June 15, 2012

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

Commitment to Israel

June 15, 2012 25 Sivan 5772 Vol. 92 | No. 39

This Week

Harvesting at the community garden Page 3

The Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting Pages 6 & 7

by RON KAMPEAS tends to favor Republicans -WASHINGTON (JTA) -fits in with a strategy that senPresident Obama is spreading ior Democratic officials have the word, one Jewish conin the past described as tampstituency at a time: He has ing down pockets of hostility Israel’s back. as much as it is about cultivatObama defended his record ing the party’s natural base in on Israel and on religious freethe Jewish community. doms during a White House The meeting Tuesday, conmeeting with Orthodox leadvened by the OU, was frienders. Challenged by one of those ly, in depth and constructive, leaders on the efficacy of his participants on all sides said. perceived even-handedness in However, the Orthodox dealing with Israel and the leaders pressed Obama harder Palestinians, Obama countered on some issues than had their that he has not been evenConservative counterparts, handed; he has favored Israel. particularly on how he has Obama’s meeting was the handled the U.S.-Israel relasecond such encounter in a tionship and on his decision week; six days earlier he met to mandate contraceptive covwith leaders of the President Barack Obama is photographed with Orthodox Jewish rabbis in the Oval Office, erage for employees at some June 5, 2012. Credit: Pete Souza, Official White House Photo religion-based institutions. Conservative movement. The meetings come in an An OU official asked convened by the Conference of designated as the senior outreach election year in which the Obama Presidents of Major American Jewish official for Jewish groups. Obama what lessons he had learned administration has intensified its Organizations. Although Obama’s “drop-by” at about promoting Israeli-Palestinian Jewish outreach. Obama spoke to the The last two meetings have come the last two meetings was described peace, considering his perceived Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial in the form of informal “drop-bys” as informal by Jewish and White even-handedness and how his first in December, and then to the on meetings that various Jewish House officials, it seemed to be care- two years in office had been marked American Israel Public Affairs umbrella groups routinely convene fully planned. The Orthodox Union by tensions with Israel. Participants Committee in March. Vice President with Jack Lew, his Jewish chief of leaders arrived prepared with a gift said that Obama responded by Joe Biden addressed the Conservative staff. White House meetings have for the president. rejecting the notion that he was movement’s Rabbinical Assembly in been commonplace for decades, and Obama’s outreach, particularly on even-handed in his attempts to May, and later the same month host- generally take place once or twice a Tuesday to the Orthodox leaders -- revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. ed a briefing day for about 70 leaders year with the presidential adviser whose constituency increasingly Continued on page 3

Agreement will allow ritual slaughter in the Netherlands Miami shul controversy harbinger of political tone in Jewish community Page 12

by JTA NEWS STAFF AMSTERDAM (JTA) -- Dutch Agriculture Minister Hans Bleker signed an agreement with Jewish and Muslim religious leaders and slaughterhouses that will prevent a ban on ritual slaughter.

lose consciousness within 40 seconds of their throats being cut. After 40 seconds they must be stunned, which is prohibited under both Jewish and Islamic law. A prominent Dutch rabbi, however, criticized the covenant as “unacceptable.”

Agency has new focus and direction by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha The Center for Jewish Education unveiled a name change at the June 4 Jewish Federation of Omaha Annual Meeting. That evening Federation President Jody Malashock said, “I am pleased to

been busy developing a stellar program calendar. “In just the three months I have been here,” explains Cohen, “the Agency has applied for eight program grants. We’ll be launching the availability of the Kindle e-reader at the Kripke Library and adding a family event to the annual Jewish Omaha Film

announce that the Center for Jewish Education will now be known as the Center for Jewish Life... Celebrating Judaism. The agency will continue to provide the same quality programs and services with an expanded mission to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling, and meaningful Jewish experiences”. The name was chosen to best describe the agency’s new focus and direction. “We intend to offer a broad spectrum of services, programs and experiences to the community,” said Beth Cohen, agency executive director. Since coming on board as executive director in March, Cohen has

Festival. We have an event in the works for Saturday, Dec. 8, as part of Jewish Book Month guaranteed to bring out every Jewish family in Omaha!” The Kripke Jewish Federation Library will be undergoing a physical renovation beginning this summer. First, the planned installation of the Riekes Museum to the front entrance of the building requires modifications be made to the Library space. The Center for Jewish Life staff will move into permanent offices in the Library and shelving changes will allow for increased natural light from the west windows. Last, a brand new children’s space is being designed. Continued on page 2

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

8 10 11

Next Week Food and Restaurants See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

Under the agreement signed Tuesday, animals can continue to be ritually slaughtered as long as they

“The government is concerning itself with issues such as how to perform the cut. That is the domain of rabbis and the Jewish community,” Lody van de Kamp, a rabbi and politician, told the daily Reformatorisch Dagblad. “The government should stay out.” The agreement comes following Animal Rights Party leader Marianne Thieme’s withdrawal in December of a bill that would have required stunning of all animals before slaughtering, after a majority Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

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by DVORA MEYERS group and then to the team; Hamm eventually was forced to NEW YORK (JTA) -- Nineteen years ago, gymnast David withdraw. Nearly four years later, Sender is asked if he underSender and his family attended the opening ceremonies of stands why he -- national champion at the time -- was left off the Maccabiah Games in Israel, where the then-7-year-old the training squad. He offered a lengthy pause before replying. told his mom, "Someday, you're all coming back here “The bottom line is no,” he said. “I don’t really understand to watch me." it now more than I did then. I Sixteen years later, Sender can kind of accept the deciwas one of the U.S. continsion that was made, but I still gent’s official flag bearers at can’t quite make sense of it that year’s Maccabiah Games because I wasn’t in that meetin Israel. The gymnast went ing room.” on to win five medals, includSender retired from the ing three gold ones. sport and went on to veteriNow, at age 26, Sender is set nary school at the University to compete at this weekend’s of Illinois, which has a strong National Championships in men’s college gymnastics proSt. Louis, the first competitive gram. In fact, the team just step in the process that will won the 2012 NCAA title and select the men’s U.S. Olympic is coached by Justin Spring, a gymnastics team. member of the 2008 U.S. The Maccabiah Games was Olympic bronze medal-winsupposed to have been David Sender at the 2009 Maccabiah Games Tel Aviv. ning men’s team. Credit: Maccabi USA Sender’s final international Sender insisted that he meet as an elite gymnast. But less than a year ago, he would not return to gymnastics, Spring said, and was conannounced his return to training and competition with an eye tent to be the athlete representative on the men’s selection on making the U.S. gymnastics team for the London Games. committee. A fluke training accident had kept him from vying for a Still, Sender frequently worked out in the gym. He even spot on the 2008 squad in Beijing. practiced on the pommel horse, his worst event and the “Things felt a bit unfinished for me,” Sender said, explain- bane of most male gymnasts’ existence. Spring and the rest ing the reason for his return. In 2008, Sender had just won of the Illinois team might have expected and welcomed the men’s gymnastics competition at the National Sender’s comeback announcement, but his parents were Championships. He was practicing on the high bar during more wary. He told them about it over the telephone. an Olympics Trials training session. He jumped up to still “[It was] one of these calls that a parent dreads. ‘Can you the apparatus, something male gymnasts do thousands of get dad on the phone? I want you both on the phone,’” times without incident. When he jumped down, he rolled recalled his mother, Bonnie. his ankle, forcing him to withdraw from the event. Sender acknowledged his family’s ambivalent support. His Olympic bid, however, was not necessarily doomed. “My family was a little bit nervous about me coming back After the Trials, nine gymnasts were named to the training to the sport,” he said, referring to their concern for his physsquad and the Beijing lineup was chosen after a selection ical and emotional well-being. camp. “All I can think of is I don’t want another injury,” his mothSender petitioned for a spot on the training squad, hoping er said. to be sufficiently healed by the time of the team’s selection. He Sender knows the competition will be intense, but is staywas rejected. Another injured gymnast, Paul Hamm, the dec- ing focused. As he said, “I want to finish with this sport with orated World and Olympic champion, was named to the absolutely no regrets.”

