July 13, 2012

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

Romney to visit Israel

July 13, 2012 23 Tammuz 5772 Vol. 92 | No. 42

This Week

Eight days, four countries, two synagogues, Part 2 Pages 5

Vaad Hakashruth of KC to hold Kosher BBQ competition Pages 6

by RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Mitt Romney’s announced trip to Israel, at the height of his campaign to wrest the presidency from Barack Obama, could be a twofer, drawing closer two critical constituencies: evangelicals and foreign policy hawks.

A Romney campaign official confirmed to JTA in a New York Times story that he would travel to Israel later this summer to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

The official would not elaborate on the plans, but experts said such a trip could bridge perceived gaps between the former Massachusetts governor and two constituencies whose wariness have dogged his campaign.

Geoff Skelley, a political analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said recent polls show that evangelicals are still concerned about Romney’s Mormon faith and his moderate gubernatorial record in a liberal Northeastern state.

“Evangelical Christians have a problem with Mormonism and that could create a shortfall,” he said.

“And another way of looking at this is that it’s an opportunity to show himself in the role of a statesman -there have been articles written about his lack of foreign policy experience.”

There has been a stream of articles questioning his foreign policy heft, such as one in Slate on June 29 head-

by DAVID GOLBITZ Temple Israel staff writer When Rabbi Josh Brown noticed that Temple Israel was looking for a new rabbi, his first call--after speaking with his wife Carrie--was to a good friend and Omaha native.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, January 13, 2011.

Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/JTA lined Why Romney Is a Foreign Policy Lightweight. But most devastatingly, the candidate’s own aides have twice leaked to major media outlets that they are at their wits’ end attempting to extract from him coherent differences with Obama.

The Daily Beast quoted anonymous aides as saying they were reduced to “pushing paper” and participating in “lame” conference calls that were a “waste of time.” The article echoed complaints aired earlier

this year by aides in The New York Times.

Romney in recent days appeared eager to push back. At a retreat for Romney campaign fundraisers late last month, he made a point of dropping in on a session on U.S.-Israel relations and announced that he had just had an in-depth chat on Israel, Iran, Syria and Egypt with Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.

Continued on page 2

Cheesy business at the Star Deli Amid the ravages of wildfires, Colorado Jews band together Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

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

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by OZZIE NOGG The STAR Dairy Deli Lunch scheduled for Friday, July 27, will feature the creme-de-la-creme of milchig dishes including last year’s huge hit -- Fried Lox and Cream Cheese Kreplach. In addition, the 2012 Dairy Deli menu offers Deep Fried Fish and Chips; Cheese Frenchie Sandwich (batter dipped, rolled in crushed corn flakes and deep fried); Tuna Frenchies (same as above with tuna); and Rich as Rockefeller New York Style Cheese Cake. If you’re worried about your digestive tract, take comfort in Mark Twain’s philosophy: “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” Amen to that.

Other July 27 Dairy Deli items prepared to duke it out in your tummy are Fried Mushrooms, Fried Onion Rings, Fried Pepper Rings, Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks and Sweet Potato Slices -- also fried. To

Temple Israel welcomes new Rabbi

balance the scales, Chef Mike Aparo, Director of Food and Environmental Services at the RBJH, and his STAR Catering crew

assured this reporter that lighter fare is available. “Our fresh, crisp salads as well as sandwiches and wraps -egg, tuna and veggie -- are part of

created two special entrees that could be considered health food.

“You can choose Ginger Lime Seared Yellow Fin Tuna Steak or Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Pineapple Salsa, served over Avocado,” Aparo said. “Both are delicious and very heart healthy.”

When asked about the medical merits of other Dairy Deli menu items -Cheese or Fruit Blintzes with sour cream, Matzoh Ball Soup, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Loaded Combo Pizza, Ice Cream Sundae Bar, Brownie alà Mode and Root Beer Float -- Aparo

the July 27 menu. I promise you, there’s something for everyone.”

Dairy delicatessen is a Jewish culinary tradition. When Ratner’s opened in New York City in 1905, half a million Jews lived on the Lower East Side and, according to the NY Times, on any given day it seemed most of them gathered from dawn until dusk for its vegetarian dairy menu of borscht, onion rolls, latkes, blintzes, gefilte fish, herring, and chopped eggs. By the time Ratner’s closed in 2002, it had Continued on page 3

Rabbi Josh Brown “You’d be crazy not to look at Temple Israel and Omaha. They are both phenomenal places,” she told him.

So based on nothing but the word of his friend, Rabbi Brown applied for the job at Temple Israel and was quickly reminded how important it is to take our friends’ advice.

Josh Brown grew up in Atlanta and attended Ohio’s Miami University, where he experienced two life-changing moments: he decided he wanted to be a rabbi and he met his future bride.

Regarding the rabbinate, Josh said: “I wanted to be in a position where I could help people and be in their lives, and they could be in my life... it’s the intersection of life and Judaism and people’s personal struggles and their achievements... I like being at that intersection.”

Carrie was the local girl, relatively speaking. From Cleveland, she already knew a lot of people at Miami University, but she didn’t know Josh.

“All his roommates were Clevelanders,” Carrie said. “We had a ton of mutual friends, but we never met at all.”

As luck would have it, both Josh and Carrie decided to embark on the Birthright trip to Israel at the same time. After attending the same school and having mutual friends, they finally met right before the university group left for Israel.

“We became good friends in Israel,” Carrie said, and seven years later she and Josh started dating.

The couple recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary, and the second birthday of their daughter Hannah.

When the Browns first came to Continued on page 3

2 | The Jewish Press | July 13, 2012

JSS board honors Larry Roffman, M.D.

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by OZZIE NOGG Larry E. Roffman, M.D., was recently named the first honorary Life Member of the Jewish Social Services Board. Bob Belgrade, who served as JSS President from 2005 to 2009, said, “This special designation means the agency will continue to benefit from Larry’s wisdom and talent. Larry has given a lifetime of devotion to the Rose Blumkin Home and Jewish Social Services. His health care experience, general knowledge and personal experience at the Home makes him a valuable resource that JSS wants to retain. In addition, by recognizing Larry with this honor we hope to let him -- and the community -- know that his contributions to Jewish Social Services have been very special and most appreciated.”

A longtime Omaha obstetrician/gynecologist, Roffman spent thirty-five years in private practice. After providing leadership for his colleagues as President of the Clarkson medical/dental staff, Roffman was elected to the Board of Directors for Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital. In 2007, he was honored by the Nebraska Medical Center as a Clarkson Legend. The award cites Roffman’s extraordinary contributions to the practice of medicine, along with his unparalleled professionalism, dedication to his patients and their families, and commitment to quality care. Roffman is also a Past President of Temple Israel, Past Vice-President of JSS and a member of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Board.

“Larry’s medical experience and years of devotion to numerous projects of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and his community make him the perfect advisor for Jewish Social Services,” said Joanie Bernstein, another JSS Past President. “He remembers how things were in the past and is always looking forward to changes that must be made in the

future. Larry and his wife Silvia share their love and devotion to Jewish Social Services by bringing their six grandsons to the Blumkin Home to visit residents. This example of L’dor V’dor -- from generation to generation -- is a Roffman family trademark. Larry’s heart is big enough to fill every corner of the Jewish community and the Omaha community, too.

Jewish Social Services is honored to have Dr. Larry Roffman as a Life Member of its Board of Directors.”

Out-going JSS President, Jim Farber, echoed the sentiments. “The agency needs Larry’s common sense and reasoned approach to problem solving. His ability to recognize issues that face us every day and come up with solutions is invaluable. We welcome his continued participation in the work of Jewish Social Services.”

After accepting the JSS Board’s recognition, Roffman said, “I am so honored to receive this appointment. My life and energy have always been focused on my communities: medical, family, religious and Jewish communal. Jewish Social Services, along with all of us, will anticipate, participate and solve challenges at all levels in the coming years. I look forward to sharing in this process.”

Jewish Social Services is an umbrella agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha under which are found The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Senior Outreach and Star Catering. Through a complement of programs, JSS addresses the needs of Jewish Omaha in an effort to promote and enhance the quality and continuity of Jewish life in our community. Whether on Campus or off, the programs offered by Jewish Social Services are geared to families and individuals of all ages. For more information, visit the agency’s website at: http://www.jewishomaha.org/ social-services/.

Romney visits Israel Continued from page 1 Matthew Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said to expect more of the same in the coming weeks.

“I think clearly you will see a number of events over the coming weeks from the Romney people to demonstrate not only his capacity and ability to lead in the foreign policy arena but also the depth of his knowledge, Israel being one of those points,” Brooks said.

Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Republican and Democratic administrations, said that Israel was a natural area for Romney to distinguish himself from Obama.

Miller, however, said that the two candidates differed little on Iran, the pressing Middle East issue of the day, each emphasizing the urgency of keeping the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Obama’s aggressive antiterrorist policies make the traditional GOP ploy of depicting Democrats as weak on defense a nonstarter, he said.

“There’s not much different substantively on war and peace between Romney and Obama, and Romney cannot find a way in,” Miller said. “The notion that Romney’s predator drone is bigger than Obama’s predator drone doesn’t fly.”

But Miller said that Romney had an advantage because of his years of closeness to the Jewish state, stretching back to a friendship forged in the mid-1970s with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when both men were investment advisers in the same office in Boston.

“There is a divide on the issue of how Obama has reacted to Israel,” Miller said, referring to open tensions between Obama and Netanyahu over issues like negotiations with the Palestinians and settlement expansion. Obama “is cold and detached on many issues, deliberate and analytical, he doesn’t convey the depth of the emotional bond. I suspect Romney has detected that as an opportunity where he is instinctively more of a natural.”

It is an opportunity that Republicans are already exploiting. “This upcoming visit to Israel illustrates once again the stark difference between Gov. Romney and President Obama, who has yet to visit Israel during his term in office, despite having visited a number of nearby nations not friendly to Israel, including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia,” the Republican Jewish Coalition said in a statement.

Few presidents have visited Israel in their first term, Democrats point out, and the fact of such a visit does not necessarily portend friendliness -- Jimmy Carter visited Israel in his first and only term.

David Harris, the president of the National Jewish

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Democratic Council, said that Obama’s increase in defense assistance for Israel and what Israelis acknowledge as unprecedented closeness in defense cooperation, speaks for itself.

Harris noted the upcoming October joint U.S.-Israel antimissile exercise, the biggest ever. “I’m confident that while in Israel, Gov. Romney will see first hand the unprecedented security cooperation that Barack Obama has brought to the U.S.-Israel relationship,” he said. He also noted that Obama visited Israel as a candidate in 2008. (Romney also visited Israel during that previous election cycle, participating in the 2007 Herzliya Conference.)

J Street’s communications director, Jessica Rosenblum, said that Romney should use the visit to reassert his commitment to the two-state solution -- a goal that, she noted, has been disparaged by a major Romney backer, Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate.

“This visit to Israel will provide Governor Romney with an important opportunity to see the challenges facing Israel and the region firsthand,” she said. “He’ll have the opportunity as well to flesh out how he intends to advance American interests in the region and the long-term strategic relationship between the United States and Israel.”

Israelis seemed eager to welcome Romney. The New York Times quoted Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Netanyahu, as saying that Romney is a “strong friend of Israel and we’ll be happy to meet with him.”

Romney’s visit could prove important in his efforts to appeal to Jews and pro-Israel evangelicals, said William Daroff, the Washington director for the Jewish Federations of North America and a former GOP operative.

“There is a definite perception that the Jewish vote and the pro-Israel vote are in play this election cycle,” Daroff said in an email.

The RJC is organizing a voter drive among what it says are 150,000 voting Americans living in Israel.

Polls have suggested, however, that to the degree Jews have grown disenchanted with Obama -- his Jewish approval ratings are now in the low 60s as opposed to the low 80s at the outset of his presidency -- it is because of the economy.

It is among evangelicals where Romney’s visit might resonate, said David Brog, the executive director of Christians United for Israel.

“It’s no mistake when conservative candidates want to appeal to the Christian base, Israel is the top issue to speak on,” Brog said.

Michael Hines, the media director for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, a Nashville-based group that conducts pro-Israel outreach among evangelicals, said a visit to Israel could help cement Romney’s relationship with the community.

“In the primaries campaign there was a certain reticence in the evangelical community,” Hines said. “Now that everyone has coalesced, or at least Republican evangelicals have coalesced, they see him as a contrast to Obama, and there is a widespread view” among evangelicals “that Obama has not been the best friend of Israel.”

July 13, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3

Rabbi Brown

Beth El welcomes new youth advisor

Continued from page 1 Omaha for an interview, it was the dead of winter.

They worried they would miss the lush mountains and warm weather of North Carolina, but Josh and Carrie quickly warmed to the community they now call home.

Now that they have arrived, walked the Old Market and joined the community for fireworks on the Fourth of July, they know that Omaha will be full of adventures and opportunities their family looks forward to.

“The people are what sold me, not necessarily the place,” Carrie said. “The midwestern attitude, the kindness, that’s what got me. The generosity has been really overwhelming.”

Josh shared a similar sentiment when describing why Omaha felt like the right fit for his family. He was impressed by “the people who are [here], the opportunities with the people we’ve met, the good midwestern sincerity.

“People are willing to really reach for the stars, to go above and beyond,” Josh said.

Rabbi Brown is especially excited by the Tri-Faith Initiative and what it could mean for Omaha’s Jewish community.

“People are really invested in doing wonderful and exciting things,” he said. “People want to push the limits of the next best thing.”

While Josh will be involved in the day-to-day goings-on at Temple Israel, Carrie is also looking for ways to become involved in both Omaha’s Jewish and secular communities.

A teacher for 11 years, Carrie is hopeful of finding a position at one of the Omaha-area schools, though after a decade of teaching first and second graders, she’d prefer a classroom of older children.

She taught fifth grade for the first time last year and loved it.

“You have more energy at the end of the day,” Carrie said.

Despite the mishegas that comes with moving halfway across the country, Josh and Carrie Brown are quickly settling in and looking forward to their life in their new community.

“Omaha is really focused on growing,” Josh said. “There’s a great, positive energy [here].”

Temple Israel is pleased to have Rabbi Brown take part in its Summer Speaker Series this Friday, July 13, following the 6 p.m. Shabbat service, and invites the Omaha Jewish community to come meet the city’s newest rabbi and hear in his own words about his, and Carrie’s, “Journey to Omaha.”

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator When Beth El’s youth groups resume their activities this fall, they’ll be welcomed not only by a new year of activities, but also by a new youth advisor. Steven Meyer joins the synagogue staff on Aug. 1, and will assume programming duties for both the USY (high school), and Kadima (5th – 8th graders) groups.

A familiar face at the synagogue, Meyer grew up at Beth El, attending Hebrew school and participating in both of Steven Meyer the youth groups he will now supervise. His past involvement showed him the value youth groups offer Jewish teens, and he looks forward to offering memorable and meaningful experiences to Beth El’s kids.

“Enriching these kids’ lives with Judaism is very important because it gives them a solid Jewish foundation and identity when they are away at college and not with their Jewish community anymore,” Meyer said. “I want them to be comfortable in their own Jewish identity so they can lead inspired Jewish lives.”

He also noted the importance of attending regional and national youth group conventions, citing the connections they create among participants.

“I absolutely loved the conventions,” Meyer said, noting that, “While they were a good way to meet Jewish kids from all over the Midwest, they also helped a lot when I got to college and knew dozens of kids who I met during USY conventions. The conventions are just as much about social networking as they are about Judaism and fun.”

Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin said he is pleased to welcome Meyer as a staff member, sharing that, “I’ve known Steven from the years he participated at our school and in our youth groups, and I’m glad that he is coming back and confident he will do a great job guiding our youth groups.”

Beth El’s Assistant Rabbi Steven Abraham echoed those thoughts, saying that Meyer’s past involvement and his enthusiastic personality make him a perfect fit as a youth advisor.

“Steven is a past USY president at Beth El and knows the Omaha Jewish community. I believe he will relate well to the

USYers and will be able to empower them to be our future leaders,” the rabbi said.

Meyer’s main objective as advisor is to make sure that BILU USY continues to thrive as a valuable outlet for Beth El’s teens.

“When I was president my sophomore year of high school, we won a couple of awards at convention, and I want BILU USY to have that regional presence,” he said. “I think it’s important that regional USY sees how strong and how great the Jewish community is in Omaha. I want the high schoolers and Kadima kids to see that it’s possible to do Jewish things and learn Jewish values, and have a ton of fun with it at the same time.

“I look forward to seeing what I can do in this position and I know that it’s going to be a great experience, both for me and the kids.”

Cheesy business at the Deli Continued from page 1 become what food writer Alan Richman called, ‘the Lower East Side’s high temple of the soothing kosher dairy lunch.’

As a nod to nostalgia and a nosh, Episode 10 of this season’s Mad Men showed Harry Crane -- Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce’s TV maven -- lunching at Ratner’s. There wasn’t a piled-highwith-meat sandwich in sight. “Not to worry,” said Aparo.

