May 16, 2008

Vol. LXXXVII No. 36 Omaha, NE

Before moving to Massachusetts

Beth El’s Cantor Bogomolni prepares for final cantor’s concert, ‘Broadway on the Bimah!’

Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

11 Iyyar, 5768

May 16, 2008

Nearly 400 “Walk the Land”

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Gastón Bogomolni came to Beth El in 2002 as the synagogue’s new ritual director. Those six years have proven to be life-changing for the native Argentinean: he and his wife, Lena became parents, welcoming Samuel, now five, and Emmanuelle, three-years-old. In 2003, he was named Beth El’s cantor and was inducted into the Cantors Assembly (the largest cantors’ organization in the world); he produced and released a CD, “Ta’am Latino”; and just last week, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, graduating with honors.

Early Sunday morning, more than 350 members of Omaha’s Jewish community, lead by Rabbi Joanthan Gross, left, and Federation President Norman H. Sheldon, showed up at the Jewish Community Center to kick off Israel Independence Day celebrations on May 4 by participating in a one-mile walk past poster-size murals of Israel. The Afikim Foundation, in solidarity with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF), facilitated this event in more than 100 North American cities. As Yom Ha’Atzmaut progressed throughout the day, another 1000 people passed through the doors of the JCC to enjoy Israeli artwork, photos, jewelry, gifts, olive oil, candles and more provided by area vendors, Middle Eastern food, activities for children and a performance by Kolot Ort. Other events, including the annual B’nai B’rith Trivia Quiz, the Elinor Whitman Library Contest awards, presentation of the Teen Leader Awards, and talks by Omaha rabbis rounded out the day.

Credit: Lisa Lieb, Federation Communications Director More photos on page 9.

Cantor Gastón Bogomolni surrounds himself with playbills, in preparation for his upcoming Cantor’s Concert, “Broadway on the Bimah!” at Beth El on May 19 Upon beginning his duties as cantor, Gastón -- a charismatic whirlwind of talent, energy and enthusiasm -- jumped headfirst into his new position, leading services, teaching B’nai Mitzvah classes, and overall charming the bejeebers out of many delighted folks in the Jewish community. He was only 25 years old at the time.

Over the past five years, Cantor Bogomolni has made Beth El’s annual Cantor’s Scholarship Fund Concert a much-anticipated event in the community, delighting and surprising his audiences with creative, powerful, and always-entertaining programs. Dozens upon dozens of congregants of all ages have had the pleasure of performing in several of these concerts, and each year the event has packed the synagogue sanctuary with audiences averaging 600 people.

On Monday, May 19, 7:30 p.m., Cantor Bogomolni will lead his final Cantor’s Concert, themed “Broadway on the Bimah,” before moving this July to Needham, Massachusetts, (about 20 minutes from Boston), where he will assume the duties of cantor at Temple Aliyah. In a recent interview, the cantor spoke about his upcoming concert, and reflected on his life in Omaha and his time at Beth El. Belmont: This is your last Cantor’s concert at Beth El. How do you feel about this being the final one?

Cantor Bogomolni: The Cantor’s Concert has been a great part of my experience here in Omaha. It has been an event where I’ve always tried to attract audiences by offering a variety of Jewish music from all over the world.

During my stay here, I’ve done five Cantor’s Concerts.

I’ve been very pleased with the money they’ve raised and hope that they’ve been programs that will always be memorable. (The Cantor’s Concert benefits Beth El’s Youth Scholarship Program, which provides opportunities for young people to attend Jewish summer camps, visit Israel or attend a Jewish youth convention.)

Continued on page 4

Inside

Israel getting charged up over future of electric cars

by DINA KRAFT TEL AVIV (JTA) -- In a land of high gas prices and no oil resources, Israel is positioning itself to lead the world into the age of the electric car.

With $200 million in funding from private investors and enthusiastic support from the Israeli government, a young Israeli high-tech multimillionaire, Shai Agassi, is laying the groundwork for Israel to become the first test case for the gasoline-free electric car.

His company is planning to establish a network of battery-recharging areas across Israel by Electric-powered Renault-Nissan 2011. Renault-Nissan will larity in the next few years. begin introducing electric cars to the Israeli market as soon as next year.

“What we are doing is something that should have happened already,” says Dafna Agassi, the marketing director of the Israel office of Shai Agassi’s Project Better Place, which is based in California.

“The consumer pays for gas, and the prices are going up every day. The solution is here: It’s the electric car.”

Given Israel’s small size, dearth of oil resources and location in an oil-rich yet hostile neighborhood, the

This Week: Coverage of Yom Ha’Atzmaut: Page 9

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

Palestinian girl wants to stay in Israeli hospital: Page 2

sedan is one type of electric car Israel hopes will gain popuCredit: Project Better Place Jewish state is an ideal testing ground for the electric auto.

Eager to reduce the country’s dependence on gasoline and reduce car-generated pollution, the Israeli government already has pledged to offer significant tax incentives for buyers of electronic cars. If successful, the electric car venture could make Israel the world’s leader in the industry.

That’s precisely what Agassi and the Israeli government want.

Continued on page 2

Coming Next Month: Father’s Day/Graduation Issue, June 6 Where Are They Now? features man who needs kidney transplant: Page 5

Jewish website column celebrates Israel’s “Six for 60”: Page 11

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

Palestinian fights to keep daughter wounded

by IDF in Israeli hospital

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CLIP & SAVE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, MAY 16 CDC Graduation, 10 a.m.

Friedel Annual Plant Sale, 10 a.m.

Visions Luncheon Meeting, noon Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights Beth El BBQ & Barchu, 5:30 p.m. at Zorinsky Lake

C L I P & S A V E

SATURDAY, MAY 17 BESTT 7th and 12th Grade Graduation, 9:30 a.m.

Out of Sight Saturday Night, 6:30 p.m.

BBYO BEAU Dance, 6:30 p.m.

Yachad Camp Overnight SUNDAY, MAY 18 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Celebrate Freedom Shabbat, 11 a.m. at Temple Israel Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, 1 p.m.

Beyt Shalom Religious School, 1:30 p.m. at JCC Dance Recital, 2 p.m.

Jewish Literature Identity and Imagination, 2 p.m.

Lag B’Omer Family Activity, 4:30 p.m. at Friedel Summer Swim Team Parents Meeting, 6 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 19 JSS Senior Luncheon, 9:30 a.m.

Jewish Book Club Meeting, 2 p.m.

Jewish Press Meeting, 6 p.m.

Beginning Hebrew, 7 p.m.

Cantor’s Concert, 7:30 p.m. at Beth El

C L I P & S A V E

TUESDAY, MAY 20 W.O.W Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Eye on Israel, noon Hebrew Lunch ‘n Learn, 12:15 p.m. at Temple Israel Dance Recital Dress Rehearsal, 4 p.m.

BBYO Rush, 5 p.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

ADL 2008 Youth Leadership Mission Meeting, 6 p.m.

Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Beth El Kadima goes to Premier Gym, 7 p.m.

C L I P &

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 Visions tour of the Federal Reserve, 10:30 a.m.

Know Thyself, Know Thy Christian Neighbors, noon at Temple Israel Parsha for Kids, 3:45 p.m. at Chabad USY Elections, 6 p.m. at Beth El Dance Recital, 7 p.m.

Parsha Roundup, 7 p.m. at Chabad THURSDAY, MAY 22 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Insights and Values from the Torah, noon at Beth El Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Lag Baomer BBQ, 6 p.m. at Chabad Dance Recital, 7 p.m.

LOVE Auxiliary Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Israeli Society Through Film, 7 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel

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

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

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by JONATHAN PULIK Lustigman, is demanding that the Defense Ministry put JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Maria Amin barrels down the its commitment to Maria’s care in writing before he concorridors of the hospital in a wheelchair she maneuvers sents to move her. The ministry has refused, and a hearby using a joystick she moves with her chin. ing in the matter is scheduled for July.

Like many children her age, the 6-year-old watches Lustigman says Israeli checkpoints and chaos in cartoons and loves puzzles, and she talks animatedly Palestinian areas would make it impossible to get Maria with her aunts and uncles in the Gaza Strip using a Web to an Israeli hospital quickly in case of an emergency. camera and an Internet connection.

Transferring her would be a “death sentence,” she says.

Maria has problems speaking, but says she wants to be Dror says the decision to pay for her care is humania lawyer. tarian and does not constitute an Israeli policy to comFor two years, the Palestinian girl from Gaza has spent pensate Palestinian civilians injured in Israeli operations; her days at an Israeli rehabilitation hospital here after Israel does not compensate the victims of “acts of war.” being paralyzed from the neck down by an Israeli He says the ministry suggested Maria’s transfer only airstrike. after her rehabilitative therapy had concluded.

The target of the May 2006 strike -- Islamic Jihad milMaria is among tens of thousands of Palestinians who itant Mohammad Dahdouh, who was responsible for receive care every year at Israeli hospitals. rocket attacks on southern Israeli towns -- was killed by In 2007, Israel issued more than 63,000 permits to a missile, but so were Maria’s mother, older brother and Palestinians requiring treatment in Israeli hospitals, grandmother, who were travaccording to the army unit eling in her uncle’s car just responsible for civilian matters behind Dahdouh. in the West Bank and Gaza, the Maria was thrown from the Coordinator of Government vehicle and now needs a respiActivities in the Territories. rator to breathe. Her father Most Palestinians either pay and doctors at the Alyn for their care privately, or have Pediatric and Adolescent the Palestinian Authority or priRehabilitation Hospital attend vate foundations such as the to her 24 hours a day.

Peres Center for Peace handle Israel’s Defense Ministry the expense. The Peres Center’s sparked a firestorm last year Saving the Children project has when it suggested transferring Maria Amin spends her time at the Alyn Pediatric and financed treatment in Israel for Maria to Ramallah, eastern Adolescent Rehabilitation Hospital in Jerusalem watch- more than 5,000 Palestinian Jerusalem or another Arab ing cartoons, doing puzzles and talking to her family children since 2003.

Credit: Jonathan Pulik But Maria’s case is exceptional locale. Ministry officials said via the Internet. those sites would suit her better than a hospital in Jewish in that the Israeli government is footing the bill.

Jerusalem.

Far from the legal wrangling, every weekday at 6 a.m.

The ministry pays for Maria’s treatment and education, Hamdi dresses and feeds his daughter in her hospital as well as living expenses for her father and brother. room.

Public criticism curtailed that plan, and the govern“I know what my daughter needs better than the docment agreed it would pay for Maria’s treatment at least tors,” Hamdi says as he adjusts Maria’s wheelchair. until the end of this year.

