Vol. LXXXII
No. 34
Omaha, NE
23 Nisan, 5763
April 25, 2003
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 82 YEARS
JCC Continues to Upgrade Security, Customer Service by LISA SHKOLNICK, JCC Assistant Director Creating a safe and welcoming environment at the Jewish Community Center has always been a top priority. Over the years the Center has implemented several new plans that improve both customer service as well as developing workable security measures. This has included the creation of the Member Services Department, installation of bar code readers at the South “Canteen” Entrance, the Member Services Desk, and the Child Development Center, and the staffing of the front desk in the main lobby. As the JCC Campus continues to grow in size, memberships, and community accessibility, so must plans for security and customer service. Beginning this spring, an additional measure to upgrade campus security will commence in the main lobby of the JCC. Current members will be asked to scan their membership card at the Front Desk. Visitors and guests coming to the Center who are not current members will be asked to show a photo identification and sign in at the desk. The front desk receptionist will continue to assist all members and guest with questions or information they may need. “We anticipate very little disruption to the traffic flow, and ask that JCC members carry their cards with them,” said Jeff Aizenberg, JCC Executive Director, “and all other visitors and guests cooperate by taking a moment to show a photo id and sign in.” Knowing who is in our building at all times is a basic premise of security at JCCs, Jewish organizations, and businesses nationwide. This additional measure of checking in all traffic that enters through the main lobby is a key step in the right direction. “The Federation, JCC, and all the Centers of Excellence housed on this campus are enthusiastic about this new procedure,” Aizenberg added.
Press Wins Three Awards in Nebraska Contest, Will Receive Three More at AJPA Meeting by JEWISH PRESS News Service At its annual meeting earlier this month, the Nebraska Press Association recognized the Jewish Press in three categories: in Feature Writing, freelancer Leo Adam Big won third place for “A Rescuer’s Story,” about Carl Lutz, the Swedish diplomat who helped 62,000 Jews escape the clutches of the Nazis. The monthly series featuring teens in the community, TeenAge, won third place in the Youth in Community Category, and the 2002 Passover issue: Jews in Sports: Omaha Hosts the 2002 Maccabi Games, won second place for Special Edition or Insert. In addition, the Press learned shortly before Passover that three Rockower Awards have been won as well. The Rockowers will be presented at the annual meeting of the American
Jewish Press Association in Los Angeles at the end of June, when the categories and placements will be made known. “This is the highest number of awards our 82-year-old newspaper has ever won in a single year!” noted Jewish Press Editor, Carol Katzman. “We’re honored that our colleagues in both the Nebraska Press and the American Jewish Press Associations have recognized the ever-increasing quality of our work.”
If You Missed an ARTZA Trip to Israel, Catch Birthright Israel by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director For many years, the ARTZA Israel trip has been a trip providers for their Israel experience. This past rite of passage for Omaha’s Jewish high school stu- winter, more than 8,000 young Jewish adults pardents. Although the recent intifada has temporari- ticipated and organizers emphasize to all applicants ly derailed this important Israel experience for that the trips are meticulously planned to ensure young adults, there is another option available to maximum safety and security. Jewish youth ages 18-26. Birthright Israel is a proRabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel, Rabbi Howard gram of United Jewish Communities (UJC) and the Kutner of Beth Israel Synagogue and Rabbi Jewish Federation of Omaha that sends thousands Mordechai Levin of Beth El Synagogue have joined of young Jewish adults on a 10-day educational with the Jewish Federation in encouraging Omaha’s peer group trip to Israel…and it’s free. Jewish young adults to consider a Birthright Israel The Birthright Israel gift includes complimentary experience until ARTZA trips resume. Because roundtrip airfare from gateway cities, all accommo- ARTZA is only for high school students, Birthright dations and 10 days worth of exciting adventures in Israel is a wonderful opportunity for those who’ve Israel. Eligible applicants are those who have not graduated up to age 26 and didn’t go on an ARTZA or participated in an educational peer-group Israel other peer teen trips to Israel. For more information, trip (such as ARTZA). visit: www.birthrightisrael.com or call Rachel Birthright Israel offers a variety of established Blum, JCC Jewish Program Director, 334-6404.
Temple Artists to Present Stories and Songs from the Jewish Tradition by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Mark Novak and Renée Brachfeld artist-in-residence for the have been performing together for 12 Georgia Council for the years--two years longer than they’ve Arts. She worked extenbeen married. The husband and wife sively in elementary and storytelling team draw their material middle schools, performfrom the warmth and richness of ing and teaching storyJewish tradition. Renée is a storytelling to both students teller and a juggler; Mark is a cantor and teachers. She speaks and plays piano and guitar. several languages and has After meeting at a CAJE (Coalition collected her stories on for the Advancement of Jewish trips to Israel, Spain, and Education) Conference in 1991, Latin America. Novak and Brachfeld began a twoHer original story, “The year long distance relationship which Light in the Wall,” frequently involved finding venues at appears in Peninnah which they could perform together. Schram’s book, Chosen The couple married in 1993 and Tales, which was pubRenée moved to Washington, D.C. to lished in 1995. As the Mark Novak and Renée Brachfeld recipient of the Janice join Mark. Since then, they’ve performed at synagogues, Goldsten Jewish Community Artists Grant by the schools, churches, festivals, and community events Jewish Federation of Greater Washington in 2000, from coast to coast . They’ll be artists-in-residence Brachfeld coordinated and directed intergeneraat Temple Israel the weekend of May 9-11. Novak tional storytelling programs. and Brachfeld derive their stories and music from Novak began his musical career as a child singing Jewish folk tales, Midrash, Hasidic sources, and with a professional Jewish choir and appearing on contemporary composers to bring a community clos- Broadway in the musical Oliver. From 1977-86, he er together, deepening its connection to Judaism served as the music director of the Living Stage and faith. Theater Company of Arena Stage in Washington, Brachfeld’s performing career began in 1987 as a D.C. He has performed his original theater pieces at storyteller in Atlanta, GA, where she served as the Smithsonian Institute’s Discovery Theater, the
Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia, and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Featured in Shofar Magazine, Novak sings at many Washington area congregations. The Mark Novak Band has been playing at Jewish wedding celebrations since 1993. Novak and Brachfeld’s recording, “King Solomon’s Daughter,” was honored with the 1996 Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Sponsored by the Janis Yale Enrichment Fund, Novak and Brachfeld will give the D’var Torah at the family Shabbat worship service on Friday, May 9, at Temple Israel. They’ll also be at Temple Saturday morning, May 10, 9 a.m. and Sunday morning, May 11, 11 a.m. The pair will perform again Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center Theater. Reservations are needed only for the program at the JCC. Call Maggie Conti at 3346521 by Monday, May 5. The entire community is welcome to attend all of the artists’ performances at no charge.
INSIDE: A Quick Visit to Israel .................................. page 8 Nebraskans Journey to Sephardic World in Spain ........................................................... page 10 Jewish Website: Righteous Gentiles ...... page 12