July 20, 2012

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

Backyard Concerts return

July 20, 2012 1 Av 5772 Vol. 92 | No. 43

This Week

A special visit

by HILLARY FLETCHER Marketing Assistant, Institute for Holocaust Education On Tuesday, July 3, the Institute for Holocaust Education was honored to receive some very special guests. Deshire Kumi-Veseli, one of two recipi-

Beth El’s “Our Shabbat Tables” kicks off fall season Page 5

From left to right: Michael holding Noah, Sarah, and Melissa Schop enjoyed last year’s Backyard concerts. The concert series provides a great opportunity to bring the entire family.

by SHERRIE SAAG Communications Specialist, Jewish Federation of Omaha The 2nd Annual Backyard Concert Series kicks off in a few short weeks with musical acts covering funk, rock and rockabilly. This year’s bands are local favorites with

Now playing at a museum mah jongg table Page 6

both a national and international following.

Beginning Sunday, Aug. 12 and continuing on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, gather with friends, family and neighbors in the backyard of the Jewish Federation of Omaha campus. Bands will be on stage begin-

ning at 6 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the entire community.

The Mezcal Brothers of Lincoln, make their appearance on Aug. 12.

Together for seven years with four albums to their name, The Mezcal Brothers play their own unique style Continued on page 3

Deshire Kumi-Veseli ents of the 2011 ADL Courage to Care Award, visited the IHE from Albania while in Omaha for her grandson’s wedding.

Kumi-Veseli, an Albanian Continued on page 3

Jessica Gall selected for 2012 Greater Omaha Young Professionals Board To London from the U.S. -- via Israel’s Olympic team Page 12

Inside Point of view Synagogues In memoriam

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

8 10 11

by LIZZY GILBERT Corporate & Community Development, ADL Plains States Region The Greater Omaha Young Professionals (GOYP) serves as a catalyst organization to retain and attract young professionals to the Greater Omaha area through engagement, opportunity and advocacy. Their mission is accomplished by embracing the values of inclusivity, collaboration and innovation.

The organization was formed through the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in 2002.

The organization is led by a Board of diverse young professionals from a variety of public and private organizations. The GOYP Board is tasked with exploring the landscape of the community so that the organization can be a voice for the needs and wants of young professionals.

Additionally, the Board works to educate the broader community in areas of interest for young profes-

Jessica Gall sionals in order to advocate for change and connect young professionals to resources and relationships to develop as leaders.

The Plains States AntiDefamation League (ADL) is excited to share that a member of their staff was selected to serve on this very important community Board.

Jessica Gall, ADL Education Project Director, began her term on the

Board July 1st.

Gall came to the ADL in 2008 with a background in Education.

Originally from the small town of Howells, NE, she graduated from Dana College in Blair, NE, with a B.S. in education and a minor in theater. She taught high school English at Fremont High School and later at Burke High School. In addition to classroom instruction, Gall also oversaw the speech clubs at both school districts and became interested in promoting diversity and inclusivity in schools.

In 2007, she participated in the Jewish Labor Committee’s Holocaust educators’ trip to Poland and Israel. While there, she toured Yad Vashem and the Ghetto Fighters’ Museum, better equipping her to engage students in conversations about the atrocities of the Holocaust. She also spent a week in Egypt in 2010 at the Civil

Engagement Workshop sponsored by the University of the Middle East project. This was part of a special opportunity for American educators to engage with teachers and policy makers from the Middle East/North Africa region.

Having assisted with the Institute for Holocaust Education’s annual essay competition as a teacher, Gall was familiar with the ADL. When the organization sought to hire someone who could grow ADL’s education programs in the community, she knew the time was right to make a move. “Coming to work for the ADL seemed like a natural fit. I was looking to do something different, but wanted to stay in education,” Gall said. “It simply could not have worked out better.”

Alan Potash, Regional Director for the ADL, had the following to say about Gall’s contributions: “The combination of her practical classroom experience and her passion for reaching students and educators with ADL’s mission of respect and inclusivity have contributed greatly to her success with the organization.”

“Her leadership skills have been demonstrated through the growth of ADL’s educational programs under her management, and I know she will have a similar impact on the GOYP Board,” he went on to say.

Continued on page 2

2 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

NJHS excited to present new website

by RENEE RATNER CORCORAN Executive Director, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is very pleased to announce the launching of the newly designed website w w w. n e br a s k aj h s . c om .

With a few clicks of the mouse, users can search the Carl Frohm Archival Center for the availability and the location of photographs, documents and threedimensional objects in the personal, business and organizational records.

Users can search through the NJHS Dr. Ben Nachman Oral History Collection of video interviews. Copies of loved one’s recorded histories can be obtained online and the very popular documentary, The Brandeis Story, can be obtained under the Publication tab.

Another unique feature of the website is the Cemetery and

Burial Registry. The NJHS has indexed most of the Jewish cemeteries and grave locations throughout the State of Nebraska. Family researchers can instantly find burial information of their families, and visitors to our community can easily determine cemetery locations.

Past and present copies of the NJHS newsletter can be read and downloaded free under the Publication tab.

Copies of the highly regarded Memories of the Jewish Midwest are available for purchase, including the most recently published Mom and Pop Grocery Stores.

The new website gives the Society membership the option to pay yearly dues and make contributions to our various funds online.

“We are excited to present our new website and very grateful to the donors who made this project a reality,” said Sue Millward, NJHS Board President.

U.S. won’t force Morsi-Bibi meeting, Clinton says

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should meet, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, but the Obama administration will not force the issue.

“It is up to the two nations and the president and the prime minister to make their own scheduling plans,” Clinton said Saturday during a news conference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr. “We have done nothing. That’s not our role; that would not be appropriate.”

In answer to a reporter's question about the peace treaty signed more than 30 years ago between Israel and Egypt, Amr said during the news conference that “Egypt continues to respect all treaties signed as long as the other party to the treaty respects the treaty itself.”

He added that Morsi on Saturday “reiterated that Egypt’s understanding of peace is that it should be comprehensive, exactly as stipulated in the treaty itself,” including Israel's return to pre-June 4, 1967 borders and a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Clinton met Saturday in Cairo with Morsi and later with Amr.

Jessica Gall Continued from page 1 When the GOYP initiated a committee to explore diversity and inclusivity matters in Omaha, Gall was there. “Jessica is an inspirational force within our organization and the Omaha community. Her years of dedication to the Inclusion Committee and our organization has been well noted,” said Lonnie Michael Jr, GOYP Inclusion Committee Chair. “She was instrumental in our organization securing a major grant that will allow four community wide conversations on inclusion and diversity within the young professional community. I’m honored to be working alongside her on the Greater Omaha Young Professionals Board.”

Her GOYP involvement grew as the organization geared up to advocate for LGBT rights in Omaha. She represented the ADL as a part of a coalition of organizations working to

establish workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in Omaha.

Since the Greater Omaha Young Professionals’ inception, the organization has grown significantly, and this year the Chamber received seventy applications from highly qualified candidates. The selection process took place throughout June and involved an extensive application as well as interviews.

“It was a larger pool than expected, but that’s certainly a great problem to have,” said Chad Eacker, current board member and selection committee chair. “It just goes to show the vast network of young professionals in Greater Omaha looking to get involved and step up as leaders.”

Other new board members include Chris Denney-Mutual of Omaha Bank, Scott Dobbe-DLR Group, Phil Jarrett-Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Katie Kemmerling-Ervin

ROSH HaShanah Greetings This year you can send your greetings through these very special ads that will run in our annual Rosh Hashanah issue. Each ad can be personalized with your name, the names of your children or your grandchildren.

and Smith Advertising and Public Relations, Julia ParkerBuilding Bright Futures, Kenley Sturdivant-Wilson-Joslyn Art Museum.

Those continuing to serve are David Arnold-MindMixer, Mike Battershell-Bergman Incentives, Ryan Curtis-Leo A Daly Architecture, Chad Eacker-Delinea Design, Patrick Falke-Project Harmony, Daniel Holke-Farm Credit Services of America, Kristine Hull-Omaha Performing Arts, Abby Johnson-St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Anne Meysenburg-The Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts, Lonnie Michael Jr.-InfoGroup, Justine Petsch-Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Benjamin Rouch-TD Ameritrade, Meagan (Hall) Schnoor-HDR, Inc., Jannette Taylor-Impact One Community Connection, Inc., Robert Wiebusch-NP Dodge, and Ryan Wade-OBI Creative.

1 | Choose your size.

Greetings

Design ROSH HASHANAH

A 52 $

from

Your names go here

Design Rosh Hashanah Greetings

B 65 $

from Your names go here

Just fill out the form below and send or bring it to the Jewish Press office. But hurry these ads will only be accepted through August 24, 2012. For other sizes and prices contact a sales representative.

Jessie Wees

402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org

Shiri Tene

402.334.6451 | stene@jewishomaha.org

2 | Fill out the form.

Rosh Hashanah Greetings Form

Design

Rosh Hashanah C $88 Greetings

Name _________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip _____________ Check the size of ad you would like: O A O B O C Use the lines below to list your family members names you would like on your Rosh Hashanah ad. ________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Please send a check for the amount listed along side the different sized ads or you can drop the form and payment off at the Jewish Press office in the JCC. The Jewish Press, 333 South 132 Street, Omaha, NE 68154

from Your names go here

July 20, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 3

Farewell Na’ama

by MARK KIRCHHOFF Administrative Assistant, The Center for Jewish Life Soon we will bid our farewells to Community Shlicha Na’ama Keren. Her final day on campus will be July 30 and her plane heads for Israel on July 31. September 2011 seems like only yesterday when Na’ama arrived and began her busy schedule to fulfill the responsibilities as Shlicha.

Shaliach (referring to both males and females – “Shlicha” being the feminine form) means “messenger” or “emissary” in Hebrew; the plural of the word is Shlichim. A community Shaliach’s mission is to bring Jewish-Israeli heritage to the local community.

