Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
Eadie Tsabari to receive Sokolof Outstanding Jewish Teacher Award
May 13, 2011 9 Iyar 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 36
This Week
Intro to Temple Religious School Page 6
At a Jewish time of reflection, thoughts on a pope and Catholicism Page 7
How should Jews respond to bin Laden’s death? Page 12
Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam
This Month Senior Living See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press
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by MARY BORT Heritage Immersion Jewish Federation of Omaha Program,” stated Tsabari. “We Foundation speak only in Hebrew during Eadie Tsabari has been classes. The program is such a selected to receive the 6th joy; it really is amazing. It’s annual Phil and Ruth Sokolof very meaningful to me and I Outstanding Jewish Teacher think the students find it Award. The late Phil Sokolof meaningful, too.” created this $10,000 award to According to Denise recognize an Omaha metro Bennett, a teacher at Friedel, area educator, preferably K“Our students have greatly 12, who has made an outbenefited from Eadie’s unique standing contribution as a and creative educational style, teacher and mentor to his or and we staff members have her students. benefited from her positive Tsabari teaches Jewish outlook, her flexibility and Studies and Hebrew to 3rd – her willingness to do whatev6th graders at Friedel Jewish er is in the best interests of the Academy. “I give Eadie school and the students.” Eadie Tsabari at Friedel Jewish Academy with her third graders. From left to right: Yael Tsabari my highest recom“From the day she entered Schuller, Destiny Howard, Harper Gordman, Eadie, Zoe Berman, and Doron Margalit. mendation as an outstanding the school she inspired stuJewish educator,” stated Ronald excellence and inspires Friedel stu- dren, under her guidance, know dents to dream more, learn more, do Giller, Friedel Principal. “Eadie dents to actively and creatively par- they will achieve great things.” more and become more -- a true Since she teaches more than one educational leader,” said Cookie teaches children a lifelong apprecia- ticipate in their Jewish studies. “We tion of Jewish culture, traditions, believe that Eadie Tsabari is exem- grade, Tsabari must prepare differ- Katskee, former principal of Friedel. language and the State of Israel. She plary in her dedication and talent in ent curriculums. But the extra effort Born in Omaha, Tsabari’s parents incorporates music, dance, art, sto- the classroom,” they said. “Her devo- is worthwhile. “Eadie’s students have were Joe and Helen Fishel, who rytelling and prayer into all of her tion to the education of our children reached high levels of understand- owned the Herman Nut Company. deserves the highest recognition, for ing of the Hebrew language, both “My parents were Holocaust surdaily teaching activities.” Karen and Michael Cohen she is nurturing a spark to ignite a reading and writing,” noted Giller. vivors who came to Omaha, raised “Friedel has a fantastic Hebrew Continued on page 2 explained that Tsabari demands lifelong love of learning. Our chil-
Scout Executive Lloyd Beth El welcomes Roitstein retires after 40 years Rabbi Steven Abraham
by KATIE GODBOUT the Mid-America Council. Public Relations Director, “As I look back at the accomplishBoy Scouts of America ments of the Boy Scouts of America, After 40 years as a professional Mid-America Council, I am honScouter, Lloyd Roitstein will retire ored. I have countless wonderful memories of on June 30, 2011. Scouting, dating Roitstein smiles back to when I was when he says, just a youth. As the “Now I can be a years rolled by, I volunteer again.” have always lived Roitstein is an Eagle Scout. He and breathed graduated from Scouting. I am the University of “once an Eagle, Nebraska at always an Eagle” Omaha in 1971, and am proud of and then he began the impact Scouting has made his career with the on my life and the Boy Scouts of thousands of youth America. Before that I’ve seen sucbecoming the Lloyd Roitstein ceed over the last Scout Executive of the Mid-America Council based in 40 years of my professional Scouting Omaha, Roitstein served as Area career,” said Roitstein. “Our council wouldn’t be ranked Director for the North-Central Region, Scout Executive for Okaw #1 and I wouldn’t have dedicated my Valley Council in Belleville, Illinois life to Scouting if it wasn’t for one and Director of Field Service, Field important thing, the volunteers. You Director and District Executive for are the reason that I wake up each day and feel blessed. You are the reason that I have dedicated 40 years of my life to the movement. You are the reason that thousands of youth are making a difference in our community,” he said. Roitstein is responsible for the leadership to 58 counties of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. He is also responsible for operational goals to expand Scouting, Continued on page 3
by JILL BELMONT in steering him toward his liveliBeth El Publicity Coordinator hood, the rabbi said. The Board of Trustees of Beth El “I grew up in a wonderful family Synagogue is pleased to announce that, while not religious, was very that Rabbi Steven committed to our Abraham will synagogue,” he join the congrerecalled. “I got gation as its assisinvolved in USY tant rabbi, beginas a teen, because ning late this my mother consummer. A native vinced me to of Columbia, attend a convenMaryland, Rabbi tion. Judaism had Abraham is finspoken to my ishing his final grandparents, to year of rabbinical my parents but it school at the was not until I J e w i s h got involved in Theological USY that Judaism Seminary, where spoke to me.” Rabbi Steven Abraham he also received a That connection Masters of Arts in Jewish became a guiding light for Rabbi Education last year. Prior to attend- Abraham during his college years. ing JTS, the rabbi graduated from “I remember early in college the University of Baltimore with a thinking about what I wanted to degree in Business Management. do with my life,” he said. “I was While in rabbinical school, passionate about my faith and I Rabbi Abraham served as an intern loved working with people, and so at Congregation Beth Shalom in becoming a rabbi seemed like the Chicago, as well as at Congregation perfect intersection. What could Habonim in New York. For years, be better than being able to be a he has been actively involved with part of people’s lives, to be a voice United Synagogue Youth, from his of reason or an ear to listen, in time as a participant in high both the best of times as well as the school, to his service as a group worst of times? leader for numerous summer pro“I have wanted to be a rabbi for a grams, and in his current position long time and I feel blessed to get as director of USY on Wheels. the opportunity to start my career As a teenager, the Conservative at Beth El.” youth group proved to be a catalyst Continued on page 2