Agency has new focus and direction Continued from page 1 A Library task force prioritized maintaining the integrity of the Kripke collection, preserving the Library’s history and reviewing space usage. “Our goal throughout the renovation is to improve the experiences of Library patrons. With this in mind, we considered new and improved seating, a patron computer center and quality food and coffee options,” explained Cohen. Library Task Force members include: Bonnie Bloch, Gary Katz, Stacey Rockman, Sivi Roffman, Susan Rothholz, Suzanne Singer and Nancy Wolf. The Center for Jewish Life intends to move forward with new and innovative programming for the community. “We are looking at a lot of different ideas to bring vibrancy to the Library’s programming including incorporating local Jewish authors into Jewish Book Month, bringing back the annual Library Luncheon, and continuing the very successful Friday Learning Series. Of course we want to make sure everyone knows about our amazing book group,” said Cohen. The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion group meets the third Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. It debuted in 1979 as the Jewish Federation Library Book discussion group. A group of dedicated bibliophiles, including former “Library Diva” Dorothy Kaplan, were intent on creating a book club at the Library. “Their goal was to select books with Jewish content which would appeal to women of different ages and taste. With a diversity of topics – everything from poetry and mysteries to science fiction and biographies – and guest facilitators, the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group offers something for everyone,” added Cohen. The Friday Learning Series takes place during the lunch hour with a great mix of instructors and subject matter. Judy Rosenfeld just completed a three week course, Women in the Tanach and Miriam Gross will teach Shabbat Unplugged and Uncovered on June 15, 22, and 29 at noon in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Mary Sue Grossman, Associate Executive Director of The Center for Jewish Life, is enthusiastic about the Learning Series. “We’ve learned from years of experience that these series of classes are very popular and allow us to offer an

array of interesting topics throughout the year,” she said. As part of the Agency reorganization, the Federation looked across the campus to see if there were program components that logically fit into the new mission of the Center for Jewish Life. “We have not completed all our work, just yet, as we expect we will see programs and projects shift between agencies to best utilize our resources,” said Jewish Federation CEO Mike Silverman. “Upcoming changes will surely be communicated in The Jewish Press.” For more information on The Center for Jewish Life, please call 402.334.6445.

Agreement will allow ritual slaughter Continued from page 1 of senators expressed their objection to the ban on kosher slaughter, or shechitah. The measure had passed the lower house of the Dutch parliament in June 2011. Dutch law had required animals to be stunned before slaughter but made an exception for Muslim halal and Jewish shechitah. The Animal Rights Party says that more than 2 million animals are ritually slaughtered. Van de Kamp represents the Council for Ritual Slaughter – a small haredi-Orthodox group. His organization was not involved in signing the covenant. The Jewish community was represented there by NIK, the Organization of Jewish Communities in The Netherlands – an umbrella group. In the interview, Van de Kamp said the NIK “had no authority to rule on rabbinical matters.” NIK said the agreement is satisfactory to virtually all parts of the Jewish community. The European Union requires animals to be stunned before slaughter but makes exceptions for religiously mandated ritual slaughter. Nevertheless, ritual slaughter is banned in Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

June 15, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3

Commitment to Israel Continued from page 1 Insisting that the U.S. posture was proIsrael, he pointed to his calls for making Israel’s security needs paramount in any final-status deal. He said his calls to freeze settlement expansion reflected the same positions of his four predecessors, and blamed differences with Israel in part on the quirk of history of a centrist U.S. government and a right-wing Israeli government coexisting. Obama said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to act without restraints, but that he understood him -- most leaders want to act without restraints. He said peace was critical as the Arab democracy movement swept the region but worries that the Palestinian leadership was no longer as interested in advancing toward peace. When it came to Israel, Obama asked the group not to doubt his “fidelity” to their cause, according to one participant. Another OU official reiterated the group’s unhappiness with Obama’s decision to require contraceptive coverage for employees at religious institutions not directly involved in religious activity, like hospitals or orphanages. The official noted that the OU did not oppose contraceptive coverage, but was concerned that the two-tier system was confusing and represented governmental intrusion into matters of faith. Roman Catholic groups have led the opposition to the mandated coverage, introduced by Obama earlier this year. Obama said he was proud of his administration’s record of defending religious liberty, but that the contraceptive coverage case presented him with a dilemma: How to protect the right of millions of women working

at religiously run institutions. He defended his solution, exempting purely religious establishments like churches and providing the contraceptive coverage through thirdparty insurance companies, instead of the religiously run institution. He said the solution allowed religious individuals who objected to contraceptive coverage not to participate, but simply to passively tolerate others receiving the coverage. Asked about assistance for students in parochial schools, Obama said he was open to expanding federal assistance to such schools. Before Obama arrived, the group had discussed with Lew Iran policy and Homeland Security Department funding for protecting nonprofits. The talk with Obama lasted 45 minutes, and ended when the group presented Obama with a framed reproduction of George Washington’s letter to the Jews. The group then moved from the Roosevelt conference room to the Oval Office for a photo. Participants included much of the OU’s leadership: Simcha Katz, president; Rabbi Steven Burg, managing director; Nathan Diament, Washington director; and Yehuda Neuberger, public policy chairman. Among those also attending were Richard Joel, the president of Yeshiva University; Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the director of American Friends of Lubavitch; Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, president of the Rabbinic Council of America; and rabbis of leading Orthodox shuls, including Haskel Lookstein of Congregation Kehillath Jeshurun in New York City and Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida. “We are deeply appreciative to President Obama and Chief of Staff Lew for meeting with us to discuss the president’s priorities and the Orthodox Jewish community’s val-

Celebrating each family legacy

ues and interests,” Katz said in a statement after the meeting. A White House official said that “the president discussed with the rabbis and lay leaders a variety of issues of mutual concern on

issues related to both domestic and foreign policy. The president reiterated his unwavering support for Israel’s security and his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

Growth spurt at community garden

A variety of vegetables was offered to Jewish Family Service. Sandy Nogg, top left, carries a basket full of lettuce. Karen Cohen, top right, Friedel parent and garden diva, shows off the first harvest since the community garden was planted. There is plenty more growing in the garden beds, and the project is off to a great start.

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4 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

A Jewish home away from home by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel Staff Writer School is out and summer is here, and that can only mean one thing: it’s camp season. All across America parents are preparing knapsacks and duffle bags with all the essentials their children will need during their

would also give her a Jewish identity that I could never imagine giving her.” In fact, it was because of Destiny’s enrollment at Friedel that Sarah first thought about sending her daughter to camp. “Since being involved in the community I’ve heard many people talk about camp,” Howard said. “And in religious school talk of camp was a big thing... like, all Jews go to a Jewish summer camp. I want [Destiny] to be able to have all the experiences, especially Jewish, we can give her, so camp seemed like a no-brainer.” While parents and educators continue to value highly the Jewish education provided by these particular summer camps, the children never forget that, Adam Silverman, left, Ben Raffel and Ben Brodkey had a wonfirst and foremost, camp is derful time last year at Camp Sabra. supposed to be fun. weeks and months away from home. And “You learn new fun things and you get to perhaps no community places as much meet new friends while doing it,” said importance on sending its children to sum- Destiny Howard, who is particularly excited mer camp than Jewish communities. about horseback riding. “Studies show a high correlation between Adam Silverman, son of Mimi and Mike kids who attend a Jewish summer residential Silverman, is looking forward to whitewater camp and those that maintain a strong rafting and camping with friends. Jewish identity into adulthood,” said Mary “While you’re there you get to have a fun Sue Grossman, Associate Executive Director camping experience where you get to set up with the Center for Jewish Life. your own tent and you get to sleep with your Mimi Silverman, whose son Adam is friends,” Adam said. “And every weekend we heading to the Ozarks this summer to attend get together and we sing Jewish songs.” Camp Sabra for the third time, has heard the Mary Sue Grossman, encourages every same thing. family to consider sending their children to “Everyone under the sun says that kids who a Jewish summer camp. go to Jewish camp maintain their Jewishness,” “Ask anyone who has attended a summer said Silverman. “It’s a huge piece of what Jewish camp and they will tell you what a keeps them Jewish. My husband and I are truly life changing experience it is,” from the east coast and the town where we Grossman said. grew up, the schools closed for Jewish holiUnfortunately, she points out, “sticker days, because everyone was Jewish. And our shock” may make some parents think twice kids aren’t going to have that kind of experi- before signing their kids up. ence here, so it’s important for us that they’re “To help families in Omaha make Jewish around as much Jewishness as they can be.” summer camp a reality for their children, Sarah Howard, whose daughter Destiny will the Jewish Federation of Omaha is here to be attending OSRUI in Wisconsin, also feels help,” Grossman said. that Jewish summer camps help a child create There are grants, scholarships and other and maintain a strong connection to Judaism. forms of financial aid available within the “I was not really raised with religion and Omaha Jewish community, Grossman said. sometimes regret not having that Jewish She recommends contacting the Center for identity,” Howard said. “And [I] really want Jewish Life for information on how to apply Dessy to have what I missed out on.” for assistance in sending your child to camp. Sarah and her husband Jeff also chose to Grossman also suggests making a contrisend Destiny to Friedel Jewish Academy, bution to the CornerStones Fund, which which “seemed like an awesome education,” provides scholarships for summer camp Howard said. “I decided to do it because it experiences.

