May 15, 2009

Vol. LXXXVIII No. 37 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 88 Years of

Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

Drummer, entertainer and educator Mike Mozes opened the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration playing percussion instruments with a group of Temple Israel students and closed the afternoon, above, with solos on the JCC stage.

More photos on page 8

by JTA Staff WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The theme of this year’s AIPAC policy conference was “Relationships Matter” -and to hammer home the point, the Washington Convention Center was plastered with mammoth banners picturing Israeli and U.S. leaders locked in warm exchanges: Harry Truman and Ezer Weizman, John F. Kennedy and David Ben-Gurion, Lyndon Johnson and Yitzhak Rabin, Richard Nixon and Golda Meir, Meir and Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan and Menachem Begin, Bill Clinton and Shimon Peres, Ariel Sharon and Hillary Clinton, and Ehud Olmert and George W. Bush.

They even had shots of Rabin and Gerald Ford, and the senior Bush and Yitzhak Shamir -- two sets of leaders associated with some of the rockier moments in the U.S.-Israeli relations (though Ford and Rabin could have looked cozier). And though they have yet to meet as leaders, there was a shot of Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu standing next to each other. And Peres and Obama.

With all the anxiety about possible Bibi-Barack tension, you’d think that would have been the one to play up. But hanging right behind the stage was a massive banner with Obama -- and AIPAC’s outgoing president, David Victor.

Continued on page 2

U.S. Rep. Jane Harman makes a point during roundtable discussion on May 3, at AIPAC’s annual policy conference.

Inside

May 15, 2009

Beth El’s Shapiro named ‘Man of the Year’ by Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs

Omaha celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut

At AIPAC conference, relationships matter

21 Iyar 5769

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator The Midwest Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs recently honored Beth El Synagogue’s Ben Shapiro as the Beth El Men’s Club “Man of the Year.”

The award is given to a member of each chapter for his contribution to the Ben Shapiro organization.

The Midwest Region covers the geographical region of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, and serves as the conduit between individual clubs and the International FJMC. Shapiro was honored for his dedicated volunteerism and service to Beth El. Over the years, Shapiro has volunteered in a variety of capacities: he has served as Men’s Club vice-president and as a member of the synagogue’s ritual committee; he is a frequent Torah reader, a regular attendee at daily and Shabbat services, and has sung with the Beth El choir. In addition, he has spent countless hours helping to manage Beth El’s information and technology support, and has helped out with the synagogue kitchen issues.

Continued on page 2

One suitcase leads local students to discovery about the Holocaust

by BETH SELDIN DOTAN Director, Institute for Holocaust Education, ADL Plains States Using a unique set cleverly designed by set designer, Keith Hart to adapt to an ongoing multi-media background to the dialogue, the story of a teenage girl who died in the Holocaust was brought to life on the stage of the Jewish Community Center last month.

Spanning three countries and numerous decades to understand the journey of Hana Brady and her family, Hana’s Suitcase was produced by the Institute for Holocaust Education.

The story of a teacher and her students at a Starring in Hana’s Suitcase were Alex Solomon, a senior at Burke, as the young George Brady, Credit: Delinea Design Holocaust Center in and Shelby Seier, a junior at Duchesne Academy, as Hana. interned before being deported to Auschwitz.

Hana did Tokyo, the play goes back and forth between modern not survive the war, but her brother George was discovday Japan, where the Fumiko Ishioka and her students ered in Canada through a series of events. try discover what happened to the owner of the small Director Fran Sillau utilized a cast of nine, many of battered suitcase, from war torn Europe where Hana whom portrayed more than one character. The actors and her family are sent to concentration camps. were individuals of a range of ages, some from wellDetermined to discover the owner of a suitcase known community theaters and high school drama received in Tokyo from the Auschwitz museum, the groups as well as newcomers to the stage. Together they name “Hana Brady” was the only clue the young, brought a powerful story to life and left the audience Japanese students had as an identifier. The production with a new perspective on how vital it is to understand takes the audience through a series of events in Tokyo, the stories of individuals who experienced the Nove Mesto, Czechoslovakia where Hana’s family lived Holocaust. prior to World War II, and on a visit to modern-day Terezin, where Hana and her brother, George were Continued on page 9

This Week: Real Estate section on page 6

See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 12

Tribute to Rescuers essay contest winners annoucned: Page 4

Coming Next Month: Father’s Day/Graduation Issue: June Omaha celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence: Page 8

Blumkin Home honors volunteers, receives check from L.O.V.E.: Page 16

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

At AIPAC conference, relationships matter

Omaha Premier George Frideric Handel’s

SOLOMON Omaha Symphonic Chorus Dr. Greg Zielke, Conductor with the

Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra

May 17, 2009, 3:00 PM First United Methodist Church 7020 Cass Street Omaha, Nebraska

Tickets: call the Chorus hotline at 398-1766 or the Organ Vesper Series at 333-7466 (Ext. 4)

Continued from page 1 Harman: A ‘warrior’ for Constitution Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) said she is “not a victim” but a “warrior on behalf of our Constitution and against abuse of power.”

“I will not quit on this until I am absolutely sure this can never happen to anyone else,” Harman said defiantly at the opening session of the conference, responding to reports that she was wiretapped while allegedly agreeing to intervene in the classified information case of two former AIPAC staffers.

Harman’s remarks came near the end of a panel discussion Sunday morning after it seemed the topic might not even come up.

When the con- Israeli President Shimon Peres addresses ference schedule the AIPAC policy conference in Credit: AIPAC was released last Washington, May 4. month, just days after reports of the wiretaps surfaced, some chuckled at the irony that Harman was featured as part of the opening session. But nearly 40 minutes into the discussion Sunday morning, as moderator Dan Senor started to wrap up and asked the final question of the four panelists, no one had even mentioned the issue. So Harman took the matter into her own hands, winding up with a spirited defense of the Constitution and AIPAC. “I know about the Constitution, I believe in the Constitution, I believe in the Fourth Amendment and I have never ever supported warrantless wiretaps on Americans, nor would I,” she said, referring to stories that the Bush administration thought she could be helpful in urging The New York Times not to reveal that the federal government had expanded its wiretap program to include domestic conversations.

“This issue is obviously creating a chilling effect on hard-working bipartisan members of Congress who care intensely about the U.S.-Israel security relationship, and have every right to talk to advocacy groups and our good friends about that relationship,” she added, to big applause.

She went on to say that her husband, Sidney, “would tell you that his wife is not a victim” but a “warrior on behalf of our Constitution and against abuse of power,” and that she won’t “quit on this until I am absolutely sure this can never happen to anyone else.”

Could there be a U.S.-Israel rift?

Two top Middle East experts expressed concern Sunday at the conference about potential rifts between the United States and Israel -- on two different topics.

Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that by next year at this time, he worries about a possible “deep disagreement” about how “one really deals with the Iranian nuclear challenge.”

If the United States and Israel “are not totally on the same page from A to Z on this issue, and it is not handled properly, we may be dealing with the most serious face-to-face disagreement between the United States and Israel in the 61-year history of the relationship,” said Satloff during a panel discussion about the Middle East at the opening plenary session.

About 90 minutes later, Satloff’s colleague at the Washington Institute, David Makovsky, said the two governments could clash over another matter in the months to come.

“The settlement issue has been a major issue in the U.S.-Israel relationship" since the first settlement was built and “in my view could intensify,” said Makovsky,

JEWISH PRESS CLOSINGS & EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

www.centurypa.com

The Jewish Press will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day and Friday, May 29 for the first day of Shavuot.

The deadline for all ads, synagogue schedules, articles and photos is 9 a.m. as follows: Issue Deadline May 29 Wednesday, May 20 Wednesday, May 27 June 5 Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

speaking at a breakout session dealing with Israel’s negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. “I don’t think the Obama administration or the Netanyahu government wants to pick a fight, but my fear is events on the ground sometimes have their own dynamic.”

Makovsky was discussing his idea that the Israelis and Palestinians should try to “demarcate the border” of an eventual Palestinian state now and allow Israelis to build more houses in the West Bank while Palestinians build their institutions. He believes coming to an agreement on land would be the easiest part of a peace agreement, since 75 percent of the settlers in the West Bank live on just 4.4 percent of the land.

Tennis Channel CEO honored Among the speakers Monday morning at the conference was a man making his first visit to the event -- the CEO of the Tennis Channel.

Ken Solomon wasn’t there to provide insights into the upcoming French Open; AIPAC was recognizing his February decision to refuse to broadcast a women’s tennis tournament in Dubai after Israeli Shahar Pe’er was denied an entry visa.

“I never dreamed my actions would have the reverberations they did, that something so clearly appropriate would engender this kind of response,” said Solomon to the 6,500 delegates. In fact, Solomon said he was “a little embarrassed to be up here.”

“Any one of you, had you been in my position, would have done the same thing,” he said. “It was a no-brainer.”

A banner at the 2009 AIPAC policy confer- Dermer talks ence underscore’s this year’s motto, about ‘triple “Relationships matter,” depicting the late track’ Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir consult- New Israeli ing in 1973 with then-U.S. Secretary of Prime Minister Credit: Ami Eden B e n j a m i n State Henry Kissinger.

Netanyahu told the conference via satellite Monday evening that he supported a “triple track” approach to talking with the Palestinians covering security, economic and political negotiations.

At a breakout session the day before, Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Netanyahu, explained how the prime minister would go about doing that and why he believes it will work. First, Dermer said Netanyahu would “work to change the reality on the ground,” praising Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, U.S. security coordinator for the Palestinian Authority, for his work with Palestinians.

“It’s amazing that” during the Gaza operation late last year and early this year, “you had protests in European capitals and didn’t have them in Jenin, Nablus and Jericho,” Dermer said. “That says to me that maybe the security forces are doing a little bit better and maybe the Palestinians want a different life, a better future.”

Dermer then moved to the economic track, noting that a prime minister “can do a lot” to “move the bureaucracy along and to get through all the red tape” to get roads paved and buildings built.

“True economic development and secuity cooperation can create a context where political progress is possible,” he said.

And that political progress is more likely, Dermer said, because “something is happening in the Middle East that has not happened in the last 100 years” -- the Arab world and Israel share “a common enemy” in Iran.

“On the basis of this common danger, not only can you work together on that common threat but also work together to advance peace,” he said.

Man of the Year

Continued from page 1 “The word ‘no’ does not exist in Ben’s vocabulary,” says Beth El Men’s Club President Scott Simon. “He is a true volunteer whose presence is felt in the full spectrum of synagogue life.”

