July 9, 2010

Vol. LXXXIX No. 42 Omaha, NE

Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

27 Tammuz 5770

July 9, 2010

Artists in residence inspired by time in Western Galilee

by GIL HOFFMAN Art transcends languages, cultures, and even oceans, a group of American artists proved last week when they served as ‘artists in residence’ in Israel’s Western Galilee region.

The artists came to Israel on a program organized by the Jewish Agency’s Partnership with Israel, which has bonded the Western Galilee with a consortium of 15 American cities in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas.

Like other affiliations between Israeli and American communities, the partnership aims to promote mutually beneficial endeavors among Americans and Israelis, forging relationships through programs that build Jewish identity and strengthen connections. But while other partnerships mainly focus on student exchanges and business networking, the Western Galilee Central Area Consortium Partnership is the only one that also features exchanges of artists.

“We use art as a vehicle to connect people,” said Kim Goldberg, the American chair of the partnership’s arts task force.

“The fact that our partnership does this program is really an expression of who we are. The Western Galilee is overflowing with art (just as our Central Area

of seven artists who came to Israel for the week-long residency. The task force also facilitates a performing arts series that brings top artists from the Western Galilee to the US to perform, and a special project each year to try out innovative ideas.

The other six artists in residence on the program were Daniel Christiansen of Omaha, Bonnie Cohen and Janice Woll of Akron, and Jane Petitjean, Sharon Frankel, and Professor Dena Eber of Toledo.

Cohen and Woll worked at Israeli artist Dalit BenShalom’s studio in Yehiam, which is called Mosaica.

The three artists worked on Front: Kim Goldberg, back from left, Sharon Frankel, Dena a mosaic for the wall at the Eber, Bonnie Cohen, Daniel Christensen and Jane Petitjean entrance to the Jewish in front of the community center of Matte Asher with the Community Center of the Planting for Peace mosaic.

Western Galilee’s Mateh Consortium cities do). Everywhere I go, Asher Regional Council that was a labor I feel creativity, which opens people up, of love of students in Akron and Israel. so it is very effective in connecting people First Cohen and Woll designed the and overcoming the language barrier.” mosaic with 25 Jewish eighth graders in Goldberg, who resides in Omaha, is one Akron, who brought it to Israel in their

Jeff and Danielle Gordman chair $1.25 million Capital Campaign for Friedel Jewish Academy

by ERICA LUCOFF level of the current school. This new for Friedel Jewish Academy lower level will include 4 additional classFriedel Jewish Academy, which is situ- rooms, a kitchen and a commons space. ated on the campus of the Jewish The campaign proceeds will also provide Community Center of Omaha, has expe- for some scholarships. rienced tremendous “Friedel’s mission is to growth over the last sevprovide a rigorous secueral years, with the elelar and Judaic education mentary school student in a joyous, supportive body more than tripling and intimate learning from 17 in 2002 to 52 in environment” said Jeff 2009. Moreover, the Gordman.

Danielle school anticipates 60 stuGordman added, dents for the 2010-11 “Having two children school year. As a result, enrolled at Friedel, we the 10,700 square foot know first-hand the facility is reaching maxiincredible education the mum capacity, which is school offers. From a the catalyst for a capital communal viewpoint, we campaign to address the also understand that to school’s expansion. have a growing Jewish Jeff and Danielle community in any city, it Gordman, active memis crucial to offer a bers of the Omaha strong Jewish day Jewish community, are school.” co-chairs of the camIn addition to Jeff and paign. Their leadership Danielle taking on the and commitment to the Jeff and Danielle Gordman with leadership role of the school will ensure that campaign, they have their children Zev and Harper the $1.25 million cammade their own personal paign goal will be achieved. The funds commitment of $100,000 to the camraised will be utilized to build out an paign through the Jeff and Danielle additional 4,000 square feet in the lower Continued on page 2

Inside Op-Ed Page: see page 8

Historical Society’s Annual Meeting honors Friedmans, Rifkin, and Board

by EMILY GILLER On Sunday July 18, at 3 p.m. in the JCC auditorium, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society will be conducting its

honor of their contribution and dedication to the Jewish community.

Past recipients of this award include: Frances Batt (2005), Shirley and

Roz and Ike Friedman Annual Meeting. The meeting, which is open to the public, will include the introduction of a new board member, an oral presentation of five people’s stories compiled by Dr. Ben Nachman and the presentation of awards.

There are two awards being given this year at the meeting. The first one is the Mary Fellman Award, which honors a person or group who displays strong leadership qualities, compassion and “service, which has impacted the lives of the Jewish people in Nebraska and Western Iowa.” The late Ike and Roz Friedman will be receiving this award in

This Week: Rose Blumkin Jewish Home opening on page 7 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’

suitcases on a class trip. Students from the Regba School in the Western Galilee’s Moshav Regba added to the project with help from Cohen and Woll. A special addition was made by Frankel and her Israeli counterpart Stephanie Egozy, who are jewelry art specialists, at Egozy’s studio in the local community of Shavei Zion.

The theme of the mosaic was ‘Planting for Peace,’ which is symbolic of the growing relationship among the Americans and Israelis involved. It included messages hoping for peace in English and Hebrew from the students on both sides of the ocean.

“We are so glad the Partnership paired us with Dalit,” Cohen said. “The kids have been so polite and hard working.

The experience on this program has been beyond all our expectations.”

Besides the mosaic, Woll worked on a quilt with the same ‘Planting for Peace’ theme in Akron and with local children at the Fence Festival of Kibbutz Gesher Haziv. The quilt features pictures of the children working on it that were printed on fabric and added to the quilt. Kids from both countries put messages on the leaves.

Continued on page 4

Holocaust survivor speaker series scheduled at Kripke Library Page 3

Helen Rifkin Leonard Goldstein (2006) and the Riekes family (2007).

The second award that will be presented is the Shirley Berman Volunteer Award, which honors a “community volunteer who gives their time ‘quietly’ over a period of time, without expectation of recognition.”

This award will be presented to Helen Rifkin who has been a past president of the Historical Society and has dedicated large amounts of time to the Jewish community.

The past recipients of this award Continued on page 2

Coming This Month: Health & Wellness Temple Israel signs agreement for land at Ironwood Page 5

Schreibman Foundation Awards announced Page 6

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

July 9, 2010

Greg Norton, Lmt

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I often get asked what motivates me to take on leadership roles in the Jewish community and I have to say, in my younger years, my motivation was a little bit selfish.

I had just moved back to Omaha, I had young children and going to the JCC was a way of meeting people and keeping busy.

I have volunteered all over Omaha but I found my passion was working for the Jewish community.

My children are now grown and have moved away and it would be easy for me to do less, but I continue to be an advocate and vocal supporter of the Jewish community and I’m going to tell you why.

Jewish community is everywhere.

That point became clearer to me with two experiences.

First, when I visited our partnership region, the Western Galilee in Israel with the Kripke Leadership Mission in 2008.

The friendships created with Israelis through our partnership have greatly broadened my understanding and appreciation of Jewish peoplehood. I’ve seen first hand how our community has truly made a difference in the lives of so many.

The second experience happened when my son, Ryan, moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Fayetteville today is what Omaha may have been 100 years ago. It is a small community of 30 families tirelessly working together to create a Jewish community.

I am so grateful to those families in Fayetteville who have embraced my son and daughter-in-law and who have made it possible for them to live a Jewish life and

be part of a community.

For those of us who do not have children, grandchildren or parents living in Omaha, we need to be reminded that they are living in someone else’s community. As Jews we are responsible for Jewish community everywhere.

The mission of our Federation is to provide and sustain Jewish life in Omaha and abroad. We are a community rich in tradition and tzedakah. Today, we stand on the shoulders of men and women who came before us and made a personal commitment to work on behalf of Jewish people and Jewish community.

As a community, we welcome newcomers, feed the hungry, rescue the helpless, celebrate Judaism, teach our children and care for each other, but we can do more.

My goals for the next two years as Federation president will be to insure a consistent focus on raising the resources for our organization. We are faced with challenges but are committed to meeting them head on. Our Federation campaign will be infused with new and exciting ways of engaging our community. We must continue to make this our number one priority in order to carry out our mission.