“After the Dairy Deli on July 27, our regular line-up of smoked turkey, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches will once again be center stage.”

The STAR Deli is open every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and continues to be a popular destination for chow hounds who enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and the kibitzing factor. “The Jewish food and raucous ambiance clearly make us Omaha’s answer to a Lower East Side eatery,” Aparo said. In addition, the Deli is happy to host special occasions and will reserve private dining spaces in the RBJH for large groups. For more information on how STAR Deli Catering can add spice to your meetings, parties and life cycle events, visit their web page -- http://www. rbjh.com/index.php/starcatering/home -- or contact Mike Aparo at 402.334.6522.

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4 | The Jewish Press | July 13, 2012

Musical donation resonates with Temple Israel

by DAVID GOLBITZ “Everyone will appreciate the tone quality and resonance Temple Israel staff writer of a real piano, especially a Steinway,” Sandene said. “I Temple Israel member George Eisenberg, who passed believe the choir will be especially responsive, since high away on June 9 at age 88, wasn’t a musician himself, but he quality music is a priority at Temple.” was an ardent supporter of those who were, and that love of The piano had sat mostly untouched in George music will be on display when the congregation of Temple Eisenberg’s living room since the death of his wife. It was her Israel moves into its new building next year. piano, which she got in the 1970s from a piano technician The Eisenberg family has generously donated to Temple who, while working on Florence’s then-current piano, told Israel the Steinway Grand piano that belonged to George and his wife Florence, who died in 2001.

George had wanted to donate the piano to Temple Israel years ago, according to his son Steve Eisenberg, but there hasn’t been room for it in Temple Israel’s current building. With the new building under construction, “[we] thought it would be appropriate to offer” the piano now, Steve said. “It’s something to carry on the memory of both our parents.”

Cantor Wendy Shermet was Artist rendering of the new Temple Israel sanctuary, complete with a grand piano on the bima. touched when the Eisenberg family contacted her about donating the Steinway. her, “I’ve got one you might be interested in,” according to “George was a sweet gentleman, my friend, and I am Steve. indebted to him and Steve for their generosity,” Cantor The “one” the piano technician was referring to turned out Shermet said. to be a Steinway Grand from “the early 1900s,” Steve said.

“George... supported numerous music programs over the When she was younger, Florence Eisenberg attended past decade,” Cantor Shermet said, “including Yom Kippur Julliard, and she played the organ at Beth El for “twenty or music interludes, donations to concerts, and his underwrit- twenty-five years,” Steve said. ing of [the] ‘Women of Valor’ concert.”

Growing up, music was a staple in the Eisenberg houseDepending on space, the piano will sit either next to or on hold, Steve said. He remembers sleeping in on the weekends the bima in the new Temple Israel building, according to the only to be roused by his mother’s playing. cantor, who is looking forward to the richer sound the “She played that Steinway every day,” Steve said.

Steinway will provide.

Steve, a member of the Omaha band The Fishheads, loved “Electric pianos are very handy,” Cantor Shermet said, growing up surrounded by his mother’s music. “such as having the ability to change key and sounds/texture, “It was excellent,” Steve said. “There was always music but a good grand fills the room acoustically and helps sup- going on.” port singing.”

Steve hopes his mother’s Steinway provides Temple Israel Julie Sandene, who has played the piano at Temple Israel with as many memories as it did his family over the years. services for more than 20 years, is excited about playing the “What I hope is that it gets used, gets enjoyed,” Steve said. congregation’s new acquisition.

“It also carries on our family’s legacy with the new temple.”

Organizations B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Ben Gray, Omaha City Councilman, will speak on what it’s like moving from recording the news to making the news in city government. He’ll also give his views on the (former) Sen. Ernie Chambers vs. the (current) Sen. Brenda Council legislative race on Wednesday, July 18, noon at the Blumkin Home. An optional buffet lunch costs $11; beverage service only is $3. For more information or to be placed on the email list call 402.334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha. org.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH How much Yiddish do you know? Probably more than you think. Some English words have made their way into Yiddish. Many Yiddish words are commonly used in English. Every first Thursday of the month, we will be playing Yiddish Bingo. This will give you a chance to show off the Yiddish you didn’t even know you knew. Everyone is invited! We meet every Thursday from 1-3 p.m., in the Rose Blumkin Home Board Room. For information call Anne Skolkin at 402.343.1638.

Education

Theatrical Artist in Residency program at Beth Israel

by ILANA WEISS Beth Israel Synagogue invites all children in grades K3 to participate in a Theatrical Artist in Residency. The Artist in Residency program, provided by RESPECT, an organization that specializes in using various theatre techniques to educate about healthy relationships, will combine theatre with learning about Jewish values and mitzvot related to kindness.

At the beginning of the residency, students will see a performance of RESPECT’s “Fun & Games.” This play helps students identify bullying behaviors and prevention techniques. Students will learn about the importance and power of the bystander. Students are encouraged to respond respectfully to bullying behaviors as the target or bystander and to realize that what is “fun and games” for one person may be painful for another. On subsequent days, children will write and produce their own play with the help of RESPECT’s actor-educators.

The Artist in Residence program takes place during the time period on the Jewish calendar known as “The Three Weeks.” These are the weeks that immediately precede Tisha B’Av, a solemn day that commemorates the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Jerusalem among other Jewish tragedies. Jewish tradition states that one of the causes for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash was due to a lack of kindness among the Jewish People. It is therefore traditional during this time period for individuals to place special emphasis performing acts of kindness and living peacefully with others; the Artist in Residency program will concentrate on helping participants to do just that.

The program will be held each weekday morning, July 23-27 with a final performance on Shabbat, July 28. Each weekday session will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. at Beth Israel. To register, contact Ilana Weiss at ilana. weiss@respect2all.org or 402.682.1166 by July 19. The Artist in Residency program is free of charge to participants thanks to a generous grant.

In the news Mazal Tov to Aron Neesman for graduating from Hebrew College in Boston, MA, with his Masters in Jewish Education. He was presented with the Professor J.K. Mikliszanski Award for a student conducting research in Rabbinic Literature. Aron has decided to stay in the Boston area to continue exploring and learning in the Jewish community and has taken a job with the Autism Services Association as a Job Coach while he continues to refine his rabbinical school search.

He is the son of Steve and Maria Neesman.

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July 13, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5

Eight days, four countries, two synagogues

by RICHARD FELLMAN Editor’s note: this is part two of Richard Fellman’s story about his most recent visit to Kiev and Warsaw. Part one, which talked about Kiev, appeared in the 7-6-2012 edition.

The following Shabbat I was in Warsaw, once a city of nearly a million and a half citizens, one third of whom were Jewish. The Jewish neighborhoods occupied a large part of the city. There were dozens of small shuls and a few large synagogues. There were thousands of Jewish doctors, lawyers, college professors and businessmen, many of great wealth.

some other guests were at the meal.

Saturday morning I went to the Progressive synagogue of Warsaw, led by a young rabbi who was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and was originally from Uzbekistan, where about 300,000 Jews once lived, but the community has shrunk to barely 5,000 due to the tensions between the Muslim majority and the Jewish community.

This Reform rabbi is now the young and charismatic spiritual leader of Beit Warszawa synagogue, located on a busy

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The Nozyk Synagogue in Warsaw, Poland was founded in 1900, pictured left and above. Below: Nobel Prize winner Isaac Baschevis Singer lived in Warsaw as a young man on Krochmalna Street, once in the center of the main Jewish area of the city. It was totally destroyed by German soldiers during the Ghetto Uprising in April 1943.

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John A. Gentleman Mortuaries One wealthy family, in 1893, gave the land for the one remaining major synagogue in today’s Warsaw. The Nozyk synagogue was endowed by the Nozyk family. The Nazis destroyed its interior and used it as a warehouse, but today it has been restored.

I went there on Friday evening, a bit early, and before the service began the rabbi entered and went around shaking hands with everyone who was there, including a group of Israeli tourists. When he came to me I said “Shabbat Shalom” and he said, “You’re an American. Where are you from?”

I replied, “how do you know,” and he said “because you sound like an American.” My response to him was, “so do you. Where are you from.” “New York,” he said. “And you.”

“Omaha, Nebraska,” was my answer.

Then the rabbi abruptly stopped, looked at me while shaking my hand, and said “isn’t Jules Harlow from Omaha, or is it Sioux City?

Aren’t those towns close to each other?”

Well, it turned out that Rabbi Michael Shudrich, now the chief rabbi of Poland, was born and raised in New York City, attended Jewish Day Schools and Stony Brook University (I’m writing him about the College World Series), has a master’s degree in history from Columbia, and was ordained at Yeshiva University. He knows Rabbi Paul Drazen and others we both knew.

