April 27, 2012

Federation to honor Volunteers of the Year

by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha

They are energetic, supportive, dependable, resourceful and enthusiastic about their work. They are our community volunteers; the heart and soul of what makes Jewish Omaha tick. On Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m., the Jewish Federation of Omaha will honor the 2011 Volunteers of the Year during a special presentation at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting.

The entire community is invited to attend and celebrate with our award winners who volunteer tirelessly and selflessly to make our Jewish community the best it can be.

This year’s Volunteers of the Year are:

Joanie and Terry BernsteinJewish Social Services

Joanie and Terry Bernstein have been dedicated volunteers for Jewish Social Services for over twenty-five years. Every Tuesday morning, they can be found escorting Blumkin Home residents to the Radio Daze program

where Joanie leads a lively discussion on current events and hot topics. They stay for the day and after lunch, lead a sing-a-long program and participate in tea time.

Teens do it all

by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha

The challenge to do all and be all is well known to high school students and their parents. The pressure to impress on a college application is its

Next

own kind of stress. This year’s Federation Teen Leadership Award winners are no different; as their

resumes read like a community activities calendar. One could get eye strain just reading the list of accomplishments these young men have accumulated. So, I was prepared to interview them and hear tired, frenzied and clipped responses. My experience was the exact opposite.

Kevin Adler and Brad Kutler, this year’s Robert and Ellen Gordman Teen Leadership Award winners, were composed, relaxed, confident and thoughtful. They embody the very ideals on which the award is based. Through their respective involvement in community activities, both exemplified program management skills, leadership abilities and served as role models to those around them.

Brad was president of the Mother Chapter of AZA #1 during the 20102011 school year, and during his tenure he increased membership and changed the way programming was done. He initiated different and Continued on page 2

Both volunteer countless hours towards yearly celebrations in conjunction with National Nursing Home Week. Terry takes residents fishing and to baseball games and,

together as a team, have escorted residents to concerts, prothey grams, and activities too numerous to mention.

Continued on page 2

Education is Amy Friedman’s mission

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press

On May 15, when the primary elections are held, there will be a familiar name on the ballot for Millard residents. Amy Friedman, who will retire as Millard Public School spokeswoman on May 31, has thrown her name in the hat for a position on the “super board:” the Learning Community Coordinating Council (LCCC), a political subdivision created by the Nebraska legislature in 2009.

Friedman has been in public relations for about 30 years, the last 17 as the face of the Millard Public School district, and she is ready for a new challenge: “My job at Millard was a 24/7 occupation, I am used to working hard,” she says. “I feel very strongly about the value of public education, and believe education is such an important area to support. It is what has made our nation great; you can be whatever you want to be only through quality education, and I look forward to being a strong advocate for all children in our community.”

The Learning Community con-

cept was first introduced in 2006, and revised in subsequent years, in order to resolve educational and boundary issues among school

districts in the Omaha metropolitan area. 18 voting members from six districts meet once per month, and since its inception in 2009, the LCCC has developed plans for elementary learning centers for children and families in high poverty areas and funded summer pilot programs to help close the summer learning gap. The LCCC

Continued on page 2

Shirley Cemaj

Debbie Denenberg

Debbie Friedman

Mark Javitch

Margaret Kirkeby

Sponsored

Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund

Kevin Adler

Brad Kutler

Amy Friedman

Volunteers of the Year

Continued from page 1

Joanie has served as board president of Jewish Social Services and is also active with the Jewish Historical Society as a board member and past president.

Lois Wine, director of volunteer services at the Home, says the valuable couple can always be counted on to help with the Country Fair, talent show, grandparent’s day and every Jewish holiday observance. In short, “this capable and compassionate couple does it all!”

Shirley Cemaj –Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Council

According to Alan Potash, executive director, Shirley deserves recognition for her outstanding work fostering relationships with the non-Jewish and Latino communities. Shirley is an active member of the ADL/CRC Board and its Civil Rights Committee. She serves as a co-chair of the Immigration sub-committee. “Building relationships in the community is central to our work. Shirley’s bi-lingual language skills and background has enhanced our civil rights work,” said Potash. A mother and grandmother, Shirley resides in Lincoln and is a professional event planner.

Debbie Denenberg and Debbie FriedmanJewish Federation of Omaha

They are affectionately referred to as “the two Debbies” around the Federation office and both Debbie Denenberg and Debbie Friedman took on key “behind the scenes” roles in the last two Federation Annual Campaigns. Assuming the responsibility of training campaign workers is no small feat, as successful solicitation is a technical and, sometimes, highly personal task.

For the 2011 campaign, they conducted five successful training sessions and the solicitors’ gift for gift total increased by 9%. But these two dynamic volunteers didn’t stop there, they wanted another Campaign challenge. According to Sharon Kirshenbaum, campaign director, Denenberg and Friedman focused on the art of face-to-face solicitations during the 2012 Campaign; employing role playing methodology as a means to encourage personal conversations with donors. “Their training sessions were engag-

Teens do it all

Continued from page 1 innovative types of programs and began new traditions. This year, Brad serves as Council President and in BBYO Director Jodi Levine’s words, “he amazes me.”

He has increased participation, brought in new members and increased joint programming amongst chapters. “Brad encourages his peers to be more active and assume leadership positions; not only for chapter, but council as well. His enthusiasm is contagious and his peers respond to him very well,” said Levine.

Brad is a student at the Omaha Jewish Chai School and a member of USY where he held several leadership positions as well. In fact, it was important to him that his participation in both youth groups be emphasized.

“Teens seem to think you can only engage in one youth group in town. But I tell them all the time that more than one is better. For me, it’s been a great experience. “

Brad’s parents are Debi and David Kutler, and he has two older brothers, Matt and Adam and two sisters-in-laws, Cally and Abby. When he does have some free time, he enjoys watching Ted Talks online and doesn’t miss the word scramble in the Omaha World-Herald. A soon-to-be graduate of Millard North High School, Brad is attending Boston University in the fall to study business.

Kevin Adler exhibits his leadership qualities through participation in BBYO, too. After holding multiple leadership roles in the Weizmann chapter of AZA, including president, Kevin went on to contribute his time and effort

Amy Friedman

Continued from page 1 oversees common property tax levies among its 11 districts in Sarpy and Douglas counties.

“It’s an opportunity for collaboration among all parts of the Metro,” Friedman says, “and the Learning Community’s focus on improving education for all students in need is critical. There are huge disparities between various school districts, and the Learning Community gives us the chance to share ideas, work together, but also protect what works well. For instance, the Millard district has excellent test scores and a high graduation rate, and we have to maintain both. It is important to have a balance.”

Opportunities, where possible, need to be expanded, according to Friedman, while making sure the LCCC does not overstep its authority when dealing with local school boards. “Parents should be able to choose the best school for their children, regardless of their economic status. At the

ing and enjoyable and received some of the best feedback we’ve ever had,” said Kirshenbaum. “Both Debbies’ hard work and dedication were instrumental in kicking off our 2011 and 2012 Annual Campaigns and getting us started on a positive note!

Mark Javitch - The Center for Jewish Education

Since its inception, the Omaha Jewish Chai School has benefited from the strong support and countless volunteer hours from Mark Javitch. Beth Cohen, executive director of the Center for Jewish Education describes Mark’s involvement as “far reaching, including teaching, administrative support and promotion.”

During the school’s inaugural year, Mark was co-teacher of the class, How We Give: Text Seminar and Interactive Workshop on Jewish Philanthropy. While busy with his teaching duties, Mark still found time to assist in developing systems for attendance, class scheduling and registration for the new school.

He even helped design the school’s logo.