SEWING CENTERS

A lot of preparation goes into sending a child off to camp, not the least of which is steeling oneself for those teary-eyed goodbyes. “[OSRUI] is so far away,” Sarah Howard said. “[Destiny] will be gone for two weeks, which seems like ages and will be the longest we have ever been away from her. We will have to do some adjusting.” Destiny herself is looking forward to all the new experiences she’ll have at camp, and

missing her parents doesn’t seem to have crossed her mind just yet. “I think it’s going to be fun and educational,” Destiny said, and she’s not alone. Many Temple Israel families are sending children to one of the various Jewish summer camps around the Midwest. And if your child is attending a Jewish summer camp this year, please feel free to contact Temple Israel to have them added to the list.

Grandparents, youngsters enjoy special Tot Shabbat at Beth El by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Toddlers and their parents, grandparents, and other special adults welcomed Shabbat during a lively Tot Shabbat celebration at Beth El several weeks ago. Led by S h i r a Abraham, the children danced, s a n g , enjoyed story time and experie n c e d

Shabbat rituals in a kid-friendly, fun-filled atmosphere. Beth El’s Tot Shabbat programs, open to all families in the Jewish community, will resume in the fall.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced on Wednesday, June 20, 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.

off the Yiddish you didn’t even know you knew. Everyone is invited! We meet every Thursday from 1-3 p.m., in the Rose Blumkin Home Board Room. For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH How much Yiddish do you know? Probably more than you think. Some English words have made their way into Yiddish. Many Yiddish words are commonly used in English. Every first Thursday of the month, we will be playing Yiddish Bingo. This will give you a chance to show

Jill and Todd Strite of Phoenix, AZ announce the April 9 birth of their daughter, Savannah Pearl. She is named in honor of her maternal grandmother, Sara Zalkin and her paternal grandmother, Pearl Anderson. Grandparents are Harold and Linda Mann and Bill and Leone Strite of Boise, Idaho.

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Kristine’s Kleaning

June 15, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5

The Scandal of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate

Journal entry from Israel TEDDY WEINBERGER One of the more useful aspects of my doctoral education in religion is that in the process I learned a few really neat words. Take, for example, “scandal.” We normally use the word to signify “a circumstance that causes disgrace.” However, if you get hold of a good dictionary, you may also find the following entry: “something that hinders acceptance of religious ideas or behavior.” To etymologists, this will come as no surprise, since “scandal” is rooted in Old French (scandale: cause of sin), Latin (scandalum: trap, stumbling block, temptation) and Greek (skandalon: snare). Tragic and absurd as this may sound, there is growing agreement among all sectors of Israeli society that the Chief Rabbinate poses a stumbling block for those interested in a religious life—in a word, it is a scandal. Ely Ofran, the rabbi of a religious kibbutz near Ashdod, Kvutzat Yavne, is also the coordinator of the “New Light Upon Zion” project of Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah, which “aims to promote the values of tolerance, equality, and justice in religious society and to have a real influence on the Jewish-democratic character of Israeli society.” A few months ago Rabbi Ofran wrote a piece in Makor Rishon in which he noted that three respected figures in the national religious community had written recent articles in which they “all agree that the religious establishment—from the local religious counsels to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and on up until the Chief Rabbinate—are infected and sick, and instead of functioning as a channel of connection between Israel and Torah have turned into a barrier of steel that separates Israel from their Father in Heaven.” “Infected and sick?” I’m sure that those are probably not words that come to mind when you read about Israel’s Chief Rabbis. However, according to Rabbi Ofran, this appraisal of Israel’s religious establishment “is today at the center of the Israeli consensus.” Rabbi Ofran continues his frank language

Giving is a family tradition by SUZY SHRIER Children's Hospital and Medical Center For one Omaha family, giving is a family tradition. Brothers Ian and Isaiah Schrier recently asked that gifts for their B’nai Mitzvah be sent to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center to support the hospital’s new Fetal Care Center. Their donation was in honor of their late aunt Jill Folsom.

Ian Schrier, left, Felicia Schrier, Isaiah Schrier The gifts poured in, but the young men didn’t learn of the grand total until a recent hospital visit. Not only did they see the space where Children’s Fetal Care Center is being built, but they were finally informed of just how generous their family and friends had been. The gifts totaled more than $3,000. At Children's Hospital, we are touched that these young men chose to share their gifts with those who are less fortunate. However, we are not surprised. Looking back at donor information, it is clear that giving is a true tradition for this family. Ian and Isaiah aren't the first in the family to go down this road. Cousin Eden Ginsberg, who celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in 2009, did so by collecting food, towels, blankets and the like for the Humane Society. She then asked her Bat Mitzvah guests to do the same. In 2010, it was Elias Ginsberg's turn; his choice of charity was the Food Bank. Generosity is a value that is being taught by “Nana,” Felicia Schrier, and the family is following her example. Ian and Isaiah’s father, Jeff Schrier, gave to help build Children’s Hospital's new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 2002 and encouraged other area Ford auto dealers to do the same. When the boys’ aunt, Jill (Schrier) Folsom, died suddenly in 2010, her family asked that her memorials be directed to the Fetal Care Center that is currently under construction. Those gifts totaled more than $20,000, and a patient room will be named in Jill’s memory. The Schrier family’s tradition of caring is helping Children’s Hospital achieve its mission -- “so that all children have a better chance to live.”

in speaking about why it does not make sense to look for change from the state’s religious apparatus itself. After reminding us that those in power tend not to relinquish power voluntarily, he says that Israel’s religious establishment “is one big sullied network that is primarily entrusted with the technical administration of the world of kashrut supervision, marriage, burial and the like. Ministers of religious affairs, members of local religious counsels and indeed a large portion of the rabbis employed in the network are lackluster government bureaucrats and not public and spiritual leaders.” I think that most people who have lived in Israel for a while will agree with Rabbi Ofran: the Chief Rabbinate and the rest of the Israeli religious establishment have failed the people of Israel. They have been sources of religious coercion and have not projected a meaningful Judaism that can provide the spiritual backbone to a modern democratic state. I should briefly note that here, in Givat Ze’ev, the stateemployed rabbi (a life-time position!) has done nothing to except himself from this blanket conclusion. In order to improve matters of religion and state in Israel, Rabbi Ofran suggests a three-pronged approach: a) Give local communities more authority in making government religious appointments and remove much of this authority from Israel’s central government; b) Convince the secular public that it has a stake in religious matters; and c) Urge the national religious community to stop being subservient, effacing, and placating when it comes to the ultra-orthodox. Rabbi Ofran has set a challenging agenda, but it seems to me that if we, the national religious, believe that Judaism is meant to be lived in the real world, then precisely we need to take the lead in matters of religion and state rather than deferring to the ultra-orthodox (where many people do not work and where Western knowledge is often shunned). So good luck to Rabbi Ofran and Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah. For their English-language website, go to: http://toravoda. org.il/en. Teddy Weinberger made aliyah in 1997 with his wife, former Omahan Sarah Ross, and their five children. Their oldest three, Nathan, Rebecca and Ruthie, are veterans of the Israel Defense Forces; Weinberger can be reached at weinross@net vision.net.il.

Engagement MUROW-KLEIN Janie and Allan Murow are excited to announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca, to Joshua Klein, son of Janet Kolodner and the late Michael Klein. The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in Political Science and Judaic Studies. She is currently the health and education policy advisor for Senator Ben Nelson. She is the granddaughter of Ruthie and Merle Potash and the late Estelle and Richard Murow. Her fiancé is a graduate of Brandeis University, and received his Master’s of Science in Environmental Science from American University. He is a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. The couple met at DC Minyan in Washington DC, where they are both active in the leadership. A November wedding is being planned in Omaha.

MUSKIN/BROWER Mary-Beth and Bruce Muskin are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Anne Rose to Matthew Adam, son of Grace and Marc Brower of Pepper Pike, OH. The bride-to-be received a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in British Literature from University of Nebraska-Omaha. She is the Membership and Programming Director at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, OH. She is the granddaughter of Betsy and Art Davidson and Bettie and Stuart Muskin. Her finacé received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from Kent State. He is the founder and owner of Hey Now! Media,which provides creative media, marketing and branding services. Additionally, he owns and operates a record label and recording studio. He is the grandson of Beverly and Howard Brower of Naples, FL and the late Frida and Herman Isakovic.