Before Maria was hospitalized, Hamdi worked as a “Israel assumes its responsibility in this case and only construction worker. Now he lives downstairs in a small wants what is best for the child,” Defense Ministry apartment at the hospital with Maria’s younger brother, spokesman Shlomo Dror told JTA. Moman.

Maria’s father, Hamdi, wants to keep his child in In the afternoons Maria, a first-grader, attends a bilinIsraeli hands. He says Palestinian hospitals are not gual Hebrew-Arabic school for Jewish and Arab children equipped to care for his daughter and that transferring in Jerusalem’s Katamonim neighborhood. She already her from Alyn hospital would pose an unacceptable risk has picked up Hebrew in addition to her native Arabic, to her life. impressing teachers with her lively spirit.

“What’s most important is that my daughter gets the Hamdi says he doesn’t dwell on the cause of his care she deserves,” Hamdi said. “I hope that we can stay daughter’s injuries. in Israel. We have met wonderful people here. Jewish “We don’t even think about being angry at those who people visit us; army officers visit.” did this to Maria,” he says. “I am a Muslim. I believe Hamdi, who is represented by Israeli attorney Adi that God gives and God takes away.”

C L I P & S A V E

Israel charged up over electric cars Continued from page 1 “Think about what happened with Finland and Nokia industry,” Dafna Agassi said of the mobile phone phenomenon. “We are starting the field here. Imagine bringing this to other countries and the potential impact is huge.”

The cars will run on lithium-iron batteries, provided

by Project Better Place, that should last for about 124 miles before needing to be recharged. This should suit the typical Israeli driver, who on average drives fewer than 45 miles per day. For longer trips, battery swap stations will serve as a safety net, the company said.

“Environmentally, I thought it’s the best idea I’ve ever heard of, and secondly it made a lot of financial sense,” said Idan Ofer, a leading Israeli businessman and the project’s main investor.

Ofer spoke to JTA by phone from his SUV, which he says he plans to trade in for an electric car next year.

By “deploying faster than any other country on the planet,” Israel will map out and discover the best ways to implement the electric car system, he said. Project Better Place can then take that know-how to other countries and traffic-clogged cities.

Ofer says he plans to bring the idea to China, where he has shares in a local car company.

Renault-Nissan will be the first to bring its electric cars to Israel, but the market soon will open to other companies.

“Zero emission, zero noise,” Renault-Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said when he was in Jerusalem in January to inaugurate the project. “It will be the most environmentally friendly mass-produced car on the market.”

Although electric cars are expected to reduce emissions and make Israeli cities quieter, they will still use fossil fuels. For the time being, the power stations that supply energy to the recharging points will run mostly on coal and oil.

“As I understand it, it has no relation to alternative energy,” said Micha Asscher, a professor of physical chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “It’s a nice idea that our cars will gradually be driven by electric power -- for the quiet and less pollution in the cities -- but it is not alternative energy.”

By contrast, in Denmark -- which signed on to the project after Israel -- power stations are fueled at least in part by wind power.

According to Ofer, whose family holdings include oil refineries, Israel is making a gradual transition to more environmentally friendly sources of energy for its power stations, including the country’s most plentiful resource -- solar power.

The major expense of an electric car is its battery. To tackle that challenge, Project Better Place is establishing a battery charging payment system similar to the way customers pay for the air time on their cellular phones.

Car owners will not own their batteries. Those who purchase cars will pay monthly fees based on their expected mileage. Cars will be recharged both via plugin charge units at malls and parking garages, and some 100 battery replacement stations along highways, where batteries will be replaced for longer journeys.

Shai Agassi was in Israel last week showing off the latest version of the electric car and offering test drives to members of the media.

May 16, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

What’s behind Kadish arrest? For now, only speculation House had planned to use several Israeli intelligence

by RON KAMPEAS in Annapolis, Md. WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Is it connected to the clas“It’s not easy trying to conduct policy in Washington officers to provide evidence on the alleged Syrian nuclear sified-information case against two former AIPAC when you know that there is a powerful pro-Israel con- program that was bombed on September 6, 2007,” he staffers? A bid to pressure Israel to concede more to the stituency out there that says otherwise,” said Lenny ben- wrote. “It is now unlikely that Israeli intelligence officers Palestinians ahead of a new round of peace talks? David, a former Israeli diplomat and a former AIPAC will allow themselves to be questioned because they Connected to the murky circumstances of Israel’s mys- staffer. “One reoccurring tactic is to try to whittle sup- would almost certainly be asked about Israeli spying on terious airstrike in Syria last September? port for Israel. So we get the occasional story of a spy, of the U.S.” As for Kadish, if the complaint sheet filed by FBI For now, the main question surrounding the case of weaponry sales to China, and it serves to whittle away agents is true, Kadish may have set his own trap by Ben-Ami Kadish, the octogenarian New Jersey man the U.S.-Israel relationship.” arrested this week for allegedly sharing classified inforAnother theory suggests that Israel might have leaked accepting a phone call on March 20 from his alleged formation with Israel decades ago is: Why now? the information implicating Kadish in a bid to head off mer Israeli handler, Yosef Yagur.

According to the complaint, Yagur called just hours The charges against Kadish are serious. He is after Kadish apparently had been truthful with invesaccused of having shared with his Israeli handler U.S. tigators in a first interview and urged Kadish to lie in nuclear secrets, plans for combat aircraft improvesubsequent interviews. The call was recorded. ments and missile defense information.

Kadish allegedly lied in the March 21 interview, But they should be way past their due date: The saying he had not spoken with Yagur -- extending a statute of limitations on the charges is 10 years, unless conspiracy that otherwise ostensibly had ended in they incur the death penalty. Prosecutors have yet to November 1985 to the March 20 phone call. say whether or not they intend to pursue the death Yagur, who is not charged in the Kadish case, also penalty against Kadish, who has not been indicted. had received classified information during the same Some Jewish community leaders are asking whether time period from Jonathan Pollard. A civilian U.S. Kadish’s arrest is part of an attempt by federal agents Navy analyst, Pollard was convicted of spying for to influence the outcome of the classified-information Israel and sentenced to life in prison. case against two former senior staffers for the There are signs the FBI initially was not seeking American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Steve Kadish’s arrest. The complaint sheet emphasizes his Rosen and Keith Weissman. candid cooperation in the initial interview and notes Rosen and Weissman were indicted nearly three that the agents chose not to hand Kadish a subpoeyears ago for allegedly sharing classified information na they had obtained from a grand jury -- a sign they on Iran and terrorism with journalists, colleagues and viewed him as cooperative and not a target.

Israeli diplomats. But the case against the pair has yet to come to trial in large part because Judge T.S. Ellis Ben-Ami Kadish, who allegedly spied for Israel, leaves the federal court- Even now, it’s not clear the FBI sees Kadish as a III has limited its scope to proving that the defen- house in Manhattan on April 22, after being freed on $300,000 bond. serious target: The agency did not object to bail set Credit: Ben Harris at a relatively low $300,000, allowing him to go dants harmed U.S. interests with their alleged actions.

Assisting Israel in of itself is not a crime, Ellis said. The congressional inquiries into its Sept. 6, 2007 airstrike on free.

So if the FBI approached this as a case that might not judge also is allowing defendants to call senior Bush Syria. administration officials, including U.S. Secretary of State According to this theory, espoused this week in the have even obtained a criminal conviction, the question Condoleezza Rice, to testify. Those obstacles have led American Conservative by former CIA agent Philip remains: Why now?

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the government to file a rare pre-trial appeal with the Giraldi, conservative Republicans in Congress and in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. Bush administration want to use information implicating Southern New York, which is prosecuting the case, One Jewish communal leader who spoke to JTA on Syria and North Korea in nuclear weapons cooperation declined further comment.

Tom Case, a State Department spokesman, would say condition of anonymity said the Kadish arrest constitutes to tamp down outreach to both countries. an attempt “to taint the objectivity of jurors ahead of the Anonymous sources from the State Department told only that the government takes such acts seriously, trial” by creating an impression that spying for Israel has The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/ whenever they happened. been pervasive.

2008/04/24/world/asia/24korea.html?scp=9&sq Other U.S. Jewish leaders speculated whether the =north+korea&st=nyt on Thursday that this was why motive for the Kadish arrest was political, to give the administration decided to release video evidence EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE President Bush more leverage in pressing Israel in Thursday of North Koreans working at the Syrian site The Jewish Press will be closed on Monday, May 26, for Israeli-Arab peace talks. Bush will be traveling to the just before it was destroyed by Israel’s airstrike.

Memorial Day, and Monday and Tuesday, June 9-10, for Giraldi suggested that Israeli doves who support Middle East next month for Israel’s 60th anniversary, Shavuot.

The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is 9 and Israel has yet to agree to attend a summit in the Israel-Syria negotiations leaked the information on a.m. as follows: Egyptian coastal city Sharm el-Sheik in the third week of Kadish to create a distraction and scuttle efforts to furIssue Deadline ther isolate the Assad regime.

May. May 30 Wednesday, May 21 “The leak of the information at the present time is The president’s lame-duck status has hobbled his effectiveness, and he is eager for progress in Israeli- believed to be linked to proposed closed congressional June 13 Tuesday, June 3 Palestinian peace talks he helped relaunch last November hearings at the end of this month in which the White Questions? Call 402.334.6448

Friedel Jewish Academy Tribute Celebration

Honorees: Julie & Dr. Eric Phillips Cookie Katskee Donald Gerber 5:30-6 6-7:30 7:30-8:30

June 1, 2008

5:30-8:30 p.m.

Beth Israel Synagogue 12604 Pacific Street

Welcome Reception • An Unforgettable Performance by & Silent Auction Special Musical Guests!

Dinner & Awards • Fabulous Raffle Prizes Including Raffle & Entertainment Judaica from Borsheims

In the spirit of Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day); Join us as we honor terrific people and support a truly fabulous school!

For questions, please contact Bruce Potash at 934-5908

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

Cantor Bogomolni prepares for final concert Continued from page 1 Belmont: Each of your Cantor’s Concerts has been unique: do you have a favorite?

Cantor: I’ve always enjoyed the concerts that we’ve done with congregants and local performers.

‘Pop Goes the Cantor’ was my first one, and I will always cherish that one more The many faces of Gastón Bogomolni. than the others. It was a way for me to directed and collaborated with Cantor on get more familiar with our congregation several Beth El musical productions) and and the community. Before I became can- many other congregants.