Simon added, “Ben continually looks for ways to give of himself to his synagogue and the greater Omaha Jewish community, never expecting any special recognition. This honor has been a long time coming and we all applaud him for being a very deserving recipient.”

May 15, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Durban Review Conference: Who were the true statesmen, and who the buffoons?

by GEORGE BAUMGARTEN United Nations Correspondent The Delegates had arrived for the Conference in Geneva -- the U.N.’s European Headquarters -- with no small measure of trepidation. They recalled what had happened eight years before, when the first racism conference had degenerated into an international farce. On that occasion, the World Jewish Community, the United States and the West in general had been caught unaware. This time, they were determined to be ready.

The original conference had been held in Durban, South Africa, in late Navi Pillay, the U.N. high comAugust and early missioner for human rights, September 2001, barely a said the final document in few days before the ter- Geneva “highlights the suffering rorist attack on the of many groups.”

Credit: Michael J. Jordan United States. It had been called “Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance”. A noble title for a just cause, oft-ignored and still with us in the modern world.

The Durban Conference produced a final “outcome document”, listing numerous problems of discrimination. It had only a mild reference to the IsraelPalestinian situation: “We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation”.

A further reference was even milder, calling for an end to “suffering”, “…thus allowing Israel and the Palestinians to resume the peace process…”. Mild and [nominally] even-handed. At least it acknowledged the right of Israel to exist, as a sovereign, independent state.

But there was a “parallel” N.G.O. (Non-Governmental Organizations) conference at Durban. And it was at that conference that speaker after speaker came to the microphones, to insult and defame the Jewish state, in a process that came to be known as “Israel-bashing”.

Consider, for example, the words of Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treiki, Libya’s “Secretary of the People’s General Committee of African Unity”: “The Palestinian people were expelled collectively from their land. They are daily exposed to killings for political reasons. What could be more racist than what is happening in Palestine?”

And this from the man now widely expected, as Africa’s favorite son, to be the President of the coming

64th United Nations General Assembly. Israel and the Despite her best efforts, Israel, the U.S. and a handful United States both found all this so revolting, that they of other countries decided to stay away from the walked out of the Conference.

“Durban Review”. A draft “outcome document” was The N.G.O Conference at Durban also produced an prepared, but found to still be objectionable. So the “outcome document”. But this one was felt to be so vir- drafting committee -- largely at Judge Pillay’s urging, if ulently defamatory of Israel (and, by extension, of all the not insistence -- rewrote it and reduced its size from 48 West) that Human Rights Commissioner Mary to 17 pages. It contains no references to Israel, or any Robinson -- the Conference Chairman and former other country.

President of Ireland -- flatly refused to have it issued or And despite a campaign of the Organization of the printed as an official U.N. document. The world Jewish Islamic Conference to outlaw defamation of Islam only, community -- and the West in general -- had been large- it condemns the defamation of any and all faiths. In spite ly “caught napping” at Durban. When a new opportuni- of this, the Israelis found it objectionable, since it ty presented itself, they were determined not to be referred to a mention of Israel as a “racist state” (a caught again. phrase believed to come from Durban’s N.G.O docuIt was decided to hold a “Durban Review Conference” ment). in April of 2009, eight years after the original one.

The Conference opened on Monday April 20 (ironiAgain, there was to be an “outcome document”, with cally, the 120th birthday of Adolf Hitler) with statedrafts circulated in advance. But -- unlike Durban -- ments by Secretary-General Ban and High there was not to be a formal N.G.O. (Non- Commissioner Pillay. Ban stressed the need for the conGovernmental Organizations) Conference at Geneva. ference, saying “The politics of xenophobia is on the And this time, Israel, the U.S. and the West were ready. rise”. And High Commissioner Pillay, mindful of those There were several “preparacountries which were tory meetings’ scheduled, prior absent, hoped that they to the actual Durban Review in “…would still join efforts April. After coming to power in to make tangible January, the Obama administrachanges…” tion decided to participate in But the highlight of the preparatory meeting schedthe Conference was the uled for February 2009. address on Monday afterAs Israel had already noon of the Iranian announced that it would boyPresident. The only Head cott the Durban Review, the of State to address the American delegation was put Durban Review, Ahmedunder much pressure -- espeinajad said the victors of cially from right-wing and World War Two had Republican Jews, who were vir- Jewish students debate a British Muslim activist outside the “…sent migrants from tually certain that Obama U.N. anti-racism conference in Geneva, April 22.

Europe, the United States Credit: Michael J. Jordan and other parts of the would participate, and said so.

But the Americans -- contrary to the expectations of world to establish a totally racist government in the their detractors -- decided to stay away, and several other occupied Palestine”, also calling Israelis “…racist perpecountries followed suit. trators of genocide”.

I had asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last sumHis words were greeted with some applause, but the mer what he thought the U.N. could do, so as to avoid delegates of 23 European Nations left the hall in a mass “yet another farce of anti-Israel buffoons”. He gave me migration for the exits. Even Jordan was rumored to a long answer, but made it clear that he was determined have left, though I was assured by their Ambassador at to actually accomplish something, to combat racism and the U.N. in New York that this was not so. related practices.

Three days later, Ahmadinejad held a press conference, I also spoke, more recently, to Navi Pillay, the U.N.’s in which he informed his listeners that “…the Israeli offinew Human Rights Commissioner (ironically, a Durban cials are a group of professional murderers and mercenative), formerly a Judge on the U.N.’s International naries at the service of the global arrogance”, saying also Criminal Court. She had come to meet with some of the that “There is no doubt that the Zionist regime is on the countries boycotting the Conference, and agreed that the verge of collapse.” way to deal with evil was to “confront it, not ignore it.” Continued on page 5

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

Tribute to the Rescuers essay conest winners honored

by JESSICA GALL Education Director, Anti-Defamation League The Plains States Office of the Anti-Defamation League and the Institute for Holocaust Education again received inspiring entries to the Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest. Sponsored by the Carl Frohm Foundation, the 2009 contest challenged students to use the lens of the Holocaust to understand moral courage.

Moral courage is the ability to take a strong stance on a specific issue and to defend it based on one’s personal beliefs or convictions regardless of danger or threats to personal safety. Researching the Holocaust or other historical events, students demonstrated how an individual or group can take a stand against injustice and, finally, how this information can be applied to their own community and lives.

A group of nearly 50 volunteers from Omaha businesses and schools participated in the judging process which narrowed down approximately 500 entries from local high schools Central, Burke, Skutt Catholic, Duchesne, Lincoln Lutheran, Bellevue West, Marian and Westside as well entries from Texas, Iowa, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Indiana to six winning essays and four honorable mention essays in the 9-10th and 11-12th grade categories.

The top winners in the 11-12th Grade Category are: First place: “Mother Teresa” by Kelli Schroer of Marian High School, Kory Delkamiller, Sponsor; Second Place: “Moral Courage Does Not Hide” by Christine Thibodeau of Marian, Mark Koesters, Sponsor; Third Place: “We All Must Help” by Leslie Walker of Burke, Deborah Ward, Sponsor; Honorable Mention Finalists are: “The Story From Outside the Annex” by Sarah O’Connor of Marian, Kory Delkamiller, Sponsor, and “A Lesson for the Rest of Us: Romeo Dallaire’s Moral Courage” by Doreen Xu of Baylor School, Indianapolis, IN, Mary Oehmig, Sponsor.

Winners in the ninth-10th Grade Category are: First Place: “Liviu Lebrescu” by Cassy Tischer of Skutt Catholic High School, Amber Johnson, Sponsor; Second Place: “St. Maximilian Kolbe” by Margaret Jacobs of Duchesne Academy, Mary Moeschler, Sponsor; Third Place: “Changing the Sight of Society”

by Ashley Bodfield of Burke, Jennifer Kawecki, Sponsor; Honorable Mention finalists are: “Born to Selflessness”

by Jenifer Hjelmstad of Skutt, Amber Johnson, Sponsor, and “Haarlem Heroine” Anne Bolamperti of Skutt, Amber Johnson, Sponsor.

Participants’ essays were celebrated at an Awards Ceremony last month in the Legislative Chambers of the Omaha Building. Philanthropist Richard Holland was the Master of Ceremonies. Trustees of the Frohm Foundation, Harold and Linda Mann and Chairman of the Governance Board for the Institute for Holocaust Education, Gloria Kaslow, were in attendance to honor

Linda Mann, left, trustee of the Frohm Foundation, Kelli Schroer, Sarah O’Connor, Cassy Tischer, Anne Bolamperti, Jenifer Hjelmstad, philanthropist and master of ceremonies Richard Holland, Christine Thibodeau, Leslie Walker, Ashley Bodfield, Maggie Jacobs, and Harold Mann, trustee of the Frohm Foundation, gathered in the Legislative Chambers last month for the awards ceremony. her sister were rescued from the camps by the French Jewish Underground, the OSE. She was moved 14 times until she and her sister were placed in a convent in Milleaux, France.

Feeling a special connection to the essay contest, Bea focused her speech on the moral courage of the rescuers in her own life. “If my mother had not had the strength to send my sister and I with the OSE, if the members of the OSE had not risked their own lives numerous times to take us to safety, and if the sisters in the Milleaux convent had not ultimately protected us, neither I, my sister Essay contest winners Kelli Schroer, left, Sarah O’Connor, nor our children would be here today,” Karp told the and Christine Thibodeau meet Holocaust survivor Bea Karp. award winners and their families. the winners. First place winners read their inspiring Cassy Tischer, winner of the 9-10 category and a essays and local Holocaust survivor, Bea Karp, was the sophomore at Skutt, drew inspiration from not only honored keynote speaker.

Karp’s story but the life of Liviu Librescu, the featured Karp, born in Lauterbach, West Germany in 1932 is a rescuer in her essay. “I hope that one day I can also look child survivor of the Holocaust. Her family witnessed back and say that I made a difference,” she said. the horrific Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) For information about the essay contest, please call pogrom of Nov. 9, 1938 and was ultimately taken from 334.6573 or view the contest website at their home to a work camp in Gurs, France. Karp and www.adl.org/tribute_to_rescuers/.