Rabbi Shudrich has been in Warsaw over 20 years. As chief rabbi he went with the President of Poland to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, and he was scheduled a few years ago to accompany the President of Poland by plane on a trip to meet the President of Russia. The plane crashed and killed Poland’s president and his entire cabinet. Rabbi Shudrich refused the invitation to join on this mission because he did not wish to ride on the plane on Shabbat.

After the traditional Erev Shabbat service, Rabbi Shudrich invited me to stay for dinner, a festive traditional meal given that evening for a young couple whom the rabbi had married three days before. The bride, now a doctoral candidate in economics, had returned to Judaism, which her grandmother had abandoned years ago, and the groom, who had been a “skinhead” before his conversion, also was new to Judaism. Their friends and

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thoroughfare across the street from the main railway station in Warsaw in a non descript but relatively new building on the fourth floor, but the synagogue is totally unmarked.

Its name is not on the directory in the front lobby, nor is it on the door on the fourth floor leading into the offices and sanctuary.

I waited with a gentleman for services to start. Neither of us could speak to the other because I only knew English and he only knew Russian and Polish. When a man came who spoke both Polish and English, my silent acquaintance introduced him as a retired major from the Soviet army, but when I told him I lived in Omaha he smiled and came alive.

“My daughter is married to an American doctor and they are moving to Omaha today, so he can start a residency. I’m going to visit them in Omaha in October, and I’ll look you up.”

During my visit to Warsaw I spent hours walking by myself but with a wonderful guide through the Ghetto, listening to the stories of the atrocities and the bravery. One can see the street sign of Krochmalna Street, the home of Isaac Bashevis Singer and the location of Singer’s book In My Father’s Court. One can visit Mila 18, the street of Leon Uris’s novel by the same name, though the site is now on Mila 1. One can stand by the Court Building where Jews entered from one side but Aryans from the other, and then walk to the Umschlagplatz where Jews waited for hours without bread or water for trains transporting them to Treblinka and death. Feeling all of this today, one cannot help having tears, and again, more tears.

The life one finds today in the synagogues of Warsaw -- small today but growing and thriving, with financial help from Jews throughout the world -- inspires one to remember and to think. Hitler was not able to finish the evil task he began, but the world of the Jews of Ukraine and Poland will never again reach the heights it once occupied.

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Vaad Hakashruth of Kansas City to hold first annual Kosher BBQ competition

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by RABBI MENDEL SEGAL Executive Director, Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City Anticipation is high as plans get underway for Kansas City’s First Annual Kosher BBQ Competition. This newest Kansas City BBQ competition is the brainchild of the Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City and will take place Aug. 19 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, 12320 Nall Ave., Overland Park, KS. Why a kosher BBQ competition? Well, what better way to combine a great Kansas City tradition with a great Jewish tradition. Just as the act of barbecuing is a traditional way of elevating the meaty staples of a Midwestern diet, the biblical injunction to “keep” kosher is a means of enhancing the experience and awareness of the basic need, and basic joy, of eating. This contest offers a unique opportunity to honor and celebrate both traditions.

The event will include live music by the renown Sheldon Low and other musical entertainment, educational booths, a Kids Zone, kosher concession stands, cooking demonstrations, side competitions and more. Proceeds of the BBQ competition will go directly to the Vaad to help make kosher supervision more widely available to the community.

Rabbi Segal is looking forward to great event participa-

tion. “The competition is open to everyone, regardless of faith, background or BBQ skill level. All contestants will compete with the same type of smokers and selection of meats and basic ingredients.”

Teams will be made up of three to four people per team, with a maximum of 30 teams; so far teams from as far as Chicago and Kentucky have registered. The entrance fee, $350 per team, includes kosher chicken, ribs, brisket, and other ingredients needed, a new smoker, cooking station set-up, and a four-hour class with a BBQ master champion. Winners will be determined by a panel of professional BBQ and community judges.

The Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City, located at 9900 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, KS, is a community service organization whose mission is to maintain a high level of Kosher supervision. It is composed of Rabbinic and lay leaders providing kosher certification, supervision, education and inspection for caterers, wholesale and retail food vendors, and food production companies in the Kansas City area and Midwest.

For more information about the BBQ Competition call 913.235.6077 or email bbq@vaadkc.org. Web, www.kc kosherbbq.com.

Temple Israel Golf Outing on the horizon

HEY MOM, SOUND FAMILIAR? You can’t remember the last time you had a date night with your husband.

Weekend traveling/vacations are luxuries from the past.

You’re exhausted because of your kids and never ending chores.

by DAVID GOLBITZ “New faces at Temple mean new participation,” Meyers Temple Israel staff writer said.

Temple Israel’s Golf Outing is right around the corner and The fun begins with lunch at noon, followed by the shotit’s time to reserve your spot on the links. The annual event gun start at 1 p.m. Golfers are encouraged to invite spouses will be held this year on and friends who may not Monday, August 13, once enjoy swinging a club to again at Shadow Ridge cocktails and dinner, beginCountry Club, 188th and ning at 5:30 p.m. at the club.

Pacific Streets.

After a long day walking the “We make it a fun day for the course, “we feed them well,” golfers,” said Jeff Smedlund, Smedlund said. who has chaired the yearly A foursome can play for event for the past 10 years. $540, or a foursome can pay Temple Israel member Jon $850 and have their names Meyers has attended the Golf printed in the Golf Outing Outing for “maybe a dozen” Temple Israel members prepare to hit the links at last year’s program as sponsors. Singles years, and is looking forward annual Golf Outing. can participate for $135 and to teeing off once again this will be paired with another year. single. All golfers play 18 “It’s one of the most fun, holes, have the use of a golf laid back scrambles put on cart, have lunch, driving each year,” Meyers said. “Lots range privileges and dinner. of prizes and giveaways, too.”

Spouses and friends can Prizes this year include a attend just for cocktails and new car for the winner of the the awards banquet for $30. hole-in-one contest, and As this is a fundraiser for other assorted goodies from Temple Israel, non-golfers local businesses. who would like to contribute “Bring money for the raffle their support can be a hole prizes, because there are sponsor for $350. Individual always some good ones,” hole sponsors’ names are also Rabbis Aryeh Azriel and Eric Linder enjoy a day in the sun at printed in the program. Please Smedlund said.

In addition to a fun day on Shadow Ridge Country Club. contact the Temple office if the links, Meyers also enjoys meeting new members at the you have an item to donate for a flag prize or the raffle. yearly event. He sees it as an opportunity to “start up new Call Temple Israel at 402.556.6536 or send an email to friendships.” templeisrael@templeisraelomaha.com to register.

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Solomon Marburg wins NEST scholarship

by SOLOMON MARBURG your thoughts. It’s Monday the 15th. One Editor’s note: Solomon entered the NEST week from today, the editor will need to (Nebraska Educational Savings Trust) have your review in his hand. If it’s late or Focus on a Career Scholarship essay contest to earn $1,000 toward a NEST 529 College Savings Plan.

Nebraska students, ages 1114, could submit an essay describing their first week in their desired career. The essay was to reflect the student’s own research, writing and original thinking. Out of 133 essays, he scored in the top ten to win one of ten $1,000 trust account prizes.

Below is Solomon’s essay.

Solomon Marburg in a vintage Corvette.

You’re hired. You can barely contain your excitement. This is your dream sloppy, your chances of making it through job, the occupation you would gladly spend your first month as a journalist are slim. the rest of your life doing. As an automotive This report needs to be not just good, but a journalist, you get to combine your two work of consumer-advising art. But before deepest passions; editorial writing and cars. you can craft your article, you have to get all The pay is good, and your boss seems pretty the data from your tests. The next four days cool. It couldn’t get much better. This is your are spent on highways and test tracks, in first day, and you’re not quite sure what to school zones and rush hour traffic. You note expect. You are doubtful that they will hand the excellent storage space and poor acceleryou the keys to some half-million dollar ation. You observe how smooth the ride is Italian convertible and ask you to be back by and how impressive the city MPG numbers noon. It will take you a while to work your are. Finally, you have enough facts and opinway up to that level of responsibility. ions to create your masterpiece. It is Sure enough, sitting on your desk in your Thursday evening. You have just three days new office are a set of Dodge keys. Out in the to write your review. parking lot, you discover they belong to a There is no rest for you the first weekend blue Grand Caravan; a humble assignment, of your new job. You spend every waking to be sure. Still, you are glad they aren’t put- hour pouring over numbers and notes, tapting too much pressure on you. Notebook in ping away at the keyboard of your laptop. pocket, you step in and begin the first Each sentence is typed and re-typed five assignment of your career. Your job: drive times as you try to phrase every bit of inforthe van for a week, and then write a review mation just right. Puns and one-liners are for next month’s issue of Car & Driver. scattered throughout to keep readers interAs you cruise down the road, you collect ested. Punctuation is looked over so many

times your dreams are haunted by commas and periods, and you are suddenly thankful you paid attention in English class, because spell-checking is easy for you. Finally, at around eleven o’clock Sunday night, you are finished. A page and a half of twelve-point font informing readers, in an engaging way, everything they need to know about the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T. Your eyes are bloodshot, you have a headache from staring at the screen, and you are starting to doubt whether or not this really is your dream career. But you are exhausted, and you fall asleep immediately.

