June 17, 2011

Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA June 17, 2011 15 Sivan 5771 Vol. 90 | No. 41

Force of nature

This Week

Israeli ‘Flugtag’: Not for the faint hearted Page 6

On June 9, 2011, the Missouri river was already at its widest since 1953, with the expectation that the worst is still to come.

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press During the month of May, it slowly became obvious that the Missouri river was preparing for not just a slight flood, but an all-out assault.

JFStival: Celebrating 100 years of Jewish Family Service Page 7

Nowhere has this been more obvious than in Dakota Dunes, a South Dakota suburb of Sioux City. Here, an entire neighborhood was affected by the relentless onslaught of the water.

On the Friday before Memorial

Bound to the Torah In New York shtetl, the rebbe’s word is law Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Month Health & Wellness See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

by JENIFER RUFF There are very few times in life that both physical and spiritual desires can be actualized together.

At a boy’s bris it is customary to say, “Just as he has entered into the Covenant, so may he enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds.” This blessing is said in hope that the child will live from mitzvah (sacred obligation) to mitzvah. In German Jewish homes, the hope is realized not only with words -- but with a physical representation called a ‘wimpel.’

Recently, I had the honor of making a wimpel for my son, Isaac (Yitzchak Chaim). With the help of my mother, we created a wrap for the Torah from the pillow case Isaac was circumcised on. Shani Katzman -- the Rebbetzin at Omaha’s Chabad House -- explained, in reference to candle lighting, that every mitzvah brings light to the world but we are not always able to see the light. With candles the light is visible. As I watched my son’s wimpel being wrapped around the Torah, I could see the light in his eyes -- he was

giving his love to the Torah. The mitzvah of the wimpel gave Isaac the opportunity to see entering into Torah study in a physical way much

Isaac Ruff the same as we see the candles each Shabbat. It was special and beautiful, and my heart was full of hope that Isaac will always love the Torah as he did in that moment.

The custom of a wimpel dates back to Talmudic times and involves a white cloth that is used during the child’s brit milah. The same cloth is used to make a long wrap for the Torah and is decorated with the child’s name, birth date, the above blessing, and other hopes for the boy. At the age of three, when we have the obligation and the privilege to begin teaching our children Continued on page 2

Day, Lisa (née Platt) and Julian Leopold began to notice a lot of activity around their area of Dakota Dunes, such as a levee suddenly being built by the state. Most people didn’t think the water would actually reach them; life went on as normal.

Lisa’s younger sister and brother in law Jill and Bill Swanberg were in town. They drove around looking at the sandbags, and wondered: “Could the water really get up there?”

Saturday night they got a call from Continued on page 2

Ari Brodkey honored with Gendler Award

by JILL BELMONT variety of ways at the synagogue, Beth El Publicity Coordinator according to Beth El Talmud For his involvement and dedica- Torah (BESTT) Education tion to Beth El, Ari Brodkey has Director Judy Rubin. been named the 2011 recipient of “Ari was chosen by Beth El’s staff the synagogue’s because of his A.B. and Freeda dedication, loyalGendler Award. ty, involvement The award was and participation presented to the in services, recent Central BESTT, USY, High School Jewish learning graduate during and Jewish campthe synagogue’s ing,” she said, June 3 religiousadding that espeschool graduacially during his tion ceremony. senior year, “he The Gendler excelled in his Award is an role as an officer honor given to a in USY, and did high school senmuch to advance ior who has the youth group.”

Ari Brodkey shown exemplaCalling him “an ry dedication to the synagogue: the articulate young man who is pascriteria include regular attendance sionate about his Judaism,” Rubin at BESTT Hebrew High School, also credited Brodkey with “taking Torah reading and/or Haftorah the initiative to relate to our youth chanting, leading service portions and engaging them in his excitein the sanctuary, attendance at ment about being Jewish. He is a services and participation in the natural teacher and leader.” synagogue’s USY youth group, as Inspired by his experiences at well as other service to the syna- Beth El and Camp Ramah, as well gogue. In addition to a $500 award, as additonal Jewish influences Brodkey’s name will be included including Temple’s Rabbi Aryeh on a plaque on the synagogue’s Azriel; Beth Israel’s Rabbi Wall of Honor.

Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Brodkey has made his mark in a Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | June 17, 2011

Force of nature

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Continued from page 1 packing supplies and SUV’s. With that crew, they had most their contractor. He informed them that all construction of their entire house packed and emptied by Tuesday. was canceled until further notice. The workers would be too Tippi Denenberg drove up later that week to help Lisa get busy building levees. At 7 p.m., Jeff Peterson, their project settled into her new house in Sioux City, and to retrieve more manager, called Julian Leopold, and said: “Get everything in things from the Dakota Dunes house. “Levees built up to your basement up to counter level due to seeping ground street-sign level and million-dollar houses still full of furniwater.” ture and valuables, army men all over, a lake that Lisa went to the grocery I was told was a golf course days before, and the store around 9 Saturday constant thrum of helicopters, it was totally surnight in north Sioux City real,” Tippi said. “When we went back to the to get throwaway produce Dunes, before tending to her own house, Lisa boxes -- materials were checked on so many other people still scrambling getting sparse around to get moved out. Lisa dropped off 40 empty bags town. Then Sunday mornat one lady’s house and the woman just started to ing at Wal-Mart, she saw cry.” two busloads of prisoners Tippi was blown away by the calm and focus of being let off and led by Lisa and Julian in spite of what was happening: armed sheriffs, to fill sand“Lisa’s attitude is, this is life. You have to live in bags. This was when it hit the now, because you can’t do anything about yesher that this was reality. It terday, and you don’t know what will come was the beginning of what tomorrow,” Tippi said. she now refers to as “the At this time, Lisa says, water is not at the 48-hour bad movie.”

Leopold front door because the Army Corps of Sunday morning, Engineers did not let out as much water as initialPeterson called again to ly planned. Still, they don’t know how high it will advise them to move get. “Dakota Dunes” is more than a pretty name; everything out of the basethe development is literally built on dunes made ment to the main level of from sand. The ground water coming up is the their house, because critical problem now. At this point the levees have Omaha also experiences the river’s threat. “ground water saturation held. All pictures showing apparent flooding -was becoming a problem.” Soon after, he showed up in their and it is substantial -- are just seepage; this causes pressure driveway and advised them to get a moving van, because on all basements and foundations. There is no hope they will evacuation was imminent. At that point they guessed water hold. Therefore, the entire area is now evacuated, the city has would be at the doorway in a week. Thus began the “hyste- turned off all power, and no one is allowed in unless escortria” of moving, with trucks, vans, cars, etc. in all the drive- ed by members of the Marine Corps. The manhole in front ways. of the Leopold house currently sits at 1093 feet above sea Evacuation was difficult, because at the same time people level; the water level is at 1093.5 feet. were trying to pack and flee, levees were being built in a Without Amee Zetzman bringing so much man power, rush. There was terrible traffic with moving vehicles, side those All Makes guys who didn’t want to be paid overtime, loaders, dump trucks, construction vehicles and workers Kim and Jay Noddle, and Jill and Bill Swanberg, this move vying for access. Military vehicles seemed to outnumber would not have happened. There are many others for whose people. Closings started Monday intermittently. help Lisa is eternally grateful. “Through this experience, the Lisa called her other sister and brother-in-law, Kim and meaning of ‘friend’ has truly been defined. The support we Jay Noddle. They drove up from Omaha with a load of pack- received was far beyond expectation; our children, Russ,10, ing materials. However, they still needed a moving truck and and Sophie, 12, learned first-hand what a Mitzvah looks men; at this point none were available in their area. Amee like,” she said. “We moved into a friend’s vacant but furKavitch Zetzman, president of All Makes Office Equipment, nished house that is perfect for us, in a move that seems saved the day. Zetzman immediately arranged to send an All beshert. We are safe. We have a place to hang our hats until Makes truck and 8 of her employees on Memorial Day. further notice. I have witnessed the finest acts of Tikkun Friends Brent and Diane Rosenthal also showed up with Olam in every way, every day here in this town.”

Ari Brodkey honored with Gendler Award

“We like our mom living at Remington Heights because the staff cares about her.”