Jump into summer reading at the Kripke Library

by GARY KATZ Library Administrator The Kripke Jewish Federation Library invites families to join “Kugel,” the Kripke Library Kangaroo and “Jump into Summer Reading”. The Summer Reading Club is a great way for children in kindergarten through sixth grade to read their way to great prizes, starting June 8 and hopping though Aug. 14 It’s no secret that the library is a “cool” place to discover great summer reading. Children are encouraged to read anything they want from the Kripke Library, so they can develop their own interests and a love of reading. To entice young people to use the Kripke Library, the library staff has lined up a summer’s worth of incredible reading fun. “Last year we had such a fantastic response to the program. I had several children read over 25 books from

the library” said Sherrie Saag, Library Assistant.

Young readers in kindergarten through third grade will win prizes for numbers of books read, with rewards for every 10 books. Children in grades four through six will log their reading time, winning rewards for every four hours spent reading. Also, there will be special story times all summer long just for Summer Reading Club Members.

Prizes? What about the prizes? This year’s participants can earn free prizes from toys to treats, books to bagels.

Children can come anytime to the Kripke Library starting June 8 to pick up their reading club packet to start their summer of great fun reading.

The program is presented by the Center for Jewish Education. For more information, contact me at 334.6462, or e-mail gkatz@jewishomaha.org.

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OTYG proclaimed “Youth Group of the Year” at Spring Conclave

Nine Temple teens attended the NFTY-Missouri Valley Region Spring Conclave last month in Kansas City, including, back row: Hannah Grossman, left, Emily Katz, Susan Freeman, Julie Sadofsky, OTYG Advisor Amy Katz, Grace Hack; front row: Yaniv Azriel, Sophia Miller, Jordan Jensen, and Molly Goldberg.

In addition to “Youth Group of the Year,” OTYG came home with five more awards. Susan, who passed up attending her Central High School Senior Prom to attend the Spring Conclave, was honored for outstanding leadership and organization by a president. “Initially, I was going to leave (the conclave) on Saturday afternoon,” she laughed, “but it would have been just too sad!” Susan was also recently chosen as one of two winners of the Omaha Jewish Federation Robert and Ellen Gordman Teen Leadership Award.

Also at the Spring Conclave, Haley Burns was named Super Hero program vice president; Grace Hack took top honors for Keeping the Culture in her position as religious-cultural vice president; Jordan Jensen, Junior Youth Group liaison and communications and visuals vice president, won the Frosted Flakes Award for communications and visuals, because “she’s not just good, she’s great!” and Emily Katz was presented with the Outstanding Fundraising Award.

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by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG) was named “Youth Group of the Year” at the North American Federation of Temple Youth Missouri Valley Region Spring Conclave in April in Kansas City. “I think it’s great! A really good reaffirming thing for everyone especially the board to get such good feedback from the region,” said Susan Freeman, president of OTYG.

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Back home in Omaha, OTYG members including Jordan Jensen, left, and Ben Noodell scoured the Old Market with their friends from the Omaha Muslim youth group.

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Molly Goldberg was reelected Social Action Vice President for the Missouri Valley Region.

Last month, 24 members of OTYG, All Saints Episcopal Church youth group, and the Omaha Muslim youth group hunted for a list of things such as sushi, a piece of uncooked spaghetti, and uncooked pizza on a rainy Saturday night in the Old Market.

“It was great,” reported Ben Noodell, a freshman, on the tri-faith scavenger hunt. “When we were outside it started pouring” which added to the fun, according to Ben. “Meeting new people was fun, too,” he pointed out.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, OTYG is planning a trip to Mahoney State Park for new and returning members.

Beth El congregants to be honored for answering the call: “Who wants to be a Minyannaire?”

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El holds the distinction of offering religious services twice a day, every day of the year -- thanks to a dedicated group of congregants which attends daily services on a regular basis. Those loyal ‘minyannaires,’ who attended at least 24 times during the past year (and many attended more than 200 times), will be honored and thanked during Shabbat services on Saturday, May 16, 9:30 a.m.

The following people will be recognized: Rick Emas, Marcel Kahn, Merle Potash, Shane Kotok, Joseph Kravitz, Wendy Berenson, Cary Grossman, Sol Schwartz, Rodney Shkolnick, Stanley Edelstein, Mikhail Ginsburg, Peter Ginsburg, Steven Riekes, Florence Simon, Diane Baum, Ronald Epstein, Dolores Goodman, Frances Gottlieb, Andrew Greenberg, David Kotok, Alan Kulakofsky, Steven Levy, Karen Pollak, Benjamin Shapiro, Nancy Skid, Stewart Tully, Stanley Silverman, Jack Epstein, Caryn Rifkin, Carol Gendler, Gary Rifkin, Alan Goodman, Nancy Rips, Gloria Goodman, Dorothy Rosenblum, Lea Grunkin, Phyllis Wasserman, Howard Kaiman, Esther Wax, Howard Kaplan, Jim Wax, Dennis Paley and Steve Pitlor.

Cary Grossman began attending afternoon minyan on a regular basis six years ago, when his daughter was attending weekday religious school classes. The timing worked well, he said: “I would get to Beth El by 5:30 p.m. [to attend services], and Anna would come to the chapel when school let out at 6 o’clock.”

Grossman now participates in the synagogue’s 7 a.m. minyan several times a week. “It's just a great way to start the day: a bit of introspection while davening and

the connection to something bigger than ourselves,” he said. Another perk: “The camaraderie during coffee and bagels afterward truly energizes everybody. When I get to work, I'm ready to go while other folks are still dragging around.

“We hear so frequently ‘Come to minyan; it's a mitzvah to be there in case someone needs to say Kaddish,’” he said, “and really that's a great reason. I feel good when that is the case, but it's not the only reason to attend. I attend because it feels good.”

Wendy Berenson began attending daily services after her father died in early 2008, and has continued to go to ensure a minyan so that others may say Kaddish. “I felt that I should go for the time that the children should go,” said Berenson, a Springfield, Neb. resident. “I then started enjoying the short service and helping others to make sure there were enough people there. I try to make it twice a week and sometimes more if I am staying in Omaha for the evening.”

Like Grossman, she cited the friendship factor as a bonus, saying she enjoys the relationships she has developed with some of the regulars. “I feel like one of them now,” she said.

Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin expressed his appreciation for the dedicated congregants who make up the daily minyannaires. “Our daily morning and evening services serve an important need in the local Jewish community,” he said. “They fulfill spiritual needs -- not only of our congregants but also the Jewish community at large. They make it possible to recite Kaddish for loved ones, and allow those observing a yarzheit the opportunity to lead the service. We’re grateful for their participation.”

Durban Review Conference Continued from page 3 Ahmadinejad’s speech was interrupted by catcalls from Jewish demonstrators, one of them in a rainbow-colored clown wig. They were mostly French students, and rumored not to have come at their own expense. The Conference authorities made a great show of expelling them, and called a press conference next day, to give details of their expulsion. Various right-wing Jewish organizations have tried to portray the Conference as a major disaster, but their cries have only sounded increasingly desperate.

The major part of the credit for the Conference’s suc-

cess -- what success there was -- must surely belong to Judge Pillay. She managed to get a reasonable outcome document, overwhelmingly passed. What it will really accomplish to cure very real problems of racism worldwide … remains to be seen. President Ahmadinejad can only be said to have discredited himself -- in a year when he faces re-election in June. And there are said to be murmurings in Iran of unrest, concern that his obsession with the Palestinians and attacks on Israel have been at a price of neglect of his people, and their problems.

So one must really look back and ask: Who were the statesman, and who … the buffoons?

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

Fun-filled Bible Quiz to highlight Beth El’s Shavuot Celebration

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Each year, Beth El invites the Jewish community to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot - the festival commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai - by joining together for an evening of study. This year, the synagogue’s traditional Shavuot celebration, on Thursday, May 28, will feature a special evening with an entertaining, educational twist: a Bible Quiz for attendees of all ages.

According to Beth El Program Director Margie Gutnik, participants will be treated to a fun, familyfriendly program, adding, “Don’t worry that you don’t have the knowledge to compete - we’ll not only supply the questions, we’ll make sure that you have the answers - a real win-win for everyone! And if that’s not enough,

we’re also going to award prizes for the lucky winners.

“The festivities will begin with 5:30 p.m. services, followed by a dairy dinner at 6 p.m. (“Not able to come for dinner? No problem - come later for the program,” Gutnik said.) At 6:45 p.m., Rabbi Mordechai Levin will offer a brief overview of Shavuot; then at 7 p.m., the quiz will commence.

Participants will be split into groups and through teamwork and good-spirited competition, everyone will enjoy learning together. Another highlight of the evening, Gutnik noted, will be a sing-along with Cantor Beth Schlossberg, who will share Shavuot-related songs.

Cost to attend the dinner is $5 for adults; no charge for children ages 12 and younger. Reservations are needed by May 26 and may be made by sending a check to Beth El, 14506 California Street, Omaha NE 68154.

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With a nearly 35-year tradition of working with area homeowners, the Cohens have developed relationships across generations. It’s not uncommon, Marty Cohen says, to have sold a home for a family’s grandparents, parents and grandchildren.

That trust in his family’s services, he says, is one of the most satisfying parts of what they do.

“We love the fact that we know our clients’ families, their children and even their pets,” he says. “It’s a true relationship. We take pride that, within the Jewish community, we have developed a trusted reputation for how we do our work.”

Their work on behalf of clients runs the gamut in price and location—from modest bungalows in established neighborhoods to new and existing homes in some of Omaha’s most prestigious locations. But, no matter where their listings are, they’re dedicated to providing the same level of service with the same goal: to sell that home at the best price possible.

“The best form of advertising we have is doing a good job for someone and having them tell a friend or family member or coworkers,” says Marty Cohen. “It’s the nicest compliment someone can pay us.”

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ORGANIZATIONS

YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us Monday for a special musical guest Maria Harding, currently the Principal Flutist of the Omaha Symphony. She also played with the Kansas City Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony, and Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. Lunch will begin at noon and the program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Cost for lunch is $7 per person. Play bingo at 10 a.m. Call Theresa for transportation, at 330.4272. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Former Omahan Ron Wolfson brings his vision and values to Temple Israel

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator It was a weekend to celebrate, learn, and have fun with Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Ron Wolfson at Temple Israel.

Starting with a Shabbat dinner and worship services on April 24, Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education at the American University in Los Angeles, began by asking the congregation, “Who’s calling you?” and responded with “God’s calling you to be God’s partner in Tikkun Olam B’Malchut Shaddai.”

spent a day at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center with Wolfson. They enjoyed breakfast, worship services, adult workshops with Dr. Wolfson, children’s nature activities, a potluck lunch, havdalah, and more.

