June 26, 2015

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

Passing the torch

June 26, 2015 9 Tammuz 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 41

This Week

The Jewish Press will not publish next week, July 3.

The diversity of people in the Western Galilee Page 5

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT Jewish Press Editor When Marty Ricks retired from the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation in 2013, he immediately moved over to the JFO Campaign team as Chief Development Officer. No surprise to anyone who knows him; for someone like Marty, who cares deeply about community, it is not that easy to step away, and it is not easy to let him go. Thus, retirement has become a gradual process, and the community has been able to enjoy the fruits of Marty’s labor a little while longer.

This July, however, it really is time to hand over the reins.

Enter Steve Levinger, who joined the campaign team in the role of Senior Development Director in December of 2014.

And while Steve has some very big shoes to fill, he is more than up to the challenge.

Steve was born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Marketing. He began his

Steve Levinger career at Procter and Gamble in Detroit, and relocated to Omaha in 1989. Working as a district sales manager, he ran into Bruce Friedlander.

“I met Steve while I worked at Baker’s Supermarkets,” Bruce said, “and he really stood out. He was one of many salespeople, but his personality was a really good fit for our core values. He had integrity, and his infectious smile made it always fun to see him. He is honest, hard working and trustworthy, and there is no doubt in my mind he will do well as Marty’s successor.”

Marty Ricks himself has nothing but good things to say about Steve.

“He has all the right characteristics to lead the Jewish Federation in its future fundraising efforts,” he said. “He is smart, passionate, dedicated and creative. He is caring, outgoing and just a really, really nice guy! In the seven months he has been working on our team, he has demonstrated all those characteristics. He was hired in the middle of the 2015 Campaign, and jumped right in assisting Sharon Kirshenbaum and myself, and helped us conclude a very successful year.”

Continued on page 2

Best Camp Ever Kamp Kef builds community Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

Next Month Real Estate See Front Page stories and more at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on Jewish Press

8 10 11

by EMILY NEWMAN Jewish Press Intern The time of year has come – no more snow, no more cold (hopefully...) and no more school! No more homework, no more grades, and no more teachers for the next two months – it’s time for a break and time for fun! And there is definitely fun to be had at the JCC this summer.

During the week, as you exit from the Omaha Jewish Community Center building and walk outside to the pool between 1 and 3 p.m., the first thing

you will hear are the joyous screams of the JCC Campers. You might have even heard them before you opened the door. Either way, it is soon obvious to see that there is a reason why this summer has been titled the “Summer of Awesomeness” for the 2015 campers. Whether they are in Kindergarten or entering the 7th grade, there is true awesomeness to be had.

This summer, the JCC camp takes place in the eight weeks between June 8th and Aug, 7th. Each week has a different theme for both age groups, whether it is “Nature, Nature Everywhere”, “Slime and Grime”, or “Food Frenzy”. The campers are into groups based on grade level; one group for Kindergarten through 3rd grade and the second for 4th grade through 7th.

A recent theme for the 4th-7th graders was “J Camp Game Day”. The campers were having a blast as they ran, cheered, played both team and individual sports, made pompoms and signs, and even dressed as their

favorite sports team.

When asked what their favorite part of camp JCC 2015 was, almost every camper interviewed had a difficult time answering. According to the cheerful group of friends Alethia, Anna and Gracelyn, all of whom will be entering the 4th grade this fall, there is not just one answer to this hard question. They all had different answers. 9 year old Alethia loves playing Capture the Flag, 8 year old Anna loves Gaga Ball, and 8 year old Gracelyn loves the afternoon swimming. The only thing they could all agree upon is that they love getting to see and spend time with each other every day!

However, According to 12 year old camper Julien, who will be entering the 7th grade this upcoming fall, the best part about camp JCC is just having fun! He could not choose between Capture the Flag, Gaga Ball, or War Ball (the latter two, as he explained, Continued on page 2

Ari Kohen

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Center for Jewish Life Over the past several weeks, eyes around the state, in addition to eyes around the country, have been focused on human rights in Nebraska. It is certain that the media has reported the practical aspects of the death penalty, the legal aspects of importing lethal drugs, and the use of the penalty as an alleged deterrent to crime. These as-

Ari Kohen pects and more will be the focus of a three-part Friday Learning Series, Human Rights: Controversy and Clarity taught by Ari Kohen, Schlesinger Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sessions will meet July 17, 24, and 31 from 11 a.m. – noon, in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Tuition is $26, reduced to $21 for those in good standing with their contribution to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Omaha “Human rights are always a topic of interest, and one that inevitably leads to much discussion and controversy. People are often firm in their convictions and beliefs” commented Ari. “This all leads to interesting, impassioned, and sometimes heated discussions. I’ll do my part to keep it informative and interesting in an atmosphere that encourages discussion and questions.” With a quiet smile, he adds: “‘Heated’ is not the goal.” Ari, who teaches a full semester on human rights at the university, will focus on areas that feature both Jewish tradition and current events in Israel.

The first week, Ari will explore the question, “Where do human rights come from, and why do we think we have them?” His discussion will include an exploration of Jewish law as found in the Bible.

“We will discuss what differences there are, if any, from that basic foundation to the way we look at human rights today,” Ari explains.

“Are human rights so fundamental that nothing changes over time, or are there significant differences in what and how we view them today?”

Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | June 26, 2015

Family treasures

by OZZIE NOGG On Sunday, July 12, members of the community will have the opportunity to participate in a grown-up show and tell when personal historian Sandra Martin brings her Family Treasures program to the Silverman Auditorium in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

The event begins at 1:45 p.m., followed by a Tea Time.

Participants are encouraged to bring photos, letters or other family heirlooms and share their stories. “Everyone has a story to tell, even if they don’t think they do,” Martin said.

“All our stories are important, from significant events down to the smallest details.”

Sandra Martin A talented documentarian, Sandra Martin works to ensure that our precious family stories are captured, shared and passed down from one generation to the next. “The stories of our families’ dreams, struggles and beliefs are rich pieces of history, essential to our understanding of them and, ultimately, of ourselves,” she said. “How can we truly know who we are without fully understanding who came before us?”

The owner of Sandra Martin Productions and a member of the Association of Personal Historians, Martin created her video recording business, Family Treasures, in 2012. Martin collects original photos and other memorabilia from her clients and conducts personal interviews with them. “From

Best Camp Ever this source material we then create a video recording of the highlights of your life,” Martin said, “told by the only person who can tell it -- you. You are the narrator, director and star of your own personal movie, a unique production that your loved ones will share and treasure for years to come.” Martin’s most special client was her own mother. “I interviewed her when she was 98, and she passed away about a year later. I’m so grateful to have her life story, told in her own voice and her own words. It’s like keeping her with us forever.”

Karen Hook of the RBJH Activities Department arranged for Sandra Martin’s appearance. “This program is valuable and illuminating because it will allow Blumkin Home residents to express themselves and share personal stories -- a process that validates their experiences. The afternoon will also offer participants a chance to reminisce with others who may have shared similar circumstances. Of course, if you’d prefer to just come and listen, that’s great, too. Family members who attend may learn something they otherwise would not have known.”

According to Sandra, telling your story keeps your spirit alive, keeps you connected to your loved ones, and preserves your precious heritage. “If we don’t capture our unique life stories, they will eventually be lost forever. Future generations will end up with boxes of unidentified photos that mean nothing to them because they don’t know anything about them. But if you can see and hear your ancestors talking about what their lives were like, they become real. In fact, telling your life story brings you a kind of immortality.

According to an ancient African saying, ‘You live on as long as someone remembers your story’.”

Sandra Martin’s Family Treasures program is free and open to the entire community.

Passing the torch Continued from page 1 Bob Belgrade calls our community fortunate with Steve in his new role of Chief Development Officer.

“Steve is somebody who has the ability and personality for the job, and he understands the importance of building solid relationships in the community. He just gets it. The qualities Steve naturally possesses, you can’t teach that.”

Building those relationships Marty Ricks comes naturally to Steve; anyone who spends five minutes with him can see that. It’s something he prioritizes when he talks about the difference he hopes to make.

