May 12, 2006

Vol. LXXXV No. 35 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 85 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

14 Iyyar, 5766 May 12, 2006

Friedel Honors Mainstays at 40th Anniversary Celebration

by EUNIE DENENBERG “Where there is no vision, people perish.”--Proverbs.

No such fate threatens Omaha Jewry, for since our earliest settlers, we have been blessed with people of vision. People like Leonard and Phyllis Friedel, Jerry and Linda Gordman, Henry and Dorothy Riekes and Steve and Margo Riekes.

The four families will be honored for their collective vision in creating and sustaining the Friedel Jewish Academy at a 40th birthday gala, “Fabulous Friedel”, on Wednesday evening, May 31, 6:30 p.m., for cocktails at the Jewish Community Center, and 7:30 p.m. for dinner and the program.

Honorees Phyllis and the late Leonard Friedel left Omaha for Scottsdale AZ in 1984 when Leonard retired. After her husband’s death in 2002, Phyllis moved to Los Angeles CA. She will return to Omaha for the Friedel gala along with daughters Lynne (Mrs. Steve) Gellman of Austin TX, and Randi (Mrs. Dave) Sherman of Scottsdale AZ. “Leonard and I loved being part of Omaha’s volunteer life,” she recalls.

“Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, B’nai B’rith, Temple Israel, the Federation, we enjoyed participating in them all. But the day school was, and still is, our family’s ‘baby’. In addition to our

shofar) first brought him to the Friedel. About 30 years ago he was asked to demonstrate the shofar to the Friedel classes. “I immediately fell in love with the kids,” he says and has been active ever since in almost every aspect of the school’s growth.

“Jerry almost single-handedly oversees our finances,” says Yaffa PodbilewiczDorothy Riekes Henry Riekes Schuller, Friedel board member and gala chairman. “He keeps our books and keeps us in the black!” she laughs.

Jerry’s official titles have included president, co-president, financial vice-president and currently, treasurer. Unofficially he is a Friedel public relations one-manband and admits, “the school is a passion of mine.

“It’s a jewel,” he enthusiastically states.

“It’s Montessori with Jewish content-the kids interact with both the JCC’s Linda and Jerry Gordman Child Development Center and the Rose Omaha, however, is “still home,” she Blumkin Jewish Home.”

According to Jerry, “Friedel’s strong says. “It was the best place for our kids to grow up, and the girls and I are looking secular curriculum and favorable forward to meeting old friends at the teacher/pupil ratio are why the students gala. Leonard would be so proud to see consistently place at the top of state rankhow his dream of a day school has ings.” Friedel offers kindergarten through grade six with a general Jewish grown.”

Jerry Gordman’s musical talent (he is curriculum that does not focus on any adept at both the French horn and the Continued on page 2

Phyllis and Leonard Friedel

Margo and Steve Riekes initial gift we established a fund for ongoing grant support.”

The Friedels developed their life-long interest in the theater at the Omaha Playhouse and Chanticleer. That interest remains strong with Phyllis and through her agent and the workshops she attends, she has been cast in films and tv commercials in Los Angeles.

Could Masada Fall Again?

Is Meeting the Fockers the Same as Meeting ‘Real’ Jews?

by LEONARD GREENSPOON Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization Creighton University What do Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner, and Robert De Niro have in common? As movie buffs know, all of these stars either met the Fockers--or were the Fockers.

Well known from two recent hit movies--Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers--these characters and their varied interactions will be insightfully explored on Sunday, May 21, 7 p.m., when Professor David Brenner of Kent State University talks on “Meeting the Fockers: How Jewish is Contemporary American Popular Culture?”

Brenner’s presentation is the Third Annual Wintroub-Riklin Lecture in Jews and Popular Culture. In previous lectures, Ori Soltes spoke on “Jews and Sports” and I discussed “Jews in the Comic Strips.”

Wintroub-Riklin lecturers emphasize the roles Jews have played as both producers (writers, actors, and artists, for example) and consumers of popular culture.

Brenner is widely recognized for his expertise in Film Studies and Popular Culture, with two major books in the works: Kafka’s Kitsch: German-Jewish Popular Culture before the Holocaust and Shoah Business? The Holocaust and Hollywood in the Age of Globalization.

Among his recent talks are “From Nasty (Gentile) Girls to Nice (Jewish) Mothers,” “Brecht vs. Spielberg,” and “Fiddler on the Cattle Car.” The Wintroub-Riklin Lecture series is sponsored by

Inside Opinion Page see page 12

David Brenner

Scientists Try to Assure Stability of Historic Site

the Creighton University Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization, the Harris Center for Judaic Studies at University of NebraskaLincoln, and the Center for Jewish Education.

It was established as an annual spring event to complement the KlutznickHarris Symposium, which is held each fall. This fall’s Symposium, the 19th in this series, will take place on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 29-30, and is titled “’I Will Sing and Make Music’: Jewish Music and Musicians

throughout the Ages.”

Dr. Brenner’s lecture, which will be held at the Jewish Community Center, will be followed by a dessert reception.

Dr. Brenner’s appearance in Omaha is also part of the Midwest Jewish Studies Colloquium, which brings together a dozen specialists from throughout the region to discuss their research and current projects. This group will be meeting from 11:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the JCC on May 21.

All of these events are free and open to the public. For further information, including a full schedule of the day’s events, please contact Fran Minear at 280.2303 or fminear@creighton.edu.

This Week: Jewish Women From FSU, Ethiopia Share Stories: Page 16 See Front Page Stories at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’

Community Says Farewell to Rabbi Marantz: Page 3

Ben-Gurion University Professor Yossi Hatzor stands on Masada.

Credit: Dani Machlis/Ben-Gurion University

by SUE FISHKOFF MASADA, Israel, (JTA)--Masada is one of the most renowned symbols of Jewish endurance.

Rising 750 feet above the Dead Sea valley, the site of a mass suicide of Jewish Zealots in 73 C.E., it is, next to Jerusalem, Israel's most popular tourist site. Elite units of the Israel Defense Forces hold special ceremonies atop its heights, pledging, “Masada shall not fall again.”

But it might.

Continued on page 8

Coming This Month: Senior Living Issue

Omaha Celebrates Yom Ha’Atzmaut: Page 7

A Mother’s Day Tribute to Octogenarians: Page 9

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, MAY 12 Confirmation/Graduation Dinner & Service, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

Friedel Anniversary Continued from page 1 one branch of Judaism. The current enrollment of 33 children represents families affiliated with Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel Synagogue and Temple Israel.

“My dad, Dan Gordman, was a forward thinker,” says Jerry, “who realized that no Jewish community is complete without the option of a good Jewish day school.

In fact, many people will not relocate to a city without one. My parents were the key to the construction of the building, the Dan and Esther Gordman Center for Jewish Learning, designed by Marty Shukert, which houses the Friedel.

He adds, “And the Dan Gordman Fund for Jewish Education was set up to ensure the school be a true community resource, a real bargain, deliberately affordable with scholarships available so no family will find it a burden. My parents taught me and Linda the importance of investing in education. We’re proud of our graduates and proud of our school, a place that fosters future leaders of our Jewish community.”

Dorothy Riekes, who with her late husband Henry, has been a strong supporter of the Friedel Jewish Academy, feels that the day school is an important asset of a vibrant Jewish community, attracting families to Omaha who otherwise would not come here.

“I’m proud that Henry and I are being honored by Friedel,” she states. “I encourage people to learn about the school, because I know some still don’t understand the need. I hope I can change some minds. Our Jewish Omaha is so unique and wonderful. I want to hold on to that uniqueness and togetherness feeling. Other towns don’t have it--we’re lucky--and we can be proud that our children keep it up.”

Dorothy’s and Henry’s son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Margo Riekes, also being honored at the Friedel gala, continue their family’s dedication to promoting

Jewish education.

“Today,” affirms Steve, “wherever you go in the world, every Jewish community, in order to maintain itself, must offer a viable day school as part of its education package.”

He is an active participant in the life of Beth El, B’nai B’rith, the cultural arts and the Friedel, where he served as president and then co-president during its struggling beginnings. Steve and Margo’s children attended the school and the couple continue their involvement and financial support.

Now, with the school’s growing reputation for quality teaching and the expanding enrollment, Steve says they concentrate on assembling first-rate educators and curriculum innovations that describe a state of the art school. “Margo’s on the board,” Steve says, “and she’s thrilled with our top-notch staff.”

“What the school is today is what I always dreamed it would be,” Margo is fervent in her sincerity. “It has everything--administration, atmosphere, creativity. It’s a joyful, nurturing place. Come visit. You’ll see teachers speaking Hebrew with the kids, older students helping younger ones, taking care of one another and learning how to live in a responsible Jewish environment. Omaha should be proud of the school and its sense of family.”

Come visit, she repeats, “it will take your breath away!”

According to Podbilewicz-Schuller, gala chairman, 30 or 40 people have been major supporters of the school since its beginning, and all deserve recognition. “It was painful,” she says, “to choose only three--the Friedels, Gordmans and Riekeses. We are grateful to everyone who, with this event, has helped launch us into the future.”

For more information on Friedel and reservations to the gala, please call the school at 334.0517.

Friedel Students and Residents of the Blumkin Home Make “History” Together

by JULIE PHILLIPS Residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from Friedel Jewish Academy “made history” as they came together for two weeks in April to learn about each other and the process of pinhole photography.

Omaha artist Eliska Morsel Greenspoon developed this inter-generational project. The students used paint cans as pinhole cameras to capture images of their newly

The students visited Greenspoon’s studio on several occasions to learn the entire process of pinhole photography--from loading the cameras with paper to using the darkroom. The children began this groundbreaking project by actually “walking” into a camera obscura (the original name for this type of photography).

Greenspoon transformed her entire studio to simulate the inside of a camera. The windows were blackened and fitted with a “pinhole” lens.

Eva Philips, left, visits with her new friend, Mollye Rimmerman, a resident of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Louise Martin’s new friend, Sophie Cemaj, right, came about through the “pinhole photography” project.

acquainted grandfriends and during the process, also collected their personal recollections of their childhoods.

The students, grandfriends and their families will celebrate this unique and meaningful project with the community at an “ Art Opening” on Monday, May 15, 3 p.m.

The community is invited to come and enjoy the personal stories, appreciate the interplay of spirit, light, and history, and sense the underlying friendships that developed.

The participants gathered daily in the Tea Room at the Home. In between cookies, hugs, and rain drops, eventually captured the essence of what is a beautiful story about new friendships and the “art” of history in their own backyard.

As the students’ eyes adjusted to the darkness and the room slowly filled with light, they were amazed to see the view outside the window inverted and projected on the opposite wall of the studio. This set the stage for exciting hands-on learning. The final photographs of the grandfriends taken by the students were developed along with the personal stories journaled onto the negative.

A project such as this cannot happen without the generous support of sponsors who see the value in creative educational opportunities: the Nebraska Arts Council, the Rosalie and Milton Saylan Endowment Fund, the Morton A. Richards Endowment Fund, Dr. Eric D. Phillips, and Iris and Marty Ricks.

