May 29, 2009

Vol. LXXXVIII No. 39 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 88 Years of

Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

6 Sivan 5769

May 29, 2009

Survivors reunite after 52 year separation as Honor Flight Reunion celebrates “Greatest Generation”

by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press When Joe Fishman arrived from Montreal last week to see Cantor Leo Fettman, little did he know that a major World War II event was scheduled over Memorial Day weekend. Bill and Evonne Williams, organizers of the Heartland Honor Flight program which raised funds to fly WWII vets to Washington D.C., and to view a memorial dedicated to their generation of soldiers, also planned a reunion dinner.

So Sunday evening, Fishman, Cantor Fettman and his wife Annette, as well as other Holocaust survivors, board members and staff of the Institute for Holocaust Education, joined some 1400 vets and their families for a tribute to what has become known as “The Greatest Generation.”

Crowded into the Holiday Inn Convention center ballroom, vets wearing the red polo shirts and hats they received on the Honor Flights, were seated among strangers. Yet they all had a common bond: fighting for freedom and democracy in World War II. Whether they served in Europe or the Pacific, whether they saw combat or worked behind the Allied lines, all the vets spoke quietly about the horrors they witnessed and the friends they lost.

And in a strange twist of events, Fishman was reunited with yet another

Cantor Leo Fettman, left, and Joe Fishman were reunited last week; both Hungarians and former slave laborers, they wound up in the same Displaced Persons Camp after World War II and later sailed to Nova Scotia, Canada, on the same boat. They last saw one another in 1957 in Montreal, where Fishman still lives. He often speaks to school groups about the Holocaust, wearing a reproduction of his prisoner uniform.

Hungarian, Kitty Williams. Seated next to the time-old tradition of Jewish geograone another at one of four tables reserved phy. Though they struggled to find for the IHE, its supporters and the sur- names of family and friends common to vivors, Fishman and Williams engaged in each other, they did reminisce about fam-

New teen tzedakah program sets opening date

by MARY BORT Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Has your teen just completed sixth, seventh or eighth grade? Would you like to help them make a difference in the world? Your can do this through the B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program, offered by the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

The opening event kickoff event is on Wednesday, June 3, 7- 8:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center and your teens are invited to attend!

The B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program, founded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, exists in more than 40 locations across the North America, including the new program in Omaha. Providing young people with the tools to give tzedakah, this new program deepens teens’ commitment to social action by engaging in Jewish philanthropy.

The program works by teens having contributing $125 from their Bar/Bat Mitzvah gifts. Accounts are established in their names at the Foundation. The Foundation then contributes three times their donation, or $375, to create a fund of $500 in each teen’s name.

Dollars may be added to the fund through individual and family donations. At the end of the school year, a teen will designate a percentage of the account balance to a charity or charities of his or her choice. The charities can include local, national or international organizations.

This program also offers educational programs aimed at providing leadership skills and building knowledge of youth philanthropy. Teens learn to make informed decisions as they donate to their favorite causes.

Continued on page 2

Inside

ily trips to the mountains or cities they had visited as children.

Fishman, like his neighbor Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, was born and raised in Sighet. They were among the thousands of Hungarians, including Leo Fettman and Kitty Williams who were rounded up in the spring of 1944 and shipped by train to Auschwitz.

“The trains were coming in so quickly,” Fishman told the Press in an interview at the Fettman’s home, “that the SS did not have time to tattoo everyone.” Three trains a day would arrive, each carrying 3000-3500 Jews.

Like Fettman, Fishman’s father was sent left to the gas chambers. But the notorious Dr. Joseph Mengele pointed right and Fishman and Fettman became part of slave labor crews. “We got our tattoos at Bergen Belsen,” Fishman added, “that’s why they’re higher numbers than the Auschwitz and Gross Rosen prisoners,” where the trains from Hungary wound up.

From there, Fishman was sent to Volsberg in Silesia in the Carpathian Mountains. Each night German engineers would place dynamite in holes in the mountains and set off the charges. Using only a shovel or a pick, the slave laborers were told to dig away the rubble every morning. “We were told the Germans were creating underground tunnels,” Fishman said, “but for what, who knows?”

Continued on page 3

Outgoing president honored for service to Federation Foundation Bloch the past seven years during

by MARY BORT his presidency of the JFO Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation “The end of an era” may sound Foundation Board has been an like a cliché, but on June 30th it honor for me.” truly will be the end of an important Newman added, “Several time in the history of the Jewish members of the Board, including Federation of Omaha (JFO) myself, have served as President of Foundation when Steven Bloch this Board. Not one of us brought steps down as the President of the to this task the creativity, passion, Foundation’s Board of Directors. expertise and, above all, growth of During the past seven years as the Foundation that Steve has.

Board President, Bloch has worked Steve launched the Foundation in on behalf of the community to multitudes of new directions, the affect of which will last in our comensure that Omaha’s Jewish community, like the Foundation, in munity has the financial resources perpetuity. One finds it difficult to for continued growth. The convey just exactly the degree and Foundation Board honored Bloch’s scope the impact of his presidency accomplishments as President at a will have upon our community in luncheon on Wednesday.

Steven Bloch the many, many years ahead.

Bloch’s achievements as the “In addition to the community benefits of Steve’s Foundation Board President are recognized by many among the community. “On behalf of the Jewish leadership, I believe Steve learned much through his Federation of Omaha, I congratulate Steve on his many Presidency,” continued Newman. “It’s safe to say Steve years of service to the Federation Foundation,” stated grew in knowledge, devotion and compassion for our Bob Lepp, President of the Jewish Federation Board of Omaha Jewish community during his years as President Directors. “He has demonstrated great commitment to of the JFO Foundation Board.”

“Steve has been a remarkable President,” said Suzanne the Foundation growth and the security of its assets for Singer, another member of the JFO Foundation Board. the benefit of our Jewish community.”

Murray Newman, Foundation Board member and “He gave an enormous amount of thought and energy Chairman of the Investment Committee, concurred, to all aspects of the Foundation.” stating, “Having the pleasure of working with Steve Continued on page 2

This Week: Monthly calendar for June: Pages 10 & 11

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

Ygal Schuller wins Beth El’s Gendler Award: page 5

Coming Next Week: Father’s Day/Graduation Issue Young Adults to visit Israel, thanks to funders: pages 8-9

Grilling sparks up Shavout dairy fare: page 11

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

president honored for service Mercedes-Benz of Omaha Outgoing Continued from page 1 Singer echoed Noddle’s sentiment, stating, “Our “Business as usual was not Steve’s way. For example, community has been incredibly fortunate to have the Under New Management to educate his Board about the Federation agencies and ‘dynamic duo’ of Steve Bloch and Marty Ricks at the Please contact Ryan Knott, your Mercedes Sales Consultant 402.891.2612

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religious institutions that were benefiting from Foundation funds, he began having a lay leader and professional give a short talk at each Board meeting,” Singer added.

“To make donors aware of specific needs in the community, he encouraged Federation departments to develop ‘wish lists’ which were then publicized.

Programs were instituted to encourage young people to become involved with the Foundation and philanthropic opportunities.”

The JFO Foundation Board Vice-President is Jay Noddle, who will take on the role of President when Bloch steps down.

“The community should be very thankful and pleased that Steve has committed himself to the Foundation,” said Noddle. “The Foundation has grown in so many ways during his time as President. The Jewish community is so much more aware of the Foundation and what it does, and the Foundation has successfully secured more philanthropic giving for the Jewish community.”

Noddle added, “Since Steve’s time as President, people now know how to create a donor-advised fund or other structures for giving. The Jewish community has an awareness and understanding of how important it is to include the Foundation in estate and planned giving.

The initiative of planned giving will benefit the Federation’s Annual Campaign and other groups in the Jewish community.

“There are more funds that exist at the Foundation today,” he continued. “And certainly now we’re in a challenging time and have more needs than we’ve had in decades. Under Steve’s leadership, the community understands how they can help and they are participating much more.”

Noddle also noted the contributions that Bloch has made to the Board, stating, “Steve has done a lot to help organize the Foundation and its Board. He has been a great example, mentor and leader. Certainly, I wouldn’t have the confidence to take on the leadership role and responsibilities if it hadn’t been for Steve’s guidance. He and a few others have brought us along.

Now we know the mission and can participate effectively. It is incumbent on us to maintain this drive in the coming years. We hope to continue the initiatives Steve helped to establish.

“I thank Steve for his vision, his service, his participation and support, now and in the future. People don’t know the effort that has gone in. He took it upon himself to take the Foundation to the next level, and he’s done it,” Noddle said.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Foundation’s Executive Director, Marty Ricks,”he added. “He and Steve have been a fine-tuned team. We want to keep up the momentum.”

helm of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.”

After working closely with Steve for seven years,” said Ricks, “I can truly say that Steve has been a great leader for our Foundation.”

Ricks added, “Prior to the severe downturn in the stock market, our total assets in the Foundation approached $80 million. During Steve’s tenure, we have always been in the top three or four of the 157 Federation cities in the U.S. and Canada in the amount of endowment assets per Jewish population. There were many significant gifts made to the Foundation either directly or indirectly connected to Steve’s involvement.

In many ways he has educated the Foundation Board and me to make us a stronger organization. The best compliment I can make about Steve is that he is always ‘thinking outside the box’ and has helped me act similarly. And I am confident that Steve will continue to be an active member of the Foundation, and a sounding board for Jay and me.”

An accomplished attorney, Bloch has practiced law with his firm, Fraser Stryker, for 30 years. In addition to serving as President of the JFO Foundation Board, Bloch is Chairman of the Board of Enterprise Bank. He is a member of the Nebraska Arts Council and its associated Development Corporation, and is a member of the Eppley Cancer Center Advisory Board.

Bloch and his wife, Carol, are active in Omaha’s Jewish community. Carol is also involved in Omaha’s wider political and social issues community.

According to Bloch, “The Foundation’s principal objectives are to gather, safeguard, enhance and disburse significant funds in support of the Omaha Jewish Federation and to facilitate the charitable giving of individual members of the Jewish community. I believe that Marty Ricks, his energetic staff and a dedicated and active Board of Directors have met those objectives during the seven years of my service as President.”

Bloch added, “In those years, the Foundation has disbursed, mostly within the Omaha Jewish community, over $32,000,000 (not including Blumkin Home capital funds), has grown its remaining total assets from $31 million to $51 million and has instituted a number of financial outreach activities, all with an operating budget of about a half a per cent. As well, we have brought on to the Board younger members and carefully modified our investment strategies to meet the challenges of an unpredictable financial climate.”

Bloch also commented on the future of the JFO Foundation Board, noting, “I am pleased that Jay Noddle will succeed me as president next month, and I am confident that he will further the development of the Foundation as a vital element of our directors’ shared goal of assuring the continuing vitality of the Omaha Jewish community.”

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by CAROL KATZMAN Editor of the Jewish Press The Federation Board of Directors voted last week to allow Omaha’s Jewish Community Center to open at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings. The new hours will begin June 6.