A Shaliach is hand-picked by a team with the Jewish Agency in Israel, and then participates in extensive Na’ama Keren training before being matched with a community. These highly motivated young educators from Israel are imbued with a sense of responsibility towards Jewish communities in the Diaspora and are committed to strengthening Jewish identity and creating a connection between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel.

Na’ama received her BA in education and literature from Ben Gurion University in August of 2011 and has experience in working with all age levels. Na’ama has lived in Beer Sheva for the three years prior to arriving in Omaha. She is originally from Gedera. She served in the Army for three years as an armor instructor, mortar officer, training officer and training development officer. While here, she has been living and working within the community - with children, youth, students and adults. She has worked to provide the community with a taste of Israel through a wide range of educational activities.

The limitation of column inches allows us to highlight only a few of Na’ama’s specific activities. She arranged for the Friedel Jewish Academy students to participate in the live Atzeret Tefilla on behalf of Gilad Shalit, which proved to be an interesting and meaningful experience for the students and staff, linking them with groups around the world. This

experience was enhanced after Gilad’s release. Na’ama was in Israel at the time, and she returned to Omaha with many newspaper articles and reports. She then created a visual presentation that was displayed at the JCC where there was a community-wide event celebrating his release. Na’ama spoke at the event, sharing what the atmosphere was like in Israel once Gilad was released.

Na’ama created a presentation for the anniversary of Yitzchak Rabin’s death. It has been displayed at the JCC and all of the synagogues in Omaha.

Na’ama’s devotion to young children and adolescents has been evident in her work with the Child Development Center, the Friedel Jewish Academy, BBYO, the Omaha Jewish Chai School, the Teen Retreat, B’nai Tzedek, and continuing work with the synagogues. She added her own special energy to flag-raising ceremonies at day camp and championed the “Hebrew Word of the Day” as a fun way to spark interest in the language and culture.

Do you like Israeli food? Na’ama conducted a series of Israeli cooking classes – the first one with the assistance of her grandmother and mother who were visiting from Israel.

As with all she has done, Na’ama invested herself in involving those who participated in the class and made sure they had copies of the recipes to take with them.

A Purim costume drive for our Partnership2Gether area in Israel, Yom HaZikaron services and Yom HaShoah activities, involvement with the Yiddish club, and participation in YJO activities were also among the contributions she has made. At the present time she is fully involved in the camp program and the community garden. She has been described as one of the hardest working, creative people ever in participating with the camps. She is also recognized for her willingness to water the vegetable garden in the sweltering, humid Nebraska weather! We have all come to appreciate what Na’ama thinks of the extremes in Nebraska weather.

The Center for Jewish Life is hosting a reception for Na’ama on July 26 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Social Hall to bid her “L’hitraot.” You are invited to come and express your personal appreciation for her contribution to the community. You may enjoy a little snack while you are there, too.

Shalom, Na’ama. Todah rabbah for all you have done!

CLAYTON’S CLEANING SERVICE

this show includes songs from the era of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis all the way to Tom Petty, U2 and Bon Jovi.

The Backyard Concert Series is presented by the Jewish Federation of Omaha and Sokolof generously sponsored by the Javitch Music Fund at the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation. Additional support provided by the Special Donor Advised Fund, the Myron (Mike) Milder II Memorial Fund and the Samuel and Bess Rothenberg Memorial Endowment, all of the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.

So grab your lawn chairs, pack a cooler and bring your family and friends. Star Catering will have kosher food for sale. Listen to some great music and relax for a few hours in our backyard.

Insured, Bonded and LLC

402-359-0268 | OBSMLM@yahoo.com | 402-615-0653

Florence Mill Farmers Market Sundays 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farm-fresh, Local Produce & Artisans First Sundays: Pony Rides, Giant Bubbles, Bailey’s Birds & Miss Joan’s Craft Table Live Music | Weekly Educational Presenters Museum & ArtLoft open Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. & Wed-Sat 1-5 p.m.

Florence Mill: Connecting History, Art & Agriculture

9102 N. 30th St Next to I-680, Exit 13 & OJ’s Homemade Mexican Food

Kristina B. Murphree

Attorney At Law Over 20 years experience Family law and criminal defense Free initial consultation by phone or in person

www.murphreelawoffice.com

402-932-1313 West Omaha Location

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

A special visit Continued from page 1 Veseli’s family had previously been recognized by Yad Muslim, was just ten years old when she joined her parents Vashem but, because of her age at the time of the war, and four siblings in hiding and caring for two Jewish fam- Kumi-Veseli was not granted that honor with her family. In ilies during World War II. 2011, Abraham H. Foxman, While speaking with IHE ADL National Director and staff, she recalled frequent a Holocaust survivor said, visits from Nazi soldiers to “Deshire Kumi-Veseli and her town and home and how her family were people of her brothers would take the moral courage and conmen to hide in the woods science. They could easily nearby while she took the have looked the other way children to a basement bathand let these Jewish families room. She remembered fend for themselves. Instead, being very frightened but at immense personal risk, understood that what she the Veseli family intervened was doing was important. and put everything on the She and her family spoke line to save their friends. We about Besa, the Albanian are proud to recognize this code of honor that lead her incredible act of courage Deshire Kuma-Veseli, front-center, and her family members family to act so righteously. and bravery.” pose with the Institute for Holocaust Education’s staff.

The Courage to Care For more on Deshire Award is given annually by the Anti-Defamation League to Kumi-Veseli, please visit www.ihene.org. those who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Kumi-

Residential and Small Commercial

Residential and Apartment Cleaning Move In/Move Out

Backyard Concerts Continued from page 1 of rockabilly music.

On Aug. 26, Satchel Grande hits the Backyard stage with its one-of-a-kind funk and soul style. Band creator and front man Chris Klemmensen leads a group of eight musicians that promises a vocal extravaganza of classic covers and great original music.

The Series closes out on Sept. 9 with hometown favorite Billy McGuigan. Best known for his wildly popular shows, Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience and Yesterday and Today at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the community is in for a treat when McGuigan brings his Rock Legends show to our Backyard Concert Series. Part rock concert, part rock tribute,

TWO GIRLS & WINDOWS

Weekly, Bi Weekly, Monthly, One Time or Special Requests Very Affordable Quality Services 18 years of experience

Ê– Steve and Hugh

Sons of Louise A., a happy resident of Remington Heights

Call 402.493.5807 today to schedule your personal tour.

1.11

12606 W. Dodge Rd. | Omaha, NE 68154 www.remingtonheightsretirement.com

4 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

Temple Israel joins Habitat for Humanity

VISIT US ONLINE AT FREMONTNE.GOV

TOURS Huskers vs. UCLA Football/ California Gold Coast Tour Sept. 4-15 $2,099 Mackinac Island & Door County Sept. 19-27 $1,724 Colorado Rails & Aspen Trails Sept. 27-Oct. 3 $1,475 Washington, D.C. Inside & Out Oct. 11-15 $1,730 Huskers vs. Northwestern Football Oct. 18-21 $845 Railroads of New England Sept. 29-Oct. 4 $2,165 View details and more tours at:

www.AlliedTT.com 800-672-1009

Since 1962

by DAVID GOLBITZ in 350 hours of “sweat equity;” basically, they have to volunTemple Israel staff writer teer to work in the community, either on their own home or As construction began on Temple Israel’s new home, Social on a different construction project.

Justice Committee Chair Dan Gilbert started thinking of ways Volunteering within the community is important to the congregation could give back to the Omaha community.

Gilbert, not only as a member of Temple Israel, but as a “One of the things we wanted to do on the Social Justice human being.

Committee was identify a local issue that lots of people in “This isn’t just an obligation to do Tikkun Olam or an oblithe congregation could connect with,” Gilbert said. gation to repair the world, to make the world better, this is a Gilbert decided he wanted a project that would raise real opportunity to transform the lives of a family who lives awareness of hunger and housing issues in Omaha. With here and contributes here,” Gilbert said. “If we can make an Temple Israel receiving a new home, he thought it would be impact on one family... the most important thing we can do appropriate for the congregation to is give them a stabilizing influence. help build a home for others.

That’s a positive for not just their Enter Habitat for Humanity. family but for the entire community.”

Temple Israel had worked with Gilbert said that helping to build Habitat for Humanity a number of this house is an opportunity to actuyears ago, Gilbert said, but that ally see “the fruits of our labor and partnership fell by the wayside. our money.”

Gilbert thought it was an important “It’s important to have an example, organization and, in 2010, revived an actual thing that people from our the relationship between Temple Temple can see that we helped play a Israel and Habitat for Humanity. part in,” Gilbert said.

“I helped organize a couple of Gilbert said that in addition to oneday activities with Habitat to unskilled laborers, the build project is kind of try out and see if there was also in need of donated funds, houseinterest in the congregation in hold items and lunch/snacks for the doing more,” Gilbert said. workers. Temple Israel has pledged to When congregants did express raise $5,000 from its members to go Temple Israel members Paul Rabinovitz, left, interest in continued support of toward not only the construction Phil Bierman and Lester Katz volunteering last Habitat for Humanity projects, costs, but the cost of furnishing the year for Habitat for Humanity.

Gilbert looked into other ways the house as well.

Temple Israel community could contribute, which led to “It’s the difference between a house and a home,” Gilbert Temple Israel pledging to join the Carpenter’s Crew coali- said. tion, a group of 12 religious institutions that are responsible Gilbert sees giving back to the community with organizafor an entire build project. tions like Habitat for Humanity as not only a positive exam“We’re in the spirit of building right now,” Gilbert said, “and ple for his children, but an important reflection of his faith. so this is one way to contribute to building in our community.”

