error -- acknowledged in such a grudging and deceptive way -raises serious questions about Peace Now’s credibility, and the reliability of the rest of their claims.
Palestinian land,” let them name the owners. Which persons owned this land, what are their names, what were the boundaries of the plots and where are the deeds? If they can‚t answer such obvious and basic questions, their original and updated claims are nothing short of reckless. Unfortunately coverage of Peace Now’s new claims by the “newspaper of record,” the New York Times, was also less than accurate, with an uncritical article by bureau chief Steven Erlanger that largely followed Peace Now’s press release. Erlanger did eventually mention the Ma’ale Adumim error, but otherwise this latest article was similar to the credulous report the paper ran in November when Peace Now released its original report. On the other hand, the Associated Press headlined its story “Military database released to Peace Now shows little land seized from Palestinians to build largest West Bank settlement,” and led with the fact that Peace Now had been forced to admit its original claims about Ma’ale Adumim were enormously inflated. One wonders what will happen when Peace Now is once again forced to revise its numbers. Will the Times write yet another story, reporting as fact whatever of Peace Now’s claims are still unproven to be false? Alex Safian, PhD is Associate Director of CAMERA -- the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America. More information can be found at: www.camera.org.
“Roadblock to Peace”
FOCUS ON ISSUES by HOWARD KOHR AIPAC Executive Director Facing international demands to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce terrorism and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements, the new Palestinian unity government has responded with a platform that does none of the above. The document deflates hopes that the terrorist group Hamas would moderate its radical positions in order to form a political coalition with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction. But its implications are even graver, representing a full-scale retreat from the most important gains achieved during the peace process of the 1990s. The document doesn’t simply ignore calls for the Palestinians to give up violence. It “affirms that resistance in all its forms...is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people.” Thus, a conditional pledge in the platform to expand the false, rocket-riddled “calm” in Gaza is susceptible to termination whenever the Palestinian government decides to exercise its “legitimate right” to return to full-blown terrorism. Recognition of Israel is nowhere to be found in the
platform. The document’s authors couldn’t even bring themselves to mention the word “Israel,” apart from mentions of “Israeli occupation” and distorted portrayals of “Israeli policies” in Jerusalem. Regarding acceptance of previous agreements concluded between Israel and the PLO, the platform states that the government merely “respects the...agreements signed by the PLO.” In addition, the agreement only discusses “respect” of previous internal Palestinian agreements and resolutions adopted by the Arab League, not agreements reached between the PLO and Israel, such as the Oslo accords.
... the Palestinians have yet to meet the minimal standards laid out for restoring the international aid that was cut off last year when Hamas came to power ... The U.S.-backed Roadmap peace plan, moreover, is singled out for scornful rejection. The platform states that “the government reiterates its rejection of the socalled state within temporary borders, stipulated in the U.S.-Israeli plan.” These statements fall well short of meeting the international requirement to accept and fulfill those accords. And, with the platform’s passage, Hamas has solidified
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: On behalf of L.O.V.E. (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly) and its board of directors, please accept a sincere thank you to the Jewish Press for the wonderful article on L.O.V.E. from its inception to the present day. It isn’t often that volunteers get such wonderful recognition. We all do what we do because it is rewarding -- volunteering at its best. Thank you again....not only for the article on L.O.V.E., but the whole Passover issue, which was outstanding. Eileen and Miles Remer Co-presidents, L.O.V.E.
To the Editor: The Passover edition of the Press is truly outstanding. I believe you have truly captured the heart of RBJH, the project and all the individuals involved there. I know this was a labor of love for you. Thank you for all your hard work and that of your staff. This is an issue to save and to savor. Joanie Bernstein Immediate Past President Jewish Senior Services/Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
its hold on the Palestinian government. The terrorist group will continue to hold a dominant majority in the Palestinian legislature and a plurality of cabinet seats. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas continues to hold office, as well, and there are no signs he’s rethinking his December statement that “resistance is the only solution, and the Palestinian government will never recognize Israel.” Clearly, the Palestinians have yet to meet the minimal standards laid out for restoring the international aid that was cut off last year when Hamas came to power and promptly refused to give up its fundamental commitment to Israel’s extermination. Fortunately, the Middle East Quartet--the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia-responded to the formation of the unity government with a statement reaffirming the boycott. Additionally, more than three-quarters of the Senate and half of the House of Representatives have signed letters to the European Union and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, respectively, urging no retreat on demands for the Palestinian government to recognize Israel, reject terrorism and accept fulfill past peace accords. Under U.S. leadership, the Quartet must continue to firmly insist on full Palestinian compliance with these three conditions before resuming assistance and engagement.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
Candlelighting Friday, April 13, 7:44 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
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 www.OChabad.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.tiferethisraellincoln.org
B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with guest speaker, Regional Director Alan Potash, who will discuss current issues of the ADL and Israel. The entire community is invited.