SATURDAY, MAY 13 BESTT Graduation & Teacher Appreciation Shabbat, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Tot Shabbat & Lunch, 11 a.m. at Beth El C L I P

SUNDAY, MAY 14 Nashir Choir, 10 a.m. at Beth El Adult Education, 10 a.m.-noon at Beth El Fourth Grade Mock Wedding, 11 a.m. at Beth El BESTT Chaverim Activity, 12:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 15 & JSS Senior Luncheon, 10 a.m.

Cardozo Society Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.

S Hadassah Board Meeting, 1 p.m.

A BEAM, 7 p.m. at Beth El V Derech Torah Class, 7:30 p.m.

Youth Commission Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El E

C L I P & S A V E

TUESDAY, MAY 16 Lag B’ Omer JCC OPEN Chabad Lag B’ Omer Picnic, 9 a.m.

NCSY and Beth Israel BBQ, 6 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

ARTZA Parent/Teen Cook-Out, 7 p.m.

Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 PATTER, 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Center for Jewish Education Class, 11 a.m.

Rabbis and Presidents Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

Jewish Women International Donor Luncheon, noon C Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Meeting, 4 p.m.

L JFS Yachad Social Skills Class, 6 p.m.

I Cantor’s Concert, 7 p.m. at Beth El P THURSDAY, MAY 18 Adult Education, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel & Rabbi Levin Study Class, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

S Kripke Library Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m.

A Shavout Flower Arranging and Ruth, 7 p.m.

V AIPAC Nebraska Annual Event, 7 p.m.

E All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events. To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

FOR A COMPLETE LISTING, VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

C L I P & S A V E

LINCOLN CENTER Lincoln Federation’s Joint Shabbat Features Holocaust Educator

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by AMANDA EDWARDS Paul Smith, a Lincoln teacher, will tell members of the Jewish community in Lincoln how his friendship with a survivor led him to develop a course in Holocaust literature.

He will keynote a joint Shabbat of Lincoln’s two synagogues--B’nai Jeshurun and Tifereth Israel--at

tonight’s Shabbat service, May 12, 7:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Smith, who participated in last May’s 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 18th anniversary of the March of the Living in Poland, takes his Lincoln Southeast High School classes to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., each year.

May 12, 2006

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

A Purchase that Shook the World: Top U.S. Investor Buys Israeli Firm

Temple to Bid Farewell to Rabbi Marantz Next Week at Oneg Shabbat

by DAN BARON closing the deal. “We studied his practices JERUSALEM (JTA)--It’s not every with other companies,” Wertheimer told day that a private investor gets to influ- Israel’s Army Radio. “He bought and did not sell. He did not interfere with everyence the course of a country’s economy.

But that’s just what American tycoon one who wanted to work. He did not go Warren Buffett might have done by buy- public with a company that was not ing an 80 percent share in Israeli metal- already being traded. And he respected works conglomerate Iscar over the week- people who knew what they were doing.”

Wertheimer, who maintains a 20 percent end for a record $4 billion.

Israeli media described it as the “deal of stake in Iscar, described the sale as a worldthe decade.” Given the windfall for the first for Buffett, “The is the first time that new government of Prime Minister Ehud Warren Buffett has bought a company Olmert, one newspaper suggested income whose headquarters is not in America.”

And there may be more of the same. tax could even be lowered in the future.

Ma’ariv quoted Buffett, “This is major news and who has yet to visit the a great present for the State of Israel,” Olmert Jewish state, as saying: “I said. “This is not just plan further acquisitions another deal worth bilof Israeli companies in lions. Here we have the the future. I believe in the Israeli market and the world’s greatest investor-Israeli economy and I not a Jew, nor a Zionist-who is making a vote of Employees of Iscar walk past the think now is a good time confidence in the State of main entrance of the industrial to invest here.” complex in Israel’s Western Iscar was founded in Israel’s economy.”

Credit: BP Images/JTA 1952 by immigrant Stef In another show of Galilee. strength, the Cabinet approved Israel’s Wertheimer as a modest metalworks shop 2006 state budget. The $64 billion pack- in Nahariya. It now competes for major age, which must now pass three Knesset defense contracts and boasts facilities in votes, had been held up by infighting the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan and Korea. under the previous Sharon government.

The Buffett buy propelled the alreadyNews of the Buffett buy came as the world’s second-richest man made his wealthy Wertheimer family to the top of annual appearance at the Omaha meeting the list of Israel’s richest. With recent of his company, Berkshire Hathaway. public-sector cuts still being felt among Buffett is considered a prudent investor Israel’s poor, proceeds of the sale could, who seeks companies with the idea of in theory, be used to boost welfare benerealizing their growth potential, rather fits or expand medicines covered by than stripping and reselling them. Iscar’s national insurance. Wertheimer said he president and chairman, Eitan hopes the estimated $1 billion in taxes he Wertheimer said this approach was key to will pay will be used to such ends.

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator To wish them well as they prepare to leave for Glastonbury, Connecticut, where Rabbi Craig Marantz will be the rabbi of Kol Haverim, Temple Israel will honor and say good by to him and his family at an Oneg Shabbat following worship services on Friday, May 19.

Reminiscing about his nearly fouryear tenure at Temple Israel, Rabbi Marantz talked about “the love and affection of my congregants, their openness to my participation in their lives, their willingness to shape me as a rabbi and a man. I came here not ready to assume responsibility for my own congregation. You need a certain kind of maturity, self-confidence, and knowing where congregants are in their lives during the good times and the difficult ones.

“I was tested,” he commented, “and it allowed me to grow and evolve.” He said he owes that growth to Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, the staff, and congregation of Temple Israel.

“It takes a great deal of discipline to balance the work of rabbinic life and family life,” he acknowledged.

He also said he would especially remember studying with congregants at Sparks Beneath the Surface, the Shabbat study group, Thursday’s adult study group, and Family School participants.

“I’ll miss all levels of staff. I’ve learned from everybody. They toughened me, disciplined me, inspired me, and imparted their energy for justice, compassion, and lifelong learning.

Distinctive Surroundings…

Extraordinary Events.

O M A H A

“The opportunity to have my own congregation is mostly sweet, but there is sadness in leaving this community physically behind,” Rabbi Marantz added.

“I feel ready and prepared to contribute to my new congregation from what I learned here. But the hardest thing leave to behind is the sense of warmth and community particularly in groups I got Rabbi Craig Marantz to meet with once a week and the close-knit staff.”

Wendy Goldberg, president of Temple’s Board of Trustees, described May 19 as an opportunity “to gather as a community to wish Rabbi Marantz the best in his new congregation and show our appreciation of his work as a spiritual leader and passionate teacher.”

“We all wish Rabbi Marantz and his family much happiness,” added Rabbi Azriel. “We hope for his continuous success in the rabbinate. Our congregation has been rewarded by his gifts of caring and teaching, and we’ve all been touched by his humanity.”

Temple Israel welcomes the entire Jewish community to bid farewell to Rabbi and Betsy Marantz and their children, Cara and Jared, next Friday evening.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

Family of Miracle Baby Celebrates with his First Haircut Beth El Students

by JOAN MARCUS medicine today and lots of hope, luck, prayers and peofor Chabad of Nebraska ple working very hard, that the statistics for many of and Teachers to Be Zalman Katzman, the almost three-year-old son of these babies turn out without significant disabilities.�

Rabbi Mendel and Shani Katzman, will have a big birthIn his honor, Lag B’Omer will include an outdoor Honored Tomorrow day party this year. event and food for everyone.

The situation surrounding Zalman’s birth has certain“Although we immerse a Jewish child in Jewish expe- during Shabbat Services ly turned into a miracle. According to Dr. Howard riences in ways which affect his Jewish identity even Needelman, a doctor certified in neonatology and developmental behavioral pediatrics, “Zalman has certainly overcome many obstacles since his premature birth. Kids who are born less than 28 weeks into the pregnancy run a fairly significant risk of having severe disabilities. As you get earlier and earlier in the pregnancy, the risk becomes greater and greater.�

The little boy will celebrate his third on birthday Tuesday, May 16, 5 p.m., by having his first haircut on Lag B’Omer, a festival that falls on the 18th of Zalman Katzman Iyyar, the 33rd day of the seven-week period of the counting of the Omer that extends from the second day of Passover to Shavuot. During the days of mourning, observant Jews don’t cut hair or celebrate weddings. On Lag B’Omer, the ban and prohibitions are lifted.

A Talmudic passage that tells of the plague that killed 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef during the Omer period provides the reason for the mourning.

The plague occurred because the disciples of Rabbi Akiva did not display mutual respect and regard amongst one another.

During this time of mourning, if a boy reaches the age of three, his hair cannot be cut. Families wait until Lag B’Omer to cut his hair. This was the day that the plague stopped and it became a day of rejoicing, celebration and unity.

The holiday is a major production in Israel where young boys are taken to the graveside of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a kabbalist and a miracle worker, for their first haircuts. Bonfires are lit so that people can dance through the night. Though it’s the yahrzeit for the rabbi, it’s a joyous day full of miracles.

Shani Katzman says, “We want everyone to attend Zalman’s party. We want to share will all the significance of the day as well as the meaning and great relevance it holds for Zalman. Lag B’Omer is a day associated with many great miracles and Zalman’s reaching this milestone is nothing short of that.�

Dr. Needelman adds, “It is a wonderful thing with

before birth, formal teaching does not begin until age three,� she adds. “The ceremony is comprised of the haircutting and the formal commencement of Jewish education.

At three years of age a Jewish child is formally inducted into study of Torah. A page with the Hebrew alphabet is coated with honey so that the child can touch the letters and lick his fingers, associating Torah study with sweetness.

Zalman will be wrapped in a tallit and carried to the event, introducing him to his Jewish education. Candy will be thrown to show him that the beginning of this study is sweet, good and wonderful.

Katzman says, “Zalman will recite several Torah verses and the blessing over the food. The haircutting signifies that every human being is like a tree in the field. It has roots, trunk, branches and fruit. The roots would be the faith and they can also be the ancestry of a child. We all come from good stock and have Jewish lineage that helps to form our roots. We draw our energy and life from them.�

She explains, “The base and the branches are the knowledge that we’ve acquired and talents that we have.

The fruits are how we benefit others and our children.

According to Torah law, we may not use the fruit from the tree until the tree is three years old. The first three years, we must leave it alone. During the fourth year, we can begin to eat the fruit. That is why allowing a boy to grow his hair for three years is symbolic of not cutting a tree and not touching the fruit.�

She went on to say, “Peyos, or sideburns, must be left.

