September 5, 2008

Vol. LXXXVII No. 52 Omaha, NE

JCC says goodbye to community shlicha, welcomes new one

by LISA SHKOLNICK JCC Associate Executive Director Though Zohar Winer, the community shlicha at the Jewish community Center for the past two years, will soon be winging her way back to Israel, the JCC will welcome Tamar Halevy next Friday.

Halevey, Omaha’s third consecutive year-round Israel shlicha (emissary) was living in Jerusalem while working in the West Bank as an education officer for the border police.

The 23-year-old recently completed her fourth year of army service to the Israel Defense Force.

As an Education Officer, Halevy was in command of 10 young Tamar Halevy non-commissioned officers, and responsible for all educational activities in 20 units at the West Bank Division of the Border Police.

Educational activities included teaching Hebrew, Hebrew and Zionism and High School Education courses, lectures, field trips, studies of moral dilemmas and issues, and Jewish and Israeli identity programs to name a few.

Many Israelis after completion of their service in the IDF take the following year to travel, explore interests, and to decide the career path they would like to take in the future. Halevy, like other Israelis, chose a volunteer shlichut experience in the United States, to help educate, excite, and bring meaningful experiences about Israel to American Jews.

“The reasons that made me decide on a volunteer shlichut were the same reasons that made me choose ‘the road not taken’ in the last eight years of my life,” Halevy indicated. “I’m constantly seeking for meaningful paths to walk, and I found it in the education ‘business’. I see the importance of the mutual relations between the Jewish Diaspora and the state of Israel, and I believe educational activities are the key for strong relations between the two sides of Judaism today.”

Continued on page 2

Celebrating 87 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa

Inside

September 5, 2008

McCain’s picks vp: Jews ask, “Sarah who?”

by RON KAMPEAS Republicans have ST. PAUL (JTA) -- A been scouring the small Israeli flag propped up archives to uncover on a window frame. A Pat evidence of Palin’s Buchanan button sported outreach to Jews and briefly as a courtesy. A to Israel. prospective son-in-law with Her single substantive a biblical name. act is signing a resoluLittle about the Frozen tion in June marking North is Jewish outside the 60 years of Alaska-Israel realm of fiction (see authors relations, launched Michael Chabon, Mordechai improbably in 1948 Richler, or the tv show, when Alaska Airlines “Northern Exposure”), so helped shepherd thouwhen Republicans pitch sands of Yemeni Jews to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John Israel. However, she McCain’s vice presidential did not initiate the legpick to the Jews and Demoislation: Its major crats try to undermine her, mover was John Harris, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visits U.S. troops in Kuwait in July 2007. the speaker of the both sides tend to reach.

Credit: Secondhand Conjecture/Creative Commons Alaska House.

Picking through the trivia and smears for substance, there’s this: Palin, 44, has genThe paucity of material led the Republican Jewish uinely warm relations with her Jewish constituents -- Coalition to tout the appearance of a small Israeli flag 6,000 or so -- and appears to have a fondness for Israel. propped against a window of the state Capitol in an She also comes down on the strongly conservative side online video in which Palin touts the virtues of hiking on social issues where Jews tend to trend liberal.

Juneau.

“Governor Palin has established a great relationship In an e-mail blast, RJC executive director Matt Brooks with the Jewish community over the years and has attend- offered the screengrab as an answer for “those of you ed several of our Jewish cultural gala events,” Rabbi Yosef who have had questions regarding Sarah Palin and her Greenberg, the director of Chabad-Lubavitch in views on Israel.”

Anchorage, wrote in an e-mail after McCain, the preIn a seemingly equal bit of stretching in the other sumptive GOP nominee and longtime Arizona senator, direction, some Democrats played up an Associated Press announced that she was joining his ticket. report that Palin -- then the mayor of the small Alaska “Governor Palin also had plans to visit Israel with town of Wasilla -- had sported a Buchanan button in members of the Jewish community, however, for techni- 1999 when the Reform Party candidate visited there. cal reasons, the visit has not occurred yet.”

“John McCain’s decision to select a vice presidential Palin is likeable enough that she got props from Ethan running mate that endorsed Pat Buchanan for President Berkowitz, the Jewish former minority leader in the in 2000 is a direct affront to all Jewish Americans,” said Alaska House of Representatives who appears poised to an e-mail blast from the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama become the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the (D-Ill.), the Democratic nominee for president, quoting United States House of Representatives since Nick U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), Obama’s top Jewish Begich disappeared in a snowstorm in 1972. surrogate. “Pat Buchanan is a Nazi sympathizer with a “I like her and this is an exciting day for Alaska,” uniquely atrocious record on Israel, even going as far as Berkowitz told JTA. Continued on page 3

OU President to visit Omaha

by MARY BORT for Beth Israel Synagogue Orthodox Union President Stephen J. Savitsky will visit Beth Israel Synagogue, an OU member congregation, the Shabbat of Sept. 1213, to attend services and meet with the community’s leadership and membership.

The Omaha trip will be the first visit of the 200809 year for the New Yorkbased OU leader in a tour Stephen J. Savitsky of North American OU member congregations, as he brings the OU’s message far and wide. The tour will emphasize emerging Jewish communities. In the last year, Savitsky visited Vancouver, St. Louis, Atlanta, Memphis, Charleston, SC; Highland Park, NJ; Southfield, MI; and Oakland, CA. Omaha was one of the featured places in the OU’s “Emerging Communities” showcase that took place this

5 Elul, 5768

Parking lot “deconstructed”

past April in New York, and which highlighted vibrant Jewish locales across the United States and Canada.

On Friday night, Sept. 12, Savitsky will address the Beth Israel Board of Commissioners and past presidents at a dinner given especially in his honor. The topic will be “The Beth Israel/OU Partnership: An Open Discussion with President Savitsky.”

On Shabbat morning, Sept. 13, he will focus on “The OU: Our Mission,” during services. After lunch, he will discuss, “Our Voices, Our Votes: Perspectives on Israel, Jerusalem and Election ‘08.” Finally, Savitsky will speak on “Can One Man Make a Difference?” at Seudah Shlishit.

Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Gross noted that “Beth Israel is very proud to be an OU synagogue. In previous generations, our membership sacrificed to ensure that Beth Israel maintained the standards and integrity of an OU membership shul -- the Gold Standard for an Orthodox synagogue. This visionary achievement established the foundation upon which our present burgeoning community is built.”

Shabbat lunch costs $8 for adults, $4 for kids ages four-12, and free for kids three and younger. To RSVP or for more information, call the Beth Israel office at 556.6288.

This Week: JFO recognizes volunteers, community service: Pages 4-5

See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 12

Memories of 9/11 inspire an artist on seventh anniversary: Page 3

Phase I of the parking lot renovation on the Jewish Community Center Campus is in full swing, with current construction focused in front of Friedel Jewish Academy all the way to the outside swimming pool on the south side of the building. The work, scheduled for completion by midSeptember, includes new paving of the lot plus the addition of new storm sewers, lighting and retaining walls.

Continued on page 15

Coming This Month: New Year’s issue

UNMC recognizes Harriet Singer and medical researchers: Page 9

Ben Nachman receives Academic Excellence Award: Page 16

Page 2

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

Dem speakers say Bush, McCain policies hurt Israel

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Visions Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

Tot Shabbat and Dinner, 6 p.m. at Beth El SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Omaha Conservatory of Music presents Brundibar, 7 p.m.

C L I P & S A V E

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Reading the Rambam Class, 9:45 a.m. at Beth Israel Adult Education Classes, 10 a.m. at Beth El Beth El Men’s Club Summer Softball Series, 10 a.m.

Mishacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m. at Chabad Patron Member “Brunch With Beth,” 11 a.m. at Beth El Temple Israel JYG BBQ, noon Omaha Conservatory of Music presents Brundibar, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Chabad Patrons Event, 6 p.m.

New community shlicha

C L I P & S A V E

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 JSS Senior Luncheon, 9:30 a.m.

Hadassah Open Board Luncheon Meeting, noon TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 W.O.W Parsha, Prayer and Prophets, 9 a.m. at Chabad Executive Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Friedel Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program, 6 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting, 7 p.m. at Friedel C L I P & S A V E

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Beth Israel THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Women of the Torah, 9:30 a.m. at Beth Israel Center for Jewish Education Board Meeting, noon Yiddish Group, 1 p.m.

Women’s Book Group, 1:15 p.m. at Beth El Parsha Club, 3:40 p.m. at Chabad NCJW Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Class with Rabbi Gross, 7:30 p.m. at Beth Israel All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated.The Jewish Press is not responsible for the accuracy of events.To keep calendar accurate or for questions, call Marlene Hert at 334-6437.

FOR A COMPLETE LISTING,VISIT THE FEDERATION’S WEBSITE: www.JewishOmaha.org (click on calendar)

This Space For Rent Call Allan Handleman 334-6451

by ERIC FINGERHUT During their respective DENVER (JTA) -speeches, President President Bush and John Clinton and Obama’s runMcCain backed policies ning mate, Sen. Joseph that have endangered Biden (D-Del.), focused Israel, Democrats argued on the harm done by what during their convention they described as the Bush speeches. administration’s failure to In a night dedicated utilize diplomacy. largely to foreign policy Clinton argued that and national security America’s “position in the issues, several speakers at world has been weakened the Pepsi Center in by,” among other things, Denver on Aug. 24, “a failure to consistently argued that Israel's eneuse the power of diplomamies have been emboldcy, from the Middle East ened by Republican to Africa to Latin America mishaps. The strategy to Center and Eastern reflected an increased Democratic vice presidential choice Joe Biden, above, warms up Europe.” willingness by Democrats the Democratic National Convention crowd in Denver on Aug. 28, As for Biden, he pointCredit: DNC ed to Iran as a hot spot to go on the attack 2008 prior to speech by Barack Obama. against the Bush administration over Israel, after years of where the United States has failed diplomatically. simply insisting both sides of the aisle were equally sup“Should we trust John McCain’s judgment when he portive of the Jewish state. rejected talking with Iran and then asked: What is there Alan Solomont, a top fund raiser for Sen. John Kerry to talk about? Or Barack Obama, who said we must talk (D-Mass.) in 2004 and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) this and make it clear to Iran that its conduct must change,” time around, told JTA that four years ago it was the Biden said. “Now, after seven years of denial, even the “belief of the Kerry campaign that [Israel] was not a Bush administration recognizes that we should talk to point of differentiation therefore the campaign did focus Iran, because that’s the best way to advance our securion other issues.” ty. Again, John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was Not this year. Among those who used their speeches to right.” hammer home the new talking points were: The next night, in his speech to an estimated 75,000 • Kerry: “George Bush, with John McCain at his side, people at Invesco Field in Denver, Obama hammered promised to spread freedom but delivered the wrong war home the same theme. in the wrong place at the wrong time. They misread the “You don’t defeat a terrorist network that operates in threat and misled the country. Instead of freedom, it’s 80 countries by occupying Iraq,” he said. “You don’t Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and dictators everywhere protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in that are on the march. North Korea has more bombs, Washington. You can’t truly stand up for Georgia when and Iran is defiantly chasing one.” you’ve strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain • Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.): “Under George Bush, the wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and Middle East has become more troubled. That hurts bad strategy, that is his choice -- but it is not the change America and endangers our ally, Israel, which has been we need.” forced to confront a resurgent Hamas, an emboldened Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Hezbollah and an Iran determined to get nuclear Jewish Coalition, fired back on Aug. 28, noting that weapons. That is not the change we need.”

Bush had “redefined” the U.S. relationship with the • Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.): “We entered into an Palestinians, marginalized Yasser Arafat, supported unnecessary war and remain bogged down in Iraq as Israel’s construction of the West Bank security fence, and Afghanistan backslides and the architects of Sept. 11 been described as the most pro-Israel president by two remain free. On Bush and McCain’s watch, we have wit- Israeli prime ministers. nessed the growing influence of a belligerent Iran that “I don’t know how an appeasement policy being advohas destabilized the Middle East and threatens our ally, catecd by Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden makes Israel any Israel.” more safe and secure,” Brooks said.

Brooks also took issue with the Democrats describing the war in Iraq as a disaster that threatened Israel’s security.

Continued from page 1 “I think it’s absolutely ludicrous for them to make that Halevy added, “In addition, from a personal point of view, the experience of the shlichut is something I’m argument,” Brooks said. “At the end of the day, we took looking forward to as an opportunity to learn and grow out one of the most depostic dictators and destabilizing regimes in Iraq that was paying $25,000 to families of as a person.”

