June 14, 2013

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

Federation Annual Meeting

June 14, 2013 6 Tammuz 5773 Vol. 93 | No. 39

This Week

State of the Federation 2013 Future of the Federation

by JODY MALASHOCK Past President, Jewish Federation of Omaha It’s very exciting to see so many of you here tonight as we honor our community volunteers, award recipients and install the Federation Board of Directors as well as our incoming President, Jay Noddle. Congratulations again to all of our volunteers of the year and to Dr. Larry Roffman on receiving his well-deserved Humanitarian of the Year award.

We are now starting our third year under the One Campus One Community Initiative with the implementation of a CEO-style business model to campus operations. A few months ago I received a book from JFNA that was sent to Federation Presidents and Senior Professional Executives.

It is titled Reimagining Leadership in Jewish Organizations: Ten Practical Lessons to Help You Implement Change and Achieve Your Goals.

I’d like to highlight some of the lessons from this book and how it has related to our Federation these past years.

Find the right people Our lay leaders are more invested

Celebrating National Nursing Home week Page 5

Israel Experience Grants Page 6

in the workings of the Federation than ever before. A smaller and more engaged Federation Board of Directors has ensured that the business of

by JAY NODDLE President, Jewish Federation of Omaha I would like to thank Marty for the very nice introduction.

Jody Malashock and new President Jay Noddle the Federation is attended to promptly and efficiently. The board looks at issues and makes decisions Continued on page 8

We are still a nation of immigrants: Jaime’s Story

I have to admit, I am more excited to be here tonight than I expected to be. I believe that it’s symptomatic of our Jewish culture, sometimes (most

of the time) we drey over things and then we come to realize how exciting and rewarding our experiences can be. I believe that, for me, this is one of those times.

I want to congratulate and thank Jody for all she has done to guide our Omaha Jewish Federation these past three years. Her vision has been clear and her focus never ending. Jody, thank you. Take a break, spend some quality time on yourself, Buzz and the family, and then we will send you a list of your new assignments.

I’d also like to congratulate all our honorees and award recipients here tonight. You all have played an important role in our Jewish community and are an inspiration to all of us. Congratulations.

I’m particularly humbled to be asked to serve our community for the next three years and especially to follow my dad (all be it after 37 years). That’s not happened often, and it’s cool to be in this group. The last time it happened was in 1997 when Howard Kooper followed his dad Robert, who was President from 1958-1960. Howard, I’m proud to be Continued on page 9

To be a mensch

Interfaith dialogue at its best Page 11

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

This Month Senior Living See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

12 14 15

by LIZZY GILBERT Corporate & Community Development, Anti-Defamation League My name is Jaime Lopez, and I am 24 years old. My mother and I moved here in 1995, and we’ve been residents of Nebraska for 17 years. I was seven years old. Throughout our time here, the Nebraska community

has treated us as equals. I’ve lived right alongside some of my best friends and shared in the typical American experience.

Since my time at Omaha North High School, I’ve had a knack for science and math, and in May, I graduated from the University of Nebraska as a triple major in civil engineering, architectural engineering, and mathematics. Since then, I’ve been involved in numerous research projects in the field of mathematics, while participating in an internship at an Omaha-based energy company.

It is my dream to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics.

This city has been a great source of pride and nurturing for my talents and has given me all that I know.

Continued on page 2

Dr. Harold and Beverly Maurer Credit: MetroMagazine

by JULIANNE DUNN HERZOG dation where he will continue to This is part one in a two-part se- raise funds for UNMC. He will be ries about Dr. Harold Maurer, known as chancellor emeritus and Chancellor Emeritus of UNMC. professor of pediatrics. The MaurFrom Brooklyn, N.Y., to Omaha ers will stay in Omaha with freis a short hop by air, a day or two quent trips to Tampa where their trip by land and a lifetime journey two daughters and three of their for Dr. Harold Maurer, chancellor four grandchildren live. of the University of Nebraska MedHarold and Beverly met when he ical Center and Beverly, his wife of was a 20-year-old short-order cook nearly 53 years. As UNMC contin- in a restaurant in Brooklyn working ues its search for a new chancellor, his way through State University of Dr. Maurer is planning his move to New York Downstate medical school the University of Nebraska Foun- Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

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Come tour the Temple building site

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer With only a few short months until Temple Israel officially moves from Cass Street to Sterling Ridge, many congregants are anxiously counting down the days. To help alleviate some of that anxiety, Temple Israel is offering a sneak peek of the construction site to help give congregants a sense of what the new building will look like.

“We know our members are excited for and curious about the new building,” said Program Director Wendy Goldberg, “so we want to give them an opportunity to see it, to walk around and begin to get familiar with our new home.”

Temple Israel is hosting two tours of the Sterling Ridge building, scheduled with the construction schedule in mind, on Sunday, June 23, 13 p.m., and Tuesday, June 25, 5-7 p.m. Tours will be in small groups and led by knowledgeable lay leaders and staff to ensure that everyone receives the same information.

Temple Israel congregants interested in attending are asked to contact Temple Israel at 402.556.6536 or email LSherrod@templeisraelomaha.com to RSVP. Attendees will meet at the new building, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive, and are asked to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, as the building is still under construction.

To be a mensch Continued from page 1 in Brooklyn. She was a 16-year-old high school senior who came into the restaurant. He made her blintzes and asked for her phone number. The rest, as they say, is history.

Beverly went on to Brooklyn College, finished her degree in three years and went to work as a teacher at age 19. They married his third year of medical school and had their first child, Ann, during his fourth year of medical school. After finishing medical school, Dr. Maurer went on to an internship at King’s County Hospital in Brooklyn. He served two years with the U.S. Public Health Service and then returned to New York for a pediatric residency at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, where he also completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology. Along the way, they had their second daughter, Wendy. Beverly continued to work as a teacher.

Beverly came from a Conservative Jewish family. Harold, on the other hand, came from a strict Orthodox household.

His parents were immigrants from Poland and spoke Yiddish in the home. Both developed strong family and work values. They reared their children in a Jewish household. Ann was, for a time, president of Schaari Zedek, the synagogue in Tampa, where Hal and Beverly are currently members. She and her husband, Dr. David Rosenbach, a radiologist, have two children and keep a Jewish home.

Diana, a graduate of the University of Michigan, is part of the business team at Harry Winston in New York City; son Michael is a junior cross-country runner at Brandeis University. Wendy and her identical twin 6-year-old daughters, Ally Min and Alex Rose, live in Tampa where Wendy is a vice president of Tech Data. They also keep a Jewish home.

When asked how their Judaism informed their lives, Hal and Beverly answered simply. Hal said that his goal was and is to be a mensch in every dealing and to be a good example and role model to those who are not Jewish as well as to those who are. Beverly said that her Judaism affects every thought and feeling she has. When Hal was ultimately appointed chancellor, both were aware that Hal was to be the first Jewish chancellor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and that their conduct could either win admirers for Judaism or not.

To carry the aspirations, hopes and perceptions of an entire people on your shoulders is no small burden, as most pioneers have learned. Although they live and work in a Christian sea and have developed many Christian friends and associates, they never forget for a moment that they are Jewish. They live by example and teaching. When his secretary at the dean’s office filled his schedule on Yom Kippur with business commitments, he made it a teachable moment by asking what she did on Christmas Eve. When she said that she devoted it to religious and family matters, he told her that Yom Kippur was similar. By the end of his tenure in the dean’s office, his staff was decorating for Hanukkah and not filling his calendar on Yom Kippur.

But I am getting ahead of myself in telling their story.

Dr. Maurer’s first job as a pediatric oncologist took them to the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in Richmond where he joined the pediatric faculty and ultimately became chair of the pediatrics department. Beverly established their home, nurtured their social relationships, mothered their children and worked as a math teacher at Hebrew Day School, an Orthodox elementary school. When the principal position came open, she was invited to take that position and thereafter served as principal of K-8 for 17 years.

It was a great life. Their careers succeeded and their family thrived.

If you were to ask Dr. Maurer what set him on the path which led to national and international recognition for his clinical practice in childhood cancer, he would likely tell you that as a young physician he was presented with a six-yearold patient with an advanced case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the leg which had metastasized to the lung. Survival rate for this kind of childhood cancer was about 20 percent. If the cancer metastasized, the survival rate was about 5 percent.

Dr. Maurer had his own little girl of about the same age at the time. He did not like the odds for his patient. So he studied the literature worldwide and, to his dismay, did not find one single study or clinical trial for rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor that accounts for more than half of the soft tissue cancers in children. He did not see that as a barrier but rather as an opportunity.

He worked out a treatment protocol for this one child and then started a study for other children at MCV. His ground zero child was treated with surgery (removal of the tumor), radiation and chemotherapy. She survived.

Then Dr. Maurer contacted the other national cancer groups and; ultimately, the National Institutes of Health, which responded to his queries by calling a meeting in Salt Lake City of all the leaders of the cancer groups in the United States. Dr. Maurer was the lowest ranking person at the ten-person table, although his chief of pediatrics was there with him. The group decided to start an Intergroup Study of Rhabdomyosarcoma and looked around the table for a chair. Dr. Maurer, the youngest, accepted the group’s request that he chair the study.

Eventually, he became the lead investigator for rhabdomyosarcoma in the world. During the 26 years he served, he saw the survival rate increase from 20 percent to 75 percent. In 2003, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Children’s Oncology Group for his leadership and contributions in this area of cancer research and treatment.

MCV also brought Dr. Maurer opportunities for administrative and philanthropic experience. He started a support group for parents of the rhabdomyosarcoma kids. After some years, that parents’ group morphed into Dr. Maurer’s first organized philanthropy effort. His department needed more staff and equipment. He turned to the rhabdo group for help. They raised $100,000 in their first fundraising effort. That group is still in existence offering support to each other and raising funds when asked.

As chair of the MCV Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Maurer assumed his share of administrative duties, among them establishing a faculty practice plan. That knowledge became another piece of the puzzle of Dr. Maurer’s considerable success at UNMC to come.

To be continued...

We are still a nation of immigrants Continued from page 1 Without it, I would be nothing. When the news of Deferred Action came out, I was excited and relieved to hear that everyone who shares in this struggle would be getting the opportunity to advance their lives forward. We would be granted an opportunity to live our dreams and participate in the community that had nurtured us throughout our lives. With this, it is not only my hope, but the hope of so many capable and good individuals to finally bring Jaime Lopez what they have to the table.

ABOUT THIS SERIES: “We are still a nation of immigrants” is a project of the Anti-Defamation League – Plains States Region Civil Rights Committee. The series features personal stories from local immigrants.

Because of its commitment to justice, the Civil Rights Committee of the Plains States Regional Board of the ADL has made the issue of immigration a priority for study, research and education.

June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 3

Bob Goldberg’s new chapter

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press On June 20, the Jewish Federation of Omaha will reluctantly say goodbye to Bob Goldberg, Director of Strategic Initiatives. Bob has accepted the position of Executive Director at the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, TX. He, his wife Kim and daughter Lily will move to Texas by the end of June. There will be a goodbye breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m., open to the entire community.