I will also focus on strengthening communication and cooperation within the Federation structure, bringing together both lay and professional leaders to identify efficiencies and expand opportunities leading us unto the next decade. Change is coming and we must be prepared.

We have the privilege of sustaining the standard of excellence that we have all come to expect as a community. Our success will be determined by the strength of our collective involvement and it is imperative that we pass this on to the next generation.

It is an honor for me to serve our community. As Federation president, I ask each and every one of you to become involved, to connect to your community through the mitzvahs of giving...of your time, your resources and of yourself. And always remember, Jewish community is everywhere, even in small places.

Historical Society honors Friedmans, Rifkin, and Board Continued from page 1 include: Charlotte Slutzky (1995), Iz Bogdanoff (1996), Vera Lewis (1997), Karen Pollak (1999), Ben Nachman (2002), Louise Abrahamson (2003), Lois Friedman (2005), Nan Katz (2006), Joanie Bernstein (2007), Bob Belgrade (2008) and Kevee Kirshenbaum (2009).

According to Renee Corcoran, the recipients of this award receive clocks as momentos. “We give clocks to represent the time that these people have given to the community,” Corcoran said.

The Annual Meeting will also honor the Historical Society’s board and its newest member, Sue Millward, who will serve on the board of directors. Other board members include: President Debbi Josephson, Vice President Beth Staenbeng, Treasurer Don Dandy, Secretary Rocky Stern and Past President Ira Nathan.

Dr. Nachman has compiled five different stories to be presented in a 25-minute video at the meeting. The video will have interviews from Dr. Ben Rubin, Janey Dann, Stan Lipsey, Leo Meyerson and Elaine Jabenis.

The video will not only add a bit of entertainment to the afternoon’s events, but will also show the community what the Historical Society does; which is compile all of Nebraska’s Jewish history to be seen and used by the

community.

The Annual meeting is an afternoon filled with honors, awards and recognition. The Historical Society wants to open its arms and welcome everyone from the Jewish community to celebrate and honor those who have helped make the Omaha Jewish community a little better.

In Rubin’s interview, he recalls his aunt who lived in Crete, Neb., during the 1930s. One day his aunt was visited by a woman who had never met a Jewish person before.

Dann’s story is about her grandfather’s hotel, the Millard Hotel, which burned down in 1933 and is noted as one of the biggest fires in Omaha’s history.

Lipsey, who worked closely with Warren Buffet and ran the Sun Newspapers, won the Pulitzer Prize for his investigation into the funds that Boys Town received. Boys Town had been requesting that more money be sent to them, but thanks to a series of articles Lipsey published, it was discovered that Boys Town already had money and didn’t need the extra funds they had been requesting.

Meyerson shares his tale about almost making it in show business by playing dual piano with a friend.

Lastly, Jabenis recalls her experience working at the New York Times when she was only 20 years old.

Jabenis ended up staying there for three years.

Jeff and Danielle Gordman chair Capital Campaign for Friedel Jewish Academy Continued from page 1 Gordman Donor Advised Fund. Since the campaign began in May, $600,000 of the $1.2 million has been raised, and the fundraising effort must be completed by Sept. 1.

There are many aspects of Friedel that make it so special. The diverse student body is well-represented by all three major movements from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including international students. The school emphasizes socialization of students across all grade levels, fostering unique mentoring and leadership experiences and friendships. There is also emphasis on tikun olam through participation in numerous activities on and off the JCC campus, including the Rose Blumkin Home, Jewish Family Services and local charities. The school also offers an annual science fair in partnership with Creighton University as well as the annual Woodmen of America oratory contest, for which Friedel students have won numerous awards. Finally, scores for the Terra Nova Achievement Test averaged close to 90%, well above the national average.

Jan Goldstein and Bob Lepp, Federation Executive Director and Past President respectively, stated “We know that a strong Friedel, representing all streams of

Judaism, is a microcosm of a strong Omaha Jewish community. We all benefit from the successes of Friedel and we are proud to see her grow.”

“Many in our community have a misperception about Friedel – that it is only for the very religious, that the curriculum is only focused on Judaic studies and that the community impact is insignificant” said Jeff Gordman.

“However, this is as much about the growth, vibrancy and health of the Omaha Jewish community as it is about the growth of a Jewish Day School. Danielle and I have made a significant pledge to this campaign as a manifestation of our commitment to and passion for this idea, and we hope that the Friedel campaign experiences similar community-wide support as did the Rose Blumkin campaign.”

Please go to www.youtube.com and type ‘Friedel Jewish Academy in the search bar for a short video about the school. If you have questions about Friedel’s Capital Campaign or to make a contribution please contact Jeff Gordman at jeff.gordman@gordmans.com, 402.691.4071, Danielle Gordman at dsgordman@ me.com, or Ron Giller at rgiller@jewishomaha.org 402.334.0517.

July 9, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

Holocaust survivor speaker series scheduled at Kripke Library

by ILANA WEISS Institute for Holocaust Education, Plains States Office of the ADL There is no better resource on the Holocaust within our community than our local Survivors, which is why the Institute for Holocaust Education has partnered with the Center for Jewish Education to present Through the Eyes of a Survivor, a Holocaust Survivor Speaker Series. On July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 11, and Aug. 18, a speaker will talk to a group of community members at 7 p.m. at the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. Survivors will share their stories of desperation, escape, hope and ultimate freedom. Gary Katz, Library Administrator, will be available at those times to check-out Holocaust related materials.

Explained Institute for Holocaust Education Executive Director Beth Seldin Dotan, “No story from the Holocaust can do true justice to the experiences of those who lived through that terrible time. Hearing these stories first hand from a Survivor, however, brings us just a little closer to understanding the magnitude of the personal impact of the Holocaust.” She continued, “The IHE fields many requests every year to bring Holocaust Survivors to speak at schools and organizations all across the region.

This series provides an opportunity for everyone to hear a testimony outside a formal school setting.”

The IHE does indeed receive a large number of requests for Survivors to speak.

Each year, Omaha’s Survivors visit more than 50 schools. It is not uncommon for parents of students who hear a Survivor’s testimony to call the IHE the next day asking when adult community members will have the same opportunity to listen to

these incredible stories. Perhaps that is why, when the IHE brought in renowned Holocaust Survivor and Emmy Award Winner Gerda Weissmann Klein last February, more than 600 seats were filled with people from near and far. This upcoming speaker series, however, promises to be a more intimate experience as the Kripke Library provides an environment where participants can interact directly with the speakers.

The series will start on July 14 with

sent to the ghetto and later to four concentration camps including Theresienstadt and Auschwitz. Rachel’s sisters, Mania and Bluma, were also in Auschwitz, but she saw them only once. At the end of the war, the sisters reunited. She married her husband Carl in 1946 and arrived in Omaha with a child in 1949.

Speaking on July 28 will be Lou Leviticus of Lincoln, Nebraska who is originally from the Netherlands. Not long after his family went into hiding in 1942,

Fred Kader. At the age of four while living in Antwerp, Fred’s mother had the strength and the insight to send him out of the train station before deportation in hope of saving his life. He was found wandering the streets and was ultimately hidden in a convent in Weisenbeck. While Fred’s parents did not survive, he reconnected with relatives and went to Canada after the war. In 1974, Fred and his wife Sarah settled in Omaha.

Concluding the series on Aug. 18 will be Sam Fried. Sam was born in Czechoslovakia. At the age of 15, he was transported to Auschwitz and immediately became an orphan. He worked in the high voltage lines of the coal mines in Auschwitz and escaped from a death march as the Allies approached and the Nazi’s were emptying camps as quickly as possible. Sam made a new life in Omaha and has dedicated himself to helping to prevent future generations from enduring the atrocities of the Holocaust by learning the lessons that history can teach. Sam has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Nebraska and Special Recognition from the American Freedom Foundation. Sam is co-founder with his wife Frances and board member of the Heartland Holocaust Education Fund, an organization that finances Holocaust education courses at Nebraska colleges and universities.