Larry Budwig attended with his three daughters: Hannah, 12, Sophie, 10, and Aleia, 9. Along with madrich Yaniv Azriel, Budwig led a scavenger hunt, painted bird houses, played football and frisbee with the kids. “It was really fun,” he remarked. “I got to know some people better, and the girls had a terrific time!”

Sarah Sadofsky, left, Jeremiah Schondelmeyer, Alex Kraft, Noah Blair, Clara Murphy, and Emina Beçiroviç return from a nature walk at Fontenelle Forest.

As his book, God’s To-Do List, 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth, explains. even though God is “all-powerful, all knowing -- a real miracle worker,” the world needs “a very special presence, human beings who are literally infused with the breath -- the spirit -- of God to be the frontline caretakers of creation.”

In that spirit, Temple Israel volunteers have been active throughout the year implementing their own “God’s To-Do List” by contributing to the Omaha Food Bank, spending time with students at Chandler View Elementary School, cooking and serving at The Stephen Center, hosting dinners in their homes for Omahans of diverse backgrounds, raising money to send treated nets to African families to prevent malaria, attending a Black/Jewish Seder, discussing books on poverty and racism, and participating in a Human Rights, Human Wrongs Shabbat. It was a night to celebrate repairing the world for the kingdom of God. On Shabbat, while Wolfson was in town, 17 families

Rabbi Eric Linder, left, and Ron Wolfson smooze after one of the presentations during the scholar-in-residence weekend.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., at the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

VISIONS Join us for supper and a melodrama at Mahoney State Park to see “Goodnight Goodhart” on Wednesday, July 8. The cost of $30 per person includes transportation, buffet dinner at the Kiewitt Lodge and theater ticket.

Depart from the JCC at 4:30 p.m. (be at the JCC by 4:15) to arrive back by approximately 8:30 p.m. Send reservations and check, payable to Visions, to Betty Sanford, 9205 Western Ave. #127, Omaha, NE 68144.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Paul Landow, PhD, now a political science professor at UNO, will talk about his experiences as the Chief of Staff to former Mayor Mike Fahey and the recent election on Wednesday, May 19, noon, at Regency Lodge. All men and women in the community are invited. The program is free. An optional buffet lunch is $13; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to get on the list, call 334.6443 or e-mail bnaibrith@jewishomaha. org.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF LINCOLN The Annual Campaign Kick-off will take place on Sunday, May 31, 3 p.m., at the Mary Ripema Ross Film Center on the campus of UNL. “An Afternoon at the Ross” features the film, One Day You’ll Understand, which details the true story of the 1987 trial of “The Butcher of Lyon,” Klaus Barbie as the backdrop of a French businessman piecing together the truth about his family’s history. The film will be followed by a reception at the Van Brunt Visitor’s Center at 4:30 p.m. RSVP to Donna Hersch at 483.7331 or dhersch@neb.rr.com.

Joe Murphy also attended with his wife Kate Kaminsky and their children: Simon, nine, and Clara, five. “I thought it was a good first step for more offsite retreats for families,” Murphy said. “I’d like to see this grow into more family, chavurah activities.” Clara and Simon “had a good time,” he added.

On Sunday morning, Wolfson, who grew up in Omaha, shared stories and strategies for raising Jewish families by using rituals to create warm memories, Jewish values, and strengthen bonds among generations.

“I thought he was great,” commented Louri Sullivan.

She described Wolfson’s presentation as “invigorating. It reassured me that we’re doing good things. I’m going to purchase his books to get a few new ideas.”

Budwig, who attended on Sunday, too, described Wolfson’s stories as “really good. He’s interesting and funny. He’s really good at what he does, and I learned some things to share with my family.”

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

Omaha celebrates a “Happy 61st birthday, Israel!”

From above: Maxim Oleynikov enjoys the inflatables, while teens helped paint a map of Israel; Grace Hack was one of the BBYO models for the Israel fashion show; Whitman book report winners include, front row: Sam Kricsfeld, left, Kathleen Kirshenbaum, Eliana Schuller, back: Michael Militzer, Elissa Wiener, Sarah Kutler and Shaylie Holtz; kindergarten book jacket winners are Laura Kirshenbaum, Sydney Kully, Aiden Schnayder.

Above: Daphna Pollak Alperson ties a friendship bracelet on Eric Phillips after he made a donation to purchase a goodie basket for an Israeli soldier; Karen Sokolof Javitch listens as her son Mark introduces Margo Riekes as the Outstanding Jewish Teacher of the Year; right: drummer and educator Mike Mozes works with students from Temple Israel at the start of Israeli Independence Day celebration; below left: Courtney and Madison Bierman create art projects; while Wendy Raffel, left, and Carin Parcel ‘man’ the YJO booth.

Left: Lauren Brown, left, accepts the Sokolof Health Scholarship from Karen Javitch (Jay Kenik, not pictured, accepted the award for his son Jordan); above: Susan Freeman and Ygal Schuller received the Teen Leader Awards; right: Orion Schnayder shows his winning book jacket to Nancy Rips.

From above left: First place winners in the B’nai B’rith Trivia Quiz are Jeff Ferber, left, Marty Shukert, Ophir Palmon, Natan Schwalb, Howard Epstein and Dick Fellman, standing -- members of the Beth El team; the Chaim Weizmann AZA team of Adam Goldberg, left, Ben Noodell, Yaniv Azriel, Scott Goldberg and Kevin Adler came in second; Leora McNamara is one of many children who had their faces painted; Claire Schlessinger, left, was one of the Sokolof Merit Scholarship winners introduced by Karen Sokolof Javitch and her son, Mark (other winners included Ygal Schuller, and Annelisse

Ocanto for music); Jay Gordman and his sister Andie presented the Teen Leadership Awards; Aaron Norton shakes the glitter off his art project; BBYO models display period clothing of Israel’s six decades. After a motion congratulating Israel on its 61st birthday passed the House, Rep. Adrian Smith of Nebraska’s Third District, said, “Having had the honor of visiting Israel, I have seen the country for what it truly is – a sovereign, democratic nation, a strong ally and an international partner. For the future of the United States, a strong America-Israel relationship is more important than ever.”

May 15, 2009

B’nai B’rith celebrates 55th banquet

About 800 attended last week’s annual B’nai B’rith sports banquet at the Qwest Center, including, from top right: mayoral candidates Hal Daub, left, and Jim Suttle; Henry Monsky Lodge President Gary Javitch, left, and the Lodge’s oldest member, George Shafer, 91; Mayor Mike Fahey and emcee Otis XII look on as Javitch presents the Earl Siegel award to Gina Mancuso, graduating

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

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senior at Papillion-LaVista, as banquet chairman Howard Shandell, featured speaker Grant Wistrom and new Northwest High head football coach, Damon Benning watch; Israeli shlicha Tamar Halevy enjoys the silent auction with Renee Dentlinger; patriarch Sam Epstein, center, is flanked by his grandson-in-law, Nick Ray, grandson Jason Epstein, sons Howard and Eddie.

For further information contact University College, Creighton University, 280-2424 or Klutznik Chair office, 208-2303.

Suitcase leads students to discovery

ing the performance.

Sixth grade teacher Milly Garcia from St. Cecelia’s Catholic School wrote, “The play was wonderful. I have never seen our entire class of sixth graders sit so still and stay so attentive and focused for that length of time--they were really into it.

The play was so well performed, so beautifully staged.�

She added, “I think it touched them on an emotional, individual level more effectively even than the book. This play does a remarkable job of conveying to kids that Holocaust victims were individuals, kids like themselves, with lives like theirs, who did normal kid things before their lives were interrupted.

It also showed them quite well how Jewish people’s lives became more and more restricted and constrained, how their rights were taken from them one by one.�

Immediately following the St. Cecelia teachers, like Kristi Cornelius, left, have partici- close of Hana’s Suitcase, pated in many programs with the Institute for Holocaust three local schools indicated Education. Fran Sillau and Beth Dotan went to the school interest in reserving seats for (one of seven visited), when it was discovered that the performances of Brundibar “teacher� played by Shanti Psota, center, was a student in in November, 2009 at the the sixth grade 15 years ago at St. Cecelia’s! Milly Garcia, Rose Theatre. The children’s right, an alum of ADL’s Bearing Witness and Bearing Witness opera, originally performed Advanced, wrote: “Watching the play, I think (the students) in Theresienstadt concentracould feel how Hana and George must have felt. The kids tion camp, will celebrate 10 (and their teachers) found this play extremely moving.� years of IHE and will be proMore than 900 school children from duced in conjunction with Opera Omaha.

Hana’s Suitcase was supported by the the Catholic Schools, Millard, Omaha and Gretna Public Schools saw the show. Nebraska Arts Council, E.K. Newman Many also experienced a pre-show work- Memorial Fund, the Special Donor shop titled “From Page to Stage� with Advised Fund, Ann Woskoff Schulman Sillau. Two public performances hosted Memorial Fund, Samuel and Bess nearly full-houses and included a talk- Rothenberg Memorial Endowment Fund, back with the actors and director follow- all of the Jewish Federation Foundation.

Continued from page 1 Sillau addressed the audience stating, “This show has been a dream of mine for a long time. It not only tells the story of a young girl and her family during the Holocaust, but it represents the challenge we face today to understand oppression and hate while providing an opportunity to make a difference in our society no matter how big or small.�

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Name ____________________________________ Parent(s)’ Name(s) ____________________________________ Current High School ____________________________________ College you plan to attend ____________________________________ Send by May 22 to: The Jewish Press | 333 So. 132 St. | Omaha, NE 68154 To send the information electronically, email us at jpress@jewishomaha.org with the above information and a .jpg head shot photo of 100k or larger.

ENGAGEMENTS WISEMAN/ABRAMSON Marissa Wiseman, daughter of Debbie and Donald Wiseman of San Diego, CA, and Bradley Abramson, son of Sheri and Mike Abramson announce their engagement.

The bride-to-be is graduating from Indiana University in Fashion Merchandising next week and has a job in Omaha with the Buckle in their management training program.

She is the the granddaughter of Hariette Schall of San Diego, CA. Her fiancé graduated from Indiana University in 2008 and works for MECA (Qwest Center Omaha) in their ticket operations.

He is the grandson of Doris and Alvin Abramson, and Roberta and Sidney Weissman A Fall 2010 wedding is planed.

BUTCHER/ROITSTEIN Steve Roitstein proposed to Stephanie Butcher of Portland, OR while on a family trip to Israel last fall.