“Mark continues to perform above and beyond his job as a teacher; the teens consider him a role model and someone with whom they can talk comfortably. His enthusiasm and willingness to do whatever is needed has been greatly appreciated,” said Cohen.

Margaret Kirkeby - The Jewish Press

Ask anyone who labors at the task of creating prose and they will tell you what an exacting and meticulous job it is. The same can be said for those who choose to proofread the prose for grammar and content. For two years, Margaret Kirkeby has been an extremely dedicated volunteer, proofing the Jewish Press every single week. According to Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Margaret rarely misses an issue and is very, very good at what she does. “What Margaret does is not easy. To find such a loyal and thorough volunteer for the Jewish Press is truly lucky. We hope to have her with us for many, many more years,” she said.

Mark Martin - Jewish Community Center

Mark Martin has been an integral part of the planning and Continued on page 3

to the Council. Through his planning of Council Kallahs, he motivates and encourages his peers to become involved in programs and leadership. He was recently voted Cornbelt Council’s Senior of the Year.

“He is an extremely bright individual and a very charismatic leader within BBYO. His peers look up to him and respect him,” said Levine.

Last year, Kevin founded Teens for Israel, a local group whose members share an interest in political activism and love for Israel. With the help of Rabbi Jonathan Gross, Kevin began the process of writing legislation to promote an economic development exchange between Nebraska and Israel. His goal is to submit it to the Unicameral in Lincoln.

Kevin’s wit shows through when he describes the endeavor in this way, “At best, Nebraska generates 1000 new jobs; at worst, we get a new falafel restaurant.”

Also a student at Millard North High School, Kevin lettered all 4 years in Forensics and was named Academic All-American from the National Forensics League. A seasoned debater, he competed at the national level in extemporaneous speaking.

Kevin’s parents are David and Patricia Adler. He has a sister, Laura. When asked about his free time, I expected him to say, “What free time?” Instead he replied, “I eat food and read the newspaper each morning.” Kevin will be on the University of Nebraska campus next fall studying economics and political science.

end of the day, there are very few parents who don’t want what is best for their children; that includes, and often starts with, a good education.”

It’s a different angle for Friedman, after being the publicity person for so many years. “I loved doing the P.R. for Millard,” she says, “And I will miss it. It was a very busy and exciting time, and it was truly my dream job; what I won’t miss is that feeling of responsibility when something very big happens. And the wake-up calls at 3 a.m. when they decide to call a snow day!”

She will miss the people she worked with and, of course, the students. But those students will have just as much of a champion in Friedman if and when she is elected to the Learning Community. She understands what needs to be addressed so that each child has a real chance at a quality education.

Celebrating leadership From the desk of the President

A few weeks ago the Federation hosted a reunion of the past recipients of the young leadership awards. These awards were created in memory of Justin Greenberg, Bruce Fellman and Lois Jeanne Schrager by their generous families to recognize and encourage leadership in our Omaha Jewish Community. I was pleased to be a guest at this event both as president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha as well as the 1987 recipient of the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Young Leadership Award.

These awards have been given annually since 1976 and it was amazing to see how many past winners participated in this event and how many are still actively involved in our Jewish community. The success of our community is based directly on the success of our leadership. Our award recipients have gone on to become presidents of our synagogues, Federation agencies and organizations. They have served on boards and committees and volunteered in many capacities throughout our community. We are fortunate that our past leaders have recognized this and the Federation continues to support leadership

development programs, most recently Jewish Omaha Leadership Training (JOLT).

The Federation is excited this year to bring back the Annual Meeting which will be held on Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m. in the JCC Theater. We

Leadership, Community Service, AgencyVolunteers, and for the first time, an award for a professional in Jewish communal work. This will also be an opportunity to elect new boards for our Federation and agencies and to hear from our CEO, Mike Silverman, and me on the state of the Federation. I look forward to seeing you all on June 4 as we celebrate the success of Jewish Omaha.

Volunteers of the Year

will recognize all of our award recipients including Humanitarian, Spirit of Federation, Young Leadership, Teen

Annual Plant and Flower Sale

All proceeds support the activities provided by the PTO Flowers supplied by Red Oak Nursery through Bag N’Save Herbs and vegetables are being supplied by Blooms Organic

Continued from page 2 oversight of many of the recent physical improvements on the Federation campus. He has been the JCC buildings and grounds chairperson and is currently the campus buildings and grounds chairperson. “Last year, Mark was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition when the building and grounds responsibilities

increased as a new Campus Manager was selected,” said Aaron Rosenfeld, executive director, Jewish Community Center. Mark has been a member of the JCC Board for many years and currently holds the position of JCC board treasurer. According to Rosenfeld, he has given generously of his time, money and expertise and is more than deserving of this recognition.

jpress@jewishomaha.org.

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May Community Calendar

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH

JSS Mainstreeters Movie, 1 p.m.

Beth El Brings Shabbat to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m.

USY Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel

Junior Congregation (Grades 2-7), 10 a.m. at Beth El Shabbat Storytime, Shira Abraham, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

Blood Drive, 9 a.m. at Temple Israel

BESTT Classes PreK-7, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El

Adult Ed. Class w/ Susi Levin, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Jewish Secularism Panel, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Fifth & Sixth Grade Tour of Jewish Omaha, 10 a.m.

Parents Meeting, 10:15 a.m. at Temple Israel

Shiputznick Program, 12:30 p.m.

39 Forever Pops/Gershwin/Dinner to follow, 2 p.m.

MTA Group Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

JCC Dance Cast B Tech Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 30

Wrestling w/Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Torah Teleconference Class with Rabbi Gross, 10:30 a.m.

Monday Moadon - Grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El

Israeli Cooking Classes, 7 p.m. at Beth El

IHE/ADL Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest Awards, 7 p.m.

Teens 4 Israel Latte & Learning, 7:30 p.m. at Starbucks, 114th & Dodge

TUESDAY, MAY 1

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Hebrew 102, 6:30 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

JCC Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

NCJW Program & Reception Stressbusters, 7 p.m.

Jewish Ethics Class w/Dr. Guy Matalon, 7 p.m. at Beth El

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:30 p.m. at RBJH

BESTT Classes grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Contemporary Jewish Artist, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel

Omaha Jewish Chai School, 6:30 p.m.

Beth El 8th Grade Class, 6:45 p.m. at RBJH

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 3

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel

Adult Study w/Rabbi Linder, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

Rabbi Levin’s Monthly Class, noon at Beth El

IHE Holocaust Film Series, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 4

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH

WRJ Cookbook Launch & Dinner, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

SATURDAY, MAY 5

Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Junior Congregation (Grades 2-7), 10 a.m. at Beth El Temple Israel WRJ Retreat: Got Time?, 10 a.m. at the Sheraton

SUNDAY, MAY 6

BESTT Classes PreK-7, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Adult Ed. Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Challah Baking 101, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

Beth El USY and 8th grade scavenger hunt, 1:30 p.m.

An Afternoon with Ilan Stavans, 2 p.m. at RBJH

MTA Group Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

JCC Dance Recital Cast B Performance, 4 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 7

Wrestling w/Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Torah Teleconference Class with Rabbi Gross, 10:30 a.m.

Monday Moadon - Grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El

TUESDAY, MAY 8

Beth El Parent/Toddler Playgroup, 10:30 a.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Jewish Ethics Class w/Dr. Guy Matalon, 7 p.m. at Beth El

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

Rabbis & Presidents Committee Meeting, noon

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:30 p.m. at RBJH

BESTT Classes grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El

58th Henry Monsky Lodge Annual Sports Banquet, 6 p.m. at Century Link Center Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

Contemporary works from the Josylin Art Museum’s Collection, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel

Omaha Jewish Chai School, 6:30 p.m.