Each session is open to the public and free of charge. Due to space limitations, advanced reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation online visit www.ihene.org.

Interested parties may also call the Institute for Holocaust Education at 402.334.6576 or email holocaust@jew ishomaha.org.

Lesser known side of the Holocaust at SAS (Ashland, NE) From now through August 9, Strategic Air & Space Museum is hosting Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race.

Sam Fried of Omaha, an Auschwitz survivor, recently visited the Deadly Medicine exhibit. He and his wife, Frances, are cofounders of the Heartland Holocaust Educational Fund. “I strongly recommend that everyone visit this display,” said Fried.

“It shows some of the horrific acts perpetrated by the Nazis and the evils of the Holocaust. Seeing Deadly Medicine helps Council Bluffs resident, Kitty Williams.

Born in Hungary, Kitty was in the Sáránd ghetto and the Nagyvárad ghetto in 1944. As was the fate of most Hungarian Jews, Kitty was taken to Auschwitz. After four months, she was moved to the Allendorf work camp until her liberation.

Kitty married a U.S. service man and immigrated to Iowa in 1947. She raised three children and worked for US Bank where she rose to be Vice President.

On July 21, Rachel Rosenberg will speak. Rachel was born in Wolanov, Poland in 1923. At the age of 16, she was

us to ‘never forget’ what happened.”

This exhibit focuses on the less known side of the Holocaust in which individuals were persecuted for “health” reasons.

Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race is organized and circulated by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The exhibit has been made possible by The Lerner Foundation and Eric F. and Lore Ross.

General admission $10 adults, $5 child 4-12, Members free.

Visit: www.SASMuseum.com for more details they were discovered by the Nazis. Lou escaped, but was separated from his parents who were captured. While wandering on his own, he was caught by a farmer and later handed over to the Dutch Resistance, who cared for him until the end of the war. Lou has since lived in Israel, both working on a kibbutz and studying engineering. Among other institutions, he has worked for NASA and the US Army. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and works as a curator in a museum.

The program on Aug. 11 will feature

TheTribe:

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In addition to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, there were many who became victims of persecution and murder in the Nazis’ campaign to cleanse German society of individuals viewed as threats to the “health” of the nation. This exhibit focuses on the less known medical persecution of the Holocaust.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

July 9, 2010

Artists in residence inspired by Western Galilee Continued from page 1 respect everyone who comes and wants to give. I told “I wish there will be peace in the world and everyone the kids she paid to come here on her own, give her will play music together with their friends and everyone time, and volunteered. The kids were so happy to conwill live together in a happy and beautiful world,” one nect to Jews in America.” students wrote on a leaf.

Petitjean said her viewpoint on Jewish-Arab interacEber, who heads the Digital Arts department at tion in Israel as well as that of the other artists on the Bowling Green State University, worked with students trip had changed dramatically from their experiences. at Western Galilee Regional College. Christiansen made She said that while she had previously seen the issue in paper cuts with Jewish themes at the Hatomer and black and white terms she now saw shades of gray.

Shazar schools in Acre.

Frankel said she normally worked on her art solo in a Some crowds wanted something more workshop in a basement in by GIL HOFFMAN Just like the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Jewish, but it’s important to perform what her Toledo home, so she appreciated the social inter- Partnership with Israel program sends the artists feel, even if it’s something interaction the program provided. Israeli and American students to each national and not Hassidic or Klezmer.”

The partnership has also sent over per“It has been an exciting other’s countries, artists are also sent from experience working togeth- each side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other. formers to the consortium communities for Israeli performing artists from the Israeli independence day celebrations and er with artists from Israel Western Galilee recalled emotions from workshops on Chanukkah. and Akron,” Frankel said.

“What’s most important is to expose Petitjean had a similarly their trips to the United States that were inspiring time as a VIP guest similar to the American artists who came to them to Jews and non-Jews,” said Albert Ben-Shloosh, who is the Israeli head of the teacher at the Acre Arts Israel on the Artist Residency program.

The performing arts series that started partnership’s arts task force and the culturCenter for Kindergarteners, which teaches art and art three years ago has brought theater groups al director in Acre. “Some shows have had appreciation to more than and dance troupes to the 15 American cities crowds of 500 people. They have been 1000 Jewish and Arab 3-6- in the consortium that is bonded with the exposed to hundreds of people who see a year-olds from 35 separate Western Galilee in the Partnership program. different side of Israel.”

The artists perform before large Jewish The arts task force’s American chair, Kim and mixed kindergartens in Acre. She helped several and-non Jewish audiences, meet their Goldberg of Omaha, said it is important for groups of 30 children draw American counterparts in their fields, and the Israeli artists to see what it is like for self portraits and decorate stay with local Jewish families so they can Jews in America to be Jews just like it is pet rocks and then explain learn about Jewish life in the United States. important for American Jews to see how Gali Kalef-Hayon, who directs two mod- Israelis live. their art to each other.

Future projects include an exposition of “I showed them my art- ern folk choirs and dancing troupes in the work on my laptop and they Western Galilee’s Matte Asher Region, said Western Galilee artists in the communities asked me questions about she took them to perform in Indianapolis, and an international arts conference in the my art and my family in the South Bend, and northwest Indiana. They Western Galilee.

“There are a lot of great artists here and United States,” she said. met with folk groups in Indianapolis and the “The children understood Israelis and Americans learned from each no one knows about them,” Ben-Shloosh said. “The goal of the project is to find the my art in a way adults in the other.

“Folk dancing is an international lan- potential of the artists while deepening the US don’t. This is a very special place for these kids to guage,” Kalef-Hayon said. “It’s not specifi- connection of the communities and supportcally Jewish or Israeli, it’s international. ing the artists’ development and exposure.” come. I have had a blast.”

When each group concluded their experience with Petitjean, they gave her “We saw a paradigm shift in our thinking,” she said. presents and sang her songs about Israel and peace, “Seeing the students interact gives us a different underwhich made her cry. standing of what Israel really is. We will share our expeThe arts center is purposely located in the heart of a riences with our communities and enlighten people mixed Arab-Jewish neighborhood. Art center director Orly about how vital these programs are for Israel and the Shay said that art teaches tolerance and respect for your world as a whole. This is where the seeds of peace are surroundings and your peers. She said that working with planted. I have learned so much more from the students an American artist was a great opportunity for the students. than they have from me. I will take these kids home with “Jane gave us a special experience,” Shay said. “I me and hold them in my heart forever.”

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ENGAGEMENT

RAMIREZ/PLOTKIN Kassie Ramirez and Matthew Plotkin of Phoenix announce their engagement. Matthew is the son of fomer Omahans, Chuck and Shelly Plotkin, now of Phoenix. Kassie is the daughter of Al and Cheryl Ramirez of Peoria, AZ. The bride-to-be received a bachelor of science in criminal justice from the University of Arizona. She also received her paralegal certificate from Phoenix College.

Her fiancé graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a degree in global business with a concentration in marketing. He works for the Treasury Department as a bank auditor for the Comptroller of Currency.

He is the grandson of the late Lois and Bill Joseph and the late Dorothy and Bernie Plotkin.

A wedding is planned for Nov. 6, 2010 at Valley Garden Center in Phoenix.

IN THE NEWS

Dr. Mark M. Doyle, has been accepted into the Family Medicine residency program at SUNY Upstate Medical University, St. Joseph Hospital, Syracuse, New York. Dr. Doyle’s wife, Ali is a second year resident in OB/GYN at SUNY Upstate Medical University. They reside in Syracuse, New York.

Parents are Martha and Dick Lerner.

Sarah Abrahamson was honored June 14th with the Educator of Excellence Award during a Gala Dinner held by the Manhattan, New York Chabad of the West Side. The festivities took place at the prestigious New York Landmark Guastavino’s. During her acceptance speech Sarah attributed her success and expressed her gratitude to the Lubavitcher Rebbe “OBM” and her mother.

Another highlight of the evening was when a letter from long time family friend Congressman Lee Terry was read congratulating and encouraging Sarah to continue leading by example for other educators to follow.