“It’s not about ‘them,’” he said, “It’s ‘us.’ We, together, are all

under the same umbrella. Cooperation has to be our focus, because together, we can accomplish so much. We have to continually keep our mission in mind, and ask ourselves how to best serve this community.”

“I am excited to have Steve transition into the chief development office role,” says Jewish Federation of Omaha CEO Alan Potash. “He brings enthusiasm and experience from the corporate world. Partnering with Marty on the last campaign he has developed new philanthropic skills that will guide him in his new role. I am looking forward to working with him!”

Steve’s wife Bonnie works full time as a Speech Pathologist in the Millard Public Schools district. Bonnie and Steve have three daughters. Allison is 26 and graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Amy is 23 and graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing.

Jessica is 21 years old; she will be a senior in the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business.

Continued from page 1 are varying versions of the game Dodge Ball.) 11 year old Phoenix, who will be entering the 6th grade, answered similarly, stating that his favorite activity is War Ball.

There is also one thing that all the campers had in common – they LOVED their camp counselors! They spoke of all the fun they were getting to have with Will, Kurtis, Katie, and the rest of their awesome camp counselors.

Although the weather has not been the best throughout the past couple weeks, something that all Nebraskans are accustomed to, the campers’ ability to have fun has not been hindered. Every camper, whether they are being dropped off in rain or sunshine, has a bright smile on her or his face and is ready to enjoy the day ahead. They are excited to be here, for everything is made fun, even the weekly community project for the 4th through 7th grade group. Every week they either work on a project or perform a task that will benefit others in both the Jewish and larger Omaha community. They are learning that helping others, and working as a team in order to do so, can be just as fun as swimming and playing games!

It is clear to see that this summer at the Omaha JCC is truly the “Summer of Awesomeness”, and we are only a few weeks in. The JCC will be filled with young, smiling faces all the way up until school is ready to start again in August (but shhh – don’t tell them that!)

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June 26, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 3

AIPAC works to shape a “good” deal on Iran

by GARY JAVITCH AIPAC’s Nebraska Chair and National Council member What would the world be like if the largest sponsor of terrorism on the planet acquired a nuclear weapon?

That’s a thought too horrifying to contemplate. Yet it will be, and soon. The nuclear talks officially end June 30. After eighteen months of negotiations between Iran and the P5 +1, it all comes down to this: “Will the US-led discussions prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability?”

The president has repeatedly stated: “A bad deal is worse than no deal” and has vowed “Iran will not get a nuclear weapon on my watch.”

AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, supports those statements.

Thus, if the deal does not prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-threshold state, the purpose of the talks, then the US Congress should logically vote to “disapprove” it.

Brad Ashford Ironically, despite all the leaks, no one actually knows the exact details of the pending agreement. For that reason, and with all the rumors flying around, AIPAC sought to define “a good deal.”

The bipartisan lobbying group produced a 14-page publication entitled, “Negotiations With Iran: 5 Requirements For A Good Deal.” (www.aipac.org) The requirements came from statements made by the president and the Congress at various times.

Other countries have nuclear weapons – so why all the fuss? A bad deal with a rogue state like Iran has dangerous world-wide ramifications that could pave the way for it to obtain a nuclear weapon that would threaten Israel, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.

With the deadline looming and the need to shore up support for Iran’s existential threat to the Jewish state, AIPAC chose to devote its entire regularly-scheduled June 7 to 9 National Council meetings to the issue of Iran and the components of a “good deal.” The Council is composed of selected pro-Israel activists from all 50 states. About 325 of us participated.

At each of my Capitol Hill meetings with the Nebraska legislators, I was joined by other AIPAC members or staff. I spoke personally with Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Brad Ashford. As Sen. Sasse attended a meeting with the Homeland Security Committee, we spoke with the lawmaker’s top deputy. (I was able to speak briefly with the senator the previous night at an AIPAC event where he spoke publicly about his concerns with the agreement.)

In our sessions, we discussed the five requirements: Employ diplomacy first, however, at the same time, a good agreement should possess these elements: 1) Inspections and Verifications; 2) a listing of Iranian progress on past nuclear weapons development and their Possible Military Dimensions (PMD); 3) Sanctions relief granted incrementally over years, based on verifiable, long-term compliance; 4) [Duration] A multi-decade, long-term agreement based on compliance with sanctions; 5) Dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure (centrifuges, etc.).

I am pleased to report that all of our legislators agree in whole or in part with “The Five Requirements.” Furthermore, our legislators believe that by accepting a “bad deal,” the potential exists for a destabilizing nuclear arms race and the proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the Middle East, among other poor outcomes.

Deb Fischer Opponents of the “good deal” argue that if you’re too hard on Iran during these negotiations, they will walk away from the table. Many say that this is really the very best Iran is willing to agree to, and the US should go along with it. They also feel that by making this deal, it will open the door for Iran becoming a responsible member of the community of nations.

One thing is for sure: very few people expect that Iran’s signing an agreement will convert them into a peaceful nationstate. An essential key to understanding what makes a good deal is that the alternative to a bad deal is not war.

The economic sanctions that brought Iran to the table in the first place can be reapplied and ratcheted upward. More and heavier sanctions, all steps short of war, can force Iran to fulfill its obligations to live in peace within the world community.

In negotiating with Iran, the US needs to be strong.

National pollster Mark Mellman told an AIPAC audience that a broad American consensus would reject a deal with Iran because of three important bipartisan concerns: Distrust of Iran; the loopholes: for example, the agreement does not permit “anytime-anywhere” inspections; and the concern that the world would become more dangerous, especially if Saudi Arabia buys nuclear weapons or weapons fall into the hands of a terrorist group.

With so much at stake, AIPAC is urging all concerned citizens, all around the country, to call their representative or senator through the Capitol switchboard 202.224.3121 and urge them to vote only to approve a “good deal.”

Temple Israel’s Annual Golf Outing

by SCOTT LITTKY Program Director, Temple Israel Once again this summer Temple Israel will be holding its annual Golf Outing at Shadow Ridge. A day of fun and golf will be held on Monday, Aug. 17 at Shadow Ridge Country Club on 188th Street and Pacific Street. As in the past, Dan Marburg and Jeff Smedlund will be chairing the annual benefit for Temple Israel.

The Golf Outing will begin with lunch at noon followed by a Shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cocktails start at 5:30 p.m. and dinner with a cash bar at 6 p.m.

Player options for the afternoon include 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, driving range and dinner. Participant cost is $135 and if you sign-up as a single, we will assign you to

a Foursome. The cost for a Foursome is $540 if you would like to come to the dinner only the cost is $30.

Hole sponsorships are available and include signage on a Tee/Green and your name on all printed material the day of the event. Cost for members is $350 or $850 with a Foursome. For non-members the cost is $500 or $1000 with a Foursome.

Again this year there will be Rabbi’s wagering hole. Last year it was a big success and the prize was a Surface Pro Tablet.

If you would like more information or if you would like to donate a raffle prize, please call Temple Israel at 402.556.6536 or email us at templeisrael@temple israelomaha.com.

Controversy and Clarity with Ari Kohen Continued from page 1 Ari will look at human rights at the local level during week two. As an example, he focuses on the death penalty debate currently raging in Nebraska. “It is easy to think only about the legal aspects of this,” says Ari, “but there is also the moral and human rights aspect that plays a role. To what extent should moral consideration govern public policy? Whose standards should be used?” Ari also asks if income inequality is a topic for human rights consideration. “Do all people have the right to a particular income level, and if so, who is to ensure that this takes place?” Ari asks. He encourages you to bring your thoughts and reasons for them to the discussion.

On the international level, week three will focus on issues widely discussed not only in Israel, but throughout the world. What is required of Israel as a sovereign country and

how might it be impacted by a formal Palestinian presence at the International Criminal Court? What about Hamas and similar groups – are they bound by human rights considerations? Is Israel held to a higher standard than surrounding Arab nations? Why is there such a focus on what Israel does and not what other nations do? As the title for the series says, the topic of human rights is laced with controversy. We encourage you to register for Ari Kohen’s Friday Learning Series sessions to find some clarity.

To register for the series, contact Mark Kirchhoff at 402.334.6463 or mkirchhoff@jewishomaha.org.

