April 19, 2013

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

Six students awarded Sokolof Scholarships

April 19, 2013 9 Iyar 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 31

This Week

by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation College-bound seniors Joe Hack and Tal Margalit have each been awarded a $10,000 Phil and Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Merit Scholarship. These awards are not based on need, but on the late Phil Sokolof ’s criteria of personal achievement, scholastic performance, community service and overall good character.

Following Sokolof ’s same criteria, $10,000 scholarships were awarded to two Omaha area residents in the field of Health Care. Winners of Health Care scholarships are Josh Bleicher and Nancy Handler.

To honor his daughter whose talent and appreciation of music and theater arts inspired him, Sokolof created the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund for students pursuing degrees in music performance, composition or music education. This year’s recipients are Adeev Potash and Ezra Potash.

The Phil and Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund and Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Fund are both administered by the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Suzanne Singer chairs the committee that selected the award winners.

Recipients will be honored Thursday, May 16 at the Jewish Community Center following the 7 p.m. Live from NY’s 92nd Street Y broadcast about OneVoice, a grassroots organization dedicated to finding a peace-

A symbolic garden blooms at the JCC Page 6

Weightism featured topic at ADL’s Educator Breakfast Page 7

A Mission to the Jews of Cuba Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Month Mother’s Day See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

Josh Bleicher

Joe Hack

Nancy Handler

Tal Margalit

Adeev Potash

Ezra Potash

ful two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher of the Year will be announced in the

May 3 issue of the Jewish Press, and will be honored at this event.

Joe Hack Joe is a senior at Westside High

School. An Advanced Placement (AP) Distinguished Scholar, Joe taught himself two years of Latin Continued on page 2

Friedel Tribute Dinner honors all donors

by DEBBIE DENENBERG On Sunday, May 19, at the Jewish Community Center, the entire community is invited to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated addition at Friedel Jewish Academy. Our Sixth Annual Tribute Celebration will honor all capital campaign donors in an entertaining and informative evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the social hall with appetizers and a silent auction. Guests may bid on items from sponsors, including Parsow’s, HyVee, Bergman Jewelers, Canfield and the Marriott, or on themed baskets developed by each classroom like the Sports Basket, the Reader’s Basket or the Family Games Night Basket. Silent auction proceeds

From left to right: Moe Blair, Noah Shrago and Noah Blair go to cover the cost of special programming such as visual arts, music and field trips.

At 6:15 p.m. Star Catering will serve a dairy buffet dinner, upscale with a surprise theme. From 7:30 to 8 p.m. the community will be treated to a video and program including musical selections by students. The Riekes family will say a few words on behalf

of the evening’s honorees. A dessert reception will follow until 8:30 p.m. when we call it an early night.

Friedel students will conduct tours of the new space, giving attendees a first look. The new construction that we’ve all observed from the outside contains an expanded commons, newly-remodeled offices, a conference room, a health room, a technol-

ogy closet, a teacher work space, a full service kitchen, and two new classrooms.

Friedel Principal Pam Cohn offered this invitation: “We are so excited about the additional space the renovation has provided. We are extremely grateful to our “forward thinking” donors who understand the importance of providing quality, innovative, and challenging education for our Jewish youth. We hope that the community will consider using our space for any educational programming that occurs outside of normal school hours. We invite you to come for a tour to see what Friedel has to offer. You can’t appreciate how special Friedel is until you see and experience it for yourself.”

The renovated Riekes Museum will also be open to explore. This authentic, holy room traces the past of the Jewish community in Omaha through our historic synagogues. For years, Friedel students have enjoyed the space and brought it alive, using it weekly as a chapel for morning prayer and holiday celebrations.

With the Friedel renovation, the Riekes Museum has been moved to Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

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Sokolof Scholarships awarded Continued from page 1 curriculum, took 4th year AP Latin as a sophomore, and did two years of independent study in Latin. Joe earned a Summa Cum Laude honor on the National Latin Exam. He won the Distinguished English Student of the Year three years in a row and was a member of the Academic Quiz Bowl team every year. As a member of National Honor Society he participated in various service projects. Joe was named Psychology Student of the Year in 2012.

Joe serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Lance, his school newspaper. He received a first place Nebraska High School Press Association Award for In-Depth Coverage, first place for best Sports Story and third place for Best News Story from University of Nebraska at Omaha’s High School Media Contest. During his junior year, Joe undertook the Food Stamps Challenge and wrote an article about his experience.

He also is a member of the Ethical Literacy Committee.

Describing him as “intellectually gifted,” his Latin teacher wrote, “Joe has an incredible gift with words... Our faculty has recognized Joe as an outstanding student. In addition to his awards, he was nominated by the faculty at large for Boy’s State.”

Since running is an integral part of his life, Joe has been a member of the cross-country and track teams every year since 2007. Another area of interest is music; he played trombone in high school bands for three years. Currently, Joe is a member of Varsity Choir and was a Bass 2 selection to All-State Choir. He performs with an a cappella singing group and looks forward to continuing with his musical development in college.

Environmental activism and outdoor activities such as backpacking and camping are also important to Joe. He volunteers as a teacher-naturalist on weekends at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods, leads educational hikes for visitors and helps with restoration projects. An avid birdwatcher, he spent a month backpacking in Alaska last summer. Joe also assisted a government ornithologist to monitor bird populations in Canada. He aspires to work in conservation and address the pressing consequences of climate change.

Joe won first place at the B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz, two years in a row. He is a member of Omaha Temple Youth Group and volunteered at Shwayder Camp one summer.

Joe is the son of Rosie Zweiback and Mace Hack. He plans to attend a university that has a strong ecology and environmental science program, such as Princeton, UNC-Chapel Hill or Stanford University.

Tal Margalit A senior at Central High School, Tal has taken AP and Honors courses every year. She is a member of National Honor Society and has been enrolled in Honors Enrichment Math for four years. Every year, she helped plan and host a middle school math contest. In 2012 she appeared in a musical that focused on math skills. Tal was in Spanish National Honor Society and was a competitor for two years in a chemistry competition held for Omaha area high school students.

In 2011, Tal participated in Inclusive Communities’ IncluCity, participating in activities that highlighted the diversity in our society and difficulties that some people face. She is an active member of the Diversity Club and has served as the Key Club President since 2009.

Tal volunteers every Sunday as a student leader for the Turtle Project at Siena/Francis House, developing creative opportunities for children who stay at the shelter. She interacts with the children through games, discussions, and arts and crafts. Additionally, for the past two years she has been the logistics coordinator for the Omaha Student Board of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Tal has enjoyed horseback riding since 2001. She volunteers every week to work with children at Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy. The program enhances therapy sessions for disabled children through the use of horses.

In her letter of recommendation, one of Tal’s teachers wrote, “She sees beyond race, gender, creed, sexual preference, age, or economic status. Tal’s welcoming nature is endearing to her peers as well as adults.” Her school counselor noted, “What stands out most are her extracurricular activities and volunteer experiences because she gets involved in those which seek social awareness and change.

She is conscientious of the big picture and wants to make things better for others.”

Tal participates in United Synagogue Youth (USY) and served as Purim Carnival Chair for two years. She was a tutor for three years at Beth El, helping students prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. She worked as a counselor last summer at Camp Gan Israel in Omaha. Additionally, last summer, Tal worked with Ethiopian immigrants in Israel.

Tal’s parents are Ruth and Eyal Margalit. Tal would like to obtain a liberal arts education at a small college with strong sociology and history programs, community service and internships.

Josh Bleicher After graduating from Brownell-Talbot High School, Josh

attended Iowa Western Community College, earning certification as a nursing assistant. Then he earned a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy. He currently attends the State University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Josh chose to attend medical school in order to help people and decided to maximize his potential as a physician by obtaining a masters degree in global health. He has been accepted to work on a Masters of Science in Global Science at the University of San Francisco. The field of global health attempts to assess and change the inequalities in societies.

Josh gained valuable experience when he volunteered for ten weeks last summer at a clinic in East Timor in Southeast Asia.

An assistant dean at the University of Iowa’s College of Medicine wrote, “Josh’s interest in International Public Health was increased substantially when he was in East Timor. While he thoroughly enjoyed his clinical experiences, he was more interested in exploring global health issues and policies. He wants to work with the underserved, tackle issues such as availability of clean water, and evaluate the efficacy of the systems already in place. This experience led him to decide to take a year away from medical school to learn more about these problems and position himself to help solve some of them in the future.”

The director of global programs at the University of Iowa noted that Josh experienced “...a particularly challenging independent summer-long global health project in East Timor... He is now in the process of pursuing Global Health Distinction Track status in the medical school and has made the maximum progress towards this goal.”

Josh is president of the Global Medicine Society at the University of Iowa. This organization is an educational group that hosts speakers from around the world. Josh coordinates global health related activities and organizes speakers and social events related to international health.

