July 21, 2023

The Jewish Press

The JFO Foundation presents Who

are the Marcuses?

Big things are on the horizon

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMPWRIGHT

BBYO is home to your forever memories. It is where you grew up, met your best friends, fell in love, and stepped out of your comfort zone. You made sense of what it means to be Jewish.

This fall, BBYO’s 100th Anniversary will kick off, and we invite our members, alumni, friends, and supporters around the world to take part in this milestone centennial celebration. Reconnect with old friends, learn about upcoming events, and help strengthen our future.

We ask for your support in helping the Omaha Jewish community celebrate 100 years of BBYO by hosting the 2023 International Executive Conference in Omaha.

ho are the Marcuses is a fascinating documentary directed by Matthew Mishory and co-written by Golan Friedman about a special family and their

ASHTON KAY

Jewish Press Intern

Rachel Ring is the Director of Development here at the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Rachel is from the east coast, and Omaha is her first Midwest experience.

“I grew up in D.C., but I’ve lived in lots of places between D.C. and Burlington, Vermont.”

Despite the vast differences between the Midwest and the east coast, Rachel has found many things she likes about Omaha. However, there are always certain things you miss about home.

charitable

legacy. The film will be shown as part of the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Fabulous at 40 anniversary celebration. This film makes us all think how we can all leave the world a better place.

If you were left hundreds of millions of dollars, would you keep it or give it away?

See Who are the Marcuses? page 2

Meet the Staff: Rachel Ring

in Omaha. I think this is unique. It is certainly unique to my experience.”

When asked what her favorite part of the JCC is, Rachel says that it’s the beautiful building filled with art. She loves being in a beautiful space and enjoys how the art changes monthly. When she first came to the building after renovations, she was most excited about the JCC’s evolving gallery.

“My time in BBYO created precious memories,” Bob Goldberg, JFO CEO, said. “The friendships I made continue to be special and valuable, and I am proud of Omaha’s history with BBYO.”

This August, in honor of this incredible anniversary, Omaha will host the annual gathering of the highest-elected teen leadership from BBYO communities worldwide. The Executive Conference brings together 200 global BBYO teen leaders to learn, network and celebrate. They will explore BBYO’s history and celebrate the place where it was founded.

“The conference will benefit the Omaha Jewish community in several ways,” Bob Goldberg said. “It will provide a platform for our young people to shine, which will inspire them to continue to make a difference in our community. It will showcase Omaha to the world, and help attract new businesses and residents, and it will bring hundreds of visitors to our city, boosting our economy.”

Rachel Ring

“I love Omaha, but I miss the ocean and the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont”

On the east coast, Rachel had many experiences with various Jewish communities, however in Omaha, she has found that there is a much stronger sense of community.

“[On the east coast] there was just not that same sense of community, a cohesive community like we have here

“After I interviewed here, I remember going out to my car and calling my husband and I said, ‘It’s an art gallery. If I take this Job, I’ll be working in an art gallery. I love the feeling of coming into a beautiful space filled with incredible art every day.”

Rachel’s job is in development, which means that it is up to her department to make sure that the community has the resources to maintain and grow for future generations. There are many ways this is done, including events and engagement. Rachel spends a lot of her time planning for the Annual Campaign.

See Rachel Ring page 3

Mother Chapter AZA Advisor and BBYO alumni Justin Spooner said:

“We hope you will consider donating to support the hosting of the August Executives Conference. Our goal is to raise $50,000. It is a meaningful investment to showcase Omaha, and at the same time celebrate BBYO and the impact it has had on so many of us. Every donation, no matter how small, will help make this a success. Together, we can make this important event memorable.”

With a network of hundreds of chapters across North America and See BBYO Anniversary page 2

Memories of B’nai Israel Synagogue Page 3

A Jewish boxer named Bruce “Mouse” Strauss Page 4

Spotlight: Photos of what is happening in our community Page 7

AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS JFO Foundation Executive Director

Lottie and Howard Marcus Credit: Ellen Marcus

Who are the Marcuses?

Continued from page 1

When Ellen Marcus was told how much she was to receive, she decided as she was leaving the lawyer’s office to give almost all of it away. Her parents, Howard and Lottie Marcus left Germany before the Holocaust, met and married in the United States.

Through a close friend, they met Warren Buffett and acquired stock in Buffett-related businesses.

Howard and Lottie were approached by Ben Gurion University, who shared the importance of water research to alleviate water shortages around the world. Water drives us towards peace, especially with climate change challenges, another key element the Marcuses appreciated.

As a result, they have donated $500 million, that’s half a billion dollars, for research to solve what is becoming one of the worst problems for so many countries, lack of water.

When Ellen found out how much she was getting from her parent’s estate, she asked only to keep enough to not be hungry, nor homeless. She agreed to give the bulk of the estate to help the program at Israel’s Ben Gurion University to develop water research.

The film traces the Marcuses coming to America, the friends they made, their marriage and family, and their frugal

but fun existence, leaving a fortune to their daughter who is passing it on to help others.

The event is Tuesday, Aug. 15, 6–8:30 p.m. in the Alan J. Levine Theater.

The film is free and includes kosher

Trade scholarships available for the 2023-24 academic year

An anonymous donor in our community has created two trade school and/or cosmetology school scholarship opportunities, up to $5,000 each, to go towards the 2023-24 academic year.

Not every student who advances into higher education signs up for a four-year curriculum. Some high school graduates seek job training that lasts a year or two and then places them in the workforce. Such opportunities include, but are not restricted to: Information Technology, Construction, Industrial, Transportation and Horticulture. It is not too late to apply for this upcoming school year!

Qualified students who have unmet needs regarding tuition for either a two-year trade school program or a trade certificate program can contact the Jewish Press at avande kamp@jewishomaha.org or jpress@jewishomaha.org for more information.

BBYO Anniversary

Continued from page 1 in 60 countries around the world, BBYO reaches nearly 70,000 teens annually and serves as the Jewish community’s largest and most valuable platform for delivering fun, meaningful and affordable experiences that inspire a lasting connection to the Jewish people.

snacks and Q&A with Ellen Marcus . To RSVP to reserve your seat, please visit https://tinyurl.com/ Fabat40, email jfof40@jewishomaha. org or call 402.334.6498.

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. 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 July 25, 2023

HASHANAH GREETINGS ADS

As the sun begins to rise on our 100th year, we’re inviting you—every member of the BBYO family from every generation—to come home for a historic celebration. Together, we’ll shape the next century of Jewish life for teens worldwide.

For more information and to support, please contact Jacob Geltzer at jgeltzer@jccomaha.org

Lottie, Ellen and Howard Marcus in Great Neck, NY Credit: Ellen Marcus

Memories of B’nai Israel Synagogue

BOB SUVALSKY

When I received the monthly OJAA email earlier this year and clicked on the link to B’nai Israel synagogue in the bottom of the email, I stumbled upon the link to a KETV video of Howard Kutler, Janie Fox Kulakofsky and Mary-Beth Muskin with Howard walking by the Memorial Boards. I had to pause the video when I saw the plaque for our grandmother Frieda Suvalsky on the Board because there was no plaque for our grandfather Saul Suvalsky. I completed the “Contact Us” section on the B’nai Israel website and Howard called me back within a few hours and we reconnected from our days at the University of Texas at Austin. I immediately called my cousin Steve Suvalsky and shared this news flash with him and this journey began to unfold. The rest of the story of installing the memorial plaque for our grandfather Saul Suvalsky became history in the making!