Therefore, since we’re entering into the child’s Jewish education, we cut his hair and leave the peyos. The first piece cut will be in the middle of Zalman’s head where he will wear his tefillin.�

The Katzman family invites everyone to help them celebrate on this special occasion. They remember the outpouring of support from the whole community during the time of Zalman’s birth. “We are grateful to our wonderful friends who offered help and support during those difficult times.� And, Shani Katzman adds, “Despite all odds, with G-d’s help, Zalman has made a real turnaround. This is a miracle and we would like it to be an inspiration for all. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.�

The event will take place at Chabad House, 1866 So. 120 St. Reservations for dinner may be made by calling 330.7400 or e-mailing Zalman3@gmail.com.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El Talmud Torah students and faculty will be in the spotlight during tomorrow’s Shabbat services, as seventh and 12th graders celebrate their graduation and BESTT teachers are applauded for their hard work and dedication during Teacher Appreciation Shabbat. Many of the graduating students will help to lead the service, and the celebration will continue afterward at a special Kiddush luncheon sponsored by the graduates’ families. The community is invited to the 9:30 a.m. service for this special dual celebration.

Seventh grade graduates, front row: Amie Fox, left, Molly Kudym, Laura Klein, Samantha Juster, Marissa Kahn; back row, Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Cameron Gilinsky, Ari Brodkey, Cameron Stern, teacher Na’ama Arzi and Education Director Judy Rubin. Not pictured: Yonatan Dotan, Jenna Gerber, Ryan Kirshenbaum, Noam Margalit.

12th grade graduates, front row: Alex Cemaj, left, Deborah Rennard, Daniel Murow; back row, Rabbi Levin, Martin Nachman, Lev Ginsburg and Judy Rubin.

Photos courtesy of Ophir Palmon, Artistic Visions

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May 12, 2006

Youth Leadership Mission Challenges Participants and the Community

by SHARON BRODKEY Communications & Community Development for Anti-Defamation League Plains States Region As 20 high school students from across Omaha were preparing in March to depart for Washington, D.C., on ADL’s 2006 Youth Leadership Mission (YLM), the fruits of the labors of the 2005 YLM class were unveiled to the Omaha community.

A large billboard at 72nd and ‘L’ streets now challenges passing motorists to look beneath the surface and consider the message: “I’m not a stereotype. Get to know me.” The billboard project is just one small part of the YLM students’ commitment to helping to foster a more inclusive and respectful community.

In its sixth year, ADL’s Robert B. Sturm Youth Leadership Mission is an intense three-day program that takes place at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Through the Museum’s dramatic portrayal of events of the Holocaust, the students experience an interactive curriculum that teaches about the consequences of hate and prejudice left unchecked.

Participation in the fully funded trip also requires that the students, many of whom have experienced prejudice and bigotry first-hand, volunteer in the community and share what they have learned about the vital roles individuals can play in breaking the cycle of hate. Upon their return, they get together for follow-up meetings to determine and launch their own class project reflecting the lessons they bring home and translating them into action.

The “I’m Not a Stereotype” billboard, designed by the YLM Class of 2005, required much more from the students than previous class projects. Lindsey Goding, a senior at Central High School said, “We felt it was important to get the message out about the dangers of stereotyping which often leads to prejudice and discrimination.” Getting the message out meant getting funding and support which the students sought themselves.

Former Omahan Robert B. Sturm has been funding the Youth Leadership Mission since its inception in 2000. This year Sturm answered the students’ request to bring their message to the broader community by providing the funding to help turn their vision into a reality. Waitt Outdoor is providing the billboard space. The students took it a step further and garnered additional generous support from Industrial Label Corporation, which produced several thousand matching bumper stickers. The YLM classes of 2005 and 2006 distribute them widely to spread their message of tolerance and respect.

Central High’s Goding said, “Even if we make one person think through our bill board or one of our stickers, we have made a difference.” ADL Associate National Director Bob Wolfson added, “We couldn’t do this year after year without Bob Sturm’s generous support and belief in the program.”

The two classes also joined in adopting the Million Voices for Darfur campaign, distributing postcards to President Bush in an appeal to use his Presidential power to force an end to the genocide occurring in the southern and western region of Sudan. “The YLM students immediately applied what they learned in Washington to Darfur as a contemporary extension. They recognize it as genocide and felt the need to act,” added Wolfson.

The 20 high school students from Omaha area public and private high schools, along with 20 Denver delegates, are selected from a large group of applicants for their leadership potential and commitment. ADL Program Director Jordana Glazer, who accompanies the students to Washington each year and facilitates the local post-Mission follow-up programs said, “The energy and enthusiasm they bring home lasts long after the trip.

YLM alumni go on to be leaders in their high schools and later on their college campuses. They stay in touch with each other and our office and that is very gratifying,” concluded Glazer.

Cantor Bogomolni Leads Yachad in Song

Temple Congregants to Pick Their Mitzvot on Mitzvah Day

by DUANE J. PIEPER The Yachad members love and appreciate music. Last month, Cantor Gaston Bogomolni lead them in song in the chapel at Beth El Synagogue. As he warmed up the audience with traditional Jewish songs, the members were quickly drawn into the melodies. Hinei Ma Tov was one of their favorite songs with its emphasis of “yachad” in the lyrics.

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator On Temple Israel’s Mitzvah Day 2006, Sunday, May 21, congregants can pick any mitzvah they wish to do from nearly a dozen choices. There will be opportunities to help with housekeeping at Project Harmony, an agency that assists children and families in need; play games with residents of the Thomas Fitzgerald Veterans Home or the Livingston Plaza; build nest boxes and cages for wildlife rescue; participate in activities with children at an emergency shelter in Council Bluffs; join the bike ride in Waterloo to fight multiple sclerosis; plant flowers and vegetables in the yard of a home where three adults with disabilities live; or help beautify the grounds at several locations including Temple and the Temple cemetery.

Temple’s bike riding team, captained by David Goldberg, will be riding in memory of Joel Brodsky, a Temple member who died from multiple sclerosis.

High school and college students will be able to enjoy lunch, games, and a movie with adults who have developmental disabilities at the VSP Club near 156th and Maple. The students are also planning to donate board games to the VSP Club.

For those who are unable to participate on May 21, a tax deductible donation is suggested. Everyone is asked to donate non-perishable food and personal hygiene products to be donated to Together, Inc. and Youth Emergency Services.

Mitzvah Day kicks off at 11:30 a.m. in the Temple Israel sanctuary followed by lunch at noon. Ellen Long, chair of Mitzvah Day, said, “We are having a kiddush style lunch catered by Bag ‘N Save.

She also noted, “This will be an awesome opportunity for parents to spend some fun, quality time with their children, help people in need, and set a wonderful example for the entire community.”

Other Temple members who have been helping Long plan Mitzvah Day are Joan Marcus, Toby Fellman, Sandy Passer, and Dorothy Spizman.

Mitzvah Day is a project of Temple’s Social Justice Committee.

Cantor Bogomolni leads Yachad members Jeff Steinberg, right, Lisa and Jillian Salomon, Grace Isler, Josh Parsow, and Avi Wolfson in song. They were joined by Alan and Bernice Wolfson (Avi’s Grandparents), Doug Wolfson, and Carol Parsow.

The sheet music that Cantor Gaston provided to the group is the genesis of a Yachad song book, which they will be able to utilize and enjoy at future events. A CD of this same music is also forthcoming. If you have a piece of music, with notes and chords, which you would like to share with Yachad, please send it to Jewish Family Service and it will be add to the collection.

Yachad’s next event was hosting a booth at last Sunday’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut. For more information about upcoming programs, call me at JFS: 330.2024.

CORRECTION In the story about Carole Lainof’s visit to the Gulf States in the April 28 Jewish Press, the following credit was inadvertantly omitted: “Portions of this article were previously published in a Methodist Health Systems publication and are reprinted with permission.” The Press regrets the error.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

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More than 120 women gathered at a Hadassah fundraiser at the JCC last week to hear the rabbis’ wives express thoughts about love. From top left: Sara Gross said that “Ahava (the Hebrew word for love) has a different perspective than in English; it’s about giving” while Susi Frydman Levin used a shawl to describe “friends that cover you and ‘fringe’ friends.”

Chairman Joanie Jacobson introduced the panel and called for questions at its conclusion. Shani Katzman explored Maimonides’ definition of love, asking, “How can we be commanded to love?” Elyce Azriel noted that “just as a candle is not diminished by lighting others, love isn’t either.” Betsy Marantz responded to her own question, “How is love of chocolate, your husband and Torah the same? It’s what you make a priority.” Hadassah leaders Gail Klein and Carol Rosenthal drove down from Sioux Falls, SD; Toba Cohen Dunning, Nancy Wolf and Dorothy Spizman served on the committee.

Survey Finds No Awareness of Common Genetic Disease More than nine out of 10 Jewish Americans Unaware of Gaucher Disease, Which Can Be Debilitating and Lead to Untimely Death

by JULIE HALZEL ROCKVILLE, MD--The National Gaucher Foundation announced the results of a survey that found almost no awareness of Gaucher disease by Jewish Americans, the population most affected by the disease.

In light of President Bush’s proclamation that May is Jewish American Heritage Month, the National Gaucher Foundation is calling on all Jewish Americans to not only celebrate their history, but to also know their genetic heritage through genetic testing.

“Great strides have been made in the awareness of some genetic disorders, but there are still so many Jewish Americans who are unknowingly carriers of common genetic diseases like Gaucher,” says Rhonda Buyers, National Gaucher Foundation Executive Director.

The carrier rate for the genetic mutations that cause Gaucher disease may be as high as one in 15 Jewish people of Eastern European ancestry, and one in 100-200 of the general population. Gaucher disease occurs equally among males and females, and both parents must carry the mutation for a child to born with the disease. If both parents are carriers, then there is a one in four chance that their child will have Gaucher disease.

In 2004, genetic testing was performed on more than 100 individuals in Omaha. Spearheaded by Jean Duitch, the Omaha Committee for Jewish Genetic Testing worked with the staff at the Boys Town Research Hospital to test for a panel of nine Jewish genetic diseases common among Ashkenazi Jews. Carriers of many of these were discovered, leading to further testing among family members.

“This survey shows us that not only is just a tiny segment of the Jewish population aware of Gaucher disease, but there may be many people who are symptomatic and unaware that they have the disease,” says Buyers. “The good news is that, unlike other genetic conditions, Gaucher disease is treatable and can be diagnosed with the use of a blood test (enzyme assay).”

There are nearly 5,000 genetic diseases known to afflict the world’s population. However, in almost every ethnic, racial, or demographic group, certain genetic diseases occur at higher frequencies among their members than in the general population. Such is the case for the Jewish people. The survey--“Gaucher Disease Awareness Among Hematologists,” Holden Pearmain, 2005--also found a general low awareness of many such

diseases, including Canavan and Niemann-Pick diseases.

Not only are the Jewish people generally unaware of Gaucher disease, physicians who are likely to see patients with the disease may also not be well informed.

In another recent survey, four of five hematologists/oncologists (blood specialists) suspected leukemia or lymphoma when presented with the signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease. This discovery may be somewhat understandable when one considers that in the general population, only one in 40,000-60,000 people have Gaucher disease. However, among Jewish people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) descent, one in 450600 people have the disorder. Gaucher disease occurs at any age, but it is usually most severe in infants. Gaucher disease results from a specific enzyme deficiency in the body, caused by a genetic mutation. Because of this deficiency, substances normally broken down by the enzyme accumulate in cells called macrophages.

The signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease can include one or more of the following: fatigue or tiredness (anemia), unusual bruising and/or bleeding episodes, an enlarged abdomen (large spleen and/or liver) and bone pain. Although Gaucher disease can be devastating in some cases, it can be managed through early diagnosis and treatment, if required. After the enzyme assay test, the diagnosis can be rendered by a knowledgeable physician or by someone who specializes in this disorder.

More information on testing can be obtained by visiting the National Gaucher Foundation Web site at www.gaucherdisease.org. The mission of the National Gaucher Foundation is to find a cure for Gaucher disease by funding vital research programs to meet the ever-increasing needs of patients and families, as well as promote community/physician awareness and education programs. The National Gaucher Foundation offers a variety of services and programs, including regional educational meetings and international conferences, including National Gaucher Disease Awareness Month every September. National Gaucher Disease Awareness Month has been established to educate at-risk individuals of the disorder and their physicians to ensure proper diagnosis and appropriate care.

The survey was conducted by Cogent Research and was sponsored by the National Gaucher Foundation, MichaelAnn Russell JCC in Miami and Genzyme Corporation.

May 12, 2006

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Omaha Celebrates Israel’s 58th

Several hundreds members of the Jewish community turned out Sunday to celebrate Yom HaAztmaut (Israeli Independence Day) at the JCC. Photos from top left: Tuffy Epstein and his klezmer band greet everyone with upbeat music; the day began with a memorial to Israel’s fallen, led by UNO student Jon

Rathsam, left, JCC shliach Uri Levin, and BBYOer Arielle Levine; as they do every year, Boy Scout Troop #216 raise the American and Israeli flags; pre-teens enjoy the rock climbing “wall” and other outdoor inflatable activities; Beth El’s team of Oliver Pollak, Irit Varkony, Harry Weiner, Howard Epstein,

Sylvia Wagner and Ben Shapiro win the B’nai B’rith Trivia Contest; incoming Federation President Norm Sheldon presents the Teen Leader awards to Abby Ginsburg and Hamutal Ginsburg; teen trivia winners are Chaim Weizmann members Adam Goldberg, Marty and Ben Nachman and Ari Levin; Harry

and Doris Alloy sell tickets to Phil and Nancy Wolf; toddler Shmuel Shyken enjoys the slides; winners of the Elinor Whitman Book Jacket and Book Report contest gather in the Kripke Library to receive prizes. Performances by the Nashir Community Choir and folk dancing concluded the afternoon.

NOW IS THE TIME ...to ensure that the U.S. does not support a Palestinian government controlled by terrorists 2006 AIPAC Nebraska Dessert Reception featuring Avi Issacharoff, Arab-Israeli Correspondent for Israeli Broadcast Association Radio speaking about “Inside the West Bank and Gaza”

Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ironwood Country Club 12627 Pacific Street, Omaha

AIPAC - “the most important organization affecting America’s relationship with Israel.”

-The New York Times

Members and non-members welcome.

Please RSVP by May 12th by contacting AIPAC’s Nebraska office at 303-864-9464 or elilo@aipac.org.

Avi Issacharoff is the Arab Affairs Correspondent for Israeli Broadcast Association Radio. As one of the most respected Israeli Journalists covering the Palestinian territories, Avi is granted unprecedented access to sources on both sides of the conflict. Avi's groundbreaking and insightful reports have placed his own life in jeopardy at times, but he has not wavered from his assignment. He is fluent in both Arabic and Hebrew, enabling him to provide his audience with up-to-the-minute perspective on what is happening on the ground inside the Palestinian Authority. Avi also served as the Palestinian Issues Correspondent for Israeli TV and has published a book the last intifada entitled, "The Seventh War". His work has earned him numerous honors including Israel Public Radio's "Best Reporter Award" for 2001 and 2002. Avi holds a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and Literature from Ben Gurion University. He is currently completing a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Tel-Aviv University.

A I PA C

THE AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE America’s Pro-Israel Lobby www.aipac.org

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

Orlando Resident’s Ship Comes In

Could Masada Fall?

Continued from page 1 Not today, not tomorrow, but one day, as seismic tremors, climatic change and, inevitably, gravity continue to threaten the stability of the historic ruins and the mountain that supports them.

Engineering professors from Beersheba’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of California-Berkeley have teamed up to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Using state-of-the-art monitoring devices and advanced computer modeling techniques, and armed with a fouryear grant from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Beersheba’s Yossi Hatzor and Berkeley’s Steven Glaser are breaking new ground in geological engineering.

Masada is their test case.

“Masada has been degrading for 2,000 years,” says Hatzor, head of BGU’s Rock Mechanics Laboratory and founder of the geological engineering team working on the problem. “There’s no imminent danger. Nothing is collapsing. We’re talking about long-term preservation of a World Heritage site.”

The imposing, reddish-gold mountain sits directly on the Syrian-African Rift, an active fault line. Since Herod the Great built his luxury palace on the mountain's northern face more than two millennia ago, at least five major earthquakes have hit, causing rock slides and some damage to the man-made structures. Harsh desert weather continues to impose its own disintegrative effect.

“The terraces of the palace were much larger than what they are today,” Hatzor says. “There have been failures and erosions since Herod built it. We can see deterioration of the stones due to rain even in the time period we have been involved in preservation efforts on the mountain.”

Masada is not one solid rock. It is composed of horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, and is fractured by vertical cracks or “joints” formed by tectonic stresses in the earth’s crust. These horizontal and vertical joints give the mountain its particular walllike appearance of huge irregular bricks piled one on top of the other. They also

make it vulnerable to seismic tremors.

Work began in 1998, when Israel’s National Parks Service began construction of a new cable car to ferry greater numbers of visitors up Masada. They called in Hatzor to evaluate the mountain’s stability, something that had never been done before.

Hatzor and his team studied the Snake Path cliff on the mountain’s eastern side, which connects the cable car station to an adjoining bridge, and found several large rocks precariously poised. Using a threedimensional stability analysis, the team determined that some blocks of rock in the cliff face might dislodge even in a relatively small tremor.

Hatzor recommended “cable bolting,” an engineering technique he’d studied a decade earlier as a doctoral student at Berkeley. He suggested inserting 60foot-long steel cables through individual blocks and into the solid rock, so the rock’s own weight pushing against the cables would act as a stabilizing force.

Following his instructions, 30 anchors were inserted into the rock block before the new cable car was built. Though the enormous block still seems to be hanging in mid-air, Hatzor says it is now perfectly safe. Hatzor’s monitoring system also showed, for the first time, the effects of climatic change on rock movement.

After the cable car project, Hatzor’s team was asked to study the stability of Herod’s palace on the northern side of the mountain. They conducted a comsimulation using dynamic puter Discontinuous Deformation Analysis, a new numerical method, also developed at UC-Berkeley, for measuring the risk of rock movement. Using data from 7.1 quake in the northern Sinai in 1995, Hatzor’s simulation found that a similar tremor at Masada could cause shards of rock to come crashing down the cliff.

Eitan Campbell, director of Masada National Park, wants to make sure that happens, even though there is no budget for it yet. “Restoration should be a yearly budgeted item,” Campbell urges.

“Masada is subject to the elements. It needs constant attention.”

by JODI BODNER The boats used during the time of the for Jewish National Fund illegal immigration, the most famous of Sy Israel has always been a man of the which was the Exodus, were kept in the sea. An avid boater his entire life, he has Haifa port. Over the years, these boats spent much time sailing various seas and were destroyed in order to expand and lakes but never the Mediterranean. “That modernize the port. To find a ship simiis an interesting body of water to tra- lar to the boats during the time of the verse,” said the Orlando resident and illegal immigration, a group of volunbusinessman, “and I can only imagine teers, under the guidance of SPIHS, what it must have been like to cross it ille- worked up the specifications. gally determined to make for Israel’s shores.”

To preserve the story of the more than 122,000 people, known as, ma’apilim, illegal immigrants, who between the years 19341948, were transported from Europe and Arab countries to Israel’s shores in spite of the British blockade, Sy Israel is helping restore a boat similar to the 92 refitted vessels that carried them.

The arrival of a boat to Israel that will serve as a living museWorking through Jewish um reflecting the period of the Ma'apilim, illegal immiNational Fund and The grants, an important chapter in the history of Israel.

Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS), Sy helped These weren’t just any volunteers; fund the transport and refitting of the many of them actually took part in the Galina. Unveiled on the Mediterranean illegal immigration. They were part of a Sea at Hadera, it will best tell the story of group known as Palyam, a Hebrew the Jewish people’s determination and acronym for plugot hayam (sea compastruggle to enter the country. nies), the precursor of the IDF Naval The British Mandate authorities had Commando Unit, the special unit formed put severe restrictions on Jewish immi- by the Hagana in 1943 which later gration and showed little sympathy for became the Israeli Navy. Many of the Holocaust survivors and Jews fleeing per- Palyam people were involved in bringing secution in Arab countries. Overcrowded illegal immigrants to Eretz Israel before, ships were intercepted by the British, and during and after the Holocaust. passengers and crew were incarcerated in “Aliyah and the story of the illegal a detention camp for illegal immigrants in immigration is an important chapter in Atlit. Atlit itself has been restored by Israel’s history,” said Yehuda Dekel, SPIHS and is the permanent home for Chairman of SPIHS. “Illegal immigrathe museum. tion had a major impact and probable Bedecked proudly in blue and white, influence on the United Nations.” the 40-year-old Galina was moored to the JNF is putting its century of experience Israel Electric Company’s dock. Like the to work with the Blueprint Negev initiacheeks of the immigrants who arrived on tive, supporting Israel’s newest generation Israel’s shores in boats like her more than of pioneers in developing the Negev, 60 years ago crying with happiness, her Israel’s last frontier. For information or to upper body was streaked with rust stains plant trees in Israel, call 1.800.542.TREE giving testament to her age.

(8733) or visit www.jnf.org.

Congratulate Your Graduate!

The annual Graduation/Father’s Day Issue publishes June 9. Senior photos will run in that issue and we know you’ll want to highlight the achievements of your high school graduate! Congratulatory ads are available in two sizes.

Mazal Tov, Naomi!

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We are so proud of your achievements– membership in NHS, varsity letter in tennis and a Merit Award from B.E.S.T.T. Love, Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters and grandparents

May 12, 2006

A Mother’s Day Tribute to Octogenarians, Nonagenarians and Centenarians Rock Island, IL, offering the vintage advice of a wine connoisseur. Roz and Jerry had four daughters, Shane Kotok of Omaha, Barbara Alter of Milford, NJ, and Joan Sher, of Portland OR, and Andrea Alter who died in 1963. The Zeffrens moved to Omaha in 2003. They

by OLIVER B. POLLAK have 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mary Josephine Boicourt was born in Minden, NE, During a recent one month period I one of six children. She moved to Mullen in the Sand attended an 85th, 90th and 100th birthday party in Hills, and then to nursing Newport Beach, Omaha and Lincoln. Family and friends school in Omaha. She marflew in from both coasts, other continents, and in ried Dr. Valentine, a 1928 between. These are splendid and awesome events usual- UNMC graduate who had a ly lovingly and nervously coordinated by daughters. medical practice, complete Determining the best date and location is followed by with airplane, in North guests getting airplane and hotel reservations. Platte. When their son Dan Restaurants, clubs and nursing homes are most cooper- contracted polio in the 1952 ative. Planning includes receptions, spirits, main course epidemic, three years before selections, place settings, party favors, and seating the introduction of the Salk arrangements. Surprises are to be avoided, the emphasis vaccine, they moved to Santa is on orchestration.