– Steve and Hugh Sons of Louise A., a happy resident of Remington Heights

Continued from page 1 Yitzchak Mizrahi, and Chabad’s Rabbi Mendel Katzman, Brodkey has chosen to pursue a career in Jewish education, Jewish communal work or the rabbinate. Starting this fall, he plans to head to Israel as a participant of “Nativ [path]”, a nine-month academic program sponsored by the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism. During his stay, he will take part in university classes, as well as Hebrew and Judaic courses. In addition, he will participate in leadership training, volunteer work, and become immersed in many aspects of everyday Israeli life.

“As I start the next chapter of my life, studying in Israel and continuing at American Jewish University, I will

always look back at all of the great teachers, mentors, and role models I had at Beth El Synagogue with fond memories and great hope for the future,” Brodkey said. “If I could share one thing with the congregation that has shared with me so much, it would be this: whether it’s going to Shabbat morning services, helping to make a minyan, or eventually leading a service or a prayer, every action counts and brings reward not just to the synagogue, but also to you and your own spirituality. Our synagogues are here for you, not just for simchas and shivas, the High Holidays and Sunday school, but also to be a place for you to learn and connect to God on a daily basis, with people you care about and who care about you.”

Bound to the Torah

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Continued from page 1 Torah, the boy is called to the Torah with his father. Before the Torah is returned to the Ark, the boy’s wimpel is wrapped around the Torah, allowing the child to actualize his connection to the Torah. He is showing the world that he is bound to the Torah, both spiritually and in a very real sense. The wimpel is used again at his bar mitzvah, and then sewn to his chuppah -- connecting the mitzvot we have prayed for when the boy is so small.

After the Holocaust, this custom was lost by many communities who hoped to assimilate after the devastating loss.

It was, however, maintained by some families and continued throughout the generations. My husband’s family is an example. Many communities are seeing the wimpel more and more as a resurgence of desire to have a connection to Judaism or spiritualism increases. Around the country, day schools are making them for children, and shuls are welcoming the custom even if they have never seen a wimpel before. Many rabbis that I spoke with said the custom was beautiful and should be encouraged in the same way the custom of an upsherin (hair cutting ceremony) is encouraged.

Beyond the beauty of the custom, Rabbi Mendel Katzman, of Chabad, explained that because the custom has been done for so long in my husband’s family it has become an oath for us. Taking an oath is seen as a serious thing and raises the level of importance to an obligation. Therefore, we are required to continue the custom as a matter of halachic (Jewish law) obligation.

We were honored to share this amazing mitzvah at Chabad House of Omaha. On very short notice, Rabbi and Shani Katzman, along with the congregants made us feel welcome, wanted, and loved.

The feeling of happiness and joy in celebrating Judaism is more than evident at Chabad. Our gratitude is not enough to everyone there and to our friends that joined us. I hope that the reader will feel inspired to continue customs from their own families, to connect with their Judaism, and feel at home in their community just as we were able to do at Chabad for Isaac.

Jenifer Ruff has a Master’s of Anthropology, is a freelance writer, and a mother of two. She welcomes ideas, questions, and comments at jlruff@gmail.com.

June 17, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 3

Israel again is looking to Africa Temple volunteers chip in at Habitat for Humanity

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Ten members of Temple Israel spent Lag Ba’Omer, May 22, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Along with Jon Meyers, left, and Stan Jaeger, they worked on eight houses under construction to prepare them for fire escapes.

Expected to be completed this month as part of Habitat’s blitz build, the houses are supported by professional contractors who donate their time and supplies to complete the build in one week.

Habitat Omaha completed 27 homes last year with donations of funds and materials as well as volunteer labor. Families apply to purchase homes from Habitat for Humanity which requires homeowners to perform 350 hours of house building sweat equity to earn zero interest loans to purchase the homes at market rate. Monthly mortgage payments are used to build additional homes.

Other Temple Israel members who volunteered on this build were Phil Bierman, Justin Cooper, Dan Gilbert, Larry Gittelman, David Goldberg, MacKenzie Jaeger, Lester Katz, and Paul Rabinovitz.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on July 1. Questions?

Call 402.334.6448.

by DINA KRAFT in Africa. Bob Geldof delivered the key note address.

HERZLIYA, Israel (JTA) -- Soon after Israel was born, it “It’s a great thing you are doing today because the world began investing resources in development assistance in Africa. knows that this region is convulsed in its own problems,” Israel’s development work waned over the decades, but Geldof said. In his speech, he urged Israel not to use the recently Africa again has become a target for Israeli devel- Israeli-Arab conflict as an excuse to refrain from engaging opment work by nonprofit organizations and corporations. in the developing world.

In areas like water resource management, agriculture, “The Jewish people for centuries have used their intellect renewable energy, infrastructure and telemedicine, Israel and culture to be open,” said Geldof, who had a Jewish grandhas much to offer the developing continent. mother.

“In the same way we are a Mashav, the Israeli government high-tech power, we can agency responsible for aid probecome a development tech grams, was one of the largest power, because our problems departments in the Foreign are their problems and our Ministry in the 1960s, but its budget expertise fits their needs,” said has shrunk drastically. Today, Israel Aliza Belman Inbal of Tel Aviv gives less in overseas aid according University’s Hartog School of to gross national income than most Government and Policy. of its counterparts in the New thinking is beginning Organization for Economic to take root in Israel’s interest Cooperation and Development. But both economically and as a Africa’s potential as one of the tool to boost its international world’s fastest growing economic standing. areas is beginning to attract attention “We have the capacity to

by Israeli and international firms. help Africa in ways other Solar panels made with Israeli technology being The Israeli irrigation company countries cannot and to help installed at the Natan School in Nawansekese Village, Netafim introduced low-pressure, build a positive agenda to Uganda, as part of a project sponsored by the organi- low-cost drip irrigation systems for show Israel can offer good to zation Jewish Heart for Africa. subsistence farmers, providing Credit: Jewish Heart for Africa them with enough water to raise the world,” Belman said.

Early Israeli leaders such as Golda Meir had dispatched crops year round. In a Kenyan village called Kitui, Barak, agricultural and other experts across Africa in a policy that 200 small-scale vegetable growers who adopted Netafim’s mixed altruism with the hope that newly independent product saw a 140 percent increase of harvested yield and a African states might become staunch allies.

200 percent increase in income while saving about 60 perThe burgeoning interest of Israeli humanitarians, business- cent of water resources. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also people and government officials in Africa can be seen in is becoming involved. It invited African business delegations Israeli medical missions. These missions have gone to the fur- to Israel to learn more about its industries and twinning thest reaches of war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo economic attaches at Israeli embassies in Africa. and business pouring resources into developing Africa’s “We are sending the message that it is good to do business booming cellular phone market, which is the fastest growing with Africa,” Rafael Harpaz, director of the ministry’s ecoin the world. Small nongovernmental organizations are get- nomic department that deals with the Americas and Africa, ting involved, like Jewish Heart for Africa, which introduced told JTA. “There is potential to grow, and we are looking for Israeli solar technologies to produce electricity in orphan- new markets to trade with. If the Israeli economy is going to ages, schools and clinics in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. grow, it needs these new markets.”

“Israelis really do like to share their know-how, and we The Foreign Trade Administration, a department within believe in helping build African communities,” said Shachar the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, is seeking new Zahavi, executive director of IsraAID, a consortium of policies that help harness Israel’s competitive advantage in Israeli and Jewish aid organizations that work in developing the developing world, including Africa. countries, including those like Haiti that require disaster Jewish Heart for Africa said that bringing Israeli knowassistance. how to Africa is particularly attractive to its donor base of “We are seeing a younger generation of Israelis who dur- young American Jews. ing their post-army travels want to do something meaning“Young donors like our projects," said Sivan Borowich ful with their time abroad,” Zahavi said.

Ya'ari, the organization’s founder and president, "because we On May 29, several hundred people gathered in Herzliya are not only helping Africa but helping Israel by helping the for an IsraAID-organized conference on Israeli involvement Israeli economy and Israel’s image.”

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4 | The Jewish Press | June 17, 2011

Looking Toward the Future

From our intern EMILY GILLER It is common knowledge that within a society it is the youth, the younger generations, who inevitably become the future of the society. In fact, it’s pretty simple logic: children grow up, get jobs, get married, have families, watch their children grow up and then the cycle repeats. It is then the job of the older members of society to prepare the youth for the world around them.