Touring every room in the shul was a magical journey back into a time machine on Friday, June 9! Howard Kutler started the tour with the main sanctuary where we installed the memorial plaque for our grandfather with all of the lights turned on the memorial boards. I brought pictures from 1963 and 1974 which included our grandfather in front of the Ark so he could “be with us” while Steve and I screwed in the memorial plaque together. We walked into the back of the shul at the main entrance where the prayer books are housed and then walked up the stairs to the balcony looking down. That was a Kodak moment, as the shul seemed so big when we were growing up and now we were looking down with a completely different perspective.

Our next stop was the chapel in the basement where I prayed while my grandfather and Sam Sacks led the services. After my Bar Mitzvah, I received many phone calls from my grandfather to come over to the shul in Council Bluffs to be the tenth man to make a Minyan as they could not start the service without me. That was one of my last memories of the shul.

As we walked through the Kitchen and into the Social Hall, memories of many gatherings for happy occasions kept coming back to us. Our last stop was the classrooms that have now been converted into a museum. Sitting in the classroom chairs in the addition that was built in 1963 brought back a sea of memories and stories that we shared for over two hours! I remembered attending Hebrew School (Cheder) taught by Mrs. Bernard Gurtenstein from Omaha (via Brooklyn) who wore a sheitel and belonged to the Ultra-Orthodox shul on Cumings street with Susan (Sacks) Gelb, Karen Sacks, Edie Colick, Sari Telpner and Eric Freidman. Mrs. Gurtenstein came over from Omaha to Council Bluffs three times a week to teach us Hebrew and the traditional prayers in that classroom addition. We started our class by reciting the Shema and ended the class with singing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. On our break, we would walk to a grocery store down the street from the shul, grab a snack that was kosher and eat it together in the kitchen downstairs in the basement.

My grandparents were active in the Jewish community and their lives revolved around the shul and all of the corresponding activities with my grandmother Frieda focused on Hadassah and my grandfather Saul in the shul. Our parents, Marvin and Dorothy Suvalsky and my aunt and uncle, Selwin and Reva Suvalsky actively supported many of the activities

Rachel Ring

Continued from page 1

“It’s our yearly fundraising effort that we do in order to ensure the stability and the continuity of the Jewish community here in Omaha.”

The event starts in October and runs through the end of March. This year, she is planning a fun community event to kick off the campaign with keynote speaker Rachel Dratch, Saturday Night Live alumni.

“That’s really an opportunity for us to gather the community around an event that’s fun and engaging,” Rachel said. “This year we’d like to increase the number of donors we have. We want everyone involved!”

This year, the event will be held on campus, not only because the building can house it, but also because it’s an opportunity to show it off. There is going to be a Kosher New York style deli dinner from our own Star Catering.

“We are so thankful to our donors for sharing our vision of a robust Jewish Omaha, and a robust Jewish future.”

Many agencies within the Jewish Federation hold events, and the hope is that the events held throughout the campus engage all ages and interests. When Rachel creates programs, she has to consider how the event is important, whether it’s

that took place. Our cousin Hannah Schwalb experienced her first shul in America at B’nai Israel while she was living with our grandparents in Council Bluffs before she met her future husband Natan.

Rabbi Karzen was the main Rabbi that I remembered growing up with and Rabbi Emil Klein was the last Rabbi that served at the shul.

I remembered putting on a play about the “Danny bumps into Hanukkah” in 1967 when I was 8 years old and having the role of King Antiocus that appeared in the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. I remembered parading around the shul with Israeli Flags with an apple on top of the flag stick so everybody could wave at the kinder and smile back at us. And on Purim, all of the children were handed groggers to make as much noise as possible whenever we heard the name Haman!

My cousins Ronda and Steve had their Bat Mitzvah and Bar Mitzvah in the shul and my sister Linda and my cousin Marti were the last individuals to have a Bat Mitzvah at B’nai Israel in 1969.

As some of the Jews moved away to Omaha and beyond, the Jewish population dwindled along with my sense of belonging. While most of the Jewish kids that I played with lived on Kenmore including my cousins Ronda, Steve and Marti, Patti (Lee) Nogg (who used to babysit us), Susan (Gelb) and Karen Sacks, we lived on Corrine Avenue on a hill across from Hoover Elementary school. I knew I was different because I was the only Jewish boy in our neighborhood.

When it became time for my Bar Mitzvah and with no Rabbi or continuing education available at B’nai Israel, we joined Beth Israel synagogue in 1971 under the direction of Rabbi Nadoff and the Junior Rabbi Amster. Cantor Leo Fettman tutored me on my Haftorah portion. My mom shlepped me to Hebrew school at Beth Israel two times during the week and on Sundays in addition to the one-on-one sessions with Cantor Fettman, and my Bar Mitzvah finally took place at Beth Israel on June 17, 1972. I remember that day vividly as we came home from Beth Israel and turned on the TV before we went to my Bar Mitzvah party at the New Tower hotel and restaurant on 78th and Dodge as there was breaking news about the Watergate incident.

My parents made the decision to move to Omaha after my Bar Mitzvah because they wanted me and my sister Linda to have association with other Jewish teenagers and a Jewish identity. It was difficult being one of the last Jewish kids that was left in Council Bluffs. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, I was singled out as the Jew in the school and sometimes harassed and it became difficult as my peers had moved to Omaha.

Upon moving to Omaha in July of 1972, I joined the synagogue youth organizations at Beth Israel including Tovim and Kadimah. I went on to join Chiam Weizmann AZA 1510 and became president of the chapter along with becoming Beau of Hevrah BBG.

Growing up at B’nai Israel set the foundation for my Jewish education and identity, and I still receive the paper edition of the Jewish Press mailed to Houston, TX, where I live now as that newspaper reminds me every week of my connection to the Jewish community in Council Bluffs and Omaha. I was overcome with emotions as I went back through B’nai Israel on that special day with Howard and Steve and that little shul will always have a very special place in my heart.

educationally, politically, or from a Jewish perspective. Of course, she also has to consider whether the event will be fun and interesting for the community.

“That’s what we think about. Who’s going to come? Why would they come? What value is it going to bring to them?”

She also has to think about how she can get people to know about and attend the community events she plans. “There are many avenues we can use to make sure people know about the great events we host here on campus,” she said.

She works with Margie Utesch and the marketing team who design the invitations, post about the events on Facebook, put them in the newsletter, display them on the digital sign, and have articles in the press.

She said that her favorite part about her job has been getting to know the community. She moved to Omaha right before COVID, and so her first years here were spent stuck in the house.

“It was great to come out of the basement, come into an office every day, and get to meet this incredible community. And that’s what I’ve spent the last year doing.”

Ashton Kay is the 2023 Jewish Press intern. His position is made possible through the generous support of the Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman Supporting Foundation.

Dedication B’nai Israel Synagogue, 1963

A Jewish boxer named Bruce “Mouse” Strauss

HOWARD KUTLER

This week the city of Omaha will be buzzing with conversations about our local fighter Terrence “Bud” Crawford. Bud will be fighting in Las Vegas Saturday, July 29, for the undisputed Welterweight World Championship against Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. The buzz in the boxing world is that our hometown hero is favored to win the fight.

My story is about the friendship I had with a professional boxer named Bruce “Mouse” Strauss who has ties to Omaha. Bruce was born in Omaha on Feb. 6, 1952, and grew up in New Milford, New Jersey. He came back to Omaha when he earned a wrestling scholarship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where his head coach was the legendary Dr. Don Benning. In 1970 Bruce was on the Nebraska-Omaha wresting team that won the NAIA championship. Strauss did not stay with the wrestling team and decided to drop out of school following his sophomore year.