Monica.

Mary Valentine, 100, is the There is a futile attempt to leave nothing to chance, Dan was my colleague in mother of Pollak’s college notwithstanding, unpredictable weather, flight connec- graduate school at UCLA in roommate. tions, coordinating local transportation, who will drive the late 1960s. Doc died in with whom, and parking.

1969, Dan died in 1992. Mary moved in Houston, Food and spirits lead to song, and toasts that turn into before settling in Lincoln, where her daughter Zoe speeches. The trope is, “I have been given three min- Holland lived. Mary has five grandchildren, nine greatutes.” Out come the old grandchildren, and one photographs, videographer, great-great-grandchild. choreographer, skits by the Mary, now blind and her younger generations, and of hearing in decline recalls the course, new digital pictures inspiration of Helen Keller, are taken by the score.

“The most beautiful things in What do you give a super the world cannot be seen, but senior citizen as a gift? The must be felt with the heart.” card is the easiest part; Scotch-Irish family heritage respectful, colorful and was feted by a performance funny. Hopefully the invitaof seven bagpipes and two tion directed a particular drummers, and a bottle of charity for donations. single malt scotch brought Ruth Bachmann, my Ruth Bachmann Pollak holds her great grandson, Zev, son of from Glasgow by the mother, was born in Noah Pollak, right, and grandson of Oliver Pollak.

Scottish contingent of the Hanover, Germany. She fled family, who incidentally Karen and I had not seen the Nazis and arrived in since 1970. Robert McLaughlin is now 70, and his London on April 15, 1939. wife Ann is ever young, and it was as though the She married William Pollak, intervening years had changed nothing between another refugee from Hitler, us. and had two children, my The status of our gerontocracy creates matrisister Judy and myself. archs and patriarchs, and icons of longevity. Trace We emigrated to the influence of parents, spouses, accomplishments McConnelsville, Ohio, in of children and into the fourth and fifth generaNovember 1952, and to Los tion. There is a lurking tinge of sadness, the Angeles in October 1954. incompleteness of the broken circle, for spouses no William died in 1978 and longer living and children that predeceased their Ruth retired to Laguna Hills parents. We trace the fanning out of the family and where she is a spry Sierra Shane Kotok’s parents, Rosalyn and the drawing together, and sometimes healing that Club environmentalist. She Jerry Zeffren recently celebrated his occurs as simchas such as bar mitzvahs, marriages, has four grandchildren and 90th birthday in Omaha. wedding anniversaries, family reunion get-togethone great-grandchild. ers, and birthdays.

Jerome (Jerry) Zeffren was born in Rock Island, IL. Historian, attorney and author Oliver Pollak can be For many years he operated Gendler’s Wine Cellar in reached can be reached at: OBPOmni@aol.com.

THE HISTORIAN’S FOOTPRINT

New Jewish Softball League Wants to Take You Out to the Ball Game

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Summer afternoons at the ballpark, a cheering crowd, the crack of the bat, the thud of a softball into a wellworn glove. If this scenario sounds good to you, then you’ll want to join in the Jewish community’s newlyestablished softball league and “Play ball!”

According to coordinator Scott Simon of Beth El’s Men’s Club, the new league was started after the success of last year’s softball game between Temple Israel and Beth El, plus the participation in the community’s first Jewish Winter Decathlon. In addition to Simon, league organizers include Mike Silverman of Temple’s Men’s Club, and Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

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All community members ages 13 and older are welcome to participate, he said, emphasizing that any synagogue affiliation is not required to take part in the fun.

“This will be a great way to bring people together throughout the Jewish community, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition.”

League play begins June 4, and approximately 12 games will be played during the summer; sign up deadline is May 19, Simon said. He also noted that all are welcome to participate in a pick-up game at the JCC ball fields on Sunday, May 21, 10:30 a.m.

For information, all interested sluggers--and anyone interested in serving as team captains--are encouraged to contact Simon at 616.4089 or simonsz@cox.net.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

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May 12, 2006

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ORGANIZATIONS THE YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC as Rita Paskowitz, Jewish storyteller, entertains members and students from the Friedel Jewish Academy. The program will begin at 12:45 p.m. Lunch is served at noon for $6 per person. Try your luck with bingo at 10 a.m. Exercise will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the discussion group at 11 a.m. Call Dee Dee for transportation at 330.4272. Call Maggie Conti at 334.6521 for the day trip to the Ameristar Casino on May 25.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Lomir Redn Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

VISIONS Reminder: Visions Luncheon meeting is May 19, 12:30 p.m., at the Venice Inn. Entertainers from the Omaha Community Playhouse, along with the Musical Director, Jim Boggess will perform highlights from the rousing musical Ragtime!

BREADBREAKERS Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel will speak about the Cornhuskers and their prospects for the upcoming season on Wednesday, May 17, noon, at Regency Lodge. Lunch is $11 and $3 for beverage service only. Men and women in the community are invited to attend.

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ELECTION 2006 INFORMATION For the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its Centers of Excellence This slate will be approved at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board Meeting May 23, 7:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center, 333 South 132nd Street JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA OFFICERS & CHAIRMEN:

President .............................................................................................. Norm Sheldon Past President...........................................................................................Zoë Riekes Vice President & President-Elect ........................................................... Robert Lepp Treasurer............................................................................................ Mike Abramson Secretary........................................................................................... Jody Malashock Foundation Chairman.............................................................................Steven Bloch Budget and Allocations Chairman ......................................................... Jay Gordman Building and Grounds Chairman ........................................................... Todd Manvitz Israel Overseas Chairman................................................................Stacey Rockman Jewish Press Chairman................................................................. Howard K. Marcus

ADL/CRC OFFICERS: President ....................... David Gilinsky Past President ....................Sara Juster Vice President .................. Allan Murow

CENTER FOR JEWISH EDUCATION OFFICERS: President...................... Ann Goldstein Vice President......... Stacey Rockman Treasurer ..................... Bob Goldberg

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OFFICERS: President ................... David Goldberg Past President ..............Justin Cooper Vice President .............. Carol Parsow Vice President .................Todd Simon Treasurer..................... Jake Slosburg

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JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OFFICERS: President............................... Michael Miller Past President....................Gary D. Epstein Vice President....................... Bob Belgrade Vice President......................... John Glazer Vice President........................ Susie Norton Vice President...............Kimberly Robinson

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Omaha Area Youth Symphony will present its annual Side-by-Side concert with the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, May 14, 7 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center.

The concert will bring to a close OAYO’s 47th season and mark the final performance by 18 graduating senior musicians. The Youth Symphony Sideby-Side concert with the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra is under the direction of Thomas Wilkins, Omaha Symphony Music Director, Ernest Richardson, Resident Conductor and Aviva Segall, OAYO’s Music Director.

Tickets for all regular season concerts are available at the door: Adults: $12, Students/Seniors: $8.

Serving over 500 young musicians with seven orchestras, The Omaha Area Youth Orchestras program provides exceptional opportunities for instruction and performance for outstanding student musicians in grades four-12.

Film Streams, an Omaha nonprofit organization devoted to the presentation and discussion of film, presents the 2006 Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi at Joslyn Art Museum’s Abbott Lecture Hall on Thursday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.

The screening will mark the Omaha premiere of Tsotsi, which has enjoyed sensational reviews and earned numerous festival honors during the past year.

Tickets to Tsotsi are $10, with proceeds supporting Film Streams’ programming and forthcoming downtown cinema.

Advance tickets are available online at www.filmstreams.org or at all Homer’s Record locations. For more information on Tsotsi, please visit www.tsotsi.com.

Steve Shininger performs “An Evening with Sinatra,” Sunday May 21 with the Jazz on Stage series at the Grande Olde Players theatre. Concert begins at 6

p.m. after an open jam session in the lobby starting at 5 p.m. This free jazz concert is open to the public, no reservations needed in the 150-seat theatre at 2339 No. 90 St. Shininger first put the Sinatra program together a couple of years ago because he has a lot of fun doing Sinatra’s music.

However other than a few performances with the Bluffs Big Band, he has little chance to do the program. A multi-talented musician, you are more likely to see Shininger playing drums with local groups such as Robert Glaser’s Urban Delight or playing guitar with Boardwalk, a group out of Fremont.

Shininger holds a Bachelors degree in music education and worked as a band director in Ohio before joining the United States Air Force. He played with the Air Force Band for 12 years up until three years ago. Now he performs regularly with the Omaha Jazz Orchestra and fills in with local groups whether it be playing drums, guitar or singing.

U.S. Recording Companies fund in part the instrumental music for this series, as arranged by the Omaha Musicians’ Association, Local 70-558 of the American Federation of Musicians, along with the Grande Olde Players theatre and Dr. Mark and Bonnie Gill Manhart.

BalletNY will perform selections from its repertoire including excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, Act III, plus a premiere of now and again by choreographer Jodie Gates at the Orpheum on Saturday, May 20, 8 p.m. BalletNY is comprised of accomplished principals and soloists who have danced with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theater of Harlem, and the Joffrey Ballet, among others. The performance is sponsored by Omaha Performing Arts. Tickets are $19-$40 and are available through Ticket Omaha, 402.345.0606 or www.ticketomaha.org.

MARRIAGE JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES OFFICERS: President ............................. Bob Belgrade Past President ................... Joan Bernstein Vice President .......................... Jim Farber Vice President .......................Harold Mann Vice President .................... Larry Roffman Secretary..........................Suzanne Singer Treasurer..........................Howard Epstein

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KUCERA/KUTLER Cally Kucera and Matt Kutler were The groom is the son of Debi and married on Feb. 18 at David Kutler. He graduatChampions Club in ed from Brown University Omaha. Judge Larry with a degree in business Gendler officiated. economics. He currently The bride is the daughplays professional baseball ter of Sue and Mike with the Florida Marlins Kucera. She graduated organization. from Creighton University He is the grandson of with a BS in nursing and Harriet Kutler and the late currently works as a pediBen Kutler, and Shirley atric nurse. and Max Kirshenbaum.

May 12, 2006

IN THE NEWS Former Omahan Linda Priesman Smith has been elected one of two new vice presidents at Temple Beth Shalom in Sun City, AZ. She will continue as publicity chairman and editor of the SHOFAR, the Temple’s monthly bulletin. She also is publishing Temple’s Tasty Treasures, a cookbook with more than 200 recipes contributed by members, friends and relatives. The recipes of current and former Omaha area residents Marion Priesman, Jean Priesman Selo and Sally Telpner are included, as well as those of the late Lois Joseph, Jennie Priesman and Lois Priesman.

Linda and her husband, Mike, moved to Sun City five years ago. Their son, Jason, still lives in Omaha.

