June 3, 2011

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA

JFS: Each piece makes the whole

June 3, 2011 1 Sivan 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 39

This Week

Where is Spiderman?

A contest for kids 10 and younger Page 3

Holocaust suvivor speaks to Middle School students Page 5

by OZZIE NOGG receptionist’s desk and see the When Jewish Family spectrum of people who come Service Director Karen through our doors -- from a Gustafson spied a waiter in a scared little kid who was Denver restaurant wearing a maybe abused or neglected, to lapel pin shaped like a jig-saw the mother or father who puzzle piece, she almost tackdoesn’t know where to turn. led him to the ground. “I’d When they come to JFS for wanted to get my hands on the first time, they don’t know pins like that for a long time, if they should trust us. They but hadn’t been able to locate won’t make eye contact. I try the manufacturer. The starto give special attention to tled waiter gave me the name each of them, and -- through of a source, and my quest was the extraordinary efforts of finally over.” our therapists -- pretty soon Why did Gustafson want the clients smile and say “Hi” those pins? “My goal was to to me when they come in. show each JFS staff member They give me pictures they’ve that he or she is a necessary drawn to put on my bulletin piece that fits together to board. Soon, they feel safe complete the agency,” she The professional staff at the heart of Jewish Family Service Karen Gustafson, JFS Director, here. I love seeing that transexplained. According to left; Tammy Johnson, Assistant to the Director; Sandy Nogg, JFS Assistance Coordinator; formation. The community Tammy Johnson, Gustafson’s Teresa Drelicharz, Therapist. Not pictured: Sally Kaplan, Licensed Independent Clinical should know that Jewish Assistant, the goal was Social Worker; Nate Bock, Therapist; Jan McCarthy, Yachad Coordinator; and Mark Kazor, Family Service cares about accomplished. “Last year, at Yachad Program Assistant. each and every client. It doeswrap-up) we present the Jewish n’t matter why they come. We try to our Hanukkah party, Karen handed make the agency incomplete.”

The Jewish Family Service team is Family Service professional staff -- make everyone feel comfortable, each of us a silver puzzle piece pin.

She told us we are all a piece of the made up of four full-time and four what they do and how they feel welcome and accepted, no matter puzzle and each one of us fits into part-time employees. “The upcom- about their work. what.”

Tammy Johnson: The agency’s the bigger picture. I agree 100 per- ing 100th Anniversary of JFS seems Teresa Drelicharz: Therapist, cent. Each staff person brings a like a good reason to focus on the Assistant to the Director, Tammy is LMHP, Registered Play Therapist unique, valuable skill, and the agency’s staff,” Gustafson said. And an experienced legal secretary. and a facilitator for Parenting With absence of any one piece would so (leaving Ms. Gustafson for the “Being part of JFS is a joy. I sit at the Continued on page 2

Temple students celebrate Space shuttle Endeavour Confirmation on Shavuot blasts off with Beth El teen’s science experiment

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Thirteen students will be confirmed at Temple Israel on Erev Shavuot, Tuesday, June 7. They will

Torah, which commemorates the 49 days that it took the children of Israel to travel from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai where they received the Torah.

Shavuot, meaning “weeks,” is the

Friedel takes learning ouside the classroom Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

8 10 11

Next Week Graduation/Father’s Day See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

Tenth graders from Temple Israel tasted all that New York City had to offer on their Jewish New York Experience trip. On the trip were Zane Fletcher, kneeling; Hannah Radler, standing left; Cleo Rogers, Caroline Rockman, Ariel Kohll, Sophie Goldberg, Dustin Ginsburg, Hannah Perry, Morissa Miller, Alex Pachman, Cantor Wendy Shermet, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, and Dru Beach. lead the congregation in celebrating the Festival of the Giving of the

traditional time of year in Reform Judaism for Confirmation students to rejoice in the journey they started years ago -- many in kindergarten.

As they learned Jewish values, studied Jewish texts and history, celebrated holidays and culture, developed their liturgical literacy, and broadened their understanding of the State of Israel, this year’s students were also the first group to attend the new Omaha Jewish Chai School.

Continued on page 2

Aaron Zipursky, second from right, with fellow SSEP contest winners from Omaha North High School, during their visit last April to the Kennedy Space Center.

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Sometimes parting isn’t such sweet sorrow; sometimes it’s just sweet. Just ask Aaron Zipursky. On May 16, the 15-year-old Burke High School student had the unique experience of bidding adieu to his school science experiment as it blasted off into space on the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour.

Zipursky’s experiment, along with 15 others from around the

country (out of 447 applicants), was selected in a contest associated with the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). His proposed experiment focused on honey’s viability as a preservative - in this case, preserving a raw egg -- on long-duration space flights.

“I came up with the idea of working with honey from a list of materials all participants had to choose from,” he said. The same materials had been used in Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2011

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Continued from page 1 Love and Logic, Drelicharz offered, “If I were doing PR and Marketing for Jewish Family Service, I’d let people know that we’re a small agency with a big mission -- to help all who come to us in their time of need, in any way we can. The work I do with JFS gives me a sense of purpose and the chance to make a difference. At Jewish Family Service we rely on each other for support and encouragement to carry out our sometimes very difficult work.”

Jan McCarthy and Mark Kazor: McCarthy, Yachad Coordinator, worked as a Case Manager for Persons with Disabilities in Florida, served as a Florida State Health Facility Evaluator, and is currently a full-time Instructor of Philosophy at Metropolitan Community College. McCarthy believes that, “Jewish Family Service is the organized branch of our community that works to make manifest the Jewish tradition of justice, insuring that those who are ill or have special needs are provided support and treated with dignity. The agency is dedicated to preserving ethical principles, and this sincere understanding of needs comes from the top down. The members of the community -- Yachad, in this case -- are the focus.”

Mark Kazor, Yachad Program Assistant, says, “Working with Yachad has touched my life in ways I can't express in words. The smiles on the faces of the members always lighten up my day. Our personal training program has increased the strength and self-confidence of Yachad members. One of the members used to use a walker, but now the walker stays at home. It’s awesome. Yachad is dedicated to enhancing life opportunities of individuals with disabilities, ensuring their full participation in the Jewish Community and outside it.

Our programs have been welcomed with open arms and compassionate hearts. We will continue educating the public about those who have developmental disabilities.”

Sandy Nogg: The JFS Assistance Coordinator, Nogg says, “Everything I’ve ever done dovetails into this job. I’m an RN, have experience in the nonprofit sector plus a background in guardian/conservatorships. This job is a terrific way to provide service to the Jewish community using the experience I have, while constantly gathering new information for the assistance of our clients. But the community needs to understand that JFS is not simply about assistance for those in chronic need. We’re a counseling agency with a financial component for individuals and families in crisis -- emotionally and/or financially. Of course, not every situation we see is a complete success story. Not everything can always be ‘fixed’. But knowing that we’re able to provide support at a difficult time for our clients is very fulfilling. My satisfaction comes from knowing that this Jewish community, through our agency, can assist people through tough times and see them to the other side of the problem. I love my job. I never feel like I don’t want to come into the office.”

Sally Kaplan: A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Kaplan works two days a week at JFS as a contract employee offering marriage and individual therapy. She’s also employed at Project Harmony as a Forensic Interviewer, talking to children for law enforcement when there are allegations of abuse or neglect. “This community should know, and be proud of the fact, that at JFS, all clients are treated with respect -- those who have insurance and those who need a sliding fee scale,” Kaplan said. “For me, the most wonderful thing about being at JFS is the team I work with.

I have colleagues I respect and learn from. I know the camaraderie makes me a better therapist.”

Nate Bock: “I once heard someone say, ‘Issues are like bellybuttons.We all have them’. Translation? We all get stuck in life sometimes.” Bock helps people get unstuck. Already armed with a Mental Health license, he recently added a Drug and Alcohol Counseling license to his resume. “Counseling used to be viewed as something that only people with major problems took part in. That stigma is lifting. The benefits from counseling are many and the risks are few. JFS offers counseling and a variety of other human services. The staff is small, but the skill set is diverse. I work part-time at Jewish Family Service because I find meaning and connection in the process. It grounds me and reminds me of what I view to be important.”

And finally...

Karen Gustafson: “From the age of sixteen, I always wanted to be a therapist, and when you’re fortunate enough to do what you have a passion for, you really appreciate it. Working here has been very rewarding. Personally, I’ve learned the true meaning of Tzedakah. Professionally, I’m blessed to be able to do all the things I love -- counseling, teaching, and motivating staff to provide the highest level of customer service possible. Believe it or not, I even like the paper work.”