As best phrased by Franklin D. Roosevelt: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

The same applies to the Jewish community here in Omaha. Think about it. Parents send their children to Hebrew school so they can learn about their Jewish heritage.

Children have Bar or Bat Mitzvahs because it is an important part of Judaism. Baby boys have a Bris because it is a part of Jewish tradition.

In a lot of families, Judaism is taught very heavily in the younger years of a child’s life. However, after a child has his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the child is considered an ‘adult’

by Jewish law and can therefore determine if he or she wants to continue Judaic studies.

However, as children get older, school activities start to take precedence and Judaism sometimes takes a back seat.

Furthermore, there are programs set in place in the Jewish community for younger children, such as camp, and programs for high school-aged children, such as BBYO. However, there is nothing set in place for the in-between years; the years where a child has his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah and then has to decide whether he or she wants to continue being an active participant within the Jewish community.

According to Jodi Levine, the BBYO and teen director at the Jewish Community Center, it’s those in-between years that are very vital, because during middle school tweens start to become more involved in school activities and sports. By the time they reach high school age, many teens are so involved in school activities that they become overwhelmed and youth group and Hebrew school drop to the bottom of their priority list.

“Nowadays, schools are offering more than they used to,” Levine said. “More teens are getting into show choir, sports, DECA, etc. and youth groups aren’t as much of a priority as they used to be.”

Levine wants to change that perspective though. According to her, low youth participation isn’t because there aren’t programs being offered, it’s lack of want from the youth. That is why Levine wants to change the structure of how the teen program is run. She finds that BBYO, for instance, will become a more effective program if teens continue to take the reins and decide how to reach potential new members and also what programs should be implemented.

Not only that, but Levine, along with the help of the teens in charge of BBYO membership, plan to start up a Teen Connection program that will be open to middle school aged tweens starting in September of this year.

“When teens are running the programs, kids are going to find it more appealing,” Levine said.

The youth program in Omaha is by no means in trouble, though. In fact, according to the BBYO International Offices, Omaha has a market share of 46.45 percent, meaning that programs in Omaha such as BBYO have successfully reached out to 46.45 percent of total Jewish youth population in Omaha. That is pretty good, especially compared to communities such as St. Louis, which has only reached 12.5 percent of its Jewish youth.

Based on these numbers, the consistency of offering yearround programs and by executing some of the changes proposed, Levine is confident that youth participation numbers will only increase over time.

Dr. Ben Kutler Memorial Golf Classic The 7th annual Dr. Ben Kutler Memorial Golf Classic will take place on Wednesday, June 29. The Golf Classic will be held at Quarry Oaks Golf Course; dinner and awards will follow golfing. Check-in is at 12:30 p.m.; cost is $125 for individual golfers, $30 for dinner only and $500 for hole sponsors.

Dr. Kutler was an Omaha dentist who was an inspiration to the profession of dentistry.

He was very involved within the Jewish community and was known as a compassionate and giving man. Dr. Kutler was also involved with Creighton University’s dental clinic and served people no matter their financial circumstances.

Since Dr. Kutler’s passing in 2003, Creighton University School of Dentistry has put on a golf event to raise money for the clinic. The funds raised will be used to defray the costs of dental health care for those who can’t afford it.

Donated raffle prizes are needed for this event and would be greatly appreciated. This event is open to everyone. For more information, please contact Tom Meng, Tournament Director, at 402.280.5083.

30,000 march in N.Y.’s Celebrate Israel Parade

Marchers representing the Jewish Agency for Israel were among the 30,000 people who marched in the Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City on June 5, 2011.

Credit: Jewish Agency for Israel

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- An estimated 30,000 people marched up New York’s Fifth Avenue in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade amid a sea of blue-and-white flags.

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets to view the parade.

The marchers were led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, accompanied by Israel’s minister of information and Diaspora, Yuli Edelstein; Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren; and Israel’s consul general in New York, Ido Aharoni.

Elected officials and politicians from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were in attendance, as were congressmen who made the trip from Washington.

The annual event, which started in 1964, is held to mark the founding of the State of Israel. It is regarded as the world’s largest celebration of Israel Independence Day; the event was formerly called the Salute to Israel Parade.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Brandeis University senior Ariel Levine returns from Europe and reflects on “How my semester abroad changed my views of America” on Wednesday, June 22, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $10; beverage service is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

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

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June 17, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 5

Temple Cookbook to remember our “Missing Ingredients”

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Fila outfit, and I made my world famous spaghetti sauce. I Temple Israel Communications Coordinator couldn’t get the lid off the pot. Neither could Steve. So he “Food always brings people together,” said Kathy Simon. took the pot outside, banged it on the ground, and the sauce In memory of her husband, Stephen, who died in 2006, flew all over the place and ruined his new Fila outfit!”

Kathy and her family are underwriting the cost of publish“My mother was a perfectionist!” emphasized Phyllis ing The Missing Ingredient, a cookbook dedicated to the Glazer. “Her kitchen was immaculate, her table was beautimemory of loved ones who are missing in our lives. fully set, and her cooking was truly delicious.” Glazer Stephen Simon was vice president and general manager of reflected on how surprised her mother would be “to see her Omaha Steaks when he died. He was a good grill cook, recipe in print” and to know that both her children continaccording to his wife, who retains her membership at ue to use it.

Temple Israel although she now lives in Arizona.

Glazer submitted her mother’s potato pudding to be Among the recipes that included in The Missing have been contributed for Ingredient. publication in the cookbook Sue Meyers sent a recipe that so far are spaghetti her late husband Dave taught Bolognese, Mom’s kugel, their sons to make. “Dave cranberry chicken, rice loved to cook, especially meat spinach pie, and numerous courses, and entertain family desserts. The goal is to collect and friends, and he kept 250 to 300 recipes focusing tweaking and experimenting on perpetuating traditions with this recipe until he perthrough recipes, conversafected it. Even people who say tions, and stories. All memthey don’t like lamb, love this bers of the Jewish community lamb!” she insisted. “This are invited to submit recipes. recipe personifies Dave Andie Gordman and Meyers, because it’s a lot like Danielle Gordman, cookbook he was: simple, honest, Danielle Gordman, left, Kathy Simon, and Andie Gordman co-chairs, have suggested straightforward, and made are assembling a new cookbook to honor those who are the “letting your memories with lots of love!” missing ingredients in our lives. become our blessings as we Anecdotes about those missassemble and publish... The Missing Ingredient. In each fam- ing in our lives will be included in the cookbook. Andie ily, there is at least one missing ingredient... someone who is Gordman’s son, Brandon Thomas, died in July 2010 from no longer with us. It could be a parent, grandparent, sibling, injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. “He was months dear friend, or simply a time of life which evokes a nostalgic away from earning his degree from the Institute of Culinary taste or smell of something which you loved to eat.” Recipes Arts at Metropolitan Community College. He wanted to that evoke a reminiscence of family who live away from travel the world and own his own restaurant someday. He Omaha will also be accepted, Danielle added. had a zest for life whether he was snowboarding in Other members of the cookbook committee are Jane Rips, Colorado, working in a restaurant kitchen, or hanging out Susie Norton, Phyllis Glazer, Mimi Silverman, and Temple with friends.” Gordman also pointed out that her son “had a Israel Program Director Wendy Goldberg. passion for food from the time he was a child. For many Proceeds from the cookbook will be used to help equip years, he was the head cook for the family’s annual the kitchen in Temple Israel’s new synagogue to be built in Thanksgiving dinner.” the Sterling Ridge development east of 132nd Street between Recipes can be submitted online at www.templeisraelPacific Street and West Center Road. ne.org. Scroll down to Quick Links in the right column, and Kathy Simon recalled that her husband “loved” her choco- then click on “Submit a Form Online for The Missing late sheet cake. “Every time I made it, he would cut one slice Ingredient” or “Print a Form for The Missing Ingredient.” of cake and put it on the plate. Then he proceeded to take Categories include appetizers and beverages, soups and salthe rest of the cake in the pan with the fork and eat the cake. ads, vegetables and side dishes, main dishes, breads and We fell for this gag every time.” rolls, desserts, cookies and candy, and traditional/holiday She also shared a story about how Steve loved to play ten- recipes. Please do not submit recipes with pork or shellfish nis. “He always wanted a Fila tennis outfit and finally got ingredients. one. He came home one summer day, put on his brand new

In the news The WealthSpring Fund, a statewide affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, is seeking grant applications from nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations whose work aligns closely with its mission to increase Nebraska women’s economic stability, security, and self-sufficiency.