After more than four decades, Toby Fellman has retired and closed her car wash at 524 So. 24 St. Automatic Car Wash was one of the first of its kind in Omaha. Fellman quit her job as a board certified x-ray technician in 1965 to help her parents, Ida and Morris Fellman, in the fledgling business.

In an interview with the Jewish Press, she said, “People from the highest and lowest professions in the city came to get their cars washed. I’ve washed cars for federal judges, policeman and bank workers. I have many wonderful friendships that have formed as a result.”

The late Harlan Noddle was awarded the UNMC Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award, posthumously at the UNMC commencement on May 6. Noddle served as chairman of the board of Noddle Companies, one of the Midwest’s largest developers of community shopping centers and office buildings. Noddle Development Company, which he began in 1971, has developed or purchased more than 85 shopping centers and five office buildings in 16 states.

Noddle, who died on Dec. 11, 2005, was a strong advocate for the University of Nebraska, particularly UNMC. He served as chairman of the University of Nebraska Foundation board of directors and as chairman of the board of directors for UNMC’s hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center. Noddle was an active community leader as well. He served on the Midlands Board of the National Conference for Community & Justice and was a member of the Executive Committee for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, as well as on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Omaha Symphony and the Omaha Airport Authority.

The award is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding support for UNMC.

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Temple Israel’s Family Environmental Shabbaton on April 29 was a celebration in itself just for going ahead as scheduled on a day of “drought-busting” rain.

Despite the weather, it was “fantastic,” according to Jonathan Beha who attended the event at the Carol Joy Holling Retreat Center in Ashland. “Celebrating Shabbat outside was something I haven’t done since I went to synagogue camp 15 years ago, and it felt great to do it again regardless of the weather. I think it’s great to find new, or in this case, old ways to celebrate Shabbat, and adding an outdoor element was really a blessing.

Mace Hack, a member of Temple Israel who is director of conservation programs for the Nature Conservancy of Nebraska, led the Shabbaton off at 7:30 a.m. with an early bird walk. Among about 25 species, the hikers saw a lark sparrow, a downy woodpecker, a wild turkey, a yellow rumped warbler, and a white breasted nuthatch. They also heard a barrel owl.

Temple’s former rabbi, Dan Fink, now with Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel in Boise, Idaho, came back to Omaha especially for the Shabbaton which was attended by approximately 40 people. Rabbi Fink and Cantor Wendy Shermet led worship services which were followed by paper making facilitated by another Temple member, Rebecca Bloom.

Jenny Henrickson of the Omaha Raptor Team shows off one of her feathered friends.

Rebecca Bloom, left, demonstrates the art of paper making to Lynn Beha.

“My favorite part was going on nature walks with Dr. Mace Hack,” said Beha. “This was my first time meeting Rabbi Dan Fink, and that was a great experience also.

Seeing the raptors up close was another favorite of mine.

That was something else I haven’t done in 15 years.”

Lynn Beha said, “So much of my life--and many peoples’ lives--is spent driving to and from work, being at work, driving to and from the grocery store, shopping, and spending. It’s easy to lose touch with the true reality that we’re essentially human beings, a part of God’s creation just as the steams, grasslands, birds, and trees outside of the city.”

She thought, “the greatest part about the day was that so many people came together despite the rain to take advantage of an opportunity to learn about our role as Jews in protecting the environment and to step away from the city to slow down for Shabbat. Unique opportunities such as this Shabbaton are what keep many Jews engaged and interested in lifelong learning. Events like these are what will perpetuate the Jewish people. I commend and thank the Temple staff for making it work.”

While the children visited horses in a nearby barn, adults studied with Rabbi Fink and explored the wet, lush woods. “Rabbi Fink laid the path for a spiritual journey in environmental consciousness that elevated the participants’ role in the cosmic universe,” said Rose Bernstein who attended with her 16-year-old daughters, LaShanna and Ashley. “So we were able to nurture each other with environmental wisdom as we interwove our connection with Mother Earth and Father Universe.

Rabbi Fink is suburb,” added Rose.

Jenny Henrickson, with the Omaha Raptor Team, concluded the Shabbaton with five raptors she brought to show the group. Henrickson explained much about the lives and habits of Harley, a barrel owl; Zorro, an American kestrel; Sophie, a barn owl; Fred, a red tailed hawk; and Spike, an Eastern screech owl.

Adam Cooper, six, perhaps summed up the Shabbaton the most concisely: “It was awesome. Let’s do it again!”

The Shabbaton was funded by the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning and a grant from the Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

L’Havdil...In Our Lifetime Why does it always seem that major issues of importance come up during election time? It’s not because the public is so interested; just look at the voting percentages of the last 40 years--they’ve dropped in almost every election.

Except this one. Maybe it was because of term limits and the inordinately high number of candidates running for the Unicameral.

Maybe it was because of the hotly contested Senate and Governor’s races--at least on the Republican side.

Or maybe--just once--it’s because voters are beginning to wake up to the reality of who makes the laws in this country.

For example...

As of press time, President Bush was to send his Secretary of State, Condaleeza Rice, to the United Nations to request that peacekeeping troops be sent to the Darfur region of Sudan.

L’havdil...it should happen in our lifetime.

There have been a number of peace agreements signed by opposing parties in Sudan.

But even the most recent refugees are holding their collective breath to see if this one holds.

The Save Darfur campaign must continue; it can’t stop just because a few tens of of thousands of caring individuals rallied in cities all over the U.S. And it can’t stop just because nearly one million postcards were delivered to the White House.

It must continue because Save Darfur is not a slogan--people’s lives are at stake.

Speaking of lives at stake, some congresspeople (unfortunately men and women) are taking up the battle to ban contraception. We understand that there continues to be differing views on terminating pregnancies--and that passionate people on both sides are guided by religious values.

But the same people who would ban all abortions (even in cases of threats to the mother’s health) want to eliminate prescribing and selling contraception of all kinds. Does this make any sense? Wouldn’t that lead to an increase in the rate of abortions, a rate that has been declining for the last decade?

Talk about an assault on religious values!

Even the most stringent Orthodox decisor can (and does) issue a heter--a dispensation--to couples, allowing them to use birth control. A heter can be issues for something as straightforward as a possible pregnancy that would pose a real threat to the mother’s mental or physical health--or for something more complex, like newlyweds transitioning from college to jobs in another community.

Regardless of the reason, the use of birth control and the difficult decision to obtain an abortion should not be in the hands of Congress. Doctors, rabbis, and the couple themselves are all mature and smart enough to make those decisions without the help of political hacks.

L’havdil--it should happen in our lifetime that they should find an alternative to fossil fuels instead.

At about $3 a gallon, the price of fuel is putting lots of stress on the average American’s budget.

But it’s not just the oil companies making big bucks; its the state

and federal government, both of which take a much larger bite out of the cost of a gallon than Exxon or BP. If our congressional delegation wants to help, they should do three things: • set aside half of those tax dollars to provide incentives to entrepreneurs who want to develop alternate sources of fuel; • open up the oil reserves in this country to drive the price down; and • allow oil companies to build additional refining capacity and power companies to build nuclear power plants--something that Congress hasn’t allowed in more than 30 years.

We knew this was coming but continued to use the Arabian peninsula as our private gas pump. Now we’re competing with the growing power needs of a hungry China...and we’re paying the price of decades of low cost fuel.

One more thing...we could sell our gas guzzlers, buy a bike and get off our fat behinds and walk. L’havdil--in our lifetime!

beyond. The lead author of Iraqi Perspectives Project, Kevin M. Woods, and his four co-authors note that, “By the mid-1990s, most of those near the regime inner circle recognized that everyone was lying to everyone else.” Deceits were reinforced and elaborated; in the words of an air defense officer, “One [officer] lied to another from the first lieutenant up, until it reached Saddam.”

always some element of doubt about the truth.”

Iraq’s strategic dilemma further complicated matters. Realizing that perceptions of Iraqi weakness could invite attack, from Iran in particular, Saddam wanted the world to think he possessed WMD. But eventually he realized that to fend off the coalition, he needed to convince Western states that his regime no longer possessed those very weapons. As coalition forces geared up for war in late 2002, Saddam decided to cooperate with the United Nations to establish that his country was clean of WMD, as he put it, so as “not to give President Bush any excuses to start a war.”

This lucid moment, ironically, fell victim to his long history of deceiving the U.N.; Iraqi steps to comply with the inspections regime had the paradoxical effect of confirming Western doubts that the cooperation was a ruse. For example, intercepted orders “to remove all traces of previous WMD programs” were misinterpreted as yet another ploy, and not the genuine effort they really were.

Saddam’s belated attempts at transparency backfired, leading to what the report authors call “a diplomatic and propaganda Catch-22.”

Monumental confusion followed. Captured senior Iraqi officials continued for many months after the 2003 war “to believe it possible … that Iraq still possessed a WMD capability hidden away somewhere.” Coalition intelligence agencies, not surprisingly, missed the final and unexpected twist in a long-running drama. Neither those agencies nor Western politicians lied; Saddam was the evil impostor whose deceptions in the end confused and endangered everyone, including himself.

Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and author of Miniatures (Transaction Publishers). He can be reached at: www.DanielPipes.org.

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.

The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content.

The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

About Those Iraqi WMD

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by DANIEL PIPES The great mystery of the 2003 war in Iraq - “What about the WMD?” has finally been resolved. The short answer is: Saddam Hussein’s persistent record of lying meant no one believed him when he at the last moment actually removed the weapons of mass destruction.

In a riveting book-length report issued by the Pentagon’s Joint Forces Command, Iraqi Perspectives Project, American researchers have produced the results of a systematic twoyear study of the forces and motivations shaping Saddam Hussein and his regime. Well written, historically contexted, and replete with revealing details, it ranks with Kanan Makiya’s Republic of Fear as the masterly description of that regime. (For a condensed version, see the May-June issue of Foreign Affairs.)

It shows how, like Hitlerian Germany or Stalinist Russia, Saddamite Iraq was a place of unpredictably distorted reality. In particular, Saddam underwent a change in the mid1990s, developing a delusional sense of his own military genius, indeed his infallibility. In this fantasy land, soldiers’ faith and bravura count far more than technology or matériel.

Disdaining the U.S. military performance from Vietnam to Desert Storm, and from Somalia to the Balkans, the tyrant deemed Americans a cowardly and unworthy enemy.

Also about this same time, Saddam began insisting on only good news, further isolating himself from often harsh realities. As everfewer underlings dared contradict the boss’s perceptions, his determined self-deception wreaked havoc outward from the presidential palace to the entire Iraqi government and

Realizing that perceptions of Iraqi weakness could invite attack, from Iran in particular, Saddam wanted the world to think he possessed WMD. That no one really knew what was going on was symbolized by the widespread credence in the wartime nonsense spouted by the Iraqi minister of information (mockingly dubbed Baghdad Bob by Western reporters) as he regaled the world with glowing accounts of Iraqi victories; “from the point of view of Iraq’s leaders, Baghdad Bob was largely reporting what they were hearing from the front.” A militia commander confessed to being “absolutely astonished” on encountering an American tank in Baghdad.