Bob graduated from Burke High School and attended the University of Arizona in Tucson for two years. He graduated from UNO with a Bachelor’s in Arts, later followed by a Master’s in English.

Bob Goldberg He has been with the Jewish Federation since 2008, when he started as Director of Communications. In that role, he was responsible for rebranding the Federation and improving our community’s understanding of what Federation does. Currently, Bob works closely with Chief Development Officer Marty Ricks for the Annual Campaign: “While transferring to the Federation from the Foundation last January, and immersing myself in the 2013 Federation Annual Campaign, for the first time on a direct basis, I saw Bob in action,” Marty says.

“He was very involved in our Beatlemania community event, directing the promotional side and was very successful in obtaining pledges. Bob has amazing characteristics that I observed right away. He is creative, highly intelligent, industrious, kind, caring, family-oriented and a mensch. I will miss Bob immensely, but I know he will be very successful as the Executive Director of the Ft. Worth Jewish Federation.”

Bob will miss the people, his friends, and his family, but is looking forward to the move: “Fort Worth has tremendous potential, and I am excited to be charged with building community, educating and reener-

gizing donors, and growing a strong Jewish community that young families will want to be a part of.”

Omaha without Bob Goldberg is difficult to imagine. Of course, Bob wouldn’t be Bob if he didn’t take a whole lot of Omaha with him: “Omaha has taught me so much,” he says. “From my parents to leaders like Jan Goldstein, Joe Kirshenbaum, Alan Potash, David Gilinsky, Stacey Rockman and many, many more. I have seen people do amazing things, and they do it with passion and great care. Those experiences will push me to work hard, stay focused and always remember that it ulti-

mately is the people who make the community. Working for this community has been an honor and privilege, and I appreciate the opportunities I have been given.”

“During Bob’s time with our Federation, he has had an incredible impact and has brought our community together,” says Mike Silverman, Federation CEO. “He has always been receptive, responsive and proactive and has given us 100% effort. These qualities, and the exceptional individual that he is, will help him be successful in his new position.”

Please join us between 8 and 9:30 a.m. on Thursday June 20 to wish Bob mazal tov, and bon voyage.

A campus treasure

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT I think that’s okay; we Editor of the Jewish Press can make an exception now and then. When On Thursday, June 6, some people celebrated someone like BK -- loyal, their fifth anniversary, some their tenth, and trustworthy, kind, and some even more than that (read more in our with a wonderful sense of next issue -- Ozzie Nogg will be writing that humor -- works somestory). While many employees were given some where as long as she has, extra attention because of their hard work, it says something about Bookkeeper Barbara Kirkpatrick, known around that place. We must be campus as BK, marked 45 years on the job. doing more than a few When BK started, back in 1967, the current things right. building didn’t exist. There was no Rose BK, we at the Jewish Blumkin Jewish Home, there was no Star Deli, Press hope you stay with there were no synagogues in West Omaha, us for many more years, Mike Silverman was a Preschooler, and some and I know everyone else of us weren’t even born. After 45 years, she’s on campus feels the same seen many changes, and if there’s anything you way. We love how you are want to know about the history of the Jewish always enthusiastic, we community, there’s a good chance BK can love that you like to dress answer your questions. up, and we love that you When I interviewed for my current position, I had the opportunity to meet with a number Barbara Kirkpatrick and Mike Silverman have those great mints in of Federation staff. Even in the midst of a group of really your office. Most of all, you’re always ready to help, listen, nice people, BK stood out, because from the first hello, she and go the extra mile. We congratulate you on your accomfelt like family. Which is why, even though I tried, it’s plishment; it gives us great Naches to call ourselves your almost impossible to write an objective and neutral, “news- colleagues. You can look that up in the Yiddish dictionary, but you have been here so long, you probably won’t need to. papery” piece about her.

WHY THE HEART OF AMERICA ATTRACTS THE BEST MINDS IN THE WORLD. The University of Nebraska Medical Center ranks No. 6 nationally in primary care education. Four other UNMC programs are also ranked, and our outreach efforts continue to lead the way toward better health care in rural areas. Yet, we accept the challenge that more must be done. It is this relentless pursuit of excellence in education, research and care that draws people – faculty, physicians, staff, students and patients alike – to us from across the country and around the world.

UNMC. Breakthroughs for life.®

unmc.edu

4 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

From Omaha to Akko

by DR. CURTIS HUTT Zaidise (Political Science), Beril Dov Lerner (Philosophy), as Special Program Coordinator, Schwalb Center for Israel well as Nohad Ali (Sociology) and Gur Alroey (Israel and Jewish Studies Studies).

This May, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the As far as the two Omahans are concerned, Dick Fellman Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies sent Dick joined Boaz Barak in leading a Plenary Session of the Fellman (adjunct faculty at the Political Science Department) Workshop on energy sources and economics discussing the and Dr. Curtis Hutt (newly appointed Professor of Judaic Studies at the Religious Studies Department) to Akko, Israel, to participate in the Fifth Bridges International Faculty Workshop at Western Galilee College. This is an annual event sponsored by the Partnership2Gether Consortium.

This year’s Workshop took place May 23-26. The continued goal of the workshop is to foster academic collaboration between scholars based in American participants in the 5th Bridges Scholarly workshop at Western Galilee college, North America and at Summer 2013. The two representatives from Omaha/UNO are Dr. Curtis Hutt, standing secWestern Galilee College. To ond from the right and Dick Fellman, sitting third from the right. quote the words of its organizer, Haim Sperber, the workshop was “a great success.” Joint recent natural gas finds off the coast of Israel, as well as the projects between American and Israeli scholars were closer-to-home Keystone pipeline. Fellman also chaired a planned and preliminary results presented in a variety of roundtable on illegal immigration and healthcare with Eran academic fields, ranging from the development of energy Zaidis. Meanwhile, Curtis Hutt presented work on contempolicy and holy sites to the study of historical Jewish immi- porary pilgrimage with Nimrod Luz. gration and juvenile delinquency. Participants spent quality Not only was the implementation of joint academic time with their counterparts, both individually as well as in research with Israeli scholars discussed at length, but also the groups, both at Western Galilee College and at sites organization of future conferences and workshops. Haim throughout the Western Galilee.

Sperber conveyed his thanks to Moshe Gershovich, Director Along side scholars from Nebraska, were faculty from of the Schwalb Center, and all of the UNO scholars who had Westminster College, Purdue University, and the ‘Universite participated previously in the Workshop and who continued du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres.’ They were joined by an espe- to work on joint projects with Western Galilee College, like cially enthusiastic group of faculty from Western Galilee Joan Latchaw (English) and Halla Kim (Philosophy).

College including: Gideon Fishman (President), Haim Workshop participants also went on tours of sites in Israel Sperber (Jewish History), Boaz Barak (Economics), Nimrod related to their specific academic interests. These included a Luz (Sociology), Hagit Turjeman (Criminology), Yehuda visit to conservation sites in Akko led by Nadav Kashtan of Peled (Informational Studies), Bruria Schaedel and Randa the University of Haifa, the highlight of which was a trip to Abbas (Education), Boaz Cohen (Holocaust Studies), Eran recent Partnership2Gether Visionary Uri Yirmias’ spectacu-

Jay Noddle PRESIDENT

Jody Malashock IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

lar Efendi Hotel (see Jewish Press article 5/17/13). This meticulously restored historic preservation site in Akko’s Old City has been named one of the twenty best new hotels in the world. Also, Boaz Cohen led the American scholars to the Ghetto Fighters House Museum and to an immigration center in Ma’alot. On the final day, participants visited the Youth Village at Manof, which is a rehabilitation home and school for troubled teens who have experienced difficulties living on the margins of Israeli society.

Partnership2Gether, a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, is coordinated by the Center for Jewish Life and promotes people-to-people relationships between Israel and communities throughout the world. Omaha is one of 12 cities in the U.S. partnering with the city of Akko and the Matte Asher region in northern Israel, sharing cultural, social, medical, educational and economic programs. For more information on Partnership, please call the Center for Jewish Life at 402.334.6445.

La Casa Pizzeria celebrates 60 years

by JOEL HAHN La Casa Pizzeria on 45th and Leavenworth is celebrating 60 years, 1953 to 2013, as an Omaha Tradition all through the month of June. La Casa will be featuring weekly drawings for prizes like T-shirts and gift certificates.

The menu features summer specials including Stuffed Pepper, BBQ Chicken, Caprese Pasta and Caprese Salad.

June also marks the debut of an Empyrean brewed house beer, “BrewCasa Sessanta” and a new wine list featuring wines from Sicily and the Italian regions of Puglia, Abruzzo, Umbria, Toscana, Veneto, Venezie, Trentino and Piemonte.

Featured artwork includes “Peppi” selections from Carolyn Maack’s “Watercolor Plus” class, as well as 50’s memorabilia throughout the restaurant. Memorabilia includes special local sports artifacts.

60th Anniversary t-shirts and hats will be available for purchase, and a limited edition La Casa soccer jersey will be available for purchase by month’s end.

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June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 5

Celebrating National Nursing Home Week

by OZZIE NOGG ten years. Diane Burke, Shelly Spencer and Rose Stock -- 15 This past May 20-24, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home cel- years. Lisa Nasim -- 20 years. ebrated National Nursing Home Week with activities based During National Nursing Home Week, skilled nursing on Team Spirit. “Each neighborhood at the Home competed centers across the country plan events to honor the lives of in daily challenges,” said the people they care for Maggie Conti, Director of and the staff who serve Activities and Outreach them. “The national theme Programs. “Each wing had this year was Team Care,” a color and song to repreConti said. “The theme sent their unit, and resipersonifies the many prodents and staff strutted fessionals and caregivers their stuff down Main who bring loving attention Street with an opening certo our residents -- nurses, emony parade to rival the CNAs, therapists, activity Olympic games. It was eye staff, dietary staff, as well candy for sure.” as our laundry and enviAccording to Mike ronmental services staff.

Schop, RBJH Assistant After all, living in a skilled Administrator, “The staff nursing care facility put in lots of effort making should touch on all aspects costumes that matched the of life, from the immediate team themes. The Green health needs of our resiTeam dressed as Teenage dents to their social expeMutant Ninja Turtles and riences.