Sarah is the daughter of Nebraska Republican Central Committee Member and National Delegate, Dinah Abrahamson.

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Temple Israel signs agreement for land at Ironwood

Drake, a black Jew, makes a name on the hip-hop scene

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator John Lehr, president of the Temple Israel Board of Trustees, has announced that Temple recently reached an agreement with Bella Terra Partners LLC to purchase 14 acres of land at Ironwood Golf and Country Club, between Pacific Street and West Center Road, east of 132nd Street. The six-month “risk-free window,” explained Lehr, gives the congregation an opportunity to “fully assess the site and determine our financial capacity for constructing our new congregational home.”

In a letter to Temple Israel members, Lehr stated that “the site is exactly what Temple had scripted when we decided to pursue our new location eight years ago.” He described the grounds as park-like and within Omaha’s central corridor, not too far west, and bordered by permanent green space and a lake.

by DANIELLE BERRIN LOS ANGELES (L.A. Jewish Journal) -- In a culture of misfits and outsiders, Aubrey “Drake” Graham is the ultimate outsider -- a big-time black Jewish rapper.

His star is rising rapidly on the hip-hop scene.

Though fans have followed the Jewish-Canadian Drake since his days as basketball star Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian soap “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” a recent spate of press has introduced the 23-year-old artist to the broader public. The New York Times declared the young, emotionally vulnerable artist “the most important and innovative new figure in hip-hop.”

Drake released his first album, “Thank Me Later,” earlier this month, though his mixtapes have been widely circulating since 2006. In fact, Drake earned the unusual distinction of being nominated for a 2010 Grammy Drake adds some Chai without the release of an album. to a recent cover of Vibe.

He’s been traveling in the right company: Rap star Lil Wayne was the first mainstream act to incorporate Drake into his touring routine and served as somewhat of a mentor to the fledgling artist.

Drake was born to an African-American father and a Jewish mother who divorced when he was 5, according to an interview in Heeb magazine, and he was raised by his mother in Forest Hill, a heavily Jewish neighborhood of Toronto. He attended a Jewish day school and had a bar mitzvah, which featured the Backstreet Boys tune “I Want It That Way.” His father was primarily absent and, according to The Times, struggled with drug addiction and spent time in prison. His mother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which precluded her from working and forced Drake to grow up fast. In interviews he often portrays himself as a loner.

“I went to a Jewish school, where nobody understood what it was like to be black and Jewish,” he told Heeb.

“When kids are young it’s hard for them to understand the make-up of religion and race.”

Drake told the magazine that he was often called a schvartze, a derogatory term for blacks.

“But the same kids that made fun of me are super proud [of me] now,” he said. “And they act as if nothing happened.”

Drake displays signs of Jewish pride; Heeb says he wears a diamond-studded Chai. He also wants to travel to Israel, the magazine reports.

With his complex identity, Drake is using the internalized experience of his childhood to infuse hip-hop with a rare emotionality. The Times gave his album an encouraging review, calling it “moody, entrancing and emotionally articulate,” and adding that he “manages to balance vulnerability and arrogance in equal measure.”

After struggling through childhood, Drake seems to be enjoying the current payoff -- the Heeb interview chronicles him driving around Manhattan in a Bentley.

Already, however, there have been reports of overspending and financial mismanagement.

Even so, with his career ascending, Drake doesn’t seem to be worried about finances. He told The Times that he’s more concerned about the insularity caused by fame.

“Did I sacrifice something?” he wondered. “Have I not realized what it is yet because I’m enjoying this too much?”

This article was adapted from www.jewishjour nal.com/hollywoodjew/.

This park-like setting at Ironwood Golf and Country Club could be the view surrounding Temple Israel's new home.

Developers purchased Ironwood in early 2010.

Previous to 1999, the course had been known as Highland Country Club since 1924.

Plans now call for Ironwood to become a new masterplanned development, integrating high-end office space, single-family homes, retail space, perhaps a senior living community, and sites for faith communities.

“Temple’s new site is tremendous,” remarked Tom Fellman, a long-time member of the congregation. “I am very excited about the plans for our Temple and will do all that I can to make this dream become a reality.

Phil Schrager (who died last month) and I discussed his vision for the new Temple site, and he was completely supportive of it,” added Fellman. “Completing our upto-date synagogue would be a fitting tribute to Phil’s memory and to our Temple Israel family that has been at 7023 Cass Street for the last 60 years. This new location will serve us well into the next 60 years.”

Lehr cited the “commitment, vision, and action” of many previous generations that built Temple Israel for those who followed. “Now it’s our time,” he insisted.

“Based on the commitments of several generous congregants along with the passion brought to this endeavor by so many others…I am 100 percent confident that together, we will secure the bridge between those who have done for us and those to come who will recall with pride and gratitude our commitment, our vision, and our action when it became our time,” added Lehr.

“What an exciting and important time,” he said. “I look forward to engaging the best of our community…as once again, we dream, plan, and build for our future.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

This Summer, Film Streams’ FOREVER YOUNG Family & Children’s Series continues with a great run of classics returning to the big screen, all of which will show Saturdays, Sundays, and Thursdays at the Ruth Sokolof Theater: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) on July 10-11, 15, 17-18, 22. The Triplets of Belleville (2003) on July 24-25, 29, 31, Aug 1, 5. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) on Aug. 7-8, 12, 14-15, 19. Whale Rider (2002), Aug 21-22, 26, 28-28, Sep 2. The Thief of Baghdad (1940), Sept. 4-5, 9, 11-12, 16, and Back to the Future (1985), Sept. 18-19, 23, 25-26, 30.

New Membership Benefits for Families! Now all Dual Memberships and above get discounted tickets ($4.50) for two adults and any children or guests under 18. For more info, visit our Membership page at filmstreams.org or call 402.933.0259, or inquire in person at the Ruth Sokolof Theater.

Did you know we offer weekday matinees? We do.

Movies starting in the early afternoon every Thursday at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. For daily showtimes, visit filmstreams.org or call 402.933.0259.

ORGANIZATIONS B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Pete Ricketts will tell the inside story on how his family organization acquired the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, July 14 at noon at the Blumkin Home and will their ownership and leadership bring the Cubs hope for a World Championship? An optional buffet lunch costs $13; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the emial list call 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday from 1-3 p.m. in the social hall of the JCC. For information call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

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Temple Religious School chair “a natural fit” for Comisar-Langdon

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple and keep current on the Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Community High School development.

Temple Israel is “excited to welcome We will still have contact with our high Sharon Comisar-Langdon on board” as school students.” the new chair of the Religious School Comisar-Langdon said she was Steering Committee impressed with “the dedica(RSSC), said Lori Bennett, tion, passion, and commitTemple Israel Religious ment to quality education School coordinator. “We for our children” that she have always been blessed to witnessed as the have strong, proactive, Community High School visionary leadership on the initiative took shape. She RSSC, and having Sharon as will serve on the chairman continues this hisCommunity High School’s tory. She is a natural comsearch committee for a munity builder, and her director and also on the knowledge and skills as an school’s board. “This is an educator will serve to Sharon Comisar-Langdon exciting opportunity for the enhance our Religious succeeds Wendy Vann as Omaha community and for chair of Temple’s Religious our children to come School program.”

A veteran of 29 years with School Steering Committee. together under the umbrelMillard Public Schools, Comisar- la of education.”

Langdon said she always knew she’d be She succeeds Wendy Vann whose “legaan educator, and “I’ve been fortunate to cy is the leadership she provided the past have had a variety of unique and mean- two years and her passion for our children ingful roles that have developed into a and their education,” Comisar-Langdon satisfying career in this profession.” She emphasized. “Wendy accepted the many coordinates and oversees the Millard challenges of this role with grace and District’s three-year staff induction pro- compassion and accomplished many gram for all new certificated staff. things during her term.” Vann will As chair of the RSSC for the next two remain on the RSSC as past chair. years, she will be providing oversight and Bennett added her appreciation by support to the Temple Israel Religious thanking Wendy Vann “profusely for her School. “I’ve served on the RSSC for wonderful and spirit-filled guidance over about a year and a half and spent this past the last two years.” year as chair-elect. I got involved,” she Comisar-Langdon and her husband, explained, “because I appreciate our Randy Langdon, have been members of Religious School staff and our clergy and Temple for six years. They have two the many things they do for our children daughters, Dayna, 21, and Mikayla, 11, and our community.” who will be in the sixth grade at Temple Comisar-Langdon has also served on and is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah.