Bruce married Mary Lou Robinson who had ties to Omaha and Iowa and was always referred to as Lou. One of Lou’s siblings was Jamie who worked behind the soda fountain at Criss’ Drugstore, my favorite hangout when I was in high school. It was through my friendship with Jamie that I got to know Mouse and took an interest in his boxing career that followed. The gang I hung out with in high school would go over to Jamie’s apartment to party and there would be times when Mouse would show up to say hello.

When I lived in Lincoln going to school at UNL I’ll never forget when Mouse stopped by the house I was renting with my buddies. On that night Mouse was with his friend Ron “The Bluffs Butcher” Stander. Ron Stander had his moment of boxing fame against Joe Frazier when Omaha hosted a heavyweight title fight in 1972 at the Civic Auditorium. Frazier won the fight in the fourth round after the ring doctor called the fight to save the bloodied and cut “Bluffs Butcher”.

Mouse Strauss would probably admit today that his hopes of becoming a champion professional boxer were perhaps never in the cards for his future. Strauss had 15 amateur fights and won silver at the Maccabiah Games. Tired of getting hit in the head without pay, Strauss turned professional. In June of 1976. Strauss filled in for a boxer who cancelled at the last

From the archives:

minute and Bruce won his first pro fight. Strauss fought the next day and won that one too.

His dream was to become a professional opponent in the ring. Knowing he lacked experience, he began traveling the country collecting losses under fake names while he learned how to become a better boxer. In the world of professional boxing, the way you become an opponent against contenders in the ring is having wins on your record. That is why he turned to using aliases when getting booked for fights.

Strauss had plenty of wins under his own name, but he is more famous for his numerous losses. Mouse would boast that he had been knocked out on every continent except Antarctica. Mouse made a guest appearance on the David Letterman Show sharing with the viewers and to Letterman’s amusement the fact that he pulled off fighting under false names on numerous occasions.

The Mouse is a great storyteller and has the quick wit of a man who has been knocked unconscious only half as much. He was knocked out by a contender named Bobby Czyz in 1980 on a televised card. He fought the next night and as he was making his way to the ring, someone in the crowd yelled out, “Is that the bum I saw get knocked out last night on TV? Bruce shouted his response, “No, that was the Moose. I’m the Mouse!”

At 5’ 6” Strauss was a natural 154 pounder, but to get more fights he fought in many different weight classes. Whenever he fought someone larger in a heavier weight class, he utilized a pair of trick pants and hid weights in them to help reach the minimum weight. During one weigh in, Strauss waited in vain for his opponent to arrive. It was only later that Strauss realized the opponent’s name was one of his own pseudonyms. Among the many aliases Bruce used were the names of people he disliked. He would fight under their name, get knocked out, and mail the despised person the newspaper clipping.

Not everyone found Strauss’s antics amusing. In a congressional hearing involving Senator John McCain, sportswriter Jim Brady argued, “Bruce Strauss profanes the ring. He is a diver”. Strauss has claimed on many occasions that he never took a dive. Bruce responded saying, “I don’t go down from a lousy punch, I go down from the right punch. I never disappoint a crowd. They boo when I lose.”

Strauss earned a record of 77-53-6 with 55 knockouts under his own name. His overall record regardless of the name he used is unknown. Strauss gave up the sport of boxing in 1989 when boxing commissions turned to computerized methods to keep track of fighters. A movie called The Mouse based on Bruce’s life was released in the mid 1990s. Today he and his wife Lou live in Delaware.

Girl Bites Dog and other stories

ASHTON KAY

Jewish Press Intern

March 30, 1930

Blood Libel Foiled

WARSAW

A blood ritual charge against the Jewish flour merchants, the brothers Pastolski, in the village of Proshkov, worried the Jews for a few hours recently. When an 8-year-old boy disappeared, the mother charged the Jewish merchants with the ancient libel. While the police searched the house of the Pastolski brothers, the missing child returned from a visit to a neighboring village.

Jan. 30, 1959

Smallest Israel Coin Abolished

JERUSALEM

Israel’s mounting inflation has made the smallest unit of currency, the prutah, of so little use that a bill has been presented to the Knessel to establish a new basic unit. The bill divides the new Israel pound into 100 units, each of will he called an “agorrah.” The prutah represents one one-thousandth of an Israel pound.

The Israeli Treasury decided that a coin representing the thousandth part of an Israeli pound no longer had any practical value and was not a negotiable currency. The Israel pound was originally pegged to sterling and had a value of $3.60 and the prutah was a useful coin. But with the Israeli pound at 60 cents, even a street beggar spurns the coin. The new coin, the “agorrah,” will have a value of six-tenths of a cent. It is named after the earliest reported small coin in Jewish history. References to it are in the First Book of Samuel.

Sept. 4, 1959

Live Polio Vaccine Tested in Israel

JERUSALEM

Dr. Albert Sabin of Cincinnati, who developed live polio vaccine, is in Israel to advise Israeli health authorities on its use.

The first experiments with live vaccine in Israel have been conducted successfully in two collective settlements. However, officials of the Ministry indicated that Israel does not intend substituting the live vaccine for Salk shots as long as information on the live vaccine is not coordinated by the World Health Organization.

In the experiments conducted in two Israeli kibbutzim, half of the children were given the live vaccine and half were given pure water. None suffered any after-effects, but germs from the inoculated children spread and actually immunized children and adults who were not inoculated.

Sept. 7, 1964

Girl Bites Dog

KIRYAT SHMONA

Elvira Simon, aged 4, was asked by a neighbor on Monday where she got the scratches on her face.

“I bit my dog ‘Bubi’ and she bit me back,” Elvira said. The dog is inoculated against rabies.

Sept. 7, 1964

Two More Held in Gem Robbery

ASHKELON

Two more men were on Sunday remanded into custody in connection with the Kiryat Malachi diamond robbery last month. Magistrate’s Court Judge E. Leron ordered Eliabu Dolshan and Reuven Rutinski, both 20 and from Tel Aviv, held for seven days.

This makes a total of four suspects now detained by the Police. Last week, two men were remanded in the days’ custody in Beersheba.

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Bruce “Mouse” Strauss

Letter of Gratitude

LISA COHEN

Ed. Note: In October of 2020, the Jewish Press featured a story about Lisa Cohen, the daughter of Jerry and Cookie Hoberman, and her diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). She was first diagnosed in 2010, after passing out while watching her son play soccer. At the time of the article, she stated that she hadn’t spoken in 10 years. Lisa recently wrote to the Jewish Press and asked to publish her letter of gratitude to her helper, Darlene.

I am originally from Omaha, Nebraska. I have had an article in the Jewish Press before. My wonderful Aunt Audrey suggested that I contact the Jewish Press and share my story with your readers, and I did. Thanks to my wonderful Aunt Audrey for the suggestion.

“Nothing new under the sun”

It was one of those days: mid-summer, little if any breeze, temperatures in the upper 90s to the lower 100s – all thanks to the sun.

It got me thinking about references to the sun in the Hebrew Bible. As I recalled, these references are characteristic of the book called Qohelet or Ecclesiastes. My favorite occurrence is at chapter 1 Verse 9. In Hebrew they say Ein chadash- tachat hashemesh; in Greek, Ouk esti pan prosfaton upo ton hlion; and in Latin, Nihil sub sole novum.

I don’t have any insider knowledge about the date of King Solomon’s birth. However, given his reputation, biblical and extra-biblical, he would certainly be happy to celebrate his birthday during the last week or so of July with a horoscope like this one (compliments of The Globe and Mail of Canada): “It may be true that there is nothing new under the sun, but you are determined to express yourself and make your mark on the world. Don’t settle for average or second best: you want your brilliance to be remembered by generations to come.”