After a grueling hike to the top of Masada, the prospective groom knelt and suprised his bride-tobe with a proposal.

Steve’s parents, Debbie and Lloyd Roitstein, along with his sister, Carrie and their tour guide, were able to sneak some wine to the top to celebrate the memorable occasion.

The bride-to-be is employed with Sunset Science Park FCU as a Loan Officer in Portland, OR. She is the granddaughter of Betty Cooper and the late Donald Cooper.

Her fiancé is a Regional Sales Manager with Forest River, Inc. serving the Pacific Northwest and regions of Canada and resides in Portland, OR. He is the grandson of Ann Roistein and the late Dr. Morris Roitstein.

An August wedding is planned at Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, OR.

BIRTHS Jaime and Brian Nogg announce the Jan. 7 birth of their son, Cory Benjamin, named for his great-grandmothers, Iris Goldford and Betty Studna.

He has a brother, Jordan.

Grandparents are Patty and Steve Nogg, and Judy and Craig Goldford of St.Louis.

Great-grandparents are Harlan Studna, Jeanie Lee Parelman, the late Seymour Lee, Marvin Goldford, Audrey Silverman and the late Harvey Rosen.

Natanel and Galit Gold of Jerusalem anounce the April 2 birth of their son, Eitan Yisrael, named after his great-grandfather, Ervin Simon.

Grandparents are Rabbi Baruch and Sara Gold (formerly Sally Simon of Omaha) of Betar Illit, Israel, and Yitzchak and Rachel Shaltiel of Holon, Israel.

Great-grandmother is Miriam Simon of Palm Coast, FL, formerly of Omaha.

Sarah Ita Merestky and Rabbi Nosson Meir of State College, PA, announce the March 31 birth of their son, Israel Leib Nechemiah, named after his uncle, Louis Howard Kohll.

He has two brothers, Menachem Mendel, 7 and Shalom Dov Ber, 3 1/2 and two sisters Chana Leah, 5 and Chaya Mushcha (Moussia), 2.

Grandparents are Sandra and Marvin Kohll, Linda Meretsky of Port Linn, OR and John Klatt of Port Linn OR. Great-grandparents are Shirley and Charlie Meretsky of West Pond, MA.

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Beth El young families’ Shabbaton for enrichment, camaraderie and fun in Nebraska City

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Imagine celebrating Shabbat with your family in the warm, rustic atmosphere of the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City, surrounded by friends and their children, and enjoying camaraderie and kid-friendly activities. Sound good? Then imagine no more: this special retreat will take place on Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9, as Beth El sponsors its second annual Young Families’ Shabbaton.

Themed “I Spy with My Shabbat Eye,” this Shabbaton is geared to families with children ages eight and younger (older siblings are also welcome); all families in the Jewish community are invited for this fun-filled weekend, co-chaired by Mark and Heather Kelln, and David and Holly Weill.

From kindling the candles on Friday night through Sunday good-byes, this weekend getaway is certain to be memorable. Everyone will enjoy the ruach of the lovely Tot Shabbat service, sing-alongs with Cantor Beth Schlossberg and Shabbat-friendly art activities. During the weekend, parents and children can participate in arts and crafts, music, dancing, nature activities and games.

They will also have the opportunity to enjoy the Lied Lodge’s indoor pool, plus the nearby Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure, and other family-friendly offerings in Nebraska City.

Program Director Margie Gutnik is also sending out a request for anyone who would like to help plan this retreat by planning services, preparing activities or baking challah for Shabbat; she also is encouraging family members to help lead services, educational activities, music or dance; or lead blessings at meals.

A special early bird price will be available for all registrations received by May 31: cost will be $125 per family for Beth El members and $150 for non-members.

This fee includes one lodge room, plus all meals and activities – an incredible bargain for a two-night stay at this marvelous venue. After May 31, the cost will increase to $150 for Beth El members and $175 for non-members. Registration deadline is July 3; late registrations will be assessed an additional $25.

To register or for more information about this exciting weekend, please contact Beth El Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or at programming@ bethel-omaha.org.

Funding for Young Families’ Shabbaton has been provided by generous donations from the Herbert Goldsten Trust, the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Supporting Foundation, and The Special Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Federation Foundation.

Beth Israel announces new Board of Commissioners

by BETH COHEN Executive Director Beth Israel Synagogue At Beth Israel’s annual meeting, held earlier this month, the 2009-10 Board of Commissioners was elected.

Alan Kricsfeld has completed the first year of his two year term as President of the synagogue. The Vice Presidents of the synagogue include Guy Matalon as Administrative Vice President, Michael Shrago as Financial Vice President and Sharon Kirshenbaum as Membership Vice President. Other elected officers are Lesley Gendelman as Secretary and Josh Gurock as Treasurer. Guy Matalon was also elected to be the Executive Officer.

Elected board members include: Joshua Follick, Howard Gendelman, Bruce Goldberg, Susan Polack, Bruce Potash, Dani Shrago, Susie Shyken, Jeff Stein and Harry Weiner.

In addition to the elected members, the president of the synagogue may appoint up to six additional board members. To date, Julee Katzman, Mary Sue Grossman and Zoe Riekes have accepted a board appointment.

Bette Kozlen serves on the Beth Israel Board as the Sisterhood representative.

Beth Israel board meetings generally take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the synagogue membership.

May 15, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

IN THE NEWS Toby Schonfeld, Ph.D., has received the College of Public Health’s inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Schonfeld -- associate professor of health care ethics and director of the Center for Humanities, Ethics and Society (CHES) -- received the award during the college’s annual awards dinner.

“Toby strives to be a teacher who continuously improves her teaching and the students’ experience,” said Keith Mueller, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Public Health. “Her student evaluations and glowing letters of reference from current and past students very strongly demonstrate that she always treats her students with respect, challenges their thinking and helps them become better professionals.”

The new teaching award recognizes faculty members who make outstanding teaching contributions each academic year. The award winner is selected by the college’s committee for excellence in teaching.

As part of the award, Dr. Schonfeld will receive a onetime stipend of $3,500 to be used for personal or professional development. In addition, her name will appear on a plaque outside the dean’s office in recognition of her achievement.

In celebration of Tel Aviv’s 100th anniversary as a modern city, the Israel Government Tourist Office for the Midwest Region is sponsoring a photo contest for the most creative birthday greeting to the city.

Participants can download and print a special Tel Aviv birthday road sign from www.goisrael. com/tlvcontest. They should then pose for a photograph with the road sign in front of an interesting site, landmark or creative background, whether in their hometown or halfway around the world. They can enter the contest by uploading their photographs and filling out the online entry form. The grand prize winner will receive two free roundtrip flight tickets from Chicago to Tel Aviv, courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

The contest is part of the larger effort by the Israel Ministry of Tourism to promote Tel Aviv and its many attractions during its centennial year. The Tel Aviv Municipality has put together a full schedule of events

throughout 2009 to celebrate the centennial. The celebration began on April 4 with a large free concert in Rabin Square, featuring the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and a number of renowned Israeli singers.

Upcoming events include a special centennial White Night on May 27, a festival of Jaffa and its history on June 18, and the Centennial Bicycle Ride on Oct. 17.

For more details and a full list of events, visit ww.tlv100.co.il/EN. The contest will run through Sept. 30, and is open to legal U.S. residents 13 years of age and older. A detailed description of the contest, and Official Rules, can be found at www.goisrael.com/tlvcontest.

Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Inc. and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company awarded a $5,000 grant to the Omaha Fire Department to train key personnel involved in fire investigation and public safety. The classroom training will focus on identifying and preventing future gas and electrical appliance fires.

“This is a great opportunity for us to support the community,” said John Lehr, President of Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Inc. “We’re proud to be able to help in such a meaningful way, knowing that the Omaha Fire Department and our community will benefit from our grant to promote training.”

Executives from Grace/Mayer and Fireman’s Fund presented the grant check to Fire Chief Michael McDonnell and firefighters.

The faculty of the Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas-Lawrence has named Omahan Lindsay Belmont as its 2009 outstanding junior majoring in Political Science, awarding her with the Elizabeth and Carl Gustafson Scholarship. This scholarship provides a monetary reward to assist with the honoree’s tuition during his/her senior year.

Belmont was also honored last month by the KU Religious Studies Department as one of three recipients of the Excellence in Hebrew Studies Award for 20082009. This award recognizes a student’s commitment, effort and achievement in Hebrew Studies.

Lindsay is the daughter of Jill and Mark Belmont.

Rob Randels, CFP®, MBA, ChFC, is 2008’s Financial Representative of the Year for the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network of Nebraska.

This award highlights Randels for having a diversified Wealth Management practice serving a variety of financial needs for his clients. Randels is also one of the top investment producers in the country. To date, he has more than $100 million in assets under management.

He began his career with NMFN 17 years ago, and he

has continued to grow the investment program of the Nebraska Network Office by more than 25% annually.

For the past decade, he has been the Senior Investment Specialist and a key player in the organization.

He contributes to the community where he is an instructor at UNO’s College of Business. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, president of the Metropolitan Community College Foundation, board member of Keep Omaha Beautiful, in addition to other organizations. Randels graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a BSBA in Finance and later received his MBA at the University of Nebraska.

Rob and his wife Mary Jo have a 5 year old daughter, Samantha Jo. At its second annual Tribute Dinner, Friedel Jewish Academy will honor veteran teacher Denise Bennett, community leaders Marty and Iris Ricks and Drs. Dan and Yaffa Schuller, as well as corporate s p o n s o r, Bag ‘n Save. Above, representing the supermarket chain are Michael Shrago, left, his parents, Jack and Helene Shrago and their grandsons, Ethan and Noah. To RSVP for the dinner, which will be held on Sunday, May 31, 5:30 p.m., at Beth Israel Synagogue, call Friedel at 334.0517.

MARRIAGE

KRABER/MILDER Julia Kraber and Ken Milder of Scottsdale, AZ were married on May 2 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. The bride, daughter of Martha and Gene Kraber of West Des Moines, graduated from the University of Iowa. She works for Wolter Skluwer. Her attendant was her niece, Erin Kraber of West Des Moines.

The groom, son of former Omahan Adrienne Milder of Santa Monica, CA, and the late Orvel Milder, graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He works for Statera. His attendant was his brother, Andy Milder of Manhattan Beach, CA. He is the grandson of the late Ruth and Joe Rice, and the late Ella and Hymie Milder.