Temple’s Worship Committee, is serving “I accepted this position to deepen my on the Board of Trustees, and has been a involvement within Temple’s communiReligious School volunteer. ty,” pointed out Comisar-Langdon. “As She has also been involved in conversa- an educator and parent, the Religious tions convened by the Center for Jewish School arena was a natural fit for me. I Education and representatives of Beth El look forward to working closely with our and Beth Israel Synagogues and Temple elementary and middle school staff and Israel to establish a Jewish Community curriculum while supporting the High School in Omaha. “It will add Community High School effort. dimension to the work of the RSSC,” “It’s a great opportunity,” she emphaaccording to Comisar-Langdon. “We will sized, “for me to work with our wonderfocus our energy on pre-kindergarten ful Temple families, staff, and clergy.” through eighth grade education at

Schreibman Foundation Awards announced

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN Marlene Bernstein, Managing Director of the Jake J. Schreibman Foundation, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 Schreibman scholarships. When making the announcement Bernstein commented “it was a most difficult decision since there were so many deserving students. Nearly all students demonstrated academic success and were heavily involved in school and community activities. In making the final determination, a ‘resiliency’ factor was key to our selections.”

Brianna Sadofsky will receive a scholarship of up to $15,000 to cover her first year’s tuition, fees, lodging, books and other school-related expenses. Brianna will be attending the University of Nebraska Omaha, majoring in music performance.

Receiving a $1,000 merit scholarship will be Julie Sadofsky. A communication major, Julie will attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

Also receiving a scholarship was the 2009 Schreibman winner, Matan Gill.

Matan is an engineering major at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and was awarded funding to participate in a summer abroad program in Brazil.

Jake J. Schreibman was born in Omaha, Nebraska, March 6, 1911. He graduated

from Omaha Central High School in 1927, and was a member of the Jewish Community Center where he won several awards as an athlete. During World War II, he served as a medic in the Pacific Theater. After a lifetime “hobby” of financial investing, he died in 1994, and the Jake J. Schreibman Foundation was established to serve the Omaha Jewish Community. What better way to accomplish this objective than to focus on the education of the young people who were about to enter college. To this end, the Jake J. Schreibman Freshman Year Scholarship was devised to aid those students who were accepted to schools the cost of which would be a burden on the student’s family.

Stan Maliszewski works with Bernstein on the Foundation and is a part of the interviewing process. “Each year we continue to be impressed with the quality of the applicants and the positive impression made by those selected for interviews.”

He adds “the confidence, enthusiasm and goals set by the students will serve them well in the future.”

Information on the Jake J. Schreibman Foundation is available in the yearly “Guide to Scholarship and Grant Opportunities”, distributed in December of each year by the Center for Jewish Education.

July 9, 2010

Five generations

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 7

It’s time to celebrate, and say thank you

by OZZIE NOGG Among the attendees at the Blumkin Home’s June 27 Splendiferous House Warming was Kaila Rose Johnson, whose birth on May 20, 2010, makes her the newest member of a family that now has a fivegeneration connection to the RBJH.

Five generations of one family help celebrate the RBJH House Warming. Pictured are Marian Leonard, left, Tammy Johnson, Phyllis Gentry, with Chelsea Johnson holding baby Kaila Rose Johnson.

“Our history starts with Kaila’s great-great-grandmother -- my mother, Marian Leonard,” said Phyllis Gentry, Executive Assistant of Jewish Social Services.

Phyllis has 10 grandchildren and Kaila is her first great-grandchild.

“Mom rehabbed here at the Home a few years ago after brain surgery,” Phyllis said, “and she was eager to come to the House Warming and see all the changes.” Phyllis, who often served as gatekeeper for RBJH Executive Director Mike Silverman during the facility’s renovation, was accompanied by her daughter, Tammy Johnson, Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family Service (Kaila is Tammy’s first grandchild) and by the baby’s dad, Justin, and mom, Chelsea Johnson (Tammy’s daughter).

Realizing some readers might get stuck in the branches of her family tree, Gentry said, “Simply put, the lineup is my mom Marian, me, my daughter Tammy, her daughter Chelsea, and Chelsea’s daughter Kaila Rose. When it comes to living at, working for, and visiting the Blumkin Home, the phrase ‘from generation to generation’ really fits the women in our family.”

When looking back at the years it took to get to the June 27 Splendiferous Housewarming, I’d like to give a hearty and well deserved ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make the afternoon such a huge success. I heard nothing but praise for the facility, the entertainment, the treats, the staff, the community -- the list goes on and on. It took four years of construction to get to this day, and though challenging and chaotic at times, it

was all worth it. It truly takes a community to plan and position itself to provide exceptional care for its seniors, and in the process create an environment that welcomes young and old and is a destination for social activities and simchas. Thank you all for your support and for helping make this dream a reality.

Mike Silverman Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Executive Director

Clockwise from top left: a crowded Main Street during the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s Splendiferous Housewarming, Norm Lincoln hands out cookies, Bob Belgrade, left, Joanie Bernstein and Mike Silverman, Sharon Kirshenbaum, left, Joanie Jacobson, and Elya Wilson, Sandy Nogg, left, and Dorothy Spizman, Rose Blumkin's family, Fran Blumkin, left, Cynthia Schnieder, and Babe Cohn by a display of Mrs. B’s memorabilia, Judy Roffman, left, Féfe Passer, Janet Glass, and Maxine Kirshenbaum.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

July 9, 2010

Forgive and forget

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press One of the nicest characteristics of the general public is the ability to move on after disaster strikes. Disaster in the form of a juicy scandal, that is (lest BP thinks we’ll be letting that one go anytime soon). We’ll forgive Marilyn Monroe any real or alleged affair with a certain ex-President, and we’ll pretend Michael Jackson never owned an oxygen tank. Elvis Presley’s escapades are long forgotten, and no matter how many drugs Jim Morrison shoved into his veins, the music made it all worthwhile.

The message is clear: if you’re a pop culture icon, your public will put up with quite a bit, as long as some time is allowed to pass. After all, you’re very talented, and that counts for a lot.

There are some rules, however: you have to be contrite, you have to be patient, and most of all, you have to never, ever, do it again, either because you genuinely try to be a better person, or because you go down in a blaze of glory. Unfortunately, with all those mentioned in the previous paragraph, it had to be the latter. That leaves those that don’t plan on exiting this world early with a dilemma: how exactly do you convince your public you’ve done enough penance when you’re only (for example) 51 years old? Let’s say that, once upon a time, you were an Attorney General, a rising star, a Governor of New York even, and you were caught doing something tasteless?

Something slimy, disgraceful, and illegal?

Well, first, you apologize, and then you wait.

How long is anybody’s guess: it helps to let certain other politicians fall flat on their faces before you re-enter the public arena. Also, although modern day politicians are definitely part of popular culture, they are not rock or movie stars; there are consequently no exciting albums or hit movies to fall back on. No one is going to remember what fantastic laws you tried to pass, or if you worked diligently to balance the budget. What you did wrong is the only thing they’ll recall when your name comes up. It’s a tough crowd.

Having said all that, perhaps Eliot Spitzer’s recent decision to join the staff at CNN’s prime time this fall is not such a surprising one.

There will be a little storm, but it will blow over; after all, his personal nightmare took place in March of 2008 and the memories have faded. Political sex scandals don’t hold people’s attention all that long these days, he has that going for him. On the other hand, nobody would be talking about it at all if Spitzer hadn’t agreed to the prime time spot: he could have stayed home, out of the limelight, and nobody would be saying snarky things about him at all. “Old news”, we’d tell each other, “why are we still talking about it?”

The question is then: do we bring it up only because Spitzer has dared to put himself back in the spotlight, whereas if he stayed home like a good boy, we would be more likely to forgive? Is his guilt more pronounced because he dares to move on and do something exciting with his life? What does that say about us?