Beth El 8th Grade Class, 6:45 p.m. at RBJH

JCC Dance Recital Cast A Performance, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 10

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel

Adult Study w/Rabbi Linder, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Center for Jewish Education Board Meeting, noon

JCC Dance Recital Cast A Performance, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 11

CDC Graduation Ceremony & Reception, 10 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH

Rabbi Levin Let’s Do Lunch, noon at RBJH Star Deli

Beth El Kadima Shabbaton, 4:30 p.m. through May 13

Tot Shabbat & Say Shalom! to Shabbat!, 6 p.m. at Beth El

Confirmation Service & Oneg, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Dinner & Drash with the Clergy, 7 p.m. at Beth El

SATURDAY, MAY 12

Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel BBYO Beau Dance, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 13

BESTT Classes PreK-7, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El

Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Sunday Scholar’s Series, 11 a.m. at Beth El

Beth El Pizza & Parsha with Cantor Beth, 12:30 p.m. at Bagel Bin

MTA Group Rehearsals, 3 p.m.

Mother’s Day Pizza Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel

MONDAY, MAY 14

Wrestling w/Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Torah Teleconference Class with Rabbi Gross, 10:30 a.m.

Monday Moadon - Grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Monday Night Women’s Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

TUESDAY, MAY 15

2012 Presidential Primary Elections Polling, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at JCC

B’nai B’rith Board Meeting, 11:45 a.m. at Grisanti’s Restaurant

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

BESTT School Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El

AIPAC Nebraska Annual Event, 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:30 p.m. at RBJH

NJHS Board Meeting, 4 p.m. at RBJH

BESTT Classes grades 2-7, 4:15 p.m. at Beth El

Omaha Jewish Chai School, 6:30 p.m.

Live from the 92nd Street Y: Elie Wiesel, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 17

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel

Adult Study w/Rabbi Linder, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

Kaplan Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library

FRIDAY, MAY 18

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH

BESTT Seventh & 12th Grade Graduation & dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El OTYG End of the Year Party, 7:15 p.m. at Temple Israel

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel

Veshinantam, 6 p.m. at Beth Israel

SUNDAY, MAY 20

BESTT Classes PreK-7, 9:45 a.m. at Beth El Adult Ed. Classes, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El

OTYG Car Wash, 10 a.m.-noon at Temple Israel

Children’s Activity, 10:15 a.m. at Beth Israel

Beth El USY Installation lunch, 1:30 p.m. at the Zipursky’s home MTA Group Rehearsals, 3 p.m. Friedel Tribute Dinner, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El

MONDAY, MAY 21

Wrestling w/Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. at Beth El

Torah Teleconference Class with Rabbi Gross, 10:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 22

Beth El Parent/Toddler Playgroup, 10:30 a.m. at Fontenelle Forest

BBYO Advisor Appreciation Program, 6 p.m. Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

Women’s Rosh Hodesh Meeting, 7 p.m. at Beth El JFO Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

Jewish Federation Birthright Israel Soldiers, 9 a.m. Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:30 p.m. at RBJH Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 24

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel

Adult Study w/Rabbi Linder, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel

Women’s Book Group, 1 p.m. at Beth El Beth El Clergy Shavuot Program, 1:40 p.m. at Remington Heights Friedel Jewish Academy Graduation & Reception, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 25

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

SATURDAY, MAY 26

Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Morning Storytime with Shira Abraham, 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Erev Shavuot Program & Services, 7 p.m. at Beth El

SUNDAY, MAY 27

Weekly Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El

MONDAY, MAY 28

Torah Teleconference Class with Rabbi Gross, 10:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 29

BBYO End of Year Bash, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30

MTA Group Tech/Dress Rehearsal of The Music Man, 4:30 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 31

Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth El USY and 8th grade CMT, 5 p.m.

MTA Group Performance of The Music Man, 7 p.m.

Hadassah celebrates a century of growth and progress

by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES

Back in 1912, a small group of women, headed by Henrietta Szold, held a meeting in a New York synagogue to address the poor standards of health care in Israel, which was known then as Palestine. The meeting took place around Purim that year, so the name Hadassah was chosen for the organization as a tribute to Esther, the rescuer and heroine of the Jewish People in Biblical times, whose Hebrew name is Hadassah.

There were certainly no startup funds back in 1912, and the focus of the group was strictly one of humanitarianism, attempting to improve health conditions in Israel. Henrietta and her mother had recently visited and were appalled by the lack of proper medical care there.

When Hadassah began, it was certainly not a progressive time for women, since they were not allowed to vote nor compete with men for similar careers. Their options were extremely limited. Nevertheless, the American Zionist Medical Unit, a mission of nurses sent to Palestine back in 1918, was inspired by two revolutionary women in medicine, nurses Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale. The AZMU which was often referred to as the “Hadassah Expedition,” eventually had its name changed to the Hadassah Medical Organization, which has long endured and presently enjoys the status of pacesetter in medical research, treatment, patient care and education.

Sharing the limelight with Hadassah this centennial year will be the official opening of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower in October, slated to provide outstanding medical care and treatment in an innovative patient-friendly environment. The architectural design of the building promotes healing, with views of the landscape, and areas of real trees and plants. Three glass elevators provide passengers with a panoramic view of the surroundings; four multi-level healing gardens on one side, the beauty of the Jerusalem Hills on the other, and if you’re looking down, the Welcome Garden below. The glass walls and roof of the entrance atrium provide filtered light, giving an impression that the trees and plants within, blending with those outdoors, are merging together as one continuous display. I can’t imagine a scene more beautiful than that, or more conducive to patients’ recovery and well-being. While the official opening of the Tower will be in October of this year, there have already been some guided tours conducted throughout the facility. The Tower will be a leader in scientific research, patient care and treatment, and advanced medical intervention.

The patient rooms in the Tower will be different from those in our country, having a different arrangement of the beds. Most of the two-patient rooms in the United States have two beds side by side, with only one patient having a window. In the Tower, the beds will face each other, with

each patient having his or her own window. Also, this placement makes it easier for the occupants to visit with one another, and if privacy is desired, the curtains around the beds can be drawn. A lot of patients in the United States prefer private rooms, and others like roommates, but apparently at the Tower, the preference is more toward having someone to visit and commiserate with. And the medical staff apparently feels it’s more conducive to recovery.

In the United States, Hadassah chapters have also been celebrating the centennial. The Omaha Chapter is no exception. We haven’t been very active this past year as far as hosting events. However, our chapter is alive and well and there has been a lot of activity behind the scenes. In fact, we are planning a centennial community event to be held in June. There will be an official announcement and invitation in the Press, later, as the event grows near.

Henrietta Szold was a visionary who forsaw a day in the future when Hadassah would be known for charitable acts, and gain recognition around the world. The phenomenal growth and development of this organization, despite its humble beginning, and the part it has played in so many areas of life, is almost unbelievable. Szold’s vision of the future a century ago has more than surpassed what she ever thought possible. A concept or dream can only become a reality with teamwork, perseverence, dedication and generous donations given by people like Sarah Wetsman, for whom the Tower is named. If Hadassah has come this far at the end of a century of progress, just imagine what could be accomplished in the next hundred years.