The Friday Learning Series is presented through the Center for Jewish Life whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

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July Community Calendar FRIDAY, JULY 10 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You @ Remington, 4 p.m. at Remington Heights Shabbat Speaker Rabbi Ari Dembitzer, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Mainstreeters Movie, 1 p.m.

Shabbat Speaker Terri Zacharia, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El

SATURDAY, JULY 11 Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Speaker’s Series with Senator Brad Ashford, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Yachad and the Stormchasers at Werner Park, 1:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 12 Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El

MONDAY, JUNE 29 Teen Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

MONDAY, JULY 13 Teen Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, JULY 2 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC Avot U-Banim Parent & Child Learning, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Night Learning Brews and Jews, 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 14 Eye on Israel with Eliad Eliyahu, noon Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, JULY 16 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Class, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth Israel Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group, 1 p.m.

Avot U-Banim Parent & Child Learning, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Night Learning Brews and Jews, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 3 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10:30 a.m. at RBJH Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Shabbat Al Fresco, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, JULY 4 Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El

FRIDAY, JULY 17 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10:30 a.m. at RBJH Friday Learning Series with Ari Kohen, 11 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Beth Israel Chef’s Demo, 1:30 p.m. at RBJH Shabbat Speaker Scott Littky, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

SUNDAY, JULY 5 Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel MONDAY, JULY 6 Teen Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

SATURDAY, JULY 18 Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Shabbat Speaker’s Series with Andy Greenberg, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El

TUESDAY, JULY 7 Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel Jewish Press Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 9 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Class, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Shanghai Lessons, 1 p.m. at Beth El Beth Israel Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC Avot U-Banim Parent & Child Learning, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Night Learning Brews and Jews, 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 19 Beth El Habitat for Humanity Build, 9 a.m.

Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El Temple Israel Babes and Tots in the Park, 10 a.m.

Mainstreeters Ralston Community Theater, 2 p.m. at Ralston High School MONDAY, JULY 20 Mainstreeters Lunch, 11 a.m. at RBJH Women’s Book Club, 7 p.m. at Beth El Teen Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel

TUESDAY, JULY 21 Board of Trustees Meeting, 7 p.m. at Temple Israel Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH Bill Chrastil, 12:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 23 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Class, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth Israel Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC Avot U-Banim Parent & Child Learning, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Night Learning Brews and Jews, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 24 Friday Learning Series with Ari Kohen, 11 a.m.

Beth El Serves Lunch at NE AIDS Coalition, 11:30 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You at Blumkin, 2:30 p.m. at RBJH Shabbat Speaker Aliyah Lasky, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel SATURDAY, JULY 25 Shabbat, 9 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. at Temple Israel Minyan in the Round, 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m. at Beth El SUNDAY, JULY 26 Bagels & Beit Medrash, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Torah Study, 10 a.m. at Beth El MONDAY, JULY 27 Teen Class, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel TUESDAY, JULY 28 JSS Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Wrestling with Rashi Class, 8 p.m. at Beth Israel WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 Breadbreakers, noon at RBJH THURSDAY, JULY 30 Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Class, 10 a.m. at Temple Israel Beth Israel Med Center Chabura, 1 p.m. at UNMC Avot U-Banim Parent & Child Learning, 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Beth Israel Night Learning Brews and Jews, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 31 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10:30 a.m. at RBJH Friday Learning Series with Ari Kohen, 11 a.m.

Star Deli, 11:30 a.m. at RBJH Mainstreeters Movie, 1 p.m.

Shabbat Speaker Shari Hess, 6 p.m. at Temple Israel

All events held at the Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted. This calendar does not include all community events. For a complete listing, visit the Federation’s website: www.jewishomaha.org (click on calendar). To keep calendar accurate, call Pat Anson at 402.334.8200. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of the above events.

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June 26, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 5

The diversity of people in the Western Galilee

by MARK KIRCHHOFF he might go to Disney World. To cut to the chase, yes they Center for Jewish Life meant it. Yes I was accepted. Indeed it was an honor. (And If I had more vacation time, I’d spend it on another trip to yes, I think the dialogue for the meeting had been rehearsed.)

Israel. While holding a desire to make a first visit to the Seven photographers from the United States, including country, I couldn’t imagine how I could make that happen. In fact, I wrote an article for the December 19, 2014 edition of the Jewish Press as a third party conveying information about a Partnership2GETHER Artist Workshop program. Little did I imagine I would be searching for the best airfares, confirming my passport was current and preparing myself for a 12-hour flight destined for Ben Gurion airport. To set the stage, here is the first paragraph of that article: “The Partnership2GETHER Program of the Jewish Agency and the Jewish Federations of North America will be conducting ‘Artist Workshops in the Western Galilee.’

The program annually brings U.S. Gottesman Etching Center Credit: Mark Kirchhoff artists to the Western Galilee to make personal connections with community members myself, and one from Budapest, Hungary met in Nahariya, through a wide range of artistic disciplines. The program Israel on May 14 and enjoyed a welcoming dinner together. encourages contemporary artistic creation and collabora- Because of the close relationship between Partnership memtion in hopes of generating new artistic discourse between bers in Israel and those in Omaha, I was received like the participants and local residents. It is designed to encourage cousin people had heard about but had not yet met. I felt like the exchange of ideas and enrichment for communities.” I was with family. We learned more about the Partnership Good brochure material. program the following morning with a post-breakfast presMy article went on to explain that this year’s program entation. A tour of the Old City of Akko followed, providing would be from May 14 through May 22, with a particular the opportunity to “warm up” our photography skills and nuance. A proposal by Yochanan Kishon from Israel, channel our thoughts to the work that would be ahead.

Freddie Kelvin from Indianapolis, IN, and Dena Eber from One of the highlights of the trip happened the following day.

Toledo, OH had been accepted. The proposal was to docu- Nothing could have been any better for the evening meal than ment the lives of various people living in the Western to share Shabbat dinner with a local family – and what a famGalilee. A team of photographers would be selected for this ily I was privileged to join. If there was one person at the table, endeavor, tasked with bringing to life through photos and there were twenty-five. If there was one tray of food passed stories the diversity of people living in the region. “I wonder around there were thirty. The joy and interplay between famhow that is going to work out,” was my initial thought – and ily members and guests is something that will always remain it pretty much ended there. a part of Israel to me. It is an experience that one never has by A few weeks later in a staff meeting, Beth Cohen, seeing a country through the window of a tour bus.

Executive Director for the Center for Jewish Life at the time Project work began on Sunday, May 17. I was soon jolted asked Mary Sue Grossman, Program Coordinator, what she into awareness that I had some difficult work ahead for this thought of Mark’s [my] applying for acceptance in the pro- first day. When asked if anyone on the bus could speak gram. Mary Sue seemed in favor and I was asked, “What do German, I found myself raising my hand ever so slightly – you think?” I’ve always considered myself a good team play- was I really doing this? – and mouthing the words, “I speak er, so I answered almost immediately, “Sure, I’ll help out some.” Naturally, I was immediately assigned to interview however I can.” Then it hit me. They were asking me about and photograph “Amos.” Throughout the session, my heart going to Israel for the Artist in Residency (AIR) program. was beating more rapidly than usual. My left brain was inter“Do you mean it? Do you think I would be accepted? This viewing in a language that by understatement wasn’t my would be quite an honor.” I sounded like a kid who was told best. My right brain was searching for the creativity that

Club

would capture an image reflecting Amos’s personality.

Jumping back and forth and attempting to interview in German was daunting. Thank goodness someone had provided me with a hand-held recorder just before I exited the bus. And thank goodness my German instructor back home responded to my email that evening saying that she would be happy to help me with translation when I got home.

Amos Frölich proved to be a real gentleman. In 1938 he was seven years old. He escaped from southern Germany with his parents, three siblings, and a number of villagers.

They settled in an area that was to become a moshav Shavei Tzion. His story is fascinating from the way he and the villagers left Germany to the present day. That is what this project was all about, the capturing of fascinating stories to showcase the diversity of people in the Western Galilee and to make a statement that not everyone in Israel is shooting guns and screaming at one another. The end goal is to produce a traveling exhibit in addition to a digital version. It is also hoped to include the publishing of a book.

