May 22, 2020

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Community Service Award It’s definitely time for cheesecake Page 2

Bert Benson celebrates 35 years at RBJH Page 6

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor, Jewish Press his year’s Community Service Award will be presented to the organizers of Something Beautiful Happens when Community Comes Together. Cosponsoring this event were the Anti-Defamation League, the Institute for Holocaust Education and the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

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Be a Hero Too: A resource book for children Page 7

Bloch’s activism still going strong

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Spotlight Voices Synagogues Life cycles

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Last year in Los Angeles, Carol was an enthusiastic visitor at an art exhibit showcasing the career of Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

JILL KUSHNER BELMONT Carol Bloch says she’d like to step

back from her work as a community activist. Says she’d like to wake up each morning and only have to think about what she’d like to read.

And yet...

When she disagrees with a letter writer in the Omaha World-Herald’s Public Pulse, Carol will often pen a well-written, well-researched oppositional response. If she comes across a proposed bill in the Nebraska State Legislature that include discriminatory mandates, she will alert her See Carol Bloch page 2

We will have the opportunity to celebrate as a community during the June 1 Awards Night & Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Check our website at www.jewishomaha.org for the link details. Yvette Manessis is the author of the memoir Something Beautiful Happened, about her search to find the Jewish family her grandmother hid from the Nazis on a tiny Greek island.

See Community Service Award page 3

Malashock Professional Award ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Editor, Jewish Press While we are unable to plan for a Jewish Federation of Omaha Awards Night and Annual Meeting the way we have done in the past, we are no less eager to shine the light on a number of people who have gone above and beyond. During the month of May, we highlight our awardees, leading up to the Virtual Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, June 1. As we get closer to that date, we ask that you check our website at www.jewishomaha.org for the latest details, just in case we have to adjust the time and/or date. If there is one thing we have all learned: sometimes plans change.

Shelly Alloy Fox is the recipient of the Jody and Neal Malashock Award for Professional Excellence. This award is presented annually to a professional in the Omaha Jewish Community who has shown exemplary professional performance in advancing the mission of the organization.

Since 2003, Shelly has been part of the social work team for Jewish Social Services. Shelly’s daughter Naomi is married to Andrew Boehm. They are the parents of

Shelly Fox

Juliette and Dalia. Shelly is the daughter of Doris and Harry Alloy.

“Shelly focuses exclusively on community seniors,” RBJH Executive Director Chris Ulven said. “She never ceases to support them and always remains sensitive to the challenges they face, reaching out with dedication, empathy and kindness.”

Shelly’s role has two main areas of focus, Ulven said.

“The first is finding innovative ways to fulfill the needs of community elders, helping them remain independent as long as possible. For See Malashock Award page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020

News

It’s definitely time for cheesecake

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Carol Bloch

Continued from page 1 pipeline of like-minded community advocates to mobilize against the bill.

When she learns about judicial nominees who have questionable qualifications or rulings, she will reach out to that same pipeline, as well as an email list of friends, and encourage them to share their concerns with their elected officials.

Forty years of tireless activism has not dimmed her passion or quieted her voice. So, stepping back may not be in the cards for Carol, who admits that what keeps her going is simply this: “I can’t not do it.”

A longtime champion for women’s reproductive rights, family planning, and social justice issues, Carol began to hone her leadership skills in the early 1980s, volunteering with the National Council of Jewish Women, and Planned Parenthood of Omaha-Council Bluffs.

She became firmly entrenched as a formidable force for both organizations, lobbying government officials at both the state and national level and educating the community about issues central to each group.

These days, she serves on the boards of Nebraska Appleseed, as well as the ADL-CRC, where she is the longtime chairman of the civil rights committee.

Her advocacy efforts also focus on the Courts Matter Coalition of Nebraska,

Attending a national Planned Parenthood meeting in the mid-1980s helped to further Carol’s role as a women’s reproductive rights/family planning activist.

which she helped to establish in 2009, and which she co-chairs. CMCN partners with community organizations and individuals who work to safeguard a fair federal court system. Its mission includes educating the public about the court system, disseminating information about judicial nominees, and encouraging citizens to become engaged in the nomination process.

“The federal courts make a difference in every aspect of our lives: the quality of the air we breathe, our educational

opportunities, the safety and fairness of our workplaces, privacy, who we can marry, and the enforcement of our civil and human rights,” she said.

While the Supreme Court grabs headlines, district and circuit courts make final rulings in 99 percent of their cases.

For that reason, and because federal judgeships are lifetime appointments, Carol believes that selecting fair, impartial, and non-partisan judges is essential.

“We should stand up for and protect the rights of all Americans, including immigrants,” she said. “Federal judges must protect those who are the most vulnerable in our society and not just corporations, the wealthy and the powerful, when safety, equality, consumer rights, and workers’ protection are at stake.”

Carol shared the coalition’s overview of the ideal judge, saying, “They should be fair-minded, abide by the text and history of the Constitution, recognize the value of justice and equality for all Americans, and understand the impact the law has on real-world people. They should also come from diverse backgrounds.”

Noting the importance of public participation during the judicial nominating process, she stressed that everyone should have an equal voice in the democratic process.

“From the beginning, we wanted to See Carol Bloch page 5

YAAKOV JEIDEL Who doesn’t like cheesecake? I mean, if you had a choice, would you say no? I wouldn’t. I love cheesecake. So much so, that I would comfortably spend exorbitant amounts of money on those Kosher for Passover mini cheesecakes that cost nearly my ( future) monthly mortgage payments. True story, but they were so good!

Either way, we have in our midst Rabbi Yoni Dreyer, who is also a trained culinary chef (and a Mohel) who will be doing a live cheesecake making in honor of Shavuot.

Rabbi Yoni is the assistant rabbi at Beth Israel Synagogue and has been making a huge impact on the educational and programming components to the Jewish community at large. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp group (Tinyurl.com/BIWhatsApp) for more info on the happenings.

But back to the cheesecake - this interactive class will take place on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the Beth Israel Zoom Room: Tinyurl.com/BIZoom.

We hope you’ll join Rabbi Yoni and send us your pictures after to see if yours makes the top 3. Follow the link and join in the fun: Tinyurl.com/BIZoom.

Join us to celebrate our community!

AWARDS NIGHT

& ANNUAL MEETING PLUS...Potash Twins, JCC Training Company and more!

MONDAY • JUNE 1 • 7PM Visit WWW.JEWISHOMAHA.ORG to join us virtually!