Born and raised in Kibbutz Hatzor, approximately 30 suicide bombers sent to kill Israeli civilians.”

Obama drew criticism from his onetime primary oppominutes from Tel Aviv, Halevy’s father Michael works as the kibbutz’s accountant and bookkeeper and also a sen- nent, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and from ior member of the economic/financial council of the Republicans for his statement last year that he would be kibbutz. Her mother, Naomi is a Literature and Jewish willing to meet with the president of Iran; he and Biden were two of just two dozen senators to oppose an Tradition teacher at the regional high school.

Halevy has one older brother, Ram and two younger amendment urging the declaration of the Iranian brothers, Daniel and Yoni. Ram (30) is a helicopter pilot Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist group.

The Democratic presidential nominee has since said in the Israeli Air Force and an army officer; Daniel (18) is presently finishing a year of volunteering community that he supported the Bush administration’s ultimate service in the south (Dimona) and will join the Air Force decision to take such a step, but objected to the amendin January for pilot’s course; and Yoni, the youngest ment out of fear that the Bush administration would unduly treat it as an approval for attacking Iran. In genbrother at 16, is presently in high school.

Omaha’s newest shlicha also has family living stateside, eral, the Obama campaign has argued that its ticket as her grandparents are originally from New York City. would adopt a tougher and smarter approach to isolatHer grandfather, Abraham Halevy was from Brooklyn ing Iran in an effort to short circuit its nuclear pursuits.

Republicans, including former New York Mayor Rudy and her grandmother, Pnina Shkolnick is from the Bronx. They both have brothers and sisters that stayed in Giuliani earlier this week, have been painting Obama as the U.S. and started their families, mainly in New Jersey, naive and undependable when it comes to safeguarding Israel. And, in recent days, they have also attempted to New York, Washington, and Miami.

Winer, who followed the JCC’s first shaliah Uri Levin, challenge Biden’s pro-Israel bona fides.

The Republican Jewish Coalition issued a statement recently returned to her kibbutz in Bet Hashita, located in northern Israel. She plans to move to Kansas City in Aug. 27 citing a 1982 clash that Biden had with Israel’s October to begin working at Beth Shalom Synagogue in then-prime minister, Menachem Begin, in which the Overland Park, and attend college. Levin is a starting his Delaware senator criticized Israeli settlement expansion and reportedly raised the possibility of cutting U.S. aid third year at Tel Aviv University.

Halevy’s office will be located at the JCC; she can be to Israel over the issue. In addition, the RJC cited severreached at thalevy@jccomaha.org or 334.6403. She’ll al pro-Israel congressional letters and resolution that be introducted to the community at the Federation’s Biden did not sign on to.

Biden, who has worked closely with Israel and Jewish “Volunteer Recognition Program and Reception” on Monday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., at the JCC. The groups on many issues, was praised by the American Community Shaliach Program is sponsored in part by the Israel Public Affairs Committee upon being tapped by Obama.

Milton R. and Pauline S. Abrahams Endowment Fund.

C L I P & S A V E

September 5, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 3

As seventh anniversary approaches, 9/11 is revisted

by MASADA SIEGEL The bright blue sky was rapidly filling up with huge columns of black and gray smoke. My eyes fixated on the enormous gash on the side of the building, which seemed to be bleeding.

Horrified, my eyes were glued to the skyline. My mind couldn’t process the reality I was facing, and the buzz in the CNN newsroom seemed to rise and fall by the second. As I was looking out the window, the second World Trade Center started to fall.

Covering Sept. 11, 2001 for CNN as a field producer was a life changing event for me. Even though I was in the thick of things, you didn’t have to be there to feel the enormous impact of what happened that crisp, clear September day. Back home in Arizona, my parents were horrified, but downright confident about the USA, which comforted me when I felt the world was falling apart.

While I was at times reduced to a pile of tears, my father, an artist, showed his feelings in a completely different way.

He was so affected, so furious about what happened that he needed to express himself. Charcoal in hand, he started to draw out his emotions. One canvas turned into another and another, until he had five canvases across, 20 feet long, drawn out.

His paintbrush flew across the tightly stretched surface; bringing depth and power into a once blank area.

Overwhelmed with the need to make a statement, he dropped everything he was doing and painted for a month solid.

The painting is as shocking as the day itself. I asked my dad, what was he thinking. He looked at me with darts flying out of his brown eyes and said, “I was angry at the futility and at the destruction of innocent people. What immediately comes to mind was Picasso’s ‘Guernica’.

He too was angry at the fascists, just like I was furious with the terrorists.”

The painting is filled with symbols, so vivid; it silences voices and seems to bring out sentiment. In the center of the painting is the American flag being raised, showing the hope of the American people, and the coming together of a nation. The enormous canvas shows hands reaching up frantically out of the rubble of the fallen towers. The time of the attack is illustrated by watches, and wedding rings show the love lost, and families ripped apart because of this tragedy.

I unfortunately have images of Sept 11, 2001 etched into my being. But I didn’t understand how my father expressed everything I felt so vividly. He explained, “The horrific images were all over the place, stories of the fire-

man, of the victim’s families, and all the courage of the American people.”

“Did you plan the painting out?” I wondered. My dad explained “I sit in front of the canvas and work; my emotions pour out through the paintbrush. It’s not something I can plan. This was the reality around me and I put the images together into a solid body of work.”

Sept. 11, 2001 was a tragic day. I have never written what I saw and how I felt, as it is one that always leaves me in tears, and truthfully, I prefer to focus on fun. My father also has been reluctant to show this canvas, not really wanted to put his heart on his sleeve for the greater public. It’s been seven years since that life changing day.

I spoke to my dad and we decided we would both share a bit of our experiences together, with words and images to honor the day and the people who were lost.

Masada Siegel, otherwise known as the “Fun Girl Correspondent”, is a freelance writer living in Scottsdale. She can be reached at fungirlcorrespondent@gmail.com.

McCain’s vp: Jews ask, “Sarah who?”

Continued from page 1 to denounce bringing former Nazi soldiers to justice and praising Adolf Hitler for his ‘great courage.’”

The problem was that Palin had corrected the record as soon as the AP report appeared, noting in a letter to a local newspaper that had published the account that she wore the button as a courtesy. In fact, in the 2000 election, during the GOP primaries, she was an official of the Steve Forbes campaign.

The hunger for Palin-Jewish news extended beyond partisan politics. Pulses quickened among some in the Israeli media when the McCain campaign revealed Monday that Palin’s 17-year old unmarried daughter, Bristol, is pregnant and that her fiance’s name is Levi. (It was revealed later that his last name is Johnston, so no seders in the immediate Palin family future.)

The National Jewish Democratic Council focused on a more substantive difference between Palin and the U.S. Jewish community: her staunch social conservatism.

“For a party which claims it is trying to reach out to the Jewish community, McCain’s pick is particularly

The ADL/CRC of the Jewish Federation of Omaha would like to invite the community to participate in a special 92nd Street Y Broadcast featuring

ThomasFriedman Sunday, September 14 at 6:30 pm JCC Theater RSVP by September 12 by calling 333-1303 or email omaha@adl.org New York Times foreign-affairs columnist Thomas Friedman discusses “Geo-Greenism,” an ambitious national strategy he claims can help to save the planet from overheating, and make America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive and more secure.

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strange,” NJDC director Ira Forman said in a statement.

“On a broad range of issues, most strikingly on the issue of women’s reproductive freedom, she is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion. The gulf between Palin’s public policy positions and the American Jewish community is best illustrated by the fact that the Christian Coalition of America was one of the strongest advocates of her selection.”

Palin backs abortion only in cases where a woman’s life is at risk, opposes stem cell research and believes creationism should be taught in schools alongside evolution.

Perhaps the most damning feature of her resume on Jewish issues is its thinness -- her broader problem as well. Berkowitz, the Jewish congressional candidate, poked a little fun at the resume by citing Palin’s enthusiasm for guns and hunting.

“As far as Republican vice presidents go, she will be a much better shot than Dick Cheney,” he said. “But this is John McCain’s choice and an insight in terms of his judgment.”

Ben Chouake, who heads NORPAC, a New Jersey-based

pro-Israel political action committee and one who is close to the McCain campaign, says he learned that McCain favored Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the one-time Democrat and Al Gore’s vice-presidential pick in 2000, until the last minute but caved to arguments that Lieberman would alienate the Republican Party’s conservative base.

“I don’t know anything about her, but I’m not concerned because she is the governor, who is someone with executive experience,” Chouake told JTA. Palin has served less than two years as governor and, as NJDC noted, has “zero foreign policy experience.”

Greenberg, the Chabad rabbi who has not endorsed a candidate, suggests that she makes up in soul what she lacks in experience, referring to her fifth child, Trig, a Down syndrome baby born just four months ago.

“I was personally impressed by Governor Palin's remarks of hope and faith when she gave birth to a child with special needs,” he said. “We all feel that the Governor is a remarkable, energetic, and good person.”

JTA staff writer Jacob Berkman contributed to this report from New York.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

JFO salutes programs that serve the community

by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director Each year the Federation, Agencies, Jewish organizations and synagogues provide innovative programming that fosters cultural, religious, educational or social purpose. On Monday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., the Federation will honor two programs as winners of the 2007-08 Community Service Awards.

“There Was Film in the Camera”, a photographic exhibit by the late Gary Gerelick.

In today’s society Gary Gerelick would probably have been labeled as “challenged” both mentally and socially. He was a fixture at community events, always with his camera in hand. Because of his special ways and manner, and the fact that no one saw his photographs, many people thought that there was no film in his camera.

They were wrong.

In 2006, after Gerelick died, thousands of identified slides and photographs were discovered among his belongings.

Through his images a chronological history of the Omaha Jewish community from the 1950s and beyond was revealed.

The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society suggested that Gerelick should be remembered in a special way, and that the beautiful images he captured on film must be shared with the entire community. “There was Film in the Camera” was exhibited in the JCC gallery in August of 2007.

In addition to the members of the Omaha Jewish community, many people stopped by to see the photographs. The exhibit was funded by Gerelick’s family, friends and his beloved B’nai B’rith Lodge. Renee Corcoran, NJHS executive director, and committee members Mike Abramson, Beth Staenberg, Stu Giller, Midge Bowers and Bob Belgrade spent hours narrowing down the thousands of photographs to the 500 final selections, each of which Belgrade enhanced before they were placed on display.

Gerelick’s pictures evoked memories of people and times long gone, and they served as a reminder not to jump to conclusions and presume anything about anyone.

Corcoran describes Gerelick as a sweet man who always remembered everyone’s name and the details of their families.

“Gary Gerelick left us a wonderful and memorable legacy through this special exhibit,” she said. “He was an inspiration and certainly reinforced the belief that everyone has something to give.”

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. This exhibit spoke volumes about both the Omaha Jewish community and the thoughtful man who captured it all on film.

Partnership with Israel Performing Arts Series When Partnership with Israel began more than 10 years ago, no one was sure how the program would evolve. A joint program between the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Federation, Partnership with Israel was primarily viewed as another way for Omaha to help the Jewish community in Israel.

But today, due to programs such as the Western Galilee Performing Arts Series, Partnership has developed into a dynamic, two-way relationship. From November of 2007 through March of 2008, the Performing Arts Series showcased the talents of four unique performing arts groups, each from Omaha’s Partnership region of the Western Galilee. The performances included the Keshet Eilon Violin Concert, the Halil BaGalilee Flute Concert, the Ga’aton Dance Program, and the Akko Women’s Theater Program.

Each community performance, workshop and youth-centered event introduced audience members to unique forms of music, dance, and theater.

Afterwards, attendees had the opportunity to meet the performers and connect on a person-to-person basis. The performers also experienced the warmth of the community through home hospitality. An estimated 800 people attended the four

events, and a common refrain was heard throughout the series: “When will they be back?”

The series was a joint program between the Center for Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation, chaired by Bonnie

Bloch. Her committee members included Kim Goldberg, Karen Lepp, Diane Malashock, Patty Nogg, Zoë Riekes, Stacey Rockman, Susan Rothholz, Aviva Segall and Nancy Schlessinger.

“We were thrilled to bring such a high caliber of talent from our Partnership,” Bloch said. “People really enjoyed the performances, and the personal connection we made with the artists was a great way to bridge our two communities.”

Funding was provided by the Karen Sokolof Javitch Music Appreciation Fund, a Special Donor-Advised Fund, the Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund, the Myron (Mike) Milder II Memorial Fund, the Ruth Frisch and Oscar S. Belzer Endowment Fund, the Samuel and Bess Rothenberg Memorial Endowment Fund, and the Herbert Goldsten Trust.

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little something extra”. - Unknown

Mazel Tov to the 2007 Volunteers of the Year

Bonnie Bloch Daniel e Gordman Gloria Kaslow GaryKudym

SteveRiekes NancyRips DorothySpizman

Please join us as we thank our volunteers for their extraordinary efforts.

Jewish Federation of Omaha • Volunteer Recognition Reception • Monday, September 15, 7:30pm • JCC *Note: Due to construction in the front parking lot, additional parking and entry will be available by the fitness center.

September 5, 2008

Bringing something special to the table FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

by BOB LEPP, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha

As someone who has participated on the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s executive committee for more than 10 years, following my tenure with Jewish Senior Services and the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, I’ve been fortunate to have a first-hand look at what it takes to run a successful community.

This experience has shown me that our community has remained so strong over the years due to three key factors: the tremendous generosity of our donors, an outstanding line-up of Jewish professionals, and the wellinformed, dedicated and talented lay people who volunteer their time to make the Omaha Jewish community a great place to live.

Our volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks. Those who have taken on top leadership roles develop an indepth understanding of finances and infrastructure, and a clear vision about future growth and development.

Others prefer to take hands-on roles, such as spending quality time with our seniors, educating our youth and delivering holiday meals to families in need.

Each volunteer brings something special to the table, each deserves our sincere appreciation and each one should be commended.

Throughout the years, I’ve been especially pleased to see our volunteers and professionals working so well together. As a result, our community enjoys a very special unity that sets us apart. Of course, there will invariably be challenges along the way, but I know that we will all continue to work with a collaborative spirit as we move forward.

And I hope we will come together often in celebration of our accomplishments. They deserve to be recognized.

Therefore, to that end, I invite you to join me on Monday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., at our Annual Volunteer Reception, at the Jewish Community Center.

This is a great opportunity to come together and recognize our hard-working volunteers. I hope that each of you will take this time to celebrate, say thank you, and take pride in the Omaha Jewish community.

I also want to wish the community a Shana Tova -- a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year -- on behalf of the JFO Board of Directors and Staff. May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life for a sweet 5769!

Newcomer’s Brunch Sunday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center The Jewish Federation of Omaha invites all newcomers to the Omaha Jewish community to a brunch on Sept. 14, to meet other new arrivals, Omaha natives and community professionals. Children are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP to Janie Murow, Community Development Director, 334.6566 or jmurow@jewishomaha.org.

Thank you to the 2008 Campaign Leadership Team for helping us raise $3.2 million Campaign Co-chairmen: Marcia and Steve Pitlor Men’s Campaign Chairman: John Lehr Women’s Campaign Chairman: Nancy Rips Pacesetter Chairman: Sandy Friedman Lion of Judah Chairman: Jan Schneiderman Young Leadership Chairman: Brett Atlas Campaign Event Co-chairmen: Pam and Bruce Friedlander Andee and Anthony Scioli

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Volunteers of the year to be honored at community reception

by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director They’re dedicated, talented and generous with their time. The Omaha Jewish community was builton the strength of our outstanding volunteers. Let’s come together as a community and thank them for their efforts. On Monday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m., at the JCC, the Federation will honor the 2007 Volunteers of the Year, including: Jewish Federation of Omaha: Bonnie Bloch Bloch has been an outstanding volunteer for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, focusing on Partnership with Israel projects and programs. Last year Bonnie chaired the innovative and successful Partnership Performing Arts Series featuring artists from the Western Galilee. Bonnie is currently serving on the Partnership Committee as the Medical Task Force Chair, and she coordinated the recent physician exchange with Creighton University Medical Center. Bonnie also participates on the Federation’s Community Development Committee. Bonnie brings great dedication to her volunteer work. She has outstanding leadership qualities and is someone who tends to the details and logistics, often working behind the scenes to get the job done.

Bonnie has a tremendous commitment to our Jewish community, to Israel and to our partners in the Western Galilee. We feel privileged to name her our Volunteer of the Year.

ADL/Institute for Holocaust Education: Gloria Kaslow Kaslow has served as the first chairperson for the Institute for Holocaust Education’s Governance Council for the past three years, and has provided incredible guidance during this committee’s infancy. Her deep sense of commitment to Holocaust education has served us well as we build our reputation as a central resource in the field.

Kaslow takes part in every aspect of the Institute for Holocaust Education, from editing curriculum, reading student essays for the annual “Tribute to the Rescuers Essay” contest, school visits and activity on our committee with Omaha Holocaust Survivors. In addition, she has participated in the Nebraska Holocaust Education Consortium's presentation to the Nebraska Education Commissioner and Nebraska State Board of Education.

Most importantly, Kaslow provides devoted leadership and endless time to the work of the Institute for Holocaust Education. Her encouragement and support are irreplaceable.

Center for Jewish Education: Steve Riekes Riekes is passionate about providing high quality adult education opportunities. He has served in numerous positions for the Center for Jewish Education, including serving as a long-term board member for Jewish Educational and Library Services and the Bureau of Jewish Education.

He chaired the Financial Aid Committee for many years, and he was involved with the Education and Identity Coalition. Riekes currently chairs both the Grant Program Review Committee and the Cardozo Society.

He has been instrumental in securing funding for nationally known speakers and special film showings, enabling the Center for Jewish Education to provide additional educational offerings to the community.

There is probably no one in the Omaha Jewish community who cares more about Jewish education then Steve Riekes; he has proven this time and again through not only his words, but also his actions.

JCC: Danielle Gordman Gordman is the Chairperson of the Pennie Z. Davis

Child Development Center (CDC) Committee. She started volunteering for the CDC three years ago, taking a leadership role in developing the CDC School Directory. Danielle has been a great advocate in seeking scholarship sources and financial assistance to Jewish families in need for tuition to the CDC, personally reaching out to private resources.

Danielle has also been instrumental in encouraging parents who are new to the CDC to get involved.

Danielle’s commitment to the CDC is outstanding.

Her “whatever it takes to get the job done” approach is an exciting and energizing way to get things accomplished, and the CDC has accomplished great things under Danielle’s leadership.

Jewish Family Service: Gary Kudym Kudym has been a dedicated volunteer of Jewish Family Service for more than 10 years. He graciously delivers food boxes for Project Tzedakah. Many times, Gary is given the deliveries that others cannot make, in the outskirts of Omaha. He is always willing to go the extra mile to make additional last-minute deliveries when JFS is in a pinch.

Kudym has visited with some of the same persons over the years and has developed a special, trusted relationship. One such recipient says, “Gary is kind, compassionate and friendly. I enjoy knowing that he is coming, not just for the food but also for the friendly hello.”

JFS honors Kudym for both his longevity with Project Tzedakah and his willingness to always go above and beyond.

Jewish Senior Services/Rose Blumkin Jewish Home: Nancy Rips Rips has been volunteering at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home since 1993. She initiated a twice monthly Current Events program and has been educating, informing and entertaining the residents with every visit. In 1995, love of her Jewish religion and the elderly inspired her to have regular Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat Services at the Home.

Always innovative, Rips began “Shabbat Caroling” with fellow volunteer Andy Greenberg in 2006. Recently, they added song leading to their repertoires. Rips has always been a huge hit with the residents and families in the Omaha Jewish community. She makes every resident a personal friend, and everyone feels she is speaking directly to them. She gives generously of her time, energy and talent to the Blumkin Home.

Jewish Press: Dorothy Spizman After retiring as Executive Director of Temple Israel, Dorothy Spizman joined the Jewish Press Board of Directors in 2005. With a long history in efficiency, competency, creativity, and problem solving, she is, indeed, an asset to our Board.

Spizman has chaired several important committees for the Press: reviewing and updating our Policies regarding social announcements (from births to obituaries) and our Nominating Committee. In both cases, she formed sub-committees quickly, planned efficient meetings, and gained results quickly. Even where there were disagreements as to policy changes, she was always good-natured and even-handed, allowing her volunteer colleagues to have their say.

Spizman truly represents the high ethical standards by which the Press operates -- in a non-judgmental, safe and open atmosphere.

Contributors to the article at right include: Carol Katzman, Lisa Shkolnick, Lois Wine, Julee Katzman, Mary Sue Grossman, Beth Dotan, and Karen Gustafson.

Page 6

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

51st Annual MCH Auxiliary

Rummage Sale LARGEST IN THE MIDWEST

Washington County Fairgrounds • Arlington, Nebraska

Contemporary Jewish Issues, online courses and a trip to ‘The Big Apple’ highlight Beth El’s high school

Thurs., Sept. 11 • 9 am - 8 pm ) Fri., Sept. 12 • 9 am - 8 pm Sat., Sept. 13 • 9 am - 6 pm ) Sun., Sept. 14 • Bag Sale 9 am-2 pm 204983A01 Antique Auction - Sunday at 2:30 pm

by JILL BELMONT Learning Program at the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College in Philadelphia. Four courses Beth El Publicity Coordinator An eclectic offering of fun, creative and thought-pro- are being offered: The Torah’s Top 50 Ideas, taught by voking classes are on tap for students attending Beth El’s Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins; Dilemmas in Jewish History, More info: 402-426-2030 • kjensen@mchhs.org Proceeds to benefit MCH Health System’s Capital Campaign in Blair.

High School of Jewish Studies, and promise to enrich taught by Dr. Katharine Beller; Israel: Current Events the teens’ religious, spiritual and personal growth in a and Controversies, taught by Asaf Romirowsky; and variety of ways. Subjects ranging from ancient and con- Introduction to Education, taught by Dr. Saundra temporary Judaism, Jewish cooking and an online col- Sterling Epstein. The last two courses are also available lege course, to a special class that includes a trip to New for college credit.

“All instructors are well known and distinguished eduYork City, the HSJS will cover a wide spectrum of Jewish learning and a diverse group of teachers and guest speak- cators,” she continued. “The distance learning classes ers. Classes, which began Sept. 3, are open to all Jewish will appeal to students looking for more serious course work and to the student who is not able to attend classteens in the metro area.

According to Education Director Judy Rubin, the es on Wednesday evenings when our high school meets, high school’s curriculum is based on four learning tracks: but still desires to remain connected to Jewish learning.”

Youth Director Robert Text Messaging from the Mosenkis will serve as the Jewish Sages: Explore how It’s fun to know history. local facilitator of the disthe ancient Jewish texts tance-learning program.

(Torah, Prophets, Talmud, Other classes included in Pirkei Avot etc) define and the learning tracks will prepare us for today’s modexplore topics such as ern world. By unraveling the ENTERTAIN ‘Contemporary Jewish secrets and mysteries that lie PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR ID ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAs. ongress - Newspaper - B&W - LOCYR3-N-02059-C “Get History Buff” 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 85 linebeneath screen American Writers,” “Jewish the stories and film at Schawk: (212) 689-8585 Ref#:204983 Medical Ethics,” “Judaism events, students will discover WITH and Christianity: How Do their own insights as well as They Differ? What Do They those from various generaHave in Common?” “Teens tions. and the Law,” and “Profiting P4 (P to the 4th power): FOR THE FINEST IN ENTERTAINING ACCESSORIES, People, Places, Planets, In June 2007, students in the ‘Roots’ course offered by Beth From the Prophets,” among HOW CAN YOU THROW A PARTY AND NOT INVITE US? others.

Another Priorities --What’s our El’s High School of Jewish Studies, capped off the class with many • Tables • Chairs • Linens • Skirting • China • Glassware • Champaign Fountains • Chafing Dishes • Party Canopies Purpose in Life?: Tikkun a four-day trip to New York City. Participants included (from course, entitled, “Roots: An • Wedding & Church Displays • Dance Floors • BBQ Grills Olam, from social work, civil left) Macklin Emas, Ygal Schuller, Talia Tene, Effie Tsabari, Overview of the History of • Coat Racks • Candelabras • Margarita Machines • Chocolate Fountains Jewish Immigration to the rights, global warming, car- Liatte Dotan and Jessie Morris.

W e 11226 Wright Circle ddin United States,” will present a ing for the elderly, helping D g isp Our (1 Block South of 114th & Center) Sup lays & Visit room special curriculum of guest the poor and less fortunate, p lies w Sho speakers, creative writing fundraising, teaching and projects and films, and will leading the way for just causculminate in a four-day trip es, the entire world is to New York City in June depending upon each of us 2009. to take an active roll. Deep Rubin listed several other in our Jewish roots, is a tranew and unusual courses, dition of community supincluding instruction in Krav port. Specialized courses will Maga, (an Israeli form of help each person prepare and self-defense used by the perhaps select his or her own IDF), taught by Mike life’s path.

Kassebaum, plus a class Bimah Me Up: This track offered in conjunction with will focus on a variety of the Ohr Project of the ways to encourage positive Federation’s Partnership synagogue citizenship, with Israel, in which stuincluding learning to lead services, chant Torah and Last spring, teens participating in a BESTT art class spent dents will explore their Haftarah, becoming com- time collecting personal and family memorabilia connected Jewish identities through the • Oxygen • CPAP• Stairlifts • and more! theme of light. fortable with the morning to Beth El, and created their own special memory boxes.

• Specializing in Low Prescription Prices for “Ellie Greenspoon will instruct the students in the use and afternoon minyan, and the duties of a gabbai. “New • Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities skills are needed by many, to help them be guided in col- of the ‘camera obscura’, (pinhole photography), and will lege campuses and adult spiritual life,” Rubin noted. meet as an alternative class on Sunday mornings in her Prescription Prices Too High? Call Us! “This track will prepare our students for this very studio,” Rubin explained.

In addition, Tuffy Epstein will teach an instrumental rewarding part of Jewish life.”

In Business for Over 50 Years | Open 365 Days a Year Jewish Arts Bestt, located on the web at: www.jew- music course in Klezmer music for both budding and 7328 Maple Street | Omaha | 402/391-2659 isharts.bestt/: Through this track, students will have experienced musicians, and Howard Shandell and Eadie the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of Tsabari will teach the basics of Jewish cooking in “My Jewish arts: literature, visual arts, performing arts and Mother’s Kitchen.” culinary arts. Students will be able to select a special This year’s high school faculty (in addition to those Concerned about your baby’s development? project and let their creative minds take charge. Students mentioned above) will include Daniel Christensen, Beth ¿Se preocupa por el desarrollo de su niño? may concentrate in one learning track or may choose a Seldin Dotan, Bev Fellman, Glen Fineman, Bob diverse ‘fruit salad,’ choosing from any or all of the Goldberg, Andy Greenberg, Sara Juster, David Herzog, tracks, Rubin said.

Gloria Kaslow, Mark Kelln, Rabbi Mordechai Levin, “Our high school program continues to improve year Robert Mosenkis, Susan Paley, and Cantor Beth by year, and our variety of courses appeal to all types of Schlossberg. Saying she looks forward to the school year, learners,” she noted. “Last year when we instituted our Rubin remarked that she is “very pleased with the offertrack program, we began to address a variety of courses ings and the quality of the courses we are making availto satisfy learning needs.” able to our students. She also encouraged anyone with This year, that program has expanded, Rubin said, cit- questions to contact her at 498.0904, or eddir@betheling specifically Beth El’s partnership with the Distance omaha.org.

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There is no regular news in the Sept. 26 New Year’s issue.The Jewish Press will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, for Rosh Hashanah; Thursday, Oct. 9 for Yom Kippur; and Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 14-15 for Sukkot and Oct. 21-22 for Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is 9 a.m. as follows: Questions? Call 402.334.6448.

Issue Deadline Photos from last April’s Passover issue may be picked up in Oct 3 Wednesday, Sept. 24 the Press office during regular business hours; photos from Thursday, Oct. 2 Oct 10 Oct. 17 Wednesday, Oct. 8 the New Year’s issue will be available the week of Sept. 22.

Oct. 24 Tuesday, Oct. 16

September 5, 2008

L.O.V.E. GRANDPARENTS’ DAY Grandparents’ Day, in honor of the residents of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, will be celebrated at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, Sept. 14. Family entertainment by “Plain Labels” will begin at 1:45 p.m.

Following the concert, there will be cookie decorating and make your own sundaes. Please call Lois Wine at 334.6519 with any questions.

YOUNG ENERGETIC SENIORS Join us on Monday at the JCC with musical sensation Swing and Sway with Loretta K. Lunch is served at noon for $7 per person; the program will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Join us for Bingo with Miles Remer at 10 a.m. Call Teresa at 330.4272 for transportation. For information, call Maggie Conti at 334.6521.

LOMIR REDN YIDDISH Yiddish brings us closer to our roots! Come join us every Thursday, 1-3 p.m., n the social hall of the JCC. For information, call Anne Skolkin at 343.1638.

VISIONS Visions and 39 Forever Summer Picnic is Sunday, Sept. 21, 1-3:30 p.m., at Chalco Hill’s Recreation Area (Nature Center). Cost is $6 per person. Send reservations by Sept. 15 to Judy Katskee, 10356 Browne Street, Omaha, NE 68134. If you need a ride, call Florence Hauss at 571.4583.

Capture the excitement with the Capitol Steps at the Orpheum Theater on Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.

Cost is $40 per person. Send reservations to Betty Sanford, 9205 Western Ave. #127, Omaha, NE 68114.

Make check payable to Visions.

HADASSAH Hadassah board members are invited to “Lunch, Learning and Laughs” on Monday, Sept. 8, noon, at the Jewish Community Center. Featured guests from the Upper Midwest Region will include Gail Klein, Laurie Rosenwasser and Karen Rubin. There is no charge, but reservations are a must. Please call Gloria Jones at 334.5907 by Sept. 5.

B’NAI B’RITH BREADBREAKERS Last June’s tornado killed four scouts and wreaked havoc at the Little Sioux Scout Camp. Lloyd Roitstein, Executive Director/President of the the Mid-America Council, will bring us up to speed on Wednesday, Sept.

10, noon, at Regency Lodge, according to Gary Javitch, chairman. An optional buffet lunch is $13; beverage only is $3. For information or to get on the email list, contact Lois at 334.6443 or bnaibrith@jewishomaha.org.

RAIL FEST 2008 For complete schedule: www.railtownusa.org or call 308-534-3648

ALL ABOARD railroad events, music, food and family fun

Four visiting locomotives including the world’s largest operating steam locomotive * Free bus tours of world’s largest railroad yard * Free rides on UP mini train * Locomotive simulators * 90 ft. observation tower * Model trains * Live music Ad produced in part by a grant from the Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism and the North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau. 1-877-NEBRASKA • www.VisitNebraska.org

Get in the game!

UNO Maverick Football Mavericks vs. Nebraska-Kearney Saturday • September 6 6:00 p.m. • Al Caniglia Field Tickets: 554-MAVS • gomavs.unomaha.edu

Why fight it?

Page 7

IN THE NEWS

ORGANIZATIONS

Sept. 19, 20, 21 North Platte, NE

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

The JCC of Pittsburgh and Amazing Journeys present Amazing China for Jewish Singles for Jewish singles (30s, 40s and 50s), from Nov. 2-12, is sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and Amazing Journeys.

The 11-day post-Olympic adventure includes nine nights in Five-Star accommodations, international flights from the United States and flights within China, all transportation within China and daily sightseeing led by experienced and knowledgeable guides, accompanied by Amazing Journeys and JCC Escorts. A three-day add-on trip to Hong Kong, from Nov. 12-15, also is offered.

The journey will include visits to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, major attractions, such as the the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, the Olympic village and main attractions of the Games, and a day exploring the Great Wall of China. Plans also include “the road less traveled” with the unique experience of a tour of the “Hutongs” by rickshaw, ancient pagodas, a host-home experience, and a show at the Tang Dynasty Stage Opera. For reservations, a complete itinerary, and further details visit www.amazingjourneys.net or contact Bill Cartiff at 800.734.0493 or email bcartiff@jccpgh.org. Join our Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/ group.php?gid=11854285791 Jason Rich, son of Diane and Philip Rich, has graduated cum laude from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business with degrees in Finance and Management. He has moved back to Omaha and is working with SureMove Realty.

In his current role as Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, Reverend Richard Cizik has worked to improve relations and understanding between the Evangelical community and other religious communities including the Muslim,

Jewish, and Catholic communities. Join Reverend Cizik as he explores who comprises the Evangelical Christian community, what constitutes their core beliefs and practices, and examines the diversity within this large and influential group on Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific Street in a program jointly sponsored by: Grace University, Project Interfaith, and Center for Faith Studies.

Offered to the public at no charge, seating is limited and registration is required. To register, contact Cyndi Kugler, Director of the Center for Faith Studies, at 402.391.0350, ext. 121. For more information, email info@projectinterfaithusa.org.

The 2008-09 Leadership Omaha class was announced by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and includes attorney Scott Meyerson. He is a partner at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP and served on the Jewish Press Board from 2002-08. He became a member of the JCC Board in June.

This marks the 31st year of Leadership Omaha, making it one of the oldest community leadership programs in the nation. This 10-month study of community issues is designed to develop effective leaders who will strengthen and transform the community.

Barton “Bucky” Greenberg, 84, participated in the Masters Swimming National Long Course Championships in Portland, OR, where he placed first in the 50m breaststroke (where, like Michael Phelps, his goggles filled with water on his dive!) and second in the 200m (later disqualified because he swam in the wrong lane!). He trains year ’round at the JCC.

Shayna Ray has been promoted to Lieutenant of the Omaha Police Department. She is a 14-year veteran and served in undercover positions recently.

BIRTHS Paula and John Malone of Tampa, FL, announce the May 23 birth of their son, Jacob Michael Dean.

Grandparents are Sandi McCreight, Silva and Mike Malone all of Tampa, and the late Gene McCreight.

Great-grandparents are Julie Schapiro of Tampa, the late George Schapiro, and John Ritums of Riga, Latvia.

Laura and Glenn Scott of Scottsdale, AZ announce July 17 the birth of a son, Max Glenn.

He has a sister, Sydney Rae. Grandparents are Carol and Peter Brodkey.

Great-grandparents are the late Shirley and Mort Fisher, and Rae and Eddie Brodkey.

Toni and Andy Schroeder of Midwest City, OK, announce the Aug. 5 birth of their son, William Martin.

Grandparents are Manuel and Karen Delgadillo and Bruce and Cindy Schroeder.

Great-grandparents are Louis and Virginia Hanisch, Lucille Bausch of Fairbury, NE, the late Martin Bausch, the late Doris and Jerome Prsterman, and the late Salvador and Belen Delgadillo.

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

Beth El sixth graders to ‘Learn by Doing’ through new curriculum

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah (BESTT) has announced that it has been selected to pilot Project ETGAR, a new curriculum for middle school students in Conservative congregational schools.

Together with 10 other synagogues that are new to the program this year, BESTT is joining 22 congregations throughout North America who have been testing the program for several years.

Project ETGAR is the first full-service Conservative curriculum for synagogue middle school students sponsored jointly by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Melton Research Center of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. The curriculum features student-centered learning which integrates projects, art, music, films, games, primary text study and other meaningful activities.

“For the past three years, the Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah has been invited to become a pilot school for Project ETGAR, but we had to decline due to the high cost of the training and the materials,” said BESTT Education Director Judy Rubin. “However, thanks to the generosity of Beth El’s Sisterhood and the Dan Gordman Fund, we were able to accept the invitation for the 2008-09 school year. In addition, the Gordman Fund is making it possible for us to extend the program into the 7th and 8th grades for 2009-10.”

Rubin expressed enthusiasm their lives. “I have always with the new curriculum, saying, striven to bring Judaism “Middle school students have speinto their everyday lives,” cial needs and Project ETGAR has Kronick commented, “so addressed all types of learners in that as their day unfolds, the formatting of the course work. they can find a Jewish lesProject Etgar will revolutionize son or value to help them the contemporary religious school make better decisions, classroom, and a fantastic year is in and will see Torah and store our sixth graders (and their Jewish teachings as a parents).” handbook for the 21st The curriculum consists of core century.” subjects such as Holy Books, Rubin, Kronick, and felKashrut, Bikkur Holim (visiting low teacher Eadie Tsabari the sick), and Friendship, she recently completed the explained, adding that the Tefillah intensive ETGAR training units cover key points about program at the Jewish prayer and God in such prayers as Theological Seminary in the Amidah and the Torah New York.

Service.

“The training in New “Students will learn by doing York at the Jewish and emphasis will be placed on Along with other education directors from around the country, BESTT Theological Seminary was critical thinking skills rather than Education Director Judy Rubin participated in an analysis of exhilarating,” Rubin supplying factual knowledge,” synagogue/student relationships during the recent Project ETGAR train- remarked. “We worked Rubin said. “They will be study- ing in New York. alongside teachers and ing authentic Jewish texts and grappling Mitzvah. Secondly, teachers love teaching school directors from all over the country. with them, coming to their own conclu- the materials and there is a high retention We shared similar problems and in many rate among middle-school teachers, cases got to brag about BESTT. We were sions.

Noting that middle school is a critical which are often the classes that most also treated to an entertaining evening time in the development of youth, Rubin often have a high turnover of staff. Lastly, with the research librarian of the Special observed that “One of the main attrac- this curriculum was specifically written for Collections section of the Kripke Library tions of Project ETGAR was not in its Conservative religious school classrooms; at the Jewish Theological Seminary.” course descriptions or web site. Rather, values that are of importance to BESTT’s sixth grade students and their those schools who have been participat- Conservative Jews will be stressed. parents was introduced to the ETGAR BESTT teacher Deborah Kronick curriculum during a presentation by ing in in the program report that students love the curriculum, hate to miss school added that the ETGAR curriculum will Rubin last Sunday, as part of the religious and all indications are that there is a high connect with students through its use of school’s back-to-school open house retention rate beyond Bar and Bat “current icons, movies, music, etc., in event.

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September 5, 2008

Temple Israel welcomes back Cantor Gilat for S’lichot

After moving to Texas, Cantor Gilat split her time

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator between Congregation Beth El Binah, a small lay-led gay Like she did in 2002, when she sang in Temple Israel’s congregation in Dallas and Beth El congregation, a Four Cantors Concert, Cantor Karen Webber Gilat feels mainstream traditional Reform setting in Ft. Worth that “returning to Omaha is a little like coming ‘home,’ where she jazzed up worship, holidays, and senior adult programming. Her thirst for seeking God in unlikesince that’s where my career ly and outlying areas was quenched with a prison started.” chaplaincy that began on Hanukkah with a musicalCantor Gilat will be in poetry program rededication.

Omaha again in two weeks At Beit Aleph Meditation synagogue in Seattle, for S’lichot on Saturday, Washington, she introduced traditional and original Sept. 20, 7 p.m. This will be melodies into a meditative worship setting and facil“an evening of soul searchitated a women’s “moon” circle. Beth Or in Everett, ing, of opening the heart. A Washington, a family oriented congregation, gave time of individual and comthe cantor an opportunity to concentrate on one-onmunal awakening,” she said. one study with Bar/Bat Mitzvah and adult students.

She’ll also be at Temple the In Ohio, she served as a guest cantor at Beth following morning at 10 Adam, a humanist congregation in Cincinnati while a.m. for an informal worktaking a more “traditional” cantorial role at Temple shop on creating a communiIsrael in Dayton, Ohio. She also spent a year as a ty of holiness. cantor-in-residence at HUC-JIR, mentoring stuMarking her eighteenth dents in bimah presence, participating in worship year in the cantorate, “I Cantor Karen Webber Gilat and special events. At the Reform Jewish High wanted to celebrate. It just so happened that this opportunity arose out of a dia- School, Cantor Gilat pioneered a class in meditation. logue with (Rabbi) Aryeh (Azriel) a few years ago. One of her favorite High Holiday pulpits was Miami S’lichot is a perfect time, an intense, holy beginning to University Hillel.

Now a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she an awesome season of transformation.”

Cantor Gilat was awarded a master’s in sacred music lives with her husband Ronen and their son, Zeev, 14, from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of and daughter Ivy, nine, the versatile cantor currently Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York City in 1990. She serves as a chaplain at Clarks Summit State Hospital in began her career at that point at Temple Israel in Pennsylvania and part-time as a cantor at Temple Ohev Omaha, quite a change after living in Brooklyn. She took Sholom in Harrisburg and at B’nei B’rith in Kingston. part in all aspects of congregational life including wor- She also worked at Colgate University Hillel.

Cantor Gilat’s love of Judaism expressed through ship, adult education, and weekly hospital visitation. She trained a professional quartet for holy days, created an prayer, art, and performance is the thread that entwines intergenerational choir, developed religious school cur- its way through all these diverse communities.

Her visit is sponsored by the Hermene Zweiback riculum around prayer melodies, and wrote and adapted Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. scripts to be performed on the stage and the bimah.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

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UNMC pays tribute to Singer, Gendelman, and other researchers

by LISA SPELLMAN University of Nebraska Medical Center Harriett Singer was there, on the ground floor, supporting UNMC’s Neuroscience research at a time when seeing a world class program was simply a dream and one with a very uncertain future.

There was no research even being performed on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease let alone developing new therapeutics and vaccines.

spoke about the important lifeline research provides for medicine. “It’s a wonderful time to be in science and the time is now for UNMC Neuroscience,” he said.

Dr. Gendelman used the dinner as an opportunity to introduce Howard Fox, M.D., to the community. Dr. Fox is the newest member of the department. He is an internationally regarded researcher in brain degeneration and will develop a program in bench to bedside research, where new therapies would be tested in Nebraska for the

Dr. Howard Gendelman, left, thanks Harriet Singer and Dr. Don Gilden, the event’s keynote speaker.

Last month, the Omaha philanthropist was recognized for her support for jump starting a program to its current stature at the third annual Community Pride Neuroscience Dinner, hosted by Howard Gendelman, M.D., chairman of the department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“Harriet’s faith in our research and her friendship through the years proved invaluable,” Dr. Gendelman said, describing Singer as an extraordinary person and community leader in helping to initiate a scientific program and dreams to reality.

Don Gilden, M.D., Louise Baum Professor and chair of the department of neurology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, marveled at the outpouring of community support in Omaha for medical research. “It’s the life blood of any successful program and refreshing to see,” Dr. Gilden said.

Dr. Gilden was the keynote speaker at the dinner and

Dr. Gendelman introduces Dr. Michelle Aizenberg Ansari and Dr. Shervin Ansari to UNMC supporters. first time to treat the devastating effects of such neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and HIV-induced dementia.

A recruit from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., Dr. Fox joins a growing team of researchers dedicated to eliminating these deadly diseases.

Top researcher Dr. Howard “Coming to UNMC feels Fox is new to Omaha and like coming home. The UNMC. warmth, friendship and support I received have been remarkable. I see a rich future in making Nebraska neuroscience the best world wide,” Dr. Fox said. A father of three, he will be joined at UNMC by his wife, Nora Sarvetnick, Ph.D., who will lead transplant immunology.

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For more information, call the MAC Box Office at 712.326.2295.

Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

Beth El Talmud Torah Program gears up for reading, writing and ruach

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator After a quiet summer, the halls of Beth El will be filled with the voices and footsteps of children of all ages, as the synagogue’s Talmud Torah (BESTT) kicked off this year’s classes on Sept. 2 for fifth and sixth grades. Third, fourth and seventh grades began on Sept. 3, and all grades will attend on Sunday, Sept. 7.

the expectations of all our families will equal our enthusiasm.”

Rubin announced the following staff members for the upcoming year: Annie Rifkin, Pre-K; Holly Weill, kindergarten; Deborah Kronick, first grade; Cari Green, second grade; Naama Artzi, Dora Goldstrom, Devra Bram and Sindie Katskee, third grade; Maya Wertheimer, Margo Riekes and Katskee, fourth grade;

Second graders display their Seder plates, made as part of BESTT’s Passover celebration.

The school staff is geared up for an exciting and fulfilling year for students from pre-kindergarten through high school, said BESTT Education Director Judy Rubin. “We’re planning another dynamite school year with a superior teaching staff, offering our students the opportunity to learn on multiple levels,” she said.

“BESTT provides a wonderfully nurturing environment for all of our students.”

Each new year represents a fresh beginning, she continued, saying, “Parents buy new clothes and school sup- Third-grade teacher Eadie Tsabari helps plies for their her students learn about Israel in the children, and school’s computer lab. teachers prepare their lessons to spark their students’ imaginations and touch their souls. We anticipate that

BESTT fifth graders rehearse their original play, “Celebrate Shabbat for the Rest of Your Life.”

Tsabari, Kronick, Riekes and Devra Bram, fifth grade; Riekes, Kronick, Cantor Beth Schlossberg and Tsabari, sixth grade; Goldstrom, Robert Mosenkis, Janie Kulakofsky and Wertheimer, seventh grade. Teen assistants for the year include Ezra Potash, Samantha Juster, Tali Levin, Shir Palmon, Caroline Juster, Adeev Potash, Alex Solomon, Ari Brodkey, Yonatan Dotan, Ygal Schuller and Effie Tsabari.

In addition to weekly classes, the following family programs will be held during the year as educational supplements, which will give families opportunities to learn together: Grade 3, Siddur program; Grade 4, FourthGrade Wedding; Grade 5, Family History; Grade 6, preB’nai Mitzvah program, ‘Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah’; Grade 7, ‘Belonging to the Jewish Community.’ (The seventh-grade program will be held on Sept. 21.)

Rubin said she looks forward to another busy, exciting year for the religious school. “5769 promises to be a year of excellence, positive change and innovation for our students and faculty,” she remarked. “From the implementation of the Project Etgar materials for sixth grade, the many new courses offered in the high school including our partnership with Gratz College in Philadelphia, and new programming for our youngest students, we are looking forward to great results.”

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Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, will host its fifth annual Antique and Garden Show, Sept.

26-28. The show will feature 30 antique dealers with thousands of rare antiques on display and for sale, lectures, education talks and music by the Heidi Joy Jazz Band on Sunday.

Patron Preview Party, Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. Be among the first to view and purchase fine antiques from around the world. Featuring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, music and free valet parking. Tickets are $125 and reservations are required.

Luncheon with Carleton Varney, Friday, Sept. 26 at 11:30 a.m. Varney tells all about Draper’s celebrity clients and his own of today. The luncheon and lecture are followed by a book signing. Tickets are $75 and

reservations are required. Limited seating is available.

Brunch with Jay Strongwater, Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. My Bejeweled Garden, Sponsored by Borsheims.

Strongwater, designer of “Jewels for the Home,” began crafting unique jewelry from glass, metal and crystal in 1980. Strongwater will be available to sign purchases made that day. Tickets are $75 and reservations are required. Limited seating is available.

General admission tickets are $10 each and allow admission to all three days of the show. Members receive free admission. The show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and free parking will be available. For information, visit www.lauritzengardens.org, www.omahaantiqueshow.org or call 402.346.4002 ext. 201.

Selections from the Crazy Eights and the 88 Lesser Themes to show at the JCC Gallery

by LYNN BATTEN Administrative/Publicity Associate Fresh off its successful debut at the Hot Shops Art Center, the JCC Gallery will host Selections From The Crazy Eights and the 88 Lesser Themes Sept. 7-13. Over 152 local, national, and international artists took part in this exhibit and represent some of today’s hottest talent. Artists range from painters, sculptors, and photographers to musicians, comic book illustrators, tattoo artists, and actors.

The exhibit, organized by local artists and UNO graduates Mike Scheef, Joel Holm, Derek Courtney, and Kim Reid-Kuhn, is based around eight main themes. Larger scaled work was created to illustrate one of the eight themes, while “The 88 Lesser Themes”

generated 88 individually themed pieces of artwork, each formatted in an eight-inch circle.

“We enjoy bringing new names and faces to the Omaha art scene, as well giving new twists to the ‘themed’ exhibitions. We’re extremely excited by the reaction we’ve received from the community. We’re currently planning our next group show, scheduled for September 2009 at the Hot Shops, as well as focusing on our own individual work,” Scheef explained.

The group previously curated the “4 Horsemen/77 Deadly Sins” exhibition at the Hot Shops Art Center, which was nominated for “Best Group Art Show” at the 2007 Omaha Entertainment Awards.

Selections will be on display in the JCC gallery for one week only.

September 5, 2008

NCJW to participate in West Omaha consignment sale

by OZZIE NOGG National Council of Jewish WomenOmaha Section is asking members of the community to donate gently used, quality children’s items to be sold at Kidz Shoppe, the popular West Omaha consignment sale scheduled for Sept. 23-27.

Donations may include name-brand children’s and maternity clothes, toys, cribs, strollers, high chairs, books, car seats, videos, computer games, outside play equipment, bikes, Halloween costumes -- almost anything enjoyed by kids.

Leslie Eades and Nikki Kirshenbaum are in charge of gathering donations.

“Leslie and I are looking forward to cochairing the consignment sale again this fall,” Kirshenbaum said. “This will be the eighth time Council has participated in Kidz Shoppe, and each time it gets better and better. We encourage everyone to

donate items or volunteer to help price items or work the sale. It’s a lot of fun.”

Proceeds from Kidz Shoppe support Totes for Tots -- the NCJW program that provides a bag filled with personal items to children going into emergency shelter and foster care.

In order to be accepted for the sale, clothing should be stain-free. Toys must be in working condition and include all pieces. Donations may be dropped in the donation bins at Kidz Inn and the Pennie Z. Davis Child Development Center at the Jewish Community Center from now until Sept. 18.

“We can also pick up your items,” Kirshenbaum said. To arrange a pick-up time, please contact Nikki Kirshenbaum at 965.8935 or Leslie Eades at 330.8208.

Receipts are available for all donations.

Broadway’s not just in New York Visions members enjoyed a day trip away to Brownville and saw Colored Lights: A Celebration of Broadway Musicals by KT Sullivan.

Accompanying on the piano was Jon Weber and on the bass was Krzysztof Pabian.

Following the show members enjoyed dinner at Grisanti’s, including: Ruth Oruch, Shirley Weinstein, Dee Goodman and Lois Endelman.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Beth El rolls out the welcome mat for Open-House Shabbat

by JILL BELMONT Beth El Publicity Coordinator On Friday, Sept. 12, 5 p.m., Beth El and the Jewish Federation of Omaha will team up to present “Open House Shabbat,” a great way to roll out the welcome mat for Jewish newcomers to the community, those who have not yet joined a synagogue, and members of other congregations who would like to experience something new.

The evening will begin with a special reception at 5 p.m., followed by the synagogue’s joy-filled musical Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6 p.m.

“This will be a wonderful opportunity for members of the Jewish community – newcomers and longtime residents - to visit with us, to experience our musical Friday night service, and to get information about our programs for youth and adults,” said Beth El’s Rabbi Mordechai Levin, who has led Omaha’s Conservative congregation for the past six years.

Whether you are single, a college student, just married, a family with young or teen-aged children, an empty nester, Jewby-choice or an intermarried couple exploring Jewish choices, you will feel right at home at Beth El, where people just like you have found a meaningful place to celebrate Jewish life and values.

“Come and experience the warmth of our Beth El family,” he remarked, noting that members of the synagogue staff and the board will be at the reception to greet guests, and to offer details about synagogue life.

The rabbi also encouraged his congregants to join in the festivities, saying, “I invite all of you to bring a Jewish friend or relative to our Open House Shabbat, to share in what you have come to treasure at Beth El.” New congregants are singing the praises of their new spiritual home, among them, Jason Hoberman, who along with

his wife Michelle and their children, joined Beth El earlier this year.

Hoberman related the family’s first encounter with Beth El that led them to become members.

“On our visit, we ran into Rabbi Levin, who greeted us very warmly and welcomed us to Beth El with open arms,” he recalled. “Even though he was busy, as it was during Sunday school, and we had just spontaneously dropped by so we could look around, he cleared his calendar for the next 45 minutes to give us the ‘rabbi’s tour’ of the facility. Everyone from staff to congregants was happy to have us there, and we truly felt a part of the Beth El family by the time we had ended our tour.”

Upon an acquaintance’s suggestion, Brent and Marcie Spivack decided to check out the synagogue in 2006, and, according to Marcie, “I felt like the arms were wide open when we walked through the door.” That first evening, she said, three families invited the Spivack family to dinner, and “everyone made us feel welcome, even though we hadn’t even joined yet.”

Since becoming members, the Spivacks have jumped into synagogue life with great enthusiasm: Marcie was recently elected president of the Sisterhood auxiliary, and Brent, an accomplished keyboardist, has performed in several of Beth El’s recent musical productions and has joined the Talmud Torah staff as a music teacher for the children.

With the high holidays approaching, this upcoming Open House Shabbat will give guests the opportunity to experience Shabbat services at Beth El, plus a warm, friendly welcome and a chance to get to know others in the Jewish community.

For more information, please contact Program Director Margie Gutnik at 492.8550, or at programming@bethelomaha.org.

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Page 12

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

True or false?

Which of the following statements are true?

1. Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim, not a Christian as he claims.

2. It was Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol who gave birth to a Down Syndrome baby in April, not the governor.

3. Sen. Obama has refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and if he takes office, would take the oath using a Koran; 4. Gov. Palin supported Pat Buchanan (an anti-Semite and professed supporter of Adolf Hitler) in his 2000 run for the presidency.

Well, of course, they’re all false.

And you knew that, but you also knew about these rumors. But unless you do some digging at real news sites, viewers who take the internet at face value would assume they’re true. (Note to Rep. Robert Wexler of South Florida: before you slam Sen. John McCain’s choice of vice president as a “direct affront to all Jewish Americans”, check the facts.)

To Sen. Obama’s credit, minutes after the (true) announcement of the pregnancy of the 17-year-old unmarried daughter of Gov. Palin, he told the press that family matters should be “off limits.”

And we agree. Whether it’s the vicious rumors that circulated after Sen. Obama started winning Democratic caucuses and primaries or those aimed at other candidates, we think they have no place in this year’s election.

Internet rumors, like lashon hara (the Hebrew for “evil tongue”, loosely translated as

gossip) can not only destroy a person’s reputation, they distract from the real choice between our presidential (and vice presidential) candidates. In fact, our sages tell us that speaking lashon hara, or even listening to it, is like death; it destroys the soul of those who spread it.

There’s no difference between forwarding an e-mail containing the above-mentioned lies about current political candidates and telling your neighbor that someone you know is having an affair. If either case would cause monetary or physical damage to the person who is the subject of the rumors, or causes “anguish or fear” according to the Rambam, the great rabbinic sage Maimonides, then it falls under the category of lashon hara.

While the Jewish Press, owned by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, cannot (and does not) endorse either political candidates or parties, we do try to bring attention to issues of concern to our readers. As Jews, as Americans, we have a stake in this November’s outcome. And that’s where our concentration should be.

This is a serious time for America.

And this is a serious election.

Certainly there are enough issues to discuss and debate -- from the economy and energy, from security

and the war in Iraq, to health care and education. Jews, like their neighbors, are worried about both pocketbook issues and the tax and economic plans put forth by both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain. We wonder where the next front will be for American troops (Georgia?

Afghanistan? Iran?) and how each candidate will approach the problems in the Middle East.

We have less than nine weeks left to learn as much as we can about these candidates. It doesn’t help when some of the “information” is ripe with innuendo and outright lies. And our response should be the same as it is when we hear lashon hara -- tell the speaker it’s wrong, turn away, and ignore it.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

by ABRAHAM H. FOXMAN Although self-publishing has gained increasing traction lately, the idea of launching one’s own publishing company “to facilitate the publication of my first book,” makes John Hostettler’s Nothing for the Nation: Who Got What Out of Iraq an especially vivid example of chutzpah.

And while Hostettler, a Republican congressman from Indiana from 1995 to 2007, defends his vote against the war in Iraq on several grounds, his contention that President George W. Bush depended on intelligence provided by neoconservatives “with Jewish backgrounds” -- whose real interest was in promoting the security of Israel -- demands our attention.

Of course, Hostettler’s reasoning is nothing new, following the line of attack in The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by academics John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt.

His conclusions are similar to theirs: Individuals in government, who always have Jewish surnames and Israeli connections, provided crucial intelligence on Iraq and were concerned not with the American republic but with Israel’s security. Like his predecessors, Hostettler’s claim of “dual loyalty” by prominent Jews repeats age-old slanders of Jewish disloyalty to their countries and outlandish notions of secret Jewish cabals pulling international strings.

Hostettler presents his case in a lineal, pedestrian, and almost timid manner. At first he focuses on justifying his opposition to U.S. military intervention in Iraq and to condemning President Bush for using personal motives -- a vendetta for Saddam’s attempted assassination of Bush II’s father, the 41st president -- for taking America into war.

In defense of his own actions - or perhaps patting himself on the back for his foresight -Hostettler claims to have asked at several brief-

Jewish Press Board Michael Sigmond, Vice President; Stan Mitchell, Secretary; Michael Siegel, Treasurer; Howard K. Marcus, Immediate Past-chairman; Marc Brodkey; Andie Gordman; Michael Kaufman; Bette Kozlen; Susan Lehr; Jamie Meyerson; Andy Ruback; Jim Simon; Nancy Skid; and Dorothy Spizman.

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

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.

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Here we go again: blaming the Jews for the Iraq War ings: “‘Where are the weapons of mass destruction?’” and concludes that he “could not justify support of a preemptive military strike on Iraq based on the intelligence that was available to me.” In the end, he was one of just six Republicans who voted against giving the president the authority to go to war.

Hostettler gets to the red meat of his thesis when he focuses on the neoconservatives, relying on names such as Kristol, Perle, Wolfowitz, Feith, and Shulsky, to convey the specter of a covert cabal that has intrigued to encourage the United States to go to war for the benefit of Israel.

Hostettler claims that it was only after the “distressing news... of the lack of WMD” that he learned members of the Office of Special Plans had played a much more critical role in the intelligence ‘analysis’ before the votes in Congress. He notes that OSP’s Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith had, in 1986, “established a law firm with partner Marc Zell, who was a resident of Israel [emphasis added].”

He refers to others who had been in government, like David Wurmser and Paul Wolfowitz, and who suggested the presence of a WMD program in Iraq.

Hostettler began to entertain the idea that the links among them “were something more than coincidental.” Presumably, that something more is their being Jewish and not their shared politics.

He cites financial contributions to the GOP made by Jack Rosen of the “liberal-leaning” American Jewish Congress. He refers to William “Bill” Kristol as “a well-known spokesman in the neoconservative political movement” and quotes another writer as describing Kristol as “of Jewish background.”

That being Jewish may inform someone’s politics but not be determinative of them is a line of thought of which Hostettler is incapable.

On one occasion he asks an unnamed speaker at one of Rep. Ron Paul’s Liberty Caucus

(Founded in 1920) Bobbi Leibowitz President Carol Katzman Editor Richard Busse Managing Editor Allan Handleman Advertising Manager Robyn Belgrade Sales Associate Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Managing Editor Barbara Kirkpatrick Bookkeeper

meetings, “Why did Messrs. Wolfowitz, Feith, Wurmser, [Abram] Shulsky, and [Lawrence] Franklin fashion intelligence in support of the spurious claim of the presence of a WMD program in Iraq to draw the United States into a conflict that would lead to the demise of the regime of Saddam Hussein?” The answer? “‘In the defense of the nation Israel.’”

At this point, the reader begins to suspect that Hostettler is a conspiracy theorist of the first order. For someone who was a six-term congressman, he seems to have a grievous lack of understanding of the messy and argumentative way policy - foreign or domestic -- actually gets made. He gives no credit to those American Jewish organizations that had diverse opinions on a war in Iraq and who today maintain various agendas regarding the peace process in the Middle East; they are hardly shy about advertising their policy prescriptions.

Furthermore, in highlighting all those Jewish neocon names, Hostettler neglects the non-Jewish colleagues with whom they served, and those other members at the highest echelons of the Bush administration -Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, and Vice-President Dick Cheney, none of them Jewish - who may have had at least an opportunity or two to offer their own assessments about the advisability of going to war.

Do they bear no responsibility for reading and analyzing intelligence reports?

Hostettler has settled upon the oldest answer to policy failures in which, having failed to persuade his colleagues to act otherwise, he must unfortunately feel implicated: It’s the Jews that did it.

Sadly, this is the conspiracy theory that keeps on ticking.

Abraham H. Foxman is National Director of the Anti-Defamation League and author of The Deadliest Lies: The Israel Lobby and the Myth of Jewish Control.

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September 5, 2008

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 13

New Orleans community turning a corner in post-Katrina recovery BEHIND THE HEADLINES

by GAIL NARON CHALEW

gle and married young professionals without children.

But now families with young children are coming, too, says the newcomer program’s director, Jennifer Samuels.

“This is a really strong vote of confidence in the future of New Orleans and the vitality of our Jewish community,” Samuels said.

One family -- Mardi Steinitz, Patrick O’Connor and their son, Rowan -- moved here from Philadelphia when Rowan was three-months-old. Patrick works as a producer for a local television news show; Mardi is a stay-athome mom.

“Before we moved here, all I knew about New Orleans was the negative things I had heard on TV,” Mardi told JTA. “But I have fallen in love with it, much more than any other place I have lived before. This is really like a small town where everyone is so friendly and warm. It is so easy to make new friends, and I can walk everywhere.”

Rabbi Uri Topolosky, whose flooded synagogue, Beth

NEW ORLEANS (JTA) -- Three years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the face of Jewish New Orleans is undergoing a dramatic transformation.

The traditional Southern community that was nearly destroyed by the hurricane on Aug. 29, 2005 has been energized by an influx of young newcomers and has a new pioneering spirit, community leaders say.

“We are moving from a community in recovery to a community of transformation,” said Michael Weil, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. “Our agencies and synagogues are now mostly back on track.”

Weil says, however, that the community isn’t merely interested in returning to where it was before the storm. “Katrina has given us the opportunity to reinvent an entire American Jewish community,” he said.

While the first two anniversaries of the hurricane were marked by exhaustion, reconstruction and the consuming effort of getting lives back to normal, this year’s Katrina anniversary is being met with cautious optimism.

Jewish community leaders say the recovery effort has turned a corner and they are Interfaith partners in the Isaiah Funds stand in front of a New Orleans home renovated with Credit: Gail Naron Chalew looking forward to a richer money from the fund.

Israel, became famous three years ago when photos of its and more vibrant community.

Newcomers, estimated at 10 percent of the Jewish Torahs being rescued in chest-deep water circulated population here, already are having a significant impact worldwide, said New Orleans’ Modern Orthodox comon the community. In one example, enrollment at the munity is growing, too.

“New Orleans is probably the fastest growing Modern federation-sponsored community day school, which fell by nearly 75 percent after Katrina, has nearly doubled Orthodox community in the country today, percentagewise, with the four new families that have moved here from last year.

Some 600 Jewish newcomers have moved to New recently,” he said. “In a small Jewish community like New Orleans since Katrina, some no doubt drawn by the fed- Orleans, every new observant family really makes a signiferation's Newcomer Incentives Program. The program icant impact. Because kosher food and day school are prioffers eligible newcomers up to $5,500 for moving and orities for these families, they help strengthen the institurental housing expenses, interest-free loans of up to tions that the entire Jewish community can benefit from.”

Beth Israel has launched an effort called ‘The Minyan $30,000 for housing and business start-ups, half-price tuition at the community Jewish day school and a year's Project’ to attract 10 new Orthodox families to the comfree membership at a synagogue of their choice, the munity. In return for generous financial assistance, the families will commit to providing community service, JCC, local Jewish organizations and even JDate.

An extension of the Newcomer Program called from maintaining the eruv enclosure that’s due to be JGRAD launched this month with the aim of keeping completed within the month to assisting in kosher superJewish graduates of Tulane and other local universities in vision at a local supermarket.

Three years after Katrina, the flow of Jewish volunteers New Orleans. The program matches them with a job counselor and provides rental grants, help in repaying to New Orleans from synagogues, Hillel campus centers student loans and a signing bonus of $500 when they and schools across the country has not decreased, either.

Some of the estimated 10,000 Jewish volunteers who land their first job.

Until recently, most of the newcomers have been sin- have come to New Orleans since the hurricane to rebuild

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The City of New Orleans successfully evacuated some 1.9 million people from the area last weekend before Hurricane Gustav hit, and as of Tuesday, city and relief officials were asking people to wait before returning home. City officials said they were still working to fix downed power lines, that 1.4 million households still lacked electricity, and the city’s water and sewer systems were not yet back to capacity.

“We dodged a bullet. The levees have held; there’s been very limited damage, and as far as we know, our institutions are safe,” said Michael Weil, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.

United Jewish Communities officials said they would continue to work with other Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) relief and the Gulf Coast Jewish communities to closely monitor the situation in the coming days. Disaster relief agencies were waiting for calmer weather to allow aircraft to fly over the region and better assess damage in addition to reports from the ground.

Jewish federations and institutions hosted the evacuated Jewish community, including: Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, the URJ’s Camp Jacobs in Utica, MS, northern Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast, Jackson, MS, Memphis, Nashville, and the states of Texas and Arkansas.

Weil added, “We’ve been tested, and we have come out of this strong, confident and hopeful for a great future.

flooded homes and beautify damaged neighborhoods have moved to the city, and others have returned multiple times. Nine young Jewish volunteers will arrive this fall for a year of community service under the auspices of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps, which is opening its fourth site in the nation in New Orleans.

Starting in September, the volunteers will join staff at nonprofits that provide legal services, health care, and social and educational services to Louisianans in need.

The volunteers’ communal home will serve as a hub of Jewish programs for Jewish young adults in the area.

One of the volunteers, Eliza Baron of Millburn, N.J., came here in December 2005 to help gut homes damaged by the storm.

“I was struck not only by the obvious devastation, but also by the love, loyalty and pride for New Orleans that was emanating from nearly every New Orleanian I met,” she said. “I found the sentiment to be contagious and have jumped at nearly every opportunity I could to volunteer in a variety of ways since.”

Under Avodah, she will be working as a client welfare specialist at the public defender’s office.

In another long-term commitment to the recovery of New Orleans, Jewish Funds for Justice is playing a leading role in an interfaith partnership, the Isaiah Funds, which provides $4.5 million in loans and grants to the Gulf Coast.

“Though much of the Gulf Coast has regained the appearance of normalcy, low- and moderate-income communities are still very much in need of patient, lowcost capital to rebuild their neighborhoods and businesses,” said Jeffrey Dekro, the executive director of Jewish Funds for Justice. “The Isaiah Funds represent the highest degree of tzedakah.”

Despite all the energy, continuing to develop the Jewish community will require significant funding, including from sources outside the community. This month the federation is launching a $30 million fundraising campaign called the Fund for the Future.

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Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

Candlelighting Friday, September 5, 7:30 p.m

Synagogue Listings B’nai Israel Synagogue 618 Mynster St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503-0766 322.4705 email: CBsynagogue@hotmail.com

Beth El Synagogue Member of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism 14506 California Omaha, NE 68154-1980 492.8550 www.bethel-omaha.org

Beth Israel Synagogue Member of Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 12604 Pacific St. Omaha, NE. 68154 556.6288 BethIsrael@OrthodoxOmaha.org

Chabad House An Affiliate of Chabad-Lubavitch 1866 S. 120th St. Omaha, NE 68144-1646 330.1800 www.OChabad.com email: chabad@aol.com

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple Union for Reform Judaism 2061 S. 20th St. Lincoln, NE 68502-2797 435.8004 southstreettemple.org

Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel 301 Lincoln Highway Offutt AFB, NE 68113 294.6244

Rose Blumkin Jewish Home 323 S. 132 St. Omaha, NE 68154

Temple Israel Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) 7023 Cass Street Omaha, NE 68132-2651 556.6536 templeisrael-ne.org

The Neighborhood Minyan 1317 No. 57 St. Omaha, NE 68132 551.6609

Tifereth Israel Member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502-5236 423.8569 www.tiferethisraellincoln.org

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B’NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE FRIDAY: Services followed by Oneg, 7:30 p.m.

BETH EL SYNAGOGUE Services conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Levin and Cantor Beth Schlossberg.

FRIDAY: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6 p.m.; Tot Shabbat & Dinner: 6 p.m. services and 6:30 p.m. dinner. For reservations, contact Margie Gutnik in the office, or at programming@bethel-omaha.org.

SATURDAY: Morning services, 9:30 a.m. Kiddush sponsored by Beth El; Lunch ’n Learn, following services where Andy Greenberg will present “Coincidence or Design”, uncovering the secrets and clues in the Torah. Cost is $10.75. Contact Tootie Simon for information at 397.3616; Minha/Ma’ariv, 7:40 p.m.

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

Bible Study SUNDAY: Discussion Group, 10 a.m.; Hebrew Crash Course, 10 a.m. with Susi Frydman-Levin.

I AM A JEW: Year-long adult education course led by Andy Greenberg, begins Sunday, 10 a.m. Cost is $36. To register or for information, call the office.

BESTT: Sunday, 10 a.m. classes for Pre-K to Seventh.

MEN’S CLUB SOFTBALL: Last game of the season, Sunday, 10 a.m., at the JCC softball fields.

THURSDAY: Women’s Book Club, 1:15 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE SHABBAT Friday, Sept. 12,The evening will begin with a 5 p.m. reception, followed by our musical Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6 p.m. (See full story on page 11.)

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 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

p.m.

SATURDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m. free babysitting, 9:30 a.m.; Children’s Classes, 9:45 a.m. with Torah Parade; Kiddush is sponsored by Harry Wolfson, in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Tibbye Lefitz, and by Donald and Paul Gerber, in honor of the 40th anniversary of their B’nai Mitzvah; “Guard Your Tongue” and “The Great Midrash” are one hour before Mincha; Mincha, 7 p.m., followed by Seudah Shlishit; Havdalah, 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Shacharit, 9 a.m.; Senior NCSY Pizza Dinner & Chapter Meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Mincha/ Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

WEEKDAYS: Shacharit, 7 a.m.; Mincha/Ma’ariv, 8:30 p.m.

MONDAY: Sisterhood’s Spirits and Spirituality, 7:45 p.m. at the home of Cynthia Follick.

WEDNESDAY: Board of Commissioners meeting, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: Women of the Torah class, 9:30 a.m.; Rabbi’s weekly class, 7:30 p.m.

Beth Israel will be hosting Steve Savitsky, President of the Orthodox Union, for Shabbat, Sept. 12 & 13. Following Shabbat Lunch, President Savitsky will speak, “Our Voices, Our Votes: Perspectives on Israel, Jerusalem, and Election ‘08.” Please contact the synagogue office to make your lunch reservation by Sept. 9.

CHABAD HOUSE Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m.

SATURDAY: Maamar class, 9 a.m.; Service, 9:30 a.m.; Youth Minyan, where the Mini-Mensch title will be awarded, 10:30 a.m.; Kiddush luncheon follows; join Rabbi Katzman from 12-1 p.m.

SUNDAY: Service, 8:30 a.m.; Heading Somewhere, studying the book of Numbers, 9:30 a.m.; Parsha study, 10 a.m.; Mishpacha Mornings, 10:15 a.m.

WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 a.m.

MONDAY: Kabbalistic Insights

CONGREGATION B’NAI JESHURUN Services conducted by Rabbi Ilan Emanuel.

FRIDAY: Snacks, 6 p.m.; Early Family Shabbat Service, 6:15 p.m. led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SATURDAY: Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30 a.m.; Torah Study, 10:30 a.m. all led by Rabbi Emanuel.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (LJCS grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

THURSDAY: Choir Rehersal, 7:30 p.m.

Back-to-School Supplies Drive: Bring school supplies to the social hall to donate to Saratoga Elementary School.

Women’s Lunch Group: Tuesday, Sept. 16, noon at the Olive Garden, 6100 “O” Street.

Please contact Stephanie Dohner at 435.0140 if you have any questions or to make a reservation or to arrange for a ride.

Clean-Up Day: Help get the Temple cleaned up for the High Holy Days. Join us on Sunday, Sept. 21, 9 am-noon. Contact Rick Kohn at 489.6719.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7:30 p.m., led by Nancy Rips and Andy Greenberg.

BAT MITZVAH Emma Workman, daughter of Keri and Tom Workman, will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Temple Israel.

Emma is a straightA student at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School. in the

for Women, 12:15 p.m.; Halacha, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: W.O.W. Prayer, Prophets, and Prayer, 9 a.m.

Kabbalah WEDNESDAY: Circle, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY: Jewish Thought, 12:45 p.m.; The Parsha Club for Level I beginners, ages 5-6; and Level II for ages 7-9, 3:40 p.m.

All events and programs are open to the community.

eighth grade. Her interests include drawing, painting, animals and babysitting.

For her mitzvah project, Emma babysat for two families during the past year at no charge.

She has a sister, Taylor, and a brother, Ethan.

Grandparents are Ardell and Nathan Firestone of Boca Raton, FL, and Veda Workman and the late George Workman.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m. led by Andy Greenberg and assisted by Aaron & Naomi Zipursky.

TEMPLE ISRAEL FRIDAY: Shabbat Service, 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Cantor Wendy Shermet.

SATURDAY: Sparks Beneath the Surface, 9:15 a.m.; Shabbat Service, 10:30 a.m. Mallory Rogers, daughter of Marcee and Chuck Rogers, will celebrate her Bar Mitzvah.

FIRST DAY OF RELIGIOUS SCHOOL, Sunday, Sept. 14: Classes K-6, 10 a.m.; Kindergarten Orientation for parents, 10:15 a.m.; Family Prayer Assembly and great concert with Jon Simon, 11:15 a.m.; All School BBQ, noon, sponsored by the Golf Committee.

ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE: Thursday, Sept. 25, 3–7 p.m.

Please call the Temple office to make an appointment.

NEIGHBORHOOD MINYAN FRIDAY: Minyan, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m.

TIFERETH ISRAEL Services conducted by Nancy Coren, Lay Leader. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

MONDAY and THURSDAY: Minyan, 9 a.m. Contact the office to arrange for a minyan.

FRIDAY: Services, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Morning service, 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddush lunch and Talmud study.

WEDNESDAY: Men’s Lunch Group meets at the Knolls, 12:30 p.m. Call Yale Gotsdiner, 423.7066.

SUNDAY: LJCS Grades 3-7, 9:30 a.m.-noon at Tifereth Israel; Grades 1-2, 9:45 a.m.12:15 p.m. at South Street Temple; Hallah High, 10 a.m.noon at Tifereth Israel.

WEDNESDAY: Hebrew classes (LJCS grades 3-7), 4-6 p.m. at Tifereth Israel.

Women’s Lunch: Tuesday, Sept. 16, noon at the Olive Garden, 6100 ‘O’ St. Contact Marcia Kushner to arrange for a ride.

New school year opens in Israel

PERSONAL I want to thank my family and all my wonderful friends for all the donations and cards in memory of my grandson, Scott Grossman and for all their good wishes.

Ethel Grossman

Prayerbooks Available for Visually Impaired The Jewish Heritage for the Blind announced the availability of the High Holiday Machzor in large print and in Braille free of charge for those who need them. A doctor’s note stating necessity is required. To receive a complimentary Machzor, contact our office at 718.338.4999; or fax 718.338.0653; or e-mail to Jewishheritage@gmail.com.

Without any labor disputes as there have been in the past, the new school year opened in Israel this week when 1.4 million children ended their summer vacation. President Shimon Peres, right, visited two schools in Jerusalem, one Jewish and one Arab.

Credit: ISRANET

September 5, 2008

Alas: the nature of human beings

SPARKS FROM THE WORD

by RABBI MYER S. KRIPKE Parashat Shoftim Our Sidra, to begin with, offers a comment on the nature of the human animal. If we lived in a perfect society, where men and women constantly cooperated with each other, our Sidra need not have been written.

Alas, this is not what human beings, male and female, really are. They are competitive, vain, jealous, and selfabsorbed.

The need, therefore, is plain: we need judges and officers of the law.

From our own book of Judges, it is apparent that Shoftim were not merely judges, but also enforcers. In our own courts today, judges sit in grand isolation from the police forces who bring malefactors to their attention. But to repeat: the judges of our Sidra were also officers and enforcers.

The Bible reader must keep this in mind as she reads the Book of Judges and it is likewise important that the reader of our Sidra notices carefully that the Sacred Text explains at once that when the word “judges” is used, it appends the word “officers”.

If this is hard judgment on the ancient society and ours today, so be it. For the character of the human being, male and female, is such that society must depend on officers to bring law breakers to justice -that is to say -- before judges.

It is no small compliment to note the obvious fact -that Jews in our own 21st century society are prominent as lawyers. They may not enforce the law with physical strength, but they do so with words and arguments.

So the words opening our Sidra see the future in the present: wherever we are, we need officers of the court to bring the bad guys before judges. Of course, we must hope that the judges themselves are not corrupt.

Indeed, there is noteworthy comment to the Biblical quote: “In the days when the judges judged”, that it was hidden in the words themselves the suggestion that judges needed to be judged as well.

If this, too, is a harsh judgment on Biblical society, how much more focused must we train our eyes and pour out our words on the society in which we live in the United States of America. God Bless Her.

HIGH HOLIDAY CLOSING & EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE The Jewish Press will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, for Rosh Hashannah; Thursday, Oct. 9 for Yom Kippur; and Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 14-15 for Sukkot and Oct. 21-22 for Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah. The deadline for all ads, articles and photos is 9 a.m. as follows: Issue Deadline Oct 3 Wednesday, Sept. 24 Oct 10 Thursday, Oct. 2 Oct. 17 Wednesday, Oct. 8 Oct. 24 Tuesday, Oct. 16 Questions? Call 402.334.6448

New members to be honored

by Temple Israel on Shabbat

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator Temple Israel will honor its new members at a Shabbat worship service and Oneg Shabbat in their honor on Friday Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. Denise Meyers and Hillary Fletcher, membership co-chairs, reported that 30 new family units have joined the congregational family over the past year.

“There’s a wide range of ages,” said Meyers. “Some have young children or teens, some have no children, some are single individuals. Some are new to the city or have lived here and are returning to Temple, or joining a different congregation.”

Meyers and Fletcher have already welcomed these new members who have been invited to the worship service on Sept. 12 where they will be greeted by clergy, members of the Board of Trustees, presidents of Women of Reform Judaism and Men’s Club, and committee chairs.

Meyers encouraged the rest of the congregation “to get to know the new members and greet them, too. It’s very important to them,” she added.

ADL offers “Judaism 101”

by JORDANA M. GLAZER Anti-Defamation League Plains State Region Recognizing that the most powerful antidote to prejudice is education, the Anti-Defamation League/Community Relations Committee (ADL/ CRC) has been teaching the secular community about Judaism on-campus, off-campus and regionally.

In the Talmud, a non-Jew asks Rabbi Hillel to teach him all about the Torah while standing on one foot.

Rabbi Hillel says, “What is hateful to you, don't do unto your neighbor. The rest is commentary. Now, go and study.”

While the classic story may capture the spirit of Judaism, for many non-Jews, questions remain: What do Jews believe about Jesus? Is Judaism a race? What’s kosher? Are these questions kosher? Recognizing that the most powerful antidote to prejudice is education, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of the Plains States sponsors an Introduction to Judaism course at schools and organizations throughout the region.

This summer, the ADL brought the program to Iowa Western Community College, University of Nebraska Omaha and Buena Vista University. The lessons covered such topics as the Jewish holidays and their significance, signs and symbols, kosher dietary laws, bar and bat mitzvahs, the distinctions between Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox, the Torah and other fundamentals. Each session ended with a visit to the Riekes museum, located next to Friedel Jewish academy in the Jewish Community Center.

Shirl Rollins who teaches Human Relations at Buena Vista hosted the program for her class.

“My students are all going to be teachers, and most live in Southwest Iowa and have little interaction with Jewish people,” Rollins said. “I think they gained a far better understanding of the religion through the presentation.”

Designed to demystify Judaism, the proactive course helps prevent fear-based stereotypes from taking root.

The ADL Plains States office works closely with schools of all academic grade levels, national, regional and local educational organizations, community groups and corporate entities to educate people on the value of diversity.

This fall, many school workshops are planned and the ADL will represent the Jewish community at the Center for Human Diversity’s annual workshop. For more information on this program, please contact the ADL office at 333.1303.

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Parking lot “deconstructed” Continued from page 1 According to Mike Collier, JCC Campus Manager, “The scope of the work guarantees that the parking lots used by visitors to the facilities, agencies and programs on the entire campus will have long-term stability and be viable for at least the next 30 years.”

Phase II of the project, set to begin in late September, will bring back into use the 40 parking stalls made unavailable during initial construction of the Blumkin Home addition.

“We know the community will be happy to reclaim those spots, so we hope good weather will help us to stay on target with our schedule,” Collier said. “We’re paying special attention to the needs of school buses and larger vehicles that access the campus, and will provide clear signage to keep visitors aware of traffic flow changes that take place over the next few months. A flagman will be posted during peak truck movements associated with the actual paving. As always, safety is our prime concern.”

To Submit Announcements to the Jewish Press: 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: ckatzman@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.

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

September 5, 2008

Ben Nachman selected for Academic Excellence Scholarship

The efforts of housewives and students evident in Refusenik

by MARY SUE GROSSMAN with Shiputznik, and a participant in the CJE Director of Operations and Programming Manhigim Leadership Institute.

The Financial Aid Committee of the This summer, Ben worked for six weeks Center for Jewish Education has chosen at Camp Cedars, a Boy Scout camp near Ben Nachman as the 2008 scholarship Fremont. He also spent two weeks in recipient of the David Keiser and Lillian Wyoming helping to create 12 miles of Keiser Stoms Foundation Education new trails for the National Forest Service.

Endowment Ben’s long-time involvement Fund for in Boy Scouts includes Academic achieving the rank of Eagle Excellence.

Scout before entering high This award school. He earned the Silver is based Award, the highest award in strictly on Venturing Scouts plus the scholarship, Order of the Arrow Vigil with high and the Order of the Arrow school grade Founders’ Awards. point averLillian Keiser Stoms and ages and her brother David Stoms SAT/ACT were native Omahans; this scores used as fund was established in their the primary Ben Nachman receives scholarship check memory by their niece, Sally measure to from Cheryl Cooper, Chairman of the Clayman. In addition to this d e t e r m i n e Financial Aid Committee award, there are two other the recipient. Ben is the son of Beth scholarships that were also established.

Staenberg and Gary Nachman.

The Lillian Keiser Stoms Educational With a plan to major in physics, Ben has Fund was established to benefit and assist just begun his college career at Cornell. in the education of Jewish youth living in He was a 2008 graduate of Westside, a single parent family or Jewish single parwhere he was ranked first in his class. ents who have custody of their children.

With four years filled with honors and AP The David Keiser and Lillian Keiser classes, Ben also ran track, competing in Stoms Foundation Education Endowthe 800 meter event and “looks forward ment Fund was created to provide univerto continuing his running at the beautiful sity scholarships to Jewish youth who campus at Cornell,” he noted. have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA. Both Ben’s Jewish involvement includes are awarded based on financial need. many leadership roles on a chapter and For information, please call the CJE at council level in BBYO, of which he was a 334.6445. Those interested in contributmember of Chaim Weizmann AZA ing to or endowing scholarships should #1510. He was the winner of the B’nai call Marty Ricks, executive director of the B’rith Bible Quiz in 2007, a volunteer Federation Foundation, at 334.6440.

by ALAN POTASH Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League As a young teenager in the 70s, I cut my teeth on learning how to be an advocate during the Soviet Jewry struggle, participating in letter writing campaigns, discussions and rallies. Watching community leaders and students rallying around a cause had a lasting impression and helped form my passion for social justice. In the early 80s as the campaign to free Natan Sharansky took shape, I saw my mother and others working tirelessly to bring Russians to Omaha.

As Sharansky claimed last year when he spoke in Omaha, “the efforts of students and housewives changed the world, and made a difference.” The documentary film Refusenik, directed by Laura Bialis, gives testimony to the efforts of those important people.

The campaign to free Soviet Jews gripped world Jewry. It was the focus of Federation campaigns and congressional visits. The campaign did not have an end date, but the will to continue efforts until Jews who wanted to leave the USSR could and did.

A ‘refusenik’ was a Russian citizen who proclaimed their Jewishness publicly and wanted to leave the USSR. But the government refused. Once refuseniks applied for visas, they lost their jobs, their chance for education and were often imprisoned or sent to the gulag. They were constantly followed by the KGB and their conversations were monitored.

By the beginning of the 1990s, with

Silver Memories, Inc.

pressure from the West, the Soviet Union collapsed and Jews were free to leave. A 30-year struggle came to an end.

Sharansky was right about the efforts of housewives and students; they did make a difference. Watching him land in Israel in 1986 (from the dinning hall of Kibbutz Sdot Yam) was proof of their efforts. His desire to be Jewish and to live in Israel changed many lives. And watching the documentary brings back memories of the struggle for Soviet Jewry.

It is a lesson of advocacy considered to be a miracle of the 20th century. When a social justice movement spans years and is led by many, it is difficult to imagine how a documentary film can capture the struggle, the facts, the people and the emotions invested in the effort. Bialis’s film tells the story but also demonstrates the power a movement has to engage and empower individuals.

The film has a great lesson of people rallying to a cause and seeing the results of freedom mature. The origins of the documentary come from the director’s conversations with Shirley Goldstein and leaders of the Regional Anti-Defamation League. Former Omahan Stephanie Seldin Howard was a co-producer.

The Jewish Film Festival opens with Refusenik on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., at Film Streams Ruth Sokolof Theater, 14th and Webster. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $6 for students and seniors and $4 for Film Streams members.

To purchase, go to www.filmstreams.org or in person at the Sokolof Theater.

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