I wanted to show that being the cantor tor, I had been in Omaha for a year, but is not just liturgical or classical, and that we doing this program really established my could have fun with pop music, Broadway relationship with Joanie (Jacobson, who

I came to Omaha and had to review and rock.

We brought and study for the cantor’s proficiency test many congre- -- an eight-hour test -- to join the gants togeth- Cantor’s Assembly. I studied for an er for that English proficiency test to be admitted to performance. the university and I studied for my bachAnother one elor’s degree. I’ve learned a lot.

It’s funny that as I prepare to leave, I’m of my favorites was when done studying. I’m leaving with kids, a we brought degree and as a member of the Cantor’s back Beth Assembly. (Since joining, Bogomolni has El’s past can- been recognized for his work: two of his tors and we performed together --what musical submissions for the Assembly’s Spirit Series CDs were included.) an amazing memory for everyone.

One of the reasons I wanted to move to Belmont: Why will this last concert be special and why do you encourage the the United States was because the center of the cantorial world is here -- not in community to attend?

Cantor: This last performance is more Israel, South America or Europe. So we selective because there will be only three moved from Spain so I could grow as a singers and one keyboardist. It’ll be fun cantor -- to have more opportunities, go as we offer a great combination of three to conventions and have access to books different singing styles. I’ll be sharing the and scholars in this field. I think that I’ve stage with very talented people: I have achieved that here.

I discovered so much through books performed with Jonathan (Rathsam) for various occasions, and for the last six about the history of Jewish music -years, Jeff (Taxman) and I have wanted to books I never had access to before. And do a concert together. Then we recruited through these books, I discovered my Brent (Spivack), who is an amazing key- deep love for the Jewish musicology field. board player, and decided that perform- I discovered a whole new world. I loved ing Broadway selections would be a great knowing about every single piece I had been singing -- I knew the names of comway to close out my Cantor’s Concerts.

I encourage everyone to come because posers and why they composed in a parBroadway music is a great musical genre ticular way -- the background, the roots. established in the United States and we’ll I discovered all of this in Omaha.

I’ll always be thankful to this communihave a great selection of songs and some fun surprises with re-vamped lyrics. This ty, to Beth El, and also to the Jewish will be a great way to see Jonathan and Federation for the scholarships they me perform together for the last time, granted me, which allowed me to pursue and to see Jeff -- who doesn’t perform my studies. I’ve been very lucky to have a great congregation, great lay leadership, often anymore -- onstage.

Belmont: Do you plan to continue cre- and a very good partnership with Rabbi ating these great musical productions for Mordechai Levin and everyone else at the synagogue. your new congregation?

Cantor: Yes. Actually, one of the reasons I was first attracted to Temple Aliyah is that I was made aware of an event they present once a year called “Cabaret.” When I saw that the congregants put this on by themselves, I was very impressed by the participation, enthusiasm and talent.

I had the same feeling with my relationship with Beth El. My memories of ‘Pop Goes the Cantor,’ and ‘The Memorable Beth El Cantor’s Concerts include 2004’s Pop! Best of Beth El’ and all the Goes the Cantor, shown above, and 2005’s program, featurother productions we’ve ing Cantors Ray Edgar, Bogomolni, Emil Berkovits, Wendy Credit: Ophir Palmon done are reminiscent of what Shermet and Chaim Najman.

Belmont: What excites you about your this new congregation offers.

I saw videos from Temple Aliyah and move to the Boston area?

Cantor: Professionally speaking, I’ll be thought, “That’s a great congregation!

They’re very involved and very talented, surrounded by more cantors. I’ll be near just like at Beth El!” So, yes, I’m looking Hebrew College, where maybe I’ll have forward to doing something similar. I the opportunity to teach. I will be closer also look forward to coming back to Beth to New York, where the Cantors El at some time and doing a concert with Assembly is headquartered and will have opportunities to attend major cantors’ your new cantor!

Belmont: How have your years in concerts and meetings. Being in a larger Omaha and at Beth El impacted your life? city will offer more opportunities for Cantor: Undoubtedly, coming to Lena, and will offer our children more Omaha to work, settle down and have diversity. They’ll see more of this counchildren shaped us in a lot of different try’s melting pot, surrounded by this hisways. It was a great way for me to get to torical and cosmopolitan city. This will be know American culture and the Midwest; another stage in our lives and it will be a it was also a great opportunity for me to wonderful new chapter. understand American Jewry more inBelmont: Will you keep in touch with depth. I had a good idea, but it’s very dif- us here in Omaha? ferent when you work in the Jewish comCantor: (Laughing) Of course! Do you munity every day. I had come from other want my Facebook ID? communities -- the Dominican Republic, Tickets and categories are: Sondheim, Spain and Argentina -- which have totally $5,000 (18 tickets); Sherman, $2,500 (14 different synagogue systems. So this has tickets); Hammerstein, $1,000 (10 tickets); Bernstein, $500 (8 tickets); Brooks, been a great experience.

For me, besides all the great and beau- $250 (6 tickets); Loesser, $100 (4 ticktiful people, the various friendships we ets); Meehan, $50 (2 tickets); Hamlisch, established, the community itself and all $36 (2 tickets), single tickets, $18. Send the cherished moments I have, the other a check to Cantor’s Concert, Beth El, thing I’ll always remember is that I never 14506 California St., Omaha NE 68154; tickets will also be available at the door. stopped studying while I lived here.

May 16, 2008

Former Omahan on waiting list for new kidney and worked at Alliance’s famed Hollywood Bowl Peace Sunday’s, which year after year remained a focal point for special entertainment and special peace speakers.

Later, Andy went on to start some other peace organiby SHELLEY SMITH zations on his own.

For those who have lived all or at least most of their Bats Not Bombs was Andy’s brainchild in the midlives in Omaha, Nebraska, moving away may seem 80s. He arranged good-will baseball games with daunting. Our city can seem safe, comfortable, and American and Nicaraguan and Cuban National baseball secure. teams during the U.S. war on Nicaragua. Actors Martin However for Andrew Liberman, age 57, the relocation Sheen, Edward Asner, and Kris Kristofferson and others was an adventure. Always loving a challenge, Andy had helped Andy raise the monies needed for this venture. been lucky enough to travel the world.

His unique idea came out of watching College World “Because my father, Cappy, regularly won trips in the Series in Omaha for many years. appliance business being the super salesman he was, I Bats Not Bombs was written about in the New York got to go to the Caribbean, to Mexico, and to Brazil at Times, the International Herald Tribune, and USA an early age. I’m grateful to my parents for many Today. During the course of that program Andy had the things.” opportunity to travel to Nicaragua three times on good So when the chance to move from Omaha to Los will efforts arranging the more games in California and Angeles with his family in 1975, Andy relished the in Mexico and Central America. opportunity. Born in Omaha in 1950 to Cappy and More recently, Andy spearheaded Coffee House Minda Liberman, he and his brother, Keith, 65, and sis- Teach-Ins during the Gulf War, organizing peace powter Jann, 54, all three have strong ties to the Midwest wows and entertainment in California-area coffee houswhile residing in LA. Although he loves the sun and es. During the past two elections, Andy worked for the mild weather of Southern California, Liberman has fond election of Ralph Nader of the Green Party. Andy has memories of his Omaha childhood. also taken part in countless peace ralHe particularly remembers the thick, lies in Los Angeles and San juicy steaks at Ross Steak House, the Francisco, since having first marched sheer beauty of forest at Elmwood against the Vietnam War in San Park, sledding down the snowy hills Francisco in l969 while a student at of Memorial Park in the winters, and the University of California. working at the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack Now Andy spends some of his time in the summer. volunteering at Franklin Canyon Liberman says, “My uncle, Willard National Park helping in the Nature Friedman, always said Omaha is a Center office which gives him great gem. He’s right. In retrospect, satisfaction working with other volOmaha is a wonderful place to grow unteers there. He comments, “Our up.” Andy still remains a staunch park is a relatively unknown jewel Nebraska Cornhusker football fan, even to Angelinos. It’s a real find. never missing an article on his When I can’t get away camping, beloved team.

Franklin Canyon is the best.”

Although the games are only Former Omahan Andy Liberman under the Unfortunately, Liberman has been sometimes televised on the West Santa Monica Pier, last winter. on dialysis for the past several years coast, Liberman always checks the internet and newspa- due to renal failure. This has prevented him from doing per for the NU statistics and details. When coach some things like engaging in any long-term journey Callahan was fired and Bo Pellini was hired, Andy defi- away from L.A. Having been on a donor list for a kidnitely stayed close to the news. Andy is now following ney, Liberman remains optimistic. He has been on the the recruiting travails of the team. list for a kidney in Los Angeles and in the San Diego area Through the years in California, Liberman has been for the past four years. very active in the international peace movement. He has He maintains,”You only have one life so I have learned been to England and Europe visiting peace centers: to to pace myself.” Once he has a new kidney, Andy envithe women’s anti-nuclear peace outpost at Greenham sions many new travel endeavors for the future. For the Common, to the Faslene Peace Camp in the north of present, Andy Liberman appreciates his life and work. the UK, to peace center churches in London and the He does hope, eventually, to return to Omaha and his Netherlands that were active in the anti-war/anti- roots. nuclear movement.

Andy lives in Santa Monica, with his girlfriend Kathy Andy helped found the Southern California Alliance Mctaggart, a marriage and family therapist, their fourfor Survival in the l980s, which was one of the largest year-old chihuahua-mini pincher, Crickett, and a toranti-nuke organizations at the time. He helped planning toise named Tank.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Chabad’s last Bedtime Story ends series

by SHEVI KATZMAN for Chabad House The recently launched Bedtime Storytime program will complete its successful series this year on Tuesday, May 20, 6-7 p.m. at the Chabad House.

The upcoming event is chaired by Aviva Segall and Annette van de KampWright. To be permitted entrance to this free event, participants must be wearing pajamas. Nancy Rips, who will Becca Denenberg looks forward to getting be reading the together with friends to listen to a story Jewish story on next Tuesday.

May 20, loves the frequent scheduling of the event and notes, “You can never have too much of a good thing!”

Veteran moms Segall and Wright know that healthy

snacks, a fun craft, and an interactive educational story are essential ingredients to captivate young minds and teach them about how to deal with challenges they may encounter in their lives. The hour-long session will focus on the upcoming holiday of Shavuot and the special gift received from G-d.