People can make mistakes, but as long as they accept punishment and subsequently disappear into the night will we let sleeping dogs lie?

Spitzer may be ready to join the dark side, but, like the general public, not all media are ready to welcome him with open arms: “The hiring of a former governor who admitted soliciting expensive prostitutes makes this a particularly risky move for CNN, a news brand associated with serious journalism,” the New York Times reported upon hearing the announcement. The same article called Spitzer ‘disgraced’, and spoke of a ‘risky change’, that is ‘likely to raise eyebrows’.

According to the same NY Times, no stranger to controversy itself: “Eric Burns, a former NBC News correspondent and former Fox News host,

called Mr. Spitzer’s hiring by CNN an “extremely troubling precedent. There is an example being set here: that one can be rewarded for vice as easily as virtue, if one gets enough attention”.

Bobby Battista, a former CNN anchor herself, agreed: “from what I’ve seen, he could be a very capable pundit, but I’m not sure it’s a great precedent for CNN to reward bad behavior.” (Rodney Ho, www.accessatlanta. com) And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In other words: keep your head down and stay quiet, and maybe we’ll never bring this up again. Try to regain some clout, and we’ll remind you of what you’ve lost.

I don’t know if Spitzer will be successful, and I don’t know whether he will have anything useful to say about the news. Maybe he won’t be able to pull up CNN’s numbers as much as the executives hope. There is one thing, however, about which I don’t have any doubts: if and when he finds himself in the position to comment on another’s transgressions, he won’t display the sickening glee that so often accompanies those types of stories.

And that is something to be truly happy about, because it is time we stop enjoying the downfall of public figures so much. It’s just not that attractive.

FOCUS ON ISSUES

by SHMULEY BOTEACH NEW YORK (JTA) -- I don’t often read Tom Friedman in The New York Times. True, he is one of the most lucid writers in America, and his crystal-clear prose helps in understanding some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. He can also be repetitive, tiresome and a little too in love with his own ideas.

As a triple winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Friedman is a man of considerable influence.

But he is always lecturing Israel. If only the Jewish state would listen to his recurring advice, manna again would rain from the heavens, the dead would be resurrected and the Arabs would welcome Israel with daises and lilies.

Friedman certainly is entitled to his view.

But he is not entitled to slander Israel, and last Sunday he did so with relish.

In words that blur the line between commentary and defamation, Friedman wrote of the “brutality of Israel’s retaliations” against Hezbollah and Hamas, and how Israel “chose to go after them without being deterred by the prospect of civilian casualties.” He then crossed a line of common decency when he irresponsibly accused Israel of using “Hama rules” in its war against the twin terror groups.

“Hama Rules,” he explained, “are named

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Tom Friedman must apologize for slandering Israel after the Syrian town of Hama, where, in 1982, then-President Hafez el-Assad of Syria put down a Muslim fundamentalist uprising by shelling and then bulldozing their neighborhoods, killing more than 10,000 of his own people.”

This is a straightforward blood libel. To accuse Israel of indiscriminately murdering thousands of civilians the way the butcher Assad did in Hama is to equate a democratic state whose actions are open to international media and scrutiny and constant judicial review with a bloodthirsty dictator and tyrant who held on to power without any restraint of law.

In his book "From Beirut to Jerusalem," Friedman himself writes that he had heard through friends that Assad’s brother, Rifaat alAssad, had boasted that the Syrian government had killed 38,000 people in Hama. Is he seriously suggesting that Israel has ever been guilty of anything remotely approaching such wholesale slaughter?

In accusing Israel of the murderous immorality of Syria, Friedman has severely compromised his credibility and objectivity as an honest and fair-minded journalist. He is being dishonest and he knows it.

Israel is at the forefront of world militaries in trying always to diminish the civilian casualties of war. When it came to Hezbollah and Hamas, Israel endured years of provocation as both terrorist groups fired thousands of rockets at hospitals, schools and homes before Israel decided that no nation could long endure with its civilian population living amid

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

such staggering death and fear. Only then did Israel invade.

Even then, while Hezbollah and Hamas launched their rockets from nurseries and infirmaries, Israel behaved with unparalleled restraint, doing everything in its power to warn civilians of coming offensives and then using state-of-the-art munitions with laser-like precision to reduce, as much as humanly possible, collateral civilian casualties.

How does Friedman propose Israel fight Hezbollah and Hamas, two of the world’s most bloodthirsty terrorist groups, who pride themselves on dismembering innocent civilians?

The United States rains hellfire missiles on Taliban and al-Qaida leaders in Afghanistan on a regular basis, blowing them to smithereens along with their wives and children. On May 21, U.S. airstrikes killed Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, the No. 3 leader of al-Qaida. His wife and three children were killed with him. Friedman never condemned the attack.

Perhaps it is because he sensibly understood that terrorists purposely travel with civilians and have contempt for the lives of even their own children. Yazid knew he was a marked man; he could have left his children in safety.

But he banked on the belief that the United States would not touch him as long as his kids were around. President Obama rightly understood, however, that in this case it was a choice between his children and American children, that if this terrorist continued to live, Americans would continue to die.

Continued on page 9

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July 9, 2010

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Israel: From elusive Utopia to inspired reality FOCUS ON ISSUES

by ALAN SILVERSTEIN

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. (JTA) -During the recent World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem, Professor Micah Goodman of the Hebrew University presented an illuminating assessment of post-Zionism and anti-Zionism. Goodman observed that the second generation of classic Zionist thinkers -- from the socialist Zionist Yosef Haim Brenner to the cultural Zionist Ahad Ha’Am to the religious Zionist Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook -- envisioned a future Jewish state in Utopian terms.

Utopian thinking offers a fantasy, a hope that all of life’s problems will disappear. Utopianism secularizes messianic expectations for the end of human history and imagines a world devoid of any imperfections.

Yet as noted at the congress by Israeli historian Yaakov Talmon, the danger of Utopian political thinking is that if only the perfect is worthwhile, then anything that is imperfect -- such as the modern-day State of Israel -- is worthless.

Measured against the dream of a Jewish state in which there are no criminals, no corrupt politicians, no unethical soldiers and no political compromises, the real Israel will always fail.

By contrast, other nations are not held to high standards at all. While Israel is condemned for its “occupation” of Gaza, strategy on dealing with the Gaza-bound flotilla, defense against Palestinian terrorism and reticence toward Palestinian statehood, Turkey is given a free pass for its occupation of northern Cyprus, its opposition to an independent Kurdistan for 25 million Kurds and its military approach toward the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. In the past month alone, Turkey has

killed more than 100 members of this separatist group.

The world’s lack of interest in Turkey’s anti-Kurdish policies assumes that Turkey is entitled to a military defense against threats to national security. By contrast, Israel was condemned immediately when nine militant members of the Turkish IHH group were killed aboard one of the boats in the Gaza-bound flotilla.

Israel is judged not merely by a double standard but by the Utopian standards of the early Zionist thinkers. In this view, Israel is entitled to defend the lives of citizens only without the use of military force.

Goodman urges that contemporary Zionists replace the Utopian thinking of the 1920s with the kind of moral realism that can be found in, of all places, the Bible. The Bible envisions a just society within the Holy Land, but not a perfect society. It mandates court systems to protect the vulnerable and punish the criminal.

Its heroes are not paragons of perfection. Moses, David and Solomon sin; their greatness reflects ethical growth, repentance and renewal. The ethos of America captures this with its aspiration toward “a more perfect union,” not “the perfect union.”

Zionism should not see Israel as the total solution for all Jewish problems.

Instead, it offers a healthy change in the status of the Jews. In Goodman’s formulation, we were transformed from being chased by genocidal murderers to not being chased, from having no power in determining our own lives to having power.

We should help the world see the beauty of the real Israel, even with its imperfections. Maybe then they will also see its accomplishments: the thousands of Third World engineers trained by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to make their deserts bloom; the unparalleled medical, agricultural and scientific advances forged by the Israeli technology industry; the human miracle of absorbing and integrating immigrants of all races from more than 120 nations; and much more.