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The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020 | 3

Community Service Award

Zoë Riekes and Peggy Payne

Stephanie Patsalis and Kelly Kirk

Continued from page 1 After years of dead ends, she finally finds them. But in a tragic twist of fate, just days after she finds the Jewish family, her own family is devastated by an act of anti-Semitic violence here in the US. The father and son of Yvette’s cousin, Mindy, are murdered in the Kansas City JCC parking lot by a neo-Nazi who mistook them for being Jewish. This event brought together lessons of the Holocaust and how to find light in the darkest of times.

“We brought two amazing women, Yvette Manessis and her cousin Mindy Corporon to Omaha for an author luncheon and moderated discussion,” the ADL’s Pam Monsky said. “More than 300 people attended the program and were from the Jewish and non-Jewish community. We partnered with committee members from all three sponsoring organizations as well as members of the Greek community. Following the presentation, an ADL facilitator lead a discussion about anti-Semitism and bias. The main take-away from the event was that antiSemitism is not just a Jewish issue.”

“Because hate is fostered from fear and fear from ignorance,” Mindy Corporan said, “we must continue educating. In the simplest form; invite those who are not like you into a conversation.

Place yourself in a room full of people whom you don’t know and get to know them. Share with those, who are not like you, who you are - what are your life experiences, family values, concerns about the world and what brings you joy. We should not continue to wonder why (insert any faith) is feared, if we are reluctant ourselves to explore a faith different from our own.”

Kelly Kirk and Stephanie Patsalis co-chaired the event, which included a Greek-inspired menu.

“We wanted to bring awareness to what happened on a small island in Greece as told in Yvette Manessis’ book,” Stephanie said, and bring awareness to how are all called to help a stranger. Bringing the local Jewish and the Greek communities coming together as one was so meaningful and an honor! Honoring Zoë Riekes and Peggy Payne as leaders in the Jewish and Greek Community made the event more impactful. Both have done so much for our respective communities and for the city of Omaha. The goal of the event was to reach out to as many people in Omaha as possible, beyond the Jewish and Greek communities. I heard from so many Omaha leaders that we had a room filled with a well-represented slice of the community. Inviting teachers from all the area school districts, to bring this message back to their students will have a beautiful ripple effect. Being Greek, I knew countless stories of Greeks saving Jewish families’ lives, but many people came up to me and said: ‘We had no idea this happened on beautiful islands in Greece.’

The call to action at the end as well as the table discussion were the most thought-provoking part of the event, getting everyone to think. It was the perfect take-away for everyone.”

“In addition to the fact that this program was a thoughtful

collaboration with ADL-CRC, Institute for Holocaust Education and the Jewish Federation of Omaha, it successfully reached out to the non-Jewish community to highlight the dangers of anti-Semitism,” Pam Monsky said. “The program made the Holocaust experience relevant as sadly we have fewer survivors to share their stories first-hand. It was inclusive of the entire community and it was unique, because of the collaboration of the agencies, the Jewish community and the Greek and non-Jewish community. Another unique feature was the facilitation portion of the program, which was intended to give people real tools to utilize in their daily life when they encounter bias or anti-Semitism. Also, volunteers were recruited from each agency to work on the event.”

Participants left the event inspired to not be a bystander when they see or experience anti-Semitism or other acts of bias. It was the intention that participants appreciate those that were righteous gentiles. The fact that there were equal numbers of Jews and gentiles who attended the program opens up new avenues of understanding for both groups.

Kelly Kirk said: “For the community as a whole to come together and realize with knowledge, we truly can make the world a better place, was the outcome we aimed for. With the rise of anti-Semitism, Holocaust education and awareness are more critical than ever in helping to ensure the history and lessons of the Holocaust are shared appropriately and factually.”

Events like these impact our world, Mindy Corporan said.

“That feeling deep down in your heart that was touched... when your breath was caught in your throat and you felt tears well in your eyes... these are human reactions to atrocities shared because the pain and the joy from life go hand in hand.

The impact comes from your willingness to take action at every opportunity to share the meaning of what you learned from our messages.”

Yvette Manessis was grateful for the beutiful memories: “Please continue to spread the word,” she said. “Please continue to stand up and speak out. Remember that one person can make a difference.”

“This event had no boundaries,” Kelly said. “The story of Something Beautiful Happened was about how the Holocaust and anti-Semitism affected non-Jews. The Holocaust has a profound affect on people of all religions, races and cultures because it was a human tragedy of unimaginable proportion.

You can’t hear about the Holocaust and not feel something. I think the event was greatly appreciated by those outside the Jewish bubble maybe even more so than those of us in the bubble. Some people left the event with an understanding I don’t think they had before coming.

“Welcoming strangers, although it can seem overwhelming and awkward, is part of the expectation of what we can and See Community Services Award page 5

Malashock Award Continued from page 1 example, Shelly has organized programs such as in-home handyman services, community transportation services and the RBJH’s Meals on Wheels program. The second part of her role is providing guidance and assistance to new Residents of the RBJH during the admission process and getting them acclimated to living at the Home. She often acts as liaison for Residents without family members or support systems and very limited resources.”

Shelly also chaired the Caring Committee at Temple Israel for several years: “During that time, Rabbi Azriel and Rabbi Stiel taught our committee about Bikur cholim and Gemilut chasadim: caring for the sick, selflessness, and loving-kindness. I received the Harriett Sperling Caring Award in 2001, and with Rabbi Azriel’s ‘gentle push,’ I moved forward with my schooling and career.

“I completed my undergraduate studies in gerontology and social work with a Practicum placement at RBJH in 2003. I was hired and continued on to earn my Master’s degree. Mike Silverman and Shane Kotok let me know verbally and by example, years ago when I was hired that if it was the right thing

to do, we would figure out a way to do it. Chris Ulven continues to guide with that same philosophy. What a wonderful premise to guide me through my work!

“Shane and I continued working together until 2013 when she retired. At that time, I was the Director of Outreach Services and additionally assumed the position of Director of Admissions. These are the roles I hold today. No one has taught me more about professional excellence than Shane.”

Relationships are essential, Shelly said: “Without a doubt, one of the most rewarding parts of the work I do is gaining the trust and developing a relationship with our elders and their families. As a social worker, the time and attention spent is what creates the connection. I am lucky to have lived in our community and have familiarity with many of the families I work with. That is a very unique opportunity for me, and I hope it is beneficial to clients also. Oftentimes, I communicate with out-of-town adult children who are concerned regarding a parent’s well-being. Knowing that there is a community professional available to check on their family and assist with care coordination is valuable. I take great pride in being trusted to See Malashock Award page 4

4 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020

Everything counts

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SUSAN BERNARD | 402.334.6559 | sbernard@jewishomaha.org

Forward: This column has been percolating in my mind for a very long time. I was planning to write it up in advance of this Fall’s High Holidays, the designated time on the Jewish calendar for deep personal reflection. I TEDDY offer it now out of a feel- WEINBERGER ing that in gradually coming out of our isolation and resuming our more normal lives, there is a sense of starting over and new possibility.

In the world of physical fitness, there is a saying: Everything counts. What this means is that in whatever you do, the more muscle activity the better. For example, since you use more muscles when standing than sitting, it is healthier to speak on a telephone call while standing; and for similar reasons, it is even healthier to pace the room while you are on that call. About two years ago, I realized that the physical-fitness aphorism had broader use, and I came to the following stupendous conclusion: Everything counts in all human interactions.

Stupendous? Yes—at least for me. Because this is the type of person I had been: If I was walking to the supermarket and saw an acquaintance ahead of me, I would cross the street and pretend not to see that person in order to avoid some meaningless chit-chat. I gradually realized that the chit-chat was not meaningless, that it made me feel connected to another person, and that I enjoyed that connection. Incredibly to me, I have become a person who will now speed-up in order to be able to have an interaction with an acquaintance.

Because Everything counts, in any kind of interaction with another person, I try to ask them their name, and I try to remember that name if we meet again (and hope the person does the same for me). Little by little, over the course of many interactions we get to know each other better, moving toward what Martin Buber called an I-Thou relationship.

I have to admit that things used to be a lot

easier for me living in the relatively small town of Givat Ze’ev. I could not take a fiveminute walk without meeting someone with whom I was on a first-name basis. Having moved to the city of Herzliya seven months ago, I have my work cut out for me. But I’m making progress. I encouraged Tsipi, in charge of our building’s seven-apartment house committee, to start a group whatsapp, and so it’s easier to connect with fellow residents. I also know that Gilad is the lifeguard at my pool, Itzik drives a cab in the area, Nir delivers my morning paper, Erez came to swap out my dead car battery for a new one, and Grigory is the old Russian man who like me is saying kaddish in shul. And of course once you start to get to know a person, interesting surprises await: Who knew that Tsipi, in her mid 60s, has been a personal fitness trainer for over three decades, and who knew that Grigory was a professor emeritus of mathematics? But so what, you might ask. So I know something about Tsipi and Grigory. Why make a big deal about all of this? All I know is that I realized that I can feel really good even after small, ostensibly insignificant interactions with people--and so I have embraced them.

I would have been happy to end this column with my previous sentence, but I feel a responsibility to warn you of the following: Not everyone is friendly. Despite your best efforts, some people want nothing more from you than a kind of I-It relationship. An important corollary to Everything counts, therefore, is: “Prioritize Friendliness.” In all aspects of your life, try to gravitate toward friendly people. To what extent? That is, exactly how much should you go out of your way or pay a premium to interact with friendly people?

The older I get, the answer I give myself to this question is: As much as possible.

Teddy Weingerger, Ph.D., made aliyah with his wife, former Omahan Saraj Jane Ross, and their five children, Nathan, Rebecca, Ruthie, Ezra, and Elie, all of whom are veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@ netvision.net.il.

Malashock Award Continued from page 3 help care for their elders.”

The hundreds of people Shelly has helped during her 15+ years serving the community will all say the same thing, Ulven said: “She has done everything she could to help them, regardless of what day it was, what time of day it was, or whether she had to give up personal plans. She makes herself available 24/7/365.”

Shelly considers herself privileged to learn about commitment, perseverance, dignity and strength firsthand. These are precious lessons, she said. Especially now, when the Jewish community faces very different circumstances, those lessons are put to good use: “We always strive to show ultimate respect and care for the Residents at RBJH as well as our Outreach clients,” she said. “The recent restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 have made it challenging for everyone. Families are kept apart, visitors are not allowed and group activities are curtailed. All this is done to protect our elders. Under these conditions, we are doing anything and everything to fill in the gaps and ensure our Residents feel connected. FaceTime calls, window visits, drive-by parades, increased home-delivered meals and wellness check-ins are just some of the ways we do that. All staff at RBJH in all departments are to be commended.”

“Shelly Fox is potentially the Omaha Jewish Community’s most valuable secret,” Ulven said. “All she does, she does with complete and total confidentiality. She wants no accolades or recognition; she simply wants to help those she serves. She has touched so many lives personally and knows our community’s elders and what their needs are sometimes before they know themselves. She has the gift

of empathy that allows people to find trust early on. Moving from your home into a nursing facility is one of the most difficult decisions. Shelly feels like a close friend who is always by your side, walking you through the transition.”

“Life’s needs and emergencies are unscheduled.” Shelly said. “It is so important that our Community knows how and where to reach out and let us know when they need help. We want to be able to provide support and guidance. But, we cannot do that if we don’t know.

If you or someone you care about needs help please contact the RBJH at 402.330.4272 or Jewish Senior Outreach at 402.334.6532.

“May 1 was my husband Rick’s birthday,” Shelly said. “Jody Malashock called me and told me she remembered what day it was and that she was thinking of Rick. I was very touched by her thoughtfulness. She then informed me I was the recipient of the Malashock Award. I am grateful beyond words to be honored with the Jody and Neal Malashock Award for Professional Excellence.

It is an honor and a blessing to serve my community.”

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Due to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home temporarily being closed to the public, B’nai B’rith Breadbreakers will not meet until further notice. For specific speaker information, please email Gary.Javitch@ Gmail.com, Breadbreakers chairman. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.

The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020 | 5

Community Service Award Continued from page 3 should do. If we are to make this world a better place, it starts with us, with our own community. Opening ourselves up and reaching out to others is the best way to learn and grow and when that happens, we also have an opportunity to share our stories and to teach our history.”

Yvette hopes in time, “we can get back to a place where we can come together in a room, and share our stories and laugh and cry together. Events like these remind us of the power that we all have within us to stand up and bring the light. We change the world one person at the time. And like a ripple, an act of kindness, like welcoming a stranger, spreads and grows and changes lives across the generations.”

“Everyone needs to be reminded to welcome the stranger,” Mindy Corporan said. “Everyone. Fear festers in us when we lack knowledge about what is bringing us fear. We fear the unknown. As humans we also relish a partner or community to agree with our fear, which can easily lead to hate. The shared experiences of hate of others and joy in life, are similar to one another. Teaching the message of welcoming a stranger makes an impact when the welcoming person has the most reason to NOT be welcoming; also called forgiveness. Forgiveness melts the hardness around a heart, allowing for love to show up. Love wins.”

The Great Big Jewish Food Fest JOE BAUR JTA Hoping to improve your culinary skills while in quarantine? There’s an online Jewish food festival for you.

Jewish culinary talents like Michael Solomonov, Joan Nathan and Michael Twitty are coming together to partake in the inaugural Great Big Jewish Food Fest from May 19 to 28.

The festival is free for participants and consists of workshops, happy hours and Shabbat dinners led by other wellknown Jewish chefs and food writers.

“Not a single person we’ve asked has said a flat out ‘no,’”Jeffrey Yoskowitz told the Forward. “Everyone has said ‘I’m in, I want to be part of it.’” Yoskowitz is on the team helping to produce the festival alongside Liz Alpern, his cofounder of Gefilteria, a Brooklyn-based company whose focus is reimagining Old World Jewish foods.

The festival is supported by several foundations, including the Jewish Food Society, Mazon and the American Sephardi Federation, among others.

Leah Koenig, author of The Jewish Cookbook, will be leading a cooking class dedicated to Roman cuisine.

News LOCA L | NAT IO NAL | WO RLD

Carol Bloch

of our coalition’s work. As a result, hundreds, if not thousands Continued from page 2 get people involved, not only to educate them but to let them of Nebraskans understand the importance of the court system know that they have a job to do, that they have a role to play in our system of government. as an advocate. People knew that they could call their con“Simply put, Carol is an inspiration to me personally and I gressman, that they could call their state senator, but few peo- feel blessed to know her.” ple knew that they could call their United States senators and tell them how they felt about a specific nominee.

“Citizens can and should speak out to their elected officials to let them know what kind of individuals they think should or should not sit in judgment on the federal courts,” she said.

She was also quick to point out that CMCN works to remind Participating in a 2018 Inclusive Communities panel discussion about the judicial nominating people that the judicial branch process, Carol was joined by her Courts Matter Coalition co-chairman Robert McEwen, far left, is a co-equal branch of govern- attorney Shawntal Smith, and the Honorable Darryl Lowe of the Douglas County Court. ment, a fact that is sometimes forgotten.

At a time when deep partisanship divides Americans, Carol “We have a system of checks and balances, but since 2016, admitted that remaining vigilant and vocal can be disheartall we have is an executive branch that seems to think it con- ening. But she persists, motivated by the words chiseled onto trols the other branches.” the exterior of the Nebraska State Capitol that demand ‘EqualAs a watchdog, Carol frequently pores over prospective leg- ity Before the Law.’ islation, looking for potentially harmful bills that need to be “This is my calling,” she said. “Since 2016, it has been more identified early on and abandoned. of a chore, but when I started, I loved it – I really did. When I “A lot of what I, and others like me, do is to keep some leg- would go to NCJW national meetings and be with like-minded islation from passing,” she said. “Someone has to pay attention people in the same room, it was a thrill. And when I went to to what state legislatures are talking about. So many bills the Hill, visiting Senator Bob Kerrey and Congressman Peter come around -- either at the state or national level -- that are Hoagland’s offices, I loved it. I led Lobby Day in Nebraska for so horrendous, somebody has to watch out for them or they’ll 10 years while I was Public Affairs chairman with NCJW. I just pass through.” would research bills that were being introduced and the senBeing a watchdog also means having to “constantly remind ators we needed to target, then I got people together and we’d people in our state legislature that this is not a Christian na- go down to Lincoln and visit every single senator’s office.” tion,” she said. “Religious liberty has always been, and should Does she think she’s making a difference? “I can only hope continue to be, a shield to protect people of all faiths or no so,” she said. “I can only hope that there are people out there faith at all. The Constitution was written to protect people of who want to listen to the other side of the story.” minority religions, not just the majority.”

However, she also realizes that she is still fighting the same Nebraska Appleseed Legal Director Robert McEwen, who battles as she did 40 years ago. also serves as Carol’s CMCN co-chairman, praised his col“We’re still fighting for women’s reproductive rights, as well league’s passion and commitment to social justice and activism. as anti-discrimination laws and true religious freedom. We’re “Carol is one of the most dedicated, intelligent, and profes- still fighting for people to have insurance for birth control. If sional advocates that I have had the opportunity to work with women could control their reproductive health and family in my career,” he said. “In particular, I have worked with Carol planning, it would solve most of the problems of the world, in through the Courts Matter Coalition of Nebraska for several my opinion.” years now, and she has been the driving force in the success See Carol Bloch page 6

Happy Passover There’s something for everyone KHULWDJH FRPPXQLWLHV FRP 402-504-3111 | WK 3DFL¿F LQ 2PDKD

6 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020

News LOC AL | N AT I O N A L | WO R L D

Mazal tov, Bert!

Carol Bloch Continued from page 5 As long as there are battles to be fought, there will be a need for vocal advocates. And to those who don’t speak up because they assume they have no influence or power, Carol counters by saying, “That’s not true. You can make a difference. Don’t ever think you can’t.

Not only you can, you should. You should take action. People have the right and the responsibility to take action, no matter what the issue.

“This is really hard stuff,” she added. “I do not want to visit one more senator who says to me, ‘We never hear from your side.’ They are supposed to be representatives. They are supposed to represent everybody’s opinions, not just their own. That’s been the biggest challenge, and that’s why I tell people that our elected officials need to hear from them.

It’s a phone call. What’s the big deal?”

It’s no surprise that over the years, Carol’s passionate activism has spilled over into her

family life. She joked that, “When my own children were growing up, ours was one of the very few dinner tables where we talked about family planning and the need for people to be able to access quality informative sex education. I have also talked to all of my grandchildren over the past few years about what they learn in school, and how politics affect what they’re learning.”

She’s grateful that she’s had the time, the energy and the means to work as an advocate for the past four decades. She appreciates that she’s been able to do it all on her own terms.

Will she ever completely step away from activism? Doubtful. But if anyone is interested in stepping up to fill her exceptionally large shoes, she’s ready to pass the torch.

In the meantime, her wish to wake up and think only about what to read may elude her, because hard as she tries to let go, this woman’s work is never done.

Omaha Community Playhouse presents Tara Vaughan’s She Rocks MAGGIE CONTI Director of Activities and Volunteer Services, RBJH Bert Benson, Director of Social Service, celebrates 35 years of employment at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. She recently was honored during National Nursing Home Week with treats from Eileen’s Cookies, her personal favorite. Chris Ulven, Executive Director of Jewish Social Services, said: “Simply put... Bert Benson is the BEST Social Services Director I have ever seen and may ever see in my lifetime. She is absolutely amazing in everything she does! The organization, the commitment, her knowledge, her ability to remember the details of residents from long ago, their families, and the connections to others is unlike anything I have seen before. I think it’s safe to say that after she retires, the Legend of Bert will live on here for a long, long time.”

Tara Vaughan’s She Rocks will open Thursday, June 11, at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

She Rocks celebrates women artists and songwriters of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, woven together with songs and stories. Backed by an all-star band, Tara performs music from such artists as Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Blondie, Heart and many more. In this unique review, Tara Vaughan masterfully presents an evening of classic rock’n’roll with the

focus on female artists and songwriters.

Tickets start at $35, with prices varying by performance. Tickets may be purchased at the Playhouse Box Office at 6915 Cass St., by phone at 402.553.0800 or online at OmahaPlayhou se.com.

The show will run in the Howard Drew Theatre at the Playhouse from June 11 through 28. Performance times vary. Please visit OmahaPlay house.com for a list of show dates and times.

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The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020 | 7

JFO Foundation update I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy, safe, and coping well during this COVID-19 Pandemic and these uncertain times.

Thankfully, all of us at the Foundation are doing well, though we continue to work remotely from our homes.

Frankly, we miss the camaraderie of the office and the opportunity to visit in person with our many friends and sup- HOWARD EPSTEIN porters, and we look forward to the day Executive Director, when conditions are right to rekindle JFO Foundation that in-office workday and those inperson visits. Please know that while we may be working remotely, the Foundation is open for business and ready to be of service to you.

Last week, I came across a story highlighting some things that people are Googling during this Pandemic. Of particular interest, Google recently reported that searches for “how to make a will” are 67 percent higher than they have been at any time in the Google search engine’s history. This is not at all surprising, given the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into our lives, and the question of how it will impact our families and those we care about.

Many of us are thinking about our wills and our estate plans.

Anecdotally, lawyers in Omaha and across the country are reporting calls and meetings with clients who are revisiting and updating their estate plans and with clients of all ages who are anxious to finalize their first will or trust. And, in those wills and trusts, many people are remembering not only their family members and loved ones, but also the charitable or-

ganizations they have supported during their lifetimes.

If you are among those updating your estate plan, or if you are writing your will for the first time, we encourage you to remember those organizations in Omaha’s Jewish community which you have so generously supported for so many years.

Omaha’s LIFE & LEGACY initiative recognizes the importance of advance planning, giving everyone, whether of moderate means or substantial wealth, the opportunity to leave an afterlifetime gift to the organizations within Omaha’s Jewish community that you have so generously and loyally supported during your lifetime.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha and all its agencies, all three of Omaha’s synagogues, Chabad, the Anti-Defamation League, the Institute for Holocaust Education, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society and Friedel Jewish Academy are all partners in Omaha’s LIFE & LEGACY initiative. All of these entities have been active, vibrant and essential to Omaha’s Jewish community for decades, and even though all are operating differently during the COVID-19 pandemic, all are planning to serve the community for decades to come. All would treasure a gift from your will or trust.

We’ll be happy to work with you and your professional advisors to include any or all of our LIFE & LEGACY partners in your estate plan. A future endowment at the Foundation is an ideal way to establish a lasting legacy, a legacy that will provide a steady source of income year after year for those organizations you most care about. We will be happy to help you achieve your charitable legacy.

Please feel free to contact me at 402.334.6466 or by email at hepstein@jewishomaha.org. We will be happy to help you achieve your charitable legacy.

Be a Hero Too: A resource book for children GABBY BLAIR Staff writer, Jewish Press Looking for resources to help younger children understand the Corornavirus? Check out Be a Hero Too, written by pediatrician Dr. Samantha Rohe of Children’s Hospital and illustrated by Sophie Cemaj.

Cemaj is a graduate of Friedel Jewish Academy and Westside High School and the daughter of Shirley and Sam Cemaj. She is currently working towards her MD at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“A classmate, who knew I enjoyed drawing, connected me with Dr. Rohe who was looking for an illustrator for a book she had written as a learning tool to help children understand their role during the Coronavirus pandemic,” Sophie said.

This is the first book Cemaj has illustrated. “Dr. Rohe provided me with the story and I based my illustrations off her text. It was definitely a learning experience and makes me

want to get into more illustrating and art.”

While in print publishing options are being explored, Be a Hero Too is currently available online only in English and Spanish at https:// www.unmc.edu/news.cfm?match=25619.

“We wanted to create a free resource for people, right now. Publishing it online was the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way we could get it to the public, but I would love to have it in print one day!”

Cemaj continues. “If people do end up going through the book, I want them to make sure to be on the lookout for hidden objects and references throughout the book!

For example, the book is set in downtown Omaha (look for the skyline, zoo, Spaghetti Works, etc.). I also included many friends and family as characters. My soon to be 1-year old niece, Zoey, was the inspiration for the main character/super hero. Also, my dad Sam, a trauma surgeon, is the doctor in the book. I think it is worth more than one read and people should be on the lookout when they read it!”

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THANK YOU for Your Donation to Benson Plant Rescue on May 20.

WHAT? You didn’t have a chance to donate?

Not to worry.

You can still make a donation at: www.omahagives.org Enter Keyword:

Benson Plant Rescue Then follow onscreen prompts.

Your Gift Will Help Us

Recycle Plant Goods Reclaim Produce Take Our Model National Over the past 22 years we have developed an ALL VOLUNTEER nonprofit model that funds free produce distribution by sale of plant goods. Along the way we’ve also managed to give over $70,000 to the Omaha Public Library for children’s books and computers.

But we are now in need of about

$220,000 to complete our building purchase.

Your generous donation will allow us to expand our mission, knowing that our home base is secure.

THANK YOU! READ MORE at BensonPlantRescue.Org

8 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020

Above and below: Social distance-volunteering at the Tri-Faith Garden & Orchard.

Above: More RBJH window visits with Jay Simon visiting his mother, Joie Simon.

SP O TLIGHT PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org.

Left, above, right and below: The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s weekly Wacky Wednesday continues: the theme last week was “Grey Out,” with staff dressing in grey in honor of a high number of greying hairs!

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The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020 | 9

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

An entire op-ed that barely mentions the virus ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor, Jewish Press Please read this sentence a few times: “Elan Carr, the State Department’s anti-Semitism monitor, wants to get people in other countries to love their Jews more as a means of countering anti-Semitism.” (JTA.org) The story continues: “In a press call Monday to mark Jewish American Heritage Month, Carr outlined steps the United States was taking worldwide to advocate for defending Jews as violent antiSemitism spikes, including security measures, prosecuting hate crimes and condemning anti-Semitic speech. ‘In addition to all of those important defense measures, we are determined also to work with our allies in developing and driving Philo-Semitic narratives for their country, in the hope that we can reach the day when every society dedicates itself, as the United States has, to embrace and to treasure its Jewish community,’ he said.”

First of all, I have to admit: I totally missed that it was “Jewish American Heritage Month.” How did I not know that? Shouldn’t that be sort of part of my job, knowing these things? I know life has been weird, but really.

I looked it up: apparently, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as such in 2006. There has been a proclamation every year since, including in 2020. If at some point or another I heard about it or even published something about it, it didn’t stick. Anyway, I’ll try to remember this next year (maybe 2021 will be more normal, whatever that means).

Second, most of those measures Carr is proposing don’t sound so bad. So why does he have to ruin it by including ‘Philo-Semitic narratives?’

Carr said during that same press call: “The opposite of anti-Semitism is not tolerance. The opposite of anti-Semitism is Philo-Semitism, the appreciation, respect, and affection for Jewish values and the Jewish community.”

Elan Carr, shown in April 2019, is the State Department’s Special Envoy on anti-Semitism. Credit: Screenshot from C-Span

The appreciation and respect I can get behind.

I’d love to add the word ‘knowledge’ in there, ‘understanding,’ ‘empathy,’ oh, a whole slew of words that I’d reach for before I’d end up with ‘affection.’

I’m reminded of all the times when someone found out I was Jewish and responded with: “Oh, I LOVE the Jews!” Each time, I’m tempted to ask: why do they think they ‘love’ the Jews? While the mention of Jewish American Heritage Month does not trigger any memories, the idea of people ‘loving the Jews’ does. This, I definitely have written about before.

But then I have to ask myself two questions.

1. Why should I assume I know better than Elan Carr? (answer: I shouldn’t; we’ve already seen I really don’t know anything, considering I completely missed that Heritage-month thing) 2. What is so bad about non-Jews loving us?

Question number two is a little more difficult to answer. ‘Love’ is a tricky thing. It’s not rational, we don’t always manage it very well and it can die inexplicably or turn into something else. It makes people volatile and unpredictable. It can also build life-long bonds that enrich and strengthen everyone involved. Most importantly, anyone who’s experienced an awkward crush in high school knows: love cannot be forced.

Many of us suffer from a deep-seated suspicion of those who profess to love an entire people (“I love black people.” “I love Indians.” Are you cringing yet? You should be). We all want to be treated as individuals and judged on our own merit. Philo-Semitism risks grouping us together and generalizing who we are. What if I’m the only Jew you ever meet and you happen to meet me on a bad day?

It is also possible that I secretly think ‘love’ is asking a little too much. Elon Carr is setting a very high bar. These days, if you can just refrain from posting hate online, blaming us for COVID-19, spray-painting our synagogues, wearing a white hood to the grocery store or even killing us, I think we’re good.

I don’t need you to love me; I just need you to not go out of your way to make me miserable.

And isn’t that the saddest part? That I’ve internalized the increase of anti-Semitism to the point where I don’t believe, for one second, there is hope for it to get better? Maybe Elan Carr’s brand of optimism is just what we need after all.

Post-pandemic Shabbat meals should include less meat

pose outsize risks to human communities. That our part to remove this very real peril, and the time MELISSA HOFFMAN said, we may have underestimated just how big to begin is now, when the whole world is experiLOS ANGELES | JTA encing the potential consequences.

Last year I wrote about how, as we come to terms those risks are.

In a recent op-ed in The Guardian, my colleagues It would be disastrous if the admitted immensity with the existential threat of climate change, our Aaron Saul Gross and Jonathan Safran Foer asked of the task before us paralyzed us into inaction. We joyous occasions will shift in both spirit and pracreaders to imagine a situation in which “our milishould remember that even dramatic changes tice — including the food we eat and how it is protary leaders told us that almost every terrorist in occur incrementally and that we are not alone. duced. The same is true in the wake of coronavirus.

More people and more leaders Thanks to a surge of global efare talking about reforming farmforts to end the pandemic as fast ing than ever before. We can start as humanly possible, we’ll break with our own daily choices, and bread at Shabbat and cook food we can start considering what for our neighbors, families and we’ll do differently when we’re friends again — probably the act back in our institutional and I’ve missed more than any other. communal settings.

We can start And when we do, it will be a new talking now about how to reduce opportunity to make different our own community demand for choices about what’s on the menu. the products most tightly linked Right now, I’m deeply conto the creation of pathogens with cerned that there is so little focus pandemic potential, like induson what specialists in infectious trial poultry (that’s 99 percent of disease have explained we need all birds sold, including kosher). to do to prevent another panWe can ask if it is time to replace demic in the future. some — or even all — of the aniMany of our ongoing policies A plate of chickpeas and salad; Melissa Hoffman Credit: Justin Hackworth; Getty Images mal products served at our reliconcerning industrial agriculture recent memory had spent time in the same traingious and communal institutions with plant-based all but guarantee another pandemic, possibly one ing camp, but no politician would call for an invesalternatives or at least with meat, dairy and eggs that is magnitudes worse. The good news is that tigation of the training camp.

Imagine if we knew verified to be from animals raised outside the facwe know how to better prevent pandemics. To sucthat those terrorists were developing weapons tory farming system. ceed we need to focus on future threats now, before Change can be as simple as replacing a single anit’s too late. Wuhan’s wet markets unmasked our more destructive than any that has been used, or tested, in human history. ” imal product, like swapping the cow’s milk on our troublingly dissonant relationship with wildlife and They conclude: “This is our situation when it cereal and in our beverages for plant-based milks. It rightly deserve condemnation. But as so many comes to pandemics and farming. ” In a Jewish concan be a healthier rhythm of eating like Jonathan news articles are revealing, factory farms are breedtext, you might say that we’ve bent if not broken Safran Foer’ s call to be vegan before dinner. It can be ing grounds even more ripe for transmitting deadly the blessing of human agricultural skill.

No one a new eating identity like reducetarian, flexitarian, zoonotic diseases. Industrial poultry farms are touring (or reading details about) a factory farm vegetarian or vegan.

And it can rise to the communal uniquely suited for generating new pathogens — in could possibly describe it as an actualization of level, beginning a conversation with your local Jewfact, most of the influenza viruses with pandemic God’s work.

Yet Jewish traditions impel us to make ish community institutions to create new food polipotential deemed “of special concern” by the CDC our lives — from the prayers we sing to the food we cies and ultimately a new normal for the food we eat. arose from commercial poultry operations. eat — an actualization of divine intention.

This piece is a part of our series of Visions for We’ve known for a long time that breeding aniTackling the problem of industrial animal agrithe Post-Pandemic Jewish Future.

Melissa Hoffmals to the brink of their genetic and physiological limits, raising them in confinement and keeping culture is a crucial form of the preventive medicine man is the Director of the Jewish Initiative for them alive with constant doses of antimicrobials that we are commanded to practice. We must do Animals.

Synagogues

10 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980 402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154 402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646 402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123 402.294.6244 email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

B’NAI ISRAEL For information on our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Carole and Wayne Lainof, MaryBeth Muskin and Sissy Silber.

Handicap Accessible.

BETH EL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

VIRTUAL MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.; Evenings on Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Shabbat To-Go Pick Up, 10 a.m.-noon; Virtual Shabbat Story Time (Grades PreK-2), 11 a.m.; Virtual Let’s Get Cooking with Eadie (Grades 3-12), 3 p.m.; Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat with BESTT, 4 p.m.; Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat with guest speaker, Elizabeth Donner - Boys & Girls Club of Midlands, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Virtual Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Virtual Havdallah, 9:34 p.m.

SUNDAY: Virtual Torah Study, 10 a.m.; Yiddish Class with Hazzan Krausman, 11 a.m.

MONDAY: Virtual Jewish Law Class with Rabbi Abraham, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY: Virtual Jewish Values Class with Rabbi Abraham, 11:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Abraham, 2 p.m.; Virtual USY Check-In, 5:15 p.m.

THURSDAY: Virtual Teen Book Club, 4:30 p.m.; Virtual Shavuot Services, 5:30 p.m.; Virtual Shavuot Study Sessions, 6 p.m.; Virtual Tikkun Leyl Shavuot Evening Study, 7 p.m.

Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

BETH ISRAEL Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:19 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Insights to the Weeky Torah Portion, 7:15 p.m.; Micha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:10 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:26 p.m.

SUNDAY: Rambam: Rabbi Moshe, 9:45 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; JYE BI Jr: Spring Session,

10:15 a.m.; Parsha and halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1 p.m.; Special Presentation: Oshry Moyal: A Life in Quarantine, 7 p.m.

MONDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; Tasty Torah with Rabbi Yoni, noon; Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1 p.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.

TUESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1 p.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1 p.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.

TURSDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; Character Development with Rabbi Ari, 9:30 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; Parsha and Halacha with Rabbi Yoni, 1 p.m.; JYE BI Parsha and Mishnayot with Rabbi Yoni, 1-2 p.m.; Parsha Inspiration, 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Deepening Prayer, 7:15 a.m.; Laws of Shabbos, 7:30 a.m.; JYE BI Tefillah with Faige, 10 a.m.; Musical Kabbalat Shabbat with DJ JJ, 7 p.m.

CHABAD HOUSE Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman.

Due to Coronavirus, all services and classes have moved online. For schedules and more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.org or call the office at 402.330.1800

B’NAI JESHURUN Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Teri Appleby.

The Temple office is on reduced hours until further notice and all services and activities are being offered via livestream or teleconferencing. Please call 402.435.8004 or email office@southstreettemple.org for further information or to make an appointment for a visit, if necessary. You may also email Rabbi Appleby at rabbi@ southstreettemple.org or Board president Nicholette Seigfreid at president@southstreettemple.org. South Street Temple’s events can be found at https://south streettemple.org/calendar/.

FRIDAY: Virtual Erev Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:26 p.m.

SATURDAY: Virtual Shabbat Morning Service Max Grossbart Bar Mitzvah, 10:30 a.m.; Havdalah (72 minutes), 9:57 p.m.

SUNDAY: Virtual Adult Hebrew, 11:30 a.m.

MONDAY: Memorial Day – Temple Office Closed TUESDAY: Virtual Tea Time with the Rabbi, noon; Virtual Intro to Judaism Class, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Erev Shavuot; Candlelighting, 8:31 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE All services canceled until further notice.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Rabbi Brian Stoller.

DAILY VIRTUAL MINYAN: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service Honoring our Board of Trustees, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.

MONDAY-FRIDAY: Online Pop-up Sessions for Families, 4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Mindfulness Meditation with Margot Anderson, 9 a.m.; Jewish Law & the Quest for Meaning, noon.

THURSDAY: The Israel Forum, 10 a.m.; Virtual Café with Cantor Alexander, 2:30 p.m.; Community Beit Midrash: Tikkun Leil Shavuot, 7 p.m.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

TIFERETH ISRAEL

Virtual services conducted by Nancy Coren.

FRIDAY: Evening Kabbalat Shabbat, 6:30-7 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:26 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat morning Service, 10 a.m.; Virtual Shabbat Morning Service Max Grossbart Bar Mitzvah, 10:30 a.m.; Havdalah (72 min.); Candlelighting, 9:27 p.m.

MONDAY: Memorial Day – Tifereth Israel Office Closed Please visit tiferethisraellincoln.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

Reducing racial disparities in coronavirus testing

death rates among people of color without JOSEFIN DOLSTEN taking action.

JTA “I got tired of watching it,” she told the At the beginning of her day, Tal Lee will see Philadelphia Inquirer, “so I called local offias many as hundreds of cars snake around cials, I called the state and said, ‘What are we the church parking lot where she is helping doing in our hard-hit communities? I want to to conduct coronavirus tests. help. ’ I got crickets.

Because there was nothDressed in two face masks, a face shield ing happening. ” and scrubs, Lee works alongside doctors, Lee helps patients fill out paperwork, talks nurses and medical students like herself to to them about their symptoms and helps preconduct as many as 300 coronavirus swabs a pare the nasal swabs before a doctor or nurse day in predominantly African-American conducts the test. neighborhoods in Philadelphia. They are The team works eight-hour days — rain or brought together by the Black Doctors shine — wearing multiple layers of protective COVID-19 Consortium, an initiative founded gear.