There were a total of thirty-two people photographed and interviewed – four per photographer. While we all had brief conversations with one another about the people we were interviewing, we too are looking forward to the finished product. The exact date for completion isn’t firm, however it is hoped the traveling exhibit will begin in January 2016. All photographers are currently finishing the post shooting production of their photos and polishing the narratives that will be presented with the photos.

To provide a sense of the diversity of the people I had the privilege to photograph and interview, here are some brief overviews. On Monday I met with Elyia Beany, an Arab artist from the Arab village of Kfar Yasiff. He is a principle member of IBDAA – Association for Improving Art in Arab Society and a painter and sculptor himself. IBDAA has a beautiful gallery display in the town. My next session was with Yohay Neeman on Wednesday. Yohay is the manager of the meat processing plant in Kibbutz Yehiam. He was born on the kibbutz – his parents were from Hungary. My final photo and interview session was with Efrat Srebro. Efrat has developed a program for kids called “Music that Counts” beginning with those in kindergarten. Every kindergartener in the city of Akko attends her enrichment program one time per month for 1 1/2 hours, eight times per year. She is working with over 1,000 kids from the city. The program is incorporated into their learning experiences in other classes and grade levels.

The Partnership2GETHER staff also incorporated tours of the area that enriched our overall experience. Places visited included the artists’ village of Ein Hod, Haifa, the Gottesman Etching Center in Kibbutz Cabri, Rosh Hanikra and the northern border, Carmela’s Sukkah at Moshav Amka, Tzfat, the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company at Kibbutz Ga’aton, the Kupferman Collection, the Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz and the Ghetto Fighters Museum. For my part, Continued on page 6

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6 | The Jewish Press | June 26, 2015

Mainstreeters July programs are hot

by OZZIE NOGG Mainstreeters never run out of ideas to improve your health or add fun to your days. Check out these July events and put them on your calendar.

Jewish Social Services and Interim HealthCare Health Maintenance Clinic: 1st and 2nd Mondays of the month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Clinic Room. For a $10 fee, clients can have their toenails trimmed, get their weight checked, and have their vital signs monitored. An additional $5 covers the cost of an MD referral or medication set fill. Kathy O’Connell, R.N. -- an Interim HealthCare professional -- is on duty at the clinic, ready to give you the attention you deserve. Interim HealthCare has been in the Omaha area since 1975, and provides services to help individuals maintain their overall well-being. Visits to the Health Maintenance Clinic require an appointment.

There are no walk-ins. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Interim at 402.392.1818. If you have additional questions, call Maggie Conti, Director of Activities and Outreach Services, at 402.334.6521 A Journey Off the Beaten Track with Ron Cisar: Monday, July 20, 12:30 p.m. Lunch in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. Ron Cisar is a retired high school biology teacher, actively involved in environmental education with groups of all ages. He has presented his Earth Music programs to a variety of audiences ranging in size from intimate groups to over 500 people. Many of his songs are presently being used in the environmental curriculum of schools throughout the country as well as in Japan, China and Sweden. During his presentation, Ron will show an Ron Cisar exciting PowerPoint of Nebraska’s great outdoors and the migration of the Sandhill Cranes. He will also perform original melodies on the acoustic guitar that paint an inspiring picture of the wonders of the natural world. Don’t miss this very special afternoon.

For your entree, choose either California grilled chicken salad or salmon with rice pilaf and mixed vegetables. Both entrees come with challah, lemon meringue pie for dessert and beverage of your choice. Cost is $10 a plate. Make checks payable to Jewish Social Services and send full payment to: Mainstreeters c/o Maggie Conti, 323 So. 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Reservations are appreciated by Monday, July 13. For information or transportation, call

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Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521.

Bill Chrastil in a Community Concert: Wednesday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m. in the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Auditorium. No admission fee. Back by popular demand, Bill has been a full-time musician and entertainer since 1983. His high-energy performances are salute to music legends Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Tom Jones and more. Bill holds the #1 spot on Branson’s Top 20 Artist Countdown. Come enjoy this award-winning vocalist, instrumentalist, entertainer, songwriter and producer! Bring a friend. Everyone is welcome. For information call Mary Heiman at 402.334.6531.

A Free Afternoon at the Movies: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Friday, July 31. 1 p.m. in the JCC Theater.

Complimentary popcorn will be served. No reservations necessary. Invite a friend. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel features Maggie Smith (Muriel), Judy Dench (Evelyn), Dev Patel (Sonny), Bill Nighy (Douglas) and Richard Gere (Guy). Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with long-term residents, the only single remaining vacancy poses a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals. Comanagers Muriel and Sonny dream of opening a second hotel, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. But the expansion plans complicate everything for everyone, and as Sonny’s marriage to the love of his life quickly approaches, he finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available.

Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is Muriel, the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the big day nears, family and guests alike find themselves swept up in the irresistible intoxication of an Indian wedding. A colorful, delightful film. If you’d like to enjoy a Star Deli lunch at the Blumkin Home before the show, call Maggie Conti at 402.334.6521 to reserve a table. Lunch is on your own. The Star Deli opens for business at 11:30 a.m.

According to Maggie Conti, “Mainstreeters offer activities and programs that give area residents -- age 60-plus -- the chance to participate in new experiences, meet new people and enjoy life to the fullest. Current research shows that friendships we establish with peers can actually have more beneficial health effects than our relationships with family.

Peer relationships have a powerful emotional component that connects people in a meaningful way. And that’s what Mainstreeters is all about. Old friends, and even new acquaintances, connecting and getting together to share good times. Come join us.�

Mainstreeters programs are supported in part by grants from the United Way of the Midlands and the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

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Continued from page 5 I extended my trip for 2 1/2 days to spend time in Jerusalem. No wonder I slept well on the plane.

It is not possible for me to express my gratitude in this

Artist in Residency (AIR) program group article to all who made this trip possible. I will do my best to thank them personally. I can think of no better way to be introduced to a place that means so much to so many people – and now means so much to me. Prior to this trip I appreciated the Partnership program for what I knew it to be. Through this trip experience I now embrace the program and all the people, both here and in Israel, who do so much to build bridges and make friends. I have a shekel jar and am accepting donations for my next trip.

Partnership2GETHER for Omaha is a program that is administered through the Center for Jewish Life, whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences. For more information, please contact Mary Sue Grossman at 402.334.6445 or mgrossman@ jewishomaha.org.

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Speaker to be announced for Wednesday, July 1, noon.

For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

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Grandparents are Lisa and Gary Epstein of Omaha and Susan and Allyn Kramer of Dallas.

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June 26, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 7

Beth El teens go back to their roots in NYC

by BETH EL PUBLICITY The trip finished on Sunday with a visit to Eadie Tsabari accompanied an amazing the Jewish Heritage Museum and lunch at group of Beth El synagogue teens on a the 2nd Avenue Deli. Returning to Omaha whirlwind trip to New York City last month. Sunday evening was imperative as most of Beth El undertakes this travel experience on the teens were counselors for Beth El’s behalf of synagogue teens who make a com- Kamp Kef first thing Monday morning. So, mitment to continuing their Jewish educa- of course, they arrived at the airport to find tion beyond B’nai Mitzvah in BESTT their return flight cancelled! Beth El profesHebrew High School. sional staff stepped in Monday morning to This year’s trip was the perfect accompaniment to the curriculum the teens studied this year: Jewish immigration to America. Their coursework centered on the question, “How did we get where we are?”

Beth El teens in Times Square New York City was the practical experience to apply every- ensure camp began smoothly. thing the teens learned.

Tsabari added, “We were fortunate to be Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah offers a in New York for the Israel Day parade down teen trip to New York City to enrich high Fifth Avenue where our teens experienced school students’ Jewish identity and instill being among thousands of Jewish teens pride in their heritage by exploring the his- marching in support of Israel.” tory of their ancestors’ arrival in the United The participants had their own unique States. perspectives on the trip. Jake Spivack said Trip participant Tomer Palmon said the his favorite part was experiencing live music trip was a great mixture of learning about on the subway trains. Elissa Wiener considJewish roots and New York City in general. ers New York City her “home city” and “We all bonded during the experience and enjoyed connecting with her Jewish roots. got a lot of exercise!”

