April 30, 2010

Vol. LXXXIX No. 32 Omaha, NE

A Temple Israel Mother’s Day story: Raising children Jewish

Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

16 Iyar 5770

April 30, 2010

NCJW rules the Catwalk

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, describes non-Jewish partners who commit to raising their children Jewish as “heroes.” He believes they deserve celebration and gratitude.

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel agrees. “We Jews in Omaha and around the world must recognize and celebrate the mothers and fathers, born into other religions, but raising Jewish kids. Their work through the years enables Judaism to retain, educate, and embrace tens of thousands of youth. Their contribution to the continuity of our people will never be forgotten.”

Robyn, left, Susan, Lauren, and Allyson Freeman Five mothers, all from non-Jewish backgrounds, are raising their children as Jews at Temple Israel. Robyn Freeman, who last year celebrated 30 years of marriage with her husband Bob Freeman, was brought up in the Episcopal religion in Omaha. “Bob was very up front about communicating to me that he wanted his children to be raised Jewish. We dated for a long time -- six years -- and over this time period, I developed my own relationships with many friends who were Jewish which helped me understand why this was an important issue not just to Bob but to many of my Jewish friends.”

The Freemans joined Temple in the early 1980s before the first of their three children was born. “As an interfaith couple, we thought our family would be welcome there,” Robyn said. Their daughters, Allyson, 26, Lauren, 24, and Susan, 19, “are strong and secure in their Jewish identity,” Robyn believes. “In addition to the significant factor of choosing one religion for our home, their Temple involvement, attending Jewish summer camp, and choosing colleges with a strong Jewish population, reinforced our parental commitment of raising our children in the Jewish faith.”

Robyn was active at Temple as a room parent and served on several committees including one defining the role of the non-Jew. “Probably a definite turning point at Temple for me was my involvement on the Outreach Committee. It was chaired by Hermene Zweiback, who was a wonderful mentor to me and everyone else involved on the Outreach Committee. They were my support group and sometimes my ‘group therapy’ as well!

“It’s not always easy,” Robyn admitted. “Foremost, you need to take your commitment very seriously and you need a partner who is 100 percent supportive and understands and recognizes that the non-Jewish parent is often making personal sacrifices. It’s extremely important that the Jewish parent be involved and active at Temple and in other Jewish organizations. It also takes a ‘village,’ including my children’s grandparents, Temple staff, OSRUI (Oling-Sang-Ruby Union Institute camp) and Camp Sabra. The other interfaith couples and families we bonded with at Temple became Continued on page 13

Inside Opinion Page see page 20

Ready for my close up! Mother-daughter team Kelly and Riley Nogg are radiant before hitting the catwalk. Riley’s hair had extra flair thanks to her Posh Princess Designs barrette.

See more photos on page 12

Temple high school teens see NYC up high, down low to Danny.

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator At Ellis Island, “We went to the main hall that the For some, it’s the sights and sounds of New York City. immigrants went to,” added Danny, a senior this year. “I For others, it could be Shabbat dinner at the Empire have several relatives who came through there. I was State Building, a walk through the Lower East Side or looking at part of my family history.”

SOHO, dinner at a New York deli, or Broadway. For 23 Rachel Scheet, 16, said the Jewish Heritage Museum Temple Israel high was really cool, school students, it because they showed could also be going to not just the New York City with Holocaust but before their classmates and and after the Rabbis Aryeh Azriel Holocaust, too.” On and Eric Linder. a Sunday morning breakfast stroll in the Danny Pachman, Lower East Side, “the 18, found Shabbat falafels were really services at good!” she said. At Congregation B’nai Ellis Island, “We saw Jeshurun and Kehilat some pictures of Hadar to be “interestJewish immigrants. It ing just due to the was cool, and it was fact that it was differkind of unreal to see ent than Temple. I the things they liked the music,” he said. He also enjoyed brought with them in their suitcases” which “walking through Central Park and see- Rachel Scheet, left, Scott Goldberg, Laura Gilinsky, and chaperone, were on view in a display. She was amazed ing the performers Jennifer Miller. there.” After dinner, the Omaha teens and their chaper- by the number of people who immigrated through Ellis ons, who also included Paul and Jennifer Miller and Island. As for the trip: “It was a lot of fun!”

Toby Fellman, went to the top of Rockefeller Center.

Established by Matt and Whitney Ferer, the Harvey D. The sight from the observation deck, or the Top of the Ferer Fund subsidized the cost of the four-day trip in Rock, “was a great view of the city at night,” according April for the Temple high school students.

This Week: Mother’s Day Gifts starts on Page 13 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’

HAITI: 100 Days after Disaster Page 2

Coming Next Week: Primary Election Preview Facebook is home for a new kind of Holocaust rememberance Page 9

Put on your Mickey ears for Blumkin Home celebrations Page 15

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

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HAITI: 100 days after disaster Haiti’s Jews try to pick up the pieces

by LARRY LUXNER landed a job as an English teacher at the local Berlitz lanPORT-AU-PRINCE (JTA) -- For half a century, guage school and married a Haitian man of Palestinian Gilbert Bigio’s mansion was the de facto Jewish commu- origin whose parents ran the famous Issa art gallery. nity center of Port-au-Prince.

She was one of nine Israelis in the country when the It’s where Haiti’s only Torah scroll was kept, an Israeli earthquake struck. flag fluttered from the rooftop and each Passover the “When the quake happened, there was no communicountry’s 50 or so Jews cation whatsoever,” she would gather for a Seder, recalled. “My daughter in singing, “Next year in Israel was freaking out.

Jerusalem.”

People around the world That beautiful mansion, were traumatized, because with its luxurious swimming they got the whole story, but pool and a gazebo for outwe had no idea of the extent door parties, is now a colof the damage.” lapsed pile of rubble -Nathan’s family eventually destroyed like countless learned via family friends on other structures in the Jan. Facebook that she was alive 12 earthquake that leveled and unharmed. much of this city. After the Besides Nathan, the only quake, Bigio managed to other Israeli known to be livfind the Torah scroll amidst Israeli-born Sharona Nathan Elsaieh, one of the few Jews liv- ing here full time is businessthe ruins of his house. He ing in Haiti, celebrates with children during the inauguration man Daniel Kedar, who runs took it to his daughter’s of a school built by Israeli volunteers on the edge of a refugee the ProDev foundation now undamaged home nearby for camp in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince, March 2010. providing disaster relief to Credit: Larry Luxner Haitian quake victims. safekeeping. None of Haiti’s Jews were known to have been killed in the quake.

Kedar’s wife, Maryse Penette, is a former tourism minisIf tracking down Haitian Jews was hard before the ter of Haiti. earthquake, which killed an estimated 230,000 and crip“Until the quake, our presence here was virtually nonpled the country’s fledgling economy, these days it’s existent,” Kedar said of Israel. “There are no Israeli next to impossible. There’s no rabbi or functioning syn- products, no Israeli names, nothing. So Israel for the agogue in the country, and land phone lines are still Haitians has only religious connotations. All of a sudden, mostly out of service. we’ve become one of the biggest players in relief, so “We don’t know how to cope with this tragedy,” said we’ve had an exposure totally disproportionate to the Bigio, a businessman who is also Israel’s honorary con- size of our mission.” sul in Port-au-Prince. “They’re already talking about the Israel was one of the earliest countries to dispatch a next shock, because apparently the first earthquake was relief and rescue team to Haiti, and the IDF set up a not complete.” sophisticated field hospital after the quake that was wideSince the quake, there are only about 15 or so Jews left ly hailed as the best place to get medical care in Port-auin Haiti, according to Bigio, out of a total population of Prince in the days after the tremor.

9 million. And they spend most of their time in Miami Between 20 and 30 Israelis are now doing relief work or the neighboring Dominican Republic because condi- in Haiti, according to Kedar. Israel also has decided to tions at home are so difficult. build a $1.5 million vocational school to be funded by Sharona Nathan, daughter of the late Israeli peace the Jewish Diaspora, Bigio said. The idea is to teach activist Abie Nathan, is one of them. She lived here from Haitians how to become plumbers, mechanics, carpen1979 to 1991 to be with her mother, who managed a ters and the like -- all skills that will be much needed for hotel in Port-au-Prince. Sharona Nathan eventually a post-quake recovery.

Israelis maintain presence in Haiti for the long haul

by LARRY LUXNER PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (JTA) -- Amir Kashi, a 34year-old social worker from Ma'ale Adumim, and Yehonatan Abraham, a 30-year-old medic from Beersheva, knew nothing about Haiti before the earthquake in January.

But both Israelis felt compelled to act after the disaster struck.

“I felt impotent in Israel, sitting in front of my bigscreen TV,” Abraham said.

“I said to myself, I have to help them.”

He and Kashi joined Natan -- Israeli Coalition for International Humantarian Aid, a Tel Aviv-based relief Amir Kashi and Sharon organization founded by the Shaul, volunteers with the late Israeli peace activist Abie Israeli disaster relief organization Natan, surrounded by Nathan.

Abraham now spends his Haitian kids during a ceremornings vaccinating quake mony at a refugee camp on survivors in Haiti against the edge of Port-au-Prince, infectious diseases at a clinic March 2010.

Credit: Larry Luxner in the sprawling tent city of St. Marie. In the afternoons, he helps the World Food Program hand out meals to 1,000 children a day.

“My mom didn’t want me to come here because of all the diseases,” Abraham said, “but I’ve done some amazing things in Haiti. Last week I saved a person’s life, a 29-year-old man with severe pneumonia.”

Natan is one of several Israeli groups working in postearthquake Haiti. Its volunteers come for three-week stints, living as a group at the Park Hotel in Port-auPrince but fanning out all over the devastated city on specific medical and educational missions. Natan already has sent five groups to Haiti since the quake; 11 more are planned over the next year.

Daniel Kedar, an Israeli businessman who’s lived in Haiti for many years, helped Amos Radian, Israel’s ambas-

sador to the neighboring Dominican Republic, coordinate Israel’s rapid initial response to the January earthquake.

Within 48 hours of the quake, two El Al cargo jets, a Boeing 777 and a Boeing 747, touched down at Portau-Prince's international airport. They were filled with 250 doctors and nurses, food, water, tents, medical equipment and essential supplies.

“The IDF landed on Thursday, and by Friday they were already the first fully functioning field hospital in Haiti,” Kedar said. “They did over 1,000 operations, from amputations to delivering babies.”

Admiration for Israel ran so high here that many Haitian parents whose children were born right after the quake gave them Israeli names, Kedar said.

The field hospital closed down after two weeks, but Natan has remained in Haiti, along with another NGO called IsraAid. Natan already has opened several schools in the city’s squalid refugee camps, using military tents left behind from the IDF field hospital.

At one of those camps, Route de Batimat, not far from the airport, 500 homeless adults and children gathered on a recent Friday morning to thank Israel for building a tent school. In a ceremony that lasted more than two hours, kids in blue and yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the Haitian and Israeli flags made speeches in French and Creole, read poetry and sang both countries’ national anthems. The Haitian marching band played “Hatikvah.”

Kedar says the hardest part of Haiti’s reconstruction is only now beginning. The foundation Kedar runs, ProDev, is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to provide clean drinking water and operate temporary schools for displaced children, including the one at Route de Batimat.

“We don’t have the ambition to replace the national education system, but there’s a big gap between what is announced on the radio and TV and what’s actually happening on the ground,” Kedar said. “I spend a lot of time in the camps, and the reality is that kids psychologically will not go back to concrete buildings, even if they’re intact. I just don’t see it happening.”

April 30, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Palestinian village and Israeli town build rare partnership across line

by SUE FISHKOFF ronmental interests. but Palestinians need a special permit to cross the line WADI FUKIN, West Bank (JTA) -- Mohammed Tzur Hadassah resident Tamar Gridinger says into Israel.)

Mansara, a 70-year-old farmer who goes by the name FOEME’s project prompted her to visit Wadi Fukin for “Both sides gain from it,” Gridinger says. “We get Abu Mazen, indicates with a sweep of his arm the fruit the first time several years ago. A group of Tzur inexpensive, organic fruit and vegetables, and they earn trees and vegetables he grows on his small plot of land in Hadassah residents had been buying organic fruits and money.” this Palestinian village in the West Bank, population vegetables from another source, she says. Then they Since 2001, relations between Wadi Fukin and Tzur 1,200.

Hadassah have deepened. Wadi Fukin farmThen he points to a small green hill on ers invite co-op members to an annual hafla, the western side of the village topped by a or celebration, in the village, and Tzur tidy cluster of red-roofed homes. That is Hadassah residents have helped villagers Tzur Hadassah, an Israeli community of navigate the Israeli bureaucracy. When one about 5,000 Jewish residents. young villager with leukemia needed week“Tzur Hadassah has such nice people,” he ly medical treatment at Jerusalem’s says in Hebrew. “They are great neighHadassah Hospital, co-op members would bors.” pick him up and drive him across the checkMansara could walk from his home to point reserved for Israelis, saving him hours Tzur Hadassah in about half an hour, but of waiting at the border. it’s illegal. Wadi Fukin sits smack on the “I’d never met my neighbors in Wadi Green Line, the demarcation between preFukin before, and now they have become 1967 Israel and the West Bank. A portion my friends,” says Gridinger, showing off a of the West Bank security fence is slated to scarf Mansara brought back for her from go through the valley, cutting off Wadi Mecca, where he recently went on a haj, or Fukin from Tzur Hadassah and from much pilgrimage. “Not because of the ‘great prinof what remains of its agricultural land. ciples’ of the project. Abu Mazen is just a Similar stories repeat all along the Green friend.”

Line, as Israelis and Palestinians jostle over Relations between Wadi Fukin are not as the route of the fence. good with its Israeli neighbor to the east: What makes Wadi Fukin’s case different is Betar Ilit, a fast-growing ultra-Orthodox that it has strong allies across the Green settlement of some 35,000 residents on Line: Tzur Hadassah residents who buy Mansara’s side of the Green Line built in fresh produce from village farmers, and Palestinian farmer Mohammed Mansara, in his home village of Wadu Fukin, has close ties part on land originally belonging to the vilCredit: Sue Fishkoff lage.

Friends of the Earth Middle East, or with residents of an Israeli town just across the Green Line.

FOEME, an Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian environmental learned that FOEME had brought in permaculture Since construction began at Betar Ilit in 1985, Wadi organization that is challenging the route of the security experts to help Wadi Fukin farmers give up pesticides Fukin’s 11 natural springs have dried up, and when Betar fence here in Israel’s Supreme Court. and return to the sustainable agricultural practices used Ilit’s sewers back up, Mansara says, the effluent pours Three hundred Tzur Hadassah residents have signed a by their grandfathers. down the hill into the village fields. The Israeli governpetition against the fence being built in their valley.

“When we realized that Wadi Fukin farmers were ment has sent notices to Betar Ilit to resolve problems Wadi Fukin and Tzur Hadassah have had a relationship growing organic vegetables, it was like a gift,” Gridinger caused to Wadi Fukin. since 2001, when they became two of the first members says.

“The main spring is just a trickle now,” Mansara says, of FOEME’s Good Water Neighbor project. The projNow she and 25 other Tzur Hadassah families partici- showing visitors an empty reservoir where water used to ect, which now works with two dozen towns and vil- pate in a Community Supported Agriculture project, flow. “The water would go into a channel and then to lages, brings together Palestinian and Israeli communi- where they pre-buy a month’s supply of fresh produce the fields. Now the channel is filled with garbage.” ties to protect their shared water resources, fostering from the village and pick up their allotment every week.

On March 17, UNESCO declared that the territory of peace and long-term cooperation based on shared envi- (Israelis may cross the Green Line into the West Bank, Continued on page 7

PARTNERSHIP WITH ISRAEL:

The Partnership with Israel Performing Arts Series is available to the community free of charge through the generosity of the Sokolof Javitch Music Fund

Performing Arts Series

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Intermission: Presentation of the Sokolof Merit Scholarships and Outstanding Teacher Award; Sokolof Javitch Music Scholarship and Robert and Ellen Gordman Jewish Teen Leadership Award

Monday, May 17 7:00 p.m.

Jewish Community Center Theater

Reception to follow performance, compliments of the Phil and Ruth Sokolof Honor Roll Fund.

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Presented by: Jewish Federation of Omaha and the Center for Jewish Education

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Omaha readies for financial gala

by REUVENA LEAH GORDNITZKY reprinted from Chabad.org This weekend, an estimated 35,000 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, their representatives and family members will descend on Omaha, for three days of meetings, fine dining, and the chance to hear Warren Buffett, the investment conglomerate’s chairman, deliver his musings on the economy and current events. But for the Jewish professionals and investors who make the trip, prayer services, Torah classes and kosher food will also be at easy reach.

For the third year, Rabbi Mendel and Shani Katzman, co-directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Nebraska, will be running Shabbat and other programming, along with local community volunteers, from a rented conference room in the Hilton Garden Inn across the street from the annual meeting’s home in the Qwest Center. About 100 people stopped by through the course of last year’s conference, and the rabbi expects more this year. He plans on delivering kosher food to people’s hotel rooms, as well.

“Many Jews wonder what they will do about Shabbat when they come to the meeting,” said Rabbi Katzman.

“This allows them to have choices, to know that they don’t have to forgo Shabbat in order to attend. Last year, some even came to prayer services, and skipped their meetings afterward.”

Gary J. Yarus, a 60-year-old investment manager from Florida who prayed with the rabbi a year ago, intends to

see Katzman again this year. He said he’s even bringing his family along. “[Chabad] increases the spirituality at the conference so that you’re more than just another faceless person in the crowd,” said Yarus. “Rabbi Katzman creates a home away from home for the Jews. He brings the synagogue to the people. The energy he creates is something I’ll always remember.”

Katzman will address topics relevant to the meeting in a class he titles “The Divinity of the Dollar.” The class will examine how the ubiquitous statement “In G-d We Trust” on American currency teaches how even the nation’s founders recognized that there is more to life than material existence and that, ultimately, G-d is in control.

“In a conference that is really about getting fiscal guidance, we hope to help people see things from a more spiritual perspective, to see the morality and spirituality in finance, and the need to be concerned about others as opposed to just the ‘bottom line,’” said Katzman.

“When things aren’t as good financially, it reminds us to look a little closer at our materialism, and we begin to realize that there is a master plan, and we see the Divine Providence in everything.”

Said Katzman: “Over the weekend, we’re giving people the opportunity to talk about things that are on their minds and hearts, and about things that they wouldn’t necessarily think about on a regular basis.”

Wiesel: Pressure won’t produce Jerusalem solution

by JTA NEWS STAFF NEW YORK (JTA) -- Elie Wiesel said Jerusalem should not be negotiated “prematurely.”

Wiesel, the internationally known Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize-winning author, said In a full-page advertisement published last Friday in the Washington Post that political pressure would not produce a solution for the contested city.

“For me, the Jew that I am, Jerusalem is above politics,” the ad said. “It is mentioned more than six hundred times in Scripture -- and not a single time in the Koran.”

Wiesel’s ad, which was titled “For Jerusalem,” came a day after World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder published his own ad in the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal calling on the Obama administration to reverse the “dramatic deterioration” in relations with Israel. The normally close relationship between Israel and the United States has been on the rocks since Israel approved a construction permit for Jewish homes in eastern Jerusalem during a visit to the region by Vice President Joe Biden in March.

“The anguish over Jerusalem is not about real estate, but about memory,” the Wiesel ad said.

In response, Americans for Peace Now President Debra DeLee wrote to Wiesel urging him to tour eastern Jerusalem with a guide from Peace Now for a fuller perspective on the city and calling his advice to postpone negotiations “a prescription ... for perpetual strife.”

“Without negotiations over Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians, a two-state solution would be impossible,” DeLee wrote. “And if the two-state solution is impossible, the only possibility is a bi-national state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, which would be neither Jewish nor democratic, a chaotic entity that would perpetuate the conflict between Jews and Arabs.”

To order a gift subscription to the Press...

Send a check for $28 for the rest of 2010, made out to the Jewish Press, to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 334.6448.

Blumkin presents MAINstreeters Cabaret

by OZZIE NOGG MAINstreeters -- the fun-filled new organization for Jewish residents of the Omaha area age 60 and older -will kickoff its programming on Friday, May 21, with a 12:30 p.m. Cabaret Luncheon in the Silverman Family Auditorium at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

According to Susan Rothholz, MAINstreeters coordinator, the event features the musical magic of Mary Carrick and Todd Brooks, popular entertainers who have been delighting audiences across Omaha and the region with their charming collection of Broadway classics and current musical theater hits, all delivered with heart and humor.

“Space is limited,” Rothholz said. “Reservations are due

by Thursday, May 13, so mail your reservation today.

You won’t want to miss this happy, delicious afternoon.”

Mary Carrick and Todd Brooks serve up their whimsical collection of Broadway musical theatre hits at the MAINstreeters Kickoff Cabaret Luncheon, Friday, May 21.

Cost of the MAINstreeters Cabaret Kickoff Luncheon is $10 a plate. To save your place, please send a check - payable to Jewish Social Services -- to Maggie Conti c/o JSS, 323 S. 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154.

Menu choices are Baked Salmon with seasoned rice, veggie and tossed salad, or Main Street Grilled Chicken Salad with fruit chutney and raspberry vinaigrette dressing -- two new offerings from Star Catering.

“The MAINstreeters agenda is simple,” Rothholz said.

“We want everyone in our community, age sixty and older, to socialize, get out and meet new people at classes or at the movies, exercise their brains, hike, bike, see local plays, and continue enjoying life to the fullest. We offer social events, speakers, plus learning opportunities that have broad appeal. The May 21 Cabaret Kickoff Luncheon is an introduction to the good times that lie ahead.”

The Kickoff Cabaret Luncheon entertainment is underwritten by the Sokolof Javitch Music Fund, and all MAINstreeters programs are under the auspices of Jewish Social Services. For further information, or to secure transportation, please call Maggie at 334.6521.

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April 30, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Watching your language at a Made-in-Israel meal

by EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- Is Israeli cuisine the original fusion food?

This year, a few weeks before Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, I inadvertently answered this question while shopping for a dinner to celebrate the day. Last summer, I had heard that at the Trader Joe’s supermarket chain, several groups had attempted a boycott of Israeli products, and now I wanted to show my commercial support of everything Israeli by throwing a totally Made-in-Israel dinner.

I read on the Web site of the Israeli Embassy that “Americans spend about $100 million on Israeli foods each year.” So, I figured, how hard could this be?

There was even a Web site, www.buyisraelgoods.org, that, depending on where you live, directs you to stores and products.

“Oh, too easy,” I thought. What about the unlikely places? Could I find Israeli made products there?

So I drove to an area of Orange County, California dubbed Little Gaza.

That’s when things started “fusing.”

I went into the Sinbad Ranch market, which caters to local Lebanese and Palestinians. First off, in a burst of relief, despite the mostly Arabic typeface packaging, I saw cans and boxes of stuff I recognized: Falafel mix, stuffed grape leaves, pickles and halvah. And -- surprise, surprise -- a lot of it was even kosher. Who knew?

But as I scrutinized the labels more carefully, I saw that none of them were marked “Made in Israel.” Among all this Middle Eastern food I saw “Made in Michigan,” even L.A. The closest I found to Israel was some canned goods from Jordan.

Knocked off my original course, I turned to the other side of the Middle East street, so to speak. I visited Sami Makolet, a market in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles that is frequented by Israelis, where Hebrew always seems to be the lingua franca in the check-out line.

There, I purchased cans of pickles and eggplants, some locally baked pita, a big red box of chocolate-covered wafers and some spicy, cracked green olives.

Cracked yes, but also not at all what I thought they were cracked up to be: Once home, I noticed that the olives were actually marked “West Bank.” Should this, I thought, be part of my Made-inIsrael dinner? To keep peace at the table would I need to re-mark the can “Made in the Occupied Territories,” as the European Union recently demanded several companies do?

Next up I went to the Kosher Club, where I hoped boundaries would be clearer. The manager told me, “There’s been an increase in the number of Israelimade products that are now available.

Mostly, though, we get requests for Israeli wine,” he said. So I bought a bottle of Merlot (French, right?) from the Galilee, as well as some frozen potato puffs.

Walking to the car, I read the box. The filo dough puffs were called bourekas.

“Was that Hebrew?” I wondererd. Turns out they were originally from Turkey.

Despite my best intentions, the dinner was getting more international with every stop.

Next, I turned hopefully to the simpler environs of Trader Joe’s, where I could pick up some Israeli goat-milk feta cheese. “Had there been any continued fallout from last summer’s incidents?” I

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“ wonder. According to Alison Mochizuki, the chain’s director of national publicity, the answer was no. The chain continues to carry all the Israeli-made products it carried last summer. In a prepared statement, she said Trader Joe’s has “no intention of removing any products based on pressure from any group.”

Great to hear. However, if no one buys the Israel-made stuff, I’m thinking it doesn’t get re-ordered.

So, at the end of my visit to Trader Joe’s, I headed out with a package of feta, great for a meal honoring the land of milk and honey. Also, I bought a box of Israeli couscous, which I saw through the box’s window was larger than the usual kind.

From reading the box, I discovered that the product was also called “maftoul,” the name for this kind of couscous in Jordan, Lebanon and the West Bank.

My Israel dinner was getting more multicultural by the box.

To add a little Hebrew flair to my dinner, I asked my friend, Rabbi Bob Golub, who is the executive director of Mercaz USA, the Zionist organization of the Conservative movement, for a little help.

In an e-mail he responded: “Start with your ‘mivchar salatim -- mini plates of different salads -- meaning humus, tahina, tabooleh, babaganoush, etc.”

“B’teavon” -- Bon appétit! -- he added.

But wait, weren’t the names for all those appetizers in Arabic? How would that fit with my Made-in-Israel theme?

Finally, the time arrived to break bread (or tear pita?). The four of us -- me, my wife, our son and a friend -- sat down to eat: Greek salad, hummus, bourekas, cracked olives and couscous -- or was it maftoul?

Surprisingly, it was a politics-free dinner. I called it Middle East fuss-free fusion. Regardless of language or national origin, for one meal, everything just seemed to go together.

Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles.

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April 30, 2010

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TEL AVIV (JTA) -- In 1948, Harold Levine of the His wife, Bonnie, who continues to work in film proFlatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn was rumbling duction and had contemplated aliyah earlier in life, said through Israel’s Negev Desert in a mobile dental clinic they embraced the idea together of making such a big servicing recruits of the fledgling Israeli army. change.

He did not know it would take him more than 60 years “When it comes to deciding how to spend your last 25 to fulfill his dream of making the country his home. years, what do you have to lose?” she said.

Last December, Levine finally made aliyah. Now 85 Eighty-eight-year-old Frances Greenberg waited a very and living in Jerusalem, Levine is one of a growing cate- long time to immigrate. gory of immigrants from the United States: senior citiShe had first thought she was coming when she boardzens. Some, like Levine, nurtured Zionist dreams of liv- ed the ill-fated Exodus ship in 1947 along with some ing in Israel over a lifetime and have refused to let age 4,500 other Holocaust survivors. At the time, she was get in the way of that vision. alone in the world, the sole Motivating many is an addisurvivor of her Polish Jewish tional bonus: joining chilfamily. She stared out in disdren and grandchildren who belief when the British already have moved to Israel. authorities, then in charge of “It’s very exciting and fulPalestine, forced the ship to filling to be here, and I’m sail back to Europe. The ship enjoying the process of getdocked in Hamburg, ting settled,” said Levine, Germany. whose two sons and their Greenberg remembers the families live here. “It’s sinking feeling at being another adventure.” turned back.

It’s not his first here. The “I didn’t believe it. I now-retired orthodontist thought it couldn’t happen helped smuggle weapons, after all this,” she said. “I including rifles and handrealized we really were wanguns, and primitive radar dering Jews.” equipment for the Jewish In Hamburg, Greenberg, fighting forces onto the suffering from bad stomach freighter he sailed here on in pains, was taken to a hospital 1948. where she was reunited with Nefesh B’Nefesh, the a boyfriend who had wanted organization that oversees Harvey Brooks, 65, a bass guitar player who once played to go to the United States, North American immigra- with Bob Dylan, is among a growing number of older not Palestine. He found her Credit Nefesh B’Nefesh in tion to Israel, says it has seen American Jews making aliyah. the hospital and a gradual rise over the past four years in the number of announced, “Frances, you’ve suffered enough,” and older people making aliyah from North America. promptly told her they would marry and move to Joy Epstein, clinical supervisor for Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Pittsburgh where he had family. department of social services, which counsels seniors Two years ago, soon after her husband died, Greenberg before they arrive on how to choose where to live, their made aliyah herself. She knew she would eventually finances and how to navigate the Israeli medical system, make it here, and she joins a daughter who immigrated says these immigrants come from a range of financial here many years ago. backgrounds, ranging from the wealthy to those “It’s not easy after all these years living in America, but dependent on social security checks. The U.S. recession I’m settling down here slowly,” she said, then joked that has played a role in the decision of some to make aliyah, she could not afford to acclimate too slowly at her age. she said: There are those who decide that if they are Living in an independent living community in going to live with a measure of financial insecurity, it Raanana, near Tel Aviv, she attends an ulpan, but gets might as well be in Israel, where they have long wanted frustrated when people speak too quickly. to live.

“It does feel different to be a citizen,” Greenberg said.

Once here, older olim tend to tap into a rich cultural Tapping into her new inner Israeli she adds: “I’m just scene of concerts, classes and travel, often geared specif- not crazy about the politics here.” ically for English speakers, Epstein said. Many enroll in Like Greenberg, Miriam Pollak and her husband, both ulpan Hebrew-language classes. One ulpan in Jerusalem Holocaust survivors, are also in Israel after a long and caters to older English-speaking olim, who meet for patient wait. They immigrated in 2007, settling in classes three times a week for almost a year.

Petach Tikva, near Tel Aviv, from New Haven, Conn.

Among the recent arrivals to Israel is Harvey Brooks, They brought with them Miriam’s mother, now 90.

65, a well-known bass guitar player who once played Pollak, whose family survived the Holocaust in a alongside such musical legends as Bob Dylan, Jimi Hungarian village on false papers, had first wanted to Hendrix, the Doors and B.B. King. He says he caught immigrate in 1949. But her mother, devastated by the the Zionist bug from his wife of 21 years, who for years loss of her entire family except a sister in Montreal, took her daughters to Israel on backpacking trips and insisted the family instead go to Canada. whose eldest daughter now lives here.

In later years she and her husband, a chemistry profesThrough repeated visits, he became comfortable in sor, were repeatedly unsuccessful in finding work that Israel, and last summer he and his wife made aliyah from would allow them to make aliyah. Two of their daughTuscon, Ariz. ters live in Israel, and they have 17 grandchildren here “I’m very relaxed here. I’m with my people,” Brooks and another 12 in the United States. said. Although he is not religious, Brooks said he feels But Israel always seemed like it should be their home, spiritually connected to Judaism after long years where especially after what they lived through, she said. he felt music was his only religion. He’s been checking “We always felt Jews needed a place,” Pollak said. “We in with the local Israeli music scene, meeting musicians, saw how during the Second World War nobody wanted and he’ll be performing at a well-known club next us. We need Israel.”

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Palestinian village and Israeli town build rare partnership Continued from page 3 Wadi Fukin and the neighboring village of Battir represent “the best preserved and continuously managed cultural landscape of its type in all the West Bank,” and merit protection as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.

To farm, the villagers use terraced agriculture, where water from natural springs is channeled into more than 70 manmade pools and used later to irrigate the fields.

“The farmers of Wadi Fukin have been using the same agricultural system for over 2,000 years,” says Gidon Bromberg, FOEME’s Israeli director.

FOEME will use the UNESCO document to back up its case that the West Bank security fence should not go through this valley. Lawyers for the village are arguing on environmental grounds -- a first in a security fence dispute, Bromberg says.

The section of the fence proposed for Wadi Fukin is a secondary barrier, Bromberg says. The primary security fence already stands east of Wadi Fukin, circling the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. The Wadi Fukin section is slated to stop just south of the village, meaning villagers, or anyone else, could walk around it and enter Israel.

“It makes a mockery,” Bromberg says. “If you have this open area a kilometer south of Wadi Fukin, why do you need a fence here at all?”

Following objections to the fence’s route in the Wadi Fukin area, a hydrological study and a study of the route's environmental impact were performed, according to a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces.

“It was decided that the fence would be constructed utilizing various engineering solutions that will limit environmental damage to a minimum," the spokesman said, but the plan is still to build it along the original route.

Even if Wadi Fukin manages to get the court to change that, it may only be a temporary stopgap in the inevitable demise of the village’s agricultural lifestyle.

Mansara farms because his father, his grandfather and his grandfather’s father all farmed this land. But none of his five sons have gone into the field. They are doctors, lawyers and engineers, and have moved away from the village.

About a dozen farmers remain in Wadi Fukin, and Mansara is glad his children aren’t among them.

“I didn’t want them to go into farming,” he says.

“You can’t make a living from it.”

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: Raw, real and worth the read

by THERESE VAUGHN-WEINER Anti-Defamation League of the Plains States While Frank Meeink had his hand-sized swastika tattoo lasered off his neck in 1997 and has spent the last decade steering youth away from hate, there’s a good reason why he identifies himself as “recovering” in the title of his just released memoir.

Meeink’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead recounts how a brutally violent South Philly childhood conditioned him for life as a neo-Nazi gang leader and addict from which full recovery might not ever be possible. But, this is what sets this “redemption” story apart: Meeink’s recognition that while the scars—his own and those he inflicted—can’t be lasered away, they can serve as the ultimate outcry against child abuse and call for education.

Chronicled in visceral detail, Autobiography can at times feel like a punch in the gut—Meeink and his crew would vandalize synagogues, and attack blacks, gays, and college students with abandon. By 18, he was doing hard time in the state penitentiary for assault. Behind

bars, Meeink began questioning his white supremacist ideologies after getting to know some of the African American and Latino inmates.

The bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City was also a turning point. Like Timothy McVeigh, he had read the Turner Diaries, believed in race war and espoused anti-government beliefs, but after seeing the iconic picture of a fireman carrying out a small burned child from the wreckage, Meeink resolved to turn his life around.

After his release, the man with a Joseph Goebbels tattoo seared on his chest got a job from a Jewish antique store owner. The two eventually became friends, for which Meeink also credits his transformation.

Today, Meeink works with youth to stop hate from taking root. With support from the Anti-Defamation League and the Philadelphia Flyers, Meeink founded and runs Harmony Through Hockey, an organization that brings at-risk kids of all cultures and complexions together on ice. Meeink also speaks on behalf of the ADL to student groups across the country on the perils of bigotry and the power of hope.

While his Autobiography may leave readers raw, its unflinching look into the heart of hate is nothing if not real. On May 12 from 6-7 p.m. Meeink will be signing his memoir at the Bookworm in Omaha. ADL will also be presenting a talk by the recovering skinhead.

For more information on these events, please contact the ADL at 402.333.1303 or www.adl.org/plains-states.

Lezak, Goldberg among inductees to Jewish Hall of Fame

by JTA NEWS STAFF NEW YORK (JTA) -- Wrestler Bill Goldberg and Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak were among seven inductees into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

The five others inducted Sunday at at the Hall of Fame in Commack, N.Y., were Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Seth Greenberg; female judo champion Rusty Kanokogi; Penn State women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose; Achilles Track Club founder Dick Traum; and former NFL offensive lineman Alan Veingrad.

Goldberg, an all-American defensive end at the University of Georgia, was taken in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, but he turned to wrestling and martial arts three years after an injury ended his football career in 1994. During his seven-year career on the World Champion Wrestling circuit, World Wrestling Entertainment twice recognized Goldberg as the world heavyweight champion.

In an often humorous and casually self-effacing speech at the Hall of Fame ceremony, Goldberg sought to tie his unconventional career choice in professional

wrestling to Judaism.

“I wanted to try my best to give the Jewish youth something to look up to, someone who’s persevered and somehow made a difference,” Goldberg said. “What better way to help Jewish youth in dealing with adversity than to parade around the ring on national television in my underwear, demolishing every single person in my path?”

Goldberg did not address recent rumors of a return to professional wrestling, instead saying that he wanted to focus on remaining on this season of NBC’s reality television show “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Lezak, a professional swimmer, came to national prominence as the unassuming hero of the U.S. 4-by-100-meter freestyle relay team that won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and set a world record. His dramatic final lap of the race made international headlines and helped teammate Michael Phelps notch a crucial victory on his way to a record eight gold medals at the Games.

Lezak has won numerous Olympic medals, including an individual bronze at the ‘08 Games, and earned four gold medals at the Maccabiah Games in Israel last summer.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Beth El’s Shabbat on the Green offers fun-filled outdoor celebration

Class to celebrate special 40th birthday of Dr. Guy Matalon

members; $4 for children ages six to 12

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator (members), and $6 (non-members); The snow is gone, the sky is blue, and there is no charge for children ages five the weather is warm: what better time to and younger. Reservations are needed by celebrate Shabbat outdoors? That oppor- May 10, and may be made by sending a tunity is just around the corner, as Beth El check – made payable to Beth El – at presents a special family event, Shabbat on 14506 California St., Omaha NE 68154. the Green, on Friday, May 14. The synagogue’s sprawling back lawn will be the setting for the 5:45 p.m. picnic dinner, followed by 6:45 p.m.

Kabbalat Shabbat service, led by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

“We’ve planned a great evening for everyone in Community members of all ages enjoyed last year's Shabbat on the Jewish community,” the Green event, a special outdoor Shabbat celebration held in said Beth El Program Beth El's backyard. This year's get-together is planned for May 14.

Director Margie Gutnik. “Bring your Be sure to specify either the hotdog or lawn chairs, blankets, balls and gloves -- vegetarian dinner. and plan on spending a relaxing Shabbat For more information about Shabbat evening with family and friends.” on the Green, contact Gutnik at Cost to attend for adults is $6.50 for 492.8550, or programming@bethelBeth El members and $8.50 for non- omaha.org.

by SHERRIE SAAG The Center for Jewish Education Study of the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah is shrouded in prohibitions, one of which is an age restriction. Rabbinic law tells us that a person must be old enough, and mature enough, to understand and incorporate the lessons of Kabbalah. “Old enough” has generally been understood to be age 40. Dr. Guy Matalon, executive director of the Center for Jewish Education, celebrates his 40th Birthday on May 11.

And so, in recognition of this milestone, he will teach a special spring class on the relationship between prayer and Kabbalah titled: Worldy desires are like sunbeams in a dark room. They seem solid until you try to grasp one – The teachings of Reb Nachman of Braslev.

The six week course will delve into the main writings of Reb Nachman, Likutei Moharan. Rabbi Nachman of Braslev was the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic movement in the 18th century. He died in 1810, only 38 years old. But during his short life, his teachings attracted thousands of Jews who became known as Braslev Hasidim.

He is perhaps best known for his concept

Destroyed New Orleans synagogue to break ground

by BEN HARRIS NEW YORK (JTA) -- A New Orleans synagogue destroyed by Hurricane Katrina will break ground on a new building.

Congregation Beth Israel, a centuryold congregation destroyed by the 2005 storm, will mark the occasion on Sunday at a new location five miles from its former home.

“Since Katrina, our job has been to rebuild a sense of community within our

congregation,” Rabbi Uri Topolosky said in a news release. “Now we have to build a building and give our family a home.”

Beth Israel’s old building absorbed 10 feet of water during the hurricane, which destroyed swaths of New Orleans. Its contents, including thousands of prayer books and seven Torah scrolls, also were lost.

The land for the new synagogue was purchased from a nearby Reform congregation, Gates of Prayer.

of speaking to God and the relationship between prayer and Kabbalah.

“Rabbi Nachman’s religious philosophy revolved around closeness to God and speaking to God in normal conversation much as you would with a best friend," suggests Matalon. The class is suited for both beginners and advanced Jewish learners.

“Worldy desires are like sunbeams in a dark room. They seem solid until you try to grasp one” – The teachings of Reb Nachman of Braslev

“We will explore his interpretation of particular passages in the Torah, his concept of joyful Judaism and the importance of prayer and meditation,” said Matalon.

The class will also view a Chasidic movie based upon the teachings of Reb Nachman.

The class will meet for six weeks, beginning Friday, May 7 and continuing on May 14, 21, 28, and June 4 and 11 from noon-1 p.m. in the Kripke Federation Library. The cost for the class is $53, discounted to $41 for donors to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 334.6445 or email mgrossman@jewishomaha.org.

HOLIDAY CLOSING & DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, May 19-20 for Shavuot.

The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is 9 a.m. as follows. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Facebook is home to a new kind of Holocaust remembrance

by GAL BECKERMAN Henio and in essence bringing him back to life through NEW YORK (Forward) -- Anne Frank’s Facebook Facebook is his way of making the Holocaust real. page looks much like any other teenage girl’s: The pro“We can’t commemorate 6 million people,” Buzek file picture shows Anne leaning against a wall; her hair is said when the Forward reached him in Lublin. “I can’t tucked behind her ears; and she stares off sideways, day- imagine this number. But I can imagine one person. This dreaming perhaps, a slight smirking smile lifting up the boy was one of them. I can imagine him. And if you corner of her mouth. want to feel something deeper, you should concentrate The comments on her “wall” are typical, too. on one person. You can touch it. You can’t touch 6 mil“We share the same birthday!” and “I hate this girl.” lion people. You can touch one.”

A string of teenage commentary follows every one of the Henio Zytomirski’s Facebook profile got some attenmany photos that have been posted to the page. One, in tion for being one of the first to use the site for that purwhich Anne is standing outside in shorts and a sunhat, pose. More than a few people were puzzled that elicits this remark: “she had long legs! woah! model” In Facebook could become a place for memorializing. response, a prepubescent boy named Ricky laments, “she “The thing to remember is that many of these new did have long legs ……i hate hitler.” social-media platforms are fluid, and information posted Whether the fact that Anne Frank has a Facebook page on them is very ephemeral,” said Evgeny Morozov, a blog(one set up for “fans”) strikes you as creepy and inappro- ger and contributor for Foreign Policy magazine. “What is priate or as completely normal and even charming will it about Facebook or Twitter that makes them suitable for depend largely upon your age and the number of hours commemoration? I can’t find anything because they are you spend on a laptop each day. built on the opposite principle. All the most recent stuff But the reality is that comes first.”

Holocaust memorializaThose engaged in the tion is moving onto more traditional forms social-networking sites of Holocaust rememlike Facebook and prebering — namely, musesenting new opportuniums and physical ties for remembering the memorials — are mostly victims —- and bringing skeptical of this new, a whole new set of comlooser, virtual form. plexities. One of the David Klevan is the most popular and disorieducation manager for enting forms that this technology and distance new virtual commemoralearning at the Holotion is taking is the caust museum. He was Facebook profile. Even one of the organizers of the U.S. Holocaust what was called an “unMemorial Museum is conference,” a gathering now involved with prolast December of museviding information to fill um professionals partly out the details of some of to try to figure out how these profile pages. to better use new socialThe desire to personalnetworking platforms in ize the identities of the 6 ways that don’t trivialize million Jews who perthe content. ished in the Holocaust is Klevan looks a little not new. What is novel is warily at the Facebook the combination of this profile phenomenon desire with a platform because he worries that that is premised on those posting and those empowering anybody to reading the posts don’t project his or her indihave access to a full hisviduality far and wide. torical context. Young There’s no more suc- The Anne Frank Facebook page is a notable example of increasing people respond directly cessful example of this efforts to use social-networking sites to personalize the identities of and sometimes thoughtfusion than the Facebook the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. lessly to the image or profile page of Henio Zytomirski. A small boy who must words in front of them — like the photo of Anne Frank be no more than 7 or 8 years old appears in a black-and- in shorts. The pieces of information presented are diswhite photo in the box provided for a profile picture. He connected from a larger narrative, and in a way that does looks full of joyful young life. But Henio has been dead not allow for any follow-up questions or further study. since 1942, killed in a gas chamber at the Majdanek con“We prefer to maintain as much of the context as poscentration camp when he was 9. On March 25, which sible,” Klevan said. “If people are going to learn the stowould have been his birthday, dozens of Facebook users ries of the victims, it’s preferable that they have easy wished him a happy birthday on his “wall.” As of April access to supporting information and also being aware of 12, he had 4,989 “friends.” where the content is being encountered.”

One element unique to Henio’s profile is that it is But the Holocaust museum has been providing inforbeing used to recount a narrative of this little boy’s life. mation on the individual stories of victims to a Web site In status updates written in Polish, Henio seemingly tells called footnote.com, an online service that is trying to his story in his own voice. On Sept. 29 of last year, for digitize historical documents and use them to create virexample, this entry was posted: “Winter has arrived. tual memorialization projects. One of the service’s bigger Every Jew must wear the Star of David with his last endeavors is a complete online simulacrum of the Vietnam name. A lot has changed. German troops walk the Wall Memorial, where information can be added to fill out streets. Mama says that I shouldn’t be frightened, and the identities of those who died. Footnote.com has used the information provided by the Holocaust museum to always that everything is just fine. Always?”

The person posting in Henio’s name — and with the create 600 Facebook profiles for Holocaust victims.

Unlike Henio’s profile, the Facebook pages created by knowledge of his relatives — is Piotr Buzek, a 22-yearold history student from Lublin who works at the Brama footnote.com are different than the pages that individGrodzka Cultural Center. According to Facebook’s pol- uals make for themselves. But they do still have all the icy, profiles of people other than oneself are allowed only usual features — a profile picture, and a “wall” where with permission from the profiled person or, in this case, pictures and comments can be posted, and attempt to do from that individual’s family. Buzek set up Henio’s page the same thing: create a virtual space for the individual in August 2009, and since then he has been dutifully victim to emerge.

“Our running tagline has been, “History is biograadding “friends” and posting photos and frequent updates. The center where he works was set up to pro- phy,’” said Chris Willis, vice president of social media for mote the multicultural heritage of Lublin and has an footnote.com. “If we are changing the form that that archive of information and material on Henio’s life. It is biography is being presented, it is only to make it more accessible. It’s going to make it easier for people to add from this that Buzek has created his virtual identity.

Buzek doesn’t think it strange that he should be speak- more information about a life, maybe even add the kind ing in the voice of a long-deceased Holocaust victim. As of information that will help that life seem more unique he sees it, this is a way of engaging a younger generation and, in the end, much more compelling.”

(This story first appeared at Forward.com.) with what he calls “our tragic history.” Focusing on

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Loving Israel is in the details

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by JOEL CHASNOFF NEW YORK (JTA) -- In honor of Israel’s 62nd birthday, I’ll forgo the expected Op-Ed about Israeli government corruption, the Bibi-Obama drama, or the Israeli Rabbinate’s stranglehold on marriage and divorce.

Instead, I offer this love letter to Israel: “Top 10 tiny details about Israel that make it the most wonderful country on earth.”

10. Egged Bus #394: The midnight ride from Tel Aviv to Eilat. The trip begins in the gray-stucco slums of south Tel Aviv. Two hours later, you’re rolling through the desert beneath a blanket Joel Chasnoff of stars. You crack open the window. The desert smells dry and ancient, like an attic.

At dawn, you pull into Eilat as the city comes to life.

9. The way Israelis refuse to cross the street on a red light. Drivers blare their horns the instant the light turns green. Yet pedestrians refuse to cross the street until the sign turns green. I’ve witnessed this phenomenon at 3:00 a.m., the streets bare and not a car in sight.

8. The Jewish soul of even the most secular Israelis. I served in the Israeli Army with kibbutz kids who were so anti-religious that they never even had a bar-mitzvah.

But on Friday nights, as the brigade sung the Sabbath Kiddush en masse, I could see my secular comrades mouthing the words.

7. Flush handles on Israeli toilets. Almost all Israeli toilets, both public and in homes, have two flush handles -- one for “light” loads, and one for heavy ones. This saves Israel’s most precious natural resource: water. And it’s genius.

6. Drop-dead gorgeous Israeli soldiers. The men are hunky, the women beautiful. Try not to drool as you watch them strut down Ben Yehudah Street in their olive-green uniforms, M-16s slung across their backs.

It’s not so much their physical beauty that charms us as what they embody: Jewish power.

5. Shuk Ha-Carmel on Friday afternoons. So many things about Israel drive me mad. The bureaucracy is crippling. Government offices operate when they want, for as long (or short) as they want, usually something like 8 a.m. until noon Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Thursday. Each week, another group goes on strike -- schoolteachers, garbage men, postal workers, phone operators, cable guys, bus drivers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, airport baggage guys, and the old men in blue jumpsuits who walk the streets of Tel Aviv stabbing pieces of trash with meter-long spears have all struck in the past year -- so the country never runs at full power.

The Knesset, Israel’s 15-party parliament, is trapped in a state of perpetual gridlock. And yet, when I step into the Carmel Market and hear the shopkeepers barking their wares, smell the mixture of frying lamb, goat cheese, and human sweat, and watch the people line up to buy flowers for Shabbat, I remember why I love Israel so much. It’s the excitement of the place, but also the Middle Easterness of it -- the barking, the bargaining, the haggling that’s at once friendly and brutal. At pushcarts and stalls, middle-aged men with gold chains and raspy cigarette voices sell mangoes, lemons, whole and quarter chickens, cow lungs, cow tongues, cow testicles, sheep brains, 50-plus varieties of fish, calculators, knockoff Nikes, carnations, sponges, girdles, batteries, and

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men’s and ladies’ underwear.

Friday afternoons, with only a couple of hours until sundown, the peddlers shout their last-minute preSabbath bargains: “Tangerines, 1 shekel, 1 shekel!”

“Pita, hummus, chickpeas-- yallah! Shabbat, Shabbat!”

Whenever I walk through the souk, I think about all those American diplomats who call Israel the America of the Middle East. If those diplomats really want to understand Israel, they should leave their fancy Jerusalem hotels and take a stroll through the Carmel Market.

4. Chocolate milk in a sack. Half a liter of Kibbutz Yotvateh chocolate milk sealed in a palm-sized plastic bag that you rip open with your teeth and then squeeze, causing the milk to shoot into your mouth in a way that makes you feel like you’re drinking straight from the udder of a chocolate cow. Need I say more?

3. The incredible bond between Israelis. Maybe it’s a remnant of shtetl life in Europe, or perhaps it has something to do with living so close to your enemy. Whatever the reason, Israelis act as if everyone is everyone else’s next-door neighbor. The first time I experienced this unique bond was the week I arrived in Israel to begin my army service. I was driving to Tel Aviv in a rental car when a guy pulled up next to me at a stoplight and beeped his horn. “Hey, achi!” he called. “My girlfriend’s thirsty. You got water?” Beside me, on the passenger seat, was a bottle of water. But it was half empty.

I held up the bottle. “It’s already open,” I said.

“No problem,” he replied, and stuck out his hand.

A week later, I was at my girlfriend, Dorit’s, family’s apartment with her parents. It was dinnertime and we had ordered pizza. Finally, after two hours, the pizza guy showed up on his motor scooter. He was disheveled and sopped with sweat. “I got lost,” he whimpered.

“So come inside! Sit!” said Dorit’s mother, Tzionah.

“Coffee or tea?”

“Coffee,” said the pizza guy. “Milk and two sugars.”

While Tzionah made the coffee, Dorit’s father, Menashe, opened the pizza box. “Please take.” He offered a slice. The pizza guy waved him off. “Nu! You’re offending me!” said Menashe. “What’s your name?”

“Oren,” said the delivery guy.

“Oren. I insist. Eat.” And I’ll be damned if Oren the pizza guy didn’t sit down at the kitchen table and eat the pizza he’d just delivered. As we ate, I thought about all those porno movies where the lonely housewife invites the pizza boy inside and seduces him on the kitchen table. In the Israeli version of the story, the pizza boy doesn’t make love to the housewife. Instead, he sits down with the family and eats pizza.

2. Dropping off a passenger at Ben-Gurion Airport.

You pull up to the Departure door, hug your loved ones goodbye, and watch them walk into the terminal. Then you inhale a breath of sweet Israeli air, look up at the cloudless Tel Aviv sky, and think, “They have to leave...but I get to stay in Israel.”

1. I leave this one up to you. What do you love most about Israel? E-mail me joel@joelchasnoff.com and I’ll post your responses on the blog page of my Web site.

Joel Chasnoff is a stand-up comedian and the author of The 188th Crybaby Brigade: A Skinny Kid From Chicago Fights Hezbollah, about his year as a combat soldier in the Israeli army. View photographs from his army service and meet the characters from Joel’s book at www.joelchasnoff.com.

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April 30, 2010

ENGAGEMENT

GERSHON/FINEMAN Hollie and Glen Fineman and Janet and Steve Gershon of Overland Park, KS announce the engagement of their children, Michael Seth Fineman and Lindsay Rae Gershon.

The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She is currently employed as a broadcast negotiator at GroupM, a media agency in Chicago.

She is the granddaughter of Arlene Jacobs and the late Norman Jacobs, Cheryl Intrater and the late Donald Intrater, the late Hortense and Jerald Gershon and the late Frances Gershon.

Her fiancé is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and accounting from the Carlson School of Management. He is works as an associate at Maranon Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm.

He is the grandson of Juanita and the late Sidney Fineman, and the late Naomi and Mortimer Miller.

A July wedding is planned in Kansas City.

B’nai Israel Speaker addresses health issues One measure of a good speaker is when people are still talking about the presentation weeks later.

That's what is happening since Carole Lainof, RN, MSN gave an informative talk, entitled Here's to Your Health at B'nai Israel Synagogue.

During Shabbat services on April 9, she discussed prevention, treatment, and general information about good health. Her presentation was the concluding Second-Friday-of-the-Month Speaker Series until after High Holidays. The speakers for next year will be announced at that time.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Moves on Goldstone bar mitzvah spark brouhaha

by MOIRA SCHNEIDER badly warped perspective on Israel’s right to defend CAPE TOWN, South Africa (JTA) -- Talk about shul itself,” Ackerman said there was “absolutely no justificapolitics. tion or excuse for carrying legitimate opposition and critIn the interest of avoiding a disruption of his grand- icism of Judge Goldstone’s (wretched) professional work son’s bar mitzvah, Judge Richard Goldstone, author of into the halls of his family’s synagogue, much less the celthe Goldstone report on the ebration of a 13-year-old 2009 Gaza war, told JTA last Jewish boy’s ritual acceptance week that he would not of responsible membership in attend the family simcha the Jewish community.” next month at a The World Union for Johannesburg synagogue.

Progressive Judaism soundBut in case Goldstone has ed a similar note. In a stateany second thoughts, a leadment, Rabbi Joel Oseran, ing South African Jewish vice president of internationgroup announced it is ready al development, and Rabbi to protest should he show up.

Malcolm Matitiani, chair“We’ll exercise our constiman of the South Africa tutional right to protest,” Association of Progressive the chairman of the South Rabbis, expressed their disAfrican Zionist Federation, may at the deal struck by the Avrom Krengel, told the Richard Goldstone, shown here addressing the media after leadership of South Africa’s presenting his report on the Gaza war to the U.N. Human Jewish community.

Cape Times on Monday.

Goldstone, a respected Rights Council in Geneva on Sept. 29, 2009, plans to skip his “While we stand with Israel Jewish jurist from South grandson's bar mitzvah to avoid creating a disruption. in disputing some of the findCredit: UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre ings of the Goldstone Africa, has been persona non grata in the pro-Israel community ever since the release Commission’s report, Judaism teaches that judgment and of his U.N. report on the Gaza war, which found that forgiveness are not ours to withhold or to give,” they said.

Israel committed war crimes in its three-week war with But Rabbi Moshe Kurtstag, head of South Africa’s Hamas in Gaza in 2009. Pro-Israel groups have roundly Beth Din, or Jewish religious court, said there were condemned the report as dangerously one-sided , and it strong feelings in the synagogue against Goldstone has helped fuel international condemnation of Israel. attending. He praised the arrangement wherein Following negotiations between the Zionist federation Goldstone would stay away on his own volition, calling and Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, the synagogue hosting it “quite a sensible thing to avert all this unpleasantness.” the bar mitzvah service, Goldstone said last week that Goldstone has done “a tremendous disservice not only “In the interests of my grandson, I’ve decided not to to Israel but to the Jewish world,” Kurtstag said. “His attend the ceremony at the synagogue.” name is used by hostile elements in the world against Krengel stressed that Goldstone had not been barred Israel, and this can increase anti-Semitic waves.” from the bar mitzvah, but that he would not be welThe South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the comcomed if he chose to attend. munity’s representative body, said in a statement that “We understand that there’s a bar mitzvah boy while “certain senior Jewish communal and religious leadinvolved,” Krengel told JTA last week. “We’re very sen- ers were certainly involved in the discussions around the sitive to the issues, and at this stage there’s nothing fur- topic, in no way did they attempt to dictate to or otherther to say.” wise pressurize the family into arriving at their decision.”

Krengel’s position prompted a torrent of responses The statement went on, “The SAJBD strongly believes from around the Jewish world. Many defended that diversity of opinion in our community needs to be Goldstone’s right to attend the bar mitzvah even as they tolerated and respected, whether it emanates from the criticized his report on the Gaza war. left, right or center.”

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), chairman of the In a separate statement, the Cape Council of the Board House of Representatives Middle East subcommittee, of Deputies said it “deeply regrets that a religious milewrote in a letter to Krengel that he was “appalled and stone has been politicized and disagrees with the manner utterly disgusted by reports that Judge Goldstone will in which this matter has been handled.” not be able to attend the bar mitzvah of his grandson Update:Richard Goldstone will attend his grandson’s due to protest threats by Jewish groups in South Africa.” bar mitzvah in South Africa, after the South African Describing himself as “an unapologetic critic of the Jewish Board of Deputies brokered a deal between Goldstone report, and of Judge Richard Goldstone’s Goldstone and community organizations.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

JFS food pantry provides critical service for many

Runway show slays ’em

by OZZIE NOGG Last fall, when Mimi Silverman of Temple Israel’s Social Justice Committee asked Jewish Family Service Director Karen Gustafson what kind of help JFS needed, Gustafson replied, “Find me someone to sponsor the JFS Food Pantry for one year at an estimated cost of $5,000.” Mimi brought the request to Dennis DePorte, Temple’s Executive Director, who sent a letter to Temple members at Rosh Hashanah asking them to make donations in support of the Food Pantry project.

“The congregation raised $4,509,” Gustafson said, “and although this is slightly short of the original goal, we consider it a full year sponsorship.” A gift from the Carl Frohm Memorial Fund, thanks to Linda and Harold Mann, supplied the Food Pantry with stock for approximately two additional months.

And Temple donations kept coming. “Congregant Toby Fellman specifically and separately donated funds to Jewish Family Service so the agency could buy a small freezer,” Gustafson said. “People who are trying to save money often don’t buy meat products or other protein because of the expense, so the freezer allows us to buy and store meat for those who need it. Temple Religious School donated dollars to fill the freezer. These generous gifts from Temple members and from their Social Justice Committee are very much appreciated.”

According to Gustafson, JFS Food Pantry requests doubled from 2008 to 2009, to 107 visits. “With another three months to go in this current fiscal year, we’ve already had 88 visits,” she said. “We’ve also experienced an increase in the amount of food requested during each visit. Our expenses have increased as well, since we’re trying to offer healthier alternatives, like frozen meat, to encourage our community members to eat less processed food. We’re also stocking costlier items like laundry detergent, bath soap, toilet paper and other items not covered by food stamps. The service JFS provides through the Food Pantry is critical for many in our community, and every donation helps keep this important program going.”

To learn how you can assist the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry, call JFS: 330.2024.

by TIPPI DENENBERG The April 18 fundraiser “NCJW Project: Runway!” was hugely successful -- with 46 models, 200 in attendance, and $6000 raised. Pairings of cousins, sisters, grandparents, grand kids and friends debuted beautiful clothes from Omaha stores and sleek hair and ‘models’ make-up from Garbos. Denise Meyer’s decorations transformed Beth El into a sophisticated salon. And everyone stayed after the show to feast on food and wine from Bag ‘N’ Save and Paul Epstein, of Republic National Distributing Company. Susan Witkowski noted the next day that the event had become the talk of the town. Susan said, “People were raving about it at the gym all morning!”

Clockwise from top left: The event also served to honor the 30 past presidents of NCJW Omaha Section, going back to 1954. Two of them pictured here: Carol Katzman and Tina Meyers; Who needs Saks Fifth Avenue when you have Gordmans? Both the store and family are represented here: the gorgeous Danielle Gordman and her budding beauty Harper; One of three “Joe Kirshenbaums” in the show, “Little Joe Kirshenbaum” shows his flair for the west in garb from Wolf Brothers Western Store; Fresh from the Garbo’s styling chair, best buds Abby Kaufman, Emma Fingold, and Rosie Friedland patiently await their runway debut; “Runway” co-chairs Nikki Kirshenbaum and Andee Scioli flank the show’s writer/director Joanie Jacobson.

One audience member was so impressed she asked where they “bought the script” for the show!

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April 30, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

A Temple Israel Mother’s Day story Continued from page 1 our friends and continue to share this journey with us.

Robyn emphasized: “All helped me and my daughters along the way.�

Mary Wampler grew up in a small town in western South Dakota. “The population was around 1,300, and there were no Jews at all. American Indians constituted the only minority group I was aware of in South Dakota, and they were looked down upon. I wasn’t aware of any Jewish person living in South Dakota until I was a medical student in Rapid City.�

Courtney Bierman, left, Mary Wampler, Madison Bierman and Phil Bierman.

Raised as a Catholic, Wampler started dating Phil Bierman in 1982 when they were both residents at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. They dated for six years, were married in 1988, and attended classes at Temple. But the matter of their family’s religion was “put on the back burner until we had children,�

Wampler said.

Bierman “felt strongly� about raising his children, Madison and Courtney, now 13, in the Jewish faith, and “I had no great desire to raise them in the Catholic religion,� Wampler explained. “There are many things I have liked about Judaism as I have come to know it better.� She made some Jewish friends at the Child Development Center (CDC) at the Jewish Community Center where the girls attended preschool. “That was really helpful to me. We joined Temple in 2005 so the girls could begin Hebrew School in the third grade. “We have been part of Family School at Temple from the time we joined there. I have also been a part of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ).� The girls became b’not mitzvah in February, and “we have continued to be part of Family School because of the friendships we’ve developed there.�

Madison attended Shwayder Camp last summer and will return this coming summer. Both girls accompanied their mother on a family trip to Israel in the winter of 2008-2009.

Courtney and Madison “have really grown into a Jewish identity as they prepared for their b’not mitzvah.

It’s been a challenge though,� Wampler admitted, “as we have no Jewish family living close. Phil’s mother died when the girls were three so as I started to attempt to celebrate Jewish holidays at home; I didn’t have any family traditions to rely on. I couldn’t even get other Jews here to come and celebrate with us because they all had their own family celebrations to go to. So I asked other people questions about how they did it. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of Family School.

The relationships we have developed there have done more than anything else to bring us into membership at Temple Israel and the local Jewish community.�

Wampler also praised Rosie Zweiback, the daughter of Hermene Zweiback, who was influential in Robyn Freeman’s connection to Temple. “Rosie was great,�

Wampler insisted. “She has always been so kind and welcoming to me. She never fails to introduce me to people, and I have been so appreciative of that.� Wampler also mentioned that Rabbi and Elyce Azriel and the Family School participants “have been welcoming and supportive.�

Rosie Zweiback was also “helpful and supportive� to Jenn Kirshenbaum whose family belongs to St. Robert’s Catholic Church in Omaha. She went to CCD (Catholic Christian doctrine classes for school-age children), played soccer for St. Robert’s for nine years, and belonged to St. Robert’s youth group.

Jenn’s husband of nearly 14 years, Matt, has always been a member of Temple. After they were married, they joined Temple. They attended interfaith programs at Temple and Tot Shabbat regularly when Kathleen, Continued on page 14

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

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Continued from page 13 deal of help from the clergy and friends at Temple Israel now ten, and Laura, seven, were younger. Jenn has also and throughout the Jewish community,” she said. been a member of the Religious School Steering “Attending Family School has given me the support and Committee since Kathleen was in kindergarten, a rab- armed me with the knowledge to raise Jewish children. binic search committee, and has sung with Kol Rina dur- My children both attended preschool at the JCC which ing High Holy Day services. was also very helpful to me.”

“It was important to Matt to raise our children Karli and Jody Newman, married almost 18 years, Jewish,” Jenn pointed out. moved to Omaha from “I did not find what I was Phoenix, Arizona, in 1997. looking for in Catholicism When their oldest child so I was happy to raise our Bailey, now 16, was in children Jewish.” Both girls kindergarten, the family, attend Temple Religious which now includes Spencer, School.

13, and Zoey, nine, joined Jenn confirmed that it Temple. helps to learn “what you can “Religion was not a part about Judaism through the of my life growing up,” eyes of a child. I paid close acknowledged Karli, born attention to what my chiland raised in Omaha. “I dren were learning at the went to a Lutheran Church CDC. I learned about on occasion but did not Shabbat. After going to so attend on a regular basis. I Kathleen, left, Jenn, Laura, and Matt Kirshenbaum many Shabbat sit-ins on realized early on that my Friday mornings at the CDC, I started to husband’s Jewish identity catch on. When the preschool teachers sent was very strong. The more I home the blessings, I memorized them so learned about the religion, that I would know the blessings along with the easier it was to commit the children.” to raising our kids in the She also learned the details of Jewish holifaith. We made this decision days. “I remember when I was in elementary long before we were marschool that the Jewish students were always ried. All of our kids have or gone two days in the fall. Now I understand! will have a bat or bar mitzThe CDC taught my children about so many vah and continue attending Jewish holidays, and I learned with them.

Religious School through Another helpful piece for a non-Jewish parhigh school. I think they ent is the prayer assemblies during Temple have a strong commitment Religious School. to the faith and are confi“Rabbi Azriel was very helpful and supdent in their roots.” portive,” Jenn added. “I remember going It’s been important to out to lunch with Matt and the rabbi when Karli to “attend, participate, we first joined Temple as a couple.” Jenn and learn” as she shares in also benefitted from the weekly session of raising her children as Jews.

Hebrew taught by Elyce Azriel.

“Don’t be afraid to ask quesJenn considers herself to be “very fortutions. Figure out what works nate” and is appreciative of the respect she On upper steps: Spencer, left, and Zoey, for your family and don’t be gets from her parents and Matt’s parents. lower steps: Jody, left, Bailey, and Karli pressured to be perfect.

“My parents raised me in another religion. Newman.

Temple clergy are very supWhen I made a different choice for my children, it was portive of non-Jews raising their children in the faith. disappointing for them. Time and grandchildren have We are fortunate to have a group of leaders that apprehelped” ease the disappointment, she said. “I am grateful ciates our efforts to educate our children in the faith and that they are respectful of Judaism.” do not exclude us from participating in their Jewish “My in-laws have been respectful and helpful with lives.

Jewish holidays,” according to Jenn. “I am still amazed “Rabbi Azriel made the biggest impact,” she by the preparation and planning for Passover! My moth- remarked. “However, I had a terrific network of fellow er-in-law (Kate Kirshenbaum) seems so happy making non-Jewish mothers when I started Family School. We the holiday special for the children. It’s amazing.” all learned Hebrew with our third graders and laughed Teresa Eirinberg was also raised as a Catholic and as we pretty much stayed at the third grade level while attended Blessed Sacrament and Marian High School. our kids progressed.”

She married Lew 22 years ago, and they joined Temple “I can honestly say there isn’t anything I would 17 years ago. She belongs to WRJ, has been on various change,” Karli concluded. “Our family is grounded, and committees, and they have attended Family School for we have managed to figure out what works for us. Our seven years. kids are proud to be Jewish, and I am proud they are so Teresa said, “continuing the tradition and passing confident and comfortable in their faith.” down the values of those generations…is very important The other four mothers agreed. As Jenn Kirshenbaum to me.” The Eirinberg children are Anna, 16, John, 13, said, “I wouldn’t change anything as far as raising my and the late Benjamin (1991-1995). It takes “a great children Jewish.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, presented by Omaha Performing Arts and Broadway Across America, is coming to the Orpheum Theater, Tuesday, June 22 through Sunday, June 27. Tickets go on sale Friday April 23, and can be purchased at the Ticket Omaha Box Office in the Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th and Douglas; online at TicketOmaha.com, or by calling 402.345.0606.

Nan C. 4911 Dodge Street Hilltop House 551-4831

The Phillip Schrager Collection of Contemporary Art announces its fourth annual public opportunity to view galleries devoted to this highly regarded collection of international contemporary painting and sculpture on Sunday, May 2 from noon–4 p.m. at 4405 S. 96th Street (between I and J Streets) in the AmeriFirst Finance building. There is no admission charge.

Since their inauguration in May of 2006, the galleries have been open by appointment to arts and educational groups. “The open house continues to be a fun and rewarding occasion for us,” Schrager said, “especially to share with others the passion for art that has brought me

such joy over the years.”

Schrager’s collection is distinguished for its depth and exceptional quality, as well as for the monumental scale of many of its artworks. It is recognized as one of the finest private collections in the Midwest. The exhibition space provided by Schrager’s nine galleries rivals that offered for contemporary art by most museums in the region. Executive offices, also designed to accommodate a portion of the collection, will be open as well. Featured artists include Jim Dine, Carroll Dunham, Ellen Gallagher, Antony Gormley, Mary Heilmann, Laura Owens, Neo Rauch, Julian Schnabel, Pat Steir, Thomas Struth and Terry Winters.

The Schrager Collection galleries are a significant part of a corporate construction and renovation project undertaken in 2005 by AmeriFirst Home Improvement Finance and its parent company, Optimus Corporation, of which Schrager is a founder and chairman.

Please visit www.schragercollection.org or send general inquiries to info@schragercollection.org.

April 30, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

Put your Mickey ears on for Blumkin Home celebrations

The Parade will also feature a large stuffed pony, the Cream-Social, Disney Jeopardy plus screenings of

by OZZIE NOGG This year, Mother’s Day at the Rose Blumkin Jewish presence of Sylvia Swartz and Paul Nathan (the Disney animated films. Natalie Osborne, Nurse Home will last the better part of a week, as residents, Blumkin Home’s 2010 King and Queen of Purim) as Manager (in the guise of Ursula, the sea witch from the their families and friends enjoy a Disney-inspired free- well as an appearance by Mayor Mike (aka Mike Little Mermaid) will keep residents and staff hopping Silverman, Executive Director of the Home). throughout the week with Disney trivia and other for-all from May 9 - May 14.

According to Conti, food choices will be available at games. “We’ll make Mickey Mouse ears and hats for res“We’ve planned our celebration to coincide with National Nursing Home Week,” said Maggie Conti, various stations along Main Street during the parade. idents who want to be in the Mickey Mouse Club,” Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at the Options include Pinocchio’s popcorn, Fantasia funnel Osborne explained, “and we’ll have Disney trivia conRBJH. “The Blumkin Home staff has put together a cakes, Sneezy’s snow cones, Peter Pan’s warm pretzels tests plus a Disney coloring book area where residents, visitors, and staff can color a Disney movie scene slew of wonderful programs, and we hope the to put on display. The activities will be nonentire community will join in the fun.” The festivstop.” ities begin on Sunday, May 9, with a Mother’s “And,” Conti continued, “don’t be surprised if Day Tea sponsored by L.O.V.E. the Home looks like a Disney back-lot. The “We’re lucky to have vocalist Steve Fowler and Southwest nurse’s station will become an underhis piano accompanist, Lynn Scott, entertain us water scene from The Little Mermaid. CNA during tea with a medley of show tunes and stanSupervisor Nicole Brickey (alias Cruella De Ville) dards from the 40’s,” said Lois Wine, the will see spots after decorating certain areas to look Blumkin Home’s Director of Volunteers. “Steve like something out of 101 Dalmatians. Another comes to us from a two-year run on Broadway section of the Home will mirror the movie, It’s a where he played several leading roles in Andrew Small World. Cathy Carroll, Social Worker, will Lloyd Weber’s famed Starlight Express at the have residents, staff and guests mark their birthGershwin Theater. He and Lynn are both fantasplaces on a huge world map. Staff from foreign tic.” countries will march in the Main Street Parade in Special Red Carpet award ceremonies, honoring their native costumes and carry their home counstaff who have worked at the Home for five, ten try’s flag.” Conti gave special recognition to and fifteen years, will be held on Monday, May Laura Bair, Natalie Osborne, Cathy Carroll10 - Thursday, May 13, at the regular 2:30 p.m.

Moriarty, Nicole Brickey, Jennifer Kirshenbaum, tea times. “And on Friday, May 14, at 2:15 p.m., we’ll recognize those who have worked at the During Nursing Home Week, recognition awards will go to Blumkin Home staff Lois Wine (Tinker Bell), Janet Herman, Josh (the Home for twenty-plus years at an elegant members including Bert Benson, RBJH Director of Social Services, left, Tony Genie from Aladdin) Gurock, and the activity staff Cinderella’s Ball,” Conti said. “These veteran staff Smith of dietary and Janet Herman, RN. Benson has been with the RBJH for “for creating warm fuzzy memories that everyone members are Bert Benson, RBJH Director of twenty-five years. Both Smith and Herman are marking twenty years of service. can enjoy.”

The week’s events will conclude on Friday, May 14, Social Services, twenty-five years; Tony Smith of dietary, with cheese dip, and Falafel a la Aladdin. Menu selectwenty years; and Janet Herman, RN, who is marking tions are under the creative direction of Mike Aparo, with Shabbat Comes to You at 2:30 p.m. in the Blumkin Home Director of Food and Environmental Auditorium. “L.O.V.E. volunteers will host this event her twentieth year at the Home.”

The excitement continues on Wednesday, May 12, Services, and Laura Bair, RBJH Food Service and with a beautiful musical program,” Lois Wine said. during the Main Street Parade, scheduled to begin at Catering Manager. “They promise to dress as Mickey “Residents and visitors will enjoy challah and wine 1:30 p.m. “Kids from the CDC and Friedel will march Mouse and Minnie Mouse,” Conti said. “In fact, all along with bubbling juice champagne, chocolate with instruments and noise makers,” Conti said. “The Blumkin staff will try to dress up as their favorite Disney dipped strawberries, chocolate dipped cookies and little residents will make flags and decorate their wheelchairs character, and parade attendees -- residents, family and lemon bars. It will be a festive finale to a fabulous five and walkers. And Joe Cherack -- alias Jamming with Joe friends -- are encouraged to follow suit.” days, and the entire community is invited to be with us.” who plays the clavinova for the residents every Thursday For details regarding time and location of specific At various times during the week, those who crave -- will ride down Main Street in a rickshaw playing a more Disney Doings can take part in Bambi Bingo, the Disney Week events, please call Maggie Conti at portable keyboard. It promises to be an amazing day.” Simba Sing-a-Long, a Make-Your-Own- Sundae-Ice- 334.6521.

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Spring fashion directives plucked from Jewish text STAYING IN TOUCH

by OZZIE NOGG

If you need an excuse (or encouragement) to buy a new spring outfit, ignore Vogue (or any other fashion bible) and go to the Song of Songs.

“For now the winter is past,” says the text. “The rains are over and gone. The blossoms appear in the land, the time for singing has come.” Seventh Avenue marketing mavens could take a lesson from King Solomon’s persuasive copy.

Now, perhaps Solomon’s seven hundred wives were passionate for pastels, but for countless women who, like me, prefer to wear black regardless of the season, spring clothes speak a foreign language. Among those soft, joyous, happy-hued garments floating from racks and rounders, I am a stranger in a strange land. A crow tiptoeing through the tulip-colored chiffons.

This spring it’s the same story. The snow is barely off the ground and I’m advised to chuck my dark duds in favor of a flirty distressed-denim skirt and classic trucker jacket executed in unexpected grapefruit pink corduroy.

According to a recent Fashion Week report, the trucker jacket -- when teamed with a below-the-knee lemonhued tank dress and high-top floral printed canvas sneakers -- is versatile enough for a job interview or PTA meeting. Good luck with that ...

Another Spring 2010 how-to-dress directive insists I mothball my black turtleneck and wear, instead, a voile pinafore in quirky quince and pomegranate. One would think the current crop of designers picked their 2010 spring palette straight from the grocery store produce department or a garden seed catalogue. You can bag a hat of carrot-colored feathers, or choose a soft leather tote in persimmon with straps of mandarin orange. Fill your cart with blueberry T-shirts or buy a bushel of ankle crop pants in tomato, ripe mango and watermelon.

Anyone for a tangerine trench coat with grape-colored buttons? A scarf, green and ruffly as Boston Bibb lettuce? Yes, this year’s spring fashions are coming up roses – and hibiscus, azalea, wisteria, sage, papaya, kiwi and peach. I’ve searched the aisles and can’t find so much as a belt in a color darker than eggplant. Once again, it’s all cotton candy and bubble gum. No licorice in sight.

Equally frustrating, head-to-toe white is one of the hottest color trends this spring.

I take solace, however, knowing that hippie chic is back. Suede bags with bead embroidery along with ripped jeans, macramé and tie-dye tops are once again in favor, so stock up on whatever retro riffs speak to your

inner Janis Joplin. And, happily, trash dressing is out.

Pubescent girls are finally covering their bare belly buttons (and other body parts) with academic boy friend blazers, preppy stripes, baggy gym-style bloomer bottoms and (gasp) argyle knee socks. Furthermore, sloppy dungarees in shimmering fabrics, along with middy blouses and tulle tutus, are replacing those too short, too tight party dresses. Yippee.

And finally. If you want to be chic from head to toe, run (do not walk) and snap up this season’s must-have accessory -- the sexy high-heeled platform shoe, often sparkle-embellished and bow-adorned. The sure-footed among us might choose glossy pink patent leather stilettos, though I’m leaning toward a pair of totally today metallic gladiator flats. As King Solomon said, how love-

ly are your feet in sandals, O daughter of nobles.

(Preferred pattern or color was not indicated...)

Ah, yes. To paraphrase our biblical fashion bible, the winter is past, the blossoms appear in the land, the time for shopping has come. But for me, the hunt won’t be easy. “I sought the one I love,” the Song of Songs continues. “I sought but found (it) not. I must rise and roam the town, through the streets and through the squares. I must seek the one I love. I sought but found (it) not.”

Gee whiz. When will designers realize that before the flowers and veggies were created – even before the yellow sun, aqua sea and blue heavens were formed – everything was black.

Stir

by BARBARA LYNCH (Houghton Mifflin, $35)

READ IT AND E AT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN Stir, by Barbara Lynch, ends with “Read, Cook, Gather, Give.” Lynch was a high school dropout, one of seven children raised by a single mother in South Boston. Luckily, her Home Ec teacher recognized her knack for cooking. She “learned to trust her instincts” and followed her palate as she pursued Italian cooking, worked in restaurants, on ships, at farms, and read every cookbook she could. A good thing, since this James Beard award winning chef/owner of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, which includes several restaurants, and Stir, her demonstration kitchen, has created a $14 million empire. In this elegant cookbook, the chapters are Starters & Small Bites, Salads With Substance, Satisfying Soups, A Passion for Pasta, From the Sea, Chicken, Duck & a Goose, From the Butcher, On the Side and Sweet Treats. Lynch believes in “love at first bite” as evidenced by the 150 sophisticated recipes accompanied by simple, gorgeous photographs.

Clear instructions detail the preparations; suggestions for advance preparations are included. Lynch’s cooking story/career unfolds chapter by chapter, in recipe headnotes and food- and technique essays. Her memories include baked potatoes to cheaply feed seven kids as well as her mom’s mashed potatoes from a box.

Fast forward to her fancy version of Pommes Puree, which comes with two sticks of unsalted butter and one

“Only mothers can think of the future – because they give birth to it in their children.” —Maxim Gorky

cup of heavy cream. She is famous for her pasta, which is described in several pages. Her daughter, Marchesa, “the best carrot peeler/sous-chef ever”, helps her roll out the pasta dough at home. For Mothers’ Day, your mom might enjoy this beautiful cookbook and this recipe which you can stir, read, cook, gather, and give.

ODD FELLOW MARINARA 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste 1/4 cup dry white wine 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably imported San Marzano tomatoes, or 1 similarsized box of Pomi brand chopped tomatoes Kosher salt 2-3 fresh basil leaves Freshly ground black pepper Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is just tender but not colored, about 8 minutes. Add the wine, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook for a few minutes until it’s reduced by about half. Add the tomatoes with their juices and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stir in the basil, and season with a few grinds of pepper and additional salt and red pepper flakes if needed.

Makes about 4 cups, enough for 1 pound of pasta to serve 6.

Lois Friedman can be reached at ReadItAndEat@ yahoo.com.

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April 30, 2010

Mother’s Day, circa 1986

by BERT LEWIS

Can you believe Mother’s Day is next Sunday? Where do the months goand how come they slip away so darn fast?

It seems to me I was just finishing up with Purim and Passover a minute ago.

Never mind...it doesn’t change anything. Sunday is STILL Mother’s Day. So, nu, did you get your mom a new this or that? Maybe you ordered the florist to send her a gorgeous new plant or bouquet. Or did you remember she has a sweet tooth and send her favorite candy?

One thing I know. For sure you sent something. But wait a minute; besides help your conscience and the retailers, what did you really do?

I hate to be a nudge, but I want to remind you if you’re lucky enough to have a mother, it’s better to practice being a decent kid in the little ways that don’t cost anything. Like talking to her every day if you live in the same town, or on a regular basis if you don’t. Like a little visit, often, if possible. Maybe remembering to call and say: “Let’s go out to lunch, Mom,” After all, you have the time to do that with your friends, don’t you?

Who eats alone? Your mom does, as often as not.

I’ll tell you something else that’s a real gift to every mom I know. That’s the sharing of news about her grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. Such kvelling you’ve never heard, until you relate the tales of your grandkids to your mom. Talk about pleasure! To tell the truth, I never really understood the true meaning of “shep naches” until I did just that.

Obama, U.S. security chief reassert closeness of Israel ties

by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama and his national security adviser reasserted that the alliance with Israel is in the United States’ interest.

“Let me be very clear: We have a special relationship with Israel and that will not change,” Obama said in a letter this week to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “Our countries are bound together by shared values, deep and interwoven connections, and mutual interests. Many of the same forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States and our efforts to secure peace and stability in the Middle East. Our alliance with Israel serves our national security interests.”

Speaking separately on Wednesday to the Washington Institute on Near East Policy, James Jones, the national security adviser, outlined benefits the United States derives from its relationship with Israel.

“The United States will never waiver in defense of Israel’s security,” Jones said.

“That is why we provide billions of dollars annually in security assistance to Israel, why we have reinvigorated our consultations to ensure Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge, and why we undertake joint military exercises, such as the Juniper Cobra ballistic missile defense exercise that involved more than 1,000 United States servicemen and women.

“We view these efforts as essential elements of our regional security approach, because many of the same forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States. I can also say from long experience that our security relationship with Israel is important for America. Our military ben-

efits from Israeli innovations in technology, from shared intelligence, from exercises that help our readiness and joint training that enhances our capabilities and from lessons learned in Israel’s own battles against terrorism and asymmetric threats.”

Administration officials have tried in recent weeks to roll back perceptions of a crisis in the relationship with Israel since tensions arose after Israel announced a major eastern Jerusalem building project during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden.

Jones and Obama both spoke of “distortions” of administration policies. Each said that Israeli-Arab peace cannot be “imposed,” as opposed to reports recently that Obama would unilaterally announce a peace plan.

The Presidents Conference, the umbrella foreign policy body for Jewish groups, alerted its membership that it would convene a discussion on the letter next week.

Jones also said the Obama administration “is determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.” He said the effort to contain Iran would be facilitated by progress in Israeli-Arab peace.

“One of the ways that Iran exerts influence in the Middle East is by exploiting the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict,” he said. “Iran uses the conflict to keep others in the region on the defensive and to try to limit its own isolation. Ending this conflict, achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state would therefore take such an evocative issue away from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas.”

Page 17

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Hadassah makes miracles happen

BERT’S EYE VIEW

No, the bottom line isn’t the fancy-shmancy chatzka you give her; she’s more likely to be sitting at the table, remembering the hand-painted bowl she used to serve the strawberries and cream in. She’ll enjoy your memory, and expand on it with some you already forgot. Oh yes, count on it: Mom doesn’t forget that stuff.

Other stuff she does forget, like how thoughtless you were when you didn’t run the errand she asked. Or the lousy little favor you promised, only to run away and space it off. That, she lets go; usually with a remark like: “Oh, she’s so busy, no wonder she forgot...”

Not that Mom’s perfect. No, Sir. After all, she’s human. She can easily forget to tell you what your sister wrote in a letter, or that you wear one size shirt, and your brother wears another size; causing you to receive HIS size on your birthday. So what? Big deal. That’s the little stuff. You can be darn sure she’ll remember you’re the one who loves pickled herring, and that your brother hates it. Or that you never liked mashed potatoes, no matter what anyone says.

Well, I guess you already knew all that, and more. You know who taught you to be an at least halfway decent person, and you love her dearly. Have a happy Mother’s Day. Editor’s note: It’s not really a Mother’s Day issue without Bert Lewis, but Ms Lewis requested her current column run next week, since it is closer to the actual mother’s day. And so, always willing to accommodate (as our mothers have taught us), we jumped at the chance to reprint one of her columns from 1986.

Bert Lewis can be reached at BertLewis39@aol.com.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Hadassah makes miracles, large and small, happen everyday.

To find out more about this remarkable organization visit: www.uppermidwest.hadassah.org call toll-free: 1.877.255.1063 email: umregion@hadassah.org HADASSAH, UPPER MIDWEST REGION 5905 Golden Valley Road, #237 Golden Valley, MN 55422 OMAHA CHAPTER: Contact Georgia Ann Steinberg Phone 402.558.5813

“Hadassah gave me the greatest gift of all - my son.

I am suffering from Lupus and have been plagued by miscarriages. In the 38th week my doctor discovered my baby’s heart had a blockage and was too week to sustain life. At Hadassah Hospital a renowned pediatric cardiologist was waiting in the delivery room to insert the smallest, silver dollar sized pacemaker. As I hold my tiny miracle, my eyes filled with tears of joy and I can hardly express my appreciation.

Todah rabbah.”

© 2010 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah is a registered trademark of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

Page 18

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Anti-government extremism gears up, ADL reports

by THERESE VAUGHN-WEINER Anti-Defamation League of the Plains States When a Tea Party group leader in Iowa contacted the ADL Plains States Office, Regional Director Alan Potash urged him to keep the hate out of the growing political movement. White supremacist, militia and anti-government groups have been exploiting today’s economic and political landscape and the result has been a combustible mix of extremist rhetoric and activity.

In a new report, “Violent Voices: Anti-Government Extremism Takes on New Intensity,” ADL concluded that not only has there been a surge in militia activity across the U.S., but also evidence indicates that a wide spectrum of anti-government groups and individuals are ramping themselves up for possible violent confrontation with the authorities.

Over the past year, domestic extremists have made global headlines, including the fatal attack at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., the ambush of three police officers in Pittsburgh and the murder of a Kansas physician in his own church. The recent arrests of the Hutaree militia in Michigan -accused of plotting to kill law enforcement officers and their families in order to spark an uprising against the U.S. Government—and the suicide attack on the IRS building in Austin indicate not a culmination, but a harbinger of increasing violent activity across the country, according to the report. Anti-government and anti-tax groups such as the militia, Patriot and Sovereign Citizen groups have quadrupled in size over the past two years, with more than 200 active militia sects.

“We are deeply concerned about this trend,” Potash said. “The rhetoric has been strident with calls for outright sedition; extremists are saying ‘if the ballot box and the soap box don’t work, it’s time for the bullet box.’”

And, ADL’s Plains States region of Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas is hardly immune from the anti-government hostility sweeping the country. Last year, a jury in Nebraska convicted Allison Klanecky for possession of unregistered grenade components. Prosecutors said that a search of Klanecky’s barn and underground bunker turned up dozens of containers of explosive powder, fuses and other components that could be used to make up to 93 grenades, plus an unregistered 12-gauge military shotgun called a “Streetsweeper.” Klanecky was involved in an end-times group called The Prophecy Club that sells conspiracy books and DVDs on everything from the New World Order to globalism and the

9/11 attacks.

In Arcadia, Iowa last year, the National Guard’s plan for a four-day mock search of an arms dealer set off a wave of paranoia from anti-government activists.

National Guard soldiers were going to patrol the town’s streets, distribute photos of the fictional culprit and knock on doors of residents who had agreed to participate in the drill. When radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones interviewed a National Guard official about the upcoming exercise, he was stormed with outraged calls and website comments from people fearing that the federal government was planning to impose martial law and confiscate guns. “Tell them that ANY violation of your rights will result in a ‘Live Fire Exercise,’” one person wrote on Jones’ Infowars.com website. “If they come, come loaded for war!” (Rage Grows in America: Anti-Government Conspiracies, ADL Report, 2009) Even more alarming, the “us versus them” extremists have turned their sights on the Jewish community. Some of the country’s most notorious anti-Semitic radicals are attempting to capitalize on the spread of anti-government sentiment and the tax-protest movement to promote hatred of Jews.

A recent “Liberty and Truth” conference in Austin— co-sponsored by the American Free Press and the Power of Prophecy, headed by anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist and minister Texe Marrs, featured anti-Semitic speakers who blame the Jews for the global economic recession, 9/11 terrorist attacks, even the Oklahoma City bombing, which just saw its 15 year anniversary.

“It’s profound irony that anti-government activists would try to impugn the Jews for an act of domestic terrorism committed by anti-government activists,” Potash remarked.

In the wake of recent trends, ADL is continuing to work closely with law enforcement on local and national levels to address threats—both homegrown and foreignborn. The civil rights agency provides timely intelligence on extremist ideologies, trends and groups from its 28 regional offices and investigative researchers in the field.

ADL also trains law enforcement on cultural sensitivity and anti-bias community relations, counterterrorism strategies and new federal hate crimes law.

“Our partnerships with the police and FBI have been fundamental in our efforts to combat extremism and unify our communities against hate,” Potash said.

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Peony Park “The shooting resembled a targeted surgical strike,” he was quoted as saying by the Post, adding that “the two men were targeted as part of a stern warning linked to a criminal organization.”

Downing later qualified the statement, however, saying that he had been quoted out of context and had no evidence that organized crime was involved in the shooting.

Organized crime by Israelis in such areas as real estate, fraud, money laundering and narcotics is of growing concern to the LAPD. In interviews with JTA, Downing and Capt. Greg Hall, who heads the LAPD Major Crimes Division, said that such activities seem to be on the increase, though it is difficult to gauge their full extent.

“Israeli criminals in this city are very sophisticated,” Hall said. “We have to ask ourselves what else is going on that we don’t know about.”

Downing said that his bureau was working closely with the local Jewish community and Israeli police to identify and contain local Israeli criminal elements.

Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Synagogue has a membership of some 150 families, primarily North African Jews, with a sprinkling of Latino, American and Israeli Jews.

Morocco razing of Jewish building raises concern

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- The government’s demolition of a historic Jewish community-owned building in Morocco is drawing protest from Jewish leaders.

Over Passover, authorities in Tangier began razing a building that used to house a Jewish hospital, Benchimol Hospital, and which still belongs to the Jewish community. The demolition, which was undertaken with the consent of the Jewish community, prompted a letter of protest to the governor of Tangier from the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, Jacobo

Israel Garzon.

“This is for us a very serious act against the right to the property, which was the first hospital in Tangier,” Garzon wrote in his letter, dated April 12. “I urge His Excellency to ensure that the rights of the Tangier Jewish community be restored and respected.”

The president of Tangier’s Jewish community, Abraham Azencot, reportedly was out of town when the unexpected demolition began and is planning to meet with the local governor to discuss the action.

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Suspect arrested in California synagogue shooting

by JTA NEWS STAFF LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting of two worshipers at a southern California synagogue.

Christopher Littlejohn, 37, was taken into custody April 15 in connection with the early-morning shooting last October in the underground garage of the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Synagogue in North Hollywood.

A lone gunman shot Maor Ben-Nissan and Allen Lasry in the knees as they arrived for the early minyan.

Littlejohn, of Northridge, Calif., had been arrested last July for pointing a gun at a person in Beverly Hills. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bond in the synagogue shooting.

Police quickly ruled out that the shooting was a hate crime, as the Jewish community initially feared, or terrorism as a motive.

In the months afterward, police hinted that the kneecapping may have been the work of a local Israeli crime ring followiing an interview in The Jerusalem Post with Deputy Chief Michael Downing of the Los Angeles Police Department. Downing, who heads the LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, was in Israel on a professional visit.

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April 30, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 19

ENTERTAIN

FIRST CLASS

May FRIDAY, APRIL 30 Birthday Blessings, 6 p.m. at Beth El Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Richard Freund, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, MAY 1 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel

TUESDAY, MAY 11 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m.

Eye on Israel, noon Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

BBYO Pledge Night and BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

ADL Presents The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead with speaker Frank Meeink, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 2 Chabad Community wide Lag B’Omer Fair Adult Education classes begin, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Annual Meeting & Elections, 11 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education classes, 10 a.m.-noon Shiputznik Teen Mitzvah Day, noon Beth El Chaverim Cosmic Bowling, 2 p.m. at Maplewood Lanes FJA Lag B’Omer Celebration, 4 p.m.

AIPAC Nebraska Annual Event, Dr. Jonathan Adelman, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 Rabbis & Presidents Meeting, noon Women’s Book Group, 3:30 p.m. at Beth El 56th Annual B’nai B’rith Men’s Lodge Sports Banquet, 5:30 p.m. at Quest Center Parasha & Pizza Adult Education Class, 7 p.m. at Beth El BESTT High School Final Day, 7 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. at Beth Israel

MONDAY, MAY 3 FJA Terra Nova Testing Beyond Never Again class, 7 p.m. at Chabad

THURSDAY, MAY 13 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El Center for Jewish Education Board Meeting, noon Intro to Judaism Class with Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, 7 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

TUESDAY, MAY 4 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m.

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

Teen Philanthropy Dinner for Fund Holders, 5 p.m.

Teen Philanthropy Event – Jdub Records, 6 p.m.

Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at FJA BBYO Rush and BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at FJA WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 Partnership with Israel Committee Meeting, noon NJHS Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, MAY 6 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel FJA PTO Plant Sale, 10 a.m.

Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El USY Elections, 5 p.m. at Beth El Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, MAY 7 Say ‘Shalom!’ to Shabbat! and Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, MAY 8 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Minyanairre’s Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, MAY 9 Adult Education classes begin, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education classes, 10 a.m.-noon BESTT 4th Grade Wedding, 11:15 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, MAY 10 IHE Governance Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

Intro to Judaism Class, Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

Beyond Never Again class, 7 p.m. at Chabad Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

CJE Meeting, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 14 Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m.

Shabbat on the Green, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, MAY 15 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel 7th and 12th Grade Graduation, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Graduation Shabbat, noon at Beth Israel BBG Beau Dance, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 16 Adult Education classes begin, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel BESTT Final Day of Class, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education classes, 10 a.m.-noon Mainstreeters, 12:30 p.m. at Bellevue Little Theatre & Dinner BILU USY Installation of Officers, 1 p.m. at Beth El MONDAY, MAY 17 Intro to Judaism Class, Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

Beyond Never Again class, 7 p.m. at Chabad Federation & Partnership Violin Concert and Reception, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 18 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m.

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

Erev Shavuot Bibliodramatist, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 FJA No School Shavuot Annual Ice Cream Party, 11 a.m. at Chabad Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. at Beth Israel

THURSDAY, MAY 20 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Rabbi Levin’s Weekly Class, noon at Beth El School Directors’ Committee Meeting, noon Intro to Judaism Class with Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

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

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FRIDAY, MAY 21 CDC Graduation and Reception, 10 a.m.

Grand Opening Mainstreeters Luncheon Program, 12:30 p.m.

Beth El Kadima Shabbaton, 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 22 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Morning LIVE!, 10:30 a.m. Beth El SUNDAY, MAY 23 Adult Education classes begin, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth El vs. Temple Israel Men’s Club Softball game, 10 a.m.

Beth El Chaverim goes to Coco Keys, 2 p.m.

Friedel Jewish Academy Tribute Dinner, 5:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 24 Intro to Judaism Class, Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

Federation Executive Board Meeting, 6 p.m.

Beyond Never Again class, 7 p.m. at Chabad Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 25 Parsha Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m.

Scholars Club for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders, 3:45 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

Annual Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 Parasha & Pizza Adult Education Class, 7 p.m. at Beth El Friedel Jewish Academy Graduation and Reception, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, MAY 27 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel School Directors’ Committee Meeting, noon Intro to Judaism Class with Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, 5:45 p.m.

NCJW Installation, 7 p.m.

Israeli Movie Series Waltz with Bashir 7 p.m.

LOVE Board Meeting 7 p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, MAY 28 FJA Last Day of School Picnic 11 a.m.

Birthday Blessings, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, MAY 29 Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel SUNDAY, MAY 30 Adult Education classes begin, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel MONDAY, MAY 31 Beyond Never Again class, 7 p.m. at Chabad

All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.

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Page 20

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Flowers and candy

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press It’s almost Mother’s Day. Just like every other year, my son just ignores the whole deal and then strong-arms his father into going to the store at the last minute. My daughter, on the other hand, believes the best presents are handmade, over several weeks. This year, she is working on a crown. I’m expected to wear it when it is finally done (which is never), and we have regular fittings. Don’t judge when you see me with globs of glue and glitter in my hair. It’s for a good cause.

Mother’s Day is a puzzling concept. It’s a bit of a marketing tool, convincing the masses to pay $30 for a dozen roses, buy sub-standard chocolate, and a piece of jewelry. Because flowers, chocolate, jewelry: that’s all women want. Watching the advertisements on television, I can’t help but cringe; I wonder how we continue to live in a world where women’s gifts have to be of the cute-with-pink-bows variety. On the other hand, I would never decline a present, no matter how predictable, and I do love pretty packaging.

The day also has a lot more history than we have room for on this page; the question as to why we celebrate it at all has probably more to do with old customs than with how much we love our mothers.

The person originally responsible for regulating Mother’s Day in America was Anna Jarvis, from West Virginia, who held a memorial to her mother in 1907; apparently, this became a bit of an obsession. After that, she campaigned to have Mother’s Day officially recognized as a national holiday (it wasn’t enough to just have it be a custom?); she succeeded in 1914. It took exactly 6 years before commercialization took over the holiday, which made Jarvis quite angry. Especially the pre-printed greeting cards rubbed her the wrong way: “A printed card means nothing,” she said. “except that you are too lazy to write the woman who has done more for you than for anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother, and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment!”

Anna Jarvis spent the rest of her life and the entire family fortune campaigning against the

same holiday she had worked so hard for. She died poor, embittered, and alone; she was even arrested for disturbing the peace. She had created a monster far beyond her own control, and that was long before we had Hallmark stores and singing bouquets. She should see what they’re advertising in the mall today.

Of course, there isn’t really anything new under the sun. The ancient Romans celebrated the goddess Juno during the Matronalia festival; the Greeks had a festival dedicated to Cybele. In both societies, bringing gifts to mothers during these holidays was common practice. “Mothering Sunday” was part of the early liturgical calendar, originally meant to honor Mary, the quintessential mother in Christian heritage.

Then, there was the ‘Mother’s Day Proclamation’, written in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe: “In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient (…) to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”

Ward was responding to the bloody Civil War, and the FrancoPrussian War; advocating that more women would become active in politics, since it would promote peace. ‘You can keep your flowers and jewelry,’ she would probably say, ‘how about giving me the right to vote?’

If you’re looking for an excuse to skip out on all the drama, you could use the argument that this is, of course, not a Jewish Holiday.

Although there is such a thing as “Jewish Mother’s Day”, but that’s in the Fall: the numerical value of 41 is Eim, which means mother; thus, 11 Cheshvan (the 41st day of the year) is the real Mother’s Day, and also the day we mark Rachel’s passing. But don’t use that as an excuse to visit your mother emptyhanded on May 9th, telling her she’ll get her box of Godiva’s in October. It will not go over well. Besides, Jewish holiday or not, sometimes it’s alright to submit to the culture at large, especially if that means doing something nice for someone else. Just remember poor Anna Jarvis’ words, and don’t eat all the candy yourself.

JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL

by TEDDY WEINBERGER

The Bible has long been a source of inspiration for Jewish (and Christian) songwriters. Sometimes biblical verses dealing with violence are utilized in popular songs. A beautiful song called “Lo Nira”(“We shall not be afraid”) by Shivi Keller provides a case in point.

The introductory guitar chords set the feel for the beginning of “Lo Nira”--something a little mysterious and romantic. Then we get a taste of the poignant melody, soon followed by a bluesy harmonica riff overlaid on top.

And then when Shivi starts to sing, you feel like nothing so much as slow dancing with your beloved. It's a haunting tune and tugs tremendously at your heart. You could be in your loved one's arms forever with this melody playing in the background. Except that if you know Hebrew, the words might prove jarring: “Here are your enemies O Lord, here are your enemies—they shall perish” (Psalms 92.10).

[After the opening, the pace of the song quickens and becomes more upbeat as Shivi chants: “We will neither fear nor dread

Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Michael Sigmond, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Eric Dunning; Jason Epstein; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman.

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Killing enemies in a song (Not so softly) because Our Lord God is the One God.” The bridge in the song is taken from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Shivi is a Breslover Chassid): “When a person realizes that all that happens to them is for their good, this realization is like the world to come.”]

Another example of a song whose biblical lyrics may be seen as jarring with its melody is taken from the story of Samson. The song comes from Samson's plea at the end of Samson's life, after he has been betrayed by Delilah and taken prisoner by the Philistines (who gouge out both his eyes). The Philistines, at a festival to their god Dagon at which there are some 3,000 thousand men and women in attendance, bring Samson out as living proof of Dagon's deliverance. Then Samson prays: “Please remember me and give me strength just this once, O God, to take revenge on the Philistines, if only for one of my two eyes.” God grants Samson's prayer, and Samson pulls down the two middle pillars holding up the Philistine temple. The bible then summarizes the ensuing devastation wrought by Samson: “Those who were slain by him as he died outnumbered those who had been slain by him when he lived” (see Judges 16. 28-30).

The song made from Samson's plea is fast paced and is often included in the key simcha

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(“happy”) set of Jewish life--about half an hour's worth of music after a newly married couple comes out onto the dance floor for the first time. Yes, right between songs that speak of “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (Jeremiah 32.11), we are all dancing to Samson's successful plea to kill several thousand Philistines.

Am I making too big a fuss out of some songs? On the one hand, since I only immigrated at the age of 36, people could very well accuse me of having an exilic mentality that is unaccustomed to the “strong” Jew and that is overly sensitive to the pairing of violence (even it it comes in the form of righteous revenge) with anything beautiful. Still, I don't think it's a bad thing at all—precisely in a country that has mandatory military service—to try to avoid putting a pleasing face on violence. After all, the ultimate Jewish prayer, in my opinion, is for a time when: “Nation shall not take up sword against nation; They shall never again know war” (Isaiah 2.4).

Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest two, Nathan and Rebecca, recently completed mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces; their daughter Ruthie is still serving in the IDF. Weinberger can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.

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April 30, 2010

Palin’s policies reflect Americans’ spirit on Israel

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

by BENYAMIN KORN

PHILADELPHIA (JTA) -The Obama administration’s tilt against Israel, its tacit acceptance of a nucleararmed Iran and its weak approach to combating Islamic terrorism all pose a direct challenge to Jewish Americans.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has described the “Obama doctrine” in U.S. foreign policy as “coddling our enemies while alienating allies.” Palin has emerged as the leading public voice in opposition to President Obama’s dangerous new direction.

For these reasons, my colleagues and I are launching a national organization of Jewish Americans for Sarah Palin, supported by the new Web site JewsforSarah.com -- Home Page for Jewish Independents.

JASP is comprised of academic, religious and community leaders who are dedicated to promoting consideration of Palin’s policy positions in the wider American Jewish community. We are unconnected to any political campaign or fund-raising organization.

We find Palin’s positions on Israel, Iran, national security, fiscal responsibility, energy and social policy -- as well as her record on these issues as governor of Alaska and candidate for vice president of the United States -- to be serious, substantive and politically mainstream.

Though not at present a candidate for any office, Palin’s track record in public office has been exemplary and has withstood the test of the most demanding scrutiny of investigative news media.

In her time, Margaret Thatcher was first dismissed as unintelligent, unsophisticated, the wrong gender and incapable of taking her place among the world’s statesmen. In the end she proved her detractors wrong and restored Britain’s economic, political and national security institutions to their former greatness. Today and for posterity, she is reckoned among the handful of pivotal world leaders of the late 20th century.

Likewise, Ronald Reagan was looked upon initially with scorn both by American Jews and even by many conservatives. Commentary magazine editor Norman Podhoretz wrote recently that his early support of Reagan’s 1980 presidential candidacy was greeted by his friends with derisive remarks about “this B-movie star.” In the end, conservatives

Go Painlessly

Mary Ann W.

BULL SALE?

PASADENA, CA (JTA ) -When President Obama took office last year, our country seemed to be teetering.

Eight years of war, monstrous deficit spending, a breakdown of diplomacy, and a disdain for science and civil liberties welcomed the new president into office.

A mere 15 months later our nation, while by no means completely healed, surely is on its way out of this dark period. The economy is improving and jobs are slowly beginning to return, stabilized by the needed, albeit not popular, stimulus package.

Doing the hard work that is needed in government is often unpopular, but President Obama does it anyway, and his hard work is paying off.

President Obama passed health care reform, possibly the greatest domestic policy achievement in a generation. He is standing up to the greed and self-interest of Wall Street. He supports a women’s right to choose and successfully appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. He is committed to ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

He takes global climate change seriously.

He values government transparency. He is working to reintroduce America into the world as a partner for peace and justice after eight years of isolation on the world stage.

And then there is Israel. President Obama has committed himself to the Jewish people by committing himself to working for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Has it gone smoothly so far? Certainly not.

However, since all parties to the conflict agree that there is no military solution, President Obama, a statesman capable of understanding nuance and complexity, is precisely the kind of leader we need now.

He has surrounded himself with Middle East experts, including many Jews, and is listening to the American-Jewish community, the majority of whom support a twostate solution.

American Jews overwhelmingly supported Obama in the 2008 election, and the majority continues to support him because his vision for our country -- a vision of inclusion, strength through diplomacy, peace and providing for the neediest among us -- resonates deeply with Jews. The battle for reform and improvement, especially in the face of fear

SAVE THE DATE!

and misinformation, is a long one that requires perseverance. We would be wise to embrace perseverance when considering whether we should abandon the president after only one year.

Ancient Jewish tradition in Pirke Avot, the Ethics of our Ancestors, teaches that “while we are not called upon to finish the job, we are certainly called upon to never cease from trying.”

For Jews, this applies to the task of building a nation that lives up to the ideals of both our Jewish sages and our American founders.

There are voices who feel threatened by the accomplishments of the past half century in the civil rights movement, the feminist movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement.

They decry any effort by government to address serious problems like joblessness, health care and the environment. They seek communities only with those who think and believe as they do. These are the political forces that hope Sarah Palin will run for president.

With the challenges we face, including the threat of Iran to both the United States and Israel, we need an American president who is methodical, smart, courageous and willing to do what is right even if it is not popular. We need a leader who understands the workings of the world, has the respect of the world and, when needed, can stand up to the world. Being U.S. president is more than ignoring those with whom you disagree and then attacking them if they do not capitulate. Being the president requires vision, courage, perseverance and respect for diversity.

The Jewish community knows that President Obama is this kind of leader, and we should continue to support him in his efforts to better our country and be a true friend to Israel.

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater is the spiritual leader of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and serves on the national advisory board of J Street. The views expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not represent any of the organizations he serves.

HOLIDAY CLOSING & DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, May 19-20 for Shavuot. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is 9 a.m. as follows. Questions?

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Jews must stay on visionary Obama’s side

came to respect and then revere Reagan. In the 1980 election, 60 percent of American Jews deserted President Jimmy Carter, with most of them voting for Reagan.

Podhoretz sees a parallel to Sarah Palin. So do we.

In recent days, prominent Jewish leaders and other Jewish political figures have publicly challenged President Obama’s foreign policy in terms that were unimaginable only a few weeks ago.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, a lifelong Democrat, has excoriated the president for “demeaning and slandering” Israel.

“There is a foul whiff of Munich and appeasement in the air,” Koch has written.

Anti-Defamation League leader Abraham Foxman has raised the prospect of a Jewish march on Washington to protest Obama’s tilt against Israel. World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder has taken out full-page ads in major American newspapers to criticize Obama for pressuring Israel to retreat to the “indefensible borders” of 1967. U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee http://hsgac.senate.gov/public, has characterized the president’s refusal to include militant Islam in his list of terror promoters as “offensive,” and said it “contradicts thousands of years of accepted military and intelligence doctrine to ‘know your enemy.’ ” President Obama’s disgraceful personal treatment of Israel’s prime minister on his official visits to Washington and the ugly personal tone that the president has injected into U.S.-Israel relations has angered even many of his supporters and driven Obama’s popularity to an all-time low among the Israeli public. The suddenness of the president’s change in his policies toward Israel, after having campaigned vociferously in 2008 as a friend of the Jewish state, has caught many in the American Jewish community off guard. No longer.

We believe it is time for American Jews to declare independence from President Barack Obama, and we believe that Gov. Sarah Palin’s heartfelt and unflinching support for America-Israel friendship reflects the true spirit of the American people, among whom love and respect for the Jewish state has never faltered.

Benyamin Korn is the former executive editor of the Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia and a veteran Jewish community organizer.

™

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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April 30, 2010

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Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Prayer Group 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org

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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.; Congregants who have celebrated a birthday this month will be honored during the service and at a sweets reception afterward.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation (3-7), 10 a.m.; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 8:15 p.m.

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE: Dr. Richard Freund will address Beth El congregation during Friday night services; dinner to follow. He will present the weekly Torah portion Saturday morning, and speak again during Kiddush.

Friday night dinner cost: $8.50 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; free for children five and younger.

To RSVP, and for more detailed information, call Margie Gutnik in the office.

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

SUNDAY: Beginning Hebrew, with Eadie Tsabari, and Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Jewish Images on the Big Screen, 10:30 a.m. with Frydman-Levin.

THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Understanding and Living Jewish Values, noon.

COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE: Beth El is partnering with Blooms Organic Farm which grows organic berries, vegetables and herbs. Ten shares have been reserved for Beth El members, to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday, April 30 is the deadline to sign up to participate. For more information, contact Margie Gutnik in the office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

TOT SHABBAT and SAY SHALOM TO SHABBAT: Friday, May 7, 6 p.m. services, 6:30 p.m. dinner. Cost for dinner is $5 per person for Beth El members, $7.50 for non-members.

Children 6 and under are free.

RSVP to the office by May 5; after that, the cost to attend doubles. This is the final Tot Shabbat until fall.

MINI COURSE: “Parsha and Pizza,” with Cantor Schlossberg, Wednesdays, May 12 and 26, 78 p.m. Cost is $18 for Beth El members, $25 for non-members.

Register by calling the office.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

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

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.;

Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by the Shyken Family in honor of Paul Shyken’s 70th birthday; “Guard Your Tongue,” “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up), one hour prior to Mincha every Shabbat; Mincha, 8 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:08 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Sunday morning classes are cancelled for Lag B’Omer; Annual Meeting and Election, 11 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.; Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m.

Follow the Kollel at www.omahakollel.blogspot.com.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s Around the World class, 7:30 p.m. taught via skype.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.; Lunch and Mincha, noon-3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn for Berkshire weekend. Call our office or visit our website to RSVP; Maariv, Kiddush and Dinner, 7 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn for Berkshire weekend. Call our office or visit our website to RSVP. SATURDAY: Shabbat Minyan, 10 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. Mini-Mensch title will be awarded. Kiddush lunch follows.

Join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 12:45 p.m.; Kiddush and Mincha, 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn for the Berkshire weekend. Call our office or visit our website to RSVP; Ma’ariv, Havdallah Service and Kiddush Levana, 9 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn for the Berkshire weekend. Call our office or visit our website to RSVP. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings Re-mix, 10:15 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: JLI class, Beyond Never Again, How the Holocaust Speaks to Us Today, 7 p.m. Visit www.OChabad.com for more details or to register.

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

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Oneg, 6 p.m. hosted

by the Merliss Family; Shabbat Evening Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with participation by Rachele Merliss.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, celebration the Bat Mitzvah of Rachele Merliss, with Kiddush Luncheon following.

SUNDAY: Temple Clean-up Day, 9 a.m.-noon; LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Gan Simcha-Grade 2, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at South Street Temple; Board of Trustees, 1 p.m.

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

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Judaism, led by Rabbi Emanuel.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Jim Polack.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Cantor Wendy Shermet; Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel.

Cost for the dinner is $5 for adults and no charge for children.

Please contact the Temple office, 556.6536 or mkube@templeisraelomaha.com, to make a dinner reservation.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service to Honor Senior congregants, 10:30 a.m. followed

by Kiddush lunch and music.

SUNDAY: Teacher Meeting, 9 a.m.; Last Sunday for Grades PreK-6, 10 a.m.; Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m.; Club 56 Skating party, noon–2 p.m. Celebrate the end of the school year with a Hawaiian party. Party includes games, prizes and good friends! Carpool to SkateDaze immediately following Religious School. (If parents would like to drive, please contact Club 56 Advisor.) Pick-up is at SkateDaze (3616 S 132nd Street) at 2 p.m. Cost is $5 and RSVP to

Club 56 Advisor Leora Azriel, leoraann@aol.com; Shiputznick Day, 1-6:30 p.m. at Mosaic, 10011 J St. Join Maccabi Team Omaha, OTYG, BBYO, NFTY, USY, NCSY for a day of community volunteering.

WEDNESDAY: Last Day for Grades 3-6, 4 p.m.; OTYG/High School Cinco de Mayo Party, 5 p.m.; Last Day of Family School, 6 p.m.; Grade 10 Rehearsal, 6 p.m.; Grade 12 Rehearsal, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m.; Kol Rina Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.

12th Grade Graduation/ Confirmation Service and OTYG Installations, Friday, May 14, 6 p.m.

Recruiting Volunteers to Paint the Classrooms, Sunday, May 16, 10 a.m. Contact Mimi Silverman, mimitaffet@cox.net, if you plan to attend. Bagels and coffee will be provided.

10th Grade Confirmation, WRJ Installations and Erev Shavuot, Tuesday, May 18, 6 p.m.

Shavuot Yizkor Service, Wednesday, May 19, 10:30 a.m.

Kol Rina on Key, Friday, May 21, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel and Sunday, May 23, 11 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 5410 Corby St.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Friday, 8-11 a.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study.

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

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

Israel lifts iPad ban

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel has lifted its ban on the iPad. The Communications Ministry announced Saturday evening that it will allow personal imports of the Apple iPad into the country.

Since its release two weeks ago, Israeli customs officials had been confiscating the device from Israelis entering the country. Officials said the devices were banned because they did not meet Israel’s wireless specifications and could place a strain on the wireless Internet in Israel.

But a report in Time magazine suggested that the reason might have more to do with personal politics: iDigital, Apple’s sole official Israeli importer, is owned by Chemi Peres, son of Israeli President Shimon Peres, and the ban might have been about protecting his monopoly.

A Communications Ministry statement released Saturday said, “The scrutiny conducted by the Ministry technical team vis-à-vis Apple’s team, International laboratory and European counterparts confirmed that the device which could be operated in various standards will be operated in Israel in accordance to the local standards.”

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

April 30, 2010

The Impartial Law

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Emor Our Sidrah, like so many others, has a miscellany of laws both physical and spiritual.

One of these deals with someone who curses the name of God, another one talks about being involved in a dispute with another person.

The holy Text includes the famous “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. This means that one has no right to demand a billion dollars for having his toe stepped on; the payment must take into consideration how serious is the offense.

But the Torah makes clear what this is meant to mean: there must be one law for the casual visitor, or the permanent non-Israeli who lives among you, and the same law for a Jewish resident.

The Text emphasizes this impartiality by saying: “For I am the Lord your God.” It is possible that a highly ethical society of humans might have come upon impartiality by itself. But the Text does not give impartiality in the hope that men will learn this by themselves. Instead, the Text emphasizes that there must be the same law for an Israelite and a non-Israelite by stressing “I am the Lord your God”.

One compares this to the history of humanity, with the insistence there must be one law for the resident, and another one for the temporary visitor among them.

This includes mistreatment of the stranger (that is to say, a non-Israelite) to the point of lynching that stranger, because he has no standing before the law.

According to our Sidrah, the “stranger” is given full protection of the law. He is given the same consideration as an Israelite himself. And the text goes on to say all this is true because “I am the Lord your God.”

Signs marking Paris’ Ben Gurion square missing

by JTA NEWS STAFF PARIS (JTA) -- Signs marking the newly inaugurated Ben Gurion esplanade in Paris have disappeared.

The city filed an official complaint with police after the signs were noticed missing on Wednesday.

Pro-Palestinian protesters and representatives of France's Communist Party led an active campaign to prevent Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe from honoring the Israeli founder.

Despite street protests, Delanoe went through with the renaming of the central Paris square on April 15, in the presence of Israeli President Shimon Peres. On the margins of the event, protests called Denaloe an “accomplice” to “Israeli assassins,” according to the French news agency AFP. On Wednesday, Delanoe’s office began the process of filing an official complaint about the missing street signs, a city hall spokesman told JTA. An online video showing the place where the new street signs should have been was posted on the Web site of a group that protested against the city’s initiative, but no one has claimed responsibility for the apparent theft, according to French reports.

The French Jewish umbrella group CRIF in a statement issued Thursday said it was “shocked” by the news of the missing plaques.

The absent Ben Gurion plaques “come in a context of anti-Israeli hysteria,” said the statement, in reference to the campaign to stop the renaming of the Paris square.

Photographs wanted The Jewish Press is looking for photographs taken by members of the community. Think pictures you have taken during your last trip to Israel, when you visited that phenomenal synagogue in Prague, or that particularly well designed Seder table your grandmother puts together every year. We are looking for originality and diversity, and will soon start running the nicest photographs in this paper. Want to share your creative talents? Email your best work to avandekamp@jewishomaha.org, accompanied by your name, contact information, and a short description of when and where the photograph was taken, and why you want to share it. Take your best shot, and who knows; you just might see it back in these pages.

DEATH LAREINE “TOOTS” ABRAMS LaReine “Toots” Abrams, 89, passed away April 21, in Lincoln, NE. Funeral services were held April 23 at Beth El Cemetery.

She is survived by husband Arthur Abrams, son Michael Shannon, and daughter Jacqueline Carlson; grandchildren Michael Stewart, Jeff Sherman, Kelly Wedgewood, Teresa Connor, Maria Rardin, Encarnacion Ingram, Caridad DeVries, Cassi Shetterly, Arnee Shannon, and 29 great-grandchildren, as well as many nephews, nieces, and friends.

LaReine and her husband have resided in Lincoln for many years, and were the managers of Zales Jewelry store in Lincoln. They were members of Beth El Synagogue in Omaha, and Tifereth Israel synagogue in Lincoln.

Mitchell arrives in Israel

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell arrived in Israel for meetings with Israeli officials and later in Ramallah with Palestinian officials.

Mitchell arrived Thursday for a visit scheduled at the last minute following a meeting the day before between Israeli and U.S. diplomatic officials, Palestinian officials told Reuters.

It is Mitchell's first visit to the region since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama met in Washington a month ago in a meeting that appeared to publicly illustrate the deep differences between the two leaders and countries.

Mitchell will meet Friday with Netanyahu, as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres. He is set to meet Saturday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Ynet reported.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Netanyahu has rejected an Obama administration call for a total construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem, but has agreed to implement other confidence-building measures toward the Palestinians, including transferring more West Bank territory to PA security control and discussing final-status issues during indirect negotiations.

ZOA lobbies Congress on Iran, PA

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Activists for the Zionist Organization of America lobbied Congress to consider military action against Iran.

In more than 100 meetings with members of Congress on Wednesday, the ZOA said hundreds of its activists also asked the lawmakers to defund the Palestinian Authority, press the U.S. embassy issue and enshrine anti-Jewish discrimination safeguards in education legislation.

Thirty lawmakers addressed the group’s luncheon, the ZOA said.

The activists “urged the necessity of military action should peaceful, diplomatic measures fail to stop Iran’s drive to obtain a nuclear weapons capability,” a ZOA statement said, and called for a suspension of assistance for the Palestinian Authority until it ends incitement, outlaws terrorist groups and confiscates illegal weapons.

The statement also called for new legislation that would remove the presidential waiver from existing legislation requiring the United States to move its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Such a removal would likely have little effect; successive presidents have cited broader waivers to assert executive primacy in foreign policy.

The ZOA activists also sought congressional action “to make clear that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- which protects against racial and ethnic discrimination -- encompasses anti-Jewish incidents and protects Jewish students from anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation.”

This has been a thorny issue, as successive administrations and congresses have sought to include such protections while also protecting church-state separation.

Bush administration appointees, for instance, were concerned that such language would inhibit proselytization.

CORRECTION In our April 16 issue, we mentioned that Howard Gendelman has taught at Beth El. While Dr. Gendelman seems able to do a million things at once, and all of them well, he has only taught school at Beth Israel. We sincerely apologize for the error.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

April 30, 2010

Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations

Top left, Israelis celebrate Israeli Independence Day on the Tel Aviv beach 2009. Credit: Roni Schutzer/Flash90/JTA; middle left, Haley Cleveland-Swanson, left, Julia Brodkey, Eylon Caplan and Leah Dysico; bottom left, Esther and Philip Katz squeeze in a moment with their son Jonah; above, Celebrants wave Israeli flags and dance in the streets of Jerusalem celebrating Israeli Independence Day 2008. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/JTA.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha’s new logo

by BOB GOLDBERG Federation Communications and Young Leadership Director The Jewish Federation of Omaha unveiled a new logo on April 22, 2010 to help create a stronger visual identity and raise awareness to our mission of helping Jews in need.

A stronger and more contemporary brand can reach younger donors, engage an increasingly mobile population and help donors realize that our community is connected to a greater continental Jewish Federation movement.

By connecting a wider audience to our mission, we can build our support base, raise more funds and meet evergrowing Jewish needs.

“While continuing to do the good work our Federation volunteers and staff perform every day, we know we need to reinvent ourselves to better articulate who we are and what we do and this new logo is a component of that mission,” says Jan Goldstein, JFO Executive Director.

Our Federation is leading the way in modernizing our brand, joining more than 30 pioneering Federations across North America who are adapting the same logo.

The new Federation logo -- with a circular design and menorah – is a strong, innovative mark, rooted in Jewish tradition, signaling the centrality and stature of the Jewish Federation, while remaining inviting and optimistic. The updated logo refreshes the Federation’s image while better articulating our mission of meeting Jewish communal needs.

The new logo is just a building block of the larger purpose of brand building -- to raise awareness and connect with more Jews.

“By creating a more vital Jewish Federation’s brand, we can better tell our incredible story of how Jewish Federations together address Jewish needs at home, in Israel and in more than 60 countries around the world,” said Jerry Silverman, President and CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America. “Our collective brand will also help position Jewish Federations to better meet the challenges of the future.”