The RBJH they looked fantastic with Nursing Home Week comtheir cardboard shells, mittee did an outstanding green bandanas, and foam job creating fun-filled days swords as they danced to for everyone in the facility. their Kung Fu Fighting l want to especially thank theme song. The Yellow the activity staff for going Team put on their smiley beyond the call of duty and The egg race was one of the more intense events (clockwise, face logos and used Bobby Mike Schop for thinking from left): Rabbi Myer Kripke, Ruth Altstadt, Lois Wine and Ethel McFerrin’s rendition of outside the box.” In addiGrossman.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy as tion to Schop, committee their theme music. The Blue Team went off Into The Wild members were Mary Heiman, Adrienne Shiverdecker, Blue Yonder dressed as Smurfs, while the Big Red Team Karen Menagh, Karen Hook, Stephanie Hinsley, Tyler showed their superhero spirit complete with handmade Wolles and Mike Aparo. capes, costumes and the theme from Superman as their team The sound of ringing cow bells announced the closing song. We brought out the competitive spirit in the residents Ceremonies for National Nursing Home Week 2013 at the and staff, stoked everyone’s creativity and imagination, and RBJH. “Our Purim Queen, Louise Abrahamson, officially had some fun.” Team events included Tug of War, Spoon Egg ended the week by dousing the Color Wars flame -- the fake Relay Races, Obstacle Course, Pin The Hair On Silverman, cauldron we use to practice our fire drills,” Schop said.

Minute To Win It, Sing-Along Name That Tune, and every- “NNHW was quirky, delightful and fiercely competitive. one’s favorite -- Sumo Wrestling. “Each team was awarded The residents and staff are already thinking ahead to next points for participation,” Schop explained. “The Blue Team, year’s zany, wholesome fun events.” representing the Northeast Neighborhood, won the Grand Prize Pizza Party.”

In addition to the fun and games, Blumkin Home staff observing special employment milestones were recognized.

Honorees included: Mark Jones, Mary Heiman, Adrienne Carrie Jacobson and Eric Voegele of Studio City, CA, Shiverdecker, Kenneth Waytes, James Opoku, Senely announce the March 25 birth of their son, Emmet S Voegele.

Eliwise, Antoinette Baxter, Julie Claasen, Noreen Drown He has a sister, Ella J Voegele, age 2. and Terri Dolezal -- five years. Phyllis Gentry, Shelly Fox, Grandparents are Joanie and Richard Jacobson, and Sonia Nianne McCormick, Natalie Osborne and Donna Russell -- Voegele of Studio City, CA.

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Thank you to our community partners for contributing to the Weekend Food Program!

Find out how you can help feed hungry children at completelykids.org or call (402) 397-5809.

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Israel Experience Grants help make Israel experiences a reality

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Program Coordinator, The Center for Jewish Life Each year, many teens and young adults have the experience of a lifetime, traveling to Israel on a wide variety of programs.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha is proud to support these experiences through the Israel Experience Grant program, a onetime gift from the Federation for students in grades 9-12 or young adults ages 18 to 25 for an approved Israel experience. The

grant is available to anyone in the Omaha Jewish community who is a resident of the Omaha metropolitan area; the applicant, or his/her family, is a donor in good standing to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha; and the applicant agrees to provide an article and pictures of the experience within one month of return to Omaha for publication in the Jewish Press. For more information, please call the Center for Jewish Life office at 402.334-6445.

My trip to Israel

Estate Coming in July

Publishing Date | 07.12.13 Space Reservation | 07.01.13 Camera Ready Deadline | 07.03.13 Contact your advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.

by MADDISON SKOLKIN During winter break I had the opportunity to travel to Israel for ten days. While my time in Israel was short, it was significant.

Who would have imagined a country where almost everyone is Jewish? It was refreshing! Growing up in Omaha, going to Beth El and continuing my studies through my senior year is one way to be Jewish, but the feeling that I had when I arrived in Israel was like nothing I have ever experienced. My trip helped shape my beliefs and changed how I see myself, my religion and the world around me.

Some of the most impressive things that made the trip so awesome were the places and the people. We saw the beautiful Golan Heights where we went on a Jeep ride. One of the jeeps got stuck so we ended up having a dance party outside the Jeep. While

our way to Jerusalem, we toured through the Valley of Peace, where I learned about olives and how olive oil is made. We hiked through the wilderness, through streams and natural caves. In Jerusalem, the atmosphere was electric. Our tour of the Old

Jessie Wees | 402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org

Community Assessment Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties

Your Voice Matters

Our community is a complex place. It is filled with needs, opportunities and challenges as diverse as the people who live here. Caring for our community and its people requires the work and dedication of us all. We ask ourselves, what does it take to make this the best possible place to live? Where do we see potential, problems and promise? How do we make this a better place for future generations?

To help find the answers, United Way of the Midlands, Iowa West Foundation and the Omaha Community Foundation are joining forces in a unique and important initiative. We’re calling on the people of Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties to share their thoughts and concerns through an online survey. The valuable insight gathered through this survey will be an integral part of planning and finding solutions that best serve us all.

Help us identify our community’s most pressing needs. Take our online survey and share your opinions at www.your-voice-matters.org.

Participating Organizations:

IOWA WEST F O U N D A T I O N

in the Golan Heights, we went to the Gamla Nature Center and went on a nature hike. We were so high up in the mountains I felt like I was “on top of the world.” We also went to visit the De Karina Chocolate Factory and got to make our own chocolate - which was a great diversion from the discussion about the importance of the border.

Tzfat was one of my favorite places; it is one of four holy cities in Israel. While there, I got to absorb the uniqueness of this mystical city. While there, we got to visit an old Sephardi shul and learn about its history.

Then we got see how candles are made.

Sailing on the Kineret River was beautiful as well, and Israeli dancing with my new friends was fun.

We met Israeli soldiers who stayed with us for five days and throughout our visit to Jerusalem. The soldiers taught us Hebrew.

Of course I learned Hebrew during Hebrew School but this was different. I attempted to speak; but it was pretty broken Hebrew. On

City and visit to the Western Wall touched my heart. The Western Wall connected me with my deepest feelings about the meaning of life and brought an inner peace.

As I approached the Wall, I realized that what all my friends and the staff had been telling me was true; The Wall is the most awe-inspiring place in all of Israel! We also visited Yad Vashem while in Jerusalem, and I cried when the Holocaust survivor showed us the shoes and the books being burned. Many of my relatives perished in the Holocaust.

Because of the weather, we could not stay the night in the Bedouin tents, but we did get to go to the top of Masada; the wind was gusty. The ruins of our ancestors and civilization were fascinating. A couple of my friends on the trip were Bat Mitzvah and gave speeches. We went to an Israeli mall one day because it was raining and we couldn’t handle all the pouring rain. We missed shopping on BenYehuda Street in Tel Aviv; but we did get to the tank museum.

We also saw the Chaim Weitzman Science Garden where I learned about which gases comprise the air we breathe. It actually snowed that day so it felt like home.

It was a busy ten days, but I see Israel as part of me now, and the journey will be with me forever. Seeing all the branches of Judaism and levels of observance made me understand that we are Jewish no matter how much or how little we observe. I was exposed to a rich culture, different than being Jewish in the United States. I hope to visit Israel again someday.

June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 7

Federations support legislation to aid survivors

by SHERRIE SAAG, Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the national umbrella organization of which the Jewish Federation of Omaha is a part, has put its political weight behind new legislation that will provide increased aid to aging Holocaust survivors.

A bi-partisan group of lawmakers worked with members of JFNA’s Washington office in constructing the RUSH Act (Responding to the Urgent needs of Survivors of the Holocaust). The initiative was introduced in both the House and Senate on May 22.

“It is critically important that we meet the needs of aging Holocaust survivors,” said Michael Siegal, chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees. “Jewish Federations across the country work towards this goal every day and it is gratifying to have the support of the United States Congress.”

Of the approximately 120,000 Holocaust survivors living in the US today, three-quarters are over the age of 75 and many struggle to afford adequate food and health care. If passed, the RUSH Act would allow for increased services to this aging population including meals, transportation, case management and caregiver support.

“Enabling Holocaust survivors to age in place is vital for health, comfort and security and brings dignity to this vulnerable population,” said JFNA’s vice president for public policy William Daroff, adding that the introduction of the bill was a “needed step toward reaching this important goal.”

In crafting this legislation, JFNA, and, by extension, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, demonstrate the importance of having a strong national Federation movement that advocates for the unique needs of our community.

In addition, a portion of the JFO’s Annual Campaign helps support similar local initiatives. Through our community’s generosity and support of the annual Campaign, funding is provided to both Jewish Family Services, which benefits, in part, Omaha’s aging community and the Institute for Holocaust Education, which works tirelessly to ensure that the stories of Omaha’s Holocaust survivors are never forgotten.

If passed, the RUSH Act would amend the Older Americans Act by adding Holocaust survivors to the designation of those with the ‘greatest social need’ to receive services to age in place. Aging Holocaust survivors have different responses to aspects of institutionalized care because of their distinct histories. The loss of privacy, autonomy, and control combined with certain sights, sounds, smells or practices, such as showers, can trigger residual psychological effects from experiences during the Holocaust. The RUSH Act can help survivors remain in their homes for as long as possible.

About half of the survivors who arrived in the United States after 1965 from the former Soviet Union fall beneath the poverty line.

“The negative effects of isolation can be devastating for survivors who also face financial challenges and fewer family members to help care for them. Autonomy and choice in elder care are extremely important to the Holocaust survivor population,” said Andrew S. Hochberg, JUF/JF Chicago Government Affairs Committee Chair.

The following is a list of legislators who introduced the bipartisan bill: Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Mark Kirk (RIL), as well as Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Other original co-sponsors include Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Bill Nelson (DFL), as well as Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL).

Engagements DIPPOLD/FINNICUM Debbie and Doug Finnicum are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Jacob Kalman Finnicum to Stephanie Lee Dippold, daughter of Mary and Dave Dippold of St. Louis.

The bride-to-be is a Stephens College graduate and recently received her Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology. She works in Federal Law Enforcement.

Her fiancé graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. He will depart in June for The Naval Special Warfare Center for (BUD/S) Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS and SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado, CA. The couple met while working at Camp Sabra, the St Louis JCC’s overnight camp in the Lake of the Ozarks.

The couple currently lives in the Washington DC area and no wedding date has been set.

In the news Travis B. Lewis graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine on May 19, 2013, with a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. He participated in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a select program that trains physician-scientists to translate laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for patients. The MSTP program is funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH).

Travis will begin his four-year residency in neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, PA., this June.

He is the son of Lisa and Denny Lewis.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on July 5. Questions?

Call 402.334.6448.

congratulates our Foundation lay leaders who were honored at the Jewish Federation of Omaha 2013 Annual Meeting:

Dr. Larry Roffman Humanitarian of the Year Carl and Zoë Riekes Phil and Terri Schrager Spirit of Federation Award Jay Noddle 2013-2014 Jewish Federation of Omaha President Through their commitment to the Foundation, these leaders have dedicated themselves to supporting Omaha’s Jewish community, creating legacies which will help to ensure a vibrant, active and financially stable Jewish community for years to come.

Create your own lasting legacy by establishing a philanthropic fund at the Foundation.