This program is sponsored by Mishpacha U n i v e r s i t y, dedicated to providing young, Jewish families with the tools to get degrees in Storyteller Nancy Rips reads a story with Jewish love and the pictures from the book projected on learning. For the wall behind her. more information or to RSVP, call Carol at 330.1800 or e-mail shevi@ochabad.com. Reservations are appreciated but not required.

To order a gift subscription to the Press...

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May 16, 2008

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In Tel Aviv, don’t judge bus depot by the awful building Those who actually wanted a giant ashtray didn’t have

by JACOB SAVAGE TEL AVIV (JTA) -- The consensus about the Tel Aviv far to look: a third-floor shop is devoted solely to ashCentral Bus Station is that it is the worst building in trays -- ornate, Mickey Mouse, checkerboard or otherIsrael, if not in the entire world. At nearly 2.5 million wise.

At best, the bathrooms are cleaned infrequently. At square feet it is, for no apparent reason, the largest bus the entrance to the restrooms, which require one shekel station on the planet.

The Israeli daily, Ha’aretz, published an article for admission but are nearly impossible to find, crowds recently about how most of Israel’s leading architects gather around as invariably three middle-aged men try believe the station should be demolished. It probably to sneak through the same turnstile simultaneously to should be. avoid paying the extra shekel. Somehow I wind up payBut the bus station might just be my favorite place in ing that shekel.

Israel.

Subcultures have embraced various corners of the The building is plagued by pathological dysfunction: building. Some storefronts are exclusively in Thai, some escalators skip floors; the ground slopes up and down at in Russian, some in English. Of course there is Hebrew, steep angles, bringing riders to enclaves of half-floors; which in much of the station seems almost like an afterneon signs point you to other neon signs that more thought. often than not return you, exasperated, to your original A mini Asian town has formed inside the bus station. location.

A two-story advertisement for Cellcom, the Israeli Construction on the bus station began in 1967, but mobile phone company, features a Thai woman posed because of myriad problems the building wasn’t com- on her cell phone and text in Thai. Asian supermarkets, pleted until fast food noodle 1993. Of the joints and remitstation’s seven tance agencies floors, the top have signs two are devoted incomprehensito the buses -ble to most signs designate Israelis. the bottom two The Russians floors, seemingly have an even abandoned, for larger niche, with “Parkings.” at least four From the bookstores, sevfourth-floor eral tattoo parpromenade you lors and a body can see down to oil shop. Russian the third floor might be the and to the street building’s lingua exit -- the exit is franca.

People wait at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. tantalizingly The Ethiopians Credit: Ynhockey/Creative Commons have close -- but you their just can’t figure out how to get to the third floor.

“Ethiopian style” hair salon, cosmetics stand and More than a thousand shops and stands in the station restaurant. A store sells Rasta clothes, Jamaican flags, sell anything and everything: lingerie, shoes, Tibetan Ethiopian music and T-shirts that read “I Love trinkets, hookahs, cell phones. There are tailors and Ethiopia.” beauticians, jewelers and tattoo artists. It’s a bazaar of People watchers have no better place. Soldiers come the bizarre. A row of perfume shops flanks the and go on leave. Religious Ashkenazim try on jewelry.

McDonald’s, a woman sells tomatoes from a clothing Ethiopian teenagers walk hand in hand. Heavy-set, eldshop that features oversized bras and fast-food workers erly Russian women mumble to themselves as they try smoke cigarettes in one hand as they serve your food on bras. American tourists beg for directions to the eluwith the other. sive bathrooms. An elderly Arab woman sells olives. A The building is also something of a cultural center, harried Russian cleaning lady yells at a shopkeeper for with bookstores and art schools and travel agencies. It’s littering, wearily sweeping her broom. The owner of a an enormous market, a pastiche of Israeli society at its juice stand ignores the waiting customers as he chain weirdest and most vibrant. smokes and finishes his game of backgammon. KipahThe holy and the profane mix with comic irony. clad Sephardim buy knock-off Lacoste polo shirts as Earnest Chabadniks wrap tefillin under a large poster of they talk on cellphones. Israeli punks and Goths mill the rebbe’s smiling countenance within spitting dis- about among dog walkers. tance of the Eros Sex Boutique. A synagogue and a Walking around the Central Bus Station, I’ve found a Center for Family Safety sits near a pool hall and seedy peculiar kind of comfort. If all these people – Arabs and arcade. The arcade isn’t exactly kid friendly; the ubiqui- Jews, religious and secular, Ashkenazim and Sephardim, tous mechanical claw fishes not for stuffed animals but Russians, Ethiopians and Thai -- can coexist, however cigarettes. uneasily, amid this dysfunctional riot of petty capitalism The range of graffiti is startling, everything from and bus fumes, then maybe Israel as a whole has hope. scratched-out Jewish stars to the popular “punk is The scene has a strange beauty, a sort of gritty and dead” to “Am Yisrael Chai,” the nation of Israel lives. defiant charm. On the one hand this is Israel at its Arriving at the bus station from one of its many worst: a nation beset by strikes and internal discord, by entrances -- there are egresses to at least five streets -- fantastic and nearly fatal design flaws. But against all sounds assault you from all directions: the pizza place odds, the bus station works. In the end the bus station blasts Israeli techno and trance, the Tibetan head shop is Israel -- as multicultural, as fascinating and as tranpumps out Bob Marley, the Russian bookstore plays scendently weird as it gets. something undescribable.

Smoking, Israel’s favorite pastime, used to be permitJacob Savage is a graduate fellow at the Shalem ted inside, so the bus station smelled like a giant ashtray. Center in Jerusalem.

Beth Israel’s Sisterhood to host spring luncheon

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Beth Israel’s Sisterhood will hold a spring luncheon on Wednesday, May 21, 11:30 a.m. The luncheon will feature a special hat show, coordinated by Shirley Goodman.

“The hats are coming from a woman in Chicago,” said Goodman. “Her business is called ‘Hats by Susan’ and she will ship the hats to us for the show. These hats are all from Israel, made by Israeli manufacturers. We’ll have them on display and everyone will have fun, trying them on.”

Bravada’s Wig Design will also do a demonstration,

arranged by Sisterhood Co-President Bette Kozlen.

“This will be an opportunity for everyone to see the latest styles in wigs,” said Kozlen.

Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend the luncheon. According to Sisterhood Co-President Julee Katzman, “We’re going to have a great program.

And with some of our ‘snowbird’ members now back in Omaha, this is a great opportunity to get back together, socialize and catch up.”

The cost for the “spring salads” meal is $8 per person. Babysitting is available by reservation, at no charge. To RSVP, please call the synagogue office at 556.6288.

May 16, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

Dr. Kader shares Holocaust memories with Friedel students

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT On Friday May 2, Friedel students, staff and parents attended a Holocaust memorial service in the Riekes Shul, after which the third through sixth graders visited with Dr. Fred Kader. He spoke at length about his experiences as a hidden child during WW II. Dr. Kader was born in Belgium in 1938, and just four years later found himself at the Antwerp station.

Together with his mother, he waited to board the train to Auschwitz, when she suddenly told him to walk out of the station. With his blonde hair and blue eyes, she thought he might have a chance, as long as he didn’t get on that train. He did what she told him, and was rescued by a Catholic nun; he never saw his mother again.

“Survivors will not be around for much longer,” Dr. Kader told his audience, “so it is very important to remember stories like mine for the next generation.

Survivors don’t need to remember; we were there. The next generation needs to remember not to forget.”

Dr. Kader explained to his listeners what it was like to exist in an orphanage during the war years in Belgium.

He and many other children would miss that train two more times, thanks to the intervention of righteous gentiles. When the war came to an end, his uncle came and found him. He was eventually adopted by an aunt in Montreal, far away from the streets he wandered alone as a four-year-old.

“Dr. Kader communicated his story with a quiet dignity, warmth and a desire to maintain history,” principal Cookie Katskee said. “Because he was an obedient child and because righteous Gentiles cared enough to risk their lives, his life was spared. His grace makes him someone worthy of imitation.”

“Remembering the Holocaust is a fight against indifference,” Dr. Kader told the students. “Very few people in Belgium cared enough to help, and the few that did were murdered by the Nazis.” He went on to say that

ers,” he said. Dr. Kader himself is a neurologist.

Beth Seldin Dotan, Director of the Institute for Holocaust Education, was impressed with Dr. Kader’s words. “He was so real. He showed his emotion, and shared his deep gratitude for the sacrifice his mother made to let her son go when she knew she would meet her death. He spoke about the incredible courage she must have faced and how there were good individuals amidst the horror who helped save a little boy,” Dotan said.

“Dr. Kader truly brought home the message that each person must be good and kind to those around him, and show the courage to stand up for what is right. His soft, gentle manner had the students mesmerized -- they drank in every word of his testimony and his message. I was very touched as always by the Friedel students’ tenderness when asking their Dr. Fred Kader, who was a hidden child during World War II in Belgium, addresses a group poignant questions,” she of third through sixth graders at Friedel. added.

90% of formerly hidden children went on to work in the Dr. Kader left the students with the message to medical field, social services, and education; the remain- “become good citizens of the world, be kind to others, der became artists. and stand up for what you believe in. Part of remember“There is a strong urge among all of us to help oth- ing is not ignoring the bad things when they happen.”

ORGANIZATIONS YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Take a musical journey with Jonathan Rathsam and Esther Wax on Monday at the JCC. Lunch is served at noon for $7 per person and the program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Join us for bingo with Miles Remer at 10 a.m. Call Teresa at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Come to the Yiddish meeting at the JCC on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. If you have any Yiddish books to donate, please call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

VISIONS Reminder: Visions Luncheon Meeting is Friday, May 16, 12:30 p.m. at Caniglia’s Venice Inn. Members will be entertained by a sensational preview of South Pacific by the Omaha Community Playhouse performers, along with the Musical Director, Jim Boggess.

Reminder: Visions invites you to tour the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank (please use Farnam Street entrance) on Wednesday, May 21, 10:45 a.m., followed by Lunch at Katie’s Greek Restaurant. Cost is

$12.50 per person. Send reservations today to Sissy Silber, 311 Oakridge Ct., Bellevue, NE 68005.

Questions? Call Doris Alloy at 697.8709 or Sissy at 292.8062. For transportation, call Florence Hauss at 571.4583.

Visions members are invited to the 2008 Ride to Remember on Friday, May 23. Join motorcyclists from around the country in support of the National Holocaust Endowment Fund (NHEF). There is no charge for all events to participants. Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. at the JCC. Depart at 10:30 a.m. from the JCC by bus to Wyuka Cemetery and the Holocaust Memorial in Lincoln. Lunch and a short program begin at 1:15 p.m. at the Nebraska Champions Club at UNL. Call Betty Sanford at 399.2001 for information and reservations. Deadline for Reservations is May 16.

Limited seats so call today.

JEWISH SENIOR SERVICES JSS presents Memories of Elvis in Concert with special guest appearance of Marilyn Monroe on Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m., at the JCC. There is no admission fee.

The concert is a fast paced Las Vegas-style stage produc-

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CAFE LUNCH: MONDAY-FRIDAY 11:00-2:00

tion capturing the essence of Elvis from 1969 to 1973 at the peak of his career. Costumes are exact replicas of those worn by Elvis. For transportation to the JCC call Maggie Conti at 334.6521. All are welcome - bring a friend.

Iowa Western Community Band presents Sensational Summer Sounds on Wednesday, June 25, 7 p.m., at the JCC. There is no admission fee. Iowa Western Community Band is a concert band of students and community people. The band has performed in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area for over 25 years.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS PRIDE OMAHA leaders Marj Grove and John Friedman will speak at Breadbreakers on Wednesday, May 21, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Marty Ricks, chairman. PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. is one of the few original grassroots parent/community drug prevention organizations in the United States that remains dedicated to preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by children. All men and women in the community are invited to attend. The program is free. An optional buffet lunch is $13 and beverage service only is $3.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

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ALLAN Handleman Call Allan at 402.334.6451 or email: ahandleman@jewishomaha.org

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May 16, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Nearly 400 “Walk the Land”

More than 1000 participate in Yom Ha’Atzmaut activities

Emily Giller, left, accepts a Federation Teen Leadership Award from incoming BBYO director Anne Muskin; right: Sarah Bleicher is the other Teen Leader Award receipient; in celebration of Israel Independence Day, close to 400 Omahans “Walk the Land” past large vinyl murals of Israeli scenes.

Above: Children enjoyed the outdoor climbing wall; right: a performance by Kolot Ort closed the day with more than 250 in attendance.

Above: winners of the B’nai B’rith Triva Quiz were: top photo: Nate Schwalb, left, Ophir Palman, Ruti Margalit and her daughter; tied for second: Barry Sommers, left, Eyal Margalit, Phil and Nancy Wolf; and bottom photo: Mor Scheinbein, left, Jeff Gates, Adam Graham, Robert Mosenkis and Adam Bohn. Left: Leah Gurock enjoyed face painting at the JCC. Lower left: Yachad’s booth is manned by adviser Duane Pieper, left, volunteer Mark Kazor and member Michael Parsow. Elaine Jabenis, left, and Karen Sokolof Javitch watch as their song “Tell Our Children Now” is performed by Dacia Jabenis and Michael Lyons.

Above: The Wertheimer family of Israel’s Iscar company were in town for the Berkshire Hathway meeting and came to see Kolot Ort; left: Eitan Wertheimer greets Jody Malashock, whom he met on a Federation mission in the Western Galilee.

Temple Israel gets an early start to Israel Independence Day

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Temple Israel Religious School teachers, madrichim, parents, and students met at the pavilion behind the Jewish Community

Center early on May 4 prior to the official start of the community-wide Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. Above from left: They wrote prayers to be pressed into a mock-up of the Kotel, designed Israeli flag

magnets, made tzedakah cans, wrote postcards to Israeli soldiers, made bookmarks, and crafted Israeli birthday sand-art cards Fifth-grade teacher Patsy Wallace helped the children make the magnets while Jack and

Alex Goldstein, sons of Jill and Joe Goldstein, fashioned bookmarks. Andrew Wigodsky (and his son Brandon) took some time to decide which craft activity to pursue.

Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

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IN THE NEWS Thirty-five University of Nebraska Medical Center students received cash awards last month to support their research in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases or nursing education.

Each award winner will receive $500, thanks to former Omahan Norman Harris, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum, who established three funds in honor of his late wife Bernice Harris, who passed away in 2007.

Harris established the Norman and Bernice Harris Graduate Student Cancer Research Award Fund in 1999 with the University of Nebraska Foundation. He has since added the Bernice Harris Nursing Awards and the Bernice and Norman Harris Graduate Students in Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Research Fellowship Awards.

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Daniel Flaherty, left, Ashley Reynolds, Howard E. Gendelman, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, Norman Harris, Vivek Gautam, Stephanie Kraft-Terry, and Nicholas Whitney Both Norman and his late wife battled cancer. Bernice Harris was also afflicted with Lewy Body, a rare form of dementia.

Through it all, Harris said they received excellent nursing care. “A good nurse is worth her weight in gold,” Harris said.

Originally from Omaha, the Harrises moved to San Diego in 1965. Norman Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UNL in 1941.

Until his retirement in 1973, he was a manager for a chain of retail discount stores. He then embarked on entrepreneurial adventures in real estate, franchising, accounting, tax preparation, banking and finance. His wife was an artist and decorative consultant.

“It’s my pleasure to do this,” Harris said at the ceremony, in which he passed out the awards personally to each of the students.

The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center has announced the winners of the annual Gallaudet National Essay, Art, and ASL Contest for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. More than 600 students throughout the country entered the contest, entitled “Yes, I Can!” Danny Glazer has been awarded Honorable Mention in the essay category (ages 9-14). His essay will be published in Celebrate! a printed magazine of all the essay, art and ASL entry winners and also online in the World Around You magazine.

Danny is the son of John and Jennifer Glazer.

Foundation. The show, to be held Sunday, May 18, 2-5 p.m., will feature cancer survivors, aged 10 and up, along with local personalities, as models.

The women will be modeling clothes, shoes and accessories from locally owned boutiques. For most, this is their first trip down the runway. The show will be held under a tent on Jones Street between 10th & 11th Streets in the Old Market District. Advance tickets are $25 and available at all 12 Security National Bank branches.

The Nebraska Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure raises funds to support the Komen Promise, save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at 36.

Malbar Vision has announced the opening of its fifth location, at 160th and Maple. Celebrating its 58th year, Malbar is the oldest and largest private optometric practice in the Omaha area, started by Dr. Stanley Malashock in 1951. His sons Neal and Larry, purchased the practice in 1988. From May 15-17, a fashion designer eyewear event will be held at the newest location. For more information, visit Malbar’s website: www.malbar. com.

The Omaha Jaycees and Village Pointe Shopping Center presented the TOYO Teens (Ten Outstanding Young Omaha Teens) awards on May 4, at Village Pointe Amphitheater. Among the recipients were Brenna Robinson, 15, daughter of Kimberly and Andrew Robinson, who is a sophomore at Westside.

She began learning American Sign Language at age five, when she learned that the son of a family friend was hearing im-paired. Since learning sign language, Brenna has been an interpreter for the boy, taught gymnastic classes for deaf children and signed the national anthem for multiple sporting events, including a Phoenix Suns game, Creighton basketball games, Husker football games and many others.

Brenna explained that learning how to sign was important because it has allowed her to see the world from a different vantage point. Involvement in many other activities, including varsity cheerleading, show choir and coaching the deaf Special Olympics at Cohoy’s gym keeps her busy.

Forrest Rogers-Marcovitz will graduate magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science and Robotics on May 16. He recieved the Outstanding Accomplish-

Dan Morris is working on the Richard Carter for Congress Campaign. The son of Allen and Cindy Morris, he will graduate from the University of NebraskaLincoln, majoring in Political Science and Mathematics.

Hannah Ferer, daughter of Mary and Whitney Ferer, and Susan Freeman, daughter of Robyn and Bob Freeman have been inducted into the National Honor Society at Central High School.

Alegent Health, Mercer Management and Spaghetti Works are supporting CoutURE, a fashion show benefit for the Nebraska Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen

ments in Aerospace Award, and is pursuing a master’s in robotics from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, after working for Orbital Sciences in Washington D.C. this summer. First he’ll leave for El Salvador with WU Hillel to build homes for underprivileged families on May 18.

May 16, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Six for 60

PEOPLE OF THE

BYTE

by MARK MIETKIEWICZ Israel just celebrated its birthday, a special one at that. And that means for a small country that is constantly under the microscope of the world’s – and its own – media, it’s time to celebrate and forget about its many challenges, at least for a few hours. In honor of this occasion, I present an eclectic half-dozen websites. Six for Sixty.

But first, we remember. Before Israel celebrates, it marks Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day and remembers the 20,000+ soldiers who have fallen since Israel’s War of Independence. Israel’s Ministry of Defense maintains a large Hebrew-only website dedicated to Yom Hazikaron. View a list of all soldiers whose yahrzeit is being observed. [izkor.gov.il/ izkor50.asp] On the Yizkor page, you can read the special prayer for the fallen soldiers while hearing it recited [izkor.gov.il/izkor11b.htm]. A Hebrew poetry page includes works of some of the country’s premier poets including Natan Alterman, Naomi Shemer and Chana Senesh. It includes King David’s lament from the Book of Samuel II upon hearing of the deaths of Jonathan and Saul, “How the Mighty Have Fallen.” [izkor.gov.il/ izkor30a.htm] As the sun sets on Yom Hazikaron, the mood in Israel

shifts from sorrow to joy as Yom Ha’atzmaut begins. If you didn’t join the crowds on Hamelech George or Dizengoff streets this year, you can sample the excitement via some of the great videos on YouTube. On the first page alone, there are excerpts from several Independence Day concerts, a fireworks display (which does get a bit monotonous), a slideshow of Israeli flags and archival footage of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, reading the Declaration of Independence. [tinyurl.com/5gqclx] Speaking of Israel’s first prime minister, what would a birthday be without some introspection? Back in 1961, on the occasion of Israel’s Bar Mitzvah year, BenGurion wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly titled “The Kingdom of the Spirit” in which he suggested that far more than a mere “national and political unit,” Israel is to become a spiritual arena in which “a new way toward freedom, peace, justice, and equality, the advancement and redemption of humanity.” [tinyurl.com/6hkepu] I love listening to Israeli radio on my computer and thankfully many stations from that country livestream their programming. Unfortunately, finding their addresses can be a chore. That’s why I am hooked on a piece of software appropriately called “Israel Radio.”

After you download it, a special toolbar becomes part of your browser. Simply click on preset buttons for about 20 Israeli radio stations to have them start playing almost immediately. Regular readers of this column may notice that I rarely recommend software that you can download. You’re just never are quite sure what it

may do to your computer. I can’t guarantee how it will function for you but in the several months I’ve used Israel Radio, I’ve never experience a problem. It works with both Internet Explorer and Firefox in Windows.

(The Firefox version has only limited functionality on Macs.) [israelradio.lihi.co.il] I’m also a sucker for maps. Although you can find many standard Israeli maps online, I particularly like Eye On Israel’s online map. Not only it is quite detailed, it also has a dose of whimsy that you could only find on an interactive map. Tiny trains make their way up and down the coastline map while a sailboat plies the waters of Lake Kinneret. [tinyurl.com/489bg] Soon Israel’s birthday will be over and things will be back to normal. There will be no shortage of news stories that will question Israel’s direction for the next 60 years and beyond. Honest reportage and criticism do play a critical role. But if you ever need a respite and a reminder of what the country can achieve, I recommend paying a visit to Israel21C, a site devoted to highlighting the stories you won’t see on the evening news.

A recent sampling included a look at a program that helps disadvantaged kids learns leadership skills, a short documentary about the what may be the world’s first pomegranate wine, and an article about an Israeli company that is making men’s suits using material made from wool and recycled plastic bottles. [israel21c.net] Yom huledet sameach!

Mark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based Internet producer who writes, lectures and teaches about the Jewish Internet. He can be reached at highway@rogers.com.

Look for notes within the 175 recipes. Fein brought ingredients at her farmers’ markets, supermarkets, and mentions Whole Foods as a source for these recipes designed for busy cooks. Kashrut is explained and emails given as helpful resources.

The recipes are listed in each section: Soup, Salads, Grains & Pasta, Fish, Meat, Chicken, Turkey, Cornish Hen & Duck, Eggs & Dairy, Sandwiches, Vegetables, Desserts and Miscellaneous Basics. Chapter notes add details; helpful tips are in headnotes and sidebars. The preparation instructions are clear.

Whatever your reasons for cooking kosher foods, these easy to prepare recipes feature a variety of ethnic flavors -- from Arepa Flour (cornmeal flour) to Zatar (an aromatic spice mixture) in the well stocked pantry and from Roasted Asparagus with Wasabi Mayonnaise to Zucchini Fritters and this cool salad; it’s hip kosher ... “stylish and up-to-date”... and perfect for Lag b’Omer on May 23.

CUCUMBER SALAD 2 large cucumbers, peeled and sliced 1 small Vidalia onion, sliced 1/2 cup white wine vinegar 1/4 cup plain lowfat yogurt 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro 4 dried red chile peppers Place the cucumbers and onion in a bowl. Mix the vinegar, yogurt, sugar and salt and pour over the vegetables.

Sprinkle with the cilantro. Break the chile peppers in half, remove the seeds, and scatter the pods over the cucumbers.

Toss the ingredients gently. Let marinate for at least one hour. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Makes six servings.

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

Hip Kosher

by RONNIE FEIN (DaCapo, $16.95)

READ IT AND E AT Reviewed by LOIS FRIEDMAN In her third cookbook Fein begins the introduction “you don’t have to be Jewish to eat or cook kosher food.” The newest kosher crowd is a varied group who believe that following kashrut “is a cleaner, purer, more humane or healthier way to eat.” The diverse backgrounds and ethnicity are being served by kosher restaurants, food manufacturers, supermarkets, television shows and cookbooks like this one featuring “delicious, quick, and modern fare that adheres to traditional Jewish dietary laws.”

Congratulate Your Graduate!

The annual Graduation/Father’s Day Issue publishes June 6.Senior photos will run in that issue and we know you’ll want to highlight the achievements of your high school graduate! Congratulatory ads are available in two sizes.

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

Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

What we do now and can do in the future for Israel As Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations continue, the Jewish community in Nebraska and Western Iowa can take heart that we’re already doing a number of things to strengthen the bond to Israel. From hosting Israelis (like Yom Ha’Atzmaut’s celebration with the Kolot Ort dancers and singers) to sending teens, up-and-coming leaders, adults and families on missions, Omaha continues to forge new ties with institutions and individuals.

Here are a few other examples: • Eitan Wertheimer, whose precision tool manufacturing company, Iscar, was purchased

by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has now made three trips to Omaha since the buyout two years ago. His friendship with Omaha’s Jewish community has continued to grow as Omaha’s Federation sent a mission to the Western Galilee plant where Iscar is located -- and participated in the Akifim Foundation’s Walk the Land project for Yom Ha’Atzmaut, an organization in which Wertheimer and his family are involved.

• The University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Bethsaida Excavation, whose first director Rabbi Dr. Richard Freund still visits Omaha to promote the project, recruits local students through its current director Dr. Rami Arav.

The project has opened the eyes of both his Jewish and non-Jewish student volunteers, who discover an Israel different from the one they often see on cable news. And it has brought many, many Nebraskans to its exhibits, also promoting a side to Israel that is somewhat unexpected.

• The Harris Center for Jewish Studies at

the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Klutznick chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, sponsor lectures by Israeli academics, exhibits by Israeli artists and photographers, and documentaries by Israeli filmmakers. Equally important is the funding each has secured from the non-Jewish community in making these events possible.

• The Anti-Defamation League continues to work with law enforcement about threats to the security of the Jewish community. In doing so, the ADL also is educating these much needed friends about Israel and its role in the Middle East and in the world. Just a few months ago, the ADL took 20 Omaha and Denver high school students to Israel as part of the Robert Sturm Holocaust education project. Most of those students are not Jewish, so this trip created new friends.

• And of course, this newspaper has published hundreds, if not thousands of articles over its 87-year history to educate readers about every facet of life in Israel, from religious life to developments in medicine and technology, from disputes and criticism within the political and religious arenas to

the latest artistic, cultural and musical news.

Now it’s your turn.

As Israel celebrates 60, think about how you can help. When a co-worker attacks Israel because of what was shown on cable news, do you offer websites where a different point of view can be obtained? Do you subscribe to the Jerusalem Report or Jerusalem Post, or receive updates from HonestReporting.com, MEMRI.org, JTA? How current is your education about Israel? Have you checked out a recent book from the Kripke Library or attended a class offered by your synagogue or the Center for Jewish Education?

And most important -- have you visited Israel? If the answer’s no, isn’t it time?

A 15-year plan to elevate Israel

IbySRAEL @ 60 GIDI GRINSTEIN HERZLIYA, Israel (JTA) -- At its 60th anniversary, Israel needs a new vision that not only will guide its priorities and inform its actions, but also will be relevant to the lives of all Israelis. This is why the ISRAEL 15 Vision, a Reut Institute plan that calls for Israel to become one of the 15 most developed nations within 15 years, is so compelling. It requires improving the quality of life of all citizens.

Quality of life is a very elusive issue. Its definition changes by geography. The quality of life of a religious and spiritual person is different from that of a secular businessperson.

Notwithstanding, quality of life is also visible and tangible. For example, anyone can tell that the average quality of life in countries like Canada or Australia is higher than in Greece or Spain. Furthermore, although income per capita is an important factor determining life, other public goods such as health, education, employment and social cohesion play a critical role as well.

Israel’s growth of recent years can be intoxicating. However, we often tend to forget that the world economy has experienced significant growth as well in recent years. Hence, impressive rates of growth notwithstanding, Israel didn’t succeed in leapfrogging -- catching up with the leading nations of the world.

In contrast, during the first 20 years of the state, Israel’s economy bounced upwards.

Israel doubled its well-being relative to the United States, starting with an average income of 30 percent of the U.S. average and reaching 60 percent by the early 1970s. Since then, however, Israel has not been able to bridge the gaps with the richer countries while countries such as Ireland, Singapore and South Korea have made leaps ahead.

The importance of closing the gaps with the richest nations stems from the mobility of people, technology and investment. As these highly mobile resources “choose” which country to go to, nations compete for them. Success in this fierce battle is essential for the future of any country, but is critical for the survival of Israel.

Israel suffers from the largest gap between the level of talent of its population and the quality of life offered its residents. Israel is ranked 28th in the world in quality of life, yet our population is among the most educated and technologically savvy in the world.

Indeed, Israel is a leading exporter of talent, with one of the highest levels of brain drain among developed nations.

Becoming one of the 15 leading nations --

... growth and development have to turn into a national obsession. We have had such passions in the past: greening the desert, redeeming the land or immigration absorption. roughly at the level of Holland, Singapore or New Zealand -- requires leapfrogging our socioeconomic performance and growing at an annual pace of 7 percent to 8 percent for at least 10 years. This is a national challenge that will require widespread mobilization of the key sectors of society.

The phenomenon of leapfrogging is different than growth. While the world has established a recipe for stability and growth in theform of a set of accepted principles known as the Washington Consensus, which primarily calls for fiscal and monetary discipline and privatization, there is no such recipe for leapfrogging. In other words, each country charts its own path.

However, the common denominator among the countries that have leaped ahead has been their agenda. They all established an ambitious

vision, identified growth engines and exhausted them, benchmarked their performance to other countries, improved the capacity of their government to make decisions and implement them, enhanced collaboration among key sectors of society and invested in human capital.

In addition, nations that leaped ahead contained their unique challenge and tapped into their individual potential. For example, Singapore understood that it was located at a junction between East and West and therefore developed the world’s leading airport, seaport and airline, while Ireland tapped the benefits of its inclusion into the European Union.

We also know that leapfrog happens as a consequence of a combination between topdown leadership by the government and bottom-up mobilization of the key sectors of society. Hence, on the one hand, reforming Israeli governance is key since it is significantly underperforming compared to our business sector.

At the same time, we have to find ways to harness mayors and local governments, businesspeople, philanthropists, nonprofits and world Jewry to the ISRAEL 15 Vision and create the space that allows them to make contributions as well.

Finally, growth and development have to turn into a national obsession. We have had such passions in the past: greening the desert, redeeming the land or immigration absorption. The challenge for the ISRAEL 15 Vision is to become a household phrase and a framework that inspires for action.

The ISRAEL 15 Vision may be ambitious but it is attainable. Israel already is a world leader in key areas such as research and development, human capital or technology. We have outperformed expectations in the past.

There is no reason we cannot do it again.

Gidi Grinstein is the founder and president of the Reut Institute. This article is based on a speech he gave at the 2008 Herzliya Conference.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

Why the Christian Left is down on Israel

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by DR. EARL H. TILFORD Within the mainline Protestant denominations there are a number of initiatives inimical to the well-being of the nation of Israel, including a divestment initiative to be considered at the annual conference of the United Methodist Church (this month) and a resolution calling for curtailment of military aid for Israel on the docket for the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (scheduled for June).

To be sure, most Christians, including many (if not a majority of) members of the mainline Protestant denominations, support Israel. Nevertheless, the Christian left persists with its sometimes vehemently anti-Israeli and unabashedly pro-Palestinian sentiments. Why? Bluntly put, Israel stands for things the Christian left cannot abide: human values based on Biblically grounded eternal truths; a clear understanding of the evil nature of the enemies arrayed against Israel; military power along with the inclination and will to use it, despite criticism from much of the international community; and a vibrant economy in a region where, Arab oil sheiks notwithstanding, most people are mired in poverty.

The gray beards among the current crop of Christian leftists were born of frustration with the materialism extant in the prosperity of the 1950s and 1960s, were nurtured on the idealism of the Civil Rights movement, blossomed during the Vietnam era anti-war movement, and indulged themselves with the neo-egalitarian hedo-

nism of the counter-culture. As the multi-cultural mantras of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and the rhetoric of victimization took hold during the 1970s and 1980s, Israel emerged as a political, economic, and military powerhouse to represent all that the religious left abhors.

Israel’s values, like those of conservative Christians, derive from belief in a sovereign creator and ruler of the universe, a definitive truth, and the understanding that good and evil are objectively assessable. Definitive truth, righteousness, and sinfulness are concepts alien to a Christian left which denies the existence of evil (except as it applies to political and religious conservatives, “big oil,� and anyone who questions the left’s assumptions).

Objective concepts of good and evil implies judging much of what the Christian left holds precious: subjectively-derived moral standards, hedonistic self-centeredness, and situational morality and ethics.

The Christian left long ago abandoned definitive truth and distinctions between Biblically derived concepts of right and wrong in exchange for a pseudo-gospel based on advocating “justice� in matters attendant to gay rights and unrestricted abortion-neither of which can be Biblically supported.

Israel, a veritable garden of democracy in a wasteland of corrupt, dictatorial or oligarchic theocratic Islamic regimes, clearly understands the evil compelling Islamic fanatics to don suicide vests and blow themselves up amid innocents. Christian leftists by contrast believe all humans are essentially good. Evil, if it even exits, results from environmental or economic disadvantage. Israelis harbor no such illusions.

Furthermore, Israel does something Christian leftists find incomprehensible: it uses military power to defend itself. Not only does Israel use its superbly trained and technologically advanced military in precision attacks on

terrorists, both in preemption and retaliation, it does so with little regard for the outcries rising from some portions of the world community. Israel simply doesn’t pay much attention to the howls of outrage emanating from Christian leftists-something which further infuriates the Christian left.

Additionally, leftists-secular as well as Christian--generally revel in appeasement, compromise, and international instruments of arbitration such as the United Nations, the World Court, and the World Council of Churches. Pronouncements and condemnations from those institutions do not seem to bother Israelis overly much.

Israel, much to the chagrin of the Christian left, is a pluralistic country providing equal rights under the law for all its citizens, including Arab Christians and Arab Moslems, Israeli-Christians, and Druze along with Israeli Jews. What the Christian left ignores is that anyone living in Israel--regardless of religion--is better off than Christians living in any Muslim country one might care to name.

Finally, Israel is an economic success story. Trendy leftist Marxist orthodoxy, under girding the “social justice� gospel espoused by Christian leftists, maintains that prosperity results from exploitation. If Israel, despite its early socialist legacy and heavy defense burdens, is prosperous, that prosperity must derive from exploiting Palestinians “driven� off their land and denied the right to return.

Oppression and victimization are concepts weighting heavily upon the hearts of most Christian leftists.

Israel, a beacon of democratic promise amid a wasteland of oppression, is a nation established on ancient religious values. As such, Israel is everything the loquacious liberals on the Christian left cannot abide.

Dr. Earl Tilford, professor of history at Grove City College and fellow for the Middle East & Terrorism with the Center for Vision & Values, served for thirtytwo years as an Air Force intelligence officer and as a U.S. Army director of research at the Strategic Studies Institute.

The magic of continuity was not lost on us. We had been visiting at this kibbutz since 1973, the year after our daughter married a kibbutznik and began her life as a member of what is now Israel’s largest kibbutz.

As we watched the program -- the usual children singing and dancing, adult members doing much the same thing, the traditional torch lighting ceremony (this year our son-in-law lit a torch, since he is almost 60, and he dedicated the ceremony to his mother and father and his large family who perished in the Shoah.) I could not help thinking about what has changed and what remains the same in this community of more than 1300 people.

Socialism has long since left the kibbutz. The factory is now partnered with a large Indian company and has more than doubled the production of irrigation equipment. No longer is there the egalitarian equality of income. People now keep what they earn, pay taxes, pay for meals, own cars (it’s hard to find a parking space), own their houses -- some of which have been extensively remodeled and up graded to pay for mortgages like everyone else. Credit cards are universal.

And yet much remains. Physically the kibbutz retains its pastoral character; the grounds and gardens are well tended. The social activities are still financed by the kibbutz -- funding coming from the tax each member now pays. While the dining hall (now kosher) still operates, there are now some private restaurants in operation.

The kibbutz, even as it became private, continues a good bit of its original philosophy. There is a financial safety net below which no one is permitted to fall. Health care is equally available; child care is still the universal norm. The elderly are still lovingly provided for and those who can still work continue to do so even if it is a restricted schedule.

As I sat outside watching the birthday party, all these thoughts and more percolated through my mind. But mostly I thought of the wonder of it all: here we were, four generations, celebrating the success of our common effort and commitment. The founders of this small sliver of land on the shore of the Mediterranean, surrounded by perennially hostile neighbors, would be proud of what has been accomplished.

Harry Allen Jerusalem, Israel

What the Christian left ignores is that anyone living in Israel-regardless of religion-is better off than Christians living in any Muslim country one might care to name.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor Wow, your Israel at 60 special is fantastic.

Congratulations on getting so many different people to contribute so many different perspectives. And the fact that we received it here on Yom HaZikaron, just before Yom Ha’atzmaut was perfect.

Thanks also for running my “Ten Years of Aliyah� in “Israel@60.� I’m happy that April saw two of my columns in the Press; I appreciate your support of my work.

Teddy Weinberger Givat Ze’ev, Israel To the Editor: I wrote a small piece for the Jewish Press Passover edition which celebrated Israel’s 60th birthday. The article described the tremendous emotion we felt as the UN resolution on partition passed with the required twothirds majority. At the time neither Annie nor myself dreamed that 60 years later we would be in Israel at Kibbutz Naan with our Israeli children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (four generations together) watching a Yom Ha’Azmaaut program unfold.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

Candlelighting Friday, May 16, 8:19 p.m

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

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

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

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

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 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

If you’re looking at this space, so are others!

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Allan Handleman, 402.334.6451 or Robyn Belgrade 402.334.6559

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

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.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Amy Gross with appreciation from Rabbi Gross’s family for community hospitality; “Guard Your Tongue” and “Advanced Analysis of Midrash Rabbah” begins one hour before Mincha each Shabbat afternoon; Mincha, 8 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:27 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; “Reading the Rambam” with Rabbi Oxman, 9:45 a.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Teen Class, 10 a.m.; Annual Meeting and Elections, 10:30 a.m. A light breakfast will be served. Babysitting will be available.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Sisterhood Spring Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.

Make a reservation for the $8 spring salads lunch. Babysitting is available at no charge.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Gastón Bogomolni.

FRIDAY: Special Shabbat during ‘Barbecue & Barchu,’ at Zorinsky Lake. The Jewish community is welcome; Beth El high school graduates are invited at no charge. Dinner is 6:15 p.m.; musical Kabbalat Shabbat service will follow at 6:45 p.m. (Regular services will also be held at Beth El at 8:15 p.m.) Cost is $8.50 for adults (13 and older); $4 for children ages six to 12; and free for children five or younger. To RSVP, contact Margie Gutnik in the office or programming@ bethel-omaha.org.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m.; celebrate our BESTT seventh and 12th grade graduation and honor religious-school faculty; Kiddush sponsored by parents of the 2008 BESTT graduates; Minha/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, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY: Rabbi Levin’s Insights and Values from the Torah, noon; Women’s Book Club, 1:15 p.m.

BESTT: Last day of classes is Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m.-noon.

Storyteller Rita Paskowitz will entertain students and parents.

BESTT CHAVERIM: Pool party on Sunday, May 18, 2-4 p.m. at the home of Tom and Becky Kahn. No charge to attend.

For more information, contact Robert Mosenkis in the synagogue office, or at youthdir @bethel-omaha.org.

ANNUAL CANTOR’S CONCERT: ‘Broadway on the Bimah,’ Beth El’s 2008 Cantor’s Scholarship Fund Concert, is Monday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.

(See full story on page 1&4.)

KADIMAH: Premier Gym program on Tuesday, May 20, 7 -8:30 p.m.

SHABBAT AT THE BLUMKIN HOME: On Friday, May 23, 2:30 p.m., Rabbi Levin and Cantor Bogomolni will lead a special Shabbat celebration for Blumkin Home residents. The Jewish community is welcome.

BEYT SHALOM FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat and Religious School Graduation, 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue.

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.; Kiddush luncheon follows.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Maamar Kabbalistic Insights for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Parsha class for pre-schoolers, 12:30 p.m.; Halacha class, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 9 a.m.; Bedtime Storytime, 6 p.m. with Nancy Rips. RSVP to chabadoffice@cox.net or to Carol at 220.1800; Parshah Roundup: Weekly Torah Portion Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Parsha for kids, 3:45 p.m.; Kabbalah Circle, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; Lag Baomer BBQ, 6 p.m. at Chabad. RSVP to Carol, 330.1800.

All events and programs are open to the community.

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

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with Oneg following hosted by Sara and Robert Friedman.

SATURDAY: Bar Mitzvah of Alex Kornbluh, 9:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel; 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 Deborah Swearingen for questions or if you need a ride.

SUNDAY: LJCS students meet at 9:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel for the last day of religious school; Family picnic, 12:15 p.m.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

THURSDAY: LOVE Board of Directors meeting, 7 p.m.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to You, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will lead the service; Senior Shabbat Service, 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet and Kol Rina. Temple soloists Tammy Field and Jonathan Rathsam will join Cantor Shermet in honoring senior members of Temple.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Celebrate Freedom Service at St. Paul United Methodist Church (5410 Corby St.), 11 a.m. An AfricanAmerican trio will join the Kol Rina Choir and St. Paul United Methodist Church’s choir in an annual interfaith service; Madrichim Lunch and Play, noon. All madrichim will meet at Valentino’s (107 & Maple) for a review of the year, lunch and fun!