“Judaism is about action and it’s about people,” Gilbert With the construction scheduled to begin in mid-August, said. “One of the reasons that I feel strongly about being Temple Israel, along with the other religious organizations, Jewish is the commandment to do mitzvot. It’s not the comis asking for volunteers to sign up for weekend shifts mandment to read, think, or be reflective about mitzvot; the through November to help build a new house in North commandment is to do mitzvot.”

Omaha near 30th Street and Sorensen Parkway.

Temple Israel President Sally Kaplan announced at the Gilbert points out that no experience is necessary to vol- June board meeting that the annual High Holiday appeal unteer. The construction that requires skilled labor, such as would be a request for support of this project. It is a tradipouring the foundation and hooking up the electricity, will tion during the season of awe to do mitzvot and President be handled by professionals, but volunteers ages 16 and Kaplan believes this project is a perfect fit as Temple Israel older will handle the rest. builds its new home.

The Omaha chapter of Habitat for Humanity has built or Temple Israel members who would like to volunteer are renovated more than 300 houses for local families. Families encouraged to sign up online at the Temple Israel website, or who move into the houses are given a zero interest loan that contact Dan Gilbert via email at dmgilbert@gmail.com or must be paid back, and family members are required to put by phone, 402.203.2894.

American Heart Association goes Red For Women

by JAYME GEORGE SANDBERG The American Heart Association invites you to put your heart first and Go Red Sept. 18 at the Go Red For Women Expo presented by Methodist Health System.

The annual event is from 4:30-8 p.m. at Embassy Suites, La Vista. Tickets cost $75 each and must be reserved by Sept. 4.

Purchase tickets and learn more by calling Terri at (402) 3460771 ext. 12 or by visiting www.OmahaGoRedForWomen.org.

Event Chair Pam Alfrey Hernandez, executive vice president of Operations and Strategy at Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Company, says this year’s choices theme will resonate with everyone in the audience.

“Many women choose to put themselves last and that can have serious – even deadly – consequences. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, but it’s largely preventable. It’s time to choose to live,” Hernandez said.

Joining Hernandez in event leadership roles are Honorary Chair Sandy Callahan, and Circle of Red Chair Kate Dodge.

The Go Red For Women Expo opens at 4:30 p.m. with registration, health expo, breakout sessions, and “purse-inality” silent auction. At 6:30 p.m., guests will enter the ballroom for dinner and an inspirational program which includes a keynote address by Dr. Joann Schaefer.

Schaefer is the state’s Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Thanks to the effort of the American Heart Association and the Go Red For Women campaign, more women are aware that heart disease is their leading health threat and are taking preventative steps. The campaign continues to raise awareness of heart disease among women and fund critical medical research and professional education.

To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800AHA-USA1 or visit heart.org.

The Florence Mill

by LINDA MEIGS The Florence Mill is a preservation success story in Omaha.

It went from dilapidated ruin in 1998 to a historical and cultural site open to the public.

2012 Events & Activities at the Florence Mill • Farmers Market: Sundays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. - The market season runs through Sept. 30. New to the market this summer is First Sundays... the first Sundays of June, July, August and September, the mill hosts family friendly fun with pony rides, bubbles in the field and Miss Joan’s craft table in the driveshed. Besides fresh, local produce and artisans displaying their crafts, the Florence Mill Farmers Market also hosts weekly educational presentations called “Country School.”

•ArtLoft Exhibits: June-August - Landmarks in a Sea of Grass, an exhibit of photographs by Bruce Selyem. Bruce founded the Country Grain Elevator Historical Society in 1995. He and his wife, Barbara Selyem, travel the USA and Canada preserving this architecture unique to North America through photography and written documentation of these obsolete and threatened structures. They are based out of Bozeman, Montana.

Sept. - Travels Home artwork by Christine Fredendall.

Christine is the 6th recipient of the Connor Meigs Art Award.

Christine lives in Ann Arbor Michigan and received her BFA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Oct. 6 & 7 - North Hills Pottery Tour: Potters and ceramic artists take over the Mill for a fun art event, culminating the Florence Mill’s 2012 season before it goes into hibernation for the winter.

The ArtLoft hours are Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m.

The Florence Mill, which houses the Winter Quarters Mill Museum, ArtLoft Gallery, Gift Shop and Farmers Market is located at 9102 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68112 and is conveniently located next to I-680, Exit 13. For more information call 402.551.1233.

PAID ADVERTISEMENTS

July 20, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 5

Beth El’s “Our Shabbat Tables” kicks off fall season with fondue dinner

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Last spring, over 130 Beth El congregants experienced the warmth and the joy of the synagogue’s “Our Shabbat Tables” celebrations, and the program’s much-anticipated second season will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 1, with a special fondue night at the synagogue. The 7 p.m. event – during which participants will find out with whom they’ve been matched up -- is open to anyone who registers for the program by the July 27 deadline.

The “Our Shabbat Tables” initiative was established to create a special Shabbat connection among families, couples and individuals, by bringing together Beth El members of all ages and backgrounds for festive Friday night dinners at fellow congregants’ homes.

Based on shared demographics and interests, participants are matched up for three dinners during a three-month period. (As an extra bonus, participants will have the option of signing up for a 1 p.m. lunch on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.)

Typically, the combinations include either three to four couples or families, or six to eight individuals. Groups are switched up from month to month, allowing everyone to become acquainted with as many participants as possible. The synagogue provides kosher meals – main dishes and sides – and participants pitch in with wine/juice, challah, salad, fruit and dessert, coordinated by the host family.

“I signed up to participate in ‘Our Shabbat Tables’ because one of my favorite aspects of Judaism is sharing the ruach of Shabbat with others,” Sophie Ambrose said, adding, “The Shabbat get-togethers have been special for me because I’ve been able to get to connect with members of our community whom I

might not have had a chance to interact with otherwise.”

Lloyd Roitstein, president of Beth El’s Board of Trustees, also expressed his enthusiasm for the program.

“What an exciting time and activity for the congregants of Beth El,” he said. “‘Our Shabbat Tables’ allows our congregants to come together in a relaxing, fun, meaningful

thankful,” Phil said. “By taking advantage of ‘Our Shabbat Tables,’ we’ve been given the opportunity to open our home and thus widen our circle of good friends. We’re looking forward to our second season of fine dining and good conversation.”

Melissa Shapiro and her husband, Matt, signed up to get acquainted with other young families with small children in the

Among those enjoying a recent festive “Our Shabbat Tables” dinner at the home of Susan and Isaac Witkowski are, back row, from left, Sophie Ambrose, Esther, Jonah and Philip Katz, Harrison Ellman, Gabby, Julian and Isaac Witkowski, Caryn and Cadee Scheer, Beverly and Dick Fellman, and Susan Fellman Witkowski; front row, Tzipporah, Nanci, Ilyana, James and Dahlia Hamicksburg. way to welcome Shabbat, while sharing their traditions with other families.”

For Phil and Jan Wayne, these special Shabbat celebrations are yet another way to connect with their longtime congregation.

“Jan and I have been members of Beth El for many years, know many fellow congregants and have developed a wonderful circle of good friends for which we are most

congregation; they hosted a dinner at their home early last spring.

“Because our kids are so young, we participate in Tot Shabbat and were familiar with a lot of the families we see at those programs, but there were a lot of families we hadn’t met,” Melissa said. “The dinners are a fun and nice way to spend Shabbat as a family while also getting to know new people. Our kids have

also had fun playing with new friends.”

Giving a shout-out to the synagogue for assisting dinner hosts, she noted that, “We thought it was great that Beth El made it so easy for the participants by providing the meals - I didn’t even have to cook!”

For both Ambrose and Shapiro, “Our Shabbat Tables” offers great social and spiritual value to Beth El’s congregants.

“I think ‘Our Shabbat Tables’ is an important program for our community because it touches on several of the pillars of our synagogue,” Ambrose noted. “The Shabbat dinners provide a Jewish life experience through which members can be engaged with one another and with meaningful religious traditions.”

Shapiro added, “The program is valuable for Beth El because it gives such a sense of community and belonging to share Shabbat with new families in a home environment.

Since the program began, we feel like we have gotten to know more members of our synagogue.”

All Beth El congregants are invited to join the fun at “Our Shabbat Tables.” This year, to offset the costs of the meals, Beth El is requesting that participants make an optional, one-time donation of $18 for individuals, or $36 for a family. To sign up as a participant, and to RSVP for the August 1 dinner, visit Beth El’s website, www.bethelomaha.org (type Our Shabbat Tables into Search box); or contact Program Director Margie Gutnik in the synagogue office, 402.492.8550; or programming@bethelomaha.org; or Caryn Scheer, at carynscheer@yahoo.com.

“Our Shabbat Tables” has been made possible by a generous grant from the Herbert Goldsten Trust of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Senior Service Healthy. Happy. Home.

Great Care

We provide

®

Quality Caregivers Care Solutions

Active Involvement

Homecare solutions to live healthy, happy and at home.

Contact your local caring office today at 402.682.7326 or Omaha.caringseniorservice.com

A Complete Retirement Plan?

Our team is on top of that.

Home Loans for Purchase and Refinance with the Best Pricing and Service

We’ll take the time to get to know your business and customize a retirement plan that enhances the quality of life after retirement for you and your employees. You’ll enjoy the convenience of trustee, plan administration, record keeping, participant education, and investment services — all right here in Nebraska.

How can we help your business?

Contact Mike Kulas at (402) 323-1379, toll-free at (888) 769-2362 or visit ubtrust.com.

• Over 30 years experience • First and second mortgages • FREE consultations and pre-approvals 7701 Pacific Street | Suite 102 | Omaha, NE 68114 | www.finance1.us

402-502-6501

NMLS# 10136

Investment products: May Lose Value - Not FDIC Insured - No Bank Guarantee

6 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

Now playing at a museum mah jongg table: Jewish pop culture

by EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- With a Chinese “bam” and “crak,” and a Jewish “pop,” the real action is happening outside the galleries of the Skirball Cultural Center here. That was by design.