“My favorite part was seeing my first The itinerary included the Broadway Broadway play. It was magical,” said Brooke show, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Schulewitz. And Zach Stein liked Ground Murder, visits to Ellis Island and the Zero and thought it was cool to visit a place Tenement Museum, Shabbat services at the built in response to Sept. 11.

Park Avenue Synagogue on east 87th Street, For information on Beth El Synagogue the Natural History Museum and Havdalah Talmud Torah and the upcoming 2015-16 at Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. school year, visit www.bethel-omaha.org.

Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group returns to author Susan Jane Gilman

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life The Jewish community in Omaha celebrated the 41st year of the Jewish Book Month on Nov. 20, 2014 with Jewish author Susan Jane Gilman as luncheon guest and speaker. A New York Times bestselling author, Gilman highlighted three of her nonfiction books: Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven (2009), Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress (2005), and Kiss My Tiara (2001). She then delighted the audience with her account of the work she had just released, The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street: A Novel, which tells an epic tale of protagonist Lillian Dunkle’s rise from the squalor of the Lower East Side New York tenements as a new immigrant to become the greatest ice cream maker in America. Her presentation at the luncheon was heralded as “perhaps the best presentation for Jewish Book Month in Omaha ever.” The overwhelming reaction of those who read the book was that once they got started, they couldn’t put it down.

So enthusiastic was the response for Ms. Gilman, the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group has selected her book Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven for discussion when they meet on July 16 from 1-2 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Published in 2009, the book tells the tale of the author and a classmate who in 1986 embarked on a bold trek around the globe starting in the People’s Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent backpackers for roughly ten minutes. Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche and Linda Goodman’s Love Signs, the two friends plunged into the

dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads--hungry, disoriented, stripped of everything familiar, and under constant government surveillance. Soon, they began to unravel--one physically, the other psychologically. As their journey became increasingly harrowing, they found themselves facing crises that Susan didn’t think they’d survive. But by summoning strengths she never knew she had--and with help from unexpected friends--the two travelers found their way out of a Chinese heart of darkness.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is another flat-out page-turner, an astonishing true story of naïveté, friendship, and redemption told with Susan’s trademark compassion and humor. Please plan to join in the discussion.

In looking further ahead, the Aug. 13 meeting will focus on Tapestry of Fortunes

by Elizabeth Berg. Tracy Guzeman’s novel, The Gravity of Birds is the book selection for the Sept. 17 followed by All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner on Oct. 15.

The Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group has been in continuous existence since its inception on Nov. 15, 1979 and continues to meet in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library from 1-2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. New members are welcome and information about meetings and book selections may be obtained by contacting Shirly Banner at 402.334.6462 or sbanner@ jewishomaha.org. Organizational support for the book group is provided through the Center for Jewish Life whose mission is to maximize involvement of Omaha’s Jewish community in imaginative, compelling and meaningful Jewish experiences.

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8 | The Jewish Press | June 26, 2015

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Words

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT asked whether it was a race issue. “It’s an attack on religious Why do so many insist that racism in this country no Jewish Press Editor freedom,” said another. And: “We need more guns in longer exists? Do they think that if they say it’s gone, we as a Language matters. The words we choose often say more churches,” said a third. country no longer have to address the undercurrent? And, about us than we realize.

Trailing the online comment section, one is confronted by the way, who is it that says: “Racism is a thing of the The other day, my husband posted a picture on Facebook of with many people who insist that: “This is not about the past?” Not the black community, or the Mexican communiour son at the skate park. It was a cute image of a ten-year- black community. This hurts all of us.” ty, or the immigrant community in general. If you don’t old having fun; the usual stuff parents like to believe me, answer me this: what is your share. Friends clicked ‘like’ and left comments. response when someone says there is no more There was nothing weird about that, except for anti-Semitism in America? Or when we are one phrase used by some old acquaintance from accused of being overly sensitive when we point high school. it out?

He referred to our son’s skates as “Fruit Boots.”

We can start by being open and honest about Not entirely sure what he meant by it, but getwhat we see: if it quacks, swims and has white ting a suspicious feeling in the pit of my stomfeathers, we should call it by its proper name. If ach, I Googled the urban dictionary. It was as I a white boy walks into a black church and starts suspected: the term “Fruit Boots” is a derogatoshooting, if he afterwards admits he wanted to ry term, hinting at the skates having the flavor of start a race war, we need to call it a racially homosexuality. That is, as opposed to skate motivated crime. The sheer insistence of some boards, which are, I guess, not a gay thing. people to call it something else holds us back.

The urban dictionary is interesting in that it While we, as a nation, are busy not talking shows us the changing meaning of the words we about race, and we choose words that shove the use. That meaning, quite often, isn’t literal; discussion in an entirely different direction, the rather, it’s what pop culture decides it is. And wound of racism festers. while the person who left the comment would When we see evidence of anti-Semitism, we most likely be horrified at being accused of don’t simply see it as an isolated incident. We homophobia, I nonetheless called him out on it. see it in the context of many centuries of hate, The Rev. John Hage, right, embracing the Rev. Sidney Davis outside the historic We cannot claim to be respectful if we allow this ignorance, and hurt. We think to ourselves: Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., June 18, 2015 type of language to sneak into our speech. We “Here we go again. What else is new?”

Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images have to be vigilant, and think before we speak.

The same goes for the shooting in Charleston.

The same goes for the verbal onslaught that happened Neither of these statements is true. The phrase “This hurts We should not call the shooter a “lone gunman,” for what he after the shooting in Charleston. It seems quite clear to me all of us” is an empty set of words, a meme-ready expression did has much precedent. We should stay away from words that when a white, self-professed racist shoots and kills a that implies sympathy where there is none. If this did indeed that gloss over the phenomenally painful history of black number of black people, it is a racially motivated crime. And hurt all of us, we’d be wiling and able to admit that this people in this country. Hate never operates in a vacuum; yet, many politicians, media outlets and regular people find shooting was racially motivated, that it was a hate crime, and everything we see, learn, do and say is connected. And one themselves unable to call it that. that it was the black community that was attacked. tiny, seemingly inconsequential comment on Facebook can “I’m not sure,” one Presidential candidate answered when Why is it so hard to talk about race? make a world of difference.

Next steps for the next generation

by LIZ FELDSTERN Executive Director, Institute for Holocaust Education Las Vegas is known for many things. Casinos, show girls, free drinks...

Academic discourse on the Holocaust does not usually make the list. : ) However, Las Vegas was chosen as the location for this year’s annual, international conference of the Association of Holocaust Organizations (AHO).

The AHO is a consortium of Holocaust organizations from around the world. The approximately 330 member organizations from 35 different countries include everything from large national museums (like the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC or Yad Vashem in Israel) to research institutions and thinktanks, organizations that provide social and welfare services, university-based centers, and smaller educational organizations such as our Institute for Holocaust Education.

The conference takes place in a different location each year and Las Vegas was chosen in part this year to coincide with the annual conference of Generations of the Shoah International (GSI). GSI is itself a large network of organizations, comprised of dozens of groups of second and third generation Holocaust survivors

(Founded in 1920) Andrew Ruback President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Jessie Wees Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Thierry Ndjike Bookkeeper Emily Newman Press Intern

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, President-Elect; Scott Farkas, Sandy Friedman, Paul Gerber, Debbie Kricsfeld, David Kotok, Paul Rabinovitz, and Nancy Wolf.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world.

Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Social 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 ha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

(i.e. the children and grandchildren of survivors), located all over the world.

The decision to combine these two conferences for 2015 in many ways reflects where we are in Holocaust studies and in Holocaust education at this point in time. Almost anyone who was an adult during the Holocaust is no longer alive. Since WWII ended 70 years ago – even babies born during the war are now in their 70’s. This creates a precarious situation for those individuals and organizations whose mission is to pass on the history and lessons of the Holocaust. On the one hand, the Holocaust has already made its way into the text books and has been taught as “history” for many years now. On the other hand, it has been taught with the enormous benefit of eye-witnesses. People who lived through the history and can correct our course if ever our educational path leads us astray. So those of us who are professionally responsible for passing on information about the Holocaust are very much aware and concerned with rapidly losing our litmus test, our sounding boards, our “insiders” – the Holocaust survivors themselves.