Lee initially worried about potentially by a local surgeon to combat the coronavirus contracting the virus from her patients. pandemic’s high death rate among African“This person standing in front of me could Americans. have coronavirus, ” she remembers thinking.

Signing onto the initiative was a natural Medical student Tal Lee, left, and nurse Michele Morton are work“It is nerve-wracking, I’m not going to say it’s choice for Lee, a fourth-year medical student ing with the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium to provide free not. ” at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic coronavirus testing. Credit: Tal Lee But Lee says patients’ relief at being able to Medicine who plans to work as an OB-GYN as the pandemic has worsened, it has become clear get tested more than makes up for the worry. She treating underserved populations. that African-Americans are far overrepresented recently helped test a mother and her four daughBefore beginning medical school, she spent a among cases and deaths across the country.

In ters, several of whom had preexisting health conyear working on a mobile medical van through Philadelphia, African-Americans represent 54 perditions that put them at greater risk of contracting Avodah, a Jewish social justice fellowship in New cent of coronavirus deaths despite making up 40 and sustaining complications from the coronYork, providing street-side health care, including percent of the population. avirus. preventive treatments and HIV testing, to homeMany factors contribute to those disparities, but “Just seeing how happy the mom was to just less people and undocumented immigrants. unequal access to coronavirus testing is likely playknow the status of her children, it’s very nice to be Lee, 28, said Jewish values inspired her to take ing a role.

So Dr. Ala Stanford decided to take able to give that to someone,” Lee said. action when her in-person rotations were canceled things into her own hands and has raised more In addition to volunteering with the initiative due to the pandemic. than $150,000 online to cover the cost of testing, once or twice a week, Lee has also been helping “It’s one of the biggest reasons why I am doing personal protective equipment and educational with a local multi-faith initiative to deliver food to this,” she said. “I think living your values and beliefs materials provided by the consortium.

Many who local people in need. is very important. It’s something to talk about it, to “This is my time,” she remembers thinking when learn about it, but it’s another thing to actually put come for the free testing do not have health insurance or access to a primary care provider. she heard about the Black Doctors COVID-19 Conbeliefs and values into action.”

Stanford said she was inspired to found the consortium.

“This is what I’m wanting to do and it’s Jewish communities were among the first hit by sortium after hearing officials talk about the high presenting itself.” the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. But

Life cycles IN MEMORIAM

BELLA E. DEBRUIN Belle E. DeBruin passed away May 13 in Amherst, NY. Services were held May 15 in Buffalo, NY She was preceded in death by her husband, Cantor Gerald DeBruin and her brother, Dr. Sigmund Zobel, and son-in-law, Thomas Wisniewski.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Hanna DeBruin and Jeffrey and Sarah DeBruin; daughter, Cheryl Wisniewski; grandchildren: Steve DeBruin, Melissa and David Estaver, Rachel and Dan Flanagan and Aaron DeBruin; greatgrandchildren: Allie DeBruin, Avi and Emma Estaver, C.J. and Claire Flanagan; and her nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice.

ANNETTE FAYE FORBES MERLIS Annette Faye Forbes Merlis passed away on May 10 at age 94 on Long Island, NY. Private funeral services to be scheduled.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Sidney Merlis, her parents Gertrude and Isadore Forbes (Forbes Bakery), and her two elder brothers Herbert Forbes and Irving Forbes.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Gale Merlis Tauberer and Peter Tauberer of Plainview, NY, sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Merlis and Sharon Marx Merlis of Commack, NY, and Laurence Merlis and Ryder Wood of Philadelphia, PA; three grandchildren: Jamie Merlis Aranoff and Gregory Aranoff of Commack, NY, Joshua Tauberer and Leah Schloss of Washington, DC, and Evan Merlis and Andrea Tulcin of NY, NY; and two great-grandchildren: Samuel and Molly Aranoff; brother and sister-in-law Marshall Forbes and Toby Raznick Forbes of Mequon, WI, and ten nieces and nephews.

Annette Merlis was born on September 20, 1925 in Omaha. She graduated from Omaha Central High School and Creighton University where she met her husband, Sidney Merlis. They married on August 11, 1946, and moved to Long Island in 1951.

She was an accomplished artist whose work is held in both private and corporate collections, as well as the Permanent Collection of the Islip Town Art Museum, in Islip, NY. Her work is best described in her own words: "The source of my work is the observed world of natural and architectural forms. I explore these pictorial possibilities in abstract terms in mixed media and acrylic on canvas paintings. The final resolution of perceptual and conceptual considerations in defining nature and landscape are abstracted reflections of space and structure." Her work has also been shown in solo exhibitions, group exhibitions (invitational and juried), and she has been the recipient of awards from the National Association of Women Artists.

Annette was a remarkable woman who cherished her family above all else. She enjoyed nothing better than family gatherings and events. She was very caring and generous, and led her life with grace, dignity and humor. She was an inspiration to both family and friends. Her memory will be a blessing.

After more than a year and 3 elections, Israel has a new government MARCY OSTER JERUSALEM | JTA Israel’s new government was officially sworn in May 17.

The Knesset approved the government by a vote of 73 to 46.

Thirty-six Cabinet ministers, the most ever, and 16 deputy ministers were also sworn in.

“The public wants a unity government, and that is what the public will get,” Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains prime minister, said in opening the Knesset session. He said the government would fight the Prime Minister Benjamin Necoronavirus pandemic and get tanyahu in the halls of the Israel’s economy back on track. Knesset after the swearing-in Netanyahu also called for of the new government on the annexation of Jewish set- May 17, 2020. Credit: Alex tlements in the West Bank, Kolomoisky/Pool saying: “The time has come for anyone who believes in the justness of our rights in the Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process together.”

The Likud Party’s Yariv Levin, formerly tourism minister, was approved as Knesset speaker with 71 votes. He replaces Benny Gantz, who resigned in order to become defense minister and prime minister-designate.

Under the coalition deal for the so-called emergency unity government, Netanyahu will remain in his position for the next year and a half and then be replaced for the same amount of time by Gantz. Netanyahu said Gantz would become prime minister Nov. 17, 2021.

“The people told us to stop fighting and start working for them,” Gantz said, citing his “national responsibility” to form the unity government.

Gantz will open a vice prime minister’s office, in addition to his Knesset office and his office at the Defense Ministry, signaling that the new coalition could be a contentious one.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s corruption trial is scheduled to begin May 24.

The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020 | 11

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12 | The Jewish Press | May 22, 2020