The next morning, you are inexplicably up on time. Today is the day you return the van, the day you hand your article in to the editor. You are nervous. Whether or not you are back to skimming the job section depends on him liking your review. No pressure.

When you arrive, you turn the car keys over

to the lot manager and walk down the hall to the big corner office. The chief editor sits behind a large desk in a brown leather office chair. He smiles and offers you a seat opposite him, then he asks to see your report.

Almost shaking, you hand it to him. He leans back and looks it over, and you can see his eyes picking apart every word, checking for mistakes and sizing up if your writing is any good. It only takes a minute, but it seems like hours. Finally, he sets the paper down.

For a second, you are sure you’re done. Then the smile returns to his face, and he congratulates you on your work. He tells you that the real test is what the readers think, but he believes that it will be a success. He shakes your hand, and you feel happiness and relief flood over you. This is your dream job, and your first assignment was a home run. As you turn to go, your boss tosses you a new set of keys: Audi keys. You’re on your way.

Births Laurie and Jason Epstein announce the April 20 birth of their daughter, Molly Danielle.

She has an older brother, Tyler, age 4.

Grandparents are Sharon and Howard Epstein, and Donna and Robert Nathan of Germantown, TN. Great-grandparents are Sam Epstein and the late Rosaline Epstein, the late Ben and Marian Miller, and the late Marie and Jake Fishbein, Evelyn Friedman Nathan, Phil Friedman, and David Nathan.

Emily and Nick Ray announce the May 10 birth of their daughter, Samantha Marie.

Grandparents are Sharon and Howard Epstein, and Betsy and Tony Ray of Des Moines.

I N TRODU C ING

Preserving the Jewish Press for the next generation.

Great-grandparents are Sam Epstein and the late Rosaline Epstein, the late Ben and Marian Miller, Marlene Ray, and the late Glenn and Pat Rotherham.

Dr. and Mrs. David M. Zalkin of Houston announce the June 21 birth of their son, Avraham (Avi) Yehuda who is named for his great-grandfather, Allen S. Zalkin.

He has a brother, Shmuel Yekusiel, and a sister, Emunah Menucha.

Grandparents are former Omahans, Susan and Mark Zalkin of Denver, Nancy Einhorn of Pennsylvania and Harold Miller of Houston Great-grandparents are Evelyn Flaxer of Denver, the late Allen and Monie Zalkin, and the late Dr. Carl Flaxer.

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Reporters, Editors and Publishers receive $5, $10 and $20 Press Cash respectively. Press Club members can use Press Cash at the JCC and at the Star Deli, all while supporting our Jewish Press.

8 | The Jewish Press | July 13, 2012

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Expose everything

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press On Thursday July 5, WikiLeaks began releasing 2.4 million emails from Syrian government officials, ministries, and corporations. Some 68,000 of the emails are in Russian; others are allegedly in Arabic and English. Dating from August 2006 to March 2012, the material contains “embarrassing details about both Syrian and foreign governments and corporations” saying one thing and doing another, or so WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange claims.

“WikiLeaks acknowledges that some of the e-mails can't be verified. They involve 680 different Internet domains, 678,752 different e-mail senders, 1,082,447 different e-mail recipients, and several different languages, including Arabic and Russian.” (Source: Christian Science Monitor) Reuters announced that the “Syria Files” contain more than eight times as many documents as the number of diplomatic cables WikiLeaks published in 2010, when it disclosed confidential information relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among them: intimate correspondence of Syrian senior party figures, and emails from the Syrian ministries of presidential affairs, foreign affairs, finance, information, transport and culture, WikiLeaks spokesperson Sarah Harrison said.

And so here we go again. Just when we were starting to forget all about Julian Assange and his questionable choices.

It may seem counterintuitive for many news junkies to not jump up and down when things like these occur (the Associated Press, for one, bowed out). However, most media have good reason to tread carefully when Assange is involved. Why is he doing this? What’s his real goal? What does he think the outcome will be, and is there any way to predict the consequence of such a massive information dump in the middle of our virtual town square?

Speaking through his spokesperson, Assange claims he is all about making peace: the material "helps us not merely to criticize one group or another, but to understand their inter-

ests, actions and thoughts. It is only through understanding this conflict that we can hope to resolve it." (Source: Reuters) That sounds very nice. And I’m sure 2.4 million emails will be tremendously helpful in understanding what exactly is going on in President Bashar al-Assad’s mind. Meanwhile, all of this may also divert attention from the fact that

Julian Assange

Credit: wikimedia commons

Assange is holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fighting extradition to Sweden where they want to try him for rape and sexual assault. Of course, he expects the press and the public to forget all about that; after all, he’s promised embarrassing disclosures in those emails, and so we should focus on that instead. Apparently, his own legal troubles are not embarrassing enough.

And therein lies the problem. Assange is a sleazy and

shady figure. He’s taken that whole Robin Hood flirtation way too far, and nobody is really buying it. He’s been tried in the court of public opinion, and he’s been found wanting.

And that is distracting us from what we should really be talking about.

Since March 2011, more than 15,000 people have died in the Syrian uprising. Thousands more are imprisoned or have fled to neighboring countries. Although contact with foreign media is sporadic at best, there have been reports of severe torture in Syrian prisons. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan are trying to come to terms with the roughly 180,000 refugees who have crossed their borders, while over 200,000 Syrians are displaced within their own country. Soldiers continue to fire upon civilians, and the population is not just targeted based on being pro or anti government; there are widespread sectarian and religiously motivated killings as well. All this comes on the heels of one of the worst droughts any Middle eastern country has ever experienced, causing massive crop failure and dying out of entire herds, propelling two to three million people into extreme poverty.

Assad is going down fighting, even in the face of defections from his own inner circle, most notably that of Brigadier General Manaf Tlas, once one of his closest friends. Tlas is not the only official to distance himself; at least one deputy minister and 15 generals have defected to Turkey.

But we won’t be talking about any of this. Instead, we’ll be talking about where Assange and his people obtained these messages; whether what they are doing is ethical, what’s in those emails, who is going to be exposed. The crazies are already coming out of the woodwork claiming Assange is secretly working with the CIA, and WikiLeaks is simply the United States’ latest ploy to overthrow Assad without getting its hands dirty.

And while both the media and the public focus attention on the potentially scandalous side of things, the people in Syria will continue to die.

How to turn around Jewish education investments

Focus on issues ABRAHAM H. FOXMAN, National Director of ADL NEW YORK (JTA) -- Much has been said and written about the financial priorities of the Jewish community and whether they are misdirected. All too often in these discussions, an artificial dichotomy is created between two goals: sustaining American Jewish support for Israel and attending to the domestic priorities of the community in the United States.

Reams of paper have been used in arguing where the financial priorities of the community should lie.

We need more and more to integrate these two challenges: to recognize, as the Taglit-Birthright Israel project has, that rather than a competition, the twin goals of strengthening Israel and strengthening the American Jewish community are linked and reinforce each other.

I believe the best way to strengthen a Jewish community that is diminishing through assimilation is through Jewish education. That is why, in my recent remarks to the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, I called for a five-year, $500 million-per-year reinvestment in the Jewish Diaspora.

For whatever reason, it is very difficult to raise money in the Jewish community in the United States for Jewish education. It has always been much easier to raise money for Israel. Raising funds for Israel is certainly important. But

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

Jewish Press Board Eric Dunning, Vice President; Caryn Scheer, Treasurer; Bobbi Leibowitz, Past President; Phyllis Brown; Daniel Christensen; Mel Epstein; Scott Farkas; Sandy Friedman; Noah Priluck; Paul Rabinowitz; Mark Senal; Nancy Wolf.

The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally, nationally and in Israel. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service/Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press.

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what if we redirected some of the community purse back to the U.S. for the purpose of giving the next generation the possibility of a fuller immersion into Jewish life through all that a Jewish education has to offer?

Education, among other things, makes the real Jewish connection to Israel. And the best way to ensure continued Jewish support for Israel is by having a highly identified Jewish community.