Since its move to 132nd Street in 1974, the JCC has opened at 1 p.m. on Shabbat, a compromise reached by the JCC board and the rabbis of Omaha’s three synagogues at that time: Rabbi Sidney Brooks of Temple Israel, Rabbi Myer Kripke of Beth El and Rabbi Isaac Nadoff of Beth Israel. But the changing field of health clubs and fitness center, as well as the downturn in the economy, has forced the decision on the JCC to open earlier, according to Executive Director Jeff Aizenberg.

“The JCC health and fitness services need to stay as competitive as possible. In a recent survey, Omaha was listed as the eighth most competitive fitness market in the country,” he said.

The JCC board hired a fitness consultant to address issues of competitiveness in the Omaha market, the number of classes offered by the JCC versus other fitness centers, pricing, class schedules and the like.

JCC President Kimberly Robinson first brought the issue to the attention of the Federation board at its April meeting. She and Aizenberg also spoke to each of the rabbis and surveyed JCCs in cities with comparable Jewish population. More than half of them are now open on Shabbat mornings.

Pressure from expanding fitness centers had already driven Omaha’s JCC to open on the second and last days of the Jewish holidays, starting in 2003.

The building remains closed on both days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur, however the entire JCC (not just the fitness center) is open on the second days of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, and on the last two days of both Passover and Sukkot. The Federation office and other agencies, including the Jewish Press, the AntiDefamation League, the Center for Jewish Education, and the Kripke Library remain closed on those days.

As a full-time residence for the elderly, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home is open seven days a week; Jewish Family Service is closed on Shabbat.

And while the JCC board and staff noted that they appreciate everyone who participated in the discussion and helped move the issue forward, they hope it will be well received by the JCC membership and help the agency retain current members and attract new ones.

Teen tzedakah Continued from page 1 “It will be lots of fun,” explained Program Director Janie Murow. “We’ll serve ice cream, hold a creative hands-on activity and learn more about the program.

We’ll also be collecting canned goods to be donated to the Jewish Family Service pantry.”

Murow added, “Parents are welcome to stay for the kickoff at 7 or join us at 8 p.m. to get an overview of the opportunities available.”

To RSVP, please contact Murow at jmurow@ jewishomaha.org or 334.6566. For more information about B’nai Tzedek, go to www.jfofoundation. org and click on “Teen Tzedakah.”

May 29, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Survivors reunite as Honor Flight Reunion celebrates “Greatest Generation”

Continued from page 1 returned to Sighet in September of 1945, but out of his ter, they were greeted by an enormous American flag.

His lunch consisted on some watery soup and less than parents and seven children in his family, only he and a Hoisted up by the Irvington Fire Department’s trucks an ounce of bread. The slave laborers worked 13 out of sister had survived. He returned to Bergen Belsen a few and ladders, the flag waved in a nearly cloudless sky.

Inside, they joined vets like Kevee Kirshenbaum and 14 days, from six until six. He didn’t know Leo Fettman months later, bribing border guards and letting a farmer yet, but they would meet up soon; the war was ending, smuggle his little group of nine from Sighet across the Stuart Muskin and his but the Nazis continued to push their prisoners until border through his farmland. He crossed Linz, in the wife Betty, Norm Zevitz February of 1945, during the now infamous Death American-controlled zone of Germany and finally and his daughter Marilyn, March. As Russian troops advanced from the East, Nazis returned to Bergen Belsen, which now housed the as well as other vets, survivors, and supporters of ordered the 4000 slave laborers to march back towards largest group of Displaced Persons in all of Europe.

Bergen Belsen in Germany.

“I was sick and weak,” Fishman continued.

“Two friends from Sighet held me up.” They walked through the ice and snow in the mountains until Fishman told his friends, “Leave me here; you’ll never make it if you carry me.” He threw himself into a snowbank, certain he would die there.

But the next day, the Photos from left: In 1947, Leo Fettman, seated left, itary barracks of Bergen Belsen. WWII vet Stuart Kitty) holds a letter from his father, a sergeant with “boys driving the wagon Joe Fishman, and his cousin, spent four years in the Muskin and his wife Betty, right, greet survivor the Army’s 42nd Infantry which liberated Dachau. in back threw me in,” Displaced Persons camp, located in the former mil- Rachel Rosenberg. Tom Williams (no relation to See more photos at: www.jewishomaha.org.

“Leo and I registered for America and Canada,” the Institute for Holocaust Education. Among them were Fishman added. “I woke up and couldn’t breathe.” Near the bottom, Fishman wiggled forward to create an air Fishman said. “Visas from Canada came through first.” Helen Mannheimer and her daughter Lori from Chicago, pocket behind the driver’s seat. The others in the wagon And finally, in 1948, four years after the war ended, the Rachel Rosenberg, Lou and Rose Leviticus, Kitty and Bill were dead, he said, but their bodies probably kept him two men sailed on the same ship together to Halifax, Williams, Bea Karp, Fred and Sarah Kader, and Tom and Nova Scotia.

Ellen Jaeger. Among the supporters were Ted Seldin, warm -- and alive.

“We arrived right before the Jewish new year,” Amnon Dotan, Howard and Gloria Kaslow, Deborah Of the 4000 that began the march, fewer than 300 returned to a camp near Bergen Belsen; within a few Fishman recalled. “So the head of the Jewish communi- Platt, Betty Kolnick, Louis and Bob Radler (parents of days they numbered only 217. Many had died from the ty there set up a little room where we could hold servic- David Radler, the photographer of Portraits of Survival), cold, starvation or disease. Only 75 could still walk. es. Leo davened his first Rosh Hashanah services until Eunie and Norm Denenberg, Bob Eisenberg and Pam Thousands more had arrived in other death marches the other boys began claiming that they were rabbis’ Kohll, and teachers Paula and Vince Lenz and Paul Smith, his wife Dianne and daughter Jennifer. from Buchenwald and Auschwitz; epidemics of typhus sons and wanted a turn, too!”

The two men lived together in Montreal; funds for Before Beth Seldin Dotan, IHE director, introduced and dystentary were common.

In less than three weeks, Fishman and his fellow pris- room and board were provided by the Combined Jewish Bea Karp to the large gathering, she invited the vets to ones would wake up one morning to find the Nazis Appeal. But by 1949, Fettman had accepted a position visit Nebraska’s Holocaust Memorial in Wyuka gone. On May 8, 1945, the Russians had arrived to lib- as a cantor in North Bay in northern Ontario. The two Cemetery in Lincoln. And then she asked Tom Williams erate the camp. The British and Americans eventually former slave laborers, now making their way as citizens to read a letter written by his father, an Army Staff arrived. The infamous camp now became a place where of Canada, would see one another again in 1957 before Sergeant with the 42nd Infantry.

Williams, who attended the dinner with his wife Sue and former slave laborers and prisoners from concentration Fettman left for pulpits in Gary, IN, and then Madison, WI, before finally arriving in Omaha as the cantor for daughter Rachel, read what his father wrote describing camps could recover. the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, closing “I had a friend, also from Sighet, who worked in the Beth Israel Synagogue in 1974.

Luckily, Annette Fettman had kept up with all of her with: “You can’t imagine what we’ve seen here.” carpenter shop,” Fishman recalled. “He brought me husbands friends with an annual letter. Those letters Fishman, like Fettman, has shared those stories with soup and the Russians provided medics.”

He and Leo Fettman became friends, residing in the finally brought Fishman to Omaha, reuniting him with a school groups, churches and others. But he hasn’t been “Agudah block,” which housed religious Jews. The for- fellow Jewish Hungarian, a man whose stories of slave back to Bergen Belsen. Wearing a reproduction of a prisoner uniform (his was too infested with lice and had to mer prisoners would wake up in the morning to daven labor and unspeakable horror he shares.

As the Fettmans and Esther Silver, a survivor of be destroyed), Fishman relates his father’s last words to shacharit (pray the morning service) and spend their Oberalstadt, a subcamp of the Gross Rosen concentra- him: “Behave,” Fishman remembers his father yelling at days trying to figure out who had survived.

Fishman discovered a cousin and an aunt when he tion camp, arrived at the Holiday Inn Convention cen- him. “Remember you’re a Jew.”

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Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

Bibi gets his first date thrill, but what about the relationship?

by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- With a presidential pledge to hang tough on Iran under his belt, Benjamin Netanyahu could be forgiven for thinking Barack Obama was an easy first date.

Wait until he hears about what happens when the relationship gets serious.

The Israeli prime minister walked away from his first leader’s summit with the U.S. president with a tangible prize: a commitment to a timetable on Obama’s bid to use diplomacy to persuade Iran to end its nuclear weapons program.

“The important thing is to make sure that there is a clear timetable of -- at which point we say these talks don’t seem to be making any serious progress,” Obama said after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting on May 18, an hour longer than expected.

The “entire people of Israel” might be overstating it, but with Obama’s commitment on Iran, Netanyahu swept aside concerns that he would repeat the disastrous opening months in 1996 of his first prime ministership, when he alienated then-President Bill Clinton by dismissing the Oslo peace process. Israeli voters cherish the U.S. alliance above all else, and that fiasco helped doom Netanyahu’s chances for re-election in 1999.

Yet, between the lines and in his emphases, Obama made it clear throughout the news conference that this

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their working lunch in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House on May 18.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the South Portico following their meetings at the White House May 18.

White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson “By the end of the year I think we should have some sense as to whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits, whether we’re starting to see serious movement on the part of the Iranians,” Obama stated.

“If that hasn’t taken place, then I think the international community will see that it's not the United States or Israel or other countries that are seeking to isolate or victimize Iran.”

In return Obama received, in effect, nothing from Netanyahu: No stated commitment to Palestinian statehood, no pledge to freeze settlements.

No wonder, then, that Netanyahu was as eager as a prom date to lavish the love.

“You’re a great leader -- a great leader of the United States, a great leader of the world, a great friend of Israel, and someone who is acutely cognizant of our security concerns,” Netanyahu said, leaning toward Obama during an Oval Office photo opportunity. “And the entire people of Israel appreciate it, and I speak on their behalf.”

was no one summit stand: He expects tangible commitments from Israel further down the road.

“Israel is going to have to take some difficult steps as well, and I shared with the prime minister the fact that under the 'road map' and under Annapolis that there's a clear understanding that we have to make progress on settlements,” Obama said, referring to the most recent peace process agreements. “Settlements have to be stopped in order for us to move forward. That’s a difficult issue. I recognize that, but it's an important one and it has to be addressed.”

Obama also called on Israel to ease humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip in the wake of the devastation caused by the war between Israel and Hamas in January.

“The fact is, is that if the people of Gaza have no hope, if they can't even get clean water at this point, if the border closures are so tight that it is impossible for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts to take place, then that is not going to be a recipe for Israel's long-term security or a constructive peace track to move forward,” Obama said.