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

State of the Federation

From the desk of the President JODY MALASHOCK, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Editor’s note: On June 4, 2012, The Jewish Federation of Omaha held its annual meeting. Below are the words JFO President Jody Malahock shared with those who were present that evening. I am pleased to see so many of you here tonight as we celebrate the success of our community, elect the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors and most importantly honor our volunteers and staff. I also appreciate the opportunity to speak to you on the State of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. We also will have the opportunity to hear from Mike later on about the operations of the Federation as well. A few years ago Jan Goldstein

efforts have bloomed and prospered by the ongoing leadership of our community.” In reading through his papers, I was amazed that much of what he spoke about is as relevant today as it was in 1972. Our mission has remained the same... To build a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. In 1972 the Federation was restructured into a functional Federation. (Meaning the Federation is the legal entity and has financial ownership of all the agencies.) New bylaws were written, and the officers of the Federation for the first

gave me some personal papers from Morley Zipursky who was president of the Federation 40 years ago. One was a speech he gave at the Annual meeting held for the first time in the new JCC. The second one was the State of the Federation he gave at the end of his presidency. I’d like to read to you excerpts of a letter that Morley enclosed with his papers. “We have a remarkable community. With our 2,000 plus families we continue to build an outstanding community and paying our way as we go. I was a part of the group who were responsible for the rebirth of our Jewish communal activities. We paved the way. We restructured. We raised the funds. And we all would be very happy to see that our basic

Top: Andy Ruback, JFO President Jody Malashock and Susan Fellman-Witkowski; middle row: Joel Alperson and Jeff Schrager; Debbie Friedman and Debbie Denenberg; Karen Sokolof-Javitch and Mark Javitch; bottom: Stacey Rockman and John Glazer.

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time were elected by the members of the Federation. Forty years later we remain a functional federation, new bylaws have once again been written, and tonight the entire Board of Directors of the Federation will be elected. We are in our second year of operating under a new model. The CEO model has changed how we do business both for the professional staff and for our volunteers. As per the new bylaws, the JFO and agency boards will be smaller. The executive committees will be used for emergency purposes only. This will allow for the business of the agencies to be done at the board level with more involvement in the decision making. Moving forward, the boards will be developing and training new board members through substantial orientations. We are developing our nominating and succession planning throughout the campus. The Federation also remains committed to Young Leadership Training, as we have seen through the years that this is paramount to developing the lay leadership. We have a multi-faceted, complex organization. We have responsibilities globally as well as here at home, and we as the community volunteers and lay leadership need to have the proficiency and competency to make solid decisions that affect so many. Under our One Campus One Community initiative, our lay leadership and staff are working very diligently together. As the Federation remains lay driven, our CEO and staff are responsible for operations and implementing policies that have been established by the agency boards and lay leadership. Our agencies

remain strong and there are greater opportunities for collaboration as well as consolidating services campus wide. This has been a very exciting year on campus. There are programs happening in every corner of our buildings as well as on the grounds. Our Jewish Community Center provides its members a unique opportunity to associate through a variety of social, cultural, recreational, educational and physical fitness programs, activities and services. The Child Development Center is the first introduction for many to the JCC, and we take educating our young very seriously. I’d like to refer back to Morley’s words for a moment. “The only negative I see with respect to the Center is that too many of Omaha’s Jews are not members.” Forty years later, I can say the same thing. Your financial support of the JCC is vital to the success of our community. If you currently are not a member, please consider joining and being part of the JCC family. Jewish Senior Services through the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Jewish Senior Outreach and Jewish Family Service continues to provide excellent care, programming and services to our elderly, vulnerable, and those at risk to meet the growing needs of our Jewish population. The ADL/CRC brings focus to issues that are relevant on a greater community level. We are proud of the work they do to create inclusiveness and awareness, and to fight discrimination, prejudice and bullying. The Jewish Press recently launched the new Shalomaha website. In addition with our award winning weekly published paper, the Press continues to keep us all connected lo ca l ly, nationally and internationally. I am very pleased to announce this evening that The Center for J e w i s h Education will now be known as the Center for Jewish Life. Celebrating Judaism. The agency will continue to provide the same quality programs and services with an expanded mission to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. The Jewish Federation’s commitment to Jewish education for our teens remains a top priority. Currently, the leadership of our synagogues and CJL are collaborating on a new educational model for our community. Along with our five agencies, the Federation remains supportive of our synagogues, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, the Institute for Holocaust Education and the Friedel Jewish Academy. I am also pleased tonight to announce our new campaign chairs for the 2013 Annual Campaign, Zoe and Carl Riekes and their children Stacey and Brett Atlas. Campaign is more than just fundraising, it is community building. And we build community by taking care of ourselves, securing our future, and supporting our fellow Jews in Israel and around the world. We can look forward to an exciting and newly revamped Campaign this year with opportunities for more community involvement and participation. Many thanks to Morley for our conversation the other day and his final words of wisdom from years past “Much of our present day success is due to the conscientious work of previous boards and officers of the Federation, their diligence and dedication to Omaha Jewry. We are indebted to them, for their endeavors made possible the start of this new era.” Morley, as we start another era, we thank you and our past leadership as well. I would like to publicly thank the 2010-2012 Federation Board of Directors. I would ask that you all stand to be recognized. We had many issues at hand and you took your responsibilities seriously. Your constant support, leadership and guidance have set our community on firm ground and we all applaud your efforts. Also, thanks to all of our volunteers who sit on committees and agency boards as well as the many that work behind the scenes and don’t always get recognized. I also would like to thank our staff. Would you please stand to be recognized as well? We are very fortunate to have top notch professionals who work tirelessly side by side with our lay volunteers. My personal thanks go to Mike and Julee. As President, I appreciate your leadership and the partnership that we have developed. To end, we can all take great pride in all that has been accomplished this year and look forward to the continued success of Jewish Omaha.

June 15, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7

The business of the Jewish Federation

From the desk of the CEO MIKE SILVERMAN, CEO, Jewish Federation of Omaha Editor’s note: On June 4, 2012, The Jewish Federation of Omaha held its annual meeting. Below are the words Chief Executive Officer Mike Silverman shared with those who were present that evening. Thank you to everyone for coming tonight, and congratulations to the award winners. You all deserve the recognition you are receiving. My part of the program is to share with you the business of the Federation. I have heard over the past two weeks that the community wants to know what is different – what changes have taken place to make us “better.” This is the first year that we are operating under our new One Campus One Community model. In developing the budgets for 2011-2012, we learned a lot. Considering it was our first “official” year, we have done very well. Through April 2012, the agencies that are receiving an allocation are operating approximately $158,000 better than we budgeted. This is outstanding. We expect positive bottom line results to continue through the end of the fiscal year. How different is this from last year? Here is a simple way to describe the progress we have made – for 2011-2012 we included almost $186,000 of surplus dollars to make the campus budgets balance. For 20122013 we budgeted no surplus dollars necessary. And speaking of this year, the Budget and Financial Review Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved at their May meeting, the 2012-2013 budget. I want to thank all the agency executives and especially our CFO, Jordana Glazer, for the hard work that went into this budget process. Everyone was asked to come in with a request for support that was reduced by 10%, and they did just that. We identified new ways to share resources, identify funding opportunities that we will be aggressively pursuing, and we have taken a giant stride towards a better business model for the campus. As we enter our second year, we expect to get sharper and sharper. The total budget for the campus is approximately $17,000,000 and supports literally hundreds of programs and services as well as about 380 fulland part-time employees. I am very pleased to report that every request for support this year was met. Nothing was cut; every requesting agency received exactly what they asked for. A key component of the budget process this year includes the commitment to growing endowments for all agencies receiving Campaign support. The total amount we are committing this year is about $68,000; we are planning on $100,000 each year to help support our future. I have one simple goal – to leave this community in significantly better shape financially and programmatically when my time as CEO is over. A better business model requires many things. Here are some of the highlights: • We are in the final stages of a complete network merge. In the past, the Federation, JCC and the Home poorly communicated. When we complete this project, we will be able to communicate better, provide complete back-ups to secure the integrity of our information, and reduce costs connect-

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Clockwise, from top: 2013 Campaign Chairs Carl and Zoe Riekes, Brett and Stacey Atlas; Joanie and Terry Bernstein; Daphna and Joel Alperson; Mike Silverman and Stacey Rockman. of the campus cell phone package and negotiating a plan that will provide savings without sacrificing service. • The new model on the campus has certainly increased the demands on our Marketing department. Always considered to do an outstanding job for the JCC, the two staff in this department have taken on the marketing needs of the entire campus. It is no easy task, but they tackle each project with professionalism. For next year we are adding an additional staff person in this department that will help to provide even better service.