And there is no question that the survivors are irreplaceable. Nothing can effectively re-create the impact of hearing a personal story, looking into someone’s eyes, and being able

to ask them questions. That said, in the coming years we will have no choice but to explore a variety of possible substitutes to accompany our Holocaust educational programs. Video testimonies from Holocaust survivors (such as those collected by Ben Nachman, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, and the Spielberg Shoah Foundation) will surely play a part.

Pushing the technological envelope even further, the University of Southern California is currently piloting a program that provides survivor testimony via a 3-D hologram, and uses voice-recognition software to answer listeners’ questions. You can see a short clip of how this cutting-edge program works by typing in “Hologram Holocaust Survivor” on YouTube or searching the internet for the same term to read last month’s article on Today.com.

Another vital piece in this transition will be the voices of the children and grandchildren (and further descendants) of Holocaust survivors. They are our direct link to a remarkable and diminishing generation. In Omaha, we are privileged to have a strong group of second generation Holocaust survivors (“2G’s” for short) that has started to meet and discuss what role they will play going forward in passing on the memories and lessons of their parents’ Holocaust experiences. If you have not been contacted to join this group and would like to be a part of it, just contact me at LFeldstern@ ihene.org. Together, we will strive to create a legacy that is worthy of those who were lost, and those who witnessed that loss.

Did you know?

The Jewish people have been passing on the history of our Exodus from Egypt for approximately 128 generations!

Surely, this would not have happened if the first few generations had not been diligent in their responsibility to tell it.

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.

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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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sonal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

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June 26, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 9

BDS, inaccuracy and college students

by EMILY NEWMAN Intern, Jewish Press Ever since I was a child, my mother did what she could to instill the importance of impulse control in my life. I was always taught to stop, think, and question myself in some manner such as “what is actually happening in this situation?” Although I was not, and am still not, always successful in this endeavor, it taught me something throughout the years: the importance of emotions, and the even greater importance of not letting them run your life and decide your views of the world for you. Thus, I believe that some things must simply go beyond an emotional investment; they must be based on evidence.

In my experience as a graduate student, having spent many years in the academic world, the problem of overemotional students in the classroom is growing. This issue has been brought forth in the recent and controversial article published on Vox by Edward Schlosser titled I’m a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me. This article has gone viral, encouraging discussion as to the over-sensitivity of many college students, the re-defining of emotional discomfort as “tantamount to physical assault.” According to Schlosser, the politics of his students are increasingly being decided solely on their emotions and not enough on reason or evidence. Although the ramifications of this issue are largely being experienced by professors such as Schlosser, I believe it is also a source of the current rise in both anti-Israel bias and anti-Semitism throughout American campuses.

I see this as a problem of impulse control and the ways in which some students allow highly emotional messages from others to dictate their own opinions, thus allowing the exploitation of an eagerness to believe everything they see and hear to be truth. As youth, we have a desire to be optimistic, to be entrepreneurs of change in our world, and to see the best in those we encounter. However, I have experienced that this can at times cloud judgment. Why, as a young generation that has grown up in a world filled with technology, do we not immediately question if some of the photographs we see are photoshopped? Why do we not use the vast amounts of information available to us at our universities to investigate messages we encounter and form our own conclusions, not just absorb the conclusions of those creating the biggest and brightest signs?

I believe a possible answer is that when a student is confronted with a sign such as the one that was placed at UNO this past spring semester, the sign claiming that almost 600 children were killed by an Israeli “attack” on Gaza in summer 2014 (leaving out the facts of the war, such as the hundreds of rockets sent down on Israeli citizens before the fighting even began), impulsive emotions take hold and there is a tendency to believe what we see to be accurate without question. We think, “This is so horrible, it could not possibly be made up or justified with further informa-

tion. It has to be true.”

I see that these impulsive and in-the-moment emotions have the ability to dictate how a student feels regarding a certain topic, in this case Israel, and thus set a world view and political opinion without any further information.

Note that it is not my intention to portray college students as unwilling to think for themselves or conduct personal research on difficult topics. In fact, quite the opposite – I want to know why so many of these bright young people are allowing themselves to fall victim to their impulsive emotions. I am attempting to answer a question that I have had

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the overly emotional political opinions among youth, especially regarding Israel, despite their intelligence, capability to perform research, and their access to factual information.

I cannot say one way or another if any of my reasoning is an accurate summarization of the causes behind the growth of BDS throughout our nation’s campuses; perhaps I am completely wrong. However, one way or another, I feel that establishing an understanding of this growth is vital for the future of the American-Israeli relationship. College students are the future politicians, professors, and most importantly, voters (if they are not already) of this world. If we lose the campus to BDS, it is scary to think of what it will mean years down the road.

Summer Camp in 1956

for several years: why is it that so many universities, institutions established solely for the purposes of free-thinking and learning, have become the battle grounds for the Boycott Divest Sanction movement? This movement has gained traction throughout the years across American campuses, despite the lack of accuracy and honesty in their messages, and it is resulting in staggering growths of anti-Semitism.

Why are so many young intelligent people letting themselves be fooled by an organization that is clearly and severely biased? Why, when chemical weapons are detonated in Syria do so many students still align themselves without question with a group that is united against the only Westernized democracy in the Middle East?

As I’ve stated before, I believe that it is in part due to strong and in-the-moment emotions, the kinds of emotions a student feels when they read a sign stating that hundreds of children were killed in an attack. Once they have adopted the intended emotions, anything else appears cruel, and in this case, as though it justifies the killing of children. I have encountered such resistance both in and out of the classroom, and have received hateful (emotional) words due to the mere recounting of my own experiences and knowledge.

Perhaps these impulsive emotions are simply due to the fact that our brains are not done developing until we are 25.

According to neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt in an NPR interview, “the pre-frontal cortex is not yet fully developed (until 25). That’s the part of the brain that helps you to inhibit impulses…” This could be a contributing factor as to

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Jessie Wees 402.334.6559 jwees@jewishomaha.org

Compiled by DEBBIE KRICSFELD and NANCY WOLF Earlier in this paper you may have read some paragraphs about the campers at the Jewish Community Center. It’s an exciting time, each year, when all these professionals walk around in camp shirts, guiding the kids across campus and taking them to the pool, the gym, the pavillion or loading them in a big bus to go on field trips.

It’s nothing new: “Registration opens for Camp Jay C-C,” the Jewish Press of May 6, 1956 announced. Just to see what, if anything, has changed, let’s check it out: The camp season will be from July 31 until August 28, and will again be held at Camp Brewater. The fee for the entire season wil be $100; the fee for the first two weeks will be $65; the fee for the second two weeks will be $55.

Many important and substantial improvements were made on the camp grounds this year. As usual, Mr. Gerald Gross stated, campers will be accepted in order of their registration. There has been considerable interest and applications have been coming in daily, he added.

“We hope to make camping at Jay C-C an important and helpful experience in the lives of our boys and girls attending camp. Camping has a profound influence upon the character and personality of our children and we hope to make the most of the wonderful opportunities at camp,” Mr. Gross stated.

“The Camp Committee will make every effort to ensure a most enjoyable camp season for the children and will give close supervision to the operation of the camp and to the general welfare of each and every camper,” he said.

Applications are now being accepted at the Camp Office at the Jewish Community Center. Further information may be obtained by calling Jackson 1366.

That last line baffles us a little. Can someone explain what ‘Jackson 1366’ stands for? Email us at avandekamp @jewishomaha.org if you know the answer.

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10 | The Jewish Press | June 26, 2015

Candlelighting

Synagogues B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster Street | Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 |712.322.4705 email: BnaiIsraelCouncilBluffs@gmail.com Tribute Cards for any occasion are available. Please contact Sissy Silber at 402.292.8062.

For information on our historic synagogue, or to arrange a visit, please contact any of our board members: Mark Eveloff, Rick Katelman, Carole Lainof, Marty Ricks, Sissy Silber, Nancy Wolf and Phil Wolf.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California | Omaha, NE 68154-1980 | 402.492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; MiniMinyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Shabbat Playgroup, 4 p.m. on the playgound; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, July 3: Kabbalat Shabbat -- Shabbat Al Fresco, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 4: Morning Service, 9:30 a.m., Barachot & Bourbon, a celebration of America’s freedom and American whiskey, following services; Mini-Minyannaires, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: No Torah Study this week; Playgroup meets at Benson Sprayground, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY: Shanghai Class, 1 p.m.

Morning Service, Saturday, July 11, 9:30 a.m., featuring Guest Speaker, Congressman Brad Ashford, representing Nebraska’s 2nd District.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.orthodoxomaha.org Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Ari Dembitzer.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; 15 mins after Kiddush -Mishna L’Neshamah; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 9:52 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 9:45 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Teen Class, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m.; UNMC -- Med Center Chaburah, 1 p.m.; Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m.; Jews and Brews Class, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, July 3: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 4: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; 15 mins after Kiddush -- Mishna L’Neshamah; Mincha/Seudah Shlishit, 8:25 p.m.; Ma’ariv/Havdalah, 9:52 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Bagels and Beit Medrash: Understanding Prayer, 9:45 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Teen Class, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women’s Class, 9:30 a.m.; UNMC -- Med Center Chaburah, 1 p.m.; Avot U-Banim, 7 p.m.; Jews and Brews Class, 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu.

FRIDAY, July 3: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SATURDAY, July 4: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

THURSDAY: Women’s Study at UNMC with Shani Katzman, noon. RSVP by emailing Marlene Cohen at mzcohen@unmc.edu.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by Linda and Don Glaser.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. on Parashat Chukat.

SUNDAY: Board of Trustees, 1:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m.

FRIDAY, July 3: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. with oneg following hosted by the Gordon Family in honor of Calvin’s Bar Mitzvah.

SATURDAY, July 4: Shabbat Morning Service, 10 a.m. celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Calvin Gordon.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m.

Camp Israel 2015, July 13-July 24 weekdays from 9 a.m. 2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Kosher snack and lunch included.

Call or email Andrea Halpern at ahalpern1386@gmail.com to sign your child up for this wonderful day camp experience for students entering kindergarten through 7th grade. The Jewish Federation of Lincoln we will be partnering with Camp Israel this summer by subsidizing tuition costs for every child in attendance. Parents will ONLY BE CHARGED $18 per child for two weeks of Camp Israel attendance.

President’s Office Hours, Sunday Mornings, 10 a.m.–noon at SST. If you have any Temple business you would like to bring before the Board of Trustees, potential programs, or new ideas, please let us know! Call for an appointment at the Temple or just to chat any time at 402.513.7697. Or if you prefer, just email David Weisser at president@southstreet temple.org.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE Capehart Chapel 2500 Capehart Road | Offutt AFB, NE 68123 | 402.294.6244 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by Chabad.

SATURDAY: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Alan Shulewitz.

SATURDAY, July 4: Services, 9:15 a.m. led by Steve Riekes.

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

CHABAD HOUSE

TEMPLE ISRAEL

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

FRIDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m SATURDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY: Minyan and Meditation, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan and Meditation, 7 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY: Personal Parsha class, 9:30 a.m. with Rochi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office; The Development of the Oral Tradition, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Katzman. RSVP by calling the office. In memory of Forrest Krutter -- Efrayim Menachem Ben Avraham Yitzchak.

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68144-1206 | 402.556.6536 http://templeisraelomaha.com FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Services, 6 p.m. Summer Shabbat Evening Speaker Terri Zacharia: Heroes & Mentors in My Jewish Life!

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Torah Reader: Dan Gilbert.

SUNDAY: Temple TED Talk, 11 a.m.

MONDAY: The One Tree Sessions, 7 p.m. Please join us in creating the pilot episode of the “One Tree Sessions”, an internet television production with a live audience featuring conversations about the Abrahamic faiths in American society and their interrelatedness. The pilot episode and conversation will feature members of each of our Tri-Faith partners: From Temple Israel: Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Wendy

Friday, June 26, 8:43 p.m.

Friday, July 3, 8:42 p.m.

Goldberg From Countryside Community Church: Rev. Eric Elnes and Rev. Chris Alexander From the American Muslim Institute: Dr. Syed Mohiuddin and Nuzhat Mahmood FRIDAY, July 3: Shabbat Evening Services, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Azriel and Cantor Shermet.

SATURDAY, July 4: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m. Haftarah Reader: Miles Remer.

THURSDAY: Adult Education Class, 10 a.m. with Cantor Shermet.

Summer Shabbat Evening Speaker, Rabbi Ari Dembitzer: Heroes & Mentors in My Jewish Life!, Friday, July 10, 6 p.m.

Come and relax and welcome in Shabbat with services being held in our brand new Amphitheatre. Following services, we will enjoy a picnic Shabbat dinner together. We will provide challah and grape juice. All you need to bring is your picnic dinner and a blanket. There will be a different food truck each month so that you can purchase food if you would like.

During dinner we will be entertained with the music of George Walker and his band.

Temple Israel Annual Golf Outing, Monday, Aug. 17, noon. Contact the Temple Israel office for more information.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Boulevard | Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 | 402.423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Services, 6:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAY, July 3: Shabbat Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 4: Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by a Kiddush Lunch.

Camp Israel 2015, July 13-July 24 weekdays from 9 a.m. 2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel. Kosher snack and lunch included.

Call or email Andrea Halpern at ahalpern1386@gmail.com to sign your child up for this wonderful day camp experience for students entering kindergarten through 7th grade. The Jewish Federation of Lincoln we will be partnering with Camp Israel this summer by subsidizing tuition costs for every child in attendance. Parents will ONLY BE CHARGED $18 per child for two weeks of Camp Israel attendance.

Temple Mount access during Ramadan

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Hundreds of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza will be allowed to pray on the Temple Mount on Fridays during Ramadan.

Israel’s Defense Ministry made the announcement a day ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month. The Palestinians will also be allowed to visit family members inside Israel and the West Bank, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Orthodox Union has encouraged its members to participate in a letter-writing campaign calling for an end to anti-Jewish harassment on the Temple Mount, a site that is holy to both Muslims and Jews. In a statement Tuesday, the OU noted that it was “neither endorsing entry upon the Har Habayit [Temple Mount] nor addressing the dispute surrounding the halachic permissibility of ascending the Har Habayit.”

The campaign by the Jerusalem-based Temple Institute calls on lawmakers to “guarantee the basic freedom and dignity of all citizens.”

Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount are not allowed to pray on the site. Jews are routinely harassed there, including by veiled Muslim women who shout insults at the visitors while following them around the site. Israel Police reportedly also hound the Jewish visitors to make sure they are not praying.

In a video spread on news websites, a Jewish visitor last week was prevented by Muslim rioters from drinking from a public drinking fountain on the Temple Mount. A second man who drank from a fountain was arrested by police.

A Knesset committee meeting to discuss allowing an increased Jewish presence on the Temple Mount was halted shortly after it began due to fighting among lawmakers. During the meeting, Arab-Israeli lawmaker Jamal Zahalka of the Balad party warned that “blood will flow” if the status quo regarding Jewish prayer is changed, and lawmakers called each other fascist and terrorist.

Pulverent e

June 26, 2015 | The Jewish Press | 11

In memoriam JUDY R. COHN Judy R. Cohn passed away on May 31 at age 79 in Northridge, CA. Services were held on June 3 in Tampa, FL and performed by Rabbi Joshua Hearshen. She was interred in Tampa, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Stickgold.

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Maureen Cohn of Tampa, FL; nephews and nieces, Levi and Shira Cohn of Coral Springs, FL and Jamie Cohn Frank and Menashe Frank of Hollywood, FL. Judy was born in Omaha to Bennett and Anne Cohn (of Blessed Memory) and attended The University of Oklahoma at Norman and The University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She was employed by the School District of Los Angeles from 1963 until her retirement in 2005. Judy spent the last fifteen years of her career as the Librarian and Library Media Teacher at Granada Hills Charter High School.

Memorials may be made in memory of Judy Cohn to Hadassah Hospital, Research for Brain Cancer, 455 South Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

RICHARD N. “RICK” FOX Richard N. “Rick” Fox passed away on June 16 at age 59.