Josh was an Essay Finalist for the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.

At Washington University, Josh was a board member of Chabad Student Association and Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, and chaired fundraising efforts for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He also tutored underprivileged children and served as Special Olympics volunteer for three years.

In addition to attending medical school, Josh is a technology coordinator at the University of Iowa.

Josh is the son of Jon and Helen Bleicher.

Nancy Handler Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California-Santa Cruz, earned graduate credit at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), and has been accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine. She will begin medical school this fall.

As a certified Long Term Care Ombudsman for the states of California and Nebraska, Nancy interacts with hospice residents, residents with dementia and residents with psychiatric disorders. She has worked since 2008 to ensure that the daily and medical needs of each resident are being met by the facility.

Nancy worked as an organic chemistry researcher and received the UCARE Award for Organic Chemistry.

Additionally, she conducted research in analytical chemistry with a faculty researcher at UNO. One study was published in the Analytical Chemistry Journal, and another was recently accepted for publication by the American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. Nancy was also a Teaching Assistant for Biology 101 at UNL. Nancy was a Project Medishare Volunteer in Haiti last summer, where she provided medical care at the only trauma hospital. She is a certified wound specialist and treated patients with ulcers and gunshot wounds, and post-surgical patients. She also monitored premature infants and attended to paralyzed patients.

In his letter of recommendation, her chemistry professor wrote, “I often write letters of recommendation about students who I know will be good doctors in the future, but Nancy stands out in the crowd... Nancy not only graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she started her own successful tutoring business and simultaneously helped care for her aging grandmother. With all the juggle of life, business and school before her, she excelled in her studies.”

Her love of sewing led Nancy to found Project Stitch, a program teaching paraplegics and amputees the skill of sewing. Another program she created is called Rims and Stems, a community service project using a sewing pattern she created for a bag that attaches to walkers or wheelchairs.

Nancy is also the group leader for the “Sew Pink” team that has been raising money since 2001 for breast cancer awareness through Komen Race for the Cure.

As an undergraduate, Nancy was a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. She played intramural soccer, Continued on page 4

April 19, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 3

The perfect time to join your JCC

Jewish conspiracy theories: What’s not to love

Did I mention all of the updates happening around the JCC Campus? Members can experience the updated lower locker rooms, free towel service at the pools, brand-new Stott Pilates Reformers, TRX Classes, soon-to-come renovated Teen Lounge, Youth Department, Fit-n-Sit, and Canteen areas, and our new environmentally-friendly drinking fountain with a built in water bottle refill station.

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by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life Rabbi Jonathan Gross can’t recall a time that he wasn’t intrigued with the excitement and mystery that are at the heart of conspiracy theories. “Investigating conspiracy theories on one level is interesting and challenging. But once you become absorbed with the story, you realize that you have to learn more about the history, the facts, and the surrounding context of the story to understand it completely,” he explained.

As an example, the conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy began immediately at the time of his death on Nov. Rabbi Jonathan Gross 22, 1963. Interest and investigation of these theories have ebbed and flowed over time, yet they are a lasting part of the American culture and remain a source of intrigue to this day. “In the Oliver Stone docu-drama ‘JFK,’ Stone examines the events leading to the assassination and the alleged cover-up that followed through the eyes of the former district attorney Jim Garrison” said Gross. He noted that even though Stone may have exercised artistic license in the telling of the tale, “if you follow the conspiracy theory, you have to learn about the politics, the relationships, and the events of the time. In the same way, exploring Jewish conspiracy theories has always led me to a fuller knowledge of the history of the Jewish people.”

After reading a book new to the Kripke Jewish Federation Library, The Aleppo Codex by Matti Friedman, Rabbi Gross reflected on how studying conspiracy theories has been such an enjoyable way for him to learn. With the kernel of an idea, he has developed a three-week class called “Jewish Conspiracy Theories.” The classes will focus on some fascinating true stories of intrigue, unsolved mysteries, and airbrushed scandals that have captured the imagination of the

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Jewish people. Sessions will meet May 3, 10, and 24 from 11 am – noon in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library.

The challenge for Gross was to narrow the field down to a manageable number of conspiracies. After all, a lot has happened over the past 1,000 or more years. The three stories he has selected for the class will include The Stolen Crown of Aleppo, The Kidnapping of Yossele Schumacher Class and The Modern Sabbateans.

Here’s a quick taste of the first conspiracy that will be covered. The Stolen Crown of Aleppo includes the quest to discover what really happened to Judaism’s most important book which was created by Tiberian scribes in circa 939.

Housed since the 15th century in the Great Synagogue of Aleppo, Syria, it was thought to have been destroyed in a fire in 1947. It was then discovered that it had been rescued and kept in a secret hiding place. Who rescued it? How did it land in Israel’s Ben-Zvi Institute? Why were nearly half of its pages missing by the time it arrived? And how does it tie to the founding of the State of Israel?

Intrigued? Want to learn more? Then register for the class today by contacting Mark Kirchhoff, 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org. The class fee is $27, reduced to $21 for those in good standing with the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. “Jewish Conspiracy Theories” is presented by the Center for Jewish Life as part of its mission to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

Friedel Tribute Dinner Continued from page 1 the JCC front entrance for all to experience, freeing up much-needed classroom space at growing Friedel.

Everyone is invited to enjoy our community’s accomplishment -- Friedel, a thriving Jewish Community Day School. Tickets are $118 for dinner and program, or $36 for dessert reception and program only. Please make reservations by contacting Debbie Kricsfeld at 402.393.2714 or dkricsfeld4@aol.com.

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4 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

Temple OTYG news

by DAVID GOLBITZ program about climate change before enjoying a social that learned that I have found my family.”

Temple Israel Staff Writer evening near the St. Louis Arch, where they went on a river Having grown up with seniors like Hannah Perry and OTYG recently attended its regional spring chavurah at boat ride up and down the Mississippi.

Morissa Miller as role models, Hannah Budwig feels a little St. Louis’ own Temple Israel, where it won Chavurah of the “It was really relaxed,” Hannah said. “It was nice to be able scared going into next year without them, but “I feel kind of Year for the fall chavurah held at Omaha’s Temple Israel to hang out and socialize. There wasn’t much time to relax honored to be taking their place,” she said. back at the beginning of November last year. earlier in the day, because there was just so much going on.”

The spring chavurah was also the last major event for In addition to handing out awards--Ariell Kohll OTYG Youth Advisor Amy Katz, who is stepping also won the Ruach award, given to the youth who down after six years. most embodies the spirit of NFTY--the youth “Being an advisor is a great privilege,” she said. groups came together to elect a new regional board “Over the years you realize just how much you and celebrate the seniors who will be moving on to impact certain kids. At the chavurah in St Louis I college next year, including OTYG President had several kids from other cities come up to me Hannah Perry and Morissa Miller. and thank me for making a difference in their lives.

“It’s going to be strange having a regional board I will miss the kids, but I have some big projects on who are seniors, my age,” said junior Hannah the horizon and am looking forward to some new Budwig. “When we were freshmen, the board seemed challenges.” so out of reach, so much older than us, and now In addition to senior Morissa Miller and junior they’re my peers that I’ve known for three years.”

Hannah Budwig, OTYG members who went to St. A special seniors-only event was held on Louis include senior Hannah Perry; juniors Jacob Thursday, April 4, before the rest of the kids got to Arnold and Maddie Jensen; sophomore Jake Vann; town for the weekend chavurah. and freshmen Sophie Budwig, Abby Hack, Madelyn OTYG celebrated its last big event of the year at St. Louis’ Temple Israel.

“We went to Camp Wyman and spent the night in Miller and Abby Reiss. the cabins, just hanging with all the seniors,” Morissa Miller The weekend was bittersweet for OTYG’s seniors.

The next president of OTYG, along with other members of said. “It was so much fun to be able to bond with all of the “As a senior it was weird thinking that it was my last the Board, will be elected by a committee made up of clerkids I am going to miss so much next year.” event,” Morissa said. “Leaving on Sunday was very hard. gy, the current president, one senior, a parent representative The seniors returned to Temple Israel on Friday and The only thing that helped was knowing that because these and Amy Katz. Any member of OTYG who would like to be awaited their fellow OTYGers, who arrived in the after- are such great friends, I will make an effort my whole life to nominated for any of the positions on the Board must fill noon. After dinner with their host families, the kids make sure that I stay close with them. The whole time I’ve out the candidate contract they received in the mail and returned to the temple for Shabbat services. been in NFTY, since 7th grade, I’ve been trying to figure out send it in by April 27. The OTYG Board will be announced On Saturday, the youth groups engaged in a social action what I was getting out of all of these amazing trips. I have at the beginning of May.

Sokolof Scholarships awarded Continued from page 2 instructed kickboxing and taught sewing lessons.