Lisa Cohen

I have a hidden gem in my life that I want to express my highest gratitude to. This special person’s name is Darlene Durling. Darlene has entered my life as my helper. I have PLS, which stands for Primary Lateral Sclerosis. PLS is in the same family as ALS, however PLS is not fatal. Darlene has been with me for six years and she and I have a wonderful relationship together. She comes to my place for three and a half days and helps me with doing exercises as well as taking me to appointments. Darlene and I have gone through the ALS walks and the ALS gala together. I am very grateful and proud for Darlene’s lovely dedication as my helper. Her kindness speaks in huge volumes and her heart is always in the right place. I feel comforted by her huge heart and incredible smile. I enjoy our special gatherings. It is my complete honor to shout to the world that Darlene is my helper and my friend. She has a beautiful heart. Thank you to Darlene for coming into my life, you have no idea what a beautiful impact you’ve had on me. The words thank you can never be mentioned to you enough. You are my hidden gem, Darlene.

No matter how you say it, it comes down to pretty much the same thing: “There’s nothing new under the sun.”

And if we pay attention to contemporary reports in the press, that adage—also attributed to a son of David in Ecclesiastes 1:9-—remains as true today as it ever was.

Sometimes, as is the case with sports, a rather long memory is required. An example from soccer can be cited to demonstrate this point:

“St. Mirren’s victory may have a seismic shock in some quarters, but it merely confirmed there is nothing new under the sun,” as this reporter proves by citing a Scottish Cup match close to 70 years earlier.

Not to be outdone, another writer casts an even longer look backwards, in this instance to tennis; “As the Good Book (nearly) says, ‘There ain’t nothing new under the sun’ and it might have added ‘particularly newspapers’ obsession with what female competitors wear at Wimbledon.’” The earliest citation here goes back almost 100 years.

I can imagine that King Solomon (traditionally identified as the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes) might well have had an eye for sports and women’s wear (on or off the court).

Nowhere is the quotidian lack of newness more commonly noted than in the world of entertainment. Solomon himself would have been entranced by this description (under “Beauty and Fashion” in the magazine section of The Irish Times): “The original beauty queen, Cleopatra, not only bathed in milk, but wore a gold face mask to bed. They say there’s nothing new under the sun and you can have your own queen of the Nile moment during a Golden Light facial.” This luxurious treatment would be a terrific gift for the girl who has everything— including, I suppose, any one of Solomon’s 300 concubines and 700 wives.

And then there is this review of a London production of Racine’s “Phedre”: “Proving there’s nothing new under the sun, Phedre is a Minoan Mrs. Robinson or the ancient version of a modern ‘cougar’ attracted to younger men.”

About the only place where Solomon’s wisdom has been decisively challenged is in the seemingly unlikely context of Canadian fishing tournaments: “They say there’s nothing new under the sun, and fishing tournaments have been under the sun for a long, long time.” But several years ago, an entrepreneur had an epiphany; namely, to “hold a fishing tournament where an infinite number of anglers competed simultaneously.” Alas, I think that Solomon himself may have anticipated this idea with his advice (from Ecclesiastes 11:1, appropriately expanded): “Cast your [lines, with baits of worms and] bread upon the waters...”

LEONARD GREENSPOON

Friedel students are Top 50 finalists

SARA KOHEN Friedel Jewish Academy Director of Advancement

Emily Coffin teaches first and second grade General Studies at Friedel Jewish Academy. This spring, her students created a book that was selected as a top 50 finalist in the National Book Challenge.

Every year, Coffin’s class creates a book. This year, the students’ book was titled Middah Means Character Trait. Friedel students explore a different, positive character trait (“middah” in Hebrew) each month, such as kindness or generosity.

Ms. Coffin says that the whole process of writing the book takes around eight to nine weeks. The students learn about the different stages of the writing process (brainstorming/ prewriting, drafting, revising/editing, rewriting, and publishing). They then work through each step, with a combination

of whole-class learning, small groups, and one-on-one work with Ms. Coffin.

Over 75,000 student-created books from across the country were submitted for the contest this year. Judges considered criteria including topic, noteworthy storyline, front cover appeal, and interesting illustrations.

“I am so incredibly proud of all my amazing students!” Ms. Coffin said.

Reminder: Tichauer Garden Dedication

KELLY TICHAUER-KIRK

The Fred Tichauer Family invites the Omaha community to join them at the Jewish Community Center on July 30, 2023 at 11 a.m. for the dedication of the Walter and Helena Tichauer Holocaust Survivors Reflection Garden. The garden is a gift to the community thanks to the generosity of Fred Tichauer, Walter and Helena’s son. Fred said initially, a garden wasn’t front of mind, but in discussing various opportunities to honor his parents with his daughter, Kelly Kirk, a memorial garden seemed like the perfect idea. He said: “I hope it will become a peaceful and beautiful spot for special events, and for anyone to sit, reflect, and dream. I could not think of a more appropriate memorial.” Fred went on to say: “We wanted the garden to be a memorial for them, but there’s more. We also want to ensure the memories of the 6,000,000 Jews and others that perished in the Holocaust will never be forgotten.”

ORGANIZATIONS

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS

The award-winning B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS speaker program currently meets Wednesdays via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Please watch our email for specific information concerning its thought-provoking, informative list of speakers. To be placed on the email list, contact Breadbreakers chair at gary.javitch@gmail.com

INFORMATION

ANTISEMITIC/HATE INCIDENTS

If you encounter an antisemitic or other hate incident, you are not alone. Your first call should be to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in Omaha at 402.334.6572, or email JCRCreporting@ jewishomaha.org. If you perceive an imminent threat, call 911, and text Safety & Security Manager James Donahue at 402.213.1658.

Emily Coffin

Written and Illustrated by Ms. Coffin’s Class Friedel Jewish Academy 2022-23

SP O TLIGHT

PHOTOS FROM RECENT JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENTS

SUBMIT A PHOTO: Have a photo of a recent Jewish Community event you would like to submit? Email the image and a suggested caption to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Above, right and below: JCC Cultural Arts and Dance Director Esther Katz traveled to Israel with a group of her dancers.

Above: A smile says it all: JCC camper Chloe and RBJH Resident Ethel Lerner.

Above: True gratitude for these outstanding volunteers: A special thank you to the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s Shabbat leaders - left: Mark Kazor, left, Renee Kazor, Jim Polack; right: David Kohll, and Stan Edelstein.

Left: Tyler Epstein and below: Lucas Epstein climbing the wall at Herzel Camp.

Above and below: Scenes from J-Camp. It’s a beautiful summer!

Above: Mark Kelln, left, Sam Kutler, Sabrina Schwarz, Courtny Schwarz, Emily Kutler, Asher Tipp, Tyler Epstein, Joshua Shapiro at Herzl Camp.

Voices

The Jewish Press

(Founded in 1920)

Margie Gutnik

President

Annette van de Kamp-Wright

Editor Richard Busse

Creative Director

Howard Kutler

Advertising Executive

Lori Kooper-Schwarz

Assistant Editor

Gabby Blair

Staff Writer

Ashton Kay

Intern

Sam Kricsfeld

Digital support

Mary Bachteler

Accounting

Jewish Press Board

Margie Gutnik, President; Abigail Kutler, Ex-Officio; Helen Epstein; Seth Feldman; David Finkelstein; Ally Freeman; Mary Sue Grossman; Chuck Lucoff; Patricia Newman; Joseph Pinson and Larry Ring.