• In the Finance Department, we are working hard on policies regarding collections, controls regarding credit card usage, creating cash flow statements, and definitions regarding use of endowment interest income – principal – and discretionary funds, to name just a few. There are roughly 30 policies and procedures in the Finance Department alone that we are working on. • At the Board level, we are unveiling a comprehensive Board Orientation Handbook that will be used by the Federation and shared with each agency to use as a template. Serving on the Board of an agency means serving the Federation, so there needs to be consistency in presentation, information, and focus on how the Federation system (the campus and community) all work together. We are very excited about this new process. • Communications have increased regarding happenings around the campus through the Jewish Press and e-mail pushes that I have sent on average every three weeks. My goal is to keep you all informed, dispel any rumors that may be out there, and let you know the many wonderful things happening right here in Omaha. But we are only able to meet every request with a successful Campaign. Thank you so much to Zoe and Carl and Stacey and Brett for the tremendous time and energy they have already expended, and will continue to, to make sure that this year’s Campaign is outstanding. These lay leaders are meeting with the staff weekly, already, to rethink Campaign and take us to the next level. We are all very fortunate to have them working so hard on behalf of our community. Without stealing the thunder for changes to come, be prepared for a community event, enhanced solicitor training, a stronger data base allowing us to connect in a more meaningful way with all our donors, revised pledge cards, a focus on the impact of each and every gift received, the creation of new giving categories, and the list goes on. This will be a fun and exciting Campaign for our community, so Thank You again! If you have not had a chance to do so, please take the time to surf on our new website, www.jewishomaha.org. The design is user friendly and we are very pleased with the outcome. It is not perfect but pretty darn close. I am always open to comments, and yes, criticisms. If you have an idea about something that you believe is in the best interests of our community or campus, please let me know. That doesn’t mean that we can do everything, or that we can do it quickly, but we will certainly give it proper attention. In closing, I want to thank Jody Malashock and the entire Federation Board of Directors for their continuous support. Working together we have accomplished a great deal.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

A moment of silence

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Many of us are looking forward to the 2012 Summer Olympics (except for maybe certain Londoners who, coming recently off the Queen’s Jubilee, may be slightly stressed and in need of a vacation). The Olympic games are traditionally a time to come together, to celebrate sportsmanship and forget about borders and differences. Of course, combined with fierce competition (we all still want our own country to win as many medals as possible), but in a friendly way. It’s why both the opening and closing ceremonies draw so many viewers, why each host country spends beyond their means to make it ever more spectacular. This year’s slogan: “Inspire a generation.” The Olympic games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains, are not political. That is code for: “we don’t want to take sides.” Of course, that’s a ludicrous idea; the very refusal to take a stance is in and of itself a political act. But the IOC has a track record of being somewhat cowardly when it comes to political causes, occasions where they could make a difference but choose not to. Nowhere is that more clear than in the current firestorm surrounding the non-memorial of the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered in Munich in 1972. It all started with an online petition launched April 13 by the JCC in Rockland County, N.Y., in cooperation with Ankie Spitzer, the widow of Israeli fencing coach Andrei Spitzer, who was one of the 11 Israelis murdered in Munich. The petition, which calls on the IOC to mark the grim anniversary at this year’s London Games, has garnered nearly 60,000 signers so far. (JTA) Forty years is a long time for people who care little. But for those who continue to believe, and rightfully so, that what happened in Munich may never be forgotten and will forever leave a dark cloud over the Olympics, it is not. Unfortunately, IOC President Jacque Rogge belongs to the first category: he believes the usual memorial, which the

Israeli delegation holds during every Olympic Games, is enough; there does not need to be a minute of silence at the opening ceremony. And so he denied Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s request. Meantime, in jolly old England: Conservative MP Bob Blackman introduced the Early Day Motion (EDM) for a debate to discuss exerting pressure on the IOC to officially commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1972 atrocities in Munich at the Games. Blackman’s motion has been supported by MPs from across the political divide, including

Conservative Louise Mensch and Alliance MP Naomi Long. Blackman stated in his EDM: “it would be a fitting tribute to the memory of the 11 Israeli athletes, coaches and referees to hold a minute’s silence at this year’s and every subsequent games to promote peace.” (European Jewish Press) And so it becomes obvious: this is political. The Games have always been political. A quick look at its history makes it impossible to think otherwise. In 1908, Finland competed separately from the Russian Empire, but was forbidden to use its flag. The same rules applied to Ireland, who competed separately from Great Britain. The 1916 Summer Olympics were scheduled to be held in Berlin, but were canceled due to the outbreak of WWI. In

1920, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey were not invited to the Games, being the successor states of the Central Powers which lost World War I; Germany wasn’t invited in 1924 either. And then, in spite of Hitler’s rise to power, the games were held in Berlin in 1936. In spite of many countries’ boycotts, they were not canceled: instead, they became a showcase for Hitler’s delusions of grandeur. During those games, United States sprinters Sam Stoller and Marty Glickman, the only two Jewish athletes on the U.S. Olympic team, were pulled from the 4 × 100 relay team on the day of the competition, leading to accusations of antiSemitism on the part of the United States Olympic Committee. The 1940 Summer Olympics were scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan, but were cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The government of Japan had abandoned its support for the 1940 Games in July 1938. Germany and Japan were not invited to the 1948 Games. The Soviet Union was invited, but chose not to participate. Then, in 1956, no fewer than seven countries boycotted the Games, and they did it for three different reasons. Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon announced that they would not participate in response to the Suez Crisis when Egypt was invaded by Israel, the United Kingdom, and France after Egypt nationalized the canal. The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland withdrew to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the Soviet presence at the Games. The People’s Republic of China also chose to boycott the event, protesting Taiwan being allowed to compete. I could go on, but what’s the point? Throughout the years, the IOC has made many decisions that were political in nature. And so it is obvious that president Rogge’s decision to not allow that minute of silence is an act of cowardice, nothing more, and nothing less. It’s a missed opportunity that will add to the already fat dark cloud that hangs over the IOC. “Inspire a generation,” indeed.

Respect haredi life while offering criticism

Behind the headlines KENNETH JACOBSON NEW YORK (JTA) -- A recent article by Israeli journalist Yaron London headlined “We Need Fewer Haredim” and two major pieces in The New York Times about the haredi approach to sex abuse cases highlight the challenge and the need to address serious issues emanating from the haredi world without demonizing an entire community. Questions of avoiding stereotypes of large groups while not rationalizing bad behavior by some are constantly on the Anti-Defamation League’s agenda. Moreover, when part of the Jewish community is under scrutiny, it raises particular concerns for us about that segment’s relations with the rest of the community and the impact on broader views of Jews. Finally, when the behavior of a sector of the Israeli public has an impact on the larger Israeli public, that too is a matter of deep concern to us. On the face of it, criticism of individuals, if accurate, would seem legitimate. Generalizing that criticism to a whole group, on the other hand, would not. But with haredim it is not so simple. As one can see from the issues discussed -- sexual abuse, service in the Israeli army, secular education in Israel -- criticism of the haredi world goes beyond individual behavior and enters the realm of the broader haredi community’s beliefs, attitudes and policies. That, I would argue, does not automatically disqualify it as stereotyping an entire community. When it is the prevailing view of the community, and most of its members adhere

(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Shiri Tene Advertising Executive Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Vice President; Jason Epstein, Treasurer; Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Marc Brodkey; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Michael Kaufman; Paul Rabinowitz; Caryn Scheer; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf. The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishoma-

to that view, it is acceptable to criticize from the outside. On the other hand, there must be special care and sensitivity taken when addressing group behavior. That’s because the phenomenon of spillover from speaking about particular issues to a broad-based attack on the very essence of the community is too easy and too common. Take the case of London’s article. He rightfully expresses indignation about the deleterious effect on Israeli society and the sense of fairness among the Israeli public when haredi leadership insists on mass exemptions from military service in Israel’s mostly citizen army, when they refuse to educate their youth in secular fields and, connected to that, deny opportunities to their young to prepare properly to participate in the Israeli workforce. These matters affect every Israeli and emerge from decisions, in effect, of the whole haredi community. However, rather than limiting his comments to areas where change is necessary and whether it can be made in coordination with haredi leadership, London embarks on a full-blown attack on the entire community, employing unfair and derogatory terminology in describing their society and culture -- even suggesting, as in the title, that we need “fewer of them.” This kind of approach must be condemned, as it should be, in an all-out assault on any community. More specifically, it results in a diminution and near absence of respect for the many positive and wonderful values that characterize haredi life. Devotion to family, commitment and rigor in transmitting Jewish tradition and heritage to their children, piety, devotion to learning, the centrality of moral values --

all of which in their own way contribute to Israel and the Jewish world -- don’t seem to matter here. The line between characterizing individual and group behavior is important to draw, but it is not sacrosanct. Yet great care must be taken to avoid group stereotyping when it is necessary to express concerns about group behavior. Another area of concern is between the right of a group to observe its own religious values and cultural mores and when those values and mores negatively impinge on the rules, regulations and values of the larger society. The fact that haredim turn to their leading rabbis as the arbiters of all kinds of matters is not only a way of life but one to which they are entitled; surely it brings many benefits to families and the community. There even may be instances in sexual abuse situations that individuals would want to speak first to their rabbis. However, what seems clear from The New York Times articles and others on the sex abuse issue, the haredi leadership does nothing to educate its people to prevent persecuting those who go to law enforcement to report sex abuse crimes, nor do they condemn those who engage in the persecution of people in their community who do go to the police. Under these circumstances this is no longer a matter of community mores. Individuals are being victimized twice, first by the abuser and then by a community that either stands by or tacitly encourages their further abuse by persecutors. Intervention and condemnation from outside are warranted and necessary. Of course, the line between respecting cultural differences Continued on page 9

ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment.

and space restrictions, but it should be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a