Contact Howard Epstein, Executive Director 402-590-2156 | hepstein@jewishomaha.org | www.jfofoundation.org

8 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 9

Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting The business of the Jewish Federation This year, I am very pleased to report that the campus budgets have been approved and all agencies and campus entities, as well as community organizations requesting financial support, have been approved to receive their total requests. Only the second time ever, and we couldn’t be happier about this. In addition, we increased our support to Israel by an additional 4.5%. We continue to put aside dollars into our endowments to insure that all our agencies can meet their missions for decades to come. We replenished much needed campus repair and replacement funds allowing us to maintain our physical plant and upgrade systems, like the newly installed phone system across the campus, when appropriate. All of this has happened in the midst of increasing health care costs, annual merit increases for employees, product costs rising and the addition of staff in critical service and program delivery areas across the campus. These numbers clearly represent our ability to operate more efficiently and to utilize your donor dollars wisely. We are getting better every day.

We certainly could not accomplish all that I have stated without the success of the recent Annual Campaign, and for that I would like to thank Zoë and Carl Riekes, Stacey and Brett Atlas, and Murray Newman

From the desk of the CEO MIKE SILVERMAN, CEO, Jewish Federation of Omaha

Thank you, again, for the opportunity to address you all tonight as your CEO. It’s hard to believe that it has been two years – sometimes I think it feels like ten years and sometimes it feels like just yesterday when the changes were made. One thing is for sure – it certainly is not a boring job!

Consistent with last year, I want to touch on some operational successes for the Federation and the campus. This past year, the campus realized a surplus at the end of the year amounting to $20,000 (not including the Rose Blumkin Home). This is the first time that the campus collectively had a surplus at the end of the year and allowed us to realize the benefits of our One Campus One Community Initiative. In addition to allocating Annual Campaign dollars across the campus, community and to Israel, we started putting aside dollars to help support ongoing agency operations.

and Anne Shackman for the tremendous job they did reenergizing our campaign and supporting our community. These individuals are outstanding role models for all of us.

Our future is very bright as well. Under the very capable leadership of Stacey and Jonathan Rockman, our Annual Campaign is certain to be a great success.

Their passion and dedication to the community is unmatched and I know that we are all very excited to work closely with them on the campaign. Thank you both, in advance, for your time and commitment.

And now a word about our outgoing President Jody Malashock. Jody is a rare individual because she committed herself completely to the position she assumed now three years ago. Two years would be demanding for any President, but Jody was asked by the Federation Board and the community to serve one additional year amidst many moving parts and ongoing challenges. Each one tackled head on and each one handled in the best interests of the community – not just the Federation. Jody never wavered, never compromised, and never avoided issues. Every difficult topic was discussed and the accomplishments of her presidency are incredible. As a community, we are all extremely fortunate that Jody Malashock served as President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Even

though Jody’s time as President is coming to an end, her commitment to our community remains unchanged. I have not only worked with and for an exceptional President, but I have also gained a close friend. Thank you, Jody, for all you have done for Omaha’s Jewish community!

I know that the community is excited about our next President, Jay Noddle. The timing is right. The person is right. The passion for Omaha is right. Jay is a proven, dynamic leader who just plain gets it, and he brings a family history of leadership to the position. Our campus and community are in great hands for the next three years.

So where are we going from here? My motto this year is Impact: impacting every Jewish individual in Omaha, impacting families, impacting Israel, impacting operations, impacting community experience and impacting our future. The Federation is committed to make an impact. We are here to support your children, your sibling, your parent, your cousin, your grandchild, your friend and your community.

After all, Federation and Community are one and the same.

As CEO, you have my commitment to make an impact, and I continue to feel privileged to serve the Omaha Jewish Community. Thank you so much.

Clockwise from left: The Riekes/Atlas family: Carl, Zoë, Stacey, Brett, Zach and Noah; Jody and Buzz Malashock with daughter Erin; Iris and Marty Ricks.

Future of the Federation Continued from page 1 part of your fraternity.

I have five simple goals for the next three years.

• For our Federation to broaden its reach to the local, national and international community; • To continue our tradition of “rolling with the punches” and being prepared to serve the unforeseen needs of the community at home and abroad; • To engage more of our young people to be a part of something special and to help them find a way to connect; • To identify and prepare tomorrow’s leaders for the exciting and important times ahead; • To oversee focused, productive and short meetings.

From left: Ari and Margo Riekes; Brett Atlas, Andy Ruback and Jeff Schrager; Karen and Oliver Pollak.

State of the Federation 2013

Continued from page 1 with the best interests of the community as a whole.

The HR and Comp, IT, Budget and Financial Review, Audit and Insurance Committees are made up of individuals that have expertise in their respective areas.

The nominating committees of the Federation and its agencies are keeping succession planning in mind when nominating directors to their boards. The Planning and Community Engagement Committee is made up of strategic thinkers who have tackled a multiple of issues, have set short and long term goals for the Federation and most recently rewritten the bylaws that were needed before implementing the changes in the way we do business today. Finding the right people and keeping them engaged will always be challenging but necessary to the success of the Federation.

Invest in partnerships We have made great strides in our lay/professional relationships. All partnerships take communication, work and investment. Together, with keeping our mission in mind and operations at hand, we, as lay leaders and professionals, need to pay attention to the fact that non profits of today are also businesses that need to have transparency and accountability to our community. Our One Campus One Community initiative has also led to a stronger partnership with our agencies, outside entities, and synagogues. This has been apparent in joint efforts this past year, most notably the relocation of the Riekes Museum.

Take risks and make mistakes Anytime the opportunity for change occurs, there are areas of concern. Yet, if you’re not changing anything, then you are not leading, and leading sometimes involves taking risks. Risks are not impulse actions. Risks are about taking chances with ideas that may have not been tried before but with a reasonable sense that these actions will lead to a desirable outcome. Have there been some mistakes? Yes. We knew from the beginning that there would be. At

the same time, we’ve created an environment where mistakes are acknowledged and most often corrected. Due to the dedication of two planning committees, a strong Federation Board and a willingness on the community’s part to accept the changes, we are stronger today as a Federation.

Zero in on what is important We know that engaging our young families, taking care of our elderly, creating Jewish experiences here and abroad and supporting Israel remain top priorities for the community. Thanks to a successful Campaign led by the Riekes and Atlas families, we’ve been able to meet the needs of the community during this year’s budgeting process. Our community event, Beatlemania, was attended by over 600 community members, both young and old. What a community building opportunity we had! The refurbishing of the canteen area and the JCC Youth Lounge, the Outdoor Concert Series and JCC Theater performances are a few examples of experiences that our young families are looking for. We want our campus to be the “place to be” and our programming relevant to those we serve. One only has to walk into the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home to see and feel the love and care that our elderly receive. Star Deli is the place to be on Friday afternoons as community members and residents alike enjoy a kosher lunch as well as visiting with friends and family. Our connection with Israel remains strong through our increased financial commitment, our Partnership involvement, and Israel advocacy.

Be inspired, stay inspired What keeps us going as a community is being in touch with the what, why and who has inspired each of us to get involved in the first place, and what inspires us to continue to work for it despite obstacles that we may face.

How does this translate to the State of our Federation? Having modernized our organizational structure and implemented a CEO, we can identify our

strengths. Our donors and lay leaders are more educated, informed and invested in the workings of the Federation. There is an expectation on our part that we understand the needs of the community balanced with the fiscal responsibility charged. Our priorities must remain relevant to our needs. Our business operations are tighter and more transparent than ever before. Our campus lay leaders and professionals are working together to fulfill our mission and we’ve learned to challenge ourselves when needed and to follow through.

As President, I have had the good fortune to meet and work with so many people that work hard every day for our community. Thank you to all of our generous donors who make it possible for us to provide for our community, our wonderful volunteers, our dedicated lay leaders and our caring professionals.

You all have enriched the lives of many and have ensured the continued success of Jewish Omaha.

To the Federation Board of Directors, it has been my honor to serve as President with all of you. The challenges that we have faced and decisions that we’ve made were always met with thoughtful consideration. I have always valued your support, dedication, loyalty and friendship. I wish you, our new board members, and Jay the best in the coming years as you continue to build on what we have accomplished to date.

Julee, thank you for all you do. You are the glue that holds us all together with your rich history of the ins and outs of our Federation. You have always been there for me when I needed you, professionally and personally. You were my cheerleader, confidant, advisor and friend, and I will always cherish our time together. I will miss being part of our triangle.

Mike, the number one lesson on my list was “find the right people.” I knew then and even more so now that you were the right person to be the CEO of our Federation. For two people who really didn’t know each other well, it is amazing the magnitude of what

our relationship has developed into over the years.

Even more amazing is we still like each other! As your boss, as you liked to call me, you were always there when I needed you. You are truly one of the smartest and hardest working individuals I have ever known, and your devotion and loyalty to the JFO is second to none. I know I have personally grown these last years as a lay leader due to your leadership and guidance. Thank you for all you have done for me and for our community.

Ryan, Michelle, Erin, Aaron and Eli, you are and always have been my love and inspiration. I’ve told this story many times but I’m going to share it once more. When people have asked me why I’ve remained in leadership, I always say “that although my children have moved away from Omaha, I feel truly blessed that they are leading Jewish lives in their own communities. The opportunities that they have are due to the leadership and caring of those that came before them.” I am so proud of all of you as you have stepped into leadership roles as well. Always remember that it is our responsibility as Jews to carry on the traditions of our heritage and to give back to our communities so that the opportunities that have been afforded to us are there for the next generation and for all those that follow.

Buzz, you have been my number one supporter.

You were always there by my side, listening to me for hours, giving me advice and going to more meetings, programs and events than I can count. Our community has always been important to both of us, and I so appreciate the time, love and care that you have given me these last three years. Thank you for dreaming the dream with me.

And to our community, thank you for the opportunity and privilege of having served as your Federation President. I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together and look forward to the future as we continue to be a strong, vibrant, committed Omaha Jewish Community. Thank you.

Clockwise from above: Mark Martin with wife Julie and their children David and Rachel; Mike Silverman and Jody Malashock; Zoë Riekes, Margo Riekes and Ann Shackman; Patrick and Lynn Jensen.

We are so fortunate to have the group of professional and lay leaders we do for our Omaha Jewish Federation community. The senior staff is fabulous and the lay Board and Committee members are all wonderful.

Here are a few qualities of our leaders: • Very bright and informed people; • They are all caring and thoughtful; • They like short meetings; • They are experienced in both their professional and volunteer lives; • They believe in making well-informed decisions; • None of them are shy, and they are all willing to express their own opinions but share a clear and common vision for our Jewish Community; • They have all dealt with the “stuff ” each of our lives

throws at us, and they’ve all dealt with “Jewish stuff ” as well; • They like short meetings; • They all have the courage to do the right thing.

We have exciting times ahead, full of adventure and innovation. There will be great times and there will be lousy times, but together as One Community, we will prosper and grow and continue to be the Community we are all blessed to be a part of and honored to represent.

It will be a pleasure to serve with such a wonderful group of professional and lay leaders. Again, thank you, Jody, for all you have done for us, and thanks to all of you for the confidence you have in me; it’s an honor and a privilege to be your Federation President.