And Obama stressed the two-state solution, the phrase that has yet to escape Netanyahu’s lips since assuming office in early April.

It was clear as well that Obama wants action soon.

Insiders have said that George Mitchell, Obama’s chief envoy to the region -- who also attended Monday’s meeting -- expects a final-status deal within two years.

Obama is blitzing Middle East heads of state, meeting this month with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, and readying an address to the Muslim world to be delivered next month in Egypt.

Netanyahu appeared unmoved. Statehood, he said, was a matter of “terminology,” and he was silent on settlements.

Senior Israeli officials said afterward that they would look for signs of Palestinian reciprocity on security issues before dismantling even those settlement outposts considered illegal under Israel’s laws. They did not define what constituted “reciprocity."

Senior U.S. officials, including James Jones, the national security adviser who joined Obama in the meeting, believe that Palestinian Authority security forces trained by a U.S.-led team have made strides in placating the West Bank.

The Israeli officials also said it was too early to remove roadblocks to ease Palestinian day-to-day living, although that also has been an oft-repeated Obama administration request.

There were signs of tension on the Israel-Palestinian issue. When Obama pressed Netanyahu on the statehood issue, the Israeli prime minister told the president that Israel was committed to prior agreements -- including those that envision statehood -- but that he thought it wiser to look forward to a new process.

Both leaders strenuously denied that either side was pressing linkage, contrary to recent reports that Israel wants to see substance on Iran before moving forward with the Palestinians and that Obama wants to see results on the Palestinian front as a means of advancing international unity on the Iran issue.

Still, Obama said that if there were linkage, he saw its sequence as Palestinians first, then Iran.

“If there is a linkage between Iran and the IsraeliPalestinian peace process, I personally believe it actually runs the other way,” he said, replying to an Israeli reporter’s question about reports that Netanyahu wants to see evidence of an effort to isolate Iran before making bold peace moves. “To the extent that we can make peace with the Palestinians -- between the Palestinians and the Israelis -- then I actually think it strengthens our hand in the international community in dealing with a potential Iranian threat.”

Overall, however, the Israeli team reveled in its two “gets”: Obama’s commitment to review the policy of outreach to Iran by the end of this year -- close to zero hour, in Israeli assessments of when Iran might go nuclear -- and his commitment to extract from moderate Arab nations a commitment to active participation in the peace process beyond lip service.

Not only did Obama outline an Iran timetable, the president said he was “not foreclosing a range of steps, including much stronger international sanctions, in assuring that Iran understands that we are serious.”

Mention “options” or “steps” in a sentence about Iran and the Israelis understand it to mean that the United States is keeping a military option open. Netanyahu made it clear that was his interpretation.

“I very much appreciate, Mr. President, your firm commitment to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear military capability, and also your statement that you're leaving all options on the table,” he said.

Israeli officials later suggested they also perceived the threat of military action behind Obama’s twice-repeated warning that Iran’s entry into the nuclear weapons club was “extraordinarily dangerous for all concerned, including for Iran.”

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May 29, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Schuller honored with Beth El Synagogue’s Gendler Award

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator For his involvement and dedication to Beth El, Ygal Schuller has been named the 2009 recipient of the A.B. and Freeda Gendler Award. The award was presented to the recent Millard North graduate during the synagogue’s BESTT graduation ceremony earlier this month.

The Gendler Award is an honor given to a high school senior who has shown exemplary dedication to the synagogue: the criteria include regular attendance at BESTT Hebrew High School, Torah reading and/or Haftorah chanting, leading service portions in the sanctuary, attendance at services and participation in the synagogue’s USY youth group, as well as other service to the synagogue. In addition to a $500 award, Schuller’s name will be included on a plaque on the synagogue’s Wall of Honor.

The recent high school graduate has made his mark in a variety of ways at the synagogue: his involvement has included four years of dedicated participation in the USY youth group, including service as president, Purim Carnival chairman and several vice-president positions; he also served as Communications VicePresident for USY Emtza Region’s regional board. He has volunteered as a tutor for younger children during the

Torah and Siddur Skills program, and has assisted with Kadima Shabbatonim.

A regular Shabbat and holiday service attendee, Ygal has participated by reading Torah and giving divrei Torah during Shabbat services. He is a graduate of Beth El’s High School of Jewish Studies and participated in the school’s Merit Scholarship program for the past four years.

The son of Yaffa and Dan Schuller, Ygal expressed his gratitude to the synagogue for being something of a home away from home for him, saying, “I am very thankful to Beth El for the Jewish education and social networking it has provided me.

I have a very personal connection with the synagogue, and feel like I know a large majority of the congregants. I am very thankful for this award.”

Education Director Judy Rubin applauded Schuller, saying, “Throughout his years as a student and teaching assistant at BESTT, Ygal has distinguished himself. He is a natural leader and students in his charge flock to him. In the classroom, he always knew when his assistance would be needed even before being asked to help.

“Ygal is a very well-rounded person in his secular life and has been able to distinguish himself through his involvement at Beth El, in the Talmud Torah and USY,” Rubin added. “He was the logical choice for the Gendler Award, and the professional staff of Beth El recognizes his strengths as they appear in all areas of the congregation.”

This fall, Ygal will head to the University of Texas, where he will study in the honors business program.

ENGAGEMENT

BROOKSTEIN/MAINUS Spencer and Debbie Brookstein of Colorado. She is a middle/high school Omaha announce the engagement of their special education teacher for children daughter, Marci Brookstein, to Derek with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Mainus, son of Dan and Her fiancé is the grandson Silvia Mainus of Colby, KS. of Rafael and Maria Diaz of The bride-to-be is also Colby, and the late Manley the daughter of the late and June Mainus.

Lori Sweet and the grandHer fiance earned a degree daughter of Lt. Col. Irvin from Fort Hays State University in Physical J. Harris, USAF Ret., of Science and a Masters in San Diego, Marvin and Educational Administration Lynn Brookstein of from the University of Fountain Hills, AZ, and the Phoenix in Denver. He is a high school late Martha Harris and Leah Brookstein.

The bride-to-be graduated with a chemistry teacher and wrestling coach.

The couple met while teaching in degree in special education from Indiana University and a Masters in Clinical Colorado and plan a July 18, 2009, wedCounseling and Family and Marriage ding in Colorado, followed by a honeyTherapy from the University of Northern moon in Jamaica.

A summer of quarrels, clashes, and discord

by SHERRIE SAAG Center for Jewish Education Forget the latest summer blockbuster book or movie this year. If you crave conflict and controversy in your summer entertainment, if you enjoy a good story filled with action and suspense, don’t miss the latest class from the Center for Jewish Education: Conflicts and Controversies in the Bible.

Dr. Guy Matalon, CJE executive director, will lead this six week course that guides students through political, military and family conflicts in the Bible. Particular attention will be paid to the books of Genesis, Samuel, Kings, and Ezra.

“My goal is to delve deeper into national politics, international conflicts and family dynamics at the time of the Bible. Together, we will try to understand how conflict was managed or mis-

managed in biblical times,” said Matalon.

Some of the conflicts and controversies Dr. Matalon expects to cover are theological in nature, but others have nothing to do with God. Rather, “they involve ordinary human beings with ordinary interests that raise fascinating conflicts relevant to today,” he added.

Participants can choose from either daytime or evening classes, both of which will meet in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. The daytime sessions will meet on Fridays, June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, noon-1 p.m. The evening track will be Tuesdays, June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Tuition for the class is $53, discounted to $41 for donors to the Federation Campaign. Pre-registration is required by calling 334.6445 or e-mailing mgrossman@ jewishomaha.org.

S

Since 2002, Steve Bloch has served as President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. On June 30, 2009, he will retire from that position.

An innovative, creative, and skilled leader, Steve has been a true partner in helping the Foundation grow -both financially and through his ability to mentor and encourage new leadership for the future. His intelligence and humor, his generosity, compassion and vision, inspired us to dream big.

Thank you, Steve. Your dedication to our community will have a profound and lasting impact.

The Board and professional staff of the

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

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Strategic Air and Space Museum (SASM) presents “Portraits of Survival” on exhibit from June 1-Aug.31, “Portraits of Survival” is a unique black and white photography exhibit featuring Holocaust survivors who live in Omaha and Lincoln, created by nationally known artist, David Radler and sponsored by the Institute for Holocaust Education.

“As a photographer, this was the perfect opportunity for me to not only fulfill my interest in meeting the survivors in Omaha, but also to try to capture their spirit.

This allowed me to see their diverse personalities and to hear some amazing stories of their experiences. I am touched by what I saw and heard. I hope that this group of photographs will act as a reminder of their triumph over hardship and evil,” said Radler.

Radler, who graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, later worked and studied with Helmut Newton and Matt Mahurin. Some of his clients today include Procter & Gamble, Time magazine, ConAgra Foods and numerous airlines, to name a few. Radler was also the photographer of the 2005 award winning exhibit “Omaha Jewish War Vets.” This project was a joint effort of the IHE, the Omaha synagogues, and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.

Beth Seldin Dotan, IHE director, found the “Portraits of Survival” exhibit to be a heart-warming experience. “I have wanted to find a special way to honor those in our community who survived the Holocaust. Each person has contributed to our Omaha community through their work, participation in their synagogues and in the community since their arrival up to 55 years ago. It seems that David’s incredible photos provide an opportunity for us to get to know them and to quietly honor their successes and survival. The exhibit is something we can give back to them -- a little honor and a lot of respect.

This has been one of the most important projects I have been involved with during my work with the Institute for Holocaust Education. I wish we would have been able to do this for the many survivors who are no longer with us. But we honor them, too.”

The Strategic Air & Space Museum is located at Exit 426 off I-80, halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. The Museum is open every day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission is $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors/military, $4 for children ages 6-12, and children under five are free.

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Depart from the JCC at 4:30 p.m. (be at the JCC by 4:15 p.m.) to arrive back by approximately 8:30 p.m.

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JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES Iowa Western Community Band presents Sensational Summer Sounds at the JCC on Tuesday, June 23, 7 p.m. There is no admission fee. For information, call Mary Heiman, Activities Director at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home at 334.6520, ext. 3.

B’NAI B'RITH BREADBREAKERS Steve Coufal, the new director of the Airport Authority, will update us on the new parking, airport expansion and more on Wednesday, June 3, noon, at Regency Lodge. All men and women in the community are invited. The program is free. An optional buffet lunch is $13; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to get on the email list, contact Iris at 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

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When Princess Diana died in a car accident nearly 12 years ago, ardent admirer, songwriter and playwright Karen Sokolof Javitch expressed her grief by writing songs about the princess.

The 32 songs chronicling Diana’s life from the courtship with Prince Charles to their troubled marriage and divorce to her tragic death will be shared through a musical that will be performed for the first time by a university. Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Theatre Department will perform Princess Diana, The Musical June 4-6, 7:30 p.m. and June 7, 2 p.m. in McDonald Theatre, 51st Street and Huntington Ave. The production will also be performed in Omaha June 11-13, 7:30 p.m. and June 14, 2 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Temple, 20th and Douglas.