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material and photos to: avandekamp @jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content

news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

June 15, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9

President Obama’s ‘Polish death camps’ mistake is common

Behind the headlines MICHAEL BERENBAUM LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- President Obama made a simple and very basic mistake when he spoke of Polish death camps during the presentation of a posthumous Medal of Freedom to Jan Karski, a Polish resistance fighter who was among the first to report German atrocities in his country. The president spoke during the May 29 ceremony of how the Polish underground “smuggled [Karski] into the Warsaw Ghetto and a Polish death camp to see for himself.” The next day, after objections from the Polish government, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council said the president “misspoke” and meant “Nazi death camps in Poland.” There were death camps and they were situated in Poland -- deliberately so -- but there were no Polish death camps. The most accurate way to refer to these camps is “Nazi death camps in German-occupied Poland.” Let me tell you why: Poland was occupied by Germany. Occupation was an act of state, not of the Nazi Party. So there was no Nazi occupation, no Nazi army, no Nazi laws. There was German occupation, a German army -- the Wehrmacht

Letters TO THE CEO Dear Mr. Silverman, First of all, I want to thank you and your staff at the Blumkin Home for the excellent care they provided for the lengthy stay of my wife. You and the staff helped to make a difficult time easier for my family and me. During that period, I had the opportunity to observe your management style and that of some of the people who report to you. The staff has a kind, considerate and helpful attitude for residents and patients. I noted your style of directing those people to reach goals and accomplish the levels of care that you require. I observed that you were firm but also fair with your staff and were able to get accomplished the necessary things. One of the staff advised me that you “wear multiple hats” -- besides being C.E.O. of the Jewish Federation and managing the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. I noted your hours were long, but you also had time to walk around to observe conditions and answer questions when necessary from patients and their families. I noted an article not too long ago in the Press referring to attending seminars, meetings, etc. From my past experience as V.P. of Marketing for the world’s largest appliance manufacturer (Whirlpool), I can tell you that seminars and the training sessions that go with them are valuable; and the expense of attending those should be in the Federation’s budget. It is also important at those seminars and conventions to exchange ideas with others in the field, and to observe “who is out there” to obtain future talented and young personnel for Omaha when needed. I could go on with this letter, but I have already highlighted a few of the important issues. Keep up your good work for the future of the Blumkin Home, the Federation and our city.” Sincerely, Benjamin Wiesman, Chairman of Wiesman Development

Letters TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: We are so lucky to have such a cohesive Jewish community. Our grandson, Max Goldberg, had a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Israel on June 9th. His oldest brother, Adam, has become an observant Jew. So that we could all enjoy the weekend together, Larry Debruin and Laura Bair from Beth El authorized that we could rent Beth El’s kosher kitchen, prepare the food, and then transport the food to Temple on Friday. Rabbi Gross, from Beth Israel, kashered the Temple oven. Due to their help, we had a wonderful weekend. Our entire family thanks both Congregations for their help. How nice it is that Beth Israel, Beth El and Temple Israel are able to work together so well. May it always be so. Carol and Manny Goldberg and Joanie and Marty Lehr

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on June 29 due to staff vacations and a need to upgrade computer equipment. The Jewish Press office is closed Wednesday, July 4, for Independence Day; the deadline for the July 6 issue is Wednesday, June. 27, 9 a.m. Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

-- and German laws. These were instruments of the state. These mistakes are all too common even in articles written by scholars and historians. For example, the Encyclopedia of the Holocaust commonly refers to Nazi occupation. Its editor is a distinguished scholar. That which was undertaken by the Nazi Party to realize its ideology can be properly referred to as Nazi. Hence the death camps were Nazi in origin, conception and operation, but they were situated in German-occupied Poland, an area known as the General Gouvernment (except for Auschwitz, which was situated in Upper Silesia, and Chlemno located in the Warthegau). Another caution: Between September 1939 and June 1941, Western Poland was occupied by Germany and Eastern Poland by the Soviet Union. So Soviet -- not Russian -occupation was the rule in Eastern Poland for 22 months. Thereafter, Germany occupied these lands until the Soviet Union reentered these territories in its march to victory in 1944 and 1945. For clarity’s sake, we should specify that Poland itself was divided. Some Western areas were annexed to the Reich, some were occupied by the Reich -- the General Gouvernment. In the areas incorporated into the Reich, all existing Polish institutions were dissolved and new administrative units

were established. In the occupied but non-incorporated territories, not all Polish institutions were dissolved. One other common mistake: Many write of the Jews who “perished” in the Holocaust. Jews did not perish in the Holocaust, they were murdered, annihilated. Extermination is a Nazi term; something that is done to vermin and rats, not to people. We should not use Nazi terms, except when we specify that they are Nazi terms. The Poles are properly sensitive to the common mistake of speaking of Polish death camps. They have labored hard in the post-Communist era to correct this mistake and to change common usage. Their efforts deserve our support. Simply put, they are truthful. The president’s speech writers ill served him and ill served the late Jan Karski, the man so deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They should have known better or verified these matters. The president’s mistake is entirely forgivable. I can cite many distinguished scholars who have made the very same mistake. His correction is equally proper. It might go a long way toward ensuring that this mistake is not repeated. Michael Berenbaum is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University.

Israeli gov’t decision to fund Reform, Conservative rabbis sets precedent for equality with Orthodox

Behind the headlines BEN SALES NEW YORK (JTA) -- This week’s announcement that the Israeli government for the first time will pay the salaries of some non-Orthodox rabbis represents a major victory for the Reform and Conservative movements. But it’s a victory more of principle than major practical changes -- at least, so far. The Israeli attorney general’s office said Tuesday that Reform and Conservative rabbis in some parts of Israel will be recognized as “rabbis of non-Orthodox communities” and will receive wages equal to those of their Orthodox counterparts. For now, the decision applies only to Israel’s regional councils -- large districts of rural communities -- but not Israeli cities. And the non-Orthodox rabbis, unlike their Orthodox colleagues, will have no authority over Jewish law or ceremonies such as marriage or divorce. Rather than being funded by the nation’s Religious Services Ministry, they will receive their salaries from the Ministry of Culture and Sport. Even though the decision will not affect most Israeli Reform and Conservative Jews because the vast majority of them live in large metropolitan areas such as Jerusalem and metro Tel Aviv, the decision nevertheless opens a door toward full equality with the Orthodox, non-Orthodox Israeli leaders said. “The importance of the decision is that it sets the model for the relations between the non-Orthodox movements and the government,” said Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the executive director of Israel’s Reform movement. The Reform movement also has a petition in court to give Reform rabbis in cities the same rights of those in regional council areas. According to Kariv, Tuesday’s decision only gives full-service synagogues with at least 50 affiliated families in regional council areas eligibility for the funding. “There’s no reason to adopt this in the regional councils and not in the cities, and the government knows it,” he said. It’s not clear when the Israeli courts will decide on the Reform movement’s petition, but if the petition is accepted, the change would affect virtually all Conservative and Reform congregations. This week’s announcement followed out-of-court negotiations over a 2005 petition by the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and Rabbi Miri Gold, a Reform rabbi from Kibbutz Gezer in central Israel. Gold had petitioned the state to fund the Gezer Reform community just as it funds Orthodox communities and their leaders. Initially, the government has agreed to fund 15 nonOrthodox rabbis in the regional council areas. But the funding could increase as more Conservative and Reform congregations are established. Yizhar Hess, the executive director of Israel’s Conservative movement, known as Masorti, said there is a more important issue than the initial number of communities receiving financial support: Conservative and Reform Jews in these areas no longer will have to donate privately to support their rabbis while also paying taxes to support the Orthodoxdominated Rabbinate. This, he hopes, will allow more Conservative congrega-

tions to form and reduce the Israeli movement’s dependence on donations from America. Three-quarters of the Masorti movement’s annual budget of approximately $4.5 million now comes from the Diaspora. “The only way for a Masorti rabbi to act as a Masorti rabbi was to be able to raise enough funds from donations and dues to make a living,” Hess said. “We know that there are more communities that want to reach out and have us.” For years the government has held the position that nonOrthodox rabbis deserve these rights: A 2008 government memorandum to the court in Gold’s case said that “a town with a non-Orthodox community that is interested in cultural and communal activities deserves funding from the state.” The attorney general’s office used that memorandum as a basis for its decision, but by defining non-Orthodox activities as “cultural and communal,” it shifted responsibility for overseeing the activities to the Ministry of Culture and Sport -- meaning that Reform and Conservative rabbis still do not have state-recognized authority over Jewish law. But Kariv, Hess and their American counterparts believe that this week’s decision could pave the way to increased legitimacy for their movements in Israel. David Lissy, executive director of the Masorti Foundation in New York, pointed to two recent surveys of Israeli Jews showing increased awareness of and identification with non-Orthodox movements. One, a recent report by the Israel Democracy Institute and the Avi Chai foundation, showed that 30 percent of Israeli Jews had attended a Conservative or Reform service. “More and more people feel that they would like to take responsibility for their Jewish identity,” Hess said. “They understand that there is more than one way to be Jewish.” Outside Israel, the Rabbinical Assembly of the U.S. Jewish Conservative movement and the World Union for Progressive Judaism were among those that lauded the decision. “This is a historic day for Israelis and Jews around the world,” said Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly. “In order for Judaism to grow and thrive in Israel, it is necessary that the government recognize its obligation to provide equal funding to various Jewish religious streams and expressions that flower in the Jewish state.”