10 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

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Iowa Western Community Band is a concert band made up of students and residents of Council Bluffs and the surrounding area. The group joins together for the love of playing and has performed locally for over 30 years. “Bring a

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friend,” said Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Programs at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

“This will be a toe-tapping evening, for sure.” And while you’re marking your calendars, Conti suggests you add these dates of upcoming summer Mainstreeters programs: Monday, July 15 luncheon with music by Kim Eames; Friday, July 19 free showing of the movie Quartet directed

by Dustin Hoffman; Sunday, Aug. 18 Brownville Concert Series with jazz vocalist Deborah Brown singing Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin classics; Sunday, Aug. 25 the Summer Picnic at Chalco Hills Recreational Area.

The Sensational Summer Sounds Concert is sponsored by Iowa Western Community College, the City of Council Bluffs and Jewish Social Services.

Do you know me?

The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society recently came across this unidentified photo in the archival collection. The photo was in the Jewish Press with the date of 4-27 with no year provided.

We would be grateful for any help identifying the woman in this photo.

Please contact 402.334.6441 or email kweiner@jewishomaha.org if you know the person in the photograph.

Fourth arrest in 2009 attack on Tel Aviv teen gay club

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A fourth man was arrested in connection with the fatal 2009 shooting attack at a youth center for gays in Tel Aviv. Police believe the man arrested early Thursday morning has information that could assist in the investigation. He is not suspected of involvement in the attack at the Bar Noar club that killed two, according to Ynet.

Three suspects were arrested Wednesday. The suspects are all believed to be Jewish, from central Israel and between the ages of 20 and 40, according to reports.

The hate crime motive has been ruled out in the case, police said. Rather, the attack is thought to have been a personal vendetta against someone who was said to be in the club, according to Haaretz.

Liz Trubeshi, 16, and a youth adviser, Nir Katz, 27, were killed in the Aug. 1, 2009 attack. A gag order remains on the details of the investigation in which more than 1,000 people have been interrogated. The fourth arrest comes a day before Tel Aviv's annual Gay Pride Parade.

Moving teens

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer While many of their peers are spending the summer at camp or on vacation, a small group of Temple Israel teens has other plans: to help the congregation move from Cass Street to Sterling Ridge, one box at a time.

In exchange for Temple Israel staff helping them secure summer jobs, Courtney Bierman, Grant Glazer, Joe Hack, Jordan Jensen and Sydney Robinson are each volunteering their free time this summer as Temple Israel prepares for moving day.

Bierman, who will be a high school junior in the fall, will be learning the ins and outs of journalism as a reporter for the Jewish Press.

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” Bierman said. “Not many kids get to have their work published in a real newspaper. I've always enjoyed writing, and I’ve considered majoring in journalism in college. Although I’ll probably change my mind, I'd really like to be a film critic when I grow up.”

Joe Hack, who will be attending Stanford in the fall, is getting a chance to shadow Dr. Philip Bierman, a professor of internal medicine at UNMC and Courtney’s father.

“I don’t necessarily want to go into medicine,” Hack said, “but medicine at that level is fascinating. I think it will be really cool to see what he does.”

In addition to helping out with the Temple Israel move, Hack is also working this summer as a research assistant and writer for Temple Israel.

“It feels good to be able to give back,” Hack said.

“Temple has always been a special place for me and my family.”

Hack will be joined at Stanford next year by his friend Grant Glazer, who will also be shadowing a doctor this summer: Dr. Shelley Smith, a genetics researcher at UNMC. “Her work primarily deals with sequencing DNA to determine the causes of hereditary conditions like deafness,” Glazer said. “I'm interested in shadowing her and other researchers primarily to gain experience in a research lab in anticipation of similar experiences in other scientific fields next year at Stanford. I also think it will be cool to learn more about and be close to the cutting-edge medical research that goes on at UNMC.” Both Jordan Jensen, who just finished her freshman year of college, and Sydney Robinson, are working at UNMC this summer as well. Robinson is shadowing Dr. Bruce Buehler, a professor at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, while Jensen is working in Dr. Nora Sarvetnick’s research lab.

Free labor for the move isn’t the only reason Temple Israel worked to find these opportunities for its young adults.

“We want our best and the brightest to return to Omaha after their college experiences,” Program Director Wendy Goldberg said. “I truly believe that if they have had a positive work experience in Omaha they will consider it as a viable option in their future planning.

We want them to want to return home.”

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Jim Vokal, the new Executive Director of the Platte Institute (A think tank) will discuss their quest to find business solutions for current problems like aid to education and preserving the environment on Wednesday, June 19, noon, at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@ jewishomaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH The vocabulary of Yiddish is drawn from German (mostly), Hebrew, Slavic Tongues, Romance languages, and English.

Yiddish stresses the humor in every situation because the reality for Jews is most often too difficult to bear. That is what we offer -- fun and laughter. Come join us at the Blumkin Home’s Boardroom every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

NEBRASKA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY The June meeting of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Genealogy Club is cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for July 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the NJHS office.

Anyone interested in researching their family history is invited to attend. For questions, please contact, njhs@jew ishomaha.org or call 402.334.6441.

June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 11

Interfaith dialogue at its best

by RABBI CRAIG LEWIS Again, with the help of a translator, we compare notes With dinner over, we move into town. Some sip tea at a Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, The South Street Temple, Lincoln, NE about how we serve our respective communities. Then a local cafe with the town’s residents. Members of our group Picking at the bones of a succulent piece of roasted lamb, second imam arrives wearing a vest and riding a motorcycle. give impromptu English lessons to the children. Some of us I look up to take in my surroundings. On a mountainside, I His name is Isa. Though it sounds like “Esau” to me, they walk the streets. The local haircutter offers me a trim. And am overlooking a lush valley of olive trees near Büyükbelen explain that it is the Arabic name of Jesus who Islam regards then we take a tour of the mosque. It is a classic style with a in the Manisa region of Turkey. My traveling companions as a prophet. domed roof and blue and white ceramic tiles. It is very beauand I dine on picnic tables which have been set up in a tiful, and Abdullah is proud to tell us it was paid for entiremulti-purpose park. Piles of shell casings at my feet hint ly by contributions from the citizens of Büyükbelen. that most days this is a skeet shooting range, but for this He describes his daily duties including Koran lessons and night, it is the venue for an extraordinary interfaith dinner. discussions of religious practice he leads in local cafes.

As guests, we are ten in all, members of a delegation While I know our jobs are not the same, I cannot help but from Lincoln sponsored by the Niagara Foundation. In be struck by the similarities, and I am reminded of my Nebraska, we have worked together to build relationships plans to start offering similar courses at the Mill or other and understanding among members of the three Lincoln coffee shops. Before we leave the mosque, each Abrahamic faiths. In Turkey, we have been invited to share clergy person is presented with a copy of the Koran. Mine our message of tolerance and understanding. is an Arabic printing with Turkish translation. It clearly has Our hosts are more than gracious, exhibiting boundless seen some use, and is a beautiful volume which I will hospitality and generosity. This is only one occasion durproudly display in my library as a remembrance of the ing which I observe that hosts do not eat even a bite until friendship I was shown by my colleague half a world away. they are certain their guests have been satisfied. The porI spend the rest of the evening past sunset laughing with tions are large, and if you are not careful, an empty space the children (laughter needs no translator), and I chat in on your plate becomes quickly filled in with another piece French with Mehmet, the mayor of the town. of lamb, seasoned rice, or baklava.

In all, I spent eight days in Turkey. I toured many beauIt is a perfect evening as the sun begins to descend in the tiful places and saw even more incredible things. It is a sky, and suddenly, our guide Emrah asks if we would like beautiful country of contrasts, of varied topography, of histo meet the local imam. I immediately look up, seeking out Douglas Hardt, Union College, Lincoln, left; Lauren Van Ham, tory, of struggle, of conquest and defeat, of religion and the one who fit the description, the one dressed as a Chaplaincy Institute, Berkeley, CA; Abdullah, Imam in Büyükbelen: secularism, of tolerance and nationalism. Yes, there were Muslim cleric. “Who is it?” I ask. They point to a slender Pastor Steven Griffih, St. Paul UMC, Lincoln; and Rabbi Craig demonstrations and riots while I was there, but our itinerman in brown pants and a brown plaid button-down shirt. Lewis, South Street Temple, Lincoln. ary changed accordingly. Neither my friends nor I were It is a very nicely-pressed J Crew look. And suddenly, I am My curiosity becomes piqued. I ask for clarification, how ever in harm’s way as we avoided Taksim Square, and unforforced to confront myself for the stereotypes and miscon- they pronounce the name of the character of Esau. It is hard tunately the Jewish Museum and the main synagogues ceptions I had brought with me. to tell if the question was well understood, but it leads to a which were just too close to the activity.

We are introduced. His name is Abdullah, and through a discussion of our shared lineage, Abraham to Ishmael and As dangerous and as frustrating as those clashes were, translator, I tell him, “You are not dressed like an imam.” Isaac, Isaac to Jacob and Esau, Jacob to Joseph, et al. In one they helped round out our trip, as they are a symbol of the Then pointing to myself in cargo shorts and robin’s egg polo of the greatest compliments I have ever received, I am on-going struggle for Turkey to find its voice on the world shirt, I say, “And I guess I am not dressed like a rabbi.” informed that the imams consider me to be a very wise man. stage as a powerful Western economy and as an ancient We laugh a little and sit on some concrete steps to talk. I just blush and say, “teşekkür (thank you).” nation rooted in its religious character.

The other clergy members from my trip join us. There is We exchange gifts, some Huskers t-shirts and pens, a few It was informational and educational, and I learned much Pastor Steven Griffith from St. Paul United Methodist UNL flash drives. I hand out some pictures of the South about a place I had barely known before. But learning histoChurch, Douglas Hardt, a Seventh Day Adventist pastor and Street Temple and buttons featuring our famous rose window. ry and sightseeing were only supplementary bonuses. No professor at Union College, and Lauren Van Ham, a Lincoln I am moved to see Isa wearing his button for the remainder moment encapsulated my purpose for making this journey native who is Dean of Interfaith studies at the Chaplaincy of the evening, and then later to see Abdullah’s daughter skip- more than that moment, six clergy sitting as friends on a conInstitute in Berkeley, California. ping down the street sporting her South Street button. crete step, just talking shop -- interfaith dialogue at its best.

Night Deli

July 2, 2013 5:30 to 7 p.m.

We’re celebrating the Deli’s 3rd anniversary!

Join us for our “Hanukkah in July” dinner, Tuesday July 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Featuring (drum roll please) the Latke Reuben!

12 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Dressing up

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Father’s Day is almost here. If you needed a reminder that having a great dad is reason to celebrate, the news always obliges. You may have a vague memory of the little boy in New Jersey, who couldn’t celebrate his third birthday with cake, because employees at the local bakery refused to decorate it. They were supposed to write “Happy Birthday, Adolf Hitler Campbell” in the icing, and decided that was just not going to happen. Party poopers, the parents said. The story made headlines for a while, especially since parents Heath and Deborah had three more children: Hons, Jocelyn Aryan Nation, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie.

Did you ever wonder what happened to them since? No, me neither. But, that doesn’t matter: these types of stories tend to find us anyway.

Turns out, Heath and Deborah separated about a year ago, and dad is now battling it out in court. The big question: who gets custody of the kids? Heath Campbell, or the State?

“Me,” says Heath, “because I love my children and I am a great father. Let me prove it to the judge.”

The way he decided to do that was by showing up for court in full Nazi uniform, complete with knee-high black boots and swastika patches. The outfit went well with his abovethe-collar neck tattoo, also of a swastika. He brought a friend, also dressed head-to-toe like a Nazi. I guess in Jersey, Halloween came early this year. When asked whether his outfit would sway the judge in his favor, Campbell answered: “It depends on the judge.”

You think?

All joking aside (no, really), Google “Nazi Dad,” and you get 56 million hits in 0.17 seconds. There is nothing funny about that. Because all stories about neo-Nazi parents have one thing in common: severe abuse and neglect of their children. In January of this year, a 12-year-old boy in Riverside, CA, was convicted of second-degree murder after shooting

his neo-Nazi father two years ago. The shooting came after a lifetime of abuse.

British neo-Nazi Martyn Gilleard was found guilty of making bombs for a far-right group; when police searched his apartment, they found thousands of child abuse images on his computer. Wisconsin neo-Nazi and previously convicted bomber Sean Riker was arrested in 2009 for multiple counts of child abuse. And the list goes on.

That there is a strange correlation between Nazi sympathies and child abuse may not seem surprising, but that is not necessarily the main issue here, as much as it pains me to admit it. The real concern is that the headlines are generated, and attention is paid, because of the Nazi regalia, not because of the child abuse. Children getting beaten and neglected, that’s not news. Knee-high boots and Swastika tattoos, that’s news. It’s funny, it’s weird and laughable and ridiculous, and so it causes severe rubbernecking.

Why do we pay more attention to the costumes than to the depravity behind it? Is it our tendency to focus on what these people look like, rather than the behavior underneath the dressup? I’m not sure I know how to answer that, but it bothers me.

It bothers me, because if we only pay attention to the hideous uniform, and conveniently forget that many of these people cause real harm, what happens to the kids? Where do they go after Child Protective Services have removed them from their homes? How do they recover?

What are you supposed to do,

when you’re 12 years old, and you are sentenced for shooting your own father after being systematically beaten during the first ten years of your life?

It is obvious that those who join hate groups, polish their boots and play dress up, would benefit from a parenting class or two. But as long as society only focuses on the ridiculous theatrics, rather than on the terrible parenting, the problems will only get bigger. It’s strange that we feel as if we have to choose.

We should continue to pay attention to the victims, long after the parents leave the headlines. Because, seriously, people like Heath Campbell are a little beyond help. I want to know what happens to poor little Adolf, I want to know that he gets both a name change and the help he needs. And that next time he has a birthday, someone who loves him can order him a very normal cake without making the news.

From church choir to Jerusalem

Focus on issues HAROLD BERMAN EFRAT, West Bank (JTA) -- One Christmas eve, as Jews across the country headed for Chinese restaurants, I found myself in a church choir.

The church, on the outskirts of Boston and straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, had hired me to sing for their service. As the clock struck 11, I entered the sanctuary with the choir, our robes and music illuminated only by the candles each of us held.

“Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,” we intoned in a near-whisper as the organ weaved its way under our voices. “Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed.” The congregation gradually joined in as we made our way to the choir loft. “Mary, loving mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.”

The hymn concluded, and in a moment never to be replicated in any synagogue, the entire congregation sat down in unison, uttering not a word.

And so began my search to live a deeply meaningful Jewish life.

I was born and raised as a Jew. I had my bar mitzvah at the local Reform temple. After college, I fell in love with the woman who was to become my wife. She wasn’t Jewish; she was the minister of music in a Texas megachurch. But at the time, I couldn’t imagine why that should be an issue, and I was upset when the local rabbi wouldn’t marry us alongside her minister.

That Christmas Eve was hardly the first time I had sung in

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a church. But this time was different. We had recently decided to adopt a child. My Christian wife, who was busy directing the choir for a church service across town, had concluded that, given our circumstances, it would be easiest to raise him as a Jew. We had even joined a temple that was very welcoming to interfaith families.

As I stood in that church choir loft, with talk of mangers and virgin births swirling around me, a little voice in my head began to protest. The voice reminded me that, in addition to Christmas Eve, it was Friday night. The voice asked what I was doing there. I didn’t have a good answer. The voice asked me why Shabbat wasn’t as important to me as Christmas Eve was to them. I struggled for a response.

By the end of the service, the voice had thoroughly interrogated me. “OK, OK,” I thought. “You’re right. I need to get serious about Judaism.”

Ironically, that church service gave me the push I needed to start making Judaism central to my life. Push, yes. But where was the pull? Where was the compelling Jewish community that would draw me in?

My wife and I started going to classes at the temple we had joined, but the classes weren’t so exciting. And when hardly anyone else showed up, we began to lose interest.

I started going to services, but that wasn’t so exciting either. There was lots of talk about making the service shorter and more entertaining, but hardly a word about making prayer more meaningful.

So I started to read about Judaism, books like The Sabbath

by Abraham Joshua Heschel and piles of commentaries on the Torah. It was all so compelling, so rich, so deep. But every time I lifted my gaze from those books, the Jewish

reality around me wasn’t nearly as exciting -- neither in the temple we had joined nor the many others we visited.

My wife wanted to learn more about Judaism too, if for no other reason than to help raise our son. But the enthusiasm she encountered at church wasn’t matched in many parts of the Jewish community. Temple members had welcomed us with open arms. Everyone was friendly. But beyond the smiles, there wasn’t much more to keep us coming back.

Being warm and welcoming and inclusive is nice. In fact, it’s essential. But it’s not enough. When it comes to the intermarried, our Jewish world has made a mantra of the “open tent.” We’ve forgotten that the tent’s door is merely a point of entry. What’s inside is what ultimately matters.

The intermarried can get smiles in many other places. But if we are not providing them with all the depth and meaning that our 3,500-year-old tradition has to offer, we are not only selling Judaism short, but we are failing them.

So from the church choir loft to Jewish experiences that left me asking “Where’s the beef ” to a pile of Jewish books - just where did I end up?

Today, we are an observant Jewish family living near Jerusalem. My wife at a certain point felt compelled to convert and become part of the Jewish people. Our children are conversant with Jewish texts. We live in a community that is fully immersed in Jewish life.

How we got here is a rather involved story, which my wife and I have set forth in our recently released book, Doublelife: One Family, Two Faiths and a Journey of Hope. The very short version is that we ultimately found more traditional parts of the Jewish world, where Judaism was a 24/7 activity Continued on page 13

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June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 13

Time to replace programmatic model of Jewish affiliation

Focus on issues RON WOLFSON LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- It’s that time of year, when Jewish institutions pull out their 2013-14 calendars and fill them with events. Many of the programs are very good, with clever names and slick marketing: Jews and Brews, for young Federation leadership; L’mazeltov, for expectant parents; Torah and Tacos, for synagogue members who favor a certain southwestern cuisine with their Bible study.

And yet, after all this well-meaning effort, membership in synagogues and JCCs is declining, federation campaigns are flat and a generation of young Jewish adults is in no hurry to affiliate. The 20th century model of programmatic engagement is not working.

Recently I received an urgent phone call from what once was one of the largest synagogues in America, some 1,500 households. In 2000, the congregation had a balanced budget and no mortgage on a sprawling building. Ominously, young couples were moving out of the neighborhood and older folks were dropping out. The leaders knew they had to do something.

Here’s what they did: They borrowed $1 million. Nearly half was spent on a slick rabbi who lasted less than two years.

The rest was spent on programs: lectures by top speakers, concerts by renowned celebrities and an array of events targeted to specific segments of the community. Lots of people came to the programs and ostensibly enjoyed them. Then they went home.

Nothing was done to address the widely held perception that the congregation was cold and unwelcoming. Nothing was done to create connections between those who showed up and the clergy and staff. By the time the leaders called me, the congregation was $1 million in debt and had shrunk to 350 households.

What’s going on? Synagogues, rabbis and Jewish educators once were the main access points to serious Jewish learning.

JCCs were a comfortable place to put your little ones in preschool, join a health club and participate in cultural activities. Federations were the central address for supporting the various arms of the community.

The Internet has changed all that. Hundreds of websites feature rich Jewish content for free. Why pay to join a congregation when I can watch live streaming video of worship services, arrange for a bar or bat mitzvah tutor online and have the ceremony in my backyard with a rent-a-rabbi? Why join a JCC when I can go to a fitness center and easily find a

Letters TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: Nancy Kaufman argued that the Administration’s suggested change to the Social Security CPI indexing formula is not appropriate, and should not be implemented. In particular, she called the proposal, “A dispiriting breach of trust to future generations by the Administration.”

Unfortunately, our Social Security system is not actuarially sound. If changes are not made, the Trust Funds will run out of money in roughly 20 years (source: 2013 OASDI Trustees Report, Intermediate Assumptions). If the status quo is maintained until that time, then the Social Security payroll taxes would equal only about 75% of the promised benefits. This situation would have draconian consequences. In other words, maintaining the status quo would be, “A dispiriting breach of trust to future generations.” The main reasons for the shortfall are increased longevity by retirees combined with a decline in the ratio of workers paying taxes to retirees collecting benefits.

Some changes to Social Security are necessary for the program’s survival. The changes will likely be some combination of tax increases and/or benefit reductions. The Administration’s CPI indexing suggestion is one of the possible changes. One advantage of this suggestion is that most of the impact on beneficiaries occurs in the later years.

Some changes are necessary to get the Social Security system on an actuarially sound basis. The sooner we make the necessary changes, the less painful they will be to both workers and beneficiaries.

David Lee 15924 Lamp Circle, Omaha, NE 68118 Dear Editor, I am writing a paper about Henry Monsky. I am interested in talking to anyone who has stories and memories about his Omaha community activism. I can be reached at 402.659.2455 and obpomni@aol.com.

Thank you, Oliver B. Pollak

cheaper preschool? Why give to a centralized federation when I can direct my giving to causes that resonate with me?

This begs the ultimate question: What is the value of affiliating with a Jewish institution?

In my new book, Relational Judaism (Jewish Lights Publishing), I suggest it is this: a face-to-face community of relationships that offers meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing.

To create such a community, we need to turn our engagement model upside down. Rather than spending all our time planning events and hoping people show up, let’s begin with the people: Welcome them, hear their stories, identify their talents and passions, care about them and for them -- and then craft programs that engage them with the Jewish experience.

Thankfully, there are organizations and individuals on the cutting edge of this relational tipping point. Chabad has grown from a small group of disciples to an army of 4,500 rabbis and their families who reject the dues model of affiliation: pay up front, then you are served. Rather, they build a relationship with individuals first and only then ask for financial support.