Organizations may apply for up to $3,000. All applications must be postmarked or received by fax or e-mail by 5 p.m.

CDT on Sept. 1, 2011.

For additional information or to request an application form, contact Reggi Carlson at 402.323.7331, or rcarlson@ nebcommfound.org, or visit www.nebcommfound.org fund/WealthSpring.

For the third year in a row, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska has received the region’s top ranking in customer satisfaction from J.D. Power and Associates.

“We are excited to again receive this vote of confidence from our customers,” said Steve Martin, Blue Cross' President and CEO. “We take pride in helping deliver quality, affordable health care to all Nebraskans in an efficient and accomodating manner.”

The study, conducted in Dec. 2010 and Jan. 2011, evaluates seven different factors of customer satisfaction.

Win an Allsteel #19 executive office chair during the All Makes Ugly Chair Contest. Emailed entries will be accepted June 13-July 15 at uglychair@allmakes.com.

Contestants are asked to include a photo of their chair and a brief description. The All Makes panel will judge based on the ugliness of the chair, including overall physical appearance and/or the “malfunction” of the chair. For more information, visit www.allmakes.com.

Engagements TICHAUER-WISECARVER Randi Michelle Tichauer and James Matthew Wisecarver announce their engagement.

The bride-to-be graduated from University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science.

She works at ISalon as a hair stylist.

She is the daughter of Marty Tichauer and Fred Tichauer. She is the granddaughter of the late Minia and Ben Maurer, and Helena Tichauer and the late Walter Tichauer.

Her fiancé earned his Associates Degree in Electronics from ITT Technical Institute. He works at Electronic Sound as an Audio-Visual and Pro Sound Installer.

He is the son of Dr. James and Patty Wisecarver. He is the grandson of Lucille Auxier and the late Bill Auxier, and Marjorie Wisecarver and the late Clyde Wisecarver.

A September 4, 2011, wedding is planned in Omaha.

To order a gift subscription to the Press...

Send a check for $25, made out to the Jewish Press and prorated for the year, to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154. For more information on how to connect your out-of-town relatives and friends, call 402.334.6448.

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 17, 2011

Sports

A left-wing dream

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Left: The rally in Tel Aviv attended by over 20,000 left-wing and peace group activists in support of the establishment of a Palestinian state and a divided Jerusalem. Right: the small right-wing counter demonstration at the periphery of the rally.

Credit: ISRANET

by EDGAR ASHER June 4 in central Tel Aviv, an estimated 20,000 left-wing and peace group activists held a march and a rally in support of the establishment of a Palestinian state. Several well known left-wing and communist politicians addressed the crowd, including Dov Henin (Hadash) and Zahava Gal-On (Meretz); also members of the Kadima and Labor parties participated in the rally. The consensus of most Israelis is not to divide Jerusalem or enter into peace talks with the Palestinians, particularly if they do not accept the fact that Israel is a Jewish state.

There is a significant number of more secular Israelis who see no problem in a divided Jerusalem and a return to the 1967 borders. Their contention is that if the Likud-led government is prepared to make these concessions, then there will be a durable and long-term peace in the Middle East, and it will also affect the peace and stability of the Arab world in general. If the complete withdrawal from Gaza is anything to go by, the contentions of the Israeli leftwing peace camp, however well intentioned, would be in the realm of fantasy.

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One of the flying contraptions taking part in the Israeli ‘Flugtag’ competition in Tel Aviv.

Credit: ISRANET

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by EDGAR ASHER Many hundreds of spectators made their way to Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv to watch the zany ‘Flugtag’ competition organized by the Red Bull energy drink company.

The ‘Flugtag’ -- flight day -- competition has been taking place in some thirty-five cities around the world since its inception in 1991.

Anyone is eligible to compete, however each team must submit an application and their flying contraption must meet the criteria laid out by the competition organizers. Every flying machine must have a maximum wingspan of 30 ft., a maximum

weight, including pilot, of 450 lbs.; and be powered by muscle, gravity or imagination. Regardless of the designs, they all end up in the water; and for that reason all designs must be unsinkable and be built entirely from environmentally friendly materials without any loose parts. Entrants are judged in three categories: distance, creativity and showmanship. Each flying machine is launched off the edge of a 30 foot platform. The record for the longest flight is 195 ft., set in 2000 at the ‘Flugtag’ Austria event. This time no records were broken, but everybody -- competitors and spectators, had a very enjoyable time.

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June 17, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 7

Sisterhood lunch features BINGO fun

by BETH COHEN Beth Israel Executive Director The Beth Israel Sisterhood is enjoying summer with a fun lunch featuring Bingo! The lunch will be held on Tuesday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. Following a lunch of tuna salad sandwiches, fresh fruit salad, vegetable soup and dessert, attendees will enjoy some rounds of everyone’s favorite game.

Cost for lunch is $5 per person, and Bingo cards are free.

In addition to the lunch and Bingo games, the Sisterhood Gift Shop will be open. The Gift Shop stocks beautiful and unique Judaic items for your home and gift giving, including made-in-Israel jewelry, tzedakah boxes, and mezuzah cases. The Sisterhood Gift Shop is always open during regular synagogue office hours (Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or on Sundays by appointment.

For more information about upcoming Sisterhood events or to be added to the mailing list, please contact the synagogue office at 402.556.6288 or BethIsrael@Orthodox Omaha.org.

Celebrating 100 years of Jewish Family Service

Summer Speaker Series

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Jeff Schweid, a multi-term Temple Israel Board of Trustees member, will discuss his Jewish journey, How Does a New York Orthodox Yeshivah Boy End Up a Reform Jew in Omaha? at Shabbat worship services on Friday, June 24 at Temple Israel. Also a member of Temple Israel’s Kol Rina choir, Schweid has served as chair of the Adult Education, Worship, and Music Committees at Temple Israel. A member of the congregation for 21 years, Schweid will bethe soloist at the 6 p.m. worship service led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel.

Arts+Entertainment The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is proud to announce Power Tower, the provocative solo debut of Omaha artist Leslie Diuguid, with an opening reception on Friday, June 17, from 6-9 p.m. and a gallery talk with the artist on Saturday, June 18, at noon. Both events are free and open to the public and will take place at the Bemis Underground, 12th and Leavenworth in Omaha. Originally from Kansas City, MO, Diuguid currently lives and works in Omaha.

Clockwise from top right: Gloria Kaslow, left, receives the Jewish Family Service Woman of the Century Award from Karen Gustafson, JFS Director. Karen Gustafson, left, JFS Director; Mike Silverman, Jewish Federation of Omaha CEO; Gloria Kaslow, Andi Willensky, JFStival Event Chair; Jim Farber, Jewish Social Services President and the evening’s MC. Gloria Kaslow, left, and her friend, Marti Rosen-Atherton, who took part in the the tribute program.

Dorothy Spizman and Iris Ricks, JFStival committee members, put out table assignment cards. Top tier of the JFS 100 Anniversary cake. In 1985, Gloria Kaslow, Steve Riekes and Stan Mitchell created the first B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz. The first winner was Alan Kricsfeld, left, shown with this year’s winner, Joe Hack. Both Kricsfeld and Hack participated in the JFStival program honoring Gloria Kaslow as JFS Woman of the Century.

Polish heroine Irena Sendler and her wartime conspiracy of women who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish children, are the focus of Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers, airing Thursday, June 23, at 9 p.m. CT on NET1 and NET-HD. Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers features the last in-depth interview with Sendler before her death at the age of 98. Rare archival footage, family photographs and evocative re-creations shot in Warsaw bring the lives of the hidden Jewish children, Sendler and her co-workers into dramatic focus.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 17, 2011

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Pop culture politics

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP Editor of the Jewish Press You don’t have to be Palestinian or Israeli to have an opinion about the State of Israel. You don’t have to be a politician, a famous scientist, or a Nobel laureate. This is America, and as long as you’re famous for something, what you think matters. Also, with the avalanche of E-zines and websites and blogs and cable channels, all looking for news 24/7, chances are when you open your mouth somebody somewhere will print it.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, there are those instances when those who make the news have questionable motives (Glenn Beck’s Jerusalem rally versus the Coldplay pro-Palestinian video for instance) but at least Israel stays in the news. Would we prefer it if the world forgot?