The couple resides in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

To go where no one has gone before The new Star Trek movie has opened nationwide and Trekkies are divided: is it the “spirit and key particulars of Gene Roddenberry’s original” Star Trek television series as one blogger insisted, or is the prequel to the futuristic franchise “so anxious to please an audience… so busy…” that’s it’s not a “memorable” movie?

Viewers can decide for themelves.

Rodenberry’s original series, which only aired for three years, from 1966 to 1969, depicted a confederation of more than 150 planets throughout the Milkway Way Galaxy, and, approrpirately named “The United Federation of Planets.”

With a constitution and representational governance, this “federation” operates with the values of liberty, equality, justice and peace, and cooperates through three branches of government: executive, legislative and a judiciary. The “federation” also operates under the “Prime Directive,” a policy which forbids any member of the “federation” to interfere with a planet that has not yet explored space. It’s supposed to prevent Star Fleet (or the other “federation” space explorers) from creating a situation that could change the outcome of not only that planet, but of the galaxy.

In both the television series and all its movies, there also are numerous references to human rights, a code of law, and a chain of command. And while the opening lines of every tv show and each movie are “to boldly go where no man has gone before,” there is an implication that this urge to eplore space must be done civilly, and with no harmful intent.

Sound familiar? Maybe a mix of Judaism and a little bit American history? Throw in constitutional law, a hopeful idea of what the United Nations could be if it lived up to its charter,

and maybe you’ve got: the Jewish Federation of the future!

Dr. Spock uses the traditional Birkat ha Cohanim, the blessing of the high priests -accompanied by the two-handed spread-fingered with his famous farewell. And of course, both Leonard Nimoy (who played Spock) and William Shatner are Jewish; so is Harve Bennett, the writer-producer of original Star Trek films. So it’s no surprise that values like freedom, education and social justice underly many of the Star Trek scripts.

And our “federation”? It’s the United Jewish Communities -- a merger of the 50-year-old highly branded United Jewish Appeal which rasied the profile and funds for the needs of Jews worldwide and in Israel, and the Council of Jewish Federations, which served local communities throughout North America -- which represents 150 Jewish communities.

While its goal is not to travel the universe “in search of new worlds,” it does provide experts in areas of management, fundraising, governance and the like, helping communities like Omaha, “explore” its future.

And of course, UJC and its member federations are supposed to operate with Jewish values, observing the Jewish holidays, treating its employees, members and

donors with compassion and respect, as stated in its mission -- the Jewish Federation (in Omaha, at least) is “responsible for the continued development of financial, religious, cultural and social well-being of the entire Jewish community.”

As AP writer Ted Anthony noted in his review of the newest Star Trek film: “the mythos must involve a sense of hope about the future, a feeling of deep friendship among the characters and a zest for exploration ... those are fundamental characteristics of the American experience.”

And we would add Jewish, as well.

The ‘next generation’ already is here. The community is now seeing them at the helm of leadership. They will have to figure out how to meet the communal needs of Jewish Omaha and beyond. Indeed, we hope they “boldly go” into the future and its “Final Frontier.”

“Live long and prosper!”

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by DANIEL PIPES

Unquestionably, hiring Steven J. Rosen to become part of the Middle East Forum was the most difficult decision since I founded the organization in 1994.

On the one hand, this 23-year-veteran of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where he served as director of foreign policy issues, offered an unparalleled opportunity to give the Forum a presence in Washington policy-making circles where we hitherto had been absent. At AIPAC, he was responsible for relations with the State Department, the National Security Council, and other Executive Branch agencies. His accomplishments are legion.

The Washington Post noted that “Rosen helped pioneer ‘executive-branch lobbying,’ a style of advocacy that was not widespread when he began it in the mid-1980s, but is now a routine complement to the more traditional lobbying of Congress.”

The New York Times called him “brilliant, energetic and one of [AIPAC’s] most influential employees, with wide-ranging contacts within the Bush administration and overseas.”

National Public Radio’s intelligence correspondent found that he “helped shape [AIPAC] into one of the most powerful lobby groups in the country.” According to Ha’aretz, writing about Rosen just after he left AIPAC, he “is not merely another AIPAC official; in the eyes of many, he is AIPAC itself.”

In addition, Rosen has an academic background, having taught at several universities (Pittsburgh, Brandeis, Australian National), headed Middle East issues for the RAND Corporation, and co-authored a best-selling

...on May 1, came the welcome news that the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its case against Rosen and Weissman. In the words of the Washington Post, this decision amounted to “ a stunning vindication” During extensive consultations with the MEF’s board of governors, I found a consensus on wishing to bring on board so formidable an analyst in his hour of need mixed with apprehension about the criminal case.

Two developments resolved the dilemma for us in September 2008. Our study of the government’s case convinced us of its injustice, shoddiness, arbitrariness, hollowness, and futility. Certain of Rosen’s innocence, the lawsuit against him would not stop us from hiring him.

Second, world events kicked in. Seeing the Iranian drive to get the bomb as the single greatest danger both to the Middle East and to the United States (in the later case, via electromagnetic pulse), we realized that the outgoing Bush administration would not take steps to stop the Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons; and that Barack Obama, with his soft approach

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Standing with Steven J. Rosen textbook, The Logic of International Relations. So, he would fit right in our think tank.

On the other hand, he (along with his AIPAC colleague Keith Weissman) stood accused by the Bush administration of breaching the ominouslynamed Espionage Act of 1917, and faced criminal charges that could have landed him in jail for years. Although he was not accused of spying, his (and our) opponents reveled in calling him an “accused spy”; and, of course, we worried about the ramifications for us if he were found guilty.

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to Iran, would likely win the election.

Accordingly, the Forum in October 2008 began funding Rosen to work on ways to stop the Iranian march to nuclear weapons. He is ideal for the job, having begun efforts to stymie Iranian nuclear ambitions 15 years ago -- long before these became a general concern.

Working behind the scenes, for example, he initiated efforts to develop leverage over Tehran through graduated economic sanctions by securing two presidential orders in 1995, followed by the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 which laid the foundation for all subsequent efforts to bring economic pressure to bear against the Iranian government. He has been active in this arena ever since.

Following the inauguration, the Forum brought Rosen formally on board as a visiting fellow. In his brief time in this capacity, he initiated a Washington Project with his influential weblog, “Obama Mideast Monitor,” and a new publication series called The Policy Forum. Notably, Rosen’s blog started the chain of events that caused Charles Freeman to withdraw his name for consideration as chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

Then, on May 1, came the welcome news that the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its case against Rosen and Weissman. In the words of the Washington Post, this decision amounted to “a stunning vindication” for them. Beyond that, it confirms the limits on arbitrary and prejudicial government actions.

I congratulate Rosen and Weissman and, now that he is unburdened with legal woes, look forward to Steve’s taking up the Iran portfolio with his full attention and renowned effectiveness.

Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. © 2009 by Daniel Pipes. All rights reserved.

Read more at: www.DanielPipes.org.

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May 15, 2009

Apartheid in Israel?

The facts say otherwise

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by REDA MANSOUR

ATLANTA (JTA) -- A few years ago I began an initiative at the Israeli Foreign Ministry aimed at opening a dialogue with Muslim communities in the West. When the first delegations of European and American Muslims started to arrive, they were amazed at the coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Israel.

For many outside of Israel, their perception of the country has been framed by the international media.

They have allowed their opinions to be shaped by a constant stream of pictures and articles with one main idea: Between Arabs and Jews there can be only hatred and violence.

With this mind-set, the delegates traveled to Haifa, Israel, one of the most beautiful cities on Earth, a place where beauty is about more than geography. In Haifa, the Muslim delegations visited a major university with an Arab Muslim vice president and many Arab students.

They went to markets and offices and observed Arabs and Jews peacefully going about their simple daily lives.

The delegations heard the call to prayer of the muezzin. They visited the mosque of the Ahmadi Islamic sect, Muslims persecuted in many parts of the world who have flourished in Israel, and traveled near the world Baha’i religious center, a faith persecuted in Iran. They met some of the more than 100 Islamic family court judges and talked with the imams who provide religious services; both groups are paid by the Israeli government.

In a regular Israeli parliament session, there are an average of 15 Arab members, some of whom are part of self-proclaimed Zionist parties. Israel has Arab members of parliament and in the Cabinet; it has Arab ambassadors and high-ranking Arab officers in the military.

Yet despite examples of diversity like these, some critics persist in trying to apply the terrible adjective of apartheid to the State of Israel. The facts on the ground, however, show nothing even remotely close to a racist system. For while one can claim that Arabs in Israel do not receive enough government attention or investment in their community, or one can argue that the situation for Israeli Arabs is sensitive as a minority in a country that has gone to war with its Arab neighbors, all of these issues are political and have nothing to do with race.

There is no apartheid in Israel. Nor is there apartheid in Gaza and the West Bank. The territories came under Israeli control in 1967 following the Six-Day War, and over the next 20 years Israel controlled them with nearly no security measures: almost no checkpoints, no fences and no controlled roads.

However, during the first Palestinian uprising in 1987 and again during the 1990s, Israel was forced to toughen its security measures. The country had to protect its citizens because the terrorists of Hamas made suicide bombing their tactic of choice and shopping malls, night clubs, schools and hotels their primary targets.

Before the uprising began, more than 120,000 Palestinians worked in Israel. In every Palestinian household there was at least one person who worked in Israel.

The workers entered the country freely and their standard of living was among the highest in the Middle East.

Only after 25 years of controlling the territories and having its citizens targeted by terror did Israel begin to institute the security measures that some are trying to call “apartheid.” That is why it has been so hard to make the charges stick. Israel, like any other country, is not perfect. The country and its diverse population still admittedly face political and security issues. But apartheid? You must be joking.

Israel and the international community are ready for Palestinian freedom and independence. The question is, are the Palestinians?

The greatest problem facing the Palestinians today is not Israel or illusionary “apartheid” but a lack of unified and visionary leadership. Palestinians need to understand that violent action will never yield the results they want and that serving as a useful distraction for the regime in Tehran will never bring prosperity.

The Palestinians need to produce their own Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi -- a leader who will demonstrate to them that nonviolence is a much more successful tool for freedom and coexistence.

Mansour is an Israeli Druze and the current consul general of Israel to the southeastern United States.

Mansour, the author of award-winning poems and short stories, is a longtime activist for dialogue between Israelis and Arabs.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

Zionism 2.0: a primer

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

by ALAN POTASH The days starting with Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur are called the “Days of Awe” to be used as a time of self reflection and introspection. There is another set of holy days in the Spring that I think we need to have a phrase similar to the “Days of Awe,” these holy days are Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikhron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.