Unlike most art shows, where guards may stand watch to ensure that no one gets too close to the artworks, “Project Mah Jongg” is different: Not only is the central exhibit touchable, it’s playable, too.

At the Skirball through Sept. 2, “Project Mah Jongg” next travels to the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach in October and then the William Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum in Atlanta in April. The exhibit originated at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.

On a recent afternoon, the distinctive clinking-clanking sounds of mah jongg tiles fill the air of the Skirball.

Although the game table sitting in the middle of the exhibition looks inviting, eight players of the rummy-like game of Chinese origin -- popular with Jewish players since its U.S. introduction in the early 1920s -- prefer to take their friendly games to the terrace, where the museum has set up several mah jongg tables.

The players come from several generations, and the bams, craks and dots -- the names for the various suits of mah jongg tiles -- are flying.

Before taking a seat at a table, each player had warmed up by taking in the show: a gallery of memorabilia illustrating the game’s place in Jewish pop culture.

One exhibit, titled “Mah Jongg Hostess,” features a mah jongg-themed skirt, gelatin mold and a box of Joya chocolate-covered jelly rings. For the groups of mostly women visiting that day, its accompanying text belabors an already internalized point: “In many households, mah jongg was a ritual created by and for women.”

Jewish women were pioneers in standardizing the game and writing rule books, even becoming authorities of the game, the show’s text reminds.

“This is my grandmother’s set. I have it at home. It’s a family heirloom,” Teri Kaufman says, pointing to a vintage mah jongg set with an artificial reptile skin case she found on display. “I remember my grandmother playing with that set.”

Another display attempts to answer whether Chinese food was the Jewish link to mah jongg, or possibly the other way around. The show’s text explains that Jewish Americans of the 1920s were enthusiastic adopters of immigrant products, including Chinese food.

“Cross-ethnic sampling created a sense of adventure, and demonstrated a sophistication that transcended old world parochialism,” it reads.

“I am so craving Chinese food right now,” says Nancy Eisman, responding to the Asian motif of the tiles, vintage scorecards and other accouterments of the game.

Ronee Kraves, who is Chinese, encountered the original version of the game while growing up in China. She is doing her own “cross-ethnic sampling.”

“The tiles are the same, and the rules might be different,”

A friendly mah jongg game on the terrace of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, June 2012.

Credit: Edmon J. Rodman

This 1924 photo of a floating game of mah jongg is part of the “Project Mah Jongg” exhibit now showing at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division she says. “My parents played and I learned from them.

When we go back to China, we play.”

Kraves says that until visiting the show, she was not aware that Jews were big players. She points to a large 1924 photo,

“Leisure class ladies playing a floating game of mah jongg,” depicting a group of bathing-suited Jewish women playing the game.

“They’re just like the Chinese people who play in the water when it gets hot,” Kraves says.

“The game is a perfect runway to memories,” says the traveling show’s curator, Melissa Martens, director of Collections & Exhibitions at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. “So many people have mah jongg sets buried in their attics or closets.”

On the Skirball deck, several visitors are ready to add to those memories. Assisting them is Lisa Blandford, the Skirball exhibit’s mah jongg facilitator.

“I try to get people to play,” she says. “The tables are usually filled with people who bring their own groups, and sometimes people who have just met each other.”

Players of one game included Necia Sukonig, a veteran who sometimes plays twice a week, and her daughter, as well as Kraves, who after watching a game is ready to try her hand.

Blandford, also a newcomer to the game, makes the fourth.

The game, slow at first as players draw tiles and arrange them on racks, quickly picks up speed. They try to achieve mah jongg by using their tiles to match specific sequences of tiles dictated by a game card published by the National Mah Jongg League, a group founded in 1937 by German Jewish women.

“Who has all the jokers?” Sukonig asks as she eyes each player. “You’re a good bluffer,” she says to her daughter as they cross looks.

The players continue a complicated passing sequence until Sukonig announces, “Mah jongg,” signifying victory.

“At home they would all have to pay me money,” she says in an aside. Many mah jongg games are played for small amounts of money; it’s part of the game’s sociology.

Martens says that each aspect of the game is meant for sharing and community, and that the exhibit “was designed to feature the visitor.”

Exhibit visitor Bonnie Neustein, seated on a couch next to Eisman, observes that mah jongg is about “reaching out to other people, face to face instead of a computer.”

Eisman adds, “It will be interesting to see if a younger generation can sit still long enough to play.”

Births Tziporah and Max Marcovitz of Jerusalem, Israel, announce the July 3 birth of their daughter, Hadassah.

She is named for Queen Esther, whose real name is Haddasah in the Purim story.

She has a brother, Nachum Grandparents are Mimi Rogers and Scott Farkas.

Great-grandparent is Jerry Farkas of Boyton Beach FL. Marcy and Kevin Saylan of Overland Park, KS, announce

the May 31 birth of their son, Nathan Allen.

He was named after his paternal great-uncle, Craig Allen Saylan.

He has two older brothers, Zachary, 6 and Alex 2.

Grandparents are Jacki and Steve Saylan, and Barbara and Ray Krigsten of Sioux City, IA. Great grandparents are Rosalie and Milton Saylan, the late Edythe and Arthur Friedman, the late Molly and Joe Krigsten, and the late Ida and Leonard Hall.

The Law Offices of

Big Enough to Serve You, Small Enough to Know You

with no hidden fees.

Family Law | Divorce Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Criminal Defense Landlord and Tenant Disputes Contract Creation | Personal Injury Wills and Advanced Directives Probate | Guardianship | Appeals

Go to AmericanPayment.com for more information or call us at [402] 502.9985. ™

A family practice extending over 50 years

We can help you with the following legal matters

Merchant credit card processing

™

Barry S. Grossman

™

319 South 17th St. Suite 724

402.345.5922 Proudly Supporting the Jewish Communities

www.barrysgrossmanlaw.com bgrossmans@aol.com

July 20, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 7

Temple Israel welcomes interim Religious School Principal

by DAVID GOLBITZ nobody here except for his friends. I have no Temple Israel staff writer job,” Ariella thought when she first came to When Temple Israel began to look for an Omaha. Fortunately, “I got my first call interim religious school principal for the about this job the day after I moved here.”

2012-2013 term, the search committee had a When Temple Israel’s search committee set of criteria. first saw Ariella’s resume, It was important to hire they were immediately someone with “Jewish impressed. education teaching experi“My first impression of ence,” said search commitAriella when I saw her tee member Jennifer resume was that she is Kirshenbaum. “The posihighly motivated and has tion is responsible for the chosen experiences and successful organization education that all revolve and operation of the reliaround Judaism,” Jennifer gious school for matters Kirshenbaum said. relating to students, teach“I was impressed with ers and parents.” how she’d worked with all Fellow committee memdifferent age groups rangber Andrea Siegel agreed: ing from preschool “We wanted someone who through high school,” would be responsible for Andrea Siegel said. “I liked the day-to-day activities of Interim Religious School Principal that she worked at her synthe religious school. This Ariella Lowensohn is “really excit- agogue when she lived at includes being the liaison ed” for the school year to begin. home and sought out a between the students, teachers, parents and Temple to continue working and volunteerclergy. This person needs to be able to com- ing when she went to college.” municate effectively with all four groups.”

When she was asked to come in for an When Ariella Lowensohn’s resume was interview, Ariella wasn’t exactly a stranger to forwarded to the search committee, it was “a Temple Israel. She and her fiancé attended godsend,” Rabbi Josh Brown said. “She sort services once when she came to Omaha for of came out of nowhere. It was really great a visit. timing.”

“After meeting Ariella, I was instantly Ariella moved to Omaha from New caught up in her positive energy,” Siegel said.

Orleans, where she completed her under- “She has a passion for Judaism and knows graduate and graduate studies at Tulane there isn’t just one way to keep kids of variUniversity. After receiving degrees in politi- ous ages engaged in their Jewish education.” cal science, anthropology and Jewish studWhile Ariella is still in the process of ies, she turned her attention to earning a meeting with teachers and parents, she has a Master’s degree in cultural anthropology. strong idea of what she wants her tenure as Originally from Los Angeles, Ariella religious school principal to emphasize. applied to a number of schools, but never “I hope to bring to the children the idea gave serious thought to going to Louisiana. that Judaism does not live only in the synaHowever, Tulane was the first school to send gogue, that it can be a part of your life, and her a letter of acceptance, and Ariella fig- it can be a positive or fun part of your life,” ured the least she could do was pay the Ariella said. “Judaism is not quietly sitting in school a visit. services, listening to someone talk about “I saw the campus for three hours before I something you don’t understand. put down my deposit,” Ariella said.

“I love that Judaism has an emphasis on What appealed so much to Ariella was education and argument... I think it’s a great Tulane’s commitment to the community way for us to learn to think critically. I like around it. The school president, Scott that my rabbi doesn’t say, ‘This is what is Cowen, told the visiting would-be freshmen and this is what you will believe.’” that volunteering in and around New Ariella wants to impart upon the children Orleans was just as important as their stud- of Temple Israel that “they don’t just have to ies, an attitude that Ariella was already see something and accept it or reject it, they familiar with. can make it their own.”

“I had this ideal that I’m going to save the The search committee strongly believes world,” Ariella said. “If I make these big that Ariella is the right choice to help lead statements like, ‘I want to save the world’... Temple Israel’s religious school in this time there’s a place in my own country that really of transition. needs my help right now and I have the “Ariella will bring a fresh voice to our reliopportunity to go.” gious school while understanding and And she did. embracing our customs,” Siegel said. “She is In addition to getting her education at comfortable communicating with both kids Tulane, Ariella stumbled across another and adults which is vital in her position. important piece of the story that led her to Ariella came across as someone who was Omaha: her fiancé, Joe Rohr, who just fin- ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.” ished his first year of med school at UNMC. Jennifer Kirshenbaum also praised Ariella knew she was going to move to Ariella’s passion for Jewish learning and Omaha after receiving her Master’s degree. education.

What she didn’t know was that a job would “Students, teachers and parents will love be waiting for her when she arrived. her extreme enthusiasm for Judaism,” “I just moved here for him. I know Kirshenbaum said.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Dr. Ari Kohen, a new UNL Professor of

10144 Maple (Maple Village)

402-572-1212 Mon & Thur: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Publishing Date | 08.03.12 Space Reservation | 07.25.12 Camera Ready Deadline | 07.27.12

Education

Contact your advertising representative to advertise in this very special edition.

Jessie Wees

402.334.6559 | jwees@jewishomaha.org

Shiri Tene

402.334.6451 | stene@jewishomaha.org

Fine Dining

Pasta Amore Cafe & Bar Private Party Room | Catering Available Book your parties for 4-60 people Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00-2:00 Dinner: Monday-Saturday 4:30-On

402.391.2585

Rockbrook Village | 108th & W. Center fax 402.391.0910 | amoreitaln@aol.com | www.pastaamore.net

SEE GALILEE A NEW VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN ISRAEL A Great Program for Young Adults

A 5 month volunteer program in the northern Galilee region of Israel.

Personalized and intimate program for up to 8 young adults.

Two sessions: September 3, 2012 to January 31, 2013; February 18, 2013 to July 18, 2013.

25 hours/week volunteer project matched to the passion of the participant.

Tuition $1,500. Includes living accommodations, 120 hours of ulpan study, full education and enrichment programs, host families, personalized madrichim, $200/month stipend, round trip airfare up to $2,000, 10 days of structured travel around Israel, hiking trips and more.

adline tion de Applica t session is rs fi for the

July 27,

2012

Full progra m descript ion can be foun d at

destination

Israel.com

Program is run by Israel Way, an Oranim Project, the largest Israel Experience organizer.

Organizations LOMIR REDN YIDDISH It has been said that Yiddish doesn’t only have words, it also has an attitude. Leo Rosten wrote “Yiddish never takes its tongue out of its cheeks!” Come join us at the Rose Bumkin home’s Boardroom, at 1-3 p.m., every Thursday.

SEWING CENTERS

Political Science, will tackle an interesting and often controversial subject when he discusses Human Rights and Social Protest in Israel and the West Bank Wednesday, July 25, 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.

Partners in this program include The Galila Foundation (Galila.org), MASA, the Beren SEA Foundation (Berenseafoundation.org), and Mid Kansas Jewish Federation (mkjf.org),

lee

See Gali n o u o y e e S

8 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

Point of view

American Jewish Press Association Award Winner

Nebraska Press National Newspaper Association Association Award winner 2008

Pass the Polonium

by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press I have a feeling that for the past few years few of us have given Yasser Arafat much thought. Where he used to dominate the headlines, showing his face left and right and making the world quite nervous, once he died, his part in the story ended. Sure, we remember him--how could we forget?

But the truth is, he’s no longer that important. We have other things to worry about.

That must not sit well with his widow, Suha. So what does one do, transitioning from being the wife of a divisive figure like Arafat to being his forgotten widow? You sue, that’s what. Lucky for her, Al-Jazeera brought Arafat back in the limelight when they recently published the results of a ninemonth investigation into his death, based on his medical files and fluid and tissue samples provided by Ms. Arafat.

Apparently she saved the samples all these years by stashing them at her lawyer’s office.

After more or less being confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, Arafat became ill and was transported to a hospital in Clamart, a suburb of Paris. He soon fell into a coma, and on November 11, 2004, at the age of 75, he died. The exact cause of death remains unknown, although French doctors stated he died from a massive brain hemorrhage. No autopsy was performed at the time of his death, and this only helped to fuel the many conspiracy theories.

After Arafat died in 2004, the Palestinian Authority conducted several unofficial investigations. They were not the only ones. Depending on whom you listen to, Arafat died from AIDS, food poisoning, Ricin, cirrhosis of the liver, an abnormally low platelet count, or a stroke. And since nobody from the French doctors who treated him to his personal physician who was banned from his deathbed can agree on what actually happened, Suha Arafat has now demanded his body be exhumed and an autopsy be performed after all. Permission from the Palestinian Authorities

was needed, as Arafat is buried in Ramallah; it was quickly granted. On 10 July 2012, Suha announced she planned to launch a court case in France into the death of her husband.

What exactly she hopes to achieve is anybody’s guess.

Suha sent her husband’s samples to be tested at a Swiss lab, where traces of Polonium, a radioactive agent, were found on both Arafat’s clothing and bodily fluids. Polonium is not easy to come by; it is highly unstable and found in uranium cores. When Marie Curie discovered the element in 1898, she named it for her native Poland, which was not yet an independent country. She hoped it would draw attention to Poland’s quest for independence.

In 2006, Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko famously died from acute Polonium poisoning. That death, too, gave cause for many conspiracy theories involving anyone from the British M16 to the Russian mafia and President Putin. Against that background, the alleged findings of Polonium on Arafat’s belongings are very convenient.

Let’s face it: Suha Arafat isn’t after reparations; nor is she doing this out of undying devotion to her husband.

Suha is doing this because she wants the world to believe Arafat was murdered, and she is going to expose his “killer.”

In spite of the fact that

Arafat had plenty of enemies and critics, there’s only one player in all this that matters to his widow: the Israeli government. The idea that Israel had Arafat assassinated has tremendous emotional value for his opportunist wife and her followers. It can bring the Palestinian cause back into the limelight, during a time when the Arab Spring has somewhat pushed it aside on the world stage.

Once upon a time, Yasser was important, in the middle of the action, and the world paid attention. He committed atrocious acts of violence. Suha Arafat wants to turn back the clock and once again put her husband in the limelight. But this time, she would not have him be a terrorist; instead, she would present him as a martyr. It might well be a disaster if she succeeds.

A good deed for health care in a weary world

Behind the headlines ALAN VAN CAPELLE NEW YORK (JTA) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act is far more than a narrow legal decision. It is a decisive affirmation of what is right.

Health care surely is right -- and a right.

This issue is highly personal, hitting home for me much as it did for tens of millions of Americans lacking adequate health care.

My beloved dad, Roy, endured the challenges of many immigrants carving out a new life. He worked hard and is a devoted American. He rarely displays emotion. Imagine my shock at age 10, sitting at our Long Island kitchen table, as my dad told my mom that we’d lost our health insurance. He had just been laid off from his job as a mechanical engineer.

Few things are scarier for a family man or woman -- for anyone -- than having nowhere to go when you get sick. The recent Supreme Court ruling means that millions of people will never again have to endure such fear. As such, it represents a crucial win for Americans -- and for America.

Millions of middle-class families now will have the security of affordable health coverage, even with pre-existing medical conditions.

President Obama, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts have earned this country’s appreciation for their leadership in attaining justice for all Americans. The president and Congress spoke out clearly on the need for the Affordable Care Act, then

(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, Caryn Scheer, 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 build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish LIfe, Jewish Senior Services, and the Jewish Press.

Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: www jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’

passed and signed the landmark legislation. Roberts led the high court in affirming the law’s constitutionality.

Jewish law and tradition have much to say about taking an active role in guarding one’s health -- and the health of our fellow man. Health and life are bedrock Jewish values, to the extent that saving someone (“pikuach nefesh”) supersedes even the sanctity of the Sabbath. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) notes, “If one has medicine that a sick person needs, it is forbidden to charge more than the appropriate price.” This statement of Jewish law now becomes the spirit of America’s national health policy, and I could not be more proud.

The Jewish community has long supported a national health-care policy that includes everyone, and traditionally has viewed health care as a communal responsibility. This central Jewish tenet is consistent with a society’s prioritizing of health and safety of everyone in its midst and is demonstrated by the commitment that American Jews have made to supporting hospitals and health services through our communal institutions.

Unfortunately, some of these same institutions, many of them the traditional political voices in American Jewish organizational life, became somewhat muted as health-care legislation was debated nationally. Whether it was due to decisions to focus only on narrowly defined “Jewish interests” or, as we so often hear is the case, because of the political interests of a small group of very wealthy and very conservative donors, it is not possible to say conclusively. What is clear and conclusive is that at a time when the Jewish community needed to speak out in support of the kind of health-

care policy that our tradition demands, far too many of us failed to do so.

We at Bend the Arc are proud to stand with the millions of American Jews who did help shepherd this law through and who want their voices to be raised in its support. We believe that moving forward, the law’s affirmation in the Supreme Court should herald a renewed American Jewish commitment to the basic right of health care for all.

Contrarily, what this country surely does not need now is refighting the old fight. Congressional leaders priming to pursue the law’s repeal should reconsider. The House and Senate could better heal this country by working collaboratively across party lines to continue righting the economy and creating jobs.

A favorite film scene relates appropriately to the vote’s denouement. In Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the child protagonist, Charlie, is rewarded for returning the “everlasting gobstopper.” Gene Wilder’s elated Wonka exclaims, “So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

The Supreme Court ruling was the good deed -- the final good deed, I pray -- in the extended-play drama that has characterized this country’s health-care debate. My hope is for this ultimate judicial decision to herald a new era. Let us all in the American Jewish community rededicate ourselves to attaining a far more secure future for everyone’s family so that, at long last, society becomes far removed from yesterday’s weary world.

Alan van Capelle is CEO of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice.

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

be printed as soon as possible to ensure timeliness. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view.

Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer, but the name can be withheld at the writer’s request. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf.

Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the

Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp

@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in .TIF or .PDF format) to: rbusse@jew ishomaha.org.

Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jew ishomaha.org.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events.

News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.”

The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions, but it should

event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450.

Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422.

Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

July 20, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 9

Don’t set back reproductive rights for Israeli women

Focus on issues SHARI ESHET JERUSALEM (JTA) -- In 1979, I moved from the United States to Israel, where I discovered that, unlike in America, reproductive choice in Israel was by and large not an issue -not religiously, politically or socially.

As the director of the Israel Office for the U.S.-based National Council of Jewish Women for the past 17 years, I was always grateful and surprised that with all the problems regarding women’s rights in Israel, the consensus on abortion was to leave well enough alone.

I’m hoping that is not about to change.

At the moment, birth control and abortion services are not only legal but, in most cases, abortion is covered by health plans with a small copay. Women serving in the Israeli army are entitled to free birth control and abortions.

But last month, Nissim Zeev, a member of the Israeli Knesset from the Shas party (the Sephardic religious party) submitted legislation seeking to limit abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Zeev claims that since technology now allows life outside the womb at 22 weeks, pregnancy termination after that is tantamount to “murder” -- a word he actually used. He went on to argue that women are encouraged to end their pregnancies for social reasons, and they later regret their abor-

tions and suffer depression because of them.

In effect, Zeev is following in the footsteps of the former chief Ashkenazi rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who two years ago attacked the official committees that by law approve abortions. Eliyahu charged that “a million children have been cut down alive since the state [of Israel] was created.”

Luckily, the government opposes Zeev’s proposal. Most political analysts agree it was merely a ploy to draw attention away from issues such as drafting haredi Orthodox men into the Israeli army and ending gender segregation, both of which have roiled the waters between the haredi Orthodox and the rest of Israeli society.

In Israel, all requests for a government-subsidized abortion through one’s health plan are reviewed by a committee that includes a family doctor, a gynecologist and a social worker. Knesset member Zahava Galon, who heads the leftof-center Meretz party, has drafted bills several times to eliminate all such committees -- an idea the government also opposes and habitually keeps bottled up in committee.

Galon describes attitudes toward abortion as ranging from “indifference, to resistance, to a desire to control the right of a woman and her wish to decide her reproductive rights.”

These attitudes, she says, “allow the state to continue to define the decision-making process on the termination of pregnancy.”

Such views are also contested in the United States, where

despite President Obama’s support for abortion rights, congressional opponents succeeded in severely limiting government-funded abortions covered by the new national health reform law. Since the 2010 election, states have enacted a record number of laws intended to restrict or even eliminate access to abortion.

While I appreciate Galon’s desire to make abortion even more accessible to all woman in Israel by doing away with the committee that reviews requests for a government-subsidized abortion, it is still the case that with committee approval, every Israeli’s health plan covers abortion for most women between the ages of 18 and 42 for a small copay, and for free for women outside that age range. That is a stark contrast to the situation in the United States.

Israeli law, which incorporates halachah, or Jewish law, makes abortion legal and justified in most cases. The U.S. pro-choice camp would love to have such liberal laws on the books.

When I made aliyah, it seemed birth control and abortion rights were a done deal in the United States. I hope that remains the case despite ongoing attacks there. And for Israel, my wish is that Zeev and his allies find something else to oppose and leave women’s reproductive rights at least as strong as they were when I arrived here more than three decades ago.

Shari Eshet is director of the National Council of Jewish Women’s Israel office.

More women are needed as leaders

Focus on issues MARCIE NATAN NEW YORK (JTA) -- Pride and chagrin: It’s rare that the two emotions are experienced simultaneously. But that is how we are feeling at Hadassah.

We feel pride because women now hold three of our top professional positions: Janice Weinman is our new executive director and CEO; Osnat Levtzion-Korach is the new director-general of Hadassah University Hospital-Mount Scopus in Israel; and Rabbi Ellen Flax is executive director of the $10 million Hadassah Foundation. And for the first time a woman, Esther Dominissini, chairs the board of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel, an influential role in Israeli hospital management.

Of course, as a national women’s organization, our national presidents all have been women, our legal counsel is a woman, our Israeli office is headed by a woman, and female doctors head numerous departments at both of Hadassah’s hospital campuses. On Capitol Hill and in Israel, Hadassah continues to advocate strongly for women.

Yet despite Hadassah’s strong focus on women and the many of us who serve in high-level leadership positions, we also feel chagrin because 100 years after our founding, it remains all too unusual for women to hold top professional positions in any organization.

We want to set the model, not to be the outlier. Salarybased and hiring discrimination against women in the workplace are still an issue, but there is another dynamic at play. The desire for a “work-life balance” we hear so often about of late demonstrates just how complicated it can be for women to take time away from their families to work - or away from their jobs to raise their children.

Women comprise 51 percent of the population, yet more than nine decades after we received the vote, and nearly five decades after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, we still lag in leadership.

Just 17 women hold seats in the U.S. Senate and 73 in the House of Representatives. Only six states have women as governors. The U.S. Conference of Mayors reports that of the 1,248 cities with populations exceeding 30,000, just 217 have female mayors. The Fortune 1000 list includes just 39 women as CEOs. Things are no better in the Jewish world, where only two of the 20 largest Jewish federations have women at the helm. The Forward newspaper’s most recent salary survey shows that women head just nine of 76 national Jewish organizations. A number of women have chaired their local federations and, finally, a great woman now leads the umbrella organization for the federations. But on the top staff level, it’s just not the same.

We need women in every kind of leadership role, and even though many women have risen through the ranks in recent years, we are nowhere near where we should be.

This is not to disparage the many excellent men who hold leadership positions in our Jewish and national life, but we take special pride when we see women in those roles.

More important, we know that women often bring a dif-

ferent voice to the public square. It was, for example, only when women brought so-called women’s issues to the workplace -- increased maternity leave, for example -- that men, too, rightfully demanded paternity leave.

Women care about foreign policy, but we also want to help those in poverty in our own country. Women care that the United States has a strong military, but we also strive to ensure that health care and education top priority lists.

Research has demonstrated that gender diversity matters. A 2007 McKinsey study found that “companies with three or more women in senior management functions score more highly on average (on nine dimensions of company excellence).” These criteria include accountability and innovation. A 19-year study for the European Project on Equal Pay, conducted by Roy Adler of Pepperdine University in the 1980s and ‘90s, found a strong correlation between profitability and the number of women in executive positions.

A 2011 study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers found that “if a group includes more women, its collective intelligence rises.”

We’ve certainly seen that happen on our nonprofit boards, but we can’t be truly effective until women hold more of our professional leadership positions.

For years, women have had to buck a paternalistic society, particularly in the Jewish world. Yet we can’t solely blame society for the low numbers of women in leadership positions. We have to hold ourselves accountable as well.

Too often we’ve been content to sit back and let the men lead. We have been quiet at board meetings and allowed the baritone voices of our male colleagues to overtake our own.

If we want change, we must be its catalysts. We must demand that search committees try harder to find -- and recruit -- women to fill top jobs. We must encourage women to run for office. We must insist that our nonprofit boards pay closer attention to the makeup of professional staff -- not just how many men and women are employed, but also the numbers of women in management and how their earnings compare with their male counterparts.

If this sounds like affirmative action, or something that might have been written 30 years ago, so be it.

It is only when it is no longer novel to point to the first woman in a given position -- or even the second or third - that we will have begun to achieve equality.

Marcie Natan is national president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

Condi Rice as Mitt’s Veep? Is she so different than Obama on Israeli-Palestinian talks?

by AMI EDEN So the big rumor is that Mitt Romney is leaning toward Condi Rice.

That's interesting for a bunch of reasons.

But from Jewville...it's worth noting that Rice was arguably the Bush aide most responsible for pushing for a more assertive U.S. role in Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at the quick creation of a Palestinian state. She was chummy with then-Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as they worked for a deal. Rice reportedly pressed then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to withdraw Israeli troops (not just settlements) from Gaza and pushed the Israelis and Mahmoud Abbas to allow new Palestinian elections -that ended with a Hamas victory and the terrorist group ultimately in control of Gaza. Critics say those two developments led to increased rocket attacks on Israel and escalated Hamas-Israel clashes. [CLARIFICATION: I probably should not have lumped the elections issue in with the other stuff -- it's not about whether you think a two-state solution is something to be pressing hard for or not. After all, the push for elections has been criticized by the likes of both President Obama and Liz Cheney. So you can favor heavy U.S. mediation but still think holding the elections was a bad idea. That said... I think the issue does speak to Rice's view (at least at the time) that the United States has a serious and active role to play in moving things along.]

Bottom line: Rice might have tactical criticisms of the Obama administration's approach to the Israeli-

Palestinian conflict, but one could make the case that overall she's a big advocate of a two-state solution who is closer to the Obama team on this issue than she is to where the GOP candidates and GOP base have been during this campaign season.

Don't believe me? Check out her speech (and prespeech exclusive interview) at the General Assembly of Jewish Federations of North America in 2007: The U.S. secretary of state, addressing delegates in Nashville at the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, also said that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a true partner for peace.

“What is at stake is nothing less than the future of the Middle East,” Rice said Tuesday.

“Violent extremists, with the government of Iran increasingly in the lead, are doing everything in their power to impose their fear, their resentments and their hate-filled ideologies on the people of the Middle East,” she said, adding that “this makes the two-state solution even more urgent than ever.”

Rice said she fears that if “Palestinians reformers” fail to deliver on the Palestinian people’s hope for a state, then “the moderate center could collapse and the next generation of Palestinians will become lost souls of unbridled extremism.”

“It is not a time for half measures,” she said.

(Source: JTA) If Hillary Clinton gave that speech today... the Republican Jewish Coalition and conservative bloggers would have a field day.

10 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

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

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

FRIDAY: Women’s Rosh Hodesh, noon, we’ll meet the at Star Deli for a special Rosh Hodesh Group lunch. Pre-ordering is requested; for menu, visit www.bethel-omaha.org.

RSVP to host Sherry Taxman at taxman@cox.net; Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6 p.m.; Dinner and Drash, 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. SATURDAY: Shabbat Services, 9:30 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time for toddlers and parents, 11:30 a.m., led by Shira Abraham; Kiddush following services; Evening Services, 8:45 p.m.

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

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

MONDAY: Israeli Cooking Class, 7 p.m. led by community shlicha, Na’ama Keren. Cost to participate is $10; class size is limited to 20. To RSVP, contact Na’ama at 402.590.2148 or 402.319.3312, or at nkeren@jewishomaha.org.

THURSDAY: Drinks & Dames, 7 p.m., at the synagogue.

All women of Beth El are welcome.

Tisha B’av, beginning on Saturday, July 28, during 8:40 p.m. services, we will mark the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of Jewish independence in the land of Israel, with a day of fasting and national mourning. On Sunday, July 29, our morning service is at 9 a.m.; Minha is at 1 p.m.; Ma’ariv service, 5:30 p.m.

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

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific Street | Omaha, NE. 68154 | 402.556.6288 www.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.; Kiddush is sponsored in honor of July Simchas; Rabbi Gross’s Twitter Topic Class, 7:30 p.m.; Mincha, 8:30 p.m. followed by Seuda Shlishit; Havdalah, 9:40 p.m.

Attending the Pardes Executive Seminar in Jerusalem

by NANCY COREN As part of its commitment to furthering Jewish learning, Congregation Tifereth Israel in Lincoln sponsored my participation in the Pardes Executive Seminar held July 1-5 in Jerusalem. The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies brings

SUNDAY: Gemara class, 8 a.m., learning tractate Kiddushin; Shacharit, 9 a.m., followed by breakfast; Children’s activity with Dr. Newman & Mrs. Weiner, 10:15 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.

TUESDAY: 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; Weekly Med Center Class, 1 p.m.

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

FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 a.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat followed by dinner, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY: Minyan, 9:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows the service.

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.

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: Their will be no services at South Street due to the Kearney Shabbat Weekend.

SATURDAY: Their will be no services at South Street due to the Kearney Shabbat Weekend; Game Night/Potluck, 6 p.m.; Iftar Dinner, 8 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Please call the temple office for more information and to make a reservation.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehearsal, 7:30-9 p.m. Please contact Elaine Monnier, 402.327.9212 or emonnier@windstream.

Candlelighting Friday, July 20, 8:34 p.m.

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.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME 323 South 132 Street | Omaha, NE 68154 FRIDAY: Chef ’s Demo, 1:30 p.m. led by Beth El Members.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg THURSDAY: LOVE Board of Directors Meeting, 7 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 Azriel and Tami Field. Anna Eirinberg will be playing guitar; Summer Speaker Series: “Cass Street Memories I” with Anne Shackman, Tom Friedman, Howard Friedman and Sue Millward. We will honor those celebrating a birthday or anniversary in August with a special blessing SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

Shabbat Worship Summer Series, “Cass Street Memories II” with Angie and Stan Krieger on Friday, July 27, 6 p.m.

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.

Wiesenthal Center’s most wanted Nazi located in Budapest by tabloid

by JTA NEWS STAFF (JTA) – A fugitive Nazi war criminal who helped send 15,700 Jews to their deaths was tracked down in Budapest by a British tabloid newspaper.

The Sun newspaper on Sunday reported that it had found Ladislaus Csizsik-Csatary, 97, with the help of information supplied by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Israel.

Csizsik-Csatary had been No. 1 on the center’s Most Wanted list of Nazi criminals.

He “played a key role in the deportation of over 15,000 Jews to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944 and of hundreds of Jews to Kamenetz-Podolsk in the Ukraine, where almost all were murdered, in the summer of 1941,” said Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff, director of the Wiesenthal Center’s Israel office.

Sun reporters Brian Flynn and Ryan Parry wrote that they found him living in a two-bedroom apartment in a “smart district” of the Hungarian capital. The Sun published photographs of Csizsik-Csatary at his apartment door and walking in the street. His whereabouts, it said, had been a mystery for 15 years.

Csizsik-Csatary had been a police commander in charge of the Jewish ghetto in Kassa, Hungary -- now Kosice, Slovakia -- during World War II. According to documen-

tation provided by the Wiesenthal Center, he forced Jews to “dig ditches in frozen ground with their bare hands, made dissenting Jews take up stress positions for hours, hit them with a dog lead and oversaw a shoot-on-sight policy if they tried to escape.”

Csizsik-Csatary fled to Canada after World War II and assumed a new identity. He was sentenced to death for war crimes in absentia in Czechoslovakia in 1948.

The Sun reported that he fled Canada in 1997 after his identity was discovered and Canadian authorities stripped him of his citizenship. Canadian authorities quoted by the Sun said he had been a “commander” in the Royal Hungarian Police in Kassa in charge of officers who guarded the ghetto.

“He supervised the drawing-up of lists of its inhabitants, conducted personal searches of Jews and confiscated valuables,” the Sun reported.

The police transferred about 12,000 Jews from the ghetto in Kosice to a brickyard at the end of April 1944 and deported them to Auschwitz and other Nazi camps. Only about 450 survived.

“Last week I submitted new evidence to the prosecutor handling the case and we are pushing as hard as possible to get him on trial,” Zuroff said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

To submit B’nai Mitzvah announcements: together men and women of all backgrounds to study classic Jewish texts and current Jewish issues in an open, warm, and challenging environment.

This year I joined a group of 40 seminar participants; we learned about Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, studied Mishnah, and discussed the secret of Jewish survival. In my capacity as Tifereth Israel's lay leader, I appreciated the intellectual openness, rigorous textual analysis, and opportunities for personal spiritual growth offered by the Pardes Institute's Executive Seminar.

Announcements may be e-mailed to the Press with attached photos in .jpg or .tif files to jpress@jewishomaha.org; faxed to 402.334.5422, or mailed to 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154 (with photos we will scan and return). Forms are available through Omaha and Lincoln synagogues, by contacting The Jewish Press at 402.334.6448, or by e-mailing: jpress@jewishomaha.org.

Readers can also submit other announcements -- births, engagements, marriages, commitment ceremonies or obituaries -- online at the Jewish Federation of Omaha website: www.jewishomaha.org. Click on “Jewish Press” and go to Submit Announcements. Deadlines are normally eight days prior to publication, on Thursdays, 9 a.m. Check the Jewish Press, however, for notices of early deadlines prior to secular and Jewish holidays.

Pulverent e

July 20, 2012 | The Jewish Press | 11

Now, four books!

Sparks from the word RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE

Spare a minute for Munich

by ADAM SOCLOF Ankie Spitzer, widow of slain Olympic fencer Andrei, stands out among the many voices calling for a minute of silence in memory of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 summer games.

Despite the IOC having rejected a request by Israel’s foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, the movement for a memorial gathered steam after a bill was passed in the Senate last Monday.

If the International Olympic Committee were to heed the call, could onlookers reasonably expect to see all nations show up?

JTA reported at the time that Jordan and Saudi Arabia publicly condemned the massacre, though the Saudis did not have athletes competing that year.

First and foremost, Ayalon should make it a priority to ensure that if the campaign is successful, the Israeli athletes are all in attendance.

While it didn’t pertain to a tragedy that took place at the Olympics, JTA also noted that just prior to the 1972 games, the Israeli team was reprimanded for failing to attend an interfaith Holocaust memorial in Dachau.

Thinking about college?

Worried about the cost?

Want to graduate in four years?

Think Iowa.

29 affordable, high quality private colleges can help.

Take a tour during Iowa Private College Week, Aug. 6-10, 2012

thinkindependently.com

by JTA NEWS STAFF JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Protesters set fire to a branch of Israel's National Insurance Institute in solidarity with a man who set himself alight the previous night.

The vandals set fire to the NII branch in Ramat Gan Sunday night following a rally in Tel Aviv to support Moshe Silman, who poured gasoline on his body and set

of Norfolk, NE, a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Nissan dealership, is accepting applications for the following positions.

•Express Lube Technician •Experienced Automotive •Technician

MONUMENT CO.

Frank L. Ciciulla Jr.

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

1439 So. 13th

402-341-2452

($1,000 Hiring Bonus)

•Automotive Salesperson •Service Writer

Before someone offers you alcohol or other drugs, decide what you are going to say.

(Previous Customer Service Experience Preferred) We offer competitive wages, paid vacations, holidays, health, dental and vision insurance and 401K retirement.

Apply in person to be part of our growing family: 700 E . Norfolk Ave., Norfolk, NE w w w. c o r n h u s k e r a u t o . c o m

Having the facts can give you confidence.

For more information, call 87071

Parsha Matot/Mas’ei These last Sidrot of Bamidbar bring to a close the fourth book of Torah.

They speak of putting some order into the large body of Israelites who are on their way to the Promised Land. The Sacred Text takes us from one point to another, to another, to another.

I wonder whether geographers can identify these points after the centuries have passed by.

At any rate, the Torah takes us to the very boundary of the Holy Land.

The Sacred Text must somehow account for the 40 years in the wilderness.

Therefore, all this travel from point to point consumes (we are supposed to believe) 40 years. Plus, we are expected to accept that these travels consumed more than one generation of Israelites.

Today we know that following the main highway, near the sea, the trip on foot should take no more than 10-12 days. It becomes apparent that distance is not the problem here. It is simple enough to bring the Israelites from Egypt to the boundary of the Holy Land.

But it is not simple to bring a people who were slaves for 400 years in Egypt as free men to a free land. We can now understand why it took 40 years. Bringing people is not difficult; changing slavery to freedom in mind and soul is quite a different matter.

With this mental problem understood, we can see why a whole generation and more must pass away between slavery and freedom. Thus it is important to trace the movement from place to place, and to grasp the change in mind and soul.

It is as free people that our ancient ancestors were to approach the land that was to become Israel, the Holy Land.

Protesters torch National Insurance Institute branch

1-800-648-4444 PRINTING, COPYING and DIGITAL NETWORK

3706 South 132nd Street • 402-330-5050 Social justice protest rally leaving Habima Square in Tel Aviv Sunday night. himself alight Saturday night during a demonstration marking the one-year anniversary of the start of social justice protests last summer.

The words “Price tag Moshe Silman,” were written on the wall of the building. Several thousand protesters had blocked the main Ayalon Highway in central Tel Aviv in support of Silman, whose issues with the NII and other government agencies are said to have led to his desperate act.

Silman, who was burned on more than 90 percent of his body and remains in serious condition at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer Hospital, left behind a letter in which he blamed “the state of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz for the humiliation that the weakened citizens go through every day, taking from the poor and giving to the rich.”

“The state of Israel stole from me and robbed me. It left me helpless,” his letter said.

Silman owed money to the Tax Authority and to the National Insurance Institute of Israel, but his payments ballooned over procedural errors and lost court cases, according to Ynet. He lost his apartment and was unable to receive public housing, then suffered a stroke but was only able to collect minimal disability, according to Israeli reports.

In another incident on Sunday, a man threatened to set himself alight in Petah Tikvah, over an outstanding debt to a cell phone company.

CORRECTION In our July 13 edition, we reported that Richard Fellman visited two synagogues in four countries. Although Mr. Fellman is an experienced traveler, even for him this is an impossible feat. It should have read: “four synagogues in two countries.” The Jewish Press regrets the error.

30´× 48´× 16´ RV Shed

$18,500 Material Only Kits Now Available

Experience the QSI Advantage • Free Estimates • Free On-Site Consultation • Fully Insured • 5-yr Workmanship Warranty • Pre-engineered for code laws • Licensed ICC General Contractor

Two 12´× 14´ Overhead Doors One 3´ 9-Lite Entry door One 3´ × 2´ Slider Window Drive-Thru RV Storage Prices include: DELIVERY & INSTALL on your level site. Travel charges may apply.

Wainscot, SofÞt, Cupola and Fasica not included in price.

Call Visitfor us atFREE the info andShow Omaha Home estimates 3/28-4/1

• 3-Ply Laminated Posts (60 yr. warranty) • Steel Roof and Sides (40 yr. warranty) • 16 colors available • 8´ o/c Post Spacing 4´ o/c Truss Spacing • 90 MPH Wind Load / 30lb. Truss load • Site Preparation available

800-374-6988 www.qualitystructures.com

Letterhead • Brochures • Newsletters Business Cards • Mailers • Postcards

Confederate Railroad appearing

Saturday, July 21 • 8 p.m.

Cedar Co. Fair at the

in Hartington, NE To Order Tickets & For Information, call (402) 254-3521 For a Complete Fair Schedule Visit www.cedarcountyfair.net

Nebraska STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS PREGNANT? CONSIDERING Adoption? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, continued support afterward. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7.

Adopt Connect, 1-866-743-9212.

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! For $210/25 word classified you can advertise in over 170 Nebraska newspapers. For more information contact the Jewish Press at 402-3346449 or call 1-800-369-2850.

BANKRUPTCY: FREE initial consultation. Fast relief from creditors. Low rates.

Statewide filing. No office appointment necessary. Call Steffens Law Office, 308-8728327. steffensbankruptcylaw.com. We are a debt relief agency, which helps people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

WERE YOU implanted with a St. Jude Riata Defibrillator lead wire between June 2001 and December 2010? Have you had this lead replaced, capped or did you receive shocks from the lead? You may be entitled to compensation. Contact Attorney Charles Johnson, 1-800-535-5727.

JOSLYN CASTLE Classic Car Show, July 29, 10am to 4pm, 39th & Davenport, Omaha. Vintage Cars & Motorcycles plus food & fun for the whole family. www.JoslynCastleCarClassic.com.

AFFORDABLE PRESS Release service. Send your message to 175 newspapers across Nebraska for one low price! Call 1-800-369-2850 or www.nebpress.com for more details.

WEBMASTERS WANTED! Promote your business, offer free classifieds, help your community. Encourage family friendly business and consumer partnerships in your zip code. www.SellBuyZip.com, info@sellbuyzip.com, 1-888-872-8772.

SELL YOUR classic car, truck or motorcycle online. Call this newspaper or call 1-800369-2850 to place your ad on the national Midwest Classic Cars web site for only $25.00. Your ad with photos runs until your vehicle is sold!

ALL NEW Happy Jack® Xylecide® shampoo: treats allergy and fungus related skin infections on dogs & horses without steroids. Orscheln Farm & Home Stores. www.happyjackinc.com.

WALK-IN BATHTUBS starting at $2,500.00. 30 year established plumbing company offering several models and styles. Complete installation. References available. Buy American. Jiffy Jet Plumbing, 402-896-2966.

ATTEND COLLEGE online from home. Medical, Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial aid if qualified.

SCHEV certified. Call 800-487-0378, www.CenturaOnline.com.

SPORTS REPORTER for two weekly newspapers and Huskerland Prep Report website. Position open immediately. Please send resume to: Jensen Publishing, PO Box 26, Central City, NE 68826.

AIRLINES ARE hiring. Train for hands on Aviation Career. FAA approved program.

Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 888-896-8006.

YOU GOT the drive, we have the direction. OTR Drivers, APU equipped pre-pass EZpass, pets/passenger policy. Newer equipment. 100% No Touch. 1-800-528-7825.

12 | The Jewish Press | July 20, 2012

To London from the U.S. -- via Israel’s Olympic team

by BEN SALES and “definitely felt a connection.” Soon lives half the year on her family’s kibbutz, Sanford like any other members of the team, TEL AVIV (JTA) -- Growing up outside of afterward she applied for citizenship.

Ein Shemer, on Israel’s northern coast, not as Americans.

Chicago, Jillian Schwartz never expected “I came during Hanukkah and it was cool spending the rest of the year in Arizona.

“They’re Israelis with an Israeli passport,” that one day she would be an Israeli citizen. because it was like a holiday at home -- the While he was not raised Jewish, he said he he said. “It’s fun to be with them. They’re Now the hardest part of her immigrant same traditions, the same prayers,” she said. has become close with his wife’s family and professional sportsmen. That they trained in experience is leaving Tel Aviv America and lived in -- with her roughly 17-feetAmerica doesn’t matter.” long Olympic equipment.

Schwartz and Sanford both “Trying to get out of here chose their sports partly out with poles is very difficult,” of an aversion to running said Schwartz, a pole vaulter long distances. and one of two Americans on Sanford used to run the Israel’s Olympic team for this 1500 meters (approximately month’s Summer Games in one mile), but in high school London. “The first time I flew he “got sick and tired” of the out of here it was 4 in the distance and switched to the morning. They were going to 400 meters. bring me to the airport 3 1/2 Schwartz recalls that in high hours early, and I barely made school, she tried “everything it onto the plane” because of that didn’t take running.” She the special luggage requireeventually wound up dedicatments of the poles. ing herself to pole vaulting Schwartz, 32, a U.S. and competed in the event Olympian in 2004 who while at Duke University became an Israeli citizen two before making the U.S. years ago, will be joined on Olympics team. Schwartz says the Israeli squad by fellow she appreciates the mix of American-turned-Israeli physical fitness and technical Israeli President Shimon Peres, seated second from right, with his country’s Olympic delegation for the London Games, July Donald Sanford, a runner in skill that the sport demands.

9, 2012. Credit: Noam Moskowitz/Flash90/JTA the 400 meters.

Sanford, competing in his Both athletes took unconventional routes Schwartz now splits time between kibbutz community, spending evenings and first Olympics, says he doesn’t “want to put a to Israeli citizenship.

Germany -- where she competes -- Arkansas Shabbats with them. limit” on himself with concrete expectaSchwartz’s family was involved in its local and Israel, which she visits four or five times Sanford, 25, says the Israelis have “wel- tions. Schwartz in her second Olympics synagogue during her childhood, but her a year. comed him with open arms” at competitions hopes to make the final round and surpass Jewish involvement reached a new height Sanford’s connection to Israel began at here. He calls his invitation to Israel’s 4.60 meters (about 15 feet, 1 inch), which is when she moved to Jonesboro, Ark., to train Arizona State University, where he met a fel- Olympic delegation “a dream come true.” below her personal best of 4.72 (about 15 with coach Earl Bell. Schwartz connected with low student named Danielle Dekel, the kib“The people and the sense of family and feet, 5 inches). the small Jewish community near her training butznik who would become his wife. Raised pride [in Israel] made me feel more comSchwartz says she is unfazed competing center, and made competing in the Israel- in an athletic family -- his brother played fortable,” Sanford said. “It’s been more diffi- against her former American teammates. hosted 2009 Maccabiah Games a priority. She college football and his sister professional cult not seeing my mom and brothers and “You’re really competing against yourself, won a gold medal that summer in the quad- basketball in Europe -- he was pursuing a sister.” how high you can go,” she said. “It’s a lot of rennial event known as the Jewish Olympics. track career at the university.

Efraim Zinger, head of Israel’s Olympic the same people I’ve been competing against Schwartz returned to Israel in December Sanford married Dekel in 2008 and now delegation, says he views Schwartz and for nine years or 10.”

I N TRO DU CIN G

Preserving the Jewish Press for the next generation.

Club Giving levels:* Reporter: $36 Editor: $72 Publisher: $180 J O I N

N OW

Club _________________________________ Name _________________________________ _________________________________ Address _________________________________ City | State | Zip _________________________________ Phone _________________________________ Email address Giving Levels choose one O Reporter $36 O Editor $72 O Publisher $180 Send check to The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.

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.