Congregation-based community organizing begins with one-on-one conversations designed to tease out common interests that can be the basis for communal action. Hillel is sending well-trained college students into the dorms and Greek houses to develop relationships with peers who would never walk into a Hillel House. A number of next generation initiatives like Synagogue 3000’s Next Dor and Moishe House are designed to reach young Jewish professionals by building relationships. Social media are increasingly useful as a way to build virtual communities and encourage faceto-face meetings.

The best fundraisers know that relationships are at the heart of raising money; most charitable giving is to people the donor trusts, not simply to support a particular cause.

From these case studies and more than 150 interviews with those doing relational work, my book throws a spotlight on a number of best principles and practices that any Jewish institutional professional or lay leader can use to do this transformational work, ranging from personal encounters to new relational membership models.

This paradigm shift will not be easy; this is labor-intensive work. It will not require more buildings but a reallocation of the precious time of staff and laity. We will need engagement rabbis, relationship directors, community concierges and sophisticated tracking systems to ensure appropriate followup and transitions as individuals traverse the life cycle of

community engagement. We will not need new institutions, but to transform the institutions we already have from programmatic to relational communities. People may come for programs, but they will stay for relationships.

So as we fill out those calendars for next year, let’s embrace a new goal: to engage every member of our institutions and every interested unaffiliated person in a deeper relationship with Judaism, with the Jewish experience and with each other. Let’s begin by putting people before programs. Let’s learn who they are before we try to figure out what they want. Let’s inspire them to see Judaism as a worldview that can inform the many different levels of relationship in their lives.

Let’s work toward a rededication of our mishpachah, our people, to a relational Judaism.

Ron Wolfson is the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles and the cofounder of Synagogue 3000/Next Dor. His new book is Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community (Jewish Lights Publishing).

From church choir to Jerusalem Continued from page 12 that was about nothing less than transforming ourselves and our world. Where we were inspired to learn and grow and ultimately become a Jewish family because we were given substance we couldn’t find anywhere else.

But when we started out, we would have been any Jewish outreach worker’s nightmare. Had we only experienced the “warm and welcoming” track that much of the Jewish community is offering to the intermarried, I wouldn’t be writing this. I would have been lost to the Jewish community.

With approximately 600,000 intermarried families in the United States, I wonder who else we’re overlooking.

Harold Berman, the co-author of Doublelife: One Family, Two Faiths and a Journey of Hope, is the former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. He and his wife, Gayle, are the founders of J-Journey.org, a support system for intermarried families who seek to become observant Jews.

Tikkun Olam: Ethical mitzvot are mitzvot

by RABBI ASHIRA KONIGSBURG (JNS.org) This past year was difficult. It included major natural disasters (tornadoes in Oklahoma, Hurricane Sandy) and human tragedy (Boston Marathon bombing, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary). We sense that our world is in need of repair. And those of us who think of ourselves as global citizens, as well as Jews, feel called to do something to counteract this chaos. Working to fix our broken world, in Jewish terms, is called Tikkun Olam.

The term Tikkun Olam comes from rabbinic literature.

The Mishnah seems to use Tikkun Olam as a legislative principle correcting a flaw in the legal system that, if uncorrected, could lead to an injustice. The idea of tikkun is also found in the mystical traditions. According to Lurianic Kabbalah, there was a problem with the creation process and thus the world requires tikkun (repair). The innovation of the kabbalists was to suggest that the actions of humans can impact the Divine.

In our times, these two ideas are combined into the modern concept of Tikkun Olam. Literally translated as “repairing the world,” the term has been applied pretty much any time we act to impact the world beyond ourselves. It’s been used to describe both volunteering and advocacy. Those who engage in such activities are taught that their actions are cosmically important and that setting the world right is a Jewish imperative.

Critics fairly point out that the tikkun of the kabbalists meant fulfilling mitzvot (commandments), many of them ritual. To such kabbalists, every mitzvah performed helps to repair creation. To focus only on social concerns, while leaving ritual commandments unfulfilled, can feel, to some, as a betrayal of the intent of the kabbalistic concept of tikkun.

While I certainly uphold the religious importance of fulfilling ritual commandments, it seems far too simplistic to criticize proponents of Tikkun Olam for not engaging enough in mitzvot. For one thing: even if Tikkun Olam itself isn’t one of the 613 commandments, ethical mitzvot are mitzvot. Perhaps there is no categorical imperative to

repair the world, but there are clear Jewish imperatives to feed the hungry, care for the needy, and save lives.

Furthermore, engaging in social justice activities and fulfilling ritual mitzvot are not mutually exclusive. For many Jews, Tikkun Olam is the entry point into learning more about their heritage and taking on other obligations. For Jewish Americans who have a better sense of universal values than Jewish ones, connecting their general impulse to make a difference in the world to the relevant Jewish concepts can bring them closer to our tradition.

Those who are committed to what they call Tikkun Olam do it out of a strong sense of the traditional Jewish values of tzedek (justice) and hesed (kindness).

One example of the importance of ethical mitzvot comes from the Talmud (Taanit 22a), which contains a story in which the prophet Elijah singles out two unremarkable looking men and indicates that they have a share in the world to come. Rabbi Beroka asks them in what profession they work. They reply that they are jesters who cheer up others, and that when they see two people arguing, they work hard to make peace between them. From the context, it is unlikely that these two men are exemplars of ritual observance. The moral of the story is that these seemingly areligious acts are supremely important. Living a life that includes the regular fulfillment of these mitzvot is enough to earn these performers a place in the world to come.

If a young professional chooses to spend her time after work helping to cheer up patients in the hospital, or a college student chooses to spend his summer vacation volunteering for a grassroots peace movement, we should applaud their commitment rather than scrutinize their levels of ritual observance as if helping others is no mitzvah at all. Another generation of Jews is taking on g’milut hasidim and giving tzedakah. Whether or not they call it Tikkun Olam, surely they are hastening the redemption of the world.

Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg is Associate Director of Rabbinic Services at the Rabbinical Assembly.

14 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 712.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, call 712.323.8885.

South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Rabbi Craig and Jennifer Lewis.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parsahat Chukat; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. All ages are welcome. If you have questions or need a ride, call Deborah Swearingen, 402.476.7528.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Olive Garden, 6100 “O” Street. Questions or to RSVP, please contact Stephanie Dohner.

THURSDAY: High Holiday Day Choir Rehearsal begins, 7:30-9 p.m. For more information please contact Elaine Monnier at 402.327.9212 or emonnier@windstream.net, or Holly Heffelbower at hheffel@inebraska.com.

Camp Israel 2013, July 8-10 and 15-19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Contact Andrea at ahalpern1386@gmail.com or Tracy at tgordongjc@yahoo.com to register you child(ren).

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 Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Chef Demo at the Blumkin Home, 1:30 p.m. Stop by to watch as guest chef Howard Shandell whips up a delicacy or two for RBJH Residents; Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; 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.

SUNDAY: Torah Study Group, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY: Dames ‘n’ Drinks, 7 p.m. All women of Beth El are invited.

B’nai Mitzvah, Saturday, June 22, 9:30 a.m., we celebrate the B’nai Mitzvah of Hannah and Josh Stein, children of Julie and David Stein.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day, Sunday, June 23, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (two shifts). Join Beth El’s volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity; no construction/painting experience necessary. Registration is required; visit www.bethel-omaha.org.

Storm Chasers Game, Sunday, June 30, 2:05 p.m., Beth El’s YAC group heads to Werner Park for a Storm Chasers baseball game. Cost: $7 per person; no charge for children under three. Reservation deadline is June 26. Visit Beth El’s website for details and to register.

Sisterhood Honey Sale orders are now being taken (through July 2) for kosher, OU certified honey as holiday gifts, $10 per bottle with delivery in time for Rosh Hashanah. Anyone may place an order and pay online at www.bethel-omah.org. For more information, contact Andrea Grossman, 402.390.3673 or 402.680.9095.

All 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: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross.

FRIDAY: Torah for your Shabbat Table with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 6:40 p.m.; The Laws of Shabbat, 7:40 p.m.; Mincha/Seuda Shlishit, 8:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:51 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Daf Yomi: Week in Review with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m.

TUESDAY: Women’s Study Group, 6:30 p.m. at the home of Kathy and Harry Weiner.

WEDNESDAY: Coffee and Your Jewish News with Rabbi Gross, 7:45 a.m.; Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

THURSDAY: Sacred Grounds with Rabbi Gross, 9:30 a.m.

CHABAD CENTER 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: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush lunch will follow.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m.; Breakfast Bonanza, 9:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Dynamic Discovery with Shani Katzman, 10:15 a.m. A class for women based on traditional texts with practical insights and application. Please reserve by calling 402.330.1800.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. Contact Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@ unmc.edu to receive updates.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Chef ’s Demo, 1:30 p.m. led by Howard Shandell from Beth El. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

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 Comes to You at Remington Heights, 4 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet; Summer Speaker: Cantor Shermet “Oy” SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Torah and Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer.

B’nai Mitzvah Hannah Rose Stein and Joshua Alexander Stein, children of Julie and David Stein, will become a B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, June 22, at Beth El. Hannah and Josh will be seventhgrade students at Beveridge Magnet Middle School in the fall.

Hannah receiveded the Girl Scout Bronze Award. Her interests include dancing and playing violin.

Josh’s interests include Boy Scouts and reading.

For their mitzvah project, Hannah and Josh volunteer at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

They have a brother, Zach.

Grandparents are Esther and James Wax, and Lorrie and Art Stein.

To Submit B’nai Mitzvah 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.

Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, by e-mailing the editor at: ckatzman@jewishomaha.org or online at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press.’

Submit other announcements -- births engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Federation website: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press,’ scroll down to ‘Submit Announcements, complete form and click on “submit” twice.

Candlelighting Friday, June 14, 8:41 p.m.

TUESDAY: Executive Committee, 6 p.m. and Board of Trustees, 7 p.m.

Hard Hat Tours, Sunday, June 23, 1-3 p.m. and Tuesday, June 25, 5-7 p.m. We are excited to show off our new building at 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive. Please remember this is a construction site and you need to wear closed-toe sturdy shoes.

These tours are scheduled with the construction schedule in mind. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536 to schedule your tour.

For your safety and to avoid disturbing the activity of the construction site, Temple Israel members are asked not to enter the new building without a member of the staff or building committee. Thank you for your cooperation.

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, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Services, 7:45 p.m. followed by a discussion of timely news topics pertaining to the Jewish world.

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

MONDAY: Judaism and anti-semitism class for Holocaust educators from various NE Schools, 1 p.m. taught by Nancy Coren.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Olive Garden, 6100 “O” Street. Questions or to RSVP, please contact Stephanie Dohner.

WEDNESDAY: Torah Trope Class, 7:15 p.m.

THURSDAY: Doane College equity class on Judaism, 1 p.m. led by Nancy Coren.

NORPAC endorses Corey Booker run for Lautenberg’s Senate seat

by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A major pro-Israel political action committee endorsed Newark Mayor Cory Booker for the open New Jersey U.S. Senate seat.

