Vol. LXXXVIII No. 52 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 88 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
22 Elul 5769
September 11, 2009
Born in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, unusual Reform-Orthodox partnership blossoms by GAIL NARON CHALEW NEW ORLEANS (JTA) -- An act of compassion to help a fellow congregation in need during the chaos following Hurricane Katrina has evolved over the course of four years into an unusual partnership spanning a Jewish religious divide. Born of catastrophe, the unique partnership between the rabbis of two congregations in New Orleans -- one Orthodox, one Reform -- has brought together two disparate synagogues for social, educational and even ritual programs. Now the partnership is set to receive concrete expression, when the Orthodox congregation breaks ground for its new building -- to be built on the Reform synagogue’s property. Soon after Congregation Beth Israel, a Modern Orthodox synagogue, was inundated by 10 feet of floodwaters in August 2005, the Reform temple -- Gates of Prayer -- offered a temporary home. Since then, Beth Israel has held services each week in the Reform chapel and leased office space at the temple. At a ceremony last month commemo-
New Orleans’ Congregation Beth Israel President Myron Goldberg, left, and Richard Katz unveil a sign announcing the Orthodox shul’s building project in a ceremony on Aug. 30. Credit: Alexander Barkoff rating Katrina’s fourth anniversary, Rabbi neighborliness. Robert Loewy of Gates of Prayer said he They had been introduced the Friday knew from the day he met Beth Israel night that Topolosky came to town from Rabbi Uri Topolosky that the offer of his synagogue in Riverdale, N.Y., to interhospitality soon would transcend mere view for the position in New Orleans.
Friedel welcomes new music instructor by ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Lentz Outstanding Band Director Award, and served as At the end of last school year, Friedel Jewish Academy President of the Nebraska chapter of the National students and staff said goodbye to their beloved music Association of Jazz Educators. In 2001, he was elected teacher, Tuffy Epstein, who volunteered at the school into the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame. from 1996 until 2009. Currently, Schmitt performs as a trombonist in the “Thirteen years is an amazing time to dedicate your talents, for any volunteer,” Principal Ron Giller said, “and we were very fortunate to have his help for so long. He will surely be missed, but all good things eventually come to an end.” Seeing Epstein go wasn’t easy, and he’s left some big shoes to fill. However, Giller managed to find a replacement in Rodney Schmitt, a 23-year veteran of the Bellevue school system. “I have taught music for a total of 35 years,” Schmitt said, “and I’m eager to work with the students at Friedel. My hope is to get these kids involved, establish a band and give the children something they can truly be proud of. Hopefully, they Rodney Schmitt give Friedel fifth-grader Eliana Schuller lessons on the trumpet. will develop an appreciation of music for the rest of their Street Railway Company Jazz Band. At Friedel, he will be lives.” teaching fourth through sixth grade students. “I am very Schmitt grew up on a farm in southeast Nebraska, excited about the small classroom size, and about the facilgraduated from Cook High School in 1957, and went ity as a whole,” he added. “I am confident that parents will on to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he show the same enthusiasm as the kids, and will be supearned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music portive when they practice their instrument at home.” Education. After teaching in Sterling and Fall City, he “Music is an important part of education,” Giller said, ended up at Bellevue, where he stayed for 23 years. “and we are so glad that we found Rodney Schmitt. He has served as President of the Nebraska School With him on board, we will be able to continue to offer Band Directors Association, was awarded the Donald this to our kids.”
Inside Opinion Page see page 8
This Week: Lee Terry addresses health care reform: Page 2 See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’
Questions about the High Holidays? Page 3
“After leading Beth Israel’s services in the chapel, Rabbi Uri walked through the building to our sanctuary, where our Shabbat services were just beginning, and he sat down in one of our pews,” Loewy recalled. “When I heard him singing along to the Reform tunes of the service, I knew he would become a partner. And even though I had driven my car to the synagogue that night, I walked him home.” (Editor’s note: Omaha’s Beth Israel Synagogue has a unique connection to its namesake in New Orleans. Rabbi Benjamin Groner, who served as rabbi of the Omaha shul for 12 years prior to the arrival of Rabbi Isaac Nadoff, moved to New Orleans in 1965 and was rabbi of its shul, according to his daughter, Gladys who was interviewed by Joan K. Marcus for the Jewish Press in the Dec. 8, 2006, issue. Rabbi Groner died in 1992; his wife Frances continued living in New Orleans until 1993, when she made aliyah to Israel at the age of 79. She died there in 2008.) A graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, a Modern Orthodox rabbinical seminary, Continued on page 3
What does Judaism say about health care? by SHERRIE SAAG Center for Jewish Education When Rabbi Michael Broyde last visited Omaha, a severe tornado warning and sirens wailing forced those in the Jewish Community Center to move to safety in hallways. Showing great flexibility in adapting to the unconventional location, Broyde went ahead and gave his well received address on religion and the American political scene. Rabbi Broyde returns to town Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m., to lead a panel discussion, “What does Jewish Law and Jewish Tradition Say about Health Care Reform?” The lecture at the JCC, which is followed by a question and answer session with comments by local respondents, is free and open Michael Broyde to the public. The discussion will focus on how Jewish tradition allocates health care. “How do we view universal health care? The answer to that question is clear -- the Jewish tradition thinks that society needs to provide health care to all its members, even the very poor, if it at all can,” said Rabbi Broyde. “Right now, the question being asked is, how to do that? Public vs. Private will be the thrust of our debate, within the context of the ethical virtues and vices of each system.” Patrick Jensen, chairman of the Adult Education Committee of the Center for Jewish Education, added, “I am really looking forward to exploring the Jewish perspective on health care reform. We are fortunate to have Professor Broyde here to discuss this hot topic. I can’t think of anyone more qualified to lead our discussion. We are deeply appreciative to the Klutznick Fund Continued on page 2
Coming Next Week: New Year’s issue WRJ and NCJW join up for Race for the Cure: Page 4
Beyond rallies, how you can stop Iran: Page 9