Respect haredi life Continued from page 8 and preventing abuse of rights that should belong to every member of society is not always easy to draw. When laws are broken or fundamental rights violated in the extreme, it is not difficult to say that the outside community must stand up. Here, too, as with individual and group condemnations, great sensitivity must be exercised in not telling a flourishing, successful and praiseworthy community that its way of life is unacceptable. There are no simple answers here. Calling attention to problems is necessary if it is done with civility and respect for a way of life that is well serving hundreds of thousands every day. Kenneth Jacobson is the deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

10 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 | 402.322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com For information on our historic synagogue – dates and times for Friday night services, please call 712.323.8885.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Rabbi Steven Abraham and Cantor Beth Schlossberg. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Dinner and Drash, 7 p.m., following Shabbat services. Rabbi Abraham will lead the discussion. Dinner cost, $8. RSVP by visiting www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact Margie in the office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time, 11:30 a.m. with Shira Abraham; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:55 p.m. WEEKDAY SERVICES: Sundays, 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 7 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Torah Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m. MONDAY: Wrestling with Rabbis of the Talmud, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Abraham. THURSDAY: Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group meets at 7 p.m. at the synagogue for “A Taste of Tai Chi,” hosted by certified Tai Chi instructor Beth Staenberg, along with Debbie Roitstein. No experience necessary; the program will involve gentle, low-impact movement. Please wear loose clothing and flat shoes. RSVP to Margie in the synagogue office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org, or to Caryn Rifkin, crgr6175@aol.com, or 402.334.7216. All classes and programs are open to everyone in the Jewish community.

Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Understanding the Prayers, 10 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored in honor of June Simchas; Workshop, “How to Understand Rashi,” 12:45 p.m.; Advanced Class, “Rashi’s Approach to Talmud,” 6:15 p.m.; The Laws of Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.; Uncovering the Hidden Meaning of Rashi, 7:15 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 7:30 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic Class, 7:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; What We Learned—Bringing It All Together, 8:45 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:51 p.m. SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. followed by breakfast. WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m. MONDAY: Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. Contact the office for information on how to call-in to the conference call. TUESDAY: Sisterhood Lunch with BINGO, 11:30 a.m.; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m. THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross.

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, 7 a.m. SATURDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service. SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m. followed by Breakfast Bonanza. WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m. WEDNESDAY: A Taste of Yeshiva-Chevruta style Beit Midrash study, 6:30 p.m. All programs are open to the entire community.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY: The Great Rashi Shabbaton with Rabbi Yisrael Herczeg; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org Services conducted by Rabbi Craig Lewis. FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Nancy and Mark Intermill. SATURDAY: There will be no services or Torah Study at South Street Temple this morning; Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. at Tifereth Israel celebrating the B’not Mitzvah of

The human bazaar by MARY TRACY (Sh’ma) -- Every night in New York, before going to sleep, I read tomorrow’s news in Israel. Occasionally, I admit, I imagine an old man in a sunlit Tel Aviv breakfast nook cracking open his Haaretz over hot coffee and fresh orange juice at the exact same time that I sit in my apartment, looking out onto the dark street, yawning as I scroll through Websites on my laptop. When I wake up in the morning, I turn over and groggily check Twitter on my phone -- yes, people like me really do exist; be afraid and/or pray for me - where I see the past few hours’ tweets from people in Beijing, Doha, Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Paris, and also from insomniacs in San Francisco and New York. I email to myself whichever tweets catch my eye so that I can read them again on my computer a few minutes and one push on the snooze button later. A friend has emailed me overnight from Berlin; another Gchats me from D.C. a few minutes after I log on. All of these voices are with me -- they are all, effectively, in the same place, on my small, filthy screen. But it’s my screen in my apartment in my city: Physical, geographical location -- place -- still matters. All of the writers, thinkers, celebrities, politicians, and philosophers, armchair and tenured, around the world whose thoughts I rapidly inhale are themselves greatly influenced by where they do their thinking -- something that I happen to know for a fact because I know I am influenced by where I do my thinking. My particular circumstances allow me to understand that my counterparts have their own particular circumstances. And because I know where I’m coming from, I know that other people are coming from someplace else. To take myself as an example: I can viscerally feel this loud, crammed island I live on imbuing my thinking on subjects such as the Middle East, literature, and sports with an urgency and intensity -- a sense that everything matters, even things that shouldn’t. The East Village, once one of the world’s great bohemias, makes me feel as though I should be sacrificing for my writing, lending my prose and ideas a sense of des-

perateness they wouldn’t have if I lived elsewhere. So what’s changed over the past ten or fifteen years, other than the preponderance of luxury condominiums on Avenue B? It’s the striking immediacy with which we are able to access the perspectives of people from different places -- the different places’ perspectives themselves. This immediacy, if left unchecked, could cheapen everything, and so what has happened is that trust and credibility have become more important than ever before. You don’t want to know what they are thinking in Chicago or Mumbai; you want to know what a particular person who lives in Chicago and a particular person who lives in Mumbai are thinking. One could do this the old-fashioned way, by consulting traditional networks of family and friends, and working outward from that nucleus. Or, we can follow people through social media, whom we’ve learned to trust because of our friends’ and families’ endorsements. Historically, Jews have provided the model par excellence for far-flung networks multiplying their knowledge and therefore, their power at geometric rates by establishing connections based on the brokering of information. And yet, the center of displacement is still “place.” We remain intellectual creatures of our physical habitats. The Internet has helped us comprehend the places of others, knitting us all ever closer together. But there is still a filter, and it is us. It is a humming bazaar, but I am an autonomous merchant. So after I have my first cup of tea, I think harder about all the voices I have read from around the world — or around the city — and I assimilate what they say with where they are coming from. Then, I choose what to believe and what not to believe; what to buy, what to bargain down for, and what, ultimately, to sell. And then, I quit listening to the voices and begin to write. Marc Tracy is a staff writer at Tablet Magazine and editor of Tablet’s daily blog, The Scroll. He tweets at @marcatracy. This essay is reprinted with permission from Sh’ma, June 2012, as part of a larger conversation on the role of place on creativity.

Candlelighting Friday, June 15, 8:41 p.m.

Dahlia, Illyana and Tziporah Hamicksburg. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Misty’s in Williamsburg, south of 40th and Old Cheney.

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. with Temple Israel. SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz. SUNDAY: Father’s Day Concert, 1:45 p.m. with Tea Time at 2:30 p.m., hosted by LOVE in RBJH Auditorium. 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 Worship Service, 6 p.m. led by Cantor Shermet; Summer Speaker Series: “Reminiscing about Temple Israel” with Joanne and Jerry Freeman. SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

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: Services, 7 p.m. followed by a desert Oneg in honor of Dahlia, Illyana and Tziporah Hamicksburg. SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 9:30 a.m. as Dahlia, Illyana and Tziporah Hamicksburg are called to the Torah as a B’not Mitzvah followed by a Kiddush lunch in honor of Dahlia, Illyana and Tziporah sponsored by the Hamicksburg family. MONDAY: The unveiling of the monument dedicated to Lorraine Teller will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Hastings, NE. For further information please contact Nancy Coren. TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Misty’s in Williamsburg, south of 40th and Old Cheney Street. Please contact Stephanie Dohner with any questions.

Jewish lawmakers introduce act to curb international violence against women by JTA NEWS STAFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Three Jewish Congress members introduced legislation that seeks to curb international violence against women. U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) are the lead sponsors of the International Violence Against Women Act of 2012 that was introduced Thursday, June 7. The legislation would provide funding to gender-based foreign assistance programs and establish the Office of Global Women’s Issues within the State Department. “It would give the U.S. State Department new tools ranging from health programs and survivor services to legal reforms to promoting economic opportunities and education for women,” said a statement from Schakowsky’s office. Jewish Women International welcomed the initiative, calling it “an opportunity for the U.S. Congress to demonstrate its commitment to building a safer and more secure world.” A number of Jewish groups are backing a Democratic version of the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act passed recently in the Senate that enhances protections for LGBT and Native American communities and preserves statutes that extend legal status to illegal immigrants who report abuses. The groups oppose the Republican version passed in the House, which dilutes the protections for illegal immigrants and removes the enhancements for the LGBT and Native Americans.