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the JFO are: Institute for Holocaust Education, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Social Services, Nebraska Jewish Historical Society 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.’ 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.

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@jewishomaha.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@jewishomaha.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. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. 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 event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de Kamp-Wright, 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

To the Dogs

ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Jewish Press Editor

This building that houses our Press offices is unique. I often wonder what it must be like for small community papers, whose staff works alone without this level of excitement. We are very lucky—sometimes it feels a little bit like working on a cruiseship (not that I have ever done that).

There is a neverending stream of tiny dancers, ELC students in big red carts, slightly larger kids running up and down the hallway and a state-ofthe-art theater just outside our door—right next to the Eisenberg art gallery. JCC members who come to work out and stop by upstairs for coffee, summer camp kids and counselors, classical concerts, outside vendors who rent our spaces for learning opportunities or to play bridge. Endless birthday parties during the weekend, classical concerts and, of course, pickleball.

Over the years, the level of programming has been intense and varied, and now that most of the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, the many reasons people come to this building continue to amaze me.

In and of itself it’s not new, though: look through old newspapers and you’ll find a plethora of stories that invite people to all sorts of things. My favorite is probably the goat yoga the JCC hosted a few years ago. Yours might be the pool or the film festival. Or Friedel’s graduation, that Kona ice cream truck that pops up left and right, United Way events, cornhole tournaments, and remember when the RBJH used to have the county fair with real sheep?

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.

This coming Aug. 6, 4-5 p.m., Community Chairs Rachel and Daniel Grossman (of Sunday Fundays-fame) invite all dog owners and dog lovers—and the dogs themselves, of course. Be-

Everything will take place at the Staenberg Omaha JCC pavillion behind our building. Please park by the pool- the road past Friedel is still closed to through traffic (or maybe it won’t be by then, but as of this writing, we can’t be sure.)

If you plan to come, please sign up at www.jew ishomaha.org so we know how many to expect. We hope you’ll bring your pooch to play, meet other dogs, and enjoy treats before the Backyard Concert! Canine friends will enjoy giveaways and activities: pup cups, a doggie photo booth, frisbees and bandanas (while they last) and more. And: if you’d like to have the most polite dog on your block, make sure to meet with representatives from Mind Your Manners Pet Training. I’m excited and I don’t even have a dog.

Each dog that attends will also receive yummy party favors to take home! A few easy rules: Please keep your dog on a leash and bring your own dog poop bags.

And afterwards, you can stick around and stay for the Backyard concert, which is also free, has food trucks, and features Funk and Jazz band Wood Hoops. What’s not to love?

ELIYAHU BERKOVITS AND GILAD MALACH JTA

The irony of history is that we can understand and assess the full meaning of current events only in retrospect. Only looking back can we know for certain whether an incident that seems historic really is a turning point, or whether it was really the quiet and hard-to-detect processes bubbling under the surface that were shaping the future.

Either way, in recent weeks it seems that something notable is happening in the Israeli haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community when it comes to teaching math, English and science in schools almost exclusively devoted to religious instruction.

The realization is slowly sinking in that more and more ultra-Orthodox families want to send their sons to haredi Orthodox schools that teach core curriculum subjects and are under government supervision. In order to avoid losing control over these schools, the rabbis are considering offering them a “kosher” alternative — schools that teach core curriculum subjects but are under haredi supervision.

A few days ago, Israeli media reported on a meeting of prominent leaders of the pious “Lithuanian” haredi sector, known as “Yeshivish” in the United States. According to one account, the leaders, including two rabbis who are among the favorites in the race to be crowned the next “rabbinical giant of the generation,” met to discuss the “state ultraOrthodox school system, with the objective of considering the challenges in education and the best way to proceed.” The teaching of secular subjects was clearly the context of their meeting.

This comes on top of last month’s report that the Belzer Hasidic movement, one of Israel’s largest, wants to revert to a plan, devised in the previous Knesset by legislator Moshe Tur–Paz, whereby their schools would receive full state funding contingent on their incorporation of core curriculum subjects under government supervision. (The sect had dropped the plan under pressure from Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, the last rabbinical giant, who died in May at 100.) Whether these reports are true or just a gun placed on the table by haredi members of the Knesset

cause if we have endless activities for people, we may as well include their pets. For the time being, it’s dogs only though, so do NOT bring your alpaca.

The event is aptly named “Dogfest,” with an invitation to come celebrate the dog days of summer.

around

as part of budget negotiations, the mere threat would seem to indicate that the core curriculum is gaining increased legitimacy in ultra-Orthodox society.

The truly shocking news, however, came on a different front: higher education. David Leibel, a well known rabbi who is also a businessman and social entrepreneur with a long record of success, announced the opening of an advanced yeshiva (for students ages 16 through marriage) that would also teach academic subjects.

The announcement was preceded by a heavily promoted speech that garnered major coverage inside and outside the haredi sector. Currently, most haredi men continue to study Torah full-time and do not work for a living. The rabbi proclaimed, in short, that there is more than one way to be an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Devoting one’s life to Torah study is a stellar virtue, Leibel said, but acquiring a vocation and going out to earn a livelihood is equally legitimate.

The attacks were swift and brutal. The Orthodox weekly Yated Ne’eman declared it totally out of the question to discuss the idea and condemned Leibel as the spiritual murderer of the greatest rabbi of the next generation, who instead of devoting himself entirely to Torah will choose to focus on secular studies.

Despite the fierce public opposition to Leibel’s move, leaders associated with several ultra-Orthodox yeshiva high schools and others have just announced their intention to open a post-secondary institution that would allow its students to combine Torah studies with vocational programs and academic courses.

According to the manifesto they wrote, which has circulated within the community but not been formally published, the yeshiva will offer “studies in a range of disciplines and occupations offered both by universities and other quality institutions that pave the student’s way to professionalism and excellence toward a dignified life and honorable livelihood, while sharing and accepting responsibility both in the economy, society, and community, and in the State of Israel as a whole.”

Can the ultra-Orthodox in Israel really incorpo-

Someone asked me recently whether staff ‘have to go to everything.’ Truth is, we don’t, and we couldn’t if we tried. There is so much happening on this campus, it’s impossible to attend every single thing on the calendar- but what a luxury problem that is. As a community, we are very lucky to have both vibrant synagogues and a vibrant JCC, because once again, we have the opportunity to connect and be together as often as we need it.

studies in Israeli

rate a secular education or is the haredi DNA dedicated solely to religious studies for boys?

In the American context, the opposition by Hasidic leaders to calls that they improve their secular studies would suggest the latter. An investigation by the New York City Department of Education recently found that 18 Hasidic schools do not uphold the requirements to teach secular subjects. (It also concluded that some yeshivas do meet the state’s standards.) Hasidic yeshivas in New York, and their political supporters, have so far resisted heavy pressure from activists and the media to teach secular subjects in a way that is “substantially equivalent” with non-Orthodox schools.

But the situation among the “Yeshivish,” non-Hasidic yeshivas in the United States is quite different. Their yeshivas, in places like the burgeoning Orthodox enclave of Lakewood, New Jersey, are teaching secular studies even in high schools, and most of their graduates are earning high school and often post-high school diplomas. This stems from parents’ desire to provide their children with the life skills required in modern society. In research we conducted on Haredi boys’ education in the United States, a principal of a Lithuanian institution told us that removing secular studies would lead 90% of parents to remove their sons from the yeshiva.