Let's face it: American Jewish ignorance on Israel is the primary obstacle to American Jewish identity, continuity and American Zionism.

Here is where we are falling down as a community. Too many young Jews receive only rudimentary Jewish training.

And those who do often stop studying and practicing their faith at age 12 or 13, right after their bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.

Throughout the crucial teenage years, when peer pressures are intense and young people are truly learning what it means to be responsible adults in a confusing and challenging world, we neglect their spiritual development and allow the highly secular mass media and educational systems to work on them unchecked. When they go off to college, we hope that Hillel and other Jewish campus organizations will attract them. But why should they when our Jewish youth have seen their religion and their being Jewish treated as unimportant in their own homes and communities?

Why not let American Jews continue to raise the money for Israel, but let Israel take the money and invest in American Jewry. Invest in the infrastructure of day schools, whether Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Reconstruc-

tionist, and to make scholarships available so that Jewish schools can be more affordable, especially for those students most willing to continue their Jewish education through high school and beyond.

Times have changed. Many years ago, when Israel was struggling to survive as a fledgling agrarian nation-state, $500 million would have been a princely sum. Today, Israel is a nation that has its own millionaires. The economy and tourism are robust and growing. That sum of $500 million is not as significant in Israel as it used to be.

Imagine how far we could advance Jewish education with such a commitment, which comes to $2.5 billion over five years. That is a significant sum of money for schools, scholarships and teachers.

A certain percentage of the money -- perhaps 20 percent -should be invested in programs to continue, enhance and ensure bringing young people to Israel. There should be no waiting list.

We have developed the most exciting audio-visual Jewish identity program that anyone could dream of and it is called Israel. We know it works. This is the tourniquet. I believe that if 100 children go to Israel, one-third will be Zionists forever, for one-third it won't matter and one-third will be "different." That is a pretty good investment for $3,000 per youngster.

The remaining 80 percent of the money should be invested in Jewish education in the U.S. -- in expanding its infrastructure, in substantial tuition subsidies, and in paying teachers’ salaries that will attract the best and brightest.

Continued on page 9

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July 13, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9

With great power comes... guilt!

Behind the headlines SIMCHA WEINSTEIN NEW YORK (JTA) -- My “Spidey Sense” is tingling!

Almost half a century after the comic book superhero Spider-Man was conceived by Jewish writer Stan Lee, a Jewish actor named Andrew Garfield will don the red and blue Spandex for the forthcoming cinematic reboot of the Spider-Man franchise.

As the self-proclaimed rabbi of all “Geek-dom,” I can tell you that Garfield’s being Jewish is no small matter in the Spider-Man universe. For years, fans have wondered if Peter Parker/Spider-Man was crypto-Jewish, at the very least. Let’s look at the evidence: Living with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May in Queens, N.Y.? Check. Middle name Benjamin?

Check. A student at Columbia (30 percent Jewish)? Check.

Being motivated almost entirely by guilt? Double check.

In August 1962, Stan Lee was basking in the success of the Fantastic Four and the Hulk. He decided to create a new kind of superhero: an angst-ridden teenager who finds himself suddenly blessed -- and cursed -- with superpowers. He’s drawn as a nebbish -- a dark-haired, spectacled, neurotic worrier.

When Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider while visiting a science museum, he acquires an array of superhuman, spider-like powers: speed, strength and agility; a tingling “spider sense” that warns him of impending danger; the capacity to recover quickly from injuries and poisons; and the ability to scramble up walls and shoot (and swing from) super-strong webs. Originally nearsighted, Parker post-spider bite has perfect vision.

Amazingly, Garfield seems to have been bitten by the guilty bug. The actor noted in an interview, “I have a really big guilt complex in that if I’m not doing any kind of good then there’s no real reason for being.”

From Spider-Man’s debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, readers learn about the intense guilt that Peter experiences as a result of his powers. At first, Spider-Man uses his powers for

Mitt who? Republican Jewish operatives head to Israel

by AMI EDEN Forget the old Jews in Palm Beach who voted for Pat Buchanan by accident. This year it could be absentee ballots from Israel that make the difference.

At least that’s what the Republican Jewish Coalition is thinking... its executive director, Matt Brooks, and big-name cheerleader, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, will be in Israel next week to sign up expats to vote: “There is a significant opportunity out there for the Republicans to mine a number of votes,” Brooks said, noting that Americans in Israel tend to favor Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate, over President Obama, in contrast to United States, where Jews tend to favor Democrats.

“If this election is going to be as close as people think it is, being able to turn out American voters could be critical.”

“It’s a long flight, but when you think about Israel being home to 150,000 American voters, it’s also the equivalent of visiting Dayton, Ohio or Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to get out the message,” Fleischer said in the statement. “In this election, every vote is going to be important.”

his own gain rather than stopping a common thug.

Tragically, that thug ends up killing Peter’s beloved Uncle Ben, who had once taught his nephew, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Sam Raimi, the director of the previous (and hugely successful) Spider-Man movies, understands that this quirk in Parker’s character is the key to the saga’s power: “Spider-Man is a character who spends his life trying to pay down his guilt. The only difference is that it’s caused by his uncle, not his mother,” Raimi said. “That’s a real classically Jewish quality -- to be very aware of your sins in this life and try and make amends for them in this life.”

Spider-Man, unlike other superheroes, is more of a Woody Allen nebbish than an all-powerful strongman, and he suffers from stereotypical Jewish neuroses. In his Clark Kent guise, Superman only pretended to be a nerd. Peter Parker really was one. If early sneak peeks at the new movie, which opened nationwide July 3, are any indication, it looks like Garfield has tapped into his inner nebbish with gusto.

Perhaps the enduring quality of Spider-Man is that we are all in some way like him, continuously “guilting” ourselves because we suspect we’re squandering the gifts we’ve been given.

Personally, I have always been drawn to this challenge.

When I was growing up in the north of England, my Hebrew school rabbi admonished me to be “a light unto the nations,” then on the way home from the synagogue I’d get a “wedgie” from the kids from St. Monica’s high school. Often I would quietly invoke the words of Tevye the milkman: “Once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?”

But you know what they say: “With great power comes great responsibility.” It may be kitschy and corny, but nearly 50 years later it’s still relevant, too.

Rabbi Simcha Weinstein is an author who recently was voted “New York’s Hippest Rabbi” by PBS-Channel 13. His best-selling book on superheroes, titled “Up, Up, and Oy Vey: How Jewish History, Culture, and Values Shaped The Comic Book Superhero,” was recently reissued.

Jewish education investments Continued from page 8 Only an estimated 35 percent of Jewish children are now attending private Jewish schools and yeshivas. The main reason is the cost, which averages $14,000 a year per child -and sometimes much more.

If I could, I would make Jewish day school education at all levels available and affordable for as many Jewish families as possible. This would mean building many new schools and providing scholarships for those who need them. It would be expensive, but worth every penny. Such a program could help bring about a vibrant Jewish future in America, which will reap benefits many times over in terms of future support for the Jewish state of Israel.

Abraham H. Foxman is national director of the AntiDefamation League.

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Focus on issues JENNIFER LASZLO MIZRAHI WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Several important Jewish organizations are standing behind a critical international treaty to support civil rights, dignity and hope for people with disabilities. However, grassroots help is urgently needed to get it approved by the U.S. Senate before the political season overtakes the ability to get things done in Washington.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is under consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is already supported by the Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Rabbinical Assembly, The Jewish Federations of North America, the Union for Reform Judaism and the Women’s Rabbinic Network. But you can make a difference by calling your senator at 202.225.3121.

The convention realizes an international effort to achieve global goals of economic self-sufficiency, equality of opportunity, full participation and independent living for people with disabilities. These goals are enshrined in our own Americans with Disabilities Act, a model for the convention. The convention will enable Americans with disabilities working or traveling abroad, such as veterans or members of military families with disabilities, to access the same protections as they enjoy in America.

No new legislation will be required by U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, nor does the convention impose any new costs. In fact, as noted, much of the treaty is grounded in American laws. However, American action is needed for international leadership in this area.

America must move quickly to ratify the treaty, and we need to do our part. The CRPD treaty was launched under President George W. Bush and sent to the Senate by President Obama. Already there is some momentum created by the announcement of bipartisan support of Senators Durbin, McCain, Barrasso, Udall, Coons and Moran.

Ratifying the treaty during this Congress will enable the U.S. to participate in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Committee, an advisory group that is a forum for idea sharing related to disability policy. The committee represents a valuable opportunity for continued American leadership and influence on this issue. Only those countries that have ratified the convention can serve on the committee, and American leadership in this arena is critical to the ultimate success of the treaty.