Nancy is the daughter of Deanice Beck and Glenn Handler.

Adeev Potash Adeev graduated from Westside High School. An accomplished trumpet player, he currently is a student in the Purchase College Jazz Studies Program at State University of New York (SUNY), with a major in Jazz Studies and minor in Instrumental Brass. He plans to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in music.

From the moment he began playing the trumpet in 6th grade, Adeev knew he had found his destiny: to be a musician. He participated in music programs, took private trumpet lessons and developed an affinity for jazz music in particular.

At Westside, Adeev performed in the Concert Jazz Band, Show Choir Band, Warrior Concert Band, Varsity Marching Band and Pep Band. He also was a member of the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra and Omaha Area Youth Symphony.

Adeev was selected as a Nebraska All-State Musician four years in a row. He also received the Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Great Plains Festival and the top senior jazz award at Westside.

With his brother Ezra, Adeev co-founded a jazz ensemble that performs at special events and private parties including the Warren Buffet/Berkshire Hathaway annual stockholder event. They are so well-received that they are invited back each year and will be playing at the shareholders reception at Borsheim’s on May 3.

Adeev is lead trumpet of his college’s Big Band and Afro-

Cuban Big Band, and performs as the featured artist at various venues in New York City. Adeev and his brother perform as the Potash Twintet and released their debut album, Twintuition, on iTunes last summer.

In his letter of recommendation, Adeev’s jazz professor wrote, “When I heard Adeev’s prowess in the upper register of the trumpet, I knew that I was listening to someone with a special talent. I conduct the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York, the successor to the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and I must tell you that Adeev has exceeded my expectations. He not only practices hard, he prepares his lessons with skill and maturity well beyond his years.”

While in high school, he spent three years serving as an intern for Representative Lee Terry. He also volunteered at Herzl Camp, was a teacher’s aide at Beth El Synagogue, served as president of the USY chapter and participated in the B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz.

Adeev is the son of Amy Nachman and Alan Potash.

Ezra Potash Ezra’s first musical instrument was the baritone horn.

After two years, he switched to the tuba and sousaphone. In middle school, his interest in jazz music led Ezra to turn his attention to the trombone. In high school, Ezra continued playing the tuba in school bands, and eventually switched to bass trombone.

According to a school counselor, “When I think of a student that has a true passion for something, Ezra Potash comes to mind first... music is his ‘life.’ He takes every opportunity given to him to practice, perform and build upon his already outstanding ability. His ability to balance academics and music endeavors is amazing.”

Like his twin brother Adeev, Ezra graduated from Westside High School. He was a member of Westside’s Concert Jazz Band, Show Choir Band, Warrior Concert Band, Varsity Marching Band and Pep Band. He also performed with the Nebraska All-State Jazz Band, Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Omaha Area Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Describing Ezra as “...one of the finest trombone players I have ever had,” his high school band director wrote, “He is an incredible musician, very talented and destined to be a part of the musical performance industry.”

Ezra was selected as a Nebraska All-State Musician, one year for tuba and two years for bass trombone. He also received the Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Great Plains Jazz Festival and Outstanding Music Leader at Westside. During his high school years, Ezra was active in BBYO, USY, and participated in the B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz.

He served as a counselor-in-training at Herzl Camp. At Beth El Synagogue, he spent three years as a teacher’s aide.

His interests also include politics: Ezra worked as an intern for Representative Lee Terry for three years.

Ezra is striving to make it to the top of the New York City Jazz “scene.” He studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and studies with the top bass trombonist in New York, Dave Taylor. Taylor has performed with the Rolling Stones, Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis. Ezra will be attending the Manhattan School for Music in the Fall. Additionally, Ezra and his brother have cultivated a relationship with Wynton Marsalis, who helped both of them get their start in New York City.

Ezra’s parents are Amy Nachman and Alan Potash.

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April 19, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 5

April 28 Beth El Youth Scholarship Concert Chasnoff ’s humor fueled by ‘madness of the modern world’

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Being a class clown can mean frequent trips to the principal’s office. Or, in the case of Joel Chasnoff, it can be considered on-the-job training. As a kid, Chasnoff said he used humor to compensate for his small stature; he also realized as early as kindergarten that he could draw attention by making people laugh.

So it was only natural that years later, he would choose standup comedy as his livelihood.

Getting laughs has paid off for the 39year-old Chicago native: he has opened for both Jon Stewart and Lewis Black, entertained audiences around the world, and has been featured on American and Israeli television. Now, on Joel Chasnoff Sunday, April 28, Chasnoff will work his magic when he headlines “A Comedian, a Choir and a Cantor!� Beth El Synagogue’s 2013 Youth Scholarship Concert. The 7 p.m. event will be held at the synagogue, 14506 California St. Chasnoff has been serious about comedy since his youth, when he caught the theater bug in high school, and then as a student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Growing up Jewish has provided the comedian with an overabundance of entertaining anecdotes, as evidenced in both his stand-up performances and his 2010 memoir, The 188th Crybaby Brigade: A Skinny Jewish Kid from Chicago Fights Hezbollah, which chronicles his year as a combat soldier with the Israeli Defense Forces. Joining the IDF at age 24, and being the lone American among 18-year-old Israelis, Chasnoff described himself as being surrounded by “a platoon of mama’s boys and crybabies carrying loaded weapons The memoir is both hilarious and poignant. Early on, as he introduces himself to the reader, Chasnoff writes, “I grew up with a strong Jewish identity. Like most of my friends, my family was what’s known as Conservative Jews, which basically meant that we picked and chose which rules to follow and made up others as we went along. Friday nights, we ate Sabbath dinner and refrained from watching television, unless there was a Cubs game on. We ate only kosher food at home, but on vacation we ate pretty much everything except pork. This made being Jewish easy and fun: we simply followed God’s commandments until His laws became a pain in the ass.�

He also shares with the reader reasons why he shouldn’t be in the army, saying, “I’m a peacenik. I hate guns. I’ve never been in a fistfight in my life. I grew up listening to Peter, Paul & Mary, and Simon & Garfunkel, and I truly believe, that, as John Lennon said, we should give peace a chance. In other words, I don’t hate Arabs. So why would a peace-loving, leftleaning, lactose-intolerant Jew from the suburbs join the Israeli Army?�

The answer to that question lies in the author’s long-held

2013-14 BBYO Cornbelt Council Presidents Meet the new 2013-2014 BBYO Omaha Council Presidents, Rachel Saag and Tyler Siegel. After making speeches and presenting their platforms to Council members, they were installed immediately following elections held Tuesday, April 9.

Rachel, a junior at Elkhorn South High School and Tyler, a junior at Westside High School will lead MidAmerica Region events and will represent Omaha at the 2014 International Convention in Dallas, Texas.

dream to give back to Israel. “I grew up with a strong Israel identity from Jewish day school,� he said, “and after all that and the visits to Israel, I didn’t think it fair that Jews call Israel our homeland but let Israelis defend it. So I joined after college. “I look back on it as one of the greatest experiences of my life,� he continued. “I learned how much I can do beyond what I think I can do, physically and psychologically. And I now have a lifelong bond with Israel that only IDF service can provide.�

Chasnoff, a New York City resident who teaches stand-up comedy and humor writing at the 92nd Street ‘Y,’ alsobelieves in giving back to his community. A portion of the proceeds from his performances and book are donated to Project Elijah, his foundation which benefits “Part of the Solution,� a soup kitchen in the Bronx, American Jewish World Service, Doctors Without Borders, and activities for low-income New York City public schools. The 188th Crybaby Brigade will be available for purchase following his April 28 performance; it will also be available in Beth El’s Judaica Shop. Thanks to Chasnoff ’s generosity, a portion of the profits from books sold at the synagogue will be donated to the congregation’s Youth Scholarship Fund.

Audiences across the spectrum of Jewish knowledge and observance find his humor intelligent, insightful and - most importantly - funny. Scott Simon a Beth El congregant who has seen Chasnoff perform, says he looks forward to the upcoming performance. “I saw Joel at a Federation Awards function at the Waiting Room in Benson,� said Simon. “He’s a great guy and is extremely funny, and can definitely relate, since he’s a younger Jewish guy with a family.�

Other accolades have come from sources such as Moment magazine, which wrote, “Chasnoff delights audiences by poking loving fun at the trials, the joys - the sheer oddities, for that matter - of growing up Jewish�; the Los Angeles Jewish Journal: “While comics such as Chris Rock and Margaret Cho riff on their respective minority cultures, Chasnoff does the same about growing up Jewish�; Kirkus Reviews, which called The 188th Crybaby Brigade “horrifyingly hilarious�; and from Richard Joel, President of Yeshiva University, who said, “I am impressed not only with the humor of Joel’s act, but also the source of his humor. One cannot help but recognize the value he places on the rich traditions of Judaism. It is very intelligent humor that brings audiences a deeper appreciation of what it means to be Jewish in a modern world.�

For his part, Chasnoff expresses gratitude that he has been able to make his passion his livelihood. “Just being able to make a living consistently should be any comedian’s proudest achievement,� he said. “There are so many obstacles to a career in the arts, the uncertainty of it all, that to hammer out a living year after year is a considerable accomplishment.�

The April 28 Beth El show is open to everyone in the community. Tickets start at $18, and may be purchased online at www.bethel-omaha.org,or by sending a check made payable to Beth El - to the synagogue, c/o “Beth El Cantor’s Concert.� Tickets will also be available at the door.