These are not biblical holidays per say but they are Holy Days. These are holidays that have been created since Israel became a country. In America, we haven’t quite grasped the full meaning of these days.

The highly controversial anti-Racism conference in Geneva, Switzerland coincided with Yom HasShoah.

Controversial because the goal of this conference was to take off where the conference in Durban in 2001 left off. The first Durban conference turned into an anti-Israel, anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish conference led by Yasser Arafat.

This conference, Durban II kicked off with a keynote speech by Holocaust denier, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In typical form he attacked Israel, the Jewish people and the West. Many were surprised that the UN would start a conference on racism with an individual who refuses to recognize the Jewish State and calls for its destruction. Confirming the skeptics original fears. How can a conference dealing with racism and xenophobia invite an individual who hates Jews, denies the Holocaust and is a homophobe.

The Durban II conference was on April 20 (Hitler’s birthday and a common day for Neo-Nazi celebrations), so I was doubly challenged that the UN would have a known Holocaust denier give the opening speech—one can understand why the countries of Italy, Canada, Israel, Holland, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, the Czech Republic, Australia, Germany and the United States decided not to attend the conference. During Ahmadinejad’s attack on Israel there was a walk out of delegates from western countries.

Durban II and the other conferences on racism are organized by countries who are racist themselves. In 1975, the United Nations passed a motion equating Zionism with racism. It was revoked in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union. This resolution along with the constant attacks on Israel in the UN by Arab, Muslim and other non-aligned countries were designed to delegitimize Israel; paving the way for Israel’s detrac-

tors to call for its destruction. Israel experienced a great deal of abuse in the UN after Israel defeated the disproportionately large armies of its hostile neighbors in 1948, 1967, and 1973.

To call for the destruction of Israel today is to call for the destruction of the Jewish people.

Imagine what the world would like if Iran were to drop a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv. Half of world Jewry would disappear. The distasteful and propagandized posters displayed at demonstrations equated Israel with Nazi Germany and the Holocaust during the war with Hamas was an organized campaign. The boycotts proposed did not simply target Israel, they also targeted Jewish businesses and Jewish institutions.

Synagogues were vandalized, individualized attacked and threatened.

And not one pro-Palestinian demonstration called for the end of rockets falling on innocent civilians in Israel.

The goal was and is designed to dehumanize and marginalize the Jewish world in the eyes of the world.

This is just what Ahmadinejad wants to have happen.

He wants to desensitize the world to Jews and Israel.

So when and if Israel tries to defend itself from Iran’s aggression, no one will come to Israel’s aid and Ahmadinejad will be seen as the conqueror of the “evil Zionist empire.”

As we are celebrating Israel’s 61 years of independence, there is a country calling for Israel’s destruction.

Israel has one enemy on its border still firing rockets into civilian cities and a neighbor to the north that is prepared, when given the order by Iran, to start another attack.

And the world watches and questions whether or not there should even be a Jewish homeland! No where else in the world is another country’s existence questioned or challenged.

No one questions whether or not the Democratic Republic of Congo should no longer be a country (they have killed millions of people), or that Russia should no longer exist (and they have been responsible for killing thousand of Chechens). No one is calling for Sudan to be dismantled, and the president of Sudan is responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousands of Darfurians (President Bashir has been embraced by Ahmadinejad and the Arab league).

There is a double standard being practiced in the world and a Zionism gap in America. Over the past few generations Jews have lost an understanding of why Israel is important to the Jewish people.

Alan Potash is the director of the Plains States Region Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Committee.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha is proud to nominate the following community members for positions of leadership

ELECTION 2009-2010 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 18, 7:30 p.m. • Jewish Community Center 333 South 132nd Street • 402-334-8200 JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA OFFICERS & CHAIRMEN: President ...........................................................................................Robert Lepp Past President ................................................................................Norman Sheldon Vice President ....................................................................................David Gilinsky Vice President ...................................................................................Jody Malashock Treasurer ..........................................................................................Mike Abramson Secretary .............................................................................................Jay Gordman Foundation Chairman ............................................................................Jay Noddle Budget and Allocations Chairman ........................................................Myron Kaplan Building and Grounds Chairman ............................................................Mark Martin Partnership/Overseas Chairman .........................................................Stacey Rockman Community Development Chairman ...................................................Wendy Raffel

ADL/CRC OFFICERS: President ...........................Richard Evnen Past President ......................David Gilinsky Vice President ............Jonathan Rockman Financial Officer .................Michael Levine CENTER FOR JEWISH EDUCATION OFFICERS: President ............Toba Cohen-Dunning Past President .....................Bob Goldberg Vice President ......................Bonnie Bloch Vice President .....................Patrick Jensen Treasurer ............................Susan Langnas JEWISH PRESS OFFICERS: President ..........................Bobbi Leibowitz Vice President .......................Andy Ruback Secretary .......................Michael Sigmond Treasurer ...........................Michael Siegel JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OFFICERS: President .....................Kimberly Robinson ImmediatePast President ..Michael Miller Past President ....................Gary D. Epstein President Elect ........................John Glazer JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICERS: President .................................Jim Farber Past President .......................Bob Belgrade VicePresident.........................Paul Epstein Vice President ..................Howard Epstein Secretary ...............................Carol Bloch Treasurer .............................Andi Willensky

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

Candlelighting Friday, May 15, 8:18 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

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

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

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

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

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

The Neighborhood 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.tiferethisraellincoln.org

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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Lag B’Omer Picnic, noon at the acreage of Ruth and Harold Edelman. They will provide turkey and dressing. Everyone else: please bring a side dish.

Please RSVP to Nancy Wolf at 330.6736.

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Women’s Kabbalat Shabbat, led by Ilana Weiss, runs concurrent to the regular service.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush sponsored

by Alex and Mary Sue Grossman in honor of Daniel’s high school graduation, and by Mayer Jacobovits, in memory of his father and in appreciation of the Beth Israel Minyan; “Guard Your Tongue”, “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up) one hour prior to Mincha, 8 p.m., followed by Seudah Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:26 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Teen Class, 10 a.m.; Sr. NCSY year-end event, 6:30 p.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha, 5:45 p.m.

TUESDAY: Mishnah Club for third, fourth and fifth, graders, 3:45 p.m. at the Blumkin Home; Sisterhood’s Spirits & Spirituality, 7:45 p.m. at the home of Debbie Kricsfeld and led each month by Liat Shyken; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class is cancelled.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Ma’ariv and Hallel, 8:30 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s weekly class is cancelled.

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

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m. During the service, loyal minyannaires will be honored, and will receive a gift from the congregation; Kiddush is sponsored by Beth El; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: Bible Study Discussion Group; and Navigating our Services with Joy led by Susi Frydman-Levin, 10 a.m.; The Mitzvah Club led by FrydmanLevin; and Synagogue skills led by Cantor Schlossberg, 11 a.m.

BESTT: Final day of classes is Sunday. The high school Klezmer class will perform and each class will participate in Maccabiah games in honor of Lag B’Omer.

REMINGTON HEIGHTS VISIT: On Tuesday, May 19, 3:30 p.m., Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg will present a Shavuot program to all Jewish residents at Remington Heights.

Residents’ family members are also invited to attend.

USY: Final banquet is Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Robert Mosenkis in the office, or at youthdir@bethel-omaha. org.

BLUMKIN HOME SHABBAT: On Friday, May 22, 2:30 p.m., Rabbi Levin and Cantor Schlossberg will present a special musical Shabbat celebration for Blumkin Home residents and their loved ones.

S’MORES & SONGS: The front courtyard will be transformed into a campfire for a special familyfriendly sing-along on Sunday, May 24, 7 p.m. Every-one in the Jewish community is invited.

WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Will meet on Tuesday, May 26, at the home of Bev Fellman, 14101 Eagle Run Dr. The 7 p.m. program will feature Aviva Segall, director of the Omaha Area Youth Symphony. To RSVP, contact Fellman at 333.0674 or bbfellman@aol.com.

SHAVUOT: On Thursday, May 28, a traditional Shavuot celebration will feature an entertaining, educational Bible Quiz for attendees of all ages. The evening will begin with 5:30 p.m. services, followed by a dairy dinner at 6 p.m. the program at 6:45 p.m.; followed by the quiz at 7 p.m.

(For more details see the full story on page 6.)

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

FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Biblical Reflections, Find Yourself in The Stories of Genesis, 7 p.m. Enroll now at www. myjli.com, More information, call Chabad or email TorahStudies@ochabad.com.

TUESDAY: W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 9:15 a.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II for ages 7-9, 3:45 p.m.

Please contact shevi@ochabad. com for a pass.

All events and programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Snacks, 6 p.m.; Early Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with child care provided.

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

Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. Contact Deb Swearingen if you have any questions.

SUNDAY: LJCS last day, Grades 1-7 meet at Tifereth Israel; Sanctuary Time, 9:30-10 a.m.; Field Day, Mitzvah Talk and Picnic, 10 a.m.-noon; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon; Yard Sale Donation Drop Off, noon-4 p.m.

TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon.

Temple Yard Sale and Bake Sale is on Thursday, May 21, 9 a.m.6 p.m., and Friday, May 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Miles Remer.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. led

by Cantor Wendy Shermet; Tot Shabbat & Dinner, 6 p.m. led by Cantor Shermet. An informal child-oriented service includes a fun art project. Hosts are Elyce and Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. Cost for dinner is $5 for adults; no charge for children. Please contact the Temple office or mkube@templeisraelomaha.com to make a reservation; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Rabbi Eric Linder.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. Mackenzy Gordman, daughter of Bridget and Kip Gordman, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Teacher Meeting, 9 a.m.; Last Day for Grades K-6, 10

a.m.; End of Year Prayer Assembly, 10 a.m.; WRJ Brunch and Installments, 10:30 a.m. Join us for brunch to welcome new Women of Reform Judaism Board and say thanks to outgoing board members. Cost is $8 for brunch.

TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Board of Trustees, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: “Adult Study with the Clergy” with Rabbi Linder, 10 a.m.

Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m. The congregation is invited for brunch. Several honors, including presidential awards, will be announced. Brunch is $18 per person; the meeting is at 11:45 a.m. Baby-sitting will be available. Please make a reservation by contacting the Temple office or mkube@templeisrael omaha.com by May 26.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Lunch ‘n’ Learn and Talmud study.

