Vol. LXXXIX No. 47 Omaha, NE
9th Annual Jewish Omaha Film Festival by GARY KATZ Library Administrator The Center of Jewish Education is proud to announce the lineup for the 9th Annual Jewish Omaha Film Festival, Aug. 24-Sept. 2. All films will be shown in the Jewish Community Center Theater. Weekday films will be screened at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s film at 7 p.m. with the popular kosher deli dinner immediately before at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and advance tickets are available through the Kripke Jewish Federation Library at 334.6462. The kosher deli dinner on Sunday, Aug. 29 costs $15 (RSVP by Aug. 25).
“This year we have chosen a family friendly film for our deli dinner night”, said Renee Kasner, a member of the Film Festival Committee. “’The Yankles’ is very appropriate for children 10 years of age and older and I am planning to take my grandkids.” Gary Katz, Library Administrator, reports the Center for Jewish Education is really looking forward to this year’s offerings. “This year’s films are all award winners. Our picks run the gamut from comedy and drama to family movies”, states Katz. “I hope everyone decides to participate in this great community event. There is something for everyone.” Festival Schedule: Saviors in the Night, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m. (German, 2009, English Subtitles, 100 minutes) Based on the memories of Marga Spiegel, she describes how courageous farmers hid her, her husband Siegfried, and their little daughter Karin from 1943 until 1945, thus saving them from deportation to the extermination camps in the East. Without reservation, the farmers offer their protection, which turns them into heroes. The farmers’ names are immortalized in Yad Vashem. Winner, Grand Prize, Signis Film Festival and the Pittsburgh Jewish Film Festival The Infidel, Thursday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m. (United Kingdom, 2097, 105 minutes) Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili) is a loving husband, doting father and something of a “relaxed” Muslim. He may not be the most observant, but in his heart he is as Muslim as it gets. After his mother’s death, a Continued on page 2
Inside Op-Ed Page: see page 8
Celebrating 89 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
August 13, 2010
When the dust settles that symbolizes what we’ve accomplished here.” by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Editor of the Jewish Press Dalit and Neta agreed; in July 2010 they arrived, tools The recent JCC Maccabi Games brought us much in hand, in Omaha and began their preparations. During excitement in the form of 1000 athletes, who temporar- their time here, they created three panels depicting the ily made themselves at home in our community. However, not all our guests were wearing soccer cleats or high tops: Dalit Ben Shalom and Neta Dror were two visitors who came with an entirely different purpose: to create something beautiful as a permanent reminder of the 2010 Maccabi Games. Kim Goldberg is the coChair of the Art Taskforce for the Partnership’s Central Area Consortium. “I met Dalit for the first time in October of 2009, when I was in Israel with the Partnership during the Israeli Festival for Alternative Theater in Akko. I visited her studio, and was blown away by her beautiful mosaics. Of From left to right: Neta Dror, Naava Naslavsky, Ellie Batt, and Dalit Ben Shalom. The JCC course, I thought right commisioned the project in honor of the generous ‘Chai’ family sponsors. away that she might be a great fit for Maccabi.” Tree of Life, which will find a permanent home in the Goldberg has been involved with Partnership’s Art JCC gallery. Visitors will be able to see the panels each Taskforce since 2006, and in 2009, was occupied locat- time they walk through the hallway, and, according to ing the right person to come and interact with the Dalit Ben Shalom, should “think about the tree of life. Maccabi teenagers. “Dalit and Neta have such warm Think about your Jewish roots, and how a lot of small personalities, and an easy manner, and so I thought it pieces make up the big collective. That is what we are, would be perfect if they could come to Omaha during we may be spread all over the world, but together we the Games, and create something permanent for our make a beautiful piece of art.”. building. Something we can look at after this is all over, Continued on page 2
Livingston Foundation gift to RBJH keeps ‘building the wood pile higher’ by OZZIE NOGG Boardroom is designed as a multipurpose room to be In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Omaha Jewish used year-round for various activities. The space is comCommunity was considering its options for replacing or puter/laptop accessible so users can take advantage of renovating the Dr. Philip the latest technology for Sher Home. To expedite multimedia presentathe process, the Milton tions. S. and Corinne N. A lifelong resident of Livingston Foundation Omaha, Milt Livingston provided seed money for became one of the city’s a feasibility study that most outstanding leaders ultimately led to the creboth in the Jewish and ation of the Rose general communities. He Blumkin Jewish Home, was a generous philanfor which the Foundthropist during his lifeation then provided gentime, and The erous funding. In 2006, Livingston Foundation at the beginning of the has carried on the philanBlumkin Home New thropic legacy since his Beginning building camdeath in 1969. When paign, the Livingston Mahjong players, like Susan Lucas, Selma Sadofsky, and Maxine expressing his philosoFoundation again Noodell, above, will be among those using the board room. phy of giving, Livingston stepped forward to play a leadership role by making one often used the story of Klondike gold rush prospectors of the first major contributions to the fundraising drive. who trekked though biting cold and blinding snow on When the Livingston Foundation Board of Trustees their way to Alaska. He would describe the cabins built was later given the opportunity to name their gift, they at strategic points throughout the wilderness where chose the new Boardroom at the RBJH. The space will prospectors could find refuge from the elements. serve as a venue where lay and professional leaders can “Outside each cabin was a pile of logs which were used come together to discuss how to best meet the needs of to keep the cabin warm for as long as the traveler cared Omaha’s Jewish agencies and the residents of our Jewish to stay. For the use of this cabin and the firewood, there community. Located in the area that once housed the was but one obligation -- and that an unwritten one. Blumkin Home tearoom, the new Livingston Continued on page 2
This Week: Back to School See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org; click on ‘Jewish Press’
3 Elul 5770
Coming Next Month: Rosh Hashanah Issue Beth El’s Judaica Shop is now online Page 3
Jewish Community HS begins year with two special events Page 3
In Poland, Shabbatons for non-Jews to combat anti-Semitism Page 12