Services were held June 18 at Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Delores Fox; sister, Sally Fox. He is survived by his wife, Shelly Fox; daughter and sonin-law, Naomi Fox and Andrew Boehm; brother, Michael Fox, sister Marcia Fox; brother-in-law, Michael Sirotkin; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Doris and Harry Alloy; much loved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorials may be made to Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive, Omaha, NE 68144 or to Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska (GRRIN), P.O. Box 126, Boys Town, NE 68010.

Bonna Devora Haberman

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Bonna Devora Haberman, the founder of Women of the Wall, a group pressing for egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall, has died.

Haberman, a Canadian-born scholar, author and activist who lived in Israel and the United States, died of cancer on June 16, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Haberman taught at Harvard, Brandeis and the H e b r e w University of Jerusalem, and was the author of Israeli Feminism Liberating Judaism: Blood and Ink and Rereading Israel: The Spirit of the Matter.

In addition to founding Women of the Wall in 1988, Haberman founded and directed Brandeis University’s Mistabra Institute for Jewish Textual Activism and codirected, with the Palestinian actor-director Kader Herini, an Israeli-Palestinian community theater project in Jerusalem called YTheater.

According to a post placed on Haberman’s Facebook page on Tuesday, she died at her Jerusalem home surrounded by family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Shmuel Browns, and five children.

What’s in that U.N. report?

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel’s military and Palestinian armed groups committed “serious violations” of international human rights law during their conflict last summer that in some cases may amount to war crimes, according to a United Nations report.

The report of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza conflict was released Monday. While the report accused both sides of possible war crimes, its findings focused more on what it considers Israeli wrongdoing in its operation known as Protective Edge.

“The commission was deeply moved by the immense suffering of Palestinian and Israeli victims, who have been subjected to repeated rounds of violence,” reads the conclusions section of the 183-page report.

The writing of the report was directed by Mary McGowan Davis, a former justice of the Supreme Court of New York. Davis replaced the original head, William Schabas, who resigned in April. Israel provided evidence to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that Schabas, a Canadian international law professor, had authored a seven-page legal opinion on behalf of the PLO for which he was paid.

The only other panel member was Doudou Dienne of Senegal, a former U.N. watchdog on racism and on postconflict in the Ivory Coast.

Israel refused to cooperate with the investigation, including denying entry to commission members, though some Israelis did testify.

The report called on Israel to “provide sufficient details on its targeting decisions to allow an independent assessment of the legality of the attacks conducted by the Israel Defense Forces and to assist victims in their quest for the truth.” It acknowledged that in order to do so could be a security risk for Israel that could “jeopardize intelligence sources,” but said that did not excuse Israel from doing so.

The report called on Israel to hold its soldiers and officers accountable for the breaches of international law during the conflict in Gaza.

On the Palestinian side, the report said that “the commission has serious concerns with regard to the inherently indiscriminate nature of most of the projectiles directed towards Israel by these groups and to the targeting of civilians, which violate international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime. The increased level of fear among Israeli civilians resulting from the use of tunnels was palpable. The commission also condemns the extrajudicial executions of alleged ‘collaborators,’ which amount to a war crime.”

The report said that a “persistent lack of implementation” of recommendations by previous commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, U.N. treaty bodies, special procedures and other United Nations bodies “lies at the heart of the systematic recurrence of violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly has ordered his government ministers to refrain from commenting on the report until it can be studied and a response formulated.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry criticized the U.N. report.

“It is regrettable that the report fails to recognize the profound difference between Israel’s moral behavior during Operation Protective Edge and the terror organizations it confronted,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“This report was commissioned by a notoriously biased institution, given an obviously biased mandate, and initially headed by a grossly biased chairperson, William Schabas,” the statement said. “Israel will continue to uphold its commitment to the law of armed conflict despite the brutal tactics of its enemies. Israel will continue to investigate alleged wrongdoing in accordance with international standards and to cooperate with those UN bodies that conduct themselves in an objective, fair and professional manner.”

Last week, Israel released its own report that said the escalation of attacks on Israel by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip justified its broader military operation under international law.

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12 | The Jewish Press | June 26, 2015

Kamp Kef builds Community

by BETH EL PUBLICITY What is a community to small children? How does it grow and change as they do? For newborns and young toddlers, their parents are their whole world. When a toddler ventures into playgroups and pre-school, their community expands.

The role community plays in a child’s life and their understanding of its importance may well impact a child’s place once they are teens and adults.

With this in mind, Beth El Synagogue’s inaugural year of Kamp Kef (“fun” in Hebrew), took place the week of June 1 and, by all accounts, was a huge success. Beth El welcomed 21 campers for a week of fun and exploration.

The theme for the week was “Community” and was chosen for campers to learn how important it is to build community, “Love thy neighbor”. The campers spent the week building a town, dubbed “Torah Town”, and each day’s activities had to do with the idea of building community by building a town.

Eadie Tsabari explained, “Everything we do for kids is about building community, whether it be for four year olds or teenage madrichim. We created something special with Kamp Kef - where Judaism infused every part of our day.

We built community.”

Each day included a special community message. The first day, “V’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha” or “Love your Neighbor as Yourself ” found the campers discussing what a house needs and then decorating huge boxes that became the homes of Torah Town. They then set about tracing full size outlines of each other on paper and decorating their “friend” by expressing good and kind qualities. Just as their homes were beginning to take shape, they set about “populating” their own Torah Town!

Day 2 – “Eitz chayim hi lamachazikim bah” or “The Torah is our tree of life for those who cling to it” required the campers to learn about trees and the importance of planting in Israel. Campers made mezuzot for their new “homes” and created a giant “Tree of Life” for Torah Town. Rabbi Abraham visited camp and explained the importance of a mezuzah to creating a Jewish home.

By mid-week, campers were ready to put the finishing touches on their community. “Kol echad v’echad chayv lomar: Bishvilee nivrah haolum” or “Every single person is

required to say: The whole world was created for my sake”.

Miss Julie (aka Julie Phillips) assisted the campers in constructing a giant old city of Jerusalem, including the Tower of David (the town’s centerpiece), a western wall, a falafel stand and, of course, a synagogue.

“One morning, we went on a ‘junk hunt’ and found a bunch of [carefully pre-placed] junk all over the synagogue

to create community and Jewish learning. The counselors were so well trained by Eadie and the Beth El staff, I felt completely comfortable leaving my kids in their hands. This was a home run for Beth El synagogue,” stated Tippi Denenberg.

Fran Edwards’ son Malcolm had a great time at Kamp Kef. “Malcolm was hesitant on Monday morning, he really didn’t want to go. But by Friday afternoon he was crying because

The madrichim and campers of Kamp Kef 2015 and decided it would be a great thing to pick it all up and recycle it since we had talked about ‘the whole world was created for me’ and how important it is to take good care of the world,” said Tsabari. The discarded shoe boxes and paper towel rolls they “found” were recycled to create the Tower of David for their town. The campers even helped plant a flower garden by the new Beth El playground, illustrating yet another way to make their world a better and more beautiful place.

Camp Madrachim included Tomer Palmon, Zev Krausman, Elissa Wiener, Jake Spivack, Brooke Shulewitz and Zach Stein.

Elissa Wiener led Jr. Congregation and assisted with 4th grade last year. She enjoyed being with an entirely different group of kids for a week. “It was great to see how much of an impact we could have on the campers in just one week. It was cool how different kids bonded with different counselors,” she said.

“Kamp Kef was a dreamy experience for both of my daughters... one who participated as a camper and the other who was a junior counselor. Beth El pulled out all the stops

he didn’t want to leave.

I’m very impressed with the enthusiasm of the The Tower of David camp counselors. The program was super fun and kept the kids engaged. I’m looking forward to next year!”

For the camp counselors, the feelings were mutual. Tomer Palmon thought it was great to have the kids return after Hebrew school ended for the year. He said it was really fun having the opportunity to teach them. Brooke Schulewitz enjoyed getting to know the “littlest kids” and Zach Stein said even though being a counselor is hard work, it was fun to hang out with the kids.

“I like being able to make an impact on these kids’ lives, and we need more opportunities like this,” said Jake Spivack.

It’s safe to assume there will be a second Kamp Kef in 2016 but in the meantime, save the date for the Beth El Family Shabbaton, Nov. 6-8, 2015 at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City.

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