“We are still so saddened by the death of this wonderful woman who gave so much to the world,” said Javitch, an Omaha native who has been writing songs for 17 years.

Javitch wrote the script with Elaine Jabenis, an Omaha actress, author and businesswoman. Jabenis has won three lifetime achievement awards for her contributions to theatre. Javitch frequently collaborates with Chuck Penington, Musical Conductor for Mannheim Steamroller and an adjunct instructor in theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan. Penington arranged the music for “Princess Diana.”

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for senior citizens and students. A discount of $10 will be offered to groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets, call the NWU box office at 465.2384.

Blumkin Home honors staff with Schrager awards

Mike Silverman, Executive Director, right, presented Oliver Mba, CNA and Sha Roh, Dietary Aide, who will be switching her position to the nursing staff as a CNA, with the Sonia and Jack Schrager Staff Appreciation awards recently. A reception followed to honor recipients and to kick off National Nursing Home Week.

BESTT Chaverim youth group to enjoy afternoon of fun at Mahoney State Park

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El’s Chaverim youth group for children in fourth through sixth grade will celebrate the end of the school year with a special afternoon at Mahoney State Park on Sunday, May 31. Horseback riding, miniature golf, paddle boating and water park fun will be on tap for all attendees during the event; all children in the Jewish community are welcome to join in the fun. All participants will meet at Beth El at 11 a.m.; children may be picked up there at 4:30 p.m.

Cost to attend is $20 (this includes all activities and lunch). Reservations are needed by May 28, and may be made by contacting the synagogue’s youth director, Robert Mosenkis, at 492.8550, or at youthdir@bethelomaha.org. Mosenkis noted that parent volunteers are being sought to help carpool that day, and are encouraged to contact him if they’re able to help out.

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May 29, 2009

Camp Obama vs. Shavuot: The Third Story

by PAUL STEINBERG ENCINO, Calif. (JTA) -- Hundreds of young people gathered to become a part of Camp Obama for intensive three-day weekend retreats throughout the months of July and August of 2007. Several of the retreats were led

by Marshall Ganz, a Harvard professor of sociology, and son of a rabbi and World War II Army chaplain).

Although these weekends were associated with a political campaign, for Ganz the objective of the experience was not simply to develop political organizing skills for volunteers but to “put into words why you’re called, and why we’ve been called, to change the way the world works.”

These are fairly lofty ideals upon which to spend such considerable campaign dollars and time, especially considering that in the summer of 2007, Obama was still a long shot for candidacy, let alone the presidency.

What is most fascinating, however, is how Ganz and Camp Obama accomplished their goal of inspiring these mostly young and new voters to fulfill the camp’s goal, which was to mobilize a political campaign with an injection of emotion and renewed faith.

The central experience of the retreats was to inspire hope and activism through stories. Not stories of the past -- not biblical stories, history or even mythology -but each participant’s own story.

Each person at Camp Obama was invited to share three stories: the story of self (their personal story); the story of us (their story of being part of the collective); and the story of now (what they see in the world that needs healing).

No matter where each of us stands on the political spectrum, we can all appreciate the wisdom of Camp Obama’s approach to developing invested, motivated and committed campaign organizers. After all, seeing the world through our stories and how our personal experiences interweave with the world’s story is very inspirational. More than that, however, it is very spiritual. And, by the way, it is very Jewish.

Take the Jewish calendar, for example. There are three pillars upon which the Jewish calendar stands, each originating from the Torah. One is the fall holidays of Tishrei: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. The second is the spring holiday of Passover. And the third is Shavuot, falling seven weeks after Passover, at the start of summer. Each of these seasonal pillars tells a story that colors and animates the Jewish spirit. *The Jewish Story of Self. *The first story is that of the Tishrei holidays, including the High Holidays. These holidays represent Judaism’s story of the self -- the spiritual self. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur’s intensive concentration on personal, spiritual development through self-reflection and prayer is the Jewish practice that addresses the narrative of our personal hurts and hopes. Even Sukkot, which emphasizes the transitory nature of our existence by forcing us to leave the luxury

of our homes and enter huts, expands upon the selfreflective process of the High Holidays. In fact, the rabbinic tradition identifies Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh and last day of Sukkot, as the final day of the “judgment” begun on Rosh Hashanah. *The Jewish Story of Us. *The second story is one with which most Jews are familiar, the story of Passover. The Exodus from Egypt is the story of Jewish nationhood; it is the point at which Jews acquire their political and religious identity beyond being mere objects of slavery. And it is the collective story of both the individual Jew and the many others one knows as family and friends around the world. Thus, the “Jewish story of us” ensures that the “story of self” does not end in narcissism but is linked to the larger narrative and makeup of the community. *The Jewish Story of Now. *The third story is the story of the revelation of God at Sinai and the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people, which is celebrated on the festival of Shavuot. Shavuot tells the “Jewish story of now” because it is precisely about revealing God’s will to humanity. Indeed, the Jewish conception of revelation, especially in modern times, is described by the continual synthesis of our conscience -- today’s conscience -- with Torah values. This is Judaism’s primary approach to identifying which hurts demand healing and which hopes should be pursued. In this way, the Torah manifests itself as a way of addressing the pains and maladies in the world and in ourselves, every day of every generation -- in other words: now.

The wisdom of Camp Obama’s approach parallels the millennia-old wisdom of the Jewish tradition’s approach to engaging in a meaningful quest for hope and activism.

Both approaches invite us to “put into words why you’re called, and why we’ve been called, to change the way the world works.”

When we understand Judaism through the prism of all three of these stories, told and retold throughout the Jewish year, we discover that being a Jew means being continually invited to tell our stories and to participate in healing the world’s hurts and pursuing its hopes. We also discover that being a Jew means being a valued part of a people and tradition that have always exemplified activism, faith and relentless hope.

Paul Steinberg is a rabbi and educator at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, Calif., and the author of the Celebrating the Jewish Year series; visit http://www.jewishpub.org for more information.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE The Jewish Press will not publish on Friday, July 3, due to staff vacations and computer upgrades.

The deadline for all articles, photos and ads throughout the summer for all issues is on Thursdays, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Shavuot and the future of Israel

JOURNAL ENTRY FROM ISRAEL

by TEDDY WEINBERGER

This Friday, May 29, secular Jews around the world will have a regular work day; in Israel secular Jews will not go to work due to the Shavuot holiday. What is the religious and/or ethnic import of Shavuot for secular Israelis? I would argue that the answer to this question is crucial for the future of the State of Israel.

I used to feel a bit sheepish in considering the Jewish lives of secular Israelis. Isn’t this more of a diaspora fixation? What is there to worry about on this score here in Israel?

We all live in a Jewish state, where intermarriage is not a problem and where the religious-secular divide is so much more permeable than it is outside of Israel. Besides, I am certainly not privy to the complex weighing system concerning good deeds versus sins. Perhaps, unbeknownst to me, my neighbor who blares his television on the Sabbath also volunteers in a soup kitchen? Who am I to judge if his life contains enough Jewish content?

More and more, however, it is becoming obvious that without some kind of Jewish attachment to this land, we will not have a Jewish state. With the ideology of secular Zionism having run its course (it was basically all downhill after 1948), affinity for the Hebrew language (a key element to the identity of many secular Israelis) is proving inadequate to what must be said again and again to our enemies: this is our land and we are not going anywhere. Already the situation is alarming.

In many of the most educated secular families, such as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s, it is standard to find at least one of the adult children making a life abroad.

Often, such a child provides the family with a certain cache, making them feel more worldly and less provincial.

Israelis are still very much engaged in a fight for our right to exist within defensible borders, and our staying power for this fight is built on our Jewish identity. And here is where the Jewish content of my secular neighbor’s Shavuot does very much affect me.

Because when I wonder about this content it’s not like me worrying about Jewish assimilation in America, nor for that matter is it like a religious American Christian worrying about the lack of Jesus in their neighbor’s Christmas. Because whether Jewish intermarriage rates fall or rise, and whether Christians religiously observe Continued on page 9

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

Young adults to visit Israel next month, thanks to local foundations and donors

by BOB GOLDBERG Communications and Young Leadership Director Twenty-three young Omaha adults will take part in a ten-day journey to visit the Jewish homeland from June 10-19. The trip will celebrate the Israel experience through the lens of the younger adults from our community. They will experience the historical roots of the Jewish people and learn of our collective responsibility to world Jewry. They will be meeting leading Israeli figures, visiting our Partnership in the Western Galilee and gaining an understanding of our connections and challenges.

This year is not the first young adult/young leadership mission. Starting back in the early 1990s, this community made a strategic decision to invest consistently in our young people. Many JFO missions have included younger participants, but trips in 1995, 1998 and 2008 were designed specifically for leadership development.

Jewish foundations and individual donors believe strongly in this plan and have underwritten these missions so young people can afford to go and begin their journeys of Jewish involvement and leadership.

As in the past, this year’s mission is possible only because of the longtime commitment of Jewish foundations and some very generous donors. Each participant is paying $1500, plus domestic airfare, while the actual cost of the 10-day mission is $3800 per person. Do the math -- donors provide more than 60% of the cost!

This community’s longtime commitment to invest in leadership development has yielded significant returns.

The direct impact of this investment is that at least 37 of the 91 people (or 40.6%) who went on the first three young adult/young leadership missions have since taken leading roles within the Federation, its agencies, and beneficiaries such as the synagogues, the ADL and United Jewish Communities (UJC).

Omaha’s Jewish community has been successful by pro-actively working to create Jewish community leaders. The creation of YJO (Young Jewish Omaha) was a result of the success of the 1995 Young Adult Mission.

This programming connects the next generation to Jews locally, globally and in Israel, helping to define their Jewish identity. Today, YJO is active in social networking, community tzedakah and providing educational opportunities while giving future leaders a place to give of themselves and make a difference.

Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha states, “I want the community to know the enormous effect these foundations and individual donors have had on the kind of Jewish community we are. They fund programs that would not be possible without their considerable support. Having worked

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So why do they do it?

Says Leonard “Buddy�

Goldstein, on behalf of the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation: “It’s all about education.

We want to educate people about Israel and the challenges Jews face. We must be knowledgeable, know our history and know the current problems to effectively move forward. In the past, we had a difficult time finding leaders for the Jewish community. People didn’t want to take responsibility. Today, these young adult missions provide the community a line of leadership succession.

They get so much education and motivation going to Israel and they want to make a difference and lead.�

An aerial view of the Old City of Jerusalem shows a general view looking north of Har Habayit Adds Rabbi Kripke, on (the Temple Mount). Immediately below the golden dome of the Dome of the Rock Mosque is behalf of the Dorothy and the El Aqsa Mosque. In the bottom left is the Kotel (Western Wall) complex. Credit: ISRANET Myer Kripke Campaign with these generous individuals for Leadership Fund: “It pleases the past 19 years, I am convinced me to know that young peothat Omaha could not be the strong ple from our town are going Jewish community it is today withto Israel. It has become out their help. Names like noticeable that those who Livingston and Goldsten teach us have been to Israel, even if vision and those same names resthey’ve gone without much onate among us long after their interest, most certainly return namesakes are gone.� to Omaha with a heightened The following foundations made a interest in Jewish life.� substantial investment in the Jewish Agrees Mark Javitch, on community and are helping to make behalf of the Sokolof Family possible the 2009 Mission to Israel: The mission will also stop at the Carmel Market in Tel Fund: “Our family believes in Milton S. and Corinne N. Aviv. Credit: runneralan2004 / Creative Commons the mission of long-term Livingston Foundation, Inc., the Herbert Goldsten investing for our community’s future. We need to realize Trust, the Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting our individual responsibility to support Israel and to Foundation, the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman motivate others to join us. We should recognize Israel’s Supporting Foundation, the Dorothy and Myer Kripke faults, but we should be able to articulate the argument Campaign Leadership Fund, the Sokolof Family Fund, that Israel has a right to exist in peace and security. By the Special Donor-Advised Fund of the JFO sending representatives from our community to visit Foundation, the Morton A. Richards Endowment Fund, Israel, we will be creating advocates that can contribute the Edith and Paul Goldstein Fund, and the Janis Yale to this discussion when they return to Omaha.�

Continued on page 9 Young Leadership Mission Fund.

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When asked if the polecat lived or died, he painlessly replied: “None of your dang business!�

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May 29, 2009

Young adults to visit Israel people and leadership development has proven to be incredibly important and successful for our future. We all know that there is going to be a huge transfer of wealth in this community over the next two decades. We must make the case today that people need to leave their money for our Jewish community or else, in 20 years, we will be greatly diminished.”

Murry H. Newman, on behalf of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation, states: “Sharee and I are motivated by return on investment and the missions program has a proven record of substantial returns. Where better can we put our funding dollars than a missions program that provides standing returns in both philanthroThe mission will visit Akko in Omaha’s Partnership with Israel py and leadership?” region. This Tunisian synagogue was founded in 1955 just outside And finally, Bob Kully, Akko’s Old City wall by a former Tunisian immigrant Zion on behalf of the Milton S. Badasche. He made it his life’s work to cover the inside of the syn- and Corinne N. agogue with mosaics and stained glass windows. Credit: ISRANET Livingston Foundation, today is more important than ever Inc., concludes that: “You can’t fully because Israel has become so politicized.” understand your personal connection to Adding, “Take the issue of settlements Israel until you actually have your feet on for example,” Kirshenbaum continues, the ground there. Our foundation, work“The general population’s impression, ing with the Federation, had a vision 18 from the media, is that all the settlements years ago. That vision was to educate each are small outpost communities of religious new generation about Israel so that they fanatics, but in actuality, many of the so- can really appreciate what has happened called settlements are large communities in the past and what needs to be done in of many thousands of people, but you the future. Helping them go to Israel has won’t see that story or learn of it unless been very rewarding for the foundation you go there. Our investment in young and we want to see that continue.

Continued from page 8 Joe Kirshenbaum, on behalf of the Herbert Goldsten Foundation, notes: “To my generation, Israel is a rallying point. We saw Israel as a weak state, not the powerhouse it is today. To fully understand and appreciate Israel, you must go there. Our support for Israel

Take note of this Yachad project the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and Jewish Family Service.

A department of JFS, Yachad provides social, cultural and religious activities plus advocacy, referral services and general support for Omaha Jews with developmental disabilities and their families.

“Our commitment is to enhance life opportunities and integrate Yachad members into their community,” Gustafson explained. “The original artwork duplicated on these cards expresses the creativity of Yachad members. The cards make great gifts, or use them yourself to brighten someone’s day with a special greeting.

They’re available only until our limited supply is gone, so don’t miss out.

Pick up your set today.”

Proceeds from the sale of note cards will go directly back into the Yachad program to help fund monthly activities.

“Many Colors of the World” was created by Jeff Steinberg.

by OZZIE NOGG If you missed Yachad’s Meet the Artists Exhibit and Sale in January, you still have a chance to ‘own’ every piece that was showcased in the exhibit. “The art work created by Yachad members was photographed and made into note cards,” said Karen Gustafson, Jewish Family Service Director. “Each full-color note card has the signature of the artist on the back, and the cards are being sold in sets of 11 for $15.”

The Yachad note cards are available for purchase at local synagogue gift shops,

Shavuot and the future of Israel

Continued from page 7 Christmas, it has nothing to do with the sovereign integrity of the United States of America.

But if your Shavuot in Israel is nothing more than a three-day weekend, then this holiday does not tie you to this particular land, and you have one less reason to be passionately committed to living here.

After all, many countries offer their citizens an occasional three-day weekend; indeed, the United States celebrated one just a few days before this year’s Shavuot.

I’m not saying that everyone has to be religious, but I am arguing that the more a person is connected to Jewish tradition (however one defines this), the more intimately tied they will be to this particular state in this particular land.

Food for thought as we sit down to our cheese cake on Shavuot. Happy Pentecost!

Teddy Weinberger made aliyah with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children in 1997. He can be reached at weinross@netvision.net.il.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

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JCC Final Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 B’nai Tzedek Teen Program, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 9 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad ADL/CRC Board Meeting, noon Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Friedel BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 ADL Echo’s & Reflections Workshop, 9 a.m.

Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, JUNE 11 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Study with the Clergy, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m.

NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel SUNDAY, JUNE 14 Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, JUNE 15 YES Luncheon, 10 a.m.

Jewish Book Club Meeting, 10:30 a.m.

Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 ARTZA 09 through July 16 NJHS Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 22 Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Holiday Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m.

Beth El Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad JSS/RBJH Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

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Rabbi Mizrahi’s Class, 7:45 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, JUNE 25 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m LOVE Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel FRIDAY, JUNE 26 Conflicts & Controversies in the Bible, noon SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El Visions Brownville Trip Concert & Dinner, noon MONDAY, JUNE 29 Kabbalistic Insights for Women, noon at Chabad Film Discussion Group, 7 p.m. at Kripke Library TUESDAY, JUNE 30 Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad BBYO Night, 6 p.m.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel NCJW Community-Wide Judicial Nomination Training, 9:30 a.m.

Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m. at Kripke Library Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Parsha Club for Kids, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad Creighton Intro to Judaism Class, 5:45 p.m.

Rabbi Gross’s Class, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel SUNDAY, JUNE 21 Bible Study Group, 10 a.m. at Beth El

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All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the below events.

May 29, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Grate expectations: Grilling sparks up Shavuot dairy fare

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by LINDA MOREL NEW YORK (JTA) -- One October weekend my husband went fishing in Maryland with his brother and brother-in-law. Sea bass were running that day, and each returned with three dozen fish. Most were medium sized, and we ate sea bass every Monday until we turned blue in the face.

By May only one remained -- but it weighed five pounds. That fish was so long, it fit only by placing it diagonally across my freezer.

“What are we going to do with this monster?” I asked my husband.

“Shavuot’s coming,” he said. “Let’s barbecue it.”

“Give people grilled sea bass instead of bagels and lox?” I said. “They’ll rebel.”

“If I barbecue it, they will eat it,” he said. “You’ll see.”

Reluctantly I decided to serve the sea bass, but only as an extra item on the menu. The day before Shavuot, I purchased smoked fish in abundance for the 20 people we had invited for brunch.

Much to my surprise, our guests relished the sea bass, leaving only the bones and the serving platter. Of course they consumed hefty portions of bagels and lox, too, but they couldn’t stop raving about that barbecued fish.

While most American Jews celebrate Shavuot at brunch time, often serving blintzes, egg casseroles and smoked fish, such fare is compatible with just about anything you can think of to grill.

With its link to dairy dishes, Shavuot is a minor holiday with a major impact on Jewish history. It began as an agricultural festival, celebrating the end of barley season and the beginning of wheat. However, by the third century, the holiday took on a more crucial meaning when it became known as the time God gave the Torah to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

It’s unclear why dairy foods are traditionally served at Shavuot. Over the centuries, several theories have been posited.

Some historians claim that when the Children of Israel returned to their campsite with the Torah, they were too tired and hungry to roast meat, which then was a timeconsuming proposition. Other historians believe that the ancient Israelites, who had just received the laws of kashrut, needed time to kosher their utensils and so a quick dairy meal had to suffice.

While the whiteness of milk traditionally has been compared to the purity of the Torah, it was almost inevitable, given the Jewish palate, for a dairy menu to arise, encompassing cheeses and smoked fish.

Although the words grilling and barbecuing have become synonymous, barbecuing technically entails slow cooking food in a pit lined with hot coals, whereas grilling is a faster method of cooking food performed on slats over a flame.

During my childhood, when barbecuing was mentioned, it meant hamburgers or chicken coated with spicy red sauces. But today, due to the popularity of Mediterranean cuisine, anything and everything is grilled. Recipes abound for grilled sliced bread, tofu, fish, vegetables and even fruit. All you need is imagination and a fire.

I picture the holiday falling on a spectacular sunny day with the temperature hovering around 70. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain. However, in case of inclement weather, anything that can be barbecued can be prepared inside.

The summer is long and in many parts of the country warm weather stretches past Labor Day. After Shavuot, you can continue barbecuing veggies and fish until Rosh Hashanah. By then, you’ll want to throw some meatier fare on the grill.

The recipes below were developed by Linda Morel.

Note: To avoid food from sticking, before lighting the grill, spray grid with no-stick spray, following the safety measures below.

BRUSCHETTA (GRILLED BREAD) Ingredients: 2 to 3 jumbo-sized cloves of garlic 1 loaf of Tuscan bread, sourdough bread or peasant bread, cut into 1/4-inch slices 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, poured into a small bowl Accompaniments: 1 pound ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes and black olives, preferably not canned To start: Peel garlic cloves and gently press down on them with the flat side of a chef’s knife. This will release the garlic’s flavor. With a brush, spread oil on both sides of bread slices. Rub a garlic clove on the top and bottom surface of every slice of bread.

Barbecue and indoor method: Place slices on a preheated outdoor grill or a ridged stovetop griddle on a medium flame. Grill for 2 to 5 minutes per side, or until grid marks appear on bread. Remove bread from heat and immediate-

ly rub both sides of each slice with garlic again. Cut large slices into 2 to 3 pieces. Serve immediately with accompaniments. Yield: 15 to 20 pieces of bread.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS Ingredients: 2 pounds asparagus Olive oil for drizzling Kosher salt to taste No-stick spray To start: Place asparagus spears on a Snap off Grilled asparagus complements any platter. fibrous ends and dis- Shavuot menu. Credit: Linda Morell card. Drizzle spears with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Barbecue method: On a medium flame, place asparagus at right angles to grill top, so spears don’t fall into the fire.

Barbecue spears for 5 minutes per side, about 10 minutes in all, until they’re crunchy brown. Serve immediately.

Oven method: Preheat oven to 425º Move asparagus to an ovenproof pan coated with no-stick spray. Roast asparagus, turning spears every few minutes, until spears are crunchy brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.

VEGETABLE KABOBS Equipment: 4 wooden or metal skewers Ingredients: 16 small white mushrooms (cut larger mushrooms in half) 1 yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch squares 1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch squares 2 medium zucchini, cut into slices 1/2-inch thick 1/2 cup olive oil, or more, if needed Kosher salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, leaves No-stick spray, if using To start: Using skewers, pierce through the center of a mushroom, yellow pepper square, zucchini slice and a red pepper square. Press them together tightly on skewer.

Continue filling skewers in the same way, until vegetable pieces are gone. Leave an inch at each end of the skewer for handling. Place skewers on a platter. Drizzle vegetables with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with kosher salt, garlic powder and dried oregano.

Barbecue method: On a medium flame, place skewers at right angle to grill top so skewers don’t fall into the fire.

After 5 minutes, turn skewers with flame retardant mitts, especially when handling metal skewers, which conduct heat. Grill for another 5 minutes or until vegetables brown.

Peppers may blacken at edges. Serve immediately.

Oven method: Preheat oven to 450º. Coat a 10-by-15-inch ovenproof pan with no-stick spray. Arrange skewers in pan and place in oven. Use oven mitts to turn skewers after 20 minutes, and roast for another 20 minutes. Roast until vegetables brown on the outside. Peppers may blacken at edges.

Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings.

GRILLED SEA BASS Ingredients: 2 pounds sea bass 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground curry 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar No-stick spray To start: Tell the fishmonger to clean the fish, keeping the head, tail, bones, and skin attached -- you want a whole fish. At home, rinse the fish under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place remaining ingredients (except nostick spray) in a bowl, stirring to make a paste. Coat fish inside and out with the paste. Place fish in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Barbecue method: Spray grill with no-stick spray before lighting fire. Place fish on preheated grill. Turn after 7 minutes and barbecue for another 7 minutes, or until fish skin browns and inside is cooked through. Test for doneness by inserting a knife between bones at the spine. If the fish flakes, it is ready.

Oven method: Preheat broiler. Coat broiler pan with nostick spray. Place fish on prepared pan and move to the broiler. Every five minutes, remove fish from broiler and turn it using 2 non-metallic spatulas. Broil for a total of 20 minutes, or until skin is crunchy brown and inside is cooked through. To test for doneness, remove fish from the broiler. Insert a knife between the bones at the spine. If the fish flakes, it is ready.

Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

What are we willing to die for?

As more and more members of “The Greatest Generation” die -- those who fought in and lived during World War II -- we have fewer and fewer witnesses to an era that exhibited both the lowest depravity of man and the noblest courage of humankind.

Hitler and his henchmen killed 11 million people -- six million Jews and five million political dissidents, Catholics, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, prisoners of war, and the mentally and physically disabled.

Stalin was responsible for even more; more than 20 million Russians were killed under his watch. Not only soldiers who fought for the Red Army, but Jews, Christians, and yet again, political dissidents were ordered to the Gulag or death by firing squad ever time Stalin (or his thugs in the KGB) felt paranoid. His fiveyear plans caused famine and death; some historians estimate Stalin caused the deaths of more than 50 million during his regime as dictator of the former Soviet Union.

Then there were the Japanese and Chinese.

Add together the death march on the island of Baatan, the Nanjing rapes and massacre, the slave laborers killed in the Datong coal mine and in the forced labor camps in Japan, the Burma campaign and other killing grounds -not to mention the civilians and soldiers killed as part of the world war, and their total easily could exceed 15 million.

But a few bright lights flickered in the darkness of the 1940s: righteous gentiles in Germany and Poland who hid Jewish families in their homes at the risk of their own deaths, diplomats like Raoul Wallenberg and Chine Sugihara who signed hundreds if not thousands of visas to enable Jews and others to escape Nazi-held lands, Danes who saved nearly 6000 of their country’s Jews by sailing them over open water to Sweden, and surprisingly -- the government of Japan, which allowed the Jews of Mir (including the Mir Yeshiva) to enter -- with visas signed by the then-recalled diplomat Sugihara.

The (mostly) men who served in WWII and liberated Europe’s concentration camps were honored Sunday evening by Bill and Evonne Williams at an Honor Flight Reunion. Bill Williams, the organizer of this program,

sought the help of more than 100 donors and volunteers to get 1500 Nebraska vets to our nation’s capital. The couple brought many of them together -- and invited area Holocaust survivors as well as the board of the Institute for Holocaust Education to attend the event.

Inspiring is a word that doesn’t do this reunion justice. Rather than the customary secular picnic, this was truly a memorable way to recall the service of our citizen soldiers on Memorial Day weekend.

The sacrifices made by the vets -- enlisting for a cause they knew was right, leaving their loved ones behind, risking injury or death -has become a rare commodity today. Our brave American soldiers and Allies continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and face perhaps harsher conditions -- beheadings by enemy combatants, deception by tribal chieftains and some in government who pay lip service to soldiers’ welfare, but are only too eager to place the rights of captured terrorists above the rights of ordinary American citizens.

And while it’s true that today’s service men and women certainly do not face the hatred that Vietnam vets did in the 1960s and ’70s, we have to ask ourselves -- what would we do today if we were faced with threats to our freedom, our lives, our way of life?

Would we risk our own lives to protect a neighbor subject to harsh restrictions? Would we suffer in prison to protest a government that discriminates against a segment of the population? Would we march on Washington to bring attention to freedoms threatened by either an outside force (like Iran’s and North Korea’s new long range missiles and its development of nuclear weapons) or our (G-d forbid) our own government?

What are we, the citizens of the 21st century, willing to die for?

If we are told: “Convert or die!”, what will be our response? Are we going to stand there -- mute and terrified? Will we cower and give up our Judaism? Will we go into hiding?

If there’s another terrorist attack on

America, what will we do this time? Make excuses for the perpetrators or fight back?

Will stand up for truth and justice like the Greatest Generation did? Are we prepared to sacrifice to ensure that America remains “the land of the free and the home of the brave”?

Will we risk death to protect our children -and their future as free citizens -- with the right to criticize their own government, to assemble in protest, to bear arms, to vote, to travel and live without restrictions, and to practice religion without interference?

How courageous will we be if Iran uses its surrogates of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon to attack Israel in an all-out war? And if Iran succeeds and wipes out the Jewish state, will we be brave when they come for us next?

As we celebrate Shavuot -- the receiving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments -- may we have the strength to defend our American -- and our Jewish way of life and leave a free democratic world, and a meaningful and purposeful life, for the generations yet to come.

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by IZAK PARVIZ NAZARIAN

LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- The predicament created by Israel’s most recent Knesset elections in February does not reveal any new problems in Israel's electoral system; it simply underscores the problems everyone knows already are there.

The problems have created a dire situation.

Clearly the Israeli electoral system has failed again, and the underlying problems of why it happened need to be addressed immediately.

The new political map shows the immense difficulty in establishing a coalition government, especially one that will be able to lead the country through these challenging times.

Even worse, the Knesset represents so many fragmented groups that it is extremely difficult to legislate effectively.

Politicians on the campaign trail often promise electoral reform, but those promises have gone unfulfilled.

If the current Knesset does not make government and electoral reform a top national priority, a shaky coalition will push Israelis into yet another election in less than two or three years, and again it will be impossible to establish a stable government.

If the current Knesset does not make government and electoral reform a top national priority, a shaky coalition will push Israelis into yet another election in less than two or three years, and again it will be impossible to establish a stable government.

In its final report, the commission recommended that regional elections be held to elect half of the Knesset’s members. The idea is that if 50 percent of Knesset members are elected in regional elections, there will be a stronger tie between representatives and voters, and the Knesset members will be directly accountable to their constituents.

Some Israeli officials have proposed transitioning to a presidential system. Politicians and scholars, however, are deterred by the

Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Michael Sigmond, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Daphne Pollak Alperson, Marc Brodkey; Eric Dunning; Jason Epstein; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman.

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Israel must address flawed electoral system Various solutions to Israel’s problems of government instability already have been proposed.

In 2005, the president’s Commission for the Examination of the Structure of Governance in Israel was created to propose recommendations to remedy the problem. The commission, headed by Professor Menachem Magidor of Hebrew University, spent 15 months researching alternatives to Israel’s current system.

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risk of concentrating too much power in the hands of a single person.

Increasing the threshold necessary for Knesset representation to five percent of the popular vote is a middle-of-road reform that would reduce the number of smaller parties in the Knesset and thus promote and strengthen bigger parties. Another worthwhile reform would be creating a perennial budget to eliminate the “circus of extortion” that plagues Israeli coalition negotiations.

During a meeting with the members of the Economic Forum for Government Stability of the Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel, Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni said that she does not reject the transition to a presidential system. However, she cautioned that Israel would need to make sure the appropriate checks and balances were in place and that there would be the possibility of forcing the president to step down, in extreme situations, before the conclusion of his or her four-year term.

Whatever solutions are implemented, Israel needs to reform the electoral system and stabilize the government as soon as possible.

The only way to do this is for the larger parties to agree to work together in creating new legislation to secure government stability.

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Izak Parviz Nazarian is the founder of The Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel.

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

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May 29, 2009

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

White House misstates U.S. response to Holocaust

BEHIND THE H EADLINES

by RAFAEL MEDOFF AND BENYAMIN KORN

Bad history, bad timing.

The White House issued a statement earlier this month strongly suggesting that America opened its doors to Jews fleeing the Holocaust. And it made the statement on the seventieth anniversary of the infamous “voyage of the damned,” when the United States turned away the S.S. St. Louis, a ship carrying more than 900 Jews seeking a haven from Hitler.

It all began innocently enough.

President Barack Obama declared May to be Jewish American Heritage Month, in recognition of Jewish contributions to American life. It’s a symbolic gesture that the Jewish community will certainly appreciate. Ordinarily the statement accompanying this sort of presidential proclamation consists of inoffensive generalities. This one, however, stumbled badly.

In the course of briefly summarizing the history of the U.S. Jewish community and its contributions to American society, the proclamation described how “Jewish immigrants have departed famil-

iar lands to pursue their own American dreams for more than 300 years.” The statement then noted that during some times, Jews came to the United States to seek better economic opportunities, while during other periods, “Jews sought refuge in the United States from the horrors and tragedies of persecution, pogroms, and the Holocaust.”

It is obviously true that many Jews fleeing “persecution” and “pogroms” did find a haven in the United States, particularly those fleeing Russia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. That is something for which Jews will always feel profound gratitude.

It is also true that Jews “sought refuge” in the United States during the Holocaust years -- but precious few found it.