Case in point: actor Leonard Nimoy, a.k.a. “Spock” from the television series Star Trek, supports the two-state solution: “In an open letter posted on the website for left-leaning organization Americans for Peace Now, Nimoy advocates for two states with a divided Jerusalem capital, calling the solution “critical” for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Nimoy cites the recommendations made by prominent Israelis in April, including former heads of Mossad, Shin Bet and the military, who called for a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem.” (JTA.com) Nimoy even goes so far as to use a Star Trek episode for a metaphor. Not to belittle the very real conflict, he insists, but to give a frame of reference within which the conflict can be understood. Nimoy knows: history in the making can be confusing and the real world overwhelms us; we prefer not to pay attention until we’ve seen it on cable television. And according to www.TrekJews.com, we could do worse than look at science fiction for life lessons. Rabbi Yonassan Gershom, a self proclaimed “Trek Rabbi” and the creator of the aforementioned website, explains in great detail the influence of Judaism on Star Trek in general and the series’ Vulcan culture in particular.

The same can be said for the latest installment of X Men: in a recent video, JTA’s editor in chief, Ami Eden, takes a look at the two main characters, Professor X and Magneto.

He compares Professor X, who always has hope for a better future in which we can all live in peace, to Rabbi Irving Greenberg. Magneto, X’s nemesis, is likened to Rabbi Meir Kahane. For those not familiar with the X-men, Magneto is a sort-of bad guy; someone whose back story makes his mis-

anthropic worldview more than understandable, at times even righteous. We see him as a young boy in a concentration camp, separated from his father, discovering his secret weapon for the first time. He finds he has it within him to bend metal by sheer will, and in an inspiring display of power, breaks down the gates of his prison. Later, when he goes from hero to anti-hero, he never finalizes that transition, because the audience can’t forget his origins.

Using popular science fiction characters to understand world politics, it seems kind of silly.

And yet, story telling is the backbone of what we internalize. Sometimes processing the terrible truth through popular culture is a necessary crutch. It’s why filmmakers and novelists continue to tell stories about the Holocaust; when the truth is difficult and so much bigger than us, we can educate the world through story telling. If a story is told well, it becomes more than plot: it contains a message and potentially a lesson to be learned. And when the artists who bring these stories to life continue caring about issues after they leave the set, we can all benefit. Even if we don’t always agree with what comes out of their mouths; simply being part of the discourse, and seeing the need to stay informed is important.

I just have one question: what Credit: liveonline-streaming.com does Captain Kirk think?

Upping the ante: Why I’m doubling down on the teen years

Behind the headlines LYNN SCHUSTERMAN TULSA, Okla. (JTA) -- For Jen, it all started in the eighth grade with an invitation from a friend to a BBYO Shabbat dinner. Jen had grown up in a non-Jewish area of Virginia, and the invitation was one of few opportunities she had to experience the warmth and familiarity of Jewish traditions in the company of peers.

What happened in the years afterward highlights the critical importance of the teen years in solidifying the future of the Jewish community.

Deep involvement in her local BBYO chapter led to regional and national leadership trainings for Jen and, ultimately, a year deferring college to serve as the youth organization’s international teen president. Once on campus, Jen became involved in Israel advocacy with Hillel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and she spent a year studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. After graduating in 2005, she came to work for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, becoming the steward of countless Jewish engagement efforts.

Today she is the COO of Moishe House, an organization that annually reaches tens of thousands of young Jewish adults around the world.

In short, Jen Kraus Rosen has spent her professional life paying forward the investment made in her by our community by helping thousands of young adults find a meaningful place in the Jewish community. In her personal life, too,

(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

Jewish Press Board Andy Ruback, Vice President; Eric Dunning, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Past President; Daphne Pollak Alperson; Marc Brodkey; Phyllis Brown; Jason Epstein; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Jamie Meyerson; Michael Sigmond; Jim Simon; Dorothy Spizman; 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 sto-

she is a convener and connector, a mover, a shaker and a shadchan (matchmaker), often bringing together various groups of friends for her own Shabbat dinners.

While Jen is certainly exceptional, we are fortunate that she is not the exception. Recent research on Jewish teen experiences makes clear that investing in Jews during their teenage years pays significant dividends toward ensuring their involvement in Jewish life well into adulthood.

A new study [http://www.schusterman.org/resources/ studies-evaluations/bbyo-impact-study] commissioned by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation shows, among other things, that the BBYO experience results in young adults who, like Jen, are more inclined to remain involved in Jewish life, hold leadership roles in their community, invest time and money in Jewish causes, develop a strong Jewish network, and give their children a Jewish education. Moreover, the study reveals that these individuals directly credit involvement in BBYO for their growth on these fronts.

Recent studies from the Foundation for Jewish Camp [http://www.jewishcamp.org/how-we-help/research] and Moving Traditions [http://www.movingtraditions.org/ index.php?option=com_content&amptask=view&ampid =45&ampItemid=64] support similar underlying findings: that effectively designed Jewish teen experiences successfully reach and engage youth, helping them feel pride in their Jewish identity, encouraging them to contribute to Jewish life and even ensuring a greater resiliency against the pressures that are commonplace in the teen years.

It is clear that fun, meaningful, affordable Jewish experi-

ences have a deep and significant impact on teens. It is clear that they are vital to ensuring our teens stay engaged with our community and develop the necessary skills to lead it.

And it is clear that it is time for us to elevate our investment in the teen years -- when individuals begin exploring their identity, defining their values and shaping who they will become as adults -- as a priority on our communal agenda.

Think about it: An estimated 75 percent of teenage Jews celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah. Fresh from their entry into Jewish adulthood and with a desire to seek meaning in their lives, they are ripe and ready to begin the next phase of their Jewish journeys. And yet it is at this particular moment, when Judaism has so much to offer and when teens need our guidance most, that far too many are turning away from involvement in Jewish experiences. In fact, it is estimated that by the time they reach their last two years of high school, only half -- at best -- continue to be involved in Jewish life.

We have researched, discussed and lamented at length about why this is happening. We need to stop focusing on what we are doing wrong and instead invest our human and financial resources in replicating and expanding what we are doing right.

We have clear evidence that the experiences provided by youth group and Jewish camps are succeeding in stemming the trend of disaffiliation where others are not for three simple reasons: • They know what teens want.

Continued on page 9

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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..

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June 17, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 9

From father to son, the Netanyahu legacy in Washington

Behind the headlines RAFAEL MEDOFF WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The enthusiastic response that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received when he addressed the U.S. Congress on May 24 came from both sides of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans both took part in the numerous standing ovations. Afterward, Democrats and Republicans made statements criticizing President Obama’s positions and supporting Israel’s.

But perhaps it is not so surprising that the prime minister was able to attract such bipartisan support because his father accomplished something similar 67 years ago.

In the summer of 1944, 34-year-old Benzion Netanyahu was the executive director of the American wing of Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s Revisionist Zionist movement.

One of Benzion Netanyahu’s tasks was to help mobilize support in Washington for free Jewish immigration to Palestine and the creation of a Jewish state. That was no small job at a time when the British opposed Jewish immigration and statehood, and the Roosevelt administration preferred not to intervene.

The Revisionists often used tactics that the mainstream Zionists considered too aggressive. For example, Netanyahu and his colleagues repeatedly placed large advertisements in The New York Times and other leading newspapers with headlines such as “The White Paper Must Be Smashed, if Millions of Jews Are to Be Saved!” and “Is America to Be a Party to the Palestine Betrayal?”

These challenges to Allied policy did not sit well with mainstream Jewish leaders such as Rabbi Stephen Wise, who was deeply loyal to President Roosevelt, the New Deal and the Democratic Party. In his private correspondence, Wise

called the president “the All Highest” and “the Great Man.” Much to the Jewish establishment’s chagrin, Netanyahu actively cultivated relationships with Republican members of Congress and party leaders. For Wise, building friendly relations with FDR’s political foes was inconceivable. For Netanyahu it was political common sense. Roosevelt had no incentive to address Jewish concerns if he believed Jewish votes were in his pocket.

Only if there was a credible threat of Jews voting Republican would FDR see a reason to reconsider his cold policy toward Jewish refugees and Zionism.