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Beth El; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:55 p.m. W E E K D AY S E R V I C E S : Sundays, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; weekdays 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. THURSDAYS, noon: Rabbi Levin leads Getting More Out of Prayer: Insights into the Siddur. BIBLE TRANSLATION FOR JEWS: Mini-course led by Prof. Leonard Greenspoon, scheduled for Thursdays, April 19, 26, and May 3, 7-8 p.m. JEWISH FILM SERIES: April 16, 7 p.m., at Beth El. Cost is $6 per session. For information, contact Margie Gutnik. ABBA, EEMA & ME: Play group for children from birth to three, and their parents on Wednesday, 9:30 a.m-11 a.m. Open to the Jewish Community at no charge. MOTHERS CIRCLE: Class for non-Jewish mothers raising Jewish children, continues Thursday, April 19, 7 p.m. and is open to the community, free of charge. Babysitting is available by request; call the office. TOT SHABBAT & DINNER: Friday, April 20, 6 p.m., led by “Miss Patty” Nogg. Cost is $5 for adults, free for children ages six and younger. Open to Jewish families in the community. For more information or to RSVP for dinner, e-mail Margie Gutnik at: programming@bethel-omaha. org or call the office. WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Monday, April 23, 7 p.m. Theme: “What Would You Save If Your House Was on Fire?” at the home of Caryl Greenberg, 2215 So. 86 Ave. RSVP to Judy Tully at 399.2088, or e-mail her at: judyt 1223@cox.net.
Tree of Life Center 2925 Prairie Road Lincoln, NE 68506 613.7443 email: treeoflife.rabbimichael @yahoo.com
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Allan Handleman, 334.6451, or Terri Greenwood, 334.6559.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 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.
FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Jordana Kurtzman in honor of Joshua’s eighth birthday; Mincha, 7:45 p.m. followed by Suedat Shlishit with Gemara class; Havdalah, 8:47 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; “Reading the Rambam” class, 9:45 a.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m. MONDAY: Hebrew Reading Crash Course, level 2, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY: Sisterhood’s “Spirit & Spirituality,” 8 p.m. at the home of Sharon Kirshenbaum. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Advanced Parsha Study, 7:30 p.m.
BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., at the synagogue.
CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Living Torah, 9:30 a.m., 20minute video broadcast; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit Services, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Maamar Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Halacha, 7 p.m. TUESDAY: W.O.W. Prayer Circle Tehillim & More, 9 a.m.; Parshah Roundup: Weekly Torah Portion Class, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m. All events and programs are open to the entire community.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Stephanie Dohner; Baby Naming at Tifereth for Netanya Sarah
Shaffin, daughter of Rabbi Royi and Shoshanna Shaffin, in the Shabbat Morning Service, with Kiddush luncheon following; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Robert Friedman. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 2-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; K-1, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Holocaust Memorial Dedication, 2 p.m. at Wyuka Cemetery; Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony, 4 p.m. at the State Capitol; performance of “The Train,” 7:30 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre. MONDAY: “Holocaust Deniers: Flat Earthers or a Genuine Threat?,” 7 p.m. with Deborah Lipstadt, historian and author of the book Denying the Holocaust, at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and ‘R’ Sts. WEDNESDAY: Hebrew class (grades 2-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel (Yom Hashoah program). FEDERATION SHABBAT: Friday, April 27, 7:45 p.m., at the South Street Temple. Marcia Kushner will be honored for her years of service to the Federation. The service will be led by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel, Rabbi Royi Shaffin, Jaine Evnen, and Sarah Kelen. Make your reservations for the Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, May 3, 7:30 a.m. at Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P St. Send your reservation to Jean by April 20 for $15 per person.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m., led by Marti Nerenstone and Beyt Shalom Congregation.
TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights; Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead the service. SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Jessica Levinger, daughter of Bonnie and Steve Levinger, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah; Havdalah in Pajamas, 5 p.m. with Steve Brodsky and all you
B’NAI MITZVAH Kevin Adler, son of Patti and David Adler, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 21, at Beth El. Kevin is a seventhgrade Honor student at Kiewit Middle School. He is the President of USY. He is a member of the Kiewit Middle School Academic
Team, and he fences with the Omaha Fencing Club He has a sister, Laura. Alexander Fox, son of Marta and Ira Fox, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 21, at Temple Israel. Alexander is a seventh-grade student at Lewis and Clark Middle School. He takes Algebra Honors and
Honors Special Projects. His interests include computer, skateboarding, tennis and art. For his mitzvah project, Alexander helps developmentally disabled kids at Munroe Meyer Institute. He has a brother, Michael. Grandparents are Nadia and Osyp Nimylowch of Philadelphia, PA and the late Rudy and Bee Fox.
can eat child-friendly buffet. (See full story on page 15.) SUNDAY: Teacher Learning Coffee, 9 a.m. with Steve Brodsky, regional educator for the Midwest Council of the Union for Reform Judaism; Family Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m.; Religious School (K-6), 10 a.m.-noon.; The 4 B’s: Behaving, Belonging, Believing and Bagels, 10:30 a.m.-noon When Your Parents Hit Their 70s: What Every Adult Child Should Know; Club 56 Picnic & a Mitzvah, noon on the lawn. Cost is $5; make some bagged lunches to share with an area shelters. TUESDAY: Adult B’nai Mitzvah, 6:30–8 p.m.; Executive Committee, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY: No Religious or Family School; Grades 7-12 and Dinner with author of Sala’s Gift, Ann Kirschner, 6-8 p.m.; Yom HaShoah, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Cantor Wendy Shermet, 10-11:30 a.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.
TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY and THURSDAY, 9 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. followed by a light oneg. SATURDAY: Weekly Parashah class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m. with Simcha Bat for Netanya Shaffin followed by Shabbat lunch. SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 2-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; K-1, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Holocaust Service, 11:15 a.m.; Holocaust Memorial Dedication, 2 p.m. at Wyuka Cemetery; Holocaust Commemoration, 4 p.m. at the State Capitol. WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group meets at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Call Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066; Hebrew class (grades 27), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth . ADULT EDUCATION Mondays April 16 and 23, 79 p.m. Hot Topics in Israeli Society with Rabbi Shaffin.
TREE OF LIFE CENTER Services conducted by Rabbi Rabbi Michael Weisser. FRIDAYS: Sabbath Experience, 7:30 p.m. Havdalah: SATURDAYS: Rites of Separation, 6:30 p.m.; following Havdalah Drumming Meditation until 8 p.m.; following Drumming Social Time until 10 p.m. Sitting/Silent MONDAYS: Meditation, 6 p.m.; Teachings/ Discussion, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAYS: Sitting/ Silent Meditation, 6 p.m.; 8 Weeks to Mindfulness Class, 7:30 p.m. Pictures from the Passover issue may be picked during regular business hours at the Jewish Press.
Pulverente MONUMENT CO.
April 13, 2007
Reflections on the dietary laws
SPARKS FROM THE WORD by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Shemini The laws of kashrut continue to be a mystery to Jews (at least some Jews) and gentiles alike. You can still get from many Jews an insistent opinion that these laws were in the main, laws for the protection of the health of people. There is no truth to this. I remember the opinion of the brilliant 12th century leader of the Jewish community who had many important relations as the leader of the Spanish community and its royalty, who pointed out the simple fact that Jews are not any healthier than non-Jews. (One remembers with chagrin when the Black Death scourged Europe in the 14th century, the fact that Jews were not quite as smitten as their non-Jewish neighbors -- largely because the Jews washed their hands before eating. Ironically, that turned into an excuse for pogroms, with the general population slandering Jews as poisoners of their wells.)
The Bible text itself makes it clear that the purpose of the dietary laws was to create a holy community. Holiness, by definition, really means set aside, different, not ordinary. And the Holiness Code in Leviticus emphasizes that Israel is to be holy because “I am holy.” The dietary laws, then, are chiefly to preserve the selfrespect of the observer. I read once that the rat will eat everything that you do, plus a lot more. It is the “a lot more” that is excluded by the laws of kashrut. In 1946, when I left New London, Connecticut, to come to Omaha, the congregation had a gala departure dinner at the best hotel in town. (I think they were happy to be able to set out to find a new rabbi.) The committee in charge impressed on the hotel staff that “Even though you can’t tell us what kind of fish you’ll have available on that date, it has to be a kosher fish, that is to say, a fish with scales.” The committee made this impression so deeply that when the people sat down to their banquet meal at the hotel, the excellent fish, carefully prepared and attractively served, was served with the scales! Your assignment now is to read the appropriate chapters of Leviticus to see why the fish must have scales. Editor’s note: this column originally appeared in the April 16, 2004, issue of the Jewish Press.