Organizations

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning will discuss his candidacy for the US senate on Wednesday, May 2, noon at the Blumkin Home. 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

How much Yiddish do you know? Probably more than you think. Some English words have made their way into Yiddish. Many Yiddish words are commonly used in English. Every first Thursday of the month, we will be playing Yiddish Bingo. This will give you a chance to show off the Yiddish you didn’t even know you knew. Everyone is invited! We meet every Thursday from 1-3 p.m., in the Rose Blumkin Home Board Room. For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

Beth El kids’ retreat to celebrate everything about Israel

by JILL BELMONT

Beth El Publicity Coordinator

All Jewish fifth- to eighth graders in the community are invited to join Beth El’s Kadima youth group in a celebration of Israel during Kadima’s annual Shabbaton from Friday, May 11, to Sunday, May 13. The retreat, a perennial favorite of the synagogue’s youth, will take place at the Gretna 4-H Camp, and will focus on the theme, “I Love Israel.”

Great motivator challenges, inspires

by ROCHI KATZMAN

Thick with suspense, the narrative of Dr. Gill Heart challenged and inspired nearly 70 people who came to draw from his inspiration and get their “Mind in Control”. A passionate speaker, Gill Heart led an interactive workshop Monday evening April 16 at Chabad. His knowledge and

and efficiency. “I enjoyed Gill Heart’s presentation very much”, said Anat Cabili. “The sources on which his framework is based: Kabbalah, neuroscience and his experience in the IDF were thought provoking, yet his suggestions were practical and down to earth,” she explained.

The event was organized to offer an alternate approach to

According to Judy Haven, Beth El’s Education Director, “the weekend will be filled with experiential activities about Israel: Israeli youth games, discussions, a surprise from parents, food, and much more. By the end of the weekend, everyone in attendance will be able to say ‘I heart Israel!’”

Other highlights will include a zip line, a rock-climbing wall, a bonfire and special Shabbat celebration, Haven noted, adding that, “our middle schoolers will learn about what Kadima does, and our eighth graders will be inducted into our USY youth group for high school students.”

On May 11, children will meet at the synagogue at 4:30 p.m.; on May 13, they will be picked up at 11:45 a.m., also at the synagogue. Cost to attend Kadima Shabbaton is $35; to make a reservation or for more information, contact Shiri Tene at youthdir@bethel-omaha.org, Rabbi Steven Abraham at rabbiabraham@bethelomaha.org , or Judy Haven at 402.498.0994, or eddir@bethel-omaha.org. Applications are available in the BESTT office, or online at www.bethel-omaha.org Scholarships are available.

Kadima Shabbaton has been generously underwritten by the Herbert Goldsten Trust.

know-how, gleaned from years as an IDF Commander, his work in the field of Neuroscience, entrepreneurial experiences, and his dedicated study of Kabbalah, converged into a practical and even fun session that offered participants tools for living. “I think it was an unusual, different experience,” said Anna Yuz-Mosenkis, who attended with her husband. “Interesting information and great techniques to keep in mind when going through everyday life,” she added. Punctuated with humor and interspersed with fun and interactive exercises, Dr. Heart showed how the stressors to which we are constantly exposed can limit our productivity

educational lectures and seminars as part of Chabad’s programming and to share the wisdom and relevance of our age-old tradition to our fast-paced, modern lives. The participants covered a large crosssection of the Omaha community, including people of all faiths and affiliations.

At the conclusion of the presentation, a raffle drawing was held in which Lisa Epstein, Bonnie Pfrenger and Nora Zoob each won a private phone consultation with Dr. Gill Heart.

The evening was dedicated to Phil Schrager of blessed memory, whose leadership and kindness continue to affect our community and touch lives every day.

WRJ reschedules snowed out retreat

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN

Temple Israel Communications Coordinator

It didn’t snow a lot this past winter, but the first weekend in February was one of the few measurable snowstorms, and driving was on the hazardous side. That resulted in the postponement of the Women of Reform Judaism Retreat, “got time?”. That retreat has been rescheduled and to some extent, adjusted. The newly scheduled retreat will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the home of Wendy Goldberg, 2005 South 91st Street.

“We’ll still focus on a casual gathering of women and emphasize self-empowerment and taking care of our bodies, minds, and spirits,” said Goldberg, Temple Israel program director. “All women from the Jewish community are welcome to come and relax and spend time with friends and make some new ones.”

Beginning with optional meditation and stretching with

yoga instructor Lisa Kanne, Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead Shabbat worship services followed by lunch at noon; crafts; cooking; and speaker Pam Hernandez, vice president of operations, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, presenting, “It’s Your Life, Whatever It Takes,” a slide show focusing on trying not to be superwoman but instead being kind to yourself and nurturing yourself. Havdalah, dinner, evening entertainment, and cocktails and conversation will complete the daylong retreat. In a world in which women are usually primarily responsible for raising a family, running a household, and often holding down a job, they often fail to pay attention to themselves. The retreat will give them an opportunity to reflect on their own needs.

Fifty dollars covers the cost of meals and programming. RSVP online at http://www.templeisrael-ne.org/wrj/ or contact Goldberg at 402.556.6536 or at wgoldberg@templeisrelomaha.com for additional information

Last year’s Kadima Shabbaton delivered fun and camaraderie for all in attendance; this year’s retreat, planned for May 11-13, promises more of the same.

Shani Katzman, left, Terri Schrager, Gill Heart and Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

Audience members, including Lynne Saltzman and Bonnie Pfrenger, get involved.

No apologies

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press

In the current political climate, the question needs to be asked: what is it we really celebrate on Yom Ha’atzmaut? My children think of it as a birthday party for Israel, which of course it is - complete with dancing, party favors, and great food. After 64 years we continue to have many reasons to celebrate; the sheer fact that Israel exists at all is a fabulous thing for Jews everywhere.

Unfortunately, what the rest of the world sees is anything but festive. What they see is a country that violates human rights on a daily basis, and is on the brink of attacking Iran, no matter the consequences. Oh, and they eat a lot of hummus. Hummus! There should be a boycott.

Yes, I am being facetious, but only a little. We have a p.r. problem, and are losing the Image-war. In the international media, Israel is a two-dimensional mess, an eagerly embraced stereotype, an excuse for anti-Semites who want to express their disdain for the Jewish people in a time when that is no longer politically correct; so instead, they attack Israeli politics. In addition, there are many Jews in the Diaspora who confuse genuine criticism of the Israeli politicians (which is allowed) with criticism of and even disdain for the country itself. And that is very much not kosher.

When a country is criticized on the international stage, it can be tempting to become somewhat apologetic. The critics are relentless, they are a constant, and they have us at a disadvantage.

Israel’s existence is a miracle and a necessary one; we should never have to apologize. Is Israel perfect? Of course not. What country is? But the implication that “Israel

Point of view Behind the headlines

(N.Y. Jewish Week) -- The latest turn in the New Atheist debates can be summed up like this: Even if you don’t believe in God, religion still has a lot to offer. Public intellectuals such as Alain de Botton and James Gray in Britain, and scientists like E.O. Wilson and Jonathan Haidt in America, all of them atheists, have made similar cases in their recent books and essays.

While their arguments differ, they all concede that religions -- Christianity and Judaism, and ones from further East -- have done a remarkable job creating harmonious communities, at least over the long haul of history. Moreover, religions have proven markedly adept at helping people cope with the agonies and ecstasies of human experience.

“God may be dead,” de Botton, an atheist born to secular Jewish parents, writes in his new book, Religion for Atheists, “but the urgent issues which impelled us to make him up still stir and demand resolutions.

“The error of modern atheism has been to overlook how many aspects of the faiths remain relevant even after their central tenets have been dismissed.”

Can religion, especially Judaism, work if you don’t believe in God? To many Jews, this argument may seem unremarkable. In fact, it may seem eerily like a description of American Judaism today. It is not so much that most Jews in America define themselves as atheist -- though, according to the latest research, almost 20 percent do. It’s that the question of whether God exists, in striking contrast to Christianity, is almost beside the point to how Jews define their identity.

“The religion has a lot of meaning even without God,” said Asher Lopatin, an Orthodox rabbi who leads the Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in Chicago.

Lopatin, a Rhodes scholar recently named one of Newsweek’sTop 50 Rabbis in America, was not advocating for

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shouldn’t get away with anything” puts us on the defensive; we find ourselves looking for excuses, when we should be feeling pride.

I know none of this is news. Although I could happily complain about it for another column or two, let’s instead try to answer the question: what are we going to do about it? Education, that’s what. And we should start long before our kids move into their college dorms and find themselves on the wrong end of the protests.

Last week, my daughter’s teacher at Friedel Jewish Academy gave the entire fifth and sixth grades an assignment: she asked them to write down everything they had learned about Israel since Kindergarten. They wrote about Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, Hatikvah, Jerusalem, the Israeli flag; they knew about Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, and Mayanot, their sister school. Some of them talked about visiting, but many have not yet been; however, they all know about Akko being our sister city, they’ve all met Israelis who traveled to Omaha through Partnership, they know about white and blue, about Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, and halvah. More importantly, they know about Israel being our home; it’s where we come from, and where we can return.

When you think of a country as ‘home,’ it becomes more than just a place on the map: you forge an emotional connection. That emotional connection can be made in

a myriad of ways; attending a day school is just one of the many ways in which we can teach our children that Israel deserves our love and support. The upcoming Israel-themed Beth El Shabbaton is another, as are the many acticvities organized by the Jewish Community Center, and our community’s participation in the Partnership2together.

Here in the Omaha Jewish community, we have many resources at our disposal to make that connection with Israel stronger. We should all take advantage of that. And in the process, we can remind others (and ourselves) why Israel is so valuable, and why there are many reasons to celebrate.

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Vice President; Jason Epstein, Treasurer; Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Marc Brodkey; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Michael Kaufman; Paul Rabinowitz; Caryn Scheer; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma-

a Judaism without God. But he did think Judaism, even Orthodox Judaism, was getting along just fine without a strong emphasis on one.

He cited a 19th-century Talmudic commentary admitting a similar point, as if to suggest that his view was nothing radical. The idea was essentially that all rabbinic commentary, Lopatin paraphrased, “should be able to explain everything in the Jewish religion without having God in the picture.”

Interviews with rabbis of many denominations, as well as Jewish academics and intellectuals, elicited similar responses.

“The cliche is that Judaism is about deed, not creed. But there’s a lot of truth in that,” said Jay Michaelson, a prominent Jewish writer and thinker, who says he believes in a Spinozian-type God (“God does not exist; God is existence itself,” he said, summing it up.)

“The innovation was Christianity, which said that if you believe in Christ, you are redeemed,” he said. “In Judaism, questions of belief in God are secondary.”

Alan Mittleman, a professor of modern Jewish philosophy at the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary, said that “I imagine many Jews go to shul, even Modern Orthodox shuls, and have doubts about God. But still they feel deeply committed to Jewish life and the mitzvot.” Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, a philosopher and novelist who describes herself as an atheist Jew, put it this way: “Judaism isn’t a doctrinal religion. We do need community, and we do need these rituals that mark important times in our lives. But somehow it’s survived even having been cut off from theology.”

Like several others interviewed, she dubbed American Judaism today, at least the most prevalent forms, as being “post-theological.”

The latest statistics seem to fit these impressions. According to the Public Religion Research Institute’s survey on American Jewish values released this month, religious observance was a distant third in what Jews described as the

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most important quality of their Jewish identity. The most common answer, at roughly 50 percent, was “a commitment to social equality,” followed by support for Israel at 20 percent.

“Religious observance,” the closest quality to something like belief, was cited as the most important quality of Judaism only 17 percent of the time.

The data also showed that while about 70 percent of Jews define themselves through a religious movement -- Reform, Conservative or Orthodox -- the other 30 percent see Judaism as more of a cultural identity, calling themselves “just Jewish.” And when asked whether Jews of any kind believed in God, 18 percent said they did not. (Forty percent said they believed in an “impersonal God,” while 26 percent said they believed in a God they saw as “a person with whom one can have a relationship.”)

None of this gives a clear picture of what Jews actually believe or what they believe Judaism essentially is -- a set of beliefs codified in laws or a culture. But many of the rabbis and scholars interviewed for this article gave a similar description of the Jewish landscape.

Most Jews today, they said, tend to de-emphasize the question of belief in God and instead focus on other modes of identity: a connection to Israel, or to Jewish history and culture, or even with rituals and religious traditions -- but understood as inherently meaningful, not necessarily because they connect to God.

This is not a new phenomenon, however. Elliot Cosgrove, a Conservative rabbi who leads the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, and author of Jewish Theology in Our Time (2010), dated the idea of Judaism as a culture that includes religious practice -- but is much more -- to the early 20thcentury American rabbi Mordecai Kaplan.

A prominent figure, Kaplan argued in his landmark book Judaism as a Civilization (1934) that Judaism was essentially an ancient civilization. What mattered was ethics, not Continued on page 9

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Can religion, especially Judaism, work if you don’t believe in God?

Continued from page 8

belief. Yet Jewish laws and rituals -- that is, the stuff of traditional religion -- were worth preserving as a means of sharing collectively in a rich and vibrant past.

While the Reconstructionist movement founded by Kaplan has only a nominal place in American Jewish life today -- 1 percent of Jews identify as Reconstructionist, according to the survey -- his other legacy, Jewish community centers, was more successful. More important, his conception of Judaism as civilization, re-branded today as “culture,” is perhaps his most resounding legacy.

But not everyone sees the idea of Judaism as a culture or “Judaism without God” as good for the faith. Asked whether Judaism can remain a coherent entity, even one defined as a culture, without a strong belief in God, some were ominous.

“Without God playing a central role, Judaism will collapse,” said David Wolpe, a Conservative rabbi who leads the Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. (He is also a regular contributor to The Jewish Week and topped this year’s Newsweek list.) He dismissed the idea of preserving religious rituals as merely valuable “traditions” -- a common description since Fiddler on the Roof, if not Mordecai Kaplan.

“In the end, traditions are hard to maintain unless there’s an attempt to understand the traditions in a deep way, and that God is central to those traditions,” he said.

His argument cannot be described as generational. Wolpe may be in his 50s, but some younger rabbis serving mostly youthful populations made a similar case. Dan Ain, a 35year-old Conservative rabbi and the 92YTribeca’s rabbi in residence, said a Jewish identity that pays little attention to theology “isn’t going to cut it anymore in the 21st century.”

Letter

TO

We really enjoyed the Passover issue and learned a lot about artists in Omaha. Our daughter, Lila Ferber, is an upand-coming artist in Omaha. We’re so proud of her. She’s just a junior in high school, but her sculpture One Octopus Band has made it into the top 5 (of about 100 entries) in the national Scotch Off the Roll Tape Sculpture Contest!

PLEASE vote for Lila’s sculpture. You can vote 10 times per day for the next 2 weeks. This will look great on her college application.

Share this with all of your family, friends, and teens. The top two sculptures with the most votes will become the Grand Prize and First Prize winners. Here’s the website: http://offtherollcontest.com/VoteEntryDetail.aspx?Entry

ID=122

We really appreciate your support and the time you will take to vote. Thanks so much! We’ll share the results next month.

“What we’re really experiencing now is a real crisis in Jewish life,” he said, referring to both the divisive debates over Israel -- once a pillar of Jewish unity -- and financial hardships stemming from the economy. Both individual Jews and Jewish institutions, especially ones that foster Jewish identity through cultural experiences, have suffered because of the downturn.

Ain said because of this, Jews want to tap into religious faith, but Jewish leaders have left them ill equipped. “People are looking for God in their lives,” he said, but rabbis and Jewish organizations have not given them the ability to connect with God on a spiritual and Jewish level.

That lack of strong belief, or confusion over what it is Jews believe, stems in part from Judaism itself. From a historical perspective, rabbis have often come up with competing notions of what God actually is -- from mystical, kabbalistic ideas that stress a God who created, then removed himself from the world, to the Maimonidean notion that any attempt to understand God through human faculties -- language or reason -ultimately fails because God is beyond all understanding.

“Depending on how you look at it, it’s either really liberating or really confusing,” Cosgrove said. On the one hand, the diversity of theological ideas about God might create a larger tent for religious belief. But for others, it might be profoundly frustrating: so many Gods, which one to choose?

But like many others, Cosgrove said that part of the problem was with Jewish institutions today -- synagogues, Hebrew schools and JCCs. They do a poor job of educating Jews on what God may or may not be.

“For many of us,” said Michaelson, “our concept of God stopped evolving when we were 13. If you believe ‘the old man in the sky’ is idiotic, odds are you’re not going to con-

tinue believing in God as an educated adult. So our God concept needs to grow up like we do.”

Leora Batnitzky, a professor of religion at Princeton University, said, “I think the answer is better Jewish education that teaches all the main ideas about God. Then Jews can decide for themselves what they believe.”

Batnitzky recently argued in her book How Judaism Became a Religion (2011) that the idea of Judaism as a religion rather than a culture is actually a modern one. Prior to European emancipation, in the late-18th century, Jews lived in autonomous communities where all aspects of life were regulated by rabbis. That effectively made Judaism an entire culture. It is only as Jews entered an increasingly secular world that Judaism began to be conceived as a religion to be separated from all other aspects of life.

And yet she comes to the same conclusion as rabbis like Ain and Wolpe.

“I think belief in God will be more important in the future than in the past,” Batnitzky said in an interview. Given the difficulties that other secular Jewish identities have had sustaining themselves in the past century -- Zionist, Yiddish socialist, secular humanist Judaism -- she believes a more traditional Jewish identity, one centered on religious practices and belief in God, will become more important.

Moreover, partaking in religious rituals without having a firm belief in God as their foundation doesn’t bode well for Judaism’s survival. The rituals, conceived of only as “traditions,” won’t hold up to scrutiny unless they are backed by a more powerful concept like God.

“What the question of God is about is truth,” she said. “So people will begin to ask, ‘Is there any truth in this tradition?’”

Holocaust Film Series concludes at Sokolof Theater

On Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m., Film Streams and the Institute for Holocaust Education will present a special screening of the 2010 documentary The Last Survivor. There will be a post-show discussion featuring director, Michael Kleiman. This is the third and final film of the Spring 2012 Holocaust Film Series presented by the Institute for Holocaust Education.

An award winning, feature-length documentary, The Last Survivor presents the stories of four survivors and their struggle to make sense of tragedy by working to educate a new generation, inspire tolerance, and spark a civic response to mass atrocity crimes.

Help for people with

Toll Free: 877-393-0025

Dr. Robert A. Stamm www.LecVisionSource.com

Following the lives of survivors from four different genocides and mass atrocities -- The Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur, and Congo -- The Last Survivor presents a unique opportunity to learn from the lessons and mistakes of our past in order to have a lasting social impact on how we act collectively in the face of similar issues which still exist today.

The post-show discussion panel with director Michael Kleiman will also include a child survivor of the Holocaust, Bea Karp and Executive Director of the Plains States Region of the AntiDefamation League, Alan Potash.

Tickets are $9 general, $7 for seniors, students, teachers, military and those arriving by bicycle, and $4.50 for Film Streams Members. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.film streams.org or at the box office inside Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater.

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Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Rabbi Steven Abraham and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Beth El Brings Shabbat to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m. ; Junior Congregation (2-7), 10 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time, 11:30 a.m. led by Shira Abraham; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: No BESTT Classes for grades 5-7; students will participate in the Historical Tour of Jewish Omaha at the JCC from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information about the program, contact Judy Haven at 402.498.0904, or eddir@ bethel-omaha.org; Torah Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Diversity in Movies, 10 a.m. with Susi Frydman-Levin.

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

TUESDAY: Musar – Jewish Ethics class, 7 p.m. mini course led by Professor Guy Matalon.

WEDNESDAY: BESTT School Talent Show Auditons, 3 p.m.

THURSDAY: What Do Jews Believe, noon with Rabbi Levin.

YAC Playgroup on Tuesday, May 8, 10:30 a.m., toddlers will enjoy “Gettin’ Messy Outdoors.” For more information, contact Caryn Scheer at carynscheer@yahoo.com. 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: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

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

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Understanding the Prayers, 10 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; The Laws of Shabbat, 5:45 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 6:45 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic class, 6:45 p.m.; Mincha, 7:45 p.m., followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:04 p.m.

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

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. Contact the office for information on how to call-in to the conference call; Teens 4 Israel Latte & Learning, 7:30 pm. at Starbucks, 114th & Dodge

TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Scholars Club for fourth-sixth graders, 3:30 p.m. with Rabbi Mizrahi; Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross.

CHABAD CENTER

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, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush lunch follows from noon-1 p.m.; Special celebration and lunch in honor of Harold Edelman’s birthday.

SUNDAY: Service at 8:30 a.m. followed by breakfast at 9:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: A Taste of Yeshiva-Chevruta style Beit Midrash study 6:30 p.m.

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis.

FRIDAY: Tot Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel; Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Elaine Monnier.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple.

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

ADULT EDUCATION

TUESDAY,6:30 p.m Intro to Judaism, Session #? led by Rabbi Lewis. The cost is $50 to cover course materials. Register by calling the Temple office at 402.435.8004 or email stemple@neb.rr.com.

THURSDAYS, Beginning Hebrew, 6 p.m. and Intermediate Hebrew, 7 p.m. The cost is $50 to cover course materials. For more information call the Temple office at 402.435.8004 or email stemple@neb.rr.com.

Note: Please contact Rabbi Lewis if the cost for a class creates a financial hardship.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244

FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154

FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m led by Beth El Members.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg. Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community 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 led by Grades 1 & 2, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Linder and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Lindsay Osborne, daughter of Ann and Don Osborne, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Temple Israel Annual Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Grades K-6, 10 a.m.; A Conversation on Jewish Secularism Panel from the New School, NY, 10 a.m.; Grade 5 & 6 Virtual Jewish Omaha Tour, 10 a.m. at the JCC; Grade 6 Parents Meeting - Putting God on the Guest List, 10:15 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Grades 3-6, 4-6 p.m.; School Dinner, 6 p.m.; Family School, 6-8 p.m.; Grades 7-8, 6-8 p.m.; Contemporary Jewish Artists, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: God was in this place and I did not know, 1011:30 a.m. with Rabbi Linder. He will be looking at what our tradition says about the normal moments ... Maybe they’re not so normal?

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org

Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

FRIDAY: Tot Shabbat with Ms. Jennifer, 6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel; Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 10 a.m. with an interactive learning session followed by Kiddush lunch.

SUNDAY: LJCS Gan through Grade 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon at South Street Temple.

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

THURSDAY: Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, 7 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

The 2012 Hallah High Rummage Sale is Sunday, May 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at South Street Temple. Please drop-off your donated items at Tifereth Israel.

