Vol. LXXXVII No. 44 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
Called “the Jewish Martha Stewart”, Susie Fishbein to demonstrate art of Jewish cooking at Chabad fundraiser by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT JP: I’m busy; how long will this take? Kelli Kirk was born and raised in Omaha and has been Kirk: We will be wrapping up around 9:30 p.m. involved with Chabad for approximately three years. JP: What is on the menu? During that time, she has taken numerous adult educaKirk: Susie will be demonstrating a three-course meal, tion classes, chaired many events, assisted with holidays, using recipes from her cookbook. She will discuss ingreorganized cooking and craft clubs, spearheaded the dients and technique, while offering helpful hints along recent pickle-making event, assisted with the recent Gala the way. Every attendee will be able to personally samand helped run the Chabad Gift Shop. Currently, she is ple Susie’s cooking. working to bring renowned cookbook author Susie JP: Will she sign any books? Fishbein to Omaha for a cooking demonstration. Kirk: Yes, and her Kosher by Design cookbooks will be JP: When will Fishbein be at Chabad? available for purchase in our gift shop. JP: Where can people find information about Susie Kirk: She’s coming on Monday, June 2, 7 p.m., to Fishbein, if they the Chabad House, want to ‘read up’ 1866 So. 120 St. beforehand? JP: How long have Kirk: I suggest you been working on readers check out this? www.kosherbydeKirk: This event sign.com. with Susie Fishbein JP: Why should was booked more than people learn about a year in advance. kosher cooking? JP: Why is this a fabKirk: I think there ulous, ‘not to be’ are many misconmissed event? ceptions about Kirk: This evening kosher cooking, will give us an opporhaving to do with tunity to celebrate the difficulty, taste, and yiddishkeit in our lives. quality. We’re hopWhat better way than Kelli Kirk is planning Fishbein’s appearance in Omaha on June 2. through spiritually fitness and delicious food? Especially if it is created by a famous Jewish female chef. JP: What should people expect? Kirk: This is more than an excellent opportunity to enjoy friends, fun, and great food. It is also a chance to experience how it is possible to eat and enjoy gourmet kosher food in your own home. In addition, the public will be able to see Susie Fishbein work her magic and ask questions. She is a driving force in the world of kosher food, and it will be an honor to have her here in Omaha.
ing to change that and show people that this is something that you can do at home. JP: Do you sell any good cookbooks in the gift shop? Kirk: Yes, and visitors are welcome to stop by and browse any time. We sell Susie’s Kosher by Design series, such as Spice and Spirit, The Secret of Challah, and Kosher Delicious. In addition to that, the gift shop is full of Judaica of all kinds, for all events, and in all price ranges. Continued on page 2
4 Iyyar, 5768
May 9, 2008
Ron Giller to succeed Cookie Kastkee as principal of Friedel Jewish Academy by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT The 2008-09 school year will bring an important change for Friedel Jewish Academy. Principal Cookie Katskee is retiring, and the search for a new principal has come to a successful end with the hiring of Ronald Giller. Bonnie Bloch headed the search committee, which also included Denise Bennett, Donald Gerber, Danielle Gordman, Rabbi Jonathan Gross, Shami Jacobs, Heather Kelln, Ruti Margalit, Margo Riekes, Zoe Riekes, Nancy Schlessinger, Susan Witkowski, and Katskee. “The committee was very pleased with the number of outstanding candidates who submitted applications during the search process,” Bloch said. “The majority of candidates were from out-of-state, an indication of the high standards and reputation of Friedel among the community day school network. We are extremely excited to have selected a Nebraska educator/administrator with impeccable credentials who will continue the successes achieved by Cookie Katskee.” Giller has spent a total of 35 years in education; he has taught a variety of Ron Giller grades and worked as principal at three different locations, most recently in Glenwood, Iowa. Giller is a University of Nebraska at Lincoln graduate, and has run the Bellevue City Day Camp. He has also served as President of Elementary Principals for Region 2. Many of the schools where Giller has worked have a considerably larger student body than Friedel, but he says, “Regardless of the number of students, creating a feeling of warmth, of family, is something I have always made a priority. I will feel very much at home at Friedel, because the students get both a stellar education and a Continued on page 2
Press keeps winning newspaper contests by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press It’s always exciting to learn that the Jewish Press has won yet another award; it’s even better when the winners are either interns or freelancers for the paper. At its 2008 conference, the Nebraska Press Association winners were announced for the 2007 Better Newspaper Contest. This year, the Jewish Press garnered two awards: a third place in Sports Writing and a first place in Single Features. Both awards were for Class D weekly newspapers with circulation under 4000. More than a year ago, Mary Etus, a member of the community who moved here from the former Soviet Union, came to the Press office with an idea for a story about Lydia Linde. Linde, who also immigrated to Omaha from Moscow, agreed to be interviewed after Etus found some newly discovered information on Linde’s family which absolved them from “crimes against the state” in Communist Russia. “It was like solving a puzzle,” said Etus. “with little bits of information that I had
Inside
at first. But gradually, with the help of the Internet, I was able to find the missing parts and piece together the whole picture.” That interview -“Daughter of the ‘Enemy of the State’ learns the secrets of her parents’ trails” -- earned Etus a first place award from the NPA. The award is even more remarkable considering that English is not the native language for either woman. “My article was primarily a political work,” Etus told the Press. “I view it as my contribution to the 70th anniversary of the so-called Stalin purges that anniliated and destroyed millions of lives.” Etus, who received calls from Israel, Switzerland and Spain after
the story was posted on the Press pages of the Jewish Federation website (www.jewishomaha.org), is working on another article, “Lend Lease
and other mysteries of war.” The Press’ Editorial Intern Anne Muskin won the the Sports Writing award for last summer’s story “Omahans propel USA men’s basketball team to bronze medal in international Maccabi Games.” Following two teammates since childhood: her brother Zach Muskin and one of his best friends, Justin Jacobson, the writer chronicled the tryouts for the 13th European Maccabi Games held in Rome last summer, and the events as they unfolded at the games. Muskin also wrote a second piece about Jewish sites in Italy. “Well, this is a first!” Muskin said upon receiving news about her win. “Has the Jewish Press ever won an award for sports writing?” The answer, to our knowledge, is ‘no’ but the staff, board of directors, and of course, Muskin, were happy to accept. Muskin, who will graduate from the Continued on page 2
This Week: Primary Election Section starts on Page 9 Coming Next Month: Father’s Day/Graduation Issue, June 6
See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 12
Riding to remember the Holocaust: Page 3
American Jews still feel close to Israel: Page 4
Coverage of Yom HaShoah observances: Page 8