In the months leading up to the June 1944 Republican National Convention, Netanyahu and his colleagues undertook what they called “a systematic campaign of enlightenment.” They met repeatedly with former President Herbert Hoover, 1936 GOP presidential candidate Alf Landon and influential Republican members of Congress such as Rep. Clare Booth Luce (wife of the publisher of Time and Life).

At a Revisionist dinner that spring, Luce said Great Britain’s blockade of Jewish refugee ships bound for Palestine was to blame for the fact that “Jewish blood stains the blue Mediterranean red.”

In their meetings, the Revisionists asked the Republicans to include a pro-Zionist plank in their 1944 platform. Neither party had ever formally endorsed the cause of Jewish statehood, but the GOP leaders clearly were sympathetic. On the eve of the convention, Luce called Netanyahu to say, only half joking, “I’m going now to do your work at the convention.”

Meanwhile, an additional lobbying effort was undertaken

by Abba Hillel Silver, the activist Cleveland rabbi who in 1943 had been elevated to the co-chairmanship of the American Zionist movement alongside Wise. Silver, who enjoyed a close relationship with Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio, lobbied Taft and other leading Republicans on the platform issue.

The GOP’s final platform not only endorsed Jewish statehood in Palestine, as Silver wanted, but also criticized Roosevelt, as Netanyahu wanted. It declared: “We condemn the failure of the President to insist that the mandatory of Palestine carry out the provisions of the Balfour Declaration and of the mandate while he pretends to support them.”

Furious and embarrassed, Wise dashed off a letter to the president declaring that he was “deeply ashamed” of the “utterly unjust” wording of the Republican plank. In the pages of the Revisionist journal Zionews, Netanyahu commented that “It seems that to Dr. Wise and his friends, partisan politics are more important than truth and the interests of their people and their country.”

The Republican Party’s move had an important consequence: It compelled the Democrats to compete for Jewish support and treat the Jewish vote as if it were up for grabs.

The Democratic National Convention in July 1944 for the first time endorsed “unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization” of Palestine and the establishment of “a free and democratic Jewish commonwealth.”

These events helped ensure that support for Zionism, and later for Israel, would become a permanent part of American political culture. Every subsequent Republican and Democratic convention has adopted a plank supporting Israel. To do less became politically unthinkable.

The bipartisan support for Israel on Capitol Hill last week thus represented the continuation of a deeply rooted tradition in the politics of American foreign policy. The seeds sown by the father in 1944 were reaped by the son nearly seven decades later.

Rafael Medoff, director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies in Washington, is the historical consultant to Israeli filmmaker Moshe Levinson’s forthcoming documentary on Benzion Netanyahu.

Democrats launch major pro-Obama pushback among Jews

Focus on issues RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama is a stalwart friend of Israel. That’s the message from some top Democratic Jewish figures against the notion that Obama is out of step with the pro-Israel and Jewish communities.

Two figures associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- past AIPAC president Amy Friedkin and board member Howard Green -- will be among the hosts for a major fundraising event for the president, charging $25,000 per couple. The target of 40 couples -- bringing in $1 million -- is close to being met, insiders say. Notably, the organizers have received a nod from the AIPAC board’s inner circle to solicit donations.

Recently, top Jewish Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Democratic National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), blitzed the media with Op-Eds denying any split with the president in the wake of his call last month to base Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on 1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps.

And the White House has taken the unusual step of posting a lengthy defense of Obama’s Israel record on its website.

Some of the Op-Eds were coordinated, insiders said, and meetings will take place over the coming weeks to hammer home the message.

“The White House has a very strong record to defend, and the objectives are misrepresented and in some cases maligned, so yes the White house is pushing back,” said Robert Wexler, the former Florida congressman who was Obama’s chief Jewish proxy during the 2008 campaign.

Wexler wrote one of two pro-Obama Op-Eds in the South Florida Sun Sentinel in recent days. Florida, a swing state with a substantive Jewish population, has been a key Jewish battleground in recent years.

Republicans have taken notice, and they have attributed the pushback in part to the success of attacks on the president by conservative groups.

“Clearly, the White House is playing defense after President Obama inserted himself into Middle East policy that put him at odds with Americans who support a strong Israel,” Reince Preibus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an e-mail to JTA. Democrats say two distortions have fueled their fury: The notions that Obama broke with U.S. policy to force Israel back to the pre-1967 lines and, as a result, that Jewish voters, a key base, are slipping away from the Democrats.

Where the Jews stand on Obama matters not just because of the Jewish vote, which is significant in key swing states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, but also because of Jewish money. The 2012 presidential election will be the first since a Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited corporate giving to candidates.

“Every two or four years Republicans say, ‘This is the year Jewish voters, or donors, or activists, are going to trend Republican,’” said Steve Rabinowitz, a strategist who advises Democrats and Jewish groups. “Every November it turns out not to be true.”

Republicans made clear that they see a new opening now given the “1967 lines” brouhaha.

“We’re stepping up our game with Jewish donors and other potential Jewish supporters that feel like Obama turned his back on them,” an RNC official who is not authorized to speak on the record told JTA. Obama’s appointment earlier this year of Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee came in part in response to concerns that Republicans were making headway among Jews.

“They’re taking proactive steps to ensure they get in front of this,” said a Democratic operative close to the Jewish community who requested anonymity. “They’re explaining to the Jewish audience what’s going on so it doesn’t become a problem down the road.”

The White House posting begins by addressing the “1967 lines” controversy.

“This territorial formula, which has been used in IsraeliPalestinian negotiations for decades, means that the parties themselves will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967, to account for the changes that have taken place over the last 44 years,” it said, adding that the formula “is fully consistent with the positions of earlier U.S. Administrations, including the 2004 Bush-Sharon letters.”

In fact, while previous administrations -- including President George W. Bush in his letter to then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon -- have acknowledged the 1967 lines as an aspiration for the Palestinians, Obama has gone further in embracing them as a basis for talks. That frustrated Israelis who say it narrows their options by setting parameters.

In the same May 19 Middle East policy speech, Obama also set restrictive parameters for Palestinians, for instance, in declaring that their state would not be militarized.

The difference between Obama and his predecessors is not as drastic as Republicans have portrayed, however, especially in statements like the one recently from RNC Chairman Reince Priebus that refer only to the “1967 lines” without noting “mutually agreed swaps.”

“It’s not a good comment that the other side seized control of the narrative by lying,” one prominent Jewish Democrat said.

Jewish Democrats are frustrated with their inability to bury perceptions that Obama has distanced himself from Israel, noting especially that officials in both countries agree that the defense relationship is closer than ever.

“I expected my attention to be in the Midwest, not in the Middle East,” is how Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff began his Op-Ed in The Washington Post last week.

Democrats say their concerns extend to the nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship, which for decades has been predi-

cated on bipartisan support. Wasserman Schultz forcefully raised the issue in a meeting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held with top Jewish representatives of both parties last month.

Matt Brooks, the director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, shot back with a public letter accusing Wasserman Schultz of trying to gag debate by suppressing legitimate criticism of Obama.

Mark Mellman, a top Democratic pollster, dismissed talk of a “gag order.”

“They have the right to say whatever they want, but Democrats have the right to say it’s not wise,” he said.

Noah Pollak, the director of the Executive Committee for Israel, has acknowledged that Obama’s policies are not substantially different from his predecessors. The president’s problem, he said, has more to do with optics that suggest his hostility to the Netanyahu government.

Pollak noted that the 1967 lines parameters came on the eve of Netanyahu’s visit.

“Obama has proven over and over again he is incapable of having a good meeting with the prime minister,” Pollak said.

“The issue is why do this and tell the prime minister just before he’s about to fly to Washington? It guarantees a sour visit.”

Upping the ante Continued from page 8 • They provide it in a compelling, meaningful and value-added manner.

• They do so in a way that capitalizes upon and integrates, rather than competing with, the hyperconnected, fast-paced, ever-changing environment in which teens live.

Projects that promote peer-to-peer recruiting and put the teens in charge of the programming offer affordable and scalable models.

It is up to us to ensure that the programs that work best with teens have the resources they need to grow and deepen their impact. That is why I am doubling down on our foundation’s investment in BBYO, and why we hope others will commit to joining us in supporting work in the teen space.

This is the best way we can ensure that the post-bar mitzvah years become an on-ramp to, rather than an exit route from, further and sustained engagement in Jewish experiences.