The American disability rights community has united behind ratification of the convention. It’s time for us to say “hineni” -- here I am -- and stand to ensure full participation and access for people with disabilities the world over.

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the parent of a child with special needs, is the founder and president of Laszlo Strategies.

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

TUESDAY: Sisterhood Lunch with BINGO, 11:30 a.m.; Rabbi Mizrahi’s Weekly Class, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Weiss’s Weekly Class, 7:45 p.m.

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

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

CHABAD CENTER

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

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Shabbat Shira Dinner, 6 p.m. For all Jewish families with young children, at the synagogue. Kid-friendly Shabbat will be followed by a sing-along led by “Miss Patty” Nogg. Cost is $5 for Beth El members, $7.50 for non-members. No charge for children ages six and younger. For reservations, visit www.bethelomaha.org (type “Shabbat Shira” in search box), or contact the synagogue office, or programming@bethel-omaha.org.

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

by Beth El; Mincha/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: Torah Study Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; An evening with Cantor Beth, 5–7 p.m., Cantor Beth and friends will present an evening of acoustic music at the synagogue.

Snacks will be served. No charge to attend; everyone in the community is invited.

Women’s Rosh Hodesh, Friday, July 20, noon, we’ll meet the at Star Deli for a special Rosh Hodesh Group lunch. Preordering is requested; for menu, visit www.bethelomaha.org. RSVP to host Sherry Taxman at taxman@cox.net.

Dinner and Drash, Friday, July 20, 7 p.m., following Shabbat services. Rabbi Levin will lead the discussion.

Dinner cost, $10. RSVP by visiting www.bethel-omaha.org, or contact Margie in the synagogue office or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

Shabbat Story Time for toddlers and parents, on Saturday, July 21, 11:30 a.m., led by Shira Abraham.

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

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

FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service and is sponsored in honor of the yartzeit of Rose Katelman.

SUNDAY: Minyan, 8:30 a.m. followed by Breakfast Bonanza.

WEEKDAYS: Minyan, 7 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Torah Studies: A weekly journey in the soul of Torah, noon. RSVP to 402.417.2009; A Taste of YeshivaChevruta style Beit Midrash study, 6:30 p.m.

All programs are open to the entire community.

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

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

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Free babysitting service begins at 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes begin with Torah Parade, 9:45 a.m.; Understanding the Prayers, 10 a.m.; Kiddush is sponsored by Sisterhood; The Laws of Shabbat, 6:30 p.m.; Advanced Parshah Study for Kids (ages 10 and up), 7:30 p.m.; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic Class, 7:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:29 p.m.

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

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Weekly Teleconference Mishnah Class, 10:30 a.m. with Rabbi Gross. Contact the office for information on how to call-in to the conference call.

Bat Mitzvah Former Omahan Ava Robinson, daughter of Paula and Mark Robinson, became a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 30, at the Haas Promenade in Jerusalem.

Joining Ava’s family in Israel were her Grandmother Frances Fried and her cousins Andrew, Kimberly, Brenna, Sydney and Brett Robinson.

Ava is an entering eighth-grade Honor Roll student at La Jolla Country Day. Her interests include dancing and art.

For her mitzvah project, Ava cared for children at Aleh in Tel Aviv.

She has two sisters, Nina and Ella.

Grandparents are Frances and Sam Fried, the late Burton Robinson, and June and Charlie Jaksich.

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 Maria and Dean Cadwallder.

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

SUNDAY: Board of Trustees, 1 p.m.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Misty’s in Williamsburg.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m. Please contact Elaine Monnier, 402.327.9212 or emonnier@windstream.net or Holly Heffelbower, hheffel@inebraska.com with any questions.

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

Candlelighting Friday, July 13, 8:39 p.m.

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

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Miles Remer SUNDAY: Volunteer Recognition, 1:30 p.m.

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

TEMPLE ISRAEL Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street | Omaha, NE 68132-2651 | 402.556.6536 www.templeisrael-ne.org FRIDAY: Shabbat Worship Service, 6 p.m. led by Rabbi Brown, Cantor Shermet and our college freshman. Anna Eirinberg will be playing guitar; Summer Speaker Series: “Journey to Omaha, with Rabbi Josh Brown.”

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

Shabbat Worship Summer Series, “Cass Street Memories I with Anne Shackman, Tom Friedman, Howard Friedman and Sue Millward” on Friday, July 20, 6 p.m. We will honor those celebrating a birthday or anniversary in August with a special blessing.

Temple Israel Annual Golf Tournament, Monday, Aug. 13, noon at Shadow Ridge Country Club. Please contact the Temple Israel office, 402.556.6536 or mweidner@templeis raelomaha.com, to register.

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

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Study Session on Pirkei Avot, 9:30 a.m.; Morning service, 10 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch.

SUNDAY: Informational Meeting at 3 p.m. at the home of Marlon and Cindy Weiss, 6400 Country View Lane about the Iris and Marty Ricks Friends Group Israel tour April 23May 2, 2013. Don't miss this opportunity to hear about an outstanding tour RSPV Marcia Kushner at 423.423.5959.

TUESDAY: Ladies Lunch Group, noon at Misty’s in Williamsburg.

The Dorothy Kaplan book discussion group

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, Center for Jewish Life That the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group reads books may not be worthy of a headline. But of interest is that they have made their book selections for July through November. From the look of things, they don’t wish to dwell on only one theme. Variety is the order of the day, and you are invited to join the group to add to the discussion. The group meets on the third Thursday of every month from 1–2 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library. The next meeting will be on July 19.

The discussion group held its first meeting on Nov. 15, 1979 and has had continued existence ever since. It remains one of the most enduring book discussion groups today. A group of dedicated women led by Dorothy Kaplan set the goal of selecting lists of books, all with Jewish content or authorship, as ones to read and discuss as a group. Books are selected with the hope of appealing to members of differing ages and reading preferences. For Marilyn Berman, Jean Duitch, and Phyllis Bittner the group has stood the test of time. All three are founding members of the group and remain active participants today.

The group has chosen to view films during certain months, thus broadening the scope of selections. The meeting in June featured the light-hearted and revealing movie by Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor, A Matter of Size. Israeli summa wrestlers? That is the storyline. Na’ama Keren, community Shlicha, led the discussion, relating elements of the

film to insights into Israeli/Jewish life and culture.

The July 19 selection is the Sharon Kahn novel, Don’t Cry For Me, Hot Pastrami. You are invited to follow Essie Sue’s exploits when beloved Rabbi Kapstein’s job approval ratings sink to an all-time low. Determined to improve his “charismatic quotient,” she arranges for the Rabbi to lead a Caribbean cruise for his congregants in what comes to be described as “the cruise from hell.”

From the Jewish Heartland: Two Centuries of Midwest Foodways by Ellen F. Steinberg and Jack H. Prost, will be on the menu for Aug. 16. The discussion will be led by Lois Friedman whose column, “Read It and Eat,” previews recently published cookbooks for newspapers. One of her recent food presentations was titled Recipes for Life...The abc’s of Cooking: Apps, Blogs & Cookbooks.

She has hosted Taste of the Town on KIWR FM, taught cooking classes, does culinary food crawls, and says that she “enjoys all things foodie...especially the upcoming ‘Read It And Eat Culinary Conference’ at the Omaha Public Library, Nov. 3.” In their book, Steinberg and Prost examine recipes from numerous Midwestern sources, both kosher and non-kosher, including Jewish homemakers’ handwritten manuscripts and notebooks, published journals and newspaper columns, and interviews with Jewish cooks, bakers, and delicatessen owners. The authors track regional culinary changes from the 1800’s to today. The book club is contemplating a few fun nuances for the August discussion. Watch for more details.

Continued on page 11

Pulverente MONUMENT CO.

July 13, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11

This religion and that

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parsha Pinhas Sometimes students ask why it is that during the year there is change in the Amidah (the Tephillah, the prayer) of the Jewish service from the text on weekdays to the text on Sabbaths and Holy Days. It is not only that the special days call for special mention, but the very tone is changed.

The change has to do with dropping the 13 central benedictions of the Amidah. The three at the beginning and the three at the end remain the same, except for very minor changes. But why drop the thirteen?

The answer is that these are prayers of petition, prayers that include entreaties for sustenance and the beneficence of nature. And it is considered unseemly to offer petition on the Holy Days. These are days for thanksgiving and praise of God. The fact is, of course, that petition is generally speaking only a small part of Jewish prayer. In general, Jewish prayer is praise, thanksgiving.

Our Sidrah leads me to this line of thought. It opens with the reward given to Pinhas (Phineas the priest) for his impulsive act at the end of the last Sidrah. He has stepped forward and executed an Israelite man and a Moabite woman, enraged at their participating in what was a normal rite of Near Eastern religion.