Israeli military doctor saves Palestinian baby

by MARCY OSTER

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- An Israeli military doctor saved a 12-day-old Palestinian baby girl who had stopped breathing.Lt. Michael Findler, 28, the lone doctor at the Halamish military base near Ramallah in the West Bank, resuscitated the baby with CPR. Following an exam, the baby was taken by Palestinian ambulance to a hospital in Ramallah. The mother had brought the infant to the gates of the base at 3 a.m. Monday seeking help.

It was the seventh time since Findler arrived at the base two months ago that he had provided emergency services to Palestinians from area villages, and third in the past two weeks, he told JTA. Last week he cared for a 4-year-old Palestinian girl who he diagnosed with meningitis, as well as a young woman with intracranial bleeding. He also delivered a Palestinian baby in his clinic.

All of the outcomes have been good so far, he said, adding that it can sometimes be difficult to find out what happened to his patients after they are taken away by a Palestinian ambulance. Findler said it is “very common” for Palestinians to come to the base seeking medical care.

“The Palestinians know that in our base they get the emergency medical treatment they need,” he said.

Joshua David Kurtzman, son of Jordana Kurtzman, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 5, at Beth Israel.

Joshua is a sixth-grade student at Columbian Elementary School.

His interests include studying sharks and astronomy, visting national monuments and museums, and attending summer camp.

He has two brothers, Aaron and Isaac.

Grandparents are the late Eleanor and Stanley Kurtzman.

Great-grandparents are the late Fay and Nathan Kurtzman, and that late Helen and Frank Pinckney.

Eliana Miriam Schuller, daughter of Dan Schuller, MD and Yaffa Podbilewicz-Schuller, PhD, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 5, at Beth El.

Eliana is a seventh-grade Honor Roll student at Kiewit Middle School and a Friedel Jewish Academy graduate.

Her interests include painting, claymolding, reading, drama, languages, ping-pong and biking.

For her mitzvah project, Eliana volunteers at the Blumkin Home assisting residents with arts and crafts. She tutors eighth grade spanish at Kiewit Middle School, and volunteers at Friedel. She also volunteered at Together Inc. and is participating in the teen philantropy project.

She has a sister, Yael, and a brother, Ygal. Grandparents are Esther and Shmuel Schuller, and Deborah Tenenbaum and Jacobo Podbilewicz, all of Mexico City.

The base is located near the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh, which is the site of weekly protests by local residents and activists against the West Bank settlement of Halamish, which locals say has taken over their land. Findler says he has cared for Palestinians injured during the often violent demonstrations.

He sees so many Palestinian cases at Halamish, Findler says, because PA ambulances have a difficult time reaching the villages and they do not have paramedics on board when they arrive.

“In our area we are the most capable medical clinic,” he said.

Personal

I want to thank all my family and friends for the wonderful celebrations, lunch, cards and gifts for my special Birthday. I appreciate the love, support and friendships for all these years. Love, Faye Ruback

Who needs medical care?

Sparks from the word

RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE

Parsha Tazria/M’Tzora

It is hard to understand why these two Parshiot are regularly joined together, and read together in a single week.

It is obvious that the Torah favors males over females. It is one thing to give birth to a male child, and quite another to give birth to a female. That having been said, what is the connection with the next Parsha? There is none.

Starting with the King James, M’Tzora is usually translated as “leprosy.” But it is a far cry from what leprosy means in medicine today. In our Sidrah it is nothing more than a bothersome skin affliction, which takes awhile to cure.

They apparently had “physicians” to cure these afflictions. But in the Bible “physicians” were really nothing more than “para-physicians”, those skilled in the art of embalming. Leprosy in modern medicine is quite another thing.

B’nai Israel Speaker Series

On April 13 at B’nai Israel Synagogue, Rachel Rosenberg, Holocaust Survivor, described her imprisonment in the German concentration camps. Living in Poland, she and her family were captured by the Nazi’s when she was 14 years old. Mrs. Rosenberg survived six long years of captivity until the Russians liberated her and others in the spring of 1945. The speaker series will continue in the fall of 2012 please read the Jewish Press for Announcements.

Anti Defamation League Presents: Bully

by LIZZY GILBERT

Corporate and Community Development, Anti-Defamation League - Plains States Region

ADL Presents Bully: A FREE Screening for Teens on Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. at Aksarben Cinema.

While this screening is open to all, the ADL has designed this showing specifically to benefit Omaha-area teens. Teens will be admitted to the show free-ofcharge. Following the film, students will participate in a talk-back session focusing on how to become an ally in their school communities. Registration will open at 1 p.m. and free teen tickets are firstcome, first-serve. Each teen will also be given a ticket redeemable for free drink and popcorn.

ADL Presents Bully: A Community Conversation on Tuesday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Aksarben Cinema.

Come see the powerful new documentary Bully and participate in a panel discussion with local bullying experts:

• Jessica Gall, ADL Education Project Director

• Dr. Patricia Newman, Licensed Psychologist, Executive Director, RESPECT (www.Respect2All.org)

• Kevin Riggert, Principal, Elkhorn Ridge Middle School

The panel will be moderated by Mel Clancy, Project Achieve Director and ADL Facilitator. You may purchase your tickets today at http://bit.ly/Jg2sfd.

To Submit obituaries to the Jewish Press: Email to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on Jewish

and go to Submit

RABBI WOLFGANG

HAMBURGER

Rabbi Wolfgang Hamburger, former Rabbi of Congegation B’nai Jeshurun in Lincoln, died at the age of 93 on March 20 in St. Joseph, MO. Services were held on March 23 at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Private Family Interment Temple Adath Joseph Cemetery. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susan Hamburger. Rabbi Hamburger served as the Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (the South Street Temple) in Lincoln from 1955-1965.

Rabbi Hamburger received his MA from the University of Cincinnati and earned a MHL and Honorary D.D. from Hebrew Union College. After his education he served congregations in Lincoln, Duluth, MN and Longview and Houston, TX before coming to Temple Adath Joseph from which he retired in 1986. He continued to enjoy writing and lecturing for various publications and groups.

He is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Temple Adath Joseph, American Council for Judaism, St. Joseph Humane Society, Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library and Leo Baeck Society in Berlin and New York. Memorials may be made to the Open Door Food Kitchen, Friends of The St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph Humane Society or Hias, 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10001-5019.

RABBI GILBERT LEWIS SHOHAM

Rabbi Gilbert Lewis Shoham, 81, of Overland Park, KS passed away April 20. Services were held on April 22, at the Louis Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, MO. Chapel services and burial were held on April 23 at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rabbi Jehiel Ber Shoham and Ethel Marcus Shoham, and his first wife, Dorothy Cohen Shoham.

He is survived by his second wife, Sharon Lowenstein Shoham; his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Steven and Susie Shoham; daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia Shoham Follick and Joshua Follick; grandchildren: Daniel Shoham, Deuce Janisch-Shoham and Stella Tolentino of Los Angeles; stepsons and daugthers-in-law, Lon and Cathy of Kansas City, Glenn and Nicole of Houston, John and Amy of Chicago, and Reed Lowenstein and Melanie Hanan of London; 12 step-grandchildren; sister, Faye Mishkin of Brooklyn, NY; brother and sister-in-law, Rabbi Sidney and Jewel Shoham of Montreal; and brother, Jake Shoham of Los Angeles; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Jean Cohen Friedman of Los Angeles, and Abraham and Hazel Cohen of Montreal, and Barry and Esther Cohen Schwartz of Montreal; and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He founded the Shaarey Zedek Congregation and the Emek Hebrew Academy in Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. He also served the pulpits of Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagadol in Montreal, and Kehilath Israel Synagogue in Overland Park, KS. He served as president of the Rabbinical Council of California, vice president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He was a member of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City.