We can create pluralistic, inclusive environments where even the least affiliated will feel safe exploring Jewish life. And, ultimately, we can change the trajectory of teen engagement in the Jewish community for generations to come.

Lynn Schusterman is chairwoman of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

10 | The Jewish Press | June 17, 2011

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

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Evening Services, 8:55 p.m.

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

THURSDAY: Open Arms Meeting, 7 p.m., the community is invited to Beth El to learn about the synagogue’s recently-released Open Arms Initiative publication. Geared to interfaith families, the booklet introduces and explains Jewish traditions, customs and ceremonies, and highlights ways to become involved at the synagogue. Margo Riekes will lead the get-together. Attendees are encouraged to bring their copy of the booklet (extras will be available). RSVPs are needed by June 13 and may be made by contacting Margie in the office, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org. Open to the entire community.

S’MORES & SONGS: On Sunday, June 26, at 7 p.m., join us in the synagogue’s backyard area, where we’ll have a campfire, delicious munchies and a spirited sing-along for the whole family. No charge to attend, but for planning purposes RSVPs are requested. Contact Margie in the office or email her at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

JEWS & BREWS: Beth El’s Men’s Club is sponsoring a Men’s Night Out dinner event on Monday, June 27, 7 p.m.

No charge to attend; to RSVP, contact Mike Schop at 402.618.0189.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m. Beth Israel is pleased to welcome “Our Way” from the Orthodox Union for a special Shabbat program for the deaf and hard of hearing.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Understanding the Prayer Book class with Rabbi Mizrahi, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Navigating the Translitereated Siddur class with Rabbi Mizrahi, 10 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; The

Laws of Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 7:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:52 p.m.

SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

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

TUESDAY: Sisterhood Lunch, 11:30 a.m. featuring BINGO; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.; Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Advanced Halachic Kollel, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of Torah class, 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP

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

FRIDAY: Service, 7 a.m.

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

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: JLI class, Oasis in Time, 7 p.m. Register now at www.my jli.com or call 402.330.1800. Questions contact JLI@OChabad.com or call 402.330.1800.

All programs are open to the entire community.

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at the home of Connie and Robert Kully, 431 S. 89th St. with an oneg following sponsored by Connie and Robert Kully; D’var Torah: Jonathan Rockman and Matt Ferer - O’Brother, Where Art Thou? One’s Man decision to make a difference; In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to Temple Israel; Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel led by Rabbi Azriel.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.; Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer.

TUESDAY: Executive Meeting, 6 p.m.; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m.

Shabbat Service, Friday, June 24, 6 p.m. D’var: Jeff Schweid.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN

TIFERETH ISRAEL

South Street Temple | Union for Reform Judaism 2061 South 20th Street | Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 | 402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Michael Boekstal, with oneg following hosted by Jennifer Wright and Paul Nelson.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. led by Stephanie Dohner; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. led by Michael Boekstal; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m. All ages welcome.

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

TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon at the Olive Garden. Questions? Contact Stephanie Dohner.

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

‘Schindler’s List’ typist dies at 91

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- The man responsible for typing Oskar Schindler the famous list that saved more than 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust died Tuesday in Augsburg, Germany, at age 91.

Mietak Pemper was set to be buried Friday in the city’s Jewish cemetery, and local officials plan to order flags to be lowered to half-mast, the Agence France-Presse reported.

During his imprisonment in the Plaszow concentraMietak Pemper tion camp, Pemper served as Credit: freerepublic.com the personal typist of Nazi commandant Amon Goeth from 1943 to 1944. At one point, he secretly read a letter to Goeth from Berlin announcing that all factories not producing goods for the Nazi war effort would be closed down.

Pemper was able to convince Schindler, a Nazi party member who initially hoped to profit from the Germany’s invasion of Poland, to switch his plant’s focus from enamel production to anti-tank grenade rifles.

The typist then, at great personal risk, gave Schindler a typed list of more than 1,000 fellow prisoners who could

Candlelighting Friday, June 17, 8:42 p.m.

work in the plant.

Schindler famously saved more than 1,200 lives through a mixture of work opportunities and bribes to Nazi officers.

Though he died in anonymity in 1974, Schindler’s story was famously adapted by director Steven Spielberg in the 1993 film Schindler’s List, which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Pemper served as a consultant on the film and in 2005 published his memoir, The Road to Rescue: The Untold Story of Schindler’s List.

In the book, Pemper pondered what the world would have been like if there had been no war or Nazi extermination effort.

“Goeth would probably not have been a mass murdereer, nor Schindler a saver of lives. It was only the extraordinary circumstances of war and the immense power granted to individual men that revealed the nature of these men to such an impressive and terrifying degree,” he wrote. “Fate had placed me between the two of them and it was like having an angel on one side and a demon on the other.”

Augsburg Mayor Kurt Gribl said Pemper was a great asset to his city.

“With Mietek Pemper, the city has lost an important builder of bridges between the Jewish and Christian religions and a contributor to reconciliation,” he wrote in a statement.

1317 North 57 Street | Omaha, NE 68132 | 402.551.6609 FRIDAY: Minyan, 8:42 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Chef ’s Demo, 1 p.m. led by Temple Israel Members.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg.

THURSDAY: LOVE Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Study Session on Pirkei Avot, 9:30 a.m.; Morning Service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush luncheon sponsored by Rifka Keilson in honor of Rifka Keilson’s birthday.

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

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at the Olive Garden on ‘O’ Street. Please contact Stephanie Dohner at dohners@windstream.net with any questions.

Protesters in N.Y. picket companies dealing with Iran

by JTA NEWS STAFF NEW YORK (JTA) -- Protesters demonstrated outside the New York headquarters of several companies accused of conducting business with Iran.

Demonstrators from Iran 180 and United against Nuclear Iran, two groups promoting a democratic Iran, rallied June 10 in Midtown Manhattan, booing a large papier mache construction of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Eni Corp., one of the companies being picketed, sent down a spokesperson to declare the Italian energy company's plans to officially cease doing business with Iran.

The protests followed a news conference at which Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other officials awarded Iran 180 Hero Awards to Iranian activists and dissidents.

The honorees included Shabnam Assadollahi, a human rights activist who served 18 months as an Iranian political prisoner and today voices the opinions of Iranian dissidents on her radio show "Hamseda."

The protest and conference were held on the anniversary of Ahmadinejad’s election two years ago amid widespread allegations of voter fraud and rigging.

JEWISH PRESS NOTICE There will be no Jewish Press on July 1. Questions?

Call 402.334.6448.

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June 17, 2011 | The Jewish Press | 11

A Scouting Expedition

In memoriam HARRY L. FREEMAN

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Shelach Lecha As the Israelites approached the land (that was soon to be called Israel), Moses was told to send out men into the land to scout it.

The were to bring back a report of their assessment of the Israelite’s chants to make it their own.

One man from each tribe, 12 in all, scouted the land completely. They were to see if the towns were protected by strong walls, whether the inhabitants were armed, or basically defenseless. After sufficient time they brought back their reports.

Ten of the 12 said we have been mislead. The towns are well protected by strong walls, the inhabitants are mighty people and as strong as giants. We have been promised this land as if it were a gift; but in fact we will have to fight for it and we have no chance of success.

Two of the 12, however, insisted that with the Lord’s help they could conquer the land and make it their own.

By a strange quirk of the way traditions develop, the number ten has become the minimum number of men required to make a “minyan” to hold a public religious service.

Only two of the 12, Joshua Ben Nun and Caleb Ben Jeffuneh reported that in their opinion the Israelites could successfully invade the land. It was their opinion that persuaded the Israelites to make the land their own.

Fischer disqualified

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Stanley Fischer, the governor of the Bank of Israel, will not be considered a candidate to lead the International Monetary Fund because of his age.

Fischer was notified Monday night that his announced candidacy for the position was disqualified since he is 67, and IMF rules state that the IMF Managing Director must be under 65 when taking office for the five-year position.

Fischer had hoped that the IMF board would waive the restriction, saying it is “not relevant today.”

Fischer is in the second year of his second five-year term as the head of Israel’s central bank. He had hoped to fill the position vacated by Dominique Strauss-Kahn of France, who resigned after his arrest on May 14 on charges of attempted rape of a maid in a New York hotel.