Israel is no Utopia, but it is a remarkably inspirational modern state.

Rabbi Alan Silverstein is the spiritual leader of Congregation Agudath Israel in West Caldwell, N.J., chairman of the Masorti Israel Foundation, and past president of the Rabbinical Assembly and the World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues.

Eric Cantor wants to be the first Republican Jewish … what?

by RON KAMPEAS Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is the first Republican Jewish whip (apparently, anyway -- are we sure there’s no predecessor, back to the party’s creation?).

According to Politico’s front-page, his caucus wonders what’s next: “Those close to Cantor don’t deny his ambitions - but even they are uncertain of his next move. If Republicans take control of the House in November, the 47-year-old Cantor would become the youngest majority leader in more than 60 years. That would put him next in line to become speaker if and when Boehner leaves.

The choice is tougher if the GOP falls short. If it does, sources close to Cantor say he would have to decide very quickly whether to stay in the House -and hope for a Republican victory in 2012 -- or turn his attention to running for the Senate or for governor. At this point, those sources don’t expect Cantor to both hold a top leadership job and prepare for a different office.

Running for higher offices would be a difficult call.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is seen as the GOP front-runner for governor, and other Virginia Republicans, including former Sen. George Allen, have their eye on the Senate race, too.

“He’ll be the first Jewish Republican something,” a House GOP lawmaker said of Cantor. The “first Jewish Republican speaker, the first Jewish Republican vice president or first Jewish Republican president.”

Tom Friedman must apologize for slandering Israel Continued from page 8 I believe that you will never see Friedman pen a column suggesting that America is an immoral power because it attacks terrorists undeterred by considerations of civilian deaths because he knows that there would be hell to pay, even for the New York Times readership. But like so many Jewish apologists who are ashamed of what the tiny Jewish democracy must do in order to simply survive, he judges Israel by impossibly high, and usually double, standards.

Want to talk about brutal? In Operation Gomorrah of July 1943, the U.S. Air Force and Britain's Royal Air Force carpet-bombed Hamburg, killing some 50,000 civilians and practically destroying the entire city. The bombing created a whirling updraft of super-heated air, bringing about a 1,500-foot-high tornado of fire that incinerated thousands of civilian noncombatants.

In February 1945, when Hitler and Germany were headed to certain defeat, the U.S. Air Force and the RAF sent 1,300 heavy bombers over Dresden, dropping 3,900 tons of high explosives that destroyed nearly the entire city center and killed approximately 250,000 civilians. Six months later, on Aug. 6 and 9, President Truman ordered the atomic destruction of two Japanese cities, killing 90,000 to 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 in Nagasaki.

Where is Friedman’s column condemning Roosevelt, Truman and Churchill as monsters who ordered attacks on Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan “without being deterred by the prospect of civilian casualties”? If Friedman ever writes the column I’ll eat my yarmulke.

That triumvirate today are regarded as three of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century.

Why would highly moral men have ordered the indis-

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criminate destruction of so many innocent lives?

It was because they were fighting an evil that had no precedent, and they had to make a terrible choice between the lives of their own countrymen and those of the civilians of enemies sworn to the destruction of Western democracy. They put their own countries and the freedom of the West first.

Israel, possessed of nuclear weapons and one of the most powerful air forces in the world, has never even contemplated carpet bombing any Arab city, irrespective of the horrendous civilian losses it has endured from 60 years of nonstop Arab aggression. It continues to bury a steady steam of civilians and soldiers when, if it truly wished to employ Hama rules, the war in the Middle East would have ended long ago.

Friedman can do better than this, and he owes Israel an apology. He should be man enough to write it.

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Parade 2 p.m. Both Days • All You Can Eat Pancakes 6- 9 a.m. Both Days

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

July 9, 2010

Candlelighting Friday, July 9, 8:41 p.m.

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush sponsored by Patty and Steve Nogg, in honor of the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Annie and Todd Jason; Minha/ Ma’ariv, 8:50 p.m.

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

SUNDAY: Bible Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.

WOMEN’S ROSH HODESH GROUP: Will meet on Monday, July 12, 7 p.m., at the home of Gloria Kaslow. Topic: “Parenting Adult Children: The Gifts and the Challenges.” RSVP to Kaslow at hkaslow@cox.net, or 391.3486; or co-host Marti Rosen-Atherton, at rosenath@cox.net, or 391.3423.

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

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Prayer Group 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org

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BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Fri., 8:30 a.m-2 p.m. Services conducted by Rabbi Jonathan Gross and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi.

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

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush by Ann

Moskovits in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Sam Moskovits, and by Harry Wolfson in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Cleo Wolfson; “Guard Your Tongue,” “The Great Midrash” and “Advanced Parshah Study for Kids” (ages 10 and up), one hour prior to Mincha every Shabbat; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:49 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

TUESDAY: Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:30 p.m.; Advanced Halacha Kollel, 9 p.m.

Follow the Kollel at www.omaha kollel.blogspot.com.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbis Around the World, 7:30 p.m.

CHABAD HOUSE 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 lunch follows.

Join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.; W.O.W. Parsha, Prophets, and Prayer, 12:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

THURSDAY: The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II intermediates and experts, ages 7-9, 3:50 p.m. Please contact Shevi@ochabad.com with any questions or to receive a guest pass.

All programs are open to the

entire community.

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Shabbat Evening Service, 7:45 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel, with oneg following hosted by Sue Schreiber.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SUNDAY: Board of Trustees Meeting, 1-3 p.m.

TUESDAY: Women’s Lunch Group, noon at Dino’s East Side Grill, 2901 S. 84th (84th & Van Dorn Streets).

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

ADULT EDUCATION TUESDAYS, 7 p.m. Intro to Hebrew, led by Rabbi Emanuel.

Please contact the Temple office, 402.435.8004 if you are interested in attending. There is no charge for the classes, but a $5 donation per session is appreciated to cover the costs of materials.

LJCS Camp Israel 2010 co-sponsored by Soul Train on July 19-30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel for children entering Kindergartenfifth grade. Please contact Andrea Halpern at 402.217.2631 or Tracy Gordon at 402.477.0388 for more information.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Shabbat Comes to the

Blumkin Home, 2:30 p.m. led by 39 Forever Members.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Eric Linder and OTYG; D’var Torah: Grace Hack and Emily Katz - Stories from Israel. Followed by a BBQ,. $10 per family, $5 for individual. Please contact office, 556.6536 or mkube@templeisraelomaha.com, to make a reservation.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

THURSDAY: CSA delivery for shareholders, 4:30 p.m. at South entrance.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER GROUP FRIDAY: Minyan, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by lay leader Nancy Coren. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch in honor of Janie Merliss’s birthday, sponsored by Elaine and Everett Evnen and Talmud study.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch, noon at Dino’s East Side Grill, 2901 S. 84th (84th & Van Dorn Streets).

LJCS Camp Israel 2010 cosponsored by Soul Train on July 19-30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Tifereth Israel for children entering Kindergarten-fifth grade.

Moscow exhibit gives a voice to Jewish Red Army soldiers

by ANNA RUDNITSKAYA MOSCOW (JTA) -- Lev Fein, a Jewish soldier in the Red Army, returned home to Minsk in 1945 to find a letter about his family being wiped out by the Nazis and the dire consequences of the occupation for Belarus Jews.

“Father and Uncle Fein died on the third day of being in the ghetto, the 3rd of August. Mother, Manya and Bellochka, and Aunt Fein and her daughter died on the 20th of November 1941, in the second mass pogrom. By the beginning of 1942, I was the only one left,” reads part of the letter, written by a friend’s wife who miraculously had escaped.

The letter to Fein, now 95 and living in the United States, is part of an exhibit of soldiers’ letters and excerpts from their World War II diaries that opened this week at Moscow’s Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Titled “Writings and Reflections of Jewish Soldiers in the Red Army,” the month long exhibition is part of a documentary project whose authors have gathered accounts from nearly 900 veterans living in 10 countries, many in the United States. The exhibition also contains photos and video.