Before joining JFS as a therapist in 2000, Gustafson (MS, LMHP, NCC) worked at Boys Town as Assistant Community Director, National Trainer and as a counselor on the Suicide Prevention Hotline. She also offered therapy and parent training instruction at Child Saving Institute, and was part of Methodist Hospital’s Community Counseling Program. Gustafson became Jewish Family Service Director in July, 2006 “More than anything, I’d like the community to understand that JFS is here to serve all of us, not just the poor.

Sometimes, after a volunteer has worked on a project with us and seen first-hand what we do, that person will say to me, ‘You need to advertise more and tell people your story.’

But confidentiality doesn’t allow us to provide the community with opportunities to ‘see’ who we help and how. You just have to trust us. We help more people than you could imagine. And some of them are people you know.”

“The JFS goal is to expand our programs for the Jewish community so more people come through our doors -- for everyday kinds of things. We’re excited about the possibilities of increased exposure and decreased stigmatization.

Over the past few years we’ve put together and maintained a highly qualified staff of professionals with whom I’m proud to be associated. Those puzzle piece pins told them how valuable they are to the agency. Our Friends are valuable, too. If the work of Jewish Family Service is still a ‘puzzle’ to some, we need those in the know -- staff, volunteers, Friends -- and clients, too -- to spread the word.”

Jewish Family Service will mark its 100th Anniversary at a joyous JFStival! on Monday evening, June 6, at Beth El Synagogue. The event begins at 6 p.m. with surprise-filled entertainment followed by dinner. During the celebration, Gloria Kaslow will be honored as the Jewish Family Service Woman of the Century.

Jewish Family Service is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and a beneficiary of the Federation’s Annual Campaign.

1911 - 2011

JFS

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Temple students celebrate Confirmation on Shavuot Continued from page 1 Included in the class are Zoe Cohen, Zane Fletcher, Laura Gilinsky, Dustin Ginsburg, Aaron Glazer, Sophie Goldberg, Joe Hack, Ariel Kohll, Morissa Miller, Alexander Pachman, Hannah Perry, Caroline Rockman, and Cleo Rogers.

Among the highlights of the tenth grade year at Temple Israel’s Religious School is the Tenth Grade Jewish New York Experience. Accompanied by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Cantor Wendy Shermet, and Patrick Jensen, a member of Temple Israel, the teens spent four days in New York in late April.

The itinerary included attending a Broadway show, touring Jewish Ellis Island, visiting the Jewish Heritage Museum, participating in worship services at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, visiting the Solomon Schecter School of Manhattan, strolling through SOHO, East Village, and Union Square, and sharing meals at well known eateries such as Ollie’s Noodle Shop, Carmine’s, Katz’s Deli, and Pizza Tov. Alex Pachman, a first timer in New York City, recalled that he enjoyed going to Central Park, touring the historic areas of the city for Jewish immigrants, and going to Ellis Island.

“That was pretty neat. It was interesting seeing where everyone came through and where they lived.” He noted that the

city was “pretty crowded, but I was expecting that.”

On his second trip to New York, Dustin Ginsburg said he liked “seeing everything and walking through Times Square at night.” The synagogue on Friday night also impressed him. In addition, “I didn’t expect to see so many Jews. They were everywhere -- wearing kippas. It made me think that there are a lot more Jews in the world” than he had previously imagined.

Caroline Rockman, who has been to New York several times, explained that this trip was different. “It was more scheduled and there were more museums which I really enjoyed. I really liked the Jewish Heritage Museum. I thought it was really interesting.” She also appreciated the opportunity to get to know her classmates better. “The trip was very Jewish. That was a good thing,” she said. “It made me feel more Jewish. That’s a good thing, too.”

There will be a dairy Oneg after the holiday worship service followed by a dinner for the Confirmation class families.

On Wednesday, June 8, the clergy will lead a Shavuot worship service including yizkor beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Please call the Temple Israel office at 402-556-6536 if you have names to be read during yizkor. The office will be closed on June 8.

June 3, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 3

Space shuttle Endeavour blasts off with Beth El teen’s science experiment Continued from page 1 experiments that went up on the space shuttle Columbia in 2003; however the shuttle tragically disintegrated before returning to Earth. “To honor that program, our list of materials was the same as the list used by the 2003 program participants.”

Materials included a variety of food, organic, pharmaceutical, crystalline and geological substances. “I saw honey on the list and immediately remembered it is the only food that never goes bad,” Zipursky said, “so I thought it would be a good substance to do an experiment with.

Upon learning that his proposal had been selected for the Endeavour mission, Zipursky’s initial reaction was disbelief. “I never expected to win,” he recalled. “My teacher sponsor called and informed me that my proposal had been selected for flight, and I almost didn’t believe her. It wasn’t until a couple minutes later that I realized what I had accomplished.”

Zipursky believes that his proposal was selected because of its simplicity. “I think the beauty in my proposal is that it’s getting back down to basics. While scientists are searching for the perfect artificial, lab-produced preservative to keep astronauts’ food fresh on a long-duration space flight, why not use the same preservative that has kept food fresh over the past hundreds of years?

“I think the proposal shows scientists that the solutions to some of their biggest problems are sometimes already there; they just need to think a lot simpler to find them.”

Space and science have always fascinated Zipursky. A self-proclaimed practical thinker, he said: “I have to know why and how something happens, and studying science like chemistry and physics fulfills that for me.”

He is also captivated by space and all of its mysteries. “We know so little about it,” he said. “The advancement in our knowledge about space is amazing to me. Not too long ago, asteroids were a thing of science fiction movies and Mars and Jupiter were just two of the planets. Now, NASA has set out to travel to an asteroid, then Mars, and probe for life on one of Jupiter’s moons, all in my lifetime. I hope to be a part of all of these amazing advancements in science in the future.”

In addition to his interest in science, Zipursky is active with Burke’s band program, playing alto sax in the marching, concert and jazz bands. In addition, he’s a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, and the math club. At Beth El, his involvement includes serving on USY’s Executive Board, tutoring younger children for Junior Congregation, helping out during Sunday school, and reading Torah on a regular basis. He is also a student at the community’s Chai School.

Understandably, Zipursky’s parents are over the moon with their son’s recognition

by SSEP. “I am proud of the initiative he took to become part of the project from the very beginning,” Sally said. “He heard about it at school and sought out the teacher in charge so he could participate. I am also very proud of the way he has conducted himself throughout the process. He displayed great ‘stick-to-it-iveness’ throughout the whole time and has maintained his humility while having these great honors bestowed upon him.”

She also expressed pride in Aaron’s twin sister, Naomi, saying, “She has been his biggest supporter in this project. She could-

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n’t be prouder of her brother’s accomplishment and makes sure everyone knows about it!”

Jim added that, “Our pride in all of Aaron and Naomi’s accomplishments is beyond words. Aaron’s accomplishments, especially on his NASA project, are amazing. When Aaron sets his mind to accomplishing a task, he is usually undaunted. He and Naomi are really very special people.”

Two weeks prior to the shuttle launch, Zipursky readied his experiment by preparing the mixture of honey and raw egg and sending it to NASA. There, scientists loaded his experiment – along with the 15 others - into separate compartments, where they were then vacuum sealed and placed in storage. During the mission, the astronauts were charged with turning the wells over during the middle of the mission. After

returning to Earth, the experiments will be shipped backed to each community, where they will be tested for results.

Along with his parents and sister, Zipursky traveled to Cape Canaveral in mid-April to witness the shuttle’s launch; unfortunately, due to mechanical difficulties, the mission was postponed. On May 16, about one month after the original launch date, the Endeavour blasted off on its final mission, with Aaron Zipursky’s experiment in tow.

“It was kind of unfathomable to me,” said the future aerospace engineer. “It’s hard for me to believe that I’m a part of this historical launch, and my experiment is orbiting around the planet right now.”

(At press time, Endeavour was scheduled to return to Earth on June 1.)

Where is Spiderman?

Lately, we’ve been spotting strange creatures around our building. If you’re at the J, try to find the evidence; there are three spots where Spiderman is hiding this month. Locate them all, and win a prize! You can send your answers to avandekamp@jewish omaha.org, or you can stop by the Jewish Press office.

There are rules: you have to find all three, and you have to be 10 or younger. Good luck!

4 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2011

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 presents annual bullying conference

by ILANA WEISS Bullying is no longer considered a harmless part of growing up. Bullying is a complex phenomenon influenced by individual, peer, family, school, cultural and societal factors. To reduce bullying behaviors we must examine bullying and victimization from multiple perspectives. To that end, the Bullying Research Network and R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 (Relationship Empowerment for Student, Parents, Educators & Community Through Theatre) have put together an outstanding line up of world-renowned experts on the subjects of bullying and peer victimization.

This unique conference brings together researchers, psychologists, educators, legal experts and parents to work together to stop bullying at school and online.

Entitled, Bullying @ School and Online: International Experts Offer Real World Solutions, this is R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2’s second annual. Topics at the conference will include bullying and sexual harassment, homophobic language and banter—how it hurts everyone, understanding how good kids behave badly, cyber-bullying prevention and reduction strategies, cyber-bullying and the law, youth suicide prevention, how to improve interventions with evaluation techniques and bully intervention programs. Presenters will be coming from around the world to discuss cutting edge and relevant information regarding bullying. Two of the presenters, Dr. Swearer and Dr. Espelage were invited to the White House Conference on Bullying and Prevention on March 10, 2011. Dr. Swearer was one of four researchers asked to serve on a panel during the conference at the White House. During this conference, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 will debut its newest anti-bullying program Standing Up. Additionally, CEU’S will be offered to behavioral healthcare specialists, psychologists, teachers and attorneys.

This conference, however, is not just for professionals.

75% of school age children in the United States experience bullying. Bullying harms targets, bystanders and bullies.

Emotional, behavioral, social and educational consequences can result if bullying behavior is not immediately and appropriately managed. Parents and lay leaders are also invited to attend to join in the conversation about what can be done to help children resolve conflicts that may come up at school, on the playground or online.

Capping off the two-day professional training will be a fundraiser – open to both conference participants and the

general public – for R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 on Tuesday, June 14 from 6:30–9 p.m. at the Scottish Rite building. Honorary chairs of the fundraiser and panel discussion are Dr. Ken and Annie Bird. After cocktails and hearty hors d’oeuvres, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 will start the program with a theatrical presentation to emphasize the impact theatre can make in educating about bullying. The rest of the evening will be devoted to a panel discussion with seven experts in the field of bullying research who will answer questions directly from the audience.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 is no stranger to the Jewish Community as the seeds for the organization were first planted within the auspices of NCJW just over 10 years ago. At that time, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Newman was asked by NCJW to develop a program that would promote awareness of domestic violence in Omaha as per the NCJW national platform. After researching a variety of programs throughout the country, she settled on the concept of educational theatre programs to focus and maintain the interest of young people on the topic of teen dating violence. She decided to pair the theatre productions with a community-based panel of Domestic Violence and educational experts as well as appropriate materials/resources for help. She formed a collaboration with NCJW, Jewish Family Service (JFS) and the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) along with several other agencies, added the concept of bullying to the agenda and was able to host 14 programs to nearly 4,000 students during just one week. The programs were incredibly well received, and out of that collaboration grew R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 which today reaches nearly 40,000 students in a year.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 still maintains close ties to the Jewish community with both the Anti-Defamation League and Beth Israel Synagogue serving as members of its Community Advisory Committee. Additionally, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.2 participated in the Omaha Jewish Chai School, leading a class during the spring semester which taught students theatre skills while discussing Jewish sources related to interpersonal relationships.

The cost to participate in the two-day conference in June is $295. Tickets to the evening fundraiser are $50 ($30 taxdeductible). Event and table sponsorships are also available. Please visit www.respect2all.org to learn more about the conference and presentations and to register online.

FIRST CLASS ENTERTAIN

End of school means celebrating for BESTT students

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator

As the school year drew to a close, students at BESTT enjoyed participating in several festive events. Above, the annual Third/Fourth Grade Wedding saw the bride and groom exchanging vows to “be friends until the end of the wedding ceremony”

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS There will be no session on Wednesday, June 8 due to the Shavuot holiday. For more information or to be placed on the e-mail list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewish omaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish teaches an optimistic vision that allows us to view the world with joy and hope. Come join us at the Blumkin Home, every Thursday in the board room, at 1 p.m., to reap “The Joys of Yiddish!” For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 and 9 for Shavuot. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

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June 3, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 5

Holocaust Survivor speaks to Middle School students

by MARY BORT Fried told the students, “It is my hope that when our voicHeartland Holocaust Educational Fund es are silenced by the passage of time, you will be our voicSam Fried, a survivor of Auschwitz and co-founder of the es!” He also emphasized that they should never be Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund (HHEF), has been bystanders. asked by many organizations to come and talk about his After his talk, Fried offered to answer students’ questions. experiences during the Holocaust. He has spoken at col- They asked questions for 90 minutes. When asked if he had leges, schools, special events reward. ever encountered an act of kindness by a Nazi, he noted that Over time, Fried has tried to limit his talks to large audi- there was only one time: when a guard didn’t shoot him after ences so he can share his message he stumbled and fell. with many people at one time. He When students were dismissed, is particularly interested in telling many surrounded Fried, thanking his story to younger people who him and hugging him. It was eviweren’t alive during World War II. dent by their reactions that they This spring, Fried spoke to sixth would “never forget.”

- eighth grade students at Elkhorn In honor of his visit to the Ridge Middle School. Initially, the school, Fried offered the students plan was for him to talk to seventh an essay contest. They were invited graders who were learning about to write about what they learned World War II and the Holocaust. and felt about the Holocaust. The But teachers realized this was a winner and a parent/guardian will once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for receive a trip to the Illinois students to meet a Holocaust surHolocaust Museum and Education vivor, so arrangements were made Center, with Fried personally covfor Fried to speak to the entire ering the expenses of the trip. school.

One-hundred and fifteen essays Over 700 students listened to were submitted. “It’s amazing how Sam Fried while he is speaking.

Fried’s story. The students were these young people have respondattentive while he explained about his life in the former ed to my visit,” said Fried. “The essays are sincere and touchRepublic of Czechoslovakia, and when the Nazis came and ing. It will be a challenge to select the winner.” took Fried and his family to Auschwitz when he was 15 years Fried’s organization, the HHEF, supports Holocaust eduold. On the day they arrived at the camp, his parents were cation at colleges and universities in Nebraska. Call taken away and he never saw them again. He learned that 402.334.6459 for more information. High school and midthey were murdered in a gas chamber. Fried described what dle school teachers are encouraged to contact the Institute he experienced in the camps, and how he survived and for Holocaust Education, 402.334.6576, for assistance in escaped. teaching their students about the Holocaust.

Shavuot by Tnuva

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER As one might expect of the Jewish state, the holy days of the Jewish religion are national holidays. A good example of this is the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost) which begins this year on Tuesday night June 7. While it is possible to go about one’s business in the diaspora without even realizing that Shavuot has come and gone, this could never happen in Israel. For one thing, on the day of the holiday all government offices, banks, and businesses are closed, and children begin their second day of a three-day holiday. Additionally, several weeks before the holiday, Tnuva, Israel’s huge food company (which almost has a monopoly on milk and milk products), takes great care to tell every person in the State of Israel: “Shavuot Tnuva--An Israeli Celebration.”

The Tnuva juggernaut for Shavuot is quite impressive. In the weeks before the holiday, one cannot walk by a dairy case anywhere in Israel without realizing that Shavuot is approaching and that Tnuva is ready to help you celebrate.

There are sales on dairy products, introductory offers for new product lines, and a tempting array of cheesecakes-including a “cheesecake kit for easy and fast preparation” of the holiday’s signature dessert. Of course, all this “Bounty” (the English word for “Tnuva”) is accompanied by a huge advertising blitz in newspapers, on television and radio, on billboards, and in a “magazine for Shavuot” that is inserted into your newspaper about a week before the holiday. On the cover of this glossy, full-color “special magazine for the holiday of Shavuot,” one reads: “Tnuva is happy to present you with a complete collection of recipes, tips, advice, and stories for the Shavuot holiday.”

In the magazine, Tnuva speaks of Shavuot as “the most Israeli of holidays” because of the old kibbutz tradition of displaying the plentiful yields (crops and livestock) on this day. In the center of the magazine there is a beautiful photograph of various fruits and assorted cheeses with the words (obviously meant to sound like a biblical injunction): “On the holiday of Shavuot, you shall make for yourselves a Tnuva holiday table.”

The bulk of the magazine consists primarily of recipes that make excellent use of the Tnuva Dairy (and are accompanied by colorful photographs of the finished products).

Tnuva dutifully provides several of the traditional reasons for eating dairy products on this, the holiday that commem-

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orates the giving of the Torah to Israel. One of these reasons uses the technique known as “gematria,” which assigns a numerical value to each Hebrew letter. The numerical value of “milk” (“halav”) = 40 = the number of days that Moses spent on Mt. Sinai when he received the Torah. Playfully, Tnuva points out that 40 reduced to a single digit = 4 (4 + 0) and that the word “Tnuva” (whose total = 463) can also be reduced to 4 (4 + 6 + 3 = 13 = 1+ 3 = 4). “And maybe,” says Tnuva in the magazine, “here begins our deep connection with the holiday of Shavuot.”