NORPAC’s support in an email Thursday came just hours after Booker, a Democrat, signaled he would run in a special election in October to fill the seat vacated by Frank Lautenberg, the veteran Democratic lawmaker who died this week at 89.

The email announcing a June 16 fundraiser for Booker by the New Jerseybased PAC called Lautenberg “one of Israel’s and the Jewish community’s greatest friends and supporters.”

“We must ensure that this seat is filled by someone with the same passion and commitment to those critical issues,” said NORPAC, one of the top-earning pro-Israel PACs. “We believe we have found just that candidate -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker.”

Shortly after the NORPAC announcement, reports emerged that Booker was circulating petitions to qualify for the seat. It was not clear from the announcement whether Booker would appear at the fundraiser.

New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, on Thursday named the state’s attorney general, Jeffrey Chiesa, to fill the vacant seat until the October vote.

Booker, who has presided over a revival of the blighted city, has deep pro-Israel roots dating to his days at Oxford University, when he led a group for Jewish students and others called L’Chaim House.

He has maintained a close friendship with the founder of L’Chaim, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who last year failed in a Republican bid for a seat in the U.S. Congress.

Booker and Boteach frequently appear together at speaking events.

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

June 14, 2013 | The Jewish Press | 15

They shall not pass

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Chukat During World War II, there was a famous French rallying cry: “Ils ne passeront pas! (They shall not pass)” which helped to boost allied morale.

The same phrase, turned aganist the innocent, is the mark of the selfish, the diabolic, the evil, dredged up from the lowest reaches of the human soul.

As I reread today’s Sidrah, I recalled a similar phrase used during the holocaust years by Arab countries. It comes to mind because of the first encounter of our people with this kind of inhuman response to a plea for help. Swerving to the east, to avoid combat with the Canaanites in the south of Palestine, the Hebrew people led by Moses approached the land from the far side of the Jordan. There the land was controlled by Edomites.

Moses’ delegation to the king asked for permission to go through, using only the main caravan road and buying food and water for cash payment only.

The King of Edom simply refused. He theatened to send out his army, and the Israelites had no choice but to take an even more circuitous route.

Eventually they had to face the fact that the Promised Land could be reached only by undertaking military means, and our Sidrah tells of the first successful wars against the people of Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings. Only then were they able to enter the land to the west.

The rabbis of the Midrash point out carefully, so that we do not miss it in the Torah text, that even though they knew in advance they would be successful in battle against Sihon and Og, they still sent out emissaries and asked for permission for peaceful passage. Sihon and Og offered war instead.

And our Haftorah for the day demands again that we consider every possibility for peace before undertaking war.

Small haredi protest at Women of the Wall service

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) – Hundreds of protesting haredi Orthodox youth did not prevent or significantly disturb the Women of the Wall’s monthly service at the Western Wall.

The women were not, however, able to read from a Torah scroll during the service as planned.

Sunday’s service, which according to Women of the Wall attracted 300 women, was conducted under heavy police protection. The women prayed in a corner of the women’s section of the Western Wall plaza enclosed by a barricade and surrounded by police.

A barricade and police line also divided the male haredi protesters from the women and their supporters.

Women of the Wall gathers at the beginning of the Jewish month for a women’s Rosh Chodesh service at the Western Wall. Members have been arrested for wearing prayer shawls because of a law forbidding any practice that falls outside of the wall’s “local custom.”

In April, a judge determined that the group’s activities did not contravene the law. Since then, none of the women have been arrested.

The group’s service last month -- the first since the court ruling -- attracted thousands of protesting haredi girls who packed the plaza. A large group of haredi men also protested last month, some throwing coffee, water, rocks and a chair at the women.

This month, only a few hundred haredi protesters showed up at the service. Leading haredi rabbis had called on thousands of men to protest Women of the Wall peacefully, but much of the plaza was empty Sunday morning.

Behind a heavy barricade, haredi men chanted and held signs -- and a few threw eggs -- but the women’s prayer often drowned out their protests.

While the women were able to complete their service unhindered, they were not allowed to read from a Torah scroll. The group had not brought a scroll to the wall for years, but planned to resume the practice following the court ruling.

On Thursday, however, police informed them that a regulation forbade bringing a scroll to the women’s section.

The group plans to challenge the regulation in court.

“It was a beautiful prayer,” said Women of the Wall spokesperson Shira Pruce. She added, though, “We were not happy to be enclosed in fences by police. It was very painful.”

It’s hard to steer clear of Syria conflict

by BEN SALES JERUSALEM (JTA) — For much of the past two years, Israel has taken a singular approach to the Syrian civil war: Stay as far away as possible. But with a recent string of victories by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and the crumbling of the U.N. peacekeeping force, the tack is becoming considerably harder.

Assad’s statement that he had decided to engage in military action against Israel was followed by a terse warning from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Anyone who threatens to hit or hits Israel will be hit,” Netanyahu said.

The warning follows a tense conflict June 6 on Israel’s border in which Assad’s forces recaptured the lone border crossing after it had briefly fallen into rebel hands. Heavy fighting saw Syrian tanks enter the demilitarized zone between the two countries and prompted Austria to withdraw its 300soldier contingent from the U.N. force, shrinking it by onethird. Israel threatened to strike the tanks, refraining only when Syria promised to fire solely on rebel troops.

“The crumbling of the U.N. force on the Golan Heights underscores the fact that Israel cannot depend on international forces for its security,” Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Israel has assiduously sought to stay out of the Syrian morass, engaging only when its interests were directly threatened.

Thursday’s battle probably won’t change Israel’s basic approach to the 2-year-old conflict next door. The Syrian border has been largely calm since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel won’t enter the war “as long as fire is not being directed at us.”

That attitude plays well with ordinary Israelis, who clearly don’t want their country dragged into a neighboring conflict.

An Israel Democracy Institute poll released Sunday showed that 86 percent of Israeli respondents want to stay out of Syria.

“Israel has an interest that the two sides will keep fighting, and not go in and decide who’s better for Israel,” said Syria expert Ely Karmon of the Interdisciplinary Center. “We need to wait and see who will control Syria.”

The question remains far from answered.

Recent Assad victories have raised the prospect that he could survive the war to control a northern enclave where his minority Alawite sect is concentrated. Should he survive, he could continue to funnel arms from Iran to Hezbollah.

No one expects Assad will ever fully regain control of the whole country.

Assad’s survival might not be an entirely bad thing, according to Shlomo Brom, a senior research associate at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Even a limited Assad regime, he said, would help prevent Syria from becoming a power vacuum in which jihadists could attack Israel. And it would give Israel “an address on the other side” with which to negotiate.

Assad’s survival also would be a victory for Hezbollah, which openly committed itself last month to fighting for Assad and drove his victory last week in Qusair, a key city between the Lebanese border and the rebel stronghold of Homs.

But Hezbollah also could find itself hurt by Assad’s survival. The organization, which has long commanded respect in the region for fighting Israel, may find its reputation damaged by turning its guns against fellow Muslims.

Hezbollah, Brom said, has shown itself as “a foreign body in Lebanon that serves foreign interests.”

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16 | The Jewish Press | June 14, 2013

The remarkable life of Jacob Besser: Part 3 ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press When Jake came home from Vietnam, his uncle told him it was about time he told everyone the truth about where he had been.

“My mom was unhappy with me for about five minutes,” he said.

After three-and-a-half weeks in New York, Jake moved to Bitburg, Germany, where he stayed until his enlistment ended in August of 1969 (editor’s note: while in Bitburg, Jake visited Soesterberg Air Force Base, less than a ten minute drive from where I was born). Although he initially didn’t plan on it, Jake (a Staff Sergeant by then) re-enlisted. He ended up at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia and married

Then, and now. Traveling to faraway places...

...and enjoying retirement in Omaha.

Susan in November of 1970.

“We corresponded for almost a year before we met. Susan grew up in Sweden; a friend of my mother’s went over there to pick her up. We had an apartment in Robins, but were soon told we had to move to New Jersey.”

While Jake was stationed at McGuire AF Base, Susan gave birth to Michael. Michael now lives in Chicago with his wife Anna and their children Robbie and Miriam (9) and Sarah (6). Then, in April of 1972, Jake was told he was going to Korea. He could not take his family and moved them to Brooklyn instead, close to his parents, David and Rosa.

“Korea was in the rebuilding stage,” Jake said. “We were stationed at Osan, not too far from the border with North

Korea. Things felt tense, since it only took a few minutes to fly a missile across that distance. As a consequence, we were always on alert.”

Jake returned from Korea in May of 1973 and was immediately assigned to Mather AFB, outside of Sacramento, CA. This time, he was able to bring his young family, and they drove from Brooklyn to California.

“I remember seeing my son Michael at the airport, and how it took him only a few days to get used to me. Susan did a great job showing him my picture during the 13 months I was away.”

In October of 1975, Jake and Susan welcomed daughter Debbie; soon after, they found themselves at Lakenheath

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AFB, England.

“We liked it there,” he said, “and traveled quite a bit. I had a cousin in Wales, who later moved to Scotland. The shopping in London was great.”

Then, in July of 1979, the family moved to Offutt.

“By then, I had been in the military for 14 years,” he said, “and I planned to stay in for at least 20. It ended up being more than that. In 1984 I went to Murted AFB, Turkey, to help get Turkish troops ready for NATO missions. My family stayed behind in Bellevue. It would be my last assignment; I returned to Offutt until I retired in 1991.”

Jake’s time at Offutt was anything but boring. Assigned to the Pentagon, the National Emergency Airborne Command was his base. The NEAC is a flying Pentagon; it’s the plane that follows Air Force One (there are four actual planes). It’s on alert 24/7 and ready to launch in minutes in case of emergency.

“Wherever the President went, we went,” he said, “and we’d be hovering somewhere nearby. We were there when President Ronald Reagan was in Iceland, negotiating with Gorbachev. We were there when Bush 41 fell ill in Tokyo (which really wasn’t very funny at the time). My favorite President was Reagan, because he was just very nice. Once, when he was on vacation in California, he came out and spent four hours with us. President Bush 41 was the same way. These guys know the sacrifices we made and were very aware of the work we did.”

Jake retired with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, and to this day he still misses the Air Force.

“I watch the news, and I sympathize. It’s so tough to watch these wars going on, especially when you know what it’s like to be this far from home, away from your family.”

Retirement from the Air Force didn’t slow him down. Jake was the Executive Director at Beth Israel from his retirement until 1999, after which he took a job as a civil servant at Offutt. In February of 2008, he retired for good. He enjoys his grandchildren (Debbie is married to Dr. Aaron Kricsfeld; they have two children, Sam and Rachel), and can often be spotted at community functions, recitals, and plays.

“Whatever they do, I try not to miss anything,” he said.

Judging from the story of his life, “missing anything” was never really in the cards. Jake’s story is truly remarkable and needed to be told. Thank you, Jake, for sharing it with us. It has been a pleasure and a privilege.

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