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

June 15, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11

The Scouts

Buddy Holly at Community Playhouse

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Sh’lach L’cha As they aproached the (much) Promised Land, Moses, in his capacity as military leader, thought it necessary to see what the Land looked like from within. He sent scouts, one from each tribe, to see what lay before them. They were to determine the strength or weakness of the Canaanites whose land was to become the Land of Israel. They were to report back on whether the Land was productive, or perhaps more like a desert. They were to see whether the cities were walled and stoutly protected, or whether they were open to military conquest. We are given the names of the scouts, one for each tribe; but after all this time, the names are unimportant. We are suddenly aware that these wilderness-wanderers had to come to sharp attention, lift their heads high, straighten their backs, and become no longer wanderers, but an alert military unit, an “intelligence” unit. They have to report whether and how the Land can be subdued and set on the road to become the Land of Israel. Thus, after 40 years, the moment has arrived: are you to face total defeat in your purpose, or are you to become the first Hebrew owners of the Land of Israel? It is a moment important to history, the history of human culture and religion, and important to all of humanity. In time, the prophets of Israel were to enlighten people all over the world, about a cultured aproach to life, to decency, to humane standards, and to what may be summarized as “civilized living.”

IDA HERZOFF Ida Herzoff passed away June 10 at age 93 at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Services will be held at Golden Hill Cemetary, 5025 N 42nd Street. For time and date contact the Jewish Funeral Home at 402.556.9392. She was preceded in death by her husband Martin Herzoff; son, Ronald Herzoff; and brother Charles Gorelick. She is survived by daughter Nancy Herzoff of San Francisco; daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Ron Ipock; daughter-in-law, Cheri Stone, of Gainesville, GA; granddaughters, Marissa Ipock of Houston, TX, and Amanda Ipock of Louisville, KY; sisters, Lorraine Passman, and Reva Rubenstein both of Overland Park, KS; brother, Harry Gorelick of Los Angeles; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, and a great-grandchild is due to be born in November. Born in Omaha, the daughter of Russian immigrant parents who came to America speaking only Yiddish. Her love of reading was encouraged by her mother.. Ida and her husband Marty enjoyed 36 years of marriage and loved entertaining friends and family. Ida was known for cooking delicious Sabbath dinners for large groups and her baking. Her seasonal position in the toy department at the downtown Brandies store turned in to a twenty year career in sales, and often received top sale awards. Memorials may be made to The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, 333 So 132nd St, Omaha, NE 68154.

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Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press at jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. Readers can also submit announcements -- births, b’nai b’rith mitzvahs, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Please check the Jewish Press, for notices of early deadlines.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on June 29 due to staff vacations and a need to upgrade computer equipment. Questions? Call 402.334.6448. Wanted — Service Technician HorizonWest Inc. is a Case IH farm equipment dealer. We are one of the area’s leaders in agricultural equipment technology. We offer: Competitive Wages, Time and 1/2 For Overtime, Service Incentive Program, Health/Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Personal Time Off, 7 Paid Holidays, Tool Reimbursement Program, 401k Retirement Plan, Uniform Allowance, Factory Schooling/Training. Call: Bruce at 308-635-3727 or toll free at 888-322-7344 or send resume to PO Box 1070 Scottsbluff, NE 69363

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by JESSIE WEES “It’s so easy to fall in love” with the Omaha Community Playhouse’s Rave On: The Buddy Holly Experience. Rave On is a tribute show to the late and great Buddy Holly. It brings the audience back to a simpler time when music was at its best; it is easy for the audience to see why Holly was a major influence on rock history and music today. Billy McGuigan plays Holly, and he shines in this role. McGuigan has portrayed the late singer in over 1500 performances; this will be his last time performing at the Omaha Community Playhouse. From start to finish, McGuigan gets so lost in the role of Holly, that you feel you are experiencing what a Buddy Holly concert would be like today. As Holly, he interacts with the audience and tries to make sure everyone has a great time. Along with McGuigan, the entire Rave On band is brilliant, and the members show they have great chemistry together. George Laughery on guitar and string instrument, Jason Ferguson on lead guitar, Matthew McGuigan on bass, Rich Miller percussion and Darren Pettit on Saxophone all bring their own flair to the performance. With each song they play, from Peggy Sue to Rave On, one cannot help but clap along and interact with the cast. If you love music, especially songs you can sing along to, go see Rave On: The Buddy Holly Experience. Rave On will perform at the Omaha Community Playhouse through Sunday June 24. This is a last time chance to see this performance at the Omaha Community Playhouse; you will not want to miss it. For more information about show times and to order tickets, please call 402.553.0800 or visit www.omahaplay house.org.

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12 | The Jewish Press | June 15, 2012

Miami shul controversy harbinger of political tone in Jewish community by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) – When does a bimah turn into a political soapbox? The controversy last month over a Miami temple’s invitation and then disinvitation to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) has revived with a new vehemence a question common in every election cycle: What are the appropriate parameters for political visits to houses of worship? “It’s true, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is not only active in supporting Obama, she’s a candidate,” said Marc Stern, the American Jewish Committee’s associate general counsel. “But Debbie Wasserman Schultz is also a congresswoman and she is a sitting member of Congress talking about something pertinent to her duties and undoubtedly is important to many of her constituents in South Florida.” Stanley Tate, a 63-year member of Temple Israel and a prominent local Republican and philanthropist, demanded the right to rebut Wasserman Schultz, who is also the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, in real time. Turned down, he quit the synagogue in disgust. “The topic she had selected, U.S.-Israel relations, was a political topic,” he said. “It was a terribly wrong thing to have been done. They could have lost their tax status.” The temple, fearing a reprise of a recent headline-making showdown between a Boca Raton temple and Jewish critics of Obama, disinvited Wasserman Schultz, postponed the session and instituted a new policy: No candidates would appear at its events during election season. But banning political speakers from the sanctuary “is not what Congress intended” when it shaped laws governing the status of 501©(3)s, the Internal Revenue Service term for tax-exempt nonprofits, Stern said. Kuehne said he was not opposed to balancing Wasserman Schultz with an equivalent Republican speaker. Tate said that Kuehne’s objection was on Tate’s rebutting her in real time. Tate, 85, quoted Kuehne in their back-and-forth as offering to invite Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) or Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to speak on the same topic at a similar time and place. By that time, however, Tate felt Kuehne had misled him, and quit. Kuehne, a legal adviser to Democratic nominee Al Gore’s team during the 2000 presidential election recount, would not describe his private conversations with Tate.

“We will continue to reach out to elected officials to help us with our social justice programming,” Kuehne said, referring to the rubric under which Wasserman Schultz was to have spoken. That, however, will wait until after the election “because of heightened attention to the partisan politics,” he said.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) speaks at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami in 2008. Credit: Debbie Wasserman Schultz for Congress Wasserman Schultz did not hold back on her characterization of the incident. “It is unfortunate that some would allow politics to stand in the way of citizens’ ability to interact with their representative,” she said in a statement to the Miami Herald. The temple is just outside Wasserman Schultz’s district, although many of her constituents are members. In a letter to the congregation explaining the decision, Kuehne cited an effort by some right-wing Jews to protest a speech by Susan Rice, the ambassador to the United Nations, at the B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton earlier in the month. Officials of the congregation feared disruptions; the protesters said they were unfairly silenced.

That event, he wrote, “was met with heightened levels of protest and disruption that potentially imperiled the safety and security of the Temple and its congregants.” B’nai Torah also decided not to host candidates for public office or their associates this election cycle. For Kurt Stone, a political science professor at Atlantic and Florida International universities, the policy is akin to giving into bullies. He was once a congregational rabbi and now authors a liberal blog. “There was a time in fairly recent memory when you could bring anyone to speak in your synagogue and talk on just about anything, and at least give the person the respect they deserve as a human being, a community leader and a fellow Jew,” he said. The episode has left a marked impact on Lauren Trushin, a 16-year-old fan of Wasserman Schultz whose confirmation speech was to have coincided with the politician’s talk. “What I learned from the member who made the threats is that some people consider personal political beliefs about how this country is run to be more important than the State of Israel, and that people who engage in bullying get their way when people don’t stand up to them,” she said in her May 25 speech, reported by the Miami Herald. That aside, keeping politicians and public officials out of the synagogue is not good for the Jews, said Mark Pelavin, the associate director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center. “It allows a heckler’s veto,” he said. “The notion we need to avoid speech that is controversial is troubling. That would leave out every haftarah portion and a good chunk of the Torah as well.” The key is “nonpartisan,” said Pelavin of the Reform movement. “You can’t invite a candidate for one office without inviting a candidate from the other side at a similar time,” he said. “It can’t be one side for Friday night services, and the other side for Thursday morning youth group.” David Harris, the executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said he advises synagogues that solicit his group’s services to make sure they hear the opposing side – whether in a face-to-face debate, or at a different time. “It’s important there’s bipartisan balance throughout an election cycle,” he said. Note: this article was edited for length.