No wonder that more than 25% percent of the annual average earning of a Yeshivish household is See What’s happening page 9

What’s happening right now

secular

yeshivas is remarkable

The study hall at Yeshivat Ner Zerach in Otzem, Israel.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Janey Kulakowski and her dog Sarah

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooter wasn’t acting alone

Last month, as the jury in Pittsburgh handed down the verdict in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in American history, I found myself walking into Shabbat services at a Berlin synagogue that had been destroyed on Kristallnacht.

Despite the odds, the Fraenkelufer Synagogue reopened in time for the High Holidays in September 1945, turning the former youth sanctuary into its main prayer space for the small number of Jews that remained. The community never rebuilt the original main sanctuary that had been destroyed by the Nazis.

I sat there on that Friday evening, singing the same prayers to welcome Shabbat that I had grown up with; the same prayers that my grandparents and their families also sang not too far away, before their lives were destroyed by the Nazis.

The moment was especially poignant because I was in Germany on a visiting program that brings American civil rights leaders and educators to explore how best to use history and memory to fight modern hate and extremism. Certainly there are few better indicators of the urgency of this work than the Pittsburgh massacre and the broader rise in normalized extremism it represents.

When the shooter — who was convicted on all counts on June 16 — walked into the Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018, he wasn’t acting alone. He was part of a larger cycle of right-wing extremism in which each attack inspires the next, fueled by the same bigotry that claimed the lives of my grandparents’ families and millions of others. Motivated by age-old hate, this violent, antisemitic white supremacist massacred 11 Jews on a Shabbat morning because he believed that their congregation was helping immigrants “invade” the country and “replace” white people.

These beliefs didn’t come out of nowhere: He was radicalized online via social media sites like Gab, where he communicated with some of the neo-Nazis involved with the 2017 Charlottesville violence. The Pittsburgh attack was followed by similar massacres in New Zealand, Poway, El Paso and Buffalo, which deliberately targeted Muslim, Hispanic, Black and Jewish communities. Even on the day the Pittsburgh shooter was convicted, another apparent white supremacist was arrested for planning a mass shooting at a Michigan synagogue, explicitly inspired by prior attacks.

We must be clear: These acts of mass violence are simply the tip of the iceberg. In the five years since the Pittsburgh

massacre, the white supremacist conspiracy theories and ideology that fueled it have been fully normalized in our politics and our society, deliberately pitting communities against one another and creating a feedback loop that continues to embolden the violent extremists.

Language of “invasion” and “replacement” is now espoused by right-wing elected officials, candidates and pundits, who use it to drive anti-immigrant policies, election-related disinformation and voter suppression. Dehumanizing policies and rhetoric targeting the LGBTQ+ community give license to neo-Nazis, who use anti-trans and anti-drag protests as recruitment opportunities. All the while, bans on education and curriculum seek to make it impossible for the next generation to learn the lessons of history.

Together, this represents an existential threat to democracy. And it underscores that my safety as a Jewish woman is inextricably linked with the safety of so many other communities under threat.

So what are we supposed to do? If we’re to break this cycle, accountability and truth-telling are critical. Trials like the one that reached a verdict in Pittsburgh put the facts of these hatefueled attacks on record — especially at a time when extremists desperately try to subvert the truth. We saw the importance of this in Charlottesville, where I led the successful effort to hold accountable the two dozen neo-Nazis, supremacists and hate groups responsible for that violence.

But accountability and truth-telling are not solutions on their own: They must go hand-in-hand with preventative measures aimed at combating normalization, building resilience and protecting and advancing inclusive, multiracial

democracy, such as media and digital literacy, effective antiracist education, voting access and much more.

More than anything, this moment requires rejection of those who seek to tear our communities apart through disinformation, baseless smears and the false idea that progress for one group comes at the expense of another. Rather, it requires recognition that one community’s safety and advancement is not zero sum, but rather deeply connected to others.

Nearly 80 years after my grandparents survived the unthinkable and fled to the United States, their granddaughter was just chosen to lead a major Jewish American organization — the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, founded in 1944 to formally organize the Jewish American community and build cross-community coalitions in response to rising antisemitism and the failure to prevent the Holocaust.

At the core of this mission is a recognition that Jewish safety does not exist without other communities’ safety and a strong, pluralistic democracy. It’s particularly gratifying that the Biden administration heard this message loud and clear, making it fundamental to the recently announced national strategy to combat antisemitism.

As I begin this work, I find inspiration not just in the Jewish resilience inherent in the Fraenkelufer Synagogue’s story — but also in how its broader community has drawn from the past to fight modern hate.

Today, 85 years after it was destroyed on Kristallnacht, the Fraenkelufer Synagogue is finally rebuilding its main sanctuary in its original location.

In an unexpected twist, the effort is spearheaded by a Muslim German elected official who emigrated from the West Bank as a child, and who — in partnership with the local Jewish community — has embraced this cause in order to make a deliberate statement against rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate.

The partners in this effort recognize that our safety is always in solidarity, in how we show up for each other. If we can embrace that too, we’ll be that much better equipped for the fights ahead.

Amy Spitalnick is the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. She is the former executive director of Integrity First for America, which successfully sued the neo-Nazis behind the Charlottesville violence in 2017.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

A walk on the beach was a hint of a better world to come

BRADLEY SHAVIT ARTSON

JTA

This article originally appeared on My Jewish Learning.

This week’s Torah portion is named after one of the Torah’s more complicated figures. Pinchas is the grandson of Aaron, the first high priest, and son of Eleazar, the second, and his lineage seems to set the stage for one of the most horrific (and from our perspective, repugnant) moments in the Torah: Pinchas personally took it upon himself to execute an Israelite man in the act of having sex with a Midianite woman.

The perceived immorality of Midianite practice apparently overwhelmed the biblical author’s passion for lawful resolution of conflict and proportional response because Pinchas is venerated not only in the Torah, but also by the later rabbinic and Christian traditions. So horrified is the Torah by the idolatry which was a significant part of the attraction to Midianites and their culture that this act of spontaneous violence instantly terminates a plague sent by God to keep the Israelites and Midianites apart. Spearing the couple in the very midst of their passion becomes the paradigmatic biblical warning of the entwined dangers of idolatry and sexual immorality. For this, Pinchas is not only immortalized by King David in Psalm 106, but God directly rewards him with the high priesthood and by bestowing on him a brit shalom, an eternal covenant of peace.

What is a covenant of peace? A covenant is a mutual relationship of reciprocal benefit. The Hebrew word “shalom” conveys a sense not just of peace, but of wholeness. A covenant of peace then is an invitation to reliable connection, to shared humanity, to a hint of what a better world might become. To bestow one is a sweet gift, reserved for something singular and monumental.

I’ve been reimagining what a brit shalom might look like in our own day, discounting all the latter-day zealots and extremists, the “Pinchases” whose violence remains at the ready to obliterate anyone who violates their vision of conformity. And last week, one was bestowed upon me — a more humane and constructive model of what a covenant of peace ought to look like.

Every Sunday, my 30-year-old son Jacob and I take a long walk along the Santa Monica beach, one of the world’s most fabled ocean fronts and a lively location for celebrating the range of human diversity. This beach features not only breathtaking waves and the pungent scent of salt and sea, but also every possible category of person, many of the world’s languages and a perpetual sense of carnival, as tourists, locals, the homeless, addicts, surfers, families, lovers and body-

builders commingle, each contributing to the bustle and chaos that makes the walk eternally new.

One thing you should know about Jacob is that he is a person with autism. He has a wide range of ways of communicating — among them facilitated communication, so I always carry a laminated print out of a keyboard. His enthusiasm, movements and sounds often draw attention from people around us, and not always in the most supportive of ways. That’s what makes this story a true covenant of peace.

the mutual exchange, I felt elevated and blessed too. We all have the capacity to bless each other, to see each other as worthy, to cherish each other’s uniqueness. And when we do, we enter into and bestow a brit shalom, a covenant of peace. May we all hasten the day when such gifts are commonplace, and we give and receive them with grace.