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

WEDNESDAY: Know Thyself, Know Thy Christian Neighbor, noon with Rabbi Linder. Advance registration is requested. Lunch can be purchased for $6. Please contact Program Director Rosie Zweiback rzweiback@templeisraelomaha.com or the office.

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

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. Contact the office to arrange for a minyan.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, 7 p.m. with Bar Mitzvah of Alex Kornbluh.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. with Bar Mitzvah of Alex Kornbluh followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study.

SUNDAY: Last Day of LJCS classes. Field day and picnic, 12:15 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

TUESDAY: Women’s lunch, noon at The Pantry.

WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group meets at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Call Yale Gotsdiner, 423.7066.

UPCOMING EVENTS Sunday, June 1, 1 p.m., Annual Meeting at the synagogue.

B’nai Israel receives gift, hosts speaker series

BAT MITZVAH Samantha Weiner, daughter of Audrey and Richard Wiener, will become a Bat Mitzvah on S a t u r d a y, May 24, at Beth El. Samantha is a seventhgrade Principal’s Honor Roll student at Beveridge Magnet School, and is a member of the

Beveridge Leadership Team. She also received the school’s “Bulldog of the Month” award and was a third place winner in the YWCA Kids Against Violence Art Contest.

Her interests include reading, dance, photography and spending time with friends.

Samantha has a sister, Elissa.

Grandparents are Molly and Martin Feldman, the late Goldie Wiener, and the late Alan Wiener.

B’nai Israel was presented with a donation from the Council Bluffs Food Dealer/Grocers Association

by Lloyd Krasne, who served as president, board member, and in other offices. The Association recently dissolved after 100 years.

It once had 135 member grocery stores, with 65% of the membership Jewish grocers.

Artist Eliska Morsel Greenspoon was at Friday night Shabbat Services prior to Passover to show “A Presentation of Light Works.”

Particularly interesting were her descriptions of the processes and artistic thoughts interwoven in her creations. Typically having a Jewish theme, her works depict how nature and heat sources were used to produce beautiful and yet provocative pieces

May 16, 2008

The Jubilee year

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Behar Our Sidra opens with a reminder that the Children of Israel are still at Sinai. The 10 Commandments, as they are usually called, have been pronounced; and now the people are given instructions on what they may do and what they must do when they come into the Land.

We must certainly note that the instructions have to do with the preservation of land so it shall not be worn thin by overuse, but rather must be carefully tended.

There are examples all over the world of human beings who misused the land and its productivity.

Here, perhaps, we have the first instructions as to how man must live with Nature, and recognize that the world was not created for him, but that he was created to preserve the land. Indeed, remember that in the Garden of Eden, the man and the woman were placed there “l’avdo u-l’shomro” (“to work it and preserve it”).

These instructions might well be given in our own day to those who earn their living by working the land. We who live in the great breadbasket of Nebraska and Iowa

Feds cite possible drug production, illegal workers at raided kosher plant

by BEN HARRIS NEW YORK (JTA) -- In laying the legal groundwork for a massive raid of the country’s largest kosher slaughterhouse, federal authorities cited claims that illegal narcotics production took place at the factory and hundreds of illegal immigrants were employed there, including several of the rabbis responsible for kosher supervision.

The charges were among the most explosive details to emerge following the raid Monday at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa. Agents arrested 390 workers in what Immigration and Customs Enforcement called the largest raid of its kind in U.S. history.

The raid, which required federal authorities to rent an expansive fairground in nearby Waterloo to house detainees, prompted the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa to temporarily relocate judges and court personnel to the site because the facilities in Cedar Rapids and Sioux City were inadequate.

The raid follows a six-month investigation involving more than a dozen federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the departments of labor and agriculture.

Three Israelis and four Ukrainians were among the detainees held on charges of being in the country illegally, Counts said. Officials are expected to bring criminal charges against some of the detainees as well, most of whom are from Guatemala and Mexico.

Agriprocessors said in a statement Tuesday that it “takes the immigration laws seriously” and intended to “continue to cooperate with the government in its investigation.”

In the affidavit filed as part of the 60-page application for a search warrant, additional details were revealed of the government’s investigation of Agriprocessors, a company that has been beset by numerous allegations of health and safety violations, mistreating workers and using controversial slaughter practices.

According to the document, a former supervisor at the plant -- identified only as Source #1 -- told investigators that some 80 percent of the workforce was illegal.

The source also said he believed rabbis responsible for kosher supervision entered the United States from Canada without proper immigration documents.

According to the affidavit, the source did not provide evidence for his suspicions about the rabbis.

Source #1 also claimed to have discovered active production of the drug methamphetamine at the plant and reported incidents of weapons being carried there.

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Melvin A. Churchill, MD • Rick C. Chatwell, MD Robert M. Valente, MD Pine Lake Medical Plaza, 3901 Pine Lake Road, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68516

have learned this lesson by necessity. But we must spread the word to everyone. There is only so much land, and “they ain’t makin’ no more.”

It is rewarding to see that conservation was not the brain child of our wisest people in our own day, but comes to us after a long tradition that goes back to the entrance of the Children of Israel into their possession, one that did not stretch for many miles in any direction, but was sharply limited by the sea and the river in one dimension and by mountains and desert in the other.

Conservation, which is important to everyone in our own day, is as old as the entrance of ancient Israel to the Land, which they were certain was given to them by God Himself.

To repeat: notice that this instruction was given to the people while they were still at Sinai and was to be kept in mind for the “40 years” of so-called wandering in the wilderness.

Conservation! Man’s duty is to guard and preserve.

The farmer today conserves by rotation of crops among other approaches to the land. The ancient farmer everyone was a farmer then!) ceased working the land (every seven years and then every 50th.

The lawyer, for example, had not yet been invented to get around everything. Note to lawyers: If you want to discuss this, with me, I’ll meet you at Mt. Sinai, if anyone can identify it for us ...

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Page 15

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Please submit resume to Guy Matalon, Executive Director, The Center for Jewish Education, 333 S. 132 Street, Omaha NE 68154-2198. Resumes may also be faxed to 334-1330 or emailed to gmatalon@jewishomaha.org.

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DEATHS WILLARD FRIEDMAN Willard Friedman died May 9 at the age of 84 years.

Services were held May 11 at Temple Israel.

A graduate of Central High School, he attended Carlton College and Yale University, returning to Omaha after serving in Italy during WWII to become a prominent home builder and developer. He also held the patent for numerous inventions.

He is survived by his wife, Thama L. Friedman; daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and Bruce Shackman and Sue and David Millward; sons and daughters-in-law, Howard and Sandee Friedman and Tom and Sue Friedman; 15 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sister, Minda Liberman of Santa Monica, CA; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Elaine Krasne of El Paso, TX. Memorials to Temple Israel.

LIBERTY FAIER Liberty Faier died at the age of 89. A graveside service was held May 12 at Temple Israel Cemetery.

A native Omahan, she was an active volunteer as an art teacher at the Phillip Sher Home, Richard Young Hospital and the Blumkin Home, and often acompanied vocalists on the piano.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Abraham.

She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Matt and Kris of Cookeville, TN, and Jerry and Suzy of Glendale, AZ; grandchildren, Adam and Sharon of Chicago, Ashley, Heather and Jarrod Ousley of Merriam, KS, and Keith and Kristina of Hesperia, CA; three great-grandchildren; and brother and sister-in-law, Gaylord and Betty Cooper of Mississippi.

Memorials to the American Federation of the Blind or the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

PERSONAL Thank you to my family and friends for their donations, cards and good wishes following the death of my sister Trickle Milder.

Lorraine Reese

To submit obituaries: E-mail to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; fax to 402.334.5422, or mail to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154, or online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 16, 2008

e r u s n i l l i w . e r c e n b a d m e n e m t t e a r r o ation. t u v r t e o s e Y n r r e v y to make you e n a s i this 2) 334-6575 toda Call (40

An Invitation to the Omaha Jewish Community Jewish motorcyclists from around the country will be converging on Omaha from May 22 to May 24.

Traveling from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisiana,Texas,Georgia and other states,as well as Canada,this group of bikers are known as the JMA (Jewish Motorcycle Alliance). Its members have a passion for motorcycling and for their Judaism. Each year they participate in “R2R” (Ride to Remember) which has as its mission to bring attention to Jewish issues,especially in support of Israel and remembering the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.

In 2005, they rode to Washington, DC to the Holocaust Museum to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Holocaust.

The following year, the JMA rode to Whitwell, TN to the Whitwell Middle School to honor its students for their “Paper Clip Project”memorializing the Holocaust victims.

Last year, they rode to New York City to ride in the “Salute to Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue.

This year,the JMA is riding into Omaha!

They are coming to Omaha to honor the work of the Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund and its founders,Frances and Sam Fried.

The Fund’s mission is to provide courses in Holocaust and genocide education to institutions of higher learning across the Heartland. The Holocaust serves as a horrific example of inhumanity;people of good will must face unpleasant truths and oppose prejudice,racism,antisemitism and bigotry. We must do everything possible to insure that people of all races and religions be treated equally and without prejudice.

On Friday morning,May 23,the JMA riders will lead an entourage of vehicles to Lincoln to participate in a commemoration at the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial at Wyuka Cemetery.Following the ceremony, a luncheon and short program will be held at the Champions Club at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

As a community,we are asking you to join these Jewish bikers and show that we support and appreciate their efforts as well as honoring Frances and Sam Fried by participating in the R2R Ride!

Schedule of Events Friday,May 23 9 a.m.

Meet at the Jewish Community Center for a bagel breakfast and short program 10:30 a.m. Bikers “Saddle Up”while cars,pickups,SUVs, motorscooters and coach buses line up for procession to Lincoln;a police escort will be provided 12 p.m.

Arrive at Holocaust Memorial in Wyuka Cemetery for Commemoration Ceremony.

Lunch at UNL’s Champions Club.Mayor Beutler,Lt.Governor Sheehy and Senior Vice Chancellor Dr.Couture will welcome the JMA and participate in the event program.

2 p.m. Return to Omaha

No Charge to Participate!

Breakfast and lunch will provided, as well as coach bus transportation for those who do not wish to drive their own vehicles. There is limited room available on the buses,so please call early to make your reservations.

With your help we can make this event a huge success.

Let’sdemonstrateour supportfor these Jewish motorcyclists who havetravelled for daystocome toOmaha!

We need to plan how many will be in attendance. For bus reservations or for a reserved place in the ride, please contact the Institute for Holocaust Education, (402) 334-6575 by May 19.