Tnuva is thus largely responsible for making sure that the Israeli public knows well in advance of the approaching Shavuot holiday. And since the company is willing to expend a large amount of capital on its Shavuot campaign, it would seem that a large segment of Israel celebrates this holiday--as far as Tnuva is concerned.

This is not to say that the holiday is a deep religious experience for most Israelis. For the secular portion of the population, the holiday is an opportunity for a long weekend at the beach. This leads to an interesting religious question, given the Jewish legal principle that says that a person who is ignorant of a law is punished less severely than someone who knows the law but who consciously violates it.

Following this line of reasoning, it could be argued that the situation of a Jew in the diaspora who goes to work on Wednesday June 8 without realizing that it’s Shavuot is less severe than an Israeli who violates religious law on the holiday--since all Israelis know that the day is a Jewish holiday.

Precisely at this point, however, is where the modern religious Jew parts ways with the ultra-Orthodox. While from a legal perspective the secular Jewish diaspora position on Shavuot may have its advantages, in terms of Jewish culture and Jewish peoplehood, I believe that the Israeli situation is much to be preferred over a diaspora Shavuot. As long as the traditions of the Jewish people are still current in Israel’s vocabulary, one can hope for a reconstruction or a transvaluation of these traditions to suit a broad spectrum of Israeli society. Even if a person’s celebration of Shavuot consists of eating more dairy products than usual around this time of year, that person is exercising some degree of ethnic and national responsibility--which I think is all to the good. So buy your (preferably Tnuva) dairy products, and have a Happy Shavuot.

Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest two, Nathan and Rebecca, recently completed mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces; their daughter Ruthie is still serving in the IDF. Weinberger can be reached at weinross@net vision.net.il.

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2011

Sokolof Winners

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IHE hosts Association of Holocaust Organizations 2011 Annual Conference

by HILLARY FLETCHER Marketing Assistant, Institute for Holocaust Education Beginning June 11, 2011 through June 14, the Institute for Holocaust Education will host the Association of Holocaust Organizations 2011 Annual Conference Staying the Course: Strengthening the Future. This is the first time that the Institute has received this honor. AHO board member and IHE director, Beth Seldin Dotan, is excited for the opportunity.

“Usually these meetings are held in cities with dedicated Holocaust museums and centers. We are so pleased that the AHO expresses interest in showing all types and sizes of Holocaust organizations. We all do important work.” The IHE will welcome delegates from more than 25 Holocaust organizations throughout the United States.

AHO President, Dr. William Schulman explained, “We choose our locations for annual meetings in a place that has a museum or a center devoted to Holocaust education. We like our members to see each other’s locations and how they work. This year, it’s Omaha.”

A nine-person Chinese delegation will also travel to Omaha to participate in the conference. The delegates hail from Harbin and Shanghai. Beginning in the early 1900s, Russian Jews settled in Harbin and for many years a thriving Jewish community existed there. The AHO hopes to conduct their 2013 conference in Harbin. The visitors from China will bring with them a 60-panel

art exhibit depicting the Jewish community of that area which existed until 1962.

Some of the seminar topics for the week include Jewish and Holocaust Education in China, Holocaust Programming for Nontraditional Audiences, “Never Again” in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur, and separate meetings for the Midwest, Southern and Western Holocaust organizations.

In addition to the conference sessions, special arrangements have been made for the Chinese delegation and some AHO members to experience Omaha. Attendees will visit the Henry Doorly Zoo where they will be welcomed by zoo director, Dennis Pate, tour the city on Ollie the Trolley, dine at and tour the Durham Western Heritage Museum, and be welcomed officially by the Mayor’s office.

The Association of Holocaust Organizations (AHO) was established in 1985 to serve as an international network of organizations and individuals for the advancement of Holocaust education, remembrance and research.

The Institute for Holocaust Education, founded in 2000, provides a central location in Nebraska for the development and dissemination of educational resources and programs for students, teachers and the general public in order to teach the lessons of the Holocaust and their applications to life and society today.

The Institute for Holocaust Education is a division of the Plains States Office of the Anti-Defamation League in Omaha.

Arts+Entertainment Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium is the focus of a new NET Sports documentary, Rosenblatt: The Final Inning, premiering Saturday June 11, at 7 p.m. central time on NET 1 and NET HD. The program follows the efforts of Johnny Rosenblatt to create Omaha’s Municipal Stadium in the mid 1940s.

Last chance to see Wicked. Wicked is currently playing in Omaha at the Orpheum Theatre, from May 25 to June 12. The musical tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the

West, Elphaba, whose character, wits and appearance – she was born with emerald skin – has made her feel excluded from society. The musical also gives audiences an interesting account of the events that coursed the fated meeting of the Wicked Witch and Dorothy, the lead character from Wizard of Oz. The universal themes of friendship and the need to belong will appeal to anyone.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.omahaperformingarts. org or call Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606

In the news Alex Howard of Valencia, CA, has been awarded the rank of Eagle by the Boy Scouts of America. Alex is a graduate of Valencia High School and plans to attend Cal State University Northridge in the fall.

He is the son of Stephanie and Rodger Howard of Valencia and the grandson of Sarah and Ted Seldin.

On June 7, Carol Gendler and Andrea Skolkin will be among 11 women to be honored at the Women’s Center for Advancement’s signature event, a Tribute to Women.

Each year, the WCA honors a person or company who has shown great leadership on behalf of women in our community with an Outstanding Community Leadership award.

June 3, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 7

Dedicated congregants to be honored during Beth El Shabbat celebration

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator On Friday, June 10, as Beth El celebrates Shabbat outdoors during “Shabbat on the Green,” the synagogue will celebrate four congregants who are being honored for their exemplary dedication to the congregation.

This year’s choice for the Earl Siegel Memorial Award, given to a board member for outstanding service to the board, is Janie Murow.

Murow, a board vice president, organized and chaired the search committee for an assistant rabbi.

Volunteering at the synagogue is a no-brainer for Murow, who said, “It’s easy to give of your time and energy Janie Murow when you have passion. Being a lifelong Beth El member volunteering at the synagogue is about appreciating what our parents and grandparents did to provide for us and the obligation to keep it going, to pay it forward for our children and hopefully their children.

“Chairing the assistant rabbi search was incredibly time consuming, but so rewarding,” she continued. “We are presenting a new model for Beth El. It’s been four decades since we’ve had an assistant rabbi and we have the need now. Rabbi Steven Abraham will have the time to help Rabbi Levin with synagogue activities, BESTT and in the overall Jewish community. I am very excited about furthering the opportunities the clergy have to connect with our congregants.”

Murow’s leadership and many contributions to the congregation were applauded by Beth El’s Board of Trustees President Beverly Fellman.

“As a vice president of the board, Janie discharges her duties with both passion and excellence,” Fellman said. “While serving as search committee chair, she paid attention to every detail in the process, including planning a variety of opportunities for the candidates and congregants to meet. The result not only engaged the members of Beth El Synagogue in the selection process but also created vibrancy and excitement in the building of each of the three weekends we had a candidate visit. Our congregants knew someone was listening, cared what they thought and took the time to ask their opinions.

“For her dedication, personal commitment and concern for our synagogue and its congregants, Janie is the perfect choice for this award.”

Margo Riekes has been recognized with the President’s Award, presented to a non-board member for exceptional volunteerism to the synagogue. Riekes has made her mark on the congregation for many years, from her work as a Talmud Torah teacher to her myriad volunteer activities, which include taking a leadership role in the alternative “Simchat Shabbat” celebrations, participating in the Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, and spearheading the synagogue’s new “Open Arms Initiative,” which welcomes and involves interfaith families at Beth El. “As one of the co-founders of the initiative and co-author of the publication, Beth El Synagogue Welcomes You with Open

Arms, Margo’s tireless dedication and volunteering in this grassroots endeavor has brought this project to fruition,” said Fellman, who noted that Riekes will introduce the booklet to the community during a meeting at the synagogue on June 16.

Fellman also touted Riekes’ influence as a religious-school teacher. “As a creative, enthusiastic and highly-respected

Margo Riekes

Ari Brodkey

educator, Margo has enriched the lives of our children for decades with her educational talent, her passion for learning and her ability to excite children about their Jewish education.

“For her involvement, her commitment to Judaism and education and her willingness to tackle the challenging tasks that need doing and seeing them through to fruition, Margo is well deserving of this award.”