Bradley Shavit Artson is vice president of American Jewish University and Abner & Roslyn Goldstine Dean’s Chair at its Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

What’s happening

Continued from page 8

60% more than a Hasidic one.

Credit: Getty Images

As we were making our way through the crowds, we passed a street artist who was taking strips from palm fronds and weaving them into handheld roses. Most vendors ignore Jacob once they decide he is not a serious customer, but as Jacob walked by the woman’s display she looked at him, a bit puzzled at first. As her confusion gave way to recognition, she did the most amazing thing: She touched her heart with her hands, looked Jacob in the eye and smiled at him.

Among other things, autism can be a motion disorder, and Jacob’s body carried him past her display without apparent recognition or pause. But an hour later, we walked by her again. This time, she stooped to pick up one of her roses and held it out as an offer. Jacob had already swept past, but I called him back and she handed him her gift. Jacob held it and reached for the buddy board so he could type a response. He typed, “Thank you. You are a very kind and compassionate person. I never forget a smile, and I will never forget yours.” She responded, again, by placing her hands on her heart, smiling at Jacob and looking into his eyes.

A moment later, we were walking back to the car, but my heart felt transformed. In an instant, the two of them, each marginalized in different ways, had given each other the gift of affirmation, of belonging, of being seen and appreciated. Each gave the other a covenant of peace. And by witnessing

The haredi experience in the United States shows that it is possible to combine religious and secular studies for highschool aged boys. Can this latter model be replicated in Israel?

Only time will tell whether the current changes in Israel are viable or whether they prove premature and wither away.

But if there is a lesson to be learned from all that’s happening, it is that change takes place only when alternatives are made available. If these and similar yeshivas gain momentum, the decision-makers will have no choice. Just as they are now considering the establishment of ultra-Orthodox schools that teach core curriculum subjects under rabbinic supervision, in the future we may see Israeli yeshivas that include secular studies as an integral part of the haredi world.

Eliyahu Berkovits is a research assistant in the UltraOrthodox in Israel Program and The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society at the Israel Democracy Institute and a doctoral student in Jewish philosophy in The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Gilad Malach is the director of the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel program at the Israel Democracy Institute and the author of "The Sacred and the Secular — Ultra-Orthodox Boys’ Education in the U.S."

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

A view of the Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Pittsburgh as the jury heard arguments in the death penalty phase in the trial of the gunman in the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, June 27, 2023. Credit: Ron Kampeas

B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

618 Mynster Street

Synagogues

8:40 p.m.

Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766

712.322.4705

email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism

14506 California Street Omaha, NE 68154-1980

402.492.8550 bethel-omaha.org

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

12604 Pacific Street Omaha, NE. 68154

402.556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

CHABAD HOUSE

An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch

1866 South 120 Street Omaha, NE 68144-1646

402.330.1800 OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: B’NAI JESHURUN

South Street Temple

Union for Reform Judaism

2061 South 20th Street Lincoln, NE 68502-2797

402.435.8004 www.southstreettemple.org

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

Capehart Chapel

2500 Capehart Road Offutt AFB, NE 68123

402.294.6244

email: oafbjsll@icloud.com

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

323 South 132 Street Omaha, NE 68154

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)

13111 Sterling Ridge Drive Omaha, NE 68144-1206 402.556.6536 templeisraelomaha.com

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY: TIFERETH ISRAEL

Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

3219 Sheridan Boulevard Lincoln, NE 68502-5236

402.423.8569 tiferethisraellincoln.org

Monthly Speaker Series Service, Friday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m. with our guest speaker. Our service leader is Larry Blass. Everyone is always welcome at B’nai Israel!

For information on COVID-related closures and about our historic synagogue, please contact Howard Kutler at hkutler@hotmail.com or any of our other board members: Renee Corcoran, Scott Friedman, Rick Katelman, Janie Kulakofsky, Howard Kutler, Carole and Wayne Lainof, Ann Moshman, Mary-Beth Muskin, Debbie Salomon and Sissy Silber. Handicap Accessible.

B’NAI ISRAEL BETH EL

Services conducted by Rabbi Steven Abraham and Hazzan Michael Krausman.

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON MINYAN SCHEDULE: Mornings on Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Zoom Only; Mondays and Thursdays 7 a.m.; Evenings on SundayThursday 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. at Beth El & Live Stream; Havdalah, 9:30 p.m. Zoom Only.

SUNDAY: Torah Study, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY: Baklava Baking, 1 p.m. with Gary Nachman.

WEDNESDAY: Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv & Havdalah, 1 p.m. followed by Eicha at Beth El & Zoom.

THURSDAY: Tisha B’Av Shacharit, 7 a.m. at Beth El & Zoom; Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv, 5:30 p.m. at Beth El & Zoom.

FRIDAY-July 28: Nebraska AIDS Project Lunch, 11:30 a.m.; Family Pool Party, 1 p.m. at the JCC; Kabbalat Shabbat 6 p.m. with guest speaker Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ph.D on Core Values for the A.I. Era at Beth El & Live Stream.

SATURDAY-July 92: Shabbat Morning Services, 10 a.m. with guest speaker Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ph.D on Is Biblical History Real History and Why Should We Care? at Beth El & Live Stream; Lunch and Learn, noonish with Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ph.D on Founding the Future: American Judaism in the 21st Century; Havdalah, 9:25 p.m. Zoom Only. Please visit bethel-omaha.org for additional information and service links.

BETH ISRAEL

FRIDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:34 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Kids Class, 7:20 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:20 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 8:50 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:40 p.m.

SUNDAY: Halacha Class with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; Shacharit 9 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv 8:40 p.m.

MONDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

TUESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv,

WEDNESDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

THURSDAY: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED, 7:45 a.m.; Character Development 9:30 a.m.; Parsha Class, 8 p.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:40 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 28: Nach Yomi, 6:45 a.m.; Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Halacha Class with SEED 7:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m.; Candlelighting, 8:28 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 29: Shabbat Kollel, 8:30 a.m.; Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Tot Shabbat, 10:45 a.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv 8:10 p.m.; Laws of Shabbos/Kids Activity 8:40 p.m.; Havdalah, 9:32 p.m.

Please visit orthodoxomaha.org for additional information and Zoom service links.

CHABAD HOUSE

All services are in-person. All classes are being offered in-person and via Zoom (ochabad.com/academy). For more information or to request help, please visit www.ochabad.com or call the office at 402.330.1800.

FRIDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ochabad.com/ Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:33 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:39 p.m.

SUNDAY: Sunday Morning Wraps: Video Presentation, 9-9:30 a.m. and Breakfast, 9:45 a.m.

MONDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Personal Parsha, 9:30 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

TUESDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 7 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

WEDNESDAY: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Mystical Thinking (Tanya), 9:30 a.m.; Introductory Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 10:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Parsha Reading, 11:30 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen.

THURSDAY: Shacharit, 8 a.m.; Parsha Reading, 10 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Advanced Biblical Hebrew Grammar, 11 a.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Talmud Study (Sanhedrin 34), noon; Introduction to Alphabet, Vowels & Reading Hebrew, 6 p.m. with Prof. David Cohen; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Class, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 28: Shacharit 8 a.m.; Inspirational Lechayim, 5:45 p.m. with Rabbi and friends: ocha bad.com/Lechayim; Candlelighting, 8:27 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 29: Shacharit, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush and Cholent; Shabbat Ends, 9:31 p.m.

LINCOLN JEWISH COMMUNITY:

B’NAI JESHURUN & TIFERETH ISRAEL

Services facilitated by Rabbi Alex Felch. Note: Some of our services, but not all, are now being offered in person.

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service with lay leadership and music by Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 6:30

Project SEED returns to Beth Israel

MARY SUE GROSSMAN for Beth Israel Synagogue

Beth Israel is happy to once again welcome four yeshiva students to spend time in the community as part of Project SEED. SEED is an outreach program that pairs yeshiva students with smaller Jewish communities to enhance summer education and programming. The group arrived July 19 and will remain through July 30.

The four young men are ready to jump in and provide a multitude of learning opportunities.

“They want to learn with everyone,” shares Rabbi Yoni Dreyer. “They begin each day with a halacha class at 7:45 a.m., immediately following Shacharit. Throughout the day, chavrusa learning can be scheduled for individuals or small groups. Chavrusa is a traditional rabbinic approach to Talmudic study in which a small group of students analyze, discuss, and debate a shared text.” Rabbi Yoni continues saying, “Sessions can also be scheduled for other topics and are available for anyone in the community.” To schedule a time to learn, contact Rabbi Yoni at ydreyer@orthodoxomaha.org or by calling

402.556.6288. A link can also be accessed through Beth Israel’s website or in the weekly shul email.

p.m. at SST; Oneg Host: TBD; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:34 p.m.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m. with lay leadersjip at TI; Havdalah 9:40 p.m.

SUNDAY: Men’s Bike/Coffee Group meet, 10:45 a.m. at The Mill on the Innovation Campus. We sit outside, facing east. For more information or questions please email Al Weiss at albertw801@gmail. com; Pickleball, 3-5 p.m. at TI. Everyone is welcome.

WEDNESDAY: Erev Tisha B’Av; Fast Begins at 8:49 p.m.

THURSDAY: Tisha B’Av; High Holy Days Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m.; Fast Ends, 9:26 p.m.

FRIDAY-July 28: Final Friday Shabbat Community Dinner, 6 p.m.; Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Alex and music by Nathaniel and Steve Kaup, 7 p.m. at SST; Shabbat Candlelighting, 8:28 p.m.

SATURDAY-July 29: Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi Alex at TI; Havdalah, 9:32 p.m.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

FRIDAYS: Virtual Shabbat Service, 7:30 p.m. every first and third of the month at Capehart Chapel. Contact TSgt Jason Rife at OAFBJSLL@icloud.com for more information.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home’s service is currently closed to visitors.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

In-person and virtual services conducted by Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, Rabbi Deana Sussman Berezin, and Cantor Joanna Alexander

FRIDAY: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. In-Person; Shabbat B’yachad Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom; Saturday Morning Shabbat Morning, 10:30 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

MONDAY: Temple Golf Outing, noon at Oak Hills Country Club.

TUESDAY: Holy Smokes, 7 p.m. with Rabbi Sharff. In-Person.

WEDNESDAY: Yarn It, 9 a.m. In-Person.; Tisha B’Av Service, 7 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

THURSDAY: Thursday Morning Class, 10 a.m. with Rabbi Azriel via Zoom

FRIDAY-July 28: Drop in Mah Jongg, 9-11 a.m. InPerson; Shabbat Classic Service, 6 p.m. In-Person & Zoom.

SATURDAY-July 29: Torah Study, 9:15 a.m. In-Person & Zoom.

Please visit templeisraelomaha.com for additional information and Zoom service links.

A stone setting for the grave of Kitty Williams will be on Monday, July 24, 12:30 p.m., at B’nai Israel in Council Bluffs. The family plans to have a kiddush meal following the unveiling. The community is invited to join.

asked for his thoughts about returning to Omaha he said he is looking forward to introducing Omaha to his friends while enjoying many old memories and reconnecting with friends. “It would be wonderful to eventually return to Omaha and be involved with a high-level program of Torah study,” he shared. In addition to the learning sessions mentioned earlier, the visitors will also do teen and youth programming, with all sessions open to the community.

Many in the community will recognize the name of one of the “SEED guys”, that of Shmuel Aaron Shyken. Shmuel, son of Gary and Liat Shyken, and grandson of Paysie and Susie Shyken, is excited to be a part of this year’s program. He, along with his cohorts, Eli Levin, Meier Blatt, and Yaakov Weitz, are excited to share their experiences of yeshiva learning and engage with the community.

“The four of us just completed our first year of post high school study at Mesivta of West Bloomfield in Detroit, participating in a new post highschool program.” Shmuel Aaron shared. When

Shmuel, Eli, Meier, and Yaakov will lead Tisha B’av services and sessions on July 26 and 27.

Tisha

B’av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, commemorates the many disasters that occurred in Jewish history on that day, primarily the destruction of both Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple. The fast for Tisha B’av begins Wednesday evening, July 26 at 8:46 p.m. and concludes Thursday, July 27 at 9:25 p.m. The reading of Lamentations and mourner’s prayers will be a part of the day. For additional information on the opportunities with Project SEED, please call Beth Israel at 402.556.6288 or check the synagogue website at orthodoxomaha.org

Life cycles

EDWARD S. COHN, M.D.

Edward S. Cohn, M.D. passed away peacefully on July 5, 2023, at age 82. Services were held on July 9, 2023, at Temple Israel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Rose Cohn; and his brother, Sanford Cohn.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shelley Smith; his children, Russell and Tanya Cohn and Amy and Steven Goldberg; grandsons: Aaron, Ben, Elliott, Jason, Alec, and Neal; Shelley's children, Leigh and Josh Evans, Anna and Stephen Ryan, and grandchildren: Elliot and Quinn, as well as siblings Arlene Ward, James and Marilyn Dickman, and Susan and Peter Tuteur and sister-in-law, Cathy Cohn.

Edward S. Cohn, M.D. was a respected medical professional and beloved member of the Omaha community. He was born on Sept. 12, 1940, in Cumberland, Maryland. Ed was the son of Ben K. Cohn and Rose Goldman Cohn. Ed completed his Bachelor's degree from The Johns Hopkins University where he was also a proud member of the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity.

A dedicated medical professional, he earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, after which he completed an internship in General Surgery. Ed furthered his specialization by completing a residency in Otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Following his residency, he served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins and operated a private practice in Baltimore. In 1993, Ed relocated to Omaha, where he served at the Boys Town National Research Hospital. Here, he devoted his career to clinical medicine and genetic research, specializing in childhood hearing loss. Concurrently, Ed was an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology & Human Communication at Creighton University School of Medicine. He retired in 2013 after a laudable medical career.

Aside from his medical endeavors, Ed was an enthusiast of sailing, scuba diving and Tai Chi. He was an avid learner with a wide range of interests spanning religion, history, food and wine.

His legacy continues with his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and a wide network of nieces, nephews, and cousins scattered throughout the country.

We remember and honor Ed for his dedicated service to the medical profession, his passion for knowledge, and his unwaver-

ing love for his family.

Memorials may be made to the discretionary funds for clergy at Temple Israel.

‘It was a stunt’

PHILISSA CRAMER

JTA

The Swedish man who applied for and received a permit to burn Hebrew and Christian Bibles near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm announced he had never planned to carry out the act.

Ahmad Alush told people who had assembled for the planned burning that he had applied for the permit to call attention to the dangers of desecrating holy books, according to local media reports. His stunt was a response to a public burning of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, by a Christian Iraqi immigrant to Sweden earlier this month.

Swedish officials said the demonstration as planned was protected under the country’s freedom-of-speech laws.

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