Normal, that is, for Moabites and many others. But repulsive to Israelite religion, not only for the licentiousness of the rites, but also for the assumption that the purpose of religion is entreaty, petition.

If the accounts in the Books of Kings are to be understood right, this flirtation with Canaanite religion persisted during all the years of the independence of the Hebrew Kingdom, to plague our ancestors. But prophetic religion (including our Haftarah, the opening of the Book of Jeremiah) was repelled by these pagan rites, and the prophets tried manfully, desperately, to teach their contemporaries that true religion was to be found in compassion, in truth, in justice, in social concern – not in petitioning the “gods” for increase of crops and vintage and flocks and herds, or even increase of the human family. Jewish religion, as it emerged from Hebrew religion, can properly be termed “ethical monotheism.”

The Ann Goldstein Award

by DON GOLDSTEIN On June 28, the Leadership Omaha Alumni Association (LOAA) honored Quintarius Morgan with the Ann Goldstein Outstanding Young Leader Award.

The award was presented at the O m a h a Housing Au t h o r i t y B o a r d Meeting.

Quintarius graduated from Burke High School and will be attending Wayne State College in August.

Each year LOAA awards a book scholarship to a graduating high school senior who has lived in the Omaha Housing Authority throughout his school career. As a tribute to Ann Goldstein, the former director of Leadership Omaha, and her belief in the importance of the scholarship, LOAA named the award the Ann Goldstein Young Leader Award in 1999. th 36 ry ersa iv Ann

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Direct dialogue

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) -- Dozens of Jewish and Muslim student leaders are meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia to promote inter-religious dialogue through backdoor channels.

The gathering, which began Sunday, was launched to allow young leaders to bypass community establishments and encourage direct dialogue, according to Ilya Sichrovsky, who founded the Muslim Jewish Conference, an Austria-based nonprofit, three years ago.

“Many people from the establishment of Jewish and Muslim communities are not on the same page on the issue of dialogue,” Sichrovsky, a Viennese Jew, told JTA. “We had big trouble with the Austrian Jewish community when we told them we would let them steer the conference.”

Sichrovsky’s involvement with the Muslim Jewish Conference began when he attended a summit of the ROI Community, a global network of Jewish innovators created by the Jewish-American philanthropist Lynn Schusterman.

“I decided to participate in this conference after one of my Muslim pupils told me he hated all Jews,” Anna Madnand, a Muslim French teacher, told JTA. “I was offended. Beyond it, I think this anti-Semitism inevitably goes on to manifest itself in Islamophobia -- the two are interconnected.”

Sichrorvsky said the conference topics will be general.

“Discussion on specific issues like anti-Semitism in France or the effect of Israel’s actions on anti-Semitism levels must be broached by the participants themselves,” he said.

The conference, scheduled to end on July 15, has brought together young leaders from some 30 countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Supporting the event is a host of organizations, including the European Union of Jewish Students.

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Kaplan book discussion group Continued from page 10 Because of the holidays, the book club will not meet in September. It will meet again on Oct. 18 to discuss The Devil’s Company by David Liss. Liss is the author of the bestsellers, The Whiskey Rebels and A Conspiracy of Paper. The Devil’s Company is a thriller set in the splendor and the squalor of eighteenth-century London. The story is replete with theft, dangerous games with secret plots, corporate rivals, and foreign spies – with the security of a nation at stake. And to repeat, the setting is the eighteenth century.

This work should make for a lively discussion.

The Nov. 15 meeting will explore one of the fascinating works of Oliver Sacks, The Anthropologist on Mars. Sacks’ previous works in what he describes as a style of “clinical anecdotes” have included The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Seeing Voices: A Journey Into the World of the Deaf, and The Awakenings (the basis of the movie starring Robin Williams), among many others. The title story of the book is that of Temple Grandin whose own Thinking In Pictures presents a portrait of her experience as an autistic person.

She relates that her life is as unlike other humans as to a cow or a Martian. Reviewer Mary Ellen Curtin provides a synopsis of the rest of the book: “The other minds Sacks describes are equally remarkable: a surgeon with Tourette’s syndrome, a painter who loses color vision, a blind man given the ambiguous gift of sight, artists with memories that overwhelm ‘real life,’ the autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire, and a man with memory damage for whom it is always 1968.” To add depth to the discussion, the Dorothy Kaplan Book Discussion Group will invite a psychologist to lead the group as it explores these fascinating case studies.

The discussion group welcomes new members and the observations they bring. You may contact Shirly Banner, Library Specialist for the Center for Jewish Life, to obtain the books through the library. Phone her at 402.334.6462 or email sbanner@jewishomaha.org. Come to your first group meeting on July 19 at 1 p.m. in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library and it will likely become a healthy habit for you to continue.

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12 | The Jewish Press | July 13, 2012

Amid the ravages of wildfires, Colorado Jews band together

by DEBRA RUBIN (JTA) -- The Sidmans are among the lucky ones: Their Colorado Springs home is still standing, nearly untouched by the flames that left many of their neighbors’ houses in ashes.

“I was just sobbing uncontrollably, even though my house was perfect,” Renee Sidman told the Colorado Springs Gazette.

For the past week Sidman and her family -among some 30,000 Colorado residents who were evacuated from their homes as wildfires spread -- have found refuge with fellow congregants from Temple Shalom, which was not in the evacuation area.

As of Tuesday, the fire in Waldo Canyon, which sits on the western edge of Colorado Springs, had destroyed at least 347 homes and claimed two lives, according to the Denver Post.

Temple Shalom, which is affiliated with both the Reform and Conservative movements, had about 20 member families evacuated, according to the Sidmans’ host, Julie Richman.

“It’s been kind of a blur,” Richman told JTA about having her family of four now sharing their home with the four Sidmans.

Ironically, Richman’s younger son, Adam, 13, and the Sidmans’ son, Daniel, 12, had just spent two weeks together as bunk mates at summer camp.

The temple’s Facebook page helped to ensure that everyone was accounted for, Richman said, noting that “Everybody in the congregation was kind of tracked down within about 24 hours.”

She said the synagogue also served as a temporary home to the Alpine Autism Center for a few days.

The communal sense was widespread, both in and out of the Jewish community, Richman added. The Jewish-owned Poor

Richard’s restaurant gave out free meals to evacuees, individuals picked up restaurant tabs for police and residents put up signs thanking firefighters for keeping them safe.

sent to congregants by Rabbi Mel Glazer.

Unlike Temple Shalom and the city’s other synagogue, Temple Beit Torah, ChabadLubavitch of Colorado Springs was in the

A helicopter dropping water on the U.S. Air Force Academy as firefighters battle the blaze in Colorado Springs, June 27, 2012.

Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture “Everybody here has been struck by the extremely strong sense of community,” Richman said, reporting that the shelters set in place for evacuees never reached capacity because most people found home hospitality.

Temple Shalom held a healing service Friday night.

“When we Jews suffer pain and tragedy, we come together to strengthen one another.

That is how we begin to heal,” said a notice

evacuation area.

Chabad’s Rabbi Moshe Liberow and his family evacuated ahead of the flames on June 26, finding refuge in Denver. He returned two days later with rabbinical student Zalman Popack to volunteer at one of the shelters.

Police escorted them to his home and synagogue, so they could retrieve some items.

The rabbi was relieved to see that there was

no damage to his home or synagogue, or his community’s mikvah.

At his home he picked up a cotton candy machine, which he and Popack took along with beverages and other snacks to one of the Red Cross-run shelters.

“People so enjoyed it; adults and children were lining up for the cotton candy,” he said.

Popack has established a relief fund, as has the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, in conjunction with local synagogues, community organizations and national partners.

Jewish federations throughout the United States have been directing donors to the Colorado Fire Relief Fund at www.jewishcolorado.org online or to send checks with the notation “Colorado Fire Relief Fund” to the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, 300 S. Dahlia, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80246.

The donations to the Colorado Fire Relief Fund will go to directly combat the fire and help victims. There will be no administrative fees taken out, said Melissa Gelfand, the federation’s marketing and public relations director.

“We’re working locally with the local VOAD [National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster] to help victims, firefighters and any other first responders,” she said.

As of Monday, she was not certain how much money the federation fund had raised nationally, but said $30,000 had been raised locally.

The Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center is serving as a Red Cross drop-off location for supplies.

Chabad-Lubavitch of Colorado Springs also is collecting relief funds at www.thejewishflame.com.

“Our heart goes out to those affected,” Liberow said. “We want those people to feel uplifted. Hopefully, their lives will be on the mend.”