America’s immigration quota system severely limited the number of immigrants who could come from countries such as Germany and Poland during the Hitler years. But even those meager quota allotments were almost never filled, because the Roosevelt administration imposed a series of bureaucratic obstacles to discourage would-be immigrants.

Prof. David S. Wyman has described those obstacles as “paper walls.” In fact, the man whom President Roosevelt chose to take charge of refugee immigration

matters, State Department undersecretary Breckinridge Long, instructed U.S. consular officials to “postpone and postpone and postpone” the granting of visas to Jews trying to escape the Nazis.

As a result, during the period of the Nazi genocide, from late 1941 and until early 1945, only 10 percent of the already miniscule quotas from Axis-controlled European countries were actually used.

That means almost 190,000 quota places were unused -- almost 190,000 lives that would have been saved even under the existing immigration restrictions.

Thus relatively few Jews seeking to escape Hitler found haven in the United States. The nation with the tradition of welcoming “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” for the most part turned a blind eye in Jewry’s most dire hour of need.

The text announcing the ‘heritage month’ gesture might be regarded as boiler-plate stuff, crafted by some junior level speechwriter or public relations person on the White House staff.

Yet while some might write off a proclamation of this sort as a routine matter that is not expected to generate significant scrutiny, the fact remains that it is issued in the name of the President of the United States. Moreover, it constitutes a statement,

for the record, of important facts about American history. Those facts need to be double-checked before the White House secretary presses her “send” button.

The day the heritage proclamation was issued, May 13, was 70 years to the day that the St. Louis set sail from Hamburg.

After being turned away from Cuba (to which the passengers had entry visas) and then the the United States, the St. Louis was forced to return its refugees to Europe. Hitler’s propagandists had a field day. One Nazi publication asserted: “We are saying openly that we do not want the Jews, while the democracies keep on claiming that they are willing to receive them -- and then leave the guests out in the cold. Aren’t we ‘savages’ better men after all?”

That, one might say, is the tragic flip side of honoring the contributions of Jewish Americans. For in recognizing what Jews contributed when they were allowed to enter, we must also consider the tragic consequences of America’s refusal to grant haven to so many others.

Dr. Rafael Medoff is director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies. Benyamin Korn, associate director of the Wyman Institute, is the former executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent.

Speak up for (a) justice

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by DAVID SAPERSTEIN

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The list of issues vying for the attention of the American Jewish community is both daunting and ever growing. We, along with the president and Congress, are dealing with the economic crisis, health care reform, the threat of a nuclear Iran, the Middle East peace process, global climate change and two wars -- and that is merely the top of our “to do” list.

What is missing on the Jewish communal agenda is also striking. With the exception of the advocacy of the Union for Reform Judaism and the National Council of Jewish Women, the debate about who will be chosen to fill the impending vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court -- a decision that will have tremendous implications -- is largely taking place without the American Jewish community.

Although virtually every one of the issues on our agenda is impacted by the federal courts, the Jewish community is largely silent in debates over judicial nominees.

The silence must end. Jewish groups that so diligently and effectively fight for equal rights and fundamental liberties in the legislative and executive branches must make their voices heard in conversations about the next Supreme Court justice.

These conversations already are under way. Justice David Souter has announced that he will be retiring in June, at the end of the current Supreme Court term. Of

all the pressing and vexing issues before President Obama, only the selection of a new justice gives him the opportunity to affect all of the other issues on our nation’s agenda -- not just today, but for decades to come.

Supreme Court decisions shape our nation as much as any actions of the legislative or executive branches.

Brown v. Board (1954) sits next to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts as a key turning point in the struggle for civil rights. In Massachusetts v. EPA (2007), the court recognized for the first time that carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global warming, giving the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions.

And in Boumediene v. Bush (2008), the court spoke clearly on the scope of the president’s power, ruling that detainees at Guantanamo Bay have the right to habeas corpus. The Massachusetts and Boumediene cases were decided 5-4 and easily could have been reversed had a single justice expressed a differing opinion.

Most important, the new justice has the potential to directly influence federal jurisprudence for decades. New justices given lifetime appointments typically spend many years, sometimes decades, longer on the court than the president who appoints them spends in office.

William Douglas, history’s longest-serving justice, kept his seat for 36 years; his replacement, Justice John Paul Stevens, has served 33 years. Thirteen presidents have served during their tenures.

It is no surprise, then, that a president’s Supreme Court appointees are a key part of his legacy.

Any justice appointed by President Obama is likely to be a moderate-liberal vote on the court, which was sometimes true of Justice Souter -- (and in fact,

announced Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his choice on Tuesday). As one of only nine justices, the individual selected will have the key ability to influence the types of cases the court hears and the decisions it renders.

President Obama, a former professor of constitutional law, undoubtedly understands the gravity of this decision. Hopefully he will appoint someone with excellent credentials who will adhere to constitutional values and approach every case with an open mind.

America needs a justice who, by the power of both intellectual analysis and consensus coalition-building, can craft majorities in close decisions that will preserve the separation of church and state and protect the Warren and Burger court’s expansive interpretations of our fundamental rights. A leader of this sort could alter the fragile balance of the current court, which produces many 5-4 decisions -- the majority reflect a conservative viewpoint -- and significantly impact our nation’s constitutional discourse.

Now is the time for us to pay attention, consider the nominee’s professional credentials and record, and find a way to make our voices heard. What hangs in the balance is nothing less than the future resolution of today’s fierce debates over church-state separation, civil rights, the balance of powers, environmental protection and, without exaggeration, nearly every issue on our Jewish communal agenda.

We cannot afford to remain on the sidelines of this debate.

Rabbi David Saperstein is the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He was recently listed in Newsweek magazine in its list of Top 50 most influential rabbis as the Number One.

Leader of Holocaust survivors’ organization calls for protest letters to MSNBC

BEHIND THE H EADLINES MENACHEM Z. ROSENSAFT NEW YORK -Menachem Rosensaft, Vice President of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, is calling on the Jewish community to contact the president of MSNBC regarding the news channel’s failure to react to the disclosure that MSNBC political commentator Patrick Buchanan sponsored a Holocaust denial forum on his website.

Writing in the New York Daily News on May 12, Rosensaft described the forum, entitled “Disinformation, Deception and Other Tricks: Discussion about ‘The Holocaust.’”

Among the comments posted on this forum were: “Most historians believe it was logisitcally impossible to gas six million Jews and reduce their bodies to ashes;” “We have known for some time that the Auschwitz myth is of an exclusively Jewish origin;” “The same blinded people that believe that the Germans intentionally killed Jews - also believe the myth of the Anne Frank Diary;” and “Rightly or wrongly -- the Jew was blamed for a lot of the problems that Germany suffered. The Jews were given years of warnings that they were unwelcome in Germany. A lot of Jews fled Germany in the late 1930s. The United States was not very anxious to accept very many. This was when White Christians still had a little control of our Nation.”

Within hours of the publication of

Rosensaft’s article, the forum in question disappeared from Buchanan.org, and the link to it was disabled. However, MSNBC’s management has not criticized Buchanan for providing a platform to Holocaust deniers. Buchanan also recently compared Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk to Jesus Christ.

“One might have expected the disclosure of this forum to at least raise some eyebrows at MSNBC,” Rosensaft wrote on The Huffington Post. After all, two years ago, the news channel summarily fired talk show host Don Imus for making a racially insensitive remark about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.

Sponsoring a Holocaust denial forum on one’s website strikes me as no less offensive. But not a single member of MSNBC’s management has deigned to publicly address Buchanan’s association with anti-Semites, White supremacists

and other assorted bigots.”

Rosensaft is calling on Holocaust survivors, members of their families, and the Jewish community as a whole to write to MSNBC president Phil Griffin at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, NY 10112, call: 212.664.4444; or fax: 212.664.4426, and ask for an explanation why the hosts of programs on which Buchanan regularly appears such as Morning Joe, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Andrea Mitchell Reports have not asked him a single question about his sponsorship of the Holocaust denial forum on his website.

If MSNBC’s management insists on retaining Buchanan as a fixture on their programs, Rosensaft wrote, “he must be clearly identified as an enabler of Holocaust deniers and a defender of Nazi war criminals whenever he appears on the air.”

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

Candlelighting Thursday, May 28, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 29: no earlier than 9:39 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org

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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

gramming@beth el-omaha.org.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

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

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

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m. Kiddush is sponsored

by Becki and Tom Kahn, in honor of their daughter, Megan becoming a Bat Mitzvah; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m.

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

SERVICES: SHAVUOT Friday, May 29, 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 30, 9:30 a.m.

BESTT CHAVERIM: FourthSixth grade youth group members will go to Mahoney State Park on Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to enjoy the water park, horseback riding and paddle boating. Cost is $20, which includes all activities and lunch; all children in the Jewish community are welcome to join. To RSVP or for more information, contact Robert Mosenkis in the office, or at youthdir@bethel-omaha.org.

NEW MEMBERS/NEW BABIES SHABBAT: Saturday, June 6, 9:30 a.m. All congregants who have joined in the past year, plus babies who have been born during that time, will be honored.

HAZAK CINEMA SERIES: Sunday, June 7, 3-5 p.m. Spend a fun afternoon at the synagogue enjoying a movie, followed by 5:30 p.m. minyan (optional) and 6 p.m. dinner. No charge for the movie; dinner is $10 for Hazak members, $12 for non-members.

To reserve your spot, send a check to Tootie Simon, 8725 Izard St., Omaha, NE 68114.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB: Thursday, June 11, 1:15 p.m.

YOUNG FAMILIES’ SHABBATON: Aug. 7-9 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City will include a family Shabbat celebration, arts and crafts, music, singing, games and camaraderie. Open to all families in the Jewish community who have children ages eight and younger. Early-bird prices still available for reservations made by May 31. To register or for more information, contact Margie in the synagogue office, or at pro-

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

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by a dairy lunch; Family Fued part II at 1 p.m.; Cram Session III with Rabbi Gross at 2 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv/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; Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored in honor of Beth Israel graduates by family and friends; Cram: The Final, 12:30 p.m. (following Kiddush); “Guard Your Tongue”, “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up) one hour prior to Mincha, 8:30 p.m., followed by Seudah Shlishit sponsored by Lisa Jo Brunkhorst in honor of Max Polack’s graduation from Friedel; Havdalah, 9:40 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Reading the Rambam, 9:45 a.m.; Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

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

TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY: Service, 9:30 a.m.; Shavuot Ice Cream Party and luncheon, 11:30 a.m. RSVP to office@ochabad. com or call 330.1800 SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m. MiniMensch title will be awarded; Kiddush lunch follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

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

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

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought,

12:45 p.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:45 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com to receive a guest pass.

All events and programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Peaceful Shabbat Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following hosted by Nancy Myers.

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

SUNDAY: An Afternoon at The Ross, 3 p.m. A friend-raising, campaign kick-off, beginning with the movie One Day You’ll Understand, followed by a reception at the Van Brunt Visitor’s Center (313 No. 13 St.) at 4:30 p.m., presented by the Jewish Federation of Lincoln. RSVP to Donna Hersch at 483.7331 or dhersch@neb.rr. com.