For the first time, the synagogue’s Selwyn Roffman Award for Religious Growth will be presented to a teenager. Ari Brodkey, a recent graduate of Central High School, has been recognized for his leadership as USY’s Religious Education vice president during the past year. In this capacity, he created an alternative service activity during USY Shabbat dinners, and spearheaded the USY Kabbalat Shabbat last February, where youth group members led services along with their families. In addition, Brodkey has been a fixture during Shabbat services, attending almost every Saturday morning service.

“Ari has always sought Jewish connection through study, prayer and community,” said BESTT Education Director Judy Rubin. “He is a deep thinker and articulate speaker who applies the lessons of Jewish living to his own life. In addition, he motivates his peers and younger students at BESTT with his enthusiasm for Judaism.”

Rubin also pointed out that, “Ari’s experiences at Beth El, BESTT and Camp Ramah have inspired him to pursue a career in Jewish education, Jewish communal work or the rabbinate, for which we may all be proud.”

Brodkey expressed appreciation for the award, saying, “I am very grateful to be named the recipient of such a great honor. I do not, however, see this award as something that acknowledges my accomplishments alone as much as a celebration of what we as members of Beth El Synagogue and as Conservative Jews have accomplished. In the secular world that we all live in, it is very easy for us to forget what it truly means to be Jewish.

I don’t mean this in the sense of Jewish identity; it’s easy for us to tell other people that we are Jewish. The real challenge facing us today is how to walk the walk when we are talking the talk. The fact that Beth El Synagogue honors congregants who have made it a priority to grow in their religious life says to me

that at Beth El, our congregants care just as deeply about action and our religious responsibility as Jews as they do about being proud of who we are as a people.

“As I start the next chapter of my life, studying in Israel and continuing at American Jewish University, I will always look back at all of the great teachers, mentors, and role models I had at Beth El Synagogue with fond memories and great hope for the future.”

Finally, the synagogue’s Emerging Leader Award will be presented to Heather Kelln. Kelln has been a familiar face at Beth El, volunteering in a variety of capacities.

Among her activities: she cochaired the Purim “Pour-’em Wine Tasting” for the synagogue’s 20s and 30s group; Heather Kelln organized the 2010 Sisterhood Shabbat and serves as the organization’s treasurer; is a member of the Religious Life committee; serves as a youth department advisor; and for the second year, is cochairman of the Young Families Shabbaton. In addition, Kelln is a regular service attendee, and is known for contacting newcomers and prospective members and welcoming them to her home for holiday celebrations.

“I was sincerely surprised and honored to find out that I was being given this award,” she said. “I do not give to Beth El so that I might be recognized. I do it because I feel that’s just what one does. I was raised in the Beth El way, and I am so happy that I am able to be a part of the wonderful things that happen there. My parents were role models to me and showed me that giving back to the community only helps you to be more a part of it. Now I have the opportunity to show my children the same thing.”

Expressing appreciation for Kelln’s efforts, Fellman noted that, “Heather’s level of involvement includes an invaluable personal touch, as she extends the arm of friendship so vital to building a warm synagogue community. Juggling a fulltime job, as well as two young children, it would have been easy to beg off when asked to participate in synagogue life, but she always says ‘yes’ whenever asked to take on a job, large or small. We’re very proud to recognize her as our congregation’s emerging leader.”

“Shabbat on the Green” is open to the entire community.

A picnic dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m., complete with hotdogs and all the fixin’s (vegetarian meals will also be available upon request); then, Kabbalat Shabbat services will be held outside at 6:45 p.m.

Cost for Beth El members is $7 for adults ($9, non-members); $4.50 for children 6-12 ($6.50, non-members); no charge for children 5 and younger. All new Beth El members (since May 2010) and all graduating high school seniors are invited enjoy dinner at no charge. Reservations are needed

by June 6, and may be made by sending a check to “Shabbat on the Green,” Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California Street, Omaha NE 68154. For more information, contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 402.492.8550, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

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Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Silly excuses

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP Editor of the Jewish Press Watching the overdose of “bad men in the news” lately, it’s hard not to think: the more things change, the more they stay the same. It wouldn’t be a cliché if it weren’t so true. It’s like we’re on this cycle, and the earth will self destruct if we don’t have at least one case of someone high and mighty doing something stupid every six months or so.

Although, if that is the case, we should be set for a few years. From Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s underage issues to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s chasing of the chambermaid (how tawdry is that anyway) to Arnold Schwarzenegger…oh never mind. Let’s not discuss him.

The media pays attention, because these guys are easy to write about. And we all love speculating about what they were thinking, these famous and influential men, before they threw it all away on a dame. Or several dames. Or an illegal or underage or unwilling one. Or…well, you get the point.

In that sense, Strauss-Kahn was remarkably unoriginal.

Having battled rumors for years, when the lid was finally blown off his inappropriate behavior, it was blown off by those puritanical Americans, those no-fun stick-in-themuds who just don’t get what the French are all about.

Figures.

And yet, it’s not the lurid details that are interesting. It’s not the multiple affairs, nor the cheating, nor the ambushing of women who said no. It’s not even the discussion that followed in his homeland, about whether guys like him should finally be held accountable. Interesting are the built-in excuses that came before he was caught.

During an interview with the editors of the French newspaper Libération, Strauss-Kahn discussed his potential run for President of France: “Strauss-Kahn told Liberation a few weeks ago that he could see himself being set up for a”honey trap” to tarnish his reputation ahead of the election in 2012.

He said his opponents would attack his “money, women and Jewishness,” in that order.” (www.klpw.com) Making excuses for losing the race before you officially declare your candidacy: that’s new. Of course, he’s right about the first two stumbling blocks: it’s not easy to run on a socialist ticket if you have such a lavish lifestyle. And the women…ah, well. And yet, the fact that here is a man who can’t seem to behave himself didn’t stop the French public from considering him a candidate: an April poll by Paris Match-Europe had him beating current French president Nicolas Sarkozy by 7 percentage points in a run-off election.

So he knew perfectly well that the money and the women wouldn’t stop him from having a chance at the top job.

So then, it must be his “Jewishness.” Right?

The thing is, spending $7000 on a suit when you’re running for office and/or sleeping around show poor judgment, to put it mildly. Being Jewish, on the other hand, has nothing to do with judgment. Lumping your Jewish identity in with sex and money is insulting on an entirely new level.

Are there people who don’t like him, who would never vote for him because he is Jewish? I’m sure there are. But what is more obvious from StraussKahn’s comments is that he has, at best, a

feeble grip on reality. When you chase the personnel around in your hotel suite, when you are accused of sexual assault on multiple occasions, and you go so far as to brag about it, you don’t need to hide behind any anti-Semitism, real or perceived. When, in spite of your sexual escapades, you manage to become the French Minister of Finance, teach at very reputable universities, serve as Managing Director of the IMF and own your own law firm, you seem to be doing quite well without such silly excuses.

When you’re ready to throw that all away, and you lose the support of your constituency, please, Monsieur StraussKahn, don’t blame your failings on being Jewish. It’s cheap, undignified, and a grave offense to those who do suffer from anti-Semitism. Also, it makes the rest of us look bad.

Elevate more female rabbis into leadership roles

Behind the headlines JASON MILLER WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (JTA) -- On a recent trip to Berlin with a dozen other Conservative rabbis, we made certain to stop at the apartment building that Regina Jonas once called home. I had never heard of Jonas, but to the four female rabbis in our group she was a hero.

In 1935, she became the first woman in the world to be ordained as a rabbi. My colleague, Rabbi Gesa Ederberg, hosted our group at her beautiful Berlin synagogue during our visit and doubled as a knowledgeable tour guide. We also had the opportunity to meet with rabbinical students at the Abraham Geiger College, where in 2010 Rabbi Alina Treiger became the first woman to be ordained in Germany since Jonas.

Today there are hundreds of inspiring, smart and passionate female rabbis who have followed in the steps of Regina Jonas.

As another “rabba” will soon be ordained, American Jews are just getting used to the idea of female rabbis in the Modern Orthodox world. However, in the more progressive streams of Judaism, female rabbis have been on the scene for decades and are now part of the fabric of everyday Jewish life. In fact, one funny anecdote demonstrates that for some of the youngest members of the Jewish community, female rabbis are the only form of rabbi that exists.

A female colleague tells the story of introducing her 5year-old son to a male rabbi. He reacted in shock and said, “But Mommy, I thought only ladies can be rabbis.” Out of

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the mouths of babes.

Newsweek magazine’s recent ranking of the top U.S. rabbis for this year listed many more women at the top than in prior years. Among these superstar rabbis were women who are leading institutions and large congregations, as well as highly sought-after authors and entrepreneurs who have launched their own communities.

Like other professions in which women were once not welcome, the rabbinate has been forced to learn how to accept female rabbis into the ranks. Certainly this acceptance is most challenging for the oldest generation of rabbis who came of age in the old boys network -- a rabbinate sans women. Rabbis now in their middle age were the first to welcome women into the profession, but also have memories of the controversy that took shape around the seminary doors opening. But for younger rabbis -- I include myself in this cohort even though my doctor tells me I’m aging a bit each day -- there have always been female rabbis, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

I recall the first time I jumped into a New York City cab and noticed that my driver was a woman. I did a double take, but then things progressed as usual. She got me to my destination, I paid the fare and her tip, said thanks, and was on my way.

Not so with female rabbis, however. There are noticeable differences between the sexes, and we shouldn’t pretend they don’t exist. Having women as rabbis has added immensely to all aspects of Judaism, and female rabbis have helped shape the conversation.

Female rabbis have added beautiful new rituals to our tra-

dition. They have introduced spiritual rituals that most men wouldn’t have dreamed up, like prayers for fertility, teachings at the mikvah and meaningful customs following a miscarriage.

Female rabbis have brought naming ceremonies for our daughters to the meaningful level of the brit milah. They can relate to the teenage bat mitzvah girl in ways that male rabbis never could or would never even try. Their commentary on the Torah and Talmud is fresh, and they can provide voices to the hidden personas of the many female characters of our rich text that have been missing for generations.

When I was in rabbinical school, I gained new perspectives from my female peers who at the time numbered just one-third of the student body. I cherish the wonderful professional and personal relationships I have with our female rabbis in town. They offer so much to our community, and I feel sorry for the previous generations who missed out on the female rabbinic voices.

Many women might yearn for the day when we no longer use the term “female rabbi” or when the Forward doesn’t publish a list of the top 50 female rabbis. But we should embrace the changing face of the American rabbinate. Men and women are different creatures, and so, too, it is in the rabbinate. It will only be to Orthodoxy’s benefit to welcome more women into rabbinic leadership roles. Regina Jonas would be proud.

Rabbi Jason Miller is the director of Kosher Michigan, a kosher certification agency, and president of Access Computer Technology, a tech support and social media marketing company.

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June 3, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 9

Obama, Bibi, and it may as well rain until September...

Behind the headlines RON KAMPEAS The likelihood of a U.N. General Assembly vote recognizing “Palestine” underpinned the tensions last week between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Obama administration fears the consequences of first having to veto a Security Council resolution on Palestinian statehood, and then coming to a “uniting for peace” vote at September’s GA. Such votes are rare, but they have the function of overriding, to an extent, the Security Council’s failure to take action.

Uniting for peace votes were used to authorize the police action in the Koreas in the early 1950s and to isolate South Africa in the 1980s.

Here’s how it works: Unlike a Security Council resolution, which compels all nations to, say, sanction certain Iranian individuals and entities, uniting for peace votes provide legal cover to nations that wish to undertake such sanctions.

Ask Mike MIKE SILVERMAN, CEO, Jewish Federation of Omaha Dear Mike, Are you a Mets or a Yankees fan?

Steve Slivovitz Steve, Neither; I am a Phillies fan. I typically never root for a New York team.

Dear Mike: • In addition to no longer developing their own budgets, what other major changes should agencies see?

• With two major professional positions being added CEO and CFO - how are we paying for them?

• Can you give us some specific examples (no vision statements or boilerplate) related to changes we can expect to actually see?

• Similarly, what specific changes (perhaps behind the scenes) are there which we may not be able to see?

Thank you.

Stan Mitchell Q: In addition to no longer developing their own budgets, what major changes should agencies see?

A: Each agency professional has been involved in creating their budgets for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. They have worked very closely with Jordana Glazer over the past two months (or so). We have included a detailed Summary of assumptions for each agency this year explaining the rationale behind the numbers. By doing so, this allows the B & A Committee to understand the numbers prior to the meeting.

It also allows us to periodically go back to the Assumptions throughout the year to see how our projections played out.

We are also including detailed information about the amount of staff we have in each agency and reviewing historical information connected to staffing. This will allow us

So, for intance, all the successes Israel has scored in recent years in pushing back against the Arab League boycott -making abandoning the boycott a condition of joining international trade bodies, for instance -- could go up in smoke after such a vote. Nations wishing to boycott Israel could simply cite their General Assembly vote.

Israeli lawyers would also be busy in courts contesting, say, a Palestinian claim in a London court (should Britain have voted yea) that the Palestinian Authority deserves any profits accrued in Britain from the sale of goods manufactured in certain suburbs of Jerusalem, or in West Bank settlements. Ahava may have to start writing checks to Mahmoud Abbas.

I wrote about this in April. I just found out via Matt Duss that the Jerusalem Post’s David Horovitz had an excellent piece on this in March.

As David makes clear, the Israeli government isn’t too worried about this, seeing September as yet another antiIsrael vote at the U.N. -- although no one has come forward to explain its sanguinity.

There’s a broader issue, as well. The Obama administration’s foreign policy is predicated on garnering as much international support as possible through multilateral bodies. White House officials credit Obama’s foreign policy successes -- in Libya, in further isolating Iran -- to this careful accruing of political capital among U.N. member nations.

A UNSC veto on Palestinian statehood -- absent a viable alternative -- would cost it much political capital.

That doesn’t mean Netanyahu has to cave into whatever plan Obama puts forward, or even that he has to come up with his own plan. He can argue (he is arguing) that peddling peace plans when the Palestinian Authority takes on board Hamas amounts to rewarding bad behavior, and that the perils for Israel of rewarding such bad behavior are not balanced by whatever successes Obama is accruing in international arenas.

But it does clarify where exactly this clash of interests lies: Between Obama’s strategy of building coalitions and Netanyahu’s of busting Hamas.

to monitor efficiency and connect changes in personnel to program enhancements and increased participation. When staffing declines, we will also understand what change is anticipated and the need to reduce staff hours.

Most importantly, and not necessarily about the budgets, the Executive Directors are meeting each Wednesday morning at 8:15 to discuss what is happening on the campus and in the community. These meetings have been very informative and for the very first time, we are sharing openly and honestly with each other. There is a feeling of camaraderie and each agency executive understands that we are all here to support each other. The walls have come down that separated the agencies (figuratively of course) and there is renewed energy and excitement. This will continue. It takes all of us to work together to make our campus and our community the very best it can be.

going on. Here are a few things that we are focusing on: We are working to create a better member experience for all the JCC members and to accomplish that, we are providing enhanced amenities at the pool this year including towels (beach size) and we are working on finalizing a deal that will see food service at the pool for the first time in a very long time.

• We have committed funds to enhance the camp experience for our community members and our camp director is working on new and exciting adventures for the campers.

• We are bringing back the Live at 92nd Street Y program for the community and it will be free for all JCC members.

Yes, you read that right! A detail of the season’s speakers will be available soon.

• I plan to make some physical changes to the spaces on the campus so our community members can access programming and service space with ease.

I do need to add one boilerplate statement – every one of you helped build our campus and the agencies that we are all so proud of. We need to do all we can so you use the campus that you contribute to each year through the annual campaign. That is our ultimate goal – to meet your expectations!

Q:With two major professional positions being added – CEO and CFO – how are we paying for them?

A: Great question and probably one that everyone is thinking about. I think that we have already seen the impact of the changes in the Federation structure. Through the allocation of Central Service expenses across the campus, each agency is contributing to the expenses related to the change.

Central Services is made up of staff (including the CEO and CFO) that will provide assistance and specific functions for the campus in areas of administration, finance, marketing, human resources and information technology.

For those that have the ability to generate revenue, they are “kicking in” to help out the campus and community and we are deeply appreciative. For those that require an annual allocation because they cannot possibly operate in the black, the campaign is allocating enough to cover the additional expenses. Through all the changes, our goal is to have each agency and entity on the campus operationally sharp and we have already identified ways to increase revenues and reduce expenses. Stay tuned for more good news!

Q: Can you give us some specific examples (no vision statements or boilerplate) related to changes we can expect to actually see?

A: There are so many initiatives happening at the same time, but I understand everyone’s desire to know what is

Q: Similarly, what specific changes (perhaps behind the scenes) are there which we may not be able to see?

A: I am very focused on tracking data so we are compiling historical data on the Missions our community has taken so we can learn from our experiences.

The corporate structure for the Federation is changing so we need to revise our bylaws and make sure that the bylaws for the individual agencies are consistent. We are working on this each week.

We, the professional employees on the campus, are working together extremely well and there is an understanding that we are all providing services and programs to the Omaha Jewish community together. We are beginning to truly work together for the good of our community. The camaraderie is excellent!

Editor’s note: Because of the scope of Mr. Mitchells’s questions, we spread his letter out over two weeks. The first part of Mike’s answers was printed in the May 27 edition. Do you have a question you’d like to see printed in the Jewish Press? Send it to askmike@jewish omaha.org.

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10 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2011

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Dairy Picnic Potluck at the acreage of Ruth and Harold Edelman. Call Sandra to let us know what you will bring and for directions at 712.323.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Join Rabbi Levin for lunch at the Blumkin Home’s Star Deli on noon, for a delicious meal and some casual conversation. Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are appreciated so the rabbi can reserve seats. Contact him at rabbilevin@bethel-omaha.org; BESTT Graduation/Teacher Appreciation Shabbat, 6 p.m., during Kabbalat Shabbat services. A congregational dinner honoring the graduates and faculty will follow. Dinner cost: adults, $16; children (5-12), $12; children ages four and younger, $7.50. No charge for graduates and their families. To RSVP, contact the BESTT office.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Larners’ Service, 10:15 a.m. led by Cantor Schlossberg; Shabbat is for Study, 12:20 p.m. with Cantor Schlossberg; Evening Services, 8:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Hazak Luch ‘n’ Learn, 11 a.m., Hazak will sponsor a special program exploring Middle East Changes and Its Implications for Israel and the U.S. Featured speakers will be Dr. Moshe Gershovich, professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Dr. Guy Matalon, the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s scholar-in-residence. Cost for lunch is $6. To RSVP, send a check to Jim Wax, at 118 S. 88th St., Omaha NE 68114. For more information, contact Wax at zehde@cox.net, or 402.393.4442.

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

TUESDAY: Shavuout Celebration holiday festivities will begin with 5:30 p.m. services. A dairy dinner will follow, accompanied by a family program featuring holiday-related skits. Afterward, those wishing to participate in a more indepth study session are invited to stay for “Shavuot University,” which will focus on Judaism and the Law. Guest presenters will include attorneys Howard Epstein, David Herzog and Juliana Reno. Cost for dinner is $7.50 for adults, and $4.50 for children. Reservations are needed by Friday, June 3, and may be made by sending a check to Beth El (attention “Shavuot Dinner”). For more information, contact Margie in the office or at programming@bethelomaha.org.

WEDNESDAY: Shavuot Services, 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Shavuot Services, 9:30 a.m. (includes Yizkor and dedication of memorial plaques), and 8:45 p.m.

SHABBAT ON THE GREEN: Come to a special, outdoor Shabbat celebration on the synagogue’s back lawn, on Friday, June 10. (see full story on page 7.)

All Beth El classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30

a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by David, Janet, Anna, Max, Jack and Leo Kohll in honor of the anniversary of Sam’s Bar Mitzvah; The Laws of Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 7:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit sponsored by Joey Shyken in honor of Harry Weiner, Max Weiner, and Aaron Kurtzman, and finishing Pirkei Avos; Havdalah, 9:44 p.m.

SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Annual Meeting & Elections, 10 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. Contact the office to get the dial-in number and access code.

TUESDAY: Synagogue office is closed at noon; Mincha, 8:30 p.m.; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 8:30 p.m.; Ashkenazi/Sephardi: The Great Halachic Divide Ma’ariv, 9:30 p.m., followed by Kiddush (including grilled cheese sandwiches and cheesecake); Tikun Leil Shavuot beginning at 10 p.m. with Rabbi Gross, Rabbi Mizrahi and Dr. Guy Matalon.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m., followed by a dairy Kiddush and Family Fued; Veshinantam, 5:30 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m., with Yizkor, 10:30 a.m. A dairy lunch will follow morning services. Ask the Rabbi will follow lunch (about 1:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:48 p.m.

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 South 120 Street | Omaha, NE 68144-1646 | 402.330.1800 www.OChabad.com | email: chabad@aol.com Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Minyan, 10 a.m.; Youth Minyan, 10:30 a.m.; Mini Mensch title will be awarded. Kiddush luncheon follows. Join Rabbi Katzman, noon-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets and Prayer, 12:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: JLI class, Oasis in Time, session 5 has been postponed until June 14.

TUESDAY, Erev Shavuot: Evening Services, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, Shavuot I: Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Ten Commandments, 11:30 a.m. follow by Ice Cream Social; Evening Services, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, Shavuot II: Morning Services, 10 a.m.; Evening Services, 8 p.m.

All programs are open to the entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org FRIDAY: Kiddush, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Marc Shkolnick.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Stephanie Dohner; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Rick Kohn.

TUESDAY: Joint meal and learning sessions, 7 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

B’nai Mitzvah Madelin Miller, daughter of Jennifer and Paul Miller, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 11, at Temple Israel.

Madelin is a seventh-grade Superior Honor Roll student at Kiewit Middle School.

Her interests include being a member of show choir, dancing at Kitty Lee Dance, and singing in chorus.

For her mitzvah project, Madelin has been volunteering at the Town and Country Humane Society by helping take care of the animals at the shelter. She walks dogs, cleans and helps with their laundry.

She has two sisters, Sophia and Morissa, and a brother, Brett.

Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Sandford J. Miller of St.

Louis, Mrs. Judith Henry and Mr. Robert Harper.

Brett Robinson, son of Kimberly and Andrew Robinson, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 4, at Temple Israel.

Brett is a eighth-grade Distinguished Honor Roll student at Westside Middle School.

His interests include his love of sports.

For his mitzvah project, Brett is working with residents at the Rose Blumkin Home.

He has two sisters, Brenna and Sydney.

Grandparents are Frances and Sam Fried, the late Burton L. Robinson, and Paula and Danny Singer of Tucson, AZ.

Candlelighting Friday, June 3, 8:35 p.m.

LJCS Camp Israel, June 13-24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. A light kosher lunch will be provided. Campers must be kindergarten age to enroll. Please let us know if you are interested by emailing Tracy Gordon at tgordonjc@ yahoo.com or Andrea Halpern at halperns@inebraska.com.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway | Offutt AFB, NE 68113 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP 1317 North 57 Street | Omaha, NE 68132 | 402.551.6609 FRIDAY: Minyan, 8:35 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

WEDNESDAY: Shavuot Service, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet.

THURSDAY: Shavuot Service with Yizkor, 9 a.m. led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet.

Services will be held in the Chapel. Members of the community are invited to attend.

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Linder and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Brett Robinson, son of Kimberly and Andrew Robinson, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.

TUESDAY: Worship Service and 10th Grade Confirmation, 6 p.m. followed by a Dairy Oneg.

WEDNESDAY: Shavuot Service and Yizkor, 10:30 a.m.

Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536, by Friday, June 3, with the names of your loved ones to be read.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning Service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

SUNDAY: Annual Meeting, 4 p.m.

LJCS Camp Israel, June 13-24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. A light kosher lunch will be provided. Campers must be kindergarten age to enroll. Please let us know if you are interested by emailing Tracy Gordon at tgordonjc@ yahoo.com or Andrea Halpern at halperns@inebraska.com.

Matt Yglesias has some ‘splainin’ to do

by RON KAMPEAS Matt Yglesias, at Think Progress, writes about the Daily Caller op-ed in which Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Gevalt) castigates American Jews for not being his kind of American Jew. (Next up: Joe Walsh wishes wimmin were still ladies!)

I won't pile more on Walsh -- it seems gratuitous at this stage -- but Yglesias seems to have contracted Walsh's unseemly “they're all alike” affect in this passage: Israeli politics has drifted toward the hawkish right over the past ten years even as Jewish Americans remain on the progressive left. That change in Israeli politics, meanwhile, has been in part driven by a demographic shift away from the kind of secular ashkenazi Jews who predominate in the American population.

Say what? Ashkenazim have a genetic predisposition toward liberal democracy?

Let me put it this way: Vus? To submit announcements: Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return).

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

June 3, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 11

A Warning in the Blessing

In memoriam LINDA LEE GOODMAN

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Naso We are into the second Sidrah of the fourth book of the Bible.

There is competition among the tribes to see who can give the greatest gift for the dedication of the altar in the Beit Hamikdash.

It turns out that the 12 tribes of the children of Israel have given identical gifts for the altar and the traveling tent. They have given silver, gold, semi precious stones, beautiful drapes, and pure olive oil for the light that was to hang over the arc of testimony.

Nonetheless, all of that beauty may be valued as nothing against the wonderful blessing that is given by the Kadosh Baruch Hu for use by the Levitical Priests. It is literally skilful in its construction: it is three words, then five, then seven.

It is a blessing that has been used by Jews and others all over the world- perhaps billions and billions of times.

Elsewhere I have said that there is a possibility of danger in the blessing. The danger is an accompaniment to the blessing of well being and prosperity.

Prosperity tends to blind the eyes and hardens the hearts of the prosperous ones, so they do not see and do not heed the pain and deprivation of those less fortunate.

Hence, the blessing has in it ‘the LORD bless you and watch over you.’

“Watch over you,” so you do not become so hard hearted that you do not pay attention to the needs of less fortunate people.

This is not easily seen in the blessing, but I’m reasonably sure that the words ‘watch over you’ mean not only ‘guard you from harm’ but also ‘guard you from the moral harm of refusing to see the needs of others.’

Understood this way, the third word of the blessing acquires a meaning much deeper and more elevated than the usual token meaning of the phrase, ‘watch over you.’ It does not mean ‘keep you from harm,’ but means ‘keep you from moral blindness.’

Study these three words at the beginning of the blessing.

See if your understanding of them will agree with the interpretation I have suggested.

Linda Lee Goodman passed away on May 25 at the age of 68. Services were held May 29 at Beth El Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by parents, Charles and Lillian Lieb.

She is survived by husband, Ellis; son, Kristopher; daughters, Heather and Nicole; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Gail Lieb, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She loved spending time with her family, walking the beaches with Ellis in Florida, having long, interesting conversations, Husker football and the College World Series.

Linda had a love for all animals, especially dogs, turtles, and large parrots, and spent much time volunteering to help them.

Memorials may be made to the Nebraska Humane Society or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Britain academic union votes for Israel boycott

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- For the third time since 2007, Britain’s largest academic union has voted to adopt an academic and cultural boycott of Israel. The resolution was passed Sunday at UCU’s annual conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

In voting to move forward with the sanctions, the University and College Union -- which represents more than 120,000 academics across the United Kingdom -ignored the legal advice it received after the first boycott vote in 2007. Lawyers told the union then that a boycott “would be unlawful and cannot be implemented,” according to the union’s website.

Academic Friends of Israel, a group formed in 2002 to fight academic boycotts of Israel by British organizations, moved quickly to condemn the University and College Union vote.

“I recognize of course that many of these issues are open to debate and discussion, and that legitimate criticism of Israel is acceptable,” AFI director Ronnie Fraser told the Jerusalem Post. “But the recitation of a long list of allegations against Israel, and Israel alone, without any recognition that Palestinians might bear any guilt or responsibility for the current impasse, or for their own crimes against Israelis, is one-sided and anti-Semitic.”

Jewish community accounted for in Joplin tornado The Eulogizer: Uri

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) – Two Jewish brothers who were reported missing Lifschitz, 75, Israeli artist in the wake of a deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., are safe. All the members of the small Jewish community in Joplin have now been accounted for, but many lost their homes and possessions in the tornado and are in need of basic supplies.

Approximately 50 Jews live in Joplin, in a population of some 50,000.

“The Jewish Federations send our support to those affected by this tragic event,” said Fred Zimmerman, chair of JFNA’s Emergency Committee. “As Jews, we share a responsibility for one another and to the community at large. We applaud the work of the Kansas City and St. Louis Federations to provide emergency relief to those in need, and remain committed to their efforts to rebuild and recover.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s board of directors voted Tuesday to allocate $5,000 in emergency funds to the relief efforts in Joplin.

The United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin, a Reform synagogue, was not damaged, according to the Federation.

The synagogue reportedly has existed in the city since at least 1919.

A reported 122 people are confirmed dead and hundreds are missing following what is being called the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The tornado cut through Joplin on May 22, one of several tornadoes that hit the Midwest over the weekend due to a system of severe thunderstorms that also have caused massive flooding.

JFNA and Jewish Federations are committed to care for victims of global natural disasters, and have emergency relief plans in place to aid those in need. Jewish federations recently raised more than $1 million to help those affected by the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan, over $30 million to help victims of hurricane Katrina, and $10 million for those affected by the southern Asia tsunami in 2004.

For more information on how to help, please contact the Jewish Federation of Omaha by calling Barbara Kirkpatrick at 402.334.6436, or send an email to bkirkpatrick@jewish omaha.org.

by ALAN D. ABBEY Uri Lifschitz, an award-winning and controversial Israeli artist, died May 28 at 75. Lifschitz tried to bring the influence of pop art and historical painting traditions to Israeli art.

In the 1990s he became infamous for a series of provocative paintings of Margalit Har-Shefi, then the girlfriend of Yigal Amir, assassin of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. His sales dropped and he could not get his work into establishment galleries.

A 2009 exhibition at two Tel Aviv galleries was titled “Back to the Future” and was his first exhibition in major Israeli galleries in years. Among the topics were works done “in real time” on the evacuation of Amona, uprisings of Palestinians and portraits of political figures such as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Friends and family said Lifschitz loved provocation and used his paintings to understand current affairs.

Lifschitz studied painting at Seminar Hakibbutzim Teachers College in Tel Aviv and won the 1982 Dizengoff Prize. He was a father of six, including the artist Giora Lifschitz.

CORRECTION In the May 20 edition of the Jewish Press, the times for the LOVE annual game day on June 12 were incorrect.

Registration is at noon, and playing starts at 12:30. The Press regrets the error.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press office is closed Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 and 9 for Shavuot. the deadline for the June 17 issue is Monday, June 6, noon Questions?

Call 402.334.6448.

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12 | The Jewish Press | June 3, 2011

Friedel takes learning outside the classroom

by DEBBIE KRICSFELD for Friedel Jewish Academy After a long and cold winter, students as well as teachers look forward to going outside during the school day. Whether it is to stretch your mind and body or get fresh air, Friedel Jewish Academy has taken its lessons to the outdoors.

Outdoor education was introduced to Friedel several years ago by former principal Cookie Katskee. Every spring, 4th - 6th grade students venture outside the classroom to connect with nature. Friedel’s favorite place to explore the outdoors is at the 4-H camp in Gretna.

There, students l e a r n a b o u t archery and how to canoe without tipping over. For m a n y kids, this is a new experie n c e where they can challenge themselves and overcome fears, especially while summoning courage to whoosh down the zip lines and cross the high ropes. With the support and encouragement of their peers, students learn how to work together and spend time with each other outside the classroom.

The team-building and personal strength that takes place is something that 5th & 6th grade teacher Denise Bennett looks forward to. After being in a classroom all day, Denise enjoys introducing “the outdoors as a place

to spend their leisure time” as opposed to being “indoors in front of a TV or computer”. “I love seeing the students feel a sense of pride when they complete an activity which they were nervous to try in the first place,” she said.

Barb Sather, 3rd & 4th grade teacher, says she has wonderful memories of her Grandfather feeding birds, squirrels and chipmunks. One of her goals for outdoor education is to “pass on a love of nature to the next generation” as well as, teaching

Clockwise from top: Raelyn Cherry, Mira Dennison, Eva Cohen; Destiny Howard; Lilian Cohen with the instructor, and Eylon Caplan.

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them to be “good stewards of the Earth while making a connection to nature.”

Mother Nature showed her glory in true Nebraska style. While the students got to experience their outdoor activities in the sunshine and blue skies, lunchtime was another story. Thunder, lightning, high winds, rain and hail passed through, leaving parents concerned. However, when the students returned, their stories of what they accomplished at the camp proved to be more exciting than the weather.

The other O’peace plan

by AMI EDEN Recently, President Barack Obama offered up a semi-detailed plan for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and then he headed off to Ireland, where he visited the home of his great-great-great grandfather. “And I’ve come home,” Obama told a 25,000-person crowd, “to find the apostrophe that we lost somewhere along the way.”

If these lines leave you with a deja vu, sideways world kind of feeling... maybe it’s because you read a JTA dispatch from May 24, 1955 -- about a Congressman from Illinois who was offering up his own peace plan. His name... wait for it...

Barrat O’Hara: “A five-point program for an American Middle East policy to promote democratic development and defense in the area was presented here to Illinois members of Congress by a group of Jewish leaders from Chicago representing various Jewish organizations. The program was later brought to the attention of the House together with a communication from the American Christian Palestine Committee in Chicago expressing “strong basic agreement” with the proposals.

The five-point program covered arms, economic aid, Arab-Israel peace negotiations, regional development projects and an American-Israel defense pact.

Representative Barrat O’Hara, raising the issue on the floor of the House, said that the American Christian Palestine Committee regards the American policy of arming Arab nations as “a serious mistake” because it represents “a threat to Israel, a disservice to the Arab peoples themselves, and an invitation to Communism to breed on the increased area tensions that the arms will inevitably generate.”

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