Families to observe Havdalah -in pajamas! at Temple Israel Zionsville, Indiana, as a camper and on by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel staff. GUCI is where I got turned on to Jewish music and learned to play the Communications Coordinator Yes, it’s okay to wear pajaguitar. I was very involved in youth mas to Temple Israel! “In group and camp all through high school. I moved to Colorado to attend fact, we expect everyone, kids college in Boulder and later moved to and adults, to come dressed Denver to take a job as the director of for bedtime,” emphasized Shwayder Camp of Congregation Temple’s Director of Emanuel. Education Elyce Azriel. In 1991, Brodsky and Josh Zweiback, Tomorrow, April 14, 5 who grew up in Omaha and is now a p.m., Steve Brodsky, singer, rabbi serving Congregation Beth Am songwriter, performer, cantorial soloist, and Jewish in Los Altos Hills, California, created music educator, will be in Mah Tovu, the popular Jewish rock ‘n Omaha to lead havdalah, Steve Brodsky will lead Havdalah in pajamas. roll band. Both Brodsky and Zweiback sing and play his guitar, and were advisors and song leaders for the have dinner with all families in the community who have North American Federation of Temple Youth-Missouri children from babies through sixth graders. Valley youth group in 1991. “We do still perform as There is no charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet, fol- Mah Tovu, along with our third partner, Rabbi Ken lowed by havdalah which is “a great time for families to Chasen (who lives in Los Angeles)…three or four times gather and say good by to Shabbat,” Brodsky said. He’ll a year.” Brodsky is also a member of a new band called teach the blessings for the havdalah symbols: the braid- Sababa which is an Arabic word that has become part of ed candle, the wine, and the spices. “The havdalah serv- the Israeli vernacular meaning awesome or really cool. ice will lead into a concert of fun Jewish music. We’ll He will bring CDs of both bands with him to Omaha to sing several songs and ‘stretch out’ Shabbat to make it sell. last just a little bit longer,” he added. Following his work at Shwayder Camp, Brodsky “There is a beautiful kind of haunting niggun, a simple worked for 11 years at A.R.E. Publishing, Inc., a commelody with no words except ‘lai, lai, lai.’ Then we sing pany that published and distributed Jewish educational ‘Eliyahu Hanavi,’ welcoming the coming of Elijah the materials. Brodksy and his wife Jill Katchen, who teachprophet who, according to Jewish legend, will herald the es a music class for young children, have two sons, coming of the Messiah, and ‘Shavua Tov,’ wishing each Benjamin, six, and Ari, two. Both boys “love music and other a good week. Havdalah is a great time for families, are singing all the time!” according to their father. and I’m sure parents will enjoy it along with the kids.” “Bring your blankets and your teddy bears,” said Brodsky, regional educator with the Union for Reform Azriel. “And be sure to wear your pajamas! I’ll be wearJudaism (URJ) Midwest Council, serves 67 Reform ing mine!” Make reservations with Temple at 556.6536. congregations in 12 states. He provides consultation, To Submit an Obituary Notice: resources, and training in all areas of lifelong Jewish Send full name, age, date of death, location of service and learning from early childhood through adult education. burial site, as well as other pertinent information to the Brodsky also works for the URJ Press, the publishing Jewish Press via e-mail: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org; division of the Union, as a marketing and support spefax, 402.334.5422; or mail, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE cialist. “I work with the CHAI Curriculum, URJ’s com68114. Obituaries--as well as engagements, marriages, comprehensive curriculum for Reform religious schools, and mitment ceremonies, and births--also can be submitted at with the Mitkadem Hebrew prayer and ritual program.” the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s website. Just go to: Originally from Indianapolis, Brodsky said he was “very www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press and click on involved” in his congregation, the Indianapolis Hebrew “Submit Announcements.” Guidelines are located on the Congregation. “I attended several Jewish camps and spent Jewish Press home page. six years at GUCI (Goldman Union Camp Institute) in
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
April 13, 2007
A picture is worth 1000 words... are Co-Chairmen of the Blumkin Home by OZZIE NOGG for RBJH/JSS Community Campaign. “The Open Forums are a great way for ...And on Tuesday evening, May 8, 7-9 p.m., the audience at the Open Forum for the community to get a ‘close-up- andthe Blumkin Home Community Campaign personal’ look at the incredible plans for will get a vivid picture of the Home’s New the Blumkin Home,” Joanie said. “You Beginning through a virtual tour that’s long won’t find a better guide on this virtual tour than Mike Silverman -- or a more on visual effects and short on speeches. “During the Forum we’ll electronically enthusiastic and passionate one. Boomers, walk everyone through the building,” said seniors, juniors, sons, daughters, wives, Mike Silverman, Executive Director of husbands and families of residents past Jewish Senior Services/Rose Blumkin and present -- we’ve all got a huge stake in the success and Jewish Home. quality of life at the “The tour will Rose Blumkin show the new Jewish Home, and Special Care Unit we owe it to ourfor individuals with selves and our early and mid-stage loved ones to make dementia, as well as it happen. These the enlarged and Forums provide refurbished resithe ideal opportudent rooms, the nity to see for sun rooms and yourself, ask queslounges, the synations, and get gogue, our beautiful Main Street and No access now from the Blumkin Home’s former caught up in the of common gathering west entrance, as construction workers dig the excitement basement for the Special Care Unit. reaching the goal.” areas. With help from early seed money, conHe added, “The pictures speak for themselves. They give a sense of actually struction on the New Beginning project being inside the building. More impor- is already underway at the RBJH site. tant, this virtual tour shows that our The Forums will give community memmany years of careful planning will deliv- bers the opportunity to ask questions er a Blumkin Home that is a premier regarding the design process, projected health care facility -- one that serves our time frames, and ways to participate in residents and the entire Omaha Jewish the fund raising effort. For answers to questions in advance of the Forums, community in the best possible way.” The May 8 open forum will be held at please call Howard Kooper at 397.4197. “This is everyone’s chance to learn and Ironwood Country Club, with a second forum scheduled for Wednesday, May help be a part of an amazing facility,” 30, at the Jewish Community Center. Paul Epstein said. “If there is one thing I Both run from 7-9 p.m. Paul and Sandy know about Omaha’s Jewish community, Epstein and Richard and Joanie Jacobson it is that we support each other both per-
sonally and monetarily. We’re counting on everyone to be a part of this mitzvah.” “My hope is that everyone in the community feels a part of this exciting adventure,” Sandy Epstein added. “These residents were once the pillars of our community. They deserve a place where they can live in dignity and beauty. Every dollar is needed, whether it be from a grandchild of a resident or from someone who has never even visited the Home. None of us knows how -- or when -- we will need the services of the Home, so we want it to be the best. We can all help by being involved, informed and actively step up to the plate.”
In Richard Jacobson’s view, “This is one of the greatest undertakings assumed by our community in years, and also one of the greatest opportunities to pass a first-class facility on to the next generation. The design of the building and services offered are like no other. We thought an Open Forum would be the best way to convey these plans to the general community and invite discussion. We hope hundreds of people will take advantage of the offer and attend.” Dessert will be served at both forums, and reservations are encouraged. Please call Sandy Epstein at 397.2528, or e-mail her at: slepstein@cox.net.
Bag one for a good cause by ANDREA BARTMAN for JSS/RBJH Preparations are underway for “An Old Bag Affair” on Wednesday, April 25, 6 p.m., at the JCC. This fundraiser for the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is being organized by L.O.V.E., the League Offering Volunteers for the elderly. A light buffet dinner and accessory shopping L.O.V.E. volunteers, Eileen Remer, left, Ilse Kahn, Judi Yoo from vendors including and Gloria Goodman prepare a drop box at the RBJH for Material Girl, Accessorize handbags donated for auction. That!, and Cathy Fife’s House in Blair RBJH. Cost for the evening is $18 per are on the night’s agenda. An auction of person and one donated handbag. new handbags, donated by each Reserved tables of eight people each attendee and by the above vendors will may be purchased for $120 and one be the centerpiece of the evening’s handbag per person. Reservations are events. All proceeds from the auction due by April 20. To RSVP, please conand a portion of proceeds from the ven- tact Lois Wine, Director of Volunteer dor’s sales will benefit Residents at the Services at 330.4272.