The same situation extended to the militaryindustrial infrastructure. First, the report states, for Saddam, “the mere issuing of a decree was sufficient to make the plan work.”

Second, fearful for their lives, everyone involved provided glowing progress bulletins.

In particular, “scientists always reported the next wonder weapon was right around the corner.” In such an environment, who knew the actual state of the WMD? Even for Saddam, “when it came to WMD there was

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Jewish Groups Strive to Keep Darfur’s Plight in the Spotlight million endowment to drop one holding--in a French telephone company called Alcatel. She said she did not expect significant economic ramifications to occur on either side of the transaction.

by RACHEL SILVERMAN But if other Jewish institutions jump on board, as Ehrenkrantz hopes, damage could result.

“If no Jewish communal funds were invested in Sudan, NEW YORK (JTA)--Two days after the Save Darfur rally in Washington, one participant, 29-year-old Margie it would be such a wonderful and important statement Klein, said it would be a “colossal mistake” to walk away from the Jewish community,” he said.

He said the inspiration for from the fight right now.

According to the White House press office, President the divestment campaign “Imagine telling people in Auschwitz facing the gas Bush spoke about the recent peace agreement in Sudan on came, in part, from activism among the school's student chambers, ‘Don’t feel bad Monday. “Our goal in Darfur is this: We want civilians to body in advance of the rally, because 25,000 people got return safely to their villages and rebuild their lives.” In which 5 students attended. together and are rooting for addressing our next course of action, the President said, The American Jewish you,’” the rabbinical student “I’m dispatching Secretary Rice to address the U.N. Security World Service is similarly said. “We need to get these Council May 9; she’s going to request a resolution that will trying to continue this grasspeople out of their hell, not accelerate the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers into rest on our laurels. We need Darfur. We’re now working with th U.N. to identify countries roots momentum.

“Though the rally is over, to keep working until this that contribute those troops so the peacekeeping effort will tragedy has ended,” said be robust.” For information about how you can help, visit: we can’t afford for Darfur to slip out of print, radio or telKlein, who is studying at www.ajws.org or www.rac.org/million voices. evision news sources,” the Hebrew College, a nonorganization’s website reads. “You can help keep Darfur denominational rabbinical school in Boston.

All across the country, Jewish community organizers in the public eye.”

Specifically, the group asks for volunteers to speak are heeding her advice: Instead of seeing the rally as an end point, they are working to harness its momentum about Darfur on the local level, meet with members of Congress and urge news outlets to cover th issue more. and keep the Darfur cause alive.

“The rally is over, but the people of Darfur still need Jewish leaders are responding to the ongoing genocide of black Africans in Darfur, Sudan. Since 2003, Arab your help,” the site reads. “Take the next steps to keep militias, known as Janjaweed, have been raping, tortur- up the momentum.” ing, killing and displacing Darfuri citizens. The situation in Darfur, which some estimate has claimed more than 400,000 lives and displaced millions, constitutes the first time the U.S. government has recognized genocide while it is still occurring.

Jewish groups have been particularly appalled by the atrocities in Darfur. Determined to make 'never again' not just a meaningless cliche, they have taken a leading role in anti-genocide advocacy and education.

It was two Jewish groups--the American Jewish World Service and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum-that founded the Save Darfur coalition, which organized the April 30th rally.

Now Jewish activists are turning their attention to other forms of mobilization.

Klein, who heads a group of socially minded seminary students across the religious spectrum, called Jewish Seminarians for Justice, leads by example. After the rally, 60 of the 250 seminarians her group bused to Washington participated in a training session with Rabbi David Saperstein, President of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Ruth Messinger, President of the American Jewish World Service.

On Monday afternoon, they met with Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, who was named this week as a special envoy to the region. The group focused on grass-roots mobilization, with more projects in the works.

Klein says the group will keep on Darfur “as long as the situation there continues.”

The Religious Action Center is of a similar mind-set.

Addressing an energetic crowd Sunday, Saperstein announced a new campaign--“30 Days for Darfur”-meant to urge a beefed-up international response.

Saperstein said the initiative will send representatives to U.N. offices, embassies and consulates of NATO and African Union countries, as well as to those of Russia and China. Saperstein said that President Bush, with whom he met last Friday, was highly receptive to this effort.

“History, looking back on Darfur, will not grade either him or us on our efforts but on our success or failures in stopping the genocidal activities,” Saperstein said. “We need to engage the international community...

America can’t do it alone.”

Saperstein called the rally “the beginning of an ongoing effort.”

The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College has chosen a different approach. The institution, which serves as the rabbinical training arm of the Reconstructionist movement, will divest from companies that do business in Sudan.

Though Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, President of the college, predicted that while the economic impact on Sudan would be “very small,” it would send a powerful message about the government-sponsored genocide occurring there.

“When there is an issue of genocide, it is important that we take any and every step that we possibly can to stand in the way,” he said.

Endowment Chairwoman Joanne Hogan said in practical terms, the divestment will cause the school’s $20

FOCUS ON ISSUES

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: The Passover edition of the Jewish Press was something special. It brought back so many memories of my years in Omaha.

I was fortunate to spend five years as the Athletic Director during the Paul Verest administration, from 1951-56. I got to play basketball with Irv Yaffe and Ed Belgrade, softball with Morrie Handleman and Norm Zevitz, volleyball with Henry Riekes, Dr. Meyer Beber and Max Platt.

Memories, memories. I am now a board member of the Valley Jewish Community Center in Chandler, AZ. I give the Jewish Press to our Executive Director after I’ve read them. He tells me he is amazed at what Omaha does with its programs and fundraising.

I thoroughly enjoy the gift subscription given to me by my sister, Sylvia Kushner, as it brings back great memories of my Omaha years. Keep up the good work!

Lindy Paul Scottsdale, AZ To the Editor: Last month was “Keep Omaha Beautiful” month.

There are several beautification projects going on at any given time and I urge readers of the Jewish Press to get involved and make our city look great.

Rob A. Randels Keep Omaha Beautiful board member

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

Candlelighting Friday, May 12, 8:15 p.m.

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

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

Beyt Shalom An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation 3012 S. 119 St. P.O. Box 390352 Omaha, NE 68139 660.2395 www.beytshalomomaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 nebraskajudaism.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 333 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 Minyan 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.tiferethlincoln.org

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Allan Handleman, 334.6451, or Terri Greenwood, 334.6559.

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m. with storytellers Marcy and Anna Cotton. The community is invited.

SUNDAY, May 21, 1 p.m.: Lag B’Omer Picnic--please call 323.8885 to let us know what side dish you would like to bring. The community is invited.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m., in the chapel.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 11:15 a.m.; Kiddush lunch, sponsored

by BESTT graduates’ families (Tot Shabbat families invited to attend luncheon); Evening Service, 8:20 p.m.; Cameron Stern, son of Cynthia and John Stern will become a Bar Mitzvah.

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sunday, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Weekdays, 6:55 a.m./5:30 p.m.

ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAY: Bible Discussion Group, Living Hebrew, and Nashir Choir, 10 a.m.; Jewish Pot Pourri Class, and Adult Torah Trope Class, 11 a.m.

PATTER: Wednesdays, 10:30 -11:45 a.m., for parents and toddlers, 18 months to age three.

THURSDAYS, noon: Rabbi Levin leads Discovering the Talmud.

JEWISH ARCHITECTURE CLASS: On Wednesdays, May 24 and 31, 7-8 p.m. Open to the Jewish community; cost is $18.

To register, contact Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

LAG B’OMER FAMILY PICNIC: Monday, May 15, 6:15-8 p.m. at Zorinsky Lake, Shelter #4. Adults $6.50; kids 12 and under, $4.50. For reservations, contact the office.

SHAVUOT STUDY NIGHT: Thursday, June 1, beginning with 5:30 p.m. Minha/Ma’ariv services, followed by a 6 p.m. dinner and two study sessions at 6:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m., led by Rabbi Levin. Open to the com-

PERSONALS I would like to thank my family and friends for their thoughfulness and good wishes during my recent recovery. I especially want to thank the Rose Blumkin Home and staff for such great care.

- Paul Nathan Thanks to all the staff at the Blumkin Home for their care of our mother and grandmother during this difficult time.

- Poluektov Family Thank you to Rabbis Azriel and Marantz, Cantor Shermet and the staff of the Blumkin Home for concern and caring and kind words during this difficult time for our family.

Thanks also to friends and family for their cards and donations in memory of Esther Stein Canar and Ellen C. Joseph.

- Michael & Linda Canar and the extended Family

munity. Dinner is $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for children ages six-12; free for children five and under.

Reservations are needed and may be made by contacting Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

to the community. For information or to register, call 330.1800 or visit www.Ochabad.com.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.

Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by the Priluck Family in honor of Rabbi Jonathan Gross, Marvin Parilman and Beth Cohen for all of their help and instruction for Aaron’s Bar Mitzvah; Mincha, 8:15 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:22 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Contact the office for Mincha/ Ma’ariv time.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m; Contact the office for Mincha/Ma’ariv time.

WEDNESDAY: Pirkei Avot Class, 7:30 p.m. with Rabbi Gross.

THURSDAY: Advanced Parshah class, 9 p.m.

Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Federation Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., Services will be held jointly with Tifereth Israel at Tifereth Israel, 3219 Sheridan Blvd.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, grades 2-7 and Hallah High, 9:30 a.m.noon, at Tifereth Israel; K-1 is 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun.

WEDNESDAY: School-wide Field Day for Lag Ba’omer, 4 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

THURSDAY: Lincoln Council Interfaith presents “Celebration of Interfaith Understanding and Trust”, 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Church, 6300 A St. Panelists will present their faiths’ understandings of peace.

Rabbi Shaffin will be a panelist.

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

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FRIDAY: Shabbat in the Home.

SATURDAY: Shabbat, 9 a.m. at the Blumkin Home.

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

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon in honor of Pesach Sheni follows the service.

SUNDAY: Services, 8:30 a.m.; Chabad Cheder and Aleph Champ, 10 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Halacha, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Women of Worth Prayer Circle, 9 a.m.; Zalman’s Upsherenish, 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; Torah Tots (ages 35), 4:15 p.m.

All events and programs are open

FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9 a.m. led by Marty Nerenstone and the Beyt Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Confirmation/ Graduation Dinner, 6 p.m.; Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m.; Confirmation/Graduation and OTYG Installations. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Craig Marantz, and Cantor Wendy Shermet will lead the service.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15-10:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Alison Slosburg, daughter of Martha and David Slosburg, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Teacher Meeting, 9:30 a.m.; Religious School (K-6),

10 a.m.-noon.

TUESDAY, May 16: Last Day Family School and Dinner, 5:30 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, May 17: Last Day of Religious School (3-6), 4 p.m.; Club 56 Crazy Olympics, 5 p.m.

SHABBAT COMES TO YOU: Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will lead a Shabbat Service on Friday, May 19, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights.

ADULT EDUCATION WEDNESDAY, May 17: Jewish Journey Group, 7-8:30 p.m. Look at how new models can reveal fresh insights with the help from the paperback, Lifting Veil--Hidden Judaism the Revealed by Steven Evans.