THURSDAY: Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m.

The Holocaust Commemoration that was held at the Nebraska State Capitol is being shown on Channel 5 Mondays at noon and Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. during the next few weeks.

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Hebrew, led by Rabbi Emanuel beginning July 7.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shavuot Services, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet.

SATURDAY: Shavuot Services with Yizkor, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shavuot Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Eric Linder and Cantor Wendy Shermet. Join us in welcoming Rabbinic Intern Nicole Luna as she joins the Temple Clergy for seven weeks.

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

Friedman, son of Joan and Michael Friedman, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.

SUNDAY: Annual Meeting and Brunch. Brunch starts at 11 a.m.; the meeting starts at 11:45 a.m. The congregation is invited to attend. Several honors, including presidential awards, will be announced.

TUESDAY: OTYG Board Retreat, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., for the 2009/ 10 newly appointed leadership board.

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

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

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

MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m.

FRIDAY: Shavuot Services and Confirmation of Emma Feldman amd Mimi Merliss, 8 p.m. Their families will provided an Oneg following services.

SATURDAY: Shavuot morning service with Yizkor, 9 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study.

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

The Holocaust Commemoration held at the Nebraska State Capitol is being shown on Channel 5 Mondays, noon, and Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., during the next few weeks.

Prayerbooks Available for Visually Impaired The Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the High Holiday Machzor in large print and in Braille free of charge for those who need them. A doctor’s note stating necessity is required.

To receive a complimentary Machzor, contact our office at 718.338.4999; or fax 718.338.0653; or e-mail to Jewishheritage@gmail.com.

PERSONAL To my friends and family: thank you for thinking of me following my accident. Your thoughts and kindness are very much appreciated.

Louise Lippett

B’NAI MITZVAH Megan Elizabeth Kahn, daughter of Dr. Becki and Tom Kahn, will become a Bat Mitzvah on S a t u r d a y, May 30, at Beth El. Megan is a seventhg r a d e Superior Honor Roll student at

Kiewit Middle School.

Her interests include swimming, music and spending time with family and friends.

She has two sisters, Marissa and Miranda.

Grandparents are Sandy and Lou Goldberg, and Marlene and Stewart Kahn.

Alec Brent Redler, son of Dara and Dan Redler of Atlanta, GA,

will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 15, in Jerusalem.

Alec is a seventh-grade student at Davis Academy in Atlanta. He is a member of the school’s percussion band.

His interests include skiing, golf, tennis and

camping.

He has two brothers, Jansen, 11, and Mason, 8.

Grandparents are Dodi and Steve Redler, and Dr. Jerry and Lila Grassinger of Allentown, PA. Because the grandparents are unable to go to Israel, a service will also take place on June 4 at Temple Emanu-el in Atlanta.

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

May 29, 2009

The festival of Torah

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Shavuot Although Shavuot may be the most neglected of Jewish festivals, it could put in a bid, perhaps successfully, to be called the most important.

It took the ingenuity of the ancient rabbis to push aside the agricultural basis of Shavuot, and to transform it into the Festival of Torah.

We still, of course, count the days from the second day of Passover to Shavuot. Called the “omer”, this is simply a matter of ritual. The real significance of Shavuot is that it is a holiday celebrating the Torah.

In its simplest meaning, the word Torah means something like “teaching” or instruction”, but it comes to have a deeper significance than that. It becomes a festival of the fertile mind, the intellect, the thinking capacity of humankind, different and superior to all other living beings.

It is not for nothing that Jews have had a long history and that they have responded vigorously to the buffetings of historic events. Without neglecting the importance of preserving the physical health of mankind, Shavuot directs our attention to the intellectual, sensitive and moral faculties of the human being.

Thus, the importance of Torah, i.e. teaching and learning, become the mark of the Jew. Whether we like it or not, the Am HaAretz, “the man of the earth” is the ignoramus, the unlearned, the uninterested in learning and therefore the intellectually empty man.

Shavuot is a reminder of all this.

There was a time when physical connection to the earth, to agriculture and its proceeds was of prime importance. On the whole, man has conquered what needs to be controlled for the sheer success in maintaining humanity alive.

Thus Shavuot falls in line with Sukkot and Pesah. All three of these major festivals have turned aside from agricultural beginnings to intellectual, moral, and ethical emphases. Shavuot, therefor, becomes one of the three Shalosh Regalim, the three appointed times when worship of God is associated with demands made upon the human intellect for development of moral ideas and ethical sensitivity.

But Shavuot reminds the Jew, and his fellow man, that “man does not live by bread alone.” Physical well being is not the the highest reach of humankind.

DEATHS NORMAND EDWARD ROFFMAN Normand Roffman died at the age of 81. A memorial service was held May 26 at Temple Israel.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Phyllis; daughters and sons-in-law Sherri and Gary Green, Cindy and Alan Shulewitz; Edye and Joseph C. Vitek of Chicago; son, Paul Roffman; brother, Harvey Roffman of Tucson, AZ; and grandchildren, Cari Green, Corey Green, Chad Shulewitz, Brooke Shulewitz, and Max Vitek.

Memorials to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or charity of choice.

LOIS DVORKIN EPSTEIN Lois Epstein died at home on May 23 at the age of 64.

Services were held May 25 at Temple Israel.

A B’nai B’rith member herself, she worked to promote the mission of the organization for 23 years before illness forced her to resign earlier this year, according to Gary Javitch, Henry Monsky Lodge President. She worked tirelessly on events such as the annual Sports Banquet, the Bible Quiz and weekly Breadbreakers lunches.

“As the face and front office voice of the Monsky Lodge #3306, she helped organize and create events.

She did all the detail work, connecting the parts for programs that contributed greatly to their success. She epitomized devotion and dedication to her work,” he said in a eulogy for her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Dvorkin.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 42 years, Mel Epstein, three daughters and sons-in-law, Randi and Michael Poscover and Robyn and William Wolper, all of St. Louis, Rikki and Alon Mor of Denver; grandchildren, Rebekah, Jacob, Zachary Poscover, Benjamin and Jonah Wolper, Yarden, Maya and Tali Mor; father, David Dvorkin; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Marty Warren of St. Louis; and brother-in-law, Brad Epstein of Harlingen, TX. Memorials to Temple Israel, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home or B’nai B’rith Henry Monsky Lodge.

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Yoni Friedman, second from left, and his father, Joey Friedman, left, formerly of Omaha, meet up with Rabbi Mendel Katzman and his son Yossi, right, in Tennessee last weekend. He is now serving in the Israeli army while Credit: Tzemach Weg attending yeshiva.

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

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

May 29, 2009

Another Friedel graduating class says goodbye

as evidenced by what they answered when asked what they would miss the most about Friedel. “I have loved a lot of things,” Sarah Kutler wrote, “but one of them is how supportive, loving, and helpful the teachers have been. I will really miss that.”

“I hope they will all remember their experiences at Friedel fondly,” Principal Ron Giller says, “and carry everything they’ve learned here with them as they move on to middle and high school, and eventually, college. The Friedel staff has prepared them for lifelong learning, and it’s bittersweet to see them go.”

Over his 35-year long career, Giller has seen some 17,000 students pass by, yet this first class to graduate with him as Principal is, of course, special. “The current fifth graders have some big shoes to fill,” he says, “but there is no doubt in my mind they will rise to the challenge.

They are the leaders now!

Every one of us at Friedel wishes our graduates the best and they know they are always welcome here.

Graduates from previous years stop by on a regular basis, so in a way, we are not This year’s Friedel graduates are, back row: Max Weiner, left, really saying goodbye.”

Isaac Rogers, Max Polack, Ethan Potash; front row: Elissa Elissa Wiener agrees: “We Wiener and Sarah Kutler. are just like one big family!”

“I will miss the warmness of Friedel the Come June, the staff and teachers at most,” says Isaac Rogers. Isaac is the son Friedel will sit down and start planning of Mimi Rogers-Farkas and Scott Farkas, for the 2009/10 school year. Some excitand is one of six sixth-graders who grad- ing additions for next year are already in uated on Wednesday night. Isaac doesn’t place. walk the stage alone; he is accompanied Thanks to the tireless efforts of the

by Sarah Kutler, daughter of Nancy and PTO, the school now has a fully decked Howard Kutler, Max Polack, son of Susan out media cart. Also, next year, Giller and James Polack, Ethan Potash, son of hopes to expand the instrumental music Julie Potash, Max Weiner, son of Kathy program by adding a vocal class. “We are and Harry Weiner, and last but absolute- very excited about this,” he says, “since ly not least, Elissa Wiener, daughter of our kids love to sing, and we love hearing Audrey and Richard Wiener. them. The PTO also provided the school “This is an incredible group of stu- with an Accu-Cut machine, which will be dents,” Denise Bennett says. “They are a great addition to the classroom.” intelligent, energetic, enthusiastic, responWith another school year coming to an sible, and witty. They have been a joy to end, there is only one thing left on the teach. It has been such a privilege for all agenda: the Friedel Tribute Dinner this the staff to work with them and watch Sunday night at Beth Israel Synagogue. them as they’ve grown. These sixth “If you haven’t reserved your seats yet, graders are so prepared, so ready to move give us a call,” Giller says. “The food will on, but it will be difficult to see them go.” be great, and the company magnificent.

The sixth graders’ feelings are mutual, We hope to see you there!”

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Every May, things get a little busy at Friedel Jewish Academy. Lag B’Omer brings the last big activity for the year in the form of an outdoor picnic organized

by Ruti Margalit. The students start cleaning out their lockers and get ready to enjoy a long hot summer, the last art show is put up in the JCC building, and Denise Bennett, who teaches fourth through sixth grade, picks up caps and gowns for the senior class.

For those seniors, it is a time to look forward to what comes next, but also to look back and contemplate what they leave behind.

Beaus coronated at annual BBG dance At Beau Dance 2009 earlier this month, Ryan Kirshenbaum was crowned as the new Beau of Ediar BBG #710. Saying farewell to outgoing beau Matan Gill, top left, were the Ediar girls: Sydney Robinson, back row left, Zoe Vann, Adi Gill, Marlee Skolkin, Haley Burns; and front row: Lindsey Thomas, Sophia Miller, Rachel Saferstein, Brenna Robinson, Abbey Giller, Haley Gordman, and Alex Goldman. MZ Yoshanah BBG said farewell to its 2008 Beau Scott Goldberg; Colin Belmont is the new Beau for the girls of MZ, top row: Megan Bucher, left, Britany Baines, Rachel Meyer, Alexis Slutsky, Molly Kudym, Shawna MacNabb, Lily Phillips, Noam Margalit, Shir Palmon; front row: Dayna Cohen, Chloe Ginsburg, Amanda Bucher, Jessica Morris. For information about upcoming rush programs or other BBYO events, call Anne Muskin, BBYO director, 334.6404.

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