For more information, contact the synagogue office, 402.492.8550, or Hazzan Michael Krausman, at hazzan krausman@bethel-omaha.org.

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Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Ivy League professor, author and scholar Susannah Heschel will discuss her recently published book, The Aryan Jesus on Wednesday, April 24, noon, in the Blumkin Home Auditorium.

An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish has been called the Robin Hood of languages. The vocabulary of Yiddish is drawn from German (mostly), Hebrew, Slavic tongues, Romance languages, and English.

Yiddish bears the marks of our expulsions from land to land. It has absorbed the laments of generations, the poisons and the bitterness of history, the language whose precious jewels are undried Jewish tears. Yiddish stresses the humor in every situation because the reality for Jews is most often too difficult to bear. That is what we offer-fun and laughter.

Come join us at the Blumkin Home’s Boardroom every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

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6 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

Temple Israel retreat a great success Thank you to our community partners for contributing to the Weekend Food Program!

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by DAVID GOLBITZ God and prayer may be quite different and Temple Israel Staff Writer individual,” Shelley Smith said. “And that Temple Israel welcomed a special guest for ‘wrestling with God,’ or the concept of God, the first weekend in April: Cantor Ellen is, and has always been, an ongoing process.”

Dreskin, who led the Shabbat service before Saturday ended with a havdalah service the First Friday dinner on April 5 and guid- around a bonfire, with music and stories. ed about 20 congregants through a spiritual Sunday began with an optional prayer retreat at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City service at 8:30 a.m., which most of the class on Saturday and Sunday.

Cantor Dreskin, the Coordinator of the Cantorial Certification Program at the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR in New York, joined Rabbis Aryeh Azriel and Josh Brown and Cantor Wendy Shermet Friday night in ushering in the Sabbath with song and prayer at a All the students at the retreat had a chance to hold the Torah, candle lighting ceremony seen here as Mace Hack hands it off to his wife Rosie Zweiback. before services. She then led the congregation through a musical participated in, because “they were enjoying Shabbat service with her guitar, accompa- learning from [Cantor Dreskin] so much,” nied by the First Friday band.

Wendy said.

Saturday ushered in a weekend of prayer The retreat ended with a two-hour session and introspection in Nebraska City, during on Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah, at which which Cantor Dreskin urged her “congre- Cantor Dreskin explained that Kabbalistic gants” to delve deep inside themselves and teaching removes the academic perspective fully contemplate the Sabbath. from the act of prayer and worship, and that The morning began with an “ice breaker,” it is really all about the heart. as one participant put it. Each person was “Saturday was about articulating your given a sheet of paper with a conceptual God theology, but the Sunday session was phrase written on it, such as “foreign coun- more about finding a path, the right path for tries” or high heel shoes.” Cantor Dreskin you, to feel close to the sacred.” Wendy said. had everyone write down a few words they “Being in a relationship with Ellen Dreskin would use to describe the concept and then and with other Temple members for 24 hours pass their sheet of paper on to the next per- was truly a magical Shabbat experience,” son. After everyone had written their Board President Sally Kaplan said. “These descriptions, the papers were divided up and kinds of opportunities to learn, worship and each participant was asked to write at the top play together are the heart of congregational of their paper, “Prayer is like...” whatever life. We need to do as many of them as we can.” their concept was, and then create a poem Added Todd Hutton: “On the occasion of using the words that everyone contributed. this Shabbat retreat, Cantor Dreskin gave Following the poetry session, Cantor each of us reason to have greater awareness Dreskin led her class in an alternative of the holiness that each moment of every Shabbat morning service that could be day offers when we choose to pay attention.” likened to a study group.

“The weekend proved to be refreshingly “It was a Shabbat service filled with explo- full of insightful knowledge with excellent ration and interpretation,” Program energy,” added Lourdes Secola. “I thank Director Wendy Goldberg said. “She was a Temple and the Hermene Zweiback Fund of guide and she helped us connect to the text Jewish Learning for including Cantor Ellen and she made me feel like what you bring to Dreskin and her programming.” the moment of prayer is the most important The Temple Israel congregants weren’t the piece as opposed to relying on the spiritual only ones who raved about the retreat expeleader or the book. She gave us some tools rience. Cantor Dreskin herself had a meanwe could use to bring the tradition and ritu- ingful visit. als of our services and make them more rel“My experience in Omaha was absolutely evant to us on a personal level.” delightful, from the warmth of the Friday After lunch, the class participated in a ses- evening service to the celebration of every sion called “God Shopping,” in which they aspect of Shabbat on the retreat,” she said. explored the various Jewish ideas about “Torah, prayer, significant discussions, God. The session also presented an oppor- leisure time, good food and outstanding tunity for small groups to have meaningful companions, who could ask for more? conversation about the nature of God. “I am very grateful to Wendy Goldberg “[Cantor Dreskin] helped everyone be and the entire congregation for sharing the comfortable wherever they are in the ‘God warmth of Jewish Nebraska with me. I wish conversation,’” Wendy said. the entire congregation years of celebration “For me, it was a way to learn more about and blessing in y’all’s new home.” the traditional prayers and Torah readings Cantor Dreskin’s visit to Temple Israel was and what they can mean, while at the same sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback time recognizing that our own concepts of Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning.

A symbolic garden blooms at the JCC

by OZZIE NOGG If you wonder why blue pinwheels have sprouted from the grass in front of the JCC, here’s the story.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. To mark the observance, Jewish Family Service joined groups across the country who planted Pinwheels for Prevention to honor and celebrate the kids in their communities. “These ‘pinwheel gardens’ serve as the new national symbol for child abuse preven-

tion,” said Karen Gustafson, Executive Director of JFS. “They remind us of the need for better parenting -and reflect hope, health and safety -which JFS wants for our children and for children everywhere.

We give a special thank you to the Pennie Z. Davis Family Life Education Fund for underwriting this program.”

The Pinwheels for Prevention will be on display through the end of April.

April 19, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 7

Weightism featured topic at ADL’s Educator Breakfast

by LIZZY GILBERT Corporate & Community Development, Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) - Plains States Region will hold its final Educator Breakfast of the 2012-2013 school year on Wednesday, May 1, from 7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. The event will offer an intriguing look at the issue of weight bias or “weightism,” and how it affects our communities. Featuring two segments from HBOs powerful documentary, The Weight of the Nation, the breakfast will address the issue of weight through two lenses: 1) Stigma; and 2) Poverty and Obesity.

The first segment, Stigma: The Human Cost of Obesity, looks at the prejudice faced by obese people and the enormous toll it can take. Some people tease others about their weight, perhaps thinking the teasing would help motivate them to lose weight. But evidence points to the contrary: the pain and isolation many overweight and obese people feel can actually contribute to future weight gain, rather than setting them on a path toward better health.

The second segment, Poverty and Obesity: When Healthy Food Isn’t an Option, addresses some of the systemic factors that can contribute to being overweight. Even in a country as developed as the United States, something as innocuous as the neighborhood one lives in can affect their health and, in turn, their lifespan. When it comes to obesity and its related chronic diseases, some evidence suggests that zip code may matter more than your genetic code. This bonus short offers a sweeping view of the issues surrounding socioeconomic disparities that can dramatically affect not just health, but life expectancy. The segment touches down in cities across the country, giving viewers the opportunity to hear from local residents and preeminent thinkers on the issue.

Following the films, the ADL will lead a panel discussion featuring local experts discussing not only the psychological and health aspects of bullying due to weight bias, but also the civil rights issues at the core of this national epidemic.

As always, Educator Breakfasts are free and open to the public through generous support from ADL donors.

Registration is required. Visit http://adledbreakfast 012013.eventbrite.com/ to register. The event will take place at the Jewish Community Center Theater. For additional information, contact the ADL at 402.333.1303 or Omaha@ADL.org.

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Temple Israel annual meeting

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer Social Justice Committee Chair Dan Gilbert, Youth Advisor Amy Katz and outgoing OTYG President Hannah Perry will be honored for their respective services to the Temple Israel community when the Board of Trustees holds its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 21.

From the moment he and his family joined Temple Israel in 2009, Gilbert, who has chaired the Social Justice Committee for two years, has brought charisma and energy to everything he’s been involved in, from building homes to collecting clothes and food for those in need.

“As a newcomer to the congregation, he found many ways to integrate himself and his family into the life of the congregation,” Rabbi Aryeh Azriel said. “He joined us just a few years ago and in a very short time he not only participated in the Leadership Development class, he got involved in Habitat for Humanity, and the Stephen Center. He definitely brought some new life to the social justice workings at Temple.”

“He is one of the most thoughtful and deep thinkers I have ever met,” Paul Rabinovitz said of Gilbert. “He has the unique ability of looking at problems and situations from a perspective that brings out the best solutions and interactions. This is super valuable in being a young leader at Temple because of the diverse community we represent.”

Stepping down from her role as Youth Advisor after six years, Amy Katz leaves behind a legacy of caring and compassion.

“Amy has been such a blessing to OTYG,” said senior Morissa Miller. “We were talking the other day, each chavurah we’ve hosted here at Temple Israel, we’ve won Chavurah of the Year. She has helped plan some of the most amazing things.

She has helped amazing kids grow up. Amy is like another mom to me. She is always there for us no matter what and it was my honor to work with her for four amazing years.”

“During her work, she definitely engraved her commitment and her love for our children on the souls of all our kids,” Rabbi Azriel said. “It’s so important, the work she has done. I think our kids who grew up under her leadership, I’m so convinced they will also make sure that their kids will be involved in youth groups, in summer camps, in other activities. This congregation will be always grateful for the time and effort Amy put into working with our children.”

A search is underway for a new Youth Advisor, though all are agreed that whoever gets the job will have big shoes to fill.

Hannah Perry will be graduating from high school and moving on to college at George Washington University. Her tenure as OTYG president began with Temple Israel hosting the NFTY-MV Fall Chavurah, which was recently honored as Chavurah of the Year at the Spring Chavurah, and culminated with a spaghetti dinner auction that raised $18,000 for OTYG and Camp Rainbow, a summer camp for children with cancer and blood-related diseases.

“Mentioning her name always puts a smile on my face,” Rabbi Azriel said. “There’s something inside her that will

help her develop into somebody very special. And I think her commitment to Judaism and Jewish life is beyond reproach. It will be sad to lose her and the other kids. For the clergy in this congregation, there is always a sadness that comes up with every group that leaves us, but I know she will be one that will come back, like other kids who had a great experience in this congregation.”

“Hannah Perry is an amazing young woman,” Amy Katz said. “She is 100 percent committed to whatever she does.

She leads by example, working side-by-side on all projects.

She is calm, organized and has fun no matter what the project. If she agrees to do something it will get done. That has been good for other kids to see. She has done an excellent job preparing the younger kids to lead without her next year.”

Hannah Budwig, who has one more year to go in OTYG as a senior, will miss both Amy Katz and Hannah Perry a great deal. She credits them with serving as mentors for herself and her peers and knows they leave behind big shoes to fill.

“They both have changed my life immeasurably,” Hannah Budwig said. “They led me in my journey through OTYG and NFTY and I am so honored to be able to carry on their legacy for one more year. They set the standards at a high level for years to come. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”

Beth El ‘Dinner & Drash’

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El will welcome Dr. Ari Kohen, political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as the featured speaker during this Friday night’s “Dinner and Drash” program at 7 p.m., following 6 p.m. Shabbat services at the synagogue.

Kohen, who also serves as director of UNL’s Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Program, will lead a discussion about this week’s parsha, Achrei MotKedoshim, and what it can teach us about human rights.

Ari Kohen “The parsha focuses on holiness and on how the Jewish people are distinguished from others,” he said. “I’ll consider this idea and apply it more broadly to the idea that human rights stem from a recognition of the uniqueness of humanity.”

“Dinner and Drash” is open to the entire community.

Cost to attend is $12.50; to RSVP and pay online, visit www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact the synagogue office, 402.492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

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8 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Bad idea

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press The Albany high school teacher who decided to instruct her students about Nazi Germany in a much too creative way was recently suspended, and will most likely lose her job. You know how these things go. What happened? In preparing to read Elie Wiesel’s Night, she asked her students to contemplate the Nazi point of view, research Third Reich propaganda, and write an essay, arguing “Jews are evil.”

One of her three classes refused the assignment outright, the superintendent got involved; the Anti Defamation League has been called in to provide sensitivity training to teachers and students in the district.

I can only guess how this happened. In all her years of teaching, the question must have come up: What were the Nazis thinking? How did they convince themselves, and millions of others, that they were doing the right thing? Was it a case of massive brainwashing? Was the population so antiSemitic that a minor spark could set off an event so big, so vast? How? How did this happen?

But trying to answer that question (and we’ve all asked it and come up empty-handed) is a very different thing than attempting to crawl inside the Nazi mind. We may ask the question, how, but we don’t want to see things “from their point of view.” This is not debate class.

Teaching about the Holocaust, especially to high school students, is never easy. Yet there are many, many teachers who do so admirably, year after year. In discussing this particular case, where one teacher made a bad decision, we should be careful not to discard the wonderful lessons that many teachers prepare for their kids. At the same time, we, as a nation, but also as Jews, need to remain vigilant about how the Holocaust is taught.

In 1967, a history teacher by the name of Ron Jones conducted an experiment with sophomore students at

Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, Ca. Titled The Third Wave, it was meant to demonstrate that democratic societies are not immune to fascism’s appeal. Jones started with simple things, like proper seating and classroom discipline, and added elements like a classroom salute (which the students had to also use outside of the classroom) and member cards.

No one without a member card or without giving the proper salute was allowed in the classroom; students policed each other and immediately refused entrance to those students who did not abide by the rules.

The “Third Wave” group of students became popular quickly, causing other students to succumb to peer pressure and join. Students were taught how to initiate newcomers, and by the end of the third day, the group had over 200 members. Jones ended the experiment on the fourth day, telling the students they had “willingly created a sense of superiority that German citizens had in the period of Nazi Germany.” (Source: Ron Jones’ archive) Jones’ experiment was made into a TV special in 1981 (I watched it in my high school history class), followed by a youngadult novel, and remade into a movie in 2008. In 2010, a documentary named Lesson Plan was produced by one of the original students.

Maybe the teacher in Albany saw the film, or studied the research, and decided to do her own experiment. It is possible.

But showing your students they are susceptible to peer pressure, and warning them about how easy we as humans lose ourselves is a slippery slope. Jones managed it, and yet his experiment should not be replicated.

I’m sure the teacher in question didn’t set out to insult anyone. I don’t think she is an anti-Semite, at least not based on this incident. I do think that veering away from the lesson plan can be a tricky thing. Besides: why get creative in the first place? What, the lessons are too boring?

When we teach our children about the Holocaust, or any other great injustice that was done, we don’t need fancy tricks or exciting assignments. What we have is something much more powerful, and does not need embellishment: we have the truth.

AIPAC: The myth and the truth

Focus on issues RABBI JONATHAN GROSS

“America has got Israel’s back!” Said President Barak Obama. In a world with countries seeking to undermine, delegitimize, and even destroy Israel, America’s friendship should never be taken for granted. I am a proud member of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, because I, along with countless Americans, believe that a strong relationship with Israel is good for America.

The Omaha Jewish Press recently printed a piece advertising a lecture at Temple Israel by a representative of the progressive lobbyist group J-Street. In passing, the writer included some inaccurate myths that give a false impression about AIPAC. As an active AIPAC supporter, a Rabbi who has hosted AIPAC events at my synagogue and someone who encourages AIPAC involvement in our community, I want to clarify and give an accurate understanding of what AIPAC is and what AIPAC does.

Myth: AIPAC is a “right wing” group. Fact: AIPAC is completely bipartisan. AIPAC is an umbrella group for Americans who support the US/Israel relationship. The annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington DC is attended by Senators and Representatives of Congress from both sides of the aisle. It has been said that the AIPAC policy conference is the largest single gathering of members of

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

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Caryn Scheer, Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Sandy Friedman; Noah Priluck; Paul Rabinowitz; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world.

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congress outside of congress. Both Republican and Democrat presidents have attended the conference in the past. This past year’s conference featured Vice president Joe Biden, Democratic whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), as well as Republican majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Republican whip John Cornyn (R-TX). Almost every speaker mentioned that AIPAC is a refreshing oasis of cooperation and camaraderie in a desert of partisan bickering.

Myth: AIPAC supports right wing Israeli government policies. Fact: AIPAC supports the US / Israel relationship.

Regardless of the policies of Israel or the United States, the role of AIPAC is to emphasize the areas where Israel and the U.S. can help each other and to advocate strengthening the relationship, partnership, and cooperation between the U.S. and Israel in those areas. These areas include business, science, medicine, technology, agriculture, education, aid relief, defense, regional stability, peace, and economic prosperity for the world. AIPAC policy conference has been attended

by Israeli leaders across the political spectrum including Yitzchak Rabin, Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, and this year both Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

AIPAC educates its members about issues facing Israel; and at policy conference, experts and leading advocates present perspectives on both sides of controversial topics.

Myth: AIPAC gives money to candidates who support Israel. Fact: AIPAC doesn’t give any money to any candidates.

The truth is AIPAC is YOU! Here is how AIPAC works. We live in Nebraska. We know who the players are in our local and state elections. Many of us have personal or professional relationships with candidates that predate their entry into politics. Some of us have dealt with politicians on other issues aside from Israel, and still others are regular informed

and active citizens. AIPAC relies on us, and people like us around the country, to reach out to these decision makers and bring the importance of the US / Israel relationship to their attention. We can build relationships with them, discuss policy with them, or encourage them to visit Israel or to attend a policy conference. While any constituent is capable of reaching out to an elected official, not all of us know how.

AIPAC is there to guide us and teach us about the legislative process. Unlike J-Street that endorses particular candidates, AIPAC does not rate or endorse any candidates. The mythical “Jewish lobby” is really made up of people like you and me. We, the people, decide which candidates are friends of Israel. Then we decide how we can strengthen that friendship. AIPAC provides us with the training and resources.

J-Street has stated agendas that reflect a left wing position.

There are other pro-Israel groups, for instance the Zionist Organization of America, that espouse a right wing message.

AIPAC is not opposed to any of these groups. AIPAC is the place where the entire American pro-Israel community from left to right can join together with a common belief: America benefits from a strong and secure Israel; therefore, American support of Israel is an investment in America.

If you are interested in becoming an AIPAC member or learning about local AIPAC events in Omaha you can contact me or our Nebraska chair Gary Javitch. Next AIPAC policy conference is March 2-4, 2014, and it is never too early to sign up. Call us to find out how you can join our delegation or sponsor a youth from our community to attend. Join 15,000 Americans, hundreds of members of Congress and Israel’s leaders for the largest pro-Israel gathering anywhere outside of Israel. Celebrate the great partnership between two great countries - it is an experience you will never forget!

ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

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April 19, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 9

David Brooks discovers the Orthodox 1-percenters

Focus on issues SHAI FRANKLIN NEW YORK (JTA) -- Probably no more than the top 10 percent of Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jews will ever shop at Pomegranate, the luxury kosher supermarket recently featured by The New York Times columnist David Brooks in a column titled The OrthodoxSurge.

Brooks chose the upscale kosher version of Whole Foods as the fulcrum of an admiring piece on Orthodox Jewish life in America, writing of the Orthodox “sense of collective purpose” and the “external moral order” that governs Orthodox Jewish lives.

It’s nice of Brooks to give Orthodox Jews some positive press after so many scandals within our community and among other religious denominations. But his praise is misguided at best and agenda-driven at worst. Personally, I wish social critics would look elsewhere for their ideological ammunition and leave us alone.

Brooklyn now has enough upper-middle-class Orthodox Jews that a gourmet mega-market like Pomegranate can be an overnight success. But as in general society, and maybe more so, the upper stratum is just cream floating on a sea of working-class and working-poor parents struggling to get through each week and blessing the Almighty for each day.

The average Orthodox Jew in Brooklyn cannot afford

Letter

Pomegranate, and thousands each week rely on food pantries stocked by organizations like the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and Sephardic Bikur Holim.

Approximately two-thirds of New York’s needy Jews live in Brooklyn. The average Orthodox family, including those living in the suburbs and on Manhattan’s swank West Side, lives on a tight budget, and that includes many of those 10-percenters. They struggle to keep up with household bills, yeshiva tuition for their numerous children, support for community needs and extravagances like any other American.

By extolling the “trendy” minority of Orthodox Jews, Brooks not only misrepresents who most of us are and where we are headed as a community, he also reinforces the peer pressure so many already feel to keep pursuing that brass ring rather than owning our material limitations and imbuing them with sanctity and purpose.

Behind Brooks’ column is the notion that if people are successful in their careers and fortunes -- say, enough to afford fancy meats and artisanal kosher cheeses -- then they must be worthy of admiration and emulation. Had Brooks asked Pomegranate’s owner, he might have heard about how he provides food every week to the community’s free kosher restaurant for those without cash to spare.

The well-heeled Orthodox have every right to spend where they like, and they probably donate more than most of their non-Orthodox and non-Jewish peers. And most of them are decent and devoted. But so are most Americans.

Maybe we pray three times a day, put on tefillin (at least the men), and educate our children in the tradition and laws of

our Jewish heritage. This, however, does not mean that general society is morally bankrupt.

Are secular Americans less worthy or less serious than their religious compatriots? Are all Orthodox Jews, or most adherents of any religious doctrine, more moral or trustworthy than others?

Many of my fellow Orthodox Jews are proud and flattered

by Brooks’ praise, but what is he praising? It’s the equivalent of being interviewed on TV and told your tie looked perfect.

What about the substance beyond a truly magnificent store and the standard-issue minivan? By playing the prosperity card to prove our moral superiority, Brooks actually undermines that claim.

The holiest Sabbath cholent stew I’ve ever tasted, more than 25 years ago, did not contain the requisite red meat but rather chicken parts. A struggling family that couldn’t even afford a couple pounds of flanken was nevertheless hosting college students for a meal. When shared with guests, these meager fixings express the genuine meaning of Shabbat hospitality and the Divine presence. And yet, Brooks judges Orthodoxy’s success by how those with the means choose to spend their disposable income.

The value of the Jewish way of life is in our ethics and not our prices. This is most readily evident among those with little money or power. We extol the observance of mitzvahs -religious commandments -- with elegance, but not with extravagance.

Shai Franklin has served in executive capacities with several national Jewish organizations.

TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: While it’s wonderful that Temple Israel sponsors many guest speakers, it was disheartening to read misinformation about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in the April 5 article about its next one.

The author described AIPAC as “right wing” and accused it of flooding “politicians’ coffers.”

AIPAC is hardly “right wing.” Several of its past national presidents were bundlers for President Obama’s campaign.

In Omaha, AIPAC’s membership is mostly Democrats, as it is in San Francisco. In the Greater Kansas City area, it is mostly Republicans; however, many Democrats are active and serve in leadership positions.

AIPAC has one mission: ensuring the safety and security of America’s most trusted and important ally -- Israel. At its annual Policy Conference in March, appointments were secured with all 100 U.S. Senators and every member of the House of Representatives...something that had never been achieved before in AIPAC’s history.

AIPAC is a 501 (c)(4), a registered lobbying organization, and not a “political action committee.” It is against the law for AIPAC to donate its funds to political campaigns. And it does not. Many of its members contribute to campaigns of both Democrats and Republicans, including my husband and me.

As co-chair of KC’s 2012 Israel Action Forum, we brought in Wall Street Journalist deputy editorial page director Bret Stephens (who consulted on Romney’s campaign) and Detroit Baptist minister Rev. Dee Dee Coleman, who supported President Obama. Both were well received; we hope to offer other extraordinary -- and bi-partisan-- speakers to our more than 500 local supporters here on Nov. 17.

AIPAC is one of America’s largest and most effective organizations. To characterize it as anything else is to defame it.

Carol Katzman Overland Park, KS

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About that Western Wall deal

by AMI EDEN I have a few thoughts on Natan Sharansky’s much-heralded plan for resolving the dispute over prayer at the Western Wall.

But first, a quick recap: As things currently stand, if you are facing the most famous/visited section of the Western Wall, you have the men-only section on the left and womenonly section on the right. To the right of those two sections is the Mughrabi Bridge, which leads up to the Temple Mount. The wall actually extends past the bridge, to an area known as Robinson’s Arch, where egalitarian groups have been praying for a decade. But the area is an archeological excavation site, is a story or two below the main section and has only been open to worshipers on a limited basis.

OK, enough background. Now to the punditry: 1) As today’s news of five more women being detained for wearing prayer shawls underscores, this is not the end. The question is whether it is the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning. No significant Orthodox opposition has emerged to Sharansky’s plan -- yet. But even if none does, the plan still could end up in bureaucratic Knesset limbo given that it reportedly would require millions of dollars and several years to implement. In the meantime, expect detentions and negative headlines to continue as Women of the Wall keeps up its monthly prayer service. And we haven’t even discussed the question of whether Muslim authorities will attempt to fight the plan. Plus, even if this means the Kotel controversy is settled, there are still plenty of other religious pluralism issues to fight over (see 5).

2) At this stage, it probably would be more accurate to call Sharansky’s plan a concept. But, in the spirit of making this commentary seem more significant, we'll stick to calling it a plan.

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3) The Forward asserted that the plan “would allow, for the first time in the history of the modern state of Israel, for men and women to pray together in one section at the Wall and to perform worship rituals not based on the Orthodox interpretation of Jewish tradition.” The Jewish Week quoted Sharansky himself as hailing his plan as “one Western Wall for one Jewish people.”

Well, not exactly.

Egalitarian groups have, with the permission of the government, been using the Robinson’s Arch area for nearly a decade. So there’s nothing new in that regard. The significance of Sharansky’s plan is that it would involve a significant expansion and renovation of the section currently used for egalitarian prayer. Unless the plan ends up involving the complete repositioning/rebuilding of the Mughrabi Bridge, the egalitarian area will remain separate and out of sight from the men-only and women-only sections. So we’re still talking separate, albeit with more “but equal.”

4) What took so long? By all accounts, since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tapped Sharansky to come up with a solution, the Jewish Agency chairman has done a masterful job in just a few months of starting to forge something like a consensus. But if sprucing up Robinson’s Arch proves to be the solution, there really is no good reason why this couldn’t have happened years ago. Just saying.

5) Is Sharansky’s plan a one-off or the template for a new governmental approach to religious pluralism in Israel? Is this a compromise that will one day be seen as a first step toward equalized funding for Reform and Conservative shuls in Israel, as well as civil marriage and/or government recognition of weddings performed by Israeli Reform and Conservative rabbis?

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10 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

CHABAD CENTER

618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, call 712.323.8885.

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

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush lunch will follow. Sometimes we get a second chance and when we do we should take advantage of it! Come discuss Pesach Sheni: What Judaism Teaches about a Second Chance.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. Please reserve by calling 402.330.1800.

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 10 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. Call 402.330.1800 to reserve.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. Contact Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@ unmc.edu to receive updates.

Join us for Lag B’omer BBQ, Sunday, April 28 at 5 p.m.

Call Devorah at 402.330.1800 to reserve.

All programs are open to the entire community.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Dinner & Drash, 7 p.m. Dr. Ari Kohen, political philosophy professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will lead the session.

Cost: $12.50. RSVP and pay online at www.bethel.omaha. org, or contact the office.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:45 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.; The Controversial Laws of the Torah, 10 a.m. with Andy Greenberg; Torah Tots, 10:30 a.m., led by Naomi Gaca; Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class, 11 a.m., with Hazzan Krausman.

MONDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham.

WEDNESDAY: YAC Playgroup, 10:30 a.m., nature walk and play time. Contact Caryn Scheer, carynscheer@ yahoo.com, for more information.

Shabbat at the Rose Blumkin Home, Friday, April 26, 2:30 p.m. Rabbi Abraham and Hazzan Krausman celebrate Shabbat with songs and stories for the residents. All are invited to attend.

A Comedian, A Choir & A Cantor: Annual Youth Scholarship Fund Concert, Sunday, April 28, 7 p.m. at the synagogue, featuring comedian Joel Chasnoff, Beth El’s Hazzan Michael Krausman and the Beth El Choir. Buy tickets now at www.bethel-omaha.org. For more information, call the synagogue office.

All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; The Laws of Shabbat, 5:35 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Boys (ages 10 and up), 6:35 p.m.; Mincha-Ma’ariv, 7:35 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 8:54 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m.

TUESDAY: Women’s Study Group, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m; Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC.

Candlelighting Friday, April 19, 7:51 p.m.

nity are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Tami Field.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; WRJ 100th Birthday Celebration, 6-9 p.m. Great Company. Fine Wine. Come support the Women of Reform Judaism Wine Tasting Fundraiser. Wine, appetizers and live music! Presale $25 per person in advance or $30 at the door.

SUNDAY: Teachers Meeting, 9:30 a.m.; Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Grade Six Parents Coffee -- B’nai Mitzvah Expectations, 10 a.m.; Grade Five “Bridal Shower” for Together and Mock Wedding, 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6 p.m.; Grades 7 & 8, 6 p.m.; Women in Islam, 6:30 p.m. with Bridget Bloomfield.

THURSDAY: Dilemmas of Faith: God and Spirituality in the Modern World, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel.

Tot Shabbat & Breakfast, Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. led

by Rabbi Brown. (see full story on page 10.)

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

FRIDAY: Steve Kaup’s Doctoral Recital, 7 p.m. at Kimball Hall; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Alisa and Tommy Murray and family.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parsahat Archarei Mot/Kedoshim; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. All ages welcome.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Peacemaking Workshop XXVII, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th St. in Lincoln; 100+ Years of Jewish Life in Nebraska, 3 p.m. at Tifereth Israel with Dr. Oliver B. Pollak, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and author of Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic History.

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

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m. Intro to Judaism, Session #14 led by Rabbi Lewis.

Fifth Annual Hallah High Rummage Sale, Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the South Street Temple parking lot.

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

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 9:45 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; 100+ Years of Jewish Life in Nebraska, 3 p.m. at Tifereth Israel with Dr. Oliver B. Pollak, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and author of Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic History.

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

Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, Friday, April 26, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Fifth Annual Hallah High Rummage Sale, Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the South Street Temple parking lot.

Mayor’s Interfaith Breakfast on Friday, May 3, 7:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P Street. Speakers are Scott Young, Exec. Dir. of Food Bank of Lincoln, and Rabbi Craig Lewis of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.

Temple Tot Shabbat

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Baking with Chabad, 1:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the commu-

B’nai Mitzvah Julia Raffel, daughter of Amy Tipp and Andy Raffel, will become a Bat Mitzvah during Mincha/Ma’ariv service on Saturday, April 27, at Beth El. Julia is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School.

Her interests include spending time with her friends and family, attending Herzl camp, and helping others. Julia has always been philanthropic. She has donated her hair to Locks of Love multiple times, volunteers at HETRA to assist special-needs children, ushers at the Rose Theater, and visits with the dogs at the Humane Society, where she has been recognized for her fundraising efforts.

For her mitzvah project, Julia created “Beth El’s Busy Bags” for the shul. These activity-filled bags will help keep small children quietly occupied during services.

She has two brothers, Michael, age ten and Brandon, age six.

Grandparents are Marilyn and Steve Tipp, and Fran and the late Jerrold Raffel of Kalamazoo, MI. Mia Vinci, daughter of Jody Vinci and Gino Vinci, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 27, at Temple Israel.

Mia is a seventh-grade student at Westside Middle School.

Her interests include soccer, volleyball, track and show choir.

For her mitzvah project, Mia collected items and served Easter dinner to the residents at Stephen Center.

She has a brother, Steven Vinci.

Grandparents are Ginny and Marshall Becker, and Marie and Angelo Vinci.

Great-grandparents are the late Bess and Morris Becker, and the late Hazel and Max Turchen.

Alex, Megan and Lauren Kugler Families with children ages 5 and under are invited to attend a child-friendly Tot Shabbat service at Temple Israel on Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. The service will include singing, dancing, blessings and a short story.

Breakfast will be served before the service.

The service will be led by Rabbi Josh Brown.

To Submit B’nai Mitzvah Announcements Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewish omaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, by e-mailing the editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org or online at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press.’

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April 19, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 11

Holy, only holy

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Acharei Mot/ K’doshim Even Moses had to be reproved when he seemed to be unmoved by the tragic deaths of his two nephews, sons of Aaron.

These two young Priests, eager to do what they had been told to do, went beyond their instructions and brought fire to the Sanctuary.

The fire turned against them, and took their lives. Moses criticized Aaron for not doing his regular duties.

Aaron correctly reproved Moses: “Do you not know what has happened to me today?”

Moses, finally understanding, went on his way, leaving Aaron to continue grieving for his lost sons.

In our next Sidrah, we come to a common human characteristic. We generally try to speak no evil of those who have died. Instead, we try to find everything that is good in what they have accomplished in life.

As Marc Anthony put it, the good that men do is often buried along with them. But anything that they have done wrong tends to remain in our sight.

The Sacred Text reminds us that those who have died must be beyond our finding anything evil in their lives.

Those who have died must be considered holy, i.e., righteous, generous, and praiseworthy.

Window of opportunity for Mideast peace talks

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama said there was a “window of opportunity” to kick-start PalestinianIsraeli peace talks.

Speaking after meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon one week ago, Obama said the two “talked about Middle East peace, where there’s at least a window of opportunity for both Israelis and Palestinians to get back to the peace table.”

“We explored how the United States, as a strong friend of Israel and a supporter of the Palestinian state, can work with the United Nations and multilateral bodies to try to move that process forward,” the U.S. leader said.

The comments came two days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry dubbed his talks with Israeli and P.A. leaders in the Middle East this week “very constructive.”

Kerry cautioned that it was more important to find ways of resuming the long-frozen negotiations correctly rather than “quickly.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wants a full freeze on construction in the West Bank before returning to talks, while Israel is insisting there be no preconditions, according to reports on Israel Radio.