“This war in Soviet history has

for a long time been a war of gods and heroes. Its main characters were generals and political leaders,” said Oleg Budnitsky, director of the International Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

“Now it’s time to give voice to its

constituted just 2 percent of the population.

The project is being carried out by the Blavatnik Archive Foundation, a nonprofit group created by Leonard Blavatnik, an American billionaire of Soviet origin. He came to Moscow to participate in the opening ceremony.

“I wanted to somehow document the role of Jews in the history of war, not only as victims, but also as heroes,” he told JTA. “It’s important to gather these witnesses now because these A Jewish Red Army veteran speaks at the “Writings and people are Reflections of Jewish Soldiers in the Red Army” exhibit in dying.

Credit: Anna Rudnitskaya Moscow.

“This ordinary participants. More than exhibition presents a small part of 30 million people were soldiers of our archive. We want to share the the Red Army during World War information we collect with the II; 450,000 of them were Jews.”

Center for Jewish History in the Demographers estimate that U.S., and with many more organnearly 150,000 Red Army Jewish izations like universities, schools soldiers were killed during World and libraries.”

War II. There were also more Most of the 900 interviews were than 2 million Jewish civilian vic- carried out over five years by a tims -- more than 10 percent of father-daughter duo of expatriate the Soviet war loss, although Jews Soviets, project coordinator Julie

Chervinsky and interview director Leonid Reines. They are not yet finished with their work.

“The majority of people we interviewed had never been interviewed before,” Reines said.

“They would recite poems and cry, and pause, and say ‘Sorry dear, it was so long ago, I don’t remember …’ And then they would tell me, ‘Say thank you to the people who sent you for the fact that they remember.’”

Among those on hand for the opening ceremony was Boris Stambler, who was sent to the Bryansk front in 1941 when he was 16. He and his father both fought in the war and returned.

“When I was interviewed for this exhibition, they asked me whether there was anti-Semitism during the war,” recalls Stambler, who lives in Moscow. “I answered that there were about 30 nationalities in our company. We often ate from the same kettle, and our blood was of the same color.”

Chervinsky says that about 99 percent of the veterans said they did not feel anti-Semitism at the time, but often add that they felt they had to be braver and stronger than the others “not to let the others say that Jews were cowards.”

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

July 9, 2010

The Land of Israel! The Land of Israel!

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Matot and Masei As they approached the Promised Land, Moses is confronted with some practical problems.

The land had been allotted to the tribes in accordance with their numbers (that is to say, the population in each tribe).

But now, the daughters of Selofchad, who had inherited the land of their father, approached Moses with this problem: if we marry, the land goes to our husbands, and will thus enrich other tribes.

Moses suggests that the answer to that is that they marry whom they please—but they must marry within their own tribe. Thus, the land of their father would stay with his own tribe.

(Notice the name, this odd name, perhaps of Egyptian origin, where the name must originally have been “Zel Pahad”, which would mean ‘under the protection of the Revered One’.)

The problems confronting Moses also include the Levites. Their duties had been entirely sacerdotal. Thus they would have no land, since they had no cattle and no need for land.

Moses answers that the Levites should have cities of

their own. These cities came to be “cities of refuge”, that is to say, one who had killed another totally accidentally ought not to be killed in turn by relatives of the victim of the accident. Thus, the Levite cities became “cities of refuge”, to which avengers of the victims would not be permitted to enter.

The second of our two Sidrot, Masei, deals with the final attempts of the Israelites to enter the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan river.

Two-and-a-half tribes petitioned Moses to stay on the East side of the Jordan River, where they had large herds of cattle, and the Gilead, where they had good grazing lands for this cattle.

Moses made a compromise: You have the duty of going along with your brother tribes to the other side of the Jordan. I suggest that you build enclosures for your cattle and houses for your wives and children. Thus, they will be protected.

But you yourselves, as armed men, are required to go with your brother Israelites to take your land at the far side of the Jordan. Everyone capable of bearing arms agreed to this, and joined the other Israelites to take the land that had been promised, but could now only be delivered into their hands once they fought for it.

Thus Moses solved the problems before him. The Israelites, including the two-and-a-half tribes that wanted to stay in Gilead, crossed the Jordan River to ascertain that the land would be Israel, the Land of Israel, for all time.

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JAMES I. SHAMBERG James I. Shamberg, Grand Island attorney for 60 years, died Thursday, July 1 in Omaha. Services were held July 4 at Temple Israel Cemetery Chapel, 6500 N. 42nd Street, Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Bertha (Lewis) Shamberg; brothers, Alfred and Leo Shamberg and daughter Frankie Shamberg.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Selma Markman Shamberg; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Richard Davis of Atlanta and Sally and Jim Zipursky; grandchildren Sarah and Emily Davis, and Aaron and Naomi Zipursky.

Jim graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1942. His law school years were interrupted by military service; he proudly served in the US Army. Upon his discharge he resumed his law studies, and graduated in 1947. He then moved to Grand Island, holding the position of Deputy County Attorney for several years.

In 1951 he joined the oldest law firm in Grand Island, which now bears his name: Shamberg, Wolf, McDermott & Depue. Jim was honored with the Nebraska State Bar Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. Amidst many other honors, he received acknowledgement from the American Bar Endowment for his 50 years of philanthropic support.

Memorials may be sent to the Stuhr Museum Foundation in Grand Island, the Nebraska State Bar Foundation or the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

MARY WAUGH-TAYLOR Mary Waugh-Taylor, born Oct. 13, 1956 sadly lost her battle to cancer, surrounded by her loving family, on June 25. A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held Saturday, July 10 at 4 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center theater with a reception to follow.

She is survived by her four daughters Maya (26), Halley (24), Mychal (14), Cecily (12); mother, Nancy Waugh; sister Teresa Watts; brother and sister-in-law, Toby and Jean Waugh; nieces and newphews, Kayte, Kayla, and Zeb, Brandi, Michael, and Kelsey; and four beloved dogs.

Mary was a beloved choreographer and dance teacher at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, The Moving Company, the JCC, the Omaha Academy of Ballet, South High School and the Cherrie Anderson Academy among others.

Memorials to benefit Mary’s children are being collected at Mid-City Bank payable to: “Mary WaughTaylor Children’s Memorial Fund”, and through the Jewish Community Center, payable to JCC, Attn: Esther Katz, MWT fund.

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THE CITY of Ogallala is accepting applications for the position of Fire Chief. Interested persons call 308-284-2024 or e-mail bwilson@kc911.net. The deadline for receiving completed applications is Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at 4 p.m. MT. LOOMIX® FEED supplements is seeking Dealers. Motivated individuals with cattle knowledge and community ties. Contact Kristi @ 800-870-0356/kboen@loomix.com to find out if there is a Dealership opportunity in your area.

HELP WANTED: Aventine Renewable Energy is accepting applications for Operations/Team Leaders and Industrial Maintenance positions for the Aurora West plant in Aurora, NE. Applications can be obtained at www.aventinerei.com or by e-mailing a request to heather.boyd@aventinerei.com. Positions offer competitive wages; 401K program; medical, dental and life insurance; and paid vacations. Qualified applicants must have high school diploma or GED, be drug-free, dependable, motivated, team oriented and able to work various shifts. Company requests no direct contact at plant site.

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IF YOU used Type 2 Diabetes drug Avandia and suffered a stroke or heart attack, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorney Charles Johnson, 1-800-535-5727.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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July 9, 2010

Phillip G. Schrager

The directors and staff of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation mark with sorrow the passing of Phillip G. Schrager. Phil was an original, powerful and dedicated member of our community. He eagerly took on and accomplished the biggest of tasks for the Federation, for Temple Israel, for Beth El Synagogue and for so many other institutions which needed his unique talents. Phil was a man of his word with a charitable spirit; his and Terriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts to the Jewish and wider Omaha community impacted, and will continue to benefit, so many lives. We express our condolences to Terri, his children and grandchildren, all whom he loved so much, and we salute an important life of exceptional leadership and achievement. He leaves behind a proud family and a legacy of hard work and philanthropy; he takes with him the gratitude of the entire community for so many jobs well done.

The Directors and Staff of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation