Vol. LXXXVII No. 49 Omaha, NE
Educator, author tells his own story at “Limmud Omaha” by MARY BORT for the Center for Jewish Education When does one know what he or she will do in life? Joel Lurie Grishaver’s interest in the field of education began at an early age. “I was the worst kid in my Hebrew school,” he recalled. “But when I graduated, a wonderful principal hired me to be her assistant. I was working in a religious school that required certified teachers and I obtained Reform teacher certification. So, by the time I graduated high school, I was equipped to teach.” A writer, editor, publisher, teacher, scholarin-residence, cartoonist and storyteller, Grishaver is wellknown in the field of education. He will be the keynote speaker, as well as session presenter, at the third annual “Limmud Omaha: A Day of Learning.” “Limmud Omaha” will focus on the theme “Telling Our Joel Lurie Grishaver Story” and is scheduled for this Sunday, Aug. 17, 1-5 p.m. The event will feature a series of presenters and is offered free to the public. Grishaver expressed interest in the theme “Telling Our Story” and how it worked with his pursuits. “I’m a narrative theologian and I’m interested in stories and the manifestation of truth,” he stated. His keynote address reflects a connection to the theme: “It Only Takes Four Stories to Be Jewish.” Grishaver will show how people are reliving experiences of creation, exodus, Mt. Sinai and the final redemption through their own family stories. Following Grishaver’s keynote address, there will be three 45-minute breakout sessions at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Grishaver will talk about “The Stories We Pray” at 2 p.m., “The Day the Talmud was Created” at 3 p.m. and “The Kabbalah of Self” at 4 p.m. In addition to Grishaver, presenters include Susan Aizenberg, Gary Katz and Rabbi Eric Linder at 2 p.m.; Dr. Moshe Gershovich, Dr. Joan Latchaw and Rabbi Yitzchak Mizrahi at 3 p.m.; and Beth Seldin Dotan, Dr. Leonard Greenspoon and Dr. Tracy Leavelle at 4 p.m. Grishaver will be joined by Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, chair of “Limmud Omaha,” for the brief wrap-up session that will run from 4:45-5 p.m. Grishaver’s background laid the groundwork for his current interests. He attended Boston University, earning a degree in religion. Grishaver then received a Master’s in teaching from the University of Chicago. Always seeking to learn more, he pursued graduate studies at Hebrew Union College, focusing on Jewish studies, and at the University of Southern California with a focus on education. When describing Grishaver as an educator, one must also understand the other related activities in which he participates. “My ‘day job’ is working full time, creating Jewish education materials - working as a writer, editor and shaper of Torah Aura Productions,” he said. “I also teach Talmud two nights a week.” In the area of adult Jewish education, Grishaver sees exciting developments over the past few years. “What’s exciting is the development itself -- the ongoing growth of Jewish education,” he explained. “I don’t see a particular trend; rather, I see huge growth in adult education overall.” Continued on page 2
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
14 Av, 5768
August 15, 2008
2008 OLYMPICS
Jewish swimmers capture gold; Jacobson, Torres win silver In post-race comments he talked about what it was by ALYSON KRAMER BEIJING (JTA) -- like to watch Jewish teammate Lezak pull off such an J e w i s h - A m e r i c a n incredible anchor leg. “I knew the last 15 to 20 meters swimmers Garret would be crazy. I remember just sitting, pounding the Weber-Gale and blocks and (using) the F-word. I think Jason did a pheJason Lezak, along nomenal job,” said Wildman-Tobriner. with Cullen Jones In a strange Jewish sports irony, the gold for this and the unstoppable almost half-Jewish team (including all seven members) Olympic champion may come at a price to the legacy of an iconic Jewish Michael Phelps, sports figure. Phelps needed this gold medal to help him made history in the on his quest to break legendary Jewish swimmer Mark pool on Monday, Spitz’s 36- year-old record of seven gold medals in one Aug. 11. The U.S. relay team won the Men’s 4 x 100m Olympics. With the relay gold under his cap, Phelps is Freestyle Relay and smashed the world record by nearly on his way to eight in 2008. four seconds on their way to the gold. The sports world will be talking about Lezak’s outstanding anchor leg to edge out Alain Bernard and the French team for a long time. “Going out in the first 50 (meters), I was breathing on my right side,” Lezak said after the race. “I saw him (competitor Bernard) a little bit. I knew where he was. I knew I had to swim my mind out. I had more adrenaline going than I ever had in my life.” As JTA’s Marc Brodsky reported in a feature about Lezak, the 32-year-old is competing in his third Olympics and has garnered four medals on relay teams, including a gold in the 4x100 medley in 2004 Games in Athens. A third Jewish-American swimmer actually took home a gold for this Dara Torres, United States, women’s swimming team, competes at the Olympic team, even though he wasn’t in the Trials in Omaha. Credit: Vironevaeh/flickr pool for the historic win. Ben Wildman-Tobriner, the other member of the selfJewish-American swimmer Dara Torres won a silver described “hyphenated Jew crew,” is among the seven medal in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay on swimmers on the 4x100 relay team who received a gold Sunday, Aug. 10. This is her 10th Olympic medal, medal. Continued on page 2
Jews in the Olympics by JTA Staff NEW YORK (JTA) -- The following is a list of Jewish athletes competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing: United States: Fencing, Women: Sada Jacobson, sabre; Kayaking: Rami Zur; 500-meter individual; Swimming, Men: Jason Lezak; 100-meter freestyle, relays, Garrett Weber-Gale; 100 freestyle, relays, Ben Wildman-Tobriner; 50 freestyle, relays; Swimming, Women: Dara Torres, 50-meter freestyle, relays; Track and Field, Women: Deena Kastor, marathon. Israel: Artistic Gymnastics: Men: Alex Shatilov, allaround; Canoeing, Men: Michael Koganov, K-1 500 and 1000 meters; Fencing, Men: Tomer Or, foil; Fencing, Women: Dalilah Hatuel, foil and Noam Mills, epee; Judo, Men: Ariel Ze’evi, 100 kg, Gal Yekutiel, 60 kg; Judo, Women: Alice Schlezinger, 63 kg; Rhythmic Gymnastics, Individual: Ira Risenzon, Neta Rivkin; Rhythmic Gymnastics, Team: Kayta Pizatzki, Racheli Vidgorcheck, Maria Savnakov, Alona Dvorinchenko, Veronica Witberg; Sailing, Men: Gidi Klinger and Udi Gal, 470; Shahar Tzuberi, windsurfing; Sailing, Women: Vered Buskila and Nika Kornitzky, 470 and Nufar Eledman, laser radial Ma’ayan Davidovich, windsurfing; Shooting: Doron Egozi, 50-meter rifle 3, 10-meter air
rifle, Gil Simkovich, 50meter rifle 3, 50-meter rifle prone, Guy Starik, 50-meter rifle prone; Swimming, Men: Itay Chama, 200-meter breaststroke, Gal Nevo, 200 and 400 individual medley, Guy Barnea, 100 breaststroke, Tom Beeri, 100 and 200 breaststroke, Allon Mandel, 100 and 200 butterfly, and Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or, 200 freestyle; Swimming, Women: Anya Gostamelsky, 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly Deena Kastor of the United Synchronized Swim- States runs the marathon. Credit: Brian Sawyer/flickr ming: Anastasia Gloushkov and Ina Yoffe; duet Taekwondo: Bat-El Getterer, 57 kg; Tennis, Men: Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich, Continued on page 2
This Week: What happens when Olmert leaves office: page 9 Coming This Month: The Learning Curve on Aug. 29 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Museum honors “Chinese Schindler” Page 3
The many faces of Yachad Page 7
Teen returns from semester in Israel Page 12