Fischer is a former deputy managing director of the IMF. He also was the thesis adviser to Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, when he was pursuing his doctorate in economics from MIT. Fischer, a native of Zambia who holds Israeli citizenship, has been widely credited with helping Israel’s economy weather the global financial crisis.

Israeli dairy cows produce most milk

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli dairy cows produce more milk than dairy cows do in other countries.

The Israeli dairy cows produced an average of nearly 2,642 gallons of milk a year in 2009, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Monday.

Some 344,480 gallons of milk were produced by Israeli cows in 2010.

By comparison, dairy cows in the United States produce 2,465 gallons of milk per year and European Union cows 1,622 gallons per year, according to the Jerusalem Post.

There is an estimated 25 percent increase in the purchase of dairy products by Israelis in the days leading up to Shavuot, when Jews traditionally eat dairy holiday meals.

A cow from Kibbutz Karmia near Gaza was named the highest milk-producer for the second year in a row, giving more than 20,000 liters or about 5,283 gallons of milk in one year.

There are 125,000 dairy cows in Israel, and the average Israeli consumes about 45 gallons of dairy products a year.

Harry L. Freeman died on June 6 at home in Chevy Chase, MD after a long illness. He was 79.

Freeman was born on March 1, 1932 in Omaha.

He is survived by his wife, Lucile Carpenter Freeman, and four children: Bennett Freeman of Washington, DC, from his first marriage to the former Thelma-Jeanne (“T.J”) Friedman; Lansing Freeman of Washington, DC; Rachel Freeman of Almaty, Kazakhstan (on assignment for the World Bank); Alexandra Freeman of Glen Echo, MD; four grandchildren; and a brother, Melvin (Jerry) Freeman.

After graduating from Omaha Central High School, he earned an AB in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1953 and a JD from Harvard Law School after transferring from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He became an associate and later a partner specializing in tax law at the San Francisco law firm Janin, Morgan, Brenner & Freeman.

Freeman was a senior executive and Executive Vice President of American Express. After his retirement from American Express, he formed the Freeman Company as his consulting vehicle. In 1997 he founded the Mark Twain Institute, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the improvement of economic statistics.

Freeman was a founder of the Council on Excellence in Government. He served as a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development, on the Council of the Brookings Institution and the Board of the Overseas Development Council. He was also an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Beth Israel elects new Board

by BETH COHEN Beth Israel Executive Director At a congregational meeting on Sunday, June 5, the members of Beth Israel Synagogue elected a new Board of Commissioners. Officers of the new Board are President, Guy Matalon, Administrative Vice President, David Kohll, Financial Vice President, Bruce Potash, Membership Vice President, Howard Gendelman, Treasurer, Josh Gurock and Secretary, Rachel Kanner.

The membership of the Board of Commissioners includes Lesley Gendelman, Bruce Goldberg, Debbie Kricsfeld, Susan Polack, Adina Schuller, Dani Shrago, Michael Shrago, Susie Shyken, and Harry Weiner. This Board of Commissioners will serve through May of 2012.

Tens of thousands participate in Tel Aviv’s gay pride parade

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Tens of thousands of Israelis marched through the streets of Tel Aviv for the city’s annual gay pride parade.

The event kicked off Friday at the city’s Meir Park, with dancers, singers and speakers. Afterward the parade proceeded through the city’s streets. The event culminated with a dance party featuring international DJs at Gordon Beach.

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Copyright: ISRANET Organizers said that 100,000 people took part in the parade. But according to Agence France-Presse, police put the number at more than 30,000.

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In New York shtetl, the rebbe’s word is law

by ALEX WEISLER instantly marked Rottenberg, a 43-year-old NEW SQUARE, N.Y. (JTA) -- For years, plumber, as persona non grata in the comthis Chasidic village about an hour north of munity.

New York City has been a shtetl-like haven The campaign of intimidation began soon where residents could live far from the after. temptations of the nation’s largest city.

Rottenberg had stones thrown through his Life in this community of some 7,000 car and home windows, received threatenSkverer Chasidim has revolved around its ing phone calls late at night and found his spiritual leader, the Skverer rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky.

In the wake of a recent arson attack that left a dissident New Square resident in the hospital with third-degree burns over more than half his body -- and thrust this community into the harsh glare of media and police investigators -- the question is whether the centrality of the rebbe to community life has created an atmosphere of dangerous coercion.

The incident that has thrust New Square Grand Rebbe David Twersky strongly encourNew Square into the spotlight ages residents of the suburban New York village he leads to Credit: Alex Weisler came in the wee hours of May worship at his synagogue.

22, when police say that Aron Rottenberg children expelled from the village’s religious approached a man carrying a rag soaked schools, according to Sussman. with flammable liquid behind his family’s Then came the arson incident involving house. In the ensuing altercation, which Spitzer, who had been serving as Twersky’s took place at approximately 4 a.m., live-in butler for about a year.

Rottenberg and his alleged assailant, Shaul In a letter sent to state and federal judicial Spitzer, 18, were badly burned. officials, lawyer Michael Sussman said the The incident appears to be the culmina- campaign of intimidation occurred “under tion of a dispute about enforcing the will of Twersky’s authority” and asked for the arson the rebbe -- something akin to the rule of attack to be classified as a hate crime. law in New Square.

The FBI reportedly has joined forces with The rebbe likes his followers in New the Ramapo Police Department to investiSquare to pray at his synagogue. But since gate the attack, according to The New York the fall, Rottenberg and a small group have Times. been making the milelong trek to Friedwald Most New Square residents defend Center, a nursing home in the adjacent vil- Twersky as innocent, according to Yossi lage of New Hempstead, for a minyan. That Gestetner, a Chasidic journalist and public

relations consultant.

“Few people in New Square think that the New Square grand rabbi or anyone in leadership actually ordered or at all wanted this arson attempt to take place,” said Gestetner, who is based in the nearby village of Spring Valley, N.Y. “However, many people living in New Square think that leadership owes responsibility -- in a moral, not legal sense -- for not coming out strongly against the low-level violence in the past.”

The haredi Orthodox AMI magazine published an interview with Twersky last week in which he condemned “in the strongest possible terms any violence or coercion under any circumstances.”

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter, the magazine’s publisher and editor-in-chief, said it is unfair to blame Twersky for the actions of one member of his community.

“It’s racism to attack an entire community based upon a lost soul or criminal minds who perpetrate crime against others,” he said. “When we have an attack like that, we don’t go ahead and attack an entire community, and we don’t attack the rebbe, who has never been accused of a crime.”

In communities like New Square, however, where Chasidic leaders influence not just residents’ spiritual lives but their financial and political endeavors as well, little happens without the rebbe’s say-so, says Shmarya Rosenberg, author of Failedmessiah.com, a watchdog blog about the haredi Orthodox community.

“There’s no concept of democracy. There’s no concept of any kind of a civil society at all,” Rosenberg said. “Every institution in the community is completely under the rebbe’s thumb.”

If a New Square resident crosses the rebbe or breaks one of the village’s many unwritten rules, one New Square resident told JTA, his

neighbors will treat him “like a goy” -- not saying hello in the morning, not answering his questions or acknowledging his presence. The man, who asked to be identified only as Weiss, agreed to talk only if the interview were conducted outside New Square.

“Everyone’s fighting because they think the rebbe is God,” he said. “I’m not going to fight, even for God. They make sick people because of the rebbe.”

Shulem Deen, a former New Square resident whose ex-wife and five children still live in the village, said dissent is not tolerated and leaving is extremely difficult. Deen himself faced harsh resistance from the village’s rabbinic court before he eventually left the village about six years ago.

“New Square is not an organization, it’s not a private club where you join, pay dues and then you can cancel your membership,” he said. “Their entire life is in that community.”

Deen recalled an incident about seven or eight years ago when a family chose to circumcise their son in Brooklyn rather than New Square. Their tires were slashed and their house was vandalized, he said.

“This is definitely a sea change,” Deen said of the arson attack. “This is not new, but it’s never been anything quite like this.” Still, most Skverer Chasidim remain loyal to Twersky and believe the incident is being unfairly magnified by secular authorities, Deen said.

“I think they see it as a public relations issue. I would be surprised if there are discussions going on about actual change,” said Deen, who runs Unpious.com, a blog about the haredi Orthodox world. “Most of the discussion there now is how do we respond to the world as opposed to how do we be reflective about what we’ve been doing wrong.”

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