THURSDAY, May 18: Adult Study with the Clergy with Rabbi Marantz, 10-11:30 a.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Rabbi Royi Shaffin. Minyan, MONDAY & THURSDAY, 9 a.m.

FRIDAY: Federation Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., at the synagogue with an Oneg following. The speaker will be Paul Smith, a Southeast High teacher who developed a course on Holocaust literature.

Transportation will be available if needed; call Kim to make arrangements. A babysitter will be provided that evening for families with young children. (See page 2 for full story.)

SATURDAY: Parashat Hashavu’a class, 8:30 a.m.; Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Shabbat lunch and Talmud class.

SUNDAY: Gan Simcha, Grades 2-7 and Hallah High, 9:30 a.m.noon, at Tifereth Israel; K-1 is 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at B’nai Jeshurun.

WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group will meet at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Contact Yale Gotsdiner at 423.7066.

WEDNESDAY: School-wide Field Day for Lag Ba’omer, 4 p.m. at the synagogue.

B’NOT MITZVAH Molly Marie and Laura Elizabeth Gilinsky, daughters of Katherine Finnegan and David Gilinsky, will become B’not Mitzvah on Saturday, May 20, at Temple Israel.

Molly is a seventhgrade Distinguished Honor Roll Student at Westside Middle School.

Her interests include playing flute in the Westside Middle School Band and playing tennis.

She also enjoys skiing, and art.

For her mitzvah project, Molly spent time with a second grade girl who has SanFilippo Syndrome.

Laura is a six-grade honor student at Oakdale Elementary School.

Her interests include singing, dancing and acting. She also enjoys reading, and listening to music.

For her mitzvah project, Laura worked with sixth grade boys with

autism. They spent time playing games, taking walks and doing the things that preteens like to do together.

The girls have a younger brother, Jack.

Grandparents are Deanna and Larry Gilinsky, and Beverly and Frank Finnegan of Kingston, NY. Great-grandparents are Chickie Gilinsky and the late Stewart Gilinsky, Eunice Fox of Kansas City, KS, Frances Bradley of Endicott, NY and the late Helen Sim.

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On Jewish Spirituality

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Emor Some time ago, I was one of the speakers at a Lutheran-Jewish dialog at one of the nearby colleges. I was assigned the topic of “Jewish Spirituality: the continuing relevance of Jewish religious insights.� “Jewish Spirituality� leaves many Jews with a questioning look: What is that supposed to mean? But for Christians, in this case, Lutherans, the word “spirituality� strikes an immediate chord of understanding.

And the standard teaching of Christianity about Judaism, for century after century, was that there was no spirituality in Judaism. Jews were unspiritual because Judaism was unspiritual.

Ancient Israel was one thing. But after the time of Jesus, when Jews persisted in remaining Jews and not Christian, the standard Christian teaching about the Jew was that he was a body without a soul, a zombie without God, without spiritual moorings, without faith, without hope.

One reads our Sidra, with its emphasis on careful regulation for the priests and the sanctuary and its sacrifices, noting indeed, that Judaism has a full complement of rituals. And there is more: for our Sidra includes the table of the festivals of the year, again carefully prescribing their times and methods of observance.

Between the two sets of ritual prescriptions, the priests and sanctuary in the beginning and the table of festivals at the end, occurs this brief passage: “You shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am the Lord, You shall not profane My holy name that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people...�

Wherever this passage is discussed in Talmud and Midrash it is made clear that avoiding profaning the name of the Lord on one hand and sanctifying on the other are matters of personal conduct, conduct not in ritual matters, but in human relationships, in ethics.

The purpose of ritual, the very purpose of Torah is to create character. The whole purpose of religious law is to exercise a spiritual restraint (“you shall not profane�) and a spiritual emphasis (“that I may be sanctified�) on the observant Jew. God’s honor, as it were, depends on that!

DEATHS SHIRLEY FOGEL GREENBERG Shirley Fogel Greenberg died at the age of 86. Services were held May 5 at Temple Israel, followed by interment at Golden Hill Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, William Fogel and Henry Greenberg.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Colman Kahn of Boulder, CO; son and daughter-inlaw, Martin Fogel and Cecil Kennedy of Louisville, CO; grandchildren, Heather Kahn and Rob Pyatt of Boulder, Zachary Kahn of Los Angeles, CA, and Paul Kennedy of Boulder; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials to the Humane Society or Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

MARIA POLUEKTOVA Maria Poluektova, who emmigrated with her family from the former Soviet Union 10 years ago, died May 8. Private services were held on May 10.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Alexander and Larisa Poluektov; and grandchildren, Polina Poluektova and Ilya Poluektov.

Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

JEAN WEIL Jean Weil died at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by husband, Robert Weil and son-in-law, Stephen Simon.

A 1934 graduate of Wellesley College, she is survived by sons, Douglas Weil of San Francisco, CA, and Jonathan Weil, Santa Ana, CA; daughter, Kathryn Simon; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Rubin Brings Political Messages It’s demanding to bring a political message to a Jewish congregation but that’s what Barry Rubin did last month at B’nai Israel in Council Bluffs. He wove stories of his Jewish upbringing in Delaware with his topic: “Democrat Politics: Jewish Perspective.� Storytellers Marcy and Ann Cotton are featured during tonight’s 7:30 p.m. service.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Page 15

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Beth Israel Offers Pirkei Avot Classes This Month

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue During the period of time between Pesach and Shavuot known as “the Omer,� it is traditional to study Ethics of the Fathers--Pirkei Avot. In observance of this custom, Beth Israel is offering two Pirkei Avot classes, Wednesday evenings, May 17 and 24, 7:30 p.m.

According to Rabbi Gross, Pirkei Avot is the most classic and well-known Talmudic text. “It’s a ‘greatest hits’ for rabbis,� he noted. “Pirkei Avot is one of the most highly commented upon Jewish writings in existence. There has been more commentary written about it than any other Jewish text, aside from the Chumash and Passover Haggadah.�

Gross always looks forward to studying Pirkei Avot before Shavuot. “We’re in the countdown to Sinai,� he explained. “This is when we get our thoughts into the appropriate frame of mind necessary to eventually receive the Torah, which we celebrate during Shavuot.�

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He will be using different commentaries, and added, “We’ll consider classical commentaries such as Rashi, Rambam, the Vilna Gaon and Ovadiah Bartendra, and modern commentaries by Aryeh Levine and Irving Bunim, among others. Pirkei Avot can be appreciated on many levels, whether you’ve studied every nuance of the text or have little familiarity with it. Regardless of how much or little you’ve studied, there is opportunity to learn something new about this timeless text and its relevance.�

While Gross is enthusiastic in his encouragement for people to attend, he pointed out that each class in independent. People are welcome to come to one or both.

Gross also indicated that attendees are not expected to prepare. He’ll prepare an overview and illustrate concepts with examples, anecdotes and stories. He stated, “The only expectation is that you’ll participate. We want to engage you, and for you to ask questions and share examples.�

For information about adult education, call 556.6288 or e-mail BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

by Jewish Press News Service Larry Gilinsky, fourth-generation owner of Bergman Jewelers, was shot during a robbery at the store on 94th and ‘F’ on Tuesday. Following surgery, he was listed in serious, but stable condition at a local hospital. Police have identified a white male of about 50 years old, as a possible suspect, but no arrest has been made.

The Jewish Press will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, and Shavuot, Friday, June 2. Deadlines for upcoming issues are at noon as follows: Deadline Issue June 2 Wednesday, May 24 June 9 Wednesday, May 31 Questions? Call 402.334.6448

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 12, 2006

Jewish Women from Ethiopia and Former Soviet Union to Share Struggle and Triumph at Community Event

by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Specialist Over the past few months, Operation Promise has become a familiar phrase in the Omaha Jewish community. Readers have seen pictures, heard stories and read articles about this nationwide effort to rescue Jews from Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union. Now’s the chance to help. The Operation Promise community event will be held Thursday, June 8, 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Jewish Community Center.

Operation Promise is a national effort to raise $160 million in new funds over the next three years and keep our promise to the Jews of Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union. Up to 20,000 Ethiopians must be brought to Israel, educated and integrated into Israeli society. In the FSU, a strong Jewish identity needs to be developed among young people and provide food, medicine and social welfare assistance to the elderly. The Omaha Jewish community’s goal is to raise $600,000.

The community event will feature special guest speakers Riki Mullu and Alina Spaulding.

As a child in Ethiopia, Mullu spent endless hours watching her father--a blacksmith--shape metals into farm tools and decorative jewelry. In Ethiopia, most of the Jewish people did handicrafts to make a living because they could not own land.

Her mother was a midwife and potterymaker. Her parents never wanted her to do what they did for a living. But she always watched her father, and loved it.

Riki Mullu

Alina Gerlovin Spaulding

“This love of art and crafts led me to begin creating my own jewelry and Judaica design,” shares Mullu. “I love art. It’s in my soul.” Her work reflects both her Ethiopian life and heritage and growing up in Israel.

Mullu arrived in Israel alone at the age of 12. After she graduated from high school, she worked many jobs in the Jewish community. One of the most rewarding was working with young Ethiopians who had immigrated to Israel in Operation Moses in 1984. Many arrived in the Jewish state without their families.

When she moved to New York, Mullu began to design her signature, bold, bright jewelry using Ethiopian silver, bronze, a rich array of natural stones and beads and colorful Judaica items such as

brilliantly colored, hand-embroidered tallitot.

She recently formed an organization called Chassida Shmella--Ethiopian Jewish Community in North America, which seeks to help Ethiopian Jews assimilate into the greater Jewish community in America and keep their connection to Israel.

The story of Alina Gerlovin Spaulding, is a miracle story. The dollars raised by the Federations like Omaha’s, have allowed Spaulding and her family to be part of the American Jewish community.

She emigrated to this country in 1979 with the help of many Jewish agencies funded by Federation dollars. Her parents had tried to leave the Former Soviet Union for several years, but were granted permission only when the worldwide

Jewish community stepped forth.

Spaulding is involved in humanitarian causes in the U.S. and overseas. She has chaired the Delet Camp program, the sister city project between Greensboro, NC, and Beltzy, Moldova, and been a member of the Greensboro Federation Division Executive Women’s Committee.

In April 2004, Spaulding traveled to Minsk with Jewish Healthcare International on a mental health and Jewish education mission intended to build a more vibrant and healthy Jewish community in Belarus. She was one of 17 fellows from around the world to take part in the prestigious Covenant Fellowship program for Jewish Education.

She currently works for the Greensboro Jewish Federation as the Director of Outreach and Education.

Her commitment to building community is realized each day as she works for the very agency that rescued her family over 20 years ago.

“Buzz and I are honored to be cochairing the community event for Operation Promise,” says Jody Malashock. “We’ve seen first-hand how desperate the needs are, and we’ve also seen first-hand how supportive our community is in times of crisis. We would encourage everyone to attend the June 8th event and help us keep the promise.”

For more information about Operation Promise and the community event, visit w w w. j e w i s h o m a h a . o r g / o p e r a tionpromise.

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