Memorials may be made to Congregation BIAV, 9900 Antioch, Overland Park KS 66212 or the philanthropy of your choice.

Rescue a dog at Temple

by DANA GONZALES

Come meet and play with adorable dogs available for adoption through Midwest Dog Rescue Network and other rescue organizations. The event will be held this Sunday, April 29, from noon to 1 p.m. at Temple Israel, 7023 Cass Street at the south doors of the building. There will be staff present to explain the adoption process and to answer any questions you may have. The event is sponsored by Seventh grader, Geordi Gonzales, for her Mitzvah Project.

Please join us!

To find out more about Midwest Dog Rescue Network, please visit their website at: midwestdogrescuenetwork. com

Hope to see you there!

Writer Temple Israel

Temple Israel seeks an experienced writer to support publicity and media relations. This position will involve writing, social media, researching, and editing communication materials. Writing grant reports, proposals, inquiry letters, and conducting research is also part of this job. Experience preferred. Part time, 20-30 hrs/wk. Send resume to wgoldberg@templeisraelomaha.com.

RNs/LPNs/CNAs

The Good Samaritan Society is looking for licensed nurses and CNAs who are passionate about their profession and are willing to travel within Nebraska.

Call Jenny at (308) 458-7370.

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING Adoption? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. Adopt Connect, 1-866-743-9212.

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! For $210/25 word classified you can advertise in over 170 Nebraska newspapers. For more information contact the Jewish Press at 402-3346449 or call 1-800-369-2850.

BANKRUPTCY: FREE initial consultation. Fast relief from creditors. Low rates. Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-8728327. steffensbankruptcylaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 175 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

NEWSPAPER FOR Sale. Weekly newspaper, can be purchased with/without building. Priced to sell immediately!! Loyal advertiser and subscriber base. Call Cheryl at 402986-1777, 402-910-1603, howellsjournal@msn.com.

SELL YOUR classic car, truck or motorcycle online. Call this newspaper or call 1-800369-2850 to place your ad on the national Midwest Classic Cars web site for only $25.00. Your ad with photos runs until your vehicle is sold!

LOOMIX® FEED supplements is seeking Dealers. Motivated individuals with cattle knowledge and community ties. Contact Bethany @ 800-870-0356/becomeadealer@adm.com to find out if there is a Dealership opportunity in your area.

A POSITION for a staff medical laboratory technologist is available at the Cherry County Hospital. Benefit package includes health, disability, dental/vision insurance and pension. Contact the Cherry County Hospital, Box 410, Valentine, NE 69201 or 402-3762525.

AIRLINES ARE hiring. Train for hands on Aviation Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 888-896-8006.

OVER 18? A can’t miss limited opportunity to travel with a successful young business group. Paid training. Transportation/lodging provided. Unlimited income potential. Call 1-877-646-5050.

SCRAPER OPERATOR needed for grading contractor. Experience preferred. Company offers competitive pay, health insurance and a 401k plan for employees. Travel is required. Company has per-diem for employees, valid license required. Contact: Adams Construction Co., 308-962-7918. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

SERVICE MANAGER. Contact Dave Craig or Garod Remus with your resume or for employment appointment. 308-532-7400 or 800-287-6255, www.jerryremus.com, Jerry Remus Chevrolet Cadillac.

BOYD BROS. is now hiring CDL-A Drivers! Great pay and benefits. Top 20 Best Fleet to Drive For. $1,500 sign-on bonus. Call 800-543-8923.

New Temple Israel’s Sacred Space is a dream in progress

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator

Members of Temple Israel’s Sacred Space Committee, one of many groups that have been involved with the architect, Finegold Alexander + Associates, in designing a new home for the 141-yearold congregation, have been meeting since 2005. They toured synagogues and churches in Omaha and around the country as they traveled individually. “We all read an article, “Spirituality and Space”

by Rudolf Klein, explained Louri Sullivan, a member of the committee. They considered many possible plans.

“It started with dreaming, discussing likes, dislikes, and wants and evolved over time,” said Jon Meyers, explaining how the committee began to imagine and sketch a vision of the sanctuary and chapel in the new Temple Israel. Eventually the plan got specific, and it’s now gotten quite detailed, according to Jon Meyers.

He said, “The sanctuary will hold up to 900 people in pews and yet be designed so that a service with 100 congregants can still feel intimate. There will be a balcony for overflow seating with seating under it. We will have the ability to place a reading table out from the bimah to create the sense of gathering around the Torah.” He described the sanctuary as “light, modern, and inspirational. There will also be meditative spaces, a contemplative garden, and a beautiful area for the memorial plaques.”

“Building on input from early congrega-

tional conversations, we identified key goals and found that many seemed to be contradictory,” according to Gary Kaplan. “For instance, we wanted warm inviting spaces

different looks. The space will be equipped with state-of-the-art sound equipment as well as a camera so the congregation will be able to watch as the Torah is read. There will

to the new synagogue, will shine on the memorial plaques.

Kaplan commented that the architects’ “beautiful design incorporates our goals”... including “a lovely chapel with soft flowing lines and diffuse natural light. It’s a little larger than our current chapel and will incorporate the current ark with its amazing story of two rescued Torahs, one Ashkenazi and one Sephardic.”

for Shabbat that would also be large enough for everyone to pray together on high holidays. We want a feeling of awe while being much closer to the clergy and Torah reading. We want to have natural light and bring nature into the worship experience.

“We studied, shared personal experiences, viewed slides of historic and contemporary temples and synagogues,” said Kaplan. “From these experiences, we realized that we could have twice as many ‘good seats’ by making the room wide instead of deep, that overflow seating in a balcony gives a much better experience than being in the back of the social hall straining to see and hear, that a lower bimah creates a more intimate and communal experience with the clergy, and that we need a flexible place for choir and instruments. In addition to providing access to the bimah to everyone, “closed loop audio systems will broadcast directly into hearing aids.”

Sullivan said, “There are special locations for wheelchairs and scooters scattered around the sanctuary. The bimah has many

be room to walk around the Torah, and there will be natural light and a view of beautiful courtyards on both sides of the bimah.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” she continued. “Many will love the intimate balcony.” She also mentioned how the reflection of the stained glass windows in the existing Temple Israel, which will be moved

“Now that we are getting close to actually starting construction,” Sullivan acknowledged the pressure to “to think of every detail and truly every congregant as we want this to be our spiritual home for a very long time.”

Other members of the Sacred Space Committee are Harry Alloy, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Wendy Goldberg, Danielle Gordman, Joanie Lehr, Rabbi Eric Linder, Lee Needelman, Nancy Noddle, Cantor Wendy Shermet, Tamara Field, Scott Goodman, Patrick Jensen, Hannah Perry, and Kimberly Robinson.

Friedel P.T.O. Plant and Flower Sale

by JULIE STEIN Friedel PTO Chair

Is your garden ready for planting? With the nice weather lately, many seem eager to start planting their gardens. If that means you, we have great news. Friedel’s annual Plant and Flower sale is almost here and ready for your business.

All of our herbs and vegetables come directly from Bloom’s Organic, run by the

one and only Becky Bloom.

We have been using her services for the past several years, and she is back again by popular demand. Our flowers will again be supplied to us by Red Oak Nursery through Bag ’N Save.

The Plant and Flower sale is on Thursday May 3 and Friday May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. right in front of the JCC Main entrance.

Featuring views of the surrounding grounds, the sanctuary of the new Temple Israel will be able to accommodate 900 people.

A rounded chapel will also make use of natural light.