Abbas told Kerry on Sunday that Israel should freeze construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem and release terrorist prisoners, especially those arrested before the 1993 Oslo Accords, before any resumption of peace talks.

Kerry continued to London, where he attended a summit of foreign ministers from the G-8 industrial nations.

In its closing statement, the G-8 called among other things for the Israelis and the Palestinians “ to refrain from unilateral actions and to create an atmosphere conducive to peace” -- code for Israel to stop settlement expansion and for the Palestinians not to seek statehood recognition outside of negotiations.

The G-8 also said that Iran’s only way out of punishing sanctions was to cooperate with the international community in making more transparent Iran’s nuclear program.

“Iran has the ability to avoid further isolation and improve its situation only if it promptly addresses the concerns of the international community,’ said the recent statement.

CORRECTION In our April 12 edition, it was reported that the Schuller family Kiddush is sponsored by Beth El and Friedel Jewish Academy. This was incorrect. The event is sponsored by Friends of Beth El and Friends of Friedel Jewish Academy.

The Jewish Press regrets the error.

Gaza’s Hamas gov’t using UNESCO heritage site for military training

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA)--The military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, bulldozed a part of the ancient Anthedon Harbor in northern Gaza along the Mediterranean Sea last month, the Al-Monitor news website reported.

The 3,000-year-old seaport discovered in 1997 was named an international heritage site by UNESCO in 2012, and is the oldest harbor in Gaza. It contains mosaic floors with historical pillars from the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic ages, according to Al-Monitor.

“Due to rising population in the region, the ministry appreciates the urgent need for using new pieces of land,” the Hamas-run Ministry of Tourism said in a statement, AlMonitor reported. “This is why the ministry has agreed with the different responsible parties on using a limited part of the location temporarily in a way that won’t harm the underground monuments there in any way.”

Much of the port is covered with sand to protect the artifacts until they can be excavated.

The deputy tourism minister in Gaza, Muhammad Khela, told Al-Monitor, “We can’t stand as an obstacle in the way of Palestinian resistance; we are all a part of a resistance project, yet we promise that the location will be limitedly used without harming it at all.” He added that if UNESCO had excavated the seaport, it could not have been taken over.

The monitoring organization UN Watch sent a letter on Monday to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova calling for immediate action to stop the bulldozing of the port “for use as a terrorist training camp.” A copy also was sent to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton calling on the EU to take action.

“UNESCO’s admission of Palestine as a member state in 2011, which caused the organization to lose almost a quarter of its budget when the U.S. suspended its contributions, was justified as a measure to help protect world heritage sites in Palestinian areas,” the letter said. “Yet as Hamas turns a cultural heritage site into a terrorist training ground -- the antithesis of culture -- the silence of UNESCO now places the very credibility of the organization at stake.”

Rabbi Michael Broyde booted from religious court

by BEN HARRIS NEW YORK (JTA) -- Rabbi Michael Broyde, a prominent Orthodox rabbi who admitted to creating a fake alternate identity, was suspended from the Beth Din of America.

Broyde, who admitted last week that he had used a false name to gain access to a rabbinic email list and to write letters to various journals, was placed on “an indefinite leave of absence” from the rabbinic court, Tablet reported.

“Rabbi Broyde has admitted to behavior that the Rabbinical Council finds extremely disturbing,” said Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, the president of the Rabbinical Council of America, the court’s parent body. “We have determined and announced by the Beth Din of America that he has ceased to serve as a dayan [judge] immediately and indefinitely.”

A law professor at Emory University and a senior fellow at the Atlanta school’s Center for Law and Religion, Broyde is considered one of the Orthodox world’s leading judicial authorities and an expert on the intersection of religious and secular law.

On Friday, an investigation by The Jewish Channel revealed that Broyde had used a pseudonym to gain access to an email list maintained by the liberal International Rabbinic Fellowship and to tout his own work in various forums. Under the name Rabbi Hershel Goldwasser, Broyde published letters in journals and engaged in online debates with other rabbis. He also gained access to private deliberations among IRF rabbis. After initially denying the charges against him, Broyde quickly changed direction and issued several apologies.

“I realize that being an IRF member through a pseudonym was inappropriate,” Broyde wrote in a letter to a past IRF president, Rabbi Barry Gelman. “I am sorry. Please understand that no malice was intended and my participation was not intended to interfere with the growth or success of the IRF. But in a subsequent interview with Haaretz, Broyde seemed to downplay the seriousness of his misdeeds.

“I don’t understand the issue,” Broyde said. “That’s the truth.” He also noted that writing on Torah issues using a pseudonym is an “old practice” and has support from religious sources.

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12 | The Jewish Press | April 19, 2013

A Mission to the Jews of Cuba

by RICHARD FELLMAN Bev and Dick Fellman were among the 30 participants on the Mission to the Jewish community of Cuba sponsored by Temple Concord of Syracuse where their son, Daniel Fellman, is the Senior Rabbi. This is part five in a series of articles about their trip.

Havana---Jewish Life Visiting Havana today makes one think that this tropical city with the Atlantic Ocean on its northern coast and the Caribbean Sea only a short distance to its south should be one of the great tourist attractions of the world.

And to much of the world, it is just that.

Five-star hotels filled with visitors from Canada (where the cold winter weather makes Havana in January an ideal vacation spot), travelers from all of Western Europe, new tourist buses (manufactured in China) filled with these tourists, restaurants created from once magnificent residences catering to guests from all over -this is Havana today, but missing are Americans, even though Havana is less than an hour by air.

Politics is the answer. The US-Cuba antipathy to each other going back to the days of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis that came close to starting World War III is the answer usually given, but the politics of South Florida in the US today plays a major role. Visiting Havana in January with its warm days and cool evenings makes one wonder.

The Jewish communities of Cuba, traditionally centered in Havana, once numbered about 15,000; and today, the total is 1,500, if that.

In 1959, just before Castro’s Revolution, Havana had five strong synagogues. There were six schools, one high school and countless Kosher markets, butcher shops and bakeries.

It is estimated today that 90 per cent of the community left Cuba in the early 60s, leaving today’s population one-tenth of its former self.

No rabbis of any denomination live in Cuba today.

The Patrenato continues to serve in the role the federations

occupy in the States, handling social and welfare matters, operating a pharmacy, a library, and offering meeting rooms; and it continues to sponsor a large synagogue, Bet Shalom, immediately next door, a synagogue that today operates as a Conservative congregation using a siddur in Spanish and Hebrew under the editorship and supervision of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer, trained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and founder of the Seminario in Argentina.

The Sephardic Synagogue in Havana The Orthodox congregation, Adath Israel, was founded in 1925 with the growth of the Eastern European community.

Jews who generally wanted to enter the US but were prevented due to the change in the immigration policy of the United States. Begun in 1921 and continued until after WWII, new laws based on “national origins” which reduced the number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe in favor of those from Northern Europe, were established, thus keeping Jewish immigrants to minute numbers.

Before the mass exit from Cuba in the early 60s, Adath Israel expanded, eventually modernizing its building, sharing in the prosperity of Havana’s Jews.

Today it has a fence topped by barbed wire surrounding it.

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But it still has in front of its building the Biblical quotation in Hebrew, “How Goodly Are Your Tents O Jacob, Your Dwelling Places O Israel.”

The Sephardic Synagogue, is a magnificent structure which, from the street looks a lot like Omaha’s old Beth Israel Synagogue on North 52nd Street, was probably built about the same time, the early 50s. But the sanctuary has had the seating removed and now serves as a meeting room and social hall. Today it proudly presents a Holocaust exhibit, done with great taste.

Immediately to the side of the once proud main worship room is a much smaller chapel, seating perhaps 75 at the most, and it is this room which is used for weekly services.

The total Jewish population of Havana today is estimated at between 500 and 750, a fraction of what it once was. Yet, time and again we were told that there is “no anti-Semitism” in Cuba and that Jews are treated as everyone else. “In fact,” we were told, “most Cubans don’t know anything about Jews.”

The president of the Sephardic congregation, Dr Mayra Levy, spoke with us. She introduced us to Samuel Sagovaloc who serves as the hazzan of the synagogue. The traditions of the congregation stem from its background, and Ladino melodies are commonly sung, often using Ladino lyrics.

Its children attend public schools and study in the congregation only on Sundays. They hold services on both Friday evening and Saturday mornings. But the members tend to be poor.

It saddens one to see what was once a vibrant Jewish community struggle and today depend in large measure on assistance brought to them by Jewish visitors.

During the last twenty years, congregational life for the Jews of Havana, regardless of how small the community has become, has clearly improved; but it remains for it to overcome its general impoverishment and its weakness. Yet, one cannot help but admire what it has accomplished and what it promises to accomplish in the future.

Mazal Tov, Aaron!

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