SUNDAY: LJCS last day, Grades 1-7 meet at Tifereth Israel; Sanctuary Time, 9:30-10 a.m.; Field Day, Mitzvah Talk and Picnic, 10 a.m.-noon; Hallah High, 10 a.m.-noon; Annual Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

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

Blumkin Home residents show tech savvy during mock election

by OZZIE NOGG Always eager to carry out their civic duty, 15 residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home recently took part in a mock election that evaluated an accessible voting machine.

“We’re interested in determining if all voters can easily accomplish voting tasks using this device,” said Shari Little, Director of Software Product Management & Design for Election Systems & Software (ES&S), the company that designed the voter assist terminal. The usability study at the Blumkin Home did not ‘test’ the participants, but rather tested the machines to provide information on areas that might be improved.

“The residents enjoyed being part of this study,” said Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach programs. “Many of them are Photos from top: Blumkin Home resident technically savvy, and it was Sylvia Swartz and Maggie Conti, Director of fun to see them interact with Activities and Outreach talk about the electhe voting machines and with tion, while Bernie Meyers loads a ballot into the ES&S professionals who the voter assist terminal. were on hand to get the residents’ input. The exercise served a real purpose, because the residents’ responses will help ES&S improve the system that lets under-represented groups -- including the physically disabled and the aging population -- vote independently and privately.”

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

May 15, 2009

This? Or that?

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parshiyot Behar/Behukotai When we have two Sidrot for a single week, we know that it is a matter of completing the Humash within a single Jewish year. If we have a leap year, with four weeks added (as opposed to a single day in the secular calendar), we can separate the parshiyot to fill the year.

But in a year like this one, we find ourselves with the necessity of putting two Sidrot together, whether they like it or not. Or whether we like it or not!

We always try to find a reasonable connection between the two and we seldom fail to find it.

Behar reminds us that the Torah does not shoot out various ideas and plans and laws without a connecting reason. Therefore we are told that what follows derives from Mount Sinai, and everything then, is derived from the so-called Ten Commandments.

In the next Sidra, Behukotai, we are instructed that not only the laws of government, nor even the laws of Nature are separate and individual, they are connected because they came from the Kadosh Barukhu, from the Lord Himself.

We are reminded, though we should not have to be, that there are consequences to our actions. And the Sidra spells it out more specifically than we really need.

If you do THIS, then THAT follows. But if you do THAT, then THIS follows.

Thus, we are taught that this is a connected world and that there is a moral relationship in the events of life.

The connection may not be in the facts of life, but it is in the mind and heart of the doer, for the relationship is moral and ethical and, as I have stated previously, all of it is derived from the will of the KBH. It is a lesson that we should have known from our childhood, because our parents taught us that behavior of one kind brings consequences of one kind and behavior of another kind brings other results.

And yet, the Torah, knowing that we forget what parents teach us, instructs us sharply that if we cannot assure the outcome we wish to achieve, the consequences do fill our hearts and minds.

DEATH JACK H. BUFFERD Jack H. Bufferd died at the age of 96 on May 7 in Boca Raton, FL. Services were held May 10 at the Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home in Fairfield, CT, with interment following at Loyalty Cemetery in Fairfield, of which he was a founding member.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Edith Reinstein Bufferd.

He is survived by his children, Allan and Rhea (Kot) Bufferd of Newton, MA., former Omahans Teddy (Bufferd) and Roy Levine of Littleton, CO, Stuart and Ivy (Tannenbaum) Bufferd of Wheatley Heights, NY; grandchildren, Lauren Bufferd and Cal Fuller, Steven Bufferd and Jennifer Benson, former Omahans Michael and Julie (Gutnick) Levine, Marci Levine, Tracy Bufferd and Sara Bufferd; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Sylvia Malamuth and Anne Shulman, both of Florida.

He served as an Alderman in the Bridgeport City Council, was an officer of Loyalty Lodge #58 I.O.O.F., and served as a lay leader of Congregation Shaare Torah.

During his retirement years in Florida, he was an active congregant at Temple Beth Shalom. And until his later years, he was a regular blood donor, having donated almost 150 units of blood, a contribution noted by the American Red Cross.

Memorials to the Jewish Home for the Elderly 175 Jefferson Street, Fairfield, CT, 06825, or to Temple Beth Shalom of Boca 19140 Lyons Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33434.

CORRECTION Rachel Perelman, daughter of Drs. Michael and Sharon Perelman, became a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 2, at Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego.

She is in the seventh grade at Pacific Ridge, where her favorite subject is math and she plays on the volleyball and basketball teams. She enjoys reading and spending time with her friends.

She has an older sister, Abigail.

Grandparents are Bob and Betty Perelman, and Joan Carroll of Chicago and the late Bob Carroll.

Pope arrives for his first visit to Israel JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Pope Benedict XVI vowed to fight anti-Semitism and called for an independent Palestinian state upon his arrival in Israel.

The pope also invoked the memory of the “millions” of Jews who died in the Holocaust and said he would pray for peace during his five-day visit to Israel, which

“In union with people of good will everywhere, I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties, so that both peoples may live in peace in a homeland of their own, within secure and internationally recognized borders,” he said.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 15

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Left: Following the arrival and official welcome of Pope Benedict XVI at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, he was taken

by IDF helicopter to Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, where he was welcomed by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to the sound of the song “Jerusalem of Gold.” The Mayor presented the Pope with an ancient etching reproducing an ancient map of began Monday morning when he landed in a plane belonging to the Jordanian royal family at Ben Gurion International Airport.

“I come, like so many others before me, to pray at the holy places, to pray especially for peace -- peace here in the Holy Land, and peace throughout the world,” Benedict said during a welcoming ceremony at the airport.

“Sadly, anti-Semitism continues to rear its ugly head in many parts of the world. This is totally unacceptable,” he said. “Every effort must be made to combat antiSemitism wherever it is found, and to promote respect and esteem for the members of every people, tribe, language and nation across the globe.”

The pope then switched his attention to achieving peace between Palestinians and Israel.

Jerusalem which depicts the city as being in the center of the world. Right: The Pontiff also met dozens of Jewish, Christian and Muslim children from three different schools in Jerusalem.

Photo credits: ISRANET

To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return).

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Readers can also submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 15, 2009

Award winners honored at Blumkin Recognition Day

by GLORIA SHUKERT JONES Last month, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home was the scene of Volunteer Recognition Day, an annual event honoring organizations and volunteers who have donated time, resources and services to the Home and its residents.

Following the two annual honorary awards, each community volunteer was introduced to the audience by Lois Wine, Director of Volunteer Services, and presented with either a certificate, framed picture, or a pin, depending upon length of service.

Bob Belgrade, Jewish Senior Services President, received on behalf of the Home, $10,000 donated by LOVE (League Offering Volunteers for the Elderly) from its resident Judy Brookstein. The funds will be used to provide cable services for all the residents.

Wine presented this year’s Lee Jane Parsow Volunteer of the Year award to the Temple Israel Caring Committee, recalling Parsow for her long-time dedication and leadership. Wine told how Parsow, alongside LOVE’s founder, Miriam Simon, helped develop programs to bring the outside world to the residents by creating a garden, hosting singalongs, ceramics, bingo, field trips and LOVE banquets, getting people to sew for the residents, just some of the activi-

ties still in existence today.

Parsow believed that living in the Home should mean more than sitting around, looking at four walls.

Lisa Epstein, left, received the Volunteer of the Year award from Lois Wine on behalf of the Temple Israel Caring Committee.

According to Wine, “This group’s association with the Blumkin Home began in 1996, when Elyce Azriel and Marilyn Mellen called me with a brilliant idea to recruit volunteers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, to substitute for some non-Jewish staff at the Home. The program would be called, ‘Switch Day’. This heartwarming project was overwhelmingly received by the staff, residents and residents’ family members.”

She added, “That first year we had over 150 volunteers working in nursing, housekeeping, dietary, laundry, activities, and covering the receptionist desk. This program has continued to flourish throughout the years, and is still going on with many volunteers from the community calling each year, wanting to be a part of this wonderful Mitzvah Project.”

Epstein and Judy Josephson began a group called the Blumkin Brigade, which makes weekly visits to the Home every Friday. These two women, along with a group of volunteers assemble treat bags

to deliver to residents, spending several hours every Friday making the rounds.

They have catered to individual requests, such as a boom box for a 98year-old resident who wanted to listen to music, or a thick chocolate malt for another resident to satisfy a craving. The Caring Committee comes with goodies and cards for the residents on Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, too.

The group also services members in the community and in the assisted living facilities in Omaha. Bonnie Pfranger is the current chairman. This group will soon be expanding its scope to doing one-onone visits with residents, and will accompany them to family dinners and programs so residents without family members in Omaha, will not be alone.

Said Wine: “The Caring Committee listens -- probably their most important gift. Lisa and Judy and their supporting members feel that ‘we as Jews need to look out for each other.’ They tell their friends at the Home, ‘You took care of us; now let us take care of you.’ The Caring Committee is another extension of the Blumkin Home, and truly enhances the

Receiving the Teen Volunteer Award from Lois Wine on behalf of Creighton Prep is teen representative Mike Cramer, and Dave Lawler, Campus Minister.

quality of life for those they visit.”

The Teen volunteer Award was establishyed by the family of Helen and David Shukert. Wine describes Helen as a “selfless individual whose main goal as a volunteer was to prove to the residents that life goes on, even when you move to a nursing facility. She would take residents out for lunch, helped provide programming, and raised money for equipment.

She was president of LOVE for many years, and was behind many of its efforts even after leaving office.”

Creighton Prep has been involved with the Home for 20 years. Wine recalled that “soon after I started working here, I began receiving the annual phone call from Mr. Swanson, asking if I could use a group of teens on a weekly basis. That decision was very easy.”

She added, “At first, the boys seemed shy, but this only lasted a short time.

Residents and teens continue to visit and tease one another. The boys assist in gathering residents to the tea room for weekly bingo. They soon learn where each resident wants to sit, and lend a hand to those who have a hearing or sight problem. After bingo, they escort the residents back to their rooms or lounges.”

During the year when the Home hosts family dinners, Wine calls upon these teens to help serve. They also assist at Passover seders, escort residents to and from many community concerts. The freshman class spends Retreat Day at the Home, playing games with the residents.

“Creighton Prep students are always courteous, prompt, conscientious, and reliable. It’s a pleasure to have them as volunteers, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with this outstanding teen group,” she concluded.

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 5:00 P.M.

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